Staff Reporter
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/ 27 February 2007

Britain switches tactics to undermine the Taliban

Britain has launched a "reconciliation" drive to undermine support for the Taliban after Whitehall strategists concluded that a decisive military victory in Afghanistan cannot be won. Senior British officials have stopped talking about winning a war. "We do not use the word ‘win’," one said. "We can’t kill our way out of this problem."

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/ 27 February 2007

Deforestation affects Malaysian tourist resorts

Malaysia’s three main hill resorts, popular draws for tourists escaping the tropical heat, are warming up, mainly due to deforestation, environmentalists said this week. Faizal Parish, director of the Malaysia-based Global Environment Centre, said some bird and plant species are disappearing as the mountainous areas became hotter, and called on the government to stop forest clearing.

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/ 27 February 2007

Proteas seen as threat at World Cup

Batsman Mike Hussey believes four teams will be the main threats to Australia at the World Cup. ”I think the South Africans are obviously a very, very well drilled unit, Sri Lanka I think are going to be very dangerous, Pakistan on their day are dangerous and the Kiwis have shown that they’ve been playing some pretty consistent one-day cricket as well,” Hussey said.

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/ 27 February 2007

Email viruses rule the roost

Computer viruses spreading by email still ruled the roost last year, security solutions provider BitDefender said on Tuesday. The top 10 viruses propagated via email messages accounted for 55% of the total number of infections by BitDefender in 2006, with the infamous Netsky virus causing 13% of last year’s infections.

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/ 27 February 2007

Middendorp failed to understand ‘SA way’

The axing of Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp this week came as no surprise. In fact, what was most surprising of all is that he held on to his job for so long at a club that expects instant success. The German was unpopular with the fans almost from day one after employing what was perceived as negative tactics.

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/ 27 February 2007

Basson faces conduct hearing

Wouter Basson — apartheid South Africa’s alleged germ-warfare expert — faces losing his private medical practice as a panel of peers prepares to judge a complaint of unethical conduct arising from events in his past. The process had been delayed by a 31-month criminal trial and subsequent appeals.