Drugs used to tackle hospital-acquired infections can increase post-op complications

Public release date: 31-Oct-2011
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Contact: Annette Whibley
annette.wizard@gmail.com
Wiley-Blackwell

The introduction of new antibiotic regimes to tackle hospital-acquired infections, such as C. difficile, must take into account the possibility of increased infections following specific surgical procedures. That is the key finding of a study published in the November issue of the urology journal BJUI.

UK researchers from Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge discovered that patients undergoing a standard surgical procedure to diagnose prostate cancer developed more than five times as many infective complications when a new standard antibiotic regime was introduced.

These included a number of cases of sepsis and one case of septic shock, which they describe as a highly significant finding.

"The change, based on national guidance, reflected concerns that C. difficile rates were being driven by the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin" explains departmental lead and senior author Professor David Neal. "The new regime was introduced on the proviso that both the hospital-acquired infection rates and post-operative infection rates would be closely monitored.

"Given that there were no cases of C. difficile recorded in our study, but post-operative infection rates increased significantly, the decision was taken to revert back to the original regime."

Records for 709 consecutive patients who received transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy surgery (TRUSP Bx) over a period of 20 months were studied. These showed that:

• Only 2.4 per cent of the 454 patients treated with the original regime of prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin developed an infective complication within four weeks of surgery and four (0.9 per cent) were admitted for complications.
• 12.9 per cent of the patients treated with the new regime of prophylaxis with co-amoxiclav and gentamicin developed an infective complication within four weeks of surgery. Twelve patients (4.7 per cent) were admitted for complications.
• Seven of the 12 patients readmitted after being treated with the new regime were admitted with sepsis - in which the bloodstream is overwhelmed by bacteria - and a further patient had septic shock, which required inotropic support for 24 hours. None of the patients on the original regime had these very serious complications.
• None of the patients developed C. difficile within one month of receiving antibiotics.
• Reintroducing the original regime led to a fall in infective complications.

"Even though TRUSP Bx is a common urological procedure there are currently no national guidelines regarding antibiotic prophylaxis and local protocols vary widely across the UK" says Professor Neal. "However, the importance of using prophylaxis for a biopsy, to reduce the occurrence of infective complications following surgery, has been well documented.

"This is the first study to compare the use of co-amoxiclav and gentamicin with the use of ciprofloxacin for TRUSP Bx. Patients given the original ciprofloxacin regime experienced significantly fewer infective complications than those on the new regime and this audit study supports the use of locally determined prophylactic regimes for this procedure."

The authors stress that antibiotic prophylaxis needs to reflect the local situation, both in terms of tissue penetration, the organisms encountered and their susceptibilities and the local C. difficile rates. They add that any changes also need to be subject to frequent review.

"Any alteration to existing departmental antibiotic policies should be linked to strong clinical evidence, because such changes may potentially result in significant ill health and potential harm, as well as the financial burden of treating new complications" concludes Professor Neal.

###

Notes to editors

• Infective complications after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy following a new protocol for antibiotic prophylaxis Madden et al. BJUI. (November 2011). 108, pp1597-1602 doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10160.x
• Established in 1929, BJUI is edited by Professor John Fitzpatrick from Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and University College Dublin, Ireland. It provides its international readership with invaluable practical information on all aspects of urology, including original and investigative articles and illustrated surgery. http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/BJU
• Wiley-Blackwell is the international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons, with strengths in every major academic and professional field and partnerships with many of the world's leading societies. Wiley-Blackwell publishes nearly 1,500 peer-reviewed journals and 1,500+ new books annually in print and online, as well as databases, major reference works and laboratory protocols. For more information, please visit www.wileyblackwell.com or our new online platform, Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), one of the world's most extensive multidisciplinary collections of online resources, covering life, health, social and physical sciences, and humanities.

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Public release date: 31-Oct-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Annette Whibley
annette.wizard@gmail.com
Wiley-Blackwell

The introduction of new antibiotic regimes to tackle hospital-acquired infections, such as C. difficile, must take into account the possibility of increased infections following specific surgical procedures. That is the key finding of a study published in the November issue of the urology journal BJUI.

UK researchers from Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge discovered that patients undergoing a standard surgical procedure to diagnose prostate cancer developed more than five times as many infective complications when a new standard antibiotic regime was introduced.

These included a number of cases of sepsis and one case of septic shock, which they describe as a highly significant finding.

"The change, based on national guidance, reflected concerns that C. difficile rates were being driven by the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin" explains departmental lead and senior author Professor David Neal. "The new regime was introduced on the proviso that both the hospital-acquired infection rates and post-operative infection rates would be closely monitored.

"Given that there were no cases of C. difficile recorded in our study, but post-operative infection rates increased significantly, the decision was taken to revert back to the original regime."

Records for 709 consecutive patients who received transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy surgery (TRUSP Bx) over a period of 20 months were studied. These showed that:

• Only 2.4 per cent of the 454 patients treated with the original regime of prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin developed an infective complication within four weeks of surgery and four (0.9 per cent) were admitted for complications.
• 12.9 per cent of the patients treated with the new regime of prophylaxis with co-amoxiclav and gentamicin developed an infective complication within four weeks of surgery. Twelve patients (4.7 per cent) were admitted for complications.
• Seven of the 12 patients readmitted after being treated with the new regime were admitted with sepsis - in which the bloodstream is overwhelmed by bacteria - and a further patient had septic shock, which required inotropic support for 24 hours. None of the patients on the original regime had these very serious complications.
• None of the patients developed C. difficile within one month of receiving antibiotics.
• Reintroducing the original regime led to a fall in infective complications.

"Even though TRUSP Bx is a common urological procedure there are currently no national guidelines regarding antibiotic prophylaxis and local protocols vary widely across the UK" says Professor Neal. "However, the importance of using prophylaxis for a biopsy, to reduce the occurrence of infective complications following surgery, has been well documented.

