No image available
/ 19 October 2007
The battle over the agenda of a conference on Palestinian statehood offers United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a glimpse of the gruelling process that awaits if and when the two sides enter formal negotiations. Four days of shuttle diplomacy by Rice this week were not enough to close the gaps.
No image available
/ 19 October 2007
The Pakistan government blamed Islamist militants for twin blasts early on Friday that killed 133 people as opposition leader Benazir Bhutto drove through masses of supporters in Karachi. Bhutto, travelling in a truck reinforced to withstand bomb attacks, was unhurt by the deadliest bomb attack in her country’s violent history.
No image available
/ 19 October 2007
![]()
South Africa’s politicians are not immune to Rugby World Cup fever, with a fair number already in or on their way to Paris for Saturday’s final against England at the Stade de France. Leading the way, President Thabo Mbeki left for France on Friday morning, sporting his Springbok jersey and cap.
No image available
/ 19 October 2007
![]()
”Go Bokke, go!” is the message from President Thabo Mbeki on the eve of the Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and England. In his weekly newsletter, published on Friday on the ANC Today website, Mbeki said the government was confident the Springboks would repeat what they did at Ellis Park in 1995, and walk away as rugby world champions.
No image available
/ 19 October 2007
Canada’s Platinum Group Metals is scouting for more mining rights in South Africa, the world’s top platinum producer, and is seeking permits to start construction at its existing projects in the country. ”We have been very actively looking in South Africa,” R Michael Jones, president and chief executive of the company, said on Thursday.
No image available
/ 19 October 2007
European Union leaders voiced relief at clinching a deal on Friday on a treaty to reform the 27-nation bloc’s institutions, replacing a defunct constitution and ending a two-year crisis of confidence in Europe’s future. ”It’s an important page in the history of Europe,” Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates said on arriving to chair the second day of an EU summit.
No image available
/ 19 October 2007
A racism row has refused to go away in India where fans repeatedly taunted Australia’s only black player, tarnishing the country’s sporting image. Andrew Symonds was subjected to monkey chants from the crowd during the fifth game of seven in the India-Australia one-day series and booed and mocked in the final game in Mumbai on Wednesday.
No image available
/ 19 October 2007
A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a former crime journalist, police said on Friday. Pietermaritzburg police spokesperson Inspector Joey Jeevan said the man was questioned on Wednesday and formally arrested on Thursday. ”He is expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday,” she said.
No image available
/ 19 October 2007
There is no huge threat to the media in South Africa, but some planned laws are worrying, South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) chairperson Jovial Rantao said on Friday. Addressing a joint South African Broadcasting Corporation and Sanef conference, Rantao said: ”There is no huge threat against the media in this country.”
No image available
/ 19 October 2007
Sweden and Finland on Thursday called for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to be excluded from a European Union-Africa summit in December but left open whether they would join a British boycott if he showed up. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen also said he had not decided whether to attend the summit in Lisbon if Mugabe came.