LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Market conditions for UK non-life insurers remain challenging as the difficult economic environment curbs demand for coverage and insurers can no longer rely on reserve releases to improve profitability, according to a new report from A.M. Best Co.

As investment returns remain low, insurers are coming under increasing pressure to focus on appropriate pricing, according to the report, Rates Rise, but Economic Conditions Place Pressure on Performance. Rates for general insurance personal lines have improved, although those for commercial lines are lagging.

The report examines how weak economic activity is impacting some lines of business to a greater extent than others. While compulsory products are somewhat insulated, policyholders are more likely to consider purchasing lower limits and increasing excesses for discretionary products such as contents insurance. Insurers dependent on trade volumes are also being negatively affected. A deep recession could lead to a further reduction in demand for insurance products.

Catherine Thomas, director, analytics said: Low investment returns and shrinking reserve releases are resulting in insurers having to focus increasingly on adequate pricing of risks. Modest rate increases have been achieved for most lines of business in 2011 and 2012, with the greatest rate increases occurring in the motor lines. However, appropriate pricing of risks is challenging as economic difficulties are suppressing demand for insurance products, while excess capacity is chasing what business is available.

The report looks closely at the UK motor, property and liability sectors and the impact of the severe flooding that occurred in June, July and September. Yvette Essen, report author and director of industry research, Europe and emerging markets, said: The UK property market has faced a difficult 2012. Prior to the 2012 floods, rates had experienced some upward pressure, although increases were modest. Rates are expected to gain further momentum post the floods, but to what extent remains to be seen. The level of weather-related losses is a key driver of performance in the property sector, and flood risk in particular is a major concern.

In terms of financial instability in the Eurozone, the report finds UK insurers are partially insulated as they tend to hold sterling investments to match their sterling liabilities. However, there is the potential for asset exposure as some UK insurers have subsidiaries within the Eurozone, while other UK insurers are subsidiaries of Eurozone companies. A significant deterioration in global financial markets remains a risk to UK non-life insurers.

The report states in addition to these challenges, UK non-life insurers continue to face uncertainty regarding the final specifications of Solvency II and the feasibility of the implementation target date of 1 January 2014.

To access a complimentary copy of this report, please visit http://www.ambest.com/press/101501uknonlifespecialreport.pdf.

To watch a video of Catherine Thomas discussing the report, please visit http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=uknonlife1012.

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A.M. Best Special Report: UK Non-Life: Rates Rise, but Economic Conditions Place Pressure on Performance

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The dynamic, all-new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid delivers more miles per gallon than any luxury vehicle in America with an EPA-certified 45 mpg across the board city, highway and combined.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121015/DE92667-a ) (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121015/DE92667-b ) (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121015/DE92667-c )

"The all-new MKZ Hybrid proves that thoughtful customers who prioritize fuel economy and reducing emissions do not need to compromise on luxury, driving quality or advanced technology," said Jim Farley, group vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service. "MKZ is our strongest proof yet on what the reinvented Lincoln stands for beautiful vehicles with compelling and warm experiences that create a clear alternative in today's increasingly competitive luxury marketplace."

EPA ratings put MKZ Hybrid ahead of its key competitors in the luxury midsize sedan market 5 mpg city and 6 mpg highway ahead of Lexus ES 300h; 18 mpg city and 13 mpg highway ahead of Infiniti M35h and 20 mpg city and 16 mpg highway ahead of BMW ActiveHybrid 3.

Additionally, the new MKZ Hybrid is 2 mpg city and 5 mpg better highway than the smaller Lexus CT 200h. The 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid also is more fuel efficient than Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles.

Lincoln is offering the new MKZ Hybrid at the same price as the equivalent non-hybrid model, giving luxury midsize sedan customers maximum choice as well as top fuel economy, true luxury sedan performance and superb value.

Lincoln was the first automaker to offer a premium hybrid vehicle with a suggested retail price matching its conventional-powered sibling.

Other competitors charge a premium for their hybrid models. The 2013 Lexus ES 300h, for example, is priced at $38,850, representing a $2,750 premium over the 2013 Lexus ES 350.

All hybrids are not available with all the options of their non-hybrid-powered models, but the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is. This provides the opportunity to tailor one's own MKZ Hybrid and make it a real personal statement.

