June 18, 2013

G8 Summit 2013 concludes in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland

Photo: One of the lodges at the Lough Erne Resort in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland; the venue of the UK’s Presidency of the G8 Summit 2013. © G8 UK Presidency.

Photo: UK Prime Minister David Cameron and United States of America President Barack Obama visit school. © G8 UK Presidency.

Photo: UK Prime Minister David Cameron and United States of America President Barack Obama visit school. © G8 UK Presidency.

G8 is a forum that brings together 8 global leaders to address international issues and tackle the most pressing global challenges.

The G8 (Group of 8) is made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the USA and the UK. The EU is represented by Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, and Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Council.

The Presidency of the G8 rotates each calendar year and the country holding the G8 Presidency is responsible for hosting and organising the annual summit, with a number of preparatory meetings leading up to it. At the summit, the G8 leaders discuss important global issues of the day.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has the presidency of the G8 Summit 2013. Other G8 members who attended the summit are: Canada — Prime Minister Stephen Harper, France — President Francois Hollande, Germany — Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italy — Prime Minister Enrico Letta, Japan — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Russia — President Vladimir Putin, United States of America — President Barack Obama, European Union — Council President Herman Van Rompuy and Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The Lough Erne Declaration from the G8 Summit 2013 sets out agreed principles for the future. It focuses on private enterprise, which drives growth, reduces poverty, and creates jobs and prosperity for people around the world. It also sets out that governments have a special responsibility to make proper rules and promote good governance. In addition, fair taxes, increased transparency and open trade are vital drivers of this. The G8 leaders will make a real difference by acting on the principles in the declaration.

In the preamble of the communique agreed to by G8 leaders at the 2013 summit, the leaders write:

“As leaders of the G8, we are committed to open economies, open societies and open governments as the basis of lasting growth and stability. We have today agreed concrete steps to play our part in ensuring a safe and prosperous world.”

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 9:24 AM | Link to this Post

June 17, 2013

MISS USA 2013 - Erin Brady from Connecticut

Photo: Miss Connecticut USA 2013, Erin Brady of East Hampton, is crowned Miss USA 2013 at the conclusion of the 2013 MISS USA Competition at PH Live in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday June 16, 2013. She receives the coveted Miss USA Diamond Nexus Crown and will represent the USA at the 2013 MISS UNIVERSE Competition on November 9th from the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. © Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP. Photographer: Greg Harbaugh.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 12:11 AM | Link to this Post

June 11, 2013

Asian Universities set to Dominate Global Rankings Within Two Decades

Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon receives an honorary doctorate degree during a ceremony at Jamia Islamia University in New Delhi, India. 27 April 2012. New Delhi, India. UN Photo/Mark Garten.

Asian universities could overtake their western counterparts within two decades, say the compilers of QS University Rankings: Asia, released today.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology tops the rankings ahead of National University of Singapore and Hong Kong University, which tie for second place. Peking University moves up one place to fifth, its highest ever position.

2013 QS UNIVERSITY RANKINGS ASIA: Top 10

QS RANK — INSTITUTION — COUNTRY

• 1 — The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology — Hong Kong
• 2= — National University of Singapore — Singapore
• 2= — University of Hong Kong — HK
• 4= — Seoul National University — South Korea
• 5 — Peking University — China
• 6 — KAIST — South Korea
• 7 — POSTECH — South Korea
• 8 — The Chinese University of Hong Kong — Hong Kong
• 9 — The University of Tokyo — Japan
• 10= — Kyoto University — Japan
• 10= — Nanyang Technological University — Singapore

ASIA TOP 300 — UNIVERSITIES FROM INDIA

2013 QS RANK — INSTITUTION

• 38 — Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD)
• 39 — Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB)
• 49 — Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM)
• 51 — Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK)
• 58 — Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IITKGP)
• 66 — Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR)
• 80 — University of Delhi
• 89 — Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG)
• 140= — University of Mumbai
• 143= — University of Calcutta
• 181-190 — University of Pune

ASIA TOP 300 — UNIVERSITIES FROM PAKISTAN

2013 QS RANK — INSTITUTION

• 119 — Quaid-i-azam University
• 120 — National University of Sciences And Technology (NUST), Islamabad
• 151-160 — Aga Khan University
• 191-200 — Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
• 201-250 — University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Lahore
• 201-250 — University of Karachi
• 201-250 — University of the Punjab (Punjab University), Lahore

“Asian higher education is undergoing a rapid transformation. Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Korea are at the forefront of the assault on the global academic elite,” says Ben Sowter, head of QS Intelligence Unit, which also compiles the QS World University Rankings.

“There are already 17% more Asian universities in the global top 200 since the recession, and the next two decades could see leading US and European universities objectively overtaken.”

“As Western governments struggle to maintain funding levels, Asian institutions have rapidly increased their ability to attract the world’s best faculty and students,” says Sowter.

QS University Rankings: Asia also shows a five-year surge in international students studying at ranked institutions in the region, from 175,286 in 2009 to 255,212 this year. Total international faculty has grown from 21,223 to 35,677.

According to QS, among the universities established since 1963, Asia boasts five of the world’s top six such institutions, a forecast of a future realignment of the global balance of power from West to East.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 3:59 AM | Link to this Post

June 8, 2013

World Oceans Day 2013

Photo: Volvo Ocean Race. CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand. On the final leg of their 2000 mile qualifier approach Auckland, New Zealand. Photo © Chris Cameron.

Photo: Volvo Ocean Race. Groupama Sailing Team, skippered by Franck Cammas from France at the finish of leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Cape town, South Africa, to Abu Dhabi, UAE. (Photo © Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images).

