THE United States embassy building in central Nairobi, which was the scene of the August 7 1998 bomb blast in which over 250 people including 11 Americans died, will be demolished ”n the near future”. US ambassador to Kenya Prudence Bushnell was on quoted Sunday by the Nairobi-based Sunday Standard as confirming that the building […]

TANZANIA has joined Inmarsat, the satellite telecommunications group, becoming its 85th member, the company said on Friday. Tanzania is the 14th African country to join the group. Tanzania’s joining Inmarsat ”illustrates the persistent need for mobile communications by satellite, and for computers, which are essential for growth and development in this region,” said Shola Taylor, […]

THE Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, has resigned along with his government following President Blaise Compaore’s inauguration for a new seven-year term. Compaore, who was re-elected on November 15, approved the resignation of the government late on Friday in the capital Ouagadougou. Compaore is expected within the next few days to appoint […]

Angella Johnson: VIEW FROM A BROAD There are many clubs for travellers. There’s the mile-high club, that exclusive group of people who have copulated 10 000m above ground. Then there are numerous frequent-flyer clubs. Well, I’ve just joined what should be called the deportation club. It was not by choice and certainly does not have […]

Chiara Carter and Marianne Merten In the mythology of the Cape Flats’s Americans gang, the six white and seven red lines on the stars and stripes flag represent crisp banknotes stained in blood. Criminologist Don Pinnock says this representation, integrated into the gang’s initiation ritual, illustrates key elements of Cape gangsterism – money, violence and […]

Britain’s most famous wartime general has been tainted by revelations in newly released secret papers, reports Alan Travis from London The reputation of Britain’s most famous wartime general, Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, has been dealt a body blow by the disclosure of secret papers revealing that he advocated a racist imperial “masterplan” for […]

Cameron Duodu: LETTER FROM THE NORTH In its January 6 issue, The Washington Post reported: “United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has obtained what he regards as convincing evidence that UN arms inspectors helped collect eavesdropping intelligence used in United States efforts to undermine the Iraqi regime, according to confidants who said he is deeply […]

EGYPTIAN women will soon be able to buy a divorce even if their husband objects, under a draft law outlined by the government Al-Ahram newspaper on Thursday. Justice Minister Faruq Seif an-Nasr said that a new law on personal status is being drawn up to simplify legal procedures and it will go before Parliament shortly. […]

Is Antz producer Jeffrey Katzenberg taking revenge on former employer Disney?He spoke to David Eimer When Antz, the first animated feature from DreamWorks SKG, overtook the $67- million box-office take of Beavis and Butthead Do America in November 1998, it became the most successful non- Disney animated movie ever. Still riding high, Antz is the […]

FORMER Lesotho prime minister Ntsu Mokhehle died on Wednesday night at a hospital in Bloemfontein, Lesotho government officials confirmed on Thursday. The 80-year-old former head of state fell ill during celebrations to mark his birthday on December 26 and was rushed to hospital in Bloemfontein, where he remained until he died. Mokhehle was treated for […]