| China on edge over BHP Billiton-Rio Tinto merger
CHINA'S biggest aluminium producer and a senior government official have added their voices to a growing chorus of Chinese concern about the proposed merger of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. The concerns have fuelled speculation that Chinese interests will try to intervene in the proposed $400 billion tie-up of the two giant miners. Aluminium Corp of China -- also known as Chalco -- yesterday expressed worries that a combined BHP (bhp.ASX:Quote,News) and Rio (rio.ASX:Quote,News) would concentrate raw material supplies and wield too much pricing power. "Someone told me that if they combine copper ore and iron ore, prices may double next year," Chalco president Luo Jianchuan told Bloomberg. "It makes us worried." On Monday, China's minister of land and resources told a mining conference in Beijing that a handful of multinational mining giants "dominate the global commodities trade and have more say in the price-setting mechanism".
Behind the Edwards Surge: Right Message at the Right Time
Much was made of Illinois Senator Barack Obama's superb speech to a huge crowd of Iowa Democrats at the mid-November Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner in Des Moines. Without a doubt, it helped to propel Obama ahead of New York Senator Hillary Clinton in polls conducted in the weeks after the event. But Obama's speech in November may not turn out to be the definitional statement of the fight for Iowa. What could turn out to be the most critical comment of the campaign came from John Edwards in the last debate between the Democratic contenders — and the former senator from North Carolina may well claim the caucus-night victory that is the reward for delivering the right message at the right time. It wasn't a great rhetorical flourish. It wasn't even a new statement.
Payday lending reform needed
Ohio's 1995 legislation that enabled the practice of payday lending now looks like a classic case of good intentions gone awry. The idea was to allow people with modest incomes and checking accounts to take out small, two-week loans from check-cashing outlets, giving them quick access to cash to tide them over until their next paychecks. Lenders were permitted to charge high fees, $15 per $100 loaned, on the theory that people would make one-time use of this service in emergencies. But too often, it hasn't worked that way for cash-strapped Ohioans who use payday lending as a last resort. By the time they get their next paychecks, they find themselves unable to pay back the loan plus fees, so they end up taking out a second loan to pay the first one, and on and on.
Who wants to know what the top quiz is?
The children's favourite Blockbusters was voted to have spawned the best catchphrase of all time – "Can I have a P please, Bob?" Other favourite phrases included "You are the weakest link. Goodbye", as Anne Robinson bids farewell to failed contestants on The Weakest Link, and "I've started so I'll finish", from the long-running Mastermind.Appropriately, two of the best-known catchphrases are from the show Catchphrase – "Say what you see" and "It's good, but it's not right", used even when contestants are nowhere near guessing the answer.The favourite theme tune was from darts-based Bullseye, and the top ten also includes the bouncy tune from 1970s favourite It's A Knockout and the catchy lyric from Blankety Blank.According to the research, 35 per cent of viewers want an intellectually challenging game show and only 32 per cent care if the presenter is charismatic.Only 1 per cent believe a show needs celebrity contestants, as featured in the most recent series of Family Fortunes and special editions of The Weakest Link and Who Wants to be .
A financial nudge from Uncle Sam
I'll be spending on luxuries. Like gas for a car and food and healthcare and my mortgage. This is what Bush and the Rethuglicons fail to understand. They have so damaged the economy that people have little to no discretionary income so they finance luxuries on their credit cards or refinance their home. Case in point is my vacation. Due to the increases in airplane fuel costs and the decreased value of the dollar, I couldn't afford to pay everything out of pocket. So I had to get a 0% credit card and charged all my expenses on it. Now I have to pay off the balance over the next 12 months. This is what Bush and the Rethuglicons have done to the economy. People have to finance their retirement (15%), pay their mortgage (20%), heat and cool their house (12%), put gas in the car (7%), buy food (10%), and go to the doctor (30%).
Dallas, I love you, but I've found Austin
Over here, in the corner, is Charlie Hatley, whaling away. "Unhhhhhhhhhhh," he groans, jaw slack. The boxing dummy bucks, sways, threatens to fall over from Hatley's blows. The kids outside the ring stare, saucer-eyed. They love Hatley, 19, the superstar of the place, ranked second in the nation at 141 pounds and a seven-time national champion so good, so quick, so ferocious, the guy Hatley was supposed to fight for the gold at an international amateur tournament in Puerto Rico three weeks ago instead backed out. .
Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility Recognizes Two Sallie ...
(CSRwire) RESTON, Va., Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Sallie Mae, the nation's leading saving- and paying-for-college company, is pleased to announce that Pete Sanchez, director of Servicing Process Excellence, and Carolina Martin, vice president of Hispanic Initiatives, were honored with a Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers award from the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR). HACR is a coalition of the nation's most influential community-based organizations. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030617/SLMLOGO-a) Sanchez and Martin are among 28 young professional executives from across the country who were selected as part of HACR's inaugural Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers (YHCA) program. A review of the candidates' accomplishments, established leadership qualities, industry expertise, education and employment experiences, as well as a demonstrated commitment to their communities, was conducted to select each honoree.
Do homework for best loan
The right home loan could save you thousands Do your homework and work out what features you want Consider flexibility and charges THE perfect home loan could save you thousands of dollars, be used to create significant personal wealth, or have you owning your home sooner. But the first step in finding the perfect loan is preparation, according to industry experts. "The first thing is do your homework and decide what sort of loan is suitable for you because you're likely to have this loan for 25 or 30 years,'' Community CPS Australia chief executive Kevin Benger said. Some things to consider include whether you want a fixed or variable interest rate or a mixture of both, ensuring you are aware of all fees and charges associated with the loan, and whether you could make additional repayments.
|
