My Daily Inquirer

After six and a half days of deliberation, an Australian jury convicted a surgeon dubbed "Doctor Death" in the deaths of three of his patients, Australia's national news agency said.

Indian-born Dr. Jayant Patel, 60, was found guilty of three counts of manslaughter and one count of grievous bodily harm in a Queensland Supreme Court, the Australian Associated Press said.

He had pleaded not guilty in the deaths of Mervyn Morris, Gerardus Kemps and James Phillips and in the bodily harm of Ian Vowles.

He entered the courtroom with his wife, Kishoree Patel, also a doctor. He stood with his head cast low and appeared calm as the verdicts were read out, AAP said.

Patel, who was extradited from the United States to stand trial, will be sentenced Thursday.

The verdict culminated 15 weeks of trial during which prosecutors told the jury about how Patel was an egotistical man who caused deaths and injuries by performing wrong operations, AAP said.

Prosecutors argued that Patel was criminally negligent in operating on the three men at Australia's Bundaberg Base Hospital, where he was director of surgery between 2003 and 2005.

The government made the case that Patel was a bad surgeon driven by ego and that he caused the deaths or injuries by performing the wrong operations on the wrong patients.

Victims' families told CNN Australian affiliate ABC news they felt vindicated.

Kemps' widow, Judy, listened to the verdict in court. She said she had not been sure if she would ever see the day when Patel was convicted.

"At one stage I thought it wouldn't. It's been a long five years, but it's all over," she told ABC.

Patel was licensed to practice medicine in New York state in 1980 and was fined and put on probation for "gross negligence and incompetence" in 1984, according to Australia's extradition complaint.

A few years after he was licensed in Oregon in 1989, his employer required him to obtain a second opinion for certain procedures, and state regulators prevented him from performing some kinds of surgery in 2000, the complaint stated.

Patel arrived in Bundaberg, sugar industry center, in early 2003.

The controversy over Patel in Australia mounted when concerns about his competency were voiced in Queensland's state legislature. A lawmaker had been tipped off by a senior Bundaberg nurse, ABC said.

Patel resigned and returned to Portland, Oregon. From there, he was extradited last year to Australia.

Posted by Jessie James

An accident on a ride at a Chinese amusement park has left six dead, and several more injured, Chinese media agencies reported Tuesday.

The passengers on a simulated rocket ride said that the smell of burning electronics and a sudden loss of power preceded the deadly incident at the Overseas Chinese Town East facility in Shenzhen, witnesses told Xinhua news agency.

The Hong Kong-based Ming Pao newspaper reported that one of the 11 capsules on the "Space Journey" ride came detached, slamming into others and leading to the deaths and at least 10 others being injured.

Government officials said only that the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, while the area surrounding the ride will be closed Wednesday.

The park is popular with Hong Kong residents traveling to the mainland.

Posted by Jessie James

Gulf Coast residents began feeling the effects of Hurricane Alex's outer bands Wednesday after at least three tornadoes touched down in southern Texas, the National Weather Service said.

No injuries were immediately reported from the twisters near Brownsville, but some damage was reported, including downed trees, the weather service said.

Authorities shut the Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge, which crosses to popular vacation spot South Padre Island, as a precaution ahead of the approaching Alex, which strengthened into a Category 2 storm Wednesday evening as it continued churning in the western Gulf of Mexico.

Alex was aiming its fury toward northeastern Mexico and southern Texas, and was picking up speed, the hurricane center said.

The storm, which became the first June hurricane to form on the Atlantic side of North and Central America since 1995, is expected to make landfall in a sparsely populated area of Mexico late Wednesday or early Thursday.

At 7 p.m. ET, Alex was moving west in the Gulf of Mexico at 12 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and was about 105 miles south-southeast of Brownsville and 55 miles northeast of La Pesca, Mexico.
Video: Hurricane Alex impacts Texas city
Video: Hurricane Alex hits Texas island
Video: Hurricane impact on oil ravaged Gulf
Video: Adm. Thad Allen on storm plans
Video: Hurricane warning for south Texas
RELATED TOPICS

* Hurricanes and Cyclones
* Gulf Coast Oil Spill
* Gulf of Mexico
* National Hurricane Center

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles from the center of the storm and hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Winds were nearing tropical storm strength along the coast of South Padre Island by midday, and a 56 mph gust was recorded by the National Weather Service.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms associated with the outer bands of Alex were affecting the entire Gulf Coast from Texas to Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. Brownsville received more than 4 inches of rain by Wednesday afternoon, the weather service said.

Coastal flood advisories have been issued for Louisiana and Mississippi. Minor coastal flooding is expected along the shore due to a prolonged strong southeasterly wind caused by the large counterclockwise circulation of the hurricane.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday that the state is prepared for the storm. The State Operations Center is fully activated, he said, and Texas continues to work with federal and local authorities to track the hurricane and the BP Gulf oil disaster.

"As Hurricane Alex grows in strength and approaches landfall, Texas is ready to handle this storm and its impact," Perry said in a written statement. "My message to South Texans is to finish your preparations, stay connected to credible information sources and heed the warnings of your local officials, who are closely integrated with the state's emergency management effort that has been mobilized to prepare for Alex's impact."

President Barack Obama issued a federal emergency declaration for Texas ahead of Alex's expected arrival, the White House said Tuesday night.

A hurricane warning was issued for the Gulf Coast from Baffin Bay, Texas, to La Cruz, Mexico. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions and tropical storm-force winds are expected in the forecast area within 36 hours.

A tropical storm warning was in place along the Texas coast from Baffin Bay to Port O'Connor.

The storm continued to move away from the massive BP oil catastrophe near the Louisiana coast in the northern Gulf of Mexico, but it already was complicating cleanup efforts. The storm created 12-foot waves Tuesday and oil-skimming ships were sent to shore from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.

The rough seas may force crews to replace and reorganize booms meant to deter the oil from reaching shore, reported CNN's Ed Lavandera.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said that even though Florida may dodge any problems with this storm, the Atlantic hurricane season is just beginning.

"In Florida, we've had a lot of hurricanes a number of years ago, but we handled them very well," he told CNN's Campbell Brown. "The difference and the distinction that we face now is that we have a Gulf of Mexico that's full of oil. So our hope and our prayer is that we don't have a mixture of hurricanes with oil that could potentially damage the beautiful beaches of Florida. But if we do, we're prepared for it."

Pat Ahumada, the mayor of Brownsville, said the city was expecting to distribute 60,000 sandbags and provide shelter for roughly 2,000 families. Utility crews were on standby to handle outages. At the same time, the state government provided 90 buses in case an evacuation is needed.

"I expect about 10 percent of residents to evacuate voluntarily, which already started yesterday," Ahumada said Tuesday. "I see a steady flow of people going out, but no bottlenecks -- which is good.

"We're not taking it lightly," he said. "We're ready for a worst-case scenario."

On Monday, the Texas governor issued a disaster proclamation for 19 counties and ordered the deployment of state resources. Perry's declaration allowed the state to initiate necessary preparedness efforts, such as putting material in place to ensure local communities are ready to respond to disasters.

The governor's order puts up to 2,500 National Guard personnel, eight UH-60 helicopters and three C-130 aircraft on standby for rapid deployment as needed, Perry's office said in a news release.

Posted by Jessie James

A new era is beginning in the Philippines -- or you could call it the continuation of a political dynasty.

Benigno Aquino III has been sworn in as president, the country's 15th, after winning election in May by a landslide. He secured more than 15 million votes, about 5.7 million more than his closest competitor, one-time president Joseph Estrada, in a vote viewed as a litmus test for the country's democracy. There were nine candidates in all.

You can associate Aquino with a familiar color -- yellow. He is the son of two revered figures in Philippine life, former president Corazon Aquino and her husband, Benigno.

The elder Benigno, an opposition leader, was shot dead upon return from exile in the United States in 1983, as he attempted to lead a movement to push longtime dictator Ferdinand Marcos out of power.

Upon his death, the push for reform fell to his initially reluctant wife, who won support for her "People Power" movement while wearing her signature yellow clothing. Amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud and a military mutiny, the U.S. withdrew its support for Marcos, and he sought exile in Hawaii.

Corazon Aquino served from 1986 to 1992, fighting against poverty and the country's massive debt, while contending with a Marxist insurgency and seven coup attempts. She managed to reform the country's constitution, imposing a single six-year term for presidents. Corazon Aquino died last year.

Enter the younger Aquino, who like her, sports signature yellow clothing and talks of restoring power to the people. He takes office after three other presidents who followed his mother, Fidel Ramos, Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Video: Talk Asia: Benigno Aquino III
RELATED TOPICS

* Philippines
* Philippine Politics
* Corazon Aquino

At 50, he's a relatively youthful president. Critics say he's had a lackluster records as a congressman and senator. But supporters note there's been no question about his integrity, in a country where corruption is rife.

Like his mother, he had to be coaxed by friends and supporters into running.

But now, many Filipinos are noisily celebrating.

A public holiday has been declared for the inauguration, which took place at an oceanside park in Manila, filled by a sea of people. Many wore yellow and carried banners and Philippine flags, while others constantly fanned themselves in the heat. The inauguration also attracted dignitaries from throughout the region.

Aquino vows to fight corruption, and supporters say he'll provide a contrast to the unpopular Arroyo, who was often accused of turning a blind eye to it.

He'll only be able to serve for six years, under the reform introduced by his mother.

But Benigno Aquino already has made some waves, naming a retired Supreme Court chief justice to lead a truth commission that will look for graft and possibly prosecute Arroyo. He also promises to scrutinize the budget to make sure no funds are being lost to corruption.

And he's said he wants peace talks to end decades-long communist and Islamist insurgencies.

Despite big ambitions, Aquino, a bachelor, has a reputation for quiet modesty.

