Friday, April 29, 2011

VIDEO: Carter calls for food aid for North Korea

28 April 2011 last updated at 19: 07 GMT-help

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Economic growth last week measured the purchase: ECRI

New York | Fri Apr 02, 2011 10 am

New York (Reuters)-a measure of future economic growth of the United States dipped last week, its lowest level in more than a month, a study said on Friday.

Recycling Research Institute, New York-based independent forecasting group, said its leading index slipped 129.3 finished week weekly 22 April from the previous week 131.7. It was the lowest level since the week of 18 March 129.1.

Annualized growth rate of the index also dipped to 7.5 percent from 7.7% a week earlier.

(Reporting by Solomon Lea, edited by Chizu Nomiyama)


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Office enhances Microsoft profits

28 April 2011 last updated at 21: 11 GMT Microsoft badges Microsoft said consumers were buying your Office applications on a "tremendous rate" technology giant Microsoft a sharp jump in quarterly reported profits, thanks to strong sales of your Office applications, and despite a decline in the sales of the Windows operating system.

NET was income in the three months to the end of March $5. 23bn (£ 3. 14bn), an increase of 31% to $4 the company a year ago. Sales increased by 13% to $16. 43bn.

The company said that it made the "strong results despite a mixed environment with PC".

Windows 7 revenues fell by 4%.

The drop reflected a jump in the wider market for PCs.

Beating went analysts expectations on total sales, despite shares to Microsoft in the post-trading slightly, reflecting concerns core Windows sales.

"The concern is markets are disturbed," Colin Gillis BGC in said financial.

"But it is also overblown if you factor in that Windows 7 is the fastest-selling operating system in history."

Sales in all other areas of the company picked up on a year earlier.

The turnover of the company's entertainment and devices division grew by 60%, fueled by sales of Xbox consoles and Kinect controllers.

"Consumers are Office 2010, Xbox and Kinect buy at huge prices and companies of all sizes have acquired Microsoft platforms and applications," said Chief Financial Officer Peter Klein.

The company also said that it strong use of its cloud computing services, which saw allow data on remote servers, U.S. are stored in large companies.


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Pair admit Jaycee Dugard kidnap

28 April 2011 last updated at 21: 14 GMT Police photos of Phillip and Nancy Garrido - 27 August 2009 Phillip and Nancy Garrido are on the 2 June sentenced be a few California have known raped guilty charges of kidnapping and a girl is, when she was 11 and keep due to their captive for 18 years.

Phillip Garrido, pleaded had on his victim Jaycee Dugard, and his wife Nancy earlier two children not guilty.

Phillip Garrido could be sentenced to the 430 years in prison, in Nancy 36 years in prison faces.

MS Dugard was kidnapped in 1991 from nearby from her home in South Lake Tahoe when she went to a school bus stop.

She was in a combination of the tents and sheds Garrido with her two daughters, now 13 and 16, in the back yard of home in Antioch, California.

As part of the deal of the Garridos with prosecutors, both waived their right of appeal.

You are planned on 2 June be condemned.

"Courage"

Their surprise change of plea came after prosecutors some charges against Nancy Garrido fall when Phillip pleaded guilty to nearly the full charge, Nancy Garrido said attorney Stephen Tapson agreed.

Continue reading the most important story
Jaycee's courage and willingness to their kidnappers to justice directly led to the defendant's plea and life to confront sentences "
end abduction and sexual assault cite Vern Pierson District Attorney Phillip Garrido guilty to 14 charges due."

Nancy Garrido known guilty a charge of kidnapping and a charge of rape.

It is expected that neither ever prison will leave.

Their change of the grounds means that Ms. Dugard and her children are do not have to testify in a trial.

In a statement published their spokeswoman, Ms. Dugard said: "I am relieved that recognised Phillip Nancy Garrido Finally, their guilt and confessed their crimes against me and my family."

District Attorney Vern Pierson paid tribute to Ms. Dugard.

"Jaycee's courage and willingness to their kidnappers to justice directly led plea to the defendant and confront life," he said.

Police in California came under fire after Ms. Dugard discovery and freedom 2009 because Phillip Garrido is a criminal rape, had with a kidnapping, and was on the sex offender list.

MS Dugard was released after police officers at the University of California in Berkeley Garrido on the campus with her and their children, and was suspicious.

You contacted Garrido's parole officer and he was arrested and in a parole hearing.

MS Dugard received a $20 m (£ 12 m) acknowledged the settlement of California, which repeated errors in the monitoring of Phillip Garrido.


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Midwest business barometer falls in April

Chicago | Fri Apr 02, 2011 10 am

Institute for supply management-Chicago business barometer decreased 67.6 in April, from 70.6 in March. Economists had forecast an April reading of 68.5.

The employment component of the index fell from 65.6 63.7 in March. New orders came down from 66.3 74.5. Reading above 50 indicates expanding regional economy.


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Jobless claims jump last week

A man looks over employment opportunities at a jobs center in San Francisco, California, in this February 4, 2010 file photo. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith/Files

A man looks over job opportunities at the Center in San Francisco, California, in this file February 4, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Robert Galbraith/files

Washington | Thu 28 Apr 2011 10 am EDT

Washington (Reuters)-United States claims that the new unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week to their highest level since January a recovery expected in the work may take some time, a Government report showed on Thursday.

Initial claims for State unemployment benefits jumped to 25,000-seasonally adjusted data, from 404,000 slightly upwardly revised the previous week, said the Department. Economists polled by Reuters had expected coming of claims to browse to the-392,000 previously reported, according to 403,000.

Jobless claims below 400,000 are associated with a steady growth.

Four week moving average a better measure of the underlying trends, climbed to 408,500 from 399,250 the previous week. It was the highest for four weeks since February.

The number of people still receive benefits under programs normal mode after the initial week of aid tumbled more than expected in the week ended 68,000 April 16 to 3.64 million, the lowest level since September, 2008. Analysts expected a drop in the continuation of 3.68 million.

(Reporting by Mark Felsenthal, edited by Chizu Nomiyama)


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Bernanke said the economy needs more time to heal

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke addresses a first-ever regularly scheduled news conference by a Fed chief following a Fed meeting at the Federal Reserve in Washington, April 27, 2011. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Chairman of the United States Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke addresses the first regularly scheduled press conference by the leader of the Federation after a meeting at the Federal Reserve in Washington Federation, April 27, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Jason ReedBy Mark Felsenthal

Washington | Friday April 29, 2011 3 Moon

Washington (Reuters)-the economy of the United States has not completely recovered from a deep recession, with housing still weighing on growth, Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke said on Friday the Central Bank spelling of successful speech of United States studying lower income communities.

"Our economy is far from being where we want it to be," he said in comments prepared for a conference call.

The Federation earlier this week, said he sees the 600 billion dollar bond purchase program, launched in November-spur recovery, through to its conclusion planned at the end of June.

The world's largest economy grew at an annual rate of 1.8 percent in sluggish three months of the year, but unemployment is 8.8 percent.

Depressed housing market is holding back economic recovery, Bernanke said. Homework foreclosure stay high and many families find themselves owing more than their homes are worth.

"Of course, the housing market issues and are not related," he said.

Chairman of the Federation said the Federation research shows that loans to people, businesses, through a community development financial institutions can boost economic activity. That the business generates tax revenues that in turn the Government spending in ways that benefit these communities, he said.

"We are in the Federal Reserve will remain close to the economic health of nearby communities, including low-and moderate-income communities," said Bernanke.

With the rise of gas prices, inflation concern is some Federation pressure to increase the policy after the unprecedented measures the pressure, aggressive. The number of representatives of the Federation believe that the Central Bank should act quickly to pare its bloated balance sheet and other central banks worldwide have started to raise interest rates in response to price pressures.

However, the Federation made a statement at a press conference by Bernanke on Wednesday that the high jobless rate, with vast wealth lost, inflation levels still not much higher than the weekly Central Bank, has an immediate intention to withdraw support.

Bernanke said Friday the economy is recovering at a moderate, was "welcome, if gradual" improvement in the labor market.

(Editing by Neil Stempleman)


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Euro zone inflation rises, points to higher prices of USA

By Jan Strupczewski

Brussels | Fri Apr 02, 2011 10 am

Brussels (Reuters)-inflation in the euro area rose even more over the destination of the European Central Bank in April, the chances rise of interest rates in June, despite the weakening of the economic, to respond to the demand of the household.

Inflation in 17 countries with the euro rose to a level of 2.8 percent this year, the year this month from 2.7% in the month before, the highest level since October 2010, when it was 3.2 percent.

Consensus expectations for a flat reading was compared to March ahead of the meeting of the European Central Bank interest rates next Thursday. Analysts said the numbers picked up the odds in the attic in in June.

"Although we expect a growth rate of the July meeting, the balance of risks to move previous slant type," said Aline Schuiling, Senior Economist at ABN AMRO.

The United States raised the interest rate on the main record weekly of 1.0% to 1.25% in April, concerned about the impact on consumer prices rising costs of energy and food.

"Upside surprise in our forecast may be stronger than expected due to the influence of the late Easter, which means that core inflation was probably a touch stronger than we thought," said Marco Valli, Economist at UniCredit.

"We see inflation hover around the current level for a while, with additional acceleration to 3 percent probably towards the end of the summer".

Other data this month, however, suggested the euro zone's growth figures in Germany, Spain, the biggest economy in Europe's debt crisis threat, showed unemployment soaring, retail sales draft.

Monthly survey of the European Commission showed the euro zone economic answer as a whole fell for the second consecutive month in April, from 106.2 to 107.3 in March, below market expectations of a decline to 107.0.

"The combination of high oil prices, strong euro finance and monetary conventions, and tightening the economic atmosphere in the region began to dent the euro," said Martin van Vliet, Economist-ING.

