PocketInfo

World News - Japan , Thailand , India , Greece , Russia

2012-02-14T23:34:00.000Z

A strong Yen hinders Japanese Exports

Topic | World News
Location | Japan , Thailand , India , Greece , Russia

Japan | The strong Japanese Yen has been hindering Japan's growth so the recently announced US $130bn asset purchase program by the Bank of Japan was welcomed by the financial markets. Japan had a difficult 2011.

The earthquake and tsunami affected growth as some of the biggest Japanese manufacturers had to suspend or curb production. The short term recovery from the disasters was then derailed by the floods in Thailand which disrupted the manufacturing supply chain.

Thailand | Israel has blamed Iran for a series of explosions that have rocked Bangkok in recent days. The man had both his legs blown off as he attempted to throw a bomb at the police. It poses the question - Why is Thailand being targeted by bombers. Israel thinks Tehran is sponsoring terrorist attacks in the region.

Russia | 15 demonstrators have been arrested in Moscow for protesting against President Putin. The amount of protests against the President have increased in recent months.

India | The chief of India's CBI says that Indian were the largest depositors of money into foreign banks.Funds were being sent to tax havens such as Mauritius, Switzerland, Lichtenstein and the British Virgin Islands. Mr Singh was speaking at the first Interpol global programme on anti-corruption and asset recovery in the Indian capital, Delhi.
The US-based group, Global Financial Integrity, said India had lost more than $460bn between 1948, a year after Independence, and 2008 because of companies and the rich illegally funnelling their wealth overseas.

India's underground economy accounted for 50% of the country's gross domestic product.

Greece | Greek MPs approved extra cutbacks in order to receive the next tranche of bailout money from the EU, but Greek political parties had to expel more than 40 deputies for failing to back the bill. The real issue is the fifth year of recession in Greece and a 7% decline of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2011. The push to get more austerity out of a country already struggling is causing severe pressure on this proud nation state which brought democracy to the modern world.

Best Valentine's Day Card 2012

2012-02-14T01:02:00.000Z

Location | Auckland , New Zealand
Topic | Valentine's Day 2012

Today is the day that many teenagers who go to school find out if they have any admirer's around their day to day environment . Perhaps a mysterious envelope will turn up in their reading tray or within a school bag amongst their crumpled PE kit.

Last night whilst I was shopping for a few things for my wife I noticed that most of the things were the same as year's gone by with chocolates, Roses and perfume taking centre stage in most retailers.

The cards on display were mainly the cheaply made ones from China printed off in their thousands. Most had love hearts and toy bears printed on them. What struck me is that originality and the herd mentality has taken over from creativity in a world where we should be a lot more creative due to the emergence of new technologies.

Hats off to Westfield

Today I remembered that Westfield had been running a competition to give the winner a huge billboard displaying a message for a Valentine. Well I guess this large message (above) was the winner from the Albany Westfield site as it was displayed in all its glory to the back entrance of the mall.

The sign reads.... Sacha, since you've been so stubborn about getting those glasses , I've made your Valentine's card easier to read . Love you - Jayson Urlich

It's good to see people being original and companies like Westfield and Tui should be applauded for being more creative in promoting their brands.

Related Posts
Yeah Right - The TUI Billboard Campaign

Africa Cup of Nations 2012 - Zambia win in Gabon

2012-02-13T19:44:00.000Z

Location | Libreville , Gabon
Topic | Africa Cup of Nations

Zambia have won the Africa Cup of Nations in the City where 18 members of the 1993 team were killed in a plane crash.

Zambia beat Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in Libreville, Gabon, to lift the trophy for the first time.

Coach Herve Renard said...

"I told them if we got to the final we would play in Gabon where the plane crashed. There was a special significance in that,"

The defeat meant Ivory Coast missed out on their second title, despite not conceding a goal from open play in the entire competition.

"My players were magnificent," he said. "I know we're not the best but we have a strength and force that animated our team and made us African champions. They might make some tactical mistakes here and there but you can see the talent.

Africa Cup of Nations , Zambia , Ivory Coast , Gabon - updated Feb 14th 2012

Whitney Houston's death shocks the Music World

2012-02-12T22:20:00.000Z

Location | Beverley Hilton Hotel , Los Angeles
Topic | Music Industry Deaths , Whitney Houston 1963-2012

To this day, Whitney Houston holds the record for having the most consecutive chart-topping singles in the US - reaching number one seven times between 1985 and 1988.

