A pig in a tutu, a porker on a bike, a hog on a drip — it was no ordinary parade that snaked its way through the Philippine town of Balayan on Sunday. In Balayan, south of Manila, a centuries-old religious festival is all that’s needed to kill, clothe, parade and consume the neighbourhood pigs.
Young Australian men who drive too fast have had the size of their manhood questioned in the latest drive by anti-speeding campaigners to cut road deaths. The below-the-belt television ads show women noticing a young man roaring past and then turning scornfully to their friends and wiggling their little fingers.
European leaders on Sunday hailed an agreement on the outlines of a new European Union treaty to replace the ill-fated constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters two years ago. Hopes that the EU may emerge from two years of introspection were raised when a deal was finally reached in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Israeli Cabinet on Sunday agreed to release about -million in Palestinian tax revenues as part of a programme to shore up the rule of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. Israel has withheld the tax revenues since Hamas entered the government last year.
Canadian Anglicans failed by the narrowest of margins on Sunday night to agree to allow their churches to bless the committed relationships of same-sex couples. The incoming primate of the Canadian church, Archbishop-elect Fred Hiltz, who had voted in favour of the move, said: ”We have a very divided church.”
New Zealand’s players have accused their South African opponents of dirty tactics in Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash in Durban. New Zealand scored two late tries to win the match 26-21, but later claimed the Springboks had tried to unsettle them by foul means.
South Africa beat Ireland by 42 runs in a one-day international at Stormont on Sunday. Australian-born Alex Cusask took three wickets on his one-day international debut as Ireland held South Africa to 173 for four in a match reduced by rain to 31 overs per side.
Storms and torrential rain have killed more than 200 people in Pakistan’s biggest city, Karachi, a provincial minister said on Sunday, and left angry residents without power. More bad weather is forecast for Pakistan and neighbouring India, where dozens have died after prolonged downpours across the country in the last few days.
Esperance of Tunisia dropped two precious African Champions League points when held 0-0 by Asec Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire this weekend. Al-Ahly of Egypt, seeking a record third consecutive title, are favoured to top Group B, leaving Esperance and Asec to fight for the other semifinal slot with Al-Hilal of Sudan.
It is pure coincidence that a postponed labour meeting to decide on the public-service dispute will coincide with the start of the African National Congress policy conference on Wednesday, said the Congress of South African Trade Unions on Sunday. Meanwhile, a large teachers’ union has announced its withdrawal from the strike.