"This is the first study to compare the use of co-amoxiclav and gentamicin with the use of ciprofloxacin for TRUSP Bx. Patients given the original ciprofloxacin regime experienced significantly fewer infective complications than those on the new regime and this audit study supports the use of locally determined prophylactic regimes for this procedure."

The authors stress that antibiotic prophylaxis needs to reflect the local situation, both in terms of tissue penetration, the organisms encountered and their susceptibilities and the local C. difficile rates. They add that any changes also need to be subject to frequent review.

"Any alteration to existing departmental antibiotic policies should be linked to strong clinical evidence, because such changes may potentially result in significant ill health and potential harm, as well as the financial burden of treating new complications" concludes Professor Neal.

###

Notes to editors

• Infective complications after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy following a new protocol for antibiotic prophylaxis Madden et al. BJUI. (November 2011). 108, pp1597-1602 doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10160.x
• Established in 1929, BJUI is edited by Professor John Fitzpatrick from Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and University College Dublin, Ireland. It provides its international readership with invaluable practical information on all aspects of urology, including original and investigative articles and illustrated surgery. http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/BJU
• Wiley-Blackwell is the international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons, with strengths in every major academic and professional field and partnerships with many of the world's leading societies. Wiley-Blackwell publishes nearly 1,500 peer-reviewed journals and 1,500+ new books annually in print and online, as well as databases, major reference works and laboratory protocols. For more information, please visit www.wileyblackwell.com or our new online platform, Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), one of the world's most extensive multidisciplinary collections of online resources, covering life, health, social and physical sciences, and humanities.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-10/w-dut103111.php

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Arrests mark U.S. prescription drug abuse crackdown (Reuters)

TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) ? U.S. authorities arrested 22 people in Florida on Friday, including pharmacists and doctors, in a crackdown against prescription drug abuse that officials say is the nation's fastest growing drug problem.

The arrests in Orlando and Tampa were the latest steps in successive operations by federal and local authorities to shut down so-called "pill mill" pain clinics, prescription forgery rings and illegal online pharmacies involved in the illegal distribution of prescription drugs such as painkillers.

At a news conference in Tampa, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said these operations, dubbed Pill Nation I and II, had led so far to 118 arrests, the seizure of more than $19 million in assets and the closure of at least 40 Florida pain clinics.

"Our targeted, aggressive enforcement actions are sending a clear message that -- here in Florida, which has long been the nation's epicenter for the illegal distribution of prescription drugs -- the days of easily acquiring these drugs from corrupt doctors and pharmacists are coming to an end," Holder said.

He was accompanied by the administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Michele Leonhart, and Florida state officials.

Those arrested in Florida on Friday, who included five doctors and two pharmacists, were charged with illegally diverting controlled substances.

Holder said in prepared remarks the abuse of prescription drugs, such as painkiller oxycodone and methadone, which is used for drug addiction detoxification, was now the fastest-growing drug problem in the country.

DEA chief Leonhart called it an "epidemic." Prescription drugs now caused more overdose deaths in the United States than "street drugs" such as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.

Holder said an estimated 7 million people in the United States regularly used prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes and this abuse contributed to nearly 40,000 deaths and almost $200 billion in healthcare costs annually.

Last year alone, one in seven teens abused prescription drugs to get high, officials said.

Holder said the problem had reached "crisis proportions" in Florida, where between 2005 and 2010 the number of oxycodone-related deaths increased by 345 percent.

On Saturday, the DEA was sponsoring a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day which will allow people to dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs at more than 5,000 collection sites throughout the United States.

(Writing by Pascal Fletcher; Editing by Eric Walsh)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111028/us_nm/us_usa_drugs_florida

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At least four killed in Kabul suicide bomb attack (Reuters)

KABUL (Reuters) ? At least four people were killed when a suicide car bomber attacked a convoy of foreign soldiers in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Saturday, officials said, with an unspecified number of NATO-led troops among other casualties.

"Three civilians and a police officer were killed in (the) Kabul attack today," an interior ministry spokesman said on his Twitter account, without giving further details.

The attack on the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) convoy took place in the Darulaman area in the west of the city, near the national museum.

The former royal palace, now in ruins, is also in the area, along with several government departments.

"Several ISAF members are recorded as casualties and there are also several local Afghan casualties," a spokesman for the NATO-led force said, without specifying whether the victims had been killed or wounded.

Violence across Afghanistan is at its worst since the start of the war 10 years ago, according to the United Nations, despite the presence of more than 130,000 foreign troops.

ISAF says there has recently been a fall in attacks by insurgents but this data excludes attacks that kill only civilians and attacks on Afghan security forces operating without international troops.

On Thursday, insurgents armed with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades attacked two bases used by foreign troops in southern Afghanistan. An Afghan interpreter working for ISAF was killed in that attack, which stretched into Friday before the last of the four insurgents were killed.

There has been a series of high-profile assassinations, as well as day-to-day attacks by Taliban raiders, over the past year.

In the most spectacular recent attack, insurgents launched a 20-hour assault on the U.S. embassy and ISAF headquarters in Kabul in September. More than a dozen people were killed in that assault.

(Reporting by Hamid Shalizi and Christine Kearney; Writing and additional reporting by Daniel Magnowski; Editing by Paul Tait)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111029/wl_nm/us_afghanistan_attack

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Whirlpool to cut 5,000 jobs to reduce costs

