Hagel in the hot seat on Israel, Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Republican Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's nominee for defense secretary, is facing GOP critics who have challenged his past comments on Israel, Iran and nuclear weapons.

The former two-term senator from Nebraska is the lone witness at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday that could be crucial in determining whether he will win Senate confirmation to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in Obama's second-term national security team. Two former committee chairmen ? Democrat Sam Nunn and Republican John Warner ? will introduce the nominee.

If confirmed, Hagel, a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, would be the first enlisted man and first Vietnam veteran to serve as defense secretary.

Hagel has the announced backing of about a dozen Democrats and the tacit support of dozens more who are unlikely to embarrass the president by defeating his Cabinet pick. One Republican ? Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi ? has said he will vote for his former colleague.

Six Republicans, including four members of the Armed Services panel, have said they will oppose Hagel's nomination. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, the top GOP lawmaker on the committee, has said he and Hagel are "too philosophically opposed" on issues such as defense spending, nuclear weapons and the Middle East.

Crucial for Hagel will be the questioning by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Hagel and McCain are fellow Vietnam veterans who once had a close relationship during their years in the Senate, but politics and Hagel's opposition to increased troop numbers in Iraq divided the two men.

McCain has praised Hagel's military service but said he had serious concerns about positions the nominee has taken on various issues. He said he is reserving judgment until after the hearing. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., earlier this month described Obama's selection as an "in-your-face" pick but was a bit less critical this week.

"Who are we getting ? the guy today or the guy who said things before?" Graham said Tuesday after a 20-minute meeting with Hagel. Graham said he doesn't doubt Hagel's "personal integrity, but I do have real concerns about his policy positions."

The hearing will be the first time Hagel publicly addresses the barrage of criticism that he is not sufficiently pro-Israel or tough enough on Iran. In the past, Hagel has questioned the efficacy of unilateral sanctions on Iran, arguing that penalties in conjunction with international partners made more sense. He has also been criticized for his comments about the influence of a "Jewish lobby" and his view of gay rights.

He addressed several of the issues in a 112-page questionnaire to the committee in which he said his wartime experience would shape his decisions about using military force.

"I understand what it is like to be a soldier in war," wrote Hagel. "I also understand what happens when there is poor morale and discipline among the troops and a lack of clear objectives, intelligence and command and control from Washington. I believe that experience will help me as secretary of defense to ensure we maintain the best fighting force in the world, protect our men and women in uniform and ensure that we are cautious and certain when contemplating the use of force."

In his responses, Hagel adopted a hard line on Iran and its possible pursuit of a nuclear weapon. He echoed Obama's view that all options are feasible to stop Tehran, praised the rounds of penalties and warned of "severe and growing consequences" if Iran balks at international demands.

Questioned about all options, Hagel said, "If confirmed, I will focus intently on ensuring that the U.S. military is in fact prepared for any contingency."

He said that he would continue to put in place the "smart, unprecedented and effective sanctions against the Iranian regime" that Congress and the Obama administration have adopted in recent years.

The criticism of Hagel has surprised some of Hagel's strongest backers.

"This idea that's being propagated that he might be soft on adversaries. Chuck Hagel's not soft on anybody, particularly himself," said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a member of the Armed Services Committee, in a conference call with Hagel allies. "He drives hard. He's someone who searches for the right approach and the right policy."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/republican-hagel-faces-gop-critics-hearing-081554333--politics.html

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The Future of China-Taiwan Relations

During much of the 2000s, tensions between Taiwan and China roiled the stability of East Asia. Each side feared the intentions of the other and acted on those fears, creating a vicious circle of political mistrust and military build-up. The United States was drawn in because Beijing and Taipei each urged Washington to take its side against the other. Some strategists believed that Taiwan was the only issue that might spark a U.S.-China war. Over the last five years, the relationship between China and Taiwan has changed for the better, with cooperation replacing confrontation, and the danger of war declining. However, future momentum will likely slow, and China has not abandoned its goal of unifying with Taiwan on its terms. Will it be content to continue its current, incremental approach? What will happen if it doesn?t? What can Taiwan, China and the United States do to ensure that the current stability will continue?

On February 6, the?Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies at Brookings (CNAPS) will host the launch of a new book,?Uncharted Strait: the Future of China-Taiwan Relations (Brookings, 2013) by CNAPS Director and Senior Fellow Richard Bush. Uncharted Strait explores the significant shift in cross-Strait relations and prospects for the future. Senior Fellow Mireya Sol?s, the Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies, will provide introductory remarks and moderate the discussion.

After the program, Bush will take questions from the audience. Copies of the book will be available for sale.

Source: http://webfeeds.brookings.edu/~r/BrookingsRSS/topfeeds/UpcomingEvents/~3/0u0uaPa6NKw/06-china-taiwan

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Background checks on center stage at?Senate hearing

By Kasie Hunt, NBC News

?

Updated 3:17 p.m. -?Democrats looking to sustain public pressure for new gun laws in the wake of the Newtown shootings clashed Wednesday with Republicans and the National Rifle Association over universal background checks, a far less dramatic proposed change than an assault weapons ban or limits on high capacity magazines.

"My problem with background checks is you're never going to get criminals to go through universal background checks," Wayne LaPierre, CEO and chief lobbyist for the NRA, said at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence, the first since President Barack Obama laid out new measures to curb gun crime. "None of it makes any sense in the real world."

Related:?Obama's gun plan begins slow, scrutinized trek through Congress

The obvious drama in the packed hearing room lasted over four hours, with passions running well beyond the normal staid congressional panel. The emotion was heightened by the presence of some major iconic figures in the battle over whether ? and how ? to tighten federal regulation of firearms.

LaPierre sat at the opposite end of the witness table from Mark Kelly, the husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Critically wounded at a shooting in Tucson in 2011, Giffords opened the hearing with a dramatic plea, haltingly asking Congress to "do something to prevent gun violence."

Susan Walsh / AP

Mark Kelly, husband of former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords; David Kopel, law professor at Strum College in Denver; Baltimore Police Chief James Johnson; Gayle Trotter, senior fellow with the Independent Women's Forum; and National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre, are sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, prior to testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence.

"My wife would not have been sitting here today if we had stronger background checks," Kelly told the committee later in the hearing.?

