LONDON ? Lawyers for a retired British businessman accused of plotting to sell missile components to Iran said Tuesday that he will ask a European court to rule on his appeal against being extradited to the United States.
Christopher Tappin, 64, faces charges in Texas over allegations that he offered in 2006 to sell specialized batteries for Hawk missiles for $25,000. He didn't know then that his contacts were undercover U.S. agents, not Iranians, U.S. authorities say.
Tappin faces up to 35 years in jail if convicted in the United States, but he denies the charges and says he was the victim of a sting operation.
Two other men have been sentenced to prison in Texas for trying to buy and export the batteries, according to court records.
Tappin has unsuccessfully fought his extradition in Britain, where a judge ruled against him last year and two High Court judges said Tuesday that he lacked the legal basis to take his fight to the U.K. Supreme Court.
Lawyer Karen Todner said Tappin will instead lodge an application with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, within a few days, and will ask the court to halt extradition proceedings until his case is heard.
Another Tappin lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, had argued that under European human rights legislation, Tappin should not be extradited because he had to care for his sick wife.
U.K. judges have ruled that the severity of the charges against Tappin outweighed his right to not be extradited, but Todner said that the British government had agreed not to begin extradition proceedings for 14 days, to give Tappin time to lodge the European appeal.
Tappin's case is the latest to expose trans-Atlantic tensions over the exchange of criminal suspects.
Lawyers complain that under "fast track" extradition procedures introduced after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the U.S. is not required to offer substantial proof of an allegation when seeking to extradite a suspect from Britain.
But in October 2011, a judge-led review in the U.K. found that extradition agreements between the United States and Britain are fair and unbiased.
For decades, the most prized asset a state Democratic Party owned was its voter file. In its simplest form, a voter file is a roster of registered voters assembled from the rolls of local election authorities. But state parties were able to add reams of individual-level information gleaned from years of interacting with voters: their phone numbers, volunteer histories, and pet issues. In some states, the voter file provided enough texture to offer an ethnographic lens on local activist culture. The New Hampshire file, for instance, flagged individuals who had displayed lawn signs or brought food to a campaign headquarters to feed volunteers. This was information that campaigns could not get elsewhere, and party bosses put a price on it, either selling their voter file to candidates or saving it as a prize that could be extended only to those they endorsed?often a crucial way of protecting incumbents or playing favorites in primaries.
“Just in time for Star Wars Episode 1 in 3D” ?- Gogurt glow-in-the-dark yogurt lightsabers. I’m just hoping that it’s not actually the yoghrt that glows in the dark. ?More money spinners for the never ending Lucas franchise. Check out the video after the jump.
BEIJING ? Chinese President Hu Jintao is stressing the ruling Communist Party's ultimate control over China's rapidly modernizing military.
Hu's assertion came Sunday in a statement in the military's Liberation Army Daily newspaper calling on the 2.3 million-member force to develop advanced military culture. That is communist shorthand for retaining a leading role for socialist ideology.
Such calls seek to counter any movement toward nationalizing the force by making it ultimately responsible to the government rather than the party.
The People's Liberation Army has in recent years acquired latest-generation jet fighters and other advanced equipment. Last year it began sea trials for its first aircraft carrier.
The long, painful wait for Ringer fans is almost over.
On Tuesday, this CW drama finally returns with a new episode - and it does, at least, appear to be worth the wait.
Throughout "It Just Got Normal," Siobhan will be determined to make things difficult for her twin, as the following preview so deliciously teases: She's been a stripper, an addict, a murder and an adulterer; you haven't even seen her naughty side yet.
Watch the official CW preview for the installment now:
This handout photo provided by Darryl Pitt of the Macovich Collection shows an external view of a Martian meteorite recovered in December 2011 near Foumzgit, Morocco following a meteorite shower believed to have occurred in July 2011. Scientists are confirming a recent and rare invasion from Mars _ meteorite chunks that fell from the red planet over Morocco last summer. Meteorites from Mars are more than 1 million times rarer than gold. And this is only the fifth time experts have chemically confirmed fresh Martian rocks fell to Earth. The last time was in 1962. Scientists believe this meteorite fell last July because there were sightings of it. (AP Photo/Darryl Pitt, Macovich Collection)
This handout photo provided by Darryl Pitt of the Macovich Collection shows an external view of a Martian meteorite recovered in December 2011 near Foumzgit, Morocco following a meteorite shower believed to have occurred in July 2011. Scientists are confirming a recent and rare invasion from Mars _ meteorite chunks that fell from the red planet over Morocco last summer. Meteorites from Mars are more than 1 million times rarer than gold. And this is only the fifth time experts have chemically confirmed fresh Martian rocks fell to Earth. The last time was in 1962. Scientists believe this meteorite fell last July because there were sightings of it. (AP Photo/Darryl Pitt, Macovich Collection)
This handout photo provided by Darryl Pitt of the Macovich Collection shows a view of the internal structure of the first Martian meteorite (specimens of the planet Mars) known to have struck Earth in 49 years. Recovered in December 2011 near Foumzgit, Morocco following a meteorite shower believed to have occurred in July 2011. Scientists are confirming a recent and rare invasion from Mars _ meteorite chunks that fell from the red planet over Morocco last summer. Meteorites from Mars are more than 1 million times rarer than gold. And this is only the fifth time experts have chemically confirmed fresh Martian rocks fell to Earth. The last time was in 1962. Scientists believe this meteorite fell last July because there were sightings of it. (AP Photo/Darryl Pitt of the Macovich Collection)
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Scientists are confirming a recent and rare invasion from Mars: meteorite chunks from the red planet that fell in Morocco last July.
This is only the fifth time scientists have chemically confirmed Martian meteorites that people witnessed falling. The fireball was spotted in the sky six months ago, but the rocks weren't discovered on the ground in North Africa until the end of December.
