It’s affordable, and central to stopping deforestation in Chad, but butane gas has a long way to go before it becomes a household staple in this Sahelian country: many Chadians have a fixed belief that gas is simply too dangerous to use. According to World Bank figures, only 4% of Chadian households use gas at present.
The JSE retained its strong tone at midday on Tuesday as European markets put on a great show and better metal prices provided buying incentive for heavyweight resources stocks. At noon, the all share index was up 0,79%. Resources gained 0,99% while the gold and platinum mining indices firmed 1,91% and 1,42%.
Standard Bank has finalised its acquisition of BankBoston Argentina, enabling the Standard Bank Group to further extend its footprint in the South American market. The newly merged bank opens for business under the Standard Bank brand on April 3.
The European Commission confirmed on Tuesday that it has launched an anti-trust probe into online music sales by computer company Apple and several major record labels. In order to buy a music download from the iTunes’ Belgian online store a consumer must use a credit card issued by a bank with an address in Belgium.
The trial of South African gospel singer Sipho Lucas Xlale, accused of raping a 16-year-old pregnant girl, was postponed in the Garankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Monday, the South African Broadcasting Corporation news reported. The 55-year-old Xlale was expected to make a formal bail application on Tuesday.
Ukraine’s pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree on Monday to dissolve Parliament and order an election next month, stepping up months of confrontation with the assembly and prime minister. Parliament said the decree ”bears all the signs of a step towards a coup d’état” and made clear the chamber would defy it.
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New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming’s 102 not out set the seal on a comprehensive nine wicket victory against Bangladesh on Monday as his side moved a step nearer the semifinals. Together with Hamish Marshall he shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 134 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
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The world’s top-ranked team South Africa will not be complacent against debutants Ireland in Tuesday’s World Cup Super Eights match but should win ”convincingly”, coach Mickey Arthur said. Ireland, a team of mostly amateurs, are expected to finish eighth and have already lost to England.
South African President Thabo Mbeki was quoted on Tuesday as saying he believed Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe would peacefully renounce power at some point. ”I think so. Yes, sure,” Mbeki, appointed by the Southern African Development Community to mediate over Zimbabwe, told the Financial Times.
Zimbabwe’s trade unions have called a two-day strike from Tuesday morning, ostensibly over the plummeting value of wages under rampant inflation that has left many people unable to afford the bus fare to work. But many Zimbabweans view the strike as a demand for an end to Robert Mugabe’s 27-year rule.