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/ 19 January 2007

JSE takes knock as commodities slip

The JSE reversed Thursday’s gains on Friday morning following a pullback in commodity prices. Softer world markets also weighed. By 11.57am, the all-share index slipped 1,02%. Resources retreated 1,04%, with the gold- and platinum-mining indices losing 1,53% and 1,35% respectively. Industrials weakened 0,92%, financials fell 1,22% and the banks index was 1,47% in the red.

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/ 19 January 2007

Israel transfers $100m to Palestinians

Israel transferred -million in frozen funds to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority on Friday in an effort to bolster moderate president Mahmoud Abbas, locked in a battle for power with the governing Hamas. Israel has withheld hundreds of millions of dollars collected on behalf of the Palestinians since the Hamas took over the government in March last year.

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/ 19 January 2007

Rwanda set to scrap death penalty

Rwanda’s government said on Friday it had approved plans to scrap the death penalty, in a step which could remove a major obstacle to the transfer back home of defendants facing trial over the 1994 genocide. Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama said the legislation had been voted through at a Cabinet meeting this week.

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/ 19 January 2007

Higher rates slow building plans

While overall levels of South African building activity are being maintained, the outlook for short-term growth has declined on the back of higher rates, according to analysts. While overall levels of South African building activity are being maintained, the outlook for short-term growth has declined on the back of higher rates, according to analysts.

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/ 19 January 2007

Humourist Art Buchwald dies at 81

Pulitzer Prize-winning humourist Art Buchwald, who chronicled nightlife in postwar Paris, took aim at Washington’s powerful, and merrily cheated death for months in a hospice, has died at age 81. Buchwald, who had kidney failure, refused dialysis early last year and entered a hospice expecting to die within weeks.

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/ 19 January 2007

A Galaxy far, far away

As David Beckham leaves Real Madrid amidst the club’s presidential Star Wars, Ramón Calderón’s presidency hangs in the balance. He won an election last year on the narrowest of margins after postal votes were suspended by a court ruling because of serious irregularities. However, the embargo on those thousands of votes will soon be lifted by a Madrid judge.

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/ 19 January 2007

Skinstad to give Sharks some bite

The Tongue is back and licking his lips for a new adventure in rugby. This week Sharks coach Dick Muir confirmed that former Springbok captain Bobby Skinstad has been training with the Durban-based team and has been included in their Super 14 squad for the upcoming season.

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/ 19 January 2007

Gibbs pays price for nursery crimes

An official silence blanketed Cricket South Africa on Wednesday afternoon as media liaison Gordon Templeton politely played bouncer: no statements would be made until the International Cricket Council had finished its disciplinary machinations over Herschelle Gibbs.

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/ 19 January 2007

Last blast for ‘Aussie Kim’

Australians want Kim Clijsters to exit as the champion, given her decision to retire at the end of this year. The country took the Belgian to their hearts and affectionately dubbed her ”Aussie Kim” when she became engaged to Lleyton Hewitt and, despite the relationship faltering three years ago, she remains highly popular down under.