UNDISCLOSED LOCATION IN NORTH CAUCASUS, Russia (Reuters) - The parents of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects have retreated to a village in southern Russia to shelter from the spotlight and abandoned plans for now to travel to the United States, the father of the suspects told Reuters on Sunday.
Speaking in the garden of a large house, Anzor Tsarnaev said he believed he would not be allowed to see his surviving son Dzhokhar?, who was captured and has been charged in connection with the April 15 bomb blasts that killed three people and wounded 264.
"Unfortunately I can't help my child in any way. I am in touch with Dzhokhar's and my own lawyers. They told me they would let me know (what to do)," Tsarnaev said in an interview in the village where he relocated with the suspects' mother.
He agreed to the face-to-face meeting on condition that the village's location in the North Caucasus, a string of mainly Muslim provinces in southern Russia, not be disclosed.
"I am not going back to the United States. For now I am here. I am ill," said Tsarnaev, pacing nervously in the garden at sunset in the quiet village set in rolling hills and surrounded by cow pastures.
His face gaunt and tired, Tsarnaev said he suffered from high blood pressure and a heart condition.
Tsarnaev had said in the North Caucasus province of Dagestan on Thursday that he planned to travel to the United States to see Dzhokhar and bury his elder son, Tamerlan, who was killed during a manhunt four days after the bombings.
In Sunday's interview he said he had decided to move away from the family home in Dagestan to the new location because he wanted to keep a low profile.
Dressed in a black shirt and black trousers, he passionately defended his sons' innocence, saying they had nothing to do with Islamist extremists.
"I feel hopeless. We are simple people. We are trying to understand. We are attacked from all sides," he said, clutching his head in despair.
"I don't know whether I should talk or stay silent. I don't want to harm my child. ... We are used to all sorts of things here but we didn't expect this from the United States."
He and other members of the family believe a man shown on television being led naked into a police car the night of the shootout was Tamerlan, and that the blurry footage, still widely available on YouTube, proves Tamerlan was captured alive. Boston police say Tamerlan was killed in a shootout, and the man seen being led into the car was a bystander who was briefly detained.
Anzor Tsarnaev said he raised the issue with U.S. officials who visited him earlier in the week in his home in Dagestan.
"I asked them: 'I saw my child alive, he was being put into a police vehicle alive and healthy. How come media said he was killed?' They were shocked themselves," the father said.
CAUCASUS ROOTS
The Tsarnaevs are ethnic Chechens who lived in the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan and in Dagestan before emigrating to the United States with their children. The parents returned to Dagestan two years ago, and Tamerlan spent the first half of 2012 there.
The suspects' mother, Zubeidat, was with Anzor Tsarnaev in the village but did not wish to speak.
"She is ill, she is shocked, she is depressed. She lost her children," Tsarnaev said. The couple are divorced but have stayed together.
Although the Tsarnaev brothers have roots in Dagestan and neighboring Chechnya, neither had spent much time there until Tamerlan returned to Dagestan last year for six months.
During his interview, Anzor Tsarnaev denied Tamerlan had any contact with militants during his stay, painting an idyllic picture of his son's visit to his ancestral homeland.
"When he came to stay here, he was a good boy. He read books, (Leo) Tolstoy, (Alexandre) Dumas and thick English language books. He would wake up late and read all day, late into the night," he said.
"Sometimes we went to the mosque. We went to see our relatives, in Dagestan, in Chechnya. We visited a lot of households, it was a nice atmosphere."
Tsarnaev said he had to force his son to return to the United States to complete his U.S. citizenship application after Tamerlan tried to convince his family to allow him to stay in Dagestan for good.
"I told him: 'No, you have to go back to obtain your U.S. citizenship'. I forced him to go back. I thought it was the right thing to do. I shouldn't have done that," he said with a pained expression on his face.
The father said he had no hope that Tamerlan's body would be released by the U.S. authorities to be buried in his homeland.
"They won't give us his body," he said, his voice breaking with emotion. "We wont be able to bury him in our land."
