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6 Feb, 2012

China Hits Back, Bans Airlines From Paying EU Carbon Tax

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BEIJING, 6 February 2012, (Xinhua News Agency)  – China’s airlines are not allowed to pay a charge on carbon emissions imposed by the Europe Union (EU), and neither to hike freights nor to add other fees accordingly without government permission, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said Monday. The CAAC said in a statement […]

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5 Feb, 2012

Europe Needs 1.5 Trillion Euros To Upgrade Transport Networks by 2030; Bonds, User Charges Coming

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Text of speech (as prepared for delivery) by Siim Kallas, Vice-President and European Commissioner for Transport on “Transport Financing: The Way Ahead” at the European Policy Centre Brussels, 2 February 2012 Europe needs to invest heavily in transport infrastructure before 2050 to remain competitive. At the moment, Europe is going through difficult economic times. There […]

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5 Feb, 2012

EU Moves to Upgrade Cruise Ship Safety

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Brussels, 03 February 2012 (European Commission Media release) – Vice-President Siim Kallas, European Commissioner for Transport today was briefed by the board of the European Cruise Council about cruise ship safety. Mr Kallas announced that the Commission strongly supports a passenger ship safety review at IMO (International Maritime Organisation) to ensure that European citizens can […]

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5 Feb, 2012

ElBaradei’s book exposes the lies and liars behind the war in Iraq

Originally Published: 05 February 2012 The sabre rattling over an attack on Iran, now in full swing, is following the identical game-plan that was mounted before the 2003 attack on Iraq, according to a tell-all book by Dr Mohamed ElBaradei, the former director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The key question facing the world […]

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4 Feb, 2012

New Report Out: European Tourism 2011 – Trends & Prospects

Brussels, 30 January 2012. (www.visiteurope.com) – Although 2011 will prove to have been a record year for travel to Europe, the latest report by the European Travel Commission says that the Eurozone economic crisis is set to have a significant impact in 2012. According to Leslie Vella, Chairman, ETC Market Intelligence Group, “Last year will […]

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3 Feb, 2012

Joint Statement Demands End to NY Cops Surveillance of Mosques

Washington, DC (American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee) www.adc.org – February 2, 2012 — Recent reports indicate that the New York Police Department (NYPD) has been conducting covert surveillance of mosques in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The targeted mosques, highlighted in the secret NYPD document dated May 15, 2006 released by the Associated Press earlier today, […]

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3 Feb, 2012

ASEAN Tourism Country Reports & Presentations 2011

The following reports on the tourism situation of 9 of the 10 ASEAN countries were presented at the ASEAN Tourism Forum meetings in Manado in January 2012. They have been made public in order to promote a better understanding of  official ASEAN tourism policies, strategies, directions and trends, build the ASEAN tourism brand image and […]

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2 Feb, 2012

New UN Initiative Taps Power Of Social Media To Fight Global Hunger

Feb 1 2012 (UN News Centre) – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is launching a week-long campaign in which users of the popular online trivia game Freerice can recruit their friends to help bring food to the world’s most vulnerable populations. World Freerice Week, from 6 to 11 February, will have as its […]

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1 Feb, 2012

Feb 4: US Activist Groups Invite World to Join Protests Against Attack on Iran

Source: International Action Center A broad spectrum of U.S.-based anti-war organizations, including the IAC, agreed on a Jan. 17 conference call to hold coordinated protests across the country on Saturday, Feb. 4. The demands will be: “No war, no sanctions, no intervention, no assassinations against Iran.” The ad-hoc group that took part in the call […]

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1 Feb, 2012

India Issues 12,761 Visas on Arrival in 2011, New Zealanders Head List

New Delhi, Jan 31, 2012 (Press Information Bureau) – During December 2011, a total of 1640 Visa on Arrival (VoAs) were issued to foreign tourists, up from 1,382 in November. The breakdown was as follows: New Zealand (473), Japan (265), Indonesia (247), Phillippines (173), Singapore (194), Finland (246), Cambodia ( 7), Vietnam (18), Luxemburg (8) […]

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1 Feb, 2012

India Embarks on Massive Railway Stations Upgrade Project

New Delhi, Feb 1, 2012 (Press Information Bureau) – The Ministry of Railways has moved to set up a separate corporate unit to upgrade and improve the country’s thousands of railway stations. In what was described as a “path-breaking initiative,” the Ministry signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle […]

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1 Feb, 2012

China’s Firm Stance on Iran Issue: No Nukes, And No War

As Israel, the United States and Europe continue to ratchet up their anti-Iran threats, China has made clear that it does not support a war. The following is the full text of a commentary published in the official media, People’s Daily Online. By Zhong Sheng (People’s Daily) February 01, 2012, Edited and translated by People’s Daily […]

