July was the grimmest month for conflict prevention globally in three years, according to the respected International Crisis Group, which is an independent NGO working to resolve deadly conflict. In 36 months of publishing its monthly Crisis Watch the ICG said in a statement that it has not recorded such severe deteriorations in so many conflict situations as in the past month.
Crucial peace talks between the Ugandan government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army will resume on Monday in Juba, according to Riek Machar, the chief mediator and southern Sudanese vice-president. "I am optimistic that this time they will come up with a positive result because I have seen the commitment of the Ugandan people," Machar told reporters.
Johnnic Comunications is on the lookout for a new CEO after firing Connie Molusi from the job this week. This has ignited fresh speculation that Molusi’s departure clears the way for Caxton CEO Terry Moolman to step in as CEO of Johncom, which owns 39% of Caxton.
Sandton hosted the prestigious Businesswoman of the Year Awards recently. But back in the boardroom, women are still treated differently despite empowerment legislation, say some of South Africa’s top female business leaders. Empowerment pioneer Gloria Serobe has been named Corporate Businesswoman of the Year for 2006.
Motorists paying record prices for fuel — R7 a litre in the case of Gauteng — will be more than a little surprised to learn that earlier this year an inter-governmental committee, after five years of deliberation, recommended to Cabinet that the system — where synthetic-fuel manufacturers were required to pay back monies received if oil prices were above $28,70 a barrel — be reinstated.
"I want to join your call, but I can’t, because I am too emotional about it, too conflicted, too scared, too horrified, too traumatised and too sad. I have taken to saying kaddish (mourner’s prayer) every night for the children of Lebanon, and I lie awake with the parents of kidnapped (or is it captured?) Israeli soldiers", writes Neville Sweijd
The bright yellow Honda dirt bike roars down the vacant Baghdad parking lot before popping a wheelie and continuing another dozen metres on its back wheel alone. The rider then spins the bike to a halt in a swirl of pungent exhaust fumes, burnt rubber tyre tracks and a burst of applause from young men and boys who have gathered to watch Iraq’s impromptu motorcycle club.
A scrum to get through passport control and luggage collection, no parking available for anyone who has come to meet you and little chance of making it to the domestic terminal in time for a connecting flight. That’s the typical Johannesburg International airport experience. Fortunately, OR Tambo International airport will be much better.
It has been described at once as "historic," "symbolic" and an incident to be handled with caution. But what should really be made of the meeting of opposition leaders that saw rivals Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara hugging and pledging to work together?
At an age when most people are enjoying a quiet retirement, Reshoketswe Mabulelong has started not just a new career but one which finds her wading across muddy building sites in a hard hat, shouting orders at men. "No, no, you can’t ask my age, just say I am a senior citizen," says Mabulelong sternly.