Apr. 25, 2013 ? A strange stellar pair nearly 7,000 light-years from Earth has provided physicists with a unique cosmic laboratory for studying the nature of gravity. The extremely strong gravity of a massive neutron star in orbit with a companion white dwarf star puts competing theories of gravity to a test more stringent than any available before.
Once again, Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, published in 1915, comes out on top.
At some point, however, scientists expect Einstein's model to be invalid under extreme conditions. General Relativity, for example, is incompatible with quantum theory. Physicists hope to find an alternate description of gravity that would eliminate that incompatibility.
A newly-discovered pulsar -- a spinning neutron star with twice the mass of the Sun -- and its white-dwarf companion, orbiting each other once every two and a half hours, has put gravitational theories to the most extreme test yet. Observations of the system, dubbed PSR J0348+0432, produced results consistent with the predictions of General Relativity.
The tightly-orbiting pair was discovered with the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope (GBT), and subsequently studied in visible light with the Apache Point telescope in New Mexico, the Very Large Telescope in Chile, and the William Herschel Telescope in the Canary Islands. Extensive radio observations with the Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico and the Effelsberg telescope in Germany yielded vital data on subtle changes in the pair's orbit.
In such a system, the orbits decay and gravitational waves are emitted, carrying energy from the system. By very precisely measuring the time of arrival of the pulsar's radio pulses over a long period of time, astronomers can determine the rate of decay and the amount of gravitational radiation emitted. The large mass of the neutron star in PSR J0348+0432, the closeness of its orbit with its companion, and the fact that the companion white dwarf is compact but not another neutron star, all make the system an unprecedented opportunity for testing alternative theories of gravity.
Under the extreme conditions of this system, some scientists thought that the equations of General Relativity might not accurately predict the amount of gravitational radiation emitted, and thus change the rate of orbital decay. Competing gravitational theories, they thought, might prove more accurate in this system.
"We thought this system might be extreme enough to show a breakdown in General Relativity, but instead, Einstein's predictions held up quite well," said Paulo Freire, of the Max Planck Institute for Radioastronomy in Germany.
That's good news, the scientists say, for researchers hoping to make the first direct detection of gravitational waves with advanced instruments. Researchers using such instruments hope to detect the gravitational waves emitted as such dense pairs as neutron stars and black holes spiral inward toward violent collisions.
Gravitational waves are extremely difficult to detect and even with the best instruments, physicists expect they will need to know the characteristics of the waves they seek, which will be buried in "noise" from their detectors. Knowing the characteristics of the waves they seek will allow them to extract the signal they seek from that noise.
"Our results indicate that the filtering techniques planned for these advanced instruments remain valid," said Ryan Lynch, of McGill University.
Freire and Lynch worked with a large international team of researchers. They reported their results in the journal Science.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
J. Antoniadis, P. C. C. Freire, N. Wex, T. M. Tauris, R. S. Lynch, M. H. van Kerkwijk, M. Kramer, C. Bassa, V. S. Dhillon, T. Driebe, J. W. T. Hessels, V. M. Kaspi, V. I. Kondratiev, N. Langer, T. R. Marsh, M. A. McLaughlin, T. T. Pennucci, S. M. Ransom, I. H. Stairs, J. van Leeuwen, J. P. W. Verbiest, D. G. Whelan. A Massive Pulsar in a Compact Relativistic Binary. Science, 2013; 340 (6131): 1233232 DOI: 10.1126/science.1233232
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau (AP) ? A military tribunal in Guinea-Bissau has convicted an army captain of leading a failed coup last year.
Pansau Ntchama was sentenced on Thursday to serve five years in prison after being found guilty of treason and using illegal weapons.
Ntchama was the ex-bodyguard of Guinea-Bissau's former army chief of staff.
Authorities say he led gunmen who attacked a military base near the airport in Bissau in October 2012. The army fought back and the coup failed.
Troubled Guinea-Bissau has had so many coups and countercoups that no elected leader has been able to complete his term in the nearly four decades since the country won its independence from Portugal.
