No longer content to pump out mediocre pop acts such as Ace of Base and Roxette, Sweden has been responsible for some of the more interesting albums of late, writes Lloyd Gedye.
Entrepreneur Dave King’s claims that South Africa had impoverished him by freezing his assets and that he could not afford legal representation was ”all nonsense”, the Pretoria High Court heard on Thursday. Prosecutor John Myburgh tackled King and his legal team for painting a picture of a poor, impoverished man whose rights were being trampled on.
Thabo Mbeki’s tough message to the African National Congress to switch its focus from internal divisions to building the party and improving service delivery has won him acclaim from party structures for finally providing leadership. However, a view persists on the left that the ANC president is trying to heap blame on Jacob Zuma for the party’s internal woes, evading his own responsibility.
The Israeli army on Friday prepared for a possible push deeper into southern Lebanon to drive out Hezbollah which threatened to launch rockets further into Israel if it hits central Beirut. While world powers worked on a United Nations resolution to end the 24-day-long conflict, Israeli jets targeted Hezbollah offices and the house of a senior guerrilla leader in southern Beirut.
Global resources giant Anglo American has reported record underlying earnings of $2,5-billion in the half year to 30 June 2006, an increase of 47% over the previous period. The company said the high earnings were achieved against a backdrop of a favourable trading environment with strong metal prices and improved volumes.
South Africa’s most prolific mass murderer takes another sip of coffee, eases back in his chair and pauses when asked if it is true he shot more than 100 black people. ”I can’t argue with that,” says Louis van Schoor. ”I never kept count.” Seated at a restaurant terrace in East London, a seaside town in the Eastern Cape, the former security guard is a picture of relaxed confidence, soaking up sunshine while reminiscing about his days as an apartheid folk hero.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions has slammed Thursday’s rise in the interest rate, saying it will increase the cost of living and slow job creation. ”The current inflation rate remains well within the target range set by the government and in these circumstances, we do not see any reason for the increase,” the union said.
Fears of a fresh humanitarian crisis in North Korea were heightened on Thursday by reports that recent flooding may have killed thousands more people than originally thought. A human rights group said as many as 10Â 000 people were dead or missing and 1,5-million had been forced to leave their homes after typhoon rains lashed the country on July 10.
The United States internet service provider AOL plans to shed 5 000 employees, amounting to almost a quarter of its global workforce, as it goes through a radical restructuring intended to reinvent the business in the face of falling subscribers.
First there were pensioner holidays with Saga. Then came singles packages with Club 18-30. Now an Italian seaside resort has taken speciality tourism into new territory in an effort to combine the delights of sun, sea and sand with a respect for sharia law.