North Korea to discuss nuclear talks in Moscow - report

MOSCOW (Reuters) - North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator will meet senior Russian officials in Moscow next week, state media reported, amid signs of a new push to get Pyongyang to re-join protracted talks over ending its atomic program.

Kim Kye-gwan, North Korea's First Deputy Foreign Minister, will meet deputy foreign ministers Vladimir Titov and Igor Morgulov on Thursday "as part of efforts to resume the six-party talks", the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The reclusive Asian state walked out of the discussions with South Korea, the United States, Japan, Russia and its main ally China in 2009 and has often said it will never abandon its nuclear weapons, calling them its "treasured sword".

But in a flurry of statements and visits this month, North Korea has offered to hold talks with the United States to ease tension that spiked this year when the North threatened the United States and South Korea with nuclear war.

During a trip to Beijing last week, Kim Kye-gwan said the denuclearization of the peninsula was the "dying wish" of North Korea's founder.

The White House has said any talks must involve action by the North to show it is moving toward disarmament. Washington has been skeptical of Pyongyang moves towards dialogue in the past, saying it has repeatedly backtracked on deals.

The Obama administration kept up the pressure on North Korea this week by saying it was imposing sanctions on the country's Daedong Credit Bank for its role in supporting Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction program.

The U.N. Security Council has also imposed a variety of sanctions on North Korea for Pyongyang's three nuclear tests and numerous missile launches, including an embargo on the import and export of nuclear and missile technology and a ban on all arms exports.

A spokesman from Russia' Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the RIA Novosti report published late on Friday.

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/north-korea-discuss-nuclear-talks-moscow-report-100059969.html

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China 'terrorists' riot in latest Xinjiang clash: report

Beijing, Jun 29, 2013 (AFP):

China's state-run media today blamed around 100 people it branded as "terrorists" for sparking 'riots' in the ethnically-divided region of Xinjiang, where clashes killed 35 days earlier.

The riot took place in the prefecture of Hotan yesterday, where the group "(attacked) a number of people with weapons after gathering at local religious venues," the state-run Global Times said today.

The latest incident followed clashes on Wednesday that were the deadliest to hit the western desert region -- home to around 10 million members of the mostly Muslim Uighur minority -- since 2009, when riots killed around 200 people.

It also quoted a source as saying police opened fire on Uighurs as they left a local mosque.

"Young Uighurs on motorcycles were leaving the mosque, they were shouting religious slogans...The police were frightened and started shooting at them ... At least two died and one was injured," the report said.

A state-run news website, Tianshan Web, said that no members of the public had been killed or injured, without stating whether police or government staff had died.

China's President Xi Jinping said following the attacks that "(the incidents) must be handled quickly to guarantee the general stability of the society," Tianshan Web reported today.

China often labels outbreaks of sporadic unrest in the region as terrorism -- claims denied by Uighur rights groups who blame unrest on economic inequality and religious repression.

It was not possible to verify details of Wednesday's clash independently as reporters were barred from entering the town detained and later followed by local police.
The Uyghur American Association, run by exiled members of the minority, said a "blackout of news" on attacks in the region cast doubt on Chinese government claims in a statement released today.

"The state then uses its propaganda apparatus to label the incident 'terrorism' without presenting any evidence that can be independently proved," the group said.
The recent unrest occurred shortly before the anniversary of the 2009 riots, and ahead of celebrations for the Muslim Ramadan festival -- which Uighurs have said are repressed by local authorities.

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Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/341723/china-039terrorists039-riot-latest-xinjiang.html

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Vatican official arrested in corruption plot

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? A Vatican official was arrested Friday by Italian police for allegedly trying to bring 20 million euros ($26 million) in cash into the country from Switzerland aboard an Italian government plane, his lawyer said.

Monsignor Nunzio Scarano, already under investigation in a purported money-laundering plot involving the Vatican bank, is accused of fraud, corruption and slander stemming from the plot, which never got off the ground, attorney Silverio Sica told The Associated Press.

It was the latest financial scandal to hit the Vatican and came just two days after Pope Francis created a commission of inquiry into the Vatican bank to get to the bottom of the problems that have plagued it for decades and contributed to damaging the Vatican's reputation.

Sica said Scarano was a middleman in the Swiss operation. Friends had asked him to intervene with a broker, Giovanni Carenzio, to return 20 million euros they had given him to invest. Sica said Scarano persuaded Carenzio to return the money, and an Italian secret service agent, Giovanni Maria Zito, went to Switzerland to bring the cash back aboard an Italian government aircraft. Such a move would presumably prevent any reporting of the money coming into Italy.

The operation failed because Carenzio reneged on the deal, Sica said.

Zito, nevertheless, demanded his 400,000 euro commission. Scarano paid him an initial 200,000 euros by check, Sica said. But in a bid to not have the second installment of the commission deposited, Scarano filed a report for a missing 200,000 check, even though he knew Zito had it, Sica said.

Carenzio and Zito also were arrested Wednesday along with Scarano, Sica said.

When asked how Scarano responded to the accusations, Sica said "I think that Don Nunzio will respond to the questions."

It's not the only troubles facing Scarano.

Prosecutors in the southern city of Salerno have placed him under investigation for alleged money-laundering stemming from his account at the Vatican's bank, called the Institute for Religious Works, or IOR.

The investigation concerns transactions Scarano, then an official at the Administration for the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, made in 2009 in which he took 560,000 euros ($729,000) in cash out of his personal IOR bank account and carried it out of the Vatican and into Italy to help pay off a mortgage on his Salerno home.

To deposit the money into an Italian bank account ? and to prevent family members from finding out he had such a large chunk of cash ? he asked 56 close friends to accept 10,000 euros apiece in cash in exchange for a check or money transfer in the same amount, Sica said earlier this week. Scarano was then able to deposit the amounts in his Italian account.

The original money came into Scarano's IOR account from donors who gave it to the prelate thinking they were funding a home for the terminally ill in Salerno, Sica said. He said the donors had "enormous" wealth and could offer such donations for his charitable efforts.

He said Scarano had given the names of the donors to prosecutors and insisted the origin of the money was clean, that the transactions didn't constitute money-laundering, and that he only took the money "temporarily" for his personal use.

The home for terminally ill hasn't been built, though the property has been identified, Sica said.

