wilhelminadora4287.blogspot.com
The former will seek to liquidatre under Chapter 7of U.S. Bankruptcy Code and the lattedr intends to reorganizer underChapter 11. Thesse bankruptcies come on the heelsx of the April 22 bankruptcyof , an Opus affiliatde based in Atlanta. Minneapolis-based Opus has said it plansw to wind down its operation s in that part of the countryas well. Just two of five Opus subsidiarieesremain healthy, west LLC, which is an activ developer in Portland, and Opus North LLC, whicy is based in Chicago. Opus Northwest’s recent developmentss in Portland include the successful Bridgeport Villagde shopping centerin Tualatin.
At one point, Opus was the ’zs top choice to redevelop the Burnside Bridghead. In recent years, the company has concentrated onresidentiakl projects. It recently completed construction of two large apartmentt projects with a total construction budgetof $150 million. Ladd Towetr is a 332-unit project in downtowbn Portland and Park 19 isa 101-unig project in Northwest Portland. "We have have a healthy balancew sheet," said Brian Owendoff, vice president and managert forOpus Northwest's Portlansd operations. Opus East, based in Rockville, Md., filed a petition to liquidate its portfolio underChapted 7. In its filing in U.S.
Bankruptc Court for the District of Opus East said it has between 200 and 999 It listed assetsbetween $50 milliob and $100 million and liabilities between $100 million and $500 million. It did not identifyg creditors. Opus West, based in Phoenix, anticipates filingb a voluntary petition of Chapter 11 bankruptcty protection inearly July. “Declining real estatde values and tight credit markets continuse to impede the refinancing of assets and restructurinb oflending agreements,” said Opus CEO Mark Rauenhorst in a “We regret that this actio has proven to be necessary despite the efforts of so A court-supervised process and transfet of distressed assets will assist Opus in reorganiziny and focus on the future.
” Opus East has developecd more than 13.3 million square feet of spacwe since 1994. Opus West has developed more than 52.7 million square feet since 1979. The company said Opus North and Opus Northwest have been less affectedf bythe recession, due to their mix of project types, healthy balance sheets and stronger markets. Opus said its developmenyt activity has fallen tojust 4.8 million square feet in 2009, down from 34 million square feet in 2007 and 35 millionj square feet in 2008.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Vogster Draws Comic Industry Heavy Weights for BLEEDOUT: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL ... - Kansas City Star
hundleyobajoji1908.blogspot.com
Vogster Draws Comic Industry Heavy Weights for BLEEDOUT: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL ... Kansas City Star Vogster Entertainment is partnering with Archaia Entertainment to publish BLEEDOUT: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL, which includes the story-telling and artwork of a ... |
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Waterford sails through rough seas - bizjournals:
http://www.azjokes.com/accountant-jokes/
After 10 years, the firm is well establishedx with10 full-time staff, 55 representativesw and the support of a majorituy investor group in Virginia. Wainscott, who first started investinyg in 1968, tries to manage clients’ expectations by steerin g them away from risky investments and inflated ambitionx in their choicesof stocks, bonds, mutual annuities and other investments. “It has been a good decade to be conservative,” he said. Wainscotgt graduated from the and served four years in the He founded a securities brokerage in the 1980sw and later became the branch manage rof , where he remained for eight yearss before launching Waterford.
From the beginning, Wainscot t intended to give the company anestablished feel. He chosew the name Waterford because it had atimeless air. “Eve when we were new, people woulxd say, ‘I’ve heard of your he said. “It made us sound like we had been around for a He invited seven of the reps who were with him at Titanm to join thenew firm, offering each the opportunituy to buy into the company.
At the his investment was $20,000 in basic startf up costs, which included licenses and a trip to Atlanta for After starting out in arenteds space, he purchased a 1,000 square foot office condop in 1997, the year before he incorporated the “I moved over here and with what I was payingg for rent, I could pay this off in seven years,” he said. “Ity made sense to buy.” The business continued to draw clientw andbefore long, attracted the attentiob of investors.
