South Africans Worldwide Newsletter

The front page news this week has of course been the foiled plot to bomb airliners, and the resultant safety measures which has inconvenienced thousands of air-travellers.

Also big news is the hoped-for Cease-fire in the latest Middle East conflict-may peace be restored !

On the weather front, we in the Southern Hemisphere are all looking forward to the coming of Spring, after a heavy winter.

Amazingly, no-one seems to have responded to any assistance for hospital-development in Zambia or Zimbabwe. Truly mind-boggling.

No doubt it might well be because well-to-do people subscribe to insurance policies that will evacuate them by air, when injured or ill, on a world-wide basis.

Till next week.

Letters to the Editor TOP

Nothing received this week.

Quote/s of the Week TOP

The tendency of man's nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downwards. -Mencius 372-289 B.C.

Self-initiated learning, once begun, develops its own momentum. – Ray Hartjen

Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth. – Pema Chodron, from her book, When Things Fall Apart

Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another. – John Dewey

A mind stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original dimensions. – Oliver Wendell Holmes

What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible. – Theodore Roosevelt

Even when I was young I suspected that much might be done in a better way. – Henry Ford, Sr.

We are now at a point where we must educate our children in what no one knew yesterday, and prepare our schools for what no one knows yet. – Margaret Mead

No matter how far you have gone on a wrong road, turn back. – Turkish proverb

Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week TOP

Mbeki: Africa must take charge

11/08/2006 19:01 - (SA)
Cape Town - It is time Africans take responsibility for how their continent is portrayed, said President Thabo Mbeki on Friday.
Writing in his weekly newsletter on the African National Congress website, Mbeki said every day the African and global media published articles about Africa, based on events that had taken place on the continent.

Read more…

http://www.news24.com/

More diamond firms for Botswana

12/08/2006 08:44 - (SA)

Francistown - Within two years there will be about 15 diamond factories in Botswana, delegates to the bi-annual National Business Conference in Francistown heard on Friday.
However, as the conference closed, international diamond consultant Chaim Even-Zohar, reporting in Tacy's diamond intelligence briefs, has questioned the validity of Botswana's diamond policy.

Read more…

http://www.news24.com/

JSE surges on improved sentiment

11/08/2006 18:06

Johannesburg - The JSE put Thursday's weakness on the back boiler to surge by 160 points on the back of a better US performance in the face of the terror threat and positive outlooks for local companies on the earnings front.
The all share index closed 0.78% higher. Resources rose 0.80%, the platinum mining index surged 1.40% and the gold mining index rose 0.17%. Industrials and financials improved 0.80% and 0.72% respectively, while the banks index also rose by 0.65%.

Read more…

http://www.fin24.co.za/

'We will seize white farms'

12/08/2006 16:46 - (SA)

Polokwane - Government has warned white farmers it may seize their properties under the land restitution programme if they fail to agree to a selling price within six months.
The programme aims to hand back land to non-whites forcibly removed from their ancestral homes under apartheid, or offer them financial compensation.
The government wants 30% of farmland in black hands by 2014.
But the transfer process has been slow, with only about 4% of land transferred so far.
Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Lulu Xingwana said price wrangling was one of the main reasons for the low turnover.
"We are now going to negotiate six months - no more, no less," she said at a briefing in Limpopo on Friday.

Read more…

http://www.news24.com/

BESA to launch hedge fund index

11/08/2006 15:41

Johannesburg - South Africa's bond exchange and a local asset manager said on Friday they were launching a hedge fund index to improve transparency in the fast-growing investment sector.
The Bond Exchange of South Africa (BESA) and Clade Investment Management said they had identified 20 funds that met their criteria to join the South African Hedge Fund Index, with combined assets of R4.5bn.

Read more…

http://www.fin24.co.za/

Car sales to clock record year

11/08/2006 14:09

Johannesburg - Car industry body Naamsa expects both domestic vehicle sales and production to rise to all time highs this year.
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa said on Friday the exceptional domestic sales performance of the industry during the first half of 2006 should ensure another outstanding and record year for the South African new vehicle manufacturing industry.
Naamsa, however, warned that whilst demand for new cars and commercial vehicles remains relatively strong, the industry anticipates that new vehicle sales will start to consolidate during the balance of the year on the back of recent and expected further increases in interest rates, record energy and vehicle operating costs and pressure on new vehicle pricing.

Read more…

http://www.fin24.co.za/

More executives leave SA

10/08/2006 14:32

Johannesburg - The number of executives leaving South Africa in 2005/06 rose despite higher pay packages, underlining the country's struggle to retain a skilled labour force, a new study showed.
A national survey by consultancy firm Deloitte found that 39% of respondents in the marketing and sales sector had lost senior staff members between August 2005 and July this year, up from 24% the year before.
The results of the study were released to the media earlier this week.

