Ex-soldier behind Papua New Guinea mutiny arrested (AP)

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea ? A retired colonel who attempted to take over Papua New Guinea's military and ordered the prime minister to step down has been arrested and charged with mutiny.

Police spokesman Dominic Kakas said Yaura Sasa was arrested Saturday night in a suburb of Port Moresby, the capital. A court spokesman said Sasa was charged with mutiny and appeared in court Sunday.

Sasa led a small group of soldiers in a mutiny Thursday in which the military's top commander was briefly held under house arrest. The mutiny was part of a power struggle in which Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and former Prime Minister Michael Somare claim to be the rightful leader of the South Pacific nation.

Sasa demanded that O'Neill step down within a week to make way for Somare, who appointed Sasa defense chief after being removed from office.

Kakas said the soldiers who followed Sasa had not been arrested.

Parliament replaced Somare with O'Neill in August while Somare was getting medical treatment outside the country. Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court sided with Somare last month, but O'Neill continues to have support from lawmakers.

Somare issued a statement Sunday repeating his call to be reinstated, and calling on police and the military to join him.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120129/ap_on_re_as/as_papua_new_guinea_mutiny

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Japan, Russia to boost economic, security ties (AP)

TOKYO ? The foreign ministers of Japan and Russia agreed Saturday to strengthen economic and security cooperation but made no progress on resolving a long-standing territorial dispute over islands off northeastern Japan.

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the two countries needed to address the territorial row in a calm manner. The dispute over the islands ? called the southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan ? has kept the two nations from forging a peace treaty officially ending their World War II hostilities, a problem Gemba said needs to be rectified.

Both men sought to downplay the dispute and focus on ways the two nations could expand their ties.

"As the security situation in the Asia-Pacific undergoes major changes, the Japan-Russia relationship has taken on new importance," Gemba said at a joint press conference that followed what he called a "fruitful" two-hour meeting.

"We reaffirmed that we want to strengthen our cooperation in security, defense and economic matters, particularly energy modernization," he added.

Lavrov welcomed the increased trade between the two nations, which last year grew to 2.45 trillion yen ($31 billion).

While the two sides didn't announce any specific energy projects, they did sign a procedure to simplify visa procedures in an effort to boost visitors and business interaction, particularly from Japan to Russia.

Ties between Japan and Russia soured in late 2010 when President Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian president to visit the disputed islands, which are located off the northeastern coast of Hokkaido. They were seized by Soviet troops in the closing days of the war, but Japan claims they are part of its territory.

The islands are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and are believed to have oil, natural gas and mineral deposits.

"Resolving this problem and concluding a peace treaty is more necessary than ever," Gemba said. "But unfortunately ... our positions are different. We hope to resolve this through dialogue."

Lavrov said tackling the matter would have to wait until a new leader is chosen in Russia's presidential election on March 4, but added that he wants to seek a way "to resolve the dispute in a way that's acceptable to both sides."

Lavrov and Gemba were set to discuss North Korea over a working lunch in the second part of their meeting. Japan and Russia are among the six nations involved in long-stalled talks offering aid for North Korean nuclear disarmament.

Asked about North Korea during the press conference, Lavrov said Moscow has information that the talks will "possibly resume." He did not elaborate.

North Korea, which is undergoing a leadership transition, appears to be pushing for the resumption of the talks, but the U.S. and its allies want Pyongyang to first show it is serious about previous disarmament commitments. South Korea and China are the other countries involved in the talks.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_russia

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Kim Kardashian tweets Cher death hoax

Katy Winn / AP

Kim Kardashian tweeted the Cher death hoax to her 12 million fans.

By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper

If you've been on the Internet for all of one second, you're aware that some of the information on it is false. Fake. Made up. Fiction. Wrongamundo. And yet people still fall for bad information daily -- it's why snopes.com, the great debunker of urban legends,?exists.

But if you have 12 million followers, as Kim Kardashian has, perhaps you should think and verify before retweeting information that even to you seems to be false.

On Thursday, Kardashian tweeted "Did I just hear that Cher has passed away? Is this real? OMG."

She may have heard it, but it wasn't, of course, true. (The Huffington Post has tracked the rumor to the Twitter?accounts which may have kicked off the hoax.)

Kardashian didn't just tweet once, she tweeted twice about the death-that-didn't-happen, later tweeting: "I hope this is a twitter joke and not true. I don't see it on the news anywhere. I'm praying its not true." Twitter user the boss?was one of many to set her straight, tweeting "Of course not, Cher will outlive you."

She's not the first celeb to grab information that has not been researched and run with it. Back in November, Ashton Kutcher came under fire?when he expressed anger that Penn State had fired coach Joe Paterno. He had his facts right -- Paterno was fired -- but Kutcher later claimed he didn't know anything about the much-publicized child sexual abuse cases?involving former coach Jerry Sandusky,?and thought Paterno was fired for a bad football season. For Kutcher, the fallout was so bad that he moved to a less-open Twitter account, saying his tweets would now go through a management team rather than just fly out as he thought them up.

Sure, there's a lot to be said for the spontaneity of a fun tweet, but it's different when only a few dozen of your friends are seeing it. Who knows how many people -- maybe even family and friends of Cher herself -- thought the singer really was dead because Kardashian sent it out there to 12 million followers?

Kardashian was apparently corrected on her error within an hour. She then tweeted: "Can't believe people would make up a sick joke like Cher died. These people need to get a life! Thanks Twitter for clearing that up."

Other Twitter followers were quick to reprimand Kardashian. A.J. Nelson?tweeted at?the reality star: "Can't believe u would immediately start tweeting about it before finding out facts."

In summary: Cher -- not dead. Kim Kardashian -- not that careful about facts. The Internet -- still trying to trick people. The beat goes on.

?

Ever been fooled by an Internet hoax? Tell us on Facebook.?

Related content:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/27/10251135-kim-kardashian-tweets-cher-death-hoax

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Romney puts Gingrich on defensive in Florida debate (Reuters)

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Reuters) ? Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney took the fight to chief rival Newt Gingrich on Thursday in his most aggressive debate performance yet, five days ahead of Florida's primary vote.

A neck-and-neck race for Florida and its importance for the Republican presidential nomination made for a combustible atmosphere at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville as the candidates sparred repeatedly.

Gingrich, who has displayed a mastery of debating skills during previous debates, was frequently caught flat-footed under attack from Romney who went after his chief rival in an attempt to put his campaign back on track after losing South Carolina last Saturday.

Gingrich and Romney are running close in polls before next Tuesday's primary vote in Florida, the biggest state so far in the early voting for the Republican nomination to face President Barack Obama in November. The most recent polls put Romney ahead.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, took umbrage at Gingrich's description of him as "anti-immigrant."

