statism watch

Jon Swain, Michael Sheridan, The Sunday Times
January 18, 2009

A Sunday Times photographer has been beaten up and punched repeatedly in the face by the wife of President Robert Mugabe.

Grace Mugabe, 43, known as the First Shopper of Zimbabwe, flew into a rage when she was spotted last week leaving the exclusive Shangri-La hotel in Hong Kong. She has been staying there with her entourage at a cost of £2,000 a day while her country endures poverty, hunger and disease.

Holding a Jimmy Choo-style bag estimated to be worth at least £2,000, and hiding behind Cavalli rhine-stone-framed glasses with a red cashmere shawl over her head, she ordered her bodyguard to attack the photographer, Richard Jones.

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CBC News
January 18, 2009

City charter amended after marathon debate

The City of Vancouver has been given the go-ahead to borrow the money it needs to complete the Olympic Village for the 2010 Winter Games.

After 20 hours of debate, the B.C. legislature on Sunday approved Bill 47, which gives the city unlimited borrowing power, as long as it uses the money solely for completion of the development that will house Olympic athletes, and is expected to total more than $1 billion.

The city is renegotiating a loan with the developer of the project — consisting primarily of about 1,100 condos — and a U.S. lender, but will need to borrow up to $458 million if those negotiations fail.

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