14 May 2008

Stories from 14 May 2008

Paraguay: Universities for Change in the Country

  14 May 2008

“The universities should become an important pillar for president-elect Fernando Lugo on his quest to bring about change in the country,” writes Viviana Benítez Yambay of Panambi News [es]. She writes that the new Paraguayan president, as a former professor himself, should recognize the importance of higher education and provide...

Colombia: Update on Suso en La Loma

  14 May 2008

“Suso” is a well-known person in the community of La Loma in Medellín, Colombia thanks to the documentation by the Hiperbarrio project. Catalina Restrepo of Cosas del Alma [es] provides an update on the work that has been done to help improve the living conditions of Suso. Gabriel Vanegas of...

Africa: Nokia and the developing world

  14 May 2008

White African notes that Nokia's business interest in Africa: “There is a reason that Africans, by and large, love Nokia and there’s a reason that the brand has made such an impact in that part of the world. While most companies around the world are ignoring Africa, Nokia actively develops...

Nigeria: Boycott The British Airways

  14 May 2008

A campaign for Nigerians to boycott the British Airways: “Boycott British Airways. We can do with one “less” airline. Nigerians are very respectful and hardworking people and they deserve to be respected. British Airways does not respect Nigerians.”

Nigeria: African Mobile Marketing & Advertising Summit 2008

  14 May 2008

Yomi writes about the African Mobile Marketing & Advertising Summit in Lagos, Nigeria: “The African Mobile Marketing & Advertising Summit is the foremost event of the year dedicated to communication and loyalty on the mobile in the emerging markets. With the huge growth of mobile communications in Africa, this event...

Africa: The Simba Lions of Congo

  14 May 2008

African migrants and refugees enter South Australian amateur league: “The Simba Lions of Congo has, for the first time, entered the South Australian Amateur Soccer League (SSAASL), as a registered club. The club is made up of young migrants and refugees from Africa who now call Australia home.”

Africa: Africa's food insecurity

  14 May 2008

A commentary on food security in Africa: “The most worrying scenario in Africa today, as the hike in food prices ravage the world's poor, is not in the price of the food, especially the imported kind per say, but is the underlying fact that Africa's population which is largely agrarian...

Africa: Cannes International Film Festival

  14 May 2008

Leo Africanus wonders why there are not African films at the Cannes International Film Festival: “I may be missing something, but no African film or film with an African theme (including North Africa) made the official cut.”

Africa: They don't take photos in Africa

  14 May 2008

Do they take photos in Africa?: “Pieter Hugo, the South African photographer, is the only African featured in JUXTAPOZ’s “Photo Issue” that came out this month. I guess we’ll have to wait till their “Africa” issue.”

India: Eating more

  14 May 2008

George Bush recently indicated that food prices had gone up because China and India were consuming more food. Sepia Mutiny has more.

Georgia: Abkhazia Crisis Drones On…

Steady State is confused by the ongoing crisis between Georgia and Russia over the breakaway region of Abkhazia. The blog says while Abkhazia claims to have shot down numerous drones monitoring troop movements in the region, Georgia denies that more than one was downed. Even then, Tbilisi lays the blame...

Israel: Knesset Freezes Talkback Law for Web-Comment Censorship

The Knesset has decided to freeze legislation regulating readers' ability to respond to articles via the so-called “Talkback Law”, in an effort to allow web sites to practice self-regulation. The Talkback Law, submitted by MK Israel Hasson (Yisrael Beiteinu), passed its preliminary reading. It would make web sites responsible for the talkbacks (user generated comments) of its readers as though they were articles of the site itself.

Lebanon: Civil Strife

The military confrontations between the different factions in Lebanon have subsided a bit. The Lebanese Army has declared that it will interfere forcefully to restore order. It also seems that there is some sort of undeclared agreement between different sides to avoid escalation. There is a real fear that the conflict will slip into a full fledged civil war. The past five days were marred with killings, atrocities, destruction and violence. Here are some bloggers’ reactions on the crisis.