"That's inexcusable," Romney said, turning to his rival. "I'm not anti-immigrant. My father was born in Mexico. ... The idea that I'm anti-immigrant is repulsive. Don't use a term like that."

Gingrich, who has offered a softer version of immigration policy than most Republican conservatives, insisted the United States could not rationally deport millions of people and that some who had lived here for decades should be allowed to stay.

But he added some confusion to his position by saying he would support some version of "self-deportation," the very issue he has criticized Romney for supporting.

"Newt needed a big night to turn around the momentum and he didn't get it. He struck me as tired and too ticked for his own good," wrote conservative columnist Rich Lowry on the National Review's website. His blog post was titled "Newt's worst night."

GINGRICH ATTACK FELL FLAT

Gingrich has enjoyed support from rock-ribbed conservatives in debate audiences by attacking debate moderators.

But this time, his effort to chastise CNN moderator Wolf Blitzer over a question about Romney's tax disclosures fell flat when Blitzer stood his ground and insisted Gingrich explain a comment he made in a TV interview that Romney "lives in a world of Swiss bank and Cayman Island bank accounts.

Gingrich did draw attention to Romney's vast wealth, which was put under the microscope this week when the former private equity executive release two years of tax documents.

"I don't know of any American president who has had a Swiss bank account. I'd be glad for you to explain that sort of thing," he said.

But Gingrich was ridiculed by Romney, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul for telling laid-off space workers near Cape Canaveral on Wednesday that if elected president next November he would seek to build a permanent colony on the lunar surface.

It was the kind of claim that supports criticism that Gingrich has grandiose yet far-fetched ideas.

Romney said the money could be better spent elsewhere, that Gingrich's proposal was a big idea but not a good one. Paul, a Texas congressman and libertarian, got off the zinger of the night.

"I don't think we should go to the moon," said Paul. "I think maybe we should send some politicians up there."

Bickering erupted from the first question over illegal immigration, and intensified over Gingrich's past work for the troubled mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

Romney raised Gingrich's work for Freddie Mac as a sign that his rival was an influence peddler, a "horn tooter" for Freddie Mac. Romney has attacked Gingrich all week for accepting $1.6 million in consulting fees from Freddie Mac.

Gingrich fought back. "Romney made $1 million dollars on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac," he said, an attack that fell flat when Romney pointed out that Gingrich owns stock in the two government-sponsored entities at the heart of the U.S. housing crisis.

The candidates, asked which of their wives would make the best first lady of the White House, chose their own, except for Gingrich, who said they would all be terrific, including his wife, Callista.

"I would rather just talk about why I like Callista, and why I'd like her to be first lady, but she's not necessarily in any way better. These are wonderful people, and they would be wonderful first ladies," he said.

(Editing by Alistair Bell and Eric Beech)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120127/ts_nm/us_usa_campaign_debate

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Extreme droughts could increase by 15 percent in Spain by the middle of the century

Public release date: 26-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: SINC
info@agenciasinc.es
34-914-251-820
FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology

A team at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena has designed a new method for calculating drought trends. Initial results suggest that by the year 2050 there could be a 15% increase compared to the droughts seen in 1990 in the Segura river basin.

At the beginning of 2011, water levels in Spain's reservoirs reached an average of 77.83% of total capacity. However, the lack of rain last year has now reduced the average to 62.01%. The droughts that Spain experiences year on year are one of the main concerns of agricultural workers who use up to 80% of a reservoir's water for their crops.

A new study at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) has combined recorded data with the results from state-of-the-art regional climate change models to calculate the maximum length of droughts in detail. The results, which have been applied to the Segura river basin, show how "drought periods since the 1980's onwards have notably intensified," according to Sandra Garca Galiano, one of the authors of the study.

For Garca Galiano and her team from the UPCT's Water Resources R&D&i group, "semiarid basins, like that of the Segura river, are vulnerable to changes in rainfall. This creates uncertainty for agriculture." The purpose of the study is to "deepen knowledge of plausible draught trends so that this information can then be used to strike a better balance between adaptation and mitigation measures."

The method can be applied on a European scale

The main new feature of the UPTC study is the use of a new methodology, based on regional climate model combinations, which applies GAMLSS modelling (Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape). Garcia Galiano justifies their choice on the basis that traditional frequency analysis techniques are flawed when its comes to detecting the variability of extreme events like droughts. In the researcher's words, "the non-stationary nature of hydrometeorological time series based on climatic and anthropogenic changes is believed to be the main downfall of traditional frequency methods."

As well as analysing the collected date, climatic models help to identify future drought trends that include a wide variation of factors. Bearing this in mind, the researcher states that "a 15% increase in extreme droughts in headwater basins compared to 1990 is expected by the year 2050."

Published by International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) in Risk in Water Resources Management, according to Garca Galiano, in summary the study offers "an innovative methodology for tackling the time-space evaluation of the risks associated with non-stationary frequency distribution of extreme droughts." In addition, they have confirmed that this method "can be easily applied to other national or European spatial scales as a way of increasing knowledge of hydroclimatic variation."

###

The study was mostly funded by the Spanish Ministry of Research, Development and Innovation under its National R+D+I Plan. Its authors are now working to ensure that this new methodology can be exported to other areas. References:

Garca Galiano, S.G., Giraldo Osorio, J.D., Urrea Mallebrera, M., Mrida Abril, A., Tetay Bota, C.. "Assessing drought hazard under non-stationary conditions on South East of Spain". Risk in Water Resources Management. IAHS Publ. 347: 85-91, IAHS Press, CEH Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: 85-91. 2011.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 26-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: SINC
info@agenciasinc.es
34-914-251-820
FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology

A team at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena has designed a new method for calculating drought trends. Initial results suggest that by the year 2050 there could be a 15% increase compared to the droughts seen in 1990 in the Segura river basin.

At the beginning of 2011, water levels in Spain's reservoirs reached an average of 77.83% of total capacity. However, the lack of rain last year has now reduced the average to 62.01%. The droughts that Spain experiences year on year are one of the main concerns of agricultural workers who use up to 80% of a reservoir's water for their crops.

A new study at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) has combined recorded data with the results from state-of-the-art regional climate change models to calculate the maximum length of droughts in detail. The results, which have been applied to the Segura river basin, show how "drought periods since the 1980's onwards have notably intensified," according to Sandra Garca Galiano, one of the authors of the study.

For Garca Galiano and her team from the UPCT's Water Resources R&D&i group, "semiarid basins, like that of the Segura river, are vulnerable to changes in rainfall. This creates uncertainty for agriculture." The purpose of the study is to "deepen knowledge of plausible draught trends so that this information can then be used to strike a better balance between adaptation and mitigation measures."