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Lincoln MKZ Hybrid: America's Luxury MPG Leader Delivers Personal, Unique Experience

Ask your average Canadian their impression, right now, of this countrys indigenous people and their hopes for prosperity, stability and success in their communities. In all likelihood, you will hear about a story they read recently involving an aboriginal communitys struggle with housing, education, youth motivation or even a rising rate of suicide.

In pictures: A B.C. reserve school unlike any other

What you probably wont hear is an answer that demonstrates even a basic knowledge of Canadas indigenous peoples involvement in the economic growth of this country; the initiatives they have under way for preparing the large numbers of indigenous youth poised to enter Canadas labour force; or even the names of two or three aboriginal organizations achieving remarkable success with their enterprises.

Here at the Banff Centre, we have spent the past two years in an intensive investigation of just what makes an aboriginal community successful. What are the wise practices that lead to success? we asked as we set out with a team of applied researchers, shadowed by a video crew and a group of highly engaged and eager aboriginal youth, to visit enterprises operated by four indigenous communities in Alberta. The resulting case studies, the details of which are now available to any and all interested in learning from them, were developed from research and conversations with the Mikisew Group of Companies, Mtis Crossing, the Alberta Indian Investment Corp. (AIIC) and Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park.

Rocky Sinclair, a principal with the AIIC, headquartered just outside Edmonton, was one of the representatives from the research communities presenting at an international symposium that convened at the Banff Centre last month.

Mr. Sinclair shared the struggles and triumphs that the AIIC has encountered since its formation in 1987, as well as its numerical and personal markers of success. This developmental lender has provided more than 800 loans worth some $53-million to Albertas aboriginal start-up businesses. Even more powerful: Were seeing generational success were lending to the kids of people we loaned to 20 years ago, Mr. Sinclair said.

The success stories depicted in these case studies along with the positive, energetic and thoughtful dialogue of the symposium speakers and delegates from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand form a collective wisdom that we believe can and will help other indigenous leaders in shaping their communities futures.

The topic of youth and their involvement in the future success of aboriginal communities in Canada was never far from the top of the agenda at the symposium, with many speakers making note of the astounding potential for aboriginal youth to shape their communities and the countrys economic future. Canada cannot ignore the fact that more than 600,000 aboriginal youth will have entered the labour market between 2001 and 2026.

Roberta Jamieson, president and CEO of Indspire (formerly the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation), spoke about the creation and support of a positive future for aboriginal youth throughout her keynote speech at the symposium.

Canada cannot afford to squander the opportunity, she said, adding that it will take more than political will to advance the prospects of aboriginal youth. This is not a game to watch from the sidelines If its going to impact Indian people, Indian people have to lead it.

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Let’s hear more indigenous success stories

Inside Higher Ed has an interesting interview with Professors Kelly Ward (Washington State University) and Lisa Wolf-Wendel (University of Kansas) the authors of the new book Academic Motherhood: How Faculty Manage Work and Family. The whole thing is worth a read, including important points about how liberal arts colleges tend to be less family-friendly than research institutions because of their teaching loads and high expectations for campus involvement. I was glad to see research institutions were often places where structures and policies were in place to support families, and that those who work at community colleges tend to be the most satisfied.

But there is still a long way for all campuses to go, including my own.

Something that troubles me in the academic job rhetoric is how much personal agency matters to success: are you advocating for yourself, are you finding your own mentors, are you contesting a manuscript rejection, are you getting yourself invited for talks, are you negotiating properly for start-up? And in general, the mentoring I have received as a tenure-track professor has been framed as though its simply up to me to argue hard for myself and get everything I need. This doesnt help me navigate identify-specific issues like gendered or racial discrimination, or family duties. This kind of advice ignores the other side of the agency coin, and thats institution.

This is why I was thrilled to see this portion of the Ward and Wolf-Wendel interview:

Q: What are your top recommendations to institutions that want to be more supportive of academic parents?

A: Greater transparency! The biggest thing campuses need to do is not just have policies, but to, more importantly, let people know they can use the policies. We refer to this as a culture of use. Campuses need to make faculty aware of policies and let faculty know they can use those policies without fear of professional or personal retribution. This requires a cultural shift on behalf of all members of the campus, not just the faculty in need of the policy. Policies have to be known, easy to find, and useable.

.

