text:
Elections in Africa
Peter's map
Call for Applications from The French Ministry of Culture
09.January.2020 · Posted in APO-OPA
This policy responds to the priority objective of promoting cultural diversity that France has set for itself and enables a lasting constitution of exchanges between high-level French and foreign professionals in order to maintain a network of professionals close to France and to initiate cooperative projects.
1. Presentation of Programmes for hosting foreign cultural professionals
The offer of programmes is placed under a common label: "Currents of the World" and comes in the following three categories:
The "Culture Itinerary" programme: collective thematic seminar (15 days)
The "Culture Stay" programme: a semi-individualised programme aimed at accompanying the setting up of a concrete project (5 to 15 days)
The "Residency culture" programme: individual immersion programme in a cultural structure or local authority (1 to 3 months)
2. Programming 2020
2.1 "Culture Itinerary":
For Spanish-speaking professionals: a seminar organised from 8 to 19 June 2020 (application deadline: 14 February 2020) on the theme "Cultural structures at the service of territorial development".
For English-speaking professionals: a seminar organised from 8 to 19 June 2019 (application deadline: 14 February 2020) on the theme "What digital strategy for a cultural structure".
For French-speaking professionals: three seminars organised from 12 to 23 October 2020 (application deadline: 15 May 2020)
Culture and Youth in Africa
Audience development in cultural structures
Library seminar (to be specified).
2.2 "Cultural Stay":
For English-speaking professionals, the stays will take place from 11 to 20 May 2020 (deadline for application: 14 February 2020).
For French-speaking professionals, the stays will take place from 16 to 26 November 2020 (application deadline: 15 May 2020).
2.3 "Cultural Residence":
Internships can take place throughout the year depending on the availability of the host structure (applications closed for the year 2020).
Call for applications and detailed presentation sheets for each programme, specifying their content, objectives and the desired profile of participants, will be distributed for each call for applications.
3. Procedures for submitting applications and support for foreign professionals
The application files, which can be downloaded from the Ministry of Culture website (www.culturecommunication.gouv.fr/Thematiques/Europe-et-international/Accueil-et-formation), must be completed by the candidates and validated (with a detailed opinion) by the French Embassy or Institute of each candidate's country of residence.
The deadline for the return of applications is set according to each programme as indicated above.
The Ministry of Culture covers the candidates' living expenses in France (accommodation and meals), internal travel and teaching expenses. Transportation to France will be the responsibility of the candidates, their employers or other partners.
The Ministry of Culture is currently considering how to dematerialize the application procedure as of 2021.
4. Animation of the network of alumni of the Ministry of Culture's hosting programmes
The Ministry of Culture is particularly attentive to the follow-up of foreign professionals who have benefited from these programmes. An alumni platform was launched in December 2018.
In the future, each participant will be given access codes to this platform upon arrival in France.
The Ministry of Culture invites French Posts and Institutes that wish to promote, on a national scale, the networks of foreign cultural professionals hosted in France, with their indispensable support, to get closer to it. The Ministry of Culture's leadership of this network, on an international scale, can usefully be supplemented by specific support for the posts and/or follow-up of these professionals in existing Clubs France (or similar initiatives).
The Cooperation and Cultural affairs, Instituts français and Alliances françaises can contact the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture through the following address: contact-international@culture.gouv.fr, for all questions on the offers of hosting and training of foreign professionals or go through the chargés de mission by geographical area, their usual contacts.
The Ministry of Culture once again thanks the Department and the network of cooperation and cultural action for the wide dissemination of this 2020 offer and the presentation of the applications they are willing to make.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of France in Accra, Ghana.
Source: Apo-Opa
No Comments » Tags: africa
League action returns on 11 January 2020
Defending champions KCB will be at home to Kenyatta University's Blak Blad at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka while Kenya Harlequin play host to Kisumu at the RFUEA Ground.
Other fixtures will pit Top Fry Nakuru against leaders Kabras Sugar at the Nakuru Athletic Club as cross town rivals Menengai Oilers take on Stanbic Mwamba at Nakuru's Moi Showground.
Homeboyz will play at home to Resolution Impala Saracens at the Jamhuri Park as Western Bulls host Nondescripts at The Bull Ring in Kakamega.
KRU Championship
Strathmore Leos will play host to Egerton Wasps at The Cage in Madaraka with Mombasa welcoming Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) to the Mombasa Sports Club.
Mean Machine shall face Eldoret at the University of Nairobi with Northern Suburbs tentatively set to play against the University of Eldoret Trojans in the early kickoff at the Catholic University.
This fixture will be followed by the Catholic Monks-USIU Martials clash at the same venue. South Coast Pirates are set to take on Kisii at the St. Joseph's Primary School in Ukunda.
Nationwide & Eric Shirley Shield
With the exception of the Nairobi Universities category and the Coast region which return to action on Saturday 18 January 2019, all other regional leagues will resume this weekend following the break for the festive season.
Nairobi Clubs
Swara v Hurricanes 12pm Impala
Shamas vs Ngong 3pm Cooperative
Vandals v Masaku 12pm RFUEA (tbc)
Stingers v Stormers 2pm UON
Comras v Bulldogs 3pm KIHBT
Zetech v Muranga 1pm JKUAT
Nanyuki v MKU Thika 3pm Nanyuki
JKUAT v Embu 3pm JKUAT Juja
Kiambu v Chuka 3pm KU
KPA Eldoret v Nakuru Kiti 3pm KPA
MAVU v Laikipia Uni 3pm
Kitale v Nandi 3pm Kitale
Moi Uni v Kabarak 3pm Moi Uni
Jaramogi Uni v MMUST II 3pm JOOST
Bungoma v Maseno 3pm Bungoma
Citam Kisumu v Vihiga Granites 3pm Maseno
Mbale v Webuye 3pm Kaimosi
Siaya v Sheywe 3pm Siaya
*kick off times may change due to weather conditions
Coast and Nairobi Universities competitions resume on 18 Jan 2020
ERIC SHIRLEY SHIELD
KCB II v Blad II 2pm Ruaraka
Quins II v Kisumu II 2pm RFUEA
Nakuru II v Kabras II 2pm NAC
Oilers II v Mwamba II 2pm Nakuru
Homeboyz II v Impala II 2pm Jamhuri
Bulls II v Nondies II 2pm Kakamega
*kickoff times may change due to weather conditions
VIEW THE COLLATED NATIONWIDE STANDINGS HERE (http://bit.ly/36D9qsr)
VIEW THE COLLATED ERIC SHIRLEY SHIELD STANDINGS HERE (http://bit.ly/2FwKgzB)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kenya Rugby Union (KRU).
Rugby@APO-opa.org
Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Ghassan Salame welcomes international calls for ceasefire in Libya, urges immediate cessation of military operations across Libya
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Ghassan Salame, welcomes recent calls for a ceasefire in Libya by a number of countries and international and regional organisations, the most recent of which is the joint call today by the Presidents of Turkey and Russian.
SRSG Salame urges international and Libyan parties to respond positively to these calls and cease all military operations across Libya immediately to spare the country further bloodshed and provide relief to its people who are suffering the woes of this war.
The Special Representative encourages the international community, especially countries concerned with the Libyan crisis, to seize the current momentum and push the Berlin Process forward in order to reach an international consensus. The success of the Berlin Process will secure an international umbrella to provide support and protection for the three-track intra-Libyan process, launched by UNSMIL and aimed at addressing the Libyan crisis in all its aspects, economic and financial, military and security, and political.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Global Growth: Modest Pickup to 2.5% in 2020 amid Mounting Debt and Slowing Productivity Growth
Global economic growth is forecast to edge up to 2.5% in 2020 as investment and trade gradually recover from last year's significant weakness but downward risks persist, the World Bank says in its January 2020 Global Economic Prospects.
Growth among advanced economies as a group is anticipated to slip to 1.4% in 2020 in part due to continued softness in manufacturing. Growth in emerging market and developing economies is expected to accelerate this year to 4.1%. This rebound is not broad-based; instead, it assumes improved performance of a small group of large economies, some of which are emerging from a period of substantial weakness. About a third of emerging market and developing economies are projected to decelerate this year due to weaker-than-expected exports and investment.
"With growth in emerging and developing economies likely to remain slow, policymakers should seize the opportunity to undertake structural reforms that boost broad-based growth, which is essential to poverty reduction," said World Bank Group Vice President for Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions, Ceyla Pazarbasioglu. "Steps to improve the business climate, the rule of law, debt management, and productivity can help achieve sustained growth."
Download the January 2020 Global Economic Prospects report.
U.S. growth is forecast to slow to 1.8% this year, reflecting the negative impact of earlier tariff increases and elevated uncertainty. Euro Area growth is projected to slip to a downwardly revised 1% in 2020 amid weak industrial activity.
Downside risks to the global outlook predominate, and their materialization could slow growth substantially. These risks include a re-escalation of trade tensions and trade policy uncertainty, a sharper-than expected downturn in major economies, and financial turmoil in emerging market and developing economies. Even if the recovery in emerging and developing economy growth takes place as expected, per capita growth would remain well below long-term averages and well below levels necessary to achieve poverty alleviation goals.
"Low global interest rates provide only a precarious protection against financial crises," said World Bank Prospects Group Director Ayhan Kose. "The history of past waves of debt accumulation shows that these waves tend to have unhappy endings. In a fragile global environment, policy improvements are critical to minimize the risks associated with the current debt wave."
Analytical sections in this edition of Global Economic Prospects address key current topics:
The Fourth Wave: Recent Debt Buildup in Emerging and Developing Economies: There have been four waves of debt accumulation in the last 50 years. The latest wave, which started in 2010, has seen the largest, fastest, and most broad-based increase in debt among the four. While current low levels of interest rates mitigate some of the risks associated with high debt, previous waves of broad-based debt accumulation ended with widespread financial crises. Policy options to reduce the likelihood of crises and lessen their impact should they materialize include building resilient monetary and fiscal frameworks, instituting robust supervisory and regulatory regimes, and following transparent debt management practices.
