Mercury's Water Ice Bodes Well for Alien Life Search

The discovery of huge amounts of water ice and possible organic compounds on the heat-blasted planet Mercury suggests that the raw materials necessary for life as we know it may be common throughout the solar system, researchers say.

Mercury likely harbors between 100 billion and 1 trillion metric tons of water ice in permanently shadowed areas near its poles, scientists analyzing data from NASA's Messenger spacecraft announced Thursday (Nov. 29).

Life on sun-scorched Mercury remains an extreme longshot, the researchers stressed, but the new results should still put a spring in the step of astrobiologists around the world.

"The more we examine the solar system, the more we realize it's a soggy place," Jim Green, the director of NASA's Planetary Science Division, said during a press conference today.

"And that's really quite exciting, because that means the amount of water that we have here on Earth — that was not only inherent when it was originally formed but probably brought here — that water and other volatiles were brought to many other places in the solar system," Green added. "So it really bodes well for us to continue on the exploration, following the water and its signs throughout the solar system."

Organics, too?
The observations by Messenger, which has been orbiting Mercury since March 2011, provide compelling evidence that reflective patches first spotted near the planet's poles by the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico two decades ago are indeed water ice, researchers said.

In the coldest parts of Mercury — permanently shadowed regions where temperatures drop to perhaps minus 370 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 223 degress Celsius) — this ice can lie bare and exposed. But Messenger's data also show that much more frozen water is found in slightly warmer areas, buried beneath a strange dark material that acts as an insulator.

This dark stuff is likely a mixture of complex organic compounds, the carbon-containing building blocks of life as we know it, researchers said during Thursday's news conference.

"This organic material may be the same type of organic material that ultimately gave rise to life on Earth," said Messenger participating scientist David Paige of UCLA.

Helping scientists read the book of life
Mercury probably acquired much of its water and organic material the same way Earth did, researchers said — via comet impacts and asteroid strikes. Ice and organics are common on the frigid bodies in the solar system's outer reaches.

"There's a lot of water out there, as there is a lot of water around other stars, but at substantial distance," said Messenger principal investigator Sean Solomon, of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

With its ultra-thin atmosphere and proximity to the sun, Mercury is probably not a good bet to host life as we know it. But finding ice and organics there should still inform the hunt for organisms beyond Earth and aid scientists' quest to learn more about how life took root on our planet.

"The history of life begins with the delivery to some home object of water and of the building blocks, the organic building blocks, that must undergo some kind of chemistry, which we still don't understand on our own planet," Solomon said.

"And so Mercury is becoming an object of astrobiological interest, where it wasn't much of one before," Solomon added. "That's not say to say that we expect to find any lifeforms — I don't think anybody on this table does — but in terms of the book of life, there are some early chapters, and Mercury may indeed inform us about what's in those chapters."

Life Sciences Venture Capital Investing Posts Gains in Q3 2012 According to the MoneyTree Report

Venture capital (VC) funding in the Life Sciences sector, which includes the Biotechnology and Medical Device industries, gained in Q3 in terms of dollars compared to the second quarter of 2012, but the sector still trended downward for the year, according to a new PwC US report, "Biotech bounce," that includes data from the PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree™ Report, based on data from Thomson Reuters.

Venture capitalists invested $1.7 billion in 181 life sciences deals during the third quarter of 2012. When compared with the same quarter of last year, that performance represented a drop of 12 percent in dollars and 8 percent in number of deals. Quarter-over-quarter life sciences funding fared better, gaining 16 percent in dollars but declining 2 percent in number of deals. A 64 percent leap in biotechnology funding drove the quarter-over-quarter increase.

"The 16 percent gain for the life sciences sector reversed a four-quarter decline," said Tracy T. Lefteroff, global managing partner of the venture capital practice at PwC US. "Yet the sector won't outpace 2011 unless it gets a boost during the final quarter. Regulatory uncertainty, capital intensity, and investment time horizons remain challenging issues for would-be investors in the sector."

For all sectors, venture capitalists invested $6.5 billion in 890 deals in Q3 2012, a decrease of 10 percent in dollars invested and a 12 percent decline in deals, compared to $7.3 billion going into 992 deals in the third quarter of 2011. The Life Sciences share of total venture capital dollars invested rebounded to 26 percent in Q3, a six percent increase from Q2 2012, which was the lowest level since the third quarter of 2002.

Biotechnology investing jumped by 64 percent in dollars and 22 percent in deals compared to the prior quarter, with $1.2 billion going into 116 deals in Q3 2012, which placed it a distant second behind the Software industry in terms of dollars invested during the quarter. On a year-over-year basis, biotechnology investments rose 7 percent in both dollars and the number of deals.

In Q3, Medical Device investments dropped to the lowest dollar level since 2004 and fell to sixth place among all industries for the quarter, a big drop from being the second largest industry category in the prior quarter.  With $434 million going into 65 deals in Q3, investments into the Medical Device industry dropped 37 percent in dollars and 27 percent in deals from Q2 2012.  On a year-over-year basis, dollars invested fell 42 percent in dollars and 27 percent in deals.

"The gains in biotechnology funding can be attributed to some big follow-on rounds. It's unclear whether the biotechnology industry can maintain these gains through the end of the year," Lefteroff said.  "Despite regulatory uncertainty and a long path to exit, venture capitalists are still willing to invest in the life sciences sector, but they are cautiously looking for innovative products targeting unmet needs."

First-Time Financing
During the third quarter of 2012, 32 Life Sciences companies received venture capital funding for the first time, capturing $170 million. This represents a decrease of 30 percent in dollars invested and no change in the number of deals compared to the third quarter of 2011. First-time deals in the Life Sciences sector averaged $5.3 million in the third quarter of 2012 compared with an average deal size of $7.5 million in the third quarter of 2011.

Funding by Sub-segment
Three of the seven Biotechnology sub-segments exhibited growth in the third quarter of 2012 compared to the third quarter of 2011. The Industrial Biotech subsegment rose 196 percent to $250 million, the Animal Biotech subsegment rose 66 percent to $42 million, and the Biotech Equipment subsegment rose 62 percent to $47 million.  Funding for all other subsegments decreased during the third quarter. The Human Biotechnology subsegment captured the largest share in the third quarter with $816 million going into 77 deals but declined slightly year-over-year in both dollars and deals. 

Within the Medical Device industry, only the Medical/health Products subsegment saw an increase in Q3 2012 from Q3 2011, increasing only 4 percent in dollars to $78 million. The Medical Diagnostics and Medical Therapeutics subsegments both experienced declines during the same time period, however, the Medical Therapeutics category still accounted for 72 percent of the dollars and 50 percent of deals in the third quarter with $311 million going into 33 deals.

Investments by Region
The top five metropolitan regions receiving Life Sciences venture capital funding during Q3 2012 were San Francisco Bay ($366 million), Boston ($344 million), San Diego Metro ($183 million), Chicago ($106 million) and Philadelphia ($99 million).  Four of the five regions saw increases in investing in Q3 when compared to Q3 2011.  San Francisco Bay was the only region of the five that experienced a decrease in this timeframe, dropping 44 percent in dollars invested.

Investments in Biotechnology accounted for 83 percent of the dollars invested in the top five regions in Q3 2012. The top five regions captured 66 percent of the dollars invested in Life Sciences companies in the third quarter of 2012.

Solo puts focus on soccer, not personal life

Hope Solo diffused the drama surrounding her personal life as the gold medal-winning U.S. women's soccer team prepared for an exhibition match against Ireland.

"My life is great," the goalkeeper said. "My life is happy."

