Events in Cote d’Ivoire last week illustrated the fragility of the three-month peace in that country. Drunken Ivoirean rebels killed two French peacekeepers in an exchange of fire 300km north of Abidjan last Tuesday.

On paper, the war in Côte d’Ivoire’s war is over. Peace was declared in West Africa’s economic hub nearly two months ago, and rebels and loyalists united in a power-sharing government. But fears of a new conflict are on the rise with rumours of new uprisings and heightened military measures.

Andy Roddick unfurled his body and unleashed an ace that forced a line judge to duck as the ball slammed against the wall with a thud. It was the loudest display the American produced on Sunday in his victory over Flavio Saretta of Brazil in the US Open.

A low turnout in Zimbabwe’s municipal elections at the weekend — probably no more than 30% of registered voters — has been blamed on apathy and the country’s long-running economic crisis.

One might have thought that retaining her women’s high-jump world title would have made it a good day for South Africa’s Hestrie Cloete at the World Championships in Paris on Sunday, but the opposite was true.

After some tenacious play in England, it smells like team spirit. Every time England faltered, South Africa swarmed all over them. That’s the mark, not necessarily of a great team — although great teams always possess this quality — but of a good team that believes in itself.

Chelsea have completed the €24-million euro transfer of French midfielder Claude Makelele from Real Madrid. The move appeared threatened because Real were said to be refusing to give the player his slice of the transfer fee.