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/ 14 June 2006

Flash flooding in China leaves 55 dead or missing

Fifty-five people are dead or missing from flash floods that ripped through south-western China’s Guizhou province early this week, the government said on Wednesday. At least 25 people were confirmed dead from the flooding in mountainous areas of Guizhou, while another 30 people were missing, the state flood-control headquarters reported.

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/ 14 June 2006

Cliffs and Norman abbeys dominate France’s ‘magic triangle’

The towns of Rouen, Le Havre and Dieppe form the outermost limits of what is known as the ”magic triangle” in the French Normandy. In the north, the commune of Etretat and its white chalk cliffs attract millions of tourists every year. In the south, the river Seine meanders in large curves through undulating countryside, flanked by Norman monasteries, towards its estuary.

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/ 14 June 2006

Zim soldiers seize maize from farmers

The Zimbabwe government has stationed soldiers and police on roads leading into cities to prevent farmers from moving maize to a black market for the grain in urban areas, forcing them to instead sell to the state-owned Grain Marketing Board, independent news service ZimOnline reported on Wednesday.

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/ 14 June 2006

Kenya shoots for Hollywood of Africa status

Eager to cash in on its stunning wildlife and scenery, Kenya is revamping its maligned film policy and luring filmmakers with incentives in a bid to become the Hollywood of Africa. Mindful of the stiff competition offered by South Africa and Nigeria, Kenyan officials are determined to see the lucrative movie business, which now directly employs 41 000 people in full- and part-time jobs, grow.

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/ 14 June 2006

Gregan on reserve bench for first time in 10 years

George Gregan will start on the reserves bench for the first time in 10 years and Stirling Mortlock will captain Australia against England in their second rugby Test on Saturday. Coach John Connolly made three changes on Wednesday for the Telstra Dome Test in Melbourne following Australia’s 34-3 win last Sunday in the first Cook Cup match at Sydney.

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/ 14 June 2006

New scramble for Africa

As instability in the Middle East threatens energy security, the West is turning to Western and Central Africa, which is emerging as an increasingly important player in global oil markets. The region from the Gulf of Guinea to Sudan is becoming the subject of fierce competition by energy companies in a new scramble for Africa — for its high-quality, easily refinable oil.