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/ 15 January 2005

Despite tales of woe, Jo’burg is worth it

It wasn’t a big knife. Serrated with a pointy top and black plastic handle, I kept one just like it in my kitchen drawer for slicing oranges. The difference was that this one belonged to a stranger who was holding it to my chest, and although he possibly adored oranges, he was keener on my bag. ”Give it,” he said.

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/ 15 January 2005

One million Rwandans to face killing charges

One million Rwandans — an eighth of the country’s population — are expected to be tried for alleged participation in the 1994 genocide, an official said on Friday. The trials, which will be conducted in traditional gacaca village courts, could start next month in a few areas but will not get under way throughout the country until 2006.

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/ 15 January 2005

US soldier guilty of Iraq jail abuse

The army reservist labelled the ”primary torturer” of Abu Ghraib was convicted by a military jury on Friday of abusing Iraqi prisoners after a trial the Pentagon hopes will cleanse the reputation of the US military. Specialist Charles Graner was found guilty on nine of 10 charges of maltreatment, assault and dereliction of duty.

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/ 15 January 2005

Armstrong pulls out of Tour of Qatar

Six-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has pulled out of the Tour of Qatar, citing family reasons. The Qatar race is scheduled for January 31 to February 4. ”This is quite unfortunate since we were looking forward to seeing him race here for the first time,” the president of the Qatar Cycling Federation said on Friday.

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/ 15 January 2005

Henman retires from Davis Cup

Britain’s Tim Henman has said he will no longer play in the Davis Cup because of his ambition to win a Grand Slam crown. The news is a major blow to captain Jeremy Bates, with Greg Rusedski’s Davis Cup future also far from certain. Henman is yet to win a Grand Slam.

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/ 15 January 2005

Former champion takes 14th Dakar stage

Finland’s four-time champion Ari Vatanen made his mark on this year’s Dakar Rally with success in the 14th stage on Friday. This was Vatanen’s 51st career stage win, a record that is being challenged by Stephane Peterhansel, the favourite to take the 2005 title, who notched up his 48th special on Thursday.

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/ 15 January 2005

What Benny McCarthy dreams of

South African striker Benny McCarthy, who has two years left on his contract with European champions FC Porto, said on Friday he would like to one day play in the English premiership. ”In South Africa, we start to follow English football very early on. In my country, much more importance is given to English football than South African,” he said.

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/ 15 January 2005

Another world record for Parkin

KwaZulu-Natal swimming star Terence Parkin kept going on his world-record-breaking streak, while Gauteng marathon man Isaac Mahlake put his best foot forward to take bronze as Team South Africa kept pulling in the medals at the Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday.

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/ 15 January 2005

Cosatu joins prison dispute

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Friday came out in support for prison warders in their dispute with the Department of Correctional Services. Cosatu said a meeting of its public-sector affiliates on Thursday agreed on a programme of action to rally support for the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union.