No image available
/ 24 February 2008
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe celebrated his 84th birthday on Saturday at a rally aimed at boosting support before elections next month. A laughing Mugabe, wearing a garland of flowers and surrounded by supporters, hit out at the country’s ”enemies” who have criticised his presidency. Mugabe’s actual birthday was on Thursday.
No image available
/ 24 February 2008
Hollywood stars will parade across the red carpet for Sunday’s Academy Awards after weeks of debate over whether a writers’ strike that had derailed other award shows would be settled in time for the Oscars. However, the Oscars competition itself appears to hold little suspense, with clear favourites generally expected to win.
No image available
/ 24 February 2008
A car registration plate has sold for ,1-million in Hong Kong, making it the wealthy city’s most expensive vehicle number, a news report said on Sunday. The plate — bearing the number ”18” — was bought by an electronics businessman after 43 rounds of bidding at an auction of car numbers on Saturday.
No image available
/ 24 February 2008
Even though Mike Huckabee is still battling for the Republican presidential nomination despite long odds, he said he won’t ”overstay his welcome”. Then he did precisely that on Saturday night, lingering on the set in a scripted gag on the comedy skit show Saturday Night Live despite repeated cues to leave the stage.
No image available
/ 24 February 2008
Western oil giants are poised to enter southern Iraq to tap the country’s vast reserves, despite the ongoing threat of violence, according to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s business emissary to the country. Basra has been described as ”the lung” of Iraq by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
No image available
/ 24 February 2008
The amount of debris orbiting the Earth has reached a critical level. Old satellite parts, solar panels and the odd astronaut’s lost glove now pose serious risks to space missions. A report from the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety is calling for stringent international laws to be brought in to avert a tragedy.
No image available
/ 24 February 2008
Fears of a Soviet-educated communist emerging as the next leader of Cyprus — and the first in the European Union — has eclipsed the closest election in the island’s post-colonial history as voters cast their ballots on Sunday. Demetris Christofias, chief of the Marxist-Leninist Akel, has angrily rejected the charges.
No image available
/ 24 February 2008
Turkish forces used jets and heavy artillery to pound the bases of Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq on Saturday, as a prelude to a major assault in the coming days. Turkish news agencies reported more troops moving towards the remote border area. Turkey is thought to have deployed 1 000 to 3 000 soldiers.
No image available
/ 24 February 2008
French vineyard owners are returning to a slower pace of life by starting to export their wine by sailing boat — a method last used in the 1800s — to reduce their carbon footprint. Later this month, 60 000 bottles from Languedoc will be shipped to Ireland in a 19th-century barque, saving about 8 300kg of carbon.
No image available
/ 24 February 2008
”It’s me,” the man said. ”I’m the real Pasquale Condello.” I Cacciatori, the Hunters — the Carabinieri’s specialist man-trackers entrusted with the last stage of the operation to net ”The Supremo” — had left nothing to chance. They were convinced the 57-year-old mobster lived in one of 12 flats on the outskirts of Reggio Calabria.