http://www.immediapress.it I comunicati stampa di Immediapress en info@immediapress.it (Informazioni) info@immediapress.it (Info tecniche) Politica e PA/Politics and Public Affairs, Altro/Miscellaneous, http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61856 global@prnewswire.co.uk (Worldwide News Ukraine)
The special supplement to the February 1 printed edition of The Washington Post, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, includes an interview with Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper (an American Naval officer and a former NASA astronaut, formerly of Ukrainian origin), as well as an article authored by Orest Deychakiwsky - an expert with the U.S. Helsinki Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, representative of Ukrainian diaspora in the U.S. In his contribution to the special edition of The Washington Post Orest Deychakiwsky described efforts by the U.S. government to support the independence of Ukraine. Oleg Voloshyn emphasized that the special edition pays little attention to politics; instead, it focuses on other issues.

The printed supplement special on Ukraine also features articles on local agriculture and energy, information on Ukraine's contribution to global nuclear disarmament, current National Projects, and even religious preferences of the citizens.

Another part of the supplement special is presented in the form of collage that incorporates rockets and wildlife in Ukraine. It symbolizes multifaceted nature of Ukraine. "We aimed to showcase the diversity of Ukraine," explained Oleg Voloshyn. The official added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine arranged for similar promotional publications in other major international outlets. For example, in December of 2011 a leading German daily business newspaper Handelsblatt published a supplement special on Ukraine that focused on EURO 2012. Daily circulation of Handelsblatt equals almost 150,000 persons while The Washington Post covers the audience exceeding half a million readers.

The embassy of Ukraine in the USA came up with the idea of collaboration with The Washington Post, said Oleg Voloshyn. He emphasized that many governments across the globe use similar kind of promotion: "India, China, Argentina… if I'm not mistaken, Russia publishes a quarterly supplement Russia Now [with The Washington Post]."

The aim of the special edition is to acquaint foreign readers with Ukraine.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/02/4233409/ukraine-gets-exclusive-coverage.html#storylink=cpy]]> Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:55:00 +0100 http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61856 Economia e Finanza/Economy and Finance, ICT / ICT, Politica e PA/Politics and Public Affairs, http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61828 global@prnewswire.co.uk (mophie)
mphie® (http://www.mophie.com/) the California-based company that markets the award winning http://www.mophie.com/mophie-juice-pack-plus-iPhone-4-battery-case-p/1160_jpp-ip4-blk.htm rechargeable external battery case for iPhone, was awarded an $830,000 judgment against a Texas woman who was selling counterfeit versions of these cases on the Internet.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110209/LA44927LOGO-b)

U.S. District Judge John F. Walter in Los Angeles ordered Sidrah Qadeer of Spring, TX, to pay monetary damages to mophie, Inc. in the amount of $830,000 and to pay mophie's attorney's fees. Judge Walter also ordered Qadeer to "deliver immediately for destruction" all counterfeit mophie-branded materials in her possession and to forever refrain from selling any mophie-branded product.

"Counterfeit operations are something that mophie takes incredibly seriously and we are extremely pleased with the decision in this case," noted mophie Chief Operating Officer, Shawn Dougherty. "Our juice pack line of external batteries continues to lead the category in both innovation and market penetration and we will continue to protect the juice pack and our authorized distributors and retailers against all counterfeiting activities.  This judgment should send a very strong message to all counterfeit sellers that mophie protects its products and will seek out and prosecute counterfeiters."

mophie, Inc.'s juice pack plus case® is available on its company http://www.mophie.com/ for $99.95. According to the lawsuit, Qadeer advertised and sold counterfeit battery cases on eBay.  An investigator hired by mophie, Inc. purchased a counterfeit copy of the battery case in June 2011 from Qadeer for $59.99. 

