Russia hit back on Monday at United States and European Union criticism, most recently voiced by US Vice-President Dick Cheney, that it was using energy as a political weapon, and said it was time the West came to terms with Russia’s progress as a market economy.
Wallaby captain George Gregan will miss the ACT Brumbies’ final Super 14 round-robin match after being suspended on Monday for a dangerous tackle. Gregan was suspended following a hearing by a three-man Sanzar panel for his tackle on Otago Highlanders winger Richard Kahui in Saturday’s 28-26 Brumbies’ loss at Canberra Stadium.
Kimi Raikkonen continued to complain about McLaren’s lack of pace on Sunday, after finishing fourth in the European Grand Prix. The 26-year-old Finn wanted a podium finish in front of Mercedes-Benz’ home fans, but was unable to make an impression on the leading Ferraris and Renaults after starting fifth on the grid.
South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius and Natalie du Toit both won double gold at the Visa Paralympic World Cup in Manchester this weekend. Pistorius won gold in the 100 and 200m during Sunday’s athletics events, while Du Toit smashed two world records in the pool on Saturday.
Michael Schumacher wasn’t surprised he won his second straight Formula One race after taking out the European Grand Prix for the sixth time on Sunday. Schumacher, who also relegated F1 champion Fernando Alonso to runner-up at Nürburgring like he did at San Marino GP two weeks ago, felt Ferrari’s earlier performances in the season weren’t accurate.
For the first time, Saudi Arabia is looking to encourage non-Muslim tourists, touting a unique experience and even nightlife in a country where alcohol and the mixing of the sexes are banned. "We promise you an experience that will hit your soul, mind and spirit … [with] lots of nightlife," Prince Sultan bin Salman, who heads the kingdom’s Supreme Commission for Tourism, told reporters in Dubai.
Broad, long and fastidiously smoothed over at every corner and edge, the new Peugeot 407 coupé appears to fancy itself as something in the Thunderbird 2 line. Remember the big green one, with the pod inside? The 407 has clearly been built, similarly, with freelance international crime-busting and tricky spells of hovering in mind.
The Honda Jazz, which has scored top marks in the JD Powers and Associates customer satisfaction survey for two years in a row, now has a more powerful model in the range that is aimed at attracting a clientele looking for more performance … and it’s an amazing little vehicle.
Machete in hand, farmer Nando Santosbaros rests as rain patters on the majestic shade trees sheltering his organic coffee cherries in East Timor. Though he hasn’t heard of them, and their jazz-infused stores are a world away, global coffee chain Starbucks is one of his biggest fans as hip caffeine addicts seek out smooth, chemical-free brews. For better sales, he is grateful.
Soldiers, police officers, teachers and other civil servants in Zimbabwe appear to have been taken for a ride by the Public Service Commission as it has begun to emerge that "hefty" salaries they were recently promised may have been just a mirage. They have blasted the government for making what they call empty promises.