The gold mines are long exhausted but there is a new way to get rich in Johannesburg: property. An economic boom is transforming what was once South Africa’s byword for crime and decay into a vibrant metropolis. By some estimates the value of real estate has risen 35-fold in six years, an extraordinary surge that outstrips growth rates in Manhattan, London or Sydney.
World leaders, as well as Americans close to George Bush’s administration, called for calm over Iran’s nuclear programme on Sunday amid persistent reports that the United States is considering a military attack. In his Easter message from the Vatican, Pope Benedict spoke of ”international crises linked to nuclear power” and urged: ”May an honourable solution be found for all parties, through serious and honest negotiations.”
At least eight people were killed in two separate mine blasts in northern Sri Lanka on Monday, hours after Tiger rebels announced they are suspending participation in peace talks. The latest deaths raised to 64 the number of people, mostly police or troops, killed in bomb attacks in the past week in the latest surge of violence linked to the decades-old Tamil separatist conflict.
Celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who have catapulted sleepy Namibia to overnight international fame, plan to have their baby in the Southern African nation and even give it a local name, according to a South African newspaper. The couple are reportedly staying at the luxury Burning Shores resort hotel between the scenic old colonial German town of Swakopmond.
A career-best 133 by Jacob Oram put New Zealand in a commanding position at close of play on the second day of the first Castle Lager Test at Supersport Park on Sunday, after South Africa had the visitors on the ropes on 89 for six. New Zealand were all out for 327 shortly before stumps, for a first innings lead of 51.
Jose Mourinho has warned that the Premiership title race is not yet over, despite Chelsea establishing a commanding nine-point advantage over second-placed Manchester United with just four games remaining. The combined effects of Chelsea’s comfortable two-goal victory over Bolton Wanderers and Manchester United’s inability to beat bottom club Sunderland mean the Premiership trophy will almost certainly remain at Stamford Bridge.
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Former deputy president Jacob Zuma visited Libya just 12 days after being arrested on a rape charge, The Sunday Times newspaper reported. The report said Zuma was in Tripoli for five days where he met with Libyan President Moammar Gaddafi. It said there was no clarity on whether the trip was of a personal nature or if it was linked to a fundraising campaign.
New Zealand took less than half an hour on Sunday morning to wrap up South Africa’s first innings in the first Castle Lager Test at Supersport Park. South Africa were all out for 276. Resuming on 266 for eight, Nicky Boje and Dale Steyn shared a partnership of 41 runs — the highest ninth wicket partnership for South Africa at Supersport Park, passing the 37 runs put on by Hansie Cronje and Allan Donald against Australia in 1996/97.
A four-try comeback by the Wellington Hurricanes in the second half turned around a half-time deficit to ensure a 29-13 victory against the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin on Sunday. The Hurricanes cemented their position near the top of the Super 14 table with their seventh win from nine games this season, although the five try to two win was not one of their more memorable performances.
India’s Jeev Mikkha Singh claimed his maiden European Tour victory in Beijing on Sunday, winning the ,8-million China Open by one shot over Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. The 34-year-old Indian carded a two-under par 70 around the Nick Faldo-designed course at Beijing’s Honghua International Golf Club, to finish at 10 under par for the tournament.