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/ 12 January 2006

Gay men excluded from donating blood

Sexually active gay men in South Africa have been excluded by the SA National Blood Service (SANBC) from donating blood. SANBC spokesperson Ianthe Exall said on Thursday: ”A man who has had sex with another man within the last five years, whether oral or anal sex, with or without a condom or other form of protection, is not permitted to donate blood and must please not do so.”

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/ 12 January 2006

New Imate K-Jam comes with keyboard power

It’s amazing how they pack so much into so little these days. The new Imate K-Jam from Leaf-Wireless — sporting a new sliding keyboard and Windows Mobile 5.0 — offers quite a bit despite its small shell. It’s a chunky phone — with dimensions of 108mm by 58mm, it’s much bigger than the earlier Jam incarnation — but is not too large to carry easily in your jeans pocket.

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/ 12 January 2006

Jo’burg flood rescuers under fire

Shots were fired at Johannesburg’s emergency services and police who had rushed to the rescue of three people reportedly swept away by flood waters in Kya Sands on Thursday. ”We arrived at where they were supposed to be washed away and suddenly shots were fired towards the river,” an emergency services spokesperson said.

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/ 12 January 2006

Row brews over changes to federal Iraq

A row was brewing in Iraq on Thursday after a top Shi’ite leader spoke out against amending the country’s federal system, a main demand by minority Sunni Arabs who fear being denied their share of oil revenues. The comment came as Iraq’s political parties prepare to hear the final results of landmark elections held almost a month ago, before they start jostling to form the first permanent government.

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/ 12 January 2006

The day the pope was shot

It was the early evening of May 13 1981 and Pope John Paul II was being driven across Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican in his open white car, as he was every week for his general audience. As usual, the huge plaza was thronged with pilgrims and onlookers, numbering around 20 000. It also contained at least one would-be assassin.

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/ 12 January 2006

Prisoner changes sex — again

A British prisoner who transferred from a men’s jail to a women’s facility after changing sex has opted to swap gender — and prisons –again, a report said on Thursday. John Pilley was granted permission in 1999 to have a sex change. The procedure took place two years later after which he was moved to a women’s prison.