He served time for laundering the proceeds of an international heroin-trading ring. Now he’s on trial in Palermo, charged with belonging to the Sicilian Cosa Nostra. It is perhaps not surprising that 57-year-old Vito Palazzolo wants a change of image.
Granted South African citizenship in 1995, the alleged Mafia don changed his name to Robert von Palace Kolbatschenko.
Saddam Hussein, the dictator thought responsible for the killing of 250 000 people, and the last best justification for the United States-British invasion of Iraq, will be shown in public for the first time since his capture either on Wednesday or Thursday, as the long process of bringing him to account begins.
When the fighting flared up again it looked like a resumption of the awful war in central Africa, but the rebels retreated, the peace accord survived and the Democratic Republic of Congo counted the cost of the crisis in dozens rather than millions dead.
Is marriage a union for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, ’till death the wedded part? Evidently not, especially when it comes to parting and riches. Rare is the divorcee willing to come out of a relationship poorer than a good lawyer believes is necessary. Consider Karen Parlour, who is seeking a substantial increase in the maintenance paid by her former husband Ray, the Arsenal footballer.
"A few months ago I moved house — that was the easy part. I wanted to transfer my landline, but according to Telkom this was not possible as I was moving from one suburb to another and so would have to apply for a new line and number. I realise how naive I was to assume I would have a phone in the week or two promised," writes Tendayi Gwata.
No job in journalism is more difficult or more satisfying than war reporting. In a war zone, reporters have to deal with people who regard killing as just another part of the day, they have to get the story right and then deliver it on deadline in places where just stepping outside can be fatal. But war reporting has a terrible downside. It can kill you.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry seeks to ensure that all South Africans have equitable access to a safe and reliable water supply. As we eradicate the water supply backlog, we will focus not only on the quality of water from the tap, but also on whether the services are reliable. A recent HSRC survey shows that water supply is cut for many reasons and most often not for non-payment.
"I know I’m starting off yet another column by referring to Zimbabwe, but watching the meltdown occurring there is a bit like watching an armless, legless mutant woman giving birth to a flipper child on a rubbish heap — yes, it’s disgusting, but damn, you gotta look. You just can’t resist looking." Besides taking a look at Zimbabwe’s current political situation, Ian Fraser turns his eye to other interesting things online.
Lindsay Davenport has the experience, but teenage starlet Maria Sharapova believes she has the youthful ambition to make this year’s Wimbledon final. Sharapova, who at just 17 reached her first Grand Slam semifinal with a brave fightback against Japan’s Ai Sugiyama on Tuesday, is ready to take the next step.
Pow! A 167kph ace. Crack! A 182kph ace. Wham! A 203kph ace, the fastest serve to date hit by a woman at Wimbledon. When Serena Williams ends games that way, it’s easy to understand why she’s closing in on becoming just the third woman in 35 years to win three straight titles at the All England Club.