Cotton farmers in some Indian villages are busily buying Coca-Cola and Pepsi, believing that the sugar in the fizzy(有泡沫的 ) drinks kills pests.

 Farmers say scientists advised them to mix pesticides with a sugary juice to control pests, and they found the mixture cheaper and more effective than pure chemicals— although soft drink makers and scientists dismissed the remarks. N. Hamunayya, who has become a famous person in his village in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, said his crop survived an attack of pests which had resisted other pesticides. “We found that all the colas had uniform effect on pests. The pests became dead and fell to the ground, ”he said. He said the drinks had all the elements they needed : they were cheaper, sticky, fizzy, and attracted ants, which ate the young of the pests. But Thinupathi Reddy, assistant director of the Regional Agri-Research Station, Guntur, says tests had proved such results wrong. “We conducted some field trials on cotton crop at our research station. There was no obvious productivity or destruction of pests, ”he says.

Statements from Pepsi and Coca-Cola said there was “ no scientific basis” for this practice. But their dealers are enjoying increasing sales. Mantan Wall, who sells soft drinks in 17 villages in the region, said sales rose up, thanks to the farmers. “ For the 10 days between August and September I had successful business. Instead of just 30 cases( each containing a dozen one-litre bottles) of cola, I started selling almost 200 cases, ”he said. “ We expected the sales to drop after the news over pesticide residues(残留 ) in the cola drinks. Now I have to keep extra supply for the cotton farmers, ”he said.

In February, an Indian environment group made a report saying drinks made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi contained pesticides and called for tougher safety standards. The U. S firms strongly rejected the findings of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment and said their products were safe.

The value­packe d, all­inclusive sight­seeing package that combines the best of Sydneyˈs harbour, city, bay and beach highlights.

  A SydneyPass gives you unlimited and flexible travel on the Explorer Buses: the ‘red’ Sydney Explorer shows you around our exciting city sights while the ‘blue’ Bondi Explorer visits Sydney Harbour bays and famous beaches. Take to the water on one of three magnificent daily harbour cruises(游船). You can also travel free on regular Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries or CityRail services (limited area), so you can go to every corner of this beautiful city.

  Imagine browsing at Darling Harbour, sampling the famous seafood at Watsons Bay or enjoying the city lights on an evening ferry cruise. The possibilities and plans are endless with a SydneyPass. Wherever you decide to go, remember that bookings are not required on any of our services so tickets are treated on a first in, first seated basis.

  SydneyPasses are available for 3, 5 or 7 days for use over a 7 calendar day period. With a 3 or 5 day pass you choose on which days out of the 7 you want to use it. All SydneyPasses include a free Airport Express inward trip before starting your 3, 5 or 7 days, and the return trip is valid (有效的) for 2 months from the first day your ticket was used.

SydneyPass Fares

*A child is defined as anyone from the ages of 4 years to under 16 years. Children under 4 years travel free.

**A famil y is defined as 2 adults and any number of children from 4 to under 16 years of age from the same family.

The value­packed, all­inclusive sight­seeing package that combines the best of Sydneyˈs harbour, city, bay and beach highlights.

  A SydneyPass gives you unlimited and flexible travel on the Explorer Buses: the ‘red’ Sydney Explorer shows you around our exciting city sights while the ‘blue’ Bondi Explorer visits Sydney Harbour bays and famous beaches. Take to the water on one of three magnificent daily harbour cruises(游船). You can also travel free on regular Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries or CityRail services (limited area), so you can go to every corner of this beautiful city.

  Imagine browsing at Darling Harbour, sampling the famous seafood at Watsons Bay or enjoying the city lights on an evening ferry cruise. The possibilities and plans are endless with a SydneyPass. Wherever you decide to go, remember that bookings are not required on any of our services so tickets are treated on a first in, first seated basis.

  SydneyPasses are available for 3, 5 or 7 days for use over a 7 calendar day period. With a 3 or 5 day pass you choose on which days out of the 7 you want to use it. All SydneyPasses include a free Airport Express inward trip before starting your 3, 5 or 7 days, and the return trip is valid (有效的) for 2 months from the first day your ticket was used.

SydneyPass Fares

*A child is defined as anyone from the ages of 4 years to under 16 years. Children under 4 years travel free.

**A famil y is defined as 2 adults and any number of children from 4 to under 16 years of age from the same family.

The police in Canada had to deal with the escape of 12 million bees on Monday. The bees flew off after the truck that was carrying them turned over. Most of the insects stayed close by, but enough were loose to cause a possible danger to the public. Police told people to stay indoors and keep their windows closed. Bee expert Chris Maund said it was lucky that the accident happened in the countryside. “Fortunately it happened in an area where there are no restaurants or houses around. If it happened in an area like a city center, all the bees would have been killed right away.” Mr. Maund said that people are not in danger as long as they keep their distance.

The bees were on their way back to their main beehives (蜂房) after being used to pollinate (授粉) blueberries. Bees and the traveling pollination serviceare an important part of Canada’s fruit industry. Maund said the truck and broken hives were being left on the highway overnight. He believes the bees will return naturally. The bees probably did not go very far because of the rainy weather. Bees breathe through their skin and can drown(溺死) in the rain. Firefighters wearing full protective clothes were at the scene making the bees wet to keep them from flying around. They also sprayed (喷) the bees with smoke to make them feel sleepy. The smoke can also make them think there is a fire, causing them to return to save their honey.

Readingcan be a social activity. Think of the people who belong to book groups. They choose books to read and then meet to discuss them. Now, the websiteBookCrossing.comturns the page on the traditional idea of a book group.

Members go on the site and register the books they own and would like to share. BookCrossing provides an identification number to stick inside the book. Then the person leaves it in a public place, hoping that the book will have an adventure, traveling far and wide with each new reader who finds it.

