Media Release June 27, 2012 1

2012 Farm Managers Program winner announced the road forward

Increased personal development and self-investment has paid dividends for Australian farmer Ben Jarvis winner of Rabobanks prestigious 2012 Farm Managers Program business development award.

Ben was awarded for his presentation of his personal development and business plan where he proved that by investing in himself as well as improving his business management practices his farming operation benefited.

Mr Jarvis said his experiences undertaking the program were life-changing.

The Program reinforced how important it is to set and maintain your goals on the personal side of things and the business side, Ben said.

By tweaking a few things, changing my approach towards certain things, I had really started to notice how the small things can make a difference.

I really applied myself to develop a business management plan aimed at reducing costs, increasing efficiencies and reducing debt and these actions generated some surprising outcomes.

The Rabobank Farm Managers Program is a business management course designed to develop the operational and strategic business skills of young farmers who represent the next generation of leading farm business owners. Now in its seventh year, the 2012 Program was held in Brisbane this month, attended by 35 participants from both islands of New Zealand and all states of Australia and representing a wide range of agricultural commodities.

Ben is one of the managers of Liberty Fields, located in Monto, Queensland in north-eastern Australia. His family business runs a 500 sow piggery and farms 200 hectares of irrigated crops and 200 hectares dry land.

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2012 Farm Managers Program winner announced

INCREASED personal development and self-investment has paid dividends for Central Queensland farmer Ben Jarvis winner of Rabobanks prestigious 2012 Farm Managers Program business development award.

Ben was awarded for his presentation of his personal development and business plan where he proved that by investing in himself as well as improving his business management practices his farming operation benefited.

Mr Jarvis said his experiences undertaking the program were life-changing.

The Program reinforced how important it is to set and maintain your goals on the personal side of things and the business side, Ben said.

By tweaking a few things, changing my approach towards certain things, I had really started to notice how the small things can make a difference.

I really applied myself to develop a business management plan aimed at reducing costs, increasing efficiencies and reducing debt and these actions generated some surprising outcomes.

The Rabobank Farm Managers Program is a business management course designed to develop the operational and strategic business skills of young farmers who represent the next generation of leading farm business owners. Now in its seventh year, the 2012 Program was held in Brisbane this month, attended by 35 participants from both islands of New Zealand and all states of Australia and representing a wide range of agricultural commodities.

Ben is one of the managers of Liberty Fields, located in Monto, Queensland. His family business runs a 500 sow piggery and farms 200 hectares of irrigated crops and 200 hectares dry land.

After meeting his wife Kylie, Ben moved back to Monto in 2004 and bought into the family business. Bens project is his account of the changes he has made to his farming and family life since returning from last years Farm Managers Program. He developed a personal development plan taking into account his mental and physical health, marriage and children, family and business and personal wealth.

I really found some self assurance and confidence in what were doing with our business knowing were on the right track, Ben said.

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CQ farmer wins Rabo award

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, stating that his personal views on the Athirapally project or the Western Ghats had not changed, said the report submitted by the Madhav Gadgil-led Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel was balanced and detailed as well.

Talking to the media here on Monday, Mr. Ramesh said though he had nothing to do with Athirapally now since the Environment and Forests portfolio was not anymore with him, his views on the issue had not changed and that he believed the Gadgil panel to have done an outstanding job.

When pointed out that Kerala and other States had opposed the proposals in the report of the panel, with Kerala having already written to the Centre rejecting the proposals, Mr. Ramesh said he knew many States were not happy with the report and that he did not know why they were opposing it.

The Union Minister said Madhav Gadgil was appointed deliberately to lead the panel after a lot of thought, because he was a sensible person. State governments would have their own views, these would be discussed and the choices would be made.

One has to take a call. It is for the States and the Centre to sit and talk it out. The report should not go into the dustbin. Once again, let me repeat that these are my personal views that are expressed publicly, he said.

I hope the Government will listen to the people on Athirapally, because there are many from the public too who are against the project, he added.

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Gadgil report balanced, says Jairam Ramesh

At the Museo del Riparmioin Turin, Italy, y ou won't find fine art, prehistoric remains or artifacts from past civilizations. This museum is all about personal finance.