Solo made her first appearance with the national team since she was married to former NFL tight end Jerramy Stevens in Washington state on Nov. 13, a day after his arrest at a party for domestic violence. A judge determined there wasn't enough evidence to hold Stevens, but the matter remained under investigation.
Solo spoke after a workout with her fellow U.S. teammates at Portland's downtown Jeld-Wen Field. The national team plays Ireland on Wednesday night on its U.S. appreciation tour following a 2-1 victory over Japan in the final match at the London Games.

"It's unfortunate what the media can do to judge before the facts are out there. It's hard to see, but it's a hard truth, and it's part of life," she said. "I'm happy. I'm happily married. I would never stand for domestic violence. I've never been hit in my life."

Solo has had a stellar career with the national team, helping the team to two straight Olympic gold medals. But she's never shied from attention: From her Twitter criticism of former national team member Brandi Chastain during the London Games to appearing on TV's "Dancing with the Stars."

Police say that they were called to a disturbance at a home in Kirkland, a Seattle suburb, in the early morning hours on Nov. 12. Solo and her brother blamed a disturbance on three unknown men. Officers maintained they had probable cause to arrest Stevens because they observed evidence of an altercation, including a cut on Solo's elbow, and his admission that the two had argued, according to court documents.
The next day, Solo and Steven were married. Solo, 31, posted a smiling photo of herself with Stevens, 33, to Twitter two days later.

Stevens was selected with the No. 28 pick of the 2002 draft by the Seahawks after a stellar career at Washington. But he also was involved in incidents away from football that included reckless driving charges for crashing into a nursing home.

His best season with the Seahawks as in 2005 when he started a career-high 12 games and had 45 receptions as the Seahawks won the NFC championship.

Solo also went to Washington. The two started dating following the London Games.

"Like I said, we're happy, and ultimately that's all that matters," she said.

Wednesday's match is the sixth of the U.S. team's Fan Tribute Tour.

Jill Ellis, women's development director for U.S. soccer, is coaching the U.S. team against Ireland. Former Australian national team coach Tom Sermanni takes over the national team in January, replacing Olympic coach Pia Sundhage, who stepped down.

Ireland and the United States will play again in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 1 as the tour continues.

Life insurance 2020: Rapidly-changing industry has four ways to survive, according to PwC report

The life and pensions sector is facing a rapidly-evolving and competitive environment. According to PwC US's "Life Insurance 2020: Competing for a Future" report, companies operating in this sector will need to cope with major social, technological, environmental, economic and political factors and take advantage of emerging opportunities to survive over the next 10 years.

These factors powering change in the sector have the potential to drastically impact the role of life and pension insurers. Some of these market trends include: an aging population increasing demand for retirement income and pension solutions; advances in "big data" and analytics allowing insurers to design products that minimize complexity and meet consumers' need at different life stages; continued risk of government welfare cutbacks, which could shift retirement and benefit decisions back on consumers; shifting economies across the globe in developed and emerging countries; and increasing medical advances (e.g., wearable health monitoring devices, personal genomics) coupled with rising medical costs are increasing risks for consumers and highlighting the need for "well-being" and other pro-active health management programs.

"To survive in the long term, life and pensions companies will need to actively identify and handle threats as they emerge, rather than passively responding to market changes," said Jamie Yoder, PwC's US insurance advisory practice co-leader. "Insurers will need to focus on simplifying the presentation of products and features to customers and advisors, while overcoming a complex set of processes at the back end".
The "Life Insurance 2020: Competing for a Future" report identifies four key themes and related risks that insurers need to address in order to grow. They are:

Two-speed global growth: The overall market for life insurance is increasing in emerging markets and decreasing in the developed world, particularly in the U.S. and Europe. In the U.S., life insurance assets as a percentage of overall household financial assets have been steadily decreasing over the past two decades.  Leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, life insurance was viewed more as an investment, as opposed to a protection product, though guarantees and protection have been viewed more favourably since that time. In addition, the demographic changes occurring in the U.S., such as aging Baby Boomers, are creating a growing market for retirement planning and retirement income.

"Growth for insurers in the life and retirement market will come from expanding into new customer segments, such as middle markets, and alternative distribution channels, such as worksite and direct, by offering more comprehensive advice and developing innovative solutions. However, insurers have to compete with other financial service providers to capture this market and therefore must create capabilities to reach a broader part of the market," added Yoder. "With these new markets, insurers will need to spend more time educating consumers on the value of life insurance and pensions.

Distribution disruption and the customer revolution: Responsibility for retirement planning and ancillary benefits has the risk of being pushed from governments and employers to individual consumers. Since customers have become accustomed to the convenience of digital education, research and transactions when they want, where they want and through any channel they want, distribution of products is changing rapidly.
"The role of advisers is evolving because their advice is only one source that customers use for planning," said Yoder. "Since customers now have control, they demand more information and convenience from many channels when choosing life and pension products. In addition, customers are demanding advice about a range of financial products, as opposed to a narrow set of insurance products."

With the uncertainty surrounding the economy, customers expect honest advice for their life insurance planning. Today, consumers aren't sure if they need life insurance anymore, and since the product is complex, they need dedicated advisors who can tell them exactly how to spend their money at every stage of their lives.

Information advantage through "big data": Leading insurers are turning to advanced analytics and external sources of data from purchases, social media and other digital means to understand customers better. The challenge for insurers is using that data when developing new ways for tailoring products for customers.
"We will see financial service providers use 'big data' analytics to design products that adapt to the changing needs of the household as they move through different life stages" said Dr. Anand Rao, principal overseeing innovation in analytics within PwC's US insurance advisory practice. "Advice will be tailored based on age, making it simpler for consumers and advisors, while automation and analytics hide the complexity of insurance products."

Big and fast—evolving business models: Advancements in technology are allowing new players to enter the market with new business models that have a lower cost structure.

"To compete against these companies, traditional insurers need to reinvent their operating models to reduce cost structure, simplify their offerings and organize around customer interactions," said Yoder. "Companies will also need to streamline their procedures and reorganize their talent to focus on high-growth markets and customized solutions."

'Life Of Pi' Life-Changing For Young Star

The new film Life of Pi tells the story of a teenage Indian boy who survives a shipwreck, only to find himself in another ordeal: stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. The movie is based on the best-selling novel of the same name, and is being mentioned as an Oscar contender by many critics.

Pi is the son of zookeepers from India. When the family sells their zoo, they take the animals with them aboard a ship bound for Canada, where they plan to start a new life. But after a terrible storm sinks the ship, Pi is the sole human survivor. He barely scrambles onto a lifeboat with a tiger and other animals. There are many moments when Pi is in danger of losing his life — and his mind.

An Accidental Star

Thousands of young men from India auditioned for the lead role, and Sharma won it without any acting experience; as a matter of fact, he won it without really trying. In an interview with Tell Me More host Michel Martin, Sharma says that he went to the audition to support his brother, not to audition himself.

"The casting director in my city was also my brother's drama theater teacher, and he knew my family. I was sitting on the couch waiting for my brother to get done, and he comes up to me and he said, 'You know what, Suraj? You're like a teenage Indian boy. You should try as well.' And I said, 'Fine, yeah. I might as well.' And I did."

Sink Or Swim

Critics say that the film's shipwreck scene rivals the spectacle and terror of the 1997 blockbuster Titanic. "We were on this huge multiton vessel on this huge metallic, like mechanical hand, being thrown around," says Sharma. "Yeah, it was pretty scary."

Surviving the scene could have been a challenge for Sharma — as well as his character — because before the movie, he'd never learned to swim. "I had never been in the ocean before that either," he says. "The max I had ever done was, you know, get my feet into the surf right at the end of the, you know, at the beach."