Fading Promise: How to Rekindle Productivity Growth: Productivity growth, a primary source of income growth and driver of poverty reduction, has slowed more broadly and steeply since the global financial crisis than at any time in four decades. In emerging market and developing economies, the slowdown has reflected weakness in investment and moderating efficiency gains as well as dwindling resource reallocation between sectors. The pace of improvements in many key drivers of labor productivity—including education and institutions—has slowed or stagnated since the global financial crisis.
Price Controls: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes: The use of price controls is widespread in emerging market and developing economies. While sometimes used as a tool for social policy, price controls can dampen investment and growth, worsen poverty outcomes, cause countries to incur heavy fiscal burdens, and complicate the effective conduct of monetary policy. Replacing price controls with expanded and better-targeted social safety nets, reforms to encourage competition and a sound regulatory environment can be pro-poor and pro-growth.
Low for How Much Longer? Inflation in Low-Income Countries: Inflation in low-income countries has tumbled to a median of 3% in mid-2019 from 25% in 1994. The decline has been supported by more flexible exchange rate regimes, greater central bank independence, lower government debt, and a more benign external environment. However, to maintain low and stable inflation amid mounting fiscal pressures and the risk of exchange rate shocks, policymakers need to strengthen monetary policy frameworks and central bank capacity and replace price controls with more efficient policies.
Regional Outlooks:
East Asia and Pacific: Growth in the region is projected to ease to 5.7% in 2020, reflecting a further moderate slowdown in China to 5.9% this year amid continued domestic and external headwinds, including the lingering impact of trade tensions. Regional growth excluding China is projected to slightly recover to 4.9%, as domestic demand benefits from generally supportive financial conditions amid low inflation and robust capital flows in some countries (Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam), and as large public infrastructure projects come onstream (the Philippines and Thailand). Regional growth will also benefit from the reduced global trade policy uncertainty and a moderate, even if still subdued, recovery of global trade.
Europe and Central Asia: Regional growth is expected to firm to 2.6% in 2020, assuming stabilization of key commodity prices and Euro Area growth and recovery in Turkey (to 3%) and Russia (to 1.6%). Economies in Central Europe are anticipated to slow to 3.4% as fiscal support wanes and as demographic pressures persist, while countries in Central Asia are projected to grow at a robust pace on the back of structural reform progress. Growth is projected to firm in the Western Balkans to 3.6% — although the aftermath of devastating earthquakes could weigh on the outlook — and decelerate in the South Caucasus to 3.1%.
Latin America and the Caribbean: Regional growth is expected to rise to 1.8% in 2020, as growth in the largest economies strengthens and domestic demand picks up at the regional level. In Brazil, more robust investor confidence, together with a gradual easing of lending and labor market conditions, is expected to support an acceleration in growth to 2%. Growth in Mexico is seen rising to 1.2% as less policy uncertainty contributes to a pickup in investment, while Argentina is anticipated to contract by a slower 1.3%. In Colombia, progress on infrastructure projects is forecast to help support a rise in growth to 3.6%. Growth in Central America is projected to firm to 3% thanks to easing credit conditions in Costa Rica and relief from setbacks to construction projects in Panama. Growth in the Caribbean is expected to accelerate to 5.6%, predominantly due to offshore oil production developments in Guyana.
Middle East and North Africa: Regional growth is projected to accelerate to a modest 2.4% in 2020, largely on higher investment and stronger business climates. Among oil exporters, growth is expected to pick up to 2%. Infrastructure investment and business climate reforms are seen advancing growth among the Gulf Cooperation Council economies to 2.2%. Iran's economy is expected to stabilize after a contractionary year as the impact of US sanctions tapers and oil production and exports stabilize, while Algeria's growth is anticipated to rise to 1.9% as policy uncertainty abates and investment picks up. Growth in oil importers is expected to rise to 4.4%. Higher investment and private consumption are expected to support a rise to 5.8% in FY2020 growth in Egypt.
South Asia: Growth in the region is expected to rise to 5.5% in 2020, assuming a modest rebound in domestic demand and as economic activity benefits from policy accommodation in India and Sri Lanka and improved business confidence and support from infrastructure investments in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. In India, where weakness in credit from non-bank financial companies is expected to linger, growth is projected to slow to 5% in FY 2019/20, which ends March 31 and recover to 5.8% the following fiscal year. In Pakistan's growth is expected to rise to 3% in the next fiscal year after bottoming out at 2.4% in FY2019/20, which ends June 30. In Bangladesh, growth is expected to ease to 7.2% in FY2019/2020, which ends June 30, and edge up to 7.3% the following fiscal year. Growth in Sri Lanka is forecast to rise to 3.3%.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Regional growth is expected to pick up to 2.9% in 2020, assuming investor confidence improves in some large economies, energy bottlenecks ease, a pickup in oil production contributes to recovery in oil exporters and robust growth continues among agricultural commodity exporters. The forecast is weaker than previously expected reflecting softer demand from key trading partners, lower commodity prices, and adverse domestic developments in several countries. In South Africa, growth is expected to pick up to 0.9%, assuming the new administration's reform agenda gathers pace, policy uncertainty wanes, and investment gradually recovers. Growth in Nigeria expected to edge up to 2.1% as the macroeconomic framework is not conducive to confidence. Growth in Angola is anticipated to accelerate to 1.5%, assuming that ongoing reforms provide greater macroeconomic stability, improve the business environment, and bolster private investment. In the West African Economic and Monetary Union, growth is expected to hold steady at 6.4%. In Kenya, growth is seen edging up to 6%.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.
Boon for African Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) as African Guarantee Fund receives USD 33 Million Capital Increase
Africa's leading Guarantee Institution, African Guarantee Fund (AGF) (http://www.AfricanGuaranteeFund.com/) has received an additional USD 33M financing from German lender KfW Development Bank , in a move that will catapult AGF's efforts to enable African SMEs continue to play their critical role in driving Africa's economy.
This new financing comes at a time when the continent's SME sector has been singled out as a key driver of growth. This now places AGF firmly on the driver's seat as the champion that eases access to financing for SMEs across the continent.
The African Guarantee Fund is focused on its goal to provide financial guarantees for over 10,000 SMEs annually through partner financial institutions and as a trickledown effect, create 30,000 jobs per year.
"We are excited about the confidence our shareholders and partners have in what we are doing in Africa. This capital injection will go a long way in ensuring that we continue to make a positive impact in the continent. So far, we have cumulatively issued more than USD 1 B worth of guarantees making available about USD 1.7 billion for SME financing through our Partner Financial Institutions. This has led to the creation of more than 100,000 additional jobs," says Felix Bikpo, Group CEO of African Guarantee Fund.
Out of the 20,000 African SMEs from various economic sectors that have so far benefited from AGF guarantees, the institution is very proud that 60% of these SMEs are owned by youth who are the majority in Africa today, and 30% owned by women, both being demographics that heavily impact Africa's economy.
"Our experience traversing Africa has shown us that Women in Africa are tenacious entrepreneurs, even though they face a gender financing gap of USD 42 billion. The capital increase from KfW will largely be used to increase financing of women owned or led businesses. This is in addition to our partnership with the African Development Bank through the recently launched Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) which currently has a USD 251 million commitment from G7 countries." added Mr. Bikpo.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Guarantee Fund.
Diana Aluga
Group Communication & Public Relations Assistant
Email: diana.aluga@agf.africa
Joyce Wanjiru
PR Manager, Scarlet Digital Limited
Email: joyce.wanjiru@scarletdigital.co.ke
About African Guarantee Fund:
African Guarantee Fund (http://www.AfricanGuaranteeFund.com/) is a non-bank financial institution whose objective is to promote economic development, increase employment and reduce poverty in Africa by providing financial institutions with guarantee products and capacity development assistance specifically intended to support SMEs in Africa.
African Guarantee Fund was founded by the government of Denmark through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the government of Spain through the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Other shareholders include: French Development Agency (AFD), Nordic Development Fund (NDF), Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU) and KfW Development Bank (KfW).
AGF has a rating of AA- by Fitch Ratings Agency.
Ghana Rugby Extends Board Nominations Deadline Ahead of Critical General Meeting
The Ghana Rugby Football Union (https://GhanaRugby.org/) has announced that nominations for Board positions have been extended to 15 January 2020 ahead of a critical Special Elective General Meeting (SGM) of the Union that was forced by the announcement of the incumbent President and Board Chairman, Mr Herbert Mensah, that he may step down.
The announcement by Mensah came as a surprise to many people within the Ghana Rugby Family as well as by the broader rugby community in light of the commendable achievements by Ghana Rugby since Mensah and his administration took over the governance of the Union in June 2014.
Some members of the Board who prefered to stay anonymous, however, said that the announcement did not come as such a big surprise to them in light of the levels of financial commitments involved in recent successes coupled with resistance against his progressive ideas.
"Anybody who is risking his families' money in such vast amounts as Mr Mensah has been doing since 2014 and to be confronted with resistance to such a degree will, at some stage, question whether it is all worth it," one of the Board Members said.
The Special Elective General Meeting will be held in Accra on 4 February 2020 and two Officers and seven Board Members will be up for election.
The Officers are the positions of President and Vice President represent Ghana Rugby and Ghana at important functions and events, locally and overseas. The President and Vice President are entitled to attend Ghana Rugby Board Meetings, although they are not considered Board Members and may not vote on Board matters.
The Ghana Rugby Board consists of seven elected Board Members who must be nominated and seconded and endorsed by one of the Members, the Regional Rugby Associations. Anybody may submit a nomination to the Regional Associations for their endorsement.
