The city of Varanasi, reeling from a deadly triple bomb attack, is India’s holiest Hindu site where pilgrims flock to wash away their sins in the sacred River Ganges and to die. Millions of devotees each year visit the ancient temple-studded town targeted late on Tuesday by what police called ”suspected terrorists” — a usual official term for Islamic extremists.
Charges of drunken driving against Springbok flyhalf André Pretorius were withdrawn in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Pretorius’s lawyer, Carrol Von Molendorff, said the State had most likely dropped the charges because of lack of evidence.
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) was slightly weaker just before noon on Wednesday after a choppy morning session. Dealers attributed the bourse’s softer tone to weaker European markets and lower precious-metals prices. By 11.56am, the all-share and all-share industrial indices shed 0,3% and 0,37% respectively.
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has ”never deviated” from the ruling party’s policy on violence against women and on Wednesday rejected a warning not to do so. The ANC’s national working committee had warned the youth league and ”other Zuma sympathisers” not to defy ANC policy.
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The woman accusing Jacob Zuma of raping her told the Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday that she became ”shit scared” when she realised what was about to happen. Zuma’s lawyer Kemp J Kemp had asked her why she did not open her eyes to see what he was doing when he came into her guest room and started massaging her.
Angola is to draw up measures designed to prevent an outbreak of bird flu, which has been officially declared in three African nations, according to a parliamentary decree. A committee of experts from the military, health sectors and government organisations has been set up to chart a programme of action.
Widely considered the greatest soccer player of all time, Brazilian scoring legend Pele offered South African soccer officials some sound advice on Monday, soon after his arrival in the country. On the issue of who should be appointed as Bafana Bafana coach, he said the matter needed a great deal of thought and planning.
Retail-sales data for December released earlier on Wednesday by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) show that growth in sales over the Christmas spending season was "phenomenal", and the spending spree is likely to continue, according to Standard Bank.
Thousands of human brains float in jars of formaldehyde at a unique museum that gives visitors to Lima an up-close view of brain diseases, from trichinosis to stroke. More than 2 500 brains are on display in a modest museum in Lima sponsored by the National Institute of Neurological Sciences.
Listed Cape Town-based Sekunjalo Investments on Wednesday received the <i>Financial Mail</i> Top Empowerment Companies Award, which is conducted in partnership with black economic empowerment ratings agency EmpowerDEX.
Iqbal Survé-led Sekunjalo’s overall BEE score came in at 76,44%.