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/ 22 December 2006
South African President Thabo Mbeki has pointed to South Africa’s good economic performance in 2006, which produced "some of the best news about our country" and world recognition of this success. In his internet column, <i>ANC Today</i>, on Friday, the president devotes much space to the strength of the business and fiscal environment.
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/ 22 December 2006
"She was made of real grit, true grit, that was Fiona," actress Shirley Firth, says of her dear friend Fiona Fraser-Brewer, the eccentric theatre personality who passed away this week, at the age of 77. An independent and outspoken person throughout her life, Fraser-Brewer’s friends described her as someone who was committed to her craft and who gave everything to her acting.
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/ 22 December 2006
The JSE was softer Friday midday dragged down by weaknesses in the resource stocks. However, demand was seen for banks and selected industrials stocks.
At 11.49am, the all share index shed 0,45% pulled down by 1,29% loss in the resources index.
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/ 22 December 2006
Turkmenistan on Friday faced the prospect of an eventful political transition a day after its leader died following 21 years of totalitarianism and isolation. The death of President-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov (66) left the strategic Central Asian nation and the wider world speculating about who would succeed him.
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/ 22 December 2006
Thousands of travellers struggling to get home for Christmas faced another day of chaos and frustration on Friday as London’s Heathrow airport was blanketed in fog. ”The weather across much of the UK is regrettably showing little sign of improvement,” said Geoff Want, director of ground operations for British Airways which has cancelled all domestic flights.
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/ 22 December 2006
The African National Congress (ANC) and its alliance formations are themselves largely sidelined from policymaking, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has argued in its end-of-year report. Spokesperson Patrick Craven said in a statement issued on Thursday evening that political power resides in the Presidency.
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/ 22 December 2006
A man is due to appear in court on Friday charged with murdering five prostitutes in eastern England in less than two months, in a case that has gripped Britain. Steven Wright is accused of killing Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls, whose naked bodies were found dumped at rural locations round the town of Ipswich.
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/ 22 December 2006
Zimbabwe will soon open negotiations with China for a -billion loan as part of efforts to stabilise its imploding economy, the official Herald newspaper reported on Friday. ”China’s government is ready to negotiate with the government for a -billion facility to fight inflation,” Chris Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to China, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
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/ 22 December 2006
Serena and Venus Williams did not violate a contract with two promoters by not appearing at a 2001 tennis event, a jury ruled on Thursday. Promoters said they lost millions of dollars because the stars did not play, but jurors agreed with the argument of their attorney that their father, Richard Williams, was not empowered to represent them when he made the deal.
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/ 22 December 2006
Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath has tried to dampen speculation he plans to follow Shane Warne into retirement, telling reporters it ”was business as usual”. Rumours have been rife in Australian media that McGrath is planning to join Warne in quitting Test cricket after next month’s final Ashes Test in Sydney.