The answer was through all sectors of the economy except for construction, with the most stable consumer optimism to 11.6 from-10.6 in March.

No increase in the loan

Data also showed that in the annual growth rate of loans to the private sector to a single currency in the region slowed in March, bucking expectations increase, but the M3 and accelerated growth.

Belgium, a bellwether for the euro area economy, reporting faster than expected first quarter economic growth of 1% bbrbon quarter, against an average of 0.6 percent expected by economists polled by Reuters.

"Monetary data continue to point to a modest recovery in the euro area and loan growth," said Christoph Balz, an economist at Commerzbank.

"While the data itself is not a risk to price stability requires reverse tightening monetary, are further proof that the economic situation has changed significantly since 2009--and that is why the United States think more suited to low interest rates.

GDP data for the entire euro zone is on 13 May.

Further evidence of the weakening of household demand was seen in the retail sales data.

Sales in Germany fell in March, the expectations of an increase as derisive to consumers to buy supplies and less during the month when the inflation and the threshold of 100 percent.

Designed for consumer price rises, sales declined by 2.1% in, and 3.5 percent in the year.

Drop in demand of the consumers was bold more peripheral countries euro "," wishing to return and win public confidence in the market there with a difficult austerity measures.

Sales in Spain fell 8.6 percent this year, a year in March, Greece is 10.6% in February.

Consumer inflation expectations in the euro area, which has been falling rapidly since November 2010, ends slightly lower to 30.7 from 19.1. Selling price expectations between manufacturers, an increase since August 2010, fell more than 13.4 mark them from 24.4.

Business climate indicator for the European Commission, which indicates the stage of the business cycle, also fell for the second consecutive month, 1.28 points from 1.43 in March.

"However, the current level of the indicator stays close to the historic peaks, suggesting that the recovery will continue in the coming months," said the Commission.

Eurostat data showed that euro zone unemployment held steady at 9.9% of the workforce in March.

(Additional reporting by bureaux Brussels, Madrid, Berlin, Frankfurt, Athens; editing by Rex Merrifield , Patrick Graham)


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View inflation of the Federation with a relaxed

A woman shops at a Sam's Club store, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, in Bentonville, Arkansas June 4, 2009. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

The woman's Club Shop shops and drug stores, Wal-Mart Bentonville, Arkansas, June 4, 2009.

Credit: Reuters/Jessica RinaldiBy Ann Saphir

Chicago | Thu 28 Apr 2011 3 Moon

Chicago (Reuters)-Ben Bernanke optimistic view regarding the inflation pressure in the test.

Federal Reserve and its Chairman on Wednesday repeated their position that the starting price for the goods-such as oil and food-????"???."

But a growing number of consumer product companies in the u.s. say they plan to push up the prices of their sales to cover the cost of fuel for the big jump in raw materials.

Procter Gamble Co & vkimbrli-Clarke Corp. say they will charge more diapers, toilet paper, detergent; Colgate-Palmolive Co. is raising prices toothpaste.

This is bad news for consumers already squeezed by rising gas prices.

Yet even the policymakers of the Federation who raised the alarm on inflation from the decision of the Central Bank on Wednesday to give its 600 billion dollars to buy bond program set to the end of June.

"Unfortunately for inflation hawks is simply not strong enough, he did not move large enough to create its own unique policy directive," said Richard Hastings, consumer strategist at the global strategies of the Hunter, energy prices.

By the end of the year, he predicted, Yes.

"You're starting to see the formation of enough inflation policies of the Federation to change later this year," he said.

Bernanke hholiia super easy monetary policy of the Federation have-?????? progress towards the goals of the world's Central Bank stable prices and employment.

Unemployment, at 8.8 percent, is down to its own high last year, the risk of deflation has receded.

But as inflation rises, is likely to get a point, Bernanke made Wednesday when asked about the benefits of buying more still debt to push down to ask costs.

"It is not clear that we can begin improvements payrolls without some additional inflation risks," he told his first news conference after meeting ongoing policy setting in the Federation.

Inflation as measured by the price index for personal consumption expenditure core ' jumped 1.5 percent in the first quarter, government figures showed Thursday, a jump of 0.4% in the previous quarter.

Bond market pricing inflation risk, investors will work a higher preferred inflation gauge of the Federation, with the spread between 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities standard 10-year bond annual inflation of implying 2.57 percent in the year 2021, below the peak of 2.65 percent.

The sign of concern among investors about inflation, 20 billion iShares Barclays tips bond traded is his trading at the highest level since November.

If you speed up inflation, the Central Bank of the United States you may need to raise rates quickly, turning the tables on countries like Brazil, which tried to stem the flood of capital they blame in part on the near zero rate policy of the Federation. But representatives of the Federation not to expect.

Predictions and mapdrcia on Wednesday, the core index, which excludes food and energy costs, rising from 1.3 percent and 1.6 percent this year, still far below the official target of 2 percent is not of the Federation.

Inflation rates in the United States bar is living in many parts of the world.

European Central Bank hiked rates for the euro area from the shelves after inflation increased to 2.7 percent.

Now, representatives of the Federation's new forecasts also show expects inflation sharply higher this year, title, and 2.1 percent and 2.8 percent.

Bernanke said the price increases on goods region "quite a lot of" unexpected increase persist.

"There is a lot of Federal Reserve you can do about gas prices, at least not without derailing completely growth, which is definitely not the right way to go," said Bernanke. "Our view is that gas prices will not continue to rise at last."

Including food and energy prices, increased domestic rate 3.8 percent, and PCE his fastest since the third quarter in 2008.

"We have a different mapdrcia as low," said Michael pond, co-head of the US strategy in the price of Barclays Capital in New York City. "We think it is a broader commodities when emerging market economic growth is most likely a structure up pressure on the prices of goods."

Along with the dollar falling, which raises the cost of imports, these trends could raise inflation for several years, said: "the risk of inflation expectations is something markets should pay more attention."

The sides still, most economists are and break it with the Federation, at least for now.

Wages, costs for large input, they are rising only slowly. And consumers concerned about employment and higher priced balk, they say.

"We talked about wanting to go to business costs, and already speaking of wishing to move to the costs," said Michael Feroli, Chief u.s. economist at JPMorgan Chase. "Generally they have been driven by the type of weak demand."

(Reported by Anne Sapphire with reporting by Lucia Mutikani in Washington, Richard Leong in New York, Jessica Wohl in Chicago, edited by Chizu Nomiyama)


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VIDEO: Obama name of Petraeus as CIA Chief

28 April 2011 last updated at 20: 59 GMT-help

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Amazon apologizes for cloud error

29 April 2011 last updated at 15: 27 GMT Foursquare homepage foursquare was one of the sites affected by the technical fault - the online retailer Amazon has excused for an error in their Web hosting service EC2, which knocked many popular sites.

Last Thursday caused go failure sites including foursquare, Reddit and Quora, offline, a few days.

EC2-Elastic Compute Cloud - provides computing power and storage for enterprises that have not their own data centers.

The apology comes after a week of silence on the matter.

Amazon gives user a 10 day cloud services credit, regardless of whether they were affected.

Cloud computing is a fast growing company, which is essential for the growing number of companies and people who use it for remote storage data.

It offers individuals and businesses the opportunity to rent virtual space.

Provider of cloud such as Amazon's hosting sites and other data in server farms.

The most important story you read on "Critical services"

• Convenient: IT service provider that hosts services for several companies. Joint complex infrastructure is cost efficient and you pay only for what you use.

• Quick: fundamental cloud services work out of the box; for more complex software and database solutions, cloud allows computing you the hardware procurement and investments, skip phase.

• Up to date: most providers constantly update their software offers, add new features as they become available.

• Scalable: you can quickly grow, because cloud based with a significant increase in the workload to deal with.

• Mobile: cloud services to be used from a distance, so you have a mobile workforce, staff on most of your systems on the go can access.

A statement on the Amazon website said: "we know how important our services are for our customers and we will do everything, we from this event to learn and it can use to drive improvement of our services."

Amazon has promised, "spend our understanding of the details of the various parts of this event many hours in the coming days and weeks improvement and determine the changes to improve our services and processes to make".

Detailed technical explanation, it described what was gone wrong process memory with his data.

It said there was a problem, if you change a configuration, which gives his primary and secondary systems to fail and overload.

Amazon had then it stop and start, including physically moving servers.

Amazon statement on Friday, said: "Everything is now always be normal."

It ended with: "last but not least, we want to apologize."


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Obama shocked by tornado damage

29 April 2011 last updated at 18: 08 GMT has President Barack Obama storm destroyed communities in Alabama visited as South Eastern US States face up to the time after the devastating storms. U. S. He said President Barack Obama "devastation like this has never seen" after a tornado devastated the town in the southeastern state of Alabama.

In Tuscaloosa Mr Obama said that Washington would do everything to help communities rebuild.

At least 297 people are known to be died of tornadoes that have copied by a swathe of the States, 210 in Alabama.

Also, widespread devastation was reported in Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia and Virginia.

State of emergency has been in seven States declared, and federal aid is sent to Alabama.

'Heartbreaking'

"We go to ensure that you are not forgotten," said Mr Obama Tuscaloosa survivors such as he and his wife, Michelle, who toured the devastated city.

Read the main story of Daniel Nasaw BBC News, Tuscaloosa

The destruction here is almost apocalyptic. As far as the eye can see, Tornado reduces a busy thoroughfare in a thriving university town to a huge pile Wednesday rubble.

Twisted piles of metal and gravel, decades old trees, downed power lines and cars deprived paint - the scene on the McFarland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa conjures images of the Japanese tsunami.

The disaster scene is also incredibly quiet, save the occasional rumble of heavy equipment and the pounding of sledge hammers electricity company teams fight restore power.

