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.

International donors wary of funding Gaza reconstruction

Farida Aziz with her children as they visit their damaged apartment building in the UAE-funded $66m Sheikh Zayed City residential compound in Gaza on August 9,2014.

GAZA CITY // International donors are wary of funding another rebuilding effort in Gaza, with the European Union divided over increasing pressure on Israel for a lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.

“There’s huge concern that whatever we help rebuild will be destroyed again,” said a European diplomat in charge of his country’s development aid in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

“We need fundamental changes to the situation on the ground so that we don’t repeat what keeps on getting repeated.”

Palestinian officials said last week the Israeli offensive that began on July 8 caused US$6 billion (Dh22bn) worth of damage. Nearly 1,900 Palestinians, mostly civilian, have been killed so far.

Camp ka Champ winner still hitting the right notes

DUBAI // When Collin Ishaq auditioned for the Camp ka Champ contest six years ago, little did he know that he would go on to become one of the country’s most sought-after singers.

Collin, who was one of the winners of the 2008 contest and a finalist in 2012, says the annual Pop Idol-style show for labourers has transformed his life.

“After I started singing there, I got the confidence to sing in front of thousands of people,” says Collin, 25, a Pakistani expatriate who works airside at Dubai International Airport.

Collin’s singing attracted the attention of several bands and he occasionally performs private live shows.“I saw him during one of the shows and we took him on because he had a good voice,” said Imtiaz Khan, drummer with Dubai Rocks. “He has done two shows for us in Dubai and two in Abu Dhabi.”