Staff Reporter
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/ 18 October 2006

First Africa-born koala ventures out

He is a little shy and stays close to his mother for most of the time, but Willie, the first koala born in Africa, can now be seen by the public. Doing what koalas do best, the youngster was sleeping on Wednesday, one of his first days in the public viewing area at the National Zoo in Pretoria. Little Willie was born in January this year has been kept with his mother Renee.

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/ 18 October 2006

Probe uncovers irregularities at Cipro

The Auditor General (AG) on Wednesday tabled a report identifying irregularities amounting to millions of rands in procurement processes at the state-owned Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (Cipro). The purpose of the report is to make known the findings of an independent investigation conducted by the AG at the request of Cipro.

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/ 18 October 2006

Jordaan: SA will keep World Cup visitors safe

South Africa has the ability to safeguard every person coming to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the chief executive of the Local Organising Committee, Danny Jordaan, said in Johannesburg on Wednesday. ”There is no question that this country has the capability to safeguard every person that comes here for the World Cup,” Jordaan told a press conference.

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/ 18 October 2006

Barmy Army scoffs at hooligan fears

The Barmy Army, a group of die-hard English cricket fans, have scoffed at fears hooligans will accompany a flood of up to 50 000 British tourists expected in Australia during the upcoming Ashes tour. The comments came after New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma said on Tuesday he had sought intelligence from British police on known troublemakers.

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/ 18 October 2006

Reuters says third quarter revenue rose by 3,3%

Reuters, a British provider of news and financial information, said on Wednesday revenue grew 3,3% in the third quarter, putting the company on course for full-year growth of 5% to 6%. Revenue for the three months through until September 30 was £631-million, up from £611-million in the same period last year, the company said in a statement.

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/ 18 October 2006

Israel police abuzz over sex-toy theft

Israeli police said on Wednesday they were on the lookout for 40 vibrators and a $200 dildo after thieves plundered the automobile of a noted sexologist in Tel Aviv. "Thieves broke into her car and apparently stole from her a caseload of vibrators," police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said. "It’s difficult to say the exact value of the items stolen."

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/ 18 October 2006

Mbeki ends Côte d’Ivoire mediation role

South African President Thabo Mbeki has ended his mediation role in Côte d’Ivoire’s political crisis and a regional body recommended that the heads of the African Union and a West African body replace him. ”President Mbeki’s mediation role in Cote d’Ivoire has ended upon his own request,” African Union chairperson Denis Sassou Nguesso said on Tuesday.

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/ 18 October 2006

Board warned Pakistan players about drugs

Former Pakistan Cricket Board chairperson Shaharyar Khan has blamed poor education among players for Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif failing drugs tests. Shoaib and Asif were recalled from the Champions Trophy in India on Monday after becoming the first cricketers to test positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.