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Massacre in Finland Renews Call For Gun Control in the European Country
Finland Population of 5million Owns About 1.6million Guns
"There were loads of people who were crying, and many vendors who were completely panicked," one witness told reporters. Witnesses at the scene saw the suspect carrying a 9mm, long-barrelled pistol and rushing past the cashier line of the supermarket inside the mall. All four people he shot dead in the shopping centre were supermarket employees. While Finland has a population of just 5.3 million, there are around 1.6 million firearms in private hands. The country’s long tradition of hunting puts it among the top five nations in the world for civilian gun ownership. Politicians and religious leaders have called for tighter gun laws in a country which is known for heavy drinking and domestic violence and high rates of suicide. Recent series of shootings have shocked Finland, this would simply add to the outcry for the government to do something about guns in the hand of its citizens. Recently, an 18-year-old student shot eight people at a high school in the south of the country, and then proceeded to take his own life. Late Christmas Shoppers Are Keeping The Christmas Season Going Stores Are Closed on Christmas Day, But Reopens on Saturday
"I usually don't wait this long to get my shopping done. But this year my job has kept me busy and I didn't get to go out of town. I'm just getting some stocking stuffers," Carnathan said as she looked at gift cards and held a toy and batteries that she planned to purchase. This is a common story this year, with the economy so tough, everyone is holding on to as much cash as they can, and would only spend if they really have to spend. This is fueling late shopping and extended Christmas shopping everywhere. Christmas Day is the only day Wal-Mart closes it doors. The store will reopen at 6 a.m. on Saturday, a store representative said. Top Seven Spots To Celebrate the Season in NYC and London By Suzzane Files
The holiday season is quickly approaching and I'm looking forward to all of the festivities that it brings—gorgeous choral concerts, snowy walks, and evenings out to celebrate the season with family & friends. Whether it's a formal sit-down affair in a private dining room to mingling in a cozy bar with passed hors d'ouevres, gathering at a special restaurant is a perfect excuse to get dressed up and enjoy quality time together. I've highlighted some stand-out places in London & NYC, two cities that do the holidays with gusto. In London: Delish antipasti & champagne cocktails in L'Anima's sleek setting—white furniture, dark wood & ceiling-high wine racks. Settle into an oversized & plush booth at the clubby, funky Les Trois Garcons—definitely calls for a night out with friends. Feel the countryside without leaving London—reserve a big table at York & Albany in Regents Park. In NYC:The Modern at MoMA—an artful scene for the Alsatian menu ... the private dining room overlooks the sculpture garden. A secret to non-New Yorkers—the candlelit wine cellar at the casual & hip Il Buco—seats 25 of your nearest & dearest. 45 minute train or 1 hour drive from the city—book the country-plush private room at The Farmhouse at the Bedford Post Inn How To Manage Your Holiday Shopping Remember To Ask Your Retailer To Honor Competitor Store's Lower Prices
While consumer spending hasn't collapsed this year, it hasn't been robust either. That has already touched off price wars among some of the biggest discount retailers, hoping to lure whatever business is out there. Wal-Mart Stores is involved in a few, one with Toys "R" Us on $10 toys and another with Amazon.com and Target over online book sales. Certain titles are $9 at Amazon, $8.99 at Target and $8.98 at Wal-Mart. Amazon and Wal-Mart even are tussling over Easy-Bake ovens. The toy oven was originally priced at $28, until Wal-Mart slashed it to $17. Amazon responded by cutting its price to $18.So don't be afraid to ask a retailer to match a competitor's advertised price. Both Wal-Mart and Target, for example, will honor lower prices on identical products, though they will exclude early-bird, door-buster or limited-time deals. Most other major retailers are doing the same. Is Your Small Business Ready For Sale Tips That May Help You Sell Better
