"The race discourse is not going to disappear because it makes some people uncomfortable to talk about it. By talking about it, I don’t mean a finger-pointing session, but a frank discussion about what the historical victims of racism perceive racism to be," writes Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya.
The United Nations agency charged with relieving world hunger on Friday made an appeal for $256-million more in funds to cope with sharp rises in food prices. The World Food Programme request came on top of another "extraordinary emergency appeal" of $500-million made by the agency in March to top up its 2008 budget.
Residents in northern Johannesburg areas were on Friday warned not to drink tap water as the quality was not up to standard, Johannesburg Water said. Spokesperson Baldwin Matsimela said during routine sampling on Thursday, it was found that the water supply was not up to standard.
Thabo Mbeki has spent years — and a good deal of jet fuel — in his efforts to convince African and world leaders that his gradual approach to resolving the crisis in Zimbabwe offered the only real prospect of success. He came close to being right. But then Mbeki’s studied neutrality began again to look like support for Mugabe.
The situation in Zimbabwe is dire. The world has known this for quite some time, and it’s become even more apparent since the March 29 elections in that country.
Building activity in South Africa continues to be negatively affected by the rising level of interest rates, high input costs and the slowdown in consumer demand. This trend will probably continue, as further monetary policy tightening is very likely, given that consumer inflation is expected to remain elevated for the rest of this year.
Thomson Reuters launched on the London stock market on Thursday, creating the world’s biggest provider of financial data to trading floors, overtaking United States rival Bloomberg. Thomson Reuters was formed after Canada’s Thomson Corporation bought British-based media and information group Reuters for £8,7-billion in a deal completed on Thursday.
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday expressed grave concern at the mounting violence in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel and urged all parties to show restraint. "The secretary general is gravely concerned at the escalation of violence in Gaza and southern Israel," his press office said in a statement.
Former United Nations chief Kofi Annan on Wednesday urged Kenyans to support the new coalition government, saying the deeply divided country had a long way to go after a post-election crisis. Annan mediated a power-sharing accord that curbed months of violence following disputed elections.
The price of New York oil on Wednesday struck an historic peak at $114,95 on news that United States energy inventories tumbled last week and as the US currency hit an all-time low against the euro, traders said. Later on Wednesday, New York’s main oil contract, light sweet crude for delivery in May, stood at $114,37 a barrel, up 58 cents on Tuesday’s close.
A coalition of Zimbabwean doctors said on Wednesday its members had seen and treated more than 150 patients who had been beaten and tortured since the elections at the end of March. The independent Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights said 157 people had been treated between the elections on March 29 and April 14.
You might think they belong in the trash, but what according to the <i>Guinness World Records</i> is the world’s largest collection of used crisp packets went on show in a German museum this week. The exhibit at the Hamaland museum in Vreden, north-west Germany, showcases the 2 000-bag collection of a local resident.
A 13-year-old German schoolboy corrected Nasa’s estimates on the chances of an asteroid colliding with the Earth, a German newspaper reported on Tuesday, after spotting the boffins had miscalculated. Nico Marquardt calculated that there is a one-in-450 chance that the Apophis asteroid will collide with Earth.
Zimbabwe’s annual rate of inflation soared to an all-time high of almost 165 000% in February, according to the latest government statistics obtained on Wednesday. In a report seen by Agence France-Press, the Central Statistical Office said year-on-year inflation for February stood at 164 900,3%.
Guy Berger gives a few pointers to the ANC: We are at one about media diversity — adding to the pool of choice among newspaper readers. And let’s agree with some of your concerns about existing newspapers. But starting an ANC paper is an ill-fated way to expose people to your perspectives on framing the news.
World oil prices touched new record highs above $112 a barrel in Asian trade on Tuesday as supply concerns and a sluggish greenback remained key factors behind the hike, dealers said. They said market sentiment remained bullish after the latest United States government data showed a surprise sharp fall in the country’s energy stockpiles.
