Barclays' Absa posts weak profit growth, sees muted loan demand

By Helen Nyambura-Mwaura

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Absa Group, the South African bank majority owned by Britain's Barclays Plc, posted a small rise in first-half earnings on Tuesday and warned loan growth would be muted for the rest of the year.

South Africa's third-largest bank by market value also disappointed shareholders with a lower-than-expected special dividend. Shares of Absa tumbled 5.6 percent to 143.15 rand after the results.

Absa, the first of South Africa's "big four" banks to report earnings, said profit rose 8 percent year-on-year as bad debts declined, raising concerns among investors that underlying growth is weak.

"Certainly, the headline earnings growth of 8 percent is not fantastic. If one looks at the source of the earnings, a lot of it has got to do with cost savings," said Reuben Beelders, chief investment officer of Gryphon Asset Management in Cape Town.

"The bulk of the kick in earnings is really just the improved credit impairment (bad debt) scenario, and the market is basically saying, 'That's not really growth.'"

Demand for credit in South Africa has stayed weak as the country struggles to jump start economic activity. The central bank downgraded its economic growth forecast this month to 2 percent from 2.4 percent, and latest private-sector credit statistics show demand is contracting slightly.

Absa said it expected "mid-single digit" growth in loans and advances to customers in 2013. In the first six months, the growth was 7 percent, and net interest income increased by 5 percent to 12.5 billion rand.

Its bad debt costs fell 14 percent to 3.5 billion rand in the first half and the lender expects them to shrink further from last year's levels.

Absa, which said in February it was planning to return excess capital to shareholders, paid a special dividend of 708 cents per share, below the 750 cents the market had expected.

"The dividend is light," said Stephen Burrell, a trader at Avior Research.

CEO: GROWTH CHALLENGING

"We are committed to improving our top line income this year," Chief Executive Maria Ramos said in a presentation to analysts. "Our growth remains challenging."

With interest rates at the lowest in decades, other South African banks have made an aggressive push into unsecured lending - loans not backed by collateral - raising concerns among regulators and analysts that some loans could sour as household debt levels rise.

Absa has shied away from the riskier personal loans segment and CEO Ramos said that decision had cost it some business.

The bank said headline earnings per share, the main gauge of profit in South Africa, rose to 649 cents from a restated 599.6 cents a year earlier.

It also declared an interim dividend of 350 cents in addition to the special dividend.

South Africa's No.4 bank Nedbank is scheduled to report on August 6 and industry leader Standard Bank a week later on August 15.

Absa will start trading in Johannesburg as Barclays Africa later this week after taking over its parent's African businesses following a 18.2 billion rand deal comprising the issue of 129.5 million shares to Barclays.

Shares of Absa have fallen 12 percent this year, underperforming a 7 percent drop in Johannesburg's index of banks.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/barclays-absa-posts-weak-profit-growth-sees-muted-124325910.html

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India's Devvarman dethrones defending champ

AFP - Indian qualifier Somdev Devvarman eliminated defending champion Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Tuesday at the $1.76 million ATP and WTA Washington Open.

World number 129 Devvarman, a two-time US college champion ranked 104 spots below Ukranian ninth seed Dolgopolov, advanced to the round of 16, where he could face US eighth seed John Isner on Thursday.

"I'm very happy. That guy is a tough player, no question," Devvarman said. "I played really well. in the beginning. he gave me a couple errors to break him.

"He fought back in the second set. I was serving well. It kept me in the match. I gave myself looks on his serve. It was just confidence."

Devvarman, who lives and trains in nearby Charlottesville, has adjusted to the heat, often a stumbling block for foes in this early US Open hardcourt tuneup.

"It's such an advantage to be here to prepare for one of my favorite tournaments," he said.

Devvarman, who went to India after Wimbledon to work with a Chennai-based charity called "Life is a Ball," feels on top of his game.

"I'm pretty sharp," he said. "Physically for sure."

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt and American Ryan Harrison were playing a later first-round match for the chance to face Argentine top seed Juan Martin Del Potro, a two-time Washington winner and the 2009 US Open champion.

Japanese second seed Kei Nishikori, a career-best 11th in the rankings, will open with a second-round match Wednesday against US wildcard Jack Sock, who beat Dutchman Igor Sijsling 6-4, 6-2.

"I'm going to just go out and play my game," Sock said. "If I'm playing well, I think I have a shot at a lot of guys."

Nishikori, who has never played or practiced with Sock, is rated a title threat by Del Potro.

"He is another big favorite to win the tournament," Del Potro said of Nishikori after a practice session with him. "He is playing really well."

Women's top seed Angelique Kerber of Germany connected on only 39 percent of her first serves but still dominated US qualifier Irina Falconi 6-2, 6-3 to book a second-round date with American Melanie Oudin.

"It was difficult after such a long time without matches," said Kerber, who included a five-day Majorca vacation in her post-Wimbledon break. "I can improve more. My serve was not so good. I went out for 20 minutes to hit a little bit more after the match. I think it was a good idea."

Britain's Heather Watson rallied past US qualifier Alexandra Mueller 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3 and will play for a quarter-final berth against French fourth seed Alize Cornet, who ousted Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-1, 6-3.

"It was a tough match," Watson said. "I'm just glad I'm alive for another day."

Watson struggled with mononucleosis in April but said she felt healthy for the match.

"I'm just building my game back after being ill for so long," Watson said. "I'm feeling good now. I was saying while training before this tournament this is the first time this year that I felt good."

Source: http://www.france24.com/en/20130731-indias-devvarman-dethrones-defending-champ

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Football: Banner controversy sparks S Korea-Japan history rows

SEOUL: Political banners and a military flag displayed at a football match between South Korea and Japan have dragged top government officials from both countries into a diplomatic spat.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) issued a statement on Wednesday insisting that Japanese fans waving a large "rising sun" Japanese military flag had incited South Korean supporters at Sunday's East Asia Cup tie in Seoul.

The home fans had unfurled a giant banner in the first half that read: "There is no future for a people that have forgotten history" -- a reference to Japan's 1910-45 occupation of South Korea.

Many South Koreans believe Japan has failed to atone for abuses during the colonial period, which remains a constant source of tension between the two countries.

The banner was taken down at half-time, but Japan's football association still lodged an official complaint and demanded an explanation from the KFA.

Two other banners displayed before the game bore portraits of a Korean independence activist who assassinated a top Tokyo official in 1909, and the admiral who fought off a Japanese invasion in the 16th century.

On Monday, Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said the banners were "extremely regrettable" and violated a FIFA ban on political statements.

Sports Minister Hakubun Shimomura went further on Tuesday, saying the style of the banners called into question "the nature of the people" in South Korea.

