United States Senator Susan Collins believes in a woman’s right to choose abortion, thinks it is time for urgent action on global climate change, and says the US can’t afford tax breaks for the wealthy right now. Nothing unusual about that, except that she is a Republican in the age of Karl Rove and the ”wedge issue”. ”I’m from a state that voted for John Kerry, they would not accept any other approach.”

Parts of western Johannesburg were plunged into darkness when an electrical sub-station in Hursthill near the Helen Joseph hospital caught fire on Monday evening. City Power spokesperson Sol Masolo said the company suspected one of its transformers had been damaged. The cause of the fire was not known.

Springbok coach Jake White has underlined his confidence that his men will halt their European tour fade-out by snatching revenge over Scotland this weekend — no matter how narrow they make the Murrayfield pitch. An upbeat White — who steered his troops to surprise Tri-Nations glory just two months ago — believes they can atone for their historic loss north of the border in 2002.

Spaniards like to say they live in Europe’s most racially tolerant country. That myth was shattered when soccer fans bellowed out monkey chants last week each time a black English player touched the ball in a friendly match. This and other racist incidents have tarnished Madrid’s image as it bids to host the 2012 Olympics.

Takalani ”The Panther” Ndlovu will have to clobber Willie Mabasa at the Carousel in Hammanskraal on Friday night if he wants to defend his SA featherweight title. Mabasa is fit and ready for the challenge, says his coach, Rob McLeod, adding: ”Mabasa said Takalani will have to kill him for this fight.”

South Africa prop Heinrich Kok has been snapped up by Bath for the rest of the season as cover for a depleted front row. Props David Flatman, Matt Stevens and Christian Loader are all sidelined, which prompted the move for 30-year-old Kok. Kok helped the Lions secure semifinal status during this season’s Currie Cup competition in South Africa.

A criminal investigation has begun into an incident in which spectators were punched by rampaging players during a basketball game. Nine players were suspended for joining in the most riotous brawl since the sport became a fixture on United States television.

Some years ago, several babies in the neo-natal intensive care unit of the Park Lane Clinic died from a bacterial infection. Bacteria had been found in the drip bags attached to the babies, and in the babies’ bodies. In light of the recent talk of regulating private hospitals to keep costs in check, there is now a good opportunity to look at a few other issues concerning private hospitals, reckons Pat Sidley.