The lead vehicle in the convoy has disappeared over the hill. The road ahead is flanked by two suspicious-looking car wrecks. Nobody thinks to look behind until a smoke grenade explodes three yards away. The buzzer sounds. ”A grenade. We’re dead, dude,” says Private Tyler Franzen.
Nigeria’s second largest mobile operator Econet Wireless Nigeria has signed a -million network expansion deal with Swedish equipment provider Ericsson, company executives said on Monday.
<img src="http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/41909/10-X-Logo.gif" align=left>In a departure from their long-held policy of not making political donations and in recognition of the country’s 10th anniversary of democracy, Standard Bank and the Liberty Group on Monday announced donations of R5-million and R1,5-million respectively towards national election funding.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3_fl2.asp?o=40922">Special Report: Elections 2004</a>
Financial services group Sanlam and banking group Absa on Monday announced the formation of a joint venture company that will offer home loans to Sanlam clients. This is the first step in a cooperation agreement singed between the two groups in September last year.
The echo of the Radio des Milles Collines still haunts Rwanda a decade after a million people died at the hands of Hutu mass murderers inflamed by its broadcasts. It has taken 10 years for Rwandan authorities to allow another private radio station to take to the airwaves.
Former Zambian president Frederick Chiluba on Monday appeared before two different courts on corruption and theft charges but both cases were adjourned due to disorganisation in the prosecution team. ”It’s disappointing that the state never seems to be ready to proceed with these matters,” a magistrate said.
Civil servants in Kenya have threatened to go on their first-ever strike at the end of March if the government fails to award them a 600% pay rise. The Kenya Civil Servants Union, which has been in existence for a year, says it has been negotiating with the government on behalf of about 250 000 workers.
Peter Jackson’s fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings and an army of New Zealanders reigned supreme over the Oscars on Sunday, sweeping 11 trophies and making Academy Awards history. Meanwhile, Jackson said on Sunday he still wanted to tackle more hobbit tales.
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”In 1955 the Freedom Charter was signed in Kliptown, near Soweto. It was the product of a dream of ”houses, security and comfort”. Forty-nine years later the only reminder of that dream is in the area’s Freedom Charter informal settlement. Voter apathy is rife in Kliptown where residents complain that politicians break their promises.
The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE) ticked up during the morning session on Monday, with the key driver of the market being the resources sector. Platinum stocks sparkled on the JSE as the US dollar platinum price forged to fresh 24-year highs.