The goal of the museum is to distill complex financial subjects (hello, retirment planning!) in a fun and engaging way that appeals to grown-ups and kids. The exhibits are highly interactive, and from what we can tell, it looks pretty awesome.

The museum is sectioned into five different rooms. Here's a run down of what you'll find once you get there:

Know

Your first stop in the museum is a history lesson. But this isn't dullsville. The 'Know' room functions much like a timeline, taking you from the development of money in ancient civilizations all the way through the to current global financial system.

Tell

Here, Dante, Moliere, Shakespeare and Hemingway all stop by to tell guests about their personal triumphs and failures with money. They'll also discuss their assets, debt, savings, greed, usury, and loans.

Dream

In this area, visitors get to kick back and watch popular movies revolving around money. Think of it like a course in financial pop culture.

Learn

The rest is here:
This Personal Finance Museum Actually Looks Like It's Fun

LONDON, June 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

With more accidents on the road, work related accidents and slips, trips and falls being reported than ever before, the Accident Advice Helpline has revealed the 6 top tips to help victims successfully make Personal Injury Claims.

1. Write everything down

For victims of accidents, it is important to keep as much information as possible. Claimants need to get the names and addresses of everyone who was involved in the accident, including any witnesses. If the victim is incapacitated to the point that they cannot do this for themselves, then someone else needs to take control of the situation and get these details written down.

Keeping a note of all medical appointments attended, diagnoses, prescribed medication and details of all symptoms will also help in pursuing personal injury claims. It can be a good idea to start a diary or journal, noting down events of importance or the development of new symptoms when they happen.

2. Take photos where possible

It is said that a picture tells a thousand words, and never has that been truer than in the world of personal injury claims law. A few years ago, it would have been very unusual to expect the prosecution to be able to produce photographs of a vehicle collision, a poorly maintained pavement that caused a trip or other pictorial evidence to support their case. However, with so many people owning mobile phones with cameras on board these days, it is easier than ever for people to snap a picture of the situation as it happens. Victims with photographic evidence will find the defence has far less room for manoeuvre and therefore their claim can be processed much more quickly and smoothly than it would without the images.

3. Keep everything in a folder or file

If there is one thing that the Accident Advice Helpline has learned through its years of involvement in the personal injury claims industry, it is that these processes are easier if you stay organised. With this in mind, its' a good idea to start a file or folder for your personal injury claim as early on as possible. Even if the victim doesn't file things in any sort of order, just having all the necessary paperwork in one place will inevitably take the stress out of making a claim.

4. Prove it

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Top Tips When Making Personal Injury Claims

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -06/21/12)- Ernst & Young LLP has announced that Ron Moelis, CEO of L+M Development Partners (L+M), a leader in developing quality affordable, mixed-income and market rate housing, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Award in the Real Estate and Construction category in New York. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Moelis was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special gala on June 19, 2012 at the Marriott Marquis.

"It's an honor to receive this influential award, and we appreciate Ernst & Young's recognition of social impact business in the category of Real Estate and Construction," said Ron Moelis, co-founder and CEO of L+M Development Partners. "L+M is a double bottom line firm, where our success is measured not only in financial returns but also by the positive impact we make. This recognition belongs to the nearly 200 L+M employees, each of whom are owners in the company and truly share our mission to make investments in communities most in need of high-quality affordable and mixed-income homes." L+M, which was co-founded in 1984 by Ron Moelis and Sandy Loewentheil, is responsible for more than $2 billion in development and construction and has worked with community, government and investment partners to build over 10,000 units in the tri-state area.

Now in its 26th year, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com, Michael Dell of Dell Inc., Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines, Fred Smith of FedEx, Larry Page and Sergey Brin of Google, Richard Schulze of Best Buy, Andrew Mason of Groupon, Mindy Grossman of HSN, Inc., Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn, and many more.

As a New York award winner, Moelis is now eligible for consideration for the National Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Award. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the National Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 17, 2012. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

SponsorsFounded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the United States by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

In New York sponsors include Marsh, HSBC, Scherzer International, Merrill Corporation, SolomonEdwardsGroup, Empire Valuation Consultants, WithumSmith +Brown, Murray Devine, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, DLA Piper and Cooley.

