News Stories

[Yu Ominae]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/w...stag/22453709/

ISIL mentions that the Jordanian pilot will be killed unless a prisoner swap is done.

[Urzu 7]

Originally Posted by Yu Ominae

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/w...stag/22453709/

ISIL mentions that the Jordanian pilot will be killed unless a prisoner swap is done.

Here's an offer for them: swap the pilot for some hot lead in their chests.

[SaintessHeart]

Americans Might Be Losing Interest in Business School

What were once quiet questions about the value of a master's in business administration have become brazen calls, from venture capitalists and old-school businessmen alike, for young entrepreneurs to skip business school altogether. Now it seems that Americans are less interested in the degree than they used to be.

The number of Americans taking the Graduate Management Admissions Test, which is used in admissions at most business schools, fell for a second consecutive year in 2014, according to data from the Graduate Management Admission Council, which administers the test. Some 87,000 U.S. citizens took the exam from July 2013 to June 2014, a 33 percent drop since 2009, when over 130,000 Americans took the test. The drop looks particularly dramatic because of an artificial bump in test taking in 2012, when students rushed to take the exam before the organization added a new "integrated reasoning" section, says Rich D'Amato, a spokesman for GMAC. Americans might also be shying away from the GMAT because when the economy is good, employed people want to stay that way, and the unemployed tend to think they won't be for long.

"As an economy begins to show some signs of difficulty, and especially in the job market, GMAT test taking tends to rise," says D'Amato. "We have seen this as a cyclical and repeated in past economic cycles."

Still, the seven-year slump is stark, and may partly explain a further trend in business education: Most of the growth in applications to U.S. business schools appears to be driven by foreigners.

Applications overall increased at over 60 percent of the 469 MBA programs surveyed by GMAC in 2014, up from 2012, when just four in 10 business schools reported a rise in applications. At U.S. schools, the increase has been even sharper, as only a third of American programs reported increases in applications two years ago. That surge may seem a sign of good health, but it may have less to do with growing interest in business school among Americans than beefed-up efforts by schools to attract international students. While applications from Americans have grown since 2012, when only 22 percent of schools saw the number of domestic applicants rise, more schools reported bumps in foreign applications last year. Nearly two thirds of the programs surveyed said foreign applications were up in 2014. Less than half said this was true for domestic applications.

The test has also become slightly more diverse in recent years. Two-thirds of people who took the test by July 2014 were white, a slight decrease from 2007, when nearly 70 percent of test-takers were white. Blacks, Hispanics and Asians now make up 27 percent of all test-takers, up from 25 percent in 2007.

[ganbaru]

In violent Venezuela, police killings surge to almost one a day
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0L21DH20150129

U.S. would welcome Japan air patrols in South China Sea
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0L20HV20150129

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

U.S. would welcome Japan air patrols in South China Sea
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0L20HV20150129

Conflicts in this region of the world have fallen off the radar of mainstream sources here in the US. I happened to browse through a few weeks' worth of stories on Asia in the New York Times's this morning and saw nothing about the China Sea. Is the lack of coverage a reflection of a lower level of hostilities than a year or two ago, or is the region being ignored once again as coverage focuses more on ISIL, Greece, and the Ukraine?

[hawkeyesvn]

Nothing happened, really. Probably due to bad weather. At this time of year, SC sea is very wild and storms happen quite often. Not to mention that Chinese New Year is about to happen in 3 weeks. If China want to do something, they probably will do it after New Year holidays.

[risingstar3110]

Yeah the Chinese public is currently fully distracted by upcoming holiday. Don't need to create any conflict toward their neighbor just yet.

[SeijiSensei]

I did come across this informative interview by Jane Perlez with BBC journalist Bill Hayton who recently published a book on conflicts in the South China Sea.

[SaintessHeart]

R.I.P. 1950s: Today’s Tupperware Sells $1,000 Filters in China

(Bloomberg) -- Tupperware Brands Corp. is famous in the U.S. for plastic storage containers, but it’s increasingly known in China for a much different product: $1,000 water filters.

The success of the Nano Water Filtration System, which hooks up to customers’ taps, contributed to a 20 percent jump in Tupperware’s Chinese sales last quarter. The company’s overall results, released Wednesday morning, topped analysts’ estimates and sent the shares on their biggest one-day rally in almost four years.

“Unbelievably, this $1,000 product is such a hot seller in our China business,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick Goings said on the company’s earnings call. “Almost a third of our business in China relates to water.”

Tupperware’s inroads in China underscore the opportunities for established U.S. companies looking for new ways to grow. They also reflect the interest among Chinese consumers in filtering their water and air. Tupperware’s filter touts NASA-developed technology and mineral-rich volcanic rock from the Gifu prefecture in Japan.

Tupperware introduced the product to China in 2011, said Kimberly Price, spokeswoman for the Orlando, Florida-based company. Sales have grown steadily, helped by roadshows throughout the country to demonstrate the product, she said.

