Protectionism is making a comeback. At least, that is the fear of many influential figures — from senior officials at finance ministries to politicians and independent economists. These experts are, generally speaking, pointing their fingers from West to East, from the United States and Europe to China, Russia and the Persian Gulf.
Australia stunned New Zealand with two second-half tries to storm home for a 20-15 win in the Tri-Nations rugby tournament in Melbourne on Saturday. The Wallabies looked second-best to the World Cup favourites for more than an hour before unleashing two converted tries to keep their hopes alive.
Polish gay rights groups claim thousands of homosexuals have fled the country to escape increasing persecution. Robert Biedron (27), the head of the Polish Foundation against Homophobia, said "huge numbers" of Polish gay people have left the country following the rise to power of the right-wing government.
Nowhere, perhaps, will be more important than Shanghai. One of eight cities hosting Live Earth concerts for Al Gore’s crusade against climate change on Saturday, it will help deliver a vast audience across China. And with the world’s most populous country on board, organisers believe they can reach two billion people.
Air strikes in the British-controlled Helmand province of Afghanistan may have killed civilians, coalition troops said on Saturday as local people claimed that between 50 and 80 people, many of them women and children, had died.
Media group Primedia’s national anti-crime campaign has led to 33 arrests since its launch three weeks ago, Primedia spokesperson Yusuf Abramjee said on Saturday. Successes include recovering four stolen vehicles at a complex in Winchester Hills, south of Johannesburg, and arresting two people.
Two suspects rammed a petrol-filled, four-wheel-drive vehicle into Glasgow airport on Saturday in what police described as a terrorist attack linked to a twin car-bomb plot foiled in London. Britain’s Home Office announced it had raised the national security alert level to ”critical”, the highest ranking and one that indicates further attacks are expected imminently.
Saturday morning. Launch of biography last night downstairs in the Albert Luthuli Memorial Log-Bar and still as giddy as a schoolgirl. Slept in my tux, just didn’t want it to end. Mistake, though: forgot I had smuggled out crème brûlée in breast pocket for celebratory nosh-up in bed after lights out and presidential duvet now covered with ants.
A blazing Cherokee Jeep smashed into the main terminal building at Scotland’s Glasgow airport on Saturday, police said, a day after two car bombings were foiled in central London. Police said two people were arrested in Saturday’s incident. The airport was closed afterwards. There were no reports of any injuries.
There had been no ”bitter conflict” at the African National Congress’s (ANC) policy conference this week, party president Thabo Mbeki said in his closing address on Saturday. He told the 1Â 500 delegates at Gallagher Estate in Midrand that the meeting had been highly successful.