This is an important and unique opportunity for scientists trying to learn about Mars' potential for life. So far, no NASA or Russian spacecraft has returned bits of Mars, so the only Martian samples scientists can examine are those that come here in a meteorite shower.
Scientists and collectors of meteorites are ecstatic, and already the rocks are fetching big bucks because they are among the rarest things on Earth ? rarer even than gold.
A special committee of meteorite experts, including some NASA scientists, confirmed the test results Tuesday. They certified that 15 pounds of meteorite recently collected came from Mars. The biggest rock weighs over 2 pounds.
Astronomers think millions of years ago something big smashed into Mars and sent rocks hurtling through the solar system. After a long journey through space, one of those rocks plunged through Earth's atmosphere, splitting into smaller pieces.
Most other Martian meteorite samples sat around on Earth for millions of years ? or at the very least decades ? before they were discovered, which makes them tainted with Earth materials and life. These new rocks, while still probably contaminated because they have been on Earth for months, are purer.
The last time a Martian meteorite fell and was found fresh was in 1962. All the known Martian rocks on Earth add up to less than 240 pounds.
The new samples were scooped up by dealers from those who found them. Even before the official certification, scientists at NASA, museums and universities scrambled to buy or trade these meteorites.
"It's a free sample from Mars. That's what these are, except you have to pay the dealers for it," said University of Alberta meteorite expert Chris Herd, who heads the committee that certified the discovery.
He has already bought a chunk of meteorite and said he was thrilled just to hold it, calling the rock "really spectacular."
One of the key decisions the scientists made Tuesday was to officially connect these rocks to the fiery plunge witnessed by people and captured on video last summer. The announcement and the naming of these meteorites ? called Tissint ? came from the International Society for Meteoritics and Planetary Science, which is the official group of 950 scientists that confirms and names meteorites.
Meteorite dealer Darryl Pitt, who sold a chunk to Herd, said he charges $11,000 to $22,500 an ounce and has sold most of his supply already. At that price, the new Martian rock costs about 10 times more than gold.
"It's scientifically invaluable," Herd said. "These are really beautiful specimens. It's a rare type, so fresh and aesthetically pleasing."
Several of the world's top experts in meteorites, including those who work for NASA, told The Associated Press that they were sure this was a piece of Mars. Tony Irving of the University of Washington is the scientist who did the scientific analysis on the rocks and said there is no doubt that they are from the red planet.
Scientists can tell when meteorites are from Mars because they know what the Martian atmosphere is made of, thanks to numerous probes sent there. The chemical signature of the rocks and the Martian air match, Irving said. Another clue is that because planets like Mars are more geologically active, its rocks tend to be much younger ? millions of years old instead of hundreds of millions or more ? than those from the moon or asteroids.
Most of the Martian rocks on Earth have been around for centuries or longer and have been found in Antarctica or the desert. They look so similar to dark Earth rocks that if they fell in other places, such as Maryland, they would blend right in and never be discovered, Irving said.
Jeff Grossman, a NASA scientist who is the Meteoritical Society's database editor, said there is a higher probability of finding "something interesting" from Mars on these rocks because they fell so recently. However, six months is a long time for Earthly contamination to take root, he said.
Herd said the first thing he would do with the rocks would be to rinse them with solvents to try to get rid of earthly contamination and see what carbon-based compounds are left.
A Martian meteorite that was buried in Antarctica made news in 1996. NASA scientists theorized that the rock, found in 1984, showed signs of traces of life from Mars, fossils of what seemed to be lifelong forms. Even the White House made an announcement about it as the first sign of life outside of Earth. Years of study since then have led much of the astronomy world to conclude that there was not enough evidence to support the claim.
Because known Martian meteorite falls happen only once every 50 years or so ? 1815 in France, 1865 in India, 1911 in Egypt and 1962 in Nigeria ? this is a once-in-a-career or even one-in-a-lifetime event.
"It's incredibly fresh. It's highly valuable for that reason," said Carl Agee, director of the Institute of Meteoritics and curator at the University of New Mexico. "For someone who knows their Martian, this is a beauty. It's gorgeous."
___
Online:
The Meteoritical Society: http://bit.ly/xDh6zz
Tony Irving's list of Martian meteorites: http://bit.ly/yl7jBD
WASHINGTON ? Kevin Martin scored 25 points, Samuel Dalembert added 20 and the Houston Rockets broke away in the third quarter Monday to beat John Wall and the Washington Wizards 114-106.
Wall scored a career-high 38 points on 13 of 22 shooting. He began the game making under 35 percent this season.
Luis Scola had 18 and Kyle Lowry had 16 for the Rockets in their highest-scoring game of the season.
Houston outscored the Wizards 25-6 during an eight-minute stretch in the third quarter. Dalembert hit all six of his shots in the period.
The Rockets made 25 of 26 foul shots in winning their third straight game.
Washington fell to 1-12 despite its highest point total of the season. Jordan Crawford had 17 points.
After the Rockets took a 19-point lead late in the third quarter, Washington closed to 101-96 on Wall's jumper with 4:47 to play. Wall scored 18 in the fourth quarter.
Crawford ended the first quarter with a 38-foot 3-point shot to give Washington a 28-27 lead. In the second quarter, Houston went on a 17-4 run to take a 52-44 lead with 3:32 remaining in the second quarter.
JaVale McGee scored the first two baskets of the second half to tie it at 58. That's when Houston pulled away, making it 83-64 with 3:56 left in the third quarter. One of the few Wizards' highlights came when McGee tossed the ball off the backboard during a breakaway and dunked.
After that dunk, which cut Houston's lead to 64-60, the Rockets outscored Washington 19-4.
