The Israeli Cabinet on Sunday agreed to release about -million in Palestinian tax revenues as part of a programme to shore up the rule of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. Israel has withheld the tax revenues since Hamas entered the government last year.
Canadian Anglicans failed by the narrowest of margins on Sunday night to agree to allow their churches to bless the committed relationships of same-sex couples. The incoming primate of the Canadian church, Archbishop-elect Fred Hiltz, who had voted in favour of the move, said: ”We have a very divided church.”
Storms and torrential rain have killed more than 200 people in Pakistan’s biggest city, Karachi, a provincial minister said on Sunday, and left angry residents without power. More bad weather is forecast for Pakistan and neighbouring India, where dozens have died after prolonged downpours across the country in the last few days.
South Africa beat Ireland by 42 runs in a one-day international at Stormont on Sunday. Australian-born Alex Cusask took three wickets on his one-day international debut as Ireland held South Africa to 173 for four in a match reduced by rain to 31 overs per side.
New Zealand’s players have accused their South African opponents of dirty tactics in Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash in Durban. New Zealand scored two late tries to win the match 26-21, but later claimed the Springboks had tried to unsettle them by foul means.
Esperance of Tunisia dropped two precious African Champions League points when held 0-0 by Asec Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire this weekend. Al-Ahly of Egypt, seeking a record third consecutive title, are favoured to top Group B, leaving Esperance and Asec to fight for the other semifinal slot with Al-Hilal of Sudan.
It is pure coincidence that a postponed labour meeting to decide on the public-service dispute will coincide with the start of the African National Congress policy conference on Wednesday, said the Congress of South African Trade Unions on Sunday. Meanwhile, a large teachers’ union has announced its withdrawal from the strike.
More than 200 people were killed as torrential rain and thunderstorms lashed the Pakistani port city of Karachi on Sunday, destroying hundreds of homes and causing widespread power outages. Gale-force winds uprooted trees and power pylons and blew down roofs and walls, crushing and electrocuting scores of victims.
Scientists have developed a novel way to combat one of the world’s stickiest and most expensive maritime problems: the encrusting of ships’ hulls by algae and barnacles. They have created a special coating that is engineered to a scale of a millionth of a millimetre. Organisms that try to hitch a ride will simply slip off.
Globalisation has reduced the bargaining power of unskilled workers and pushed up inequality in many Western countries, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said this week, urging governments to improve their social safety nets. The Paris-based rich nations club said in its annual Employment Outlook that the prospect of offshoring was likely to have increased the vulnerability of jobs.