Read more…

http://www.fin24.co.za

'This is not science fiction'

10/08/2006 14:58 - (SA)

Agra, India - Advanced mobile technology for monitoring medical patients emerged as the top idea on Thursday as six finalists were named at a technology contest being held here for students from around the world.
Teams from Brazil, China, Denmark, Italy, Japan and Norway were named as the finalists for the Imagine Cup, an annual student contest organised by Microsoft which this year had nearly 68 000 entries worldwide.
The winners, to be announced in New Delhi on Friday, will collect $125 000 in prize money divided across six categories, with software design the flagship contest.
Experts said several designs in the competition could potentially change lives by improving health - the theme for this year's event.
The students' ideas ranged from sonar for the blind to remote sensing equipment to monitor patients.
"This is not science fiction. I think most of these projects will become real in near future," said Mehmet Nuri Cankaya, a contest judge and managing director of Turkey's Natron Institute of Technology.

Read more…

http://www.news24.com/

Bits and Bobs TOP

Master planner appointed for new Durban airport

Infrastructure group Africon has been appointed lead consultant to master plan Durban’s proposed Dube TradePort, which includes a new-generation international airport.

Dube TradePort CE Rohan Persad says this will be the country’s first fully integrated master plan for a major infrastructure development.

The intention is to coordinate a land-use plan for an extended area around the 2 100-hectare site, to serve the needs of the proposed logistics hub.

Most of the surrounding area is undeveloped sugar-cane land, with Tongaat-Hulett being the main landowner.

Persad says negotiations are in progress with Tongaat-Hulett to conduct an area plan that will synergise land use.

The tradeport aims to be Africa’s first platform to efficiently link international trade through a network of air, sea, rail and road transport.

Foreign expertise in airport master planning will be provided by British-Based TPS, which has extensive experience in Europe and the East and is currently working on Heathrow’s Terminal 5.

The master planners will create a 30-year framework for the entire trade zone, including airport design, but the detailed design will be left to the winning bidder.

The first aspect will be the aeronautical footprint, the King Shaka International Airport, which will include a four-million-passenger-a-year terminal, runway, air-traffic control tower, fuel farm and related infrastructure.
Read more...

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za

The Legal Beagle TOP

Nothing requested.

Help Desk TOP

Had an interesting query this week. Will publish it and the reply from Julian Pokroy in the next edition.

Where are they now? TOP

Not aware of anyone looking for missing people.

Club and Other News TOP

Contact with SA Club in Kansas

A South African Radio Station had a live interview with me yesterday,and one of the listeners in Kansas wants to get in contact with the South Club there.
If you know the person running the Club, or know if one exists, please contact me a.s.a.p., so that we can help out a fellow SouthAfrican with a need to connect with other South Africans.
I will tell you about this great new radio staion in my August Newsletter.
from Robert Kuhn- robert@sanetworking.com

Other events in Kansas are:
The Fall Braai -17 September- 10h00 to 18h00
Venue: Brook Run Park
4770 North Peachtree Rd. Dunwoody,GA

Humour TOP

QOTD
"It is a scientific fact that your body will not absorb cholesterol if you take it from another person's plate."
-Dave Barry

Ha Ha !

Recipes TOP

Stuffed Roast Lamb With Red Onions, Baby Potatoes And Country Vegetables

Preparation time: 20
Cooking time: 60

Ingredients
1 small stuffed lamb-roll roast
10 ml olive oil
10 ml dried rosemary
2 red onions, cut into wedges
2 whole garlic bulbs, cut in half
100 ml red wine vinegar
700 g microwave-in-bag garlic potatoes
500 g fresh country vegetable mix
50 g black-pepper cream cheese
20 ml honey
40 ml soya sauce

Method:
Oven temperature: 200?C
1. Rub the lamb with oil, then rosemary and season with salt and black pepper.

2. Place the onions and garlic in a roasting dish and drizzle with half the vinegar. Place the lamb on top and drizzle with the rest of the vinegar. Roast in a preheated oven for about an hour, or until cooked through.

3. While the lamb is roasting, prepare the accompaniments. Microwave the potatoes according to the instructions on the packet. Boil the vegetables until al dente. Drain and season. Stir the cream cheese, honey and soya sauce into the vegetables while hot. Serve slices of lamb with the onions and garlic, accompanied by the vegetables and potatoes.

Serves- 4
http://www.food24.com/

Saffron

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, and, in fact, the most expensive foodstuff characterised by weight. The reason it is so expensive is because only 300 tons of saffron are produced worldwide every year, making it a rather rare and highly sought after commodity with a number of different uses including cooking, medicinal and colouring.

Where does it come from?
Saffron comes from the stigmas of the saffron crocus flower, which is cultivated in Southwest Asia. The stigmas, as well as the stalk which connects them to the plant and the stylus, are dried to form the spice that is used for cooking. It generally gives food a bitter taste and a golden colour.

The history of saffron is long and varied as it goes back many thousands of years, some of it buried in myth and legend, spanning numerous wars, campaigns and other Asian conflicts.

