The Best New Hotels and Resorts, Spas, and Restaurants in the World

The 16th Annual Hot List: Top New Hotels, Spas, and Restaurants

2012 Hot Hotels

2012 Hot Spas

2012 Hot Tables

16 Apr 2012 16:42 Africa/Lagos

Conde Nast Traveler Unveils 16th Annual Hot List: The Best New Hotels and Resorts, Spas, and Restaurants in the World

ICONIC HOT LIST ISSUE ON NEWSSTANDS NATIONWIDE APRIL 24, 2012

NEW YORK, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Conde Nast Traveler's 16th annual May Hot List issue is the ultimate insider's guide to the hottest new hotels, spas, and restaurants of the year. Of the thousands of new properties that opened in the last year, our editors traveled incognito to 49 countries to visit 172 new hotels, evaluating each on a standard set of criteria including service, food, atmosphere and amenities. Their mission? To discover the best in the world. This year, 121 made the cut.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120416/NY88022-a)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120416/NY88022LOGO-b)

The 2012 Hot List features 121 new hotels and resorts, 35 of the world's most blissful spas, and 20 hot new restaurants from 21 hot chefs.

The Hot List hotels range in size, price, and style, from the small, subtle tents at the Sanctuary Zebra Plains camp in Zambia, to the $3,878-a-night all-inclusive Abu Camp in Botswana. But you don't need to break the bank to visit these hot and trendy retreats—49 of this year's hotels and resorts offer rooms for less than $300 a night. Best represented on the list is the United States, with 12 entries, followed by United Kingdom, China, and Italy, each with 7 apiece.

Also in the May Hot List Issue, Conde Nast Traveler recognizes industry tastemakers and trend-spotters from within the Hot List Class of 2012. The Predictors are:

Chef Wolfgang Puck
Interior designer Rachel Ashwell
Architects and designers Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat
Spa director Ghislain Waeyaert
Hotelier Ian Schrager

The Hot List also includes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Hot List including:

The Hotties: 18 little hotel details we loved this year.
The Best and Worst of Hotel Trends: Innovations that changed our lives forever, and those we'd rather forget.
The Hot List All-Stars: Our reviewers name their favorite hotel of all time.
Confessions of a Hot List Reviewer: All-true tales from the road.

U.S. properties on the 2012 Hot List include:
The Saguaro, Scottsdale, Arizona
Hotel Lautner, Desert Hot Springs, California
Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California
Mr. C Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California
Aulani, Oahu, Hawaii
Public, Chicago, Illinois
Hotel Modern, New Orleans, Louisiana
The Saint, New Orleans, Louisiana
Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland
Ruschmeyer's, Montauk, New York
Hotel Americano, New York, New York
The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell, Round Top, Texas

U.S. Spas include:
Hotel Bel-Air Spa by La Prairie, Los Angeles, California
Elle Spa, Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, Miami Beach, Florida
Laniwai, Aulani, Oahu, Hawaii
NoMI Spa, Park Hyatt Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Tree Spa at Hidden Pond, Kennebunkport, Maine
Kiehl's Spa 1851, New York, New York

U.S. Restaurants include:
A-Frame, Los Angeles
Picca, Los Angeles
Son of a Gun, Los Angeles
Red Medicine, Los Angeles
The Dutch, New York
Tertulia, New York
Fatty 'Cue, New York
Isa, New York

To view the complete Hot List, visit http://www.cntraveler.com/hot-list/2012 and stay tuned for the Hot List app, available in June.

SOURCE Conde Nast Traveler

CONTACT: Sarina Sanandaji, +1-212-286-6898, sarina_sanandaji@condenast.com, Gaia Filicori, +1-212-286-7215, gaia_filicori@condenast.com

Web Site: http://www.cntraveler.com/hot-list/2012

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Thomson Reuters Announces 100 Top Hospitals Award Winners

16 Apr 2012 13:00 Africa/Lagos



Thomson Reuters Announces 100 Top Hospitals Award Winners
Twelve Hospitals Are Named Everest Award Winners for Fastest Improvement and Top Performance

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters today released its annual study identifying the 100 top U.S. hospitals based on their overall organizational performance.

The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® study evaluates performance in 10 areas: mortality; medical complications; patient safety; average patient stay; expenses; profitability; patient satisfaction; adherence to clinical standards of care; post-discharge mortality; and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure, and pneumonia. The study has been conducted annually since 1993.

"This year, the concentration of 100 Top Hospitals award winners has shifted significantly, with Texas, Florida, and California housing the most winners," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president at Thomson Reuters. "A major change in performance geographically is an encouraging indication that the bar for quality care has been raised once again."

For the fourth year, Thomson Reuters is also recognizing the 100 Top Hospitals Everest Award winners — those hospitals among the 100 winners that delivered the greatest rate of improvement over five years. This year, there are 12 Everest Award winners.

To conduct the 100 Top Hospitals study, Thomson Reuters researchers evaluated 2,886 short-term, acute-care, non-federal hospitals. They used public information — Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare website. Hospitals do not apply, and winners do not pay to market this honor.

If all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as those treated in the award-winning facilities:

More than 186,000 additional lives could be saved.
Approximately 56,000 additional patients could be complication free.
More than $4.3 billion could be saved.
The average patient stay would decrease by nearly half a day.

If the same standards were applied to all inpatients, the impact would be even greater. For more information, please visit www.100tophospitals.com.

