Fullback Percy Montgomery kicked 18 points on Saturday to become South Africa’s highest career rugby union Test scorer as the Springboks beat the Pacific Islanders 38-24 after leading 23-0 at half-time. Montgomery had four penalties and three conversions, giving him 313 points to overtake the 312 amassed by Naas Botha.
The United States military has denied any knowledge of the discovery by Iraqi police of a second body in the Tigris River near the northern city of Mosul. Iraqi reports indicate that the man, described as a Westerner wearing an orange jumpsuit, was found with his throat slit.
The president of the Africa Business Roundtable, Nigeria’s Bamanga Tukur, on Friday urged countries in West Africa to take every step to ensure the region adopts a common currency, the eco, by next July. Speaking in Abuja, he said the first step will be to surmount challenges that have stood against their bid for a united and stronger region.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has rejected an informal apology by Israel for the disruption in diplomatic relations caused by the actions of two alleged Israeli spies. Clark said she has no doubt the two men jailed in Auckland on Thursday for conspiring to illegally obtain New Zealand passports are Israeli spies.
A suspected car thief in the United States has filed a -million claim with the city of Los Angeles after allegedly being assaulted during his arrest. Stanley Miller claims that the beating caused severe injuries and left him with brain damage. City police dispute Miller’s claims, saying that his injuries were minor scrapes and bruises.
The Sudanese government said on Friday it will try anyone who violates human rights in Darfur, where 17 months of fighting involving African rebels, Arab militiamen and government troops has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than a million.
Militia chief scorns slaughter charge
South African Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, has launched a stinging response to comments made by United Nations special envoy on HIV/Aids in Africa, Stephen Lewis. Lewis told the 15th International Aids Conference in Thailand that South Africa is not doing enough to treat and prevent the disease.
Mother-to-child HIV policy unchanged
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) will ask the government to investigate Telkom to ascertain if retrenchments are necessary, it said on Friday. Telkom has indicated that it will retrench 1 381 workers. CWU president Joe Chauke told journalists in Johannesburg the need for retrenchments must be probed.
The South African rand broke free of its narrow trading range on Friday, breaching the R6,00 per dollar level in afternoon trade. The rand was quoted at R5,9913 per dollar from an overnight close of R6,1001 — the first time it has traded below R6,00 since October 1999.
It is a week since Leigh Matthews was last seen, but the police and the public are working as hard as ever to trace the kidnapped student, police said on Friday. ”We must find her, that’s all. There is no way anyone will lose hope,” said Superintendent Chris Wilken. He said support from the public has not diminished.