Cherie Blair

The wife of former British PM Tony Blair,Cherie & Wanawake na Maendeleo Chairperson, First Lady Salma Kikwete, listen to Vikindu villager Veronica Nyoni moments after she had given birth at Temeke District Hospital in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Dar bids Mbatia farewell

The body of former Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children Salome Mbatia, who died on Wednesday in a road accident, was flown yesterday to Msaranga Village in Kilimanjaro Region for burial.

In Dar es Salaam, President Jakaya Kikwete led thousands of mourners to pay last respects at Uganda Avenue, Oysterbay.

Other dignitaries who bid farewell to the former minister included retired presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin Mkapa, Vice President Mohamed Shein and Zanzibar President Aman Abeid Karume.

Others were Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, former Prime Minister Fredrick Sumaye, Chief of Defense Forces Davis Mwamunyange, and Speaker of the National Assembly Samuel Sitta.

Crowds lined up to see her face for the last time, many shedding tears as solemn religious songs filled the air.

At around 10:41, the coffin, draped in the national flag, and carried by some deputy ministers, was placed into a military ambulance for the final journey towards Julius Nyerere International Airport.

Speaking to The Guardian soon after the plane flew to Kilimanjaro Airport at 11:38, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister`s Office (Parliamentary Affairs) Dr. Batilda Buriani, said Salome Mbatia�s death was a big blow.

`It came very fast. I was very much shocked, although I knew fully well that every body has to die at some point, but for this case, I was deeply grieved. Salome was a very hard working person. She pioneered many development projects like the Women`s Bank, which is already registered and will soon become operational,` said Dr. Buriani.

For his part, the Deputy Minister for Information, Culture and Sports, Daniel Nsanzugwanko, described the deceased as a person whose star was rising quite fast.

`Her death really shocked me. It was quite untimely. Salome loved people,` he said.

Referring to the increased number of road accidents involving government leaders, Nsanzugwanko called upon drivers to adhere to road regulations.

Salome Mbatia was a CCM member of parliament (special seats). President Jakaya Kikwete had appointed her as deputy minister in 2005.

She had previously served as the CCM national treasurer.

She was awarded a degree in Personal Administration in Netherlands in 1982 and later undertook her MA in Management in the United States.

She also held the post of deputy minister in the ministry of Planning before she was relocated to the position she held until her death.

Salome Mbatia and three other people died on Wednesday at Kibena in Njombe District when the car she was travelling in had a face to face collision with a lorry which was overloaded with timber.

Opposition lose petition on by-elections

The High Court yesterday threw out an application filed by four opposition parties seeking to stop by-elections in 16 mainland Tanzania wards lined up for tomorrow.

It ruled that the Government would suffer a heavy loss if the elections are not conducted as planned.

The four parties were seeking an order to have the National Electoral Commission (NEC) shelve the by-elections until about 50,000 eligible voters are registered and allowed to take part.

However, a panel comprising judges Njengafibili Mwaikugile, Robert Makaramba and Aisha Nyerere said the petitioners had failed to prove to the court how the 50,000 people would suffer by not participating in the by-elections.

Delivering the ruling, Judge Mwaikugile said the applicants had also failed to give the court convincing evidence that there were indeed 50,000 people who had not been registered for the by-elections.

He said that, given such a glaring lack of crucial evidence, it would be improper and unfair to block a process on whose preparations the Government had spent a lot of money.

The panel consequently ruled that the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo, the Civic United Front, NCCR-Mageuzi and the Tanzania Labour Party application was untenable and that the by-elections should proceed as scheduled.

The counsel for the applicants, Mpale Mpoki, had earlier submitted that they had advised the electoral commission on the importance of registering all eligible voters not registered in 2004.

He told the court that, despite the warning, NEC went ahead with preparations for the by-elections without registering the said 50,000 people.

The counsel further submitted that NEC confirmed to the applicants on October 2, 2007 of its desire not to update the Permanent Voters Register so as to accommodate those people.

The applicants argued that the commission`s decision would violate the country`s constitution by denying the 50,000 the right to participate in the by-elections without reasonable cause.

Counsel Mpoki said the country\'s constitution gives NEC powers to register voters and organise elections but that does not mean the commission is also vested with powers to violate the law.

