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Thursday, February 7, 2013

No Boy Scout vote on gays until May

IRVING, Texas (AP) ? The Boy Scouts of America put off a decision Wednesday on whether to lift its ban on gay members and leaders, saying the question will be taken up at the organization's national meeting in May.

"After careful consideration and extensive dialogue within the Scouting family, along with comments from those outside the organization, the volunteer officers of the Boy Scouts of America's National Executive Board concluded that due to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy," Deron Smith, the BSA director of public relations, said in a statement.

Smith said the organization's national executive board will prepare a resolution for the 1,400 voting members of the national council to consider. The annual meeting will take place in May, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas.

Walking to his car after the delay was announced, board member Jack Furst had very little to say.

"It's all good," Furst told The Associated Press before driving away.

The BSA announced last week it was considering allowing troops to decide whether to allow gay membership. That news has placed a spotlight on executive board meetings that began Monday in Irving, Texas, where scouting headquarters is located.

Smith said last week that the board could take a vote Wednesday or decide to discuss the policy, but that the organization would issue a statement either way. Otherwise, the board has remained silent, with reporters barred from the hotel where its meetings are taking place.

At nearby BSA headquarters, a handful of Scouts and leaders delivered petitions Monday in support of letting gay members join. The conservative group Texas Values, meanwhile, had organized a Wednesday morning prayer vigil urging the Scouts to keep their policy the same.

President Barack Obama, an opponent of the policy, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, an Eagle Scout who supports it, both have weighed in.

"My attitude is that gays and lesbians should have access and opportunity the same way everybody else does in every institution and walk of life," said Obama, who as U.S. president is the honorary president of BSA, in a Sunday interview with CBS.

Perry, the author of the book "On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting For," said in a speech Saturday that "to have popular culture impact 100 years of their standards is inappropriate."

The board faces several choices, none of which is likely to quell controversy. Standing pat would go against the public wishes of two high-profile board members ? Ernst & Young CEO James Turley and AT&T Inc. CEO Randall Stephenson ? who run companies with nondiscrimination policies and have said they would work from within to change the Scouts' policy.

Conservatives have warned of mass defections if Scouting allows gay membership to be determined by troops. Local and regional leaders, as well as the leadership of churches that sponsor troops, would be forced to consider their own policies. And policy opponents who delivered four boxes of signatures to BSA headquarters Monday said they wouldn't be satisfied by only a partial acceptance of gay scouts and leaders.

"We don't want to see Scouting gerrymandered into blue and red districts," said Brad Hankins, campaign director of Scouts for Equality.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boy-scouts-delay-decision-admitting-gays-153238089.html

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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

German factory orders increase in December

BERLIN (AP) ? German industrial orders increased in December, suggesting business is beginning to pick up in Europe's largest economy.

The Economy Ministry said Wednesday orders were up 0.8 percent over November, according to seasonally adjusted figures. That comes after a 1.8 percent decline in November.

Orders from within Germany dropped 1.2 percent, but orders from abroad were up 2.4 percent. Significantly, orders from the other 16 nations that use the euro currency were up 7 percent, despite the fact that several are in recession, while non-eurozone orders dropped 0.4 percent.

ING economist Carsten Brzeski says the data adds "clear evidence that the German industry has reached a turning point."

He says: "while the inventory reduction is still continuing, order books have started to fill again."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/german-factory-orders-increase-december-120420505--finance.html

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Researchers spot attention deficits in babies who later develop autism

Feb. 5, 2013 ? Researchers at Yale School of Medicine are able to detect deficits in social attention in infants as young as six months of age who later develop Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Published in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry, the results showed that these infants paid less attention to people and their activities than typically developing babies.

Katarzyna Chawarska, associate professor at the Yale Child Study Center, and her colleagues investigated whether six-month-old infants later diagnosed with ASD showed prodromal symptoms -- early signs of ASD such as an impaired ability to attend to social overtures and activities of others. Before this study, it had not been clear whether these prodromal symptoms were present in the first year of life.