Under current law, people can buy guns through a private seller without getting a background check. It's commonly referred to as the "gun show loophole." The Obama administration's proposal to close this loophole by requiring background checks for all sales of firearms dominated much of Wednesday's hearing.

Related: Giffords?'Too many children are dying ? you must act'

The exchanges at the hearing illustrated the sharp political divide over changing the nation's gun laws ? and the difficulty in enacting any of the more dramatic new measures included in the package the White House is pushing, which includes an assault weapons ban and limits on high capacity magazines.

"The deaths in Newtown should not be used to put forward every gun control measure that has been floating around for years," said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the committee's ranking member.

"Emotion often leads to bad policies," said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who called the 1994 assault weapons ban a "singularly ineffective piece of legislation."

Gabrielle Giffords' husband, retired astronaut and Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, tells the Senate Judiciary Committee that he and his wife are still gun owners and value the second amendment, but stresses that the right to own a firearm demands responsibility and urges lawmakers to revise existing gun control legislation.

Even Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from rural Vermont, did not explicitly endorse the assault weapons ban that Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced last week. But he did call for background checks, sharply challenging LaPierre on the subject.

Slideshow: Ariz. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

The NRA's position on background checks is a switch from the organization's position 14 years ago. "We think it's reasonable to provide mandatory instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show. No loopholes anywhere for anyone," LaPierre told a congressional panel in 1999.

A place where there was some common ground: gun trafficking.?

?We may be able to work together to prevent straw purchasers from trafficking in guns,? Grassley said, a sentiment echoed by others on the panel.

The obvious legislative hurdles -- on display Wednesday -- help explain why Democrats are relying on a campaign-like strategy and a series of public events to try to ratchet up public demand for stricter regulations on firearms. Giffords' story makes her a compelling public advocate.

"Too many children are dying," she said Wednesday, breaking up the syllables during her testimony.

"It will be hard, but the time is now," said Giffords, who has embarked on an arduous recovery since she was shot in the head, affecting her speech. "You. Must. Act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you."

She walked into Wednesday's hearing, her husband holding her hand and carefully guiding her to her seat in front of the Senate panel.

She spoke for just over a minute; her husband helped her back out of the room.

"Gabby's gift for speech is a distant memory," Kelly said later. "She struggles to walk, and she is partially blind. Her right arm is completely paralyzed."

With help from her husband, Mark Kelly, Gabrielle Giffords, the former congresswoman who was shot and left handicapped after a gunman opened fire at an event in Tucson, Ariz. speaks at a Senate hearing on gun control.

In trying to counter the emotional testimony, Republicans repeatedly praised Giffords? perseverance and focused on trying to raise doubts about whether the measures Democrats had proposed to combat gun violence would work. They insisted current gun laws?aren't?being prosecuted effectively.

?This discussion, I sit here and listen to it, and my reaction is how little it has to do with the problem of keeping our kids safe and how much it has to do with the decadelong, two decadelong, gun ban agenda when we don?t even enforce the laws on the books,? LaPierre said.

Wednesday's hearings were the first in a planned series of sessions on gun laws. Leahy said Wednesday that he plans to begin the process of crafting a gun package in his committee next month. With Obama and Vice President Joe Biden publicly making the case for new laws, gun control advocates expect any action to begin in the Senate; the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has shown little appetite for taking up the issue.

In the wake of Newtown, a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showed that 56 percent of Americans believe gun laws should be more strict. The survey showed just 7 percent believe gun restrictions should be less strict.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Tuesday that he planned to bring gun legislation to the Senate floor -- though with an open process that could allow senators to make changes. Such a process would likely make it harder to pass the bill.

?It?s very clear that there?s going to be a bill brought out of the committee, brought to the Senate floor, and there will be an amendment process there,? Reid said. He added that senators would be allowed to ?bring up whatever amendments they want that deal with this issue.?

Source: http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/30/16772370-background-checks-take-center-stage-at-fractious-senate-hearing?chromedomain=firstread&lite

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Amazon Somehow Lost $39 Million Selling $61.09 Billion Worth of Stuff Last Year

The good news, if you're Amazon? You just sold $61.09 billion worth of stuff in 2012. That's roughly the GDP of Croatia! The less good for you but pretty funny for everyone else news? You somehow lost $39 million doing it. Business! More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/N3ukjbIm8ig/amazons-sales+to+earnings-gap-is-once-again-comically-huge

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Recording PC games on a single computer

Welcome to MIAClan.net Social Gaming Network!

Join us now to get access to all our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to view and download attachments, create topics, post replies to existing threads, get your own private messenger and more.

Source: http://www.miaclan.net/showthread.php?30944-Recording-PC-games-on-a-single-computer

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Public Speaking Marketing - No Pitch Webinars - Great Public ...

We love webinars. Public speakers and other small business people love doing them and people love watching them. Why? Because they are visually interesting and dynamic. The marriage of an audio presentation and powerpoint presentation brings the live seminar feel to the small screen.

Most of us have seen a webinar or two. They usually start out with good, high-value content and then lead to a pitch for a product or training at the end. Most people know the pitch is coming and put up a wall of sales resistance in their minds. Proper content and clever sales closes help relieve the resistance and open them up to buy.

A?'no pitch' webinar is a bit different. The presenter states up front that there will be no pitch for a product; no selling at all, just good content. At the end of the webinar, the presenter offers the audience a chance to ask questions, leave comments or state their challenges with implementing the lessons that were taught in the webinar. They can do that via a web form that the presenter asks them them to go visit. There, the form will ask for their name, email and phone number, plus a form where they can write their questions or concerns.

Being able to personally chat one-on-one with a prospect can lead to a big sale. There are no distractions of a webinar taking place, no sales resistance. You're 'helping' them with a problem in an email or phone call and then prompting them to work with you while they are captive. This works great with more expensive training such as a mentorship program, where you need the one-on-one interaction between just you and your client. Learn other great tips from professional speakers...

Source: http://greatpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/2013/01/public-speaking-marketing-no-pitch.html

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Brazil club blaze survivor: 'An angel saved my life'

By Keir Simmons and Laura Saravia, NBC News

SANTA MARIA, Brazil -- At 2 a.m. on Rua Dos Andradas, a crowd of young people stands in silence. There is nothing to say.

Keir Simmons / NBC News

Mourners stand outside the Kiss nightclub in the early hours of Tuesday, two nights after a devastating fire killed at least 230 clubbers.