State attorney Joseph Ndunguru pleaded with the court to dismiss the application, saying the Government had spent 500m/- to ensure the by-elections were held as planned and would incur a big loss if the process is blocked.

He also submitted that there was no link between the holding of the by-elections and the updating of the register.

The by-elections are being held to fill vacancies resulting from the death of councillors in the 16 wards in mainland Tanzania.

Tour guides association criticises Immigration

The Immigration Department in the Ministry of Home Affairs has been criticised for issuing residence and work permits to foreigners who end up serving as tour guides denying their local counterparts the right to job opportunities.

The secretary to the association of tour guides in the country, Arnold Makinda said many local members had been rendered jobless as the department continued to issue Class `B` residence permits to people from neighbouring countries paying USD600.

`Two years down the lane, local tour guides have remained without a job on explanations that foreigners took over the available job opportunities. The permits issued to foreigners defied the directives given to the department by the legislators with regard to the ground level operations within the sector,` Makinda explained.

He said at joint meetings with tour stakeholders in Arusha and Dar es Salaam sometime in the past, members of the Parliamentary Committee, Natural Resources, Tourism and Environment turned down the request by some tour operators that the Immigration Department should allow foreigners to work as tour guides.

`Initially tour operators requested the parliamentary committee through the ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to allow foreigners to take part in tour guide operations. We are pleased with the firm decision taken by the legislators to rule out involvement of foreigners in tour guide career,` he clarified.

Minister for Natural resources and tourism, Prof. Jumanne Magembe, was quoted early this year as saying that since local personnel had proved equally capable of doing the job professionally, there was no justification for foreigners to act on their behalf.

When requested to comment on the complaints, Arusha Regional Immigration Officer, Justine Kabigumila said all permits were authorised at the ministry`s headquarters, and that his regional office did not have legal mandate to make decision on the matter.

Kabigumila, said the immigration guiding regulations insist that issuance of permits to foreign tour guides is prohibited.

UBA substitutes C for U in its name

The United Bank of Africa (UBA) yesterday announced a change of its operating name to Commercial Bank of Africa Tanzania Ltd (CBA).

CBA Chief Executive Officer Nehemiah Mchechu told reporters in Dar es Salaam, that the changes focus on turning UBA into a strong player in the corporate and personal banking market in the country.

`Our effort and resources will be channeled towards providing an efficient personal and stress free banking experience to corporate, foreign missions, NGOs and the quality end to cope with the fast growing business and economy,` he said.

He said changing the name to CBA will bring a positive revolution, including the enhancement of capital base.

Mchechu added that CBA stands also to benefit from Kenya in technological advancement and innovative products and service.

The strong business franchise of the bank and its great position gives the opportunity to better serve its client base that is expanding fast in the region, he said.

He said that using the name will bring closer ties for the bank operations across different countries adding that it will also give the opportunity to share the best practices within the group and increase the skills and knowledge of their staff.

The subscribers will benefit by having more security and being part of a bank that has a firm financial base and wide market access.

CBA is the largest privately owned commercial bank in Kenya with a focus on corporate and institutional banking and the middle to top end of the personal banking market servicing more than 30,000 customers.

Mindu Dam weeds in Moro threaten fishermen`s well being

Fishermen living around Mindu Dam here are compelled to combine fishing and agricultural undertaking to sustain their lives due to strange weeds choking the 400 ha of the Dam at Mazimbu in Morogoro.

A survey conducted by the delegation of Journalists at the dam last week, indicated that the situation affected socio economic patterns of around 400 fishermen whose livelihood solely depends on fishing.

These aquatic weeds are incredibly forming a myriad of clusters within the dam`s water surface, putting the most important `water source` for ten of thousands of the municipality dwellers, under siege.

According to Hamis Twahir (34) an estimated 300 fishermen who spent years around the dam have moved out of the area due to the decline of fishing undertakings.

Fatma Ahmad (38) a food vendor at Mindu Dam called on the government to address other environmental threats such as increasing water pollution and resurgence of water hyacinth.

`Our future will be at stake if the dam will be left to dry. I used to earn 12,000/- a day for selling food to fishermen, but I now earn 3,000/- due to fish catch dwindling,` she lamented.

