Interesting Information

The US has eased restrictions on the sale of mobile phones and other communications devices, software and services to Iranians. The move is intended to promote Iranians' political freedom, countering what the US describes as Tehran's efforts to "silence its people". The US treasury department move comes weeks before the Iranian election The shift marks the first time Apple's iPhone can be exported legally to Iran. The US had toughened sanctions in recent years in an effort to force Iran to curb its nuclear programme. The US believes Iran is enriching uranium to levels that could be used in a nuclear weapon, but Iran insists its programme has peaceful objectives. "The people of Iran should be able to communicate and access information without being subject to reprisals by their government," the US treasury department said in a statement. 'Positive step' It said it would allow sales of equipment and software to Ira...

The funeral of Ghana's John Atta Mills drew thousands It's rare for the leader of a country to die in office. Since 2008, it's happened 13 times worldwide - but 10 of those leaders have been African. Why is it so much more common in this one continent? Large crowds carrying candles ran alongside the hearse carrying the body of Meles Zenawi, as it made its way through Addis Ababa, on Tuesday. He had died, aged 57, after a long illness. Earlier in the month, tens of thousands of Ghanaians attended the funeral of their late President, John Atta Mills, who had died suddenly at the age of 68. Four months earlier, a national holiday was declared in Malawi to allow as many people as possible to attend the funeral of the late president, Bingu wa Mutharika, who had died of a cardiac arrest, aged 78. And in January, the president of Guinea Bissau, Malam Bacai Sanha, died in a military hospital in Paris after a long illness. He was 64. So, four African ...