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/ 20 November 2007

Somali mothers mourn their lost children

Aid workers are calling it Africa’s biggest humanitarian crisis, but no one has to tell Fatima Usman how rapidly things have gone bad in Somalia. The slender 23-year-old’s son Mohamed died of hunger. So did her daughter Isha. ”I am praying to God that he will not take this baby yet,” she says, gently cradling the wizened face of Muhiadeen, her four-month-old son.

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/ 20 November 2007

Johncom becomes Avusa on shareholder approval

South African media company Johnnic Communications (Johncom) said on Tuesday it will now change its name to Avusa on November 26 after shareholders gave the name change the green light. The name was constructed in such a way so as to relate to the company’s vision and strategy, as it uses the words Audiovisual, Vision, Unique and Unity, and South Africa to make up Avusa.

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/ 20 November 2007

Uganda rebels to pursue peace talks despite disarray

Uganda’s rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) said on Tuesday it would push ahead with talks to end two decades of conflict with the government despite the expulsion of some of its fighters. The LRA is notorious for its brutal methods of attacking civilians, slicing body parts off survivors and kidnapping children to serve as fighters and sex slaves.

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/ 20 November 2007

World Cup may cost billions more

Projected costs for South Africa’s preparations to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup could be up to 20% higher due to factors such as rising steel and cement prices, Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi said on Tuesday. Officials in the host cities have delivered cost escalations between R2,8-billion and R3,4-billion above budget.

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/ 20 November 2007

Federer routs Sampras in just 61 minutes

The world’s former number one tennis player, Pete Sampras, was no match for current champion Roger Federer when they met on court Tuesday for only the second time. In an exhibition match in the South Korean capital, Seoul, Federer beat Sampras 6-4, 6-3 in a match lasting just 61 minutes.

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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.