2010-09-15

廉航搶客 港飛滬229元 每日來回一班 優惠多久未定

廉航搶客 港飛滬229元 每日來回一班 優惠多久未定
 (明報)2010年9月15日 星期三


【明報專訊】再有一家廉價航空公司進軍香港市場。於2005年創立的內地首家廉航「春秋航空」,將於本月底推出香港飛上海    的航線,推廣期間以199元人民幣(約229港元)低價招徠,只及正常票價的十分之一左右,暫定每日來回各一班,每班機只接載180人。


民航處    發言人昨證實春秋航空已獲發營運許可證,營運每天一班上海浦東至香港的定期航班服務。春秋航空發言人表示,中國市場龐大,具有發展潛力,相信增加航班會帶動來往兩地人流增加,他舉例公司往返上海和瀋陽的航線於07年啟航後,來往兩地的人次由40萬增至60萬,現時更達70萬。而春秋航班會減去非必要服務,暫定每天下午開一班機。至於優惠票的數目或優惠期會維持多久,他則未有透露。


春秋航空乃內地首批民營航空公司,公司於其網頁內聲稱為內地目前唯一的廉價航空公司,基地設於上海。春秋航空於05年啟航,營運上海往廣州、深圳    、重慶、廈門等多個城市國內的航線50多條,最近更推出首條飛東京    茨城機場的國際航線,優惠票價312元人民幣(約359港元)。春秋航空的董事長王正華有黨政背景,曾擔任過上海市長寧區團委副書記、長寧區政府地區辦副主任。


Zuji Hong Kong 


前民航處長﹕要監察維修及質素


前民航處長林光宇相信,199人民幣票價乃推銷手法,而最重要的還是航班安全,他指政府應監察航班維修、機組人員質素等,至於收費多寡則是自由市場設定。


目前香港飛上海浦東每日約有30航班,對於市場是否已飽和,林相信新航線的顧客對象或與現時航空公司的目標顧客不同,未必對其他航空有影響。


目前飛上海的航線主要由港龍、中國東方、上海航空營運,由香港飛往上海浦東的票價約為2000元。港龍航空    發言人表示,相信每間航空公司均有其定位及目標市場,他們會緊貼市場情况,隨季節、假期、宣傳推廣及按市場需求調節機票價格。


澳門    非凡航空欠債4.9億


另外,澳門廉航非凡航空今年3月因無力支付燃油費用,導致多班航機延誤甚至取消,澳門民航局終取消其空運經營執照。澳門法院日前處理非凡航空的破產申請,並召開債權人會議,公布非凡航空有逾5億澳門元(約4.9億港元)的債務,約有近2000名債權人,其中2億為拖欠澳門特區政府    的款項。


明報記者 黃靜雅

2010-09-12

港移民黃麗娥中加國彩票 贏3000呎大屋

港移民中加國彩票 贏3000呎大屋
 (明報)2010年9月11日 星期六 


【明報專訊】這是名副其實的天降大屋﹕移民加拿大    溫哥華    的港人黃麗娥,10多年來,年年都買當地的太平洋國家展覽館(PNE)「獎品屋」彩票,今年幸運之神終於敲了她家門,贏得一幢坐落於Kelowna湖邊、價值120萬加元(約900萬港元)的3000方呎夢幻大屋。黃麗娥形容,這是「開心享受人生之下有好結果」。


「開心享受人生 有好結果」


今年61歲的黃麗娥(Cecilia Garcia)昨日接受明報加西版記者問時表示,她上世紀80年代初從香港移民到溫哥華,剛抵埗時,像其他新移民    一樣,經歷了一段艱辛歲月。幾年之後,她定下方向,進修    自己喜愛的髮型設計,幾經努力,終於在鄰近海灘的基斯蘭奴區(Kitslano)擁有自己的美髮工作室,一做便是26年。


黃麗娥表示,她一直覺得人生要活得精彩,要好好享受人生,開心最重要。她性格開朗樂觀,特別喜歡與家人出外遊玩,多年來,每年都帶著兩個兒子往太平洋國家展覽館(PNE)遊玩,入場時都會買一張「獎品屋」彩票,多年來已成為一種習慣。近年因孫兒年紀小,兒孫未有同行,但她仍然自己入場玩,尋找美好回憶。


