Microsoft, hoping to take a bite out of Apple Computer’s highly popular online music service, is gearing up to launch its own website for selling songs over the internet. With Thursday’s planned debut, the software maker will become the latest competitor in a market experts say is still in its infancy — but one that is expected to grow considerably more popular in the coming years.
A 21-year-old Georgia man drove nearly 20km with the headless body of a friend hanging out of the passenger side window of his pickup truck following an accident in which the man’s head was severed by a utility pole support cable, a news report said on Monday.
Botswana’s diamond mines are still operational: 26 tonnes of explosives were detonated and blasted 150 000 tonnes of earth into the air — the dust rising 250 metres — which exposed more diamond bearing ore at Orapa mine. Orapa is one of the three diamond mines hit by illegal strikes over deadlocked pay award negotiations, now entering its second week.
The coveted title of World Champion Bog Snorkeller went on Monday for the third year in a row to a 17-year-old Welsh student who saw off about 140 competitors at one of Britain’s more unusual sporting events. The championships saw flipper-clad entrants snorkel two lengths of the murky Waen Ryth peat bog, overcoming mud, weeds and creepy crawlies in their quest for glory.
A wayward whale wallowing inside the sluice gates of a Canadian power plant is being lured to safety with a unique form of musical bait. Recordings of whales are being pumped below the waves to lure the beast, nicknamed ”Sluice” out of the plant in eastern Nova Scotia, closed for a week by its unwanted guest.
South African media and entertainment group Primedia on Tuesday reported a 195,7% rise in headline earnings per share to 68 cents for the 12 months ended June 30 2004, from 23 cents a year ago. Commenting on the group’s performance, Primedia CEO William Kirsh said: "Primedia has had a very good year."
A robust performance, combined with strong organic growth and increased efficiencies across all its businesses, saw health and life group Discovery lift operating profits by a whopping 102% to R708-million for the year ended June 30. Discovery Life increased profits by 138% to R27-million.
South Africa’s real gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices on a quarter-on-quarter (q/q) seasonally annualised and adjusted basis rose by 3,9% in the second quarter of 2004 from a revised 3,6% increase in the first quarter of 2004. Dawie Roodt, chief economist at the Efficient Group, said: "The number is a bit better than we expected."
Arms manufacturer Denel on Tuesday reported a R377,5-million net loss for the year ended March 31 2004, from gross revenues of R4,442-billion. Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin, speaking at the release of Denel’s year-end results, said Denel will remain a state-owned enterprise.
South Africa is considering a request by Equatorial Guinea to question Mark Thatcher about his alleged involvement in a foiled coup plot in the oil-rich west African nation, a spokesperson for the Justice Department said on Monday. South Africa’s Department of Foreign Affairs received Equatorial Guinea’s request to question Thatcher on Friday and conveyed it to the Justice Department on Monday.