Muammar Gaddafi Death

Libyan authorities are planning a secret burial within the next few hours for ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi following his capture and death.

The BBC's Caroline Hawley in Tripoli says officials early on Friday were still undecided as to where and how it should take place.

Earlier, officials said Col Gaddafi had been killed in crossfire after being captured in his birthplace of Sirte.
Nato is expected to declare an end to its Libya campaign in the coming hours.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the alliance's military operation in Libya could be considered "finished" with the death of Col Gaddafi.

"I think we can say that the military operation is finished, that the whole of Libyan territory is under the control of the National Transitional Council (NTC) and that, subject to a few transitory measures in the week to come, the Nato operation has arrived at its end," he told Europe 1 radio from India.
Our correspondent says that amid scenes of celebration across Libya, the authorities now have to decide how to deal with Col Gaddafi's death and in particular his burial.
However, questions are mounting as to exactly what happened in his last moments following his capture in Sirte, she adds.

The deposed leader's body was believed to still be in Misrata on Friday morning - the town he was taken to following his capture in Sirte.
Authorities have denied he was executed.

Golden pistol

Mr Jibril said Col Gaddafi had been shot in the head in an exchange between Gaddafi loyalists and NTC fighters following his capture.


Video footage suggests Col Gaddafi was dragged through the streets.
An NTC fighter told the BBC he found the former Libyan leader hiding in a drainage pipe and he had begged him not to shoot.

The fighter showed reporters a golden pistol he said he had taken from Col Gaddafi.
Senior NTC member Mohammed Sayeh told the BBC he doubted that the colonel was killed intentionally, but added: "Even if he was killed intentionally, I think he deserves this."

He added: "If they kill him 1,000 times, I think it will not pay back the Libyans what he has done. We've lost over 70,000 of our best men because of this monster."
UK-based human rights group Amnesty International called for "a full, independent and impartial inquiry" into the circumstances of Col Gaddafi's death.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, an ally and friend of the colonel, called his death deplorable.
"They murdered him," Chavez told reporters.

Despite the controversy, celebrations continued late into the night in towns and cities across Libya.
Groups of young men fired guns in the air, and drivers honked their horns in jubilation.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, said Col Gaddafi's death marked the start of a new era for the Libyan people.

Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that with the death of Col Gaddafi, an end to the alliance's involvement in the country "has now moved much closer".

"After 42 years, Col Gaddafi's rule of fear has finally come to an end," he said. "I call on all Libyans to put aside their differences and work together to build a brighter future."
Nato's seven-month campaign of air strikes was carried out under a UN mandate authorising the use of force to protect civilians in Libya.
Nato has carried out some 26,000 sorties and almost 10,000 strike missions.
Corpse filmed
 
Col Gaddafi was toppled from power in August after 42 years in charge of the country.
He was making his last stand in Sirte alongside two of his sons, Mutassim and Saif al-Islam, according to reports.

A body that officials identified as that of Mutassim has been shown on Libyan TV.
A reporter with Reuters news agency described how the body of Mutassim - the former national security adviser to the Libyan government - had been laid out on blankets on the floor of a house in the city of Misrata, while people jostled to take pictures of the corpse with their mobile phones.
There are conflicting reports as to the whereabouts of Saif al-Islam.

Acting Justice Minister Mohammad al-Alagi told AP news agency that Saif al-Islam had been captured and taken to hospital with a leg wound.
But another NTC official said his whereabouts were unknown.

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What Are Structured Settlements

In this article, we wanted to provide a good overview of structured settlements. Interestingly, most people have heard this phrase but when asked what these settlements are, and what they mean, not many can provide a detailed answer. Although not everyone would need to understand structured settlements, if you are one that does, the information provided would prove helpful.

In summary, structured settlements are a type of insurance payment a person received in compensation for some type of personal injury. The intention of this type of policy is to provide the individual with long-term and consistent income as a means of covering not just medical expenses, but also to help with cost of living expenses. What makes this type of insurance different than most is that instead of being paid one lump sum, the individual would receive payments on a regular basis, either monthly or annually.

By having consistent income, the individual now has the ability to take care of bills for him/her and the family at present time and in the future. In addition, receiving money on a regular basis from a structured settlement offers peace of mind. Obviously, if you have experienced a personal injury, that in itself is difficult enough but then to worry about how the doctors and other creditors will be paid is something you should never have to face. With a structured settlement, the stress of finances is eliminated.

