Friday, January 31, 2014

UNICEF:Need to Innovate to Advance Children’s Rights

31 01 2014
UNICEF’s Latest Data Reveal Disparities, Show Need to Innovate to Advance Children’s Rights

As 25th anniversary of children’s rights convention approaches, vast progress made but reaching unreached children will require sharper focus on disparities, new report says

#data4children
NEW YORK, 30 January 2014 – Declaring that ‘every child counts’, UNICEF today urged greater effort and innovation to identify and address the gaps that prevent the most disadvantaged of the world’s 2.2 billion children from enjoying their rights.
The children’s agency, in a report released today, highlights the importance of data in making progress for children and exposing the unequal access to services and protections that mars the lives of so many.
“Data have made it possible to save and improve the lives of millions of children, especially the most deprived,” said Tessa Wardlaw, Chief of UNICEF’s Data and Analytics Section. “Further progress can only be made if we know which children are the most neglected, where girls and boys are out of school, where disease is rampant or where basic sanitation is lacking.”
Tremendous progress has been made since the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was signed in 1989 and in the run up to the culmination of the Millennium Development Goals in 2015. UNICEF’s flagship report, The State of the World’s Children 2014 in Numbers shows that:
- Some 90 million children who would have died before reaching the age of 5 if child mortality rates had stuck at their 1990 level have, instead, lived. In large measure, this is because of progress in delivering immunizations, health, and water and sanitation services.
- Improvements in nutrition have led to a 37 per cent drop in stunting since 1990.
- Primary school enrolment has increased, even in the least developed countries: Whereas in 1990 only 53 in 100 children in those countries gained school admission, by 2011 the number had improved to 81 in 100. (new)
Even so, the statistics in the report, titled “Every Child Counts: Revealing disparities, advancing children’s rights,” also bear witness to ongoing violations of children’s rights:
- Some 6.6 million children under 5 years of age died in 2012, mostly from preventable causes, in violation of their fundamental right to survive and develop.
- Fifteen per cent of the world’s children are put to work that compromises their right to protection from economic exploitation and infringes on their right to learn and play.
- Eleven per cent of girls are married before they turn 15, jeopardizing their rights to health, education and protection. (it has not been written about)
Data also reveal gaps and inequities, showing the gains of development are unevenly distributed:
- The world’s poorest children are nearly three (2.7) times less likely than the richest ones to have a skilled attendant at their birth, leaving them and their mothers at increased risk of birth-related complications.
- In The Niger, all urban households but only 39 per cent of rural households have access to safe drinking water.
- In Chad, for every 100 boys who enter secondary school, only 44 girls do – leaving them without an education and without protections and services that schools can provide.
The report notes that “being counted makes children visible, and this act of recognition makes it possible to address their needs and advance their rights.” It adds that innovations in data collection, analysis and dissemination are making it possible to disaggregate data by such factors as location, wealth, sex, and ethnic or disability status, to include children who have been excluded or overlooked by broad averages.
The report urges increased investment in innovations that right the wrong of exclusion.
“Overcoming exclusion begins with inclusive data. To improve the reach, availability and reliability of data on the deprivations with which children and their families contend, the tools of collection and analysis are constantly being modified – and new ones are being developed. This will require sustained investment and commitment,” the report says.
Much of what is known about the situations of children comes from household surveys, and in particular the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). Designed and supported by UNICEF, MICS are conducted by national statistical authorities and provide disaggregated data on a range of topics affecting children’s survival, development, rights and experience of life. To date, MICS surveys have been conducted in more than 100 countries. In the last round of MICS, interviews were completed in more than 650,000 households in 50 countries.
Thirty years have passed since The State of the World’s Children began to publish tables of standardized global and national statistics aimed at providing a detailed picture of children’s circumstances. With the release of an edition of the report dedicated to data, UNICEF is inviting decision-makers and the general public to access and use its statistics – at www.data.unicef.org – to drive positive change for children.
“Data do not, of themselves, change the world. They make change possible – by identifying needs, supporting advocacy, and gauging progress. What matters most is that decision-makers use the data to make positive change, and that the data are available for children and communities to use in holding duty-bearers to account,” the report said.
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Broadcasters: A video news story is available at http://weshare.unicef.org/mediaresources
 
To read The State of the World’s Children 2014 In Numbers: Every Child Counts – Revealing disparities, advancing children’s rights and to see additional multimedia material, please visit: http://www.unicef.org/sowc2014/numbers
For information on MICS, please visit http://www.childinfo.org/mics.html
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org

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Arvind Kejriwal in press conference self praises for his government

