Congo is a vast country of jungles and huge rivers in central Africa with little more than 480km of paved road. Many people prefer to take boats even if they do not know how to swim. www.dnaindia.com | 9/5/10 3:50 PM

THE Confederation of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) has sent a congratulatory message to President Paul Kagame upon his re-election as President of the Rwanda. allafrica.com | 9/3/10 9:12 AM

Central Africa has lately been attracting some unfamiliar attention. Discoveries of large mineral deposits and other opportunities have brought a chance to diversify investment beyond the dominant oil sectors of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

www.topix.net | 9/3/10 6:35 AM

Central Africa has lately been attracting some unfamiliar attention. Discoveries of large mineral deposits and other opportunities have brought a chance to diversify investment beyond the dominant oil sectors of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

www.topix.net | 9/3/10 3:19 AM

Malawi is quickly sliding into a dictatorship where it is a crime to hold dissenting views to government policy, leaders of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian - Livingstonia Synod, have warned - writes Frank Jomo .

www.topix.net | 9/1/10 7:17 PM

The ancient scourge smallpox was relegated to biowaste bin of history more than 30 years ago, the result of the world's first and only successful disease eradication programs. Since then, however, cases of monkeypox--a serious, although less severe smallpoxlike illness--have substantially increased in central Africa, according to a study published August 30 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . The authors stress that better surveillance and a thorough assessment of the public health threat posed by this once-rare viral infection are needed.

"I'm concerned about monkeypox," says Don Burke director of the Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh, who wasn't involved in the study. "It isn't going to emerge as pandemic tomorrow, but could at any time start to increase its transmission. It's worrisome. This is the type of warning siren we need to take very seriously."

[More] www.scientificamerican.com | 8/31/10 9:39 PM

A newly formed rebel group has appeared in the southeastern Central African Republic, according to a report in the international press.

www.topix.net | 8/31/10 8:29 PM

Last week, I announced my plan to start taking virtual trips to "GlassFish Outposts" -- regions of the world that are fairly isolated, remote from where most of us live. Thanks to the internet, however, these places are just as connected as any of us. And, as the GlassFish Usage Map shows us, there are plenty of developers in these places.

Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada

Today I'm visiting Whitehorse, located on Mile 918 of the Alaska Highway, in Canada's Yukon Territory (latitude 61 North, longitude 135 West). Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon Territory, and has a population of just over 20,000. There's a chance of rain today, and afternoon temperatures will be in the low teens (C) [upper 50s F].

Anyway, I think perhaps multiple people are running GlassFish in Whitehorse as we speak. Here's the GlassFish image and data for the Whitehorse region:

In this view, I believe the "Stats For Visible Area" is giving us the number of Admin hits to the GlassFish.org site. There were 883 total recorded hits as of July 2010 (I don't know when the start date for recording Admin hits was). Through March 2010, there were 854 admin hits. So, a lot of the GlassFish work was apparently done in Whitehorse prior to March. Checking the GlassFish Admin IPs statistic through July 2010, we see a value of 16 - which I believe means GlassFish has been deployed on at least 16 different systems in the Whitehorse area at one time or another. One new Admin IP was registered in July 2010.

So, who's using GlassFish in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory?

The fact that Whitehorse is the territory's capital hints at the possibility that someone in government may be deploying GlassFish. Another possibility is Yukon College, which offers an Information Technology program. There is also a summer cadet program that might be a possibility. Other possibilities include the hydroelectric power plants, or the mining or forestry companies.

If you are a GlassFish user from Whitehorse, please leave a comment below and let us know what you're working on. We'd love to hear from you!

Java Today

On the JavaOne Conference Blog, java.net Community Manager Sonya Barry highlights Java.net Activities at JavaOne:

I'm excited about JavaOne this year.  It's going to be different in a lot of ways, but we are doing our best to ensure that the Java.net presence for the community is just as good if not better then previous years.  In years past Java.net has had a "community corner" booth in the JavaOne pavilion at Moscone. It was always a little bit of a weird fit, to have a community space plonked down in the middle (or the corner) of this big space mostly dedicated to marketing. This time we'll be housed in the Mason Street tent, which will be a large comfortable space for people from all of the technology communities to hang out, pick up swag, watch the videocasts, and see some live events too...