About mophie

mophie is a California-based, award-winning designer and manufacturer of mobile intelligent devices and accessories. It is widely recognized and highly acclaimed for its creative designs and innovative solutions. mophie is the proud developer of the http://www.mophie.com/mophie-juice-pack-air-iPhone-4-battery-case-p/1145_jpaxp4.htm, the first "Works With iPhone" portable battery solution certified by Apple Inc. All of mophie's products are developed to address real consumer and business needs and are seamless integrations of industrial, electronic, software and artistic designs. Its products are available in Apple stores, AT&T stores, Best Buy stores, Verizon stores, and on http://www.mophie.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/. Follow mophie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mophie or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mophielovesyou/]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0100 http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61828 Politica e PA/Politics and Public Affairs, energia / Energy and Power, http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61806 global@prnewswire.co.uk (Worldwide News Ukraine)
It was essential to continue the technical revolutions in extracting shale gas as well as implementing clean coal technologies, for the old technologies had lost their economic and ecological sustainability, according to Ukraine's Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko. Currently, Ukraine looks into implement the new environmentally conscious hydro-coal technology, which is claimed to enable utilities, refineries and industrial energy users to produce significantly cheaper and cleaner synthetic fuels from coal through enhance reactivity. Notably, in 2011 Ukraine produced 82 million tons of coal.

Speaking of energy sources diversification for Ukraine, the country is eyeing joint projects with Azerbaijan. After the recent round of negotiations, two protocols between the countries were ready to be signed, and the experts have already started their work on technical parameters of the documents. Moreover, Ukraine is currently negotiating a three-way partnership with Azerbaijan and Turkey. In his interview with journalists Ukrainian leader added that Ukraine would consider creating a gas transportation consortium and make such partnership profitable for all parties. The price of the project (reliable gas transportation to Europe and modernization of the pipelines) was estimated at USD 5-7 billions.]]> Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:45:00 +0100 http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61806 Salute e Benessere/Healthcare, Economia e Finanza/Economy and Finance, Politica e PA/Politics and Public Affairs, http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61793 global@prnewswire.co.uk (Global Health Strategies)
Today, 13 pharmaceutical companies, the U.S., U.K. and U.A.E governments, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank and other global health organisations announced a new, coordinated push to accelerate progress toward eliminating or controlling 10 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by the end of the decade. Uniting efforts with NTD-endemic countries, partners pledged to bring a unique focus to defeating these diseases and to work together to improve the lives of the 1.4 billion people worldwide affected by NTDs, most of whom are among the world's poorest.

In the largest coordinated effort to date to combat NTDs, the group announced at an event at the Royal College of Physicians that they would: sustain or expand existing drug donation programs to meet demand through 2020; share expertise and compounds to accelerate research and development of new drugs; and provide more than US$785 million to support R&D efforts and strengthen drug distribution and implementation programmes. Partners also endorsed the "London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases," in which they pledged new levels of collaborative effort and tracking of progress.

"Today, we have joined together to increase the impact of our investments and build on the tremendous progress made to date," said Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "This innovative approach must serve as a model for solving other global development challenges and will help millions of people build self-sufficiency and overcome the need for aid." The Gates Foundation announced a five-year, US$363 million commitment to support NTD product and operational research.

To guide the effort against NTDs, the World Health Organisation (WHO) this week unveiled a new strategy, http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2012/WHO_HTM_NTD_2012.1_eng.pdf, that sets targets for what can be achieved by the end of the decade.

"The efforts of WHO, researchers, partners, and the contributions of industry have changed the face of NTDs. These ancient diseases are now being brought to their knees with stunning speed," said Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO. "With the boost to this momentum being made today, I am confident almost all of these diseases can be eliminated or controlled by the end of this decade."

New commitments from partners will close the funding gap to eradicate Guinea worm disease and expedite progress toward the 2020 goals of elimination for lymphatic filariasis, blinding trachoma, sleeping sickness and leprosy, and control of soil-transmitted helminthes, schistosomiasis, river blindness, Chagas disease and visceral leishmaniasis.

Speaking on behalf of the CEOs of the 13 pharmaceutical companies involved, Sir Andrew Witty, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, said, "Many companies and organisations have worked for decades to fight these horrific diseases. But no one company or organisation can do it alone. Today, we pledge to work hand-in-hand to revolutionize the way we fight these diseases now and in the future."