The South Korean foreign ministry then responded with a statement deploring Shimomura's "rude comments".

Although the size of the South Korean banners suggested the protest was pre-planned, Wednesday's KFA statement argued it had been triggered by the away supporters' military flag-waving.

"The flag evokes painful memories for Koreans. Yet the Japanese fans waved a giant flag right after the match kicked off, greatly provoking South Korean fans and triggering the whole incident," it said.

"Japan should stop highlighting the act by South Korean fans while ignoring the fact some Japanese waved the giant rising sun flag in the middle of the South Korean capital," the KFA said.

A similar incident occurred when the two football teams met during the London Olympics last year.

South Korea's Park Jong-Woo was banned for two games by FIFA and fined, after he displayed a sign referring to a territorial dispute between the two countries.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-banner/761850.html

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The One Washington Power Lunch the Political Class Cares About Today

By David Hawkings Posted at 11:47 a.m. July 29

?It?s just lunch!? insist the handlers for both participants in today?s most closely watched inside-the-Beltway meal.

But aides to President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who are set to sit down at noon at the White House, are keenly aware that almost no one in Washington believes the two are simply catching up.

Their shared declaration, after all, is also the name of a prominent matchmaking business, and the political class assumes the hidden agenda has something to do with setting the parameters for their relationship during the next three years.

Democratic operatives, potential Republican rivals and the pundits will all be scouring for any scraps of evidence suggesting the president will or won?t encourage a 2016 campaign by his one-time rival and then Cabinet member ? and any additional indications of whether Clinton has decided whether she wants to capitalize on being the overwhelming early favorite.

No one will be more interested than Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who has regular lunches with Obama in the same West Wing dining room being used this afternoon. His decision about running a third time for the top job looks to rest significantly not only on what Clinton decides to do, but also on whether Obama sends any signal about which of his two closest advisers he?d prefer as his successor.

All three of them ran for the Democratic nomination in 2008, with Biden dropping out after capturing less than 1 percent in the Iowa caucuses and the others waging one of the closest primary and caucus campaigns in modern times.

The White House hasn?t revealed the menu or the planned duration of this afternon?s meal, but Obama?s schedule has him meeting at 2:15 with the 2012 World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

Conversation starters could range from the complexities of the Middle East to whether Diane Lane is the right choice to portray the former New York senator and first lady in the miniseries announced over the weekend by NBC.

It?s the first time Obama and Clinton have been together since this spring?s dedication of the George W. Bush presidential library in Texas.

Since leaving the State Department in February, Clinton has been making paid speaking engagements, worked with her family?s foundation on early childhood development and women? empowerment initiatives and has signed a deal to write a memoir of her diplomatic career for publication next year.

Source: http://www.rollcall.com/news/the_one_washington_power_lunch_the_political_class_cares_about_today-226704-1.html

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Obama and Hillary Laughing with Salads

President Obama had lunch with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday, and they ate salads like Democrats. The photo shows they ate salads on square plates in the summer shade and laughed in the breezy way all chronicled so perfectly by The Hairpin in the classic post, "Women Laughing Alone with Salad." (While there were no beverages on the table at the time the photograph was taken, they did get their own salt and pepper shakers.) Perhaps the photo resembles the not-quite-sincere joy of stock photos because Clinton has been in the news recently for a not-so-joyous association with her aide, Huma Abedin, who is standing by her sexting husband, Anthony Weiner, in the New York City mayor's race.

RELATED: Old Obama Fundraisers Pushed Aside by Clintonite 'Whores'

(Photo by The White House via Flickr.)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-hillary-laughing-salads-190003755.html

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Along with Miss America, parade returns to AC

GEOFF MULVIHILL
Associated Press

The Miss America parade is getting a television-friendly makeover as the tradition returns to Atlantic City in September for the first time in nine years.

The Sept. 14 parade will be televised live for the first time, Miss America Organization CEO Sam Haskell told The Associated Press on Monday. It's scheduled to air live on WPVI-TV, the ABC affiliate in Philadelphia, and again the next day as part of the lead-in for the Sept. 15 pageant finals, which will be shown on ABC nationally.

"We're supersizing the parade," Haskell said. "We're supersizing the telecast."

Some local groups have complained about the cost of getting a float in the parade this year -- at least $2,000 compared with $200 in 2004, the last time it was held.

Haskell said higher fees will help pay for a more spectacular event designed to show off Atlantic City.

The parade on the boardwalk harks back to the roots of Miss America, when the pageant launched in 1921 as a way to drum up business for the shore resort after Labor Day.

The pageant is getting reacquainted with fans shouting "Show us your shoes!" to the contestants in convertibles, among other traditions, when it comes back to Atlantic City.

It's not clear exactly how long parade-goers have been shouting to the women. But Haskell said that since at least the early 1990s, the women have elaborately decorated their shoes -- Miss Maine's have often had lobsters on theirs, and you can count on Miss Texas wearing cowboy boots -- and obliging by displaying them proudly.

Miss America left its hometown for Las Vegas after 2004 and except for one year when there was a walking parade there, the show-us-your-shoes tradition disappeared.

Producer John Best, who puts on eight parades annually, including the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, was hired to run this year's edition.

Best said the route will run along the familiar boardwalk, but now starting at Revel Casino-Hotel, a shimmering glass structure that wasn't yet built the last time Miss America was in town.

He said the 4,000 participants will include two youth choirs; convertibles carrying the contestants; 15 elaborate floats, including one featuring veterans back from Iraq and Afghanistan; dancers and a performance area for TV purposes. Local Girl Scout troops and Red Cross chapters will be represented.

The first of the 22 marching bands will be -- as it has long been -- the one from Atlantic City High School.

But Best said another one will be an all-star marching band from high schools around Atlantic County. That's an element he said he hopes to become a tradition.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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This 4-month-old sweetheart needs a new home. Yours, maybe?

Source: http://www.wtop.com/541/3404390/Along-with-Miss-America-parade-returns-to-AC

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Former supermarket worker in Britain tops UK album chart

LONDON (Reuters) - Jahmene Douglas, a former supermarket worker and talent show contestant, topped the UK album charts for the first time on Sunday with "Love Never Fails", the Official Charts Company said.

Meanwhile, Swedish artist Avicii kept the top spot in the British singles chart for a second week with "Wake Me Up", which became the fastest selling single of the year a week earlier.

Douglas, 22, was a contestant on a TV talent show "The X Factor". His debut album features 10 tracks including Gospel interpretations of other artists' songs and a duet.

Douglas pushed Robin Thicke's album "Blurred Lines" into second place, while "Magna Carta Holy Grail" from U.S. rapper Jay-Z fell to third place.