The method can be applied on a European scale

The main new feature of the UPTC study is the use of a new methodology, based on regional climate model combinations, which applies GAMLSS modelling (Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape). Garcia Galiano justifies their choice on the basis that traditional frequency analysis techniques are flawed when its comes to detecting the variability of extreme events like droughts. In the researcher's words, "the non-stationary nature of hydrometeorological time series based on climatic and anthropogenic changes is believed to be the main downfall of traditional frequency methods."

As well as analysing the collected date, climatic models help to identify future drought trends that include a wide variation of factors. Bearing this in mind, the researcher states that "a 15% increase in extreme droughts in headwater basins compared to 1990 is expected by the year 2050."

Published by International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) in Risk in Water Resources Management, according to Garca Galiano, in summary the study offers "an innovative methodology for tackling the time-space evaluation of the risks associated with non-stationary frequency distribution of extreme droughts." In addition, they have confirmed that this method "can be easily applied to other national or European spatial scales as a way of increasing knowledge of hydroclimatic variation."

###

The study was mostly funded by the Spanish Ministry of Research, Development and Innovation under its National R+D+I Plan. Its authors are now working to ensure that this new methodology can be exported to other areas. References:

Garca Galiano, S.G., Giraldo Osorio, J.D., Urrea Mallebrera, M., Mrida Abril, A., Tetay Bota, C.. "Assessing drought hazard under non-stationary conditions on South East of Spain". Risk in Water Resources Management. IAHS Publ. 347: 85-91, IAHS Press, CEH Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: 85-91. 2011.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/f-sf-edc012612.php

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Star Jones making guest appearance on 'The View'

NEW YORK (AP) ? Apparently enough water has flowed under the bridge for Barbara Walters and Star Jones to reunite for a day.

"The View" announced on Wednesday that Jones will appear on the daytime talk show on Feb. 22 to promote an awareness campaign about heart disease among women.

Walters and Jones had a falling out in 2006 when Jones, one of the five original co-hosts of the daytime chat show, exited "The View." ABC decided not to renew her contract and Jones took Walters by surprise by announcing on June 27 that she would be leaving the show.

That exit came more quickly than expected. Walters wouldn't allow her back the next day.

Walters later said that Jones had compelled her co-hosts to lie for her by not revealing that Jones had undergone gastric bypass surgery while on "The View." Jones took her own shots, criticizing Walters for writing an autobiography that revealed details of an affair.

The women later had something serious in common. Both underwent open heart surgery to repair faulty heart valves within two months of each other in 2010.

Jones is coming back to the show to discuss her involvement in the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" public information campaign. Women are asked to wear red on Feb. 3 to support heart patients.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-01-25-People-Star%20Jones/id-b9166893530945298a0b98d8cc6a0f9a

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First diagnosis of disease by DNA sequencing

DNA sequencing has identified difficult-to-diagnose diseases in humans ? the first time the technology has been used in a clinic.

The technique, which decodes thousands of genes simultaneously, has been used in laboratories to uncover genes related to diseases since 2009.

Now it has successfully moved to the clinic, where patients do not know what is wrong with them and may not know their family history of disease, and clinicians have few clues about which genes might be causing the problem.

Mitochondrial diseases, which affect the way the body produces energy, are notoriously difficult to diagnose. Found in at least one in every 5000 people, the diseases often involve many genes, and symptoms vary across organs. For example, common manifestations can include blindness, seizures, slow digestion and muscle pain.

Currently, diagnosing such disorders can take months or even years, and involves an invasive muscle biopsy. DNA sequencing technology may help to speed things up.

Diagnostic data

Elena Tucker and colleagues from the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Sydney, Australia, along with Vamsi Mootha from Harvard Medical School, sequenced the genomes of 42 children who had traits that suggested they carry a mitochondrial disorder. To work out exactly which disorder each child carries, the team looked both at the DNA in their mitochondria and at the 100 or so genes within their nuclear DNA that have already been linked to mitochondrial diseases. They also looked at a further 1000 nuclear genes that play a part in mitochondrial biology.

To distinguish between harmless genetic variations and those that might cause a disease, the team compared the patients' genomes with databases of genetic variation recorded in the general population.

Ten of the children had mutations in genes previously linked to mitochondrial diseases, and so could be given a precise diagnosis. Mutations not previously associated with any disease were found in another 13 children. Tucker says that these patients can expect a full diagnosis once studies confirm the function of these genes.

"We are quite excited," says Tucker. "Most of these diagnoses were in children whose [illnesses] could not easily be diagnosed using traditional methods."

Needle in a haystack

Michael Ryan, a biochemist at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, who was not involved in the work, says the diagnosis rate "will improve" within the next couple of years as the list of genes known to be linked to mitochondrial diseases grows, and it becomes clearer how mutations combine to cause diseases.

"It's a fantastic study," says Matthew McKenzie at Monash University in Melbourne. Finding genetic mutations in mitochondrial patients is "like searching for a needle in a haystack", he says. "I think it was a very good result to transfer to a clinical setting."

Journal reference: Science Translational Medicine, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3003310

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On the Set Farewell to Chuck Part 2: Sarah vs. the Faulty Intersect (omg!)

Can Chuck and Sarah recapture that loving feeling?

"The show's a romance," Chuck co-creator Chris Fedak told reporters at a set visit in December. "I think that's what we discovered very early on in the show, that the moment we put Zach [Levi] and Yvonne [Strahovski] together, the show became about them. I think the Chuck and Sarah story is at the heart of the show."

Farewell to Chuck, Part 1: A Jeffster! swan song

In the two-hour series finale Friday (8/7c, NBC), however, Sarah (Strahovski) threatens to break that heart after disastrous events in the last episode. In an attempt to save Chuck's (Levi) life, she had downloaded the faulty Intersect, which rapidly caused her memories to deteriorate. "Before we're able to get it out of her head, the damage is done," Levi explained. "She's kidnapped by Quinn and kind of reprogrammed." Her new orders? Kill Chuck Bartowski.

"I don't think the show is about simply having the Intersect," Fedak said. "But that computer is something that has definitely haunted Chuck for years now and also haunted his father, who created it. So in some ways, it's the ghost that keeps on cropping up at the wrong times."

Chuck's pal Morgan (Joshua Gomez) was the first to download the tainted computer into his brain, albeit accidentally. Viewers were not happy to see the previously lovable character turn into an inconsiderate jerk who frosted his hair and forgot his geek past. It was a relief for both Gomez and fans alike when the Intersect was removed, but now it's clear that plot was laying the groundwork for Chuck and Sarah's current dilemma.

