In a controversial move, Denmark moved on Thursday to end aid to Malawi, Zimbabwe and Eritrea, and to reduce aid to Uganda, because it "does not want to maintain dictators in power".

Presented by a leading professional, this intensive training programme will provide participants with a state-of-the-art overview of the principles and practice of fundraising in SA today - a must for those new to fundraising or directors, project managers, board members, volunteers and others involved with NPO sustainability.

It is with excitement that we announce the arrival of our new AFRO-NETS web site. Serving as the home page for our electronic discussion group on African Networks for Health Research and Development, afronets.org will contain news and events, useful links, and documents that are related to the discussions taking place on AFRO-NETS. The launch of this modernized site is an important tool for enhancing collaboration among people in the fields of capacity building, planning and conducting research, and transformation of research recommendations into action. We look forward to receiving your feedback, and to working together to end information poverty and professional isolation in Africa.

The fourth issue of E-SEAL has been published by the European Foundation Centre as a supplement to the SEAL Journal. E-SEAL provides information about legal and fiscal issues affecting foundations, associations, and NGOs.

Sponsored by GreenAbility, a joint project of the Conservation Council of Ontario, the Sustainability Network, Ken Wyman and Associates, and Web Networks, it is conducted by Ken Wyman and designed for grassroots and "kitchen table" nonprofit groups, with special emphasis on Canadian environmental organizations. For new organizations or those seeking to plunge more seriously into fundraising, the course is designed to help them understand the evolving science of raising money for good causes.

CIVICUS thanks Miklos Barabas and his colleagues at European House, Hungary, for their dedicated work in the production and distribution of e-CIVICUS over the past ten months, and their contribution to strengthening civil society worldwide by enhancing access to information. The new e-CIVICUS team is committed to maintaining these high standards, and ensuring a smooth transition. New with this edition of e-CIVICUS: -- "CIVIL SOCIETY WATCH" -- monitoring the repercussions of the September 11th crisis, and its aftermath, on civil society worldwide. Please see Section 11 for this special supplemental digest.

The new issue of the Bretton Woods Update is now available in PDF and HTML versions. Among the topics covered are the IMF and the crisis in Argentina, the World Bank new private sector development strategy, IFI roles in Afghanistan's reconstruction and in the "New Deal" for development proposed by the UK Chancellor.

The Digital Vision Fellowship Program is a sabbatical program for technology professionals at California's Stanford University. Digital Vision fellows are located full-time on the Stanford campus for up to one academic year, each undertaking a project that explores the utility of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in addressing develop ing world problems.

An African Stakeholders Network (ASN) has been launched to ensure that United Nations-efforts to bridge the digital divide in Africa are better co-ordinated, more inclusive and reflective of the significant efforts already underway to develop an African information society.

E-Governance information and resources, as well as project documentation, is ccessile online. Read this invitation from Vikras Nath to use the resources and contribute your opinioons and resources.

SANGONeT, in association with LINK Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand, is offering a certificate course designed to promote computer literacy. This 5-day course is aimed at empowering people with computer skills and an understanding of the Information Society.

The Environmental Justice Networking Forum (EJNF), a national Alliance of 300 non-government organisations, community based organisation and trade unions, is looking for a media coordinator.

Swift Global, an internet service provider, and KenCell Communications, a mobile phone company, have launched a joint mobile internet service aimed at increasing internet access, especially in rural areas. It will be interesting to see how this pans out in Kenya.

The UNITeS Knowledge Base for ICT Volunteers in Development and International Online Volunteers is up and running.

Amendments to Zimbabwe's controversial new media bill are only "cosmetic" changes, independent media groups and journalists told IRIN on Wednesday.

The DebtChannel/Eurodad discussion forum around Financing for Development (FfD) has begun. The first debate looks at lessons from Argentina, and the role of insolvency mechanisms. Join professionals from around the globe for this, and the latest news on debt, at the Debtchannel.org.

According to reports, Mr Baongla, publication director of the weekly Le Démenti, was arrested on 9 January. Two days later, he appeared before a judge and was jailed at the Nkondengui central prison in Yaoundé. Police officers also seized the newspaper's computers.

Oyo state governor, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina at the weekend inaugurated a N3.2 million Library and Media Resource Centre built by the state chapter of the NUJ with a plea to journalists to refrain from reports that could break the country.

The World Social Forum (WSF) appears an ideal and legitimate space to catalyze energy and foster the emergence of a social movement under the banner of democratization of communications. With this premise in mind, we propose that this conference should focus its attention on outlining a SOCIAL AGENDA IN COMMUNICATION. Being a cross-cutting theme that concerns all human relations, the important thing is to situate the central points for definition of strategies and aims, in order to build and give impetus to this social movement.