Staff Reporter
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/ 31 October 2007

London store opens psychic school for Halloween

A London luxury store is launching something slightly different for Halloween — a psychic school teaching customers how to tap into their spiritual powers. Passers-by can pop into Selfridges on the capital’s busy Oxford Street to attend classes ranging from ”Third Eye and Higher Self” to workshops on how to use crystals.

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/ 31 October 2007

Oil price hits $94 for first time

Oil prices hit fresh record highs on Wednesday, with New York crude at $94 per barrel after news that United States crude inventories had slumped last week, traders said. "The market is clearly reacting to the larger-than-expected drop in crude oil inventories," said Citigroup analyst Tim Evans. Over the course of Wednesday, prices rocketed by as much as $4 to $5.

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/ 31 October 2007

World Toilet Summit looks to a hygienic future

Delegates from dozens of nations gathered in India on Wednesday to open a World Toilet Summit aimed at finding low-cost methods to give billions of people access to sanitation. The four-day meeting and seventh such summit brought together 170 experts from more than 40 countries to swap ideas on improving basic sanitation.

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/ 31 October 2007

Disagreement over UJ fee increases

A disagreement broke out on Wednesday over whether University of Johannesburg (UJ) students would honour a memorandum of agreement on fee increases. While the independent mediator called in to resolve the dispute claimed an agreement ending the impasse was in place, the Student Representative Council said no accord had yet been reached.

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/ 31 October 2007

California fires: Boy with matches blamed

California officials have blamed a wildfire that consumed more than 15 300ha and destroyed 21 homes last week on a boy playing with matches, and said they will ask a prosecutor to consider the case. The boy, whose name and age were not released, admitted to sparking the fire on October 21, police said.

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/ 31 October 2007

SA meat exports to EU under threat

The European Union is threatening to ban the import of South African animal products because the government has failed to meet certain requirements agreed on five years ago, the Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday. The ban would cover South African beef, mutton, pork, chicken, ostrich and game products, among others.

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/ 31 October 2007

Psychiatrist backs Najwa’s bail bid

According to research, 70% of young children who have a parent in jail develop emotional problems, the Wynberg Regional Court heard from a psychiatrist on Wednesday. Rosa Bredenkamp was testifying before Western Cape Regional Court president Robert Henney in support of Najwa Petersen’s second bail application.

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/ 31 October 2007

Toy gun used in hostage drama

A toy gun was used in a six-hour hostage drama in Lenasia on Wednesday, police said. ”The gun that was used looked very real,” said police spokesperson Captain Julia Klaassen. ”Negotiators did their job well. We are just thankful and relieved that the situation is now over.” The hostages’ ordeal occurred when a 20-year-old Durban man held up the family of four at their home.