Whitney Houston has died in her hotel room the night before the Grammy Awards, which are currently taking place in Los Angeles.

According to early reports, Houston was discovered by her sometimes boyfriend, R&B singer Ray-J. Her cause of death has not been released.

Houston, the winner of 30 Billboard Awards, 22 American Music Awards, two Emmy Awards, and six Grammys, was the most lauded female entertainer of all time. Her hit ballad "I Will Always Love You" was the best-selling single by any female artist in music history.

Celebrity news website TMZ.com said the singer had been found slumped in the bathtub by members of her entourage, her face underwater.

Police investigators inspected the scene before Ms Houston's body was moved from the hotel to the coroner's office for an autopsy

Katy Perry: "So devastating. We will always love you Whitney, R.I.P."

Nicki Minaj: "Jesus Christ, not Whitney Houston. Greatest of all time."

Ciara: "RIP Whitney Houston. A Legend lost:( Her voice was insurmountable, her smile was illuminating, she was truly one of a kind and a huge inspiration to me. She has always had sweet and fun words to say to me. I will cherish the moment I was able to share with her, forever. This is truly unbelievable. My prayers and condolences to her family at this sad time."

Christina Aguilera: "We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to Whitney's family. She will be missed."

Sources Zimbio , BBC , TMZ

Pensioners hammered by Quantitative Easing aka Bank Of England

2012-02-09T22:26:00.004Z

QE = Misery for the Elderly

Trend | Quantitative Easing , Settlement Risk , Clearing House Risk
Location | UK (QE), USA (MF Global)
Source | Simon Gompertz

Imagine working hard you whole life paying off your mortgage and saving toward your later years so that you can enjoy the fruits of your life's labour by seeing your grandchildren and taking time off to explore the world.

That is the dream for most retired people but the financial crisis has had an adverse affect on most retired people's savings as interest rates are kept artificially low and money is pumped into the economy to keep the whole thing floating above water.

Fast Company - Top 10 Smart Cities

2012-02-07T22:56:00.001Z

Trend | Smart Cities
Author | Boyd Cohen
Source | Co. Exist , Fast Company

Here is a list of the Top 10 Smart Cities as written by Boyd Cohen.

The term "smart cities" is a bit ambiguous. Some people choose a narrow definition--i.e. cities that use information and communication technologies to deliver services to their citizens. I prefer a broader definition: Smart cities use information and communication technologies (ICT) to be more intelligent and efficient in the use of resources, resulting in cost and energy savings, improved service delivery and quality of life, and reduced environmental footprint--all supporting innovation and the low-carbon economy.
Read more »

US Dollar Collapse and the Real Unemployment Rate - Wake Up Sheeple

2012-02-07T10:06:00.002Z

Wake up Sheeple

Trend | US Dollar Collapse , Hyperinflation
Location | USA , China , OPEC , Fed Reserve

This video on YouTube is well worth the watch it goes through a scenario which they say could play out at the end of 2012.

The video is well produced and edited.
Read more »

Cash In a Beat - The Edge - InstantKiwi Giveaway

2012-02-07T08:50:00.001Z

Wild Ones is Current NZ #1

Topic | Radio Competitions , Competition , Share of $80,000
Location | New Zealand
Top 20 Songs | New Zealand

The Edge are running an interesting competition across New Zealand. You have to guess 3 song titles and win the considerable cash on offer!

How to Play - If you are lucky enough to get through on one of the 5 giveaway spots per day there will be a cash countdown and the DJ will play you three song snippets, if you name ALL three song titles you win whatever the cash countdown stops on. (Tip listen for the songs as they are normally played in the 2-3 hours running up to the giveaway spot on The Edge)
Read more »

The World's Best Airports 2012

2012-02-07T01:23:00.001Z

Trend \| Travel , Airport Hubs , World Airport Survey™ , Locations \| Hong Kong , Singapore , South Korea Here is a lost of the Top 10 World's Best Airports 2011 as voted by visitors to the Skytrax voting portal - Vote for 2012
1	Hong Kong International Airport
2	Singapore Changi Airport
3	Incheon International Airport
4	Munich Airport
5	Beijing Capital International Airport
6	Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
7	Zurich Airport
8	Auckland International Airport
9	Kuala Lumpur International Airport
10	Copenhagen Airport

The Details on the Top 10 Airports
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Nigel Farage speech in Brussels - Greece and Portugal

2012-02-06T06:23:00.004Z

Trend | End of Sovereignity , Destruction of Nation States , Neocolonialism , BBC Bias
Location | Greece , Portugal

Speaker: Nigel Farage MEP, Leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), Co-President of the 'Europe of Freedom and Democracy' (EFD) Group in the European Parliament

• Debate: Conclusions of the informal European Council meeting of 30 January 2012
European Council and Commission statements [2012/2506(RSP)]: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&refer.