The most recent coup occurred in April 2012, just weeks before the presidential runoff election.
New grass hybrid could help reduce the likelihood of floodingPublic release date: 25-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Chris Melvin, Media Officer chris.melvin@bbsrc.ac.uk 01-793-414-694 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
A collaboration of plant and soil scientists from across the UK has shown a grass hybrid species could help reduce the impact of flooding.
The BBSRC-funded scientists, from Rothamsted Research, the James Hutton Institute, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, Lancaster University and the University of Nottingham, used a hybridised species of grass called perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) with a closely related species called meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis).
They hoped to integrate the rapid establishment and growth rate of the ryegrass with the large, well developed root systems and efficient water capture of the meadow fescue.
Over two years of field experiments in the south west the team demonstrated that the hybrid, named Festulolium, reduced water runoff from agricultural grassland by up to 51 per cent compared to a leading UK nationally-recommended perennial ryegrass cultivar and by 43 per cent compared to meadow fescue.
It is thought the reduced runoff is achieved because Festulolium's intense initial root growth and subsequent rapid turn-over, especially at depth, allows more water to be retained within the soil.
The hybrid grass also provides high quality forage with resilience to weather extremes, making the grass doubly useful to farmers.
Dr. Kit Macleod, catchment scientist at the James Hutton Institute and one of the authors of the paper, said: "Hybrid grasses of this type show potential for reducing the likelihood of flood generation, whilst providing pasture for food production under conditions of changing climate.
"In areas with similar climate and soils, then there is potential for reducing the likelihood of flood generation based on increased soil water storage within a river's catchment."
Professor Douglas Kell, Chief Executive of BBSRC, said: "We usually think of improving food crops solely in terms of traits such as the yield and quality of the food itself, and apart from root crops such as potatoes and carrots these are easily visible, above-ground traits. However, there is increasing recognition that the health and utility of plants can be greatly enhanced by improving below-ground traits such as root growth.
"This is a superb example of that reasoning, and a hugely important advance resulting from decades of fundamental BBSRC-supported work on the hybridisation of Lolium and Festuca (Fescue) species. I am sure that we shall see a continuing resurgence of interest in root biology, which findings such as this are sure to promote. The enormous savings that will be possible by mitigating flooding through planting grasses such as these dwarf any possible cost of producing them."
###
For more information contact BBSRC media office on 01793 414694.
A novel grass hybrid to reduce flood generation in temperate regions has been scheduled for online publication in Scientific Reports on Thursday 25 April at 1400 London time/0900 US Eastern Time.
Scientific Reports is an online-only journal. The online version of the article can be considered definitive. The DOI for this paper will be 10.1038/ srep01683. Once the paper is published electronically, the paper will be freely available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep01683. Please note that the correct citation of the journal is "Scientific Reports" not "Nature Scientific Reports."
This research was funded by a grant (BB/D010683/1) from the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Rothamsted Research and Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) are grant-funded by BBSRC.
Notes to editors
About BBSRC
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.
Funded by Government, and with an annual budget of around 500M (2012-2013), we support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
For more information about BBSRC, our science and our impact see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk
For more information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/institutes
James Hutton Institute
The James Hutton Institute is a world-leading, multi-site scientific organisation encompassing a distinctive range of integrated strengths in land, crop, waters, environmental and socio-economic science. It undertakes research for customers including the Scottish and UK Governments, the EU and other organisations worldwide. The institute has a staff of nearly 600 and 125 PhD students.
The Institute organises its research through seven principal themes: Safeguarding Natural Capital, Enhancing Crop Productivity and Utilisation, Delivering Sustainable Production Systems, Controlling Weeds, Pests and Diseases, Managing Catchments and Coasts, Realising Land's Potential and Nurturing Vibrant and Low Carbon Communities.
IBERS
IBERS is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for the study of biological, environmental and rural sciences.