Photo: Bay of Bengal, near Chennai, India. Fishermen sail at dawn in their catamarans, consisting of four or five pieces of balsa wood tied together. Madras, India. UN Photo/John Isaac.

Photo: Orange fin anemone fish wards off predators that might eat the host anemone. Tuamotu, French Polynesia. Photo © Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation/Michele Westmorland.

Photo: Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation scientist, Badi Samaniego, conducts a reef fish survey in French Polynesia. Photo © Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation/Michele Westmorland.

• World Oceans Day was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008 and is now celebrated on 8 June each year.

The theme for World Oceans Day 2013-2014 is “Together we have the power to protect the ocean!”, which focuses on “getting involved with ocean conservation in our personal lives, within our communities and globally”.

According to United Nations, this day is celebrated to remind people about the shared ocean of the world and their personal connection to the sea. The day is also celebrated to raise awareness about the crucial role the ocean plays in people’s lives and the important ways in which they can help protect it.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 5:24 AM | Link to this Post

June 6, 2013

World War Z - World Premiere

Photo: A view of atmosphere inside the theater during the Paris premiere of”World War Z” at Cinema UGC Normandie on June 3, 2013 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Paramount. © 2013 Getty Images).

Photo: A view of the film poster displayed next to the entrance to the Lido cabaret during the Paris premiere of “World War Z” at Cinema UGC Normandie on June 3, 2013 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Paramount. © 2013 Getty Images).

Photo: Angelina Jolie (R) and Brad Pitt (rear R) meet with fans as they sign autograph upon their arrival for the Paris premiere of “World War Z” at Cinema UGC Normandie on June 3, 2013 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Paramount. © 2013 Getty Images).

Photo: Actors Angelina Jolie (L) and Brad Pitt attend the World Premiere of ‘World War Z’ at The Empire Cinema Leicester Square on June 2, 2013 in London, England. (Photo © 2013 Dave M. Benett/WireImage for Paramount).

Photo: Actress Angelina Jolie attends the World Premiere of ‘World War Z’ at The Empire Cinema Leicester Square on June 2, 2013 in London, England. (Photo © 2013 Dave M. Benett/WireImage for Paramount).

Photo: Matt Bellamy of Muse performs at the ‘World War Z’ World Premiere at Horse Guards Parade on June 2, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures International. © 2013 Getty Images).

Photo: Dutch film producer, director and actor Ludi Boeken attends the World Premiere of ‘World War Z’ at The Empire Cinema on June 2, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures International. © 2013 Getty Images).

Photo: A general view of the crowd during the Muse performance at the ‘World War Z’ World Premiere at Horse Guards Parade on June 2, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Lucian Capellaro/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures International. © 2013 Getty Images).

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 11:46 AM | Link to this Post

June 5, 2013

World Environment Day 2013

World Environment Day (‘WED’) is celebrated every year on 5 June to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action. It is run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The theme for this year’s World Environment Day celebrations is Think.Eat.Save. Think.Eat.Save is an anti-food waste and food loss campaign.

Think.Eat.Save. aims to accelerate action and provide a global vision for the many and diverse initiatives currently underway around the world.

Worldwide, about one-third of all food produced, worth around US$1 trillion, gets lost or wasted in food production and consumption systems, according to data released by FAO. “Food loss occurs mostly at the production stages - harvesting, processing and distribution - while food waste typically takes place at the retailer and consumer end of the food-supply chain.”

“In a world of seven billion people, set to grow to nine billion by 2050, wasting food makes no sense - economically, environmentally and ethically,” said UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

“Aside from the cost implications, all the land, water, fertilizers and labour needed to grow that food is wasted - not to mention the generation of greenhouse gas emissions produced by food decomposing on landfill and the transport of food that is ultimately thrown away,” he added. “To bring about the vision of a truly sustainable world, we need a transformation in the way we produce and consume our natural resources.”

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 11:01 AM | Link to this Post

June 2, 2013

The Sound of Change Live Concert in London

Photo: Danielle Haim performs on stage at the “Chime For Change: The Sound Of Change Live” Concert at Twickenham Stadium on June 1, 2013 in London, England. Chime For Change is a global campaign for girls’ and women’s empowerment founded by Gucci with a founding committee comprised of Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini, Salma Hayek Pinault and Beyonce Knowles-Carter. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Gucci. © 2013 Getty Images.)

Photo: (L-R) Actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan speak on stage at the “Chime For Change: The Sound Of Change Live” Concert at Twickenham Stadium on June 1, 2013 in London, England. Chime For Change is a global campaign for girls’ and women’s empowerment founded by Gucci with a founding committee comprised of Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini, Salma Hayek Pinault and Beyonce Knowles-Carter. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Gucci. © 2013 Getty Images.)

Photo: Singer Timbaland performs on stage at the “Chime For Change: The Sound Of Change Live” Concert at Twickenham Stadium on June 1, 2013 in London, England. Chime For Change is a global campaign for girls’ and women’s empowerment founded by Gucci with a founding committee comprised of Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini, Salma Hayek Pinault and Beyonce Knowles-Carter. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Gucci. © 2013 Getty Images.)

Photo: Members of the crowd pose at the “Chime For Change: The Sound Of Change Live” Concert at Twickenham Stadium on June 1, 2013 in London, England. Chime For Change is a global campaign for girls’ and women’s empowerment founded by Gucci with a founding committee comprised of Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini, Salma Hayek Pinault and Beyonce Knowles-Carter. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Gucci. © 2013 Getty Images.)

