Scientists have cracked a problem that popular opinion suggests they suffer from most: steamed-up spectacles. The solution, they found, lies in nanotechnology, the science of the vanishingly small. By applying an ultra-thin coating of particles to sheets of glass and other transparent surfaces, scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology made them permanently fog-proof.
Ethiopia’s prime minister launched a blistering attack on the European Union on Monday, condemning as a ”pack of lies” a report critical of the country’s elections this summer. The EU, which sent observers to 1 000 constituencies, said last week that key aspects of the vote failed to meet international standards.
Three airlines blacklisted by Belgium because of safety concerns will still be allowed to fly to neighbouring Netherlands without restrictions, the Transport Ministry said on Tuesday. Air Memphis of Egypt, Cargo Freighters of Rwanda and Air Limited of Ghana are authorised to land in The Netherlands but will be under increased surveillance.
Egypt’s presidential electoral commission has banned leading opposition candidate Ayman Nur’s campaign television spot on the grounds the theme song had been plagiarised. A spokesperson branded the move ”one of the dirtiest tricks of the campaign” for the September 7 presidential poll and blamed President Hosni Mubarak’s camp.
A senior United Nations official has accused President George Bush of ”doing damage to Africa” by cutting funding for condoms, a move which may jeopardise the successful fight against HIV/Aids in Uganda. In 2003, Bush declared he would spend -billion on his emergency plan for HIV/Aids relief, but receiving aid under the programme has moral strings attached.
Three top officials of the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) have been suspended and may be prosecuted while the union’s dismissed general secretary will be reinstated. The executive committee decided to suspend Patrick Johnson, Barry Stemmet and Priscilla Kekana in their respective capacities as president, deputy general secretary and second vice president.
A Cape High Court judge on Tuesday reversed the suspensions of six senior members of the United Democratic Movement, saying the party had not followed its own constitution. The six, two MPs and four members of provincial legislatures, include the deputy president of the party, Malizole Diko.
The JSE was firmer in noon trade on Tuesday on the back of generally stronger global markets and a decline in the international price of crude oil. However, traders said the market was off its earlier highs and that volumes were nothing to write home about.
The British government is proposing to ban the downloading and possession of violent and abusive pornography from the internet, a minister said on Tuesday. The government on Tuesday published a consultation paper on the proposed law, with a deadline of December 2 for interested parties to comment.
Real Madrid have warned they will not let Michael Owen go on the cheap as the England striker tries to negotiate a return to the English Premiership. Newcastle have already had a club record bid, believed to be £16-million, accepted by the Spanish giants. However, Owen has admitted he would prefer to rejoin Liverpool.