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/ 26 October 2003

Twin earthquakes hit China

Two strong earthquakes shook a remote region of northwestern China’s desertlands, killing at least eight people, the government said on Sunday. The quakes — magnitudes 6,1 and 5,8 — hit Gansu province within seven minutes, and damage to reservoirs left a large patch of land in danger of flooding.

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/ 26 October 2003

Devastating morning attack on Iraq hotel

The hotel in Baghdad where United States Deputy Secretary of Defence Paul Wolfowitz was staying was hit on Sunday morning by explosive projectiles in an attack that wounded at least three people. Details were sketchy, but Wolfowitz, who was staying at the Al Rasheed hotel, was said not to have been injured.

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/ 26 October 2003

Tsvangirai assassination trial postponed

The trial of Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, set to resume next week, has been postponed for the second time. The marathon trial, which started in February this year, was supposed to see Tsvangirai being cross-examined by state lawyers on his role in allegedly plotting the assassination of President Robert Mugabe.

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/ 26 October 2003

Earl Va’a: Playing for peanuts

In theory it should be the greatest mismatch in the history of sport. If they were boxers, any sane doctor wouldn’t even let them get in to the ring togther. But this afternoon, under the roof in Melbourne, it’s Jonny Wilkinson versus Earl Va’a. The millionaire takes on the pauper. The obsessive kicker against a man who practices "perhaps an hour a week".

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/ 26 October 2003

Redemption for Ireland

Redemption arrived for Irish rugby Sunday, four long years and 80 agonising minutes after their most harrowing World Cup defeat. Ireland held on for a thrilling 16-15 victory over Argentina at Adelaide Oval, avenging the loss that knocked them out of the 1999 tournament.