Europe nears deal to make ECB chief bank watchdog

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European governments neared a deal on Wednesday to give the European Central Bank new powers to supervise banks across the bloc after Germany signalled a readiness to compromise on the scope of the ambitious financial reform.

Last week German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble had clashed openly with his French counterpart Pierre Moscovici over key elements of the plan, but with time running out to meet a year-end deadline, they narrowed their differences, raising hopes of a breakthrough.

Agreement on a common bank supervisor is a crucial first step towards a broader "banking union", or common euro zone approach to dealing with failing banks that in recent years have dragged down countries like Ireland and Spain.

"We think that we have a good chance to reach a deal today," Schaeuble told journalists ahead of a meeting in Brussels with his European Union peers. "My intention is that we find a solution to the banking union on time before Christmas."

Moscovici told his colleagues in the meeting that "all the parameters" for an agreement were in place.

Even if the bloc is able to settle most of its differences on Wednesday, other difficult issues remain.

At a summit in June, EU leaders pledged that once a common bank supervisor was in place, the bloc's rescue mechanism would have the power to directly recapitalise struggling institutions.

Countries like France, Italy and Spain are keen for those powers to be in place as soon as possible. But Germany, worried it could be forced to foot the bill for struggling banks across the bloc, is not in a rush.

In introductory remarks at the meeting, Schaeuble tried to kill any discussion about bank recapitalisations and said it could take more than a year for the new supervisor to be fully up and running.

In the longer-term, there is disagreement over how the burden of winding down failed banks should be shared.

CYPRUS PROPOSAL

A compromise document put forward by rotating EU President Cyprus, and obtained by Reuters on Tuesday, won broad backing at the meeting from the ECB and member states.

In recent weeks, Germany had argued against giving the ECB supervisory responsibility for all 6,000 European banks, concerned the new system could become unmanageable.

The new proposal recommends that banks with assets of 30 billion euros (24.3 billion pounds), or larger than one fifth of their country's economic output, be supervised directly by the ECB rather than national supervisors.

Critically, it also gives the ECB authority to widen its remit to smaller banks if problems arise.

Berlin remains worried about a potential conflict of interest between the ECB's roles as supervisor and as guardian of monetary policy. Such a conflict could arise if, for example, the ECB were to keep interest rates low to prop up banks.

But the tone of Wednesday's gathering was a far cry from a meeting last week intended to finalise the plan when Schaeuble clashed with Moscovici. France wanted a broad ECB remit, while Germany had reservations.

Schaeuble had objected to the ECB's Governing Council having the final say over monitoring banks, but said at the meeting on Wednesday that he thought a compromise could be found.

EUROPEAN DIVISION

Reaching a deal, which EU leaders hope to sign off at a summit on Thursday and Friday, will also require the backing of others with vested interests such as Britain, Sweden, Poland, Hungary and the Netherlands.

Sweden's Finance Minister Anders Borg spelled out his objections to peers, saying there was no way for non-euro countries to participate in the ECB-led scheme on an equal footing with countries in the currency.

He said that Sweden was unlikely to join but could allow the banking union go ahead for others, although he warned it could create "substantial division" in the European union.

Britain has similar worries, although the Chancellor signalled at the meeting that a deal was possible.

George Osborne said one of his main concerns was avoiding a situation where the ECB might infringe on Britain's autonomy in monitoring the City of London, Europe's biggest financial centre.

"It would be very difficult for us to accept that the ECB could exercise certain powers for Deutsche Bank in London. That would be an unfair arrangement," Osborne said.

All 27 EU states must give approval for the project to go ahead, even if only those countries in the euro zone will fall under the banking union to begin with.

Under the Cypriot proposal, the ECB's Governing Council would keep the final say in supervision, but it also lays emphasis on the need for a clear operational separation between monetary policy and supervision. In a nod to Germany, it says the new supervisor may not be fully operational until April, 2014.