"He declares himself absolutely innocent," Sica said of the Salerno investigation.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, told the AP earlier this week that the Vatican is taking the appropriate measures to deal with Scarano's case. There was no further comment Friday from the Vatican about Scarano's arrest.

Francis has made clear he has no tolerance for corruption or for Vatican officials who use their jobs for personal ambition or gain. He has said he wants a "poor" church and a church that is for the poor, one that goes out to the "peripheries" to minister to those most needy. He has also noted, tongue in cheek, that "St. Peter didn't have a bank account."

On Wednesday, he named five people to head a commission of inquiry into the Vatican bank's activities and legal status "to allow for a better harmonization with the universal mission of the Apostolic See," according to the legal document he signed creating it.

Two of them are Americans: Monsignor Peter Wells, the No. 3 official in the Vatican secretariat of state, and Mary Ann Glendon, a Harvard law professor, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See and current president of a pontifical academy.

American cardinals were among the most vocal in demanding a wholesale reform of the Vatican bureaucracy ? and the Vatican bank ? in the meetings outlining the priorities for the new pope in the run-up to the March conclave that elected Francis. The demands were raised following revelations in leaked documents last year that told of dysfunction, petty turf wars and allegations of corruption in the Holy See's governance.

It was the second time in as many weeks that Francis had intervened to get information out of the IOR, a secretive institution best known for the scandals it has caused the Vatican. On June 15, he filled a key vacancy in the bank's governing structure, tapping a trusted prelate to be his eyes inside the bank.

___

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vatican-official-arrested-corruption-plot-075720910.html

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BlackBerry?s risky pricing strategy has backfired

BlackBerry Pricing Strategy Analysis

So BlackBerry missed the BlackBerry 10 volume expectation by about 800,000 units over the last quarter. It shipped 2.7 million and the consensus was probably around 3.5 million. There are many possible?reasons for the miss, ranging from the app ecosystem to brand perception. One of the most likely problems is the one that it?s too late for BlackBerry to fix: pricing. Both the Z10 and the Q10 were priced very close to iPhone 5, smack in the middle of the luxury segment. BlackBerry rolled the dice and opted to cling to luxury status the brand used to enjoy back in 2010. This decision reverberates right down to the BlackBerry Q5, which is priced about 40% below the Q10. This means that the??budget? Blackberry costs?more than?$400 without subsidies.

[More from BGR: Nokia told to adopt Android before it?s too late]

United Kingdom smartphone retailer Carphone Warehouse just launched the SIM-free Q5 at ?320, or roughly $480. The cheapest monthly deal Carphone Warehouse offers with the Q5 is ?21 per month, which is the same deal it offers for the new Huawei Ascend P6 that offers a quad processor, an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 5 megapixel front camera packed into a 5.2 millimeter aluminum alloy chassis.

[More from BGR: BlackBerry?s Black Friday: Company sheds billions in market value as comeback hopes fade]

The Q5 cannot compete against Android models in the same price category when it comes to product specs. Of course, BlackBerry models were always a year or two behind the competition in hardware specs but the problem is that the brand mystique that used to justify the premium pricing?is dead and gone. BlackBerry could have tried to move to lower price points, but that would have meant awfully thin or non-existent profit margins with such small production volumes.

So the company decided to gamble and stick to high price points even as Android vendors raced each other to the bargain bin. The May quarter gave us the first glimpse of how the premium pricing is working: It?s not. Now everything is riding on the Q5 because BlackBerry chose not to launch a deep value model?this summer.

What the company needs right now is a $200 non-subsidized new Curve. But it?s not in the near-term product map and it?s too late to conjure up a cheapie?model from scratch. What?BlackBerry?has for the summer and autumn?is a $400-plus model that has to work as a ?budget? alternative. If the company really decided to take the budget route, it might be about to produce a super-cheap BlackBerry by the end of 2014.

For now, however, the die has been cast.?If the Q5 pricing does not work, the?winter will?be bleak indeed.

This article was originally published on BGR.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blackberry-risky-pricing-strategy-backfired-200508580.html

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Microscopy technique could help computer industry develop 3-D components

June 28, 2013 ? A technique developed several years ago at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for improving optical microscopes now has been applied to monitoring the next generation of computer chip circuit components, potentially providing the semiconductor industry with a crucial tool for improving chips for the next decade or more.

The technique, called Through-Focus Scanning Optical Microscopy (TSOM), has now been shown able to detect tiny differences in the three-dimensional shapes of circuit components, which until very recently have been essentially two-dimensional objects. TSOM is sensitive to features that are as small as 10 nanometers (nm) across, perhaps smaller -- addressing some important industry measurement challenges for the near future for manufacturing process control and helping maintain the viability of optical microscopy in electronics manufacturing.

For decades, computer chips have resembled city maps in which components are essentially flat. But as designers strive to pack more components onto chips, they have reached the same conclusion as city planners: The only direction left to build is upwards. New generations of chips feature 3-D structures that stack components atop one another, but ensuring these components are all made to the right shapes and sizes requires a whole new dimension -- literally -- of measurement capability.

"Previously, all we needed to do was show we could accurately measure the width of a line a certain number of nanometers across," explains NIST's Ravikiran Attota. "Now, we will need to measure all sides of a three-dimensional structure that has more nooks and crannies than many modern buildings. And the nature of light makes that difficult."

Part of the trouble is that components now are growing so small that a light beam can't quite get at them. Optical microscopes are normally limited to features larger than about half the wavelength of the light used -- about 250 nanometers for green light. So microscopists have worked around the issue by lining up a bunch of identical components at regular distances apart and observing how light scatters off the group and fitting the data with optical models to determine the dimensions. But these optical measurements, as currently used in manufacturing, have great difficulty measuring newer 3-D structures.

Other non-optical methods of imaging such as scanning probe microscopy are expensive and slow, so the NIST team decided to test the abilities of TSOM, a technique that Attota played a major role in developing. The method uses a conventional optical microscope, but rather than taking a single image, it collects 2-D images at different focal positions forming a 3-D data space. A computer then extracts brightness profiles from these multiple out-of-focus images and uses the differences between them to construct the TSOM image. The TSOM images it provides are somewhat abstract, but the differences between them are still clear enough to infer minute shape differences in the measured structures -- bypassing the use of optical models, which introduce complexities that industry must face.

"Our simulation studies show that TSOM might measure features as small as 10 nm or smaller, which would be enough for the semiconductor industry for another decade," Attota says. "And we can look at anything with TSOM, not just circuits. It could become useful to any field where 3-D shape analysis of tiny objects is needed."

