Major cities in Africa– such as Dakar, Senegal (pictured above) and Nairobi, Kenya — are becoming bigger hubs for businesses. (Kate Shellnutt/MEDILL)

BY KATE SHELLNUTT- MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

Africa was called “the dark continent” by 19th century explorers unfamiliar with the vast region, nearly three times the size their European homeland. [...]

It is challenging not to let the inertia of a technology-driven consumer culture interfere with your identity offline. (www.passionateblogger.com)

BY KIRAN SOOD – MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

As part of my final post, I wanted to share some thoughts about the identity I have been creating and forming through these posts for the [...]

This week on Money Talks, your chatty hosts Joseph Freeman and Siddhartha Vaidyanathan speak with our seasoned agriculture reporter, Bridget Macdonald. Climate-change legislation has been proposed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, but Illinois agricultural groups are up in arms, saying the bill has the potential to raise input costs rather [...]

Are the shallower declines in GM and Ford sales for May really saying much about the current car-buying climate? (Motor Trend)

BY FELICE BAKER – MEDILL REPORTS

Ford Motor Company announced today that May sales fell by a narrower percentage than analysts expected. In fact, total domestic vehicle [...]

(Kate Shellnutt/MEDILL)

BY KATE SHELLNUTT – MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

You didn’t have to look at your calendar yesterday to realize it was June 1—the start of moving season, when leases expire and Chicagoans move in and out—you could have just looked out your window.

U-Haul vans and moving trucks, back [...]

With the recent mortgage rate hike, those seeking to refinance their homes may not get the bargain they were hoping for. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

BY FELICE BAKER – MEDILL REPORTS

The low mortgage rates characterizing the second quarter of 2009 may be history starting this week. According to