Latest news with #Pula
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Pula Group disputes Motsepe's move to South African courts in R3. 4bn graphite dispute
Motsepe and his companies - who have now sought to have the dispute heard in the South African High Court - are accused by Pula of reneging on the Tanzanian graphite mining deal by allegedly investing in a similar project by an Australian rival of Pula. Image: Karen Sandison/Independent Newspapers Tawanda Karombo A bid by billionaire Patrice Motsepe's investment company, African Rainbow Capital (ARC), to have South African courts hear a dispute over a graphite mining deal turned sour has been rebutted by Pula Group, which argues that the case should continue to be heard before the Tanzanian High Court. Pula Group is a US company with interests in Tanzania. It is suing Motsepe owned companies including ARC and African Rainbow Minerals for R3.4 billion for breaching agreements related to a graphite mining deal in Tanzania. Motsepe and his companies - who have now sought to have the dispute heard in the South African High Court - are accused by Pula of reneging on the Tanzanian graphite mining deal by allegedly investing in a similar project by an Australian rival of Pula. Apparently, the two projects are located in the same area in Tanzania. Pula Group now argues that ARC and Motsepe have 'approached the South African High Court in an attempt to shield from the consequences of a R3.4bn lawsuit filed' in Tanzania by Pula Group LLC and its Tanzanian subsidiary, Pula Graphite Partners. The suit, filed on the basis of a breach of non-compete agreement and underway in Tanzania over the past two years, had already been set for a pre-trial conference on August 22. 'ARC's appeal to the South African courts appears to be a strategic attempt to sidestep accountability. What's troubling is the inconsistency in their legal arguments,' stated Pula president Mary Stith. 'In Tanzania, they assert that the parties named in the suit are unrelated yet in South Africa, they claim that a potential judgment against Motsepe, ARM, and ARCH would impact ARC directly.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ This 'contradiction raises serious questions about the credibility' of the South African billionaire and his companies' position, said Stith, adding: 'legal integrity demands consistency, and ARC's approach undermines that principle.' ARC argued in court papers filed in South Africa that 'notwithstanding the fact that Pula Graphite, ARC, Dr Motsepe and ARCH are not parties to the confidentiality agreement, Pula Group and Pula Graphite are seeking to hold them jointly and severally' liable together with ARM. It further argues that the Tanzanian High Court has to apply the law of the Republic of SA in its determination of the case as the confidentiality provisions of the agreement under dispute are based on South African statutes. 'It is our case that a finding on SA law will be dispositive of all the relief sought, first and foremost against ARC, but by necessary implication against Dr Motsepe and ARCH too,' argued ARC. The Motsepe group of companies is being represented by IMMA, Bowmans, and FNB while Pula and Pula Graphite Partners are being represented by Advocate Michael Ngalo and Beatus Malima. Pula chairman and former US Ambassador to Tanzania, Charles Stith, said ARC's move to apply to the South African High Court 'is part of a troubling' pattern. 'ARC seeks refuge in South African courts to avoid facing the consequences of its own actions. Their argument that Tanzanian courts lack jurisdiction is not only legally tenuous - it contradicts their own logic… South African courts should not be drawn into it,' he said. Pula said it has four graphite licenses in Tanzania's rich Graphite Belt, which is among the world's richest in quality and quantity, with its priority project is in the Ruangwa District in the Lindi Region where a second drilling exercise completed in the third quarter of 2023 indicates that there is nearly 145 million tons of measured, indicated, and inferred resource of the mineral. BUSINESS REPORT
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I discovered the Rome of Croatia - with £2.50 pints and the world's most well-preserved Roman amphitheatre but none of the Colosseum's crowds
Standing in the middle of this huge Roman amphitheatre, in awe of the ancient architecture I'm surrounded by, I can't quite believe this isn't the Colosseum itself. But rather than being in Italy, I'm in Croatia. Pula Arena, on the west coast of the country in Pula, was built between 27 BC and 68 AD. It is widely regarded to be the best-preserved Roman arena in the world, with almost the entire circumference and all four side towers completely intact. And, rather than spending hours queuing as you would to get into the Colosseum, my group and I simply breezed straight inside – and almost have the entire tourist attraction to ourselves to roam around and explore. It's not just the arena that's an exceptionally well-kept Roman ruin in Pula. The city centre is also home to the Temple of Augustus, a church-turned-museum constructed between the year 2 BC and AD 14; the Arch of the Sergii, a triumphal arch that was originally a city gate built as a symbol of victory at Actium; and many city walls and mosaics, including one very impressive floor mosaic that was found in the remains of a Roman house after World War II. In its day, Pula Arena could hold around 23,000 spectators ready to watch gladiatorial fights. Today, it's an intimate music venue, able to hold around 7,000. Duran Duran, Sir