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/ 14 February 2005

Outcry over Shell’s record profit

Oil giant Shell is fighting calls for a windfall tax after it recorded the biggest profits by a British company to date. The £9,4-billion earned in 2004 from oil and gas — £1-million an hour and equal to nearly 1% of the United Kingdom’s gross domestic product — came after the prices of UK domestic gas, electricity and petrol soared. Banking group HSBC is predicted to match Shell’s profits.

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/ 14 February 2005

Informal traders fight to remain in heart of Nairobi

Leah Njoki’s face was bathed in perspiration as she made her way, limping, in front of the United Nations premises last week. Sleeping outdoors had also brought on an attack of flu. Njoki was one of about 300 disabled hawkers who had been demonstrating at the offices for several days, in the hope of forcing the UN to intervene in a local government decision to bar informal traders from doing business in the city centre.

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/ 14 February 2005

How US took Iraq’s money

The Republican senators who have devoted their careers to mauling the United Nations are seldom accused of shyness. But they went strangely quiet last week. A report by the former chairperson of the US Federal Reserve was meant to have proved that, as a result of corruption within the UN’s oil-for-food programme, Saddam Hussein was able to sustain his regime by diverting oil revenues into his hands. But Volcker came up with something else, writes George Monbiot.

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/ 14 February 2005

Silence in Nepal

With complete press censorship, one of the last remaining freedoms from the 1990 People’s Movement is gone. Since February 1, Nepal’s press, until then one of the freest in the world, has been subjected to absolute censorship. Nothing critical of the king’s move, in letter or spirit, is allowed to be printed or broadcast, and action will be taken against anyone who violates this ban.

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/ 13 February 2005

Injury time hands Bucs a draw

A last-gasp goal from Phumudzo Manenzhe earned Orlando Pirates a lucky 1-1 draw in their Castle Premiership derby against Moroka Swallows played at Ellis Park on Saturday. The drama erupted 10 minutes into the second half with the Birds leading 1-0 and Bucs getting a penalty.

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/ 13 February 2005

Last-minute win for Rangers

Manning Rangers beat Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 in a Castle Premiership encounter at Chatsworth Stadium in Durban on Saturday night. Rangers got full points thanks to an injury-time goal by Phumlani ”BMX” Mkhize who came on for MacDonald Mukansi in the 88th minute. The score was 0-0 at the break.

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/ 13 February 2005

Arrows sink further after loss to Wits

Golden Arrows compounded their problems even further after losing 1-2 to Wits University in a Castle Premier Soccer League match played at the Bidvest Stadium on Saturday night. Despite recently appointing Khabo Zondo as their head coach, Arrows are still languishing near the bottom of the log.

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/ 13 February 2005

Bucks beat Cosmos

Bush Bucks collected maximum points when they beat Jomo Cosmos 1-0 in a closely contested Castle Premier Soccer League relegation battle on Saturday evening. The winning goal came in the 66th minute when Agent Sawu scored from a well-taken free kick.

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/ 13 February 2005

Sundowns steal a win

Dynamos’ impressive home winning streak came to an abrupt end when they went down 2-1 to a revitalised Mamelodi Sundowns in a Premier Soccer League match at Giyani Stadium on Saturday. Dynamos led 1-0 at the break. Despite the result, the home side gave Sundowns a run for their money, particularly in the second half.