Undaunted, the EU climate change alarmists told us Kyoto is therefore just the beginnning. There hasn't been any discussion among economists or scientists about what the consequences for the world's food supply or the world's economy would be if for example the USA were to implement these drastic cutbacks. Nor is there any discussion of how the EU will persuade the US to adopt a mandatory program which will clearly weaken its economy when it agrees with China and India that they should not have to make comparable cutbacks. Their argument is that the "industrialized" nations created the problem so they alone should make the sacrifices. What they are telling Americans is that they should live more poorly so that Chinese and Indians can live better. Now how does Europe expect to sell that to a nation which is on the verge of an open trade war with it already?

PART-1: Performance for current year

A historic increase of 17 per cent was registered in both freight earnings and gross traffic earnings up to December. Based on the growth registered so far, the revised estimates for Passenger, Other coaching, Freight and Gross Traffic Earnings have been kept at Rs.17,400, 1,726, 42,299 and 63,120 cr respectively. Gross Traffic Earnings are likely to go up by 16 per cent in comparison with last year and exceed Budget Estimates by 5.5 per cent. 4 Ordinary Working Expenses have been contained in spite of increase in the price of diesel and payment of bonus at higher rates by effecting economy in expenditure. Under the accounting reforms process, losses on operation of strategic lines, receiveable as a subsidy from the Ministry of Finance, have been reflected as a deduction from Ordinary Working Expenses.

Cyclist recovering after crash

A woman injured while riding a bicycle in Cooper City Monday night is recovering in the hospital, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.

On Movies: Austin fete braces for the Philadelphians

Yo, it's a Phillywood moment. In a couple of weeks, indie filmmakers from Philadelphia will be out in force - and out and about in Austin, Texas - at the 15th annual South by Southwest Film Festival. Running March 7 through 15 in front of the storied SXSW Music Festival, this year's screen program boasts hundreds of features and shorts, and more than a few prominent entries from the buzzing Philly scene. Anyone who has ambled around South Street, down the streets of Queen Village and the back alleys of Bella Vista, knows the work of Isaiah Zagar: His mosaics - mirror shards, broken china, clay figurines, wine bottles, tiles and bicycle wheels - adorn the exteriors of scores of houses and businesses, and his studio, on the 1000 block of South, has become a tourist destination. Jeremiah Zagar, Isaiah's son, has made a deeply personal documentary, In a Dream, about his father, his father's art, and his father's marriage to Julia Zagar.

Teachers' pay to be pegged closer to performance

Instead, the 29,000 officers in the education service can expect up to a five per cent increment depending on their performance and potential.

Bonuses based on merit will also vary according to whether teachers are graded 'good', 'very good' or 'outstanding'.

'Good' performers will receive a bonus of up to two months' extra pay, while those who are 'very good' will get up to 3.25 months.

'Outstanding' performers can take home up to 4.25 months' more.

Typically, 85 per cent of teachers and school heads can expect to be graded good or very good, while five to 10 per cent will be deemed outstanding.

Everyone, however, will gain from the bigger annual deposits that MOE will put into a gratuity programme for teachers, the Connect Plan.

The ministry deposits a sum every year for each teacher, who can withdraw a part of the money every three to five years.