Austrian United Nations anti-torture envoy Manfred Nowak in an interview published on Monday warned that societies must not put God above human rights. ”If one accepts that divine law is higher than international law, we can close shop,” said Nowak in the Vienna newspaper Kurier.
A local high-tech company has scooped a $14-million deal to import 400 fuel-cell units, a revolutionary technology that could change the face of power supply in South Africa. The United States-manufactured units use a chemical reaction between hydrogen, oxygen and a catalyst to create energy with water as a by-product.
The cause of Sunday night’s power failure that left at least 14 Johannesburg suburbs in the dark is not yet known, City Power said on Monday morning. Longdale, Emmerentia, Parktown, Parktown North, Northcliff, Forest Town, Linden, Parkview and other suburbs were without electricity for about an hour.
The spot price of gold was softer on Monday afternoon after the metal traded to $545,46 a troy ounce, the highest level in almost half a century, on fund buying as well as momentum from Friday’s sharp rally, traders said. At 12.55pm, gold was quoted at $540,92/oz, up $1,67/oz from its previous close.
The wet weather experienced over most of the interior is likely to continue for another two days before starting to clear up, Weather SA said on Monday. Forecaster Siyabonga Mphethwa said the rain is caused by a tropical low that moved in over the northern part of South Africa on Friday from Mozambique.
Bafana Bafana coach Ted Dumitru sprung a few surprises this weekend when he named his 23-strong squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations. He has included lesser-known Benoni Premier United defender Tsepo Masilela, midfielder Mlungisi Gumede, Simphiwe Tshabalala and evergreen Pirates midfielder-cum-defender Daniel ”Sailor” Tshabalala.
A record 218-run opening partnership between AB de Villiers and Gulam Bodi saw the Titans cruise to a convincing 10-wicket victory over the Dolphins in their Standard Bank Cup semifinal cricket match at Supersport Park in Centurion on Sunday. The Dolphins scored 212 for five wickets in their 45 overs.
Non-league Burton Albion held mighty Manchester United to an FA Cup third-round 0-0 draw on Sunday while struggling Championship side Leicester sent seven-time champions Tottenham crashing out. Fulham became the first shock casualties of the third round as they crashed 2-1 to League Two side Leyton Orient at Craven Cottage.
Arsene Wenger has declared that Thierry Henry’s decision to commit his future to Arsenal could prove a turning point in the club’s fortunes as he vowed to build a team around his captain. The Gunners manager was speaking ahead of the north London outfit’s League Cup semifinal first leg away to Wigan on Tuesday night.
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has committed the second 10 years of democracy to the achievement of high rates of economic growth and development. The ANC, which came to power in 1994, has targeted the advancement of skills among blacks and the beneficiation of South Africa’s raw materials as key elements of its 10-year economic transformation plan.