It is a unique institution within Higher Education the UK which draws on academic expertise to undertake ground-breaking research to improve agricultural practices and to inform policy. The extensive range of work undertaken covers teaching, research, enterprise and knowledge transfer which enables IBERS to play a valuable role in the global drive to tackle some of the world's most urgent challenges.
IBERS was established in April 2008 following the merger of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER),formerly part of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council(BBSRC), with Aberystwyth University. IBERS receives strategic funding for research from the BBSRC, and benefits from financial support from the Welsh Government, DEFRA and the European Union.
http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/
Lancaster University
Lancaster University is ranked in the top 1% of Universities in the world and ranked 9th in the Times Higher World's top 100 universities under 50.
Following the latest research assessment exercise over 90% of the research at Lancaster was found to be world leading or internationally significant with some key areas of research ranked top in the UK. Lancaster is a member of the N8 Group - a research partnership of the top 8 most research intensive universities in the North of England.
http://www.lancs.ac.uk
The University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham has 42,000 students at award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. It was 'one of the first to embrace a truly international approach to higher education', according to the Sunday Times University Guide 2013. It is also one of the most popular universities among graduate employers, one of the world's greenest universities, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for 'Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development'. It is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 75 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong and the QS World Rankings.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University aims to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its research into global food security.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest ever fundraising campaign, will deliver the University's vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future.
About Rothamsted Research
Rothamsted is an independent scientific research institute and the longest running agricultural research station in the world. Established in 1843 and strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), we provide independent, cutting-edge scientific research to develop innovations that benefit our health, farming and the environment.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
New grass hybrid could help reduce the likelihood of floodingPublic release date: 25-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Chris Melvin, Media Officer chris.melvin@bbsrc.ac.uk 01-793-414-694 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
A collaboration of plant and soil scientists from across the UK has shown a grass hybrid species could help reduce the impact of flooding.
The BBSRC-funded scientists, from Rothamsted Research, the James Hutton Institute, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, Lancaster University and the University of Nottingham, used a hybridised species of grass called perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) with a closely related species called meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis).
They hoped to integrate the rapid establishment and growth rate of the ryegrass with the large, well developed root systems and efficient water capture of the meadow fescue.
Over two years of field experiments in the south west the team demonstrated that the hybrid, named Festulolium, reduced water runoff from agricultural grassland by up to 51 per cent compared to a leading UK nationally-recommended perennial ryegrass cultivar and by 43 per cent compared to meadow fescue.
It is thought the reduced runoff is achieved because Festulolium's intense initial root growth and subsequent rapid turn-over, especially at depth, allows more water to be retained within the soil.
The hybrid grass also provides high quality forage with resilience to weather extremes, making the grass doubly useful to farmers.
Dr. Kit Macleod, catchment scientist at the James Hutton Institute and one of the authors of the paper, said: "Hybrid grasses of this type show potential for reducing the likelihood of flood generation, whilst providing pasture for food production under conditions of changing climate.
"In areas with similar climate and soils, then there is potential for reducing the likelihood of flood generation based on increased soil water storage within a river's catchment."
Professor Douglas Kell, Chief Executive of BBSRC, said: "We usually think of improving food crops solely in terms of traits such as the yield and quality of the food itself, and apart from root crops such as potatoes and carrots these are easily visible, above-ground traits. However, there is increasing recognition that the health and utility of plants can be greatly enhanced by improving below-ground traits such as root growth.
"This is a superb example of that reasoning, and a hugely important advance resulting from decades of fundamental BBSRC-supported work on the hybridisation of Lolium and Festuca (Fescue) species. I am sure that we shall see a continuing resurgence of interest in root biology, which findings such as this are sure to promote. The enormous savings that will be possible by mitigating flooding through planting grasses such as these dwarf any possible cost of producing them."
###
For more information contact BBSRC media office on 01793 414694.
A novel grass hybrid to reduce flood generation in temperate regions has been scheduled for online publication in Scientific Reports on Thursday 25 April at 1400 London time/0900 US Eastern Time.