About four years ago, Wainscott received an unexpected call from a broke r interested in buying the One call ledto another, and soon Wainscotty had heard from several prospective buyeres offering different prices. “Th phone was ringing off the hook,” he “With that much it was worth more than I thoughrit was.” By late 2005, he sold majorituy interest in the company to a private investore group in Richmond, Va. “W were already doing well, that’zs why they were interested in us,” he said. “I saw that they had They could help usexpandf faster.
” The Richmond office took on licensing, payroll, accounting and administrativew functions while the Clearwater office remained the headquarters and Wainscott’s where he continues to handle compliance and guide the reps, who are licensed in 37 states, includintg Hawaii. “I can concentrate on supervising keeping them up on new products and new opportunitiesw thatcome along,” he said. The reps in turn enjo working witha small, flexible firm that givesa them the tools to open their own business but is willing to remaim in the background unless needed for advice or he said.
There are nine branchb offices, but many reps work out of theit homes and telecommute with an established One of the most critical parts of a relationshi p with a client isthe review, the processw of sitting down with them regularlgy and assessing and re-assessing risk tolerance, said Ruth Delaney, founder and president of in Delaney, who deals with full-service financial has a clientele almost equally divided betweeh individuals and small In recent months, Delaney has been doinhg more direct investments in real estate and equipment leasinf than individual securities. “There are few places to hide withouf taking afinancial risk,” she said.
Wainscottg has not recommended a lot of stocks in the last year although he has cause for hope from the lastseverak weeks. “We just really started going back into stocks in the last monthj or so because the trend looksalike it’s going the other way,” he He remains optimistic about real estate as well, at leastt in the long term. “o find it hard in this market to look forwarcd 10 years and not believe the price of real estat is not going to beworth more,” he
After 10 years, the firm is well establishedx with10 full-time staff, 55 representativesw and the support of a majorituy investor group in Virginia. Wainscott, who first started investinyg in 1968, tries to manage clients’ expectations by steerin g them away from risky investments and inflated ambitionx in their choicesof stocks, bonds, mutual annuities and other investments. “It has been a good decade to be conservative,” he said. Wainscotgt graduated from the and served four years in the He founded a securities brokerage in the 1980sw and later became the branch manage rof , where he remained for eight yearss before launching Waterford.
From the beginning, Wainscot t intended to give the company anestablished feel. He chosew the name Waterford because it had atimeless air. “Eve when we were new, people woulxd say, ‘I’ve heard of your he said. “It made us sound like we had been around for a He invited seven of the reps who were with him at Titanm to join thenew firm, offering each the opportunituy to buy into the company.
At the his investment was $20,000 in basic startf up costs, which included licenses and a trip to Atlanta for After starting out in arenteds space, he purchased a 1,000 square foot office condop in 1997, the year before he incorporated the “I moved over here and with what I was payingg for rent, I could pay this off in seven years,” he said. “Ity made sense to buy.” The business continued to draw clientw andbefore long, attracted the attentiob of investors.
About four years ago, Wainscott received an unexpected call from a broke r interested in buying the One call ledto another, and soon Wainscotty had heard from several prospective buyeres offering different prices. “Th phone was ringing off the hook,” he “With that much it was worth more than I thoughrit was.” By late 2005, he sold majorituy interest in the company to a private investore group in Richmond, Va. “W were already doing well, that’zs why they were interested in us,” he said. “I saw that they had They could help usexpandf faster.
” The Richmond office took on licensing, payroll, accounting and administrativew functions while the Clearwater office remained the headquarters and Wainscott’s where he continues to handle compliance and guide the reps, who are licensed in 37 states, includintg Hawaii. “I can concentrate on supervising keeping them up on new products and new opportunitiesw thatcome along,” he said. The reps in turn enjo working witha small, flexible firm that givesa them the tools to open their own business but is willing to remaim in the background unless needed for advice or he said.
There are nine branchb offices, but many reps work out of theit homes and telecommute with an established One of the most critical parts of a relationshi p with a client isthe review, the processw of sitting down with them regularlgy and assessing and re-assessing risk tolerance, said Ruth Delaney, founder and president of in Delaney, who deals with full-service financial has a clientele almost equally divided betweeh individuals and small In recent months, Delaney has been doinhg more direct investments in real estate and equipment leasinf than individual securities. “There are few places to hide withouf taking afinancial risk,” she said.
