China's answer to traffic gridlock

What is this new fangled train?

It isn't a train. It is a bus. In fact a bus that cars can driver under in traffic! Ingenious!

It is called the 3D Express Coach and is reckoned to reduce traffic jams by up to 30%.

Special lines or rails will have to be built but at a fraction of the cost of a new subway system. This latest Chinese invention was unveiled way back in May at a Chinese Business Expo, but it really is so incredible that it is worth a closer look.

The 15 foot high bus is designed to use solar power (I can feel a lot of you switching off already as your dream fades!) and can hit top speeds of 37 mph.

Could this really be the future of mass transit travel? It has been designed to carry 1400 passengers in one go (mind you how feasible would that be as in how many stops would it make to keep everyone happy?).

A pilot scheme is being constructed in an area of Beijing currently. China are taking transport very seriously and if projects like this come off - added to their impressive and world leading investment in High Speed Rail - they could end up being exporters of skills and expertise which could help grow their technology economy further.

The 21st Century looks to belong to China!

Perhaps in sprawling metropolises like LA, Beijing and Shanghai this could work. But I doubt it will ever catch on in Glasgow or Edinburgh!

1GB Broadband for South Korea

I was watching BBC's excellent programme Click the other day on BBC News and it reported that South Korea is the world's most wired-up nation with incredible existing speeds of 100 MB per second for broadband.

In the report it talked of how wi-fi is expected in South Korea and how the current government are spending £19 billion on upgrading the network.

The dream for South Korea is for 1GB per second speeds! They are aiming not for 2020 or some far off date but 2012!

What does this say about how some countries are speculating and investing in their countries future and infrastructure, while at present our coalition are looking for ways to slash public spending.

Investing in technology is the way James Dyson - the millionnaire inventor of the bagless vaccum cleaner - believes we have to take on the Asian Tiger Economies in the 21st Century. We can't compete on price of labour or manufacturing, but we can compete in the service sector and in technology. But we have to spend in research and development... and spend training our young people.

If we are not growing and developing our skills as a nation, then we are set for a very difficult next 20 years, regardless who is in power in Westminster or Holyrood for that matter!

Read the full article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/9093991.stm

Bye bye Delhi 2010... hello Glasgow 2014

After a pretty eventful Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010, the flag has been passed to Glasgow.

Delhi suffered from many construction and planning problems as reports on the Athletes Village were highly detrimental and would have wounded Indian pride.

The Games recovered well though, and I am sure the Delhi Games will be remembered as being a good experience for everyone involved.

What lessons will Glasgow learn from Delhi?

Preparation of events and facilities must be 100%. Not only Glasgow, but Scotland and the Commonwealth Games' future and reputation is at stake.

An atmosphere has to be created in the venues. Delhi did have some empty seats early on, but that was then tackled.

Attracting the big names is another concern. Not to have Usain Bolt at the flagship 100 metres final was a massive blow. How can Glasgow ensure they attract the big stars?

So although four years may seem a long time, the planning and building is underway... and so is the countdown to Scotland's biggest ever sporting event!

In the News...

ARK ROYAL AXED

The Royal Navy's flagship, the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, is to be scrapped early as part of the government's defence review.

The UK's Harrier jump jets will be axed, the money saved going towards the cost of two new aircraft carriers.

It means that, until at least 2019, Britain will not have the ability to launch fighter jets at sea.
David Cameron is due to unveil more details of the first strategic defence and security review in 12 years.

HOUSING BUDGET SLASHED

The social housing budget in England is to be cut by more than 50% in the Spending Review.
Council housing "for life" will also be phased out, with the needs of new council tenants assessed over time.

Despite the cuts, ministers are likely to set a target of building 150,000 affordable homes, changing the way councils charge rent to finance them.

Tenants will be charged nearer the going market rate, to release cash for the building programme.

GERMAN CHUNNEL LINK

German train operator Deutsche Bahn says it will run direct services from London to Frankfurt and Amsterdam from 2013.

A train similar to the ones to be used will be displayed at London St Pancras station on Tuesday.
Three services will run daily, and will also serve Brussels, Cologne and Rotterdam.

DB must get approval for its trains from safety authorities before services can run but is confident of doing so.

FRANCE IN NEW STRIKES

France is braced for new disruption as a sixth national day of protest begins over plans to reform the country's pension system.

Strikes and mass marches will coincide with an ongoing blockade of oil refineries that hit supplies.