Elton John and Dua Lipa have all played the Pula Arena, and when I'm there, it's still set up from Sir Tom Jones' performance a couple of nights before. In fact, I'm gutted to learn that Sir Tom checked out of the hotel I'm staying in, the Grand Brioni Hotel Pula, the day before I checked in. Although, with a whopping 227 rooms and 12 suites in the Radisson Collection property, it's unlikely I would've bumped into the Sex Bomb crooner during my stay. Sat on the tip of Croatia's Istrian Peninsula, the Grand Brioni was voted the best in Croatia in 2023 following a £30 million renovation - and I quickly find out why. This is a four-star hotel with everything that a five-star has to offer. The sprawling property is decked out in marble, with Roman-influenced artwork and splashes of blue everywhere. But the pièce de résistance is the very long infinity pool stretched out across the roof, looking out onto sweeping views of the Adriatic. Hayley's room looks out on to the Istrian Riviera. She says: 'The views are beautiful (and worth upgrading for) and the bed is supremely comfortable, coming with a choice of seven pillows' Hayley says: 'Despite the Grand Brioni being so huge, I always manage to secure a sunbed and find it surprisingly peaceful and secluded, sunbathing here constantly' Despite the Grand Brioni being so huge, I always manage to secure a sunbed and find it surprisingly peaceful and secluded, sunbathing here constantly, while sipping on the hotel's twist on an Aperol spritz, a Teranino spritz. I only stop to take the steps down to the hotel's private beach to jump in the sea, and to pop to the spa for a glorious hour-long massage. The rooms are excellent, too. I have a Collection Superior room with a Panoramic Sea View, looking out to the Istrian Riviera. The views are beautiful (and worth upgrading for) and the bed is supremely comfortable, coming with a choice of seven plump pillows - each of them differently stuffed to suit everyone's taste. The same can certainly be said of the buffet breakfast. From made-to-order omelettes and coffee served by baristas to a huge selection of cakes (because who doesn't want to eat dessert first thing in the morning?) and fresh fruit, you really couldn't go wrong. The selection of foods is just as vast for dinner, but I recommend splashing out on a meal at Sophia, the hotel's restaurant. It's named after actress Sophia Loren, who once stayed at the Grand Brioni. She finishes: 'Just when I think the night can't get any more perfect, there are audible gasps as a pod of dolphins starts performing flips for us in the distance. It's as if they're waving us goodbye on our final night – but I'll definitely be coming back' Here, I have a delicious meal spanning octopus, beef carpaccio and some of the most tender Kobe beef I've ever eaten – all while looking out over a stunning sunset. And just when I think the night can't get any more perfect, there are audible gasps as a pod of dolphins starts performing flips for us in the distance. It's as if they're waving us goodbye on our final night – but I'll definitely be coming back. Who needs Rome?
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
I'm a travel editor - here's everything I packed for my weekend trip to Croatia
By Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more As deputy travel editor of MailOnline, you would think I'd have learnt to pack light by now. And it does become easier to cut down what you take when you only have hand luggage on an easyJet flight. But I do love my clothes - and can't exactly wear a bikini and beach dress in a fancy restaurant or on the plane. I ended up wearing five different outfits across two days, when I spent a weekend at the Grand Hotel Brioni Pula, in Croatia, recently - including a two-piece I rented with a Hirestreet subscription. Aside from the summer clothes, I packed my list of essentials I take on every trip - as well as my Mermade Double Waver to give myself naturally-looking beach waves in the 34 degree heat. And I stuffed my clear travel pouch full with as many 100ml liquids as I possibly could - so I could stick to my regular makeup and skincare routine. But that's not all. From multiple space-saving gadgets that double up as two items, to the travel accessories I can't live without, here's what I chucked into my hand luggage for Pula... MyHalos 100% Blackout Sleep Mask I bought this blackout eye mask for a long-haul flight originally, and it's so good I use it in bed every night now, and my sleep has got so much better. Designed to prevent pressure on your eyes, this 3D sleep mask is perfect for sensitive eyes or those with lash extensions. Made from premium memory foam and soft, breathable material, it offers superior comfort and light-blocking ability. £9.99 Shop MyTravelPal 20W Worldwide Travel Adaptor with USB C A travel adapter is an absolute must if you're going abroad, and I always leave this one in my suitcase so I never forget to pack it. It fits any plug sockets around the world, and also has two USB ports, a slot for USB-C cables, and built-in USB-C cable, so you can charge five different devices at the same time. £23.99 Shop Tile Mate by Life360 Throughout my life I've been told I'd 'lose my head if it weren't screwed on', and have been known to leave my suitcase on the train, my passport on the plane and my purse on the bar. I really would be lost without tile Mates, which I've attached to my keys and added one to my suitcase. The Bluetooth trackers are the ideal solution for scatterbrains, and also for safety if you're solo travelling, so friends and family can know your