In the singles chart, Avicii's continued success denied One Direction's "Best Song Ever" the top slot, depriving the boy band of what would have been their fourth number one single. The new track had to settle for number two instead.

Separately, the Official Charts Company said "Now That's What I Call Music! 85" had become the fastest selling album of 2013.

(Reporting By Andrew Osborn; editing by Mike Collett-White)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/former-supermarket-worker-britain-tops-uk-album-chart-180623270.html

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Marriage is union between man, woman

With all the coverage of ?gay marriage? lately, it is time someone set the record straight (no pun intended). Call this relationship whatever you want, but please don?t call it ?marriage.? That term describes the union created by God between a man and a woman so that human beings can cooperate with Him in procreation. The last time I checked it was impossible for two members of the same sex to procreate.

Truth to tell, the union of two members of the same sex is already described by a word derived from the name of the biblical city of Sodom, destroyed by God for the same unnatural behavior. Look it up.

Tom Simpson, Blue Ash

Posted in: government, Greater Cincinnati, lifestyle, National, Northern Kentucky, Ohio, religion

Tags: Bible, Blue Ash, God, same sex marriages

Source: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2013/07/28/marriage-is-union-between-man-woman/

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Hot flashes? Thank evolution

[unable to retrieve full-text content]A study of mortality and fertility patterns among seven species of wild apes and monkeys and their relatives, compared with similar data from hunter-gatherer humans, shows that menopause sets humans apart from other primates.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/9xyAcIotMVg/130729161948.htm

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Lindy Boggs, congresswoman and civil rights crusader, dies at 97

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lindy Boggs, who took over her husband's congressional seat to become a crusader for women's equality and civil rights, died Saturday at 97. Her death was confirmed by ABC News, where Boggs' daughter, Cokie Roberts, is a journalist.

The matriarch of a powerful Washington family, Boggs served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Louisiana Democrat for 18 years, beginning in 1973, when she become the first woman elected to Congress from her state.

She was a permanent chairwoman of the 1976 Democratic National Convention and also served as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican from 1997 to 2001.

The Boggs children came to prominence in politics, law and the media. In addition to Roberts, an author and journalist at National Public Radio as well as ABC TV, Boggs' son Thomas Hale Boggs Jr. is an influential Washington lawyer. Another daughter, Barbara Boggs Sigmund, died of cancer in 1990 while she was mayor of Princeton, New Jersey.

Boggs won a special election to Congress six months after the death of her husband, House Majority Leader Thomas Hale Boggs. He was presumed to have died in a plane crash in a remote part of Alaska, although his body was never found.

In Congress, Mrs. Boggs was elected to her first full term in 1974 and re-elected seven times after that, always by wide margins, and four times unopposed in a district that after the 1980 census was redrawn to include an African American majority.

Born Marie Corinne Morrison Claiborne in Brunswick Plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish, Boggs attended Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane University, a premier institution of higher education for young Louisiana women.

With a political family pedigree that stretched back to George Washington's day and included governors of Louisiana and Mississippi, Boggs came to Washington at 24 with her newly elected husband to exert behind-the-scenes influence until she herself was elected to office.

In her 1994 memoir, "Washington Through a Purple Veil," Boggs described her attempt to enter the 1941 House of Representatives to hear her husband deliver a speech. She was so simply dressed that the guard kept her out until she returned, draped in a purple veil. She recalled that a friend had told her that "the most sophisticated and becoming thing a woman could wear was a purple veil."

She worked for the Civil Rights Acts of 1965 and 1968, Head Start and other programs to help minorities, the poor and women.

Boggs used her seat on the House Appropriations Committee to steer money to New Orleans and the rest of Louisiana, and on the House Banking and Currency Committee managed to include women in the Equal Credit and Opportunity Act of 1974.

A strong Southern "steel magnolia" before that term entered the vernacular, Boggs recalled how she managed to include women in the credit act by writing in that the law should help people regardless of "sex and marital status" on the bill and making a copy for all of the committee's members.

"Knowing the members composing this committee as well as I do, I'm sure it was just an oversight that we didn't have 'sex' or 'marital status' included," she said she told her congressional colleagues. "I've taken care of that, and I trust it meets with the committee's approval."

After her political and ambassadorial service, Boggs returned to New Orleans, where her Bourbon Street home was damaged in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She later moved to Chevy Chase, Maryland.

(Reporting by Deborah Zabarenko; editing by Gunna Dickson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lindy-boggs-congresswoman-civil-rights-crusader-dies-97-161251545.html

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Manslaughter charge in Hudson River crash

PIERMONT, N.Y. (AP) ? The driver of a speedboat that slammed into a construction barge on the Hudson River ? hurling a bride-to-be and her fiance's best man into the water ? has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, authorities said Saturday.

Jojo John, 35, of Nyack was also charged with three counts of vehicular assault at his hospital bedside as he recovers from Friday night's crash, Rockland County Sheriff's Department Chief William Barbera said.

John's bail was set at $250,000 and he will be transported to the Rockland County Jail after he is released from the hospital, Barbera said. John is suspected of operating the boat while intoxicated, according to Barbera.

Earlier Saturday, authorities pulled a woman's body from the water that matches the description of 30-year-old Lindsey Stewart. The bride-to-be was hurled into the water after the accident near the Tappan Zee Bridge, about a half-hour's drive north of New York City.

Stewart, of Piermont, worked for an insurance company. She was set to be married Aug. 10. Her fiance, art teacher Brian Bond, was among four others injured in the crash.

Rescuers are still trying to locate one other passenger, her fiance's best man, 30-year-old Mark Lennon.

"The search has been suspended this evening and the tides have a lot to do with that," Barbera said. "We'll start again first thing in the morning."

Officials were working to confirm that it was the body found earlier Saturday was Stewart's.

The crash happened shortly after the boat, a 21-foot Stingray, left the village of Piermont for a short trip across the river to Tarrytown on Friday night, authorities said.

Authorities did not have further updates Saturday evening on the conditions of the four injured or the nature of their injuries.

Stewart's mother, Carol, said earlier Saturday that she was praying for a miracle.

Bond, 35, was knocked unconscious in the crash but later woke and was able to call 911, Carol Stewart said.

Lindsey Stewart's stepfather, Walter Kosik, said the couple have known each other since they were young children and used to go to church together.

"They have been friends the whole time, and they fell in love about 3 ? years ago," Kosik said.

They were to be married at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Pearl River, with a reception at a vineyard in Hillburn, he said.

Barbera declined to identify the other people aboard the boat. He said the barge, one of several loaded with construction material for an upcoming replacement of the bridge, was equipped with lights, but it was still difficult to see on the water late at night.