Two nights ago, on this same street, at this same time, a tragedy unfolded that is hard to comprehend.?

Outside the Kiss nightclub, where a blaze and its panicked aftermath claimed the lives of at least 230 partygoers ? most of them students at the local university ? the smell of smoke lingers in the air.

Now it has become a place to mourn and remember.

Among the survivors is Adreen Righi, 20, who is still trying to make sense of how the disaster unfolded.

?I was dancing with my friends,? she says, recovering at home. ?People started pushing. I looked at the stage and there was smoke.?

Pushed over in the panic, she was trampled to the ground but still found air. ?Breathe, breathe, come on now breathe,? she told herself as others climbed over her.

Then, she recalls, ?an angel saved my life.? A woman she didn't know pushed her outside, to safety.

In the fresh air, she hugged her friends. But some were missing.

Her classmate, Juliano, had gone to the bathroom 15 minutes before the fire. She will never see him again.

?He was a good person,? she says, ?always smiling. Making jokes. He was a good guy.?

She is ?very happy? to be alive, but adds: ?I can't explain how I feel about my friends, about the city.?

Santa Maria is in mourning, but there is also growing anger.

Investigators must now seek answers to the questions being asked here: Why did the nightclub apparently have only one exit? Why did fire extinguishers not work, as some witnesses have reported? Why did security staff briefly block exits to stop people leaving without paying their drinks tabs?

Keir Simmons / NBC News

'No justification ? 231 murdered'. A sign posted outside the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria.

On the street outside the nightclub, a hand-made poster says: ?Nada justifica, 231 assassinatos' ? meaning ?No justification ? 231 murdered?.

The final death toll is still unclear, but the message is stark.?

Globo television said 53 seriously-injured victims remain in Porto Alegre, state capital of Rio Grande do Sul,where a support unit has also been set up with psychologists to help relatives of victims.

Police officials said four people are still under temporary arrest over the disaster. Local media reports on Monday said those detained were two owners of the Kiss club and two members of a band whose pyrotechnic display is thought to have set light to the club's sound-proofed ceiling. None of the arrests imply any criminal accusation, police said.

Protesters marched through the town late Monday, carrying flowers, balloons and placards with the names of the victims, according to Globo, which reported that as many as 30,000 took part.

Among them, Eglon Do Canto told The Associated Press: "We hope that the justice system, through its competent mechanisms, succeeds in clarifying to the public what happened, and gives the people an explanation."

Edgar Zuniga Jr, NBC News in Atlanta, contributed to this report.

Related:

Brazil nightclub fire?survivor: 'I felt?her heart stop beating'

Shoes, blood, lime slices scattered across nightclub floor

Painful memories for survivors of 2003 club fire in Rhode Island

?

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/29/16752092-brazil-club-blaze-survivor-an-angel-saved-my-life?lite

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Singer Frank Ocean wants Chris Brown charged over brawl

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rising R&B artist Frank Ocean wants fellow singer Chris Brown prosecuted following a brawl over a parking space at a Los Angeles-area recording studio, authorities said on Monday.

Brown is serving five years probation for assaulting his on-and-off girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 and risks having his probation revoked should charges be filed.

In the incident on Sunday, sheriff's deputies responded to a call about a fight involving six men in West Hollywood. The deputies cited witnesses as saying that the Grammy-winning Brown, 23, punched Ocean during the brief altercation.

No charges have yet been filed, but Ocean "is desirous of prosecution in this incident," said Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.

Ocean, 25, who is nominated for best new artist and best record for "Thinkin Bout You" at the Grammys in February, said on Twitter on Sunday night that he "got jumped by Chris and a couple guys." He said this resulted in a cut finger.

A representative for Brown has yet to comment.

The "Look at me Now" singer has attempted to rebuild his career and public image since 2009, but his entourage and that of Canadian rapper Drake were involved in a June 2012 brawl in a New York nightclub. No arrests or charges were brought in that case.

Brown and Ocean are both nominated in the best urban contemporary album category at the Grammys, which take place on February 10 in Los Angeles.

(Reporting by Eric Kelsey and Colleen Jenkins; Editing by David Brunnstrom)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/singer-frank-ocean-wants-chris-brown-charged-over-002157714.html

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Alec Baldwin & Hilaria Thomas Having A Baby! (Photos)

Alec Baldwin & Hilaria Thomas Having A Baby! (Photos)

Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Thomas are having a baby! Insiders reveal Hilaria and Alec have only been telling their close friends and family the happy news, but Hilaria was sporting a small baby bump during her “Extra” interview! Actor Alec Baldwin and his yoga instructor wife are remaining tight-lipped about expecting. Their rep, Hitzik ...

Alec Baldwin & Hilaria Thomas Having A Baby! (Photos) Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/01/alec-baldwin-hilaria-thomas-having-a-baby-photos/

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T-Mobile looks to be testing LTE in Kansas City

  

T-Mobile is in the midst of some sort of LTE testing in and around Kansas City, according to a poster at XDA forums. These screenshots show an unlocked AT&T Galaxy Note (the original SGH I717 Note) using the T-Mobile network, and as you can see they suggest an LTE connection. While the first screenshot is familiar to us all, the second screenshot, the one of the device ServiceMode settings, is the one to focus on. It's a bit nerdy, but what you're seeing is a device on Band IV LTE (that's the 1700 and 2100 MHZ bands), on a 5x5 MHz configuration. The theoretical maximum of such a network would be 37 mbps download and 12 mbps upload. Worth noting, the poster clarified that he was using the standard T-Mobile APN setting, meaning that anyone in the vicinity with the correct hardware should see similar results.

It also shows speeds much slower than the current HSPA+ network many T-Mobile customers enjoy, but remember -- this is just a test. I imagine when we see a fully deployed 10x10Mhz LTE network from T-Mobile, things will be a good bit faster -- until people start using it. We'll keep an eye out for it, right along with you guys.

Source: XDA; via Tmo News

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/xem6VoNyXjw/story01.htm

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iOS 6.1 now available for download

The latest software update for iOS, known as 6.1, has finally become available as a free download. According to the release notes, the update adds LTE support for additional carriers (36 for iPhone, 23 for iPad), the ability to purchase movie tickets through Siri (US-only) and the opportunity for iTunes Match fans to download individual songs from iCloud. Check your device to see if it's available -- it's hitting ours as we speak, and the press release is available below.

