SINGAPORE, Feb 18 — In a sign that the local cruise industry is following in the footsteps of the mature North American market, a local travel agency is offering visitors to Singapore’s biggest travel fair next week the pick of 35 cruise lines. Where once travellers with a taste for life on the high seas had a choice of two traditionally-established names at the fair — Star Cruises and Royal...

(Reuters) – President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo is looking to draw new investors to his Central African country with an unprecedented package of over 30 reforms of law affecting business. See the original post: DR Congo plans to revamp business laws (Reuters via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News)

Federal authorities filed civil suits against a Tampa business and 11 other U.S. companies as part of a nationwide crackdown on con artists who prey on jobless Americans. Read the original: Feds crack down on job scams, sue Tampa angel pin business (St. Petersburg Times)

Business confidence ended 2009 at its highest level in 15 years, buoyed by stimulus spending and a stock market rally. Read the original post: Business confidence at 15-year high (Brisbane Times)

Gov. Deval Patrick is heading to Washington to mix state business and personal politics. A spokesman says the governor was scheduled to fly to the capital Thursday for meetings with the Labor and Navy secretaries. The Democrat then planned a campaign fundraiser in the evening. Read the rest here: Patrick heads to DC for state, political business (Boston Globe)

ow-interest disaster loans are available in Tennessee to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private non-profit organizations, both large and small, that were affected by the rock slide on U.S. Highway 64, on Nov. 10, 2009. Here is the original post: Tennessee businesses economically impacted by the rock slide can apply for SBA disaster loans (Chattanooga Times Free Press)