The JSE was weaker in noon trade on Tuesday, dragged down by lower precious metals prices, softer European bourses and a general lack of buying interest in a market that was very quiet due to the Independence Day holiday in the United States.
Speaking during the July update on the government’s programme of action for 2006, the second report back since the State of the Nation address, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin said in Pretoria on Tuesday that all of the programmes of the economic and investment cluster were "well on track".
The 37-year-old man who allegedly killed his wife before driving into Durban’s harbour in a bid to cover up the crime has claimed he is mentally unstable. Dhanendra Heeralall appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday to face charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice.
One of the Brazil’s top stars, defender Roberto Carlos, has announced he is retiring from international football following his country’s World Cup quarterfinal defeat against France. ”My days playing with the national side are over,” the Real Madrid wing-back said on his personal website.
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Germany go up against Italy in Dortmund with a slot in the World Cup final at stake on Tuesday, while France and Portugal head for Munich and their clash on Wednesday in the second semifinal. German hopes of reaching a second successive final were dealt a body blow late on Monday with the news that midfield dynamo Torsten Frings would miss the game after being suspended.
Twelve people were killed, including two women, as rebels from the war-torn region of Darfur seized a town in central Sudan, officials said on Tuesday. The Sudanese army said the town of Hamrat al-Sheikh in North Kordofan province was attacked on Monday by forces linked to the Justice and Equality Movement.
South Africa will pledge an additional R1-million this year to the global fund to fight Aids, tuberculosis and malaria, Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said in Durban on Tuesday. ”We further remain committed to supporting the global fund consistent with our potential and ability to do so,” she said.
President Robert Mugabe may have bought himself more time after skilfully evading United Nations pressure by persuading the world body’s Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to cancel his visit to Zimbabwe and instead back mediation between Harare and former colonial power London, analysts say.
England fans seeking solace from their World Cup woes are shunning Portugal as a holiday destination after the national squad knocked England out of the tournament, travel agents said on Tuesday. Portugal beat England on penalties after Saturday’s goalless quarterfinal in Gelsenkirchen, causing misery for England supporters.
A French radio reporter has been expelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for not having the right papers, said an Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporter who was at the airport. Ghislaine Dupont, special reporter for Radio France International was put on a Belgian plane late on Monday bound for Brussels.