Friday, November 30, 2012

UN climate boss: No support for tough climate deal

Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) attends the opening session of the United Nations Climate Change conference in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Nov. 26, 2012. U.N. talks on a new climate pact resumed Monday in oil and gas-rich Qatar, where negotiators from nearly 200 countries will discuss fighting global warming and helping poor nations adapt to it. The two-decade-old talks have not fulfilled their main purpose: reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that scientists say are warming the planet. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal)

Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) attends the opening session of the United Nations Climate Change conference in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Nov. 26, 2012. U.N. talks on a new climate pact resumed Monday in oil and gas-rich Qatar, where negotiators from nearly 200 countries will discuss fighting global warming and helping poor nations adapt to it. The two-decade-old talks have not fulfilled their main purpose: reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that scientists say are warming the planet. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal)

Organizers are seen on stage at the opening ceremony of the 18th United Nations climate change conference in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Nov. 26, 2012. U.N. talks on a new climate pact resumed Monday in oil and gas-rich Qatar, where negotiators from nearly 200 countries will discuss fighting global warming and helping poor nations adapt to it. The two-decade-old talks have not fulfilled their main purpose: reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that scientists say are warming the planet. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal)

(AP) ? The United Nations climate chief is urging people not to look solely to their governments to make tough decisions to slow global warming, and instead to consider their own role in solving the problem.

Approaching the half-way point of two-week climate talks in Doha, Christiana Figueres, the head of the U.N.'s climate change secretariat, said Friday that she didn't see "much public interest, support, for governments to take on more ambitious and more courageous decisions."

"Each one of us needs to assume responsibility. It's not just about domestic governments," she said.

Her comments came as negotiators from nearly 200 countries were struggling to prepare draft agreements on how to move forward on greenhouse emissions cuts and climate aid for poor countries.

Some delegates worried that gains made at last year's climate talks in Durban, South Africa, were at risk of unraveling, as rich and poor nations bickered over how to pull the world away from a path of potentially dangerous warming.

"There is a mutual mistrust that is very clear," Brazil's chief negotiator Andre Aranha Correa do Lago. "We need to get back to the spirit of Durban."

The slow-moving U.N. process has failed to deliver a global pact to rein emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases.

Such emissions, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, have grown 20 percent since 2000, according to a recent U.N. report, which showed the gap is growing between what governments are doing and what science indicates must be done to contain warming.

In Doha, delegates are expected to extend the expiring Kyoto Protocol, an agreement limiting greenhouse emissions of some industrialized countries. They are also supposed to agree on a work plan for a wider pact that would include all countries, including fast-growing economies like India and China, the world's top carbon emitter. It's supposed to be adopted in 2015 and take effect five years later.

Figueres predicted that the conference would end with countries agreeing on a package of compromise decisions, "fully recognizing that whatever comes out of Doha is not at the level of ambition that we need."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2012-11-30-Climate-Talks/id-4cbdaafbd735466c8b2a3d8befaec503

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Personal Bankruptcy Tips To Help You File Like A Pro | Siben ...

TIP! An experienced bankruptcy attorney can guide you through the process successfully. There are a lot of lawyers that you can pick from.

Those dealing with personal bankruptcy filing are known to experience feelings of embarrassment, irritation and shame. Many live with the constant fear of being unable to repay their debts while also maintaining a decent standard of living. Even if you file for bankruptcy you still have options available to you. Read on to learn more.

TIP! If you are thinking about bankruptcy, stop charging your credit cards and borrowing money. Taking on a huge amount of debt will make it look as if you?re just going on a huge spending spree before attempting to have the slate wiped clean.

Filing for bankruptcy isn?t something to be ashamed of. It is common for people to feel as if filing for bankruptcy is a symbol of failure. This can cause depression. If you have researched all your options and logically came to the conclusion that this works best for you, view it as making a positive step in reclaiming your finances rather than seeing it as a failure.

Chapter 7

TIP! Before you proceed with your personal bankruptcy case, review your decisions to be certain that the choice you are making is the right. Look into credit counseling to see if it could help you work out of your debt without bankruptcy.

Before you make the decision to file Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy, take time to think about anyone it could affect. You can relieve yourself of any liability for debts that you may share with someone else through a Chapter 7 filing. However, your creditors will be able demand that your co-debtor pays the debt off in full.

TIP! In order to properly assist you with a bankruptcy filing, your lawyer needs to know about every significant debt that you currently have. This will mean providing a great deal of sensitive information: credit card companies, lenders, hospitals, personal debts and so forth.

It is wise to reconsider filing for divorce if your financial situation is grim. Many people find themselves filing for bankruptcy after a divorce. It is never foolish to think twice about seeking a divorce.

TIP! Consolidate a list of what you owe. Once you have an idea of who you owe and how much you owe, you can figure out if bankruptcy is really an option for you or not.

Meet with a few attorneys who offer free consultations before hiring one. Be certain to speak with an attorney, not their paralegal or law clerk, since they cannot give legal advice. Comparing different lawyers makes it possible to find one with whom you work well.

Free Consultations

TIP! Because bankruptcy is such a challenging time that a great deal of stress, both mental and emotional, may be involved. Engage a competent lawyer in order to avoid excess stress and keep everything on track.

Find a bankruptcy attorney who offers free consultations, and ask lots of questions. Since most attorneys offer free consultations, meet with a few attorneys before deciding who to hire. Make your decision after all of your questions have been answered. After the consultation, you are not immediately required to come up with a decision. After your consultations, do some additional research on each attorney you consider qualified for the job.

TIP! A personal bankruptcy settlement does not mean your debts are 100 percent discharged every time. If you file using chapter 13, this will allow you to reconstruct the debts that you have in order for creditors to get a part of the money you owe them.

Before you file for personal bankruptcy, weigh all of your options. There are many other options including debt consolidation and making payment plans with your creditors. If a foreclosure is your reason for filing look into your options with your bank first, such as a loan modification. Some lenders will make concessions rather than losing the money owed to bankruptcy. These concessions include waiving late fees, lowering interest rates, and changing the loan term. Most creditors will be willing to work out an option to avoid not getting paid at all.

TIP! Some attorneys offer a phone service for free where creditors will be referred to when they wish to contact you regarding an account that?s delinquent. You just provide the number, and they call to confirm that the debt is part of your bankruptcy.

The best bankruptcy lawyers will have a solid reputation. These are the lawyers you want to seek out. When you?ve found one, ask whether they provide free consultations. If they do, get all your financial statements ready and go see them. Once you arrive your attorney can advise you on the proper steps to take to file for bankruptcy.

TIP! Make sure that you disclose every bit of financial information on your bankruptcy petition. If you leave off even one tiny detail, you may end up in some serious trouble, but at the least your claim will be denied.