The New York State Thruway Authority, which is overseeing the bridge project, said it was reviewing safety procedures.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time," the authority said in a statement. It added that the lighting on the barges appeared to be functioning normally.

Stewart's former English teacher at Pearl River High School, who remained in contact with her through Facebook, called the accident "heartbreaking."

"She was one of my students and a bright, sweet girl loved by everyone," she said. "I knew that she was getting married, and to Brian. To happen to two such special kids ? it just shouldn't happen."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/manslaughter-charge-filed-hudson-river-crash-220524776.html

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Jordan-Higgins takes lead in Credit Union Classic

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - England's Olivia Jordan-Higgins finished the second round of the Credit Union Classic at seven under Saturday, giving her the lead heading into the final round. Thailand's P.K. Kongkraphen is in second place at 5 under par. The final round of the classic wraps up Sunday.

Source: http://centralny.ynn.com/content/sports/675161/jordan-higgins-takes-lead-in-credit-union-classic

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If the new Nexus 7 can have a Retina-like screen, why can't the iPad mini?

If Asus can get Google's new Nexus 7 to Retina-like densities while retaining its small, 7-inch form factor, why can't Apple do likewise and launch an iPad mini Retina? That's a question that's been asked again and again since Google introduced the Nexus 7 earlier this week. Last fall, when Apple launched the iPad mini, it was with their standard 1024x768 panel at 163ppi. Going to Retina would require the double LED backlighting, quad-core GPU, and power demands that come with it. That meant either shorter battery life or a thicker, heavier body, both non-starters for Apple back in October of 2012. So how could Asus do it now, and what does that mean for Apple?

Well, first lets compare Apple's to Asus':

• The iPad mini is 7.87- x 5.3- x 0.28-inches and weighs 0.69 lbs. It currently uses the aforementioned 4:3 1024x768 (786,432 pixel), 163ppi screen, and gets 10-hours of battery life.

• A theoretical iPad mini Retina would need to stick very close to those same size, weight, and batter life measures, but bump up the display to a 4:3 2048x1536 (3,145,728 pixel), 326ppi monster.

• The Nexus 7 (2013) is 7.87- x 4.49- x 0.34 and weighs 0.64 lbs. It now uses a 16:10 1920x1200 (2,304,000 pixel), 323ppi screen, and gets 9-hours of battery life.

So how close does the new Nexus 7 get to what an iPad mini Retina would need to be? Close but not close enough. It's a little thicker, and more importantly, it has only 3/4 of the amount of pixels an iPad mini Retina would need, and even then at only 9/10 the battery life. In other words, the Nexus 7 (2013) is thicker, has less pixels, and less battery life than a theoretical iPad mini Retina.

While impressive in its own rights, those still aren't the numbers, and certainly not the formula, Apple wants to hit.

Apple, I'm guessing, wants the same or similar thinness - technically lightness, but they use aluminum instead of plastic for the chassis so it needs to be thin to be light - from an iPad mini Retina as the original iPad mini, with four times as many pixels, and with the same battery life. And the devil most certainly is in those details.

There have been advances in LED backlighting, and in display technology, in systems-on-a-chip, and in operating system battery optimization that might let Apple hit all those measures. But they weren't in place last spring when the original iPad mini launched. Whether or not they are in place by this October, the same time this year that the original iPad mini launched last year, we'll have to wait and see. (That's perhaps the reason for the seemingly conflicting rumors of fall 2013 and spring 2014 releases - best possible and fall back windows.)

Much like the first Nexus 7 showed the small tablet form factor has potential, the second Nexus 7 shows the high density small tablet form factor has potential. It wasn't where Apple needed it to be before, but it's coming. Of that, have no doubt.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/zpO6AJVRZFc/story01.htm

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Spain train driver released from hospital

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain (AP) ? The injured driver of the Spanish train that derailed at high speed, killing 78 and injuring dozens more, was released from the hospital Saturday, but he was still being held in a police station as authorities increasingly focused on his culpability.

Francisco Jose Garzon Amo was to appear before a judge by Sunday evening, a hotly awaited opportunity for him to give his explanation for Spain's deadliest train crash in decades.

Garzon has been under the microscope, with the country's railway agency saying it was his responsibility to brake before going into the high-risk curve where the train careered off the rails and smashed into a wall. It's still not clear whether the brakes failed or were never used, and Garzon has remained mum so far.

"There is rational evidence to lead us to think that the driver could have eventual responsibility," Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz told reporters at the crash site near the Catholic pilgrimage town of Santiago De Compostela.

He said Garzon was now being held on suspicion of negligent homicide. Authorities had previously said he was detained on suspicion of recklessness.

Speaking later at the police station, the minister also said that if Garzon were to choose to give a statement to the police before testifying in front of a judge, his lawyer would be called.

So far the driver has opted to use his constitutional right to remain silent, "although he may change his mind on that," Fernandez Diaz said.

The wreckage still remained near the site on Saturday, as passenger trains passed by. Black ribbons of mourning dotted the Santiago de Compostela and flags flew at half-staff. Makeshift shrines drew mourners to the city's cathedral.

Someone placed flowers on a bridge above the railroad tracks, with a note reading, "We are all in solidarity with the city of Santiago."

Garzon had been expected to give a preliminary statement to judicial police as early as Thursday, but that process was delayed, reportedly due to health reasons. Earlier Saturday, the justice department said Garzon's first appearance before a judge had been postponed until Sunday.

A blood-soaked Garzon was photographed after the Wednesday crash being escorted away from the wreckage, at first by civilians who had hurried to the scene of the accident and then by police, but it is not clear just what his medical status is.

Unconfirmed media reports said that Garzon had injured ribs.

The train's eight passenger carriages packed with 218 passengers blazed far over the speed limit into a curve and violently tipped over. Diesel fuel sent flames coursing through some cabins.

Investigators are examining recording devices from the train but have not officially said how fast it was going when it derailed.

An American passenger, Stephen Ward, said he was watching the train's speed on a display screen in the carriage ? and it indicated it was going 194 kph (121 mph), more than double the 80-kph speed limit.

The president of Adif, the Spanish rail agency, said that the driver should have started slowing the train 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) before the dangerous bend. He said signs clearly marked this point when the driver must begin to slow.

Normally, police take a first statement that is then examined by an investigating judge who must then take testimony within 72 hours of the arrest. That deadline is 7:40 p.m. Sunday.

Although that initial court hearing would be closed, it would give hints about the status of the investigation. The judge would decide whether to jail the driver as an official suspect, release him on bail, or release him without charges. If a judge finds sufficient evidence for a criminal trial, the suspect will be charged and a trial date set.