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/l3YXanJMEUE/130628131025.htm

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China bank outages trigger consumer cash worries

By Samuel Shen and Kazunori Takada

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - System outages at several Chinese banks since the weekend have exacerbated concerns amongst the public about a credit crunch, after the central bank tightened the availability of funds in the banking system as it tries to rein in informal lending.

A money transfer system at Bank of China (BOC) , the country's third largest lender, temporarily failed on Monday, and some customers at Bank of Nanjing also could not transfer money this week.

On Sunday, a nationwide outage of automatic tell machines (ATMs) and Point of Sales (POS) machines at China's biggest bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) , were tweeted across China's popular Twitter-like Weibo.

BOC, Bank of Nanjing and ICBC have all said the outages were due to technical problems, but this did not allay customer concerns of a larger problem in the banking sector.

"I cannot withdraw money from ICBC and BOC, and don't know who will be next," wrote blogger Wang Yangyu.

"Can you banks give me a better explanation?"

Seeking to cut off funding to the unregulated "shadow banking" market, the central bank has not added significantly to the supply of cash recently, forcing short-term interest rates -- the price of borrowing money -- to rise sharply last week.

Interbank rates have moderated this week, but banking shares have fallen sharply over the past two days.

While some bloggers were questioning whether a banking crisis was imminent, there was no sign of unusual queues at banks or ATMs in Shanghai on Tuesday.

ICBC said in a statement on Tuesday that Sunday's system outage was caused by a system upgrade the night before and a surge in business transactions that morning. It said that all businesses have returned to normal.

In an email, BOC said there had been a slowdown in its money transfer system with futures brokerages that had been rectified.

However on Weibo, bloggers complained they were still unable to withdraw money at some ATMs or even transfer funds at a branch.

(Reporting by Shanghai newsroom and Zhang Shengnan in BEIJING; Editing by John Mair)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-bank-outages-trigger-consumer-cash-worries-070401482.html

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RCI? Stirs up a Crowd at the Shanghai World Travel Fair ...

Shanghai (June 24, 2013) ? RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), partnered with four of its affiliated resorts in China to participate in the Shanghai World Travel Fair 2013, held on May 9-12, 2013. RCI worked with affiliated resorts Club Vac, Iconic Vacation Club, Shanghai Freedom Vacation Club and Shanghai Runner Vacation Club as part of its continuous efforts to promote the benefits of vacation ownership.

Shanghai World Travel Fair is one of the most influential tourism events in China. It is designed to be a platform for both domestic and international tourism players to showcase their travel services to the vast market in China. The recently-concluded fair featured more than 500 exhibitors from more than 50 countries and welcomed a total of 77,000 visitors.

This was the first time RCI partnered with its affiliated resorts to participate in a consumer travel event, and the combined presence generated great interest in vacation ownership. Visitors to the booth received a goodie bag, travel vouchers and a chance to win one of several prizes for completing a simple survey. A total of 30 prizes were given away at the booth, generating positive attention from both the media and the general public.

?The World Travel Fair is an effective avenue to generate publicity and positive interest for both RCI and our affiliates,? said Gavin Cheong, director of business development for RCI. ?It is a win-win collaboration and we look forward to working together with our affiliates to participate in future events.?

As Chinese consumers? disposable income continues to rise, Chinese citizens are increasingly travelling for leisure purposes. There is great potential for China?s vacation ownership market to grow and benefit consumers, developers, and supporting industries. Today, RCI is leading the industry to build cohesiveness, credibility and momentum with players in the vacation ownership industry. The company is working alongside Chinese government bodies to capture the opportunities and to facilitate the industry?s healthy growth and sustainable development.

For more information, visit www.RCIAffiliates.com.

About RCI
RCI is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange with more than 4,000 affiliated resorts in approximately 100 countries. RCI pioneered the concept of vacation exchange in 1974, offering members increased flexibility and versatility with their vacation ownership experience. Today, through RCI? Weeks, the traditional week-for-week exchange system, and RCI Points?, the industry?s first global points-based exchange system, RCI provides flexible vacation options to its approximately 3.7 million RCI subscribing members each year. RCI?s luxury exchange program, The Registry Collection?, is the world?s largest program of its kind with more than 200 affiliated properties either accessible for exchange or under development on six continents. RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals and the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN). For additional information visit our media center, rciaffiliates.com or The RCI Blog. RCI also can be found on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

SOURCE: RCI

Source: http://www.insidethegate.com/2013/06/rci-stirs-up-a-crowd-at-the-shanghai-world-travel-fair/

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JetBlue begins Fly-Fi flight testing, on track for Q3 launch

Adding satellite WiFi to an airplane isn't as simple as mounting an antenna up top and flipping the switch on a router -- even installing a cockpit printer requires FAA approval, so as you can expect, the Federal Aviation Administration won't check off on major modifications without some thorough testing. JetBlue's new Fly-Fi service is well on its way to getting a formal green light, though, and is expected to launch before Q3 is through. This week, the carrier is running through a variety of flight tests with one of its Airbus A320s, including maneuvering the plane with some pretty unique weight loads, such as the rear center of gravity positioning you can see demonstrated above. After that's complete, it's time to wait for FAA certification before moving onto performance testing, and if all goes well, passengers should expect to hook up to ViaSat-1 from 30,000 feet in mere months. Once Fly-Fi goes online, it'll be by far the fastest commercial in-flight WiFi option -- we really can't wait!

Filed under: Transportation, Wireless, Internet

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/25/jetblue-begins-fly-fi-testing/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Obama to tout economic impact of immigration (The Arizona Republic)

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Video: Kremlin Won't Intervene in Snowden Case

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Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/52294000/

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Plane believed to be carrying Snowden in Moscow

MOSCOW (AP) ? An Aeroflot flight from Hong Kong believed to be carrying a former National Security Agency contractor wanted by the United States has landed in Moscow.

Hong Kong's government said Edward Snowden was allowed to leave but did not say where he was headed.

Russia's state ITAR-Tass news agency cited an unnamed Aerflot official saying the Snowden was on Flight SU213, which landed on Sunday afternoon in Moscow.

The report said he intended to fly to Cuba on Monday and then on to Caracas, Venezuela.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/plane-believed-carrying-snowden-moscow-132626347.html

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Bret Michaels survives bus crash

13 hours ago

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Bret Michaels.

