In the papers - Friday 15 August 2008
Providing new houses for 3.9 million refugees, replacing schools and creating jobs for 1 million people are among the measures in an ambitious plan to rebuild the region devastated by the magnitude 8 quake, which struck on May 12 - The Guardian
Fishing families in Aceh who survived the 2004 tsunami that struck the northern tip of Indonesia and washed away every home in their village, and most of the land, face the prospect of seeing their community devastated a second time. Months after quake proof homes on stilts were built, almost half could be torn down to make way for a coastal highway billed as the US government's signature project for tsunami reconstruction - The Guardian
A 235 metre skyscraper which has been dubbed the Cheesegrater became the latest victim of the economic downturn yesterday, raising doubts about the future of such landmark projects. The planned 47-storey development in the heart of the City at 122 Leadenhall Street, between the Gherkin and Lloyd's of London, was scheduled for completion by September 2011. But, faced with a slowing economy and shrinking demand for office space in London, the developer, British Land, has pushed back completion of the project until at least 2012 - The Guardian
The economies of Germany, France and Italy all contracted in the first quarter and may now be in full recession, shattering assumptions that Europe would prove able to shrug off the effects of the credit crunch. Spain has announced a £15.ban finance package to stimulate the economy including the injection of finance into state housing projects, boosting rail infrastructure and partial privatisation of the airport system - The Daily Telegraph
Putting out the weekly recycling is as complicated as doing a Sudoku puzzle, scientists at the University of Sussex have discovered. Volunteers were asked to sort through 50 items of waste including plastic, glass tins, paper and cardboard. They had to work out what was suitable for recycling. Scientists from the university's "mindlab", who monitored their brain activity and stress levels, found that the task stretched them as much as Sudoku - The Daily Telegraph
British Land confirmed it will halt development on its landmark City skyscraper known as the Cheesegrater as demand for office space in the financial sector continues to decline.The decision was welcomed by investors but this fails to hide one of the most bearish statements to date on the property sector - The Financial Times
A Disneyland-style theme park depicting life in Ancient Rome, complete with gladiators and Julius Caesar is being planned to lure tourists to Rome after the Italian capital suffered a 5% drop in tourists this summer. A 400-500ha site for the Ancient Rome theme park is yet to be found, but deputy mayor Mauro Cutrufo said: "Our model is EuroDisney in Paris - family friendly entertainment park," open for customers within three to four years - The Independent
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