Here are the winning hospitals, by category, with asterisks indicating the Everest Award winners:

THE 100 TOP HOSPITALS EVEREST AWARD The Everest Award honors hospitals that have achieved both the highest current performance and the fastest long-term improvement over five years.
Hospital Name	City, State	Medicare ID
Banner Boswell Medical Center	Sun City, AZ	030061
UC San Diego Medical Center – Hillcrest	San Diego, CA	050025
French Hospital Medical Center	San Luis Obispo, CA	050232
Sarasota Memorial Hospital	Sarasota, FL	100087
Morton Plant Hospital	Clearwater, FL	100127
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota	Sarasota, FL	100166
Delray Medical Center	Delray Beach, FL	100258
Ochsner Medical Center	New Orleans, LA	190036
St. Joseph Health System	Tawas City, MI	230100
Clara Maass Medical Center	Belleville, NJ	310009
Augusta Health	Fishersville, VA	490018
Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital	Richmond, VA	490059
100 TOP HOSPITALS, 2012 MAJOR TEACHING HOSPITALS
Hospital	City, State	Medicare ID
UC San Diego Medical Center - Hillcrest	San Diego, CA	050025
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center	Chicago, IL	140182
Advocate Christ Medical Center	Oak Lawn, IL	140208
Ochsner Medical Center	New Orleans, LA	190036
Baystate Medical Center	Springfield, MA	220077
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	Boston, MA	220086
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital	Ann Arbor, MI	230156
Doctors Hospital	Columbus, OH	360152
Geisinger Medical Center	Danville, PA	390006
Allegheny General Hospital	Pittsburgh, PA	390050
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center	Philadelphia, PA	390223
Vanderbilt University Medical Center	Nashville, TN	440039
Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas	Dallas, TX	450021
Scott & White Hospital	Temple, TX	450054
The Methodist Hospital	Houston, TX	450358
TEACHING HOSPITALS
Hospital	City, State	Medicare ID
Scripps Green Hospital	La Jolla, CA	050424
Poudre Valley Hospital	Fort Collins, CO	060010
Morton Plant Hospital	Clearwater, FL	100127
Carle Foundation Hospital	Urbana, IL	140091
St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital	Indianapolis, IN	150084
St. Luke's Hospital	Cedar Rapids, IA	160045
Mercy Medical Center North Iowa	Mason City, IA	160064
Mercy Medical Center	Baltimore, MD	210008
Saint Vincent Hospital	Worcester, MA	220176
Munson Medical Center	Traverse City, MI	230097
Beaumont Hospital, Troy	Troy, MI	230269
Hackensack University Medical Center	Hackensack, NJ	310001
Mission Hospital	Asheville, NC	340002
Kettering Medical Center	Kettering, OH	360079
UPMC Hamot	Erie, PA	390063
Robert Packer Hospital	Sayre, PA	360079
Bryn Mawr Hospital	Bryn Mawr, PA	390139
Lankenau Medical Center	Wynnewood, PA	390195
AnMed Health Medical Center	Anderson, SC	420027
Saint Thomas Hospital	Nashville, TN	440082
Memorial Health Care System	Chattanooga, TN	440091
Memorial Hermann Hospital System	Houston, TX	450184
Baptist St. Anthony's Health System	Amarillo, TX	450231
McKay-Dee Hospital Center	Ogden, UT	460004
Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital	Richmond, VA	490059
LARGE COMMUNITY HOSPITALS
Hospital	City, State	Medicare ID
Banner Boswell Medical Center	Sun City, AZ	030061
Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center	Torrance, CA	050353
Centinela Hospital Medical Center	Inglewood, CA	050739
Martin Health System	Stuart, FL	100044
Sarasota Memorial Hospital	Sarasota, FL	100087
Kendall Regional Medical Center	Miami, FL	100209
Ocala Regional Medical Center	Ocala, FL	100212
Delray Medical Center	Delray Beach, FL	100258
Mease Contryside Hospital	Safety Harbor, FL	100265
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital	Downers Grove, IL	140288
Owensboro Medical Health System	Owensboro, KY	180038
Clara Maass Medical Center	Belleville, NJ	310009
Community Medical Center	Toms River, NJ	310041
Gaston Memorial Hospital	Gastonia, NC	340032
St. Clair Hospital	Pittsburgh, PA	390228
Trinity Mother Frances Hospital	Tyler, TX	450102
St. David's Medical Center	Austin, TX	450431
Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center	Houston, TX	450610
CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System	Texarkana, TX	450801
St. David's North Austin Medical Center	Austin, TX	450809
MEDIUM COMMUNITY HOSPITALS
Hospital	City, State	Medicare ID
Baptist Medical Center East	Montgomery, AL	010149
Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center	Garden Grove, CA	050230
French Hospital Medical Center	San Luis Obispo, CA	050232
West Anaheim Medical Center	Anaheim, CA	050426
Chino Valley Medical Center	Chino, CA	050586
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota	Sarasota, FL	100166
Northwest Medical Center	Margate, FL	100189
Gulf Coast Medical Center	Panama City, FL	100242
Cleveland Clinic Florida	Weston, FL	100289
Dupont Hospital	Fort Wayne, IN	150150
Saint Joseph Hospital	Bangor, ME	200001
Holland Hospital	Holland, MI	230072
Mercy Hospital Clermont	Batavia, OH	360236
Sycamore Medical Center	Miamisburg, OH	360239
Paoli Hospital	Paoli, PA	390153
Doylestown Hospital	Doylestown, PA	390203
Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital	Charleston, SC	420065
St. David's Round Rock Medical Center	Round Rock, TX	450718
Ogden Regional Medical Center	Ogden, UT	460005
Augusta Health	Fishersville, VA	490018
SMALL COMMUNITY HOSPITALS
Hospital	City, State	Medicare ID
St. Elizabeth Community Hospital	Red Bluff, CA	050042
Sutter Davis Hospital	Davis, CA	050537
Desert Valley Hospital	Victorville, CA	050709
Gulf Breeze Hospital	Gulf Breeze, FL	100266
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast	Miramar Beach, FL	100292
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center	Plymouth, IN	150076
Major Hospital	Shelbyville, IN	150097
Harlan ARH Hospital	Harlan, KY	180050
Spectrum Health United Memorial	Greenville, MI	230035
Mercy Hospital Cadillac	Cadillac, MI	230081
St. Joseph Health System	Tawas City, MI	230100
Lakeview Hospital	Stillwater, MN	240066
Woodwinds Health Campus	Woodbury, MN	240213
The HealthCenter	Kalispell, MT	270087
Samaritan Regional Health System	Ashland, OH	360002
Dublin Methodist Hospital	Dublin, OH	360348
Ponca City Medical Center	Ponca CIty, OK	370006
Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie	Waxahachie, TX	450372
Hill Country Memorial Hospital	Fredericksburg, TX	450604
Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital

About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs 55,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.

SOURCE Thomson Reuters

CONTACT: Brian Erni, +1-631-656-9736, brian@jroderick.com

Web Site: http://www.thomsonreuters.com

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PR Newswire Launches Dedicated Site for Bloggers

Blogger Badge of Recognition to Be Awarded to Exceptional Blogs

NEW YORK, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PR Newswire, the global leader of innovative marketing and communications solutions, today announced the launch of PR Newswire... for bloggers , a dedicated resource for self publishers, online journalists, hobbyists and other members of the ever-growing blogosphere.

PR Newswire… for bloggers features both original and third-party content relevant to a blogging audience, while also providing information about the range of services PR Newswire offers to bloggers, such as customized newsfeeds, listings of upcoming events, a news widget for websites and blogger media tour opportunities.

"PR Newswire recognizes the growing influence of bloggers and our goal is to make it as easy as possible for them to access the content, tools and information they need to develop their blogs and increase visibility," said Thomas Hynes, manager, blogger relations, PR Newswire. "PR Newswire…for bloggers is designed to be a one-stop shop, consolidating numerous resources into one comprehensive and easy-to-navigate space."

Furthermore, each week, five new blogs are reviewed and profiled on the site. The compilation of blog reviews illustrates strong examples of blogging on a variety of subject matters. Currently, the site includes reviews of food, film and education blogs. The chosen bloggers are also given a badge of recognition from PR Newswire to display on their site.

"There are so many great blogs out there - and that list grows daily," said Hynes. "Our goal is to highlight some of those blogs we find interesting or influential - which ultimately comes down to engaging content. Fortunately, there is no shortage of great blogs publishing just that so we shouldn't run out of candidates any time soon."

For more information on what PR Newswire is offering to bloggers, visit: http://www.prnewswire.com/bloggers

ABOUT PR NEWSWIRE
PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 58 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content - from rich media to online video to multimedia - and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company.

CONTACT:
Rachel Meranus
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
PR Newswire
+1.201.360.6776
Rachel.Meranus@prnewswire.com

Meryl Serouya
Marketing & Communications Associate
PR Newswire
201-360-6009
Meryl.Serouya@prnewswire.com

SOURCE PR Newswire Association LLC

Web Site: http://www.prnewswire.com/bloggers

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KPMG Study: U.S. Companies Still Lead in Emerging Markets

Photo Credit: KPMG .

16 Apr 2012 14:30 Africa/Lagos

KPMG Study: U.S. Companies Still Lead in Emerging Market M&A, but Lower Second-Half 2011 Volume Reflects Erosion of Confidence

NEW YORK, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S.-based companies led the way in completing merger-and-acquisition (M&A) deals with emerging and high-growth market companies in the second half of 2011, but deal activity dropped by 20 percent compared with the first half of 2011, according to KPMG International's latest Emerging Markets International Acquisition Tracker (EMIAT) study.

The semi-annual KPMG study, which tracks completed deals in which an acquirer took at least a 5 percent shareholding interest, revealed that in the second half of 2011, U.S.-based companies completed 126 emerging and high-growth market acquisitions, down from 158 in the first half of 2011. Companies in the other European countries category made the second most acquisitions of emerging market companies with 81.

In the second half of 2011, the most popular targets for U.S. companies were Central America and the Caribbean (25), India (22), Brazil (14), other South American countries (14), and China (12).

"The drop in the number of U.S. acquisitions made in emerging markets is reflective of the global decline in deal volumes in the second half of 2011," said Mark Barnes, principal-in-charge of KPMG LLP's U.S. High-Growth Markets practice. "U.S. corporate interest in emerging markets remains strong, but deals have decreased because of a lack of confidence in the global economy, rather than a lack of cash."