Bret Michaels is one lucky guy.

After a string of health scares and another bus accident back in 2009, the singer has escaped serious injury again, after his tour bus hit several deer on the way to his show in Biloxi, Miss., Friday morning.

NEWS: Bret Michaels talks trashing a hotel room with Charlie Sheen

"Except for some bumps and bruises I am thankful there were no serious injuries," Michaels told Celebuzz. "It is unfortunate for the deer, but thankfully due to modern RV technology and a steel firewall we are all OK. I have every intention to make tonight's show in Biloxi and the tour will continue."

The former Poison frontman only sustained minor cuts and bruises, according to the site.

This is just the latest in a series of scares for Michaels.

PHOTOS: Bret Michaels tweets Eva Longoria birthday greetings with a picture of Kim Kardashian

In 2010, he was hospitalized for appendicitis, a stroke, and a brain hemorrhage, which he suffered after banging his head at the Tony Awards in 2009.

And in 2011, he underwent surgery after doctors found a hole in his heart.

Just call him Mr. Unbreakable.

PHOTOS: Check out Bret Michaels' big moments!

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/bret-michaels-survives-bus-crash-minor-injuries-6C10418979

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South Africa: Mandela ambulance had engine problem

Thabiso Boya, adds his get-well message on a poster for former South African President Nelson Mandela, at the Education Expo in Johannesburg, South Africa Thursday, June 20, 2013. Mandela remains in the hospital for the 13th day. The 94-year-old was hospitalized for a recurring lung infection. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Thabiso Boya, adds his get-well message on a poster for former South African President Nelson Mandela, at the Education Expo in Johannesburg, South Africa Thursday, June 20, 2013. Mandela remains in the hospital for the 13th day. The 94-year-old was hospitalized for a recurring lung infection. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Daughter Zenani Dlamini-Mandela, left, with granddaughters Swati Dlamini, second right, and Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway, right, and an unidentified family member arrive at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital where former South African President Nelson Mandela is being treated in Pretoria, South Africa Wednesday, June 19, 2013. Mandela remains in the hospital for a ninth day. The 94-year-old was hospitalized for a recurring lung infection. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela, leaves after visiting the Mediclinic Heart Hospital where former South African President Nelson Mandela is being treated in Pretoria, South Africa Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Well-wishers continued to send messages of love and support to Nelson Mandela, as he remained in hospital in a serious condition with a lung infection. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Women from Alpha World Social Center in Soweto, sing, as they hold flowers to lay them outside the Mediclinic Heart Hospital where former South African President Nelson Mandela is being treated in Pretoria, South Africa Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Well-wishers continued to send messages of love and support to Nelson Mandela, as he remained in hospital in a serious condition with a lung infection. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? An ambulance carrying Nelson Mandela to a hospital two weeks ago had engine trouble, so the 94-year-old was transferred to another ambulance for his journey to the hospital, the South African government said Saturday.

Care was taken to ensure the condition of the former president was not affected, it said.

The anti-apartheid leader remains in serious but stable condition in a hospital, the office of President Jacob Zuma said in a statement.

The government confirmed reports about transport problems when the former leader was taken to the hospital for what officials have said is a recurring lung infection. CBS News reported that Mandela had to be transferred in wintertime temperatures to another ambulance in the early morning of June 8 after waiting on the side of the highway for 40 minutes.

The government said doctors are satisfied that the Nobel Peace Prize laureate suffered "no harm" at the time.

Mandela was taken from his home in the Johannesburg neighborhood of Houghton to a hospital in Pretoria, the capital, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) away.

"The fully equipped military ICU ambulance had a full complement of specialist medical staff including intensive care specialists and ICU nurses. The convoy also included two quick response vehicles," the presidency said. "When the ambulance experienced engine problems it was decided that it would be best to transfer to another military ambulance which itself was accompanied for the rest of the journey by a civilian ambulance."

The statement added: "All care was taken to ensure that the former president Mandela's medical condition was not compromised by the unforeseen incident."

In recent days, reports from the government, former President Thabo Mbeki and a grandson of Mandela have indicated that the health of Mandela is improving, although he has been in the hospital for treatment several times in recent months.

Close family members have been visiting him daily in a Pretoria hospital amid an outpouring of prayers and messages of support from South Africans and people around the world.

Zuma's office appealed for Mandela's privacy to be respected "and that he be accorded the doctor-patient confidentiality that all patients are entitled to in terms of medical ethics."

Mandela was jailed for 27 years under white racist rule and was released in 1990. He then played a leading role in steering the divided country from the apartheid era to democracy, becoming South Africa's first black president in all-race elections in 1994. As a result of his sacrifice and peacemaking efforts, he is seen by many around the world as a symbol of reconciliation.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-06-22-South%20Africa-Mandela/id-e9cc20f4877f4c25ac0f6f46abf21ea9

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How the Hell Does a Quantum Computer Work?

You've probably heard people?including us?banging on about quantum computers for a long ol' time. But that doesn't necessarily mean you know exactly how they work. Fortunately this video is here to help.

It goes straight from the basic of how quantum bit?a qubit?can carry more information than a normal bit, right the way up to how that fact can be exploited to achieve mind-blowing computational power. Get watching. [YouTube]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/-513986146

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Long-haul jets get boost at Paris Air Show

LE BOURGET, France (AP) ? Airbus and Boeing both won pledges for big purchases of long-haul, wide-body jets Monday, as the Paris Air Show got off to a robust, if rainy start.

The global aviation event at Le Bourget airfield north of Paris is once again playing host to the rivalry between U.S.-based Boeing and France-based Airbus. After several years of success for their smaller models, the world's leading plane makers are hoping to get orders for the bigger, more expensive long-haul jets.

Boeing said GECAS, the aircraft leasing arm of General Electric, has made a promise to buy 10 of its 787 jets Those would be worth more than $2.4 billion at list prices, though customers often negotiate deep discounts. GECAS is ordering the new version of the 787, dubbed the Dreamliner, the 787-10X.

Qatar Airways also put in orders for Boeing's other long-haul aircraft, the Boeing 777.

Meanwhile, Airbus announced a potential order Monday for its superjumbo 800-passenger A380 jets, which have seen disappointing sales since launching because of the fairly parlous state of the global economy over the past few years. Doric Lease Corp., signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of 20 A380s. That deal, if confirmed, would be worth $8 billion at list prices.

