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sexta-feira, 30 de dezembro de 2011

Milena de Medeiros: Em ato raro, diplomatas questionam Itamaraty sobre morte de colega



Amigos de Milena de Medeiros, vítima de malária contraída em viagem oficial, pedem melhorias no acompanhamento a funcionários em áreas de risco.

30 de dezembro de 2011 | 5h 51
Um grupo de diplomatas brasileiros entregou nesta semana ao Ministério das Relações Exteriores uma carta que pede melhorias na orientação e acompanhamento dado a diplomatas que viajam para locais de risco.
Em uma iniciativa raramente vista na chancelaria, o documento foi entregue após a morte da diplomata acreana Milena Oliveira de Medeiros, de 35 anos. Ela foi vítima de um quadro agudo de malária, que contraiu durante uma viagem a serviço do governo para Malabo, na Guiné Equatorial.
A carta, assinado por "colegas e amigos de Milena de Medeiros", diz que ela "não recebeu nenhuma instrução institucional específica sobre as doenças que poderia contrair, não lhe foram indicadas formas de prevenção ou cuidados a serem observados durante e depois da viagem" no país africano antes de deixar Brasília, em 20 de novembro.
Segundo o documento, os 21 diplomatas que viajaram a Malabo receberam repelentes e advertências sobre a possibilidade de contrair malária por iniciativa independente da embaixada brasileira no local.
Entre eles, somente Milena apresentou sintomas da doença.
Endereçada ao Ministro das Relações Exteriores, Antonio Patriota, a carta foi assinada por 84 diplomatas da turma de Medeiros que ingressou no Instituto em 2009, e foi entregue no gabinete ministerial. O documento deve ser encaminhado novamente ao chanceler, assim que ele retornar ao Brasil, no início do ano.


O Itamaraty confirmou à BBC Brasil o recebimento da carta e disse "estar analisando o documento com muito cuidado e atenção, em um momento de muita dor e tristeza para todo o Ministério". Uma resposta formal aos pedidos e sugestões feitos no documento será dada, segundo o órgão, apenas no início de 2012.
Agravantes
A carta afirma que a situação da diplomata foi agravada pelo fato de que ela não recebeu do Ministério "orientação adequada quanto aos sintomas da doença e quanto a profissionais e instituições aptas a prestar atendimento especializado em Brasília".
Além disso, segundo o documento, houve demora na realização do exame de malária e na obtenção do medicamento para o tratamento da doença.
De acordo com amigos e familiares, a diplomata apresentou os primeiros sintomas, febre e dor de garganta, no dia 30 de novembro, três dias depois de voltar ao Brasil.
Ela se submeteu à primeira consulta médica no dia 5 de dezembro e fez um exame de malária, cujo resultado só sairia em 15 dias.
Em regiões do país afetadas pela doença, como o Acre, estado natal de Milena, o resultado de um exame de malária é disponibilizado no mesmo dia.


O médico teria recomendado a internação, mas Medeiros, segundo a carta, "sem um diagnóstico definitivo e sem suspeitar da gravidade do caso, optou por continuar em casa, procurando o hospital mais duas vezes naquela semana".
Afastamento
O documento afirma que depois da primeira consulta médica, o Serviço de Atendimento Médico e Social do MRE foi notificado do afastamento da diplomata sob suspeita da doença duas vezes, nos dias 7 e 12 de dezembro, mas só interveio no dia 17 de setembro, "por meio de visita ao hospital".
O Serviço teria ficado sem médicos disponíveis durante uma semana, entre 7 e 15 de dezembro, já que todos estariam de férias ou licenças.
"Caberia determinar, com objetividade e espírito construtivo, as falhas que possam ter ocorrido no caso, bem como as ações necessárias para corrigi-las", diz o texto da carta.
Medeiros foi internada na UTI, no dia 10 de dezembro. No dia 17, os médicos do Hospital Brasília anunciaram a morte cerebral a familiares e amigos. Ela morreu na manhã da segunda-feira.
"A senhora Raimunda Carneiro, mãe de Milena, expressou, em conversa com alguns de nós, o desejo de que o caso de sua filha servisse para evitar que outros jovens e suas famílias experimentassem situações de tanto sofrimento no futuro", afirmam os diplomatas na carta.



