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Gordon Brown and Jack Warner meet in Trinidad to discuss England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup…. From BBC News. Full story

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O Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento (BID) aprovou um financiamento não reembolsável de alcance regional de até US$ 2,25 milhões para apoiar iniciativas que ampliem o protagonismo político das mulheres na América Latina e Caribe, em especial das afrodescendentes e indígenas.
A doação, proveniente do novo Fundo de Multidoadores para Gênero e Diversidade do BID, criado em maio de 2009, financiará várias iniciativas para alcançar esse objetivo em países da região durante um período de três anos. Serão realizadas convocatórias para selecionar e financiar as iniciativas que melhor impulsionem a igualdade de gênero e o acesso da mulher ao âmbito político.
A doação também poderá financiar iniciativas que ajudem a criar redes de intercâmbio, facilitem a transferência de ideias, estratégias e recursos e promovam a conscientização da importância de contar com a participação das mulheres nas instâncias decisórias. Os fundos poderão financiar também pesquisas acadêmicas sobre a liderança das mulheres, a modernização do Estado e apoiar mecanismos para fortalecer a liderança e participação das mulheres por meio das políticas públicas e das operações do Banco.
O projeto, chamado “Novos Horizontes: Para uma maior participação política das mulheres”, é aprovado pelo BID em um momento em que as mulheres avançam vigorosamente para os cargos políticos mais altos na região. Michelle Bachelet foi eleita presidente do Chile em 2005, no ano seguinte os jamaicanos levaram Portia Simpson Miller à posição de primeira-ministra e, em 2007, Cristina Kirchner chegou à presidência da Argentina por voto popular.
Em apenas dois anos, de 2005 a 2007, o número de mulheres em cargos de ministério na América Latina subiu de 15% para 24% do total e o Chile tornou-se o primeiro país das Américas e o terceiro do mundo, atrás de Espanha e Suécia, a ter igual número de mulheres e homens no ministério.
A presença feminina também cresceu continuamente no poder legislativo, em parte porque 12 países da região adotaram um sistema de cotas que estabelece uma representação mínima de mulheres nas chapas eleitorais. O número de mulheres parlamentares na América Latina e Caribe aumentou de 7% em 1990 para 19% em 2009.
Apesar dos avanços, a igualdade de gênero ainda está muito longe de ser uma realidade, conforme comprova um estudo recente do BID que encontrou grandes defasagens salariais entre homens e mulheres e entre diferentes grupos étnicos na região. De fato, o crescimento da participação feminina em cargos públicos não inclui as mulheres indígenas ou afrodescendentes, mesmo nos países em que a população dessas origens é numerosa.
“O projeto permitirá financiar intervenções estratégicas destinadas a fortalecer a participação efetiva da mulher nos espaços de decisões que afetam a sua vida e a de suas famílias”, explica Gabriela Vega, chefe de equipe do projeto no BID.
Fonte: BID

A Briton accused of hacking into US military and NASA computers faces extradition to the United States after the British government rejected last-ditch requests to block the move.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson concluded that sending Gary McKinnon to the United States would not breach his human rights, and said he has no general discretionary powers to stop the extradition.

“If Mr McKinnon’s human rights would be breached, I must stop the extradition. If they would not be breached, the extradition must go ahead,” Johnson said in a statement.

“As the courts have affirmed, I have no general discretion,” he said.

Briton Gary McKinnon leaves the High Court in central London in January 2009.

McKinnon, who suffers from a form of autism, could spend life in prison if convicted by a US court of gaining access to 97 computers in 2001 and 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

His family and lawyers have warned throughout the long-running case that McKinnon, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, could commit suicide or suffer psychosis if the extradition went ahead.

McKinnon’s mother, Janis Sharp, slammed the decision as “devastating” and “barbaric,” adding that her son was terrified of extradition.

“To force a peaceful, vulnerable, misguided UFO fanatic like Gary thousands of miles away from his much-needed support network is barbaric,” she said.

“This is a cruel and miserable decision,” she told the BBC, adding that the government, should “hang their heads in shame.”

“If the severity of Gary’s medical condition isn’t sufficient to prevent his extradition, I can’t imagine what is. God help others facing a similar fate.”

McKinnon, 43, says he was only looking for evidence of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) when he hacked into the US Navy and NASA space agency computers.

US authorities allege he stole passwords and deleted files, leading to the shutdown of computer systems, with repairs costing around 800,000 dollars (486,000 pounds, 534,000 euros).

His cause has drawn high-profile support, including from Trudie Styler, wife of rock star Sting, who urged mothers to write to the Home Secretary.

