A Blogger: Aug 29, 2012

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Thai girl inspires Buddhist nun programme

Published 27 August 2012 07:13

It is common practice for Buddhist boys to become monks as part of their adult development. Not many women, however, are ordained as Buddhist nuns and even fewer girls are allowed to join religious orders. Yet one young girl's calling in Thailand is making a difference. Al Jazeera's Florence Looi reports from Bangkok.

Indonesia farmers struggle to keep up

Published 13 August 2012 08:07

Indonesia is one of the most fertile countries in the world, but farmers there are struggling to grow basic crops. The country was self-sufficient before it opened up its agricultural market - under international pressure - to the free market in the late 1990s. Today, cheap imports from abroad are hampering local business. And many say the country's agricultural sector needs to modernise, or it will become fully dependent on food imports. Al Jazeera's Step Vaessen reports from the town of Cianjur in West Java.

Malaysian economy continues to thrive

Published 15 August 2012 02:42

As the economic recession continues to bite Europe, in Malaysia the economy is on track of achieving a five per cent growth for the year. Government reforms, a special task force identifying key industries for growth, such as education, health care and approved multi-billion dollar development projects across the country, are policies that have created a healthy economy. Al Jazeera's Florence Looi reports from the state of Penang on how it is thriving from the economic boom.

U.S. Day Ahead: Why jobless claims matter (2:15)

Aug 29 - Investors, digging in before Bernanke's big speech on Friday, should focus on initial jobless claims for clues about what the critical jobs report will look like in August.

Europe Day Ahead: Merkel in China; Italy tests bond market (2:13)

Aug. 29 - German Chancellor Angela Merkel heads to China to seek support for euro zone assets, while a bond auction will test Italy's claim that markets are starting to recognise its reform efforts.

'Power Felt' Turns Your Body's Heat Into an Electric Charge

Uploaded by mashable on Feb 23, 2012

Graduate students from Wake Forest University created a cloth-like material able to convert body heat into an electrical current. The current could be used to charge anything you carrying, like your smartphone.

101 East - China: Broken Dreams

Published on Aug 24, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish

Many young Chinese are losing faith in China's economic miracle. Even though the country is poised to overtake the US in the next decade as the world's largest, fewer Chinese feel they share the prosperity. 101 East explores the disillusionment.

Colombia wealth gap leaves poor short-changed

Published on Aug 25, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish

Colombia is often referred to as one of the oldest democracies in Latin America, yet it had an ongoing armed conflict for more than 50 years. Millions of people were displaced by the violence.

The inequality gap in the country is also one of the worst in the western hemisphere.

The richest one per cent of people own more than half of Colombia's land, while the wealthiest 20 per cent earn almost 30 times more than the poorest 20 per cent.

Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman reports from the capital, Bogota.

Austerity hits 'Italy's Dubai'

Published on Aug 29, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish

The world's oldest bank has become the latest victim of Italy's money woes.

The Monte dei Paschi di Siena, founded in 1472, though still in operation, has found itself in serious financial trouble as investments fell from $300 million in 2008 to 25 million last year.

The institution also helps to fund Siena' cultural life, but as Al Jazeera's Claudio Lavanga reports from Siena, that too is now in jeopardy.

Nigeria's questionable new banknote

Published on Aug 29, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish

Nigeria's new 5,000-naira banknote, worth five times as much as the previous largest, has earned scorn from money changers well aware than at least 100 million citizens earn less than 160 naira per day. Likewise, economists question how the introduction of a new note dovetails with government plans to begin making Nigeria a cashless society next year. But the central bank says the country's booming economy and middle class, in addition to bank costs for handling so many small notes, make the new 5,000-naira bill a good idea. Yvonne Ndege reports from Lagos.

Arctic way of living 'under threat'

Published on Aug 28, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish

Deep in the Arctic, remote Inuit communities are facing up to a future of change.

As the sea ice retreats due to global warming, their traditional existence is coming under threat.

In the second part of his series, Al Jazeera's Nick Clark travels to the remote island settlement of Qerqertat, Greenland.

American Crowned Air Guitar World Champ

Created: 2012-08-25 06:47 EST

Justin "Nordic Thunder" Howard from the US won the 17th Air Guitar World Championships in Oulu, Finland on Friday (August 24). The Air Guitar World Championships is a three-day event with international contestants that culminates in a Grand Finale at Rotuaari Square in the center of Oulu in Northern Finland. Around 5,000 people gathered in the city center to watch 18 contestants from around the world battle for the grand prize—a real guitar. "Everyone is very excited of course since this is a big event and so forth, so everyone is always looking forward to this happening." The world championships were first organized in Oulu in 1996.
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How a Leaky Pipe Is Helping Feed the World

Scientists and executives from the water industry are meeting in Stockholm to discuss how to use less water. Bloomberg's Eliott Gotkine reports on one company in Israel which does that.

