Staff Reporter
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/ 4 March 2008

Piano tuning a dying art in SA

No one in South Africa has been trained to tune a piano for nearly a decade — leaving only about 50 ageing piano tuners in the country. The South African Association of Professional Piano Tuners is now concerned that unqualified people could damage the industry as well as the piano in the corner of your living room.

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/ 4 March 2008

Govt: SA not influenced in Iran-sanctions vote

South Africa was not swayed by any major power to vote in favour of a new United Nations Security Council resolution imposing further sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday. The resolution was approved on Monday by a vote of 14-0, with Indonesia abstaining.

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/ 4 March 2008

Agliotti-linked drugs trial moved to October

The Germiston Regional Court has postponed until October the trial of three men against whom Glenn Agliotti is expected to testify. In an appearance on Tuesday, the case was postponed for trial until October 14, 15 and 16 and October 28, 29 and 30. Stephan Paparos, his father, Dimitrio, and Stanley Poonin stand accused of dealing in hashish.

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/ 4 March 2008

Makoni: No backlash against Mugabe

Former Zimbabwe finance minister Simba Makoni has said there will be no backlash against veteran President Robert Mugabe if he topples him at this month’s general election. ”President Mugabe is someone who has a very special place in our history,” Makoni said in an interview, ruling out retribution against Mugabe.

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/ 4 March 2008

Sentech cash pinch ‘frustrates’ minister

Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri has criticised the Treasury for failing to finance state-owned signal carrier Sentech, Business Day reported on Tuesday. Treasury officials ”just don’t understand” the vital role Sentech could play in lowering South Africa’s exorbitant cost of communications, the newspaper quoted the minister as saying.

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/ 4 March 2008

Malawi seeks to oust fake Aids healers

Malawi lawmakers on Tuesday began examining draft legislation aimed at ridding the HIV/Aids-plagued country of quacks claiming to cure the pandemic through such remedies as sex with virgins, health authorities said. "When it passes into law, all traditional healers claiming to cure Aids will be dealt with," Mary Shaba, head of HIV/Aids issues for Malawi’s Health Ministry, said.