With new and existing pledges totaled, companies will donate an average of 1.4 billion treatments each year to those in need, according to the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA). In addition, new research and development collaborative efforts and access agreements with 11 companies and the R&D organisation Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) are providing unprecedented access to compound libraries that could lead to new treatments. These commitments will work in parallel with other efforts to speed the development of critical NTD treatments, including WIPO Re:Search, a database of research compounds, knowledge and expertise.

To close the funding gap for Guinea worm eradication, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, the Gates Foundation, and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, will donate US$40 million to The Carter Center. These commitments complement an October pledge from the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) that it would contribute pounds 20 million if others come forward-part of a four-year, pounds 195 million commitment to NTDs announced by DFID last week.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) also announced an $89 million appropriation by the U.S. Congress to strengthen drug delivery and distribution programmes, building on its US$212 million investment since 2006. In addition, the World Bank will extend its financing and technical support to help African countries build stronger community health systems that will integrate NTD elimination and control, as well as work with other partners to expand a trust fund to combat river blindness to other preventable NTDs in Africa.

"The world has come together to end the neglect of these horrific diseases which needlessly disable, blind and kill millions of the world's poorest," said Stephen O'Brien, U.K. Minister for International Development. "Britain and other partners are leading the way to provide critical treatments to millions of people, which allow children to attend school and parents to provide for their families so that they can help themselves out of poverty and eventually no longer rely on aid."

Today's pledges and Declaration come in response to WHO's 2010 report, http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241564090_eng.pdf, which called for new resources to overcome NTDs. Representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, the Gates Foundation and other partners worked during the past year to develop this expanded, coordinated effort.

The governments of Bangladesh, Brazil, Mozambique and Tanzania, where NTDs are endemic, announced that they would implement integrated plans to defeat NTDs and devote political and financial resources to combat these diseases. All partners pledged accountability by exploring mechanisms to regularly track progress toward the 2020 goals.

"From the moment the evidence of the very heavy burden of NTDs in Mozambique was understood, the government of Mozambique has taken action and continuously increased its commitment and investment to control or eliminate these diseases," said Dr. Alexandre Manguele, Minister of Health of Mozambique. "With the resources pledged today in the context of this partnership the government of Mozambique feels ever more assured that the mission can be accomplished."

SPECIFIC PARTNER COMMITMENTS ANNOUNCED TODAY INCLUDE:Sustaining, Expanding and Extending Drug Supply:

All companies with NTD drug donation programs pledged to sustain or extend their programs to the end of the decade, and some pledged to increase their commitments. These commitments include the following:

Sanofi, Eisai and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will work together to provide 120 million DEC tablets to the WHO for their Global Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination programme. Combined with Eisai's donation commitment that will start in 2014, these new tablets will ensure a sufficient supply of DEC from 2012 through 2020.

Bayer will double its existing donation of nifurtimox to treat Chagas disease.

Eisai will extend its existing donation of 2.2 billion tablets of DEC for LF to 2020.

Gilead, which announced a donation of AmBisome for visceral leishmaniasis in 2011, will continue its program to offer VL at cost and commit to investigate and invest in technologies and processes that could reduce that cost in resource-limited countries.

GlaxoSmithKline will extend its existing donation of albendazole to treat soil-transmitted helminthes by providing 400 million tablets per year for an additional five years to 2020, as well as continuing its donation of 600 million tablets per year to combat lymphatic filariasis.

Johnson & Johnson will extend its existing donation of mebendazole for soil-transmitted helminthes by providing 200 million tablets per year to 2020.

MSD will continue its unlimited donation of ivermectin to combat river blindness and lymphatic filariasis (where co-endemic with river blindness), as well as discuss the use of ivermectin to combat other diseases.

Merck KGaA will significantly increase its annual donation of praziquantel tablets from 25 million to 250 million tablets per year, extending the program indefinitely.

