Several large drug firms have announced big cuts to the amounts they charge for their vaccines in the developing world Some of the world’s leading pharmaceuticals companies have announced deep cuts in the price of vaccines for people in poor countries, in a move that will start to address a multibillion-dollar funding gap at the heart of the international effort to vaccinate children against killer diseases. GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Crucell and Sanofi-Aventis all offered new prices for vaccines that they supply to Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation body set up by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. GSK discounted by 67% a rotavirus vaccine, which protects against diarrhoea diseases that kill more than 500,000 children a year, and Merck also offered a deep discount on a rotavirus vaccine. Two other India-based firms Serum Institute and Panacea Biotec also offered vaccine price cuts. The price cuts won praise from aid agencies. But although they are likely to help save lives, they will only go a small way to help fill a $3.7bn (£2.2bn) shortfall that Gavi is facing. Helen Evans, Gavi’s interim chief executive, said: “These are promising offers that demonstrate industry commitment to work towards affordable and sustainable prices.” Save the Children’s chief executive, Justin Forsyth, called the big pharma initiative “a landmark move, potentially saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of children”. But he added: “It’s important that Gavi now uses this to spur other vaccine producers to reduce prices and work to foster greater competition amongst producers to drive prices down even further and help even more children.” Oxfam and Médecins sans Frontierès, whose doctors give vaccines in the field, blame the $3.7bn black hole in vaccine funds on a system in which Gavi bulk-buys vaccination programmes at unsustainable prices from western companies. David Cameron is hosting a funding conference in London next Monday, which Bill Gates is due to address. “At a time when Gavi is asking for more money, it is very important to look at these issues,” said Daniel Berman of MSF. He believes there should be more focus on basic vaccines, such as the very effective one against measles. “In some countries there is a failure of routine immunisation,” he said. Mohga Kamal-Yanni, Oxfam senior policy adviser, said: “Gavi’s funding of immunisation programmes makes a vital contribution to improving health in poor countries. We want to see this good work continue, but they could do so much more. The high prices Gavi currently pays for vaccines is one of the reasons behind the financial pressures it faces. Publishing the prices it pays for vaccines, and doing more to negotiate lower prices would drive down costs and ensure millions more people can be immunised against killer diseases such as hepatitis B, whooping cough and measles.” In the other price cuts announced, Serum and Panacea offered discounts on the price Gavi pays for pentavalent vaccines, which protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B. Crucell and Sanofi Pasteur said they would extend Gavi prices on pentavalent vaccines to 16 additional countries. Sanofi Pasteur also said this would also apply to its yellow fever vaccine and a rotavirus vaccine being developed by its Indian subsidiary Shantha. Vaccines and immunisation Health Pharmaceuticals industry Bill Gates GlaxoSmithKline Aid Hepatitis B Charities Sarah Boseley guardian.co.uk
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An 80-year-old model sounds like a fashion oxymoron, like stylish Crocs or flattering Spandex. But style icon Carmen Dell’Orefice proves that working the runway as an octogenarian is not only possible, but pretty darn fabulous. The veteran model, who celebrates her 80th birthday Friday, got her start on a cover of Vogue in 1947 at a mere 15 years old. Dell’Orefice went on to pose for photography legends like Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Cecil Beaton, and Norman Parkinson, creating some pretty iconic images in the process. She hasn’t stopped working since — while many a senior citizen is walking with a cane, the agelessly elegant Dell’Orefice continues to strut the runway in her signature white-haired glory, appearing for John Galliano in 2000, Hermès in 2004, and Alberta Ferretti just this year. Check out a handful of images of the woman often called “the world’s oldest working model.”
