The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) remained firmer at midday on Monday, but was off its record high reached in early trade. While a weaker rand was buoying the bourse, gold stocks and banks were paring gains. At 12.03pm, the all-share index was up 0,25% at 15 061,19. It reached a record 15 117,24 in early trade.
The space shuttle Discovery‘s launch could go ahead even if a fuel-gauge malfunction reoccurs, but weather might delay the lift-off, Nasa said on Sunday. Nasa has failed to explain what caused the failure of a sensors that prompted the last-minute cancellation of the July 13 launch.
After yet another huge earthquake and a tsunami scare overnight, some residents of India’s battered Andaman and Nicobar islands say they have had enough and are planning to move. On Sunday, an earthquake that the United States Geological Survey said measured seven on the Richter scale shattered the tranquillity of residents.
Nokwanda Ngombane, the widow of slain Free State government official Noby Ngombane, stood to benefit from insurance on her husband’s life totalling R20-million, City Press reported on Sunday. Nokwanda, who handed herself over to the police on Friday, was the sole beneficiary of the policies, the newspaper said.
South African President Thabo Mbeki, the main mediator in Côte d’Ivoire’s peace process, said on Sunday that Pretoria is heightening its intervention in the West African nation to pave the way for elections later this year. Côte d’Ivoire’s President Laurent Gbagbo promulgated new election laws on July 14.
The Cabinet has agreed to the creation of a risk-equalisation fund to ensure access to health care for all South Africans, President Thabo Mbeki said on Sunday. While only a minority has access to private medical aid, larger amounts of money are spent in the private sector than in the public sector, he said.
Superintendent Piet Byleveldt confirmed that Donovan Moodley, alleged kidnapper and killer of Leigh Matthews, had arrived at the Johannesburg High Court for his trial on Monday morning. Moodley faces charges of kidnapping, extortion and the murder of fellow student Matthews (21) in July last year.
Six people died and 42 were injured when two trucks collided in thick fog along the N7 near Malmesbury on Monday, emergency services said. A doctor at the scene said an articulated truck collided at about 7am with a smaller seven-tonne truck, which rescuers believe was carrying farm labourers.
The United States outlasted Panama on penalty kicks 3-1 to win their third Concacaf Gold Cup on Sunday, prevailing over the Central Americans after 120 minutes of goalless soccer. Brad Davis rolled a left-footer just inside the right post to clinch the victory.
The German Grand Prix resembled so many other races this season: a victory for Renault’s Fernando Alonso and a breakdown for Kimi Raikkonen. On Sunday, Raikkonen started from the pole and led comfortably until the 36th lap when his McLaren-Mercedes stopped on the track with hydraulic problems.