In a continuing crackdown on tax evasion, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has alleged that brokers with a branch of RBC Dominion Securities, Canada's largest brokerage company, helped clients set up accounts in the small European principality of Liechtenstein in order to avoid taxation on their wealth.

Boeing's newest commercial aircraft, the 787 "Dreamliner", made its first test flight today in Everett, Washington at 18:00 UTC. Boeing claims that the new 290+ seat wide-body, twin engine jetliner is more fuel efficient than previous Boeing models.

A car bomb has killed at least 22 people and injured 70 injured in Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan according to local officials. The bomb exploded in a market in the town in the central Punjab province.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said earlier today that polio has reemerged in several countries in Africa. WHO Africa regional director Luis Gomes Sambo made the announcement at the beginning of a Zimbabwe conference regarding child immunisation.

The government of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates has agreed to give US$10 billion to its neighboring emirate, allowing the state-owned Dubai World conglomerate to repay its immediate debt obligations.

An Iraqi Interior Ministry official today said that thirteen people are in custody in connection with last Tuesday's coordinated bombings in Baghdad that killed 127 people and wounded 400.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is in San Raffaele Hospital overnight in Milan following an assault during an autograph session at the end of a rally.

Thai customs officials said today that they had intercepted a North Korean cargo plane loaded with 35 tons (31 Mg) of "heavy weapons". The Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft, registered in Belarus, was stopped at Bangkok's Don Muang airport, after a tip from the US government.

The Red Cross has appealed for US$33.2 million worth of humanitarian aid to feed 222,035 hungry people in Zimbabwe. According to the institution, there are 2.8 million or so people in the country who are "food-insecure".

The Philippine military said today that gunmen have seized at least 75 people, most of them schoolchildren, after a raid on a remote elementary school in the southern Philippines.

On the third day of the two-week Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, the leaders of developing countries said that EU and US emissions cuts plans are not enough. After a Danish unofficial draft version of the future treaty leaked, they reacted with a demand of shift of emission cuts to developed world industries.

RNCOS has recently released a market research report “European Aluminium Market Analysis” that contains thorough analysis of the aluminum industry current status and market trends.

Several thousand people marched earlier today in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, to protest corruption in the country.

Iraq has changed the date of its general elections for the second time in a day, with officials saying the vote will now take place on Sunday, March 7.

Managers and employees have opposing views of privacy when it comes to employees’ off-duty postings on social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook.

With continuous investment and reforms in its telecom sector, Nigeria has emerged as the largest telecom market in Africa. Among others, factors such as telecom market liberalization along with the fierce competition among the private telecom operators has been bringing about substantial benefits to subscribers in terms of lower tariffs and enhanced choice.

Do your managers “play favorites” with certain employees? Most managers would probably say “no,” but people often harbor unconscious perceptions that can influence day-to-day decision-making and job reviews of the employees they manage.

Do your customers feel the love? Not the ho-hum, check-the-“satisfied”-box-on-the-survey kind of love. We’re talking about the kind of warm-and-fuzzies that inspire spontaneous thank you letters. If your customers aren’t head-over-heels gaga about you, then you’ve got work to do, says Jeanne Bliss, author of Chief Customer Officer: Getting Past Lip Service to Passionate Action. She offers these quick tips for getting your customers to love you.

Last year, 5,071 Americans died on the job due to injuries. That’s down more than 10% from 2007, and is the lowest workplace fatality total since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the number in 1992. The decline was due, in part, to the recession reducing the number of people on the job.

Health officials in the Gaza Strip confirmed the territory's first five cases of H1N1 swine flu earlier today.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) has opened on Monday with calls for urgent action to curb climate change. The largest climate conference in history at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark will run for two-weeks from December 7 until December 18.

On October 14, Uganda introduced legislation that would outlaw and ban homosexuality in the nation. If politicians pass legislation, homosexuals would be forced to leave the country, or be imprisoned for life. Some human rights groups say the law would also allow authorities to kill homosexuals.

The Liberal Party have retained both the Bradfield and Higgins seats in the Australian House of Representatives, despite some predicting a voter backlash after their recent leadership change and splits over environmental policy.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through London earlier today, calling for a deal to be made at this week's Copenhagen Climate Conference in Denmark. Similar such marches were held in Belfast, Dublin, and Glasgow.