"It's almost a reset of sorts, where the 'Will they? Won't they?' dynamic kind of comes back into play, particularly in the second half of the finale," said Levi. "You find our heroes almost like you found them in the beginning of the show. That leads to a tremendous amount of emotion and a tremendous amount of fight and yearning...? There's a ton of homage to the pilot, to the origins of these characters and their journey together."

The Chuck and Sarah romance is the vehicle by which Chuck moved between his everyday world and espionage world. His interaction with Sarah drew him into the CIA even deeper than mere duty would have, and after their marriage, he pulled her back into everyday life. Their plans for the future -- before her memory was wiped -- included an ordinary family and home and no more spy work. In the finale, Chuck seeks help from his friends, family and unexpected allies to stop Nicholas Quinn (guest star Angus MacFadyen) from destroying what has been built over the past five years.

Strahovski offered some hope for the 'shippers. "I have to say that in the last episode, what is happening between Chuck and Sarah is going to weigh heavy on people's hearts," she said. "It's so hard. There's a definite element of sadness that we have to go through to get to the final moment. It's a nice note."

Lending a hand are Chuck's sister Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) and her husband Devon "Captain Awesome" Woodcomb (Ryan McPartlin). "It's been a satisfying end of the series as far as being able to use Ellie and Awesome and all of the characters who at this point that know about the spy life," McPartlin told TVGuide.com in a separate interview. "But Ellie and Awesome also have a job opportunity that they may not want to pass up. We have to figure out what's best for us, what's best for Chuck and what's best for everybody. There are some melancholy parts about it all. There are some big decisions to make."

From Chuck to Nikita: TV's sexiest crime fighters

Levi didn't address rumors that a main character would die, but the end of the series will require characters to part in some way. "Well, it's not forever. It's actually not even that final in the world of Chuck, if it were to continue," he said. "Obviously Chuck and Morgan are going to be best friends the rest of their lives. Chuck and Ellie are still brother and sister, and therefore Awesome is still my brother-in-law. We would all still continue to see each other in some way, shape, or form, but the world that has been created, and the world in which we all live and work has drastically changed. So we do say goodbyes, at least for the time being."

"Then you'll just be left to kind of imagine [what happens next], I'm sure, through fan fiction," added Gomez.

Be sure to return Wednesday to check out Part 3 of our farewell to Chuck in which the cast shares their favorite memories and shed a few tears.

Chuck's two-hour series finale airs Friday at 8/7c on NBC.

Will you miss Chuck? Do you think Sarah will fully recover?

?

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_set_farewell_chuck_part2_sarah_vs_faulty_022000573/44280342/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/set-farewell-chuck-part-2-sarah-vs-faulty-022000573.html

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EU exec to back veto on D.Boerse/NYSE merger: source (Reuters)

BRUSSELS (Reuters) ? The European Commission will follow EU antitrust chief Joaquin Almunia's advice to block the merger of Deutsche Boerse (DB1Gn.DE) and NYSE Euronext (NYX.N) next week, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Almunia presented a 459-page document laying out his case to the other 26 commissioners last Friday, the person said. The college of commissioners will vote on the merger on February 1.

Twenty-five of the commissioners backed the EU competition commissioner. One wanted to read Almunia's recommendation in full, but is expected to go along with the others, the person said.

A second source, like the first speaking on condition of anonymity, also said that the merger would be blocked next week and that Michel Barnier, European Commissioner in charge of financial regulation, would not object to the halt.

Reached in Frankfurt on Tuesday evening, Deutsche Boerse Chief Executive Reto Francioni declined to comment. A spokesman for Deutsche Boerse added: "We have not received formal notification from the European Commission."

Almunia on Tuesday reiterated the need for fair, efficient and competitive markets.

"Preserving competition in this domain is of utmost importance and we will live up to our responsibilities in this regard," he told an industry conference in Paris.

Concerned about the combined entity's share of more than 90 percent of the listed derivatives market in Europe, Almunia had asked for Deutsche Boerse to sell its Eurex derivatives arm, or for NYSE Euronext to offload its London-based futures exchange Liffe.

The exchanges have refused. They can appeal against a negative decision at the EU courts in Luxembourg, but the process, likely to take between one and two years, could destroy the merger. The last time such appeals succeeded was in 2002.

Last week, national competition regulators in the European Union endorsed Almunia's proposed veto, a source with knowledge of the case told Reuters.

(Additional reporting by Edward Taylor in Frankfurt and Julien Toyer in Brussels; editing by Philip Blenkinsop, Barbara Lewis and Gerald E. McCormick)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120124/bs_nm/us_dboerse_nyse_eu

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Gabrielle Giffords to Resign from Congress (Michellemalkin)

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Multiple partners not the only way for corals to stay cool

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Recent experiments conducted at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) produced striking results, showing for the first time that corals hosting a single type of "zooxanthellae" can have different levels of thermal tolerance ? a feature that was only known previously for corals with a mix of zooxanthellae.

Zooxanthellae are algal cells that live within the tissue of living coral and provide the coral host with energy; the relationship is crucial for the coral's survival. Rising ocean temperatures can lead to the loss of zooxanthellae from the coral host, as a consequence the coral loses its tissue colour and its primary source of energy, a process known as 'coral bleaching'. Globally, coral bleaching has led to significant loss of coral, and with rising ocean temperatures, poses a major threat to coral reefs.

It was previously known that corals hosting more than one type of zooxanthellae could better cope with temperature changes by favouring types of zooxanthellae that have greater thermal tolerance. However, until now it was not known if corals hosting a single type of zooxanthellae could have different levels of thermal tolerance.

Results recently published in the prestigious scientific journal, Nature Climate Change, showed corals that only host a single type of zooxanthellae may in fact differ in their thermal tolerance. This finding is important because many species of coral are dominated by a single type of zooxanthellae.

PhD student, Ms Emily Howells from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS) at James Cook University, Townsville, together with scientists from AIMS and CoECRS, collected two populations of a single type of zooxanthellae (known as C1) from two locations on the Great Barrier Reef. The population collected from Magnetic Island near Townsville experiences average ocean temperatures 2?C higher than the population collected from the Whitsunday Islands. In experiments at AIMS, young corals were treated with one or other of the two different populations of zooxanthellae, and exposed to elevated water temperatures, as might occur during bleaching events.

The results were striking. Corals with zooxanthellae from the warmer region coped well with higher temperatures, staying healthy and growing rapidly, whilst corals with zooxanthellae from the cooler region suffered severe bleaching (loss of the zooxanthellae) and actually reduced in size as they partly died off.

Madeleine van Oppen, ARC Future Fellow at AIMS, says the research results will likely have a major impact on the field, as until now corals associating with the same type of zooxanthellae have been viewed as physiologically similar, irrespective of their geographical location.

