Colombian Defense Minister Santos Raises Reward For Capture of FARC Leaders
By Dialogo March 27, 2009 Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos increased rewards for information leading to the capture of the FARC’s top two commanders, Alfonso Cano and Jorge Briceño, to 7 million pesos ($2.9 million) each. Meanwhile, in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, admirers hailed a former Colombian guerrilla leader as a hero on the anniversary of his death, while Colombian officials boosted cash rewards for his top two successors. Some 100 supporters marched past Venezuela’s presidential palace carrying red flags and posters of Colombian revolutionary Manuel Marulanda, whose real name was Pedro Antonio Marin. The state-funded television network Telesur, meanwhile, showed video of what it said was Marulanda’s funeral. Rebels were shown carrying his flag-draped coffin through a forest. Telesur did not say how it had obtained the footage. Marulanda co-founded the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, the Western Hemisphere’s last remaining rebel army. He died of a heart attack on March 26, 2008, at age 78 and is believed to be buried in southern Colombia. Colombian officials say they believe he died in rugged mountains near the town of Uribe, cradle of the 45-year-old rebel movement. “Long live Marulanda, long live the FARC!” Hector Rodriguez, a leader of the Venezuelan Communist Youth, shouted in a fiery speech in downtown Caracas. Participant Santiago Palacios, a member of the Venezuelan Communist Party, said President Hugo Chavez’s government had no role in the march, which he said was organized by the regional leftist group Coordinadora Continental Bolivariana and its Venezuelan affiliates. But Colombia’s government, which has used billions of dollars in U.S. aid to batter the guerrillas, says documents found in the laptop computer of a rebel leader killed last year indicate that the CCB was formed by the FARC _ a charge that CCB leaders deny. Other documents allegedly found in the laptop suggest that Chavez sought to fund the FARC, and Colombian officials say Venezuela continues to provide rebels refuge. Chavez calls both claims bogus. Colombia’s police chief, Gen. Oscar Naranjo, also announced the arrest of 10 alleged FARC members he said planned to assassinate Santos on his ranch south of Bogota during Easter Week.
JTF-Bravo Brings 10,900 kg of Food and Carries Out 15 Rescues in Panama
By Roberto López Dubois/Dialogo November 12, 2020 Members of U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo) continue rescue efforts, humanitarian support, and transportation of health care personnel in areas of Panama affected by flood and mudslides due to Hurricane Eta.As of November 11, the JTF-Bravo team has carried out some 15 rescues of people who were trapped in dangerous areas due to flooding. The U.S. mission in Panama has also transported about 10,900 kilograms of food as well as water to communities in Chriquí province and the Comarca Ngabe-Buglé, which were without supplies for a few days following the hurricane.Members of JTF-Bravo partnered with the Panamanian National Civil Protection System to deliver live-saving and urgent supplies of water and 4,535 kg of food to a community in Panama that was left isolated for 96 hours following the effects of Hurricane Eta, November 7, 2020. (Photo: U.S. Air Force Captain Rachel Salpietra)In addition, JTF-Bravo conducted reconnaissance flights with its helicopters to determine the damage to roads and infrastructure, and has evacuated people isolated by floods and landslides, and transported the bodies of victims from areas without land access.“Thanks to the tireless work of our government team, the solidarity of the Panamanians and the Joint Task Force team, medical supplies, medicine, bags of food and utensils continue to arrive to the affected communities in Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí,” said Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo on Twitter.Among the rescues made, the JTF-Bravo Public Affairs Office highlighted that of a 70 year-old man and his dog who were found weak due to lack of food and water. “We were told that he walked for seven days with his dog from the province of Bocas [del Toro] to Chiriquís. He apparently lost his horse along the way due to landslides,” JTF-Bravo Public Affairs Office shared with Diálogo.According to U.S. Navy Captain Matthew Turner, senior Defense cooperation officer in Panama, some HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were already in Panama in preparation for an operation scheduled for January 2021 with the Ministry of Public Security, which allowed for immediate support to the affected areas.“Working together, we have been able to rescue several people from hard to reach places, as well as [transport] more than 40,000 pounds [18,144 kg] of humanitarian aid, water, food, medicine to people in rural areas; we have had a very close collaboration, and we are happy to be able to help Panama,” said Capt. Turner.JTF-Bravo Public Affairs Office said that as of the morning of November 11, the force had rescued 118 people throughout Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama and delivered 81,193 pounds of life-saving supplies.
