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/ 14 November 2006

Dozens snatched in mass kidnap in Iraq

Gunmen in Iraqi police uniforms rounded up dozens of men at a government building in central Baghdad on Tuesday and drove off, in what may be the biggest mass kidnapping seen in a city becoming used to such violence. A spokesperson said dozens of men — ”100 or maybe 150” — had been rounded up.

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/ 14 November 2006

England players racially abused

The ugly spectre of racism in cricket has reared its head again with claims two England players were abused by spectators on the Ashes tour of Australia. Spinner Monty Panesar, a bearded Sikh, was allegedly called ”a stupid Indian” by a spectator during the tour match against New South Wales.

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/ 14 November 2006

Greg Norman hints at Australian swansong

Greg Norman’s first Australian Open appearance since 1999 might also be his last, the golf great said on Tuesday. Norman (51), a five-time champion, could not rule out the possibility the tournament starting at Royal Sydney on Thursday would be his last on home soil. ”It could be. I’m not saying which one is going to be my last,” he said at a news conference.

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/ 14 November 2006

Comeback kid Anderson eyes Ashes start

James Anderson had the first Ashes Test in Australia well off his radar as he spent six weeks in a corset to cradle a stress fracture of the back last English summer. Now the Lancashire paceman is on target to play against the Australians in the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane next week after a strong bowling performance in the drawn three-day tour match against New South Wales.

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/ 14 November 2006

India will ‘fight fire with fire’

India will counter South Africa’s pace attack with their own fast bowlers. This was the promise made by Indian coach Greg Chappell on Tuesday. Chappell was speaking after the team’s arrival for a seven-week tour that includes a Twenty20 match, five one-day internationals and three Test matches.

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/ 14 November 2006

World markets give JSE a lift

After losing ground on Monday, the JSE was chugging along nicely in noon trade on Tuesday, driven by positive global markets. Advancers outnumbered decliners on the all-share index by more than two to one. By 12.02pm, the all-share and all-share indices had added 0,32% and 0,87% respectively.

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/ 14 November 2006

Bidvest improves BEE credentials

Listed South African services, trading and distribution group Bidvest says its black economic empowerment (BEE) credentials have again improved. Its latest Empowerdex certificate indicates that the company, which employs 78 000 workers in South Africa alone, has retained its "A" empowerment rating, with improvements in all categories, it said on Tuesday.

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/ 14 November 2006

Thurston back at scrumhalf for Aussies

Johnathan Thurston was on Tuesday reinstated as scrumhalf in the Australian team to face Britain in the Tri-Nations rugby league Test in Brisbane on Saturday. Thurston ousted utility Ben Hornby from the number seven jersey following Australia’s upset 23-12 loss to the Lions in Melbourne on November 4.

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/ 14 November 2006

Board of inquiry to probe deadly train accident

A board of inquiry has been set up to investigate the horror accident in which 19 people were killed when a train ploughed into a truck carrying farmworkers on a rail crossing near Somerset West, Metrorail said on Tuesday. ”It must be noted that the accident has nothing to do with commuter rail and the state of our infrastructure,” said spokesperson Lucky Tshepo Montana.