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/ 14 October 2003
South Africa can afford a higher inflation target than the 3% to 6% range currently set, and 5% to 7% would be ideal, Standard Bank group economist Dr Iraj Abedian said on Tuesday. ”If the target range cannot be adjusted upwards, at the least it should not be lowered,” he said.
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/ 14 October 2003
Contrary to public perception, the rand is 1,9% weaker now than it was on September 4, the day before the surprise monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting for September 10 was announced. The popular perception is based on the move of the rand from R7,25 per dollar on September 4 to R7,04 per dollar today.
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/ 14 October 2003
Former Liberian leader Charles Taylor has alleged that unidentified enemies are planning to attack Nigerian peacekeepers in his country and put the blame on him. Taylor said he feared a plot to turn the people of his host country against him and persuade them to compel him to leave.
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/ 14 October 2003
While the South African government pins responsibility for its decision to ban soldiers who are HIV-positive from active duty on United Nations regulations, activists plan to fight the state in court. Lawyers say that government’s plan is unconstitutional because it violates the anti-discrimination clause in the constitution.
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/ 14 October 2003
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday returned the land and mineral rights currently owned by Alexkor, the state diamond company, to a community forcibly removed from the land in the 1920s. The court said the Richtersveld community had been removed from their land under racist laws.
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/ 14 October 2003
Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate rose 29 points last month to 455,6% from the August rate of 426,6%, with meat and bread prices rising sharply, official data showed on Tuesday. The rise was seen mainly in the average prices of meat, bread, cereals, fruits, vegetables and beverages.
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/ 14 October 2003
Tanks and armoured vehicles took up positions in La Paz early on Tuesday after thousands took to the streets demanding the resignation of President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, who postponed under pressure plans to build a controversial pipeline to export natural gas through Chile.
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/ 14 October 2003
Two years ago, as the bombs began to drop, George W Bush promised Afghanistan ‘the generosity of America and its allies’. Now, the familiar old warlords are regaining power, religious fundamentalism is renewing its grip and military skirmishes continue routinely. What was the purpose?
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/ 14 October 2003
An East Rand school cricket match spiralled out of control with an umpire threatened with a gun and a mother with cancer beaten up, cricket officials confirmed on Tuesday. The incident took place when EG Jansen Hoërskool in Boksburg hosted Kempton Hoër in the final of the Super League on Saturday.
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/ 14 October 2003
South Africa may be heading for a prolonged drought, which researchers warn could be among the most severe in decades. The country ”is currently experiencing drought conditions over most of the summer rainfall regions”, the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research said.