The Sontanga Quartet joins hands with Alex van Heerden and Derek Gripper to try to explore the traditional Afrikaans music of the Western Cape, while using contemporary classical and jazz idioms.
President Robert Mugabe ruled out any new talks with Zimbabwe’s opposition on the country’s economic and political crisis, citing its alleged ties with Britain, the former colonial power, the state Sunday Mail reported. Addressing a ruling party assembly, Mugabe alleged the Movement for Democratic Change was taking orders from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his government.
Iraq’s new government is expected to announce on Monday an amnesty offer for Iraqi insurgents who have fought against United States forces, in a striking attempt to draw a line under the US occupation of the country. Though the amnesty is aimed at the ”footsoldiers” of the insurgency, it will include the radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
The rows over money and design that have bedevilled Freedom Tower, the skyscraper that will dominate the site of New York’s destroyed World Trade Centre, were set aside on Sunday as a granite cornerstone was officially laid on Independence Day.
A tenet I follow is to invest only in countries whose currency maintains its value over the long term. If, like me, you invest in the United States, you have to ask yourself: Can I expect the US dollar to maintain its long-term value, asks Martin van Blerk. With debts mounting and the dollar sliding, the United States may not be a good investment.
Two local media groups, Naspers and Johnnic Communications (Johncom), are looking for growth beyond South Africa’s borders. Afrikaans media and pay TV behemoth Naspers is poised for good growth through acquisitions in the Far East and Africa. Its English-medium peer, Johncom, will need to bed down problem areas while keeping one eye on growth in Africa, says John Slettevold, media analyst at UBS Warburg.
South African Retief Goosen won the European Open by five strokes on Sunday, two weeks after taking the US Open. Goosen, who led by one shot through 54 holes, had a four-under-par 68 to finish at 275. Richard Green (66), Lee Westwood (71) and Peter O’Malley (70) ended at 280.
Australian Robbie McEwen won the second stage of the Tour de France in Belgium on Monday, held over 197km between Charleroi and Namur. Norway’s Thor Hushovd, who finished second, retained the race leader’s yellow jersey ahead of Tuesday’s third stage, the last to be held in Belgium.
Greece erupted in an unprecedented paroxysm of euphoria on Sunday night as a nation with a thin history of footballing glory celebrated its triumph at Euro 2004. Fireworks lit up the night sky over Athens almost as soon as the final whistle sounded half a continent away in Lisbon, as flag-draped Athenians poured onto the streets of the capital.
On the pitch, Greece was the winner of Euro 2004. But the best performers in the three-week tournament may have been the fans. Not once during the 31 games did patriotism spill over into ugly scenes despite a series of nerve-wracking games between age-old rivals.