Bieber has fans playing 'guess who?' with his new tattoo, which he premiered in Stockholm.
By Jocelyn Vena
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1706289/justin-bieber-tattoo-selena-gomez.jhtml
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Apr. 23, 2013 ? There's big news in the world of tiny things. New research led by University of Cincinnati physics professors Howard Jackson and Leigh Smith could contribute to better ways of harnessing solar energy, more effective air quality sensors or even stronger security measures against biological weapons such as anthrax. And it all starts with something that's 1,000 times thinner than the typical human hair -- a semiconductor nanowire.
UC's Jackson, Smith, recently graduated PhD student Melodie Fickenscher and physics doctoral student Teng Shi, as well as several colleagues from across the US and around the world recently have published the research paper "Optical, Structural and Numerical Investigations of GaAs/AlGaAs Core-Multishell Nanowire Quantum Well Tubes" in Nano Letters, a journal on nanoscience and nanotechnology published by the American Chemical Society. In the paper, the team reports that they've discovered a new structure in a semiconductor nanowire with unique properties.
"This kind of structure in the gallium arsenide/aluminum gallium arsenide system had not been achieved before," Jackson says. "It's new in terms of where you find the electrons and holes, and spatially it's a new structure."
EYES ON SIZE AND CORNERING ELECTRONS
These little structures could have a big effect on a variety of technologies. Semiconductors are at the center of modern electronics. Computers, TVs and cellphones have them. They're made from the crystalline form of elements that have scientifically beneficial electrical conductivity properties. Many semiconductors are made of silicon, but in this case they are made of gallium arsenide. And while widespread use of these thin nanowires in new devices might still be around the corner, the key to making that outcome a reality in the coming years is what's in the corner.
By using a thin shell called a quantum well tube and growing it -- to about 4 nanometers thick -- around the nanowire core, the researchers found electrons within the nanowire were distributed in an unusual way in relation to the facets of the hexagonal tube. A close look at the corners of the tube's facets revealed something unexpected -- a high concentration of ground state electrons and holes.
"Having the faceting really matters. It changes the ballgame," Jackson says. "Adjusting the quantum well tube width allows you to control the energy -- which would have been expected -- but in addition we have found that there's a highly localized ground state at the corners which then can give rise to true quantum nanowires."
The nanowires the team uses for its research are grown at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia -- one partner in this project that extends to disparate parts of the globe.
AFFECTING THE SCIENCE OF SMALL IN A BIG WAY
The team's discovery opens a new door to further study of the fundamental physics of semiconductor nanowires. As for leading to advances in technology such as photovoltaic cells, Jackson says it's too soon to tell because quantum nanowires are just now being explored. But in a world where hundreds of dollars' worth of technology is packed into a 5-by-2.5 inch iPhone, it's not hard to see how small but powerful science comes at a premium.
The team at UC is one of only about a half dozen in the US conducting competitive research in the field. It's a relatively young discipline, too, Jackson says, and one that's moving fast. For such innovative science, he says it's important to have a collaborative effort. The team includes scientists from research centers in the Midwest, the West Coast and all the way Down Under: UC, Miami University of Ohio and Sandia National Laboratories in California here in the US; and Monash University and the Australian National University in Australia.
The team's efforts are another example of how UC not only stands out as a leader in top-notch science, but also in shaping the future of the discipline by providing its students with high-quality educational and research opportunities.
"We're training students in state-of-the-art techniques on state-of-the-art materials doing state-of-the-art physics," Jackson says. "Upon completing their education here, they're positioned to go out and make contributions of their own."
Additional contributors to the paper are Jan Yarrison-Rice of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio; Bryan Wong of Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, Calif.; Changlin Zheng, Peter Miller and Joanne Etheridge of Monash University, Victoria, Australia; and Qiang Gao, Shriniwas Deshpande, Hark Hoe Tan and Chennupati Jagadish of the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/physics/~3/Rw930UopHIw/130423135720.htm
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Stephen Colbert hosts a South Carolina primary rally with former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain at the College of Charleston, S.C., on Jan. 20, 2012.Photo by Jason Reed/Reuters
As the faux-conservative Colbert Report host, Stephen Colbert has lampooned campaign finance laws and the U.S. electoral system by starting his own super PAC and announcing bids for the presidency and ?the president of the United States of South Carolina.? But another Colbert?this one with a hard t at the end?is also vying for the political spotlight: Elizabeth Colbert Busch, Stephen?s older sister, who?s facing off against avid Appalachian Trail hiker and former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford in a May 7 special election for South Carolina?s 1st Congressional District. Colbert has twice devoted show segments to his sister?s campaign, including one endorsing her candidacy, and has mocked Sanford on countless occasions. With the show?s nightly viewership of 1.5 million and the documented ?Colbert bump? in a politician?s support after an appearance, is Colbert violating election laws by blending his hosting role with his sister?s campaign?
Probably not. The central law in play is the Federal Communications Commission?s equal-time rule. Beginning with the Radio Act of 1927, which Congress enacted in response to fears of broadcasters? ability to sway elections by limiting a candidate?s access to the airwaves, radio and television networks have been required to offer equal airtime (or opportunities to purchase advertising at a reduced price) to all candidates if they request it. Exemptions were later added for documentaries, newscasts, news interviews, and on-the-spot news events.
Since it covers news stories and political issues, The Colbert Report would likely fall under the newscast or news interviews exceptions. This exemption would permit Colbert to interview his sister on his show without giving Sanford equal time. However, Sanford would have seven days after Colbert Busch?s first appearance to file an equal-time request; if turned down, Sanford could file a complaint to the FCC.
Mentions or endorsements of Colbert Busch?s campaign or jokes at Sanford?s expense would not be considered in-kind campaign gifts. Though the Federal Election Commission has previously tried to argue these mentions could count as campaign contributions, free-speech issues and FCC rulings have trumped any attempts by the FEC to regulate this speech. Viacom, the parent company of The Colbert Report, may exercise more caution in this case?or at least do extra vetting with its lawyers. Since corporations are barred from making campaign contributions to federal candidates, Colbert could potentially raise legal issues for Viacom if he?s coordinating his message with his sister?s campaign, though again Colbert?s endorsements or mentions likely are covered by the newscast exception to the equal-time rule.
