Workaholic South Korea will encourage its labour force to work less overtime in order to create more jobs and boost productivity and the dwindling birth rate, a top labour policy group said on Wednesd

Iran has sentenced award-winning woman journalist Jila Baniyaghoob to jail for one year and banned her from writing for 30 years over post-election unrest, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday slapped broader military and financial sanctions on Iran over its suspect nuclear programme, despite opposition from Brazil and Turkey.

Scientists from Saudi Arabia and China said on Wednesday that they had completed mapping the genome of the Arabian camel.

A dominant Sri Lanka came to within a freak run-out of whitewashing Zimbabwe in the final of the Tri-nations tournament at Harare Sports Club here on Wednesday.
The Sri Lankans scored a leisurely 203-1 in 34.4 overs to win with ease in reply to Zimbabwe’s effort of 199 all out in 49 overs.

Want to have a lekker time at the World Cup, chomping boerewors at a braai on the Veld or downing a rooibos at the shebeen next to the robot?
Here’s a newcomer’s guide to some uniquely South African words and phrases for football fans heading to the month-long tournament.

Brazilian referee Carlos Simon’s controversial, no-nonsense reputation, combined with Wayne Rooney’s notorious short temper, could leave England fans seeing red at the World Cup.

Experienced midfielder Gilberto Silva said on Wednesday that Brazil were “not here to have a good time” but win a sixth title as they prepared to start on their World Cup campaign in South AFrica.

Brazil warmed up for a tilt at a sixth World Cup title on Monday with a 5-1 win over Tanzania here on Monday with Robinho scoring a brace.
Robinho, who spent the second half of last season in his homeland with Santos after an unhappy spell with Manchester City, opened the scoring on 10 minutes and netted again in the 33rd minute.

Argentina blew hot and cold in their World Cup qualifiers but if Carlos Tevez has his way Diego Maradona’s men will go in all guns blazing in their Group B opener against Nigeria on Saturday.