In an interview with The Associated Press after being released from the hospital, Ward was wearing bandages and a neck brace.

Santiago officials had been preparing for the religious feast of St. James of Compostela, Spain's patron saint, but canceled it after the crash. Ward said he has sorry that the event had been marred.

"It's horrible that so much death and tragedy occurred," he said.

___

Heckle contributed to this report from Madrid.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/spain-train-driver-released-hospital-145412450.html

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iOS 7 preview: iOS in the Car hints at the future of iOS everywhere

iOS in the Car isn't arriving this year with the rest of iOS 7. It's currently scheduled to arrive in 2014 instead, and that's because it requires the support of car companies, who have to enable the ability to receive it into their in-dash display systems. Traditionally Apple hasn't done as well when they have to depend on other companies, but the potential of iOS in the Car seems to go further than just the car. Indeed, it could provide our first hints of iOS everywhere, and that's incredibly exciting for 2014, and beyond. However, Apple touts 95% of car makers already include some form of iPod/iOS device integration, so what better place to start?

Here's how Apple describes iOS in the Car:

iOS in the Car seamlessly integrates your iOS device ? and the iOS experience ? with your in-dash system. If your vehicle is equipped with iOS in the Car, you can connect your iPhone 5 and interact with it using the car?s built-in display and controls or Siri Eyes Free. Now you can easily and safely make phone calls, access your music, send and receive messages, get directions, and more. It?s all designed to let iPhone focus on what you need, so you can focus on the road.

And here's what they've shown off so far:

• iOS in the Car provides for four basic functions: Phone, Music, Maps, and Messages.

• There's a virtual Home button, as well as a cellular signal strength and type indicator (i.e. LTE), and a battery level indicator for the connector iOS device.

• iOS in the Car works on your car's built-in dash display, or via voice with Siri Eyes Free.
• All the app interfaces look similar to their iOS device counterparts, providing a consistent experience.
• The Phone interface has controls for end, keypad, add call, and mute.

• The Music interface has controls for skip back, play/pause, and skip forward.

• Maps has controls for search, time, bookmark, info, current location, add, remove, and 3D.

• Maps also offers turn-by-turn navigation, of course.

• You can receive Messages while in other apps, and they can be read to you, and you can respond, via Siri Eyes Free.

• Car companies and brands which are said to be supporting iOS in the Car including Honda, Mercedes, Nissan, Ferrari, Chevrolet, Infinity, Kia, Hyundai, Volvo, Acura, Opel, and Jaguar.

Most cars already have an operating system or two. They have what runs the base car functionality, the stuff that gives mechanics diagnostic information when they hook in before service, the stuff that manages all the moving parts while you're driving. I wouldn't be surprised if that was BlackBerry's QNX or embedded Linux. Nowadays some also have user-facing interfaces, either based on Microsoft's technology, like Ford Sync, or something similar. Android could eventually be a player there as well, displacing embedded Linux. Apple, it seems, has no interest in either running the core, or the entertainment system. It just wants to take over the display.

That's the same strategy Apple has employed on TV so far. Who cares who makes the OS that runs the actual TV, Apple TV, or an iOS device via AirPlay, simply takes over the display.

That means you don't have to upgrade your car to upgrade the system; whenever you get a new iOS device, you get whatever new power and technology come with it. Likewise, you don't have to depend on Microsoft, BlackBerry, or Google + manufacturer for software updates; whenever iOS gets updated, conceivably iOS in the Car can be updated with it. And Apple's got a pretty good record so far of updating both iOS hardware and software.

Unfortunately, Apple hasn't said anything about third-party apps and iOS in the Car yet. While we'll certainly be able to do everything we used to be able to do, including push streaming internet radio, podcasts, audio books, and more to our cars, the idea of App Store developers being able to include iOS in the Car-specific interfaces for their apps seems compelling. Not all apps, of course, and perhaps an additional level of developer program would be needed to ensure quality and safety, but getting Pandora, Pocket Casts, or Audible up on the in-car display in a way specifically designed for it would be tremendous.

So would increased functionality from Apple. Again, everything that can already work will still work, like asking Siri about movies and restaurants and sports scores and all that, but just like iOS in the Car has built in support for Messages, having that extend to email, tweets, and all communications would be great.

Also, patching iOS in the Car into the electronic systems, so Siri Eyes Free could control climate, windows, and other functions would be great.

And, of course, seeing Apple project iOS interface beyond just TV sets and Cars, but onto all manner of devices would be fantastic as well. Apple doesn't make the range of products a Samsung or LG make, nor do they have any interest in licensing their operating systems the way Microsoft, BlackBerry, and Google do. However, taking over screens neatly sidesteps both those issues, and keeps Apple in control of the experience, which they're fond of. So we'll see.

Meanwhile, iOS in the Car brings us one step closer to Tony Stark's Jarvis from the Iron Man movies, and that's something any futurist worth their sci-fi should appreciate. It ships not with iOS 7 in the fall, but later in 2014. Check out the resources below for more, and let me know - will iOS in the Car support be something you want in your next car?

• Siri: Everything you need to know
• iOS 7: Everything you need to know
• iOS 7: Discussion forum

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/kjH--fsO3x8/story01.htm

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Designer Oscar de la Renta says Galliano deserves second chance

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Designer Oscar de la Renta threw his support behind fashion bad boy John Galliano on Friday, saying the disgraced designer should be given a second chance after he was fired for his anti-Semitic rants in a Parisian cafe two years ago.

De la Renta described Galliano, who lost his job at the French fashion house Christian Dior and has been shunned by many in the fashion world since the events in 2011, as a "very talented man."

"John has had a lot of issues, health issues, abuse, but I like John. He's a great guy and I was happy that I gave him that second chance and I hope that he will survive all of this," de la Renta said on the morning talk show "CBS This Morning."

The British designer worked with New York-based de la Renta for several weeks earlier this year. He was due to teach a master class at Parsons The New School for Design in New York but the class was canceled. The school said it could not agree with the designer on conditions for a "candid conversation" with students.

Before his ouster from Christian Dior, Galliano had been one of the most celebrated fashion designers of his generation and praised for his sumptuous collections.

A French court convicted Galliano of making "public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity" during two episodes in a Parisian cafe. In a third incident, which was videotaped and made public, Galliano is shown taunting people in a cafe. He also received a suspended fine.

In an interview with Vanity Fair magazine in June, Galliano spoke about his use of alcohol and drugs, and said he has spent the past two years trying to make amends.

