SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa's rand firmed against the dollar on Thursday as Greek government plans for a referendum on a sovereign bailout appeared to unravel with the expected collapse of the government.

Chinese mining companies in Zambia, Africa's biggest copper producer, are routinely flouting laws designed to protect workers' safety and the right to organise, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday.

South African stocks ended a see-saw session flat on Thursday as an upbeat mood in Europe was offset by a sharply stronger currency at home.

South Africa on Thursday said it signed an agreement with 12 other countries to combat cross-border tax evasion.

Abuse of Zambian workers is widespread in mines owned by Chinese companies, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch.

Cannes is the incongruously glamorous backdrop for a meeting designed to desperately find a solution to Europe’s greatest crisis in more than 70 years.

Fitting older versions of Google's Inc popular Android software to cheaper cellphones could send the repair costs of global telecoms operators up as much as $2 billion, a study by wireless services firm WDS showed.

Cannes, the beach resort in the south of France, is the ideal locale for the G-20 economic summit.

Queen Victoria's underwear sold for record prices, but a four-poster bed in which actress Elizabeth Taylor celebrated her eighth honeymoon failed to set bidders at an Edinburgh auction on fire.

The other Royal Couple have been married for four months, and continue to battle rumors that Charlene tried to flee her wedding

Congolese state mining firm Gecamines has refused a request from the mines ministry to publish all revised contracts, saying it cannot do so without the permission of firms involved, according to a letter from Gecamines published on the ministry website.

South Africa's rand weakened against the dollar on Tuesday as a Greek plan for a referendum on a bailout package raised worries that the euro zone debt crisis is far from over.

South Africa's Allied Technologies Ltd is in talks to pay up to $60 million for unlisted Kenyan IT firm Symphony, according to a person familiar with the matter, to help revive its struggling business in fast-growing east Africa.

Congolese state mining firm Gecamines has refused a request from the mines ministry to publish all revised contracts, saying it cannot do so without the permission of firms involved, according to a letter from Gecamines published on the ministry website.

Selebi remains free on bail. If, however, his two-day appeal fails, he will have to go to jail.

Harmony Gold, South Africa's third-largest gold producer, posted a more than three-fold increase in quarterly earnings on Monday, beating expectations as bullion's record run and a weaker rand combined to lift its profits.

The International Criminal Court said on Saturday Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was in contact through intermediaries about surrendering for trial, but it also had information mercenaries were trying to spirit him to a friendly African nation.

South Africa's rand firmed on Friday and was on course to record its best week in two years, still benefiting from news of a deal towards resolving the euro zone debt crisis.

Election campaigning began in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday and organisers said the polls will go ahead on November 28 despite concerns over whether preparations have been adequate.

South Korean youngster Noh Seung-yul overcame an injured ankle to hit a bogey-free round of 63 to trail U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy by two strokes at the halfway stage of the $5 million Shanghai Masters Friday.

Japanese factory output fell in September for the first time since the devastating March earthquake, a sign the economy's recovery from the disaster is tailing off in the face of slowing global growth, the strong yen and Europe's lingering debt woes.