Shortly before Germany’s Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, flew to Washington for talks with United States President George Bush last month, a journalist asked if he was going to say goodbye to Bush ahead of the US elections in November. Schroeder’s adviser grinned broadly before composing his face into a frown. "I won’t speculate on that," he said.
The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange is reeling from a hyperinflation hangover. Having doubled on the back of an official inflation rate approaching 700% throughout last year, it has fallen 30% so far this year and is accelerating downwards. This is what happens when hyperinflation grips an economy. Those with cash are spending it as fast as they can because tomorrow it will be worthless.
"We were in the village to speak to Aids orphans, to put a human face to the lifeless, numbing statistics: out of a population of 2,2-million people, 93 000 children have lost at least one parent to Aids. What does it mean to have 10% of the child population orphaned?" Sarah Crowe investigates.
With less than 70 days before the announcement of the 2010 Soccer World Cup host, Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the South African 2010 bid, remains optimistic about the country’s chances to win the race for the major event. The host nation will be announced by the Fifa executive committee in May.
Sir Alex Ferguson has vowed Manchester United will bounce back from the trauma of their Champions League exit at the hands of FC Porto. Portugal midfielder Costinha’s last-minute equaliser on Tuesday night ensured United’s season now hinges on 90 minutes on April 4 — when Ferguson’s men will face Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park.
Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph scored half centuries on Wednesday to give South Africa the upper hand at tea on the first day of the first cricket test against New Zealand. Rudolph was authoritative, treating accurate bowling with respect but immediately moving into position to dispense a poor delivery.
At least 550-million light arms are in circulation around the world and they are the weapons of choice in 90% of conflicts, says human rights organisation Amnesty International. The superpower ideological divide that once gave a strange sort of order to the world’s wars has been replaced by ”entrepreneurs selling arms or military expertise and support”.
”Dear sisters, Happy International Women’s Day. The 8th of March is meant to be a day to celebrate how far we have come as women worldwide. But for us, North of your border, we have no cause to celebrate. I am writing to you, woman to woman. Sisters, you are letting us down.” Everjoice J Win writes an open letter to Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and other women in the Cabinet.
Janine Umuhoza was seven years old in April 1994 when her parents were killed during the Rwandan genocide. As the eldest, and a lot sooner than she could have imagined, she became mother to her siblings in a country fraught with danger at the time. Now 17 years old, she still faces the challenges of providing food and basic necessities for the family.
Bulls coach Rudy Joubert has put off naming his squad for Saturday’s Super 12 clash against the Brumbies after a spate of injuries made picking a side almost impossible. Already ruled out of the clash are fullback Johan Roets (ankle) and centre Frikkie Welsh (fractured thumb).