The Information Commissioner?s Office (ICO) is the UK?s independent public authority set up to uphold information rights. It does this by promoting good practice, ruling on complaints, providing information to individuals and organisations and taking appropriate action when the law is broken.
The ICO enforces and oversees the following legislation:
The ICO is responsible for data protection in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; it also has some international duties.
The ICO is responsible for the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations, and have limited responsibilities under the INSPIRE Regulations, in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and UK-wide public authorities based in Scotland. Scotland has complementary INSPIRE Regulations and its own Scottish Environmental Information Regulations and the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. These are regulated by the Scottish Information Commissioner.
There are a number of tools available to the ICO for taking action to change the behaviour of organisations and individuals that collect, use and keep personal information. They include criminal prosecution, non-criminal enforcement and audit. The Information Commissioner also has the power to serve a monetary penalty notice on a data controller.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, Environmental Information Regulations, INSPIRE Regulations and associated codes of practice, the ICO?s tools include non-criminal enforcement and assessments of good practice.
The Information Commissioner is appointed by the Queen and reports directly to Parliament. The Commissioner is supported by the management board.
The ICO?s main office is in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Its three regional offices in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales provide relevant services where legislation or administrative structure is different.
March was another busy month, mainly because we had three birthday parties and Aunt Gail from Alaska came to visit for the second half of March!? Plus, I was stilling finishing up my book - March 31 was my deadline for completing it and getting it to the book designer.? Yes, I finished it up (I think on April 2...a couple of days late, but that wasn't too bad considering all that was going on!).
First, we had Rianne's party.? I must say, their place (The Residence on Soi 24) has the nicest housing and the greatest play area and pool I've seen in Bangkok.? Apartment envy...as Chris calls it! :)?? The party was a lot of fun. As you'll see the parents had fun too!? Leah really enjoyed the see-saw!
Next was Andres party.? It was at Playtime and had a pirate theme.? Siena really got into it! My kids like Playtime because you can decorate cupcakes...and then eat them! :)? You'll see Max decorating his with Matthew while Lisa helps them!? Afterwards, Chris and I enjoyed date night in that part of Bangkok at The Roast - a really yummy restaurant! The third birthday was Lara's at Little Gym.?? The parties in Bangkok are a lot of fun....good thing considering how many we are invited to! :)? Unfortunately, my camera died before cake time... One day, Max, Siena and I went back to Benjakiti Park in Bangkok to take some pictures. I wish there was some more shade because it's closer to our house than Rot Fai Park and has a nice bike path and is never crowded like Lumpini Park.? As you know, Max loves to ride his bike!
The kids and I also went to Funarium again.? This time we did more "stuff" - Max took a mini-cooking class (well, more like decorating a pastry class) and we did some coloring and arts & crafts.? I just love Funarium! With Khun Vipa gone and no one to be at the house during Siena's nap while I had to pick up Max at school, I took Siena to the Mommy and me time at Max's school.? It's at such an odd time for little ones - 1:00-2:30pm -- and right during her nap time.? But, it gave me something to do with her and to keep her awake until Max finished school.? I tried to pick up Max early, but he'd get upset because his class has "show & tell" at the end of school.? Here is Siena with Ms. Mandy, and the little girl is Gabby, Matthew's sister.? She's so cute and getting so big! Max also had International Day at Mulberry House....easy peasy as Max would say!!? No having to buy a costume - jeans and a t-shirt and voila!? Instant American! :)?? The little girl with Max is Sakurako (who he says he wants to marry!).
Once Aunt Gail arrived, we did some more "research" for the book and went to the Ancient City...a wonderful surprise!? It's a huge complex with structures from all over Thailand - some replicas and some originals moved to this site, including an entire floating village.? The best part was that we rented a golf cart to ride around the complex.? That was a huge hit! We also did the usual Bangkok sights, like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Jim Thompson's House, and Museum of Siam.?? I think Aunt Gail had a great time! ?One thing we did with Aunt Gail that I had been dying to do was go to one of the Floating Markets outside of Bangkok.? So, the kids and I took her!? (I would have left the kids at home...especially since Max refused to get on the second boat to go through the market...It's hard to see a "floating market" from the docks!? But, our maid, Khun Vipa, quit - a horrible story which I'd rather not go into details about but it broke my heart!)? Regardless, we joined a tour that was an entire day event.? We went to the Damnoen Saduak floating market, as well as a couple other tourist things -- a snake show (not a fan at all!!? Snakes not secured in boxes...oh my!? We got out of there fast) and a trip to a cultural center.? It was a LONG day but worth it, despite the fact I didn't get to go through the market on a boat! ?Here are the kids enjoying Aunt Gail's visit with her.
