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/ 26 December 2007

Opposition holds poll advantage in Kenya

Two heavyweights of Kenya’s post-independence politics square off in a presidential vote on Thursday after a campaign that has overshadowed Christmas and seen the opposition holding a small lead in opinion polls. The closeness of the vote has raised fears that fraud and intimidation may be used to try to swing results.

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/ 26 December 2007

Somali police chief survives attack

Gunmen threw grenades at the home of the regional police chief in south-western Somalia, killing two of his grandchildren and a bodyguard while he escaped injury, authorities said on Tuesday. Seven other family members were wounded in the Monday-night attack, which police said was a failed assassination attempt.

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/ 26 December 2007

Sharapova’s got a sweet tooth

Self-confessed chocoholic Maria Sharapova will get a chance to taste some post-Christmas forbidden fruit in the privacy of her hotel as she arrives on Friday in Singapore for a weekend tennis exhibition. The Russian former number one is facing compatriot Anna Chakvetadze on Sunday night.

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/ 26 December 2007

More bodies found in collapsed Egypt flats

The death toll from the collapse of a block of flats in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria has risen to 14, the official Mena news agency reported on Wednesday. The toll could climb even further as about 15 people remain trapped in the rubble of the flattened 12-storey building, a security official said on Tuesday.

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/ 26 December 2007

Arsenal hope that history repeats itself

Arsenal have enjoyed Christmas Day at the top of the Premier League standings — and are hoping that history repeats itself and keeps them top at the end of the season. The club at the top at Christmas have won the league for the past three years — Manchester United last season and Chelsea in 2005 and 2006.

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/ 26 December 2007

Landmark for Smith in Windies Test

Proteas captain Graeme Smith will be leading his team for the 50th time in a Test match in the first Test against the West Indies, starting at St George’s Park on Wednesday. Smith is only the second South African captain, after the late Hansie Cronje, to achieve this landmark. Cronje captained the Proteas on 53 occasions.