Mark Chapman, the man who murdered John Lennon, could be released from jail next month in a move that has sparked fears of retribution from Beatles fans. Chapman will have a parole hearing in the week beginning 4 October, officials at the New York State Parole Division said.

Instead of arresting drag queens at the gay pride parade in Johannesburg on Saturday, police turned a blind eye to various infringements of the law. The character of the march had been threatened earlier this month, when police warned they would arrest anyone in drag.

The air was hot and the mosquitoes were biting as Tom Brown sweatily trudged from house to house on the leafy suburban street. Brown is campaigning on the streets of Clay County, Missouri, one of the most crucial battlegrounds in the US elections. The message was loud and clear: Bush is winning in the swing states.

Winemakers in a tiny Swiss village are fighting for their livelihood against the mighty producers of a better-known bubbly French wine who believe that they alone should be allowed to use the noble name. Champagne’s 669 villagers say champagne has been produced there since the Romans.

A delegation of prominent British Muslims is expected in Baghdad on Sunday as frantic last-ditch efforts to save the life of Ken Bigley, the 62-year-old British engineer seized by Islamic militants in the city 10 days ago, reached a climax. The kidnappers have already beheaded two Americans abducted with Bigley.

Fanie Lombaard celebrated his 10th paralympic medal with silver in the javelin as debutante Natalie du Toit joined the big man among the greats of world sport when she also won silver to add to her four Athens paralympics gold medals — three of them world records — on Saturday night.

South Africa wrapped up their Euro/Africa Zone Group One Davis Cup tie against Greece with a comfortable victory in the doubles at the Groenkloof Tennis Stadium on Saturday. The victory gives the South Africans an unassailable 3-0 lead going into Sunday’s two reverse singles matches.

Captain Brian Lara praised the efforts of his tail enders after the unlikely duo had guided the West Indies to a two-wicket win over England in the ICC Champions Trophy. The pair put on 71 for the ninth wicket, after West Indies had been 147-8, to get their side past England’s 217 with just two wickets to spare.

The Cheetahs won their Currie Cup encounter against the Sharks 30-22 after leading 20-8 at half-time in Bloemfontein on Saturday. Although winger Anton Pitout was named man of the match and Juan Smith did everything right to confirm that he is one of the best flankers in the country.

Ten people, including two minors, have been arrested in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo on suspicion they took part in a massacre at Lengabo village, in the restive Ituri region, say UN officials. Three hundred people in Medu were questioned, and 10 were eventually taken into preventive custody.