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/ 20 January 2005

Amateur journalism or amateur jokes?

Distinguishing between fake amateur footage and reporting and the real thing is the issue that emerged from the recent tsunami picture hoaxes. The potential to make such blapse is high and will increase rapidly. It’s going to recur exponentially. But there’s help at hand for editorial decision-makers.

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/ 20 January 2005

‘Firms not ahead of the Aids curve’

Businesses in Africa, Asia and Russia are too slow in tackling the HIV/Aids epidemic and averting the economic damage it causes, according to the results of a global survey published on Thursday. Companies in most countries rarely draw up written policies to tackle HIV/Aids until 20% of the national population is infected.

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/ 20 January 2005

Filmmaker focuses on suicide jumpers

A documentary filmmaker has spent more than a year capturing people on film as they jumped to their deaths from the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The report said Eric Steel had filmed most of the 19 suicides that occurred at the San Francisco icon last year plus a number of attempted suicides.

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/ 20 January 2005

Ever wanted to be on Fear Factor?

United States theme-park visitors will get the chance to confront their phobias when the often stomach-churning reality television show <i>Fear Factor</i> becomes a live amusement-park game. Universal Studios is planning the opening of its <i>Fear Factor Live</i> shows at its Hollywood and Orlando, Florida, theme parks.

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/ 20 January 2005

China considers South Pole post office

China is considering setting up a post office in Antarctica after several trial deliveries to the world’s southernmost continent, state media reported on Wednesday. The Beijing International Post Office plans to send an official to the Great Wall research station near the South Pole to investigate if there is a need for such a service.

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/ 20 January 2005

Shots fired at Guinea president’s motorcade

Shots were fired on Wednesday at a motorcade carrying Guinea President Lansana Conte in what security officials said was an attempt on the life of the ailing head of state of the troubled West African nation. Conte, apparently unscathed, alluded to a conspiracy ”by those who want to ransack Guinea” and who ”do not want Africa to develop”.

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/ 20 January 2005

eBay profit jumps 44%

Strong holiday sales caused eBay’s profit to surge 44% from the same period last year, and optimistic executives raised their outlook for the rest of 2005. But the online auction giant failed to meet Wall Street’s expectations by a penny per share and its shares fell.