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/ 6 December 2005
Nearly two years after Nasa’s twin rovers parachuted to Mars, a Jekyll-and-Hyde picture is emerging about the planet’s past and whether it could have supported life. Both Spirit and Opportunity uncovered geologic evidence of a wet past, a sign that ancient Mars may have been hospitable to life.
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/ 6 December 2005
A powerful earthquake toppled homes onto children in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, killing at least one child in a region already beset
by war, poverty and volcanoes. Dr Jean-Donne Owali told The Associated Press by telephone that two people died from quake injuries in his clinic in lakeside Kalemie, 55km from the epicentre.
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/ 6 December 2005
A catlike creature photographed by camera traps on Borneo Island is likely to be a new species of carnivore, the World Wildlife Fund said on Tuesday. If confirmed, the animal — which has dark red fur and a long, bushy tail — would be first new carnivore species discovered on the island since 1895, when the Borneo ferret-badger was found, the fund said.
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/ 6 December 2005
The High Court of South Africa on Tuesday today approved the acquisition of Aflease Gold and Uranium Resources by Canadian-listed Southern Cross Resources. Southern Cross is acquiring all the issued shares of Aflease through a scheme of arrangement.
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/ 6 December 2005
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Jacob Zuma suspended his participation in leading structures of the African National Congress after being charged with rape on Tuesday. Zuma has denied the charges. However, he will remain in the deputy president’s post. ”I wish to state clearly that I am innocent of these charges,” he said.
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/ 6 December 2005
Football-mad Germany is ready and willing to host the World Cup finals next year but minor problems are plaguing the build-up to the biggest sporting event in the world. The glitzy draw in Leipzig on Friday will decide where and when the 32 nations will play in six months’ time, but the country has been ready for months.
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/ 6 December 2005
Scientists and sports officials, including the International Olympic Committee president, unanimously agreed on Monday that athletes who use genetic transfer technology to enhance performance will be caught in the future. ”It will come, whether it’s three years or five years or next week. I think it would be foolish to guess,” said Professor Ted Friedmann at the conclusion of the second World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) symposium on gene doping.
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/ 6 December 2005
The battle for control of United States-based medical products maker Guidant hotted up on Monday with Boston Scientific saying it had offered -billion, topping an offer from Johnson & Johnson. Boston Scientific said it was offering a share, a premium of about 14% over the ,43 offered under a revised deal between Guidant and Johnson & Johnson.
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/ 6 December 2005
Any resumption of culling in South Africa’s national parks will have swift and severe repercussions globally, conservationist Lawrence Anthony has warned. ”We believe that more scientific research is needed before any decision is taken. There is not enough research on how many animals the Kruger Park can carry,” he said.
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/ 6 December 2005
Johannesburg metro police on Monday sealed off all the main entrances and exits into Soweto as part of Operation Enver. ”There’s no way anyone could get through without being searched,” said Inspector Edna Mamonyane. ”Our message to criminals is that they better beware, we’re onto them. By early evening, several arrests had been made, mainly for possession of fraudulent documents.