EU Naval Force Meets Somali Fishing Representatives and Elders ...

Rear Admiral Credendino and EU Naval Force staff with local Somali fishermen, clan elders and local authorities, on board the EU Naval Force flagship, ITS San Giusto

On Monday, 29 October 2012, the Force Commander of the EU Naval Force Somalia ? Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR), Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino, met with local Somali fishing representatives, clan elders of coastal communities and local authorities on board the EU NAVFOR flagship, ITS San Giusto, off the northern coast of Somalia, near Bossaso.

This meeting was the first time that EU NAVFOR has engaged with representatives of local Somali fishing and coastal communities under the Somali Seafarers Initiative (SSI).

SSI is an initiative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO) and the EU Naval Force, aimed at understanding fishing and security at sea for fishermen, from a local perspective.

SSI is a long-term project that aims to build lasting relationships based on understanding and mutual trust between EU NAVFOR and key representatives of Somali coastal fishing communities and local leaders.

By listening and talking to each other the parties exchanged views on the fight against piracy, the role of EU NAVFOR and the problems local fishermen face in Somalia and at sea. Moreover, the objective of SSI is to reassure local fishermen that the Naval Forces operating in the area are not a threat and that there is no reason to be scared of the military presence. Thus, SSI aims to encourage Somali fishermen to return to sea and re-establish fisheries livelihoods in Somalia as an alternative to piracy.

All those involved agreed that piracy cannot be stopped at sea alone, and that a solution must come from the land. Upon completion, all present expressed the wish that this be the first of a series of future meetings.

?This is the first time that we have met? ? said Rear Admiral Credendino ? ?and we all sincerely hope that this is the first step on a long path we will walk together?.

During the meeting, much of the focus was on the role that the recently created EUCAP Nestor mission will have in building the maritime capabilities of Somalis.

EUCAP Nestor is a civilian mission conducted under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and augmented with military expertise. The objectives of EUCAP Nestor are to:

• Strengthen the Rule of Law sector in Somalia, with an initial focus on the regions of Puntland and Somaliland. In particular, the mission will support the development of a coastal police force and the judiciary.
• Strengthen the sea going maritime capacity of Djibouti, Kenya and the Seychelles.

Additionally, the EU is supporting the development of the Somali fishing sector?under the regional ?SmartFish Programme? (total regional funding: 21 Million euro) implemented?with the UNFAO.? The EU also has a strict policy against illegal fishing (IUU) and all EU flagged fishing vessels have been requested to remain outside the 200 nautical mile zone off the coast of Somali. This has also been recommended by Atalanta.

Source: http://www.eunavfor.eu/2012/10/eu-naval-force-meets-somali-fishing-representatives-and-elders-on-its-san-giusto/

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Plant compounds tied to less stomach cancer in women: study ...

(Reuters) - Getting a moderate amount of plant substances called flavonoids through food may be linked to a lower stomach cancer risk in women - but not in men, according to a European study.

The researchers, writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that women with the highest intake of flavonoids were half as likely to develop the disease as women who had the smallest intake.

"A flavonoid-rich diet is based on plant-based foods (such as) fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals, nuts, legumes, and their derived products (tea, chocolate, wine)," lead author Raul Zamora-Ros told Reuters Health by email.

"This kind of diet combined with less consumption of red and processed meat can be a good way to reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer," added Zamora-Ros, a researcher at the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Spain.

The findings don't prove that flavonoids alone can ward off the disease, because other factors such as a healthier lifestyle may play a role.

The researchers not that past research has hinted that flavonoids may help protect against cancer, but few studies have focused on stomach cancer - the fourth most common, and the second most deadly, according to Zamora-Ros.

For the study, the researchers turned to ongoing research following almost 500,000 men and women in 10 European countries. All of the participants were between 35 and 70 years old, and had been part of the study for about 11 years.

During that time, there were 683 cases of stomach cancer, of which 288 occurred in women.

The researchers analyzed the participants' food diaries to see how many flavonoids they are on average, then they checked to see whether or not that amount was linked to the participant's cancer risk.

Green tea contains a large amount of flavonoids, with more than 12,511 milligrams (mg) per 100 grams (g) of leaves. Pinto beans also contain a lot, with about 769 mg per 100 g of beans.

Women who got more than 580 mg of flavonoids per day had a 51-percent-lower risk of developing stomach cancer than women who consumed no more than 200 mg a day.

"If you look at absolute numbers, this risk reduction probably wouldn't be as significant as if we were talking about colon cancer," said Richard peek, director of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, who was not involved in the study.

Zamora-Ros said a person's exact risk depends on several factors, including whether they smoke and drink, how much red and processed meat they eat, and whether they are obese.

He added that the absence of a link between flavonoids and stomach cancer in men was a surprise, and might be due to differences in how much they smoke or drink, or to hormonal differences.

Overall, he added, the study adds more evidence that "healthy lifestyles reduce the risk of chronic diseases." SOURCE: http://bit.ly/UDC3xx

(Reporting from New York by Andrew Seaman at Reuters Health; editing by Elaine Lies)

Source: http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/nm/plant-compounds-tied-to-less-stomach-cancer-in-women-study

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Personal Finance: Facts About Pay Day Loans ? Infographic ? New ...

