The prospect of recession is looming over the American presidential election campaign, amid a wave of job losses and collapsing home prices that could see the political battle being fought in the middle of an economy in crisis. Last week was marked by rising oil prices, tens of thousands of lost jobs and plummeting share prices.
Peek behind the giant screen that shows the action replays at a soccer game, and chances are that you’ll see the badge of an Italian firm that is one of the five leaders of the sector making big outdoor electronic displays. Thriving Milan-based Tecnovision was among nearly 100 Italian companies pitching for business this week at CeBIT.
Accompanied by a village choir, waving fists and miniature ruling party flags, the crowd of several thousand thunders out four words in a constant refrain: "Long live comrade Mugabe." A poet punctuates his recital with long pauses before chanting a string of praises for Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Bloemfontein Celtic drew 0-0 in an exciting Premier Soccer League match on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld to both remain in the bottom half of the 16-team table. Sundowns, though, jumped to 12th place with 25 points, while Celtic stay 11th on 26 points.
Harry Redknapp pulled off a unique FA Cup hat-trick against Manchester United as Sulley Muntari’s second-half penalty sealed a 1-0 victory that sent Portsmouth through to the semifinals for the first time since 1992. Redknapp, who had previously guided Bournemouth and West Ham to FA Cup wins against United, saw his team win at Old Trafford for the first time in 51 years.
A lone try from winger Shane Williams handed Wales a 16-12 win over Ireland and the Triple Crown after a tight Six Nations clash at Croke Park on Saturday. Unbeaten Wales, with four wins from four in the tournament, can clinch their second Grand Slam in four years if they beat France in Cardiff next Saturday.
A tropical cyclone hit northern and central Mozambique on Saturday, destroying homes and cutting power lines, state media reported. Cyclone Jokwe lashed central Mozambique before hitting the northern coastal province of Nampula, travelling with winds of up to 130km/h, Radio Mozambique said. No casualties have been reported and the extent of the damage is not yet known.
Heroin is more easily obtainable than a hamburger nowadays, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille told an anti-drugs rally in Johannesburg on Saturday. This was after she led marchers — wearing DA T-shirts bearing the slogan: ”No to drugs and save our children” — through the streets of Vrededorp in Johannesburg.
Calls to end forced marriage, domestic abuse and job discrimination marked International Women’s Day on Saturday as demonstrators took to the streets worldwide. The issues highlighted crossed a wide spectrum, including abortion rights in Italy, violence against women in Iraq and women hostages in Colombia.
The Stormers climbed off the bottom of the Super 14 rugby standings with an bonus-point 34-16 win over Australian strugglers Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Saturday. The Cape Town-based team played enterprising rugby to come away with four tries in their third straight win in Brisbane and the sixth win in their past 10 games in Australia.