CNN Reporting On SA Walmart Fears – South Africa’s government is calling for more guarantees that Walmart’s foray into the country will not hit local suppliers and cause job losses. One minister has even described the retail giant’s buying power as a threat to food security. The world’s biggest retailer announced in June that it had completed its $2.4 billion acquisition of a majority stake in local firm Massmartt. [cnn]
Murdoch Pie Man Is Blogging From Prison - The father-of-one was sentenced to six weeks (reduced on appeal to four) in Wandsworth prison. Tough justice; perhaps even disproportionate. But the good news is that Johnnie Marbles has reacted to it all with surprising bonhomie – and is even blogging enthusiastically about the experience from inside the jug. [guardian]
AC/DC Launches Wine Label – Prepare to be Thunderstruck by the news that Aussie rock legends AC/DC have teamed up with Australian winery Warburn Estate to produce their own selection of fine wines according to The Herald Sun newspaper. The band fronted by Brian Johnson and Angus Young are following in the footsteps of fellow rockers Kiss, Whitesnake and The Rolling Stones by releasing their own branded alcohol. [whatculture]
Baggage Theft At OR Tambo Is Double The Average – Baggage theft at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg is “out of control”, prompting travellers to use alternatives to South African Airways, CEO Siza Mzimela said. Pilferage at other airports in South Africa was also “very high”, Mzimela told members of Parliament’s tourism committee, who were at a loss to understand how the problem could persist after huge investment in baggage handling equipment. [news24]
Phone Hacking: News Of The World Reporter’s Letter Reveals Cover - Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch and their former editor Andy Coulson all face embarrassing new allegations of dishonesty and cover-up after the publication of an explosive letter written by the News of the World’s disgraced royal correspondent, Clive Goodman. In the letter, which was published only on Tuesday, Goodman claims that phone hacking was “widely discussed” at editorial meetings at the paper until Coulson himself banned further references to it. [guardian]
Clash Of The Tech Titans – “Like many of you, I woke up yesterday morning and was surprised to hear that Google was acquiring Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. At first I didn’t get it. Why was Google parting with almost one-third of its cash reserves for a cellphone manufacturer? Two shots of espresso later it started to become clear. The big picture came into view.” [thedaily]
Schumacher Denies Retirement Rumours – Michael Schumacher has shrugged off comments attributed to his younger brother Ralf that he may be close to retiring from Formula One. Ralf was quoted as saying Michael would retire if Ferrari continued to toil, remarks he has since denied making. But Michael vowed to “keep on racing” and said he could wait for his team to turn their fortunes around. [bbc]
500-Year-Old Vampire Attacks Woman – A Texas man claiming to be a 500-year-old vampire allegedly broke into a woman’s apartment and bit her on the neck, later yelling at police that he “didn’t want to have to feed on humans”. The woman managed to escape and call police who later found 19-year-old Bensley in a nearby car park, hissing and growling, wearing only his boxer shorts. [ninemsn]
John Mellencamp Gets Divorced – Hurts So Good - Rocker John Mellencamp is officially single – his divorce from model Elaine Irwin was finalized on Friday. The veteran musician, 59, split from Irwin, 41, last year and filed papers in Indiana to legally end their 18-year marriage in January. Sometimes love don’t feel like it should. Hurts so good. [starpulse]
Russia Quietly Claims Arctic – Four years ago, Russian researchers made a bold, if unseen, move. From a submarine, deep beneath the icy waters of the North Pole, they planted a Russian flag on the ocean floor. Russia has the world’s longest Arctic border, which stretches more than 10,000 miles. And for Russia, that 2007 research mission was only the beginning of a major drive to claim ownership of vast portions of the Arctic, as well as the oil and gas deposits that are beneath.
Forklift Truck Low-Speed Police Chase [Video] - Authorities in Texas arrested a man they say stole a construction site forklift and led police on a slow-speed chase though Fort Worth, MyFoxdfw.com reported. Police say Timothy Raines, 43, was drunk and shirtless during the pursuit. #boredinamerica [foxnews]
Former Fugitive Hacker Laments How The Game Has Changed – By 1992, federal agents were closing in on Kevin Mitnick, the FBI’s most-wanted hacker. But he already knew this; he was watching them. Mitnick broke into the local cell phone network, allowing him to detect when agents were near his apartment. When they were close, he removed evidence but left behind a box of donuts in the refrigerator, labeling them “FBI donuts” to annoy his pursuers. [huffpo]
Tara Reid Marries Random Guy – ara Reid is having a vacation to remember. The American Pie actress married new boyfriend Zack Kehayov in Greece on Saturday. Reid, 35, Tweeted feverishly Saturday, and announced the happy news herself in a series of short messages. “Just got married in Greece I love being a wife,” she wrote. And it wasn’t a long betrothal, only hours earlier she Tweeted: “I just got engaged!” Aaaah… love! [people]
Brad Pitt Zombie Movie Begins Filming In Glasgow – Parts of the city will be changed into war-torn ruins as a cast and crew of 1,200 people shoot scenes in George Square and other locations in the centre. Fake shop fronts and American cars will be brought in to transform Glasgow into Philadelphia while a number of roads in the city centre will be closed to traffic. [metro]
No comments:
Post a Comment