World's top 10 countries with high gas prices

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By ONE Liners Agency

July 01, 2012

Below are the top 10 countries in the world where high gas prices are the norm. The data has been revealed by British insurance firm Staveley Head. The government there anticipates an eventual decline in oil and gas production, and saves state petroleum revenues in the world’s second largest sovereign wealth fund, which was valued at over $500 billion in 2011.

Norway - $10.12 per gallon

Norway is world's 7th largest oil exporter and enjoy strong economy. About 20 percent of the country's revenue comes from petroleum sector.

Turkey - $9.99 per gallon

Economy of Turkey mostly enjoys free market and privatizing industry is getting a push. The country is highly dependent on oil and gas imports for 97 percent of its energy.

Netherlands - $9.13 per gallon

Being fifth largest economy in the eurozone, Netherlands economy grew rapidly until 2008 global financial crisis. Petroleum refining is a key part of the nations' industrial sector.

Italy - $9.01 per gallon

The country is eurozone's third largest economy with highest public perceptions of corruption in the region. It's underground economy make about 17 percent of the GDP. Tax evasion is also a widespread issue. Last year the government passed several packages to balance budget and the gas taxes was increased 24 percent.

Greece - $8.95 per gallon

Claimed being lagging in payment, the Iranian government stopped exporting crude oil to refiners in Greece in February 2012.

Denmark - $8.82 per gallon

The country levies high taxes on automobiles as well as on gasoline. A sales tax of 100 percent is levied on cars and 50 percent taxes on gasoline price. Though Denmark got more oil in the energy mix than US coming from North sea oil patch and not for Middle East, yet people mostly commute by walking, bicycle or public transport.

United Kingdom - $8.76 per gallon

Since March 2010 the prices of fuel have jumped 20 percent.

Sweden - $8.70 per gallon

The country has levied energy taxes and carbon taxes on fuel since 1991 imposed on households and giving concessions for industry. In 2006 it rose oil prices to become first oil free country in the world by 2020.

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Eritrea - $8.70 per gallon

Attained independence in 1991, Eritrea is one of the poorest countries in the world with one of the most repressive governments in the world. The country got low per capita petroleum consumption and ranks 168th in the world among 215 countries.

Belgium - $8.64 per gallon

In 2011 the motor fuel prices in the country rose by 16 percent compared to 12 percent in the neighboring countries. It is heavily industrialized country with high consumption of petroleum.

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July 01, 2012 | 0 comments

BlackBerry Not In Motion In U.S. Smartphone Market

By BOB Goswami
December 17, 2011

PERSPECTIVE - Seems BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) has bad news in the U.S. market. If not, simply ask Joh Donahoe, Chief Executive of eBay, world's biggest online auction site.

A few months ago there were hundred engineers at eBay to develop new iterations of its shopping app for iPhone of Apple Inc. About another hundred are working in developing apps for Android mobile platform of Google. More to this, about other fifty engineers were busy developing Microsoft's Windows phones apps.

What about RIM's BalckBerry?

According to Mr Donahoe, there are only "one or two" its people developing apps for BlackBerry.

At an event this year in June at Stanford University when RIM's subject came up, he told to a group of chief technology officers, "I still use the BlackBerry, but it's not the most developer-friendly platform."

In early November it was seen that he wasn't using BB much any more. Meeting press people then to talk about the holiday shopping season plans he whipped out his iPhone and showed eBay's apps running on it.

More similar stories are common these days among the once-loyal corporate customers of RIM.

On Thursday RIM posted quarterly profit sharply lower than before. The holiday season's BlackBerry shipments were offered a dismal forecast, and also the arrival of new phones has been delayed.

Isn't it frustrating that all the BlackBerry customers haven't also heard anything good from RIM in a long time? If the company doesn’t come up with something new soon then would they become the next palm?

On Friday the price of RIM stock fell on Nasdaq by 11 percent. It was lowest in about eight years.

According to the forecast of Strategy Analytics, the shares of RIM in U.S. smartphone market to go down to 12 percent this year, which is a sharp drop from 2007. Apple is expected to take a 24 percent share this year in the U.S. smartphone market.

RIM had 44 percent share in U.S. smartphone market in 2007. Then Apple had just started selling smartphones.