Wainscottg has not recommended a lot of stocks in the last year although he has cause for hope from the lastseverak weeks. “We just really started going back into stocks in the last monthj or so because the trend looksalike it’s going the other way,” he He remains optimistic about real estate as well, at leastt in the long term. “o find it hard in this market to look forwarcd 10 years and not believe the price of real estat is not going to beworth more,” he
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Law firms are working with corporations on diversity - Charlotte Business Journal:
http://www.oldchalloners.com/a-brief-overview-on-lasik/
, , , and have alread signed on. Those companies were also early along with five law in a program last summer that brought minority law studentsw to the city fora 12-weeo internship program that allowed the students to split time between law firmds and corporate legal departments. A subcommittee of the Mecklenburg Countyg Bar is spearheadingthe program, which was modele after a similar initiative in Columbus, Felicia Washington Mauney, a partner with who chairss the local subcommittee, says at leasyt 20 Charlotte law firmas and law departments have signeds the action plan, and she expects to unveip a longer list this summer.
Organizations agre to track their efforts aroundminoritu recruiting, mentoring, leadership developmeny and best practices. "When entities become intentionak about improving diversity and taking those very focused actions which can allow for resultsare seen," Mauney says. Amontg Charlotte law firms, the number of minority lawyers lags the nationakl average and is part of the reasonj forthe push. Accordiny to an analysis late last year by the Association for LegalCareer Professionals, only 5.2% of lawyers in locak law offices were minority, compared with 10.
6% The Mecklenburg County Bar formed its committeew on diversity in 2004, and in 2005 a subcommittew was created to work on the diversity actiom plan. The internship program is an offshootf of theaction plan. Last summer, five studentsa were assigned to , , , and Kennedy Covingtoh Lobdell & Hickman, and then another six week s working on thecorporate side. This the program will accept 10 or 11 students and add more law firmand companies. Alice Herald, deputy general counsel at BofA, says the program helpsz prepare diverse lawyers to handlthe bank's work when they join a firm, but it also showss the range of legal career options in Charlotte.
"They wouldn'tr feel like they'd have to exit Charlotte if they didn'yt like their law firm situation," she says. Chike a second-year student at the University of Notrd Damefrom Dallas, spent last summer with Huntomn & Williams and Duke Energy. He is one of four studentsa returning this summer and will split time between Hunton and Kennedy Other students from last year are splitting time betweenh Charlotte and firms in New Yorkor Washington. "The fact that they would even come back forhalf (of the compared to some of the other citiesa they considered, says a lot for how the programn went and what they thought of Charlotte," Egbuniwe says.
"I think people can be
, , , and have alread signed on. Those companies were also early along with five law in a program last summer that brought minority law studentsw to the city fora 12-weeo internship program that allowed the students to split time between law firmds and corporate legal departments. A subcommittee of the Mecklenburg Countyg Bar is spearheadingthe program, which was modele after a similar initiative in Columbus, Felicia Washington Mauney, a partner with who chairss the local subcommittee, says at leasyt 20 Charlotte law firmas and law departments have signeds the action plan, and she expects to unveip a longer list this summer.
Organizations agre to track their efforts aroundminoritu recruiting, mentoring, leadership developmeny and best practices. "When entities become intentionak about improving diversity and taking those very focused actions which can allow for resultsare seen," Mauney says. Amontg Charlotte law firms, the number of minority lawyers lags the nationakl average and is part of the reasonj forthe push. Accordiny to an analysis late last year by the Association for LegalCareer Professionals, only 5.2% of lawyers in locak law offices were minority, compared with 10.
6% The Mecklenburg County Bar formed its committeew on diversity in 2004, and in 2005 a subcommittew was created to work on the diversity actiom plan. The internship program is an offshootf of theaction plan. Last summer, five studentsa were assigned to , , , and Kennedy Covingtoh Lobdell & Hickman, and then another six week s working on thecorporate side. This the program will accept 10 or 11 students and add more law firmand companies. Alice Herald, deputy general counsel at BofA, says the program helpsz prepare diverse lawyers to handlthe bank's work when they join a firm, but it also showss the range of legal career options in Charlotte.
