The News Review:

- Senegal: Lack of Basics Blocks Return of War-Weary Displaced
- Senegal: Former Ruling Party to Take Part in Polls
- Van Heerden saves S Africa Tunisia fight back in Africa Nations Cup
- ADB to champion infrastructure financing
- Global – Hush: The big shake up at Nations Cup
- New ‘centres of privilege’ opposed: Expansion of UNSC

Senegal: Lack of Basics Blocks Return of War-Weary Displaced
AllAfrica.com – Jan 24, 2008
But a lack of water – for drinking and for building homes – is keeping many away. With some villages abandoned for 15 years wells have collapsed or are full of debris. Entire communities have been swallowed up in dense bush and homes and other buildings which are mostly made of mud-brick have been wiped out. GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_Inset” );"The main problem holding us back before was the mines" said Bouba Diémé from the village of Soukouta in the rural community of Boutoupa Camaracounda some 20km east of the Casamance capital Ziguinchor.

Senegal: Former Ruling Party to Take Part in Polls
AllAfrica.com – Jan 24, 2008
GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_Inset” );The decision follows a period of doubts and consultations within the party at grassroot level. After a meeting held on Wednesday the party made public its decision. "Some 336 constituencies out of 426 have voted in favour of the PS’ participation to the elections this represent 79 per cent of the constituencies" said Ms Serigne Mbaye Thiam a spokesperson for the party that lost power in 2000 after 40 years of rule. Until this announcement was made the PS and many other opposition parties were caught in discussions on whether they should participate in the local polls.

Van Heerden saves S Africa Tunisia fight back in Africa Nations Cup
The Citizen – Citizen – Jan 24, 2008
The match ended in a 2-2 draw. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. The substitute from Belgian outfit Club Bruges latched on to a pass from Teko Modise drifted past a defender and fired an unstoppable shot over goalkeeper Luis ‘Lama’ Joao to earn the 1-1 draw… The match ended in a 2-2 draw. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. “If we want to qualify we’ll have to now win one of our remaining two games.

ADB to champion infrastructure financing
Business Report – Jan 24, 2008
open(new_location win_name win_opts);}. 3 billion) soft loan resources for 2008-2010 will go towards infrastructure projects on the continent a bank official said on Thursday. Last month donor countries agreed a record level of support for the bank’s soft loan window the African Development Fund amounting to $8. 9 billion for the next three years 52 percent up from the 2005-2007 period… 9 billion for the next three years 52 percent up from the 2005-2007 period. The AfDB whose shareholders include Africa’s 53 nations and 24 non-African donor countries lends commercially to Africa’s richest nations and at concessionary rates to poor ones from its Development Fund financed largely by Western donors. Addressing an African ministerial conference in Senegal on Infrastructure Financing Youssouf uedraogo special adviser to AfDB President Donald Kaberuka said $4. 8 billion of these funds for concessionary lending were earmarked for infrastructure. This included a number of major road and rail projects aimed at criss-crossing the continent with transport corridors. “These resources are insufficient.

Global – Hush: The big shake up at Nations Cup
go.com – Jan 24, 2008
Nigeria’s forward line boasting Kanu Yakubu bafemi Martins and John Utaka was starved of consistent service as a lack of cohesion permeated through a Super Eagles’ side devoid of the attacking flair with which it has traditionally been associated. Furthermore critical comments about his teammates following the game from John bi Mikel will have done little to boost morale. In Group D Senegal one of the darlings of African football in the early part of this decade looked set to announce themselves to the rest of the tournament with a win only for another northern upstart Tunisia to peg them back. Two years ago Senegal scraped into the quarterfinals despite losing two of their three group games and their failure to dispose of their first opponent in Ghana suggests that once again the Lions of Teranga may fall just short of what it takes to go all the way. However perhaps it is too early to make such statements especially as Group D is wide open following South Africa’s draw with Angola. Thus with each team having played one game what is certain is that this is a tournament which could be won by a number of its participants. But the knockout stages are the time to evaluate who will be celebrating in Accra on 10 February… Furthermore critical comments about his teammates following the game from John bi Mikel will have done little to boost morale. In Group D Senegal one of the darlings of African football in the early part of this decade looked set to announce themselves to the rest of the tournament with a win only for another northern upstart Tunisia to peg them back. Two years ago Senegal scraped into the quarterfinals despite losing two of their three group games and their failure to dispose of their first opponent in Ghana suggests that once again the Lions of Teranga may fall just short of what it takes to go all the way. However perhaps it is too early to make such statements especially as Group D is wide open following South Africa’s draw with Angola. Thus with each team having played one game what is certain is that this is a tournament which could be won by a number of its participants. But the knockout stages are the time to evaluate who will be celebrating in Accra on 10 February. For now for the unfancied teams especially enjoyment and entertainment appear to be the key motivation.

New ‘centres of privilege’ opposed: Expansion of UNSC
Pakistan Dawn – Jan 24, 2008
He said Pakistan had noted British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s statement on the last day of his trip to India in which he had said that the UK backed India’s permanent membership. IC MEETING: He said executive committee of the rganisation of Islamic Conference (IC) would meet later this week or early next week on Iran’s request to discuss the issue of Israeli blockade of Gaza. The IC body comprises Pakistan Azerbaijan Uganda Malaysia Qatar Senegal Saudi Arabia Palestine and the IC’s secretary-general. Condemning Israeli actions Mr Sadiq said they constituted a flagrant breach of international norms and humanitarian laws. This situation he feared could lead to an escalation of tension in the region. Pakistan he said called upon the international community to ensure an urgent and complete lifting of Israeli blockade of Gaza and the resumption of fuel food and other humanitarian supplies to the Palestinian people. PRESIDENT’S EURPE VISIT: Mr Sadiq said President Pervez Musharraf’s visit was for promoting better understanding with political and economic partners and to remove misunderstandings and misperceptions about the situation in Pakistan and to inform European leaders media and the Pakistani community abroad about political developments in the country.