"Our research suggests that populations of a single type of zooxanthellae have adapted to local conditions as can be seen from the remarkably different results of the two populations used in this study. If zooxanthellae populations are able to further adapt to increases in temperature at the pace at which oceans warm, they may assist corals to increase their thermal tolerance and survive into the future." says Emily Howells.

"However, we do not yet know how fast zooxanthellae can adapt, highlighting an important area of future research", says Bette Willis, Professor from the CoECRS at James Cook University.

Research at AIMS is therefore currently assessing whether zooxanthellae can continue to adapt to increasing temperatures and at what rate. This work in progress will provide insights into the capacity of zooxanthellae to adapt to future climate change.

###

ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies: http://www.coralcoe.org.au/

Thanks to ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/116912/Multiple_partners_not_the_only_way_for_corals_to_stay_cool_

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Spokesman: Paterno in serious condition

People gather at a statue of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in State College, Pa, on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. Joe Paterno's doctors say the former coach's condition has become "serious" after he experienced complications from lung cancer in recent days. (AP Photo/John Beale)

People gather at a statue of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in State College, Pa, on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. Joe Paterno's doctors say the former coach's condition has become "serious" after he experienced complications from lung cancer in recent days. (AP Photo/John Beale)

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2009, file photo, Penn State Coach Joe Paterno stands with his players before taking the field for an NCAA college football game against Ohio State in State College, Pa. A family spokesman says the former Penn State coach, who is battling lung cancer, is in serious condition after experiencing health complications. The 85-year-old Paterno has been in the hospital since Jan. 13 for observation for what his family had called minor complications from cancer treatments. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

People gather at a statue of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. Paterno's doctors say the former coach's condition has become "serious" after he experienced complications from lung cancer in recent days. (AP Photo/John Beale)

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2007, file photo, Penn State head coach Joe Paterno stands with his team before they take the field to play for an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin in State College, Pa. A family spokesman says the former Penn State coach, who is battling lung cancer, is in serious condition after experiencing health complications. The 85-year-old Paterno has been in the hospital since Jan. 13 for observation for what his family had called minor complications from cancer treatments. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Candles, flowers, notes and other mementos are placed at a statue of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. Paterno's doctors say the former coach's condition has become "serious" after he experienced complications from lung cancer in recent days. (AP Photo/John Beale)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) ? Joe Paterno's doctors said Saturday that the former Penn State coach's condition had become "serious," following complications from lung cancer in recent days.

The winningest major college football coach, Paterno was diagnosed shortly after Penn State's Board of Trustees ousted him Nov. 9 in the aftermath of the child sex abuse charges against former assistant Jerry Sandusky. While undergoing treatment, his health problems worsened when he broke his pelvis ? the same injury he sustained during preseason practice last year.

"Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications," family spokesman Dan McGinn said in a brief statement to The Associated Press. "His doctors have now characterized his status as serious. His family will have no comment on the situation and asks that their privacy be respected during this difficult time."

Paterno's sons Scott and Jay each took to Twitter on Saturday night to refute reports that their father had died.

Wrote Jay Paterno: "I appreciate the support & prayers. Joe is continuing to fight."

Quoting individuals close to the family, The Washington Post reported on its website that Paterno remained connected to a ventilator, but had communicated his wishes not to be kept alive through any extreme artificial means. The paper said his family was weighing whether to take him off the ventilator on Sunday.

The 85-year-old Paterno has been in the hospital since Jan. 13 for observation for what his family called minor complications from his cancer treatments. Not long before that, he conducted his only interview since losing his job, with the Post. Paterno was described as frail and wearing a wig. The second half of the two-day interview was conducted from his bedside.

Roughly 200 students and townspeople gathered Saturday night at a statue of Paterno just outside a gate at Beaver Stadium. Some brought candles, while others held up their smart phones to take photos of the scene. The mood was somber, with no chanting or shouting.

"Drove by students at the Joe statue," Jay Paterno tweeted. "Just told my Dad about all the love & support--inspiring him."

Penn State student David Marselles held a candle in his right hand and posed next to a life-sized cardboard cutout of Paterno that he keeps at his apartment. A friend took a photo on the frigid night.

"I came to Penn State because of Joe Paterno. Since I was a little kid, I've been watching the games ... screaming 'We Are ... Penn State' because of him. ... He inspired me to go to college," Marselles said. "With such a tragic event like this, I just thought it was necessary to show my support."

The final days of Paterno's Penn State career were easily the toughest in his 61 years with the university and 46 seasons as head football coach.

Sandusky, a longtime defensive coordinator who was on Paterno's staff during two national title seasons, was arrested Nov. 5 and ultimately charged with sexually abusing a total of 10 boys over 15 years. His arrest sparked outrage not just locally but across the nation and there were widespread calls for Paterno to quit.

Paterno announced late on Nov. 9 that he would retire at the end of the season, but hours later he received a call from board vice chairman John Surma, telling him he had been terminated. By that point, a crowd of students and media were outside the Paterno home. When news spread that Paterno had been dumped, there was rioting in State College.

Police on Saturday evening barricaded the block where Paterno lives, and a police car was stationed about 50 yards from his home. Several people had gathered in the living room of the house. No one was outside, other than reporters and photographers.

Trustees said this week they pushed Paterno out in part because he failed a moral responsibility to report an allegation made in 2002 against Sandusky to authorities outside the university. They also felt he had challenged their authority and that, as a practical matter, with all the media in town and attention to the Sandusky case, he could no longer run the team.

Paterno testified before the grand jury investigating Sandusky that he had relayed to his bosses an accusation that came from graduate assistant Mike McQueary, who said he saw Sandusky abusing a boy in the showers of the Penn State football building.

Paterno told the Post that he didn't know how to handle the charge, but a day after McQueary visited him, he spoke to the athletic director and the administrator with oversight over the campus police.

Wick Sollers, Paterno's lawyer, called the board's comments this week self-serving and unsupported by the facts. Paterno fully reported what he knew to the people responsible for campus investigations, Sollers said.

"He did what he thought was right with the information he had at the time," Sollers said.

Sandusky says he is innocent and is out on bail, awaiting trial.

The back and forth between Paterno's representative and the board reflects a trend in recent weeks, during which Penn State alumni ? and especially former players, including Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris ? have questioned the trustees' actions and accused them of failing to give Paterno a chance to defend himself.

Three town halls, in Pittsburgh, suburban Philadelphia and New York City, seemed to do little to calm the situation and dozens of candidates have now expressed interest in running for the board, a volunteer position that typically attracts much less interest.

While everyone involved has said the focus should be on Sandusky's accusers and their ordeals, the abuse scandal brought a tarnished ending to Paterno's sterling career. Paterno won 409 games and took the Nittany Lions to 37 bowl games and those two national championships, the last in the 1986 season. More than 250 of the players he coached went on to the NFL.

