Just under 900 multi-sport athletes and sport enthusiasts were seen in action on Saturday, 12 January 2013 at the 11th annual Totalsports Challenge presented by Liberty Medical Scheme and REHIDRAT® SPORT that started in Gordon’s Bay and finished in Kleinmond. Due to windy weather conditions experienced in Gordon’s Bay, the 12km surfski discipline had to [...]Marais, Bomford crowned Challenge Champions is a post from: Trail Running South Africa



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Pretoria - The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on Monday at France's request to discuss the situation in Mali, while Paris got authorization to use Algeria's airspace for its operation in the western African country.

Brieuc Pont, a spokesman for France's UN mission, said the meeting, scheduled for Monday afternoon, was a French initiative "to inform the council and proceed with an exchange of views between members of the council and with the UN secretariat."

Fighting raged in the past days after the Malian government and rebels failed to reach any deal in talks on a solution to the country's crisis.

On Friday, Paris confirmed its military operations in Mali to back government forces in fighting the advancing rebels, who had seized the central town of Konna and threatened the southern part of Mali, including the capital of Bamako.

French President Francois Hollande said although the intervention had halted the rebels' southward advance, his country's mission was not over.

According to French broadcaster, France's military engagement in Mali and possible further steps to stabilize the country are expected to be discussed at Monday's meeting.

The French government has urged the UN Security Council to speed up the deployment of a 3300-strong African intervention force, which is to back the Malian army's operation to retake northern Mali.

The military intervention plan was drawn up out of fear that northern Mali could become a safe haven for terrorism and drug- and human-trafficking.

Late last year, the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of the force to restore Mali's territorial integrity and constitutional rule. But before the eruption of hostilities last week, no offensive into the northern part of the country was expected before September.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius confirmed on Sunday that Algeria has allowed French forces to use its airspace for military operations in Mali.

"Algeria has authorized unlimited access to fly over its territory, for which I thank the Algerian authorities," Fabius said.

"We have regular talks with Algeria," he said, adding that the two sides are in discussion to make sure that "if the African troops move to the north, the Algerians would have to close their border."

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also confirmed that four French Rafale fighter jets bombed Islamist rebels' position near the northern Malian town of Gao on Sunday, saying the armed Islamic groups' training camps and logistical depots were destroyed.

According to military observers, the airstrikes marked a turning point of France's military operation in Mali. Before Sunday's airstrikes, the French forces had particularly taken action in central Mali to prevent Islamist forces from pushing forward to the south of the country.

France's intervention in Mali has been backed by the European Union and the United States, while Britain is providing logistical support in the form of transport planes. – SAnews.gov.za- Xinhua

There’s plenty of sales on at the moment and although Í’ve decided to take it easy on the spending I managed to buy a couple of things in the past week. It seems like such a pity to miss a good opportunity. As I haven’t had much time to do town and admittedly it’s hard [...]Lovely dress from Livly is a post from: Fashionable Mama



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Thursday, 10 January 2013 – Entries are still open for the SA Cross Country trials taking place at the Boksburg Stadium in Boksburg on 26 January.* All athletes hoping to compete on the day must enter as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. With the Southern Region Cross Country Championships in Lesotho in early March [...]SA Cross Country Trials in Boksburg is a post from: Time-to-Run South Africa



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Irish NGOs welcome the announcement by the Tánaiste that the €4 million of aid money that was misappropriated by officials in the Ugandan prime minister’s office last year has been paid back. Hans Zomer, Director of Dóchas, said: “The repayment by the Ugandan Government illustrates the importance the country attaches to good relations with Ireland, [...]Irish NGOs Welcome Repayment is a post from: Ireland in One



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A quick step by step guide for the newbie tweeter In our first blog we showed how twitter works as a social networking tool for people to follow and...

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According to Visit Wales, the tourism industry in North Wales already injects £2.1 billion a year into the Welsh economy, with visitors to Wales on...

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If Santa is looking for a capable, reliable and award winning mode of transport this Christmas, he should get himself the new Honda CR-V. The British built sports utility vehicle (SUV) has scooped the prestigious ’4×4 of the Year’ honour from respected publication Total 4×4 Magazine. It’s the new CR-V’s first award win since arriving [...]Honda CR-V voted 4×4 of the Year is a post from: UK in One



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INDIANAPOLIS – Bobby Mack (Raleigh, N.C.) has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the senior men’s 8 km in 24:27 at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country race on Jan. 5. After finishing as the runner-up at this race last year, Mack was able to take the top spot [...]Mack Athlete of the Week is a post from: Time-to-Run USA



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A quick step by step guide for the newbie tweeter In our first blog we showed how twitter works as a social networking tool for people to follow and be followed in areas of mutual interest. Conversing and making comments about something, can be done by ´tweets´ to each other using no more than 140 [...]How to set-up your Twitter account is a post from: Winners Inner Circle



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