A Whirlpool logo is seen on a Whirlpool refrigerator on the Singers showroom floor Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011 in Philadelphia. Whirlpool Corp. says it will cut 5,000 jobs in an effort as it faces soft demand and higher costs for materials. The jobs to be cut are mostly in North America and Europe. They include 1,200 salaried positions and the closing of the company's Fort Smith, Ark., plant. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A Whirlpool logo is seen on a Whirlpool refrigerator on the Singers showroom floor Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011 in Philadelphia. Whirlpool Corp. says it will cut 5,000 jobs in an effort as it faces soft demand and higher costs for materials. The jobs to be cut are mostly in North America and Europe. They include 1,200 salaried positions and the closing of the company's Fort Smith, Ark., plant. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A Whirlpool logo is seen on a Whirlpool appliance on the Singers showroom floor Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011 in Philadelphia. Appliance maker Whirlpool Corp. says it will cut 5,000 jobs in an effort as it faces soft demand and higher costs for materials. The jobs to be cut are mostly in North America and Europe. They include 1,200 salaried positions and the closing of the company's Fort Smith, Ark., plant. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A Whirlpool logo is seen on a Whirlpool appliance on the Singers showroom floor Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011 in Philadelphia. Appliance maker Whirlpool Corp. says it will cut 5,000 jobs in an effort as it faces soft demand and higher costs for materials. The jobs to be cut are mostly in North America and Europe. They include 1,200 salaried positions and the closing of the company's Fort Smith, Ark., plant. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Appliance maker Whirlpool Corp. plans to cut 5,000 jobs, about 10 percent of its workforce in North America and Europe, as it faces soft demand and higher costs for materials.

The world's biggest appliance maker also on Friday cut its 2011 earnings outlook drastically and reported third-quarter results that missed expectations, hurt by higher costs and a slowdown in emerging markets. Shares fell 12 percent in midday trading.

The company, whose brands include Maytag and KitchenAid, has, like other appliance makers, been squeezed by soft U.S. demand since the recession and rising costs for materials such as steel and copper. Due to its size, Whirlpool's performance provides a window on the economy because it indicates whether consumers are comfortable spending on big-ticket items.

Whirlpool has raised prices to combat higher costs, but demand for items like refrigerators and washing machines remains tight. Whirlpool is also facing discount pressure from competitors.

To offset slowing North American sales, Whirlpool has turned to emerging markets. But the company said Friday that sales have slowed there, too. The company revised its demand forecast globally. It now expects demand to decline 3 percent to 5 percent in North America, in 2011, down from a 1 percent to 2 percent prior decline forecast.

It expects flat demand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, from prior expectations of a 1 percent to 2 percent rise in demand.

In Latin America, it now expects demand to be flat to up 5 percent, from prior expectations of a 5 percent to 10 percent increase. And in Asia it expects demand to rise 2 percent to 4 percent from earlier expectations of a 4 percent to 6 percent increase.

Steep costs and the dour global economy are affecting the entire appliance industry. Swedish appliance maker Electrolux said Friday that its third-quarter net income fell 39 percent and also cut its forecast for demand in North American and Europe for the year.

Whirlpool jobs to be cut are mostly in North America and Europe. They include 1,200 salaried positions and the closing of the company's Fort Smith, Ark., plant.

The Fort Smith plant shutdown will affect 884 hourly workers and 90 salaried employees. An additional 800 workers were on layoff from the factory and on a recall list.

Whirlpool will also relocate dishwasher production from Neunkirchen, Germany, to Poland in January 2012.

The company expects the moves will save $400 million by the end of 2013. They'll cost $500 million in restructuring costs however, which will be recorded over the next three years, including a $105 million charge in the fourth quarter, $280 million charge in 2012 and $115 million charge in 2013.

Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool's third-quarter net income more than doubled to $177 million, or $2.27 per share, from $79 million, or $1.02 per share. Adjusted earnings of $2.35 per share fell short of analyst expectations for $2.73 per share.

Revenue rose 2 percent to $4.63 billion, short of expectations for $4.74 billion.

"Our results were negatively impacted by recessionary demand levels in developed countries, a slowdown in emerging markets and high levels of inflation in material costs," CEO Jeff Fettig said.

Unit shipments fell in all regions except Asia, where they rose 4 percent.

In North America, revenue fell 2 percent to $2.4 billion, and in Latin America, revenue rose 8 percent to $1.2 billion.

The company now expects 2011 net income will be $4.75 to $5.25 per share. Its prior guidance was net income would be at the low end of a range between $7.25 and $8.25 per share.

Separately, Whirlpool has complained to authorities that some companies, including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, have been selling appliances at less than fair value in the U.S., a practice known as dumping. Whirlpool said the Commerce Department issued a preliminary determination that the companies are violating international trade laws. The investigation is ongoing.

Whirlpool's stock fell $7.19, or 11.9 percent, to $53.28 in midday trading. The stock has already sunk 32 percent this year.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2011-10-28-Earns-Whirlpool/id-dfe3ebd4041a42389a9e1ea5c92e8d30

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Stuntman killed on set of "The Expendables 2" (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) ? One stuntman was killed and another one seriously injured in an explosion the set of action film "The Expendables 2" in Bulgaria, the movie's production company said on Friday.

The stuntmen were part of a team that was filming scenes on Thursday at Lake Ognyanovo, a reservoir in Southwest Bulgaria, for the movie that stars Bruce Willis, John Travolta and Arnold Schwarzenegger, among a cast of high-profile Hollywood stars.

"It is with great regret that we confirm this unfortunate accident. Our hearts go out to the families and those on the production affected by this tragedy. The filmmakers are working closely with the authorities in responding to and investigating this accident," production company Nu Image/Millennium Films said in a statement.

The name of the deceased man was not released.

"Expendables 2" is the sequel to the 2010 box office hit about a team of mercenaries hired to kill a corrupt military man. The sequel is due for release in summer 2012 by the film division of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.

(Reporting and Writing by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111028/film_nm/us_expendables_stuntman

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Jonah Hill takes on TV cartoon "Allen Gregory" (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) ? Ay Carumba! Bart Simpson better watch out because there's a new kid on Fox competing for attention of TV fans on Sunday nights.

"Allen Gregory," brought to life by "Superbad" actor Jonah Hill, debuts on Fox this Sunday telling of a pretentious boy named Allen Gregory, who struggles to adapt to public school after his family loses all its money.

Despite the topical themes of financial hardship underlying the show's plot, Hill declined to link "Allen Gregory" to the current, gloomy economic times troubling people.

"It's a really funny cartoon show," Hill told reporters in a recent conference call, adding that the family were "a bunch of spoiled rich people figuring out how to make their way in the world for the first time."