First impressions are important, examine the following: · Is your parking lot in poor repair? · Are the shrubs overgrown? · Do you have enough space for employees, handicapped persons and visitors? · Is there trash on your property? · Has the entrance way been swept or shoveled? · Is your reception area or foyer neat and clean? · Are visitors greeted quickly and with courtesy? · What are your employees doing? Are they busy, or are they talking, waiting around and drinking coffee? · Are their desks and filing areas neat or cluttered? How is your lighting? · Do the walls need paint, is the carpet worn and does everything look “dated?” Those elements address the physical appearance of your business. To address the inner, financial appearance. Black Friday 2009 Shoppers Best Prices Ever Bargain Hunt 2009
"Given what we know about consumer shopping patterns, even this month, I would suspect it will turn out to be a very strong performance," said Michael Niemira, chief economist of the International Council of Shopping Centers. We certainly hope shoppers will respond. Dollar Stores Sales Are Up Ten Percent Americans Embracing the Cheap Bargains
We advised against buying jewelry (too much lead content), electrical products (possibly fake UL labels), medication (expired products) and vitamins (probably not to be from reputable sellers) at any dollar stores. So the message is, let the buyer beware at the dollar stores. Certainly, there are some deals to be had, but you've got to be picky. Shopping Centers Job Loss Accelerates As US Unemployment Rates Edges Up to 9.8 Percent
The September U.S. unemployment rate moved upward to 9.8% in September (in line with the market expectation) from 9.7% in August, while the change in payroll employment tumbled more than the market expected with a 263 K job loss for the month. However, the broader story of less weakness persisted. U.S. shopping-center industry's employment fell by 33 K jobs in September, which marked its 20th consecutive month-over-month contraction and the largest since July's 42 K job drop. Of significance, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported (as they normally do at this time of the year) that the next benchmark revision to payroll employment tenatively looks to be larger than in recent years. The BLS Commissioner noted, "Preliminary tabulations indicate that the estimate of total nonfarm payroll employment for March 2009 will require a downward revision of approximately 824,000, or six-tenths of one percent. The historical average for the benchmark revision over the prior 10 years has been plus or minus two-tenths of one percent. Most of the additional job loss occurred in the first quarter of 2009, when payroll employment was declining most steeply, and appears to be due in part to an increase in the number of business closings." Death Toll Rises in Indonesian Quake Along Quake Prone Fault Line
There are huge cracks in the concrete roads here, a few feet wide, showing the full force of the tremors. The worst damage is in the heart of the city where they say a shopping mall has collapsed. At Padang airport scores of families from across the country arrived this morning looking for their loved ones. The social affairs ministry gave the latest confirmed death toll of 529, but Rustam Pakaya, head of the health ministry's disaster centre in Jakarta, said: "Our prediction is that thousands have died." A second quake of 6.8 struck close to Padang at 0852 local time (0152 GMT) on Thursday but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The first earthquake struck at 1716 local time (1016 GMT) on Wednesday, some 85km (55 miles) under the sea, north-west of Padang, the US Geological Survey said. One of the worst disasters appeared to be the collapse of a school in Padang. Police said nine children had been found alive but that eight bodies had also been pulled from the rubble so far. Earlier Priyadi Kardono, a spokesman for Indonesia's National Disaster Agency, said more than 500 houses and buildings had collapsed. The quake brought down telephone lines, severely affecting communications with the region and making it difficult to assess the scale of the damage. Health ministry teams and Indonesian soldiers have arrived in Padang to aid the search for survivors. A shortage of heavy machinery remains a problem. The first flights carrying food, medicine and body bags have started to arrive. Tents and blankets were also on their way to help the homeless, the health ministry said. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had called on his officials to "flood" Padang with aid. INDONESIAN FAULT LINE PRONE TO QUAKES Indonesia in recent times has been very prone to quakes in 26 Dec 2004: Asian tsunami kills 170,000 in Indonesia alone, in 28 March 2005: About 1,300 killed after a magnitude 8.7 quake hits the coast of Sumatra 27 May 2006, another Quake hits ancient city of Yogyakarta, killing 5,000 17 July 2006: A tsunami after a 7.7 magnitude quake in West Java province kills 550 people. Wednesday's quake was along the same fault line that spawned the 2004 Asian tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries. UN Food Program Chief Warns of Food Crisis in World's Hungry Caroline Hurford, TTimes, London UK
