The Pandemic Preparedness Project is readying nations worldwide for an expected global flu epidemic, according to reports on the Science and Development Network website. Researchers agree that it is question of when, not if, a global flu epidemic occurs. Many experts predict the next outbreak will result from the current bird-flu epidemics in south-east Asia.
President Thabo Mbeki was one of the honoured guests at a parade at which the command of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) changed hands in Pretoria on Monday. The outgoing chief of the SANDF, Siphiwe Nyanda, handed Lieutenant General Godfrey Ngwenya the symbol of office, a metre-long gilded sword.
Lebanese voters went to the polls on Sunday at the start of the first parliamentary election in 30 years that has not been marred by civil war or heavy-handed Syrian meddling. The campaign, led by Saad Hariri (35), was celebrating victory after incomplete results showed it had swept Beirut’s 19 parliamentary seats.
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China lashed out at the European Union on Sunday after the 25-nation bloc took its dispute with Chinese textile imports to the World Trade Organisation, forcing an immediate curb in shipments of T-shirts and flax yarn. European and United States textile-makers say their livelihoods have been threatened by a surge in Chinese exports.
Three international firms have applied for a licence to explore for oil off the coast of southern Tanzania, energy ministry officials said in Dar es Salaam on Saturday. Austria’s Orphir Energy, Brazil’s Petrobras and Norway’s Statoil have bid for the licence, which is expected to be awarded next month.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan visited Darfur on Saturday after warning warring parties and international donors that time is running out to avoid an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. He was confronted with the devastation caused by more than two years of fighting between ethnic minority rebels and government forces.
Ethiopia’s ruling coalition and allied political parties have won a majority in the country’s 547-seat Parliament, according to provisional results, the National Electoral Board said. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s coalition won 269 seats, while four small independent parties affiliated with the ruling party won 14 seats.
Premier Soccer League champions Kaizer Chiefs were slapped with a lengthy three-year ban by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) on Saturday for refusing to play a Caf Cup match last weekend. The ban excludes Chiefs from participating in any African club competitions until 2009.
BMW motor-sport director Mario Theissen insisted at Nürburgring on Saturday that the German company expects to stay with Williams beyond the end of this season despite persistent rumours to the contrary. Williams look set to be forced to share their engine supply with Sauber next season.