Airbus is also hoping to attract attention to its new wide-body A350 aircraft, which had its maiden flight in France last Friday and can carry up to 440 passengers. The A350 is Airbus' best chance to catch up with Boeing's 787 and 777, which carry up to 300 and 365 passengers respectively, in the race to sell planes used on long-haul flights.

Fernando Alonso, head of Airbus' flight test division, said Monday that the first A350 flight went exactly as the simulator had predicted, and just like Airbus planes currently in operation. That's a selling point for airlines reluctant to take the time or expense to retrain pilots.

At a time when fuel costs are a major concern for airlines, many have wondered if the A350, which makes extensive use of fuel-friendly lightweight carbon fiber, would give Airbus a jump on Boeing. But Ray Conner, chief executive of Boeing's civilian aircraft division, claimed Monday that its upcoming revamped 777 isn't that much heavier and that it has other advantages.

He told reporters that a wing re-design and improved engines will allow the plane to carry the same number of passengers "a lot farther."

"The A350-1000 will be a generation behind on engine technology," he said.

The most spectacular displays at the air show, though, are the demonstrations of fighter jets rocketing up toward space before diving back down gracefully. Russia's Su-35 flew Monday for the first time outside of its home country.

The twin-engine multipurpose fighter is hoping to clean up orders in the absence of American competition this year. American fighter jets are not on display for the first time in more than two decades because of budget cuts in Washington.

Smaller planes dominated the last air show in Paris and also had a good showing Monday. Lufthansa confirmed its March deal for 100 planes in the smaller Airbus A320 family, Airbus said. And International Lease Finance Corporation made a firm order for 50 short-haul A320neo jets. At list prices, those deals together would be worth about $15 billion. Los Angeles-based ILFC is Airbus' biggest customer.

___

AP writer Sarah DiLorenzo in Le Bourget, France, contributed to this article.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/long-haul-jets-boost-paris-air-show-111727088.html

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Hoffa mystery still fascinates after 4 decades

Law enforcement officials from the Michigan State Police help search the area in Oakland Township, Mich., Tuesday, June 18, 2013 where officials continue the search for the remains of Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa who disappeared from a Detroit-area restaurant in 1975. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Law enforcement officials from the Michigan State Police help search the area in Oakland Township, Mich., Tuesday, June 18, 2013 where officials continue the search for the remains of Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa who disappeared from a Detroit-area restaurant in 1975. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Members of an FBI evidence response team look over an area being cleared in Oakland Township, Mich., Tuesday, June 18, 2013 where officials continue the search for the remains of Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa, who disappeared from a Detroit-area restaurant in 1975. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Law enforcement officials from the Michigan State Police help search the area in Oakland Township, Mich., Tuesday, June 18, 2013 where officials continue the search for the remains of Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa who disappeared from a Detroit-area restaurant in 1975. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

FILE - In this Sept. 30, 1957 file photo, Jimmy Hoffa, Teamsters vice president and leading candidate to succeed Dave Beck as the IBT's new president, waves to delegates at the opening of the Teamsters Union convention at Miami Beach, Fla. Hoffa?s mysterious disappearance, assumed death and myriad searches for his body have been the stuff of urban legends for more than three decades and continue with the most recent report that the former Teamsters chief?s remains are buried beneath a concrete slab in a barn in a field in suburban Detroit. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - In this June 3, 1974 file photograph, teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa is shown in Washington. The Teamsters leader was last seen in July 1975 at a restaurant in Oakland County's Bloomfield Township in Michigan. Federal agents revived the hunt for the remains of Jimmy Hoffa on Monday June 17, 2013, digging around in a suburban Detroit field where a reputed Mafia captain says the Teamsters boss' body was buried. (AP Photo, File)

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) ? The latest possible resting place of Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa is an overgrown farm field where the normal calm of chirping crickets is being drowned out by a beeping backhoe, the chop of an overhead news helicopter and the bustle of reporters and onlookers.

Over nearly four decades, authorities have pursued multiple leads into Hoffa's death that yielded nothing. Yet the mystery endures, fueled by a public fascination with mobsters and murder.

"It's one of those things you've always heard about," said Niki Grifka, who, at 37, was just an infant when Hoffa vanished.

Over the past day and a half, Grifka and a few dozen other Oakland Township residents gathered a couple of hundred yards from where FBI agents wearing hard hats and carrying shovels sifted through about a half-acre of red dirt for the remains of a man who became as large in death as he was leading one of America's most powerful labor unions.

Hoffa's rise in the Teamsters, his 1964 conviction for jury tampering and his presumed murder are Detroit's link to a time when organized crime, public corruption and mob hits held the nation's attention.

Hoffa was last seen July 30, 1975, outside an Oakland County restaurant where he was supposed to meet with a New Jersey Teamsters boss and a Detroit Mafia captain. His body has never been found.

But over the years, authorities have received various tips, leading the FBI to possible burial sites near and far.

In 2003, a backyard swimming pool was dug up 90 miles northwest of Detroit. Seven years ago, a tip from an ailing federal inmate led to a two-week search and excavation at a horse farm in the same region. Last year, soil samples were taken from under a concrete slab garage floor north of the city. And detectives even pulled up floorboards from a Detroit house.

No evidence of Hoffa was found.

Other theories have suggested he was entombed in concrete at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, ground up and thrown in a Florida swamp or obliterated in a mob-owned fat-rendering plant.

Detroit's long tradition of organized labor and auto manufacturing means the Hoffa saga still resonates with countless Michigan families.

"Everyone has a connection with Hoffa and the unions," said 47-year-old George Newton, of Oakland County's Rochester. "I was in high school when he got abducted, and my grandfather was in the union."

To Newton, it would be exciting if Hoffa's remains are finally found, but he doubts that ever will happen.

"I just think it's a tightly held secret," Newton said. "I do want closure, first for Hoffa's family and, I think, in a way for Michigan."

The latest tip about Hoffa's remains came from a reputed Mafia captain Tony Zerilli, who, through his lawyer, said Hoffa was buried beneath a concrete slab in a barn in the Oakland Township field.

The barn is gone, but FBI agents pored over the field Tuesday for a second day. Forensic anthropologists from Michigan State University were bought in to help, along with state police dogs, which were led through the high grass in hopes that their sensitive noses might sniff out a clue.

Authorities suspended the search late Tuesday afternoon, but expected to resume their efforts Wednesday.