Background : Nigel Farage is one of the few voices in Brussels standing up for individual countries who are being pushed around by the Nation State. He has defended Ireland , Greece , Portugal and the UK in recent months from the increasing centralisation being imposed on countries by the EU in Brussels.

Here is the Transcript and the You Tube Clip:
Read more »

LinkedIn Privacy Conditions - Some recent changes

2012-02-06T03:44:00.002Z

Trend | Online Privacy

Location | Business Social Media , LinkedIn

Without attracting too much publicity, LinkedIn has updated their privacy conditions so that it is now permitted to use your name and picture in any of their advertisements.

Some simple actions to be considered if you have a LinkedIn account:

1. Place the cursor on your name at the top right corner of the screen. From the small pull down menu that appears, select "settings"

2. Then click "Account" on the left/bottom

World News - Indian Aid , Ice Age Europe and Syrian Stalemate

2012-02-05T01:08:00.004Z

Location | India , UK
Trend | Modern Day Aid , Bilateral Aid

Pranab Mukherjee , India's Finance Minister , has said that India doesn't require British aid describing it as 'Peanuts'. Britain's DFID - Department For International Development - argue that India still contains one third of the world's poor with 450 million people living on less than $1.50 a day. Countries like Burundi have had their aid stopped completely and on current run rate India will have a large economy than Britain within 10 years.

The DFID says its programmes ... which are now focused on the India's three poorest states - save at least 17,000 lives a year and have lifted 2.3 million people out of poverty since 2005.
Read more »

SEO sins that you shouldn't be committing

2012-02-02T00:59:00.002Z

SEO Sins | Image via Agent SEO

Guest Post |Alyssa Clarke
Trend | Search Engine Optimisation

SEO sins that you shouldn’t be committing

SEO refers to optimizing your web content in the most effective manner. The little most people know about this tool is that it includes adding keywords. What they don't know is that stuffing keywords in the copy does not make a website favorable for the search engines. SEO is not just editing web content but is rather a process of enhancing a website to its maximum potential. If you have a goal of making your website popular with the search engines, make sure to avoid these "official" SEO sins.

1. Misunderstanding the concept of keywords
Keywords are implemented to drive more readers, not to scare them away. After you have selected your target keywords, plant them only where applicable. Repetitive nature of specific keywords can impact negatively on the readability of the copy; not to mention on the reader’s mind. Stuffing your web copy with keywords is also considered amateurish by the search engines. It can impede your target to have a higher search engine ranking.
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Global Sustainability report released in Addis Ababa

2012-01-30T08:16:00.001Z

Location | Addis Ababa , Ethiopia
Trend | Global Sustainability
Source | UN

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s
greed.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Addis Ababa is often referred to as "the political capital of Africa",It is where the African Union has its headquarters and it is where the UN released its findings on its Global Sustainability report.

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Triple J 2011 Winners announced Australia Day 2012

2012-01-27T20:22:00.002Z

Trend | New Music , Indie Music
Location | Australia

So the wait is over Triple J listeners have voted and Triple J announced the Top 100 on Australia Day. The poll format has been going since 1993 only allowing songs to be eligible released within the calendar year. The latest poll was for songs released in 2011.

This year saw the first duet to win the number 1 spot. Gotye with Kimbra - ( see track below). Gotye's real name is Wouter De Backer and he was born in Bruges , Belgium but emigrated to Australia at the age of 2 to Melbourne.
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ACTA - Protection of Online Counterfeiting or the start of Internet Censorship?

2012-01-26T10:53:00.002Z

EDRI | Against ACTA (3)

Trend | Internet Freedom
Location | Tokyo, Japan
Protests | Warsaw , Poland
ACTA | Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement

Last week saw a lot of debate across the Interwebs about SOPA and PIPA but less notice has been taken particularly in the USA about ACTA the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.

ACTA has to date has been signed by the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea.

