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/ 13 September 2007
A kilogram just isn’t what it used to be. A 118-year-old cylinder that has been the international prototype for the metric mass, and kept tightly under lock and key outside Paris, is mysteriously losing its weight — if ever so slightly. Physicist Richard Davis of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Sevres, south-west of Paris, says the reference kilo appears to have lost 50 micrograms.
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/ 12 September 2007
There is background to why Dali Mpofu, supremo at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), announced last week that the broadcaster was severing ties with the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef). On the SABC side, the broadcaster’s leadership sees itself as a ”responsible” player in nation-building and promoting the ”national interest”.
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/ 12 September 2007
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Italy rebounded from their All Black mauling to record a morale-boosting, if incredibly dour, 24-18 win over Romania in a Rugby World Cup Pool C game at the Stade Velodrome in Marseilles on Wednesday. In a game that was certainly no advert for free-flowing rugby, the forwards battled out a war of attrition interrupted by a veritable comedy of handling errors.
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/ 12 September 2007
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Minnows Zimbabwe upset tournament favourites Australia in the first shock of the Twenty20 World Championship at Newlands on Wednesday. Opening batsman Brendan Taylor guided Zimbabwe to a five-wicket win after Australia limped to 138-9 in their 20 overs after choosing to bat on a slow pitch.
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/ 12 September 2007
African nations neighbouring the Indian Ocean on Wednesday warned of a possible tsunami after a huge earthquake struck off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, officials said. Kenyan authorities advised residents along the coastal region to keep off the beaches and remain alert, warning that a tsunami was expected.
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/ 12 September 2007
New York crude oil prices reached a barrel on Wednesday for the first time as the market fretted over declining United States reserves and a new tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico. Prices shot higher after news that US crude reserves fell by a sharper-than-expected 7,1-million barrels over the past week.
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/ 12 September 2007
South Africa held Uruguay 0-0 on Wednesday in an international friendly to regain some pride after a weekend mauling by Zambia. But the 2010 soccer World Cup hosts needed help from Zimbabwe referee Tendai Bwanya to contain the visitors, who finished fourth at the Copa America in Venezuela two months ago.
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/ 12 September 2007
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Fiji overcame sweltering conditions in Toulouse and stubborn Japanese resistance to win their opening pool B World Cup match 35-31 on Wednesday. Japan thrilled the crowd by fighting all the way to the final whistle against their more experienced and bigger opponents, who picked up a crucial bonus point for scoring four tries, before agonisingly coming up just short.
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/ 12 September 2007
A passenger in a two-seater Tiger Moth died and its pilot was critically injured when the plane crashed into a truck, a taxi and a car on the old Vereeniging Road, south of Johannesburg, on Wednesday, said emergency workers. The taxi driver also died and 22 people were injured in the crash in Ennerdale at 4.45pm, said a Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson.
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/ 12 September 2007
Netcare on Wednesday urged healthcare professionals and the public to support and implement blood-conservation projects. Its appeal comes after an urgent call by the South African National Blood Service for people to donate blood. Netcare had recognised a trend towards global blood shortages several years ago, and therefore established a blood-conservation programme.