No image available
/ 2 February 2004
Controversial anatomist Gunther von Hagens, whose touring show of flayed human bodies has shocked Germany, has offered a large sum to giant Alexander Sizonenko, the world’s biggest man, a newspaper reported on Monday. The former Russian basketball player is 2,48m tall and weighs 200kg.
No image available
/ 2 February 2004
Malawi has launched a fishing project that will benefit more than 300 000 people who depend on fishing for their livelihood. The project, which was launched on January 24, is expected to improve fish stocks as well as catches from Lake Malawi. Declining fish stocks has raised alarm that Lake Malawi could be affected.
No image available
/ 2 February 2004
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told a newspaper on Monday he plans to dismantle 17 Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip without waiting for a peace deal with the Palestinians — his most detailed comment yet on the removal of settlements.
No image available
/ 2 February 2004
The defection of senior United Democratic Movement official Kingsley Masemola to the African National Congress was prompted by financial considerations, his former political masters said on Monday. They said Masemola, former UDM national chairperson, was still to account for "questionable cheques" he had signed.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=30526">UDM chairperson joins ANC</a>
No image available
/ 2 February 2004
With a nervous eye on land invasions in Zimbabwe to the north, South African farmers have taken fright at legal changes to boost their government’s land expropriation powers. But legal experts say the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill pose little reason for real concern.
No image available
/ 2 February 2004
The national chairperson of the United Democratic Movement, Kingsley Masemola, defected to the African National Congress on Monday. Kingsley, who is also the Limpopo chairperson of the party, announced his defection at an ANC press briefing in Johannesburg.
No image available
/ 2 February 2004
The Sizzlers gay massage parlour massacre, which claimed nine lives last January, was described in the Cape High Court on Monday as ”extraordinary, bizarre and weird”. Prosecutor Anthony Stephen said the fact that the incident claimed nine lives was ”in itself a record”.
No image available
/ 2 February 2004
Central banks are very powerful determinants of interest rates and exchange rates. It has therefore been very disconcerting to financial market participants that the norm since December 2003 has been for central banks to spring surprises. The first major central bank to surprise the markets was the South African Reserve Bank.
No image available
/ 2 February 2004
A flood of innovative, user-friendly, small and often eye-catching digital music devices have been launched to bring better sound into cars, mobile phones, portable jukeboxes and even video-games consoles. Phatboxes, Pictones and media handsets were among the new gadgets flaunted at the Midem trade.
No image available
/ 2 February 2004
The signing of a wealth-sharing agreement earlier this month between Sudanese officials and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army was hailed an important step towards peace in that country. Now, hopes are growing that the accord might also spell the end of another conflict: that in northern Uganda.