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/ 26 February 2008

Malaria can be beaten in many places, say researchers

Malaria kills one child every 30 seconds, yet in many parts of the world the disease is hanging on by a thread and could be wiped out by concerted action, researchers said on Tuesday.The research shows nearly half the 2,37-billion people at risk from the mosquito-borne killer live in areas where the chance of actually catching the disease is less than 0,01% a year.

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/ 25 February 2008

Ramos savours Tottenham glory

Tottenham Hotspur manager Juande Ramos savoured the sweet taste of success after beating Chelsea 2-1 in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. ”It’s always a tremendous satisfaction to win a trophy but I would say this one has a special flavour to it because it was against a team who are supposedly superior to us,” said the Spaniard.

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/ 23 February 2008

New Heathrow terminal to be shoppers’ paradise

It has taken two decades to plan, 20 000 workers to build and cost an unprecedented £4,3-billion. But until now, the doors to the retail space at Terminal 5, at London’s Heathrow airport, which opens next month, have been firmly closed to the media, amid criticisms that the terminal is destined to be little more than a glorified shopping mall.

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/ 22 February 2008

Ipswich killer jailed for life

Convicted killer Steve Wright was told by a judge on Friday that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars for his six-week ”targeted campaign of murder” against five prostitutes. Wright (49) killed the five drug-addicted women around the city of Ipswich in late 2006.

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/ 21 February 2008

‘Suicide palm tree’ seeds arrive in Britain

The seeds of the ”suicide palm”, a newly discovered and extremely rare palm tree, have arrived in Britain for urgent study and conservation, the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew said on Wednesday. The tree, whose nickname stems from its habit of flowering itself to death once every half century, was discovered only recently on the island of Madagascar.

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/ 21 February 2008

Wenger confident despite Milan stalemate

Arsene Wenger admits AC Milan are favourites to qualify for the Champions League quarterfinals at Arsenal’s expense but he remains confident his side can defy the odds in the San Siro. The Gunners were frustrated as Milan’s aging maestros gave a defensive masterclass in Wednesday’s goalless last-16, first-leg draw.

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/ 20 February 2008

Anglo American profit up 6%, delays Tarmac sale

Miner Anglo American posted a 6% rise in full-year profit on Wednesday, in line with forecasts, and said a global credit crisis would delay the disposal of its road surface business Tarmac. Anglo, the world’s fourth-biggest diversified mining group by market capitalisation, said underlying profit rose to ,8-billion from ,47-billion in 2006.

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/ 18 February 2008

Blades blunt Boro in Cup stalemate

Sheffield United and Middlesbrough will both feature in the FA Cup quarterfinal draw after their fifth round tie on Sunday ended in a goalless draw. The closest either side came to a first-half goal at United’s Bramall Lane ground was when home striker James Beattie hit the outside of the post for the Blades just before the interval with a free-kick from the edge of the box.

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/ 15 February 2008

Fifa opposes Premier League expansion abroad

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has opposed plans by the Premier League to play matches abroad and warned that the proposal could harm England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup. ”This is abuse. The rich Premier League is trying to get richer and wants to expand the importance of that league,” Blatter told the BBC.

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/ 13 February 2008

Psychic paid to evict council house ghost

British officials paids a psychic to exorcise a supposed poltergeist from state housing after the distressed occupants said otherwise they would leave and become homeless. The Fallon family told reporters they heard banging from the loft, saw items fly across rooms and had doors slammed in their faces.

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/ 12 February 2008

UK drivers give the finger to hearses

British drivers increasingly cut up funeral processions and make obscene gestures at hearses, funeral directors said on Tuesday. The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors said its members reported poor behaviour from drivers unsympathetic to the deceased’s final journey.

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/ 12 February 2008

UK: Odds against fair Zimbabwe elections

The odds are against Zimbabwe’s elections next month being free or fair despite South African efforts to mediate between President Robert Mugabe and the opposition, Britain’s Africa minister said. ”We want to keep an open mind on this … but the omens and early signs are not good,” said Mark Malloch-Brown.

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/ 12 February 2008

We won’t crack, Wenger tells United

Arsene Wenger has warned Manchester United that Arsenal won’t be affected by the pressure of leading from the front in the Premier League title race. Wenger’s side extended their advantage over United to five points with a 2-0 win over Blackburn on Monday and the French coach took encouragement from the way they once again handled a tricky situation.

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/ 11 February 2008

Arsenal stay top as United and Chelsea falter

Arsenal were left two points clear at the top of the Premier League table as rivals Manchester United and Chelsea both dropped vital points on Sunday. Manchester City completed a first league victory at Old Trafford since 1974 and a season double over Manchester United with a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from strikers Darius Vassell and new signing Benjani Mwaruwari.

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/ 11 February 2008

Daniel Day-Lewis scoops best actor Bafta

Daniel Day-Lewis gave his Oscar chances a welcome boost on Sunday by landing a best actor Bafta at the British Academy Film Awards for his searing portrayal of a driven oil prospector in There Will be Blood. French actress Marion Cotillard sprung the surprise of the night by scooping the best actress award for her role as singer Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose.

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/ 10 February 2008

Ugly win leaves Everton above Liverpool

Everton piled the pressure on Liverpool by grinding out a 1-0 win over Reading that tightens the Toffees’ grip on fourth place in the Premier League. The victory enabled David Moyes’s side to open up a four-point lead over their neighbours — who face a daunting trip to Chelsea on Sunday — in the battle for the final Champions League qualifying spot.

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/ 10 February 2008

Blaze ravages London’s Camden Market

A blaze that ripped through London’s trendy Camden Market area, destroying shops, bars and homes, has been brought under control, firefighters said on Sunday. One hundred firefighters tackled the blaze that broke out Saturday night, forcing police to evacuate bars and clubs packed with young revellers.

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/ 9 February 2008

Support grows for Premier League’s global plans

Support within English football for controversial plans to take Premier League matches around the world appeared to be growing on Friday as influential figures including Arsene Wenger and Roy Keane voiced their backing. But the prospect of opposition from Fifa also loomed large after the world governing body said it would examine the proposals.

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/ 8 February 2008

De Beers diamond sales dip, sees stronger 2008

De Beers, the world’s top diamond producer, posted a dip in 2007 diamond sales on Friday, but forecast a rebound this year amid a tight market that was expected to keep prices buoyant. ”We are in an environment where the rough diamond market is strong,” managing director Gareth Penny told a conference call.

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/ 7 February 2008

Capello off to a winning start

England improved dramatically as the match progressed to give Italian Fabio Capello a winning start as coach with a 2-1 victory over Switzerland in a friendly international at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday. Midfielder Jermaine Jenas scored his first England goal and the first of the Capello era with a first-time left foot shot.

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/ 6 February 2008

Keyhole surgery? Drunk student swallows door key

A British student swallowed his door key to prevent friends from forcing him to go home because he was drunk, reports said on Wednesday. Chris Foster, studying computer design at Bournemouth University in southern England, had drunk six beers as well as vodka and whisky when his friends decided he should go home and sleep it off.