Police have set up by roadblocks in the areas around the worst destruction - attempt to keep the area free from looters and onlookers.

Some people say that they run out of food and water, baby wipes, and SOAP. The call - in lines on local talk radio programs are filled with desperate appeals for help.

A Twister probably a mile wide (1.6 km) through the City earlier this week plowed.

More than a million homes and businesses of Alabama are still without electricity.

Earlier in the White House, Mr. Obama said: "The loss of life is heartbreaking, especially in Alabama been."

Mr Obama added: "I want every American to know that the Federal Government will do everything, which by this disaster we to the restore can, has affected, and we will be with you, as you rebuild."

The US National Weather Service (NWS) has reports of nearly 300 tornadoes since the beginning of storms on Friday, more than 150 of them on Wednesday alone.

"They were most intense super cell thunderstorms, I think that everyone who ever was forecasting out has seen," said Greg Carbin of the NWS Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma, the news agency associated press.

The NWS also said that a tornado in Mississippi had winds on Wednesday of 205 km/h (330 km/h) - the first EF-5 tornado in that State since 1966, the associated press news agency reported.

Tornado video - clip first courtesy Chris England/Crimson tide of productions

This is the highest rating of the NWS for tornado damage.

In Alabama, emergency workers as they continue to survivors joined 2000 soldiers.

Many people were picking through the remains of the destroyed houses.

Governor of Alabama Robert Bentley said that he expected, that the death toll to rise as more bodies discovered.

The number of deaths by the recent series of tornadoes is the largest in the United States since 1974, when a sequence of twisters claimed 315 lives in 13 U.S. States.

'Hand wiped out'

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox after an aerial tour said: "We have neighborhoods, which essentially removed from the card."

A Tuscaloosa residents, Angela Smith, whose neighbor was killed, told of Reuters: "I have it." "I have in a closet, put a pillow over my face and required for their lives since it started me to suck."

Another city, Hackleburg, it was reported that "90% destroyed".

The Mayor of Birmingham, William Bell, said "all areas of housing, only completely gone." Churches, gone. Companies, gone... "[it] seems like a bomb been is dropped".

More than 25 people died in Phil Campbell, a town of about 1,000 in Northwest Alabama.

Jerry Mays, Mayor of the city, said the tornado which destroyed the town grocery store and medical clinic was a half mile wide and traveled for about 20 miles (32 km).

"We have lost everything." Let's just say, "said Mr. Mays."

Hundreds of thousands of houses makes lost in Alabama have automatically after a nuclear plant when his power was hit by storms, though back-up systems worked, officials said.

Mississippi reported 33 deaths on Tuesday and Wednesday. In Smithville, Mississippi, many buildings were open, smart including a church, the Town Hall and the post.

At least 15 people were killed in Georgia and five in Virginia.

BBC storm map

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BlackBerry company warns on profits

28 April 2011 last updated at 23: 09 GMT Research in Motion's new Blackberry Playbook tablet computer the company is its hopes on its new playbook, some initiative recover research in motion (RIM) has raised its forecast for the current quarter due to lower shipments of the popular BlackBerry phone profits slashed hold.

The warning - his second in the last month fell over 10% in after-hours trading due to the shares of the company.

RIM said, that it also revenue target of $5 billion (£ 3 billion) would miss on a $5 billion for the period forecast in March.

The company's previous profit warning was due to the cost of the development of its new BlackBerry Tablet format.

It blamed the increasing number of consumers on the way of to cheaper handsets in its product range.

'Lose traction'

The company has eroded U.S. steadily its share of the core market rivals of Smartphone seen.

"This is the beginning of the film," said Edward Snyder at Charter equity research.

"It will be how come air from a balloon slow." RIM is increasingly on low end, relegated almost Smartphone.

"Without a flagship touchscreen, high end Smartphone, they want to lose still traction."

"Transitional challenge"

RIM is the playbook - banks, on his new Tablet PC - regain the initiative.

It will be half as large as Apple iPad and compatible with Google Android operating system.

As the new product launch, the company is upgrading and its operating system.

Some analysts are the company more willing the benefit of the doubt.

Commenting on the latest profit warning, Matthew Robinson said Wunderlich securities: "it is not good news, but in this transitional period there is a set of numbers that move, to have and I don't think we can view it as the incremental."

"Transitions are always a challenge."


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Shipwreck medicine

28 April 2011 last updated at 03: 05 GMT by Jane O'Brien BBC News, Washington Alain Touwaide looks at some of the old texts, which he had a rest is extracted has used in his ResearchDNA of 2,000-year-old plants of an Italian shipwreck, scientists could provide the key for new drugs.

The examples included carrots, parsley and wild onions in tone pills on board the merchant trade ship, which sank 120 BC get. It is believed that the plants by doctors were used in the treatment of illness under occupation.

Appeal time limits are described in ancient Greek texts, but this is the first time the medication itself have been discovered.

"Medicinal plants but not compound medicine to identified so that this really something new", says Alain Touwaide, Director of the Institute for conservation of the medical traditions, has the world's largest digital database of medical manuscripts.

Continue reading the most important story Alain Touwaide
we extract the information from these texts, so scientists can see if she can make links to pharmacological discoveries "
end quote Director Alain Touwaide, Institute for the conservation of the medical traditions Prof Touwaide works with scientists at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum", which conducted the DNA analysis. They discovered traces of carrots, parsley, alfalfa, celery, wild onion, radish, yarrow and hibiscus contained in the old pills.

The pills, which researchers believe with vinegar or water to them more easily record diluted were preserved in Tin boxes and were the size of the coins.

"I wonder, if the texts only theoretical ideas without implementation," he says. "Now we know that they have been applied."

"Written evidence"

In may, conclusions are Prof Touwaide, based on the DNA results and officially presented his own study of medical texts, an international meeting of archaeologists, historians of medicines and other experts in Rome.

"Remarkable is that we have written evidence [from the ancient Greeks] for the errors, which plants have been used", said Alisa Machálek, a science writer for the national institutes of health, one of the world's leading research centres.

A copy of one of the ancient manuscripts containing descriptions of the plants contained in the pillsResearchers studied old texts with descriptions of the plants in the pills contained

"This research is interesting, especially for medical historians, because it confirms that what we eat affects our bodies."

Prof Touwaide hopes that his research is to develop the modern treatments.

He says "We extract the information from these texts using, so scientists can see if they can make links to pharmacological discoveries,".

"We re-use old medical information and jump out of the past in the future."

For example the Roman politician Cato recommended eating broccoli to stay healthy and Prof Touwaide with it found references to the Greek physician Galen in the 2nd century for the treatment of intestinal cancer.

Prof Touwaide says that modern research is now underway to connect found in broccoli, which today may isolate a source for the treatment of cancer.

"This is a huge field in chemistry and pharmaceutical science," says Ms. Machálek.

"Native American bark munching on willow pain - now we pop open a bottle and chew aspirin contains the similar connections." "Taxol, a cancer therapy, is derived from the bark of the Pacific yew."

Early Greek texts

To understand the importance of plants in the 2,000-year-old pills contained, Prof Touwaide studied a number of medical works, including the Hippocratic collection.

The collection is still one of the earliest sets of Greek writings and Hippocrates, is as the founder of Western medicine attributed.

It cross-references those findings with other works, such as such as the encyclopedia of natural substances, written in the first century of Dioskurides.

Microscopic images of pill fragments amalgamated with clayThe dark spots above are microscopic small plant fragments found in embedded clay destroyed on board the ship

Dioscorides stated that "the big onion is sharper than the round onion." All bulbs are sharp and apt to cause flatulence. You stimulate the appetite. You are thirsty make. "Clean bowel."

"they are good for opening outlets for different secretions and hemorrhoids, and they as a suppository, pilled and dipped in olive oil" Dioskurides wrote.

A significant percentage of commercial medicines are derived from natural sources, but the active ingredient isolated, concentrated, standardized and was packaged in measured doses.

The shift to synthetic chemical drugs occurred in the 20th century, but after Mark Blumenthal, founder and Managing Director of the American Botanical Council, it found renewed interest in the medical benefits of the natural foods - including those in the pills.

He says "Many of the old plants have modern features,".

"It gives up a lot of marketing to go for so-called functional foods - foods with high levels of antioxidants, to improve the cardiovascular system or reduce the risk of cancer."

"Hibiscus tea is becoming increasingly popular and research shows that blood pressure lowers you." "Garlic and to some degree onions, continue to have heart cardiovascular benefits and reduce the build-up of plaque."

But Prof Touwaide says the traditional cures based on plants and minerals are in danger, forget.

He says the problem is that too few people study now classical Greek, Latin or Arabic and there are not enough experts to interpret the original texts.

Prof Touwaide is in 12 languages dominate and spent years collecting 15,000 books about plants and their uses his or her library.

He believes that such know old as part of the UNESCO world natural heritage should be protected.


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India bring to European fighter about us

28 April 2011 last updated at 19: 20 GMT Indian air force's Sukhoi jets India accounts for 9% of global arms imports, according to a study of India short list has two European fighter jets, excluding two us rivals for a key $11bn (£ 6 billion) military contract.

The Indian Ministry of defence selected the Pan European Eurofighter and France-based Dessault Rafale from the aircraft by Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

The United States "was deeply through the news disappointed", said the US Ambassador to India.

President Barack Obama lobbying for the United States had defense contractor, personally since Government had European Heads of State and.

"It is confirmed Rafale and Eurofighter have been selected and the remaining four are," the Indian Defense Ministry said.

To miss the other two companies were Sweden's Saab and the Russian manufacturers of the MiG-35.

'Political setback'

The Ambassador, Timothy Romans, said: "we are the documents received from the Government of India check and respectful of the procurement process."

He added that the United States "looked forward to continue to grow and develop our defense partnership with India".

However, some commentators suggested it could be some political fallout from the decision.

