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/ 21 October 2005

JSE follows Wall Street weaker

The JSE was weaker in noon trade on Friday following sharp losses on Wall Street overnight. A slight intraday firming of the rand also played a role, dealers said. By 11.54am, the all-share index slipped 0,68%. Resources retreated 1,63%, with the gold- and platinum-mining indices losing 1,31% and 1,18% respectively.

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/ 21 October 2005

How large is China’s defence budget?

While everyone knows China is a rising power, they can only guess at how strong its armed forces are, or how much it is spending to build its military might. The issue of the size of China’s defence budget reemerged this week as United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visited Beijing.

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/ 21 October 2005

Research provides hope for simple treatment of obesity

Following just a few simple rules regarding moderate exercise, healthy eating and lifestyle can ensure weight control and lower the risk of disease, say the world’s leading researchers on obesity. ”There’s been a hysteria in place over the last many years,” said Dr Steven Blair, who presented a key speech on the state of the art in exercise to an international science conference on obesity in Canada.

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/ 21 October 2005

Czech surrealist painter dies

The Czech surrealist painter, poet and sculptress Eva Svankmajerova has died aged 65, the CTK news agency quoted a friend of her family as saying. The artist joined the surrealist movement in the early 1970s, when she was known for her Emancipation Cycle.

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/ 21 October 2005

Too soon to panic

As South Africa braces itself for the possibility of an outbreak of avian influenza, the department of health says there is no need to panic, and that there is no immediate danger. ”We share the sentiments of affected countries that we should take precautionary measures to avoid the spread of the flu,” says Solly Mabote, spokesperson for the Department of Health.

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/ 21 October 2005

Missing catamaran found after storm

A 12m catamaran missing for two days was found on Thursday after sparking concern when a life jacket was spotted floating near the Plettenberg Bay coastline, said the National Sea Rescue Institute. The catamaran is a commercial fishing craft from Mossel Bay and was carrying a crew of eight.

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/ 21 October 2005

No forgiveness

Despite Salman Rushdie’s reputation as someone who, when he isn’t out partying, makes statements about partying, his is not a brash presence, writes Emma Brockes, who spoke to him about his new novel, marriage and political revenge.