Overall, structured settlements offer incredible benefits but as with most things in life, a few pitfalls should be understood. Therefore, before you make the decision to sign a formal contract with the insurance company, it would be important to gain insight into a few things so ultimately, you end up making the best decision possible. Remember, structured settlements are designed to be long-term solutions so the things you decide on today would have an impact on your life for some time to come.

For starters, make sure you ask about the various payment options. Typically, many insurance companies will advise that payments would be paid monthly or annually but in truth, most also pay bi-monthly or a combination of all payment options. In fact, you could choose to have one payment of the year larger than the rest. For instance, you may want a bigger chunk of the policy money at the beginning or ending of the year. In other words, payment options for a structured settlement are generally more flexible than you may initially be lead to believe.

Another thing you need to consider is what happens if you were to decide to sell the structured settlement. This means instead of receiving regular payments, you would sell the settlement to a special company for a fee and in return, they would give you the lump sum. If you talk to a financial expert, he or she would tell you that the last thing you want to do is sell a structured settlement. While having all the money at once is a very attractive proposition, the reason is that you pay a large portion for that privilege. For this reason, selling a structured settlement should always be a last resort.

Now, if you find yourself in a situation where you need all the money, which does happen, then it would be imperative to understand the rules associated with your settlement for selling. In some cases, the insurance policy may have a clause that makes it impossible, or at least difficult to sell. Again, before you choose to purchase a policy of this type, make sure you know what the selling options are, if ever needed.

Finally, the amount of the structured settlement needs to be carefully considered. Of course, you would need to buy what you can afford but again, you want to think long-term. Buying a policy for one dollar amount today may seem adequate. However, but what happens if you hold onto that policy for five years and then something happens where the money was needed. The initial amount may be inadequate because of inflation. Therefore, always think long-term when it comes to buying a structured settlement.

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About Bankrupcty

Bankruptcy.
That word sends chills up the spine. If you're facing the prospect of bankruptcy or in the middle of it right now, you know it's a living nightmare. It can devastate your job, destroy your marriage and steal your peace of mind.
Kathy called my radio show ready to file bankruptcy. Her debts were overwhelming, and her cheating husband had left with his girlfriend. The house was in his name, as was all the debt except $11,000. Kathy was 20 years old, and her brilliant uncle—a lawyer from California—told her to file bankruptcy. Kathy was beat up, beat down, and deserted without help, but she was not bankrupt. When her soon-to-be ex-husband ends up with all the debt in his name, he may be bankrupt, but Kathy won't be.

Why Avoid Bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy is not something I recommend any more than I would recommend divorce. Are there times when good people see no way out and file bankruptcy? Yes, but I will still talk you out of bankruptcy if given the opportunity. Few people who have been through bankruptcy would report that it is a painless wiping-clean of the slate, after which you merrily trot off into your future to start fresh.

Don't let anyone fool you. I have been through bankruptcy and have worked with bankruptcy for decades, and it is not a place you want to visit. Bankruptcy is listed in the top five life-altering negative events that we can go through, along with divorce, severe illness, disability, and loss of a loved one. I would never say that bankruptcy is as bad as losing a loved one, but it is life-altering and leaves deep wounds both to the psyche and the credit report.

Types of Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, which is total bankruptcy, stays on your credit report for10 years. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, more like a payment plan, stays on your credit report for seven years. Bankruptcy, however, is for life. Loan applications and many job applications ask if you have ever filed for bankruptcy. Ever. If you lie to get a loan because your bankruptcy is very old, technically you have committed criminal fraud.
Most bankruptcy cases can be avoided with proper help, such as our certified counselors and the Total Money Makeover. Your Total Money Makeover may involve extensive amputation of stuff, which will be painful, but bankruptcy is much more painful. If you take the thoughtful step backward to get on solid ground instead of looking at the false allure of the quick fix that bankruptcy seems to offer, you will win more quickly and easily. I know from personal experience the pain of bankruptcy, foreclosure, and lawsuits. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and it is not worth it.

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Farmers expect stable rapeseed-mustard prices for the next crop

AHMEDABAD: With the sowing of mustard in Punjab beginning from mid October to November agriculture scientist at the Punab Agriculture University (PAU)predict prices to remain stable.

"The estimated higher global and domestic oilseeds production due to higher acreage and favorable weather conditions is likely to keep rapeseed-mustard prices stable during the coming marketing season, "said Dr Jagrup Singh Sidhu, in charge, Agricultural Market Intelligence Centre (AMIC), Department of Economics and Sociology, PAU. He added that zero import tariffs on edible oils would continue to encourage sufficient imports of palm and other edible oils which is likely to increase by 4 %to reach 9 million tons.

