Canada’s Scarborough East (Ward 44) city council candidates speak

This exclusive interview features first-hand journalism by a Wikinews reporter. See the collaboration page for more details.

Saturday, November 4, 2006

On November 13, Torontonians will be heading to the polls to vote for their ward’s councillor and for mayor. Among Toronto’s ridings is Scarborough East (Ward 44). One candidates responded to Wikinews’ requests for an interview. This ward’s candidates include Donald Blair, Diana Hall, Mohammed Mirza, Ron Moeser, Kevin Richardson, Richard Rieger, Richard Ross, and Kevin Wellington.

For more information on the election, read Toronto municipal election, 2006.

Group Tours To India Are Economical And Fun

Group Tours to India are Economical and Fun

by

ferJenny

There is nothing like company of the like-minded people when you are on a vacation. Custom Group Tours to India are meant to economize the use of your time and money in the most optimum manner, and design a travel itinerary that caters to expectations and vacation dreams of all your family and friends. Whether you are in love with wildlife, food, dance and music, or lively exotic culture of India, a custom group travel plan offer you exclusive experiences and happy memories with your loved ones.

When you are travelling alone or just with your partner, you tend to stick to luxury spaces. Group Tours afford you a greater sense of safety; so that you can head to the more secluded beaches, more ferocious wildlife destinations, to the lonely islands and remote village areas. There are several delightful group tours options available in India but the most popular ones are:

Custom Group Tours to Himalayas: Himalayas are as well known for spiritual nests in the form of Hindu temples, pilgrimage destinations, and Buddhist monasteries as they are for adventure delights, such as trekking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and white river rafting. Haridwar and Rishikesh, on the banks of River Ganges, well conserve the cultural heritage of India and feature exceptional Yoga and Meditation resorts. Active group tours for fit adventure enthusiasts, and spiritual group tours for the elderly and those who in search for their souls are both in demand by different set of people.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuUflZdkJao[/youtube]

Group Travel to Luxury Jungle Camps at Ranthambhore National Park: If you are with a group of naturalists, wildlife photographers, or bird lovers, you should not miss wildlife safaris and the night stays in the luxury Swiss tents or traditional Rajasthani tents on the edge of the Ranthambhore National Park, the most famous tiger reserve of India. The excitement of spotting a new bird species or seeing the Royal Bengal Tiger resting peacefully after a good meal is infectious, to say the least.

Camel Caravans to the Sam Sand Dunes: Plan a custom group travel plan with your friends who love the exotic to the Sam Sand Dunes and small remote hamlets of the Great Indian Desert. What can be more amazing and time bending than a trip on the camel caravans, along the sand dunes of the monochromatic Thar Desert, and watch the desert sun play with colors in the sky. The only hint to the modern life during the trip is the facilities these caravans are equipped to keep you cocooned from the weariness of the desert. The vibrant hues that mark everything in the villages of Rajasthan are maverick expressions of the natives to conquer the starkness of the sands.

Group Travel to India can exclusively be designed for your particular group of friends and family or may include people from all over the world, interested in a particular itinerary. Custom group tours are also available to suit the particular purpose of your visit be it a weekend getaway during a prolonged business conference, an academic tour for students, or a tour to solemnize your wedding in Indian style. Whatever is the case, contact reputable Indian travel agents and they can surely offer you some attractive deals.

Author is an eminent analyst for writing articles on

Group Travel to India

Get all possible information about

Custom group tours

at here only.Book your

India Group Tours

by mltours.com

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

Wikinews investigates: Advertisements disguised as news articles trick unknowing users out of money, credit card information

 Notice — May 19, 2010 This article has been judged, by consensus of the Wikinews community, not to meet Wikinews standards of style and neutrality. Please see the relevant discussion for details. 

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The Internet has already brought great things to the world, but has also brought spam, phishing, scamming, etc. We all have seen them across the Internet. They promise money, weight loss, or other things a person may strive for, but they usually amount to only a lighter pocket. Online advertising has become something that the increasingly Internet-reliant society has become used to, as well as more aware of. As this is true, online ads have become more intricate and deceptive in recent years.

