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/ 9 November 2007
The expectation would be that conversation with the chair of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies would be about anti-Semitism, the future of the Jewish state and the Palestinian question. These are, of course, the grave and pressing issues that concern the diaspora of Jews. But there is also the wave of confidence and joy that has gripped the South African imagination, writes Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya.
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/ 9 November 2007
The jailed leader of a separatist movement in the south-east of Nigeria — known formerly as Biafra — was released from detention at the end of October in a move analysts hailed as a helpful and diplomatic approach by the government to the region’s problems. But the secessionist leader says he will continue his struggle for independence.
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/ 9 November 2007
While the plastic bag tax has become a cash cow for government, bringing in R221-million since 2004, the company tasked with promoting the recycling of plastic bags is struggling to get off the ground. Buyisa-e-Bag, the company in question, has seen a mere R44-million of the funds generated since it became fully operational in 2005, leaving R177-million to churn around in the general fiscus.
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/ 9 November 2007
Two of the key figures in the genesis of the arms-deal scandal — Patricia de Lille and Andrew Feinstein — went public again this week, fanning the embers of a corruption storm that has been smouldering for nine years. Feinstein, the former African National Congress leader of Parliament’s public accounts watchdog Scopa, resigned when the party moved to curtail investigations into the arms deal.
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/ 9 November 2007
The United States government is heading for the dock. The American Civil Liberties Union has launched legal action against it over its denial of a visa to prominent South African academic Adam Habib. And now that the US has revealed its reasons for denying Habib entry to the country, essentially accusing him of ”terrorist” activity, the backlash against the superpower’s government is intensifying.
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/ 9 November 2007
Just four months before scheduled elections, and with a breakthrough in talks brokered by President Thabo Mbeki in sight, Zimbabweans are watching in dismay as the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) disintegrates and Zanu-PF tweaks electoral regulations in its favour. Recently, there have been violent clashes between supporters of the MDC and some of his most senior officials.
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/ 8 November 2007
A British man on Thursday failed in his record-breaking attempt to pull a 7,5-tonne red London bus over a distance of 10m, using his ears. Manjit Singh (57), a former police officer who now owns a security services company in Leicester, central England, managed to pull the Routemaster Bus over half the distance, about 5m.
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/ 8 November 2007
Shane Bond celebrated his first Test against South Africa by taking four wickets on the opening day of the first Castle Lager Test between South Africa and New Zealand, as South Africa were bundled out for 226, an hour-and-a-quarter after tea. New Zealand had 41 for two when stumps were drawn.
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/ 8 November 2007
Sharks coach Dick Muir, who made a belated attempt to be considered as Springbok coach after incumbent Jake White’s term expires, will not be in line for the position. This follows a resolution by the South African Rugby Union’s president’s council, which met in Johannesburg on Thursday.
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/ 8 November 2007
South African Airways (SAA) posted a net profit before tax and restructuring charges of R136-million for the six months ended September 2007, after a period of massive losses, acting chief financial officer Clive Else said on Thursday. Revenue rose to R11-billion from R9,6-billion, reflecting a 1,2% profit margin.