(Reporting by Patricia Reaney; editing by Mary Milliken and Andrew Hay)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/designer-oscar-la-renta-says-galliano-deserves-second-192139556.html

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Walrus Bones Found In Old London Burial Ground

During a recent excavation beneath the streets of London, archaeologists found a total of 1,500 human bodies, many buried hastily in a wave of epidemics that struck the quickly expanding city more than 150 years ago.?

In one coffin, archaeologists came across a grisly mix of bones from at least eight human bodies, many of them cut up and showing evidence of autopsy. But nine of the bone fragments were decidedly not human. They were walrus.

"It came as something of a shock," said Phil Emery, an archaeologist with a company called Ramboll UK, who led the excavation. The nine bone fragments came from a Pacific walrus that was likely 13 feet (4 meter) long, Emery told LiveScience.

Behold the walrus

The bodies came from the old burial ground of St Pancras Church, and were interred there between 1822 and 1854, Emery said. During this time, London cemeteries were overwhelmed by the dead from a series of cholera, typhus and smallpox epidemics; the church and its burial ground, once outside greater London, have recently been engulfed by the burgeoning metropolis, he added. [8 Grisly Archaeological Discoveries]

Before 1822, the cemetery was characterized by small plots, as seen in most ordinary burial grounds, Emery said. But thereafter, ceremony fell to the wayside as the cemetery was overwhelmed ? plots were replaced with mass graves, he said.

From 1822 to 1854, a total of 44,000 burials took place there, Emery said. "Under such conditions, one can understand that standards of decency and hygiene were difficult to maintain, to put it lightly," he explained.

Blame the med students

But how did a tusked beast the weight of a small car make its way from the North Pacific to a cemetery in foggy London? Emery and his team can only guess how the walrus was brought there from its native lands, but they suspect the animal was dissected by curious medical students.

That hunch comes from the fact that several of the bones within the coffin showed signs of dissection, such as skull fragments with holes drilled in them, he said. In 1832, within the range of dates when the bones would have been laid to rest there, a law was passed that allowed medical students to legally dissect cadavers, Emery said. Before that, cadavers were obtained from the gallows, or illegally snatched via grave robbery, he added.

The walrus limbs were likely dissected as a matter of curiosity, Emery said, perhaps as an exercise in comparative anatomy.

'Sea monster'

At the time, "very few Londoners would have seen one of these alive," Emery said. "It was the archetypal sea monster, often depicted on early sea maps as a sort of exotic beast. The animal would have captured peoples' imaginations." ?[In Photos: Ancient Monsters of the Sea]

The bones were first unearthed in 2003 by Emery and his team, during construction of the St Pancras International railway station. It was funded by High Speed 1 (also known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link), Emery said. But the findings haven't been released to the popular press until now.

This isn't the only case of strange beasts being found in London graves. A more recent excavation at the Royal London Hospital turned up numerous cases of buried human remains from dissection found along with animal parts, including the remains of a tortoise, rabbit, cat, dog, horse and two monkeys, Emery said.?

Email?Douglas Main?or follow him on?Twitter?or?Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebookor Google+. Article originally on LiveScience.com.

Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/walrus-bones-found-old-london-burial-ground-171100824.html

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Largest magnetic fields in the universe

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Numerical simulations show for the first time the occurrence of an instability in the interior of neutron stars that can lead to gigantic magnetic fields, possibly triggering one of the most dramatic explosions observed in the Universe.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/OXO-k_H8Ujo/130726043406.htm

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Focus on Fitness: Strength Training | Healthy Communities

July 24th, 2013

Do you include strength training in your fitness program? ?Should you? ?We are going to learn a bit about strength training today to help you decide if you should incorporate it into your fitness program.

As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass. ?Regular strength training not only helps us keep that muscle mass, it also helps us maintain bone health, boosts metabolism and helps control weight, and also helps manage chronic conditions such as back pain, heart disease, obesity, etc.

First things first?what exactly is strength training? ?Strength training is the use of resistance to build overall strength and anaerobic endurance.

Often times, when people hear the term ?strength training? they picture someone very muscular, possibly looking a little like the Incredible Hulk, throwing large, weighted objects around and grunting loudly. ?That might sound extreme, but you get the idea. ?Strength training is actually gaining popularity as people realize the benefits of adding it to their routine. ?Strength training can actually be accomplished in a variety of ways, either in your own home or in a gym setting. ?Let?s look at some of the ways we add resistance when strength training:

• Use your own body weight. ? You can get stronger simply by moving your own body around. ?Exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, and squats are all fantastic options here.
• Use free weights. ?Free weights like dumbbells, kettlebells, and barbells are all excellent free weight ideas to incorporate into your strength training program.
• Use machines. ?Typically, machines are found in a gym setting, and are more ideal to use when someone doesn?t know exactly how to do other exercises.

Which option is best? ?As someone who regularly coaches individuals through strength training classes, my honest opinion is the method you can stick with. ?However, there are some things to consider when beginning a strength training program. ?Let?s look at them:

• Make sure you can perform the movement correctly first. ?When incorporating any new exercise in to your routine, take time to practice getting the movement and form down first. ?If you aren?t sure about exercises or form, seek out the help of a fitness professional to learn them. ?
• Add resistance (a free weight or poundage on a weight machine) after your form is flawless. ?Adding resistance to poor form is a recipe for injury.
• Incorporate rest periods into your workout. ?Rest periods, between sets and exercises are a must during a strength training workout to make sure your body recovers. ?This helps you keep your form locked in for the duration of your workout. ?If you find yourself getting sloppy with form, it is time to stop your workout.
• Incorporate rest days into your program. ?Rest days are necessary in any fitness program. ?Rest days are when your body takes the time to repair itself.

Should you include strength training in your regular routine? ?Generally, the answer is that most everyone can benefit from regular strength training in their fitness routine, but talking about it with your doctor to determine this is a good rule of thumb. ?Be sure to ask them if you have any limitations to consider with regard to strength training.

?

Categories: McLeod, Meeker, Resources, Sibley |

Source: http://www.mmshealthycommunities.org/focus-on-fitness-strength-training/

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CNN Dildo Blooper: Jonathan Mann Confuses Flightless Bird For Adult Toy During Interview (VIDEO)

Fresh off this local reporter's inadvertent drawing of a penis, we give you CNN offering up a report on dildo extinction.

In an hilarious slip-up Tuesday, CNN International anchor Jonathan Mann reported on the plight of dildos and how years of, ahem, flaccid human stewardship has driven them to extinction.

Mann was speaking with University of Arizona professor John Wiens about climate change and a recent study indicating animals have to evolve at a rate 10,000 times faster than they currently do to avoid extinction in a warmer world.

Unfortunately for Wiens, the weighty topic was overshadowed when an apparent Freudian slip from Mann confused dildos and dodos in the middle of the segment.