Eye Of The Tiger

Most of the film shows Pi trapped on a lifeboat with a vicious tiger named Richard Parker. Sharma was never in the boat with a real tiger — special effects were used to create that illusion. But there were four real tigers used for the production, so Sharma spent hours and hours watching the animals being trained to ensure that his fear would look genuine.

"Sometimes you look at them and you think, 'Aww that's just a big furry kitty cat.' Then there are other times when you just look at them and you realize these guys are powerful, strong, like really unpredictable creatures."

Eventually, Sharma says, his time watching tigers paid off, and his character's fear on the boat became real for him. "Richard Parker was there, you know. In my head, he just was on the boat. I didn't have to do much to imagine him there."

'Not The Most Disciplined Kid'

EnlargeCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Suraj Sharma makes his motion picture acting debut as Pi Patel, a teenager who takes on an epic journey at sea.

Director Ang Lee has raved about Sharma's performance and natural gifts as an actor. But the Oscar-winning filmmaker had some doubts about him at first, saying recently that Sharma was "not the most disciplined kid in India." Sharma admits that he was a bit of a troublemaker in the early days on set, especially after he found a scooter.

"When everybody was working and, you know, they were hard at work and extremely busy, I didn't have anything to do, so I used to go around on this little scooter and basically mess with people. So I was quite a nuisance!"

A Life-Changing Experience

The young actor says he spent 10 months doing things he never did before — things he never imagined he could do. He said he never worked so hard — or wanted to work so hard in his life — and he had never been exposed to so many amazing people.

"The intensity of a set is incredible, you know. And imagine things like this: You're coming from a little house, and you're in Taiwan. You don't know what's happening. And you go from the first day to the production office and they tell you, 'Oh, yeah, we took over an airport. And now that's our office. And the terminals are production thingy — production office. And we're gonna cut up the runway and build a tank.' It's just — it's really alien! You just don't imagine things like that! Just learning so much, you just get — your eyes get open to something," he says.

Sharma is attending college and hopes to continue on to film school. He says he might act or direct; he's not sure yet, but he just wants to tell stories.

Camacho's mother says life support will end

Hector "Macho" Camacho will be taken off life support, his mother said Friday night, indicating she would have doctors do that Saturday. It was a decision the former championship boxer's eldest son opposed.

The boxer's mother, Maria Matias, told reporters outside the hospital where Camacho lay unconscious since being shot in the face that she had decided doctors should remove life support, but only after three of his sons arrived in Puerto Rico early Saturday and had a chance to see him a last time.

"I lost my son three days ago. He's alive only because of a machine," Matias said. "My son is not alive. My son is only alive for the people who love him," she added.

The three other sons were expected to arrive from the U.S. mainland around midnight Friday. "Until they arrive, we will not disconnect the machine," Matias said.

Another news conference was scheduled for Saturday morning at Centro Medico, the main trauma center for San Juan.

The former champion's mother has the final say in the matter, but his eldest son, Hector Jr., said he wants to keep his father alive.

"He's going to fight until the end. My father is a boxer," the son said.

Doctors have said Camacho is clinically brain dead from a shooting Tuesday night in his hometown of Bayamon. But relatives and friends told The Associated Press they were still wrestling with whether to remove him from life support.

"It is a very difficult decision, a very delicate decision," former pro boxer Victor "Luvi" Callejas, a longtime friend, said in a phone interview. "The last thing we lose is hope and faith. If there is still hope and faith, why not wait a little more?"

Aida Camacho, one of the boxer's aunts, said in an interview that the family could decide by late Friday whether to donate his organs.

As some relatives and friends continued to pray for a miracle, condolences kept coming in for Camacho's family and preparations began for memorials and a funeral Mass.

Gov. Luis Fortuno lamented what he called a sudden loss. "'Macho' will always be remembered for his spontaneity and charisma in and out of the ring," he said.

Also offering condolences was governor-elect Alejandro Garcia Padilla, who defeated Fortuno in November.
"The life of Macho Camacho, like other great athletes of ours, united the country," he said. "We celebrated his triumphs in the streets and we applauded him with noble sportsmanship when he didn't prevail."

Camacho was shot as he sat in a car with a friend, 49-year-old Adrian Mojica Moreno, who was killed in the attack. Police spokesman Alex Diaz said officers found nine small bags of cocaine in the friend's pocket and a 10th bag open inside the car.

Police reported no arrests and said investigators continued to interview potential witnesses. Capt. Rafael Rosa told reporters Friday that they are tracking down several leads, but added that very few witnesses were cooperating. He declined to say whether police had identified any suspects.

Hector Camacho Jr. lamented the violence that grips Puerto Rico, a U.S. island territory of nearly 4 million people that reported a record 1,117 homicides last year.

"Death, jail, drugs, killings," he said. "That's what the streets are now."
Camacho's sisters have said they would like to fly Camacho's body to New York and bury him there. Camacho grew up mostly in Harlem, earning the nickname the "Harlem Heckler."

He won super lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight world titles in the 1980s and fought high-profile bouts against Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray Leonard. Camacho knocked out Leonard in 1997, ending the former champ's final comeback attempt. Camacho had a career record of 79-6-3.
Camacho battled drug, alcohol and other problems throughout his life. He was sentenced in 2007 to seven years in prison on burglary charges, but a judge eventually suspended all but one year of the sentence and gave Camacho probation. He wound up serving two weeks in jail, though, after violating that probation. A wife also filed domestic abuse complaints against him twice before their divorce.

Boxer to be taken off life support

Hector "Macho" Camacho will be taken off life support, his mother said Friday night, indicating she would have doctors do that Saturday. It was a decision the former championship boxer's eldest son opposed.

The boxer's mother, Maria Matias, told reporters outside the hospital where Camacho lay unconscious since being shot in the face that she had decided doctors should remove life support, but only after three of his sons arrived in Puerto Rico early Saturday and had a chance to see him a last time.

"I lost my son three days ago. He's alive only because of a machine," Matias said. "My son is not alive. My son is only alive for the people who love him."

The three other sons were expected to arrive from the U.S. mainland around midnight Friday. "Until they arrive, we will not disconnect the machine," Matias said.

Another news conference was scheduled for Saturday morning at Centro Medico, the main trauma center for San Juan.

The former champion's mother has the final say in the matter, but his eldest son, Hector Jr., said he wants to keep his father alive.

"He's going to fight until the end. My father is a boxer," the son said.

Doctors have said Camacho is clinically brain dead from a shooting Tuesday night in his hometown of Bayamon. But relatives and friends told The Associated Press they were still wrestling with whether to remove him from life support.

"It is a very difficult decision, a very delicate decision," former pro boxer Victor "Luvi" Callejas, a longtime friend, said in a phone interview. "The last thing we lose is hope and faith. If there is still hope and faith, why not wait a little more?"

Aida Camacho, one of the boxer's aunts, said in an interview that the family could decide by late Friday whether to donate his organs.

As some relatives and friends continued to pray for a miracle, condolences kept coming in for Camacho's family, and preparations began for memorials and a funeral Mass.

Gov. Luis Fortuno lamented what he called a sudden loss. "'Macho' will always be remembered for his spontaneity and charisma in and out of the ring," he said.

Also offering condolences was governor-elect Alejandro Garcia Padilla, who defeated Fortuno in November.

"The life of Macho Camacho, like other great athletes of ours, united the country," he said. "We celebrated his triumphs in the streets and we applauded him with noble sportsmanship when he didn't prevail."

Camacho was shot as he sat in a car with a friend, 49-year-old Adrian Mojica Moreno, who was killed in the attack. Police spokesman Alex Diaz said officers found nine small bags of cocaine in the friend's pocket and a 10th bag open inside the car.