Consumers seem to harbor a deep-rooted hatred for the payday loan industry. The infographic Who Hates Payday Loans the Most explores just how much borrowers and non-borrowers despise these loans and what specifics they hate the most. Check out the full infographic to see more facts about payday loan consumers and their influencers.

Source: Visual.ly

Categories: Business, Economy, Infographic, Lifestyle, People | Tags: Facts, Pay-Day-Loans, People, Personal Finance | Permalink.

Author: V.

Ex-Professional Soccer Player, Commercial and International Banker, Business and Soccer Analyst

Source: http://themainstreetanalyst.com/2012/10/26/personal-finance-facts-about-pay-day-loans-infographic/

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Video: Polls remain close as Election Day nears

Dog debarking policy raises howls of protest

Sue Perry and Karen Mahmud, the owners of two debarked dogs, Porter and Lola, are demanding the American Veterinary Medical Association condemn the practice regarded as either barbaric mutilation or as the last resort of pet owners desperate to stop incessant noise.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/49559369#49559369

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Though market shows steady increase, investors down in Tri-Cities

Stewart Beach hasn?t fielded any calls from people demanding he steer their money onto Wall Street.

On one hand, Beach, a financial adviser with Clear Perspective Advisors, of St. Charles and Aurora, acknowledges such an admission may seem incongruous.

Since early summer, the stock market has risen steadily, with Dow Jones Industrial Averages hitting levels not seen since before the market crash at the beginning of the Great Recession in 2007.

But while the market appears to have resumed its historical upward march, Beach and others who help Tri-Cities residents manage their money said their clients are responding to the seeming market rally with a bit of incredulity.

?I?m not getting any calls from clients yelling at me because we?re ?missing the market,? ? Beach said. ?They?re not saying, ?Put more money in!?

?Instead, what we?re hearing is a lot of people being really, really cautious.?

After the 2008 stock market crash, even otherwise optimistic investors opted for caution, pulling money out of the stock market and seeking safer investment vehicles in which to place their funds.

Based on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the stock market has nearly erased all losses associated with the crash, hovering above 13,000 recently, just shy of the all-time high of about 14,000 in 2007.

?For the people that held the course, they?re almost back to where they were [in their portfolio value] to before the crash,? Beach said.

Dave Brady, a finance adviser and owner of Brady Investment Counsel of Geneva, said the generally steady nature of the stock market in recent months has prompted him and others to move clients back to what he called a ?fully allocated? position.

For most investors, that means putting about 60 percent of their portfolio in stocks.

?If our guidelines say a particular investor should be at a 60-40 stock allocation, then we are very comfortable right now getting them back to 60-40,? Brady said.

For many investors, the stock market represents the best choice for clients? long-term investing plans, Brady said. While the market will always present some risk, stocks have ?far outdone? other investment vehicles in returning gains.

Beach agreed investors have few realistic alternatives, with traditional savings vehicles returning virtually nothing.

?We know that, unless they just want to make sure they can?t lose anything, they?re not really excited at putting their money in the bank,? Stewart said. ?They?re not even keeping up with inflation.?

Reports filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation reveal in the first half of this year, just before the months-long stock market rally began, most local banks reported declines of 3 to 27 percent in the amount of money invested in ?time deposits,? such as CDs.

While stocks have represented a better investment option, advisers cautioned against too much optimism.

Brady said he believes the market increases don?t necessarily represent economic growth. Rather, Brady said, it is merely the market returning to ?fair value.?

And Brian Green, a financial adviser at Capital Management Group in St. Charles, said the lack of healthy economic growth also has led him to counsel against investing too heavily in stocks.

?It?s really tough right now as a financial adviser for me to say, ?Everything?s going to work out as it always does,? ? Green said.

Recently, investors appear to be acting on their wariness.

A recent survey reported by the financial trends tracking organization, the Investment Company Institute, revealed investors continued in October to pull more money out of mutual funds than they put in, a trend that began in September.

During the seven-day period from Oct. 3 to 10, investors pulled $2.3 billion from mutual funds. That comes on top of more than $23 billion that flowed out of mutual funds from Sept. 12 to Oct. 3, the ICI report said.

Green said his clients are growing increasingly pessimistic about the market?s and economy?s future.

Green, Brady and Beach noted their clients have expressed worries over the upcoming presidential election, government debt, global political issues and the so-called ?fiscal cliff? ? a shorthand term that describes the mix of tax rule changes, regulatory changes, government spending cuts and higher tax rates for workers, businesses and investors that will take effect Jan. 1 unless Congress and President Barack Obama act to avert them.

Green said if investors are particularly worried, he ?doesn?t spend any time trying to talk them out? of increasing their cash holdings.

?If you are generally concerned, then earning 0.5 percent with no risk may not be such a bad thing, if it brings you some peace of mind,? Green said.

For now, advisers said they are counseling most clients to stay defensive and stand pat.