• CHIME FOR CHANGE, founded by Gucci, is a new global campaign to raise funds and awareness for girls’ and women’s empowerment. It serves to convene, unite and strengthen voices speaking out for girls and women around the world. Founded in Florence, Italy, in 1921, Gucci is one of the world’s leading luxury fashion brands.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 1:00 PM | Link to this Post

June 1, 2013

World Conference of Sports Ministers (MINEPS V) Concludes in Berlin

Photos from the Conference (MINEPS V). All photos Copyright © Federal Ministry of the Interior, Germany/Peter Himsel.

Photo: MINEPS V Welcome Evening: Hans-Peter Friedrich, Federal Minister of the Interior, Germany, by the screening of the film “Gold”. Next to Pila Alvarez Laso (UNESCO Assistant Director-General) on the left, and Kirsten Bruhn (athlete and actress of the film “Gold”) on the right. Copyright © Federal Ministry of the Interior, Germany/Peter Himsel.

• The fifth UNESCO World Sport Ministers Conference (MINEPS V) was held in Berlin from 28 to 30 May 2013. It was organized by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior in cooperation with UNESCO and with the help of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education.

The conference focused on the fight against match-fixing, corruption and doping in order to maintain the integrity of sport. The agenda also included the topic of participation in and through sport. A third focus was on promoting investment in sport and physical education programs and discussing standards for large-scale sporting events.

The conference adopted an extensive list of recommendations to curb corruption in sport, share the socio-economic benefits of sport more equitably and ensure access to sport for all.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 9:22 AM | Link to this Post

May 26, 2013

International Year of Water Cooperation 2013 — Water is life.

Photo: This poster appeared in our March 16, 2011 post and is being published again on popular demand. The poster, designed by Polish artist Pawel Dadok, shows a person, in peaceful coexistence with different wild animals, drinking from a water hole. The poster caption has the following challenge for the observer: “Behave yourself. Be an animal. Water is life.”

In December 2010 the United Nations General Assembly declared 2013 as the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation. According to United Nations, “Water, a vital resource unlike any other knows no borders… As rapid urbanization, climate change and growing food needs put ever-increasing pressure on freshwater resources, the objective of the Year is to draw attention to the benefits of cooperation in water management… Cooperation is crucial not only to ensure the sustainable and equitable distribution of water but also to foster and maintain peaceful relations within and among communities.”

UNESCO has developed a series of entities focusing on water since it first began to address water-related issues in 1956. The International Hydrological Programme (IHP), created in 1975, was the first intergovernmental initiative on freshwater in the United Nations system. This programme relies on a network of 18 water-related centres and 29 UNESCO water-related chairs. UNESCO’s water family includes other entities such as the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft (Netherlands), the largest post-graduate water education facility in the world.

Key Messages for International Year of Water Cooperation 2013:

• Water cooperation is key to security, poverty eradication, and social equity.

• Water cooperation generates economic benefits.

• Water cooperation is crucial to preserve water resources and protect the environment.

• Water cooperation builds peace.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 1:23 AM | Link to this Post

May 21, 2013

Today is World Day for Cultural Diversity

Photo: An indigenous delegate in the General Assembly Hall at the opening of the twelfth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. 20 May 2013. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas.

Photo: Indigenous delegates in the General Assembly Hall at the opening of the twelfth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. 20 May 2013. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas.

Photo: An indigenous delegate in the General Assembly Hall at the opening of the twelfth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. 20 May 2013. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas.

Photo: Inaugural concert of the UN Orchestra in the Assembly Hall of the United Nations Office at Geneva on 14th of December 2011. UN Photo/Fabrice Arlot.

• Diversity Day, officially known as “The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development”, is an opportunity to help communities understand the value of cultural diversity and learn how to live together in harmony.

In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002, the UN General Assembly declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

The day provides an opportunity to deepen the understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better.

In 2011, a grassroots campaign ‘Do One Thing For Diversity and Inclusion’, celebrating the annual World Day for Cultural Diversity was launched by UNESCO and the UN Alliance of Civilizations.

The 2013 campaign, by encouraging people and organizations from around the world to take concrete action to support diversity, aims:

• To raise awareness worldwide about the importance of intercultural dialogue, diversity and inclusion.

• To build a world community of individuals committed to support diversity with real and every day-life gestures.

• To combat polarization and stereotypes to improve understanding and cooperation among people from different cultures.

According to UNESCO, “The day provides an opportunity for mobilization on the part of all actors (governments, policy makers, civil society organizations, communities, cultural professionals) to promote culture in its diversity and in all its forms: tangible and intangible heritage, creative industries, goods and services.”

|GlobalGiants.Com|

“No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive.”

— Mahatma Gandhi.

