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/ 26 February 2008

Tourism figures growing, says Van Schalkwyk

The number of foreign visitors to South Africa grew by just under 9% last year, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Tuesday. ”I am pleased to announce that the overall foreign arrivals increased by 8,6% from January to November 2007,” he told a business tourism conference in Sandton.

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/ 26 February 2008

JSE sharply higher on world markets

South African stocks were sharply higher at midday on Tuesday following in the footsteps of European markets, but a stronger rand restricted gains. Above-forecast economic growth data added to the positive sentiment. At 11.59am, the all-share index was up 1,22% at 30 176,680, thanks to a 3,08% gain in banks.

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/ 26 February 2008

Horse-racing bet makes Briton birthday millionaire

A British man celebrated his 60th birthday in unexpected style at the weekend when a 50 pence () bet on the horses turned him into an instant millionaire. Fred Craggs, from Yorkshire in northern England, was not even aware of his win when he walked into a branch of the William Hill betting agency to see how he had done with his accumulator bet.

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/ 26 February 2008

Nigerian prisons a ‘national scandal’

Nigeria’s prisons are a ”national scandal”, filled with thousands of inmates who have never been convicted of any crime while some prisoners wait decades to face trial, Amnesty International said on Tuesday. The human rights group said only about 35% of Nigerian inmates have been convicted in court.

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/ 26 February 2008

Discovery says unit to quit US retail insurance

South African health insurance firm Discovery said on Tuesday its loss-making United States unit Destiny Health would quit the US retail insurance market. Discovery said Destiny would continue to market its Vitality product to employer groups and health plans, but would transfer its insured block of business to a health insurance carrier.

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/ 26 February 2008

Brett Lee defends Aussie behaviour

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee defended his team’s on-field behaviour on Tuesday and played down talk of another rift with India. The lingering ill-feeling between the sides surfaced again when Indian paceman Ishant Sharma was fined 15% of his match fee for a verbal altercation with Australian batsman Andrew Symonds during Sunday’s tri-series clash in Sydney.

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/ 26 February 2008

Everton keep eye on Champions League

Phil Jagielka believes a convincing defeat of Manchester City is evidence that Everton have what it takes to pip Liverpool in the battle for the final Champions League qualifying spot. Midfielder Jagielka has been outstanding for David Moyes’s side in recent weeks and impressed again in Monday night’s 2-0 win at the City of Manchester Stadium.