No image available
/ 26 January 2005
A Swedish man suffering from claustrophobia has been allowed to avoid jail time for perjury, prompting media speculation that his illness convinced the government to give him a pardon. The government refused to give a reason for pardoning Thomas Lundberg, who had been sentenced last year to four months behind bars for perjury.
No image available
/ 26 January 2005
Japanese people who are too shy to work up the courage to say "I love you", or at least want a little surprise, have a new option: a bean plant that sprouts to read a special message. Japan’s second-largest toymaker will soon start marketing of the gift cans, which hold soil and the small plant bearing a message that sprouts up in about five days.
No image available
/ 26 January 2005
A former Jewish grand rabbi, Mordechai Eliahu, has laid down the law on amateur operatics under the shower: you can hum but you can’t sing. "You will not sing in the shower," the former leader of Israel’s Sephardic Jews instructed a listener inquiring about Talmudic laws on an ultra-Orthodox religious radio programme.
No image available
/ 26 January 2005
After a recent spate of drownings across the country, police have emphasised the need for water-safety awareness. ”In Gauteng, we had 41 drownings in December and 22 in January,” police spokesperson Eugene Opperman said on Wednesday. The bodies of three children who drowned in separate incidents were recovered on Tuesday alone.
No image available
/ 26 January 2005
The JSE Securities Exchange was in positive territory in noon trade on Wednesday, buoyed by bargain hunting and firmer global markets. Gold miner Harmony led the market’s downside after gold stocks were knocked in New York overnight. By 12.01pm, the all share index added 0,6%.
No image available
/ 26 January 2005
Mark Scott-Crossley’s R250 000 bail could be revoked for allegedly grabbing a witness’s T-shirt and muttering to him at the close of proceedings on the second day of his trial for allegedly feeding former employee Nelson Chisale (41) to lions in January last year.
No image available
/ 26 January 2005
South Africa’s CPIX inflation (headline inflation excluding mortgage costs) was up 4,3% year-on-year (y/y) for metro and other areas in December, compared with 4,6% y/y in November, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday. CPIX was down 0,2% month-on-month (m/m) in December compared with a 0,6% m/m rise in November.
No image available
/ 26 January 2005
Coronation Fund Managers (Coronation) has secured third-party funding for its broad-based black economic empowerment (BEE) staff transaction with the Imvula Trust, the group announced on Wednesday. Arising from the transaction, the company is proposing a distribution of 25 cents per Coronation share to shareholders.
No image available
/ 26 January 2005
Ajax Cape Town has signed former South African youth international Seuntjie Motlhajwa on a three-year deal. According to the Premier Soccer League website, the speedy Motlhajwa joined the Urban Warriors from Jomo Cosmos. Motlhajwa is a product of the Transnet Football School of Excellence.
No image available
/ 26 January 2005
Masters champion Phil Mickelson hopes to kick-start his 2005 season this week when he defends his title at the ,7-million Bob Hope Classic that starts in California on Wednesday on four desert golf courses. Mickelson’s triumph in California last year ended an 18-month victory drought.