Police reported no arrests and said investigators continued to interview potential witnesses. Capt. Rafael Rosa told reporters Friday that the police are tracking down several leads, but added that very few witnesses were cooperating. He declined to say whether police had identified any suspects.

Hector Camacho Jr. lamented the violence that grips Puerto Rico, a U.S. island territory of nearly 4 million people that reported a record 1,117 homicides last year.

"Death, jail, drugs, killings," he said. "That's what the streets are now."

Hector Camacho's sisters have said they would like to fly Camacho's body to New York and bury him there. Camacho grew up mostly in Harlem, earning the nickname the "Harlem Heckler."

He won super lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight world titles in the 1980s, and fought high-profile bouts against Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray Leonard. Camacho knocked out Leonard in 1997, ending the former champ's final comeback attempt. Camacho had a career record of 79-6-3.

Camacho battled drug, alcohol and other problems throughout his life. He was sentenced in 2007 to seven years in prison on burglary charges, but a judge eventually suspended all but one year of the sentence and gave Camacho probation. He wound up serving two weeks in jail, though, after violating that probation. A wife also filed domestic abuse complaints against him twice before their divorce.

Gaza and Israel begin to resume normal life after truce

People in Gaza and southern Israel are starting to return to normal life following Wednesday's ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

A number of rockets were fired from Gaza in the first few hours of the truce, but Israel did not respond.

Israeli schools close to the Gaza Strip were shut on Thursday as a precaution.

Israel also said it had arrested a man on suspicion of carrying out a bus bombing in Tel Aviv on Wednesday that injured some 15 passengers.

Overnight, Israeli security forces also arrested 55 people in the West Bank who it said were "terror operatives".

Israel launched an offensive against Gaza, which it says was aimed at ending rocket fire from Gaza, with the killing of a Hamas military leader last week.

The UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says provisional figures reported to it from Gaza say that 158 people were killed there in the offensive. The figures showed 103 were civilians, including at least 30 children and 13 women. The OCHA will now investigate the figures.

History shows that a ceasefire that does not buy time for a political process to address the festering problems will not last”

On Thursday, an Israeli soldier injured in a mortar attack a day earlier died of his wounds, bringing the Israeli death toll to six - two soldiers and four civilians.

The Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement came into force at 21:00 (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday evening.

The Israeli military said three rockets were fired from Gaza shortly after that, one of which was shot down by the Iron Dome defence system. It said there had been no fire in either direction since midnight.

Under the truce deal, Israel has agreed to end all hostilities and targeted killings of militants, while all Palestinian factions will have to stop firing rockets into Israel and staging border attacks.

Israel must also begin talks about opening Gaza's border crossings and easing restrictions on the movement of people and goods.

The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza City says the city was transformed overnight, as people who had spent days sheltering from air strikes and shelling flooded into the streets, some of them firing weapons into the air in celebration.

Hamas declared Thursday a public holiday to mark what it called a victory over Israel.

However, he also urged militants to respect the truce.

There were traffic jams on the streets, shops opened for business and queues formed at banks and cash machines. Cleaning and repair work was also being carried out on the many buildings damaged by air strikes.

"The situation is very good today, we've returned back to work as normal," vegetable stall owner Hani Hamadeh told Reuters.

Ashraf Diaa, an engineer from Gaza City, told Associated Press: "Today is different, the morning coffee tastes different and I feel we are off to a new start."

The BBC's Ben Brown, in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, says the mood on that side of the border was more subdued; he says one television opinion poll suggests 70% of Israelis were against the ceasefire.

Both sides have said they will retaliate if the other breaks the truce.

"If Israel complies, we are compliant. If it does not comply, our hands are on the trigger," said Hamas's exiled leader, Khaled Meshaal, at a news conference in Cairo.

AIG, PICC Group ink JV to sell life insurance in China

American International Group (NYSE: AIG - news) (AIG) has signed an accord with Chinese state-owned insurer PICC Group to sell life insurance in the world's second-largest economy, as the U.S. insurer increases its bets in an underdeveloped market.

The non-binding agreement announced on Thursday brings AIG closer to its roots in China, where the company's predecessor was founded more than 90 years ago, and is part of AIG's plan to invest $500 million (313 million pounds) in PICC's planned Hong Kong initial public offering.

People's Insurance Company (Group) of China (PICC) is seeking to raise up to $3.6 billion through the IPO, with AIG and other investors agreeing to buy nearly 50 percent of the shares.

To demonstrate its commitment, AIG agreed not to sell more than 25 percent of its stake in PICC for a period of five years after the IPO. But it may offload the entire stake if final legal documentation for the proposed venture with PICC isn't completed by May 2013, the U.S. company said in a statement.

AIG plans to step up in presence in China, by setting up a joint venture with PICC Life, a unit of the Chinese insurer, to distribute life insurance and other products primarily in large cities.

AIG's current Asian exposure includes a 13.7 percent stake in its former Asian unit AIA Group Ltd and a 9.9 percent stake in PICC Property and Casualty Co Ltd 2328.HK>, a unit of PICC Group.

AIG was forced to spin off two-thirds of AIA in 2010 as part of a package of asset sales to help repay $182 billion in bailout funds it received from the U.S. government during the 2008 global financial crisis.

China had the fifth largest life insurance market in the world in 2011 with $134.5 billion in total written premium, PICC said in its preliminary IPO prospectus, citing figures from the Sigma Report compiled by Swiss Re. Life insurance (Other OTC: LINS.PK - news) penetration in China reached 1.8 percent at the end of 2011, compared with 8.8 percent in Japan (EUREX: FMJP.EX - news) and 3.6 percent in the United States, it added.

PICC Life ranked third among life insurers in China in the six months ended June 2012, with 57.2 billion yuan ($9.2 billion) in total written premium in the period, the company said. It has a life and health insurance distribution network of about 2,200 branches.

PICC's life insurance business accounted for about 29 percent of its gross written premium of 149.2 billion yuan in the six months ended June 2012.

The company had 51.4 million life insurance customers at the end of June, up 18 percent from six months earlier.

AIG's predecessor was founded in Shanghai in 1919 by U.S. entrepreneur C.V. Starr. Twenty (Berlin: T6T.BE - news) years later, Starr temporarily relocated to the United States to avoid political instability in Asia and, following World War II, decided to run his U.S. businesses from New York (Frankfurt: A0DKRK - news) . They came to be known as AIG, whose shares began trading in New York in 1984.

The Life & Protection Division of Transamerica Promotes Michael Babikian to President and CEO of its Brokerage Distribution Unit

The Life & Protection (L&P) Division of Transamerica today announced the promotion of Michael Babikian to President and CEO of Transamerica Brokerage, a distribution unit of L&P. He previously held the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Brokerage, and Chief Product Officer for L&P.

“In his prior role, Michael implemented a new approach to product development and created and executed marketing strategies that contributed significantly to the growth of the business. He’s also earned a reputation as an industry thought leader, and I believe he will build on that as he takes the helm of Brokerage,” said Scott Ham, President and CEO of L&P.

Prior to joining Transamerica, Babikian was general counsel to Infinite Source Technologies, Inc., an attorney for the tax law firm of Baker, Olson, LeCroy & Danielian, and a tax specialist in KPMG’s Multi-Family Office.

Currently, Babikian serves as a board member of the Chief Marketing Officer Council; chairman of the board of directors and professor at Glendale University; and member of the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall Corporate Advisory Board. He also serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Children’s Music Fund.

Babikian completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California at Irvine and received a law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He subsequently earned a Master of Laws in taxation at the University of San Diego and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. In addition, Babikian is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, having graduated from the program for leadership development.

Babikian replaces Marty Flewellen, who was promoted to Chief Distribution Officer of L&P.

