The Department of Health has rejected a demand for the inclusion of the Aids Law Project in South Africa’s delegation to next month’s special United Nations session on HIV/Aids. The demand was made by the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) as a precondition for its acceptance of its own inclusion on the list.
Sub-Saharan Africa is poised to record growth of 5,8% in 2006, its best performance in more than 30 years, as higher commodity prices, stronger agricultural output and economic reforms start to pay dividends, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday.
Bangladesh were struggling to avoid an innings defeat on Wednesday after an astonishing double century from Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie in the second and final Test. At close on day four, Bangladesh were 195-4, needing 189 more runs to make Australia bat again after conceding a 384-run first-innings lead.
Cholera has claimed more than 570 lives over the past two months in the war-devastated Southern African nation of Angola, where police on Wednesday vowed to join the fight against the epidemic. A total of 12 176 people have been affected by cholera with 118 deaths in the capital city of Luanda.
Kissing in public has just gotten 10 times more expensive for couples in India’s capital, who face fines of 500 rupees ($11) if they are caught making "illegal use" of public spaces. New Delhi’s authorities found a fine of 50 rupees ($1,1) levied under a 1936 law was too little to deter couples from stealing kisses, the <i>Asian Age</i> reported.
Movie fans bored with hi-tech sound effects and graphics will soon be able to experience cinematic smells after a Japanese film distributor announced it is showing the world’s first fragrant films. The system will offer six kinds of aroma depending on the scenes being shown.
The French navy made a red-faced admission on Wednesday that it had lost a multimillion-dollar sonar navigation device after its cable ripped in stormy waters. Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said an investigation has been launched into how the $3,7-million device was mislaid.
Rock icon Neil Young has joined the ranks of musicians ranged against the current United States administration with a new anti-war protest album that includes a track called Impeach the President. The veteran singer-songwriter said the substance of the album Living with War harked back to the protest music of the 1960s.
In the world rankings on Monday, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen and Ernie Els maintained the status quo, while Tim Clark inched up one place to 14th and Rory Sabbatini settled in 23rd. Sabbatini surged into the top 20 from 71st early in the season.
A South Korean protester attempted ritual suicide on Wednesday amid rising anger over Japan’s decision to launch an ocean survey in disputed waters between the two countries. Defying South Korean warnings, Tokyo dispatched two ships to the area claimed by both countries, renewing a feud tied to colonial history that has festered for decades.