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With no apparent sense of their own absurdity, Zimbabwe's central bank has issued a new bill worth 500 million Zimbabwe dollars to ease cash shortages. This follows the Z$250 million bill (pictured) that they issued last week. Prices for goods now double every week as the country braces for a runoff in what has already been a bloody and controversial presidential election.

I'm a little suprised that President Robert Mugabe hasn't followed Hugo Chavez's lead and just chopped a few zeroes off the end, if only to save accountants some headaches.