United States and South Korean negotiators on Sunday struggled to seal a major trade deal with a deadline just hours away and neither side daring to predict the outcome. They face a 4pm GMT deadline — noon in Washington and 1am on Monday in Seoul — to reach what would be the largest US trade pact in 15 years.
United States farmers plan to cash in on the ethanol fuel boom by planting the largest area to maize in 63 years, potentially yielding a record crop and calming fears that renewable fuels will steal grain needed for food and feed, the federal government said on Friday.
So he’s faster than a speeding bullet and can leap tall buildings and all that, but there is one thing Superman cannot top — a Winkie. At least, not according to Joe Maddalena. The Hollywood memorabilia expert’s auction house on April 5 is holding one of its widely followed sales of movie and television items that could fetch an estimated -million to -million.
United States President George Bush on Saturday night called for the release of the 15 British sailors and royal marines being held by Iran, denouncing their capture as ”inexcusable behaviour”. Bush told a press conference at Camp David: ”Iran must give back the hostages. They’re innocent, they did nothing wrong.”
Barcelona turned on the style to pull three points clear at the top of the Primera Liga with a 2-1 win over Deportivo Coruna on Saturday. Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho, who has been at the centre of intense media speculation over his future, helped set up goals for Lionel Messi before the break and Samuel Eto’o soon after the restart.
A hot year is normally associated with a vintage year for wine growers but global warming could, by the end of the century, have adverse effects and already poses a major challenge to vineyards in southern France and California. If nothing is done about global warming, only the coastal regions of California, cooled by the ocean breeze, will be good for cultivating vines by 2100.
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The detectives probing Bob Woolmer’s death were facing mounting pressure to deliver results on Saturday, amid signs of disarray at the heart of the murder investigation — and mounting speculation that it might have been due to a tragic accident. On Saturday night, reports from a witness at the hotel in which Woolmer was staying claimed he had been seen drinking a bottle of whisky in the bar.
Serena Williams stormed back from a set down to triumph 0-6, 7-5, 6-3 over world number one Justine Henin in Miami on Saturday to claim her fourth career title in the ,9-million-dollar Sony Ericsson Open. ”It’s just not in me to give up,” said Williams, who showed a steely resolve in saving two match points in the 10th game of the second set.
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West Indies captain Brian Lara is not buying into the debate about why crowds have been smaller than expected at the first World Cup in the Caribbean. Critics are blaming the high price of tickets compared with local household incomes, or a sign of local malaise in cricket.
There will be no lottery for at least a month, Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa said on Saturday. ”The sheer volume of work which had to be undertaken … made it impossible to conclude this work in time for me to make a new decision before the expiry of the current [lottery operator’s licence],” Mpahlwa said.