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/ 25 October 2007

US slaps new sanctions on Iran’s military

Ratcheting up the pressure on Tehran, the United States on Thursday designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps a proliferater of weapons of mass destruction and its elite Qods force a supporter of terrorism. In total, Washington slapped sanctions on more than 20 Iranian companies, major banks and individuals as well as the Defence Ministry.

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/ 25 October 2007

Chances slim for Darfur breakthrough

Disarray in both government and rebel ranks makes quick progress unlikely in Darfur peace talks billed by the United Nations as a ”moment of truth” to stop four-and-a-half years of violence in western Sudan. The best that can be hoped at the gathering in Libya, which begins on Saturday, is agreement to meet again.

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/ 25 October 2007

Africa’s gendarme France not hanging up baton yet

France is trying to shed its reputation as ”Africa’s policeman” but, despite efforts to involve European partners in peacekeeping missions, there are no signs it will hang up its baton just yet. France won backing last month for an European Union force to be deployed soon in east Chad and Central African Republic, where it already has troops stationed.

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/ 25 October 2007

SA finances healthy, Aids, crime a threat

South African public finances are sound and the financial system is healthy, while strong economic growth will continue, albeit as a slower pace, Moody’s Investor Service said on Thursday. But political and socio-economic risks may dampen investor sentiment and cloud prospects for a ratings upgrade.

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/ 24 October 2007

ANC mulls idea of media tribunal

The African National Congress (ANC) wants to consider setting up a media tribunal to discuss how participation of the public is juxtaposed with current self-regulation in the media. ”It’s not a policy position, we just want to set up a task team to investigate this,” ANC information head Smuts Ngonyama said on Wednesday.

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/ 24 October 2007

ANC backs media diversity

The South African Broadcasting Corporation would be within its rights not to run a story on Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, but media diversity is important in ensuring that other outlets can run it if they choose to, African National Congress (ANC) politician and businessman Saki Macozoma said on Tuesday.

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/ 24 October 2007

Busa: ANC succession no threat to economy

The African National Congress (ANC) succession debate does not pose a significant threat to the creditworthiness of rand-denominated debt, Business Unity South Africa (Busa) said on Wednesday. ”We do not expect significant shift in the ANC policy, regardless of the outcome of the conference,” Busa CEO Jerry Vilakazi said.

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/ 24 October 2007

France seals nuclear deal with Morocco

France will help Morocco build a civil nuclear energy industry to underpin its development, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on a visit to the North African country. Morocco lacks the energy reserves of neighbouring Algeria and has sought for years to build nuclear power stations to provide enough electricity to feed industrial growth and rising living standards.