The Polish government is to ban discussions on homosexuality in schools and educational institutions across the country, with teachers facing the sack, fines or imprisonment. Poland’s Education Minister, Roman Giertych, has said he hopes to introduce a similar ban across the entire European Union.
At least 63 people died early on Tuesday when a fire ripped through a retirement home in southern Russia, the Interfax news agency reported quoting local officials. About 33 more were injured in the fire that broke out in Kamyshevatskaya village in the Kuban region, officials said, adding that a total of 97 people were staying at the facility.
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe is using ”hit squads” to crack down on opposition politicians and activists, Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai said in an interview. ”Mugabe is a violent man and he doesn’t hide it, especially where his power is threatened … No excuses, no regrets, the defiance epitomises his attitude,” said Tsvangirai.
Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour on Monday apologised for a scathing attack on Parliament’s portfolio committee on correctional services. ”The minister apologised and said that he had not given any sanction to the [correctional services] spokesperson, Mr [Luphumzo] Kebeni, for this personal and general attack …,” said committee chairperson Dennis Bloem.
At least 61 people were killed on Monday when a gas explosion ripped through a Russian coal mine, a spokesperson for the regional governor told the media. ”Sixty-one miners are dead and 88 have been rescued and brought to the surface,” the spokesperson said by telephone. He said 183 people were in the mine at the time of the blast.
Wallid bin Attash, a captured al-Qaeda operative, has confessed that he was the mastermind of the October 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen, according to a transcript of a military hearing released on Monday. Attash said he bought the explosives and recruited members of the team that rammed an explosives-laden boat into the side of the American destroyer.
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South African cricket greats lined up to pay tribute to former coach Bob Woolmer on Monday following his shock death at the World Cup in the West Indies while in charge of Pakistan. Woolmer, who coached the Proteas between 1994 and 1999, was hailed as an outstanding innovator.
Twelve people were killed and about 14Â 000 made homeless after a cyclone struck northern Madagascar last week, according to revised figures released on Monday. A toll on Sunday said cyclone Indlala, the deadliest so far this season, had killed two people in Antalaha, 570km north-east of the capital of the Indian Ocean island.
Two former MPs will be tried separately from four travel agents in the Travelgate parliamentary travel-voucher case, the Cape High Court ruled on Monday. Mnyanmezeli Booi and Antoinette Versfeld will be tried in the Cape Town Regional Court. The four travel agents will be tried in the high court.
There will be no buses operating until Metrobus is confident that its employees and commuters are safe, the company said on Monday. ”We wish operation was possible, but until we have a sense that commuters and staff are safe … until we have assurance, we cannot [operate],” said Metrobus managing director Bheki Shongwe.