New Zealand shares dropped as investors picked a weaker outlook for Air New Zealand and Ebos. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp and Auckland International Airport gained on expectations for continuing strong earnings growth.
The S&P/NZX 50 Index fell 22.47 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 9,139.87. Within the index, 26 stocks fell, 20 rose and four were unchanged. Turnover was $115.4 million.
Leading the index lower was Air New Zealand, down 4.3 per cent to $3.265. It lifted full-year pre-tax earnings 2.5 per cent to $540m despite significantly higher fuel prices, but the airline is slightly more downbeat about the current financial year as those costs continue to push higher.
The company had expected to improve on 2017's $527m earnings based on an average jet fuel price of US$60 per barrel. The price, however, increased 25 per cent to US$75 per barrel.
"After having been very strong for the last few days, and perhaps surprisingly strong given the known fuel cost and currency headwinds they'll face going into next year, it's a bit of reality," said Matt Goodson, managing director at Salt Funds Management.
"The factors are no surprise. The business is still performing well in terms of the controllables, but the reality of those two things came home."
The dual-listed banks dropped as the Australian benchmark index weakened amidst political turmoil in Canberra. Westpac Banking Corp was down 2.8 per cent to $31.08 and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group fell 2.4 per cent to $31.25. The ASX200 was down 0.2 per cent at 5:20pm New Zealand time.
Comvita fell 2.1 per cent to $5.62 and Spark New Zealand dropped 1.9 per cent to $3.875.
Ebos dipped 0.05 per cent to $20.99. It boosted annual earnings in line with its forecast even though revenue fell, as the pharmaceutical and animal health products company increased margins and benefited from acquisitions.
Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation on a constant currency basis increased 10.3 per cent to $272.4m in the year ended June 30, in line with its forecast for 10 per cent growth.
"It was bang in line with expectations, but the multiple is quite extended relative to peers for a company with relatively skinny ebit margins," Goodson said.
"Their outlook comments were for further growth, but perhaps didn't quite meet the market's expectations, and they had had a very strong run going into the result."
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp was the best performer, up 3 per cent to $15.69. It raised its full-year earnings forecast by about $5m on the back of strong sales growth and the weaker New Zealand dollar.
"When you dig into it it appears almost entirely due to currency. There was an initial reaction from the algo machines which took it as high as $16 for a nanosecond," Goodson said.
"It was very much expected and the market, at least locally, will continue to focus on core business where growth has been slowing a touch. The market is keenly awaiting the launch of a new sleep apnoea mask."
Pushpay Holdings rose 2.4 per cent to $3.85, continuing yesterday's gains. Trade Me Group rose 2 per cent to $5.10.
New Zealand Refining Group gained 2 per cent to $2.51. It reported a $2.8m loss for the six months through June 30 after an extended shut of the site's hydrocracker reduced yields and increased the cost of the firm's biggest shutdown in 15 years.
With no shutdowns planned this year or in 2019, and the potential for a record 44 million barrel throughput next year, the board agreed to pay a 3 cent-a-share first-half dividend on September 20. Last year the first-half payout was 6 cents. Goodson said the market hadn't expected a dividend from the company and its outlook was also quite buoyant.
Auckland International Airport edged up 0.2 per cent to $6.935. It lifted underlying profit 6.2 per cent to $263.1m in 2018 and expects further uplift in 2019 as it spends more on redevelopment.
The airport is anticipating moderate underlying profit growth in 2019, between $265m and $275m, and expects between $450m and $550m of capital expenditure in the year ahead, as part of its $2 billion aeronautical infrastructure development programme.
"It was a good solid result, largely as expected, as was their guidance for next year," Goodson said.
"The next key thing will be any regulatory outcomes around the return on capital they've proposed, which is above the regulator's midpoint. The result particularly featured a very strong performance from their retail expansion and their industrial property investments."
Outside the benchmark index, NZME sank 14.5 per cent to 71 cents. It will pay a smaller interim dividend than analysts expected as first-half earnings almost halved to $5.5m on declining print revenue. Weak business confidence also dented radio agency advertising.
"It does carry a reasonable historic debt load. In terms of earnings multiples, it looks cheap; in terms of audience metrics it's doing well, radio was perhaps a little disappointing versus expectations. In a declining market, it's perhaps a little surprising their choices between dividend and debt repayment," Goodson said.


FOUR Weddings and a Funeral actress Charlotte Coleman could have been saved by revolutionary treatment which could be put into practice at Winsford Rock Salt Mine, claim protesters.
The talented actress, who played Hugh Grant's flat-mate in the box office smash hit film, died of a severe asthma attack last week.
But had she been given an alternative form of natural therapy which relies on the quality of air in salt caverns like the one in Winsford, Charlotte could still be alive today, claims protest group RAMP.
Charlotte was named in the public inquiry into whether Minosus should be allowed to dump toxic waste in the mine.
RAMP - Residents Against Mine Pollution - believes the atmosphere of the mine would be perfect for the revolutionary treatment Speleotherapy.
But should the plan to create Britain's first underground toxic waste dump be given the go-ahead, the opportunity to ease the lot of asthma sufferers and potentially save lives would be lost, say members.
RAMP spokesman Julian Ross, of Moulton, told the inquiry into the scheme, held at Wyvern House: 'Asthma is a common and increasing ailment in the UK.
It is often perceived as simply wheeziness, but it is often more serious - my daughter has been hospitalised twice because of it and tragically actress Charlotte Coleman died from a severe asthma attack a few days ago.
'An alternative to the available drugs is a treatment called Speleotherapy that relies on the quality of air in salt caverns.
'Speleotherapy is the use of subterranean environments as a therapeutic measure in the treatment of chronic obstructive airways diseases. This is little known in the UK but practised in Eastern and Central Europe.
Minosus was unavailable for coment.


What if a regional salmon plan was supported by three Northwest governors, six Indian tribes and the Obama administration? What if the plan had undergone rigorous review by some of the most respected scientists in the nation, who all agreed it was a sound plan well grounded in the best science? And what if it had bipartisan support across a wide spectrum of the Northwest's diverse political interests?
Well, there is such a plan. It's called a biological opinion for the operation of the Columbia River's economically vital federal hydroelectric system. And the plan is being aggressively implemented by four federal agencies in the Northwest with the active support of most of the region's states and tribes.
But there are some who disagree. And their disagreements are prolonging a court case that has ground on for more than a decade. The ongoing litigation is creating uncertainty for the region that will have short- and long-term consequences for salmon, Northwest ratepayers and the hydroelectric system. Instead of working to implement a comprehensive, peer-reviewed, broadly agreed-upon solution, we are spending precious federal resources in the courtroom.
The plaintiffs in this case argue that Columbia Basin salmon are on the verge of extinction. They argue that the federal plan does little to address the threats to these fish. Let's look at the facts.
Salmon returns to the Columbia Basin have been trending upward for the last 20 years. Today we're witnessing record-breaking runs. Preliminary estimates indicate that more than 10,000 wild Snake River fall chinook salmon returned in 2010 -- about twice the previous recent record set in 2001. Compare that to only 78 wild adults that returned in 1990, two years before these fish were listed under the Endangered Species Act. But that's hardly the end of the story. Snake River spring and summer chinook returns in the last 10 years are more than three times the average seen during the 1990s. And Snake River sockeye -- which were almost entirely wiped out before construction began on the federal dams in the Snake River -- are enjoying a comeback. Unlike 1992 when "Lonesome Larry" migrated alone to Idaho's Redfish Lake, last year's sockeye run was the largest since the mid-1950s.
Further monitoring is needed -- and required by the federal salmon plan -- before we can declare victory. But current trends are headed in the right direction, and full implementation of the plan will further improve salmon runs.
The federal salmon plan is surely one of the most ambitious and extensive fish and wildlife mitigation plans in the world today. Federal agencies -- and Northwest ratepayers -- have invested nearly $1 billion in salmon-friendly dam modifications since 2000. Huge volumes of water are spilled at dams during the juvenile salmon migration periods. This spill comes at great cost -- both in terms of dollars lost and lost renewable energy. And bear in mind that the clean energy lost due to salmon spill is largely replaced by fossil-fueled generation, a major source of greenhouse gases.
Dam improvements have made a difference for Columbia River salmon. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's own 2010 supplemental biological opinion, dam improvements made over the last decade mean that young salmon migrating to the ocean through the Columbia power system survive at a rate equal to the rate seen in rivers with no dams.
But the federal salmon plan is not limited to improvements at the dams. The federal agencies, led by the Bonneville Power Administration, are implementing an extensive and ambitious plan to restore habitat in the tributaries of the Columbia and Snake rivers where salmon spawn and their young mature. The Columbia estuary, an important way station for migrating salmon, is also receiving investment and added protections. In addition, federal agencies are pursuing a range of measures to control the predation that kills thousands of adult and juvenile salmon every year. These efforts come at a cost to BPA's ratepayers of tens of millions of dollars a year. But they result in improved salmon survival and increasing adult salmon returns.
The independent scientists consulted by the Obama administration confirmed that the federal salmon plan relies on the best available science and will likely lead to improved salmon abundance. They also recommended some modest improvements to better protect against unexpected downturns in future salmon returns.
It's time to move out of Judge James Redden's courtroom and toward full implementation of the federal salmon plan. We recognize that it's not perfect, and a lot of hard work remains. But for the sake of the fish and people, it's time this plan is executed.
Doc Hastings, a Republican, represents Washington in the U.S. House of Representatives. Peter DeFazio, a Democrat, represents Oregon in the U.S. House.


