No image available
/ 17 January 2006
Polar lights offer a grandiose spectacle especially when observed from a 37-degrees-Celsius thermal bath at air temperatures of below zero. Iceland’s Blue Lagoon has no artificial light to spoil the show. Polar light activity is best seen on clear nights during autumn and winter. The "moon landscape" in which the thermal bath is situated evokes a surreal atmosphere.
No image available
/ 17 January 2006
Kumar Sangakkara and Jehan Mubarak made half-centuries as Sri Lanka reached 282 for six, punishing South Africa’s decision to bowl first in their tri-series limited-overs cricket match on Tuesday. South African captain Graeme Smith sought to replicate the formula that gave his team a five-wicket win over Australia on Sunday.
No image available
/ 17 January 2006
Two people froze to death in Moscow, officials said on Tuesday, as Arctic cold from Siberia descended on western Russia, sending nighttime temperatures to as low as minus 36 degrees Celsius and prompting warnings of power cuts to some businesses. Forecasters said the cold snap is expected to last most of the week.
No image available
/ 17 January 2006
Top-ranked Roger Federer wasted no time getting his Australian Open campaign under way, cruising to 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win on Tuesday over wild-card entry Denis Istomin. Federer was broken once and faced only three break points in the 83-minute match. French women Mary Pierce and Amelie Mauresmo also advanced.
No image available
/ 17 January 2006
A talkative parrot is being blamed for the break-up of a couple’s relationship after squawking the name of the woman’s secret lover, British newspapers reported on Tuesday. The bird prompted a confession from call-centre worker Suzy Collins that she was having a fling with a former colleague when the pet blurted out: ”Gary, I love you.”
No image available
/ 17 January 2006
More than 50 African human rights and civil society groups have written to the continent’s leaders expressing alarm at Sudan’s bid to chair the African Union despite continued violence in its western Darfur region. The groups warned such a move could destroy efforts to resolve a conflict that has killed an estimated 180 000 people.
No image available
/ 17 January 2006
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday revoked the operating licences of 14 banks that it described as ”unhealthy” after they failed in their efforts to recapitalise or merge with other banks. Despite failure of the banks, their individual and corporate depositors will not lose their money, CBN Governor Charles Soludo said.
No image available
/ 17 January 2006
Crude oil prices jumped on Tuesday as Iran’s nuclear ambitions and an attack on an oil platform in Nigeria kept traders edgy over potential supply snags. Light, sweet crude for February delivery rose 98 cents to ,90 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
No image available
/ 17 January 2006
Zimbabwean police have launched a manhunt for High Court Judge Benjamin Paradza who was convicted of corruption last week, that country’s Herald newspaper reported on Tuesday. Its website said indications are that the fugitive judge skipped the country to London via South Africa soon after he was convicted last week.
No image available
/ 17 January 2006
South Africa suffered an 8-0 drubbing at the hands of the England men’s hockey team at the Tshwane University of Technology on Monday night. The South African side just couldn’t make an impact on the rampant English, who obliterated any attempt at a South African line of defence.