A remote-controlled bomb killed four African Union peacekeepers from Uganda and wounded five more when it hit their convoy in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Wednesday, the AU said. It was the first attack of its kind against the mission’s troops, which previously had only been shot at, said an AU security source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Mittal Steel South Africa reported a 19% increase in headline earnings for the March quarter to R1,5-billion from the previous quarter, the company said on Wednesday. This was driven by higher domestic sales, higher international sales prices, an improved sales mix and a weaker rand/United States dollar exchange rate.
Residents of an East London suburb are objecting to a Buffalo City plan to build ”temporary houses” on their doorstep, the Dispatch Online reported on Wednesday. Despite furious objections from Braelynn residents, Buffalo City municipality chief planner Craig Sam has thrown his weight behind the plan, saying the objections are ”invalid”.
Jerry Falwell, the outspoken evangelical Christian leader who became a strong but divisive right-wing force in United States politics, died on Tuesday aged 73, an official at his Liberty University said. Falwell was found unconscious late on Tuesday morning in his office at the university in his hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Zimbabwe has dropped charges against the lawyer representing former British special forces officer Simon Mann, state media reported on Wednesday. Mann is fighting extradition to Equatorial Guinea to face coup-plot charges. His lawyer, Jonathan Samkange, was arrested on Monday night for allegedly falsifying information on a visa application.
Taxi commuters in the Khutsong area were likely to be stranded on Wednesday after local taxi operators suspended services at midnight, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported. The suspension came in support of the community’s objection to the incorporation of Khutsong into the North West province, the report said.
Water shortages facing Australia’s drought-hit prime agricultural area might be worse than expected, the government was told on Wednesday, as river towns braced for unprecedented restrictions on water use. Prime Minister John Howard in April urged Australians to pray for rain.
There was a welcome air of confidence at the Bulls camp on Tuesday when scrumhalf Fourie du Preez showed marked signs of recovery from his shoulder injuries and his name was thrown into the selection hat ahead of the Bulls’ Super 14 final clash against the Sharks.
Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson admitted that he was braced for a punishing tour to South Africa as he joined a severely depleted England squad that flew out to Johannesburg on Tuesday. The squad, which includes five World Cup winners, also contains seven uncapped players, including six forwards.
A survey of 45 of the world’s top cricketers say most players were not impressed by this year’s World Cup and have little faith in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ability to govern the game. The survey found 56% of players were both not satisfied by the ICC’s ability to deliver World Cup events and lacked confidence in the ICC governing cricket.