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Nelspruit - The family of Shaun Mommsen, 16, of West Acres here is desperately trying to find him after he disappeared from Noupoort Rehabilitation Centre in the Eastern Cape last month.

Shaun had been referred there by Nelspruit magistrate's court in October after being convicted of possession and use of drugs.

His family has appealed to anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact inspector Nompi Dladla of Nelspruit police on 072 831 1753.


News was from www.news24.co.za
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London - The coming year is likely to be the warmest on record around the world, climate change experts at Britain's Met Office said on Thursday.

The global temperature is predicted to be 0.54 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 average of 14 degrees Celsius, the meteorological organisation said in a statement.

It added that there was a 60% probability that 2007 would be as warm or even warmer than the current warmest year on record, 1998.

The potential for a record is linked to the presence of a moderate El Nino weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean, which is "expected to persist through the first few months of 2007", the Met Office said.

"The lag between El Nino and the full global surface temperature response means that the warming effect of El Nino is extended and therefore has a greater influence on the global temperatures during the year," the statement added.

Katie Hopkins, from Met Office Consulting, added: "This new information represents another warning that climate change is happening around the world."

El Nino is an occasional seasonal warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean that upsets normal weather patterns from the western seaboard of Latin America to East Africa, and potentially has a global impact on climate.

It has been blamed for widespread bushfires and drought in Australia, heavy rain in East Africa and other severe weather conditions elsewhere in the world in recent months.

News was from www.news24.co.za
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Another blame is for all the politicians talking too much hot air
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James Prichard

Michigan - Gerald R Ford's sunset burial service capped the official mourning for the 38th US president, whose casket traveled more than 4 300 kilometres from the California desert to the nation's capitol before reaching its final stop on a hill overlooking a river in his Michigan hometown.

Ford was laid to rest on the grounds of his museum late on Wednesday as thousands of onlookers lined nearby streets and bridges and stood atop buildings to catch a glimpse of history.

The sunset service featured a 21-gun salute and a flyover of 21 F-15E fighter jets above the Grand River, which flows beside the museum. Light applause broke out as one jet in the final formation suddenly flew straight up as its rear engine glowed.

Captain Bill Roberts, a spokesman for the Michigan National Guard, which assisted with the Ford events, said on Wednesday evening that the president's body had not yet been placed in the ground. He could not say exactly when it would happen.

The former president had earlier been remembered at Grace Episcopal Church as a man not afraid to laugh, make tough decisions or listen to the advice of his independent wife.

"You learn a lot about a man when you run against him for president, and you stand in his shoes and assume the responsibilities that he has borne so well," said the late president's successor, Jimmy Carter.

He described the close friendship they developed over the years. "I relished his sound advice," Carter said as his wife, Rosalynn Carter, cried. "I want to thank my predecessor for all he did to heal our land."

Ford's widow, Betty, wiped away tears as she sat with the couple's four children and more than 300 dignitaries and family friends, including Vice President Dick Cheney and golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, an honourary pallbearer.

"He was one of us," said Ford's defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld. "And that made him special and needed in a dark and dangerous hour for our nation.

Ford, who became president after Richard Nixon resigned in 1974, died December 26 at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 93.

Ceremonies were held last week in Southern California, near Ford's retirement home. The mourning then shifted to the nation's capital for an elaborate national funeral service before his casket was returned for an 18-hour viewing on Tuesday night and on Wednesday at the museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Some 57 000 mourners waited hours to file past the flag-draped casket during the night.

Afterward, the casket traveled in a motorcade from the museum to the funeral service at Grace Episcopal Church, then back to the museum.

Several thousand flag-waving mourners lined the roads under sunny skies and brisk winds during the procession.

The Navy later confirmed that it will name its next aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, as Rumsfeld divulged during his eulogy at Ford's funeral.


News was from www.news24.co.za
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Bush is probably still wondering why the buried a car
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Geneva - Margaret Chan took up her position as the new head of the World Health Organisation on Thursday, saying her priority was to improve the health of women and Africans.

Chan, 59, is the first Chinese to head a United Nations body. She was named director general of WHO head two months ago, following the unexpected death of her South Korean predecessor, Lee Jong-Wook.

"I have identified the health of people in Africa and the health of women as important indicators to measure the impact we make," she said.

She said there were six core areas for the WHO in the coming years: development for health, health security, health systems capacity, information and knowledge.

She previously served as health chief in Hong Kong, and is described as "authoritarian but efficient" by one diplomat who has followed her rise.

Her relationship with Beijing will be closely watched by the rest of the world at a time of growing Chinese political and economic influence.

At the time of her nomination last November, she stressed she would be impartial and not beholden to China.

"Now I'm elected as the WHO's director general I no longer carry my nationality on my sleeve. I leave it behind," she told reporters.


News was from www.news24.co.za
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Definition of car rental by wikipedia.org

A car rental agency or a rent-a-car (car hire in British English) is a company that rents automobiles for short periods of time (ranging from a few hours to a few weeks) for a fee. It is an elaborate form of a rental shop, organized in numerous local branches, primarily located near airports or busy city areas. The internet is changing the car rental industry with companies that are now called online car rental companies.