Prevenção
O documento cita o sistema de gerenciamento de riscos da ONU como exemplo do procedimento que, segundo a carta, faltaria ao Itamaraty.
A ONU exige que seus funcionários obtenham um documento especial para viagens a regiões consideradas de risco, que são classificadas segundo cinco níveis de segurança.
Um dos pré-requisitos para a obtenção da autorização é a aprovação em um teste sobre os riscos específicos do país a ser visitado.
Segundo o grupo que elaborou a carta, o Ministério da Saúde e a Agência Nacional de Vigilância em Saúde (Anvisa) recomendam, em um guia específico para a prevenção da malária em viajantes, de 2008, a avaliação prévia do risco de o viajante adquirir malária no destino incluindo a análise do roteiro da viagem por um profissional de saúde.
O guia também diz que o viajante para uma região onde a malária é endêmica deve ter "acesso precoce ao diagnóstico e ao tratamento" da doença.
Primeiros socorros
Em resposta a um texto criticando o Itamaraty publicado no blog do jornalista Luis Nassif, a assessoria do MRE disse que o Serviço de Atendimento possui um médico especialista em doenças tropicais, cedido pelo governo do Distrito Federal, e que solicitou em 2009 a contratação de profissionais de outras especialidades.




Afirmou ainda que o Serviço orienta funcionários doentes a buscar atendimento especializado, já que por lei, só é obrigado a realizar perícias médicas e atendimento de primeiros socorros.
De acordo com a assessoria, o ministério está "intensificando suas atividades de divulgação de medidas profiláticas e de identificação de sintomas, o que se fará inicialmente por meio da elaboração de cartilha específica de orientação".
Em 2006, o governo federal aprovou cerca de 400 novas vagas para o Itamaraty. Os alunos ingressam na carreira diplomática após um ano e meio de curso preparatório.



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#RIP Stephen Pollock death: Man held over Paisley shooting



Stephen Pollock Stephen Pollock's body was found in Weaver Terrace
A man has been arrested in connection with the death of a 21-year-old who was found with gunshot wounds in Paisley last week.
The body of Stephen Pollock was discovered in a house in the town's Weaver Terrace on 21 December.
A firearm was later recovered on a nearby railway embankment.
Strathclyde Police said a 49-year old man had been arrested and was being held in custody. A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

Man arrested over fatal shooting


A man has been arrested in connection with the death of a young man who died after being shot.
Stephen Pollock, 21, was found dead at a friend's house in Weaver Terrace, Paisley at around 11.15pm on December 21.
A firearm was recovered by police on a railway embankment nearby earlier this week.
Strathclyde Police said that a 49-year-old man has been arrested in connection with Mr Pollock's death.
He is expected to appear in court next week.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2011, All Rights Reserved.






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The most bizarre Egyptian quotes of 2011



A prime minister admitted getting killed while bikinis on the beach were likened to the brakes on a car
Hatem Maher, Sherif Tarek, Thursday 29 Dec 2011



