INQUIRY A TRAIN SMASH
By David Williams
More than a month has passed since the Shosholoza main-line passenger express crashed into the Blue Train. But there has been no word on the outcome of the official inquiry into the collision. Spoornet spokesmen will say only that the matter is i...

DARK DAYS IN DETROIT
By Stafford Thomas
In its 97-year history General Motors (GM) has become an American icon. Yet the unthinkable is happening. The world's largest vehicle manufacturer is in trouble so deep that Bank of America Securities gives it a 40% chance of sliding into bankrup...

BENONI'S NO MINER BOOM
By Mzwandile Jacks
While the rest of the SA defence industry is struggling to win export contracts, Benoni-based Land Systems OMC (OMC) is quietly making its mark in more than 40 countries. After exporting R400m worth of its military armoured vehicles in 2004, t...

OFF THE AIR, ON A MISSION
By Tefo Mothibeli
The name Given Mkhari conjures up a velvet voice at the microphone. It is a voice which, for three years, has commanded 1m listeners on Metro FM for two hours every Monday to Thursday. Among those listeners is President Thabo Mbeki. The presid...

MATERIAL GIRL WITH HUBBY IN TOW

Madonna, on a world tour to promote her latest album, talking about her husband, film producer Guy Ritchie ...