Durban

By Jonah Hull in Africa on December 7th, 2011
Environmental activists with flags on their backs bury their heads in the sand on Durban's beachfront [Reuters]

Let's call it "Day One" of the Durban climate change talks.

Ministers and heads of delegations are now engaged and they'll make decisions where their minions could not over the past week and a half.

In truth, even the ministers must take instructions from their capitals - instructions that, I'm told, sometimes come down after high-level pressure has been applied by one powerful country or another (I couldn't possibly say who) along the lines of, "back off" or "support our position, or you'll lose your aid funding next year."

I couldn't possibly say for sure. But let's not be cynical.

Let's say instead, as Britain's man here Chris Huhne did, that there's everything to play for. He's right because there's nothing of any substance on the table. Yet.

Tags: Durban, Kyoto
By Jonah Hull in Africa on October 22nd, 2010
Photo by GALLO/GETTY

I've just returned from Durban, South Africa's friendly east coast port city blessed with a warm sea and world-class surfing waves.
 
It's also cursed - with one of the most insidious little drugs I've ever come across.

Whoonga, as it's known, is a substance being smoked in poor township communities around Durban, and it's popping up in other parts of the country as well.

Drug-taking is commonplace in the townships - what else do you do if you're unskilled, uneducated and unemployed, as so many are?

By Barnaby Phillips in Africa on September 24th, 2010
Photo: AFP

These are turbulent times for  South Africa’s governing ANC party.

It’s just ended a five-day mid-term review in Durban. Officially, the conference was meant to be looking at progress in implementing resolutions adopted at earlier meetings. In reality, the ANC is far from united, and policy differences are often a smokescreen as different factions jostle for power.

Many people in the ANC are unhappy with President Jacob Zuma; they see his leadership as weak and indecisive, and they’re reluctant to give him a second-term in office. So this was an important occasion for him, a chance to reassert his leadership.

Initially, I felt he did well. I was in the hall when he gave his opening address. When Zuma said the jostling for succession must stop, most delegates applauded and cheered.

By Rhodri Davies in Europe on July 8th, 2010

Pamplona’s bulls are racing this week through the Spanish city’s streets during the famous fiesta of San Fermin.

In macabre scenes thousands of people run ahead of six bovines along an 850-metre course, attempting to avoid potentially deadly attacks.

By Rhodri Davies in Europe on July 7th, 2010
Photo by EPA

The summer sun is beating down on Madrilenos as they prepare to watch Wednesday's World Cup semi-final with Germany in Durban.

The largest crowd for tonight's game is expected outside Real Madrid's Bearnabeu stadium, where a giant screen has been erected.

Otherwise one of the capital's plentiful small bars is the place to see the game.

Locals are promising that if the Spaniards make it to their first World Cup final the streets will be full come night time.

As deliberations over who is to start the game continue to occupy fan's thoughts – with doubts over the fitness of Cesc Fabregas and misfiring Fernando Torres – interest is also being focused on Jose Luis Rodrieguez Zapatero, the prime minister of Spain.

Zapatero's close attention to the World Cup has led to him being labelled the new minister of sport and questions of whether he will start on the bench.

The prime minister of course is not the first politician to attempt to alig

By Haru Mutasa in Africa on June 14th, 2010

 

File 2927

Al Jazeera Live

What's Hot


Recent Comments

This work is licensed under Creative Commons. Please read our attribution policy.