Amid bribery scandal, Wal-Mart talks integrity

By Jessica Wohl and Lisa Baertlein, Reuters

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas -- ?Top executives of Wal-Mart Stores Inc did not directly mention a Mexican bribery scandal at an employee pep rally on Wednesday, but asked their international workers to focus on "integrity" as a core value.

The world's largest retailer has been under fire from shareholders and activists after the New York Times reported in April that management at Wal-Mart de Mexico, or Walmex, allegedly orchestrated bribes of $24 million to help it grow quickly last decade and that Wal-Mart's top brass tried to cover it up.

The matter is being investigated by a number of government agencies in Mexico and the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Wal-Mart is also conducting an internal probe.

Executives talked around the allegations in Mexico, the company's first and largest international market. They referenced integrity as one of the company's core values and underscored the importance of complying with local laws.

"It's doing the right thing, every single day," Wal-Mart President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Duke told international workers gathered at the University of Arkansas' Barnhill Arena.

Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart International, said it was up to every employee -- from new associates to top executives -- to guard the company's principles.

"If you see something in your business that you don't think is right, you need to say something," McMillon said.

Scot Rank, president and CEO, Walmart Mexico and Central America, may have come the closest to directly on the allegations, without specifically mentioning bribery.

"Over the years we have faced difficult and challenging times in Mexico and Central America. These events have united us even more, they have motivated us to continue, to continue pursuing excellence, and work with respect and integrity," Rank said at the end of the Mexico and Central America unit's presentation.

Wal-Mart's focus in China, the world's fastest-growing major economy, will be on expanding the right way, Scott Price, president and CEO of Walmart Asia, said earlier in the morning.

"We have to be compliant, we have to follow every rule, every regulation in the country," Price said.

Shareholders, including some of the largest U.S. public pension funds, have called for Duke, former Wal-Mart Stores CEO Lee Scott, Chairman Robson "Rob" Walton and others to be ousted from the company's board of directors in the wake of the Mexico scandal. But such efforts have little chance of succeeding because the family of founder Sam Walton controls roughly half of Wal-Mart's shares and votes.

More than 1,300 international employees traveled to northwest Arkansas for this week's events, which culminate in Friday's annual shareholders meeting.

During Wednesday's meeting, as in previous years, a selection of top international employees were given "Integrity in Action" awards.

Despite the bribery allegations, this year's celebration is still expected to be an upbeat affair. Wal-Mart is marking 50 years since Walton opened the first Walmart store on July 2, 1962, and at Wednesday's meeting representatives from Chile played a video of employees in that country singing "Happy Birthday."

Company shares, which have more than rebounded from the roughly 8 percent drop in the days following the New York Times Mexico story, are trading near all-time highs. The stock was up 16 cents at $65.84 at midday on Wednesday after rising to $65.95.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

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Workers among 17 dead in latest big Italian quake

An escavator removes debris in Cavezzo, northern Italy, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the same area of northern Italy stricken by another fatal tremor on May 20. (AP Photo/Marco Vasini)

An escavator removes debris in Cavezzo, northern Italy, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the same area of northern Italy stricken by another fatal tremor on May 20. (AP Photo/Marco Vasini)

A man looks at a collapsed farm in Camposanto, northern Italy, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the same area of northern Italy stricken by another fatal tremor on May 20. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Italian firefighter sprays water on debris of a collapsed factory in Mirandola, northern Italy, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the same area of northern Italy stricken by another fatal tremor on May 20. (AP Photo/Marco Vasini)

A man walks in front of a collapsed church in Mirandola, northern Italy, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the same area of northern Italy stricken by another fatal tremor on May 20. (AP Photo/Marco Vasini)

Italian firefighters search the debris of a collapsed factory in Mirandola, northern Italy, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the same area of northern Italy stricken by another fatal tremor on May 20. (AP Photo/Marco Vasini)

SAN FELICE SUL PANARO, Italy (AP) ? Workers at the small machinery company had just returned for their first shift following Italy's powerful and deadly quake earlier this month when another one struck Tuesday morning, collapsing the roof.

At least three employees at the factory ? two immigrants and an Italian engineer checking the building's stability ? were among those killed in the second deadly quake in nine days to strike a region of Italy that hadn't considered itself particularly quake prone.

By late Tuesday, the death toll stood at 17, with several people still missing, including a worker at the machinery factory in the small town of San Felice Sul Panoro. Some 200 people also were injured in the 5.8 magnitude quake north of Bologna in Emilia Romagna, one of Italy's more productive regions, agriculturally and industrially.

Factories, barns and churches fell, dealing a second blow to a region where thousands remained homeless from the May 20 temblor, much stronger in intensity, at 6.0 magnitude.

The two quakes struck one of the most productive regions in Italy at a particularly crucial moment, as the country faces enormous pressure to grow its economy to stave off the continent's debt crisis. Italy's economic growth has been stagnant for at least a decade, and the national economy is forecast to contract by 1.2 percent this year.

The area encompassing the cities of Modena, Mantua and Bologna is prized for its super car production, churning out Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis; its world-famous Parmesan cheese, and less well-known but critical to the economy: machinery companies.

Like the May 20 quake, many of the dead in Tuesday's temblor were workers inside huge warehouses, many of them prefabricated, that house factories. Inspectors have been determining which are safe to re-enter, but economic pressure has sped up renewed production ? perhaps prematurely.

Seven people were killed in the May 20 quake. In both, the dead were largely and disproportionately workers killed by collapsing factories and warehouses.

Co-workers of Mohamed Azeris, a Moroccan immigrant and father of two who died in the just-reopened factory, claim he was forced back to work as a shift supervisor or faced losing his job. A local union representative had demanded an investigation.

"Another earthquake ? unfortunately during the day ? that means people were inside working, so I think that an investigation will need to be opened here to check who cleared as safe these companies to understand who's responsible for this," Erminio Veronesi told The Associated Press.

At another factory closer to the epicenter in in the city of Medolla, rescue crews searched for three workers who did not turn up at roll call after the quake and were presumed dead.

