Mark Kelly retires from Navy to be with Giffords (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? Captain Mark Kelly, the astronaut who commanded the final Space Shuttle Endeavour flight, will retire from the Navy and NASA to focus on his wife Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' recovery and work on a memoir with her.

"I want to be by her side. Stepping aside from my work in the Navy and at NASA will allow me to be with her and with my two daughters," Kelly said in a statement posted to his Facebook page on Tuesday.

Giffords is recovering after being shot through the head at a Congressional outreach event in Tucson on January 8.

The as-yet untitled memoir will be published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, which said in a statement it will be a "deeply personal account" of the couple's courtship, Giffords' career in politics and the shooting.

It also will tell the story of her recovery process and trace Kelly's career from decorated Desert Storm combat pilot to his recent mission as shuttle commander, the statement said.

Jeffrey Zaslow, an author and Wall Street Journal columnist, will collaborate on the book, Scribner said.

Zaslow co-wrote "Highest Duty" by pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who safely landed a US Airways jet in the Hudson River in January 2009.

A publication date for the memoir has not been set. Scribner said a portion of the net proceeds will go to charity in Tucson and Arizona.

"Gabby and I are forever grateful for the heartfelt support we've received over these many months. We are looking forward to sharing our story," said Kelly in the Scribner statement.

Kelly said he would retire on October 1. He said he hoped to serve the country again in the future.

(Reporting by Wendell Marsh; Additional reporting by Tim Gaynor in Tucson and Ellen Wulfhorst in New York; Editing by Jerry Norton)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110621/lf_nm_life/us_giffords_kelly_retirement

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Catching a Wave of Appreciation in the Riviera Maya Real Estate ...