Zerilli, now 85, was in prison for organized crime when Hoffa disappeared. But he told New York TV station WNBC in January that he was informed about Hoffa's whereabouts after his release. His attorney, David Chasnick, said Zerilli is "intimately involved" with people who know where the body is buried.

Details are in a manuscript Zerilli is selling online, $7.99 for a mailed copy and $4.99 for an electronic version.

Zerilli's mob connections give his story more credibility than tips that spawned past searches, according to Keith Corbett, a former federal prosecutor.

"You have a witness who is in a position to know, who says he has specific information," Corbett said Monday.

"Anytime you look for somebody and don't find the body, it is embarrassing. The thing the public isn't aware of but police know is there are a lot of dead ends in an investigation."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-06-18-Hoffa%20Search/id-ee7509a397c249cbb9f2323bbfb2904d

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NASA picks eight astronaut trainees that may go to asteroids and Mars (video)

If you like space exploration, you'll want to get used to these eight faces -- odds are that you'll see at least some of them again. They represent NASA's 2013 astronaut candidate class, and they'll start training in August for a chance at going on missions to the International Space Station, asteroids and even Mars. The trainee pool is more eclectic than usual this time around. Half the picks are women, while three of the candidates come from non-military outfits such as Harvard Medical School and NOAA. Check out the full roster after the break.

Filed under: Transportation, Science, Alt

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/18/nasa-picks-eight-astronaut-candidates/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Miss USA crown goes to Connecticut contestant

LAS VEGAS (AP) ? The country's newest Miss USA is leaving a white collar job behind for the glamour and excitement that goes with her new role ? and she can't wait.

Moments after she was crowned at the Planet Hollywood hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip Sunday, Connecticut accountant Erin Brady said all she could think about was letting her bosses know she won't be coming in tomorrow. Or ever again.

As her family and fiancee looked on, Brady beat out other beauties from every U.S. state and Washington D.C. to take the title, accepting the crown from outgoing queen Miss Maryland Nana Meriwether.

She wore an orange bikini with a matching halter-top as she strutted to the Jonas Brother's "Pom Poms." Later, she donned a strapless gown with a spangled golden corset and long white train.

In the pageant's final minutes, she answered without hesitation a question about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold widespread DNA tests.

"If someone is being prosecuted and committed a crime, it should happen. There are so many crimes that if that's one step closer to stopping them, then we should be able to do so," she said.

Miss Utah, meanwhile, apparently stumbled in response to a question about income disparity, providing a rambling, halting answer included an invocation to "create education better."

As Miss USA, she will live in a swanky Manhattan apartment and travel the world raising awareness about breast cancer, but Brady has an additional goal of her own: Helping children cope with the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which have marked those close to her.

"I grew up in a family influenced by that and I think it's really important to help the children of families that are suffering from those problems," she told The Associated Press.

Her father Francis said he always knew his math-oriented daughter was a glamour girl. She and her sisters used to strut around and pretend they were beauty queens.

Her sister Audrey, 20, said with tears in her eyes that her grandmother, who was watching from home, would orchestrate the pretend shows.

"She'd be like, 'Prance around the pool like Miss America.'"

The family was taken by surprise two years ago when Brady announced she would be entering the Miss Connecticut competition, but they cheered her on.

"She just went up there on a whim, man. But it was like, 'Just go for it. There should be more people like you who are competing, where it's not all about the hair and the makeup, but personality too,'" Audrey said.

Brady told The Associated Press that she hopes her background will help dispel negative associations held by some toward pageants.

"I think that now more than ever, they're accepting that we're all intelligent individuals and that it's really not a stereotype," she said.

Unlike the rival Miss America pageant, Donald Trump's Miss USA doesn't ask its queens to perform a talent or choose a charity mission.

As suspenseful music played on Sunday night before the winner announcement, Brady held hands with first runner up Mary Margaret McCord, of Alabama. McCord could be seen saying, "I love you." Miss Illinois Stacie Juris was second runner up.

Two of the six judges' questions on Sunday touched on the controversial data-collection programs run by the National Security Agency brought to light earlier this month.

In both cases, the queens took an unconcerned attitude. Miss South Carolina said the former NSA contractor Edward Snowden who leaked the information should not be charged with treason. Miss Alabama said the programs did not bother her.

Beaming fianc? Tony Capasso said he advised Brady to compete without makeup.

The Central Connecticut State University finance major will represent the U.S. at the Miss Universe pageant in Moscow this winter. Last year's Miss USA, Olivia Culpo, won that international crown, becoming the first Miss USA to ascend to Miss Universe in 16 years. Brady said she is determined to pull of the feat for the U.S. again.

For the next few days, though, she's just hoping to unwind with a routine that sounded not very different from her training regime: hitting the gym and getting in her beauty sleep.

___

Yvette Cruz contributed to this report.

Hannah Dreier can be reached at http://twitter.com/hannahdreier

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/miss-usa-crown-goes-connecticut-contestant-083658877.html

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China pressured NYU to make him leave, dissident says

By Jonathan Allen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chen Guangcheng, the Chinese dissident who fled his home country to become a visiting scholar at New York University, accused the school on Sunday of asking him to leave because of "unrelenting pressure" from China.

NYU denied the claim, saying that it had said last year before the blind dissident arrived that his fellowship would last up to a year and end sometime this summer.

Chen sparked a diplomatic crisis between the United States and China after he fled house arrest last year and sought refuge at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. NYU helped Chen come to the United States after he expressed fears for his family's safety if they were to remain in China.

In a statement, Chen thanked NYU for its hospitality and "good support," but accused it of giving in to the Communist Party of China.

"In fact, as early as last August and September, the Chinese Communists had already begun to apply great, unrelenting pressure on New York University, so much so that after we had been in the United States just three to four months, NYU was already starting to discuss our departure with us," he wrote.

Chen, who was born blind and taught himself law, was a campaigner for farmers and disabled citizens. He exposed forced abortions in China before he was placed under house arrest in Shandon province.

He has continued to be critical of China's human rights record since his arrival in New York in May 2012 with his wife and two children.

TV INTERVIEW

Chen said he believed the Chinese government wanted "to make me so busy trying to earn a living that I don't have time for human rights advocacy, but this is not going to happen."

NYU pointed to a PBS television interview in May 2012 with Jerome Cohen, an NYU law professor and friend of Chen who helped broker his departure from China. Cohen said Chen would be at NYU for a year at most while he adjusted to a new country.

