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/ 18 October 2005

No clicking, please

Garcon! Clicking one’s fingers to grab the waiter’s attention is by far the worst restaurant etiquette blunder, a British survey revealed on Monday. In a poll of 8 683 people for the British food magazine <i>Olive</i>, 38% thought snapping fingers at a waiter was the most embarrassing gaffe possible while dining out.

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/ 18 October 2005

Survey shows signs of ‘rampant corruption’ in Africa

South Africa is ranked number 46 in the latest Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Although its score of 4,5 on a scale of 10 beat the global average of 4,11 and was way above the average of three for African countries, it only ranked third on the continent — being pipped by Botswana in 32nd place with a score of 5,9 and Tunisia in 43rd place with a score of 4,9.

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/ 18 October 2005

Weah facing run-off in Liberia poll

Football star George Weah faces a run-off against a former World Bank economist in the contest to become president of Liberia, as none of the candidates won an absolute majority in last week’s elections. With 90% of votes counted, Weah received 257 027, putting him at the front of a field of 22 candidates, while his closest rival, the Harvard-educated former finance minister Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, got 175 520.

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/ 18 October 2005

Will Saddam get a fair trial?

A leading rights group has warned that the special Iraqi tribunal set up with United States sponsorship to try Saddam Hussein may not be able to give the former dictator and his top aides a fair trial. Saddam, now 68, will be in on court on Wednesday along with three former top lieutenants and four regional officials of his Ba’ath Party.