The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company Maintains Dividend Scale for 2013

The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company is pleased to announce that its board of trustees has approved a 2013 dividend award that maintains the same dividend scale as its 2012 award, allowing for equitable dividends for qualifying policyholders. The 2013 award of $31 million represents a two percent increase in total payout over the 2012 award.

“As a pioneer of mutual life insurance in America, Penn Mutual believes that purchasing life insurance is the most protective, responsible and rewarding action a person can take to build a solid foundation today and create a brighter future for generations to come,” said Eileen C. McDonnell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Penn Mutual. “Despite continued uncertainty in the economy, our commitment to mutuality and our financial strength have allowed us to pay equitable dividends to our participating policyholders, and we are proud to say that the 2013 scale will be no different, ensuring the sound financial stewardship of our policyholders’ interests.”

Dividends paid to policyholders at mutual life insurance companies, like Penn Mutual, are refunds of premium based on the actual experience of a block of policies. In contrast, dividends at publicly held insurance companies are paid to shareholders where the amounts of such dividends are based on the company’s overall profitability. It is important to note that the payment and amount of policy dividends are not guaranteed.

Since 1847, Penn Mutual has been driven by our noble purpose to create a world of possibilities. At the heart of this purpose is the belief that life insurance is the most protective, responsible and rewarding action a person can take, and is central to a sound financial plan. The company is committed to helping families unlock life's possibilities through life insurance and annuity solutions. This is accomplished through a national network of financial professionals, who help clients make great things possible. Penn Mutual supports its field representatives with brokerage services through Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor and wholly owned subsidiary, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Life in Gaza Strip refugee camp Khan Younis

In Khan Younis refugee camp in the middle of the Gaza Strip, residents went about business as usual early Sunday evening, shopping for groceries and filling roadside cafes.

Residents said that Khan Younis is a safer place to be right now than Gaza City to the north and Rafah—a stronghold of militant offshoots that even Hamas can’t control—to the south. But no one is really safe in such “closed” quarters, said Sami Harb, a resident of the camp, as his three-year-old son played on his shoulders.

On Sunday evening, Harb’s family gathered in the darkness of their modest home in Khan Younis camp; the power out and the hum of drones—even here, in the “quiet” part of Gaza—a constant overhead.

Basil Harb, a university lecturer, said he had started to add a new level to the family home last week before the Israeli air offensive started, but decided to put work on hold for now. “I still need to knock down a wall,” he said, and then added with a grin: “I thought

about calling the Israelis to send a drone to do it. But what if they sent an F-16 instead, and then the whole house would be flattened?”

His brother Sami and their aging mother burst into laughter. But the mood turned dark a moment later. Death has become so normal here, Basil Harb said. “War, after war, after war,” he said.

His four-year-old son Majed was playing outside Saturday when a nearby explosion shook the whole house. Harb ran outside to make sure Majed was okay, and found the child unfazed, playing in the dirt.

Talk of a ground invasion here in Khan Younis is fraught with worry. Some see it as inevitable, and others believe that Hamas is strong enough to deter it this time around, said Harb.

“People say the Israeli troops are afraid of coming into Gaza,” he said.

As the Harbs’ electricity flickered back on, and the family rushed to charge their cell phones, crowds swarmed into a local mosque next door for the evening prayer. Following the prayer, an imam delivered a fiery sermon filled with local news. Palestinian fighters had shot down an Israeli Apache helicopter over Gaza City to the north, the imam announced.

Rumors of downed Israeli aircraft have circulated for days—always turning out to be false. But some grumbled that this bit of news came from Israeli television channel 10—so it must be true—and they worried that it would most certainly lead to a ground invasion.

Gaza City was largely deserted Sunday night, as periodic explosions shook the city and lit up the sky. Drones hummed and Israeli fighter jets roared overhead.

My Life Savings Launches a Revolutionary Tool to Transform the Way Life Insurance Professionals Generate Leads

My Life Savings provides life insurance agents with a mobile and browser based application that can help generate new revenue by discovering the unrealized savings potential of any life insurance policy in just a matter of seconds.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) November 15, 2012
My Life Savings LLC, a technology company that develops software for the life insurance industry, has announced the release of a patent pending tool designed to help life insurance professionals generate leads while simultaneously helping policy owners save money. Studies have shown that more than 80% of policies could receive a 40% reduction in premium or a 40% increase in coverage for the same cost.

“With trillions of in force life insurance coverage, the life insurance industry is well aware of the untapped opportunity that lays at their feet,” says Josh Jenkins-Robbins, co-founder of My Life Savings, LLC. “Based on overall declining industry sales, it’s clear that the industry has not been able to unearth this sales opportunity.” The industry needs a “point of sale” tool which generates the conversation and quickly identities what’s in it for the client.

“The current method of continually discussing the importance of policy review has not motivated clients to go through a cumbersome review process,” says Cody Foster, co-founder of Advisors Excel, the fastest growing FMO in the nation. “We see My Life Savings as a great solution for bridging the gap and motivating clients to move forward.”  

The team at My Life Savings spent over 2 years developing the patent pending tool. Within seconds, and using only information found on a client’s policy statement, the advisor can quickly and easily display the unrealized savings potential of ANY policy (term, whole life, universal life). The tool can be accessed on a web browser or the mobile application making it easy for the “on the go” advisor.

Through exhaustive market research, My Life Savings discovered that clients and their advisors ultimately want to know three things:

“When we discovered My Life Savings, we knew we had found the only tool in the marketplace that helps clients immediately see their unrealized savings potential and thus allows the agent to generate immediate client interest and ultimately a replacement sale,” said Bruce Carleton of iGROUP, a national marketing organization with over 250 member brokerage agencies nationwide. “It seems so simple but that’s the beauty of the tool.”

Many large institutions have identified My Life Savings as a way to generate cross-selling opportunities. “The idea of cross-selling life insurance through banks and wealth management firms is a natural fit but has proven very difficult for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is getting the representatives to bring up the topic of life insurance, especially when in it’s not their core competency or focus,” says Anne Long, a 30 year insurance industry veteran and president of Long Consulting Group.

“At $49.95 dollars a month, the system provides incredible value to our advisors” says Cody Foster, co-founder of Advisors Excel. “Brokerages are always looking for ways to add value to their advisors and ultimately their clients. This tool provides a major competitive advantage and a great return on investment.”

Conning--Life Settlements: Weak Investor Supply Despite Growing Consumer Demand

While consumer demand for life settlements remains strong, capital inflows remained weak in 2011, according to a new study by Conning.

"The life settlement market volumes remained low in 2011, reflecting weak capital inflows continuing as in the past few years. This in part due to investor concerns with standards of underwriting and pricing accuracy," said Scott Hawkins, analyst at Conning. "In fact, because of fewer new policies settled, we estimate that the amount of in-force life settlements actually declined for the first time in 2011 based on death claims and lapses on previously settled policies. While consumer demand for this product remains strong, the asset class has so far been unable to attract sufficient capital to meet that demand. Activity in the market has mainly centered on acquiring distressed portfolios rather than funding new policy purchases. But we may be seeing early signs of change."

The Conning study, "Life Settlements: Weak Investor Supply Despite Growing Consumer Demand" provides Conning's annual Life Settlements Market Review and Forecast, along with market guidance and lessons learned for new investors. This is the ninth study of this market published by Conning.

"In our view, the future of life settlements as an asset class seems to be contingent on developing stronger market structures and confirming pricing accuracy for potential investors," said Stephan Christiansen, director of research at Conning. "Yet the life settlements asset class continues to hold interest for investors struggling with today's low interest rate environment, and work is underway to restructure and to increase attractiveness to investors. In fact, in 2012 we are beginning to see early signs of renewed investor interest and commitment in the class for the first time since the financial crisis."