Tupperware shares climbed 12 percent on Wednesday after the results were released, bringing its year-to-date gain to 5.8 percent. The stock rose an additional 1.2 percent to $67.45 as of 9:45 a.m. Thursday morning.
Suburban Parties

Tupperware, famous for 1950s parties where suburban homemakers demonstrated the virtues of food-storage containers, has evolved over the past six decades. In 2013, 91 percent of its sales came from outside its home market, according to its latest annual report. The company also sees growth in urban markets, particularly among time-starved millennials.

Tupperware’s global expansion has brought challenges, including the effect of a strong dollar. But it’s been outperforming some other direct-selling U.S. companies pushing overseas. While Avon Products Inc., which operates in similar markets, has posted two years of annual losses, Tupperware is profitable and projected to increase net income by about 20 percent in 2015, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Like Avon, Tupperware goes after customers in countries such as Brazil and Russia that have fewer retail choices. Its sales topped $200 million in Brazil last year following a 43 percent fourth-quarter increase in local currency. In China, the world’s most populous country, revenue exceeded $100 million for the first time, Tupperware said.

To court Asian consumers, the company offers products such as the RiceSmart rice dispenser and a Hello Kitty lunch set. In China, where apartments are small, the company relies on neighborhood outlets and cooking classes, Goings said. The number of outlets has climbed 15 percent from a year earlier to 4,700, he said.

“We saw continued growth in China,” he said on the conference call, “driven by a combination of a net addition in these outlets and also increased productivity.”

Well here is your China replacing US and the world No 1 economy. Consumerism at its finest.

[Xellos-_^]

not consumerism, people buy that water filter because tap water is not safe.

the US drink water bottle because they are idiots.
China drinks water bottle because the water IS polluted,

Perri Air is not a joke in China.

[AmeNoJaku]

I am not surprised that Focus is so popular in Germany. As for the rest of the Greek election coverge in news, it's rather boring to match support and hate for the new government based on what parties each supports, but always ignoring part or in some cases what is actually happening there.

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Merkel is putting on her boots, ready to KICK someone out of Europe......

That would end the European Union, not just the common currency. Germany must press Greece to tackle corruption and enforce taxes, but the German (and not only) conservatives must also realise that their fiscal policies, independent of currency have increased unemployment, poverty, crime, and are eliminating the middle class even in their country.

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

I hear a lot of noise from the far left saying the Greek elections somehow proved something. So, if they're going to turn themselves into a cautionary tale, I hope they do it fast. Before other countries follow their example.

In Spain the radical and communist left poll above 40% consistently and in Portugal 15% (both have general elections this year too), in France and Germany approach 20%, In Scotland they are the majority several years now... All these without any access to funds or power, raising from 0.x% in 5 years everywhere. So unless Greeks are annihilated to terrorise the rest of the Europeans... well, we have democracies and we deserve what we vote for.

EDIT: And forgot to mention the Communist Party of Japan gaining 11.4% the second historical highest

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by AmeNoJaku

In Spain the radical and communist left poll above 40% consistently and in Portugal 15% (both have general elections this year too), in France and Germany approach 20%, In Scotland they are the majority several years now

Are you really suggesting that Labour in the UK is a "radical and communist left" party? That was never true (look up "Fabian" socialism and see how it differs from Marxist theories) and, since Tony Blair, is even less true today.

[Haak]

Actually he's talking about the Scottish National Party (which has held the majority in the Scottish Parliament since 2011), though I wouldn't exactly call them radical communists either.

[Yu Ominae]

http://news.yahoo.com/japans-abe-cal...050536614.html

New message from ISIS regarding Goto.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

not consumerism, people buy that water filter because tap water is not safe.

the US drink water bottle because they are idiots.
China drinks water bottle because the water IS polluted,

Perri Air is not a joke in China.

Water filter is a GREAT business to be in. It is like selling razor blades; people will have to keep buying replacements.
Chinese tap water is going to remain untrustworthy for the next few generations at least.

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by Haak

Actually he's talking about the Scottish National Party (which has held the majority in the Scottish Parliament since 2011), though I wouldn't exactly call them radical communists either.

That's what I thought at first, then I confused myself by looking up election results! I read what I was thought were the results for the Scottish Parliament, but I was actually looking at the results for the election to Westminster. Labour won a majority of those seats, but as you say the SNP holds the majority in the Scottish Parliament.

That said, the SNP is hardly a "radical-left or communist" party either. During the referendum on independence, they expressed a preference for joining the EC and becoming part of the Eurozone. Doesn't sound very "lefty" to me.

[SeijiSensei]

Another source of tensions between North Korea and China

HELONG, China — On a cold, clear winter day last month, a North Korean soldier packed a pistol and slipped across the frozen Tumen River into northeastern China. He trekked about a mile to the tiny village of Jidi Tun. Then at dusk he opened fire on two older couples, killing all four people.

Most likely hungry from the shortage of food that plagues some units of the armed forces in North Korea, he was looking for sustenance, local officials said; some reports said he was drunk.

In most places, a solitary killer from another country would not cause much anxiety. But in China, whose relationship with North Korea has gone from warm to frosty in the last two years, and where many citizens ridicule the young and unpredictable North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, the government treated the episode with alarm.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by AmeNoJaku

That would end the European Union, not just the common currency. Germany must press Greece to tackle corruption and enforce taxes, but the German (and not only) conservatives must also realise that their fiscal policies, independent of currency have increased unemployment, poverty, crime, and are eliminating the middle class even in their country.