The government wants to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 and the full state pension age from 65 to 67.

President Nicolas Sarkozy insists he will press ahead with pension reforms despite the growing strike movement.


Source: BBC Business News

Rescue of Chilean Miners

The dramatic story of the miners of San Jose Mine in the remote Atacama desert has been most remarkable.

First, 'Los 33' were trapped for 17 days without anyone still thinking they were alive. Then after being found, NASA and psychologists were called in as the men looked like remaining underground for months. The mental and physical demands looked to be insufferable.

However, President Sebastian Pinero - a billionnaire - spent millions to rescue the trapped men after an incredible 69 days underground. The story had echoes of the Billy Wilder classic movie 'Ace in the Hole' as the media descended onto Camp Hope - a temporary trailer park of family, media and rescuers.

I reckon as well as trying to ensure the safety of the men, Pinero realised this was an opportunity for Santiago to shine. And to be fair, they did.

Now the 33 men have been rescued to safety, what will follow? Book deals? Public appearances? Statues and plaques? A museum? As you may have guessed, Hollywood scriptwriters are already writing a movie.

What looks certain is the men won't go back underground again anytime soon.

As for President Pinero, he has made the most of the goodwill capital he and Chile have received as he hopes to dispel the memories of the Chilean coup d'etat which ousted Salvadore Allende and the military junta took over.

Chile has a personal touch for me. I remember at school being picked to go to the mock United Nations and my friend and I got drawn out as Chile!

No doubt Chile's tourism and economy may well take a boost from this incredible story, and for once a story of hope, heroism and cheer!

In the News...

PRIUS SALES DOWN

Japanese sales of the Toyota Prius have fallen for the first time in almost a year-and-a-half after a government subsidy for buying more eco-friendly cars expired, industry figures suggest.
The hybrid remains the country's most popular car, with 27,249 sold in September, according the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

But this was 14% lower than the same month a year ago - the first year-on-year fall in 17 months.

Honda's Fit was the second best-seller.

EASYJET MAKE A PROFIT

Shares in airline Easyjet have soared 10% after it said its full-year profits would be ahead of earlier expectations.

After stronger than predicted passenger numbers last month, it now expects its pre-tax profit for the 12 months to 30 September to surpass £150m.

This compares with its earlier guidance of between £100m and £150m.

VODAFONE JOBS LOST

Four hundred jobs are to go at a customer relations centre for mobile phone giant Vodafone in Oxfordshire.

The centre at Banbury Business Park in Adderbury will close in 2011.

Two hundred of the posts will move to other Vodafone sites at Newark in Nottinghamshire, Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire and Didsbury, Manchester.

A spokeswoman said the Banbury centre had a lot of little teams carrying out different tasks, but that Vodafone wanted "bigger, more specialist teams".

RYDER CUP 2014 SCOTS TOURISM BOOST

The 2014 Ryder Cup could raise more than £100m for Scotland's economy, organisers have said.

VisitScotland said the tournament was a chance to capitalise on what was sport's third biggest event in terms of TV and media coverage.

About 45,000 spectators are expected to attend each day of the six-day challenge at Gleneagles in Perthshire.

It will mark the first time in more than 40 years that the tournament has been played on Scottish soil.

Mike Cantlay, VisitScotland chairman, said: "The Ryder Cup will undoubtedly be a huge opportunity for Scotland to capitalise on an event that will showcase Scotland to a global audience and contribute many millions to both the local and national economy."

DELHI EMPTY SEATS CRISIS

Organisers of the Commonwealth Games in India are handing out free tickets to fill empty arenas.

TV pictures beamed around the world have shown competitors in virtually empty venues in Delhi.

Organisers told a news conference in the capital they hoped to increase attendance through a ticket giveaway to children and the underprivileged.

The vacant venues problem is the latest to hit the Delhi Games, preparations for which were plagued by setbacks.

Correspondents say the lack of spectators may be because it is not easy to buy tickets, although heavy security at the stadiums has also been a deterrent.

CARD FRAUD AT 10 YEAR LOW

Card fraud losses in the first six months of the year were at their lowest level for 10 years, at just £187m, the banking industry says.

Online banking fraud was 36% lower than in the first half of last year, at £25m, said the UK Cards Association.

Phone banking fraud was up 9% to £6m, but cheque fraud losses fell 13% to £14m.

The half-year figures follow the 28% drop in card fraud reported for the whole of 2009.

Source: BBC Business

Higher and Int 2 Business Homework

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