whereabouts. £27.99 Shop Le Creuset Bottle I take a water bottle wherever I'm going, as it means I don't have to keep asking the crew for another tiny cup of water on a flight. This one from Le Creuset keeps my water cold all day - especially when I add some ice to it when I leave the house. £35-40 Shop Anker Nano Power Bank Power banks are a must for long journeys, as there's not always an available plug socket nearby - although most long-haul flights now do have USB ports to charge your phone. I love Anker's Nano Power Bank, as it's so small, and doesn't have a need for wires. £19.98 Shop INSTAX mini 41 camera I always bring my Instax camera with me on my travels, as the instant photos are such a cute way of marking each trip. The camera always goes down a treat with friends - and is so easy to use. £94.99 Shop Amazon Kindle I was always a paperback book purist until I got my Kindle. It really is a game-changer for reading, purely for the amount of space it saves in your bag, rather than having to carry around three heavy books, which often end up getting soggy and damaged. £94.99 Shop INSFIT 17-Pack Silicone Travel Bottles Set This travel bottle set has been an absolute lifesaver for me when it comes to travelling with hand luggage only. The TSA-approved clear case comes with 17 containers, ranging in size, that you can decant all your lotions and potions in to using the included funnel. It even comes with a brush for cleaning, as well as waterproof sticker labels so you don't mix up your shampoo with your moisturiser! £9.99 Shop Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish A beauty product I can't leave the house without is Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, and the mini size is my travel skincare staple. I've been using it to take my makeup off in the evening, and to refresh my skin in the morning for 10 years - and I swear by it. I have the 200ml bottle at home, but this starter kit is only £6.40 - and perfect to pop into my hand luggage. £6.40 Shop OGIO Pace Pro 20L Backpack Sorai I always make sure I bring a backpack with me on holiday in case of any jam-packed day trips. This one from OGIO is the perfect size and has more than seven compartments, including a laptop and tablet sleeve, as well as hidden passport pocket. There's surprisingly more than enough space to fit a change of clothes and shoes for the plane. And it also has a trolley sleeve so it can slide onto your suitcase and ease your back. £99 Shop STACKERS Cosmetic and Jewellery Bag I've always been one of those people with a million different bags and boxes within their suitcase - a jewellery box, a makeup bag, a toiletries bag, the list goes on... But this nifty 2-in-1 bag from STACKERS has fixed all that. It fits all my makeup in and has a jewellery box attached at the bottom - which also keeps all my necklaces in place and stops them tangling. Plus, it has a mirror inside too! £55 Shop SURI Electric Toothbrush and UV Case This electric toothbrush - made with recyclable plant-based heads and bristles - is so light to carry, and comes with a slim, self-cleaning case. It removes three times more plaque than a manual toothbrush, and is really powerful with 33,000 vibrations per minute, but also very quiet. It also has a really long battery life of 40+ days, so you don't have to bring your charger with on holiday. £95 Shop Boots Minis Bag Get Holiday Ready Boots has launched an exciting new set of mini travel products items worth £124.50, but is on sale for just £32, a saving of 74 per cent. It includes a Sol de Janeiro Cheriosa 62 Perfume Mist (30ml, a Floral Street Sunflower Pop Eau de Parfum (10ml), a Mini MACstack Mascara (8ml), Milk Makeup Multi-Use Lip + Cheek Cream Stick in shade Werk (6g), and more. You can also put all your other mini liquids in the bag and use it in your hand luggage. £32 Shop Boots Adventure Holiday Bundle This bundle from Boots is great, as it's all the little things I always forget to pack. For just £20, it includes a Factor 50, roll-on sunscreen, insect repellant, blister plasters, blister prevention tape - and freeze gel for aching muscles if you like walking around cities, like me. It even has re-energising tablets, which are always great for a hangover. £20 Shop Venus Snap Comfortglide Razor I always make sure I have this in my toiletries bag so I never forget a razor on holiday. With its compact travel case, it's so handy - and all you need to change is the razor head. £12 Shop One Line A Day Diary I need a way of documenting all my trips - and I just love this One Line A Day Diary for that. There are 366 pages - one for every day of the year, including a Leap Year - and each has five sections, each with a paragraph's worth of space (one paragraph for the same day across five years). I bought it about two and a half years ago and have writing down what I've done every day since - and I love being able to see what I did the previous year on that day. I don't go anywhere without it! £13.45 Shop Mermade Double Waver I have naturally straight hair, but when I'm on holiday, I love having beach waves. The Mermade Double Waver is like a giant crimper, and leaves my hair looking naturally wavy. The waves stay in so well too, so they look great for the evening, and by the beach. £66 Shop Satechi Passport Holder with Find My As soon as I heard there was a passport case with Find My built in, I knew I had to try it - and I became immediately obsessed with this product. My phone now alerts me if I've left without my passport, so there's no chance of me losing it again. It's also made of vegan leather and looks really good too. £59.99 Shop