Show full PR text

Apple Updates iOS to 6.1

New Version Adds LTE Support For 36 Additional iPhone Carriers Worldwide

CUPERTINO, California-January 28, 2013-Apple(R) today updated iOS to version 6.1, adding LTE capabilities to 36 additional iPhone(R) carriers and 23 additional iPad(R) carriers around the world, so even more iPhone 5, iPad mini and iPad* with Retina(R) display users can experience ultrafast wireless performance** to browse, download and stream content at blazing fast speeds. To date, iOS users have uploaded over nine billion photos to Photo Stream, sent over 450 billion iMessages and received over four trillion notifications.

"iOS 6 is the world's most advanced mobile operating system, and with nearly 300 million iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices on iOS 6 in just five months, it may be the most popular new version of an OS in history," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "iOS 6.1 brings LTE support to more markets around the world, so even more users can enjoy ultrafast Safari browsing, FaceTime video calls, iCloud services, and iTunes and App Store downloads."

iOS 6 features include Siri(R), which supports more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings; Maps with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation and Flyover view; Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar, with the ability to post directly from Notification Center, Siri and Facebook-enabled apps; Shared Photo Streams via iCloud(R); and Passbook(R), the simplest way to get all your passes in one place. Additional updates in iOS 6.1 include the ability to use Siri to purchase movie tickets in the US through Fandango, and iTunes Match? subscribers can download individual songs to their iOS devices from iCloud.

The revolutionary App Store? offers more than 800,000 apps to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch(R) users, with more than 300,000 native iPad apps. App Store customers have downloaded over 40 billion apps, and Apple has paid over seven billion dollars to its incredible developer community. Customers can choose from apps in 23 categories, including newspapers and magazines offered in Newsstand, games, business, news, sports, health & fitness and travel.

Availability
iOS 6.1 is available as a free software update today. iOS 6.1 is compatible with iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad (third and fourth generation), iPad mini, iPad 2 and iPod touch (fourth and fifth generation). Some features may not be available on all products. For more information please visit www.apple.com.

Filed under: Mobile, Apple

Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/CmmM9bM8_2s/

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Mali military enters fabled town of Timbuktu

Chadian soldiers patrol the streets of Gao, Northern Mali, Monday Jan. 28, 2013. Malian soldiers descended on the city of Timbuktu on Monday after al-Qaida-linked militants fled into the desert having set ablaze a library that held thousands of ancient manuscripts. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Chadian soldiers patrol the streets of Gao, Northern Mali, Monday Jan. 28, 2013. Malian soldiers descended on the city of Timbuktu on Monday after al-Qaida-linked militants fled into the desert having set ablaze a library that held thousands of ancient manuscripts. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Chadian soldiers patrol the streets of Gao, Northern Mali, Monday Jan. 28, 2013. French and Malian troops held a strategic bridge and the airport in the northern town of Gao on Sunday as their force also pressed toward Timbuktu, another stronghold of Islamic extremists in northern Mali, officials said. Malian soldiers descended on the city of Timbuktu on Monday after al-Qaida-linked militants fled into the desert having set ablaze a library that held thousands of ancient manuscripts. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Children cheer foreign visitors arriving in the streets of Gao, Northern Mali, Monday Jan. 28, 2013. French and Malian troops held a strategic bridge and the airport in the northern town of Gao on Sunday as their force also pressed toward Timbuktu, another stronghold of Islamic extremists in northern Mali, officials said. Malian soldiers descended on the city of Timbuktu on Monday after al-Qaida-linked militants fled into the desert having set ablaze a library that held thousands of ancient manuscripts. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

A young child runs through the deserted side streets of Gao , Northern Mali, Monday Jan. 28, 2013. French and Malian troops held a strategic bridge and the airport in the northern town of Gao on Sunday as their force also pressed toward Timbuktu, another stronghold of Islamic extremists in northern Mali, officials said. Malian soldiers descended on the city of Timbuktu on Monday after al-Qaida-linked militants fled into the desert having set ablaze a library that held thousands of ancient manuscripts. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Malian soldiers are stationed at the entrance of of Gao, Northern Mali, Monday Jan. 28, 2013. French and Malian troops held a strategic bridge and the airport in the northern town of Gao on Sunday as their force also pressed toward Timbuktu, another stronghold of Islamic extremists in northern Mali, officials said. The sign , a reminder of Islamic extremists, reads " Al Hesbah, together for the pleasure of God almighty and the struggle against sins."(AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

SEVARE, Mali (AP) ? Backed by French helicopters and paratroopers, Malian soldiers entered the fabled city of Timbuktu on Monday after al-Qaida-linked militants who ruled the outpost by fear for nearly 10 months fled into the desert, setting fire to a library that held thousands of manuscripts dating to the Middle Ages.

French Col. Thierry Burkhard, chief military spokesman in Paris, said that there had been no combat with the Islamists but that the French and Malian forces did not yet control the town.

Still, there was celebration among the thousands of Timbuktu residents who fled the city rather than live under strict and pitiless Islamic rule and the dire poverty that worsened after the tourist industry was destroyed.

"In the heart of people from northern Mali, it's a relief ? freedom finally," said Cheick Sormoye, a Timbuktu resident who fled to Bamako, the capital.

Timbuktu, a city of mud-walled buildings and 50,000 people, was for centuries a seat of Islamic learning and a major trading center along the North African caravan routes that carried slaves, gold and salt. In Europe, legend had it that it was a city of gold. Today, its name is synonymous to many with the ends of the earth.

It has been home to some 20,000 irreplaceable manuscripts, some dating to the 12th century. It was not immediately known how many were destroyed in the blaze that was set in recent days in an act of vengeance by the Islamists before they withdrew.

Michael Covitt, chairman of the Malian Manuscript Foundation, called the arson a "desecration to humanity."

"These manuscripts are irreplaceable. They have the wisdom of the ages and it's the most important find since the Dead Sea Scrolls," he said.

The militants seized Timbuktu last April and began imposing a strict Islamic version of Shariah, or religious law, across northern Mali, carrying out amputations and public executions. Women could be whipped for going out in public without wearing veils, while men could be lashed for having cigarettes.

