Two historians lost another legal battle in British courts on Wednesday over claims that author Dan Brown plagiarised their ideas for his blockbuster novel The Da Vinci Code. Three of Britain’s senior judges dismissed the appeal by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh against an earlier high court ruling that also rejected their claims.
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Angry fans told Pakistani cricketers to ”go to hell” as they returned home on Wednesday, still reeling from the murder of coach Bob Woolmer and their humiliating World Cup exit. ”Why have you come back?” one fan shouted as the players were protected by dozens of uniformed police.
A Philippine pre-school head surrendered to police on Wednesday after holding a busload of his own students hostage with a hand grenade and other weapons in what he said was an appeal to help them. Amando "Jun" Ducat was taken away by police after the 10-hour stand-off on a school bus on the streets of Manila.
Southern African leaders were gathering in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Wednesday for an extraordinary summit on economic and political regional woes spurred by crises in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two-day summit of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) comes amid a growing global outcry over turmoil in Zimbabwe.
The JSE retained its softer tone at midday on Wednesday in line with weaker Asian and United States markets on growing concerns over the US economy. At 11.53am, the all share index was off 0,36%. Resources were 0,14% softer, the platinum mining index was flat (-0,05%) while the gold mining index added 0,59%.
South Africa’s CPIX inflation rate, targeted by the central bank, rose more slowly than expected at 4,9% in the year to February, increasing the chances that interest rates will stay on hold for now.
Gunmen stormed a Sunni district in the north-western Iraqi town of Tal Afar overnight, killing dozens in apparent reprisal for deadly truck bombings in a Shi’ite area, Iraqi officials said on Wednesday. Police, military and health officials said as many as 50 men were killed in the attack on the Sunni district of al-Wahda in the volatile town.
The Democratic Repubic of Congo’s ex-vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba, who has taken refuge in South Africa’s embassy in Kinshasa, can remain there for as long as he wants, the Pretoria government said on Tuesday. Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said Bemba had yet to reveal his long-term plans.
Australia’s women’s water polo team has lodged an official complaint alleging an Italian opponent bit their star player Kate Gynther. The incident apparently happened in Australia’s 12-8 victory over the Olympic champions at the world championships in Melbourne on Tuesday.
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Matthew Hayden’s commanding innings of 158 left world champions Australia in a strong position against hosts West Indies before rain forced the opening Super Eight match of this World Cup into a second day. Hayden’s record-breaking display was the centrepiece of Australia’s 322 for six after they’d lost the toss.