Outside his show, Colbert has hosted several fundraisers for his sister, including two $500-to-$10,000-per-ticket events in Washington, D.C., and New York. These donations would be filed to the FEC with names and amounts listed and would go toward Colbert Busch?s campaign. This contrasts with the campaign finance laws Colbert mocked through his now-defunct Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow super PAC, which allowed him to collect unlimited donations from his fans before he shut down the super PAC in December and split the remaining funds among several charities. If Colbert decided to revive his super PAC for his sister?s campaign, he should not also fundraise directly for his sister?s campaign, since super PACs are barred from coordinating with candidates.
Colbert Busch is currently favored by likely voters 50 percent to Sanford?s 41 percent, according to Public Policy Polling. Her campaign may be getting a boost from the Colbert bump (and from Sanford?s stumbles), but Colbert is in the clear to keep preaching his brand of truthiness for his sister?s campaign. And the rest of us are eager for a sibling showdown on The Colbert Report?s ?Better Know a District.?
Got a question about today?s news??Ask the Explainer.
Explainer thanks Richard Hasen, a professor at University of California?Irvine School of Law and author of the Election Law Blog, and Jack Goodman, a broadcast attorney and former general counsel at the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington, D.C.
Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=9667f733b13f2a28414fdfab443f6e18
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A city of Winchester crew picks up recycling along snow covered, tree lined Fairmont Ave. in Winchester, Va. as a storm dumped several inches of heavy, wet snow in the area. on Monday March 25, 2013. The National Weather Service says some areas in southwest Virginia could see up to 10 inches of snow Monday. Other areas could receive up to 6 inches. (AP Photo/The Winchester Star, Ginger Perry)
A city of Winchester crew picks up recycling along snow covered, tree lined Fairmont Ave. in Winchester, Va. as a storm dumped several inches of heavy, wet snow in the area. on Monday March 25, 2013. The National Weather Service says some areas in southwest Virginia could see up to 10 inches of snow Monday. Other areas could receive up to 6 inches. (AP Photo/The Winchester Star, Ginger Perry)
Jonathan Hines digs his car out of the snow on State Street, in Lafayette, Ind., on Monday, March 25, 2013, after a record-setting storm dumped more than 7 inches of snow in the area, bringing plows out in force and keeping police busy chasing a string of slide-offs. (AP Photo/The Journal & Courier, Brent Drinkut) MANDATORY CREDIT; NO SALES .
Snow accumulates on crosses at the Church of St John the Baptist in Larksville, Pa., Monday March 25, 2013. There were no major problems reported despite the widespread snowfall. (AP Photo/The Citizens' Voice, Mark Moran) MANDATORY CREDIT Mark Moran PAWIC102
Dakota Kimble 11, left, his brother, Kaden Kimble 9 and father David Kimble teamed up to shovel several inches of snow from their front sidewalk and a neighbor's Monday morning, March, 25, 2013 in Winchester, Va. The National Weather Service says some areas in southwest Virginia could see up to 10 inches of snow Monday. Other areas could receive up to 6 inches. (AP Photo/The Winchester Star, Ginger Perry)
A pedestrian and a baby try to keep the snow off while walking along the Coney Island boardwalk in New York, Monday, March 25, 2013. A wide-ranging storm is hitting the East Coast after blanketing the Midwest and burying thoughts of springtime weather under a blanket of heavy wet snow and slush, though less snow was predicted to fall as the storm moves eastward. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
HAMBURG, Pa. (AP) ? Five days into spring, warm weather and budding flowers were just a rumor Monday as the East Coast endured another blast of winter.
A wide-ranging storm that buried parts of the Midwest weakened as it moved east but still managed to carpet lawns and fields in a fresh layer of white. Many schools opened late or closed early, and hundreds of flights were canceled.
The cold temperatures and miserable mixture of snow and rain had people longing for more agreeable weather.
"I'm ready for flip flops," said Jessica Cunitz, 24 of Westchester County, N.Y., who stopped at a gas station along Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania to fill her overheating car with antifreeze. "It's supposed to be spring."
In Maryland, Michael Pugh donned a wool coat, knit cap, waterproof pants and heavy boots to trudge more than a mile through four inches of wet snow to his bank in downtown Hagerstown, about 70 miles west of Baltimore. He pronounced the weather "dreadful."
By this time of year, "I was hoping it'd be sunny and the weather breaking," said Pugh, a warehouse worker who turned 38 Monday. "Every day I think I can pack up the winter coat, and break out the spring clothes, and I can't."
Earlier, the storm walloped the Midwest, dumping a record 17 inches in Springfield, Ill., and a foot or more elsewhere in the state. Travel remained treacherous Monday afternoon, with Interstate 55 and 57 still covered in snow and ice, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Numerous vehicles were reported to be off roads, according to Illinois state police.
In downtown Springfield, coffee-shop manager Mike Zengilani said food-delivery trucks were hours late. But he didn't think about closing.
"Everyone else closes, so it's good for us to be open," Zengilani said. "It's Monday, it's definitely slower, but we all made the effort to come in."
The system was little more than a nuisance by the time it reached the East Coast. Air travel saw the biggest impact, with nearly 600 flights canceled as of Monday afternoon, according to the FlightAware tracking service. Hardest-hit airports included those in New York, Philadelphia and Washington.
Roadways, meanwhile, were mostly wet.
In Hamburg, Pa. ? which has seen three here-and-gone snowfalls in little more than a week ? carpet installer Seth Hanna drank coffee and surveyed the slush from a covered front porch.
"We got these warm days a few weeks ago, and everybody got their hopes up. March is supposed to be out like a lamb but it's not doing it," said Hanna, 30. "I love the snow, but I'm ready for some warm spring weather."
Robert Fink, 25, of Magnolia, N.J. said the worst part about yet another snow storm was having to shovel. Fink ? shovel in hand outside a truck stop in Bordentown ? said he longed for Florida, where he used to live.
"I'm a wimp when it comes to the cold," he said.
At the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, people waiting in line for tickets to this week's arguments on gay marriage held umbrellas or put tarps over their belongings as the snow fell. Darienn Powers wore a trash bag from the waist down to keep dry, but said the snow still made everything "a little wet and uncomfortable."