NOTES: Washington F Andray Blatche, who missed three games with a sprained right shoulder, returned and had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Blatche and Wall were assessed with technical fouls within a minute in the third quarter. ... Wizards F Rashard Lewis was out with sore knees. ... Rockets swingman Courtney Lee missed his eighth straight game with a strained right calf. ... Houston coach Kevin McHale fired Washington's Flip Saunders when he was general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves in February 2005. It was their first on-court meeting as NBA coaches. ... The Rockets have held double-digit leads in their last six games. Last year, they never had double-digit leads in more than five straight.
Good parents are predictable -- at least when it comes to cornPublic release date: 15-Jan-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Albrecht E. Melchinger melchinger@uni-hohenheim.de 49-071-145-922-3488 University of Hohenheim
For a bigger harvest and faster results: The University of Hohenheim, the MPI for Molecular Plant Physiology and the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in Gatersleben start a new chapter in plant breeding
In order to breed new varieties of corn with a higher yield faster than ever before, researchers at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, and other institutions are relying on a trick: early selection of the most promising parent plants based on their chemical and genetic makeup, as well as on new statistical analysis procedures. The work has now been published in the authoritative journal Nature Genetics on Sunday evening, Jan. 15.
The problem is the sheer number: In the family tree of modern-day corn, there are two main groups with 10,000 pure-breed lines each. Each of these lines could potentially be used for producing a new variety by means of cross-breeding. In mathematical terms, that equates to 100 billion possibilities. In terms of corn, however, a parent's performance is no indicator of what potential lies hidden in their offspring. Even the feeblest of parents can produce mighty offspring when cross-bred.
But time is of essence: Currently it takes approximately 10 years for breeders to develop a new variety. Issues such as climate change, food shortages and the increasing demand for more energy, however, are making it essential to find solutions even faster.
Prof. Dr. Albrecht Melchinger, PhD student Christian Riedelsheimer and their research partners are experimenting with a new technique to solve both problems. The best parent plants are selected in two steps, beginning when they are not even planted yet or when they are just small plantlets. This saves time and guarantees the highest rate of success right from the very start.
Trick Nr. 1: Use mathematics and experience when selecting
Riedelsheimer takes a tiny sample from a kernel of corn. Not enough to harm the kernel, but enough to get a full picture of its DNA structure. This analysis is conducted jointly by the University of Hohenheim and the IPK Gatersleben.
The rest is mathematics and experience. "We know today that there is no single gene which determines whether a stalk of corn will grow up strong or produce lots of kernels on the cob. Instead there are numerous sequences in its DNA which all contribute to the plant's development. We can now examine up to 56,000 of these sequences using the latest techniques in genome analysis", Riedelsheimer explains.
The analysis does not involve modifying the DNA, but rather creating a unique profile of each parent, a so-called "genome profile" or "genetic fingerprint".
To analyse the fingerprint, scientists have spent the past three years and more planting, cross-breeding, analysing chromosomes and recording yields. The observations in the field have been used to develop a mathematical-statistical model which can be used to predict a parent's genetic potency.
Trick Nr. 2: Early selection
The composition of the leaves is a second indicator of which plants make for especially good parents. More specifically, it is about the amounts of starch, sugar, amino acids, chlorophyll and other substances. As with the genetic information, this data allows for a statistical prognosis of a plant's breeding capabilities.
Tests can be conducted to find out the levels shortly after the seeds have been sown, when the plantlets are roughly three weeks old and 20 cm tall. Compared with analysing the plant's genetic structure, taking samples in the field is rather an athletic activity. "The plant's metabolism varies constantly throughout the course of a day and that makes it necessary to collect the leaves quickly and shock freeze the samples immediately", says Riedelsheimer. "All in all we collected 6,000 samples- in just 69 minutes!"
For the technically-challenging task of analysing the substances, plant breeders work in collaboration with experts from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology in Golm. The rest involves cutting-edge statistics. "Similar to the DNA profile, it is not the individual substances which are important for making predictions, but rather how these substances stand in relation to one another", Riedelsheimer explains.
New technology saves time, money and expensive acreage
"This new technique allows us to select the most promising parents with high accuracy and to focus all of our resources on these", says Prof. Dr. Melchinger.
This method also saves cultivatable land, which, in turn, saves money. "In order to test all possible crosses, we would have to plant corn on half of the earth's surface", a utopian, if not an expensive undertaking. "A single field plot costs us 50 euros. We test on two plots per genotype at ten different locations, making a total of 1,000 euros", Prof. Dr. Melchinger explains. An analysis of the genome using a chip and a robot costs approximately 150 euros.
Impressive as well is the amount of time saved. DNA analysis of the kernels can be conducted during the winter months. Meanwhile, the plantlets to be analysed for their substance composition grow in the greenhouse. As a result, the best parent plants can be chosen and cultivated that same year.
Paradigm shift opens door to new research approaches
Nonetheless, it will take another few years until the new breed is ready. Breeders worldwide also know another trick, especially when it comes to corn. One that has been around for decades.
Prof. Dr. Melchinger describes a paradoxical phenomenon: "With corn, the offspring tend to be especially large when the parents stem from generations of in-breeding." Experts speak of "heterosis", hobby gardeners of "hybrids".
The most promising parent plants are sorted out and self-pollinated over many generations. Only then does cross-pollination take place in preparation for the sowing of the new hybrid variety.
Heterosis as a biological phenomenon has yet to be fully researched in detail, according to Prof. Dr. Melchinger. "We were able to determine in earlier research projects that the reasons for the phenomenon lie in the extremely complex interaction of many different genes."
For researchers, this has led to a paradigm shift. "We've moved away from the search for individual super genes." Instead we focus on the interplay among the diverse elements in the genetic code. "This new perspective on plants will help the hybrid breeding programme immensely", Prof. Dr. Melchinger believes. "There is so much genetic diversity in corn. One must simply know how to combine it in the right way."
