Mail Guardian Reporter

Zimbabwe's attempt to strip newspaper owner Trevor Ncube -- publisher of the <i>Standard</i> and the <i>Zimbabwe Independent</i> in that country and the <i>Mail & Guardian</i> in South Africa -- of his citizenship threatens the ownership of his newspapers and media freedom, the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) warned on Wednesday.

The Mail & Guardian scooped three awards, more than any other single media organisation, at the regional finals of the inaugural Vodacom Journalist of the Year awards. Robert Kirby, the M&G's columnist, also won a Thomas Pringle Award this week for his TV column, Channel Vision.

A United States envoy said Pakistan's president assured him that he wants to do everything he can to avoid war with India. Richard Armitage also said the US military effort against al-Qaida has not been affected by the rising tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat emerged apparently unhurt on Thursday from his damaged headquarters compound after Israeli troops ended a six-hour siege that left one of his security guards dead -- flashed a victory sign as he was greeted by about 100 cheering civilians.

The establishment of Sentech's corporate social investment unit late last year and the appointment of Maureen Mphatsoe as manager, signals the company's commitment to provide technical and other support for the burgeoning information and communication sector

Kingston Nyamapfene comments on initiatives to develop research at historically black universities.