Egyptian authorities today hanged three prisoners convicted of killing a police officer during clashes that erupted in the weeks following the deadly Rabaa massacre. The executions have brought the total number of executions in Egypt to six in two weeks.
"These executions, which come just days after three other people were put to death in separate cases, mark an alarming escalation in executions so far this year.
"The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and its use is appalling under any circumstances, but it is even more so given that all six execution victims were sentenced based on confessions they said were extracted under torture.
"The shocking flaws in Egypt's justice system have seen hundreds sentenced to death after grossly unfair trials in recent years.
"The Egyptian authorities should stop all further executions and immediately establish an official moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty completely."
Today (13 February), the Egyptian authorities executed three people who were convicted of killing a police officer in Kerdasa, Giza, on 19 September 2013. One of the three men convicted was forcibly disappeared for three days before appearing before a prosecutor and being charged. The lawyers of all the defendants claimed that the men were tortured into confessing to the murder.
Last Thursday (7 February), the Egyptian authorities executed three men who had been sentenced to death following the killing of a judge's son in the town of Mansoura in 2014. The men said they had been tortured into confessing to the crime.
Amnesty opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception - regardless of who is accused, the nature or circumstances of the crime, or method of execution.
Read the original article on AI London.
Copyright © 2019 Amnesty International. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.


How Bernie won in Michigan. Plus, “Trump: fascist or clown?” and another kind of politics: the gay revolution.
Bernie’s victory in Michigan shows his strength in big industrial states with diverse populations and big problems. Harold Meyerson comments—he’s executive editor of The American Prospect.
Plus: Donald Trump: fascist, or clown? John Powers says there are clownish aspects to Trump’s performance at his rallies, but also an aura of violence against those who would challenge him. John is critic at large on Fresh Air With Terry Gross, where he has a listening audience of around 4 million.
Also: A different kind of politics: the gay revolution. Lillian Faderman talks about the 50-year fight—the years of outrageous injustice, the early battles, the heartbreaking defeats, and the victories beyond the dreams of the gay-rights pioneers. Her new book is The Gay Revolution.


Stewart Alonzo Morley, 87, of Provo, Utah, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2013 in Provo, Utah.
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Stewart served in many capacities and leadership positions.
Father, Dad, Grandpa was an example to all by his willingness to tackle any project and see it through to the end. His quiet strength and loving devotion to his family has given solace to many in times of need and crisis. We'll all miss nibbling on the fruits of his labor in his legendary bounteous vegetable garden. He was bit by the fishing bug, a passion that has been robustly embraced by later generations.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 25, 2013 at the Edgemont 2nd Ward Chapel, 555 East 3230 North, Provo, Utah. Friends may call at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, Friday from 6-8:00 p.m. and at the church Saturday from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Provo City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent through his obituary at www.bergmortuary.com.


Using SLAC’s X-ray laser, researchers have made detailed 3-D images of nanoscale biology, with future applications in the study of air pollution, combustion and catalytic processes.
Holography, like photography, is a way to record the world around us. Both use light to make recordings, but instead of two-dimensional photos, holograms reproduce three-dimensional shapes. The shape is inferred from the patterns that form after light ricochets off an object and interferes with another light wave that serves as a reference.
When created with X-ray light, holography can be an extremely useful method for capturing high-resolution images of a nanoscale object—something that is so small, its size is measured in nanometers, or billionths of a meter.
So far, X-ray holography has been restricted to objects that form crystals or relied on careful positioning of the sample on a surface. However, many nano-sized particles are non-crystalline, short-lived and very fragile. They may also suffer changes or damage during an experiment when positioned on a surface. Aerosols, exotic states of matter, and the smallest forms of life often fall into these categories and therefore are difficult to study with conventional imaging methods.
In a recent study featured on the March 2018 cover of Nature Photonics, researchers developed a new holographic method called in-flight holography. With this method, they were able to demonstrate the first X-ray holograms of nano-sized viruses that were not attached to any surface.
The patterns needed to create the images were taken at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), the X-ray free-electron laser at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Nanoviruses have been studied at LCLS without a holographic reference, but the interpretation of the X-ray images required many steps, relied on human input and was a computationally challenging task.
In the new study, the authors superimposed scattered X-ray light from the virus with scattered X-ray light from a reference nano-sized sphere. The curvature in the superimposed images from the two objects provided depth information and details about the shape of the 450-nanometer-wide virus, the mimivirus. This technique greatly simplified the interpretation of the data.
“Instead of thousands of steps and algorithms that potentially don’t match up, you have a two-step procedure where you clearly get the structure out of your image,” says lead study author Tais Gorkhover, a Panofsky Fellow at SLAC and researcher at the Stanford PULSE Institute.
Now, the scientists can do their reconstruction of a sample in fractions of a second or even faster with the holographic method.
“Another advantage of the in-flight holography method is that it is less prone to noise and to the artifacts that can appear in the detector compared to non-holographic X-ray imaging,” says Anatoli Ulmer, a co-author and PhD student from the Technical University of Berlin in Germany.
In the long run, the researchers predict that in-flight holography will offer new ways to study air pollution, combustion and catalytic processes, all of which involve nanoparticles.
An international team of scientists from the DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley and Brookhaven national laboratories, the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, the Czech Academy of Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) in Germany, the Institute of Optics and Atomic Physics in Germany, the Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics in Hungary, KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, Northwestern University and Uppsala University in Sweden also contributed to this research.
LCLS is a DOE Office of Science user facility.


Paul LaPolice is heading back to Winnipeg.
The former Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach has been hired by the team as its new offensive co-ordinator. TSN CFL Insider Gary Lawless reports the deal will take LaPolice through the 2017 season.
The Blue Bombers tweeted a 19-second video Monday night depicting LaPolice and head coach Mike O'Shea signing a contract and shaking hands.
"Fire it up," LaPolice says in the video after being introduced as the new offensive co-ordinator by O'Shea.
The 45-year-old LaPolice served as Winnipeg's head coach from 2010 to 2012. He compiled a 16-28 record during that time.
He will replace Marcel Bellefeuille, whose contract was not renewed by the Bombers following the 2015 season.
LaPolice first broke into the CFL as a receivers coach with the Toronto Argonauts in 2000 before joining the Bombers as an offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks, receivers and running backs coach two years later. He also worked as a receivers coach with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
LaPolice has worked as a CFL broadcaster since 2012.
Winnipeg finished fourth in the West division with a 5-13 record last season.


Well-publicized security breaches in the wireless local area networking standard have plagued the market, but leading vendors insist the problems are surmountable.
Concern about wireless LAN security swelled when researchers at the University of California at Berkeley published a report detailing weaknesses of the wired equivalent privacy (WEP) algorithm built into the wireless LAN standard. That report was quickly followed by another report, published by researchers at the University of Maryland.
Just as the response died down, another report emerged, written by a well-known security expert and revealing a far simpler way to break into a wireless LAN network by discovering the encryption key.
However, product vendors contend that the weaknesses of WEP have long been known, and that they have what they need to patch holes and build secure networks. "It was always believed that WEP was for base-level protection only," said David Cohen, solutions line business manager of 3Coms wireless connectivity division, and founder and chairman of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance. Cohen and others said WEP was never designed to be a complete security solution.
Security issues shouldnt prevent an enterprise from deploying a wireless LAN, he said. "I think it would be a mistake to give up the incredible benefits that wireless LANs offer over undue concerns about security," Cohen said.
However, enterprises are now acutely aware of security. "Enterprises have to be able to trust their networks. We need to ensure that trust exists so that enterprises will feel comfortable," said Dean Douglas, general manager of wireless e-business services at IBM Global Services.
Vendors have responded aggressively to the concern. Even before a spotlight shone on WEP weaknesses, 3Com was developing more stringent security for its products. Its most recent solution includes the dynamic security link feature, which assigns a unique key to each user on a per-session basis. Without such a solution, all users on a corporate campus, for example, use the same key. As a result, a hacker need only discover that key to access the entire system.
IBM has an audit service that can help corporations assess their wireless LANs. The company offers both authentication and encryption solutions. In addition, IBM now has integrated a chip into some laptops that supports key encryption and digital signatures for authentication.
Cisco Systems developed a unique mutual authentication technology when it acquired Aironet, the Cisco division that offers wireless LAN gear. The technology not only authenticates the user, but authenticates the network. This is particularly valuable where wireless LANs overlap.
It also prevents some foul play. "Enterprises wont deploy wireless unless they are assured that rogue access points cant come into the network," said Kittur Nagesh, product line manager of Ciscos Aironet wireless LAN solution.


BOWLING GREEN — Boone County's Sydney Moss knew a lot of eyes would be on her during her state tournament debut at Diddle Arena on Thursday.
Moss, a 5-foot-11 sophomore daughter of NFL star Randy Moss, didn't disappoint, scoring 28 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to lead the sixth-ranked Lady Rebels to a hard-fought 48-44 win over No. 3 Bowling Green in the Houchens Industries/KHSAA Girls Sweet Sixteen.
"It's a lot of pressure," Moss said. "I just knew I had to come out and play well."
Junior forward Alex McKenzie is wearing a bulky mask to protect a broken nose she sustained in the 11th Region championship game last week.
On the third play of the game against Franklin County, McKenzie went up for a rebound and felt the elbow of an opposing player come down on the bridge of her nose.
"I heard it crunch," she said. "But didn't say anything till the next day. After it happened, I was like, 'Ah. I think she broke my nose.'"
McKenzie, who averages 10.7 points and 7.9 rebounds, finished the game and had the break diagnosed the next day.
She's now wearing the mask as a precaution.
Her coach, Steve Helton, said she's been practicing with the mask since Monday.
"Give her a lot of credit," Helton said. "She's practiced with the mask just three times since. Any time you add that to your uniform, it comes with some adjustment."
With the early tournament departures of Marion County and Bowling Green, each of the state's ranking systems have No. 5 Rockcastle County as the team to beat followed by No. 6 Boone County, No. 7 Henderson County and No. 9 Scott County.
But the Rockets' Chrysti Noble, who earned her first state tournament win in her 20th year of coaching, wants to hear none of that.
"Everybody and every coach and probably every newspaper person knows that rankings don't matter," Noble said. "At the state tournament, it's who comes to play each night."