Gift Canada


PNE是溫哥華當地的著名旅遊點,今年是100周年。獎品屋彩票在當地頗受歡迎,主辦方面每年都在展覽館內搭建一座大屋,彩票得主的獎品便是這座屋,展館展期結束後會把大屋拆件,搬到指定地點重建。


黃麗娥上周末獨自去PNE遊玩,繼續按習慣買一張彩票。當時,她見到大批人排隊參觀獎品屋,因此未有進內參觀,然而做夢都想不到,這座獎品屋最後竟是她的夢幻屋。


未會退休 續當髮型師


黃麗娥中獎後表示,人生最重要是開心,並說可能開心享受人生會有好結果,她樂於與人分享開心的事。她與兒孫三代同堂前日去看獎品屋,對新屋十分喜歡。她說,中獎時曾經考慮如何處理這座大屋,但甫踏入大屋,馬上認定這是一家人的夢幻屋,未來將作為度假之用,每年與家人到這幢位於Kelowna湖的新屋享受人生。大屋有3個睡房、3個廁所及閱讀室等,黃麗娥說,她最高興是廁所內有電視及火爐。


說到未來生活,黃麗娥向記者介紹一本書,表示書內鼓勵人們做人要有正面想法,凡事向好的看,懂得如何積極面對人生,她說,中獎後仍不會退休,會繼續在工作室當髮型師。

中方追查旅日國寶猝死 大熊貓取精前被麻醉

中方追查旅日國寶猝死 大熊貓取精前被麻醉
 (明報)2010年9月11日 星期六 


【明報專訊】中國租借給外國的大熊貓首次發生猝死事件。在日本    已10年的14歲雄性大熊貓「興興」(中國稱「龍龍」),前日在神戶動物園接受人工麻醉取精後暴斃,死因未明。中國國家林業局對此「高度重視」,將派專家赴日調查。中國野生動物保護協會對本報表示,如證實過失或故意致死,將會追究日方責任並索償。曾經養育「龍龍」的四川    臥龍大熊貓研究中心獸醫專家稱,日方在取精前並未知會臥龍方面,懷疑猝死與麻醉有關。


日本神戶市政府昨日稱,前日上午,王子動物園人員為採集用於人工授精的精子,向「興興」實施麻醉,至中午麻醉失效時,「興興」的心臟卻停止了跳動。該動物園還飼養著14歲的雌性熊貓「旦旦」。消息稱,動物園是在發現「旦旦」發情的徵兆後,著手採集「興興」精子。


人工繁殖未按程序知會卧龍


對於今次事件,國家林業局表示,已要求日方妥善封存「龍龍」屍體,並派遣包括兩名獸醫的3人專家組赴日調查。中國野生動物保護協會與日本神戶王子動物園於1999年簽訂大熊貓繁殖研究合作協議,中方向日方提供兩頭大熊貓,日方每年捐款100萬美元    用於大熊貓保護。來自臥龍的「龍龍」於2002年底赴日,今年6月合約期滿後,中日同意將合作期延長5年。


臥龍大熊貓研究中心獸醫院湯院長對本報說,14歲的熊貓正處青壯年,但以專業角度來看,取精季節卻不對,「秋天時,大熊貓生殖腺很少甚至不會產生精子,雄性大熊貓是單季節發情動物,一年只有一次發情取精機會,就是3至5月的春天,過了就採不到」。他指出,對大熊貓麻醉亦有相當大危險,過程一定要嚴謹並有專業人員操作,「取精和大熊貓死亡應無直接關係,但取精過程要麻醉,若此環節出了問題,就可能有關係。他們也沒告訴我們要取精,按說應向我們報告的」。


專家﹕大熊貓秋天無精可採


中國野生動物保護協會人員說,以前未發生過類似事件,如果發現熊貓是因過失或故意致死,「中方一定會追究責任和賠償」。根據協議,大熊貓死亡的賠償額為50萬美元。


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Pharmacy Online



由於正值釣魚島風波期間,大熊貓猝死日本的消息,引發內地網民憤慨,網上充斥「還我釣魚島,還我大熊貓」之類的留言。王子動物園也設獻花台悼念大熊貓,不少人在留言簿寫下「謝謝你」的字句。

