International

It was edifying to be inside a church that Obama attended for 20 years and to hear first-hand the church’s commitment to social justice and personal responsibility. Let’s pray Obama places those two principles at the centre of his policy towards Africa, writes Jacob Dlamini.

They've been aboard a giant mining ship, they've been down the world's deepest mine, they've seen Cape Town's electric car up close, they've learnt about efforts to restore the lost languages of the San. And everywhere they've gone, their laptops and cameras have gone with them ...

Nicholas Hlobo, winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Visual Arts 2009, is gaining an international reputation for his experimental use of materials to "create conversations" around issues of masculinity, gender, race and ethnicity.

Barack Obama has not only won himself a place in the White House at the end of his brilliant campaign. He has also won the hearts of the people of Africa, not only because he has roots deep in the continent, but also with his charisma, humility and vision.

The JSE has partnered with Deutsche Bank to launch International Derivatives, a new asset class that allows South African investors to trade single stock futures on internationally listed companies for the first time.

The Cape Town International Convention Centre and the South African government are at an advanced stage of negotiations on a partnership to expand the hugely successful conference and expo venue, and in the process to create "the greenest building in South Africa".

A manta ray named Nandi, from South Africa, has been relocated to her new home in the Georgia Aquarium in the United States. She is the first manta ray ever to be housed in an American aquarium, and the Georgia Aquarium is one of only four worldwide to display one of the magnificent creatures.

In early October over 100 000 Christians flocked to the MegaFest International festival in Johannesburg, for world-renowned preacher and bestselling author Bishop TD Jakes’s two-day extravaganza of faith, and the first MegaFest to be held outside the US.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species has approved Japan and China as recipients of South Africa's stockpiled ivory. The conservation body has given the go-ahead for South Africa to make a once-off sale of 51 121 metric tons of raw ivory.

South Africa’s first electric car, known as the Joule, makes its international debut at the renowned Paris Motor Show in October 2008.