The judge in the Michael Jackson child molestation case sealed one of the most critical defence motions in the case without comment on Friday, continuing a pattern of secrecy he has imposed throughout the proceedings. An attorney representing media organisations promised to oppose the seal.
An employee of ConAgra Foods Inc killed four people in the cafeteria of the plant on Friday, news reports said. The man carried two handguns into the plant and strode into the cafeteria, where he opened fire, The New York Times reported on its website. The man then killed himself.
A liquidator appointed to investigate corruption in the liquidation industry appeared in the Johannesburg Regional Court on Friday for alleged fraud and corruption, police said. Captain Ronnie Naidoo said Enver Motala was arrested on Friday by the serious economic offences unit.
The Competition Tribunal has approved the merger between New Africa Publications and Johnnic Publishing. The transaction paves the way for Johnnic Publishing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnnic Communications, to acquire New Africa Publications, the tribunal said on Friday.
Several rockets were fired at a Baghdad hotel complex housing foreign journalists and businessmen on Friday, scoring a direct hit on the Sheraton hotel and wounding up to four Iraqis. The attack came one day after ousted strongman Saddam Hussein appeared in court to hear charges of crimes against humanity.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=118106">’I am Saddam Hussein'</a>
Russian 17-year-old Maria Sharapova pulled off one of the biggest Wimbledon upsets to date on Saturday when she dethroned top seed and two-time defending champion Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 in a stunning women’s final. She is the second-youngest Wimbledon winner in the Open era and the first Russian to win.
Second-seeded American Andy Roddick unleashed the full power of his awesome artillery to crush the brave resistance of Croatia’s Mario Ancic 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 and set up a Wimbledon title showdown with defending champion Roger Federer on Saturday. The 21-year-old Roddick becomes the first American to reach the men’s final since 2000.
Rising formula-one star Fernando Alonso delighted the Renault home-country crowd to capture the pole position for the French Grand Prix ahead of six-time world champion Michael Schumacher. ”To be first at the home grand prix is very nice,” the Spanish driver said. ”Now we have to see tomorrow.”
The American-bred, three-year-old Greys Inn gave the opposition a galloping lesson in the R1,5-million Vodacom Durban July Handicap over 2 200m when he streaked through the field down the home stretch to win with ease. This was the second win in South Africa’s premier race for trainer Mike de Kock and jockey Anthony Delpech.
A day after a pair of enthralling, three-set women’s semifinals enlivened Wimbledon, unrelenting rain and uneven match-ups conspired to produce a dreary Friday on which neither men’s semifinal was completed. When play was stopped, defending champion Roger Federer held a 6-2, 6-3, 4-3 edge against number 10 Sebastien Grosjean.