Richard Hatch, convicted of failing to pay taxes on the million he won on the debut season of Survivor, has been sent to a federal prison in West Virginia. Hatch (45) of Newport, Rhode Island, was convicted by a federal jury of failing to pay taxes on the Survivor prize and other income.
Burundi said on Wednesday it has strong evidence that former high-ranking politicians and a dissident rebel leader arrested this week planned to kill President Pierre Nkurunziza and overthrow the government. Government spokesperson Karenga Ramadhani told a local radio station a coup was planned for June 30.
New York City commuters sweated on their way to work on Wednesday as the temperature and humidity started climbing back up to heatwave levels after a night of little relief. New York’s LaGuardia airport still had 34 degrees Celsius at midnight and eased only to 30 degrees Celsius by 6am, the National Weather Service said.
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The defence in the corruption trial of South Africa’s former deputy president Jacob Zuma is seeking to turn the focus in the sensational case on to President Thabo Mbeki, according to published court papers. Zuma appeared in court on Monday for the first hearing on corruption charges that were at the root of Mbeki’s decision to fire the hugely popular politician last year.
The question over who should give the go-ahead for the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link was argued on Wednesday in the Pretoria High Court. Pretoria residents argue that neither the provincial environment minister nor the head of the Gauteng agriculture, conservation and environment department had the right to approve the Gautrain.
Tropical Storm Prapiroon strengthened into a full-blown typhoon on Wednesday, with forecasters warning of possible severe destruction to parts of southern China. The storm had been steadily gathering strength while churning across the South China Sea from the Philippines, where six deaths were blamed on the severe weather.
Hezbollah guerrillas bombarded northern Israel with rockets and fought up to 6Â 000 Israeli troops in south Lebanon on Wednesday after Israel vowed to pursue the war until a strong international force arrived. Israeli commandos snatched suspected Hezbollah members from the ancient city of Baalbek in a helicopter-borne raid backed by air strikes that killed 19 people, including four children.
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has rejected as ”unjust” a government statement condemning Israeli military actions in Lebanon and Gaza. ”The SAJBD regards this statement as unjust, highly partisan and wholly unreflective of the realities of the current conflict in the Middle East,” said national chairperson Michael Bagraim.
The Democratic Alliance has backed Springbok rugby coach Jake White’s call on the South African Rugby Union to clarify the position regarding his team-selection obligations. At the same time, DA spokesperson Donald Lee urged politicians to stick to ”more pressing issues” rather than meddle in sport.
A song mocking the headbutt by France football star Zinedine Zidane during the final of the World Cup in Germany has become a massive hit in France and propelled the three members of pop group La Plage to overnight stardom. The extraordinary attack on Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the July 9 final in Berlin has proved a goldmine for the group.