Poland is expected to sign the agreement in Tokyo this week. Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Warsaw in protest over the proposed agreement.
Read more »

Kim Dotcom has a sense of humour

2012-01-25T15:54:00.001Z

Kim Dotcom | Arrested in Auckland

Trend | Hactivism
Follow Up to Megaupload Article
Location | New Zealand

Here is a copy of a tongue in cheek letter sent to Neighbours in Coatesville in the Auckland region. One of the most exclusive parts of New Zealand's largest City.

"Dear Neighborhood-watch

As you all know I recently moved into the Neighborhood and I am a former hacker. Well I was just hacking into a local mail server and guess what I found.
Read more »

Mainstream media please get behind Ron Paul

2012-01-21T06:19:00.002Z

Ron Paul | Mainstream Snub

Editor's Post | GOP Nomination , Rigged Game
Location | USA

The message boards seem to be cranking more support for Ron Paul amongst the under 30's.
I just stumbled across a You Tube comment which was worth reposting...

if you voted for Obama in 2008 to prove that you're not a racist, vote for Ron Paul in 2012 to prove that you're not an idiot.

The message is quite simple. Obama hasn't shown the real leadership qualities many expected and hoped for in such a turbulent financial time.
Read more »

Largest Anonymous attack ever hits FBI , RIAA , MPAA and DOJ

2012-01-20T08:06:00.003Z

Kim Dotcom's rented Coatesville's Mansion | Auckland

Trend | Hacktivism , File Sharing
Location | Germany , Coatesville - New Zealand , Hong Kong , Estonia , Holland, USA
Anonymous Targets | FBI, Department of Justice, Universal Music Group, RIAA and Motion Picture Association of America. Copyright.gov ,
Sources RT , NZ Herald , PocketInfo , Megaupload , Gizmodo

In response to today’s federal raid on the file sharing service Megaupload, hackers with the online collective Anonymous have disabled the websites for the FBI, Department of Justice, Universal Music Group, RIAA, Motion Picture Association of America and Warner Music Group.

“It was in retaliation for Megaupload, as was the concurrent attack on Justice.org,”
Read more »

SOPA and PIPA Bills need to be pulled for global sake

2012-01-18T22:56:00.003Z

Wikipedia | Blocked its site in protest for 24 hours

Trend | Internet Censorship
Location | USA
Subject | Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA)

The Internet blackout by several high profile sites seems to have worked to a certain extent. Some of PocketInfo's favourite reference sites have gone offline for 24 hours in protest over the poorly thought out legislation.

Due to the increasing publicity of some of the major sites PIPA co-sponsor Florida Sen. Marco Rubio withdrew his name from the bill Wednesday, and SOPA co-sponsor Arizona Rep. Ben Quayle withdrew his name Tuesday.

Wikipedia was the highest profile site from user base and traffic size to protest against the bills directly by switching off its service to its English pages for a 24 hour period. Google also raised awareness by placing a black box over its logo to US based users using its site. Other major sites included Reddit , WordPress , Boing Boing and about 7,000 other sites. (2)

Google's Blog - Don't Censor the Internet
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Cruise Ship Costa Concordia sinks off Italian Island - Isola del Giglio

2012-01-14T10:36:00.007Z

Costa Concordia | Italy

Trend | Sea Accidents , Cruise Liners
Location | Porto Santo Stefano , Isola del Giglio , Italy

The Costa Concordia Cruise ship hit a sandbar on Friday evening near Isola del Giglio and listed about 20 degrees, after which passengers and crew tried to reach safety by getting in lifeboats or by swimming to nearby land.

Latest reports indicate that at least 3 people have perished and 14 have been injured in the accident.

The Costa Concordia had sailed from Civitavecchia port near Rome for a Mediterranean cruise, due to dock in Marseille, France after calling at ports in Sicily, Sardinia and Spain.
Read more »

The American Capital of Culture | Cities 2000-2020

2012-01-14T06:51:00.004Z

Capital of Culture 2012

Trend | Capital of Culture Focus
Location | South and Central America
Capital of Culture Countries since 2000 | Mexico (2) , Brasil (4) , Panama , Peru (2) , Chile , Panama , Argentina , Dominican Republic , Chile , Paraguay , Ecuador

The American Capital of Culture initiative was established in 1998 and has been developed for all the countries of the Americas to participate.

It has three major objectives:

1) to be an instrument of Inter-American integration in the cultural sphere

2) to contribute to the peoples of the American continent knowing each other better, respecting its national and regional diversity, as well as highlighting their shared cultural heritage;

3) and to promote the cities nominated as the American Capital of Culture in the American hemisphere and in the rest of the world, at the same time as building new bridges of cooperation with the other continents which have established cultural capitals.

