Security Council struggles on Iraq; France offers new compromise

THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL remained deadlocked in June over competing strategies for restoring UN weapons inspections and monitoring activities in Iraq. In closed-door debates, Security Council members considered three resolutions, including a new French proposal, that seek to balance incentives for Iraq, in the form of sanctions relief, with continued insistence that Baghdad eliminate all of its proscribed weapons capabilities. Much of the Security Council has indicated its support for a proposal offered by Britain and the Netherlands that, despite several revisions, remains unacceptable to France, Russia and China.

The five permanent members of the council have long been divided …

Philippine economic growth at slowest in 3 years

Philippine economic growth in the second quarter slowed to its lowest rate in three years as higher inflation hurt consumption and mining output contracted, the government said Thursday

Gross domestic product in April-June quarter grew 4.6 percent from the same quarter a year ago. Growth in the first quarter was revised to 4.7 percent from an earlier 5.2 percent. GDP growth in the second quarter of 2007 was a much stronger 8.3 percent.

The "uninspiring growth" in the country's economy was driven the the relatively strong performance of manufacturing, agriculture and construction, the National Statistics and Coordinating Board said in a …

A new benchmark for lending ; The new base rate will make lending more transparent, but it is unlikely to change the interest rates for borrowers immediately and will benefit them only in the long term.

From July 1, banks have switched over to the base rate mechanismfor pricing loans. This marks the end of the benchmark prime lendingrate (BPLR) regime, which was particularly disadvantageous to retailborrowers.

While banks were quick to raise rates every time the Reserve Bankof India (RBI) hiked its rates, the reverse did not happen. The baserate, say experts, will give even the existing borrowers the optionto shift to lower rates.

Base rate is the minimum rate at which banks can lend (barringspecified exemptions, such as to export and agricultural sectors).According to the RBI guidelines, it is calculated on the basis ofthe cost of deposits. This will also …

Baritone sings of peace, understanding in East Asia

Nanchong, China, and Sapporo, Japan

As the last note hung in the otherwise silent auditorium, listeners sat in wonder of Anthony Brown's voice, wiping tear-damp eyes. Then the crowd burst into applause, the sound of their hands ringing into the building's rafters.

Brown, well versed in opera, oratorio, art song, contemporary works and spirituals, made his Asian debut on a tour May 9 through June 13. Hosted by Mennonite Church Canada Witness partners China Educational Exchange (CEE) and Mennonite Mission Network (MMN), the baritone gave concerts and lectures in China and Japan at universities, concert halls, churches and Mennonite centres. In each venue, Brown's goal was to …

Stranded, angry air travelers overrun ticket counters, destroy equipment at Argentine airport

Stranded travelers attacked ticketing counters at Buenos Aires' Ezeiza international airport on Saturday, tossing computers in the air and shoving security guards after Aerolineas Argentinas suspended most of its flights there.

Local television broadcasts showed passengers overrunning the ticketing counters, throwing computers and wrestling with airport personnel, even as a spokesman for the airline attempted to explain the cause of delays.

Tempers flared as hundreds of travelers awaited word on suspended and canceled flights. Aerolineas Argentinas attributed delays to a labor conflict involving a pilots' union and a union for airport tarmac workers. But union officials said the disruptions were caused by overbooked flights.

Ticketing counters were abandoned in the afternoon after passengers assaulted a worker at a check-in desk, said Maria de los Angeles Aguer, a spokeswoman for the Association of Aeronautical Personnel.

Charles River Endosafe

Charles River Endosafe 1023 Wappoo Road Suite 43-B Charleston, SC 29407 Tel: (800) 762-7016 (843) 766-7575 Fax: (843) 766-7576 www.endosafe.com endo-comments@criver.com Founded:1987

Description

Endosafe was founded in 1987 by James F. Cooper, a pioneer in the field of Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL), with the goal of offering the most innovative products and the best technical support in the industry, The company's strength has been its close affiliation with its customers. This unique relationship allows Endosafe to respond to customer needs and react quickly to changing regulatory trends. This customer approach is apparent in the quality of both the products and the personnel at Endosafe.

Markets

Endosafe endotoxin detection products and services are used in the global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, clinical, and contract testing industries. Endosafe sells direct to customers in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Other European, Latin American, and Asian countries are supplied by Endosafe's network of distributors.

Services

Technical services provided by Endosafe include the following:

*Contract testing

* Methods development

* Product validation assistance

* Regulatory compliance consultation * Ont-site training and demos

* Training workshops and seminars

* Instrument qualification

* Technical response by phone, fax, and through the Internet

Products

The EndoScan-V Endotoxin measuring software program and BioTrend database trending software are new additions to Endosafe's high-quality line of endotoxin detection products. Both software programs are fully validated and compatible with most instruments in the market. Other Endosafe LAL products include the following:

* Two turbidimetric lysates, including KTA2, a revolutionary lysate unique to Endosafe which offers the best sensitivity and linearity in the industry

* A kinetic chromogenic lysate with extended stability, available in kits or in bulk

* An endpoint chromogenic assay that offers quick results over a limited standard curve range

* Single-test and multi-test gel clot lysate

* A full line of LAL accessory products along with certificates of quality.

Facilities

All of Charles River Endosafe's endotoxin detection products are manufactured in an FDA-licensed facility located in Charleston, SC. This facility has recently been expanded to 16,000 ft2 and is ISO9002 certified. The building includes two Class 100 clean rooms and houses all critical manufacturing operations. Those operations include receiving and inspection of raw materials, sterilization and depyrogenation of solutions and containers, aseptic filling, quality laboratory functions, and the warehousing of finished goods. Strict environmental monitoring and regular training in all areas ensure continued compliance with applicable regulations.

Contaminated Austrian cheese kills 6

Austria's health ministry says contaminated cheese has killed six people.

The ministry says the deaths _ four in Austria and two in Germany _ occurred last year and were caused by listeria, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.

The ministry says the four Austrians who died were senior citizens.

The contaminated cheese was made in the southern province of Styria by Prolactal GmbH. It issued a recall last month and said Tuesday it had halted production until the case is cleared up.

In 2009, Austria recorded 45 listeria infections that led to a total of 11 deaths.