"Don't let me start out having an inflated sense of my own worth or my ego, not having my feet planted firmly on the ground," he said in April, "because I might succumb to the same temptations that those who are criticizing me have done."

Posted by Jessie James

Symantec will award Symantec Research Labs Graduate Fellowships to outstanding Ph.D. and M.S. students who meet the eligibility criteria listed below. A key goal of the program is to fund innovative research that has real-world value, in areas of Symantec’s business interests in information security, availability, and integrity.

Fellowship participants also gain first hand research and development experience through guidance and mentorship from a top scientist of Symantec Research Labs during the fellowship period. Each participant is also encouraged to spend a summer working with their mentor at Symantec on a research project in their area of interest.

Provisions of the Award
* In the US, the fellowship award will cover 100% of tuition and fees for the recipient’s graduate school in the US. A stipend is provided to cover living expenses while in school
* In Europe, a stipend is provided to cover research and living expenses while in school.
* Mentors from Symantec Research Labs are paired with award recipients. The mentor is a top researcher who can provide ongoing technical guidance on the recipient’s research, during their graduate training as well as during summer internships at Symantec.
* All recipients will be encouraged to take a salaried summer internship with Symantec Research Labs (Mountain View, CA, Culver City, CA, or Sophia Antipolis, France).
* Each recipient will be given a laptop preloaded with Symantec software.
* Fellowships are awarded to recipients for one academic year and may be extended for a second year, based on the award recipient's continued exceptional academic standing, progress and achievement. Any such extensions will be granted solely at Symantec's discretion.

Eligibility Criteria
* Applying students must attend a U.S. or European university in a Ph.D. or Master’s program focused on technology research. Exceptional graduating undergraduate seniors may also apply and final award is contingent on their acceptance to a graduate program.
* Preference will be given to students with a desire to work in an industrial research lab and those working on research projects likely to have real-world practical value to customers, in areas related to Symantec’s businesses of information security, availability, and integrity.
* Recipients will also be selected based on their overall potential for research excellence and their academic progress to-date as evidenced by publications.
* The scholarship awards will be made through the university and are not transferable to another academic institution.

Required Application Information
Applications should be submitted as a single compressed file (.zip file) and must include the following:
* A completed fellowship application form including a personal statement of research interests not to exceed 500 words. Applicants are strongly encouraged to articulate the practical value to customers of their proposed research areas.
* A C.V. and thesis proposal (optional).
* Three letters of recommendation from professors or industry researchers who can evaluate the applicant's scientific aptitude and potential for research (may be sent confidentially, please see application form for instructions).
* Incomplete applications cannot be considered and we cannot guarantee notification of incompleteness. Please make sure applications are complete.

Application Dates and Process

* Fellowship applications will be accepted beginning July.
* Application deadline will be December 18.
* As part of the application process, some candidates may be contacted for telephone interviews.
* The final award decisions will be announced in February.

Contact detail: SRLFellowship@Symantec.com
MOreinfo: http://www.symantec.com/about/careers/college/fellowship.jsp

Budget line 19.04.01
Reference: EuropeAid/129204/C/ACT/Multi
Deadline for submission of Concept Notes: 3 September
Geographical Zone : All Countries

The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR1) was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 20 December 2006 and entered into force on 1 January 2007. This thematic instrument is the European Union's main financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights in its external relations.

The general objectives of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights are to contribute to the development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law as well as to the respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, within the framework of the European Union’s policy on development cooperation with third countries and consistently with the EU’s foreign policy as a whole.

The EIDHR is designed to help civil society to become an effective force for political reform and defence of human rights. Building on its key strength, which is the ability to operate without the need for host government consent, the EIDHR is able to focus on sensitive political issues and innovative approaches and to cooperate directly with local civil society organisations which need to preserve independence from public
authorities, providing for great flexibility and increased capacity to respond to changing circumstances.

The EIDHR is applied at national, regional and international levels and supports actions carried out throughout the world, including in EU Member States if relevant to needs in third countries.

The general objective of this Call for Proposals is to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights and democracy through the support to human rights defenders (HRDs), as established under Objective 3 of the EIDHR Strategy paper 2007-2010.

Support for human rights defenders has long been an integral part of the European Union's external policy on human rights. In June 2004 the Council adopted the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders, which provide practical recommendations to streamline EU actions in this field. The Guidelines, which build on the UN Declaration on human rights defenders adopted in 1998, represent the political framework under which financial support is given to defenders through the EIDHR.

Assistance to human rights defenders under this Call will therefore have as main priorities:

1.
To provide short and long-term direct financial, material and other forms of support and protection to human rights defenders, including to those living outside the capitals and in remote areas.
2.
To support and reinforce the capacities of human rights defenders, including those living in remote areas, to carry out their human rights work and to increase their organisational and financial capacities with a view of ensuring the sustainability of their actions in the future.
3.
To increase the awareness among defenders of international and regional mechanisms and instruments to protect human rights defenders such as the EU Guidelines, including among those living in remote areas.
4.
To contribute to break the isolation and social exclusion of human rights defenders in their communities by sensitising national and international public opinion about their work and role in the promotion and defence of human rights and by reinforcing their capacities in networking with other human rights civil society organisations on an international, regional and national level.


Size of grants
• Minimum amount: EUR 300,000
• Maximum amount: EUR 2,000,000

Click here to download Guidelines and Application form

Contact detail: EuropeAid-HumanRightsDefenders@ec.europa.eu

Budget line 19.04.01
Reference: EuropeAid/129204/C/ACT/Multi
Deadline for submission of Concept Notes: 3 September
Geographical Zone : All Countries

The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR1) was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 20 December 2006 and entered into force on 1 January 2007. This thematic instrument is the European Union's main financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights in its external relations.

The general objectives of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights are to contribute to the development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law as well as to the respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, within the framework of the European Union’s policy on development cooperation with third countries and consistently with the EU’s foreign policy as a whole.

The EIDHR is designed to help civil society to become an effective force for political reform and defence of human rights. Building on its key strength, which is the ability to operate without the need for host government consent, the EIDHR is able to focus on sensitive political issues and innovative approaches and to cooperate directly with local civil society organisations which need to preserve independence from public
authorities, providing for great flexibility and increased capacity to respond to changing circumstances.

The EIDHR is applied at national, regional and international levels and supports actions carried out throughout the world, including in EU Member States if relevant to needs in third countries.

The general objective of this Call for Proposals is to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights and democracy through the support to human rights defenders (HRDs), as established under Objective 3 of the EIDHR Strategy paper 2007-2010.

Support for human rights defenders has long been an integral part of the European Union's external policy on human rights. In June 2004 the Council adopted the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders, which provide practical recommendations to streamline EU actions in this field. The Guidelines, which build on the UN Declaration on human rights defenders adopted in 1998, represent the political framework under which financial support is given to defenders through the EIDHR.

Assistance to human rights defenders under this Call will therefore have as main priorities:

1.
To provide short and long-term direct financial, material and other forms of support and protection to human rights defenders, including to those living outside the capitals and in remote areas.
2.
To support and reinforce the capacities of human rights defenders, including those living in remote areas, to carry out their human rights work and to increase their organisational and financial capacities with a view of ensuring the sustainability of their actions in the future.
3.
To increase the awareness among defenders of international and regional mechanisms and instruments to protect human rights defenders such as the EU Guidelines, including among those living in remote areas.
4.
To contribute to break the isolation and social exclusion of human rights defenders in their communities by sensitising national and international public opinion about their work and role in the promotion and defence of human rights and by reinforcing their capacities in networking with other human rights civil society organisations on an international, regional and national level.


Size of grants
• Minimum amount: EUR 300,000
• Maximum amount: EUR 2,000,000

Click here to download Guidelines and Application form

Contact detail: EuropeAid-HumanRightsDefenders@ec.europa.eu

The ILO’s International Institute for Labour Studies has created a research prize to annually reward outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge on the ILO’s central goal of decent work for all.

Prize winners are selected by a five member jury consisting of eminent personalities with an international reputation and proven expertise in labour and social policy issues.

Under the rules of the ILO Decent Work Research Prize, individuals and institutions can nominate candidates but only individuals qualify as candidates. Each nominee must have the support of at least one organization from the ILO’s tripartite constituency (i.e. a government, a workers’ or an employers’ organization) and one leading academic in the area of labour and social policy. The letters of support should come from different regions of the world.

The jury examines relevant publications of the candidates. Both the excellence of the work and its practical value for policy purposes are taken into account.

This prize will be awarded during the next ILO Governing Body (to be held in November 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland) before a global audience of government, employer and worker delegates and media representatives. The winner will be invited to give a social policy lecture. There will be a financial award of USD 10,000, and the winner will be made Honorary Fellow of the International Institute for Labour Studies (www.ilo.org/inst) for 2010-11.

Criteria for award
The prize can be awarded for:
(1) Major specific contributions to the understanding of socio-economic relationships and policy instruments for the advancement of decent work as defined by the ILO (see http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/download/ecosoc/decentwork.pdf). The jury will look for new and original ideas; or
(2) A lifetime contribution to knowledge on the central concerns of the ILO and its constituents (i.e. Governments, Workers and Employers) which reflects and advances understanding of the different dimensions of decent work (creating jobs; guaranteeing rights at work; extending social rotection; promoting dialogue and conflict resolution; with gender equality as a cross-cutting objective).

Contact detail: prize@ilo.org
Moreinfo: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inst/research/prize.htm

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 struck Wednesday in southern Canada, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake struck at 1:41 p.m. ET near the borders of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, about 38 miles north of the city of Ottawa, the USGS said. It was centered about 12 miles deep. The USGS initially assigned it a preliminary magnitude of 5.5.