Scientific Reports is an online-only journal. The online version of the article can be considered definitive. The DOI for this paper will be 10.1038/ srep01683. Once the paper is published electronically, the paper will be freely available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep01683. Please note that the correct citation of the journal is "Scientific Reports" not "Nature Scientific Reports."
This research was funded by a grant (BB/D010683/1) from the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Rothamsted Research and Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) are grant-funded by BBSRC.
Notes to editors
About BBSRC
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.
Funded by Government, and with an annual budget of around 500M (2012-2013), we support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
For more information about BBSRC, our science and our impact see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk
For more information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/institutes
James Hutton Institute
The James Hutton Institute is a world-leading, multi-site scientific organisation encompassing a distinctive range of integrated strengths in land, crop, waters, environmental and socio-economic science. It undertakes research for customers including the Scottish and UK Governments, the EU and other organisations worldwide. The institute has a staff of nearly 600 and 125 PhD students.
The Institute organises its research through seven principal themes: Safeguarding Natural Capital, Enhancing Crop Productivity and Utilisation, Delivering Sustainable Production Systems, Controlling Weeds, Pests and Diseases, Managing Catchments and Coasts, Realising Land's Potential and Nurturing Vibrant and Low Carbon Communities.
IBERS
IBERS is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for the study of biological, environmental and rural sciences.
It is a unique institution within Higher Education the UK which draws on academic expertise to undertake ground-breaking research to improve agricultural practices and to inform policy. The extensive range of work undertaken covers teaching, research, enterprise and knowledge transfer which enables IBERS to play a valuable role in the global drive to tackle some of the world's most urgent challenges.
IBERS was established in April 2008 following the merger of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER),formerly part of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council(BBSRC), with Aberystwyth University. IBERS receives strategic funding for research from the BBSRC, and benefits from financial support from the Welsh Government, DEFRA and the European Union.
http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/
Lancaster University
Lancaster University is ranked in the top 1% of Universities in the world and ranked 9th in the Times Higher World's top 100 universities under 50.
Following the latest research assessment exercise over 90% of the research at Lancaster was found to be world leading or internationally significant with some key areas of research ranked top in the UK. Lancaster is a member of the N8 Group - a research partnership of the top 8 most research intensive universities in the North of England.
http://www.lancs.ac.uk
The University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham has 42,000 students at award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. It was 'one of the first to embrace a truly international approach to higher education', according to the Sunday Times University Guide 2013. It is also one of the most popular universities among graduate employers, one of the world's greenest universities, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for 'Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development'. It is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 75 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong and the QS World Rankings.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University aims to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its research into global food security.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest ever fundraising campaign, will deliver the University's vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future.
About Rothamsted Research
Rothamsted is an independent scientific research institute and the longest running agricultural research station in the world. Established in 1843 and strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), we provide independent, cutting-edge scientific research to develop innovations that benefit our health, farming and the environment.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
FOR STORY BRITAIN COSMETIC SURGERY - FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 6, 2012, file photo showing the closed gate of the entrance to Poly Implant Prothese, PIP factory in La Seyne-sur-Mer, southern France. An independent expert group released a report Wednesday April 24, 2013, which slammed Britain?s cosmetic surgery industry for not protecting patients adequately and is calling for stricter controls in the aftermath of a breast implant scandal in Europe last year that left tens of thousands of women with cheap silicone implants which are allegedly prone to ruptures. The expert group, commissioned by the U.K. Department of Health, also called for the creation of a registry of implants and other medical devices. (AP Photo/Claude Paris, File)
FOR STORY BRITAIN COSMETIC SURGERY - FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 6, 2012, file photo showing the closed gate of the entrance to Poly Implant Prothese, PIP factory in La Seyne-sur-Mer, southern France. An independent expert group released a report Wednesday April 24, 2013, which slammed Britain?s cosmetic surgery industry for not protecting patients adequately and is calling for stricter controls in the aftermath of a breast implant scandal in Europe last year that left tens of thousands of women with cheap silicone implants which are allegedly prone to ruptures. The expert group, commissioned by the U.K. Department of Health, also called for the creation of a registry of implants and other medical devices. (AP Photo/Claude Paris, File)
LONDON (AP) ? Recession may just be a word. But in Britain it may become a habit ? and a dangerous one at that.
