A successful rail police pilot in the Western Cape will now be implemented nationwide according to South African Transport Minister Joseph Radebe. Radebe announced Monday that the program, which has reportedly resulted in a 68 per cent overall decline in crime on trains and in railway stations, will be implemented throughout South Africa by 2008. More than 5,000 officers will be deployed in railway stations and on trains.
"More than 5,000 police personnel will take their rightful place in the rail environment in order to confront our security
Acclaimed lyricist, poet and screenplay-writer Javed Akhtar has been awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for National Integration. Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi presented Akhtar the award, in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a function in New Delhi.
Dr. Singh pointed out that the prize celebrated the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's "deep commitment to the unity and integrity of the country", recalling Akhtar's comments that the 2002 communal clashes in Gujarat were not a "Hindu-Muslim problem, but a clash of secularism
North Korea has today agreed to return to the six-party talks about its nuclear programme, as announced by the Chinese and U.S. governments. This comes after Pyongyang's withdrawal two weeks ago after the UN Security Council unanimously voted to impose sanctions on North Korea, which were ultimately designed to remove the ability to create nuclear weapons.
United States President George W. Bush has thanked the Chinese government for assisting and persuading North Korea to return to the talks. He went on to say that "[the US will] be sending te
On November 13, Torontoians will be heading to the polls to vote for their ward's councillor and for mayor. Among Toronto's ridings is Parkdale—High Park (Ward 13). Two candidates responded to Wikinews' requests for an interview. This ward's candidates include Linda Coltman, David Garrick, Greg Hamara, Aleksander Oniszczak, Bill Saundercook (incumbent), and Frances Wdowczyk.
For more information on the election, read Toronto municipal election, 2006.
Linda Coltman
35-year-old Linda Coltman is a consultant and boards member.
Q: Describe the t
On November 13, Torontonians will be heading to the polls to vote for their ward's councillor and for mayor. Among Toronto's ridings is Etobicoke—Lakeshore (Ward 5). Two candidates responded to Wikinews' requests for an interview. This ward's candidates include John Chiappetta, Joseph Mignone, Peter Milczyn (incumbent), Arthur Roszak, and Bojidar Tchernev.
Interviewed are newcomer Joseph Mignone, and incumbent Peter Milczyn. Click on either of their names to read their responses.
For more information on the election, read Toronto municipal el
On November 13, Torontonians will be heading to the polls to vote for their ward's councillor and for mayor. Among Toronto's ridings is York West (Ward 8). One candidate responded to Wikinews' requests for an interview. This ward's candidates include Hau Dang Tan, Garry Green, Peter Li Preti (incumbent), Abdulhaq Omar, Anthony Perruzza, and Ramnarine Tiwari.
For more information on the election, read Toronto municipal election, 2006.
Garry Green
34-years-old, Garry Green is a Contracted Services Specialist (employment programs), Toronto Distr
On November 13, Torontoians will be heading to the polls to vote for their ward's councillor and for mayor. Among Toronto's ridings is Parkdale—High Park (Ward 14). One candidate responded to Wikinews' requests for an interview. This ward's candidates include Beverly Bernardo, John Colautti, Tom Freeman, David Hanna, Barry Hubick, Walter Jarsky, Ted Lojko, Gord Perks, Anthony Quinn, Rowena Santos, Dilorece South, Jimmy Talpa, Matthew Vezina, and David White.
For more information on the election, read Toronto municipal election, 2006.
Anthony
Despite commitments already made by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown to replace the Trident missile system and the Royal Navy's Vanguard class submarines, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is calling for a public debate on the decision.
The Prime Minister has committed to holding a debate in Parliament over the issue.
Beckett told the Sunday Times that it was the Cold War that prompted the Trident programme but that the security situation now is very different.
Though Trident is not due for replacement for
The final round of voting has ended in the first free elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in over forty years.
The runoff is between incumbent President Joseph Kabila and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, who led a field of 33 candidates in the first round of polling held on July 30, but failed to achieve the required majority vote. The voting has been largely peaceful, though isolated incidents of violence and voting fraud have been reported.
Jean-Pierre Bemba Joseph Kabila 44 years old 35 years old One of four Vice P
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been re-elected with more than 60% of the votes against Geraldo Alckmin in Brazilian general elections, 2006.
61-years old Lula received 58,295,042 votes while Alckmin received 37,543,178 votes, or 39.17%.
Lula was the candidate of Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) with support from 5 other parties, the Partido Comunista do Brasil (PCdoB), Partido Republicano Brasileiro (PRB), Partido Liberal (PL), Partido Socialista Brasileiro (PSB) and Partido Progressista (PP).
Alckmin was the candidate of P
The upcoming 2006 Brampton municipal election, to be held November 13, features an array of candidates looking to represent their wards in city council or the council of the Peel Region.
Wikinews contributor Nick Moreau contacted many of the candidates, including Bill Bousfield, asking them to answer common questions sent in an email. This ward's incumbent is Elaine Moore; also challenging Moore is Janet Hamilton and Tejinder Lamba.
Interview
Q: List the three most important issues in your campaign.
A:
Door-to-Door transit geared to the se
Thousands of mourning Nigerian Muslims have gathered outside the temple of the late Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Maccido, waiting to pay their last respects following his death in a plane crash on Sunday, along with 95 others on board. He was a widely respected man to whom 70 million Muslims looked to for guidance and leadership.
The crowds are being let into the palace in small groups to meet the surviving family of the Sultan, and other traditional rulers. Figureheads such as President Olusegun Obasanjo paid their respects on Monday, along wi