###
Bibliography
Christian Riedelsheimer, Angelika Czedik-Eysenberg, Christoph Grieder, Jan Lisec, Frank Technow, Ronan Sulpice, Thomas Altmann, Mark Stitt, Lothar Willmitzer & Albrecht E Melchinger, Genomic and metabolic prediction of complex heterotic traits in hybrid maize, Nature Genetics's, Advance Online Publication (AOP) on 15 January at 1800 London time / 1300 US Eastern time, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng.1033
Background: GABI research project
The current research activities are based on the results of earlier studies conducted on Arabidopsis. The newly-publicised procedure was discovered as part of the research project GABI-ENERGY. The acronym GABI stands for "Genomanalyse im biologischen System Pflanze", a funding program of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for projects towards innovation in the field of genetic research with plants (www.gabi.de). The Ministry has allocated 2.7 mil. towards the project.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Good parents are predictable -- at least when it comes to cornPublic release date: 15-Jan-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Albrecht E. Melchinger melchinger@uni-hohenheim.de 49-071-145-922-3488 University of Hohenheim
For a bigger harvest and faster results: The University of Hohenheim, the MPI for Molecular Plant Physiology and the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in Gatersleben start a new chapter in plant breeding
In order to breed new varieties of corn with a higher yield faster than ever before, researchers at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, and other institutions are relying on a trick: early selection of the most promising parent plants based on their chemical and genetic makeup, as well as on new statistical analysis procedures. The work has now been published in the authoritative journal Nature Genetics on Sunday evening, Jan. 15.
The problem is the sheer number: In the family tree of modern-day corn, there are two main groups with 10,000 pure-breed lines each. Each of these lines could potentially be used for producing a new variety by means of cross-breeding. In mathematical terms, that equates to 100 billion possibilities. In terms of corn, however, a parent's performance is no indicator of what potential lies hidden in their offspring. Even the feeblest of parents can produce mighty offspring when cross-bred.
But time is of essence: Currently it takes approximately 10 years for breeders to develop a new variety. Issues such as climate change, food shortages and the increasing demand for more energy, however, are making it essential to find solutions even faster.
Prof. Dr. Albrecht Melchinger, PhD student Christian Riedelsheimer and their research partners are experimenting with a new technique to solve both problems. The best parent plants are selected in two steps, beginning when they are not even planted yet or when they are just small plantlets. This saves time and guarantees the highest rate of success right from the very start.
Trick Nr. 1: Use mathematics and experience when selecting
Riedelsheimer takes a tiny sample from a kernel of corn. Not enough to harm the kernel, but enough to get a full picture of its DNA structure. This analysis is conducted jointly by the University of Hohenheim and the IPK Gatersleben.
The rest is mathematics and experience. "We know today that there is no single gene which determines whether a stalk of corn will grow up strong or produce lots of kernels on the cob. Instead there are numerous sequences in its DNA which all contribute to the plant's development. We can now examine up to 56,000 of these sequences using the latest techniques in genome analysis", Riedelsheimer explains.
The analysis does not involve modifying the DNA, but rather creating a unique profile of each parent, a so-called "genome profile" or "genetic fingerprint".
To analyse the fingerprint, scientists have spent the past three years and more planting, cross-breeding, analysing chromosomes and recording yields. The observations in the field have been used to develop a mathematical-statistical model which can be used to predict a parent's genetic potency.
Trick Nr. 2: Early selection
The composition of the leaves is a second indicator of which plants make for especially good parents. More specifically, it is about the amounts of starch, sugar, amino acids, chlorophyll and other substances. As with the genetic information, this data allows for a statistical prognosis of a plant's breeding capabilities.
Tests can be conducted to find out the levels shortly after the seeds have been sown, when the plantlets are roughly three weeks old and 20 cm tall. Compared with analysing the plant's genetic structure, taking samples in the field is rather an athletic activity. "The plant's metabolism varies constantly throughout the course of a day and that makes it necessary to collect the leaves quickly and shock freeze the samples immediately", says Riedelsheimer. "All in all we collected 6,000 samples- in just 69 minutes!"
For the technically-challenging task of analysing the substances, plant breeders work in collaboration with experts from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology in Golm. The rest involves cutting-edge statistics. "Similar to the DNA profile, it is not the individual substances which are important for making predictions, but rather how these substances stand in relation to one another", Riedelsheimer explains.
New technology saves time, money and expensive acreage
"This new technique allows us to select the most promising parents with high accuracy and to focus all of our resources on these", says Prof. Dr. Melchinger.
This method also saves cultivatable land, which, in turn, saves money. "In order to test all possible crosses, we would have to plant corn on half of the earth's surface", a utopian, if not an expensive undertaking. "A single field plot costs us 50 euros. We test on two plots per genotype at ten different locations, making a total of 1,000 euros", Prof. Dr. Melchinger explains. An analysis of the genome using a chip and a robot costs approximately 150 euros.
Impressive as well is the amount of time saved. DNA analysis of the kernels can be conducted during the winter months. Meanwhile, the plantlets to be analysed for their substance composition grow in the greenhouse. As a result, the best parent plants can be chosen and cultivated that same year.
Paradigm shift opens door to new research approaches
Nonetheless, it will take another few years until the new breed is ready. Breeders worldwide also know another trick, especially when it comes to corn. One that has been around for decades.
Prof. Dr. Melchinger describes a paradoxical phenomenon: "With corn, the offspring tend to be especially large when the parents stem from generations of in-breeding." Experts speak of "heterosis", hobby gardeners of "hybrids".
The most promising parent plants are sorted out and self-pollinated over many generations. Only then does cross-pollination take place in preparation for the sowing of the new hybrid variety.
Heterosis as a biological phenomenon has yet to be fully researched in detail, according to Prof. Dr. Melchinger. "We were able to determine in earlier research projects that the reasons for the phenomenon lie in the extremely complex interaction of many different genes."