Posted by Editors at 5:08 AM | Link to this Post

May 16, 2013

Cannes Film Festival 2013 Kicks Off

Photo: Model Cara Delevingne attends Electrolux at Opening Night of The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Theatre Lumiere on May 15, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Actor Leonardo DiCaprio attends Electrolux at Opening Night of The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Theatre Lumiere on May 15, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Model Cindy Crawford attends Electrolux at Opening Night of The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Theatre Lumiere on May 15, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Sonam Kapoor attends Electrolux at Opening Night of The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Theatre Lumiere on May 15, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Zhang Ziyi attends Electrolux at Opening Night of The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Theatre Lumiere on May 15, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Georgia May Jagger attends Electrolux at Opening Night of The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Theatre Lumiere on May 15, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Fan Bingbing attends Electrolux at Opening Night of The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Theatre Lumiere on May 15, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Actress Isla Fisher attends Electrolux at Opening Night of The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Theatre Lumiere on May 15, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Steven Spielberg and actress Nicole Kidman attend Electrolux at Opening Night of The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Theatre Lumiere on May 15, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Sonam Kapoor attends “Jeune & Jolie” Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Grand Theatre Lumiere on May 16, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Dominique Charriau/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Vidya Balan attends the “Inside Llewyn Davis” Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Grand Theatre Lumiere on May 19, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Aishwarya Rai attends the “Inside Llewyn Davis” Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Grand Theatre Lumiere on May 19, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Jury President and Director Steven Speilberg attends the “Inside Llewyn Davis” Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Grand Theatre Lumiere on May 19, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Model Alessandra Ambrosio attends the ‘De Grisogono’ Party during The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc on May 21, 2013 in Antibes, France. (Photo © Samir Hussein/French Select via Getty Images).

Photo: Cannes Film Festival May 22. Anais Monory wearing Montblanc Princess Grace de Monaco red gold and diamonds bracelet. Photo © OLIVIER BORDE.

Photo: Cannes Film Festival May 22. Beatrice Rosen wearing Montblanc earrings in red gold with diamonds. Photo © OLIVIER BORDE.

Photo: (L-R) Producers Neal Dodson, Anna Gerb, Mary Cameron Goodyear, director J. C. Chandor, Sibylle Szaggars, Chairman of the Cannes Film Festival Gilles Jacob, Robert Redford and Cannes Film Festival artistic director Thierry Fremaux attend the “All Is Lost” Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Grand Theatre Lumiere on May 22, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Puja Gupta attends the “All Is Lost” Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Grand Theatre Lumiere on May 22, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Ameesha Patel attends the “All Is Lost” Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Grand Theatre Lumiere on May 22, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Barbara Palvin attends the “All Is Lost” Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Grand Theatre Lumiere on May 22, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Araya A. Hargate attends the “All Is Lost” Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Grand Theatre Lumiere on May 22, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Ana Girardot attends “The Immigrant” Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Grand Theatre Lumiere on May 24, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: Olivia Palermo attends “The Immigrant” Premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Grand Theatre Lumiere on May 24, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/WireImage for Electrolux. © 2013 WireImage.)

Photo: French humorist and actor Tomer Sisley at the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival 2013. Photo © OLIVIER BORDE.

The 66th annual Cannes Film Festival is currently taking place in Cannes, France, from 15 to 26 May 2013.

The festival opened with The Great Gatsby directed by Baz Luhrmann and will close with Zulu, directed by Jerome Salle.

THE COMPETITION JURY 2013

• Steven SPIELBERG, President - Director, Producer, Writer / United States
• Vidya BALAN Actress / India
• Naomi KAWASE Director / Japan
• Nicole KIDMAN Actress, Producer / Australia
• Lynne RAMSAY Writer, Director, Producer / United Kingdom
• Daniel AUTEUIL Actor, Director / France
• Ang LEE Director, Producer, Writer / Taïwan
• Cristian MUNGIU Writer, Director, Producer / Romania
• Christoph WALTZ Actor / Austria

THE CINEFONDATION AND SHORT FILM JURY 2013

• Jane CAMPION, President - Film director/New Zealand
• Maji-da ABDI Actress, director, producer/Ethiopia
• Nicoletta BRASCHI Actress, producer/Italy
• Nandita DAS Actress, director/India
• Semih KAPLANOGLU Director, writer, producer/Turkey

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 2:54 PM | Link to this Post

May 13, 2013

Airbus Fly Your Ideas Challenge 2013 — Five Teams Reach the Finals

Photo: Partnering for Airbus Fly Your Ideas Challenge 2013 — Dr. Lidia Brito, Director of the Division of Science Policy and Capacity Building for UNESCO and Charles Champion, Airbus’ Executive Vice-President Engineering and Fly Your Ideas Patron. © Airbus S.A.S 2012. Photo by P. Masclet.

Photo: Team CLiMA from Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology - which is a finalist in Airbus’ 2013 Fly Your Ideas student challenge - was selected for its idea to develop an aircraft fuelled by a blend of sustainably produced liquefied biomethane and liquefied natural gas (Bio-LNG).

Photo: Airbus FYI finalists. The five finalist student teams competing in Airbus’ 2013 edition of its Fly Your Ideas challenge are from Australia, Brazil, India, Italy and Malaysia.

Photo: Team AVAS from India’s SRM University - a finalist in Airbus’ 2013 Fly Your Ideas challenge - consists of Michael V. Thomas, Anita Mohil, and Balakrishnan.

Photo: Team CLiMA, from Royal Melbourne institute of Technology, Australia, has been shortlisted for Airbus’ Fly Your Ideas 2013 challenge final. Left to right : Mark Spiteri, Katherine Grigoriou, Luke Spiteri, Martin Burston, James Herringer.

• Fly Your Ideas is a biennial international student competition held by Airbus, the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer. The first competition was launched in October 2008 challenging teams of students from around the world to develop innovative ideas to shape the future of aviation. Since its launch, the challenge has been a vast success, drawing together thousands of students from around the world.

This year, the teams were asked to submit ideas to address one of the following challenges: “Energy”; “Efficiency”; “Affordable Growth”; “Traffic Growth”; “Passenger Experience”; and “Community Friendliness”.

