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/ 24 January 2008

Top matrics get a presidential handshake

President Thabo Mbeki congratulated the country’s top matric students of 2007 — 18 pupils from the nine provinces — at the presidential guest house in Pretoria on Thursday. The pupils had received scholarships through the Thabo Mbeki Matric Merit Awards programme, which is administered by the Thabo Mbeki Education Trust.

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/ 24 January 2008

Kenya crisis: Rivals shake hands

The two rivals in Kenya’s political crisis met on Thursday for the first time since a disputed election and pledged to seek an end to weeks of unrest that have killed nearly 700 people. President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga shook hands and smiled after the closed-door talks, brokered by former United Nations boss Kofi Annan.

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/ 24 January 2008

US raises concerns over Tsvangirai arrest

The United States said on Thursday it has raised its concerns with Zimbabwe over a political opponent’s arrest which it called a bid to intimidate and muzzle democratic opposition. The US ambassador to Harare, James McGee, spoke on Wednesday to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai after he was released after several hours in custody.

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/ 24 January 2008

Digital music sales soar, but piracy a problem

Global digital music sales rose by 40% to an estimated -billion in 2007, but the strong growth failed to compensate for the continued slump in CD sales, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry said in a report published on Thursday. Figures showed that digital sales in 2007 accounted for 15% of the global music market.

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/ 24 January 2008

Skielik: ‘There is no trust in the world’

About 600 mourners, officials, politicians and family members gathered at a memorial service held for the victims of the Skielik shootings just outside Swartruggens on Thursday afternoon. School principal Cherian Kocheapen said: ”Our learners cried after this incident. People are afraid of the place [Skielik] and the situation.”

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/ 24 January 2008

Welders severely burned in tank explosion

Two welders were critically injured when the tank in which they were working exploded in Pietermaritzburg, paramedics said. Netcare 911 said two men were taken to the city’s St Anne’s Hospital. Police spokesperson Inspector Joey Jeevan confirmed the explosion but could not immediately provide any details.