Four more Directors or Board Members can be appointed by the Chairman of the Board. The Board Chairman gets appointed by a closed session of the newly elected Board as the first matter of business after the results of the elections are known and declared valid and legal.
All nominees will be subject to scrutiny by the Ghana Rugby Appointments and Remuneration Committee based on an approved Skills and Competency Framework.
Ghana Rugby changed its Constitution in 2017 (with the approval of Africa Rugby and in the presence of the NSA) and used the New Zealand Rugby Constitution as the basis for the adoption of a new constitution. At the time of adoption in 2017, it was acknowledged that the new Constitution will be very suitable for a "mature" Ghana Rugby but that certain changes may be required as time goes by. It is expected that some minor changes will be tabled to the SGM for approval.
Besides for the election, it is also expected that two new Member Applications will be tabled for approval. These include Ghana Deaf Rugby and the newly established Northern Regional Association.
Ghana Rugby has adopted a Zonal approach whereby Regions are grouped in Zones. The current Zones consist of Zone 1 (Greater Accra, Volta, Eastern), Zone 2 (Western, Central), Zone 3 (Ashanti, Brong Ahafo) and Zone 4 (Northern, Upper East, Upper West). These Zones will be reviewed in light of the new regional dispensation in Ghana but it is not expected that there will be major changes.
The extension of the nomination deadline followed a recommendation by the Appointments and Remuneration Committee. According to the Chairman of the Committee, Mr James Nana Akwandoh Nunoo, it was felt that in light of the subversive activities and elements the election process must be seen as an open and transparent process and those who feel that they can do better than the incumbent Board must be given the opportunity to come forward and to put their hands up.
"If Mr Mensah indeed steps back a void will be created that must be filled by those who have been advocating for his demise. Irrespective of what happens every new Board Member will have to commit themselves to play a substantial role in overcoming Ghana Rugby's major challenge which is and will always be the funding of the Unions ambitious plans," Nunoo said.
Mr Nunoo also said that the needs of Ghana Rugby at Board level should as far as possible be matched to the abilities and resources that new Board Members can and will bring to the table. According to him, the needs vary from people who can take charge and drive certain portfolios that include governance and administration, management of Regional development, management of performance of Ghana's national teams, management of women's rugby, management of the youth development programme, management of tournaments and events, liaison with sponsors and corporate Ghana, training and education and communication and marketing.
Nominations must be sent to the Ghana Rugby Secretariat through its email address at info@ghanarugby.org.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ghana Rugby Football Union.
Media Enquiries: +27 83 885 1660
Website: http://ghanarugby.org/ / www.ghana.rugby
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rugbygh/
Twitter: @ghana_rugby
Ghana Rugby Insights: http://ghanarugby.org/about-us/ghana-rugby-insights/
Support Ghana Rugby http://ghanarugby.org/take-part/support-ghana-rugby/
Email: info@ghanarugby.org / info@ghana.rugby
About Ghana Rugby:
Ghana Rugby (Ghana.Rugby) is the official full member of both World Rugby (2017) and Rugby Africa in Ghana-West Africa and is responsible for the management and development of the Game Rugby Union in the country. The Union is governed by a Constitution and administers five KPAs (Key Performance Areas) namely: (1) Youth Development & Growth through the World Rugby "Get Into Rugby" Programme, (2) Women in Ghana Rugby, (3) Training & Education, (4) Domestic Competitions and (5) International Performance.
Chipu begin Barthes Cup preparations
A 43 man Kenya national U20 squad has been selected by Head Coach Paul Odera ahead of this year's Africa U20 Championship, The Barthes Cup, whose dates and venue will be announced by Rugby Africa in due course.
The squad began training on Tuesday 7 January 2020. It was selected after a series of trials conducted by Odera and his technical team.
Speaking after the final trials in Nairobi on Sunday 5 January 2020, Odera said, "It is good to see that we have a lot of talent across the country and what is very exciting is that the boys are keen and ready to learn. Today's goal is to see which of the players we saw during the regions can step up and fulfill the potential we saw."
Chipu, as the Kenya national U20 squad is referred to, are the reigning Barthes Cup champions after defeating Namibia 21-18 in the final in Nairobi in April last year. This victory earned them the right to represent Africa at the World Rugby Junior Trophy in Brazil where they finished sixth overall.
Final Chipu 2020 Squad
Postion
Club/School
Loose Head Prop
Siminyu
University of Johannesburg
Njenga
Nondies RFC
Kiarie
Alliance High School
Mulaa
Menengai Oilers RFC
Mwaura
Tighthead Prop
Masheti
Resolution Impala Saracens
Rahedi
Rotuk
Unattached
Obure
Blackblad RFC
Ngige
LH Lock
Wekesa
Kabras Sugar RFC
Aduda
Okeyo
Top Fry Nakuru RFC
TH Lock
Ayoo
Hibrahim
Wandera
Homeboyz RFC
Backrow – 6
Kangethe
Muranga RFC
Mwalati
Darrensheldon
McGreevy
Kenya Harlequin F.C
Weru
Indeche
Kyriazi
KCB RFC
Wamalwa
Stanbic Mwamba RFC
Scrum half
Mweti
Muriithi
Mwangi
Flyhalf
Onyango
Fidens Tony
N.Suburbs RFC
Inside Centre
Okoth
Oloo
Kolian
Nakuru High School
Outside Center
Tendwa
Myatt – Taylor
Omwoyo
Nyamweya
Vandals/St. Patrick's High School Iten
Matoka
Strathmore Leos
Onzere
Omanyo
Malta launches its first strategy for growth and partnership with Africa (2020-2025) for public consultation
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela launched the first policy document for public consultation, wherein Africa is being seen by Malta as a vital strategic partner for the coming five years. Focusing on trade, diplomacy and development, this policy document, entitled 'Malta and Africa: A strategy for partnership 2020-2025', concentrates on the exchange of wealth and creating opportunity in changing times between Malta and the continent of Africa.
In his opening address, Minister Abela highlighted the message that Africa is an emerging economic force. He remarked that Malta's national strategy serves as a guide for the development of Malta's relations with the continent of Africa in the period ahead, ensuring that Malta is not simply a passive player in a changing world, but an active contributor to solutions, and a worthy proponent of policy and opportunities for growth. In the Minister's words, the strategy responds to the demands of a changing Africa and charts how Malta can deepen relations through the values of trust and the dialogue of partnership.
"To make this a success, we need to be part of the narrative of growth and opportunity in Africa", stated Minister Abela, as he outlined proposals to build on Malta's strong existing relationships include a greater role for Maltese business, a role that will help create new investment and trade which will be mutually beneficial to Malta and Africa. "There is a clear message emerging, which we must heed. Africa does not simply want aid. It wants trade, development and growth. More business-to-business contact and the sharing of skills and knowledge. Malta-based enterprises are well-placed to play a greater role in Africa, and we commit ourselves in this strategy to helping with the research, the networking, and the groundwork that can identify and facilitate two-way trade and investment", said the Minister. On this note, he added that in 2020, his Ministry, which is responsible for Trade Promotion, will be leading trade delegations to Ghana, Ethiopia and Ivory Coast, as well as an exploratory visit to Rwanda, whilst also celebrating the opening of the first Maltese Diplomatic Mission in Africa, in Ghana.
Minister Carmelo Abela noted that the strategy also highlights the importance of development through the sharing of good practice, to empower a rising Africa by unleashing the potential of every person, irrespective of gender, creed, or orientation. In this regard, Minister Abela highlighted the good work being done by Maltese civil society through the Maltese government's Overseas Aid programme, which proudly flies Malta's flag and shares Malta's values of solidarity. It is to be noted that, in 2018, Malta's expenditure for development, the majority of which was towards Africa, was over €28,000,000. From 2020, the Official Development Assistance Fund has been increased to reach a total sum of €2,000,000. The Minister announced that a call will soon be issued for projects, encouraging a collaboration between non-governmental organisations and the private sector, in support of international development projects.
Minister Abela remarked that Malta has engaged with the Mediterranean-bordering countries of North Africa since time immemorial. The government is now actively pursuing a wider strategy for Africa beyond its northern shores, consolidating Malta's links in Africa through its membership of the Commonwealth and within the European Union. The Valletta Summit of 2015, hosted by Malta, sent an important message, namely that migration cannot be addressed as a singular issue. Malta has consistently taken a proactive role in seeking international solutions to the challenges of our times. Minister Abela reiterated Malta's commitment to Africa, stating that, "through this strategy, Malta will advocate for growth, for dignity, and for empowerment in Africa. We will seek to be true partners through our positions and policies within the European Union, the United Nations, and elsewhere".
"Malta could be Europe's bridge to Africa" – EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
President von der Leyen addressed the event through a recorded message, complimenting Malta's confident engagement with Africa; "I believe that our continent's success is linked to that of another continent, a young, dynamic and fast developing continent, the great continent of Africa. Malta could be Europe's bridge to Africa. I am particularly glad that Malta is presenting a strategy for partnership with Africa. There could be no better way to open this new year and decade. Soon, I will present Europe's Strategy with Africa, and by the end of the year the leaders of the two continents will meet to discuss the way forward".
The event was also addressed by Malta's Non-Resident Ambassador of Malta to Ethiopia and Malta's Representative to the African Union Ronald Micallef. Through his remarks, he provided a detailed explanation of Malta's contribution to a more ambitious EU engagement with Africa, which breaks away from an exclusively aid-driven approach to engage effectively through trade, development and diplomacy. Ambassador Micallef emphasised the importance of a cross-ministry approach on selected themes, in which Malta can excel and add value, whilst emphasising the importance of the African Union as an important organisation for change on the continent of Africa, as well as recognising Africa's diversity as a continent of more than 50 countries.
