Nasa’s Phoenix Mars Lander has scooped up a little dirt, scientists said on Sunday, a first step towards sampling the Martian soil for ice — and the potential for life. The lander then took a picture of the footprint-shaped impression its robotic arm scoop left on its trial run, Nasa said.
South African authorities on Sunday began transferring busloads of immigrants who have been sheltering in police stations from a wave of xenophobic attacks to organised tent camps, officials said. A total of 10 camps are due to be built in the next few weeks to house up to 10Â 000 foreign nationals who have been forced out of their homes.
After the smoke trails of fireworks have evaporated and the cheerleaders have put away their pompoms, India has begun to question whether its new billion-dollar cricket league is a sign of a nation breaking free of a colonial legacy or just a crass money-making machine.
Yves Saint Laurent, deemed by many to be the last of the great 20th century French designers and the founder of modern fashion for women, died at his Paris home on June 1 after a long illness, aged 71.
Situated in India’s majestic Western Ghats, one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hot spots, is Parimbikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.
Customary courts are valuable institutions. They provide millions of South Africans access to justice they would not otherwise have. They are more accessible and affordable than existing formal courts and in general reflect the values of the people who choose to use them.
Hundreds of firefighters were battling a large blaze that broke out on Sunday on a back lot at Universal Studios, site of movie and television production, a spokesperson for a neighbouring fire department said. Burbank firefighter David Ortiz said that about 200 firefighters and two helicopters had been deployed to assist the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
President Thabo Mbeki has failed to provide leadership and should be recalled from the presidency to make way for early elections, the South African Communist Party (SACP) said on Sunday. The SACP blamed Mbeki for a recent wave of violence against foreigners in which 62 people have been killed.
The leader of a rebel faction of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change became the most senior opposition politician to be arrested when he was held on Sunday over a written attack on President Robert Mugabe. Arthur Mutambara was picked up at his home in Harare, his party and lawyer said.
Kwanele Sosibo asks Thando Mama about how his work is received and the commercial viability of video art.