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/ 26 October 2005

Saddam lawyers suspend contact with court

Lawyers representing Saddam Hussein announced on Wednesday that they will suspend all contacts with the special tribunal trying the ousted Iraqi president until they are given better security. The decision follows the killing of Saadun Janabi, an attorney representing one of Saddam’s co-defendants, a day after the opening of the trial last week.

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/ 26 October 2005

India says companies can make generic bird flu drug

An Indian health ministry official on Wednesday said local firms could make a generic version of Swiss-based Roche’s Tamiflu as an emergency measure for an outbreak of avian flu. ”India could go in for manufacturing of the medicine [Tamiflu] under compulsory licensing if there is a national emergency,” the senior health ministry officialtold reporters in New Delhi.

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/ 26 October 2005

Why Icasa could become icasa

Parliament’s portfolio committee is debating the future of the country’s broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa). At stake is who, henceforth, will have the power to give — or revoke — licence permissions for telecoms and broadcasting, and what conditions will be attached to these: the minister of communications, or Icasa?

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/ 26 October 2005

Minister to review spy laws

Legislation and procedures governing intelligence services will be reviewed in a bid to avoid ”future abuses”, Minister of Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils said on Wednesday. This is aimed at determining ”whether there are any gaps or ambiguities that need tightening up”, the minister said in a statement.

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/ 26 October 2005

Microsoft plans to launch better search engine

Google is fierce competition for Microsoft, but the software giant does not fear the race and plans to upgrade its search technology in the next six months, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates said in remarks published on Wednesday. On his first trip to Israel, Gates praised Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Israel’s contributions to the global high-tech market.