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/ 9 November 2005

Fighting bird flu to cost up to $1bn

Fighting bird flu in poultry across the world and preparing for a human influenza pandemic will cost up to -billion over the next three years, the World Bank said on Wednesday. That cost does not include the stockpiling of antiviral drugs and human flu vaccines, Fadia Saadah, of the World Bank, told a global meeting on how to contain the disease.

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/ 9 November 2005

Alleged kidnappers’ bail postponed

Further information relating to one of the four alleged kidnappers of Liam Aspeling (10) will be presented at the four’s next appearance in the Vereeniging Regional Court on Friday. The four men had expected to apply for bail on Wednesday, but the investigating officer and two files relating to the case had arrived too late for adequate preparation.

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/ 9 November 2005

When journalism becomes a broken telephone

First, a journalist on the trawl constructs a story about something. Second, it is repeated and annotated by other media in the pack. Third, unless it’s rebutted, it turns into established fact. In this way, interpretations and even errors are confirmed as historical realities. The problem has become a bugbear for David O’Sullivan of 702 Talk Radio, who voiced his concerns during a speech in Johannesburg last week.

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/ 9 November 2005

Vote counting under way in Liberia

Liberians crowded around radios on Wednesday awaiting results from the presidential run-off between a millionaire soccer star and the war-ravaged West African nation’s top female politician. Final results in the race between George Weah and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will not be announced for two weeks.

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/ 9 November 2005

Zanzibar’s polls risk sparking religious extremism

After three bitterly contested polls in the politically volatile Tanzania’s offshore state of Zanzibar, religious and political leaders fear that the island’s Muslim population may turn to radicalism to vent their frustration. The thrice-beaten opposition Civic United Front party has intensified claims that the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi or Revolutionary party fraudulently won the last three elections.

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/ 9 November 2005

Microwave your bra and stay warm

For the woman who wants to stay both warm and environmentally conscious this winter — and isn’t bothered by extra bulk under her shirt — a lingerie maker on Wednesday unveiled a thick bra that can be heated in a microwave. Triumph International modelled the bra in Japan.

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/ 9 November 2005

Don’t get carried away, Mboweni tells consumers

Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni has warned consumers against getting ”carried away” by the current upswing in the economy, saying inflation could bring some nasty surprises. The level of household debt relative to annual disposable income had already risen to almost 62%, marginally higher than its previous peak, he said on Wednesday.

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/ 9 November 2005

Murder of defence lawyer threatens Saddam trial

The murder of a second defence lawyer in the Saddam Hussein trial threatens to unravel the proceedings of the United States-sponsored court, set up to try crimes committed during Iraq’s former dictatorship. Lawyers for Saddam and his seven co-defendants in the trial for crimes against humanity that opened on October 19 have suspended contacts with the court, demanding a 10-point list of demands be met.