31 01 2014

 

Arvind Kejriwal in press conference praises his government.
AAP Party in Delhi a party of unemployed youths lower class whose hopes have nosedived but find easy way to be associated with. Party has failed even to pay to their volunteers even meagre amount to sustain further has not been able to provide food or proper working structure for the party. Arvind the only voice projected with funds and some incongruous statements which remains still unanswered is the quick fix of the party.  
 A political party indulging in self praise has failed to bring neutral observes as Lokpal on the working of AAP as they had promised before coming to power,their appointment of lokpal which is being ensigaed by various e channels is not very much different from the federal structure.Thus AAP is getting disconnected from Delhi people  every day and their loud mouth spokesperson further dilute their popularity.people hopes have been dashed to ground and has become a laughing stock of political class of new tugs as roadside herb sellers and make fast buck. AAP has failed in its transparency front when it failed to give any substantive or any answer to High Court.Their idealistic talks in public domain about common man proves to be an hoax unless it is seen at the ground levels.. 
Many political experts allege that their whole intention is to gather money, mint money  on causes with need total overhaul and is beyond AAP.
 
Dear Friends, Your government in Delhi has completed one month in office. It has been wonderful yet challenging opportunity to serve the people of Delhi. I want to share some of the highlights of our work with you and seek your honest feedback. One thing I will say for sure – all ministers and MLAs of AAP did our task sincerely and honestly, putting the people above everything else. I look forward to your continued support.
In their release to media person they further added, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) strongly condemns the nefarious attempts by a Congress MLA to disrupt the press conference of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday.
MLA Asif Mohammad Khan inappropriately barged into a press briefing at the Delhi Secretariat and indulged in highly objectionable behavior, which is totally unbecoming of an elected representative.
He raised the issue of Batla House encounter and the AAP would like to set the record straight. This encounter had taken place on 19 September 2008, when there were Congress governments in Delhi as well as at the Centre.
The AAP had not come into existence till then, but it was noted lawyer and human rights activist, Prashant Bhushan (now a national executive member of the AAP) who had filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking an independent investigation into this encounter.
The High Court asked the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to look into the matter. The NHRC accepted the probe report of the Delhi Police Crime Branch. This was again challenged by Mr Bhushan in the Supreme Court.
A three judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the then Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan dismissed the petition seeking an independent/judicial inquiry into the encounter.
The Supreme Court ruled that no further probes were required in this matter.
Mr Asif has tried to spread a lot of falsehoods today. It is important to rebut these false allegations. Without reading the AAP manifesto, he has given statements that it promises a probe into this encounter. THERE IS NO SUCH MENTION IN THE AAP MANIFESTO.    
Mr Asif needs to answer the question as to why he joined the Congress Party in August 2013 after having won the 2008 assembly election on the RJD ticket, despite the fact that Congress governments of Delhi and even the centre had termed the encounter as genuine in the High Court and the Supreme Court.
It is really beyond reasonable understanding that he chose to contest on the ticket of a party which supported the encounter and opposed any attempt to get it probed and is seeking answers from a government which believes in justice for all and discrimination against none.
Before questioniong others, Mr Asif should spell out the stand of the party to which he belongs, on this issue.
 
 The AAP makes it clear that it stands committed for justice to all sections of the society and is firmly against implication of innocents in false cases, irrespective of their religion, region or caste.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

India’s illiterate adults stands at 287 million: UNESCO

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India has the highest population of illiterate adults and constitutes 37% of the global total though India ’s literacy rate rose from 48% in 1991 to 63% in 2006 

According to the Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2013-14 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), India has the highest population of illiterate adults at 287 million which is 37% of the global total. India’s literacy rate rose from 48% in 1991 to 63% in 2006 while for the latest year, population growth cancelled the gains so there was no change in the number of illiterate adults.  

The Report also mentioned about education spending in various countries and highlighted that India reduced its spending on education from 4.4% of GNP in 1999 to 3.3% in 2010 while it spent 10% of its government budget on education in 2011 which is a reduction from 13% in 1999. In one of India ‘s wealthier states, Kerala, education spending per pupil was about $685. Similarly, in Himachal Pradesh it was US$542. By contrast, in West Bengal it was US$127 while in the state of Bihar it was just US$100.

