Few would dispute that community radio stations play a valuable role in informing people about events in their neighbourhood — and give a voice to those who might be denied a platform by larger media organisations. It’s a shame, then, that governments often hamper the development of community radio.
As they embark on a process to broaden relations with the People’s Republic of China, South African politicians and officials would do well to consider the advice of China’s reformist leader, Deng Xiaoping: ”Seek truth from facts.” China’s attraction as an ideological and strategic counterweight to the dominance of the West has led to a desire to cosy up to the Asian dragon.
An advertisement placed by the Democratic Alliance in last week’s Mail & Guardian had the manne reminiscing about the ethical hijinks of Connie Mulder back in the day. It seems the DA is looking for a ”researcher” and, according to the fine print, they’ll give preference to ”candidates who demonstrate a commitment to the principles, policy and programme of action of the Democratic Alliance”.
The West African regional group Ecowas and Nigeria have denounced Togolese opposition leader Bob Akitani declaring himself president despite losing to Faure Gnassingbe, who polled 60% of the vote in results announced on Tuesday. Nigeria, the biggest regional power, had pinned its hopes on Togo forming a government of national unity.
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Portuguese gym-goers are being urged to drink beer as part of a healthy diet in a campaign launched on Wednesday by the nation’s main association of producers of the alcoholic beverage. A total of 20 000 fliers outlining the health benefits of drinking up to two bottles of beer per day will be handed out to patrons arriving at gyms in Lisbon and Oporto.
Minister of Correctional Services Ngconde Balfour’s plan to reduce the sentence of some prisoners could free ”potentially violent” individuals, the Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday. At a Freedom Day rally in George in the Western Cape, Balfour said categories of prisoners that qualified for the reduction have been ”carefully identified”.
A woman who advertised her services as a surrogate mother to earn extra cash gave birth to five boys on Tuesday for a childless couple, and declined to accept a fee from them. Teresa Anderson delivered the quintuplets in five minutes by Caesarean section.
An air of change is pervading the European peloton ahead of this year’s big rendez-vous, when Lance Armstrong puts his yellow jersey up for grabs in his last ever race. The Tour de France is set to provide drama of epic proportions when the 33-year-old American puts his champion’s credentials on the line in July.
Bitter competition between two Las Vegas billionaires has delighted at least one person: Oscar Goodman, mayor of the United States gambling mecca in the Western state of Nevada. ”It will look more and more like New York,” Goodman said, gushing over his city’s new skyline, sprouting like a weed from the desert.