Figures
Enjoy Ahram Online’s compilation of the most peculiar Egyptian quotes in 2011.
People of priorities
Naguib Sawiris
“I’m quite fanatic about my scotch in the evening, so I don’t like anybody telling me that I can’t drink.” Not possible economic reforms or bank restrictions, but alcohol was the first thing to cross the mind of Coptic telecommunications tycoon Naguib Sawiris when asked about potential Muslim Brotherhood rule.
Mohamed Nour
“The bikini issue is no big deal. The tourism industry in Egypt needs drastic changes that we should be more concerned about. It’s like manufacturing a vehicle; you work on the important things, then the minor details, like the brakes.” Al-Nour Party’s spokesperson Mohamed Nour appears to believe that imposing a dress code on tourists is as “unimportant” as brakes on a car.
Afaf Shoeib
“We are devastated; do you know how long 10 days are? There are kids who eat. My niece told me ‘Aunt, I fancy a pizza,’ my nephew said ‘I want a rib’ … he’s two years old.” The public did not show an abundance of sympathy for the “misery” of actress Afaf Shoeib during the uprising, but rather tried to picture that little carnivore nephew of hers.
A little bit over the top
Ahmed Shafiq
“I fought in battles, killed, got killed and have done everything.” Egypt’s first post-revolution prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, admitted dying “once” in his renowned argument on live TV with revolutionary writer Alaa Al-Aswani. No wonder he was the shortest lasting premier in Egyptian history.
Hosni Mubarak
“I am sure that the overwhelming majority of Egyptians know who Hosni Mubarak is,” the toppled president said hours before that very same majority embarked on exuberant celebrations across Egypt and in many other countries to celebrate his overthrow. Apparently, he was right.
Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi
“I have been fighting for 40 years, more than 40 years. I will remain a fighter for the sake of God and Egypt.” With a simple mathematical calculation, one should wonder who are the enemies SCAF head Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi has been battling for over four decades.
Adel Emam
“For 30 years Egyptians have felt powerless, on 1 January Vodafone launches [“Power to you”] in Egypt.” Vodafone, one of the three mobile companies that cut telecommunications during the revolution, hinted at its “contribution” to the uprising in an advertisement whose main character was actor Adel Imam, a major Mubarak disciple.
Down with the coming president
“Down with the coming president,” read a small paper held by a protester in Tahrir Square on the Friday of Correcting the Path, 9 September. He obviously cannot get enough of the revolution.
Military comments, or no comment!
Hassan El-Roweiny
“Whenever I wanted to ease the tensions of protesters in Tahrir Square, I spread rumours that, for instance, the former interior minister was arrested. I know how to calm down the square, and how to inflame it.” Ironically, the confession of SCAF member Hassan El-Roweiny is similar to the military council’s description of what alleged “hidden hands” have been doing.
“The armed forces and military personnel are from the people; none of them would ever fire on civilians. Even if someone dressing in the army uniform fired on people, then he’s not from our armed forces.” Military General Fouad Fioud blows another whistle on the “third party”?
Adel Emara
“We exercised enviably high levels of self-restraint.” Right after military soldiers mercilessly beat up, dragged around and tortured many protesters during the Cabinet office clashes in December, SCAF member Adel Emara commented on the behavior of the army towards demonstrators.
Talaat Zakaria
“If one shell from a tank was fired in the air, all the non-Egyptian cowards will run and hand themselves in.” This comment was not meant to be a joke by comedian Talaat Zakaria, but rather a suggestion for how the army might evacuate Tahrir Square during the 18-day revolt.
Kato