Novartis will extend its commitment to provide multi-drug therapy (rifampicin, clofazimine and dapsone) to leprosy patients worldwide in a final push against the disease.

Pfizer will continue its donation of azithromycin for blinding trachoma until at least 2020, as well as donate the drug and placebo to a study on the reduction in mortality of children treated with azithromycin.

Sanofi will extend its existing donation of eflornithine, melarsoprol and pentamidine for sleeping sickness to 2020, as well as logistical support to ensure that the drugs continue to reach patients at the point of care cost-free.

Accelerating R&D for New Treatments:

Product development partnerships under the coordination of DNDi with Abbott, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer are underway to develop new drugs to treat helminth infections, notably a macrofilaricide, which kills adult worms that cause river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.

Abbott is conducting initial drug reformulation studies and providing scientific expertise for preclinical development, with technical and supply assistance from Johnson & Johnson.

If pre-clinical development is successful, Johnson & Johnson will co-fund clinical development, and collaborate with other partners, including technical support from Pfizer's staff scientists. J&J would obtain regulatory approval.

Innovative licensing or collaboration agreements with DNDi by 11 companies--Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer and Sanofi--are in negotiation or underway for the sharing of compounds and knowledge in order to generate new drugs for diseases including river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and visceral leishmaniasis.

DNDi and Sanofi announced a product development collaboration to co-develop a new drug candidate for sleeping sickness, oxaborole/SCYX-7158, in addition to fexinidazole, which is already in clinical development.

Increasing funding to improve drug product and operational research, delivery and implementation programmes, including prevention, monitoring and education:

Several partners announced US$40 million in new funding to The Carter Center that will close the gap to eradicate Guinea worm. The Gates Foundation will contribute US$23.3 million, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, will contribute US$10 million and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation will contribute US$6.7 million.

This funding complements pounds 20 million in funding from DFID, announced last week as part of a pounds 195 million commitment through 2015, targeted at Guinea worm disease, lymphatic filariasis, river blindness and schistosomiasis, as well as developing new programmes for blinding trachoma, visceral leishmaniasis, research and integrated country approaches.

The Gates Foundation announced a 5-year, US$363 million commitment to overcome barriers to success and address critical gaps to achieve the control and elimination of targeted NTDs by 2020.

USAID will continue support to over 20 countries to introduce and/or scale up integrated NTD programs, including three new countries: Mozambique, Senegal and Cambodia. The U.S. Congress appropriated $89 million to USAID for NTD control in FY2012.

At the country level, the World Bank will extend its financing and technical support to help countries build stronger community health systems that will integrate NTD elimination and control. At the regional level, the World Bank will continue fiduciary oversight of the existing trust fund that supports the fight against river blindness in Africa, and will also work with other partners to expand the trust fund to eliminate or control preventable NTDs on the continent.

Mundo Sano contributed US$5 million to expand work in NTD control and program enhancement for selected sites in the Americas and Africa.

The Government of Mozambique announced specific goals for NTD control and elimination in endemic areas of the country, including:

Reaching full geographic coverage of all endemic areas for lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminthes and schistosomiasis

Completely mapping and reaching full geographic coverage of trachoma by 2018

Building capacity for surveillance and action to sustain gains from mass drug administration programs

The Governments of Brazil, Tanzania, Bangladesh and other NTD-endemic countries announced implementation of fully integrated or coordinated plans to control and eliminate NTDs in their countries.

Three pharmaceutical companies--Merck KGaA, Novartis and Sanofi-- will organize and provide funding to support prevention, monitoring, education and intensified disease control efforts.

Lions Clubs International announced US$6.9 million in funding to support the Government of China in efforts to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2017.

Coordinating and measuring NTD commitments: Industry partners pledged to work together toward the achievement of the 2020 goals. Based on the WHO roadmap, partners will follow collective progress through a scorecard that will regularly and formally track progress including whether participating organisations are meeting their supply, research, funding and implementation commitments to work toward the 2020 goals. This process will ensure accountability and transparency and identify remaining gaps.

