TBR (To Be Read): Book fairs and bookshops help build a thriving reading culture
A recent visit to Hong Kong triggered the question anew. It was a busman's holiday as I took the opportunity to drop in at the Hong Kong Book Fair and check out the independent Hunter Bookstore, which was running a tiny indie fair called Reading Everywhere.
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Myanmar junta air strike on ruby mine hub kills 13
A Myanmar junta air strike on Mogok killed 13 people, including civilians like a monk and a father and son. Civil war has raged since the 2021 military coup, with rebel forces seizing territory like Mogok, a ruby mining hub. The junta plans December elections but faces boycott and criticism as opposition groups call it a 'fraud' to maintain power. A Myanmar junta air strike on a rebel-occupied ruby mining hub killed 13 people on Saturday, according to a resident and a spokesperson for an armed opposition group. Civil war has consumed Myanmar since the military seized power in a 2021 coup, sparking resistance from pro-democracy guerrillas who found common cause with long-active ethnic armed groups. Their scattered forces initially struggled to make headway, but a combined offensive starting in late 2023 seized swathes of territory, including the town of Mogok - the centre of the ruby trade. Myanmar is rich in precious stones and rare earth elements coveted by all factions and sold off, mostly to neighbouring China, to boost war chests. A junta spokesperson could not be reached for comment. However, a local who declined to be named for security reasons said the strike took place around 08:15 am (0145 GMT), killing seven instantly, with six dying later of their wounds. READ | Myanmar military offers new truce in bid to 'protect the towns and people's lives' He said among the dead were a Buddhist monk collecting alms and a father and son who were riding the same motorbike. "A car passing through the area was hit, too," he added. "Seven people were wounded, including the driver." A spokesperson for the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, which has occupied Mogok since last summer, matched that death toll but gave a figure of 14 wounded. "It was in the morning time when the airstrike hit a public area," said spokesperson Lway Yay Oo. There were a lot of people walking in the street; therefore, a lot of people were killed. The military was initially backfooted by the rebels' combined offensive but has enacted conscription to boost its ranks. Its troops recently retook several key settlements in central Myanmar, including the gold mining hub of Thabeikkyin, which it seized late last month after a year-long battle. The junta on Thursday ended the state of emergency it had declared after toppling the government of Aung San Suu Kyi more than four years ago, and has touted elections in December as an off-ramp for the conflict. However, with Suu Kyi still jailed, opposition groups, including ousted lawmakers, are boycotting the poll. A UN expert in June described the exercise as a "fraud" designed to legitimise the junta's continued rule.
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Orlando Pirates flex muscle to show off squad's depth in MTN8 win over Polokwane
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Springbok Women produce powerful display to dispatch of New Zealand's Black Ferns XV
Springbok Women's wing Ayanda Malinga goes on the run against a Black Ferns XV team. Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Media The Springbok Women's side produced their best performance of the season when they beat a Black Ferns XV side 41–26 at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday night. The Bok Women, who had some tough results against Canada in a two-Test series and in the first match against the New Zealanders, put on an exhibition of power and recorded a confidence-boosting win ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup later this month. The Springbok Women started on the front foot, climbing in with a lot of venom and verve in the opening stages of the match. Their bullocking runners up front punched holes in the Black Ferns' defence down the middle. The home side came close on quite a few occasions on the visitors' line, but desperate defending saw them fall short on several occasions. However, the Bok Women took the lead in the 14th minute when left wing Ayanda Malinga went over the line after she pounced on a loose ball before sprinting clear to dive over. The Springbok Women are firing on all cylinders 😤🇿🇦 📺 Stream #RSAvNZL on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 2, 2025 The Bok Women were just as robust on defence, putting in some big hits to tackle their New Zealand counterparts backwards in the tackle. The Black Ferns struggled to get out of their half. The Bok Women then extended their lead in the 17th minute when fullback Byrhandré Dolf produced a magical piece of play. Dolf saw some space in behind the Black Ferns' defence and put a kick through, before collecting her own effort and going over to score. Outside centre Kelsey Teneti was a constant threat for the Black Ferns, and they pulled a try back to show just how dangerous they can be with ball in hand. However, the Bok Women managed two more tries before the end of the first half, with flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg and prop Yonela Ngxingolo going over to give the home side a 24–12 lead at the break. The Springbok Women's scrum was dominant throughout the encounter, and they got a heel against the head in the 51st minute. This led to a penalty and a lineout 10 metres out from the Black Ferns' line. Yonela Ngxingolo wants to be on that plane to the #RWC2025 😤🇿🇦 📺 Stream #RSAvNZL on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 2, 2025
