Japanese turn to robots in skills shortage

While population growth continues to explode in most of the poorer nations on Earth, many of the most affluent nations are facing declining birth rates and a scarcity of young workers to look after the new majority — the elderly.

As Michael Caronna in Tokyo explains to Adam Connors, the Japanese are coming up with novel, technological ways of filling their skills shortage.

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Archaeologists dig Greek temple in Cyprus

The uncovering of ancient civilisations — and the study of the rise and fall of their empires — can teach us very valuable lessons about the path that our own modern civilisation has taken.

In the first of a series of stories tracing the way Australians are helping countries around the world in uncovering their heritage, and the incredible civilisations that once dominated whole parts of the Earth, Adam Connors speaks with archaeologist Craig Barker.

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Chequebook diplomacy and the South Pacific

Last week, directly following the announcement of a new prime minister in the Solomon Islands, a mob moved upon and attacked the Chinatown district in Honiara.

The world has since been asking why the ethnic Chinese were targeted in such mob violence, and down such ethnic lines.

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Teacher education b’grounder

Following some harsh criticism from the chair of the NEW SOUTH WALES Board of Study, the federal Education Minister, (mr) BRENDAN NELSON, has launched a new inquiry into teacher education.

The new enquiry, examining how universities prepare future teachers and the philosophies behind their teaching methods, also follows criticism that recommendations from a 2003 inquiry were not followed-up.

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Rules prohibit Havana cigar

In a country that derives a third of its nation’s export dollars from tobacco, the Cuban haze of old and its cigars of distinction are heading for extinction, or extinguishin’, as the case may be.

New anti-smoking laws imposed Monday are finally framing the fact that leader Fidel Castro, he of the two fingers and large cigar angled pointedly at the US, actually gave up the weed nearly twenty years ago.

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