"This study highlights the possibility of identifying certain features linked to visual attention that can be used for pinpointing infants at greatest risk for ASD in the first year of life," said Chawarska. "This could make earlier interventions and treatments possible."

Chawarska and her team administered an eye-tracking task to 67 infants at high risk for developing autism, and 50 low-risk infants. The three-minute video was designed to capture the ebbs and flows of social events, depicting a woman engaged in several familiar activities such as making a sandwich, looking at toys, or speaking. While making sandwiches, the actress occasionally looked at the camera and tried to engage the babies by making eye contact and saying "How are you, baby?" "You are so cute!" and "Did you see the tigers?" There were no breaks in the video to re-engage or re-center the babies' attention, requiring them to attend to whatever they found interesting in their visual field, as they would in real-life social situations. Chawarska and her team used eye-tracking technology to monitor how often the infants looked at the scene, the toys, the woman, and her eyes and mouth.

Compared with the control groups, six-month-old infants later diagnosed with ASD looked less at the social scene, and when they did pay attention to the scene, they spent less time monitoring the woman's face. The team is now working on determining the specific causes that lead to decrease of social attention in infants with emerging social vulnerabilities.

"This work is highly consequential for identifying new treatment targets and early intervention strategies," said Chawarska.

Other authors on the study include Suzanne Macari and Frederick Shic.

The study was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Development (P01 HD003008), and the National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH087554, 1R03MH086732, and R03 MH092618-01A1.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Yale University. The original article was written by Karen N. Peart.

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

Journal Reference:

Katarzyna Chawarska, Suzanne Macari, Frederick Shic. Decreased Spontaneous Attention to Social Scenes in 6-Month-Old Infants Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Biological Psychiatry, 2013; DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.11.022

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/ynU3CuLNI4w/130205102153.htm

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British lawmakers vote in favor of gay marriage

FILE- In this Monday, Dec. 19, 2005 file photo, Henry Edmont Cane, left, and partner Christopher Patrick Flanaghan kiss outisde Belfast, City Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, Dec. 19, 2005. The couple became the first male couple to win legal recognition for their partnership under a new British civil partnership law. Prime Minister David Cameron and senior British officials threw their weight behind gay marriage Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, reiterating their support of a proposed bill hours ahead of a key Parliament vote on the divisive topic. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)

LONDON (AP) ? A bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Britain cleared a major hurdle Tuesday, as lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposals championed by Prime Minister David Cameron.

The vote in the House of Commons ? 400 to 175 in support of the proposed legislation ? will be followed by more detailed parliamentary debates. The proposals also require the approval of the House of Lords before they become law.

The process could take months, but if approved, the bill is expected to take effect in 2015 and enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, provided the religious institution consents. The bill also lets couples who had previously entered into civil partnerships convert their relationship into a marriage.

"Tonight's vote shows Parliament is very strongly in favor of equal marriage," Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said. "I genuinely believe that we will look back on today as a landmark for equality in Britain."

The lopsided vote was a qualified victory for Cameron, with around half of his party's lawmakers rejecting the proposals or abstaining. Nonetheless, strong support from the left-leaning Labour Party and Liberal Democrats party ensured the Commons approval.

After the ballots were counted, Cameron acknowledged that "strong views exist on both sides," but said the result was a "step forward for our country."

Officials have stressed that all religious organizations can decide for themselves if they want to "opt in" to holding gay weddings. However, the Church of England, the country's official faith, is barred from performing such ceremonies.

That provision aims to ensure that the Church, which opposes gay marriage, is protected from legal claims that as the official state religion it must marry anyone who requests it.

Currently, same-sex couples only have the option of a civil partnership, which offers the same legal rights and protections on issues such as inheritance, pensions, and child maintenance.