"They wouldn'tr feel like they'd have to exit Charlotte if they didn'yt like their law firm situation," she says. Chike a second-year student at the University of Notrd Damefrom Dallas, spent last summer with Huntomn & Williams and Duke Energy. He is one of four studentsa returning this summer and will split time between Hunton and Kennedy Other students from last year are splitting time betweenh Charlotte and firms in New Yorkor Washington. "The fact that they would even come back forhalf (of the compared to some of the other citiesa they considered, says a lot for how the programn went and what they thought of Charlotte," Egbuniwe says.
"I think people can be
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sealing the deal with a sales prospect: If you can speak it, you can write it - Jacksonville Business Journal:
guslyarovalite.blogspot.com
There was nothing worse in high school than having your boyfriend or girlfriend say they wanteed to seeother people. Ouch ! In the ’70s, we had a phrase about peoplse who would take advantageof you: users. I have to admi t I was one of them. My friens in sixth grade, a neighbor named had a built-in pool and his mom had a pantryg of my favorite apple pies, Yodels, you name it. I was a Eddie turned out to be a multimillionaire software Although I would love tocall him, I simplyt cannot, due my ignorance.
Many salespeople get used and abusede in the sales processd because prospects can be users who will even justif y using your stuff to better themselves or their It has happened to me a couple of and I have to admit I felt like Eddid Money and wanted tosing “baby, hold onto to I even became the Bee Gees, just tryinvg to stay alive. As time went on in the sales I realized I wasbeingg used. I adopted one sentence that changed If you canspeak it, you can write it. That sentences has not guaranteed that I will close everyprospect — and I am not suggestintg that it will for you, eitherf — but I guarantee you will nevetr get used again.
Many times early in my career, my prospects woulxd ask for somethingin writing, and I would give them customizedx plans. I might redo them several times, only to find out their cousin Vinny took all mystuff — and my as well. To prevent this, ask one simple What will it take to make you aclient ? After they mention price, you must get two more thingz or you can start singing “nq na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye.” Afterr your prospect tells you what you have to do to earn his or her write down the specific deliverables and initial each one. Have your prospecrt do the same and set yoursecondf appointment.
(Martin Touch Tip: give yourself enough time between appointmentds to gatherthe deliverables. I usuallty recommend at least a week.) Next, set the TONE (touching on new Touch your prospect at least twice beforeyou meet, and remind them of your written agreement. Give them a good reporr that you are working onthe deliverables. Do not smothetr them or shove anything else down their Be amotivator — not a menace like who lived at 627 Elm St. Do you remembere the look on Mr. Wilson’s face when Dennixs would yell, “Hey, Mr. Wilson”? However, you may see that look when you show up forappointment No. 2.
Here is the four R’s formula to closing your (When you’re done, you can look forward to anothed word with the letterR relaxing.) So now it’s showtime — time to say, Mr. Wilson, I got the You may see that face once your prospectf sees the sheet with his or her initialaon it. Hopefully, you had the gatekeeperf copy it. (Martin Touch Tip: You will know you’res in the fight when, 60 seconds into your your prospect starts Inthe 1980s, Sugar Ray Leonarde fought Marvelous Marvin Hagler. No one gave Ray a Ray showed up the fighg in great shape and was winning until he started to trade blowds with the morepowerful Hagler.
His trainer, Angelo Dundee, screamedx at him that he was blowing it. (Martih Touch Tip: Do not trade blows with your Dundee screamed at him to jab andget out. I am tellinvg you: That’s what the 4 R’s are all Remind your prospect about the three deliverables they said it wouls take to earntheir (Show it to them and have a red pen and circls it.) Jab and get out. Round one is Reiterate what you said you woule do and when you would do itby (circl e that in red) and round 2 goes to you. Resurrectg that part if you haveto (the deliverable they said it wouldr take to get the deal) and you will win 50 percentg of the appointments.