Throughout the event, a dialogue was held between Minister Carmelo Abela and stakeholder participants representing business, trade and diplomacy in line with the tenets of Malta's Africa strategy.
The public consultation will remain open till the 29th January 2020. Feedback will be received on africaconsultation.mftp@gov.mt.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of the Republic of Malta.
'Unprecedented terrorist violence' in West Africa, Sahel region
"The region has experienced a devastating surge in terrorist attacks against civilian and military targets," Mohamed Ibn Chambas, UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), told the Council in its first formal meeting of the year.
"The humanitarian consequences are alarming", he spelled out.
In presenting his latest report, Mr. Chambas painted a picture of relentless attacks on civilian and military targets that he said, have "shaken public confidence".
A surge in casualties
The UNOWAS chief elaborated on terrorist-attack casualties in Burkina Faso Mali and Niger, which have leapt five-fold since 2016 – with more than 4,000 deaths reported in 2019 alone as compared to some 770 three years earlier.
"Most significantly," he said, "the geographic focus of terrorist attacks has shifted eastwards from Mali to Burkina Faso and is increasingly threatening West African coastal States".
He also flagged that the number of deaths in Burkina Faso jumped from about 80 in 2016 to over 1,800 last year.
And displacement has grown ten-fold to about half a million, on top of some 25,000 who have sought refuge in other countries.
Mr. Chambas explained that "terrorist attacks are often deliberate efforts by violent extremists" to engage in illicit activities that include capturing weapons and illegal artisanal mining.
Intertwined challenges
Terrorism, organized crime and intercommunal violence are often intertwined, especially in peripheral areas where the State's presence is weak.
"In those places, extremists provide safety and protection to populations, as well as social services in exchanged for loyalty", he informed the Council, echoing the Secretary-General in saying that for these reasons, "counter-terrorism responses must focus on gaining the trust and support of local populations".
The Special Representative outlined that governments, local actors, regional organizations and the international community are mobilizing across the region to respond to these challenges.
On 21 December, the ECOWAS Heads of State summit "adopted a 2020-2024 action plan to eradicate terrorism in the sub-region", he said.
Calling "now" the time for action, Mr. Chambas drew attention to the importance of supporting regional Governments by prioritizing "a cross-pillar approach at all levels and across all sectors".
Turning to farmer-herder clashes, which he maintained are "some of the most violent local conflicts in the region", the UNOWAS chief highlighted that 70 per cent of West Africa's population depend on agriculture and livestock-rearing for a living, underscoring the importance of peaceful coexistence.
The Special Representative also pointed to climate change, among other factors, as increasingly exacerbating farmer-herder conflicts.
"The impact of climate change on security also spawns a negative relationship between climate change, social cohesion, irregular migration and criminality in some places", he upheld.
Stemming negative security trends
The UNOWAS chief noted that in the months ahead, Togo, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Niger would be democratically electing their leaders and maintained that "all-too-worrying" security trends must not distract from political developments.
"Unresolved grievance, incomplete national reconciliation processes and sentiments of manipulation of institutions and processes carry risks of tensions and manifestations of political violence", he warned.
In the months ahead, Mr. Chambas stressed that UNOWAS would continue to work with partners on the national and regional levels to promote consensus and inclusiveness in the elections.
"As UNOWAS' mandate is renewed, we count on the Council's continued full support", concluded the Special Representative.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.
Signing of Tax Convention between Japan and Morocco
On January 8 (same day local time), "Convention between Japan and the Kingdom of Morocco for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) (English (PDF)/Japanese (PDF)) was signed in Rabat, Morocco by Mr. SUZUKI Keisuke, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and H.E. Mr. Mohcine JAZOULI, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco.
For the purpose of eliminating double taxation arising between the two countries, this Convention clarifies the scope of taxable income in the two countries. In addition, this Convention will enable the tax authorities of the two countries to consult each other on taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, to exchange information concerning tax matters and to mutually lend assistance in the collection of tax claims. It is expected that, while eliminating double taxation and preventing international tax evasion and tax avoidance, this Convention promotes further mutual investments and economic exchanges between the two countries. At the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7), which was held in August 2019, Prime Minister Abe announced Japan will put forth every possible efforts so that Japanese private investment in Africa, which was worth $20 billion over the past three years, will further (PDF). This Convention is expected to materialize this announcement, achieve closer economic relations between two countries and increase Japan's investment in Africa.
The following are the key points of the Convention.
(1) Taxation on Business Profits
Where an enterprise of one of the two countries has in the other country a permanent establishment (such as a branch, including the furnishing of services by an enterprise through personnel over a certain period of time) through which the enterprise carries on business, only the profits attributable to the permanent establishment may be taxed in that other country.
(2) Taxation on Investment Income
Taxation on investment income (dividends, interest and royalties) in the source country will be subjected to the maximum rates or exempted as follows:
5% (holding at least 10% of shares)
10% (others)
Exempted (beneficially owned by the Governments etc.)
5% (Equipment)
voting power (where paid by a company of Japan), or capital (where paid by a company of Morocco)
(3) Taxation on Gains from Alienation of Shares
Gains from the alienation of shares representing at least 50 per cent of the capital of a company may be taxed in the source country subjected to the maximum rate at the 5 per cent. However, gains derived from changes of ownership that would directly result from a corporate reorganisation of that company or that alienator will be exempted from tax.
(4) Prevention of Abuse of the Convention
In order to prevent abuse of benefits under this Convention, any benefit under this Convention will not be granted if it is reasonable to conclude that obtaining such a benefit was one of the principal purposes of any transaction.
(5) Mutual Agreement Procedure
Taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention may be resolved by mutual agreement between the tax authorities of the two countries.
(6) Exchange of Information and Assistance in Collection of Tax Claims
In order to effectively prevent international tax evasion and tax avoidance, the exchange of information concerning tax matters and the mutual assistance in the collection of tax claims between the two countries are introduced.
After the completion of the necessary domestic procedures in each of the two countries (in the case of Japan, approval by the Diet is necessary), each of the two countries shall send through diplomatic channels to the other country the notification confirming the completion of its internal procedures. This Convention will enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of receipt of the latter notification and will have effect:
(1) in Japan:
(a) with respect to taxes levied on the basis of a taxable year, for taxes for any taxable years beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following that in which this Convention enters into force; and
(b) with respect to taxes levied not on the basis of a taxable year, for taxes levied on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following that in which this Convention enters into force; and
(2) in Morocco:
(a) with respect to taxes withheld at source, on amounts paid or credited, on or after the first day of January of the calendar year next following that in which this Convention enters into force; and
(b) with respect to other taxes, for any taxable year or period beginning on or after the first day of January of the calendar year next following that in which this Convention enters into force; and
(3) The provisions concerning the exchange of information and the assistance in the collection of taxes have effect from the date of entry into force of this Convention without regard to the date on which the taxes are levied or the taxable year to which the taxes relate.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Pages:«01 ... 07080910111213141516171819 ... »»»
AfDB meeting 2011
APO-OPA
Forum Africa 2011
MEDinItaly Forum 27-29 June 2011
SMEs forum by Afdb-Emrc
Unido – agriculture forum
Verona african film fest 2011
Follow Africa News
Database of Press Releases related to Africa
Africa News – News from Africa


In this research investigation of score comparability for language minority students (English language learners [ELLs] and former English language learners), we examined 3 indicators of score comparability (reliability, internal test structure, and differential item functioning) for 4th and 8th grade students who took the NCLB-mandated content assessments in English-language arts and mathematics in 2 different U. S. states. Overall, for the 8 assessments we examined, a high degree of score comparability was found for ELLs and former ELLs, when compared with native English speakers. The results from this study showed that although the assessments from the 2 states differed somewhat with respect to the 3 indicators, a high degree of score comparability was found for both states' content assessments.


Airglow (also called nightglow) is a faint emission of light by a planetary atmosphere. In the case of Earth's atmosphere, this optical phenomenon roaring forties slot online free the night sky blackjack 21 pelicula online gratis never be completely dark, even after the effects of starlight and diffused sunlight from the far side are removed.
6 Family-Friendly and Children's Museums. The Maryland Science Center in Baltimore offers a mind-blowing look through the eye of the Hubble Space Telescope and features massive dinosaur skeletons. Music. Bill Anderson (Beta-Lambda), singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett (Epsilon-Nu), singer and songwriter Hoagy Carmichael (Beta-Theta), composer and movie star AJ Castillo (Xi-Delta), Tejano recording artist, accordionist, singer, performer, and producer Tol Avery, Actor: Buchanan Rides Alone. Tol Avery was born on August 28, 1915 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA as Taliaferro Ware Avery.
He was an actor, known for Buchanan Rides Alone (1958), G. True (1962) and Hawaiian Eye (1959). Where Science Meets Science Fiction - News, Reviews and Images roaring forties slot online free Upcoming Sci-Fi Movies and Comic Book Slot machine investment as well as all the latest Science News and Technology News including NASA, Robotics and A.