In yet another development, lack of sedimentation plant for controlling incursion of silt at the dam, water intake is said to pose health risks to nearly four million dwellers of the municipality.

Grace Nyato told a delegation of journalists recently that they normally boil water for drinking and brushing teeth on fear that tap water is not safe.

`We do not drink tap water. Because we have heard a number of cases about water-borne diseases, particularly typhoid and cholera,` Nyato explained.

`Poor and illiterate families normally boil water only when they hear of cholera outbreak. Most of the poor and illiterate families drink tap water without boiling,` chipped in Jumanne Ramadhani.

A worker in the hospitality industry, James Mkude also concurred with the above concern, saying that `tap water is not safe here`.

`We are forced to put mineral water in hotel rooms for our customers for them to drink and brush their teeth,` Mkude said.

For his part, the Morogoro Regional Medical Officer, Dr Meshack Massi said tap water is clean but not safe for drinking.

`You can drink directly from the tap but some minerals contained in the silt can affect you,` Dr Massi said.

Commenting on the problem of silt influx, the MORUWASA Public Relations Officer, Michael Mlambiti said at least 2bn/- is needed to purchase the sedimentation plant for removing silt.

`We do not have sufficient money. We are looking for donor funds to get the sedimentation plant,` Mlambiti said.

Clarifying on contamination of water, he said MORUWASA water was safe and they were in the process to register with International Standard Organisation (ISO).

He however, admitted on the problem of water leakage saying it was at 34 per cent.

But water engineers say with water leakage, water is not safe because broken pipes can easily lead to the process of oxidation caused by rusting of pipes made of irons.
They also say that leaked water provides room for possible contamination of tap water.

Available findings from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) show that the problem of contamination of water in the municipality is caused by a combination of factors, including poor farming practices on the mountains.

Other causes, according to SUA researchers, are bush fires, deforestation on the mountains, forest disturbances along river courses and failure to adhere to forest conservation by-laws such as refraining from cultivating near water-catchments and river banks.

Before the decline, fishermen and surrounding communities used to earn their decent living by supplying fish to the region`s districts, Coast and Dar-es-salaam regions, among others.

The Investigative Journalism and Environment took place in Morogoro and was funded by Pact Tanzania under funding support from USAID agreement/Millennium Challenge Corporation to impart investigative skills to journalists engaged in the natural resources/ environment sectors in Tanzania.

Cashewnut farmers due to gain when new receipt system ready

Cashewnut farmers due to gain when new receipt system ready


Cashew Nut farmers stand to benefit after a new receipt system for the 2007/08 harvesting season has been initiated by the government.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Stephen Wassira, said in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, that the new system will reduce the problem to the farmers who were not paid their money and will improve the price to 610/-.

`The ministry has decided to have a receipt system because the farmers were denied payment due to the disorganised system used by the government earlier,` he said.

Wassira said that the farmers will take their cashew nuts to a godown that has been registered by the government and each of them would be given a receipt to show the total amount of the cashew nuts they have sold to cooperative unions.

`The farmers will be paid 60 per cent of their money, and when the trade union is through with the selling, they will be provided with the 40 per cent balance,` he said.

He said that the traders will buy cashew nuts from the godown where special trade representatives will negotiate the price in the presence of primary and secondary trade union representatives.

Wassira said that if the cashew nuts are sold at more than 610/- then the farmers will get more money, over and above 40 per cent.

He said that in other regions, farmers will be paid all their money taken from the banks by the trade union.

Last week private trading companies in Mtwara Region allegedly bought cashew nuts at 350/- per kilogramme, contrary to President Kikwete�s directive requiring them to purchase a kilogramme at 610/.

Speaking to The Guardian, farmers in Mtwara Region said that the President had instructed traders to buy cashew nuts at 610/- and not 350/-.

A cashew nut farmer, Ali Hassan, said that private traders were contributing to underdevelopment of framers, making them poorer.

`The President came to Mtwara Region on a tour and said traders should pay 610/- per kg. However, the traders are paying us 350/- and sometimes 150/- per Kg,` lamented Hassan.

Hassan explained that farmers depended on cashew nuts for their survival as it is their sole commercial crop.