He called 7-year-old Allen Gregory "a fish out of water" who was "just trying to fit in."

The bespectacled Gregory, sharply dressed in suits despite his tender age of seven, will embark on a steep learning curve throughout the series, finding it hard to connect to his classmates and even becoming somewhat attracted to his much older female school principal.

"We don't shy away from anything on the show," said the "Moneyball" actor. "It's all reality based. That being said, I've never heard of a seven year-old boy having a relationship with a 70-something-year-old, disgusting woman."

The 27-year-old actor, who rose to fame with slapstick comedies like "Superbad" and "Knocked Up," is stepping behind the scenes to produce "Allen Gregory" along with co-creators, Andrew Mogel and Jarrad Paul.

Hill said he was inspired by ribald animated series like "The Critic," "South Park" and "The Simpsons," which has long been among the top TV cartoons featuring the trick-playing youngster Bart Simpson.

With a cast of comedy pros including "Saturday Night Live" funnyman Will Forte and Hill's frequent co-star Leslie Mann, Hill has his own wish list of potential guest stars.

"Robert De Niro would be the best "Allen Gregory" guest star," laughed Hill.

"Allen Gregory" will air in primetime on Fox's Sunday night "Animation Domination" lineup alongside "The Simpsons," "Family Guy" and "American Dad."

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111028/people_nm/us_jonahhill

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Madonna burglar sent to psychiatric hospital (AP)

LONDON ? A judge has ordered a stalker who twice broke into Madonna's homes to indefinite detention in a psychiatric hospital.

Grzegorz Matlok was charged with burglary in March after breaking into the singer's London mansion while she was in the United States.

Prosecutors said the 30-year-old had previously been deported to Poland after breaking into Madonna's rural home in southern England, but returned to Britain. When arrested, he told police Madonna had given him permission to stay at her house.

In a victim impact statement, Madonna said she did not know Matlok and felt "alarmed and distressed by the actions of the defendant."

Judge Deborah Taylor sentenced Matlok Monday at London's Southwark Crown Court to hospital treatment, and barred him from contacting Madonna.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/music/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111025/ap_en_mu/eu_britain_madonna

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Motorola Pro+ 4G rides into Canada November 7th, will kick off shoes and stay a while

We knew it was planning to grace Europe and Asia with its presence this month, but now we're hearing the Motorola Pro+ 4G is ready to make its North American debut at Bell Canada. We're not seeing any large differences here compared to the overseas model, though the addition of "4G" to the title is an obvious exception. The device offers a 1GHz CPU, 512MB of RAM, Android 2.3, a 5MP camera, 3.1-inch VGA (640 x 480) display with Gorilla Glass, HSPA 14.4 (hence the "4G" name) and a lot of Enterprise-friendly security features. We know it'll be hitting shelves on November 7th, but no price has been announced so far. To find out the full shebang, head south for the press release.

Update: We've confirmed with an inside source that it'll sell for $349.95, but there's no word on whether subsidies will apply for long-term contracts.

Continue reading Motorola Pro+ 4G rides into Canada November 7th, will kick off shoes and stay a while

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/motorola-pro-4g-rides-into-canada-november-7th-will-kick-off-s/

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Business Leadership: Do You Have What It Takes?

What is the key the great business leadership? It may be different for every individual. But certainly leadership is an important ingredient in entrepreneurial success. In this roundup, we look at some ideas about leadership, some case studies and some things entrepreneurs need to know to run their businesses. Do you have what it takes for great business leadership.

Leadership Qualities

Being a great leader: Do you have what it takes? Being an entrepreneur often means being a great leader, at least on some level. And while leadership qualities have always been somewhat elusive, here?s a look at what researchers say may truly create the ?managerial mystique.? Inc.com

A few more thoughts on leadership. Some people would argue that leadership and management aren?t the same and that understanding the difference between the two, their strengths and the way they approach problems and the world, is crucial in business and beyond.?Seth Godin?s Blog

Branding & Customer Relations

The key to understanding brand. For entrepreneurs starting a new business or even understanding what they can bring to a business, understanding brand is hugely important. Clearly brand includes more than simply a logo and a company name. What brand are you building for your product or service?or for yourself or your company. Youngentrepreneur

The real key to business success. The real key to business success isn?t creating the perfect product, developing the perfect brand, developing the perfect marketing plan or inventing the perfect system of distribution. The real key to business success is simple: knowing your customer?s needs. Seth Godin?s Blog

Strategy

Going global from home. The Internet has made going global a possibilities for even the smallest businesses given the right product or service. But going global with a home-based Internet business does require considering a few important steps. Youngentrepreneur

Don?t forget your customers. You may know where your company is headed, but don?t forget about the needs of the customers who have gotten you there. This case study on the missteps of large company that misread its customers can be a warning to all entrepreneurs of the dangers in forgetting this rule. Yahoo! Finance

Tips & Trends

Wholesaler?s success strategy takes the cake. Check out this interview with David Overton, who transformed his parents? struggling wholesale cheesecake business into a brand worth millions with limited marketing and an unusual success strategy. WSJ

Exporting entrepreneurship. In a highly competitive global economy where great entrepreneurship is one of the keys to economic recovery and prosperity, the U.S., with its current immigration law, may be exporting its entrepreneurial talent at a time it can least afford to do so. Inc.com

Financing

Looking for funding alternatives. There are financing options for businesses beyond VC investment or bank loans. The key is to find the financing option that is right for you. Here is a look at one of those options in detail. Be sure to consider all the options when considering raising money. AVC

Source: http://smallbiztrends.com/2011/10/business-leadership-do-you-have-what-it-takes.html

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Turkey quake death toll exceeds 200, set to rise (Reuters)

ERCIS, Turkey (Reuters) ? Rescuers clawed through rubble on Monday to free people trapped by an earthquake that killed at least 239 people and wounded 1,000 in southeast Turkey. Hundreds more were feared dead.