Supporters say that gay relationships should be treated exactly the same way as heterosexual ones, but critics worry that the proposals would change long-standing views about the meaning of marriage. Some Conservatives also fear the proposals would cost the party a significant number of votes in the next general election.

"Marriage is the union between a man and a woman, has been historically, remains so. It is Alice in Wonderland territory, Orwellian almost, for any government of any political persuasion to seek to come along and try to re-write the lexicon," Conservative lawmaker Roger Gale said.

The bill's provisions apply only to England and Wales ? there are no plans for similar legislation in Northern Ireland. Scotland is considering introducing a similar bill.

___

Sylvia Hui can be contacted at http://Twitter.com/sylviahui

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-05-EU-Britain-Gay-Marriage/id-762461cb4c7246d69c7ab41439a7b1a0

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Source: http://forums.ferra.ru/index.php?showtopic=54356

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Sultan calls for economic cooperation and transfer of knowledge ...

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme council Member and Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), has called for increased cultural and economic interaction and cooperation between the East and the West and for the emirate of Sharjah and UAE to play their due role in this multi-faceted exchange. His remarks came during the inaugural speech made at the opening of the MENA Economic Forum 2013, held under the theme ?Sharing Vision and Prosperity,? at AUS today, February 3.

?We hope this forum will increase cooperation and cultural interaction, gathering East and West in one human culture based on tolerance, love and knowledge to all human beings without discrimination,? said the Sharjah Ruler. ?We are also looking for the emirate of Sharjah to reflect a bright image for this shared human culture,? he added. His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan said that the objectives of the forum are strengthening cooperation and the exchange of expertise between the city of Sharjah and the rest of the cities of the Western world. ?Sharjah has already succeeded in strengthening its relationship and cooperation in the fields of culture, business and tourism with several Western cities,? he said.

The Sharjah Ruler pointed out that it was with such an objective in mind that AUS was established ?to become a center of cultural interaction and exchange of science and knowledge between East and West. We established AUS with the mandate of becoming organically linked to the economic, cultural, scientific and industrial sectors of society in productive collaboration. We built the university to ensure that science and education regain their rightful place in the betterment and advancement of society. It is through organizing such conferences and forums that these mandates can be met,? he stressed.

?Sharjah has distinguished its relationship with the city of Marseille in France in various cultural and economic fields. Marseille and Sharjah have had a distinguished cultural impact on an international level. Marseille was selected as the Cultural Capital of Europe for 2013, and Sharjah has been selected as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2014 and was the Cultural Capital of the Arab World in 1998, as selected by UNESCO,? said Sheikh Dr. Sultan, referring to the event?s role in presenting an important dimension of the collaboration between the City of Marseille and the emirate of Sharjah within the private, educational and cultural sectors.

His Highness said that the number of distinguished officials in government, academia and business from various parts of the world gathering together is proof that the distances between East and West are becoming shorter and that this was also an indication of the wish to broaden minds and to exchange ideas and thoughts.

The opening was also attended by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Sheikhah Hour Bint Sultan Al Qassimi, President of the Sharjah Arts Foundation, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Director General of the Sharjah Statistics Center, Sheikh Salem Bin Abdul Rahman Al Qassimi, Director of the Ruler?s Office.

Present were also Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development, Hamid Jafar Member of the AUS Board of Trustees and President of the Crescent Petroleum; Dr. Amr Abdul Hamid Advisor to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for Higher Education, Maroun Samaan, Member of the AUS Board of Trustees and President of Petrofac and Dr. Peter Heath AUS Chancellor.

His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, also addressed the gathering. He said that the UAE now plays an important role in commerce worldwide as the country has become a unique model of how international trends and challenges can be handled successfully.

?We enjoy an open economy that balances opportunity and encourages positive competiveness; an economy that provides fruitful opportunities in the UAE,? he said. ?We have always been keen to pave the way for an environment that supports business and promotes pioneering endeavors and entrepreneurship; one that enhances the lifestyles of all the people of the UAE. We are committed to founding a knowledge-based economy. Academics have an important part to play and I welcome the organization of such a forum and hope it helps promote sustainable development. We are proud of our present and optimistic about the future,? he said.

