Thursday, August 1, 2013

Pentagon Afghanistan Report Says Afghan Forces Will Need Help Beyond 2014

WASHINGTON ? The Pentagon said Tuesday it is offering no "zero option" for the number of troops that would remain in Afghanistan after the U.S. combat mission ends in December 2014. It said in a report to Congress that "substantial" long-term military support will be needed to ensure that Afghans can hold off the Taliban insurgency.

The White House has not ruled out leaving no troops behind after 2014, although officials say the most likely option is a residual training force of roughly 9,000.

In its twice-a-year report to Congress on war progress, the Pentagon said Afghanistan's military is growing stronger but will require a lot more training, advising and foreign financial aid after the American and NATO combat mission ends.

The Pentagon's assessment was an implicit rejection of the "zero option." Zero is considered an unlikely choice by President Barack Obama, not least because his administration has pledged to stand with the Afghans for the long term. But Obama has grown frustrated in his dealings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Peter Lavoy, the Pentagon's top Afghan policy official, told a news conference that a number of post-2014 options have been developed, taking into account the Afghans' need for additional training and advising, as well as what the Pentagon views as a longer-term requirement for U.S. counterterrorism forces in Afghanistan.

"In none of these cases have we developed an option that is zero," Lavoy said.

It remains possible that the administration will be left with no option other than zero if it cannot successfully negotiate a security deal with Kabul that gives the U.S. a legal basis for having forces in Afghanistan after 2014.

Talks on a security deal began last year but have made little recent headway. Karzai suspended negotiations following a disagreement this month over a Taliban political office in the Gulf state of Qatar that was to host peace talks. The office, which has the support of the United States and other countries, infuriated Karzai after the Taliban opened it with a display of the name and flag it used when it ruled Afghanistan.

Relations between Afghanistan and the United States plunged after that incident.

In its report to Congress, which is required by law every six months, the Pentagon made no recommendation on the number of U.S. troops to keep in Afghanistan after 2014. There are currently about 60,000 U.S. troops there ? down from a 2010 peak of 100,000 ? and the total is to shrink to 34,000 by February.

The report said it will be difficult to judge whether Afghanistan can keep the upper hand against the Taliban until the exact size of a post-2014 U.S. military presence is determined.

The report painted a largely positive picture of progress in strengthening the Afghan army and police, but it offered cautionary assessments of the economic and political elements of its strategy for stabilizing the country.

"Effective government, the rule of law and sustainable economic development are all necessary for long-term stability in Afghanistan, but multiple factors continue to hinder them, including widespread corruption," it said.

The report said that the amount of Afghan territory held by the insurgents has continued to shrink. It called the Taliban "less capable, less popular and less of an existential threat" to the Kabul government. And it said the number of "insider attacks" by Afghan forces against their U.S. and other coalition partners has declined.

On the other hand, it said the insurgents still wield influence in several key rural areas that serve as avenues to attack urban areas, including certain districts adjacent to Kabul and in areas west of the southern city of Kandahar.

"Insurgents also used violence and assassination to undermine perceptions of the Afghan government's ability to provide security," the report said, "including intimidation of tribal elders, local power brokers and Afghan government officials."

For the first time, the report to Congress said some Afghan security forces are making potentially troublesome accommodations ? in some cases in the form of local ceasefire deals ? with insurgent groups.

Lavoy said these are generally desirable moves toward reconciliation with the Taliban, but the report said they "can have negative effects" if Afghan military leaders compromise on security standards in the process. It said these deals have the potential to "throw off the balance of power in a given area, causing more destabilization if agreements are achieved under coercion or co-option." More deal-making is likely as U.S. and other foreign forces leave the battlefield, the report said.

The report also provided the first detailed public explanation of a mix-up earlier this year in which the U.S. military was forced to retreat from a claim that Taliban attacks had declined by 7 percent last year, compared to 2011. After inquiries by The Associated Press, the military determined that there had been no decline at all.

Tuesday's report said the incorrect report of a 7 percent decline did not take account of a number of attacks that Afghan government forces had accurately reported but that the U.S.-led military command in Kabul had failed to record. It said the error, discovered in January, did "slightly affect" the data that was provided in the Pentagon's previous report to Congress, published last December, but did not change broad trends.

The report said statistics on attacks, which had previously been a central feature of the Pentagon's reports to Congress and in other U.S. government assessments of war progress, will no longer be used in that way. One reason is that the data now come mainly from Afghan rather than coalition forces, since the Afghans are now doing most of the fighting; as a result, the figures are less detailed and take longer to process.

"It is now clear that (coalition) public reporting and media coverage of the war have relied too heavily on (attack) reporting as a `scoreboard' for progress," the report said.

___

Follow Robert Burns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/robertburnsAP

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/30/pentagon-afghanistan-report_n_3677966.html

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Denver energy firm drilling next to Jared Polis's property could be fined

A truck drives past the fracking operation across Weld County Road 5 from property owned by U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, near Berthoud on Thursday, July 18, 2013. (Kai Casey / For the Camera)

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder (Courtesy photo)

The state agency that regulates oil and gas extraction in Colorado has ruled that the company that started drilling earlier this month near the Weld County property of U.S. Rep. Jared Polis may have placed its rig too close to a road and a power line.

The possible violation by Denver-based Sundance Energy Inc. of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission's setback rules remains under investigation.

"It's too soon to know the outcome of the alleged violation of our setback rule, but violations always have the potential to result in an enforcement action, and those actions can include a fine," Todd Hartman, a spokesman for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, said in an email.

Sundance Energy did not respond to requests for comment.

The drilling activity at the rural Weld County weekend getaway of Polis, a Democrat who represents Boulder and the rest of Colorado's 2nd Congressional District, came to light last week when Polis said he had joined the list of those whose quality of life was under attack due to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Polis reported -- initially by way of a guest opinion piece written for Sunday's Daily Camera -- that heavy equipment appeared July 18 directly across the street from his 50-acre retreat on Weld County Road 5, just east of Berthoud. A drilling operation quickly followed, soon manifest by a tall rig on his neighbor's property, which Polis estimated loomed less than 100 feet from his own guesthouse and garage.

Polis filed a complaint in Denver District Court on July 22 seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the drilling. But he withdrew that complaint Friday, leaving open the option of re-filing it after he gathers more information on Sundance Energy's operation.

On-site inspection

However, separately from his aborted court action, Polis also had filed a complaint about the drilling with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which sent an inspector to the Weld County operation last Wednesday and Thursday.

In his email, Department of Natural Resources spokesman Hartman said the inspector did not identify any odors, and that a noise survey couldn't be completed due to windy conditions.

However, Hartman said, "While investigating the complaint, the inspector discovered what appeared to be a violation of our setback rule. The well was believed to be less than 1.5 times the total rig height away from a power line and road, as COGCC setback rules require."

Hartman added, "The operator was informed of this, and instructed it must move the planned location of two other wells to conform to the setback requirement and get COGCC approval for the new locations."

The Sundance Energy permit applications to the state for the land across from Polis's property showed plans for three wells drilled to setting depths of 7,565 feet to 7,820 feet.

Hartman said that because the existing well was at the planned depth and drilling already is completed, the commission is not requiring Sundance Energy to plug and abandon it. Sundance Energy is voluntarily taking steps for noise reduction, including installation of a noise wall and sound curtains, he added.

Also, Hartman said, "We continue to communicate with Rep. Polis' attorneys on this matter."

'Violations of law'

Polis, in an email discussing the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission inspection, said the company "grossly mischaracterized the facts" when it claimed last week that he had dropped his lawsuit because his claims were completely without merit.

And, Polis wrote, "We have reasons to believe Sundance was aware or should have been aware of its material violations of law," and said his own independent surveyor found "the same violations as the state inspectors," citing both the location and the height of the derrick.

"We hope that the penalties imposed by the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission are significant enough to deter other companies from violating the law and are not just a symbolic cost of doing business," Polis stated.

"I am concerned that I had to hire lawyers and file a complaint with the COGCC to uncover these violations," he added. "Homeowners should not have to hire surveyors and lawyers at their own expense to defend their neighborhood from illegal fracking."

Contact Camera Staff Writer Charlie Brennan at 303-473-1327 or brennanc@dailycamera.com.

Source: http://www.dailycamera.com/old/state-west-news/ci_23763247/denver-energy-firm-drilling-next-jared-poliss-property?source=rss_emailed

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The Age of Hyperbole: How Normal Weather Became ?Extreme?: ?A media without shame drives us towards energy poverty?

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Source: http://www.climatedepot.com/2013/07/31/the-age-of-hyperbole-how-normal-weather-became-extreme-a-media-without-shame-drives-us-towards-energy-poverty/

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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Syria troops 'retake' key Homs area

Syrian government forces have fully captured a district that was a key rebel stronghold in the central city of Homs, state media report.

The Sana news agency said the military had "restored security and stability to the neighbourhood of Khalidiya".

Activists reported clashes in Khalidiya on Monday morning, but said that most of the area was under army control.

The announcement comes a month after troops launched an offensive to oust rebels from Syria's third largest city.

Homs has been one of the focuses of a two-year nationwide uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, in which the UN says more than 100,000 people have died.