Contact: David Weston d.weston@ucl.ac.uk 44-020-310-83844 University College London
One in six people in England aged over 50 are socially isolated. They have few socially orientated hobbies, little civic or cultural engagement with society, and may have very limited social networks. This was a key finding from the most recent report of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), a comprehensive study that aims to understand the economic, social, psychological and health concerns of an ageing society. The multidisciplinary ELSA research team showed that the least wealthy over-fifties suffer the most social isolation, with the wealthier over 50's half as likely to become socially isolated compared to the least wealthy.
The ELSA report went on to suggest that focussing public health intervention efforts on less wealthy, less healthy older people and on improving access to public and private transport for the over-50's is likely to have the greatest impact in alleviating social isolation.
The ELSA project is an extensive research study that follows the lives of more than 10,000 English people throughout their older age and which reveals the complex interrelationships between personal finances, social detachment and overall health and wellbeing. Previous reports from the project have shown how social engagement is closely linked with long life and healthy ageing. The current findings come from the fifth report of ELSA, which is led by researchers at UCL (University College London) and which is carried out in partnership with researchers at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the University of Manchester and NatCen Social Research.
One of ELSA's goals was to determine whether measuring psychological well being at a younger age could predict an individual's risk of later developing poor health and suffering an earlier death. Subjects were first visited in 2002/03 (wave one) and again most recently in 2010/11 (wave five).
Those who were recorded as having a greater enjoyment of life in wave one were more likely to still be alive 9 to 10 years later than were other participants. The difference between those who enjoyed life the most and those who enjoyed life the least was marked, with nearly three times more people dying in the lower than greater enjoyment group. In addition, ELSA found that measures of psychological well-being that were taken in 2004/05 (wave two) could be used to predict which previously unaffected individuals would go on to suffer disability, reduced walking speed, impaired self-rated health, and to develop coronary heart disease by the time they were visited again in 2010/11.
These remarkable findings became even more astonishing when it became clear that the link between psychological well being and long term health and survival was independent of other factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, wealth, education and baseline health.
OTHER KEY FINDINGS OF THE FIFTH REPORT
Pensions and wealth:
There is evidence that a significant number of individuals over recent years have been retiring gradually, rather than abruptly ceasing work. Almost half of men and a third of women aged 60-64 years who are in receipt of private pension income are still in work; and these individuals on average work fewer hours than those who have yet to start drawing their private pensions.
Among those who have retired over the last decade, average post-retirement family net income fell to 72% of average pre-retirement income. Those in the top quartile of pre-retirement income experience the biggest post-retirement percentage decrease (down 40%).
Social detachment:
Social detachment is more common among individuals who never married or have been separated/divorced or widowed than members of couples.
Men, those living alone and those living in rural areas are less likely to remain in regular contact with friends and family.
Mobility problems are associated with a withdrawal from leisure activities and cultural engagement, as is losing access to transport.
Women are more likely to become detached from leisure activities than men, but less likely to become detached from social networks; while widowed individuals are less likely to withdraw from leisure activities, cultural engagement and, in particular, social networks than those in a couple.
KEY FACTS
The project is led by a team of researchers at UCL, NatCen Social Research, the University of Manchester, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The study is coordinated by Professor Andrew Steptoe, British Heart Foundation Professor of Psychology and director of the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care at UCL.
ELSA began in 2002 and visits volunteer participants every two years. This is the fifth biennial report.
###
Notes for Editors
For more information, or to interview one of the lead researchers on ELSA, please contact David Weston (d.weston@ucl.ac.uk; +44 (0) 203 108 3844;) in the UCL Media Relations Office.
Journalists can obtain full copies of "The dynamics of Ageing, Evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing 2002-2010" by contacting David Weston (d.weston@ucl.ac.uk) in the UCL Media Relations Office.
About ELSA
ELSA is an interdisciplinary data resource on health, economic position and quality of life as people age. The primary objective of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) is to collect longitudinal multidisciplinary data from a representative sample of the English population aged 50 and older.
http://www.ifs.org.uk/ELSA
About UCL (University College London)
Founded in 1826, UCL was the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, the first to admit students regardless of race, class, religion or gender, and the first to provide systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. We are among the world's top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables. UCL currently has 24,000 students from almost 140 countries, and more than 9,500 employees. Our annual income is over 800 million.
www.ucl.ac.uk | Follow us on Twitter @uclnews
About NatCen Social Research
NatCen Social Research is Britain's leading centre for social research. Our research covers all areas of social policy, and our findings have direct, practical application in terms of understanding social behaviour and informing policy. Our work is carried out by experienced researchers using innovative, high quality research methods, earning us an international reputation for delivering robust and rigorous research. We are a not-for-profit organisation, dedicated to making an impact on society and advancing the role of social research in the UK. We aim to share our insight and knowledge with the wider research and policy community, bringing to life what is really going on in Britain today.
