A fire roared through a mattress factory in a poor section of Casablanca, killing up to 55 workers and injuring at least 12 others. A rescue chief said firefighters arrived hours late and that the emergency exit of the building was blocked. The fire broke out midmorning Saturday in an industrial neighborhood outside of sprawling Casablanca, the economic centre of this North African country.
The Stormers picked up two second-half tries to keep their hopes of reaching the Super 14 semifinals alive with a 26-16 victory over the Otago Highlanders on Saturday. Hooker Tiaan Liebenberg and his replacement Schalk Brits scored in the space of 10 minutes to break open a game that was deadlocked 9-9 at halftime.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai escaped unhurt after an assassination attempt by Taliban fighters with guns and rockets during an official celebration in the capital, Kabul, on Sunday. Government ministers along with leaders of other political factions were seen ducking for cover after gunfire sounded at the celebration to mark the 16th anniversary of fall of the Afghan communist government.
Jennifer Sey remembers exactly what it felt like to fly through the air, performing gravity-defying moves as a champion United States gymnast. ”It is a transcendent experience. Pushing your body like that; it’s beyond human,” she said. But Sey was also pushing her body — and mind — in disturbing ways far beyond her feats of athleticism.
South Africa faces a new threat 14 years after the first democratic election, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Saturday. She was addressing a large crowd at the KwaZulu-Natal Freedom Day celebrations in Molweni, outside Durban. ”The threat is a ruling party that believes it is more important than the Constitution. It is a party that believes it will rule until Jesus comes,” said Zille.
The presidency has launched an 11th-hour bid to prevent embarrassing confidential information behind the suspension of National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Vusi Pikoli from being made public. Hours before Pikoli was to release documents detailing what he told President Thabo Mbeki and others about Jackie Selebi’s alleged corruption, he received a settlement offer from the government.
Thinking of throwing out your old cellphone? Think again. Maybe you should mine it first for gold, silver, copper and a host of other metals embedded in the electronics — many of which are enjoying near-record prices. It’s called ”urban mining”, scavenging through the scrap metal in old electronic products in search of such gems as iridium and gold.
China poured scorn on the Dalai Lama on Sunday and hailed protesters against Tibetan self-rule as patriotic heroes, suggesting the government is not prepared to give ground in talks proposed for coming days. China has blamed the exiled Buddhist leader’s ”clique” for unrest across Lhasa and other Tibetan areas.
Teazer’s boss Lolly Jackson has reportedly been arrested again, this time for alleged fraud. He was thought to have been questioned about the alleged falsification of the visas of the eastern European strippers he employs. It was reported that 11 dancers from Russia and the Ukraine were also being questioned.
An English cricket club has banned its players from hitting sixes to avoid complaints from the neighbours, the <i>Sunday Telegraph</i> newspaper reported. Harrogate Cricket Club in Yorkshire, northern England, has told players they will automatically be given out if they loft the ball towards the surrounding houses.