Stories from 25 November 2006
Philippines: Boxing Champ Captivates a Nation
Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is already one of the most popular icons in the Philippines today. His successive victories in the ring inspired a nation in need of a modern hero. The poor adores Manny, who is also called the ‘nation’s fist.’ Politicians take advantage of Manny’s popularity to win...
Africa: paradigm shift
The Benin Epilogue asks whether there is a paradigm shift in African business.
D.R. of Congo: Bemba's lawyers walk out
11 lawyers representing Jean-Pierre Bemba, the Congolese Presidential-runner up, walk out of the Supreme Court.
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean film-maker wins first prize
A Zimbabwean filmmaker, Tawanda Gunda Mupengo, wins first prize at the Dakar Film Festival for his short film, Spell My Name, “The film is about a young albino girl sexually abused by the headmaster of her school and a young teacher who stands up to protect her.”
Dubai's Spice Bazaar to be Disneyfied!
Dubai's spice market (suq) is being Disneyfied, says Secret Dubai Diary. He has come to the conclusion after hearing from one of the stall keepers that the traditional bazaar will have a roof!
Palestinian Still Waiting to Return Home
Palestinian Leila Al Haddad is still waiting at a road block in Arish to return home. She says she has lost count of the number of says she has spent waiting and has come to the realisation that “Israeli decisions are without rhyme or reason.”
Oman Internet Clampdown
Oman has started to ban internet sites, says blogger Muscati. He said Oman's most popular website, the controversial Arabic online forum known as Sablat Al Arab, has been closed down pending an investigation by the public prosecutor's office.
Abu Aardvark: Bahrain Elections Spark Media Interest
Abu Aardvark says Al Jazeera Arabic channel has devoted an entire programme to cover the Bahraini parliamentary and municipal elections being held today. He says the elections have generated a lot of interest and scrutiny from the media.
Iran:Iranian Women Go to the Sea
Kosoof has published a photo showing how Iranian women go to the sea.
Bahrain: International Exposure
Bahrain is getting international exposure in the media with the Washington Post and New York Times covering its elections, which are being held today, reports Desert Island Boy. But it isn't the publicity the government wants in the global spotlight, he says.
Web 2.0 in Brazil Displays the Powers of Participation
Web 2.0 is coming on strong in Brazil and showing its transformational impacts on the national mind. The recent elections were a dramatic example demonstrating that blogs and citizen media are playing an important role in the process of challenging mainstream institutions of Brazilian society and they seem to be...
Thailand: Making Tom Yam Soup
Realthai has a generously illustrated post describing the preparation of popular Thai Tom Yam Kung.
Bahamas: Local music on the rise
Ngweekender is pleased to see Bahamanians are getting turned on once more to local music.
Africa: what China wants from Africa
Dr. George Ayittey‘s analysis of China's interest in Africa, “China’s increasing involvement in Africa should be viewed against this backdrop. Despite the euphonious verbiage about “cooperation”, “equal terms,” and “altruism,” the real intentions of China are threefold. The first is to gain access to Africa’s resources by signing with a...
Ghana: Al-Jazeera in English in Ghana
Ghanians are watching Al-Jazeera in English, “Here in Ghana, Metro TV has been showing live programming of Al-Jazeera for many hours, everyday. At least, we now have news and views from another perspective, as opposed to the western propaganda we were hitherto being bombarded with, by BBC World, CNN and...
East Africa: films in East Africa
First there was Hollywood, then Bollywood followed by Nollywood. Here comes Bongowood, a blog about films made in East Africa and about East Africa. Bongo is a colloquial name for Tanzania.
Haiti: Picture of Kidnapped Schoolgirl
Collectif-Haiti-de-Provence posts (Fr) the picture of Farah Dessources, a 20 year old university student who was recently kidnapped and killed in Haiti.
Senegal: Criteria for Recruiting Ministers?
Senegalais Frustre at Blog Politique du Senegal has an unexpected theory about how ministers are recruited in Senegal (Fr): “When [Prime Minister] Macky Sall promises maximal efficiency of our ministers, does that mean that we are going to have an international golf team or an olympic champion in paper crumpling…”
Guyane:Commemorating 1996 Student Protests
Blada.com announced that a conference commemorating the 1996 high school student strikes that led to more local control of school administration took place yesterday. The event featured a photo exhibit, a film and a public debate.
Tahiti: Photos
Parlons Tahiti posts pictures of Tahiti sunsets, yachts, the Moorea port, the beach at Haapiti, a local hospital, a dance company and much more.
Guadeloupe: Saluting “First and Only” Government
Convention Pour Une Nouvelle Guadeloupe posts (Fr) a declaration made by its founding father Magloire Pelage after he and others ceased power from the French in October 1801. (The revolt was later quelled.) He then adds: “Convention pour une Nouvelle Guadeloupe salutes the constitution of the first and only government...