Five teams have been shortlisted for Airbus’ Fly Your Ideas Challenge 2013 Final — they are from Australia, Brazil, India, Italy and Malaysia —

• Australia - Team CLiMA, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, for the development of aircraft fuelled by a blend of sustainably produced liquefied biomethane and liquefied natural gas (Bio-LNG).

• Brazil - Team Levar, University of Sao Paulo, for a luggage loading and unloading system for airplane cargo compartments to reduce the workload of airport baggage handlers with an air cushion solution inspired by air hockey tables.

• India - Team AVAS, SRM University, Tamil Nadu, for reduced propulsion noise, thanks to jet exhaust shape modification using intelligent materials (shape memory alloys). These alloys are energized by harvested electricity generated by advanced thermoelectric materials using engine heat source.

• Italy - Team Flybrid, Technical University of Milan, for an electric/turboprop combination for hybrid propulsion in regional aircraft. This system uses batteries pre-charged on ground and not in-flight.

• Malaysia - Team Embarker, Universiti Putra Malaysia, for a self-sustaining aircraft cabin concept in which the excess body heat from seated passengers is used as an alternative source of energy to power small electronics in the cabin.

Photo: Fly Your Ideas Infographic.

Photo: Future of Flight in 2050 Infographic.

The five finalists will present their ideas to a jury of Airbus and industry experts at Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse, France, on 12th June 2013. The winning team will receive a prize of €30,000, while the runners up will receive €15,000.

The winners will be announced at an exclusive ceremony at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris on 14th June 2013.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

• Our previous related post is listed at Airbus Fly Your Ideas - Who’s Talking About Us. (It appears as “Global Giants” under “United States”).

Posted by Editors at 6:18 AM | Link to this Post

May 11, 2013

American Moms Prefer Daily Help over Grand Gestures for Mother’s Day

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, children often struggle to come up with the perfect gift to show Moms that they are loved. But in a survey conducted by P&G, moms indicated that every day gestures are more meaningful than annual fancy gifts. Eighty-seven percent of those surveyed would prefer to have a little more time to themselves, a family day out, or a little more unprompted help around the house. Eighty-three percent said this would make them feel more appreciated and loved, even if it is just a simple ‘Thank you’ for all the things she does for the family.

In honor of Mother’s Day, P&G (the company behind brands like Ariel, Tide, Bounty and Olay) has invited everyone to thank their Mom, and share a story of how Mom’s everyday acts of kindness help you. Some of these stories will used in P&G’s first ever piece of consumer created ads to be showcased in July 2013.

P&G (Procter & Gamble) serves approximately 4.6 billion people around the world with its diverse brands and has operations in approximately 75 countries worldwide.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 11:50 AM | Link to this Post

May 5, 2013

Jaguar F-TYPE at the Shanghai Auto Show 2013

Photo: Jaguar F-TYPE at the Shanghai Auto Show 2013. Jaguar F-TYPE is a two-seater sports car and is Jaguar’s new ‘icon’.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 2:12 PM | Link to this Post

May 4, 2013

Nokia and Microsoft sharpen focus on Business Customers

Photo: Nokia at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain.

Photo: Nokia Press Conference, Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain.

Photo: Nokia Press Conference, Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain.

Photo: Nokia Lumia 520 - Yellow, Cyan, White, Red.

Photo: Nokia Lumia 520 at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain.

Photo: Nokia Lumia 520 at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain.

Photo: Nokia Lumia 720, Red Front.

Photo: Nokia HERE, City Lens Viewfinder.

Photo: Lumia 820 with Nokia Maps Walk Navigation.

Photo: Lumia 820 with Nokia Drive.

Photo: Nokia Booth at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain.

• At recently concluded Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Nokia announced plans to extend high-end innovations to more people in more markets.

Four new devices bring innovation to new price points, while Nokia’s HERE location suite becomes available for non-Nokia phones in the Windows Phone ecosystem. And Nokia and Microsoft are combining their strength in the enterprise sector to bring more business customers to Windows Phone.

• “The momentum behind Nokia is gathering pace. The launches today reflect our commitment to broadening our devices and services portfolio to meet the demands of people and businesses around the globe,” said Stephen Elop, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia. “By offering better experiences at a more affordable price, we are reinventing the battle for affordable mobile devices.”

Nokia Lumia 720 and Nokia Lumia 520 have expanded Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 portfolio —

The Nokia Lumia 720 delivers a high-end camera performance at a mid-range price point. According to Nokia, “A large f/1.9 aperture and exclusive Carl Zeiss optics are designed to deliver bright, clear pictures day and night, while the HD-quality, wide-angle front-facing camera makes taking pictures with friends and video calling more enjoyable. The sleek and stylish smartphone comes with the latest high-end Nokia Lumia experiences, including Nokia Music, the HERE location suite, and the option to add wireless charging with a snap-on wireless charging cover.”

The Nokia Lumia 720 comes in five colors. Rollout is planned to start in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore in Q1 2013, before continuing into broader markets in Q2, including China as well as key markets in Europe, Asia, Africa and India.

The Nokia Lumia 520 is Nokia’s most affordable Windows Phone 8 smartphone, delivering experiences normally only found in high-end smartphones, such as the digital camera lenses found on the flagship Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia Music, and the HERE location suite.

The Nokia Lumia 520 comes in five colors. Roll-out is planned to begin in Q1 2013 in Hong Kong and Vietnam, before expanding broadly in Q2 to markets in Europe, Asia - including China and India - Latin America and Africa. The Nokia Lumia 520 is also planned to roll out in the United States with T-Mobile.

Nokia also unveiled the Nokia 105, its most affordable phone to date, and the Nokia 301, for more affordable Internet access and camera experiences.

