Trending Sunday: 5 August 2012
Africa:
An audit report has slammed high-ranking government officials for ‘placing South Africa at risk’ of breaking United Nations sanctions when they issued letters of support to a company trying to sell helicopters to Iran. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe’s romantic partner, Gugu Mtshali and her close associates stand accused of peddling political support for the Iran deal – in return for a promised R104-million.
At least 20 Durban city policemen own 50 taxis and are using municipal resources to run their lucrative businesses – and they are taking advantage of inside information to avoid being bust by their colleagues for breaking the law.
18 Limpopo education officials have been fingered for being secretly involved in businesses that made more than R30-million from another provincial department. A draft audit report found that 31 suppliers had failed to complete forms declaring that members of their companies were employed by the state.
South Africa unveiled its latest monument to Nelson Mandela on Saturday, a new statue along a rural highway near Howick to mark the spot where he was arrested 50 years ago for his struggle against white rule.
According to a report on Friday government was planning to build a new R2 billion town in Zuma’s home village of Nkandla. The town was dubbed ‘Zumaville’. Government would reportedly have to direct more than R1 billion of taxpayers’ money into the development while the other R1 billion would be raised from the private sector. It is said Zuma’s Nkandla homestead was also being turned into a palace with underground tunnels to ensure his safety.
National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) board chairman Andile Lungisa will not be a part of the agency’s next board.
The South African Local Government Association (Salga) wants the taxpayer to pay for municipal councillors’ building and motor insurance.
A national investigation has put the spotlight on over 60 principals for illegally using school funds meant for textbooks and stationery to run private businesses and settle their own debts.
Egypt’s prime minister-designate is describing his new 35-member Cabinet as the “people’s government” and has called on Egyptians to unite in the face of “grave” challenges.
Uganda Ebola outbreak death toll rises to 16.
Sudan and South Sudan have hammered out a deal on how to share their oil wealth, one of a series of disputes that brought the rivals to the brink of all-out war earlier this year.
France has seized the £118 million Paris mansion of Equatorial Guinea leader Teodoro Obiang Nguema’s family as part of a corruption investigation involving his son, it has been claimed.
Somalia’s pirates could be granted an amnesty if they release hostages and return captured vessels to their owners, according to transitional president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
World:
Forty-eight Iranians were kidnapped while on a pilgrimage in the Syrian capital Damascus, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.
China’s broadcasting regulator has banned remakes of foreign shows and demand TV series cut back on excessive family conflict and jokes in historical dramas.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with a senior Chinese official late Thursday to discuss closer ties with its main ally Beijing, state media said.
Britain will provide more “non-lethal support” for Syria’s rebels as the bloodshed inside the country worsens, William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, said.
British public opinion regarding Israel is turning because of its hardline policies towards the Palestinians, the UK ambassador has warned.
Ships flying British ensign have been banned from docking in Argentina’s largest province under new law.
Former Fiji prime minister Laisenia Qarase, the last democratically elected leader in the coup-plagued South Pacific nation, was sentenced to 12 months jail on Friday after being found guilty of corruption.
North Korea says recent floods have killed nearly 170 people and left 400 missing across the country.
Supporters of same-sex marriage are staging a country-wide “kiss-in” at outlets of Chick-fil-A, the Christian chicken restaurant at the heart of a fresh battle over gay rights in America.
Sport:
Oscar Pistorius made Olympic history, taking to the track with blades against a field of the world’s best athletes. Four years ago in Beijing, Natalie du Toit did much the same thing in the water when she swam with one leg against the world’s best open-water competitors.
Long jumper Khotso Mokoena could not repeat his silver medal performance from four year’s ago in Saturday’s long jump final at the London Olympic Games, finishing in eight place.
Kevin Pietersen led an England counter-attack with a scintillating unbeaten century to lift his side to 351 for five on the third day of the second test against South Africa on Saturday.
Supersport United progressed to the semi-finals of the MTN 8 with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Free State Stars on Saturday afternoon.
The Springbok selectors on Saturday included five uncapped players in a 30-man Springbok squad for the inaugural Rugby Championship. Stormers loose forward, Siya Kolisi, and Lions prop, Pat Cilliers, join JJ Engelbrecht, Elton Jantjies and Jano Vermaak, who were all part of the Springbok squad for the June series against England, but did not make an appearance.
Olympic dream comes to life as rowers, cyclists and athletes lift Great Britain to third on medals table with six golds on day eight.
Entertainment:
Stevie Wonder, the blind American soul musician whose songs have provided the soundtrack to a generation, has filed for divorce after 11 years of marriage.
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