Telecommunications heavyweight Telkom remained the talk of the town during the morning session on Monday as news of a potential buyout and negotiations with the UK’s Vodafone set pulses racing. However, the market as a whole was mixed as resources generally gained some ground, but banks felt the heat from a struggling
sector in the United Kingdom.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith is likely to miss next month’s opening Test against England after sustaining a hamstring injury. Smith (27) picked up the injury while playing in an Indian domestic league match and may have to sit out the opener at the Lord’s cricket ground starting on July 10.
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi started his international campaign on a high note at the IAAF Golden league meeting in Berlin on Sunday when he clocked a fast time of 1:44,68 in the 800m. Mulaudzi was narrowly beaten by Kenya’s Abraham Chepkirwok who won the race in 1:44,53 but his performance will give his confidence a major boost for the rest of his European campaign.
A bomb went off outside the Danish embassy in the Pakistani capital on Monday killing at least four people and wounding several, officials said. The blast destroyed the embassy gate and damaged the building and vehicles in the compound in the up-market district of Islamabad.
Telkom has had an offer from a Vodafone unit for its half of mobile operator Vodacom, while Mvelaphanda may lead a bid for the whole group minus the Vodacom stake, Telkom said on Monday. Shares in Telkom jumped over 15% to R158, the highest level in six months and valuing the company at R82,28-billion.
The bodies of seven people, six of whom were farm workers, were recovered from a river near Fouriesburg. Their vehicle had earlier been found in the river by a passer=by. Police spokesperson Sergeant Mmako Mophiringsaid it was not known what had happened but the road they travelled had dangerous curves.
Cape Town Judge President John Hlophe must step down, political parties said on Sunday. Hlophe is accused of attempting to influence the Constitutional Court’s decision over search-and-seizure raids carried out by the Scorpions on properties of Jacob Zuma and French arms manufacturing giant Thint.
Sven-Goran Eriksson left Manchester City on Monday, less than a year after taking over as coach of the Premier League club. A statement on City’s website said the 60-year-old Swede had parted company with the club by mutual consent. His last competitive game in charge was an 8-1 humiliation at Middlesbrough on the last day of the season.
Nasa’s Phoenix Mars Lander has scooped up a little dirt, scientists said on Sunday, a first step towards sampling the Martian soil for ice — and the potential for life. The lander then took a picture of the footprint-shaped impression its robotic arm scoop left on its trial run, Nasa said.
The United States is operating ”floating prisons” to house those arrested in its war on terror, according to human rights lawyers, who claim there has been an attempt to conceal the numbers and whereabouts of detainees. The US government was on Sunday urged to list the names and whereabouts of all those detained.