IF YOU have just stepped off a spaceship and are wondering what all the fuss is about surrounding self-proclaimed Malawian prophet Shepherd Bushiri, here is a brief synopsis of the last few weeks’ events of the developing story. Born Chipiliro Gama, the 37-year-old Bushiri, also known as Major 1, is a businessman and preacher who…
SOUTH Africa breached the 3 000 mark for new Covid-19 infections over 24 hours on Friday — raising concerns for Health minister Zweli Mkhize. “Today, we report with concern that the new cases identified in the past 24 hours are 3 105. This gives a cumulative total of Covid-19 cases in South Africa to be…
US President-elect Joe Biden has warned that “people may die” if his incoming administration continues to be impeded by incumbent Donald Trump. Mr Biden said co-ordination was needed to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. He called President Trump’s refusal to acknowledge he lost the election, despite calls to do so from both sides, “totally irresponsible”. The…
THE US faces a huge task in reversing a culture of “crazy conspiracy theories” that have exacerbated divides in the country, Barack Obama says. In a BBC interview, the former president says the US is more sharply split than even four years ago, when Donald Trump won the presidency. And Mr Obama suggests Joe…
PRESIDENT -elect Joe Biden on Monday will focus on reviving a pandemic-battered U.S. economy as he prepares to take office, as outgoing President Donald Trump promised more lawsuits of the type that so far have failed to alter his election defeat. With the number of coronavirus cases surging across the country, Biden will receive…
PRIME Minister Boris Johnson said he was perfectly well after coming into contact with someone with COVID-19 and will drive the government forward via Zoom while he self-isolates for two weeks in Downing Street. Johnson’s latest brush with COVID comes after a tumultuous week in which his most senior adviser, arch Brexiteer Dominic Cummings, was…
JAPAN’S economy has bounced back from recession with growth of 5% in the third quarter of this year. It had seen its economy shrink during 2020 as lockdowns hit its manufacturing sector and consumer spending. The world’s third biggest economy is now showing signs of recovery, although some analysts cautioned that further growth is likely…
SOUTH African mobile operator, Vodacom Group, on Monday reported a 15.7% rise in half-year earnings, boosted by a once-off deferred tax rate adjustment and reinstated medium-term targets. The firm, which is majority owned by Britain’s Vodafone , said headline earnings per share for the six months ended Sept. 30, rose to 532 cents from 460…
FOR some Africans, President Donald Trump’s actions in the aftermath of the US election have been a cause for dark humour, while others reacted with dismay or disbelief. In countries whose own recent elections were marred by accusations of cheating and violence, some expressed concern about what signal Trump’s premature declaration of victory, allegations of…
WE all knew it was coming, and now it is here: an attempted coup. There is no other way to describe what US President Donald Trump did in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Standing in the East Room of the White House, the room where Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F Kennedy lay in…