“What is your feeling when you see Egypt and its history burn in front of you? Yet you worry about a vagrant who should be burnt in Hitler’s ovens,” said Egyptian army adviser Abdel-Moneim Kato, who came across as a Nazi. Unashamedly.
Abbassiya stars
Abbassiya
“When you say 125 years, what’s that supposed to mean? When I travelled abroad they told me there is no such thing. So are they trying to refer to the day the revolt began?” Music composer and crooner Amr Mostafa used his extraordinary ability to “read between the lines” to realise how “vicious” Coca Cola’s slogan “Delivering 125 Years of Happiness” really is.
“I have seen people distributing special meals [to protesters] … from restaurants like Hardees and Wimpy.” As KFC was linked to the revolution, the British hamburger chain Wimpy, which disappeared from Egypt over a decade ago, is the new sponsor of revolutionaries, according to a nostalgic Ahmed who phoned in to give his “testimony” on Nahdet Masr TV show.
Amr Mostafa
“There were two [spies] who have the Swiss nationality … they are Islamists who are preaching in Nasr City [Cairo] and they distribute handouts that say ‘No for change.’” Mostafa again in one of his “moments” during the revolution, though he forgot to explain why two anti-change foreign Muslims would pose a threat of any kind.
Obama
“Obama, you coward, you are an American agent.” In Abbassiya, pro-SCAF protesters chanted a slogan that might have prompted US President Barack Obama to ponder becoming an agent for North Korea or Iran after being exposed.
Ahmed “Zebidar
“It was a black day for all Egypt when the Central Security Forces collapsed.” In one of his so-called poems, the “multi-talented” wannabe Ahmed “Zebidar” (a tacky Egyptian pronunciation of the English word spider) expressed his admiration for the Central Security Forces, the deposed regime’s number one oppression tool.
Definitions and clarifications
Hazem Shoman
“What does a civic state mean? It means your mother would wear no veil ... And liberality means there is no difference between a man and a woman; manhood would be forbidden in the first place.” Al-Nour Party’s parliamentary candidate Hazem Shoman provides “contemporary” Salafist definitions of secularism and liberality.
“All the Revolutionary Socialists Movement wants is anarchy … it was founded and is funded by the CIA,” said Nour, the namesake of his party, but forgot to provide a reason why would a group getting money from US Intelligence would opt to adopt socialism.
Omar Suleiman
“ElBaradei is not one of the opposition. He has his own group, which is related to the Brother Muslimhood, or has links with the Brother Muslimhood and Brother Muslimhood asked me that they want to open a dialogue with me without Mr ElBaradei.” Mispronouncing the name of the most potent political force in the country three times in a single sentence, former Vice-President Omar Suleiman expectedly failed to talk the revolutionaries out of deposing Mubarak.
Kamal El-Ganzouri,
“My age is not a disadvantage, I’m not coming to lift weights,” said Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri, shortly 78. He probably had a change of heart after spending a few weeks as Egypt’s interim premier.
El-Shahat
“Democracy is not only unorthodox, it is also tantamount to atheism.” The controversial Salafist leader Abdel-Moneim El-Shahat reveals his views about democracy, a few months before running for Egypt’s first “democratic” parliamentary elections.
“The tourists want to see the statues, and that generates revenue for the country, but the statues are forbidden in Islam. So I would suggest covering them with a wax mask.” El-Shahat revealed his intention of depriving tourists of their habit of worshipping pharaonic “idols”. Maybe it was them who cast a spell on him, leading him to join the “forbidden” elections.
And the winner is ...
 Tawfik Okasha
“Take care and beware of that date: 13/13/2013. On 13/13/2013 the Masons will … ” Not only did TV presenter and parliamentary and presidential candidate Tawfik Okasha challenge the Gregorian calendar that was introduced in the 16th century, but has also left his followers in indefinite suspense while waiting for the aforesaid date.