However, a certain type of advertisement has arisen recently, and has become more deceptive than any other Internet ad, and has tricked many users into credit card charges. These sites claim to be news websites that preach a “miracle product”, and they offer a free trial, and then charge the user’s credit card a large amount of money without informing them after the trial ends. These sites appear to be operating under one venture and have caught ad pages of high-traffic websites by storm. In this report, Wikinews’ Tjc6 investigates news advertisement sites.

These Internet ads work in different ways:

Hypothetically speaking, a reader is browsing the web, and then happens to come across something that they believe is too good to be true. A link on one of these high-traffic pages promises white teeth, weight loss, or huge profits from working at home part-time. Out of curiosity, they click on the link.

This is the way that people are attracted to these fake news sites on the internet. The domain owners draw in customers by purchasing advertising on some of the World Wide Web’s most visited pages. Curious users click and are led to what they believe is a news article. From anti-aging to shedding weight, these “articles” from non-existant newspapers and television stations depict a skeptical news reporter trying a product because they were instructed to by a superior.

As the user reads on, they find that the “reporter” miraculously achieves significant weight loss, teeth whitening, or other general health and beauty improvement. The reporter states that the reader can get the same results as they did by using a “free trial” of the product.

Next, the user looks to the bottom of the page, where there seems to be a set of user comments, all of them praising the product or products that are advertised — this is where we first see something suspicious. Across several of these false articles, the comments appear to show the exact same text, sometimes with even the same usernames as other sites.

There is obviously some kind of correlation. Although this appears to be true, most users who purchase these products do not look at multiple versions of these similar pages of what appears to be a fast-growing network of interconnected fake news sites.

Once customers have convinced themselves into buying the product, they are led to a product (or products) website which promises a free trial for a very low price. What they do not know about this, however, is that they are giving their credit card data to a company that will charge it automatically after the trial ends. In about 14 days, the user receives a charge on their credit card for an excessive amount of money, usually from about $80 to $100 (USD). All attempts to contact these companies and cancel their shipments usually prove to be futile.

What these sites have is a large amount of legal copy located at the bottom of each site, stating their right to charge the user. This site, a fake news article claiming to offer teeth-whitening benefits, has several paragraphs of fine print, including this: “…Upon signing up for the 10 day trial membership you will be charged up to $4.97 depending on various shipping and initial offer promotions at that time but not more than $4.97 upon signing. If not cancelled, you will be charged $89.97 upon completion of the 10 day trial period. Monthly thereafter or 30 days from the original order date, the charge will reoccur monthly at a total of $89.97 until cancelled…,” the site says.

Practices like this have alerted the Better Business Bureau, an American organization that studies and reports on the reliability and practices of US businesses. In a press release, a spokesman from the BBB spoke out against sites like this. “Many businesses across the country are using the same selling model for their products: They lure customers in with claimed celebrity endorsements and free trial offers, and then lock them in by making it extremely difficult to cancel the automatic delivery of more products every month…,” said the report that denounced the websites.

When a user looks at several of these sites, they notice that all of them have the same exact structure. Because of this, Wikinews decided to look into where some of the domains were owned, and if they were all in fact part of one company.

However, the results that Wikinews found were ones that were not expected. Out of the three random websites that were found in Internet ads, all using similar designs and methods to attract the customers, came from three different locations in three countries and two separate continents. The first came from Scottsdale, in the United States, while the next two came from Vancouver and Hamburg. There is no location correlation, but surely, there has to be something that connected these sites together. We had to look even further to try to find a connection.

HAVE YOUR SAY
What do you think of these sites? Have you ever fallen for an advertisement similar to this one?
Add or view comments

There is some correlation within the product’s contact information. A large amount of the teeth-whitening products analyzed actually shared the same phone number, which lead to a distribution center located in St. Petersburg, Florida, and several other similar distribution centers located across the Southern United States. But, that explains only one of the categories of products that these websites cover, teeth whitening.

What about the other products? The other products such as weight loss and work-at-home kits all trace back to similar distribution centers in similar places. So, what do we make of all of this?

There is obviously some company that promotes these products through the fake news advertisements, but that company is nowhere to be found on the websites. All contact information is given on the product pages, and websites are copyrighted under the name of the domain, not a company. Whatever company has been the setup for these pages has been very good at hiding themselves from the Internet, as there is no information across the web about that mysterious large advertiser.