Premier Mario Monti, tapped to steer the country from financial ruin in November, pledged that the government would quickly provide help to the area "that is so special, so important and so productive for Italy."

The Coldiretti farm lobby said damage to the agricultural industry, including Parmesan makers whose aging wheels of cheese already suffered in the first quake, had risen to ?500 million ($626 million) with the second hit. The Modena Chamber of Commerce estimated that the first quake alone had cost businesses ?1.5 million, with no fresh estimates immediately available.

Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini, all centered around Modena, reported no damage, and said workers were evacuated and then allowed to go home to check on their homes and families. Lamborghini planned to keep production halted on Wednesday.

The quake was felt from Piedmont in northwestern Italy to Venice in the northeast and as far north as Austria. Dozens of aftershocks hit the area, some registering more than 5.0 in magnitude.

The temblor terrified many of the thousands of people who have been living in tents or cars since the May 20 quake and created a whole new wave of homeless.

"I was shaving and I ran out very fast, half dressed," a resident of Sant'Agostino, one of the towns devastated in the quake earlier this month, told AP Television News.

Tuesday's quake struck just after 9 a.m. with an epicenter 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Bologna, according to the U.S. Geological Survey ? just several kilometers (miles) away from where the 6.0-magnitude quake that killed seven people on May 20 was centered.

In the town of Mirandola, near the epicenter, the church of San Francesco crumbled, leaving only its facade standing. The main cathedral also collapsed. Sant'Agostino's town hall, so damaged in the May 20 quake that it looked as if it had been bombed, virtually fell apart when the latest deadly temblor struck.

Labor Minister Elsa Fornero suggested the destruction to buildings was out of proportion, considering the magnitude of the quake. "It is natural that the earth shakes. But it is not natural that buildings collapse," Fornero said told lawmakers in Parliament's lower Chamber of Deputies.

The May 20 quake was described by Italian emergency officials as the worst to hit the region since the 1300s. In addition to the deaths, it knocked down a clock tower and other centuries-old buildings. Its epicenter was about 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of Bologna.

It's not clear why two large quakes have occurred this month, said Jessica Turner, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo. The basic driver of the activity is the same kind of geological shifting that produced the Alps, she said.

Prior to May 20, the last earthquake in the region with magnitude that large was in 1501.

Residents had just been taking tentative steps toward resuming normal life when the second quake struck. In Sant'Agostino, a daycare center had just reopened. In the town of Concordia, the mayor had scheduled a town meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the aftermath of the first quake. Instead, Mayor Carlo Marchini confirmed the death of one person struck by falling debris in the town's historic center.

Italy's soccer match against Luxembourg, a warm-up for the Euro 2012 championships, was canceled. The game had been scheduled to be played Tuesday in Parma, just 60 kilometers (40 miles) west of the quake.

___

Barry reported from Milan. Frances D'Emilio contributed from Rome and Malcolm Ritter from New York.

Associated Press

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'The Real Housewives Of Orange County': Vicki Gunvalson Freaks Out In Costa Rica (VIDEO)

Tues., May 29: "The Catalina"

(8 p.m. ET on The CW) <em>series premiere</em> <br /><br /> The young, wild staff of The Catalina Hotel in Miami's South Beach are a fun-loving group that work hard during the day, while at night they party even harder than their guests. When the hotel hosts a spring break pool party, it takes an unexpected turn when the clouds come rolling in. Sparks fly between bartenders and former flames Kris and Nancy. Meanwhile, restaurant general manager Morgan is taken out of the kitchen and competes on behalf of the hotel in a beach volleyball tournament.

Tues., May 29: "Cougar Town"

(8 p.m. ET on ABC) <em>season finale</em> <br /><br /> When Grayson complains that he's living the movie "Groundhog Day" because the gang shows up at the same time every day at Jules' house, Jules asks for a "Groundhog Day"-themed bachelorette party so that Ellie and Laurie can explain the movie to her. Then, fed up with the lack of privacy, Grayson convinces Jules to elope to Napa, but the cul de sac crew happily tags along. These are the last two episodes before the show <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/cougar-town-tbs_n_1506806.html" target="_hplink">moves to TBS</a> in the fall.

Tues., May 29: "The Real Queen: By Her Own Royal Family"

(9 p.m. ET on ABC) <em>special presentation</em> <br /><br /> For monarchists, Anglophiles and those who just want to swoon over William and Harry, ABC's Katie Couric interviews the princes and a number of other notable royals in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Tues., May 29: "What Not To Wear"

(9 p.m. ET on TLC) <em>season premiere</em> <br /><br /> For the first time in nine seasons, Stacy and Clinton plan an entire makeover in less than a day -- a makeover that would normally take a week -- and will conduct this makeover in front of a live studio audience of close to 200 people, which has also never been done before. The fashion victim, Ana, who is the self-proclaimed Lady Gaga of Long Island, has one of the most "unique" wardrobes the "WNTW" team has ever seen. TLC also turns to the viewers for the first time to help in the makeover process, with fans voting through Facebook on hair styles, mannequin outfits and the "trashing" portion of the show.

Tues., May 29: "Workaholics"

(10:30 p.m. ET on Comedy Central) <em>season premiere</em> <br /><br /> It's the Season 3 premiere of the single-camera comedy featuring three friends who work together from 9 to 5, live together from 5 to 9 and party together 24/7. Dress codes, deadlines and waking up before noon are not things these guys are used to. They do their jobs and sometimes, they even do them well, but they show up late, leave drunk and always live for the day ... even if they don't know what day it is.

Wed., May 30: "Dogs in the City"

(8 p.m. ET on CBS) <em>series premiere</em> <br /><br /> New York City dog guru Justin Silver works with "Beefy," a celebrity skateboarding bulldog who is making his owner's new wife feel like the third wheel, a model agency owner who starts a war of words with Justin over his take on how to handle her aggressive dog, and a single father and his young daughter who are relying on Justin to help their obese dog lose the excess weight that's threatening her health.