Ottawa police told CNN that several buildings in the city were evacuated. An operator at the Ottawa Hospital said the quake was felt for about 30 seconds.

Sgt. Marc LaPorte, a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, told CNN that it was a "slight tremor" and there "doesn't appear to be any damage reported to date yet."

There were no reports of major damage in downtown Ottawa, said Barre Campbell, spokesman for the city of Ottawa.

Campbell witnessed self-evacuations of downtown buildings, but said people were filtering back to work.

The quake was also felt in the northern United States.

Karen Evans, who works at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan, about 20 minutes from the Canadian border, felt the tremor.

Did you feel the quake?

"A colleague and I are sitting in my office having a conversation, and we feel the building moving. We kind of looked at each other and wondered, 'is this really happening?' "

Another work colleague saw the steel frame of the window moving against the cinder block wall, Evans said.

"I was a little bit excited ... that adrenaline kind of feeling," she said. "And then, absolutely scared, wondering should we get out of the building."Quake shakes southern Canada

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama sacked his loose-lipped Afghanistan commander Wednesday, a seismic shift for the military order in wartime, and chose the familiar, admired — and tightly disciplined — Gen. David Petraeus to replace him. Petraeus, architect of the Iraq war turnaround, was once again to take hands-on leadership of a troubled war effort.

Obama said bluntly that Gen. Stanley McChrystal's scornful remarks about administration officials in interviews for a magazine article represent conduct that "undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of our democratic system."

He fired the commander after summoning him from Afghanistan for a face to face meeting in the Oval Office and named Petraeus, the Central Command chief who was McChrystal's direct boss, to step in.

By pairing those announcements, Obama sought to move on from the firestorm that was renewing debate over his revamped Afghanistan policy. It was meant to assure Afghans, U.S. allies and a restive American electorate that a firm hand is running the war.

Expressing praise for McChrystal yet certainty he had to go, Obama said he did not make the decision over any disagreement in policy or "out of any sense of personal insult." Flanked by Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in the Rose Garden, he said: "War is bigger than any one man or woman, whether a private, a general, or a president."

He urged the Senate to confirm Petraeus swiftly and emphasized the Afghanistan strategy he announced in December was not shifting with McChrystal's departure.

"This is a change in personnel but it is not a change in policy," Obama said. The president delivered the same message in a phone call to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the White House said, and Karzai told Obama he would work toward a smooth transition.

As Obama was speaking in the Rose Garden, McChrystal released a statement saying that he resigned out of "a desire to see the mission succeed" and expressing support for the war strategy.

With lawmakers of both parties praising the choice of Petraeus, the White House is confident he will be confirmed before Congress adjourns at the end of next week.

Obama hit several grace notes about McChrystal and his service after their meeting, saying he made the decision to sack him "with considerable regret." And yet, he said the job in Afghanistan cannot be done now under McChrystal's leadership, asserting that the critical remarks from the general and his inner circle in Rolling Stone displayed conduct that doesn't live up to the standards for a command-level officer.

"I welcome debate among my team, but I won't tolerate division," Obama said. He had delivered that same message — that there must be no more backbiting — to his full war cabinet in a Situation Room session, said a senior administration official.

The announcement came as June became the deadliest month for the U.S.-dominated international coalition in Afghanistan. NATO announced eight more international troop deaths Wednesday for a total of 76 this month, one more than in the deadliest month previously, in July 2009. Forty-six of those killed this month were Americans. The U.S. has 90,800 troops in Afghanistan.

Obama seemed to suggest that McChrystal's military career is over, saying the nation should be grateful "for his remarkable career in uniform" as if that has drawn to a close. McChrystal left the White House after the meeting and returned to his military quarters at Washington's Fort McNair.

Petraeus, who attended a formal Afghanistan war meeting at the White House on Wednesday, has had overarching responsibility for the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq as head of Central Command. He was to vacate the Central Command post after his expected confirmation, giving Obama another key opening to fill. The Afghanistan job is actually a step down from his current post but one that filled Obama's pre-eminent need.

Petraeus is the nation's best-known military man, having risen to prominence as the commander who turned around the Iraq war in 2007, applying a counterinsurgency strategy that has been adapted for Afghanistan.

He has a reputation for rigorous discipline. He keeps a punishing pace — spending more than 300 days on the road last year. He briefly collapsed during Senate testimony last week, apparently from dehydration. It was a rare glimpse of weakness for a man known as among the military's most driven.

In the hearing last week, Petraeus told Congress he would recommend delaying Obama's prescribed pullout of U.S. forces from Afghanistan beginning in July 2011. He said security and political conditions in Afghanistan must be ready to handle a U.S. drawdown.

Waheed Omar, spokesman for Karzai, said Petraeus "will also be a trusted partner." Karzai had been a lonely voice in speaking out in support of McChrystal. But Omar said of Petraeus: "He is the most informed person and the most obvious choice for this job" now that McChrystal is out.

The day unfolded with a secretive series of meetings.

McChrystal arrived in Washington off the long flight from Kabul in the early morning and went first to the Pentagon to see top brass. Then came his half-hour alone with the president. Obama huddled afterward with Biden, Gates, Mullen and just a few others to plot the next step, and the group settled on Petraeus because he represents the "greatest continuity in operational understanding" and knows Afghanistan, said the senior administration official.

Obama then sat down with Petraeus to offer him the job.

Gates' advice on the matter wasn't disclosed. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said that Gates had talked extensively with Obama, including a 30-minute one-on-one meeting late Tuesday. But Morrell declined to say whether Gates suggested McChrystal should be fired.

In the magazine article, McChrystal called the period last fall when the president was deciding whether to approve more troops "painful" and said the president appeared ready to hand him an "unsellable" position. McChrystal also said he was "betrayed" by Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, the man the White House chose to be his diplomatic partner in Afghanistan.

He accused Eikenberry of raising doubts about Karzai only to give himself cover in case the U.S. effort failed. And he was quoted mocking Biden.

If not insubordination, the remarks — as well as even sharper commentary about Obama and his White House from several in McChrystal's inner circle — were at the least an extraordinary challenge from a military leader.

Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he expected to hold a hearing by Tuesday on Petraeus' confirmation.

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship provides Master's and Doctoral funding for graduate students from Asia, the Pacific, and the U.S. to participate in educational and research programs at the East-West Center while pursuing graduate study at the University of Hawai‘i. Through East-West Center affiliation, awardees become part of a growing network of students and alumni forging the shape and substance of the world's most vibrant region.

Center fellowships are provided for degree study at the University of Hawai‘i and participation in the Center's international and intercultural programs. The Center and the University of Hawai‘i, located in a unique island setting with a distinctive multicultural heritage, offer premier resources for studies on Asia, the Pacific, and the U.S.

Degree fellows have opportunities to participate in graduate certificate programs offered in leadership studies, international intercultural studies, population studies and natural resource management that enhance their degree studies. Other opportunities include invited participation in the Center's research projects in several areas of international study including politics, governance and security; economics; environmental change; population and health; education; and Pacific islands development.

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship provides funding toward:

* Master's degrees (up to 24-month fellowship)
* Doctoral degrees (up to 48-month fellowship)

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship invites applications from:

* Citizens or permanent residents of the United States
* Citizens of countries in the Pacific and Asia, including Russia

Individuals who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States or a country listed below may apply for the East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowships:

Southeast Asia: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand Vietnam
East Asia: China (Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland, Taiwan), Japan, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, Korea, Republic of, Mongolia, Russia.
South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Pacific Region: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Marianas, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna Islands.

General Requirements:

*
Applicants submit both the application for East-West Center Graduate Fellowship and the graduate admissions application to the University of Hawai‘i to the East-West Center Award Services Office. Applications must be postmarked by the November 1 deadline.
*
Applicants already enrolled as classified graduate students at the University of Hawai‘i submit only the East-West Center Graduate Fellowship application.
*
Required tests include the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for applicants from non-English speaking countries, and the GRE or GMAT for all applicants as required by university departments.
*
Award recipients who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must meet exchange visitor (J-1 visa) requirements.



Degree Fellowship Requirements:

Beyond fulfilling degree requirements at the University of Hawai‘i, East-West Center students are required to take part in the Center's education program. These requirements include:

* Core Program that meets weekly during the fall semester.
* Spring Core Issues Course, which will consist of a series of presentations and small-group discussions.
* Community Service. Degree Fellows are expected to devote 90 hours to community service during their award period.
* Involvement in an EWC Research Project.
* Interdisciplinary Certificate. Students not involved in an EWC research project must pursue one of several interdisciplinary certificates.
* Language Requirement. Degree Fellows who are native speakers of English from USA, Australia or New Zealand must demonstrate proficiency in an Asian/Pacific language or complete four semesters of language coursework.
* Monthly Report to the Associate Dean.

GRADUATE DEGREE FELLOWSHIPS
Award Services Office
East-West Center
1601 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96848-1601
USA

Moreinfo: http://www.eastwestcenter.org/education/student-programs/opportunities-for-study/ewc-graduate-degree-fellowship/

Posted by Jessie James

France's tumultuous World Cup campaign ended in dismal fashion on Tuesday as the former world champions were beaten 2-1 by hosts South Africa in their final group game in Bloemfontein.

Both South African goals came in the first half while French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff was sent off following a clash with MacBeth Sibaya to deal another early blow to France's slim hopes.

France's nightmare ends but South Africa fall short

French preparations for the match had been overshadowed by an apparent collapse in relations between coach Raymond Domenech and his players, with captain Patrice Evra left out of the side after apparently clashing with Domenech and other coaching staff and officials.