For researchers, this has led to a paradigm shift. "We've moved away from the search for individual super genes." Instead we focus on the interplay among the diverse elements in the genetic code. "This new perspective on plants will help the hybrid breeding programme immensely", Prof. Dr. Melchinger believes. "There is so much genetic diversity in corn. One must simply know how to combine it in the right way."
###
Bibliography
Christian Riedelsheimer, Angelika Czedik-Eysenberg, Christoph Grieder, Jan Lisec, Frank Technow, Ronan Sulpice, Thomas Altmann, Mark Stitt, Lothar Willmitzer & Albrecht E Melchinger, Genomic and metabolic prediction of complex heterotic traits in hybrid maize, Nature Genetics's, Advance Online Publication (AOP) on 15 January at 1800 London time / 1300 US Eastern time, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng.1033
Background: GABI research project
The current research activities are based on the results of earlier studies conducted on Arabidopsis. The newly-publicised procedure was discovered as part of the research project GABI-ENERGY. The acronym GABI stands for "Genomanalyse im biologischen System Pflanze", a funding program of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for projects towards innovation in the field of genetic research with plants (www.gabi.de). The Ministry has allocated 2.7 mil. towards the project.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, speaks as he campaigns at the Faith and Freedom Coaltion Prayer Breakfast in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, speaks as he campaigns at the Faith and Freedom Coaltion Prayer Breakfast in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., center, and former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton, left, laugh as they campaign in Hilton Head, S.C., Friday, Jan. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry on Sunday accused the Obama administration of "over-the-top rhetoric" and "disdain for the military" in its condemnation of a video that purportedly shows four Marines urinating on corpses in Afghanistan.
Perry's comments put him at odds with Sen. John McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, who said the images could damage the war effort.
"The Marine Corps prides itself that we don't lower ourselves to the level of the enemy," McCain said when asked about Perry's position. "So it makes me sad more than anything else, because ... I can't tell you how wonderful these people (Marines) are. And it hurts their reputation and their image."
No one has been charged in the case, but officials in the U.S. and abroad have called for swift punishment of the four Marines. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said last week that he worried the video could be used by the Taliban to undermine peace talks.
A military criminal investigation and an internal Marine Corps review are under way. The Geneva Conventions forbid the desecration of the dead.
Texas Gov. Perry said the Marines involved should be reprimanded but not prosecuted on criminal charges.
"Obviously, 18-, 19-year-old kids make stupid mistakes all too often. And that's what's occurred here," Perry told CNN's "State of the Union."
He later added: "What's really disturbing to me is the kind of over-the-top rhetoric from this administration and their disdain for the military."
Later appearing on the same show, McCain said he disagreed.
"We're trying to win the hearts and minds" of the Afghanistan population, he said. "And when something like that comes up, it obviously harms that ability."
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LOSS ANGELES (Reuters) ? Silent-era film "The Artist" and family drama "The Descendants" were the top film picks at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday in a loose-lipped awards show that even had host Ricky Gervais walking onto the stage with a drink in his hand.
"The Descendants," starring George Clooney as a man steering his family through a tragic time when his wife is in a coma, won two Golden Globe trophies, including the top honor of best dramatic movie and another for Clooney as best dramatic actor.
Onstage he thanked writer/director Alexander Payne and backstage told reporters, "he knows how to tell stories. He knows how to make something funny and how to turn it around."
Clooney called the movie "a coming-of-age film for a 50-year-old and a lot of us have dealt with people like that."
"The Artist," a romantic tale about a failing actor who finds love at a time when movies were changing from silents to talkies, picked up three awards including best musical or comedy and best actor in a musical or comedy for its star, French actor Jean Dujardin.
Onstage, Dujardin did the most appropriate thing -- gave his speech, thanked his colleagues, then signed off by not saying a word. And true to stealing almost every scene of his in the movie, little dog Uggie detracted from an emotional speech by the film's director, Michel Hazanavicius, when the dog begged for a treat.
Other key winners included Meryl Streep for best actress in a film drama with her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." Streep, who is typically reliable with a funny acceptance speech had a difficult time reading hers this year when she forgot her glasses.
Michelle Williams took the trophy for best actress in a comedy or musical with her role as Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn.
"I consider myself a mother first and an actress second. The person I most want to thank (is) my daughter, my little girl," Williams said referring to her child with the late actor Heath Ledger. "I want to say thank you for sending me off to this job everyday with a hug and a kiss."
Veteran Christopher Plummer, 82, won supporting actor with his portrayal of an elderly man who comes out as gay to his family in "Beginners," bringing both poignancy and a touch of humor to their lives. Octavia Spencer, playing a beleaguered housemaid in the U.S. South during the civil rights era in "The Help" was best supporting actress.
Woody Allen was given a Golden Globe for his screenplay for "Midnight in Paris" and Steven Spielberg won best animated film with his rollicking "The Adventures of Tintin."
Iranian film "A Separation" was named best foreign language film, and its director, Ashgar Farhadi, used the opportunity to tell world audiences that "my people. I think they are a truly peace-loving people."
OSCAR RACE LOOMS
The Golden Globe Awards are given out by the roughly 90 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at what annually is among the key events during Hollywood's awards season because of the media exposure it brings.
Many of the movies and stars that win here also go on to compete for Oscars later this year, and "The Artist," which was the most-nominated film coming into the Golden Globes with six nods overall, will certainly become a frontrunner for the world's top film honors, as will "Descendants" and "The Help."
Oscar nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will given out on January 24.
Unlike the Oscar voters, HFPA members also vote on their favorite TV shows and performances and in that arena "Homeland," about a modern-day CIA agent tracking returning war soldiers who may be terrorists, took home two Golden Globes for best drama series and best actress in a drama for Claire Danes.