Mustard, one of the most important oilseed crops in India, contributes around 35% in total vegetable oil production to the country. "As part of our research we expect prices in the range of Rs 2250-2450 per quintal during April and May, 2012, depending on the government edible oil import policy and trends in the international edible oil prices,"said Dr Sidhu. Market prices of rapeseed-mustard in the major growing states ruled between Rs. 2250-2700 during 2010-11. The government increased the minimum support price of mustard from Rs 1850 to Rs 2120 per quintal for the marketing season 2011-12.

The centre also wish to add that mustard oil is the third most important edible oil produced in the world after soy oil and palm oil, said Dr Sidhu, revealing that the global oilseed supplies and ending stocks for the year 2010-11 are estimated higher due to increase in production by 2.8 million tons at 447 million tons. However, the world production of rapeseed-mustard is estimated to decline during 2010-2011 from 60.5 million tons to 57.2 million tons due to lower crops in major mustard producing countries such as European Union, China and Canada, he said.

Dr Sidhu said that the production of rapeseed-mustard in the country was estimated at 7.1 million tonnes with area under the crop increasing by 11% at 7.2 million hectares compared to the last year. Rajasthan the leading mustard producing state in India contributing about 45% of total production followed by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and West Bengal. Hapur, Jaipur, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Indore, Alwar, Bharatpur and Sri Ganganagar were the major trading centres for this crop.

In Punjab, the area and production of rapeseed-mustard slightly increased from 27,000 hectares and 35,000 tonnes during 2009-10 to 28,000 hectares and 38,000 tonnes during 2010-11 respectively. The major proportion of the area is concentrated in districts of Ferozepur, Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur and Mansa. Most of the rapeseed-mustard produce is marketed during April and May.

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Easier for Japan to live with strong yen than tame it

TOKYO: Few in Japan seem to harbour any illusions that the latest efforts to tame the yen can push it away from record highs far enough and for long enough to make much of a difference.

A look at forces behind the yen's strength suggests possible lasting remedies -- policies that would make the world's No. 3 economy less export-reliant and reduce its unwanted safe-haven appeal. The problem is most would take time and a political consensus that Japan sorely lacks, so in the meantime everyone sticks to a time-honoured ritual.

The script goes like this: Exporters warn how expensive it has become to be patriotic and keep production at home, officials intervene or threaten to do so and offer subsidies and soft loans as painkillers, while markets take it all in stride.

"This has little to do with the yen's strength," Takuji Okubo, chief economist at Societe Generale in Tokyo says about proposed subsidies to firms expanding local production and a $100 billion credit line to help foreign acquisitions.

"It's all about lobbying. Bureaucrats approach companies and ask them what they want and they say this is what we want."

Analysts say companies that shop abroad to take advantage of the yen's strength would have done so without extra incentives, while subsidies will not stem the "hollowing out" of the Japanese manufacturing. The yen is one of many reasons why companies are shifting production abroad: lower taxes, cheaper labour and proximity to markets that grow also count.

Interventions and monetary easing by the Bank of Japan have helped keep aggressive one-way speculative bets on the yen in check, but there is widespread scepticism those can counter market forces supported by trade and investment flows.

So what could work? In the near-term, Japan should focus on pumping reconstruction funds into the economy's bloodstream rather than obsess about the yen, says Naomi Fink, equity strategist at Jefferies Ltd in Tokyo.

"There's 12 trillion yen reconstruction budget that waits for approval. Fiscal policy is of much greater importance than forex or monetary policy and they need to spend it."

In the longer run, Japan could for example start by encouraging more imports, opening up its markets via free trade pacts.

Japanese business has lobbied for such pacts as a way to expand abroad, but they should also boost imports, particularly of agricultural products, lifting demand for foreign currencies.

HOOKED ON EXPORTS

That is important because, despite the outcry over a strong yen, Japan remains a major net exporter and continues to chalk up considerable trade and current account surpluses that underpin the yen.

More ambitiously Japan should tackle reforms aimed at reviving the domestic economy.

They would have a two-fold effect: bring trade flows closer to balance, addressing one source of yen strength, and also make the economy less dependent on exports.

Trade accounts for about a third of Japan's economic output, not much more than in the United States or the European Union as a whole and less than in China, Germany or France, according to the World Trade Organization.

But with shrinking working-age population and stagnant incomes, virtually all growth that Japan manages to eke out is driven by overseas markets.

Masafumi Yamamoto, chief currency strategist at Barclays Capital in Tokyo, says corporate tax cuts advocated as a way of keeping businesses at home were needed, but were not a magical cure given stiff competition from low tax Asian rivals.