South Africa's win was not enough to prevent them becoming the first World Cup host nation to be eliminated before the tournament's knockout stages, with Mexico advancing alongside group winners Uruguay despite losing 1-0 to the South Americans.
Video: Experts discuss France rebellion
Video: French team denounced as 'divas'
RELATED TOPICS

* Nicolas Anelka
* French Football Federation
* Raymond Domenech
* Patrice Evra

But the real misery was for French fans who saw their team -- traditionally among the strongest national sides in world football -- become one of the first to be eliminated from the World Cup amid turbulent infighting and allegations of treachery.

The 10 biggest World Cup upsets

Striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home after confronting Domenech at halftime during France's 2-0 defeat by Mexico last week.

Evra was then involved in a public training ground dispute with the squad's fitness coach on Sunday and is reported to have led dissent over Anelka's expulsion from the squad, with the entire squad boycotting the training session.

Adding to the confusion, French team director Jean-Louis Valentin then publicly announced his resignation to the media, while French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot has been in France attempting to mediate between Domenech and his players.

But on Monday night Bachelot told journalists the French players had "tarnished the image of France," according to French sports newspaper L'Equipe.

In an indication of the extent to which relations had broken down between Domenech and his squad, the coach on Monday described this players' decision to strike as "unspeakably stupid," and called their actions "an aberration and an imbecility."

Pedro Pinto: Heads should roll for French farce

"Nobody can behave in such a way in the dressing room or elsewhere and high-level sportsmen and women have to lead by example through football," Domenech told reporters.

"We tried to convince the players that what was happening was irregular, that their actions were unspeakably stupid. I told myself this masquerade had to be stopped. No way would I back this action."

CNN Senior International Correspondent Jim Bittermann in Paris said French fans, pundits and politicians were attempting to outdo each other in their criticism of the French squad.

"One of the words we've heard is divas to describe the team and chaos to describe the situation," said Bittermann.

"It's the image of the French society now, it's a bad example for the youth -- terrible," one Parisian woman told CNN.

"They're paid players. Whatever happened in their team it's not the right time to go on strike," said another.

France's problems at the World Cup had exacerbated long-standing dissatisfaction with the controversial Domenech, who is due to step down as national coach after the tournament to make way for former World Cup-winning defender Laurent Blanc.

France won the World Cup on home soil in 1998 and reached the final under Domenech four years ago in Germany, losing on penalties to Italy after star player Zinedine Zidane was sent off for head butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi.

But France has struggled to replace the Zidane generation, which also won the European Championship in 2000. They only qualified for South Africa by virtue of a tight playoff win over Ireland, sealed with the help of Thierry Henry's handballed assist for William Gallas' goal.

Exit at the group stage in South Africa marks their second successive failure in the opening stages of a major tournament after they crashed out of Euro 2008 without winning a match.

Posted by Jessie James

he fate of the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan hinges on his meeting Wednesday with President Barack Obama, who was "angry" after reading the general's remarks about colleagues in a magazine profile to be published Friday.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal will likely resign, a Pentagon source who has ongoing contacts with the general said.

The "magnitude and graveness" of McChrystal's mistake in conducting the interview for the article were "profound," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said McChrystal had "made a significant mistake and exercised poor judgment."

McChrystal apologized Tuesday for the profile, in which he and his staff appear to mock top civilian officials, including the vice president. Two defense officials said the general fired a press aide over the article, set to appear in Friday's edition of Rolling Stone.

"I extend my sincerest apology for this profile. It was a mistake reflecting poor judgment and should never have happened," McChrystal said in a Pentagon statement. "Throughout my career, I have lived by the principles of personal honor and professional integrity. What is reflected in this article falls far short of that standard.

McChrystal has been recalled to Washington to explain his actions to the president. He is expected to meet with Obama in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Gibbs said. Gibbs refused to speculate about McChrystal's fate, but told reporters "all options are on the table."
Gallery: When presidents, generals clash
Video: McChrystal's 'enormous mistake'
Video: Does Obama trust McChrystal?
Video: McChrystal story 'speaks for itself'
RELATED TOPICS

* Stanley McChrystal
* Afghanistan War
* Joe Biden
* Rolling Stone LLC

Obama, questioned about McChrystal before a Cabinet meeting Tuesday afternoon, said he had not made a decision.

"I think it's clear that the article in which he and his team appeared showed poor judgment, but I also want to make sure that I talk to him directly before I make that final decision," he said.

McChrystal is prepared to resign if the president has lost confidence in him, a national security official told CNN. Most of the Pentagon brass, the ofrficial said, hopes he will be upbraided by the commander-in-chief but sent back to continue the mission.

The White House will have more to say after Wednesday's meeting, Gibbs said. He noted, however, that McChrystal did not take part in a teleconference Obama had with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other top officials on Tuesday.

Several elected officials have strongly criticized McChrystal but deferred to the president on the politically sensitive question of whether the general should keep his position. A couple of key congressmen, however, have openly called for McChrystal's removal.

In the profile, writer Michael Hastings writes that McChrystal and his staff had imagined ways of dismissing Vice President Joe Biden with a one-liner as they prepared for a question-and-answer session in Paris, France, in April. The general had grown tired of questions about Biden since earlier dismissing a counterterrorism strategy the vice president had offered.

"'Are you asking about Vice President Biden,' McChrystal says with a laugh. 'Who's that?'"

"'Biden?' suggests a top adviser. 'Did you say: Bite Me?'"

McChrystal does not directly criticize Obama in the article, but Hastings writes that the general and Obama "failed to connect" from the outset. Sources familiar with the meeting said McChrystal thought Obama looked "uncomfortable and intimidated" by the room full of top military officials, according to the article.

Later, McChrystal's first one-on-one meeting with Obama "was a 10-minute photo op," Hastings writes, quoting an adviser to McChrystal. "Obama clearly didn't know anything about him, who he was. Here's the guy who's going to run his f---ing war, but he didn't seem very engaged. The Boss (McChrystal) was disappointed."

The article goes on to paint McChrystal as a man who "has managed to piss off almost everyone with a stake in the conflict," including U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, special representative to Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke and national security adviser Jim Jones. Obama is not named as one of McChrystal's "team of rivals."

Of Eikenberry, who railed against McChrystal's strategy in Afghanistan in a cable leaked to The New York Times in January, the general is quoted as saying, "'Here's one that covers his flank for the history books. Now if we fail, they can say, "I told you so.'"

Hastings writes in the profile that McChrystal has a "special skepticism" for Holbrooke, the official in charge of reintegrating Taliban members into Afghan society and the administration's point man for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"At one point on his trip to Paris, McChrystal checks his BlackBerry, according to the article. 'Oh, not another e-mail from Holbrooke,' he groans. 'I don't even want to open it.' He clicks on the message and reads the salutation out loud, then stuffs the BlackBerry back in his pocket, not bothering to conceal his annoyance.

"'Make sure you don't get any of that on your leg,' an aide jokes, referring to the e-mail."

Both Democrats and Republicans have been strongly critical of McChrystal in the wake of the story. House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey, D-Wisconsin, called McChrystal the latest in a "long list of reckless, renegade generals who haven't seemed to understand that their role is to implement policy, not design it."

McChrystal is "contemptuous" of civilian authority and has demonstrated "a bull-headed refusal to take other people's judgments into consideration."

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-North Dakota, became the first member of the Senate Democratic leadership to call for McChrystal to step down, telling CNN that the remarks were "unbelievably inappropriate and just can't be allowed to stand."

Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Carl Levin, D-Michigan, deferred to Obama on the question of a possible McChrystal resignation. He said the controversy was sending a message of "confusion" to troops in the field. I think it has "a negative effect" on the war effort, he said.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, urged a cooling off period before a final decision is rendered on the general. My "impression is that all of us would be best served by just backing off and staying cool and calm and not sort of succumbing to the normal Washington twitter about this for the next 24 hours."

Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Jim Webb of Virginia -- also key senators on defense and foreign policy issues -- were each strongly critical of McChrystal's remarks, but noted that the general's future is a decision for Obama to make.

Karzai weighed in from abroad, urging Obama to keep McChrystal as the U.S. commander in Afghanistan. The government in Kabul believes McChrystal is a man of strong integrity who has a strong understanding of the Afghan people and their culture, Karzai spokesman Waheed Omar said.

A U.S. military official said Tuesday that McChrystal has spoken to Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and other officials referenced in the story, including Holbrooke, Eikenberry and Jones.

An official at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul said Eikenberry and McChrystal "are both fully committed" to Obama's Afghan strategy and are working together to implement the plan. "We have seen the article and General McChrystal has already spoken to it," according to a statement from an embassy official, making reference to McChrystal's apology.

"I have enormous respect and admiration for President Obama and his national security team, and for the civilian leaders and troops fighting this war and I remain committed to ensuring its successful outcome," McChrystal said in the closing to his apology.

Rolling Stone executive editor Eric Bates, however, struck a less optimistic tone during an interview with CNN on Tuesday.

The comments made by McChrystal and other top military aides during the interview were "not off-the-cuff remarks," he said. They "knew what they were doing when they granted the access." The story shows "a deep division" and "war within the administration" over strategy in Afghanistan, he contended.

McChrystal and his staff "became aware" that the Rolling Stone article would be controversial before it was published, Hastings told CNN Tuesday. He said he "got word from (McChrystal's) staff ... that there was some concern" about possible fallout from the story.

Obama tapped McChrystal to head the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan in the spring of 2009 shortly after dismissing Gen. David McKiernan.

Posted by Jessie James

The net wealth of Asian millionaires has eclipsed that of rich Europeans for the first time, largely because of the relative health of stock markets in Hong Kong, India and China last year, according to a new survey.

The annual Merrill Lynch Wealth Management /Capgemini analysis of investors with $1m or more in assets found that as of late last year, there were 3m millionaires in both the Asia-Pacific and Europe. The survey quantified the wealth held in Asia at $9,700bn, compared with $9,500bn in Europe.