`The little we get to sell a prominent trader wants to buy it at a low price of which does not provide farmers with any profit`

Another farmer, Mohamed Abdul, explained that most traders claimed that the cashew nuts were of poor quality and ended up setting a low price.

He cited lack of assurance for the market as a major contributing factor to poor performance by farmers.

`If we are sure that a farmer will sell all the cashew nuts at a good price, we could eradicate poverty. What we earn is not enough to even cater for our families and take our children to school` he noted.

He explained that Mtwara and Lindi cooperative unions were to blame for their failure to ensure the farmers got what they deserved.

Abdul said that there were times when farmers took cashew nuts to cooperative unions to fetch a good price but to no avail.

The chairperson for Mtwara and Lindi Cooperatives Union Fikiri Mohamed explained that cooperative unions were not doing well due to poor management.

He said that the management was building good relations with foreign traders to ensure the farmers have a better market.

Abdul said that the problem of poor management had been resolved because the Cooperative Union suspended the managing director who will soon appear before the court of law over charges of stealing 250m/-

According to a research conducted by Concern in collaboration with Tanzania Agricultural Development Research Group (Tadreg), farmers have been denied of their rights for lack of support from authorities.

The report says that both seeds and seedlings were available at the district-based cashew nut development centers and from individual farmers who run their own nurseries.

Seeds sell at 800/-per kilogram while seedlings are available at 500/-, a piece but farmers pay 250/- and CBT pays the remaining 250/-.

The workshop was funded by District Economic and Social Empowerment Project (DESEMP) and organized by United Peasants of Tanzania (UPT).

Mrema`s 95m/- case cannot be dropped, says magistrate

TLP Chairman Augustine Mrema

Kisutu Resident Magistrate Hezron Mwankenja yesterday dismissed an application by TLP chairman Augustine Mrema`s advocate Israel Magesa, on a defamation civil case to be dropped.

The case was opened by one, Thomas Ngawaiya, who is seeking redress for damages to the tune of 95m/-.

Earlier, Thomas Ngaiwaya�s advocate asked the court to call his first witness, one Harold Jaffu.

Before the latter could do so, advocate Israel Magesa argued that legal technicalities required the complainant to start testifying.

Magistrate Mwankenja said that there was no law in civil cases that required the complainant to be the one to start testifying in court.

He added that he was surprised that the defendant wanted the case to be dropped while the law was clear that there was no shortcut to justice.

Due to that he said that the case would continue with the hearing.

In the main case, Thomas Ngaiwaya had filed a civil case against Augustine Mrema asking for compensation of 95m/- claiming that the latter defamed him by saying that he had no quality of being a Member of Parliament.

The case was yesterday adjourned to November 9, this year.

Dozens killed in DR Congo floods

Roads and bridges were washed away in the floods

At least 30 people have died and 100 been injured in flooding in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials have said.
Heavy rain caused waterways to burst their banks, washing away roads and bridges and knocking down power lines.

Some of the victims were electrocuted, others drowned or were crushed when their homes collapsed.

Officials said the number of people killed could rise as relief workers reach districts cut off by the floods.

The torrential rain began falling late on Thursday and continued until Friday morning.

Government officials have set up a committee to deal with the crisis.

A particularly heavy rainy season across a broad stretch of Africa since June has led to the worst floods in 30 years, the United Nations has said.

The latest floods in the DR Congo brings the number killed to more than 400. Two million people across the continent have been affected, with many requiring shelter and food aid.

Rebel snub threatens Darfur talks

Major Darfur rebel groups have decided not to take part in talks

UN-African Union talks aimed at ending the four-year war in Sudan's Darfur region are due to open in Libya, but have been hit by rebel pullouts.
Two of Darfur's main rebel groups have decided to boycott the talks in a row over invited factions, despite UN Security Council sanction threats.

The absence of key rebel groups could mean the talks may have to be delayed, says the BBC's Amber Henshaw in Darfur.

Some 200,000 people have died and about 2m have been displaced in the conflict.

The fighting began in 2003 when rebels attacked government targets.

Sudan's government then launched a military and police campaign in Darfur.

A 2006 Darfur peace deal faltered because it was signed by the Sudanese government and only one rebel group.