"The Americans will be very unhappy and the Treaty was signed have people will say that not enough that has taken India political relations with the United States,", said former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal.

"This is a political setback for relations."

Mr Roman separately announced that he had resigned from his post for "Personal, work and family life of considerations".

A big spenders

A report published last month, said that India China are the largest importer of arms had overtaken.

India said the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, accounted for 9% of all arms imports between 2006 and 2010.

With a $32 billion (£ 19 billion) Defence imports budget India more than 70% of their weapons.

The $11bn deal for 126 fighter jets is part of the plan to spend $50 billion over the next five years to modernise its armed forces.


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Immelt of GE resigned from the Federation of New York last month

By the Cook, Kristina

New York | Thu 28 Apr 2011 5 Moon

New York (Reuters)-General Electric (GE.N) leader Jeffrey Immelt resigned from the New York Federal Reserve's Board of Directors last month due to other commitments, the regional Central Bank said on Thursday.

Immelt was a member of the Board of the Federation of New York City since January 2006, anecdotal input helps provide policymakers with regard to developments in the United States and the global economy.

"I am, sadly, tendering my resignation as a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve of New York City, given the increased demands on my time," Immelt wrote a letter to the President of the Federation of New York William Dudley dated 9 March.

President Barack Obama in January as its outside adviser Immelt top financial to help hire American hitch. Immelt and now heads up the President's Council on competitiveness, jobs, as economic recovery Advisory Board headed by former Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker.

"Jeff provided important insights Board member during the period it is very important for the Bank and the wider economy," said Dudley in the statement.

Who attended the Board meetings of the Federation of New York described Immelt as "always," adding that he took the role on the Board for the New York Federation seriously.

His resignation leaves the two vacancies in the Federation of New York. Two vacancies are the directors "Class B", which means that they are selected by the Federation of New York member banks to represent the public.

Immelt was serving a term of three years was due to expire at the end of 2011.

(Editing by Gary Crosse)


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NASA delays endeavour mission

29 April 2011 last updated at 19: 28 GMT Jonahan Amos by Jonathan Amos BBC science correspondent, Kennedy Space Center Astrovan endeavour's crew head the last mission of the NASA shuttle endeavour was moved back to their quarters in the AstroVan for the postponement of at least 72 hours due to technical problems has.

The orbiter hydraulics is kept on the ground, while engineers investigate a hitch in a unit, the powers of the vehicle.

The youngest of America's reusable spacecraft is set to a $2 billion (£ 1.2 billion) Particle physics experiment on the international space station (ISS) provide.

U.S. President Barack Obama was due to lift off in Florida.

Also available at the Kennedy Space Center endeavour Commander Mark Kelly's wife Gabrielle Giffords, the politician in the head by an armed man shot Arizona in January.

The lift-off had local time for 1547 (1947 GMT; 2047 BST) specifically was, but moved shortly after noon.

Kelly and his crew had to appropriate and have been, the their way to the shuttle. By tradition, their "AstroVan" would usually stop briefly outside Kennedy's launch control centre above continue up on the pad, but on this occasion was drawn to the building and parked the vehicle.

Moments later was called the "Macchia".

Managers and engineers are now discussing how long a turn around they need to deal with what appears to be associated with one of the three auxiliary power units endeavour to an electrical problem.

A heating, freezing in a fuel line will prevent the unit stopped. A further heating was also show unusual behavior.

Suspect at the heart of failure may be a short in an electric switchbox NASA managers, but they are not sure know until engineers within the shuttle can get to make the device.

"" As we say in this business"we will not fly, before we are ready", shuttle launch said Director Mike flax Brook.

Local police expected up to 750,000 people, close to the Kennedy spaceport, had seen to collect the introduction. Interfere with the retirement of the shuttle program has drawn great interest in the final flights of the orbiter.

The discovery ship was the first with a mission in February bow out. It is now dismantled is made safe Museum exhibition.

Endeavour is next. After his 14-day journey of the space station, it will be prepared for exhibition in a Science Centre in California.

The Atlantis Orbiter the shuttle program ends with a mission in June or July.

President Obama made its way to Florida from a tour of the tornado-ravaged State of Alabama as endeavour was stand down.

But he decided to make the journey of Kennedy, take time to talk with staff and check out the equipment. Mr Obama was taken, you will find Atlantis in the building, where it is being prepared for flight.

Jonathan.Amos-Internet@BBC.co.UK

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US sanctions target Syria assets

29 April 2011 last updated at 18: 11 GMT Syrian flag the sanctions come in the wake of a brutal crackdown against the protests in Syria US President Barack Obama is, an order imposing sanctions against three Syrian senior officials, to sign intelligence service of Syria and the Iran revolutionary guard.

The sanctions freezing assets, the groups in the United States jurisdiction and have bar Americans from the business with them.

Mr Obama penalties in following a bloody crackdown on anti-Government dissent allowed which has left some 500 deaths, US officials said.

The name of Syrian officials targeted were not revealed yet.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the Syrian capital of Damascus and throughout the country on Friday, in protest against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Witnesses said troops opened fire on demonstrators in the town of Deraa, where the riots began in mid-March, said 15 people killed.


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One lives for 'Driving trailer of Grand Canyon edge'

27 April 2011 last updated at 20:31 am The South Rim of the Grand Canyon the Grand Canyon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. a man survived a 200 foot (61 m) reduction in the U.S. State of Arizona after apparently his driving cars from the South Rim of Grand Canyon, Authorities said.

The 21-year-old told Park Rangers he freed from the car after the random crash on Monday and rose up to the edge of the Canyon, to seek help.

The driver was for non-life threatening injuries, treated officials said.

The National Park Service leads an investigation into the incident.

On Monday evening were called Rangers by a visitor of the Park, who claimed that he had marked by an injured man down, who had driven over the edge of the Canyon.

The accident was reportedly on over 1945 local time (0245 GMT) on Monday.

Park Rangers a vehicle was inserted into a tree about 200 m below the Canyon's South Rim later. It was about 10 ft beyond the structure, an another abyss, a spokeswoman said National Park.

Officials said on Wednesday that they were plans to remove the car.

The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular us tourist destinations and is visited by 4.5 million people per year.


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Manning 'moved out of isolation'

29 April 2011 last updated at 06: 59 GMT Pte Manning, in a handout photo PTE Bradley manning served in the Iraq of the American soldier in the center of the scandal of Wikileaks was deleted to live apart from other inmates in the military prison in Fort Leavenworth Kansas.

PTE long mental and physical reviews past was first class Bradley Manning, prison officials said.

He moved following criticism of his nine month detention in a Navy prison in Virginia to the prison on 20 April.

He sued his followers limited was forced to a cell 23 hours a day and regularly to undress.

Fort Leavenworth Commandant Lt Col dawn Hilton said PTE Manning was cleared as prisoner to be held medium security requirements after lengthy assessments for all new inmates.

She said that PTE manning would be treated as any other prisoner.

"We are firm but fair." We handle all - staff and occupants - with would and respect, "was cited words of Kansas City Star."

His new cell is 80 m (7.4 m2) and has a bed, toilet, washbasin, desk and Chair. It is located in an area about 10 other pre trial living occupants, with which he is allowed to interact.

He is possibly daily receive visitors, unlimited e-Mail - although he may only 20 items in his cell at any one time - and three hours of rest time per day, of which some outside and in the library will be spent.

Jeff Paterson, which Bradley manning support network, said he was "encouraged" that the improvement of the conditions for the soldiers were.

Was there growing international concern about the treatment of PTE manning during his imprisonment in Quantico, Virginia.

His lawyers said he had been subjected to 24-hour surveillance and was forced to abandon his clothes before bedding down for the night then forced, when namentlicher naked.

Fees

UN Special Rapporteur on torture Juan Mendez had accused US officials of its requirements for unmonitored visits PTE Manning, aimed at partially, determine, whether he had mistreated been to block.

Officials have repeatedly denied PTE manning been mistreated while in the last month a top U.S. official, spokesman PJ Crowley, joined State Department after the military treatment of suspicious Wikileaks say was "ridiculous and counterproductive".

Defense Department General Counsel Jeh Johnson, if announcement PTE Manning was transfer from Quantico at Fort Leavenworth, treatment in Virginia may be interpreted as a criticism of the soldier.

He said, better to handle Fort Leavenworth - which was opened in January - in the investigation of long stays, with better mental health was equipped support, facilities and more ways to interact with other pinned.

PTE Manning, analyst intelligence, which the US Army in the year 2007 leaked 720,000 diplomatic and military documents, a database of military records from the Iraq war, Afghan war of records, classified diplomatic cables and other materials including suspected.

Last year Wikileaks has finds of the documents, making it the Iraq war logs and the Afghan war diary with the title, and reams of secret U.S. State Department cable from five decades published.

PTE Manning was with download unauthorized software on government computers by using classified information and to provide intelligence "Enemy", and other counts related to leaking intelligence and theft of public records.


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Fanny and Freddie Mac take aim on servicers

By the Pravda to

New York | Thu 28 Apr 2011 5 Moon

New York (Reuters)-Fanny, Freddie Mac, in order to eliminate inefficiencies clogging fiscal system, are taking a new approach to service loans and carrot housing, housing finance federal regulator said on Thursday.

The Ministry of Finance of the Federal Housing directed by Fannie and Freddie to align the guidelines that were taken by the so-called mortgage firms which often are fumbling efforts to keep asking their homes, as well as boaolch.

Many Servicers are under investigation by the lawyers of the country in General mortgage failures, and participation.

The instruction "should bring previous servicer obligation to identify the best solution possible for the owners," Edward DeMarco, acting Director, and producer of FHFA, said in the statement.

