WMO: 2014 May Be Hottest on Record as Oceans Warm

Record high ocean temperatures will make 2014 the hottest year on record, or at least among the very warmest, in evidence of a long-term trend of global warming, the UN's weather agency said on Wednesday.

Including this year, 14 of the 15 most sweltering years on record will have been in the 21st century, the World Meteorological Organization [WMO] said of the findings issued during 190-nation talks in Lima on ways to fight climate change.

"There is no standstill in global warming," WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said in a statement. "What is particularly unusual and alarming this year are the high temperatures of vast areas of the ocean surface."

The WMO said average sea surface temperatures hit record highs in 2014. On land, it listed extremes including floods in Bangladesh and Britain and droughts in China and California.

"High sea temperatures, together with other factors, contributed to exceptionally heavy rainfall and floods in many countries and extreme drought in others," the WMO said.

"The year 2014 is on track to be one of the hottest, if not the hottest, on record," the WMO said of estimates based on temperatures from January to October. Reliable temperature records stretch back to the 1850s.

If temperatures stay similarly above normal for the rest of the year "2014 will likely be the hottest on record, ahead of 2010, 2005 and 1998," it said.

The global average air temperature over land and the sea surface for January-October was 0.57 degree Centigrade [1.03 Fahrenheit] above the average of 14C [57.2F] for 1961-1990.

Skeptics who doubt climate change is mainly man-made often note that temperatures have not risen much since 1998, despite a surge in greenhouse gas emissions.

But Christiana Figueres, head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, said "our climate is changing and every year the risks of extreme weather events and impacts on humanity rise."

She said there were signs of a shift by governments that could put the world on a path to deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. The Lima talks, from Dec. 1-12, are working on a UN climate deal meant to be agreed in Paris next year.

In good news, the WMO counted just 72 tropical storms until mid-November 2014, against a long-term average of 89 a year.

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Korea Falls to Record Low in FIFA Rankings

Korea dropped three spots to No. 69 in the FIFA world rankings released on Thursday. It gained 481 ranking points, 15 points less than the previous month, to rank 3rd among Asian countries.

Japan was the highest-ranked Asian country at 53rd with 563 points, followed by Iran at 56th (547 points).

Oman, Australia and Kuwait, which are in the same group as Korea at the AFC Asian Cup in 2015, were 96th, 102nd and 123rd, respectively.

The top six nations were unchanged from last month. Germany, the winner of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, was No. 1, followed by Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Brazil.

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Applicants for Debt Restructuring to Hit Record High

The number of people applying to have their debt restructured is forecast to hit a record high this year. Financial authorities say more than 93,000 people filed for personal bankruptcy during the first 10 months of 2014, up more than 7.5 percent from the same period last year.

Experts say high household debt means more people are struggling to make ends meet.

Household debt stood at roughly US$950 billion as of September, according to the Bank of Korea, an increase of $20 billion from June.

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Korea Falls to Record Low in FIFA Rankings

Korea dropped three spots to No. 69 in the FIFA world rankings released on Thursday. It gained 481 ranking points, 15 points less than the previous month, to rank 3rd among Asian countries.

Japan was the highest-ranked Asian country at 53rd with 563 points, followed by Iran at 56th (547 points).

Oman, Australia and Kuwait, which are in the same group as Korea at the AFC Asian Cup in 2015, were 96th, 102nd and 123rd, respectively.

The top six nations were unchanged from last month. Germany, the winner of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, was No. 1, followed by Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Brazil.

View the original article here

Korea Falls to Record Low in FIFA Rankings

Korea dropped three spots to No. 69 in the FIFA world rankings released on Thursday. It gained 481 ranking points, 15 points less than the previous month, to rank 3rd among Asian countries.

Japan was the highest-ranked Asian country at 53rd with 563 points, followed by Iran at 56th (547 points).

