A post template

No image available
/ 24 January 2005

Iran considers talks with US

A government spokesperson said on Monday that Iran will be ready to talk to the United States about its nuclear programme but without preconditions, Isna students’ news agency reported. The US has accused Iran of developing weapons of mass destruction and of trying to undermine its efforts in Iraq.

No image available
/ 24 January 2005

Cuban fugitive’s extradition appeal dismissed

A former Cuban spy living in South Africa could be sent to the United States for trial after his application to prevent his extradition was dismissed in the Johannesburg High Court on Monday. In April 2003, the Randburg Magistrate’s Court ruled and ordered that on the evidence before the court, Nelson Yester Garrido be extradited to the US.

No image available
/ 24 January 2005

Mbeki pays surprise visit to troubled municipality

President Thabo Mbeki paid a surprise visit to the troubled Moqhaka municipality in the Free State on Monday. Free State Premier Beatrice Marshoff told journalists the meeting was part of the president’s unannounced visits to municipalities to check on service delivery. Marshoff said the Free State was privileged to be the first visited by the president.

No image available
/ 24 January 2005

Vote of confidence for new McLaren car

Kimi Raikkonen is confident the new McLaren car will be able to challenge Ferrari’s formula-one supremacy. McLaren launched the MP4-20 at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, hoping to avoid the mistakes that led to a terrible start to 2004. The car is an update of the MP4-19B, which was used for the second half of 2004.

No image available
/ 24 January 2005

Little optimism over DRC peace process

South African President Thabo Mbeki is due in Kinshasa on Tuesday to push the fragile peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but few believe elections will take place in June as scheduled. The country is struggling to reach the objectives of the December 2002 peace accord, which ended five years of war in the huge country.

No image available
/ 24 January 2005

Winnie appeal could backfire

By pursuing an application for leave to appeal against their fraud convictions, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and broker Addy Moolman risk another court imposing heavier sentences, the state warned on Monday. ”There is no prospect of the sentences changing to their benefit,” advocate Jan Ferreira argued for the state in the Pretoria High Court.

No image available
/ 24 January 2005

Malawi judges go on strike for 4x4s

Judges from Malawi’s high and supreme courts of appeal have gone on strike to press demands for a fleet of 26 new four-wheeled drive vehicles, a court official said on Friday. The judges said they want the new 4X4s because they regard themselves as equals to other top governmental officials and are entitled to the luxury vehicles.

No image available
/ 24 January 2005

New Clicks changes pharmacy strategy

The new pharmacy operations of listed health and beauty retailer New Clicks Holdings continue to show a loss four months into the company’s 2005 financial year, with the government’s new dispensing-fee regulations eating into margins. This is leading the company to focus on rolling out pharmacy dispensaries in larger Clicks stores.