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December 17, 2011 | 0 comments

Top 5 Emerging Economies In The World - A Perspective

PERSPECTIVE
November 19, 2011

ECONOMY NEWS - Antoine W Van Agtmael of the International Finance Corporation of World Bank coined the word 'emerging market economy' in 1981 for the first time and defined it as such economy that has low to middle per capita income. About eighty percent of countries across world constitute the status representing twenty percent of the global economy.

Over the years it has been seen such countries are most sought after by investors. Below are list of top 5 emerging economies of the world:

China

In year 1978 the economic liberalization started. Since then the investment- and export-led economy of China grown 90 times bigger. Today, it's economy is also counted as the fastest growing major economy. The growth was 10.3% last year and according to International Monetary Fund in 2011 the growth is declining a bit to 9.5%. China's currency Yuan is appreciating on average 5.5% annually. It is now 6.5 yuan to US dollar.

India

By 2012 India's economy may surpass that of Japan, says a report by consultant PwC. The reason behind this is the devastating earthquakes and tsunami in Japan this year in March. Another report by senior economist in Crisil rating agency comments this should happen in 2011 itself and India to become third-largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). Japan's economy was $4.31 in 2010 where as that of India was $4.06 trillion.

As per 2010 figures, India's per capita GDP (PPP) was $3,586 and is the 9th largest economy in the world.

Russia

The Russian economy growth was is expected to 4.8% in 2011. According to International Monetary Fund, the inflation rate has reached to 8% in the country.

After the collapse of Soviet Union, Russia has undergone significant changes. Earlier it was centrally planned economy and now it is more to market-based.

The country is the 11th largest economy in the world by nominal value with abundance of natural gas, coal, oil and precious metals.

Brazil

In 2011 Brazil is suppose to become the sixth largest economy in the world. The recent global financial crisis is affecting its main economic powers, said International Monetary Fund.

Brazil is moderately a free market country with inward-oriented economy. Its average annual GDP growth rate is over 5%. In Latin America its economy is the largest.

Turkey

The economy of Turkey is mostly driven by the industry and service sectors. Privatization program in the country has reduced the involvement of state in basic industry, transport, banking and communication. Its has 17th largest nominal GDP in the world and 15th largest GDP-PPP.

Shenzhen - China Economy Test City

Moscow (Russia)

Metro Train - New Delhi (India)

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November 19, 2011 | 1 comments

Beauty Generates Higher Revenue, Ugliness Generates Penalty - Research

By STAFF Writer
November 15, 2011

An economics professor at University of Texas-Austin has published a book which says that beauty brings many real life benefits to people. For about 20 years Daniel S Hamermesh, the author of the book "Beauty Pays", has studied the economics of beauty. The economics professor says that attractive people generally enjoy much more advantages than their bad-looking counterparts. Using his research, he has collected the notes that says beautiful people are far more likely to be satisfied with their lives, earn more money and get a bank loan with much more ease and marry a highly educated and a good-looking spouse.

Beauty is hard to define. But, as Hamermesh said, a symmetrical face is generally considered beautiful. The expressions and the overall gestalt are also important. In the book Hamermesh said that better-looking people are also more productive than the average ones which lead to higher sales and also higher profits. The book has also given a description of how beauty generates higher revenue and ugliness generates penalty. Hamermesh wrote that good-looking people earned as much as $US 230,000 more in their lifetime than the others with average looks. These figures are however based on an estimate of $US 20 an hour of the year 2010 salaries.

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The earning disparity becomes even greater when gender is taken into account. Good-looking women earn up to four percent more while the handsome men earn up to three percent more.

 

In the 90's when Hamermesh's early research circulated, comedian Jay Lenko joked that if it was true then why did the Dallas businessman Ross Perot earn more than the actor Rob Lowe. To this the veteran economist replied, "Look, we don't talk about individuals; we talk about the average good-looking person and the average bad-looking person. There are always outliers."

So, it really is high time you start making an effort to look beautiful. Spend few dollars on your beauty product every month and earn in hundreds and thousands.