Correspondents say the capture of Khalidiya would add further impetus to the counter-offensive by government troops and their allies, which saw the nearby town of Qusair fall in June.

'Almost over'

On Monday, an unnamed army officer told Syrian state television: "Today, we can report having complete control of the area of Khalidiya."

"That was a victory of all our fighters and the whole Syrian Army and especially our dear leader, Bashar al-Assad. And God willing, we will get rid of the terrorists in the entire country and the future will be free of killings and under the control of the army."

However, UK-based activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights cast doubt on the claim.

While the group acknowledged that government forces were in control of most of Khalidiya, it said fighting was continuing on Monday.

"Clashes took place between rebels and regime forces, supported by Hezbollah and National Defence Forces, in the southern parts of the Khalidiya neighbourhood," it said.

"Regime forces are bombarding parts, and military reinforcements are arriving as advancing regime forces try to establish full control."

Opposition activists told the AFP news agency that about 90% of Khalidiya was now controlled by the army. One told the Associated Press that the battle for the district was "almost over".

On Sunday, the Arabic TV station al-Mayadeen, which is seen as close to the Syrian government, broadcast what it said was footage of Khalidiya, showing heavily damaged buildings and piles of rubble.

It also showed pictures of the interior of the historic Khaled bin Walid mosque, a focal point for anti-government protesters. Troops reportedly seized it on Saturday, days after activists accused them of firing shells at the tomb of Khaled bin Walid, a revered figure in Islam.

Only the Old City of Homs and a few other districts are still held by the opposition. On Monday, government jets bombed the Bab Hud district of the Old City, just south of Khalidiya, according to the Syrian Observatory.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23488855

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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Beth Ditto confirms Hawaii nuptials, shares wedding picture

Beth Ditto has revealed she tied the knot with girlfriend Kristin Ogata in April.

The Gossip singer has kept us in suspense for a while but has finally posted her first wedding picture on Facebook.

She captioned the happy snap: "At long last, now that we have returned home and recovered from all the amazingness and had some time to bask in the afterglow, we are exited to share with you a pic or two from Beth and Kristin's wedding!"

They added: "So much love and appreciation to all of our family and friends who celebrated with us! And a huge thank you to Jean Paul Gaultier for the dream-come-true dress!"

Shortly after Beth made the announcement, the designer took to Twitter to share his well-wishes.

He posted: "Congratulations to the newlyweds! All the best for Beth and Kristin! Love, JPG."


ABOVE: The Gossip singer and her beau Kristin Ogata tied the know back in April

Sounds like it was the wedding she had always hoped for.

ABOVE: Beth Ditto seemed over the moon as she got to wear her 'dream' wedding dress

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ok-magazine-celebrity-gossip/~3/Tg2Bn2Xo6ow/

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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Fruitvale Station Duo Reuniting for Rocky Spinoff

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Michael B. Jordan will play Apollo Creed's grandson, with Sylvester Stallone returning to play Rocky, and "Fruitvale Station" director Ryan Coogler set to direct.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1927951/news/1927951/

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Therese Poletti's Tech Tales: Will activist investor help or hurt Microsoft?

By Therese Poletti, MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) ? Activist investors are popping up among many established technology companies, many of which are in tumult with big, core businesses slowing or under threat from faster growing mobile devices.

Whether or not these activists ? some of which are hedge funds ? will have a positive or negative impact on their targets will be the big question for investors, who have to decide early on whether their presence in a stock is a good or ominous sign for their investment.

Google buys stake in Glass partner, and more

Google invests more in its ?Glass? device, buying a 6.3% stake in display unit of Himax Technologies. Daniel Loeb steps down from Yahoo?s board. Existing home sales fall 1.2% in June. Death toll rises from earthquake in northwestern China.

The most recent case is Microsoft Corp. /quotes/zigman/20493/quotes/nls/msft MSFT -0.59% . Last week, the software giant disappointed Wall Street with an earnings and revenue shortfall just on the heels of news about a big corporate restructuring. Its shares had jumped to a new 52-week high, as investors over-optimistically assumed that its current problems were limited to the PC business. But some analysts found that the quarter was a letdown on many other fronts, including a slight miss in its server business.

So, on Friday, with its shares tumbling 11.4% in its worst single day performance since 2009 investors could hardly be surprised when Reuters reported that hedge fund/activist investor ValueAct was talking to Microsoft?s board of directors about its wish to gain a seat on the board.

/conga/story/misc/ntk_sixwide.html 242157

Rick Sherlund, an analyst with Nomura Research, had predicted such an event. In a note Friday morning, Sherlund said that after the software giant's disappointing results, the company would be ripe for shareholder activism. Sherlund noted that he believes Microsoft?s shares could benefit from the potential for ValueAct to get a seat on the board. One area where an activist/outsider may have an interesting voice is in the company?s online business, which includes search.

Daniel Loeb, founder and chief executive officer of Third Point, was credited with helping to oust former Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson.

?Microsoft has lost over $17 billion by our estimation in the search and online business,? Sherlund wrote. ?Why is the company in this business and what are the returns and how is this strategic??

One tech giant has benefited from an outside activist investor. Just Monday, Daniel Loeb, the hedge fund investor who led the charge to oust Yahoo Inc. (TICKER:YHOO) short-lived CEO, Scott Thompson, stepped down from the board. Loeb, who bought a 6% stake in Yahoo in 2011, and eventually got three seats on the board, is credited with pushing hard for Yahoo to hire Marissa Mayer from Google Inc. as its CEO. Yahoo?s shares have jumped over 70% since her arrival, even though its second-quarter earnings showed that her work has only begun. in a statement, Loeb said, ?Since our board?s rigorous search led us to hire Marissa Mayer as CEO, Yahoo?s stock price has nearly doubled.?

So if Yahoo could be an example, at least so far, of the positive influence of the activist investor, Dell Inc. /quotes/zigman/27952/quotes/nls/dell DELL -0.23% might represent the not-so-great side. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has mostly made a lot of noise and created a lot of distractions since he purchased an over 6% stake in the company, which is trying to go private. Icahn?s fight against Dell founder Michael Dell?s proposal to take the company private at $13.65 a share has held sway with some big shareholders, though, and the company deferred its vote on Dell?s offer until this week. But Icahn separate proposal to buy the bulk of Dell and keep part of the computer maker public is fraught with risk, according to the two big shareholder advisory firms, ISS and Glass Lewis.

Carl Icahn, billionaire investor and chairman of Icahn Enterprises Holdings LP., opposes Michael Dell?s bid to take the company private.

Still, it is not clear yet what kind of board member ValueAct (which did not respond to requests for comment) could be, if it negotiated a seat on Microsoft?s board. The hedge fund, based in San Francisco, teamed up with private equity firm Silver Lake in 2007 to take the data management firm Acxiom Corp. /quotes/zigman/67626/quotes/nls/acxm ACXM +0.39% ?private, but that deal fell apart. It had pressed Axciom to develop shareholder-friendly moves such as increasing cash flow and improving margins and ultimately waged a proxy war for two seats on its board.

Sherlund noted that ValueAct was probably willing to launch a proxy battle for a seat on Microsoft?s board. ?We think the chances of winning a board seat are high given the dissatisfaction with how Microsoft has failed to optimize shareholder value,? Sherlund wrote in a note on Monday. ?And we suspect Microsoft figures it is better to work through the ValueAct agenda in private rather than in a public proxy solicitation process.? Sherlund believes the ?investor activism is a positive for the stock.? Microsoft did not respond to a request for comment.

Still, investors are bound to get nervous once an activist investor buys stock in a company they own. In some cases, their presence can be beneficial, but ultimately, it is usually a sign that the target company has probably seen better days.

/quotes/zigman/20493/quotes/nls/msft

US : U.S.: Nasdaq

Volume: 12.89M

July 23, 2013 10:15a

Market Cap

$266.58 billion

Rev. per Employee

$828,181

/quotes/zigman/27952/quotes/nls/dell

US : U.S.: Nasdaq

Volume: 2.43M

July 23, 2013 10:15a

Rev. per Employee

$508,553

/quotes/zigman/67626/quotes/nls/acxm

US : U.S.: Nasdaq

Volume: 26,828

July 23, 2013 10:14a

Therese Poletti is a senior columnist for MarketWatch in San Francisco. Follow her on Twitter @tpoletti.

Source: http://feeds.marketwatch.com/~r/marketwatch/software/~3/iP7W9urOCGg/story.asp

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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Live Video of Royal Baby Watch in London - NYTimes.com

The Telegraph?s live video stream from outside St. Mary?s Hospital in London where Duchess of Cambridge was admitted early on Monday.

As our colleague Alan Cowell reports, the Duchess of Cambridge, the former Kate Middleton, entered St. Mary?s Hospital in London early on Monday to prepare for the birth of her first child and was ?in the early stages of labor,? the royal family announced in a brief message.

As millions in Britain and around the world wait, impatiently, for more news, The Lede will have dispatches from reporters in London and news of the reaction online, where professional and amateur royal watchers have been engaged in the Internet?s version of nervous pacing in the hall for more than a week.