Speakers at today's event at the Royal College of Physicians include:

Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organisation

Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Stephen O'Brien, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, UK Department for International Development

Dr. Ariel Pablos-Mendez, Assistant Administrator for Global Health, US Agency for International Development

Dr. Jorg Reinhardt, Chairman of the Board of Management, Bayer HealthCare AG

Lamberto Andreotti, Chief Executive Officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Haruo Naito, President and CEO, Eisai

Sir Andrew Witty, Chief Executive Officer, GlaxoSmithKline

William Weldon, Chairman, Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, Executive Committee, Johnson & Johnson

Kenneth Frazier, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, MSD

Dr. Stefan Oschmann, Executive Board member, Merck KGaA, with responsibility for the Pharmaceuticals business sector

Joseph Jimenez, Chief Executive Officer, Novartis

Christopher A. Viehbacher, Chief Executive Officer, Sanofi

Paul Carter, Senior Vice-President, International Commercial Operations, Gilead

Dr. Bernard Pecoul, Executive Director, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative

Dr. Caroline Anstey, Managing Director, World Bank

Dr. AFM Ruhal Haque, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh

Jarbas Barbosa da Silva, Jr., Vice Minister for Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Brazil

Dr. Alexandre Lourenco Jaime Manguele, Minister of Health, Mozambique

Dr. Donan Mmbando, Director of Preventive Services, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Tanzania

A webcast of this event can be viewed at www.UnitingToCombatNTDs.org

For supplemental materials and information about the foundation's work, please visit: http://www.thenewsmarket.com/gatesfoundation]]> Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:50:00 +0100 http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61793 Salute e Benessere/Healthcare, Politica e PA/Politics and Public Affairs, Altro/Miscellaneous, chimica e farmacia / Chemistry and Pharmacy, http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61780 global@prnewswire.co.uk (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS))
The successor of the company stated to ISAPS that 728 implants were produced in this period of time. Most of those implants were sold in Germany where they include about 280 patients. In addition to Germany, TiBREEZE implants were delivered to the following countries: Belgium, Italy, Finland, South Africa, Switzerland, England, Austria and Lichtenstein.  A total of 400 patients worldwide are thought to be affected.

According to Dr. Dirk Richter (Germany), Chair of ISAPS' Patient Safety Committee, "as there are no studies yet available to prove the safety of industrial grade silicone in the human body, ISAPS supports the French and German authorities' recommendations and encourages all women with TiBREEZE, PIP or Rofil breast implants produced after 2001, to check with a specialized plastic surgeon to discuss removal of the implants."]]> Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:10:00 +0100 http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61780 Economia e Finanza/Economy and Finance, Politica e PA/Politics and Public Affairs, Altro/Miscellaneous, architettura e edilizia/Architecture and Building Ind., energia / Energy and Power, trasporti e logistica / Transportation and Logistics, http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61767 global@prnewswire.co.uk (Worldwide News Ukraine)
Top Ukrainian officials (First Deputy Head of Presidential Administration of Ukraine Iryna Akimova, and Chairman of the Committee on European Integration Borys Tarasiuk) together with the Chairman of the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Program Antonio Somme, and the Ambassador of Sweden to Ukraine Stefan Gullgren heard the report on Ukraine's sectoral competitiveness. Presenting the report, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Volodymyr Pavlenko announced yet another collaboration between the country and the organization - Investment Committee.

Even without being a member, Ukraine bears the status of the permanent observer in the committees for steel and governance. The country is also a part of the SME working group. In addition, Ukraine participates in the International Transport Forum and International Energy Agency of the organization. Now that Ukraine has acquired a status of an observer in the Investment Committee along with Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, the country nears its goal. Currently, the organization is also considering Ukraine's participation at the OECD Declaration and Decisions on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises.Since gaining its independence in 1991, Ukraine has been closely collaborating with the OECD. Becoming a full-fledged member of the organization will help Ukraine adapt its legislation to that of most developed countries. The program of economic reforms for 2010-2014 stipulates for the country to become a member of the OECD in the near future. As of today, Ukrainian officials together with the representatives of the organization work on developing an agenda for Ukraine to join the organization.

