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/ 5 February 2006

Young, rich, black … and driving an African boom

They drive sleek cars, dress to kill and spend like there’s no tomorrow. Twelve years after the demise of apartheid, the children of South Africa’s revolution have found a way to celebrate freedom: shopping. In ways unimaginable to their grandparents, a generation of black upwardly mobile professionals, dubbed ”buppies”, is splashing out in a display of power and wealth that is driving a consumer boom.

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/ 5 February 2006

Mad dogs, a R75 pint and Mugabe

A shift in the pattern of the world’s wealth was illustrated last week as the ancient Viking hangout of Oslo gained the dubious title of being the world’s most expensive city. Thanks to an offshore oil-fuelled boom, the Norwegian capital, where a pint of beer is R75 and a CD nearly R215, is now the costliest place on the planet.

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/ 5 February 2006

Tsotsi shines with compassionate look at crime

South African film sensation Tsotsi is winning acclaim with its raw and compassionate depiction of Johannesburg’s criminal underworld, where poverty and HIV/Aids are mainstays of existence. The film tells the story of a 19-year-old ”tsotsi”, or thug, who is confronted with the depravity of his life while caring for a baby found in the back seat of a car he hijacked after shooting the mother.

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/ 5 February 2006

Embassies ablaze as Muslim anger spreads

The increasingly bitter row over the publication of a series of controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad reached a new intensity on Saturday night as protesters set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Syria. On Saturday night the Danish embassy, which was empty when attacked, was a charred hulk.

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/ 4 February 2006

Taxman swoops on Roger Kebble

The SA Revenue Service (SARS) this week seized possessions of mining tycoon Roger Kebble, including three of his homes, a 47-foot yacht, luxury cars, a piano, paintings, antiques and firearms, the Sunday Times reports. Kebble was quoted by the paper as saying ”it’s done”, and that he was pleased the matter had been resolved.

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/ 4 February 2006

Cartoon row: Sunday Times gagged

Sunday newspapers will not be allowed to publish a controversial cartoon of the prophet Muhammad after a Muslim pressure group was granted a court interdict. The Jamiat-ul Ulama of Transvaal, which sought an interdict against Johncom Media and Independent Newspapers among others, said the cartoon was ”deeply offensive”.

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/ 4 February 2006

Egypt, Senegal advance

Egypt kept home interest alive in the African Nations Cup in Cairo on Friday as they beat Democratic Republic of Congo 4-1 to ease into the semifinals and a step nearer a record fifth title. To reach the final they will have to get past 2002 finalists Senegal, who edged previously unbeaten Guinea 3-2 to make it a dreadful night for French coaches, DRC’s Claude Le Roy and Guinea’s Patrice Neveu.

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/ 4 February 2006

Muralitharan moans about taunts in Australia

Sri Lankan offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan has asked Australian crowds to stop taunting him after his controversial bowling action was again declared legal following a new series of tests. Muralitharan said on Saturday he was again contemplating not returning to Australia due to the amount of abuse he receives, stating ”99%” of the taunts over his action occur in Australia.

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/ 4 February 2006

Additional fuel expected next week

Fuel suppliers are expected to increase supplies by early next week, the Airports Company of South Africa said on Friday. Spokesperson Solomon Makgale said, however, that suppliers had cautioned there were no guarantees and that airlines should voluntarily cut back on fuel by at least 15%.