Two explosions were heard on Thursday near a Moscow theatre where 700 people are being held hostage by Chechen rebels demanding an end to the war in the Caucasus republic.

There is an ironic parity between utterances made recently by Sir Antony Sher and those made some years ago by another South African-born actor, Janet Suzman.

Around the end of next month a novel of mine is being published. <i>Songs of the Cockroach</i> is set in the Cape Town of 2004 and takes a wistful look at various corrupt or absurd enterprises, the sometimes abominable people driving them three years from now.

As much as it irks one to admit it, Percy Sonn got it absolutely right. Hansie Cronje should immediately be returned to full participation in not only cricketing but its associated gambling activities as well.

The Northern Province is about to have its name changed. Recently released has been a short-list of four possible new names, the favourite being Limpopo. Such a name, with its derivation the Ndebele "iLimphopho", meaning river of waterfalls, slides easier off the tongue than Northern Province.

Last Friday President Thabo Mbeki made his annual State of the Nation speech to Parliament. As expected the occasion exposed us to another display of the bossman’s ebullient wordplay, another glimpse across the bright fabric of a mind that passeth all common understanding.

Choosing the best medical scheme plan is a life-and-death choice if you are HIV-positive and face long-term anti-retroviral treatment and extensive hospital bills.