It's possible that official figures on first quarter economic growth, to be released Thursday, could put the country back in recession, and tension is building.
Although economists on average expect growth of 0.1 percent on the quarter, they warn it would take the smallest statistical variation to put the figure in negative territory. That would place the country in recession, technically defined as two consecutive quarters of economic contraction.
Another recession ? the third since the 2008 financial crisis ? is already being referred to with foreboding in the media as a "Triple Dip." Experts warn that its confirmation would create a wave of negative media attention that would scare consumers away from spending, feeding into a vicious cycle that has the economy flat-lining.
"It's psychological ? this is all psychological," said Cary Cooper, a professor at Lancaster University Management School. "It's about the message that those figures send to consumers and small businesses."
The government desperately wants a strong number to justify its increasingly criticized policy of painful spending cuts. But recent indicators on Britain's economy, the third-largest in the 27-country EU after Germany and France, have been disappointing.
Inflation is rising, cutting into people's standard of living. Unemployment is up. Two international ratings agencies have downgraded the country's credit grade from the top level AAA, warning about the government's fiscal policies.
The government, which has long played on its AAA rating as a sign of its economic might, has been pursuing a harsh program of spending cuts and tax increases to reduce the budget deficit, which at 7.4 percent of annual economic output is more than twice the EU's 3 percent limit. Like many governments across Europe that have been scarred by the bond market turmoil that forced Greece and four other countries to need rescue loans, Britain is focusing on reducing debt quickly, even at the cost of short-term economic pain.
What some governments and economists are slowly realizing, however, is that they may have underestimated the damage such austerity would do.
There's long been pressure domestically in Britain to ease off the budget cuts, but in the past few days the International Monetary Fund also chimed in. The fund, whose views carry weight as it is involved in all of Europe's sovereign bailout programs, has pressured Treasury chief George Osborne to slow down the austerity measures in hopes of reviving the economy, whose output last year was worth 1.4 trillion pounds ($2.1 trillion at current exchange rates).
As the debate rages on, no other person than the national spiritual leader ? the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby ? has waded in and used a word no want wants to hear: Depression.
Welby has unusual standing in the world of money because in a previous life he served as an oil industry executive and now sits on the parliamentary banking standards committee. He told an audience at the heart of government in Westminster on Monday that there was an issue of confidence and trust ? and there is need to rebuild both.
"I would argue that what we are in at the moment is not a recession, but essentially some kind of depression and it therefore takes something very, very major to get out of it in the same way as it took something major for us to get into it," he said.
The Bank of England has cut interest rates to record lows and pumped money into the financial system in the hope that will encourage banks to lend money more cheaply. But the results have been mixed and experts say there is only so much a central bank can do to create jobs.
Even if the economy dodges recession, the daily reality for many Britons remains tough.
The Trussell Trust, a food bank network, said it fed more than 350,000 people in the year ending in March ? more than double the 128,000 served in the previous 12-month period. Tim Boyce, a retired investment banker who runs a south London branch, said he's seeing the people behind those numbers. Inside a frosty church that's opened its doors to the desperate, he watches as they come for emergency handouts of rice, pasta and beans.
"Most people don't realize the extent of poverty," he said as he sipped coffee to keep the edge off the chill. "It's hiding in plain view."
Take the cases of Kevin Bishenden, 50, and his wife, Nicola, 40. He's an upholsterer who says that no one wants to hire someone his age. She says she just can't find work. The only reason they aren't homeless is that Britain's welfare state manages to keep a roof over their heads.
But they've slowly been shedding all their possessions, together with memories of a past life. First a bike, then stuff from the kitchen. All the DVDs are going, though even Star Trek only gets you a few pennies. They've already sold their wedding rings.