The spring snow was not expected to affect Washington's famous cherry blossoms. National Park Service spokeswoman Carol Johnson said the flowering trees are still expected to reach peak bloom between April 3 and April 6.
Mitchell Gaines, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, N.J., said colder-than-normal temperatures the past few weeks had created conditions ripe for snow.
"It's fairly late in March to see a system like this," he said.
___
Associated Press writers David Dishneau in Hagerstown, Md., Rema Rahman in Bordentown, N.J., Regina Garcia Cano in Springfield, Ill., and Jessica Gresko in Washington contributed to this story.
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Along with a complete restructuring to remove contracts with its 'Simple Choice' plans, T-Mobile is also consolidating its prepaid plans to fall into line. Previously a distinctly separate business for T-Mobile under the "Monthly 4G" branding, the magenta carrier's prepaid plans are now available at each of the same tiers as the Simple Choice plans. $50, $60 or $70 monthly will get you unlimited talk and text along with 500MB, 2.5GB or unlimited unthrottled data, respectively. Previously, the $60 plan offered 2GB of data and the $50 plan an awkwardly low 100MB of data.
One thing that hasn't changed in its prepaid offerings are the lower level of plans, of which there are still several options. T-Mobile still offers the somewhat-famous $30 prepaid plan with 100 minutes and 5GB of full-speed data, as well as the other $30 plan at 1500 minutes and 30MB of data. There are still "pay as you go" plans with rates between $10 and $100 for minute-only plans, as well as "pay by the day" plans at $3/day for unlimited talk, text and web or $2/day for the same restricted to 2G speeds.
It's actually unclear at this point what distinction -- if any -- will be made between its primary and prepaid plans going forward, and we wouldn't at all be surprised to see stand-alone prepaid plans go away for all but the lowest tiers. There's little to no reason for the current duplication of $50, $60 and $70 plans, and they're likely to slowly fade away as the two sets of plans integrate.
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Fan of channels such as CMT, VH1 Classic and Teen Nick? Cablevision is assuming that's a negatory. Today, the cable provider filed a federal antitrust suit against Viacom over the content distributor's programming bundling practices, which are alleged as anti-competitive. The lawsuit revolves around Viacom's insistence that ancillary networks be included in programming agreements in order to gain distribution rights to more popular networks such as Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central. While the complaint itself remains under seal, Cablevision is arguing abuse of power in the lawsuit, which if successful, could have rippling effects throughout the pay-TV industry.
Cablevision is seeking declaratory relief that would void the two companies' programming contract (inked just this past December), along with a permanent injunction against Viacom's practice and the ability to carry Viacom programming until a new contract can be negotiated. Meanwhile, Viacom has asserted that it'll vigorously defend the lawsuit, and maintains that its practice is "win-win and pro-consumer" in the sense that its niche networks are offered at discounts. It seems that we can look forward to both companies butting heads for a while to come.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Cablevision (PDF), Viacom
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/80jAY9nwHiI/
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street cash bonuses rose in 2012 but were still below pre-crisis levels, and the industry is gearing up for more layoffs as it continues to adapt to more regulation and heightened competition, New York's top financial official said.
The securities industry's bonus pool was expected to total $20 billion, New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said at a press conference on Tuesday, up 8 percent from 2011 but below levels seen in 2006 and 2007, before the financial crisis.
The estimate is not an exact view of 2012 bonuses because it is based on income tax withholdings and includes bonuses that were deferred from earlier years. The comptroller's office compiles estimates on Wall Street bonuses because of their importance to state and city tax revenues.
The rise in bonuses comes as profits for broker-dealer operations on New York Stock Exchange member firms tripled to $23.9 billion in 2012 compared to $7.7 billion in 2011. It was one of the most profitable years on record, the report said.
"As we all know and acknowledge the securities industry in New York City is a major driver of the city and state economy," said DiNapoli. "It's no secret that if Wall Street is strong all New Yorkers benefit."
In 2012, about 14 percent of New York State tax revenue came from Wall Street, down from 20 percent before the financial crisis, while the industry's contribution to New York City's tax fell from a peak of more than 12 percent to less than 7 percent.
The average cash bonus rose 9 percent to almost $121,900 in 2012, the comptroller said. Although pay in the sector is well down compared to 2006 when the average bonus was over $190,000, it is still way ahead of what most New Yorkers make.
DiNapoli said that the average salary in the securities industry is 5.3 times more than the average salary in the rest of the private sector.
"They're good jobs if you have them and certainly very significant salaries," he said.
The securities industry on Wall Street and elsewhere is still going through a period of major change after the 2007-2008 financial crisis, with increased oversight from regulators. The industry has far fewer employees and is changing it compensation practices to include more deferred bonuses.
Morgan Stanley
DiNapoli said he expects Wall Street to continue to cut jobs in 2013. Employment totaled 169,700 in December 2012, 1,000 fewer than the year before, according to the report. The securities industry in New York has regained only about 30 percent of the 28,300 jobs it lost during the crisis.
"I think we're still in a recovery mode," said Joe Sorrentino, a managing director at Steven Hall & Partners, a compensation consultant to Wall Street firms. "In essence, all they are saying is that things are better than in 2011. That doesn't sound too confident to me."
Still, the report was another sign the industry is stabilizing after the ravages of the crisis.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said earlier that the banking industry's full-year earnings were the second-highest on record at $141.3 billion, an increase over 2011 of $22.9 billion, or 19.3 percent. Bank earnings peaked in 2006 at $145.2 billion.
Much of the earnings growth in 2012 came from banks reducing the amount they set aside for losses on loans, the FDIC said. Banks also saw gains on loan sales and higher servicing income.
"The industry is still adjusting to the current economic and regulatory environment, working through the fall out of the financial crisis," said DiNapoli. "The industry continues to announce layoffs and will likely continue to restructure."
The comptroller's estimate does not include stock options or other forms of deferred compensation.
