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/ 20 February 2007

NZ ensure Australia’s slump continues

New Zealand completed a 3-0 whitewash in their one-day series against Australia after a thrilling one-wicket win in Hamilton on Tuesday. Australia had looked in command after totalling a massive 346-5, but the Kiwis stunned the world champions by posting the second-highest run-chase in one-day history to win with just three balls to spare.

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/ 20 February 2007

Lesotho ruling party set for poll victory

Lesotho’s ruling party looked certain to win parliamentary election on Tuesday after it beat an unexpected challenge from a new opposition group in the isolated African kingdom plagued by poverty and HIV/Aids. The Lesotho Congress for Democracy had won 49 constituencies out of a total 80 so far, while the main opposition All Basotho Convention gained 17.

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/ 20 February 2007

Royal faces the nation to revive campaign

Ségolène Royal mounted a determined effort on Monday night to revive her ambitions, appearing on primetime TV to defend her campaign to become France’s first female president. Three months ago, Royal (53) a mother of four and the Socialist head of Poitou Charentes region, appeared to represent an unstoppable new face in politics.

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/ 20 February 2007

Testing time for Chelsea

The strength of Chelsea’s recent revival faces its first real test when the English champions take on their Portuguese counterparts, FC Porto, on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho returns to the club he guided to 2003 Uefa Cup and 2004 Champions League triumphs with a Chelsea squad that has put together a run of six successive wins.

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/ 20 February 2007

Past failures drive Man United

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted on Monday that his team’s past failures in the Champions League are driving their glory quest this season. United face Lille at the Stade Felix Bollaert in Lens on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 stage.

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/ 20 February 2007

Real: Capello not quitting

Real Madrid have denied media reports that coach Fabio Capello handed in his resignation on Monday evening, just one day before their Champions League clash against Bayern Munich. ”The board is unaware of any resignation by Fabio Capello and we were very surprised by the reports that appeared in the media,” club spokesperson Miguel Angel Arroyo said.

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/ 20 February 2007

Fifa delegation in SA

A high-powered Fifa delegation is in South Africa for a five-day venue-inspection tour ahead of the 2010 World Cup, the media reported on Tuesday. A tight lid was kept on the proposed arrangements for the tour, although the delegation was scheduled to inspect Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday, it was reported.

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/ 20 February 2007

Analysts predict market-friendly budget

South African financial markets are generally expected to react positively when Finance Minister Trevor Manuel unveils his 2007/08 Budget on Wednesday, analysts say, with the JSE in particular seen benefiting. "Chances are that whatever the minister does, it will be good for equities," said Efficient Group chief economist Dawie Roodt.

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/ 20 February 2007

Strong Indonesian quake sparks tsunami warning

A powerful earthquake in north-eastern Indonesia triggered a tsunami warning on Tuesday and caused panicked residents to flee shaking buildings, officials and media reports said. The tsunami warning was later cancelled. The United States Geological Survey initially put the temblor’s magnitude at 6,9, but later revised it to 6,5.