As a result of customers buying the products and having unauthorized charges on their credit cards, a large volume of complaints are currently present on awareness sites, complaint sites, and even the Better Business Bureau. Several customers point out that they were not informed of the steep charges and the company made it extremely difficult to cancel their subscription, usually resulting in the loss of several hundred dollars.

  • The trial offer was to pay for $3.95 for the cost of the shipping for one bottle. I noticed shortly after placing the order I had a charge on my credit card for $149.95. Unknown to myself the company charges for a membership if you don’t cancel within 14 days, I cancelled within 18 days…When I called the customer service number they told me the decision has been made and my refund request was denied. When I questioned the person on the other line about what I was getting for my $149.95 she told me I was not getting anything because I cancelled the membership.
?“Tamara”, in a post to the Ripoff Report
  • This is a “free sample” scam: Pay only postage and handling and get a free sample of a tooth whitening system, they say. I looked for the “catch,” something that would indicate that there’d be hidden or recurring charges, but didn’t see anything, and ordered. Sure enough, a couple of weeks later, I see a charge for $88.97 on my bank statement…When I called, the guy answering the phone had obviously answered the same angry question many, many times: “Why has your company charged $88.97 to my card?” “Because you didn’t cancel your subscription in time,” he said tiredly.
?“Elenor”, in a post to the Ripoff Report

One notable lawsuit has occurred as a result of these articles. Some of the articles about work at home kits specifically advertise things like “work for Google”, or “job openings at Google”. However, Google asserts these claims as false and has taken the case to court, as it is a copyright violation. “Thousands of people have been tricked into sending payment information and being charged hidden fees by questionable operations,” said Google in a statement.

The BBB has received over 3,000 complaints about products such as the ones that Google took offense to. The lawsuit has yet to begin in court, and no date has been set.

AMD files antitrust lawsuit against Intel in US federal district court

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

AMD filed an antitrust complaint against Intel Corporation two days ago in U.S. federal district court for the district of Delaware under Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, Sections 4 and 16 of the Clayton Act, and the California Business and Professions Code.

According to the complaint, Intel has unlawfully maintained its monopoly by, among other things:

  • Forcing major customers such as Dell, Sony, Toshiba, Gateway, and Hitachi into Intel-exclusive deals in return for outright cash payments, discriminatory pricing or marketing subsidies conditioned on the exclusion of AMD;
  • According to industry reports, and as confirmed by the JFTC in Japan, Intel has paid Dell and Toshiba huge sums not to do business with AMD.
  • Intel paid Sony millions for exclusivity. AMD’s share of Sony’s business went from 23 percent in ‘02 to 8% in ‘03, to 0%, where it remains today.
  • Forcing other major customers such as NEC, Acer, and Fujitsu into partial exclusivity agreements by conditioning rebates, allowances and market development funds (MDF) on customers’ agreement to severely limit or forego entirely purchases from AMD;
  • Intel paid NEC several million dollars for caps on NEC’s purchases from AMD. Those caps assured Intel at least 90% of NEC’s business in Japan and imposed a worldwide cap on the amount of AMD business NEC could do.
  • Establishing a system of discriminatory and retroactive incentives triggered by purchases at such high levels as to have the intended effect of denying customers the freedom to purchase any significant volume of processors from AMD;
  • When AMD succeeded in getting on the HP retail roadmap for mobile computers, and its products sold well, Intel responded by withholding HP’s fourth quarter 2004 rebate check and refusing to waive HP’s failure to achieve its targeted rebate goal; it allowed HP to make up the shortfall in succeeding quarters by promising Intel at least 90% of HP’s mainstream retail business.
  • Threatening retaliation against customers for introducing AMD computer platforms, particularly in strategic market segments such as commercial desktop;
  • Then-Compaq CEO Michael Capellas said in 2000 that because of the volume of business given to AMD, Intel withheld delivery of critical server chips. Saying “he had a gun to his head,” he told AMD he had to stop buying.
  • According to Gateway executives, their company has paid a high price for even its limited AMD dealings. They claim that Intel has “beaten them into ‘guacamole’” in retaliation.
  • Establishing and enforcing quotas among key retailers such as Best Buy and Circuit City, effectively requiring them to stock overwhelmingly or exclusively, Intel computers, artificially limiting consumer choice;
  • AMD has been entirely shut out from Media Markt, Europe’s largest computer retailer, which accounts for 35 percent of Germany’s retail sales.
  • Office Depot declined to stock AMD-powered notebooks regardless of the amount of financial support AMD offered, citing the risk of retaliation.
  • Forcing PC makers and tech partners to boycott AMD product launches or promotions;
  • Then-Intel CEO Craig Barrett threatened Acer’s Chairman with “severe consequences” for supporting the AMD Athlon 64 launch. This coincided with an unexplained delay by Intel in providing $15-20M in market development funds owed to Acer. Acer withdrew from the launch in September 2003.
  • Abusing its market power by forcing on the industry technical standards and products that have as their main purpose the handicapping of AMD in the marketplace.
  • Intel denied AMD access to the highest level of membership for the Advanced DRAM technology consortium to limit AMD’s participation in critical industry standard decisions that would affect its business.
  • Intel designed its compilers, which translate software programs into machine-readable language, to degrade a program’s performance if operated on a computer powered by an AMD microprocessor.