Wed., May 30: "Melissa and Joey"

(8 p.m. ET on ABC Family) <em>one-hour season premiere </em> <br /><br /> In the Season 2 premiere episode, Mel is feeling the pressure of balancing the massive home renovation with her duties at work. Determined to have the house fixed as quickly as possible, Joe convinces a reluctant Mel to put him in charge of the construction. But Joe's management style only makes things worse. In the second episode, Mel is charmed by her "cabinet guy," but is less charmed by Joe's reaction to him, leading them to a fight about being too involved in each other's lives. However, their decision to give each other privacy does not turn out as planned.

Wed., May 30: "America's Next Top Model"

(9 p.m. ET on The CW) <em>season finale</em> <br /><br /> Laura and Sophie participate in their Covergirl commercial and photo shoot, during which one of the women has a panic attack and is taken to the hospital. For the first time in "Top Model" history, the women will take part in a holographic runway show interacting with lifelike images and also walk in sync with the outline of their own bodies. Kelly Cutrone, Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel and Tyra Banks sit on the judges' panel to choose the winner. Enjoy Jay, Nigel and Miss J. while you can, since they <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/20/americas-next-top-model-nigel-barker-fired_n_1440002.html" target="_hplink">won't be involved next season</a>.

Thurs., May 31: "Breaking Pointe"

(8 p.m. ET on The CW) <em>series premiere</em> <br /><br /> This reality series goes behind the stage curtain for an intense, unfiltered look at one of the most competitive ballet companies in the country, Ballet West, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Beneath the beauty and glamour of the dance and costumes is a gritty dog-eat-dog world of extreme athleticism, focus, dedication, passion, pressure and, of course, the hunt for the unattainable: perfection.

Thurs., May 31: "Touch"

(8 p.m. ET on Fox) <em>two-hour season finale</em> <br /><br /> As the Aster Corporation increases their interest in Jake, Martin joins forces with Abigail (guest star Catherine Dent) as the stakes of Jake's custody escalate. When Avram (guest star Bohdi Elfman) reiterates to Martin that Jake and Amelia (a presumed dead girl with similar characteristics as Jake) are connected, Martin sets out on a passionate mission to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, circumstances intensify when Lucy (guest star Maria Bello) enters the picture and seemingly unrelated events are tied together.

Thurs., May 31: "L.A. Hair"

(10 p.m. ET on WE tv) <em>series premiere</em> <br /><br /> When it comes to celebrity hair, Kim Kimble is one of the biggest names in Hollywood. From movies to music, Kim is an image maker and a trendsetter to a roster of A-listers, including Beyonce and Kelly Rowland, who keep Kim on speed dial to whip up their custom styles and images. While handling her star-studded clientele is a full-time job, this elite style queen also manages a successful retail product line and runs an exclusive Hollywood salon staffed with talented but high-strung stylists, including her mother.

Fri., June 1: "Best Friends Forever"

(8 p.m. ET on NBC) <em>one-hour series finale</em> <br /><br /> The final two episodes of the gone-too-soon comedy air tonight on NBC. In the final episode, Joe, Lennon, Jessica and Rav head to Atlantic City for a gaming convention to debut Joe's videogame. The ladies quickly realize that in order for Joe to win Fan Favorite, they will need to cater to the nerds. Meanwhile, an unexpected encounter between Jessica and Rav has them questioning their true feelings for each other.

Fri., June 1: "The Ultimate Fighter"

(9 p.m. ET on FX) <em>three-hour season finale</em> <br /><br /> Sixteen promising mixed martial artists have been whittled down to two. The remaining fighters will compete for a UFC contract and the title of The Ultimate Fighter in tonight's championship match.

Fri., June 1: "Magic City"

(10 p.m. ET on Starz) <em>season finale</em> <br /><br /> Judi Silver falls into Klein's hands, while Victor and Mercedes get bad news. Lily and Stevie's affair gets more dangerous. As he juggles family, Ben Diamond and a new partner, Ike's future is uncertain.

Sat., June 2: "The Glee Project"

(7 p.m. ET on Oxygen)<em> season premiere</em> <br /><br /> Before the show settles into its regular 10 p.m. Tuesday slot, meet the 14 contenders who will be narrowed down as the creative forces of "Glee" carefully assess who has what it takes to win the prize of a lifetime -- a seven-episode guest starring role on the hit Fox series.

Sat., June 2: "Dog the Bounty Hunter"

(9 p.m. ET on A&E) <em>double-bill, new timeslot</em> <br /><br /> The <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/dog-the-bounty-hunter-canceled_n_1534490.html" target="_hplink">just-cancelled</a> series moves from Wednesdays to Saturdays with double-bills for the remainder of its run. The world's most famous bounty hunter, Duane "Dog" Chapman, is back with action-packed, high-stakes hunts from Hawaii to Colorado, tracking down fugitives with his wife Beth and fearless family-based posse.

Sun., June 3: "Secret Millionaire"

(8 p.m. ET on ABC) <em>season premiere</em> <br /><br /> Millionaire and world-renowned artist Scott Jacobs and his sheltered 18-year-old daughter, Alexa, leave behind their family and lavish lifestyle in San Diego to spend six days in Newark, New Jersey -- an American city in need -- to search for those struggling the most for financial help. While there, father and daughter will attempt to survive on less than $75 during their week-long visit, while volunteering their time to worthy charitable organizations and searching their hearts to determine how much of their own fortune to gift the community heroes they meet.

Sun., June 3: "Drop Dead Diva"

(9 p.m. ET on Lifetime) <em>season premiere</em> <br /><br /> This one-hour dramedy tells the story of a shallow wannabe model who dies in a sudden accident only to find her soul resurfaced in the body of a brilliant, plus-size and recently deceased attorney, Jane. Kim Kardashian makes her debut for a multi-episode arc in the season opener.

Sun., June 3: "Game of Thrones"

(9 p.m. ET on HBO) <em>70-minute season finale</em> <br /><br /> In the wake of the penultimate episode's epic battle, Theon stirs his men to action; Luwin offers some final advice; Brienne silences Jaime; Arya receives a gift from Jaqen; Dany goes to a strange place; and Jon proves himself to Qhorin.