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Super 8 Official Trailer Elle Fanning at 2011 MTV MOVIE AWARDS Red Carpet Super 8 EXTENDED SNEAK PEEK MTV Movie Awards Exclusive lee_ryan_music says: Super 8 's Ryan Lee talks Steven Spielberg classicsIm still deathly …: At just 14-years-old, Ryan Lee landed th… http://bit.ly/jjobHA
Continue reading …Plodes RECH reDO Lawn Chair – Black Leather with White Stitching and Cherry Arms
June 6, 2011 No Comment
Type: Lawn & Patio Title: Plodes RECH reDO Lawn Chair – Black Leather with White Stitching and Cherry Arms See all customer reviews Product Description: Restored tube/lawn chair, stitched leather, hardwood. reDO is a limited edition redefinition of a soon to be extinct icon. The infamous aluminum tube web chair that society has taken for granted for so long are restored to accentuate their covertly true modern form.A stitched leather silhouette of the once web, new hardwood armrests, and mirror polished frame not only redefines the chairs physical presence, but also its identity. No longer bound by the outdoors and stereotypes, reDO is elevated to kin chairs with roots in Bauhaus modernism. Dimensions: 22.5″W x 24″D x 32″H. Features: Manufactured to the Highest Quality Available. Design is stylish and innovative. Satisfaction Ensured. Great Gift Idea. See the details
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University vice-chancellors warn banning nonviolent Islamists from addressing students will drive problem underground University vice-chancellors have warned the home secretary, Theresa May, that banning nonviolent Islamist “extremists” from speaking on college campuses is a simplistic solution that will drive the problem underground. The National Union of Students also told ministers “wild sensationalism” over claims about radicalisation on campuses would “only serve to unfairly demonise Muslim students”. They were reacting to May’s claim, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph , that universities have treated the issue of extremism with complacency. May told the paper: “I don’t think they have been sufficiently willing to recognise what can be happening on their campuses and the radicalisation that can take place. I think there is more that universities can do.” Downing Street has yet to confirm the final details of the revised counter-terrorism strategy known as Prevent , but an announcement of the policy is expected tomorrow. The Daily Mail reports that the much delayed update will identify 40 English universities where there could be a “particular risk” of radicalisation or recruitment on campus. The home secretary has particularly targeted groups associated with the Federation of Student Islamic Societies : “They need to be prepared to stand up and say that organisations that are extreme or support extremism, or have extremist speakers, should not be part of their grouping,” said May. But university vice-chancellors rejected the charge that they had been complacent, pointing to a report earlier this year that showed two-thirds of colleges had engaged with Prevent officers. Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK , told the BBC: “I simply don’t recognise this description of universities as being complacent about terrorism. The report that Universities UK published earlier this year showed the extent to which universities are engaging with the police and security services and working with student unions to deal with unlawful external speakers.” She said it was important to draw a distinction between speakers who expressed disagreeable views and speakers who were unlawful in terms of inciting violence or terrorism. “There is absolutely no place in universities for speakers who encourage violence or who in some way breach race relations legislation, whatever it may be: they should be stopped. But what we are talking about here is speakers whose views we may not agree with. They may express extreme views. We may find their views repulsive or offensive, but we say those views need to be expressed so that students may challenge these views. If we ban those speakers not only do we compromise freedom of speech in a significant way but we drive the whole issue underground, and that is not the way to deal with it.” Dandridge said bans would fail: “There is a complex and fine line to be drawn between unlawful speech that should be banned, and views that we do not agree with [but which] we have to challenge. There is no room for rhetoric for easy, simplistic solutions that will not work.” She was backed by the National Union of Students. The president, Aaron Porter, said: “Given that the law requires universities to provide freedom of speech, and the government refuses to ban the hardline group Hizb ut-Tahrir despite promises to do so, it appears irresponsible of Theresa May to try to shift the blame for nonviolent extremism on to universities or students. “Facing up to the challenges that nonviolent extremism brings to campus life requires careful support and guidance from government, not wild sensationalism that only serves to unfairly demonise Muslim students.” Higher education UK security and terrorism Islam Theresa May Alan Travis guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …University vice-chancellors warn banning nonviolent Islamists from addressing students will drive problem underground University vice-chancellors have warned the home secretary, Theresa May, that banning nonviolent Islamist “extremists” from speaking on college campuses is a simplistic solution that will drive the problem underground. The National Union of Students also told ministers “wild sensationalism” over