Mail & Guardian Online reporter, Reuters and Sapa
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/ 20 February 2007

Clouds gather ahead of Mugabe’s birthday

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe turns 83 on Wednesday, fit for his age and combative in the face of a crumbling economy, social unrest and a looming battle over who will succeed him. Mugabe will celebrate his birthday with a huge party on Saturday. But gathering clouds risk overshadowing the festivities.

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/ 5 February 2007

South Africa bids to sate Asia’s abalone cravings

Shipped halfway across the world to Asia as a seafood delicacy, abalone has become a prized commodity for South African entrepreneurs as well as criminals who have poached the mollusc almost to extinction. Known colloquially in South Africa as ”perlemoen”, abalone is so endangered the government has drastically reduced the total allowable catch.

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/ 4 January 2007

Zim ‘not closing’ M&G owner’s papers

Zimbabwe’s government-appointed Media and Information Commission will not close down two popular private newspapers even if owner Trevor Ncube — also the publisher of the Mail & Guardian in South Africa — loses his Zimbabwean citizenship, state television reported late on Wednesday.

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/ 25 December 2006

‘Godfather of Soul’ James Brown dies in Atlanta

James Brown, the legendary singer known as the ”Godfather of Soul”, has died in Atlanta, his agent said early on Monday. He was 73. Brown was seen as a crucial figure in the evolution of gospel and R&B into soul and funk. His music also spanned genres such as rock, jazz, reggae and hip-hop.

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/ 27 November 2006

Chad increases its defences

With humanitarian groups sounding the alarm about the violence in eastern Chad near Sudan, the Chadian government has sent troops south to neighbouring Central African Republic to battle rebels there who, it said, are being backed by Sudan. Chad is already contributing troops to a regional peacekeeping force in CAR but the prime minister said last week that he wants to send more.

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/ 1 November 2006

PW: A ‘reformer without results’

South African politicians paid tribute on Wednesday to former president PW Botha, who died on Tuesday night at his home in the Western Cape. Messages were received from President Thabo Mbeki, former presidents FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, former parliamentarian Helen Suzman and many others.