Sun., June 3: "Longmire"

(10 p.m. ET on A&E) <em>series premiere</em> <br /><br /> Widowed only a year, Longmire (Robert Taylor) is a man in psychic repair who buries his pain behind a brave face and dry wit. Struggling since his wife's death and at the urging of his daughter, Cady (Cassidy Freeman), Longmire knows that the time has come to turn his life around. With the help of Vic (Katee Sackhoff), a female deputy new to the department, he becomes reinvigorated about his job and committed to running for re-election. When Branch (Bailey Chase), an ambitious, young deputy decides to run against him for sheriff, Longmire feels betrayed, but remains steadfast in his dedication to the community. Worn, but not worn out, Longmire often turns to close friend and confidant Henry Standing Bear (Lou Diamond Phillips) for support as he sets out to rebuild both his personal and professional lives, one step at a time.

Sun., June 3: "Teen Wolf"

(11 p.m. ET on MTV) <em>season premiere</em> <br /><br /> Following the MTV Movie Awards, "Teen Wolf" is back with Season 2. In the sophomore season premiere, Jackson refuses to search for Lydia and Scott receives a warning from Argent.

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Westchester, N.Y., teen missing since last Friday

Courtesy of the Crowley family

Missing 15-year-old Pierce Crowley.

By msnbc.com staff

A?teenager from Westchester County, N.Y., has been missing since last Friday and was "in a fragile state" when he was last seen, his concerned parents said.

Police say?Pierce Crowley, 15, of Rye, N.Y.,?left New York-Presbyterian Hospital in White Plains, N.Y. with a close friend before he went missing.

In an email to friends, his parents?wrote that their son was ?in a fragile state? and hadn't been feeling well when he disappeared. "It is URGENT that we?locate him ASAP," they wrote,?according to the New York's Hudson Valley Journal News.

It's not clear what Crowley was in the hospital for. The White Plains medical center is one of the top psychiatric hospitals in the nation.

---

According to police, Crowley's friend came forward to say the two left the hospital and went to The Cheesecake Factory restaurant together, Newsday reported.

The two then took a cab to the White Plains Metro-North train station, the report said. Crowley's friend took a train to New York City while Crowley stayed behind in the cab.

According to White Plains police, Crowley was last seen wearing a bright blue Florida Gators short sleeve T-shirt with dark blue jeans and black sneakers with lime green-trim. The teen is enrolled at Iona Prep in New Rochelle.

Crowley has light brown hair, blue eyes, and wears braces, The Journal News said. He is 5'10'' and 150 pounds.

Hundreds of volunteers have mobilized to help the Crowleys find their son, a family friend told media. Fliers were posted in Westchester, Manhattan and the Bronx, and the family set up a Facebook page.?

?We love Pierce. We miss Pierce,? his father, Peter Crowley, said, according to Newsday. ?His brothers miss Pierce. We need him home.?

Crowley family friend Peggy Dunne told The Journal News, ?(Pierce) is a charming, talented, bright student and an amazing athlete.?His family and his friends are just totally distraught about him missing.?

There is a reward for information that leads to his safe return, the family said. White Plains police have asked anyone with tips to contact them.

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&#39;Fitness for work&#39; test under fire: GPs say assessment must be ...

GPs have piled new pressure on the government after unanimously calling for it to scrap its controversial ?fitness for work? tests.

The British Medical Association?s (BMA?s) annual conference of local medical committees, which represent GPs, passed a motion this week calling for the work capability assessment (WCA) to ?end with immediate effect?.

They agreed that the assessment ? which tests eligibility for out-of-work disability benefits ? should be replaced with a ?rigorous and safe system that does not cause?avoidable harm? to their patients.

The motion ? which was also approved by Scottish GPs in March ? says that the computer-based assessments ?have little regard to the nature or complexity of the?needs of long term sick and disabled persons?.

It was passed as the GP who submitted the motion to the conference of Scottish GPs, Dr Stephen Carty, told Disability News Service how one of his patients had tried to kill himself following a WCA.

Dr Carty, who is medical adviser to the user-led campaign group Black Triangle, is urging the government to create a mechanism to allow doctors to report similar cases in which a patient has been harmed as a result of the WCA process.

In the wake of this week?s vote, which means the motion is now official policy of the BMA?s GPs committee, a BMA spokeswoman said: ?We have said that the government needs to look at it again and come up with a better solution.

?It is something the committee will push in discussions with the government over the next year.?

The assessment has caused mounting anger among disabled activists since its introduction by the Labour government in 2008.

They believe it fails to test accurately disabled people?s ability to work, particularly those with mental health and other fluctuating conditions, and has even contributed to or caused the deaths of some of those who have been inaccurately assessed.

Dr Laurence Buckman, chair of the BMA?s GPs committee, said: ?When 40 per cent of appeals against the assessments are successful at tribunal hearings, something is clearly very wrong with the system.

?Being in work is good for people?s overall health and well-being, but GPs are seeing too many patients who genuinely need to be on incapacity benefit coming in very concerned and confused by the system.

?It?s not fair on these patients but it could also have a wider impact as well ? having a lower income may lead to people having a poorer quality of health and could therefore increase health inequalities for our nation as a whole.

?The government needs to look again at the whole assessment process and replace it with one that is fit for purpose.?

John McArdle, a founding member of Black Triangle, said that despite changes to the WCA implemented following reviews by Professor Malcolm Harrington, ?nobody working with sick and disabled people, or disabled people themselves, have seen any improvements to the system?.

He said: ?In fact, the system has gotten far, far worse for us and we expect exactly the same thing to happen with the abolition of disability living allowance and the introduction of personal independence payment.?

He added: ?This is just the beginning. We fight on until all professional bodies and indeed all of civil society, join with us and the medical profession in refusing to be complicit in policies and systems that are killing sick and disabled people and driving a great many more into penury and destitution.?

The DWP has so far refused to comment on this week?s conference vote.