The latest talks will be hosted by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in the city of Sirte.

Wind lull calms California fires

Nolan Torrez examines the ruins of his grandparent's home

Firefighters in southern California are taking advantage of a break in the weather to contain the remaining major wildfires near San Diego.
The warmer winds that fuelled the fires earlier in the week are expected to return on Sunday.

As the threat from the fires has eased, thousands of evacuees have been able to leave shelters, some to find their homes piles of blackened rubble.

At least 14 people have died as a result of the fires.

Burma regime 'frees 70 detainees'

Soldiers guarded Rangoon's Shwedagon Pagoda again on Friday

At least 70 people detained in Burma during recent anti-government protests have been released, an opposition party official has said.
About 50 members of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) are said to have been among those freed.

An NLD spokesman said they walked free on Thursday, the same day Ms Suu Kyi, herself detained since May 2003, met a Burmese government official.

Separately, Burmese troops returned to Rangoon's streets on Friday.

Armed soldiers surrounded the Shwedagon and Sule pagodas, both focal points for last month's violently suppressed protests.

But there were no signs of fresh demonstrations, despite crowds of pilgrims taking to the streets to mark the end of Buddhist Lent.

Turkey rejects Iraq's PKK offer

Turkey has been massing troops along the Iraq border

Turkey has dismissed a range of proposals from Iraq on dealing with Kurdish rebels, saying they will take too long to work.
The foreign ministry said more urgent action was needed than that offered by an Iraqi delegation, which is in Ankara to try to resolve the dispute.

The visit is an attempt to avert a threatened Turkish ground attack on Kurdistan Workers' Party bases in Iraq.

Turkey gave the Iraqis a list of PKK rebels and demanded their extradition.

Bhutto visits ancestral village

Ms Bhutto's supporters have been guarding Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's tomb

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has visited her ancestral village near Larkana in southern Sindh province, amid heavy security.
It was her first public trip outside Karachi since nearly 140 people were killed in an assassination attempt.

The attack came within hours of her arrival in Pakistan last week after eight years of self-imposed exile.

At her home village, Ms Bhutto prayed at the tomb of her executed father, former PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

At her home village of Garhi Khuda Baksh, Ms Bhutto was greeted by about 4,000 supporters who chanted "Long Live Bhutto" and cheered as Ms Bhutto arrived in a bullet-proof vehicle.

Earlier, her convoy to Karachi airport, from where she flew to Sukkur, had a strong police escort. Side roads along the route were sealed off.

"It's a long time since I've been here and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to put my feet on my homeland once again, to see the love of my people," Bhutto said aboard the plane before it landed in Sukkur, Reuters said.

"This has strengthened me to do what I can to save Pakistan by saving democracy, which is so essential to giving people safety, security and better prospects," she said.

Dozens of activists from the PPP, armed with AK-47s, have been guarding her father's tomb.

The activists cordoned off the area near the tomb and refused access even to police, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Nurses to decide on resuscitation

TV medical dramas often give a rosy view of resuscitation

Experienced nurses should have the authority to decide if patients should be resuscitated, according to new guidelines to health professionals.
Until now only consultants and GPs were allowed to decide on resuscitation.

The guidelines were issued by the British Medical Association (BMA), the Royal College of Nursing and the Resuscitation Council.

The Patients Association welcomed the move, saying nurses were better placed than doctors to know patients' wishes.

New room added to space station

The astronauts are scheduled to make five spacewalks

Two US astronauts from the shuttle Discovery have completed a space walk in which a new room was added to the International Space Station (ISS).
Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock took six hours to steer the 14-ton module from Discovery's cargo bay on a robotic arm and put it in a temporary position.

Five spacewalks are planned to fit the "Harmony" unit to the space station.

Harmony gives ISS crews 18% more room and is the first expansion of living and working space since 2001.

It will provide a passageway between three science laboratories: the existing US Destiny lab; the European Space Agency's Columbus module; and the Japanese Kibo experimental units.

City has its own musical anthem

The anthem is part of a re-branding campaign (pic by Bill Harwood)

A musical anthem has been created for Stoke-on-Trent to play at events and to help promote the city.
The anthem, called Moving Forwards Together, is part of the city council's aim to re-brand Stoke as a place of regeneration.

