Israel’s opposition leader Shimon Peres says that his Labour party will decide on Tuesday whether to accept an offer by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to join a new broad-based coalition government. Peres said that his party will ”decide yes or no” after meeting for a first round of talks with Sharon on Monday.
The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE) roared ahead on Tuesday, fuelled by a softer rand and basket buying by futures players. While it was one of the smallest gainers, even the gold sector managed to finish firmer despite a lower bullion price.
The all-share, industrial and financial indices also closed firmer.
British druid Merlin Michael Williams appeared in court on Tuesday charged with carrying a ceremonial sword while browsing through the aisles of a hardware store in Portsmouth. Williams maintains that the sword is used only for casting spells and other ritualistic purposes.
Two incidents involving criminals masquerading as police officers have been reported from Limpopo and the North West. In Limpopo, four men robbed a bottle store while ostensibly searching for forged banknotes, while police in North West are searching for another group of ”armed and dangerous” impostors.
Japan’s oldest man has died in hospital at the age of 109 years. Minsho Ozawa, a former Buddhist priest in the central city of Yamanashi, passed away on Monday after being hospitalised with pneumonia. He leaves behind 47 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Botswana’s national anti-retroviral programme for HIV and Aids patients is beginning to take effect, according to Botswana’s Health Ministry. A statement issued in Johannesburg on behalf of the ministry on Tuesday said this is reflected in median baseline CD4 counts increasing from 50 to 84 since the inception of the programme.
The appointment of a Ndebele to the highest clerical position in Zimbabwe is not politically driven, says the Vatican’s diplomatic envoy to the country. Robert Ndlovu’s appointment as the archbishop of Harare has drawn criticism from those who feel that the new archbishop should be a member of the Shona ethnic group.
With the life of a kidnapped Filipino on the line, the Philippines sent out ambiguous and contradictory signals on Tuesday on the hostage takers’ key demand for an early withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Foreign Undersecretary Rafael Seguis went on an Arabic television station on Monday to appeal for the life of father-of-eight Angelo de la Cruz.
Gauteng housing minister Nomvula Mokonyane on Monday urged residents of the troubled Diepsloot township north of Johannesburg not to hamper the development of houses at the settlement. She said the recent violence at the township is affecting the government’s plans to provide adequate housing on time.
A small crowd followed sheriffs through Protea Glen in Soweto on Tuesday afternoon protesting against the eviction of residents from their houses. There were sporadic scuffles and at one house the crowd threw stones, a Sapa photographer reported.
‘Don’t disturb housing process’