(Additional reporting by Jed Horowitz; Editing by Maureen Bavdek, Nick Zieminski and Bob Burgdorfer)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wall-street-cash-bonuses-seen-higher-2012-ny-161655499--sector.html
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Feb. 27, 2013 ? A researcher from North Carolina State University has developed a technique for creating high-density ceramic materials that requires far lower temperatures than current techniques -- and takes less than a second, as opposed to hours. Ceramics are used in a wide variety of technologies, including body armor, fuel cells, spark plugs, nuclear rods and superconductors.
At issue is a process known as "sintering," which is when ceramic powders (such as zirconia) are compressed into a desired shape and exposed to high heat until the powder particles are bound together into a solid, but slightly porous, material. But new research from Dr. Jay Narayan, John C. Fan Distinguished Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State, may revolutionize the sintering process.
Narayan's new technique, selective-melt sintering, allows sintering of yttria-stabilized zirconia at 800 degrees Celsius (C) -- instead of the conventional 1450 C. In addition, using the selective-melt sintering technique, it is possible to sinter zirconia at 800 C in less than a second, and create a material with no porosity at all. In contrast, traditional sintering techniques take four to five hours at 1450 C.
"This technique allows you to achieve 'theoretical density,' meaning it eliminates all of the porosity in the material," Narayan says. "This increases the strength of the ceramic, as well as improving its optical, magnetic and other properties."
The key to Narayan's approach is the application of an electric field, at approximately 100 volts per centimeter, to the material. When this field is applied, it creates subtle changes in the material's "grain boundaries" -- where atoms from different crystals meet in the material. Namely, the field draws "defects" to the grain boundary. These defects consist of vacancies (missing atoms) which can carry charges. The defects are negatively charged and draw current from the electric field to the area -- which raises the temperature along the grain boundary.
Raising the temperature along the grain boundary means that the material can be sintered at a much lower temperature, because sintering is done by selectively melting the grain boundaries to fuse the crystals together.
Normally you would have to apply enough heat to raise the mass of all the material to the melting point, even though you only need to melt the grain boundary. "Pre-heating" the grain boundary with an electric field is what allowed Narayan to lower the sintering temperature from 1450 C to 800 C and sinter the material much more quickly.
An invited viewpoint paper describing the work, "New mechanism for field-assisted processing and flash sintering of materials," is published online in Scripta Materialia. Narayan is the sole author.
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks declined on Thursday, taking a step back from their recent advance, prompted by comments by the ECB president on the euro and Europe's outlook.
The euro currency dropped against the safe-haven dollar and yen, spurring a retreat from risky assets such as stocks, after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said the exchange rate was important to growth and price stability. Investors took that as a sign the bank is concerned about the euro's advance and its effect on the region's economy.
Growth sectors were among the weakest performers on the S&P 500: the S&P 500 materials index was down 0.6 percent while the S&P energy index was down 0.5 percent. Housing stocks also declined, with a housing sector index off 1.4 percent.
Despite the day's decline and weakness earlier this week, the stock market has been in an almost uninterrupted up trend for most of the year, with the S&P 500 up 5.8 percent so far for 2013.
Many analysts say some weakness at this point is no surprise.
"Given the amount the market moved in January, having a little bit of a pullback and some consolidation where the market goes sideways for a little while, we think would be a healthy sign," said Eric Marshall, director of research at Hodges Capital Management in Dallas.
Top U.S. retailers reported strong January sales after offering compelling merchandise that drew in shoppers facing a hit to their take-home pay from higher payroll taxes. But an index of retailers was down 0.3 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average was down 42.47 points, or 0.30 percent, at 13,944.05. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 2.73 points, or 0.18 percent, at 1,509.39. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 3.34 points, or 0.11 percent, at 3,165.13.
Shares of Apple helped to limit losses on the Nasdaq, the stock ending up 3 percent at $468.22. Fund manager David Einhorn's Greenlight Capital said it has sued Apple Inc and said the company needs to do more to unlock value for shareholders.
Though the earnings season is winding down, results continue to boost growth estimates for the fourth quarter. According to Thomson Reuters data through Thursday morning, of 317 companies in the S&P 500 that have reported earnings, 69 percent have exceeded analysts' expectations, above a 62 percent average since 1994 and 65 percent over the past four quarters.
Fourth-quarter earnings for S&P 500 companies rose 5 percent, according to the data, above a 1.9 percent forecast at the start of the earnings season.
Akamai Technologies Inc lost 15.2 percent to $35.26 as the worst percentage performer on the S&P 500 after the Internet content delivery company forecast current-quarter revenue below analysts' expectations.
Among retailers, Macy's Inc
But Ann Inc dropped 8 percent to $30.20 after forecasting fourth-quarter sales below analysts' expectations.
Economic data was mixed. Initial jobless claims dipped last week, with the four-week moving average falling to its lowest level since March 2008, signaling the economy continues to recover slowly.
A separate report said fourth-quarter productivity registered its biggest drop in nearly two years, while unit labor costs jumped 4.5 percent, more than economists expected.
Roughly 6.6 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and the NYSE MKT, compared with the 2012 average daily closing volume of about 6.45 billion.
Decliners outpaced advancers on the NYSE by nearly 4 to 3 and on the Nasdaq by about 5 to 3.
(Additional reporting by Angela Moon; Editing by Kenneth Barry and Nick Zieminski)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wall-street-falters-euro-zone-jitters-211122186--finance.html
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More U.S. women are breastfeeding than a decade ago, but the numbers are still relatively low,according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday. The overall increase in breastfeeding held true across almost all racial and ethnic groups.
The CDC report went on to note that while the increase in mothers who choose to breastfeed their infants is good, many are still not breastfeeding for long enough. The recommendation in most cases is a minimum of 12 months.
Here is some of the key information to have emerged from this new report on breastfeeding prevalence in the U.S.
* The report was compiled between 2000 and 2008. Over that eight-year span, breastfeeding increased by some 4 percent overall.
* The number of mothers who were still breastfeeding at the six-month mark jumped substantially, from 35 percent to 45 percent during the same time frame.
* Overall, as MyHealthNewsDaily noted, by 2008 a full 74.6 percent of all mothers breastfed for various lengths of time.
* The director of the CDC, Tom Frieden, said that the fact that more than half of all mothers have stopped breastfeeding by the six-month mark means that "mothers that want to breastfeed are still not getting the support they need from hospitals, doctors, or employers," as quoted by MyHealthNewsDaily.