Several British news organizations, including The Telegraph, are broadcasting or streaming live video from outside the hospital, where cameras are trained on the Lindo Wing of St. Mary?s in Paddington.

Source: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/22/live-video-of-royal-baby-watch-in-london/

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How Cleveland's energy costs compare with national averages

12 cents: Average price per kilowatt hour of electricity in April for the Cleveland-Akron area, the latest national energy cost data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows.

12.8 cents: Average price per kilowatt hour nationally, or 7 percent higher than the Cleveland-Akron area.

76.5 cents: Average price of natural gas per therm, or 100 cubic feet (CCF), for the Cleveland-Akron area in April.

$1.02: Average price nationally, or 33 percent higher than the Cleveland-Akron area.

$3.68: Average price per gallon of regular-grade gasoline in the Cleveland area on Monday, July 15.

$3.64:
Average price per gallon nationally, or 1 percent lower than the Cleveland area.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Note: Prices listed above include taxes, delivery charges and other costs to consumers.

Also:

  • Previous Sunday's Numbers
  • Data Central home
  • Data Central index
Sunday's Numbers is a regular feature of The Plain Dealer's Business Department.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2013/07/how_clevelands_energy_costs_co.html

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After post-protest flurry, Brazil's politicians resist reform

By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA (Reuters) - One month after demonstrators climbed onto the roof of Congress demanding an end to corruption and the clean-up of Brazil's political stables, lawmakers are procrastinating.

In an initial flurry of activity, rattled congressmen abandoned a constitutional amendment that would have made it harder to prosecute corrupt politicians, senators voted to stiffen penalties for corruption, and Brazil's Supreme Court ordered the arrest of a lawmaker convicted of embezzlement.

Last week, the Air Force started posting information on who uses its planes and why after outrage at politicians jetting off to private events such as soccer games on the public dime.

But other reform proposals that would reduce privileges that politicians enjoy and make government more transparent have been shunted into committees for review or put off until lawmakers return from a mid-year recess. And when it comes to wining and dining, it appears to be business as usual in Congress.

At the peak of the massive protests last month, a million Brazilians took to the streets to vent their frustration with the poor quality of public services, high cost of living and misuse of public money in the world's seventh-largest economy. The protests targeted the political class in general, widely seen as a self-interested elite reaping the spoils of office.

The outburst of anger shook the political establishment and brought promises of reform from President Dilma Rousseff, whose popularity has plummeted since the protests, clouding her chances of re-election next year.

Lawmakers, even from her ruling Workers' Party, opposed her proposal for a plebiscite to consult Brazilians on how they would like to change the political system and insisted they draw up the reforms themselves. Infighting over electoral reform has caused rifts in Rousseff's 17-party coalition.

The political parties and Congress, seen as Brazil's most corrupt institutions in a recent opinion poll, have done so little to clean up their act that Brazilians wonder whether they got the message from the protests.

"It is very worrying how out of touch our politicians are with the streets. I have no doubt the protests will continue," said Gil Castello Branco, founder of Contas Abertas, a group that tracks government revenue and spending.

In the midst of Brazil's biggest protests in two decades, the speaker of the chamber of deputies, Henrique Alves, used an Air Force plane to go to a soccer game in Rio de Janeiro with his girlfriend and a dozen friends and relatives.

Brazilian politicians are used to getting away with such liberties. But in the new climate of public indignation, Alves promptly returned 9,700 reais ($4,300) in taxpayer money when his trip was publicized.

Then it was the turn of the president of the Senate, Renan Calheiros, who reluctantly forked out 32,000 reais for using a government plane to attend a wedding at a beach resort.

ANTI-BRIBERY LAW

The mass protests across the nation sped up passage of an anti-bribery bill that for the first time will make private companies liable to prosecution if found paying off public officials abroad or in Brazil.

The legislation, which Rousseff is expected to sign into law by next week, was required by the United Nations Convention against Corruption and requested by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

"This law is important to show that Brazil complies with its international agreements and is moving to combat corruption," said Carlos Ayres, co-chair of the anti-corruption and compliance committee of the Brazilian Institute of Business Law.

Comptroller General Jorge Hage, Brazil's top anti-corruption crusader, said the legislation is a vital tool to fight bribery by providing stiff fines of up to 20 percent of a company's gross revenues and blacklisting for government contracts.

"With the people mobilizing in the streets, the Senate was under pressure to pass the bill quickly and it went through in record time," he said.

Hage hopes the momentum generated by the street protests will lead to political reforms and, in particular, the ending of campaign financing by private companies and the introduction of public funding plus limited individual contributions.

THE VOICE OF THE STREET

In a landmark decision last year, the Supreme Court convicted several top aides to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the biggest corruption trial in Brazilian history.

The aides received prison sentences for their role in a scheme to buy support in Congress for Lula's minority government a decade ago. But none have served any time yet and the aides retain their seats in Congress where they hope parliamentary privileges will save them from going behind bars.

"The fact that their sentences have not been carried out due to appeals added fuel to the protests. People are furious that these convicted criminals are still free and in Congress," said Leo Torresan, head of Amarribo Brasil, a local partner of Transparency International.

The credibility of Brazil's political institutions has sunk to rock bottom: 81 percent of Brazilians think political parties are corrupt and 72 percent think Congress is corrupt, according to a poll published two weeks ago by Transparency International in its annual global corruption barometer. The military is seen as the country's least corrupt institution, the poll showed.

One reason Brazilian lawmakers are resisting political reforms that cut their legal privileges and make it harder to get re-elected is that one third of them face lawsuits or are under investigation for alleged wrongdoing, according to Congresso em Foco, a prominent watchdog group in Brasilia.

After the protests began, the Supreme Court confirmed the embezzlement conviction of congressman Nathan Donadon, who became the first sitting lawmaker to go to jail in 25 years.

Days later, another lawmaker under investigation for fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, Mario de Oliveira, resigned from Congress rather than face the noise.

But observers such as Castello Branco of Contas Abertas say politicians still don't get it and have not changed their ways: last week, Speaker Alves threw a dinner for 80 members of his PMDB party on the taxpayer's tab, shrimp and champagne included.

Alves' office said it was a "work meeting" and more dinners would be held with other parties to discuss the reform agenda.

($1 = 2.2359 reais)

(Editing by Todd Benson and Claudia Parsons)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/post-protest-flurry-brazils-politicians-resist-reform-163910453.html

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Monday, July 22, 2013

All-India Consumer Price Index for Agricultural and Rural Labourers on Base 1986-87=100 ?June, 2013

?

According to a Press Note issued by the Labour Bureau, Govt. of India, Ministry of Labour & Employment The All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers (Base: 1986-87=100) for June, 2013 increased by 10 points each to stand at 729 ( Seven hundred and twenty nine) points for Agricultural Labourers and 730 points (Seven hundred and thirty) for Rural Labourers.

?

The rise/fall in index varied from State to State. In case of Agricultural Labourers, it recorded an increase which varied between 1 to 18 points in 18 States and a decrease of 1 & 4 points in 2 State. Karnataka with 808 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with the index level of 566 points stood at the bottom.

?

In case of Rural Labourers, it recorded an increase between 1 to 18 points in 18 States and a decrease of 4 points in 1 State. It however remained stationery in 1 State. Karnataka with 804 points topped the index table whereas Tripura States with the index level of 597 points stood at the bottom.

?

Andhra Pradesh State registered the maximum increase of 18 points each for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers mainly due to increase in the prices of rice, ragi, pulses, meat goat, fish fresh, milk, chillies green/dry, ginger, mixed spices, vegetables & fruits and gur. On the other hand, Meghalaya State registered the maximum decline of 4 points each for CPI-AL and CPI-RL due to decrease in the prices of rice and chillies green.

?

Point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL and CPI-RL increased from 12.70% and 12.50% in May, 2013 to 12.85% and 12.65% in June, 2013. Inflation based on food index of CPI-AL and CPI-RL are 13.97% and 13.92 % respectively during June, 2013.

?

All-India Consumer Price Index Number (General & Group-wise)

?

Group

Agricultural Labourers

Rural Labourers

?

May, 2013

June, 2013

May, 2013

June, 2013

General Index

719

729

720

730

Food

704

718

706

720

Pan, Supari, etc.

987

994

994

1001

Fuel & Light

804

805

801

803

Clothing, Bedding & Footwear

700

705

708

713

Miscellaneous

675

677

670

672

?

The CPI - AL/RL for July, 2013 will be released on 20th August, 2013.

*****

ST/-

?

Source: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=97328

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Iran's top leader urges caution in dealing with US

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran's top leader said Sunday he has not prohibited talks with the U.S. but urged caution with any possible dialogue, describing the American government as untrustworthy.

The U.S. and Iran are in deep disagreement over Tehran's nuclear program. The U.S. and the West have imposed punishing economic sanctions to press Iran to stop enrichment of uranium, fearing that the process could lead to production of nuclear weapons. Iran denies that intention.

"I said earlier this year that I'm not optimistic about talks with the U.S.," said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, "although I didn't prohibit dialogue on specific issues such as Iraq in the past years." He told outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other top government officials in Tehran, "Americans are untrustworthy and illogical. They are not honest in their dealings."

