The mysterious Kennewick Man, who died 9,000 years ago in the Columbia River Valley, was a seal hunter who rambled far and wide with a projectile point lodged in his hip, five broken ribs that never healed properly, two small dents in his skull and a bum shoulder from the repetitive stress of throwing spears. This clay facial reconstruction of Kennewick Man was carefully sculpted around the morphological features of his skull, and lends a deeper understanding of what he may have looked like nearly 9,000 years ago. (Photo by Brittney Tatchell/Smithsonian Institute ) … [Read more...] about Scientists: Mysterious Kennewick Man looked Polynesian and came from far away
What humans will look like in 100 years
In Africa, haircare becomes a multi-billion dollar industry
With all the skill of a master weaver at a loom, Esther Ogble stands under a parasol in the sprawling Wuse market in Nigeria's capital and spins synthetic fibre into women's hair. Nearby, three customers - one in a hijab - wait for a turn to spend several hours and $40 to have their hair done, a hefty sum in a country where many live on less than $2 a day. While still largely based in the informal economy, the African haircare business has become a multi-billion dollar industry that stretches to China and India and has drawn global giants such as L'Oreal and Unilever. Hairdressers such as Ogble are a fixture of markets and taxi ranks across Africa, reflecting both the continent's rising incomes and demand from hair-conscious women. "I need to braid my hair so that I will look beautiful," said 25-year-old Blessing James, wincing as Ogble combed and tugged at the back of her head before weaving in a plait that fell well past the shoulder. While … [Read more...] about In Africa, haircare becomes a multi-billion dollar industry
On policies of agriculture and rural development in the industrialization process
Many arguments and approaches relevant to agriculture and rural development have been applied in Vietnam, and they had strong impacts to policy making on these issues. While encouraging the process of industrialization and modernization, Vietnam also applied the strategies of this process to the way the country solves its agriculture and rural development problems. Many arguments and approaches relevant to agriculture and rural development have been applied in Vietnam, and they had strong impacts to policy making on these issues. While encouraging the process of industrialization and modernization, Vietnam also applied the strategies of this process to the way the country solves its agriculture and rural development problems. For theoretic exchange purpose, this paper focuses on: - Discussing arguments on agriculture and rural development ; - Describing the actual situations of agriculture and rural development and farmers in Vietnam; and - Suggesting some orientations and … [Read more...] about On policies of agriculture and rural development in the industrialization process
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 18/3
Japan calls for better development strategies Viet Nam needs to solve its problems of infrastructure development, human resources and institutions and policies to strengthen its industrialisation strategy from the perspective of Japanese industrial cooperation. This opinion was voiced by Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Yasuaki Tanizaki at the international conference on Viet Nam-Japan strategic co-operation to improve Viet Nam's industrial capacity, held in Ha Noi yesterday. At the conference, the State management agencies, scientists, Vietnamese and Japanese businesses examined the impact of Japanese investment on Viet Nam's industrial development, as well as challenges and solutions to industrial production in the country. Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said that Japan was the most important partner country for Viet Nam with regard to foreign direct investment (FDI) as well as official development assistance (ODA) in the industry-related … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 18/3
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 15/3
New bond trading system launches The second version of the Government bond trading system was introduced by the Ha Noi Stock Exchange last week and will be used for the first time next Monday when Circular 234/2012/TT-BTC takes effect. The system was upgraded in response to provisions in the circular concerning risk management and repurchase agreement (repo) trading. A repo agreement occurs when the selling party agrees to repurchase bonds in the future. The new version integrates bond and treasury bill trading, information systems and a yield curve. "The Government bond market has actively contributed to investment resources of both the State budget and financial institutions this past year," said Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Xuan Ha. In addition, Ha said, the liquidity of the market improved significantly -boosting capital turnover and creating conditions for short-term capital to develop into long-term funding, which would help the domestic economy. The deputy minister told … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 15/3