中國出手 東海攔日艇 令兩測量船停作業 日方抗議

中國出手 東海攔日艇 令兩測量船停作業 日方抗議
 (明報)2010年9月12日

【明報專訊】中日釣魚島撞船紛爭愈演愈烈,雙方都出動執法船隻前往事發海域附近巡邏,日本    海上保安廳表示,昨日在沖繩主島西北偏西的日本專屬經濟區(EEZ)內,該廳兩艘正在進行海洋調查的測量船隻,被中國官方船隻勒令停止作業。日方已透過外交途徑提出抗議。從日方發布的相片顯示,中國官方船隻是「海監51」號,隸屬國家海洋局東海分局,該船過去曾多次去釣魚島海域巡邏。

日本傳媒報道,昨日清晨7點40分左右,在沖繩主島西北偏西約280公里的日本專屬經濟區內,日本海上保安廳兩艘正在進行海洋調查的測量船「昭洋」號和「拓洋」號,接到中國政府船隻命令其停止作業的要求。

日艇3000噸 中方僅1690噸

海上保安廳表示,排水量1690噸的中國船隻當時透過無線電,用英語向排水量3000噸的「昭洋」號發出命令稱,該處是中國管轄海域,請根據國際條約及中國法律立即停止調查。「昭洋號」回覆稱「正在我國EZZ內實施正常調查活動」,然後繼續調查,直至上午9點30分左右,按原計劃結束作業。

中國執法船隻在發出要求前的7點35分鐘左右,曾一度駛至距離「昭洋」號左舷僅550米處,然後超越「昭洋」號。海上保安廳已就此事聯繫日本外務省,外務省下午透過外交途徑向中方提出了抗議。

Canadian Bookstores 
Canadian Clothing


逼近距離日艇550米

根據日方發布的照片顯示,中國此次派出的是「海監51」號海洋監察船,屬於國家海洋局東海分局,曾多次去釣魚島海域。在今年5月3日,「海監51」號亦曾在日本奄美大島西北方海域,接近一艘日本測量船並展開追逐,當時被追趕的正是「昭洋」號,追逐維時3小時45分。日本事後曾向中國政府提出嚴重抗議。

報道指出,在日本海上保安廳船隻與中國漁船在釣魚島附近海域碰撞、中國船長遭逮捕後,中國政府曾宣布,派出隸屬農業部的大型漁政船前往釣魚島附近海域「維護海洋權益」。此事令日方十分緊張,日本海上自衛隊(相等於海軍)派出多架偵察機和巡邏機,前往東海和釣魚島附近海域監視中國漁政船,海上保安廳亦調動多艘巡邏艇在釣島附近戒備。

日偵察機監視漁政船

日本外務省周四(9日)就曾此向中國政府提出強烈抗議,指摘中國政府的這一做法是挑釁,會令事件變得複雜化,要求中國漁政船立即離開釣魚島附近海域。日本防衛大臣北澤俊美在周五(10日)對記者表示,中國的漁政船已經開始離開釣魚島附近海域。他還以一種鬆一口氣的口脗說,「我們還在繼續加強監視,但是現場可以說已經趨向於平靜」。

2010-09-09

美國首富邀宴 中國富豪紛迴避

美國首富邀宴 中國富豪紛迴避
 (法新社)2010年9月8日 星期三 


(法新社北京    8日電) 根據報導,僅有2名中國超級富翁已經接受邀請,願意出席美國    慈善家比爾•蓋茲(Bill Gates)和巴菲特(Warren Buffett)的慈善晚會,其他人都擔心會被施壓捐獻而卻步。


