Hezekiel Sepeng, South Africa’s 1996 Olympic 800m silver medallist, is fighting to clear his name of doping after testing positive for nandrolone. Sepeng, who faces a two-year ban if the follow-up test confirms the first result, was tested out of season in his home town of Potchefstroom in February.
World oil prices rose on Monday as traders worried about possible supply shortages amid anticipated higher levels of demand for gasoline ahead of the peak driving season in the United States, dealers said. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in June, rose to ,97 per barrel in electronic deals.
The Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa) will not appeal against the Cape High Court’s dismissal last month of Idasa’s application for political parties to disclose their funding sources. At a press conference on Monday, Idasa’s Richard Calland said his organisation will not be ”pursuing the legal route any further at this point”.
The world’s biggest fish market, Tsukiji in the heart of Tokyo, on Monday closed its famous tuna auction to tourists whose oos and aahs at the jumbo seafood has proven too much for merchants to handle. Fishmongers say the excited tourists are distracting them during tuna auctions and also touch the fish, which has raised sanitation concerns.
Burundi’s interim president and a former rebel leader have resolved a dispute that was threatening the peace process following 12 hours of talks in South Africa with President Thabo Mbeki and his deputy. Mbeki and Deputy President Jacob Zuma opened talks on Sunday evening with President Domitien Ndayizeye and former rebel leader Pierre Nkurunziza.
Over 34 farming schools have been set up in sub-Saharan Africa to assist Aids orphans, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation said on Monday. Children orphaned by the disease and living in rural areas are particularly at risk from malnutrition, disease, abuse and sexual exploitation.
Love doesn’t come cheap in Britain, where the typical date costs £200 (R2 290), according to a survey of some of the nation’s 8,6-million "singletons". On average, the single British man or woman goes out on a date five times a year, with the Welsh the keenest date hunters.
Drivers born under the signs of Libra, Cancer, Pisces, Taurus and Capricorn are least likely to keep their cars clean, according to a survey that explores the astrological roots of motoring cleanliness. Those born under Aquarius, Aries, Scorpio and Leo wash their cars weekly, Sagittarius and Gemini every two weeks, and Virgo every month.
North Korea may have enough weapons-grade plutonium to make up to half a dozen nuclear bombs, the head of the United Nations atomic agency said on Sunday in another warning about the regime’s secretive nuclear programme. He described the latest developments as a ”cry for help” on Pyongyang’s part.
Military-ruled Myanmar has imposed a blackout on the news of casualties from the recent bomb blasts after official reports of 11 dead, but evidence mounted on Monday that the toll is substantially higher. Senior Thai officials in Bangkok on Monday said 21 people, all Myanmar nationals, were killed in the blasts.