Pupils in a Irish school are being asked to bring their own toilet paper to school to help offset funding cutbacks. The principal of St John's Girls National School in Carrigaline, County Cork, confirmed she had sent out a memo to parents last week requesting that their daughters occasionally bring a roll of toilet paper to give to the class teacher, who would dispense the rolls to students when needed. The bizarre request is part of the school's cost-containment programme so that dwindling state funding can be better spent on education, says principal Catherine O'Neill. She refused to divulge the school's annual budget but said that the Government's abolition of various grants was behind the request.
Pupils in a Irish school are being asked to bring their own toilet paper to school to help offset funding cutbacks.
The principal of St John's Girls National School in Carrigaline, County Cork, confirmed she had sent out a memo to parents last week requesting that their daughters occasionally bring a roll of toilet paper to give to the class teacher, who would dispense the rolls to students when needed.
The bizarre request is part of the school's cost-containment programme so that dwindling state funding can be better spent on education, says principal Catherine O'Neill.
She refused to divulge the school's annual budget but said that the Government's abolition of various grants was behind the request.
The euro zone's services industries returned to growth for the first time in 16 months in September. Economists said that demonstrated the recovery has spread from manufacturing to services. The latest figures were compiled from surveys sent to purchasing managers at 2,000 companies. France was the best performer while Germany held steady.
The euro zone's services industries returned to growth for the first time in 16 months in September.
Economists said that demonstrated the recovery has spread from manufacturing to services.
The latest figures were compiled from surveys sent to purchasing managers at 2,000 companies.
France was the best performer while Germany held steady.
Manufacturing output collapsed in August, dragging down overall industrial production to its lowest level since 1987 and adding to fears that the UK has not yet managed to shake off the recession.Production by the manufacturing industry contracted by 1.9 per cent in the month, the biggest drop since a 3.1 per cent decline in January, the Office for National Statistics reported. Analysts had expected manufacturing output to increase by 0.3 per cent in August....The sharp fall in output - although monthly figures can be erratic - comes after the manufacturing industry had shown little change since the beginning of the year. The sector has now contracted 14.8 per cent from peak to trough.The weak official data for August follow other evidence that manufacturing may be facing new problems. The purchasing managers' index for the sector registered contraction in the past two months, after showing a rapidly easing decline earlier in the year.
Production by the manufacturing industry contracted by 1.9 per cent in the month, the biggest drop since a 3.1 per cent decline in January, the Office for National Statistics reported. Analysts had expected manufacturing output to increase by 0.3 per cent in August....The sharp fall in output - although monthly figures can be erratic - comes after the manufacturing industry had shown little change since the beginning of the year. The sector has now contracted 14.8 per cent from peak to trough.
The weak official data for August follow other evidence that manufacturing may be facing new problems. The purchasing managers' index for the sector registered contraction in the past two months, after showing a rapidly easing decline earlier in the year.
Gold prices hit a new record above $1,040 an ounce on Tuesday as the dollar lost ground following reports that the US currency's critical role in global oil trading was coming under scrutiny. Gold reached a record $1,043.45, racing past its previous peak of $1,030.80 set last March when Bear Stearns, the US investment bank ran into trouble.
Gold reached a record $1,043.45, racing past its previous peak of $1,030.80 set last March when Bear Stearns, the US investment bank ran into trouble.
Middle East history, Gulf Arabs are planning - along with China, Russia, Japan and France - to end dollar dealings for oil, moving instead to a basket of currencies including the Japanese yen and Chinese yuan, the euro, gold and a new, unified currency planned for nations in the Gulf Co-operation Council, including Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Qatar. Secret meetings have already been held by finance ministers and central bank governors in Russia, China, Japan and Brazil to work on the scheme, which will mean that oil will no longer be priced in dollars. The plans, confirmed to The Independent by both Gulf Arab and Chinese banking sources in Hong Kong, may help to explain the sudden rise in gold prices, but it also augurs an extraordinary transition from dollar markets within nine years. The Americans, who are aware the meetings have taken place - although they have not discovered the details - are sure to fight this international cabal which will include hitherto loyal allies Japan and the Gulf Arabs. Against the background to these currency meetings, Sun Bigan, China's former special envoy to the Middle East, has warned there is a risk of deepening divisions between China and the US over influence and oil in the Middle East. "Bilateral quarrels and clashes are unavoidable," he told the Asia and Africa Review. "We cannot lower vigilance against hostility in the Middle East over energy interests and security."
Secret meetings have already been held by finance ministers and central bank governors in Russia, China, Japan and Brazil to work on the scheme, which will mean that oil will no longer be priced in dollars.
The plans, confirmed to The Independent by both Gulf Arab and Chinese banking sources in Hong Kong, may help to explain the sudden rise in gold prices, but it also augurs an extraordinary transition from dollar markets within nine years.
The Americans, who are aware the meetings have taken place - although they have not discovered the details - are sure to fight this international cabal which will include hitherto loyal allies Japan and the Gulf Arabs. Against the background to these currency meetings, Sun Bigan, China's former special envoy to the Middle East, has warned there is a risk of deepening divisions between China and the US over influence and oil in the Middle East. "Bilateral quarrels and clashes are unavoidable," he told the Asia and Africa Review. "We cannot lower vigilance against hostility in the Middle East over energy interests and security."
Somewhat related: Celebrating the Fall of the American Empire by BruceMcF. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
Contest to shape the future of banking The International Centre for Financial Regulation and the Financial Times launch an essay contest on Tuesday that seeks to advance the debate on banking regulation. Entitled "How best to regulate the bank of tomorrow", the contest solicits scholarly essays of up to 5,000 words on five topics related to banking supervision in the wake of the financial crisis. The author of the best overall entry will win $7,500 and the best essay in each topic will win $1,500. The contest is part of an effort to broaden the debate about the regulation of financial services, which has been dominated largely by industry groups, regulators and politicians.
The International Centre for Financial Regulation and the Financial Times launch an essay contest on Tuesday that seeks to advance the debate on banking regulation.
Entitled "How best to regulate the bank of tomorrow", the contest solicits scholarly essays of up to 5,000 words on five topics related to banking supervision in the wake of the financial crisis. The author of the best overall entry will win $7,500 and the best essay in each topic will win $1,500.
The contest is part of an effort to broaden the debate about the regulation of financial services, which has been dominated largely by industry groups, regulators and politicians.
EG Buy shares and hold them for a year and a day = tax exempt. Trade them back and forth in a day = punitive. Forex trades may require different timescales. keep to the Fen Causeway
Sweden prepares for financial collapse in Latvia and major bank losses at home
Bloodbath Coming in the US Banking Sector