Earthmoving machines and soldiers joined the frantic search through mounds of smashed concrete after Sunday's 7.2 magnitude quake struck the city of Van and the town of Ercis, some 100 km (60 miles) to the north, in Turkey's Kurdish heartland.

"Be patient, be patient," rescuers told a whimpering boy, pinned under a concrete slab with the lifeless hand of an adult, with a wedding ring, visible just in front of his face.

As dawn broke, the scale of devastation became clear.

In Van, an ancient city of one million on a lake ringed by snow-capped mountains, cranes shifted rubble from a collapsed six-storey apartment block where 70 people were feared trapped.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan flew swiftly to Van to assess the scale of the disaster in a quake-prone area that is a hotbed of activity for Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) rebels.

His deputy Besir Atalay, speaking in Van, put the death toll at 239, with 1,150 injured. The interior minister said hundreds more were unaccounted for.

Erdogan said he feared for the fate of villages which rescue teams had yet to reach. "Because the buildings are made of mud brick, they are more vulnerable to quakes. I must say that almost all buildings in such villages are destroyed," he told an overnight news conference in Van.

Newspapers said trauma had been piled on trauma in the southeast, where a PKK attack killed 24 Turkish soldiers in Hakkari, south of Van, last week. "Homeland of Pain. Yesterday terrorism, today earthquake," said Radikal newspaper.

Erdogan earlier flew by helicopter to Ercis, a town of 100,000 that was harder hit than Van, with 55 buildings flattened, including a student dormitory. "We don't know how many people are in the ruins of collapsed buildings," he said.

At one crumpled four-storey building in Ercis, firemen from the major southeastern city of Diyarbakir tried to reach four missing children. Aid workers carried two black body bags, one apparently containing a child, to an ambulance. An old woman wrapped in a headscarf walked alongside sobbing.

A distressed man paced back and forth before running towards the rescue workers on top of the rubble. "That's my nephew's house," he sobbed as workers tried to hold him back.

A group of women, some with faces covered by headscarves, wept as they looked on under a chilly blue sky.

COLD NIGHT IN OPEN

Nearby, aid teams handed out parcels of bread and food, while people wrapped in blankets huddled around open fires after spending a cold night on the streets.

Rescue efforts were hampered by power outages after the quake toppled electricity cables to towns and villages across much of the barren Anatolian steppe near the Iranian border. It also damaged the main Van-Ercis road, CNN Turk reported.

More than 100 aftershocks have jolted the region since the quake struck for around 25 seconds at 1041 GMT on Sunday.

"I just felt the whole earth moving and I was petrified. It went on for ages. And the noise, you could hear this loud, loud noise," said Hakan Demirtas, 32, a builder who was working on construction site in Van at the time.

"My house is ruined," he said, sitting on a low wall after spending the night in the open. "I am still afraid, I'm in shock. I have no future, there is nothing I can do."

The Red Crescent said about 100 experts had reached the earthquake zone to coordinate operations. Some 4,000 tents and 11,000 blankets, stoves and food were being distributed.

At Van airport, a Turkish Airlines cargo plane unloaded aid materials onto waiting military vehicles for distribution.

Workers set up a tent city in the Ercis sports stadium, as ambulances, sirens wailing, ferried the injured to hospital.

Dogan news agency reported that 24 people were pulled from the rubble alive in the two hours after midnight.

One nurse told CNN Turk news channel that Ercis hospital was so badly damaged that staff were treating injured in the garden, and bodies were being left outside the building,

Erdogan later returned to Ankara for a cabinet meeting to discuss the response to the disaster. He said Turkey could cope by itself, but thanked nations offering help, including Armenia and Israel, which both have strained relations with Ankara.

U.N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation. "He expresses his heartfelt sympathies to the government and people of Turkey at this time of loss and suffering," a U.N. statement said.

The quake had no impact on Turkish financial markets as they opened on Monday. Industry Minister Nihat Ergun said Ankara would provide support for small businesses affected.

In Van, construction worker Sulhattin Secen, 27, said he had first mistaken the quake's rumble for a car crash.

"Then the ground beneath me started moving up and down as if I was standing in water. May God help us. It's like life has stopped. What are people going to do?"

(Additional reporting by Ibon Villelabeitia in Ankara; Writing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Daren Butler; Editing by Alistair Lyon)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/india/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111024/india_nm/india600813

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Cool But Spooky (talking-points-memo)

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Hispanic voters: Stick with Obama or go with GOP? (AP)

LAS VEGAS ? A year before the 2012 presidential election, Hispanic voters are facing a choice. They can continue to support President Barack Obama despite being hurt disproportionately by the economic downturn or turn to Republicans at a time when many GOP presidential hopefuls have taken a hard line on immigration.

Obama kicks off a three-day trip to Western states trip with a stop Monday in Las Vegas, where he wants to rally support for his jobs agenda in Congress. Nevada has the nation's highest unemployment rate, 13.4 percent.

The trip comes as Republican candidates have taken a more strident tone on immigration.

Businessman Herman Cain recently suggested electrifying a fence along the U.S. border with Mexico to kill illegal immigrants; he later called the remark a joke and apologized. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann has raised the issue of "anchor babies," or U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants; it's a term that some people find offensive.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been criticized by opponents for signing a law allowing some illegal immigrants to get in-state college tuition. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said most of the jobs created under Perry's watch went to illegal immigrants. Perry lashed into Romney during last week's GOP debate in Las Vegas for hiring a lawn care company that employed illegal immigrants.

Obama won 67 percent of Hispanic voters in 2008 but many of those voters have become disillusioned during the past three years. Unemployment among Hispanics tops 11 percent and many Latinos are losing their homes. Others criticize the number of deportations under Obama's presidency and the lack of progress on a comprehensive immigration plan.

"I am willing to support him, but I would like him to keep his word on all the promises he made," said Marcos Mata, 17, a Las Vegas high school senior who will vote for the first time next year. "Not just on immigration. But I don't know if I see any improvement. The jobs act, it's a good idea but he should have been doing that a long time ago."

