Konymandibio Blog

Image caption This exceptional instrument once shone from the grandest stages in South Africa In 1962 Igor Stravinsky, the Russian-born composer and conductor, went to South Africa to conduct the state broadcaster SABC Symphony Orchestra in a series of concerts. It was the height of apartheid - and the regime believed classical music was the domain of white people. The BBC's Sophie Ribstein takes a walk down memory lane to see if a certain imposing harp was used in the concert.  It was like travelling back in time. The walls were covered with the brown carpet, the architecture was brutalist.  As I walked down the long dark corridors of the headquarters of the SABC - South Africa's state broadcaster - I could have been stepping into the 1970s, when the apartheid regime occupied the building and the airwaves.  SABC was once the core of the racist state's propaganda machine. I then turned a corner, pushed past a metal blue gate, walked into the music library... an...

The United States vs. China was the 2017 trade battle that never materialized. But 2018 could be a different story. President Trump hammered China on the campaign trail, promising to get tough on trade. But  his tune changed  once in office, with fiery rhetoric giving way to  a budding bromance  with Chinese President Xi Jinping.  Trump didn't follow through on his promise to label China a currency manipulator, and instead opened talks with Beijing on improving economic ties. He also put potentially inflammatory investigations  on the back burner . Related: Trump's top trade issues: Where they stand "Despite strong language a year ago, the U.S. administration has been remarkably restrained in its usage of measures to restrict imports from China," said Louis Kuijs, the top Asia economist at advisory firm Oxford Economics. But experts predict things are going to get nasty in 2018. 'I expect a trade war' Trump's patience appears to be run...

Washington (CNN) In the space of a week, the Trump administration has named Russia a "rival power," sanctioned a close Putin ally, and decided to give Ukraine anti-tank weapons to help in its fight against Moscow-backed militias.  It's a series of steps that has been paired with tougher rhetoric from the State Department about Moscow's destabilizing activities in eastern Ukraine, and serious charges from the Pentagon that Russia is intentionally violating de-confliction agreements in Syria.  The slew of actions highlights a decided turn away from the warmer, more cooperative relationship with Russia that President Donald Trump called for during his campaign and early in his presidency.  As Trump nears the one-year mark in office, a number of factors have intruded on those plans. He has been hemmed in by the domestic political constraint of an ongoing investigation into Russia's interference with the 2016 election, as well as a widespread distrust of ...

Image copyright REUTERS Image caption Mr Chiwenga retired as head of the armed forces this week Zimbabwe's new President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed as one of his deputies in the ruling party the leader of the military takeover that led to ex-president Robert Mugabe's overthrow. Constantino Chiwenga recently retired as army chief, prompting speculation that he would receive a political post. The appointment is seen as a first step towards becoming vice-president. Mr Chiwenga retired this week, more than a month after the army intervened in a row over Mr Mugabe's succession. The other deputy Zanu-PF leader is Kembo Mohadi, who was state security minister under the former president.  The 15 November takeover came days after Mr Mnangagwa, then deputy president, was fired by Mr Mugabe and left the country. That move was seen as an attempt to install Mr Mugabe's wife Grace as his successor instead of Mr Mnangagwa. The army chief who took power from Muga...

Image copyright GETTY IMAGES Bitcoin plunged on Friday, extending a fall that saw the crypto-currency lose almost a third of its value from a record of nearly $20,000 (£15,000). The crypto-currency's price dipped below $11,000 on Friday, according to the Coindesk exchange website,  before recovering to above $13,000. Amid the swings, three Bitcoin-related exchanges suspended certain trades. Bitcoin has had a blistering trip over the past 12 months. Its price at the start of the year was about $1,000.  It has skyrocketed since - more than doubling in value since November - drawing interest from major firms as well as private investors. ADVERTISEMENT But since Sunday Bitcoin has been on a losing streak, falling back to where it was at the start of December. Analysts said investors should be prepared for such rapid changes, which have characterised the asset from its start. "This is exactly how this asset trades and has done since the beginning," said Ni...