Kenya has stepped to the forefront of African agricultural biotechnology with the inauguration of a ”level II biosafety greenhouse” in Nairobi that will allow containment of genetically modified crops at the experimental stage. Neighbouring Uganda also has a biotechnology laboratory, which is now carrying out tissue culture of bananas, coffee and other crops.
A top American general has predicted that anti-government insurgency in Iraq may never end. Lieutenant General Thomas Metz, the second most senior American officer in Iraq and the force’s tactical operations commander, said: ”I think there is enough turmoil in this part of the world that there will be some element out there that will be opposed to the government and will be violent and lethal.”
The realisation of a rugby dream to pull together all the forces of Pacific’s rugby nations comes to fruition on Saturday when the Pacific Islanders take on the Wallabies in their first-ever international. The best players of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa will pool their immense talents and physiques to test themselves against Australia, who only last week overpowered World Cup champions England 51-15 in Brisbane.
Were it not enough to be dispatched in straight sets by an outsider in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Tim Henman was waking up on Thursday to a near-unanimous press verdict that he will now never win his home tournament. Henman is now approaching 30, an age at which tennis players generally begin to decline.
Russian teenager Maria Sharapova became the second-youngest woman in the Open era to reach the Wimbledon final on Thursday when she launched a stunning fightback to defeat former champion Lindsay Davenport of the United States 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.
Big-spending Premiership side Mamelodi Sundowns continue to lead the pack during the 2004 edition of the Telkom Charity Cup voting standings. The Chloorkop-based side, who failed to qualify to participate in the past two editions of the tournament, had by late on Wednesday collected 23 748 votes.
Top South African soccer defender Lifa Gqosha of Premiership side Dynamos in Limpopo has decided to hang up his boots. Gqosha is planning to pursue a career as a coach after his contract with the club expired at the end of the 2003/04 soccer season.
The South African Rugby Players Association (Sarpa), which represents all professional rugby players in South Africa, maintains that Brian van Rooyen has little appreciation or concern for the legitimate needs and requirements of professional rugby players in the country.
Bafana Bafana are determined to wipe away the memory of their recent 3-0 defeat against Ghana in Kumasi and get their 2006 World Cup campaign back on track. After a number of setbacks this week it was down to serious business in preparing for Saturday’s key World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso at the FNB stadium.
Defending champion Roger Federer overcame 2002 winner Lleyton Hewitt in four sets on Wednesday to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, edging closer to a possible final against Andy Roddick. Federer prevailed in a high-quality centre-court match that ended close to dusk. It was his 22nd consecutive win on grass.