Stretches of pristine beaches wind around Mozambique’s coast, a slice of paradise where trouble is brewing as foreigners cash in at the expense of locals from a boom in tourism. Practically destroyed during a 27-year civil war ending in 1994, tourism in the former Portuguese colony has skyrocketed in recent years, as holidaymakers are drawn to its white sands and crystal clear waters.
A United States soldier convicted by a military court in the gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the killing of her family was sentenced to 110 years in prison on Saturday. Private Jesse Spielman (22) was found guilty of four counts of murder, rape, conspiracy to commit rape and housebreaking with the intent to commit rape.
The death toll from raging floods in India neared 1Â 100 on Sunday as more people drowned in swollen rivers that have stranded millions in their homes, officials said. Four people died overnight in Uttar Pradesh, taking the death toll to 123 in the northern state where 2Â 400 villages have been cut off by the floods, a government spokesperson said.
Two Sunday newspapers have reported that South African Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Blade Nzimande is being investigated for alleged theft and fraud. The Sunday Times and City Press wrote that a businessman claimed in an affidavit that he donated R500 000 to the SACP in 2002, but the money never reached the party coffers.
South Sudan has awarded two companies exploration licenses for gold and uranium in areas thought to be rich in minerals. British/South African New Kush Exploration and Mining Company and the United Kingdom-listed Brinkley Mining paid 000 for one-year exploration licenses in the area bordering Kenya.
Double world champion Fernando Alonso seized pole position from McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday. Hamilton, who leads the Spaniard by two points with seven races remaining, completed an all-McLaren front row at a circuit where overtaking is extremely difficult.
Former United Nations envoy for Sudan Jan Pronk is concerned about the effectiveness of a UN force for Darfur as the government in Khartoum has obstructed previous UN resolutions. The UN Security Council authorised on Tuesday up to 26 000 troops and police for Darfur and approved the use of force to protect civilians.
Western Province ended a four-match losing streak in the Absa Currie Cup rugby competition by running out comfortable 47-18 winners in their match against the Valke at Newlands on Saturday. Province started off brightly and were up 17-0 after just 12 minutes, but their performance petered out and they carried only a 20-10 lead into halftime.
The Golden Lions beat the Wildeklawer Griquas 45-24 in an Absa Currie Cup match at the Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday, to stay in the running for a play-off berth. The Lions looked the better side throughout the 80 minutes as Griquas made schoolboy mistakes.
Britain moved rapidly to contain an outbreak of foot and mouth, a highly infectious disease that devastated farming six years ago, by isolating a farm west of London on Saturday. Prime Minister Gordon Brown broke off his holiday to return to London and chair an emergency meeting of senior ministers.