* At the 12-month mark, only 23 percent of women report still breastfeeding their infants.
* The CDC report made special note of the fact that African-American women have the lowest breastfeeding rate among U.S. women. While the gap between white women and black women who breastfeed did narrow between the eight years covered by the report, there is still a 16 percent difference in the number of white women who breastfeed versus the number of black women who do so.
* As HealthDay News noted, in 2008 nearly 59 percent of all African-American women breastfed their babies for various lengths of time, versus nearly 75 percent of all white women and nearly 80 percent of all Hispanic women.
* The American Academy of Pediatrics "reaffirmed" its recommendation regarding breastfeeding early last year. AAP guidelines state that a baby should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their life, and then given compatible foods along with the continuation of breastfeeding at least up until the baby has passed their first birthday.
* The AAP also states that given the known health benefits to the infant of breastfeeding, that doing so "should be considered an investment in the short- and long-term health of the infant, and not a lifestyle choice."
Vanessa Evans is a musician and freelance writer based in Michigan, with a lifelong interest in health and nutrition issues.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cdc-report-shows-increase-breastfeeding-room-improvement-231300472.html
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RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) ? The Palestinians on Thursday responded coolly to a White House announcement that President Barack Obama will not bring any bold new peace initiatives to the region next month, saying there is no hope for reviving serious negotiations unless the U.S. leader is personally involved.
The Palestinians' comments reflected their sense of desperation after four years of deadlocked peace efforts with Israel, and raised the pressure on Obama to extract new concessions from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a setback for Netanyahu, a close political ally criticized Israel's settlement policies, saying continued construction deep inside the West Bank has undermined Israel's credibility and could threaten the country's long-term survival.
"We could pay a great price," Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor, a senior member of Netanyahu's Likud Party, warned on Israeli Radio.
The White House said this week that Obama would make his first presidential visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories this spring, setting off speculation that he was coming to restart peace efforts.
On Wednesday, the White House moved quickly to play down expectations, saying the primary goal of the visit was to repair the strained relationship with Netanyahu, not to present a new diplomatic initiative. Both Obama and Netanyahu are just beginning new terms in office.
The Palestinians welcomed news of the visit, but implored Obama to take a more hands-on approach than he did during his first term.
"We believe he has good intentions, but in order for him to succeed, he should realize the reasons for the failure of the previous round of talks and avoid them," said Mohammed Ishtayeh, a senior Palestinian negotiator. "Mainly he needs to get involved personally and put real pressure on Israel."
Peace efforts remained frozen throughout Netanyahu's previous term, in large part because of Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians claim both areas, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, for a future state.
The Palestinians have refused to negotiate while Israel continues to build settlements, saying it is a sign of bad faith. With more than 500,000 Israelis living in the settlements, the Palestinians say hopes for partitioning the land into two separate countries are running out.
The Palestinians say the pre-1967 boundaries must be the basis for the border between Israel and a future Palestine, a position that has been endorsed by Obama and most of the international community. While Netanyahu has endorsed Palestinian statehood, he rejects a return to the 1967 lines and says talks should resume without any preconditions.
The Palestinians have blamed Obama in part for the current predicament. When Obama took office in early 2009, he promised to make Mideast peace a top priority and spoke out sharply against settlement construction.
Obama even managed to persuade Israel to impose a temporary slowdown on settlement building. But when the 10-month moratorium expired in late 2010, a new round of peace talks collapsed just weeks after they were launched. Negotiations have remained frozen.
Netanyahu has argued that the Palestinians have negotiated with previous Israeli governments while settlements were being built, and that even when he imposed a slowdown on construction, they waited for months before relaunching the short-lived talks.
But there has been little international sympathy.
In November, the U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to recognize a Palestinian state in the 1967 lines. Netanyahu responded by announcing plans to build thousands of new homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, drawing harsh condemnations from his allies in the U.S. and Europe.
The Haaretz daily on Thursday, citing two unidentified officials, quoted Netanyahu's national security adviser, Yaakov Amidror, as warning that Israel's settlement policies were hurting its standing with key allies.
"It's impossible to explain the issue of settlement construction anyplace in the world," he was quoted as saying. "Construction in the settlements has become a diplomatic problem and is causing Israel to lose support even among its friends in the West."
Netanyahu's office refused comment. But on the radio, Meridor said the government was sending mixed signals to the world by speaking in favor of Palestinian independence while settling Israelis on lands claimed by the Palestinians.
He said Israel should limit construction to major settlement "blocs" and existing Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem, and halt construction in outlying areas. Israel is expected to keep these settlements under any future peace deal.
"There is a lack of consistency between our claim of wanting two states ... and the fact that we don't limit building to the blocs only," he said. By sending this mixed message, "we cast doubt on our intentions and statements, and this is costing us a very high price."
Meridor stressed that establishment of a Palestinian state is in Israel's interests. Without a partition, most demographers believe that the Arab population under Israeli control could soon outnumber Jews.
The Palestinians have warned this could turn Israel into an "apartheid-style" state with a Jewish minority ruling over a disenfranchised Arab majority. The Arabs would turn their struggle away from independence and instead seek equality in a single mixed state.
A recent report by the anti-settlement watchdog group Peace Now found that nearly 40 percent of settlement construction under Netanyahu took place deep inside the West Bank.
Netanyahu, who is building a new coalition government following elections last month, has pledged to revive peace efforts in his new term and is courting centrist parties to join him. But he has given no sign that he is planning to soften his key positions on borders and settlement construction.
Ishtayeh said the Palestinians would not budge on their demands for a settlement freeze or their insistence that the 1967 borders remain the baseline for negotiations. He also ruled out an interim agreement while final borders can be worked out.
This could signal tough times ahead for the Obama administration. Newly sworn-in U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to visit Israel, the Palestinian territories and other countries in the region this month ahead of Obama's trip.
In a separate development, a Gaza man who carried out the longest-ever hunger strike by a Palestinian prisoner returned home.
Akram Rikhawi ended his 103-day hunger strike last July in exchange for Israel's pledged to release him five months earlier than his scheduled release in June.
