Bush to reassure Japan, press G8 on Africa (AFP via Yahoo! News) US President George W. Bush leaves Saturday for Japan, looking to ease worries there about his North Korea policies and push rich nations to do more to help Africa battle hunger and deadly diseases.

New Zealand Defeats South Africa in Tri-Nations Rugby Opener (Bloomberg.com) July 5 (Bloomberg) -- New Zealand beat world champion South Africa 19-8 in the Tri-Nations rugby opener to extend its record winning streak at home to 30 matches.

Out of Africa, to Brooklyn (New York Times) Geoffrey Good has not seen Africa in nearly 10 years, but the continent is never far from mind when driving his vintage Land Rover.

Africa's Oldest National Park In Crisis (NPR) Virunga National Park in Central Africa is located in what has become a war zone. Its trees are being cut down to support a lucrative, militia-controlled charcoal trade. If the destruction continues unchecked, most of the trees in southern Virunga will be gone in a decade.

Middlesex 311-5 S Africa 359-5 dec: Opening salvo from Strauss: England to relish pace attack (Independent) How best to warm up for your 50th Test appearance? For most batsmen, time in the middle against the attack you will face on that momentous occasion would be perfect. Unfortunately for Andrew Strauss, who should reach his half century of Tests against South Africa on Thursday, he was dismissed by the fast bowler Morne Morkel for just 29 as Middlesex replied to the tourists' 359 for 5 declared ...

Morkel On Form For South Africa (Sporting Life via Yahoo! UK & Ireland Sport) Latest news from the tour match between Middlesex and South Africa.

West condemns Mugabe, ignores other Africa despots (AP via Yahoo! News) Nigeria. Rwanda. Uganda. Ethiopia. Gabon. Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe has plenty of competitors for the title of "least democratic in Africa."

CRICKET: The Fred Factor: Flintoff is in the England wings, ready to step into squad against South Africa (Daily Mail) Michael Vaughan believes Andrew Flintoff will have a huge influence on England's performance in the first Test against South Africa at Lord's on Thursday.

The Fred Factor: Flintoff is in the England wings, ready to step into squad against South Africa (Evening Standard) Michael Vaughan believes Andrew Flintoff will have a huge influence on England's performance in the first Test against South Africa at Lord's on Thursday - even though the all-rounder will not set foot anywhere near the pitch.

Amla at it again for South Africa (AFP via Yahoo! News) Hashim Amla's fine start to South Africa's tour of England continued with another big century on Friday while Ashwell Prince also weighed in with a hundred on the first day against Middlesex at Uxbridge.