Nelson Mandela's family was struck by tragedy on the eve of the opening of the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament, forcing him to withdraw from the opening ceremony.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation announced that Mandela had learned on Friday morning that his great-granddaughter, 13-year-old Zenani Mandela, had been killed in a car accident on Thursday night.

Amid a cacophony of sound and colour, South Africa and Mexico drew the opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup 1-1 at Soccer City, though both coaches might be ruing not picking up all three Group A points.

A fresh turf war has emerged between Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai after the veteran ruler reversed a bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (BIPPA) signed by his former rival.

AFTER about six hours of deliberations on state matters, a well attended National Council of State (NCS), which had all former Nigeria leaders in attend, Tuesday ratified the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the Bayero University Kano (BUK), Professor Attahiru Jega, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

United States Vice President Joe Biden has said he is optimistic that Kenya's reform process will be successfully concluded.

Mr Biden said the US wants to see Kenya conduct a peaceful referendum that will leave the country united.

At least ten people, including one policeman and two children no more than 10 years old, were trampled upon and narrowly escaped being crushed to death in a stampede just before Nigeria's friendly against North Korea in Tembisa, South Africa yesterday.

A crowd gathered outside the stadium and forced the gates open before embarking on a mad scramble to gain entrance.

FIFA will introduce two additional ticketing products the world football governing body announced on Saturday.

The two products, the "Partially Obstructed View Tickets" and "Premier Tickets", will be available from Monday, June 7 only at the 11 FIFA Ticketing Centres.

With four days to go before the kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is more than ready to host the spectacle, says President Jacob Zuma.

"South Africa is more than ready. For us the World Cup has already begun," President Zuma told journalists on Sunday.

At least 23 people, mostly civilians have been killed and over 60 others injured in heavy clashes that rocked Somalia's capital Mogadishu in the last two days.

Civilians caught in the cross fire started vacating their homes in northern districts of Shibis and Abdiasis.

Lead poisoning caused by illegal gold mining has killed 163 Nigerians, including 111 children, since March in several remote villages in northern Nigeria, a senior government official said yesterday.

US President Barack Obama spoke strongly of his wish to see a more prosperous Kenya in his first full interview dedicated to the country of his father's birth.

During the White House interview with a Kenyan journalist, President Obama urged Kenyans to seize "the moment" offered through the referendum on a new constitution to put the post-election violence behind it.

An influential British think tank has warned the West that it will lose out to emerging nations unless it replaces its "humanitarian" approach to Africa with a more strategic focus on diplomatic and trade relations.

The government's decision to renew Egypt's longstanding Emergency Law has drawn furious reactions from opposition figures and rights advocates.

While government spokesmen say the law will only be used against terrorism and drug trafficking, critics say it is aimed primarily at stifling political dissent.

AHEAD of a new phase of negotiation at the United Nations General Assembly, this month, aimed at producing a synthesis of the proposal for a permanent seat for Africa in the Security Council, President Goodluck Jonathan and his host, Mr. Nicholas Sarkozy, yesterday, resolved to support immediate reformation of the United Nations Security Council to include Africa as permanent member.

The death toll from a boat accident in the Indian Ocean near the Kenyan border has risen to 20.

Eight more bodies have been recovered from Tanzanian waters after the vessel capsized in Tanga on Sunday night. The bodies were found along the Tanga coast on Monday night.

Tanzanian authorities said mv Fauz, a Kenyan registered boat, had more than 70 illegal immigrants when it capsized.