The European Commission has won a legal battle to gain access to an investigative journalist’s notes and potentially reveal his sources, in a ruling that could have ramifications for press freedom across Europe. Hans Martin Tillack this week failed in a legal bid to stop the commission looking at his notes.
Though President Thabo Mbeki had one orchid named after him in Singapore this week, there are already about 200 Zuma orchids on the International Orchid Register. Unfortunately for the deputy president, most of them seem to be named for California’s Zuma Valley, an orchid-growing centre.
The Warriors produced a fantastic performance in the field to reach the Standard Bank Pro20 Series cricket final, beating Free State Eagles by eight runs in a tension-filled finish to their semifinal at Sahara Oval St George’s on Friday. Spinner Johan Botha led a brilliant bowling performance.
At least nine people were killed and 26 wounded when a car bomb exploded outside a crowded Shi’ite mosque in Baghdad during Friday prayers, interior ministry and hospital sources said. A police official had earlier said five were killed and 25 hurt in the attack at Al-Subeih mosque, in the south-east of the capital.
Brian Lara smashed his second century in successive matches with a superlative 176, but South Africa earned the honours against the West Indies on the first day Thursday of the third Test. Lara dominated with some majestic stroke play, but the West Indies would have been disappointed with 292 for seven at the close at Kensington Oval.
A special South African Rugby Union president’s council meeting will go ahead on Saturday, despite the inability of number of council members to attend. The sport faces a crisis after allegations of a palace coup. Five members of the president’s council have called on the body to set aside the decision to award the five Super 14 franchises.
Sudan defended its handling of the bloodshed in Darfur on Friday and said it will never hand over war-crime suspects for trial at the International Criminal Court. The comments by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mustafa Osman Ismael came as the United Nations warned of new clashes between rebels and Arab militiamen in the Darfur region.
McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa finished fastest in first practice for the San Marino Grand Prix in Italy on Friday as world champions Ferrari were outpaced by their rivals. Michael Schumacher, who has only scored two points so far, showed his hand early at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari to set the pace.
A ”black box” to assist motorists involved in accidents was unveiled in Johannesburg on Friday. The accident recorder kit is assembled and packaged by the workers of two NGOs. It contains first-aid accessories, two emergency blankets, gloves and a yellow ”light stick”.
Satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys has launched a biting attack on President Thabo Mbeki’s stand on Aids and nutrition. ”Most of the black people who have died of Aids in South Africa were too poor to even phone for help, let alone pizza delivery,” Uys said in a statement on Friday.