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.
South African officials set fire to a 34-ton whale carcass on Wednesday, sending white smoke into the air near Cape Town as spectators clambered over blubber-strewn rocks for a closer look. The dead southern right whale washed up onto the quiet Kommetjie beach, 40km south of the country’s top tourist city, nearly two weeks ago.
The Automobile Association (AA) has warned that another fuel-price increase should be expected in September. ”With tensions in the Middle East and the approach of winter in the northern hemisphere, it is expected that crude oil prices will remain high for the months ahead,” said AA spokesperson Petro Kruger.
South Africa’s Parliament said on Wednesday that it would be unwise and "incorrect" to comment on the court processes concerning MPs charged in the Travelgate scam. In a statement Parliament said: "Parliament … notes the Democratic Alliance’s concerns in their recently published media release."
With the base of demand for new cars growing substantially over the past five years and overall rates of economic growth expected to remain buoyant, the remaining months of 2006 are likely to yield further record-breaking months for new-vehicle sales, according to vehicle manufacturers.
South Africa’s retail sales quickened in May, adding to the case for higher interest rates, but the figures were seen as too dated to have much impact on the outcome of the central bank’s policy meeting on Thursday. Retail sales leapt by 10,6% in the year to May at constant prices, accelerating from an unrevised increase of 9,7% in April, Statistics South Africa said.