By now, you should be able to see that personal bankruptcy does not leave you doomed. It may be difficult at first, but you can overcome bankruptcy. Keep the advice here in mind so that you can work toward getting back on your feet

Source: http://www.sibensiben.com/long-island-injury-lawyer-blog/uncategorized/personal-bankruptcy-tips-to-help-you-file-like-a-pro-2-2-2-2

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Samsung printer hack could let the wrong ones in (updated)

Samsung printer hack could let the wrong ones in

Typically, when we think of hacks, our minds conjure images of compromised security systems, personal computers or server farms, but printers? According to Neil Smith, a researcher from the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team, unauthorized access to those devices could be a very real threat -- if you happen to own a Samsung model. Discovered and submitted to the agency this past Monday, the exploit unearthed by Smith takes advantage of an "SNMP backdoor" : an internet protocol that allows for remote network administrative control without authentication. The vulnerability -- which would give hackers access to data sent to the printer, as well as control over it (think: ceaseless printing!) -- affects most units released before November of this year. For its part, Samsung's promised a patch will be forthcoming. But, in the meantime, if you want to avoid exposing any personal data or the possibility of a seemingly possessed printer, it's best you steer clear of rogue WiFi connections.

Update: CNET has published a statement from Samsung outlining the update schedule for affected printers. Firmware that fixes the issue will be available for all "current" models by November 30th, and for "all other models" by the end of the year. The company also recommends disabling SNMPv1.2 or switching to SNMPv3 mode until the updates are released.

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Source: ZDNet, CNET


Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/JRuYMho2DPM/

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Lawmakers unveil new round of Iran sanctions

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Senators pressed ahead Thursday on a new set of tough sanctions against Iran's domestic industries as they seek to cripple the Islamic republic's economy and thwart its nuclear ambitions.

Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., unveiled a package of penalties that would designate Iran's energy, port, shipping and ship-building sectors as entities of proliferation and sanction transactions with these areas. The legislation also would penalize individuals selling or supplying commodities such as graphite, aluminum and steel to Iran.

The punitive measures build on the sanctions on Tehran's oil industry that the two lawmakers have shepherded through Congress in the past year.

"Yes, our sanctions are having a significant impact, but Iran continues their work to develop nuclear weapons," Menendez said in a statement, adding that with the new penalties, "We will send a message to Iran that they can't just try to wait us out."

Kirk said the measure "will greatly increase the economic pressure on the Iranian regime and send a clear message of support to the Iranian people."

The sanctions are contained in an amendment the two lawmakers hope to add to a far-reaching defense policy bill that the Senate was debating and could wrap up by week's end. Congress has overwhelmingly backed previous efforts by Menendez and Kirk.

The legislation also would designate the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and its president as human rights abusers for broadcasting forced televised confessions and show trials.

The United States and European Union have imposed tough sanctions on Iran that have weakened its economy. But Tehran has found ways to bypass the penalties, such as Turkey's use of gold to pay for Iranian natural gas imports.

The Menendez-Kirk measure would allow the president to impose sanctions in cases of the sale or transfer of precious metals, targeting efforts by Iran to circumvent the penalties.

Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Mark Dubowitz, a sanctions expert and executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said there is strong bipartisan support for intense sanctions, with the goal of pushing the Iranian economy to the brink of economic collapse.

Only then "can the central thesis of the administration's sanctions policy be fairly tested: That crippling economic pressure will break the nuclear will of Iran's supreme leader and his Revolutionary Guards and lead them to meet their obligations under international law," Dubowitz said.

The president has 90 days from the legislation's enactment to act. The bill does include the authority to waive the sanctions based on national security.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lawmakers-unveil-round-iran-sanctions-215023144--finance.html

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Cargo plane crashes in Brazzaville, 1 dead

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) ? An Ilyushin-76 cargo plane owned by a private company crashed Friday near the airport in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, killing at least one person, an aviation official said.

The Soviet-made cargo plane belonged to Trans Air Congo and appeared to be transporting merchandise, not people, the official said. He demanded anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the press.

Ambulances rushed to the scene. An AP reporter saw one body covered by a tarp and emergency personnel identified the person as a crew member. It was not immediately clear how many others were on board.

Africa has some of the worst air safety records in the world. In June, a commercial jetliner crashed in Lagos, Nigeria, killing 153 people.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cargo-plane-crashes-brazzaville-1-dead-194314409.html

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Create a Culture of Engagement with Your Stakeholders | Delaney ...

Just like people, families or communities, organizations have a distinctive personality. This is the label or stereotype that people use to manage their relationships with the many organizations with whom they interface: schools, churches, their governments,? corporations, etc. The more complex the relationship (or the more it impacts us) the more detailed understanding of that organization we build.

I argue here that, the an organization?s willingness to be open and engaging (i.e. share decision making), the more people will judge, early in their relationship, the degree of openness an organization holds, or framed differently ? their culture of consultation. This initial assessment guides their subsequent decisions on if and how they will invest their time and emotional energies to become engaged.

What this means to organizations for attracting people to our awareness sessions, education programs, online engagements, or other initiatives for shared decision making, is that we need to be mindful of the authenticity of our previous engagement efforts. This legacy can either hinder or help us going forward, but don?t be mistaken that our record on authentic engagement is benign when people consider an invitation to get engaged.

This may mean that to build or re-build relationships we may have to over-scope our engagement to draw people in and demonstrate a true culture of consultation. This can get further complicated when trying to obtain internal buy-in, in the absence of an organizational culture of consultation.

It may sound like I am blaming the victim here, but my experience tells me that a stakeholder group?s past experience with an organization can be a disadvantage moving forward and needs to be addressed if building social capital will bring a positive return on investment.


R. Delaney

Richard leads the public consultation and facilitation practices. He is an accomplished consultation specialist and facilitator, having designed and managed over 200 international, national and local public consultation, decision-support and training sessions for federal, provincial and municipal governments, industry, and non-governmental organizations. Read More

Source: http://www.rmdelaney.com/news/create-a-culture-of-engagement-with-your-stakeholders/

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Italian government moves to keep steel plant open

MILAN (AP) ? The Italian government is preparing measures aimed at avoiding the closure of a steel plant that is Europe's largest by capacity and has been the subject of a health scandal.

Premier Mario Monti's government hammered out measures Friday, a day after meeting with owners and union representatives at the Ilva plant in the southern province of Taranto.

The plant owners announced this week plans to close the facility after prosecutors ordered the seizure of some steel products as part of an investigation into environmental issues and an alleged cover-up.

The government has been working to address concerns over high rates of cancer in the area while improving safety at the plant, the province's most important employer. The plant's closure would drain some ?8 billion ($10 billion) annually from the economy.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/italian-government-moves-keep-steel-plant-open-131901257--finance.html

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Christmas food and drink fair coming to Ardingly Showground | This ...

HOUSEHOLDS looking to prepare the ultimate festive feast will be able to fill their stocking at a Christmas fair.

The South of England Agricultural Society will deck the halls at the Ardingly Showground with holly for the Festive Food & Drink Fayre this weekend.