Chen could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

John Beckman, an NYU spokesman, described Chen's claims as "both false and contradicted by the well-established facts."

"Mr. Chen's fellowship at NYU and its conclusion have had nothing to do with the Chinese government. All fellowships come to an end," Beckman said in a statement.

NYU said Chen had received offers from two other academic institutions. Fordham University Law School in New York said on Friday it was in talks with Chen, and the identity of the second institution has not been made public.

Beckman said NYU had started talking with the Chens about changes in living arrangements months ago. The school has provided them services that include housing, food, insurance and healthcare, English lessons and family support, he said.

NYU has been building a campus in Shanghai, and received final approval from China's education ministry to begin construction and student recruitment last autumn.

(Additional reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Eric Walsh)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-pressured-nyu-him-leave-dissident-says-014313332.html

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'True Blood' stars tease 'dark, sexy' season 6

TV

Drusilla Moorhouse TODAY contributor

12 hours ago

John P. Johnson / HBO

Alexander Skarsgard as Eric and Kristin Bauer van Straten as Pam on "True Blood."

Could "True Blood" possibly be more sexy, sinister and naked? Yes, the stars emphatically told TODAY.com at the sixth season's Hollywood premiere.

When the dark dramedy returns to HBO on Sunday, June 16, the humans have declared all-out war against the vampires. Blame Billith, the bloody, naked reincarnation of Bill Compton.

The premiere is directed by Stephen Moyer, his second time working both in front of and behind the camera.

"Three hours of makeup and then directing my fellow actors naked -- that was a lot of fun," he said drily about his double duties.

When asked whether his own experience made him more sensitive to the actors' nude scenes, he said, "I'm naked for a great time of it; I think I'm quite sensitive -- I'm a sensitive bloke.

"There are all sorts of inappropriate fall-out situations," he added. "John Gielgud once said to one of his leading ladies: 'I apologize to you if nothing happens below, and I also apologize if something does.'"

Stripping down in front of the camera was a new experience for Rob Kazinsky, joining the cast this season as fairy Ben, the new man in Sookie's (Anna Paquin) life.

"I got a lot (of tips) from Anna, which was along the lines of 'Stop being a p---- and just do it.' You can't have an ego on this job," he told us. "If everybody else is getting naked all the time, you better damn well get naked (too)."

"I had a moment a couple weeks ago when I was (dubbing) a sex scene, and I had this out of body experience where I realized I'm watching my own behind from third-person perspective," he said. "That's not something many people get to do. "

Kazinsky called the show's hunky stars -- Moyer, Alexander Skarsg?rd and Joe Manganiello -- "hard acts to follow": "Tall, sexy and Swedish; cool, sexy and British; and ginormous, muscly and American -- where do I fit in being kind of squat, ginger and hairy?" (Trust us, Moyer's fellow Brit is being too modest. He fits right in with his fellow hotties.)

Although his character "has a good heart (and is) ruled by conscience," Kazinsky notes, "he does have a dark side -- he's also ruled by human passions."

Skarsg?rd said he's "having fun going back and forth" between dark and light.

"That's what I loved about Eric since we first started. When you first meet him, he's the bad guy. That's what I responded to when I first read the books and first met with creator Alan (Ball) six years ago. We're still exploring that. This season as well, he's both good and bad."

Although he seemed to turn 100 percent bad when he drank Lilith's blood, we will see glimpses of the old Bill Compton in the premiere.

"He's out to try to find out what he is," Moyer said. "And there's a lot -- you don't know what his purpose is. (When) he drank (Lilith's) blood, he didn't know what he was going to do -- he just knew he'd been led to that point. From then on, you are finding out just at the same time as he is."

But with humans openly persecuting supernaturals, even an all-powerful vampire prophet is going to have some challenges.

"With all the crazy things going down in Bon Temps somebody's gonna need a lawyer," said Courtney Ford, who's reprising her role as Portia Bellefleur, Bill's descendant and attorney. "Portia has her work cut out for her this season," she added with a laugh.

Like her co-stars, Ford's also used to baring all on screen. "I was talking with my husband (Brandon Routh) the other day and said I don't think there's anything I've done that my son is gonna be able to see until he's like 40!"

For those who are allowed to watch the show, Ford promised that season six is "dark, it's sexy -- it's gonna keep you on your toes."

"There are a lot of surprises in store," confirmed new cast member Amelia Rose Blaire, who plays Willa Burrell, the anti-vampire governor's daughter. "It's very unpredictable, so get ready for some shockers!"

"A war has broken out that's made everybody unpredictable," she added. "I think everybody is a threat in some way."

Most everyone agrees that the biggest threat is Warlow, possibly the alter ego of Sookie's grandfather Niall (iconic actor Rutger Hauer). "Warlow is a threat to everything," revealed Kazinsky. "He's a threat to every fairy, he's a threat to every vampire -- not only the biggest threat ever but also only thing that can save them. When he comes into the show, it's going to be pretty scary."

"Just hold onto your hats," warned Carrie Preston, who plays Arlene. "This season goes to a really, really exciting place. I haven't been this excited about a season in a while."

How excited are you about the return of "True Blood"? Tell us on our Facebook page!

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/true-blood-stars-tease-more-nudity-dark-sexy-season-6-6C10314978

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5 things to look for Saturday at US Open

ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) ? Five things to look for Saturday in the third round of the U.S. Open:

____

WILL PHIL HANG ON? Phil Mickelson has a checkered history in the U.S. Open and, unfortunately for him, not much of it is good. The five-time runner-up has never won the championship, and famously gave away the 2006 title on the last hole. Mickelson birdied the last hole Friday as darkness fell on Merion Golf Club to move back into a tie for the lead with Billy Horschel at 1-under par, and has 36 holes between him and the Open championship he desperately wants.

____

WHO IS BILLY HORSCHEL? Well, he's the winner of the Zurich Classic this year and a cut-making machine who seems to be coming into his own as a pro. The 26-year-old former Florida Gator showed he can play under pressure at the TPC Louisiana course, where he tied the course record with a 64 and made a 27-footer on the last hole to win. Still, he missed the cut in his only other Open in 2006, and playing under the spotlight on the weekend will be a new experience for him.