Sao Luis | Brasil | 2012

Here is a list of the Capital of Culture since 2000. In 2012 Sao Luis in Brasil has the role of Culture leader for the Americas.

Brasil has had the Culture Capital more than any other country in the Americas.
In 2012 Sao Luis will be the 4th Brasilian city to be capital of culture since 2000.
Read more »

Taiwan

2012-01-13T02:19:00.004Z

Taiwan

Taiwan ,previously known as Formosa, is the largest island of an island group off the south east coast of mainland China. The Island is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and Mainland China is approximately 120 km away.

Taiwan is a unitary sovereign state and part of the Republic of China - not be confused with the People's Republic of China which we refer to as China today. The ROC lost its mainland territory to the communists in the Chinese Civil war and retreated to the Island of Taiwan in 1949.

The Republic of China is a thriving multi-party democracy that has a presidential system and universal suffrage. Taiwan experienced rapid economic growth, industrialization, and democratization during the latter half of the twentieth century. Despite its controversial political status, the ROC is an industrialized advanced economy. It is one of the Four Asian Tigers and a member of the WTO and APEC.

Taiwan Key Facts and Figures

Capital - Taipei

World cities 2012
Alpha- - Taipei

Other Cities - Yonghe , Luzhou

Global City QOL Index - Taipei not in Top 100

Government - Presidential republic

Major Airports - Taipei International Airport

Demonym - Taiwanese or Chinese (sometimes both)

Population - 23.1m

Area - 36,008 sq km

Water - 10.34%

Currency - New Taiwan $ (NTW)

Language -Mandarin

GDP - 900 bn USD (Ranked 19th)

WELT - Taiwan has the 24th highest economy

Drive on the -right

Calling Code -+886

Internet TLD -.tw

WTO - yes

APEC - yes

HDI - High (0.868)

HDR Index 2010 - Ranked

Press Freedom Index - 48/178

Taipei Airport

Passenger volume increased dramatically at Taipei International Airport (left) Jan. 11, as Taiwanese businesspeople residing in mainland China flocked back to Taiwan to take part in the upcoming presidential elections. Scheduled and chartered flights between Taiwan and Mainland China were almost fully booked Jan. 12-14.(1)

Taiwan News Sites
Taipei Times | 2012 Elections The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday warned of prevalent vote buying in central and southern Taiwan and the possibility of election-eve incidents today, urging authorities to step up investigations and security measures.
Taiwan Today | The upcoming Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBF) will mark its 20th anniversary with a series of events dedicated to promoting reading and digital publishing.
The Student Post | Your English Lifestyle. A popular bilingual news site.

The Student Post

Taiwan Articles

Chow Tai Fook keeps growing in Asia ( PocketInfo Archive)
Taiwan has Yonghe and Luzhou as 2 of the most populated Cities (Archive)
Taiwan represented as Chinese Taipei at 2011 APEC (Archive )

Taiwan , Taipei , Formosa , ROC, Map via Only Pictures , Taiwan Today (1) Jan 9th 2012

Ron Paul now a serious contender and the main threat to Mitt Romney

2012-01-11T03:39:00.001Z

Trend | US Politics , New Hampshire Primary
Location | USA
Sources | Zimbio (pic) Yahoo , PocketInfo , Buzzfeed

Mainstream American media seems to be brainwashing the masses to get Mitt Romney up against Barack Obama in the next showdown between the Republicans and the Democrats.

The reality is that Ron Paul is getting a massive amount of support with little mainstream media coverage and if you look on the Yahoo coverage you will note that Ron Paul barely gets a mention and is noticed by hundreds of the Yahoo community.

The New Hampshire Result

Romney -38%
Paul - 24%
Huntsman - 17%
Santorum - 10%
Gingrich - 10%
Perry - 1%

So to balance this up... courtesy of buzzfeed...
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2012 The World is Coming to an End? You have 3 minutes to live!

2012-01-10T04:41:00.003Z

Snow Patrol | Pounding Rhythms

Trend | 2012

Sources | Vevo , You Tube , eGigs(pic)

Artist | Snow Patrol

My guess is that this video will go viral in 2012. It is from a song called Chocolate written by Snow Patrol back in 2003.

The lyrics are pretty powerful but it's the video itself which punches home a good message particularly in this year when the world is supposed to end.

Read more »