Just over two weeks after the French began their military intervention in Mali, French and Malian forces arrived in Timbuktu overnight, the French military spokesman said Monday.

"The helicopters have been decisive," Burkhard said, describing how they aided the ground forces who came from the south as French paratroopers landed north of the city.

But the French have said Mali's military must finish the job of securing Timbuktu. And the Malians have generally fared poorly in combat, often retreating in panic in the face of well-armed, battle-hardened Islamists.

During their rule in Timbuktu, the militants systematically destroyed cultural sites, including the ancient tombs of Sufi saints, which they denounced as contrary to Islam because they encouraged Muslims to venerate saints instead of God.

The mayor said the Islamists burned his office as well as the Ahmed Baba institute, a library rich in historical documents.

"It's truly alarming that this has happened," Mayor Ousmane Halle told The Associated Press by telephone from Bamako. "They torched all the important ancient manuscripts. The ancient books of geography and science. It is the history of Timbuktu, of its people."

Some manuscripts had been removed from Timbuktu or hidden away for safekeeping from the Islamists.

"UNESCO is very concerned about the reports coming out of Timbuktu as to damage on cultural heritage there," UNESCO chief spokeswoman Sue Williams said from Paris.

The destruction recalls tactics used by the Taliban in 2001 when they dynamited a pair of giant Buddhas carved into a mountain in Afghanistan. The Taliban also rampaged through the national museum, smashing any art depicting the human form, considered idolatrous under their hardline interpretation of Islam. In all, they destroyed about 2,500 statues.

Mali's Islamists still control the provincial capital of Kidal farther north and are believed to have dug a network of tunnels, trenches and caves from which they can launch attacks.

Nana Toure, a native of Timbuktu now living in the capital, said she was delighted to hear that the French had arrived but worried how long the Malian soldiers could hold the town without help.

"French troops must not leave us alone then because those who fled may come back and cause problems for us," she said. "French troops have to stay a bit to stabilize the place."

___

Hinnant reported from Paris. Associated Press writers Carley Petesch in Johannesburg, Thomas Adamson in Paris, and Rukmini Callimachi in Sevare, Mali, contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-01-28-AF-Mali-Fighting/id-2ef14c2c7e614e598f6035c3ec11b628

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Donors pledge $455 million to Mali military push

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) ? African and Western nations on Tuesday pledged more than $450 million to fund an African-led military force to fight Islamist extremists in Mali.

Britain, meanwhile, announced that it has offered to send up to 200 military officers to help train a West African force in Mali, including up to 40 people that could be sent to Mali as part of an EU training mission of 500 personnel.

At the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia, a top official, Ramtane Lamamra, said nations had pledged $455.5 million for the United Nations-authorized, African-led Support Mission in Mali, or AFISMA. The AU says AFISMA requires an initial budget of $461 million. Additional support needed for Mali's army and the West African bloc known as ECOWAS raises the overall financial need to near $960 million.

African nations like Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Gambia and others lined up with developed countries like the United States, Japan, Germany and the U.K. to pledge funds to the military effort. Among the pledges of assistance:

? The EU pledged 50 million euros ($67 million).

? Germany promised $20 million and a third aircraft to help transport African troops.

? Britain said it will provide a ferry to help transport equipment and French troops and will allow allies like the United States to fly refueling missions from U.K. bases.

? Japan announced $120 million in aid and support to refugees, the Kyodo news agency said.

Johnnie Carson, the State Department's top Africa official, said at the African Union gathering that U.S. assistance for the Mali effort would total $96 million. Carson said that includes $32 million previously pledged and $13 million already spent aiding military efforts.

Germany's foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, said that despite the necessity of the military mission "in the long-term there can only be a political solution" to Mali's problems.

Islamist extremists have controlled much of northern Mali since last April. French forces began an operation earlier this month to dislodge them. A top U.S. State Department official warned on Monday that the military effort could take years to complete.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/donors-pledge-455-million-mali-military-push-120436407.html

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Apple updates iPhone, iPad software

NEW YORK (AP) ? Apple has released a software update for iPhones and iPads that speeds up data downloads on some major overseas telecom networks and a handful of small U.S. carriers.

Apple says iOS version 6.1 adds the ability to access the "LTE" networks of 36 additional iPhone carriers. Those include Alaska Communications, Bluegrass Cellular of Kentucky and C Spire of Mississippi. Internationally, they include major carriers in Italy, Denmark, Finland, Croatia, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

The update also includes the ability buy U.S. movie tickets through the "Siri" voice-controlled assistant feature. Also, subscribers to "iTunes Match" will now be able to download individual songs from their online lockers to their phones.

The update is compatible with the iPod Touch as well.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-01-28-Apple-Software%20Update/id-8b06cd99f67f435586e4b227f3c2e3fb

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From Reagan to Obama, how we have changed as a nation (CNN)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/279873574?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat from Iowa, will not seek reelection

Tom Harkin, considered one of the most liberal Democratic senators, announced Saturday, he will not seek reelection in 2014. Harkin's departure could leave Democrats vulnerable in Iowa. ?

By Reuters / January 26, 2013

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. talks about the fiscal cliff with reporters, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 28. On Saturday, Harkin announced he will not run for reelection in 2014.

Susan Walsh/AP

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Democratic U.S. Senator Tom?Harkin?of?Iowa?said on Saturday he will not seek re-election in 2014, saying he felt that after 40 years in?Congress, it will be "somebody else's turn."

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Harkin, 73, is one of the most liberal senators and has focused much of his long congressional career on farm policy and legislation aiding people with disabilities.

Iowa, site of the early presidential caucuses, is considered a political swing state, putting Democrats' long-held?Senate?seat at risk. Republican?Charles Grassley?is?Iowa's other U.S. senator.

"I don't by any means plan to retire completely from public life at the end of this?Congress,"?Harkin?said in a statement. "But I am going to make way for someone new in this?Senate?seat. I think that is right not just for me, but for?Iowa, as well."

In his remaining two years in office,?Harkin?said he will focus on implementing President?Barack Obama's healthcare reforms, expanding job opportunities for people with disabilities and expanding access to education.

Harkin?was first elected to the?House of Representatives?in 1974 and the?Senate?in 1984.