Throughout his coaching years, Paterno maintained that, yes, winning was important, but even more important was winning with honor.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-22-Penn%20State-Paterno/id-d89940dfd18f4c73b661cdcf963fba67

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Croats vote in EU membership referendum

Croatia's president Ivo Josipovic casts his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Croatians vote Sunday in a nationwide referendum on whether to join the European Union, a test of how much the debt-stricken 27-nation bloc has lost its appeal among potential new members. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Croatia's president Ivo Josipovic casts his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Croatians vote Sunday in a nationwide referendum on whether to join the European Union, a test of how much the debt-stricken 27-nation bloc has lost its appeal among potential new members. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Croatians vote Sunday in a nationwide referendum on whether to join the European Union, a test of how much the debt-stricken 27-nation bloc has lost its appeal among potential new members. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Croatians vote Sunday in a nationwide referendum on whether to join the European Union, a test of how much the debt-stricken 27-nation bloc has lost its appeal among potential new members. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Croatians vote Sunday in a nationwide referendum on whether to join the European Union, a test of how much the debt-stricken 27-nation bloc has lost its appeal among potential new members. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Croatia's president Ivo Josipovic, left, fills his ballot paper at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Croatians vote Sunday in a nationwide referendum on whether to join the European Union, a test of how much the debt-stricken 27-nation bloc has lost its appeal among potential new members. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) ? Croatians voted Sunday in a referendum on whether to join the European Union ? a test of how much the debt-stricken 27-nation bloc has lost in its appeal among aspiring new members.

Several pre-vote surveys suggest that between 56 and 60 percent of those who take part in the vote will answer "yes" to the question: "Do you support the membership of the Republic of Croatia in the European Union?"

Those who support the EU say their Balkan country's troubled economy ? burdened by recession, a euro48-billion ($61-billion) foreign debt and a 17 percent unemployment rate ? will revive due to access to wider European markets and job opportunities that the membership should bring.

"It's a big moment in our history ... we are joining more successful countries in Europe," Croatia's President Ivo Josipovic said after casting his ballot, adding that he expects a "Yes" vote in the referendum.

Opponents say Croatia has nothing to gain by entering the bloc, which is fighting off the bankruptcy of some of its members. They say that Croatia will only lose its sovereignty and the national identity it fought for in a war for independence from Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

About 11 percent of the voters cast their ballots four hours into the referendum, the state electoral commission said. That is nearly five percent less than during parliamentary elections in December when a left-wing coalition ousted the conservatives.

"I voted against because I don't think we'll do well in the EU," said university student Matea Kolenc, 23. "I heard a lot of bad things about the EU, its economic situation and what it has to offer."

Croatia signed an EU accession treaty last year and is on track to become a member in July 2013, if Croat voters say yes and all of the bloc's states later ratify the deal.

The Balkan nation started negotiating its EU entry six years ago, but since then the popularity of the bloc has faded, as Croats realize that EU membership would not automatically lead to prosperity.

In a sign of deep divisions in Croatia over the membership, police clashed Saturday in downtown Zagreb with a group of nationalist protesters who attempted to take down an EU flag.

"We won't have any say in our own affairs any more," Natko Kovacevic, one of the organizers of the protest, told the crowd carrying banners reading "No to EU" and "I love Croatia."

Croatian officials, who have launched a pro-EU campaign ahead of the referendum, warned that a "no" vote would deprive the country of the much-needed accession funds, and that even the payment of pensions for retirees and war veterans could be in jeopardy.

Croatia has received around euro150 million ($193 million) in pre-accession assistance since 2007. It is to receive another euro150 million for 2012 and euro95 million ($122 million) in 2013.

"Clearly all that funding will be stopped if the Croats say no in the referendum," Croatia's Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic said.

___

Eldar Emric contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-01-22-EU-Croatia-EU-Referendum/id-bdbce312a237486fb8dd8653e06a13ec

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Tyler, Underwood team for Super Bowl 'Crossroads' (AP)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood are teaming up for a special "CMT Crossroads" the night before the Super Bowl.

"CMT Crossroads: Steven Tyler & Carrie Underwood Live From the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam" will air Saturday, Feb. 4.

The Aerosmith frontman and "American Idol" judge teamed with the country music sensation and former "Idol" champion last year during the Academy of Country Music Awards. Their performance of "Undo It" and "Walk This Way" was one of the night's highlights and a viral video on the Web the next day.

They'll try to recreate that energy at a private event at the Pepsi Coliseum in Indianapolis.

This is the second year "CMT Crossroads," which pairs artists from different genres, will broadcast from the Super Bowl Fan Jam.

___

Online:

http://www.cmt.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120120/ap_en_tv/us_people_tyler_underwood

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Yemen grants Saleh immunity to try to end crisis (Reuters)

SANAA (Reuters) ? Yemen's parliament approved a law on Saturday granting outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution, part of a deal for him to step down after nearly a year of unrest.

Protesters and the opposition have accused the security forces, controlled by the president and aides, of using troops and snipers to kill hundreds of demonstrators who, inspired by revolts elsewhere in the Arab world, began protesting against his rule last January.

Lawmakers also backed Vice-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi as the candidate for all parliamentary parties in a presidential election next month to replace Saleh, in power for 33 years.

The immunity law, backed by a majority, stops short of giving full protection to Saleh's aides after being amended to say they would have immunity only for "politically motivated" crimes committed carrying out official duties, not for those considered "terrorist acts."

A United Nations envoy welcomed the amendment limiting the immunity, which U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay has said could violate international law.

"I am pleased that immunity law has been modified but it does not go far enough. The scope of the law is still too broad. The UN cannot condone a broad amnesty that covers UN classified crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, gross violations of human rights, and sexual violence," Jamal Benomar said.

"We would have been more satisfied if these recognized categories of crimes were incorporated into the draft law."

Human Rights Watch was far more critical. "This law sends the disgraceful message that there is no consequence for killing those who express dissent," said HRW regional director Sarah Leah Whitson. "The Yemeni government should be investigating senior officials linked to serious crimes, not letting them get away with murder."

The deal, part of the plan hammered out by Yemen's wealthier Gulf neighbors to ease Saleh from power, will cover Saleh's entire presidency and cannot be cancelled or appealed.

Neighboring top oil exporter Saudi Arabia and the United States had backed autocratic Saleh for much of his rule, but endorsed the transition deal, fearing continued unrest would be exploited by al Qaeda's Yemen-based regional wing, seen by Washington as the network's most dangerous branch.

UNITED STATES VISIT PLANNED

A Middle Eastern diplomat involved in the discussions over Saleh's fate told Reuters on Friday the president still planned to visit the United States for medical treatment but would not leave Yemen permanently.