Alexis Moussine-Pouchkine is Back from Brazza:

I was fortunate enough to visit Congo Brazzaville (just celebrating their 50 years of existence) to present at the jCertif conference, probably the biggest Java event in central Africa. I was expecting an adventure and an experience. I wasn't disappointed. So of course this is Africa and I probably shouldn't be surprised to see children cross the runway only seconds after the plane had landed. The food (fish, meat, chicken and bananas!) was great and the crowd welcoming. I had had a taste of what to expect when chatting with Max Bonbhel, the organizer of the conference, a leader of the CongoJUG (great logo btw), and overal an entrepreneur...

Hudson Labs announces a Pre-JavaOne Hudson Meetup:

As we near autumn up here in the Northern Hemisphere, the wind is starting to blow a bit chillier and here in the Bay Area that can only mean one thing: Oracle is suing everybody! it's time for JavaOne! A whole lot has changed since last year, Sun Microsystems was acquired by Oracle, Kohsuke left Snoracle to found InfraDNA and Hudson has continued to power on as the single best continuous integration server on the planet...

Terrence Barr published a Quick post: Some interesting links …

Just some interesting links I stumbled over during the last two weeks or so: Al Hilwa: “Q & A: What’s Oracle-Google Lawsuit All About?”; Osvaldo Pinali Doederlein: “Android = Java”; Andreas Constantinou: “Is Android Evil?”; Jason Hiner: “The dirty little secret about Google Android”; Wall Street Journal: “Google and the Search for the Future” ...

Poll

Our current java.net poll asks What threat does further fragmentation of the Java language pose? Voting will be open until Monday.

Spotlights

Our latest java.net Spotlight is the Hudson Labs news, CloudBees announce Hudson-as-a-Service:

CloudBees announced the beta availability of their new Hudson-as-a-service "HaaS" today. I see this as yet another validation to Hudson, and as such, I welcome this new addition to the community and wish them well! — more companies betting on Hudson means we'll get more investment to the project, which is all goodness for Hudson users...

We're also spotlighting Community Manager Sonya Barry's blog post Tell me what you think:

"For several years now I've been involved in on-again, off-again plans to do a major upgrade to the site. This time it's really happening. People are working on building out the new site now, and we're going to start rolling out the migration plan here once the first tests are complete. Our goal for migration...

Subscriptions and Archives: You can subscribe to this blog using the java.net Editor's Blog Feed. You can also subscribe to the Java Today RSS feed and the java.net blogs feed. You can find historical archives of what has appeared the front page of java.net in the java.net home page archive.

-- Kevin Farnham
Twitter: @kevin_farnham

AttachmentSize GF_Whitehorse.png 158.49 KB www.java.net | 8/31/10 12:38 PM

I was fortunate enough to visit Congo Brazzaville to present at the jCertif conference , probably the biggest Java event in central Africa.

www.topix.net | 8/31/10 6:40 AM

Central Africa has lately been attracting some unfamiliar attention. Discoveries of large mineral deposits and other opportunities have brought a chance to diversify investment beyond the dominant oil... story.jamaicantimes.com | 8/30/10 4:00 PM

The Atlantic Wire - A leaked United Nations report on the Rwandan genocide makes the explosive charge that the Rwandan Army, long credited with helping to end the infamous 1994 genocide of ethnic Tutsis, committed hundreds of acts of genocide against ethnic Hutu refugees in 1996-1997. The document, first reported by French newspaper Le Monde, states, "The majority of the victims were children, women, elderly people and the sick, who were often undernourished and posed no threat to the attacking forces." The report implicates much of Rwanda's current government, including President Paul Kagame, in joining with Congolese rebels to slaughter Rwandan refugees who had fled to the Congo. Rwanda is challenging the accusations, saying they only attacked members of the Hutu militias responsible for the 1994 genocide. The UN report risks seriously complicating the always-tenuous politics of Central Africa, where Rwanda has become a beacon of stability. Here's what reporters and Rwanda-watchers have to say about the report. us.rd.yahoo.com | 8/29/10 10:55 AM