"When the current?Congress?is over, I will have served in the?United States?House of Representatives?and the U.S.Senate?for a total of 40 years. After 40 years, I just feel it's somebody else's turn," he said.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/RRFF-aW3hXc/Senator-Tom-Harkin-Democrat-from-Iowa-will-not-seek-reelection

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S&P 500 slips after rally, but Apple lifts Nasdaq

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 edged lower on Monday as a four-week rally stalled, while a rebound in Apple shares helped buoy the Nasdaq.

Caterpillar shares helped cap losses in the Dow industrials even as the company posted a 55 percent drop in quarterly profit due to a charge connected with accounting fraud at a Chinese subsidiary and weak demand among its dealers. Caterpillar's shares, down 2.2 percent in the past three sessions, rose 1.5 percent Monday to $96.97.

The S&P 500 is coming off a streak of eight sessions of gains, the longest in eight years. On Friday, the major U.S. stock indexes closed a fourth straight week of gains with the S&P 500 ending the session above 1,500 for the first time in more than five years.

The rally has left the market vulnerable to a short-term pullback of up to 3 percent in the S&P 500 as bullish sentiment continues to rise, according to Richard Ross, Auerbach Grayson's global technical strategist.

"Still," Ross said, "we have a lot of momentum and nice seasonality, and technicals support the long-term bull market."

Data on Monday pointed to growing economic momentum as companies sensed improved consumer demand.

Thomson Reuters data showed that of the 150 companies in the S&P 500 that have reported earnings so far, 67.3 percent have beaten analysts' expectations, which is a higher proportion than over the past four quarters and above the average since 1994.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> fell 9.02 points or 0.06 percent, to 13,886.96, the S&P 500 <.spx> lost 1.5 points or 0.1 percent, to 1,501.46 and the Nasdaq Composite <.ixic> added 8.46 points or 0.27 percent, to 3,158.17.

Bargain hunters lifted Apple after the tech giant's stock dropped 14.4 percent in the previous two sessions. With Apple's stock up 2.4 percent at $450.29, the iPad and iPhone maker regained the title as the largest U.S. company by market capitalization as Exxon Mobil fell 0.9 percent to $90.94 and slipped back to second place.

"I think there is more downside in Apple if you did get a broad market pullback," Auerbach Grayson's Ross said.

"I'd be patient unless you're a trader. It might not be the most attractive entry point."

U.S. durable goods orders jumped 4.6 percent in December, a pace that far outstripped expectations for a rise of 1.8 percent. Pending home sales unexpectedly dropped 4.3 percent. Analysts were looking for an increase of 0.3 percent.

Equities have also gained support from a recent agreement in Washington to extend the government's borrowing power. On Monday, Fitch Ratings said that agreement removed the near-term risk to the country's 'AAA' rating.

Hess Corp shares shot up 5.3 percent to $62.02 after the company said it would exit its refining business, freeing up to $1 billion of capital. Separately, hedge fund Elliott Associates is looking for approval to buy about $800 million more in Hess stock.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc said a late-stage trial of its experimental kidney disease drug met the main study goal, and its shares soared 67 percent to $5.75.

(Editing by Jan Paschal and Nick Zieminski)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stock-index-futures-signal-slight-gains-104646069--finance.html

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Dreadball:Copperbowl ? Post Tournament Write-Up!

Sunday 27th January saw Rich Jones run a fantastic one day tournament for Dreadball called Copperbowl. He organised it for the charity ?Help for Heroes? and hoped to get a few like-minded friends turn up and play a few games. What he ended up with was a monster of a tournament with players battling it out on a variety of pitches including the coveted Tabletop Nation pitch!

Rich Jones brings us the details?hot?from his blog:

Evenin? Dreadball fans! Its Quentin Barnes and?Vic the Orx with the impossible to pronounce name here to bring you all the news on today?s Copper Bowl? Proudly Sponsored by ManticCorp Games. ?The best in holo-reality table top gaming?; Tabletop Nation Enterprises ?the only places in the Universes to be seen playing? and Twisties, ?the snack every species loves?. Let me begin by saying if you missed the action today you missed an awesome day of DB action?

They sure did QB, I was so excited all day I almost forgot my second lunch, at one point I almost had to resort to eating that Veer-myn reporter next to me?

Now now Vic, don?t tease the listeners like that? Some may think you are serious, apologise to the gentle folks ?

Sorry QB, sorry folks at home, I wasn?t serious ? He was a skinny little un, wouldn?t have filled me ?

Anyway folks, we could tell at the start of the day that there were going to be quite a few shocks during the day with new coaches and new teams stamping their presence on the more established sides.

That?s right QB there were quite a few new coaches in there, some even with teams in borrowed or ?no sponsored? kit who caused quite a stir. Like my bruvvers from the outer hot zone reaches, the Tohn Gaah, they gave a good account of themselves all day with their new coach, Stevo ?the scarf? Fase.

And the turn up of the tournament, the Plecostomus Knights Corp team, they arrived in borrowed kit, with no sponsor and James B. as their coach, rumour has it they were only formed 24 hours earlier yet breezed through their first two matches with landslide victories, if they hadn?t have run themselves into the pitch by the last match they would have placed higher than their 5^th place I feel.There were 18 teams in all and everyone played 3 matches except for the Kekoa Nai?a and the Corporate Crashers who fell foul to the late arrival of the Crashers meaning they only got to play 3 matches.

Hah hah, there were reports the Kekoa coach Rich ?surfer dude? J was not that laid back and relaxed in the dug out when he heard last minute drop outs to the tournament meant he missed out on any chance of the trophy? You humans are funny, if he?d been an Orx it would have been easy ? Quick visit to the dressing rooms, one quick meal later, one missing coach ? equal teams again, all sorted ?

Vic, Vic, you know those days are over, the DGB agreement on diplomatic immunity for visiting teams doesn?t even stretch that far, you can?t just eat your opposition anymore?

Maybe not QB but things were a damn lot easier when you could ?

To me the major shock of the tournament was how the Green Tray Stackers performed. We had been watching this Forge Fathers team in the pre-season games and their coach. Ian ?Angry Boss? Dawes had them playing awesomely well. On the day they couldn?t seem to do a thing right with a final score of just the one point and a huge strike difference. I?m sure though the Stackers will be a team to watch out for around the tournaments this season.

Or maybe the stuntie little f?

VIC! ? Sorry folks Vics a bit hyped up, he?s been drinking Rad Orx and eating Roast Veermyn flavoured Twisties all day.