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1 Feb, 2012

Whither Diversity? ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan on Tourism, Culture & Heritage

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Continuing a series of dispatches on the Thai travel & tourism industry 25 years after 1987 Visit Thailand Year. Click on the image below to access the full text of the speech

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1 Feb, 2012

Global Weather Body Launches Data Exchange System to Reduce Risks, Costs

Geneva, 31 January 2012 (WMO), A new international information system to improve and expand the current exchange of weather, climate and water data – and cut the costs involved – has become operational. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Information System will make it easier to find and use meteorological observations and products and to share […]

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31 Jan, 2012

World Set to Ponder What Next After Capitalism

(PRWEB) January 26, 2012 — The Millennium Project announces its findings from the report “Some Elements of the Next Global Economic System over the Next 20 Years” found in The 2011 State of Future. The following two paragraphs are excerpts from the report: “Capitalism, socialism, and communism are early industrial-age systems. Surely new systems are […]

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31 Jan, 2012

U.S. Air Travel Becoming Stressful, Frustrating & Exhausting – Survey

Kansas City, Mo. (PRWEB) January 26, 2012 — According to a new America THINKS survey from HNTB Corporation, modern air travel can recapture its glamour and appeal by incorporating new technology and better amenities into passengers’ everyday experience. “For many Americans, air travel has lost its spark,” said Tom Rossbach, AIA, ACI, director of aviation […]

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31 Jan, 2012

Thai Professor Alerts Travel Industry to Impact of Attack on Iran

Imtiaz Muqbil & Don Ross

BANGKOK – A prominent Thai economics professor has alerted the Thai tourism industry to the impact of an Israeli attack on Iran, including high oil prices and the dangers of a wider conflict. Addressing the joint annual meeting of the Thai Hotels Association and Association of Thai Travel Agents on Jan 30, Assoc.Prof. Somchai Pakapaswiwat […]

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30 Jan, 2012

Former Thai Tourism Chief Says Industry Has “Lost Focus,” Needs New Roadmap

(First in a multi-part series of dispatches on the Thai tourism industry 25 years after Visit Thailand Year) BANGKOK: 25 years after the historic 1987 Visit Thailand Year, a number of industry veterans are voicing concern about the state of the industry and its future directions. With the number of arrivals  skyrocketing, and future growth […]

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29 Jan, 2012

Thailand to Host Conference on Battling Alcohol Abuse

Bangkok – The Thai tourism industry’s efforts to promote more niche-market visitors is set to take a step forward when the Global Alcohol Policy Conference convenes jere between 13-15 February 2012. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Public Health, the World Health Organization, the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the […]

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29 Jan, 2012

Indian Vice-President: Vibrant Journalism is Watchdog Journalism

Dr M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President Of India

Address by the Vice President Of India Dr. M. Hamid Ansari at the Presentation of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards 2010-11 on 16 January 2012, New Delhi. I am happy to be participating in this function to pay tribute to Ramnathji’s memory. Today, as we identify and recognise the excellence and contribution of […]

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29 Jan, 2012

India, Brazil, South Africa Issue Davos Declaration, Urge More South-South Ties

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Davos, 28 January 2012 (Press Information Bureau, India) — Ministers Anand Sharma of India, Antonio Patriota of Brazil and Rob Davies of South Africa, had a meeting of the IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) Trade Ministers forum on the sidelines of the 42nd meeting of the World Economic Forum, on January 27, 2012 in Davos, to review […]

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29 Jan, 2012

UN Marks Holocaust Day; Criticises Israeli Demolition of Palestinian Homes

The following five Press Releases were published back to back by the UN News Centre last week. Well worth thinking about. (Click on each link to go to the story) Jan 23: New Online Tool Featuring Video Testimonies Of Holocaust Survivors Debuts At UN Jan 25: Raising Awareness Of Holocaust Essential To Prevent Acts Of […]

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28 Jan, 2012

Negotiation US style – Opinion – DAWN.COM

LIKE individuals, nations have a style, an attitude and an outlook. They are reflected most strikingly in the style of their diplomacy. Our region is at a crossroads today. Afghanistan holds the key to regional peace; so does Iran. The United States` diplomacy on both will make the big difference between peace and protracted conflict. […]

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28 Jan, 2012

Indian Realtors plagued by Rs 120,000 cr debt as banks play hardball – Hindustan Times