Best actor in a drama TV series went to Kelsey Grammer for his role as a stern corporate manager in "Boss."
"Modern Family," a take on extended families in current-day America, took the prize for best comedy and its stars enjoyed one of the more memorable moments of the night when star Sofia Vergara gave their acceptance speech in Spanish, with English translation from creator Steve Levitan.
Best actress in a TV comedy went to Laura Dern for "Enlightened" and the comedic actor trophy was won by Matt LeBlanc for "Episodes."
Coming into the show, all eyes were on host Gervais, who ruffled the feathers of many a Hollywood celebrities last year at the Golden Globes. While he didn't tone down his jokes for the 2012 audience -- making fun of Johnny Depp, Jodie Foster, Kim Kardashian and the HFPA itself -- it seemed the stars were in the mood for his biting wit this time around.
"I thought he did a great job," Clooney told reporters backstage. "I think he handled tonight like a proper good host again ... people were expecting a lot of trash talk, and he did a little bit of that, and he made me laugh, he was very funny."
In fact, it seemed Gervais' humor was rather tame at some points compared to others who made penis jokes onstage and used foul language. At one point, Gervais came onstage drinking a beer, but somehow that seemed fitting for an awards show that bills itself as one big Hollywood party.
(Reporting By Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Despite all the product rivalry at CES, a little romance was inevitable -- and not just in the Engadget trailer. WOWee, purveyor of the ONE portable speaker, has paired up with MicroVision and its dashing PicoP laser projector technology (shown above) to create a "marriage of sight and sound." It looks like the two companies will start out by simply bundling their respective wares, which will be available together in 120 countries from this quarter, rather than rushing to announce a hybrid device straight away. A wise decision, no doubt.
TORONTO ? Economic uncertainty has started to take its toll on Canada?s broadcast market, as cable giant Shaw Communications on Thursday revealed lower ad revenue from its Shaw Media broadcast division.
Calgary-based Shaw reported first quarter earnings of $202 million, against a profit of $17 million in 2010 due to year-earlier one-time charges.
Overall Q1 revenue jumped 19 percent to $1.28 billion, with cable revenue up 4 percent to $792 million, despite losing 22,768 basic cable customers in the latest quarter to November 30, and satellite TV revenue rising 1 percent to $209 million.
Shaw Communications recorded $299 million in first-time revenue from Shaw Media, which comprises the former TV assets of CanWest Global Communications Corp. acquired last year.
The cabler reported Shaw Media revenue on a pro forma basis was down 3 percent, compared to 2010 levels, due to a softening advertising market.
The Shaw Media division includes the Global Television over-the-air network, which airs popular U.S. shows like Glee, House and the Survivor franchise, and a string of cable channels like HGTV Canada and Food Network Canada.
Shares in Shaw Communications were down by 2 percent, or 47 cents, to $20.00 during early morning trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, before clawing their way back to $20.30 mid-afternoon after the cable giant announced a dividend increase.
Shaw Communications faces stiff competition in western Canada from mobile phone giant Telus Corp, which offers TV services as part of a bundled offering.
LONDON ? Britain's High Court said Friday a retired businessman who allegedly plotted to sell missile components to Iran should be extradited to the United States.
U.S. authorities say Christopher Tappin offered in 2006 to sell specialized batteries for Hawk missiles for $25,000, not knowing that his contacts were undercover U.S. agents, not Iranians. Two other men have been jailed in Texas over the plot.
A judge ruled last year that 64-year-old Tappin should be extradited. He claims he was entrapped by FBI agents and challenged the decision.
But on Friday two judges upheld the earlier ruling.
Tappin said he is disappointed and will "consider all my options and do what I can to bring an end to this nightmare."
He faces up to 35 years in jail if convicted in the U.S.
Tappin's case is the latest to expose trans-Atlantic tensions over the exchange of criminal suspects.
Lawyers complain that under "fast track" extradition procedures introduced after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. is not required to offer substantial proof of an allegation when seeking to extradite a suspect from Britain.
But in October, a judge-led review in the U.K. found that extradition agreements between the United States and Britain are fair and unbiased.
Tappin's lawyer, Karen Todner, said she plans to apply for her client's case to be heard by Britain's Supreme Court.
"Yet again this one-sided treaty is set to destroy a British citizen's life," she said. "We would urge the government to take urgent action to review this treaty and stop these horrendous extraditions.
Last Call For Submissions! Calling all creative kids! The American Pet Products Association is accepting poems for the 4th Annual Pets Add Life Children?s Poetry Contest now through?Jan. 31.?
Students in grades 3rd-8th are invited to write a unique poem about their pets, what they love about them, the joys they bring, and post it online at www.PetsAddLife.org or mail their final poem and submission form to: Pets Add Life, 661 Sierra Rose Dr., Reno, NV 89511. Deadline for submissions is January 31, 2012 at 5:00pm EST.
One student from each grade level (6 total) nationwide will win a $250 gift certificate for pet products, and a ?by-line? in a nationally circulated publication. In addition, the six winning students? classrooms will each win a $1,000 scholarship to spend on pet related education.
In addition, teachers within contest grade levels are welcome to incorporate this national contest into their lesson plans, and submit poems in one entry, on behalf of his/her classroom.
To learn more about the Pets Add Life Children?s Poetry Contest, read previous winning poems, upload your submission, or download a printed submission form, please visit www.petsaddlife.org. For questions or more information please contact?kerry@theimpetusageny.com.
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) ? Philips Electronics (PHG.AS) warned of soft fourth quarter profits due to weakness in European markets that is leading to charges for inventory it cannot shift.
The Dutch group - Europe's biggest consumer electronics maker and the world number one in lighting equipment - said it will report a fall in underlying earnings to about 500 mln euros from 910 mln a year earlier, slowing sales growth across its divisions and unspecified charges for stock that is still sitting in its warehouses.