Move away from making deals equitable policy environments grant all faculty access to policies. Success at navigating work and family should not just be a matter of personal agency.

Agency only gets you halfway to resolving a social problem (like support of families, racial inequality, etc). The other half has to be institution, by which I mean culture like Ward and Wolf-Wendels point about creating a culture of use and policy like parental leave that understands a parents need for more time in order to achieve at work when, for instance, there is a squalling newborn at home (not to mention potential health issues, recovery from childbirth, and other kinds of fun).

Universities need to stop allowing different departments to regulate their own minimums for parental leave and family support, hoping department heads will remember to throw in the occasional stopped clock or semester off from teaching for new parents (oh, the horror stories I have heard), and set a progressive standard. This will have a positive effect not only on faculty with families, but those without: the more support parents have, the less the burden of academic service will get put on those without children.

Excerpt from:
Personal Agency, My Arse: Policy, Not Agency, Needed to Improve Outcomes for Academic Parents

The state-of-the-art facility will focus on bringing new personal and home care innovations to the market.

Mumbai, Oct 15:

Global specialty chemical company Ashland today said it has set up a specialities technical research and development (R&D) centre in Mumbai to support producers of personal and home care products in India and southeast Asia.

The state-of-the-art facility will focus on bringing new personal and home care innovations to market and providing technical support that may be required to meet consumers rising expectations for higher-performing products in these regions, the company said in a statement.

With 15 per cent year-on-year growth in personal care expenditures, India is a market that increasingly requires the formulating expertise of our technical team.

This centre reflects our vision of aligning our R&D resources to support our customers innovation in personal and home care in this emerging market, John Panichella, Group operating officer said.

The facility is expected to cater to clients like Hindustan Unilever, P&G, Colgate Palmolive, LOreal, Godrej Consumer Products, Emami, Dabur India, Cavin Kare, Himalaya and Marico Industries among others, the release said.

By setting up a facility centre in Mumbai, the company plans to collaborate with marketers and manufacturers on new product innovations directed at consumer needs in the region, he said.

In addition, the technical team here will also provide preservative efficacy studies and general formulation support upon request. The centre will also serve as headquarters for key account managers in India and as a base of operations for distributor training and technical seminars, Panichella said.

This facility has dedicated formulation laboratories to hair, skin, oral and home care, controlled environment laboratories for measurement science to support claims substantiation and a microbiology laboratory for preservative optimisation and micro challenge test, the release said.

Excerpt from:
Ashland opens specialties technical centre in Mumbai

10.15.2012

Personal remittances from overseas Filipinos (OFs) continued to rise in August 2012, posting a growth of 7.9 percent from the year-ago level to reach US$2 billion, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Officer-in-Charge Juan D. De Zuiga, Jr. announced today.1This favorable development brought the cumulative personal remittances during the first eight months of the year to US$15.3 billion, higher by 5.6 percent compared to the level registered in the same period last year. Growth in remittances was sustained by higher personal transfers from land-based OF workers (OFWs) with work contracts of one year or more (by 3.3 percent), as well as sea-based workers and land-based workers with short-term contracts (by 13.3 percent).

Cash remittances from OFs coursed through banks likewise expanded by 5.5 percent to reach US$13.7 billion for the first eight months of 2012 relative to the level registered in the comparable period last year. The steady influx of remittances was observed from both sea-based (US$3.2 billion) and land-based workers (US$10.5 billion). Key sources of remittances were the U.S. (43.1 percent of total cash remittances), Canada (9.5 percent), Saudi Arabia (7.7 percent), the United Kingdom (4.9 percent), Japan (4.9 percent), the United Arab Emirates (4.2 percent), and Singapore (4 percent).

Preliminary reports by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) indicated continued demand for skilled Filipino workers. For the period January-September 2012, a total of 231,316 job orders mostly for service, production, and professional, technical and related workers were processed in response to the manpower requirements in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Taiwan. The POEA also reported that workers with processed contracts and those awaiting deployment reached 1,081,513 for the first semester of 2012. However, this was lower by about 35 percent than the level recorded in the same period last year. Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported last month that the Philippines ratified the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, dubbed as the Seafarers International Bill of Rights and the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 189 or the Decent Work for Domestic Workers Convention. These measures should provide better work opportunities abroad through strengthened protection for OFs.