OECD dates back to 1960, when it started with 20 members (18 European countries, USA and Canada). Nowadays, the organization counts 34 member countries around the globe. The organization, however, is constantly working on its enlargement and enhancement. OECD also maintains close relations with its more than 70 global partners.  ]]> Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:50:00 +0100 http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61767 Politica e PA/Politics and Public Affairs, Altro/Miscellaneous, http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61766 global@prnewswire.co.uk (Worldwide News Ukraine)
Yuliya Tymoshenko is also accused of not paying of UAH 681 thousand in income tax on USD 1 million she received onto her bank card in 1996-1998 while being a member of Ukrainian Parliament.

In 1995-1997 Tymoshenko facilitated UESU's VAT evasion totaling UAH 10 million by increasing the purchasing price on paper for 34 billion cubic meters of Russian gas.

Besides the listed accusations, Yulia Tymoshenko was found guilty of concealing USD 165 million profits but the criminal case has been closed due to decriminalization of the respective paragraph of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. ]]> Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:35:00 +0100 http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61766 Salute e Benessere/Healthcare, Politica e PA/Politics and Public Affairs, Altro/Miscellaneous, terzo settore / Non-profit, http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61754 global@prnewswire.co.uk (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
"These are tough economic times, but that is no excuse for cutting aid to the world's poorest," said Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation. "The Global Fund is one of the most effective ways we invest our money every year."

Providing funding through a promissory note gives the Global Fund the flexibility and authority to distribute funds efficiently based on immediate needs, leading to greater impact.

"By supporting the Global Fund, we can help to change the fortunes of the poorest countries in the world," said Gates. "I can't think of more important work."

Global Fund financing helps developing countries fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This public-private partnership creates economic opportunity and makes those living in poverty less dependent on aid.

Since 2002, investments in the Global Fund have financed innovative prevention and treatment programs in 150 countries with high burdens of disease. The Global Fund continues to save 100,000 lives a month. The Fund has provided antiretroviral treatment to 3.3 million people, detected and treated 8.2 million people with tuberculosis, and provided 230 million bed nets to families to prevent malaria.

The new commitment is in addition to the $650 million the Gates Foundation has already contributed since the Global Fund was launched 10 years ago at the World Economic Forum, which convenes the world's top business and political leaders.

The foundation commends the recent political and financial commitments to the Global Fund by donor governments. All donors - rich, middle-income and poor countries as well as the private sector - must continue to invest in the lifesaving work of the Global Fund.

On the heels of releasing his fourth annual letter yesterday in London, Gates continued to challenge global leaders to invest in innovations that are accelerating progress against poverty or risk a future where millions needlessly die. While there has been tremendous progress against AIDS, TB and malaria, more must be done. Through unique partnerships and new financing mechanisms, the global community has the opportunity to have an even greater impact and save more lives.

View the letter at http://www.gatesfoundation.org/annualletter

For a multimedia news package go to http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-room/Pages/news-market.aspx

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/]]> Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:15:00 +0100 http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61754 Politica e PA/Politics and Public Affairs, Altro/Miscellaneous, energia / Energy and Power, http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61746 global@prnewswire.co.uk (Soka Gakkai International)
Holding this summit on the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of these cities, and in the year of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, would bring home to world leaders the terrible destructive capacity of nuclear weapons and help ensure the necessary action toward their abolition, thereby marking the effective end of the nuclear weapons era.

In this year's proposal, titled "Human Security and Sustainability: Sharing Reverence for the Dignity of Life," Ikeda points to the possibility of a more hopeful phase in the struggle to realize a nuclear-free world, seeing signs of a tipping point where a "cascade" of governments will support adoption of a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC) to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons.