蓋茲和巴菲特是美國2大首富,他們一向呼籲其他美國有錢人把至少一半的身家財產捐做慈善,並且打算於本月29日在北京為中國的超級富翁舉辦慈善晚宴。


中國的億萬富翁人數僅次於美國,但是「新華社    」昨天晚間報導,僅有2名企業家已表示打算出席蓋茲和巴菲特的晚宴。


新華社也引述蓋茲基金會中國區發言人張京(Zhang Jing譯音)談話報導,基金會邀請了大約50名富翁,但是「要確認他們是否出席還有困難」。


蓋茲基金會中國分支已經「再三重申」,受邀者不需要捐款,而且受邀者名單絕對保密。


「法新社」(AFP)目前無法聯繫上張京查證,但是基金會另外一名員工被問到是否到目前為止,真得只有2人願意出席晚宴時表示:「這完全不是事實。」


媒體本周也引述該基金會中國區主任葉雷的說法,表示這次慈善晚會不會給中國富豪們壓力。


葉雷接受「中國日報」(China Daily)訪問時說:「(蓋茲和巴菲特)他們來這裡是想看看未來有什麼合作的機會,或者建立一個慈善聯盟。」


巴菲特上月曾說,他和蓋茲到中國是要「分享經驗,如果他們認為我們的想法是個好主意,願意採納運用,我們會很高興」。


目前只有1名受邀者公開表態會出席,也會捐款。他是中國企業家兼慈善家陳光標


中國驚人的經濟成長已經造就越來越多的超級富豪。根據「富比世」(Forbes)雜誌,中國的億萬富翁就有64人,僅次於美國的403人。


新華社引述一名中國慈善基金會官員說,傳統上中國有錢人富僅傳家,澤庇子孫的觀念還是很重,中國的慈善事業才在起步階段。(譯者:中央社賴秀如)





2010-09-06

和風月餅過中秋

和風月餅過中秋    
2010年09月03日,星期五
metrohk


自新派月餅興起後,差不多想得到的,都能成為月餅的材料,今個中秋,city’super除首度推出自家品牌月餅,店內的日式甜點專櫃菓匠茶屋亦加入戰團,推出限量版「和風月餅」系列,為大家帶 來全新味覺。


Cooking & Kitchen 
Grocery Stores 




全新南瓜蓉月好禮過中秋

全新南瓜蓉月好禮過中秋
2010年09月03日,星期五

中秋佳節將至,除了一家人齊齊整整團圓外,更要選購合適的月餅禮盒,送贈親友,適逢佳節,富豪酒店特別推出四款尊貴的富豪中秋禮籃,當中包括:美滿好時節禮籃($3,388)、豐收賀昇平禮籃($1,988 )、秋月慶團圓禮籃($1,388)、花間同醉月禮籃($888),內有螺片翅及月餅禮盒, 8月31日前購買可獲最高52折優惠及送貨服務,是送禮自用皆宜的最佳選擇。

Cooking & Kitchen
Grocery Stores

除了禮籃外,富豪亦有全新健怡清香的迷你半黃南瓜蓉月(每盒$268),選用低糖白蓮蓉作餡料,健康怡人,口感清香軟滑,祟尚健康飲食的你一定鍾意。
查詢:2286 6618(富豪機場酒店)

中秋月餅純金製造

中秋月餅純金製造  
2010年09月03日
星期五


隨着中秋佳節臨近,內地商家各出奇謀使出不同招數,希望在龐大的中秋消費市場中分一杯羹。蘇州一金店推出的用千足金製成的「黃金月餅」,迎合節日市場。

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中秋整餅學堂 親焗溫馨心悠月

中秋整餅學堂 親焗溫馨心悠月
 (星島)2010年9月1日

(星島日報    報道)劉心悠    一向給人弱質纖纖的感覺,原來身形甚Fit的她是個「為食」之人,平時在家中也會間中下廚,家常小炒及老火湯都難不到她。即將來到中秋佳節,她更為家人DIY月餅!今日特請來劉心悠教大家「整餅」,各位準備上課。

文:趙庭欣

圖:褚樂琪、何健勇

場地提供:無休館

掃蛋漿 餅皮添光澤

劉心悠最近擔任飲食節目主持,對飲食更多添了研究及心得。「中秋節很想跟家人一起過,但因為工作,不是每年都可以回台灣    過節,所以我會訂月餅送給家人品嘗。」今年,心悠剛剛跟師傅偷師後,急不及待與讀者分享製作月餅的方法。「其實月餅的做法很簡單,最重要是先在模內灑上麵粉,再將粉糰放入模,不然粉糰會黏住很難取出。入爐前掃上蛋漿,焗出來的月餅才更有光澤。」二十分鐘後月餅出爐,香氣撲鼻,小記忍不住想即場品嘗,心悠立即叫停:「月餅焗好後不能即時吃,因為這時月餅皮較硬,需要在室溫放上大半天,餅皮才能變成我們平時吃到又軟又滑的口感。」吃月餅也有一番學問,心悠果然變成飲食達人!

