Few icons are as American as the cowboy hat: grandiose, utilitarian and a trademark of the West. The king is still Stetson, the original cowboy hat, created almost 150 years ago. Philadelphia’s John B Stetson headed west in the 1860s for health reasons. He fashioned himself a big hat to protect him from rain, sun and wind which he dubbed the ”Boss of the Plains”.
FBI agents have arrested at least seven people in Miami who reportedly plotted to attack the Chicago Sears Tower skyscraper, according to official statements and news reports. The arrests on Thursday were ”part of an ongoing investigation into a terrorist-related matter,” said the United States attorney’s office in Miami.
Music today defies labelling and looks can be deceiving — not all reggae artists are black, Dorian Lynskey takes a closer look.
The rand fell on Friday to the lowest point against the United States dollar since January 2004, a day after the South African government announced a multi-year record deficit for the country’s current account. In European trade in London, the rand fell as low as $0,1328 — a level last seen on January 16 2004. By early afternoon in London, it stood at $0,1331.
The South African Parliament is lagging behind in its responsibilities to South Africa hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup, official opposition Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said on Friday. Some commentators have also pointed out that South Africa is lagging behind in its planning to build new stadiums.
The Blk Jks consider themselves to be one of the first truly integrated South African bands. Loyd Gedye spoke to them.
MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Julian Fellowes’ Separate Lies is reasonably gripping; it keeps twisting and turning as each character is slowly eviscerated, writes Shaun de Waal.
Race is still a key factor in access to wealth in South Africa, says a government report on macro-social trends released on Friday. The 109-page document released in Pretoria, titled A nation in the making: A discussion document on macro-social trends in South Africa, revealed a society still grappling with transition.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong allegedly admitted taking banned doping products before suffering from cancer, according to evidence given under oath to a court in Dallas earlier this year and published in Saturday’s edition of French daily Le Monde.
The former South African prisoner pardoned by Equatorial Guinea, Marius ”Bone” Boonzaaier, was better but still receiving medical treatment, his family said on Friday. ”Bone received medical treatment on arrival at Johannesburg International airport and is still receiving medical attention,” his wife Georgia said in a statement.