The draw for the United States Open held as much drama for Roger Federer as most of his matches. He didn’t much care how it turned it out, who he played in the first round next Monday or who he might play in the rounds that follow. He was off in his own world on Wednesday, sleeping late, then practicing at the National Tennis Centre.
Mittal Steel SA said on Wednesday night it had not received any official notice of pending Solidarity strikes at several of its plants. Solidarity indicated earlier it had its ”strike ticket” and would down tools after a pay discrepancy had come to light. However Tami Didiza, Mittal’s general manager for corporate affairs, said the strike certificate was invalid.
African health ministers meeting in Mozambique on Wednesday described a planned 30% increase in spending on their continent by the UN’s World Health Organisation as important, but not enough, given the massive problems to be faced.
Lance Armstrong went on the offensive on Wednesday, saying it was ”preposterous” for the director of the Tour de France to suggest the seven-time champion ”fooled” race officials and the sporting world by doping. He also took to task the French newspaper that accused him.
Frank Lampard scored twice for Chelsea in their 4-0 win on Wednesday over West Bromwich Albion, putting the defending champions at the top of the league standings. Also, Thierry Henry and Pascal Cygan each scored two goals in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Fulham; Bolton beat Newcastle 2-0; and Blackburn and Tottenham drew 0-0.
New Zealand rugby coaches will be poring over video footage of unbeaten Tri-Nations champions South Africa this week to find a way through a seemingly impregnable defence. New Zealand coach Graham Henry said the Springboks deliberately hand the ball to their opponents and then seek to impose themselves.
Kimi Raikkonen has signed a pre-contract at Ferrari and is to replace record world champion Michael Schumacher at the famed Italian formula-one team from 2007 onwards, Germany’s Bild daily reported on Thursday. Bild said Schumacher could swap cockpits with Raikkonen as he is reportedly in talks with the Finn’s outfit.
The fact that so many pundits fancy the Springboks’ chances of beating the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations decider at Dunedin in New Zealand on Saturday is a good thing and a bad thing. This is the opinion of former Springbok captain Morne du Plessis, who earned 22 Test caps for his country and led the side in 15 of those matches.
Banking group Absa foresees nominal house price growth of at least 20% for 2005, but single-digit growth for 2006. "Nominal house price growth of at least 20% seems likely for 2005 as a whole, taking into account growth in prices of about 27% in the first six months of the year," the bank said in a statement.
The Land Rover bounced down a yellow dirt track, carrying three khaki-clad European tourists streaked with sweat, exhilarated after an elephant-spotting expedition. By the roadside, farmers sitting on fallen tree trunks complained that a herd of elephants had broken through electric fences yet again, wreaking havoc among their plots of cassava and fruit trees.