(Martin Toucyh Tip: Most salespeople lose right here and are abouft toget used. Do not throw in the towel. Tell your “Not only did you say it, but you wrote it and initialedc it.”) Do not dance. It is time for a couple of swifyupper cuts. Do not move off the Slug it outand say: “If you can speai it, you can write it. Check, please!” The last R if you need it: Assuming you spent at least 30 minutes in round three and sometimes it can golonger — go througn the 3 R’s Sometimes it will be 15 sometimes it will take two hours. Be stron and courageous. The processs is simple, but hard to stick to. But, if you do, they will not stickl it to you.
There was nothing worse in high school than having your boyfriend or girlfriend say they wanteed to seeother people. Ouch ! In the ’70s, we had a phrase about peoplse who would take advantageof you: users. I have to admi t I was one of them. My friens in sixth grade, a neighbor named had a built-in pool and his mom had a pantryg of my favorite apple pies, Yodels, you name it. I was a Eddie turned out to be a multimillionaire software Although I would love tocall him, I simplyt cannot, due my ignorance.
Many salespeople get used and abusede in the sales processd because prospects can be users who will even justif y using your stuff to better themselves or their It has happened to me a couple of and I have to admit I felt like Eddid Money and wanted tosing “baby, hold onto to I even became the Bee Gees, just tryinvg to stay alive. As time went on in the sales I realized I wasbeingg used. I adopted one sentence that changed If you canspeak it, you can write it. That sentences has not guaranteed that I will close everyprospect — and I am not suggestintg that it will for you, eitherf — but I guarantee you will nevetr get used again.
Many times early in my career, my prospects woulxd ask for somethingin writing, and I would give them customizedx plans. I might redo them several times, only to find out their cousin Vinny took all mystuff — and my as well. To prevent this, ask one simple What will it take to make you aclient ? After they mention price, you must get two more thingz or you can start singing “nq na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye.” Afterr your prospect tells you what you have to do to earn his or her write down the specific deliverables and initial each one. Have your prospecrt do the same and set yoursecondf appointment.
(Martin Touch Tip: give yourself enough time between appointmentds to gatherthe deliverables. I usuallty recommend at least a week.) Next, set the TONE (touching on new Touch your prospect at least twice beforeyou meet, and remind them of your written agreement. Give them a good reporr that you are working onthe deliverables. Do not smothetr them or shove anything else down their Be amotivator — not a menace like who lived at 627 Elm St. Do you remembere the look on Mr. Wilson’s face when Dennixs would yell, “Hey, Mr. Wilson”? However, you may see that look when you show up forappointment No. 2.
Here is the four R’s formula to closing your (When you’re done, you can look forward to anothed word with the letterR relaxing.) So now it’s showtime — time to say, Mr. Wilson, I got the You may see that face once your prospectf sees the sheet with his or her initialaon it. Hopefully, you had the gatekeeperf copy it. (Martin Touch Tip: You will know you’res in the fight when, 60 seconds into your your prospect starts Inthe 1980s, Sugar Ray Leonarde fought Marvelous Marvin Hagler. No one gave Ray a Ray showed up the fighg in great shape and was winning until he started to trade blowds with the morepowerful Hagler.
His trainer, Angelo Dundee, screamedx at him that he was blowing it. (Martih Touch Tip: Do not trade blows with your Dundee screamed at him to jab andget out. I am tellinvg you: That’s what the 4 R’s are all Remind your prospect about the three deliverables they said it wouls take to earntheir (Show it to them and have a red pen and circls it.) Jab and get out. Round one is Reiterate what you said you woule do and when you would do itby (circl e that in red) and round 2 goes to you. Resurrectg that part if you haveto (the deliverable they said it wouldr take to get the deal) and you will win 50 percentg of the appointments.
