World champion Michael Schumacher proved his resilience when he took a hat-trick of defeats in his stride to return to the top of the pile in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix. He led from start to finish on the tricky Suzuka track after qualifying on pole and his technical director, Ross Brawn, said: ”It’s typical Michael.”

There is no sign of progress in talks between steel giant Ispat Iscor and the government over a ”developmental pricing” model aimed at helping local industry to capitalise on South Africa’s abundance of cheaply accessible iron ore. And as the combined effects of the strong rand and high input costs continue to hurt margins in local mining, there is little agreement over what ”developmental pricing” means.

The corruption and fraud trial of controversial Durban businessman Schabir Shaik gets under way in the Durban High Court on Monday. However, Shaik is only expected to take his place in the dock on Wednesday, after an application by e.tv to film the court proceedings has been dealt with.

The race to claim the five World Cup finals berths from Africa is no clearer after this weekend’s qualifying matches, but Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago closed in on the final group stage in the Concacaf region on Sunday. In South America, Ivan Kaviedes and Edison Mendez scored a goal each as Ecuador blanked Chile 2-0 to move into fourth place in the 10-team qualifying group with 13 points from nine matches.

The Hansa Powerade Dusi 2005 organising committee resolved last week to reconsider the event’s age restrictions. ”Frankly, after last year’s incidents we feel that we need to look at the entry restrictions for children,” said Cameron Mackenzie, chairperson of the committee.

Australia’s Brooke Hanson set a record with her fourth individual title and American Ian Crocker set a world 50m butterfly record in Indiana on Sunday at the World Short-Course Swim Championships. Hanson won the 100m breaststroke and the 200m individual medley to give her an unprecedented four individual crowns in one meet.

Australian Keith Miller, rated one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders, died in Melbourne on Monday aged 84, a family spokesperson said. Miller passed away peacefully at a nursing home on the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne. He was a magnificent attacking batsman, averaging almost 37 in 55 Tests and claimed 170 wickets at 22,97.

Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter is able to take a six-month breather from his team’s 2006 World Cup Group 2 qualifying campaign in the secure knowledge that his side top the standings at the halfway mark. Bafana head Group 2 after scoring a heart-stopping 1-0 win over Uganda in Kampala on Sunday.

Anyone looking for an apartment in New York City could have a look, beginning on Tuesday, at the one with biggest asking price seen to date in a metropolis known for its high real-estate prices. Martin Zweig, the well-known stock-market guru and author, is putting his Fifth Avenue penthouse on the market for an asking price of -million.