A Boeing 747 was forced to return to OR Tambo International Airport after an engine failed more than one hour into the flight, KLM said on Monday. Air France and KLM general manager Yeshwant Pawar said flight 592 was on its way to Amsterdam when engine number one failed only one-and-a-half hours into the flight.
The African National Congress (ANC) needs to assure South Africans it will not follow the path that has led to chaos in Kenya, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Monday. ”Events in Kenya have shown us how quickly a combination of cronyism, populism and ethnic mobilisation can destroy a country’s democratic prospects,” she said.
At least 30 people were killed on Monday and 10 others missing, feared dead, following a fierce blaze in a South Korean refrigerated warehouse, firefighters said. About 200 firefighters were sent into the basement of the two-storey building in Icheon, 80km south of Seoul, after the fire was put out, and recovered 30 bodies.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Brigitte Mabandla on Monday rejected as ”untrue” reports that she had delayed the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) decision on whether or not to charge police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi. The NPA ”does not have to get any permission from the minister”, said Mabandla’s spokesperson.
November’s government revenue and expenditure figures suggest that the National Treasury is still on track to meet the budgeted surplus for the current fiscal year, with only the last quarter remaining, according to independent analysts. The Treasury recorded a fiscal deficit for November of R4,6-billion.
In the remote west Kenyan village of Koiluget, a deadly attack by a rival ethnic group just over a week ago left behind more than just twisted sheet metal and charred walls — rotting corpses still litter the corn fields. Eight days after the Koiluget raid, wisps of smoke still smoulder from the houses.
Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s on Monday announced the launch of a new investable index for investors seeking exposure to environmentally responsible investment strategies. The index provides diversified, liquid exposure to 30 of the largest publicly listed companies operating in ecology-related industries.
An internet video accusing Australians of opposing Japanese whaling because of racism while brutally killing animals such as kangaroos and dingoes drew sharp government criticism on Monday. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced that Australia would deploy a ship to gather evidence for possible legal action.
Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili was on Monday celebrating Orthodox Christmas and victory in a presidential election his opponents called rigged. The central election commission said late on Sunday Saakaashvili had won 52,8% of votes cast on Saturday, almost twice as many as his nearest challenger
Global economic growth is "robust" but inflation risks remain as markets absorb the impact of the United States subprime crisis and higher food prices, European Central Bank (ECB) chief Jean-Claude Trichet said on Monday. "Food is a very big problem" stoking inflationary pressures, Trichet said.