With expectations of sustained demand for skilled Filipino workers overseas, remittances are projected to continue to boost economic activity and provide a steady supply of foreign exchange. Moreover, the increasing use of financial channels for transfers and the continued introduction of innovations in remittance products are expected to contribute to the steady flow of remittances into the country.

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1The BSP started the release of data on personal remittances in June 2012. As defined in the Balance of Payments Manual, 6th Edition (BPM6), personal remittances represent the sum of net compensation of employees (i.e., gross earnings of overseas Filipino (OF) workers with work contracts of less than one year, including all sea-based workers, less taxes, social contributions, and transportation and travel expenditures in their host countries), personal transfers (i.e., all current transfers in cash or in kind by OF workers with work contracts of one year or more as well as other household-to-household transfers between Filipinos who have migrated abroad and their families in the Philippines), and capital transfers between households (i.e., transfers of fixed assets and financial assets that arise from the migration of individuals from one economy to another).

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/Personal Remittances Sustain Growth Momentum; January-August 2012 Level Reaches US$15.3 Billion

Attendees will learn about the "when, where and how of using online speech therapy during October 25, 2012 webinar

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) October 15, 2012

During the webinar, Joe Pacheco, Director of Student Services at Leadership Public Schools, and Shawn Whitney, the Director of Special Education at Edison Charter Academy, will discuss online speech therapy and how it can be used in the charter school setting. The panelists will share first-hand accounts on what they have learned about the "when, where and how of online speech therapy in charter schools and answer questions from the webinar participants.

By attending the webinar, participants will learn:

This webinar is the sixth in a series of free webinars sponsored by PresenceLearning. The webinar series, entitled SPED Ahead: New Realities, New Choices A Forum for School Leaders, brings together thought leaders who are re-thinking the way special education services, especially speech-language pathology services, are delivered.

About Joe Pacheco

Joe Pacheco is the Director of Student Services at Leadership Public Schools. Prior to his role as Director of Student Services for California-based Leadership Public Schools, Pacheco was Principal of LPS Campbell High School. Among administrative positions he has held for public schools, Pacheco was the Program Specialist for Special Education for the Santa Clara County Office of Education. He also served in the Oak Grove School District for 12 years as a Speech and Language Pathologist. He received his undergraduate degree from San Jose State University and his Master's in School Administration from the University of San Francisco.

About Shawn Whitney

Shawn Whitney is the Director of Special Education at Edison Charter Academy. Whitney joined Edison Charter Academy in 2010 after ten years of teaching, including five years teaching students with learning differences and emotional disturbances at an Arizona high school. She holds a Bachelor's of Elementary and Special Education from Northern Arizona University and a Master's Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix.

About PresenceLearning

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Special Education Experts Discuss Use of Online Speech Therapy in Charter Schools during Free PresenceLearning Webinar

Independence University, a private college specializing in distance learning with programs in healthcare and business, has released an information-rich infographic highlighting the recent boom in online education.

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) October 15, 2012

According to the Sloan Survey of Online Learning, 5.6 million American students were enrolled in some type of online class in 2009. That number was a one million student increase over the previous year. Its also the largest increase ever in the eight-year history of the survey. The number of students turning to distance learning has continued to increase steadily since 2009.

The data also indicates that our nations recent recession has had a direct impact on the demand for online classes. According to the Sloan survey, as the economy recovers from the recession, more than half of all new jobs created are going to workers who hold at least a bachelors degree. That only makes up one-third of the pool, however; leaving two-thirds of unemployed Americans to compete for fewer than half of all new jobs.

Students who choose distance learning are incredibly diverse. They range in age from recent high school graduates to retirees, and they seek degrees ranging from associate to graduate-level programs. According the Department of Education, students who took online classes performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through traditional face-to-face instruction.

The full infographic can be found on the Independence University blog.

About Independence University

Founded in 1978 as California College for Health Sciences, Independence University has dedicated itself for more than 30 years to providing distance education to working adults. Throughout its history, IU has reached beyond the barriers of traditional on-campus education to offer programs not only to working adults across the United States but also to those serving in the military and to international students living in the U.S. In 2010, Independence University merged with its affiliated institution, Stevens-Henager College, becoming a branch of Stevens-Henager's main campus in Ogden/West Haven, Utah. The main campus is located at 1890 South 1350 West, West Haven, UT 84401.

