South Africa

ust a few days after the 2011 G8 summit in Deauville, Oxfam warns that the prices of staple foods will more than double in 20 years unless world leaders take action to reform the global food system.According to the organisation's forecast, by 2030, the average cost of key crops will increase by between 120% and 180% and insists that half of that increase will be caused by climate change.In its newly published report, "Growing a better future", the charity calls on world leaders ...

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has announced his retirement from football at the age of 36, with immediate effect.

South African President Jacob Zuma arrived in Tripoli yesterday in an attempt to broker a cease fire between the Libyan rebels and their former leader Col. Muammar Gadaffi. While the first reports that emerged suggested that Gaddafi had agreed to the African Union proposal, conflicting information has since dispelled hopes that a ceasefire might be imminent. With the Nato secretary-general insisting that the Libyan leader's "reign of terror" is coming to an end, it seems that a diplom...

The Gaddafi saga is today continuing with the Libyan colonel still making headlines throughout the world. More interesting than a Hollywood star, the Kings of Kings is still mesmerizing us and his unknown whereabouts are turning him into a serious urban legend. The latest story sees the King of Kings slowly turning into a schizophrenic/paranoiac erratic mess.

Andrew Strauss has rubbished talk of an "Ashes hangover" as England look to build on their winter success this summer, starting against Sri Lanka in Cardiff today.

Following the resignation of its Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahnafter his arrest for sexual assault last week in New York, the International Monetary Fund is now without a leader.In the next one to two month the international financial organisation has to appoint Strauss-Kahn replacement. The race is on to find a replacement and while Europe has claimed the need for a European to be appointed, due to the difficult financial crisis affecting many of its member states, China, Russi...

The International Criminal Court chief prosecutor has today announced he is seeking the arrest of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and two others for crimes against humanity.

Shares in SABMiller were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the brewer reported a rise in revenue and lager volumes in the third quarter ended 31 December.

It's not often that an article in the Guardian interests me, but yesterday between the regular complaints about the cuts and the stories of the plight of downtrodden workers in far away places, there was a real gem of a piece about the Chinese dissident and now Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo.

Shares in SABMiller were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the brewer, which owns brands such as Grolsch, reported a rise in revenue and pre-tax profits in the half year ended 30 September.

Shares in BP were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the energy giant said it would be selling off fuels marketing businesses in five southern African countries.

Shares in HSBC were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading after the bank said it would not be making a move to take over South African bank Nedbank Group Limited.

Shares in British banks were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading as investors continued to fret about the prospects of economic recovery.

Shares in Eurasian Natural Resources were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the miner reported a rise in pre-tax profit for the first half of 2010.

England's international football team are to play Hungary in a friendly today in what will be its first appearance since being severely thrashed by the Germans in the knock out stage of the World Cup earlier this summer.

FTSE 100 listed insurer Old Mutual is selling off its US life assurance business for £220m in order to pay down its debts.

For all but the Spanish and the Dutch the World Cup is now over, but for those who have still not had enough of football there is always the chance for some virtual glory by leading their team of choice to victory on the Nintendo Wii.

JJB Sports today said that its sales have been in line with expectations since its last market update on 27 May, despite a poor and uninspiring performance from the England team at the World Cup in South Africa, which could have damaged the sale of England shirts.

The FA has confirmed that Fabio Capello will remain as manager of the England football team, despite a poor performance at the World Cup which saw them win only one in four games and crash out in the last 16 in a 4-1 defeat to Germany.

England have qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup in South Africa after a superb goal from Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe.

England are set to qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup in South Africa after a superb goal from Tottenham strike Jermain Defoe.

Two students from Britain have died in a road accident in South Africa a day before the football World Cup is due to start in the African nation.

$305 million - the amount top sponsors such as Hyundai, Sony and Coca-Cola are reportedly paying to be 'FIFA Partners' - including worldwide rights to two World Cups over seven years ($40 million per year).