SWANSEA suffered a gut-wrenching defeat in Napoli as their hopes of reaching the last-16 of the Europa League were crushed in Italy.
Jonathan De Guzman’s goal, which cancelled out Lorenzo Insigne’s early opener, had put the Welsh club on course to stun Rafa Benitez’s star-studded Serie A side.
But Gonzalo Higuain struck a ferocious volley to put Napoli back in front, before Gokhan Inler got a third on the break at the death.
The result will have hurt head coach Garry Monk and his players, but, aside from making a clear statement of his ability to replace Michael Laudrup in the long term, he will know more performances of this standard will see them escape the relegation battle with something to spare.
Not that it was any consolation for the 34-year-old as a poor week for Premier League sides in Europe continued.
“I am gutted for the players, but they can hold their heads high and be proud, I feel for them,” he said.
“Everything that was asked of them, they did it. To do that in such a difficult place just shows how good they are.
“I feel deflated but I could not ask for more. We played 180 minutes against a very good side and we pushed them all the way and had the chances to win four or five games.
“The boys deserved so much more. We showed the desire to win the game and we showed belief we could get a result.
Swansea were treated to a typically hostile reception but, having survived an early scare, the Swans began to settle and could have taken an 11th minute lead.
Pablo Hernandez, enjoying his deployment in the hole behind Wilfried Bony, produced a wonderful diagonal pass to find Marvin Emnes’ run, but Raul Albiol got black to clear his goalbound effort after the winger had beaten Pepe Reina.
But the Italian side made no mistake in the 16th minute. when Higuain’s flick foiled Swansea’s attempted offside trap and allowed Insigne a clean run on goal to loft the ball over Michel Vorm as the Dutch keeper raced off his line.
Emnes meandered infield to find Bony as the striker dropped deep. The Ivorian delivered a first time pass into De Guzman’s pass for the Dutch midfielder to steer the ball beyond Reina and into the far corner.
But something had to give, and with 12minutes to play Ben Davies and Chico Flores failed to deal with Dries Mertens’ ball across the box and Higuain’s predatory instincts took over as he flashed a volley past Vorm.