Align approaches to treatment will also help reduce the cost of the nishomim, who they've got billions of dollars losses to companies as State housing, said FHFA is delayed. Fanny vprdi Mack complained that delays or other problems raised their costs, and servicing.

Among the common guidelines, servicers will receive incentives to make changes sooner when the borrower to unlock, while sanctions can be imposed as to meet certain targets, FHFA said. For example, lender servicer as payments within four months of delinquency receive 1,600, $ 400, but only if the process takes more than seven months.

Guidelines to prevent the concentration of the servicers to avoid foreclosure as well at the same time ?????? is to change the loan.

Changes can help form the basis of a standard service all over the country sought by regulators and his party, given the reach of companies. The new guidelines will be issued to servicers in the third quarter and the fourth, FHFA said.

They should be guidelines monumental task of Freddie and Fannie, which funnel cash from investors about 90 percent of all new loans, or ensures that more than 5 trillion in mortgage. Fanny Freddie Mack all employees with more than 1,400 and 2,000 servicers, respectively, according to youngsters rarely membership.

Freddie Mack noted that "differences will be operational" application.

Major banks, including Bank of America Corp., JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup & Co Inc Wells Fargo & Co. are among the largest mortgage servicers.

(Reported by Pravda in Al; editing by Dan Grebler)


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VIDEO: Obama visited storm destroyed Alabama

29 April 2011 last updated at 18: 15 GMT-help

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Entrepreneurship

27 BBC News April 2011 last updated at 23:11 pm by Franz Strasser, works of a communal kitchen in Queens, new YorkIn after a recession, the entrepreneurial spirit has the magic and now the financial support – to grow many immigrants in the United States captured the cities in search of new because New York Simo Kuusisto.

In the Queens New York City are bakers and immigrants Simo Kuusisto Finnish bread and employs his two colleagues. They have 10 hours in the kitchen entrepreneur booked space and 2,000 small rounds of Finnish rye bread baking, before they have to leave.

"You can come and rent this room as you, so you need not high overhead costs must]." Very little financial risk involved, ", says Mr Kuusisto, who buy the money for his own industrial oven."

The commercial kitchen which can be booked by the hour, has him and many other food grow their business entrepreneurs from abroad and that is why it will soon receive additional funding by the City Government.

Jackson HeightsNew York Queens Borough is home to a number of foreign-born entrepreneurs

Earlier this year announced a series of initiatives intended New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, help immigrant businesses get started and grow, including a business plan competition and free business courses in Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Russian.

"We need the Federal Government to fix our immigration system, but New York City not afford to wait," Mr. Bloomberg said in a press release.

Account for 49% of self-employed immigrants in New York.

Nationwide, they are likely to twice to start a business, according to the Kauffman index of entrepreneurial activity. But, Mr. Bloomberg said they are also more likely to see, their business within perform three - and a half years as an entrepreneur.

' Sea change'

Jonathan Bowles, Director of the Center for an urban future, gets new entrepreneurs sparked a political interest to immigrants "sea change".

Continue reading the most important story
urban retail thrives with ethnic immigrants, which are prepared in areas with unstable demand to invest "
end quote Steven Tobocman global Detroit initiative" search a lot of this ancient North Eastern cities for a kind of a response and for a while, these cities were embraced artists and bio-tech, but immigrants were hidden in plain sight. You do not get much attention, "Mr Bowles, published a report on the impact of immigrants in the year 2007 company on US cities says."

In the last decade were the States experience the largest increase in business activity Georgia, Nevada, and Tennessee, according to the Kauffman index.

All three States of its Hispanic population increase of more than 80% and, according to newly released U.S. Census data.

Experts agree that the highly competitive national immigration debate made harder for the foreign-born entrepreneurs to come up with supporting solutions for local leaders and settle it.

An immigration attorney in Cleveland and co author of immigrant, Inc. says "you see more States and local units say that FBI agents leave the fields, but we have left to their own", Richard Herman,

"Toronto saw how Cleveland is a global Mecca 40 years ago, now it." "And it is not by chance that it; 50% from abroad."

Urban revival

Former "Rust Belt" cities such as Cleveland are partnership with Pittsburgh and Detroit of on one regional centre for the immigrant investor visa EB-5 program create.

Read the main business activities for immigrants in 2010 significantly increased and for the native BornFor immigrants, 620 of 100,000, a company started people every month compared with 280 out of 100,000 people for the native BornThe proportion of new entrepreneurs easily decreased immigrants 29.5%that up from 13.4% in 1996In regions, get a green card by invest immigrants $500,000 (£ 304,000) and 10 new jobs in an economically distressed area.

With a population loss of 25% in 10 years and the decline of the local automotive industry fits Detroit the label "economically distressed". Even immigrants without investing hundreds of thousands of dollars funding, can play an important role in the revival of a city.

"Urban retail thrives with ethnic immigrants, which are prepared in areas with unstable demand to invest." Detroit has a lot of low-cost property, which is a good opportunity for immigrants, "says Steven Tobocman, who leads the global Detroit looking how the region born talent can benefit from abroad study, an initiative."

The problem for immigrants company to the next level, always Mr Bowles explains, citing lack of funding and space in densely populated areas, such as Queens in New York.

Room kitchen is the entrepreneur an optimal solution for Mr Kuusisto at the moment, but only the beginning in his quest, his Finnish rye bread throughout the country sell.

He says "this is the first step and the next step is to move forward and have our own bakery".


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Caterpillar profit up to five times

29 April 2011 last updated at 16: 16 GMT Caterpillar earth moving equipment Caterpillar has improved its forecast for the rest of the year after the release of its first quarter 2011

The world's largest manufacturer of heavy machinery, Caterpillar, has his its profits increased five-fold thanks to an increase in the global demand for its products.

In the first three months of the year the company posted $1, 225 m (£ 733 m) up from 233 m $ a year ago.

Shares in US company rose by almost 3% in early trading in New York.

Caterpillar said more was "essential" due to sell record companies quarterly profit.

To the products, machines, machinery, electronics and gas turbines are used to produce energy.

"I am very pleased with our first quarter," said Chief Executive, Doug Oberhelman.

"The demand to improve how we increased production cost control was excellent, and our operating profit margin improved".

Japan effect

The company has revised up its Outlook for the rest of the year 2011 after.

Caterpillar increased sales $54bn now expected to be $50 billion.

This was done despite "sporadic production disruptions in many of our facilities" due to an earthquake and tsunami, which posted Japan last month said.

Caterpillar said, that it the circulation sales, expected negative effects, in particular in the second quarter, it factory efficiency and cost have.

Mr. Oberhelman paid tribute to two employees, the flight statement trading in the company.


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More us Wal-Mart has weapons

28 April 2011 last updated at 23: 46 GMT The back of a Wal-Mart employee at one of its stores Wal-Mart stopped selling guns at about 500 of his 3,600 US businesses in 2006 Wal-Mart said it will soon bring back the sale of weapons, including rifles and shotguns, with more than 500 their business U.S..

The retail giant stopped guns at hundreds of his 3,600 us stores in 2006, citing slumping consumer demand to sell.

But a spokesman said, would return to the shelves as "Part of the overall push to 8,000 products again" weapons.

Thursday's message comes two months after Wal-Mart a seventh straight quarterly decline in the United States sales announced.

Hunting and fishing

Wal-Mart is more goods in a variety of your branches in an effort, "offer customers the widest range of our products can" smooth, Lorenzo López spokesman told the BBC.

He added that firearms part of press, would be, what he said planned for months was.

"We tried A few years back..., streamline the range", said Mr Lopez, referring to the decision in the year 2006 set smooth firearms in many Wal-Mart stores.

Wal-Mart currently sold about 1,000 of the locations in the United States rifles, shotguns and ammunition.

It rises to about half of its 3,600 stores us see the changes on Thursday.

Mr Lopez said Wal-Mart with a focus on areas of the country became popular where hunting and fishing.

By the Federal Government more than 12% increased gun tracks sales in the first quarter 2011. growth has been seen mainly in small arms, the Wal-Mart will not bear.


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US citizenship may stop Superman

29 April 2011 last updated at 10: 42 GMT Superman is seen in this panel from the Action Comics issue 900 Superman was introduced in 1938 and has a long cooperation with the US Superman intends to launch his US citizenship, declared a story in the new issue of action comics.

"I am suffering my actions as instruments of US policy", says the character in a story, flying him to Tehran sees protest.

Adopted by an American family, Superman decides that he serve better-off is the world.

Although he give up citizenship only about his plans, the history has been criticised by commentators around the world.

The Super Heroes, is originally from the fictional planet krypton, refrain from not clearly his citizenship in the issue.

Action comics co-publisher Jim Lee and Dan DiDio said: "Superman announces his intention to set a global focus on his never ending battle, but he remains, as ever his adopted homeland and committed his roots as a Kansas farm young of Smallville."

The controversial history sees the hero at the protest, in the background the want demonstrators show, that they are not alone.

Superman's announcement comes after accusations by the Iranian Government, he caused a diplomatic incident, the nine page story written by David Goyer.

"Truth, justice and the American way - it is no longer enough," Superman says "The world is too small, too."

This is not the first time a comic figure of US policy has distanced himself.

In the 1970s Marvel Comics Captain America identity for exchanged, that of the character Nomad at the time of the Watergate scandal.


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Growth in the US economy slows down

Have you April 2011 last updated the 13: 40 GMT GDP numbers economic growth slows 28 for the US economy in the first three months of the year DroppedUS in the first three months of the year 2011 to an annualized rate of 1.8%, a 0.4% increase quarterly accordingly.

In the previous quarter, point official figures compared with a revised annual growth rate of 3.1%.

U.S. GDP is expressed as an annualised or annual pace, which shows, mean which would the three months of activity, if to you for a year.

The figure is a first estimate and could be revised either up or down.

Economic growth was due to high energy prices hampered consumer spending have weakened.