NextGen Know-How: 5 books to help elevate your culture this year
continue reading » ShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr To elevate the culture of your credit union, you must set the standard for leadership and performance. This starts at the executive level. The first thing the executive team must do today to positively impact the leadership quality of the credit union is to declare that you will no longer promote for technical proficiency. To create an exceptional culture, you must start by creating exceptional leaders. This means instilling hiring and promotion practices that focus on leadership qualities, not technical skills. It also means we must train managers and executives to be influential, modern leaders.
Most organizations are average. They are stuck—not moving forward and not growing. Why? One answer is that average organizations have average leaders. It is still standard practice for many organizations to promote employees for their technical skills, rather than their ability to lead and inspire other people. This practice perpetuates mediocre culture.I believe there are three main reasons organizations are average:As noted above, employees are promoted for technical proficiency, and not leadership proficiency.The organization’s leaders are conflict-avoidant.Cultural health is not a strategic priority.
Financial forethought for Fido
According to a 2018 survey, almost 70% of households in the US own a pet, and approximately a third of these will need an emergency trip to the veterinarian each year. This can be a major expense, with the average annual cost of this care ranging from $800 to $1,500 for cats and dogs. However, with careful planning, you can meet your pet’s health needs without depleting your savings account. Here are a few ideas…Pet Insurance: According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, more than two million pets in North America are insured. This option is growing in popularity, with some employers now offering pet insurance in their benefits packages. Monthly premiums can range from $10-100 per month, but compare this with paying more than $5,000 out of pocket for your pet to receive cancer treatment. If possible, get pet insurance when your pet is young and healthy – pre-existing conditions are frequently excluded.Family Budgeting: Adding a line item to your family’s monthly budget for your pets can cover the cost of pet insurance or provide a dedicated financial resource as issues arise (or both!). Including an allocation for your pet in the family emergency fund is a similar strategy for larger-scale concerns. This includes natural disasters, which could result in medical emergencies and other challenges for your pets.Preventative Medicine: Annual check-ups for your pet can save you money by helping avoid pet emergencies or major medical bills altogether. Spaying or neutering your fluffy friend can also help prevent health problems, including some cancers. An inexpensive topical solution can help your pet avoid parasites such as fleas and ticks, which means avoiding life-threatening anemia, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.Talk to Your Vet: If you already have a pet, your vet can educate you on which vaccines you can skip. While some prevent serious and costly diseases, others are for more mild conditions and aren’t always effective. If you’re thinking about getting a new pet, your vet can talk to you about genetic conditions common to certain breeds, which can help you plan early and more realistically for your new pet’s ongoing care. 218SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr,Ed SanFilippo Edward J. SanFilippo is a freelance writer, editor, and researcher with expertise across a broad range of topics. He has nearly 20 years of experience writing for public agencies, private … Web: www.financialfeed.com Details
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Never underestimate the sleeping Japanese giant
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U.S. Senator Bob Casey and Physician General Dr. Levine Call on Legislators to Pass Non-Discrimination Protections (Round-up)
Equality, National Issues, Non-discrimination, Round-Up, The Blog On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Bob Casey hosted a news conference in Pittston, Pennsylvania to address the need for non-discrimination legislation to be passed nationally and statewide. Pennsylvania’s Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine attended and participated in the senator’s conference.Governor Wolf and his administration have supported non-discrimination efforts and have urged the legislature to pass laws to end discrimination in housing and employment practices statewide. In April, the governor signed two executive orders to protect LGBT workers employed by the state and companies contracted by the state.“We must show that Pennsylvania is the place that William Penn envisioned when he founded our commonwealth on the principle that it is open, diverse, and inclusive for all people,” said Governor Wolf. “I call on the General Assembly to swiftly put legislation on my desk that ensures that people throughout the commonwealth – regardless of sexual orientation, gender expression or identity – are treated equally under Pennsylvania law.”Take a look at the coverage below: SHARE TWEET SHARE Email Facebook Twitter Times Leader: LGBT legislation all about equality, state and federal leaders say.“This has been a difficult year for the LGBT community,” [Dr. Rachel Levine] said. “On the heels of celebrations and congratulations of marriage equality just over a year ago, this year, 2016, has been tough.”… “It is clear the fight to end discrimination is not over,” Levine said. “These events are a clear call to action. This country must do more.”PA Homepage: Advocates not giving up anti-discrimination law fight“As the state legislature sees that more and more communities are coming together for fairness and equality that that will help them do the right thing when it comes to this legislation,” PA Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine said.Standard-Speaker: Casey calls for local pro-LGBT ordinancesU.S. Senator Bob Casey (podium) joined Pennsylvania’s Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine and Northeastern Pennsylvania Rainbow Alliance President Carl Halkyer in supporting and pushing for Pennsylvania’s statewide anti-discrimination ordinance on Tuesday, July 5th, at the Pittston Library. By: Eryn Spangler, Press Assistant