?I look forward to the outcomes of your discussions and am very pleased to see this forum as a collaboration between Europe and the Arab world and I hope we can build on the common ground between us and solidify solidify the relationship between our two regions,? he added.

Sheikh Nahyan?s address was followed by the inaugural session entitled ?Transitions: How Can the West and the GCC Cooperate and Meet Future Challenges??, which comprised of two panels, one of which was addressed by senior government officials from the region and beyond and included H.E. Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, UAE; H.E. Cherif Rahmani, Minister of Industry, Algeria; H.E. Philippe Douste-Blazy, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, France; H.E. Jack Lang, President of the Arab World Institute, and Former Minister of Culture, France; H.E. Homaid Al Shemmari, Executive Director, Mubadala Aerospace, UAE; and H.E. Bariza Khiari, Vice President, French Senate, France.

Speaking on session the topic, Dr. Gargash said that the UAE had lessons to offer the region in creating a business friendly environment for economic growth. He said that the oil exporting countries in the region should help their struggling Arab neighbors as a business friendly region is good for all. However, he also noted that the region has challenges that need to be addressed. ?Economic integration in the region has lagged behind other economics around the world such as the EU,? he observed.

The second panel comprised prominent expert speakers including H.E. Miguel ?ngel Moratinos, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Spain; Anne Lauvergeon, CEO, Areva, France; H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Jaber Al Thani, Chairman, Qatar National Cancer Society, Qatar; Fouad Makhzoumi, CEO, Future Pipe Industries, UAE; Simon Henderson, Baker Fellow and Director, Gulf and Energy Policy Program, Washington Institute, USA;? H.E. Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrouei, President and CEO, Emirates Aluminum, UAE; Lionel Zinsou, Chairman and CEO, PAI, France; and Ahmed Tibaoui, General Manager & CEO , World Trade Center, Algeria. The panels discussed the role the West can play in facilitating both positive and long-lasting economic changes in the region as well as focus on the kind of cooperation that could benefit the region.

The forum, which began with a note of welcome from Dr. Peter Heath, Chancellor of AUS, and Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabah, Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, concluded with a gala dinner held for all the delegates following the sessions.

The second day of the forum will see eminent speakers comprising the Opening Keynote Panel, which will look at the topic ?Challenges and Opportunities in the Aftermath of the Arab Spring.? The panelists include Pr. Gilles Kepel, Professor of Middle East Studies at Sciences Po, along with H.E. Fahad Al Raqbani, Director General, Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, UAE; Badr Jafar, President, Crescent Petroleum, UAE; Faizal Kottikollon, Founder and Chairman, KEF Holdings, UAE; Pr. Jean-Louis Reiffers, President, FEMISE, France; Jay Footlik, Founding President and CEO, Global Policy Initiatives, USA; Khaldoun Tabari, Vice Chairman and CEO, Drake & Scull International (DPI) PJSC; Jose A. Lopez-Monis Plaza, CEO and Managing Director, Habtoor Leighton Group; Sultan Abu Sultan, CEO, Barclays Bank, UAE; Varouj Nerguizian, CEO, Bank of Sharjah; and Fahad Al Othman, Business Development Executive, Zone Group, UAE.

Other plenary sessions will also feature a roster of prominent international panelists who will take a look at a wide variety of topics, including ?Infrastructure and Utilities: How to Meet the Needs;? ?Finance: Looking for Innovative Solutions to Help the Real Economy;? ?The Role of Medias in Building Bridges Between the West and MENA Countries;? ?Green Business and Smarter Water: Building Resources for the Future;? and ?Education and Healthcare: Meeting Higher Standards.?