   Bruce Pederson, the managing director of BookCrossing, says, “The two things that change your life are the people you meet and books you read. BookCrossing combines both.”

   Members leave books on park benches and buses, in train stations and coffee shops. Whoever finds their book will go to the site and record where they found it.

   People who find a book can also leave a journal entry describing what they thought of it. E-mails are then sent to the BookCrossing to keep them updated about where their books have been found. Bruce peterson says the idea is for people not to be selfish by keeping a book to gather dust on a shelf at home.

   BookCrossing is part of a trend among people who want to get back to the “real” and not the virtual(虚拟). The site now has more than one million members in more than one hundred thirty-five countries.

A

HIGH-RISE APARTM ENT FOR RENT(出租) IN DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE’S SOUTHBANK COMMUNITY

Imagine coming home after work and feeling like you are on vacation at a 5-star resort! Welcome to The Strand Southbank in downtown Jacksonville—where luxury meets comfort. Renting a luxury apartment atThe Strand Southbank is a wise lifestyle choice. After your long day, you deserve to feel like you are walking into a high-end luxury resort where you can truly relax. With activities geared towards life away from the office, our community comes alive when you come home. At The Strand Southbank, we promote friendships between residents (居民) through frequent happy hours, book clubs and running groups. We free up your evenings by offering catered meals and food truck on site. You have better things to do, like sitting on your balcony and taking in views of downtown Jacksonville’s bridges lit up or smelling the salty air from the St. Johns River.

COMMUNITY AMENITIES (生活福利设施)

●Fully equipped fitness center with river views

●Business center with high-speed Internet

●Controlled access garage parking

●Relaxing library with fireplace

●Frequent resident events and community activities

LOCATION

The Strand Southbank apartments are ideally located in downtown Jacksonville near the entertaining Riverwalk and the sparkling St. Johns River. Perfect for Jacksonville university students, these apartments are near popular Jacksonville schools including Jacksonville University, University of North Florida, and Florida Coastal School of Law. The Strand Southbank apartments are also conveniently near two clinics.

DIRECTIONS

FromⅠ—10, take exit 350B toward San Marco Blvd. Merge onto Gary St. Turn left at FL-5/S Main St./ US—1. Turn right at Gulf Life Dr. /Riverplace Blvd.The Strand Southbank is on the left. You can’t miss it.

FromⅠ—95, exit on Union Street and travel east. Turn left onto Riverplace Boulevard.The Strand Southbank is just ahead on your right.

Do you want to get home from work knowing you have made a real difference in someone’s life? If yes, don’t care about sex or age! Come and join us, thenyou’ll make it!

Position:Volunteer Social Care Assistant (No Pay but with Free Meals)

Place:  Manchester

Hours: Part Time

We are now looking for volunteers to support people with learning disabilities to live active lives! Only 4 days left. Don’t miss the chance of lending your warm hands to help others!

Role:

You will provide people with learning disabilities with all aspects of their daily lives. You will help them to develop new skills. You will help them to protect their rights and their safety. But your primary concern is to let them know they are valued.

Skills and Experience Required:

You will have the right values and great listening skills. You will be honest and patient. You will have the ability to drive a car and to communicate in fluent written and spoken English since you’ll have to help those people with different learning disabilities. Previous care-related experience will be a great advantage for you.

●A swimming coach from Moldova is looking for a job in Beijing. Qualifications as: Coach/Judge at National Standard; Olympian (Ranking 12th in the world in 1995), World Cup Silver Medalist. Experienced children’s coach at all levels; Qualified driver (B, C, D, E categories); Bodybuilding instructor; Fluent in Russian, English, French, Ukrainian.Contact Max Cazmirciuc at: 13126711168 or email:mcazmirciuc@yahoo.com

●A retired president（退休的校长）and CEO of two Canadian companies, interested in teaching English or French in China.

Cellphone: 13520559132, email: Jeanguyfurois@aol.com

●Web design graduates are available. For details visit: www.inhb.com, or call Liu or Tang at: 0311-3160000. Email: luogq@beinfo.net

●Female Beijinger, 39, has a decade’s experience in import-export business, human resources management, interpretation and secretarial work. I have a good command of computer skills and am good at English, both writing and speaking.

Mobile: 13611163663

●Laid-off workers are providing PC maintenance services such as system upgrade, virus detection and removal, data copying and recovering, system utilization and security.

Call: 67327317

The Nobel Prize committee（委员会）has given up trying to reach Bob Dylan, five days after he became the first musician awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Dylan hasn’t responded to the accolade（嘉奖）, which was announced on Thursday. That evening he gave a concert in Las Vegas in which he spoke little, and did not mention the award. On Friday he performed in Coachella, as part of the Desert Trip festival – and was commended by The Rolling Stones, who performed after him. But Dylan himself again failed to acknowledge it.

The Swedish Academy, which awards the prizes every October and organizes the presentation in December, says it has not heard back from the Minnesota-born singer.

"Right now we are doing nothing," said Sara Danius, permanent secretary of the academy. "I have called and sent emails to his closest collaborator(合作者) and received very friendly replies. For now, that is certainly enough."

Dylan has a long and erratic（行为古怪））history with award ceremonies. In 2007 he skipped the Crown Prince of Spainˈs ceremony to award the Prince of Asturias medal, playing that night in Omaha instead, and in 2010 failed to show up at the White House to collect the National Medal for the Arts.

Ms Danius, from the academy, said they did not know whether he planned to attend the December 10 ceremony, for winners to be presented with their awards in Stockholm from King Carl Gustaf. "If he doesnˈt want to come, he wonˈt come," said Ms Danius. "It will be a big party in any case and the honour belongs to him." "I am not at all worried. I think he will show up."