The report mentioned that the education also helps overcome gender biases in political behavior to deepen democracy. In India , reducing the gender literacy gap by 40% increased the probability of women standing for state assembly election by 16% and the share of votes that they received by 13%. The report also showed strong correlation between female literacy and child mortality. An increase in the female literacy rate from 58%, the current average in the districts surveyed, to 100% would lead to a reduction in the under-5 mortality rate from 81 to 55 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The report also suggested that if India reduced tax exemptions, tackled tax evasion and diversified its tax base, it could greatly change this picture. In India , the majority of tax revenue forgone is due to exemptions from custom and excise duties. The revenue lost to exemptions came to the equivalent of 5.7% of GDP in 2012-13. If 20% of this had been earmarked for education, the sector would have received an additional US$22.5 billion in 2013, increasing funding by almost 40% compared with the current education budget.

The Report also talked about the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan with allocations still not sufficiently reaching the states most in need. Further, it also highlighted that improving access to quality education could save an enormous number of lives in India and Nigeria, which together account for more than a third of child deaths and added that if all women had completed secondary education, it would have been 61% lower in India.

The Report also highlighted that only 9% of primary school teacher candidates passed the Central Teacher Eligibility Test introduced by the government in 2011 with little improvement in subsequent years.


 

Aimia, AirAsia and Think Big Digital Form Partnership

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Aimia, AirAsia and Think Big Digital Form Partnership To Grow the AirAsia BIG Loyalty Program
Global Loyalty Leader joins with Asia’s Fastest Growing Low Cost Airline and Think Big Digital Sdn Bhd  to grow World Class Loyalty Program in Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 January 2014 – Aimia Inc. (TSX: AIM) (“Aimia”), a global leader in loyalty management headquartered in Canada, AirAsia Berhad (BM: AIRA) (“AirAsia”), Asia’s fastest growing and largest low-cost airline, and Think Big Digital (“Think Big”) Sdn Bhd , today announced the signing of a partnership agreement for Aimia’s acquisition of a minority stake in Think Big, the owner and operator of BIG – AirAsia and Tune Group’s loyalty program.
Aimia will initially invest approximately (C$16 million) in Think Big, with up to an additional (C$7 million) to be invested if certain milestones are achieved by December 31, 2015.
The partnership combines AirAsia’s unrivaled success in the Asian market, which has seen it grow from just two aircraft to more than 160 in 12 years, Tune Group’s portfolio of successful companies including hotels, pre-paid Visa cards, insurance and music companies – and Aimia’s unmatched expertise in the design and management of travel-based loyalty programs, to provide BIG members and partners with a loyalty proposition that is truly rewarding.
“The partnership between AirAsia, Think Big Digital and Aimia is yet another way that AirAsia and Tune Group are innovating and driving change in the Asian airline market – all to the benefit of our members, guests and investors,” said Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia and co-founder of Tune Group. “With its experience running the world’s largest standalone frequent flyer programs, the Aimia team has unique and invaluable insight. We are thrilled to be working together to leverage that knowledge as we continue to grow the AirAsia BIG loyalty program.”
“The AirAsia BIG loyalty program is a great opportunity to export Aimia’s coalition business model and to help our clients create deep and lasting relationships with their customers,” said Rupert Duchesne, Aimia’s Group Chief Executive. “Through this partnership with AirAsia and Tune Group, we look forward to sharing our experience with this program, while also growing our presence in the high-potential Asian loyalty market.”
AirAsia BIG loyalty program spans across Southeast Asia, a growing market with a population of 634 million. The region is ranked fourth globally in airline market size.
The AirAsia BIG loyalty program continues to benefit from the growing customer base of both AirAsia and Tune Group. It has already attracted a broad coalition of partners ranging from credit card companies, retail stores, petrol stations, and insurance and telecom firms, in addition to the AirAsia and Tune Group family partners.
“With AirAsia’s customer base of over 43 million guests a year, the potential of BIG to deliver deeper, more meaningful relationships to a broad membership base is significant,” said Alice Goh, CEO AirAsia BIG Loyalty program. “We believe that this potential extends beyond flight revenues and we look forward to working with all BIG partners to build a cutting-edge program.”