http://english.ahram.org.eg/



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12 New Year's Marketing Resolutions You Can Actually Keep





 
new years fireworks resized 600With 2012 just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about your marketing strategy for the New Year. As more and more companies catch on to the most effective strategies for getting found online and generating more leads and customers, the future of inbound marketing is looking more competitive and fast-paced than ever. How will your business keep up?
Well here's the good news. Whether you already have a strong marketing campaign in place or you're just starting out, there are always ways to improve your strategy to drive better business. Here are 12 New Year's resolutions that will help you to really amp up your marketing. And, hey, no need to wait. Go ahead and tweet them now to show everyone that you're ready to take 2012 by storm.

12 New Year's Resolutions for an Awesome Marketing Strategy in 2012

1) I resolve to build a killer keyword strategy and get my business to rank higher in Google organic search results. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why make this resolution? We all know that when consumers look for a product or service, they turn to search engines for answers. In fact, hundreds of millions of search queries are conducted on search engines every day! A successfully optimized search campaign can help your business generate more leads and get found by potential customers. The key to successful SEO is concentrating on long-tail keywords, which are associated with more qualified traffic and users that are most likely further down their path of intent. It's crucial to craft your list of keywords carefully so you can optimize for search and ultimately rank higher in search results.
2) I resolve to build more inbound links into my website to really rock my off-page SEO. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why make this resolution? In search engine optimization, inbound links are a marketer's most powerful asset. In fact, off-page SEO (as opposed to on-page SEO) accounts for the majority of a web page's ability to rank for a particular keyword. Building authoritative and relevant links into your website from external sites is a critical part of your SEO strategy.
3) I resolve to take advantage of my business blog as a lead gen tool by writing tons more awesome, educational posts. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why make this resolution? Nearly 40% of US companies use blogs for marketing purposes. Companies that blog have 55% more website visitorsThe facts speak for themselves. Marketing data clearly shows that blogging is a critical piece of the inbound marketing methodology and directly correlates to better business results.
4) I resolve to put super attractive calls-to-action in my blog posts, emails sends, and - well - almost anywhere else. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why make this resolution? In order to survive in today's attention economy, you need calls-to-action. They have the power to grab people’s attention and direct it to your offers. In other words, CTAs point traffic to your offers and help you generate leads.
5) I resolve to build stronger relationships with my prospects by engaging with them more in social media. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why make this resolution? Today, using social media to direct traffic to your website and generate new leads is an indispensable part of your marketing mix. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ all give you the opportunity to engage with your prospects and build relationships with them, making it more likely that you'll be able to convert them into leads for your business.
6) I resolve to optimize my website for mobile and learn more about how to make the most of mobile marketing. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why make this resolution? 85% of mobile devices will be web-enabled by next year, and it's likely that by 2013, the #1 way consumers will access the internet will be through their mobile devices. With such rapid growth, marketers simply can't afford to ignore mobile phone users.
7) I resolve to build some seriously stunning landing pages and optimize them for converting more visitors into leads. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why make this resolution? Landing pages are one of the most important elements of lead generation. In fact, according to MarketingSherpa's research, landing pages are effective for 94% of B2B and B2C companies. Building effective landing pages allows you to direct your website visitors to targeted pages and capture leads at a much higher rate.
8) I resolve to generate more leads for my sales team so we can get some crazy lead-to-customer conversion going. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why make this resolution? Well, this one should be pretty obvious. After all, what business doesn't want more revenue-generating customers? The way to get there is to drive as many qualified leads as possible with all sorts of tools, including social media, blogging, and content creation.
9) I resolve to make my lead nurturing campaigns more personal and relevant because, hey, my emails deserve to be read. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why make this resolution? 50% of leads are qualified but not ready to buy. So if you're not nurturing them, you are simply burning money. Lead nurturing is all about understanding the nuances of your leads' timing and needs, and it enables marketers to establish contact fast and stay top of mind for prospects.
10) I resolve to experiment with marketing automation and use it to provide helpful content, not sales pitches or spam. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why make this resolution? Marketing automation is an extremely powerful tool and one of the fastest growing parts of the industry, but still, many marketers abuse it. It's crucial to keep your emails customer-focused and relevant to their needs; not use them to pressure your leads to buy. When used correctly, marketing automation can drastically improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your lead nurturing strategy.
11) I resolve to A/B test my landing pages and email campaigns like a pro and keep finding new ways to optimize them. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why make this resolution? You spend a lot of time and effort designing websites, landing pages, forms, and email campaigns, so of course you'll want to optimize them for the best possible results. This is where the power of A/B testing comes in. By creating variations of your pages and emails to test various elements, you can collect useful data that will show you which one yields higher conversion rates.
12) I resolve to track my analytics closely and use them to make data-driven decisions to improve my marketing strategy. (Tweet this resolution!)
Why you should make this resolution: Analytics can provide amazing insight into your marketing campaigns and inform changes that could significantly improve your results. It's extremely important to track your progress so that, for every aspect of your inbound marketing strategy, you can figure out where you stand, where you want to stand, and what you need to do to get there.
Get started on these resolutions, and stay ahead of the curve by really focusing on your inbound marketing strategy in 2012. We know you can do it. Here's to a year full of abundant lead generation, happy customers, and better business!
What marketing tactics do you have planned for 2012? What's your top marketing resolution?









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French reseller takes Apple to court over allegations of unfair competition




Just as you thought it was safe to call an end to Apple’s legal wranglings of 2011, a new one has emerged. Now, French company eBizcuss, which is the largest Apple reseller in the country, has sued the Cupertino firm over allegations that is using its retail stores to gain a competitive advantage, as Apple Insider reports.
The French company is claiming that Apple holds an unfair advantage over its resellers because it  favors its own retail stores over them when it ships new products to the country. It also alleges that Apple is using pricing to get it a distinct sales advantage in France.
IfoAppleStore, a dedicated Apple retail store blog, cites French newspaper Le Figaro as reporting that eBizcuss suffered a 30 percent drop in business across its 16 locations during the third quarter as its supply of iPad 2 devices and MacBook Air laptops “dryed up”. Furthermore, the company had issues with the iPhone 4S as it was unable to get stock from Apple, according to an interview with its CEO François Prudent.
Prudent says that the problems began when Apple opened its first store in Paris in 2009. eBizcuss has since spent $6.5 million bringing its point-of-sale system up to the standard that Apple requested, yet Prudent claims that the US firm is unfairly grabbing its business by undercutting it on price:
The proposals submitted to Apple commercial enterprises are lower than prices at which we buy the equipment.
The growth in Apple Stores has put increasing pressure on resellers, who are feeling the squeeze from the competition of Apple’s own name which is quite often considerably more appealing to consumers. eBizcuss was one of the first Apple resellers in France and its complaint is yet another legal case which has been brought on Apple this year.