Following an IDF incursion into Gaza in search of tunnels, and the firing of rockets and mortars by Palestinian militants, Israel fully closed the Gaza crossings on 5 November.This intensified to an unprecedented level the blockade on the Gaza Strip that was imposed in June 2007.These developments directly contribute to reducing people’s lives to a daily struggle of obtaining clean running water, fuel for cooking, and fresh foods to maintain their families. The prolonged duration of the blockade is causing a deep crisis of human dignity, along with the de-development and collapse of basic services and infrastructure, in one of the most densely populated regions in the world.
The severe closure imposed since 5 November halted the delivery of basic supplies, fuel and humanitarian assistance, to the Gaza Strip. Gaza crossings were opened only on six days following the 5 November closure, constraining imports to limited amounts of food, medical supplies, industrial fuel, animal feed and a few other basic items. While any easing of the closure is a welcome measure, the constant disruption of the openings is significantly affecting not only the provision of basic social services, such as electricity and water, but also humanitarian operations.Staff and assistance from international NGOs were prevented from entering Gaza throughout the month. Additionally, the intensified closure forced UNRWA to suspend food distribution for five days during the month, along with its cash assistance programme, as a result of restrictions on cash shipments to Gaza.
Due to the lack of fuel, the Gaza Power Plant (GPP) was forced to shut down for half of the month, resulting in prolonged power outages throughout the Gaza Strip, reaching up to 16 hours per day in Gaza City. Intermittent electricity supply, combined with the lack of fuel for backup generators and poor maintenance due to lack of spare parts, left 80% of Gaza’s water wells functioning only partially, while the remaining were non-functional. Gaza City was the most affected with 50% of the population having access to water only several hours once a week. Following the interruption of normal supply, the reserves of chlorine, used to disinfect water, dropped substantially.
The intermittent supply of electricity has forced Gaza’s hospitals to rely on back-up generators, rendering them increasingly vulnerable, given that generators are designed for short periods and are more likely to fail with prolonged use. Moreover, power cuts have resulted in damaged or malfunctioning of medical equipment aggravated by difficulties in maintenance that stem from the lack of spare parts.
By the end of the month, five out of six mills in Gaza had stopped grinding, as flour stocks were depleted. In addition, over 30 out of 47 bread bakeries throughout Gaza were forced to close down, due to a lack of cooking gas, while functioning bakeries started implementing a rationing system. As a result of the severe shortage of cooking gas (used for heating) and animal feed, hatcheries owners were forced to kill over 400,000 baby chicks. This affected not only the availability and affordability of poultry, but contributed to the erosion of livelihoods.
In the West Bank, the Israeli authorities continued to demolish Palestinian-owned structures, including houses, in November. Demolitions in Area C and East Jerusalem resulted in the displacement of 68 Palestinians, including 41 children. Also, medical workers and patients continued to face access problems entering East Jerusalem following tightened restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities in July 2008.
Farmers in the Gaza Strip and the Jordan Valley struggled in November to cope with the effect of floods that took place in late October. Damage caused by the floods further jeopardized the livelihoods of poor farmers, who were already attempting to deal with multiple economic and environmental shocks that occurred since the second half of 2007.
The hostilities between Israel and the Gaza Strip that began on 4 November resulted in the death of 15 Palestinian militants.This figure represents a sharp increase compared with the number of Palestinian fatalities during the four months (July – October 2008) immediately following the truce (one death). However, it is still far below the monthly average of Palestinian deaths during the first five months of 2008 (72).
The overall number of Palestinians injured by IDF or Israeli settlers increased only slightly between October and November (109 vs. 115), with the Gaza Strip accounting for most of the increase – 24 in November (21 militants and three unarmed civilians) compared to two in October. Thirteen Israelis were injured due to the Gaza-Israeli fighting, including 12 IDF soldiers, injured in mortar and rocket attacks in the proximity of Nahal Oz Crossing and one 82-year-old woman, injured when a rocket hit Ashkelon City. Conversely, the West Bank has witnessed a steady monthly decline in the number of injuries of civilians from a high of 218 injuries in July to 91 in November. Slightly less than one third of all injuries in November occurred during 14 anti-Barrier demonstrations (27) in Ni’lin and Bil’in in Ramallah governorate and in Al Masara in Hebron governorate. Seventy seven percent (77%) of all injured Palestinians were by the IDF and 23% by Israeli settlers.
In addition to the 14 anti-Barrier demonstrations, there were a number of other demonstrations organized during the month in the West Bank. While the majority of these protests resulted in no Palestinian casualties, they are noteworthy given the variety of issues around which Palestinians demonstrated during the month, including protests marking the anniversary of the 1917 Balfour Declaration and demonstrations marking the fourth anniversary of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat’s passing and the 20th anniversary of the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in Algiers.2 Of note, on 6 November, about 1,500 Palestinians marched from Salah El Din Street in East Jerusalem to Mammilla area in West Jerusalem in a peaceful demonstration to protest an Israeli High Court decision to allow the demolition of part or the historical Ma’man Allah Muslim cemetery in order to construct the “Museum of Tolerance” in its place.
During November, while no Palestinian child was killed in the context of the conflict with Israel, 23 children were injured in the West Bank. The majority of these injuries (17) took place during IDF military activities in the West Bank. In addition, a total of six children were injured by Israeli settlers in the Israeli-controlled area of Hebron City (H2). There were no child injuries in the Gaza Strip.In the Gaza Strip, the impact of the Israeli blockade continued to exacerbate access to child healthcare services during November. Of concern during November was children’s access to clean water (see Health and Water and Sanitation sections below). There is also increased psychosocial stress affecting children and a rise in domestic violence, indicated by the intensified use of the UNICEF-supported toll-free helpline and a reported need for psychosocial counseling and family emergency visits.In the West Bank, the demolition of 18 structures in Area C and East Jerusalem has resulted in the displacement of 41 children aged between two months and 15 years (see Demolitions section below). As of the end of November, 327 Palestinian children were reportedly being held in custody in Israeli prisons, including five girls. This represents a 10% increase compared to October, when 297 children were held. Over 90% of the children held in November were aged 16 and 17 years old. Five children, including two girls, are being held in administrative detention (incarceration without charge or trial).
Throughout November, the Israeli authorities continued to demolish Palestinian-owned structures located in the West Bank due to lack of permit. Demolitions took place in Area C and in East Jerusalem, with a total of 18 structures demolished, twelve of which were residential.This resulted in the displacement of 68 people, including 41 children, aged between two months and 15 years.
In East Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Municipality demolished 13 structures (located in Al ‘Eisawiya, ‘Anata, As Sawahreh Al Gharbieh, Beit Hanina, Jabal Al Mukabber, Sheikh Jarrah, Silwan and Shu’fat localities).As a result, 59 people, including 34 children, were displaced. Of note, Israeli security forces evicted an elderly couple (the Al Kurd family) from their home in Sheikh Jarrah. The family was displaced three times during the month: first, on 9 November, several months after a Jerusalem court ruled that the house belonged to a group of Israeli settlers, who possessed an Ottoman-era bill, which they claimed their ownership of the land on which the house was built. Following their eviction, the family moved to a nearby protest tent, which the Israeli authorities demolished twice (but was rebuilt by Palestinians). On 22 November, the family patriarch died of a heart attack.
In the central West Bank, five other structures were demolished in Area C in Al Eizariya locality of Jerusalem governorate and Shuqba village in Ramallah governorate. One of the demolished houses in Shuqba village resulted in the displacement of a family of nine members, including seven children.
During the four-month period between April and July 2008, no structures were demolished in Area C of the West Bank for lacking construction permits. However, since August 2008, a total of 112 Palestinian-owned structures have been demolished in Area C, 76 of which were inhabited and uninhabited dwellings. The total number of structures demolished during this period is close to the number demolished between January and April 2008 (112 vs. 124). The proportion of residential structures demolished between August and November 2008 is slightly higher (60 vs. 50 percent), however the majority of these residential structures were uninhabited at the time of the demolition, as indicated by the significantly lower number of people displaced as a result of the demolition (151 vs. 435).
In the southern West Bank, the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) issued 54 stop-work orders against Palestinian-owned structures located in Area C, which lacked building permits. Some of the orders were issued against houses that have been inhabited over the past 15 years. Al Rama neighbourhood to the north of Hebron City received 19 stop-work orders, targeting inhabited houses and shops. Nine stop-work orders were issued in Jaba’ village of the Bethlehem governorate, against three inhabited houses, four houses under construction, an animal pen and two classrooms that were built by the UNDP. In the Bedouin community of Khashm Al Karm in Hebron, 26 stop-work orders were issued against structures, including bathrooms, animal pens, brick houses and cisterns. According to the community’s lawyer, almost every structure in the community received a stop-work order. Unless the owner of the targeted structure is able to obtain a building permit from the ICA, a final demolition order is issued a few weeks after the issuance of the stop-work order.
Over 90% of applications for permits submitted by Palestinians in the last seven years were rejected. Currently, more than 3,000 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C of the West Bank have pending demolition orders that can be executed at any moment.
In addition, settler violence against Palestinians harvesting their olive crops continued in November. Incidents of settler harassment (without casualties) were reported in Kafr Qaddum and Azzun (Qalqiliya governorate), Kafr Ed Dik and Yasuf (Salfit governorate) and Burin and Awarta (Nablus governorate). Of note, on 5 November, a group of settlers from Qedumim settlement in the Qalqiliya governorate physically assaulted a Palestinian man from Kafr Qaddum village, who was picking olives, leading to his hospitalization. Also, on 26 November, a group of Israeli settlers set fire to olive groves near Huwwara checkpoint in the Nablus governorate, burning 200 olive trees on land belonging to farmers from Burin village.
On 2 November 2008, an Israeli military court rejected an appeal concerning two Palestinian girls from Bethlehem, who have been held under administrative detention (i.e. detention without charge or trial) since June 2008.6 Their current administrative detention order ends on 3 January 2009, but these orders can be renewed indefinitely. The girls, who were 16 at the time of their arrest, are the only female minors among the some 650 Palestinians currently being held in administrative detention.7 They are also among 64 female prisoners, 15 of whom are mothers, currently detained by Israel.
In November, three Israeli human rights groups filed a “contempt of court” motion to the Israeli High Court of Justice (HCJ) against the Government of Israel and the Israel Security Agency (ISA, previously the General Security Service).The motion concerns a policy the petitioners argue grants permission for ISA interrogators to torture Palestinian suspects of terrorism.12 According to the motion, this policy is in fundamental violation not only of international law, but of an HCJ judgment from 1999.
The 1999 judgment established that the ISA had no legal power to use “physical means of interrogation”, which exceed the rules of a “reasonable and fair” investigation and cause suffering to the persons interrogated. Despite this, the judgment ruled that interrogators who exceed their authority and use “physical pressure” may not be held criminally responsible, if it is revealed, in retrospect, that such use was carried out in exceptional circumstances, such as the “ticking bomb” case.
In the current motion, the human rights organizations submitted evidence indicating that the ISA has adopted a procedure for the pre-authorization of illegal physical means of interrogation. The evidence includes testimonies of ISA interrogators from court proceedings, public responses by the ISA, as well as testimonies from Palestinian victims.
Following the resumption of violence on 4 November, Israel has intensified the closure regime imposed since June 2007 to an unprecedented level. As a result, the functioning crossings (Kerem Shalom, Nahal Oz and a conveyor belt next to Karni) have remained closed since then, except for six days during which limited quantities of food, industrial fuel, animal feed and a few other essential items were allowed in.
Due to the intensified closure, the average daily number of truckloads reached a new low in November, following the one recorded in October 2008: 23 truckloads compared to 123; an 81% decline. The November average compares to 475 in May 2007, before the Hamas take-over of the Gaza Strip and 631 in December 2005, before the Palestinian legislative elections won by Hamas. Imports in November represented only 4% of the December 2005 level (13,430 truckloads), 5% of the May 2007 level (10,921 truckloads) and 12% of the July 2008 level (5,028 truckloads), the month after the 19 June truce. Exports have been barred since February 2008.
Of the 579 truckloads that entered during November, the majority carried food supplies (80%). The remaining truckloads carried fuel supplies, including petrol, diesel and cooking gas (7%) and other commodities such as hygiene/cleaning supplies, medical supplies, agricultural materials, construction materials, etc. Ninety-seven of the 579 truckloads carried humanitarian aid.
Chart 2: Total monthly imports entering into the Gaza Strip.
During the month, access to basic needs, including food and water, was increasingly difficult and daily lives were disrupted due to the lack of electricity, water and basic goods. Meat, dairy products and vegetables and most fruit were hard to find. The closure of the crossings has hindered the regular delivery of humanitarian food assistance. UNRWA, the largest aid agency in Gaza, suspended food distribution for five days, to 750,000 Gazans, due to lack of food supplies. Furthermore, UNRWA was denied entry for computers for use in its health centres, emergency and gender programmes. Lubricant oil for water pumps, generators and vehicles - including ambulances and sanitation vehicles – were also denied entry, jeopardizing the stability of some UNRWA operations.
Fuel imports were reduced during November as a result of the tightened closure on Nahal Oz fuel pipeline, the only line to import fuel from Israel into the Gaza Strip. The crossing was only partially opened on seven out of 25 scheduled days during the month, allowing the entry of 124,410 litres of petrol, 262,400 litres of diesel, 756 tonnes of cooking gas and 2,223,250 litres of industrial gas for the Gaza Power Plant (GPP). These amounts represented only 4% of petrol, 3% of diesel, 10% of cooking gas and 16 % of industrial gas daily needs.
By the end of November, no Israeli diesel or petrol was available at gas stations in Gaza. However, the transfer of Egyptian fuel to Gaza through the Rafah tunnels meant that some diesel and petrol was available.The Gas Stations Owners Association reported that a daily average of 100,000 litres of diesel and 10,000 litres of petrol was transferred through the tunnels during November 2008.
As a result of the tightened closure on Nahal Oz Crossing beginning on 5 November, the Gaza Power Plant (GPP) ceased functioning on 9 and 10 November due to the lack of industrial fuel. On 11 November, the GPP was able to resume operations following a limited supply of fuel but the electricity production was again suspended on 13 November. Limited amounts of fuel entered again on 24 November, however the GPP could not operate as the turbine batteries were damaged and were no longer functioning due to prolonged lack of use. By 26 November, plant engineers managed to adapt car batteries as temporary replacements but with the risk of causing definitive damage to the turbines. The electricity production remains precarious and the plant urgently needs more than 100 items of spare parts and tools. More than US$ 800,000 worth of tools and new supplies have already been procured and are waiting in Israel to enter Gaza. Although the power plant resumed operations on 26 November, output was down to just one turbine. The GPP was again closed on 30 November and the GEDCO (Electricity Company) re-instituted a load-sharing programme.
The electricity demand in the Gaza Strip is estimated at an average of 237 MW (megawatt). Israel supplies some 51% (122 MW) of this demand, paid by the PA, and Egypt another 7% (17 MW). The GPP can currently produce at full capacity 80MW, approximately 34% of the demand of the total demand of the Gaza Strip. This capacity is 43% below the capacity of the plant before Israel destroyed the plant’s transformers in an airstrike on June 2006 (140 MW). Since November 2007, when Israel began reducing the amounts of fuel allowed into Gaza, the plant operates at 75-80% of its capacity (65 MW), resulting in a significant energy deficit (approx. 15%).
The shutting down of the GPP during half of the month triggered rolling blackouts of up to eight hours per time in some areas. Worst affected were some areas of Gaza City and the middle areas, which experienced up to 16 hours of power cuts a day. At any one time, approximately 65,000 people were without electricity due to the load sharing.
Queues were also evident at operating bakeries, which began implementing rationing systems, selling just one bag of 50 pieces per customer/family per purchase. The lack of cooking gas has forced some households to use wood to cook, while others have started using communal ovens. A limited amount of cooking gas is coming in through the Rafah tunnels from Egypt, however it is too expensive for most Gazans (400 NIS a canister as opposed to 120 NIS) and does not meet demand.
As a result of the strict closure on Gaza crossings, Gaza’s population is ever more reliant on goods imported through the tunnels located under the Gaza-Egypt border. During November, tunnels-related incidents continued, however no deaths were reported. Three tunnels collapsed: four Palestinians were rescued in one of the tunnels; three were trapped inside another tunnel for one day and were later rescued; and two others were rescued following a collapse of another. On 18 November, the Egyptian security forces reportedly demolished 20 tunnels opposite the Brazil Quarter of Rafah city, and, on 23 November, destroyed an additional one, reportedly trapping the three Palestinians who were later rescued. It was reported that fewer goods arrived through the tunnels in November, partly due to restrictions reportedly imposed by the Egyptian side.
While the tunnels provide access to otherwise unavailable commodities and allow some economic activities, they constitute a very precarious and unsustainable mechanism, which by no measure can substitute the normal functioning of crossings. Most items that enter through the tunnels are only affordable by a small portion of the population.
Rafah Crossing was partially opened on ten days during November to allow medical and other humanitarian cases, students and foreign residency permit holders to cross to Egypt or return to Gaza. In total, 3,703 Palestinians reportedly crossed to Egypt in November, compared to 22 in October 2008, and 816, most of them medical cases, returned to Gaza, compared to 1,040 in October 2008. An additional 704 people were denied access to Egypt by the Egyptian authorities. Rafah Crossing has been closed since 9 June 2007, but opens sporadically, with the consent of the Egyptian authorities, to allow medical and humanitarian cases to cross to Egypt or return to Gaza.
Gaza Haj pilgrims were caught in the ongoing Gaza/ Ramallah political rift during November.Two separate lists of Gaza pilgrims were prepared by the PA in Ramallah (3,200 pilgrims) and the Hamas authorities in Gaza (2,200 pilgrims). Those registered with Ramallah reportedly have Saudi visas ready (with their passports awaiting at the Egyptian side of the crossing) while pilgrims registered with the Hamas authorities do not. On 27 November, the Palestinian Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs in the West Bank announced that Gaza pilgrims could leave through Rafah crossing on the next day.The Hamas authorities reportedly denied knowledge of the opening of the crossing for this purpose and urged Saudi Arabia to grant Gaza pilgrims registered on the Hamas authorities list visas in order to be able to travel on time. By the end of the month, no pilgrim had left. According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, some of the pilgrims who made their way towards Rafah were physically assaulted by Hamas security forces at checkpoints. Others decided not to attempt the journey amidst the political rift.
Additional restrictions were imposed on Erez Crossing in November. The crossing was partially open for the movement of urgent medical cases, humanitarian workers and diplomats with special coordination arrangements on 23 days during the month. Only 45 Palestinian businessmen holding special permits exited Gaza before 5 November. None were allowed to cross in the period following 5 November compared to 261 during October 2008.
Humanitarian access became increasingly more difficult for NGOs during the month. Almost all the NGOs reported a denial of access for their staff, jeopardizing their ability stability to keep implementing humanitarian programmes. International media and diplomats also reported being denied entry in the period following 5 November. Overall, there was a 25% in the number of people able to leave Gaza through Erez, including patients, Palestinian businessmen and humanitarian workers, compared to the previous month (1,540 vs. 2,061).
At the beginning of November, a new list of prohibited items was introduced by the Israeli authorities for people crossing Erez. The list included all types of chemical materials, fertilizers, spices, plants and vegetation, kitchenware and glass, electrical equipment, computers including laptops and accessories, car spare parts and animals. Food items are not allowed from Gaza to Israel, however small quantities are allowed from Israel to Gaza. In addition, any item coming from Israel into Gaza exceeding four pieces will be considered a commercial quantity, rather than for personal use, and will not be allowed in.
A total of 969 patients referred to specialized medical treatment outside Gaza and their accompaniers were able to cross in November, an increase of 33% compared to October 2008. Access for patients restored to its previous levels in November, mainly due to the fact that the staff of the Palestinian Directorate Coordination and Liaison (DCL), which processes applications for permits, returned to work after being on strike for the last two months (September and October 2008).
Towards the end of November, the Israeli authorities announced a slight relaxation in the restrictions on the access of medical staff to East Jerusalem hospitals. Since July 2008, medical staff and patients holding West Bank IDs with valid permits have been barred from accessing East Jerusalem through two of the vehicular checkpoints located at main routes into the city (Hizma and Az-Zayyem checkpoints).14 According to the East Jerusalem Hospitals Network (EJHN), approximately 70% of the staff of East Jerusalem’s six hospitals (1,400 out of 2,000) lives outside Jerusalem and, therefore, has been affected.
According to the revised regulations relayed to the head of the EJHN by the Israeli authorities by the end of November, the arrangement in place before July 2008 will be implemented again, but only for doctors, who constitute about 14% of the affected staff. As a result, doctors holding newly issued permits will be allowed to access East Jerusalem through any of the checkpoints leading into the city. Other staff will continue to be barred from using Hizma and Az Zayyem. According to the revised regulations, however, they will be allowed to cross Qalandiya and Olives on buses, instead of forced to cross on foot, during specific hours in the morning.
Of concern, the revised regulations do not apply to patients holding permits, who will continue to be forced to cross on foot through the pedestrian checkpoints. In addition, the restrictions applying to medical staff will continue to impair the functioning of hospitals. For example, East Jerusalem hospitals regularly dispatch nurses and professionals to villages in other parts of the West Bank during the day, beyond the time allocated under the new arrangement for the crossing of buses. The EJHN estimates that the new arrangement will force each hospital’s administration to manage a complicated, more costly system as it adjusts the functioning of services to these restrictions.
·	The kidney dialyses departments in the MoH hospitals were not affected, as all personnel in these departments reported to work regularly.
·	As of mid-November, 94 (20%) drug items out of the list of 473 essential drugs were at zero level, compared to 63 (13%) items in mid-September, and 48 (11.5%) items in mid-August, due to both the strike and the coordination difficulties faced by the MoH in Ramallah, compounded by the closure regime imposed by the Israeli authorities.
·	Most MoH hospitals, except Beit Hanoun, Gaza European and Shifa hospitals, functioned at full capacity. Some MoH hospitals reported shortages in cooking gas needed for kitchen and laundry services. Shortage in cleaning materials has been reported by many MoH hospitals.
·	Beit Hanoun hospital reduced the number of surgical operations; restricted lab services to urgent cases only; and reduced the number of working hours for the oxygen extractors (devices that generate Oxygen) by 50% as a precautionary measure to save fuel needed to run generators, during the period of 23 and 26 November, to cope with recurrent electricity outages.
·	Gaza European Hospital suspended the provision of cardiac catheterization procedures on 23 November, as the necessary machine was out of order due to lack of spare parts.
·	Many vital departments will be affected if the generators break down because of overuse and the lack of spare parts to repair them.
·	The provision of diagnostic, antenatal and dental services was interrupted at the PHC facilities that do not have generators.
On 17 and 20 November, WHO facilitated the entry into Gaza of one shipment of drugs and another of vaccines (4,500 doses needed for pilgrims) through Kerem Shalom Crossing. The latter was performed upon a request from the MoH in Gaza. Since the MoH in Ramallah assumed responsibility for the supply of pharmaceuticals to Gaza in September 2008,no shipment of drugs was actually delivered to Gaza Central Stores, reportedly due to difficulties in the coordination process with the Israeli authorities. (Since the beginning of December, only three shipments entered).
As a result of intermittent electricity supply, lack of backup fuel and lack of spare parts, UNICEF reports that 80% of Gaza water wells (115 out of 145) only partially functioned most of the month, while the remaining 20% were non-functional. Gaza City was the most affected with 50% of the population having access to water only several hours once a week, 30% every four days and 20% every three days. Other areas of Gaza received water on average every other day.
On 23 November 2008, the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) announced that supplies of chlorine for drinking water would be depleted within two weeks. Some wells ran out of stock, forcing the CMWU to instruct people in several areas to boil water before drinking. On 27 November, 18 tonnes of chlorine (out of a requested 220 tonnes) was allowed in through Kerem Shalom crossing. This amount was expected to last for approximately one week.
The shortage of chlorine supplies in the Gaza Strip, coupled with intermittent water supplies in many areas (as a result of fuel shortage), deteriorated water networks and contamination with untreated wastewater is posing a risk of water pollution. Eighty percent (80%) of the water supply in Gaza does not meet the WHO standards for drinking water. Periodic shortages of chlorine increase the risk of an outbreak of waterborne diseases.
Almost no new infrastructure for the water and sanitation system has been constructed or expanded since the imposition of the blockade in June 2007, while much needed maintenance is impeded by the lack of pipes, spare parts and construction materials.The resulting degradation of the system is posing a major public health hazard, likely to result in an increase in morbidity rates and impede overall socio–economic development in the long term.
FAO reported that the agriculture sector in the Gaza Strip has been crippled by the closure imposed by Israel since June 2007. The situation worsened dramatically after 5 November, especially for the animal production sub-sector. Poultry hatchery owners had to kill over 400,000 baby chicks due to the near total lack of animal feed and cooking gas, which is used for warming the chicks. Pecking and cannibalism, common reactions to poor nutrition, has also been reported in poultry farms. Since 5 November, only 22% of the animal production sub-sector’s monthly requirement of animal feed has reached Gaza’s private sector (1,080 out of 5,000 metric tonnes).
Due to the shortage of feed, the production cost for poultry meat reached 9.5 NIS/kg and the market price rose to from 7/8 to 12 NIS (as of 26 November), making it unaffordable for many Gazans. Due to the high price of red meat, as much as 70% Gaza’s population relies on white meat, mainly chicken, for their animal protein intake. Moreover, the fishing sector cannot satisfy the current demand for fish, due to the lack of fuel, cooking gas and spare parts, as well as its limited access to the sea.
November is the beginning of the cut flower, strawberry and cherry tomato season. The bulk of profit from these crops comes from exports. For example, strawberries fetch 25 NIS/Kg on the external market, compared to the 5-6 N IS/Kg producers get in the local market. However, the ongoing ban on agricultural exports for the second consecutive year puts strain on the sector to absorb the loss. In addition, the plant production sub-sector suffers because necessary inputs, particularly fertilizer, pesticides, fuel for irrigation pumps and plastic sheeting, are either unaffordable or unavailable. Without the entry of such essential items, the quantity and quality of local production will decrease, negatively impacting farmers’ cash income and livelihoods.
A series of floods took place in the Jordan Valley and Gaza Strip during October 2008, mainly on the 19th and 29th. The floods caused severe damage to large areas planted with various crops, including greenhouses, irrigation networks, livestock sheds, in addition to significant damage to agricultural roads, particularly in the Gaza Strip. The total direct losses caused by the floods have been initially estimated by FAO and Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) field staff at around US$ 1.4 million -- about US$ 720,000 in the Gaza Strip and US$ 680,000 in the Jordan Valley. Damage caused by the floods further jeopardizes the livelihoods of poor farmers, who were already attempting to deal with multiple economic and environmental shocks that occurred since the second half of 2007 (e.g. massive increase in fodder, fertilizer and veterinary prices, drought, and late frost in Hebron governorate in early April 2008). Around 630 farming families (3,800 people) in the Jordan Valley (1570) and Gaza Strip (2230), whose farms have been badly hit by floods, have been identified by FAO and the MoA as requiring urgent assistance, such as the rehabilitation of irrigation networks and greenhouses and replanting some of the vegetable crops.
Economic restrictions on cash shipments to Gaza imposed by Israel have created a lack of shekel currency in the local market. As a result, on 19 November, UNRWA was forced to suspend its cash assistance programme to support refugee ‘special hardship cases’. UNRWA needs 270,000 NIS daily to financially support an average of 2,000 people per day. Beneficiaries use cash assistance to supplement the UNRWA food basket with fruit, vegetables and other basic products. The lack of shekels in Gaza is adversely affecting many other areas of business and life.
In light of the high unemployment rates in the oPt.15 UNRWA Cash for Work Project (CaWP) provides job opportunities to the vulnerable refugees who have few or no employable skills, and targets those with special needs and disabilities. Beneficiaries are selected based on need and family status, and then matched with appropriate work placements. Subsidies are offered to the beneficiaries and allow them to buy basic household goods.The programme offers 2,100 short-term posts in municipalities and village councils and 2,050 posts in UNRWA camps and installations (including heath centres and UNRWA schools’ offices) in the West Bank each month. The labour provided through the programme is used to improve public works and services and, ultimately, benefits the entire community.
Case Study: Ahmad and Ra’fat are two deaf and dumb brothers in their early twenties from Faqqua village in the northern West Bank.Working at the local municipality office through the UNRWA CaWP programme was their first time to have a job.The subsidies enabled them to purchase basic household goods and a personal computer. Younis from the same village was able to pay for his medication as he suffers from neurological problems. Before the CaWP job,Younis had not worked for about 15 years. He reported that he felt productive again while working, even if it was for a short time. He also plans to use the rest of the subsidy for the construction of his son’s house.
By the end of November, five out of the six flour mills in Gaza had stopped grinding as flour stocks were depleted. This has followed the announcement of Gaza’s largest flour mill that it would have to cease grinding due to lack of wheat flour, as of 19 November. Other mills followed, and some resorted to grinding low quality wheat (usually used for animal feed or mixed with higher quality wheat).
As no calves have entered Gaza since the beginning of November, the scarcity of red meat increased and its price rose from 40 NIS in October to 60 NIS per kg in November. This made meat unaffordable to many, resulting in further detrimental effects on nutritional standards. In addition, by the end of the month dairy products and some fruit and vegetables were also in short supply.
Many schools sanitation facilities in the Gaza Strip in November were affected by the lack of water. At the same time, the lack of electricity has adversely affected science and computer classes, many of which were cancelled. The lack of electricity at home left some children unable to complete their homework, while others missed afternoon sport activities in order to complete homework before dark. The psychological impact of the closure on children is high; UNICEF reported three times the usual number of calls to a toll-free helpline in November.
As a result of the inability of UNRWA to import staples, glue, and ink used to print and bind textbooks, the printing of second semester textbooks has been suspended. This will affect 200,000 children in UNRWA schools.Additionally, UNRWA has not been able to import supplies for use at its school for the visually impaired. The lack of cooking gas affected UNRWA’s school feeding programme, as canteens were unable to make the basic falafel sandwich or buy bread from bakeries.
The teachers’ strike at PA schools, which started on 23 August, continued throughout November. Since 14 October 2008, the cut-off date given by the MoEHE (Ministry of Education and Higher Education) in Gaza for teachers to return to work, no teachers have been allowed by the ministry to return. As a result, the percentage of those on strike remained constant at 54% throughout the month. Pupil attendance remained largely unaffected, due to the appointment of around 6,000 replacement teachers by the Hamas authorities in response to the strike. On 18 November, the MoEHE in the Gaza Strip started phase two of the training programme offered for the replacement teachers, consisting of 15 hours of training in Arabic, English, science, maths and religion.
In late November, the Humanitarian Coordinator launched the 2009 CAP (Consolidated Appeals Process), which stood at US$462 million, to fund humanitarian assistance programmes. A total of 159 humanitarian projects should respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the oPt, mostly in parts of the West Bank, where the Barrier, the Israeli settlements and closures imposed by the Israeli authorities, and in the Gaza Strip, where the blockade has triggered unprecedented levels of unemployment and poverty.
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator reported that the 18- month long closure of the Gaza Strip has led to widespread erosion of livelihoods and of significant deterioration in infrastructure and essential services. High levels of poverty and unemployment continued to exhaust coping mechanisms and increase dependency on humanitarian assistance.This is compounded by the rise in global food prices, the severe weather/drought conditions, the Palestinian rift and the “de-development” process in the Gaza Strip.
Humanitarian projects worth around US$3 13 million in the oPt were funded through the 2008 CAP, as of 10 December, constituting 69% of the total CAP funding requests.
1.	On 4 December, Israeli security forces evacuated settlers from Al Rajabi House by force.The evacuation was followed by settler violence against Palestinians and their property.
2.	In addition: in the northern West Bank, Palestinians and international peace activists marched towards the evacuated settlement of Homesh in November to protest ongoing attempts by Israeli settlers to re-settle there. In the central West Bank, Palestinian and international activists demonstrated at the road block between Deir Ibzi’ and Ras Karkar in the Ramallah governorate, which prevents residents of 14 villages (estimated population of 30,000) from directly accessing Ramallah.
3.	See for example, Roi Sharon,Amir Rappaport and Amit Cohen,“The Wild West Bank, No Man’s Land,” Ma’ariv, p. B8, 8 August 2008.Also see Amos Harel,“IDF West Bank commander: Rightist violence encouraged by settler leader,” Ha’aretz, 2 October 2008.
5.	Approximately 40% of the occupied West Bank is taken up by Israeli settlements, outposts, military bases and closed military areas, Israeli-declared nature reserves or other related infrastructure that are off-limits or tightly controlled to Palestinians. See OCHA, The Humanitarian Impact on Palestinians of Israeli Settlements and Other Infrastructure in the West Bank, July 2007, p. 8.
6.	Addameer Prisoners’ Support and Human Rights Association, Press Release 10/2008.
9.	Source: Aseerat project, Protection of Palestinian Female Prisoners and Detainees in Israeli Prisons, a UNIFEM-supported project implemented by Palestinian non-governmental organizations. See http://www.aseerat.ps.Forms of reported abuse during interrogation include sleep deprivation, prolonged shackling in painful positions, and even beatings. Imprisoned, women suffer from isolation in solitary confinement, humiliating treatment, strip searches and a variety of threats, including prohibition of family visits. Poor conditions of detention reported include overcrowding, a lack of fresh air and natural sunlight and the provision of a poor quality of food, among others.
10.	From 2003-2008, four cases of women giving birth in jail under very difficult conditions have occurred. United Nations Country Team-oPt, Inputs to the Secretary General Report on the Situation of and Assistance to Palestinian Women,August 2008; www.asserat.ps.
11.	This is due to restrictions imposed on granting permits to family members, which make visits difficult, along with restrictions on physical contact during visits. Interview with Magda Mughrabi, Addameer, 7 November 2008.
13.	There are 71 bakeries in Gaza but only 47 sell basic bread – the others focus on cakes and biscuits.
14.	This prohibition, which affects primarily Palestinians from the central and northern West Bank, forced staff and patients to use one of two “pedestrian” checkpoints (Qalandiya and Olives), like other Palestinians holding West Bank IDs and permits.These checkpoints are unpredictable, frequently crowded and much more time consuming.The restriction also compromises the health of severely ill patients, as patients must cross these checkpoints on foot.
15.	Unemployment rates according to ILO (International Labour Organisation) definition increased from 25.8% in Q2 2008 to 27.3% in Q3 2008 in the oPt; from 16.3% in Q2 2008 to 20.7% in Q3 2008 in the West Bank, while it decreased from 45.5% in Q2 2008 to 41.3% in Q3 2008 in the Gaza Strip.
The following UN Agencies, local and international NGOs and organisations participate in sector working groups and regularly provide information to the Humanitarian Monitor: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), United Nations Office for the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO),World Food Programme (WFP),World Health Organization (WHO), Al Haq, Badil, Save the Children (UK), Defence for Children International – Palestine Section (DCI-PS), Oxfam GB, Palestine Hydrology Group (PHG), ACF-E, AAA, ACPP, ACAD, and members of the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM).


