It would be premature to recommend that Parliament punish Cabinet ministers who failed to declare directorships with companies, Auditor General Shauket Fakie said on Monday. In his 2004/05 report, Fakie found that 14 Cabinet ministers had violated the parliamentary code of conduct in this way.
An earthquake hit the north-east Algerian town of Laalam east of Algiers late on Monday, killing at least four people and injuring 67, local authorities in Bejaia district said, quoted by national radio. About 30 houses collapsed, Algerian news agency APS quoted the authorities as saying.
Shooter Diane Swanton won South Africa’s seventh gold of the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday but was pushed all the way to the women’s trap title by a heavily pregnant rival. The 25-year-old from Pretoria marked her Games debut with a score of 92, six better than Rebecca Madyson who took silver for Malta with 86.
Troops headed for cyclone-devastated north-east Australia on Tuesday as Prime Minister John Howard pledged quick aid for those left homeless or without power by the country’s worst storm in decades. Cyclone Larry hit the Queensland coast as a highest-level category-five storm on Monday, destroying hundreds of homes.
As the rape trial of former president Jacob Zuma unfolds, use this timeline to keep track of the most important events of each day of the trial.
Commonwealth Games organisers are seeking advice from psychologists on how to prevent the sports-mad city of Melbourne descending into post-Games depression once the event is over. Melbourne 2006 chairperson Ron Walker said the excitement in the city will give way to an empty feeling after the Games.
Asafa Powell stormed to the 100m title while Australian swim queen Leisel Jones smashed the 100m breaststroke world record on a marathon Monday at the Commonwealth Games. Jones claimed her third gold of the Games while teammate Libby Lenton clinched her fourth with her win in the women’s 50m freestyle.
Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir on Monday said he was determined to clinch lasting peace in Darfur and renewed his rejection of foreign intervention in the war-torn western region. We reiterate our determination and keenness to achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace in Darfur through direct negotiations with the rebels.
Chatsworth residents say they ”don’t feel safe” any more and are ruled by fear because of the recent wave of robberies and violent crimes in the area. According to the police, Chatsworth has been experiencing an alarming number of robberies in the past three weeks and residents are now fed up.
Israel’s Agriculture Ministry confirmed on Monday that the bird flu virus which hit the country on Friday was spreading, with two new communities affected by the virus. The latest two locations, in southern Israel, to be hit by the bird flu are within a 10km radius of the four communities already affected by the deadly virus.