Catching a Wave of Appreciation in the Riviera Maya Real Estate Market

Article by Thomas Lloyd

The Riviera Maya and Playa del Carmen real estate market have had some of the world?s most interesting growth rates and fascinating examples of regional trends. During the 1990?s the little village was known as the pier town where you grabbed the ferry to get to Cozumel. Now, during this decade, this little village has become more intertwined with the international business world, and consequently, adjustments to the real estate market have been witnessed from the direct effects of the world economic downturn. The loss of jobs and loss of corporate sales in the economies of the United States and Canada have reduced the number of buyers here in Mexico. The bankruptcy of several international banks on the world wide scene has also tightened the regulations on credits and the amount of available capital for investments. These and other economical occurrences have had a decrease effect on the demand here in the Riviera Maya market place, but interesting financing options for real estate buyers have also been introduced in greater varieties from bank institutions and creative transaction models from seller-financed sales are becoming more common. With economic turbulence, also comes opportunity. Surrounding yourself with regional-market-intelligent real estate experts is the first important step towards a safe Mexico real estate acquisition and profitable investment, and this recommendation is even more prudent during times of market adjustments.Back in the 1980s and 90s Playa del Carmen was not THE destination, it was the Pier village where you picked up the ferry in order to get to Cozumel. This soon changed as people began to notice Playa del Carmen?s beaches and its growing international community. European backpackers began frequenting the area and the 5th avenue began to make a name for itself. Hotels and investors began to notice the potential of the area quite quickly. Hotel room inventories grew from 10,000 units up to 15,000 ? 20,000 by the later 1990s. Today, the Riviera Maya hotels have more rooms than Cancun. With the tremendous growth in various industries in Playa del Carmen, the population boom began and the real estate market began taking off. Over the past five years, Playa del Carmen has been one of Mexico?s strongest appreciation markets with returns in the double digits. During the first years of the 2000 decade, many investors would purchase pre construction condo units and sell them 8 or 12 months later with 30% or more appreciation. It was a boom all over the coast. In the middle of this decade, it was quite common to hear buyers comment, ?I should have bought that property 2 years ago when I first saw it!? These observations from the buying market in 2006-2008 were also accompanied by a decline on the appreciation rates. Each year, as the price per square meter crept upwards, the rate of appreciation began losing some steam as the world economic engine began skipping some beats. 2008 and spring of 2009 brought a unique occurrence to this regional marketplace. The recession from the northern neighbors brought its first effects onto the Riviera Maya market place and in the Mexico real estate industry. The appreciation rates had flattened and begun to drop slightly. Large amounts? NO, but very interesting amounts. Some people like to say that the glass is half empty; but not the smart investor. The current scenario in Riviera Maya presents some fantastic opportunities for the investor who is open to options from professional and market-intelligent real estate experts. Financially leveraging off of the property is becoming more common when purchasing real estate here in Mexico. Large multi-national banking institutions that weathered the fall out of the financial crises remain in the market offering their mortgage products to non-Mexicans buying properties in this country. Some of these lenders have made recent adjustments to their requirements such as lowering the LTV ration from 70% downwards to 65%. Also the FICO scores might have increased in the spring of 2009 in order to reduce risks and to approach this year slightly more conservatively. If qualified, these financing options can create some interesting opportunities for investors ready to take advantage of market pricing that is adjusting downward. Developer and home owner financing options are increasing as well. Some of these home owner deals can be very attractive with interest rates equal or quite similar to the rates commonly seen from our home countries. However, such offers need close professional review of the conditions in order to protect monies, to protect the property, and to protect all parties involved in such transactions between non-financial entities. Certain contracts and bank trusts can be established giving ample protection and security to both the buyer and seller allowing for immediate physical possession while a percentage of the commercial value of the property remains outstanding. Many people feel that the time to invest into the Riviera Maya market has passed and it is too risky given the world economic conditions. However, this is an interesting period for investment with high potential, if you are able to hedge yourself with qualified and top experienced advise. In fact, when reviewing the factors on some investment alternatives in the market it can be noted that 2009 is an even healthier market for investment purposes than the investment environment originally witnessed during the beginning of the years 2000. At the beginning of the Great Appreciation Boom of Playa del Carmen, there were still many risks in the market, there was the risk of new developers? lack of experience, risk of the poor reaction and acceptance of the buying market, risk of the unknown infrastructure development to support the construction growth. Today, investors have first hand, regional real estate history data. The market absorption and projections are based more on historical facts and data rather than a guessing game or correlating future results based on similar marketplaces from other regions. Risks within investment alternatives can also be managed with the assistance of a well chosen team of regional experts. Purchasing finished products, versus the unknown results of investing within a new construction might be an example of strategies to take advantage of the current market conditions. These first hand facts and historical results give you and your consultant better data to manage your investments and increase your probabilities of strong returns. The probabilities of continued long term growth are strong in favor of the real estate investor when purchasing properties in the Riviera Maya. Obviously there is a short term downturn. But as this article discusses, if you are able to surround yourself with TOP-knowledge and experienced advice, the summer of 2009 can present some incredible and unique real estate opportunities. For those who missed the appreciation wave of the early 2000s, this is your ?Second Chance? to enter into the market before the next wave.

About the Author

TOPMexicoRealEstate NETWORK; ?Mexico?s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!? Region: Playa del Carmen Real estate by Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years.

Source: http://clarewoodmercado.com/catching-a-wave-of-appreciation-in-the-riviera-maya-real-estate-market-2/

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Unison calls for sustained strike

Mr Prentis will say he is willing to negotiate but prepared to strike

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The UK's second largest union is preparing to strike over pension reform as it enters the first day of its annual conference on Tuesday.

In his opening speech, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis will confirm his willingness to negotiate, but also the plan to ballot members if talks fail.

"While we hope for the best, we prepare for the worst," said a spokeswoman for the union.

Negotiations with the government over pension reform resume on 27 June.

Some 2,000 delegates from Unison - which represents workers in healthcare, utilities, local government, police support and teaching - are meeting in Manchester over four days.

Other unions have announced plans to ballot on 30 June, however Unison says it would need more time to organise a vote among its 1.3 million members.

It was "now a case of when talks break down, not if they break down" said the Unison spokeswoman, following a speech in London by Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander on Friday that was described by unions as "highly inflammatory".

Mr Alexander accused the unions of spreading "scare stories" about planned reforms, which he claimed were "not an assault" on pensions.

He added that while he was prepared to discuss the detailed implementation of the proposals, the government would be sticking to the broad principles.

Meanwhile, Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has urged unions not to fall into a government "trap" by striking over plans to reform public sector pensions.

