People should not use live animals as Easter gifts, which often leads to their being mistreated, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said on Monday. Easter bunnies should not be bought or given in the form of live rabbits with dyed fur, the SPCA said.
Writer Bill Cardoso, who coined the term ”gonzo” to describe the frenetic participatory journalism practised by contemporary Hunter S Thompson, has died. He was 68. Born in Boston, Cardoso began his journalism career as a sports writer for the Medford Mercury in the 1950s.
Oscar-winning American actress Maureen Stapleton, who traded early success in the theatre into a highly successful film career in movies such as Reds and Cocoon, has died. She was 80. Born to an Irish Catholic family, Stapleton began acting in theatre after finishing high school.
Prince Charles stirred a small controversy in Egypt even before his scheduled arrival in the country on Monday, as some Islamic scholars objected to plans to award him an honorary doctorate. Al-Azhar University has decided to give Prince Charles the award in appreciation of his interest in Islam and his promotion of greater understanding of Islam in the West.
Government departments, under pressure to deliver economic growth, have launched a broadside against environmental legislation.
South African athlete Raynard Tissink swam, cycled and ran into second place at Sunday’s 2006 Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa competition, held in Nelson Mandela Bay. Belgium’s Gerardus Schellens took top honours in the triathlon that comprised a 3,8km swim across the bay, 180km of cycling and a 42,2km full marathon.
Hollywood, predictably, has dominated this month’s interest in world affairs. Hundreds of people might have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan in the course of the continuing military occupation of those countries by the United States and Britain, contrary to the perception that colonialism and the Cold War were things of the past.
East African leaders on Monday called for a combined regional effort to combat a searing drought that has put millions of people on the verge of starvation. The outgoing Inter-Governmental Authority on Development chairperson, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, called for insurance for people affected by famine.
Nine million children in Africa will spend Mother’s Day this year with no one to cherish because they have lost their mothers to HIV/Aids, according to a British charity. The charity Save the Children says additional funds must be channelled towards millions more youngsters missing out on school in order to care for sick and dying parents.
Police in Zimbabwe’s second city of Bulawayo on Monday searched the offices of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), apparently looking for weapons, a party official said. ”They have started the search for arms of war at our offices,” said MDC spokesperson Maxwell Zimuto.