Scientists have developed a new cheap and convenient malaria pill that could boost the success of the fight against the disease, which kills nearly two million people a year in poor countries, experts said on Thursday. Between 350-million and 500-million people get sick with malaria every year, the World Health Organisation estimates.
An Iranian man, depressed about losing his job and his imminent wedding, held a group of young schoolboys hostage at gunpoint for more than two hours on Thursday before being overpowered. Iranian special forces and police surrounded Razi boys’ primary school after the man armed with an AK-47 seized about 25 youngsters and their teachers.
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Based on the present evidence and analysis of the Southern African Development Community guidelines, Zimbabwe’s elections cannot be pronounced free and fair without qualification, a South African observer consortium says. The consortium said it had requested, but was not afforded, observer status.
The leader of South Africa’s parliamentary delegation to Zimbabwe’s March 31 elections has accused the Democratic Alliance of abusing the mission for its own interests. But the DA member who was part of the delegation responded that there were no agreed-to guidelines by the participating parties prior to their departure for Zimbabwe.
Arsonists set fire to three homes and a branch opposition party office in Zanzibar on Thursday, as political violence escalated ahead of elections on the semi-autonomous Tanzanian island. Despite a suspension in voter registration for the October polls intended to ease rising tension between Zanzibar’s rival parties, attackers used gasoline to set fire to the houses and the office at dawn
England captain David Beckham and pop-star wife Victoria have won planning permission to finish a two-storey playhouse for their three children, their local council said Thursday. They were granted the go-ahead for the ‘Wendy House’ on condition that it ”shall not be used for permanent habitable occupation”.
Trade union Solidarity said in a statement on Thursday that mining group Kumba Resources (KMB) had set a "bad example" due to the extent of the increase in the packages of its directors, while at the same time seeking to retrench workers. Solidarity proposed that the remuneration of company directors should be cut by between 30% and 50%.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan sought to drum up support for his reforms of the world body on Thursday, by warning member states that human rights have entered a ”new era” focusing on their actions to respect fundamental freedoms. ”Nobody has a monopoly on human rights virtue,” Annan said.
It’s a short walk from Windsor Castle to the city’s Guildhall, where Prince Charles will marry Camilla Parker Bowles on Saturday, but clearly a step too far for Queen Elizabeth II. The mother of the groom won’t be at the unprecedented civil service — a conspicuous absence that has had the press buzzing since February.
The parents of newborn Polish triplets — all boys — have named their sons Jan, Pawel and Karol, in homage to Pope John Paul II, the babies’ father said on Thursday. ”At this very special time, we wanted to pay homage to the pope, and we thought our sons would be happy to have these first names,” the father said.