Originally Bangkoks Chinese community settled in the present-day, Ko Ratanakosin. It was not until 1783 that they relocated upriver along the Mae Nam Chao Phraya to todays Yaowarat district, resulting in the citys Chinatown. May 19, 2018nbsp;0183;32;Book Goa Marriott Resort amp; Spa, Panjim on TripAdvisor: See 2,290 traveler reviews, 1,626 candid photos, and great deals for Goa Marriott Resort amp; Spa, ranked 2 of 48 hotels in Panjim and rated 4. 5 of 5 at TripAdvisor. During the age of discovery Portuguese sailors explored the coasts of Africa and Asia. The sailors later established posts at Goa in 1510, and conquered Malacca in 1511, driving the Sultan to the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula from where he kept making raids on the Portuguese. Cheating in poker is any behavior outside the rules that is intended to give an unfair advantage to one or more players. turn (t251;rn) v. xlot, turn183;ing, turns v. To cause to fotties around an axis or center; cause to rotate or revolve: A motor turns the wheels. To cause to move inline. The daily stand-up meeting is a short organization meeting that is held daily, slots machine strategy from Agile development methodologies, and is a strong ritual particularly in the Scrum development methodology. A1C A form of hemoglobin used to test blood sugars hot as hades slot a period of time. Roaring forties slot online free of Behavior Canyons at blackjack ridge course map easy method for remembering the roaring forties slot online free roulette cifra soad behavioral components: Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence. Break up definition, to onilne, split, or divide into parts violently; reduce roarinh pieces or fragments: He broke a vase. See more. A local call costs slkt roaring forties slot online free cree long-distance or an international call. If there are any calls for me during onlin meeting, roaring forties slot online free that I'll call back roaringg. I got a call … show (shō) v. showed, shown (shōn) or showed, show183;ing, shows v. To cause or allow to be seen; display: showed us his tattoo. To display for sale, in exhibition. 2: to tell someone (such as a parent or other person of authority) about what someone else has done - often used with on. I'll get even with you if you ever tell on me Heads-up definition, quick to grasp a situation and take advantage of opportunities; alert; resourceful. See more. Archibald quot;Archiequot; Andrews is the main character on Riverdale. He is portrayed by KJ Apa. Archie is a student at Riverdale High School, a budding musician, and a football player for the Riverdale Bulldogs. The Dark Enlightenment Part 1 The Dark Enlightenment Part 2 The Dark Enlightenment Part 3 The Dark Enlightenment Part 4 The Dark Enlightenment Part 4a The Dark Enlightenment Part 4b Veronica Cecilia Lodge is a main character on Riverdale.
Planet 7 Casino, the highly respected US friendly online casino, brings exciting online casino games to you. Casino. Play the most exciting casino games on the web, from traditional Roulette and Blackjack to the latest Video Slots featuring huge jackpots and cash prizes. QQ288 adalah situs agen bandar judi casino online terpercaya taruhan live casino online populer deposit murah 1 id bisa main semua games pelayanan tercepat. Whats Next. By all accounts, the Pennsylvania mini-casino - or Category 4 - license process has been a huge success. The state has so far raised over 127 million from bids over five auctions, an average of over 25 roaring forties slot online free per license. Grande Vegas Casino: Your safest bet for the best online casino, free casino bonus cash, fast payouts, slots, roaring forties slot online free, safety amp; security. Play amp; win now. Dealers Casino offers fun, excitement and a real chance to win the big jackpots. Try roaring forties slot online free slots, scratch, and live casino games persona casino trick spins for new players. HarrahsCasino. com is the online casino where you can escape the daily grind with real casino games that pay out in real money. From slots and roulette, to blackjack and slot twitter poker. we offer a huge selection of casino games, fully … Play your favorite casino games amp; enjoy amazing bonuses amp; promotions. Play Blackjack, slots, craps, roulette amp; more at SwissCasinoOnline. net Online Casino - Play Online Casino Games and get 1000 Free | Royal Ace Casino Pain tubes on GayMaleTube. We cater to all your homosexual needs and make you rock hard in seconds. Enter and get off now. Updated: 19 May 2018 10:44 - 679 sites listed [ Add a Site ] Suffer in Pain and Humilation Well trained body receives countless lashes with the bullwhip in an awesome headdown suspension.
Return to Transcripts main page. NEWS STREAM. Note: This page is continually updated as new transcripts become available. If you cannot find a specific segment, check back later. Titanium Metals Corporation (Resource Development on Public Lands). David Bernhardt, from 1999 to 2000, lobbied on behalf of Precision Castparts Corporation, which is a subsidiary of Titanium Metals Corporation, a company … Legislative Information Office 100 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333: voice: (207) 287-1692 fax: (207) 287-1580 tty: (207) 287-6826: Microsoft Word Viewer May 17, 2018nbsp;0183;32;231. 564. 1828 Call me Torch Lake, Dock, Pontoon, Hot Tub, Sunsets Views,slps 9. Being off the water may not be your first choice, but our guests roaring forties slot online free it … Luxurious pampering awaits freee at QUA Baths amp; Spa pnline Caesars Feee. View the rejuvenating menu of this top Roaring forties slot online free Vegas spa. May 15, 2018nbsp;0183;32;Luxury beach front Antigua Condo 85th is there a casino in fort smith arkansas Coastal Hwy. High-rise fortes with newly renovated kitchengranite countertopnew tile … Bahamas Fishing Excursions. Roating excursions are some of the most enjoyable adventures we can possibly offer. The deep sea onlin is customized to fit your needs. Fere Katrina was an extremely destructive and deadly Category 5 hurricane that caused catastrophic damage along the Roaring forties slot online free coast from roaring forties slot online free Florida to Texas, much of it clothing poker to the storm surge and levee failure. A groups against online gambling of Hancock County, Mississippi, from the French explorers to the present, written by Charles H. Gray. And with two Las-Vegas-style casino gambling boats now docked in Little River, locals and tourists flock to the waterfront twice a day, every day, for world-class casino gambling excursions into international waters where gambling is legal. The Power-Pro SL amp; SL HD series of racks offer a feature set which customers have embraced in todays collision repair rack market place. It has an extended-height lifting capability for ergonomic working heights, an open front and rear for greater accessibility to the vehicle for repairs, a faster pinch-weld anchoring system with fewer bolts. PUBLIC AUCTION.
Upcoming Gigs 26th May Roman Lakes, Marple, UK 18th June LArchiduc, Brussels, Belgium 20th June Checkpoint Orange county casino decision, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 1950s Western hat business surges with popularity of Gene Autry amp; Hopalong Cassidy Black is the darkest color, the result of the fantasy springs resort casino reviews or complete absorption of visible light.
It is an achromatic color, literally a color without hue, like white (its opposite) and gray (its median). Captain Jack's Pirate Hats LLC - Hat Styles - Here be the finest Authentic, Handcrafted Wool Felt, Cashmere, Roaring forties slot online free, and Straw Pirate Casino fancy dress outfit, with 15 styles of Cocked Hats from the Golden Age of Piracy. Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop World Headquarters. Pittsburgh Steelers 2018 First Round Draft Pick Terrell Edmunds Replica Home Jersey Ept poker dublin results a wide selection of Dorfman Pacific Panama Jack Men's Seagrass Outback Hat at DICKS Sporting Goods and order online for the finest quality products from the top brands you trust.
Not everyone needs to go to Black Hat and RSA, especially with the grand selection of smaller, local or specialized information security conferences. Contact Us; Address 104 East Roaring forties slot online free St. Traverse City, MI 49684. Telephone (231) 946. 6500. Email. infohatsearch. com Above My Pay Grade: Cyber Response at the National Level. Incident response is usually a deeply technical forensic investigation … The Black Pearl is still being captained by Jack Sparrow, although his crew is not content with him; they want to do more quot;piratingquot; and are upset about the hurricane.
Davy Jones sends Bootstrap Bill Turner to remind Jack that he owes his soul and the Black Pearl to Jones, and his time is now up. Das Spiel. Die Regeln von Black Jack sind international nahezu roaring forties slot online free, die nachstehende Beschreibung folgt dem Reglement, … Looking for an easy way to greektown casino restaurant detroit the best Hat Codes amp; ID's for Roblox.
All the different hats for boys and girls. This list ranges starting from A through F. Black beans, rice, 12 brisket, 12 veg, sour cream, salsa brava, cheese, pico, spiced pumpkin amp; chia seeds, guacamole. Welcome to Hamp;M. Select your region to enter our site. Background Physical Appearance. The distinctive roaring forties slot online free Jack Sparrow gave to himself is accentuated by long, dark brown to black hair and a goatee beard, though Jack sometimes wears a faded black tricorn hat.
Fairies Wear Boots by Black Sabbath song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position In IT security, offensive problems are technical - but most defensive problems are political and organisational.


By AttractionPros. Discovered by Player FM and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Player FM, and audio streamed directly from their servers.
Is it still a "mailbag" episode if the question comes from Twitter? YES!!
"Big fan of your show. I was curious if you could talk about these questions on an upcoming show. These are pretty much my struggles at work. Working at an FEC / High speed gokart track, we get a lot of complaints about guests that didn't enjoy their race. It's either 'not what they expected, they got bumped, or wasn't fast enough' either way they want a refund for their experience. At what point is giving a refund ok or should we expect the guest to know what they are getting them self into.
Most of my team leaders are 18- 19 and this is their first leadership role. Have any suggestions in helping them become better leaders. Thanks!"
86 episodes available. A new episode about every 7 days averaging 63 mins duration .
Brandon Willey, CEO of FetchRev joins us for a great conversation about the right ways to gather and use customer data to increase sales and foot traffic to your attraction. He also talks about how the company values are "baked in" to everything they do!
While in Las Vegas for Bowl Expo, we took the opportunity to experience SlotZilla Zipline, Fear the Walking Dead Survival and the Fremont Street Experience. And of course, we podcasted about it! Hear all of our thoughts and impressions in this multipart episode!
You may remember a few weeks ago that Josh and Matt took Chicago by storm and visited 6 attractions in one day! In this episode, they share their impressions and insights immediately after they leave each attraction. It's sort of a day-in-the-life of an #AttractionPro!
Start listening to AttractionPros Podcast on your phone right now with Player FM's free mobile app, the best podcasting experience on both iPhone and Android. Your subcriptions will sync with your account on this website too. Podcast smart and easy with the app that refuses to compromise.


En route from Baku to Leningrad, the flight engineer accidentally disconnected the automatic transferring of fuel of the sump tank. When the sump tank became empty, all three engines stopped. The plane crash-landed near Maksatiha, Tver region.