The (Indian) real estate sector, which has seen a 36% surge in its outstanding debt at Rs 120,000 crore so far in 2011-12, has become a cause for concern to the banking industry. Most real estate firms including the big daddies such as DLF, Unitech, Parsvnath have sizeable debt on their books. While they are […]

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28 Jan, 2012

Torture, lawlessness abound as Libya ‘victory high’ ends | The Jordan Times

Violent crime and clashes between armed militants are running rife in Libya as the jubilation of last year’s liberation fades, to be replaced by the harsh and unromantic reality of building a new state. Although much less frequent than the celebratory shooting in the weeks after Muammar Qadhafi died in October, the sound of gunfire […]

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27 Jan, 2012

Europe Hotel Room-Nights Hit 1.6 billion in 2011, up 3.8%

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Brussels, (January 26, 2012) – In 2011, the number of nights spent in hotels and similar establishments1 in the EU27 reached a peak of 1.6 billion nights, up by 3.8% compared with 2010. The evolution of the number of nights spent in hotels in the EU27 showed alternating phases of growth and decline over the […]

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27 Jan, 2012

More Than Half of “Happiness Country” Bhutanese Are Not Happy

Gyalsten K Dorji, Kuensel / Asia News Network

26-01-2012, The Gross National Happiness index based on results of the GNH 2010 survey shows that 41 per cent of Bhutanese can be classified as happy, while 59 per cent are “not-yet happy”, according to an analytical presentation available on the GNH website. The categorising was determined by a sufficiency threshold and a happiness threshold. […]

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27 Jan, 2012

Financial Short-Termism Obstructs Sustainable Change in Business: Experts

UN Environment Program Media release

Nairobi/ Paris, 26 January 2012  – Financial short-termism represents a critical barrier to businesses’ transition to sustainability, according to a new poll. The latest wave of The Sustainability Survey – GlobeScan and SustainAbility’s regular survey of attitudes across businesses, NGOs, academia and government – reveals that a very large majority (88%) of the 642 experts […]

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26 Jan, 2012

Diverse, Flexible Manpower Models Will be Key To Success – HR Consultancy Report

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DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Manpower (NYSE: MAN), a supplier of contingent and permanent recruitment workforce solutions from ManpowerGroup, today called for organizations to adjust their workforce strategy to incorporate a more flexible, agile approach if they hope to successfully navigate the Human Age in a new insight paper published at the World Economic […]

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26 Jan, 2012

UN Outlines Five-Year Action Plan to Build ‘The Future We Want’

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25 January 2012, UN News Centre – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today outlined a series of actions he believes the global community must take over the next five years to build “the future we want.” In a speech to the General Assembly last September Mr. Ban had presented five imperatives – or generational opportunities – that […]

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26 Jan, 2012

Gallup Poll: Americans’ View of Big Business, Big Gov’t At Record Low

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by Frank Newport. www.gallup.com PRINCETON, NJ, January 19, 2012 — Americans’ satisfaction with the size and power of the federal government is at a record-low 29% and their satisfaction with the size and influence of major corporations remains near the all-time low at 30% — making both highly susceptible targets for politicians and presidential candidates […]

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26 Jan, 2012

Europe Seeks Reform of Data Protection Rules to Boost Privacy, Cut Business Costs

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Brussels, 25 January 2012 (European Commission – Press release) – The European Commission today proposed a comprehensive reform of the EU’s 1995 data protection rules to strengthen online privacy rights and boost Europe’s digital economy. Technological progress and globalisation have profoundly changed the way our data is collected, accessed and used. In addition, the 27 […]

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25 Jan, 2012

Which U.S. Presidential Candidate Would Avoid Another War?

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(PRWEB) January 25, 2012 – If America is truly at a crossroads as many of the GOP candidates hint towards, which of the current presidential candidates would best serve our nation in avoiding war and keeping the peace? LatexMattress.org has sponsored an informative infographic of each candidate’s position on several important issues of our day […]

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25 Jan, 2012

Britons Feel Life Getting Too Complicated – Insurance Company Survey

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CARDIFF, Wales, January 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Admiral MultiCar, the UK insurance company, has revealed that Britain is a complicated place to live, according to new research. It shows that over half the population believe their lives are too complicated, with money, work-life balance and family issues causing the complication. The car insurance specialist found […]

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25 Jan, 2012

Half of Real Estate Investment Concentrated in 30 Cities — JLL Report

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DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — As world leaders gather to address global challenges at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, a new report by Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) reveals that more than half of all global real estate investment resides in 30 cities.  A quarter of the total investment is […]