Instant Bad Credit Loans Faster Approvals, Faster Funding, Less Time

Instant personal loans do not require credit history and are different from regular bank loans. Although banks and financial institutions do provide personal loans, their requirements tend to be strict. Imagine sitting in a chair for hours, sweat beading on your forehead, only to be rejected with a smile strict. Waste of time strict.

To get a loan approved with bad credit from a traditional bank you will need a cosigner, collateral or other requirement. Essentially, they make a business of lending personal loans for people who don’t really need the money in the first place.

More on get loan with bad credit here

Good for them, not so good for us when we need instant cash.

The good news is the online lending firms that do provide instant personal loans for bad credit people are a different breed entirely. The companies that offer these instant bad credit loans designed the offers to for people in dire need of money for emergency purposes, unexpected bills, car repair, utility bills, medical bills, legal problems, groceries etc.

Be sure to check out our top recommended instant loan offer providing easy approvals and fast funding.

These instant loans do not need collateral, a co-signer, nor do they check credit history. These instant personal loans are approved or declined solely based on whether you meet the income requirements.

Essentially you need to have a job, or some source of consistent income that shows your ability to meet the repayment schedule you agree too. With such easy qualification standards these personal loans are as near as they come to instant approval offers, while most lenders work to provide near instant funding of your loan.

Instant bad credit loans of this type will generally guarantee funding within 24 hours, but depending on when you apply for the loan, funding can occur within the hour of your completed application being approved.

Repayment schedules for these personal loan offers are flexible and can vary. Our top recommended instant loan offers allow for over three months for repayment with options to extend the life of your loan with interest only payments. You may need the money immediately but the more time you have for repayment the better, right?

Managing Your Instant Loans

A dose of common sense caution to borrowers, of course you should consider your repayment capacity before you apply for instant bad credit loans. The immediate approvals and easy qualification requirements can make these loans tempting to for non emergencies but we recommend strongly against this.

Using bad credit instant loans when you cannot really repay what you borrow makes poor financial sense, not to mention it is highly unethical. If you are not in emergency immediate need, would not benefit from getting approved instantly then these are not the right loan option for you. It is best to borrow only the amount of money needed and to repay it on time.

A requirement for instant funding of your loan is a valid bank account that the money can be transferred to. This can be a savings or a checking account of your choosing though it will need to have been active for a minimum of 3 months. The bad credit lenders will deposit the loan proceeds to the bank account you select for funding.

A postdated check is often all that is needed to get your personal loan funded. Repayment note: the bank account you select for deposit will be automatically setup for repayment as scheduled in your instant loan term agreement. If the account has insufficient funds when the due date is up, this will resort to higher interest fees, late charges and bank charges that can be a nightmare, so make sure the money is where it needs to be for repayment.

The fast processing of instant loans has been a benefit to countless thousands of people in need of emergency money.

Find out about our second most popular instant financing option by visiting our recommended personal loans for bad credit.