Iran's president-elect, Hasan Rouhani, has pledged to follow a path of moderation and interaction with the outside world. Khamenei said Iran must determine the goals of its adversaries. Otherwise it will suffer, he said.

"We've always believed and continue to believe in interaction with the world but the important point . is to understand the other party and determine its goals and tactics, because we will be tripped up if we don't understand them correctly," Khamenei said in comments posted on his website late Sunday.

"The art in interaction with the world is to continue your path without the other party being able to stop you. If interaction with the world causes retreat from the path, it is a loss," he said.

Rouhani, who won a landslide victory in the June 14 presidential election, will be sworn in Aug. 4. Iran has sent invitations to world leaders to attend his inauguration.

Rouhani's election has revived hopes for easing of tensions with the West as well as possible direct talks with the U.S.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/irans-top-leader-urges-caution-dealing-us-185914359.html

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Beyonce Dedicates 'A Change Is Gonna Come,' Cover Of Sam Cooke Classic, To Detroit (VIDEO)

  • Beyonce, honorary chairwoman, arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala benefit in honor of the museum?s latest exhibit, ?Punk: Chaos to Couture.? May 6, 2013 in New York. AFP PHOTO/Timothy A. CLARY

  • NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: Beyonce attends the Costume Institute Gala for the 'PUNK: Chaos to Couture' exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

  • Beyonce performs on her "Mrs. Carter Show World Tour 2013", on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Beyonce is wearing a custom hand beaded peplum one-piece by Ralph & Russo with shoes by Stuart Wieztman. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision for Parkwood Entertainment/AP Images)

  • Beyonce performs on her "Mrs. Carter Show World Tour 2013", on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Beyonce is wearing a coat and boots by Pucci. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision for Parkwood Entertainment/AP Images)

  • Beyonce performs with guitarist Bibi McGill, left, on her "Mrs. Carter Show World Tour 2013", on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Beyonce is wearing an outfit by designer Alon Livne with shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision for Parkwood Entertainment/AP Images)

  • This April 4, 2013 file photo shows married musicians Beyonce, left, and rapper Jay-Z as they tour Old Havana, Cuba. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, file)

  • This Feb. 10, 2013 file photo shows Beyonce at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, file)

  • Singer Beyonce, winner Best Traditional R&B Performance, poses in the press room at the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

  • This undated promotional image released by H&M shows entertainer Beyonce in an ad for H&M's new summer advertising campaign. Beyonce will be featured on billboards, and in print ads and TV commercials. (AP Photo/H&M)

  • In this Feb. 12, 2013 photo, Beyonce Knowles attends the premiere of "Beyonce: Life Is But A Dream" at the Ziegfeld Theatre, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

  • Beyonce sits courtside before the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 03: Singer Beyonce performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 03: (L-R) Singers Kelly Rowland, Beyonce and Michelle Williams perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 03: Singer Beyonce performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 31: Beyonce speaks onstage at the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show Press Conference at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on January 31, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 31: Beyonce speaks onstage at the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show Press Conference at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on January 31, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

  • WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Singer Beyonce performs the National Anthem as U.S. President Barack Obama looks on during the public ceremonial inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

  • WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Jay-Z and Beyonce arrive at the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

  • MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 10: Jay Z and Beyonce Knowles watches a game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Arena on December 10, 2012 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Jay-Z, Beyonce, 2012 Sportsman of the Year LeBron James and Savannah Brinson attend the 2012 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award presentation at Espace on December 5, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

  • A video from singer Beyonce is projected during the Global Citizen Festival, a mass music concert and event to urge world leaders to act towards ending extreme poverty, in Central Park in New York on September 29, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel DUNAND

  • LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 01: Beyonce accepts the award for Video Director of the Year onstage during the 2012 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

  • Beyonce attends the Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art May 7, 2012, celebrating the opening of Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations. AFP PHOTO TIMOTHY A. CLARY

  • LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Beyonce Knowles at The Launch Of House Of Dereon By Beyonce And Tina Knowles at Selfridges on September 17, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)

  • NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 13: Beyonce and Solange Knowles pose backstage at the Vera Wang Spring 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on September 13, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)

  • Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/21/beyonce-detroit-sam-cooke-change-is-gonna-come_n_3631337.html

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    Sunday, July 21, 2013

    India Court Sentences Six to Life in Rape of Swiss Woman (Voice Of America)

    Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

    Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/320711069?client_source=feed&format=rss

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    Obama: Helen Thomas a 'true pioneer' in journalism

    FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2009, file photo, veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas, left, celebrates her 89th birthday with President Barack Obama, celebrating his 48th birthday, in the White House Press Briefing Room in Washington. Thomas, a pioneer for women in journalism and an irrepressible White House correspondent, has died Saturday, July 20, 2013. She was 92. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

    FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2009, file photo, veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas, left, celebrates her 89th birthday with President Barack Obama, celebrating his 48th birthday, in the White House Press Briefing Room in Washington. Thomas, a pioneer for women in journalism and an irrepressible White House correspondent, has died Saturday, July 20, 2013. She was 92. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

    (AP) ? President Barack Obama calls the late White House correspondent Helen Thomas "a true pioneer" who broke down barriers "for generations of women in journalism."

    Thomas, who covered 10 presidents, died Saturday in Washington. She was 92.

    Obama says Thomas "never failed to keep presidents ? myself included ? on their toes."

    He praised her for her "fierce belief" that democracy works best when "we ask tough questions and hold our leaders to account."

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-07-20-Obama-Helen%20Thomas/id-04fb13d547464a61bb6cff84cadd3064

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    Texas Six Flags roller coaster death probed

    AP

    Posted on July 20, 2013 at 7:39 AM

    Updated today at 11:32 AM

    ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Investigators will try to determine if a woman who died while riding a roller coaster at a Six Flags amusement park in North Texas fell from the ride after some witnesses said she wasn't properly secured.

    The accident happened just after 6:30 p.m. Friday at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. Park spokeswoman Sharon Parker confirmed that a woman died while riding the Texas Giant roller coaster -- dubbed the tallest steel-hybrid coaster in the world -- but did not specify how she was killed.

    Witnesses told local media outlets the woman fell. The woman's name has not been released.

    "She goes up like this. Then when it drops to come down, that's when it (the safety bar) released and she just tumbled," Carmen Brown of Arlington told The Dallas Morning News. Brown said she was waiting in line to get on the ride when the accident happened. She witnessed the woman being strapped into the ride.

    "They didn't secure her right. One of the employees from the park -- one of the ladies -- she asked her to click her more than once, and they were like, `As long you heard it click, you're OK.' Everybody else is like, `Click, click, click.' " Brown told the newspaper.

    "Hers only clicked once. Hers was the only one that went down once, and she didn't feel safe, but they let her still get on the ride," Brown said.

    Six Flags expressed sadness over the death and said the ride would be closed Saturday.

    "We are working closely with authorities to determine the cause of the accident," Parker said in a statement Saturday. She also said a concert scheduled for Saturday had been canceled.

    Arlington police Sgt. Christopher Cook, the department spokesman, referred all questions to Parker. A message left for Parker by The Associated Press was not returned. No other details were available.

    The Texas Giant is 14 stories high, and has a drop of 79 degrees and a bank of 95 degrees. It can carry up to 24 riders. It first opened in 1990 as an all-wooden coaster but underwent a $10 million renovation to install steel-hybrid rails and reopened in 2011.

    When the car that the woman had been riding in returned to the loading zone, two people got out and were visibly upset, Rockwell resident John Putman told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

    "They were screaming, `My mom! My mom! Let us out, we need to go get her!" Putman told the newspaper.

    Also Friday, an Ohio amusement park's thrill ride malfunctioned when a boat accidentally rolled backward down a hill and flipped over in water, injuring all seven people on it. Operators stopped the Shoot the Rapids water ride after the accident, said officials with Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio.

    Six Flags Over Texas opened in 1961 and was the first amusement park in the Six Flags system. It is 17 miles west of downtown Dallas. The park's first fatality happened in 1999. A 28-year-old Arkansas woman drowned and 10 other passengers were injured when a raft-like boat on the Roaring Rapids ride overturned in 2 to 3 feet of water.

    Source: http://www.kmov.com/outbound-feeds/yahoo-news/Womans-Six-Flags-roller-coaster-death-probed-216277851.html

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    Saturday, July 20, 2013

    Vicar steps in after Anglican Church says no to gay wedding

    A vicar has stepped in to marry a gay couple as part of a radio station competition after an Anglican parish was unable to host the ceremony.

    Reverend Dr Matt Tittle of the Auckland Unitarian Church in Ponsonby will officiate at the wedding of the couple that wins ZM's Fabulous Gay Wedding competition.

    The broadcaster had hoped to hold the event - on August 19, the day legislation allowing same sex marriage comes into force - at St Matthew-in-the-City parish in central Auckland.

    But St Matthew's vicar, Reverend Glynn Cardy, said he was unable to oblige because Anglican officials will not solemnise gay weddings. The parish had offered to host a blessing after the legal ceremony was held elsewhere.

