Skyrocketing energy prices will figure prominently on the agenda of the world’s seven largest economic powers when they gather on Friday. Discussions on worldwide economic matters will carry over into the weekend meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Zimbabwe ruling party Zanu-PF’s plan to amend the Constitution to delay the 2008 presidential election until 2010 to facilitate Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s succession to President Mugabe appears to have collapsed in acrimony after its designated architect, justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, confirmed it is no longer on the cards.
A major earthquake hit a distant, sparsely populated region of Russia’s far east early on Friday, causing unknown damage and possible injuries, emergency officials said. The United States Geological Survey and Japan’s Meteorological Agency estimated the temblor to be about 7,7-magnitude.
Venezuela is among the most violent places in Latin America, and critics of President Hugo Chávez are increasingly accusing him of failing to make crime a priority. A series of particularly heinous murders sparked protests earlier this month by crowds demanding immediate action to make the streets safer.
On a day overshadowed by protests against Beijing’s human rights record, United States President George Bush and China’s leader, Hu Jintao, made little headway on Thursday in resolving issues of trade, or easing global tensions over North Korea and Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The leader of the United States Episcopal church, which is in danger of being expelled from the worldwide Anglican communion for its election of an openly homosexual bishop, has warned parishioners of the diocese of California that they would widen the confrontation it they chose another gay bishop.
It was a night of emphatic victories on day three of the Telkom South African National Swimming Championships in Durban on Thursday. Jean Basson came within just one-100th of a second of his best time as he cruised to victory in the 200m freestyle. The 18-year-old had little trouble from his rivals throughout the race.
While the intriguing Premier Soccer League title race enjoys a ”rest period’ this weekend, there is no respite for Orlando Pirates as they take on Sudan’s AlHilal in a first-leg, third-round Caf Champions League game at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon — easily the most prestigious, lucrative and testing challenge that confronts Pirates.
Roger Federer has relied on his serve to remain unbeaten in ATP Masters events for more than a year. Guillermo Coria has had to overcome his serve just to get to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters. Federer won 87% of the points on his first serve as he defeated third-round opponent Benjamin Balleret of Monaco on Thursday.
Rodrigo Rato, the head of the International Monetary Fund, said on Thursday that President Robert Mugabe’s government needed to change its economic course and the way it is governing the Southern African nation. Rato, who was addressing journalists in Washington, said the multilateral lender was still concerned over Zimbabwe’s future.