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/ 21 January 2008
Gold surged above $910 on Monday, setting another historic high as the continuing slide in the dollar and expectations of sharp interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve prompted investors to snap up the metal. Spot gold leapt to an all-time high of $914 an ounce, charging past the record of $900,10 set at the end of last week, before settling lower in later trading.
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/ 21 January 2008
The scramble to be the first to put ordinary tourists in space is on. While private space pioneers paid -million for the privilege of spending a week at the International Space Station, those who have a mere 000 to spare can set their sights on an hour or so in sub-orbital space as soon as next year.
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/ 21 January 2008
Where is Thabo Mbeki? This is the question many ANC members have been asking since he failed to attend the important first meeting of the party’s new national executive committee, as well as the party’s birthday celebrations in Atteridgeville last weekend. Speculation abounds. Despite secretary general Gwede Mantashe’s insistence that no sleep is being lost, the rank and file is not impressed.
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/ 21 January 2008
The diplomatic stand-off between the United Kingdom and Russia entered a dangerous new phase on Wednesday as British officials denounced ”a pattern of intimidation” by Russia’s security services against British Council staff. The UK Foreign Office complained of unacceptable behaviour, after Russians working at British Council offices in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg were called in for questioning by the FSB
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/ 21 January 2008
A group of senior ANC leaders aligned to party president Jacob Zuma is planning to approach President Thabo Mbeki in the next few weeks with a proposal to appoint ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe as the country’s deputy president, the Mail & Guardian has established.
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/ 21 January 2008
Since Kenya’s conflagration after going to the polls, the voices of ordinary citizens, the media and civil society have tried to drown out the politicians by calling for peace. But this week Parliament reopened — and that may spell trouble. The problem is that leadership and power are two very different things, writes Billy Kahora.
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/ 21 January 2008
It is an image that has become associated with George W Bush’s so-called war on terror: terrorist suspects in orange jumpsuits, hands and feet shackled, kneeling in a prison yard, miles from home. Last week marked the sixth anniversary of so-called terrorist detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. Since January 2002, 775 detainees have been held at the controversial camp, and approximately 355 remain.
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/ 21 January 2008
It is a well-deserved irony for George Bush that his first presidential visit to Israel coincided with the storm of excitement produced by the unexpected outcome of the two New Hampshire primaries. Nothing could better highlight the irrelevance of the final year of the Bush presidency.
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/ 21 January 2008
Post-Polokwane, our country has lost its standing. I realised this as ANC president Jacob Zuma fell backwards on his arse during his fourth wedding celebrations. He laughed good-naturedly, as he does, as his loincloth rose to reveal a set of legs toned by his dance routines.
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/ 21 January 2008
Imperial Holdings sacked the head of its property division, John Carstens, on Wednesday, and the company faces legal action after demolishing a heritage site. The Rand Steam Laundries was demolished last weekend, in apparent contravention of a stop order issued by the provincial heritage authority. Nthathise Modingoane, a spokesÂÂperson for the council, confirmed that the city has laid a charge and is briefing its attorneys on the matter.