Consumer spending dropped to 2.7% from 4% in the previous quarter.

Analysts said that although the GDP data disappointing not unexpectedly after the Federal Government delayed defense spending and severe winter weather, construction projects being slashed.

Consumption for crimping

"It is very much aligned with consensus." The underlying components were a little better than what I expected. The weather was the biggest factor. "It consumption and construction, damage", said Stephen Stanley Pierpont securities.

"Energy damage also consumption as well." "Higher gas prices budget took a bigger bite out of people's."

On Wednesday the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke said that the struggling real estate market continue to charge the U.S. economic recovery.

He pointed out that building and commercial construction were home both "very weak" in the first quarter.

The Federal Reserve has its economic growth forecasts for this year, cut, citing weaker growth in the first quarter.

Mr Bernanke also said that he believed that the items would reduce to weaker economic growth throughout the year.

"Most of the factors that the slower growth in the first quarter tell us transitory his appear," he added.

The Fed now expected for 2011 to 3.1% to 3.3%.


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VIDEO: Royal fans from around the world

28 April 2011 last updated at 13: 09 GMT-help

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VIDEO: timezone wedding no deterrent for us

Help, 29 April 2011 last updated at 06: 23 GMT

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Gen David Petraeus named CIA head

28 April 2011 last Mr Obama updated at 10:25 pm: "That are the leaders that I have chosen, help us through the difficult days in advance to lead" U.S. President Barack Obama Gen David Petraeus, U.S. head of international troops in Afghanistan has nominated, as the new Director of the CIA and has named the Agency Chief as head of the Pentagon.

CIA Director Leon Panetta should that take next Defense Minister, when Robert Gates late June in retirement.

"Leon estimates the fighting of the American forces," said Mr Obama.

Gen Petraeus Job Corps lt will be filled by Marine Gen John Allen. The Senate must still confirm the changes.

Notice the most sweeping shake-up of top security officials since he took office, Mr Obama also Ryan Crocker named as the next US Ambassador to Afghanistan.

"This help through the difficult days in advance to guide us, the leaders I have chosen," said Mr Obama with Mr Gates, Mr. Panetta, Gen Petraeus and other officials at the White House next to him.

"Unity efforts"

Mr Obama said that after almost 40 years in uniform, gene would Petraeus by the US Army retired and in his new role at the CIA in September, pending Senate confirmation of the new positions.

Continue reading the most important story image of Kim Ghattas Kim Ghattas of BBC News, Washington

It is the biggest government reshuffle in the Obama management. It is likely the largest such high-level reshuffle at once in a recent US Government.

It was Bob Gates retired as Secretary of Defense, which set the game of musical chairs in motion. Mr Obama there was a new beginning and continuity.

With a new Force Commander and a new Ambassador in Kabul could signal the time after the draw-down of troops in this summer a new phase.

But the shake-up does not bring any new talent on board, so that it also a sense of continuity. The reshuffle was described as wise in Washington.

Most of the dates had for a while, the rumor was no surprises, although debate as to whether the men for their are jobs, there except maybe for Ryan Crocker, a seasoned diplomat.

The Obama allegedly attempted administration of retirement for a few jobs already back to advertise it. It is unclear how the President Mr Crocker, the accept job Kabul convinced.

The announcement comes less than a year after the responsibility for leading Gen Petraeus took over to NATO troops in Afghanistan from Gen Stanley McChrystal.

"I am on it and mean entire national security team for their counsel, continuity and unity of effort, which called for at this moment in history", said Mr Obama of his newly appointed staff.

Mr Obama said Mr Gates, the first as Defense Minister was appointed by George W. Bush to the 2006, "more than the right to return to private life had acquired".

Gen Petraeus is in Afghanistan Lt Gen Allen, currently Deputy Head of the US Central Command - Unit command for Central Asia and the Middle East version.

Lt Gen Allen and Mr. Crocker fills their new roles, but the positions in the course of the summer will come.

"The challenges are enormous and the stakes are high." 9 / 11 came to us from Afghanistan. Mr Crocker, said "Our opponents never again this opportunity must have".

Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee praised Mr Obama decision move Gen Petraeus on the CIA.

"General Petraeus is simply among the best military leaders of his generation." "He knows how life and death important, play the good intelligence to protect of the security of the United States firsthand."

Continue reading the most important story
today, we are a nation in the war, and place one will be, so that we remain the strongest military power in the world, to protect the security that is so important in this country "
end quote CIA Director Leon Panetta Mr Kerry also noticed Mr. Panetta" extremely deep institutional knowledge "of Washington."

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Mr Obama was Gen Petraeus and Mr Panetta for their respective roles to praise for the selection of the competence and continuity"in nomination".

Mr. Panetta, a 72-year-old Democrat from California, served as Chief of staff from 1994 to 1997 took over President Bill Clinton and the CIA in February 2009.

In, he served as Director of the Office of management and budget of Mr Clinton's those positions.

In the meantime is Afghanistan's spring season fight, ramps test territorial gains, NATO and Afghan national army.

"Today we are a nation at war and order one are, so that we remain the strongest military power in the world, to protect the security that is so important in this country." But this also a time for tough decisions, ", said Mr Panetta.

In July, the United States is expected to start U.S. President Barack Obama a "significant" withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, called turn over security duties Afghan national army.

As of February, were more than 1.4 million people in the US armed forces are used.


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VIDEO: more than 300 dead in us storms

29 April 2011 last updated at 05: 53 GMT-help

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Europe examines banks on CDS

29 April 2011 last updated at 18: 56 GMT Sign pointing to bank district the EU inspection points include 16 global banking giants, as well as other related institutions of the EU competition authorities which investigate activities of the nine largest banks in the world of the market for credit default swaps (CDS).

The CDS are a form of insurance policy taken out on financial instruments, such as bonds, if they lose value.

The banks are Barclays Bank, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and Citigroup.

The probe centers on whether preferential treatment - special low fees - was given by a clearing house, drum up business.

The other five banks are Bank of America, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and UBS.

Anti-trust the EU Commissioner, Joaquín Almunia, said in a statement: "The CDS play a useful role for financial markets and the economy."

"The recent developments have shown however that trade in this asset class has a number of inefficiencies that cannot be solved by regulation alone."

The value of the CDS - said that in the region of $28 trillion (£ 17tn) dwarfs the value of the instruments, which you to be based.

As well as insurance against a bond go bad provide, will have actually trade with CDS, to make money without also CDS for speculation, with banks and hedge funds the underlying bonds used.

During the height of the financial crisis, there were market concerns that prices reduces speculation in CDS for bonds and fueling panic.

The European Commission were explained that whether the nine major investment banks of the Clearing House of ICE clear Europe receive special treatment, and give only their business on ice explores,

The Commission said: "the impact of these agreements could be that other clearing houses difficulties successfully in the market and the other CDS player no real choices where you disable their transactions."

The nine banks are shareholders in the ice's clearing arm.

Preferential treatment?

In a separate case, the Commission said it examined was whether these nine banking and the seven others that, which is only Markit Group Ltd. the leading provider of financial data market as dealers in the CDS market - essential information about the pricing and other daily activities.

Such preferential treatment "could the result of collusion between them or an abuse of a possible collective dominance" and locks could other data providers of the CDS business, said the Commission.

Seven other companies set up in this checkpoint: BNP Paribas, Commerzbank, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Wells Fargo, Crédit Agricole and Société Générale.

All 16 banks, which control about 90% of the market where banks deal with each other, are shareholders of the Markit.

Markit holds a near monopoly on financial data which says the EU smaller competitors with poor information on pricing leave could.

Market, players insist however that no conclusive for such a connection evidence.

Markit said Friday it "do not believe it deals in any inappropriate conduct, and looks forward to proof, that the Commission".

A spokeswoman for IntercontinentalExchange said that the company would cooperate with the investigation.


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Make consumers respond to April, fears price

New York | Fri Apr 02, 2011 10 am

New York (Reuters)-the consumer respond to increased sharply in April as gasoline prices as viewed was, showed a survey released on Friday.

Nevertheless, consumers still expected to be more price increases in the coming months, Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan survey showed consumers respond. Complaints about the highest prices were frequently since 2008, half of all households said their money poorly.

A small salary expected gains and fuel and food prices too high, leaving the real expectations of income unchanged in April.

The final total came to read the index at 43.4, 67.5 in March and initial 69.6 hair from reading.

This was roughly in line with the median forecast of economists polled by 69.9 by Reuters.

Survey of current economic barometer is rising with the reading of the March of 82.5%, while the survey of consumer expectations gauge rose to 61.6 36.0.

Expectation inflation expectations in the coming year of the survey remained unchanged at 4.6 percent, although it was still the highest level since 2008. Outlook for inflation to 10-year-old five dipped 2.9 percent from 3.2% the month before.

Separate data showed rising fuel vbotil Friday and food consumption in the u.s. spend March and flared increasing total inflation from the year before was the biggest in 10 months.

Abroad, the European Commission to respond to the economic survey for the euro area showed, as all fell for the second consecutive month in April.

(Reporting by Solomon Lea, edited by Chizu Nomiyama)


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VIDEO: Stormy skies start before shuttle

Help, 29 April 2011 last updated at 10:06 am

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VIDEO:, the succeed Warren Buffett?

29 April 2011 last updated at 07: 59 GMT-help

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Difficult decisions

Yemeni tribes unite against President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Natalia ante lava
BBC Newsnight, Yemen

Since the United States and the UK have years President Ali Abdullah Saleh al Qaeda relied on Yemen's strongman in the Arabian Peninsula - a regional offshoot of the terror group, which Washington says is the biggest threat to the national security of the United States.

But Yemen has covered of the protests for months, the scene of widespread unrest and Mr Saleh against his leadership.