D2E Deals Decline Overall

According to the KPMG study, developed-to-emerging (D2E) deals decreased overall to 705 in the second half of 2011 versus 755 registered in the previous six-month period. Following the United States (126) and the other European countries category (81), the most deals in emerging market economies were made by Singapore (75) and the United Kingdom (70).

The most popular emerging market targets for developed countries included South and East Asia (126), China (94), and Central and Eastern Europe (88).

U.S. Companies Remain Most Targeted by Emerging Market Countries

U.S. companies were the most popular investment targets for emerging and high-growth market companies with 45 acquisitions made in the country, almost doubling the number of deals made in the United Kingdom (25), the second most-targeted country. South and East Asia (9), India (9), and Central America and the Caribbean (8) accounted for the majority of acquisitions made in the United States in the second half of 2011.

The United States also was the most targeted country in the first half of 2011 with 47 acquisitions made by emerging and high-growth market companies.

Overall, emerging and high-growth market companies made 201 acquisitions in developed economies in the second half of 2011, down slightly from 214 during the first half of 2011, according to the KPMG study. South and East Asia and India were the top acquirers in emerging-to-developed deals (E2D) with 37 acquisitions each in the second half of 2011, followed by China (32).

"The big story used to be how much capital was flowing into emerging market countries," said Dan Tiemann, KPMG's global lead partner for Transactions Services. "The story has reversed, and it's now how much capital has been flowing out, especially represented by some of the acquisitions they've been making in developed economies."


E2E Deals Continue to Fall

In the second half of 2011, there were 121 total emerging-to-emerging (E2E) deals, down from 152 in the previous six-month period. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was the most popular target, registering 22 inbound deals, according to the KPMG study. Russia was the leading emerging market acquirer in other emerging markets with 31 deals.

KPMG's Barnes noted, "Emerging economies are continuing to grow at a faster pace than developed economies, so in the future we might expect deal volumes to be driven by cash-rich emerging market corporates and companies from developed countries seeking growth opportunities. Confidence has been holding both sides back, but competitive pressures are increasing, which may lead to higher deal flow."

About KPMG's Emerging Markets International Acquisition Tracker Study

The study analyzed deal flows between 15 "developed" economies or groups of economies and 13 "emerging" and "high-growth" economies or groups of economies. Established in 2003, the EMIAT includes data from "completed" transactions where a trade buyer has taken a minimum 5 percent shareholding in an overseas company. All raw data within the EMIAT is sourced from Thomson Reuters SDC and excludes deals backed by government, private equity firms or other financial institutions.


About KPMG LLP's U.S. High-Growth Market practice

The KPMG LLP U.S. High-Growth Markets practice provides audit, tax and advisory services to U.S.-based companies in their pursuit of outbound investment opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets such as China, India, Brazil, Russia, Mexico and Vietnam, and high-growth market-based companies with inbound investment interest in the United States.


About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.kpmg.com/us), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"). KPMG International's member firms have 145,000 people, including more than 8,000 partners, in 152 countries.

Contact:

Ichiro Kawasaki

KPMG LLP

201-307-8640

ikawasaki@kpmg.com

SOURCE KPMG LLP

Web Site: http://www.us.kpmg.com

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Randy Jackson, Launches Timepieces by Randy Jackson

Randy Jackson Launches Watch Collection, Timepieces by Randy Jackson. (PRNewsFoto/Clyde Duneier Inc)

16 Apr 2012 15:36 Africa/Lagos


Grammy Award Winning Producer, Music Manager and Style Icon, Randy Jackson, Launches Timepieces by Randy Jackson

Exclusive Collection to Launch with HSN

NEW YORK, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Grammy Award winning producer, music manager and American Idol judge, Randy Jackson, will launch a watch collection, Timepieces by Randy Jackson, on July 20th exclusively with the multi-channel retailer, HSN. As an avid watch collector, Jackson takes his knowledge of horology to develop a dynamic collection synonymous with luxury, high quality craftsmanship and trend-setting design.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120416/NY87916)

Randy Jackson has teamed up with Clyde Duneier Inc. to create his innovative timepiece collection. Timepieces by Randy Jackson will be composed of seven sub-categories: Contemporary classics, Automatics, Sport, Ceramic, Couture and Limited Edition, offering a variety of options to fit each customer's style, mood and feeling. The approach to design comes from Jackson's passion for arts and culture while also bringing what is next in accessories to consumers.

"The time has come to bring style and the next 'it' thing in fashion to everyone; watches for the whole family!" says Randy Jackson. "My passion and love of timepieces has brought about a collection of hot, cool styles that everybody can enjoy."

"Randy is known for his style, his passion for quality timepieces and having a vision for the next big thing," said John Bosco, senior vice president of jewelry merchandising at HSN. "He has been intimately involved in creating this unique collection. I know that our customers will love these pieces and want to collect them."

The collection will be comprised of custom designs for women and men, as well as unisex styles in a variety of materials including stainless steel, ceramic, and acrylic. Unique style elements will include diamonds, colored dials, Swarovski crystals and the collection will also offer both Swiss quartz and automatic movements. The collection will range in price from $99 to $499 with limited edition collectors pieces up to $3500. Visit HSN.com to learn more about Timepieces by Randy Jackson.