?The market right now is kind of like a traffic jam on a freeway,? Beach said. ?We?re jammed up, can?t see too far ahead, but generally moving slowly in a positive direction. And, just like in a traffic jam, now?s not the time to be trying to constantly switch lanes.?

Source: http://www.kcchronicle.com/2012/10/24/though-market-shows-steady-increase-investors-down-in-tri-cities/ae82oan/

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UK Government Failure to Protect Disabled from Welfare Cuts

Disability News Articles UK Disability News

Information provided by Hardest Hit Campaign - Published: 2012-10-25

A report published 22 October, 2012 exposes how the UK Government's welfare cuts are hitting disabled people hardest: 8 in 10 (85 per cent) claim losing their Disability Living Allowance (DLA) would drive them into isolation, and would leave them struggling to manage their condition (84 per cent) and 9 in 10 (95 per cent) fear that losing DLA would be detrimental to their health.

The Hardest Hit, a coalition of over 90 disabled people's organisations and charities, has produced the report The Tipping Point which brings together a survey of over 4,500 disabled people, a poll of more than 350 independent welfare advisors, and more than 50 in-depth interviews with disabled people with varying conditions and impairments.

The report reveals some shocking statistics:

• Nearly 9 in 10 (87 per cent) disabled people said their everyday living costs are significantly higher because of their condition
• More than three quarters (78 per cent) of disabled people said their health got worse as a result of the stress caused by their Work Capability Assessment (WCA) for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Two thirds (65 per cent) of disabled people felt that ESA assessors did not understand their condition
• Nearly 9 in 10 (87 per cent) welfare advisors said the constant re-assessments for benefits are damaging people?s health
• 9 in 10 (90 per cent) welfare advisors said that too many disabled people are slipping through the net and are left without adequate support by the welfare system.

Despite much hype about the recent Paralympic Games seemingly shifting the nation's perception of the UK's 11 million disabled people, the number of disability hate crime incidents in England and Wales is increasing dramatically and a survey reveals plummeting levels of public support for benefits for disabled people who cannot work - (Sources: Office for Disability Issues (ODI) 2010-11; Association of Police Officers hate crime data for 2011; British Social Attitudes 2012, NatCen Social Research).

The report highlights that disabled people are twice as likely to live in poverty and even a small loss of income can tip people with a disability into greater dependence on health and social care services or friends and family.

It's predicted that Britain's 3.6 million people claiming disability benefits will be ?9 billion worse off from 2010 to the end of this Parliament, with an estimated 500,000 disabled people expected to lose out when DLA becomes Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in April 2013 (Source: Destination Unknown, Demos 2012). The Government claims it will claw back about ?2.2 billion but the Hardest Hit coalition estimates the potential costs of abolishing DLA will be about ?1.6 billion, meaning the savings are a mere drop in the ocean compared with the ?9 billion being lost in tax evasion and avoidance [ Source: Measuring Tax Gaps, HMRC 2011. A full explanation about how the ?1.6 billion figure is calculated can be found on page 48 in the report ].

Blind mum-of-three Terri Balon, 51, from Lancashire, relies on her disability benefits to survive. She said:

"I get ?105.90 a week from DLA to run my house but more than half of that goes on paid assistance where a carer comes round for 12 hours a week. Once they discovered a jam jar full of fly eggs where my daughters, two of whom have sight loss, hadn't resealed it properly. I would never have noticed. Can you imagine what it would have been like if I'd eaten them. I don't go out, I don't drink, I don't have money for treats. Am I supposed to not eat now if my benefits are cut?". And it doesn't end there. Around 450,000 disabled households are set to lose out under the new Universal Credit (UC) system. For example, 100,000 families with disabled children stand to lose up to ?28 a week (Disability and Universal Credit, 2012).

The Hardest Hit coalition is calling on the Government to rule out targeting disabled people for further spending cuts in the next Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review.

The Government has some urgent decisions to make. It isn't saving the money it predicts it will by targeting disabled people; it's haemorrhaging millions and must change its approach. For instance, the cost to the Tribunals Service of ESA appeals in 2010-11 was approximately ?42.2 million for 176,600 ESA appeals decided in 2010-11. The coalition wants the Government to:

• Learn from the mistakes it made with WCA and ensure the assessment for PIP is as fair and as clear as possible to avoid costly tribunals, more anxiety and ill health
• Get Universal Credit (UC) right, ensuring disabled people don't lose out on vital income in the transition to UC
• Provide a lasting solution to the crisis in social care which has endured years of chronic underfunding.

Jaspal Dhani, CEO of the UK Disabled People?s Council (UKDPC) and co-chair of the Hardest Hit campaign, said: "Disabled people, those with long-term conditions and their families are already at risk of hardship and face massive barriers to getting into work and education. Cuts to the support they depend upon risk pushing them into poverty, debt and isolation.

"The Chancellor has just announced a further ?10 billion cut to the welfare budget. With ?9 billion having already been removed from disability benefits and services in this Parliament, disabled people are already at a tipping point. The Government has some urgent choices to make, but must rule out targeting disabled people for further spending cuts in the next Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review."

