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/ 6 December 2006

Chirac TV takes on ‘Anglo-Saxon imperialism’

In a slick, glass television studio in an office block on the southern outskirts of Paris, a new front in the war on ”Anglo-Saxon” cultural imperialism will open up on Wednesday night. President Jacques Chirac’s decade-old dream of a ”CNN à la Française” to rival BBC World and United States 24-hours news channels is finally to launch after years of wrangling and in-fighting.

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/ 6 December 2006

Japan scientists find gene linked to heavy smoking

A team of Japanese scientists have found a gene closely linked to nicotine addiction, which could lead to more effective ways for smokers to kick the habit, a Japanese daily said on Wednesday. The team at Osaka University found that among heavy smokers a gene responsible for producing an enzyme that breaks down nicotine is more active than others.

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/ 6 December 2006

SA bride price moves from cattle to cash

It once cost several head of cattle for a South African man to set himself up with a new wife, but these days many pay in cash, and inflation — or abuse — can be a problem. December is wedding season in South Africa, with flashy German cars blitzing through dusty township streets and families gearing up for traditional economic negotiations that often precede the ceremony.

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/ 6 December 2006

Nip-and-tuck tourism brings hard cash to Tunisia

Melinda Tricoli sits beaming with joy in a four-star Tunisian hotel after an operation to flatten her stomach. ”I’m so happy. I feel up with the angels. It’s spotless, a job well done,” she enthuses. Tricoli caught a plane from her native France to Tunisia after a botched job by a French surgeon left her with three lumps on her stomach.

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/ 6 December 2006

Yahoo! reorganises to improve company growth

Internet search giant Yahoo! announced on Tuesday that it was revamping its structure and management to better cash in on its popularity and potential as an advertising vehicle. Dan Rosensweig will step down as chief operating officer in March of next year and the company will be divided into three groups, one devoted to technology and two that will be ”customer focused”, according to Yahoo!