    Reverend Tittle says he called ZM as soon as he heard the wedding could no longer be held at St Matthew's.

    "Our church has always been supportive of gay marriage and this was just a stroke of luck. We are very excited about this wedding,'' he says.

    Although the Unitarian Church is not as big as St Matthew's, it can accommodate up to 150 people.

    Reverend Tittle says he expects the venue to be "more than full'' on the big day.

    The results of the competition will be anounced next Friday.

    - APNZ

    By Mahvash Ali

    Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/relationships/news/article.cfm?c_id=41&objectid=10900422&ref=rss

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    Digging for Dirt

    Digging for Dirt

    Ryan Reynolds at the premiere of "Safe House"Parker Posey is a Hot Mess While Walking Dog?[The Frisky] Ryan Reynolds Gets Soaked on Talk Show?[HollyWire] Daniel Radcliffe Looks Gaunt During a Play?[The Celebrity Cafe] Rihanna Goes Commando in Public??[The Blemish] Jennifer Aniston Flashes Her Legs in the Summer Heat?[The Huffington Post] Kate Middleton Ready to Pop Baby Out?[Radar Online] Harry Styles is a ...

    Digging for Dirt Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

    Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/07/digging-for-dirt-15/

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    Middle East News Headlines - Yahoo! News

    Middle East News Headlines - Yahoo! Newshttp://news.yahoo.com/mideast/ Get the latest Middle East news headlines from Yahoo! News. Find breaking Middle East news, including analysis and opinion on top Middle East stories, photos and more.en-USCopyright (c) 2013 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reservedFri, 19 Jul 2013 07:52:12 -04005Middle East News Headlines - Yahoo! Newshttp://news.yahoo.com/mideast/ http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/th/main_142c.gifProminent Black Feminist Author Compares George Zimmerman to Che Guevara?s Killer"Zimmerman will wish many times in his life that they had given him 100 years."http://news.yahoo.com/prominent-black-feminist-author-compares-george-zimmerman-che-115212181.htmlFri, 19 Jul 2013 07:52:12 -0400The Blazeprominent-black-feminist-author-compares-george-zimmerman-che-115212181This Could Be the Most ?Extreme? Wedding Photo You?ve Seen?We did lots of homework before we did it for real.?http://news.yahoo.com/could-most-extreme-wedding-photo-ve-seen-130415782.htmlThu, 18 Jul 2013 09:04:15 -0400The Blazecould-most-extreme-wedding-photo-ve-seen-130415782Kerry wins Arab backing on Mideast peace effort<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-wins-arab-backing-mideast-peace-effort-144028349.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/4waqlQ05EywDCsi0VidTpg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/f7cd30d3e990d817370f6a7067000fb8.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pauses while speaking during a joint press conference with Jordan&#039;s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, unseen, on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Amman. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday won Arab League backing for his effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, raising hopes for a quick resumption in the stalled negotiations. (AP Photo/Mandel Ngan, Pool)" align="left" title="U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pauses while speaking during a joint press conference with Jordan&#039;s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, unseen, on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Amman. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday won Arab League backing for his effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, raising hopes for a quick resumption in the stalled negotiations. (AP Photo/Mandel Ngan, Pool)" border="0" /></a>AMMAN, Jordan (AP) ? U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry won Arab League backing Wednesday for his effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, raising hopes that the stalled negotiations could resume.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-wins-arab-backing-mideast-peace-effort-144028349.htmlThu, 18 Jul 2013 02:16:50 -0400Associated Presskerry-wins-arab-backing-mideast-peace-effort-144028349<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-wins-arab-backing-mideast-peace-effort-144028349.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/4waqlQ05EywDCsi0VidTpg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/f7cd30d3e990d817370f6a7067000fb8.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pauses while speaking during a joint press conference with Jordan&#039;s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, unseen, on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Amman. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday won Arab League backing for his effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, raising hopes for a quick resumption in the stalled negotiations. (AP Photo/Mandel Ngan, Pool)" align="left" title="U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pauses while speaking during a joint press conference with Jordan&#039;s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, unseen, on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Amman. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday won Arab League backing for his effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, raising hopes for a quick resumption in the stalled negotiations. (AP Photo/Mandel Ngan, Pool)" border="0" /></a>AMMAN, Jordan (AP) ? U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry won Arab League backing Wednesday for his effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, raising hopes that the stalled negotiations could resume.</p><br clear="all"/>Canadian Mayor Investigated for Saying He Kills Kittens with His Pickup Truck"The other day I backed up over a newborn..."http://news.yahoo.com/canadian-mayor-investigated-saying-kills-kittens-pickup-truck-203611204.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 16:36:11 -0400The Blazecanadian-mayor-investigated-saying-kills-kittens-pickup-truck-203611204Outspoken Assad supporter assassinated in Lebanon<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/outspoken-assad-supporter-assassinated-lebanon-181154052.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/SDfk1YFEkvt1_plHvpgnVQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/a4f52eaae846d217370f6a706700ccae.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Fatima, right, daughter of Mohammed Darrar Jammo a Syrian political analyst and one of Syrian President Bashar Assad&#039;s strongest defenders, who was gunned down inside his home, is comforted by a relative as she mourns her father, in the southern coastal town of Sarafand, Lebanon, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Clashes between pro and anti-Syrian groups in Lebanon have left scores of people dead in the past months in a spillover of Syria&#039;s civil war into its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)" align="left" title="Fatima, right, daughter of Mohammed Darrar Jammo a Syrian political analyst and one of Syrian President Bashar Assad&#039;s strongest defenders, who was gunned down inside his home, is comforted by a relative as she mourns her father, in the southern coastal town of Sarafand, Lebanon, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Clashes between pro and anti-Syrian groups in Lebanon have left scores of people dead in the past months in a spillover of Syria&#039;s civil war into its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)" border="0" /></a>BEIRUT (AP) ? Gunmen burst into the first floor apartment of a pro-government Syrian journalist Wednesday, killing him in a hail of nearly 30 bullets in a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/outspoken-assad-supporter-assassinated-lebanon-181154052.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 15:02:11 -0400Associated Pressoutspoken-assad-supporter-assassinated-lebanon-181154052<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/outspoken-assad-supporter-assassinated-lebanon-181154052.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/SDfk1YFEkvt1_plHvpgnVQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/a4f52eaae846d217370f6a706700ccae.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Fatima, right, daughter of Mohammed Darrar Jammo a Syrian political analyst and one of Syrian President Bashar Assad&#039;s strongest defenders, who was gunned down inside his home, is comforted by a relative as she mourns her father, in the southern coastal town of Sarafand, Lebanon, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Clashes between pro and anti-Syrian groups in Lebanon have left scores of people dead in the past months in a spillover of Syria&#039;s civil war into its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)" align="left" title="Fatima, right, daughter of Mohammed Darrar Jammo a Syrian political analyst and one of Syrian President Bashar Assad&#039;s strongest defenders, who was gunned down inside his home, is comforted by a relative as she mourns her father, in the southern coastal town of Sarafand, Lebanon, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Clashes between pro and anti-Syrian groups in Lebanon have left scores of people dead in the past months in a spillover of Syria&#039;s civil war into its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)" border="0" /></a>BEIRUT (AP) ? Gunmen burst into the first floor apartment of a pro-government Syrian journalist Wednesday, killing him in a hail of nearly 30 bullets in a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon.</p><br clear="all"/>Israeli premier phones European leaders after banJERUSALEM (AP) ? Israel's premier talked with a series of European leaders Wednesday, outlining his strong objections to a European funding ban on Israeli institutions operating in occupied territories, officials said.http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-premier-phones-european-leaders-ban-132318645.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 14:13:34 -0400Associated Pressisraeli-premier-phones-european-leaders-ban-132318645Egypt: Morsi supporters protest outside Cabinet<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-morsi-supporters-protest-outside-cabinet-124101765.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/7J_p387QYZtLswKB9eMGew--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/12a613d6e929d617370f6a7067003ed1.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="A supporter of Egypt&#039;s ousted President Mohammed Morsi, talks to riot police standing guard during a demonstration near Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Several hundred supporters of Egypt&#039;s deposed president massed outside the Cabinet building Wednesday in Cairo, expanding their protests denouncing the country&#039;s new government and demanding the reinstatement of Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)" align="left" title="A supporter of Egypt&#039;s ousted President Mohammed Morsi, talks to riot police standing guard during a demonstration near Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Several hundred supporters of Egypt&#039;s deposed president massed outside the Cabinet building Wednesday in Cairo, expanding their protests denouncing the country&#039;s new government and demanding the reinstatement of Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)" border="0" /></a>CAIRO (AP) ? Several hundred supporters of Egypt&#039;s deposed president massed outside the Cabinet building Wednesday in Cairo, expanding their protests denouncing the country&#039;s new government and demanding the reinstatement of Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-morsi-supporters-protest-outside-cabinet-124101765.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 11:48:24 -0400Associated Pressegypt-morsi-supporters-protest-outside-cabinet-124101765<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-morsi-supporters-protest-outside-cabinet-124101765.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/7J_p387QYZtLswKB9eMGew--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/12a613d6e929d617370f6a7067003ed1.