Sorry QB, sorry folks at home? What I meant to say was maybe the Forge Fathers are a bit out of their depth playing in the major leagues where they have to play in modified G arenas, not the high G ones of? the FF Minor Leagues?

Try telling that to the teams that got trounced by the Asgard Devils. Their coach Ole ?Smiley? Ellenhoj had them firing all day? their 3^rdrush landslide 7-0 win in the second round of games was on of the highlights of the day. With 3 wins out of the 4 games with the only loss being an over time loss he was doing the Forge Fathers proud.

QB I loved watching the big hits those nippers were putting in on the last game against the Kekoa Nai?a ?Reminded me of my early years, how Alva, the Nai?a striker survived that big hit was beyond me.

The dolphins would have been in trouble if Alva had gone down, Foo was already in line for the re-juve tank after the rush 2 hit, literally, took his head off. Alva looked finished, the gasp the crowd gave when he pulled himself to his feet, even the Asgard Guard shook his hand.?(Alva survived a 9-1 slam )?. The long multi-jump journey from Denmarkius Sector didn?t seem to tire them. Certainly a team to look out for in any tournaments in the Europia Quadrant.

It was probably their kit that put their opponents off QB ? I ain?t seen anything like that since I walked into that bar in So-Ho last time we were in Londonia 1. Asgard Devils more like Asgard?

Vic? what did you make of the eventual winners, the ?Golden Turtles? ? only recently formed but with a long time ManticCorp coach they look like they might be the team to beat this season. Having a clean run, winning the trophy with four landslide victories the human team worked well together.

I don?t know QB, on the face of it it looks like they will stamp over all their opposition this season. But they were not as dominant as they looked. To me it was the shrewd tactic of their coach Leon ?It?s mine? Chapman who took the ?Enforcer? for the last two games while most other coaches were opting for the legal team ?performance enhancing? implants. Granny Orx, was that Enforcer on fire! Although to me QB a jet pack has no place on the DB pitch? No matter who it belongs to. If someone wants to jump so high and long they should have to settle for the old method ? my size 28 boot up their ar?

Vic? I know lots of people would agree with you there but all coaches had access to him and the other DGB MVPs who had been flown in for the tournament.?(from round three the coaches could choose between a MVP, an extra card for 2 coach dice, most went for the dice).?He did make a big impression, especially in that last game where the Hamon Outlaws and their coach Mike Clark could have stolen the trophy if they had pulled off a landslide win. But it was not to be.

The day didn?t pit the father and son coaches against each other thankfully, no one wants to see a family dispute erupt on the benches. Luke ?MR? Wilson and Dominic ?the kid??Wilson?had very differing fortunes on the day? MR and his human side came a very close second place, only the failure to secure a landslide win in the last game kept him out of contention. Meanwhile, I?m afraid the newly formed Orxland Raiders have a lot to learn if they are planning to stay in the Major Leagues?

QB I was ashamed to call them bruvvers ? they even only managed one kill during the day. If I was their clan master there would be some backside whuppin? going on tonight I can tell you.?Wilson?had better get his act together before the sponsors get hungry I can tell you ?. Might be the dearest bit of sashimi ever seen if he don?t get his shi?

Vic? remember we are going out Galactic wide, we don?t want to upset our viewers even more?
Yeh, Sorry QB, sorry folks at home but I was ashamed of them man? At least the Tohn- Gaah bought pride to the Orx family. They took home a trophy, which makes me so proud?
But Vic, wasn?t that a trophy for the best kit, in other words a fashion trophy ? I thought you always said that fashion should stay in the western reaches of the Galactic Quadrants and has nothing to do with the ?one true game? ?

Well QB, I?s got to move with da times ? A trophy is a trophy after all? And in my opinion The Prowlers deserved the most kills trophy?

I?ll remind you of that next time Vic? Talking of Trophies the ?most kills? trophy went, perhaps surprisingly. to the Big Moon Buccaneers, a human team not known for their hard hitting. Their coach must have riled them up before their last game where there two kills made 4 for the tournament and meant they just snatched the trophy.

Let?s turn our attention to the Veer-myn teams, before the tournament the rumour was that this season would be dominated by the Veer-myn teams?

Well QB they sure do taste good with a little garlic, they been dominatin? Orx haute de cwisine for centuries now? Dem roast Veer twisties are growing on me two, last pack I ate only saw me hurlin? like a human on all you can drink and eat galactic cruise?

Vic, you can?t keep going on about how they taste, people find it offensive?

Offensive ? You just have to make sure you cook them well and bang them about a bit to start with to make them more tender like? NO? I mean your comments Vic?
Oh? Sorry QB, sorry folks at home?

The highest placers were the New Orpheus Sneaks, their coach Nick ?beardo? Ellingworth made sure they showed that they were worthy winners of the 15mc third prize chip. Another team to look out for during the season? LV426 Raiders were another Veer-myn team who caused their opposition trouble during the day. White, their coach proved they could, contrary to belief, strike! Teams will not be looking forward to visits from the Raiders this season. The Veerminators, a new team, who were formed just before the tournament impressed with their mid table finish, Jonah, their coach, would have taken a lot from the tournament and I?m sure will be figuring in the top places around the quadrant this season. The team which probably, based on what we had seen pre-season, underachieved the most in the tournament was the ?Beer Money? human franchise. Some of us oldies might still remember the franchise from the UFC/WWF glam tournaments shown in the reruns on ISPN channel 00LD?

Only this time QB it appears they were using their Beer Money just before the tournament, they didn?t seem to start playing until the 3^rd match? no Beer for them for a while I imagine, serves them right I reckon, waxing belongs on the car not on a chest?

Now, now Vic? It?s true though many people expected more out of the team, including their coach Rich ?the hair? Cooke? I still feel that there is a lot more to be seen from the Beer Money this season, especially in the ?Twisties Intergalactic Snack? ? the snack every species loves ? League where they currently head the League.

So all in all a fantastic start to the season proper for Dreadball fans throughout the galaxies? Perhaps the words of Chris Wall,? the C3PO human team coach (the team comprises of penal officers who get together for the love of the game) sums the day up when he said,?That was a jolly bloody good day out chaps. I thoroughly enjoyed playing and not beating some of you.?

