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/ 7 September 2004

Alien weeds choke Africa’s waterways

Plans to eradicate alien weeds infesting Southern Africa’s rivers have been ”indefinitely” derailed by administrative delays, a World Bank official confirmed on Wednesday. A multimillion-dollar Southern African Development Community anti-infestation project was due to start last year, but has been delayed.

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/ 7 September 2004

Hong Kong investigates airport tornado

An investigation began on Tuesday into a freak tornado that struck Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok International airport, overturning a delivery vehicle on the airport’s cargo apron. The mini-twister struck 2km south of the control tower on Monday afternoon, injuring the van driver and spilling fuel over a large area.

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/ 7 September 2004

Eastern Cape tourism board resigns en masse

The appointment of Eastern Cape tourism board CEO Glenton de Kock has been put on hold after the Eastern Cape tourism board resigned en masse this weekend in protest against his appointment. However, Environmental Affairs and Tourism MEC Andre de Wet says he hopes to have a new board by the end of this month.

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/ 7 September 2004

Rand blamed for fall in Sasol profits

The operating profit of petrochemical giant Sasol fell by 22% owing to the strength of the rand, the company said at its annual results presentation on Tuesday. The negative effect of the rand was cushioned by the beneficial high oil prices and management initiatives to streamline the business, Sasol chief executive Pieter Cox said.

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/ 7 September 2004

Vodacom launches SA’s first speaking cellphone

South Africa’s largest mobile telecommunications group, Vodacom, on Tuesday unveiled the country’s first initiative to make cellular communications accessible to all South Africans, especially people with disabilities. The phone enables blind people to access voice and text services via text-to-speech technology.

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/ 7 September 2004

Police find underground cinema in Paris

Paris police have discovered an underground cinema — complete with projector, screen, seating and bar — which was set up in a disused quarry beneath the Trocadero in the capital’s plush 16th arrondissement, officials said on Tuesday. The chamber, situated about 20m below ground level, was fed by electricity stolen from power lines.

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/ 7 September 2004

Cities find ways to please street skaters

He’s turned professional and achieved rock-star status among legions of fellow skateboarders. But even Rob Dyrdek sometimes has trouble finding legal places to do what he refers to as his ”job.” ”I get paid a ridiculous amount of money to do what I do, and I still have to run from cops and jump fences,” says Dyrdek, an Ohio native who now lives in San Diego, California.