Rikhawi, 40, who claimed to be suffering from asthma and diabetes, was taken to a hospital. He served a nine-year sentence for transporting suicide bombers.
"I am happy to be back home after this long suffering. It's a victory for prisoners who are fighting with their empty stomachs," he told reporters.
___
Associated Press writer Daniel Estrin in Jerusalem and Ibrahim Barzak in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/palestinian-officials-obama-must-pressure-israel-182405729.html
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France's military intervention has been widely greeted here. Normally, Malian attitudes towards its former colonial ruler range from resentment to admiration.
Yacouba Konate wears a French flag to show his support for the French military intervention in Mali in the Malian capital of Bamako last Sunday. After France launched a bombing campaign against Islamist rebels in central and northern Mali last week, French flags bloomed around Bamako almost instantaneously.
Joe Penney/Reuters
EnlargeWar and nationalist sentiment usually go hand in hand. The week-old war in Mali is no exception. As?the war drums beat hotter in this landlocked former French colony in West Africa, nationalism is also on the rise.?
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But in this case, it is French nationalism that is rising.
Normally, Malian attitudes towards France, which once ruled the country as a colony, range from resentment to admiration. But when France launched a bombing campaign against Islamist rebels in central and northern Mali last week, French flags bloomed around the capital Bamako almost instantaneously.?
Flags are waved on the street, show up on cars, motorcycles, appear in windows. Vive la France!
What might be called a panoply of pro-France merchandise is found everywhere, offering insight both into a quick shift in Malian attitudes toward France, and into the workings of Bamako?s street markets. ?
Moreover, the flags, like so much merchandise around the world, do not come from France ? but are made, shipped, stocked and marketed through the larger Chinese vendors in Bamako.
Information about the new commodity of French flags begins downtown at the ?Place d?Ind?pendance.? At this square, teenage boys work in groups to sell the French tricolor in the shadow of a monument to honor Mali?s independence from colonial rule. No one seems to notice the irony.
One young man, Cheickounah Kon?, usually sells toys, battery-powered fly swatters, and odds and ends for about $5 a day, mostly to drivers stuck in traffic.
But two days after French jets began operations, a demand for flags made him change his product. He sells small flags on a staff with a suction cup on the end, that now adorn motor-scooters. Taxi drivers buy full-sized French flags and cover their rear windows with them.
For the last few days Mr. Kone has picked up some $25 a day in patriotic war spoils.
?Vive la France!? says one smiling customer who forks over $2 for the French colors.
Kone?s flag stash comes from a large chaotic market called ?Sugu ba,? an intense zone of capitalism in this capital, where French paraphernalia is discovered finally at ?Chez les Chinois,? on the edge of the market.
Rows of Chinese-owned stores sell an array of goods, ranging from plastics to electronics.
In the first shop the owner says she ran out of flags days ago, that boxes of French flags that sat on the floor for years, were now gone. But more are coming from her homeland, China, she asserts.
Along the row, nearly every shop was sold out of French goods, most in the last few days.
As I field a phone call in the halls of the House of China, my Malian guides discover with some disappointment that I am an American, not a Frenchman.
But they quickly recover: ?No, no, no... it?s ok, it?s ok,? one guide, Moussa says in strained English. ?Obama is?still good, but [French President] Hollande saved us, he saved Mali.??
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Internet promotion can be a very fascinating thing to get into. There are many different ways to customize it for different business types. This can also cause confusion to people that are new to online marketing. This article will help you.
Keep an eye on your competitors, and learn from what they are doing. If you can picture yourself buying from them, they are being successful and you should try to incorporate some of their techniques into your own strategy.
TIP! Present limited time offers. It could be anything from free shipping to a rebate.
Here is a great tip for successful internet promotion. Your landing page should have a very clear objective. The webpage is purely about sales; nothing more, nothing less. The customer should know right away what you?re selling on your landing page. If your customers have to invest time and effort in order to find what they are looking for, you are hurting your potential for success.
Try giving free incentives to get more business. Many times, making sure customers are taken care of is left off the list of strategies in Internet marketing.
Try using words like ?simple? and ?easy? in your Internet campaign. Most people prefer products that are simple, so by using these keywords you can entice visitors to try your product. It is a beneficial way to boost business.
TIP! Use headlines on all of your content. The title should catch the reader?s attention and highlight your offering from your site.
Emphasis tools are an excellent way to help the words on your website stand out. You can emphasize a keyword or phrase by bolding, underlining, or italicizing the text. Doing this clearly expresses a specific point to your customers.
Know about 500 error pages and how to use them. When this page appears, some of the code has stopped working. A generic error page will just say that connection has timed out. There are much better methods to make your customers aware of the fact that you are working on the problem.
By demonstrating a positive outlook, you increase your chance for marketing success. The love you have for your business and the enthusiasm you feel for your product should be boldly on display to your visitors. Your enthusiasm will be contagious if your testimony is genuine and convincing. This effectively creates bigger profits because it increases your sales.
TIP! Add a chat function to your website so your customers can interact to exchange information and ideas. They need to feel like your site is a place to hang and chat with other members of the club rather then just a place to visit when they are ready to buy something.
?Guaranteed? is a very strong positive word to use in internet marketing. Of course, you will have to otherwise establish your credibility in order for customers to take it seriously, but people like knowing that they aren?t risking their money. Consumers often feel safer parting with their hard-earned money when they know there is a guarantee.
Do research to discover which Internet marketing methods have been successful in your industry. Having so many different options makes it very difficult to decide which particular strategies to use. The tips and techniques discussed in this article will help you sort through all the steps associated with Internet marketing.
Source: http://www.wewantcsg.org/dont-ignore-your-businesses-web-marketing-needs
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Are French bishops of the Roman Catholic Church for or against same-sex marriage laws that are being considered in France??Without answering a definitive 'oui' or 'non,' they recently released a document entitled "Expand Marriage to Persons of the Same Sex? Let's Open the Debate!" which keeps the question open.
Those opposed to such unions expressed disappointment with the document, according to LifeSiteNews.com, which reports:
The Conference of the Bishops of France (CEF) is making a mistake in endorsing an improved "Pact of Civil Solidarity" for homosexuals as an alternative to instituting homosexual 'marriage', in contradiction to Catholic teaching, warns the French pro-family association Avenir de la Future (Future of the Culture).[*]?