Nick Tucker, head of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management's operations for the UK and Ireland, said: "It's not a bubble. Asia has caught up with Europe in terms of its high-net worth population and their wealth."

The survey defines millionaires as people with net financial wealth of more than $1m, excluding their primary residence.

The rise of Asian millionaires is being tracked by the industry that manages the fortunes of rich individuals, with banks moving senior staff to Singapore and Hong Kong to chase new clients.

After taking a hit in 2008 during the financial crisis, the wealth of the world's millionaires recovered last year with the upswing in stock markets, rising 19 per cent to $39,000bn.

North Americans are still the best-off. At the end of last year, the continent was home to 3.1m millionaires worth $10,700bn.

The US, Japan and Germany produce about half of all millionaires, who were numbered at 10m in 2009. China was ranked fourth, boasting 477,000 individuals with $1m or more in their accounts. India is catching up, having seen the number of millionaires rise more than 50 per cent to 126,756 in 2009.

Though the UK economy shrank, British millionaires swelled to 448,100, up 24 per cent from 2008. Russian millionaires also saw their ranks rise to 117,700.

The Middle East struggled, with the United Arab Emirates losing 19 per cent of its millionaires in 2009 as the Dubai property crisis took its toll.

Investments by the wealthy in fixed-income instruments crept up to 31 per cent from 29 per cent in 2008 and allocations to equities also increased slightly to 29 per cent from 25 per cent in the previous year.

Cash holdings dropped, meanwhile, as investors grew dissatisfied with the poor rates on high street banks' savings accounts.

Demand for art, coins, antiques and wines picked up again toward the tail end of last year, as the wealthy sought out collectables with "tangible, long-term" value, the study said.

Posted by Jessie James

The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) is the world union of Humanist, rationalist, secularist and atheist organisations with over 100 member organizations in more than 40 countries. IHEU promotes and defends freedom of conscience and expression, and advocates for the separation of religion and state. IHEU co-ordinates the activities of its member organisations and offers them advice and guidance on policy issues and strategy. It fosters the growth of new Humanist groups, and represents Humanist interests at the UN, UNESCO, UNICEF and the Council of Europe. More information can be found on the website www.iheu.org.

HIVOS is the renowned Dutch Humanist funding agency, and a Specialist Member of IHEU, with headquarters in The Hague in the Netherlands, and regional offices in Bangalore, Harare and Costa Rica. More information can be found on the website www.hivos.nl.

IHEU and HIVOS have been collaborating since 1988 to promote a Humanist oriented development, through human rights and Humanist networking oriented projects. All applications regarding this program should be directed to IHEU as specified below.

Who can apply for funding?
This grants programme is for Humanist organizations only. The following organizations can apply:

1. IHEU Member Organizations in developing countries (according to the DAC list),
2. organizations that have received grants under the IHEU/HIVOS program in one of the last 10 years, and
3. organizations pre-qualified by application (by 1 August 2010).

Organizations that are not members of IHEU can apply for pre-qualification by sending in the pre-qualification application form. See more information on the criteria in the form.

Grant criteria
The project should achieve specified goals in one or more of the following areas:

* promoting Humanism,
* promoting secularism,
* promoting human rights,
* promoting scientific method, or
* building competence and capacity of the organization itself.

Promoting Humanism: The project is promoting Humanism as a life-stance to politicians, media or the general public. The activities of such a project could include public meetings, seminars, advertizing, media coverage, publishing, articles in printed media, etc. The project will have to include an assessment of the effect of the activities on the target audience.

Promoting secularism: The project is promoting separation of state and religion and/or equal treatment of secular and religious life-stances to politicians, media or the general public. The activities of such a project could include public meetings, seminars, advertizing, media coverage, publishing, articles in printed media, etc. The project will have to include an assessment of the effect of the activities on the target audience.

Promoting Human Rights: The project is promoting the human rights of people with a secular life-stance, and/or supporting human rights of other specific groups suffering from discrimination based on religion, caste, descent, work or gender. The activities of such a project could include promotion of new legislature, exposing human rights violations of the government and advocacy towards politicians, media or the general public.

Promoting scientific method: The project is promoting critical thinking and scientific method as opposed to pseudo-science, superstition and alternative religions. The activities of such a project could include means to popularize science, propagating scientific method, producing information material, skeptical activities towards witchcraft, sorcery, astrology, etc.

Building organizational capacity: The project is strengthening the organization’s ability to reach out to new potential members, to grow and prosper. The activities of such a project could include training of staff, elected officers and other volunteers, sending representatives to meetings or conferences organized by IHEU or one of its Member Organizations, improving fundraising capabilities, or improving gender equality or youth participation in the organization.

Funding availability
Budgets in applications must be made in Euros and also indicate the local currency equivalent. Projects should preferably be completed within the year of 2011, but projects lasting up to two years can apply for funding for both years from the start. A total of Euros 75,000 is available in 2010, of which Euros 30,000 is already allocated for multiple-year projects funded in 2009. The maximum funding for a single project is Euro 10,000 per year. However, IHEU encourages smaller proposals from new Humanist groups. The project should be partly funded by the Humanist organization applying for grant, and not be solely reliant upon external funding.

Where travel funding is allocated, the cheapest economy class air fare / Apex air fare / cheapest train travel along with minimum living expenses only will be paid. The purpose of travel must be consistent with the projects that IHEU would normally support under this funding programme. The grant cannot be used for capital costs, e.g. equipment, computer, etc.

When approved, funding is guaranteed for only one year at a time. IHEU may increase or decrease the level of funding requested. Renewal of funding will depend on project performance, applicants’ compliance with IHEU's reporting and performance criteria (which will be strictly monitored), and of course, on other funding applications that IHEU is evaluating in that year. Where appropriate, IHEU will also consult with other Humanist organizations which may also be funding Humanist activities, to ensure there is no overlap in funding allocations.

All funding recipients will have to provide an interim report on the project by 31 July 2011 and a full report with detailed accounts by March 2012. Recipients who have received grants from IHEU for other projects in the last five years will have to have completed their reporting and accounting for those projects.

Funding recipients will be expected to acknowledge IHEU's assistance in their publications and project material.

Application Form
The application form, available here, must provide sufficient detail for your proposal to be evaluated without further reference to you.

The proposal must be realistic and clearly state the project activities and the practical results that are expected. It must clearly show the financial participation of the applicant, and specify if funding will be required for more than one year. Individuals applying for funding should state reasons why their proposal is not routed through a Humanist organisation.

The most common issue with unsuccessful applications is that they are long on problem description, but short on how the proposed activities will help solve the problem and to document that effect. We encourage applicants to pay particular attention to this in the applications.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to check their own eligibility and local legal position for receiving IHEU's funds. Usually, a Chartered Accountant, an advocate or your local Government Charity Commissioner's office can give you written advice on this matter. Please include such a certificate where such laws exist in your country.

Project Assessment and Monitoring
Once funds are allocated, disbursement will take place after IHEU enters into a contract with the recipient organisation. IHEU will monitor the project’s progress closely, and an external evaluation will be conducted in 2011. All fund recipients are expected to fully cooperate with IHEU and HIVOS and their representatives by providing information and ready access to records to enable evaluation of the projects.

Schedule
Funding applications for 2010 must arrive at IHEU’s London office by email by 1 September 2010. All applicants will be informed about the result of their application in November 2010. Please do not ask for information about how your application is being processed before these dates.

Ensure that you can receive email from IHEU. See our help page.
Time Activity

*
1 August 2010 Deadline for pre-qualification applications
*
1 September 2010 Application deadline
*
November 2010 IHEU will notify applicants of the result
*
December 2010 Recipients send in the Grants Acceptance Agreement
*
January 2011 IHEU will transfer 80% of the grant to recipient
*
March 2011 Recipient sends project initiation report
*
July 2011 Recipient sends interim report
*
August2011 IHEU will transfer 20% of grant to recipient
*
March 2012 Recipient sends final report and accounts


Moreinfo: http://www.iheu.org/funding2010

Funding Opportunity Announcement for global programs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) in refugee and conflict-affected populations, including research and assessments to strengthen GBV prevention and response interventions among populations of concern.

Funding Opportunity Number: PRM-SGP-10-CA-06022010

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number:

19.522 - Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Strategic Global Priorities

Announcement issuance date: Wednesday June 2, 2010.

Proposal submission deadline: Thursday July 1, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) EDT. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

ADVISORY: Grants.gov is expected to experience continued high volume of activity in the near future. PRM strongly recommends submitting your proposal early to allow time to address difficulties that may arise due to system delays.

Proposed Program Start Dates: July15-September 1, 2010

Duration of Activity: No more than 12 months.

I. FY 2010 Funding Opportunity Announcement for global programs to better prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) in refugee and conflict-affected populations, focusing on capacity-building, research and assessments to strengthen GBV prevention and response interventions among PRM populations of concern. Proposals should aim to strengthen the broader international community’s response rather than building the capacity of a specific or single organization. Proposals for GBV prevention and response programs in specific locations should be submitted through the appropriate regional and/or country specific funding opportunity announcement rather than through this announcement.

Applicants must clearly show how their planned projects will benefit PRM’s primary target populations.

PRM is seeking to support:

a) Global projects which seek to build the capacity of NGO and implementing partners to prevent and respond to GBV, including Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). PRM will consider proposals that provide assistance to refugees, returnees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Colombia and the North Caucasus. In all other regions, at least 50% of beneficiaries should be refugees or refugee returnees.