Philippine officials have put a southern province under martial law today, and arrested the patriarch of a powerful clan, following last week's massacre of 57 people. Government officials say President Gloria Arroyo suspended civil rights in the Maguindanao province.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday that unemployment in the country edged down from 10.2% to 10% in November, with fewer jobs lost in the previous two months than anticipated. The latest monthly figure was discussed at a congressional hearing yesterday as president Barack Obama welcomed the news but said he is still not satisfied.

An explosion yesterday in a Russian nightclub killed at least 94 people and injured a further 139, according to police reports. The incident happened in the "Lame Horse" bar in the city of Perm near the Ural mountains.

Yousuf Raza Gilani, the prime minister of Pakistan, has told British prime minister Gordon Brown that Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is not in the country.

– Mumbai (the financial capital of the country and home to the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India, and many major corporations) ranks 34th in the list of most powerful cities in the world, according to a survey by citymayors.com.

Thanks to the growing concerns over the reduction of carbon emissions coupled with highly volatile oil prices, the world has witnessed remarkable growth in the development of low emission vehicles.

Iranian authorities have released five British yachtsmen who were detained last week in the Persian Gulf. A statement from Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that, after investigation, it reached the conclusion that their illegal entry was a mistake.

Religious and political leaders from around the world have criticised the ban on building minarets as part of the Swiss referendum held in November.

Does your organization encourage a culture of gratitude? Chances are the answer is no. According to a recent Gallup poll, 65 percent of respondents said they don’t feel appreciated at work. And that feeling quickly leads to pervasive negativity, low morale, and decreased productivity.

Iran announced earlier today that it plans to build ten new uranium enrichment plants. Iranian media reported that the Cabinet approved the construction of the plants just two days after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censured Iran for its nuclear activities.

Porfirio Lobo, a wealthy rancher, has won the presidential election in Honduras, with about 56% of ballots cast, according to results. Election officials say voter turnout was high, in spite of a call by ousted President Manuel Zelaya to boycott the poll. Lobo declared victory after election results showed a broad lead for the candidate from the opposition National Party.

Tuesday evening, United States President Barack Obama went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, to deliver a televised address to announce his new approach to the War in Afghanistan.

Edward Natapei, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu has lost his position and parliamentary seat over a paper work blunder. Natapei was in Trinidad and Tobago at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and his staff failed to file the paperwork that notified the parliamentary speaker of his absence.

A boat sank in the western Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, killing at least 73 people, according to reports.

Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has been chosen as the first permanent President of the European Council, at a meeting of European Union leaders today in Brussels.

United States and United Kingdom spokespeople have added to criticism from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that Israel's decision to authorise a further 900 homes in east Jerusalem will "undermine efforts for peace and cast doubt on the viability of the two-state solution".

Seven people in Wales have died as a result of the H1N1 swine flu virus. This increases the total number of people who have died from the virus in that country to 21. Dr. Tony Jewell, chief medical officer for Wales, had said that this was expected to happen.

We all know the expression "you only get one chance to make a first impression," well it holds true when it comes to presenting your product to your customer.

A new survey released today suggests that US President Barack Obama's approval rating has fallen below 50% for the first time in his presidency.

The European Union said on Tuesday that it plans to train hundreds of Somali security forces and possibly expand its anti-piracy mission off Somalia's coast, in an effort to bring stability to the war-torn Horn of Africa nation.

On Monday Daimler AG announced a deal to buy a 75.1% stake in Brawn GP.

When a customer walks into your office, don't sell them the first product that comes to mind. Sit them down and evaluate their needs, than sell them the products that meet their needs.

The Israeli Interior Ministry has announced today that 900 new housing units are slated to be built by Israeli officials at the Gilo settlement located in East Jerusalem.

Insurgents in eastern Afghanistan fired rockets into a marketplace on Monday, killing ten civilians in an area where French armed forces were meeting with tribal elders.

A rebel group in Ethiopia's Ogaden region said today that it has killed 626 government troops after heavy fighting near the border with neighboring Somalia. The government, however, has dismissed the claim, calling it "a complete fabrication".

