Does watching television bring on early puberty? Many parents would not doubt that repeated exposure to Sex and the City or the kind of sensual variety shows common on Italian TV could as easily turn their daughters into Lolitas as stir up the latent testosterone in their sons.
Men who carry cellphones in their trouser pockets may be at risk of damaging their sperm count, according to research by Hungarian scientists. Full details of the study will be formally presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Berlin on Tuesday.
Lock Victor Matfield is a doubtful starter for the Springbok rugby team to tour to Australasia next month. Matfield sustained a knee injury on Saturday against Wales and will undergo an examination on Monday. Their first match will be on July 17 against a combined South Pacific Island team at Gosforth Park in Sydney.
The Czech Republic claimed a place in the semi-finals of Euro 2004 in style after thrashing Denmark 3-0 at the Dragao stadium on Sunday. Giant striker Jan Koller headed the Czechs in front in the 49th minute before Liverpool marksman Milan Baros scored twice in two minutes to kill off the 1992 champions and ensure Karel Bruckner’s men maintained their 100% record in the competition.
England returned home on Monday after a painful 2003-2004 season which closed in Brisbane on Saturday with a 51-15 thrashing by Australia which made them the worst-performing world champions in history. Their fifth defeat in eight Tests meant England returned as world chumps just eight months after 8 000 fans crammed Heathrow to welcome them home as world champs.
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) said that it may pursue industrial action should its dispute with the South African Local Government Association (Salga) not be resolved.
The day after Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 was released in American cinemas, it was announced on Saturday that a festival devoted to films debunking Moore’s own work will be staged later this year in Texas. The American Film Renaissance will feature up to 10 films, among them Michael Moore Hates America.
Eight consortia, including SA cellphone giant MTN, are in the race for a second cellphone operator licence in Saudi Arabia. Revenues in the lucrative Saudi market, which has about eight million mobile users with a growth rate of about 30%, are predicted to soar to ,9-billion by 2007.
Inkatha Freedom Party president Mangosuthu Buthelezi said that the IFP has been called upon by history to become the voice of the African National Congress’s bad conscience. Buthelezi said the ANC could not control itself, or hold itself accountable.
Cassini, the most expensive robot space probe ever built, will this week make its final crucial approach to Saturn after a seven-year, two-billion-mile journey across the solar system. On Thursday, the -billion spacecraft will slip between two of the planet’s rings and ignite its main motors for a critical 96-minute burn.