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/ 11 January 2006

Chinese FM’s African visit to boost energy ties

China’s foreign minister began a six-nation African tour on Wednesday, which analysts say will focus on boosting energy ties and forging stronger global political alliances to counterbalance United States dominance. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will visit Cape Verde, Senegal, Mali, Liberia, Nigeria and Libya during the trip, set to end on January 19.

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/ 11 January 2006

Chicken cull fails to stem town’s panic

Dressed in a white plastic suit and armed with a large sack, Hassan Aytac entered the compound and made straight for the chicken coop. From inside there came a lot of squawking. He opened the door. There was an explosion of feathers as around eight chickens charged out into the snow-covered courtyard and ran for their lives.

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/ 11 January 2006

Spielberg loses out at the push of a button

From Jaws and Close Encounters to War of the Worlds, Steven Spielberg movies have rarely had trouble connecting with audiences in the United Kingdom. But the man who put a capital B into the contemporary blockbuster, whose films have grossed billions and whose name is usually the stamp of glorious cinematic success, has been humbled.

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/ 11 January 2006

Nuclear row: US warns Iran

The White House warned Iran on Tuesday that it risked a ”serious escalation” in its nuclear stand-off with the United Nations and the West after Tehran broke the seals on equipment at its uranium enrichment facility. Iran’s decision to break the seals risked triggering international sanctions, the White House’s press secretary, Scott McClellan, said.

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/ 11 January 2006

Islamic ‘Barbie’ dolls don veil

Move over, Barbie; veiled is beautiful. The physical ideal of Muslim girls increasingly includes the hijab, as evidenced by toy shops’ best-selling doll "Fulla" and the string of showbiz stars opting to cover up. The dark-eyed and olive-skinned Fulla has replaced her American rival’s skimpy skirts with more modest "outdoor fashion".