"Luckily Christmas is over for this year, but it’s never too late to send Santa a letter telling him what you like. Be very, very afraid as you read the list of what online internet users have been asking Santa to give them. Yes, there’s a little bit of adult material lurking here. No, don’t thank me, it’s the least I could do, really." Ian Fraser goes the extra online mile.
Which four Southern Africa countries held elections this year? Who won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize? Who provides the donkey’s voice in the film <i>Shrek</i>? Name the Jewish architect of Polish extraction who won the bid to design a memorial for New York’s Twin Towers. How many of the year’s events can you recall? Put yourself to the test …
The South African government has set up an interministerial committee, assisted by a task team of senior officials, to coordinate relief efforts for countries affected by last week’s tsunami disaster. South Africa will also send a delegation to an international donor conference to be held in Indonesia on Thursday.
Democratic Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson said on Monday that apart from a crisis centre at the Department of Foreign Affairs, there has been "very little concern and involvement by President Thabo Mbeki’s government in helping to relieve the suffering of those affected by the Asian tsunami".
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/pd.asp?cg=BreakingNews-InternationalNews&ao=177318">Tsunami toll passes 144 000</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-Business&ao=177348">Insurers cautious about tsunami claims</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/pd.asp?cg=BreakingNews-National&ao=177278">SA’s tsunami death toll rises</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-InternationalNews&ao=177286">Record aid operation, but progress slow</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/pd.asp?cg=BreakingNews-InternationalNews&ao=177284">Will the $2bn aid actually materialise?</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/pd.asp?cg=BreakingNews-National&ao=177271">More SA tsunami survivors return</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/pd.asp?cg=BreakingNews-InternationalNews&ao=177268">World tsunami aid tops R12bn</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=Insight-International&ao=177270">Tsunami warnings could save thousands</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=Insight-International&ao=177269">Focus: Tsunami catastrophe</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/content/l3_fl2.asp?cg=tsunami%20disaster&o=194303">Tsunami disaster special report</a>
An upbeat New Year’s message by Swaziland Prime Minister Themba Dlamini has been rebutted by the kingdom’s pro-democracy groups, with labour unions calling for a general strike in January to protest lavish royal spending and a controversial draft Constitution. The nationwide general strike is set for January 25.
Retiring Old Mutual plc chairperson Mike Levett has resigned as a non-executive director of the boards of Old Mutual subsidiaries Nedcor and Nedbank. He will be replaced on the Nedcor boards by Bob Head (45), who is currently director responsible for group human resources, brand and strategy at Old Mutual plc, based in London.
At least two Cabinet ministers in Zimbabwe are suspected of passing official secrets to Western intelligence agencies seeking to spy on President Robert Mugabe’s government, the state <i>Sunday Mail</i> reported. Several officials are believed to have divulged confidential information to "hostile intelligence agencies".
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-Africa&ao=177308">Zim ruling party shuns big names</a>
World number four gold miner Gold Fields on Friday announced that it has purchased, through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary Orogen Holdings, 5,2-million common shares in Comaplex Minerals. The shares have been acquired for investment purposes.
The dispute between the Pharmaceutical Society and the Minister of Health began as an urgent application for a declaration of invalidity of regulations relating to a transparent pricing system for medicines, which in the minister’s view would reduce costs to patients. We look at the disturbing unfolding of events.
The bodies of two more South Africans have been found in Thailand, bringing the total number of tsunami deaths to seven, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. Spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the department is working with the families of the victims to arrange when to repatriate the bodies to South Africa.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/content/l3_fl2.asp?cg=tsunami%20disaster&o=194303">Tsunami disaster special report</a>
The Zimbabwe government has denied media reports that controversial information minister Jonathan Moyo has tendered his resignation to acting president Joyce Mujuru. Moyo allegedly sent his resignation by fax from Kenya, where he is on holiday, but Mujuru reportedly refused to accept it.
Poised on the brink of a new year, Loose Cannon has managed to engage the services of the renowned Brakpan siener, Danie van den Horne. Using both his crystal balls, Danie has provided an almanac for 2005. Study it and know that some things seldom change. Here are his predictions for the new year …
One of the biggest relief efforts ever seen has finally started to crank into action, with supplies beginning to reach some of the worst-hit areas. Pledges of aid from around the world passed the $2-billion (about R12-billion) mark, with Japan’s announcement that it was boosting its aid from $30-million to $500-million.
Africa’s prospects for peace brightened yesterday with the signing in Kenya of an accord to bring an end to Sudan’s long-running conflict with southern rebels. "The new year will be a year of peace and democracy in Sudan," vowed rebel leader Yasir Arman, according to Associated Press. "It will be the end of one of the longest wars in Africa."
No image available
/ 31 December 2004
South African Andrew Brown gave his little daughter Frankie "zero chance of survival" after a 10-metre wave crashed over his family on a tiny Thai island. Now the family is savouring a miraculous New Year gift of life.
No image available
/ 30 December 2004
The South African ambassador to Thailand on Thursday confirmed that the official number of missing South Africans in Thailand stands at 14. In India, two South Africans are still missing. Meanwhile, there was a rapid surge in donations worldwide for emergency relief in Asian countries swept by tidal waves that killed at least 119Â 000 people.
