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Al-Ahram Weekly 19 - 25 August 1999 Issue No. 443 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 19 - 25 August 1999 Issue No. 443
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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A week in the world
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Profile Travel Living Sports Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters No business like show business
By Tarek Atia1,500 people were evacuated from six communities located within 675 metres of the Cerro Negro Volcano in the Leon province of Nicaragua this week. Cerro Negro has erupted six times in the last 30 years, most recently in November 1995.
The Internet arrived in rural Mozambique this week. Two computer telecentres in Manhica and Namaacha in the southern Maputo province now offer local residents free or cheap subsidised Internet and e-mail access. "New technologies such as the Internet and its related communication spin-offs seldom ever make an impact in rural areas where this kind of technology has the potential to revolutionise local industries and other businesses," said Economic and Social Affairs Minister Eneas Comiche, who envisions Mozambique's rural communities and businesses marketing themselves internationally. The telecentres cost $40,000 each to set up, including the installation of reliable telephone and electricity lines.
The 'ox walk', a stalling tactic used by Japanese parliamentarians opposed to a bill, didn't work this week, as Japanese police were given the legal authority by parliament to conduct wiretaps in criminal investigations. The Communist Party was prominent among the opponents of the new measure and thinks that the police will abuse the officially sanctioned 'new' power, which is known to have been used illegally in the past. During a 21-hour session of Parliament debating the bill, the Communist opposition even tried the 'ox walk', which involves shuffling towards the ballot box a few inches an hour to delay the vote.
Frankfurt's Zoo asked its visitors to become researchers during last week's eclipse, by helping to record how its 5,000 animals reacted to the phenomenon. Explaining that it did not have enough staff to record everything that happened during the event, the zoo asked all visitors to write down anything unusual or interesting that they saw the animals do and send a letter to the zoo marked 'eclipse'. No word yet on the results.
Uganda will be hosting an event called "Africa 3rd millennium festival of music, dance, art, culture and sports" from 28 December, 1999 to 2 January, 2000. The festival will feature Africa's best track and field stars, as well as a football tournament called the African Millennium Cup. A boxing match between Nigerian "Assassin" Bash Ali and Ugandan "Destroyer" Justin Juuko will take place on 1 January, 2000.
Elections in the United States continue to merge showbiz and politics. Rumours surfaced this week that Warren Beatty, the famous actor, was considering a bid for the US presidency. It was said that Beatty, a Democrat whose on and off screen philandering mimics Bill Clinton's, was dissatisfied with the candidates on offer, who are fronted by George Bush Jr, Al Gore, and Elizabeth Dole. Meanwhile, television presenter and prior presidential hopeful Pat Buchanan was considering a switch from Republican to Reform for the 2000 elections. The Reform Party's highest ranking official is Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, a former professional wrestler going under the name of "The Body", whose election inspired much debate about the course of American politics. Ventura is also said to be seriously considering an eventual run for the presidency. A possible Ventura-Beatty-Buchanan race has the media salivating.
Ronald Reagan, the former US president and actor who has been suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was a victim of a media gaffe this week when reports surfaced that the White House was preparing for his funeral. Former US first lady Nancy Reagan assured the public that there had been no serious change in Reagan's condition.
One of the 30 babies born every minute in India became the sub-continent's one billionth person this week. That tremendous figure inspired demographers to predict, with alarming accuracy, that at current birth-rates India will surpass China as the world's most populous nation sometime between 2012 and 2015.
This might be good news for China, whose government has taken vast measures to curb the population, which today stands at 1.3 billion. The China Daily reported this week that condom vending machines were being installed for the first time in residential areas, on college campuses and in public toilets in Beijing and Shanghai.
Yet another shooting spree made the headlines in the United States, inspiring much soul-searching and punditry. Paranoia that Buford Furrow Jr's form of racism -- he shot an Asian postman and children at a Jewish community centre -- was on the rise gave way to more sedate commentary in the direction of a serious debate on gun control. By the week's end the nation, and the world, were waiting to see what would happen next.