____

CAN TIGER STILL WIN? Yes he can, after a second round of even-par 70 put him within four shots of the lead. Tiger Woods faces a pair of obstacles, though, including an inflamed elbow and the fact he has never won a major after shooting over par over the first two rounds. Even though it's been five full years since he won his last Open, on one leg at Torrey Pines, he's still Tiger Woods, owner of 14 major titles.

____

ONE TOUGH OPEN: The talk coming in was that rain softened venerable Merion so much that players would have their way with the grand old course. So much for talk. Though there are still some groups that have to finish their second rounds, only Mickelson and Horschel are under par in the 156-man field. Players are averaging a whopping 74.69 over the par-70 course, where Ben Hogan won in 1950 and Bobby Jones completed his Grand Slam in 1930.

___

BREAKTHROUGH FOR POULTER? Ian Poulter was the hero of the Ryder Cup for Europe last year and a consistent performer in big events. But he's yet to win a major championship and until he does he will always be listed in the second tier of players. Poulter started this Open with three straight birdies Thursday before faltering, but rebounded in his second round and was even par with four holes left. He should be among the late groups teeing off in the third round, poised to make a run at the lead.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/5-things-look-saturday-us-open-080759792.html

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Alt-week 6.15.13: Chris Hadfield's retirement, invisibility cloaks and dino-bird feathers

Alt-week takes a look at the best science and alternative tech stories from the last seven days.

What goes up must eventually come down, and shortly after landing on Terra Firma from his last of three ISS missions, Chris Hadfield has resigned from the Canadian Space Agency. That leaves us to wax poetic on his legacy of space education and other oddities, while we also make goldfish disappear and admire dinosaur plumage. Welcome to alt-week.

Filed under: Science

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/_vOaowr6qIc/

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Less US urgency at G-8 in call for European growth

WASHINGTON (AP) ? When leaders of the nation's biggest economies gathered at the presidential retreat of Camp David last year, European elections had rattled the continent with a rejection of austerity measures. President Barack Obama was himself seeking re-election. The sense of urgency was palpable as Obama made an emphatic pitch for Europe's powers to focus more on economic growth.

These days, as Obama prepares for another summit of the Group of Eight industrial nations next week, the furor has died down. Financial tensions in Europe have eased, high-debt nations have been given more time to work on their fiscal cuts, and even the language has changed from "austerity" to "growth-oriented structural reforms."

"The context of that discussion has changed a lot over the past year," said Caroline Atkinson, a senior White House international economics adviser.

Still, much of the eurozone remains mired in or near recession. Obama's appeals have had mixed results in softening the demands on some of the most debt-ridden European nations to cut their spending. While the U.S. still wants Europe to temper the debt trimming and increase global demand, Obama is not expected to be as insistent with other G-8 leaders this time as they meet at a luxury hotel and golf resort beside Lough Erne in Northern Ireland's County Fermanagh lakeland.

Moreover, Obama arrives at the G-8 with Syria foremost on his mind. His decision to authorize lethal aid to Syrian rebels inevitably will be front and center during the summit, complicated by the attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin, one of Syrian President Bashar Assad's most powerful backers.

When Obama spoke by phone Friday with the leaders of Britain, France, Italy and Germany, they discussed Syria and the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons against its own people and ways to support a political transition to end the 2-year-old civil war, a White House statement said.

Obama is scheduled to arrive in Northern Ireland on Monday and immediately deliver a speech in Belfast largely focused on U.S. support for the peace process there. The global economy will be the topic of the first meeting with G-8 leaders at the summit site, followed by a one-on-one meeting with Putin.

After the summit ends, Obama will head to Berlin for meetings with German officials, including Chancellor Angela Merkel. The two will address reporters at a news conference afterward before Obama delivers a speech on the eastern side of the historic Brandenburg Gate. Obama also will be the guest of honor at a reception and dinner hosted by Merkel.

First lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha will accompany the president, and largely keep a separate schedule that includes a stop at Trinity College in Ireland to explore the president's Irish ancestry.

On the economic front, the G-8 leaders were also to discuss trade and corporate tax avoidance, two topics that, while prominent, were not expected to result in major announcements.

Despite some improvement, the European economic picture remains bleak. The eurozone economy contracted about 0.8 percent in the first quarter, compared with the same period in 2012. Among the G-8 members, Italy and France saw their gross domestic product shrink 2.4 percent and 0.4 percent respectively over the first quarter of 2012. Germany, the region's largest economy, and Britain saw modest growth in the first quarter, but still sharply lower than other G-8 members.

Russia saw annual growth of 1.6 percent in the first quarter, the U.S. grew at 2.4 percent, Canada at 2.5 percent and Japan at 4.1 percent.

"The European Central Bank continues to be too tight," said Robert Shapiro, a former commerce undersecretary who also advised President Bill Clinton. "The debate over austerity is far from over in England or in Germany. Moreover, right under the surface of all this remains the sovereign debt crisis. It has not been resolved."

As a result, administration officials and former government economic advisers say Obama and his aides will still push European nations to moderate their austerity programs of spending cuts and tax increases in favor of more stimulus to boost growth and counter the high unemployment that still afflicts many countries in Europe, particularly Spain and Greece.

Germany and Britain have resisted some of the U.S. entreaties, arguing that heavily indebted European nations must trim deficits to restore market confidence and lower government borrowing costs.

"I think, I hope, that the Obama administration realizes that its policy messages about cooling it on the austerity and start stimulating haven't worked in Europe," said Heather Conley, director of Europe programs for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington who worked in President George W. Bush's State Department. "And this has been actually an area of growing tensions underneath the surface. It's private. They don't allow these to come more publicly, but it's really been quite, you know, a point of contention."

Japan's growth, however, stands as a potential example of the benefits of raising domestic demand. Questions remain whether the efforts of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are sustainable. So-called Abenomics have also raised worries among U.S. manufacturers that Japan's real goal is to weaken the yen as a way to gain trade advantages.

Administration officials say they believe that they can make a compelling case by using the United States as an example of how to help the economic recovery without deep budget cuts. The Obama administration responded to the recession with a massive stimulus package in 2009. Officials argue that increased economic activity and a turnaround in the housing industry have helped increase revenues and lower the deficits.

But the U.S. deficits have also been lowered through steps that could be deemed austerity measures, including a tax increase on wealthy Americans, restoration of a payroll tax on all workers and automatic budget cuts that began in March. By many economists' assessments, those steps have cost the U.S. economy 1 percentage point in potential growth.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/less-us-urgency-g-8-call-european-growth-193449858.html

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