I have been reading through articles documenting how ‘Plain Language’ came to be a standard by which legal communications are judged — and which courts, firms, and companies are willing to invest money and time in. From my limited research, I’ve been able to trace the rise of ‘Plain Language’ as a standard from the late 1970s through the early 1980s, when it became much discussed in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia-New Zealand. Government commissions began to investigate what Plain Language would look like in practice, how much it would offer to the end user of legal documents, and if it was worth investing in.
The conclusion seems to have been a resounding ‘yes’, as Plain Language became a dominant metric against which legal writing, explanations, outreach, and work product is judged. President Clinton mandated that federal agencies author their work using Plain Language techniques. Courts, self-help centers & legal aid groups hire plain language companies to ensure the text they release out to the public meets the Plain Language standard. And firms and corporations put an emphasis on how they offer clarity to their users, with a commitment to Plain Language communications.
Plain language is more than just what words you use to communicate — it is the way in which you compose your sentences, and the tone and voice your communication. It is about making your text more user-friendly by adopting a consciousness of who your target audience is, thinking of how they would best understand what you’re trying to get across, and ensuring that you speak and write in the most direct way to get your point across to this audience in the most succinct yet clear way.
This emphasis on usability is where there is a strong link between the Plain Language standard, and the legal design work that I have been so focused on as late. What I see is that to make a communication user-friendly & usable, we must think of more than just the language we use. It is more than vocabulary choice, sentence structure, tone, and voice.
Composition of the text on the page: how is it laid out? how many characters go across the line? how is it structured, indented, boxed, and otherwise made visually comprehensible?
Interactivity: is the communication staged? can a user get a quickly glanceable version, and then dig selectively into the text for more detailed explanations? Can we use digital tools to make the communication more engaging, customizable, and lively?
Visuals: are graphics, illustrations, and symbols used to enhance the user’s understanding? is there a way to shorten the amount of text we present, or to better show priorities and warnings within the text through the use of graphics? Is there a way to ground the text in more context & situational understanding by showing illustrations or photographs?
Service flows; what is the role of this communication in a larger service experience of the end user?
Legal Design work could be as powerful as the Plain Language standard has been. My goal is to get more legal organizations invested in making their communications as understandable & engaging as they can. This is both for the sake of the lay person consumer, but also for other lawyers and professionals. Better designed information can enhance the experience of even the most educated person, who is not intimidated by legalese — they don’t necessarily want to read through badly designed legal communications either.
Reading through the descriptions of how Plain Language has gone from movement to standard, I’m inspired to think how we can set more standards, guidelines, and best practices for how legal professionals communicate. I want to see legal orgs invested not just in Plain Language, but in Wholly Better Designed work product — that is Visually Composed, Interactive, Illustrated, and Service-oriented. We need more than just improved language to really make legal communications connect with lay people.