News provided by John Pring at www.disabilitynewsservice.com

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Hong Kong travel agents | CNNGo.com

While travel agents are trying to make a comeback after more than a decade of waning in the developed world, they never went out of fashion in Hong Kong.

The Internet was a travel industry job-killer, particularly in the United States, where the number of agency locations has halved since the high of 34,000 branches in the mid-1990s.?Online flight and hotel booking services, such as Expedia, cancelled out the middleman so everyone could be their own travel agent.

But while EMarketer forecasts online travel sales in the United States to grow 11?percent to $119.2?billion in 2012, offline travel agents show signs of returning.

Nearly one in three leisure agencies in the United States is hiring, according to PhoCusWright, a travel research firm. Travel professionals can thank an improving economy, but also consumers' web-fatigue.

It turns out that online booking is not the convenient click-and-fly experience that travelers were hoping for. In one study by the IBM Institute for Business Value Studies, 20 percent of participants said it took them more than five hours of online research before making their booking.

In Hong Kong, savvy travelers learnt early on about the opportunity costs in booking vacations online. They never quite adopted Internet transactions for travel.

"Hong Kong consumers primarily want convenience when booking holidays," says Joseph Tung, executive director of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong. "Hong Kong is not a big place, it is convenient for people to make direct contact with travel agents. We also have regulation mechanisms to protect the consumer."

This accounts for the 85 percent of travelers who go to Hong Kong's 1,650 registered travel agencies when planning their trips.

It feels like there is a travel agent on every corner of Hong Kong.?Travel Expert is one of Hong Kong's largest travel services agencies, with 50 branches in the city.?

Tung is optimistic that the demand for agents will continue to grow as outbound traveler numbers increase with the opening of the Kai Tak cruise terminal next year.

Hong Kong travel agents, almost as common as 7-Elevens.

The latest agency to take advantage of Hong Kong's healthy demand is Flight Centre, Australia's largest travel agency.?A second branch of the agency opened last week in Hong Kong's residential neighborhood Happy Valley and the company has plans to open 2-3 more stores by 2013.

"The expertise and support that an offline travel consultant can bring adds value to the holiday," says David Fraser, managing director for greater China for Flight Centre Hong Kong. "Given that a retail travel agency is no more expensive than booking on the Internet, I don't see why you would bother to book online when you have extra services effectively for free."

Flight Centre promises a 24-hour emergency support team so that in the event of a disaster such as 2010's Icelandic volcano ash cloud, travelers can in theory get hold of a Flight Centre consultant to sort out their travel itinerary.?

"As unfortunate as those disasters are, they are often good for our business because it shows the benefits of us," says Fraser.

Accountability and personalized service is almost as important as convenience for Hong Kongers who spend more per capita than Asia's two other major globetrotters, Japan and Korea.?

For the upper to mid-range Hong Kong traveler, a higher amount of consultation is required before booking a trip. Flight Centre targets this type of customer, particularly expatriate, English-speaking travelers who are less likely to book package tours, opting for customized vacations.

"Expatriates have a higher demand for service as they want to be given a lot of knowledge about their destination. When Hong Kong people want to go to, say, Thailand, they just want the agent to get them Thailand and don't ask for that much information," says Joseph Tung.

Hong Kong traveler Mr. Lee who just booked an eight-day package tour to Russia through Hong Thai Travel Services has never booked a trip for leisure or for business through a website.

"I need to know that I am making a transaction with a real person," he says.

Out-of-work travel agents who are knowledgeable, efficient and accountable might just consider relocating to Hong Kong.?

?

?

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Health and Lifestyle, Self Improvement Tips - Premature Ejaculation ...

Premature ejaculation or difficulty in controlling the emission of semen.

So, it is easy to deduce that changes in sexual performance are remarkable concern for the boys and that Premature Ejaculation, Also called premature or early is among the leading causes of emotional distress and self-esteem issues.

Indeed, this dysfunction characterized by ejaculation which always or most often occurs unintentionally, whether in moments before vaginal penetration or shortly after this, afflicts at least Approx. 30% of men.

Of course, not easily affected males openly acknowledge this problem. As they become the target of criticism and ridicule in their social environment, in addition, in many families continues to educate them to display strength and take dominant sexual role, So do not go to a specialist for help, as this would be seen as a sign of weakness or failure.

The best decision
The man must put aside fears and taboos, and choose see a specialist (psychologist, sexologist, general practitioner, and urologist) to be evaluated thoroughly, only in this way may establish the exact causes of your condition and not lose valuable time required for treatment and improve their quality of life.

In principle, it is useful to warn the affected those emotional and educational factors that might hinder their sexual activity, causing great anxiety or fear of having bad erotic performance, because in this way will have the opportunity to correct them, also will be vital recognize depression boxes for comprehensive improvement of social behavior through counseling.

Also will help carry out exercises designed to recognize bodily sensations and the ejaculatory reflex, so it can be controlled at will. It is important to remember that on many occasions, when the male begins his sex life or having auto-erotizes often in places where it could be caught, so it is quick to reach climax and get used to it.

Raising practices and relearning can be done individually or in pairs, emphasizing:
* Stop and Go. The male should be encouraged to recognize that sexually is about to orgasm, at which time stops for half a minute, and repeat the process several times, until you want to ejaculate.
* Compression. Again, man is stimulated and, recognizing that going to ejaculate, he or his partner tighten the area in which bind the glans and shaft of the penis for a moment. The activity will stop 30 seconds, and the whole cycle will repeat until you want to achieve orgasm.
* Kegel exercises. They consist in the contraction and relaxation of the pubococcygeus muscle (located on the bottom of the pelvis, can stop the action of urinating on a voluntary basis) to strengthen and learn to control the ejaculatory reflex. Must be several dozen repetitions a day, gradually.

There are times when treatment includes the use of medications such as antidepressants and certain drugs for premature ejaculation relatively new onset. All have been proven in scientific studies, and require a prescription.

For all this, it is clear that man should not experience fear to consult a specialist about premature ejaculation or hesitates to discuss this with their partner, and that solutions are effective, comprehensive and not endanger their health. Undoubtedly has much to gain and to discover in the private life.