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25 Jan, 2012

Stress Reducing Strategies for Chronically Unhappy Wives

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Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) January 25, 2012 — In 2009, AOL and Women’s Day took a poll that revealed 70% of American women seriously admitted they were considering divorce. “Obviously, women are not happy and believe that breaking up their marriage and starting another relationship will bring them the happiness they desire. This is an overwhelming […]

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25 Jan, 2012

New Report Highlights Role Of Universities in Entrepreneurship, Job Creation

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LOS ANGELES and WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The USC Stevens Institute for Innovation today announced a new report titled Universities in Innovation Networks: The Role and Future Promise of University Research in U.S. Science and Economic Policymaking by USC Vice Provost for Innovation Krisztina “Z” Holly. This is the fourth report in a series […]

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25 Jan, 2012

Labour Leaders Demand Jobs, Growth And Equity In Davos

25 January 2012 (ITUC, WEF media releases): The international union movement has put its case for the reform of capitalism at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week with five principles for dealing with current economic challenges. Addressing political and business chiefs, trade union leaders from Indonesia, USA and the UK and the international […]

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25 Jan, 2012

Jewish Casino Baron Behind Anti-Muslim Films Being Shown to NY Cops

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NEW YORK, N.Y., 1/24/12, (CAIR Media Release) — The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today called on the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to offer a concrete plan to help counter the misinformation about Islam and Muslims provided to almost 1,500 officers through the screening of “The Third Jihad,” […]

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25 Jan, 2012

US Public Now Focussed on Poor Economy But Still Backs “Tough Stand” on Iran

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Washington DC., Jan 23, 2012 (Pew Research Centre Media Release) – As the 2012 State of the Union approaches, the public continues to give the highest priority to economic issues. Fully 86% say that strengthening the economy should be a top priority for the president and Congress this year, and 82% rate improving the job […]

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25 Jan, 2012

STR Global Releases World Hotel Performance Results 2011

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Hotels in Venice, Abu Dhabi, Santiago and Asian cities such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Singapore were among the big winners of 2011, according to hotel occupancy and revenue data compiled by STR Global and released on January 24. The performance of Bangkok was a surprise inclusion. Cities worldwide showed the impact of both […]

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24 Jan, 2012

World Economic Forum 2012 Gives Youth A Chance to Speak Out

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Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 24 January 2012 (WEF Press release) – A new worldwide essay competition will tap into the ideas and energy of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Shapers Community in order to tackle the growing youth unemployment crisis. The Global Shapers, a worldwide network of people aged between 20 and 30 who have demonstrated […]

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24 Jan, 2012

Western Economic Crisis Has Cost 27 Million Jobs, And It’s Not Over Yet

The global economic crisis increased the number of total unemployed by 27 million, raising to 1.1 billion people the number of people out of work, most of them young people, women and those already poor, according to a blistering report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a United Nations agency. Mincing no words, the report […]

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23 Jan, 2012

Chinese Researcher: Beware Of US Game Over Iran

By Mei Xinyu (China Daily)

The author is a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, affiliated to the Ministry of Commerce. Published in China Daily, 2012-01-20 — The United States is expediting its efforts to persuade its allies like Japan and the Republic of Korea to reduce their oil imports from Iran. Even the European […]

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23 Jan, 2012

World Economic Forum: Most Global Experts Fear Looming Geopolitical Disruption

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Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 23 January 2012 (World Economic Forum media release) – Fear among international experts of a major geopolitical disruption over the next 12 months has risen significantly to 54%, just as confidence in the state of global cooperation has dropped, according to the World Economic Forum’s third Global Confidence Index. The bleak outlook at […]

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23 Jan, 2012

Demographic Trends: Sex Selection Scourge Still Shows Preference for Boys

UNFPA Press release, 16 January 2012 – The sex-ratio imbalance that has plagued certain Asian countries has been increasing in the last few years with one exception, the Republic of Korea, while a few  European countries, including Albania, Armenia and Montenegro, are showing rises too. Moreover, some regions of China, India and Viet Nam — […]

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23 Jan, 2012

IMF Now Says Asia Can Help Europe Recover From Crisis

David Lipton, First Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund

Text of Speech at Asian Financial Forum, Hong Kong, 16 January 2012. (As prepared for delivery) Introduction Good afternoon. It is my great pleasure to be here. I’d like to thank the Hong Kong government for inviting me to this important event and to all of you for taking the time to join us. In […]

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23 Jan, 2012

Logo Design Competition for Future Int’l Center for Women Artists in Amman

UNESCO Press Release – The Foundation of the International Center for Women Artists (ICWA) is inviting graphic designers from all over the world to take part in a design competition for its logo. A jury will award the overall winner a prize of US$2,000 while the two runner-ups are to receive US$500 each. The deadline […]