President Ali Abdullah SalehPresident Saleh has been in power in the Yemen since 1978

Mr Saleh, led Yemen since 1978, has this week accepted a plan put forward by the Arab Gulf States for him to hand over power, but have continued the protests.

The revolt against the old allies of the United States undermines not only us anti-terror efforts, it raises some serious questions about decisions that made Washington in the Yemen.

Since the beginning of the troubles Mr Saleh warned that if he was in the hands of extremists Yemen would fall.

He has dubbed the protests an attempt to stage a coup d ' état against his rule and that could cause in the civil war.

Feeding is very coined in that fear, the US policy on Yemen.

US funds

In the last ten years the United States gave the Yemeni Government troops hundreds of millions of dollars of military aid to combat terrorism under the command of the son and nephew of the President.

"Very quickly realized the Government that terrorism was a very profitable business," says Sanaa analyst Abdel Ghani al Iriyani is based. "Americans should have bought never in the trick, which the Government actually wanted to fight al Qaeda."

Mr al-Iriyani, argues how many here, that it is much wiser, the development instead of money for would have been.

Anti-government protesters in YemenThe riots killed more than 130 people were since the beginning of January

But in the last ten years, continue to grow military aid, although by 2008, us diplomats Washington warning were that Mr Saleh was help to suppress abweichender political opinions.

For many Yemenis military assistance was US synonym for the lack of political freedom.

Kemal Sharif, which is a cartoonist, was arrested in August 2010, when U.S.-trained terror units stormed his house in Central Sanaa.

"I thought I was Marines in a film about American in the Iraq." Snipers were everywhere, "says Mr Sharif of RAID."

The word from his home is still bullet marks and his five-year-old daughter cries even when she evening is points, her father was taken.

Mr Sharif was accused of the relationship with al-Qaeda, but never pay. He showed me what he thinks the real reason for his arrest - colorful cartoons, which was fun of the President and corruption, poverty and oppression under his rule.

Lack of action

After four months in prison, including 50 days in solitary confinement was published Mr Sharif for a condition, the he could keep drawing the President.

He now has a personal grudge against the United States: "even my handcuffs said ' made in the United States", "he says."

Kemal SharifCartoonist Kemal Sharif now holds a grudge against the United States

Many in the Yemen share his frustration with the United States.

"Where is President Obama now?" He is obsessed with the al Qaeda, but why he is, that our President told him and not the people confidence, "told me a young protester Khaled called."

Supports the popular uprisings in Egypt and Libya, President Barack Obama back up of Yemeni uprising was much more cautious.

Works with the United States to urge the European Union and the Gulf Arab States on the business in which the President is gradually makes transfer, but Mr has not called the White House Saleh step-down.

"I think the reason unclear, Washington is on what they do, is because they do not know what they are doing," says Charles Schmitz, Yemen expert at Towson University.

Mr Schmitz says that have a focus on security coupled expertise on Yemen instead of development, with lack of General and common mistakes to develop meaningful relationships leave Government, Washington unprepared to deal with the crisis with anyone outside Mr Saleh.

Another problem, he says, is the U.S. obsession with stability.

"A the instability bit may be no bad thing, if you allow people to work their relationship and they have to accept that Yemen is just ruled in a different way," he says.

Unlikely bedfellows

Mr Saleh has always said that judgment was Yemen like dancing on the heads of snakes, only having tribal rivalries could do. He ruled for three decades against each other to play tribes out.

The most unlikely alliances created Yemeni rebellion. In one of the tents in Sanaa's change square I found an area that is known as one of the safe haven for al Qaeda, discussing problems of the region, rival tribesmen of Marib.

You say that America's support for Mr Saleh has indeed carried out the al Qaeda threat.

"No one may join al Qaeda, but people, because they are arm, because they hate the Government," says Khaled, a young tribesman. "If America helps us get rid of Saleh, we will help you get rid of it al Qaeda."

Khaled's region has come under attack - since 2009 has at least four rockets fired the United States, in Yemen, but more civilians killed her then militant.

The White House has refused to discuss their strategy on Yemen, but it was former US Ambassador to Yemen Edmund hull is hard to call it a success.

"We have to eliminate not top al-Qaeda leadership in the Yemen, and from this point of view our approach have been unsuccessful," he said.

It is in part by the US policy on Yemen, the Government finally is apparent from the political stalemate likely more populist and less space for was to US interests in the Yemen.

The United States is concerned, but Yemeni protesters and politicians say that respect the decisions of the people could be the most effective way of fighting the war on terror.


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Gasoline prices dent consumer buying power in the u.s.

Shoppers stroll along Condotti street during the Christmas season in downtown Rome December 21, 2009. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico

Buyers to the Christmas season, the Condotti Street in downtown Rome, December 21, 2009.

Credit: Reuters/Alessia PierdomenicoBy Mutikani Lucia

Washington | Friday April 29, 2011 2 pm

Washington (Reuters)-the United States consumers increased spending for the ninth straight month in March as they stretched to cover the higher costs for food, fuel, with inflation and its publication in the year gap, the biggest in 10 months.

Despite the rising cost of living Americans grew up a little more optimistic about the economy this month and even dial down their expectations for inflation range medium-long, another report Friday.

Consumers appear to do the higher costs one step forward, but may put to the test if gasoline prices above $ 4 a gallon at 15. The price of gasoline vehicles that use the standard bsolr rose 3.5 national $3.88 week until Monday at St.

"My guess is that we are not going to see continued increases in energy prices during the year. Consumers will continue to contribute to the expansion, although a secondary role, "said Richard DeKaser, Economist Parthenon Group in Boston.

Consumer spending, which drives 70 percent of the economy, rose 0.6 percent last month after advancing 0.6 percent in February, the Commerce Department said. But prices rose 0.4 percent in stiffness, to go out on top only 0.2 percent after adjusting for inflation.

While the prices of consumer goods have robbed of the equivalent power, they entered the second quarter with a little jump from outlook.

Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer index rose 43.4 respond from 67.5 in March. Expectation inflation expectations in the coming year of the survey remained unchanged at 4.6 percent, but the inflation outlook for the 10-year-old five slipped 2.9 percent from 9.7 percent in March.

Works for the elevator to spend

Improving and strengthening the market confidence should support costs, even if gasoline prices remain at high levels, economists say.

"We are looking for should continue to grow in the second quarter, we will probably see an increase (expenses), quite similar to what we saw in the first quarter," said Daniel Silver, Economist at JPMorgan in New York.

Consumer spending growth slowed to an annual rate of the 2.7 percent in the first quarter after a rise of 4 percent in the final three months of 2010, the Government reported on Thursday.

This space, which took into account the data published on Friday, spending would slow down the economic grasp behind bagidol at the beginning of the year from the 1.8 extension to 3.1 percent in the last quarter of 2010.

Cooling production?

Third report on the activities of the plant are bamhoz Western country slowed this month, although it remained strong and I did a bit of data at the start of major economists who would pick up growth in the current quarter.

Economists said the tepid demand in the first quarter left the business with less need to build inventory.

"The need for new orders and production of beef until the inventory is reduced, and as a result, we see the factory sector is slow," said DeKaser.

"Production of twist came off earlier this year, still moving forward in a healthy clip."

Mixed economic reports had little effect in the financial markets. Caterpillar Inc., earnings strong, heavy-equipment maker in the world, Chevron fuel Corp., rest Dow Jones in the row for its best monthly performance since December.

The dollar fell to three-year low against a basket of currencies in monetary policy will remain accommodative stance of the Federation. Prices for u.s. government debt increased.

Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman said he was positive on the outlook for the economy of the near-term function in, but that the budget for Washington to base sounder for growth.

"Instead of pointing fingers one another, Government (Obama), members of Congress need to work hand in hand to find solutions that put the u.s. economy for long-term strength," said Oberhelman.

Wage growth and

Expense report showed consumer prices up 1.8 percent from a year ago--the largest 12-month gain since May.

Core prices index, which strips out food and energy costs, rose only 0.1 percent in February, saving space this year at its 0.9%, touching above all time low of 0.7 percent hit in December.

Fed officials, see the index of the core close to assess the underlying price trends, said they didn't expect the food energy to light a lofty and inflation.

Revenues increased 0.5 percent last month after a 0.4 percent in February, but wages and salaries advanced only 0.3%. With unemployment at 8.8 percent in March, growing the salary bar helps to maintain prices.

A separate report showed wage increases from a tepid rate of 0.4% in the first quarter, have only 1.6 percent from a year ago.

(Editing by Andrea Ritchie , Kenneth Barry)


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Barack the second?

28 April 2011 last updated at 14: 37 GMT Birth certificate the President's birth certificate describes him as "Barack Hussein Obama, Ii". Why qualify it for the Roman numerals to?

If the President his birth certificate released long form on Wednesday, the focus was on the place of his birth, knew what most people already confirm - he was born in the United States.

But it seemed a light on a seldom-used part of his name, the II at the end.

The reason is, root, simply - the US President was the name of his father, given Barack Hussein Obama. In societies where this is common practice, a method of distinguishing between fathers and sons (sometimes grandfathers) is useful.

In the United States, the son as Joe Bloggs Junior will be known. For example, Al Gore, former Vice President is Albert Arnold Gore Jr U.S., because his father was also Albert Gore Arnold.

Read the most important story of Barack Hussein Obama has exactly the same name as his fatherIn would be cases such as this, junior a common SuffixBut II is also PossibleJoe Bloggs II would typically be used when a son unlike his grandfather is named after a related as his father -, for example. However, it is used sometimes as an alternative to Joe Bloggs Jr.

This is what they say behind the name Web site to the theme of Jr V II.

"Junior is used to distinguish a son with the same name as his father." The following conditions apply:

(1) A son of the father, no grandchildren must the junior.

(2) The names have exactly the same, including the middle name be.

