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/ 9 July 2004

A day in the life of Ivana Tennisova

Here she is, this Nabakovian sun-child, crystal-cold Russian tanned to honey by a decade in the heat of American skin-worship, giggling as she lifts her trophy. Ten thousand Humbert Humberts, comparing over-earnest notes on her forehand, look at the girlish knees, the still-soft calves, hair the colour of a Ukrainian wheat-field, and endure the delicious torment of being old and ugly in the shadows as this new loveliness dawns over the tennis world.

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/ 9 July 2004

African Union bares its teeth

The African Union forged ahead this week with far-reaching plans to steer the continent towards prosperity by tackling its most pressing security problems head-on, even if serious questions remain about finance. Gone are the days of non-interference in the affairs of fellow members when the stability of the continent is at stake.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=118433">African Union’s Sudan pledge</a>

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/ 9 July 2004

JSE drifts down on futures-selling

The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) surrendered early gains and was in the red in noon trade on Friday on the back of futures-related selling. Dealers said it had been a lacklustre morning’s trade and, while boosted by activity in Telkom and Anglo American, volumes were fairly light.

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/ 9 July 2004

Bulls take their revenge in Pamplona

Bulls gored one runner and trampled several others on Friday during the running of the bulls at this year’s San Fermin festival. All along the 82m route, which runs along narrow cobblestone streets from a corral to a bull ring, runners in the popular festival were knocked off their feet, pushed against the thick wooden barricades lining the streets, or trampled.

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/ 9 July 2004

Cardinals and khalifs unite against Aids

It’s 1.30pm in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, on Friday. Traffic stops around the Old Mosque. Thousands fill the streets. When the muezzin calls, they kneel, bow and pray in perfect unison. The sermon dwells on how to avoid contracting HIV, and the fact that people who are infected with the virus must be helped, not shunned.

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/ 9 July 2004

Climate change: India faces rough ride

Global climate change is likely to result in severe droughts and floods in the world’s biggest democracy, with major impacts on human health and food supplies, according to India’s report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. An earlier UN report predicts "extreme" impacts on Southern Africa’s water, fish stocks and agriculture.

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/ 9 July 2004

Come aboard

”These five collections reflect the energy and craft in the work of local poets. As such, these are but indicators of an extensive writing taking place in the literary realm.” Michael Gardiner digs into a bounty of new writing by African authors, including Antjie Krog and Mongane Serote.

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/ 9 July 2004

Johannesburg’s gas supply delayed

The resumption of Johannesburg’s delayed Egoli Gas supply was expected to be back on line on Friday between 1pm and 2pm, the utility said on Friday. The company ran out of gas midmorning after supplies from Sasol were interrupted due to a technical problem there. It had hoped to be back on line by noon.