It is difficult to imagine how a school pledge recited every morning can accomplish much. But this might be the opportunity to examine the fundamental values of South Africans and the role of religion in our schools. Some have rejected the pledge outright, while others would modify it, writes Abdulkader Tayob.
Every day, well-heeled citizens clatter in and out of the Rishengchang, China’s first bank. But the ledgers are dusty and unused; the visitors are not customers but tourists. The most notable visitor to the museum, President Hu Jintao, may well recall the lesson in hubris as he stares at the biggest economic challenge that he has faced to date.
Not many former chief executives stay on at their old haunts once a successor is appointed and they’re no longer on the board. Thulani Gcabashe, however, can still be found in the corridors of Eskom’s cavernous Megawatt Park — even though he no longer works at the utility.
The contest for the presidency in Zimbabwe has begun, with candidates preparing manifestos and travelling the length and breadth of the country to drum up support. The Mail & Guardian looks at the tactics, insults, prospects and problems of the three contenders in Zimbabwe.
”Our main concern with the information peddlers is that they are using invasive methods and they are distorting information, sowing divisions within the government.” Siyabonga Cwele chairs Parliament’s joint standing committee on intelligence. He spoke to Nic Dawes about the committee’s Special Browse Mole report.
Hardliners in Washington, Beijing and Taipei continue to warn of an explosive military confrontation between China and the United States as Taiwan’s short-fuse presidential election draws close. But growing evidence suggests hawks on both sides are purposefully exaggerating the risks.
The Mail & Guardian‘s Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya has asked: ”Can we as a newsroom honestly say that the black staff in our newsroom does not have issues they feel particularly unhappy about?” M&G editor Ferial Haffajee reports on the ensuing discussion about race at the newspaper.
Bedrooms (or the Oval Office, as the case may be) and boardrooms: they tend to share a characteristic — closed curtains. And when you ask the big guy whether he’s been fooling around, literally or figuratively, the answer all too often is "trust me". But once in a blue moon a reluctant witness comes forward with a stained blue dress. Does Hillary trust her man? No way.
Defects in working memory — the brain’s temporary storage bin — may explain why one child cannot read her history book and another gets lost in algebra, new research suggests. As many as 10% of school age children may suffer from poor working memory, British researchers said in a report last week.
India were on Sunday crowned champions of the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia after a thrilling conclusion against South Africa in Kuala Lumpur. Set a revised target of 116 to win from 25 overs after the second innings was reduced because of rain, South Africa needed 26 runs from the remaining two overs.