Advance America Halts Military Advances
Payday lender Advance America, Cash Advance Centers Inc. said Monday it will voluntarily refrain from making any payday advances to active, full-time members of the military, effective Oct. 15 except where prohibited by law.
The company said it is taking this step to remove any perceived distraction to members of the military during this critical time for our country.
Congress held a hearing last week to consider a Defense Department request to cap rates charged on loans to American officers in an effort to keep soldiers, sailors and airmen from incurring extensive debt. Some senators called payday lenders predatory for targeting military personnel.
More : chron.com
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Ramallah, 13 Dec. (AKI) - Following an attack against it offices on Tuesday - the latest of a series - the Palestinian Central Electoral Commission on Tuesday suspended the registration of candidates for the 25 Jan. legislative elections. "These attacks are organised and are aimed at sabotaging the electoral process," said Ammar Dweik, the commission's director. All the offices in Gaza and West Bank have been closed and the staff have been sent home, he said.
Registration would resume only if the Palestinian Authority (PA) can provide adequate protection, Dweik, said.
Tuesday's attack was allegedly carried
Smog halts air, sea travel in Hong Kong
A combination of thick fog and heavy smog halted air and sea travel in Hong Kong Friday, even managing to delay the arrival of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and battle fleet.
Visibility in the former British colony was reduced to less than 200 metres because of the smog, caused by a cold humid front moving over southern China and pollution from the Pearl River Delta.
A total of 23 flights scheduled to arrive at Hong Kong International Airport had to be diverted to the Philippines and Taiwan.
Another 23 flights departing
UNAIDS: Advance of AIDS in Middle East and North Africa continues
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The DIRT big-block modifieds hit the trail this week for their annual pilgrimage to the DIRT Track at Lowe's in Charlotte, N.C. The Eckerd 75 takes place Wed., May 25, leading off a big weekend of racing in NASCAR country's unofficial capital.
The late models are slated for Friday the 27th at the DIRT Track, then the Busch and NASCAR series take over for the weekend on the famed neighboring asphalt track.
Joining the DIRT big-blocks in battle will be 25-year-old NASCAR driver Carl Edwards. Edwards, a native of Columbus, Mo., will pilot a Teo chassis modified out of Brett Hearn's Page
Toeing the line taken by its competitors, including Indian Airlines, Air Sahara today announced the launch of fare buckets while doing away with its advance purchase (APEX) schemes, claiming that the new system would lower airfares by 20 to 70 per cent.
"We are introducing this new fare structure replacing the APEX and last-minute fare schemes," Air Sahara's Executive Vice-President Alok Sharma, told PTI here.
The new system called 'Solar Fares' will do away with restrictions relating to advance purchase as well as those imposed during cancellation of APEX tickets, he said.
This would mean that a passenger can