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/ 9 December 2003

Advanced probe to look for alien life

Nasa plans to dispatch a hulking nuclear-powered spacecraft to determine whether three of Jupiter’s icy, planet-sized moons have the potential to harbour life. The Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter, or Jimo, will circle three of the planet’s moons, which are believed to have vast oceans tucked beneath thick covers of ice.

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/ 28 November 2003

‘They want to change the social order’

Conservative blacks in the United States are objecting to recent comparisons between gay marriages and the 1960s civil rights movement, which fought segregation against blacks, arguing that sexual orientation is a choice. A Massachusetts court ruled last week that gay couples have the right to marry in that state.

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/ 22 November 2003

Bush hails ‘fantastic’ trip to UK

President George Bush returned from a state visit to Britain insisting on the importance of the ”special relationship” between the two countries despite public hostility to the United States-led occupation of Iraq. The three days of pomp and splendour were marked by a huge demonstration against the president in London.

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/ 10 November 2003

Bush administration under fire at home

Top Democrats have stepped up their attacks on United States President George Bush’s administration for its handling of the Iraq war and the fight against terrorism, which they say has threatened US civil liberties. Former vice-president Al Gore accused the Bush administration of exploiting Americans’ fear of terrorism for political gain.

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/ 30 October 2003

UN pulls staff out of Iraq

The United Nations will pull some staff out of Iraq after deadly bombings at both of its offices in Baghdad, The Washington Post reported on Thursday. The UN joins the International Committee of the Red Cross in leaving the Iraqi capital in the wake of anti-foreign violence.

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/ 25 October 2003

Wildfire threatens Los Angeles

Thousands of residents were evacuated from their homes as a raging wildfire threatened hundreds of homes east of the United States city of Los Angeles on Friday. About 1 400 firefighters were battling to bring the fire under control as it menaced homes and forced the closure of two major freeways.

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/ 4 October 2003

Bacteria ‘prove’ Saddam’s intent

Both President George Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell contend that a vial of botulinum bacteria found in Iraq is evidence of Saddam Hussein’s weapons intent. But the chief United States weapons inspector offered no evidence it had been used in a weapons programme during the last decade.

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/ 25 September 2003

Blow to Pentagon Big Brother plans

A controversial Pentagon Big Brother programme in the United States that calls for monitoring computer databases containing data on millions of Americans for signs of terrorist activity has been hit with the delete key. The programme has been in the crosshairs of numerous civil liberties groups for months.

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/ 25 September 2003

Wal-Mart fights massive gender lawsuit

Wal-Mart Stores Inc has argued that a sexual discrimination lawsuit seeking to represent 1,6-million current and former women workers should be dismantled into separate class actions against each of its 3 473 stores across the United States. If Wal-Mart faces a single class-action, the trial could last 13 years.

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/ 24 September 2003

US media split over Bush’s speech

Four leading United States newspapers were divided on the results of US President George Bush’s speech before the United Nations General Assembly requesting help in rebuilding Iraq. The <i>Washington Post</i> and <i>New York Times</i> said Bush did not inspire UN members with his unwillingness to relinquish control in Iraq.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=20944">Bush’s speech falls flat</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=20930">Mbeki: UN has to protect weaker nations</a>

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/ 22 March 2003

Trust Blair’s judgement

Iraq’s weapons are more of a threat to lives than the war, writes the former president of the United States. If Iraq i sleft with chemical and biological weapons, there is a considerable risk that one day these weapons will fall into the wrong hands and put many more lives at risk than will be lost in overthrowing Saddam.