Recent Gallup polling showed Obama with a 49 percent job approval rating among Hispanics, compared with about 60 percent in the beginning of 2011. Hispanic voters could prove pivotal next year, especially in fast-growing and contested states such as Florida, New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado.

Obama has said his jobs agenda would help Hispanics in the construction industry and provide tax breaks for small businesses. On immigration, he has targeted violent criminals for deportation and urged Congress to create a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Obama also has sought support for legislation that would provide a route to legal status for college students and members of the military brought to the country as children.

Republicans sense an opening and have courted Hispanic voters through Spanish-language radio and television ads, criticizing Obama's handling of the economy.

Crossroads GPS, a Republican political organization tied to strategist Karl Rove, ran a Spanish-language ad in five states last summer called "Despertarse," or "Wake up," depicting a young mother pacing her home early in the morning, worried about the economy and her children.

President George W. Bush was supported by 44 percent of Hispanic voters in 2004 but that level slipped for the 2008 GOP nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain. Party officials promote the success of prominent Hispanic Republicans, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, but some worry that a harsh tone on immigration could undermine their efforts.

"The fundamental question will be whether the economic concerns of the Latino community are so severe that they are less critical of anti-immigrant positioning by the Republican party," said Adam Mendelsohn, a Republican strategist and former adviser to ex-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California.

Mendelsohn warned that Romney could damage his general election prospects if he makes immigration a focal point during the primary. "If the conventional wisdom is that Romney won the nomination because he beat up Perry on immigration, that's a narrative that will alienate Latinos."

Voters like Jose Hernandez, a Republican, are watching closely. Hernandez said his Las Vegas real estate business has faltered with the housing market. Most of his neighbors and clients are more concerned about the economy than immigration but he has found the tone of the GOP debate offensive, including comments about illegal immigrants stealing jobs.

"That's just ignorance," Hernandez said. "The Republicans need to talk about making it easier for people to come here."

Democrats say the immigration rhetoric in the GOP debates could have a similar impact that tough anti-immigration laws had in California during the 1990s under Republican Gov. Pete Wilson. Democratic presidential nominees have not lost California since 1988.

Obama's campaign is aggressively courting Latino voters.

In Fort Collins, Colo., on Saturday, about a dozen volunteers walked door to door to register voters and hand out pamphlets. "If we turn out 15,000 to 20,000 votes, that's going to make a big difference," said Joe Perez, 67, of Greeley, Colo.

Turnout will be key. Many Hispanic Democrats say the Republican debate on immigration has turned off Latino voters but worry that a weak economy could make it more difficult to encourage Hispanics to support Obama.

"Building the excitement and the enthusiasm to go to the polls, that's something we're going to have to figure out how to do," said Maria Elena Durazo, secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. "They just feel down. The economy is terrible so our challenge is still going to be getting them to the polls. I think we can do it."

___

Thomas reported from Fort Collins, Colo.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111023/ap_on_el_ge/us_obama_hispanics

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Cain tweaks 9-9-9 tax plan to allow exemptions (AP)

DETROIT ? Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain on Friday redefined his tax plan to exclude the poorest Americans and to allow some deductions, abandoning the zero-exemption feature of his "9-9-9" proposal that helped win headlines but would have meant a tax increase for 4 out of 5 Americans.

After sharp criticism over his one-size-fits-all plan from Republicans and Democrats alike, Cain proposed no income taxes for Americans living at or below the poverty line. He also proposed exemptions for businesses investing in "opportunity zones" as a way to give an economic jolt to rundown neighborhoods such as the one he visited in hard-hit Detroit.

Standing in front of a massive abandoned train depot with broken windows and barbed wire, Cain blamed regulation for the crumbling of the nation's cities.

"When I look at this building behind me, I see opportunity ? if we get capital gains out of the way. There are a lot of people in this country that have money, and capital gains is a wall between people with money and people with ideas," Cain told reporters after a campaign speech. "Because taxes and regulations have gotten so bad, people with money don't want to take risks."

Cain said America needs to renew its optimism and take those risks.

"I believe the American people are saying they want to move this shining city on a hill back to the top of the hill where it belongs," he said, borrowing some of President Ronald Reagan's favorite rhetoric.

Yet many of Cain's proposals for sites such as this one were likely to earn him more skeptics.

Cain's plan suggested minimum wages block low-skill workers from finding work and proposed that they be eliminated in already struggling areas. His plan also suggested that building codes and zoning in such areas should be reviewed; if businesses can make a case the regulations are hurting the economy, they may qualify for waivers.

Organized labor was guaranteed to oppose his proposal that projects funded with taxpayer dollars could pay non-union wages.

"America is ready for solutions, not more rhetoric," he said. "The American dream has been hijacked, but we can take it back."

Cain has seen a meteoric rise in recent weeks as Republican voters have moved from one candidate to another, looking for an alternative to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Stumbles, however, have plagued Cain. He initially said he would negotiate for the release of U.S. prisoners from terrorists, then reversed himself. Unclear comments on abortion forced another clarification. And then he seemed to undercut his signature tax plan.

Up to now, Cain has touted a plan to scrap the current taxes on income, payroll, capital gains and corporate profits and replace them with a 9 percent tax on income, a 9 percent business tax and a 9 percent national sales tax.

But the plan seems to be unraveling. Cain's shift on zero exemptions comes after an independent analysis showed his tax plan would raise taxes on 84 percent of U.S. households. The Tax Policy Center, a Washington think tank, said low- and middle-income families would be hit hardest, with households making between $10,000 and $20,000 seeing their taxes increase by nearly 950 percent.

Households with the highest incomes, however, would get big tax cuts. Those making more than $1 million a year would see their taxes cut almost in half, on average, according to the analysis.

Cain's rivals seized on the disparity and were relentless during Tuesday's debate; President Barack Obama also decried it.

"It never felt so good being shot at," Cain laughed as he outlined new exemptions for Americans living in poverty and tax incentives for businesses to develop areas in need of economic development.

