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/ 2 December 2005
A political earthquake is itself a rare event. Two major political earthquakes in quick succession is almost unheard of. But it happened in Israel recently with the election of Amir Peretz as leader of the Labour Party and the departure of Ariel Sharon from the Likud to form a new party.
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/ 2 December 2005
The resounding rejection by Kenyans of a draft constitution in a referendum backs President Mwai Kibaki into an awkward political corner and raises the spectre of a premature lame-duck presidency. Kibaki dangerously staked his credibility on the draft, which many Kenyans saw as perpetuating the post-colonial legacy of a strong presidency.
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/ 2 December 2005
December was supposed to be the crowning moment for the United Kingdom’s twin presidencies of the G8 and the European Union. In Hong Kong, there would be a communiqué bursting with goodies for poor countries, so that trade could join debt relief and aid as the third leg of the UK’s anti-poverty agenda.
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/ 2 December 2005
Oom Krisjan and all the manne down at the Dorsbult would like to congratulate the Visdorp’s First Lady, Her Worship the Executive Mayor Alderman Nomaindia Mfeketo, on her double coup; firstly for assuming the most grandiose title in living memory, and secondly for managing to scrape together enough to switch on the festive Christmas lights in Adderley Street.
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/ 2 December 2005
The United States on Friday executed its 1 000th prisoner since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Kenneth Lee Boyd, a convicted double-murderer, was pronounced dead at 2.15am (7.15am GMT) after a lethal injection of three drugs, said a spokesperson from North Carolina’s Department of Corrections.
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/ 1 December 2005
The funeral industry in South Africa seems to be shrouded in mystery — and now allegations of racism and corruption have surfaced. The industry is, by its nature, a secretive one. What goes on in the morgue stays in the morgue — unless one is caught, such as the police officer who was found sodomising a corpse in the Salt River mortuary in Cape Town.
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/ 1 December 2005
The government has noted a ruling by the Constitutional Court on Thursday that same-sex marriages be allowed and will respect the judgement, spokesperson Joel Netshitenze said. ”The Department of Home Affairs will assess what practical steps will be needed to give effect to the change in the law and make appropriate recommendations to the minister,” he said.
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/ 1 December 2005
One of three men convicted of murdering retired Durbanville NGK dominee Pietie Victor was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Cape High Court on Thursday. Rashied Naidoo, who moved to Cape Town from Durban a few years ago, received an additional 16 years — including one year for the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
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/ 1 December 2005
England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher conceded on Thursday his Ashes-winning team was in danger of losing the Test series on ”a mentally tough tour of Pakistan”. ”It’s mentally a tough tour as most of the time we are stuck in our hotels and it has got to the players a little bit,” Fletcher said after England conceded a big lead on the third day of the third and final Test in Lahore.