At least 31 people died and nine more were missing after heavy rainstorms hit south-west China, state media reported on Tuesday. Xinhua news agency said 17 people were killed and three others were missing after the torrential rains in Sichuan province in the past several days.
Police and health workers in Papua New Guinea launched an investigation on Tuesday into reports that people living with Aids in the rugged South Pacific nation were being buried alive by their relatives. Romanus Pakure, deputy director of the government’s National Aids Council, said the allegations were ”a wake-up call”.
A hearing in the trial of a Mauritanian editor of independent daily El Bedil Athalith, charged with slandering the first lady, was on Monday postponed indefinitely. The Arabic newspaper alleged in articles that the first lady had abused her position as wife of the head of state to raise funds for a charity organisation she headed.
Many urban cellular network masts in South Africa are situated in areas lush with vegetation, which is why a number of them are dressed up as trees. It is not known exactly how many antenna masts are disguised in this way. Now a master’s student in digital arts has started a project to calculate the relationship between technology and society.
South Africa’s woes continued on Tuesday at the 11th World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan, when sprinters Morne Nagel and Christiaan Krone failed to get past the first round. A poor first 30m put paid to Krone’s debut at world-championship level, but the Tukkies athlete went out with his pride intact.
Ian Bell’s third 50 in as many matches was the cornerstone of England’s 42-run win against India at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Monday as they took a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series. Bell, on his Warwickshire home ground, made 79 in England’s total of 281 for eight.
Looking at Bibey Mutombo on the soccer sidelines and the resemblance between the Orlando Pirates coach and the sphinx of ancient Egypt is almost uncanny. And even amid the despair and downright indignation among many in the Buccaneers camp over some insipid performances this season, the coach remains inscrutable.
World number ones Roger Federer and Justine Henin breezed over qualifiers on Monday into the second round of the United States Open, while reigning grand-slam champions Serena and Venus Williams also advanced handily. Three-time defending champion Federer defeated American Scoville Jenkins in 92 minutes.
An intensifying drought that is bringing Eastern and Southern Cape farmers to their knees is certain to cause an increase in the price of mutton, lamb and beef, the Herald Online reported on Tuesday. Karoo farmers, who say they have not had good rains for almost a year, have been battling a crippling drought.
As one of the most photographed constructions on Earth, a lure to tourists and one of the supreme symbols of the United States, its attraction to advertisers is evident. But howls of protest could be heard emanating from the San Francisco Bay area this weekend over plans to put the Golden Gate bridge out to commercial sponsorship.