  1. Festive shoppers at last year's fair

The event boasts an array of regional foods and gifts galore. The idea is to offer Christmas shopping without the usual hustle and bustle of the high street.

Promoter Susan Fleet said: "It is something different for people who know the kind of artisan things they want but aren't too sure where to find them. You would not see the produce and gifts that are available here on the high street and that is one of the event's main attractions."

Spread out over two floors of the Norfolk Pavilion will be a variety of trade stands.

Included in this year's fair are an assortment of gourmet treats, traditional pastries and mince pies, farmhouse cheeses, preserves and pickles.

"We usually welcome around 5,000 visitors over the two days and see a lot of people come from East Grinstead as it's just a shot journey away," Miss Fleet added.

"One of the great things about the show is that you can get great ideas for Christmas simply by looking around and then you can try to recreate them by taking home the produce you have seen.

"One of the most popular stands last year was one selling Kentish cobnuts."

In keeping with the season of indulgence, the event has hand-made chocolates and cakes to tempt the taste buds, as well as a myriad of fruit wines, organic mulled punch and local ales.

Admission prices are ?2.50 for adults and ?2 for students and senior citizens. Children under 16 get in for free. It is open from 9am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Source: http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Christmas-food-drink-fair-coming-Ardingly/story-17456612-detail/story.html

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'We had the best crop in years': Residents feel pinch after FDA shutters plant

PORTALES, N.M. (AP) ? Farmers in a revered peanut-growing region along the New Mexico-Texas border should be celebrating one of the best harvests in recent memory.

Instead, millions of pounds of their prized sweet Valencia peanuts sit in barns at a peanut butter plant shuttered for two months amid a salmonella outbreak that sickened 41 people in 20 states.

Farmers are worried about getting paid for their peanuts, nearly a third the plant's 150 workers have been laid off, and residents wonder what toll an increasingly contentious showdown between the nation's largest organic peanut butter plant and federal regulators could ultimately have on the region's economy.

The tension boiled over when the Food and Drug Administration on Monday said it was suspending Sunland Inc.'s registration to operate because of repeated safety violations, meaning the plant will remain indefinitely shut down as the company appeals the decision. The company had planned to reopen some its operations this week after voluntarily recalling hundreds of products and closing its processing and peanut butter plants in late September and early October.

Many in this flat, dusty and solidly Republican farm town of about 20,000 denounce the FDA's tactics as unfair and unnecessarily heavy-handed ? and become defensive about the shutdown of the largest private employer in town.

"We had the best crop in years, and then these (expletives) came in and started this," said resident and local telecomm worker Boyd Evans.

For the first time ever, the FDA is using authority granted under a 2011 food safety law signed by President Barack Obama that allows the agency to shut food operations without a court hearing.

The FDA said inspectors found samples of salmonella in 28 different locations in the plant, in 13 nut butter samples and in one sample of raw peanuts. Inspectors found improper handling of the products, unclean equipment and uncovered trailers of peanuts outside the facility that were exposed to rain and birds. Inspectors also said employees did not have access to hand-washing sinks, and dirty hands had direct contact with ready-to-package peanuts.

The FDA has inspected the plant at least four times over the past five years, each time finding violations. Michael Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for foods, said the agency's inspections after the outbreak found even worse problems than what had been seen there before.

The salmonella outbreak was traced to Trader Joe's peanut butter produced at the plant. Sunland produces products for a number of national grocery and retail chains, and New Mexico Peanut Growers Association President Wayne Baker says the industry generates about $60 million in the region each year.

Valencias are a variety of peanuts that come almost exclusively from eastern New Mexico. Because of their sweet flavor, they are favored for organic and natural peanut butter products because they require few additives.

The peanut is celebrated every year at the town's annual Peanut Valley Festival, and most residents have stories related to peanuts, whether growing up on a peanut farm, helping to haul them to harvest or knowing peanut workers or farmers.

"Peanuts is, like, everything here," said local shopkeeper Brittany Mignard.

The plant's retail store remains open, although its shelves are bare of its own products. The few items remaining include peanut brittle made in Lubbock, Texas. The shelves are stocked with jelly, but no peanut butter.

Baker, who is also a Sunland board member, said the company had never been notified of any past violations. And the company has vehemently denied FDA allegations that it knowingly shipped any potentially tainted products.

Plant officials said they were blindsided by the FDA's suspension on Monday. Just hours before it was announced, the plant had announced plans to start shelling the bumper crop on Tuesday. Plant officials said they had notified the FDA last week of their plans to reopen the processing operations while waiting for approval to resume making peanut butter.

"The FDA is overreaching its power and putting out information that isn't true," Baker said. "We don't understand what is going on. We don't think we are guilty."

FDA officials wouldn't comment on his allegations, saying it was an ongoing investigation.

Food safety expert and Cornell University professor Bob Gravani said given the number of salmonella outbreaks in recent years, he believes the FDA is being heavily scrutinized about why they are not using their rules more frequently or more aggressively.

Putting aside the "he-said, she-said" between the FDA and the company, he said, "I would say suspension is warranted in this case."

This is not the first major outbreak since the FDA gained authority to pull a facility's registration in the 2011 food safety law. An outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe in 2011 is linked to at least 30 deaths and investigators found similar conditions at Jensen Farms in Colorado. Unlike Sunland, however, Jensen Farms did not attempt to restart operations after the recall and FDA investigation. The company later filed for bankruptcy.

Baker said officials have been trying for the past two months to cooperate with the FDA to get the plant reopened.

"That hasn't worked," he said. "But we are not going to give up. We are going to fight this. We have got no choice."

He said officials have begun calling the state's senators and congressman and talking with other agricultural groups about getting help in Washington with an appeal of the FDA action. No hearing has yet been scheduled.

Coburn said about 30 percent of the plant's workers were laid off Monday.

Although peanuts can be stored for a while, Coburn and Baker acknowledged that time is of the essence for getting to work on what Coburn said were "many, many millions" of pounds harvested from this year's crop.

Farmers, Baker acknowledged, are worried about getting paid. But he said Sunland has committed to paying them for their crops.

Under a worst-case scenario, he said, Sunland could sell the peanuts to other producers.

___

Associated Press reporter Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Follow Jeri Clausing on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/jericlausing

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/peanut-butter-plant-closure-angers-mexico-town-211629739.html

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Mimicking public health strategies could improve cyber security

ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2012) ? Mimicking public health strategies, such as maintaining good "cyber hygiene," could improve cyber security, according to a new paper by a team of economists and public health researchers at RTI International.

The paper, published in the November/December issue of Cross Talk, provides a substantive look at how public health strategies and research methodologies could be used to guide cyber security strategies.

Currently, no centralized approach has been successfully used to coordinate action in improving cyber security. The government has played a relatively limited role, developing standards for industry and, more recently, distributing education materials to schools and civic organizations, but most of the focus has been on business security.

