The European Union’s executive commission said on Thursday that it has decided to provide €7,9-million to support preparations for planned elections in Côte d’Ivoire. ”These elections represent a crucial stage for reconciliation in the country,” EU development commissioner Louis Michel said in a statement.
A leading Iraqi Shi’ite politician demanded autonomy for central and southern provinces where the majority community predominates on Thursday, four days before the deadline for a final draft of a new Constitution. The proposed Shi’ite autonomous region would mirror a Kurdish one in the far north.
At least 43 people have drowned and another 15 are missing in flash floods caused by torrential rains in Golestan province in north-eastern Iran, the official news agency Irna reported on Thursday. About 350 families have lost their homes as a result of the deluge of heavy rain, which began on Tuesday.
Ignorance was behind South African Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni’s complaints over Pretoria’s apparent decline, the Tshwane metropolitan municipality said on Thursday. Mboweni earlier this week complained about public parks being used as sports facilities, crime in the city centre and inefficient officials.
At least 22 people have been killed and about a quarter-million evacuated in rain-induced floods hitting large parts of western China, state media said on Thursday. The toll could rise further with two people reported missing after a massive landslide in rural Sichuan, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Striking South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) workers on Thursday refused to accept a proposal to alter their pay demands. Workers also refused to hand over their memorandum of grievances to Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo’s legal representative Thajedi Masikela.
The Democratic Alliance has formally requested a debate in Parliament on the government’s proposed loan package to Zimbabwe, saying South African taxpayers need to be told why money may be made available for that country. ”Parliament must approve any financial agreement of this nature,” the DA said.
Sanlam Life, South Africa’s second-largest life assurer, will buy a 50% stake in niche life assurer Channel Life from its parent, PSG Group, for R116,5-million, the two companies said on Thursday. The purchase price represents 125 cents per share for Channel Life, valuing the company at approximately R230-million.
The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal said it will investigate who incited crowd members to shout pro-Jacob Zuma slogans while Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka tried to address them on Women’s Day. Mlambo-Ngcuka was booed as she tried to deliver her speech at Utrecht.
The media have concentrated on his bad deeds but ignored his good actions, convicted murderer Mark Scott-Crossley told the Phalaborwa Circuit Court on Thursday. Reporters at the court have seen a man ”who now and again reacted irresponsibly”, he said in evidence in mitigation of sentence.