"Our expected fourth-quarter financial results have been affected by the weakness in Europe, which has impacted our Healthcare business, as well as pricing in our Consumer Lighting business," Chief Executive Frans van Houten said.
The shares were hit hard by the profit warning, falling 6.4 percent by 0745 GMT, while the main AEX index was up 0.5 percent.
The latest warning follows a prediction in June of sharply lower profits at the lighting division, its biggest alongside healthcare equipment, due to weak consumer demand in Europe. That was just a few months after Van Houten took the helm.
Philips said overall sales growth in the fourth quarter will probably come in at less than 5 percent and the underlying profit margin is now expected to be 8-9 percent, below an estimate from SNS Securities analysts of 11 percent and down from the 11.4 percent the firm reported a year earlier.
Despite a strong performance in the U.S., the healthcare division will report fourth-quarter sales growth in the low single digits, primarily due to weak sales in Europe and delivery delays.
The lighting division continues to have "operational issues," Philips said, which combined with weak macroeconomic factors will lead to charges in the fourth-quarter for inventory.
"Results in Healthcare and Lighting are disappointing, especially as it is explained by difficult markets in Europe which are not likely to improve in the near term," said SNS analyst Victor Bareno.
Petercam analyst Marcel Actherberg was disappointed with lower than expected margins for the fourth quarter, particularly in the lighting division.
Philips said on Tuesday that with continued cost cutting and restructuring it still expects to meet its 2013 mid-term financial targets of 4-6 percent sales growth, 10-12 percent underlying earnings growth and a 12-14 percent return on capital.
The group announced a massive restructuring plan in October when it reported disappointing third-quarter numbers.
Philips said at the time it would aim to cut 4,500 jobs as part of the restructuring to boost profit and meet its financial targets. That is about 3.7 percent of its workforce outside the television business of just over 120,000, which had already been reduced by a 2009 program to cut 6,000 jobs.
Philips is set to report fourth-quarter results on January 30.
(Reporting By Roberta B. Cowan; Editing by Chris Wickham and Dan Lalor)
Along with the new generation Fusion, Ford also unveiled its green Hybrid and Energi versions.
If anything, they are far most excited about these variants than the Fusion itself. Ford says the Hybrid and the plug-in Hybrid Fusion will raise the bar MPG-wise in this segment, and they will actually do what they claim.
The new hybrid Fusion comes with with all-new lithium-ion batteries that save weight and generate more power than previous nickel-metal hydride batteries, while raising maximum speed under electric-only power from 47 mph to 62 mph. The gasoline engine is a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine.
Combined fuel economy figures are 47 mpg in city driving and 44 mpg on the highway, and those are frankly astonishing figures, beating the latest Sonata and Camry hybrids by a couple of MPGs.
The Energi version is the real king of fuel efficiency, with expected fuel rating of more than 100 MPGe. That?s 8 MPGe more than the Chevrolet Volt and 13 MPGe more than the projected efficiency of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid model.
What we like about this one is the fact that it looks totally like a normal Fusion. If it weren?t for the badges, and that extra fuel filler cap on the front fender ? which is actually the port to plug the car in ? you wouldn?t be able to tell it apart from the petrol models. That is simply not the case with cars like the Volt or the Prius. They will mark you as an Eco mentalist, which is just not cool.
FRANKFURT, Germany ? Germany's exports rose strongly in November, partially offsetting a sharp drop the previous month, according to provisional figures. But a dip in industrial production darkened the picture for Europe's biggest economy.
Germany's economic fortunes, as well as of those of the 17-nation eurozone, remain hugely dependent on both, so economists will be closely monitoring a raft of indicators over the coming weeks to see if it is heading toward a recession.
If Germany avoids an outright recession, that will help shore up the eurozone economy, which is struggling in the face of a debt crisis that has seen Greece, Ireland and Portugal bailed out and is threatening bigger economies like Italy and Spain.
The picture on the exports front was fairly upbeat after the Federal Statistical Office agency reported they rose 2.5 percent to euro90.7 billion ($115.88 billion) in November, adjusted for seasonal and calendar factors. With imports dropping 0.4 percent to euro75.7 billion, the country's trade surplus swelled to euro14.3 billion from euro11.5 billion in October.
Exports are a key pillar of Germany's economy and have helped keep it growing even as the eurozone crisis over too much government debt has gathered intensity over the past two years.
The export rise comes after the office reported a revised 2.9 percent drop in exports to euro88.5 billion in October. Compared with a year earlier, exports in November were up 8.3 percent in unadjusted terms.
Downbeat news came in the form of a drop in industrial production by 0.6 percent during the month, slightly more than the 0.5 percent predicted by financial market analysts.
Economist Alexander Koch at UniCredit noted that auto manufacturing appears to have shifted into a lower gear in the final weeks of the year after pushing output higher in the third quarter, when auto sector companies canceled traditional summer holiday plant shutdowns.
Together with a recent stabilization in other economic indicators and with stronger construction activity in the month, Koch said, the industrial production numbers "support our view that no deep contraction in German manufacturing is imminent" and predicted 0.2 percent growth for the fourth quarter from the quarter before.
Jennifer McKeown, senior economist at Capital Economics in London took a more skeptical view, saying that the drop in industrial output meant "it seems very likely that German GDP fell in the fourth quarter."
The weaker production data suggested that some of the export demand was being met by goods already in company's inventories.
___
Associated Press Writer David Rising contributed to this report from Berlin.
From left, Mayor Clifford Lee, 14-year-old Logan White, of Cardigan, and P.E.I. Rocket forward Ben Duffy take a breather during a free skate Sunday for Rocket season ticket-holders at the Charlottetown Civic Centre. The CCC will host a number of events...
Come one, come all, Hockey Day in Canada is almost here.
