OWN CORRESPONDENT, Abuja | Wednesday 3.30pm. NIGERIAN parliamentarians on Wednesday urged President Olusegun Obasanjo to end the religious riots over the strict Islamic Sharia code in the northern city of Kaduna, which have left at least 100 dead this week. “The (federal) government should step in as a matter of urgency to assist the Kaduna […]

NEW York palladium prices streaked to a fresh high over $800 an ounce in a record one-day gain on Tuesday, the rally snowballing as speculators increasingly displace stockpiled automakers as the main source of demand, analysts said. Panic over shortages has arisen because top-producer, Russia, has not shipped enough metal to supply to the West’s […]

FORMER German national soccer coach Berti Vogts will not replace Bafana coach Trott Moloto, Safa said on Tuesday. Safa denied German reports saying that it is close to concluding a deal with Vogts to replace Moloto, who is not expected to stay on as Bafana coach when his contract expires in March.

ZAMBIA have axed national soccer coach Ben Bamfuchile as the traditional post-African Nations Cup hiring and firing gets into full swing. Bamfuchile pays the penalty for the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) failing to win a match or get beyond the first round at the biennial continental showpiece in Ghana and Nigeria this month. A 2-0 loss […]

FARMERS in the Northern Cape province are fighting to eradicate swarms of locusts threatening maize and grape vines, an agricultural spokesman said on Tuesday. “In some places there are swarms up to 10 km long, but we have started spraying to get the situation under control,” said Hoffie Joubert, a spokesman for the Northern Cape […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 12.45pm THE all-commodities producer price index rose an annualised 8,2% in January after December’s 7,2% rise, figures released by Statistics South Africa reveal. Monthly PPI rose 1,2% in January from December after rising 0,5% in December. A Reuters consensus poll of economists forecast PPI would rise a monthly 0,6% and […]

SARAH BULLEN, Cape Town | Wednesday 5.00pm LOCAL markets responded positively to the Budget on Wednesday, with a strong boost for the currency coming in Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s conservative approach to raising offshore asset swap limits. By 4.320pm the rand was under R6,30 to the dollar. Barnard Jacob Mellett dealer Kevin Brady said that […]

DARYLL Cullinan wil only know on Wednesday morning whether he will be able to take his place in the South African team for their first Test against India on Thursday. Cullinan left the field with a groin strain in the warm-up match against an Indian Board President’s XI, and will be given a fitness test […]

SECURITY fears and inadequate facilities will prevent Somalia’s national football teams from playing at home this year. Football Association president Farah Addo said that preliminary ties in the World Cup and the African youth and junior championships will be reduced to one leg on the ground of their opponents. Somalia are scheduled to meet African […]