Kenyan civil society activist Edward Oyugi says Africa’s relations with the developed world amount to the continent holding out a begging bowl. But, African leaders insist they have a partnership with wealthy nations. The claim came under discussion again this week during a meeting of the powerful Group of Eight.
Springbok captain John Smit was full of praise for coach Jake White after the Boks’ stunning 31-17 win over the Irish on Saturday. Ireland had came to South Africa on the back of impressive displays at the Rugby World Cup and Six Nations, but it was the Springboks who prevailed, to go one point up in the two-match series.
World champion Michael Schumacher looks set for a battle with his BAR-Honda rivals in Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix after he and Takuma Sato finished fastest in the two practice sessions on Friday. Schumacher set the fastest time of the day for Ferrari, but he dropped to third in the second hour.
Staff at the troubled National Development Agency have written a new letter of protest to its board to complain about ongoing chaos at the organisation. Minister of Social Development Zola Skweyiya instituted a probe eight months ago into mismanagement, fraud and corruption in the agency.
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An overnight coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo was ”a freak incident,” says South Africa’s Provincial and local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi. He says a military delegation from the DRC is to meet the South African National Defence Force to discuss training and security sector reforms.
No one knows how old he is. Brown says he is in his early 70s; it is whispered abroad that he may be nearer to 80. But the original sex machine is still packing them in — and breaking their hearts. Emma Brockes talks to James Brown about love, jail and taxes.
Round three at Hogwarts offers rather too much of the same old thing, writes Peter Bradshaw. Alfonso Cuarón’s treatment of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley has nothing more daring than allowing them to say ”bloody” without getting a clip round the ear.
MOVIE OF THE WEEK: The second part of Kill Bill, Quentin Tarantino’s pulp-guignol shocker, is destined to see Uma Thurman fully assume the mantle of warrior queen and martial-arts mom, writes Peter Bradshaw. Once again, Tarantino has seen off the imitators, detractors and condescenders.