"The public health community has been very successful in identifying, monitoring, and reducing the health impacts of many types of threats," said Brent Rowe, a senior economist at RTI and the paper's lead author. "Given the many similarities between public health and cyber security, the cyber security community would be wise to leverage relevant public health strategies and analysis techniques."

The paper takes a detailed look at public health frameworks that can be used to identify and describe specific cyber security threats and potential solutions.

According to the authors, some of the key lessons from the public health community include:

?Introduce potential solutions to individuals in a way that establishes a measure of trust

?Provide solutions in a convenient and attractive framework (individuals will not engage if participation is difficult, expensive or inconvenient)

?Communicate the nature of threats and interventions to a wide variety of audiences

?Involve multiple organizations (government and nongovernment) in responding to a threat or set of threats

?Consider the unpredictability of individual behavior

"Although the idea of organizing the community of cyber security stakeholders similar to the complexity and scale of public health is daunting, public health research, implementation, and evaluation strategies offer a wealth of well-tested approaches that could be easily leveraged to study cyber security topics, such as how to better understand cyber security risk preferences," said Michael Halpern, Ph.D., a senior public health researcher and an RTI Senior Fellow.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by RTI International.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/gmZn1y3WmnA/121129173756.htm

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Loud music, an argument, then death in Florida

The mother of teenager shot during argument over loud music called the deadly outburst "unconscionable." WTLV's Heather Crawford reports.

By Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News

A Florida gun collector has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge alleging that he opened fire on a car full of unarmed teenagers, killing one, in an altercation that police say stemmed from loud music.

Michael David Dunn, 45, acted "as any responsible firearms owner would have," his lawyer said of the Friday evening incident at a gas station outside a convenience store in Jacksonville, Fla.

Dunn and his girlfriend were in Jacksonville for his son's wedding when they pulled up in their car next to the teens. Police allege that while the girlfriend was in the store, Dunn told Jordan Russell Davis, 17, and his three friends to turn down their music.

"It was loud," Jacksonville homicide Lt. Rob?Schoonover?said of the teens' music. "They admitted that. That's not a reason for someone to open fire."


After an exchange of words, Dunn began shooting with a handgun, Schoonover said.

"Nobody else in that vehicle was struck; it was just our victim [Davis], which was lucky because the vehicle was shot eight or nine times," Schoonover said.

Davis was in the back seat and was struck twice, reported The Orlando Sentinel.

Dunn and his girlfriend drove off and spent the night at their hotel, according to Schoonover, but witnesses took down his license plate number. Police arrested him Saturday morning at his home in Satellite Beach, Fla., on one charge of murder and three charges of attempted murder.

"His side of the story is he felt threatened and that is the reason he took action," Schoonover said.

On Monday, Dunn ? a gun collector who shot at local gun ranges, according to authorities ? pleaded not guilty in Brevard County court, with his attorney describing his actions as self-defense.

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"Once all the facts come out, that what really happened is known, it will be very clear that Mr. Dunn acted responsibly and as any responsible firearms owner would have acted under these same circumstances," said his attorney, Robin Lemonidis, reported?FirstCoastNews.com, the website for NBC station WTLV in Jacksonville.?

Dunn's 20-year-old daughter, Rebecca, told FirstCoastNews.com, "he just reacted," adding that his family was rallying behind him.?

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

Michael Dunn is accused of the shooting death of Jordan Davis.

"Everyone in his life loves him and everyone who met him, all of my friends are praying for him," she said.

Dunn, who had been in Brevard County Jail after his arrest, was transferred back to Duval County, where the shooting happened, on Tuesday. His?girlfriend won't face any charges.

"When she came out [of the convenience store], she asked him, 'What's going on?'" Schoonover said. "Supposedly his statement was, 'I just fired at these kids.' I don't know if he knew that he struck anyone in the vehicle. The next morning, I guess when they woke up in the hotel and saw on the news that someone was killed, that's when they got in their car and fled."

Davis, the victim, lived with his father in Florida, but was to be buried in Georgia ? where he was born ? on Saturday, reported jacksonville.com.

Davis' mother, Lucia McBath, who lives outside of Atlanta, asked that her son's death not be thought of as a hate crime.

Watch US News crime videos on NBCNews.com

"We don't know where he was or what kind of dark place he was in at that moment, but something snapped in that man. Something snapped in him, so we are not looking at it as the hate crime because that's not going to honor Jordan," McBath told FirstCoastNews.com.

She said the fact that Dunn drove off after shooting Davis was "unconscionable."

Davis, a high school junior, had just gotten a job at McDonald's, picking up some extra cash after work, his mom said. At Thanksgiving the day before his death, he said he was thankful to God for his family, his mom told FirstCoastNews.com.

"He was just so excited and happy" for everything in his life, she said.?

She said the family is starting a foundation in his memory to help at-risk children.

"It didn't matter to Jordan if you needed the help, you needed the support ? he was going to give it to you no matter what side of the tracks you came from. So we feel it's really important to honor that in him," she said.

Ron Davis, the victim's father, added: "I was looking forward to as a parent to being there when he got married, being there when he found love. All the things that I'm not going to be able to do is what pains me."

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/28/15513847-florida-man-pleads-not-guilty-to-shooting-teen-to-death-over-loud-music?lite

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YouTube Online Video Marketing - Sheer Social

You?ve shot the video and posted it to YouTube in hopes of ?informing people about your product, service, or event. Now that it?s published to the world, have you done everything needed to make sure that video gets views?? The second largest search engine in the world, there are millions of videos uploaded to YouTube already. How will yours stand out? Most don?t! So here?s nine YouTube online video marketing tips that will help your videos separate from the pack organically.

What does organically mean? It means without buying hits or views from those ?fake social media marketers? I mentioned previously. ?As a business or individual, you posted that video in hopes of reaching people that are genuinely interested in your content. Remember, you are not merely seeking hits, you?re aiming for product or service awareness, potential business leads and sales, or industry authority status, etc. ?Views or hits are just one way to initially measure whether your video has served its purpose.

1. Use proper keywords in your title, description, tags:? What words would people use to search for your content? These words are ?keywords.? ?Use product names, services, people?s names, etc. ?If your video is instructional use words like ??how-to? ?ways? ?tips? that also clue viewers into what they are about to see. It?s also best to use the main keyword first in your title.

Properly utilizing these keywords will increase the changes of your video being seen, not only on the YouTube platform, but also in Google search.

2. Add A Transcript: This might take some pre-production of your videos because it relies on the script or narration of your video. ?If there?s to be narration in your video, include keywords in the script. ?When you transcribe your videos, those keywords will be naturally included.? Below is an example of a YouTube transcription with listed time codes.

YouTube transcript/caption example

Unsure what keywords or phrases you should add to your script? Do a search on YouTube and see what your competition is using. Secondly, Use?Google?s Keyword Tool?to help you choose popular keywords and phrases related to your video.

