Media decoder: the United States heads: the voice of the Netherlands (nytimes)

After "American Idol," "The Sing-off," "The America Got Talent" and "X-Factor," entry can anyone lead to yet another way to singers compete on TV?

NBC and one of the producers of reality more success in the enterprise, Mark Burnett ("survivor," "Apprentice"), apparently not think. They are team on a format called "Voice of America", a variation on a hit in the Netherlands, as Mr. Burnett said show would air coming in the spring.

The different aspects of this show both relate how hearings will be held and that will most of the Elimination of the singers. Paul Telegdy, who heads the Department of NBC, reality program said the network has a "Eureka moment" when she saw in the "Voice of Holland" version "a point so simple format, we simply do".

This point: the hearings are blind.

A group of four coaches, including Mr. Burnett said would be artists well known music, listening to singers see them and only decide on the basis of their voice coach wants add to their team. Each coach will be assembling a team through blind auditions. (Coaches will press on a button if they like the talent; if more than one coach expressed interest, singer gets to choose the coach that he or she wants to).

In a second phase, the coaches themselves will eliminate the team per week. Mr. Burnett said that each of the cars will work on performing styles and even the appearance of their team members.

In the final phase, the few remaining candidates an equal number of each coach, participate, until every coach a candidate nomination. The audience will vote on the ultimate winner.

Price, a contract for registration will come with an agreement which also involves the winner career coach. "The coaches have real skin in the game", Mr. Burnett said, "these coaches are really going to win."

Coaches will be "recognizable names", said Mr. Burnett, but none has been selected yet. He said that he had already been searching talents for potential candidates.

NBC made an agreement to buy led by John de mol, Dutch production company whose reality earlier creations have included many international versions of "Big Brother" show. NBC said ratings for the Dutch TV market where the "voice of Holland" has become the most popular talent contest in the country.

Conference on climate change research on energy for poor nations (voice of America)

Greg Flakus | Cancun, the 10 December 2010 Mexico talks about Brian Dames, Chief Executive of the South Africa public ESKOM, of a forum on sustainable development.

As the United Nations Conference of climate change in Cancun, the Mexico wraps until his last day, discussions continue on crucial issues such as the need to reduce gas emissions greenhouse simultaneously and to provide the world with more energy.  While nobody expects to significant progress towards a global treaty binding, Mexican officials say they see the progress made in certain areas and that the Conference provides an opportunity to many Governments and agencies to share ideas and forge agreements that are unique.

While delegates from more than 190 countries meet under Security tight in a nearby hotel, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, universities, regional groups and other entities are together in a General to proceed with the Conference Room their own programs.  A focal point discussed here in the past two weeks includes how industrialized countries can help developing countries not only to adapt to climate change, but it access to more energy to grow their economies.

Scientists rich nations say an increase in gas emissions greenhouse from the combustion of fossil fuels like coal and petroleum products were originally the Earth warm.  But how can the poor nations reduce emissions when the only way out of poverty is to increase the consumption of energy?

Speaking at a forum on sustainable development, Brian Dames, Chief Executive of South African public ESKOM, pointed out that his continent remains far behind in access to electricity.

"If you look at the continent during the night of a satellite is really the black continent and is the challenge that we have," said ladies.

Ladies note that access to energy in sub-Saharan Africa is approximately 25% compared to 90 per cent in East Asia yet African pay close to double the price of energy. He and other development experts say electric energy is essential in the fight against poverty in poor countries.

Organization of the United Nations has addressed this need by its global campaign for the universal energy access focuses on the use of clean energy. Already available technologies can help poor regions exploit local electrical grids and to use waste products in their neighbourhood for fuel.

Helge Marie Norheim, a vice President of Statoil Norway State oil company, says that his company works on projects in Africa to use biofuels to energy from other sources.

"Statoil energy companies are technology, competence and financial capacity to continue to provide for energy security, so that, at the same time meet the twin challenges of climate change," said Norheim.

Kandeh Yumkella, Director-General of a citizen of Sierra Leone, and United Nations Industrial Development Organization said power expansion in Africa resources add minimum amounts of gas emissions greenhouse in the atmosphere. But, he added, his favours organization using clean energy.

"Knowledge for solar, wind, hydro, biofuels mass - they are known."  If we can even use renewable technologies that are existing today and their contributions to emission will be negligible, Yumkella said.

A large part of the presentation of this Conference was on the transfer of wealth from the richest to the poorest to assist in the reduce emissions and adapt to changes that global warming will produce. For better energy systems, Yumkella said developing nations need the money, but technical assistance.

"There is much need for assistance from the United States, Europe and other support," added Yumkella.  "Also, there are many opportunities for South-South cooperation." China and the India, they developed indigenous techniques to use biomass using animal waste to be able to provide energy basis for the poor. »

The climate conference is winding, but many projects discussed here are only for starters. Participants in many forums that have taken place here say committed themselves to do their part to save the planet and their own community, regardless of what is or is not on a larger scale.

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US sells its stock of Citigroup for profit (voice of America)

VOA News 07 December 2010 Citigroup corporate logo is displayed in New York
The u.s. Government has sold its remaining shares in Bank of third largest in the country and made profits on the market.
The Government has delivered Citigroup bailout $ 45 billion in 2008 to keep to the worst part of the global recession. Government once belonging to 27 percent of the Bank, but late Monday sold the last 2.4 billion share it held $ 10.5 billion.
Throughout, including the previous sales of stock of Citigroup, the Government made a profit of 12 billion over the rescue plan. This is a result at odds with the fears of some analysts at the time of the bailout that Government could lose money by supporting Citigroup.
The Government seeks to end its participation from private to us as the nation's economy still slow improves at a slow pace. Last month, the Government sold a large part of its participation in General Motors, second largest manufacturer in the world. The Government reduced participation of GM to 33 percent, down from 61 percent.
The Government sold its stock of Citigroup to $4.35 per share, compared to $ 4.45 Monday closing price. The Government stated that it has decided to sell its shares "block substantial benefits for Canadians."
Even with the sale of shares, the Government has consistently holds the right to purchase another 465 million shares of Citigroup. The Government intends to sell these rights as well, but the value of this transaction is uncertain. In addition, the Government has yet also 3 billion in preferred shares of Citigroup.
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