Global Voices Online

KZBlog summarizes Kazakhstan's president's address to the nation, a speech outlining the government's goals for the next year.

Blog Politique du Sénégal quotes candidate Moudou Dia's declaration that at the voting center where he, his wife and two friends voted for him, he officially received no votes. The blog humorously adds (Fr): “To take 3 to 4 votes from a man who barely got .13% of the vote is a bit mean” and wonders whether Dia's decision not to contest the results isn't motivated by his desire for a minister post.

Mirsulzhan Namazaliev reports on rumors that Kyrgyzstan's opposition is planning large, well-organized protests against the president for later this month.

Kamneed's Friday photos from Kazakhstan feature Almaty residents at work (RUS).

EspaceMaroc announces (Fr) the 4th International Magic Festival to take place in Marrakech mid-March and adds :”Having become one of the most marking events of the city, the festival seeks to promote magician arts by offering a popular attraction, democratizing magic shows by offering them to the public… [and] by offering free magic shows to orphan children of the region. “

InternetRapide.com writes (Fr): “The Sytek Gwadloup Company, in partnership with the Guadeloupean Region and ANPE Art, Culture et Spectacles are initiating the First Cinema and A/V Technology conference on March 1st and 2nd, 2007.” The conference seeks to present the latest A/V technologies to A/V professionals and to provide them an opportunity to network with each other.

Bangkok Pundit translates Thai a news story that talks about senior military leaders meeting to discuss rumors of terrorist attacks in Bangkok coinciding with holidays.

Jotman writes about one of the conditions that Vietnam has to fulfill in order to enter WTO - slash taxes on automobile purchases. “That's a pretty stark example of how a trade agreement can undermine the the quality of life in an urban center, and comprimise the ability of a state to manage its own transportation infrastructure.” The blogger suggests a possible solution in his post.

Luis M. Garcia reports briefly on a survey conducted by a meetings and conventions industry newsletter to determine whether event planners would consider Cuba a potential meeting destination if the US lifted the current travel ban.