GLG Life Tech Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2012 Results

GLG Life Tech Corporation (GLG.TO) ("GLG", the "Company", "we" and "our"), a vertically-integrated leader in the agricultural and commercial development of high quality stevia and all natural and zero calorie food and beverage products, announces financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.

Our revenues were $5.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and were up 232% compared to $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 driven by increased stevia product sales. Our revenues were $13.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 down 45% compared to $24.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 due to lower consumer product sales of our AN0C brand.

The gross loss during the period was significantly impacted by capacity and other fixed charges that were added to the cost of goods sold (approximately $1.7 million), and material sales of two products below list price (approximately $1.6 million).

General and Administrative Expenses have been significantly reduced by $7.2 million from $10.8 million in the third quarter of 2011 to $3.6 million for the third quarter of 2012.

We had a net loss attributable to the Company of $15.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 or a $9.5 million improvement compared to a net loss of $24.6 million reported for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The loss for the third quarter includes an additional inventory write-down of $5.2 million related to the two products sold in the quarter below list price. We had a net loss attributable to the Company of $29.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 or a $13.3 million improvement compared to a net loss of $42.9 million for the comparable period in 2011.

EBITDA for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 was negative $3.5 million or a $5.3 million improvement compared to negative $8.8 million for the same period in 2011. EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was negative $9.1 million or a $7.7 million improvement compared to negative $16.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The main drivers for the improvement in EBITDA are lower SG&A expenses in both the consumer products (AN0C) segment and stevia segment, which were offset by lower gross margin compared to the same period in 2011. The Company has been focused on reducing its cash burn rate in 2012 as it grows its stevia revenue base from the levels achieved in the second half of 2011.

Cash used by operating activities was $5.2 million in the nine month period ended September 30, 2012 compared to $29.9 million used in the same period of 2011 or a $24.7 million improvement. This decrease in cash used by operating activities can be attributed to an improvement in cash flow used in operations ($10.1 million) and an improvement in cash generated from non-cash working capital ($14.6 million) in the current period compared to the same period in 2011.

The Company has reduced inventories from their peak balance of $96.1 million at September 30, 2011 to $44.8 million as at September 30, 2012 or a reduction of 53% through a combination of sales and write-downs. This reduction is an important achievement in order to work through the legacy inventory cost on its balance sheet as the Company moves to its new lower cost structure that it has achieved with its H3 and H4 proprietary stevia leaf varieties.

The Company has made progress during the 9 months ended September 30, 2012 in reducing its short term banks loans by $5.5 million as well as decreasing its accounts payable of $4.6 million compared to these balances as at December 31, 2011. The Company continues to negotiate with its China Banks for the renewal of its short term loans.

Sun Life Partners with benefits to Grow Online Enrollment Capacity in Group and Voluntary Benefits

The U.S. business group of Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE: SLF, TSX: SLF) and benefitsCONNECT®, a leader in web-based electronic enrollment and employee benefits administration software for small to mid sized employers, announced today an agreement allowing HR professionals who offer Sun Life group and voluntary products to manage their benefits programs on a fully integrated online platform.

The partnership allows brokers and HR executives to offer Sun Life group and voluntary benefits products using benefitsCONNECT®, an online benefits enrollment and administration system with fully automated EDI connectivity among employer groups, insurance carriers, TPAs, payroll vendors and brokers. Brokers and employers can access benefitsCONNECT®’s technology with Sun Life products at a negotiated per-employee fee.

"Sun Life's agreement with benefitsCONNECT® reinforces our commitment to providing our customers solutions that simplify the administration of benefits across the market segments we support," said Geoff Walton, assistant vice president, Voluntary Benefits with Sun Life Financial. "As a multi-carrier platform, with a focus on employers of 150 to 2,500 employees, benefitsCONNECT® provides one of the best online benefits administration and enrollment solutions in the industry, along with a valuable broker-centric business model.”

“We are thrilled to include Sun Life’s array of group and voluntary benefits options as part of benefitsCONNECT®’s platform-assisted enrollment experience,” said benefitsCONNECT®’s founder and CEO, Troy R. Underwood. “Partnering with Sun Life, a leading insurer focused on growing electronic enrollment, enables us to widely distribute the time and cost-saving advantages of online benefits management to brokers and employers.”

Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. In the United States and elsewhere, insurance products are offered by members of the Sun Life Financial group that are insurance companies. Sun Life Financial Inc., the holding company for the Sun Life Financial group of companies, is a public company.

It is not an insurance company and does not offer insurance products for sale in the United States or elsewhere, and does not guarantee the obligations of its insurance company subsidiaries. In the United States, Sun Life Financial provides a range of products and services to employers and their employees, including group and voluntary life, disability, dental and stop-loss insurance products. These products are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada in all states except New York. In New York, these products are issued by Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York. Product offerings may not be available in all states and may vary depending on state laws and regulations. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com/us.

Equitable Life Adds a Health and Dental Claim Mobile App for Android

Submitting a health or dental claim just got easier for more people covered under an Equitable Life of Canada® Health and Dental Benefits Plan with the EZClaim Mobile App for Android.

"In 2011 when we introduced the EZClaim Mobile solution for iPhone, iPad2 and BlackBerry users, we were excited to be one of the initial carriers offering this capability to the marketplace," says Karen Mason, Senior Vice President, Group - Equitable Life of Canada. "Mobile technology and how people use it changes quickly. Equitable Life has responded with the EZClaim app for Android to allow more of our customers to submit their health and dental claims using their mobile devices."

Things do indeed change quickly. According to an Ipsos Reid study released in September, phones using the Android Operating System gained 10 per cent of the market share in 2012 rising to 36 per cent of the market.

"Equitable Life wants to provide as many claims submission options as there is demand for," explains Norma Crouse, Assistant Vice President - Group Claims. "By introducing an application for Android-powered phones, we are giving more mobile device users who are covered under our health plans the option to submit their health and dental claims in a fast, convenient and paperless way."

According to the September Ipsos Reid release, Android-powered phones, iPhones and BlackBerry devices account for 92 per cent of the smartphone market.

Mobile app use is also on the rise. An April 2012 Quoros Consulting Cell Phone Consumer Attitudes Study prepared for the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association revealed that 70 per cent of smartphone users say they downloaded apps to their mobile devices in 2012, up from 58 percent in 2011.

"It is clear that using mobile devices and mobile apps is popular," adds Mason. "At Equitable Life, we take pride in our ability to react to changes in the marketplace, not just by providing benefit solutions to our clients, but also by providing responsive self-service options for those covered under our Health Plans."

Tucson shooter sentenced to life after Giffords, other victims confront him

The man who pleaded guilty to a deadly Arizona shooting rampage that wounded former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has been sentenced to life in prison.

Former Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, left, and her husband, Mark Kelly, leave U.S. District Court in Tucson, Ariz., on Thursday, Nov. 8, after the sentencing of Jared Loughner.

U.S. District Judge Larry Burns sentenced 24-year-old Jared Lee Loughner on Thursday for the January 2011 attack that left six people dead and Giffords and others wounded.
Loughner pleaded guilty to federal charges under an agreement that guarantees he will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. He received seven life terms, one for each death and one for the attempt on Giffords' life, plus 140 years.

Giffords hugged her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, after the sentencing was handed down.

Loughner showed little response to the sentence.
The hearing marked the first time victims -- including Giffords -- could confront Loughner in court. Her husband spoke on her behalf, saying Loughner changed his wife's life forever but couldn't dent her spirit.

At the courtroom podium, Giffords held Kelly’s hand silently and stared directly at Loughner as Kelly addressed him in a stern tone, NBC News reported.