The Hardest Hit Week of Action (22-28 October 2012) will bring together disabled people, their carers, friends and family, from across the UK. Campaigners will join the TUC Future That Works march and rally on Saturday 20 October in London. Hardest Hit events will then take place throughout the week including a march and lobby in Newcastle, a light vigil in Sunderland, an MP Question Time event in Birmingham, a town hall meeting in Blackburn and stunts in London and the South East.

Research:

The survey of 4,500 disabled people was commissioned by the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC). The survey asked disabled people about their experiences of the benefits system and concerns about future proposed changes to the welfare system. The survey of more than 350 independent welfare advisors was commissioned by the DBC. The survey asked advisers to consider any changes in the WCA they perceived over the last 18 months, covering the period since the first Independent Review's recommendations began to be implemented.

The anonymised in-depth interviews with more than 50 disabled people explored the ways in which people who receive DLA use it to support themselves in daily life.

Background:

The Hardest Hit campaign is organised jointly by the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) and the UK Disabled People?s Council (UKDPC).

Read the full report

For more information and to join the campaign, visit the Hardest Hit website, where you can send an email to your MP.

This web page is from the Disabled World UK Disability News section which provides: Health and disability news from England and the UK of interest to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Permalink

Source: http://www.disabled-world.com/news/uk/welfare-cuts.php

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Survival of U.S. Affordable Care Act assessed in new commentaries

ScienceDaily (Oct. 24, 2012) ? As the presidential candidates clash over the fate of the Affordable Care Act, a set of seven essays by leading legal experts, economists, and scholars examines the implications of the Supreme Court's decision on the ACA and makes it clear that there is no consensus about what is economically or morally just when it comes to health care coverage in this country. The essays appear in the Hastings Center Report.

While the essays provide a range of perspectives, a few common themes emerge. Foremost among them is that the individual mandate may not work as it stands.

Mark A. Hall, a professor of law and public health at Wake Forest University, argues that the Court "significantly weakened the individual mandate" by allowing Americans to opt out of insurance coverage if they are willing to pay a tax. This tax penalty leaves the mandate vulnerable because Congress could repeal it through the budget reconciliation process, he says.

Mark V. Pauly, of the Wharton School of Business, offers a contrasting view. While he supports the idea of a mandate, he is concerned that in its present form it may not achieve its goal of getting as many people as possible to buy insurance because the penalty for not doing so is too low -- for some groups, far less than the annual cost of premiums. Pauly also raises the possibility that the mandate could increase health care costs by increasing the number of procedures that the government requires insurers to cover.

Other essays raise concerns about costs. To be fair, writes Paul T. Menzel, a philosopher at Pacific Lutheran University, mandated insurance must be for care that is disciplined and cost-effective. "The cost-control provisions include some laudable next steps but are generally weak," he concludes.

James Stacey Taylor, an associate professor of philosophy at The College of New Jersey, states that the ACA's benevolent appearance is deceptive and that it is "neither economically sound nor morally acceptable." He argues that simply implementing the law will require "a small army of lawyers and bureaucrats," which will raise health care costs.

Several other essays examine what is morally acceptable in the health care arena. While none of them makes a moral case for health reform as a question about an individual's right to health care, they discuss other relevant values: responsibility, community, sympathy, and stewardship. Len M. Nichols, a health economist, professor of health policy, and director of the Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics at George Mason University, focuses on stewardship over health care resources, arguing that all Americans should be assured adequate health care. Although the challenges are great, Nichols suggests we now have the opportunity to remake our health care system into one that serves everyone. Those who oppose the government's role in attaining this goal are willing to stand by while tens of millions of Americans live without health care, he says. "A society that aspires to morality aims higher than that, and our Supreme Court has, by the narrowest of margins, allowed us to continue to dream big," Nichols writes.

William M. Sage, a professor and Vice Provost for Health Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin's School of Law, notes that the Supreme Court decision emphasizes the value of protecting personal liberty from government dominion, but in doing so both highlights the absence of solidarity around health reform and magnifies the importance of developing it.

Timothy Stolzfus Jost, who holds the Robert L. Willett Family Professorship of Law at Washington and Lee University, concludes his essay with a statement that might represent the only true consensus about health care reform: "The struggle for the soul of health insurance in the United States may be far from over."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by The Hastings Center, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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

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Journal References:

1. Mark A. Hall. The Affordable Care Act Survives, for Now. Hastings Center Report, 13 SEP 2012 DOI: 10.1002/hast.67
2. Mark V. Pauly. Lessons to Improve the Efficiency and Equity of Health Reform. Hastings Center Report, 13 SEP 2012 DOI: 10.1002/hast.71

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/top_news/top_health/~3/U1kytv4oAd8/121024133407.htm

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Black Rozen

In Tokyo, there are many Yakuza but none as famous as the B.R.'s. They are so infamous that everyone seems to know the name and there are many rumors about them but no one knows the truth. A new yakuza is on the rise causing distress in the city.

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Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.

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Methods On How To Proficiently Increase Your Property - BrettStClair

Methods On How To Proficiently Increase Your Property

Redecorating is a very personal endeavor to everybody. It requires distinct requirements of your individual?s residence, in addition to several other tasks. This huge entire world has a lot of equipment, regulations, and techniques that it may seem to be a little perplexing with regards to where by you should start. These pointers may help you sound right in the confusion.