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November 15, 2011 | 0 comments

Apocalypse Now – Artists Imaginations On ‘Judgment Day’

PERSPECTIVE

Forecast of ‘Judgment Day’ and end of humanity by an 89 year-old California evangelical broadcaster is indeed a flop; still followers are trying to explain about his failed pronouncement. But what about people who spent their almost all saving for spreading the message? For example, retired transportation agency worker Robert Fitzpatrick spent over $140,000 of his savings to spread the messaging, distributing posters and outdoor advertisements warning of the May 21 ‘Judgment Day.’

Judgment Day has had been a common imaginary claptrap from centuries and even a source of inspiration for artists throughout history. Many fantastic artistic marvels have depicted humanity’s last moments. Whether in the golden sunshine of Lorenzo Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise" or in the snarls of damned wrestlers of William-Adolphe Bouguereau's "Dante and Virgil in Hell," imaginations of artists have etched in your mind.

Here we present 11 renowned paintings based on the theme of apocalypse.

Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment" 

 

 

English painter Thomas Cole's series on "The Course of Empire" 

 

Damien Hirst's "For the Love of God"

Spanish painter Francisco Goya's landmark portrayal

"The Dragon with Seven Heads"German painter Albrecht Dürer

"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," by Albrecht Dürer

Lorenzo Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise,"

French engraver Gustave Doré's illustrated bible, "The Flood"

"Soft Construction with Boiled Beansby Spanish Surrealist, Salvador Dalí.

Collective Suicide by David Alfaro Siqueiros.

"Dante and Virgil in Hell," by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

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May 10, 2011 | 0 comments

Who Gains Who Loses After Laden's Death

PERSPECTIVE
TUESDAY, May 10, 2011

US President Barack Obama - THUMBS UP

The US President has seen his dismal approvals surge by as much as 15 percent points. More usefully, killing Obama bin Laden has killed off Republicans claims he was a security wimp. But it isn't all politics. Obama has been just as determined as George W. Bush on destroying Al Qaeda.

Indian PM Manmohan Singh - SMALL UP

India gains because Pakistan is down. Sort of. India has been busy pointing out that the Pakistani military is in ca boots with every possible terrorist you can name. But Singh is too focussed on his peace drive to make much of what's happening in Afghanistan. Perhaps Kayani will be more realistic about his country's future - in which case the talks may actually be fruitful.

General Ashfaq Kayani of Pakistan Army - BIG DOWN

There is strong speculation the Pakistani army chief will be told to retire. Otherwise, Kayani was looking good. He had Hamid Karzai over a barrel, Manmohan Singh in a corner. The US was pumping in billions. He could still win Afghanistan but for many Pakistanis he will just bet the soldier who let the country's guard down.

Al Qaeda - BIG DOWN

Given that so many of its affiliates and members had sworn oath of fealty to Bin Laden himself the groups main problem will be keeping everything together. Al Qaeda needs some spectacular evil otherwise it may find itself overtaken by other, younger terror groups. We know one thing: Ayman al Zawahiri, the bookish number two, won't hack it when it comes to street cred.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai - SMALL UP

After the Abbottabad incident, Karzai crowed how it had once again been shown that terrorism wasn't an Afghan phenomenon, it was a Pakistani one. But he still has too few options. He's being forced to seek talks with the Taliban and toe the Pakistani line. Bin Laden's death may help, but his problems are Af and Pak, not Arab.

Taliban - POTENTIAL UP

The Taliban are a cluster of Afghan militant groups. Their friendship with the Arab-dominated Al Qaeda made them the targets of the US military machine. They now have the chance to become bigger than everyone. If they play their cards right they could get the US to begin leaving Afghanistan. If they play them better they could end up ruling Kabul again.

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May 10, 2011 | 2 comments

Hijabi Girls Practice Chinese Wushu In India

PERSPECTIVE
May 10, 2011

The incredible acrobatic skills, tenacity, and awareness in hijab clad small teenage girls surprise any martial art aficionado. A considerably reputed school in Hyderabad, school girls practices Chinese ancient martial art Wushu, touching the feats of Shaolin warriors. St. Maaz high school in Hyderabad is not only reputed for its strict discipline and academic excellence but also surprised people for its singular stance for sports where Muslim schoolgirls practice Vietnam Vovinam martial arts. A bunch of girls clad in traditional hijab ages 10 to 16 participate in weekly session of traditional Wushu martial art.

