NEWS that three of the world’s largest oil companies are discussing a merger of their refining and marketing operations in the United States signals a huge shake-up of the industry. The talks, which could lead to a merger of operations by Shell Oil, Texaco and Star Enterprises – a joint venture of Texaco and the […]

THIS year, the Mail &Guardian is in agreement with the Boeke Prize verdict. The promotional “award” is given to one of six books selected by Exclusive Books, based on the votes of critics around the country. Last year the M&Gchose Robertson Davies’s last novel The Cunning Man, but in the end the prize went to […]

Mungo Soggot THE puzzle surrounding possible South African involvment in a United States satellite phone system took another twist this week when it emerged the system might not be geared to work above South Africa. A report compiled by the University of Colorado indicates the Ellipso satellite phone system will not function south of 20 […]

The author of bestseller Waiting to Exhale recently visited South Africa to promote her new novel. Terry McMillan spoke to MARIANNE BRACE AIR JAMAICA ought to be paying Terry McMillan commission. The heroine of her new novel, How Stella Got Her Groove Back (Viking), goes to the West Indies for a little rest and relaxation, […]

Joshua Amupadhi SOUTH AFRICANS seeking fortunes in Angola’s fabled diamond fields have fallen foul of the government’s crackdown on illegal immigrants as the ruling party, the MPLA, tries to prove it has stopped using South African mercenaries in ongoing skirmishes against the opposition, Unita. This is one reason given by the Angolan government for what […]

There are ominious warnings in KwaZulu-Natal that a major massacre could lie ahead if action is not taken, writes Ann Eveleth FOUR months since KwaZulu-Natal’s political leaders declared their 14-year civil war “over”, people continue to die all over the province for their political allegiances. And there are ominous signs that peaceful areas are beginning […]

Ancient lore, modern art ONCE upon a time, Qauqaua, a beautiful San woman, murdered her husband in revenge for his murder of her mother. Clytemnestra, who in Greek legend killed her husband Agamemnon in revenge for his killing of their daughter, would have identified with Qauqaua. The two women are probably in some sort of […]

Not only did Shahid Afridi break the world record by scoring 100 from 37 balls, but he was also the oldest 16-year-old ever to play international cricket CRICKET:Neil Manthorp INTERNATIONAL one-day cricket has to produce something unbelievable these days to excite the pressbox. Generally, it’s all been seen before. And I mean genuinely unbelievable, not […]

Everything from gospel to kwaito features on Sipho Hotstix Mabuse’s first new album in five years. GLYNIS O’HARA talks to him YOU hear the name Hotstix and you think Burnout and Jive Soweto even though the songs are 12 years old. Then you say that it’s a pity, but Hotstix really hasn’t done anything to […]

While the UN reconsiders its mission in Angola, the SADC is rethinking its own obligations there, reports Joshua Amupadhi THE United Nations Security Council will decide this week whether to extend its costly operation to maintain Angola’s fragile peace. Meanwhile, fears that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security set […]