http://www.natcen.ac.uk | Follow us on Twitter @natcen
About the Institute for Fiscal Studies
The IFS is Britain's leading independent microeconomic research institute. We aim to promote effective economic and social policies by understanding better their impact on individuals, families, businesses and the government's finances. Our findings are based on rigorous analysis, detailed empirical evidence and in-depth institutional knowledge. We seek to communicate them effectively, to a wide range of audiences, thereby maximising their impact on policy both directly and by informing public debate.
http://www.ifs.org.uk | Follow us on Twitter @TheIFS
About the University of Manchester
The University of Manchester, a member of the Russell Group, is one of the largest and most popular universities in the UK. It has 20 academic schools and hundreds of specialist research groups undertaking pioneering multi-disciplinary teaching and research of worldwide significance. According to the results of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, The University of Manchester is one of the country's major research institutions, rated third in the UK in terms of 'research power'. The University had an annual income of 809 million in 2010/11.
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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.
Contact: David Weston d.weston@ucl.ac.uk 44-020-310-83844 University College London
One in six people in England aged over 50 are socially isolated. They have few socially orientated hobbies, little civic or cultural engagement with society, and may have very limited social networks. This was a key finding from the most recent report of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), a comprehensive study that aims to understand the economic, social, psychological and health concerns of an ageing society. The multidisciplinary ELSA research team showed that the least wealthy over-fifties suffer the most social isolation, with the wealthier over 50's half as likely to become socially isolated compared to the least wealthy.
The ELSA report went on to suggest that focussing public health intervention efforts on less wealthy, less healthy older people and on improving access to public and private transport for the over-50's is likely to have the greatest impact in alleviating social isolation.
The ELSA project is an extensive research study that follows the lives of more than 10,000 English people throughout their older age and which reveals the complex interrelationships between personal finances, social detachment and overall health and wellbeing. Previous reports from the project have shown how social engagement is closely linked with long life and healthy ageing. The current findings come from the fifth report of ELSA, which is led by researchers at UCL (University College London) and which is carried out in partnership with researchers at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the University of Manchester and NatCen Social Research.
One of ELSA's goals was to determine whether measuring psychological well being at a younger age could predict an individual's risk of later developing poor health and suffering an earlier death. Subjects were first visited in 2002/03 (wave one) and again most recently in 2010/11 (wave five).
Those who were recorded as having a greater enjoyment of life in wave one were more likely to still be alive 9 to 10 years later than were other participants. The difference between those who enjoyed life the most and those who enjoyed life the least was marked, with nearly three times more people dying in the lower than greater enjoyment group. In addition, ELSA found that measures of psychological well-being that were taken in 2004/05 (wave two) could be used to predict which previously unaffected individuals would go on to suffer disability, reduced walking speed, impaired self-rated health, and to develop coronary heart disease by the time they were visited again in 2010/11.
These remarkable findings became even more astonishing when it became clear that the link between psychological well being and long term health and survival was independent of other factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, wealth, education and baseline health.
OTHER KEY FINDINGS OF THE FIFTH REPORT
Pensions and wealth:
There is evidence that a significant number of individuals over recent years have been retiring gradually, rather than abruptly ceasing work. Almost half of men and a third of women aged 60-64 years who are in receipt of private pension income are still in work; and these individuals on average work fewer hours than those who have yet to start drawing their private pensions.
Among those who have retired over the last decade, average post-retirement family net income fell to 72% of average pre-retirement income. Those in the top quartile of pre-retirement income experience the biggest post-retirement percentage decrease (down 40%).
Social detachment:
Social detachment is more common among individuals who never married or have been separated/divorced or widowed than members of couples.
Men, those living alone and those living in rural areas are less likely to remain in regular contact with friends and family.
Mobility problems are associated with a withdrawal from leisure activities and cultural engagement, as is losing access to transport.
Women are more likely to become detached from leisure activities than men, but less likely to become detached from social networks; while widowed individuals are less likely to withdraw from leisure activities, cultural engagement and, in particular, social networks than those in a couple.
KEY FACTS
The project is led by a team of researchers at UCL, NatCen Social Research, the University of Manchester, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The study is coordinated by Professor Andrew Steptoe, British Heart Foundation Professor of Psychology and director of the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care at UCL.
ELSA began in 2002 and visits volunteer participants every two years. This is the fifth biennial report.
###
Notes for Editors
For more information, or to interview one of the lead researchers on ELSA, please contact David Weston (d.weston@ucl.ac.uk; +44 (0) 203 108 3844;) in the UCL Media Relations Office.
