US army chiefs in Iraq have ordered hundreds of trucks that give greater protection from bombs planted by the roadside. The trucks have V-shaped steel undersides to deflect blast that would penetrate most flat-bottomed vehicles. No soldiers have been killed so far in the 200 prototypes tested in Iraq, where roadside bombs account for almost 70 per cent of casualties.
A smart card for accessing credit in the “microfinance” banks that serve the poorest people has been developed by IBM and Financial Information Network and Operations of Mumbai, India. Small traders can use the card to buy goods at auction…
