Earth And Covid-19

How Does Norway As a Football Powerhouse Sound?

Thanks to being one of the four countries to have won the women FIFA World Cup the oil-rich country is just behind Uruguay on a World Cup per capita basis because of its small population. Germany is third and the only nation to have lifted the trophy in both the men and women versions of the tournament. Argentina and France with their two trophies are next in the ranking after Italy but ahead of Brazil because five trophies are not enough to compensate for the 209 million souls of the South American country with a land mass larger than continental USA. Japan is last among the eleven countries but this could change with its shrinking population especially if its women team in four years is as good as this year’s and doesn’t exit the tournament because of a very controversial penalty. Uruguay can sleep tight for roughly another eight years – or until the first general election on planet earth with one billion eligible voters – and that too if Norway wins the next three tournaments as Germany is not a threat for the next 90 years. 

Why Singapore's GDP Per Capita is 2X Japan's

On a PPP basis that is. And more than three times that of Malaysia. So location doesn't explain everything. Making the purchase of cars difficult has helped quite a bit. It was not a bad idea to keep good ties with the British either – something which Mauritius also did – and having the government intervene heavily. 

How Bad is America's Gun Problem?

2011: The Year in Review

January: African leaders get wonderful opportunity to benefit from advice that could be lethal to their political careers. Water problems confirm Ramgoolam's economic model is junk. Planning maverick barely recognisable because Labour Party forgot who she was. State could have spent our money better. Bunwaree makes access to A-level education easier.

February: IMF analysis too bland to pick up social volcanoes that had been brewing right under surface of Arab world. Journalist remembers SSR's last public meeting. Minister magic needed at earth's driest place. Union boss wants price of basic foodstuffs controlled.

March: Nobel puts feet in mouth. Powerful earthquake sets off deadly Tsunami in Japan. BRIC and Germany say no to military action in Libya. Boolell says he's not there to serve fat cats. Proposed 10-20% hike in water charges has no basis. MPs want answers from Financial Secretary. Free guide to understanding the infamous stimulus package published.

Read the review for Q2, Q3, Q4.

Powerful Earthquake Sets off Tsunami in Japan

Three people are reported dead while the US issues warning for the Pacific. Follow the event live on BBC.

Obesity Cost America USD 450 Billion

According to analysis done by McKinsey. The second biggest item of this bill is the 20% (USD 90 billion) that is spent on larger food purchases. That's like 40 times our national budget in case you're wondering. Naturally, bigger people need bigger clothes (USD 30 billion) and weight-reducing programmes (USD 20 billion) to fit in these larger clothes. And they need more wood for their coffins. But the largest component is the cost to the American medical system: USD 160 billion.

People are in fact getting fat around the world save Japan. Maybe that's because they've been on a deflationary diet for so long.

Good to Extend, Better to Optimise

Our Exclusive Economic Zone that is. Mauritius recently submitted, jointly with the Seychelles, for an additional 387,000 square kilometres – that's about 10,000 square kilometres larger than the size of Japan. That would add to the million plus square kilometres we have already but which is underutilised especially when you consider that we imported for about Rs8.5 billion of fish and fish preparations last year.

How large a flotilla would the Rs5 billion Sithanen granted to the dead sugar industry have purchased?