Journalists can obtain full copies of "The dynamics of Ageing, Evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing 2002-2010" by contacting David Weston (d.weston@ucl.ac.uk) in the UCL Media Relations Office.
About ELSA
ELSA is an interdisciplinary data resource on health, economic position and quality of life as people age. The primary objective of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) is to collect longitudinal multidisciplinary data from a representative sample of the English population aged 50 and older.
http://www.ifs.org.uk/ELSA
About UCL (University College London)
Founded in 1826, UCL was the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, the first to admit students regardless of race, class, religion or gender, and the first to provide systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. We are among the world's top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables. UCL currently has 24,000 students from almost 140 countries, and more than 9,500 employees. Our annual income is over 800 million.
www.ucl.ac.uk | Follow us on Twitter @uclnews
About NatCen Social Research
NatCen Social Research is Britain's leading centre for social research. Our research covers all areas of social policy, and our findings have direct, practical application in terms of understanding social behaviour and informing policy. Our work is carried out by experienced researchers using innovative, high quality research methods, earning us an international reputation for delivering robust and rigorous research. We are a not-for-profit organisation, dedicated to making an impact on society and advancing the role of social research in the UK. We aim to share our insight and knowledge with the wider research and policy community, bringing to life what is really going on in Britain today.
http://www.natcen.ac.uk | Follow us on Twitter @natcen
About the Institute for Fiscal Studies
The IFS is Britain's leading independent microeconomic research institute. We aim to promote effective economic and social policies by understanding better their impact on individuals, families, businesses and the government's finances. Our findings are based on rigorous analysis, detailed empirical evidence and in-depth institutional knowledge. We seek to communicate them effectively, to a wide range of audiences, thereby maximising their impact on policy both directly and by informing public debate.
http://www.ifs.org.uk | Follow us on Twitter @TheIFS
About the University of Manchester
The University of Manchester, a member of the Russell Group, is one of the largest and most popular universities in the UK. It has 20 academic schools and hundreds of specialist research groups undertaking pioneering multi-disciplinary teaching and research of worldwide significance. According to the results of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, The University of Manchester is one of the country's major research institutions, rated third in the UK in terms of 'research power'. The University had an annual income of 809 million in 2010/11.
[ | 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.
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WASHINGTON (AP) ? Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the threat of computer attacks from Iran has grown and he says the Pentagon is prepared to take action.
A former U.S. official says authorities believe Iranian-based hackers are responsible for cyberattacks that devastated Persian Gulf oil and gas companies.
The former official is familiar with the investigation and says U.S. authorities believe the attacks were probably backed by Tehran and came in retaliation for the latest round of American sanctions.
Panetta, in a speech Thursday to business leaders in New York City, said they were probably the most destructive cyber assault the private sector has seen so far. He did not, however, directly link Iran to the Gulf attacks.
The Historical, Vintage and Classic Cars Museum of Kuwait launched its new events season for 2012 with a magnificent car parade on Wednesday that featured historical and vintage cars and also some cars from the museum teams. The parade from the Kuwait Towers to the Museum passed along the Arabian Gulf Street to announce the launch of the new season of Museum events. The Museum plays a vital role in showcasing the rich cultural heritage and historical tradition of Kuwait, especially in the historical automotive sector. The country is considered the richest in the world in this domain. The main aim in establishing the museum was to document all the automotive information and connect the current and future generations to their past and urge them to complete the journey of our great civilization.
The Director of the Committees at the museum, Mustafa Makhseed, said while the museum has many goals, the main goal was the preservation of Kuwaiti heritage vehicles connected to historical events. Today, the Museum is one of the main tourist attractions, all because of the support of Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah, the true supporter and sponsor of the museum and all its activities. He expressed gratefulness towards Sheikh Nasser for his efforts, and also thanked Abdulaziz Saud Ishaq, member of the Board of Trustees, for his valuable advice that inspires the Museum management to excel itself in all events and activities. Fuad Saleem, the Director of the Coordination, said the museum is a centre for car enthusiasts and owners as they get all the information that they need about the world of automobiles. He said the museum?s doors were open to the public, private organizations and companies and is also happy to cooperate with all governmental sectors, agencies, companies and institutions in Kuwait, the Middle East and across the world.
Wael Muqadam, the Director of Technical Committee, said that the museum offers many services to the community, such as technical sessions about a variety of automobile related knowledge, and will also dispense advice and guidance to owners wanting to restore their valuable vehicles. Fadel Al-Oraier, the Director of the Library, said the Museum?s library has a number of general and reference books covering many types of automotives, as well as magazines, periodicals and Internet services.