And the four-day hockey extravaganza is spread further across the province than many realize, with a number of events being held in Charlottetown during the celebrations from Wednesday, Feb. 8 to Saturday, Feb. 11.
While Saturday's live broadcast will be from the Metro Credit Union in Summerside, Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee said the event is a partnership between a number of groups including Hockey P.E.I., the cities of Charlottetown and Summerside, the province, as well as major sponsors Scotiabank and CBC.
"A lot of people don't realize, but the reality is that the event is really spread out across the province," said Lee during an interview Sunday with The Guardian. "And this is going to be a great couple of days in Charlottetown."
While some of the event details are yet to be released, hotel rooms are already being booked in the city for the celebrations.
On Friday, Feb. 10, the Charlottetown Civic Centre will host a dinner marking the first appearance rhat week of the Coach's Corner duo Don Cherry and Ron MacLean. More details on this dinner are set to be released Tuesday, with tickets likely going on sale this week.
Lee said he expects the two well-known sportscasters will create a huge buzz in the city, especially with younger viewers.
"I think you're going to find little kids running around Charlottetown just in awe, chasing these two gentleman around the community," said Lee. "That's special and you can't put a dollar bill on that."
The Delta Prince Edward will be hosting a breakfast with a prominent CBC news anchor who's name is yet to be released. Details for the event are to be released in the near future.
As well, MacLean is set to host the Stolen From a Hockey Card concert that plays at the Confederation Centre of the Arts Thursday, Feb. 9. The hockey-themed concert also features Hockey Hall-of-Famer Bryan Trottier.
The P.E.I. Rocket will also be making waves across the country when they play the Saint John Sea Dogs at the CCC on Saturday, Feb. 11.
"CBC will be shooting from here and bringing components of that game into the national broadcast," said Wayne Long, Charlottetown's events development officer.
"There will be a number of stories (in the broadcast) featured from Charlottetown, as well as, across the province."
The UPEI Panthers play their final regular season game Feb, 11 at CARI against St. Thomas Tommies.
Charlottetown will also see hockey's most coveted trophy during the three-day Stanley Cup relay across P.E.I. from Feb. 8-10. The relay will see about six to eight community stops each day, including more than one in Charlottetown, where the public can get pictures taken with the cup.
One of those stops in the city will be at the Jack Frost Children's WinterFest on Friday, Feb. 10. The festival, which includes a massive outdoor rink, will also be hockey-themed this year.
The Confederation Centre of the Arts is holding a hockey-themed exhibit during the event. Hockey Bar combines hockey and beer-related artworks alongside Island hockey memorabilia.
Economic spinoff for Charlottetown aside, Lee said watching the involvement of the local community for the celebrations, such as minor hockey associations and the P.E.I. Rocket, have been inspiring.
Lee said the event has been a great opportunity by providing one of the first partnerships between Charlottetown and Summerside and hopes it is a sign of more to come.
"I think there's a lot of events that may be too big for one community to host. If Charlottetown and Summerside can come together and jointly host some of these events, I think the entire province is going to be the beneficiary."
Those interested in more details on the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada celebrations can visit www.hockeyday2012.ca
We're here at CES Unveiled and we've just got our mitts on SolarFocus' Kindle case. The $80 e-reader sheath is said to provide for three months of unplugged use as well as 50 hours for its onboard reading light. While the construction seemed solid, the case added an extra bit of heft, with a heavy grey backing and a comfortable black leather detail surrounding the rather large solar panel on the front. The case is now available for the fourth generation Kindle, but we're told a Kindle Touch version is on its way sometime in mid-March, with more iterations in development. Check out a closer view of the case in the gallery after the break.
This is a discussion on Domestic violence double standard within the Discrimination & Sexist Double Standards forums, part of the General category; DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOUBLE STANDARD Shockingly, violence against men is almost as common as that against women. The Arena explores the ...
COMMENTARY | According to the New York Post, a recent book on the Obamas reveals an "Alice in Wonderland" party that took place at the White House on Halloween, 2009 that seems like something out of the court of Louis XVI.
The party took place in the State Dining Room, transformed by film director Tim Burton, whose "Alice in Wonderland" film had just come out, into the Mad Hatter's tea party. The icing on the cake was the appearance of actor Johnny Depp, in full Mad Hatter costume, to greet the guests. There was "--a long table set with antique-looking linens, enormous stuffed animals in chairs, and tiered serving plates with treats like bone-shaped meringue cookies."
The Obama White House deliberately concealed the existence of the lavish Halloween party for fear of political implications. The economic downturn, then as now, was in full swing. The tea party movement was gathering steam with mass protests around the country. The Obama administration was struggling to get its health care reform proposal passed through Congress.
The Obama's habit of high living is no state secret. The Obama's frequent vacation trips have even become an issue on the campaign trail. According to the Washington Times, presidential candidate Mitt Romney mocked the Obamas for their holiday trip to Hawaii while the economy was still in turmoil. Martha's Vineyard is another venue for Obama sojourns away from the cares of office.
A number of news reports have detailed the great public expense entailed by the Obamas' recreation. The Blaze stated that the Hawaii trip cost close to $4 million, a chunk of which was borne by the tax payer in travel and security expenses. The Daily Mail reported that First Lady Michele Obama spent $10 million in tax payer money on vacations in 2011 alone.
Politico reported an expensive "date night" which the Obamas took in New York City which involved the use of Air Force One for an evening of dining and theater on Broadway. In 2009 Michelle Malkin reported on a swank cocktail party the Obamas threw for the Congressional leadership that included sandwiches made with $100 a pound wagyu beef.
All of this conspicuous consumption, partly at public expense, suggests a kind of tone deafness on the part of the Obamas that is breathtaking. "Shared sacrifice" does not apparently include the first family, even in these hard times.
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Public release date: 15-Jan-2012
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