The award was started in 1972 by global investor Sir John Templeton to remedy what he saw as an oversight by the Nobel Prizes, which do not honour the discipline of religion.

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That was hardly a recipe for the sort of confidence some Welsh fans and pundits were displaying ahead of the clash with Australia, a team honour-bound by national tradition to do all in their power to redeem themselves in the eyes of a hyper-critical public and media.

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True, the Academy Awards do purport to honour excellence, but each year it becomes more of a grand American circus with stars, directors, publicists, studio executives and fans willingly whipping themselves into a frenzy.

BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | Oscars race begins to take shape

But I ask the marchers to understand this: I do not seek unpopularity as a badge of honour.

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"For me personally it's a great honour and it spurs me on to do more to tackle some of the big challenges that we face, " he said.

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"The only promise I have for you in the interim is that as an Ashanti I won't do anything to soil our image, " he told a reception organised in his honour by the King of Ashanti, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

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If I see photos of my men in the papers, doing their job with honour, then you can do what you like in Vietnam.

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Mr Camdessus told Nigeria that, if it wants debt relief and new loans, its government must show that it is prepared to do a lot more privatisation, bring in more openness and accountability, ensure the independence of the judiciary and honour its existing commitments.

ECONOMIST: Nigeria