”President Thabo Mbeki has never understood the mass participatory culture that arose in the townships in the 1980s and still survives — particularly in the labour movement. Indeed, he has read it as a challenge to his authority and tried to stamp on it. He is paying the price now, as his rival, Jacob Zuma, cashes in on widespread disillusionment with his autocratic political style,” writes Drew Forrest.

The unholy fuss about the future of the Scorpions has everyone on tenterhooks. Not least, those unfortunates who have been captured in the Scorpion’s laser-beam and await the terrible knock on the door that indicates arrest and trial are imminent.

Guards at a detention centre at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam were on Thursday night accused of negligence after at least 11 illegal immigrants burned to death in a fire at the complex. The inmates, who had been awaiting deportation, died after the fire spread through the building in the early hours of Thursday. At least 15 other detainees were injured.

”We finished the interviews, deep in the Baghdad slum known as Sadr City, and The Guardian newspaper’s two vehicles started heading back to the hotel. The street was deserted until three cars, including a police Land Cruiser, sliced around a corner and into our path. Gunmen piled out and surrounded us.”