• Nokia also announced that while HERE, its new brand for location experiences, will continue to offer first and best experiences on Lumia, HERE Maps, HERE Drive and HERE Transit would become available for non-Nokia Windows Phone smartphones in selected markets.

“The new HERE Maps come with LiveSight(TM), Nokia’s set of augmented-reality technologies. LiveSight(TM) uses “sight” as a fundamentally new way to discover and navigate the world, recognizing what people see through their phone’s camera and layering that view with relevant, place-based information. LiveSight(TM) also powers Place Tag, a new digital lens introduced for Lumia. Combining Nokia’s unique capabilities in location and imaging, Place Tag adds location stamps to photos with relevant information about pictured places,” the company explained.

• Meanwhile, using the combined strength of Windows Phone 8 and the popular appeal of Nokia Lumia smartphones, Nokia and Microsoft are sharpening their focus on bringing business customers from competitor platforms to Windows Phone. Nokia confirmed that leading operators, such as Everything Everywhere, Elisa, Orange, Telstra and Vodafone, are classifying Nokia Lumia smartphones as their “business hero devices”.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 8:48 AM | Link to this Post

May 2, 2013

International Jazz Day 2013: Artists From Across The Globe Grace The Stage In Istanbul, Turkey

Photo: A concert on the theme, “Jazz: A Language for Peace”, featuring the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet, was held at UN Headquarters in connection with the International Jazz Day (30 April). Shown here: A stack of program notes for the performance. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas.

Photo: Jazz Appreciation Forever Stamp Honors America’s Gift to Music. Photo Credit: U.S. Postal Service.

• In an unprecedented series of events worldwide, UNESCO and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz joined together to celebrate jazz as a universal language of freedom on April 30th. With events taking place in 196 countries, International Jazz Day 2013 culminated in an evening concert at Istanbul’s Hagia Irene that was viewed live by millions around the world. Dating back to the 4th century, the Hagia Irene, located in the outer courtyard of the Topkapi Palace - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is regarded as an international treasure for music lovers because of its brilliant atmosphere and enchanting acoustics.

Those who participated in the Istanbul event included pianists Herbie Hancock, John Beasley (Musical Director), George Duke, Robert Glasper, Ramsey Lewis, Keiko Matsui and Eddie Palmieri; vocalists Ruben Blades, Al Jarreau, Milton Nascimento, Dianne Reeves, Esperanza Spalding (who also played bass) and Joss Stone; trumpeters Terence Blanchard, Hugh Masekela and Imer Demirer; bassists James Genus, Marcus Miller and Ben Williams; drummers Terri Lyne Carrington and Vinnie Colaiuta; guitarists Bilal Karaman, John McLaughlin, Lee Ritenour and Joe Louis Walker; saxophonists Dale Barlow, Igor Butman , Branford Marsalis, Wayne Shorter and Liu Yuan; clarinetists Anat Cohen and Husnu Senlendirici; violinist Jean-Luc Ponty; Pedrito Martinez on percussion; tabla master Zakir Hussain; trombonist Alevtina Polyakova; and special guest Martin Luther King III.

On this occasion, noted pianist Herbie Hancock remarked, “Using jazz as a tool, I have faith that the music - either through playing an instrument, learning about its rich cultural history, or listening to the millions of recordings made over the past century - will demonstrate that barriers can be broken, unity can be achieved, new forms of expression can be created, and a dialogue between cultures can begin. From my decades long career as a jazz musician, I know first hand that inventive ideas can achieve the impossible, transform humanity, and make productive changes at the grass roots level.”

International Jazz Day was adopted by UNESCO Member States on the initiative of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock in order to encourage and highlight jazz’s unique power for advancing intercultural dialogue and understanding across the world.

International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools and groups from across the globe to celebrate jazz, learn about its roots and highlight its important role as a form of communication that transcends differences.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 4:26 AM | Link to this Post

May 1, 2013

Touch The Moon

Photo: The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Dragon spacecraft onboard, is seen as it launches from Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Friday, March 1, 2013. The launch marked the second SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services mission for NASA. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls.

Photo: The Soyuz rocket is rolled out to the launch pad by train on Monday, December 17, 2012, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket sent Expedition 34/35 Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn of NASA, Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko, and Expedition 35 Commander Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: NASA/Carla Cioffi.

Photo: The flags representing Kazakhstan and the nations of the three crew members who were launched in the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft are shown at the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. From left to right are the flags of Russia, the United States, Canada and Kazakhstan. Launched on December 19 were Expedition 34/35 Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn of NASA, Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko, and Expedition 35 Commander Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: NASA/Carla Cioffi.

Photo: An Orthodox priest blesses members of the media shortly after blessing the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket sent Expedition 35 Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov, Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy of NASA, and Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin of Russia on a five and a half-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: NASA/Carla Cioffi.

Photo: Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford of NASA poses for a photograph with women in ceremonial Kazakh dress at the Kustanay Airport in Kazakhstan a few hours after he, along with Expedition 34 Russian Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy, and Russian Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin, landed their Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft near the town of Arkalyk on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Ford, Novitskiy, and, Tarelkin returned from 142 days onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 33 and 34 crews. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls.

Photo: Todd Toth, Science Educator at NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, conducts an experiment with students to create a cloud in a bottle, Monday, April 22, 2013 at Union Station in Washington. The NASA Science Gallery exhibits are being sponsored by NASA in honor of Earth Day. Photo Credit: NASA/Carla Cioffi.

