Foxconn rallies to boost worker morale

According to Xinhua and Reuters, Foxconn Technology Group held a rally Wednesday for workers to raise their morale at its Shenzhen plant in Guangdong Province, where 11 employees committed suicide. Titled "Love Your Life, Love Your Family," the rally was attended by more than 20,000 workers at the plant, which the company hopes will strengthen cohesion among workers and encourage them to treasure life. The union president read from a declaration said to be signed by 100,000 employees, which promised to abide by government laws and company regulations.

Foxconn will have as many as 1.3 million workers in the Chinese mainland by the end of 2011, up from the current 920,000, according to a special assistant to the chief executive at the event. But Terry Cheng, company vice president, said the number of workers in Shenzhen would be cut to 300,000 to 350,000 from the current 450,000.

Taiwan, Mainland have economic pact

Taiwan's legislature voted to pass the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with the Chinese mainland on Tuesday evening after ten hours of speeches by representatives from the ruling Kuomintang Party and other parties, Xinhua reported. The agreement is expected to bring closer economic ties between the mainland and Taiwan. The mainland's Association for Relations Across Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) signed the ECFA on June 29 in Chongqing, agreeing to establish a systematic mechanism for enhancing cross-Strait economic cooperation.

Levi's launches new brand in China

The Financial Times reported that Levi Strauss, icon of U.S. jeans culture, yesterday launched its new global brand, Denizen, in Shanghai. With echoes of the words denim, citizen and netizen, the five-pocket jeans are aimed at 18-29 year olds in emerging markets. Terence Tsang, head of the new brand, said it was the first time Levi's launched a new global brand outside of the U.S. Levi's joins a growing number of western companies taking extra steps to court Asian consumers by tailoring their brands for those markets.

Nokia explosion kills Indian youth

An Indian man was killed when his Nokia handset exploded in his face, according to the Times of India. Gopal Gujjar, 23, was found dead on Aug. 16 with burns to his left ear, neck and shoulders, with pieces of a Nokia 1209 scattered nearby close to a farm in Bandha Village near the city of Kota in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. The Nokia website says this cellphone model was launched in August 2008, and is popular in the low-end market in Asian countries.

Moscow bans vodka sales after 10pm

From the beginning of September, Moscow's supermarkets, shops and kiosks are not allowed to sell vodka from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m., the Telegraph reported. Russian officials estimate that 500,000 people die of alcohol-related reasons every year, while President Dmitry Medvedev has declared Russia's drinking problem "a national disaster." The new ban is unlikely to affect more affluent Russian drinkers, however, as vodka will still be freely sold late into the night at restaurants and bars that serve food. ' Last U.S. combat brigade leaves Iraq

Last U.S. combat brigade leaves Iraq

The last large U.S. combat brigade has left Iraq, Voice of America reported.

The last large U.S. combat brigade has left Iraq, Voice of America reported. News agencies and television networks - some with live footage of the departing troops - confirmed the withdrawal of the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which crossed into Kuwait. The departure came two weeks ahead of the August 31 deadline set by President Obama for formally ending combat operations, and seven years and five months after the U.S. and coalition forces invaded Iraq.

Under a bilateral agreement with Iraq's government, all U.S. fighting troops must be out of the country by the end of 2011. The 50,000 that remain will be engaged in training Iraqi forces, counter-terrorism operations, and protecting U.S. diplomatic and other personnel. More than 4,200 U.S. servicemen and women lost their lives during Operation Iraqi Freedom, with more than 30,000 others wounded.

Marriage makes you more relaxed

In a recent study, scientists found that being married makes you more relaxed, the Daily Mail reported. The finding may go some way toward explaining previous studies that showed married couples have less heart disease and other health problems. The study showed that marriage has a dampening effect on cortisol responses to psychological stress. Unpaired individuals of both sexes had higher cortisol levels than married individuals. Although marriage can be plenty stressful, it should make it easier for people to handle other stress in their lives.

McDonald's ad angers French

A new McDonald's ad featuring Gallic champion Asterix enjoying a burger and fries has sparked outrage among French comic purists who see it as an insult to their national heritage, Reuters reported. "My childhood hero sacrificed like a wild boar! What next? Tintin eating at Subway?" said one horrified blogger called sirchmallow. "How ironic, the indomitable Gauls making an advert for the invaders," was another outraged comment on Twitter. McDonald's has frequently been the focus of anti-American sentiment in France and is seen by many to symbolize the threat to French culture and cuisine posed by globalization and homogenized junk food.

Mum shared bed with son-in-law

According to an InRumor.com report, the mother of American actress Brittany Murphy, Sharon Murphy, shared a bed with her son-in-law, after Brittany died. This news appeared after the L.A. coroner's office made public the report about Simon Monjack's death. According to the report, the two didn't have sexual contact. Actress Brittany Murphy died in December last year after she collapsed in the shower of her home, while her husband Simon Monjack died five months later due to cardiac arrest at home.

Toy boat built like a shark

A shark boat, invented by Rob Innes, has been dubbed the ultimate millionaire's toy, The Telegraph reported. It looks like a great white shark, complete with dorsal fin, gaping jaws and rows of dagger-sharp teeth. At 16.5ft in length, it is even the same size as one. It can fly up to 12 feet through the air before diving through the waves. It's called Seabreacher X, cost about 60,000 pounds and has a 260 horsepower engine that propels it to 50 mph above water, and 20 mph below. The company, Innespace, owned by Innes and friend Dan Piazza, has a year-long waiting list of individuals eager to buy one.

(China.org.cn August 20, 2010)