Unemployment in the United States has fallen to its lowest level in nearly four years, data showed on Friday, emphasising the underlying strength of its economy. In spite of a smaller-than-expected rise in employment outside the agricultural sector, the jobless rate fell to 5%, a rate half that of the eurozone.
Liberia’s justice minister on Friday accused ex-president Charles Taylor of meddling in Liberian politics in violation of an agreement under which he lives in exile in Nigeria. ”We know that Mr Taylor is literally making telephone calls to his cronies in Liberia and other parts of the world daily,” Minister of Justice Kabinneh Janneh said.
Hurricane Dennis pummelled Cuba on Friday, killing 10 people and displacing 1,5-million others, President Fidel Castro announced, after its fierce winds and heavy rains left another five dead in Haiti. Cuban authorities had rushed more than 700Â 000 people into shelters overnight, including at least 2Â 500 tourists.
JL Lewis had the early second-round lead at the John Deere Classic after a six-under 65 on Friday. But with Michelle Wie shooting for history, Lewis knows the only people who will remember he was atop the leaderboard six months from now are his family and maybe some of his friends.
Michael Schumacher admitted in Silverstone on Friday that the British Grand Prix could see his Ferrari team repeat the disappointing performance they suffered in last weekend’s French Grand Prix. The Magny-Cours race saw him finish more than one minute behind the winning Renault of championship leader Fernando Alonso in the race.
An Islamic leader warned in a Portuguese newspaper interview 15 months ago that a London-based group, al-Qaeda Europe, was on the verge of a major attack. Meanwhile, police in London searched for clues to the attackers as the city’s mayor vowed it will bounce back from carnage that left at least 50 dead.
The salaries of public office-bearers should be increased by 5,75% for the 2005/06 financial year, a special commission proposed on Friday. The South African Reserve Bank’s inflation target was one of the factors taken into consideration in making its recommendation, the commission said in a statement.
Lance Armstrong rarely gets upset. But it was clear ahead of this weekend’s potentially dangerous eighth and ninth stages of the Tour de France that the American doesn’t appreciate too much attention going to his rivals for the yellow jersey. Robbie McEwen picked up 35 points for his win on Friday.
A woman who threatened to kill Catherine Zeta-Jones, cut her up and then feed her to dogs was jailed for three years on Friday after the Oscar-winning actress branded her as ”simply evil”. Dawnette Knight (35) was put behind bars after an angry and withering statement from Zeta-Jones was read to the court.
An Ohio man with the breasts of a woman has been charged with indecent exposure after he was spotted shirtless. "He’s a guy. He’s real tall, and he’s got a full set of breasts," assistant Cincinnati solicitor Kevin Donovan told the <i>Cincinnati Post</i>.