Director of the Events and Enthusiasts Nasser Al-Shimaly said that many car enthusiasts and owners were waiting for the new season of events to start. He said the museum will organize periodic activities with different car owners in Kuwait to involve all owners of all kinds of cars and the youth under an official umbrella to showcase their hobbies. Zakaria Dashti, the Director of Media Committee, said, ?We are pleased with the performance of the Museum and what it has achieved in such a short time. We hope that the museum will also be able to encourage other automotive sectors in Kuwait.? He said the museum was a key player in disseminating knowledge about automobiles and automobile industry across the globe through cooperation with international manufacturers of cars, as well as automotive design companies from all over the world.
He also expressed the hope that the Museum could soon be cooperating with other museums in the Middle East and the rest of the world. The museum houses many historical, vintage and classic cars, including the most important car ?The Minerva?. This Belgium made car was the first one to come to Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf?s history. In addition to the Amirs of Kuwait Cars, starting with Lincoln Continental or ?The Constitution Car? that belongs to the late Amir Sheikh Abdulla Al-Salem Al-Sabah (god bless his soul), Cadillac Fleetwood of the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah (May God bless his soul), Chrysler Imperial or The ?Prince of Hearts? car of the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah (May God bless his soul) during the time when he was governor of Al-Ahmedy, and an armored Mercedes-Benz that belonged to ?The Hero of Liberation? the late Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdulla Al-Salem Al-Sabah (May God bless his soul).
The Museum also houses a car that belonged to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (May God bless him), and it is one of the rarest Rolls-Royce Coupe that was made, since there were only three made of that model, and the one on display at the Museum is the only one that people anywhere in the world can see.
The museum also exhibits some cars from elite car collectors in Kuwait who like to display their rare collections. Also, the collection includes internationally known cars such as the Secret Agent ? James Bond 007 Aston Martin DB5 car that he used in his movies, in addition to many distinctive and historical cars.
People gather atop the aircraft steps at a Syrian passenger plane that was forced by Turkish jets to land at Esenboga airport in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. Turkish jets on Wednesday forced a Syrian Air Airbus A320 passenger plane to land at Ankara airport on suspicion that it may be carrying weapons, Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, amid heightened tensions between Turkey and Syria that have sparked fears of a wider regional conflict.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
People gather atop the aircraft steps at a Syrian passenger plane that was forced by Turkish jets to land at Esenboga airport in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. Turkish jets on Wednesday forced a Syrian Air Airbus A320 passenger plane to land at Ankara airport on suspicion that it may be carrying weapons, Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, amid heightened tensions between Turkey and Syria that have sparked fears of a wider regional conflict.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
ISTANBUL (AP) ? Turkish state-run television TRT reported Thursday that a Syrian passenger plane intercepted by Turkey's air force was carrying military communications equipment, as Damascus branded the incident piracy amid growing tensions between the two countries.
Yeni Safak, a newspaper close to the Turkish government, reported there were 10 containers aboard the plane, some containing radio receivers, antennas and "equipment that are thought to be missile parts."
Neither TRT nor the newspaper cited sources for their reports, and Turkish officials have yet to provide details on what was aboard the Syrian Air A320 from Moscow that was forced to land in Ankara on Wednesday.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the cargo contained "elements ... that are not legitimate in civilian flights" and insisted Ankara was within its rights to intercept the plane if it suspected that military equipment was being transported over Turkish territory.
But Syrian Transportation Minister Mohammad Ibrahim Said said Thursday that Turkey's decision to force the plane to land amounted to piracy.
The general manager of the Syrian Civil Aviation Agency also blasted Turkey's forced landing of the plane, calling it "contrary to regulations and aviation norms."
Ghaidaa Abdul-Latif told reporters in Damascus that the plane's pilots were not asked to land but were instead surprised by Turkish F-16 fighter jets, which forced them to land.
"This action is contrary to the rules, because the pilot should be first asked to land for inspection," she said. "If he refuses, military jets would then fly to force him to land."
A Syrian Airlines engineer who was aboard, Haithan Kasser, said armed Turkish officials boarded the plane and handcuffed the crew before inspecting packages that contained electrical equipment.
Abdul-Latif said the officials seized some packages after presenting official documents.
She said Syria would file a complaint with international aviation authorities.
Sabre rattling between Syria and its northern neighbor has increased in recent days after a spate of cross-border shell and mortar firings. Turkey, which has been vocal in its criticism of Syrian President Bashar Assad's crackdown on the opposition, has beefed up its military presence along the 565-mile (910-kilometer) frontier after shelling from Syria killed five Turkish civilians in a border town last week.
The plane incident has also increased tensions between Turkey and Russia, one of Syria last remaining allies.
Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency quoted an official at the Russian Embassy in Ankara as saying that the cargo "was not of Russian origin." Rosoboronexport, which handles most of Russia's military export contracts, said none of its cargo was on the plane.
Meanwhile Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Russia was concerned that "the lives and safety of the passengers, among whom were 17 Russian citizens, had been endangered."
He said Turkey without explanation denied Russian consular officials and a doctor access to the passengers, who had not been allowed into the airport for eight hours or provided with food.
"The Russian side continues to insist on an explanation for the Turkish authorities' actions toward Russian citizens and on the adoption of measures to avoid such incidents in the future," Lukashevich said in a statement.
The plane's 37 passengers and crew were allowed to continue to Damascus after several hours, without the cargo.
Also Thursday, Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz announced that Syria had stopped buying electricity from Turkish suppliers about a week ago.
"The door is open. If they request (electricity) again then we could resume providing it," Yildiz told reporters, adding that it was Syria's own decision.
Yildiz said Turkish companies supply around 2.3 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year. The electricity amounted to some 18-20 percent of Syria's needs, he said.
He did not say why Syria had halted purchases, saying only "It was an agreement between Syria and the companies."
___
Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Nataliya Vasilyeva and Max Seddon in Moscow; and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.
>>we'll start, of course, with the new details on the attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi,
libya
. nbc's chief
foreign affairs
correspondent
andrea mitchell
has the details. andrea, good morning to you.
>> reporter: good morning, savannah. officials describe in dramatic detail a major assault by heavily armed militias, not the spontaneous copycat demonstration other officials had originally described. ofcials say all was quiet on the night of the attack until
9:40 p.m
. when teams of men invaded the compound.
security agents
took ambassador christopher stevens to a bunker inside the residence. the attackers sprayed
diesel fuel
igniting the building. trapped inside unable to see or breathe through heavy smoke, the ambassador and a
security agent
tried to escape through a bathroom window. the agent got out but then couldn't find the ambassador. his body turned up hours later in the hospital where the staff had dialed numbers in his cell phone to identify him. eventually surviving agents drove an
armored vehicle
through heavy fire from an ak-47 to an annex several
miles away
. the main compound was hit by
mortar fire
and survivors fled on a jet flown in from tripoli. at a hearing this morning officials will testify they had asked for more security for months and were turned down, claiming the administration was in a hurry to turn security over to
libya
. republic
jason chaffetz
just returned from
libya
.
>>if you can't add that up as a potential security threat, my goodness, all the signs were there. there was a request for more personnel. that was denied. in fact, they reduced the number of personnel.
>> reporter: the
state department
denies it ever turned down such requests and blamed republican cuts on the security threat. committee democrats complain they have had no witness to
key witness
or to documents. matt?
All Critics (221) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (207) | Rotten (14)
The reasoning behind all this may not reward prolonged inspection, but Johnson is smart enough to press onward with his plot, leaving us with neither the time nor the desire to linger over the logic ...
Writer-director Rian Johnson establishes himself as an original talent who clearly believes storytelling must prevail.
A mind-bending ride that is not afraid to slow down now and again, to explore themes of regret and redemption, solitude and sacrifice, love and loss. It's a movie worth seeing and, perhaps, going back to see again.
Looper has more heart than Brick and the 2008 con-man flick The Brothers Bloom. Both fine achievements, they could also be described as viscerally cerebral.
I'm a sucker for time-travel movies.
Looper felt to me like a maddening near-miss ...
An endlessly creative mind-blowing film that captures everything right about the movie going experience. Johnson conjures up the most imaginative action/science fiction film since 'Inception.'
Part science fiction, part mob movie, and with a nice infusion of dark comedy at just the right moments, Looper is Johnson's best movie yet, and manages to be hugely entertaining, affecting, and thought-provoking.
takes us far beyond the film's high-concept premise into the kind of emotional terrain that too often escapes even the best genre filmmakers
Doesn't quite reach the heights of the lofty ideals that it so ardently seeks to expound, but makes up for this with the sheer thrill of the journey Rian Johnson takes us on.
Ingenious with a fine performance by Emily Blunt, but far too much cold-blooded violence.
Engaging, exciting, and successfully cross-breeding elements of Terminator and even Pet Sematary, Looper is a solid work of palatable science-fiction.
Looper's super. An action-thriller that bothers to have a brain.
Looper may not take us back to the future as satisfyingly as Robert Zemeckis' Marty McFly trilogy or James Cameron's Terminator franchise, but writer-director Rian Johnson does enough right to all but guarantee that he has a future cult film on the books.
The best time travel films play on emotion rather than logic, and once Looper realises this and drops all the tail-chasing about how time travel works it settles into the engrossing action/drama about destiny it should have been from the get go.