Admittedly, transcribing your videos does take some extra work, but adding it to your YouTube videos will also increase its chances of being seen in search results. Need help to do the task? ?Enlist help of interns or online services like HireMyMom.com, TenBux.com, or Craigslist.com that will do the job inexpensively. ?The final product will need to be in a plain text file. ?To read more of what your transcript will need and how to upload it click HERE.

3. Embed In Your Blog/Website: ?Use the embed code provided by YouTube to embed your video into your website or blog. That may sound like common sense, but many leave their content on YouTube without thinking where else the video could strategically be used to increase visibility and views.

When embedding in your blog or website be sure to write key word rich text around it with a CALL TO ACTION such as ?watch?, ?see?, ?view,? ?or ?leave a comment.? ?Instruct site visitors exactly what you want them to do concerning your content.

4. Use Annotations: ?Got a series of videos? Use YouTube annotations to link to other YouTube videos or your channel. Annotations can be edited to pop up anytime while the video is playing and add an element of interactivity to your video. For example if there is a part 2 of your video or an alternative ending, use annotations in one video to draw viewers to the next one.

5. InVideo Programming:? This nifty and new tool introduced recently by YouTube allows you to feature a video ?picture-in-picture? style across all videos on your channel.? Once enabled you can feature a lesser viewed video within one that receives more views. Read more about it HERE.

6. Video Responses: See a video on YouTube that is related to yours and has lots of views and comments? That?s the kind you want to respond to. So choose one of your videos to do that. ?Once approved by that video uploader, your video will appear beneath theirs. This tactic can bring not only more awareness of your content, but also more views.

Videos that have 1 or less video responses are best to use because your response will be seen more prominently. Generally the first 2 responses are the most visible. ?Also, leave a text comment or even go the extra step and contact the uploader via the information provided.

7. Tweet, Post, and Pin It: ?This should go without saying, but I?m going to say it anyway! Share your videos on your social profiles, but don?t throw it up on your profiles all willy nilly. Be strategic! ?Find where the audience is for your content on Facebook, Twitter, bookmarking sites, and Pinterest then share it, not spam it!

Share your video within your online groups and forums where you have a presence. Share with the entire network or a few targeted individuals.

8. Create Playlists: Grouping your videos into a playlist helps improve your videos search engine optimization aka visibility in search. Again, when titling your playlist remember step 1 in using the appropriate keywords in describing your playlist.

9. Post Regularly: ?The more quality content you create the better according to YouTube?s algorithm. Consequently, you increase the chances your content will be seen and engaged with. Timely and fresh content is key to building an audience so think long term in developing your content, not short one hit wonders.

BONUS TIP Be Sheer, Be Social: Remember YouTube is not only a video hosting site, the second largest search engine on the internet, it?s also a social platform. Comment, respond to comments, like, share, and have an active presence there. Basically, ?do unto others? as the saying goes and it will be returned. ?Encouraging engagement, such as likes and comments. These actions increases your search rank, and thus your video?s visibility on the platform.

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Source: http://sheersocial.com/2012/11/28/youtube-online-video-marketing/

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Yasir Arafat?s Body Is Exhumed for Poison Tests

Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

A Palestinian policeman patrols outside the mausoleum of Yasir Arafat in Ramallah, West Bank.

RAMALLAH, West Bank ? When Yasir Arafat, the longtime Palestinian leader, was buried eight years ago, people crowded the streets and the rooftops in a tumultuous outpouring of passion; the air here was thick and acrid as militiamen fired off their weapons for hours.

On Tuesday, as part of an inquiry into whether he was poisoned, Mr. Arafat?s remains were exhumed in a subdued, reflective atmosphere, with his people more fractured and less certain of their future than when he was alive.

Mr. Arafat died in a Paris hospital in 2004 at the age of 75, an event that was swiftly surrounded by contention and mystery. Israeli officials have categorically denied Palestinian accusations of involvement. And though lab test results are expected in about three months, according to experts, they may leave open more questions than they resolve about the Palestinian suspicions.

?Our people are convinced that Israel committed this act,? Tawfiq Tirawi, a Palestinian official who leads the Palestinian investigating committee, told reporters here in a news conference. ?We are seeking evidence.?

But many Palestinians here noted that even if traces of poison were found, it would be impossible for forensics experts to identify any culprits. Others have noted that only Palestinians had direct access to Mr. Arafat before his death, broadening the focus of blame for any possible poisoning.

The area around the tomb had been cordoned off for two weeks as laborers carefully removed layers of stone and concrete, and the mausoleum was shielded from view with huge blue tarpaulin sheets. Officials said that the final steps began at dawn and that a Palestinian doctor took samples from the remains on the spot, handing them to assisting French, Swiss and Russian forensic teams.

The tomb was then reclosed with a modest military ceremony, and fresh wreaths were laid.

The minister of health of the Palestinian Authority, Dr. Hani Abdeen, offered few details, saying that the remains were ?exactly in the state you would expect to find in a body that has been buried for eight years.?

Mr. Arafat became ill in October 2004 after being confined under an Israeli Army siege and virtual house arrest for more than two years in his Ramallah compound, as the violence of the second Palestinian intifada and the Israeli clampdown seethed. He was flown by helicopter out of his headquarters and transferred to a military hospital in Paris. When he died about two weeks later, no cause was announced.

Records eventually emerged showing that he had died of a stroke that resulted from a bleeding disorder caused by an underlying infection. The infection was never identified. The hospital found no traces of poisons it had tested for.

But in July, Mr. Arafat?s widow, Suha, called for an exhumation in an interview with Al Jazeera, the Arabic television channel based in Qatar, after it reported that Mr. Arafat might have been poisoned with polonium, a radioactive element associated with K.G.B.-style assassination intrigue. The report was based on what the news channel said was an in-depth investigation using some of Mr. Arafat?s personal effects, provided by Mrs. Arafat, including clothing he had worn just before falling ill, his toothbrush and his trademark black-and-white checkered headdress.

Doctors at the Institute of Radiation Physics at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland found what they said were unusually high levels of the highly toxic radioactive isotope polonium 210 on certain items but said his remains would have to be tested to determine whether he had been poisoned.

Mrs. Arafat followed the interview with Al Jazeera with a request that the French authorities open a murder inquiry. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president and Mr. Arafat?s successor, called on Russian experts to help.

For decades, Mr. Arafat, popularly known as Abu Ammar, relied on both diplomacy and often bloody resistance. Many Israelis considered him an arch terrorist, even as many Palestinians saw him as a symbol of their unity and the embodiment of their cause.

On Tuesday, the Palestinians here struck nostalgic notes. Now bitterly divided, they are a people whose choices have become starker: In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority says it is committed to a peaceful path of negotiations with Israel ? though after nearly two decades of intermittent talks, a state remains elusive. In Gaza, the rival Islamic militant group Hamas has been spearheading the path of violent resistance, including driving eight days of fierce fighting with Israel and then negotiating a cease-fire.

