By Dr. Thomas Griebe |Matthias Pallentin Whistleblowers: some consider them traitors; others see them as modern heroes. By issuing a recent proposal, the EU Commission has at least taken a position on improving (minimum) protections for whistleblowers and, above all, ensuring these protections are uniform throughout Europe. Originally developed by the Council of Europe, the principles should protect not only whistleblowers acting with good intentions but also those who suffer harm as a result of false or malicious reports. As such, they will...

By Sam Natapoff,  President of Empire Global Ventures LLC (EGV) The coming red state ruination is no accident; our partners are making a point, economic aggression affects us all. For President Trump, all questions have simple answers: U.S. “immigration laws are the weakest and worst anywhere in the world”, the Mueller investigation is a “rigged witch hunt”, and “trade wars are good, and easy to win”. While many of Trump’s presidential actions will have negative consequences over time, for his burgeoning...

Overall, 86,786 international students participated in an intensive English program (IEP) in the United States in 2017, according to recently released IIE data. IEP programs in United States are offered by higher education institutions and independent providers, and are one way for international students to initiate their education in the United States. In 2017, 51 percent of IEP students intended to further their study in the United States following the completion of their program.  The latest figures represent a 20 percent decline...

By Chris Knight | European Investment Bank  Titanium recycling plant preserves an important resource, as well as protecting the climate. Titanium is named after the powerful Titans of Greek mythology. That’s because of its great strength. It’s also light, doesn’t corrode, and bends without breaking. Those properties make it a strategic raw material for many products, including aeroplane body parts, missiles, spacecraft and defence armour. The problem is that it is not easy to buy titanium in Europe or find an economical way to recycle...

We thought you'd be interested in the following article as it highlights the urgency of booking in advance to peak season: Trans-Pac rates jump on rising imports Despite uncertainty in the global arena, and specifically involving consumer merchandise imports from China, volumes continue to inch up over last year’s record numbers. At the same time, the spot rate for shipping an FEU from Shanghai surged 30.2 percent to the East Coast and 16.7 percent to the West Coast, according to the...

VULCAN VIEW - KEY EVENTS THIS WEEK: BREXIT European Commission issues “no deal” Brexit contingency planAfter a fortnight of political turmoil in UK, the European Commission has called on member countries to step up preparations for a “no deal” Brexit. In a published 15-page document, Brussels warned that a “no deal” scenario seemed increasingly likely and detailed the “significant disruption” to be expected for both business and individuals. The warning offers a blunt analysis of the potential economic and social implications of the...

By Damian Smith | Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Societe Generale Americas It's easy for many in the corporate world to get caught up in diversity buzzwords. But the reality is that for today's companies to compete and succeed, it is a necessity - and it goes well beyond a feel-good marketing story. Companies that truly believe and walk-the-walk of diversity and inclusion see benefits that ripple throughout the organization. And many of these benefits are now established and measurable. The...