South African President Thabo Mbeki should take China ”to task” over its weak human rights record at home and abroad, said opposition Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille. She said on Wednesday that while Chinese investment in Africa has taken place, there are costs to the relationship.
One of Saddam Hussein’s defence lawyers was shot dead early on Wednesday morning after he was abducted from his home by men dressed as police officers, security officials said. Khamis al-Obeidi’s body was found this morning dumped in the street in the Shia Muslim district of Sadr City in eastern Baghdad.
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Sven-Goran Eriksson’s worst fears have been realised after the cruel injury to Michael Owen that has seriously depleted England’s already threadbare attacking options. Owen is expected to be ruled out of the World Cup later on Wednesday after twisting a knee in the first minute of England’s 2-2 draw with Sweden at the Rhein Energie Stadion.
German Michael Schumacher has targeted victory in this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix as he attempts to close in on the lead of the drivers’ world championship. Schumacher (37), who drives for Ferrari, has 51 points — 23 fewer than defending world champion Fernando Alonso of Spain — and knows that he must start a dramatic turnaround in Montreal.
South Africa-born French prop Pieter de Villiers was on Wednesday announced to start in the one-off Test match against the Springboks at Newlands on Saturday. De Villiers, whose brother passed away recently, has been spending some time with his parents in South Africa after his team’s arrival.
Transport workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have ended a three-week strike which crippled the country’s largest port, saying their main grievance has been addressed. Strikers had sought the sacking of the National Transport Office’s management committee, which they accuse of ”financial embezzlement”.
The European Union will deploy vessels and aircraft to intercept boats carrying undocumented immigrants before they leave West African waters. Representatives of the European frontier agency Frontex, 14 countries, the European Commission and Europol met on Tuesday in Madrid to discuss plans to help Spain stem the influx of illegals arriving in the Canary Islands.
The self-confessed murderer of Icelander Gisli Thorkellson has been jailed for 20 years, media reports said on Wednesday. Desiree Louis Oberholzer (43) of Bryanston, pleaded guilty to the murder during a court appearance in April. Oberholzer’s co-accused in the murder, Willie Theron (29) whom she claimed fired the shot that killed Thorkellson (54) has denied any involvement.
Hundreds of elite North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) troops backed by fighter planes and warships will storm a tiny volcanic island off Africa’s Atlantic coast this week in what the Western alliance hopes will prove a potent demonstration of its ability to project power around the world.
North Korea on Wednesday offered the United States talks on its missile launch plans, indicating it might put off a flight test that has raised tension and drawn sharp international warnings. The number two diplomat at North Korea’s United Nations mission said the secretive state was open to talks with Washington, where there were reports that the US missile defence shield had been activated.