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/ 7 February 2005

Bush targets the cherished monthly cheque

United States President George W Bush’s two successful presidential campaigns have proved that social security is no longer the sacred cow of American politics.
For generations, it was considered politically fatal to touch the government-run pension system. But two weeks into his second and final four-year term, Bush made social security reform the centrepiece of his domestic agenda.

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/ 7 February 2005

Scientists should listen to poor, not politicians

Gordon Conway, the newly appointed chief scientist at the United Kingdom Department for International Development, has used his first public speech to call on scientists to listen to the world’s poor. Conway said it is imperative that development agencies such as his own listen closely to the demands of the poorest in developing countries — and not only to scientists and politicians there.

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/ 7 February 2005

New clues lend weight to biblical history

An ancient fortress, a burial box and a piece of cloth — historical remains related to the Bible never cease to provoke heated debate, whether the discoveries are thought to be tantalising clues, cynical hoaxes or just archaeological mistakes. Right now, for instance, three highly technical disputes have erupted over materials linked to scripture, and recent finds could undercut sceptics of biblical history.

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/ 6 February 2005

Polished SA cricketers beat England

A polished performance by a determined South African side saw them beat England by 108 runs in the fourth Standard Bank one-day international at Newlands on Sunday, and take a two-one lead in the series. Set a target of 292 runs at nearly six runs a ball, England were always on the back foot.

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/ 6 February 2005

Life at home with Mildred

Mildred the Maid gives me two-and-a-half days off each week. That’s not including weekends, when I’m expected to do my own thing with my own family, while she does the same with hers (and spends the first hour of her first working day back at the ranch the following week giving me every blow-by-blow detail of that most stressful of periods — "Life At Home").

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/ 6 February 2005

Zimbabwe elections: ‘The rulers always win’

Residents of Zimbabwe’s best-known township harbour no illusions about next month’s elections, with many too busy struggling to survive to ponder what’s at stake. The mood in Chitungwiza, a sprawling and dingy township that is home to nearly two million people, is a mixture of apathy, disgust and hopelessness ahead of the parliamentary polls.

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/ 6 February 2005

Pirates consolidate their lead

Black Leopards’ losing ways continued after they were beaten 1-0 by Orlando Pirates in a Premier Soccer League match played at Johannesburg Stadium on Saturday. There was no score at half-time. Pirates could have taken the lead in the 26th minute after Tyren Arendse failed to convert a clear-cut chance.

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/ 6 February 2005

Rangers beaten in dull match

Manning Rangers’ woes continued when they were beaten 2-0 by 10-man Ajax Cape Town in a Castle Premiership encounter played at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday night. The first goal of this dull match was netted by Thembinkosi Fanteni in the 19th minute, thanks to an excellent cross ball from Kanku Mulekelayi.