It is a view that astronomers would die for: a shimmering, blue, alien world with oceans and continents and vegetation changing colour with seasons. A vision like this, across the galactic void, would be unambiguous proof of the existence of extraterrestrial life.

The Khmer Rouge followed a harsh brand of communism, killing nearly two million people in their bid to return Cambodia to Year Zero. Now they have a new faith: evangelical Christianity. Hundreds of former fighters have been baptised in the past year. The Khmer Rouge’s mountain stronghold, the town of Pailin in south-west Cambodia, has four churches, all with pastors and growing congregations.

British security officials hunting for Margaret Hassan are trying to contact the intermediary who acted as the conduit with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s group during the kidnapping of Kenneth Bigley. They want to ascertain whether it is Zarqawi’s, or another group, that is holding the Iraqi-United Kingdom aid worker Margaret Hassan (59) and whether they can negotiate her release.

Former President Bill Clinton will shrug off his recent heart surgery and hit the campaign trail on Monday to stump for Democrat challenger John Kerry. Clinton’s eleventh-hour appearance on the United States electoral landscape comes amid a last push by the Democrats as they seek to overturn President George Bush’s slender poll advantage in the last full week of campaigning.

There were few surprises but one or two shocks as Springbok coach Jake White named an extended 33-man squad to tour the United Kingdom, Ireland and Argentina next month. While White kept to the winning formula which gave South Africa its second Tri Nations title earlier this year, he handed six new caps out and became the first national coach to choose 10 players of colour in his side.

Blue Bulls midfielder Ettienne Botha may not be good enough to make Jake White’s Springbok team, but the blond maestro turned in an exceptional performance to ensure that his side recorded a remarkable Currie Cup hat-trick with a 42-33 victory over Free State at the Loftus Versfeld stadium on Saturday.

Cleo Toris leads me on stage to the tune of ”I am a woman” and clasps my hand to her fake breast. ”They tell me you’re married,” she says. ”But are you curious?” ”Curious about what?” I ask. ”I’ll talk to you later,” said Cleo Toris (run the two names together quickly) to the laughter of the mainly gay and lesbian crowd at the Black Tie Affair in Springfield, Missouri.

Two South Africans released from prison in Zimbabwe on humanitarian grounds due to ill health, arrived quietly at Johannesburg International airport on Saturday morning. Pius Kanjowa and Lenatu Eselumu were convicted in a trial relating to an alleged plot to overthrow the leader of Equatorial Guinea earlier this year.