LONDON - In the week that marks the first anniversary of the global financial crisis, there are more hungry people in the world and less food aid than ever before. For the world’s most vulnerable, the perfect storm is hitting with a vengeance. The double whammy of the financial crisis and the still record high food prices around the world is delivering a devastating blow. Throw in a storm, a drought and a conflict and you have a recipe for disaster. WFP’s budget to feed 108 million people in 74 countries this year is US$6.7 billion. But today, we have just US$2.6 billion. Donors have been extremely generous, but the fact is that the cost of food is still high, needs have gone up and this requires the world to step up to the plate in a bigger way. We are making an urgent plea to the world that as the green shoots of economic recovery are appearing, we do not forget those who are most in need, and who have been hit hardest by this crisis. Today in the United States and much of Europe, more people are relying on government safety nets for food and support than perhaps ever before, but for 80 per cent of the world, there is perhaps no safety net. We urgently need an additional US$3 billion to meet those needs, which is less than 0.01 per cent of what was put on the table to stabilize the world financially. We think this is critical for the world’s peace and stability. At our current funding levels, we will – in October – have to cut our services throughout the world, including to half of those we are trying to reach in Kenya. We will be reaching one-fifth of those we have been targeting due to the impact of high food prices in Bangladesh. In Somalia we will have to cut rations by half. Around the world, there are many more examples like this. HUNGER FACTS: The Challenge: • Today, there are more hungry people and less food aid than we have seen in decades. • The number of hungry people will pass 1 billion this year for the first time in history, but the flow of food aid is at a twenty year low. • The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is facing a serious budget shortfall with barely one-third of the funding it needs to feed 108 million people this year. What it Means: • Ration reductions and cuts in programmes that provide a lifeline to the world’s hungriest people. ? In Kenya, where drought and high food prices have pushed almost 4 million into the hunger trap, WFP is preparing to reduce rations in October. ? In Guatemala, WFP’s vital programme providing nutritious food supplements to 100,000 children and 50,000 pregnant and lactating women, is hanging by a thread. ? In Bangladesh WFP is reaching barely 1 million people out of a target 5 million who cannot afford to buy the food they need for their families. What can be done: • WFP needs an extra US$3 Billion to bridge the gap in its budget this year. • Governments, private corporations and members of the public can all help WFP meet urgent hunger needs in places like Kenya, Guatemala and Bangladesh. • With the United Nations General Assembly and the G20 summit in Pittsburgh on the horizon, there is an ideal opportunity for world leaders to put hunger on the map. Facts and Figures: Number of hungry people in 2009: 1.02 Billion* Number of people WFP aims to feed in 2009: 108 Million WFP budget for 2009: US$6.7 Billion Confirmed WFP funds (September 2009): US$2.6 Billion Forecast WFP shortfall in 2009: US$3 Billion * UN Food and Agriculture Organization Total number of hungry people: UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency and the UN’s frontline agency for hunger solutions. In 2009, WFP aims to feed 108 million people in 74 countries. WFP now provides RSS feeds to help journalists keep up with the latest press releases, videos and photos as they are published on WFP.org. For more details see: http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=999. Video footage from Kenya, Guatemala and Bangladesh, illustrating the impact of the budget shortfalls on WFP operations can be accessed via the following link: Caroline Hurford, WFP/London, Tel 0207 240 9001, Mob 07968 008474 Greg Barrow, WFP/Rome, Tel +39 06 6513 2330, Mob +39 348 132 5018 Emilia Casella, WFP/Geneva, Tel. +41-22-9178564, Mob. +41-792857304 Jennifer Parmelee, WFP/Washington, Tel. +1-202-6530010 ext. 1149, Mob. +1-202-4223383 Bettina Luescher, WFP/New York, Tel. +1-212-9635196, Mob. +1-646-8241112, luescher@un.org Alejandro Chicheri, WFP/Latin America & Carribean, Tel: +1 917 3673500 |
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