Al Arabiya television said on Saturday that Saleh planned to visit Oman and Ethiopia before going to the United States for a medical check-up.

A senior Yemeni official said Saleh would have diplomatic immunity if and when he travelled to the United States.

"We are waiting for a third country to approve the president's short visit prior to travelling to the U.S.," said the official, who is not authorized to speak to the press and so declined to be named. The official suggested that the third country was an Arab nation.

Some activists said the immunity deal showed that the successes of the protests could easily be overturned.

"We have lost all faith in the political opposition. If they can grant Saleh this kind of pardon perhaps they will pass more laws against us in the future, maybe next time they will pass laws banning demonstrations. We, as the youth, can no longer trust them," said protest leader Faizah Suleiman.

But activist Abdulaziz Sakkaf, 22, said: "It is of course controversial but it is necessary if a peaceful transfer of power has any chance of succeeding. I don't support it in principle, but for pragmatic reasons."

Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakul Karman told Reuters that Saleh and his inner circle must be barred from returning to power if the country was to have any chance of restoring stability.

Analysts say impoverished Yemen may become a failed state as it also faces Shi'ite rebels in the north, resurgent southern separatist sentiment and al Qaeda-linked militants who have seized several towns in the south.

A tribal negotiator said on Saturday talks broke off with Tareq al-Dahab, leader of an Islamist militant group that took over the town of Radda, 170 km (105 miles) southeast of the capital Sanaa, after he demanded that 16 al Qaeda militants be freed and Islamic law be enforced in the town.

Dahab had earlier said his fighters would withdraw if his brother and several others were freed.

Army forces and pro-government tribal fighters clashed with the militants after the talks broke down, targeting a historic fort where the Islamists have taken position, residents said.

Saleh's opponents accuse him of ceding territory to Islamists to bolster his assertion that his rule alone keeps al Qaeda from growing stronger in Yemen, and ultimately aiming to retain power by sabotaging the transition deal.

(Additional reporting by Mohammed Mukhashaf in Aden; Writing by Firouz Sedarat; Editing by Tim Pearce)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120121/wl_nm/us_yemen

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Admitted NYC killer gets 200 years in stab spree

FILE- This undated file photo released by the New York City Police Department shows Maksim Gelman. Gelman, who killed four people in a rampage of stabbings and carjackings across New York City last February, admitted Tuesday to slashing a subway passenger at the end of his violent spree. (AP Photo/New York City Police Department, File)

FILE- This undated file photo released by the New York City Police Department shows Maksim Gelman. Gelman, who killed four people in a rampage of stabbings and carjackings across New York City last February, admitted Tuesday to slashing a subway passenger at the end of his violent spree. (AP Photo/New York City Police Department, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? A 24-year-old man who admitted killing four people and wounding four others in a stabbing rampage in New York City last winter was sentenced to 200 years in prison Wednesday as he cackled and insulted his victims, disrespected the judge and insisted he wasn't the bad guy.

Maksim Gelman, born in Ukraine, pleaded guilty in November in Brooklyn to murder and other charges in a two-day spree that included stabbing his stepfather and two others to death, fatally running down a pedestrian, stealing a car and attacking a subway passenger.

On Wednesday, he got the maximum sentence for each of 13 counts; some of the sentences will run consecutively, resulting in the 200-year term. He was awaiting sentencing on the subway assault, which occurred in Manhattan.

"You are a violent predator and sociopath," Judge Vincent Del Giudice said.

Gelman was unruly in court, fidgeting, laughing, yelling at the judge and the family and friends of some of his victims who came to speak, and had to be removed from the courtroom once.

"I'm not the bad guy here. These people did bad things to me," Gelman said in a rambling statement in which he blamed his victims and also the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, claiming he was a drug dealer who was being followed. "It's not my fault that all this happened."

Gelman's deadly spree on Feb. 11, 2011, started with a family argument over whether he could use his mother's car. He stabbed his stepfather to death in their Brooklyn home. His mother didn't appear in court Wednesday.

Gelman took off in the car and drove to the home of an acquaintance, Yelena Bulchenko. Bulchenko's friends have said he was obsessed with the 20-year-old woman and imagined a romantic relationship with her. Gelman claims she was a drug addict who worked for him, and set him up for robbery.

She wasn't home, but Gelman stabbed her 56-year-old mother to death, then waited nearly nine hours with the body for the daughter to return. When she walked in, he stabbed her 11 times, killing her, authorities said.

On Wednesday, Gelman interrupted Bulchenko's boyfriend, Gerard Honig, telling him he had fallen in love "with a heroin addict," to which Honig responded, "You can burn in hell."

The two insulted each other, epithets growing louder in the courtroom until Gelman was removed briefly as the men composed themselves.

"No sentence is good enough," Honig later said. "Nothing will bring them back."

After stabbing Bulchenko, Gelman left the home, rear-ended a car and wildly stabbed at the driver, who survived.

Stealing the wounded man's car, Gelman drove off and plowed into 62-year-old Stephen Tanenbaum, who died from his injuries. After abandoning the car, he later hailed a livery cab and attacked its driver, then approached another car, attacked a man inside and seized the car, police said. Both men survived.

The livery driver, Fitz Fullerton, spoke at the Wednesday hearing barely above a whisper because his voice box was damaged by Gelman.

"I just got caught up in this, this is my like third time ever seeing him and I hope he gets what he deserves," Fullerton said.

All those attacks happened in Brooklyn. As authorities hunted him, Gelman was next spotted hours later on a subway train in Manhattan, where passengers recognized him from newspaper photographs and notified police.

He dashed across the tracks, switched trains and attacked a final passenger before he was grabbed by police who were in the subway car looking for him on the tracks. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to the final attack.

Gelman had previously said he wasn't guilty, was under medical supervision and his attorney, Edward Friedman described his client's mental state as fragile.

But given the evidence and a psychiatrist's recent opinion that Gelman couldn't argue he was not guilty by reason of insanity, he decided he wanted to get out of his holding cell and start serving his time in a permanent facility and so he pleaded guilty Nov. 30 to all the charges. No plea deal was offered.

"There is a difference between a legally insane mind and a diseased mind," Friedman said. "What Mr. Gelman has is a diseased mind."

During the weekend, Gelman claimed in newspaper reports that he was responsible for six other killings, which Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Taub called an attempt to beef up his reputation as a violent criminal before going to prison and urged the judge not to view the claims as some type of mental issue.