"Now, extinctions -- I don't have to tell you -- have been part of the natural history of the world for millennia," Mann interjects, leading up to the sentence's climax: "Manmade extinctions have even happened before. I guess we hunted the dildo into extinction."

Seconds later, the visibly flustered anchor acknowledges what he'd just said and backtracks, "the DODO, rather! Forgive me ? I'm having trouble with my words today."

The blooper earned a spot on David Letterman Monday night, in a joke segment titled, "CNN: The Most Trusted Name In News."

More like a dil-doh!

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/24/cnn-dildo-blooper-extinct_n_3647511.html

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The most deadly hacking target yet: Your car

Car Software Hacking Steering Brakes

Here?s something that should sober enthusiasts of self-driving cars. Forbes reporter Andy Greenberg has been hanging out with hackers?Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek, who have come up with their most terrifying hacking target yet: a car?s software. Greenberg says that the two hackers have ?reverse-engineered enough of the software of the Escape and the Toyota Prius (both the 2010 model) to demonstrate a range of nasty surprises: everything from annoyances like uncontrollably blasting the horn to serious hazards like slamming on the Prius? brakes at high speeds.? Even worse, Miller and Valasek have shown they?re able to take control of a car?s steering functionality so they can drive it into a ditch, a wall or just about anywhere they choose. In other words, they?ve found a way to transform cars into their own personal weapons. Greenberg says that the two hackers will present their unsettling findings to Defcon in Las Vegas next month.

[More from BGR: Nokia Lumia 1020 review]

This article was originally published on BGR.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/most-deadly-hacking-target-yet-car-170051457.html

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Portrait of Earth from Saturn a reminder of just how amazing we are

NASA has released a picture of Earth taken by the Cassini spacecraft, which is currently orbiting Saturn. Guess what? We're a tiny blue dot engulfed in the vastness of space. Pretty cool.

By Pete Spotts,?Staff writer / July 23, 2013

This image from the Cassini spacecraft, taken Friday, shows the planet Earth, annotated by NASA with a white arrow, below Saturn's rings.

Space Science Institute/JPL-Caltech/NASA/AP

Enlarge

In about the time it once took to get Pocket Instamatic photos back from the drug store, NASA has processed and unveiled the latest portrait of Earth, taken by the Cassini orbiter currently touring Saturn and its moons.

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Taken Friday and released Monday, the image is the second snapshot of the third rock from the sun Cassini has captured. The first appearance was serendipity, with Earth lurking in the background in a stunning backlit portrait of Saturn that Cassini took in 2006.

Taken from from a distance of 1.3 million miles, that image shows Saturn as a huge, darkened disk bordered by a thin ring of sunlit atmosphere and centered within its array of diaphanous, glowing rings.

This time, a similar attempt to image Saturn as it eclipsed the sun from Cassini's vantage point was designed from the get-go to capture Earth. Humans received a month's advanced notice to allow them (if they were in the mood and in the right hemisphere) to put on their "stepping out on a Friday night" clothes and get into the picture.

Last Friday's planetary photo op was three years in the making, according to Carolyn Porco, who leads Cassini's imaging team and cut her planetary-science teeth as a member of the imaging team for the Voyager missions to the outer solar system and beyond.

When the plan for the portrait went public a month ago, she noted in a statement that "my sincere wish is that people the world over stop what they are doing at the time the Earth picture is taken to revel in the sheer wonder of simply being alive on a pale blue dot of a planet" and appreciate the unique perspective such images provide on humanity's place in the solar system as well as its penchant for exploration.

NASA estimates that at least 20,000 people smiled for Cassini's imager, despite the anonymity they would continue to enjoy once the image was released. Earth is a tiny, if brilliant, speck in the distance, with the moon also in view.

"We may not be able to see individual continents or people in this portrait of Earth," acknowledged Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist, in a statement released Monday. "But this pale blue dot is a succinct summary of who we were on July 19."

The image is the latest in a long line of images of Earth from space. Some were headlinemakers and magazine cover shots, such as the Earth rising above the moon's horizon taken by Apollo 8 astronauts in 1968 or Voyager 1's snapshot of Earth when the craft was 4 billion miles away. More common have been the relative closeups astronauts and cosmonauts have taken as still photos and later as movie and video sequences from low-Earth orbit.

Each in its own way allowed astronauts to share with the rest of the world a bit of the perspective that often led them to later express a deepened appreciation for the planet humans call home.

In a handwritten note after making history in 1961 as the first human to reach orbit, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin put it this way: "Orbiting Earth in the spaceship, I saw how beautiful our planet is. People, let us preserve and increase this beauty, not destroy it."

Even if such sentiments might be written off as Cold War propaganda, spacefarers since have often said much the same thing.

Today, peering back at Earth during off hours is a popular pastime on the International Space Station. Back in March, during a Twitter exchange from orbit, NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn noted that the station's cupola, which gives an expansive view of Earth, is a "very popular place on the station when we're not in the labs."

As for Cassini's latest portrait of planet Earth, the image "reminds us how tiny our home planet is in the vastness of space," Dr. Spilker said. But the image "also testifies to the ingenuity of the citizens of this tiny planet" in designing and operating spacecraft capable of visiting other planets and incorporating a tourist-like moment or two into the larger agenda of planetary exploration.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/ISzgrjXKfIs/Portrait-of-Earth-from-Saturn-a-reminder-of-just-how-amazing-we-are

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Biggest Banks? Debt Holdings to Be Published

The European Union?s top banking regulator will reveal data on the sovereign debt and types of capital held by the bloc?s biggest lenders as it forgoes a stress test for a second year.

The European Banking Authority, set up in 2011 to harmonize banking rules, may publish the data as early as October and include additional information on banks? cross-border investments across the EU. The agency has previously revealed lenders? holdings of European sovereign debt as part of annual stress tests.

The EBA scrapped the 2013 exam in favor of a review of lenders? asset quality led by the European Central Bank, which will become the euro area?s chief banking supervisor. European leaders last year decided that the central bank should become a regulator in a bid to ease the currency bloc?s fiscal crisis by breaking the link between bank solvency and national public finances.

?One of the positive feedbacks we received from our 2011 stress test was the unprecedented level of disclosure, some 3,400 data points per bank, providing consistent information which helped to dispel rumors of hidden concentrations in banks,? Piers Haben, director for banking oversight at the London-based EBA, said in an e-mailed statement.

?Read More...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blacklistednews/hKxa/~3/MGmdhgOTAqw/M.html

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NBA aims to have HGH testing by next season

Working through the ouster of National Basketball Player's Association director Billy Hunter, David Stern still hopes the NBA can implement testing for human growth hormone.

