The prospect that England, the imperial mother country, could snatch the Ashes from Australia’s grasp for the first time in almost two decades has many bleary-eyed cricket fanatics calling for Ricky Ponting and his ageing warriors to be brought home in chains.

As Germany heads for a bitter general election in two weeks, contradictions, indecision and uncertainty are to be found across the country. Though the standard of living for most of the 80-million-plus population remains extraordinarily high, particularly in wealthy southern states, no one feels comfortable.

French President Jacques Chirac has been admitted to hospital for at least a week with a blood-vessel problem in his eye that could have been caused by a stroke, it was revealed on Saturday night. Although the problem did not seem serious, it is likely to be seen as another setback for Chirac after a string of political defeats.

United States President George Bush ordered an extra 17 000 troops — including 7 000 elite airborne troops and marines — into New Orleans and the devastated Gulf Coast on Saturday to try to bolster the stumbling flood relief effort and salvage the reputation of his presidency.