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製作月餅後心悠見桌上的「剩餘物資」,忽發奇想:「其實剩下的月餅皮也可以用來做餅,搓成不同形狀,再掃上蛋漿,入爐以二百二十度焗二十五分鐘即可。以前的人會將餅皮做成小豬的形狀,焗好後放入小竹籠,起名豬籠餅,同樣是中秋的傳統食品。可見中國人很久以前已經很環保,不會浪費食物。」她愛吃月餅,難得不怕身材走樣:「吃月餅也只是一年一度,其實最重要是飲食均衡。我也是嗜甜的人,最喜歡傳統月餅,平時在家中我會將月餅橫切成一塊塊薄片,這樣既可試出蓮蓉的味道,又不會過於膩滯。另外,最近也愛吃鹹食的金華火腿月餅,有種新產品更在金腿月中加入XO醬,更加惹味。最近我常去銅鑼灣    的無休館,因為他們最新推出中秋限定堂食月餅下午茶,可一次過吃齊XO醬金華火腿月、雙黃蓮蓉月及奶黃月,伴上意大利    Parma Ham哈密瓜卷、意式雜菌酥、青檸啫喱等小食,味道選擇更多,每次吃到這些甜食,都覺得很幸福。」

材料 (17個分量)

麵粉 半磅

花生油 50克

糖漿 130克

食用鹼水 3.75克

鹹蛋黃 34個

蓮蓉 1磅

做法

1. 花生油、

糖漿及食用

鹼水加入麵

粉當中。

2. 將麵粉跟

花生油、糖

漿等搓勻,

直至成為淡

黃色粉糰。

3. 在粉糰上

淋上麵粉,

壓成3mm厚

的薄皮,做

成10cm直徑

的圓形。

4. 將蓮蓉切

小,再搓成

約 2 吋直徑

的圓球。

5. 用蓮蓉將

2 顆鹹蛋黃

包住,可依

口味加減蛋

黃的數量。

6. 以先前準

備好的餅皮

包住蓮蓉,

並搓成圓球

狀。

7. 在月餅模

上灑上少許

麵粉,再將

多餘的麵粉

倒出。

8. 將已搓好

的粉糰放入

模內壓平,

謹記要壓實

月餅才能成

形。

9. 用力將月

餅模打側拍

打到桌上,

並將餅糰倒

出。

10. 掃上蛋

漿後入爐以

220 度焗約

20分鐘,擱

涼後待餅皮

變軟即可。

Info 無休館

地址:銅鑼灣百德新街22至36號翡翠明珠廣場1樓

查詢:2148 3388

Info 奇華餅家

查詢:2785 6066

豬籠餅 $21/奇華

做月餅剩下的餅皮可做成豬籠餅,如果沒時間自己製作,市面也有完成品發售。

珠姐XO醬金華火腿月

$258/奇華

鹹香中又有XO醬的惹味,味道層次甚豐。

二人High Tea慶中秋套餐

$98

(兩位用)/無休館

一次過品嘗多款口味月餅,以及意式雜菌酥、鮮果西柚啫喱等六款小食。

2010-08-25

Microbes ate BP oil deep-water plume: study

Microbes ate BP oil deep-water plume: study

By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent
Tue Aug 24

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Manhattan-sized plume of oil spewed deep into the Gulf of Mexico by BP's broken Macondo well has been consumed by a newly discovered fast-eating species of microbes, scientists reported on Tuesday.

The micro-organisms were apparently stimulated by the massive oil spill that began in April, and they degraded the hydrocarbons so efficiently that the plume is now undetectable, said Terry Hazen of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
These so-called proteobacteria -- Hazen calls them "bugs" -- have adapted to the cold deep water where the big BP plume was observed and are able to biodegrade hydrocarbons much more quickly than expected, without significantly depleting oxygen as most known oil-depleting bacteria do.

Oxygen is essential to the survival of commercially important fish and shellfish; a seasonal low-oxygen "dead zone" forms most summers in the Gulf of Mexico, caused by farm chemical run-off that flows down the Mississippi River.
Hydrocarbons in the crude oil from the BP spill actually stimulated the new microbes' ability to degrade them in cold water, Hazen and his colleagues wrote in research published on Tuesday in the journal Science.

In part, Hazen said, this is because these new "bugs" have adjusted over millions of years to seek out any petroleum they can find at the depths where they live, which coincides with the depth of the previously observed plume, roughly 3000 feet. At that depth, water temperature is approximately 41 degrees F (5 degrees C).

