Nelson Mandela achieved a distinction — not entirely undeserved — little short of sainthood during his 95 years on this earth.

South Africa's deputy president has said he would believe the young woman who accused President Jacob Zuma of rape more than a decade ago.

November 15 next is a date that has loomed large on the Irish rugby calendar for some time, yet you won’t find a fixture of any consequence on the day.

All’s fair in love and war and, it seems, the bidding process for major sporting events.

STAY OF EXECUTION

Leaders and family members have praised Nelson Mandela as a man and president who united his nation by embracing forgiveness and reconciliation.

Nelson Mandela’s health has deteriorated and he is in critical condition, the South African government said.

South Africa is not “falling apart” and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) can run the continent’s biggest economy, President Jacob Zuma said yesterday, as he sought to dispel the concerns of rating agencies and investors about sluggish growth.

Graphic video footage of South African police shooting dead 34 protesting mine strikers left the victims’ widows weeping inconsolably when it was shown to an official inquest.

SOUTH AFRICANS yesterday celebrated the steps that sounded apartheid’s death knell 20 years ago: Nelson Mandela walking to freedom after 27 years in prison.

South Africans today celebrated the steps that sounded apartheid’s death knell 20 years ago: Nelson Mandela walking to freedom after 27 years in prison.

South Africans are celebrating how far they have come since Nelson Mandela took his first steps to freedom 20 years ago today.

President Mary McAleese has paid tribute to Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari for his work in verifying that IRA arms were put beyond use.

Talks to end weeks of post-election violence in Kenya resumed today on difficult political issues, a day after rivals agreed on humanitarian aid and a leading mediator left the team because of government opposition.

The Kenyan government has rejected South African Cyril Ramaphosa as the chief mediator in talks to end the post-election crisis, former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan said today.

The British government has been accused of double standards today for investigating the possibility of a truth commission while at the same time covering up security force collusion with loyalists.

A debate must begin over whether amnesties should be offered in a truth and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland to those involved in murders during the Troubles, the British government was told today.

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness ended a two-and-a-half-day visit to South Africa by paying tribute to the role of the African National Congress government in encouraging parties in Northern Ireland.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the embattled ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, staged yet another political comeback today when she was re-elected to the top flight of South Africa’s ruling party.

Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble tonight held wide ranging talks in South Africa with an African National Congress official who was a former weapons inspector in Northern Ireland.

The UN has called off a human rights mission to the Palestinian territories to look into rights abuses after Israeli authorities refused to co-operate.

Ulster Unionist ministers in the Stormont Executive were returning to their ministerial desks today, as the British Army dismantled four military installations in response to IRA decommissioning.

The full IRA statement reads:

The IRA has decided to decommission weapons in two of its secret arms dumps which have been examined by government appointed inspectors, it was claimed tonight.

Sinn Fein are today meeting Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid to study policing plans which could help decide the fate of the peace process.

South Africa’s top law enforcement official has accused three of the countries most powerful businessmen of plotting to oust President Thabo Mbeki.