Riot police used violence to break up a gay rights demonstration in Moscow on Sunday and arrested several European parliamentarians in what critics say is the latest violation of human rights in Russia. A group of gay rights activists came under attack from neo-Nazi thugs when they tried to present a petition to Moscow’s mayor.
With goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs tested by little more than back passes from his defenders, South Africa strolled into the Cosafa Cup semifinals with a 2-0 win over Mauritius at a sleepy Somhlolo Stadium in Swaziland on Sunday afternoon. However, it took the youthful Bafana Bafana combination 42 minutes to assert themselves.
Versatile Italian Danilo di Luca beat some of the world’s best climbers to extend his race lead after a thrilling 15th stage of the Tour of Italy at Auronzo on Sunday. Italian Riccardo Ricco won the monumental stage in the Dolomite mountains after being prodded over the finish line by his Saunier Duval teammate Leonardo Piepoli.
Fifa has banned international games from being played more than 2 500m above sea level. Fifa president Sepp Blatter said the decision was taken on Sunday after a review by the medical team for world soccer’s governing body. Blatter also reiterated his full support in South Africa’s ability to hold the 2010 World Cup.
New Zealand accounted for Fiji 29-7 in a rainy London Sevens rugby final at Twickenham on Sunday. By winning their second tournament in the eight-leg world series, New Zealand closed the gap on series leader Fiji to 10 points going into the final leg at Murrayfield next weekend.
On Sunday, the opening day of the French Open, Serena Williams struggled through the first set before a long rain delay allowed her to regroup and dominate Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. The eight-time grand-slam champion was broken four times in the first set, and again in the opening game of the second.
Rory Sabbatini had to settle for beating the number-three player in the world and a two-time Masters champion. As usual, Tiger Woods wasn’t at the Colonial. Sabbatini made a 15-foot birdie putt on the first play-off hole at the Crowne Plaza Invitational to beat Jim Furyk and Bernhard Langer.
The South African Nursing Council is in disarray, according to its deputy registrar, media reports said on Monday. An audit report found that the council was susceptible to widespread fraud, theft and misappropriation of funds, administrative discrepancies and non-compliance with accounting principles, tax laws and its own policies.
A Libyan court acquitted five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian medic on Sunday of charges of slandering police officers by protesting that their confessions had been extracted under torture. The ruling came just hours after an organisation headed by a son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi said the whole saga may soon be resolved.
Ethiopia reopened its embassy in Somalia on Sunday for the first time since the countries fought a war 30 years ago, strengthening the nations’ ties as Somalia tries to stave off an Islamic insurgency. Ethiopia, the region’s military powerhouse, has sent troops to protect this chaotic nation’s fragile government.