JOHANNESBURG – The church of a South African preacher was burnt to the ground on Tuesday amid local outrage after he stormed a school outside Johannesburg with machetes, and forcibly removed his grandchildren. Police arrested five people after a video clip that went viral showed the controversial Pentecostal pastor threatening school staff with panga blades...
NAIROBI – Kenya’s central bank trimmed Tuesday its main interest rate for the first time in four years, citing easing inflationary pressures as the government struggles to raise revenue and service its public debt following deadly protestors over tax hikes. The bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) cut its main interest rate by a quarter percentage...
PARIS – Two health experts on Tuesday called for Olympic organisers to cut ties with Coca-Cola, saying the current big-money sponsorship deal allows the US company to “sportswash” unhealthy sugary drinks. Events at the Paris games have been lined with advertising for the ubiquitous fizzy drinks of Coca-Cola, which has been sponsoring the Olympics since...
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet produced a masterful display of tactical running to win gold in the Olympic women’s 5 000metre (m) on Monday, ending defending champion Sifan Hassan’sdream of a long-distance treble. Chebet-nicknamed “the smiling assassin” – bided her time before accelerating past compatriot Faith Kipyegon down the home straight to take gold in 14 minutes...
Nedbank Group delivered a strong financial performance for the six months to 30 June 2024, amid a challenging operating environment, as Headline Earnings (HE) increased by 8% year to year to N$7.9 billion. Return on equity (ROE) increased to 15% from 14.2% in the first half of 2023. The increase in HE was underpinned by...
WASHINGTON – The ongoing global stock sell-off has fuelled calls for the US Federal Reserve to lower interest rates swiftly and decisively, with some analysts now calling for it to make an emergency cut before its September rate decision. The futures markets, which as recently as last week expected a single quarter-percentage-point cut at the...
WASHINGTON – A new poll confirmed on Sunday that Kamala Harris, who is set to name her vice presidential pick imminently, has drawn level with Donald Trump, transforming a White House race that the Republican had been increasingly confident he would win. As the 5 November election rapidly approaches, Harris has erased the growing lead...
ABUJA – Nigeria’s president Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday called for the suspension of nationwide protests, and an end to “bloodshed” after security forces cracked down on rallies over economic hardships. Thousands of demonstrators began taking to the streets last week to protest against government policies, and the high cost of living. Rights group Amnesty International...
WAYANAD – Indian rescue crews scoured mud-caked tea plantations and villages yesterday with little hope of finding more survivors from landslides that killed around 200 people. Days of torrential monsoon rains have battered the southern coastal state of Kerala, with blocked roads into the Wayanad district disaster area complicating relief efforts since Tuesday. The number...
TOKYO – Japan has expanded its commercial whaling to include fin whales, the second-largest animal species on the planet, a decision criticised by Australia’s government yesterday. One of only three countries to hunt whales commercially, along with Norway and Iceland, Japan added fin whales to a catch list that already includes minke, Bryde’s and sei...