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23 Jan, 2012

Asia Needs New “Energy Plus” Systems: UNDP

Bangkok, 19 January 2012, UNDP Press release — New analysis from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), based on case studies from across Asia and the Pacific, calls for a set of “energy plus” services – one that combines access to modern energy for heating, cooking and electricity, with measures that generate cash, supplement incomes […]

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23 Jan, 2012

Palestinian Family Lives in Constant Fear of Jewish Settler Attacks

Burin, Israeli-occupied West Bank, January 2012 — “Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person… No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home… Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks,” state Articles 3 and 12 of the Universal Declaration […]

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22 Jan, 2012

Thailand Recognises Palestine, So What’s Next?

Originally Published: 22 January 2012 Thailand’s recognition of a Palestine state brings the kingdom in line with the growing majority of countries that have gone down that path. At the same time, the timing of the recognition cannot be disassociated from the arrest of the alleged Lebanese terrorism suspect, and the anti-Arab/Muslim hysteria now raging […]

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21 Jan, 2012

UN Leadership Camp Helps Youth Use Sport To Tackle Social Issues

Doha/Geneva (UNOSDP) 20 January 2012– The inaugural ‘UNOSDP Youth Leadership Camp’ concluded yesterday in Doha after eleven days of intense learning. Twenty-nine young people from nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the Palestinian Territory enhanced their leadership skills on how to use sport to address pressing social issues affecting their underprivileged communities. At the end […]

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21 Jan, 2012

Holiday Season Saw More U.S. Retail Sales, But Fewer In-store Shoppers

NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Despite continued economic uncertainty, holiday shoppers bought more this year than last, giving retailers two holiday seasons with year-over-year sales increases in a row. According to ShopperTrak — a provider of retail and mall foot-traffic counting services — national retail sales, when compared to the same period last […]

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21 Jan, 2012

IBM Launches New Analytics Tools for Social Business

ARMONK, N.Y., Jan. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) today unveiled new software and services that delivers comprehensive networking capabilities to the increasingly social savvy workforce. Now, organizations can apply analytics to their social business initiatives, allowing them to gain actionable insight on social networking sentiment anytime, anywhere and put it to work in […]

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21 Jan, 2012

Rising Number of Headphone-Wearing Pedestrians Getting Hit by Cars, Trains

BALTIMORE, Jan. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Listen up, pedestrians wearing headphones. Can you hear the trains or cars around you? Many probably can’t, especially young adult males. Serious injuries to pedestrians listening to headphones have more than tripled in six years, according to new research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the […]

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21 Jan, 2012

2020 Women on Boards Launches Gender Diversity Directory

BOSTON, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Fulfilling its campaign promise to provide greater transparency to the composition of public company boards of directors, 2020 Women on Boards published its Gender Diversity Directory today on www.2020wob.com. 2020 Women on Boards is a national campaign to increase the percentage of women on U.S. company boards to 20 […]

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21 Jan, 2012

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Announces Briefings on Important Civil Rights Issues

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The United States Commission on Civil Rights announces that at its monthly business meeting on January 13, 2012 the eight-member Commission voted in a bipartisan manner to hold four new briefings on important civil rights topics. These topics include the effectiveness of the federal government’s post-9/11 civil rights engagement […]

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21 Jan, 2012

Cruise Safety Expert: Was Costa Concordia Captain Drunk?

Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) January 20, 2012 — Nexus Consulting Group of Alexandria, LLC, a provider of private maritime safety and security solutions, is announcing the availability of consulting services around cruise ship safety. Headed by Captain Bill Doherty, retired safety manager for Norwegian Cruise Lines and Nexus’ Director of Maritime Affairs, Nexus’ cruise safety initiative […]

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21 Jan, 2012

iPad Catalog App CoffeeTable Sees Inflection Point in Shopping Behavior for 2012

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 20, 2012 — What if shoppers could skip the mall crowds, and enjoy virtual stores wherever they are? Leading iPad catalog app CoffeeTable is turning shopping on its head, aggregating catalogs from leading retailers in a digital one-stop shop. CoffeeTable is a free iPad app that features the latest catalogs […]

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21 Jan, 2012

New Breed of European Shoppers Outpacing U.S. in Use of Technology

LONDON, January 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –A new breed of ‘Xtreme shoppers’ has been identified, amongst whom the European ones are outpacing their American counterparts when it comes to use of technology for shopping. Over nine out of ten European Xtreme shoppers (95 per cent) like to research products online, compared to just over six out […]

