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/ 23 February 2006

Oxfam warns of poor donor response for East Africa

A searing drought that has put at least 11-million people across East Africa on the brink of starvation risks turning into a catastrophe if donors fail to respond quickly to the situation, an aid agency warned on Thursday. With drought-related human deaths already reported in Kenya and Somalia, cattle, camels and donkeys are also dying at an alarming rate in some areas.

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/ 23 February 2006

Tribunal blocks Sasol/Engen merger

South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on Thursday blocked the merger between Sasol — the country’s largest producer of refined white fuels and Engen, the country’s largest retailer of fuel products. The merged entity would have enjoyed a near monopoly of refinery capacity and a considerable retail market share in the inland market, the tribunal said.

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/ 23 February 2006

Discovery ‘cautiously optimistic’ about US business

South African health insurer Discovery says it has adopted "rigorous" measures to reverse the losses by its United States operation Destiny Health and is "cautiously optimistic’ about a turnaround in the medium term. Discovery CEO Adrian Gore said on Thursday that a "rigorous, disciplined approach" to the measurement and evaluation of Destiny’s progress was being applied on a quarterly basis.

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/ 23 February 2006

PSL: Sundowns regain top spot

Mamelodi Sundowns finally broke their four-year winless streak against Kaizer Chiefs when they beat them 3-1 in a pulsating Castle Premier Soccer League match played at Loftus on Wednesday evening. The win catapulted Sundowns back to the top of the premiership, keeping their championship aspirations alive.

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/ 23 February 2006

England captain injured ahead of India series

England received a major scare on Thursday when captain Michael Vaughan was forced to miss a first-class match on the India tour due to a knee injury. Vaughan experienced pain and soreness in his right knee, which was operated on in December, and was rested for Thursday’s three-day match against the Indian Board President’s XI team.

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/ 23 February 2006

Canada and USA sent crashing out of games

Defending champions Canada and 2002 runners-up United States were sent crashing out of the Winter Olympics ice hockey tournament on Wednesday. Their quarterfinal elimination set the stage for Russia and Finland to renew their long-time Olympic rivalry as they clash in the semifinals for the second time in three Winter Games.

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/ 23 February 2006

Pressure on tail-enders in Super 14

Four teams without a win after two rounds of rugby’s Super 14 have been drawn against each other in the third round starting on Friday, increasing pressure to lift their games. Australia’s Western Force play the Waikato Chiefs on Friday, and the Auckland Blues meet the Queensland Reds on Saturday in matches which may determine which of those teams remain competition contenders.

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/ 23 February 2006

Powerful quake rattles Mozambique

A powerful earthquake struck Mozambique early on Thursday morning, shaking buildings and forcing people from hundreds of kilometres around to dash into the streets for safety. There were no immediate reports of injury. The United States Geological Survey said the magnitude 7,5 quake had an epicentre 224km southwest of Mozambique’s main port of Beira.