No image available
/ 30 December 2004
As many as 80 000 people may have died in the Indonesian province of Aceh alone. The Red Cross warned the global death toll could reach as high as 100 000. Meanwhile, South African Tsunami survivors sobbed and broke down on Wednesday when they met their families at Johannesburg International airport after arriving on a mercy flight.
No image available
/ 28 December 2004
A team of doctors and paramedics flew out of Johannesburg International Airport on Tuesday morning to Phuket in Thailand to rescue South Africans stranded there following this weekend’s devastating tsunami wave. The flight is expected to touch down on Tuesday, 8.30pm South African time and return to South Africa on Wednesday.
No image available
/ 27 December 2004
Two South Africans have been confirmed killed in Phuket island off Thailand, following an earthquake and subsequent tsunamis that hit Southeast Asia on Sunday, the department of foreign affairs said on Monday. At least 300 South Africans are believed to be stranded in Thailand.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-National&ao=177177">Narrow escape for SA coach</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-Africa&ao=177178">Africa counts cost of tidal waves</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-National&ao=177176">SA warned about waves on E Coast </a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-InternationalNews&ao=177168&t=1">Thousands swept to their death</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/pd.asp?cg=BreakingNews-InternationalNews&ao=177167">Thousands killed in Asian tsunami</a>
No image available
/ 26 December 2004
More than 11Â 000 people were killed and thousands more are missing after a powerful earthquake on Sunday triggered giant tidal waves that slammed into coasts across southern Asia, swallowing villages and wreaking death and devastation on seaside resorts. The quake is the fifth largest recorded to date.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-Africa&ao=177165">Tidal waves hit Africa</a>
No image available
/ 24 December 2004
With 2004 in the bag, South African arts scene has been through it all. Mike van Graan dishes out the dirt and the gold, giving the arts’ top "achievers" some very special awards.
No image available
/ 23 December 2004
It has been a contradictory year, pulling us between the heights of optimism and the depths of despair. At home, 2004 started as a year of celebration. Ten years of freedom was a beacon that cast a glittering light on the achievement of a normal society. The world beyond proved a darker place.
No image available
/ 22 December 2004
Former sociology lecturer James Christie, twisting the words of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, once quipped that humans are born free, but are everywhere in chain stores. He might have added that some humans feel like resorting to chain saws — in order to carve a path through the crowds clogging the craw of December shopping malls.
No image available
/ 22 December 2004
A team of international scientists has found new fish and insect species, including a monster cockroach, living in caves in Indonesia’s remote East Kalimantan province, the group announced on Wednesday. The team said the area where the new species were discovered is threatened by environmental degradation.
No image available
/ 22 December 2004
"’Tis the season to be sleazy — er, I mean "merry" — so this week I’m doing my best to counteract all the unattainable illusions that the mass media are trying to make the public hope for over this festive season … I thought it’d be far more pleasant, sane and fun just to pander cheerfully to the prurient interest." Ian Fraser trawls the web.
No image available
/ 21 December 2004
Peace talks between the Sudanese government and Darfur’s main rebel movements have been suspended until January, according to a joint statement from the parties released on Tuesday. "The parties undertake to return to Abuja for the next round of the talks on a date … to be confirmed by the AU," it said.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-Africa&ao=177030">Aid group pulls out of Darfur</a>
No image available
/ 21 December 2004
The Department of Health has rejected media speculation that it is backtracking on its intention to appeal in the Constitutional Court a ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal voiding its medicine-pricing regulations. On Monday, the Department of Health gave notice it intends to take its fight further to maintain the regulations.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-National&ao=177004">’The judgement was wrong'</a>
No image available
/ 21 December 2004
A giant straw goat erected by local businessmen in the town of Gavle was torched — again — in what has become a holiday tradition some would call arson. A smouldering pile of wood and metal was all that remained on Tuesday of the traditional Swedish good-luck goat that businessmen in Gavle erect annually.
No image available
/ 21 December 2004
Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont’s chief operating officer, Yannick Lakhnati, has resigned and will leave the group on May 31 next year, the company said on Tuesday. No decision has been taken as to the appointment of Lakhnati’s replacement.
No image available
/ 21 December 2004
South African-based mobile telecommunications group MTN announced on Tuesday that the Swazi monarch, King Mswati III, has gained a 6% interest in MTN Swaziland through Swaziland Post and Telecommunications Corporation’s (SPTC) sale of some of its shares. SPTC is the kingdom’s fixed-line operator.
No image available
/ 20 December 2004
Banking group FirstRand announced on Monday that the necessary commitments and approvals from various financial institutions for the funding of the third-party component of a proposed black economic empowerment (BEE) transaction have been secured. This paves the way for the deal to be implemented in the first quarter of 2005.
No image available
/ 19 December 2004
The secretariat of the Southern African Development Community and governments in the region have been urged to devise new measures to assist the disabled. A new report noted that disabled people in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Malawi still do not enjoy the same access to education as their able-bodied counterparts. It added that disabled people, generally, do not have any vocational skills training or tertiary education.