The organization of faithful Catholics are reacting to a document published recently by the Bishops' Conference's Family and Society Committee, which implies homosexual relationships could be given a strengthened legal recognition, while not going so far as to equate such unions with marriage.
While the Vatican teaches that "all Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions," the French Bishops' document states that "the Catholic Church calls the faithful to live a [homosexual] relationship in chastity, but it recognizes, beyond its sexual aspect, the value of solidarity, of attention and of concern for the other that can arise in a durable affective relationship.?The Church intends to be welcoming regarding homosexual persons and will continue to make its contribution to the struggle against every form of homophobia and discrimination."Those supportive of equal marriage rights are reading the document closely and finding aspects to like.?
Terrence Weldon writes on the blog Queering the Church:
Based on my reading, these are the features of the document that make it really worth careful attention:?
? the simple fact of a call for constructive dialogue ? together with a genuine attempt to begin it.
? a firm rejection of homophobia in any form, and insistence on respect for all
? a call to listen attentively to the concerns and needs of homosexual people themselves
? thoughtful attention to the findings of science, leading to -
? the recognition of the value of loving and committed same ? sex partnerships.
? an acknowledgement of the value of the symbolism in marriage, and the weaknesses of civil union legislation.
? a proposal to strengthen the existing civil unions legislation, to improve the symbolic value, and repair its weaknesses.Frank DeBernardo at the Bondings 2.0 blog for New Ways Ministry further notes that American bishops have not released anything like this:
? this document contained several unusually positive reflections about respect for gay and lesbian relationships, and the need to have civil and open discussion on the matter of marriage. No U.S. bishops? document even comes close to the content and tone of this document which was issued by the Family and Society Council of the French bishops? conference.But as positive as the statement might be, DeBernardo warns, it is not a full endorsement of same-sex unions. He writes:
To make sure that we are not giving the wrong impression, let me be clear that the document does not in any way support the legalization of marriage equality. Still, the strong call for respecting gay and lesbian relationships is a giant step forward in hierarchical discourse, and it should be celebrated.A full English translation is published by UK-based theologian William D. Lindsey on his blog page, Bilgrimage, which can be accessed here.
The Bondings 2.0 blog has published excerpts translated by one of its readers, which can be accessed here.
The full, official document in French, can be accessed here.?
*Note: the Pact of Civil Solidarity is French law passed in 1999 that is designed to help recognize same-sex unions
Source: http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2013/02/catholic-bishops-in-france-on-gay.html
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NEW YORK (AP) ? Americans still need their Starbucks fix even in the weak economy.
The Seattle-based coffee chain said Thursday its profit rose 13 percent in the latest quarter in line with Wall Street expectations. Results were boosted by a 6 percent increase in global sales at cafes open at least a year, a key metric of health.
The performance reflects the sharp turnaround Starbucks has made since its struggles during the recession. After bringing back founder Howard Schultz as CEO in 2008, the company embarked on a massive restructuring effort that included closing underperforming stores in the U.S. Going forward, Schultz has noted that the company has the flexibility to keep growing even through a turbulent economy because most people see Starbucks as an "affordable luxury."
In the flagship Americas region, Starbucks said sales at stores open at least a rose 7 percent as the Pumpkin Spice Latte once again proved to be a hit. Customers are also buying more food, which helps drive up the amount they spend per visit. About a third of purchases currently include food and Starbucks is betting that its new baked goods ? supplied from a San Francisco bakery it purchased last year ? will continue to drive up that figure.
Cliff Burrows, who heads the Americas region, said Starbucks will continue growing by improving the speed of service and relationships with customers. For example, baristas across the country should be wearing name tags by the end of this month. Sixty percent of new cafes in the U.S. will also have drive-thru service, which makes the stores more profitable.
The introduction of the Verismo single-serve coffee machine in stores this fall also added 0.5 percent to the sales increase for the region. Starbucks said it sold more than 150,000 of the machines, most of them through specialty retailers. Executives said the machine will continue to be a major revenue driver in the coming months and years.
Operating margin in the U.S. decreased slightly to 20.8 percent, however, as a result of costs related to Superstorm Sandy, litigation charges and the company's leadership conference this past October.
In the China and Asia Pacific region, which is set to surpass Canada as Starbucks second biggest market in the next two years, sales at cafes open at least a year rose 11 percent as traffic increased.
Europe continued to be a weak spot, with sales at cafes open a year falling 1 percent. Starbucks executives have said they're working to turnaround their performance in the region, in part by closing underperforming stores, licensing operations to local partners and improving customer service. Although traffic increased in Europe during the period, the amount people spent per visit declined.
Troy Alstead, the company's chief financial officer, said the decline reflected weakness in the broader economy.
"A lot of people were trading down it appears," said Troy Alstead, the company's chief financial officer, noting that fewer purchases included food.
Starbucks also has been embroiled in a controversy over its taxes in the United Kingdom. The company has been doing business in Britain for 15 years but hadn't paid any taxes because of a complex way it calculates profits. Following criticism by lawmakers and a campaign by a protest group, Starbucks said last month that it was working to settle the issue.
For October-to-December period, Starbucks Corp. earned $432.2 million, or 57 cents per share. That's compared with $382.1 million, or 50 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Total revenue rose 11 percent to $3.8 billion. Analysts expected a profit of 57 cents per share on revenue of $3.85 billion, according to FactSet.
Revenue for the consumer packaged goods segment, which includes Verismos sold in specialty stores, rose 16 percent to $459.8 million. Although Starbucks is working to diversify by building this segment, it still represents a small fraction of the company's overall revenue.
Starbucks affirmed its outlook for the year, with earnings expected to be between $2.096 and $2.15 per share, representing growth of 15 to 20 percent from the previous year.
Its stock was up 24 cents at $54.81. Starbucks has about 18,000 cafes around the world.
___
Follow Candice Choi at www.twitter.com/candicechoi
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/starbucks-profit-climbs-us-cafes-thrive-001325258--finance.html
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In a sickening development involving the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative to improve the nutrition, fitness and health of the nation's children, Beyonc?, a public endorser of Let's Move!, accepted a $50 million deal to sell Pepsi. She'll be hawking soda to kids on TV, at grocery stores, on Pepsi cans, during the Super Bowl halftime show and in other marketing formats for the foreseeable future.