Product knowledge is by far the most important key ingredient to posses when it comes to selling your product.
Before you sell your product, make sure you know it inside and out, you wouldn't want to be caught without an answer if your prospect had a specific question.

A wildlife official in Zimbabwe said today that the amount of animal poaching in the country has increased substantially this year, blaming an international crime syndicate. He said that 65 elephants and 30 rhinoceroses have been killed this year by poachers.

Heavy snowstorms in northern China have killed at least 32 people today, according to officials. More than 15,000 buildings had collapsed due to large amounts of snow and 300,000 hectares of winter crops were destroyed, according to the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) released a report which shows that the European Union is on track to meet their Kyoto Protocol commitments to limit and reduce emissions responsible for the greenhouse effect on our earth.

A Europe-wide student movement, started in the Austrian capital of Vienna, is developing. It started on 28 October 2009 and met with the discussions following the Conference of the Ministers for Education and Cultural Affairs in Germany on 15 October.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has rejected moves by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate, saying that he had no "Israeli partner" and not being serious about peace.

The White House has announced that it is considering sending Guantanamo Bay detainees to a state prison in northwestern Illinois.

Sudanese-born British mobile communications tycoon Mo Ibrahim told a news conference in Tanzania today that some African countries are too small to keep functioning independently, and need to integrate in order to survive.

Mozambique's main opposition party has rejected the results of last month's national elections, alleging fraud and ballot-stuffing. Official results were released on Wednesday confirming that President Armando Guebuza had won another term in office.

Researchers have found a crucial genetic difference between humans and chimps that could help explain our language and speech abilities. The difference lies in a gene called FOXP2 which encodes for a protein of the same name. This acts as a transcription factor, controlling the activity of other genes.

Gerald R. Ford said "If I went back to college again, I'd concentrate on two areas: learning to write and learning to speak before an audience. Nothing in life is more important than the ability to communicate effectively."

Why would you use an email or online survey when you could simply call your clients and customers and ask for their input? Lots of reasons.

A comprehensive new European pollutant release and transfer register named E-PRTR was launched by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA). Data from 91 substances had been collected to show the quantity and location of pollution of air, water and land by about 24.000 industrial facilities throughout Europe.

A massive power blackout in southern Brazil left tens of millions of people without power, with residents in major cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo affected. Police called in extra officers and asked people to stay off the street when the Itaipu hydroelectric plant failed at 10:15 pm local time Tuesday (0015 GMT Wednesday) and plunged the affected areas into darkness.

Somali pirates have seized a cargo vessel with 22 crew members. The Greek-owned MV Filitsa was hijacked on Wednesday in the Indian Ocean, several hundred kilometres northeast of the Seychelles islands.

“My senior admin recently asked us what we should discuss during our monthly admin meetings,” a reader wrote. With time at a premium, this is a good point, as there’s an ever-increasing need for groups to get more real work done during regular meetings.

A skirmish has occurred between patrol boats of the Korean People's Navy of North Korea and the South Korean Republic of Korea Navy in the Yellow Sea. According to a South Korean naval official, the North Korean vessel took "considerable damage."

NATO has said that Afghan and international forces have killed more than 130 insurgents, including eight Taliban leaders, in an offensive in northern Kunduz province recently.

France has dispatched a special envoy to North Korea for talks that are expected to focus on establishing diplomatic ties with Pyongyang and possibly on the country's nuclear program.

Economic Development Minister Elton Mangoma of Zimbabwe today unveiled a mid-range plan to relaunch and transform the Zimbabwean economy over the next five years, envisioning a 15% average rate of growth.

The United States Army has confirmed that at least twelve people have been killed after a shooting rampage at the Fort Hood army base in Texas. An additional 31 are reported wounded, and the gunman is in stable condition after being shot by military police. Two other soldiers are in detention.

Ever hear someone say "Don't listen to them! They just want to take you on a rollercoaster ride!"

If you already have a retail store, you have many opportunities to connect with existing and potential customers and acquire their information for marketing. When you expand this storefront to the Internet, your opportunities mount even further.