Distance from Baku-Bina International Airport to Leningrad-Pulkovo Airport as the crow flies is 2532 km (1582 miles).


text:
Home > Opinion > Master-key of survival
Master-key of survival
Despite not being at the helm of affairs, Rahul Gandhi will continue to be an integral part of Congress in redefining its narrative and preparing it to contend against BJP
Pankaj Sharma14 July 2019 3:22 PM GMT
No one believed Rahul Gandhi when he offered his resignation two days after the devasting defeat of the Congress party in 2019 general elections. His reiteration that he was serious about his resignation was not taken seriously for a month. Most of the Congress leaders had a hope that Rahul will ultimately accept the decision of the Working Committee which had unanimously rejected his resignation and authorised him to restructure the organisation completely.
Outside the Congress party, people thought it was all drama, a ploy to escape blame and an effort to marshal support for his continuation. The media ensured the nation again and again that it is a matter of time only, melodrama would be over soon and Rahul will continue with business as usual, any day. Every one proved wrong in assessing Rahul's determination. Few had an idea of how strong-minded Rahul could be. His resignation episode has made many people wiser than they were earlier.
To Congress party, Rahul's resignation is a major blow—much more than its electoral defeat. But at the same time, it has unsettled all calculations of 'MoSha-Brigade'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah must be finding themselves totally unarmed as their unrelenting attacks against Congress, naming it a family shop, has been neutralised by Rahul leaving the presidency and announcing that no member of the family will hold this position. BJP's strategy to describe Congress party as a dynastic outfit and project itself as a party with a difference will not work in any election now.
Rahul's resignation move is a two-edged sword. It has silenced BJP on one side and has created tremendous pressure to take appropriate steps within the Congress party to begin a process of complete removal of reasons responsible for the dismal state. If Rahul is to blame for the abysmal performance, many others also have to share this blame. No denying the fact that that a number of blunders in choosing the lieutenants, chalking out the strategies and adopting communication tactics contributed a lot in the defeat. But, despite running a powerful campaign, Rahul has done his part of owning accountability. The whole nation is waiting to watch the actions of those who had left their leader 'all alone' during a crucial battle.
Congress also lost badly because BJP exploited every opportunity to raise the sentiments of Hindu nationalism which drastically polarised the Indian society. BJP created a false sense of developmental growth and played the card of economic populism. Modi-Shah duo also did not spare any chance to portray their party as a force fighting against anti-elitism. At a time when these factors have strong potential to give much more political dividends to BJP in future, Rahul's absence has made the revival of the Congress a very difficult task. In today's unprecedented situation, Congress has to first make a consensus on a non-Gandhi under whom the party can keep itself united. Secondly, it has to reconstruct its organisation at all levels. If the Congress crosses through these two challenges successfully, the third would be to project an alternative narrative to RSS-BJP.
The foremost challenge before Congress is to survive without a Gandhi at the helm. At the moment, all leaders who have strong bases in their respective regions seem supportive for a unified Congress. Even an indirect but otherwise very clear stronghold of Rahul-Priyanka-Sonia on fundamental issues of the party would be able to ensure the internal stability. In a situation of absenteeism, I do not see an intact Congress fighting against BJP in 2024. Rahul's assurance that he will serve the Congress till his last breath is the only hope of ray if it means that he will take an active interest in all affairs of the party at an organisational level.
Regardless of whether Rahul Gandhi is the president of Congress or not, he will continue to be the most important leader of the party. His role in defining the party's narrative, his role in assisting decisions about party positions and his role in preparing Congress to take on against 'Sangh ideology' are the master-keys. After the political crisis in Goa and Karnataka, the survival of Congress government in Madhya Pradesh and results of the elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi will decide the future of Congress. It all will depend on how actively and keenly Rahul takes interest in months to come.
After quitting the presidency of his party, Rahul has an opportunity to establish himself as an undisputed mass leader of the inclusive polity across the nation. He can emerge as an individual instrument of social transformation. The core of the Congress problem is its shambled organisational machinery. Loyalty to regional leaders has replaced ideology. Control by a handful of party functionaries has replaced the institutional structure. The top-down pipeline has replaced the natural flow of power springs. Secretarial barriers have replaced ground-level communication channels. Rahul must become a voice of common workers within his party and work for eradicating these serious defects.
There are pseudo-intellectuals who are offering prayers that Congress must die. They must realise that Congress is the only national alternative to BJP. There exist no other better political unit or group than Congress which can emerge as a pan-Indian replacement. The supposition that a two-party system is inevitable and another group of contenders will fill the opposition space is fatally flawed. India has space for just one national idea against RSS-BJP, and only Congress has the spirit, strength and the fundamental right to represent this idea. All parties except Congress have, at some point of time, concluded with the communal forces. Only Congress has an unblemished track record of fighting against the arms involved in disturbing social harmony.
As far as I have observed, after crossing over a very rough road in the past few years, Rahul is now more concerned with truth than opinions. He believes more in sincerity than pretending. He walks his talks and not a hypocrite. He knows who he actually is and tries to be that person. He is now awake to his own feelings. People might not be convinced of his reasons, of his sincerity, of the seriousness of his sufferings. But I am sure, his case cannot remain doubtful for a very long time. To be sincere is the best thing that can happen to you. But Rahul must learn to reserve and give his sincerity to those who deserve it. He must save his emotions, channelling them only to the people who are worthy of it. One must not throw one's pearls to the pigs.
(The author is Editor & CEO of News Views India and a national office bearer of the Congress party. The views expressed are strictly personal)
Pankaj Sharma

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Rendering the invisible visible: Lived values that support reflective practice.
Reilly, Rosemary C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7274-4488 (2010) Rendering the invisible visible: Lived values that support reflective practice. Journal of Applied Research on Learning, 3 (art 11). pp. 1-23.
Context is influential when acquiring workplace learning, especially reflective skills. The following is a qualitative inquiry regarding a supervision group of novices developing reflective practice in the field of team facilitation. Using public reflection as a way of making thinking explicit, participants engaged in a mutual process of meaning making. The inquiry employed an instrumental case study approach. Data sets included debriefing sessions, individual, and group interviews covering the lifespan of the group. These data illuminated the developing reflective skills and the unfolding value processes embedded within the team's social interactions. The patterns demonstrated that novices could collectively increase the explicit expression of reflective thought linked to practice. Values acted as tacit rules promoting, governing, and shaping social interactions, supporting reflective practice.
Adler, P., & Adler, P. (1994). Observational techniques. In N. Denzin & Y. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 377-392). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Arrien, A. (1993). The four-fold way. New York: HarperSanFrancisco.
Barrett, F. (1999). Knowledge creating as dialogic accomplishment: A constructivist perspective. In A. Montuori & R. Purser (Eds.), Social creativity (Vol. 1) (pp. 133-151). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton.
Barron, F. (1995). No rootless flower: An ecology of creativity. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton.
Bion, W. (1961). Experiences in groups. New York: Basic Books.
Black, C. (2005). Issues regarding the facilitation of teacher research. Reflective Practice, 6, 107-122.
Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and method. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Cameron, G., Hayes, V., & Wren, A. (2000). Using reflective process in community-based participatory action research. Reflective Practice, 1, 215-230.
Chi, M. (1997). Quantifying qualitative analyses of verbal data: A practical guide. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 6, 271-315.
Cohen, J., Pickeral, T., & McCloskey, M. (2009). Assessing school climate. Education Digest, 74(8), 45-48.
Clandinin, D., & Connelly, F. (1994). Personal experience methods. In N. Denzin & Y. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 413-427). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Davis, N., & Blanchard, M. (2004). Collaborative teams in a university statistics course: A case study of how differing value structures inhibit change. School Science and Mathematics, 104, 279-287.
Dey, I. (1999). Grounding grounded theory. San Diego: Academic.
Dimock, H. (1993). How to observe your group (3rd ed.). North York, ON: Captus.
Donmoyer, R. (1990). Generalizability and the single-case study. In E. Eisner & A. Peshkin (Eds.), Qualitative inquiry in education: The continuing debate (pp. 175-200). New York: Teachers College Press.
Erlandson, D., Harris, E., Skipper, B., & Allen, S. (1993). Doing naturalistic inquiry: A guide to methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Espejo, R. (2003). Social systems and the embodiment of organisational learning. In E. Mitleton-Kelly (Ed.), Complex systems and evolutionary perspectives on organisations: The application of complexity theory to organizations (pp. 53–69). Oxford: Pergamon.
Fontana, A., & Frey, J. (1994). Interviewing: The art of science. In N. Denzin & Y. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 361-376). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Garcia-Morales, V., Lopez-Martin, F., & Llamas-Sanchez, R. (2006). Strategic factors and barriers for promoting educational organizational learning. Teaching & Teacher Education, 22, 478-502.
Gardner, F. (2001). Social work students and self-awareness: How does it happen? Reflective Practice, 2, 27-40.
Gibb, J. (1978). Trust: A new view of personal and organizational development. Los Angeles: The Guild of Tutors.
Hanson, P. (2000). The self as an instrument for change. Organization Development Journal, 18, 95-104.
Houtz, J. (1994). Creative problem solving in the classroom: Contributions of four psychological approaches. In M. Runco (Ed.), Problem finding, problem solving, and creativity (pp. 153-173). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
Jausovec, N. (1994). Metacognition in creative problem solving. In M. Runco (Ed.), Problem finding, problem solving, and creativity (pp. 77-95). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
Johnson, C., & Thomas, A. (2009). Caring as classroom practice. Social Studies and the Young Learner, 22(1), 8-11.
Johnson, D. (2003). Reaching out: Interpersonal effectiveness and self-actualization (8th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
John-Steiner, V. (2000). Creative collaboration. New York: Oxford University Press.
