British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Monday pressed Iran to stick by commitments to freeze its nuclear activities, ahead of what he said will be ”tough” talks with the European Union this week. Arriving for regular ministerial talks in Brussels, he confirmed that the talks with Iran will take place in Geneva on Wednesday.
The design of the proposed basic income grant is ”fundamentally flawed”, Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel said on Monday. Speaking at the launch in Cape Town of the 2005/6 tax-filing season, he said there is no country in the world that has been able to implement it. The grant will cost South Africa about R89-billion.
An alleged syndicate member linked to the e-mail scam attack against South African banks last week is being questioned by the Scorpions following an intensive investigation by Standard Bank. A ”runner” had been recruited to launder money from customers’ accounts to an Eastern European fraud syndicate.
The search for the Mpumalanga pupil feared drowned in the sea at Richards Bay resumed early on Monday morning, KwaZulu-Natal police said. Seven other pupils drowned after the group decided to go for an early-morning swim at Richards Bay on Sunday. All were between 16 and 17 years old and in grades 10, 11 and 12.
The South African Revenue Service (Sars) launched its annual tax-filing season on Monday in a bid to encourage the country’s 4,5-million taxpayers to get their returns in by July 8. Speaking at the launch in Cape Town, Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel said this figure includes 2,4-million individual taxpayers.
Rampant Kaizer Chiefs successfully defended their Premier Soccer League (PSL) title after beating Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 at the Free State Stadium on Sunday. Meanwhile, Moroka Swallows came from behind to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw against Black Leopards at the Rand Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
World champions Ferrari claim a potentially strong performance in the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday was limited by problems with overtaking on the twisty harbour circuit and a poor qualifying run. Michael Schumacher believes he showed enough pace in the race to secure a better finish than seventh on any other circuit.
Brown and grey are babies’ least favourite colours, while blue, red, purple and orange are favourites. The Surrey Baby Lab surveyed 250 babies to check their response to colour. ”It’s a myth that newborn babies are colour-blind. They can see colour, but it does develop over the coming months,” said Doctor Anna Franklin.
Athletics South Africa announced on Monday that a team of 22 men and 16 women will compete in the African Junior Championships in Alexandria, Egypt, from September 22 to 25 this year. This is the largest team yet selected by South Africa to compete at the championships.
Opener Chris Gayle slammed 124, but West Indies lost a record ninth consecutive one-day cricket international and Pakistan’s 22-run victory wrapped up a 3-0 series sweep on Sunday. Pakistan had already clinched their first triumph in any Caribbean series on Saturday.