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China’s 10 Most Wanted Smartphones – Great News for Android, Not So Much for iPhone



Smartphone growth and usage continued to accelerate in China in 2011 – but which phones do Chinese consumers most want to buy? QQ Tech looked at the most popular product searches for such devices on all the major search engines, and compiled this top ten list. The results are awesome news for Android – which runs on seven of the ten – and offer a glimmer of hope to Nokia. But the iPhone is not the one sitting on the throne.
Note that this method is better than taking a poll, as asking an invited audience for their opinions can be very self-selecting and reductive. So by taking these stats from popular product searches, we get a free-form and realistic view of what Chinese consumers are keen to buy with their own money. Of course, that doesn’t translate into sales, but it gives a good picture of which smartphones are the most likely to be parting cash from consumers.
So here, in reverse order, is the top ten:

10th. Lenovo A60


Lenovo (HKG:0992) smartphones won’t be too familiar to overseas readers, but they’ve been a low-end to mid-range mainstay in China for years. This A60 is one of the better efforts, with Android 2.3.3 and a 3.5-inch HVGA screen. Lenovo’s custom UI, with those huge round icons, is not exactly classy though. But it seems plenty of Chinese netizens are keen to read-up on the phone with a view to buying it. Afterall, with a China Unicom (NYSE:CHU; HKG:0762) subsidy, it’s a cheap ticket to the smartphone club, costing just under 1,000 RMB (US$158).

9th. Meizu MX


Another local kid makes the list, as Shenzhen manufacturer Meizu generates a lot of hype and excitement for its newest MX. The Meizu MX comes with a highly-customized Android 2.3.5 (which it now calls Flyme OS) which looks good on its 4.0-inch screen and is powered by its dual-core processor. The screen is higher-res than many others on the list, at 960 by 640 pixels. Starting at 2999 RMB for the 16GB version, this could be a headache for the more established brands in 2012.

8th. Motorola Defy (ME525+)


Despite Motorola (NYSE:MMI) pushing some high-end business-oriented handsets in China, its cheaper phones are proving to be of interest too. This ME525+ runs Android 2.3.4, has a 3.7-inch screen, and costs about 1,900 to 2,200 RMB.

7th. HTC Wildfire S


And now things get a bit lame, with the ridiculously under-powered Wildfire S from HTC (TPE:2498) – known as the G13 in China – with its small, low-resolution screen that makes it obsolete and unable to run a lot of newer, funkier apps.
Despite running the older Android 2.2 OS, its small form-factor combined with the Sense UI makes this pretty popular around here. It costs about 1,300 on the grey-import market, but it’s a very bad deal via more official channels where it costs 2,000+ RMB.

6th. Samsung Galaxy SII


Samsung’s (005930:KS) new flagship – dubbed the i9100 around here – is the impressive follow-up to the best-selling original Galaxy S. In a recent analytics report, we found that the first version was now the most popular single Android phone model in China, usurping the HTC Desire. But, frustratingly, it seems Samsung might deny all those consumers an upgrade to Android 4.0, which ought to be the decent thing to do for a mere year-old phone. Shame on you, Sammie!
Anyway, Chinese consumers seem to like the TouchWiz UI and other local customization such as a Chinese app store which accepts local payment methods. The Galaxy SII is currently about 3,400 RMB on the grey-import market.

5th. Nokia N9


Halfway through the list, and we finally encounter Nokia (HEL:NOK1V; NYSE:NOK). This beautiful-looking device seems popular in product searches, though I’m very skeptical that this will translate to sales once people realise it runs a moribund OS – MeeGo – for which there are few games or apps. The 16GB models costs about 3,500 RMB in most gadget malls, although the official local price is a not-so-reasonable 4,888 RMB.

