Major oil companies are still making secret payments to repressive regimes, one year after British Prime Minister Tony Blair put his personal authority behind a British-led voluntary disclosure code for the industry, according to a new report from London-based lobby group Global Witness published last week.
Every year the list is the same, but every year it still comes as a shock. Of the 10 richest people on Earth, five of them have the same surname. It’s not Gates, or Murdoch, or Rockefeller, but Walton. They are the heirs and trustees of the supermarket chain Wal-Mart. And between them they are worth -billion.
A classic captain’s knock of 125 not out by Graeme Smith and a crucial 76 from Gary Kirsten in his Test farewell led South Africa to a six-wicket win over New Zealand. The convincing victory shattered New Zealand’s dream of a first ever series win over South Africa.
Last summer every sea creature across an area about twice the size of Lesotho was asphyxiated by severely depleted oxygen levels in the Gulf of Mexico. The same phenomenon, the marine equivalent of the ozone hole, happened off South America, China, Japan, south-east Australia, New Zealand, and up to 150 other places.
A prominent figure in South African soccer has been released on bail following his arrest on Monday night on a charge of assault. The police say a charge has been laid by a woman after a domestic dispute at a home in the south of Johannesburg, allegedly resulted in her sustaining injuries to her head.
Veteran South African batsman Gary Kirsten was shedding tears after his gutsy farewell to Test cricket ruined New Zealand’s shot at an historic series win in Wellington on Tuesday. The only South African to play 100 Tests walked off a cricket pitch for the last time wiping his eyes after he led the tourists to victory in his final match.
Second seed Venus Williams advanced to the quarter-finals of the ,5-million WTA and ATP Masters Series event on Monday. With two-time defending champion Serena Williams also in the quarter-finals, Venus could join her younger sibling in an All-Williams final.
The biography of former South African cricket captain and administrator Dr Ali Bacher was launched in Johannesburg on Monday with Bacher calling it a ”book for the people”. The book, Ali: The Life of Ali Bacher, was written by journalist Rodney Hartman and has a foreword by Nelson Mandela.
The South African Junior and Youth Championships taking place in Bloemfontein on Friday and Saturday promise to be a highlight of the 2004 track and field season. More than 1 200 athletes have been entered by their respective provinces for the championships. Among them are all the top junior and youth athletes of this season.
Manchester United have officially cut all links with Fabien Barthez — on loan at Marseille — when they said on Tuesday the France goalkeeper’s contract will be cancelled on June 30. Barthez had two-and-a-half years left on his Manchester United contract.