More Than 640,000 Without Power Because of Isaac

Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg's Megan Hughes reports on Hurricane Isaac from New Orleans. She speaks on Bloomberg Television's Bottom Line." (Source: Bloomberg)

The Top Ten Stocks for Wednesday, August 29

Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg’s Betty Liu, Dominic Chu, Josh Lipton and Julie Hyman report on today’s ten most important stocks including Movado, KKR and Heinz. They speak on Bloomberg Television's "In The Loop." (Source: Bloomberg)

Fed Survey Says Economy Grew ‘Gradually’ in July

Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve said the U.S. economy continued to expand “gradually” in July and early August as improvement in housing and retail sales helped outweigh weakness in manufacturing. Bloomberg's Sara Eisen reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

Indian Stocks Drop on Rates, Reforms Concerns

Indian stocks fell the most in a month after the country’s central bank signaled it may hold rates for a third time this year at its meeting next month.

Steel: Gold Could Rise to $1900 By End of Year

Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- James Steel, chief commodities analyst at HSBC Securities, and Michael Aronstein, chief executive officer of Marketfield Asset Management, talk with Bloomberg's Alix Steel and Adam Johnson about the outlook for gold prices. They speak on Bloomberg Television's "Lunch Money." (Source: Bloomberg)

Snack Pack: Gold, Euro-Dollar, Gold, U.S Treasuries

Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg's Adam Johnson, Julie Hyman, Sara Eisen and Dominic Chu update the top trading stories of the day. They speak on Bloomberg Television's "Lunch Money." (Source: Bloomberg)

London 2012 Paralympics opening ceremony set to begin

Published on Aug 29, 2012 by IBTimesUK

Thousands of people turned out to welcome the Paralympic flame as it travels on its 24 hour relay en route to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the Games tonight at 8 30 attended by the Queen and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The flame set off from its spiritual home- Stoke Mandeville Hospital yesterday, where army doctor Dr Ludwig Guttman pioneered the idea of using 'sport to help with disability' setting up the first wheel chair based games in 1948.

Around 4,000 athletes from more than 150 countries will be taking part in the London 2012 Paralympics, which run from 29 August to 9 September. The Great Britain team for the Games has been finalised with some experienced competitors among the 289 athletes, as well as some newcomers.A strong overseas contingent will also be travelling to London for what the organisers promise will be the best Paralympics yet, following on from the huge success of the London Olympics.

Written and presented by Ann Salter

India's rich take to luxury cars

Published on Aug 29, 2012 by FinancialTimesVideos

Mumbai bureau chief James Crabtree takes a test ride on an Aston Martin, the latest luxury car entrant to the Indian market. He ponders why India's rich will buy cars like these despite a hefty price tag and the often poor state of roads.

For more news and analysis from India: http://www.ft.com/world/asia-pacific/india

For more video content from the Financial Times visit: http://www.ft.com/video

http://www.FT.com/

Food crisis: industry at turning point

Published on Aug 28, 2012 by FinancialTimesVideos

Economic crisis and rising food prices are putting pressure on consumer goods sales. FT analysis editor Frederick Studemann discusses if this is a turning point for producers with Louise Lucas, consumer industries editor and Gregory Meyer, commodities markets reporter.

Related articles: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/45ddc1a0-e70a-11e1-8a74-00144feab49a.html

For more video content from the Financial Times visit: http://www.ft.com/video

http://www.FT.com/

08/29/2012 LATEST BUSINESS BULLETIN

Published on Aug 29, 2012 by france24english

You are watching the latest business report from FRANCE 24.

More business news on FRANCE 24:
http://www.france24.com/en/business

FRANCE 24 INTERNATIONAL NEWS 24/7
http://www.france24.com

euronews hi-tech: Iraq's sole-power phone-charging feat

Published on Aug 29, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ An enterprising inventor in Iraq has taken steps to re-charge mobile phones using sole power.

Inspired by the many pilgrims in the holy city of Karbala, Baha al-Hasnawi dreamed up a way to harness energy from walking that would otherwise go to waste.

The handy foot-driven device could prove a boon in a country whose electricity network is still in disarray after ten years of war.

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French bankers ready to bolt?

Published on Aug 29, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ La Défense, the financial district of Paris, which houses the headquarters of many of France's big banks and top financial firms could soon to be much less crowded.

That is if you believe the gloomy forecasts in response to the new French government's plans to tax that sector more heavily.

A transaction levy on shares and a 75 percent rate of tax on income of more than one million euros a year reportedly have many planning to decamp particularly across the channel to the banker friendly City of London.

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Draghi tells Germans ECB action needed for stability

Published on Aug 29, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ The European Central Bank has to use "exceptional measures" at times to meet its mandate of keeping inflation in check.

So said ECB President Mario Draghi in an opinion piece in German weekly Die Zeit.

He seemed to be trying to address German worries over the bank buying government bonds to stem the eurozone sovereign debt crisis.

German officials fear the ECB is in danger of being politicised and losing its independence.

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Russia 'to cut gas exports'

Published on Aug 29, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ Russia's Economy Ministry is reportedly cutting its gas export forecast for this year due to sluggish demand from recession-mired Europe.

The forecast is said to be reduced to 193 billion cubic metres (bcm) from an earlier 212 bcm.

A government source has told Reuters that it will also reduce its average export price estimate.

State-controlled Gazprom has a monopoly on Russian gas exports.

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Celebrate last days of summer with strawberry dessert

Published on Aug 29, 2012 by primetimeru

Humour is the most significant dimention of brain - Edward de Bono

Published on Aug 29, 2012 by primetimeru

Let's tap into our creative sides now ... as we meet the man who has taught whole nations how to put their thinking caps on!

Prime Time's Lindsay France got some tips from the inventor of lateral thinking...