For more information on Timepieces by Randy Jackson, please contact Nicole Cornella at Kinney + Kinsella ncornella@kinneyandkinsella.com or 212.620.0356 x. 208

ABOUT CLYDE DUNEIER
Since 1910 the Duneier family has preserved the tradition of recognizing exceptional quality in precious metals and gemstones. The tradition began over a century ago when Max Duneier arrived from Austria to the big city of New York bringing with him his discerning passion for superior gemstones. His unique perspective was passed onto his son Clyde, who maintained the same values already associated with the Duneier namesake. Clyde Duneier Inc CEO, Dana Duneier, along with President, Marc Duneier, has welcomed its fourth generation into their family business. With Danielle Duneier, President of Merchandising, and Jake Duneier, Director of New Business Development on the front line, the once small family business that furnished mom and pop stores with high end merchandise, now holds the license's to many highly recognizable fine jewelry brands, as well as being a watch manufacturer. Clyde Duneier Inc works with retailers such as Home Shopping Network, Bloomingdales, Fred Meyer, Helzberg Diamonds, Sterling Jewelers, etc.

About HSN:
Headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, HSN is a leading interactive multichannel retailer, offering a curated assortment of exclusive products and top brand names to its customers. HSN incorporates entertainment, inspiration, personalities and industry experts to provide an entirely unique shopping experience. At HSN, customers find exceptional selections in Health & Beauty, Jewelry, Home/Lifestyle, Fashion/Accessories, and Electronics. HSN broadcasts live to 96 million households in the US in HD 24/7 and its website - hsn.com - is a top 10 most trafficked e-commerce site, featuring more than 16,000 product videos. Mobile applications include HSN apps for iPad, iPhone and Android. HSN, founded 34 years ago as the first shopping network, is an operating segment of HSN, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSNI). For more information, please visit HSN.com, or follow @HSN on Facebook and Twitter.


SOURCE Clyde Duneier Inc.

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Abusive Relationships: Straight Talk From Teens

Abusive Relationships: Straight Talk From Teens


One in three adolescents has been hit, harassed, emotionally abused or digitally stalked by a romantic partner. One in three adolescents has been hit, harassed, emotionally abused or digitally stalked by a romantic partner.

BeSmartBeWell.com unveils new video that addresses abusive relationships



BeSmartBeWell.com is running a new Facebook campaign to raise awareness about Teen Dating Abuse.

CHICAGO, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — One in three adolescents has been hit, harassed, emotionally abused or digitally stalked by a romantic partner. Be Smart. Be Well. asked 15 middle school, high school and college students about their experiences with abusive relationships on-camera. The resulting video, Teens Start Talking, now available on BeSmartBeWell.com, is an honest and courageous look at the risks of being young and in love in today’s fast-paced technological world.

Teens Start Talking explores teens’ views of dating abuse and provides tips–straight from teens–for how young people can escape an abusive relationship or help a friend who is in one. Produced in collaboration with LoveisRespect.org, the video is a frank and hopeful discussion of teen abuse from the teen perspective.

“I would like to tell the young people who are in an abusive relationship that you aren’t alone. You can get help,” says a victim of teen dating abuse and one of the high school students featured in the new video.


Help teens recognize the signs
Sometimes teens can confuse controlling or abusive behavior with affection. “I thought it was normal and that what I was feeling, the sadness and the isolation, was something to be expected,” says one high school student in the video.

At BeSmartBeWell.com, teens urge their peers to be attuned to signs of abuse, and experts like Marjorie Gilberg, executive director of Break the Cycle, provide practical advice for parents and friends of teens who suspect abuse. Break the Cycle is a national non-profit organization devoted to preventing dating abuse among teens and young people.

“Don’t judge. Offer help. Let them know that you’re concerned for their safety. Let them know that you’re concerned for their health and well-being,” Gilberg says.


Start talking
The most important thing teens can do is speak up, say the students featured on BeSmartBeWell.com. “I think it’s really important to be an active bystander. We need to be there to support each other,” says one college student who cares passionately about ending abuse. “Start talking.”

Throughout April, teens can go to Facebook.com/BeSmartBeWell to be a part of the Start Talking campaign. By sharing the candid, authentic videos with their friends, teens can make a difference by helping spread the word about dating abuse.


What can I do about it?
BeSmartBeWell.com/Domestic-Violence provides practical information to help teens and parents identify dating abuse and escape abusive relationships. Produced in collaboration with the National Dating Abuse Helpline/loveisrespect.org, BeSmartBeWell.com features:


Conversations with real teens about teen abuse
Interviews with leading experts
Reputable resources and links for more information
News and updates on dating abuse
A quiz on digital abuse like “sexting”

At the site, visitors can also sign up for the monthly Spotlight Newsletter and News Alerts for in-depth articles and breaking news on dating abuse and other important health topics.


About Be Smart. Be Well.
BeSmartBeWell.com is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Divisions of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Media Contact:

Lauren Plungas
Senior Manager, Media and Public Relations
312.653.5644
Lauren_Plungas@bcbsil.com

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES:

editor@besmartbewell.com
312.653.BSBW(2729)

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Real Solutions for Fighting Malaria in Africa

Accordia's "You've Just Been Bitten" Campaign Launched; Merle Sande Award Recognizes Malaria Expert.