"That bright and chilly morning you killed six innocent people," Kelly said. "Gabby would trade her own life to save any of those you savagely murdered that day."

Relieving Stress by Planning for the Future can help Extend Life Expectancy

Search the web today and a variety of research-based articles regarding extending life expectancy will appear.  Some include the obvious healthy habits such as exercising, eating more fruits and vegetables and not smoking. Others include not so common items such as learning a new language, volunteering and eating dark chocolate. But one recommendation found on nearly every list--reduce stress and anxiety.

What are the long-term effects of not reducing stress?  According to HelpGuide.org, an online health resource guide, constant stress puts pressure on your immune system so you become more susceptible to illness and disease. Moreover, chronic stress—whether from internal or external sources-- can cause a number of health issues including heart disease, digestive and sleep problems, depression, obesity and eczema.

Stress caused by external factors like a stressful job, long commute or a destructive relationship can be alleviated in obvious ways but some stressors are self-generated. One in particular is the inability to accept uncertainty. "I've seen some clients come into my office feeling very anxious about the lack of control in their financial situation and they worry about their family's future should they lose their jobs or much worse, die prematurely," states an Orange-County based financial planner who sells life insurance among other financial products. She continued to say she has seen first-hand the peace of mind purchasing life insurance brings to these clients knowing their family has an emergency financial safety net.

For those anxious about the future, taking positive measures to exert control over some areas in life can go far in dialing down that anxiety, which can help slow down the aging process. A 2011 study conducted by the research firm LIMRA found that 27 percent of the more than 2000 people polled online in a 2011 Insurance Barometer Study were very concerned about leaving their family in a worse financial state in the event of their early death.

Someone who provides half to all of a family's income is a perfect example of one that needs to have a policy in place.  An eliminated stress being worrying about the negative and financial impact your loss of income will have on a grieving family. In fact, depending on the amount of coverage selected, a spouse can have a death  benefit payout that can help pay off remaining debt, medical bills, retirement fund and in some cases, all or some college tuition for surviving children.

A real-life example is a businessman who shared his own personal experience at a meeting with his work peers. For years he had bought and sold life insurance with his main focus on the financial benefits it provided. His entire outlook changed on 9/11 when he was traveling by plane when he and the other passengers were told by the pilot that the plane would have to land early. He said he first felt afraid but then when he saw the fear on the other passengers' faces, his fear turned into a sense of calm knowing that his family would be taken care of financially should he lose his life that day. Thankfully he did not lose his life but was left with a deeper understanding of the emotional benefit of having a life insurance policy and often shares that experience with his clients.

Another real-life example is a forty-something couple who believed in the benefits of life insurance and had a policy in place to provide financial support to the wife and their three young boys should the husband die prematurely. Both parents worked in a volatile job industry and money was tight so they got behind on paying some of their bills. They got a few months behind on paying their life insurance premiums and unknowingly let the time run out to keep their policy active and it was terminated. Less than two weeks later, the husband died in a tragic car accident and the wife received nothing from the term life insurance policy they had dutifully paid the premiums each month for years. Instead of paying off the family home as they planned so the family could remain in spite of the loss of income, the wife was forced to leave the home and raise her children in an apartment until she could earn enough money for a down payment on another home. This was not the scenario the couple had planned for.

While most people know the financial benefits of owning a life insurance policy should the unthinkable happen, it still falls down the priority list for many as other expenses get higher billing. However, for those who have taken advantage of the competitive rates of today's life insurance policies, they can be rest assured it is one less thing to cause them stress about the future—and that peace of mind can go a long way toward better health.

www.CompassQuote.com is an independent insurance broker that represents many of the country's top insurance companies. They help consumers save money and time by providing information on what financial products each of the companies specialize in so they can make the best informed decision for their individual situations.  Compass Quote can assist with alleviating these worries and thus reducing stress and preparing for the future! 

Jared Lee Loughner sentenced to life in prison

A federal judge in Arizona sentenced Jared Lee Loughner to life in prison without parole Thursday after several victims of his 2011 shooting rampage in Tucson — including former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords — confronted him in court.

Loughner was ordered to serve seven consecutive life terms plus 140 years for killing six people and wounding 13 others, including Giffords. The 24-year-old college dropout, who has a history of psychiatric disorders, agreed in August to a plea bargain that avoided the possibility of a federal death sentence.

Before sentencing, Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, confronted Loughner. Reading from prepared remarks, Kelly delivered an impassioned statement that was not only highly personal but also deeply political in its appeal for stricter gun control.

In the statement, the couple told Loughner that although he had changed Giffords’s life forever, he had not succeeded in his mission; he had “failed to extinguish the beauty of life.”

“Mr. Loughner, by making death and producing tragedy, you sought to extinguish the beauty of life, to diminish potential, to strain love and to cancel ideas,” Kelly said. “You tried to create for all of us a world as dark and evil as your own. But know this, and remember it always: You failed.”

The court appearance marked the first time that Giffords has come face to face with Loughner since he opened fire at a constituent meeting she was holding in a supermarket parking lot in January 2011. He shot Giffords in the head at close range.

Giffords did not speak at the hearing. She stood at Kelly’s side as they faced Loughner, who was about 20 feet away and showed little emotion as he listened to a succession of victims.

“You pointed a weapon and shot me three times,” said Susan Hileman, another survivor, as she looked directly at Loughner.

“We’ve been told about your demons, about the illness that skewed your thinking,” Hileman said, according to an Associated Press report. “Your parents, your schools, your community, they all failed you.” Hileman said she would “walk out of this courtroom and into the rest of my life, and I won’t think of you again.”

Loughner told U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns that he did not want to speak at the hearing. Burns said the sentence — including a life term for each of the six people killed and a seventh for the attempted assassination of Giffords — meant that Loughner “will never have the opportunity to pick up a gun and do this again.”

In Washington, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. issued a statement echoing that sentiment. Holder also said, “For the victims, their families and the larger community impacted by this tragic event in our nation’s history, it is my sincere hope that this conclusion will help in their journey toward physical and emotional recovery.”

Armed with a 9mm Glock 19 pistol he had bought at a sporting goods store, Loughner fired 33 shots during the 2011 attack before he was tackled while trying to reload. He was carrying 93 rounds, and he intended to assassinate Giffords, according to federal authorities.

Kelly called on politicians across the country to deal with the issue of gun violence. It was the first time that he or Giffords had spoken so forcefully on the issue.

“We are a people who can watch a young man like you spiral into murderous rampage without choosing to intervene before it is too late,” he said. “We have a political class that is too afraid to do something as simple as have a meaningful debate about our gun laws and how they are being enforced. We have representatives who look at gun violence not as a problem to solve but as the white elephant in the room to ignore.”

Many of the survivors of Loughner’s rampage were in the packed federal courtroom for the sentencing hearing. Also present were relatives of those killed in the attack, who included John M. Roll, a federal judge; Gabe Zimmerman, a member of Giffords’s staff; and 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green. Kelly paid tribute to each of the victims in his remarks, before continuing:

“Gabby would give anything to take away the grief you visited upon the Morrises, the Schnecks and the Stoddards — anything to heal the bodies and the psyches of your other victims,” Kelly said.

Giffords was critically wounded in the attack, of which she was thought to be the primary target. Her injuries, Kelly said, damaged her ability to speak and to see and left her partially paralyzed.

The 42-year-old Democrat resigned her House seat in January, but she appeared at the Democratic National Convention in September to deliver the Pledge of Allegiance.

