Church bells falling silent in Gaza | The Times of Israel

Church bells falling silent in Gaza | The Times of Israel: "op Alexious blared that the two had been forced to convert.

“They kidnapped them … they use even drugs,” the archbishop told dozens of agitated Christian protesters gathered last week in the centuries-old Greek Orthodox Church of St. Perfidious in Gaza City. The demonstrators alternately chanted against Hamas, demanded the government bring back the converts, and shouted that their community was in peril."

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Pesticide-resistant insects add insult to drought injury | Grist

Pesticide-resistant insects add insult to drought injury | Grist: "The danger of biotechnology and chemical-based agriculture as practiced today is the false sense of security it offers farmers. When you adopt Monsanto’s seeds and chemicals and “simplify” your farming, it seems like you’ve solved all your problems.

But what you’ve actually done is increased what finance-types call “tail risk,” which means in essence that all your assumptions about the chances something bad will happen to you turn out to be wrong."

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Press Room at MetLife

Press Room at MetLife: "METLIFE NAMES JOHN HELE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

New York, NY – July 25, 2012 – MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced that John C. R. Hele, 53, will join the company as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Sept. 4, 2012. Hele will report to Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Steven A. Kandarian and become a member of MetLife's executive group.

"John is a highly qualified chief financial officer with over 30 years of broad financial services and insurance industry experience," Kandarian said. "His deep technical expertise, knowledge of world markets, strong risk management skills and proven leadership ability will serve our customers and shareholders well.""

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