2 February 2007

Stories from 2 February 2007

Algeria: The Noble Black

  2 February 2007

Algerian blogger Lameen Souag examines the definition of the word black in the Songhay language, which is spoken in and around Timbuktu and in the Sahara. “It would be interesting to examine the connotations of “black” in more languages,” he writes.

Video from Benin: Fete des Peuples

  2 February 2007

Benin Fete des peuples chap 10 LaFlammeTV posted this video on DailyMotion of this month's Fete des Peuples [Peoples’ Celebration], an event that took place in Cotonou, Benin adding: La Fête des Peuples est une grande manifestation culturelle qui puise sa vitalité à la source dans les variétés caractéristiques des...

El Salvador, Mexico: Hike in Corn Prices

  2 February 2007

Tim's El Salvador Blog takes a look at a variety of economic news stories focused on El Salvador including the rise in corn prices. That rise is also affecting Mexico, writes radio host Ana Maria Salazar: “The Governor of the Bank of Mexico, Guillermo Ortiz Martínez, said that an emergency...

Mexico: Prostitute Stick Ups

  2 February 2007

Mark in Mexico, who was hospitalized himself recently for “some type of infection”, tells readers of a recent report from El Universal in which Mexico City prostitutes drug and rob their clients.

Venezuela: Chavez Indefinitely or Path to Reform?

  2 February 2007

Miguel Octavio, who is now also publishing selected posts in Spanish, writes gloomily of the so-called “enabling law”: “Two days ago the Deputies of the National Assembly simply gave up their jobs and their own mandate in order to enable Hugo Chavez to rule by decree for an unheard of...

Trinidad & Tobago: Hang them? Then what?

  2 February 2007

Jeremy Taylor gets to the bottom of the idea being voiced by many in Trinidad and Tobago that capital punishment is a solution to the country's ills — and explains why it's not.

Bermuda: Peeing in a bag?

  2 February 2007

Christian S. Dunleavy traces the source of a Bermuda regiment official's puzzlement over the idea that new regiment recruits are required to “pee in a bag” to the blog of a regiment recruit.

Caribbean: Caricom Blog

  2 February 2007

Though not officially affiliated with Caricom, the recently launched Caricom Blog aims to “provide information on the Caribbean Community and all related events, news, meetings and more”.

Poland: More on Sex Scandal

  2 February 2007

Traveling Life writes of the sex scandal in Poland: “Four. That's how many women have now come forward accusing the leader of the neo-communist Self-Defense party, Andrzej Lepper, of pressuring them to have sex with him. […] how many women have to come forward before the Kaczynski twins and PiS,...