Stung by their inability to end 15 years of conflict in Somalia, African Union leaders prepare to confront the issue with no clear solution except to recite old appeals and re-emphasise the pressing need for stability for the Horn of African nation. Despite fears of the Somali developments, the leaders meeting at a weekend summit appear unlikely to endorse any new proposal to try to halt the unrest.
Ghana crashed out of the World Cup in Germany on its maiden appearance much earlier than its vociferous football fans and countrymen had wished. The 0-3 loss to mighty Brazil and defending champions in the second round on Tuesday ended their World Cup dreams and broke hundreds of thousands of hearts.
Asia may be swamping the world with its cheap exports, but the region as a whole offers a huge market for nuclear reactors and technology, driven by the fast-expanding, fuel-deficient economies of India and China. South Korea, 40% dependent on nuclear power, has been pushing the development of the industry over the last three decades.
An unusual international alliance of private companies and governments is slated to choose a site in the United States for the world’s cleanest coal-fuelled power plant, called FutureGen, by summer 2007. The alliance includes the governments of India and China, as well as large coal producers and consumers from the US, Britain, China and Australia.
Either Michael Jackson is on the verge of a stunning comeback, or he is sinking to new depths of personal and financial crisis: as usual, his reality seems rather flexible. The singer has fired his business managers, formed a new company and says he is moving from Bahrain to Europe, possibly to Ireland, where he was travelling this week ”on personal business”.
A would-be initiate has died of malnutrition after he and twenty-one other boys were found hidden in the Ntabankulu mountains in the Eastern Cape, the province’s health department said on Thursday. Spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said the boys had been kept in the mountains for more than three weeks and were denied food. They were all taken to hospital suffering from malnutrition.
Two civil liberties groups sued in federal court to remove a picture of Jesus that has hung in a high school for more than 30 years. Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the West Virginia American Civil Liberties Union say the painting, Head of Christ, sends the message that Bridgeport High School endorses Christianity as its official religion.
Ruthless Roger Federer crushed Tim Henman’s Wimbledon dream for another year on Wednesday while Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams were so merciless that they seriously undermined their equal prize money campaign. Federer, bidding for a fourth successive title, destroyed Henman 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 in just 84 minutes to notch up his 43rd consecutive grass court win.
A gathering of Africa’s top media owners this week called on the continent’s leaders to give priority to development of a professional and ethical media, and boost the role of the media in support of development. The meeting called on African governments to view a vibrant and plural media as a vital cog in the development of Africa.
With a punnet of strawberries in one hand and a glass of Pimms in the other, tennis-mad tourists from as far away as Japan, China and even Australia are out in force at Wimbledon this week. The foreign supporters, who also include a strong United States contingent, cheer on their fellow countrymen and women, while soaking up the atmosphere.