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/ 29 December 2005

Tsunami memories still strong for Sri Lankans

Sri Lanka’s return to New Zealand to complete a limited-overs cricket series interupted by last year’s Asian tsunami will bring back painful memories, the touring players say. The Sri Lankan team was engaged in the first of five limited-overs matches against New Zealand on December 26 2004, when earthquake-churned walls of water crashed into a dozen nations on the Indian Ocean rim.

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/ 29 December 2005

Three Britons kidnapped in Gaza amid poll tensions

Tense negotiations were under way on Wednesday night to try to secure the release of a British human rights worker and her parents, who were abducted in the Gaza Strip. The 25-year-old woman, identified as Kate Burton, was showing her parents around the town of Rafah near the Egyptian border when they were bundled into a car and driven off.

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/ 29 December 2005

Alex Ferguson blasts ref over Ronaldo

Alex Ferguson demanded referees give Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo greater protection after Manchester United’s faint Premiership title hopes suffered further damage in their 2-2 draw with Birmingham City at St Andrews. He said there was a rising tide of hatred against Ronaldo being generated by supporters in England and claimed his side were the victims of the latest bout of crowd reaction as they dropped 11 points behind leaders Chelsea.

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/ 29 December 2005

Symonds, Hayden put Aussies in control

Andrew Symonds plundered 72 from 54 balls and delivered another crucial bowling burst on Thursday as Australia moved within four wickets of victory over South Africa. On the brink of omission in the second Test, Symonds followed his career-best bowling haul in the first innings with his devastating knock in a 124-run stand with Matt Hayden (137) before Australia declared at 321-7.

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/ 29 December 2005

Tiger makes the turn after the roaring twenties

Tiger Woods makes the turn on Friday onto the back side of 30, celebrating his landmark birthday with 10 major titles and a fighting chance at surpassing Jack Nicklaus’ career record in the next decade. World number one Woods, in the midst of a six-week break until late January, has practically owned the golf world since turning professional in 1996, a decade of dominance unmatched in the history of golf

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/ 29 December 2005

DA challenges Umalusi over mark changing

South Africa’s official opposition says it will challenge the education quality assurance body, Umalusi, to state publicly how much the marks in the nationally set matriculation subjects have been adjusted upwards. The results — which are being released to pupils around the country on Thursday — will be officially released by national Education Minister Naledi Pandor in Cape Town later.

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/ 29 December 2005

Report says Asian airlines to hit turbulence

2006 will be a make-or-break year for airlines with big expansion plans in the Asian region, the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation said in its annual outlook report. With an unprecedented number of aircraft ordered by Asian airlines for delivery in 2007, the Sydney-based industry research group said next year represented "the quiet before the storm"..

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/ 29 December 2005

Australia lays down the gauntlet

Australia set South Africa a historically-challenging 366 runs to win the second cricket Test after extraordinary batting fireworks by Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday. The two Queenslanders hammered a rapid-fire 124-run partnership in 66 minutes off 93 balls to set up a declaration at 321 for seven 40 minutes before tea on the fourth day.