The United States is negotiating the transfer of nearly 70% of the prisoners held at Guantánamo Bay back to their home countries in an attempt to dramatically reduce the number of ”enemy combatants” in US custody, it emerged on Friday. Earlier this week the Bush administration formally agreed to the transfer of 110 detainees from the prison camp in Cuba to Afghanistan.
Human rights experts and a radical Islamic group have blasted a raft of new powers to combat terrorism in Britain unveiled by Prime Minister Tony Blair on Friday, while mainstream Muslims applauded them. The measures include the banning of certain hard-line Islamic groups.
Convicted kidnapper and killer Donovan Moodley is not receiving any special treatment, the Department of Correctional Services said on Friday. On Thursday, Moodley was given a life sentence for the murder of Leigh Matthews, 15 years for kidnapping her and a further 10 years for extorting money from her parents.
Achieving single-digit inflation was identified on Friday as a key goal for the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) 14 member countries. The goal was set out at a meeting of SADC finance and investment ministers in Pretoria. It was identified as a key element of economic stability in the region.
Iran on Friday rejected a package of European Union proposals aimed at persuading it to give up nuclear fuel work, instead vowing to resume sensitive uranium-conversion activities. ”The proposals are unacceptable,” nuclear negotiator Hossein Moussavian said.
Nearly 3 100 firefighters and soldiers battled more than two dozen wildfires on Friday for a second straight day in Portugal, while a government official said he foresees ”great difficulties” in the days ahead. At least one man was severely burned. Portugal is enduring its worst drought on record.
The outbreak of an atypical strain of cholera in Uganda has killed at least 56 people and made more than 2 000 others ill since March, the East African country’s health ministry said on Friday. The ministry had sent alerts to health-care facilities about the strain and is issuing public warnings to Ugandans.
After the success of Mecca Cola, a soft drink marketed to French Muslims, perhaps it was only a matter of time before a Muslim-themed fast-food restaurant opened in the country with Europe’s largest Islamic population. The bright and colourful ”Beurger King Muslim” was launched in July in a Paris suburb crowded with immigrants.
Inter Milan have completed the signing of Portugal international Luis Figo from Real Madrid, the Italian Serie A club confirmed on Friday. The 32-year-old forward passed a medical before putting pen to paper on a two-year contract. No transfer fee was involved for Portugal’s most-capped player.
Talks on financial assistance to Zimbabwe are expected to be concluded soon, the South African finance ministry said on Friday. Discussions between the two countries on a ”principled decision” to assist Zimbabwe are at a sensitive stage, spokesperson Logan Wort said.