A curious case involving 13 so-called ”miracle babies” and immaculate conception has sparked concern about the proliferation of new church groups in Kenya. The case, which has dominated newspaper headlines in Kenya, is prompting calls for the government to investigate suspect religious ministries.
The outcome of the recent disciplinary hearing of three National Arts Council staff members had better be worth the expense, says Mike van Graan. But the cost to the arts and to the NAC of what has happened over the past 10 months cannot be measured only in monetary terms.
American lesbians are up in arms over the ”exploitation” of lesbian lifestyles, depicted in Spike Lee’s latest film. She Hate Me stands accused of creating an extensive male fantasy of having sex with lots of women — women who are usually inaccessible to most men.” Gary Younge reports from New York.
MOVIE OF THE WEEK: The follow-up to Before Sunrise, Before Sunset retains most of what was engaging about the first movie: it has its gentleness, its romanticism and, most importantly, its idealism. Peter Bradshaw reminisces and reviews.
Iraq’s United States-backed caretaker government cried victory on Friday in its 19-day standoff with Shi’ite Muslim militiamen in Najaf, but on the ground rebel fighters remained firmly in control of their stronghold in the city’s holiest shrine. "Not a lick of truth to [the victory claims]," said a US defence official on Friday.
President Thabo Mbeki on Friday called on the International Criminal Court to investigate the Gatumba massacre in Burundi and prosecute those responsible. Writing in the African National Congress’s online publication, he urged the African Union and United Nations to declare Burundi’s rebel Palipehutu-FNL a terrorist organisation.
The urgent application by French arms dealer Thint to have criminal charges against it dropped is to be argued in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday. Counsel for the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions argued on Friday that the application should either be struck from the roll or adjourned as non-urgent.
Relief agencies in the troubled Sudanese state of West Darfur have set up a working group to monitor and coordinate activities to stem the spread of hepatitis E as cases of the disease continue to be reported, the United Nations said. Twenty-seven people had died across Darfur by August 15 and more than 1 000 had been affected.
Nigerian banks threatened with extinction following a recent government order on them to raise their capital base to about -million by the end of next year have resorted to seeking divine intervention, a banker said on Friday. More than a dozen bank directors and managers last Wednesday attended a special prayer session.
Tens of thousands of Mumbai’s bar dancers and owners staged a rally on Friday to protest against alleged police harassment and a draft municipal law that aims to clean up hundreds of drinking houses. The law requires, among other specifications, bar owners to ensure that dancers do not wear ”skimpy” dresses.