The European Parliament called on Thursday for the creation of a European Union blacklist of countries where corruption is rife, to help the EU make decisions on providing development aid. In a report by Dutch Member of European Parliament Margrietus Van den Berg, backed by the 732-seat EU assembly, it also demanded more transparency in the massive development budget of the EU.
Zimbabwe is the only blot on President Thabo Mbeki’s otherwise successful foreign policy, says The Economist in its April 8 survey on South Africa. The Economist notes that South Africa has moved from being an international pariah under apartheid to become one of the most engaged, open and connected countries in the world.
The South African Trade and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) rejects an interim court order declaring a strike by security guards illegal, but will comply with it, the union said on Thursday. ”The Satawu national strike is therefore suspended with immediate effect and all striking members must return to work to ensure compliance with the court order,” said a spokesperson.
Captain Rahul Dravid led from the front as India crushed England by four wickets on Thursday to take an unassailable 4-0 lead in the seven-match one-day series. Dravid fashioned England’s dismissal for 237 with astute bowling changes and then hit 65 off 73 balls to help the hosts surpass the modest target with 16 deliveries to spare at the Nehru stadium.
As the screws started tightening on LeisureNet’s bosses, they instructed their former in-house architect to invest 000 in an overseas development he knew nothing about. The architect, Dawid Rabie, was in the witness box for a second day in the trial of former LeisureNet joint chief executives Peter Gardener and Rodney Mitchell, their business associate Hans Moser, and Mitchell’s wife Suzanne.
Hip hop will be blasting from the speakers and aerosol fumes will thicken the air as the country’s most talented graffiti crews line up for the Write4Gold 2006 graffiti competition in Johannesburg next month. It is the first time that the Germany-based graffiti and aerosol art competition goes global. Write4Gold, a non-profit and previously pure European event, will visit 17 cities on four continents.
Kenyan authorities simulated a major plane crash at Nairobi’s main airport on Thursday, causing confusion after international reports that a serious accident had occurred. The exercise — plans for which had been announced last month — was aimed at giving emergency workers experience in dealing with a large-scale disaster, but officials gave initial conflicting reports about the alleged accident.
A third person has died from bird flu in Egypt, the hardest-hit non-Asian country in the world, as health officials struggled on Thursday to enforce preventive measures. Iman Mohammed Abdel Gawad, a 16-year-old girl from the northern governorate of Menufiya, died after being rushed to hospital on Wednesday suffering from high fever and shortness of breath.
Mamelodi Sundowns, a team who have earned the reputation in recent times of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, are threatening to do it again. The Brazilians went down 2-0 to a well-drilled, opportunist Jomo Cosmos at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Wednesday night and in the process surrendered much of their advantage in the intense Premier League title race.
Life insurers saved R347-million in 2005 by preventing dishonest policy holders and financial advisers, as well as crime syndicates, from making fraudulent claims. This was an increase of nearly 40% on the previous year, Gerhard Joubert, chief executive of the Life Offices’ Association said on Thursday.