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/ 13 September 2007

Children of the Cultural Revolution poised for power

Children turned on parents, students denounced their teachers and Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed: ”To rebel is justified” — the Cultural Revolution was a defining, if terrifying, experience for many Chinese. This turbulent period provides the social backdrop that shaped the formative years of rising political stars like Li Keqiang, Li Yuanchao and Xi Jinping, who lived through the chaos.

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/ 13 September 2007

‘Official’ kilogram mysteriously losing weight

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

Bridge-building task for SABC’s new board

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

Sluggish Italy stumble past Romania

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

Zim shock favourites Australia in Twenty20

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

East African nations on tsunami alert

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

Oil price up to record $80 a barrel

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

Bafana regain pride by holding Uruguay

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.