Oman, Australia and Kuwait, which are in the same group as Korea at the AFC Asian Cup in 2015, were 96th, 102nd and 123rd, respectively.

The top six nations were unchanged from last month. Germany, the winner of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, was No. 1, followed by Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Brazil.

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Applicants for Debt Restructuring to Hit Record High

The number of people applying to have their debt restructured is forecast to hit a record high this year. Financial authorities say more than 93,000 people filed for personal bankruptcy during the first 10 months of 2014, up more than 7.5 percent from the same period last year.

Experts say high household debt means more people are struggling to make ends meet.

Household debt stood at roughly US$950 billion as of September, according to the Bank of Korea, an increase of $20 billion from June.

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Household Debt at New Record High

The amount of household debt has reached yet another record at W1,060 trillion as of the end of September this year (US$1=W1,111).

Household debt has been scaling new heights quarter after quarter, mainly because of a marked increase in home loans thanks to the easing of regulations on home purchases and low interest rates.

According to preliminary third-quarter data released by the Bank of Korea on Tuesday, total household debt stood at W1,060.3 trillion as of the third quarter, up W22 trillion from the previous quarter. The debt includes home loans from banks and unsettled credit card spending and cash advances.

Debt rose W39 trillion in the first nine months of this year alone and the increase is expected to surpass last year's rise of W57.6 trillion before the year is out since credit card spending tends to rise towards the end of the year.

But the debt increase mainly resulted from loans taken out to buy or rent a home. Such loans rose W11.9 trillion in the third quarter, accounting for 97 percent of all household loans extended by commercial banks over that period.

On the other hand, the slow economy has trimmed consumer spending, resulting in a W100 billion decline in cash advances and credit-card spending from three months ago to W57.4 trillion.

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U.S. Hosts Record 866,000 Foreign Students

Close to 900,000 international students are studying at American universities and colleges, more than ever before. About half of them come from Asia, mostly China. The United States hosts more foreign students than any other country in the world, and its foreign student population is steadily growing.

A new report from the Institute of International Education says that in the academic year 2013-2014, more than 886,000 foreign students enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions, an increase of 8 percent over the year before. There are now twice as many international students in the U.S. than only a decade ago. That trend is driven to a large extent by incoming undergraduate students from China.

"In the U.S. they emphasize class discussions, and your opinion, and the capacity to debate with others, such as professor or teacher, and that is an atmosphere I want to experience," said Eric Xu, a Chinese student studying at Columbia University, in New York.

While the enrollment of Chinese students continues to grow, the past academic year saw a significant increase in students from Kuwait, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and even Iran. More than 4 percent of the students in U.S. higher education institutions are foreigners. Educators say the presence of foreign students in American schools is beneficial, and that about 4,000 U.S. colleges and universities can accommodate more.

"We know that international students contribute significantly to U.S. classrooms and campuses through their global perspectives and by providing international exposure to those American students who may never have the opportunity to study overseas," said Rajika Bhandari, Vice President of the Institute of International Education.

Enrollment of students from abroad also adds to the U.S. economy.

"This year, $27 billion was contributed to our economy at the local state and national levels, through payments for tuition, housing and other costs," said Evan Ryan, Assistant Secretary of State for education.

The U.S. State Department and the Department of Education also promote study abroad for U.S. students.

"We believe that study abroad can increase American competitiveness by enabling U.S. students to acquire language skills as well as the regional and global perspectives necessary to succeed in the 21st century," said Ryan.

About 290,000 U.S. students went to study abroad in 2012-2013 for academic credit.? Europe, especially Britain, remains the number one destination for American students, but the latest "Open Door" report shows that more students now choose to go to Latin American countries and China.

"China now is the number five host country for U.S. students, hosting over 14,000 American students," said Christine Farrugia of the International Institute of Education.

While U.S. schools continue to attract young people from all over the world, student exchanges among other countries also are on the rise.

