The new Palestinian leadership on Sunday set January 9 for elections to choose a successor to Yasser Arafat as president of the Palestinian Authority. But in a sign of the potential upheaval the ballot could cause within the occupied territories, gunmen opened fire in protest at the arrival of Mahmoud Abbas, the former prime minister who is thought likely to win the election.

Once famed for their white-sand beaches, the islands of the Pacific are threatened by a waste mountain. Rubbish now clogs streams flowing into the harbour in Samoa’s capital Apia, and floats through the mangrove forests of Fiji. Every part of the region is affected. And one of the biggest battles in many island societies, say experts, is raising awareness of the problem.

One of the most flamboyant characters in hip-hop, the rap artist ODB, collapsed and died in a recording studio on Saturday at the age of 35. ODB, born Russell Jones, had complained of chest pains before collapsing outside his Manhattan studio and was dead by the time paramedics arrived.

It is unlikely to be available in the mountains of Pakistan. But should Osama bin Laden ever emerge from his hiding place, he might do worse than to freshen up with a new brand of family perfume. Osama’s lesser-known half-brother Yeslam has just launched his own brand of scent.

South African telecommunications group Telkom on Monday reported a 59,8% rise in headline earnings per share to 536,9 cents for the six months ended September 30, from 335,9 cents a year ago. The group reported operating revenue of R21,52-billion from R20,036-billion a year earlier.