Uses
Uses for saffron are many and varied. In ancient times, people from all over used saffron in perfumes and ointments, clothing, mascaras, offerings to gods and medical treatments, specifically for gastrointestinal problems and sometimes even for cancer. It is also assumed that Cleopatra would bath in saffron because of its aphrodisiac properties.

Alexander the Great used to also bathe in saffron but for different reasons: to cure his battle wounds – a practice that his men also followed and brought back to Greece on their return.

Buddhist monks started wearing robes that were dyed in Saffron after the death of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama.

Saffron is often described as smelling like metallic honey with hay-like notes. It has a bitter grassy taste and is used in food all over Eurasia. But it doesn't stop there, saffron is also often used in liqueur and confectionary baking.

Types
There is what is considered to be "premium" saffron. These include Aquila saffron from Italy and "Mongra" or "Lacha" saffron from Kashmir. Aquila saffron has a high safranal content and a strong aroma. Dye made from this saffron is exceptional for colouring clothing and other fabric-based items.

"Mongra" or "Lacha" saffron is very difficult to obtain because of numerous blights and crop failures. This saffron is distinguishable from others because it is actually dark purple and therefore has a strong aroma and is also exceptional when it comes to making dye.

So, if you feel like trying out the world's most expensive spice (the last time I actually came into contact with saffron was about 10 years ago when the price was R10 for half a gram), then try out some of our great recipes that use saffron.

10 things to do with Saffron

- Algerian marinade for baby chicken
- Bouillabaisse

- Calamari Risotto
- Chicken with ginger and cinnamon prunes

- Fish and saffron broth
- Lamb tagine with couscous

- Meatballs in roasted pepper sauce
- Lamb tagine with figs and walnuts

- Rosemary and saffron foccacia
- Saffron cream pasta

Tip

Saffron will give your food a golden hue and a hay-like taste so use it sparingly.

http://www.food24.com/

Saffron cream pasta

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
75 g butter
1 bunch fresh asparagus, tough stems removed, cut into segments and blanched
100 g each, fresh peas and mangetout
4 small courgettes, thinly sliced
1 vegetable stock cube
450 g linguini (or tagliatelle)
30 ml olive oil
crushed dried chillies
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
SAFFRON CREAM
400 ml crème frâiche or thick cream
5 strands saffron
1 vegetable stock cube
freshly ground pepper
2 ml crushed dried chillies

Method:
Heat 50 ml butter in a large saucepan. Add blanched asparagus, mange-tout, peas and courgettes. Sauté; for one minute, then add vegetable stock, dissolved in 150 ml warm water, and bring to the boil. Simmer for a few minutes until vegetables are crisp but tender. Drain and keep warm in the pan. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and toss with a little olive oil.

SAFFRON CREAM: Combine crème frâiche or cream, saffron threads (or 3 ml turmeric) and vegetable stock dissolved in 80 ml warm water, in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until sauce is heated through. Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper and crushed dried chillies and continue to simmer sauce over very low heat until thick and creamy. TO SERVE: Melt remaining 25 ml butter in a large saucepan, add drained pasta, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and crushed dried chillies and cook over a high heat, stirring constantly until pasta is heated through. Transfer pasta to serving dish, strain saffron sauce over the pasta and top with the cooked vegetables. Serve immediately with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Servings:4

http://www.food24.com/

Sports News TOP

Schoeman smashes 50m record

12/08/2006 17:24 - (SA)

Hamburg - Roland Schoeman became the first man to dip under 21 seconds as he shattered the world short course record in the 50m freestyle at an invitational meeting in Hamburg, Germany, on Saturday.
The triple Olympic medallist swam a blistering 20,98 seconds in the morning heats, bettering the previous mark of 21,10 set by Frenchman Fred Bousquet in East Meadow, United States, in March 2004.
"Roland does it again, what more can I say?" said a thrilled Shaun Adriaanse, chief operating officer of Swimming South Africa.

Read more…

http://www.news24.com/

Mixed fortunes for SA athletes

11/08/2006 22:09 - (SA)

Johannesburg - South Africa's gold medal tally at the 15th African Athletics Championships in Mauritius increased to three when Elizna Naude, defending discus champion, and high jumper Rene van der Merwe won their events during another windy day in the new Germain Commermond Stadium in Bambous.
LJ van Zyl won the first gold in the 400m hurdles on the second day.
Naude, winner in 1998 and 2002, achieved a winning throw of 55.42m while Van der Merwe set a career best of 1.84m.
Paul Gorries, former world junior 200m champion, gave an impressive performance in the 400m when finishing second in a fast 45.56 while the men's 4x100m relay also excelled in finishing second to Nigeria's speedsters clocking 39.68, only 0.05 adrift.
Janice Josephs was also en route to gold in the two-day heptathlon when she led the field by a massive 558 points after the first four events.

Read more…

http://www.news24.com/News24/

Advertising on South Africans Worldwide TOP

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[There are 27 000 subscribers to the Newsletter plus many thousands of "hits" on the web-site - Ed]

Credits and Contact Info TOP

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