This is the VOA Special English Technology Report, from http://voaspecialenglish.com | http://facebook.com/voalearningenglish
Falling prices are fueling growth in high-speed Internet services, especially in developing countries. Recently the International Telecommunication Union released its “Measuring the Information Society 2011″ report. The ITU, part of the United Nations, compared access, use and skills in one hundred fifty-two countries.The report says South Korea has the world’s most developed economy in information and communication technology, or ICT. Sweden, Iceland, Denmark and Finland were also among the top five in the ICT Development Index. The index compares two thousand eight and two thousand ten scores. Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Vietnam and Russia had some of the biggest improvements between those years. Susan Teltscher is head of the ICT Data and Statistics Division at the International Telecommunication Union in Switzerland. She says most of the growth has come from one source. “Mobile broadband is now leading the growth race among the different ICT indicators — much higher than the other key indicators that we look at, like regular mobile phone subscriptions, fixed telephone or fixed broadband. … And the good news is that it’s also starting to grow in developing countries.” Mobile broadband subscriptions reached eight hundred seventy-two million by the end of last year. Three hundred million of those are in developing countries. Ms. Teltscher says “If we can bring Internet over the mobile phones, then we can really make a difference in terms of improving Internet access also in developing countries.” Falling prices are adding to the growth, she says: “Especially in the broadband area, the prices dropped by over fifty percent between two thousand eight and two thousand ten — which is a very encouraging finding because this was primarily drops in the developing countries.” Even so, the report says people in many low-income countries are still paying too much for high-speed Internet connections. In Africa, broadband service for a home or office cost almost three times an average monthly income last year. That was down from six and a half times as much in two thousand eight. Also, there are big differences in broadband speed and quality from country to country. South Korea has Asia’s fourth largest economy. Susan Teltscher says, “If you look at … what they have been achieving in terms of ICT development, it’s actually higher than what you would expect given their national income.” For VOA Special English, I’m Carolyn Presutti.
(Adapted from a radio program broadcast 19Sep2011)
Duration : 0:4:0
Professor Mervyn King explains Integrated Reporting, at the launch of South Africa’s new Framework for Integrated Reporting and the Integrated Report Discussion Paper on 25 January 2011.
South Africa is the first country to issue specific guidelines defining the content of an integrated report for listed companies. Integrated Reporting is now a stock exchange listing requirement for South African companies and will replace the old form of annual report which focused primarily on financial information and the short-term horizon.
An integrated report does not simply bolt the sustainability report to the financial report. It incorporates, in clear language, material information from these and other sources to enable stakeholders to evaluate an organisation’s performance and to make an informed assessment about its ability to create and sustain value.
For further detail go to www.sustainabilitysa.org Public comments can be submitted to ircomments@saica.co.za by 25 April 2011.
Duration : 0:2:2
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Duration : 0:3:55
(UN)EMPLOYMENT
So the South African government has claimed that this is the decade of employment and they will create 5 million jobs or 500 000 jobs a year.
The reality is, the government can only create one thing; DEBT! They borrow money from international banks, half goes into their own back pockets and the rest is spent into the economy to create more jobs. This does not create jobs; it creates more debt, which you must pay off with higher taxes. However, you notice the many countries that are collapsing and going bankrupt? This is because they cannot pay off the debt, as jobs have NOT been created. No jobs means no tax revenue and the government will not be creating any jobs.
In South Africa in 2010, 455 000 jobs were created. 500 000 jobs will mean an increase of 45 000 jobs a year, not 500 000 additional jobs. But whenever Jacob Zuma speaks, he tells us we are all global now, so actually the jobs will be created in China, not South Africa.
But lets give the government the benefit of the doubt. Lets assume that 500 000 jobs are created in 2011. Well 1 million people will lose their jobs in the same time. That’s a 500 000 job loss, not job increase.
Why is this? The government has made it virtually impossible to open a new small business. It’s too expensive and too difficult to comply with all the red tape, bureaucracy, fee’s regulations and permits. This is not by mistake or for your benefit; it’s by design to create a 2 class system. The super rich and the super poor-social welfare with no middle class.
We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. 74% of people leaving school or university will not find employment. But you know who is always hiring? The crime networks!
That is why the crime is increasing on a daily basis and as more and more unemployed people are employed by the crime network’s, it means that YOU, the middle class are going to increasing become the target of crime. That’s the only employment that’s going to go up. Not only that, but as taxes and cost of living increase for you, the middle class, the government is going to direct the poor against you.
If you believe the government, well they will actually be creating some jobs. Volunteer jobs for the elections and census. Free jobs, no money jobs, still starving jobs for everyone. (Slavery.)
We are going into the highest unemployment rate you have ever seen. We are going into a society where there is no middle class, the 2-class system. The ANC is communist and that’s how a communist countries work,
You are going to be taxed to death and be regulated out of business. The cost of living is going to increase. Petrol will hit R15 a liter in 2011, food will become too expensive to afford.