WASHINGTON, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As a leader in the development of sustainable, African-led health systems, Accordia Global Health Foundation launched a campaign in preparation for World Malaria Day on April 25 to highlight Africa's malaria burden as well as emerging locally-proven solutions, like those proposed by Dr. Kamija Phiri of Malawi—Accordia's 2012 Merle Sande Award recipient. Despite the many control measures over the decades, malaria continues to be the leading cause of death for children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa.


You've Just Been Bitten Campaign
The campaign raises awareness about malaria by inviting participants to test their knowledge about the disease and take action by spreading the word and supporting Accordia's training programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

The campaign consists of five ways to support Accordia's efforts to fight malaria and enter a special drawing. Prizes include handcrafted African batiks and jewelry and a weekend getaway to Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, courtesy of Salamander Hotels and Resorts. Click to read more: http://www.accordiafoundation.org/bitten.

"For many of us, mosquitoes mark the return of summer. For others, they represent a threat to survival," shared Accordia President, Dr. Warner C. Greene. "Accordia is committed to fighting this treatable and preventable disease. I hope this campaign will inspire many to support our efforts."

The Merle Sande Award recognizes malaria expert, Dr. Kamija Phiri
Each year, Accordia celebrates African health leadership by presenting the Merle Sande Award – an award that honors an emerging African leader contributing to the field of infectious disease. On April 19, in Kampala, Uganda, Accordia will recognize Dr. Kamija Phiri, Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research at the University of Malawi College of Medicine, for his outstanding work on investigating new strategies to prevent malaria and severe anemia, one of malaria's most common and devastating complications in children. Dr. Phiri will deliver a keynote address entitled The Hidden Danger for Children Recovering from Severe Malaria.

Accordia Global Health Foundation is transforming the African health landscape by building the region's capacity to address its most pressing health concerns through innovative training, research, care, and prevention models. For more information, please visit www.accordiafoundation.org.

CONTACT: Dale Mott
dmott@accordiafoundation.org
202-489-7069

Related Links: Accordia: Building A Vibrant, Healthy Africa

SOURCE Accordia Global Health Foundation

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Titanic: A Century After its Sinking, Explore First-Hand the Majesty and Tragedy

See authentic artifacts from Titanic’s final resting place and experience her passengers and their stories at exhibitions in seven locations across the country.


A child explores the legacy of Titanic 100 years after the ship’s sinking.

Atlanta, GA, April 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — It has been a century since the unsinkable Titanic struck an iceberg during her maiden voyage and disappeared into the icy waters of the Atlantic. As the world commemorates the 100th anniversary of Titanic’s sole voyage, people fascinated by the story of the ill-fated luxury liner can dive into her legacy through RMS Titanic, Inc.’s interactive exhibitions currently running in Las Vegas, Orlando, San Diego, Kansas City, Houston, Detroit and Atlanta.

“Each of us can relate to the passengers aboard Titanic and the retelling of her story feeds our curiosity time and again,” says Alexandra Klingelhofer, Vice President of Collections for RMS Titanic, Inc. “As we look back a century later, we realize the importance of Titanic’s legacy and remain compelled to bring people inside the story and share the mysteries that surround her sinking.”

As we near the centennial commemoration of the maiden voyage of Titanic, RMS Titanic, Inc. is leading in the way in honoring and remembering the legendary ship. There is no more poignant way to experience Titanic 100 years later than through the authentic artifacts that have been recovered from the wreck site that can only be seen in Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. As salvor-in-possession of Titanic, RMS Titanic, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Premier Exhibitions, Inc., is the only company permitted by law to recover objects from the wreck of Titanic and its exhibitions are the only places to authentically experience this historic tragedy first hand.

With an aim to chronicle Titanic’s gripping story, RMS Titanic, Inc. has recovered more than 5,500 artifacts from the ocean floor over the course of eight separate research and recovery expeditions to the ship’s final resting place 2.5 miles below the surface.

At any of the six exhibitions, visitors will see a varied range of artifacts from everyday china service and flatware to passengers’ jewelry and personal papers; from gaming chips and currency to sections of Titanic’s hull and decorative sections from her famed Grand Staircase. RMS Titanic, Inc. is also showcasing the largest piece of the Titanic ever recovered – the ‘Big Piece’ – at Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at Luxor Las Vegas. This 15-ton piece of Titanic’s starboard hull was raised 12,500 feet from the ocean floor and took more than 80 years, and two attempts, to surface.

The most recent expedition to the wreck site of Titanic, "Expedition 2010," had an ultimate goal of virtually raising Titanic by using the latest state-of-the-art equipment that had never been available on previous expeditions to the wreck site. The expedition was a success and resulted in some revolutionary and fascinating never before seen images, video and information about the Ship and the wreck site as a whole. The information that RMS Titanic, Inc. was able to compile as a direct result of the expedition has helped answer some of the unresolved questions that still surround the sinking of Titanic and contribute to the company’s ultimate mission: to preserve the legacy of Titanic for future generations. This compelling imagery will be installed in all of our exhibitions, but will debut in Atlanta, GA, with the opening of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at Atlantic Station.

In addition to authentic artifacts, each exhibition offers a variety of its own unique experiences including dinner shows, actors in period costumes portraying Titanic personalities who provide guided tours, demonstrations of replica radios, detailed models of the Ship and wreck site, room recreations and more.

For a full list of cities and exhibitions where individuals can view this exclusive content, visit www.rmstitanic.net.

