It starts with the sound of rain. A woman’s voice tells us it is night in the city, and a nurse is smoking the last cigarette in the pack. Then comes a nasal, gravelly voice, more familiar in song: ”It’s time for Theme Time Radio Hour. Dreams, schemes and themes.” The career of Bob Dylan, radio DJ, has begun.
Early in the morning of Saturday April 26 1986, the world’s worst nuclear disaster at Chernobyl jettisoned 100 times as much radiation into the atmosphere as the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. Most fell on the now independent republics of Belarus and Ukraine, and in western Russia.
The letter "W" has finally been added to the definitive dictionary of the Swedish language, in the latest edition compiled by the Swedish Academy, it said on its website on Friday. Words spelled with the letter "W" are rare in Swedish, with the exception of words borrowed from other languages.
On Saturday, hours after the king of Nepal offered to ”hand power back to the people”, demonstrators were back on the streets with their reply — 100 000 massed on the ring road to march on the royal palace. The fighting has left Kathmandu ragged and smoking.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in KwaZulu-Natal has welcomed back its three members who had defected to the National Democratic Convention (Nadeco). Provincial chairperson Mtomuhle Khawula said the IFP is happy and excited to have its members return ”home”.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio suffered a minor leg injury while filming in Mozambique, his publicist said on Saturday. The accident happened on Friday on the set of Blood Diamond, Ken Sunshine said in a statement. DiCaprio ”received medical attention and was back at work today [Saturday]”, Sunshine said.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) chief executive Marion Sparg and her executive management team face charges of tender rigging and corruption, the Sunday Times reported in its early edition. All members of the NPA’s tender committee will also be hauled before a disciplinary inquiry for tender misconduct.
Wreckage believed to be of a helicopter that went missing seven years ago was found in a forest near Knysna in the Southern Cape, the Civil Aviation Authority said on Saturday. A spokesperson said the wreckage was found with human remains still strapped into two seats. Another body was found outside the helicopter.
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher returned to the fore by claiming a record-breaking 66th pole position in Imola, Italy, on Saturday for the San Marino Grand Prix. Ferrari driver Schumacher (37) set the standard in a time of one minute and 23,431 seconds to break the record of Ayrton Senna.
The ACT Brumbies consolidated their semifinal play-off chances in rugby’s Super 14 competition on Saturday, beating the third-place Wellington Hurricanes 21-16. The win left the Brumbies with 32 points in fourth place, two behind the Hurricanes. The Canterbury Crusaders lead the competition with 42 points.