FEASTING ON HYDROCARBONS
Long before humans drilled for oil, natural oil seeps in the Gulf of Mexico have put out the equivalent of an Exxon Valdez spill each year, Hazen said.

Another factor was the consistency of the oil that came from the Macondo wellhead: light sweet Louisiana crude, an easily digestible substance for bacteria, and it was dispersed into tiny droplets, which also makes it more biodegradable.
These latest findings may initially seem to be at odds with a study published last Thursday in Science by researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, which confirmed the existence of the oil plume and said micro-organisms did not seem to be biodegrading it very quickly.

However, Hazen and Rich Camilli of Woods Hole both said on Tuesday that the studies complement each other.
The Woods Hole team used an autonomous robot submarine and a mass spectrometer to detect the plume, but were forced to leave the area in late June, when Hurricane Alex threatened. At that time, they figured the plume was likely to remain for some time.

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But that was before the well was capped in mid-July. Hazen said that within two weeks of the capping, the plume could not be detected, but there was a phenomenon called marine snow that indicated microbes had been feasting on hydrocarbons.
As of Tuesday, there was no sign of the plume, Hazen said.

That doesn't mean there is no oil left from the 4.9 million barrels of crude that spilled into the Gulf after the April 20 blowout at BP's Deepwater Horizon rig. The U.S. government estimated on August 4 that 50 percent of the BP oil is gone from the Gulf and the rest is rapidly degrading.

Newly discovered microbe helped disperse oil, study finds

Newly discovered microbe helped disperse oil, study finds
By Vivian Kuo, CNN
August 25, 2010

(CNN) -- A new study finds oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico from a ruptured BP well degraded at a rate that was "much faster than anticipated," thanks to the interaction of a newly-found and unclassified species of microbes with the oil particles.

Berkeley Lab's Earth Sciences Division and the Energy Biosciences Institute examined a dispersed oil plume that was formed at a depth of between 3,600 and 4,000 feet and extended some 10 miles out from the wellhead.

"Our findings show that the influx of oil profoundly altered the microbial community by significantly stimulating deep-sea psychrophilic (cold-temperature) gamma-proteobacteria that are closely related to known petroleum-degrading microbes," said Terry Hazen, a microbial ecologist and principal investigator on the study.
The cold-temperature bacteria "appears to be one of the major mechanisms behind the rapid decline of the deepwater dispersed oil plume that has been observed," Hazen said.

Researchers believe the light, sweet, nature of this particular crude, plus the Gulf's hardy adaptation to "frequent episodic leaks from natural seeps" may have contributed to its improved microbial ability to break the oil down.
The use of Corexit, a controversial commercial oil dispersant widely used during operations in response to the BP oil spill, "may have also accelerated biodegradation because of the small size of the oil particles and the low overall concentrations of oil in the plume," according to the study.

Additionally, the report noted the microbial degradation of the oil appeared to "take place without a significant level of oxygen depletion." Scientists had been concerned the microbes would consume large portions of oxygen in plumes, creating "dead zones" where it would be difficult to sustain sea life. The study found that oxygen saturation outside the plume was 67 percent while within the plume it was 59 percent, only a slight drop.

Hazen said the report is "the first data ever on microbial activity from a deepwater dispersed oil plume," and the microbes' speedy rate of degradation showed that the bacteria plays "a significant role in controlling the ultimate fates and consequences of deep-sea oil plumes in the Gulf of Mexico."

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Scientists began the study on May 25, just a little more than a month after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded, killing 11 workers and precipitating the world's largest accidental oil spill.

According to Berkeley Lab, the Gulf of Mexico's deep waters are a relatively unexplored microbial habitat, where temperatures hover around 5 degrees Celsius, the pressure is enormous, and there little carbon is normally present.
The findings of the report will appear in the journal Science on Thursday.

Home sales plunge 27 pct. to lowest in 15 years

Home sales plunge 27 pct. to lowest in 15 years

By ALAN ZIBEL and J.W. ELPHINSTONE, AP Real Estate Writers
52 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Sales of previously occupied homes plunged last month to the lowest level in 15 years, despite the lowest mortgage rates in decades and bargain prices in many areas.
July's sales fell by more than 27 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.83 million, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday. It was the largest monthly drop on records dating back to 1968, and sharp declines were recorded in all regions of the country.