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="A supporter of Egypt&#039;s ousted President Mohammed Morsi, talks to riot police standing guard during a demonstration near Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Several hundred supporters of Egypt&#039;s deposed president massed outside the Cabinet building Wednesday in Cairo, expanding their protests denouncing the country&#039;s new government and demanding the reinstatement of Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)" align="left" title="A supporter of Egypt&#039;s ousted President Mohammed Morsi, talks to riot police standing guard during a demonstration near Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Several hundred supporters of Egypt&#039;s deposed president massed outside the Cabinet building Wednesday in Cairo, expanding their protests denouncing the country&#039;s new government and demanding the reinstatement of Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)" border="0" /></a>CAIRO (AP) ? Several hundred supporters of Egypt&#039;s deposed president massed outside the Cabinet building Wednesday in Cairo, expanding their protests denouncing the country&#039;s new government and demanding the reinstatement of Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi.</p><br clear="all"/>Kerry briefs Arabs on peace bid, Egypt, Syria<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-briefs-arabs-peace-bid-egypt-syria-084547775.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/4jVIko2GrJLpMqS2ePqS0A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/170d885ce7eed017370f6a706700ac9f.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center, Jordan&#039;s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, right, and Egypt&#039;s Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr, left, arrive for a meeting with the Arab League Peace Initiative at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Kerry is briefing senior Arab officials on his efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and on American views of the crises and Syria and Egypt. (AP Photo/Mandel Ngan, Pool)" align="left" title="U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center, Jordan&#039;s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, right, and Egypt&#039;s Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr, left, arrive for a meeting with the Arab League Peace Initiative at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Kerry is briefing senior Arab officials on his efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and on American views of the crises and Syria and Egypt. (AP Photo/Mandel Ngan, Pool)" border="0" /></a>AMMAN, Jordan (AP) ? U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry briefed senior Arab officials Wednesday on his efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and on American views of the crises and Syria and Egypt.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-briefs-arabs-peace-bid-egypt-syria-084547775.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 10:18:53 -0400Associated Presskerry-briefs-arabs-peace-bid-egypt-syria-084547775<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-briefs-arabs-peace-bid-egypt-syria-084547775.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/4jVIko2GrJLpMqS2ePqS0A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/170d885ce7eed017370f6a706700ac9f.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center, Jordan&#039;s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, right, and Egypt&#039;s Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr, left, arrive for a meeting with the Arab League Peace Initiative at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Kerry is briefing senior Arab officials on his efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and on American views of the crises and Syria and Egypt. (AP Photo/Mandel Ngan, Pool)" align="left" title="U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center, Jordan&#039;s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, right, and Egypt&#039;s Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr, left, arrive for a meeting with the Arab League Peace Initiative at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Kerry is briefing senior Arab officials on his efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and on American views of the crises and Syria and Egypt. (AP Photo/Mandel Ngan, Pool)" border="0" /></a>AMMAN, Jordan (AP) ? U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry briefed senior Arab officials Wednesday on his efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and on American views of the crises and Syria and Egypt.</p><br clear="all"/>Prominent Assad supporter assassinated in Lebanon<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/prominent-assad-supporter-assassinated-lebanon-111526359.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/SDfk1YFEkvt1_plHvpgnVQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/a4f52eaae846d217370f6a706700ccae.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Fatima, right, daughter of Mohammed Darrar Jammo a Syrian political analyst and one of Syrian President Bashar Assad&#039;s strongest defenders, who was gunned down inside his home, is comforted by a relative as she mourns her father, in the southern coastal town of Sarafand, Lebanon, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Clashes between pro and anti-Syrian groups in Lebanon have left scores of people dead in the past months in a spillover of Syria&#039;s civil war into its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)" align="left" title="Fatima, right, daughter of Mohammed Darrar Jammo a Syrian political analyst and one of Syrian President Bashar Assad&#039;s strongest defenders, who was gunned down inside his home, is comforted by a relative as she mourns her father, in the southern coastal town of Sarafand, Lebanon, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Clashes between pro and anti-Syrian groups in Lebanon have left scores of people dead in the past months in a spillover of Syria&#039;s civil war into its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)" border="0" /></a>BEIRUT (AP) ? Gunmen assassinated a prominent Syrian pro-government figure at his home in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, shooting him nearly 30 times in the latest sign of Syria&#039;s civil war spilling over into its smaller neighbor.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/prominent-assad-supporter-assassinated-lebanon-111526359.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 10:12:55 -0400Associated Pressprominent-assad-supporter-assassinated-lebanon-111526359<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/prominent-assad-supporter-assassinated-lebanon-111526359.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/SDfk1YFEkvt1_plHvpgnVQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/a4f52eaae846d217370f6a706700ccae.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Fatima, right, daughter of Mohammed Darrar Jammo a Syrian political analyst and one of Syrian President Bashar Assad&#039;s strongest defenders, who was gunned down inside his home, is comforted by a relative as she mourns her father, in the southern coastal town of Sarafand, Lebanon, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Clashes between pro and anti-Syrian groups in Lebanon have left scores of people dead in the past months in a spillover of Syria&#039;s civil war into its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)" align="left" title="Fatima, right, daughter of Mohammed Darrar Jammo a Syrian political analyst and one of Syrian President Bashar Assad&#039;s strongest defenders, who was gunned down inside his home, is comforted by a relative as she mourns her father, in the southern coastal town of Sarafand, Lebanon, Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Clashes between pro and anti-Syrian groups in Lebanon have left scores of people dead in the past months in a spillover of Syria&#039;s civil war into its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)" border="0" /></a>BEIRUT (AP) ? Gunmen assassinated a prominent Syrian pro-government figure at his home in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, shooting him nearly 30 times in the latest sign of Syria&#039;s civil war spilling over into its smaller neighbor.</p><br clear="all"/>Official: Iran open for nuke talks once team named<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/official-iran-open-nuke-talks-once-team-named-113236208.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/7aso2YxDI1.fbQpwfC1oUQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/50b53f20aaa2a317370f6a706700c15b.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - In this Monday, June 17, 2013 file photo, Iranian President-elect Hasan Rouhani, places his hand on his heart as a sign of respect, after speaking at a news conference, in Tehran, Iran. Rouhani on Monday leveled his first criticism of the outgoing administration since June&#039;s election, saying it has mismanaged the country&#039;s economy. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)" align="left" title="FILE - In this Monday, June 17, 2013 file photo, Iranian President-elect Hasan Rouhani, places his hand on his heart as a sign of respect, after speaking at a news conference, in Tehran, Iran. Rouhani on Monday leveled his first criticism of the outgoing administration since June&#039;s election, saying it has mismanaged the country&#039;s economy. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)" border="0" /></a>TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran will be ready to resume nuclear talks with world powers as soon as the country&#039;s president-elect puts together his negotiating team, the foreign minister said Wednesday amid signals on both sides to try to quickly restart dialogue.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/official-iran-open-nuke-talks-once-team-named-113236208.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 10:11:21 -0400Associated Pressofficial-iran-open-nuke-talks-once-team-named-113236208<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/official-iran-open-nuke-talks-once-team-named-113236208.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/7aso2YxDI1.fbQpwfC1oUQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/50b53f20aaa2a317370f6a706700c15b.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - In this Monday, June 17, 2013 file photo, Iranian President-elect Hasan Rouhani, places his hand on his heart as a sign of respect, after speaking at a news conference, in Tehran, Iran. Rouhani on Monday leveled his first criticism of the outgoing administration since June&#039;s election, saying it has mismanaged the country&#039;s economy. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)" align="left" title="FILE - In this Monday, June 17, 2013 file photo, Iranian President-elect Hasan Rouhani, places his hand on his heart as a sign of respect, after speaking at a news conference, in Tehran, Iran. Rouhani on Monday leveled his first criticism of the outgoing administration since June&#039;s election, saying it has mismanaged the country&#039;s economy. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)" border="0" /></a>TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran will be ready to resume nuclear talks with world powers as soon as the country&#039;s president-elect puts together his negotiating team, the foreign minister said Wednesday amid signals on both sides to try to quickly restart dialogue.</p><br clear="all"/>The Europeans Won?t Blacklist Hezbollah But Are Banning This"An economic terror attack."http://news.yahoo.com/europeans-won-t-blacklist-hezbollah-banning-114414191.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 07:44:14 -0400The Blazeeuropeans-won-t-blacklist-hezbollah-banning-114414191Al-Qaida branch confirms its No. 2 killed in Yemen<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/al-qaida-branch-confirms-no-2-killed-yemen-102604944.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/sdrQIHLaehXJC55ZNqIiBw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/daa20881e7d7d017370f6a706700041f.