Vietnamese media reported on Wednesday that at least 90 people have been killed after Tropical Storm Mirinae passed through the country. Another 22 people were reported to be missing.

According to the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, Palestinians may need to abandon their goal of creating an independent state should Israel continue expanding Jewish settlements on contested land.

An Italian judge has convicted 23 people from the US of kidnapping an Egyptian cleric from Milan in 2003. The landmark case is the first involving the CIA's controversial "extraordinary rendition" program.

The US car manufacturer General Motors said that it would axe 10,000 jobs at its European division, Opel. According to the company's vice president John Smith, the firm wanted to reduce costs at Opel by 30%.

Voters went to the polls on Tuesday for several US state elections seen by some as a referendum on the policies of President Barack Obama one year after his election (and by others as a purely local election). A few key races in the elections are in states the president carried last year.

When the responsibility rests on your shoulders to communicate in a crisis, says David Guth, a journalism professor at the University of Kansas, follow these rules, which originally appeared in Communication World, a publication of the International Association of Business Communicators

Participation in new “social media” outlets is on the rise, creating many questions for employers. Should we be using social media to develop business or to recruit new talent? Should we allow employees to use social media at work? What types of restrictions do we need? Can we monitor off-duty conduct? And what are the potential liabilities?

Studies show that most growing businesses plan to maintain or increase spending on marketing and business development in the months ahead as the economy recovers.

The US automobile manufacturer Ford has said that it posted a net profit of US$997 million in the third quarter of this year, and predicted that it would be "solidly profitable" by 2011.

Two dreaded militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba, India, were killed after being mauled by a bear last night at Mahore-Kulgam border. Slain militants hailed from Mahore area of Reasi district.

Business Market research is the process of collecting data on consumers, competitors, marketing and sales channels, and the forces affecting your industry.

Working capital is a highly effective barometer of a company's operational and financial efficiency and effectiveness. The better its condition, the better placed the company is to focus on developing its core business.

Would you like to break out of a regular job and start freelancing? Perhaps you've got the skills, but are not quite sure where to start looking for work, or how to deal with the business side of freelance work?

Afghanistan authorities said on Saturday that they have arrested at least six people believed to have been involved in Wednesday's deadly attack on a United Nations guesthouse in Kabul. Afghan intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh announced the arrests on Saturday.

Iraqi police have said that four bombs killed at least eight people and wounded more than 50 others on Sunday.

According to US health officials, New York state governor David Paterson has declared a state of emergency in the state as a result of the H1N1 swine flu outbreak.

The United Nations Security Council voted unianimously on Thursday to extend the arms embargo on the Ivory Coast (otherwise known as Côte d'Ivoire) for a year.

McDonald's, the international fast food restaurant chain, will cease all operations in Iceland by the end of October.

Have you ever felt that punch-to-the-stomach feeling of clicking “Send” and realizing you blasted an e-mail to the wrong person?

When we make a sale, or take one step closer to meeting our goal, we are overcome with a felling of achievement which motivates us to sell more.

Pakistani officials have said that at least 100 people were killed and over 200 injured after a car bomb exploded in a marketplace in the city of Peshawar on Wednesday.

Ever work for someone who fires off questions like an interrogator? “Is this a good time to talk? What time is the meeting? Who has confirmed that they’re coming? Have you finished the agenda? When will it be ready?”

Prices for crude oil reached a one-year high on Friday, as increasing industrial production in the United States raised hopes that the economic recession might be easing.

The Bank of America Corporation, the second-largest bank in the United States, has announced that it lost US$2.24 billion in the third quarter of this year, mainly due to increases in loan losses.

The United States Senate Committee on Finance approved a proposal to reform health care on Tuesday, clearing it to move forward. The bill passed by a 14-9 vote, gaining support from the committee's thirteen Democrats, and one Republican.

China and Russia has signed billions of dollars worth of deals during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing on Tuesday. The trip was aimed at bolstering business, political and military ties.

The British stock index FTSE 100 closed at its highest levels in over a year on Monday, following news of stronger commodity prices.

Afghanistan is getting ready for a second-round presidential election between President Hamid Karzai and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. The second round comes after the election commission nullified nearly one million votes cast in August's presidential polls.