A humid strip of coastal rainforest in Australia’s far north, the world-heritage listed region has the highest number of endemic primitive plants in the world and may be the oldest rainforest. Now, an old row about housing development has been revived by the local authority’s decision to ban building on 450 privately owned plots.
Absa shareholders gave the go-ahead on Friday for a landmark deal that will see 10% of the banking group’s ownership directly held by black shareholders. Absa Group chief executive Nallie Bosman said the deal put Absa in line to meet the financial sector charter target of 10% direct ownership, but that it now has an overall ”indirect” black shareholding of about 25%.
A group of 29 Italian police officers, including the country’s anti-terror chief, go on trial in Genoa on Saturday in connection with a brutal attack on protesters at the 2001 G8 summit and an alleged plot to justify the violence using fabricated evidence.
At a local conference on The Eradication of Unfair Discrimination through Equality Courts this week, white South Africans rubbed shoulders with black South Africans in a way that would have been impossible in the past. But despite government’s efforts, South Africa remains a polarised society.
The next time Goran Ivanisevic comes back to Wimbledon, he won’t be firing aces and ripping his shirt off on Centre Court. He’ll be wearing a suit and tie and sipping tea in the members’ lounge. Ivanisevic walked off Centre Court for the last time to a standing ovation after losing in straight sets to Lleyton Hewitt.
”Greek Tragedy,” ”The Blues’ pitiful exit” or simply ”The End”. The French press on Saturday deplored ”the dismal end of the reign,” of France’s footballing heroes, knocked out of Euro 2004 by rank outsiders Greece 1-0 in a quarter final match in Lisbon.
”The costumes were stunning. The set applausable. The technical wizardry impressive. And, contrary to various reports, the singing was easy on the ear. Except, perhaps, for one banshee who had obviously got a free transfer from an opera company.” Mike van Graan goes to see Phantom of the Opera.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon has rejected what he called President Thabo Mbeki’s attempt to label the DA as a party from the ”right”. Leon said in the president’s ”idealised world” every intervention by the state is necessary and beneficial, but the ”cold reality” of South Africa’s experience indicates otherwise.
Tobey Maguire’s impetuous behaviour nearly cost him his job and a $17-million pay cheque in the sequel to Spider-Man — and he knows it. The contrite 27-year-old actor is again playing Peter Parker/Spider-Man, but he got the role back only through the intervention of his girlfriend’s father — who heads Universal Studios — and a heartfelt apology. Robin Marchbank reports.
MOVIE MONTHLY: <i>Bright Young Things</i>, <i>Ripley’s Game</i>, <i>Mean Girls</i> and more … Dave Chislett gives us the heads-up on what’s hot and what’s not this chilly month on the big screen.