Photo: A NASA Social participant asks a question to the astronauts onboard the International Space Station in a live downlink from the ISS at a NASA Social exploring science on the ISS at NASA Headquarters, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 in Washington. Photo Credit: NASA/Carla Cioffi.

• Folks in Lawton, Oklahoma, will have the rare chance to touch a nearly 4-billion-year-old piece of moon rock at NASA’s Driven to Explore traveling exhibit, a multimedia experience that immerses visitors in the story of NASA. The exhibit will be at Great Plains Science Day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2, 2013.

• The centerpiece of Driven to Explore is the opportunity to touch a lunar rock sample brought to Earth by the astronauts of Apollo 17 in 1972, America’s last human mission to the moon. The rock is one of only eight lunar samples made available for the public to touch.

Driven to Explore allows visitors to learn why we explore, discover the challenges of human space exploration and how NASA provides critical technological advances to improve life on Earth. The exhibit also details the accomplishments of the space shuttle and the International Space Station.

NASA is investing in the building blocks of a more capable approach to space exploration, including research and development to increase space travel capabilities. In support of these efforts, NASA is performing field tests, designing surface systems and conducting advanced human research to ensure that future missions are safe, sustainable and affordable.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 4:48 AM | Link to this Post

April 29, 2013

DOCUMENTA MADRID: MAY 5 - May 12, 2013

Photos: WINTER NOMADS. Director: Manuel von Sturler. 90 Minutes / 2012 / Switzerland.

Winter Nomads is an adventure film, a contemporary road movie. Pascal and Carole are shepherds. In the month of November 2010, they embark on their long winter transhumance: four months during which they will have to cover 600 km in the Swiss-French region, accompanied by three donkeys, four dogs and eight hundred sheep. An exceptional adventure is about to begin: they brave the cold and the bad weather day in day out, with a canvas cover and animal skins as their only shelter at night. This saga reveals a tough and exacting profession requiring constant improvisation and unflinching attention to nature, the animals and the cosmos.

Photo: Irish Folk Furniture. Director: Tony Donoghue. 8 Minutes / 2012 / Ireland.

This is an animated documentary film about repair and recycling. In rural Ireland old hand-painted furniture is often associated with hard times. Because of this association much of the country’s furniture heritage lies rotting in barns and sheds. In the making of this film 16 pieces of abandoned folk furniture were restored and returned back into daily use. This film was shot in a green and environmentally-friendly way using local craftspeople, local narrators, and inexpensive equipment. Only natural light was used to shoot this film.

Photos: Kyrkogardso. Director: Joakim Chardonnens. 23 Minutes / 2012 / Switzerland.

Kyrkogardso is a small island in the middle of the Baltic Sea. It is an Island of 8 habitants and has been owned by the Nordberg Family for 16 generations. Every morning, Ida Nordberg, 5 years old, crosses an icy sea to go to school. Kyrkogardso is a movie which questions the relation of a child with the immensity and the power of the Landscape.

Photo: Flo. Director: Riley Hooper. 10 Minutes / 2012 / United States of America.

With gritty style and a witty sense of humor, New York photographer Flo Fox has been documenting the streets of New York City since the 1970s. Now, not being fit, and no longer able to even hold a camera, she instructs her attendants to take photos for her and continues to pursue photography and maintain her adventurous, feisty spirit.

Photo: Dime quien era Sanchicorrota. Director: Jorge Tur Molto. 63 Minutes / 2012 / Spain.

The story revolves around exploration of the legend of Sanchicorrota, a 15th century outlaw, who, just like Robin Hood, became known for “robbing from the rich and giving to the poor”. But the search only reveals some interesting things about shepherds, sheep, hunters, and film settings.

• The 10th Edition of the International Documentary Cinema Festival of Madrid, DOCUMENTA MADRID, is taking place from 5th to 12th of May, 2013.

DOCUMENTA MADRID will open a wide window enabling the Madrid audience to see the world around them. They would enjoy 75 chosen films selected from more than 1,100 applications from 84 different countries from all continents.

Two different International Juries, composed of professionals with a long career in the documentary cinema field, will decide the Awards for the three best films in each category.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 5:57 AM | Link to this Post

April 25, 2013

Traffic Congestion Rising in USA, Declining in Europe

INRIX, a leading international provider of traffic information and driver services, today released its sixth Traffic Scorecard Annual Report, which revealed that traffic congestion in the USA is back on the rise in 2013 after two consecutive years of declines. In the first three months of this year, traffic congestion is up 4 percent compared to 2012. The uptick in traffic congestion in 2013 follows a 22 percent decrease in 2012.

U.S. Traffic Patterns & Worst Traffic Corridors

By analyzing traffic in USA’s 100 largest metropolitan areas in 2012, INRIX revealed that drivers wasted an average of 42 hours in America’s Top 10 Worst Traffic Cities - the equivalent to one week of vacation.

Top 10 Worst Cities for Traffic in America in 2012

RANK — CITY — HOURS LOST IN 2012

1 — Los Angeles — 59
2 — Honolulu — 50
3 — San Francisco — 49
4 — Austin, TX — 38
5 — New York — 50
6 — Bridgeport, CT — 39
7 — San Jose, CA — 31
8 — Seattle — 35
9 — Washington, D.C. — 41
10 — Boston — 31

Findings also exposed that drivers wasted an average of 62 hours last year on America’s most congested roads. The Top 10 Worst Roads for Traffic in 2012 were:

1. The Cross Bronx Expy (New York: I-95 SB) - Drivers on New York’s worst highway waste over six days each year in traffic.

