Smog in Beijing
Beijing, China is frequently shrouded in dense, yellowish smog so thick that the other side of the road is obscured. But over the past weekend the deadly smog that enveloped the city was so bad that air-quality readings from a monitor on the roof of the American Embassy said simply: “Beyond Index”. (Chart)
Continue reading… “Most polluted cities of the world’s biggest economies”
82 percent of Egypt’s railway lines are less safe because they depend on mechanical signals.
In the wake of Monday’s deadly Badrashin train crash, which left 19 people dead and 117 injured, a Transportation Ministry report shows the country has experienced an average 550 train wrecks per year, including both serious and minor ones.
Continue reading… “Egypt experiences an average of 550 train crashes per year”
There are as many as 12 million migrant laborers in Russia. Only 2 million work in the country legally.
Bek Takhirov, a 38-year-old ethnic Uzbek, knows all too well the problems that migrant workers face. In 2004, he came to Russia and worked illegally, stacking cargo in a warehouse for alcoholic beverages. Takhirov completed a lengthy application for Russian citizenship in order to step out of the shadows, two years ago. He now works legally in St. Petersburg as a translator by day and moonlights as a security guard by night.
Continue reading… “The migrant worker underclass in Russia”
Something transpires in social media every minute. Whether that is a new like, a new connection, a tweet, or social networks gaining unique visitors, we are spending a lot of our minutes socializing in various forms on an array of social sites. 2012 showed us that we prefer to share images and our location, and that Facebook and Twitter both still remain leaders in the social media world.
Continue reading… “What happened In 60 seconds on social networks in 2012 [Infographic]”
Coworking is not just for entrepreneurs or freelancers anymore.
Do you define your workplace as fun, friendly, inspiring, collaborative, or productive? If you don’t, then you may need to ditch your desk and head for the nearest coworking space. According to Deskmag’s annual Global Coworking Survey, you don’t need to be an entrepreneur or freelancer to gain the benefits of coworking. Seventy-one percent of participants reported a boost in creativity since joining a coworking space, while 62 percent said their standard of work had improved.
Record number of 349 military suicides in 2012.
More U.S. military service members have been lost to suicide than combat last year as the number of troops who took their lives rose to a record high.
China’s one-child law may be stifling its citizens’ innovation.
Development of a child can greatly be influenced by the number of siblings they have. But what happens when you have an entire nation of only children? China’s one-child law indicates that the policy may be stifling its citizens’ innovative instincts because single children born under the law there are less likely to be competitive, are more pessimistic, and less inclined to take risks, according to a new study. Those were the findings of researchers from Monash University in Australia.
Continue reading… “China’s one-child policy stifles innovation: Study”
Super Bowl ad surprises ruined by social media.
There is a growing feeling that marketers’ use of social media is ruining the surprise of Super Bowl ads. Last Super Bowl, just one memorable ad bucked this trend last Super Bowl–Chrysler’s offering with Clint Eastwood–while other firms such as Honda made similar versions available on YouTube and Facebook. General manager-brand marketing for Audi, Loren Angelo, reckons that, with just 24-48 hours’ worth of Internet chatter about the Super Bowl, the reveal is worth everything, allowing an advertiser to have “a much longer conversation with consumers.”
Continue reading… “Social media is spoiling the Super Bowl ad surprises”
Saudi students can receive up to a five year visa, with scholarships covering tuition, housing and health benefits.
Meshari Albishi considers the University of Mary Washington his “second home” even though he is not a student there. He has made “a lot of friends,” and has access to the library, workout rooms and other campus facilities. The University of Mary Washington has offered him admission, on one condition: Before he can enroll, he must complete a non-credit program, called English for Academic Purposes.
Continue reading… “Students from Saudi Arabia flood U.S. colleges to study English”
Saudi King Abdullah
Thirty women were appointed to the previously all-male consultative Shura Council by Saudi King Abdullah in decrees published on Friday, marking a historic first as he pushes reforms in the ultra-conservative kingdom.
Continue reading… “Saudi King appoints 30 women to advisory council in historic first”
Opportunities in China have generated high expectations from the elders and potential spouses of this new professional class.
China produces 600,000 engineering graduates every year. A former Google product manager thought hiring a good engineer would be easy when he launched his startup, Julu Mobile, in China in 2011. He learned hiring the best wouldn’t be easy.
Even the best individual efforts of leaders and organizations can’t stack up against today’s complex and interconnected problems. They are collaborating to build a new civic infrastructure to advance their shared objectives. It’s called collective impact and it’s a growing trend across the country.
Continue reading… “Collaboration – the new competition”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.