“Asia represents a key region for Aimia as we expand our presence globally, and we believe the partnership between ourselves, AirAsia and Tune Group provides a fantastic platform to further demonstrate our unique capabilities in the loyalty industry,” added Marc Allsop, Aimia’s Senior Vice President of Business Development. “This partnership brings three innovative, forward-thinking brands together for the long-term benefit of our customers.”
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements are included in this news release. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “predict”, “project”, “will”, “would”, and “should” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Such statements may involve but are not limited to comments with respect to strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions.
Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are based on assumptions and are subject to important risks and uncertainties. Any forecasts, predictions or forward-looking statements cannot be relied upon due to, among other things, changing external events and general uncertainties of the business and its corporate structure.
Results indicated in forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results for a number of reasons, including without limitation, dependency on top accumulation partners and clients, changes to the Aeroplan Program, conflicts of interest, greater than expected redemptions for rewards, regulatory matters, retail market/economic conditions, industry competition, Air Canada liquidity issues, Air Canada or travel industry disruptions, airline industry changes and increased airline costs, supply and capacity costs, unfunded future redemption costs, failure to safeguard databases and consumer privacy, changes to coalition loyalty programs, seasonal nature of the business, other factors and prior performance, foreign operations, legal proceedings, reliance on key personnel, labour relations, pension liability, technological disruptions and inability to use third party software, failure to protect intellectual property rights, interest rate and currency fluctuations, leverage and restrictive covenants in current and future indebtedness, uncertainty of dividend payments, managing growth, credit ratings, as well as the other factors identified in this news release and throughout Aimia’s public disclosure record on file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities.
The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Aimia’s expectations as of November 13, 2013, and are subject to change after such date. However, Aimia disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations.
Photo caption:
AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes and Aimia Group Chief Executive Rupert Duchesne striking the gong to mark the successfulsigning of a partnership agreement for Aimia’s acquisition of a minority stake in Think Big, the owner and operator of BIG – AirAsia and Tune Group’s loyalty program.
***ENDS***
About The AirAsia Group
AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with 121 destinations. Within 12 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 220 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to over 160. The airline today is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries as well as China, India and Australia. AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for five consecutive years from 2009 – 2013.
About Aimia
Aimia Inc. (“Aimia” or the “Corporation”) is a global leader in loyalty management. Employing more than 4,000 people in over 20 countries worldwide, Aimia offers clients, partners and members proven expertise in launching and managing coalition loyalty programs, delivering proprietary loyalty services, creating value through loyalty analytics and driving innovation in the emerging digital, mobile and social communications spaces. Aimia owns and operates Aeroplan, Canada’s premier coalition loyalty program, Nectar, the United Kingdom’s largest coalition loyalty program, Nectar Italia and Smart Button a leading provider of SaaS loyalty solutions. In addition, Aimia owns stakes in Air Miles Middle East, Mexico’s leading coalition loyalty program Club Premier, Brazil’s Prismah Fidelidade, China Rewards – the first coalition loyalty program in China that enables members to earn and redeem a common currency, and i2c, a joint venture with Sainsbury’s offering insight and data analytics services in the UK to retailers and suppliers. Aimia also holds a minority position in Cardlytics, a US-based private company operating in card-linked marketing for electronic banking. Aimia is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: AIM). For more information, visit us at www.aimia.com.