?Confronting the Israeli occupation is more important than digging up the grave of Arafat,? said Salim Bast, 60, a retired librarian in Ramallah. ?Our problem is still alive.?

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/world/middleeast/yasir-arafats-body-is-exhumed-for-poison-tests.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Ward Website Design ? You Need It! | Ward Web Design

If you are business or an individual and you want to make money online then you are going to need a website and there are no two ways about as for any online presence for whatever the use happens to be a website will be the key to your success.

But simply have a website will not be enough to do this for just on its own as the website you have designed and built must be attractive to anyone who visits it as otherwise they will never come back so as you can see already web design is a very important aspect of building a solid business on the internet.

The design of your website is therefore closely link to the success of your online activities and getting the right web designer to build you site, whether it is a standard HTML or PHP code site, or a site or blog built with a content management system, such as WordPress, you are always going to need basic good website design to ensure your long term success.

This is just so important that you really do need to spend as much as you can on your website design process and also the specification and build components of what need to be done to get you up and running with a successful online business. One question many ask is the perennial one of whether it is better to have a website or a blog and the standard answer to this is obviously to have both!

This is easily done with a content management system like WordPress that was original developed purely as software for a blogging platform, but which has been further developed over the years, until now it is probably the best website builder software out there. And the good news is that once your site has been built it is extremely easy for you to maintain it yourself and that is important today when costs are such an issue.

As top web designers we get many requests to build websites and today we only build them in WordPress as when it comes to your online business or personal success this is by far the best platform on which to build your sites. Whether you are an individual internet marketer, even if you are specializing in affiliate marketing online, or if you are big business or perhaps a smaller business selling real physical products from an ecommerce store, then WordPress will do what you want.

Whoever you are and whatever your website design requirements are we can solve your problems for you and remember that we don?t just do web design as we also do SEO search engine optimization on all the sites, whether they be blogs or websites, that we build. This is all part of our service because if you don?t promote your website or blog it will never be included in the search engines then people will never find your site!

And this means of course that all the potential customers that you were hoping for will never find you either. So if you need a website, even if it is just a personal blog or a site to help you learn affiliate marketing then we can help you out. And similarly for any big, small or medium sized business we can help you too as we are experts in web design and website promotion and there are not many other web design companies that can do this for you.

Finally just to mention that all our customers are extremely happy with what we have done for them and they really appreciate our top level customer service. Web design can be a tricky business with many new words, acronyms and technical terminology for new customers to learn, but we understand that and will help you with full and detailed explanations of everything that we do for you all along the way.

So if you have a need for any type of website design just get in touch and send us a message using the contact form and we look forward to hearing from you!

Ward Web Design

Source: http://clintonward.com/ward-website-design-you-need-it/

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In Sales, Social Media's Indirect Benefits Matter Most - Raj Agnihotri ...

There's no better place to get a sense of the potential downside of social media for business than in B2B sales environments.

Sales managers are under a lot of pressure to get their reps to exploit interactive online technologies to the max, but that's a lot easier said than done. Simply telling sales professionals to start blogging or to jump on LinkedIn or Facebook has been shown to alienate customers, sap employee motivation, and undermine sales productivity. To avoid those pitfalls, managers need to spend time and money providing training, direction, encouragement, and feedback in a field that is changing constantly. But according to Brian Fetherstonhaugh, CEO of OgilvyOne Worldwide, only 9% of salespeople responding to a recent global survey reported any such efforts. Even if companies do make these investments, and the effort results in reps' being better able to negotiate social media's chaotic terrain, there still might not be much to show in terms of higher sales.

So it's no wonder that there's a lot of uncertainty about, and even fear of, social media in B2B sales departments. Nevertheless, my research with Prabakar Kothandaraman and Rajiv Kashyap of William Paterson University and Ramendra Singh of IIM Calcutta shows that with the right managerial support, sales departments can use social media to create significant value for customers. The key is to focus not on direct benefits such as profits or sales volume, but on the indirect benefits ? better market knowledge and increased customer engagement.

There's been a lot of grumbling in sales departments about social media, for understandable reasons: It challenges reps' familiar role as information brokers and threatens to interrupt traditional, tried-and-true approaches to communicating with customers such as phone calls and in-person meetings, to some extent replacing them with forms of communication that can be disconcertingly transparent. For example, customers visiting SAP's Community Network talk openly about thorny issues ranging from product complexities to technical errors, and prospective customers can read every word. That kind of forum can be unsettling for sales reps who came of age before social media.

But social media isn't going away, and that's a good thing, because its upside is impressive: It can help reps build trust with customers and prospects; it can foster the interactivity that leads to deep customer engagement; it allows reps to hear customers' praise and gripes and to scout competitors' strengths and weaknesses; it gives reps a platform for educating customers, showcasing testimonials, and countering competitors' claims; it helps salespeople generate leads; and it facilitates the capture of important data about customers, ranging from their opinions to their birthdays.

A basic social-media strategy should involve helping salespeople specify their objectives, engage customers, and monitor competitors; in addition, companies should assess reps' performance. Beyond that, social media can be used in service of two very different approaches to sales: relational and transactional. The relational approach is exemplified by IBM's social-media strategy, which emphasizes individual interactions as a way of building relationships and drawing customers in. Xerox too maintains numerous blogs that connect salespeople, prospects, customers, and product specialists.

The transactional approach was exemplified by Groupon's venture into the B2B area: It worked with a consulting firm, Ajilitee, that was willing to offer a discount for a data-analysis service to attendees of a cloud computing conference.

The approaches aren't mutually exclusive ? a company can incorporate both into its overall strategy. But whatever the overarching strategy, there are certain capabilities that reps need to learn. Here are a few:

  • Generating content. Whether it's on blogs or Twitter, salespeople need to learn to position themselves as experts and provide valuable information for customers and prospects. That might mean offering suggestions and solutions on a continuous basis, or it might mean conducting live Q&A sessions on Facebook with customers. Generating useful information not only makes the company top of mind and educates customers, it also sends a signal that the rep really cares about the buyer's bottom-line goals.
  • Monitoring. Salespeople need to learn where users are congregating on the web and monitor their discussions in order to gain critically important information on what customers think about the company and its products and competitors. But reps need to be careful about intruding in these forums. "You have to earn the right to ask for leads," SAP senior VP Mark Yolton says in a "Social Media Best Practice" seminar. At the same time, reps can use platforms such as Twitter to follow customers and learn what they're thinking and what they're interested in ? information that can be useful to reps in providing a personal touch.
  • Developing leads. There are many ways to do this via social media. For example, a salesperson for an OEM, having learned through monitoring LinkedIn that a civil-engineering firm has secured a large account, might send a congratulatory tweet to the firm and initiate a discussion of tools that the firm might find interesting. A salesperson can also ask for a LinkedIn recommendation from an existing client from the same industry to enhance credibility.