About L+M Development PartnersSince 1984, L+M Development Partners has been an innovator in developing quality affordable, mixed-income and market rate housing, while improving the neighborhoods in which it works. A full-service firm, L+M works from conception to completion, handling development, construction and management with creativity that leads the industry. L+M is responsible for more than $2 billion in development and construction and has created more than 10,000 high-quality units in the tri-state area alone. Community leaders, government officials and investment organizations turn to L+M because of its consistent track record of excellence.

L+M is a double bottom line company, where its success is measured not only in financial returns but also by the positive impact it makes. L+M takes pride in its long-standing dedication to the communities it serves, demonstrated through an annual scholarship fund, job training programs and substantial support for local nonprofits. L+M brings a superior level of commitment to its investments in developments, and equally important, to its investment in people. Additional information can be found at http://www.lmdevpartners.com.

About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries.

About Ernst & YoungErnst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 152,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

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Ernst & Young Announces L+M Development Partners CEO Ron Moelis Is the Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2012 Award Winner ...

Thursday, 21 June 2012 10:39

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has allowed banks/Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to assign clean credit card and personal loan limits up to Rs5 million to their "prime customers".

The higher clean limit facility has been provided to banks/DFIs with a view to providing flexible treatment to their prime customers. However, aggregate exposure of banks/DFIs in respect of prime customers, has been capped at up to 20 percent of the total exposure on account of credit cards and personal loans, says a circular issued to the Presidents/Chief Executive Officers of all banks and DFIs on Wednesday.

In view of this facility to prime customers, the following paragraph has been added after paragraph 3 of Regulation R-7 of Prudential Regulations for Consumer Financing:

"Banks/DFIs may assign clean credit card and personal loan limits up to Rs 5,000,000 (aggregate from all banks/DFIs) to their prime customers subject to the condition that the aggregate clean limit assigned to one prime customer on account of personal loan should not exceed Rs2,000,000. The banks/DFIs shall put in place comprehensive criteria defining "Prime Customer" on the basis of, inter alia, track record, credit worthiness and financial position, duly approved by their Board of Directors. The banks/DFIs are also encouraged to set internal limits for such clean financing to prime customers keeping in view their risk appetite and other factors. However, aggregate exposure on prime customers should not exceed 20 percent of the total exposure of the respective portfolio i.e 80 percent exposure on account of credit cards and personal loans (separately) should comply with the limits prescribed for regular customers. Further, robust mechanism for risk profiling and risk mitigation should also be adopted for this purpose."

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Banks/DFIs allowed to assign up to Rs5mn limit

Do you ever find yourself staring at web comics or news sites (or even blogs on personal development) when youre supposed to be working? Sure. We all do, right?

We all lack focus at times especially if were struggling with a hard or boring task. And with computers / tablets / phones close to hand, weve got a world of distractions at our fingertips.

Dont feel bad if you dont always concentrate as well as youd like. Staying focused takes effort, and practice but by following these steps, you can hugely increase your chances of having a productive day.

Step #1: Get Clear About Your Immediate Goal Whatever youre working on, you should have some sort of end goal: you need to know once youre done with your current task.

All too often, though, we work a bit aimlessly perhaps checking emails, then filing some papers, then typing a few words on that dull report, then answering a couple of emails, and so on.

Each time you switch to a new task, write down in a few words what youre aiming to accomplish. For instance:

and so on. This is an efficient way of working: instead of splitting your focus between a bunch of different things, youll be concentrating on one task at a time. Youll also have a clear end point in sight which is great for motivation.

Step #2: Close Down Any Distractions There are two types of event that throw you off-task when youre working: interruptions and distractions.

You cant always do much about interruptions. These are external events, like your phone ringing, or a colleague dropping by to ask a question. (You might want to let your phone go to voicemail, though, or put on headphones to prevent people striking up a casual conversation.)

Distractions, though, are under your control even if it doesnt always feel that way! A distraction is the urge to check your email, or to see whether your favorite web comic has been updated and so on.