Judge Del Giudice did not, and referred to Gelman as someone who was "crazy like a fox."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-19-Stabbing%20Spree/id-fc9d4e9a092c498cb558634d090041dd

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NFL Draft 2012: Texas Lineman David Snow Stands Out At Shrine Game Practices

Read More: David Snow (C - Texas), Texas Longhorns

Sports Illustrated has a breakdown of players who have improved their Draft stock so far in practices for the East-West Shrine Game this weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida. Among the standouts is University of Texas offensive lineman David Snow, who SI projects could play either guard or center at the pro level:

David Snow, OL, Texas -- Snow looked dominant at two positions; guard and center. He's feisty, strong and football smart. Snow does not necessarily look the part, but gets the most from his ability and did not give up an inch to opponents this day. The versatility to play intelligent football at two offensive line positions helped his stock greatly.

For a complete list of prospects at the East-West Shrine Game, check out SI' piece here.

For a look at the entire NFL Draft, including updated Mock Drafts, check out SB Nation blog Mocking The Draft, and SB Nation's NFL page.

Source: http://dallas.sbnation.com/2012/1/18/2716159/nfl-draft-2012-texas-lineman-david-snow-stands-out-at-shrine-game

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Pakistan PM appears in top court as crisis mounts (Reuters)

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) ? Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani appeared in the Supreme Court on Thursday for what could be a fight for his political survival and adding to growing pressure on the unpopular civilian government.

The court has threatened the premier with contempt for failing to pursue corruption cases against the president and other officials.

It is the latest blow for the civilian administration which also faces pressure from the military over a mysterious memo seeking U.S. help to avert an alleged coup last year.

Some question whether the government that is seen as corrupt and inept can survive and which is already widely accused of failing to deal with the basic issues of poverty, crippling power cuts, dilapidated infrastructure and a struggling economy.

The tensions could bring down Gilani, who until recently had smooth ties with all of Pakistan's power centers.

Downfall of the government could plunge the strategic U.S. ally into a full blown-political crisis and further hamper badly-needed economic and political progress.

Pakistanis got a taste of what may come -- more delays in everything from economic reforms to investment in the troubled power sector -- even before the session started.

Traffic crawled to a halt after police blocked off parts of the city to impose tighter security in the South Asian country facing homegrown Taliban militants blamed for many of the suicide bombings that have kept foreign investors away.

Hundreds of policemen were stationed outside the Supreme Court as every car was checked. Gilani's security men, in dark suits, combed the premises.

While Gilani is the one facing a contempt hearing, most observers say the court's real target is Zardari.

During the 1990s, Zardari had multiple cases of corruption and even murder lodged against him, all of which he says are false and politically motivated.

An amnesty deal that protected him from prosecution was nullified in 2009 and the court has been pushing for the government to re-open and investigate the corruption cases against Zardari.

The government refuses to do so, saying Zardari enjoys immunity as the head of state.

While Gilani is not considered to be in immediate danger and the case is expected to be drawn out, he could have to step down eventually if he were to be held in contempt of court.

Gilani won a unanimous vote of confidence in parliament when he became prime minister nearly four years ago, and has been known as a peacemaker even among the ruling Pakistan People's Party's most bitter enemies. Unlike Zardari, he was seen as having smooth ties with the military before the latest turmoil.

But his diplomatic skills may not be enough to fend off both the Supreme Court and Pakistan's generals, who have ruled the country for more than half of its 64 years history through coups, and from behind the scenes.

"The fact is that it's not just the anger of the judges against the PM, it's the anger of the army against the PM as well," said Ayesha Siddiqa, a prominent defense analyst.

(Additional reporting by Serena Chaudhry in ISLAMABAD; Writing by Michael Georgy)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120119/wl_nm/us_pakistan_gilani

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Book claims Kim's eldest fears NKorea may collapse (AP)

TOKYO ? A new book claims that the eldest son of North Korea's late leader Kim Jong Il believes the impoverished regime is in danger of collapse and that his young half-brother, chosen to lead after Kim's death, is merely a figurehead.

The book by Tokyo-based journalist Yoji Gomi went on sale Wednesday. He says it is based primarily on email exchanges he had with Kim Jong Nam over many years.

The book drew immediate attention as a rare view into the family that has led the secretive country for decades ? though Kim Jong Nam is thought to be estranged from his family and the workings of government. Since Kim Jong Il's death Dec. 17, North Korea has been led by his youngest son, Kim Jong Un.

"Jong Un will just be a figurehead," the book quotes Kim Jong Nam as saying. It claims he said the collapse of North Korea's economy is likely unless it initiates reforms, which could also bring it down.

"Without reforms and libereralization, the collapse of the economy is within sight," he quoted Kim as saying. "But reforms and opening up could also invite dangers for the regime."

Gomi, a Tokyo Shimbun journalist who had assignments in Seoul and Beijing, claims he exchanged 150 emails and has spent a total of seven hours interviewing Kim Jong Nam, who was seen as a possible successor until he fell out of favor with Kim Jong Il in 2001.

Gomi says he met Kim Jong Nam in person in 2004, in Beijing, and twice last year. Gomi was not immediately available for comment on the book.

Not long after Kim Jong Il's funeral, Jong Nam suggested in an interview with a Japanese TV network that he opposes a hereditary transfer of power to his young half-brother, who is believed to be in his late 20s.

That was a rare public sign of discord in the tightly choreographed succession process, but analysts said Jong Nam spends so much time outside his native land that his opinion carries little weight.

Kim Jong Nam, who did not attend the funeral, made similar comments in his communications with Gomi, the book claims.

"As a matter of common sense, a transfer to the third generation is unacceptable," Kim Jong Nam was quoted as saying in an email dated this month. "The power elite that have ruled the country will continue to be in control."

He added: "I have my doubts about whether a person with only two years of grooming as a leader can govern."

Party and military officials have moved quickly to install Kim Jong Un as "supreme leader" of the people, party and military.

But the new ruler's youth and quick ascension to power have raised questions in foreign capitals about how ready he is to inherit rule over this nation of 24 million with a nuclear program as well as chronic trouble feeding all its people.

A senior North Korean party official, however, told the AP in a recent interview that Kim Jong Un was ready to lead and had spent years working closely with his late father and helped him make key policy decisions on economic and military affairs.

Kim Jong Nam is widely believed to have dropped out of the succession race after embarrassing the government in 2001, when he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport. He said he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

Jong Nam, the oldest of three brothers thought to be in the running, is the closest thing the country has to an international playboy and is the only one who speaks to the foreign media. He travels freely and spends much of his time in China or the country's special autonomous region of Macau ? the center of Asian gambling with its Las Vegas-style casinos.

Experts said he will most likely continue living abroad.

Kim Jong Il is known to have three sons ? one from his second wife and two from his third.

Kim often derided the middle son, Jong Chol, as "girlish," a former Kim Jong Il chef, who goes by the pen name Kenji Fujimoto, said in a 2003 memoir.

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AP writer Foster Klug contributed to this report from Seoul.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/nkorea/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120118/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_nkorea

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