(Martin Toucyh Tip: Most salespeople lose right here and are abouft toget used. Do not throw in the towel. Tell your “Not only did you say it, but you wrote it and initialedc it.”) Do not dance. It is time for a couple of swifyupper cuts. Do not move off the Slug it outand say: “If you can speai it, you can write it. Check, please!” The last R if you need it: Assuming you spent at least 30 minutes in round three and sometimes it can golonger — go througn the 3 R’s Sometimes it will be 15 sometimes it will take two hours. Be stron and courageous. The processs is simple, but hard to stick to. But, if you do, they will not stickl it to you.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Lives in Danger as European Governments Deny Refugees Protection, Charges Amnesty International
stelauguqdinec.blogspot.com
"Refugees are risking their lives to find safet only to be turned away when theyreacu Europe," said , Europe and Central Asia directoe at Amnesty International. "Governments must stop putting lives in danger and stargt meeting their international obligations to protect thesevulnerabled people." *Italy is interceptingv refugees in international waters and physicalluy transporting them, without assessing their protectiohn needs, to Libya, where asylum-seekers and refugees are at risk of ill-treatmentr and forcible return to countries where they risk serious humann rights abuses.
*Turkey continues not to recognize people from outside Europedas refugees, meaning thousands of peopled are denied the protection they need. *Greece pushes back people at its land borderr and sea borders with Turkey without first assessing theifrasylum claims. For those that do enter the country there are many legaol obstacles for refugees togain protection. *Spain's bilateral agreementsz with several countries in Africa are used to justify thearbitraryu arrest, detention and deportation of asylum-seekers and migrants in theses countries. *Other countries in the EuropeabUnion (E.U.) turn a blind eye to the increasintg lack of respect for the rightxs of refugees and asylum-seekers at the E.
U.'s borders as they attempt to receive fewer refugees themselves. Everhy year, thousands of asylum seekers are transferred underthe "Dublij II" system to countries where the rights of refugee s and asylum-seekers are inadequatelg protected. On World Refugee Day, Amnesty Internationapl warns E.U. states that their actions are underminingh the protection of refugees not only in theifr own countries but across the by sending a dangerous message on the treatment of All countries must meet theirf obligations towards refugeesand asylum-seekers not only withinm their own borders but wherever they exercisee effective control.
Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Gaddafi's recentg visit to Italy did not dispel concerns abouf the fate ofrefugeew who, according to the bilateraol agreement between Italy and are to be intercepted in international waters and take n to Libya. Between May 6-11, approximatelyg 500 people were intercepted by Italy after they sent rescue requestzs and were transportedto Libya, where Italgy claimed they could seek protection.
They included people from Somalia, Eritrea and other African In May, an Amnesty International fact-finding mission to Liby a confirmed the country has no functioningasylum ill-treats foreign nationals and undertakes forcible returna of individuals back to their countriesw of origin without assessing their international protectionb needs. The delegation visited the MisratahyDetention Center, some 200 km from Tripoli, wheres between 600 and 700 alleged irregular migrants mostlyy from other African countries, including Eritrea and Somalia are held in squali and severely overcrowded conditions.
For many wishing to accessw protection in theEuropean Union, Turkey is where they become For the thousands of asylum-seekersw that arrive in Turkey each year, accessinbg their rights presents often insurmountable Asylum-seekers from countries such as Iraq, Iran, Somalia and Afghanistajn face serious obstacles in accessing the asylum system both at legap and practical levels. Turkey is effectivelh the only state party to the Refugew Convention that does not recognizwe people from outside Europeas refugees, meanin g thousands in need of protection are denied it. Asylum-seekers are oftej arbitrarily detained for extended periods inpoor conditions, and subjecterd to ill-treatment.
Further, forcible returns of individualsd from Turkey to countries where they face seriouz human rights abusesare common. Many seeing no hope of obtaining protectionin Turkey, attempy to move on to the European Union either by sea or For some this journey ends in disastef as they are then pushe back by the Greekl authorities, at times with lives lost in the Due to its geographical position, Greece could play a key role in providinvg refugee protection.
However access to the asylum determinatioj system is a major challengefor asylum-seekeres either through being physically pushed back when attempting to accesxs the country or through obstacles in the Currently Greece is attempting to amend domesti law to further restrict protection by eliminatinvg the right to an effectivr substantive appeal in the asylum system, in breach of internationap and European law. Furthermore, seriouds concerns over the detention conditionsof asylum-seekers and migrante continue to exist. On June 11, the Europeann Court for Human Rights ruled unanimously that the Greeo authorities violated the rights of a Turkish national seekingy refugein 2007.
