China 2010 GDP to grow more than 9 per cent - think-tank
15 March 2010 - China's economy is likely to expand more than 9 per cent this year, a government researcher said in remarks published on Monday. Lu Zhongyuan, deputy director of the Development Research Centre, a think-tank under the State Council, China's cabinet, said gross domestic product growth could top 10 per cent if the global economy enjoyed a much stronger recovery. (more)

India: Government allows foreign universities to open campuses
15 March 2010 - The cabinet on Monday approved a proposal to allow foreign universities to set up campuses, a minister said, in a move that could reduce the flow of Indian students abroad. The long-standing proposal to reform the education sector will now go to parliament for ratification. The demand for graduates over the next five years is likely to be 13.8 million, analysts have estimated. (more)

Japan firms to standardize electric car rechargers
15 March 2010 - Top Japanese carmakers Toyota and Nissan helped set up a group to standardize fast-charge stations for electric cars on Monday in a bid to promote the spread of the zero-emission vehicles. Forming a common 'language' for fast-charging electric cars across various brands would save development costs for carmakers and ancillary industries, said the group, called CHAdeMO. (more)

Portugal's top construction firm sees strong growth
15 March 2010 - Portuguese builder Mota-Engil reported a 135 per cent jump in 2009 net profit to 71.7 million euros ($98.6 million). Mota, Portugal's top construction firm, said on Monday revenue had risen 14 per cent to 2.13 billion euros in 2009, boosted by strong growth in Portugal and Angola. For 2010, Mota said it sees mid single-digit revenue growth and stable margins in its construction business. (more)

Russian official calls for night-time alcohol sales ban
15 March 2010 - Russia's top public health official called on Sunday for a ban on retail sales of alcohol after 9 pm as part of a Kremlin-led campaign to crack down on alcohol abuse, state-run news agency RIA reported. President Dmitry Medvedev last year ordered tough measures to curb alcohol abuse. (more)

South Africa: New nutrition centre to study African diet opens in Cape Town )
15 March 2010 - Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, launched the HSRC (Human Science Research Council) Centre for the Study of the Social and Environmental Determinants of Nutrition in Cape Town on Monday. Amongst other goals, the new facility will undertake innovative and collaborative research into the social and environmental factors of nutrition which will lead to the global improvement of nutrition knowledge and nutritional status. (more)

The good news report from Canada, 25 February - 1 March 2010
15 March 2010 - The Canadian economy boomed back in the fourth quarter of last year, with real gross domestic product (GDP) growing at an annual rate of five per cent. Canadian consumer confidence rose in February on optimism about the economic recovery. International students are flocking to Canada in record numbers -- almost doubling in the last decade, and the University of British Columbia constructing one of world's greenest buildings. For details on these and other Canada news stories including the Olympic Games in Vancouver: (more)

UK: Fund firms tap ethical emerging market stock drive
15 March 2010 - Fund firms are creating sustainable investment emerging market equity strategies to meet pension fund demand for diversified portfolios with higher corporate governance standards. Demand for sustainable investing and ESG (environment, social, governance) strategies has risen as more institutional investors have signed up to the UN's Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI), which now has 199 asset-owners on board. (more)

US: Native Hawaiian government may become reality
15 March 2010 - Native Hawaiians are closer than they've ever been to reclaiming a piece of Hawaii. With a final vote pending in the US Senate and Hawaii-born President Barack Obama on their side, the nation's 400,000 Native Hawaiians could earn federal recognition as soon as this month -- and the land, money, and power that comes with it. (more)