LAWYERS for President Nelson Mandela and his estranged wife, Winnie, face off in court in Johannesburg today for an initial divorce hearing.
Winnie, Mandela's wife of almost 38 years - 27 of them while he was in political detention - is contesting the divorce. Today's hearing will begin dealing with what is to happen to the couple's assets, particularly the marketing rights of the Mandela name, including royalties from the publication of letters and books.
Winnie blames "political attacks instigated by government agents for the marriage breakup.
Bankrupt politician Bernard Tapie goes on trial in a new legal battle today.
Over the last three years, Tapie, a left wing French National Assembly deputy and MEP, has been indicted on numerous charges, but has so far evaded prison.
In the new trial in Bethune, northern France, he is charged with misuse of corporate funds over alleged manipulation of accounts.
President Thomas Klestil said yesterday that an Austrian law barring the former imperial family from the country was anachronistic. He said the ageing sons of the last emperor posed no threat to the state.
Klestil said he hoped politicians would soon reconsider the law, which dates from the end of the first World War when the defeated Austro Hungarian empire was dismantled and the Habsburg imperial family sent into exile.