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21 Jan, 2012

New Video Launched: How to Beat Alcoholism

Houston, TX. (PRWEB) January 20, 2012 — Downtoearthvideo.com is about to hold a “how to beat alcoholism” opening day for their readers next month. People who are struggling with an alcohol addiction can check stop by their offices and gain some knowledge that will help them to stop drinking. The team at Downtoearthvideo.com has been […]

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21 Jan, 2012

Small Business Trends to Look for in 2012

Just when small business owners thought the worst of the economic fallout had passed, an article appeared recently outlining six trends that can threaten unprepared business owners. The trends, compiled by Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute, warns that “ongoing uncertainty of the economy, increased competition and the impression of negativity surrounding election-campaign rhetoric will […]

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21 Jan, 2012

World Cuisine with a Vegetarian Twist

Stamford, CT (PRWEB) January 20, 2012 — Saffron Road™, the packaged food brand of American Halal Co., will begin shipping four All Natural, Halal Certified, premium vegetarian entrees and side dishes to Whole Foods Market nationally in January. The new items slated for distribution include: Manchurian Dumplings with Basmati Rice – An Indo-Chinese masterpiece, this […]

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20 Jan, 2012

Post-floods Thai Tourism Surged 46% in Dec 2011, Arrivals Hit Record 19 mln

BANGKOK: After slumping in October and November 2011 due to the flooding crisis, visitor arrivals to Thailand rebounded by 46.2% in December 2011. The odds-defying surge allowed Thailand to end the year with a record 19.09 million arrivals, up 19.8% over 2010.

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19 Jan, 2012

India’s “People Power” Diaspora Now A Major Agent Of Change

JAIPUR, Rajasthan: When the Q&A began after one of the plenary sessions at the overseas Indian diaspora caucus on January 9, the first person to raise her voice was Dr Rashmi Dickinson, a former Hampstead, UK-based cardiologist. After narrating a brief story about her career in the UK, she said she had decided that it […]

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19 Jan, 2012

Kerala: From Wage-Earning To Entrepreneurial Society

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Excerpts from speech by Mr Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala, at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012, Jaipur, on 9 January 2012. As all of us know, globalization is an irreversible phenomenon. It has increased the mutual dependence of countries. While this has led to a greater sharing of economic growth, it has also resulted […]

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19 Jan, 2012

Rajasthan: State Ministers, Govt Officers, Have To Disclose Property Holdings

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Excerpts from speech by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012, Jaipur.

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19 Jan, 2012

Transparency Has Drawn More Investors to Road Projects

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Excerpts from speech by Dr. C.P. Joshi, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012, Jaipur.

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19 Jan, 2012

India’s Brain Drain Has Now Become A Brain Gain

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Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s Keynote Address at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012 at Jaipur, Topic: “Inclusive Growth: Two Decades of Economic Liberalisation.”

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16 Jan, 2012

News vs Noise

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A Unique Course for Travel & Tourism Communicators In The Internet Era Most of the media releases circulating in the travel & tourism industry these days are Boring….Banal….and Bland. Their content and subject matter has hardly changed at all over the past 30 years. The world has changed. The travel & tourism industry has changed. […]

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16 Jan, 2012

World Economic Forum Lists 50 Biggest Global Risks, Cites “Seeds of Dystopia”

The 7th Global Risks report issued by the World Economic Forum last week could be a watershed in the history of such reports. Alongside a listing of 50 of the most pressing risks facing the world, the report for the first time mentions the word “dystopia”, defined by the Oxford dictionary as “the opposite of […]

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15 Jan, 2012

African Diaspora Museum Marks Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) views Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 16, 2012), as an opportunity to highlight the rich accomplishments of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, and offers free admission and special programs throughout the day. A special component of […]

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15 Jan, 2012

National Civil Rights Museum Marks MLK Day with Freedom Awards

Memphis, TN (PRWEB) January 12, 2012 — The 20th anniversary of the National Civil Rights Museum’s Freedom Awards ceremony will be broadcast on over 100 Public Broadcast Stations (PBS) starting the weekend of the MLK National Holiday on January 14, 2012 through February. The Museum is also launching its first text mobile giving campaign on […]

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15 Jan, 2012

Panel Discussion: The Truth About Islam and Muslims in America

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — On Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m., a panel of experts will separate fact from fiction in the current debates about Islam in the United States. Anti-mosque protests, anti-Shariah legislation and related controversies have left many Americans confused about Islam and Muslims in America. During this town hall-style program, the […]