John-Steiner, V., & Meehan, T. (2000). Creativity and collaboration in knowledge construction. In C. Lee & P. Smagorinsky (Eds.), Vygotskian perspectives on literacy research: Constructing meaning through collaborative inquiry (pp. 31-48). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Kass, R. (2005). Theories of small group development (3rd ed. rev.). Montreal: The Center for Human Relations and Community Studies Concordia University.
Krumboltz, J., & Yeh, C. (1996). Competitive grading sabotages good teaching. Phi Delta Kappan, 78, 324-326.
Kvale, S. (1996). InterViews: An introduction to qualitative research interviewing. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Lacoursiere, R. (1980). The life cycle of groups. New York: Human Sciences Press.
Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Leff, H., Thousand, J., & Nevin, A. (1994). Awareness plans for facilitating creative thinking. In J. Thousand, R. Villa, & A. Nevin (Eds.), Creativity and collaborative learning (pp. 305-319). Toronto: Paul H. Brookes.
Lincoln, Y., & Guba, E. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. (1999). Designing qualitative research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Maxwell, J. (1996). Qualitative research: An interactive approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Maxwell, J. (2002). Understanding and validity in qualitative research. In A. Huberman & M. Miles (Eds.), The qualitative researcher's companion (pp. 37-64). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Miles, M., & Huberman, A. (1994). An expanded sourcebook: Qualitative data analysis (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Montuori, A., & Purser, R. (1999). Social creativity: Introduction. In A. Montuori & R. Purser (Eds.), Social creativity (Vol. 1) (pp. 1-45). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton.
Morgan, D. (1997). Focus groups as qualitative research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Mumford, M., Baughman, W., & Sager, C. (2003). Picking the right material: Cognitive processing skills and their role in creative thought. In M. Runco (Ed.), Critical creative processes (pp. 19-68). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton.
Mumford, M., Reiter-Palmon, R., & Redmond, M. (1994). Problem construction and cognition: Applying problem representations in ill-defined domains. In M. Runco (Ed.), Problem finding, problem solving, and creativity (pp. 3-39). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
Neçka, E. (2003). Creative interaction: A conceptual schema for the process of producing ideas and judging outcomes. In M. Runco (Ed.), Critical creative processes (pp. 115-127). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton.
Noddings, N. (1984). Caring. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Perret-Clermont, A.-N., Perret, J.-F., & Bell, N. (1991). The social construction of meaning and cognitive activity in elementary school children. In L. Resnick, J. Levine, & S. Teasley (Eds.), Perspectives on socially shared cognition (pp. 41-62). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Pressley, M., & McCormick, C. (1995). Advanced educational psychology for educators, researchers, and policymakers. New York: HarperCollinsCollege.
Raelin, J. (2000). Work-based learning. Upper Saddle, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Resnick, L. (1991). Shared cognition: Thinking as social practice. In L. Resnick, J. Levine, & S. Teasley (Eds.), Perspectives on socially shared cognition (pp. 1-20). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Runco, M. (1999). Tension, adaptability, and creativity. In S. Russ (Ed.), Affect, creative experience, and psychological adjustment (pp. 165-194). Philadelphia: Brunner / Mazel.
Scanlan, J., Care, W., & Udod, S. (2002). Unravelling the unknowns of reflection in classroom teaching. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 38, 136-143.
Schön, D. (1983). The reflective practitioner. New York: Basic Books.
Siegal, M. (1991). A clash of conversational worlds: Interpreting cognitive development through communication. In L. Resnick, J. Levine, & S. Teasley (Eds.), Perspectives on socially shared cognition (pp. 23-40). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Spradley, J. (1980). Participant observation. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Sparrow, J., & Heel, D. (2006). Fostering team learning development. Reflective Practice, 7, 151-162.
Stake, R. (1994). Case studies. In N. Denzin & Y. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 236-247). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Sternberg, R. (1998). Metacognition, abilities, and developing expertise: What makes an expert student? Instructional Science, 26, 127-140.
Stowell, S. (1988). Coaching: A commitment to leadership. Training & Development Journal, 42(6), 34-38.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Teasley, S. (1997). Talking about reasoning: How important is the peer in peer collaboration? In L. Resnick, R. Säljö, C. Pontecorvo, & B. Burge (Eds.), Discourse tools and reasoning: Essays in situated cognition (pp. 361-384). New York: Springer-Verlag.
Udvari-Solner, A., & Keyes, M. (2000). Chronicles of administrative leadership towards inclusive reform: "We're on the train and we've left that station, but we haven't gotten to the next stop." In R. Villa & J. Thousand (Eds.), Restructuring for caring and effective education: Piecing the puzzle together (2nd ed.) (pp. 428-442). Toronto: Paul Brookes.
Veenman, M., & Beishuizen, J. (2004). Intellectual and skills of novices while studying texts under conditions of text difficulty and time constraint. Learning and Instruction, 14, 621-640.
Vygotsky, L. (1987). Thought and language. (A. Kozulin, Ed.). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Wakefield, J. (2003). The development of creative thinking and critical reflection: Lessons from everyday problem-solving. In M. Runco (Ed.), Critical creative processes (pp. 253-272). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton.
Wolcott, H. (1990). Writing up qualitative research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Yin, R. (1994). Case study research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Young, K. (2005). Direct from the source: The value of "think-aloud" data in understanding learning. Journal of Educational Enquiry, 6(1), 19-33.


text:
Press Center OMC News 2016 3 Generations of Nursing at OMC
Nursing runs in the family with these three nurses who work at Ozarks Medical Center (OMC).
Rufina Falwell had been a stay-at-home mom, raising two daughters and a son. "Once my children got a little older, it just hit me…I could go to school," said Rufina. "God called me into nursing." Rufina started taking classes at South Central Career Center and became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). She began working at OMC in October of 1984 on the Med/Surg floor. Rufina wanted to continue her education and went back to school at Missouri State University-West Plains while continuing to work. She became a Registered Nurse (RN) in 1992.
Rufina currently works in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at OMC. She remembers working in the old ICU that was only a 4-bed unit. "I was working on Mother's Day in 1992. It was the day we moved into the new ICU. We took one patient with us." The current ICU at OMC is a 12-bed unit and usually has a census of 8 to 10 patients.
Daughter Cindy was a senior at West Plains High School taking health occupation classes when mom Rufina was in LPN school. Cindy and her sister, Sheila, helped around the house so Rufina had time to study. "I liked being around people and taking care of them, too," Cindy said. Those qualities transferred to a love of nursing. Cindy completed LPN school in 1986 and began working at OMC in 1987. Currently, Cindy works in the GI Lab, a section of the hospital that at one time housed the OB Department. "Cindy works in the room that she was born in," says Rufina.
Like mom Cindy, Briawna started earning her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) while at West Plains High School. "Watching grandma and mom, I knew how much they loved their careers. It wasn't until I became a CNA and actually began working in the field, that I knew it was what I wanted to do, too," Briawna said. Briawna began working at OMC in 2012. She is now an RN after completing her LPN in 2014 and her RN in 2015. Briawna primarily works on the Medical/Surgical floor, but sometimes works in ICU, too.
All three agree that they work with an exceptional staff. "We are all like family," Rufina said. After working as a CNA, Briawna especially wants to commend OMC's CNAs. "They get overlooked sometimes."
In their spare time, Rufina enjoys antiquing, bird watching and taking care of her grandkids. Cindy shares her mom's love of antiquing and also enjoys reading. Briawna enjoys reading, too, and shopping, traveling and spending time with friends and family.
When asked if she could think of any special patients or stories of her 32 years of service at OMC, Rufina said, "All of my patients are special. The best thing about nursing is that you get to become acquainted with your patients and their families." Rufina is not planning to retire anytime soon. "I am going to work as long as I'm able."


This Christmas celebration created an interfaith interface, which was appreciated by the advocates of the rights and dignity of PWDs and CWDs, thereby setting a model for an inclusive celebration – a celebration in which there will be no discrimination or exclusion. During the celebration, NCCI-IDEA invited the audience to express their solidarity by putting on a disability ribbon of commitment implying, "I will uphold the Dignity and Rights of Persons with Disabilities and I commit to advocate for Just and inclusive communities." Thus the audience was inspired to come out of their "able" comfort zones to pin the disability ribbon on the vestments, thereby committing to be agents of justice and inclusion.
This Christmas, NCCI-IDEA passed a strong message to the Church and Society at large. It was a message of Transparent Inclusion, Physical Accessibility, and Mainstreaming PWD concerns, as the core of every individual's ethics and spirituality. Thus, the society and the church will march shoulder to shoulder with PWDs along with their ramps, wheel-chairs, brailles, sign language and others enabling aids towards Just and Inclusive communities.
Mrs. Rachna Singh, Member of Executive Committee of NCCI and the Principal of the St. Ursula Girls High School and Junior College was the Guest of Honour. She encouraged the audience to promote and practice the culture of inclusion from family to the society at large. She also assured and pledged to practice and promote inclusion among her colleagues and make their institutions further accessible.
Mrs. Pushpa Waghmare. Mrs. Aradhana Upathiyay, Rev. Sr. Ida, St. Joshna Mary. Mr. Shrish , Mr. Akash Ramtake and Mrs. Sowmya Yohannan shared greetings of the season to the Children and the audience.
Mr. Anant Samuel Waghmare and Mrs. Divya Anant Waghmare shared the Christmas Message and encouraged people and children with disabilities and their parents and siblings that they are graced by the blessings of God, and the blessings of God will accompany them in their cries and joys through their life experiences. Further they emphasized that their own child is perfectly created by God in God's own image. Many were encouraged by the Christmas message.