Asian stocks tumbled on Monday followed by losses across European and United States markets on concern over company earnings and increasing gloom about prospects for the global economy, analysts said. Wall Street stocks opened lower as Wachovia bank, one of America’s largest retail banking groups, announced a net loss of $350-million.
The cold stimulates a fondness for roasted potatoes, pastries and food served in various kinds of "dollops". Nothing good for you comes in a dollop. Under cover we swell like dough beneath a tea cloth. By the time it’s warm enough to strip off the frump, it’s barely worth the trouble.
<b>ON CIRCUIT:</b> <i>I Could Never Be Your Woman</i>, Sylvester Stallone in <i>John Rambo</i> and <i>Starter for Ten</i>.
The South African Reserve Bank will be hosting the first round of regional monetary policy forum (MPF) meetings in May 2008. "Monetary policy has an impact on everybody. The main objective of the MPF meetings is to enhance the transparency of the bank’s monetary policy decision-making process and accountability to the public," it said.
President Thabo Mbeki will attend a Southern African Development Community (SADC) emergency summit this weekend in Zambia on the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe. However, Mbeki’s cherished policy of "quiet diplomacy" on Zimbabwe has been rejected by his own party.
In its investigation of complaints laid against the Forum of Black Journalists, the South African Human Rights Commission twice wrote to FBJ chief Abbey Makoe.
Tens of thousands of starving swallows simply dropped dead out of the sky in Limpopo after a cold snap stopped them feeding, an expert said on Wednesday. The birds fell victim to plunging temperatures towards the end of March and were unable to feed properly as they prepared for their annual migration to Europe.
Yes, the African National Congress’s conference at Polokwane last December was a watershed ushering in a grassroots democracy. But it has also bequeathed a worrying political culture in evidence at this week’s abortive ANC Youth League conference. As delegates boozed, scuffled and stripped for the camera, not a single resolution was passed.
China became the world’s biggest producer of gold last year, overtaking South Africa, which held top spot for 100 years, independent precious-metals consultancy GFMS said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the price of gold was on course to reach a record high of $1 100 an ounce in 2008, the group added in its latest annual <i>Gold Survey</i>.
Russian generals will soon have a stylish new uniform designed by a top fashion designer, but the question is: Will they fit? More than 30% of the army’s elite officers are overweight and 25% failed a fitness test, army spokesperson Vyacheslav Sedov said on Wednesday.
France’s interior minister faulted the Chinese organisers of the Olympic torch relay for its chaotic run through Paris, saying in an interview on Wednesday that French police merely provided technical support. "The Olympic rule is that the organising country is always responsible for preserving the flame," Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said.
Two global research organisations dedicated to designing a vaccine against HIV — the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and the Centre for HIV/Aids Vaccine Immunology — have signed an agreement to work together to address major biological questions that have slowed development of a safe, effective and affordable Aids vaccine.
As part of its Human Rights Month celebrations the South African Human Rights Commission, in partnership with the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, will host a national human rights and business conference titled <i>Business, Development and Poverty</i>.
Uhuru (Freedom) Kenyatta, the son of Mzee Jomo ÂKenyatta, Kenya’s first president, is the candidate anointed by the Gikuyu council of elders to replace Mwai Kibaki. Binyavanga Wainaina finds out why this is and what the contrasts are between the sons of Kenya’s legendary leader.
Soaring prices of basic foodstuffs could cause a "humanitarian tsunami" in Africa, European Union Development Commissioner Louis Michel warned on Tuesday. "A world food crisis is emerging, less visible than the oil [price] crisis, but with the potential effect of real economic and humanitarian tsunami in Africa," Michel said in a statement.
A South Korean jewel thief who said he was inspired by the 1996 hit movie <i>Mission: Impossible</i> found his crime really was impossible when he triggered an alarm system, a report said on Tuesday. The man, identified only as Weon, used a hacksaw and screwdriver to break through the roof of a Seoul jewellers’ shop and then lowered himself by rope.