I was utterly surprised when my name was read out recently as the 2006 winner of the Nat Nakasa prize for integrity and bravery in journalism. To date, the award has gone to journalists; the idea of an academic getting the glory never occurred to me. Nor is there any special focus on journalism educators by the three groups behind the award.
The latest spike in oil prices to near a barrel is ”very uncomfortable” and is hurting the world economy, the president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) said on Wednesday. Edmund Daukoru, who is also Nigerian minister of state for petroleum, said the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah was responsible for the latest jump.
Gauteng has to plan now for population growth of five million to an estimated 14,5-million people by 2015, Premier Mbhazima Shilowa warned on Wednesday. He stressed that immediate intervention is needed to avert future crises. ”If we have this congestion with 9,5-million people, how will it be if there are 14,5-million?”
Hundreds of ostriches are being culled following an outbreak of avian influenza near Mossel Bay, the Western Cape’s veterinary chief said on Wednesday. ”At least a couple of thousand will be culled,” said Dr James Kitching. He said the number is small — about the same number a single abattoir handles in a week.
At least four people were killed and dozens trapped when a four-storey residential building collapsed in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial city, witnesses said on Wednesday. The building, consisting of 36 flats, a penthouse and some shops, collapsed at around 7.30pm local time on Tuesday, trapping dozens of people.
South Africa, led by their first non-white captain Ashwell Prince, arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday to play two Tests and a one-day series also featuring India. The Proteas are depleted by the absence of regular captain Graeme Smith and star all-rounder Jacques Kallis, both of whom are injured.
The Ugandan government on Wednesday flatly rejected demands for a truce from the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and said there could be no ceasefire until a full peace settlement is reached. Just a day after peace talks began under Sudanese mediation, Kampala’s delegation took a hard line against a raft of proposals from the LRA’s negotiators.
Chief executives of South African companies are paid 35 to 53 times more than average workers, according to a report released by trade union Solidarity on Wednesday. The report, which has been six months in the making, showed trends in the remuneration of top management of companies listed on the JSE, the union added.
With the R153 at current levels of 8,51%, local bonds are no longer expensive but have not yet entered buying territory. While inflation is under control, it will rise over the next year, especially given the recent rand weakness. The current long bond yield is still too low and should rise by at least another 0,5%, in order to reach a buying level.
Africa’s appeal as an investment destination has been highlighted rather than dented by recent equity volatility and negative emerging-market sentiment. This positive assessment comes from the Botswana-registered Imara financial services group and the marketer and manager of the Imara African Opportunities Fund.