Israel on Wednesday launched its first air strike against Palestinian militants since armed groups began observing a de facto truce, seriously wounding a Hamas militant and jeopardising the fragile peace. Amid the violence, the Israeli authorities sought to speed up preparations for the Gaza evacuation.
President Robert Mugabe has told United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan that Zimbabwe will welcome food aid as long as it is not tied to any political conditions. Between two million and five million Zimbabweans face starvation unless 1,2-million tonnes of grain are imported quickly.
South African President Thabo Mbeki has told African transport ministers that he is "concerned" about the high concentration of air-traffic accidents on the continent. He was speaking at the opening ceremony on Wednesday of a summit of African Union ministers responsible for air transport and aviation being held in South Africa.
The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has finally signed its first investor for the Port Elizabeth-based harbour project, the company said in Johannesburg on Wednesday. Belgian-owned Sander International Textiles has signed a 20-year lease with Coega. The investment with Coega is worth R200-million, said a CDC spokesperson.
Côte d’Ivoire’s main opposition parties signed a deal in Paris on Wednesday ahead of general elections later this year, an alliance that will see them govern together should they defeat President Laurent Gbagbo. The agreement formalises an alliance born last year at talks in Ghana, aiming to jumpstart the moribund Ivorian peace process.
A fierce critic of President Robert Mugabe, Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube, on Wednesday lashed out at his ”criminal” government for refusing to ask for food aid to help at least two million needy Zimbabweans. His remarks came amid reports in Harare that Mugabe is ready to meet with the head of the United Nations World Food Programme.
A man who released snakes in a Johannesburg bank last year was on Wednesday acquitted on one charge of attempted murder, with the other reduced to assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Abel Manamela’s bail has, however, been increased because the prosecutor revealed to the court three previous convictions against him.
The last surviving member of the Stander gang of bank robbers, who was released from Krugersdorp prison on Wednesday, has asked not to speak to the media, the Department of Correctional Services said. ”The general rule is that offenders who are released on parole are not allowed to speak to the media,” a departmental spokesperson said.
A German woman in her 80s said on Tuesday she has been ordered by her pension fund to produce a certificate to prove she is still alive. Martha Kruse telephoned the Bundesknappschaft fund after her payments were suddenly stopped, only to be told by an employee: "Don’t get upset, but you died on January 28."
The Israeli government was looking on Wednesday to accelerate its preparations for the pull-out from the Gaza Strip as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon voiced concern about the state of readiness. Sharon was chairing a meeting of a committee specially formed to prepare for the pull-out.