They attract millions of tourists seeking to improve their swing in the sun. But the rush to coastal golf courses around the arid southern Mediterranean is posing a grave threat to its limited fresh water stocks. Each of an estimated 200 courses built around the Mediterranean consumes the same amount of fresh water as a town of 12Â 000 people, according to a recent report.
A recent survey revealed that more and more people are boycotting companies that behave unethically. George W Bush tops the list of brands that have sparked consumers’ ire, but it also includes Coca-Cola, Benetton, Budweiser and more. Here’s your consumer’s guide to all the big baddies.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is heading for a major showdown with the government over Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel’s plans to corporatise the Public Investment Commissioners (PIC), which manages public sector pension funds worth more than R300-billion. Government is running up the national debt to keep up its payments into the state pension fund.
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The right-wing author of the bestselling book <i>The Great South African Land Scandal</i> — which urges resistance to land reform, branding it "an assault on South African agriculture" — holds an Internet doctoral degree from an unaccredited United States university. In some states of the US it is a criminal offence to use degrees bestowed by Pacific Western University, author Philip du Toit’s alma mater.
The Botswana government on Thursday dismissed as ”suspect and mischievous” testimony given by a former colonial commissioner in support of a court claim by the San Bushmen seeking to return to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The Bushmen were evicted from the reserve in 1997.
The Ugandan military has achieved a major breakthrough in its battle with anti-government rebels after capturing a high-ranking rebel commander described as ”the heeart and spirit” of the rebellion raging in the north of the country. ”Brigadier” Kenneth Banya was captured following a skirmish at Okidi.
The European Union has announced the delivery of €42-million to a United Nations-sponsored global fund to combat Aids, tuberculosis and malaria. The money, part of a €460-million pledge, will be used for programs geared to boost prevention, treatment and care of the three diseases.
A judicial inquiry reported on Thursday that members of the Garda — Ireland’s police force — planted hoax Irish Republican Army weapons and bomb-making equipment in county Donegal in the northwest of the country during 1993 and 1994 in an effort to boost their chances of promotion.
The JSE edged marginally higher on Thursday mainly on the back of global resources group Anglo American and other resources stocks, as well as the weaker tone of the rand. Near-dated futures, meanwhile, closed flat on the back of weaker international markets and a slightly stronger rand.