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/ 22 February 2005

Marge Simpson’s sister comes out

With her predilection for lumberjack shirts and love of golf, the revelation that Marge Simpson’s sister Patty is a lesbian didn’t come as much of a shock to United States fans of the series. But not for the first time the show provoked fevered debate as it took a satirical look at the issue of gay marriage, lampooning middle America’s stereotypical view of lesbians along the way.

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/ 22 February 2005

Shoprite headline earnings up 55%

Food and furniture retailer Shoprite has reported a 55,4% rise in its headline earnings per share for the six months ended December 2004, to 60,6 cents from 39 cents a year earlier. The group said it envisages declaring an interim dividend of 22 cents per share, representing a 33,3% increase on the 16,5 cents declared at the interim stage in 2004.

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/ 22 February 2005

Nedcor recovery yields tangible benefits

The recovery programme implemented by South African banking group Nedcor in 2004 is delivering tangible benefits as is evidenced by the vastly improved results for the past financial year, which saw headline earnings grow from R55-million to R1,45-billion. CEO Tom Boardman says the group has delivered on its commitment made to shareholders.

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/ 22 February 2005

Good news for Telkom shareholders

More than 50 000 Khulisa investors are set to receive an estimated R98-million in loyalty bonuses for holding on to their shares in Telkom since its listing two years ago. The government will make good on its offer to investors that, for every five shares they bought during Telkom’s initial public offering, it will grant one free share as a loyalty bonus.

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/ 22 February 2005

‘I’ve gotta get my elephant tusks back’

It is the morning after Hunter S Thompson’s suicide, and I am reading loaded magazine’s recent interview with Iggy Pop. It begins: ”Iggy Pop! Shit man. I’m alone in a hotel room thinking I’ve overdosed on coke. Sweating. Thinking what the hell am I going to ask Iggy tomorrow afternoon. Two Valium and 14 hours later I am sitting in the lobby of the Chateau Marmont …”

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/ 22 February 2005

Indonesia searches for landslide survivors

Indonesian rescuers on Tuesday continued sifting through tonnes of garbage and debris but hopes were faint of finding anyone alive after a devastating landslide that left 150 people feared dead. Jeje, a farmer, said his father, mother and younger brothers are among the missing. "I can’t think clearly any more. I just hope that their bodies are found," he said.

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/ 22 February 2005

Mbeki scoffs at US stance on Zimbabwe

South African President Thabo Mbeki criticised the United States for calling Zimbabwe an ”outpost of tyranny” saying, in an interview published on Tuesday, that it went against Washington’s efforts to promote democracy. South Africa has served as an important mediator with its troubled neighbour, trying to encourage reforms through a controversial ”quiet diplomacy”.