David Stern is on his way out as NBA commissioner and he hopes that the league will determine the right practices for the implementation of human growth hormone testing for its players, CBS Sports' Ken Berger reports. Stern said last week in Las Vegas that he was hopeful about adding testing for illegal substances by next season but there have been some bumps along the road.

In February, Stern said it was "expected." Since then, a scandal involving NBPA director Billy Hunter led to his ouster, and Stern told Berger it hasn't helped the process that includes both the league and its players union. Nine committee members are still in the process of finding a permanent replacement for Hunter, though interim director Ron Klempner denied that the lack of leadership is hampering the process.

Klempner said a small committee representing the league and union is currently determining the best practices for HGH testing.

"HGH is a very complicated issue, and we're going through a detailed process that involves the appointment of a committee of experts," Klempner said. "Likewise, there was a recent decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that has questioned some of the fundamental criteria for the testing.

"I do agree with the commissioner that we have a very open and productive dialogue on this subject," Klempner said.

The NBA's willingness to begin testing comes as MLB has struggled to fight HGH use. Just Monday, the recent Biogenesis scandal led to the Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun being suspended for the rest of the season.

More from SB Nation:

? Flannery: Analytics and coaching in the NBA

? What if the Sixers just don't hire a head coach?

? Q & A: Denver Stiffs talks to Nuggets GM Tim Connelly

? Summer league dynasty: Warriors win Vegas

? The Vegas Summer League Curiosity Encyclopedia

Source: http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/7/23/4550676/nba-hgh-steroids-testing-david-stern

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New Ubuntu Edge Can Dual-Boot to Android and Could Offer Crazy Specs

The Ubuntu Edge was recently announced on indiegogo and it looks like a truly impressive new product in the mobile world. It obviously is designed to run the Ubuntu OS, but also has the added convenience of being about to dual-boot to Android. It doesn't stop there. You might expect a device like this to come out with mediocre specs, but you would be wrong. Here's a breakdown of the specs they intend to bring to this device. You can also check it out the in the video below.
The company is trying to get a lofty crowd-funding goal of $32Million dollars. They have already received over $1.5Million in about a day, so they might hit that. Here's a link to check it out on their indiegogo crowd-funding site: Ubuntu Edge | Indiegogo

Thanks for the tip, lloydstrans!

Source: http://www.droidforums.net/forum/android-news/249243-new-ubuntu-edge-can-dual-boot-android-could-offer-crazy-specs.html

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US surveillance, Syria at issue on defense bill

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Limits on secret U.S. surveillance programs and President Barack Obama's push to help Syrian rebels were in dispute as the House weighed legislation to fund the nation's military.

The House planned to begin debate Tuesday on the $598.3 billion defense spending bill for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, and late Monday the House Rules Committee voted to allow votes on the contentious issues.

Tea party conservatives and liberal Democrats insisted that debate on the bill include amendments changing the way the National Security Agency conducts its recently disclosed program of collecting phone records of millions of Americans. The same unusual coalition joined forces on amendments barring the administration from arming the Syrian rebels without congressional approval.

Republican leaders struggled to limit amendments on the overall bill, concerned about hampering the president's national security and anti-terrorism efforts. The GOP also wanted to avoid the embarrassment of obstructionist rank-and-file Republicans joining forces with Democrats in rejecting the framework ? known as the congressional "rule" ? for considering the bill if their amendments were ignored.

Pleading with Rules Committee members Monday, Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., sponsor of an amendment on the NSA, asked his colleagues to "allow the voice of the people to be heard."

Amash said his measure would allow the NSA to collect data and records, but only if the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court said in a statement that the collection of data pertains to an individual under investigation. Otherwise, the NSA would lose its funding.

Former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden leaked documents last month that revealed that the NSA had collected phone records, while a second NSA program forced major Internet companies to turn over contents of communications to the government. Leaders in Congress, such as House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich., have strongly defended the programs, but libertarian lawmakers and liberals have expressed serious concerns about the government's surveillance in a fierce debate over privacy and national security.

The overall defense spending bill drew an expected veto threat from the White House, which argued that it would force cuts to education, health research and other domestic programs to boost spending for the Pentagon.

The House also will consider an amendment that would bar funds for any military action in Syria if it violated the War Powers Resolution. Another amendment would prohibit money to fund military or paramilitary operations in Egypt.

Republicans and Democrats argued that Congress should have a say in what amounted to taking sides in a sectarian war.

The debate over Syria comes as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a cautionary assessment of more aggressive American military action, said establishing a no-fly zone to protect Syrian rebels would require hundreds of U.S. aircraft at a cost of as much as $1 billion a month with no assurance it would change the momentum in the 2-year-old civil war.

In a letter to the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen. Martin Dempsey outlined the risks, costs and benefits of five potential steps as the Obama administration weighs its next move to help the opposition battling the forces of President Bashar Assad. The sectarian conflict has killed at least 93,000, according to United Nations estimates, and displaced millions, prompting more calls on Capitol Hill for greater American action.

Dempsey said the decision to use force in Syria is not one to be taken lightly.

"It is no less than an act of war," he wrote. And once that decision is made, the U.S. has to be prepared for what may come next. "Deeper involvement is hard to avoid," he said.

The United States has been providing humanitarian assistance to the opposition seeking to overthrow the Assad government. The administration has recently taken steps to arm rebels with weapons and ammunition, a move welcomed by some in Congress but troubling to other lawmakers.

Separately, members of the House Intelligence Committee who had balked weeks ago at the Obama administration's first attempt to pay for lethal aid for the Syrian rebels said Monday that their concerns largely had been addressed.

"After much discussion and review, we got a consensus that we could move forward with what the administration's plans and intentions are in Syria consistent with committee reservations," Rogers said in a statement.

Dempsey spelled out costs, ranging from millions to billions of dollars, for options that included training and arming vetted rebel groups, conducting limited strikes on Syria's air defenses, creating a no-fly zone, establishing a buffer zone and controlling Syria's massive stockpile of chemical weapons.

The military leader said that while these steps would help the opposition and pressure Assad's government, "We have learned from the past 10 years, however, that it is not enough to simply alter the balance of military power without careful consideration of what is necessary in order to preserve a functioning state."

Dempsey's reference was to the more than a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Joint Chiefs chairman said creation of a no-fly zone would neutralize Syria's air defenses. It would require "hundreds of ground and sea-based aircraft, intelligence and electronic warfare support, and enablers for refueling and communications. Estimated costs are $500 million initially, averaging as much as a billion dollars per month over the course of a year."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-surveillance-syria-issue-defense-145446810.html

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