No image available
/ 18 January 2006
Deep in provincial Germany, Mohammed Coubageat Sherif Toure has prepared hard for the biggest year of his life — the almost unknown centre-forward of the Togo national team will play in both the African Nations Cup, starting on Friday, and the World Cup finals.
No image available
/ 18 January 2006
Ryk Neethling of South Africa won the men’s 100m freestyle and the 100m individual medley to become the only double winner on the opening day on Tuesday at the World Cup short-course swimming meet. Neethling, a bronze medalist in the 100m and 200m freestyle at the 2005 world championships, took the 100m freestyle in 47,68s.
No image available
/ 18 January 2006
Over the past year, the finance minister has made a number of tax changes that will have a material impact on taxable incomes. While you may be celebrating lower tax rates, the government is starting to squeeze the items that can be used as tax deductions, including medical aid contributions and travel allowances.
No image available
/ 18 January 2006
The Tokyo Stock Exchange closed early on Wednesday for the first time ever to prevent a system crash from heavy trading volumes as investors took fright at claims of fraud at internet trailblazer Livedoor. The exchange operator suspended trading in all shares 20 minutes ahead of the scheduled close of Asia’s largest bourse.
No image available
/ 18 January 2006
Serena Williams confounded her critics with a dominating display in the Australian Open on Wednesday but world number one Lindsay Davenport wobbled before booking her third round berth. Williams, the defending champion, has looked out of shape and out of form in the lead up to the tournament but put in a determined performance against Camille Pin of France, winning 6-3, 6-1 in just 49 minutes.
No image available
/ 18 January 2006
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il was reportedly heading home on Wednesday on a special train, ending a secretive week-long visit to China that apparently focused on nuclear weapons and economic reforms. Press reports said the famously reclusive Kim, who is afraid of flying, had left Beijing on Tuesday night and crossed the border back into North Korea on Wednesday morning.
No image available
/ 18 January 2006
The treason case of 16 opposition activists who allegedly fire-bombed government offices in Swaziland was postponed on Tuesday because the accused were not taken to court to attend the hearing. The 16 members of the banned opposition People’s United Democratic Movement were expected to apply for bail but their lawyers asked for a postponement because the group was left behind bars during the court hearing.
No image available
/ 18 January 2006
Chinese authorities banned 79 newspapers and seized 169-million publications deemed illegal in a nationwide crackdown last year, the country’s top propaganda official announced. Seventeen production lines making pirate compact discs were also shut down and 50 types of computer software games banned, said Liu Yunshan on Tuesday.
No image available
/ 18 January 2006
France has removed Mozambique’s national carrier from a blacklist of airlines prohibited from using its airports, aviation officials said on Tuesday. National Director of Civil Aviation Antonio Pinto welcomed the decision, saying the ban had hurt Linhas Aereas de Mocambique financially and damaged the country’s reputation abroad.
No image available
/ 18 January 2006
e.tv has decided against the airing of an interview with former state president PW Botha, news editor Patrick Conroy said on Tuesday. ”We have seen the interview and have decided not to use it,” Conroy said of the interview conducted by former SA Broadcasting Corporation journalist Cliff Saunders.