Examples of projects include, but are not limited to, the following illustrative list:

· Strengthening SEA prevention and response, including training for humanitarian actors in conducting SEA investigations;

· Training for implementing partners on GBV standards and/or managing GBV programming;

· Designing InterAgency guidelines, accountability frameworks and/or tools on GBV and/or SEA.

b) Projects involving research, assessments, or formative evaluations that could inform and strengthen PRM policy and programming for GBV prevention and response among PRM populations of concern per the mandates of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). PRM will prioritize proposals that focus largely on refugees and refugee returnees.

Examples of projects include, but are not limited to, the following illustrative list:

· Development of standards or best practices for psychosocial assistance, livelihood interventions, or addressing the needs of youth and adolescent GBV survivors.

· Research on best practices for monitoring and evaluating GBV interventions.

· Research on the links between education, fuel/firewood, engaging men/boys and GBV.

All standards and indicators developed should build on ongoing work in this field and adhere to existing guidelines and research, such as the Sphere Guidelines and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) GBV Guidelines.

Research, assessments, or formative evaluations should include concrete policy and program recommendations for relevant stakeholders.

PRM will accept proposals from any organization, including universities and research institutes, proposing to work in the above mentioned areas. Given budgetary constraints, priority will be given to proposals from organizations that can demonstrate:

· A working relationship and/or coordination with UNHCR, current UNHCR funding, and/or a letter of support from UNHCR for the proposed activities and/or knowledge of UNHCR operations and findings from previous UNHCR research and evaluations;

· A proven track record in providing capacity building programs on GBV prevention and response;

or

A proven track record conducting research on or evaluations of humanitarian assistance programs and policies for refugees and/or conflict victims;

· Evidence of coordination with international organizations (IOs), other NGOs, community-based organizations and – if applicable – local authorities working on related research and/or activities;

· Evidence of subject-matter expertise, and familiarity with current and past research and activities on GBV;

· A concrete data collection and implementation plan, project objectives and indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, and well-conceived linkages between research findings and recommendations for PRM metrics, policy, and/or programs;

or

A concrete implementation plan with well-conceived objectives and indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and reliable, time-bound and trackable, have established baselines, and include at least one outcome or impact indicator per objective;

· A budget that is appropriate for meeting the proposal’s objectives and demonstrates co-funding by non-U.S. government sources;

· Appropriate targeting of populations in coordination with UNHCR and other relevant organizations. Because of PRM's mandate to provide protection, assistance, and sustainable solutions for refugees and certain other victims of conflict, research activities should focus on the unique issues these populations of concern face;

· Adherence to relevant international standards for humanitarian assistance. See FY2010 General PRM NGO Guidelines for a complete list of sector-specific standards.

IOs that are engaged in programs relevant to the assistance addressed by this PRM funding opportunity announcement should ensure that these programs are made known to PRM on or before the closing date of this announcement so that PRM can evaluate all IO and NGO programs for funding consideration.

Funding Limits: In FY2010, PRM anticipates providing $1.4 million for global programs to prevent and respond to GBV in refugee and conflict-affected populations, including research and assessments to strengthen GBV prevention and response interventions among populations of concern. Individual proposals may not exceed $300,000 in PRM-requested funding. As stated in the FY 2010 General PRM NGO Guidelines, PRM looks favorably on cost-sharing efforts and seeks to support projects with a diverse donor base and/or resources from the submitting organization.

Proposal Submission Requirements:

See “How to Apply” (http://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant_faqs.jsp#applying) on Grants.gov for complete details on requirements, and note the following highlights:

· Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov. Organizations not registered with Grants.gov should register well in advance of the July 1 deadline as it can take up to two weeks to finalize registration (sometimes longer for non-U.S. based NGOs to get the required registration numbers). To register with Grants.gov, organizations must first receive a DUNS number and register with the Central Contract Registry (CCR) which can take weeks and sometimes months. See “Applicant FAQs” section on Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov/help/applicant_faqs.jsp#applying) for complete details on registering.

· Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application on Grants.gov. Applicants who have done so in the past and experienced technical difficulties were not able to meet the deadline. Please note: Grants.gov is expected to experience continued high volumes of activity in the near future. PRM strongly recommends submitting your proposal early to avoid submission delays. We recommend that organizations, particularly first-time applicants, submit applications via Grants.gov no later than one week before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical difficulties that could result in an application not being considered.

· If you encounter technical difficulties with Grants.gov please contact the Grants.gov Help Desk at support@grants.gov or by calling 1-800-518-4726. Applicants who are unable to submit applications via Grants.gov due to Grants.gov technical difficulties and who have reported the problem(s) to the Grants.gov help desk and received a case number and had a service request opened to research the problem(s), should contact PRM Program Officer Shanna Devoy at (202) 459-9349 or devoysk@state.gov to determine whether an alternative method of submission is appropriate.

· Applications must be submitted under the authority of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) at the applicant organization. Having proposals submitted by agency headquarters helps to avoid possible technical problems.

· NGOs that have not received PRM funding prior to the U.S. Government fiscal year ending September 30, 2004 must be prepared to demonstrate that they meet the financial and accounting requirements of the U.S. Government by submitting copies of 1) the most recent external financial audit, 2) non-profit tax status under IRS 501 (c)(3), 3) a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, and 4) an Employer ID (EIN)/Federal Tax Identification number.


Proposal Content, Formatting and Template:

Please refer to the “Proposal Submission and Review Process” section in the FY 2010 General PRM NGO Guidelines. PRM strongly encourages organizations applying for PRM funding to use the PRM recommended proposal and budget templates. Templates can be requested by sending an email to PRM's NGO Coordinator. You must type “PRM NGO Templates” in the subject line to receive an automated reply containing the template.


PLEASE TAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN THE PRM’s FY2010 NGO GUIDELINES:

This announcement is designed to accompany the FY 2010 General PRM NGO Guidelines, which contain additional administrative information and explain in detail PRM’s NGO funding strategy and priorities. Please use both the FY 2010 General PRM NGO Guidelines and this announcement to ensure that the proposed activities are in line with PRM’s priorities and that your proposal submission is in full compliance with PRM requirements. Proposal submissions that do not meet all of the requirements outlined in these guidelines will not be considered. PRM recommends using the proposal and budget templates that are available upon email request from PRM's NGO Coordinator. Please send an email, with the phrase “PRM NGO templates” in the subject line, to PRM's NGO Coordinator.

· Proposals should outline how the NGO will acknowledge PRM funding.

· Focus on outcome or impact indicators as much as possible. At a minimum, each objective should have one outcome or impact indicator. Wherever possible, baselines should be established before the start of the project.

· To increase PRM’s ability to track the impact of PRM funding, include specific information on locations of projects and beneficiaries. Any project involving the building or maintenance of physical infrastructure must include coordinates of site locations (place name, P-Code, latitude and longitude coordinates).

· Budget must include a specific breakdown of funds being provided by UNHCR, other USG agencies, other donors, and your own organization (where applicable). PRM strongly encourages multi-lateral support for humanitarian programs.

· Organizations that received PRM funding in FY 2009 for activities that are being proposed for funding under this announcement must include the most recent quarterly progress report against indicators outlined in the cooperative agreement. If an organization’s last quarterly report was submitted more than six weeks prior to the submission of a proposal in response to this funding announcement, the organization must include, with its most recent quarterly report, updates that show any significant progress made on objectives since the last report.


Reports and Reporting Requirements:

Program reporting: PRM requires quarterly and final program reports describing and analyzing the results of activities undertaken during the validity period of the agreement. It is highly suggested that NGOs receiving PRM funding use the PRM recommended program report template. To request this template, send an email with the phrase “PRM NGO templates” in the subject line to PRM's NGO Coordinator.

Financial Reports: Financial reports are required within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar year quarter during the validity period of the agreement; a final financial report covering the entire period of the agreement is required within ninety (90) days after the expiration date of the agreement.

For more details regarding PRM’s reporting requirements please see FY 2010 General PRM NGO Guidelines.

Proposal Review Process:


PRM will conduct a formal competitive review of all proposals submitted in response to this funding announcement. A review panel will evaluate submissions based on the above-referenced proposal evaluation criteria and PRM priorities in the context of available funding.

In order to provide NGOs with timely feedback, PRM will inform applicants of the panel’s decision to recommend or not recommend funding proposed activities, and may request revised proposals and/or budgets based on feedback from the panel. PRM will follow up with formal notifications to NGOs of final decisions taken by Bureau management.

PRM Points of Contact:

Should NGOs have technical questions related to this announcement, they should contact the PRM staff listed below prior to proposal submission. (Note: Responses to technical questions from PRM do not indicate a commitment to fund the program discussed.):

PRM Program Officer Shanna Devoy (devoysk@state.gov); Washington, D.C.

PRM Program Officer Nicole Gaertner (gaertnernr@state.gov), Washington, D.C.

Moreinfo: http://www.state.gov/g/prm/142602.htm

Anxious officials at an Ontario zoo made a desperate and direct appeal Sunday to whoever stole a tiger and two camels this week, offering a reward not for the animals’ return, but simply for proof that they’re being well treated.

Quebec police are continuing to search for Jonas the tiger and his camel companions, Todd and Sean.

The animals went missing Friday when the truck and trailer they were travelling back from the Maritimes in was stolen from a motel near Drummondville, Que., east of Montreal.

On Saturday, a $20,000 reward was announced for the safe return of the animals, but Michael Hackenberger, director of Bowmanville Zoo just east of Toronto, said the reward failed to produce any leads.

So on Sunday, the zoo announced it is offering a $2,000 reward for a photo of the animals being given water. Concerns are growing for the health of the animals, particularly the tiger, that it may be in distress if it has not received water since Friday morning.

“This was a crime of opportunity and now they have something they don’t know how to deal with, and we are trying to make this as easy as possible to get out from underneath this,” said Hackenberger.

“That’s a direct appeal to the captors.”

