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/ 17 November 2007

Court rejects McLaren appeal

Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen has been confirmed the 2007 Formula One world champion after McLaren’s appeal was thrown out by a court of appeal, the sport’s world governing body, the FIA, said on Friday. The last remaining hope of Britain’s Lewis Hamilton to become world champion was crushed by this decision.

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/ 15 November 2007

Investec posts operating profit up 24%

South African investing banking and asset-management group Investec said on Thursday that pretax operating profit increased 23,8% to £254,3-million (R3,6-billion) in the six months to September 30. ”Whilst current conditions within the UK credit markets remain, activity levels are likely to be impacted,” said chief executive Stephen Koseff.

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/ 13 November 2007

Steven Pienaar bouncing back from low

Slowly but surely, South African midfielder Steven Pienaar is recapturing the form that made him one of the most sought-after players in Europe in his early 20s. Pienaar is now a regular starter for Everton, and impressed in patches during his team’s creditable 1-1 draw at 2005 and 2006 Premier League champions Chelsea on Sunday.

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/ 12 November 2007

Save up for a R279 000 Christmas gift

For someone who has it all, London store Fortnum & Mason is selling a Christmas hamper for £20 000 (about R279 000). The Tercenturian Hamper, only on sale this year to celebrate the luxury store’s 300th anniversary, will be delivered by horse and cart anywhere within or near the London’s main M25 orbital.

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/ 12 November 2007

Firefighters battle large London blaze

A big fire at a warehouse sent out a pall of black smoke over east London on Monday, but there were no reports of casualties and police said there was nothing to suggest it was anything more than a fire. Fifteen fire engines and 75 firefighters rushed to the scene of the blaze at an industrial estate in the Stratford area of east London.

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/ 11 November 2007

Torres rides to Reds’ rescue

Fernando Torres came off the bench to keep Liverpool’s English Premier League title bid on track by inspiring the Reds to a last-gasp win over Fulham on Saturday. Earlier on Saturday, Sunderland’s derby clash with local rivals Newcastle ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw, and West Ham beat Derby 5-0.

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/ 10 November 2007

Serial underwear caller jailed in UK

A man who posed as a clothing researcher to call women and harass them with questions about their underwear was jailed for two-and-a-half years on Friday. Paul Kavanagh (40) admitted to making about 15 000 calls over a 12-year period, beginning with innocuous questions about socks and cardigans.

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/ 10 November 2007

I knew I could do it, says Chelsea’s Grant

Avram Grant insists he never doubted he would silence the critics who claimed he had no chance at Chelsea. When Grant took charge in the aftermath of Jose Mourinho’s dramatic departure in September, it seemed the Israeli coach would find it hard to last a month if one listened to the cynicism that greeted his appointment.

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/ 10 November 2007

Supermodel mistakes politician for plumber

Britain’s main opposition leader, David Cameron, was initially delighted that supermodel Kate Moss asked for his phone number — until he realised she thought he could help her with her drains. The Conservative Party leader said in an interview to be broadcast on Saturday that he met Moss at a charity bash recently.

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/ 8 November 2007

‘Ear, ‘ear, it’s only 5m …

A British man on Thursday failed in his record-breaking attempt to pull a 7,5-tonne red London bus over a distance of 10m, using his ears. Manjit Singh (57), a former police officer who now owns a security services company in Leicester, central England, managed to pull the Routemaster Bus over half the distance, about 5m.

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/ 8 November 2007

Oil resumes march to $100

Oil recouped early losses to resume its march towards the -milestone on Thursday as resurfacing worries of tight winter supplies and continuing dollar weakness put the brakes on some early profit-taking. By 12.57pm GMT, United States crude for December delivery stood 57 cents up at ,94.

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/ 8 November 2007

Rio Tinto rejects BHP Billiton bid

BHP Billiton has made a long-awaited bid approach to Rio Tinto in a move aimed at creating a $350-billion-plus mining giant, but Rio rejected the all-share proposal as too low. Rio shares leapt as much as 30% in London to a record high on Thursday after it said BHP had proposed offering three of its shares for every one Rio share.

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/ 8 November 2007

World must be careful on food-miles issue

Ending imports of fresh food from Africa under the pretext of combating climate change risks destroying entire communities that have become dependent on the trade, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Britain said on Wednesday. Food miles — the distance food travels from producer to consumer — have become a highly divisive issue.

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/ 6 November 2007

Oil sets new record at $97

Oil leapt more than a barrel to a new record high of ,44 on Tuesday, as a weak dollar and tight fuel stocks prompted buying by speculators. Investors, wary of global equity markets where the full impact of the credit crunch has yet to become clear, see oil as a good bet.

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/ 5 November 2007

Britons addictd 2 SMS

Britons now send more than one billion SMSs a week — as many as were sent in the whole of 1999, figures out on Monday showed. People in Britain sent 4 825-billion SMSs during September 2007, an increase of 25% on September last year, according to the Mobile Data Association.

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/ 4 November 2007

White in talks with England rugby chiefs

World Cup-winning South Africa coach Jake White has held talks with England rugby chiefs, a media report said on Sunday. White guided South Africa to a 15-6 victory over England in the World Cup final at the Stade de France in Paris on October 20 and announced on Wednesday that he would quit his post in December.

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/ 4 November 2007

Portsmouth frets that Nations Cup could wreck dream

Harry Redknapp fears the African Nations Cup could wreck Portsmouth’s European ambitions after his side’s impressive 4-1 victory over Newcastle strengthened their top four credentials. Redknapp acknowledged that Portsmouth’s challenge will be affected more than most of their Premier League rivals by the tournament early next year.

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/ 4 November 2007

Gallas keeps Arsenal in pole position

Arsenal preserved their place on top of the Premier League after William Gallas’s late equaliser earned a dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester United on Saturday. Gallas’s late intervention ensured Arsene Wenger’s side stayed ahead of United on goal difference and extended their unbeaten run this season to 18 matches in all competitions.