Fed up with what they see as biased and distorted reporting, a group of Malaysians has launched a campaign urging the public to boycott newspapers ahead of a general elections slated for March 2008. The mainstream print media is largely controlled by ruling coalition parties or business interests close to them. Already pro-establishment in their reporting, they usually turn into full-blown propaganda tools in the run up to elections.

>> Sharing the stage with climate campaigner Al Gore is to open oneself to a self-flagellating guilt trip, Irish rock star Bono confessed at the annual gathering of world movers and shakers in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. "It's like being with an Irish priest. You start to confess your sins. Father Al, I am not just a noise polluter, I am a polluting, diesel-soaking, gulfstream-flying rock star," the U2 frontman said.

ngos have come to the assistance of female candidates contesting Kenya's general elections by helping them deal better with the media. Only18 of the 222 legislators in the country's last parliament were women, and only nine of these won their seats: the others were nominated to parliament. The initiative is spearheaded by the ngo Association of Media Women in Kenya.