The zoo has asked anyone with information about the animals to call the zoo directly at 1-905-926-5605 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-905-926-5605 end_of_the_skype_highlighting and has pledged that they will not be charged. A photo of the animals may be uploaded via the zoo’s website.

Police are continuing to search the area near St. Eulalie, Que., northeast of Drummondville.

That’s where the pickup truck that had been hauling the animals’ trailer was found in a church parking early Saturday morning, about 73 kilometres from the scene of the theft.

There was no sign, however, of the trailer or the animals.

Police continue to comb through the farming country and its hundreds of barns and large garages hoping to find the trio.

“It’s now been 56 hours since we know the animals received direct care so we are very, very concerned,” said Hackenberger.

Hackenberger expressed frustration that the large exotic animals have failed to turn up two days after what is thought to be a simple vehicle theft.

“Who knows if we are dealing with goofy young kids who decided that a pet tiger was the greatest thing in the world? There is a lot of Hells Angels down here and they are known for having pet lions and pet tigers as part of their presence, so it gets awkward,” said Hackenberger.

He still believes it was unlikely the thieves knew they were also stealing a tiger and two camels because the animals are “virtually impossible” to see from outside the trailer.

The reward announced Friday was a joint effort by the Zoo and anonymous donors calling themselves “Friends of Jonas.” It was announced with the blessing of Quebec provincial police.

“There is a heightened concern on the part of the Bowmanville Zoo that despite intense police efforts we still have no knowledge of the welfare of these animals. We hope with the encouragement of $20,000 someone will come forward and provide us with information,” said Hackenberger.

The animals are valuable to the zoo, which works closely with the television and film industry. Trainers have spent “thousands of man-hours developing the animals,” he said.

It is not believed that the animals were targeted by animal rights activists.

“It’s a bit confusing because you would have thought they would have dumped the trailers (with the animals inside) and hung on to the truck, but apparently not,” said Hackenberger.

“It’s just like an Amber Alert. The longer this goes on, the more complex and unlikely the scenario is,” he said.

The Bowmanville Zoo is one of the largest suppliers of trained animals for the feature film and television industry. On its website, it says it maintains the largest stable of trained movie and television animals in Canada.

Hackenberger is pleading that the thieves provide water and shade to the animals. He said the camels, which are in stalls on the trailer, can be given buckets of water, while the tiger can be given water by extending a water-filled turkey baster through the cage because the tiger knows how to drain water from the baster.

News reports of the animals’ plight have spread worldwide through the BBC News website and others as far away as Malaysia and Qatar.

Quebec police have tasked 40 officers and a search helicopter with finding the tiger and two camels.

Police are looking for an aluminum EBY brand trailer, which resembles the kind used to haul livestock, with an Ontario licence plate number of E4398Y. Hackenberger asks that if anyone spots the trailer parked somewhere they try to open any windows that are closed and contact police.

Jonas the tiger was contained in an internal cage inside the trailer so he could not escape, Hackenberger said. There is no threat posed by the camels, he said, animals that are described as “nice.”

Read it on Global News: Zoo officials plead for proof that missing tiger, camels OK


Source: http://news.globaltv.com/world/Race+find+missing+tiger+camels+Quebec/3176596/story.html

Russia began to cut off natural gas supplies to Belarus on Monday as talks over unpaid debts continued, Russian state media reported.

President Dmitry Medvedev gave the order for Russian energy giant Gazprom to start restricting gas supplies, company CEO Alexei Miller said, according to official Russian news agency RIA-Novosti.

Miller said the cut, which began Monday, will be "gradual, daily and proportional to the volume of debt."

Belarus has refused to pay Russian gas rates of $169 per 1,000 cubic meters for the first quarter of the year and $185 for the second quarter, RIA-Novosti reported. The former Soviet republic has instead been paying $150 since Jan. 1, ringing up a large debt in the process.

Russia's action could hurt customers farther down the pipeline.

Belarus has said it will be technologically unable to ensure complete natural gas transit to Europe, if Russia cuts gas supplies to Belarus by 85 percent, state media reported.

In the past, other countries including Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, Greece and Turkey have complained that their gas supplies have been affected as Russia trimmed output to upstream customers like Belarus and Ukraine.

Gazprom is the world's biggest producer and exporter of natural gas -- and Russia's most powerful company.

It controls 20 percent of the world's natural gas reserves and operates the world's largest gas distribution network covering an area from Europe to the Far East, according to its website.

Gazprom exports energy to 32 countries and provides around 25 percent of the European Union's gas supplies.

Formed in 1989 to replace the Soviet Ministry of the Gas Industry, Gazprom is closely tied to the Russian government, which owns a controlling 50 percent stake in the company. Medvedev is a former Gazprom chairman.

In recent years, an increasingly confident Moscow has used Gazprom to assert its authority over Russia's former sphere of influence by offering heavily subsidized gas to ex-Soviet countries.

But that policy has led to disputes as Gazprom has then sought to raise prices.

Gazprom has switched off gas supplies to another former republic -- Ukraine -- several times in recent years in a row over payments and Kiev's rejection of proposals to hike rates. Those disputes ended earlier this year when Russia agreed to a 30 percent drop in the price of natural gas sold to Ukraine, in exchange for permission to extend Russia's lease of a major naval base in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, Ukraine, for 25 years.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/06/21/russia.belarus.gas/index.html?hpt=T2

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) was established by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) in 1966 primarily "to provide to the participating countries high quality graduate study in agriculture; promote, undertake, and coordinate research programs related to the needs and problems of the Southeast Asian region; and disseminate the findings of agricultural research and experimentation." The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) invites applications for its graduate scholarship (MS and PhD) in agriculture and related fields (including biological sciences, social sciences, economics and statistics, forestry and fisheries, environmental sciences, agro-industrial technology and engineering, biochemistry, and development management).

PhD Research Scholarship
Launched in November 2005, the SEARCA PhD Research Scholarship provides financial support to a limited number of qualified PhD students whose researches are relevant to the priority thrusts of SEARCA.


This scholarship program aims to:

1.


Provide PhD students the opportunity to use the resources and facilities available at SEARCA and its network of universities for their research;
2.

Produce quality research papers for publication; and
3.

Enable them to work with SEARCA's R&D personnel on mutually identified areas of concerns/interests in agriculture and rural development.

Eligibility for the Grant
Any graduate student who is a citizen of any SEAMEO member country and pursuing a PhD in agriculture or related sciences from any university in the world is eligible to apply for the scholarship.

The applicant must have already completed his/her course work with an approved dissertation proposal and is ready to conduct the dissertation research.The applicant’s research must focus on any of SEARCA’s priority thrusts under the broad themes of natural resource management and promotion of agricultural competitiveness.

Application Requirements

*


Filled out Application Form (see below);
*

Letter of application for the research scholarship;
*

Recommendation letter from the Dean of Graduate School of the university where the student is pursuing his/her degree program;
*

Dissertation research outline/proposal approved by the Advisory Committee and Dean of Graduate School;
*

Budgetary requirement for the entire research duly attested and recommended by the major adviser and Dean of Graduate School;
*

Certified transcript of academic records for all courses taken at the PhD level;
*

Curriculum vitae;
*

Letter from the student certifying that he/she is not receiving any other research grant from any other institution. If partial funding has been obtained from other sources, a certification from the funding agency indicating the amount of grant and the items in the research that are covered by the grant; and
*

Research timetable indicating the activities involved in the research, the expected date of defense and expected date of seminar paper presentation.

Application deadlines are 1 April and 1 September.
Applications should be addressed to:
Dr. Editha C. Cedicol, Manager of Graduate Scholarship Department, SEARCA, Los Baños 4031 Laguna, Philippines
PhD Research Scholarship

*


SEARCA PhD Research Scholarship application form
*

PhD Research Scholarship Invitation for Applications

MS/PhD Scholarships
Its people are Southeast Asia’s most potent force for progress. Hence, agricultural human resource development has been SEARCA’s primary goal since its establishment. SEARCA is one of the "centers of excellence" established by SEAMEO. As such, SEARCA assists SEAMEO member countries in producing highly trained human resources in agriculture and related sciences to accelerate agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia.


Two of SEARCA's activities that carry out this mandate are the Graduate Study Program and the University Consortium. Both activities are handled by the Graduate Scholarship Department (GSD).

This degree scholarship was initiated in academic year 1968-69 and aims to ensure the relevance and responsiveness of Southeast Asia's agricultural scientists and professionals to global sustainable development issues.


The program provides support for advanced studies leading to the MS and PhD degrees in agriculture, forestry, and related fields. Thus, SEARCA aims to prepare grantees for positions of leadership in developing economies of SEAMEO member countries.


Applicants may also view information on benefits and privileges of scholars, places of study, application procedures, where to apply, recruitment procedures, and conditions of the grant.

Benefits and Privileges
The SEARCA scholarship offers the following benefits and privileges:
Financial Support covers stipend, tuition, international and domestic travel allowances, thesis/dissertation support, book allowance, and health insurance. The domestic travel allowance is sometimes allowed to support registration fees in training courses/seminars/workshops.


Discounted Accommodation. Scholars are encouraged to stay at the SEARCA Residence Hotel (SRH) to meet other graduate students of different nationalities. Scholars who bring their families with them can stay in SEARCA apartments, also at subsidized rental fee.


Assistance with Student Visa Processing. The Center takes care of processing the extension of its scholars' student visas for the duration of their scholarship.


Computer Purchase Loan. This is given to scholars without interest and payable to the Center in a specified number of months through automatic stipend deduction.


In-house and Other Training Courses or Seminars. Scholars may avail of these training courses upon request, especially in fields related to their studies. Official functions like the weekly SEARCA Agriculture and Development Seminar Series are also open to them. They are, therefore, exposed to exchange of ideas outside their classrooms.


