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/ 27 February 2006

Communism is dead but not buried

Fifteen years after communism was officially pronounced dead, its spectre seems once again to be haunting Europe. In January, the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly voted to condemn the ”crimes of totalitarian communist regimes”, linking them with Nazism and complaining that communist parties are still ”legal and active in some countries”.

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/ 27 February 2006

Wetlands suacked dry

More than four-fifths of the wetlands along northern China’s biggest river system have dried up because of over-development, the state media reported recently in the latest warning of the dire environmental consequences of the country’s economic growth.

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/ 27 February 2006

Will ‘striptease’ summit save trade talks?

Six of the leading players in the long-running global trade talks are to meet in London next month for what is being billed as a ”collective striptease” to unblock deadlocked negotiations through a series of mutual concessions. Sources close to the meeting — to start on March 10 — said that the aim was a deal in which deeper cuts in support for farmers in the European Union

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/ 27 February 2006

A sweet solution

Cars filled up at British supermarket forecourts are unknowingly using a greener fuel than a few years ago. The giant chain Tesco is now pumping a blend of petrol that contains 5% bio-ethanol, a type of alcohol made by fermenting sugars from plants. Modern cars run perfectly well on the mix and the admixture helps rein in soaring greenhouse gas emissions.

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/ 27 February 2006

SAA sucked into strike

Unions protesting against Transnet restructuring plans will intensify their mobilisation for the March 6 strike action by bringing on board workers from South African Airways and other business units in the parastatal previously unaffected by the strike.

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/ 27 February 2006

Summit brings Côte d’Ivoire leaders to the table

The main players in Côte d’Ivoire politics — seeking to end the crisis in the West African nation, meet on Monday for the first time on Ivorian soil since the country was torn apart by civil war. The former French colony has been split down the middle since the conflict erupted in September 2002, with troops loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo controlling the south while the north is in rebel hands.

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/ 26 February 2006

Smith leads SA to victory in rain

A century by Graeme Smith led South Africa to victory by six wickets in the first Standard Bank one-day international at Supersport Park on Sunday. After Australia had made 229 for eight in 47 overs in a rain-affected match, South Africa wasted no time in getting runs on the board.

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/ 26 February 2006

Truman Prince charged with assault

Beaufort West police confirmed on Sunday that they are investigating charges of assault and crimen injuria against the town’s former mayor Truman Prince. Prince, a former mayor and former municipal manager, is alleged to have attacked two African National Congress canvassers, Charles Mcleod and Riaan van West.