Gems come in all sizes, colors and shapes, but they have one thing in common: they shine and sparkle as they catch the light, dazzling the beholder. But, this is not how they start out. Gem stones are forged deep inside the earth and, in the rough, appear unremarkable to the untrained eye. But people in the know can spot a rough diamond, for example, and foresee its travels from the mine shaft, the river bed or gravel pit to, eventually, the jeweler's display case. VOA's Sonja Pace narrates this story of the birth of a gem stone and the beginnings of its journey.
The World Cup football tournament kicks off in one week, and host South Africa is busy putting on the finishing touches. But not everyone is looking forward to the tournament. Authorites in cities including Cape Town are being accused of clearing the poor from the streets - to create a good impression for visiting fans. Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa has more.