Last month, the High Court in London refused McKinnon leave to appeal to Britain’s new Supreme Court against his extradition.

The Home Office agreed to study new medical evidence about McKinnon before deciding on his extradition.

But Johnson told McKinnon’s family in a letter that he could not block the move on medical grounds.

He said he had received guarantees from US authorities that McKinnon’s medical needs would be met once extradited, and if convicted he would not serve any time in a “supermax” prison.

“Due to legitimate concerns over Mr McKinnon’s health, we have sought and received assurances from the United States authorities that his needs will be met,” Johnson said.

“Finally, should Mr McKinnon be extradited, charged and convicted in the US and seek repatriation to the UK to serve a custodial sentence, the government will, of course, progress his application at the very earliest opportunity.”

McKinnon’s solicitor said she would seek a judicial review of Johnson’s decision, and lodge an application before the High Court within seven days.

“We are certainly coming to the end of the road, but we are just hoping that at some point, someone sees sense and steps in,” Karen Todner told the BBC.

“In some ways it’s like dealing with a death row case, we genuinely believe Gary’s life is at stake here.”

His lawyers say he could easily be prosecuted in Britain, where he would face a less severe sentence. But the Crown Prosecution Service ruled in February that the case was best brought in the United States.

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The potential host cities for England’s 2018 World Cup bid will present their campaigns at Wembley on Thursday…. From BBC News. Full story

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The potential host cities for England’s 2018 World Cup bid will present their campaigns at Wembley on Thursday…. From BBC News. Full story

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A delegation from Bristol travels to London to Wembley stadium to deliver the city’s bid to host world cup games in 2018…. From BBC News. Full story

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A delegation from Bristol travels to London to Wembley stadium to deliver the city’s bid to host world cup games in 2018…. From BBC News. Full story

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A bid to bring World Cup games to Bristol could bring millions of pounds worth of benefits to the city, a report claims…. From BBC News. Full story

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A bid to bring World Cup games to Bristol would bring millions of pounds worth of benefits to the city, a report claims…. From BBC News. Full story

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Do you really want the lowest bidder? A question you must ask yourself, especially in situations like this one:

Here are my thoughts on the matter, for all PMs having to go through bidding processes, unless of course you are following the first rule of government spending…

As project managers, one of the legs of our triangle is “cost”, so, obviously, we would like that the lowest possible. Which brings us to the widely used and accepted bidding process – you generate a scope and/or bill of materials, bid it out, get the results and select the lowest bidder. (Ok, so I simplified it a bit – but usually, cost is that which rules all others).

My question here is – is choosing the lowest bidder really getting you the lowest cost?

I would like to challenge that.

I’m sure that if you’re reading this, you can come up with a few ways of how cheap can become expensive, probably (and sadly) based on your past experience… The lowest bidder didn’t fully understand the scope, planned to use lower grade materials, planned on using low-cost inexperienced labor, forgot to quote parts of the scope – or all of the above and other things not mentioned here.

Here is where I want to offer some suggestions to help you pick the RIGHT bidder for your project (It’s of course assumed your company policies and your country laws allow the use of these methods…):

1. Know your bidders – before adding bidders to your list, see their work, talk to their customers and see if they do quality work and have happy customers. if not – well…
2.  Know your project – is your bidder capable of performing the work fully? will he need to take additional subcontractors? do you want that? when trouble arises – will you be pointed to the sub sub sub contractor for solutions?
3.  Create a matrix – Evaluate and compare your bidders based on several factors, not just cost. The more sensitive the work, the more weight should be given to past experience, quality etc.
4.  Grow a “home” contractor, but always challenge him – Its’ great to have a contractor you always work with who’s quality you like and you know you can trust – but don’t stay complacent – make sure you challenge your home contractors to make sure they stay competitive.

Alex

Emergency crews and RAF teams try to rescue scores of people trapped by rising floodwater in a Cumbrian town…. From BBC News. Full story

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Técnicos do Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento (BID) iniciam nesta hoje (19) uma avaliação das regiões turísticas do Mato Grosso do Sul que receberão recursos do Programa Nacional de Desenvolvimento do Turismo (Prodetur) do Ministério do Turismo.

Serão avaliados os projetos do estado para a capital Campo Grande e Pólo Bonito-Serra da Bodoquena, onde os investimentos serão realizados.