The plunge in home sales also magnified fears about the broader economy.
"The housing market is undermining the already faltering wider economic recovery," said Paul Dales, U.S. economist with Capital Economics. "With the increasingly inevitable double-dip in prices yet to come, things could yet get a lot worse."
Sales were particularly weak among homes in the lower- to mid-priced ranges. For example, in the Midwest, homes priced between $100,000 and $250,000 tumbled nearly 47 percent.

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The weakness follows a strong spring, when now-expired government tax credits sparked sales, especially among first-time buyers of lower-priced homes.
The tax credits caused many of those buyers to speed up their home purchases. Sales have weakened since the credits expired on April 30.

As sales have slowed, the inventory of unsold homes on the market grew to nearly 4 million in July. That's a 12.5 month supply at the current sales pace, the highest level in more than a decade. It compares with a healthy level of about six months.

One reason the market is hurting is that buyers and sellers are in a standoff over prices. Many sellers are reluctant to lower their prices. And buyers are hesitating because they think home prices haven't bottomed out.
Laurie Salaman has been trying to sell her home in New York City for a year so she can move to the suburbs. She's had no offers, even after cutting her listing price on the three-bedroom Bronx home from $475,000 to $449,900.
She notes that she has upgraded the kitchen and bathrooms, refinished the basement and put in new decks and patios. Her goal is to take about $100,000 from the sale and put it toward the purchase of the new house. She said she won't lower her price any further.

"That's my bottom price," said Salaman, 55. "If I don't get that price, then I will hold off until the market gets a little better," she said.
The housing market is also being hampered by the weakening economic recovery. Unemployment remains stuck at 9.5 percent and many potential buyers worry they might not have a job to pay the mortgage.
Prices have fallen in part because foreclosures are running about 10 times higher than before the housing bust. Though the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has sunk to 4.42 percent, many people can't qualify because banks have tightened their lending standards.

Home sales picked up in the spring when the government was offering tax credits. But sales have sputtered since the tax credits expired.
The drop in July's sales was led by 35 percent plunge in the Midwest. Sales were down 30 percent in the Northeast, 25 percent in the West and 23 percent in the South.
The median sale price was $182,600, up 0.7 percent from a year ago, but down 0.2 percent from June.

2010-08-17

富邦認轉客資料予保險公司 永亨亦涉轉移客戶私隱

富邦認轉客資料予保險公司 永亨亦涉轉移客戶私隱
 (明報)2010年8月17日

【明報專訊】金融管理局    上周在沒有公布名字的情况下,透露了有6間零售銀行涉及轉移或售賣客戶資料。到了昨晚,富邦銀行    率先公開承認,曾為推廣保險產品而轉移客戶資料,但已即時停止轉移,並全面審查處理客戶資料方式。不過,聲明無交代有多少客戶受影響及接收資料的保險公司名稱。此外,本報記者獲悉,永亨正是另一家涉及轉移客戶資料的銀行,但本報未能與該行取得聯絡。

富邦無交代受影響人數

經過八達通事件後,本地銀行被揭發轉移客戶個人資料圖利。據本報記者獲悉,這6家銀行已全數停止了有關的安排,但他們向金管局    強調,事前均有徵詢律師意見,並認為在客戶同意下將其資料轉移並無法律問題,惟八達通事件反映公眾的要求更高,故涉事銀行已全面停止轉移客戶資料。

稱為擴客戶保險產品選擇

富邦銀行表示,轉移資料是銀行與保險公司為擴闊客戶保險產品選擇而達成的協議,現已停止所有為推廣目的而向有關保險公司轉移客戶資料,並全面停止過往與保險公司之間的推廣服務協定,但外判的失卡服務熱線仍有繼續轉移客戶資料,現與私隱專員合作以協助調查。

為解答市民疑問,富邦銀行設立熱線電話回應查詢,號碼是2806 5038。不過,有關保險公司名稱及受影響客戶人數的查詢,富邦銀行於截稿前未有回覆。

私隱署另兩投訴不涉金管局

另外,個人資料私隱專員公署    上周表示,涉及資料轉移的銀行有8間,與金管局公布的6間有出入。據了解,兩家機構核對後,發現公署有誤,因一宗涉及的機構不是金管局監管的機構或銀行,另一宗則是投訴銀行聘請街外的市場調查員做客戶問卷調查,與轉售客戶私隱情况無關。因此,金管局認定,涉及轉移客戶資料的銀行至今仍然只有6間。

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