NOW that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin “Bibi” Netanyahu has skirted political disaster over the Bar-On scandal, the focus of attention in the Middle East will shift back to a potentially larger disaster that he has succeeded in generating: deadlock in the peace talks. Like a bull in a china shop, Netanyahu has, in 10 months […]

HAZELFRIEDMAN looks at photographer Jo Ractliffe’s studies of the ephemeral `I HAVE a curiosity about what photographs don’t do. What they leave out, their silence and the spaces they occupy between reality and desire.” Jo Ractliffe is treading on uncertain turf. She’s talking about subverting the very basis of a medium whose status, particularly given […]

Claudia McElroy in Freetown INTERNATIONAL scientists are investigating the worst recorded outbreak of the highly contagious Lassa fever virus, which has killed at least 23 people and infected more than 150 others in eastern Sierra Leone since the beginning of March. The statistics are based on confirmed cases admitted to hospital in the eastern provincial […]

A year before France hosts the World Cup its young players are the envy of Europe, the result of an imaginative system with the accent on skill SOCCER: Richard Williams THE builders and decorators are in residence at the big house on the Avenue d’Ina, resplendifying the grand stone staircase and refurbishing the offices of […]

ANDREW WORSDALE speaks with Zimbabwean director Ingrid Sinclair on the eve of the South African premiere of her award-winning film Flame THIS time last year Zimbabwe-based film- maker Ingrid Sinclair was on her way to the premiere of her first feature, Flame, on the Director’s Fortnight at the Cannes film festival. This year she is […]

Marion Edmunds PARLIAMENT sidestepped human rights organisations and the public last week when it quietly approved the renewal of the controversial Correctional Services Amendment Act without providing for comment on its clauses. The Act, introduced by then African National Congress MP Carl Niehaus in a private member’s Bill last year, was intended as a stopgap […]

Glynis O’Hara on Tsepo Tshola, Best Male Vocalist nominee HIS music may have captured the imagination enough for his legions of fans to dub him the Village Pope, but gravelly singer/composer Tsepo Tshola has never yet been nominated for or won a music award. And, surprisingly, neither did his former group, Sankomota, win anything. Which […]

Despite being scorned as a member of the regime by the Zairean rebels, Etienne Tshisekedi has strong support from the people, reports Chris McGreal AS Zaire’s rebels brace for their assault on Kinshasa and final victory, they must also resolve whether to draw Mobutu Sese Seko’s long-standing political rivals into the revolution or shove them […]

Mungo Soggot WHILE the Independent Broadcasting Authority reeled from financial scandal this week, two of its councillors were tasting the joys of New York and Geneva. Co-chair Sebilitso Mokone-Matabane was attending a conference in New York, while councillor Lyndall Shope-Mafole was representing South Africa at the International Telecommunications Union in Geneva. Both councillors were accused […]

Marion Edmunds REFUGEE monitors and a few senior Home Affairs officials are lobbying for another amnesty for illegal immigrants – possibly for Mozambicans only – after last year’s asylum offer reached fewer people than had been hoped. Only 200 000 illegal immigrants and refugees from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries applied for amnesty, and […]