A clear majority of Russians think Vladimir Putin should serve a third presidential term, and that the Constitution should be changed to allow him to do so, according to an opinion poll. The poll comes amid persistent speculation that Putin could be coaxed into considering another term.
The JSE on Thursday suffered its worst loss since April 17 2000 — the bursting of the internet bubble — when a surprise rate hike locally saw the stuffing knocked out of a market that was already sagging under the weight of weaker world markets and lower commodity prices.
The South African rand was firmer against the dollar in early trade on Friday as the market digested Thursday afternoon’s surprise 50-basis-point rate hike to 7,5% by the South African Reserve Bank monetary policy committee (MPC). The rand’s move came despite weakness in the euro and gold.
Floods caused by summer monsoon rains displaced about 66 000 people in India’s north-east, while heavy rains disrupted traffic in eastern India, officials said on Friday. In north-eastern Assam state, floodwaters from the Brahmaputra river had inundated about 13 000ha of land, the state government said.
Cell C says, "We’ve got you covered." True, says an irritated Richtersveld community — but only if you’re standing on tiptoe. The tiny Richtersveld community of Kuboes complains bitterly that while a Cell C advertisement uses footage of their town to vaunt its extensive geographical coverage, their community has to make do with poor reception from the cellphone operator.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) has established a formal commission to review the proposal that it should contest elections — a move that could be the first formal step toward the restructuring of the "tripartite alliance". The establishment of the body is a clear signal that a split between the SACP, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the African National Congress may finally be taking shape.
The arrest of two men in connection with the murder of South African Communist Party member Mazwi Zulu in Durban’s troubled Umlazi township tends to contradict African National Congress claims that the violence is criminal rather than political. Nkosiyabo Ngubane and Sphiwe Nene were arrested at the home of Bhekisasa Xulu, the ANC councillor for Ward 80.
When you’re a small-time lawman run over by the streetcar of life, lying face down on the rain-soaked pavement of opportunity, you recognise some hard truths as they go floating by in the gutter of hope. I’d learned plenty. They were etched on my beaten heart in fine little letters of pain. Guns don’t work underwater.
The Internet is starting to deliver its real potential in South Africa with monopolist Telkom now facing competition as a major domestic company, MWeb, offers cheaper phone calls using computer technology. MWeb’s Broadband Talk offers national phone calls from computer to landline at just 50c a minute compared to Telkom’s 99c.
The World Cup 2006 will be the biggest betting event in history, surpassing even the United States’s Super Bowl or National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, according to online bookie <i>PinnacleSports.com</i>. To international football fans, betting is an integral part of enjoying a tournament.