Rest assured myself and Vic (if they haven?t fired him by then) will be here to bring you all the latest DB news as the season unfolds? Keep safe and may all your strikes be on target!

Hey QB we finished??I?ve?been dying to tell you, I figured why they are called Golden Turtles ? when you put them on their back and smash through the shell the sweat makes them taste just like sea-food ? here?s one I?m just trying?might make me shi?**********TRANSMISSION CUT BY STATION MANAGER**********

Many thanks to Rich Jones for this ace bit of reporting! If you want to get involved with Dreadball grab a team and head on over to the events pages to see when the next one is running!

Source: http://www.beastsofwar.com/tabletop-nation/dreadballcopperbowl-post-tournament-writeup/

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Boeing 787 probe shifts to monitoring system maker

TOKYO (AP) ? The joint U.S. and Japanese investigation into the Boeing 787's battery problems has shifted from the battery-maker to the manufacturer of a monitoring system.

Japan transport ministry official Shigeru Takano said Monday the probe into battery-maker GS Yuasa was over for now as no evidence was found it was the source of the problems.

Ministry officials said they will inspect Kanto Aircraft Instrument Co. on Monday as part of the ongoing investigation. It makes a system that monitors voltage, charging and temperature of the lithium-ion batteries.

All 50 of the Boeing 787s in use around the world are grounded after one of the jets operated by All Nippon Airways made an emergency landing in Japan earlier this month when its main battery overheated. Earlier in January, a battery in a Japan Airlines 787 caught fire while parked at Boston's Logan International Airport.

GS Yuasa shares jumped on the news it is no longer being investigated, gaining nearly 5 percent in Tokyo trading. The issue had plunged 12 percent after the battery problems surfaced in Japan.

Ministry officials stopped short of saying that Kanto's monitoring system was under any special scrutiny, saying it was part of an ongoing investigation.

"We are looking into affiliated parts makers," Takano said. "We are looking into possibilities."

Kyoto-based GS Yuasa declined to comment, noting that the investigation was still underway.

Deliveries of the jet dubbed the Dreamliner were three years behind schedule because of manufacturing delays. Much of the aircraft is made by outside manufacturers, many of them major Japanese companies who make about 35 percent of the plane.

It is the first jet to make wide use of lithium-ion batteries, the kind usually found in laptops and other gadgets. They are prone to overheating and require additional systems to avoid fires.

Investigators have been looking at the remnants of the ANA flight's charred battery, but it is unclear whether the battery or a related part was behind its overheating. Investigators have said the ANA battery and the JAL battery did not receive excess voltage.

Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways was the "launch customer" for the 787, and has been forced to cancel services ? 643 domestic flights through Feb. 12, affecting 69,000 passengers, and 195 international flights through Feb. 18, affecting 13,620 passengers.

Japan Airlines, which has fewer 787s than ANA, has deployed other aircraft in its fleet, minimizing its flight cancellations.

Boeing, which competes against Airbus of France, has halted 787 deliveries. Boeing has orders for more than 800 of the Dreamliner planes.

The 787 is the first airliner made mostly from lightweight composite materials that boost fuel efficiency. It also relies on electronic systems rather than hydraulic or mechanical systems to a greater degree than any other airliner.

Analysts say customers won't come back to the 787 unless its safety is solidly assured.

___

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at www.twitter.com/yurikageyama

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-01-28-AS-Japan-Boeing-787/id-27f999bcc5314a6da609db46b29c2680

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Acne treatment ? Using pads to treat acne - Food Fitness Life Love

It has been a long time that acne is treated with topical creams, oral medications and injections. This was a quite difficult period for a patient because all these treatment choices tend to cause a lot of discomfort to the patient. However, there is a good news. The news is that many acne pads are available, these days to cure acne.

However, people are quite apprehensive about this treatment option because it may not be as effective. However, the experts have already proved that these treatment options have treated acne in many people and that too effectively.

In order to know about the actual effectiveness of acne pads, one needs to know the exact causes of acne. Experts feel that follicle pore blocking and presence of bacterium and acnes inside the follicle and excess amount of production of sebum.

When it comes to medication options, all medications do not treat all the causes mentioned above.

Some of the active ingredients such as salicylic acid were an integral part of gels, face washes and creams. Now, all these are used in acne pads.

Here are some useful instructions in order to help using acne pads to treat acne.

a) Step one:
The first crucial step is to clean the skin with a medicated soap regularly.

b) Step two:
Now wipe the entire affected area with the help of an acne pad.

You need to start the procedure with a single application on a daily basis and thereafter, increase the usage with about two or three times in a single day if required. However, remember that a lot of salicylic acid can dry the skin.

If you notice any sort of peeling, red skin or itching during application, it would be wise to stop using these pads on an immediate basis.

Take special care to keep acne pads away from the eyes, mucous membranes and lips.

It would be wise to use acne pads only after consulting a health care practitioner. You need to take special care on following all the instructions provided on the package of the product. The medication is to be used only externally on the skin. The medication should not come into contact with broken skin, nose, mouth, eyes and groin.

Acne pads need to be used 1 to 3 times on a daily basis. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after using acne pads. Make sure you consult your doctor prior to using acne pads.

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Tags: acne pad, acne pads, acne treatment, acne treatment pads, treatment for acne, treatment on acne, treatment pads

Source: http://www.foodfitnesslifelove.com/beauty/acne-treatment-using-pads-to-treat-acne/

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Nokia intros Music+ subscription service with unlimited downloads, web listening

Most of the bigger streaming music services have both a free tier for casual listeners and a paid level for truly committed music fans. Nokia doesn't want to be the exception to the rule. It's launching Nokia Music+, a paid version of its existing platform. Paying €4 per month ($4 in the US) gives perks that you'd normally expect from a more expensive alternative like Spotify or Slacker's premium tier: the upgrade ratchets up the audio quality, adds lyrics, allows unlimited skips in Mix Radio and enables as many downloads for offline play as the phone can hold. Aren't you suddenly glad that you picked up a 32GB Lumia 920? Not that you'll always need it to tune in -- Music+ adds web streaming for anything with a suitably capable browser. Nokia hasn't said just which countries beyond the US will get the more advanced service, but it should make a formal debut within the next few weeks.

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio/Video, Internet, Mobile, Nokia

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Source: Conversations by Nokia

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/27/nokia-unveils-music-plus-subscription-service/

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