Staff Reporter
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/ 20 November 2007

Part prison, part holiday camp

No prizes for guessing the least popular and most hassled men at Camp Striker near Baghdad. That would be the staff at Magic Island Technologies, who last week switched off the camp’s free wi-fi internet access. It may surprise to some to know that there is any internet access at an army camp inside a warzone.

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/ 20 November 2007

State workers join rail strike in France

Pressure from the street against French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s programme of reforms intensified on Tuesday as hundreds of thousands of state employees went on strike, joining a week-long stoppage by rail workers. Teachers, postal staff, nurses, air-traffic controllers, tax officials and other civil servants staged a one-day protest.

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/ 20 November 2007

SA, Mozambique sign treaty on defence, security

South Africa and Mozambique on Tuesday signed a treaty for the establishment of a Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security. Speaking at the signing of the agreement, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said cooperation on defence and security between South Africa and Mozambique is critical with an eye on the 2010 World Cup.

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/ 20 November 2007

Basson prosecutors embarrassed by testimony

The hearing of germ-warfare expert Wouter Basson has been postponed until September next year, after prosecutors on Tuesday said they were embarrassed by the testimony of their own expert witness. Basson on Monday pleaded not guilty to six charges brought against him at the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

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/ 20 November 2007

Citigroup may have to write off $15bn

United States banking titan Citigroup may have to write off -billion in soured investments including mortgage losses in coming months, a report by Goldman Sachs predicted on Monday. Citigroup, the US’s second-largest bank by market worth, is already reeling from its exposure to the US housing downturn and tighter credit markets.

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/ 20 November 2007

California sues 20 firms over toxic toys

California on Monday launched a lawsuit against 20 companies, accusing them of manufacturing or selling toys with illegal quantities of lead, a statement said. California attorney general Jerry Brown said the firms — including Mattel and Toys ”R” Us — are being sued for knowingly exposing children to potentially dangerous lead levels.