Some parts are used as decorative bangles in certain countries and, at times, it is derisively referred to as a ”fish bag”, but usage of the female condom seems to be rising in South Africa, its second-largest market in the world. The female condom has been around for nearly a decade, and in South Africa it is a focal point of the government’s HIV/Aids programme.
Finding a date for the school prom is often a daunting business for high school students worldwide. Not so for Jordan Avramides from Sydney, Australia. At his formal end-of-year dance, sixteen-year-old Avramides will be walking in with the undisputed belle of the ball on his arm — Miss Universe Australia 2006, Erin McNaught.
A brothel in Australia’s biggest city, Sydney, is tapping into discontent over high petrol prices by offering clients a discount of about 15% a litre, a report said on Wednesday. Madam Kerry’s brothel said that like many other Australian businesses, the sex industry has been hit by a slump triggered by soaring world oil prices and the rise in prices at the pump.
Naguib Mahfouz, who became the first Arab writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature and who was later stabbed by an Islamic militant who accused him of blasphemy, died on August 30, said his doctor, Hossam Mowafi. He was 94. Mahfouz, whose novels depicted Egyptian life in his beloved corner of ancient Cairo, was admitted to the hospital more than a month ago for injury to his head.
Hurricane John grew into a powerful cyclone off Mexico’s Pacific Coast on Tuesday, threatening to trigger dangerous flash floods and mudslides as it neared Acapulco and other tourist resorts. The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre said John turned into a dangerous storm in just a few hours and was now packing maximum sustained winds of almost 185kph.
Austrian kidnapping victim Natascha Kampusch has begun an attempt to claim her captor’s house and assets, instructing lawyers to take legal action over the scene of her confinement for eight years. Kampusch managed to flee after eight years in captivity while vacuuming Priklopil’s car when he was on the phone.
Investcom, which MTN Group acquired in July 2006 for $5,5-billion, on Wednesday reported a 26% rise in total subscribers to 6,14-million at the end of June. Investcom has operations in Ghana, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Cyprus, Benin, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic and Liberia.
The Ashes are still almost three months away but Shane Warne is already busy plotting Australia’s revenge. Warne has spent the off-season playing county cricket in England to get a closer look at their top batsmen and the master leg-spinner likes what he has seen.
The prosecutor in the 10-year-old murder case of child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey admitted on Tuesday night that she should be held accountable for mistakes made in the botched investigation after the prime suspect was exonerated by DNA evidence.
Italy’s male lawmakers, who occupy more than five out of six seats in Parliament, will face demands from their female colleagues for a change in the law that would have far-reaching effects on the family. Women MPs have tabled 13 Bills to try to change the law on surnames, which even Italy’s conservative judiciary has criticised for being outdated.