(Additional reporting by Luke Baker, Leigh Thomas and Claire Davenport. Editing by Noah Barkin)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/europe-seeks-end-discord-over-banking-union-000804514.html

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Intestinal immune cells play an unexpected role in immune surveillance of the bloodstream

Dec. 13, 2012 ? A type of immune cell found in the small intestine plays a previously unsuspected role in monitoring antigens circulating in the bloodstream. The findings from a team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers clarify how dendritic cells in the intestinal lining collect antigens from both intestinal contents and the circulation, leading to the generation of T cells that suppress inflammation. Disruption of that regulatory system may lead to the development of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease or food allergies.

"In the circuitry we uncovered, mucosal dendritic cells interact with specialized capillaries that allow antigens to move from the blood into intestinal tissues," explains Hans-Christian Reinecker, MD, of the Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the MGH Gastrointestinal Unit, corresponding author of the report released online in the journal Immunity. "Within these dendritic cells, antigens from the blood mix with food and microbial antigens absorbed by the intestine. We were suprised to find that, even before the antigens are carried to the lymph nodes, some are directly processed by intestinal dendritic cells to induce production of a type of T cell that controls intestinal inflammation."

It had been believed that dendritic cells found in the mucosal lining of the small intestine primarily monitored intestinal contents, both to suppress inflammatory reactions against food and to protect against invading pathogens. Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream through small pores in intestinal capillaries, but whether those pores allowed dendritic cells in adjacent intestinal tissue to recognize antigens in the blood was not known. Noting that the position within the intestinal lining of a subset of dendritic cells brings them into contact with both the bloodstream and with compounds absorbed from the intestine, Reinecker's team investigated whether those cells collected antigens from both sources.

Experiments in mice confirmed that these dendritic cells, which carry a receptor called CX3CR1, collect and process both circulating and intestinal antigens, inducing production of a type of CD8 T cell that can help induce tolerance to antigens in food. Previously, the source of those intestinal T cells -- which differ from the cytotoxic CD8 T cells that kill virally-infected and other damaged cells -- and their function were unknown. Further experiments by the MGH team showed that these intestinal CD8 T cells secreted proteins that suppressed the activation of CD4 T cells, preventing intestinal inflammation.

Based on these results, the researchers propose that CX3CR1 dendritic cells in the intestinal lining are a central immune system component for surveillance of both foreign antigens consumed in food and circulating "self" antigens. Since CX3CR1 dendritic cells set off a process leading to suppression of inflammation, disturbance of their function could generate the inappropriate immune response to "self" cells or tissues that characterizes chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

"When dendritic cells process information about microbes within the intestine, they induce production of both T cells that specifically target those pathogens and regulatory T cells that control the immune response," he adds. "Disruption of the balance between those two types of T cells could lead to inflammatory bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Failure to control T cell activation in the intestine also could lead to food allergies and celiac disease; so this regulatory circuit that we have uncovered establishes the small intestinal immune system as a site that could have a major impact on the immune response throughout the body."

Reinecker is an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His team is now looking at genetic variants that may regulate the function of this newly discovered system and investigating whether the microbial population of the intestines -- both beneficial bacteria and pathogenic organisms -- can alter the outcome of the process.

Co-lead authors of the Immunity paper are Sun Young Chang and Joo-Hye Song, MGH Gastrointestinal Unit. Additional co-authors are Bayasi Guleng, Carmen Alonso Cotoner, Seiji Arihiro, Yun Zhao, and Hao-Sen Chiang, MGH Gastrointestinal Unit; Atul Bhan, MGH Pathology; Michael O'Keeffe and Gongxian Liao, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Christopher L. Karp and Cox Terhorst, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; Mi-Na Kweon, International Vaccine Institute, Korea; and Arlene Sharpe, Harvard Medical School. The study was supported by National Institutes of Health grants DK-068181, DK-033506, AI093588, DK-043351, AI-057992, and DK-52510.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Massachusetts General Hospital.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Sun-Young Chang, Joo-Hye Song, Bayasi Guleng, Carmen?Alonso Cotoner, Seiji Arihiro, Yun Zhao, Hao-Sen Chiang, Michael O?Keeffe, Gongxian Liao, Christopher?L. Karp, Mi-Na Kweon, Arlene?H. Sharpe, Atul Bhan, Cox Terhorst, Hans-Christian Reinecker. Circulatory Antigen Processing by Mucosal Dendritic Cells Controls CD8+ T Cell Activation. Immunity, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2012.09.018