Take into account setting up a water purification program inside your home. Think about the dollars you would spend on water in bottles that money could go back in your bank account with the installation of a quality filtering system. They can be a somewhat economical enhancement to help make and may add an excellent marketing level to your residence if you market.

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If you have to execute a project about your house, but don?t hold the tools to accomplish it, take into account how often you are going to use the equipment before purchasing. It could be a lot more inexpensive to lease or borrow the thing you need as an alternative to investing the money to get things that might be rarely applied.

Cover your water heater in an heat retaining material kit to improve power use and efficiency. Packages are around for any sizing or design water heater and also the savings created from increased performance quickly offsets the expense of the insulating package. Water heater set up kits will also be simple to set up, which makes this a basic try it for yourself home improvement task.

As you can see, home improvement is really a multifaceted industry. Oftentimes, your knowledge of a variety of project will determine the prosperity of it. Because of this research is a superb first step in every home improvement undertaking. These tips ought to be a helpful initial step in your road to researching home remodeling.

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Source: http://brettstclair.com/?p=3340

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New U.S. policy seeks to end legal battle over eagle feathers ? CNN ...

By Terry Frieden, CNN Justice Producer

Washington (CNN) ? The Justice Department sought on Friday to strike a delicate balance between the use of bald eagle feathers by Native American tribes and federal protection of the nation's symbolic bird.

A new government policy would allow tribes to "possess, use, wear or carry" federally protected birds or bird feathers. However, they could not buy or sell the feathers or other bird parts.

The eagle feathers have been of great religious and cultural significance to many tribes. Bald eagles are dark brown with a white head and tail.

The bald eagle has been the national symbol since 1782.

"The Department of Justice is committed to striking the right balance in enforcing our nation's wildlife laws by respecting the cultural and religious practices of federally recognized Indian tribes," said Attorney General Eric Holder in announcing the policy.

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Holder said the step was needed to address concerns of tribal members unsure of whether they could be prosecuted for their religious and cultural practices involving eagle feathers.

Justice and Interior Department officials met several times with tribal leaders during the past year to try to resolve the issue, which has ended up in federal courts.

The bald eagle became an endangered species some 70 years ago and was threatened with extinction.

Congress passed a law that prohibited killing or possessing the majestic bird. That law and tough enforcement succeeded, and by 2007 the bird was removed from the endangered list. It remains protected, however, by laws enforced by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

CNN?s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories

Robert Holden, deputy director of the National Congress of American Indians, described to CNN the historic fascination with the eagle.

"It flies higher than any other creature. It sees many things. It's closer to the Creator," Holden said.

Source: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/12/new-u-s-policy-seeks-to-end-legal-battle-over-eagle-feathers/

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Finance leaders back EU, U.S. to-do list to shield growth

TOKYO (Reuters) - World finance leaders on Saturday endorsed a checklist of policy reforms aimed at pressuring Europe and the United States to tackle debt troubles that threaten to choke off global growth.

To hold each others' feet to the fire, the nations -- meeting under the aegis of the International Monetary Fund -- agreed to review progress in six months.

Their 10-page agenda, however, largely summarized previously planned steps, such as deploying a new European Central Bank bond-buying program and avoiding the U.S. "fiscal cliff" of spending cuts and tax hikes set to take hold early next year.

The checklist and checkup were an acknowledgement of frustration within the IMF and among many emerging market economies over a sluggish and piecemeal policy response to the major risks facing the world economy.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde said nations had narrowed their differences over how to implement policy, seeking to downplay disagreements between the Fund and Germany over how quickly debt-laden countries such as Greece should cut budgets.

"There was no objection to the recommendation that we gave to the membership, which was A-C-T," Lagarde said, spelling out the word letter by letter.

"We might not always agree on everything, but I think there is a general consensus that collective action is going to produce results," she told reporters.

In a communique released after two days of talks, IMF members warned that global economic growth was decelerating and that substantial uncertainties and risks remained.

But the IMF's governing panel, representing the 188 member countries, praised steps that had already been taken, particularly in Europe, to make the world financial system safer, even if they had not yet gone far enough.

"Members all agreed that we are in a better position today than we were six months ago," said Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the chairman of the committee.

Spain's economy minister, Luis de Guindos, said he felt the mood toward his country lifting too. Spain is under pressure to seek a bailout as it struggles to cope with high government debt and the cost of recapitalizing its banks.

"The atmosphere, from International Monetary Fund policymakers or from the private sector, is much more positive than it was before the summer," de Guindos said.

EMERGING STRAINS

Reports from the IMF this week downgraded global economic growth forecasts for the second time since April and warned of the need for action in advanced economies to treat a debt hangover that stems in part from earlier efforts to quell the global financial crisis.

To replenish its crisis-fighting war chest, the IMF has taken in $461 billion in contributions from member countries, with Algeria and Brunei the newest members of the donor group, Lagarde said. The United States is among the notable absences from the list of contributors.

