A newspaper report that 100 000 civil servants were infected with HIV/Aids was based on a ”resource document … not yet finalised into a report”. This is according to the Director General of the Department of Social Development, Vusi Madonsela, and a researcher with the University of Pretoria’s Centre for the Study of Aids.
Zimbabwean electoral officials on Monday said a by-election that was marred by violence, intimidation, vote buying and rigging at the weekend had been won by President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party. The weekend election was marred by violent clashes culminating in the shooting dead of an opposition supporter.
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.
Former security policeman Gideon Nieuwoudt on Tuesday faces interrogation by Advocate Kessie Naidu, the man who had South Africans glued to their television screens as leader of evidence in the recent Hefer commission hearings. Naidu was appointed at short notice to replace advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=33347">Nieuwoudt mum on ‘interrogation'</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/pd.asp?ao=33337">Nieuwoudt sorry for saying ‘terrorist'</a>
"Many green activists oppose genetically modified (GM) crops on principle. It is difficult to understand what this principle is because the same technique is used to transfer a gene from one species to another to make human insulin for people with diabetes, for instance, as to modify a GM crop". Dick Taverne takes the contrary view to George Monbiot’s attack on GM crops.
"Stop crime." "Convict corrupt politicians", say the election posters. I have yet to see "Down with nukes" or "Free factory-farmed animals." But a visit to the offices or web pages of the main Election 2004 contenders shows that some political parties have fairly decent environmental policies. <i>Earthyear</i> sets out the environmental manifestos of the major contenders.
With the way technology is advancing towards all-in-one devices these days, I won’t be surprised if the next cellphone that lands on my desk is a phone-cum-camera-cum-lipstick-holder-cum-golf tee-cum-eyebrow plucker. But in the mean time, the Nokia 6 600, a nifty little triband phone, will suffice. There are all the standard Nokia features we’re accustomed to — and much more.
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 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.
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.