Spying, 'double-agents' part of Sars probe

Johannesburg - The SA Revenue Service (Sars) confirmed reports on Sunday that a Pretoria lawyer had laid a complaint against the revenue service's group executive Johann van Loggenberg after their relationship ended.

"Whenever Sars receives a complaint of unbecoming behaviour on the part of any of its officials, [it] always seeks to verify the facts surrounding the complaint to determine whether or not a complaint warrants further action," spokesperson Adrian Lackay said.

During the course of this year, advocate Belinda Walter had sent a series of emails to Sars officials complaining about Van Loggenberg. "To put it mildly her allegations were alarmist and possibly defamatory," Lackay said.

Reiger Park body not yet identified - police

                                                                                          Reiger Park

Johannesburg - Gauteng police were on Sunday trying to identify the partially burnt body of a child found in a mine dump in Reiger Park. "We are still busy with the process of identifying the body," said Colonial Noxolo Kweza.

It was not known yet if it was the body of Cuburne Lavone van Wyk, who disappeared on 6 August while playing outside with siblings.

Charges laid against top NPA officials

                                                                     Nomgcobo Jiba (Lisa Hnatowicz, Beeld)

Johannesburg - Criminal charges have been laid against three NPA senior officials, the prosecuting authority confirmed on Sunday. "Yes, it is indeed correct," National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Nathi Mncube said in reply to an SMS from Sapa.

Former acting NPA head Nomgcobo Jiba, director of public prosecutions for north Gauteng Sibongile Mzinyathi and head of the NPA's specialised commercial crimes unit Lawrence Mrwebi were facing charges of perjury. City Press newspaper reported that the charges followed court findings made about the NPA's leadership last year.

U.S. call for South China Sea 'freeze' gets cool response from China

Foreign ministers join hands for a photo during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gala dinner at the Myanmar International Convention Center (MICC) in Naypyidaw on August 9, 2014.

A U.S. proposal for a freeze on provocative acts in the South China Sea got a cool response from China and some Southeast Asian nations on Saturday, an apparent setback to Washington's efforts to rein in China's assertive actions.

To China's annoyance, the United States is using a regional meeting in Myanmar this weekend to step up its engagement in the maritime tension by calling for a moratorium on actions such as China's planting of a giant oil rig in Vietnamese waters in May.

Its ally the Philippines has also called for a freeze as part of a three-step plan to ease tension in the resource-rich sea, through which passes $5 trillion of trade a year.

Emirati illustrator creates iPad book app for children

                  Illustration from the ebook Lootupootu by Shaima Al Malik. Courtesy Shaima Al Malik

ABU DHABI // An Emirati illustrator who started drawing as a hobby at age 14, has taken her skills to the next step and has designed a children’s e-book.

Shaima Al Malik, 29, began freelancing in 2009 and currently is an illustrator of children’s books.

Her most recent project is the illustration of Lootupootu - a bedtime story designed for iPads. She describes the main character, Lootupootu, as “a young elf with a bright smile”.

“He has green hair and wears a unique hat which he designed himself. The adapted fire helmet recycles wind energy to power his head lamp,” she said.