A stone phallus 28 000 years old has been discovered in a cave in Baden-Wuertemberg in southern Germany, according to archeologists with the University of Tubingen. In assembling 14 stone fragments found last year in the Hohle Fels cave, archeologists rebuilt the phallus, which is 20cm long and three centimeters wide
A trade union has rejected a revised salary offer from South African Airways (SAA) as ground and cabin staff strike for a fourth day, South African Broadcasting Corporation news reported on Monday. The United Association of SA (Uasa) rejected an offer of a five percent increase and a once-off payment of R1 600.
From Tuesday, train commuters in the Western Cape can breathe a little easier — it will be the first day on the job for 400 railway police constables whose duty it will be to reduce crime on trains. ”We are saying that we are serious about rooting out crime committed on trains,” said Western Cape provincial commissioner Mzwandile Petros.
The country’s second-biggest short-term insurer, Mutual & Federal, on Monday reported a 93% increase in headline earnings per share from 124 cents to 239 cents per share for the six months ended June. Headline earnings for the half-year increased from R303-million to R593-million.
Nitrous oxide — laughing gas — is the best for creating the right-sized bubbles in chocolate, British scientists working with a recipe from Nestlé have discovered. That melt-in-the-mouth sensation that the Swiss-based chocolate maker strives to achieve in its Aero brand is best achieved with this ”dentists’ gas”, according to researchers working at Reading University.
Disney came under fire from animal welfare groups on Monday for having stray dogs on its Hong Kong theme park site rounded up and killed. Around 40 dogs, some of which were used as unofficial guard dogs by construction workers, are believed to have been given lethal injections after being caught by government dog catchers.
The New Zealand cricket team departed on Monday for Africa to prepare for its August series in Zimbabwe as lawmakers continued to press for the cancellation of the tour. The Parliamentary Green Party, which has rallied opposition to the tour in protest at human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, said it was not too late for the New Zealand government to intervene.
World number one diamond miner De Beers is disappointed by the fall in the group’s interim earnings and headline earnings, De Beers managing director Gary Ralfe said on Monday. Global resources group Anglo American has a 45% stake in De Beers.
The Wallabies were rattled by playing at high altitude, the ”wow” factor of meeting Nelson Mandela and their historically woeful playing record at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park, the Australian media said on Monday. The Wallabies were ”horrible, playing some of the worst Australian rugby for some time in the opening 30 minutes as they fell behind 20-3,” The Sydney Morning Herald‘s Greg Growden wrote.
With no end in sight to wage disputes, strikes at South African Airways (SAA) and Pick ‘n Pay were due to enter their fourth day on Monday. SAA said it expected the SA Transport and Allied Workers Association and the United Association of SA to respond to its final offer by Monday.