He should go to Washington more often. Gordon Brown may have been dreading his encounter with George W Bush, knowing that every appearance Tony Blair made alongside the American president cost him votes by the crateload, but the recent joint press conference at Camp David actually did Brown a favour
More than 50 years have passed since Uruguay won the World Cup in the immense stadium in Maracana, Brazil. Ever since, betrayed by reality, we have sought solace in memory. If we could learn from this, all would be well, but that isn’t the case: we take refuge in nostalgia when we feel that we have been abandoned by hope, because hope requires daring and nostalgia requires nothing.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to prosecute former police minister Adriaan Vlok and former police commissioner Johan van der Merwe, along with three former police officers, was inevitable. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission legislation is clear: if alleged perpetrators failed to apply for amnesty, or were denied it, they would be subject to prosecution.
Convicted child killer Theunis Olivier should spend the rest of his life in jail, the Cape High Court heard on Monday. Testifying in court, Eileen Siebert, mother of murdered six-year old boy Steven Siebert said Olivier deserved to die in prison. ”Steven posed no threat to him [Olivier], and yet he choose to kill him for his own pleasure,” she said.
A coal mine collapsed in central Utah after a 4.0-magnitude earthquake, trapping six miners, Fox News reported on Monday. The United States Geological Survey reported a 4.0 earthquake occurred on Monday morning at 2.48am local time, 156km from Salt Lake City, Utah. A magnitude 4 quake is capable of causing moderate damage.
The body of an American tourist who died on a solo rock-climbing excursion on Table Mountain was found on Monday afternoon, rescuers said. David Andretta (31) had planned to scale the mountain on Sunday while his wife took a walking route up Plattekloof Gorge, spokesperson for Wilderness Search and Rescue Anwaaz Bent said.
A big question mark hung over Fernando Alonso’s McLaren future as tensions rose within the British team following a controversial Hungarian Grand Prix. McLaren chief Ron Dennis admitted that speculation is inevitable as Alonso and teammate Lewis Hamilton appear to have had a complete breakdown in their relationship.
The launch of an online tax-filing facility was delayed after pilot tests revealed system flaws, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) said on Monday. ”We are … not prepared to offer any service where we are not happy with the quality and cannot guarantee a pleasant experience for all taxpayers. We expect the eFiling facility to be functional next week,” said Sars.
At least 7 600 shop managers and business executives in Zimbabwe have been arrested in a crackdown on businesses accused of profiteering, police said Monday, as President Robert Mugabe vowed to continue the blitz. ”The latest update is that 7 660 people have been arrested countrywide,” police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka said.
Media watchdog Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) on Monday slammed Zimbabwe for passing a controversial law allowing the government to monitor phone calls, faxes and emails. "Zimbabwe had already given itself one of the world’s most repressive legislative arsenals as regards press freedom" the Paris-based body said in a statement.