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/g75OzerWPXc/121213121755.htm

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A Slammy Awards retrospective

All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. ? 2012 WWE, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This website is based in the United States. By submitting personal information to this website you consent to your information being maintained in the U.S., subject to applicable U.S. laws. U.S. law may be different than the law of your home country. WrestleMania XXIX (NY/NJ) logo TM & ? 2012 WWE. All Rights Reserved. The Empire State Building design is a registered trademark and used with permission by ESBC.

Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/a-slammy-awards-retrospective

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What are the risks of post-flood mold - Shore News Today

Dr. ROBERT E. COIFMAN
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Molds are life forms that recycle dead plant and animal material back into soil. Some molds can also use certain synthetics and plastics as food. Molds survive dry conditions by producing inactive forms called spores, which begin to grow whenever they have the combination of food, water and oxygen.

Molds can grow in above-freezing, non-flood conditions when they can get enough moisture from air, or when water leaks or accumulates in indoor spaces. Molds can?t grow under water, during a flood, because they don?t have enough access to oxygen, but they typically cause problems after floods because wet items become food sources after the water recedes.

The best way to prevent mold damage after either a flood or a water leak is to dry things out quickly. Indoors you can open windows if it?s dry or turn on air conditioning or heat and blow fans over wet carpet to increase circulation of air. Things that can?t be dried out before mold growth takes over, such as stuffed furniture and sometimes carpeting, wall board, sub-flooring and finishing and trim from construction, must be replaced.

The health risk of going into an environment contaminated by mold depends on the amount of mold present. The federal Environmental Protection Agency website www.epa.gov/mold contains guidelines to determine when an amateur can safely clean up a mold-contaminated environment and when it?s healthier to call the pros. Start with the free download from the EPA website, ?A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home.? The EPA offers a free on-line course on mold and mold remediation for environmental and public health professionals.

Anyone can take it or just download and read the course materials. The language was chosen to be simple and non-technical so that interested members of the public should be able to understand it. I recommend downloading and reading it if you have mold issues either at home or in your workplace.

Health effects of mold exposure:

The greatest fear about mold that I encounter as an allergist is fear of neurologic or liver toxicity from mycotoxins, toxic substances produced under certain conditions by certain mold species. Mycotoxins can cause injury and sometimes death if you eat them, as happened during the Irish potato famine when there was often no available food except moldy potatoes, but there is no scientific evidence that anyone ever suffered a permanent injury from mycotoxin inhalation.

The National Academy of Sciences reviewed this topic and in 2004 published, ?Damp Indoor Spaces and Health? (available free on line from the National Academies Press) as an objective review of the relevant scientific evidence. The reason most homeowner?s insurance doesn?t cover losses caused by molds is that lawyers have convinced juries that their clients suffered permanent injuries from mycotoxin inhalation following water leaks in their homes, but there is absolutely no scientific evidence that this type of injury exists.?

Almost all medical and health effects of mold exposure get much better or resolve completely if the mold exposure can be stopped. The most common health effects of mold exposure at levels encountered in leaky buildings and after floods are respiratory allergies presenting as hay fever, sinus disease and/or asthma. Their management: avoidance to the greatest degree practical, medications to control symptoms, and allergy shots to reduce allergic reactivity.

As many readers know, I?m an engineer by training and our teaching of indoor mold control includes simple measures for rainwater diversion and effective indoor dehumidification when these topics apply.

Dr. Robert Coifman is an allergy and asthma specialist with offices in Galloway and Millville. For information, call 652-1009.