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Andrew W.K. sets drumming record at MTV O Music Awards

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Musician Andrew W.K., the self-described "party king," set a new world record after playing drums nonstop for 24 hours during MTV's O Music Awards this week.

The O Music Awards, which give out accolades in a variety of fan-voted categories to musicians who make a significant impact online through social media, was streamed solely online as a 24-hour virtual concert.

The 34-year-old American, who was born Andrew Fetterly Wilkes-Krier, drummed for 24 hours from Wednesday to Thursday, earning the world record for Longest Drum Session in a Retail Store, MTV said in a statement.

A message left seeking confirmation from Guinness World Records, which verifies official records, was not immediately returned.

Artists such as the Jonas Brothers, Hanson, Atlas Genius and Kate Nash performed from the MTV studios in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville during the 24-hour live music festival that MTV billed as the largest online-only event of its kind.

The network said that more than 100 million votes had been cast by fans online.

Winners included Joe Jonas for Best Artist Instagram, rocker Jack White for Analog Genius and German pop group Tokio Hotel for Fan Army FTW (For The Win).

Yoko Ono, 80, wife of late Beatle John Lennon, won the Digital Genius Award for her online art and music work, as well as her digital presence on social media.

Newcomer band Darling Parade was also selected from 50 new artists to play at the MTV Video Music Awards in August.

Now in its third year, the O Music Awards has attempted to set a new record each year.

At the first O Music awards in Las Vegas in 2011, rapper Chiddy of rap duo Chiddy Bang set a Guinness World Record for the "longest freestyle rap" and "longest marathon rap" after performing for more than nine consecutive hours.

In 2012, rockers Flaming Lips set a record for most concerts played in 24 hours, as they performed in eight cities, traveling by bus, breaking rapper Jay Z's previous record for seven cities in 24 hours via private jet.

MTV and its sister channels VH1 and CMT, which also participated in the O Music Awards, are part of Viacom Inc.

(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Eric Kelsey and Eric Walsh)

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Andrew W.K. sets drumming record at MTV O Music Awards

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Musician Andrew W.K., the self-described "party king," set a new world record after playing drums nonstop for 24 hours during MTV's O Music Awards this week.

The O Music Awards, which give out accolades in a variety of fan-voted categories to musicians who make a significant impact online through social media, was streamed solely online as a 24-hour virtual concert.

The 34-year-old American, who was born Andrew Fetterly Wilkes-Krier, drummed for 24 hours from Wednesday to Thursday, earning the world record for Longest Drum Session in a Retail Store, MTV said in a statement.

A message left seeking confirmation from Guinness World Records, which verifies official records, was not immediately returned.

Artists such as the Jonas Brothers, Hanson, Atlas Genius and Kate Nash performed from the MTV studios in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville during the 24-hour live music festival that MTV billed as the largest online-only event of its kind.

The network said that more than 100 million votes had been cast by fans online.

Winners included Joe Jonas for Best Artist Instagram, rocker Jack White for Analog Genius and German pop group Tokio Hotel for Fan Army FTW (For The Win).

Yoko Ono, 80, wife of late Beatle John Lennon, won the Digital Genius Award for her online art and music work, as well as her digital presence on social media.

Newcomer band Darling Parade was also selected from 50 new artists to play at the MTV Video Music Awards in August.

Now in its third year, the O Music Awards has attempted to set a new record each year.

At the first O Music awards in Las Vegas in 2011, rapper Chiddy of rap duo Chiddy Bang set a Guinness World Record for the "longest freestyle rap" and "longest marathon rap" after performing for more than nine consecutive hours.

In 2012, rockers Flaming Lips set a record for most concerts played in 24 hours, as they performed in eight cities, traveling by bus, breaking rapper Jay Z's previous record for seven cities in 24 hours via private jet.

MTV and its sister channels VH1 and CMT, which also participated in the O Music Awards, are part of Viacom Inc.

(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Eric Kelsey and Eric Walsh)

View the original article here