South Africa already has the greatest divide between rich and poor already and the government is doing everything to increase this gap. If you cannot see this, then you are blind and you only have yourself to blame when it all happens.
Duration : 0:8:57
Professor Mervyn King explains Integrated Reporting, at the launch of South Africa’s new Framework for Integrated Reporting and the Integrated Report Discussion Paper on 25 January 2011.
South Africa is the first country to issue specific guidelines defining the content of an integrated report for listed companies. Integrated Reporting is now a stock exchange listing requirement for South African companies and will replace the old form of annual report which focused primarily on financial information and the short-term horizon.
An integrated report does not simply bolt the sustainability report to the financial report. It incorporates, in clear language, material information from these and other sources to enable stakeholders to evaluate an organisation’s performance and to make an informed assessment about its ability to create and sustain value.
For further detail go to www.sustainabilitysa.org Public comments can be submitted to ircomments@saica.co.za by 25 April 2011
Duration : 0:7:58
On June 28, 2010 a cashier of a well known supermarket in Nelspruit was R 2 800 short when cashing up at the end of the day. No explanation for the lost money could be given.
On June 30, 2010 an e-mail was circulated by a national supermarket chain alerting retailers with regard to a “MONEY SWIPING SYNDICATE. Photos of the suspects as per security cameras of the store and shopping mall were attached to the e-mail.
After having received the e-mail referred to above, the store’s security cameras were checked on June 30, 2010 and it was found that the method used by the syndicate followed the exact MODUS OPERANDI as described in the e-mail the details of which are at the beginning of the YOUTUBE video. It appears the syndicate comprises of two males and two females. Not all footage recorded by the store’s security cameras is shown on this YOUTUBE video.
This is an alert to ALL RETAILERS in South Africa to be aware of how the suspects operate. Please forward this link to ALL RETAILERS for viewing.
For further information and/or photographs of the suspects contact Yvette du Toit General Manager of BAC Mpumalanga yvettedutoit@vodamail.co.za. Should you become aware of the syndicate’s activity in your store and/or area please report this to the SAPS immediately. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. We’re looking for these suspects.
Duration : 0:7:9
This is the VOA Special English Development Report, from http://voaspecialenglish.com | http://facebook.com/voalearningenglish
Rift Valley fever mainly affects farm animals. But the virus can also infect humans, and South Africa has been experiencing an outbreak. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases reported two hundred twenty-five confirmed human cases as of July second. Twenty-five of the people died. South Africa launched an expanded program to watch for public health threats during the World Cup. Health officials said that there were no cases of Rift Valley fever in tourists. The majority of farms affected by the outbreak are outside areas generally visited by travelers. Most of the cases have been found in farm workers in two provinces: Free State and Northern Cape. Most human infections with Rift Valley fever are caused by direct or indirect contact with diseased animals. Infected mosquitoes can also pass the disease to humans. So can drinking unpasteurized or uncooked milk from infected animals. Most human cases of the disease are minor. Some patients do not get sick at all. Others may get flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle and joint pain and headaches. Patients normally recover within seven days. But patients with more severe forms can go blind. Some develop encephalitis, a brain disease that can lead to headaches, coma or seizures. And some patients bleed to death. The World Health Organization says Rift Valley fever was first discovered in Kenya in nineteen thirty-one. In the year two thousand, it was identified in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. These were the first reported cases of Rift Valley fever outside of Africa. Current vaccines to protect against Rift Valley fever are limited to use in animals. But researchers are working to develop the first human vaccine. In a new study, scientists in the United States tested vaccines made with two kinds of inactivated virus. They said tests in mice showed that their new vaccines are safer than live-virus vaccines and appear to work just as well. Using live virus in vaccines can increase the risks. The researchers are at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina. Their study appeared in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, published by the Public Library of Science. And that’s the VOA Special English Development Report. You can read and listen to all of our reports at voaspecialenglish.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and iTunes at VOA Learning English.
(Adapted from a radio program broadcast 12Jul2010)
Duration : 0:3:51
Africa Business Report 1 – South Africa World Cup Boom and Nigeria Free Trade – BBC Documentary Series, recorded on 26.08.2009.
- A monthly look at business across the continent. We talk to the people and businesses who are changing the economic face of Africa. BBC correspondents within each country will report on the growing trends and latest business developments in this region. Recorded from BBC News.
Duration : 0:10:57
ITV Anglia News 16/610
Northampton Sport Soccer Football FIFA South Africa World Cup 2010 Vuvuzelas.
Duration : 0:3:41
Anglia News 22/6/10
Sport Soccer Football FIFA South Africa World Cup 2010 England vs Slovenia.
London Budget Cuts
Duration : 0:9:25