JAPAN

Foxconn Seeing To Buy Sharp

LCD Makers Settle Price-Fixing Case for $553 Million

Samsung Electronics Co, Sharp Corp and five other makers of liquid crystal displays agreed to pay more than $553 million to settle consumer and state regulatory claims that they conspired to fix prices for LCD panels in televisions, notebook computers and monitors.

LCD makers in $553 million U.S. price-fixing accord

Foxconn Seeing To Buy Sharp
Samsung Electronics Co, Sharp Corp and five other makers of liquid crystal displays agreed to pay $553 million to settle consumer and state regulatory claims that they conspired to fix prices for LCD panels in televisions, notebook computers and monitors.
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Members of a group called "Planking Thailand" make a cross formation, to urge people to vote, a day before advance voting commences in Bangkok June 25, 2011.

Top 10 Facebook Sensations of 2011

Internet and Facebook have seen exponential growth in activities during this year that was considered as sensations, such as planking, owling, plowling, horsemaning, levitating girl, batmanning, leisure diving, teabowing, teapotting, and plumbking.
Figurines known as "caganer", of political leaders are sold at the Santa Llucia Christmas market

Unusual and Bizarre Christmas Celebrations Around the World

Christmas is celebrated around the world by millions. Most of the Christmas celebrations are alike and has common idea and message. But the Christmas traditions in some communities and countries vary drastically. These traditions are anything from unusual to bizarre and funny. Here is a glimpse to the most unusual and bizarre Christmas traditions in the world.
Cake

70-Year-Old Fruitcake Auctioned for $525 in Ohio

A 1941 fruit-cake was sold to a lucky online bidder in Arizona for $525 on Thursday, the proceeds of which will be sent to the homeless in the region. Made 70-years ago by The Kroger Co, the cake returned unopened back to the company store in the year 1971.
A Syrian citizen takes part in a rally in support of President Bashar al-Assad in front of the Syrian embassy in Minsk

2012 World Events Outlook

Herewith follows some of my predictions for what may happen in 2012 with respect to some key foreign countries.
High unemployment in the world's wealthiest nation had cash-strapped Americans avoiding restaurants where beef is a common entree and had them switching to lower cost non-meat dishes at home.

Where's the Beef? U.S. Beef Consumption in Decline

For the past decade, cattle ranchers and meat packers watched with despair as America's beef consumption steadily declined, ceding ground to leaner meats as well as vegetarian trends among the health-conscious.
Gold bricks

Gold ETF Inflows Down in '11 - Report

The inflows into gold-backed exchange-traded funds that helped drive bullion demand sharply higher during the financial crisis have more than halved this year, according to Reuters data, and are unlikely to recover in 2012 as appetite grows for other assets.

Jobless Claims Drop to Lowest Since April 2008; U.S. Debt-to-GDP Passes 100%

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits continued to decline last week, even after dropping to a three-and-a-half year low in the previous week. The figure is still below a key threshold for gauging the job market, a sign that the labor market is gaining strength heading into 2012.

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