South Africa recovered to 134/3 in their second innings, giving the tourists a lead of 84 runs on day four of the first test against New Zealand in Hamilton on Saturday. Jacques Kallis was unbeaten on 56, which means the record of consecutive hundreds in five tests is within grasp.
A passenger ferry from the Comoro Islands with 120 passengers and crew on board sank off the coast of Madagascar during Cyclone Gafilo last weekend, the French Foreign Ministry said on Friday. ”We confirm that the Samson ferry sank with at least 120 passengers, including two French nationals,” a spokesperson said.
South African Parliamentary Speaker Frene Ginwala hinted on Friday that she might not take up a senior post with the Pan African Parliament if the seat is given to South Africa. She said she personally believed that a seat or leadership of an international institution should not be placed in one country.
This year, in celebration of its 10th anniversary, the Out in Africa film festival combines new releases with old favourites. It also has, this year, a distinctly Latin flavour. Shaun de Waal takes a look.
Stanimir Stoykov is the auteur behind three deliriously enjoyable short movies, the first two of which showed at last year’s festival. This year sees the premiere of his latest, Pussy. Shaun de Waal talks to Johannesburg’s campest new filmmaker.
MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Written by screenwriter Peter Hedges of About a Boy and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? fame, Pieces of April is sparky and spiky and, like April’s eyes, a little black around the edges. Shaun de Waal reviews.
Government forces killed seven rebels south of the capital in a rare firefight this week, a government spokesperson said. The rebels, loyal to renegade Pastor Frederic Bitsangou, were killed on Tuesday near Kinkala, 70km south of Brazzaville, spokesperson Alain Akouala said late on Thursday.
I can just see it. Hordes of Americans and Japanese following tour-guide tannies with their empowerment-coloured brollies pointing out ”This is where Charlize was born.” ”This is where Charlize went to school.” ”This is where Charlize ate her first samoosa.” But it’s not only Benoni that’s going bananas, observes Mike van Graan.
Michelangelo’s statue David may be clean in time for his 500th birthday this year, but experts are concerned that his left ankle may not be strong enough to keep him standing forever. A Bologna University team has begun analysing tiny cracks in the marble masterpiece since restoration work began on the statue last September. Sophie Arie reports from Florence.
Former child soldiers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, the ailment once known among World War I troops as ”shell shock”, according to a study published on Saturday. Several hundred youngsters who had been abducted by the brutal Ugandan rebel group the Lord’s Resistance’s Army were interviewed for the study.