NEW YORK – In a judicial nod to public interest in the Martha Stewart (search) criminal trial, a judge warned Friday that prospective jurors and their families are off limits to anyone reporting about the case.
The selection process begins Tuesday when prospective jurors receive questionnaires at U.S. District Court in Manhattan, where Stewart faces charges of conspiracy, securities fraud, obstruction of justice and making false statements.
On Jan. 20, the trial begins in earnest when the 62-year-old home decorating diva is introduced to prospective jurors, some of whom will be interviewed in greater detail about their background, beliefs and ability to be fair and impartial.
In a three-page order issued Friday, Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum said prospective jurors will be instructed not to speak to anyone about the case or to read or hear about it in the media.
Noting that the trial will be subject to "widespread and intense press coverage," the judge said it was necessary to restrict contact between potential jurors and the print, broadcast and Internet media along with sketch artists, photographers, freelance journalists, authors and other writers.
She said no member of the press may speak to, interview or have any contact or communication with any prospective or selected juror or their families.
Stewart faces trial on charges that she lied to investigators about why she sold ImClone Systems Inc. (IMCL) stock on Dec. 27, 2001, just before it plunged on a negative government review of the company's new cancer drug.
Stewart, who has pleaded innocent, claims she had a standing order to sell the stock when it fell to $60.


