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Journalism should be about breaking taboos, plain and simple. The latest issue does just that. A few years back we decided to introduce a regular health section. That's where you'll find this gem. Discuss

You may have noticed a new editon of Focus on Africa magazine on the shelves. We love the cover by the way - hope you do too. In fact, the story that goes with it also had us intrigued. We look at how secretive lobbying in Washington and London by so-called 'reputation management' companies on behalf of African governments seems to be replacing the old ways of doing diplomacy. And a recent article in the British press also examines what it calls 'influence peddling' - in this instance in the work of certain think tanks trying to have a say in public policy. Well, they do say that everything has a price.

As is so often the case, social media has had a lot to say about the news. And not many stories this week have been bigger than the protests here in the UK. A tweet has been doing the rounds which confronts anyone who would compare Trafalgar square to Tahrir square. Lulu Rose I'm talking about you. "The youth of the Middle East rise up for basic freedoms. The youth of London rise up for a HD ready 42" plasma TV," she writes.
Now you'll know the latest Focus on Africa magazine has a discussion on the pro-democracy protests on the continent. An academic, journalist and blogger debate whether or not any reforms seen in North Africa could spread further south - and how deep rooted they would be. So I thought it would be interesting to send this tweet to them.
The reactions are worth blogging about. One participant, the Moroccan blogger 'Houdac', admits she doesn't really know what to respond to the English riots. "Basically I think the poor (in the Middle East) protested for basic needs while in London the 'less rich' are protesting to be as high consumers as the richest," she replies.
But the Ugandan newspaper editor and media advisor to the ruling party, Robert Kabushenga, is having none of it. He calls this view "out of touch with the desperation of the British underclass", who - he says - need jobs. "I think I know why they are in the streets and burning them. No difference with Tahrir square," he thunders. Do you agree? And what exactly is the distance between Cairo and Croydon?

With pro-democracy protests spreading south to places like Malawi and Senegal, can some leaders in North Africa start to drop their guard a bit? In other words, has the wave begun to move on? Recent events in Egypt have shown this is unlikely, but It's probably a safe bet that the Algerian authorities are hoping so.

This has just appeared online. It's from the latest BBC Focus on Africa magazine. A good news story - as requested by a number of our readers. Or is it?
For Kigali's many supporters in London and Washington, this speaks to Rwanda's continuing success as a nation. In fact, the government is pushing for not only wider access to healthcare, but also wants the population to be more tech savvy. Actually, the president seems to be leading the way. He's got a twitter account. Not only that but he seems to use it daily - unlike other presidents who are online but release a ceremonial tweet once a month about some bland government initiative.
But Rwanda has serious problems too. Human rights groups are persistent in their accusations that political dissent is not tolerated at all - and that the government even goes after its critics abroad. I remember speaking to someone a few years back who had visited the country and said he couldn't wait to leave because of the feeling of unease there.
So that's the dilemma, 17 years after the genocide. Yes healthcare initiatives are showing results. Yes, Kigali is said to be clean and relatively safe from crime. And yes, the country is plugged in and online. All extraordinary achievements considering where Rwanda was in 1994.
But without obvious political freedom, what does this all mean really?