Another instant bad credit loan option is to use a credit card. Your bad credit cards are often thought of only as a purchase tool, but using the cash advance program with your card can often provide a fast, though small instant loan. ATMs are plentiful and your card can provide you access to the balance you have available with little hassle. Som credit cards have minimum line of credit that amounts to just a couple of hundred dollars while others can provide you immediate access to thousands of dollars at an ATM (though withdrawal limits vary).

Instant payday loans are another option for immediate money. Your typical payday loan is ideal for a bad credit history requiring employment and little else. A regular job with regular pay and a checking account qualify you for an advance on your next paycheck.

Check cashing stores can also provide these paycheck advance instant loans. Most cities have a check cashing store in the community. The check advance clerk will usually verify with your employer you really do hold a regular position in the company. In some cases they also require the borrower to call his bank’s automated service so as to get the outstanding balance in his account. Following the hassle of verification you have what is are instant bad credit loans drafted against your future pay.

A Couple Notes About Bad Credit

Any number falling below 580 is considered a bad score that in will stop traditional financing dead in its tracks. Your bad credit score limits your options, as instant good credit loans are much more available.

That’s why we recommend you work to improve your credit score to increase your options. Noone can instantly fix bad credit, it takes time, but if you start now before you know it, it will improve, and you will qualify for better loan offers.

The unfortunate truth is, bad credit loans, instant or not are more expensive for the borrower than lending designed for people with good credit. But when you need the money instant bad credit loans can provide and don’t have time to wait to fix your rating its a good thing these lenders exist, expensive or not. Find out if you can get a salary loan from your office or try to get family or friends to loan you money. These are not immediate, instant loan solutions, but they will surely be cheaper.

If you’re serious about getting an instant loan and ending the spiral of endless bill payments and struggling to make ends meet. If you are sick of the same routine of bill arrives, panic, scramble to find money, only for the next bill to hit you square in the gut… then you found the right person. I’ll make eliminating debt and making money easy and enjoyable for you… AND NOT BORING!

First, click instant approval bad credit loans to get the powerful help you need to deal with your debts now. This will get you the immediate relief you need now.

Second, look around my website as there are a number of other resources to help, including prepaid credit cards, debt consolidation, and credit repair offers as well as do-it-yourself action plans if you prefer just to know how.

Third, with my advice you can stop the bill collectors, eliminate your money troubles, and get yourself back to feeling the pride and assurance in knowing you can pay your bills without difficulty. You’ve heard it all before… I get it. But we’ve helped 10’s of thousands already, and know all the ‘tricks’ in the book to help you get the relief you need.

Fourth, there is no fourth. Simply enjoy the instant approval bad credit loans resources we compiled for your benefit, take action, and live the life that you deserve! If you don’t find a solution to your right now emergency… I’d be amazingly surprised!

Park safely with Parking Sensor

Reverse Parking Sensor can ascertain and acquaint you of any concrete action at the back of your car, which you may not be acquainted of. This abundant Parking Sensor is accessible at Parking Dynamics. One abundant affair about the about-face parking sensor is that it can calmly be adapted to any car, abnormally those with artificial bumpers. The Parking Sensor will act as a beforehand admonishing accessory so that you can assure your car from scratches, scrapes, and alarming smashes. It will as well be able to acquaint you if there are humans adjacent who ability get hit by your car if you are parking. Parking Dynamics is a supplier, manufacturer, and primary benefactor of parking sensors to assorted retailers and barter online. This access can save money and time on the allotment of their customers. Their Parking Sensor, on top of its functionality, is so far advanced in the chase to accommodate bigger car parking technology. So the next time you try binding your car into any bound spot, accomplish abiding you accept an about-face Parking Sensor from Parking Dynamics.

For more information specifically about buy parking space melbourne click the link

The Parking Sensor is an acceptable adjustment of action your way in or out of bearings like about-face parking your car amid two added cars. Parking Sensor does not alone advice parking your car simple but as well eases your fretfulness if you are parking. Drivers accept never accepted how simple Parking Sensor absolutely is to esplanade their cars until they approved the about-face parking sensor from Parking Dynamics. Parking Sensor can be calmly adapted after compromising your car’s structural candor and, of course, its appearance. It makes use of an abnormally able adhering that is safe on the car. There’s an antenna that alone mounts on the close ancillary of the car’s bumper. Just about all Parking Dynamics PD1 electromagnetic sensors acquiescence your cars to contrivance accessible appointment with crisis while parking or abetment out of the area. However, there is Parking Sensor distinctively fabricated for a accurate car make. Cogent affections to bethink are that PD1 Parking Sensor makes use of 100 percent acute and accurate electromagnetic technology feature. This is why drivers assurance this aboriginal admonishing accessory in adjustment for them to calmly cross further from danger. Parking Sensor comes in accessible abnormally if you are in a bustle to esplanade or get out of the parking area.

