It might be their troubled consciences, or perhaps just the anti-social hours of their job, but politicians are among the most sleep-deprived people in Britain, a study showed on Tuesday. MPs catch on average only five hours of shut-eye per night, a level that might well affect their ability to make rational decisions, the survey found.
The United States should put in context its criticism of ”widespread” abuses by South African security forces, the government said on Tuesday. ”Our track record speaks for itself,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad told reporters in Pretoria. ”I hope they put it in the context that we are trying to address whatever problems do exist.”
President Thabo Mbeki said on Tuesday that the national government will continue to work to strengthen South Africa’s local government system. ”From the point of view of national government, we indeed will pay particular attention to the strengthening of local government,” Mbeki said at a local government conference at Benoni, east of Johannesburg.
Four Bangladeshi babies appeared in court in their parents’ arms accused of looting and causing criminal damage, officials said on Tuesday. The magistrate on Monday asked the parents to post bail of 3 000 taka (about R290) for each child. The children’s ages ranged from three months to two years.
Relief agencies have warned that the humanitarian crisis in Swaziland, brought on by drought and aggravated by Aids, is worsening. A high-powered delegation of representatives from the government, United Nations agencies and NGOs visited drought-stricken eastern and southern Swaziland last week.
The lion murder trial in the Phalaborwa Circuit Court was delayed on Tuesday while a pathologist examined the blood-soaked clothing of the dead man, Nelson Chisale. Dr Leon Wagner, head of the medical faculty at the University of the Free State, was flown up to give evidence in the defence of one of the accused, Mark Scott-Crossley.
Athletics South Africa on Tuesday announced that athletes Isaiah Nkuna (Gauteng North) and Francois Coertze (Free State) have been reinstated for competition after serving a two-year ban for an anti-doping control violation in 2003. Athletics South Africa also announced that Innis Viviers has once again tested positive for a banned substance.
Premiership champions Arsenal suffered a serious blow on the eve of their fifth-round FA Cup replay with Championship outfit Sheffield United with the news that leading striker Thierry Henry had been ruled out with an Achilles injury. Dennis Bergkamp, Jose-Antonio Reyes and Robin van Persie are all suspended for the clash.
Venus Williams lost in the first round for the first time in four years when she was upset by Silvia Farina Elia of Italy 7-5, 7-6 (6) in the Dubai Women’s Open on Monday. Williams’ previous first-round defeat was at the 2001 French Open to Barbara Schett. Williams also lost her first match at Moscow in October 2002 to Magdalena Maleeva but after a first-round bye.
Britain is offering up to 30 training places at some of its most famous museums to help young South African curators hone their skills, British Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell announced on Monday. The R3,3-million scheme — which will run for three years, is being paid for by the British government under a partnership with the South African Department of Arts and Culture.