Sanofi-Aventis gives nearness to the U.S. research hubs as one of the reasons behind its pending purchase of Genzyme, the U.S. biotechnology giant.

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He is part of a small band of returnees, who are attracted not so much by the history as the cheap property prices and the nearness of the City.

ECONOMIST: The strange cohesiveness of British Jewry

"Given the nearness of Mugeary and Glenelg, I consider it to be a great cosmic coincidence that on its way to Glenelg, the Curiosity rover found a rock that can legitimately be called a mugearite!"

BBC: Cosmic coincidence on the road to Glenelg

Nevertheless, local officials hope that the nearness to the River Market of what will be one of America's biggest presidential libraries will pull in larger crowds than its rivals, many of which are well off the beaten path.

ECONOMIST: Urban development