And restrictive labour laws make firms reluctant to take on staff to meet a big one-off order, because of the difficulty of laying workers off later.

ECONOMIST: China has won; but so far, South Asia has not lost

This suggests that the base pay rates remain too low and that many workers are struggling to make ends meet given the rising cost of living in China and the difficulty that single children have in supporting two aging parents.

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But history shows a pattern: when attractions prove too expensive to maintain, score low on guest approval, lose sponsorship or have difficulty churning through high numbers of visitors, they are likely to meet the wrecking ball.

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Some military officials, citing the difficulty of completing infantry training courses, believe that most women would be unable to meet the physical requirements.

WSJ: Panetta to Open Combat Roles to Women

Some military officials, citing the difficulty of completing infantry-training courses, believe that most women would be unable to meet the physical requirements.

WSJ: Panetta to Open Combat Roles to Women

Southern Cross is due to meet the government and its landlords on Wednesday for crucial talks about the future of the company, which is in financial difficulty.

BBC: Southern Cross relatives: I just don't want to move her