In addition, Parking Sensor has an abundant website that is automated to accomplish the acclimation procedures quick and with no fuss. Interested barter can acquisition their way calmly and can adjustment through phone, fax, or column on their annual online on their site. If you accept an annual at Parking Sensor, you will see the “trade activated” cachet acceptance you to adjustment online. Parking Dynamics has an appropriate promo wherein discounts are accustomed to those who acquirement in bulk.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

3 Ways to Increase Your Seating and Storage Space

Having a small kitchen, especially if you have a growing family, can create a challenge when it comes to finding enough seating area for dining or entertaining. Over the years, the kitchen has become the hub of the home for everything from homework to socializing, so it is important to have enough seating for family and friends. Here are a couple of ideas of how to add additional seating to your kitchen without losing countertop or storage space.

Click the link for particulars about new kitchen ideas

Peninsula Bartop – When storage is a concern, this is the easiest way to add additional seating without giving anything up. By creating a peninsula or island in your kitchen, you are additional additional storage space and countertop work surface. This allow creates an open flow in the kitchen into the living room or whatever room is adjacent to your kitchen. Stools or seats can be added to the backside of the island to provide additional seating or eating space (usually 3-4 seats on the typical island).

Bench seating- Most kitchens end up having an alcove or corner where the kitchen table is stuck. This will typically limit the number of people that can sit at the table at an given time. By creating built-in bench seating around the table, you can actually accomplish two things. 1) adding more seating to the table 2) creating some additional storage underneath the benches.

Another idea that I found for a small kitchen was to add a removable island. There are quite a few products on the market that are meant to be mobile work surfaces. These movable islands are perfect for small kitchens, since they can be wheeled away when they are not in use to create the look and feel of a much larger kitchen.

So whether you have a large wide open kitchen, or a small cramped one, there are plenty of ways to increase the amount of storage space and seating area that you have, without reducing your work area.

I have been remodeling house for 15 years, and I have the secret to getting high quality kitchen cupboards at an affordable price. Interested in finding out my secret? Follow these links to find out the secret to getting kitchen cabinetry and kitchen cupboards at 30-40% below retail prices

Make Use Of Open Tenders Website To Grasp Great Procurement Opportunities}

Make Use of Open Tenders Website to Grasp Great Procurement Opportunities

by

OPEN TENDERSIn today’s highly competitive market, it has become extremely crucial for a business operating in the market to make investments as wisely as possible. With lucrative investments, many factors such as grasping tenders, effective estimation, and bidding comes into play. Gone are the days when a client who wanted a particular project executed approached companies and businesses personally. In today’s digital age, attracting businesses and clients is done by offering tenders.

For those who are unaware, tenders are proposals offered by a client in order to find a third party business or companies that shall help them execute the task. When a client proposes a tender over the internet, many companies accept the proposal and place their bids. Of all the bids placed, the clients try to shortlist a company as per their preferences and finally get in business with that company.

Nowadays, there are countless numbers of online tenders available over the internet, which come from both, private and public sectors. Businesses usually aim to get hold of tenders that are being proposed with the public sector, as the deals proposed by these tenders tend to be everlasting and reliable. Public tender projects means working with the government and working with the government means stability over a stretched period of time.

Now that you have understood how dealing with projects is done by professional companies, the next big question that arises is where you can actually get hold of these tenders so that you can place your bids. The answer to that question can be found over the internet. Plenty of websites make space for clients from both, the public and private sector to publish their tender proposals. You can get hold of opportunities over open tender web portals.