Read more on How to Get Hard Rock Erection and premature ejaculation Treatment. And how to increase penis size for more sexual pleasure

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Ipl acne treatment reviews - Health and Fitness

To treat the Adult cystic acne or adult acne cysts, lemon astringent in acne a additional diluted concentration is often employed. It is also effective when taken orally. Besides over- the- counter treatments and traditional prescription medications, now people have a tendency to find natural and simple methods to fight acne because of their busy schedules and high medical expenses. These can leave you with adult acne. One of these controllable items is facial hair growth. There have been a lot of instances that people who use chemical peels get 2nd degree burns after applying the peel on their skin. Suffering With tri sprintec acne Acne Scars Can Be Reduced By Trying A Removal Cream At acne some point in our life we have suffered with some form of acne, whether it be minor or more intense. Well, it is pretty much proven to be quite useful as acne treatment although it does not guarantee crystal clear skin. For years acne has been being treated by benzoyl peroxide, an acne tri fighting active ingredient, the problem is that it has some serious side effects ipl acne treatment reviews that have been causing skin problems for years, up to and including severe premature aging and skin cancer. There are many ways which you can follow at home to control your acne or pimples problems. Of course, that does not mean that your problems are just going to go away as an adult, and if you are reading this you are more than likely suffering from adult acne right now. Together, they are a ? dirty? colon and a specific parasite known as candida. Mild acne, moderate acne, and severe acne all have different treatments. So, do not ever squeeze or break the pimples on the skin. These medications are intended to stop the severe acne from leaving behind noticeable scarring. Do you have any ideas on zyporex acne treatment ? Wash your face and let your pores open. The injection works by ipl melting ipl acne treatment reviews the cyst over a period of time, until it has dried out. The water should taste heavily salted. Acne problems become even worse when they start scarring the face. Proactiv Solution in the treatment extra strength formula is available through the catalog only ( the regular formula and other products are available online and at kiosks in local malls) and Murad Acne Complex Kit and other products are available at most beauty stores and online as well. 4. Avoid popping it ? This will only give you temporary satisfaction, but the scar will last longer than expected. Nope ? but that doesn? t mean you shouldn? t rely on them. We might see ourselves as ugly and in result, be very shy towards others. Picking the acne scabs or acne can also contribute to acne scars and sometimes even pits on the skin. Foods that contain trans- fatty acids such as milk products, margarine, cookies, chocolates and hydrogenated oils should also be sprintec avoided. Zinc should be taken separate from copper as they interfere with each other? s absorption. A great deal of the research surrounding acne causes and cures is focusing on the role of diet and nutrition. that are not artificial but naturally occurring in the world. Home Remedies for Clearing Acne Scars Lemon Juice Lemon juice contains citric acid that is very effective in clearing acne blemishes. Another example of an organic ingredient found in some acne scar creams is a hexapeptide by the name of Collaxyl. reviews As it stands, the medical profession has been slow to respond and so the cosmetics industry has been making excessive profits with products to clean the skin and cover up the spots. As you may already know, acne can really affect us emotionally and prevent us from doing what we really want to do.

Related Post Ipl acne treatment reviews

These chemical acne treatments can angeles cause more problems than they cure, so you should avoid them if at all possible. But the scars These medications almost always include benzoyl peroxide as an active ingredient. This is normally a frequent issue acne mainly due to the fact most Tea Tree Oil may be utilized in several forms in soaps, facial washes, in blemish sticks and it? s generally applied topically to the Hormones cause the sebaceous glands to grow. Neither race or gender is an indicator of acne as it affects male and female and all While inflammation is one of the bodys most powerful tools, it can sometimes go haywire and not go away or turn off when the

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Hong Kong travel agents | CNNGo.com

While travel agents are trying to make a comeback after more than a decade of waning in the developed world, they never went out of fashion in Hong Kong.

The Internet was a travel industry job-killer, particularly in the United States, where the number of agency locations has halved since the high of 34,000 branches in the mid-1990s.?Online flight and hotel booking services, such as Expedia, cancelled out the middleman so everyone could be their own travel agent.

But while EMarketer forecasts online travel sales in the United States to grow 11?percent to $119.2?billion in 2012, offline travel agents show signs of returning.

Nearly one in three leisure agencies in the United States is hiring, according to PhoCusWright, a travel research firm. Travel professionals can thank an improving economy, but also consumers' web-fatigue.

It turns out that online booking is not the convenient click-and-fly experience that travelers were hoping for. In one study by the IBM Institute for Business Value Studies, 20 percent of participants said it took them more than five hours of online research before making their booking.

In Hong Kong, savvy travelers learnt early on about the opportunity costs in booking vacations online. They never quite adopted Internet transactions for travel.

"Hong Kong consumers primarily want convenience when booking holidays," says Joseph Tung, executive director of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong. "Hong Kong is not a big place, it is convenient for people to make direct contact with travel agents. We also have regulation mechanisms to protect the consumer."

This accounts for the 85 percent of travelers who go to Hong Kong's 1,650 registered travel agencies when planning their trips.

It feels like there is a travel agent on every corner of Hong Kong.?Travel Expert is one of Hong Kong's largest travel services agencies, with 50 branches in the city.?

Tung is optimistic that the demand for agents will continue to grow as outbound traveler numbers increase with the opening of the Kai Tak cruise terminal next year.

Hong Kong travel agents, almost as common as 7-Elevens.

The latest agency to take advantage of Hong Kong's healthy demand is Flight Centre, Australia's largest travel agency.?A second branch of the agency opened last week in Hong Kong's residential neighborhood Happy Valley and the company has plans to open 2-3 more stores by 2013.

"The expertise and support that an offline travel consultant can bring adds value to the holiday," says David Fraser, managing director for greater China for Flight Centre Hong Kong. "Given that a retail travel agency is no more expensive than booking on the Internet, I don't see why you would bother to book online when you have extra services effectively for free."

Flight Centre promises a 24-hour emergency support team so that in the event of a disaster such as 2010's Icelandic volcano ash cloud, travelers can in theory get hold of a Flight Centre consultant to sort out their travel itinerary.?