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15 Jan, 2012

Sikhs Win Turban Case Against France at the UN

BOBIGNY, France, Jan. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has concluded that France had violated the religious freedom of 76 year old Ranjit Singh when he was asked to remove his turban for his ID photograph. This was disclosed today at a media conference, in Bobigny, by the UNITED SIKHS legal […]

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15 Jan, 2012

Professor Lists 10 Reasons Why The U.S. Is No Longer The Land Of The Free

In the decade since Sept. 11, 2001, the United States has comprehensively reduced civil liberties in the name of an expanded security state, and is now in the same “troubling company” as Russia, China, Cuba, Iran and other countries it criticises, according to Jonathan Turley, the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington […]

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14 Jan, 2012

A win for progressives on Israel – Salon.com

Rep. Donna Edwards, a Maryland Democrat who is associated with J Street, which argues for a more progressive U.S. policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict, has staved off a challenge from a fellow Democrat who sought to raise money by running to her right on Mideast issues. via A win for progressives on Israel – Israel-Palestine […]

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14 Jan, 2012

Federer’s Wife at the Center of His Game – NYTimes.com

“I know how fortunate I am,” he said. “And maybe that’s one of the reasons that makes me very happy when I’m playing and makes me very motivated, because I know this is not a normal situation I’m in, being able to play with a healthy, happy family next to me, because the easiest thing […]

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13 Jan, 2012

Directory Published to Promote Australian Films

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Jan 13, 2012 (Screen Australia Media Release) — Screen Australia has published a Directory of International Sales Agents, providing a snapshot of companies representing Australian feature films around the world. Download the directory. Included within are details of each seller’s acquisition policy, which markets they attend, at what stage they prefer to be approached and […]

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13 Jan, 2012

Binge Drinking Up Sharply Amongst US Adults, Report Shows

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Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) January 11, 2012 — New estimates show that binge drinking is a bigger problem than previously thought according to the latest CDC Vital Signs report. More than 38 million US adults binge drink, about 4 times a month, and the largest number of drinks per binge is on average 8. This behavior […]

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13 Jan, 2012

Oil Stock Investors See Profits As Prices and Tensions Rise

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Austin, TX (PRWEB) January 11, 2012 — The price of oil will rise in 2012, according to analysts at Absolute Wealth, an authority site aimed at providing expert advice and news to the investment community and those interested in financial issues. The price of gas is, of course, connected to crude oil prices, and the […]

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13 Jan, 2012

Australian Football, Post Office Team Up to Promote Community Cohesion

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11 January 2012 (Australia Post media release) — The Australian Football League and Australia Post have joined forces to connect individuals and communities through their love of football. The Australia Post Community Inclusion Program will involve AFL teams visiting local schools and community groups, football carnivals in each State and the first ever schools letter […]

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13 Jan, 2012

“Occupy” Movement Praised for Honoring Martin Luther King Legacy

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PITTSBURGH, Jan. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Occupy protesters across the United States who have planned events for this year’s Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 16) honor his mission and the method he chose to pursue it, United Steelworkers (USW) officers said this week. “By engaging in non-violent demonstration and by seeking economic justice, […]

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13 Jan, 2012

Airports Making More Money From Non-Aeronautical Sources

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Montreal, 12 January 2012 – Airports Council International (ACI) World Director General Angela Gittens has announced the release of the Airport Economics Survey 2011. Gittens stated, “As background on the financial results in 2010, as always, it is important to consider the traffic trends during the reporting period. Powered by a strong rebound in the […]

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13 Jan, 2012

Group Of 77 (G77) Nations Urged To Champion Development Agenda

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New York, Jan 11 2012 (UN News Centre) — United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the President of the General Assembly Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser today urged the bloc of developing countries known as the Group of 77 and China to ensure that concrete and actionable measures are adopted at the forthcoming United Nations conference on […]

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13 Jan, 2012

Global Food Price Index Ends 2011 With Sharp Decline

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Rome, 12 January 2012, (FAO) – Food prices fell in December 2011 with the FAO Food Price Index dropping 2.4 percent, or five points from November, the Food & Agriculture Organisation said today. At its new level of 211 points, the Index was 11.3 percent (27 points) below its peak in February 2011. The decline […]

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13 Jan, 2012

U.S. Tea Party Speaker Says She ‘Loves’ Marines Who Desecrated Corpses

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/12/12) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today condemned remarks by Pamela Geller, the leader of an anti-Muslim hate group and a frequent speaker at Tea Party events, applauding the alleged desecration of Afghan corpses by U.S. Marines. On her hate blog, Geller wrote in response to CAIR’s condemnation of the desecration: […]

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13 Jan, 2012

India Records One Year Without Polio Cases

12 January 2012 | Atlanta/Evanston/Geneva/New York/Seattle (World Health Organization) – India appears to have interrupted wild poliovirus transmission, completing one year without polio since its last case, in a 2-year-old girl in the state of West Bengal, on 13 January 2011. India was once recognized as the world’s epicentre of polio. If all pending laboratory […]

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13 Jan, 2012

India’s Opportunity: To Lead As A New “Champion of Globalisation”

In this oration at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012 in Jaipur, Professor Kishore Mahbubani Dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, said that the Western leadership and domination of the world is ebbing, providing a golden opportunity for India to take up the mantle.