 

#AAP नेता नहीं दे रहे पार्टी फंडिंग पर जानकारी

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Punjab Kesari     ‏@punjabkesari                  4m       
#AAP नेता नहीं दे रहे पार्टी फंडिंग पर जानकारी : केंद्र ने #HighCourt को बतायाhttp://bit.ly/1b6P72C  pic.twitter.com/6i2jaG54lU
 
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Exploring New Agri-business model

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DR Congo still needs humanitarian aid

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DR Congo still needs humanitarian aid despite advances towards peace in east – UN

A market street in Goma, the capital of the eastern province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Photo: IRIN/Kenneth Odiwuor

 
27 January 2014 – Despite significant progress towards peace in the strife-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the international community must keep humanitarian aid flowing into a country where nearly 3 million people, half of them children, are currently displaced, according to the United Nations.
“We are united by the goal of responding to the needs of the most vulnerable in the DRC,” UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Deputy Executive Director Yoka Brandt said over the weekend at the end of a high-level joint visit with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and UN refugee agency (UNHCR).
“Significant progress towards peace has been made. However, the situation is complex and children and women continue to be displaced by violence. Increased international support is necessary to cover their basic needs, such as access to safe and clean water and nutrition assistance.”
The DRC has been torn apart by civil wars and factional fighting since it became independent from Belgium in 1960, but with the support of a series of UN missions a measure of stability has been restored to much of the vast country over the past decade.
Fighting between the Government and a variety of rebel and sectarian groups, however, has continued to devastate the eastern regions, particularly North and South Kivu provinces. One major dissident group, the M23, was defeated by the national army with UN support last month, but skirmishes with various groups continue, driving yet more civilians from their homes.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 2.9 million people are currently displaced by conflict within DRC, more than 60 per cent of them in North and South Kivu.
The UN officials visited South Irumu in Province Orientale, where fighting between the Congolese army and militia groups has displaced an estimated 120,000 people since August.
“Insecurity has disrupted the livelihoods of these people, and we are committed to continue supporting them, both in the areas where they seek refuge as well as back in their communities once they feel that conditions are in place for them to return,” WFP Assistant Executive Director, Ramiro Lopes da Silva said after meeting displaced people and host communities in a makeshift site near Lagabo in Ituri district.
“In the meantime, we will continue to advocate on their behalf to donor governments for adequate resources to be made available.”
The three also visited programmes in the Mungunga III camp near Goma, North Kivu, and met the DRC authorities, humanitarian partners and people affected by the conflict.
“People in some parts of the country continue to suffer and are being displaced because of violence,” UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Janet Lim said. “We need the support of the Congolese authorities, civil society, humanitarian organizations, the development sector and donor countries to consolidate the recent progress towards peace and stability throughout the country and to put a total end to conflict and displacement.”
Insecurity in the east of the vast country, including Katanga province, has sparked repeated population displacements. It is estimated that about half of internally displaced people (IDPs) are children. Equateur province, where peace is being restored after inter-ethnic clashes in 2009 and 2010 forced 200,000 people to flee their homes, now hosts more than 50,000 refugees from the war-torn Central African Republic (CAR).






National Launch of EFA Global Monitoring Report 2013/14

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Third Quarter Monetary Policy Review (2013-14) Update

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§   The policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) increased by 25 basis point from 7.75% to 8%.
§   CRR kept unchanged at 4% of net demand and time liability (NDTL)
§   Consequently, the reverse repo rate under the LAF stands adjusted at 7%, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 9%.






INDIA ART FAIR 2014 Neilson Gallery : Stand H2

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Chema Cobo HOLES I oil on canvas 116x89cm 2012.jpg
INDIA ART FAIR    2014
 
Neilson    Gallery :  Stand H2

 
 
Chema Cobo
Manuel Salinas
J. A. González de la Calle
Ajay Kumar Sharma
  

 

  

 
 
  

30 January– 2 February 2014


India Art Fair 2014
NSIC Exhibition Grounds, New Delhi 110020
 
 Chema    Cobo                      Holes I    oil on canvas, 116 x 89    cm 2012
 
 
 
 
 
Neilson Gallery
C/ Dr. Mateos Gago, 50
11610 Grazalema, Cádiz
 
Tf: 956 13 24 33 -    678 24 40 77






Sunny’s lingerie goes missing

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Sunny’s lingerie goes missing – Security beefed up on the sets of Ragini MMS 2.

Sunny Leone’s upcoming HORREX (horror and sex) film Ragini MMS-2 to see her don expensive, top-of-the-line lingerie in some scenes, most of which was ordered from a website of a renowned international brand.
This reports from a source, “Sunny is extremely particular about her lingerie and likes wearing the best so that it does not affect her skin.”
But  while shooting for a pivotal scene in the film that required Sunny to don an exquisite grey lingerie, the crew realized that it had gone missing. Frantic attempts by the costume team and the direction team yielded no results! Sunny’s lingerie had gone missing from the sets!
Owing to a continuity issue, the makers had to instantly re-order the same piece and paid a premium for early shipping to avoid a delay in the commencement of shoot.
From then on, the security on the sets was beefed up to prevent such unusual thefts.
Shailesh Giri






Kermit and Miss Piggy Topiaries, Urban Farm Eats Outdoor Kitchen Debut

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Kermit and Miss Piggy Topiaries, Urban Farm Eats Outdoor Kitchen Debut March 5 at Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival in Walt Disney World Resort, Florida
‘The Mike & Sulley’s Monstrous Garden, Flower Power Newbies and More through May 18
 
India 29th January 2014– Kermit the Frog will find it is easy being green when his artfully-crafted character topiary debuts during the 21st Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV March 5 to May 18, 2014 at Walt Disney World Resort.  With flamboyance to spare, a floral Miss Piggy will join Kermit and his blooming banjo in the World Showcase topiary display.

Urban Farm Eats will be the new Outdoor Kitchen on the promenade with a sustainable garden featuring tilapia, eggplant and other farm-raised treats. Guests can try new menu items including the Land-Grown Eggplant “Scallop” with Romesco Sauce, Ghost Pepper Dusted Tilapia with Winter Melon Salad and Mango Chutney, plus red and white vegan wines and gluten-free beer.