About RMS Titanic, Inc. — a wholly owned subsidiary of Premier Exhibitions, Inc.
RMS Titanic, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Premier Exhibitions, Inc., is the only company permitted by law to recover objects from the wreck of Titanic. The company was granted Salvor-In-Possession rights to the wreck of Titanic by a United States Federal Court in 1994 and has conducted eight research and recovery expeditions to Titanic recovering more than 5,500 artifacts. In the summer of 2010, RMS Titanic, Inc., conducted a ground-breaking expedition to Titanic 25 years after its discovery, to undertake innovative 3D video recording, data gathering and other technical measures so as to virtually raise Titanic, preserving the legacy of the Ship for all time. Please visit RMS Titanic, Inc. website at www.rmstitanic.net.

About Premier Exhibitions, Inc.
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. (NASDAQ:PRXI – news), located in Atlanta, Georgia, is a leading presenter of museum quality exhibitions throughout the world. Premier is a recognized leader in developing and displaying unique exhibitions for education and entertainment including "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition," "BODIES…The Exhibition" and "Dialog in the Dark". Additional information about Premier Exhibitions, Inc. is available at the company’s website www.prxi.com.

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Media Contact
Kate Whiteley
Kirvin Doak Communications
702.737.3100 × 117
KWhiteley@kirvindoak.com

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Medical and Police Matters in Nigeria

The Inspector General of Police, Minister of Health Address the Rights of Crime Victims

~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D.

There is urgent need for the management of the Nigeria police and the health sector to aggressively tackle the long standing problems in the areas of medical emergency contact, and urgent services needed by victims of crimes, violent and traumatic ones especially.

A test case is the reported incident of a murdered medical doctor in Lagos, Dr. Samuel Adegboyega who was supposedly fatally shot by some gunmen in the early hours of Easter Monday in front of his clinic.

Witnesses to the crime appeared to have noticed Dr. Adegboyega, fatally shot and bleeding, at which time he was urgently rushed to a nearby medical center named the Oke-Odo General Hospital.

The doctor who was reportedly profusely gushing out blood from one of his injuries at the back of one of his arms was apparently refused immediate medical attention by the staff of the hospital—because the staff wanted a police report first.

Certainly, this reported unusual delay could hasten death in such an emergency case like that of late Dr. Adegboyega who purportedly got attention late.

If the acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar and the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu want to bring a stop to horrible cases like that of late Adegboyega, the right of crime victims in any hospital must be promptly protected through urgent care and treatment.

In a devastating and traumatic medical case as in victims of violence, arson, bombing or any other life threatening incident, immediate medical attention comes first, followed by a police investigation and report.

For a conscious victim it is always prudent to get much information from him or her to assist in the investigation but where the victim is not very alert mentally or too physically weak for any verbal utterances instant medical attention comes first and become paramount.

It is time for a new collaboration between the offices of the Nigeria police, all ministries of Heath and Justice in order to erect educational initiatives backed by executive policies in the area of victims of crime Services, which must be obeyed by all public and private medical outfits in the nation.

Hospital and police/law enforcement staff need to be trained on knowledgeable information, investigative and referral services for victims and their families, violent cases especially.

As we know the hospitals and the police are the first to provide services to victims as such they must become aware of basic standards of care procedures that must meet the needs of crime victims appearing in their emergency rooms for medical attention.
In the same vein, this future emergency treatment plans should equally be extended to specific groups such as domestic violence, child abuse and rape victims, and to victims with an impaired capacity mentally, developmentally and physically.

The federal government just likes the reported witnesses and sympathizers of Dr. Adegboyega must accept their responsibility to help alleviate the effects of crimes and violence suffered by victims, even in the least remote areas of the country where there is also a crucial need for fully functioning ambulance services, workable fire service and medical emergency squads.

At a time when President Jonathan is pushing the Nigerian Government to commit to meeting the international standards in the areas of human care and governance, let us make it easy for victims and their families to find what they need quickly from our centers of care and security.


~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association (NPA), Abuja. E-mail: Jos5930458@aol.com Tel: 08126909839.

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Rita Dominc's Nollywood Mega Star Phenomenon in Malawi

The Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Malawi is over 118,000 km2 (45,560 sq mi) with an estimated population of more than 13,900,000. Its capital is Lilongwe.


The following report is by Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim and posted on the Daily Trust newspaper's website on 11 April 2012. He recalled the day that the whole of Malawi came out to see the Nollywood diva Rita Dominic who is the idol of millions of Malawians.



The swearing in of Joyce Banda as Malawian President on Saturday 7th April 2012 was a major turning point in the country's march towards democracy.

It took 48 hours for the partisans of late President Bingu wa Mutharika to accept that they had no choice but to accept their patron was dead and his enemy, the Vice President had to take over power. Although he died on Thursday, the Government insisted he was sick and had been flown to South Africa for treatment.

Bingu was a 78 year old development economist who had his career in the United Nations system. He was put into office by Bakili Muluzi. It will be recalled that following the introduction of multiparty democracy in 1994, Bakili Muluzi had defeated Kamuzu Banda in the elections.

After ten years in power, Muluzi's attempt to change the constitution and get a third term in office was defeated by the people but he was able to impose his candidate, Bingu wa Mutharika just as Obasanjo did in Nigeria. Mr. Mutharika's first five-year term was difficult because Muluzi controlled the party that brought him to power and the opposition had a majority in Parliament. Mutharika survived by focusing on a development agenda that conquered the hearts and minds of Malawians. The country during his first term had the highest growth rate in Africa.

