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/ 18 February 2005
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) has expressed ”serious interest” in building two large-dish antennas in South Africa as part of its deep space array network, Deputy Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom announced on Friday.
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/ 18 February 2005
The South African Reserve Bank’s decision not to cut the repo rate last Thursday baffles, surprises and disappoints in equal measure. It now seems like a trick of the mind that Governor Tito Mboweni is the same man who, last August, ”surprised” the markets with a 0,5% cut. Now that gesture seems like nothing more than his personal celebration of the new term on which he was embarking.
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/ 18 February 2005
A battle is under way for the future of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad), as African Union (AU) chairperson Alpha Konaré seeks to bring the continent’s flagship programme in governance reform and economic development under full AU control, while the Nepad secretariat, under Wiseman Nkuhlu, wants more limited integration.
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/ 18 February 2005
Iraq has gained a relatively stable foundation for drawing up a new Constitution after this week’s election results. The figures show that no group will be able to railroad its proposals through the drafting process. The watchwords will have to be dialogue and compromise. A balance of parties means the new Constitution will be a product of compromise.
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/ 17 February 2005
Your chewing gum has just lost its flavour, but there is no garbage can in sight. What do you do? According to Jewish law, get ready to swallow it. A prominent Israeli rabbi has ruled that spitting gum on a sidewalk or hiding it under a desk is a violation of Halacha or Jewish law.
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/ 17 February 2005
A meeting on Thursday between Togo’s new military-installed leader, Faure Gnassingbe, with his fiercest critic of his accession to power, the chairperson of the African Union, Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo, has ended, officials said. The Economic Community of West African States has threatened Togo with sanctions.
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/ 17 February 2005
Fifty-two hippos have died of anthrax in a western Ugandan game park since the beginning of the year. The disease killed 250 in the same park in the second half of 2004, Deputy Tourism Minister Jovino Akaki Ayumu said on Thursday. Anthrax struck the park bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo last July.
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/ 17 February 2005
North Korea has affronted China. Pyongyang’s announcement that it has long possessed nuclear weapons and has no immediate intention of negotiating over the issue has left its old friend and neighbour speechless. China is attempting to cover its dismay with frenetic diplomatic activity.
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/ 17 February 2005
The V&A Waterfront development — which is one of South Africa’s top tourist attractions — is up for sale, Minister of Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin said in Parliament on Thursday. Discussing the contentious issue of state asset privatisation, Erwin said the government will sell all businesses that are not core to its functions.