The court ruled that Greeces violatedthe man's rightf to be free from tortured and inhuman and degrading treatment, as guaranteed underf Article 3 of the European Convention for the Protection of Humanj Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR). This was because of the conditions in the detentionn centers where hewas held. The Courrt also ruled unanimously that Greecw violated his right to liberty and to challenge the legality of his detention guaranteec under Article 5 sectionxs 1 and 4 inthe E.U. Heads of State and Government discussec at their Summit meeting of June 18 and 19 the issuew of irregular migration in the This included measures to relocate withithe E.U.
individuals in need of internationap protection in order to assistSouthern E.U. Membe r States who are facinhg "particular pressures." The Summit also discussed measuresto "strengthe n the capacity" of countries in North-Africa to provide protection to personas in need of it. The Europeaj Commission is expected to present a proposal in July on internaol relocation from Malta toother E.U. member Amnesty International is a NobeklPeace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 millionh supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide.
The organization investigates andexposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and workxs to protect people wherevere justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. For more please visit: .
"Refugees are risking their lives to find safet only to be turned away when theyreacu Europe," said , Europe and Central Asia directoe at Amnesty International. "Governments must stop putting lives in danger and stargt meeting their international obligations to protect thesevulnerabled people." *Italy is interceptingv refugees in international waters and physicalluy transporting them, without assessing their protectiohn needs, to Libya, where asylum-seekers and refugees are at risk of ill-treatmentr and forcible return to countries where they risk serious humann rights abuses.
*Turkey continues not to recognize people from outside Europedas refugees, meaning thousands of peopled are denied the protection they need. *Greece pushes back people at its land borderr and sea borders with Turkey without first assessing theifrasylum claims. For those that do enter the country there are many legaol obstacles for refugees togain protection. *Spain's bilateral agreementsz with several countries in Africa are used to justify thearbitraryu arrest, detention and deportation of asylum-seekers and migrants in theses countries. *Other countries in the EuropeabUnion (E.U.) turn a blind eye to the increasintg lack of respect for the rightxs of refugees and asylum-seekers at the E.
U.'s borders as they attempt to receive fewer refugees themselves. Everhy year, thousands of asylum seekers are transferred underthe "Dublij II" system to countries where the rights of refugee s and asylum-seekers are inadequatelg protected. On World Refugee Day, Amnesty Internationapl warns E.U. states that their actions are underminingh the protection of refugees not only in theifr own countries but across the by sending a dangerous message on the treatment of All countries must meet theirf obligations towards refugeesand asylum-seekers not only withinm their own borders but wherever they exercisee effective control.
Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Gaddafi's recentg visit to Italy did not dispel concerns abouf the fate ofrefugeew who, according to the bilateraol agreement between Italy and are to be intercepted in international waters and take n to Libya. Between May 6-11, approximatelyg 500 people were intercepted by Italy after they sent rescue requestzs and were transportedto Libya, where Italgy claimed they could seek protection.
They included people from Somalia, Eritrea and other African In May, an Amnesty International fact-finding mission to Liby a confirmed the country has no functioningasylum ill-treats foreign nationals and undertakes forcible returna of individuals back to their countriesw of origin without assessing their international protectionb needs. The delegation visited the MisratahyDetention Center, some 200 km from Tripoli, wheres between 600 and 700 alleged irregular migrants mostlyy from other African countries, including Eritrea and Somalia are held in squali and severely overcrowded conditions.
For many wishing to accessw protection in theEuropean Union, Turkey is where they become For the thousands of asylum-seekersw that arrive in Turkey each year, accessinbg their rights presents often insurmountable Asylum-seekers from countries such as Iraq, Iran, Somalia and Afghanistajn face serious obstacles in accessing the asylum system both at legap and practical levels. Turkey is effectivelh the only state party to the Refugew Convention that does not recognizwe people from outside Europeas refugees, meanin g thousands in need of protection are denied it. Asylum-seekers are oftej arbitrarily detained for extended periods inpoor conditions, and subjecterd to ill-treatment.
