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/ 12 December 2007

West Indies attempt to upset the odds

Chris Gayle’s West Indies touring team will attempt to succeed where their predecessors have failed when they take on South Africa over the next seven-and-a-half weeks. The odds appear to be stacked against the West Indies, but Gayle has the consolation of knowing that he can hardly do worse than previous sides from the Caribbean that have visited South Africa.

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/ 12 December 2007

Nationwide slowly resumes operations

Nationwide Airlines is gradually resuming its operations, with three of its 17 aircraft already back in service. The airline’s Boeing 767-300 service to London, which resumed last week, is operating as normal and two of its 737-500 aircraft are now being used on domestic flights, company spokesperson Charmaine Thome said on Wednesday.

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/ 12 December 2007

IATA cuts 2008 air-industry outlook

The airline industry body IATA slashed its forecast for industry profits in 2008 on Wednesday, warning that the spiralling cost of fuel and the impact of the credit crunch would reverse expected growth. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reduced its forecast for 2008 industry profits by one third to -billion.

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/ 12 December 2007

Car bomb kills Lebanese army chief contender

A car bomb killed a Lebanese general in a Christian suburb overlooking Beirut on Wednesday, removing a leading contender to take over as army chief from General Michel Suleiman when he becomes president. The attack heightened tension in Lebanon where rival leaders are embroiled in a tussle over the Presidency.

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/ 12 December 2007

Zim ruling party to endorse Mugabe for 2008 vote

Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party will formally endorse President Robert Mugabe this weekend as its candidate for re-election next year, a choice that critics say will prolong the economic crisis ravaging the country. Mugabe (83) has overcome a half-hearted attempt by some top Zanu-PF officials to force him to retire before the March 2008 poll.

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/ 12 December 2007

Rumours of Selebi arrest dismissed

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Wednesday that police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi had not been arrested as rumoured. ”Where we are now and as we speak, there is no arrest by the Scorpions of the police commissioner today [Wednesday],” said NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali.

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/ 12 December 2007

Dark days ahead for energy-strapped SA

Constant power cuts are darkening the mood among South Africans, with President Thabo Mbeki admitting that the government was at fault for ignoring growing energy needs. Africa’s largest economy is buckling under energy pressures after failing to heed pleas by state power utility Eskom to invest more in electricity generation.

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/ 12 December 2007

Lesser-known sports crave spotlight in Thailand

They are chalk and cheese — an all-action sport and a quiet board game — but both are part of the attraction at the South-East Asian Games in north-eastern Thailand. Sepak takraw is being held in a stadium at the top of a shopping mall in front of raucous fans, while Go, a demonstration sport here, is taking place in a quiet university conference room.