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/ 1 November 2006
More used to the sound of gunfire, the residents of Darfur’s main town el-Fasher tapped their feet to a rare beat as musicians from all over Sudan performed in a festival for reconciliation. For 10 days, puppet shows for children, street theatre and concerts provided welcome distraction for Darfuris who have been terrorised by rebels, the government and militias.
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/ 1 November 2006
I will never complain about a bad cellphone signal again. It saved my life this week. A suicide bomber had just walked past me and blew himself up in an Iraqi police station moments after I ducked round a corner to try for a better connection to the Reuters bureau in Baghdad.
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/ 1 November 2006
It has created a wealthy black elite but has been decried for leaving millions of people behind; advocates say it has helped redress the economic wrongs of apartheid but critics argue it is deeply flawed. South Africa’s black economic empowerment (BEE) policy was supposed to bring the black majority into the mainstream economy but as opponents grow more vocal, there are signs the government may be ready for a rethink.
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/ 1 November 2006
Kenya’s inflation in October rose to an annual 15,7% from 13,8% in September, led by an increase in food costs, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said on Wednesday. The underlying inflation rate, which does not include changes in prices of foodstuffs, also inched up to 6% from 5,7% the month before.
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/ 1 November 2006
A Dutch woman, who had meticulously planned her own funeral after the death of her husband last year, died next to the grave in Amsterdam where she wanted to be buried, a newspaper reported. The 65-year-old widow probably died of a heart attack while she was visiting the family grave where her name, but no date, was already inscribed.
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/ 1 November 2006
The JSE was roaring ahead in noon trade on Wednesday, fed by higher precious metals prices. Gains were seen across the board, however, and advancers outnumbered decliners on the all-share index by almost three to one. By 11.58am, the all-share index added 0,94%. Resources rallied 1,38%, the gold-mining index leaped 3,35% and the platinum-mining index perked up 1,97%.
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/ 1 November 2006
With a host of seasoned campaigners remaining at home, Springbok coach Jake White will be hoping to unearth new talent when his side takes on Ireland and England in Europe over the next month. The World Cup in France is just a year away, and White will experiment with four new caps and a number of new combinations on tour.
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/ 1 November 2006
In one month’s time Russia will contest the Davis Cup final against Argentina in Moscow, but Marat Safin would rather be anywhere else. Safin is expected to take a leading role in the final from December 1 to 3, just as he did in September’s semifinal victory over the United States.
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/ 1 November 2006
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United’s exhilarating current form can carry them all the way to Champions League glory next May. The Scot, who will celebrate 20 years in charge at Old Trafford next week, has made no secret of his frustration that he has only once, on a memorable night in Barcelona seven years ago, managed to get his hands on European football’s biggest prize.
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/ 1 November 2006
Côte d’Ivoire international strikers Didier Drogba and Arouna Kone both scored crucial goals for their teams Chelsea and PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday in their respective Champions League clashes. Drogba, who has been a player transformed this season in contrast to record signing Andriy Shevchenko, struck in stoppage time.