Salespeople obviously aren't born knowing how to do these things, so managers need to provide support in the form of training and the hiring of technical staff. A seminar in writing for social media can be an effective way to help reps overcome any nerves about forms of online writing such as blogging. Managers also need to shift resources in order to adjust to the new demands on salespeople's time.

Companies, moreover, should be willing to shift a significant piece of the marketing budget to social media and to the creation of positions with specialized responsibilities, such as virtual-community manager, social-media strategist, social-network moderators, and social-marketing specialist.

When it comes to metrics, companies should develop measures that reflect strategic priorities and the importance of social media's indirect benefits ? for example, customer engagement rate (the number of click-throughs or the volume of posts or comments on a blog) and digital-audience growth (the number of Facebook fans, Twitter followers, or LinkedIn connections). These results should be monitored on a weekly or monthly basis.

One caution: Don't be too reliant on metrics. Many of the benefits of social media, such as customer engagement, can't be easily quantified. But that doesn't make them any less important.
________________

Insight Center: Putting Social Media to Work

More >>

Source: http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/11/in_sales_social_medias_indirect.html

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One child mothers with pre-eclampsia at higher risk of heart problems

ScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2012) ? Women who develop pre-eclampsia during their first pregnancy (known as preterm pre-eclampsia) -- and who don't go on to have any more children -- are at greater risk of dying from heart disease in later life than women who have subsequent children, finds a study published on bmj.com today.

Women who develop the condition only in the final weeks of pregnancy (known as term pre-eclampsia) are at less risk.

This high risk to one child mothers has not been previously reported and suggests that these women need special monitoring, especially if their pre-eclampsia was preterm.

Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition where abnormally high blood pressure and other disturbances develop in the second half of pregnancy. The condition carries a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in later life, but studies have tended to focus on the risk for women with pre-eclampsia in first pregnancy, without acknowledging the importance of later reproduction.

So a team led by Professor Rolv Skjaerven at the University of Bergen in Norway, set out to assess the association of pre-eclampsia with later cardiovascular death in mothers according to their lifetime number of pregnancies, and particularly after only one child.

Using the Medical Birth Register of Norway, they tracked 836,147 Norwegian women with a first singleton birth between 1967 and 2009 for cardiovascular mortality.

More than 23,000 women died by 2009, with 3,891 from cardiovascular causes.

As expected, women with pre-eclampsia in their first pregnancy had a higher risk of cardiovascular death than women without the condition. Those with preterm pre-eclampsia who had no more children were at a nine-fold increased risk of cardiovascular death, whereas those who went on to have additional children had a 2.4-fold risk.

The vast majority of women with pre-eclampsia can expect a long life just like other women, say the authors. Previous studies have been incomplete in that they do not take the woman's overall reproduction into account. It turns out that if the woman has more children, she has no excess risk of early death. This study shows that the main conclusion from previous studies is not generally correct.

Women who have pre-eclampsia in their first pregnancy, and deliver at term (after 37 weeks), but also those who have severe pre-eclampsia (delivered before 37 weeks) are not at increased risk for premature death, provided that they go on to another pregnancy, they add. The latter group of women have a higher risk for cardiovascular death, but they have a lower risk of non-cardiovascular death, and the net effect is no overall excess for an early death compared with other women.

The authors suggest that, rather than regard all women with pre-eclampsia as candidates for special monitoring (as current clinical guidelines recommend), "consideration should be given to one child mothers -- especially if their pre-eclampsia was preterm."

Overall, the study represents good news for most women with pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. Cardiovascular death in women with pre-eclampsia in their first pregnancy is clearly concentrated mainly in women with no additional births, say the authors.

This applies only to a small group of women with one pregnancy, and in Norway this group is small and represents only 15% of all women.

The reason why some women do not have more children, or choose not to have more children, may be due to underlying health problems, such as diabetes, that discourage or prevent further pregnancies rather than to pre-eclampsia itself, conclude the authors. It is known that diabetes is related to reduced fertility, and also to cardiovascular disease.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by BMJ-British Medical Journal.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. R. Skjaerven, A. J. Wilcox, K. Klungsoyr, L. M. Irgens, B. E. Vikse, L. J. Vatten, R. T. Lie. Cardiovascular mortality after pre-eclampsia in one child mothers: prospective, population based cohort study. BMJ, 2012; 345 (nov27 1): e7677 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.e7677

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vYJq1g_FzCI/121127191245.htm

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EMBO, EMBC and the National Science Council of Taiwan sign cooperation agreement

EMBO, EMBC and the National Science Council of Taiwan sign cooperation agreement [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 29-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Barry Whyte
barry.whyte@embo.org
European Molecular Biology Organization

New ways of global scientific interaction have been created following a cooperation agreement between EMBO, its inter-governmental funding body, the European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC), and the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC). The agreement will allow Taiwanese scientists to participate in EMBO training programmes and activities. It also means that EMBO Courses & Workshops can take place at Taiwanese research institutes.

This is the first cooperation agreement of its kind between EMBO, EMBC and Taiwanese scientists, represented by NSC and Academia Sinica. The Taipei City-based Academia Sinica and NSC work together to create new opportunities for Taiwanese life scientists.

"EMBO promotes and encourages the development of the life sciences within Europe and beyond. We encourage the global mobility of scientists and we look forward to the increased scientific collaboration that this agreement will bring," said EMBO Director Maria Leptin.

EMBO Associate Member and Academia Sinica President Chi-Huey Wong said: "EMBO is a leading organization that fosters new generations of life science researchers producing world-class scienti?c results. It is our delight to create great opportunities for young Taiwanese scientists to connect with the elite scientists of Europe."

Representing the NSC, the cooperation agreement was signed by Minister Cyrus C.Y. Chu. He said: "This agreement opens up a gateway for Taiwanese life scientists to interact with some of the world's brightest minds. We anticipate that more Taiwanese scientists will form affiliations with leading European life scientists because of this agreement."

Under the terms of the agreement, scientists can apply for EMBO Short-Term and Long-Term Fellowships. Young Taiwanese group leaders will be eligible to benefit from the EMBO Young Investigator Programme, which provides outstanding young scientists with financial, academic and practical support to start up their first independent research laboratories.

Taiwanese scientists and EMBO will also cooperate in the organization of EMBO Courses & Workshops, which will help to spark collaborations between different scientific disciplines. Earlier this year, Academia Sinica and EMBO jointly organized the lecture course "Logic of Regulatory Circuits in Life Sciences" in Taipei City.

Conference organizers can apply for funding for plenary lectures given by EMBO Members or lectures given by EMBO Young Investigators at Taiwanese institutes and universities. Travel stipends will be available for Taiwanese scientists to attend EMBO Courses & Workshops and The EMBO Meeting.

The cooperation agreement will run for three years.

