Americans are sceptical about a L’Equipe report that 1999 urine samples of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong have tested positive for erythropoeitin and are critical of the French newspaper’s story. ”Armstrong’s lie” blared the newspaper’s front-page headline.
Defending champions Liverpool survived a Champions League scare on Tuesday before booking their place in the multimillion-dollar group stages where they will be joined by a little-known Swiss team who were playing amateur football nine years ago.
The JSE was weaker in noon trade on Wednesday on the back of negative global sentiment. Heavy losses in resources, following BHP Billiton’s results released before the opening, exacerbated the bourse’s fall. By 12.15pm, the all share index shed 1,19%. Resources retreated 2,21%, while the gold and platinum mining indices surrendered 0,48% and 0,93% respectively.
Austrian champions Rapid Vienna returned to the Champions League group stage for the first time in eight years while Thun from their Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland qualified for the elite event for the first time on Tuesday. Jozef Valachovic was the hero for Rapid when the Slovakia defender headed home a corner kick.
Mamelodi Sundowns dropped their first league points of the season when they were held to a 1-1 draw by inspired Golden Arrows at Loftus Stadium on Tuesday. Both teams created chances throughout the game, but poor finishing let them down in the early stages.
India’s cricket selectors want Sachin Tendulkar so badly that they will go to any length to have the master batsman back at the crease. The five selectors have provisionally included Tendulkar in the squad for next month’s two Test matches in Zimbabwe even before the batsman has begun training after elbow surgery.
Minister of Home Affairs Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is outraged that she was not told about the deaths of two illegal immigrants at the Lindela Repatriation Centre last month, media reports said on Wednesday. Alice Chumba, who was pregnant, died of complications on July 5 and Mcabangeli Mlambo died the next day after vomiting blood.
Google really started talking on Wednesday. The internet search titan unleashed Google Talk, an instant messaging program designed to unify the factionalised world of online chat, according Georges Harik, director of ”Googlettes,” or new products, at the United States company.
Taiwan will allow the Beijing Olympic torch to pass through Taiwan if the torch relay route does not imply Taiwan is part of China. ”If the torch comes from China to Taiwan and returns to Hong Kong or Macau, we won’t accept it because that implies Taiwan is part of China,” said a spokesperson for the National Council of Physical Fitness and Sports.
For Andile Yenana, the legacy left by bands like the Brotherhood of Breadth and Todd Matshikiza is too valuable to be left to left to those whose only joy is the sound that comes from the ringing of a till. He spoke to Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya.