 | ADDIS ABABA, 11 October 2012 (IRIN) - After years of criticism, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has announced it is exploring new ways to measure “hunger”, “undernourishment” and “food insecurity” - terms used interchangeably - which will dramatically alter the number of people believed to be going hungry. |
Oct 12, 2012
FOOD: How good is the new hunger data?
FOOD: How good is the new hunger data?:
SOUTH AFRICA: Straight talk with Fareed Abdullah, head of the South African AIDS council
SOUTH AFRICA: Straight talk with Fareed Abdullah, head of the South African AIDS council:
 | JOHANNESBURG, 11 October 2012 (IRIN) - Tasked with leading the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) through its most ambitious and far-reaching reform yet, Fareed Abdullah has his work cut out for him. |
SIERRA LEONE: Women, debt and detention
SIERRA LEONE: Women, debt and detention:
 | FREETOWN, 11 October 2012 (IRIN) - Many Sierra Leonean women who are unable to repay small debts end up in prison for want of decent legal representation after their creditors report them to the police, meaning that civil disputes turn into criminal cases. |
KENYA: Rapid kits to diagnose malaria
KENYA: Rapid kits to diagnose malaria:
 | NAIROBI, 11 October 2012 (IRIN) - The launch of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits for malaria in Kenya - where only 30 percent of people treated for suspected malaria are tested to confirm infection - is expected to improve the reach, speed and accuracy of diagnosis and treatment, says a senior health official. |
FOOD: Land-grabbing linked with hunger
FOOD: Land-grabbing linked with hunger:
 | ADDIS ABABA, 11 October 2012 (IRIN) - Countries where people lack adequate access to land rights, water and energy - are among the worst performers in the annual Global Hunger Index (GHI). |
ZIMBABWE: The politics of suffering
ZIMBABWE: The politics of suffering:
 | CHITUNGWIZA, 11 October 2012 (IRIN) - A car-guarding business in the dormitory town of Chitungwiza, some 30km south of the capital Harare, thrived for about four months - until Zimbabwe's acrid party politics intervened. |
KENYA: Nancy, "They did very bad things to me"
KENYA: Nancy, "They did very bad things to me":
 | MERU, 11 October 2012 (IRIN) - Millions of girls remain threatened by gender-based violence and cultural practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). In the eastern Kenya regions of Isiolo, Meru and Samburu, hundreds of girls have fled their homes to escape such practices. Others, like 10-year-old Nancy*, have fled to escape sexual violence. |
MIGRATION: Fear and loathing on the streets of Athens
MIGRATION: Fear and loathing on the streets of Athens:
 | ATHENS, 12 October 2012 (IRIN) - Three police officers in body armour surround two dark-skinned men on a busy street in Athens, Greece's increasingly restive capital. It is a scene that has been playing out across the city since the launch of a government crackdown on illegal migration two months ago. |
PAKISTAN: Fears of Taliban resurgence in north
PAKISTAN: Fears of Taliban resurgence in north:
 | PESHAWAR, 12 October 2012 (IRIN) - The shooting on 9 October of Malala Yusufzai, a 14-year-old girls' education campaigner from Swat Valley in northern Pakistan, is a reminder that militancy is still a significant threat in the north. |
YEMEN: Sheikhs and shekels - the real cost of patronage
YEMEN: Sheikhs and shekels - the real cost of patronage:
 | SANA'A, 12 October 2012 (IRIN) - Sheikh Nasser Shareef grimaced as he described the state of public services in his tribal area in Marib Governorate, about 100km east of Yemen's capital Sana'a. “Very bad. We don't even have a police station. And hospitals and schools are empty. There's no one and nothing inside them, no services,” he told IRIN. |
UGANDA: Worrying HIV levels among civil servants
UGANDA: Worrying HIV levels among civil servants:
 | KAMPALA, 12 October 2012 (IRIN) - HIV prevalence among public servants in Uganda is 16.3 percent, more than twice the national average, according to a recently released assessment of the epidemic among the country's various sectors. |
In Brief: Botswana court rules women are no longer second-class citizens
In Brief: Botswana court rules women are no longer second-class citizens:
 | JOHANNESBURG, 12 October 2012 (IRIN) - A landmark ruling on 12 October by Gaborone's High Court found that gender discrimination based on Botswana's customary law is unconstitutional. |
BANGLADESH: Earthquake drill for 30,000 schools
BANGLADESH: Earthquake drill for 30,000 schools:
 | DHAKA, 12 October 2012 (IRIN) - Millions of children across Bangladesh will take part in a nationwide earthquake drill on 13-14 October. |
HEALTH: Urban poor missing out on vital nutrients
HEALTH: Urban poor missing out on vital nutrients:
 | NAIROBI, 12 October 2012 (IRIN) - In slums around the world, the sight of food vendors along dusty alleys, serving customers as they wave away flies, is common. Many of these consumers do not consider themselves undernourished, but experts say consuming cheap food, cooked and sold under unhygienic conditions, could be affecting the nutrition and health of many urban poor. |
UGANDA: Military deployed to Kenyan border to curb cattle rustling
UGANDA: Military deployed to Kenyan border to curb cattle rustling:
 | KAMPALA, 12 October 2012 (IRIN) - The government of Uganda has deployed military personnel to its border with Kenya in a bid to stamp out cross-border cattle rustling. |
DISASTERS: Policies must consider needs of women
DISASTERS: Policies must consider needs of women:
 | NAIROBI, 12 October 2012 (IRIN) - Better management of disaster risk requires paying more attention to those directly affected, especially women, according to experts. |
CLIMATE CHANGE: Them pests!
CLIMATE CHANGE: Them pests!:
 | ADDIS ABABA, 12 October 2012 (IRIN) - While a lot of attention has been devoted to the effects of a changing climate on food crops in Africa, relatively little has been given to the effects on crop-destroying pests like cereal aphids, fruit flies, armyworms and locusts. |
ICG Report - Tentative Jihad: Syria’s Fundamentalist Opposition
Tentative Jihad: Syria’s Fundamentalist Opposition: The presence of Salafi groups among Syria’s armed opposition is an irrefutable, damaging yet not necessarily irreversible trend. Breaking this cycle will require the opposition to curb their influence, members of the international community to coordinate their policies and a perilous military stalemate to transition to a political solution.
IDP News Alert, 12 October 2012
IDP News Alert, 12 October 2012: Mali: With hundreds of thousands displaced since January, is military intervention the next step?
PM Wants Better Roads
PM Wants Better Roads:
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has questioned the quality of roads built by Chinese companies under soft loans provided by Beijing, saying a highway completed just four years ago has already begun to break down.
Hun Sen on Tuesday told Chinese firm Shanghai Construction (Group) General Co. to pay attention to quality when expanding National Road 5, citing the now-crumbling National Road 7 it had constructed in 2008.
National Road 5 connects the capital Phnom Penh with Poipet at the Thai border crossing and is aimed, officials say, at boosting economic opportunities to people living along the highway.
“Based on experience, the Shanghai Group must experiment [with different construction methods] from the building of National Road 7,” he said, speaking in front of around 500 villagers at a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.
“It didn’t last long—problems must have developed under the road. The company must use different techniques for road construction,” said Hun Sen, who relies heavily on aid from China, Cambodia’s top ally.
Hun Sen also ordered Cambodia’s Ministry of Public Works and Ministry of Finance to work with Chinese companies to ensure better quality of the road projects.
Expansion of the 407 kilometer (253 mile) National Road 5 will cost U.S. $56 million—to be funded through a loan package of U.S. $400 million signed by Hun Sen and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in December 2009.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue, who attended Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony, called National Road 5 “an economic lifeline” between Cambodia and Thailand.
“This road is very important for tourism, culture, and the economy,” he said.
“We hope that the Shanghai Group, which will be constructing the road, will work closely with local residents [to ensure they are happy with the project].”
Cambodian officials have not discussed the issue of compensating villagers who will be affected by the road construction.
Mismanaged project
The 509 kilometer (316 mile) National Road 7 runs from Skuon in Kampong Cham province through Kratie province and north to Trapeang Kriel in Stung Treng province, where it meets the international border checkpoint with Laos.
Part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Highway Network, the road was partly rebuilt by the Shanghai Group through a U.S. $76 million interest-free loan from the Chinese government and inaugurated in April 2008. The remaining U.S. $4 million was supplied by the Cambodian government.
Critics in Cambodia have often slammed Chinese companies for building poor infrastructure in the country and have pointed to National Road 7 as an example of a mismanaged project.
Opposition Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann welcomed Hun Sen’s statement, adding that poor-quality construction is largely the result of rampant graft.
“This is all about corruption. We need to have measures in place ahead of the awarding of contracts,” he said, calling on the government to better regulate the bidding process for construction projects.
Previous reports have said that some Chinese companies instructed Cambodian laborers to use less concrete during road construction, with the remainder of the concrete then sold on the black market for profits.
Reported by Sok Serey for RFA’s Khmer service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has questioned the quality of roads built by Chinese companies under soft loans provided by Beijing, saying a highway completed just four years ago has already begun to break down.
Hun Sen on Tuesday told Chinese firm Shanghai Construction (Group) General Co. to pay attention to quality when expanding National Road 5, citing the now-crumbling National Road 7 it had constructed in 2008.
National Road 5 connects the capital Phnom Penh with Poipet at the Thai border crossing and is aimed, officials say, at boosting economic opportunities to people living along the highway.
“Based on experience, the Shanghai Group must experiment [with different construction methods] from the building of National Road 7,” he said, speaking in front of around 500 villagers at a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.
“It didn’t last long—problems must have developed under the road. The company must use different techniques for road construction,” said Hun Sen, who relies heavily on aid from China, Cambodia’s top ally.
Hun Sen also ordered Cambodia’s Ministry of Public Works and Ministry of Finance to work with Chinese companies to ensure better quality of the road projects.
Expansion of the 407 kilometer (253 mile) National Road 5 will cost U.S. $56 million—to be funded through a loan package of U.S. $400 million signed by Hun Sen and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in December 2009.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue, who attended Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony, called National Road 5 “an economic lifeline” between Cambodia and Thailand.
“This road is very important for tourism, culture, and the economy,” he said.
“We hope that the Shanghai Group, which will be constructing the road, will work closely with local residents [to ensure they are happy with the project].”
Cambodian officials have not discussed the issue of compensating villagers who will be affected by the road construction.
Mismanaged project
The 509 kilometer (316 mile) National Road 7 runs from Skuon in Kampong Cham province through Kratie province and north to Trapeang Kriel in Stung Treng province, where it meets the international border checkpoint with Laos.
Part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Highway Network, the road was partly rebuilt by the Shanghai Group through a U.S. $76 million interest-free loan from the Chinese government and inaugurated in April 2008. The remaining U.S. $4 million was supplied by the Cambodian government.
Critics in Cambodia have often slammed Chinese companies for building poor infrastructure in the country and have pointed to National Road 7 as an example of a mismanaged project.
Opposition Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann welcomed Hun Sen’s statement, adding that poor-quality construction is largely the result of rampant graft.
“This is all about corruption. We need to have measures in place ahead of the awarding of contracts,” he said, calling on the government to better regulate the bidding process for construction projects.
Previous reports have said that some Chinese companies instructed Cambodian laborers to use less concrete during road construction, with the remainder of the concrete then sold on the black market for profits.
Reported by Sok Serey for RFA’s Khmer service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Election Panel Reappointed
Election Panel Reappointed:
Cambodia’s parliament re-elected on Thursday the members of the National Election Committee in a vote boycotted by the opposition, which claimed the election body is biased towards Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party.
Two leading opposition parties, the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party, also claimed that a recent registration of hundreds of thousands of new voters by the NEC ahead of 2013 national polls was flawed.
At a sitting of the National Assembly, 87 MPs, mostly from Hun Sen’s dominant Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), unanimously voted in seven existing NEC members and two new members nominated by the Ministry of the Interior.
Committee president Im Sousdey’s term was renewed for another five years, as was that of vice-president Sin Chhum Bo.
Objecting to the committee’s re-election, 29 parliamentarians from the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party, which have decided to merge to take on the CPP in elections next year, demanded that the panel’s members be independent.
Call for reform
In a recent report, Surya Subedi, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, also stressed the need for the NEC to have “independent and autonomous status” in the constitutional and legal structure of Cambodia, with its own independent budget allocated by the parliament.
He said there should be consensus among the major political parties represented in the parliament on the appointment of the president and members of the NEC and the provincial election committees.
Subedi warned that Cambodia may plunge into violence if it does not reform the current electoral system to allow for fair and free elections.
Independence and transparency
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker and spokesman Son Chhay said the two opposition parties refuse to recognize the new NEC and will continue to advocate for further reform of the committee.
“The government must reconsider its decision,” he said, warning that that the committee must not fail to ensure a free and fair election come July.
Son Chhay warned that the opposition parties would not accept the results of the elections if reform proposals are not accepted.
Koul Panha, Director of the local election watchdog NGO Comfrel, said that the 2013 vote will not be widely seen as valid and credible if the NEC members are not endorsed by the opposition.
“The composition of the NEC must be transparent and have the participation of all parties. It is important to establish trust,” Koul Panha said.
During a meeting last month, the NEC rejected proposals from opposition party members to reform the panel, saying the people see “no problem” with the voting process.
Government officials also insist the NEC is independent and fair because all panel members must renounce their party affiliations before taking up their posts.
Im Sousdey said he is committed to work for the betterment of the country and that the committee’s work will be conducted transparently.
“With this approval, I am committed to working according to the laws. I will work openly and be transparent,” he said after his re-election.
Irregularities
Rights groups and opposition leaders say voting has already been marred by irregularities in this year’s voter registration and inspection of draft electoral rolls processes that will end Saturday.
The NEC said Wednesday that it had registered 600,000 new voters in a month-long process that ran smoothly and without irregularities.
But Koul Panha said that voter registration was not conducted properly and that the NEC had failed to take recommendations proposed by civil society groups to improve procedures.
Human Rights Party parliamentarian Ou Chanrith cites cases where officials were missing from voter registration stations and prospective voters registered outside their residential areas.
“I think, so far, the voter registration has not been conducted properly and it is unacceptable.”
Ou Chanrith also charged that police officers and soldiers had registered outside their residential areas to beef up constituencies where the CPP was seen to be weak.
Hem Sitha, commune council member for Sam Rong in southern Cambodia’s Prey Veng province, said that some political parties had recruited youths and transported them around to register in areas where they did not reside.
Procedures
But the NEC said it had tightened procedures for voter registration.
NEC General Secretary Tep Nitha dismissed reports about parties helping voters register outside their residence areas.
"Offering assistance to people to help them get registered is not against the law. The only issue is whether those people met the criteria to register in that place or not,” he said.
“If we take people from other provinces or communes to register in places where they are not residents, then they would not meet the criteria, so voter registration officials would not register them.”
No official complaints were filed about the voter registration process, according to the election monitoring NGO Nicfec, saying opposition parties had not deployed observers at registration centers as they did at polling centers during elections.
At the last parliamentary election in 2008, Hun Sen’s CPP won 90 of the 123 seats in the National Assembly. The Sam Rainsy Party took 26 seats and the Human Rights Party just three.
Rights groups have accused Hun Sen—the longest-serving leader of any Southeast Asian country—of suppressing dissent and intimidating political opponents. He has ruled Cambodia since 1985, and in 2009 said he would continue to stand as a candidate until 2023.
Reported by Sok Serey and Den Ayuthea for RFA’s Khmer service. Translated by Samean Yun and Sok Ry Sum. Written in English by Rachel Vandenbrink.
Cambodia’s parliament re-elected on Thursday the members of the National Election Committee in a vote boycotted by the opposition, which claimed the election body is biased towards Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party.
Two leading opposition parties, the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party, also claimed that a recent registration of hundreds of thousands of new voters by the NEC ahead of 2013 national polls was flawed.
At a sitting of the National Assembly, 87 MPs, mostly from Hun Sen’s dominant Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), unanimously voted in seven existing NEC members and two new members nominated by the Ministry of the Interior.
Committee president Im Sousdey’s term was renewed for another five years, as was that of vice-president Sin Chhum Bo.
Objecting to the committee’s re-election, 29 parliamentarians from the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party, which have decided to merge to take on the CPP in elections next year, demanded that the panel’s members be independent.
Call for reform
In a recent report, Surya Subedi, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, also stressed the need for the NEC to have “independent and autonomous status” in the constitutional and legal structure of Cambodia, with its own independent budget allocated by the parliament.
He said there should be consensus among the major political parties represented in the parliament on the appointment of the president and members of the NEC and the provincial election committees.
Subedi warned that Cambodia may plunge into violence if it does not reform the current electoral system to allow for fair and free elections.
Independence and transparency
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker and spokesman Son Chhay said the two opposition parties refuse to recognize the new NEC and will continue to advocate for further reform of the committee.
“The government must reconsider its decision,” he said, warning that that the committee must not fail to ensure a free and fair election come July.
Son Chhay warned that the opposition parties would not accept the results of the elections if reform proposals are not accepted.
Koul Panha, Director of the local election watchdog NGO Comfrel, said that the 2013 vote will not be widely seen as valid and credible if the NEC members are not endorsed by the opposition.
“The composition of the NEC must be transparent and have the participation of all parties. It is important to establish trust,” Koul Panha said.
During a meeting last month, the NEC rejected proposals from opposition party members to reform the panel, saying the people see “no problem” with the voting process.
Government officials also insist the NEC is independent and fair because all panel members must renounce their party affiliations before taking up their posts.
Im Sousdey said he is committed to work for the betterment of the country and that the committee’s work will be conducted transparently.
“With this approval, I am committed to working according to the laws. I will work openly and be transparent,” he said after his re-election.
Im Sousdey speaks to after being re-elected head of the National Election Committee, Oct. 11, 2012. Photo credit: RFA.
Irregularities
Rights groups and opposition leaders say voting has already been marred by irregularities in this year’s voter registration and inspection of draft electoral rolls processes that will end Saturday.
The NEC said Wednesday that it had registered 600,000 new voters in a month-long process that ran smoothly and without irregularities.
But Koul Panha said that voter registration was not conducted properly and that the NEC had failed to take recommendations proposed by civil society groups to improve procedures.
Human Rights Party parliamentarian Ou Chanrith cites cases where officials were missing from voter registration stations and prospective voters registered outside their residential areas.
“I think, so far, the voter registration has not been conducted properly and it is unacceptable.”
Ou Chanrith also charged that police officers and soldiers had registered outside their residential areas to beef up constituencies where the CPP was seen to be weak.
Hem Sitha, commune council member for Sam Rong in southern Cambodia’s Prey Veng province, said that some political parties had recruited youths and transported them around to register in areas where they did not reside.
Procedures
But the NEC said it had tightened procedures for voter registration.
NEC General Secretary Tep Nitha dismissed reports about parties helping voters register outside their residence areas.
"Offering assistance to people to help them get registered is not against the law. The only issue is whether those people met the criteria to register in that place or not,” he said.
“If we take people from other provinces or communes to register in places where they are not residents, then they would not meet the criteria, so voter registration officials would not register them.”
No official complaints were filed about the voter registration process, according to the election monitoring NGO Nicfec, saying opposition parties had not deployed observers at registration centers as they did at polling centers during elections.
At the last parliamentary election in 2008, Hun Sen’s CPP won 90 of the 123 seats in the National Assembly. The Sam Rainsy Party took 26 seats and the Human Rights Party just three.
Rights groups have accused Hun Sen—the longest-serving leader of any Southeast Asian country—of suppressing dissent and intimidating political opponents. He has ruled Cambodia since 1985, and in 2009 said he would continue to stand as a candidate until 2023.
Reported by Sok Serey and Den Ayuthea for RFA’s Khmer service. Translated by Samean Yun and Sok Ry Sum. Written in English by Rachel Vandenbrink.
Oct 11, 2012
Italy sacks city government over mafia links
Italy sacks city government over mafia links: Mayor and 30 councillors of southern city of Reggio Calabria fired to prevent mafia control over administration.
Nigerian army denies killing civilians
Nigerian army denies killing civilians: More than 30 people shot dead in northeastern city of Maiduguri after an army lieutenant was killed in bomb attack.
Mexico says body of drug kingpin 'snatched'
Mexico says body of drug kingpin 'snatched': Authorities say they managed to obtain fingerprints from Zetas leader Heriberto Lazcano before his corpse was stolen.
Brazil convicts former Lula aides of fraud
Brazil convicts former Lula aides of fraud: Three aides of former president convicted of fraud in relation to a vote-buying scheme in Congress.
Toyota recalls millions of vehicles worldwide
Toyota recalls millions of vehicles worldwide: Japanese car manufacturer says it needs to fix malfunctioning power window switches on 7.4 million vehicles.
Moscow court frees one Pussy Riot member
Moscow court frees one Pussy Riot member: Appeals court suspends decision over Yekaterina Samutsevich's part in protest against Putin in Moscow cathedral.
Bounty offered in Pakistan activist shooting
Bounty offered in Pakistan activist shooting: Provincial government offers over $100,000 for capture of Pakistani Taliban attackers who shot teenage activist in Swat.
Gaddafi lawyers fear 'revenge' trial in Libya
Gaddafi lawyers fear 'revenge' trial in Libya: Defence lawyers say a trial in Libya will not be motivated by justice and Saif al-Islam "will be hanged".
Afghan police killed in deadly blast
Afghan police killed in deadly blast: At least six deaths in country's south reported as NATO ministers gather in Belgium to discuss future of the war.
Differences sink BAE-EADS merger proposal
Differences sink BAE-EADS merger proposal: Aerospace and defence giants fail to agree on $45bn tie-up plan due to conflicting interests of UK, German and France.
US hearing examines mission security in Libya
US hearing examines mission security in Libya: Head of US security team says officials did not have protection before assault that killed ambassador and three others.
Syria rejects UN calls for unilateral truce
Syria rejects UN calls for unilateral truce: Regime says opposition fighters must stop the violence first, as it deploys soldiers in rebel-held town in Idlib.
Africa facing intensified 'food crisis'
Africa facing intensified 'food crisis': New report suggests that numerous African and Middle East countries are at a high or extreme risk of a food crisis.
Turkey releases Syrian passenger jet
Turkey releases Syrian passenger jet: Turkish minister says aircraft intercepted en route to Damascus was carrying "objectionable cargo".
Obama nominates new Afghan commander
Obama nominates new Afghan commander: US president names Joseph Dunford to replace General Allen, who is nominated to become NATO's supreme allied commander.
S&P slashes Spain's credit rating
S&P slashes Spain's credit rating: Standard&Poor's cites economic recession and high unemployment as reasons it cuts rating to near-junk level.
Shell faces Dutch court over Nigeria spills
Shell faces Dutch court over Nigeria spills: Activists and Nigerian plaintiffs hope case will bring "an end to the corporate crimes committed by oil giants".
Lenovo ousts HP as world's largest PC maker
Lenovo ousts HP as world's largest PC maker: Data shows China's Lenovo, Taiwan's Acer and other Asian PC makers are outperforming US competitors such as HP and Dell.
Report says forced evictions rise in China
Report says forced evictions rise in China: Demolitions of residential areas have become common in China due to a surge in real estate prices.
US embassy security chief killed in Yemen
US embassy security chief killed in Yemen: Qassem Aqlani, Yemeni head of security at the US embassy in Sanaa, shot dead on way to work by motorcycle gunman.
UK Marines arrested in Afghan murder probe
UK Marines arrested in Afghan murder probe: Seven members of elite Royal Marines arrested in connection with a murder which occurred in Afghanistan in 2011.
Drone downed by Israel 'sent by Hezbollah'
Drone downed by Israel 'sent by Hezbollah': Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah says unmanned reconnaissance aircraft was designed in Iran and assembled in Lebanon.
Pakistan teen activist in critical condition
Pakistan teen activist in critical condition: Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban, has been airlifted to Rawalpindi.
China's Mo Yan wins Nobel literature prize
China's Mo Yan wins Nobel literature prize: First Chinese national to win highest fiction prize praised for "hallucinatory realism" that mixes past and present.
Cambodia 'threatens' US-funded radio stations
Cambodia 'threatens' US-funded radio stations: Government reportedly accuses RFE and VOA of favouring opposition parties and promoting Washington's foreign policy.
Mine protests turn deadly in South Africa
Mine protests turn deadly in South Africa: At least two people have been killed and forty others arrested after striking mine workers clashed with police.
Egypt president removes prosecutor-general
Egypt president removes prosecutor-general: Mohamed Morsi removes top prosecutor after Mubarak loyalists acquitted in "Camel Battle" case.
Syria plane 'carried Russian-made munitions'
Syria plane 'carried Russian-made munitions': Turkish PM says passenger plane forced to land in Ankara was carrying material destined for Syria's defence ministry.
Oct 10, 2012
Norwegian peace fund initiative temporarily suspended
Norwegian peace fund initiative temporarily suspended:
The Norwegian government has vowed to temporarily suspend its peace fund initiative for Burma’s border regions until the leadership of the Karen National Union (KNU) resolves their political differences.
The move follows news of a serious rift in the senior ranks of the KNU over how to approach ceasefire negotiations with the government, resulting in the dismissal of three senior leaders last week.
“We are actually going to step back for a while in order to allow for these internal discussions to work themselves out,” Charles Petrie, head of the Myanmar Peace Support Initiative (MPSI) told DVB in an interview. “We are not going to push for more pilots, we are not going to bring any visibility to existing pilots.”
Commander-in-Chief General Mutu Say Poe and two leading peace negotiators, David Htaw and Roger Khin were dismissed last Thursday over allegations they colluded with the army to open an unauthorised liaison office in the Karen state capital Hpa-an. Brig-Gen Baw Kyaw Heh was swiftly appointed the new Commander-in-Chief.
The MPSI, which aims to support the peace process through development grants, has previously been accused of pressuring exile groups into joining the government. Last week, the European Karen Network expressed concern over the role of the Norwegian initiative in fuelling the current rift in the Karen leadership – an accusation the MPSI strongly denies.
“We are not actually involved in the establishment of liaison offices, we are working far more on identifying pilot projects in certain areas,” said Petrie. “We have not been asked to do anything in Hpa-an and right now we wouldn’t.”
But Petrie conceded that pushing for further pilot projects before a political resolution was reached “would be seen to be making the arguments of one group.”
In a policy paper released on Monday, a coalition of grassroots organisations criticised the MPSI for fuelling a “division of opinion” within ethnic groups by approaching its leaders on an individual basis.
After a Norwegian delegation visited Karen state in May with KNU leader Paho Htoo Htoo lay, General Secretary Zipporah Sein complained that she had not been informed of the mission. One of the MPSI’s primary consultants, Ashley South, is also a long-term critic of the KNU and is known to have a poor relationship with some of its members.
“They need to approach the KNU as an institution rather than individual leaders of the KNU,” Paul Sein Twa Director of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN) told DVB. “If you approach them from direct channels and information gets shared among the leadership and civil society then the peace is likely to be more sustainable.”
Grassroots voices have repeatedly called for greater transparency and accountability of international peace funds operating in Burma’s border regions.
“We believe that this is a time of many opportunities for our country, but we want donors to invest properly in order to truly support sustainable peace. Economic development cannot be a substitute for a political settlement to long-standing inequality and lack of fundamental rights for Burma’s ethnic nationalities,” said Khin Ohmar.
Local sources suggest the rift in the KNU risks splitting the group into two factions. The central committee was scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss a resolution to the crisis, but it was cancelled at the last minute.
Naw Dah Eh Ker, General Secretary of the Karen Women’s Organisation, told DVB there was endemic confusion over the organisation’s future among community-based organisations, civil society and even the KNU itself.
The KNU has a long history of internal rivalry and factionalism. In 2007, Maj-Gen Htain Maung, who led the KNU’s Brigade 7, defected to form a splinter group loyal to the government, known as the KNU/KNLA peace brigade. The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army also split from the KNU in 1994.
Some exile groups have accused the government of exploiting internal fractures for political gain. But the government’s chief negotiator, Aung Min, on Saturday denied allegations they were involved in “divide and rule tactics”, adding that the peace process would proceed as usual.
”My sense right now is that the government would prefer the KNU to remain one entity – because it’s much easier for them to negotiate with one entity,” said Petrie. “The crux of the concern is linked to political dialogue, some believe that the government is committed to political dialogue and others aren’t sure.”
“It’s important that the groups be given the space necessary to find common ground to address these internal tensions.”
The KNU signed a tentative ceasefire agreement with the government on 12 January.
The Norwegian government has vowed to temporarily suspend its peace fund initiative for Burma’s border regions until the leadership of the Karen National Union (KNU) resolves their political differences.
The move follows news of a serious rift in the senior ranks of the KNU over how to approach ceasefire negotiations with the government, resulting in the dismissal of three senior leaders last week.
“We are actually going to step back for a while in order to allow for these internal discussions to work themselves out,” Charles Petrie, head of the Myanmar Peace Support Initiative (MPSI) told DVB in an interview. “We are not going to push for more pilots, we are not going to bring any visibility to existing pilots.”
Commander-in-Chief General Mutu Say Poe and two leading peace negotiators, David Htaw and Roger Khin were dismissed last Thursday over allegations they colluded with the army to open an unauthorised liaison office in the Karen state capital Hpa-an. Brig-Gen Baw Kyaw Heh was swiftly appointed the new Commander-in-Chief.
The MPSI, which aims to support the peace process through development grants, has previously been accused of pressuring exile groups into joining the government. Last week, the European Karen Network expressed concern over the role of the Norwegian initiative in fuelling the current rift in the Karen leadership – an accusation the MPSI strongly denies.
“We are not actually involved in the establishment of liaison offices, we are working far more on identifying pilot projects in certain areas,” said Petrie. “We have not been asked to do anything in Hpa-an and right now we wouldn’t.”
But Petrie conceded that pushing for further pilot projects before a political resolution was reached “would be seen to be making the arguments of one group.”
In a policy paper released on Monday, a coalition of grassroots organisations criticised the MPSI for fuelling a “division of opinion” within ethnic groups by approaching its leaders on an individual basis.
After a Norwegian delegation visited Karen state in May with KNU leader Paho Htoo Htoo lay, General Secretary Zipporah Sein complained that she had not been informed of the mission. One of the MPSI’s primary consultants, Ashley South, is also a long-term critic of the KNU and is known to have a poor relationship with some of its members.
“They need to approach the KNU as an institution rather than individual leaders of the KNU,” Paul Sein Twa Director of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN) told DVB. “If you approach them from direct channels and information gets shared among the leadership and civil society then the peace is likely to be more sustainable.”
Grassroots voices have repeatedly called for greater transparency and accountability of international peace funds operating in Burma’s border regions.
“We believe that this is a time of many opportunities for our country, but we want donors to invest properly in order to truly support sustainable peace. Economic development cannot be a substitute for a political settlement to long-standing inequality and lack of fundamental rights for Burma’s ethnic nationalities,” said Khin Ohmar.
Local sources suggest the rift in the KNU risks splitting the group into two factions. The central committee was scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss a resolution to the crisis, but it was cancelled at the last minute.
Naw Dah Eh Ker, General Secretary of the Karen Women’s Organisation, told DVB there was endemic confusion over the organisation’s future among community-based organisations, civil society and even the KNU itself.
The KNU has a long history of internal rivalry and factionalism. In 2007, Maj-Gen Htain Maung, who led the KNU’s Brigade 7, defected to form a splinter group loyal to the government, known as the KNU/KNLA peace brigade. The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army also split from the KNU in 1994.
Some exile groups have accused the government of exploiting internal fractures for political gain. But the government’s chief negotiator, Aung Min, on Saturday denied allegations they were involved in “divide and rule tactics”, adding that the peace process would proceed as usual.
”My sense right now is that the government would prefer the KNU to remain one entity – because it’s much easier for them to negotiate with one entity,” said Petrie. “The crux of the concern is linked to political dialogue, some believe that the government is committed to political dialogue and others aren’t sure.”
“It’s important that the groups be given the space necessary to find common ground to address these internal tensions.”
The KNU signed a tentative ceasefire agreement with the government on 12 January.
Thein Sein, Lee firm up energy ties
Thein Sein, Lee firm up energy ties: 
Burmese President Thein Sein met with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak at Blue House in Seoul on Tuesday.
Burmese President Thein Sein met with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak at Blue House in Seoul on Tuesday.
Shan forces want talks with peacemaking group
Shan forces want talks with peacemaking group: 
Facing an ultimatum to withdraw from a military stronghold, The Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) said it would seek to ...
Facing an ultimatum to withdraw from a military stronghold, The Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) said it would seek to ...
Plight of stateless Rohingyas hinges on citizenship: US official
Plight of stateless Rohingyas hinges on citizenship: US official: 
The lack of citizenship must be addressed for any long-term solution to the distress in the Rohingya community to occur, ...
The lack of citizenship must be addressed for any long-term solution to the distress in the Rohingya community to occur, ...
Property prices shoot up in Rangoon
Property prices shoot up in Rangoon: 
Choice property values in Rangoon have soared, rising 39 per cent in the first nine months of this year, according to ...
Choice property values in Rangoon have soared, rising 39 per cent in the first nine months of this year, according to ...
Foreign airlines stacking up flights into Rangoon
Foreign airlines stacking up flights into Rangoon: 
EVA Airways Corp. (EVA), Taiwan's second largest carrier, launched three-times a week direct flights between Taipei and Rangoon ...
EVA Airways Corp. (EVA), Taiwan's second largest carrier, launched three-times a week direct flights between Taipei and Rangoon ...
Social Media Becoming a Force of Change in Indonesia
Social Media Becoming a Force of Change in Indonesia:
Social media users are effecting change in Indonesia. (Photo: http://blogs.cfr.org )Free expression — in mass media and social media — influences almost every aspect of people’s lives in contemporary Indonesia, and its influence on government policy is growing.
In recent times, the public has made use of the freedom protected by democracy to speak out on big issues; corruption, human rights, justice, social equity, and good governance have been topics of fierce debate on Facebook, Twitter, personal blogs, websites and citizen journalism accounts.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s order on Monday night for police to halt their involvement in a procurement probe in which a senior officer was implicated was a sign of the power of social media given the strong views on the topic that had previously been expressed online.
For several days, social media and its print and broadcast counterparts had featured heavy criticism of Yudhoyono’s silence on the matter, in which the police were in an undeclared war with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Tens of thousands of people used a “Save KPK” tag line on their Facebook and Twitter accounts, while newspapers and television covered the outpouring of support for the antigraft watchdog.
In his address to the nation on Monday, the president said explicitly that he had been following on social media the growing public interest in the conflict between the police and the KPK.
The trend signals growing political awareness among citizens, said Syahganda Nainggolan, managing director of political and economic research agency Sabang Merauke Circle.
But Nainggolan warned that public policy formulation should not be motivated by social media pressure because such pressure is usually emotional and cannot always be considered objective.
“There has never been scientific evidence that gives a clear picture of the correlation between opinion forming through the social media and the truth of every issue being discussed on it,” Nainggolan said.
But he says that people tend to use social media due to a lack of credible public outlets through which they can express an opinion. Indonesia is the world’s third largest user of Facebook, with more than 43 million people having accounts, and the third largest user of Twitter.
Nainggolan said that if purging the bureaucracy of corruption was desired, the KPK must be given more authority and have its budget increased.
Komaruddin Hidayat, rector of the State Islamic University, said the KPK was facing a big challenge in cleaning the bureaucracy because “many state institutions have been ruined by their own elite leaders.”
He said the National Police had misread the public mood, given its recent actions against the KPK came at a time when public expressions of support for the antigraft agency was growing.
“The bureaucrats have not learned that voices in the media and social media are the true voices of the public. They keep ignoring it until they pit themselves against the public,” he said.
Rector of Paramadina University Anies Baswedan said that Indonesia’s progression to a clean democratic society was struggling because “the fight against corruption is being waged by people who are corrupters themselves.”
“Our country is managed by leaders without integrity, but people are becoming smarter and know who is right and who is wrong,” he said.
Nainggolan said that the mass media must channel public opinions, including petitions toward official institutions, and not allow social media to act as a breeding ground for anarchy through publications of extreme and radical ideas that cannot be censored.
Komaruddin warned that the mass media should not “become the spokesman for terrorists or criminals” and that some media organizations are publishing “content that is not smart enough for an increasingly smart Indonesia.”
Social media users are effecting change in Indonesia. (Photo: http://blogs.cfr.org )
In recent times, the public has made use of the freedom protected by democracy to speak out on big issues; corruption, human rights, justice, social equity, and good governance have been topics of fierce debate on Facebook, Twitter, personal blogs, websites and citizen journalism accounts.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s order on Monday night for police to halt their involvement in a procurement probe in which a senior officer was implicated was a sign of the power of social media given the strong views on the topic that had previously been expressed online.
For several days, social media and its print and broadcast counterparts had featured heavy criticism of Yudhoyono’s silence on the matter, in which the police were in an undeclared war with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Tens of thousands of people used a “Save KPK” tag line on their Facebook and Twitter accounts, while newspapers and television covered the outpouring of support for the antigraft watchdog.
In his address to the nation on Monday, the president said explicitly that he had been following on social media the growing public interest in the conflict between the police and the KPK.
The trend signals growing political awareness among citizens, said Syahganda Nainggolan, managing director of political and economic research agency Sabang Merauke Circle.
But Nainggolan warned that public policy formulation should not be motivated by social media pressure because such pressure is usually emotional and cannot always be considered objective.
“There has never been scientific evidence that gives a clear picture of the correlation between opinion forming through the social media and the truth of every issue being discussed on it,” Nainggolan said.
But he says that people tend to use social media due to a lack of credible public outlets through which they can express an opinion. Indonesia is the world’s third largest user of Facebook, with more than 43 million people having accounts, and the third largest user of Twitter.
Nainggolan said that if purging the bureaucracy of corruption was desired, the KPK must be given more authority and have its budget increased.
Komaruddin Hidayat, rector of the State Islamic University, said the KPK was facing a big challenge in cleaning the bureaucracy because “many state institutions have been ruined by their own elite leaders.”
He said the National Police had misread the public mood, given its recent actions against the KPK came at a time when public expressions of support for the antigraft agency was growing.
“The bureaucrats have not learned that voices in the media and social media are the true voices of the public. They keep ignoring it until they pit themselves against the public,” he said.
Rector of Paramadina University Anies Baswedan said that Indonesia’s progression to a clean democratic society was struggling because “the fight against corruption is being waged by people who are corrupters themselves.”
“Our country is managed by leaders without integrity, but people are becoming smarter and know who is right and who is wrong,” he said.
Nainggolan said that the mass media must channel public opinions, including petitions toward official institutions, and not allow social media to act as a breeding ground for anarchy through publications of extreme and radical ideas that cannot be censored.
Komaruddin warned that the mass media should not “become the spokesman for terrorists or criminals” and that some media organizations are publishing “content that is not smart enough for an increasingly smart Indonesia.”
Gmail users: Buying extra storage will not increase your email space over 25 GB
Gmail users: Buying extra storage will not increase your email space over 25 GB: 
Now that Gmail and Google Apps accounts have been around for a few years, the promise of “never delete an email again” appears to be reaching its limits. In fact, for Google Apps users (yes, even the ones who pay to use the service), the limit is a paltry 25 GB of storage and you absolutely can’t go higher.
This isn’t exactly news, because it’s been the case for quite some time. But it hits home for us at TNW again today as Zee noticed that he was nearing his 25 GB limit. Granted, it’s more than the 10 GB limit that users of Gmail’s free service get, but it’s still a bit limiting.
What’s interesting is that, with the advent of Google Drive, there’s no way to export your message to that locker of cloud-touting space. In fact, when contacting Google, we were told that the best option was to download your email and then delete the ones that you’ve downloaded.
It’s also worth noting that buying additional storage doesn’t actually get you storage above 25 GB in Gmail. With a Google Apps or a regular Gmail account, you’re locked at that 25 GB limit forever:
Oh sure, you can buy 25 or 100 GB of storage. But you’ll notice that it specifically states that it’s for Drive and Picasa only. That’s right folks, no extra Gmail space.
The problem has apparently snagged a few people, with a quick Google search showing many results for people who bought extra space and then found out that it doesn’t apply to Gmail.
Unfortunately, just as Internet speeds increase, so too do the size of the attachments that we’re sending. When it’s relatively easy to send a 500 megabyte file, people don’t shy away from doing so directly, instead of using a Dropbox link alternative. Now that we’re a few years into the Gmail world, this problem is quickly reaching its tipping point and Google’s going to have to make a change.
Our suggestion? Just one button. Heck, even an extension. Let us go through, select the email that we want to archive, then send it to Google Drive. Come to think of it, this is a great opportunity for a third-party developer, so someone get on it please.
Need help finding those big attachments? Find Big Mail can do it, for $9.
Image: Thinkstock
Now that Gmail and Google Apps accounts have been around for a few years, the promise of “never delete an email again” appears to be reaching its limits. In fact, for Google Apps users (yes, even the ones who pay to use the service), the limit is a paltry 25 GB of storage and you absolutely can’t go higher.
This isn’t exactly news, because it’s been the case for quite some time. But it hits home for us at TNW again today as Zee noticed that he was nearing his 25 GB limit. Granted, it’s more than the 10 GB limit that users of Gmail’s free service get, but it’s still a bit limiting.
What’s interesting is that, with the advent of Google Drive, there’s no way to export your message to that locker of cloud-touting space. In fact, when contacting Google, we were told that the best option was to download your email and then delete the ones that you’ve downloaded.
It’s also worth noting that buying additional storage doesn’t actually get you storage above 25 GB in Gmail. With a Google Apps or a regular Gmail account, you’re locked at that 25 GB limit forever:
Oh sure, you can buy 25 or 100 GB of storage. But you’ll notice that it specifically states that it’s for Drive and Picasa only. That’s right folks, no extra Gmail space.
The problem has apparently snagged a few people, with a quick Google search showing many results for people who bought extra space and then found out that it doesn’t apply to Gmail.
Unfortunately, just as Internet speeds increase, so too do the size of the attachments that we’re sending. When it’s relatively easy to send a 500 megabyte file, people don’t shy away from doing so directly, instead of using a Dropbox link alternative. Now that we’re a few years into the Gmail world, this problem is quickly reaching its tipping point and Google’s going to have to make a change.
Our suggestion? Just one button. Heck, even an extension. Let us go through, select the email that we want to archive, then send it to Google Drive. Come to think of it, this is a great opportunity for a third-party developer, so someone get on it please.
Need help finding those big attachments? Find Big Mail can do it, for $9.
Image: Thinkstock
HouseTrip holiday rental site secures $40m series C and heads for 3 million nights of accommodation booked
HouseTrip holiday rental site secures $40m series C and heads for 3 million nights of accommodation booked: 
Holiday rental site HouseTrip has announced a $40 million Series C funding round to expand into more territories and develop new products and services.
The round was led by Accel Partners with existing investors Index Ventures and Balderton Capital also in the mix. Junjun Chen-Bertrand, Co-founder and CFO, hopes that the addition of Accel Partners to its investor group will push the site further, “We are very excited to welcome Accel Partners as we look to expand internationally. Their experience in taking companies global will be a critical asset for the next phase of our growth,” he says.
HouseTrip was established in early 2010 with the aim of making the online rental process as simple as booking a hotel. On the other side of the bargain, the site is also designed to help property owners generate more income.
The site now carries 130,000 properties in more than 15,000 destinations. The company says that by the end of this year, travellers will have booked more than 3 million nights of accommodation via the site.
According to HouseTrip, the business has seen rapid growth through building a standardised supply and choice system for each of the target cities it works in. It has a particular focus on Europe.
Naturally pleased with today’s announcement, Arnaud Bertrand, Co-founder and CEO of HouseTrip, says that the business grew out of a personal requirement that helped him spot a gap in the market.
“My wife and I created HouseTrip on the back of a painful experience booking a holiday rental,” he explains. “We knew there had to be a better way to discover and book holiday rental accommodation that was both anxiety-free and easy-to-use.”
Image Credit: Jeremy Vandel
Holiday rental site HouseTrip has announced a $40 million Series C funding round to expand into more territories and develop new products and services.
The round was led by Accel Partners with existing investors Index Ventures and Balderton Capital also in the mix. Junjun Chen-Bertrand, Co-founder and CFO, hopes that the addition of Accel Partners to its investor group will push the site further, “We are very excited to welcome Accel Partners as we look to expand internationally. Their experience in taking companies global will be a critical asset for the next phase of our growth,” he says.
HouseTrip was established in early 2010 with the aim of making the online rental process as simple as booking a hotel. On the other side of the bargain, the site is also designed to help property owners generate more income.
The site now carries 130,000 properties in more than 15,000 destinations. The company says that by the end of this year, travellers will have booked more than 3 million nights of accommodation via the site.
According to HouseTrip, the business has seen rapid growth through building a standardised supply and choice system for each of the target cities it works in. It has a particular focus on Europe.
Naturally pleased with today’s announcement, Arnaud Bertrand, Co-founder and CEO of HouseTrip, says that the business grew out of a personal requirement that helped him spot a gap in the market.“My wife and I created HouseTrip on the back of a painful experience booking a holiday rental,” he explains. “We knew there had to be a better way to discover and book holiday rental accommodation that was both anxiety-free and easy-to-use.”
Image Credit: Jeremy Vandel
Boost in online hiring set to create $1 billion industry by end of 2012 [Study]
Boost in online hiring set to create $1 billion industry by end of 2012 [Study]: ![working from computer gettyimages 520x245 Boost in online hiring set to create $1 billion industry by end of 2012 [Study]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tW-_livWXiK3b3y1Ic9J6UlMZ-OT55dAr8hyQ5s8z3lMW1QUM71Ai_OX4O-zCmduNn6a-06MbhMcCqD-WNh47vum-cWi_ufk-xBZ20IIwIapngl0nmOfzIHFy6A6niXzTpxazLAidmawxR-AQPY-gjypeALobb4fi7DTo3i6YOkTbsDu8lXT6KVoyW4yM9dQ=s0-d "working from computer gettyimages 520x245 photo")
We all know that the economy isn’t doing that great and that there are fewer jobs than we’d like. But, there is some good news on the job front: remote jobs, or rather those jobs that can be done just by working remotely via the Internet, look to be rapidly increasing.
According to oDesk, an online workplace, a recent study of companies indicates that online work boosts the overall job market and that more contractors will work online by 2020. This study asked 2,839 businesses of the 482,000 that oDesk works with to help hire online workers evaluate their experiences and explore their predictions for hiring in the future.
![odesk onlinework screen2 520x390 Boost in online hiring set to create $1 billion industry by end of 2012 [Study]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vvnwr0n1CnQf-b0gkzhZYpr5N_DMmHicbnAnttC8kgIzvw6CiRVgiQZi7YaTTPZqvCDH3Vf4vJXZG3dwt-Oa3vYqS_vuBqRWfb1_1pSYBt9xQUXKXplYY_W9498ZU6QqWM7E9nDd-M8pZk5_qsSOXyZO9KdmAJqOU7rx-vvlJ_jyNi4Qdd=s0-d "odesk onlinework screen2 520x390 photo")
For many businesses, talent is the biggest lever to its success, but also a pain to access. Respondents mentioned that traditional hiring methods are “painful”– there is more demand than supply in some industries and spending precious resources bidding for a specific individual can be draining. However, when it comes to using online workers, companies felt that the online hiring process is less stressful and even helps make business more competitive and successful.
The study found that when you have online work, it allows the business to be more competitive (88% agree), launch products faster (85% agree), and grow revenues (80% agree). This could possibly be related to the fact that with online work, they’re focused entirely on that project, not a variety of projects a traditional worker might be responsible for.
The key findings from the oDesk survey indicate that:
The economy is definitely being affected as a result of this movement. But while you might think that online work will be mainstream, Swart feels otherwise. Their study shows that it’s going to bring about a “lift” to the economy. 83% of businesses indicated that they would not have hired locally if online workers were unavailable. Rather, they would have extended working hours or cancelled entire projects.![odesk onlinework screen1 520x390 Boost in online hiring set to create $1 billion industry by end of 2012 [Study]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uBIfOQnv9NpWlqwLSr-3ECMXJXSxHMCLdcZE2mfDLmSf6hkZqyG1lBL2aqIiqleZZQcE72O-MHD2-xyusotqLe_7sxa9QVhJTwP1uap7fxabIei2Z_ax1aSuPRDsjQuwJNM11-EhJ1S4FkYKxdq3t5uewjEBuuxCxk4dUkz9x0yzNRDpBuyw=s0-d "odesk onlinework screen1 520x390 photo")
Swart told TNW about one case where a designer in Texas started to seek work through oDesk. Initially he started off as a web designer doing work at $15 per hour. When he was recognized for being pretty good, his rate went up and he quickly stair-stepped his way to $90 per hour, accumulating more clients. Eventually, he decided to start his own business and it’s estimated to receive $1 million in revenue this year.
So what lies ahead for online work? The majority of contract workers will be online (86% agree) and by the end of this year, it will be a $1 billion industry where 1 in 3 people will work online compared to on-site because of the challenges in hiring talent.
Image credit: Allison Joyce/Getty Images
We all know that the economy isn’t doing that great and that there are fewer jobs than we’d like. But, there is some good news on the job front: remote jobs, or rather those jobs that can be done just by working remotely via the Internet, look to be rapidly increasing.
According to oDesk, an online workplace, a recent study of companies indicates that online work boosts the overall job market and that more contractors will work online by 2020. This study asked 2,839 businesses of the 482,000 that oDesk works with to help hire online workers evaluate their experiences and explore their predictions for hiring in the future.
For many businesses, talent is the biggest lever to its success, but also a pain to access. Respondents mentioned that traditional hiring methods are “painful”– there is more demand than supply in some industries and spending precious resources bidding for a specific individual can be draining. However, when it comes to using online workers, companies felt that the online hiring process is less stressful and even helps make business more competitive and successful.
The study found that when you have online work, it allows the business to be more competitive (88% agree), launch products faster (85% agree), and grow revenues (80% agree). This could possibly be related to the fact that with online work, they’re focused entirely on that project, not a variety of projects a traditional worker might be responsible for.
The key findings from the oDesk survey indicate that:
oDesk CEO Gary Swart said, “Businesses that have tried hiring and managing workers online are voting with their wallets for the workplace of the future, in which blended teams of on-premise and online workers come together to get results.” No longer are companies resigning themselves to hire the best candidate locally — they understand that to get the very best, they’re going to need to look beyond their location.
- 58% of respondents plan to at least double their spending on online workers in 2013
- 94% agree with the statement: “Within 10 years, the majority of businesses will have blended teams of online and on-premise workers”
- 95% agree that in the future, getting hired will be “more dependent on having the right skills than on location”
- Three-quarters say it would have been difficult to hire a local, on-premise worker to fill the need for which they hired their online worker
The economy is definitely being affected as a result of this movement. But while you might think that online work will be mainstream, Swart feels otherwise. Their study shows that it’s going to bring about a “lift” to the economy. 83% of businesses indicated that they would not have hired locally if online workers were unavailable. Rather, they would have extended working hours or cancelled entire projects.
Swart told TNW about one case where a designer in Texas started to seek work through oDesk. Initially he started off as a web designer doing work at $15 per hour. When he was recognized for being pretty good, his rate went up and he quickly stair-stepped his way to $90 per hour, accumulating more clients. Eventually, he decided to start his own business and it’s estimated to receive $1 million in revenue this year.
So what lies ahead for online work? The majority of contract workers will be online (86% agree) and by the end of this year, it will be a $1 billion industry where 1 in 3 people will work online compared to on-site because of the challenges in hiring talent.
Image credit: Allison Joyce/Getty Images
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