Tag: South

JUBA - South Sudan has erupted into jubilation as early referendum results leave no doubt a new country is about to be born, but the road to statehood remains littered with problems.
The demarcation of the border with the north, the sharing of oil revenues and the future of the disputed region of Abyei are only some of the contentious issues that need to be ironed out within six months. Preliminary results of the January 9-15 referendum on self-determination show that secession

CAPE TOWN - Uncapped leg-spinner Imran Tahir was on Tuesday named in South Africa's 15-man squad for the Cricket World Cup in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka from February 19 to April 2. Selection convener Andrew Hudson said that the Pakistan-born Tahir was a 'unique talent'.
Asked why Tahir had not been included in any of the first three matches in the current one-day series against India, Hudson said that he should play before the end of the series. "It's difficult for us to

JUBA - South Sudan achieved the simple majority needed to secede in its independence referendum, preliminary results collated by AFP showed on Wednesday, even with many counties still to report.
As several areas returned landslides of 99 percent or more for separation of the mainly Christian, African south from the mainly Arab, Muslim north, the majority was achieved although with some of the region's 10 states, including its most populous, Jonglei, yet to announce any

CAPE TOWN - Francois 'Faf' du Plessis scored a half-century on debut as he and JP Duminy rescued a floundering South African innings in the third one-day international against India at Newlands on Tuesday.
The five-match series is tied at one-all.
Du Plessis made 60 and Duminy 52 before South Africa were bowled out for 220 on a pitch of inconsistent pace and bounce.
The pair came together with their side in trouble at 90 for four in the 24th over. They put on 110 off

DOHA - South Korea will take on Iran in a mouth-watering quarter-final Asian Cup showdown after they dispatched India 4-1 Tuesday, but Australia topped the group to enter the last eight by defeating Bahrain.
The Socceroos will likely play reigning champions Iraq, also Saturday, for a place in the semi-finals in Doha. The current holders need just a point from their final group game against North Korea on Wednesday to make it through.
Australia, who were made to work hard

JUBA - South Sudan leaders warned against premature independence celebrations on Tuesday as the slow process of collating the result of last week's vote ground on amid indications of a landslide. Information minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said that any triumphalism about the separation of the mainly Christian, African south from the mainly Arab, Muslim north risked sparking a "miscarriage" for their nascent state.
"The opinion polls indicate that the south will definitely vote

WASHINGTON - The US encourages dialogue between India and Pakistan in order to ensure stability in South Asia, the White House said on Thursday.
"The president (Obama) recognises that India is an important partner and certainly critical in the region, and that in order to ensure stability in South Asia, we wanted to encourage dialogue between India and Pakistan," Mike Hammer, spokesman of the National Security Council, told foreign journalists in New York and Washington, at a

DURBAN - Lonwabo Tsotsobe received the man of the match award after his four wickets led South Africa to a crushing 135-run win over India in the first one-day international at Kingsmead on Wednesday.
A century partnership between AB de Villiers and JP Duminy steered the home team, after winning the toss, to an imposing total of 289 for nine before left-arm seamer Tsotsobe and his fellow bowlers skittled India for 154. Dale Steyn trapped Murali Vijay lbw for a single in the first

DURBAN - AB de Villiers and JP Duminy shared a 131-run fourth wicket partnership to provide the bulk of South Africa's total of 289 for nine in the first one-day international against India at Kingsmead on Wednesday.
De Villiers hit 76 off 69 balls, while Duminy scored 73 off 89 deliveries.
While they were together South Africa looked on target for a total of more than 300 but both fell to the part-time off-spin of Rohit Sharma instead of cashing in towards thes end of the

JUBA - Clashes between renegade militiamen and south Sudanese troops disrupted voting in a landmark independence referendum in part of a key oil state on Sunday, the organising commission number two said.
"There has been some fighting because of certain militiamen but I am assured that the situation has been contained," Chan Reec told a news conference. "I am optimistic that this will not impact the voting process," he added. Reec said he had no details on any casualties from the

LAHORE - South Asia's most modern forensic laboratory is being built in Lahore, which will prove to be a milestone in eradicating crimes, bringing criminals to justice, investigating crimes on scientific lines and providing justice to people, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday.
He was addressing a meeting during a visit to the under-construction Punjab Forensic Science Agency near the Thokhar Niaz Baig. The Punjab Police inspector general, Punjab home secretary,

JUBA - An attack on south Sudanese soldiers in a key oil-producing district left four people dead on Saturday overshadowing celebrations on the eve of a landmark vote on independence for the region.
It was not immediately clear how many of the dead were soldiers and how many attackers but the shooting revived fears of renewed violence around the week-long referendum, centre piece of the 2005 peace deal between north and south that ended Africa's longest-running civil war. In the

CAPE TOWN - Jacques Kallis defied medical advice to score a magnificent century which put South Africa in position to win the deciding third test against India on Wednesday.
India dominated the morning session and were on course for their first series victory in South Africa when the hosts stumbled to 121 for five at lunch.
But Kallis, suffering from a side strain caused by a ball from Shanthakumaran Sreesanth during his first-innings century, dug in and supported by Mark

PRETORIA - South Africa will push for reform of the United Nations Security Council during a two-year stint as a rotating member of the group, a government minister said on Wednesday. "We will attempt to persuade and convince the permanent five of the need for the early conclusion of the reform process," Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana Mashabane told reporters in Pretoria.
"The power configuration is not in favour of the non-permanent members and

JUBA - Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir told southerners on a rare visit to Juba on Tuesday he would celebrate the result of Sunday's referendum on southern independence, "even if you choose secession."
"I personally will be sad if Sudan splits. But at the same time I will be happy if we have peace in Sudan between the two sides," Bashir said in a speech to senior southern officials at the start of his one-day visit.
"I am going to celebrate your decision, even if your

THATTA - The Jamia Masjid of Banbhor, which is said to be the first mosque of South Asia was built in 8th century AD after the conquest of Sindh by Arab warrior Muhammad Bin Qasim.
It is located among the ruins of centuries-old city of Bhanbhor, in Thatta district. The ancient city is associated with Muhammad Bin Qasim and the legendary love-story of Sassui-Punhoon, which great poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sung in his poetry.
The historical ruins are gradually being worn

DURBAN - Test batsman Hashim Amla was on Wednesday recalled to the South African team for their Twenty20 international against India on February 9.
Amla, once regarded as a Test specialist, has built up an impressive record in 50-over one-day internationals this year.
He will be playing only his third match in the shortest form of the international game.
South Africa squad: Johan Botha (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, David Miller, Makhaya