Meteorologists have spent decades improving predictions on where a hurricane could hit — warnings that potentially drive millions of people from their homes. Now, they aim to determine better how powerful those storms actually will be. Forecasters are debuting their new hurricane weather research and forecasting model next month.
More than 500 woman from the Khutsong Women’s Forum marched to the local police station on Friday to call on the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to intervene in the ongoing unrest in Khutsong. Spokesperson for the forum Pearl Khanyile said they had asked SAHRC chairperson Jody Kollapen to accept the memorandum.
In what could possibly be a world first, an albino blue duiker was recently born at the Johannesburg Zoo. Staff are still trying to confirm whether it is the first of its kind, said zoo spokesperson Senzo Ngcobo on Friday. Born on May 9, the duiker has yet to be named by the zoo, which has welcomed suggestions from the public.
Butcheries and bottle stores across Durban did a roaring trade on Friday afternoon and expected a manic Saturday morning ahead of the Super 14 final clash between the Bulls and the Sharks. Beer and braai packs were most in demand. ”There are huge braai orders,” said Chris Giani, the manager of Dirk’s Meet Market in Davenport Square.
The inspecting judge of prisons is to probe claims that fraud convict Schabir Shaik has special privileges at Durban’s plush Albert Luthuli Hospital. The Daily News reported Judge Nathan Erasmus’s office on Friday as saying an inspectorate official would visit the hospital to investigate allegations of preferential treatment.
Gauteng’s planned monorail should be kept off taxi routes, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) said on Friday. Santaco secretary general Philip Taaibosch said there was no agreement between the taxi industry and the government on the planned monorail between Soweto and central Johannesburg.
Rebels fighting a low-intensity war in the north-east of the Central African Republic (CAR), one of the poorest countries on earth, have agreed to release 400 child soldiers, the United Nations children’s agency, Unicef, said on Friday. A spokesperson for Unicef in the capital, Bangui, said the children were expected to be demobilised in early June.
India overcame the first-ball dismissal of opener Wasim Jaffer to pile up 295-3 on the opening day of the first cricket Test against Bangladesh on Friday. Half-centuries from captain Rahul Dravid, Dinesh Karthick, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly frustrated the hosts on a bone-dry wicket at the Ruhul Amin Stadium that offered no assistance to the bowlers.
South African business should do more to identify trade opportunities with China, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad said on Friday. Speaking about the massive trade imbalance between South Africa and China, he said the Chinese were not the only ones to blame as they have often asked South Africa to look at what more could be done.
Massive waves have hit coastlines across Indonesia, sending hundreds of panicky residents rushing from their homes and also destroying fishing boats and beachside shacks, officials and media reports said on Friday. Television footage showed high waves crashing into the tourist island of Bali.