Frustration over what many nations see as plodding progress in Europe and in Washington spilled into public view during the meetings.

"Asia alone can't carry the global economy," said Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan. "It is time for the other players to get off the benches and start to pull their weight on global economic growth again."

Emerging markets, which have been caught in the downdraft created by weak economies in Europe and the United States, were disappointed that the IMF missed its target for enacting voting reforms that would make China the third most influential country within the lending institution.

Lagarde said there were "one or two countries" that had not finalized the reforms, which were agreed in 2010, a thinly veiled reference to the United States. The Obama administration does not want to seek congressional approval for more IMF funding before the November presidential election.

European leaders argued this week they had taken big strides toward building a stronger fiscal and banking union, and they earned at least some recognition from the rest of the world.

"This broad framework offers a more promising strategy for addressing the crisis," U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said. "However, what is important is how it will be applied."

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble pointed out that euro zone decision-making involves 17 national governments, many of which need parliamentary approval, and that takes time.

"If we are not fast enough for markets, sorry, but markets have to wait," he said.

(Reporting by Reuters IMF team; Writing by Emily Kaiser; Editing by Neil Fullick and Tim Ahmann)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/imf-warns-critical-eu-speed-reform-062309174--business.html

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Video: Streisand performs for first time in hometown Brooklyn

>> one of the world's most successful performers entertaining all around the globe and never in her hometown of brooklyn , until now. nbc's mara schiavocampo is live with more. mara , good morning.

>> reporter: good morning. last night this place was packed with excited fans clamoring for a chance to see streisand 's first ever performance here in brooklyn . of course, she was born and raised here, and until now she had never returned for a show.

>> hello, brooklyn !

>> reporter: it was a homecoming a lifetime in the making. that face

>> reporter: barbra streisand 's first ever performance in her native brooklyn , one fans have waited decades for.

>> i worked my butt off to get tickets for tonight. i'm like, it's brooklyn . her first show here.

>> reporter: coming from all over the world.

>> seriously.

>> reporter: you came just from france?

>> yeah.

>> reporter: including, of course, brooklyn . you were born in brooklyn ?

>> born in brooklyn , went to ps-36.

>> reporter: for the newly erected bark lays center which seats 19,000 a performance for streisand was an obvious choice bringing their most famous superstar home. beneath the moon, the stars

>> when you come back and perform and your family and friends are there, you know, and you're being a star in front of them and, you know, down the street from where you grew up, i mean, that's got to have an extra special allure.

>> reporter: born in 1942 , streisand grew up in the flat flush section of brooklyn .

>> i came from brooklyn . we sat on the stoops. people hung out windows. it was -- there was no air conditioning , you know. it was great.

>> reporter: since then the actress, singer, director has risen to the top of the entertainment world. babs as her fans adoringly call her has won virtually every award there is, including oscars, emmys, grammys and golden globes . but for streisand , who has performed in new york city several times, playing close to home is one of the greatest honors of all as she told "today's" meredith vieira in 2009 .

>> you said tonight you came full circle . this was full circle .

>> mm-hmm, yeah, where i was and where i am, back to the beginning but second time around. memories

>> reporter: returning to an old stomping ground to create new memories. memories

>> reporter: now, that first show sold out so quickly that a second performance was added for saturday. that one also sold out so, savannah, clearly still a diva in demand.

>> mara , did i hear you singing a little bit on that?

>> i got into the spirit

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/49386573/

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Weekend Reading (talking-points-memo)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/255165791?client_source=feed&format=rss

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A startup tries to fix payday lending - The Term Sheet: Fortune's ...

FORTUNE -- Payday loans are considered a dirty business, both figuratively and literally. Corner stores in rough neighborhoods, bulletproof glass and the quiet desperation that leads someone to borrow $200 at a 400% APR.

But a new startup called LendUp is hoping to change all that. And yesterday it announced a seed round of venture capital from backers that included Andreessen Horowitz, Google Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

Founded by a pair of stepbrothers, the San Francisco-based company offers an online platform for those in California seeking to borrow up to $250 a 30-day basis. The rate is 15% plus fees, which means that borrowers would repay a total of $294 after 30 days (minus $0.30 per day for early payment). State law prohibits LendUp from rolling over the interest, which means that delinquents do not end up owing the company hundreds (or even thousands of dollars more). Instead, it tries to work with struggling users to make repayment arrangements, although that can ultimately include collection agencies and calls to credit bureaus.

To be sure, LendUp isn't the first Internet startup to try its hand at payday lending. Nor is it even the first to use big data analytics to determine credit risk, or to raise venture capital from big name investors. Wonga has been doing it for several years in the UK (at even more usurious rates), while ZestCash began with a similar premise to LendUp before transitioning into a provider of big data on the under-banked to more established lenders. Moreover, many of the larger bricks-and-mortar payday lenders also have online offerings.

The difference, LendUp argues, is that it's using payday as a gateway to providing better loans, rather than as a profitable end in itself.

"If users pay back early or on-time or take one of our credit education courses, they instantly get lower fees on their future loans," explains LendUp co-founder and CEO Sasha Orloff. "You don't get that at a traditional payday lender."