The festival’s nearly 100 whimsical topiaries and its 11 tantalizing Outdoor Kitchens with sweet and savory indulgent bites are reason enough to visit the 75-day flower and garden extravaganza. Yet the park will be packed with so much more as it transforms to a rainbow-hued wonderland of sweeping gardens and exhibits. Stars of HGTV, including Alison Victoria of “Kitchen Crashers” and Matt Blashaw of “Yard Crashers,” will appear each weekend at the Festival Center, Audubon will debut its new Hummingbird Garden and Mike & Sulley’s Monstrous Garden opens as a fun-filled play land.

More Festival News . . .

  • Goofy, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck topiaries will appear in a new Epcot front entrance garden vignette celebrating spring with a butterfly hunt adventure.  The topiaries will have a new computer-generated look while telling an entertaining story.  Goofy’s butterfly net will prove useless as topiary butterflies light on the back of his floral garb.  A topiary bee buzzes on an exasperated Donald’s head.  The garden will feature a real waterfall and pond with water lilies.
  • Now in their second festival year, the festival’s 11 food and beverage garden marketplaces have been dubbed Outdoor Kitchens, where chefs will be cooking a variety of new and popular returning menu items, including vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, in 2014. At The Smokehouse BBQ Outdoor Kitchen, Piggylicious Bacon Cupcakes and Smoked Turkey Ribs are on tap with a lineup of great brews. Last year’s top menu picks like the Watermelon Salad with local baby arugula, feta cheese, pickled red onions and balsamic reduction will be back for an encore at the Florida Fresh Outdoor Kitchen.
  • A new Mike & Sulley’s Monstrous Garden welcomes families with a whimsical play land of activities. Dozens of additional character topiaries, including Mickey Mouse and Peter Pan will surprise guests beyond the park’s iconic Spaceship Earth.
  • The Flower Power Concert Series welcomes two new acts in 2014:  Gary Lewis and the Playboys (“This Diamond Ring”) March 14-16, and The Alan Parsons Live Project (“Eye in the Sky”) May 16-18.  During opening weekend, the series kicks off at America Gardens Theatre with fan-favorite band The Guess Who (“American Woman”) March 7-9.  Other pop acts set to perform include Chubby Checker & the Wildcats, The Village People and Paul Revere & The Raiders. (Entertainment is subject to change).
  • Hummingbirds at Home, a new exhibit presented by the National Audubon Society, will feature walk-through hummingbird gardens and tips on how to attract the magical creatures that migrate to Florida from South America each year.
  • For the second year, illuminated gardens will cast a festive glow across the park when the sun sets each evening.
  • Mater of the Disney-Pixar “Cars” film hit is back by demand with the new Mater’s Parts, Plants and Play Garden. Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House will be aflutter with hundreds of the winged beauties and a fairy topiary of Tinker Bell.
  • At the Festival Center in the park’s Future World, twice-daily interactive gardening workshops will set the stage for outdoor do-it-yourself inspiration, and gardening guest speakers will appear daily.  Fridays through Sundays, HGTV design celebrities will host home, garden and design seminars.

As they sample from marketplace menus, guests can wander among multiple themed gardens and children’s play areas.  Dozens of Disney-crafted “flower towers,” herb gardens and beds of multi-colored blooms will add to the floral splendor of the park’s landscape.  Disney’s garden gurus estimate 70,000 bedding plants will surround the Future World east and west lakes alone; on the water, 220 mini-gardens will be set afloat.  Several special weekend happenings, including the popular Art in the Garden Weekend, will be scheduled.

While Disney guests celebrate spring, they also can explore the reimagined, design-centric Test Track Presented by Chevrolet, the hang-gliding sensation of Soarin’ and other high-tech Future World marvels.  In World Showcase, the spotlight will shine on topiaries of Disney princesses, storybook characters and even pandas and trolls, guests can discover the attractions, shops and restaurants that represent cultures and cuisine of 11 countries. Spice Road Table, which debuted in January at the Morocco showcase, will be open for lagoon-side noshing on tasty tapas.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Jasmine Roy
Manager – Corporate Communications
Walt Disney World Resort
jroy@aviareps.com +91 90046 90231







21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car

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Boletín informativo. Miércoles 29 de Enero 2014.

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                        Boletín informativo. Miércoles 29 de Enero 2014.                    
Economía Social | Laboral
                                  LA REUNIóN ENTRE SINDICATOS Y PATRONAL DE COCA-COLA TERMINA SIN ACUERDO         CCOO impugna el ERE de Coca-Cola         Comisiones Obreras ha decidido impugnar ante la Inspección de Trabajo el ERE de Coca-Cola Iberian Partner porque no es un grupo laboral, según han confirmado fuentes del sindicato a nuevatribuna.es. Tras el fracaso de la primera ronda de negociaciones, los trabajadores advierten de que continuarán las protestas. La compañía teme que la marca ‘Coca-Cola’ se vea dañada con la decisión de la embotelladora.
    
