Tourism linked to bird watching has provided an alternative to slash-and-burn agriculture in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal. Its viability has also been recognised as a worthwhile source of income in industrialised Richards Bay, according to Duncan Pritchard, Rio Tinto’s programme director of the Zululand Birding Route.
Western Province boosted their confidence ahead of their home semifinal against Free State by beating the Lions 23-17 in their Currie Cup clash at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday evening. In Bloemfontein, the Free State Cheetahs put in a morale-boosting 17-3 win over the Sharks.
Kimi Raikkonen produced a stunning performance to race through the field and secure his seventh win of the year in the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on Sunday. The Finn started from 17th on the grid after a rain-affected qualifying and snatched the lead from Italian Renault driver Giancarlo Fisichella on the final lap of the race.
On Saturday, Tropical Storm Stan triggered a mudslide that buried the Guatemalan community of Panajab and neighbouring Tzanchaj and left 1 400 people missing and feared dead. Hundreds of local Mayan peasants armed with hoes, picks and shovels on Sunday searched for the remains of their loved ones buried alive under tonnes of mud.
While the Spar South African women’s hockey team cantered to victory in their Africa Cup of Nations final, the men’s final between South Africa and Egypt was a thrilling affair that went right down to the wire. The men had to weather an immense effort from the Egyptians as the two teams ended full-time goalless.
Brett Lee and Shane Watson took four wickets apiece as the World XI crumbled meekly for 137, losing by 156 runs on Sunday and giving Australia a 3-0 sweep in the limited-overs Super Series. The two-time defending World Cup champion Australians confirmed their status as the number-one team in limited-overs cricket.
Pakistan’s interior ministry said on Sunday that more than 19 000 people died in the huge earthquake that shook parts of South Asia on Saturday, while India raised its toll to 583. Another Pakistani official said an estimated 30 000 people were killed in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir alone.
Rescue experts, medical teams, sniffer dogs and supplies were being mobilised on Sunday as a worldwide effort cranked into gear to bring aid to victims of a massive earthquake that struck South Asia. Japan, the United States and the European Union were among the first to offer manpower and financial aid to Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.
Eldorado Park residents promised to continue protesting over the murder of a six-year-old girl on Saturday after a day of violent demonstrations in the township. The residents, who threw stones, broke windows and damaged cars outside of the Eldorado Park police station, dispersed on Saturday afternoon but promised to come back to protest about the death of Gairoenisha Ganchi.
Croatia, The Netherlands, Poland, Italy and England on Saturday booked their places at next year’s World Cup finals to join fellow European qualifiers, Ukraine and Germany. Croatia beat Sweden 1-0 through Darijo Srna’s 56th minute penalty, while England also needed a penalty — scored by Frank Lampard in the 25th minute — to edge out Austria by the same score.