Redefine Possible

Guest blog post by Francisco J. Sánchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Secretary, Department of CommerceRecent events have reaffirmed just how extraordinary this period is for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).  The Arab Spring has generated a lot of hope for people across the region. However, it’s also presented a number of questions that need to be answered, many of which center around economic issues like unemployment and slow growth.  As the World Economic Forum (WEF) put it, “Recent shifts in the Arab world, coupled with an economic contraction at the global level, have created renewed urgency for decision-makers across the region to address the unfolding economic situation.” So, it’s fitting that, this past weekend, King Abdullah of Jordan hosted a WEF event to address job creation. World leaders gathered to discuss pressing issues including the advancement of youth and women, the impact of social media, and, of course, U.S.-Arab relations.

At the age of 63, former US president Bill Clinton says he has one more mountain to climb before he dies -- and that's Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.Clinton revealed the secret goal -- along with his dream of running a marathon -- while in reflective mood at the 18th International AIDS Conference, where he made the keynote speech on Monday.

Tennis superstar Martina Navratilova was released from the hospital on Sunday after recovering from a high altitude pulmonary oedema during her aborted charity ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.Navratilova, 54, was leading a team of 27 climbers to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation charity, when she fell ill on the fourth day of the climb up Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres (19,341 ft).

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova was recovering in a Nairobi hospital on Friday after suffering a pulmonary odema during a charity climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.Navratilova, who was leading a team of 27 climbers to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation charity, fell ill on the fourth day of the climb up Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres (19,341 ft).

By Spencer Osborne: There is a lot of excitement surrounding Sirius XM's new On-Demand service that launched this weekend. Within minutes of the launch we at SiriusBuzz covered the news and outlined a first blush look at the new capabilities.

I’m always reading on the Corner that Barack Obama is a far-left radical driven by anti-American and anti-Western impulses. Under the circumstances, it’s weird that he keeps giving speeches that are so at odds with his world view:

A $10 billion high-tech hub in Ghana could become home to Africa's tallest building, and bring global IT firms to the country.

A German and a Spaniard flew over the tallest peak in the Americas in a hot air balloon, reaching 9,000 meters (29,500 feet) in altitude, newspapers in Argentina reported.Adventurers Josep Maria Llado Costa and Uwe Schneider took off Wednesday morning from Illapel, in Chile, and landed five hours later in Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina, making good on their second attempt in six years at crossing the Andean peak Aconcagua.They lofted their balloon over the 6,962-meter (22,841-foot) Aconcagua, rising to more than 9,000 meters, the reports said.