The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Tuesday that Zimbabwe’s economy is in a state of virtual collapse with growth contracting, inflation rampant and poverty soaring. In an annual report issued after Zimbabwe won a six-month reprieve from the threat of expulsion from the IMF, directors expressed ”deep concern” at the economic situation under President Robert Mugabe.
Just days after the deadly Bali bombings, the sites of Saturday’s attacks have become the latest "must-see" attraction for foreign tourists on the Indonesian resort island. "We wanted to see what it is like," said Kris Clape, a 35-year-old blonde Australian, who was dropped by taxi in front of the now closed entrance to Kuta Square.
"This year, when the statistics went up the increase was explained as proof of greater public confidence in the police, thus encouraging women to report the crime. These self-congratulatory claims, certainly demonstrate chutzpah on the part of the police," writes Lisa Vetten, the gender programme manager at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.
Some local rich guy most of us had never heard of before was killed this week — but in far more interesting news, go stare at the joyful behind-the-scenes classic pic, which I’ll subtly call Chewbacca Gropes Princess Leia. If like me, you’ve also thought about taking some superglue and gluing toilet-paper rolls to local statues’ hands to liven them up, there’s a lovely alternative.
My single friend believes that social pressures placed on bachelors are a new phenomenon. I tell him bachelors have suffered social stigmas in many cultures. "Think of severe Roman marriage laws," I say, "that regarded old bachelors as reprehensible, barring them from advancing in a public career and prohibiting their receiving inheritance."
Oil industry executives, petroleum ministers and other role players traipsed into Johannesburg recently for the so-called "Olympics of the global oil and gas trade", which was staged in Africa for the first time. The event itself was the 18th World Petroleum Congress which brings together the World Petroleum Council’s 60 members.
In the 560-odd years since Gutenberg’s printing presses consigned illuminated manu-scripts to museums, the written word has been replaced by an ever-accelerating kaleidoscope of media. Whether Christianity would have taken such a firm hold had St Paul used bulk e-mail and SMS to get his message to people in other lands is open to debate.
In a parallel world, Steve Jobs could have been a poker player with a reputation as a cool hand. After three decades at the top table of technology, all the required skills are there: patience, self-belief, bravado — and, most importantly, the ability to ride a streak of luck. ”Some people thought we got really lucky with the iPod, and we did,” says Jobs, the CEO of Apple.
African leaders will meet on Thursday to seek means of averting the disintegration of war-divided Côte d’Ivoire, plunged deeper into crisis with the indefinite postponement of elections meant to bring peace. Côte d’Ivoire has for three years been split into two along truce lines patrolled by French and United Nations soldiers.
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