It will be used in radio adverts, as hold music at the council's call centre and at elected mayor's meetings.

Lyrics in the anthem, written by local composer Chris Peace, include "it's time for a change in our city".

Dar retain Taifa Cup title

Dar es Salaam women`s team hit Shinyanga 58-27 to retain Taifa Cup basketball title in the final match played at the Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Ruvuma hit Mwanza 62-52 to finish third in the championship.

Unguja pipped Mbeya 58-56 in the men`s third play off match at the same ground.

Until we went to the press, Dar es Salaam were playing Mwanza in the men�s final.

Cecafa boss coming to see Senior Challenge Cup preps

The Confederation of East and Central Africa (Cecafa) Secretary-General, Nicolas Musonye, is expected to arrive in Dar es Salaam today to start preparations for the regional tourney.

Cecafa will stage Senior Challenge Cup in Dar es Salaam from December 8-22.

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Information Officer, Florian Kaijage, said yesterday that Musonye would meet members of the press today to talk about the preparations of the tourney.

The secretary general will also dispatch election forms to TFF to nominate its preferred candidate for the body�s presidential seat.

The forms would be returned to Cecafa secretariat by October 30.

The soccer body will hold its elective assembly December 6-7 in Dar-es-Salaam, but no one has shown interest to replace Uganda�s Dennis Obua whose term will expire before the exercise.

Musonye is already assured of another four years as his post is by appointment.

Only presidential post will be contested for with the elected person appointing his vice among four executive committee members elected by congress.

Countries which will compete in the Challenge Cup are Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Zanzibar, Somalia and hosts Tanzania Mainland.

Tanzania names eight athletes for GROE marathon

Eight runners will represent Tanzania in the fourth series of the Greatest Race on the Earth (GROE) marathons which start tomorrow in Nairobi, Kenya.

Other races will be staged in Singapore on December 2, Mumbai (January 20) and Hong Kong (February 17) next year.
The runners will be sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank.

The bank`s acting chief executive officer named the runners as Bosia Duwe, Francis Naali, Daniel Samuni, Paul Sumaye, Sara Majah, Banuela Katesigwa, Tea Anthony and Fabiola William.

The Minister for Information Culture and Sports, Muhammed Seif Khatib, urged local athletes to perform well in the launching of the event held in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
`We want them to win in these races,` the minister said.

He said he did not see any good reasons why Tanzanians should be defeated in the marathon everyday by their neigbouring countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia while they were in the same region.

The minister said Tanzania had a lot of talents in sports that needed to be nurtured. `This is the right time to develop our runners,` he added.

On his part, Athletics Tanzania (AT) Secretary-General Suleiman Nyambui said his body would support the runners wherever they would get stuck.

GROE has been divided into six regions - Africa, South East Asia, North East Asia, Americas, Europe and Oceania, South Asia and Middle East.

Ramos quits Sevilla to join Spurs

Ramos holds the Spanish equivalent of the FA Cup

Juande Ramos has resigned as Sevilla coach and seems set to become Tottenham manager following Martin Jol's sacking.
Without mentioning Tottenham by name, the 53-year-old Ramos told his personal website: "For my family and career it is impossible not to leave for London."

Spanish football journalist Graham Hunter told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Spurs are on the verge of getting their man."

According to reports in Spain, Ramos has agreed a four-year deal and is expected to join Spurs on Monday.

Football results

Friday, 26 October 2007

Coca-Cola Football League One
Tranmere 3-0 Huddersfield

Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League
Aberystwyth 0-2 Carmarthen
Llanelli 8-0 Port Talbot
Newi Cefn Druids 1-4 Rhyl
Welshpool Town 3-0 Llangefni Town

Eircom League Premier Division
Galway Utd 1-0 Derry City
Waterford 1-1 Drogheda Utd

Cardiff Blues 32-15 Sale

Gareth Thomas scored two tries for the Blues against Sale Sharks

Two tries from Gareth Thomas on his full debut inspired Cardiff Blues to a 32-15 victory over Sale Sharks.
The Blues scored five tries on the way to victory to get their EDF Energy Cup campaign off to a fine start.