IMF Completes Sixth Review Under the Central African Republic's ECF Arrangement and Approves US$13.1 Million Disbursement.

www.topix.net | 8/27/10 10:44 PM

IMF Completes Sixth Review Under the Central African Republic's ECF Arrangement and Approves US$13.1 Million Disbursement. allafrica.com | 8/27/10 3:44 PM

National team boxers, who "boycotted" the East and Central Africa Boxing Championship, have come forward to counter Tanzania Boxing Federation's (TBF) accusations. allafrica.com | 8/27/10 10:54 AM

" Central Africa has lately been attracting some unfamiliar attention. Discoveries of large mineral deposits and other opportunities have brought a chance to diversify investment beyond the dominant oil sectors of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

www.topix.net | 8/26/10 7:25 PM

" Central Africa has lately been attracting some unfamiliar attention. Discoveries of large mineral deposits and other opportunities have brought a chance to diversify investment beyond the dominant oil sectors of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

www.topix.net | 8/26/10 3:41 PM

South Sudan is planning to bring home more than a million displaced southerners from the north in time to vote in an independence referendum in January. vne-resource.iol.co.za | 8/25/10 11:15 AM

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has sent a top official to the Democratic Republic of Congo after the mass rape of women by rebels in the east. vne-resource.iol.co.za | 8/25/10 11:00 AM

IN a bid to raise awareness on various programs adopted by the government and to improve effective service delivery, the staff of both Chambers of Parliament, yesterday began an induction course on government programmes and how they work. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:37 AM

Parents Have Been Urged to Embark On the Second Phase of the Construction of Classrooms for the Nine Year Basic Education (9-YBEO) program for the 2011 academic year. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:37 AM

26 nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo are stuck at Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre after they were found posing as Rwandan returnees from the DRC; the Chairman of Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC), Jean Sayinzoga said yesterday. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:37 AM

THE constant accusations against the Government of Rwanda over allegations of human rights abuse, lack of political space and press freedom have been part of campaigns to discredit the credibility of recent presidential elections. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:37 AM

President Paul Kagame last week won presidential elections by 95 percent of the vote. Such high performance was common in Sadam Hussein's Iraq and other dictatorships. Basing on this analogy, many observers have concluded his victory was a product of political repression. But such an approach ignores the internal political dynamics that drive Rwanda and thus strip it of its history, context and specificity. A serious discussion of Rwanda must be rooted in its internal dynamics. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:34 AM

THE High Court has set November 23, as the date for the ruling of the case against Oscar Kimanuka, the former Director General of ORINFOR. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:00 AM

The Minister of Local Government, James Musoni, has revealed that plans are underway to facilitate grassroots leaders to have the capacity to address the population's problems rather than wait for top level government intervention. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:00 AM

THE Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Eugène Munyakayanza, has refuted continued media reports that relations between Rwanda and South Africa are strained. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:00 AM

THE Private Sector Federation (PSF), yesterday, launched this year's Business Plan Competition (BPC) to facilitate start ups to access finance. And, with a target of supporting up to 100 businesses, every year, PSF says it receives more than 1,000 applicants. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:00 AM

THE government will spend an estimated Rwf 28bn on fertilizers and seeds to help farmers in the country produce bumper harvests this season. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:00 AM

President Paul Kagame, yesterday, called on investors to add value to what they produce prior to exporting, since it will not only improve on the quality of the country's exports, but will bring in higher revenues for investors and the country. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:00 AM

For those concerned with Africa's liberation, it becomes increasingly important to anchor our steps in the reality of our environment and to benchmark our progress to the giant leaps forward obtained by our elders. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 9:00 AM