The Citizen
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
PwC investigated over Choppies audit in Botswana
Stock exchange suspension led to 75% drop in market value. Botswana's Accounting Oversight Authority has launched an investigation into PwC for its role in the delayed publication of the 2018 audit of Choppies Enterprises that resulted in the company being suspended on the JSE and Botswana Stock Exchange, resulting in a 75% drop in market value. The Botswana regulator received a complaint from Choppies's legal team and Justice Zein Kebonang, citing two serious allegations of professional misconduct and ethical breaches by PwC and its former lead auditor Rudi Binedell. 'Central to the complaint is the claim that PwC weaponised confidential internal company data – obtained during its audit engagement – to litigate and defend its own interests in a manner that Choppies' legal representatives argue amounts to abuse of trust and professional overreach,' says Choppies in a statement. The regulator will launch a probe to determine whether PwC and Binedell violated their statutory, professional, and ethical obligations. If found culpable, the fallout could lead to penalties and reputational damage for PwC. Read more 'Same story year after year': MPs unhappy as Auditor-General reveals local government audit outcomes Moneyweb reached out to PwC for a response but had not received a reply by the time of publication. The case is currently before the court in Botswana, where Choppies's largest shareholders – Ramachandran Ottapathu and Farouk Ismail – are seeking over R653 million (Pula 610 million) in damages, alleging PwC's delay in signing off on the retailer's 2018 financial statements, ostensibly due to audit concerns, caused the company's share price to collapse. ALSO READ: Eskom reaches R43 million settlement with PwC over controversial contract Sour grapes? Choppies alleges that PwC's then lead auditor Binedell delayed the 2018 audit report because a job he had been offered at Choppies had not materialised. Earlier this year, the Botswana High Court dismissed a counter-application by PwC alleging improper conduct by two judges in previous rulings. Choppies has also challenged the legitimacy of a 2023 high court ruling by Justice Boipuso Makhwe, arguing that it was tainted by judicial misconduct. There were claims that the judgment was secretly authored by Makhwe's colleague, Justice Kebonang, who had previously ruled in favour of Choppies in 2021, awarding the retailer over P500 million (R668 million) in damages. 'In a striking counteroffensive, Justice Kebonang has since filed an affidavit accusing PwC of orchestrating a smear campaign, fabricating claims, and manipulating legal proceedings to escape liability,' says Choppies. 'He maintains he had no involvement in drafting the disputed judgment and has demanded that the judiciary investigate the matter further.' ALSO READ: Secret Steinhoff PwC report to be handed over on Wednesday to some media Vindication in sight? The Botswana regulator previously fined Choppies P100 000 (R133 000) for late disclosure of its 2018 financials. The regulator's attention now appears to have shifted to PwC's conduct in the matter. Choppies says the investigation by the regulator is a step toward reputational redemption, while for PwC it poses a threat to its credibility in the region, given its previous citations in scandals involving Eskom, Steinhoff and SAA. PwC sent the following response Moneyweb: 'PwC Botswana takes client confidentiality seriously. However, there are certain circumstances where we are required to disclose confidential information to legal or regulatory authorities. We have complied with our legal and professional obligations in this regard, and we are cooperating with the regulator in its investigation.' This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
The Star
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Premier League legends at charity event
Marcos Alonso will at the Pula charity tournamant this week. FORMER Premier League footballers Pepe Reina, Marcos Alonso and John Arne Riise are among the household names to be confirmed for this month's charity 'Battle of Stars' golf tournament in Mallorca, Spain. Set for Pula Golf Resort and Son Servera Golf Club from Wednesday through Friday, the event brings together celebrities from the worlds of sport and entertainment to against ALS and multiple sclerosis. Reina is best remembered in the United Kingdom for making almost 400 appearances in goal for Liverpool Football Club, but also represented Barcelona, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Napoli and more. Riise is another Liverpool hero, while Alonso won the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and FA Cup with Chelsea. Former tennis world no. 1 Ana Ivanovic and La Liga star Luis Milla are also in the line-up. The new announcement also confirms that headline name Rafael Nadal will be joined by his uncles, former coach Toni Nadal and Barcelona icon Miguel Àngel Nadal. Footballing legends Gabriel Batistuta, Roberto Donadoni, Henrik Larsson and Bernd Schuster have also been confirmed in the field this week. Fittingly for a tournament held in Mallorca, a strong contingent of Spanish household names will also show their support: matadors Pepin Liria and Enrique Ponce, actress and presenter Veronica Mengod and former Barcelona striker Julio Salinas. The tournament's final night will feature a charity tombola with prizes including a flag from the 1999 Masters Tournament, signed by that year's winner Jose Maria Olazabal.
