The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) is embarking on an ambitious programme to improve the health, education and nutrition of vulnerable children in Zimbabwe, where one child dies of HIV/Aids and another is orphaned every 20 minutes. Unicef said it had received a British donation of £22-million (,4-million) to help children facing some of the worst hardships anywhere in the world.
The Dead Sea is dying, with the world’s saltiest water body threatened by a lack of fresh water and an increasingly tense political situation, environmentalists have warned. The bare, sun-baked landscape around the Dead Sea has since Biblical times been fed by the Jordan river’s fresh water.
One would think the 21st century would be the age of reason and tolerance. Sadly, for the faithful, the era is proving to be as traumatic as the days when it was heresy to dare suggest that the Earth was not the centre of the universe. In France, Muslims are forbidden by law from wearing their scarves at schools and other public spaces, because this offends that country’s proud secular tradition.
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A superb 97 by AB de Villiers brought South Africa back into the game on the third day of the first Castle Lager Test against New Zealand at Supersport Park on Monday. At stumps, South Africa had 280 for nine, and an overall lead of 229 runs. South Africa had a disastrous start to their second innings, losing three wickets before they had wiped out their 51 run first innings deficit.
Nine people were killed and dozens wounded in Israel’s commercial capital Tel Aviv on Monday when a Palestinian bomber blew himself up in the deadliest suicide attack of the last 20 months. The blast took place hours before the swearing in of the new Israeli Parliament and prompted a pledge by prime minister designate Ehud Olmert that its perpetrators would not go unpunished.
Jonny Wilkinson has admitted he has struggled to cope with a series of injuries since kicking England to World Cup glory. The 27-year-old made his sixth comeback from injury since landing the drop-goal that won England the Webb Ellis trophy, coming on as a second-half replacement in Newcastle’s 32-21 Premiership win over Sale at Kingston Park.
The South African government needs to wake up to the reality and brutality of crime, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday. The opposition party’s call came after Afrikaans newspaper Rapport, reported that 52 people are killed daily, 1Â 566 per month and 18Â 793 annually in South Africa.
Roger Federer admits he would have preferred a more low-key way to start his clay court season, but remains content to take his chances as top seed at the high-profile Monte Carlo Masters Series tournament starting on Monday. ”Here I’m a favourite, but the draws are tough and you have to back it up every other day, ” said the seven-time Grand Slam winner.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti says he knows everything about FC Barcelona, his team’s opponent in the semifinals of the Champions League. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is just happy to be playing Villarreal this late in the tournament. Six-time champion Milan hosts 1992 winner Barcelona in the first leg of the semifinals on Tuesday, and Arsenal hosts Villarreal on Wednesday.