Source: http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/health-a-fitness/32718-what-are-the-risks-of-post-flood-mold-and-what-to-do-about-them-.html

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Non Surgical Brow Lifts

In some individuals, muscles in the brows start to degenerate. This causes the area, including the eyebrows to sag. Although surgery has been used to lift the forehead and brow area, many people are reluctant to choose this option. Instead minimally invasive, non surgical techniques can be used to tighten and lift the brows. The results are not permanent. However treatments can be adjusted to facial changes that will inevitably occur over time.

Article by Health-and-Fitness:Anti-Aging Articles from EzineArticles.com (c) Health-and-Fitness:Anti-Aging Articles from EzineArticles.com - Read full story here.

Source: http://anti-aging.fitnessthroughfasting.com/anti-aging/non-surgical-brow-lifts.php

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the art of negotiation: how to get what you deserve ... - Concrete Cakes

Negotiation is an integral part of running a business and it can literally separate the successful from the unsuccessful.? Although negotiation is something all of us have dealt with at some point in our daily lives, it is somewhat of a different animal when it pertains to business matters.? Negotiating often brings out a lot of emotion, which, as I?m sure you know, has no place in a successful business transaction.? As a business owner, you must be willing to negotiate in order to appeal to the needs of your customers but also maintain a standard that supports your bottom line, all while remaining professional.

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There are some key techniques that can be used to help make you a master negotiator, and in turn, a very savvy business owner. ? The first technique that I want to explore is preparation.? None of us would walk into an interview without having done our homework on the employer and the potential opportunity so why would we walk into a negotiation without being properly prepared?? In essence, the two situations are very similar because in a lot of ways a negotiation is simply an interview between your business and another party: client, supplier, investor, etc.? So in order for you to successfully get what you need from the other party, you need to know some basic information about them.? Especially when you are negotiating with other businesses, doing your homework is often critical.? You will want to be aware of things like what their weaknesses are, background information on how they typically do business, what other types of people do business with them, who the decision makers are, and if there are any restrictions or non-negotiable details to steer clear of.

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While preparation is essential to making negotiations go your way, listening is just as, if not more, important.? Now I know the concept of listening seems elementary but I think too often we try to pass off hearing as listening even though the two actions are fundamentally different.? Truly listening to someone involves receiving information from the other party and digesting that information before your respond.? Too often we are focused on our response while the other person is still talking.? This causes us to miss key points, misinterpret information, and jump to conclusions that can all create a less effective negotiation.? Additionally, showing someone that you are a good listener helps build trust which is extremely important in a business setting.? Listening shows that you care about what the other party has to say, allows you to find out what their concerns are, and what is truly important or unimportant to them.? By gathering all of this information and using it to shape your response, you a better positioning yourself to respond in a way that is pleasing to the other party and help you ultimately get what you want.

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Lastly, you want to have a strategy before you go into a negotiation.? When making deals with clients or potential clients, it is crucial for you to predetermine certain parameters such as how much of a discount you?re willing to give, how many additional services or products you are able to offer at no charge, are you prepared to customize certain items per customer request, etc. ? Conversely, when you are the buyer, doing some strategic planning as to your maximum budget and your must-haves will make for a much smoother negotiation.? The other thing to think about when putting together your strategy is what your strengths are, in other words, what characteristics does your business have that may give you the upper hand?? Maybe your business is the sole source of a particular product or service or maybe you offer ancillary services that your competitors don?t offer. Whatever those strengths may be, play to them, and use them as leverage in your negotiation.

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None of the aforementioned techniques are rocket science but more so applied common sense. ? As a matter of fact, I think during negotiation is the perfect time to apply the golden rule: treat others as you would like to be treated.? If you come to a negotiation prepared with knowledge of the other party, a strategy behind your approach and ears ready to listen, you can expect a positive outcome and a solution where all parties involved win.? But it all starts with having the right attitude, being fair and, if you get a bad feeling, knowing when to walk away.

*****

If you like what you see,?LIKE?us on Facebook.

If you want to see more,?FOLLOW?us on Twitter.