"Some of the most attractive features will be zero capital gains tax, immediate expensing of business equipment and no payroll taxes are factory-installed in the 9-9-9 plan for the whole country to benefit," Cain said.

He insisted he had not changed positions, though.

"We simply chose not to talk about this piece earlier," he told reporters. "We didn't want to put it all out there at once."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111022/ap_on_bi_ge/us_cain_economy

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Steve Jobs Biography Reveals Reflections On Apple, Contempt For Android

Last night at least two news outlets ?The AP and The Huffington Post? revealed that they had obtained copies of the Steve Jobs biography penned by Walter Isaacson. Jobs gave Isaacson unprecedented access, making time for over 40 interviews spanning everything from his early life to his final weeks. The book will be released on Monday, after its publisher bumped up its release date shortly after Steve Jobs passed away on October 5. As expected, the book is full of anecdotes and insight into what made Steve Jobs tick,?including everything from the way he challenged authority to how he came up with the name 'Apple' while he was on "one of my fruitarian diets."

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/XK__57GxPbI/

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"Man Up" off to soft start as Fox wins ratings night (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) ? ABC's "Man Up" bowed to lukewarm ratings Tuesday night, while ABC's "Last Man Standing" and "Dancing With the Stars" took significant dips, and "The X Factor" pushed Fox to an overall win for the evening, according to preliminary numbers.

"Man Up," on ABC at 8:30, drew a 2.4 rating/6 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, with 7.7 million total viewers. The network started the night with Tim Allen's "Last Man Standing" at 8, which was down 17 percent compared to its series premiere last week with a 3.0/9 in the demographic and 10.1 million total viewers.

"Dancing With the Stars" at 9 also took a significant blow, dropping 21 percent to a 2.6/6 and 13.5 million total viewers. The evening closed for the network with "Body of Proof" at 10, which had a 6 percent uptick for a 1.9/5 and 9.4 million total viewers.

Fox's "The X Factor," which saw the judges reveal their Top 17, shared top ratings honors in the demographic with CBS' "NCIS," growing 12 percent to a 3.8/10 and 10.1 million total viewers. The strong showing made Fox the top-rated network of the evening with an average 3.8/10, though CBS was easily the most-watched network of the night, with an average 15.4 million total viewers versus 10.1 million for Fox. ABC was the second-most watched network after CBS, followed by Fox.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111019/tv_nm/us_ratings

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400 at private Elizabeth Taylor memorial service (AP)

BURBANK, Calif. ? Colin Farrell, Michael Caine and Elton John joined family and friends of Elizabeth Taylor during a private memorial service for the Oscar-winning star.

Son Michael Wilding told the 400 people gathered Sunday in a theater at the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank that it was especially meaningful to have so many friends on hand to celebrate his mother's spirit.

The Academy Award-winning star of "Butterfield 8" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" was 79 when she died on March 23 of congestive heart failure in Los Angeles.

Spokeswoman Sally Morrison says Farrell hosted a service, which featured memories of the violet-eyed beauty.

"Virginia Woolf" director Mike Nichols put together a touching video message, grandson Rhys Tivey played "Amazing Grace" on the trumpet and John performed "Blue Eyes."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111017/ap_en_mo/us_elizabeth_taylor_memorial

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NASA books 1st flight from New Mexico spaceport (AP)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. ? NASA has booked a charter suborbital flight from Virgin Galactic's spaceport operations in southern New Mexico.

Virgin Galactic announced Thursday that the agreement calls for NASA to charter a full flight from the company, and it includes options for two additional flights. If all options are exercised, the contract is worth $4.5 million.

Virgin Galactic says each mission allows for up to 1,300 pounds of scientific experiments.

Earlier this week, Virgin Galactic announced it hired former NASA executive Michael Moses as vice president of operations.

Virgin Galactic is owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Aabar Investments PJS. It's on track to be the world's first commercial spaceline and hopes to launch its first flight within the next year from Spaceport America, about 50 miles north of Las Cruces.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111015/ap_on_sc/us_spaceport_new_mexico

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There will be no Great Pumpkin this year (Offthekuff)

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Network Marketing Income Streams - Internet Based Business Articles

Building multiple income flows is always on the top priority list of an affiliate marketer, but unfortunately many fail to understand this concept. They regard these multiple income flows uninterrupted and continuous and then move on to the next income flow, which is not how the whole set up works. On the other hand there are many benefits of these multiple income flows to network marketing which are discussed below.

The top most benefit of these variable income flows is that they make the affiliate less prone to slumps in different industries and in some way in the whole economy. Each of these income flows requires affiliate to be vigilant in monitoring and alterations as long as they are in use.

The concept of believing that these flows are continuous is false, but losing any income flow would not hurt too much. For example in most of the fields if you lose your job you would be generally not able to retain the same standard as you may have done previously.

Establishing multiple steady streams of income begins with taking an inventory of your interests and skills. In other words, you need to figure out what you enjoy doing the most and what your strengths and weaknesses are. If you?re gifted in any particular area and you think you would enjoy focusing your life around that area, you?ve got an excellent affiliate marketing angle in place already. Better still, it is something you?ll be able to enjoy doing.

Take inventory of what tools you have available to you. Do you have all of the tools you?ll need? Is your computer up to date? Take inventory of potential help. Do you have friends that can help you get started? Are there some classes being offered at a local college that may be helpful?

Apparently, appropriate deliberation should be made in order to carry out variable income paths. Fortunately there are many opportunities available in affiliate marketing business but few things are tough to manage. The only weapon is to be proactive and sincere effort should be done to prepare in advance. The merchants have already performed most of the difficult aspects of marketing and would be responsible to carry out all the issues regarding production and final delivery of the products.

Lastly, your dedication and commitment is required to make these network marketing income flows prosperous. It must be understood on the part of the affiliates that time submitted is related to the large sums of money you earn, the more time is given the more money is produced.

