AFP: Bringing tourists back to Nepal 04 December

For several years now France and Mali have been collaborating on a development programme for the west African nation as part of a bid to stem immigration by improving the economic situation at home. But contrary to theory, the co-development policy has so far had little impact on the flow of would-be migrants, seeking better fortunes in France.

Casamance, a land of pristine beaches and some of the most stunning landscapes in west Africa, was once Senegal's biggest tourist draw. But for more than 20 years the army and rebels seeking independence were engaged in bloody conflict, isolating it from the world. Now it's back on the vacationers' map.

News from Reuters

Egypt is committed to bringing in 14 million visitors per year. But it means building more hotel space and a better training for tourist guides.

Nepal is ending 2007 on a high note after former Maoist rebels agreed to rejoin the government, ending months of political deadlock that threatened to plunge the country back into civil war. Under a new agreement, Nepal’s centuries-old monarchy will be abolished and the country declared a republic. Elections are expected soon, but officials admit there is much work to be done. An AFPTV report.

An old Himalayan legend recounts that long ago, a young hunter was fatally wounded by a bear. To save him, his father decided to offer, as a sacrifice to the gods, the sacred animal of the Sherpa people, the white yak. The sacrifice took place during a religious feast called Mani Rimdu and, according to the legend, the young Sherpa was saved. Pfou Tchotar is 77 years old. He was born in the Khoumbou, in Northeastern Nepal. Soname, his youngest grandson, is ill. Pfou Tchotar has tried everything, but he cannot bring the fever down. Pfou Tchotar then decides to go and get Karsang, his white yak, and to offer him to the gods. It is his turn to save Soname.

Bethlehem, cradle of Christianity, is a magnet at this time of year for the faithful from all over the world. And after a period when tourist numbers fell, pilgrims are returning.

Niger, one of the world's poorest countries, also has the world's highest birth rate. The population of the landlocked state, bordering on the Sahara desert, has increased fourfold since 1950, and will once again jump in the next generation. The government has developed a family planning campaign to encourage families to space out the births of their children.

Since hippies first beat the overland travel trail to Nepal in the 1960s, thousands of foreigners have flocked to monasteries to study Buddhism. Today, despite political upheaval and a decade-long Maoist insurgency, they continue their religious pilgrimage in search of what they can't find in the West. Voiced report.