A series of disasters including the Indian Ocean tsunamis has meant strong sales for the Iridium global satellite telephone service which has been launched in Japan, a company official said on Friday. Demand from government offices, utilities and hospitals, using the handset as emergency tools, has increased.
Israel is to build an underwater security barrier on the coastal border with the Gaza Strip in a bid to prevent any infiltrations from the sea by would-be Palestinian attackers, security sources said on Friday. The navy-built barrier is expected to stretch nearly one kilometre out into the Mediterranean sea.
Kenya is evicting thousands of families who illegally occupy a vast swathe of forest in the country’s Rift Valley region, government spokesperson Alfred Mutua said on Friday. ”These forest areas are water catchment areas and the waters from these areas not only feed our country but [also] … trickle through the Maasai Mara to our neighbours”.
Batman Begins, which raked in ,8-million in North America since its opening on Wednesday, failed to come close to the opening weekend record set by fellow comicbook hero Spider-Man at ,8-million.
Property conglomerate Liberty International, listed in both the United Kingdom and South Africa, announced on Friday that Robert Finch would assume the role as the group’s chairman from July. Finch is the most recent mayor of London, the most senior London partner and former head of the property department at leading UK law firm, Linklaters.
Like the sands in an hour glass, the star quality in Bafana Bafana’s ranks has systematically diminished as Saturday’s crucial World Cup qualifying game against Ghana at FNB Stadium approaches amid a growing degree of apprehension. Manchester United’s Quinton Fortune joins a growing list of injuries.
The international animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on Friday launched its annual "Who is the Sexiest Vegetarian?" online poll to promote the vegetarian lifestyle. Front-runners include celebrities Avril Lavigne, Gwyneth Palthrow and Christian Bale.
Never heard of Deluxe? Well, nobody can really blame you. Lloyd Gedye meets the newest sensation in soft rock.
South African writers need to be at the forefront of our combined and determined effort to heal this land, writes Tiisetso Makube.
Ian Sansom finds Isabel Allende’s <i>Zorro: The Novel</i> a surprisingly pleasant read.