Use of SEARCA Facilities. Facilities open to SEARCA scholars are the Center’s Library and Email Room. Scholars studying at UPLB are given free SEARCA e-mail accounts and e-mail access.


Participation in Sociocultural Activities. SEARCA scholars are introduced to the SEARCA family through orientation/welcome party. Being part of the SEARCA family, they are invited to the Center's summer outing, sportsfest, anniversary celebration, and Christmas parties.


Counseling. Scholars who are experiencing academic difficulties and those with personal problems may seek guidance from the Graduate Scholarship Department.


Places of Study
Any of the following universities, as well as those that have institutional arrangements with SEARCA, may serve as study posts of SEARCA MS and PhD scholars:

*


University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
*

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
*

Kasetsart University (KU)Bangkok, Thailand
*

Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB)Bogor, Indonesia
*

University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD)Quezon City, Philippines
*

University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV)Miag-ao, Iloilo, Philippines
*

Thammasat UniversityThailand
*

National University of SingaporeSingapore
*

University of IndonesiaJakarta, Indonesia
*

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Five of these universities are members of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources. SEARCA serves as the Secretariat of the University Consortium.

SEARCA reserves the right to make the final decision on the choice of ten scholars' study post. Therefore, applicants are required to submit to SEARCA applications for admission to the Graduate Schools of three universities in the list.

Where to Apply
Brunei Darussalam THE PERMANENT SECRETARYMinistry of EducationBandar Seri Begawan BB 3510Brunei DarussalamTel: (673-2) 381 060Fax: (673-2) 380 101

THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTUREDepartment of AgricultureMinistry of Industry and Primary ResourcesOld Airport Berakas BB 3510Brunei DarussalamTel: (673-2) 380 144Fax: (673-2) 382 226

THE DIRECTOR OF FORESTRYDepartment of ForestryMinistry of Industry and Primary ResourcesJalan Menteri BesarBandar Seri Begawan BB 3910Brunei DarussalamTel: (673-2) 222687 / 222450Fax: (673-2) 241012

THE DIRECTOR OF FISHERIESDepartment of FisheriesMinistry of Industry and Primary ResourcesJalan Menteri BesarBandar Seri Begawan BB 3910Brunei DarussalamTel: (673-2) 242067 to 8/ 243412Fax: (673-2) 242069
Cambodia
THE DIRECTORCultural Relations and Scholarship DepartmentMinistry of Education, Youth, and Sports80 Norodom BoulevardPhnom Penh, CambodiaTel: (855-23) 820 268, 326 156Fax: (855-23) 219 576

THE MINISTERMinistry of Agriculture and Forestry and Fisheries200 Norodom Blvd.Phnom Penh, CambodiaTel: (855-12) 211 351, 211 352Fax: (855-23) 217 320

THE MINISTERMinistry of Rural DevelopmentPRIP Office, 3rd FloorCorner Road 169 and Russian Blvd.Phnom Penh, CambodiaTel: (855-23) 884 160, (855-12) 938 072Fax: (855-23) 884 160

Indonesia
THE HEADBureau for International CooperationMinistry of Education and CultureGedung C. Lantai 7Jln Jenderal SudirmanSenayan, Jakarta 10270 IndonesiaTel: (62-21) 581 665, 582 954, 584 477Fax: (62-21) 573 6870

THE MINISTERMinistry of AgricultureRoom No. 3, 5th Floor, Building C, Jl. HarsonoRagunan, Pasar MingguJakarta, IndonesiaTel: (62-21) 581 665, 582 954, 584 477Fax (62-21) 573 8181, 572 0162

THE MINISTERMinistry of Forestry and Estate CropsManggala WanabhaktiJl. Jen Gatot Subroto, Jakarta 10270 IndonesiaTel: (62-21) 573 0213, 573 0475Fax: (62-21) 573 8732

Lao PDR
THE DIRECTORDepartment of Planning and International CooperationMinistry of Education and Sports P.O. Box 67, Lane Xang Ave.Vientiane, Lao PDRTel: (856-21) 217 927, 212 108, 216 005Fax: (856-21) 216 006, 212 108, 215 628


THE MINISTERMinistry of Agriculture and ForestryP.O. Box 811, Lane Xang Ave.Vientiane, Lao PDRTel: (856-21) 412 340Fax: (856-21) 412 341
Malaysia
THE SECRETARY GENERALInternational Affairs DivisionMinistry of Higher EducationBlock E3, Parcel EThe Federal Government Administrative Center62605 Putrajaya, MalaysiaTel: (60-3) 8883 5000Fax: (60-3) 8889 1327

THE MINISTERMinistry of Agriculture1st Floor, Wisma Tani, Jalan 03Sultan Salahuddin 50632Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaTel: (60-3) 2671 5000Fax: (60-3) 2691 3758

THE MINISTERMinistry of Rural Development10th Floor, Menara Aetna UniversalJalan Raja ChulanKuala Lumpur, MalaysiaFax: (856-21) 412 341
Myanmar
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL (Training)Department of Education, Planning, and TrainingMinistry of EducationThein Byu Road, Botahtaung TownshipYangon, MyanmarTel (95-1) 286 704, 289 538Fax: (95-1) 285 480
THE MINISTERMinistry of Agriculture and IrrigationThirimaingalal Lane, Yankin TownshipYangon, MyanmarTel: (95-1) 663 270Fax: (95-1) 663 984
THE MINISTERMinistry of ForestryThirimingala Lane, Kabe AyePagoda Road, Mayangon TownshipYangon, MyanmarTel: (95-1) 289 184Fax: (95-1) 665 661
Philippines
THE CHAIRCommission on Higher Education3rd Floor, Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) BuildingSan Miguel Ave., Pasig City, PhilippinesTel: (63-2) 910 0823, 633 2713Fax: (63-2) 635 5829
THE SECRETARYDepartment of AgricultureElliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, PhilippinesTel: (63-2) 928 8741 to 65Fax: (63-2) 929 8183
THE SECRETARYDepartment of Environment and Natural ResourcesDENR Building, Visayas Ave.Diliman, Quezon City, PhilippinesTel: (63-2) 929 6633 to 35 / 929 6626 to 29Fax: (63-2) 420 4352
Singapore THE HEADInternational Relations Planning DivisionMinistry of Education1 North Buona Vista DriveSingapore 138675Tel: (65-6) 879 6036Fax (65-6) 775 2457
Thailand
THE DEPUTY PERMANENT SECRETARY Ministry of EducationRajdamnern AvenueBangkok 10300, ThailandTel: (66-2) 628 5647Fax: (66-2) 281 0953
THE MINISTERMinistry of Agriculture and CooperativesThanon Ratchadamnoen NokBangkok 10200, ThailandTel: (66-2) 281 5884Fax: (66-2) 280 1691
Timor-Leste
THE DIRECTORDirectorate of Tertiary EducationMinistry of Education, Culture, Youth and SportsVilla Verde, DiliTel: (67-0) 724 4098, 723 4881Fax: (67-0) 333 9025
THE PERMANENT SECRETARYInternational Relations DivisionMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesFomento Building, Dili, P.O. Box 670Fax: (67-0) 390 325121
Vietnam
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERALInternational Cooperation DepartmentMinistry of Education and Training49 Dai Co Viet StreetHanoi, VietnamTel: (84-4) 868 3620Fax: (84-4) 869 3243, 869 4085
THE MINISTERMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development2 Ngoc Ha, Ba DinhHanoi, VietnamTel: (84-4) 823 5804Fax: (84-4) 823 0381
Application Procedure
Any interested national of a SEAMEO member country may apply for scholarship. Applications may be submitted to any one of the following Ministries of his/her own country:

*


Ministy of Education
*

Ministry of Agriculture
*

Ministry of Forestry
*

Ministry of Fisheries
*

Ministry of Rural Development

Application forms and information brochures on the universities that may serve as study posts of SEARCA scholars are available at these Ministries.
Each applicant is required to submit the following documents:

*


SEARCA Scholarship Application Form (2 copies);
*

Application forms for admission to the Graduate School of the universities where the applicant may pursue graduate studies under SEARCA scholarship;
*

Official transcript of academic records of each degree completed (BS transcript for MS applicants and BS and MS transcripts for PhD applicants);
*

Certification of employment;
*

A two-page write-up on agricultural competitiveness or natural resource management;
*

A brief description of the research that the applicant plans to conduct for thesis/dissertation. The research topic must be in line with the priority thrusts of SEARCA. (SEARCA Five-Year Plan may be viewed at http://www.searca.org/web/e_library/reports/SEARCA%208th%20Five-Year%20Plan.pdf);
*

Two copies of passport-size pictures of the applicant;
*

Certification from a medical doctor that the applicant is in good physical and mental health condition and is fit to undertake graduate studies;
*

Official endorsement from the employer;
*

Results of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): score of 550 for paper-based and 213 for computer-based) or IELTS results (6.0). The TOEFL results must be issued by Princeton, New Jersey, USA. Check the schedule and venue of TOEFL tests in your country at http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/tclists/BOTH_a.html or download copy of the schedule here .

Application Forms

*


SEARCA - download
*

UP Los Baños Graduate School (UPLB GS)
- UPLB GS Form No. 1 (Application) download
- UPLB GS Form No. 2 (Recommendation) download
- UPLB GS Form No. 3 (English Proficiency) download
*

UP Diliman (UPD)
- College of Science download
- School of Economics download
*

UP Visayas (UPV)
- Graduate Program in Fisheries download
- Graduate Program in Marine Affairs download
*

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) - Graduate Program download
*

Kasetsart University (KU) - Graduate Program download
*

Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) - Graduate Program download
*

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) - Graduate Program download

Contact detail: gsd@agri.searca.org or ecc@agri.searca.org
More info: http://www.searca.org/web/scholarship/regular_scholarships/degree/index.html