Dispatch South Africa

Apartheid-era minister pleads guilty

An apartheid-era government minister whose name was synonymous with terror pleaded guilty to attempted murder yesterday in a 1989 plot to kill a prominent church leader by lacing his clothes with poison. Former law and order Minister Adriaan Vlok, who is now 70 and deeply religious, was composed during his appearance at Pretoria?s High Court. He last year in a gesture of atonement, washed the feet of the intended victim of the poison plot, Frank Chikane, then secretary-general of the South African Council of Churches and now a top adviser to President Thabo Mbeki. Chikane was in court yesterday. He nearly died in the assassination attempt, and has said he has forgiven Vlok, though he couldn?t block his prosecution. Vlok, his former police chief Johannes Van der Merwe and three other police officials, all pleaded guilty to the first count of attempted murder. The second charge of conspiracy was withdrawn.There has been speculation that the five had made a plea bargain with prosecuting authorities.Vlok was minister of law and order from 1986-1989, when an estimated 30,000 people were detained. His case had boosted hopes that the masterminds of apartheid-era crimes will be brought to account but also reignited a national debate whether this should include former black freedom fighters. Torture survivors and family members of people who disappeared or were killed by apartheid security forces demonstrated outside the court room, as did relatives of those who died in bombs planted by the military wing of the black fighters of the African National Congress.

BBC

Boyfriend pillow for Japan singles

Japan?s single women are being offered the ultimate sleeping partner ? a comfort to cuddle up to, but one which does not snore or make demands. The Boyfriend?s Arm Pillow, shaped like a man?s torso with one sturdy arm, has been on sale since December and has so far been snapped up by 1,000 singles. Manufacturer Kameo said the pillow?s shape also keeps the body balanced.

One woman, Junko Suzuki, told AP : «It makes me relaxed...

I can hold the arm and feel something warm at my side». The pillow is only available in Japan, where it costs about 8,500 Yen (Rs 240), and is available in blue, pink or green. Suzuki, who is separated from her husband, says the pillow has other advantages.

«It keeps holding me all the way through. I think this is great because this does not betray me,» she added.

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

Des factures de 300 pages pour des utilisateurs américains de l?iPhone

Certains utilisateurs de l?iPhone, le nouveau téléphnone portable multi-fonctions d?Apple, ont eu la désagréable surprise de recevoir un colis de 300 pages en guise de facture de téléphone, a-t-on appris récemment. Tous les messages et appels, ainsi que les activités payantes sont détaillés sur ces factures de l?opérateur téléphonique AT&T, qui détient l?exclusivité sur les abonnements iPhone aux Etats-Unis. Ces cas ne sont pas des exceptions, car différentes formules de factures existent, a affirmé Mark Siegel, porte parole d?AT&T, joint par l?AFP. «Ils peuvent avoir la facture super détaillée, ou une version papier sans tous ces détails, enfin, ils peuvent recevoir leurs factures par Internet. Ce sont eux qui choisissent, ils nous appellent, ou vont sur notre site internet et nous changeons cela», a-t-il expliqué. AT&T a refusé de dévoiler le nombre exact de personnes concernées par la «facture super détaillée», M. Siegel affirmant que ce chiffre était «confidentiel». Une vidéo d?une consommatrice ébahie par le nombre de pages que sa facture contenait a fait l?objet de près de 100 000 visites sur le site de partage de vidéos Youtube.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Un an de prison pour avoir porté des vêtements féminins

Un tribunal à Ras al-Khaïmah (Emirats arabes unis) a condamné trois hommes à un an de prison chacun pour avoir porté des vêtements féminins, a rapporté avant-hier la presse. Les trois hommes, âgés d?une vingtaine d?années mais dont les nationalités et les identités n?ont pas été révélées, ont été arrêtés habillés en femmes et portant des sacs pleins de vêtements féminins qu?ils venaient d?acheter dans divers magasins de prêt-à-porter. Le trio utilisait les cabines d?essayage réservées aux femmes, ajoute le Gulf News sans préciser pourquoi les hommes étaient habillés en femmes. En vertu de la loi dans les Emirats arabes unis, il est interdit aux hommes de porter publiquement des vêtements féminins.