For more information on courses offered at Independence University, please visit independence.edu or call 1-800-972-5149.

Nathan Schwebach Independence University 801.939.9317 Email Information

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Independence University Releases Infographic on Online Education

A new open source software program, Course Builder, is being introduced by Google to the public in hopes that it will help individuals create their own online courses. Almeda University, web-based educator, offers insight as to how it could affect the industry of online education.

San Juan, Puerto Rico (PRWEB) October 15, 2012

PC Magazine notes that, at the moment, Course Builder is not being presented as a ready-to-use application, but rather a beta platform to see what talented developers will make of the new software. Director of Google Research Peter Norvig comments on the anticipated innovation this preliminary phase could offer, The Course Builder open source project is an experimental early step for us in the world of online education. It is a snapshot of an approach we found useful and an indication of our future direction. We hope to continue development along these lines, but we wanted to make this limited code base available now, to see what early adopters will do with it, and to explore the future of learning technology.

Richard Smith responds, Almeda University has been providing quality education to students across the globe since its establishment in 1997. The online market for academics is one that Almeda University students continue to embrace, and I believe that Google is taking a positive step toward crafting the future of web-based education. With many leading universities experimenting with online courses, I think this innovative approach is particularly unique because it is putting the development of learning methods into the hands of the public, and possibly the students.

However, Richard Smith notes that the Course Builder software could lead to a wave of curricula that do not have any accreditation. He notes, While advancing technology is essential for online education, it is important that students research the credibility of each online university or course. To date, Almeda University has offered a variety of courses that continue to give students the credibility and education they need to advance their careers.

ABOUT:

Founded in 1997, Almeda University is a web-based institution that has been teaching students from all across the globe. Students participate in a variety of classes, including mathematics, arts and sciences and religious studies, to earn a wide selection of degrees. The virtual school also offers professional development courses through its stay-at-home e-Learning channel for students that are not seeking academic degrees. The professional development courses range from Web development to health insurance. Almeda University professors make it their mission address students unique needs and offer solid academic lessons through innovative and modern teaching methods.

For more information about Almeda University, visit http://www.almedauniversity.org.

Claire Wilson PR Management, Inc. 484-362-9658 Email Information

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Almeda University: Google Software Could Improve Overall Approach to Online Education

Dr. Eben Alexander's book entitled "Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife," which will be published on October 23, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.

Below is Dr. Alexander's story, posted on the book's Amazon page:

"Dr. Eben Alexander III has been an academic neurosurgeon for the last 25 years, including 15 years at the Brigham & Women's and the Children's Hospitals and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Over his academic career he authored or co-authored over 150 chapters and papers in peer reviewed journals, and made over 200 presentations at conferences and medical centers around the world. He thought he had a very good idea of how the brain generates consciousness, mind and spirit.

"In the predawn hours of November 10, 2008, he was driven into coma by a rare and mysterious bacterial meningitis-encephalitis of unknown cause. He spent a week in coma on a ventilator, his prospects for survival diminishing rapidly. On the seventh day, to the surprise of everyone, he started to awaken. Memories of his life had been completely deleted inside of coma, yet he awoke with memories of a fantastic odyssey deep into another realm - more real than this earthly one! His older son advised him to write down everything he could remember about his journey, before he read anything about near-death experiences, physics or cosmology. Six weeks later, he completed his initial recording of his remarkable journey, totaling over 20,000 words in length. Then he started reading, and was astonished by the insights his journey brought to the world's literature on near-death experiences, and to all phenomena of extended consciousness. His experience clearly revealed that we are conscious in spite of our brain - that, in fact, consciousness is at the root of all existence.

"His story offers a crucial key to the understanding of reality and human consciousness. It will have a major effect on how we view spirituality, soul and the non-material realm. In analyzing his experience, including the scientific possibilities and grand implications, he envisions a more complete reconciliation of modern science and spirituality as a natural product.

"He has been blessed with a complete recovery, and has written a book about this most powerful, life-changing story."

Dr. Eben Alexander's "Proof of Heaven" is the 2nd most popular book on Amazon, as of posting. Rick Riordan's "The Mark of Athena" is currently at number 1 while Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard's "Killing Kennedy" ranks third.

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Dr. Eben Alexander's Book 'Proof Of Heaven' Goes Up For Pre-order On Amazon