3. The father must still life.

"" II "is used when close relatives, such as a grandfather or a great-uncle, shares the same name as the child."

Kenyan tradition

Miss manners' Guide to excruciatingly correct behavior, written by Judith Martin, takes the same line:

"The oldest living William Wellborn is countless, and starting to run junior, III, IV (or 3d, 4th, a form, the Miss Manners preferred), and so on from there."

Continue reading the main daughters are not usually "Juniors" but Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Anna Eleanor Roosevelt as their first daughter Anna Eleanor JrPresident Theodore Roosevelt was the son of an other Theodore Roosevelt but took the suffix Jr - but not, his own son, also Theodore, was known as Theodore JrJohn Paul Getty was II also known as John Paul Getty Jr, although he was born, Eugene Paul GettyTom cruise full name is Thomas cruise Mapother IVSo according to behind the name and Miss manners, the President should in any case been Barack Obama Jr, instead of Barack Hussein Obama II.

Is his name therefore painfully wrong?

In fact, it seems there are a lot of IIs in the United States, who were named after her father.

"It is usually junior, but can it II," Sharon Manitta, a spokesman in the United Kingdom for Democrats abroad, says his brother is a junior and dated, that once an III. "is it really no matter."

The decision, "Ii" instead of "Jr" on the birth certificate are not the choice may have been parents, she adds. It could be from the Hawaiian official were taken over, which registered the birth.

Barack Obama would pass to his own name to his son Kenyan father very comfortable with the idea – it's a common practice not only in the United States, but in his own country to, and in particular under the root of the Luo, to which he belonged.

But it would also be it normal that use the word "Junior", to the son, according to the BBC's Noel Mwakugu in Nairobi.

The comma?

In the United States, things easily change soon as the third Joe Bloggs in a row. Also those who began as Juniors IIs can be.

"Can the appointment by the Roman numerals I and II SR or Jr to distinguish between father and son with all the exact same name (first, Middle & last), or replaced if the grandson has the exact same name," explains Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee, which provide advice on health, medicine, relationships, families, etiquette, customs and fashion.

"The grandson will then have an III after his name." The grandfather and father can still SR and Jr, or use or the digits. "

According to Sharon Manitta tends to be used the larger numbers in swankier sectors of society.

"Juniors VI are farthest down the line, all over the place, but if it gets painful - I about - is come, then it is usually an upper middle-class family,", she says.

Attentive readers will notice that Barack Obama birth certificate also a comma between the "Obama" and the "II".

Is this horrible, or not? The authorities do not agree on this point. The Chicago Manual of style is against the comma. Dundee print (for life's special moments) is for.

In any case, it seems unlikely that disqualify Barack Obama from holding the Presidency of the Council.


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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Surveying the cosmos

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26 April 2011 Last updated at 23:08 GMT Jonahan Amos By Jonathan Amos BBC science correspondent, Kennedy Space Center AMS in preparation at KSC (Nasa) The long journey: It has taken 17 years to get the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the launch pad It is the most complex space physics experiment ever built, and it will launch on shuttle Endeavour this week.

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) is also the most expensive, valued at $2bn (£1.2bn) - although no-one is really quite sure how much it has cost.

The 7-tonne machine will sit atop the International Space Station (ISS) and undertake a comprehensive survey of cosmic rays - the storm of high-energy particles (mostly protons and helium nuclei) that are accelerated in our direction from exploded stars, black holes and who knows what other exotic corners of the cosmos.

In analysing the nature of these particles, AMS promises remarkable new discoveries about how the Universe is put together.

There is a chance it could find anti-matter, the mirror of the material from which we are all made; and even identify the mysterious "dark matter" that scientists say makes a bigger contribution to the mass of the cosmos than all the stuff we see through telescopes.

But as exciting as these revelations would be, to Professor Sam Ting, the driving force behind the experiment, it is the knowledge AMS simply stumbles upon that could ultimately shake us.

"The issue of anti-matter and the origin of dark matter really probe the foundations of modern physics, but to my collaborators and me, the most exciting objective of AMS is to probe the unknown, to search for phenomena that exist in Nature but yet we have not the tools or the imagination to find them," the Nobel Laureate said.

If some of what AMS does sounds similar to the activities of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at Europe's Cern laboratory, you would be right. The association is a rich one.

AMS was assembled and tested at Cern, and when it is working on the back of the ISS, it will talk to an operations control room at the laboratory.

But the details of the two great machines are really quite different, and AMS is doing something that is simply impossible on Earth.

In the LHC, a ring of super-cooled magnets are used to accelerate and corral particles that have energies of 7 trillion electron volts (TeV). The cosmos-accelerated particles AMS will catch in its detectors may have energies of 100 million TeV. The Earth's atmosphere works to filter out such high-energy objects, so AMS has to go into space if it wants to study them directly.

Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

Transition Radiation Detector determines highest-energy particle velocities

Silicon trackers follow particle paths; how they bend reveals their charge

Permanent magnet is core component of AMS and makes particles curve

Time-of-flight counters determine lowest-energy particle velocities

Star trackers scan star fields to establish AMS's orientation in space

Cerenkov detector makes accurate velocity measurements of fast particles

Electromagnetic calorimeter measures energy of impacting particles

Anti-coincidence counter filters signal from unwanted side particles

AMS does carry a magnet - a very big one. But this is used just to bend the particles as they pass through the machine. The way they bend reveals their charge, a fundamental property that, together with information about the particles' mass, velocity and energy, garnered from a slew of detectors, tells scientists precisely what they are dealing with.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, it will be just a boring proton that is observed. But there is a good chance that some colourful form of matter never witnessed before turns up in AMS.

This confidence may stem from a shuttle flight in 1998 when a much less sensitive test version of the machine (AMS-01) recorded one fascinating event in the course of 10-day journey into space.

The event was speculated to be the impact on the detectors of a so-called strangelet, a type matter composed of a different mix of elementary particles to that of normal matter.

"OK, it was a single event and a single event doesn't mean much - we would have to gather far more statistics," conceded Professor Martin Pohl of Geneva University, a team leader for one of the detector teams on the machine.

Continue reading the main story Sam Ting
Our only obligation is to make sure the instrument is correct - what you get is the truth”

End Quote Professor Sam Ting AMS project leader "But if strangelets really exist, there will be no way to miss them on this next flight. Their source would be supernova explosions. It would revolutionise our understanding of the physics of what a supernova is," he told BBC News.

Asymmetric cosmos

One of the key quests for AMS, though, is to tie down the thorny issue of anti-matter.

Theory holds that for each basic particle of matter, there exists an anti-particle with the same mass but the opposite electric charge. For example, the negatively charged electron has a positively charged anti-particle called the positron.

Physicists believe the Big Bang should have produced equal amounts of matter and anti-matter, and yet when we look around our galaxy and beyond, all we seem to see is normal matter. Where has the anti-matter gone?

This asymmetry sits uncomfortably with some other experimental observations, and so establishing whether or not anti-matter still exists in the Universe is really quite a pressing question for today's physicists.

Professor Ting says that detecting just one anti-helium nucleus, for example, would provide good evidence for the existence of a large amount of anti-matter somewhere in the Universe.

"The reason we have designed this experiment with such a large size, with so many layers of repetitive precision detectors, is to search for the existence of anti-matter to the age of the observable Universe - for anti-helium, anti-carbon; and we can distinguish these particles from billions of ordinary particles," the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researcher explained.

AMS colleague Roberto Battiston, a professor of physics at the University of Perugia, describes the necessary sensitivity thus: "It's basically similar to the following example: Imagine it is raining over London - which often happens - and there is one drop which is red. We want to catch it without any hesitation.

"It is an experiment capable to get out one particle out of ten billion, to find out this one is very special and carries information the other particles don't," he told BBC News.

AMS on ISS. Artist rendering (Nasa) The AMS will sit on the station's truss, or backbone, slightly tilted to look past the giant solar wings

Although it is riding into orbit on the US space agency's Endeavour shuttle and being hosted at the ISS, the machine is not actually a Nasa project. The agency is really just a facilitator.

The main sponsor is the US Department of Energy. MIT has the science lead and heads a collaboration that comprises some 600 researchers at 60 institutions across 16 nations.

That AMS has even arrived at the launch pad is remarkable in itself given the history of the project. It has been near to cancellation on a few occasions, and after the Columbia shuttle accident was even dropped from the ISS assembly plan altogether.

But the commitment of the team and the financial backing of the US Congress, which mandated Nasa to find a shuttle to fly AMS, have ensured the "LHC in space" will get to do its science.

This is likely to begin within minutes of the machine being connected to the power supply of the orbiting platform.

Responsibility to science

It will sit at one of six fixed-payload attach-points, tilted slightly so that it can have a view of the cosmos unobstructed by the station's giant solar wings.

"We'll be gathering data at seven gigabits per second," explained Trent Martin, the Nasa project manager appointed to advise the collaboration.

"We can't send that huge amount of data down through the space station data systems - it's just too much. So the onboard computers actually go through a process of condensing that data down to just the data we're truly interested in, compressing it as much as possible. We'll be sending down data on average at about six megabits per second, constantly for the whole time that AMS is on."

There will be no rush to announcement, warns Professor Ting. The AMS experiment relies on good statistics so the collaboration will want to run it for a good length of time before they start making assessments about the presence or not of anti-matter, and the like.

And if one science team thinks it has a eureka moment, the finding will be assessed first by another, independent team - a practice well established at the LHC.

"Given the enormous difficulty we have had in building this experiment, I think in the next 10 to 20 years nobody will be foolish enough to repeat this," the professor joked; and then in more serious tone: "It is very important we do it correctly, because otherwise it is certainly going to mislead the direction of science. Our only obligation is to make sure the instrument is correct - what you get is the truth."

Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk


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