Fresh demands by the opposition for Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe to accept a new Constitution and elections to avert a Ukraine-style uprising against his government are an olive branch that will find no taker unless backed by nationwide street protests, according to analysts.
A Vietnamese court on Thursday rejected an appeal by former British glam rocker Gary Glitter against a three-year jail term for sexually abusing children, calling him a danger to society. The faded 1970s star, born Paul Francis Gadd, had been found guilty on March 3 of "committing obscene acts" with two young girls.
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In the auditorium of the Goethe Institut, Johannesburg, a movie is being shown, but it is running late. Moments before 9pm, the screen goes black and film fans are told they are welcome to borrow the film to watch the ending at home. It’s time for the Soccer World Cup, and the big screen comes alive again just in time for the German national anthem.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday urged rival factions to reach an agreement that would allow his people to break the international isolation that has gripped them since Hamas took office. Abbas said he was optimistic the various parties would reach an agreement on a statehood document during a new round of talks in Gaza.
Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change will be ”trashed” if it attempts to overthrow the government of President Robert Mugabe, a ruling party spokesperson was quoted as saying on Thursday. Nathan Shamuyarira accused the Brussels-based International Crisis Group of urging the opposition to organise a coup, said the official Herald newspaper.
Burundi’s last active rebel group shelled the capital, Bujumbura, overnight, injuring at least eight civilians, officials said on Thursday. This was the second such attack in less than a month. Both have occurred since the rebel group and the government began peace talks in Tanzania.
Striking security guards will bring business operations in Sandton to a standstill, the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) said on Thursday. ”They cannot be working and enjoying lunch while workers are hungry,” said union spokesperson Jackson Simon.
The British government said on Thursday that it was willing to jail former Liberian president Charles Taylor if he is convicted of war crimes. Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said that the decision, which breaks an impasse that has stalled Taylor’s trial, demonstrated ”through concrete action the United Kingdom’s commitment to international justice”.
Zimbabwean churches trying to address the worsening political and economic crises are being thrust into the unfamiliar role of political activism, and are perceived as split along party lines. Church groups perceived to support President Robert Mugabe and those who favour a faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have been attacking each other.
The JSE was roaring ahead in noon trade on Thursday, benefiting from the three perks of stronger world markets, higher commodity prices and buying related to the futures close-out, which had just got underway, dealers said. Trade was brisk and about R5-billion worth of shares had already changed hands.