O programa tem linha de crédito total de US$ 1 bilhão e a proposta apresentada pelo estado é de US$ 50 milhões, dos quais US$ 20 milhões são relativos à contrapartida estadual. A

té o momento, são 14 estados e municípios com cartas-consultas aprovadas pelo Prodetur. Os projetos contemplam, entre outros, obras de infraestrutura, qualificação profissional, apoio institucional para aprimoramento da gestão pública. A visita da equipe termina no sábado, 21.

Fonte: Mercados e Eventos

We have received notice of an upcoming horse sale in Gympie. While these sales are not strictly ‘dogger’ sales, many of these ‘penned’ horses will end up at the meatworks as their next stop if they aren’t sold. Most of them will be unrepresented by an owner and therefore abandoned to fate. Many, many of them will be in poor condition and needing help so please help them if you can.

Last time we attended, we came home with four beautiful personalities and launched a charity to help more of them! You cannot help but be moved by the plight of these animals once you’re there, so be ready to bring hom a couple

Gympie Horse and Saddlery Sale

SUNDAY 6th December

Gympie Saleyards Complex- Gympie

Saddlery to start at 9am, to be followed by Penned horses at around Midday.

Yesterday I attended a publicity launch for the new RingGo pay by mobile cashless parking system for our car parks in Dorchester, which goes live this Friday 20th November. Phil Gordon, project director for the Dorchester BID, was on hand complete with an outsized mobile phone to help get the message across.  Motorists will no longer have to fumble for coins to pay, instead they simply park and pay from the comfort of their vehicle. No ticket is required as car park attendants are able to check vehicle registrations against payments made using internet connected handsets. Another really useful feature is that motorists can extend their time wherever they are and so avoid a fine. The RingGo system is used widely by local authorities in the South and South West and by rail operators including First Great Western and South West Trains, so many motorists will already be familiar with the system. We hope that after the initial trial it will be possible to extend the facility across the district. I am very pleased we have been able to work with the Dorchester BID to bring this into operation in time for Christmas. Judging by the reaction of the people we met queuing to put coins in the meter, it should prove popular!  More details on how it all works can be seen here.

THE FFA believes it is getting its message across to the football world that the country is ready to host the World Cup finals…. From The Australian. Full story

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MELBOURNE, Nov 16, 2009 (AFP) – A team of Australian doctors began marathon and risky surgery on Monday to separate a pair of Bangladeshi twins who are joined at the head, giving only a one in four chance of both surviving.

The 16-strong team was on “tenterhooks” over the delicate bid to separate Trishna and Krishna, aged two, which will take about 16 hours, plastic surgeon Tony Holmes told reporters at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.

Plastic surgeon Tony Holmes (C) gives the gathered media an update as a team of Australian doctors begins risky and highly complex operation separate the pair of Bangladeshi twins on Nov. 16 (AFP photo)

“It is a stressful time for any group of surgeons with this sort of case, they only come along really once in a lifetime and I think everybody has been on tenterhooks,” he said.

Doctors had already started cutting through the bone which joins the girls via the top of the head and will then separate the connected section of brain and blood vessels, Holmes added.

“The unknown … is what actually happens when you separate finally the cerebral circulations, because that is a change in haemodynamics (blood movement) so the pressures will be different in each twin,” Holmes said.

“It’s over those few early minutes when the pressures equilibrate in the brain, they’re the things that we’re worried about.

“But the children are prepared as well as could possibly be and we’re cautiously optimistic that everything is going particularly well.”

Krishna was close to death when the twins arrived in Australia in January last year but both are now thriving and have undergone a series of preparatory operations.

The Children First Foundation (CFF) flew the girls to Australia in January 2008 because of poor separation survival rates in their native Bangladesh, where only two children have survived four operations in recent years.

Holmes said the children’s legal guardian, Moira Kelly, looked “relatively distressed” as Trishna and Krishna were wheeled into the operation.

“When the children went into the operating theatre … Moira was there giving them, you know, a farewell kiss and good luck,” he said.

“She was relatively distressed as one would be if it was your child. The kids were fine, OK, they looked as healthy and happy as anything but they were sedated.”

The girls should be apart by 6:00 pm (0700 GMT) and plastic surgeons will then replace the missing bone and skin. The whole procedure is expected to finish at around midnight.

Separating conjoined twins is a notoriously difficult procedure with attempts in Britain and Bangladesh both failing over the past year, although Saudi doctors successfully divided a pair of Egyptian brothers in February.

In one of the best known cases, Singapore doctors in 2003 failed in an attempt to separate adult twins — Iranian law graduates Laleh and Ladan Bijani, 29 — who died from severe blood loss after 52 hours of surgery.

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Scotland has to prepare for the eventual upswing in financial services, according to the first minister…. From BBC News. Full story

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