Staff Reporter
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/ 20 February 2008

Zim police ban weapons ahead of polls

Zimbabwe police have banned the carrying of weapons in public in the capital and the southern town of Masvingo to prevent violence in the upcoming joint presidential and legislative polls. ”Police will use their discretion on any tool that people will be carrying such as walking sticks for the elderly, the blind and disabled, said Harare police commander Isaac Tayengwa.

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/ 20 February 2008

Armed robber convicted of murders

An armed robber was convicted on Tuesday of the murders of a fellow gang member and a businessman who shot each other during a R20 000 robbery in Pietermaritzburg. Judge Ron McLaren convicted Cato Ridge gangster John Ndawonde (35) — who pleaded guilty to the aggravated robbery of well-known vintner De Wet Joubert (64).

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/ 20 February 2008

Nobel laureates urge arms embargo on Burma

A group of Nobel laureates called on Wednesday for an arms embargo against Burma, dismissing elections planned for 2010 as flawed if pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from standing. Seven laureates, including Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said the junta should face sanctions for its crackdown on Buddhist monks.

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/ 20 February 2008

The hunt for Fair Trade coffee

I kickstarted 2008 with what I believed was a noble resolution: to pay a fair price for everyday luxuries such as chocolate and coffee. These two products often have a high toll on the environment, as virgin forests are cleared away to make way for new coffee or cocoa plantations, writes Jocelyn Newmarch.

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/ 20 February 2008

Anglo American profit up 6%, delays Tarmac sale

Miner Anglo American posted a 6% rise in full-year profit on Wednesday, in line with forecasts, and said a global credit crisis would delay the disposal of its road surface business Tarmac. Anglo, the world’s fourth-biggest diversified mining group by market capitalisation, said underlying profit rose to ,8-billion from ,47-billion in 2006.

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/ 19 February 2008

So long, comrade — Cosatu thanks Castro

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has wished Fidel Castro a long and happy retirement following the Cuban leader’s decision not to return to office as president. ”Comrade Fidel holds a special place in South African hearts because of his decision to deploy thousands of soldiers to help our African liberation struggles,” sais the trade union.

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/ 19 February 2008

New Zealand fans suffer rugby fatigue

Nearly a third of New Zealanders are suffering from rugby fatigue, Research New Zealand polling shows. Research NZ director Emanuel Kalafatelis Wednesday said the poll found 29% of New Zealanders reported they would be taking less interest in the Super 14 this season, reports the NZ Herald.

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/ 19 February 2008

Tuqiri applauds new Super 14 rules

Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri has labelled as ”short-sighted” remarks by Springbok flyer Bryan Habana that the new laws on trial in the Super 14 are making rugby union become more like rugby league. Tuqiri also applauded the way the new game requires players to be better all-round athletes.