###

EMBO

Barry Whyte
Head, Public Relations
& Communications
P: +49 6221-8891-108
communications@embo.org

National Science Council

Louis Chen
Program Director Department
of International Cooperation
P: +886-2-2737-7959
ymchen@nsc.gov.tw

Academia Sinica

Pearl Huang
Media Liaison,
Office of the Director General
P: +886-2-2789-8820
pearlhuang@gate.sinica.edu.tw

About EMBO

EMBO stands for excellence in the life sciences. The organization enables the best science by supporting talented researchers, stimulating scientific exchange and advancing policies for a world-class European research environment. EMBO is an organization of more than 1500 leading life scientist members that fosters new generations of researchers to produce world-class scientific results. EMBO helps young scientists to advance their research, promote their international reputations and ensure their mobility. Courses, workshops, conferences and scientific journals disseminate the latest research and offer training in cutting-edge techniques to maintain high standards of excellence in research practice. EMBO helps to shape science and research policy by seeking input and feedback from our community and by following closely the trends in science in Europe.

For more information: www.embo.org

About NSC

The National Science Council (NSC) is the major Taiwanese funding agency for Science and Technology. The NSC has signed 105 cooperation agreements with 43 nations for Taiwanese researchers to participate in international Science and Technology activities. Cooperation involves exchange among researchers, joint conferences, joint research projects, high-level official visits, and conferring international awards. The NSC overlooks 16 Science and Technology overseas divisions. Apart from strengthening international relations with host nations, the NSC provides support for Science and Technology researchers to pursue research at overseas universities or research organizations, to broaden global perspectives and enhance their mobility.

For more information: www.nsc.gov.tw

About Academia Sinica

Academia Sinica is the most prominent Taiwanese academic institution. It was founded in China in 1928 to promote scholarly research into sciences and humanities. In 1949, Academia Sinica was re-established in Taipei. It is now a modern institution with a worldwide reputation and a proud tradition. Academia Sinica is currently under the leadership of President Chi-Huey Wong. It is divided into three divisions, the Division of Life Sciences, the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Division of Mathematics and Physical Sciences. The institute consists of 24 institutes and 7 centers, the research from which can be seen regularly in international scholarly journals. As of November 1, 2012, it includes 1,022 research fellows and research specialists, and 662 postdoctoral researchers.

For more information: www.sinica.edu.tw


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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


EMBO, EMBC and the National Science Council of Taiwan sign cooperation agreement [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 29-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Barry Whyte
barry.whyte@embo.org
European Molecular Biology Organization

New ways of global scientific interaction have been created following a cooperation agreement between EMBO, its inter-governmental funding body, the European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC), and the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC). The agreement will allow Taiwanese scientists to participate in EMBO training programmes and activities. It also means that EMBO Courses & Workshops can take place at Taiwanese research institutes.

This is the first cooperation agreement of its kind between EMBO, EMBC and Taiwanese scientists, represented by NSC and Academia Sinica. The Taipei City-based Academia Sinica and NSC work together to create new opportunities for Taiwanese life scientists.

"EMBO promotes and encourages the development of the life sciences within Europe and beyond. We encourage the global mobility of scientists and we look forward to the increased scientific collaboration that this agreement will bring," said EMBO Director Maria Leptin.

EMBO Associate Member and Academia Sinica President Chi-Huey Wong said: "EMBO is a leading organization that fosters new generations of life science researchers producing world-class scienti?c results. It is our delight to create great opportunities for young Taiwanese scientists to connect with the elite scientists of Europe."

Representing the NSC, the cooperation agreement was signed by Minister Cyrus C.Y. Chu. He said: "This agreement opens up a gateway for Taiwanese life scientists to interact with some of the world's brightest minds. We anticipate that more Taiwanese scientists will form affiliations with leading European life scientists because of this agreement."

Under the terms of the agreement, scientists can apply for EMBO Short-Term and Long-Term Fellowships. Young Taiwanese group leaders will be eligible to benefit from the EMBO Young Investigator Programme, which provides outstanding young scientists with financial, academic and practical support to start up their first independent research laboratories.

Taiwanese scientists and EMBO will also cooperate in the organization of EMBO Courses & Workshops, which will help to spark collaborations between different scientific disciplines. Earlier this year, Academia Sinica and EMBO jointly organized the lecture course "Logic of Regulatory Circuits in Life Sciences" in Taipei City.

Conference organizers can apply for funding for plenary lectures given by EMBO Members or lectures given by EMBO Young Investigators at Taiwanese institutes and universities. Travel stipends will be available for Taiwanese scientists to attend EMBO Courses & Workshops and The EMBO Meeting.

The cooperation agreement will run for three years.

###

EMBO

Barry Whyte
Head, Public Relations
& Communications
P: +49 6221-8891-108
communications@embo.org

National Science Council

Louis Chen
Program Director Department
of International Cooperation
P: +886-2-2737-7959
ymchen@nsc.gov.tw

Academia Sinica

Pearl Huang
Media Liaison,
Office of the Director General
P: +886-2-2789-8820
pearlhuang@gate.sinica.edu.tw

About EMBO

EMBO stands for excellence in the life sciences. The organization enables the best science by supporting talented researchers, stimulating scientific exchange and advancing policies for a world-class European research environment. EMBO is an organization of more than 1500 leading life scientist members that fosters new generations of researchers to produce world-class scientific results. EMBO helps young scientists to advance their research, promote their international reputations and ensure their mobility. Courses, workshops, conferences and scientific journals disseminate the latest research and offer training in cutting-edge techniques to maintain high standards of excellence in research practice. EMBO helps to shape science and research policy by seeking input and feedback from our community and by following closely the trends in science in Europe.

For more information: www.embo.org

About NSC

The National Science Council (NSC) is the major Taiwanese funding agency for Science and Technology. The NSC has signed 105 cooperation agreements with 43 nations for Taiwanese researchers to participate in international Science and Technology activities. Cooperation involves exchange among researchers, joint conferences, joint research projects, high-level official visits, and conferring international awards. The NSC overlooks 16 Science and Technology overseas divisions. Apart from strengthening international relations with host nations, the NSC provides support for Science and Technology researchers to pursue research at overseas universities or research organizations, to broaden global perspectives and enhance their mobility.

For more information: www.nsc.gov.tw

About Academia Sinica

Academia Sinica is the most prominent Taiwanese academic institution. It was founded in China in 1928 to promote scholarly research into sciences and humanities. In 1949, Academia Sinica was re-established in Taipei. It is now a modern institution with a worldwide reputation and a proud tradition. Academia Sinica is currently under the leadership of President Chi-Huey Wong. It is divided into three divisions, the Division of Life Sciences, the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Division of Mathematics and Physical Sciences. The institute consists of 24 institutes and 7 centers, the research from which can be seen regularly in international scholarly journals. As of November 1, 2012, it includes 1,022 research fellows and research specialists, and 662 postdoctoral researchers.

For more information: www.sinica.edu.tw


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Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/embo-eea112912.php

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