Taiwan cannot match China’s reported -billion aid offer to Malawi, but hopes a legacy of goodwill can convince the African nation not to switch allegiance to its giant neighbour. Taiwan is recognised by just 24, mostly small, impoverished countries, compared to 170 which recognise China.
Nascar driver Robby Gordon says the cancellation of the Dakar Rally cost him approximately ,5-million, and he disagreed with the decision not to race at least a portion of the event. Gordon said his team had built two cars for the event and had more than -million invested in each vehicle.
A Sri Lankan minister was killed by a roadside bomb planted by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels north of the capital on Tuesday, the second MP killed in a week as a protracted civil war escalates. Nation Building Minister DM Dassanayake died on the operating table, said the deputy director of the government teaching hospital.
Only 10 years ago, Tata Motors unveiled its first car, a hatchback, that established the truck maker’s credentials as a car maker. On Thursday, the company unveils a car that will sell for just  500, less than half the cheapest car on the market.
The African National Congress clarified the absence of President Thabo Mbeki and a close ally, Joel Netshitenze, from Monday’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting, saying both men had excused themselves a week ago, citing prior engagements.
A weakened Dolphins cricket side, including a player fresh out of school, has been named for the key away fixtures against the Titans and the Eagles in the Supersport Series over the next two weekends. The Dolphins, currently in second spot, ended the 2007 half of the season on a dismal note as their batting collapsed.
International cricket officials were on Monday night locked in intense negotiations to try to resurrect India’s tour of Australia after allegations of racism against one of the tourists’ leading players threatened to plunge the game into crisis. The Australians allege that Singh called Symonds a ”monkey” in a heated exchange during the second Test in Sydney.
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Top leaders of the African National Congress said on Tuesday they had ”grave misgivings” about the timing and handling of corruption charges against newly elected leader Jacob Zuma. Zuma has been charged with fraud, corruption, money laundering, racketeering and tax evasion.
The most prolific thinkers are those who provide us with new concepts to think new realities, and Achille Mbembe is one of these. A professor of history and politics at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research, he is more a philosopher than a political scientist or historian, but his works are the profound revelations they are because he synthesises all three of these with other disciplines.
Extending human life expectancy is not a new story. When our genes evolved thousands of years ago, it was not in the interests of the species for people to live past child-rearing, as resources such as food were in very short supply. So a thousand years ago, human life expectancy was in the 20s. It was only 37 in 1800. In the West it is now pushing 80, and we have been adding about three months each year for the past several decades.