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/ 14 January 2008

A worthy example

On January 1 the African Union Mission in Sudan handed over to the ”hybrid” United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur, known as UNamid. The transfer marked the end of the African Union’s biggest, most challenging and, some say, most controversial and ambitious peace observation and peacekeeping operation.

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/ 14 January 2008

Anger over Valli accolade

Storm clouds continue to gather over the controversial and seemingly universal slide towards nuclear power. While proponents and antagonists construct compelling reasons for and against its use, the jury stays out on its potentially harmful environmental effects. Local anti-nuclear activists are infuriated that an international panel listed Valli Moosa, chairperson of the Eskom board and former environment minister, one of “50 people who could save the planet”.

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/ 14 January 2008

Yummy mummy wannabe

Six months after giving birth to her daughter, Eva, Orlaith McAllister had her breasts done, going from a C cup to a D cup. ”I breastfed for five weeks and I noticed that my breasts got smaller, especially on one side,” she says. ”When Eva was born, she latched on to the left breast immediately and got to like that one, so it was noticeably smaller.

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/ 13 January 2008

Africa says ‘No’

The unimaginable has happened, to the displeasure of arrogant Europe. Africa, thought to be so poor that it would agree to anything, has said no in rebellious pride. No to the straitjacket of the economic partnership agreements (EPAs), no to the complete liberalisation of trade, no to the latest manifestations of the colonial pact.

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/ 13 January 2008

What now for the ANC?

In the run-up to the ANC’s national conference at Polokwane, analysts and journalists had a field day, predicting that the movement was on the verge of a major showdown that might even result in a split. This gloomy picture was informed by what became known as the succession debate.

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/ 13 January 2008

Federer confident ahead of title defence

Roger Federer has shaken off a stomach virus and is 100% fit for the defence of his title at next week’s Australian Open, the Swiss said on Sunday. The world number one, who will be bidding for his 13th grand-slam title, will go into the event having not played a competitive match for two months.

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/ 13 January 2008

Doctor gives Suharto ’50-50 chance’

Indonesia’s former president Suharto, who ruled the country for more than three decades, is in a ”very critical condition” after almost all his organ functions failed, his doctor told a news conference on Sunday. Mardjo Soebiandono, chief of the medical team treating the 86-year-old at a Jakarta hospital, said there was only a 50-50 chance that he could survive.

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/ 13 January 2008

Pistorius wants crack at Olympics

All Oscar Pistorius wants is a shot at the Olympics. But such a simple wish has turned into a contentious issue that is dividing sports fans and professors alike — even half a world away from the South African practice tracks where the double-amputee sprinter dreams of running on his artificial blades in Beijing.