Michael Jackson’s legal team braced for more damaging testimony on Thursday, after a former maid recounted seeing the pop star with young boys in the shower, the bathtub and in bed. The so-called ”King of Pop” is on trial for allegedly fondling a 13-year-old cancer survivor two years ago.
New research by South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) suggests that negligent breastfeeding at public hospitals in the Free State province is placing infants at risk of HIV infection. Besides the obvious route of mother-to-child transmission, shared breastfeeding emerged as the single most important factor associated with child HIV infection.
Despite the inherent risks, Nasa said it will resume its space shuttle programme by launching the Discovery before July, more than two years after the Columbia disintegrated on re-entry. Everybody at the United States space agency understands that there are no risk-free shuttle missions, but the only way to improve is to send it back up into orbit.
The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) was higher on Thursday on solid buying interest as a result of the weak rand, which boosted the resources sector and the financial stocks, brokers said. The top performer for the day was oil and chemicals group Sasol, which hit an all-time high, and was the top-traded stock by value.
Côte d’Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo has expressed satisfaction after the West African nation’s warring sides agreed to end a ruinous civil conflict, as United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan urged all factions to honour their pledges. Gbagbo sounded upbeat on his return to Abidjan on Wednesday.
South African oil and chemicals group Sasol on Thursday surged to an all-time high on continued investor interest in the stock due to the extremely high oil price, analysts said. At 11.15am, on the JSE Securities Exchange, Sasol’s stock was quoted at an all-time high of R161,90, up 2,6% or R4,15 from its previous close.
Suzaan van Biljon has once again given selectors something to think about after qualifying for the World Championships for the third time at the Telkom National Swimming Championships in East London on Wednesday night. The 16-year-old claimed a comfortable victory in her 200m breaststroke semifinal in a time of 2:29,44.
Conceding a goal in each half saw Cosmos remain in the relegation zone when they went down 2-0 to Ajax in a Castle Premier League game played at Newlands Stadium on Wednesday night. Ajax can thank their goalkeeper, Moeneeb Josephs, for the three points. Josephs had an outstanding game.
Santos moved out of the relegation zone and occupy the 13th spot on the Premier Soccer League log after sharing the spoils with Wits University in their 0-0 draw on Wednesday night. Wits, who were the hosts of the unimpressive match in front of about 500 fans, remain 11th on the table.
Lance Klusener, the bowler, and Shaun Pollock, the batsman, could not prevent the Highveld Lions from sneaking home by one run in their Standard Bank Pro20 cricket match against the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins at the Sahara Stadium in Kingsmead on Wednesday.