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How To Stay Focused When You’re Tempted To Slack Off – In 3 Simple Steps

ScienceDaily (June 19, 2012) Exposure to common antibacterial chemicals and preservatives found in soap, toothpaste, mouthwash and other personal-care products may make children more prone to a wide range of food and environmental allergies, according to new research from Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

Results of the NIH-funded study are published online ahead of print June 18 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Using existing data from a national health survey of 860 children ages 6 to 18, Johns Hopkins researchers examined the relationship between a child's urinary levels of antibacterials and preservatives found in many personal-hygiene products and the presence of IgE antibodies in the child's blood. IgE antibodies are immune chemicals that rise in response to an allergen and are markedly elevated in people with allergies.

"We saw a link between level of exposure, measured by the amount of antimicrobial agents in the urine, and allergy risk, indicated by circulating antibodies to specific allergens," said lead investigator Jessica Savage, M.D., M.H.S., an allergy and immunology fellow at Hopkins.

The researchers caution that the findings do not demonstrate that antibacterials and preservatives themselves cause the allergies, but instead suggest that these agents play a role in immune system development.

The investigators say their findings are also consistent with the so-called hygiene hypothesis, which has recently gained traction as one possible explanation behind the growing rates of food and environmental allergies in the developed world. The hypothesis suggests that early childhood exposure to common pathogens is essential in building healthy immune responses. Lack of such exposure, according to the theory, can lead to an overactive immune system that misfires against harmless substances such as food proteins, pollen or pet dander.

"The link between allergy risk and antimicrobial exposure suggests that these agents may disrupt the delicate balance between beneficial and bad bacteria in the body and lead to immune system dysregulation, which in turn raises the risk of allergies," Savage added.

In the study, those with the highest urine levels of triclosan -- an antibacterial agent used in soaps, mouthwash and toothpaste -- had the highest levels of food IgE antibodies, and therefore the highest allergy risk, compared with children with the lowest triclosan levels. Children with the highest urinary levels of parabens -- preservatives with antimicrobial properties used in cosmetics, food and medications -- were more likely to have detectable levels of IgE antibodies to environmental allergens like pollen and pet dander, compared with those with low paraben levels.

The team initially zeroed in on seven ingredients previously shown to disrupt endocrine function in lab and animal studies. These compounds were bisphenol A -- found in plastics -- and triclosan, benzophenone-3 and propyl, methyl, butyl and ethyl parabens, found in personal-hygiene products and some foods and medications. Interestingly, triclosan and propyl and butyl parabens, all of which have antimicrobial properties, were the only ones associated with increased allergy risk in the current study, the researchers noted.

"This finding highlights the antimicrobial properties of these agents as a probable driving force behind their effect on the immune system," said senior investigator Corinne Keet, M.D., M.S., an allergist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

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Antibacterials in personal-care products linked to allergy risk in children

WATERFORD, Wis., June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Runzheimer International, the global leader in Total Employee Mobility solutions, announces the availability of Mobile Device Services (MDS) for Personal Devices, a "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) service that lets employees use their personal smart phones and tablets at work while ensuring device compliance, fair and accurate reimbursement, and preservation of privacy.

Runzheimer MDS for Personal Devices is a fresh approach to BYOD programs that allows employees to use their personal device for work without the need for intrusive device control. It helps organizations to establish and enforce standards for mobile devices and provides accurate reimbursement for business usage during work times pre-determined by the employer. The service gives employees the freedom to choose a mobile device that meets their personal needs and a reimbursement that fairly reflects their business costs in exchange for a commitment to comply with their organization's policy.

"Runzheimer MDS features a win-win for organizations and employees. Employees agree to remain compliant with company standards in exchange for an accurate and fair reimbursement of their business expenses. They are assured that their privacy is respected because Runzheimer is acting as the intermediary," said Matt DeWolf, Director of New Product Development. "In addition, it lets the employer implement a mobile device strategy across BYOD devices, which is nearly impossible with traditional stipend programs, and this allows companies to use their BYOD fleet as a competitive advantage."

About Runzheimer InternationalFounded in 1933, Runzheimer International serves 60 percent of the Fortune 500 and numerous government agencies. Recognized for providing innovative solutions relating to Total Employee Mobility, Runzheimer is the global leader in workforce mobility programs including business vehicles, business travel, corporate aircraft, employee relocation and compensation, and mobile device management. To learn more about Runzheimer Mobile Device Services for Personal Devices, visit http://runzheimer.com/runzheimer-mds-personal.

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New "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) Service Bridges Gap Between Employee Privacy and Employer Mobile Device Management