South Africa’s official opposition Democratic Alliance has announced a reshuffle of four key posts in its shadow cabinet, including the shifting of fiery health spokesperson Dianne Kohler-Barnard to the safety and security portfolio. Kohler-Barnard takes over from Free State MP Roy Jankielsohn.
The latest Ernst & Young investment management index shows that all investment managers who responded to the survey are satisfied with current business conditions. On the back of this continued confidence, they have increased their spending levels considerably in the second quarter of 2006.
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One person was conspicuous by his absence from the podium when Italy’s players received their winners’ medals and German President Horst Koehler handed their captain Fabio Cannavaro the World Cup. The president of football’s world controlling body Fifa Joseph Blatter was not amongst the host of dignitaries present at the award ceremony after the 5-3 penalty shoot-out win over France.
Uganda added more than a month to a deadline for thrashing out a peace deal with northern rebels on Monday, boosting landmark talks this week that will aim to end one of Africa’s most neglected wars. Tentative discussions between Ugandan officials and representatives of the Lord’s Resistance Army are due to begin on Wednesday in Juba, in neighbouring southern Sudan.
The leader of Somalia’s Islamic militia said on Monday that his group will "fight to the finish" against supporters of a secular warlord in the war-torn capital, one day after fierce fighting killed at least 20 people. The Islamic fighters fired mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades on Sunday at supporters of Adbi Awale Qaybdiid.
India’s new nuclear-capable Agni III missile failed in its first test-firing over the weekend because it was unable to reach its target, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said. The Defence Ministry had initially declared Sunday’s test of India’s longest-range missile a success, but it plunged into the ocean in the Bay of Bengal, short of its target.
The 2006 Nat Nakasa Award for courage in journalism has been awarded to Mail & Guardian columnist Professor Guy Berger of Rhodes University, Print Media South Africa announced on Sunday. Berger, who has headed the university’s journalism department for 11 years, is the ninth winner of the award, and the first academic.
Hooker Keven Mealamu scored two first half tries on Saturday to lead New Zealand to a 32-12 win over Australia in the opening match of the Tri-Nations rugby series. Mealamu touched down twice in a five minute period at Jade Stadium, while Australia was reduced to 14 men by the sin-binning of flanker Rocky Elsom, to push the All Blacks toward their 18th straight win in home Test matches.
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Under a full moon in a sky brushed with wispy clouds, three huge Fabio Grossos ran to the spot, kicked, scored and set off a roar in the Circus Maximus the like of which may not have been heard since classical times. Within minutes, the ancient arena was thick with smoke and ablaze with flares in the red, green and white of the tricolore.
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Italy won the World Cup in a penalty shoot-out, beating France 5-3 on Sunday after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes. David Trezeguet hit the crossbar with France’s second spot kick to give Italy its fourth World Cup title, and Fabio Grosso made the deciding kick. ”It’s incredibly emotional, words cannot hardly describe it,” Grosso said after the final whistle.