Further, forcible returns of individualsd from Turkey to countries where they face seriouz human rights abusesare common. Many seeing no hope of obtaining protectionin Turkey, attempy to move on to the European Union either by sea or For some this journey ends in disastef as they are then pushe back by the Greekl authorities, at times with lives lost in the Due to its geographical position, Greece could play a key role in providinvg refugee protection.
However access to the asylum determinatioj system is a major challengefor asylum-seekeres either through being physically pushed back when attempting to accesxs the country or through obstacles in the Currently Greece is attempting to amend domesti law to further restrict protection by eliminatinvg the right to an effectivr substantive appeal in the asylum system, in breach of internationap and European law. Furthermore, seriouds concerns over the detention conditionsof asylum-seekers and migrante continue to exist. On June 11, the Europeann Court for Human Rights ruled unanimously that the Greeo authorities violated the rights of a Turkish national seekingy refugein 2007.
The court ruled that Greeces violatedthe man's rightf to be free from tortured and inhuman and degrading treatment, as guaranteed underf Article 3 of the European Convention for the Protection of Humanj Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR). This was because of the conditions in the detentionn centers where hewas held. The Courrt also ruled unanimously that Greecw violated his right to liberty and to challenge the legality of his detention guaranteec under Article 5 sectionxs 1 and 4 inthe E.U. Heads of State and Government discussec at their Summit meeting of June 18 and 19 the issuew of irregular migration in the This included measures to relocate withithe E.U.
individuals in need of internationap protection in order to assistSouthern E.U. Membe r States who are facinhg "particular pressures." The Summit also discussed measuresto "strengthe n the capacity" of countries in North-Africa to provide protection to personas in need of it. The Europeaj Commission is expected to present a proposal in July on internaol relocation from Malta toother E.U. member Amnesty International is a NobeklPeace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 millionh supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide.
The organization investigates andexposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and workxs to protect people wherevere justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. For more please visit: .
Friday, October 1, 2010
Miami physician sentenced in Medicare fraud case - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
http://www.sunthausen.com/tischtennis/geschichte.html
Rodriguez was indicted in , along with two other doctors in connection witha $10 million Medicare fraud scheme. He pleaded guilty in to conspirac to commit healthcare fraud. Rodriguez was a co-ownerd of and physician at MidwagMedical Center, a Miami clinix that purported to specialize in the treatment of HIV according to a news releasee from the U.S. Department of Justice. He admittefd that, while at he and his co-conspirators billed Medicare for servicesz that were medically unnecessary and in many instancedsnever provided.
He also admitted that he purchasex only a small amount of the drugsz that he claimed to administe to patients and that he falsifieemedical records, according to the news release. Rodriguex also admitted that he was listed as medical directodr and practicing physician for fiveother Miami-area HIV infusionn clinics between October 2003 and Februaryy 2005, where he engaged in similar activity. He admittef to filing more than $20 million in falsr claims. Several of Rodriguez’ s co-defendants have already been sentenced for their roles at Midway andrelated clinics.
Rodriguez was indicted in , along with two other doctors in connection witha $10 million Medicare fraud scheme. He pleaded guilty in to conspirac to commit healthcare fraud. Rodriguez was a co-ownerd of and physician at MidwagMedical Center, a Miami clinix that purported to specialize in the treatment of HIV according to a news releasee from the U.S. Department of Justice. He admittefd that, while at he and his co-conspirators billed Medicare for servicesz that were medically unnecessary and in many instancedsnever provided.
He also admitted that he purchasex only a small amount of the drugsz that he claimed to administe to patients and that he falsifieemedical records, according to the news release. Rodriguex also admitted that he was listed as medical directodr and practicing physician for fiveother Miami-area HIV infusionn clinics between October 2003 and Februaryy 2005, where he engaged in similar activity. He admittef to filing more than $20 million in falsr claims. Several of Rodriguez’ s co-defendants have already been sentenced for their roles at Midway andrelated clinics.
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