Stories from 14 March 2006
Russia: “The 9th Platoon”
Charlie Ganske of Russia Blog reviews “The 9th Platoon,” an extremely expensive and popular Russian movie about the 1980s war in Afghanistan.
Slovenia: Swedish Paper Solves Slovenia-Croatia Border Dispute
Michael of The Glory of Carniola reports on how yet another newspaper has lost Slovenia on the map.
Romania: Hungary Day
Tomorrow is the day when Hungarian nationalists in Udvarhely, a Romanian city whose population is 98% ethnic Hungarian, may clash with their Romanian counterparts, reports Andy H of Csikszereda musings: “[…] And once again the fact that broadly speaking Hungarians and Romanians live together fairly successfully and without rancour, will...
DRC: Elections news
Adventures of a Retired Armchair Traveller has two election reports from the DRC – the deployment of EU troops to maintain peace during the elections and the yet another candidate who has declared himself – now there are some 20 altogether.
Nigeria: No freedom for press
Chippla reports on the the impounding by security forces of an essay by Nigerian journalists who criticised the President's campaign for a third term.
Sudan: Time for war is up
The African Union tells fighters at Sudan peace talks that their time is up….If they can reach an agreement this may pave the way for the deployment of UN peacekeepers . Sudan Watch
Kenya: solar electrification project
Afromusing notes the building of a “massive solar based rural electrification of at least 88 villages is expected to be rolled out countrywide mid this year” in Kenya.
Nigeria: blog about blogging
Ore's Notes blogs about blogging and points to a BBC site that provides an overview of blogging tools that are popular...”Blogging, wikis and podcasting have become popular ways to create an online presence and share ideas with a cyber audience”
Cameroon: Colonial relics on display
France Watch questions the presence of a statue of French soldier in the center of Douala, Cameroon..”Does General Leclerc, a French soldier, deserve to be honored at the Bonanjo [Douala] independence square of all places, at the expense of Cameroonian martyrs such as Douala Manga Bell and Ngosso Din?
Liberia: Refugees
The Vision insists that refugees must have a say in the running of Buduburam refugee Settlement in Liberia....”It is also time that things become more proactive by giving refugees the chance to be part of some policy drafting which references the settlement since these policies are geared toward the welfare...
Nigeria: Impoding?
Black Star Journal comments on an article in the Atlantic magazine that “speculates on the possible implosion of Nigeria and the possible reaction of the US government in the world's sixth largest oil producer”
Ethiopia: New leaders – same old autocrats
Ethiopundit comments on a report in the LA Times which likens the new African leaders to the autocrats of old..“Tens of thousands are in prison camps, thousands are dead and those who operated in a false democratic space supposedly guaranteed by the West are ‘on trial’ for their lives for...
Kenya: bloggers meet the mainstream
ThinkersRoom reports that the Kenyan Daily Nation featured Kenyan bloggers “My one gripe — a very healthy imagination on the party of the author. I’m not 29. At no time did I divulge my age, or indeed anything personal about myself. Check your facts, ladies and gentlemen, check your facts”
Iran: Chaos in University
Sharif Chaos, an Iran based blog, writes about government's plan to bury anonymous martyrs in Sharif University (Persian). Blog informs us that about 1000 students wanted to stop this event but Basij forces beat them up and buried anonymous martyrs in a mosque at the heart of famous Sharif University...