First-half tries from Jason Spice, Thomas (2) and captain Xavier Rush secured a bonus point, with Tom James crossing late-on.

Sale did fight back with second-half tries from Lee Thomas and Rory Lamont but it was too little, too late.

Great Britain v New Zealand (Sat)

Morley was at the centre of a role between the two camps this week

Great Britain are fired up for Saturday's first of three Tests against New Zealand after stinging Kiwi criticism of their prop Adrian Morley.

New Zealand were furious and branded Morley "a maniac" after he was cleared to play despite an alleged high tackle on Awen Guttenbeil last week.

Britain defended Morley and accused the Kiwis of hypocrisy and "mind games".

The Lions have handed Test debuts to 18-year-old Sam Burgess and Samoa-born Maurie Fa'asavalu.

Loeb title hopes suffer setback

Loeb was hoping to close the gap on Gronholm

Sebastien Loeb's hopes of catching championship leader Marcus Gronholm suffered a major blow after he slid off at the Japan Rally.
The Frenchman, who needed to finish fourth or better to lead the standings, lost control of his Citroen and skidded into a ditch on stage 13.

Loeb was set to overtake Gronholm after the Finn crashed his Ford into a tree stump on Friday.

Ford's Mikko Hirvonen led by a 50.5 seconds at Saturday's halfway point.

Citroen's Daniel Sordo is second and Henning Solberg's Ford is lying in third.

The slippery conditions also caused third-placed Jari-Matti Latvala of Finland, who was having gearbox problems, to crash out.

Loeb could still challenge in Sunday's third leg if the Citroen mechanics manage to repair his car but he would find himself far down the field with all the time penalties incurred.

The three-times champion had reduced the gap in the title race to four points with back-to-back wins in Catalunya and Corsica.

Moore battles to beat brave Facey

Jamie Moore was forced to dig deep to defend his British light middleweight title against Andrew Facey in Wigan.
The Salford southpaw's greater power and experience told as he floored Facey three times before the referee stopped the contest in the 11th round.

Moore had not fought since April after being laid low by a virus and made a cautious start as Facey started well.

But Moore got stronger and knocked down Facey in the sixth and ninth before endeding the fight in the 11th.

The win kept Moore on course for his mandatory crack at the European title.

"I was very rusty, very rusty, and you can't afford that against someone as elusive and evasive as Andrew Facey," said Moore.

"But I got through, I stuck it out. I had to show my heart again, which I was hoping I wouldn't have to.

"I proved I'm more than capable of beating people at British level and roll on the Europeans."

Moynihan wants 2012 transparency

Moynihan won Olympic silver as a rowing cox at the 1980 Games

British Olympic Association chairman Lord Moynihan wants tighter financial management of the London 2012 Games.
The London Olympic Board member also says there must be more transparency around the Games' £9.3bn budget.

Moynihan told the Daily Telegraph: "We don't know what is included in the budget and what isn't - it's clear that there is a lot of room for improvement.

"These are everybody's Games so it is important we have the right controls and they should be transparent."

But a spokeswoman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said there was a high level of "openness within the board".

She said: "It is wrong to suggest there is a lack of financial transparency - either within the Olympic board or across the whole Olympic project.

"There is a high level of openness within the board, consistent with the obligations and demands of those providing funding and commercial considerations.

"Hugely rigorous checks are in place to make sure public money is spent wisely and to achieve the maximum effect in terms of the legacy we all want from the 2012 Games.

"The National Audit Office's most recent report in July said the budget process has been thorough and assumptions made by the Government have been informed by detailed analysis and expert advice."

There is already controversy over the cost of the main Olympic stadium.

Members of the London Assembly were told two weeks ago that the cost would be £496m, 77% more that the figure stated during the bid in 2005.

The Government argues that the new figure is the cost in 2012 taking into account inflation, VAT and unforeseen extras.

Moynihan, who was the Minister for Sport in the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher in the late 1980s, continued: "We should be aiming to be on a par with a FTSE 100 company.

"We need a clearly defined budget, a clearly defined cash flow analysis which is regularly updated and a clear focus on the contingency and how it is allocated to specific project lines in the budget.

"These things may well be going on inside Government, but they should be transparent."