A post template

No image available
/ 27 July 2006

Rugby death: Boland to lay charges

Charges of breaking the Boland Ruby Union’s constitution will be laid after the death of a player in a club match in June, the union’s lawyer confirmed on Thursday. ”We hope to serve the charges by Friday next week,” said Chris Faure. He declined to say how many people would be charged, or what the specifics of the charges were.

No image available
/ 27 July 2006

WTO nations endorse trade-talks freeze

World Trade Organisation (WTO) nations on Thursday endorsed suspension of free-trade negotiations after they collapsed on Monday, diplomats and trade officials said. Several countries attacked the so-called Group of Six of leading trading powers for refusing concessions to open the way for a treaty.

No image available
/ 27 July 2006

Massive investigation into social-welfare fraud

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is investigating 400 000 people who might be fraudulently receiving social grants and pensions from the government, SIU head Willie Hofmeyr said on Thursday. He said the first phase of the probe, which started last year, focused on government employees. The unit will now start to look at private individuals.

No image available
/ 27 July 2006

More than 80 dead, missing in China floods

Torrential rains from Typhoon Kaemi left more than 80 people dead or missing in China on Thursday, with a military barracks swept away, thousands of homes destroyed and rivers bursting their banks. Six people were confirmed killed and another 38 soldiers and their relatives were missing after floods destroyed the military barracks in the eastern province of Jiangxi.

No image available
/ 27 July 2006

Deadline looms for credit providers

The time for procrastination is over for entities that provide credit to consumers, the National Credit Regulator (NCR) said on Thursday. Speaking at a presentation on Wednesday, Gabriel Davel, CEO of the NCR, explained that credit providers such as banks, retailers and pawn shops have until Friday July 28 2006 to register with the industry watchdog.

No image available
/ 27 July 2006

SA fashion week shows post-apartheid diversity

With cocktails aplenty and air kisses punctuating the post-show chatter, Johannesburg fashion week might seem to boast the trappings of an international couture event. But this is fashion week, Africa style. Fashion in post-apartheid South Africa reflects the country’s journey from pariah state and global backwater to a multiracial democracy.

No image available
/ 27 July 2006

Heat brings jellyfish plague to Spanish beaches

Sweltering temperatures sweeping Europe have brought a plague of jellyfish to Spain’s eastern seashores, forcing holidaymakers to stay out of the sea, the Red Cross said on Thursday. The unwelcome visitors, which can reach the size of a dinner plate, have flourished thanks to a glut of plankton brought on by higher sea temperatures.

No image available
/ 27 July 2006

The T-shirt seller of Beirut

The Phoenicians were the greatest traders of the ancient world and the Lebanese are their descendants. In Lebanon, every situation — no matter how dire — is an opportunity for someone to do business. Ammar runs a shop selling decorative inlaid boxes, hubble-bubble pipes, necklaces, keffiyehs (cotton headdresses), historical-looking artefacts and just about anything else that a tourist in Beirut might be induced to buy.