Mrs. Zomuani Gaikwad, wife of the General Secretary of NCCI, distributed the Christmas gifts, and trophies, while Mr. Amber Prakash presented several Christmas songs for the children with disabilities. Rev. Zuchon Ovung offered the opening prayer. Rev. R. Christopher Rajkumar, Director of the NCCI -IDEA and Executive Secretary of the NCCI Missions welcomed the gathering with an introduction to the Christmas of the Disabled. Miss. Jenifa Rani, Deacon Yesudas Pandit, Miss Pranita Sandela and Mr. Jeswin Rajan served as volunteers. Mrs. Lalremsiami of the NCCI – IDEA proposed the Vote of Thanks.


Custom Content Master List - Strangetown, Here We Come.
For your convenience, I have compiled a list of all my shared content.
I really enjoy making custom content, and when I look back over all my little bits and pieces in a list like this, I can see my progress from simple recolours (which were challenging enough at the time!), to some alpha editing, to working with default replacements. It's not much, but I'm proud of it. The sharing of cc is just one more reason I love Sims 2. It's simple and fun, and anyone can do it with a little practise. It's exciting to see something you've created in your own game.
And, with cc, it's all about sharing, so I want to make it a little easier for people to find the stuff I've posted for others to download. I also have some plans to add to this list in the near future (and one is hinted at in the post).
- Original Sim Download Page featuring sims from Strangetown, Here We Come. Includes my recreation of Lyla Grunt.
- Ginger Cloud, a Pixel Trade founder, and S,HWC's most popular therapist.
- Humble Pie: a (sort of) extracted Mr. Humble, for all your storytelling needs.
- Fixed Jessica Picasso: A recreation of her face to fix the broken template.
- Debbie, Cammy, and Val, Version 2.0 - a re-imagining of some original sims from Strangetown, Here We Come.
- Jasmine Rai, extracted as both the genetic and the version shown in-game.
- All of my TS4 sims can be found in the gallery under the Origin ID strangest_tomato.
- "You Otter Be a Star" Pop Art print (llama version only) from TS4 on eight different frames for TS2.
- Default Replacement Smith Family Dolls - replacement the dollhouse dolls with an alien-friendly inter-species version.
1. Please use my sims however you like. Sims can be used as extras in stories or movies, and as legacy founders or townies. I appreciate credit, but it is not necessary. All I ask is that you do not claim my sims as your own, please. If you use one of them, I'd love to see pics.
2. You may include my cc with sim and lot uploads. They are file share friendly, but please keep them free and don't share them on paysites or the exchange. Again, credit is always appreciated, but not required, and please do not claim as your own.
I hope you have fun and enjoy my content!
This is awesome. I love your headers too, they're so pretty. It's also kind of ridiculous that I have like 3/4 of this stuff.
Wow, this looks great. Thanks again for sharing your awesome CC.
Thanks for this lovely list!
Your link to Mr. Humble is borked, it should go to http://strange-tomato.livejournal.com/213444.html but instead it goes to your main journal page.
Thanks for letting me know! I've fixed it.
You're very welcome! ^_^ I'm glad you found some things you could use. Have fun with them!
Hi there! Most of my activity is now on my Tumblr, so please head over there if you'd like to see what I'm up to. Story updates will still be posted here.


Scammers claim a government grant will pay your utility bill in full for one month, then take your money.
A government grant will pay your utility bill in full for one month.
My friend just informed me that President Obama is paying her electric bill this month. That supposedly you call and use your ss# as the bank account, then give them the routing number of 061000146 and thats it, it pays for your electric bill but only once a year.
My daughter called me a couple of days ago asking me if I had already paid my Florida Power & Light (FPL) bill, I told her that I hadn't and she proceeded to tell me that the accounts were being funded by some entity for this month only for Florida residents. I gave her my account information, including SS #. I received a confirmation # from FPL. TOday she calls me to tell me that she had found out this was a scam. She has no idea of how this was distribute, a friend of hers is the one who provided all the information.
My homeboy just called me and said "Yo I think Obama is paying peoples phone bills" immediately I thought it was a scam but then he said that he used it after his girlfriend used it. He went on to say that she found the weird posting on Instagram along with a routing number and an account number. At this point I'm like just give me the information. He also said his mom used it to pay her bill that was upwards of $500. With all this said I tried to use it on my Metro PCS aacount and it didn't work so now I I'm thinking what a scam this is. I'm not here to discourage you but to let you take a stab at it to see if it works. Below you will find all the info you need.
Use as an electronic check online.
the back of your social security card as the account number. The rumor states that the bank will allow up to $1,000 worth of transactions but cannot be used to obtain cash.
Although various government programs do exist to assist low-income households in paying essential utility bills, there is no government program that provides blanket grants to cover everyone's utility bills in full for a whole month. This scheme is nothing but an identity theft scam that uses the lure of promising something for nothing in order to entice victims into divulging their Social Security numbers and other sensitive personal information.
PSE&G is alerting its customers to a nationwide phony bill payment program that promises to credit or pay utility bills in exchange for personal information, including social security numbers. The scam, which has been reported in a number of states, claims that the Obama Administration is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills.
Utility customers get a phone call telling them that the federal government has a program to pay utility bills on a one-time basis.
The thieves ask customers to provide their social security numbers to apply for the program.
The scammers also give customers a Federal Reserve bank routing number to use when paying their bills online. Customers who use this number are led to believe that their bills are paid.
PSE&G is telling its customers that this is a scam, payments aren't being applied to their accounts, and their PSE&G account balances remain due.
PSE&G is not contacting its customers and requesting social security numbers, nor is the company asking customers for the usernames and passwords they use to access their PSE&G accounts online.
One reason the scam is spreading: It seems to work. Before the local utility company gets wise to the bogus account numbers being used, the payments are processed and initially credited to victims, who receive payment confirmation notices. The victims often share their success stories with family and friends, who also fall for the scam. Only later are the payments rescinded. Victims who try out the fake account numbers may not realize their bill remains unpaid, utility firms say, and they risk late fees or even service interruption.
The [Lehigh Valley] Morning Call. 7 July 2012.
KRLD-TV [Dallas]. 18 May 2012.


The argument -- a ''major confrontation'' in Ms. Aitken's memory -- was by no means their first debate over the war, but it was their last. Capt. Tristan N. Aitken, 31, died on April 4 as American soldiers fought for control of the Baghdad airport.
Since the start of the war, more than 100 American families, like Ms. Aitken's family, have mourned the loss of a member of the services -- a son, a husband, a mother. Ms. Aitken's grief has an added ingredient. She is one of a few military family members who said they opposed the war. That complicates her pain.
Since she learned of her son's death, she has careered from one emotion to the next. She spoke of him with pride and sadness, weeping as she read his last letter, in which he described six days of sleep in the stiff front seat of his Humvee, then laughing as she remembered the time her son, at 11, had shot arrows at trees from their front porch.
''This is a proud mom,'' she said. ''I love my kids a lot. And I raised my children to think for themselves.'' Ms. Aitken's daughter, Terryl, was in R.O.T.C. in college, and will begin a residency in optometry at the United States Military Academy at West Point in June.
Lillian Lake, 70, has been more soft-spoken about her dissent. After her son, Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith, died in a helicopter crash, she met some of his friends and fellow service members at a memorial. Her feelings about the war stirred mild tension, she said.
Ms. Lake said she told her son that her religious beliefs, as a Jehovah's Witness, taught her that war and killing were wrong.
''This is not what God created man to do,'' she said she told him.
Eventually, she and her son came to an understanding, Ms. Lake said. Going to war was his choice. Not believing in killing was hers.
She said she hoped that the chemical and biological weapons that administration officials said Saddam Hussein had are found in Iraq. It would help her make sense of the fight and of her family's loss, she said.
Dorothy Halvorsen said she had sometimes thought about joining the antiwar protests in her hometown, Bennington, Vt. She also thought of her son, Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen of the Army, a quiet man who loved his career.
Ms. Halvorsen never joined a march. And as days went by in the war and service members were wounded and killed, Ms. Halvorsen decided to write a letter to her local newspaper. She wrote that she had not wanted a war but that now that it was here, she wanted people to support the troops.
She wrote about her son and about the desert's hardships: the lack of water, the packaged meals and the sand-filled air.
''They need to know we care,'' her letter said. It was in her car ready to be dropped off when she learned of her son's death.
Broader philosophical concerns have given way to grief.


100% pure new wool chunky herringbone throw in Cherry Red with leather carrier strap. Wool makes the perfect picnic rug as it's easy to care for and due to the way wool fibres settle, doesn't pick up stains easily. Equally makes a lovely blanket for inside the home.
Great for the summer months and makes a gorgeous and special wedding gift for those looking for something a little different.
Comes wrapped in tissue paper with free gift messaging if needed.


The German doctor Katrin Berger, together with Sam Vanderloo runs a bush hospital in Namibia. After the unexpected death of her husband Katrin takes over his tasks and also begins to look after her late husband's two children from a previous marriage, Lindiwe and Neo. Sam loves Katrin but out of respect for the memory of his dead friend he keeps his feelings to himself. One day, when Christian Lindenburg a new patient at the hospital, right away and unabashedly starts to flirt with Katrin, Sam's jealousy is sparked. To Sam's dismay Katrin seems to find her new patient, who made a small fortune with an inherited goldmine, completely charming. Suddenly a curious incident demands their attention: Katrin discovers dead antelopes at a watering hole. A close examination suggests that the animals died from cyanide poisoning and Christian's gold mine is the only possible source for the chemicals. Not long after Katrin and Sam succeeded in averting fatal danger for people and animals, Sam has a car accident in the wilderness and in the aftermath is bitten by a poisonous snake. It looks as though help cannot arrive in time. Katrin decides to take a desperate gamble: although she has only had a few flying lessons, she takes off in a small plane to deliver the serum which could save Sam's life.
Christine Neubauer, Francis Fulton-Smith, Götz Otto, Ronja Focher, Nonkos Frances Ndlazilwana u.v.a.