Let us see some of the extraordinary snaps captured during their practice session.

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April 27, 2011 | 2 comments

Adopt “Ancient” Mysticism In Modern Time

It’s now the latest drift in this technology clad human society to incline towards ancient mysticism to find a little peace of mind in midst of concrete jungle and restless minds. So, why don’t you add one mystical belief? After all, societies from different parts of this world offer so many various mystical ways to achieve the obscure. After all, when people from thousands of years practice these mystical things, there must be something to it, right?

So here we present some mystical practices but also beware you to choose carefully because some of them are ill advertised and as authentic as the ill-fated Chinese tattoo on your arm that the lady swore meant “pure warrior”.

Yoga

Time for some Yoga

The most common yet most misunderstood mysticism of modern society. People think yoga means some queer postures, some funny breathing exercise and diet control. Alas, it would be so easy!!! Yoga is first mentioned in 2,500 old Hindu texts called Upanishads, though it’s older than that. How can Yoga help you out? First it will imbibe discipline in your life and make you understand even in this world (what Hindus call it Kaliyuga), still the moral values are intact.

Tarot

The Devil is apparently part Aquaman

Now you have obviously heard of tarot readers, I wonder why all tarot readers are fat middle aged women! They call it “mysterious” and “ancient” and behave like the same plastic by which these cards are wrapped inside. According to them, tarot is originated in Ancient Egypt and also involved with the Kabbalah and a few Holy Grail myths.

The reality is tarot is not an ancient mystical process of card reading, but made for a card game similar to modern-day bridge. The use of these card for fortunetelling started about 250 years ago, in fact normal playing cards boast longer history than these fancy big queer cards. So is there any significance?

Tarot fortunetelling capabilities were captured by 19th century fans of occultism. They named the two parts of the deck as “Arcana” to change with the slightly less spooky trumps and pits. In early 20th century, two American occultists published a new version of the cards, the Rider-Waite deck. The deck displayed traditional Christian imagery with pagan symbols, replacing the Pope and Popess with a Herophant and High Priestess.

Satanism

In other way, Satanism may give credit to you in your metal band

According to hardcore satanic fans, the brute mystical belief has been around ever since first man crawled onto the primeval golden womb and posed the “devil horns” gesture (though today most slapstick heterosexual men pose the same gesture as style symbol). Many Hollywood movies like ‘The Ninth Gate” also popularized the culture but this so called mystical humdrum was invented in the year 1966 by a musician from Chicago named Anton LaVey. You can find many depictions of Satanist activity from ancient times, but in actuality those are just misrepresentation of off beat religious practice.

Ouija Boards

Nothing goes with an orgy like Ouija!

Remember Linda Blair in ‘Exorcist’ played with Ouija board? Lovers and haters of Ouija agree on one thing about this spooky yet funny little board that this has a long mystical history. However, disappointing fact is Ouija boards are owned by the popular company who made Prime doll. They invented it in 1890 and Ouija is a registered trademark of Parker Brothers.

Chinese have the traditional rite called “Fuji” (similar sound like Ouija!?!) where they used a stick to call Chinese souls in sand. Roman had also a similar thing, though not closer to Chinese, they usually used a board to call spirits to know the future knowledge.

Ninjutsu

I can teach you nine ways to kill a man in 1/100th seconds!

Ninja with their secret society and marvelous skill got easy opportunities to assassinate feudal lords are well picturized in many movies. It is said that the skills are wisdom that pass through generation to generation and has been around like a thousand years. These death fights are well in movies but today there is lack of strict classes, honor based fighting rules and strict discipline, but a good thing to learn that’s for sure.

The Viking Religion

Vikings doesn't involve Dungeons and Dragons

Vikings bring pre-Christian Scandinavia myths with them with giant hammers, eight legged horses and Ragnarok. It seems a giant straight comes through 80s metal band album cover. The religion is well acceptable for those who are rooted to Norse culture and hate Sunday Church by making their parents angry. The modern followers are called Odinism or Asatru.

Viking religion is not so old and came from two books compiled in the 13th century by a Zoloft commercial looking old fat guy Snorri Sturluson. Ironically the books were written hundreds of years after Scandinavia had been Christianized.

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January 07, 2011 | 0 comments