Workers in the quiet Japanese fishing village of Wada carved up two whales on Thursday, signalling the start of the summer whaling season despite international protests. Japan, which says whaling is a cherished cultural tradition, began scientific research whaling in 1987.
The Labour Court was expected to rule on Thursday on whether police, prisons and traffic officers could join a three-week public-sector strike. The Labour Court issued an interim interdict last Friday prohibiting members of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union from taking part in the industrial action.
The JSE was higher at noon on Thursday, shrugging off a negative tone on overseas markets as investors piled in ahead of a futures close-out later in the day. However, traders said the local bourse was expected to follow overseas markets weaker after the close-out, which started at 12pm.
Juan Roman Riquelme scored two second-half goals as Boca Juniors beat Gremio 2-0 away on Wednesday to win the South American Libertadores Cup. Riquelme, playing the final match of his spell on loan from Spain’s Villareal, took his tally to eight goals as the Argentines completed a 5-0 aggregate win over their Brazilian opponents in the two-leg final.
Former Australian Test rugby star David Campese wasn’t able to ”goose step” this obstacle. Campese, who scored 64 Test tries and played in 101 Tests for Australia, has been an outspoken critic of his national team since he retired in 1996. Now it appears as if Campese has been shunned by the current Wallabies.
Springbok skipper Victor Matfield is to play for French second division side Toulon next season, L’Equipe sports daily reported on Thursday. The 30-year-old lock will join the Mediterranean coast team on a one-year contract after the World Cup in France.
Barcelona’s soccer superstar Ronaldinho helped his side to a 2-1 victory over South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns at a packed Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Wednesday night. The visitors were trailing 1-0 for most of the exhibition match, raising the hopes of the 45 000-strong crowd.
A barrage of mortar bombs hit Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone on Thursday and several plumes of smoke could be seen rising near buildings housing the Iraqi parliament and government offices. The Green Zone, on the west side of the Tigris, is Baghdad’s most secure area but has been a frequent target for rockets and mortar bombs fired by militants.
An identity document that was never delivered, which was later linked to a woman’s suicide, is under investigation, the Department of Home Affairs said on Wednesday. Bongekile Mkhize, a 24-year-old aspiring nurse, left a note in which she said she could no longer live without an ID book.
Germany threw down the gauntlet to Britain on Wednesday over one of the issues that will dominate a crucial European Union. Addressing one of British Prime Minister’s Tony Blair’s ”red line” subjects, the Germans made clear they want the so-called charter of fundamental rights to be legally enforceable.