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/ 18 February 2005

WHO rushes to pneumonic plague outbreak in DRC

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday it is rushing an emergency team to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to tackle an outbreak of highly fatal pneumonic plague that is thought to have killed dozens of people. The outbreak occurred in an unidentified northern mining town riven by conflict and cut off from humanitarian aid.

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/ 18 February 2005

Timber-smuggling ring exposed

Environmental activists have exposed what they claim to be the world’s biggest timber-smuggling racket, the supply of the luxurious dark hardwood, merbau, from Indonesia’s eastern Papua province to China and then on to Europe and North America. One Indonesian trader said on camera that at least 5% of his illegal stock ends up in Britain.

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/ 18 February 2005

Interest rate debate may eclipse Budget

The debate over interest rate cuts could knock next week’s discussions on the 2005/06 Budget from the headlines, an economist said on Friday. ”An expected decline in CPIX inflation to 3,8% may prove to be the most positive news on Budget day from a market point of view,” said economist John Loos.

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/ 18 February 2005

Man kills mother, wears skin to carnival

A Dutch man has been arrested on charges of murdering his mother, police said on Friday, and media reports said he flayed her and cloaked himself her skin during celebrations of a popular festival. The 42-year-old man was detained in the early hours of February 5 after police received reports that a man was causing a disturbance.

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/ 18 February 2005

A tribute to genius

<b>CD OF THE WEEK:</b> <i>Genius Loves Company</i> scooped an impressive list of Grammys last week: album of the year, best recording, best collaboration with Jones, best gospel collaboration (Gladys Knight), best pop vocals, best engineered album and best surround sound. Matthew Krouse finds out why.