Canada became the third country to legalise gay marriage on Tuesday, as Parliament passed landmark legislation allowing same-sex civil unions despite strong opposition from Conservatives and religious leaders. The Netherlands and Belgium are the only other nations that allow gay marriage nationwide.
A leading London media lawyer is to advise on Saddam Hussein’s prospects of success in a high court human rights claim over photographs of him in his underpants which appeared on the front page of the Sun. Other pictures portrayed him washing his trousers, shuffling around and sleeping.
The South African government has given the go-ahead to state-owned enterprises to sell about 20 companies during the next 18 months, South African Broadcasting Corporation news reported on Tuesday. Most of the companies to be sold belong to arms manufacturer Denel, Eskom and Transnet.
The firearms amnesty, in effect since January 1, will end at midnight on Thursday, said Safety and Security minister Charles Ngakula. ”We would like to appeal to those who are in possession of illegal firearms or ammunition to hand over these to the nearest police station,” he said. More than 80 000 firearms have been handed in.
The mercury plunged in the Northern Cape town of Sutherland this week, hitting a near-record minus 15 degrees Celcius on Monday night. Resident Mariana Bernardo, who collects data for the South African Weather Service, said it came close to the lowest temperature ever recorded in South Africa, which was minus 16C, also recorded in Sutherland, on the night of July 21, 2003.
The annual general household survey showed a "better" South Africa in 2004 compared with 2002 according to a host of measures such as access to safe water, cellphone usage and education, based on an analysis of the data compiled by Statistics South Africa.
Three former winners and the best player still active not to have won the title will contest the Wimbledon women’s singles semifinals on Thursday. Title-holder Maria Sharapova takes on the 2000 and 2001 champion Venus Williams in a Russia-United States clash, while the 1999 winner and top seed Lindsay Davenport plays eternal French hope Amelie Mauresmo.
All Blacks captain Tana Umaga has been in touch with Lions opposite Brian O’Driscoll after the first Test incident on Saturday which left the Irish centre with a dislocated shoulder, ending his rugby tour of New Zealand. O’Driscoll had previously accused Umaga of causing his injury in an off-the-ball spear tackle which, he said, was ”unnecessary and outside the rules and regulations of the game”.
New Zealand will continue lobbying for a worldwide ban on Zimbabwe cricket despite an International Cricket Council (ICC) ruling that its national side must play a series in the African nation this year or face heavy financial penalties, Foreign Minister Phil Goff said on Wednesday.
Maria Sharapova will happily give up the gold by donating a pair of her new tennis shoes flecked with the precious medal to the Wimbledon museum. The teenaged holder, who is defending her title at this edition playing in new clothing — including the shoes — is so well kitted-out that passing along a dress and pair of trainers is absolutely no problem.