The Waitrose chain of supermarkets in Britain is to plough 20% of all profits from the South African citrus fruit sold in its stores back into farms where the food is grown. The move is aimed at enriching the lives of South African farm workers and their dependents but also ensuring stability in the supply chain.
At least 53 people were killed and 40 wounded in south-western Nepal when a powerful bomb ripped apart a crowded passenger bus in one of the bloodiest attacks on civilians by suspected Maoist rebels since their revolt began nine years ago.
Scores of international experts began talks on Monday in Edinburgh, Scotland, aimed at helping the Group of Eight (G8) industrial powers tackle disease and poverty in Africa at its July summit in Scotland, officials said. About 80 lawmakers and policymakers opened talks on Monday morning.
Clients of South African internet service provider Internet Solutions (IS) are worried that the internet service provider either has been hacked or is choosing to censor its users, <i>ITWeb</i> reported on Monday. <i>ITWeb</i> received complaints from IS users who have been unable to access adult-related websites and chat rooms.
Taxis with "unlucky" number plates in Shanghai will stop operating during university entrance exams this week to appease superstitious parents, state media said on Monday. "Lots of parents refuse to use cabs with number plates they consider unlucky," said Zhao Leping, head of the Shanghai Dazhong taxi company.
Indian Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav is beaming after a doll in his likeness has been snapped up from toy stores in the state of Bihar where he will soon contest elections. The plump doll, called Lalooji, sports a mop of white hair and is clothed in the politician’s trademark white kurta pajamyas.
Lifestyle diseases are placing an increasing burden on the health system, Gauteng health minister Gwen Ramokgopa said on Monday. She was to tell the provincial legislature later on Monday that people needing treatment for strokes, diabetes and hypertension made more than a million hospital and clinic visits in the past financial year.
About 1 300 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) again downed tools at Samancor Chrome’s Mpumalanga and North West mines after negotiations deadlocked, a spokesperson said on Monday. NUM deputy secretary Archie Palane said workers are protesting the company’s refusal to upgrade certain positions.
Shares in telecommunications group Telkom rose to a lifetime high of R119 per share on Monday after the firm announced its financial results for the year ended March 2005. Telkom reported a 53% rise in basic earnings per share to 1241,8 cents, from last year’s 812 cents.
Traffic was disrupted between Nelspruit and Riverside in Mpumalanga on Monday when thousands of taxi operators marched to the premier’s office to hand over a memorandum outlining grievances, news reports said on Monday. The operators want the government to abandon its planned taxi-recapitalisation programme.