                                    
                      Salir de la crisis sin clase media, sólo pobres         Por Carmen Barrera | La apuesta que está haciendo el ejecutivo del Partido Popular por precarizar y desregularizar el mercado de trabajo está pasando una grave factura a la ciudadanía española.
    
                                    
                                  NUEVA VUELTA DE TUERCA A LA REFORMA LABORAL DE RAJOY         El FMI insiste a España que debe seguir bajando salarios         Proseguir con la devaluación salarial y acabar con la negociación colectiva siguen siendo las recetas del Fondo Monetario Internacional para España que advierte que el éxito de la reforma laboral no puede verse menoscaba con una “interpretación restrictiva” de los tribunales.
    
                                    
                     BAJAR MÁS LOS SALARIOS DEBILITA LA DEMANDA INTERNA         El PSOE invita a Lagarde a venir a España y “conocer el nivel salarial”         El PSOE califica la nueva recetas del FMI “claramente errónea, equivocada e ineficiente” tanto para la recuperación económica como para la creación de empleo.
    
                                    
                     PARA SALIR DE LA CRISIS         UGT responde al FMI que es preciso potenciar los salarios         “Abaratar aún más los salarios, generalizar la precariedad y desmantelar la negociación colectiva son una inyección letal para la economía española”, advierte el sindicato.
    
                                    
         Las enseñanzas de la #MareaBlanca         Por Joan Coscubiela | La victoria de la #MareaBlanca debería suponer un punto de inflexión. La esperanza que genera la lucha ha ganado frente la resignación.
    
                                    
                      Otro golpe directo al mentón de Cospedal         Por Juan Antonio Mata Marfil | El Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Castilla-La Mancha, ha anulado, una vez más decisiones unilaterales, arbitrarias y caciquiles del Gobierno de Cospedal.
    
                                    
                     Y QUE ELIMINE A LOS ASESORES CONTRATADOS         Sindicatos piden a Cospedal que readmita a los casi 500 interinos de C-LM despedidos en 2012         Los sindicatos UGT y STAS avisan que los 14 millones que podría costar la sentencia del TSJCM, en año y medio alcanzarán los 28 si el Supremo la ratifica.
    
                                    
                                  SEGúN UN INFORME SOBRE LOS PROCESOS DE EJECUCIóN HIPOTECARIA ELABORADO POR EL BANCO DE ESPAñA         En el primer semestre de 2013 se ejecutaron 20.000 desahucios         El número de desahucios registrados en España en el primer semestre de 2013 se situó en 19.567, prácticamente los mismos que se contabilizaron en todo 2013.
    
                                    
Cultura
                      El día que no pudimos cantar con Peter Seeger ¡Viva la Quince Brigada!         Por Orencio Osuna | Al conocer la muerte de Peeter Seeger acuden a mi memoria esas canciones que asocio a tantas y tantas lucha contra la barbarie y la injusticia que durante décadas han entonado millones de personas en todo el mundo….
    
                                    
         Adios a Pete Seeger, cantante y compañero comprometido         Por Manel García Biel | Pete Seeger ha sido un hombre solidario y comprometido con todas las causas dignas, por las que utilizó sin rodeos sus canciones. Él fue también compositor de grandes himnos de progreso como es el mundialmente reconocido “We Shall Overcome”…
    
                                    
Opinión
· Víctor Moreno: Entremés religioso en dos actos         Las apariciones públicas de Jorge Fernández y de Fátima Báñez, confirman que la existencia del encefalograma plano no es un mito…      
                                    
· Juan Antonio Molina: El problema español         Se suele hablar al otro lado del Ebro del problema catalán. Pero sin embargo, cuando ese concepto se vertebra desde un Estado sin identidad…      
                                    
· Alberto Requena: ¿Y si no hubiera final de la crisis?         Llamamos crisis a la situación que estamos atravesando. Pero crisis implica que hay posible superación, que pasa, que tiene final…    
                                    
Derechos Humanos
                     PRESENTAN ESTE VIERNES SUS PRIMERAS DENUNCIAS          Víctimas del ‘robo de bebés’ presentarán denuncias en el Consulado argentino en Madrid        
La asociación ‘Todos los niños robados son también mis niños’ presentará este viernes las dos primeras denuncias relacionadas con el ‘robo de bebés’ en el Consulado argentino en Madrid para que las investigue la juez María Servini.
    