Car rental agencies primarily serve people who have a car that is temporarily out of reach or out of service, for example travellers who are out of town or owners of damaged or destroyed vehicles who are awaiting repair or insurance compensation. Because of the variety of sizes of their vehicles, car rental agencies may also serve the self-moving industry needs, by renting vans or trucks.

Car rentals are subject to many conditions which vary from one brand to another. The vehicle must be returned in a good condition and must not exceed a maximum driven distance, otherwise extra fees may be incurred. Additionally, some companies set up a minimum age for the vehicle driver, which in some cases is as high as 25, even in countries where the minimum legal age to hold a driver's license is much lower. Recent conditions have utilised GPS technology to limit maximum speeds or driving to specific regions.

By Duncan Reyneke from http://www.theherald.co.za/

STRONG winds blew down several trees and damaged power lines in Nelson Mandela Bay at the weekend.

Winds gusting up to 90km/h also caused power failures throughout the Beachview and Seaview areas as well as in Theescombe and Missionvale on Friday. The outages occurred at about midday and power was fully restored by late Friday night.

Trees in Central, Newton Park, Korsten, Walmer and Perridgevale as well as in Uitenhage were blown down in the gales. The fire department was called out to cut up and remove the trees.

Municipal spokesman Lourens Schoeman said: “No other damage was caused.”

Two cases were reported of trees catching fire in Korsten and Schauderville. The cause of these fires has not yet been established.

Eleven vegetation blazes in various areas of Nelson Mandela Bay were extinguished, with firefighters yesterday still damping down a smouldering fire at the Arlington tip which started on Friday.

Firemen were yesterday also still damping down the remains of a fire at a Deal Party warehouse that started on Friday. The owner of the building, which was used to store shopfitting material, had not yet been traced by yesterday afternoon.

>>>

Hope you didn't take our car there! www.southafrica-carhire.com

The World Cup will go on with or without Cape Town - this is the stark warning emanating from chairman Irvin Khoza at a Local Organising Committee media briefing in Johannesburg.

Khoza was commenting on the niggling succession of obstacles that have emerged surrounding the construction of a new stadium for the World Cup which is due to be erected as part of a comprehensive development in the Green Point precinct of Cape Town - with the latest such obstruction a threat from the Green Point Residents Association to take the matter to court if certain conditions surrounding the project are not met.

"The World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for South Africa and a momentous task to bring to fruition, with the whole operation required to be carried out like clockwork," said Khoza, "and even a delay of two or three weeks in our timetable of events could be critical, let alone a lengthy wait over the outcome of court proceedings."

"Naturally we hope all the difficulties in Cape Town will be ironed out timeously," added the LOC chairman, "but we are not dragging our heels while getting into protracted arguments over the Cape Town stadium."

A more conciliatory approach was taken by CEO Danny Jordaan, who pointed out that Cape Town municipal authorities had now accepted in entirety the proposals for the new Cape Town Stadium.

"Ultimately," he added, "the stadium and its implications concern every resident of Cape Town and I cannot see the city rejecting a two-billion rand grant from the government towards overall costs if the project turns out to be still-born."

Ironically, in the circumstances, Khoza scoffed at the allegations of serious disagreements between himself and Jordaan over World Cup planning and said they were bonded together to ensure the success of the 2010 tournament.

"If there is any serious tension between us," he joked in a manner that recalled the old maxim about many a true word being spoken in jest, "they will only surface in 2011."

Khoza and Jordaan were in more obvious accord over initial planning for 2010, which they described as "encouraging in all aspects - and ahead of time."

It was confirmed that the preliminary draw for the 2010 World Cup would take place in Durban on November 23 next year, with up to 3,500 delegates and other visitors from 200 competing nations in attendance.

Khoza said the LOC’s preparation towards 2010 had been approved in its entirety by Fifa at a meeting in Zurich last week - and Jordaan said Africa had achieved a major coup in the decision by the executive to grant the continent six of the 32 team positions at the next World Cup to African teams for the first time.

South Africa qualify automatically as hosts and what was described as "a mad scramble" will ensue among the 50 other nations for five places.

Sapa - Article from http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/

By Nomahlubi Sonjica from "The Herald" - http://www.theherald.co.za/

TENS of thousands of people are expected to descend on Nelson Mandela Bay and Garden Route beaches today for New Year‘s festivities while the good news from the weather office is that no rain is predicted along the coast.

Cool conditions are expected in both regions, however, with cloudy weather becoming partly cloudy, and a maximum of 22°C forecast for Port Elizabeth and 21°C for the Garden Route.

A warning from the weather office in Port Elizabeth is that the sea is expected to be rough in the morning as well as the afternoon. Holidaymakers have also been warned against drinking and swimming.

NSRI Port Elizabeth spokesman Ian Gray said: “People should remember safety is first and foremost their own responsibility.”

He warned people not to go swimming after dark. “We‘ll be conducting patrols by vehicles, boat and aircraft if the weather allows us to fly.”

Gray said the NSRI would be on the lookout for people in danger.

He said that if people saw someone drowning, they should not attempt to go into the water to rescue them unless they were sure they could help.

