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/ 14 February 2008

Clinton makes a last stand in Ohio and Texas

For Hillary Clinton, once viewed as the almost certain Democratic presidential nominee, it has come to this: win in Ohio and Texas in three weeks, and again the next month in Pennsylvania, or go home. The growing strength of rival Barack Obama leaves Clinton few options in a gruelling fight for convention delegates who select the nominee.

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/ 14 February 2008

Annan defuses row in Kenya crisis talks

Chief mediator Kofi Annan on Wednesday put Kenya’s crisis talks back on course toward a deal after defusing a row over his plan for a ”grand coalition” government to end post-election turmoil. Annan had irked negotiators for President Mwai Kibaki when he told Parliament on Tuesday that a power-sharing government could be a way out of the crisis.

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/ 14 February 2008

Zuma takes legal battle to Mauritius

African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma was in Mauritius on Wednesday in connection with the corruption case he faces. Zuma’s lawyer, Michael Hulley, confirmed by telephone from the Indian Ocean island that his client was meeting with legal representatives about documents that allegedly contain proof of bribes being solicited.

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/ 14 February 2008

China faces Games crisis over Darfur

China was facing a major international crisis linked to the Olympics on Thursday amid mounting pressure over its role in Darfur after United States filmmaker Steven Spielberg severed his links to the Games. So far neither the Foreign Ministry nor the Olympic organising committee has responded to the decision by Spielberg.

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/ 14 February 2008

Gangsta Pharma

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. It seems the two big players in South Africa’s pharmaceutical cartel ignored this famous piece of advice and now they’re facing the heat. It’s a classic street story of the double-cross and the snitch told by gangsters the world over.

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/ 14 February 2008

New Zealand wine industry upbeat about global warming

Global warming, which is threatening the viability of the drought-stricken wine industry in Australia, could be a boon for neighbouring New Zealand which has been enjoying a growing reputation for its quality wines. New Zealand’s subtle flavoured wines, mostly whites such as Sauvignon Blanc but also reds such as Pinot Noir, are appearing on the tables of fine restaurants from London to Los Angeles.

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/ 14 February 2008

A(nother) war on poverty

The national war room for a War against Poverty was one of the more ringing phrases in the State of the Nation speech, but what does it mean? For one, it’s not a room, says Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya, but signals a reprioritisation of economic policy from a focus on growth to a focus on caring.

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/ 14 February 2008

The Sting: Part I

There will not be ”two centres of power” and the government and ANC will work smoothly together, the ANC has soothingly told the nation. Oh really? With the political year hardly begun, there are tensions between the new ANC leadership and President Thabo Mbeki already, most notably over who will be South Africa’s deputy president and over the Scorpions.