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/ 27 July 2006

The neocon resurgence

Once again the Bush administration is floating on a wave of euphoria. Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon has liberated the utopian strain of neoconservatism that had been traduced by Iraq’s sectarian civil war. And the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, has propelled herself forward as chief cheerleader.

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/ 27 July 2006

Schumi upbeat ahead of home grand prix

Michael Schumacher is confident of continuing his superb recent form in front of his home crowd at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, Germany, this weekend. The seven-time world champion (37) has cut Spaniard Fernando Alonso’s championship lead from 25 to 17 points after winning the last two races in dominant fashion.

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/ 27 July 2006

Connolly condemns ‘throat-slitting’ haka

Wallaby coach John Connolly on Thursday condemned New Zealand’s controversial ”throat-slitting” haka as damaging for rugby. Criticism of their pre-match ritual, which in the Kapa O Pango haka climaxes with an apparent throat-slitting gesture, put the All Blacks on the defensive ahead of Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup match against Australia.

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/ 27 July 2006

Barca board resigns following judicial ruling

Barcelona’s board of directors resigned on Wednesday following a judicial ruling that paves the way for new elections at the Catalan giants later this year, the club announced. The resignation had been expected after a Spanish judge last week ordered the European champions to hold fresh polls for the board after club members complained regulations had been broken.

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/ 27 July 2006

Pitso, the short-term troubleshooter

SuperSport United coach Pitso Mosimane, lumped with the job of guiding the Bafana Bafana team in the friendly international against Namibia in Windhoek on Wednesday August 16, sees his role as that of a short-term troubleshooter — and he hopes he does not get shot in the process.

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/ 27 July 2006

SA well placed in hockey series against India

South Africa’s hockey women beat India 2-1 in the second Test at the Stellenbosch Hockey Stadium on Wednesday night to go two up in the four-match Spar Challenge series. South Africa won the first Test 2-1 on Tuesday night. The hosts could not have asked for a better start in the wintry Cape weather when they were awarded a penalty corner in the second minute.

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/ 27 July 2006

Car bomb, mortar attack kill 31 in Baghdad

Insurgents detonated a car bomb and fired mortar rounds into a busy commercial district in the centre of Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 31 civilians, a defence official said. At least 115 were wounded, he added. Television pictures showed a major fire and rescuers struggling to pull the dead and injured from the rubble in Karrada.