claims about radicalisation on campuses would “only serve to unfairly demonise Muslim students”. They were reacting to May’s claim, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph , that universities have treated the issue of extremism with complacency. May told the paper: “I don’t think they have been sufficiently willing to recognise what can be happening on their campuses and the radicalisation that can take place. I think there is more that universities can do.” Downing Street has yet to confirm the final details of the revised counter-terrorism strategy known as Prevent , but an announcement of the policy is expected tomorrow. The Daily Mail reports that the much delayed update will identify 40 English universities where there could be a “particular risk” of radicalisation or recruitment on campus. The home secretary has particularly targeted groups associated with the Federation of Student Islamic Societies : “They need to be prepared to stand up and say that organisations that are extreme or support extremism, or have extremist speakers, should not be part of their grouping,” said May. But university vice-chancellors rejected the charge that they had been complacent, pointing to a report earlier this year that showed two-thirds of colleges had engaged with Prevent officers. Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK , told the BBC: “I simply don’t recognise this description of universities as being complacent about terrorism. The report that Universities UK published earlier this year showed the extent to which universities are engaging with the police and security services and working with student unions to deal with unlawful external speakers.” She said it was important to draw a distinction between speakers who expressed disagreeable views and speakers who were unlawful in terms of inciting violence or terrorism. “There is absolutely no place in universities for speakers who encourage violence or who in some way breach race relations legislation, whatever it may be: they should be stopped. But what we are talking about here is speakers whose views we may not agree with. They may express extreme views. We may find their views repulsive or offensive, but we say those views need to be expressed so that students may challenge these views. If we ban those speakers not only do we compromise freedom of speech in a significant way but we drive the whole issue underground, and that is not the way to deal with it.” Dandridge said bans would fail: “There is a complex and fine line to be drawn between unlawful speech that should be banned, and views that we do not agree with [but which] we have to challenge. There is no room for rhetoric for easy, simplistic solutions that will not work.” She was backed by the National Union of Students. The president, Aaron Porter, said: “Given that the law requires universities to provide freedom of speech, and the government refuses to ban the hardline group Hizb ut-Tahrir despite promises to do so, it appears irresponsible of Theresa May to try to shift the blame for nonviolent extremism on to universities or students. “Facing up to the challenges that nonviolent extremism brings to campus life requires careful support and guidance from government, not wild sensationalism that only serves to unfairly demonise Muslim students.” Higher education UK security and terrorism Islam Theresa May Alan Travis guardian.co.uk
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Business secretary heckled as he tells GMB conference that widespread action would increase pressure for tightening of anti-strike laws The business secretary, Vince Cable, was booed and heckled as he warned unions that widespread industrial action over spending cuts could ratchet up pressure on the government to make it harder for workers to strike. Cable’s comments – backed by the chancellor, George Osborne – prompted a furious reaction from union leaders, who accused the government of issuing “veiled threats” to deny workers the basic right to strike by tightening what they say is already among the developed world’s toughest strike legislation. The Liberal Democrat minister gave a keynote address to the GMB’s annual conference in Brighton, in which he laid out the government’s desire to have a “mature relationship” with trade unions. But he warned the “usual suspects” calling for general strikes and widespread disruption in response to the cuts. Cable told the conference there was currently no “compelling” reason to reform the laws – an action some rightwingers, including the London mayor, Boris Johnson, have called for. However, he said this could change if a wave of strikes caused “serious damage” to the country’s economic and social fabric. It was the first explicit acknowledgment by a coalition minister that the government could legislate to prevent widespread strikes. Other ministers refrained amid fears of increasing tensions at a crucial point in talks designed to avoid a mass walkout across the public sector. Cable said: “Later this month, we may very well witness a day of industrial action across significant parts of the public sector. “The usual suspects will call for general strikes and widespread disruption. This will excite the usual media comments about a summer or an autumn of discontent, and another group of the usual suspects will exploit the situation to call for the tightening of strike law. “We are undoubtedly entering a difficult period. Cool heads will be required all round. Despite occasional blips, I know that strike levels remain historically low, especially in the private sector. On that basis, and assuming this pattern