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/ 14 February 2006

Mandela shares in grief of Khoza family

Former president Nelson Mandela on Tuesday commended South African Football Association Vice-President Irvin Khoza for being honest about the fact that his daughter Zodwa had died of an HIV-related illness. Mandela said he was convinced the family’s disclosing the cause of their daughter’s death would give others the courage to do the same.

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/ 14 February 2006

Cupid flutters over Saudi Arabia despite ban

Young Saudis defied on Tuesday the ultra-conservative kingdom’s ban on Valentine’s Day celebrations to exchange sweets, red teddy bears, greeting cards, roses and even kisses. On the night before Valentine’s young men and women strolled up and down the Tahliya shopping avenue in the western city of Jeddah, browsing at heart-shaped chocolate boxes and the red lingerie.

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/ 14 February 2006

Duck, it’s Dick

United States comedians and satirists have seized upon Vice-President Dick Cheney’s quail hunting accident, in which he fired shotgun pellets at a lawyer friend Harry Whittington. David Letterman on his talk show said: "Good news, ladies and gentlemen, we have finally located weapons of mass destruction: it’s Dick Cheney."

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/ 14 February 2006

St Valentine’s Day massacre

Adam Gilchrist hammered the fastest one-day hundred by an Australian in a Valentine’s Day massacre of Sri Lanka’s bowlers at the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday to clinch the triangular limited-overs series. Gilchrist thrashed a spectacular 122 off 91 balls and shared in a 196-run opening stand with Simon Katich to set up the Australians for an overwhelming nine-wicket victory.

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/ 14 February 2006

Wanted: Teacher training plan

As many university education faculties face financial meltdown, South Africa is training only about a third of new teachers needed to replace those leaving the school system each year, according to a government report. The report observes that there are about 350 000 state-employed teachers in public schools.

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/ 14 February 2006

Manuel may explain new form of business tax

Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel is expected to provide further details in Wednesday’s national Budget about the new form of business tax that will take the place of regional service council levies — including when enabling legislation is likely to be put to Parliament, says Local Government Research Centre head Clive Keegan.

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/ 14 February 2006

Demonstrations mar Haiti vote count

René Préval (63) was expected to appeal for calm in Haiti on Tuesday following protests over a vote count that put him short of the 50% he needs to be elected president in the first round. Tension remained high as Préval’s supporters insisted the frontrunner be declared president, despite the partial results.