There is a standard procedure when it comes to winning a proposal over the internet. Initially, placing bids are mandatory in order to get the client to check your company profile. If the client is interested in your company profile, then they shall respond and with further discussion, the deal is sealed. The best thing about tender proposal is that it is universal. Business operating at all levels can easily bid and if you have a standard company profile with the eligibility criteria that meets the client requirement then getting shot at the project would be under your control.

Tenders coming from the public sectors are made available for businesses that operate at all levels. Government tenders are usually merit-based. Small businesses that just have made their appearance in the market can always bid for small and mid-sized government projects that shall help the company to prosper and grow. If the services you provide prove to be valuable, enough then there are chances that your company can develop an extremely good reputation within a short span of time.

With free tendering websites, finding procurement opportunities has become a hassle free task. It becomes easy on the part of both, the clients and businesses to meet under a single place and get deals done as easily as possible.

OpenTenders is a massive platform that regulates in posting tender proposals from both private and public sectors. Businesses can make use of this portal to find Government tenders that shall help them land great contracts with esteemed clients.

OPENTENDERS is the author of this article on

tender

.

Find more information, about government tenders

here

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com}

US unemployment rate reaches 9.8%

Friday, October 2, 2009

Companies in the United States are shedding more jobs, pushing the country’s unemployment rate to a 26-year high of 9.8%.

The US Labor Department said on Friday that employers cut 263,000 jobs in September, with companies in the service industries — including banks, restaurants and retailers — hit especially hard. This is the 21st consecutive month of job losses in the country.

The United States has now lost 7.2 million jobs since the recession officially began in December 2007. The new data has sparked fears that unemployment could threaten an economic recovery. Top US officials have warned that any recovery would be slow and uneven, and some have predicted the unemployment rate will top 10% before the situation improves.

“Continued household deleveraging and rising unemployment may weigh more on consumption than forecast, and accelerating corporate and commercial property defaults could slow the improvement in financial conditions,” read a report by the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook, predicting that unemployment will average 10.1% by next year and not go back down to five percent until 2014.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com, said that “it’s a very fragile and tentative recovery. Policy makers need to do more.”

“The number came in weaker than expected. We saw a lot of artificial involvement by the government to prop up the markets, and now that that is starting to end, the private sector isn’t yet showing signs of life,” said Kevin Caron, a market strategist for Stifel, Nicolaus & Co.

Also on Thursday, the US Commerce Department said factory orders fell for the first time in five months, dropping eight-tenths of a percent in August. Orders for durable goods — items intended to last several years (including everything from appliances to airliners) — fell 2.6%, the largest drop since January of this year.

The US government has been spending billions of dollars — part of a $787 billion stimulus package — to help spark economic growth. There have been some signs the economy is improving.

The Commerce Department said on Thursday that spending on home construction jumped in August for its biggest increase in 16 years. A real estate trade group, the National Association of Realtors, said pending sales of previously owned homes rose more than 12 percent in August, compared to August 2008.

A separate Commerce Department report said that consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose at its fastest pace in nearly eight years, jumping 1.3 percent in August.

Other reports have provided cause for concern. A banking industry trade group said Thursday the number of US consumers making late payments, or failing to make payments, on loans and credit cards is on the rise. A survey by a business group, the Institute for Supply Management, Thursday showed US manufacturing grew in September, but at a slower pace than in August when manufacturing increased for the first time in a year and a half.

Stock markets reacted negatively to the reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 41 points in early trading, reaching a level of 9467. This follows a drop of 203 points on Thursday, its largest loss in a single day since July. The London FTSE index fell 55 points, or 1.1%, to reach 4993 points by 15.00 local time.

2008 COMPUTEX Taipei: Three awards, One target

Monday, June 23, 2008

2008 COMPUTEX Taipei, the largest trade fair since its inception in 1982, featured several seminars and forums, expansions on show spaces to TWTC Nangang, great transformations for theme pavilions, and WiMAX Taipei Expo, mainly promoted by Taipei Computer Association (TCA). Besides of ICT industry, “design” progressively became the critical factor for the future of the other industries. To promote innovative “Made In Taiwan” products, pavilions from “Best Choice of COMPUTEX”, “Taiwan Excellence Awards”, and newly-set “Design and Innovation (d & i) Award of COMPUTEX”, demonstrated the power of Taiwan’s designs in 2008 COMPUTEX Taipei.