Danny Alexander: "I think that's a very fair and balanced offer"

Among the changes to public sector pensions that Unison objects to:

pension contributions will increase from 6% to an average 9% of paythe retirement age is to be extended to 66 for men and women by April 2020the inflation linkage of benefits will be switched from the retail prices index to the consumer prices index, which is typically lower

Besides pensions reform, the union also opposes the hundreds of thousands of job losses it expects to result from planned government spending cuts, and the public sector pay freeze, which comes at a time when inflation is running at 4.5%.

Motions to be considered by the conference include an explicit call for strike action over the "coalition's attack on public services".

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/business-13841252

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Jobs Bill Blocked in Senate

A Republican-led filibuster blocked a Senate jobs measure Tuesday, a month after the GOP halted a small-business bill in a dispute over allowing Republican amendments.

Just 49 Senators voted to end debate; 60 are needed. Four Democrats ? Sens. Tim Johnson (S.D.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.) ? joined 45 Republicans to oppose ending debate, and no Republicans voted in support.

The Economic Development Administration reauthorization bill had become bogged down with more than 90 amendments filed on it, the vast majority of which having nothing to do with the underlying bill.

For example, an amendment that would eliminate the 45-cents-a-gallon ethanol tax subsidy and a 54-cent tariff on imported ethanol was approved 73-27 last week, even though revenue provisions must originate in the House. The provision could still be attached to a future House bill.

Democratic leaders have grown increasingly frustrated over the stalled legislation and are portraying the Republicans as obstructionists who don?t care about the unemployed. The Democrats plan to hold a news event Wednesday to call for the inclusion of job-creation measures in the deficit reduction deal being hammered out under Vice President Joseph Biden.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), meanwhile, said Tuesday that he was making progress toward moving to a bill that would eliminate 400 positions from Senate confirmation requirements.

Source: http://www.rollcall.com/news/jobs_bill_blocked_senate-206690-1.html

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Rest peacefully post-retirement with house equity release plans

Everybody remains worried for their retired life, particularly from the viewpoint of finances. In most of the places, pensions are given out on retirement to the senior citizens so that they can sustain themselves. But the amount of pension is so frugal that it becomes really difficult for them to survive in that. There are very few people, who plan their retirement from the very early phases by investing in various retirement schemes, so that they have a peaceful and financially stable post-retirement life. But for people who do not invest in such plans, life becomes really difficult. For such senior citizens, house equity release plans or equity mortgage release plans can help in getting some ready cash, which they can use for various purposes.

For house equity release plans, there are certain conditions that have to be fulfilled by the senior citizens.

They have to be minimum 60 years of age (senior citizens), should own a property of their own and there should be no outstanding mortgages on the property. On satisfying all these conditions, one is eligible for opting a house equity release plan. The best part about this plan is that even after lending out your house, you are allowed to stay in the house till your death. On lending out your house, you are either given lump sum amount of money one time or you can also take monthly installment payments that will help you in meeting your monthly needs. This is a great plan for retired people as they get some ready cash in their hands every month.

Equity mortgage release is also a kind of house equity release scheme. There is an advantage of this scheme that it is age dependent.

This scheme is applicable for people who are 55 years of age or older. More the age of the person, more will he be able to release equity of his home. This means that he will be able to release a higher value of equity from his home. The property whose equity is being released should be in proper condition and should have a minimum valuation of ?75,000 or more. In this scheme also, the senior citizens will receive either lump sum amount at one time or can choose for monthly installment payments.

Senior citizens are often confused with such plans and schemes and cannot decide as which plan is best for them or which plan would be able to meet their requirements. They get confused between a house equity release plan and an equity mortgage release plan. In such cases, it is best to get help and assistance from a professional financial advisor. He will guide the senior citizens regarding the best plans that will give them maximum benefit and security. He can also explain to them the pros and cons of such plans and how one plan is better than the other. He might also guide them as which insurance company to approach for investing in such schemes. Investing with the proper investment company can give them a peaceful retired life.

Source: http://business.ezinemark.com/rest-peacefully-post-retirement-with-house-equity-release-plans-7d2f1c6408c1.html

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JCB plans ?20m of UK investment

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Staffordshire firm JCB has said it will invest £20m in its UK factories over the coming year.

The firm, based in Rocester, made the announcement as it marks its 65th anniversary.

A spokesman said the money would be spread amongst its 11 UK plants and will be used to buy more equipment and recruit 50 staff.

It said demand from countries such as Brazil, Russia and India, where construction is growing, had surged.

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-13846677

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