4th. HTC Sensation XE


HTC’s most impressive release this year was perhaps the Sensation XE, which launched in China last month with all the usual Beats ephemera such as branded in-ear headphones and better music software. Its 4.3-inch qHD screen was a welcome feature, as Android phones were so slow to rise to the challenge of Apple’s ‘retina screen’ iPhone. The 1.5GHz dual-core phone, complete with the updated Sense 3.5 UI, costs about 3,500 RMB on unofficial sales channels.

3rd. Apple iPhone 4


Daddy’s home! Yes, Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) ubiquitous iPhone makes the list of popular product searches, but only in third place. With the iPhone 4S still not on sale here officially, it seems the older but aesthetically identical previous model is still in vogue. The 8GB model costs 4,000 RMB when schlepped over the border tax-free from Hong Kong, or 4,500 RMB direct from Apple or China Unicom.

2nd. Nokia N8


Grandpa’s home! Pull up a comfy chair, make a mug of hot chocolate, and get out the medication – because Symbian has just arrived on our list. The creaky old OS is still soldiering on in Nokia’s N8, which is proving popular amongst those who’re familiar with Symbian and its still significant catalog of apps and services.
There have been a lot of bad omens for Nokia in China this year, but the interest in the N8 is a ray of hope at a time when middle-income Chinese have been turning to Android smartphones and the iPhone. The N8 costs about 1,800 RMB.

1st. Xiaomi M1


Regular readers of PO won’t be too surprised to find the much talked about dual-core, Android-powered Xiaomi phone at the top of the list of searches in 2011. It launched with a bang and a breath-taking price tag – just 1,999 RMB – back in August of this year, and ends the year being talked about in the Chinese tech press pretty much everyday, snagging a supply deal with China Unicom, and attracting a further US$90 million in funding – some of which is coming from Yuri Milner’s own pocket.
In October, we dropped into Xiaomi HQ in Beijing to get a hands-on demo of the phone on the same day that it hit shelves across China; here’s the video:







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Ron Paul does interview with Iranian state TV, bashes Israel, defends Hamas








on Jan 5 2009 Ron Paul conducted an interview with Iranian state owned English language propaganda channel, Press TV, where he urges ending support of Israel, defends Hamas and tactics of suicide bombing, states that Hamas is innocent and the Israeli state are the aggressors.


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Moradores de rua são mandados para Sorocaba




Cidades da região estariam encaminhando essas pessoas sob alegação de que aqui há estrutura para atendê-los
Notícia publicada na edição de 29/12/2011 do Jornal Cruzeiro do Sul, na página 10 do caderno A - o conteúdo da edição impressa na internet é atualizado diariamente após as 12h.


André Moraes
andre.moraes@jcruzeiro.com.br

Algumas cidades da região, como Itu, Itapetininga e São Roque, estão enviando moradores de rua para Sorocaba, alegando que a cidade possui mais estrutura para prestar os atendimentos devidos a eles, conforme denunciam a equipe do Centro de Referência Especializado de Assistência Social (Creas) de Sorocaba e a secretária de Cidadania, Maria José Lima. Na casa de passagem do Creas-Pop, a assistente social Lúcia Aparecida de Souza Silva diz que sempre ouve os trecheiros (como são conhecidas as pessoas que vagam de cidade em cidade, sem possuir moradia fixa) dizendo que passaram por essa situação. "Eles falam: 'Lá em Sorocaba eles têm condições de mandar você embora, têm a possibilidade de fornecer a passagem para você voltar para casa, e nós não temos. O máximo que podemos fazer por você é dar alimentação e uma passagem para Sorocaba'. O destino é sempre Sorocaba", relata o trecheiro Ezequias Teixeira, 37 anos, que nasceu no Estado do Paraná e agora fixou-se em Sorocaba. As prefeituras de Itu, Itapetininga e São Roque negam as acusações, afirmando que realizam um estudo social para decidir se darão a passagem a quem requisita, como forma de descobrir o destino correto para essas pessoas (leia abaixo).