He urged parents to keep an eye on their children and to report drowning incidents as soon as possible.

“Those reporting incidents should stay where they are because we will need to get some information from them. If they are phoning us from their cellphones, they should keep them on.”

Ray Farnham, the spokesman for the Plettenberg Bay NSRI, said they would also be ready for people today. “We know that New Year‘s is a day of celebration, but we urge people to try to limit the intake of alcohol.”

He said people should only swim in demarcated areas where there were lifeguards.

Nelson Mandela Bay police spokesman Superintendent Johann van Greunen said the police would be visible all over the city.

“We want to clamp down on drinking and driving. Roadblocks will be all over Port Elizabeth, especially around the beaches.”

Phumeza Mgxashe of Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism said more people than usual were expected to visit the city‘s beaches.

“Inquiries and bookings made via our call centre have mainly been from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and East London.”

Mgxashe said a number of accommodation establishments had informed them that they were fully booked.

Municipal spokesman Lourens Schoeman warned drivers that vehicles parked illegally on sidewalks would be towed away.

Why is it that car rental companies can charge a fee for renting to a driver under 25 years of age even when the driver declines insurance coverage and is using his or her own insurance? How is this not age discrimination when an "underage" driver has a surcharge in which nothing is purchased and no service provided?

The answer is based on risk analysis. The reason is that they are more susceptible to damage and accidents - it is the same reason young people pay higher car insurance rates. Rental car agencies incur more risk with young drivers.

The charge is applied even if drivers decline to purchase additional insurance from the rental agency and elect to use their own insurance. Rental companies do not ask drivers to show proof of insurance and have no way to verify coverage.

Car rental companies have expanded service to younger drivers, but some companies still will not rent to drivers younger than 25. It is because they are a higher risk to rent to.

Article based on similar story from http://www.bakersfield.com

Avis long ago made its name as the company that would "try harder" to win customers from industry behemoth Hertz in the U.S. car rental business.

But these days it's Enterprise Rent-A-Car Co. that's No. 1, a position it has earned in large part through its continuing growth in California, the company's biggest market.

In 2005 privately held Enterprise registered an industry-leading $9 billion in global revenue, placing it ahead of those iconic competing American brands.

California accounted for 16% of Enterprise's U.S. sales total. The company's 850 California offices bought more than 120,000 new vehicles from dealerships around the state this year, worth about $1.4 billion and representing 20% of Enterprise's total purchases nationally.

The success of his division gives Greg Stubblefield a lot to brag about, and the former UC Berkeley lineman isn't slowing down.

"We see tremendous growth on the horizon for us in California," said Stubblefield, 45, president of Enterprise's California-Hawaii division. It's a job, he said, that earns him lots of jealous glares at wintertime corporate gatherings at Enterprise headquarters in St. Louis.

His plans are defined not by specific goals and timetables, he said, but by a conviction that opportunities exist in Enterprise's main business of renting to local residents and in several only-in-California niches.

"Enterprise is widely regarded as an extremely well-run company," said Michael Gallo, an analyst who follows the rental-car industry for investment firm CL King & Associates Inc. in Albany, N.Y. Strategies such as Stubblefield's are part of the reason.

One priority is to expand Enterprise's entertainment business in California.

"Those cars you see parked on the streets or filling parking lots in movies and TV series? It's not chance, it's all staged," Stubblefield said. "And a lot of the time they are rented from us."

All of the Cadillac Escalade sport utility vehicles in a lengthy downtown Los Angeles chase scene in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," the 2005 Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie action comedy, were rented from Enterprise.

The entertainment unit, operating from downtown Los Angeles, also supplies high-end cars, such as Cadillacs, Lincolns and Mercedes-Benzes, to production companies that provide them to executives and actors when they are shooting on location.

That has helped give rise to a fairly new business for Enterprise: a luxury-car rental unit for the rest of us. The group, also headquartered in Los Angeles, offers cars from Mercedes-Benz, Lotus, Porsche, Jaguar and other high-end manufacturers.

Noting that in California "the car you arrive in becomes part of your identity," Stubblefield said he expected a growing business in rentals to drivers who want to make an impression without a huge capital outlay.

Another market for the unit: potential buyers who would like more behind-the-wheel time, beyond the typical dealership test drive, before purchasing an expensive car.

In addition, Stubblefield said, Enterprise plans to add to its conventional fleet in California, increasing the number of local offices and working to boost business at its 20 airport locations.

Enterprise aims to grow even as the struggling U.S.-based automakers vow to slash their heavily discounted sales to rental car firms.

Detroit may be cutting back on fleet sales, "but that just means that the total number of cars available will go to a smaller number of firms, six or seven of the big ones rather than 20 to 30 of all sizes," Stubblefield said. "It's the smaller players who will get a smaller share. We usually get what we need."

That's because Enterprise is the industry's 800-pound gorilla: In 2005 the company bought 3.5% of all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the U.S.

"We buy cars in California from hundreds of individual dealers," said Stubblefield, who joined Enterprise as a management trainee after graduating in 1982 with a social science degree.

News was from http://www.latimes.com/
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