(Posted by?Kathryn Epps)

Source: http://www.concretecakes.com/the-art-of-negotiation/

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Highlights from Egypt's draft constitution

CAIRO (AP) ? Egypt's draft constitution, set for a referendum on Dec. 15 and 22, is made up of an introduction, an 11-part preamble and 236 articles. Critics have raised concerns over issues including Islamic law and women's rights:

? Shariah (Islamic) law

Like a previous constitution, the draft states, "Principles of Islamic Shariah are the principal source of legislation." The draft adds, "The principles of Islamic Sharia include general evidence, foundational rules, rules of jurisprudence, and credible sources..." which critics say opens the door for legislation allowing imposition of strict Islamic law. Countering that is a vague article that reads, "Freedom of belief is an inviolable right. . The State shall guarantee the freedom to practice religious rites and to establish places of worship for the divine religions, as regulated by law."

? Role of clerics

The draft gives Islamic clerics unprecedented powers in this article: "Al-Azhar Senior Scholars are to be consulted in matters pertaining to Islamic law," referring to the most respected center of scholarship and rulings in Sunni Islam.

? Women's rights

The draft mentions women in the framework of the traditional Muslim family, adding, "The state shall ensure maternal and child health services free of charge, and enable the reconciliation between the duties of a woman toward her family and her work." Critics charge the draft fails to protect women from discrimination, but the preamble states, "?Equality and equal opportunities are established for all citizens, men and women, without discrimination or nepotism or preferential treatment, in both rights and duties."

? Civil rights

The draft contains language referring to public morals and values, implying that Islamic law would be the determining factor. An article forbids limiting the basic rights of individuals but adds that they "must be practiced in a manner not conflicting with" principles of religious law. There is also a ban on insulting "religious messengers and prophets," opening the door to arrests of bloggers and other activists.

? News media

Independent publications closed for a day to protest the lack of an article banning arrest of journalists for what they write. The draft has this: "Freedom of the press, printing, publication and mass media shall be guaranteed. The media shall be free and independent..."

?Religious minorities

The draft guarantees the practices of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, raising concerns of persecution of smaller sects. It also allows religious practices on condition that they do not "violate public order."

? Military

The president is the head of the national security council, but the defense minister is the commander in chief of the armed forces and "appointed from among its officers." That ensures the military an independent position. Control of the military budget is not mentioned.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/highlights-egypts-draft-constitution-190458145.html

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Rookie's new owner talks on surgery, recovery | KFOR.com ...

We have new information about an animal cruelty case that has struck a chord of sympathy with people across the state.

Last week this German Shepherd named ?Rookie? was tossed from a bridge at southeast 59th Street onto I-40.

The person who did it hasn?t been caught.

Rookie?s injuries were so bad surgery had to be delayed.

We are happy to report Rookie underwent surgery Tuesday afternoon.

Veterinarians at OSU are performing the procedures and the Humane Society is covering the costs.

OHP trooper Jennifer Fisher is the one who found Rookie after the accident.

She talked with us about her plans to adopt him after surgery.

?

Source: http://kfor.com/2012/12/11/rookies-new-owner-talks-on-surgery-recovery/

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Verizon announces Samsung Galaxy Camera with LTE, available online December 13th for $550

Samsung Galaxy Camera announced for Verizon, will be available online December 13th

Not that this will come as much of a surprise to anyone at this point, but Samsung and Verizon have finally announced their intent to sell an LTE-compatible version of the Galaxy Camera on Big Red's network starting this Thursday for $549.99. Interestingly, there was no mention of when or if the TouchWiz-running camera will show up in stores, but you can at least pick one up in either white or cobalt black through the carrier's website. If you choose to grab one and take advantage of the faster data, Verizon's offering a promotion in which you only have to tack on an extra $5 per month to your Share Everything plan. Not a bad deal, considering a tablet will run you twice that -- provided you can stomach the upfront cost.

Continue reading Verizon announces Samsung Galaxy Camera with LTE, available online December 13th for $550

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