He has been ”spotted” all over the United States, in Canada, Europe, Mexico and Brazil, Paraguay, and most recently, in two coastal resort towns in Uruguay. Despite unconfirmed sightings in about 30 countries and on every continent but Antarctica, notorious Boston gangster James ”Whitey” Bulger remains elusive after more than a decade on the run.
Iraq’s Parliament extended a deadline for a new Constitution on Monday night after marathon talks failed to bridge differences between the main ethnic and sectarian groups. Deputies amended the existing interim Constitution to give negotiators another week to try to reach agreement on the future of the Iraqi state.
The United Nations warned on Tuesday of an explosion of HIV/Aids in lawless Somalia unless steps are taken quickly to stop the spread of the disease and reduce risk factors. The UN’s monthly report said infection rates were relatively low in areas where testing has been done compared to other parts of Africa, but could rise dramatically.
Allied Technologies (Altech) CEO Craig Venter announced on Monday that the JSE Securities Exchange-listed company has $100-million "at the ready" and could willingly buy, within 48 hours, the remaining 50% that the Econet Wireless group holds in Econet Wireless Global.
The Business Connexion group on Tuesday reported headline earnings per share of 74,9 cents for the year ended May 31 2005, from 34,2 cents a year ago. The group declared a normal dividend of 20 cents per share and a special dividend of 17 cents per share.
Specialist chemicals group Omnia on Monday announced its intention to apply to become eligible for emission-reduction projects under the Kyoto Protocol, which came into effect on February 16. In terms of the protocol, industrialised countries are given limitations on the amounts of greenhouse gases they can emit.
Australia clung on for a draw to deny England victory with just one wicket standing in a thrilling finish to the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford on Monday. Last-wicket pair Brett Lee (18 not out) and Glenn McGrath (five not out) survived the final four overs after captain Ricky Ponting fell for 156, his Test best score against England, having batted for nearly seven hours.
A relieved Andy Roddick re-established his hardcourt game with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Austrian Jurgen Melzer on Monday, finally getting in the win column in the summer Masters Series. The fifth seed, who lost in his opening match a week ago in Montreal to eventual semifinalist Paul-Henri Mathieu, returned to form in the familiar surrounds of an event he won in 2003.
After rallying to another record high on Monday, the JSE drifted weaker at the opening on Tuesday, with petrochemicals group Sasol coming off following an easing in the oil price. Early volumes were light. By 9.22am, the all share index shed 0,14%. Resources retreated 0,5%, with the gold and platinum mining indices losing 1,02% and 0,59% respectively.
A technical blunder has landed North West agriculture MEC Dleleni Duma with an acquittal on a charge of drunken or reckless driving, The Citizen newspaper reported on Tuesday. It said Potchefstroom magistrate Peter Jikkels said on Monday the state had ”blundered” with particulars on the charge sheet.