No image available
/ 19 October 2006

One more race for Schumacher

And then there was one. One race, this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, the final race of the Formula One season to decide the drivers’ title between Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher. One race to determine the team crown between Renault and Ferrari. And one last race in Schumacher’s career.

No image available
/ 19 October 2006

Moody’s sees no danger to SA’s credit rating

Recent financial-market turmoil will not impact South Africa’s Baa1 credit rating, which is backed by low external debt ratios and solid fiscal position, Moody’s analyst Kristin Lindow said on Thursday. Lindow said the rating had already taken into account potential exchange-rate volatility and a wide current-account deficit.

No image available
/ 19 October 2006

Oil prices firm as traders eye Opec

Crude futures edged upwards on Thursday as traders awaited an official output decision from a meeting of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) oil ministers in the Qatari capital of Doha. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in November, gained 25 cents to ,90 per barrel in pit trading.

No image available
/ 19 October 2006

SA Aids doctor calls for mandatory HIV tests

South Africa, burdened with one of the world’s worst Aids crises, should institute mandatory HIV tests through employers, banks and medical-insurance programmes, a senior Aids doctor said on Thursday. ”I don’t think ignorance is a human right,” said Dr Francois Venter, head of the South African HIV Clinicians Society.

No image available
/ 19 October 2006

Opposition moves to oust Tshwane mayor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Tshwane metro council this week handed in a motion of no confidence against the city’s executive mayor, Gwen Ramokgopa, calling for her immediate resignation. Meanwhile, Tshwane residents are losing their faith in the local government’s bureaucratic system, saying it is a mess and disorganised.

No image available
/ 19 October 2006

Startled giraffes die after zoo power failure

Three young giraffes died at a Czech zoo, famed for its work on endangered species, as a result of a power cut, the head of the zoo said on Thursday. ”When the power came on again in their enclosure after the power failure, the animals were startled by the lamps. They bolted and suffered fatal injuries when they fell,” the zoo said.