Thursday, September 13, 2012

Newly discovered rice gene a boon for global food supply (2:23)



Sept. 13 - Scientists in the Philippines say their recent discovery of a gene that boosts phosphorous levels in rice could have a profound impact on developing nations affected by climate change and poor soil. The gene was found in an Indian rice variety but is being bred into other rice crops where it has boosted yields by up to 20 percent. Rob Muir has more.

Snack Pack: Gold, Dollar, VIX, 10-Year Yield


Sept. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg's Alix Steel, Sara Eisen, Dominic Chu, Julie Hyman and Adam Johsnon update the top trading stories of the day. They speak on Bloomberg Television's "Lunch Money."

Middle East Instability, QE3 Could Boost Oil 26%


Sept. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg's Alix Steel reports on the impact on the oil markets from instability in the Middle East, particularly violence in Libya, coupled with expected QE3 from the Federal Reserve. She speaks on Bloomberg Television's "In The Loop."

Fed to Extend Stimulus to Boost Economic Growth


Sept. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Scarlet Fu reports today's top headlines. She speaks on Bloomberg Television's "Money Moves." (Source: Bloomberg)

French dating store puts bachelors on display



Published on Sep 13, 2012 by
For women unlucky in love, there's now a new and much less difficult way to find your man. A shop has opened in Paris where single men put themselves on display and ladies can browse the items until they find Mr Right.

French dating site AdoptAGuy has opened a travelling store where men are literally on the shelves. Looking like Ken dolls, the men put themselves on display in human-sized boxes to be ogled by the ladies.

One passer-by, Amandine Camporro, said that the store was a brilliant idea:

"I think it's great. It's different. For once we have a choice and we don't have to put up with the trials and tribulations of seduction so it's a really great idea. It's different. It proves that the guys can make fun of themselves and the ones who are here have a sense of humour and that's different."

The AdoptAGuy website does things a little differently to regular dating websites. Free for women, men advertise themselves on the site through putting up profile details and can only communicate with women if she chooses him.

After ten days the store will move on to Brussels, before heading to Lausanne, Toulouse and Lyon.

Written and presented by Alfred Joyner

euronews Life: Almaty: Kazakhstan's Garden City



Published on Sep 11, 2012 by
http://www.euronews.com/ The city of Almaty lies to the south of Kazakhstan, a stop off point in years gone by on the Silk Road, the great trading route that linked east and west.

Trade and economy are still at the heart of Almaty which was once the country's capital. It is the financial centre of central Asia and attracted some six million tourists last year. History, hot summers and a raft of winter sports on tap are among the top attractions.

In the hustle and bustle of modern development Almaty has not forgotten long held traditions like the famous steam baths, the Russian Banya.

Some like it hot first thing. Bagdat Yermagambedov has been taking the steam for 30 years.
...

Thousands line London streets for athlete parade



Published on Sep 10, 2012 by
Thousands of spectators lined London's streets as a victory parade of hundreds of British Olympic and Paralympic athletes made its way through the centre of the city.

Embracing wind power in Morocco | Global Ideas



Published on Sep 13, 2012 by
With its plentiful sunshine and frequent winds, Morocco boasts ideal conditions for a flourishing renewable energy industry -- as illustrated by the success of a wind park in Tangier that is still growing.

More information: www.ideasforacoolerworld.org

Fed ready for more stimulus?



Published on Sep 12, 2012 by
http://www.euronews.com/ The financial markets are betting that the Federal Reserve is about to take action to stimulate the lacklustre US economy.

A growing number of economists believe Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his fellow policymakers will decide at their current meeting to go for a third round of purchases of US government bonds.

By printing money to buy bonds, the US central bank would lower borrowing costs and spur a stronger economy.

Reuters asked 51 economists for their views. Of those who put the chances of quantitative easing, or QE3, at greater than 50 percent, 39 expected the Fed to act this week.

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Wen Jiabao Announces $158bn Stimulus Plan



Published on Sep 12, 2012 by
China is ready to inject a 100 billion yuan, or $158 billion, fiscal stability fund into the economy if it is needed, Premier Wen Jiabao said on Tuesday. Wen was attending the World Economic Forum held in China's eastern port city of Tianjin.

Wen's words were geared at assuring investors that China was preparing to meet the 2012 growth target despite a slowing economy.

[Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao]:
"There is around 100 billion yuan left in the stabilization fund as of this year. We will implement it as a pre-emptive and fine-tuning measure to boost growth if needed."

The stabilization fund is built from accumulated surpluses in previous years.

Economic growth in China has slowed for six consecutive quarters and could slide into a seventh. That's despite authorities' calls to boost exports and a loosening of fiscal policies, like cutting rates and lowering bank reserves.

The Chinese regime's last major stimulus package was back in 2008 during the world economic crisis. That package saw an injection of 4 trillion yuan ($635 billion) into the economy.

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France backs Greek austerity delay - at a price



Published on Sep 13, 2012 by
http://www.euronews.com/ Greece must deliver on its reform promises. That was the message from French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici who was in Athens on Thursday to meet Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and key members of his cabinet.

France has said it will back Greece's request for an extra two years to reduce its public deficit, but in return needs to see action not just words.

At the same time the International Monetary Fund said there are good arguments for granting that delay.

The question of whether Greece will need a third bailout package from the eurozone has also in play.

And the man who represents Greece at the IMF said it will. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal Thanos Catsambas said Greece's European creditors will have to find the money for that.

The Greek finance minister and an IMF spokesman said right now they are focused only the spending cuts needed to conclude the second bailout.

But more austerity measures risk pushing Greece into an even steeper spiral of economic decline.

The scale of the problem is illustrated by the latest Greek unemployment figures. As the economy slows the jobless rate jumped to 23.6 percent of the workforce in the second quarter of this year, up from 22.6 percent in the first quarter.

The young are suffering worst. For under 24-year-olds the unemployment rate was 53.9 percent.

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Brussels unveils new banking plan



Published on Sep 12, 2012 by
http://www.euronews.com/ The EU Commission has unveiled sweeping plans for the European Central Bank to supervise all of the eurozone's banking system.

The reforms, which still need approval from member states, would give the ECB responsibility for the bloc's 6,000 or so financial institutions.

In Strasbourg, the EU's financial services chief Michel Barnier said he hoped the new system would be up and running soon.

''When? After the text is approved we hope things will be in place before the end of the year and that the European Central Bank will have the power to directly supervise any banks that it believes are at risk,'' Barnier said.

The move is seen as a key step to creating a banking union in Europe, often regarded as one of the cornerstones for full fiscal integration.

But the Commission could face opposition. Both Berlin and London have raised objections to handing over so much oversight to the ECB.

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Euro zone steers debt crisis obstacles (2:31)



Sept. 13 - The Dutch election ended favourably for the euro zone chiefs who needed to keep their pro-Europe allies but the Greek austerity plan is yet to be approved. Joanne Nicholson reports

South Africa mining crisis escalates (1:56)



Sept. 13 - Anglo American Platinum, the world's biggest platinum producer closes four of its mines in Rustenburg over staff safety fears. Hayley Platt reports