Fiat’s new Punto, already one of the most successful Fiat passenger cars ever in Europe, has arrived in Africa. The new range of cars comes in three and five door body shells, motivated by three different engines — a 1,2 litre double overhead camshaft 16 valve petrol unit, a 1,3 litre JTD turbodiesel and a high-performance 1,8 litre petrol burner.
"This is the day I’ve been waiting for, the day when someone would be made to answer for what the rebels did to me," said 20-year-old Jabati Mambu, a student whose right arm was amputated by Sierra Leonean rebels during their invasion of the capital, Freetown, in January 1999. The accused will go on trial in Sierra Leone this week, and face an 18-count indictment for unlawful killings, sexual violence and the use of child soldiers.
While entrepreneurs, ex-politicians, activists and formally educated people have been able to benefit from empowerment, there has been a lack of effective broad-based grassroots participation. But Sakhikamva Investments ("We are Building the Future"), majority NGO ownership, is beginning to make its mark in the marketplace.
Of all the hoary clichés about women and sex, the one most ripe to be laid to rest is that which states that women favour erotic words over pornographic images, personality over pectorals. If this were true, Anais Nin novels would outsell Sex and the City DVDs and Playgirl magazine would have folded after three issues. A new porn mag by women for women is not the first of its kind — but it may be the first to get it right.
”While I was on holiday, a message was left on my cellphone from Mail & Guardian reporter Sam Sole, asking me to phone him about ”the Mdu Msomi” matter. Although Sole had been told that the matter was sub judice, he went ahead and published a story anyway (”Durban council probes R1-million ‘fowl play”’, June 4). eThekwini Metro’s Mike Sutcliffe exercises his right to reply.
The first breath of life eventually leads to the last exhale at death, but for whatever span that lies between, breathing is an unassuming, if essential, part of living. It seemed odd to me that one would need lessons in how to breathe. Yet people worldwide are turning to the intensive Art of Living course on lowering stress and finding renewed vigor and clarity through age-old Hindu breathing techniques.
Ralph Schumacher will leave Williams for Toyota in 2005 after signing a three-year deal, the Japanese formula-one team said on Wednesday. Toyota racing team principal Tsutomu Tomita said: ”He has proven himself to be an extremely quick racing driver in his career … his vast experience will be extremely beneficial to our team.”
Chelsea’s new manager, Jose Mourinho, has told Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to cut out the mind games. Mourinho fell out with Ferguson when Porto knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League last season.
Cycling fans across Australia watching the Tour de France must be wondering if it is a coincidence that the race’s main jerseys correspond with the national colours. The fact probably didn’t escape Lotto sprinter Robbie McEwen, who was inches away from a repeat of Monday’s convincing stage win with a third-place finish that got him the yellow jersey.
Llewellyn Herbert, 26-year-old South African record holder and Olympic medal winner, is back on the main stage of global athletics. He was the pick of the South African competitors at the prestigious 2004 Athletissima IAAF Super Grand Prix in Lausanne on Tuesday when he clinched an excellent second place in the 400m men’s hurdles.