Since the start of a United Nations disarmament programme in Liberia in December 2003, much attention has been paid to the painfully difficult process of reintegrating the country’s rebel troops into society. Another — and equally important — operation is also underway, however: the reform of Liberia’s police force, blamed for a significant number of human rights abuses during the country’s civil war.
In city markets across China you will hear the following: ”Look at this beautiful silk shirt, made in America.” ”Look at these, real leather shoes made in Japan.” ”The very best chocolate, made in England!” On a publishers’ tour of China in April, my Western friends asked me what it was that people were shouting. I never knew what to say. If it says ”made in China” on the label, most Chinese don’t want to know.
Eight American states and New York city have launched an unprecedented civil action against five of the United States’s largest power companies, demanding that they cut carbon dioxide emissions because of global warming. Attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Iowa, New Jersey, New York and other states filed a public nuisance lawsuit on July 21 in the federal court in Manhattan.
The purpose of the South Africa Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) board meeting in Johannesburg on Monday was not, as reported earlier, to lure deputy president Keith Parkinson back into the fold. Parkinson resigned last week following a series of recent incidents that have further tainted the image of the sport in South Africa.
Springbok coach Jake White and Blue Bulls lock Victor Matfield have, according to both men, kissed and made up after a successful meeting between the two at Loftus in Pretoria on Tuesday. Relations between the two became strained last week after Matfield was sent home from Australia suffering from an apparent leg injury.
Former two-time champion Andre Agassi advanced to the second round of the Cincinnati Masters when Mardy Fish retired in the third set with a back injury on Monday. Agassi, the last back-to-back winner in 1995/96, was leading 4-6, 7-6 (3), 4-1 when Fish quit.
The South African Olympics team have suffered their first withdrawal after the women’s hockey striker, Bronwyn Ross, withdrew due to injury on Tuesday. On the day of the team’s departure to Athens, Ross, who twisted her ankle during training at the weekend, was told that her injury will not recover in time.
Battered and bruised scrumhalf Craig Davidson has been rested by coach Kevin Putt and will miss the Sharks’ sixth Absa Currie Cup rugby outing of the season against the SWD Eagles at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Friday night. Davidson had 19 stitches inserted in his forehead after the match.
Popular South African football administrator Crown Monnakgotla died at a private Johannesburg clinic at the weekend after a short illness, his family confirmed on Monday. The family said Monnakgotla, a former Premier Soccer League employee, died late on Saturday.
Real Madrid are keeping their fingers crossed that France star Zinedine Zidane will be fit in time for their Champions League preliminary round match next week after he picked up a foot injury in Sunday’s 4-0 friendly thrashing of Japan’s Tokyo Verdy. Zidane was forced to leave the field with a bloodied left foot in the 60th minute.