Benjamin Casanova has long been involved in network marketing business. He also writes on the subjects of affiliate marketing and making money online. If you want to maximize your profits from your online business, visit his website www.internetnetworkmarketing.ws for the proven tips.

Source: http://internetbasedbusinessarticles.com/67310/network-marketing-income-streams/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=network-marketing-income-streams

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Real Estate Marketing ? Blog Archive ? Real Estate Asset ...

Purchasing real estate properties entails enormous amounts of money which tends to make actual estates substantial property. Although it could be straightforward to handle just one or two actual estate properties, managing extra than that may possibly appear also tiresome for a lot of people. This may perhaps be among the reasons why people today and providers turn to real estate asset management like a method to manage actual estate property.

The problems in handling actual estate property would be the fluctuating market costs and demand for these qualities. There are actually instances that real estate bubbles could dramatically display a drop in costs, deeming the residence much more or perhaps a liability than an asset. Actual estate asset management not only handles one?s actual estate assets, they may perhaps also be a source of related data regarding real estate qualities along with the possible of those qualities to generate greater returns in the future.

Actual estate asset management gives a framework strategy in handling actual estate property considering all the factors that accompanies investing in real estate. It could be described as the systematic procedure of keeping and upgrading actual estate property inside a cost-effective method that will work nicely for the house owners.

A great deal of aspects are regarded as when managing actual estate assets. One could be the location with the home, the soundness of the current structures, the cost of maintaining the structure and even the great deal appreciation or the framework depreciation. Apart from these, perfect real estate asset management considers property taxes that owners have to pay for.

Due to the lots of facets of real estate asset management, most, if not all asset management companies or asset management advisors use using asset management software program that cater primarily to the management of one?s actual estate assets. Employing asset management computer software is helpful due to the amount of data when managing actual estate. These data may possibly be utilised as basis in predicting real estate price estimates for a long time to arrive, maintenance price by means of time, and the property?s actual estate worth which would dictate its appreciation or long term resale value.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 at 5:14 am and is filed under Real Estate Marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.allgolftv.com/real-estate-marketing/real-estate-asset-management/

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Syrian troops fire at anti-regime protesters

BEIRUT (AP) ? Activists say Syrian security forces have opened fire at thousands rallying in the country's central regions calling for the downfall of President Bashar Assad's regime.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least seven people were wounded Friday in the city of Homs. It says there are also casualties in the city of Hama.

The Observatory says the protests spread from the capital Damascus to the southern province of Daraa, the northwestern province of Idlib as well as the central regions of Hama and Homs.

Homs has been witnessing intense fighting between troops and army defectors in the past days.

The U.N. says some 2,700 people have already died in the government crackdown against the uprising the began in mid-March.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BEIRUT (AP) ? Two days of clashes between Syrian troops and forces opposed to President Bashar Assad in a rebellious central town have killed seven soldiers and policemen, a Syrian military official said Friday.

The official said 32 Syrian troops were also wounded in the fighting as government forces conducted a "qualitative" operation on Thursday and Friday in the town of Rastan in the central Homs province in an effort to crush "gunmen" holed up inside the town.

The official said the gunmen had terrorized citizens, blocked roads and set up barriers and explosives, and were responsible for the deaths of the seven troops. The comments by the unidentified official were carried by state-run news agency SANA on Friday.

Rastan has witnessed some of the fiercest fighting in the six-month uprising against Assad, pitting the military against hundreds of army defectors, according to activists.

The town, from which the Syrian army draws many of its Sunni Muslim recruits, has seen some of the largest numbers of defections to date. A prominent human rights activist estimated there were around 2,000 defectors fighting in Rastan and nearby Talbiseh as well as in the Jabal al-Zawiyah region in the northern Idlib province.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

The defectors, as well as reports that once-peaceful Syrian protesters are increasingly taking up arms to fight the six-month old government crackdown, have raised concerns of the risk of civil war in Syria.

Syria has a volatile sectarian divide, making civil unrest one of the most dire scenarios. The Assad regime is dominated by the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, but the country is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim.

The U.N. says some 2,700 people have already died in the government crackdown.

The report carried by SANA Friday was an acknowledgment of the stiff resistance and ongoing clashes in Rastan, although the agency, echoing the official government line, describes the fighters as "terrorist armed groups," not defectors.

The military official said the confrontation resulted in the killing and detention of many of the gunmen. He said Syrian troops were still pursuing members of the terrorist groups in an effort to restore security to Rastan.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-09-30-ML-Syria/id-75b02e3e998c4b319101f4690e29c0e9

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Ways to get Competitive Boat Insurance Offers ? An ... - LexConsultor

September 29th, 2011 in Uncategorized | leave a response

It used to become the case that the earth of boat insurance and additionally yacht insurance was a very highbrow affair, and that getting competitive boat insurance quotes was a real challenge. You would have to contact specialist watercraft insurers, but even finding them could be a struggle, because by the design of the business it can be a fairly niche affair.

The great news is that this has all changed with all the advent of the internet, because it is now possible to build extremely competitive quotes for one?s boat insurance without also leaving the comfort of one?s sofa.

There are certain factors you must look out for when applying for the best watercraft insurance plans marine quotes. The primary, and most important is that you ought to try to find coverages that allow ?Agreed Values?. How this works, is that apart from the price of sails, canvas covers, outboard power generators, cushions or other specialist items you?ve got installed on your ship, that ALL damages is going to be covered.

In other terms, this means that the actual market value for your own boat will be ignored if a settlement being essential, and you will end up with a much higher income if anything does affect your boat, and you should make a claim relating to the insurance.

You will find for those who look around that some boat insurance coverage instead work on the basis of actual cash value when doing exercises any settlements. In various other words, if the boat is a decade into its policy, then has a fire, as well as gets stolen etc, then under the terms of most of these policy the boat insurance vendor would factor depreciation additionally, the actual market value with the boat into the computations.

Clearly this can make a huge difference, so watch out because of it, and make sure to generate properly informed.

Source: http://www.lexconsultor.com/archives/3882

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