Tropical Storm Prapiroon killed 18 people as it lashed south China with heavy rain and winds on Friday after forcing the evacuation of more than half a million and snarling transport links across the region. State television showed pictures of huge trees uprooted by the roadside in the Guangdong city of Shenzhen.
An Australian city slicker who recently moved to the continent’s tropical far north has found he is housemates with a 6m python and its 3m mate. James Kinniburgh discovered the amethystine pythons living in the roof of his Cairns house a fortnight ago, Australia’s AAP news agency reported on Saturday.
Somalia’s Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed Gedi, on Friday appointed seven new ministers as he started replacing the 38 who quit in the past week to protest against the deployment of Ethiopian troops to protect his 18-month-old administration.
World oil prices fell on Friday, but losses were limited by strong demand, tight supplies and geopolitical tensions, analysts said. Traders were monitoring the latest developments in Nigeria, the biggest oil producer in Africa, where three Filipino oil and gas workers were abducted on Friday.
The village headman of Mphandula, Malawi, has never heard of Madonna, the pop star. But he knows Madonna the philanthropist. Madonna has announced plans to raise at least -million for programmes to support the nearly one million children in Malawi who have lost parents to Aids.
South Africa’s pace spearhead Makhaya Ntini destroyed Sri Lanka’s top order with a four-wicket haul on the second morning of the second cricket Test in Colombo on Saturday. Sri Lanka, who bowled South Africa out for 361 off the penultimate over of the first day, went to lunch on the second day at the Sara Oval struggling at 98-5.
The senior women’s national soccer team, Banyana Banyana, have celebrated Women’s Month in style by qualifying for the fifth African Women’s Championship to be held in Nigeria in September this year. Banyana Banyana on Friday beat Tanzania 4-0 in a return leg, having beaten them 3-0 at home two weeks ago.
”Don’t go near FNB Stadium if you don’t have a ticket,” was the stark warning from the Premier Soccer League on Friday after all 73Â 000 tickets available to the public for Saturday’s three-game Telkom Charity Cup extravaganza at FNB Stadium had been sold out. Strict security has also been implemented.
The Border Bulldogs could not match the power of the Leopards, going down 30-19 in their Currie Cup first division match played at East London’s Absa Stadium on Friday night. The visitors scored four tries to three to earn a bonus point, while the Bulldogs, who trailed 27-0 at the break playing against a strong wind, left their best for last.
Defending world champion Fernando Alonso was accused of dangerous driving and hit with a two-second penalty after Felipe Massa clocked the times in Friday’s final opening practice session for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The penalty he picked up for the qualifying session will probably knock Alonso halfway back down the grid.