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Gold up by Rs 260, silver by Rs 500 on global cues

NEW DELHI: Both the precious metals, gold and silver, recovered today on fresh buying by stockists, driven by a firming trend in global markets. While gold rebounded by Rs 260 to Rs 26,920 per 10 grams, silver rose by Rs 500 to Rs 53,500 per kg.

Market analysts said fresh buying by stockists in line with a firming trend in the international markets, mainly led to a recovery move in both gold and silver prices.

Gold in global markets, rose by 1.4 per cent to USD 1,660.28 an ounce in London.

Physical buying of gold ahead of 'Dhanterus' and 'Diwali', also supported the uptrend to some extent.

On the domestic front, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity recovered by Rs 260 each to Rs 26,920 and Rs 26,780 per 10 grams, respectively. The metal had lost Rs 250 in the previous session. Sovereigns followed suit and gained Rs 50 to Rs 21,950 per piece of eight grams.

Similarly, silver ready rebounded by Rs 500 to Rs 53,500 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 530 to Rs 52,795 per kg, respectively.

However, silver coins lacked necessary follow up support at existing higher levels and declined by Rs 1,000 to Rs 60,000 for buying and Rs 61,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

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European pledge sparks Wall Street rally

NEW YORK: US stocks rallied on Monday as investor sentiment was buoyed by a pledge by German and French leaders to tackle the euro zone debt crisis.

The S&P 500 topped a key technical level for the first time in more than two months in what could be a bullish signal.

Markets looked again to Europe for direction. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised on Sunday to unveil a comprehensive new package to ease the euro zone's debt crisis.

A move to nationalize Franco-Belgian bank Dexia was seen as an indication that governments would step in and keep large lenders from going under.

If the market perceives results could fail to stop the spread of the sovereign debt crisis beyond Greece, could spark a new wave of selling.

"The market gave Merkel and Sarkozy the benefit of the doubt. They know they have to come up with specifics," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey.

She said the Dexia rescue showed European governments "can act quickly and decisively," boosting hopes for real action ahead.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 266.33 points, or 2.40 percent, to 11,369.45. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 32.24 points, or 2.79 percent, to 1,187.70. The Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 74.04 points, or 2.99 percent, to 2,553.39.

Bank stocks were lifted as the Franco-German pledge and the Dexia rescue helped to ease concerns that U.S. lenders would be exposed to losses at their European counterparts.

The KBW bank index jumped 4 percent, with JPMorgan Chase & Co gaining 4.6 percent to $32.11 and Bank of America Corp up 5 percent to $6.19.

The benchmark S&P 500 climbed above its 50-day moving average for the first time since late July. If it holds above that level at the close, it could trigger a bullish technical signal and generate more buying in the days ahead.

Netflix Inc jumped 4.6 percent to $122.66 after its chief executive reversed an unpopular decision to separate the DVD rental business and online video streaming service.

Government offices and the bond market are closed for the U.S. Columbus Day holiday and may produce lighter-than-usual equities volume.

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Two American economists won the Nobel Prize

Two American economists won the Nobel Prize for economics on Monday for their work studying how changes in government policies or economic shocks affect a nation's economy.

Thomas Sargent, a professor at New York University, and Christopher Sims, a professor at Princeton University, both 68, will share the award and the $1.49 million prize money for the work they do together.
While the global economy has been shaken by a series of shocks and policy responses, Sims said the research that won the award doesn't have any direct solutions for what ails various countries.

But the methods he and Sargent have developed could be used to help guide policymakers, he said.
"I don't think my research and methods have any simple direct implications for the current situation," he said in a telephone press conference with reporters in Sweden. "They point to ways to try to unravel why our current situation developed, and new research may lead us out of it."

 
Asked how he would invest his share of the winnings, Sims said he would keep it in cash while he considers what to do with it.

Sims and Sargent have known each other for decades, both receiving their doctorates from Harvard in 1968. While their research was carried out independently, the work of each is considered to be complementary. Sargent was traveling to Princeton Monday morning to appear with his colleague.
The Nobel committee's announcement said Sims and Sargent's work studies the two-way relationship between policy and the economy -- how policy affects the economy and vice versa.

"The laureates' seminal work during the 1970s and 1980s has been adopted by both researchers and policymakers throughout the world," said the committee's statement. "Today, the methods developed by Sargent and Sims are essential tools in macroeconomic analysis."

Among the issues the two studied were the effects of interest rate and inflation target changes by central banks and the impact of economic shocks such as oil price spikes.

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