Police in Malawi have arrested two sisters who allegedly torched to death two children — aged three and seven — to exorcise them of witchcraft, a police spokesperson said on Monday. Police spokesperson Chifundo Chibweza said two other children — aged nine years and eight months — were rescued by villagers.
Hikes in the petrol price will impact negatively on motorists’ and commuters’ disposable income, the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa warned on Monday. ”The impact of the highest fuel prices ever in the history of transport in South Africa will without doubt be felt on the supermarket shelves,” the AA said in a statement.
The coroner hearing an inquest into the death of Britain’s Princess Diana in a car crash said on Monday there was no evidence that her former father-in-law, the Duke of Edinburgh, had ”ordered Diana’s execution”. Diana died in a crash in 1997 along with Dodi al-Fayed, whose father, Mohamed al-Fayed, has accused Queen Elizabeth’s husband of being behind her death.
Zambia has ended talks with a unit of Standard Bank after failing to agree conditions for a ,2-billion oil-financing deal, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga said on Monday. Konga said negotiations with Stanbic Bank Zambia, a subsidiary of Standard Bank, had ended and the government would soon start talks with another bank.
The 29-year-old British sprinter, who served a two-year ban for doping, would hold a news conference on Monday, the club said on its website. ”Obviously we are well aware of Dwain’s background and we gave the whole situation a great deal of thought,” Castleford’s football manager, Michael Robinson, said.
Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla moved up the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings on Monday after outstanding performances in the drawn match against India. McKenzie, who made 94 and 155 not out, made his first appearance in the top 40 in four years and is ranked 36th in the world, while Amla’s 159 and 81 saw him shoot up 10 places to 24th position.
Kevin Keegan insists Premier League safety hasn’t yet been secured despite watching rampant Newcastle United dismantle Tottenham Hotspur 4-1. Keegan’s free-flowing side moved back into mid-table and nine points clear of trouble as they capitalised on a shambolic defensive display from the League Cup holders to run out emphatic winners.
Zimbabweans woke up on Monday morning still not knowing if a new future had dawned on the country plagued by political and economic strife. On Sunday night, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission headquarters — called the national command centre — was deserted while the commission insisted it was verifying votes.
A vicar in Germany who had the novel idea of helping parishioners escape the stresses and strains of daily life by letting them lie in an open grave was upset when intrusive journalists spoiled the atmosphere. ”I meant it as a meditative exercise,” said pastor Thorsten Nolting.
Ernie Els withdrew from the Houston Open on Sunday because of a virus, giving him an unexpected two weeks off before going to the US Masters. ”I am very disappointed to have been forced to make this decision because I was really looking forward to playing this week,” Els said in a statement.