Nessa época do ano, em que ocorrem as festividades de Natal e revéillon, Lúcia diz que a presença de trecheiros em Sorocaba aumenta muito, chegando a ser o dobro do número registrado em meses anteriores. "Tivemos em novembro, no atendimento social, 250 pessoas passadas pelo serviço", especifica. De acordo com ela, todos os dias, entre 5 e 10 pessoas que passam pela casa do Creas-Pop relatam que receberam uma passagem de ônibus para Sorocaba, já que a cidade possui toda uma estrutura que pode prestar os atendimentos necessários a essas pessoas. "Todos os dias chega alguém, falando que veio de cidades da região, porque é aqui que dá passagem. Sorocaba tem essa fama, e não é assim. Existe um limite de verba, por isso é preciso fazer uma análise socioeconômica, descobrindo se a família do cidadão realmente é do local que ele pede a passagem", explica.

Trecheiros confirmam

Essa informação foi confirmada pelos trecheiros que sempre passam pela casa do Creas-Pop, onde recebem alimentação, fazem sua higiene pessoal e ainda participam de oficinas, como a de artesanato. "O pessoal das cidades de Itu, Itapetininga e São Roque manda a gente para Sorocaba. Já passei por essas cidades várias vezes, não foi nem uma ou duas", relata Ezequias. "Eles não querem a gente lá. Se você chega lá e eles já te dão um passe para você ir embora, é porque eles não te aceitam na cidade", opina.

A mesma situação foi vivenciada por Leandro Luís Antão, 27, quando passou por São Roque nos últimos tempos. "Lá eles não têm nada, é feia a situação, eles tratam a gente mal, não tem albergue. Então, todo mundo que chega lá é mandado para Sorocaba", revela. Ele considera a cidade de Sorocaba como uma "mãe", pois diz que todo o atendimento que necessita é encontrado no município. "Estou aqui agora para procurar serviço, já estou correndo atrás, e as pessoas estão me ajudando. O pessoal daqui dessa casa (Creas-Pop) é uma mãe, a gente aprende de tudo e é bem tratado."

O trecheiro Cristiano Andrade dos Santos, 25, que há 11 anos perambula de cidade em cidade, afirma que isso aconteceu com ele em Itu e a alegação para oferecer passagem de ônibus para Sorocaba era de que a cidade é a referência para o atendimento social na região. "Eles falam que aqui tem mais estrutura para nos atender", enfatiza, dizendo, ainda, que os municípios de destino sempre são Sorocaba ou São Paulo, porém os assistentes sociais dizem aos trecheiros, segundo Santos, que Sorocaba é uma cidade "melhor" e "menos violenta".

"Cidade solidária"

A secretária de Cidadania, Mazé Lima - como é conhecida -, acredita que isso ocorre por Sorocaba possuir uma fama de "cidade solidária", pois diversos munícipes ainda dão dinheiro aos pedintes, ignorando as campanhas que já foram realizadas na cidade, como a "Esmola Não Dá Futuro", lançada em 2005. "Isso atrapalha nosso trabalho. Se as pessoas, em vez de dar esmola, informassem onde tem atendimento para os pedintes seria muito melhor. Eles não pedem dinheiro para comer e sim para beber e se drogar, e assim eles passam a oferecer perigo", ressalta Mazé.

Para resolver essa situação, a assistente social Lúcia revela que, criminalmente, não há como fazer nada, já que está previsto na Constituição brasileira que todo o cidadão tem o direito de ir e vir, a qualquer lugar que lhe interesse. Ela acredita que se todas as cidades tivessem uma estrutura adequada para atender os moradores de rua que aparecem em seu território, esse problema poderia caminhar para uma solução mais concreta. "Não adianta o outro município achar que Sorocaba é grande e pega o indivíduo e fala: 'Vai para Sorocaba' ". A gente tem que procurar é amenizar essa situação, trabalhando com políticas públicas para os moradores de rua existentes e suas demandas", relata, lembrando do Creas-Pop, que é organizado com verbas federais.

Já a secretária Mazé Lima informa que pretende marcar uma reunião com os assistentes sociais de Itu, Itapetininga e São Roque, como forma de esclarecer essa situação.


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Prefeito de Alvorada paga 14º e 15º salários a professores



Foto: Assessoria

Já estão nas respectivas contas bancárias de todos os professores da rede pública municipal de Alvorada do Oeste o 14º e 15º salários. O pagamento foi determinado nesta quinta-feira (29/12) pelo prefeito Laerte Gomes, após revisão feita pelo Conselho Municipal do Fundeb. Segundo o gestor, a prefeitura investiu mais que os 60% recomendados por Lei.
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