Neglected News

In today's world, news is strongly filtered into a 'soundbitesize' chunk of evening news. Even respected, in-depth news agencies such as BBC World rarely report on national politics or events in, say, Uruguay or Laos. Feeling somewhat frustrated that there are vast parts of the world that I'm clueless about, I decided to check things out. As it turns out, World Newspapers is an excellent portal for this sort of thing. I used it to find the following top stories for the countries of Africa:

Algeria

A Saudi prince was killed in the Algerian desert (29 Nov)

Angola

President defends anti-HIV/AIDS law (27 Nov)

Benin

Benin Republic Accuses Nigeria of Breaking Trade Treaty (26 Nov)

Botswana

3-meter high electric fence raised to keep Zimbabweans out (30 Nov)

Burkina Faso

President of Cote d'Ivoire visits for peace talks (26 Nov)

Burundi

UN Team pleads for help to this now peaceful country (25 Nov)

Cameroon

Nigeria won't hand over disputed border area (26 Nov)

Cape Verde

Getting poorer despite growing economy, says report (24 Nov)

Central African Republic

South African Foreign Minister promises reconciliation help after civil conflicts (28 Nov)

Chad

Government gets World Bank money for oil, under condition of constructive spending (27 Nov)

Congo

200 die in boat accident (29 Nov)

Cote d'Ivoire

Human Rights Watch says government supports militia groups (27 Nov)

Djibouti

Country Set to Become Biggest US Aid Recipient in Africa (11 Nov)

Egypt

Arsenal soccer team trains in Cairo (24 Nov)

Equatorial Guinea

French journalist released with no charges after 8 days (12 Nov)

Eritrea

Troops marching toward Ethiopia (28 Nov)

Ethiopia

Ethiopian UNAIDS head gives interview (29 Nov)

Gabon

Foreign Minister to go on African tour (24 Nov)

Gambia

Director of Operations for National Intelligence Agency fired on fraud charges (17 Nov)

Ghana

Anglican Church opposes unnatural carnal behavior (26 Nov)

Guinea

Soccer team to play other African teams (22 Nov)

Guinea Bissau

UN Peace-Builder to stay around for another year (20 Nov)

Kenya

Business tycoon accused of murder (29 Nov)

Lesotho

Union sues government for shooting at demonstrator (26 Nov)

Liberia

Capital has electricity and the airport is open again, say UN (29 Nov)

Lybia

Gadaffi asked to help in Ethiopian/Eritrean peace talks (24 Nov)

Madagascar

Receives grant to protect biodiversity (24 Nov)

Malawi

President asked to help in internal Zimbabwean conflict (25 Nov)

Mali

Cholera outbreak kills 82 in 4 months (26 Nov)

Mauritania

Soccer supporters went on looting spree (18 Nov)

Mauritius

Association for Development of Education in Africa holds Biennial Meeting (26 Nov)

Morocco

Baja Casablanca soccer teams wins last ever CAF Cup (24 Nov)

Mozambique

Attorney general's office denounces crime and media's pressure on a trial (29 Nov)

Namibia

Anonymous letter circulates calling for President Sam Nujoma to be impeached (27 Nov)

Niger

Nigerian state repatriates beggars from Niger (20 Nov)

Nigeria

BMWs donated to government by local industry (30 Nov)

Rwanda

Four Rwandan officers on trial before UN Tribunal (29 Nov)

Sao Tome and Principe

Working together with Nigeria on mutual development plan (17 Nov)

Senegal

Youssou N'Dour releases Islamic album (22 Nov)

Seychelles

Murder of three women raises women's issues in parliament (25 Nov)

Sierra Leone

Police confiscates newspaper's equipment as damages for libel case (25 Nov)

Somalia

UN pleads for funds to fight what is feared to be worst drought in 2 decades (26 Nov)

South Africa

Well-known musician will take public AIDS test on World AIDS Day (30 Nov)

Sudan

Heavy fighting between rebels and militia forces --210 dead (28 Nov)

Swaziland

New prime minister considered good businessman (17 Nov)

Tanzania

Received $20 million for vaccination (27 Nov)

Togo

Elections announced, to be boycotted by opposition parties (11 Nov)

Tunisia

UN Human Rights envoy concerned by harassment of Tunisian lawyer (26 Nov)

Uganda

Army representative in parliament quits amid corruption charges (29 Nov)

Western Sahara

Western Sahara UN representative, Alvaro de Soto, holds talks today in Algeria (18 Nov)

Zambia

Parliament moves to castrate child rapists (29 Nov)

Zimbabwe

Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) has all but collapsed due to political differences (30 Nov)

There are definitely stories here that I'd liked to have heard. What's more, some items are intriguing and put Africa in a new light. I'll try to check out another continent soon. And let's all thank the Internet for making this information accessible.