What was she thinking? Back in 2011, Beyonc? and the First Lady teamed up for Let's Move's! campaign against childhood obesity with this kid's workout video. But now, Beyonc? is playing for the opposing team as well, promoting a drink that dozens of studies have identified as a main driver of America's current childhood obesity epidemic.
Never mind that:
- For each additional 12 ounce soda children consumed each day, the odds of becoming obese increased by 60%.
- Pepsi, Coca-Cola and other soft drink manufacturers specifically target children, teens, African-American youth and Hispanic youth through their marketing.
- Soda consumption has also been linked to increased rates of heart disease, diabetes and dental decay.
None of those depressing statistics seemed to phase Beyonc?, mother to a 1-year-old daughter. And she certainly didn't pause to question whether she would be sending a dangerous mixed message to America's youth, when many view her as a dazzling role model.
But Beyonc?'s massive insensitivity and cognitive dissonance could actually be a watershed moment in the debate about food marketing to children -- if only America's parents stand up and protest her ill-advised deal to market soda to their kids. Celebrity endorsements are a fact of life in the food marketing world and a noisy grassroots uprising against Beyonc? could get other celebrities to back off from endorsing soda, sugary drinks, chips, candy and other non-nutritious foods to impressionable kids. Remember, once upon a time, celebrities regularly hawked tobacco products. Now, they wouldn't be caught dead having any association with cigarettes.
If enough parents signed this petition, both Beyonc? and the White House would take notice. While Beyonc? may not be able to extricate herself from her Pepsi contract, the least she could do is resign from Let's Move! and donate her fee to childhood obesity prevention efforts. And the First Lady, who has done so much to promote healthy eating, physical activity and awareness about childhood obesity, needs to ensure that her partners/celebrity spokespersons walk the talk.
The White House knows that Beyonc?'s Pepsi deal is an embarrassment to Let's Move! and Michelle Obama, but has remained mum on the topic. Just last week, the White House actually removed a petition from its "We the People" website, posted by environmental activist Laurie David, asking that Beyonc? be ousted from the inauguration lineup because of her damaging deal with Pepsi. I can't help but find it telling that the White House posted a detailed response to a "We the People" petition asking the administration to construct a Death Star, but censored the Beyonc? petition.
Well, the White House can't censor this petition:
Please sign and share this petition link with your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. If we don't stand up to Big Soda and Beyonc? pushing soda on our kids, no one will.
?
Follow Nancy Huehnergarth on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nyshepa
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ISLAMABAD (AP) ? Pakistan is holding 700 suspected militants without charges under a controversial law that has been criticized by human rights organizations, the country's attorney general said Thursday.
The admission, made during a Supreme Court hearing, will likely fuel concerns about Pakistan's conduct over the past several years as it has battled a domestic Taliban insurgency in the country's northwest.
The 700 suspected militants are being held in internment centers in the country's semiautonomous tribal region along the Afghan border, the main Taliban sanctuary in the country, said Attorney General Irfan Qadir.
They will be held until the military concludes operations against the Taliban, and then authorities will determine whether they can be tried in court, said Qadir. He justified the detention under a law passed in 2011 known as the Actions (in Aid of Civil Power) Regulations.
"It's a war-like situation there," said Qadir. "While the operation is on, their status will remain the same."
Amnesty International criticized the law in a December report, saying both it and colonial-era regulations in the tribal region "provide a framework for widespread human rights violations to occur with impunity."
The London-based rights group said the Pakistani military regularly holds people without charges and tortures or mistreats them in custody. It said some detainees do not survive and their bodies are returned to their families, or dumped in remote areas.
The Pakistani military called the report "a pack of lies."
The attorney general's comments came during a Supreme Court hearing into seven suspected militants who have been held without charges since May 2010.
The seven men were among 11 suspected militants captured in connection with a 2007 suicide bombing against ISI personnel and a rocket attack a year later against an air force base. An anti-terrorism court ordered them to be freed in May 2010, but they were picked up again near the capital, Islamabad. Four died in custody under mysterious circumstances.
The ISI produced the seven surviving men in court last February in response to a judicial order prompted by their relatives, who were looking for them. Two of the men were too weak to walk. Another wore a urine bag, suggesting a kidney ailment. In a meeting with their families on the court premises, they complained of harsh treatment during their detention.
A lawyer for Pakistan's most powerful intelligence agency said Monday that his client held the suspects for over a year and a half without sufficient evidence to try them and then handed them over to the internment centers in the tribal region. He said officials were convinced they were "dangerous people and involved in terrorism."
Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry told the attorney general that the men should be tried in a court of law or released if there isn't sufficient evidence. His remarks seemed to challenge the constitutionality of the new law.
"We don't want them to be released if they are criminals or militants," said Chaudhry. "They should be tried under law, and you cannot keep them in custody illegally."
The court ordered officials from the tribal region to produce a detailed report about the evidence against each suspect when the hearing resumes on Jan. 28.
The Supreme Court has also been pressing the government on a case involving corruption allegations against Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, which he has denied. The chief justice ordered the government's anti-corruption chief, Fasih Bokhari, to arrest Ashraf last week, but he refused, citing lack of evidence.
The case took a strange turn at the end of last week when one of the anti-corruption officials working on the case, which involves alleged kickbacks for the construction of private power stations, was found dead, hanging from a ceiling fan in a government lodge in Islamabad.
The police are treating Kamran Faisal's death as a suicide, but his family has raised doubts, claiming there were marks on his wrists indicating they had been bound.
The chief justice ordered a judicial probe into Faisal's death on Wednesday, citing the family's concern that the government would not conduct an impartial investigation because of the high-level politicians involved.
On Thursday, the two-judge panel ordered officials to provide video footage from the security cameras at the government lodge where Faisal was found. They also ordered Pakistan's telecommunications authority to provide a record of Faisal's calls and summoned relevant officials to appear before the court on Jan. 28.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/700-alleged-militants-held-limbo-pakistan-090635267.html
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