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - In this undated frame grab from video posted on a militant-leaning Web site, and provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, shows Saeed al-Shihri, deputy leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida says a U.S. drone strike has killed a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who rose to become the group&#039;s No. 2 figure. The announcement, posted on militant websites, gave no date for the death of Saudi-born Al-Shihri. (AP Photo/SITE Intelligence Group, File)" align="left" title="FILE - In this undated frame grab from video posted on a militant-leaning Web site, and provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, shows Saeed al-Shihri, deputy leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida says a U.S. drone strike has killed a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who rose to become the group&#039;s No. 2 figure. The announcement, posted on militant websites, gave no date for the death of Saudi-born Al-Shihri. (AP Photo/SITE Intelligence Group, File)" border="0" /></a>SANAA, Yemen (AP) ? The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida confirmed on Wednesday that the group&#039;s No. 2 figure, a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, was killed in a U.S. drone strike.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/al-qaida-branch-confirms-no-2-killed-yemen-102604944.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 07:01:33 -0400Associated Pressal-qaida-branch-confirms-no-2-killed-yemen-102604944<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/al-qaida-branch-confirms-no-2-killed-yemen-102604944.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/sdrQIHLaehXJC55ZNqIiBw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/daa20881e7d7d017370f6a706700041f.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - In this undated frame grab from video posted on a militant-leaning Web site, and provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, shows Saeed al-Shihri, deputy leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida says a U.S. drone strike has killed a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who rose to become the group&#039;s No. 2 figure. The announcement, posted on militant websites, gave no date for the death of Saudi-born Al-Shihri. (AP Photo/SITE Intelligence Group, File)" align="left" title="FILE - In this undated frame grab from video posted on a militant-leaning Web site, and provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, shows Saeed al-Shihri, deputy leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida says a U.S. drone strike has killed a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who rose to become the group&#039;s No. 2 figure. The announcement, posted on militant websites, gave no date for the death of Saudi-born Al-Shihri. (AP Photo/SITE Intelligence Group, File)" border="0" /></a>SANAA, Yemen (AP) ? The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida confirmed on Wednesday that the group&#039;s No. 2 figure, a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, was killed in a U.S. drone strike.</p><br clear="all"/>Officials: Bombing kills 4 people in IraqBAGHDAD (AP) ? Iraqi officials say a bombing targeting a stream where youngsters had sought refuge from the summer heat has killed four people.http://news.yahoo.com/officials-bombing-kills-4-people-iraq-110543767.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 07:05:43 -0400Associated Pressofficials-bombing-kills-4-people-iraq-110543767Dubai diet: Slim down, get paid in gold<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/dubai-diet-slim-down-paid-gold-090114923.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/711gmmV3wai86oae9VIh4Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/195c3ae4e81ad117370f6a7067002fea.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - In this Tuesday Oct. 9, 2012 file photo, 10 gram gold bars with a purity of 999.9 have been pressed and stamped with the &quot;Emirates Gold&quot; company logo in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Shedding weight is as good as gold under an unusual slim-down initiative in Dubai over growing concerns about rising obesity levels in the wealthy Gulf city-state. Municipal officials are offering a gram of gold _ worth about $45 at current prices _ for each kilogram of weight lost in a 30-day challenge. The minimum drop is two kilos, or 4.4 pounds, to cash in. Across the Gulf Arab states, authorities have raised alarms about rising obesity from increasing fast-food diets and lack of exercise. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)" align="left" title="FILE - In this Tuesday Oct. 9, 2012 file photo, 10 gram gold bars with a purity of 999.9 have been pressed and stamped with the &quot;Emirates Gold&quot; company logo in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Shedding weight is as good as gold under an unusual slim-down initiative in Dubai over growing concerns about rising obesity levels in the wealthy Gulf city-state. Municipal officials are offering a gram of gold _ worth about $45 at current prices _ for each kilogram of weight lost in a 30-day challenge. The minimum drop is two kilos, or 4.4 pounds, to cash in. Across the Gulf Arab states, authorities have raised alarms about rising obesity from increasing fast-food diets and lack of exercise. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)" border="0" /></a>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? Shedding weight is as good as gold under an unusual slim-down initiative in Dubai over growing concerns about rising obesity levels in the wealthy Gulf city-state.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/dubai-diet-slim-down-paid-gold-090114923.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 05:46:53 -0400Associated Pressdubai-diet-slim-down-paid-gold-090114923<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/dubai-diet-slim-down-paid-gold-090114923.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/711gmmV3wai86oae9VIh4Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/195c3ae4e81ad117370f6a7067002fea.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - In this Tuesday Oct. 9, 2012 file photo, 10 gram gold bars with a purity of 999.9 have been pressed and stamped with the &quot;Emirates Gold&quot; company logo in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Shedding weight is as good as gold under an unusual slim-down initiative in Dubai over growing concerns about rising obesity levels in the wealthy Gulf city-state. Municipal officials are offering a gram of gold _ worth about $45 at current prices _ for each kilogram of weight lost in a 30-day challenge. The minimum drop is two kilos, or 4.4 pounds, to cash in. Across the Gulf Arab states, authorities have raised alarms about rising obesity from increasing fast-food diets and lack of exercise. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)" align="left" title="FILE - In this Tuesday Oct. 9, 2012 file photo, 10 gram gold bars with a purity of 999.9 have been pressed and stamped with the &quot;Emirates Gold&quot; company logo in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Shedding weight is as good as gold under an unusual slim-down initiative in Dubai over growing concerns about rising obesity levels in the wealthy Gulf city-state. Municipal officials are offering a gram of gold _ worth about $45 at current prices _ for each kilogram of weight lost in a 30-day challenge. The minimum drop is two kilos, or 4.4 pounds, to cash in. Across the Gulf Arab states, authorities have raised alarms about rising obesity from increasing fast-food diets and lack of exercise. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)" border="0" /></a>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? Shedding weight is as good as gold under an unusual slim-down initiative in Dubai over growing concerns about rising obesity levels in the wealthy Gulf city-state.</p><br clear="all"/>Al-Qaida branch says No. 2 leader killed in Yemen<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/al-qaida-branch-says-no-2-leader-killed-070539791.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/sdrQIHLaehXJC55ZNqIiBw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/daa20881e7d7d017370f6a706700041f.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - In this undated frame grab from video posted on a militant-leaning Web site, and provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, shows Saeed al-Shihri, deputy leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida says a U.S. drone strike has killed a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who rose to become the group&#039;s No. 2 figure. The announcement, posted on militant websites, gave no date for the death of Saudi-born Al-Shihri. (AP Photo/SITE Intelligence Group, File)" align="left" title="FILE - In this undated frame grab from video posted on a militant-leaning Web site, and provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, shows Saeed al-Shihri, deputy leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida says a U.S. drone strike has killed a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who rose to become the group&#039;s No. 2 figure. The announcement, posted on militant websites, gave no date for the death of Saudi-born Al-Shihri. (AP Photo/SITE Intelligence Group, File)" border="0" /></a>SANAA, Yemen (AP) ? The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida announced Wednesday that the group&#039;s No. 2 figure, a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, has died in a U.S. drone strike.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/al-qaida-branch-says-no-2-leader-killed-070539791.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 04:56:26 -0400Associated Pressal-qaida-branch-says-no-2-leader-killed-070539791<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/al-qaida-branch-says-no-2-leader-killed-070539791.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/sdrQIHLaehXJC55ZNqIiBw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/daa20881e7d7d017370f6a706700041f.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - In this undated frame grab from video posted on a militant-leaning Web site, and provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, shows Saeed al-Shihri, deputy leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida says a U.S. drone strike has killed a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who rose to become the group&#039;s No. 2 figure. The announcement, posted on militant websites, gave no date for the death of Saudi-born Al-Shihri. (AP Photo/SITE Intelligence Group, File)" align="left" title="FILE - In this undated frame grab from video posted on a militant-leaning Web site, and provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, shows Saeed al-Shihri, deputy leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida says a U.S. drone strike has killed a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who rose to become the group&#039;s No. 2 figure. The announcement, posted on militant websites, gave no date for the death of Saudi-born Al-Shihri. (AP Photo/SITE Intelligence Group, File)" border="0" /></a>SANAA, Yemen (AP) ? The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida announced Wednesday that the group&#039;s No. 2 figure, a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, has died in a U.S. drone strike.</p><br clear="all"/>Pro-government Syrian figure killed in Lebanon<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pro-government-syrian-figure-killed-lebanon-080918921.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/kFxTaoiwvnE.Jkda56tddA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/ae12ad95ac5bab17370f6a706700e13d.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="In this image taken from video obtained from Ugarit News, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows shelling of the Al-Qaboun neighborhood in rural Damascus, Syria, Monday, July 15, 2013. After seizing the momentum in recent months in Syria&#039;s civil war, President Bashar Assad&#039;s forces are on the offensive against the rebels on several fronts, including in Idlib province along the border with Turkey. Government forces are in firm control of the provincial capital of same name, while dozens of rebel brigades control the countryside.