                                    
                                  LA FAMILIA LLEGARA AL TRIBUNAL DE ESTRASBURGO         El Gobierno quiere archivar el caso Couso        
Los militares estadounidenses que mataron al cámara español José Couso podrían quedar libres de toda culpa de aprobarse la proposición ley presentada por el PP, que recorta, hasta prácticamente hacer desparecer, la jurisdicción universal.
    
                                    
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Nueva Tribuna                            
© medio digital de información general                                 editado por Página 7 Comunicación S.L.                                 C/ Noblejas, 5 Bajo – 28013 Madrid




IIIF launched to bridge the financial gap of MSME sector

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The India Inclusive Innovation Fund (IIIF) launched to bridge the financial gap of MSME sector
 
The programme is to bring various stakeholders together not only for financing the enterprises but also providing handholding support in different manner through technical inputs to connect with the markets
 
The National Innovation Council (NInC) and the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has jointly announced the creation of the India Inclusive Innovation Fund (IIIF). The India Inclusive Innovation Fund has been approved by the Union Cabinet with a view to combine innovation and the dynamism of enterprise to solve the problems of citizens at the base of the economic pyramid in India . 
The fund will be registered under SEBI’s Alternative Investment Fund Category I guidelines with an initial corpus of Rs. 500 crores, with the Ministry of MSME committing to 20% (Rs 100 crores) and the balance will be given by banks, insurance companies, overseas financial and development institutions. The fund will endeavour to provide modest financial returns ensuring significant social impact to the community. The fund’s eventual aim is to expand the corpus to Rs. 5,000 crores over the next 24 months. The IIIF seeks to create a new class of capital which helps in setting up and upgrading entrepreneurial skills and innovation which is the need of the economy. The fund will invest in innovative, scalable and sustainable ventures and address social needs of less privileged citizens in areas such as healthcare, food, nutrition, agriculture, education / skill development, energy, financial inclusion, water, sanitation, employment generation, etc. 
IIIF seeks to address the existing capital gap and therefore initially, at least 50% of its investments will be to enterprises that fall in the MSME stage. The IIIF will also partner the entire ecosystem in this space, including incubators, angel groups, and also public R&D programmes and laboratories to support the commercialisation and deployment of socially relevant innovative technologies and solutions. The day to day operations of the fund will be entrusted to an Asset Management Company (AMC) which will be set up as a Section 25 not for profit company.
The underline philosophy of the programme is to bring various stakeholders together not only for financing the enterprises but also providing handholding support in different manner through technical inputs to connect with the markets. A number of initiatives will be brought on board and will have a bearing in future on this programme.




OBC Press meet Q-3 Financial Results 2013-14

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                                                            Shri S. L. Bansal
Chairman & Managing Director
Oriental Bank of Commerce
Cordially invite you to a
PRESS MEET
on the occasion of the announcement of
Q-3 Financial Results 2013-14
on Friday, 31st January, 2014

at
Oriental Bank of Commerce,
Corporate Office
Plot No 5 , Sector 32
Institutional Area , Gurgoan – 122001
at 1.00 PM
Press Meet will be followed by Lunch
RSVP
Andy : 9999573707




Before too long, I’ll be heading to the Capitol

29012014
The White House, Washington
Hello everyone,
Before too long, I’ll be heading to the Capitol to report on the state of our union – and talk about the year ahead.
It’s one of the most important traditions of the American democracy, and it happens tonight.
President Barack Obama
This email was sent to nksagar_1@yahoo.com.




Oening with light show of Patrick Rimoux latest exhibition

29012014
Jean-Philippe Bottin   Dear friends, Just a quick reminder. I hope to see you all for the opening with light show of Patrick Rimoux latest exhibition (Formes et Lumière) at Alliance Française de Delhi, tomorrow Wednesday
To Jean-Philippe BottinMe
 
 
Jan 28 at 5:40 PM
Dear friends,
Just a quick reminder. I hope to see you all for the opening with light show of Patrick Rimoux latest exhibition (Formes et Lumière) at Alliance Française de Delhi, tomorrow Wednesday from 7pm onwards.
For those who have other commitments, don’t miss this opening, just pop in for a couple of minutes!
Je compte sur vous,
Warmest regards,
Jean-Philippe.
– Jean-Philippe Bottin
Directeur, Alliance Française Delhi
Délégué Général Inde Népal, Fondation Alliance Française
72 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003, India
Mob: (91) 9560004641, Twitter: @JPBottin

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