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/ 21 December 2006

Politicians take time out

ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma will be opening his Christmas presents and kissing his numerous wives under the mistletoe at his homestead in Nkandla, northern KwaZulu-Natal, the Mail & Guardian has established. One assumes President Thabo Mbeki will not be among the guests.

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/ 21 December 2006

Philanthropy must be balanced

Four separate developments this year will set the course of corporate social investment in the year to come, if not after. Firstly, the biggest philanthropic event this year was undoubtedly the startling giveaway by the world’s second-richest man of 85% of his fortune.

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/ 21 December 2006

Same-sex marriages: What next?

This year, South Africa became the fifth country in the world — and the first in Africa — to legalise gay marriages, following a circuitous legal journey through the highest courts of the nation. As gay couples start sending out wedding invitations, the traditional concept of marriage has been shunted into the spotlight. But are gay and lesbian relationships really suited to marriage?

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/ 21 December 2006

Donkey jawbones, laptops mix up Peru’s new music

As a Quechua Indian quintet plays a solemn Andean muleteer’s march on harp, clarinet and violin, their notes spring up as wave forms on a computer screen in an ultra-modern recording studio. In a dark and smoky rehearsal room across town, a sound engineer tweaks a console, weaving electronic beats and bleeps between the thumps and slaps of a sweating conga player.

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/ 20 December 2006

Rugby death: Player banned for life

The Boland Rugby Union (BRU) on Wednesday announced sanctions on two clubs and several players following a player’s death in June. Delicious Rugby Club player Ben Zimri, who was arrested in connection with the player’s death, was banned from rugby for life said BRU lawyer Chris Faure.

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/ 20 December 2006

Fighting erupts in Somalia

Somali Islamists and troops defending the government’s only stronghold battled with rockets and heavy weapons on Wednesday at two frontline areas as a European Union envoy flew in to stave off the brewing war. The flare-ups to the south-west and south-east of the interim government’s surrounded outpost, Baidoa, heightened fears of a Horn of Africa conflict.

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/ 20 December 2006

England name Ashton as new rugby coach

England attack coach Brian Ashton was named as head coach on Wednesday following the resignation of Andy Robinson last month. In a statement, the Rugby Football Union said Ashton (60) would take charge of the world champions for their opening Six Nations match against Scotland at Twickenham on February 3.