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/ 23 October 2006
South African Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni cautioned on Monday that the country’s widening current-account deficit posed a risk to the exchange rate of the rand. Addressing the First Macroeconomic Policy Challenges for South Africa conference in Pretoria, Mboweni said that in recent months the risks to the inflation outlook had increased.
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/ 23 October 2006
Moves to reserve the N1 highway’s right-hand lane between Johannesburg and Pretoria for high-occupancy vehicles were off to an uncertain start on Monday morning, metro police said. A spokesperson said most motorists are still unaware that the fast lane has been reserved for vehicles with three or more occupants.
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/ 23 October 2006
South African singer Lebo Mathosa (29) died in an accident east of Johannesburg in the early hours on Monday, her manager, Linzy Cowley, said. Mathosa’s driver apparently lost control of the Toyota Prado in which they were travelling on the N3 highway on the East Rand, and Mathosa died at the scene.
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/ 23 October 2006
An airline baggage courier pleaded guilty in Australia on Friday to stealing samples of women’s hair from their lost bags and keeping them on file. Rodney Petersen (30) had faced 110 charges of theft and stalking after taking strands of both head and pubic hair from the luggage of female passengers.
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/ 23 October 2006
Australians should stop singing and daydreaming in the shower because they are wasting money on hot water, one of the country’s largest power suppliers said on Sunday. Energy Australia has conducted research showing that the average Australian showers for seven minutes, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
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/ 23 October 2006
A police chief in southern England was caught driving his car while using his cellphone, an offence here, by a motorist who followed him, the <i>Times</i> reported on Monday. The motorist followed the chief to his station after the officer cut in front of him while talking on his cellphone.
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/ 23 October 2006
Panamanians have overwhelmingly approved a ,25-billion plan to widen their transcontinental canal, a project that will allow the world’s biggest ships to sail between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. About 80% of the gross domestic product of Panama, with a population of three million, is linked directly or indirectly to canal activity.
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/ 23 October 2006
Sudan is to expel the United Nations’s top official in the country after he reported two military defeats for the government and other embarrassing details in the largely invisible war in the western region of Darfur. This month he reported heavy government casualties, the sacking of several generals and the mobilising of Arab militias.
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/ 23 October 2006
Listed South African fast-food franchise group Famous Brands has reported a 22% increase in headline earnings per share to 51,8 cents for the six months ended August 31 from 42,7 cents for the comparable period last year. Gross revenue for the period increased by 33% to R406,3-million from R304,9-million in the prior period.
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/ 23 October 2006
The Israeli government has admitted that it used controversial phosphorus weapons in its attacks against targets during its month-long war in Lebanon this summer. The chemical can be used in shells, missiles and grenades and causes horrific burning when it comes into contact with human flesh.