IMO is that it will be a domino effect should any country exit the Euro due to bad economic management. Greece entering the Eurozone is a good thing for them as kills trade borders and tariffs, allow easy access of goods from one economy to another, and act as a competitive currency to the USD and JPY.

If they leave, everyone else will. And crossing a border would mean swapping Reichsmark to Peseta to Drachma to Franc, adds to trade volatility in the region. Putin would be pleased.

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

not consumerism, people buy that water filter because tap water is not safe.

the US drink water bottle because they are idiots.
China drinks water bottle because the water IS polluted,

Perri Air is not a joke in China.

We are becoming like them. [/troll]

Brownish tap water at Changi Airport Terminal 3; F&B outlets affected

SINGAPORE - Food and beverage outlets at Changi Airport's Terminal 3 (T3) had to halt sales of drinks and soup on Thursday due to issues with the tap water.

F&B operators found light brown water flowing out of their taps at about 3pm, and it only started to run clear after 5pm, Lianhe Zaobao reported. But most did not resume sale of drinks and soup even then.

The issue had still not been fully resolved by 11pm on Thursday, Zaobao said.

This is believed to be the first time there has been an issue with the water supply at the terminal.

The airport advised operators and visitors not to drink the water, use it to prepare food, or for cleaning. Changi Airport Group (CAG) distributed bottled water to affected food outlets, employees and airport visitors.

F&B operators also turned on their taps so that the brownish water could flow out, as instructed by the authorities.

One cafe had put up a sign which read "No Tea, Coffee". Staff at the cafe said they were serving only toast, but the airport had provided bottled water for patrons.

There were also signs in T3's toilets reminding visitors not to drink the tap water. Cleaners told visitors to drink the bottled water provided by the airport, which were placed by the sinks.

National water agency PUB received a request from CAG at about 7pm on Thursday to provide a temporary water supply, and to check T3's water quality.

PUB sent a water wagon to the terminal, and is assisting CAG with water quality tests. Meanwhile, the quality of incoming water supply from the PUB mains was found to be satisfactory.

A spokesman from CAG said they will confirm if the water is potable after clear water supply is resumed.

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Another source of tensions between North Korea and China

It is kind of sad actually, Reminds me of Soylent Green where the food shortage actually forced people to kill for it.

And to think they do not have the guts to overthrow the regime. What dafuq.

[Mentar]

Originally Posted by AmeNoJaku

That would end the European Union, not just the common currency.

Says who?

Besides, noone has the means to directly "kick someone out" of the Eurozone. It would however be the logical consequence in case of a default.

Germany must press Greece to tackle corruption and enforce taxes, [...]

Good luck with that. I have some minimal hope that under Syriza at least THIS will see some progress, but I'm not holding my breath. And I don't see that there's even remotely some kind of self-awareness in Greece that you can't run an independent country without paying taxes.

... but the German (and not only) conservatives must also realise that their fiscal policies, independent of currency have increased unemployment, poverty, crime, and are eliminating the middle class even in their country.

In this absoluteness - nonsense. Austerity has been highly successful not only in Germany and Scandinavia, but also look at Ireland, for example. I do recognize that there are problems in southern Europe, but "look how terrible austerity is" does not translate to "massive spending would have worked better" - it would have caused different kinds of problems (credit crunch due to skyrocking bonds, loss of trust in the Euro, skyrocketing public debt)

First you need to plug the holes, then you can look at spending, IMHO. Which is what we're doing recently.

In Spain the radical and communist left poll above 40% consistently and in Portugal 15% (both have general elections this year too), in France and Germany approach 20%,

Er, what? In Germany, the radical and communist left poll at 8%. The AfD is right-wing, but not radical (~6%). These numbers have not moved for ages.

In Scotland they are the majority several years now...

SNP "radical and communist left"?

All these without any access to funds or power, raising from 0.x% in 5 years everywhere.

Erhm... I'm not sure if it's because you're far away from Japan and need to depend on weird news sites, but there have been communists and rightwingers for quite a while. Are Europhobes on the rise? Yes, undoubtedly - Europe is an easy target to pin blame for a thousand things on. But it's not remotely as gigantic as you make it out to be.

So unless Greeks are annihilated to terrorise the rest of the Europeans... well, we have democracies and we deserve what we vote for.

You really have questionable sources, my friend. Nobody wants to "annihilate" Greeks. Nobody. I want them to grow up and clean up their sh*t, and not bail them out again before they do.

And if the Spanish extreme left does win elections - more power to them. I consider it foolish, but that's democracy indeed. As long as they deal with their situation themselves.

EDIT: And forgot to mention the Communist Party of Japan gaining 11.4% the second historical highest

Oooo. 11%.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by Mentar

And if the Spanish extreme left does win elections - more power to them. I consider it foolish, but that's democracy indeed. As long as they deal with their situation themselves.

Yeah, well, if they default on their debts, we'll feel it more than if just Greece does.