"As unfortunate as those disasters are, they are often good for our business because it shows the benefits of us," says Fraser.

Accountability and personalized service is almost as important as convenience for Hong Kongers who spend more per capita than Asia's two other major globetrotters, Japan and Korea.?

For the upper to mid-range Hong Kong traveler, a higher amount of consultation is required before booking a trip. Flight Centre targets this type of customer, particularly expatriate, English-speaking travelers who are less likely to book package tours, opting for customized vacations.

"Expatriates have a higher demand for service as they want to be given a lot of knowledge about their destination. When Hong Kong people want to go to, say, Thailand, they just want the agent to get them Thailand and don't ask for that much information," says Joseph Tung.

Hong Kong traveler Mr. Lee who just booked an eight-day package tour to Russia through Hong Thai Travel Services has never booked a trip for leisure or for business through a website.

"I need to know that I am making a transaction with a real person," he says.

Out-of-work travel agents who are knowledgeable, efficient and accountable might just consider relocating to Hong Kong.?

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Coroner: Gunman in Indiana standoff from Texas

VALPARAISO, Ind. -- A Texas man who took hostages in a northwestern Indiana realty office and held police at bay for several hours suffered three gunshot wounds before dying, likely from two different weapons, a coroner said torday.

Roy L. Ferguson, 48, of Fulshear, Texas, died at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said. That was two hours after the end of the nearly seven-hour standoff at Prudential Executive Group Real Estate office in Valparaiso, about 40 miles southeast of Chicago.

"The likelihood of all three gunshot wounds coming from the same weapon is not good," Harris said. He said that wouldn't be confirmed until an autopsy is performed. It had not yet been scheduled because of Memorial Day weekend.

Valparaiso Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Grennes said Saturday that Ferguson had only one firearm - a handgun. Grennes also said the SWAT officers who rushed inside the office after hearing gunshots at 4:30 p.m. did not fire on Ferguson, but officers exchanged gunfire with Ferguson when the standoff started.

Asked Saturday if police had shot Ferguson, Grennes said, "It's under investigation."

Police received a 911 call around 10 a.m. Friday reporting a man with a gun had entered the brokerage office, Grennes said.

There were fewer than 10 people in the building when the incident began, he said.

One of them was accountant Carolyn Biesen. She was in her office when she heard a commotion near the front desk. Biesen walked out, saw a man standing over her injured co-worker on the ground and yelled at him to leave.

"That's when he pulled his gun out - and pointed it in the air," she told The Associated Press late Friday, several hours after she and several other people were taken hostage.

Biesen, 51, retreated back into her office, locked herself in, shoved a file cabinet in front of the door and called 911. Curled up under her desk, she heard two gunshots, then several more in rapid succession.

Ferguson, police said later, was looking for someone he believed owed him money when he went into the Prudential Executive Group Real Estate office in Valparaiso on Friday morning.

Valparaiso Police Chief Michael Brickner said officers believe Ferguson shot himself twice in the head before SWAT members broke windows and stormed inside less than two hours after the last two hostages had been released unharmed.

"He has some history here," Brickner said of Ferguson.

An ambulance rushed Ferguson to a hospital, where he died, police said.

No hostages reported being shot, though Grennes said one person who was struck in the head was treated and released from a hospital.

Another witness, Randy Baker, said he was in an adjacent parking lot shoveling asphalt when an officer wielding a pistol suddenly ran by and asked if he'd seen or heard anything about a gun. When Baker said he hadn't, the officer approached the building.

Seconds later, the officer began rapidly firing at least half a dozen times, said Baker, who took cover behind his work truck. He said he saw a woman in the Prudential window cowering under an office desk.

"That's what really scared me," Baker said. "And I ran out of there fast."

Mack Elliott, an agent at the brokerage, wasn't in the office Friday but said he spoke with agents who were present. He believes the incident stemmed from a dispute over a real estate transaction.

Biesen, the accountant, said she didn't believe the gunman intended to hurt her.

"If he wanted to, he could have come right into the office - maybe shooting through the door," she said.

Biesen spoke Friday night from her home, where several dozen family members and friends gathered after she had made it out unharmed. Despite the trauma, she said she felt sorry for the gunman, noting he could have decided to surrender after all the hostages were released.

"It's very sad," she said.

chicagobreaking@tribune.com

Twitter: @ChicagoBreaking

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spriggan1816 | Cell Internet online affiliate marketing ? Is it ...

You may both method site owners one-on-one or you will discover quite a bit of skilled and legit hubs which hook up writers with website owners, therefore if you want writing and understanding about different points, this will be right up your alley. I have been guilty of dropping by the wayside too a number of occasions so I?m able to recognize where numerous of such people are at. On the other hand, when you only concern yourself with the money you could possibly wind up receiving pretty uninterested in your decided on niche, and you could use a extended and tough street forward of you. It will come by using a very easy limited and sweet e-book, a blessing immediately after paying long hours watch unexciting tutorial videos and examining related e-books of equally lengthy duration. A improve in my perspective modified my everyday living and will adjust yours if you would like, simply because there is a planet of possibility expecting you. Down below are 3 measures to the way to start out internet affiliate marketing ? the quickly way: one. When it arrives right down to the truth, owning an on-line position or performing in the net is now way pleasurable and games. Younger web marketers, expert bloggers and Search engine marketing experts have earned gigantic income by remaining affiliate marketers to prestigious corporations, sites and companies. Make full use of different advertising and marketing tactics in your small business to improve. How can I receive a number of subscribers. Your information demands to not merely be related, it requires for being persuasive plenty of to drive targeted visitors to your web site. I am discovering a thing new and wonderful each day. A number of these flaws may possibly cost you a considerable part on the earnings which you hope to generate daily. You can begin doing work on pay per just click, pay out for each sale etcetera thirteen. In some cases, it might even just take much more than 100 site visitors to refer a sale. Since you are employing a unique form of backlink known as an affiliate hyperlink, the merchant has the ability to monitor your referrals and provides you a commission every time you create a sale. Affiliate back links get the job done good with Twitter for the reason that individuals that stick to you on Twitter will ordinarily have faith in your ads. Commence by setting a compact, short-term purpose which you consider you can get to. It was only $50, so I justified the cost while using the amount of money which the advertiser from the e-book promised that I would make again around numerous situations more than. With each referral you cause you to ought to involve a usable hyperlink that your referral can use to direct himself for the item and the firm producing that solution.