Has more depth, smarts, and heart than the usual sci-fi bluster.
A just about brilliant sci-fi crime-drama-thriller mostly set in the years 2044 and 2074. Rian Johnson is a rare director who creates entertainment with depth.
The key to enjoying the gruesome violence mixed with a healthy potion of emotional depth rarely found in this genre is to not dwell on the fiction in the science.
Sometimes time travel is just used a cheap device in movies to make them seem different; this is not one of those films. It's genuinely unique and fresh.
Very entertaining on many, many levels.
The best kind of light entertainment that expects you to be just as intelligent as it is.
It's complex enough that sci-fi fans can dig deeper over multiple viewings, but thrilling enough that casual viewers can take it all in with one watch.
...an above-average sci-fi tale.
Rian Johnson makes a loud, dark, highly stylized film that looks good but whose ideas do not really bear close examination.
Time travel makes sense in Looper because writer-director Rian Johnson keeps it on a short leash, not requiring enough manufactured logic to trip over later.
I don't know where you guys found that kid... Was it the same lab where they grew the Fannings?
Both large and small businesses need services of a professional accountant. Some business operators may not value services of accountant especially those in small businesses. However, these businesses also need services of an accountant to ensure that their financial records are intact. Managing business accounts in the right manner is not easy. It requires skills and experience. With the help of a professional accountant, businesses are able to business accounting effectively and avoid woes that comes with the improper management of business accounts. Having an accountant can enhance growth of a small business to a larger firm due to proper developing of accounting procedures, solving of financial problems and budgeting among other duties. However, hiring a good accountant can be challenging considering the high number of outsourcing companies offering these services and professionals.
Choosing the best accounting services
Professional qualifications: When hiring an accountant, a business should always consider professionalism of an accountant. The best accountant should have pursued and completed a CPA course and attained pleasing grades. They should also be licensed to practice in the area where a business is located. In addition, find out whether an individual belongs to any professional body or organization. Perhaps, you may also consider the areas of CPA a professional has specialized in and whether they correspond with the needs of your business.
Experience: A professional accountant who has been handling accounts of a company or business for a long time has the necessary expertize for handling various accounting activities of a business. Therefore, consider the duration for which an accountant has been practicing before offering them a job.
Needs of your business: It is also important that you consider specific needs of your business. The best professional should know how to operate within the environments of a small business. A professional who is knowledgeable about challenges that small businesses face including new entrepreneurs is a good asset for a small business. Such a professional can offer important guidance that will help a small business avoid possible financial missteps. They will also manage finances of your business with care.
Availability: Some small businesses tend to ignore their accounting needs so they go for part time accountants. The best accountant is the one who will give your business adequate time that it deserves. If you opt to outsource services of an accounting firm, interview the accountant who will be in charge of the accounts of your business. Find out how often they will be available for your business.
Consider advice from other small businesses: If there are entrepreneurs you can contact for advice, ask for their recommendation and guidance. These can give you important insight to help you choose the best accountant as well as give you names of experienced and reputable accountants.
Basically, hiring the best accountant can enable a business to avoid possible accounting blunders. Preparation of regular reports on business transactions is also made easier since accounts and records are always kept in good manner in both hard and soft copy.
Tags: Small Business Accountant
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WASHINGTON (AP) ? American companies should avoid sourcing network equipment from China's two leading technology firms because they pose a national security threat to the United States, the House Intelligence Committee warned Monday.
The panel said in a report that U.S. regulators should block mergers and acquisitions in this country by Huawei Technologies Ltd. and ZTE Corp, among the world's leading suppliers of telecommunications gear and mobile phones.
Reflecting U.S. concern over cyber-attacks traced to China, the report also recommends that U.S. government computer systems not include any components from the two firms because that could pose an espionage risk.
"China is known to be the major perpetrator of cyber-espionage, and Huawei and ZTE failed to alleviate serious concerns throughout this important investigation. American businesses should use other vendors," the committee's chairman, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich, told a news conference. He said the Chinese companies could not be trusted with access to computer networks that support everything from power grids to finance systems.
The recommendations are the result of a yearlong probe, including a congressional hearing last month in which senior Chinese executives of both companies denied posing a security threat and being under Beijing's influence.
Rogers said they are clearly tied to the Chinese government, and that allowing Huawei and ZTE to provide network equipment and services in America risks confidential consumer information and undermines core national security interests. He said the committee was not concerned about the sales of handsets that make up the bulk of their U.S. businesses, but rather network infrastructure where they have made fewer inroads.
William Plummer, vice president for external affairs for Huawei, said his company, a private entity founded by a former Chinese military engineer, was being victimized because of U.S. government concerns about China's government.