(AP Photo/Ugarit News via AP video)" align="left" title="In this image taken from video obtained from Ugarit News, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows shelling of the Al-Qaboun neighborhood in rural Damascus, Syria, Monday, July 15, 2013. After seizing the momentum in recent months in Syria&#039;s civil war, President Bashar Assad&#039;s forces are on the offensive against the rebels on several fronts, including in Idlib province along the border with Turkey. Government forces are in firm control of the provincial capital of same name, while dozens of rebel brigades control the countryside.(AP Photo/Ugarit News via AP video)" border="0" /></a>BEIRUT (AP) ? Gunmen assassinated a prominent Syrian pro-government figure at his home in southern Lebanon on Wednesday in the latest spillover of Syria&#039;s civil war into its smaller neighbor, security officials said.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/pro-government-syrian-figure-killed-lebanon-080918921.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 04:09:18 -0400Associated Presspro-government-syrian-figure-killed-lebanon-080918921<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pro-government-syrian-figure-killed-lebanon-080918921.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/kFxTaoiwvnE.Jkda56tddA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/ae12ad95ac5bab17370f6a706700e13d.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="In this image taken from video obtained from Ugarit News, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows shelling of the Al-Qaboun neighborhood in rural Damascus, Syria, Monday, July 15, 2013. After seizing the momentum in recent months in Syria&#039;s civil war, President Bashar Assad&#039;s forces are on the offensive against the rebels on several fronts, including in Idlib province along the border with Turkey. Government forces are in firm control of the provincial capital of same name, while dozens of rebel brigades control the countryside.(AP Photo/Ugarit News via AP video)" align="left" title="In this image taken from video obtained from Ugarit News, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows shelling of the Al-Qaboun neighborhood in rural Damascus, Syria, Monday, July 15, 2013. After seizing the momentum in recent months in Syria&#039;s civil war, President Bashar Assad&#039;s forces are on the offensive against the rebels on several fronts, including in Idlib province along the border with Turkey. Government forces are in firm control of the provincial capital of same name, while dozens of rebel brigades control the countryside.(AP Photo/Ugarit News via AP video)" border="0" /></a>BEIRUT (AP) ? Gunmen assassinated a prominent Syrian pro-government figure at his home in southern Lebanon on Wednesday in the latest spillover of Syria&#039;s civil war into its smaller neighbor, security officials said.</p><br clear="all"/>Israel: Suspects from Syria enter Israel army post<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/israel-suspects-syria-enter-israel-army-post-062511406.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/TkBLQjylIZvU5fesjtijUw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/ac984b72c996bb17370f6a7067007673.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Israeli soldiers sit in a position on the border with Syria on the Israeli controlled Golan Heights as smoke rises following explosions, Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Three mortar shells exploded on the Israeli side of the border fence with Syria on the Golan Heights Tuesday morning. No casualties or damage were reported from the incident, and there are currently no special security instructions for residents of the area. The shells fell at 6 a.m. local time, and the IDF was combing the area to collect any residual material from the exploded ordinance, the IDF Spokesperson?s Unit said. According to the IDF, the fire was not directed at Israel, but was fired as part of the battle currently raging in the nearby Syrian village of Al-Madriya, where rebels are clashing with regime forces. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)" align="left" title="Israeli soldiers sit in a position on the border with Syria on the Israeli controlled Golan Heights as smoke rises following explosions, Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Three mortar shells exploded on the Israeli side of the border fence with Syria on the Golan Heights Tuesday morning. No casualties or damage were reported from the incident, and there are currently no special security instructions for residents of the area. The shells fell at 6 a.m. local time, and the IDF was combing the area to collect any residual material from the exploded ordinance, the IDF Spokesperson?s Unit said. According to the IDF, the fire was not directed at Israel, but was fired as part of the battle currently raging in the nearby Syrian village of Al-Madriya, where rebels are clashing with regime forces. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)" border="0" /></a>JERUSALEM (AP) ? Two Syrian suspects briefly infiltrated an unmanned Israeli military post on the border between Syria and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, the military said Wednesday.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/israel-suspects-syria-enter-israel-army-post-062511406.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 03:45:32 -0400Associated Pressisrael-suspects-syria-enter-israel-army-post-062511406<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/israel-suspects-syria-enter-israel-army-post-062511406.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/TkBLQjylIZvU5fesjtijUw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/ac984b72c996bb17370f6a7067007673.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Israeli soldiers sit in a position on the border with Syria on the Israeli controlled Golan Heights as smoke rises following explosions, Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Three mortar shells exploded on the Israeli side of the border fence with Syria on the Golan Heights Tuesday morning. No casualties or damage were reported from the incident, and there are currently no special security instructions for residents of the area. The shells fell at 6 a.m. local time, and the IDF was combing the area to collect any residual material from the exploded ordinance, the IDF Spokesperson?s Unit said. According to the IDF, the fire was not directed at Israel, but was fired as part of the battle currently raging in the nearby Syrian village of Al-Madriya, where rebels are clashing with regime forces. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)" align="left" title="Israeli soldiers sit in a position on the border with Syria on the Israeli controlled Golan Heights as smoke rises following explosions, Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Three mortar shells exploded on the Israeli side of the border fence with Syria on the Golan Heights Tuesday morning. No casualties or damage were reported from the incident, and there are currently no special security instructions for residents of the area. The shells fell at 6 a.m. local time, and the IDF was combing the area to collect any residual material from the exploded ordinance, the IDF Spokesperson?s Unit said. According to the IDF, the fire was not directed at Israel, but was fired as part of the battle currently raging in the nearby Syrian village of Al-Madriya, where rebels are clashing with regime forces. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)" border="0" /></a>JERUSALEM (AP) ? Two Syrian suspects briefly infiltrated an unmanned Israeli military post on the border between Syria and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, the military said Wednesday.</p><br clear="all"/>Ahead of draft, ultra-Orthodox soldiers under fire<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/ahead-draft-ultra-orthodox-soldiers-under-fire-070250477.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/NQumSPyDTH4Rz8RWQMuuVA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/35f5e946e737cd17370f6a706700720f.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="In this Sunday, July 14, 2013 photo, ultra-Orthodox Jewish men walk past a poster in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem. A large cartoon poster depicts Haredi soldiers rolling through the streets atop tanks trying to lure young boys onto their vehicles. The ad denounces the soldiers as Zionist &quot;ambassadors&quot; and &quot;missionaries.&quot; The soldiers in sidecurls have been coined the insulting nickname &quot;Hardak&quot; _ a combination of Haredi and insect. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)" align="left" title="In this Sunday, July 14, 2013 photo, ultra-Orthodox Jewish men walk past a poster in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem. A large cartoon poster depicts Haredi soldiers rolling through the streets atop tanks trying to lure young boys onto their vehicles. The ad denounces the soldiers as Zionist &quot;ambassadors&quot; and &quot;missionaries.&quot; The soldiers in sidecurls have been coined the insulting nickname &quot;Hardak&quot; _ a combination of Haredi and insect. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)" border="0" /></a>JERUSALEM (AP) ? The Israeli soldier was walking home on a busy Jerusalem street when suddenly a car stopped next to him, and men inside spat upon him and hurled insults, trash and water bottles. When the assailants stepped out, he was fearful enough to call the police who swiftly arrived to rescue him.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/ahead-draft-ultra-orthodox-soldiers-under-fire-070250477.htmlWed, 17 Jul 2013 03:02:50 -0400Associated Pressahead-draft-ultra-orthodox-soldiers-under-fire-070250477<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/ahead-draft-ultra-orthodox-soldiers-under-fire-070250477.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/NQumSPyDTH4Rz8RWQMuuVA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/35f5e946e737cd17370f6a706700720f.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="In this Sunday, July 14, 2013 photo, ultra-Orthodox Jewish men walk past a poster in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem. A large cartoon poster depicts Haredi soldiers rolling through the streets atop tanks trying to lure young boys onto their vehicles. The ad denounces the soldiers as Zionist &quot;ambassadors&quot; and &quot;missionaries.&quot; The soldiers in sidecurls have been coined the insulting nickname &quot;Hardak&quot; _ a combination of Haredi and insect. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)" align="left" title="In this Sunday, July 14, 2013 photo, ultra-Orthodox Jewish men walk past a poster in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem. A large cartoon poster depicts Haredi soldiers rolling through the streets atop tanks trying to lure young boys onto their vehicles. The ad denounces the soldiers as Zionist &quot;ambassadors&quot; and &quot;missionaries.&quot; The soldiers in sidecurls have been coined the insulting nickname &quot;Hardak&quot; _ a combination of Haredi and insect. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)" border="0" /></a>JERUSALEM (AP) ? The Israeli soldier was walking home on a busy Jerusalem street when suddenly a car stopped next to him, and men inside spat upon him and hurled insults, trash and water bottles. When the assailants stepped out, he was fearful enough to call the police who swiftly arrived to rescue him.</p><br clear="all"/>Girls on Palestinian TV Call Jews ?Barbaric Monkeys? and ?Wretched Pigs?"Jerusalem vomits from within it your impurity..."http://news.yahoo.com/girls-palestinian-tv-call-jews-barbaric-monkeys-wretched-181515924.htmlMon, 08 Jul 2013 14:15:15 -0400The Blazegirls-palestinian-tv-call-jews-barbaric-monkeys-wretched-181515924Attack on Muslim Brotherhood Protesters During Pre-Dawn Prayers Kills 35 in CairoMuslim Brotherhood calls for "uprising."http://news.yahoo.com/attack-muslim-brotherhood-protesters-during-pre-dawn-prayers-155819155.htmlMon, 08 Jul 2013 11:58:19 -0400The Blazeattack-muslim-brotherhood-protesters-during-pre-dawn-prayers-155819155

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