Ikeda, who has been engaged in the antinuclear movement since the late 1950s, strongly reaffirms his endorsement of the idea of an NWC, stating that we must take "the determination ... that humanity and nuclear weapons cannot coexist, and give it concrete form as a binding legal agreement expressing the shared conscience of humankind."

He calls for formation of an action group for an NWC, comprising supportive governments and NGOs, and urges that if arguments from the perspectives of human rights and sustainability are mustered alongside those from international humanitarian law, this will expand the groundswell of grassroots efforts pushing for nuclear weapons abolition.

Reflecting on the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, Ikeda urges Japan to make a rapid transition to energy policies not reliant on nuclear power generation, and to intensify its involvement in renewable energy technology and research, both domestically and to support efforts in developing countries. He calls for a strengthening of the global role of the IAEA in dealing with the impacts of nuclear power plant accidents and the decommissioning of obsolescent reactors.

Considering the suffering caused by an increasing prevalence of natural disasters around the world, Ikeda calls for responses to be centered on a human rights approach and proposes that UNHCR's mandate be officially expanded to include provision of relief for people displaced by such disasters. He also stresses the importance of empowering women to play a greater role in disaster prevention, mitigation and recovery efforts.

Toward the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development being held this year in Rio de Janeiro, Ikeda calls for a broader debate on the concept of Sustainable Development Goals to follow the Millennium Development Goals from 2015. He urges a comprehensive approach that will address the full range of sustainability and human security concerns in both developing and developed countries.

Read a synopsis of the proposal at: http://www.sgi.org/sgipresident/proposals/peace/2012.html

Daisaku Ikeda, 84, has issued proposals analyzing the key issues facing humankind on January 26 every year since 1983, commemorating SGI's founding on that date in 1975. He offers insight from a Buddhist perspective and makes concrete suggestions in a spirit of contribution to the global dialogue centered around the United Nations. Many of his proposals have borne fruit.

Soka Gakkai International is a socially engaged Buddhist association with over 12 million members around the world.]]> Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100 http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61746 Economia e Finanza/Economy and Finance, Politica e PA/Politics and Public Affairs, http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61747 global@prnewswire.co.uk (Worldwide News Ukraine)
Belarus, Hungary, Moldova and Slovakia became the largest importers of Ukrainian electricity in 2011 with the total share of 97.8 percent, according to RBK.ua. In 2011 Belarus imported 39.8 percent share of the total amount of energy exported by Ukraine. Hungary, Moldova, and Slovakia acquired 38.4, 10.3 and 9.2 percent of Ukrainian electricity respectively. Among others, Poland, Russia and Romania also import Ukrainian electricity.

Most of Ukrainian electric power in 2011 was produced at fuel-burning power plants - 92.6 billion kWh, nuclear power stations - 90.2 billion kWh and hydroelectric stations - 8.8 billion kWh.The State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine additionally estimated the five-time increase of energy production from the renewable sources - up to 1 billion kWh in 2012.

Notably, Ukraine plans to introduce the hydro-coal technology at its fuel-burning plants. The technology is a cleaner and cheaper alternative to expensive Russian gas. It would allow for the reduction of harmful emissions following international environmental standards, according to the Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Yuriy Boyko.

Since 2010 Ukraine began synchronizing its own energy system with the European one. This requires compliance with the standards of the Union for the Co-ordination of Transmission of Electricity. As part of this effort, Ukraine arranged for the construction of a new power line that was set to connect the Ukrainian and European ENTSO-E energy systems. In September 2011 Ukraine's NPC Ukrenergo signed a EUR 175 million agreement on the construction of a new power line on Europe's largest nuclear power station in Zaporizhzhya, Southern Ukraine.

Additionally, Ukraine changed its energy trading system in order to make its energy more easily accessible to foreign buyers. As a result, Ukraine's energy export experienced a significant increase of 52.5 percent in 2011 compared to 2.7 percent in 2010. Ukraine traditionally exports its energy to Belarus, Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, etc.]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:45:00 +0100 http://www.immediapress.it/sito/rss/gira.php?id=61747