The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday issued a formal demand for Iran to drop its uranium enrichment efforts, which the West suspects is a cover for a nuclear weapons programme. The statement, passed unanimously, called on the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to report back in 30 days on Tehran’s compliance.
Equatorial Guinea’s President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has arrived in Zimbabwe for a three-day state visit to a rousing welcome, Harare’s Herald newspaper reported on Thursday. ”He is warmly welcomed as our guest. I am sure we will benefit very much from this visit by strengthening our relationship,” said Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
Defending champion Annika Sorenstam tries to match friendly rival Tiger Woods with a 10th career major title when the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship tees off on Thursday. The Swedish superstar seeks her fourth victory in the event, the first major tournament of the season, and a 68th career title, which would put her 20 shy of matching Kathy Whitworth’s LPGA record career title total.
Australia will aim to maintain their supremacy over South Africa when they play a ”dead rubber” third Test starting at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday. Australian captain Ricky Ponting said there would be no let-up from the world champions despite the series having already been won after the first two Tests.
United Nations peacekeepers escorted the captured former Liberian president Charles Taylor into jail on Wednesday at the Sierra Leone tribunal where he is wanted for trial on war-crimes charges. Taylor, handcuffed and looking dejected, was led behind a razor-wired gate into the holding penitentiary where nine other defendants in Sierra Leone’s brutal 1989-2002 civil war are held.
Living and playing in the city, as he puts it, was such an appealing idea that two years ago Khabo Baloyi decided to buy an apartment in downtown Johannesburg.
Labelling this a high-risk investment, the bank would not approve his mortgage application, however. Authorities are now trying to change perceptions that the central business district of South Africa’s financial hub is, at best, neglected.
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President Thabo Mbeki has appointed Manala Manzini as director general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) with immediate effect. The appointment is in accordance with the Constitution and the Intelligence Services Act, and for a three-year term, government communications head Joel Netshitenzhe said in a media statement.
Cape Town mayor Helen Zille is to meet Fifa’s local organising committee (LOC) and Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool on Thursday afternoon to discuss the financing of the proposed Green Point Stadium. The meeting, at a city hotel, would also be attended by members of her mayoral committee and Cabinet ministers, she said in a statement on Wednesday.
The first galactico of the Florentino Perez era at Real Madrid, Portugal star Luis Figo, compared the last few years at the Spanish club to a circus in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca on Wednesday. ”If the most important thing in your project is to make a circus then you have a lot less chance of achieving sporting success.