[UgaBYTES] NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA (WEEK 21)

Fri May 15 12:32:40 GMT 2009

*Grid computing guiding malaria drug discovery*

11th May 2009

Scientists are using grids — high-speed computing networks — as a
large-scale and cheaper way to kick-start new drug development against
malaria parasites. Wide In Silico Docking On Malaria (WISDOM) links a
network of high-power computers that 'match' the structures of known
chemical compounds with three-dimensional structural data describing
important metabolic proteins from the parasite. Using virtual screening
researchers can suggest promising new weak points within the protein for
drug designers to target.

http://www.scidev.net/en/news/grid-computing-guiding-malaria-drug-discovery.html

*Online Maps Enable Citizens to Report, Track Events*

* *

Online mapping tools like MapQuest and Google Maps are known for helping
people get from Point A to B. With the help of some technical experts, these
maps can also be used to track and monitor critical events in real time.
Ushahidi’s mapping program, known by technical experts as a crowd sourcing
tool, enables users to gather and document a great deal of information
gathered from a community on a specific topic. Creating such a tool did not
require knowledge of cutting-edge technology.

http://www.america.gov/st/democracyhr-english/2009/May/20090508170954HMnietsuA0.7426046.html

*One Laptop Per Child targets to distribute 120,000 laptops in Rwanda by
year end *

15th May 2009

At least 120,000 laptops by the end of this year are to be received by
children across the country under the government-championed One Laptop Per
Child (OLPC) programme. This was disclosed over the weekend by the
programme’s core team of four. The team is in the country to oversee the
execution of the project that was launched mid-last year. According to
Juliano Bittencourt, the OLPC team leader, the supply of the 120,000 laptops
by the end of the year has been a long term programme that involved and
required producing more machines.

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13892&article=15592

*MTN Subscribers Soar to 61,4m as Group Continues to Deliver Solid
Performance*

20th May 2009

The MTN Group is pleased to announce that it has recorded 61,4 million
subscribers across its 21 operations as at 31 December 2007. This is an
increase of 53% from 40,1 million subscribers as at 31 December 2006. In
addition, the MTN Group has declared a dividend of 136 cents per share, its
highest dividend ever.  The former Investcom operations recorded subscriber
growth of 66% to 13, 9 million, contributing 23% of the Group's total
subscriber base. In the South and East Africa (SEA) region subscribers
increased by 23% to 19, 3 million. In the West and Central Africa (WECA)
region subscribers rose by 43% to 28 million and the Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) region recorded a phenomenal 186% increase to 14 million,
driven by the very strong growth of MTN Irancell.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS181038+20-Mar-2008+PRN20080320

*MTN hosts fibre optic forum*

7th May 2009

Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) hosted a fibre optic forum that will see the
establishment of a new fibre optic cable. The European Indian Gateway (EIG)
submarine cable meeting is one of a series that will lead to planning,
design, manufacture and laying of the EIG fibre optic submarines cable that
will serve three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. Submarine cables
provide linkages to the global telecommunications. The low cost, high
quality systems are expected to spur growth in international traffic,
internet and other data traffic. EIG will link to other submarine cables
that MTN and other operators are constructing around Africa. They include
Eastern African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) and West African Cable System
(WACS).

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/business/MTN_hosts_fibre_optic_forum_84458.shtml

-- 
Francis Mwathi
Support Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiatives (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentr.org (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
Tel: +256 414 370163
Mob: +256 783 010269
Skype: francis.mwathi
E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org