"Huawei is Huawei, Huawei is not China," he told reporters. "My company should not be held hostage to someone's political agenda."
Ahead of the report's release, China's foreign ministry said investment by telecommunications companies is mutually beneficial. "We hope the U.S. will do more to benefit the interests of the two countries, not the opposite," spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular briefing in Beijing Monday.
The panel's recommendations, however, will likely hamper Huawei and ZTE's ambitions to expand their businesses in America. Their products are used in scores of countries, including in the West.
The bipartisan report could also become fodder for a presidential campaign in which the candidates have been competing in their readiness to clamp down on Chinese trade violations. Republican Mitt Romney, in particular, has made it a key point to get tougher on China by designating it a currency manipulator and fighting abuses such as intellectual property theft.
Rogers said its release had nothing to do with politics, and was motivated by the need to alert U.S. companies of the risks. The committee's top Democrat, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, said U.S. companies should proceed with "their eyes wide open." He cited an estimate from the U.S. Cyber Command that more than $300 billion in U.S. trade secrets was stolen last year.
The committee says it received information from industry experts and current and former Huawei employees suggesting that Huawei, in particular, may be violating U.S. laws. The allegations include immigration violations and an alleged "pattern and practice" of Huawei using pirated software in its U.S. facilities.
Rogers said that information of alleged bribery by Huawei to gain a contract in the U.S. would be forwarded Tuesday to the FBI, and he was confident it would lead to an investigation. The committee also planned to forward information on allegations of "beaconing" from Huawei equipment to China ? that is the unauthorized transfer of information from a computer network.
Huawei, founded in 1987 has grown rapidly to become the world's second largest supplier of telecommunications network gear, operating in more than 140 countries. ZTE Corp, which is partly state-owned, is the world's fourth largest mobile phone manufacturer, with 90,000 employees worldwide.
The report says the companies failed to provide responsive answers about their relationships and support by the Chinese government, and detailed information about their operations in the U.S. It says Huawei, in particular, failed to provide thorough information, including on its corporate structure, history, financial arrangements and management.
Plummer said it wasn't clear what Rogers was referring in the allegations of "beaconing." He said Huawei had provided "endless data" to the investigation, which he contended was not objective. He said its recommendations could create "market-distorting trade policy" and risk the tens of thousands of American jobs Huawei helps to support through procurement from U.S.-based suppliers that totaled $6.6 billion last year.
The recommendations "undermine competition, which undermines innovation which drives up the price of your broadband," he said.
ZTE said a Sept. 25 letter to the committee, released Monday, that China's government had never requested access to ZTE's equipment.
"Direct exclusion of one or two identifiable Chinese companies is an obvious unfair trade practice and, as a practical matter, would not provide meaningful security for US telecom infrastructure systems," the letter says.
In justifying its investigation, the committee contended that Chinese intelligence services, as well as private companies and other entities, often recruit those with direct access to corporate networks to steal trade secrets and other sensitive data.
It warned that malicious hardware or software implants in Chinese-manufactured telecommunications components and systems could allow Beijing to shut down or degrade critical national security systems in a time of a crisis.
Huawei denies being financed to undertake research and development for the Chinese military, but the committee says it has received internal Huawei documentation from former employees showing the company provides special network services to an entity alleged to be an elite cyber-warfare unit within the People's Liberation Army.
The intelligence committee recommended that the government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, bar mergers and acquisitions by both Huawei and ZTE. A multi-agency regulatory panel chaired by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, CFIUS screens foreign investment proposals for potential national security threats.
Last year, Huawei had to unwind its purchase of a U.S. computer company, 3Leaf Systems, after it failed to win CFIUS approval. Still, Huawei employs 1,700 people in the U.S., and business is expanding. U.S. revenues rose to $1.3 billion in 2011, up from $765 million in 2010.
ZTE has also enjoyed growth in its sale of mobile devices, although in recent months it has faced allegations about banned sales of U.S.-sanctioned computer equipment to Iran. The FBI is probing reports that the company obstructed a U.S. government investigation into the sales.
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Public release date: 14-Oct-2012
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Both large and small businesses need services of a professional accountant. Some business operators may not value services of accountant especially those in small businesses. However, these businesses also need services of an accountant to ensure that their financial records are intact. Managing business accounts in the right manner is not easy. It requires skills and experience. With the help of a professional accountant, businesses are able to business accounting effectively and avoid woes that comes with the improper management of business accounts. Having an accountant can enhance growth of a small business to a larger firm due to proper developing of accounting procedures, solving of financial problems and budgeting among other duties. However, hiring a good accountant can be challenging considering the high number of outsourcing companies offering these services and professionals.