He lamented a new council tax payment of 15 pounds ($22.80) that came into effect as part of government austerity plans. His exhaustion was plain as he tried to imagine paying for it.
Apple had an earnings call today, giving the low down on the company’s performance for its second quarter of 2013. The Cupertino company beat analyst estimates on a number of fronts, including total revenue and iPhone and iPad sales. We’re ...
WASHINGTON (AP) ? More parents need to talk with their teens about the dangers of abusing Ritalin, Adderall and other prescription drugs, suggests a new study that finds discouraging trends on kids and drug use.
When teens were asked about the last substance abuse conversation they had with their parents, just 14 percent said they talked about abusing a prescription drug, said the report being released Tuesday by The Partnership at Drugfree.org.
"For parents, it really comes down to not using the power they have because they don't think this is an immediate problem, meaning their own home, own neighborhood kind of thing," says Steve Pasierb, president of the partnership. "They believe that this is probably a safer way, not as bad as illegal street drugs."
By comparison, most teens ? 81 percent ? said they have talked about the risks of marijuana use with their parents. Almost the same number said they have discussed alcohol with their parents. Almost one-third said they have talked about crack and cocaine.
Some parents didn't see a significant risk in teens misusing prescription drugs.
One in six parents said using prescription drugs to get high is safer than using street drugs, according to the survey. Almost one-third of the parents said attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications such as Ritalin or Adderall can improve a child's academic or testing performance even if the teen does not have ADHD.
For Tracey and Jeff Gerl, of Cypress, Texas, their son's drug abuse problem was a shock.
"We just didn't know," said Jeff. He and his wife had the "drugs are bad" talk with their son, Nick, and thought he got the message. They called the parents of friends when he said he was spending the night to make sure an adult would be home. They tried to get to know his friends. Despite their efforts, Nick started smoking pot at the age of 12.
In an AP interview, Nick said he and his friends often raided their parents' medicine cabinets for anything they could get their hands on ? codeine, Xanax, Ritalin. Some kids, Nick said, would have "skittles parties," where the teens threw all the pills they poached from home into a big bowl, mixed them up and then took a few without knowing exactly what they were ingesting.
By 14, Nick's parents knew something was wrong. The day before he turned 15, they sent Nick to The Center for Success and Independence in Houston for 7 ? months of substance abuse treatment. It wasn't easy on anyone in the family ? Nick, his two younger brothers and his parents. Nick tried to escape twice, but made it through the program and has been sober now for a year.
"My family life is a lot better. I'm realizing there are fun things in life that I can do sober," said Nick, now 16. "I got a chance to get clean and I have my whole life ahead of me."
One in four teens in the study said they had misused or abused a prescription drug at least once. That's up sharply, a 33 percent increase, in the last five years. One in eight teens report misusing or abusing the drugs Ritalin or Adderall ? stimulants prescribed to treat ADHD. Other national studies also have seen a rise in abuse numbers for these stimulants among teens.
The partnership's Pasierb says parents need to talk early and often with their children about the dangers of drugs, including prescription drugs. "They need to tell their children that this isn't healthy for you and it will break my heart if you do this."
Looking back, Tracey Gerl says she should have listened to her gut more when she first suspected Nick might be using drugs.
"If it doesn't seem right, it's not," said Gerl. "Don't ever be naive to think it's not my kid."
For parents who want to clean out their medicine cabinets of old, unused or expired prescriptions ? the Drug Enforcement Administration and Justice Department is sponsoring a "take-back" day. Collection sites will be set up around the country on April 27 where people can safely toss away their unwanted medicine. Information about sites near you is available at: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ .
The partnership's study was sponsored by the MetLife Foundation. Researchers surveyed 3,884 teens in grades 9-12 with anonymous questionnaires that the youngsters filled out at school from February to June 2012. The teen sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points. For the adults, the sample was 817 for surveying conducted from August to October 2012, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
Based in New York, The Partnership at Drugfree.org is formerly The Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The nonprofit group launched its new name in 2010 to position itself as more of a resource to parents and to avoid the misperception the partnership is a government organization.
