Hundreds of R2-D2s will be popping up on street corners all over the United States in the coming months as part of celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of <i>Star Wars</i>. About 400 mailboxes across the country will be revamped to make them look like the famous chirruping robot from the science-fiction films.
The challenge of racism still permeating South African society needs to be debated honestly and fearlessly, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday. Writing in his weekly newsletter on the African National Congress website, Mbeki said racism remains a ”daily feature of our lives, a demon that must be exorcised” to achieve national reconciliation.
A pro-Pyongyang newspaper on Friday hailed United States moves to resolve financial sanctions against North Korea as a ”landmark event”, raising hopes for progress in long-running disarmament talks. North Korea, however, has yet to give an official response to the US Treasury’s announcement on Wednesday that it had cleared the way for the release of about -million.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is ”doing very well” after her liver transplant, her doctors said on Friday. ”She’s a strong lady and has recovered very well after surgery,” said Dr John Tilley. Infection will remain a concern over the next five days and Tshabalala-Msimang will be placed on immuno-suppressant medication for the rest of her life.
Sudan’s defence minister hit out at British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Friday for proposing tough measures against Khartoum and linking the conflict in Darfur to the spread of extremism in Africa. On Thursday, Blair called on the international community to take a ”far tougher line” against Sudan, and reiterated his belief in what he called the ”worldwide link” between ”global terrorism”.
Niren Tolsi speaks to Imraan Coovadia and Ronnie Govender about family politics and writing’s road to nowhere.
Spectators at this year’s Melbourne Grand Prix will have a new insight into Formula One race teams’ tyre strategy thanks to new rules for the 2007 season — if they can see it on a spinning tyre. Under new regulations, Bridgestone, F1’s sole tyre supplier, must provide two specifications of dry weather tyres at each round.
Meningitis has killed about 1 670 people this year in a string of African countries despite an extensive vaccination campaign, the World Health Organisation said on Friday. The deaths amount to more than a tenth of the 15 595 cases reported in Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Uganda.
The lack of progress in the Doha trade talks is a serious indictment of attempts by the developed world to increase market access for poor nations, South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Friday. The World Trade Organisation negotiations stumbled in 2006 on demands for rich nations to cut farm subsidies.
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on Friday said his talks with Zimbabwe’s embattled leader Robert Mugabe on Thursday were a ”great success”. Kikwete flew into Harare to mediate between Mugabe and the opposition following international outcry over the arrest and beating of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.