Despite mounting evidence that he probably doesn't have a say in the matter, Dallas city manager A.C. Gonzalez announced he would make a decision on the disposition of the Love Field gates by Friday. Gonzalez's pronouncement followed a contentious May 7 City Council briefing on the issue, most of which occurred behind closed doors.
As part of the American Airlines/US Airways merger settlement, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded two Love Field gates to Virgin America last month. Delta and Southwest Airlines also submitted bids but were not selected. The deal is currently awaiting approval from the City of Dallas.
"Contrary to what may have been reported in any media outlet, I have not thrown my weight behind any particular entity," council member Vonciel Jones Hill said.
On Wednesday, council member Phillip Kingston tried to introduce a motion to prevent the council from going into executive session about the gates, but Mayor Mike Rawlings wasn't having it. "We are going into executive session," Rawlings said forcefully, talking over an exasperated Kingston.
"It's unbelievable that we can't hear this motion, Mr. Mayor. It's disrespectful," Kingston said.
Another council member was ready to flee the scene rather than hear what Kingston had to say. "We can walk out if we want to. We can stop the quorum if we want to," a council member said off-camera.
When the council returned from closed session, Vonciel Jones Hill let out an earful. "Contrary to what may have been reported in any media outlet, I have not thrown my weight behind any particular entity," she said.
"My opinion is that the City of Dallas is the landlord, and the City of Dallas as the landlord has the final call, whatever that call may be. It is my opinion that it is the landlord's call."
Hill said that the Five Party Agreement and the ending of the Wright Amendment gives the city a say in the process. "The private parties have exercised their responsibilities. The federal government has exercised its responsibilities.
"It is now our turn as the Dallas City Council, responsible to our citizens, to take on our responsibility. I do not believe that is dictated by anyone other than this council."
Kingston had a slightly different take on the process. "Our obligation as the City of Dallas is to live up to the terms of the contracts that we sign. This one is easy, so I do feel like this has been a pretty profound waste of the council's time," he said.
Council member Scott Griggs said the city needs to be careful about negotiating "what's not ours to negotiate."
Kingston also addressed the LEK study, which heavily backed Southwest Airlines' bid for the gates. The city paid LEK Consultants $50,000 to evaluate proposals from Delta, Southwest and Virgin.
"I'm concerned about that study because I think it represents profoundly backward thinking. That's $50,00 right down the toilet as far as I am concerned. It seems to enshrine this 20th-century — or maybe 19th-century — thinking that somehow competition destroys our city assets. It's like reviving the Wright Amendment," Kingston said.
Council member Scott Griggs worried that going against the federal government's recommendation of Virgin America could land Dallas in hot water. "I don't want to anger the Department of Justice. As you know, we are already being investigated by the feds in the housing department. We certainly don't want a second federal investigation or to get crosswise with the feds again."
Virgin America founder Richard Branson and CEO David Cush have been in Dallas this week lobbying for the gates, and Southwest is doing its part to drum up support for its bid as well.
On May 5, the Department of Justice sent the City of Dallas a strongly worded letter explaining at length why it approved the bid from Virgin and rejected the ones from Delta and Southwest.
"We have concluded that divestiture to Virgin America, which has no existing presence at Love Field and will introduce a new competitor at that airport, accomplishes the goal of the [increased competition]," reads the letter, which goes on to say the feds "would reject a proposal" from the City of Dallas for either Delta or Southwest to acquire the gates.
Griggs said the city needs to be careful about negotiating "what's not ours to negotiate."
Meanwhile, Mayor Rawlings tried to lighten the mood. "This is a serious matter, and we are kind of somber, but we should be doing high-fives," Rawlings said.
"Congratulations to the City of Dallas. We are growing, we've got hot properties. We've got Virgin Air in here wanting to do business with us. Delta wants to do business with us. Southwest wants to continue to grow. This is great!"


Commercial and Residential Land; road frontage on both 21st Ave SE and Catawba Valley Blvd; already zoned commercial or could still be used residential; Septic and well on property; Also can tap onto city water and sewer for additional fee; contact listing agent for list of what zoning laws allow; existing home on property sold as-is.
Great potential for development in NE Hickory! 2 parcels sold together...PIN#s: 372417222019 and 372413139028. Approx. acreage is: 15.29 acres. A portion of the property is in a flood zone. Currently, NO city taxes. Convenient location!


