Google has thrown its considerable weight into the burgeoning market for internet telephony, or voice messaging as it is now being called. Google has announced its own voice messaging service, Google Talk, which uses voice over internet protocol and can also be used for instant messaging.
A three-day conference that took place last week in Johannesburg has highlighted the possibilities for increased trade between South Africa and Nigeria. The Nigeria and South Africa Business Investment Forum 2005 kicked off on August 24, mostly with the aim of attracting South African entrepreneurs to the West African country.
Embarrassed Portuguese police said on Friday they had made a mistake when they announced that an early-morning roadcheck in a Lisbon neighbourhood had found 90% of drivers over the alcohol limit. They later reported that the real figure was less than 10%.
A district mayor in Budapest has proposed a dress code for city-hall employees under which only women with "pretty legs" can wear short skirts, the Hungarian press reported on Saturday. Gyorgy Mitnyan, the conservative mayor of the city’s 12th district, is also seeking to ban skirts that are shorter than 2cm to 3cm above the knee.
The annual World Bog-Snorkelling Championships celebrate their 20th year on Monday when competitors don the flippers in one of Britain’s most bizarre sporting events. The championships take place in Llanwrtyd Wells, central Wales, Britain’s smallest town.
The world’s first toilet college is to open in Singapore to teach cleaners how to improve their lavatory-washing skills, according to local broadcaster Channel NewsAsia. The first batch of 30 students from a local cleaning company will start their training at the Toilet College in October, it said on its website.
China’s edition of American tycoon Donald Trump’s reality TV show <i>The Apprentice</i> will drop the mogul’s "you’re fired" catchphrase to avoid upsetting Chinese sensitivities, a report in Hong Kong said on Sunday. Chinese traditionally frown on behaviour that causes embarrassment to others.
The United Democratic Movement hatched a deplorable scheme to oust six of its public representatives before the floor-crossing window opens, the Cape High Court heard on Monday. Advocate Jan Heunis was arguing on behalf of the six, who include UDM deputy president Malizole Diko.
Standard Bank is to acquire 25% of RCS Investment Holdings from fashion retailer Foschini for R358,1-million, with an option to acquire a further 20% stake in the subsidiary. The business of RCS Investments was established five years ago when the Foschini group of companies began an initiative to expand its range of financial services.
It seems like I’ve been voluntarily grounded for a long time. People who are used to snooping into this column to find out where I’ve been recently have a pained, disappointed look on their faces. "It seems like you haven’t been anywhere recently," they say.