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/ 20 September 2004

Nigeria ‘loses’ a Russian oil tanker

The disappearance of a Russian tanker laden with crude oil from the custody of Nigerian authorities is a national embarrassment, the head of the parliamentary committee investigating the case said on Sunday. The MT African Pride was seized last October by the Nigerian navy along with 13 Russian sailors on suspicion of smuggling, but disappeared last month along with its cargo of 11 300 tonnes of crude oil.

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/ 20 September 2004

India to launch education satellite

India on Monday was set to launch its first satellite to be used exclusively for education, which will connect classrooms in remote parts of the country, the space agency said. The satellite was built with a mission life of seven years and will transmit information that will train teachers and provide primary and university education in remote regions.

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/ 20 September 2004

Manhunt in Durban for escaped convicts

A massive search is under way for five armed convicts who escaped from the Westville Medium B prison outside Durban on Monday morning, police said. Police spokesperson Superintendent Vish Naidoo said the prisoners had broken out of their cells, overpowered three guards and held a fourth guard hostage while stripping them of their uniforms.

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/ 20 September 2004

No genocide in Darfur, says Sudan minister

Sudan’s justice minister told visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour that there was no genocide or rape in the strife-torn region of Darfur, a newspaper reported on Monday. But Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin said ending the crisis in Darfur is at "the top of the government priorities".
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/pd.asp?cg=BreakingNews-Africa&ao=122458">Khartoum to abide by ‘unfair’ resolution</a>

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/ 20 September 2004

Coca-Cola dominates in brand survey

Coca-Cola has emerged as the world’s best global brand and the most admired company in South Africa, according to research published by the <i>Sunday Times</i> this weekend. The annual Top Brands Survey also revealed that eight of the top 10 brands in the soft/cool-drink market belong to the Coca-Cola stable.

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/ 20 September 2004

Cofimvaba hospital in crisis

Cofimvaba hospital near Umtata is in financial crisis, with patients being fed mostly on dry rice and eggs and staff often arriving at work drunk, an investigation by the provincial health portfolio committee has found. Committee chairperson Mzukisi Mpahlwa said the hospital would run out of money within a month.

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/ 20 September 2004

Sopranos, expired sitcoms take home Emmys

<i>The Sopranos</i> finally whacked its competitors in the best-drama category at the Emmy Awards, but it was HBO and its record-breaking <i>Angels in America</i> that fluttered away with the most trophies. <i>Frasier</i> and <i>Sex and the City</i>, which have both ended their runs, also collected some trophies.

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/ 20 September 2004

Khartoum to abide by ‘unfair’ resolution

Sudan promised to protect civilians in Darfur on Sunday, responding to Saturday’s United Nations security council resolution threatening the regime with oil sanctions and ordering an inquiry into whether the atrocities in the region constitute genocide. Khartoum appeared to bow to the pressure to rein in its militias, but in a statement by its Washington embassy it called the resolution ”unfair and unjust”.

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/ 20 September 2004

Strike on hold, for now

Public servants have put on hold plans for further strike action after a working group set up by labour unions and the government re-drafted a proposed pay rise agreement on Sunday afternoon. The latest draft provided for a 6,2% increase for public servants for this year and consumer inflation plus 0,4% for the following two years, a union negotiator said.