Oil prices appear headed back toward a barrel, a level not seen since Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast, and sporadic shortages have raised gasoline prices in the United States — but the US economy seems capable of absorbing uncomfortably high prices.
Somali pirates seized an oil tanker soon after it had offloaded its cargo of fuel at a southern Somalia port, an official and witness said on Friday. The pirates so far have made no demands since hijacking the United Arab Emirates-registered MT Lombigo on Tuesday near Adale, about 150km north of the capital, Mogadishu.
At least 13 children were killed and several injured when a fire razed the dormitory of a school in western Uganda, police said on Friday. The overnight Thursday blaze is suspected to have started after candle flames caught bedsheets and then spread throughout the dormitory of the Islamic Kabarole East Primary School.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday vowed to crush opposition protests as he hit back at a call for ”democratic resistance” in the Southern African country. It will never happen. ”We will not allow it,” he said, adding: ”If they [the opposition] are looking for death, let them go ahead and follow that route.”
The human rights organisation Amnesty International said on Friday a dissident general is recruiting large numbers of children to fight in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) conflicted North Kivu province, affecting programmes to reunify children formerly associated with armed groups with their families.
"There’s too much space. I put the last piece of luggage in and even though there’s five of us, there are vast areas of nothing just waiting to be filled. Something’s missing. It has to be. Then it hits me. There’s no cooler box, no Weber, no bedding, pillows, no trolley-loads of food, no kitchen sink …," writes Sharon van Wyk.
The foul-smelling white substance cakes lamp posts, covers sidewalks and park benches and stains the bushes and trees. Parked cars become spattered in a matter of minutes along ”bird poop alley”. Thousands of cormorants are making a stinking mess around Florida’s Lake Eola, a recreation area in downtown Orlando.
The United States has offered aid to Iran after a devastating earthquake but also kept up pressure over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme. The powerful earthquake struck western Iran, leaving at least 70 dead and 1 265 injured. The area of Brujerd was hit hardest.
He stood out as one of the African imports into the Premier Soccer League (PSL)firmament who was a credit to South African soccer — both on and off the field. Former Zimbabwean international central defender and Cape Town Spurs captain Makonese ”Francis” Shonhai has died after battling meningitis and tuberculosis for some time.
Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius marked his return to action with two conversions and a drop goal as the Lions drew 24-24 with Griquas in their Vodacom Cup match in Kimberley on Friday night. In Friday’s other match, Pumas fullback Casper Steyn kicked his team to a 15-9 win over the Mighty Elephants in Port Elizabeth.