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/ 15 April 2008

Obama defends ‘bitter’ remarks

United States Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spent a fourth day on Monday defending himself for calling people in small towns with economic blight ”bitter” in a controversy that rival Hillary Clinton is trying to use for a comeback. Republican John McCain also sought political gain from the flap.

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/ 29 March 2008

US Senator Casey endorses Obama

United States Senator Robert Casey of Pennsylvania on Friday endorsed Barack Obama’s campaign for the Democratic nomination for president in a boost for the Illinois senator. Casey could help Obama win over some of the state’s white, socially conservative, blue-collar voters, many of whom are unionised and fear economic uncertainty.

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/ 29 June 2006

Push for clean power plant looks for US home

An unusual international alliance of private companies and governments is slated to choose a site in the United States for the world’s cleanest coal-fuelled power plant, called FutureGen, by summer 2007. The alliance includes the governments of India and China, as well as large coal producers and consumers from the US, Britain, China and Australia.

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/ 29 December 2005

Scientists try to build tools to make better wine

Distinguishing fine wine from plonk is usually left to connoisseurs and winemakers, who rely on their senses, rough chemical measurements and the whims of nature to produce an exceptional tipple. But a professor, working with industry scientists in Chile, is hoping that computer models will identify the traits of good wine — eventually helping vintners produce more of it.

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/ 30 August 2004

Kids need tidy rooms, after all

Growing up in an untidy home can mess up a child’s mind, according to a new American study. Researchers from Pennsylvania State University studied data from about 8 000 three- and four-year-old twins to separate the influence of genes and environment on intelligence.

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/ 17 October 2003

Alcoa alleges aluminium dumping by SA firm

Alcoa, the world’s largest aluminium maker, is asking federal authorities to stop alleged dumping of aluminium by a South African company. Pittsburgh-based Alcoa petitioned the Commerce Department and the US International Trade Commission seeking intervention to stop alleged dumping of 6 000 series aluminium alloy rolled plate by Hulett Aluminum Ltd.