2. The San Diego Fwy (L.A.: I-405 SB) - Consistently jammed in both directions, the 405 is LA’s worst freeway; the 8.1-mile stretch leading to Mullholland Dr. takes drivers over 50 minutes on Tuesday mornings - the worst day and time of the week.

3. The Van Wyck Expy (New York: I-678 SB) - On Thursdays between 4-5 p.m., drivers crawl at 10 mph, and it takes nearly 40 minutes to travel 6 miles.

4. The Santa Monica Fwy (L.A.: I-10 EB) - It can take drivers up to over an hour (63 min) to navigate the 15-mile stretch from Lincoln Blvd. to Alameda.

5. The Riverside Fwy (L.A.: CA-91 EB) - Drivers waste approximately six days per year in gridlock on this road.

6. The Long Island Expy (New York: I-495 EB) - New Yorkers waste more than a half hour per day on the evening commute in traffic on the L.I.E.

7. Brooklyn Queens Expy (New York: I-278 WB) - It takes approximately an hour to go 10 miles on this highway during the Tuesday evening commute.

8. San Diego Fwy (L.A.: I-405 NB) -A 13-mile stretch up to Getty Center Drive takes 40 minutes at a crawl of 20 mph.

9. The Dan Ryan/Kennedy Expy (Chicago: I-90/I-94 WB) - Chicago commuters waste approximately one work week (5 days) every year in traffic on this popular road to O’Hare Airport.

10. The Santa Ana/Golden St. Fwy (L.A. I-5 SB) - An 18-minute trip on this 17-mile stretch takes almost 50 minutes on weekday afternoons

Additionally, the Scorecard uncovered several other interesting trends regarding U.S. commute times during rush hour. According to INRIX, the worst times to be on the roads in terms of delay are weekday mornings between 7-8 a.m. and weekday evenings between 4-5 p.m. The busiest morning commute hour is Tuesday from 8-9 a.m., and the busiest evening commute takes place on Friday from 5-6 p.m.

Global Traffic Trends

While the Scorecard tells the story of rising traffic congestion indicative of a recovering economy, the report shows that, unlike the U.S., Europe traffic congestion is decreasing as the Eurozone continues to struggle through its debt crisis. Traffic congestion fell 18 percent across Europe in 2012 and continues to spiral downward in 2013 with a further 23 percent decline in the first quarter.

Aside from Luxembourg, the remaining 11 European countries analyzed in the report continue to show steep declines. Even Germany, the long-considered economic stalwart of the EU, showed declines in 2012.

COUNTRY — HOURS LOST IN 2012

Portugal — 11
Italy — 22
Luxembourg — 29
Spain — 25
Hungary — 16
United Kingdom — 29
Austria — 25
Netherlands — 52
Germany — 37
France — 37

Luxembourg has the largest increases in traffic with congestion up by 38 percent in 2013. Ireland is up 10 percent in the same period. Traffic congestion in Europe’s financial capital of London is up 23 percent in the first three months of 2013.

According to INRIX, after leveraging trillions of data points collected and archived by its Traffic Intelligence platform, the Scorecard publishes the most up-to-date information regarding overall congestion and the worst roads for traffic across America. By analyzing hundreds of thousands of road segments totaling nearly 2 million miles of major highways, arterials and city streets nationwide - with a special focus on the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas - the Scorecard informs the ongoing debate of one of the USA’s most frustrating and intractable issues — Traffic Congestion.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 11:33 AM | Link to this Post

April 21, 2013

Regatta: America’s Cup World Series 2013 Races begin in Naples, Italy

Photos: America’s Cup World Series Regatta 2013, Naples, Italy. April 18, 2013. © Gilles Martin Raget for America’s Cup.

• The best sailors in the world have come to Naples, Italy, for the first America’s Cup World Series event of 2013 (April 16-21).

Oracle Team USA, the home team in the United States, charged with defending the America’s Cup in 2013, is currently leading the 2012-13 series.

America’s Cup World Series Naples Championship Standings
(Provisional, after 4 of 7 scheduled races)

1. Oracle Team USA (Golden Gate Yacht Club, San Francisco, USA)
2. Energy Team (Yacht Club de France, Paris, France)
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland, New Zealand)
4. J.P. Morgan BAR (Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Falmouth, England)
5. Luna Rossa Piranha (Circolo della Vela Sicilia, Palermo, Italy)
6. Luna Rossa Swordfish Circolo della Vela Sicilia, Palermo, Italy)
7. Artemis Racing White (Royal Swedish Yacht Club, Stockholm, Sweden)
8. HS Racing (Golden Gate Yacht Club, San Francisco, USA)
9. China Team (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Mei Fan Yacht Club, China)

• The America’s Cup World Series features up to 11 of the top sailing teams in the world. The America’s Cup World Series has been staged in America and Europe since 2011. High-tech catamarans with wingsails, which demand every ounce of energy from their crews, face off at dazzling speeds down narrow courses in regattas staged right off the coast, creating a breathtaking experience for fans.

The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America’s Cup match races between two sailing yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America’s Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging for the cup. The America’s Cup is the oldest active trophy in international sport.

One of the most fiercely competitive and sought after trophies in all of sport, the America’s Cup was first raced in 1851, 45 years before the modern Olympics. The U.S. yacht America won, giving the international sailing competition its name. It consists of 3 different stages — the America’s Cup World Series, the Louis Vuitton Cup (used as the selection series to determine who will race the Defender), and the America’s Cup Finals.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Posted by Editors at 12:06 AM | Link to this Post