continues, the case for changing strike law is not compelling. “However, should the position change … the pressure on us to act would ratchet up. That is something which both you, and certainly I, would wish to avoid.” The minister’s trailed comments had been endorsed by Osborne as “absolutely right” earlier in the day. “Vince Cable … speaks for the government, of course, and I agree with him,” the chancellor told the BBC News Channel. “Of course we want a constructive relationship with the public sector unions. We have got important negotiations under way, for instance on pensions. What Vince is saying is if we go into a cycle of destructive strikes we would have to think again – but let’s hope we don’t get there.” Sarah Veale, the TUC’s head of equalities and employment rights, said: “The UK already has some of the toughest strike legislation in the developed world, so there is no justification for further curbs, as the minister himself acknowledges. “Restricting the right to withhold labour would also be completely at odds with the coalition’s commitment to civil liberties. Disputes are always better settled through negotiation with unions, rather than veiled threats to rig the law in the employers’ favour.” Mark Serwotka, the leader of the Public and Commercial Services union, said: “The right to strike is a basic human right. “Public sector workers are currently facing unprecedented ideological attacks on their jobs, pensions, pay and conditions which will throw the economy into further recession. “This government, and the bankers who caused the economic crisis, are inflicting the greatest damage to our economic and social fabric by cutting public sector jobs, axing vital services and attacking communities.” The Unite leader, Len McCluskey, accused Cable of cracking down on workers’ human rights, saying: “It is no coincidence that the government is engineering this fight now. All eyes have been on our comatose economy and the government’s colossal failure to address this. “Talking tough about cracking down on working people is a circus engineered by a government that is clueless about the real problems facing this country – how do we breathe life back into our shops, businesses and high streets and how do we get the millions on the dole back to work?” Cable’s comment about the “usual suspects” calling for legislation to be strengthened appeared to be aimed at Johnson, who critics say is pressing the government to beef up anti-strike laws because of his failure to make progress on a no-strike agreement with London’s tube unions. Johnson has called for a legislative change that would only allow strikes to go ahead if supported by a majority vote of a union’s membership rather than only those opting to take part in a ballot. Talks with the unions to negotiate a new pension deal for state employees – the only issue all the public sector unions have in common, and therefore the only one in which they could launch joint industrial action – are ongoing. It is understood the discussions are making little headway, with ministers refusing to back down on increasing workers’ contributions. Other unions representing up to six million public sector workers could then edge towards industrial action. One breakaway group of unions representing 500,000 state employees – including the PCS civil service union and some of the teaching unions – is currently preparing to strike on 30 June. Schools, courts, ports and Whitehall could all come to a standstill. The developments come amid warnings over the government’s economic strategy, with a group of leading economists calling for a “plan B” alternative to the coalition’s spending cuts Osborne insisted there was no need for a plan B and said his austerity measures would provide credibility and stability for the UK economy. Vince Cable Trade unions George Osborne Economic policy Liberal-Conservative coalition Public sector cuts Public services policy Public finance Public sector pay Hélène Mulholland Polly Curtis guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Business secretary heckled as he tells GMB conference that widespread action would increase pressure for tightening of anti-strike laws The business secretary, Vince Cable, was booed and heckled as he warned unions that widespread industrial action over spending cuts could ratchet up pressure on the government to make it harder for workers to strike. Cable’s comments – backed by the chancellor, George Osborne – prompted a furious reaction from union leaders, who accused the government of issuing “veiled threats” to deny workers the basic right to strike by tightening what they say is already among the developed world’s toughest strike legislation. The Liberal Democrat minister gave a keynote address to the GMB’s annual conference in Brighton, in which he laid out the government’s desire to have a “mature relationship” with trade unions. But he warned the “usual suspects” calling for general strikes and widespread disruption in response to the cuts. Cable told the conference there was currently no “compelling” reason to reform the laws – an action some rightwingers, including the London mayor, Boris Johnson, have called for. However, he said this could change if a wave of strikes caused “serious damage” to the country’s economic and social fabric. It was the first explicit acknowledgment by a coalition minister that the government could legislate to prevent widespread strikes. Other ministers refrained amid fears of increasing tensions at a crucial point in talks designed to avoid a mass walkout across the public sector. Cable said: “Later this month, we may very well witness a day of