Apart from building references, you are able to do a lot more and be resourceful by creating assessments, crafting weblog articles or blog posts and pertinent material, sharing views, and many far more. Electronic solutions are in particular preferred because they may be sent digitally. Web web hosting firms like GoDaddy and Host monster present extremely low cost means of web hosting your site.

It need to take just a few minutes to accomplish.

You let your site or web-site work for you as site visitors do all the clicking.

Now to deliver visitors towards your affiliate marketing course is Okay, but when you finally have manufactured the sale which is it. This is normally attributed to lack of instruction and schooling because of the system joined, constrained money to take a position, and restricted web and website awareness. Imagine how much recurring site visitors you would get. Internet online affiliate marketing is the equal of having a military of gross sales individuals who?ll do the promoting and will only receive a commission if a consumer buys. Professionals, on the other hand, have predicted that with additional plus much more on the internet portals providing powerful bases for this sort of marketing and advertising industry experts, and an ever-increasing amount of buyers and business owners eager to take the plunge with substantial funds ? the industry and its final results happen to be searching up of late. It?s a billion dollar business but why is it tarnished (in particular in Britain) with a reputation that a handful of wealthy affiliates at the prime, rip off the bulk. ? Proverbs 29:18 KJV There was no one wiser (or wealthier) than King Solomon, and his guidance still holds accurate right now. The best technique to get an affiliate program similar to this set up is to be part of a web site like clickbank. The organization will choose notice of such back links, and in return, you will be awarded using a commission based mostly certainly within the referral that truly went on via together with the sale. The greater merchandise getting marketed in this way, the greater. These items I realized the challenging way, but now know the appropriate way, a means that works, and is also so easy when compared with each of the mad things We have carried out and tried inside the previous for making money on the internet. You can get limitless targeted visitors from social web-sites like Deal with e-book, and Twitter. Is it possible to place together various programs or items that happen to be similar. Different affiliate plans can use diverse payment terms like as:
Spend per Sale: With this method a merchant pays you a proportion in the sale price once the purchase is accomplished. The need is there, but they might not share it with you. I think that CC is actually a respectable product or service. Connect good enough buoys for your ship and believe me, irrespective of how massive the ship is, it?ll float for the top of the floor and it will be viewed. As well as greatest half is ? the process of coming to know the environment enables you to creatively jump-off from that foundational comprehension and definitely permit your personal special existence be felt. Email advertising While using the buyers and prospective buyers you?ve, it is possible to use electronic mail to advertise or ship out updates concerning your online business. If you get started combining recurring site visitors techniques with recurring payouts, rapidly and exponential development can commence before you say ?I heart affiliate marketing. There are many affiliate merchandise from various niches which provide massive commissions; nevertheless, it?s actually not as quick as you would like to imagine. In actual fact you can find web-sites which are completely focused on linking likely affiliates to organizations that have to have someone to offer their items for them. A lot of people can see countless dollars month in earnings. Along with the indication up system comprehensive you might be willing to get the job done through the internet using ClickBank. There is certainly all types of things on the market over the internet ? every little thing from providers to details to solutions like shoes, books, jewellery ? you identify it. Do they offer percentage of revenue, fork out for each lead, or fork out for each just click (Whilst this last a single is most effective averted) selections. Fork out per sale: Every time a prospect buys the merchant?s product being an result in the promoting with the affiliate, then the profit is earned and transferred to your affiliate?s account Pay for every lead: It signifies if the record of purchasers will increase or when a new client registers towards the merchant?s web page by the suggests in the affiliate?s promoting then what?s more, it is extra being a commission while in the affiliate?s account. You don?t have to worry about how to settle for payments on-line, the way to ship solutions as well as any of the consumer support facets which are generally concerned when men and women obtain issues online. These one-way links will consist of your affiliate website link code so your website traffic and product sales is often tracked. Be strategic and recognize how your small business is effective and in case expenses are minimal, give you a commission that is greater than 50%. Perhaps they perform for some persons, however they usually are not qualified. Use uncomplicated advertising and marketing tactics that perform perfectly for you personally. One of my lemonade stands financed my schooling and original financial investment. These agents on line are usually called affiliate. Why do merchants and solution manufacturers provide affiliate software programs. When you can get into an excellent hotter market, earning money together with your new web sites is going to be even a lot easier. Just one of things which people today flip for the internet for is earning a residual money; the power to do the do the job at the time then get compensated more than and more than once again is definitely the critical to setting you up for all times. Online marketing has tested to become a most practical and powerful solution to generate income from a individual house. I have found many uncomplicated web sites with incredibly minor navigation and comparatively inferior information rating selection a person on Google for specified key phrases (these web sites likely really don?t do nicely for broader, higher-volume keyword phrases) that might become a breeze to topple inside the SERPs, supplied a little finesse and expertise in making compelling subject material. For this reason in keeping with a lot of this really is regarded as the very best way to generate profits on line. This means you?ll be able to begin promoting them and earning profits as speedy while you desire to. I see and chat to quite a few men and women that have made a decision to make some extra revenue on line, or in other cases, swap the income from a W-2 career entirely. Eventually, question the website operator or account consultant if you can find a back-office like area where it is possible to get hold of in depth information on the guests for the web-site, their demographics, range of readers on a daily basis, and pageviews. Before you decide to run out stocking up on inventory I want to inform you a thing about equally of these sites. Will they ship you a check, wire the wages for you, use PayPal, or what. It is actually truly worth finding out their dependability 1st and looking at your back links frequently. Just one tier software benefits you just a person time for each sale you enable to provide. Prevent altering affiliate ads. com entrepreneur get their bit of the pie.

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