Groundbreaking legislation on childrens’ rights was approved by the National Assembly on Wednesday — nine years after it was first mooted. The Children’s Bill lowers the age of majority from 21 years to 18, outlaws virginity testing, paves the way for a register of child abusers and cracks down on child trafficking.
The Democratic Alliance says it has evidence which suggests President Thabo Mbeki held a secret meeting with French arms manufacturer Thomson-CSF in 1998, when he was chairperson of the ministerial committee in charge of the arms deal.
Afghan and United States troops backed by British warplanes pounded a mountain hideout in southern Afghanistan in a day-long battle that left more than 76 Taliban guerrillas dead. The battle was the bloodiest engagement yet in a summer of escalating violence that has dimmed hopes for an early end to the Taliban insurgency.
The refloating of the bulk carrier Kiperousa, stranded on the Eastern Cape coast, will begin at about noon on Thursday, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) said. Samsa spokesperson Captain Peter Kroon said the fine weather in the East London area will assist in refloating the beached vessel.
An elephant handler was killed by a bull elephant at the Knysna Elephant Park on Tuesday during a morning excursion, the International Fund for Animal Welfare said on Wednesday. The incident at the park also raises questions regarding the safety of South Africa’s burgeoning elephant-back safari and tourism industry.
The war in Iraq is creating a new breed of Islamic jihadists who could go on to destabilise other countries, according to a CIA report. The CIA believes Iraq to be potentially worse than Afghanistan, which produced thousands of jihadists in the 1980s and 1990s. Many of the recruits to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda had fought in Afghanistan.
Rupert Murdoch has dedicated years of lobbying to launching his television channels there and Warner Bros recently established a film production joint venture in the country. But media moguls with ambitions to expand in China should perhaps look at a less glamorous or politically sensitive medium: outdoor advertising.
Simmer & Jack Mines (Simmers) said on Wednesday it has signed employment agreements with three unions as part of its bid for DRDGold’s North West operations. Simmers, the preferred bidder for the liquidated mining operations in Stilfontein, has entered into agreements with Solidarity, the South African Electrical Workers Union and the United Association of South Africa .
South African media and entertainment group Johnnic Communications lifted headline earnings by 129% from R177-million to R406-million for the year ended in March. This translates into headline earnings per share of 390 cents compared with 170 cents the previous year, which exceeded the I-Net Bridge consensus forecast of 279,5 cents.
Caffeine can help athletes by boosting the body’s absorption of carbohydrates, scientists at the University of Birmingham said on Wednesday. According to a study conducted by researchers at the university’s School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, introducing caffeine into sports drinks increases the absorption rate of carbohydrates by 26%.