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/ 14 October 2003

Artificial limbs controlled by mind power

Brain implants that could allow severely disabled people to control prosthetic limbs with their minds could be ready for use within two years, according to a team of scientists. Their claim comes after tests with monkeys showed that the animals could control a robotic arm using just their thoughts.

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/ 14 October 2003

Liberia set for new government

Liberia was set to acquire a new government on Tuesday to lead the war-ravaged west African state until general elections in 2005, as rebels promised to start disarming. Temporary President Moses Blah is to hand over power to Gyude Bryant, a little-known businessman who arrived in Monrovia on Monday.

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/ 14 October 2003

The truth about England

Okay, you’ve seen the stories suggesting England have slight injury problems before their crucial Pool C clash against South Africa on Saturday. The truth is, England may well be forced to try a rookie at the base of the scrum on Saturday with Joost van der Westhuizen, South Africa’s most-capped player, sniping away at him.

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/ 14 October 2003

No place to hide

Thinking of hiding your illegal offshore funds in a tax haven? Think again. Tax havens are an endangered species. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is attempting to shine a halogen lamp on the opaque world of tax havens.

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/ 14 October 2003

Zapping colluders and bully-boys

The importance of curbing anti-competitive conduct cannot be overstated. The World Bank estimates the monopoly rent extracted from developing countries alone by a few international cartels prosecuted in the 1990s totalled $24-billion a year — nearly half the development aid provided to developing countries.

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/ 14 October 2003

Consumers vote with their feet

Sky-high insurance premiums are unlikely to come down in a hurry, industry leaders suggested last week. An insurance analyst expects an 18-month wait before any discernible change in premiums, while FSB deputy CEO André Swanepoel reckons current market conditions will continue for another year or so.

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/ 14 October 2003

Nail battle shows ‘maturity’

The battle for the soul of Nail has "shaken up people who believed they are entitled to [Nail’s] media assets", says Fani Titi, CEO of Tiso Capital, the new frontrunners to secure the pioneering empowerment group. Titi added that the events of the past week showed growing "maturity" on the part of black business.