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11 Jan, 2012

Corporate Wellness Coaches See More Opportunities

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (PRWEB) January 08, 2012  – When it comes to corporate wellness trends in 2012, more is more, according to experts at the Spencer Institute: more education, more coaching, more corporate clients and more grassroots efforts. “Wellness coaches and experts have learned that they often need more certification and education to land […]

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11 Jan, 2012

UN Leadership Camp Aims To Empower Youth Through Sport

Doha, 9 January 2012 (UN News)  – Thirty young people from nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the occupied Palestinian territory will participate in a United Nations leadership camp which kicks off today in Doha, Qatar, and aims to empower underprivileged youth through sports-based activities. The camp consists of 10 days of experiential learning activities […]

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11 Jan, 2012

US Muslims To March In Protest Against Growing Islamophobia

SEATTLE (Washington, USA),15 Safar/Jan.9 (IINA)-Hundreds of Washington State Muslims are planning to march together to the Capitol Building on January 16, meet state lawmakers in their offices and urge their legislators to speak out against Islamophobic rhetoric and hate crimes. “This event will provide an opportunity for Muslims from the majority of our state’s legislative […]

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11 Jan, 2012

Lonely Planet Releases New Book: Cultures That Keep Us Happy

Oakland, CA (PRWEB) January 09, 2012  – Lonely Planet’s new title, Happy, has one goal: to reveal secrets of happiness from cultures around the world so that readers may manifest more joy in their own lives. Happy is an exploration on the multitude of ways different cultures inspire happiness and features 55 of these practices, […]

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11 Jan, 2012

Global Civil Society Under Attack, Says New Report

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 03, 2012  – From the Arab Spring to the Occupy Wall Street movements, 2011 witnessed an incredible expansion of the use of the internet for social activism and change. But less frequently reported are the increasing cyber-attacks on human rights activists. From communications blackouts, to Denial of Service attacks, to […]

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11 Jan, 2012

Danish Presidency of EU: Key Task to Prepare Europe for Tomorrow

BRUSSELS, (EU Media release) — From January to June 2012, Denmark will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU. During that time, it wants to bring Europe together and make it more resilient for the tough challenges ahead. Denmark is taking the helm at a difficult time for the EU. Along with other […]

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11 Jan, 2012

Brand Advertising Will Represent Nearly 60% of Digital Spend in 2012 – Survey

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 09, 2012  – In a recent survey by Vizu of more than 450 advertising executives, marketers said that they will be allocating nearly 60% of their online budgets to brand advertising in 2012, indicating that spending on online branding may surpass spending on direct response advertising for the first time […]

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11 Jan, 2012

British Workers Say More Confidence Would Lead To Greater Career Success

(PRWEB UK) 9 January 2012  – As we enter the New Year, UK distance learning specialist Home Learning College has asked British adults to discuss the factors that would help them to secure a better job in 2012. Topping the list, with 31 per cent of the vote, is greater confidence, followed by more opportunities […]

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10 Jan, 2012

India Again Presses The Point, Cites High Economic Cost of Gulf Conflict

Jaipur, January 9 – For the second day running, India reiterated its concern for the safety and welfare of its six million strong diaspora in the Gulf, this time couching it in terms of their importance to the national economy. Addressing representatives of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf attending the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), […]

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8 Jan, 2012

TIME recognises “The Protestor”, Now the Lies Must End

Originally Published: 08 January 2012 When TIME magazine recognised “The Protester” as the Person of the Year 2011, my first reaction was: “What took so long?” Protests have been raging all through the last decade, against U.S. military adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq, against crony capitalism, the IMF and World Bank, the Israeli occupation of […]

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8 Jan, 2012

India Taps Diaspora To Build Links With the Caribbean

JAIPUR, January 8, 2012: Prime Minister Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago was the Chief Guest at the annual caucus of the overseas Indian diaspora, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012, which opened here this morning. Wearing a resplendent Indian sari, the first female Indian-origin leader outside of India hailed the contribution of Indian-origin culture […]

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