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/ 17 March 2006

On-form Federer speeds into semifinals

Roger Federer didn’t give Ivan Ljubicic a look in on Thursday as he sped past the Croatian Davis Cup hero and into the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters Series. Ljubicic had stretched the Swiss world number one to three sets in three of their five encounters last year, but Federer quickly sucked any suspense out of this one, needing just 66 minutes to post a 6-2, 6-3 victory.

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/ 17 March 2006

L’Oreal buys Body Shop for $1,1-billion

French cosmetics giant L’Oreal said on Friday it would buy Body Shop International, renowned for its ethical hair and skin products, for $1,143-billion (£652 million). L’Oreal will pay 300 pence a share for Body Shop, which will be maintained as a separate entity and continue to be led by its current management team.

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/ 17 March 2006

Jolly Roger is flying

Sober reflection and an objective perspective are one thing; but being a wet blanket is quite another. And the soggy rags have been out in force since Sunday. The drippy lament, like Chinese water torture, has involved hammering the same muddy point over and over again, until one is ready to confess to anything.

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/ 17 March 2006

Bad day for the bookies

The bookies must be in mourning this week. After Australia’s record-breaking first-innings 434, odds on a South African win were running at as high as 80/1. But the company-sponsored boxes, reserved for corporate head honchos and their clients (and the odd hack), were buzzing with bets on South Africa.

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/ 17 March 2006

You have struck a woman, you have struck a rock

March 8 is a day of solidarity between women. It is a day when women across our planet unite against misogyny — the unspoken hatred of the female. Misogyny manifests in the horror of infant rape, in the everyday humiliations experienced in sweatshops and offices, in streets and homes. It results in women and girls bearing the brunt of poverty, HIV/Aids and violence.

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/ 17 March 2006

How the ANC blew it

The African National Congress’s rigid negotiation strategy cost it the city of Cape Town and seats on the mayoral committee. Newly elected Democratic Alliance executive mayor Helen Zille will not invite the party to her mayoral committee. ”We considered a formula to bring the ANC in, but their demands were just out of proportion.”