Like Governor Tom Wolf on Facebook: Facebook.com/GovernorWolf July 07, 2016 U.S. Senator Bob Casey and Physician General Dr. Levine Call on Legislators to Pass Non-Discrimination Protections (Round-up)
Danish Risk Council sees danger of big falls in asset prices, fire sales
The Danish Risk Council has given a strong warning that sudden changes in how the markets view risk could lead to big falls in asset prices and fire sales.The council, chaired by the director of the Danish central bank Lars Rohde, said after its latest quarterly meeting: “Sudden changes in risk perception in the financial markets combined with low market liquidity may still lead to significant falls in asset prices and fire sales.”It warned about behaviour that could be unleashed by the availability of cheap credit.“Due caution should be exerted in relation to the low level of interest rates, which may lead to excessive risk-taking and risk illusion among borrowers and credit institutions,” the council said. The Danish Risk Council was set up in 2013 by the country’s government to address systemic risks in the financial sphere.In its statement, the council said that, in the last few months, the risk of a rapid and marked fall in asset prices in some of the global financial markets had appeared to some extent.“The large fluctuations in the financial markets in early 2016 have not had systemic consequences in Denmark,” it said, but it warned that sudden changes in the perception of risk could prompt big asset price falls.Seasonally adjusted prices in the housing market continued to rise in the second half of last year, it said, even though this was at a more moderate pace than in the first half for single-family houses. Expectations of future price developments remains high, it said. “While growth in housing loans in Copenhagen and Aarhus has subsided, market expectations of low interest rates several years ahead may still lead to excessive risk-taking and risk illusion among borrowers and credit institutions,” the council said.It said this could be the case if the risks of higher interest rates and a reversal in house prices were not taken into account to a sufficient degree. The council said the observation it made in March last year about low interest rates and the build-up of systemic risks still applied.Back then, it said the conditions for a rapid build-up of systemic financial risks were in place due to the extraordinarily low interest rates, especially if these were “embedded into the expectations of borrowers and credit institutions”.The council said yesterday that it also discussed potential systemic risks stemming from the insurance and pension fund sectors at its latest meeting. “The Council considers it crucial that companies be appropriately capitalised to avoid fire sales in periods of sudden changes in asset prices,” it said, adding that it would continue the analysis of systemic risks in the insurance and pension fund sectors.Meanwhile, in its regulation statistics publications, the Danish central bank (Danmarks Nationalbank) reported that, even though interest rates on overnight deposits remain negative in Denmark, companies in the country are still putting more money into banks.It said the average interest rate for the overnight deposits had been negative since April 2015 but that deposits grew in February by DKK21bn (€2.8bn) to stand at DKK218bn at the end of the month.“Overnight deposits account for more than 94% of total corporate deposits, while time deposits account for an ever smaller proportion, even though the interest rate on these is still positive, albeit declining,” the central bank said.The average interest rate on all overnight deposits for business was just below zero in February.The bank said the insurance and pension sector, as well as unit trusts, were now getting the lowest average deposit interest rates at around -0.6% on their total deposits.
Boy battling cancer wakes from coma as family agree to cut life support
NZ Herald 3 April 2018Family First Comment: A perfect example of why euthanasia is so dangerous – not only for adults but also for children. Don’t let the politicians go near it! www.protect.org.nz A two-year-old boy in the UK woke up from a coma right after his family agreed to switch him off life support.Dylan Askin, from Shelton Lock, Derbyshire, suffered from a very rare type of lung cancer. He received the one-in-ten-million diagnosis of Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH).On Good Friday of 2016, Dylan’s outlook was so tragic the parents made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support the following day.Little Dylan fought through and, by Easter Sunday, was deemed to be in “stable” condition.Two years on, Dylan has beaten cancer.READ MORE: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12025125&ref=twitter
Al-Shabaab releases video showing prisoners’ executions
Somali Islamist extremist group al-Shabaab has released a harrowing video showing its members executing soldiers believed to be part of the African Union troops it kidnapped during an attack on their base in Somalia in September.The video was reported by SITE Intelligence Group on Tuesday. It shows armed fighters tearing through what looks to be a camp for Ugandan troops.Al-Shabaab said that it killed more than 50 Ugandan troops in the attack on a base for peacekeepers in the town of Janale. Ugandan officials however reported only 19 deaths.Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni was reported to have said that al-Shabaab may have taken some prisoners and blamed the commanders for being “asleep” when the attack happened.This particular video shows an alleged Ugandan prisoner in handcuffs and other soldiers being shot at close range by the group’s militants.
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