Marcus Kaasik at a Town Board special meeting earlier this year on seagrass management.
Are conservation moorings protecting or ruining the environment?
The debate continues among Islanders with many baymen arguing that the moorings meant to protect seagrasses on bay bottoms end up tearing the grass from its roots as the moorings work their way out of the ground over time. They also worried it could ruin their equipment.
But Soren Dahl, of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission told the baymen at a recent meeting that the technology has improved during the past few years and the conservation moorings have proven to be very successful in New England waters.
Still, the baymen are skeptical, saying that out of conservation moorings installed four or five years ago, three of nine failed to work correctly.
Councilman Jim Colligan reported the dispute to his Town Board colleagues at the October 30 work session.
But Mr. Dahl and Elizabeth Hornstein of the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, a nonprofit interstate agency, said they believed a pilot program has merit. Ms. Hornstein, who is also coordinator of the New York State Department of Environment Conservation Division of Marine Resources and Bureau of Marine Habitat, said the Town Board would review the pilot program proposal and decide how best to proceed.
She and Mr. Dahl suggested six conservation moorings be placed in Coecles Harbor, which has been reported to have the healthiest seagrass in the region.
Neither Mr. Dahl nor Ms. Hornstein represent regulatory agencies, and have no authority to demand any mandates affecting town practices in the Peconic Estuary.
Mr. Colligan called on his Town Board colleagues to determine what is already being done and what else can be done to meet the concerns of the baymen.
• Continue to focus on dredging key seagrass harbors, creeks and bays.
• Recognize the importance of marsh areas and ensure they are protected from abuses by monitoring removal of floating docks and unused moorings.
• Monitor seagrass areas and request DEC assistance when necessary.
• Pass legislation to address “slow-release fertilizers” in near-shore areas, and restrict spraying in near-shore areas, particularly on windy days and immediately before moderate to heavy rain.
• Support education efforts among recreational boaters in seagrass and marsh areas.
• Ensure the removal of all mooring by December 1 of each year and block reinstallation prior to April 1 of the following year.
• Use limited signage to mark key seagrass areas.
Police Chief Jim Read said many of the steps the baymen are seeking are already being done. The board expressed willingness to determine what is already being addressed and ways in which they can continue to support other interests the baymen have.
A crew of painters told the Board they are willing to paint the trim on Police Headquarters without charge. Borislav, Stefan, Milos and Boris Djurasic of Hamptons Fine Carpentry volunteered their services.
Boris Djurasic told the board they would start work the day after the meeting and, weather permitting, wrap up the job in a few days.
The board will provide the men with a statement on the worth of the project so they may get a tax deduction for their efforts. Members expressed gratitude to the men for volunteering to do the work without cost to town taxpayers.


Two major breaches last year of U.S. government databases holding personnel records and security-clearance files exposed sensitive information about at least 22.1 million people, including not only federal employees and contractors but their families and friends, U.S. officials said Thursday.
The total vastly exceeds all previous estimates, and marks the most detailed accounting by the Office of Personnel Management of how many people were affected by cyber intrusions that U.S. officials have privately said were traced to the Chinese government.
But even beyond the rising number of apparent victims, U.S. officials said the breaches rank among the most potentially damaging cyber heists in U.S. government history because of the abundant detail in the files. Officials said hackers accessed not only personnel records of current and former employees but also extensive information about friends, relatives and others listed as references in applications for security clearances for some of the most sensitive jobs in government.
Other U.S. officials said that a foreign intelligence service could use the information to identify U.S. intelligence operatives, and that China is suspected of stealing large amounts of data on Americans as part of a “strategic plan” to increase its intelligence collection.
The OPM release came after a months-long effort by the agency to take inventory of the damage, an endeavor that required surveying enormous and often outdated computer systems.
The vast majority of those affected — 21.5 million people — were included in an OPM repository of security clearance files, officials said. At least 4.2 million people were affected by the breach of a separate database containing personnel records including Social Security numbers, job assignments and performance evaluations.
About 3.6 million of those affected were in both systems, an overlap that accounts for the 22.1 million total, officials said.
The hackers’ access was so extensive that U.S. officials said they think it is “highly likely” that every file associated with an OPM-managed security clearance application since 2000 was exposed. Background checks before that time were less likely to be affected, officials said.
The CIA, largely appears to have been shielded from damage, especially for employees who have never worked at any other agency, officials said.
Even so, some U.S. officials have said that a foreign spy service might be able to identify U.S. intelligence operatives by scrutinizing the OPM files. Names that appear on rosters of U.S. embassies but are missing from the OPM records might, through a process of elimination, reveal the identities of CIA operatives serving under diplomatic cover.
Of those whose data was in the OPM background-check system, 19.7 million had applied for a security clearance. An additional 1.8 million were spouses, family members and other non-applicants, officials said.
Also exposed were 1.1 million sets of fingerprints, detailed financial and health records, and computer usernames and passwords that applicants used to fill out their security-clearance forms online.
The U.S. government has said it will offer the affected employees at least three years of credit monitoring and other identity-protection services. But OPM faces rising anger among members of federal employee unions who say they have received scant information about the breaches.
Two class-action lawsuits have been filed against the agency and Archuleta.
The White House is said to be weighing how to respond to what is being considered an aggressive act of espionage. U.S. officials said options include covert cyber-measures as well as punitive economic sanctions, although the nation’s ability to claim outrage has been undermined by the exposure of its own global spying programs by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.
Those responsible for the hack appear to have had access to OPM records for months. U.S. officials said the theft of security-clearance data took place over a six-month stretch that ended in January. The personnel records were stolen from October to April.
The breach of personnel records was discovered in April as a result of new cybersecurity tools OPM had installed, said Andy Ozment, the Department of Homeland Security’s assistant secretary for cybersecurity.
Officials said the thieves broke in by using stolen contractor logins and passwords. Although U.S. officials have said the intrusions were traced to the Chinese government, the Obama administration has not formally accused Beijing.
Comey said he thinks the hackers have obtained his “SF 86,” referring to Standard Form 86, which all applicants for security clearances must fill out.
One of the major U.S. concerns is that an adversary could use the data to identify U.S. government employees who might be susceptible to pressure or inducements to engage in espionage.
Thursday’s disclosures prompted renewed calls among some on Capitol Hill for the resignation Archuleta and her chief information officer, Donna Seymour.
Agency officials say that it was only because of a strategic plan put in place by Archuleta shortly after she became director in November 2014 that the breaches were discovered.
It has taken weeks for the agency to come up with the number, in large part because of the difficulty, officials say, of reviewing data contained in numerous computers that make up the background check system. Many of the computers are antiquated. There were many instances of names being duplicated — sometimes because someone was listed as a reference in several background checks as well as having their own clearance.
“The forensics for that …investigation were extremely complicated,” Ozment said.
spying motives. The United States has not officially named China or the motive, but privately officials say it appears China was conducting a form of traditional espionage.


The average American worker loses 11.3 days in lost productivity annually because of insomnia; that is equivalent to a loss of $2,280 each, researchers report in the journal Sleep. Insomnia is a condition characterized by difficulty falling asleep and remaining asleep. It includes a wide spectrum of sleep disorders, from not enough sleep to lack of quality sleep.
"We were shocked by the enormous impact insomnia has on the average person's life. It's an underappreciated problem. Americans are not missing work because of insomnia. They are still going to their jobs but accomplishing less because they're tired. In an information-based economy, it's difficult to find a condition that has a greater effect on productivity."
Transient insomnia - symptoms last for only a few days or weeks at the most.
Acute (short-term) insomnia - symptoms last for several weeks.
Chronic insomnia - symptoms last for some months and even years.
All age groups can be affected by insomnia. More adult females are affected than adult males.
Insomnia can lead to anxiety, depression, obesity, poor work/school performance. It can also undermine a human's immune system, which in turn raises the risk and severity of long-term disease.
In this study, Kessier and team gathered data on 7,428 employees from the American Insomnia Study, which was funded by pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis. The individuals were asked about their sleeping patterns, work performance, among other questions.
They found that 23.2% of the participants had insomnia. While workers aged at least 65 years had the lowest rates of insomnia (14.3%), it affected 27.1% of working women and 19.7% working men.
The authors added that clinical sleep medicine experts independently examined a sample of participants to confirm the reliability of their estimates.
With such a massive economic burden on the country caused by insomnia, Kessler believes screening and treatment programs for workers should be set up. However, insomnia is not seen as an illness. So its effect on lost working days or man-hours is ignored by employers.
"Now that we know how much insomnia costs the American workplace, the question for employers is whether the price of intervention is worthwhile. Can U.S. employers afford not to address insomnia in the workplace?"
Treating insomnia can vary, from approximately $200 annually for a generic sleeping medication, to $1,200 for behavioral therapy to treat the disorder, said James K. Walsh, study co-author, from the Sleep Medicine and Research Center at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo.
19% of individuals with less than a high school education were found to suffer from insomnia, compared to college graduates at 21.5%. People with some college education, at 26.4% insomnia prevalence, had the highest rates, followed by workers with a high school education (25.3%).
Insomnia can be caused by physical as well as psychological factors. Frequently, an underlying medical condition may be the cause of chronic insomnia, while a recent event or occurrence is more likely to be the cause of transient insomnia.
Insomnia can be caused by drugs, alcohol, medications, caffeine, nicotine, disruptions in circadian rhythm (jet lag, shift work), stress, anxiety, depression, brain lesions, chronic pain, and several medical conditions. Having a loud snorer as a partner is a common cause of insomnia.
"Insomnia and the Performance of US Workers: Results from the America Insomnia Survey"
Nordqvist, Christian. "Insomnia Affects 23% Of US Workforce, Costing $63.2 Billion Annually." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 4 Sep. 2011. Web.


SAO PAULO, April 10 (Reuters) - Brazilian financial group BTG Pactual Holding SA has launched a tender offer to delist its investments unit PPLA Participations Ltd from the country’s stock exchange B3 SA Brasil Bolsa Balcao, according to a filing on Wednesday.
If the process is successful, the holding will keep listed only its bank Banco BTG Pactual SA, which encompasses the group’s investment banking and money management activities. PPLA Participations holds investments made with the group’s own capital, such as private equity and property.
BTG Pactual Holding is offering PPLA’s shareholders 1.19 real per Brazilian Depositary Receipt unit, which comprises three PPLA shares. Units in PPLA were trading at 2.40 reais in morning trading.