Bingu only had full power during his second term when his own party won an overwhelming 50.7% of the presidential votes leaving John Tembo's opposition alliance with 24% while his party won 114 out of the 192 parliamentary seats contested for. I was an observer during the elections and our impressions were that they were very transparent with political party monitors and civil society observers allowed to witness all aspects of the process from the distribution of voting materials, polling station activities and the counting and collation of votes.

An unfortunate part of the elections however was that there was no level playing ground, as the only television station in the country and national radio, all under state control devoted 93% of their coverage to the president's party. Immediately he fully established himself with his second term, Bingu became very arrogant and dictatorial. When people went into the streets to demonstrate against him, he addressed the nation calling on his supporters to beat up opposition elements as Kamuzu Banda's supporters used to do during the First Republic.

When a major demonstration was organised in July 2011, he sent in the police who massacred 18 people. When he read on Weakileaks that the British High Commissioner has described him as "arrogant and autocratic", he expelled him from the country. He died leaving the economy in shambles and the people poorer than he found them.

In December 2010, he dismissed his Vice President, Joyce Banda from the party for "anti-party" activities. He tried to strip her from the Vice Presidency but she went to court and as was the case in Obasanjo versus Atiku, the Supreme Court ruled that they were elected on the same ticket so he could not remove her.

He then brought his junior brother Peter wa Mutharika back home from Washington University where he was teaching, made him the Minister of Justice preparing him to be the next presidential candidate of the party.

The 48 hours of intrigues following Bingu's death were devoted to scheming how Peter could be sworn in to replace his dead brother with the argument that Joyce Banda was no longer a member of the ruling DPP but once again, the Supreme Court prevailed and the Vice President was eventually sworn in.

I had been extremely saddened by Bingu's degeneration because the Malawian presidential and parliamentary elections of 19th May 2009 were a relatively good branding for democracy. Although Kamuzu Banda ruled the country as a ruthless dictator for thirty years, Malawians have managed to engage along the democratic path since 1994 and have made progress. My memories of the Malawi 2009 elections are however encored on the Nigerian Nollywood mega star Rita Dominic.

I had arrived in Lilongwe airport, Malawi, with a letter from the Commonwealth requesting I be given a visa on arrival to monitor their elections. I was worried about the usual airport humiliation Nigerians suffer.

I handed my passport and waited with trepidation. The question from the immigration officer threw me off guard - "did you travel with Rita Dominic?" I asked who Rita was and he responded that as a Nigerian, how I could ask him who Rita was. I pleaded ignorance and he said Rita was a Nigerian star who like me was to fly in from Johannesburg.

Disappointed that I did not even know Rita, he gave me a form to fill and said when I get into town; I should go to the immigration office and get my visa. I was relieved.

On reading the local papers, I realised the visit of Rita Dominic was causing as much frenzy as the elections we had come to observe. She is known as the lady with the silky skin and the whole country was in a frenzy to see the silky skin. Indeed, the highlight of President wa Mutharika's campaign was the unveiling of a mausoleum in honour of the late dictator, Kamuzu Banda and Rita was the star attraction that had been invited to launch it. That evening, a major concert was to be organised in Blantyre to present Rita to the people of Malawi. Intrigued by the role Rita was playing in advancing Malawian democracy, I convinced the Chair of our observer team, former Ghanaian president, John Kufour to go with me and see this Rita phenomenon.

To my surprise, he accepted and off we went to the sports centre where I quickly contacted protocol and we were led through the crowded VIP entrance to the lounge. Two hours later, the show had not started and the general manager of DSTV Malawi, organisers of the concert, came to explain that the hall was full, the crowd outside was larger than the one inside and the crowd had massed round the VIP entrance so they do not know how to bring Rita in.

I told him President Kufour and I walked through the crowd so why can't Rita do the same. He looked at me as if I was an idiot. Rita, he explained, was a mega star and her security is very important. They cannot afford to take a risk. Knowing our place vis-a-vis a Nollywood mega star, Kufour and I quietly walked through the crowd and left. The manager was right; no one took a second glance at us.

The incident reminded me of an occasion when I was checking into a hotel at Jinja, the source of the River Nile in Uganda. On discovering that I was Nigerian, the receptionists questioned me extensively about Nollywood stars about whom I was ignorant.

Their conclusion was edifying. Given my corpulence, they expressed the possibility that I could be a Nigerian because I look like one of the big ogas with mansions and four-wheel drive vehicles in the films. The decisive moment was when I said I did not know Aki and Pawpaw. Their verdict was unambiguous. As I was totally ignorant about Nollywood, I cannot really be African, and certainly, not Nigerian.

I confess that I have my weaknesses, these days, to prove my Nigerianess, I occasionally watch Nollywood movies and make an effort to know the names of key mega stars. I even know that Aki married recently and the rights to the wedding photos have been sold for purposes of mega branding.

I must confess however that I am unconformable with this Nigerian thing, in my moments of lucidity; I know that it is indeed true that Nollywood is the institution branding my dear country Nigeria. The brand revolves around witchcraft, crime, treachery, drugs, superstition and sex. This is not the Nigeria of my dreams and with Bingu gone I don't have to know Rita. My prayer is that Joyce should not follow the footsteps of Bingu.

Dr. Ibrahim is director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Abuja.

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