Paul Wolfowitz as head of the World Bank presents a major challenge to the whole development community. Science may well benefit but it is essential that poverty alleviation, not ideological ambition, dominates the bank’s agenda. There are fears that Wolfowitz will find it difficult to build a consensus on policy issues with countries that he has alienated so deeply with the invasion of Iraq.
Free State Premier Beatrice Marshoff distanced herself on Tuesday from allegations that the murder of provincial official Noby Ngombane was politically motivated. Nokwanda Ngombane, speaking at her husband’s funeral on Monday, said the murder was political and that her husband’s enemies were present at the service.
The tsunami warnings that sent thousands scurrying to safety after Asia’s latest quake showed that three months after the wave tragedy an alert system exists — a haphazard one that leaves many at risk. Indonesia’s vice-president has estimated the death toll as high as 2 000, but only 300 deaths have been confirmed.
England striker Michael Owen said on Monday that he has nothing left to prove to his Real Madrid teammates. The former Liverpool striker scored one of England’s goals during their 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Northern Ireland at Old Trafford at the weekend and said he is happy with his contribution this season for the Spanish giants.
The South African cricket team to play the West Indies has improved by about 40% since the series against Sri Lanka in August last year, says Mike Haysman. The SuperSport commentator and presenter expects Graeme Smith’s side to do well in the West Indies.
Emphatic victories by Australia and India saw them to the top of the league table after the fourth round of matches in the Women’s Cricket World Cup on Monday. Tournament favourites and four-times world champions Australia head the table after their 97-run win over South Africa at the LC de Villiers Oval.
Allan Gray Limited, one of South Africa’s top unlisted asset-management groups, has announced a series of transactions and initiatives that will result in a 25% black empowerment (BEE) shareholding in the company, the launch of a focused effort to encourage black entrepreneurship and the acceleration of the internal transformation of the company.
Tennis superman Roger Federer looked like a mere mortal on Monday, but Switzerland’s world number one still found a way to claim a three-set victory over Mariano Zabaleta in the third round of the ATP Masters Series tournament at Key Biscayne. Federer won his 18th straight match but looked far from invincible.
New South Wales fullback Mat Rogers was on Tuesday ruled out of next weekend’s crunch match against Canterbury, handing his in-form understudy Peter Hewat a chance to impress selectors. Rogers has failed to recover from a groin injury sustained in South Africa two weeks ago.
In the wake of a global record holiday-season online buying spree, South African property is the latest beneficiary of the rush towards cyber-shopping. Saul Geffen, MD of MortgageSA, says: "We have seen a marked increase in South Africans living abroad applying for home financing through the MortgageSA website and through our call centres."