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Young panda at Washington Zoo heads to China
Published on 8 Dec, 2009 at 15:59 in Entertainment | Viewed 99 views times | No Comments
A US-born giant panda known as Tai Shan will soon be leaving the National Zoo in Washington DC and sent to China, the Washington Post reported Friday. The panda has become one of the zoo’s biggest attractions since its birth in July 2005. Born of two pandas on loan from China, Tai Shan’s move is
Drop in jobless rate sparks optimism
Published on 8 Dec, 2009 at 15:58 in Business | Viewed 109 views times | No Comments
An unexpected drop in the unemployment rate and in job losses in November excited investors Friday and raised hopes for a sustained economic recovery and provided a rare dose of good news for a labor market that has seen 7.2 million job losses in the last two years. Last month, as employers reportedly cut the
US services sector makes unexpected decline
Published on 8 Dec, 2009 at 15:57 in Business | Viewed 86 views times | No Comments
The bulk of the world’s largest economy, the US services sector, dropped in November after two months of growth amid a budding recovery from recession, according to a private survey released Thursday. The Institute of Supply Management said its non-manufacturing index dropped to 48.7 percent last month, 1.9 percentage points lower than the 50.6 percent
Comcast to acquire majority stake in NBC Universal
Published on 8 Dec, 2009 at 15:56 in Business | Viewed 78 views times | No Comments
Comcast announced on Thursday that it plans to buy a majority stake in NBC Universal from General Electric, a move that would add to the US cable giant’s empire. Comcast will control 51 percent of NBC Universal, along with GE (which owned 80 percent) retaining the other 49 percent. France’s Vivendi is selling its 20-percent
US company finds new gas near Libya
Published on 8 Dec, 2009 at 15:55 in Business | Viewed 106 views times | No Comments
The US petroleum firm Hess recently found new gas deposits off the Libyan coast in the Gulf of Sirte, Libya’s National Oil Corp (NOC) announced on Thursday. According to a statement from Hess, tests carried out by the company indicate an output of “27 million cubic feet (756,000 cubic metres) of good quality gas.” Hess
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo getting ready for test flights ahead of space tourism
Published on 8 Dec, 2009 at 15:54 in Travel | Viewed 128 views times | No Comments
Virgin Galactic’s sub-orbital space plane, the SpaceShipTwo, is preparing for test flights – and Richard Branson’s company hopes it will be taking tourists into space by 2012. For a mere $200,000, wealthy funseekers will be able to enjoy a few minutes’ weightlessness, staring out at the curve of the Earth from under a black sky.
Tiger pulls out of tournament after crash
Published on 8 Dec, 2009 at 15:53 in Sports | Viewed 112 views times | No Comments
Golf star Tiger Woods withdrew Monday from a tournament to benefit his charity foundation as he continued to lie low more than three days after a car crash that has caused a media storm. In a statement on his website, Woods said he would miss the Chevron World Challenge that opens Thursday in suburban Los
US shoppers spend $41bn in Thanksgiving weekend
Published on 8 Dec, 2009 at 15:51 in Money | Viewed 83 views times | No Comments
The amount of money dished out at the shops this weekend hit $41.2bn – a rise of 0.5% on 2008. Even so, credit-crunched Americans spent around 8% less each than normal, an average of $343, in the days following last Thursday’s holiday. The total was higher because more of them – 195 million – shopped
Swine flu vaccines recalled in Canada after severe reactions
Published on 8 Dec, 2009 at 15:50 in Health | Viewed 76 views times | No Comments
A shipment of H1N1swine flu vaccines has been flagged for causing severe allergic reactions by The World Health Organization, which is advising Canadian doctors not to administer the batch. At least six victims of the batch suffered from anaphylactic shock — a potentially deadly reaction — after receiving the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) inoculation known as Aprepanrix.
For many seniors, holiday season brings the blues
Published on 8 Dec, 2009 at 15:49 in Health | Viewed 83 views times | No Comments
According to the American Geriatrics Society, the holiday season can trigger melancholy in seniors from thoughts about lost loved ones, health issues or money problems. To help overcome the seasonal blues, the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging offers the following advice: Get out and socialize or invite family and friends over. Those who find