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Source: http://www.qatarisbooming.com/2013/02/04/sultan-calls-for-economic-cooperation-and-transfer-of-knowledge-without-discrimination/

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Malawi Police condemns Viphya plantation as 'heaven for crime ...

By Nyasa Times Reporter

February 4, 2013 ????? 9 Comments

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The Malawi Police Service says the 53,000 hectare man made Viphya Plantation in Mzimba district is a heaven for crime.

?So many assault cases, increasing murder, rampant alcohol and drug abuse and prostitution just to cite a few,? Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Isaac Maluwa said.

Raiply Malawi Limited is operating 20,000 hectare under a concession while the Malawi government has the rest.

Maluwa, who is also Northern Region Police Operations Officer, said this in Mzuzu at the St John of God Hall in his contribution during a public debate the Youth and Society organized.

Malawi?s Viphya forest plantation gutted by fire during the dry season, but traditional leaders in the area are now working to help curb fires and their climate-changing emissions. ?Photo credit ALERTNET/Karen Sanje

The debate held under the topic ?Has Malawi benefited from the Viphya Plantation Project? marked the official closure of the Green-Week campaign which was aimed at raising awareness and rehabilitation of the Viphya Plantation.Youth and Society replanted 20,000 trees covering 15.2 hectares.

?Because of unpatriotic Malawians we have received reports that they are many foreigners taking part in the harvesting of trees in the Plantation. How they get permits, we don?t know. They have taken advantage of our lack of patriotism,? Maluwa said.

He also said the presence of many illegal immigrants in the Plantation poses a security threat to Malawi.

Expert views

Mzuzu University Faculty of Environmental Sciences lecturer Elisha Ngulube said it is difficult to gauge how the Plantation has benefited Malawi because no substantive study has been done.

?What we can do is speculate basing on what we see or hear. When you drive around you actually see houses with iron sheets may be that would be an indication of some people benefiting,? Ngulube said.

He said at national level peoples? lives may have changed saying some might have graduated from one poverty level to another,

Ngulube said the best option was for government to engage in a Public Private Partnership in the management of the 33,000 hectares saying that can be one way the country could benefit from the Plantation.

Other views

While Viphya Plantations Manager Eric Zangazanga said the Plantation has contributed a lot of revenue but that ? it has been difficult for government to plough back resources to the Plantation for its rehabilitation. Over the years they have been very little replanting but so much cutting.?

Alliance for Democracy (Aford) Publicity Secretary Dan Msowoya, who was also on the panel, said the Viphya Plantation is a highly politicized venture that seem to have lost its original objective.

?He said it is irresponsible of those in government that they are unable to see the imminent danger,? Msowoya said.

Gender and Social Activist Emily Mkamanga said if the Plantation had benefited Malawi then ?we wouldn?t be having plastic chairs in our classrooms?

Mkamanga said the fact that people burn the Plantation now and then means that they have not benefited.

Raw sex

Last year, Mzimba District Commissioner Reverend Moses Chimphepo??concern that ?sexual activities currently the order of the day within Viphya Plantation could be impacting efforts to combat the spread of HIV in the area.

Brothels have been erected within the Viphya Plantation which men and women, especially those in the timber businesses, use to buy and sell sex.

Some sexually starved men, who are usually away from their marital homes for long periods, stand in queues for their turn to have sex with the women whose job is to meet the needs of the men.

It is reported that on a good weekend, especially if the weekend coincides with a payday, some sex workers make up to over K50, 000 (about US$167) in a night in a country where the majority make less than a dollar a day.

Chimphepo said: ?The behaviour is derailing efforts in the fight against the HIV pandemic. People queue for sex in these brothels and usually it?s raw sex.?

Traditional Authority Kampingo Sibande whose Viphya plantation is under his jurisdiction also expressed fear that the sexual activities in forest will paralyze efforts in the fight against HIV

Source: http://www.nyasatimes.com/2013/02/04/malawi-police-condemns-viphya-plantation-as-heaven-for-crime/

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