A post template

No image available
/ 13 September 2005

An ABC of the BFP

The basic fuel price (BFP) used by the government to set the cost of fuel is supposed to represent the import parity price, that is, the price at which petrol, diesel or paraffin could be imported into the Republic. But, if you were to shop for your own petrol around the world, you could land it here significantly cheaper than the BFP.

No image available
/ 13 September 2005

The political fallout

It’s safe to say that if George W Bush was in his first term, he would be heading for defeat. Safe, because we will never know: he’s in his second term and will never face the voters again. That quirk in the United States system, with its strict two-term rule, makes it hard to read the impact Hurricane Katrina will have on the Bush presidency.

No image available
/ 12 September 2005

Israel vows ‘zero tolerance’ to Gaza violence

Minister of Defence Shaul Mofaz warned on Monday that Israel will adopt a ”zero tolerance” policy to continued violence from the Gaza Strip after ending its 38-year occupation of the Palestinian territory. ”If terrorist organisations launch any kind of attacks against Israeli civilians from the Gaza Strip, we will react,” Mofaz said.

No image available
/ 12 September 2005

Troops tighten grip on Iraq rebel town

Iraqi and United States troops tightened their grip on the northern rebel stronghold of Tal Afar on Monday as insurgents wilted in the face of overwhelming firepower deployed by the 10 000-strong assault force, US commanders said. The 6 000 Iraqi and 4 000 US troops began an all-out offensive late last week.

No image available
/ 12 September 2005

Elizabeth Disco, Gentle Fudge and Obedience Ginger

Horatio Hornblower is an odd name, but consider his siblings: Azubia, Constantia, Jecoliah, Jedidah, Jerusha and Erastus. Staff and researchers at the Cornwall County Record Office have compiled a list of more than 1 000 unusual names found in censuses as well as births, deaths and marriage records going back as far as the 16th century.

No image available
/ 12 September 2005

Sleeping-sickness epidemic hits DRC

An outbreak of trypanosomiasis, the ”sleeping sickness” transmitted to humans by the bite of a tsetse fly, has reached epidemic proportions in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to statistics released by health authorities, about 1 650 people have been infected with the disease.