LendUp's website doesn't get into details of these superior loans, but Orloff says that the preferred product is a 2% per month interest rate (plus a one-time application fee). Still higher than what you'd have to pay at the local credit union, but obviously far below typical payday standards.

I have little doubt that Orloff is sincere in his mission. Most of his work history involved microfinance, including time spent with both?Grameen Bank and The World Bank.

What remains to be seen, however, is if LendUp can really disrupt the payday lending market or if it will simply become part of the broader problem.

For starters, Orloff says that the company's pre-approval process has resulted in a customer base that is 100% banked. In fact, users need a bank account to receive the loans. So these aren't the vast underbanked who really need eventual access to those 2% loans. In fact, it's quite the opposite. If someone has already demonstrated a willingness to walk into a bank and set up a checking account, what is stopping that person from walking into a credit union and taking out a short-term loan at a 6% or 8% APR (as opposed to LendUp's 180% APR)?

More importantly, however, LendUp is unable learn if a user is taking out a loan in order to pay off a prior payday loan. Or if it's taking out a payday loan elsewhere to repay its LendUp loan. This phenomenon, which author Gary Rivlin refers to as "payday pinball," is at the heart of why many payday critics believe the industry fosters a cycle of indebtedness.

"Credit reporting laws prohibit us from accessing that type of information," Orloff says. "Pulling someone's credit report can affect their credit history, so we cant do that except at the point in which they are applying for a loan with us.?To be honest, it is something we would love to know."

So, for now, it seems fair to say that LendUp is a better product than the traditional payday loan. At least for those who qualify. Time will tell if the improvement is incremental or disruptive.

Sign up for Dan's daily email newsletter on deals and deal-makers:?GetTermSheet.com

Source: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/10/11/lendup-payday-loan/

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NASA spots first tropical cyclone of southern indian ocean season

Public release date: 12-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

The very first tropical cyclone of the Southern Indian Ocean season has been born, and NASA's TRMM satellite captured an image of its rainfall.

On Oct. 12 at 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT), Tropical Cyclone 01S (TC01S) was "born" about 90 nautical miles (103.6 miles/166.7 km) west-southwest of Diego Garcia, near 8.3 South latitude and 70.6 East longitude. Diego Garcia is a coral atoll located in the south central Indian Ocean and is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory. It is about 1,970 nautical miles (3,650 km) east of Tanzania, Africa.

TC01S had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/64.8 kph), so no sooner formed, than it became a tropical storm. TC01S was moving to the west-southwest at 6 knots (7 mph/11 kph).

When NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over TC01S on Oct. 12 at 0741 UTC (3:41 a.m. EDT), the precipitation radar instrument detected light to moderate rainfall occurring over the center and in a band of thunderstorms wrapping into the center from the southwest. That rain was falling at a rate between .78 to 1.57 inches/20 to 40 mm per hour.

Microwave satellite imagery showed that the system is consolidating, and confirmed the band of thunderstorms wrapping into the center from the southern quadrant.

TC01S is in a good environment to continue strengthening. There is low wind shear and warm waters, two factors that allow a tropical cyclone to intensify.

In last year's season, the first tropical cyclone formed on Dec. 5, 2011, about 545 nautical miles west of the Cocos Islands. This year, we're off to an earlier start.

Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center expect TC01S to continue intensifying over the next three days, Oct. 12, 13 and 14, before wind shear increases and sea surface temperatures decrease.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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.

Public release date: 12-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

The very first tropical cyclone of the Southern Indian Ocean season has been born, and NASA's TRMM satellite captured an image of its rainfall.

On Oct. 12 at 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT), Tropical Cyclone 01S (TC01S) was "born" about 90 nautical miles (103.6 miles/166.7 km) west-southwest of Diego Garcia, near 8.3 South latitude and 70.6 East longitude. Diego Garcia is a coral atoll located in the south central Indian Ocean and is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory. It is about 1,970 nautical miles (3,650 km) east of Tanzania, Africa.

TC01S had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/64.8 kph), so no sooner formed, than it became a tropical storm. TC01S was moving to the west-southwest at 6 knots (7 mph/11 kph).

When NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over TC01S on Oct. 12 at 0741 UTC (3:41 a.m. EDT), the precipitation radar instrument detected light to moderate rainfall occurring over the center and in a band of thunderstorms wrapping into the center from the southwest. That rain was falling at a rate between .78 to 1.57 inches/20 to 40 mm per hour.

Microwave satellite imagery showed that the system is consolidating, and confirmed the band of thunderstorms wrapping into the center from the southern quadrant.

TC01S is in a good environment to continue strengthening. There is low wind shear and warm waters, two factors that allow a tropical cyclone to intensify.

In last year's season, the first tropical cyclone formed on Dec. 5, 2011, about 545 nautical miles west of the Cocos Islands. This year, we're off to an earlier start.

Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center expect TC01S to continue intensifying over the next three days, Oct. 12, 13 and 14, before wind shear increases and sea surface temperatures decrease.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/nsfc-nsf101212.php

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Reports: Smaller iPad to be revealed Oct. 23

FILE - ThisApril 5, 2012 photo shows the company logo at the Apple Store in London. Apple Inc. is set to reveal a smaller, cheaper version of the iPad at an event on Oct. 23, according to several reports published Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/dapd, Martin Oeser, File)

FILE - ThisApril 5, 2012 photo shows the company logo at the Apple Store in London. Apple Inc. is set to reveal a smaller, cheaper version of the iPad at an event on Oct. 23, according to several reports published Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/dapd, Martin Oeser, File)

Apple Inc. is set to reveal a smaller, cheaper version of the iPad at an event on Oct. 23, according to several reports published Friday.

The reports from Bloomberg News, Reuters and the AllThingsD blog are based on unnamed sources "familiar with the plans."

Apple Inc. hasn't said anything about a smaller tablet, a concept company founder Steve Jobs derided two years ago. But company-watchers have assumed for months that an "iPad mini" will appear before the holiday season.

The screen is reportedly about half the size of the iPad's, which measures 9.7 inches diagonally. Analysts speculate the starting price of the device could be about $299.

With the device, Apple could close an opening in the tablet market for rivals like Amazon.com Inc., whose Kindle Fire is half the size of the iPad and starts at $199. Google Inc. and Barnes and Noble Inc. also sell tablets in the same size and price range.

Apple's event would occur three days before Microsoft Corp. releases Windows 8, the new version of its operating system. Microsoft will be releasing its "Surface" tablets with the software.

Apple's stock rose $1.61 on Friday to close at $629.71.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-10-12-Apple-iPad%20Mini/id-2b4ff17555cb4167b508be50771febe3

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National Coming Out Day: 5 Celebs Who Came Out After Divorce

Coming out of the closet after years of marriage isn't easy. But a number of celebrities have bravely made the leap, opening up about their sexuality after being in a committed heterosexual relationships for years.

To celebrate National Coming Out Day, we've assembled a list of five celebs who came out after their marriages ended. Click through to see who they are.

• Wanda Sykes

  Comedian Wanda Sykes was married to record producer <a href="http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/05/wanda-sykes-and-wife-welcome-twins.html">Dave Hall from 1991 to 1998</a>. In November 2008, Sykes publicly <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-02/entertainment/piers.morgan.wanda.sykes_1_wanda-sykes-gay-event-wiener?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ">came out as a lesbian while speaking at an anti-Prop 8 rally</a> in Las Vegas. One month prior, <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-02/entertainment/piers.morgan.wanda.sykes_1_wanda-sykes-gay-event-wiener?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ">Sykes had married her wife, Alex</a>, with whom she has <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20278746,00.html">has two children</a>.

• Portia de Rossi

  Before finding love with Ellen DeGeneres, actress Portia de Rossi was <a href="http://www.thefrisky.com/photos/lesbians-who-used-to-be-straight/covergirl-cosmetics-50th-anniversary-party-arrivals-2/">married to documentary filmmaker Mel Metcalfe</a> from 1996 to 1999. In her 2011 memoir, DeRossi admitted that she married Metcalfe in in an effort to <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1348817/Portia-Rossi-Ex-husband-dumped-ran-brothers-wife.html">obtain a green card</a>. After divorcing in 1999, Portia <a href="http://www.thefrisky.com/photos/lesbians-who-used-to-be-straight/covergirl-cosmetics-50th-anniversary-party-arrivals-2/">dated singer Francesca Gregorini for four years</a> before falling for and <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20219790,00.html">marrying Ellen DeGeneres</a> in August 2008.

• Peter Marc Jacobson

  Writer and producer Peter Marc Jacobson revealed that he was gay two years after he and actress Fran Drescher <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/15/fran-drescher-happily-div_n_877170.html">ended their 21-year marriage.</a> The former couple are now friends -- they even <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/15/fran-dreschers-happily-divorced_n_835851.html">set each other up on dates </a>-- and co-produce the loosely <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/07/fran-drescher-happily-divorced-season-premiere_n_1327512.html">autobiographical TV Land sitcom, "Happily Divorced."</a>

• Kelly McGillis

  Kelly McGillis, who starred alongside Tom Cruise in "Top Gun," revealed she was <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1175410/Im-lesbian-declares-Top-Gun-siren-Kelly-McGillis.html">gay on SheWired.com</a> in April 2009. McGillis, who was married twice to men and has two daughters, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/fashion/weddings/26VOWS.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">wed her partner Melanie Leis</a> in a New Jersey civil union ceremony in September 2010.

• Meredith Baxter

  Meredith Baxter, best known for playing Elyse Keaton on the '80s sitcom "Family Ties," was married three times before she <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34228231/ns/today-entertainment/t/family-ties-mom-i-am-lesbian/">came out of the closet in December 2009</a>. "Some people would say, well, you're living a lie and, you know, the truth is -- not at all. This has only been for the past seven years," the actress <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34228231/ns/today-entertainment/t/family-ties-mom-i-am-lesbian/">told Matt Lauer on the "Today" show</a> that same month.

Related on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/11/national-coming-out-day-5_n_1959471.html

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