Springbok wing Bryan Habana scored a try two minutes into injury time to lead the Bulls to a thrilling win over the Sharks for their first Super 14 title. Bulls flyhalf Derick Hougaard added the conversion from next to the uprights to spoil the party for the 54 000 home fans who turned out to witness the first all-South African Super 14 final.
Sachin Tendulkar hit his 36th Test century and Sourav Ganguly also reached a hundred as India moved on to 384-6 on a rain-hit second day of the first Test against Bangladesh on Saturday. Just 20 overs were possible on the second day, India having resumed on 295-3.
Ethiopia said on Saturday its troops backing Somali government forces killed nearly 1 000 insurgents in Mogadishu in March and April during some of the heaviest clashes in the city’s bloody history. Renegade Somali leaders living in Eritrea last month vowed to intensify insurgent attacks despite their retreat following the Mogadishu clashes.
Transport Minister Jeff Radebe on Saturday denied a Mail & Guardian report that he had backed businessman Tokyo Sexwale’s ”presidential ambitions”, and called for a withdrawal of the article, but the newspaper says it stands by its story.
Over 1 000 pregnant women in South Africa set a new world record on Saturday for the largest gathering of women due to give birth — and there were no early arrivals. ”We were a little bit concerned having all these pregnant women under one roof, but we are happy that none of them went into labour,” said organiser Projeni Pather.
Britain’s Tony Blair, on his last visit to Iraq as prime minister, said on Saturday he had no regrets about his part in the United States-led invasion that removed Saddam Hussein. On a farewell trip to a country whose future may define his legacy after a decade in power, Blair met Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani.
Zimbabwe will cooperate with South African President Thabo Mbeki’s efforts to mediate between the government and the opposition but would not welcome any ”parallel initiatives”, state media reported on Saturday. Southern African leaders asked Mbeki in March to mediate between the government and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Russia has foiled a plot to kill the governor of Russia’s second city of St Petersburg who is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, Interfax news agency reported late on Friday. Citing an unidentified law-enforcement source, Interfax said three people had been detained on suspicion of being involved in the plan to assassinate Valentina Matviyenko.
About 300 people are vying for vehicles, printing and office equipment on offer in Cape Town on Saturday in the first auction of assets of financial-services company Fidentia Holdings. ”There is no place for anybody to sit,” said an Auction Alliance employee, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Israel launched more air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza on Saturday, killing at least one person, as top officials considered a broader strategy for stopping rockets being fired at Israeli towns. The Israeli army said an air strike hit three militants firing rockets from northern Gaza.