Considerate to a fault, the Chinese authorities have closed down more than 8 600 unlicensed Internet cafés in the past three months to ensure the ”healthy development” of the nation’s impressionable young minds. Domestic media controlled by the government have described the move in benign terms, as the nanny state tightening safety standards at businesses that take up an increasing amount of teenage time and money.
Petrochemical giant Sasol is facing two important challenges to its pricing policy and general conduct, which are alleged to be strangling South Africa’s fertilizer and plastic industries. The outcome is seen by trade unions as critical to developing the growth and job-creating potential of the chemical sector.
At a conservative think tank in downtown Washington, and across the Potomac at the Pentagon, FBI agents have begun paying quiet calls on prominent neo-conservatives, who are being interviewed in an investigation of potential espionage, according to intelligence sources. Who gave Ahmed Chalabi classified information about the plans of the US government and military?
A Thai software company claims to have created a programme for Nokia cellphones that can tell whether a caller is telling the truth or not. The controversial programme, created by Agilemobile.com, is available for free downloading on the company’s website and can be easily installed on some of the relatively common garden-variety Nokia cellphones.
What does the socially responsible investment index (SRI), launched by the JSE Securities Exchange last week, really mean? The first of its kind to be launched in an emerging market, the SRI comprises 51 companies that have been rigorously assessed on "triple bottom-line" reporting — encompassing environment, social and economic performance and corporate governance.
Edcon, owner of Edgars stores, has rejected claims by trade union official that the company is increasing casualisation and exploiting workers. The claims were made to the <i>Mail & Guardian</i> by Simphiwe Nikiwe, national organiser of the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) in the wake of Edcon’s results two weeks ago.
The National Treasury’s long-awaited retail bonds, to be issued from May 24, are welcome as a move to boost savings by small investors. Savings rates in South Africa stand at 16% of gross domestic product; to grow the economy meaningfully they should be at least 20%.
Women and children carrying head-loads of personal belongings streamed out of Bakin Ciyawa — a little village of mud huts and a few cement buildings with corrugated iron roofing in central Nigeria’s Plateau State — just ahead of dusk, fearful of another militia attack. Residents doubt the emergency measures will end the round of tit-for-tat violence.
Malawi’s new president, Bingu wa Mutharika, sworn in on May 24, has promised wide-ranging economic reforms that, he says, will turn the country around. The list includes strict budgetary control, strengthening the national Audit Office, Accountant General and Anti-Corruption Bureau, and trimming the Cabinet from his predecessor’s 46 members to a "small but effective one".
Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi corrected the new Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Buyelwa Patience Sonjica, when she said some targets would be met. Taking the microphone from her, he said: "No, not some targets will be met. All targets will be met." This is the kind of confidence displayed by Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu.