Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called for an international peacekeeping force to be deployed in Zimbabwe to prevent any violence during a presidential run-off ballot next month. Zimbabwe is due to hold the delayed second-round ballot on June 27, when the opposition hopes to oust veteran leader Robert Mugabe.
Russian space scientists announced on Thursday a new breakthrough in a long pedigree of firsts: the birth of 30 grandchildren of a "space cockroach" who spent 12 days in orbit. Interfax news agency reported the birth of 30 healthy descendants of the pioneering cockroach Nadezhda (Hope).
Protesting pensioners brought traffic to a standstill in Australia’s second-largest city on Friday when some stripped to demand more money from the government. The scantily clad seniors braved the autumn weather in a 150-strong protest against this week’s federal budget, which offered them little despite a Aus$21,7-billion surplus.
Typhoon Halong weakened as it crossed the northern Philippines on Sunday after displacing more than 7 000 people and causing landslides and flashfloods, officials said. Dozens of houses and other infrastructure were damaged in the northern provinces of Zambales, Pangasinan and Dagupan.
Five people were killed and 50 were injured on Sunday when xenophobic attacks spread to Cleveland, Johannesburg police said. Spokesperson Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht said the violence started at about 1am. Foreigners, mainly Zimbabweans, were attacked at the Cleveland informal settlement.
Isma-eel Dollie as one of a few lesser surprises in the Springbok training squad of 42 members that was named on Saturday night. The new Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers, has included a number of players who are not regulars for their Super 14 franchises or who had limited opportunities because of injury this season.
The Stormers beat the Lions 22-13 after a late rally in a thrilling, if not always good, Super 14 match at Ellis Park on Saturday. However, their inability to score five tries meant that only one of either the Stormers or the Sharks, who were playing the Chiefs later on Saturday, could still make the semifinals.
Merger talks between India’s biggest cellphone services firm, Bharti Airtel, and South Africa’s flagship MTN Group could wind up this weekend, a report said on Saturday. A merged group would create the world’s sixth-largest mobile company with a network of 130-million subscribers.
Free State Stars’ on-form striker Diyo Sibisi is hoping to equal or overtake former Moroka Swallows star striker James Chamanga’s goal tally when the season ends on Sunday. Sibisi and Chamanga are front-runners for the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot Award.
The Otago Highlanders gave hope to prospective play-off opponents of the Canterbury Crusaders when they beat the league leaders 26-14 in Super 14 rugby on Saturday. The 12th-place Highlanders scored three tries to one in a late-season upset to finish a mediocre year on a high note.