industrial action across significant parts of the public sector. “The usual suspects will call for general strikes and widespread disruption. This will excite the usual media comments about a summer or an autumn of discontent, and another group of the usual suspects will exploit the situation to call for the tightening of strike law. “We are undoubtedly entering a difficult period. Cool heads will be required all round. Despite occasional blips, I know that strike levels remain historically low, especially in the private sector. On that basis, and assuming this pattern continues, the case for changing strike law is not compelling. “However, should the position change … the pressure on us to act would ratchet up. That is something which both you, and certainly I, would wish to avoid.” The minister’s trailed comments had been endorsed by Osborne as “absolutely right” earlier in the day. “Vince Cable … speaks for the government, of course, and I agree with him,” the chancellor told the BBC News Channel. “Of course we want a constructive relationship with the public sector unions. We have got important negotiations under way, for instance on pensions. What Vince is saying is if we go into a cycle of destructive strikes we would have to think again – but let’s hope we don’t get there.” Sarah Veale, the TUC’s head of equalities and employment rights, said: “The UK already has some of the toughest strike legislation in the developed world, so there is no justification for further curbs, as the minister himself acknowledges. “Restricting the right to withhold labour would also be completely at odds with the coalition’s commitment to civil liberties. Disputes are always better settled through negotiation with unions, rather than veiled threats to rig the law in the employers’ favour.” Mark Serwotka, the leader of the Public and Commercial Services union, said: “The right to strike is a basic human right. “Public sector workers are currently facing unprecedented ideological attacks on their jobs, pensions, pay and conditions which will throw the economy into further recession. “This government, and the bankers who caused the economic crisis, are inflicting the greatest damage to our economic and social fabric by cutting public sector jobs, axing vital services and attacking communities.” The Unite leader, Len McCluskey, accused Cable of cracking down on workers’ human rights, saying: “It is no coincidence that the government is engineering this fight now. All eyes have been on our comatose economy and the government’s colossal failure to address this. “Talking tough about cracking down on working people is a circus engineered by a government that is clueless about the real problems facing this country – how do we breathe life back into our shops, businesses and high streets and how do we get the millions on the dole back to work?” Cable’s comment about the “usual suspects” calling for legislation to be strengthened appeared to be aimed at Johnson, who critics say is pressing the government to beef up anti-strike laws because of his failure to make progress on a no-strike agreement with London’s tube unions. Johnson has called for a legislative change that would only allow strikes to go ahead if supported by a majority vote of a union’s membership rather than only those opting to take part in a ballot. Talks with the unions to negotiate a new pension deal for state employees – the only issue all the public sector unions have in common, and therefore the only one in which they could launch joint industrial action – are ongoing. It is understood the discussions are making little headway, with ministers refusing to back down on increasing workers’ contributions. Other unions representing up to six million public sector workers could then edge towards industrial action. One breakaway group of unions representing 500,000 state employees – including the PCS civil service union and some of the teaching unions – is currently preparing to strike on 30 June. Schools, courts, ports and Whitehall could all come to a standstill. The developments come amid warnings over the government’s economic strategy, with a group of leading economists calling for a “plan B” alternative to the coalition’s spending cuts Osborne insisted there was no need for a plan B and said his austerity measures would provide credibility and stability for the UK economy. Vince Cable Trade unions George Osborne Economic policy Liberal-Conservative coalition Public sector cuts Public services policy Public finance Public sector pay Hélène Mulholland Polly Curtis guardian.co.uk
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Michelle Obama made a pair of appearances on Thursday. At the unveiling of the Food Plate in the morning, she stepped out in a striped and silver-skirted Peter Som dress that she previously wore to christen a Coast Guard ship last summer. We’d love to get the name of her dry cleaner! In the evening, she attended the Pritzker Architecture Prize Event, in a long, blue, halter gown by Reed Krakoff paired with a Lucite bracelet and drop earrings. Take a look.
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Michelle Obama made a pair of appearances on Thursday. At the unveiling of the Food Plate in the morning, she stepped out in a striped and silver-skirted Peter Som dress that she previously wore to christen a Coast Guard ship last summer. We’d love to get the name of her dry cleaner! In the evening, she attended the Pritzker Architecture Prize Event, in a long, blue, halter gown by Reed Krakoff paired with a Lucite bracelet and drop earrings. Take a look.
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