On Thursday, Kelly was critical of Arizona’s governor, Republican Jan Brewer, saying she was among the “feckless” political leaders who had failed to take on gun control. He cited Brewer’s remark after the attack that the shooting did not “have anything to do with the size of the magazine or the caliber of the gun.”

Arizona gun laws are among the most lenient in the country. The state allows anyone 21 or older to own a firearm and to carry it concealed, and gun owners can carry their firearms almost anywhere in Arizona, including inside the State Capitol and other government buildings. In January 2010, Brewer signed a bill that repealed a state law that required gun owners to have permits to carry concealed guns.

On Thursday, Kelly ended his statement to the court by paying tribute to his wife.

“Even amid all that was lost, Gabby and I give thanks for her life, her spirit and her intellect, which are a continued force in the world despite what you’ve done,” he said.

Loughner, who was declared schizophrenic after the attack, pleaded guilty in August to 19 federal charges in the shooting rampage. Arizona authorities have said they will not file state charges against Loughner.

Axa highlights life insurers' problems

Life insurer Axa cut its profit outlook, underscoring the difficulties faced by companies in this part of the market who are committed to minimum payouts to customers.

The move was in sharp contrast to reinsurer Munich Re , the world's biggest seller of protection to home and business insurers, which raised its outlook on Wednesday.

Axa, Europe's No. 2 insurer by market value, blamed tough financial markets, with returns on German and U.S. government bonds as well as European equities falling short of its initial expectations.

Central banks have slashed lending rates since the onset of the 2008 crisis in an effort to kick-start the flagging global economy, eating into the returns insurers receive from sovereign and corporate debt, their preferred investment assets.

That has squeezed European life insurers' profits particularly hard because their best-selling products are savings policies that promise minimum returns to customers, often for periods of up to 25 years.
"The issue for life companies is that with (almost) zero percent interest rates, in the medium term they're dead," said Investec analyst Kevin Ryan.

Non-life insurers and their reinsurers, by contrast, do not have fixed financial obligations to customers, with payouts determined solely by the frequency and size of claims.

Their revenues have also held up better in the economic downturn because customers see many of their products - such as motor or home insurance - as indispensable even in hard times, unlike life insurance and savings policies.

Non-life insurers have also benefited because some investors see them as a safe haven during financial crises, analysts say.

Britain's FTSE non-life insurance index <.FTASX8530>, seen as a proxy for the wider sector, is up 26 percent since the start of 2008, the peak year of the global banking crisis, while the FTSE life index <.FTASX8570> is unchanged.

In an effort to preserve profits, life insurers have been trying to sell different types of savings, such as unit-linked policies, where no guarantee is offered and returns to the customer depend purely on market performance.

Some have also been refocusing on protection products, such as traditional life insurance, where the insurer pays a lump sum if the customer dies unexpectedly.

"It is tougher for life companies, which is why you are seeing a shift from savings products towards trying to write more protection business," said Ben Cohen, an analyst at stockbroker Canaccord Genuity in London.

Germany's Munich Re on Wednesday said it was on course for a net profit of about 3 billion euros ($3.8 billion) this year, surpassing the 2.8 billion pencilled in by analysts.

Axa said earnings per share growth between 2010 and 2015 could amount to just 5 percent, at the bottom of a 5 to 10 percent target range the French company set itself last year.

Munich Re and domestic rival Hannover Re are looking to raise their dividend for 2012 and both expect to maintain net profit at a high level in 2013 after posting a strong rise on the back of low damage claims this year.

Life after defeat for Mitt Romney: Public praise, private questions

Mitt Romney began his retreat from public life Wednesday at a private breakfast gathering with a couple hundred of his most loyal and affluent campaign benefactors. The former Massachusetts governor, humbled by the thumping that ended his six-year pursuit of the presidency, reminisced about the journey and tried not to cry.

Romney waxed about the roaring crowds in the campaign’s closing days and the feeling that he was winning, said donors in attendance. He commended Stuart Stevens, his chief strategist, as well as his senior aides, and then went around thanking donors one by one.

THE FIX | The electorate on Tuesday was at least as good for Obama as it was in 2008, and possibly better.

“Mitt was vintage Mitt,” said L.E. Simmons, an oil investor on Romney’s national finance committee. “He was analytical, no notes, spoke from the heart and was very appreciative.”

But Romney’s top aides, who only a couple of days ago were openly speculating about who would fill which jobs in a Romney administration, woke up Wednesday to face brutal recriminations.

Some top donors privately unloaded on Romney’s senior staff, describing it as a junior varsity operation that failed to adequately insulate and defend Romney through a summer of relentless attacks from the Obama campaign over his business career and personal wealth.

“Everybody feels like they were a bunch of well-meaning folks who were, to use a phrase that Governor Romney coined to describe his opponent, way in over their heads,” said one member of the campaign’s national finance committee, who requested anonymity to speak candidly.

“Romney World,” the fundraiser added, “will fade into the obscurity of a lot of losing campaigns.”

Stuart Stevens, who as Romney’s chief strategist was the recipient of some of the harshest blame, did not return requests for comment Wednesday. Nor did many of Romney’s other top advisers, who during Romney’s concession speech were visibly shell-shocked.

Bob White, Romney’s close friend and business partner who chaired the campaign, strongly defended Stevens and the rest of the staff in an interview a few weeks ago.

“Mitt never doubted his team, and the reports of infighting were not true,” White said.

In Washington, meanwhile, scores of transition-team staffers who had been preparing for a Romney administration started packing their belongings Wednesday.

Mike Leavitt, the former Utah governor running the transition, convened a conference call at 10 a.m. to inform the staff they had until Friday to organize their files, return their laptops and cellphones and vacate their government office.

At the Wednesday breakfast, Romney told the donors he believed Hurricane Sandy stunted his momentum in the final week of the campaign, according to multiple donors present.

Although Romney himself stopped short of placing any blame on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who praised President Obama’s leadership during the storm, several Romney supporters privately pointed fingers at the outspoken governor.

“A lot of people feel like Christie hurt, that we definitely lost four or five points between the storm and Chris Christie giving Obama a chance to be bigger than life,” said one of Romney’s biggest fundraisers, who requested anonymity to speak candidly.

SCRA and TAO Life Sciences Announce Intellectual Property Initiative

SCRA Technology Ventures and TAO Life Sciences Inc. today announced an initiative to accelerate the commercialization of innovative life sciences technologies from SC universities and industry laboratories. TAO Life Sciences will select the standout technologies from research labs in SC that fill unmet needs in the marketplace and collaborate with SCRA to bring these to market, ultimately bringing innovative technologies from the laboratory to customers.

“We are excited to build upon our strong relationships in the South Carolina university communities and to help to further advance their innovative potential," said Mark Chandler, CEO of TAO. "Drawing on our investment, development and commercialization capabilities, we anticipate advancing many technology projects over the next several years with SCRA.”

“SCRA has a long track-record of helping both academia and industry move technologies from the laboratory to the market,” said SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney. “We are eager to incrementally assist South Carolina universities to help move innovative ideas and high-tech products to commercialization through this initiative, which should accelerate our mission of growing the Knowledge Economy in South Carolina. We look forward to a successful relationship with TAO Life Sciences.”

Life Technologies buys Advanced Microscopy Group

Life Technologies Corp. said Monday it bought Advanced Microscopy Group, which makes microscopes, digital imaging equipment, and software.

Life Technology did not disclose terms of the deal, but said it will add to its net income in 2013. It said the purchase will add to its array of cell-imaging instruments. AMG developed the FLoid Cell Imaging Station, a product that is marketed by Life Technologies. AMG's EVOS fl fluorescence microscope is distributed by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Shares of Life Technologies rose 9 cents to $48.72 on Monday. The stock lost 10 cents to $48.62 in aftermarket trading.