The liberalization of Rwanda's telecoms sector started in earnest ten years ago. Early this year saw the Tigo brand entering the sector as the licensed third national operator. In just less than seven months, Tigo Rwanda managed to attract over 500,000 subscribers into its network. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 8:59 AM

THE World Bank Group on Monday released findings and an analysis of the Investment Climate Assessment (ICA) in Rwanda. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 8:59 AM

RWANDA hosted the biennial Pan-African Dancing Festival, FESPAD in Kigali again this year. The festival which took place from July 24 - 31 attracted quite a number of African music talents who entertained fans at Amahoro Stadium and other venues. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 8:59 AM

Mozambican parliamentary bench leaders considered today's meeting with the visiting angolan parliament speaker an important step forward for the strenghtening of cooperation of between the parliaments of the two countries. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 8:41 AM

At least 30,250 animals, among dogs, cats and monkeys were vaccinated against rabies from January to June during a routine campaign held in central highland Huambo province by the local veterinary service. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 8:34 AM

The vice president of Angola, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, has already returned to Luanda, from Cabinda province, where he chaired the opening ceremony of the V National School Games. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 8:32 AM

The first secretary of the ruling MPLA party in central highland Huambo province today praised, in Londuimbali, the leadership, democratic and humble mind of president Jose Eduardo dos Santos. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 8:26 AM

Large quantities of drugs stolen from public health units are sneaked into Southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Yoweri Museveni has disclosed. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 8:24 AM

In a bid to boost the chances of one of their golfers capturing a maiden Uganda Open title, Rwanda will engage Uganda in two 72-hole friendly contests ahead of the sport's top event next week. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 8:12 AM

CIMERWA, the country's largest cement producer is set to purchase new equipment after acquiring a letter of credit from Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Rwanda, the factory's management has said. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 7:48 AM

A U.N. human rights investigation mission will be launched in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Wednesday, U.N. officials announced Tuesday, after gruesome reports surfaced in the media of the systematic gang rape of nearly 200 women in a 21km stretch of 15 villages. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 5:27 AM

The oil interests of Angola, Brazil and Portugal could pave the way for former Spanish colony Equatorial Guinea to become the ninth member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) two years from now, despite the country's poor human rights record. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 5:09 AM

With the discovery of large amounts of oil in the Gulf of Guinea, the small archipelago of Sao Tome and Principe faces the possibility of benefiting from considerable oil revenues. allafrica.com | 8/25/10 5:07 AM

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed outrage Tuesday at the rape and assault of at least 154 Congolese civilians by Rwandan and Congolese rebels. vne-resource.iol.co.za | 8/24/10 11:20 PM

The United Nations is dispatching a senior staff member to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as senior officials express outrage at the recent rape and assault of more than 150 civilians by rebels based in the remote and troubled east of the country. allafrica.com | 8/24/10 8:59 PM

The biggest annual music jamboree in East and Central Africa ended last Sunday largely unnoticed by many. The 84th edition of the Kenya Schools and Colleges National Music Festival attracted a record 91,604 participants all the way from kindergartens to universities. allafrica.com | 8/24/10 6:48 PM

The tiny country of São Tomé and Príncipe is at a crossroads with a chance to benefit from its potential oil wealth, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. allafrica.com | 8/24/10 6:31 PM

In parts of Chad acute malnutrition levels far exceed the international emergency threshold, according to a new study - fallout, partly, from crop failure hitting already fragile communities where access to basic health services is low and aid agencies are scarce. allafrica.com | 8/24/10 6:27 PM

Chadian parliament has adopted a media law which modifies parts of the previous text which was adopted after an attempted coup in 2008 With 82 votes in favour, two against and 11 abstentions. allafrica.com | 8/24/10 5:00 PM

The Union of Burundi Journalists (UBJ) on Friday 20 August 2010 sent a written petition to the president of the Republic, Nkuruzinza, asking him to personally intervene and free journalist John Claude Kavumbagu, who has been languishing in Mpimba central remand prison since early July this year. allafrica.com | 8/24/10 5:00 PM