___
Online:
Report will be available at 12:01 a.m. EDT: http://www.drugfree.org
Apr. 22, 2013 ? As many as one in 50 people around the world is infected with some type of hepacivirus or pegivirus, including up to 200 million with hepatitis C virus (HCV), a leading cause of liver failure and liver cancer. There has been speculation that these agents arose in wildlife and jumped species to infect humans; however, little was known about their distribution in other species.
In two new papers published in the journals mBio and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, investigators at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health report the discovery of hepaciviruses and pegiviruses -- close relatives of HCV -- in rodents and bats. The viruses are similar to those that infect humans and may therefore provide insights into the origins of HCV, as well as the mechanisms behind animal-to-human transmission. It may also enable development of new animal systems with which to model HCV pathogenesis, vaccine design, and treatment.
Both discoveries were made using high-throughput sequencing and other molecular methods for pathogen discovery pioneered at CII. Both represented multicenter global efforts.
As reported in mBio, Amit Kapoor, PhD, and colleagues screened more than 400 wild-caught rodents. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of hepaciviruses and pegiviruses closely related to those found in humans. "Importantly, the rodent hepaviviruses contained sequences that are thought to play a role in liver infection in HCV," says Dr. Kapoor, lead author of the study and assistant professor of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University Medical Center. "We also found instances of a single animal infected with multiple hepaciviruses."
Such co-infections have also been observed with HCV in humans, suggesting that the immune response to HCV is different than with most viral infections -- a finding that has implications for vaccine design. "It also supports the potential use of rodent hepaciviruses in developing models for human disease," says W. Ian Lipkin, MD, John Snow Professor of Epidemiology and director of the CII.
Researchers from Rockefeller University, University of Edinburgh, University of Copenhagen, University of New Mexico, North Carolina College of Veterinary Medicine, Pennsylvania State University and the National Institutes of Health contributed to the study. Results appear online in mBio.
In a second study led by P. Lan Quan, PhD, molecular assays of 1,615 bats collected worldwide led to the identification of 83 novel hepaciviruses and pegiviruses, representing an infection rate of nearly 5%. "The broad prevalence, unprecedented diversity, and worldwide distribution of these novel viruses suggest that bats are a major and ancient reservoir for both hepaciviruses and pegiviruses, and provide insights into the evolutionary history of HCV and human pegiviruses," says Dr. Quan, associate research scientist at the Center for Infection and Immunity.
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal References:
Phenix-Lan Quan, Cadhla Firth, Juliette M. Conte, Simon H. Williams, Carlos M. Zambrana-Torrelio, Simon J. Anthony, James A. Ellison, Amy T. Gilbert, Ivan V. Kuzmin, Michael Niezgoda, Modupe O. V. Osinubi, Sergio Recuenco, Wanda Markotter, Robert F. Breiman, Lems Kalemba, Jean Malekani, Kim A. Lindblade, Melinda K. Rostal, Rafael Ojeda-Flores, Gerardo Suzan, Lora B. Davis, Dianna M. Blau, Albert B. Ogunkoya, Danilo A. Alvarez Castillo, David Moran, Sali Ngam, Dudu Akaibe, Bernard Agwanda, Thomas Briese, Jonathan H. Epstein, Peter Daszak, Charles E. Rupprecht, Edward C. Holmes, and W. Ian Lipkin. Bats are a major natural reservoir for hepaciviruses and pegiviruses. PNAS, April 22, 2013 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1303037110
A. Kapoor, P. Simmonds, T. K. H. Scheel, B. Hjelle, J. M. Cullen, P. D. Burbelo, L. V. Chauhan, R. Duraisamy, M. Sanchez Leon, K. Jain, K. J. Vandegrift, C. H. Calisher, C. M. Rice, W. I. Lipkin. Identification of Rodent Homologs of Hepatitis C Virus and Pegiviruses. mBio, 2013; 4 (2): e00216-13 DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00216-13
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
(Reuters) - News Corp on Monday said it recovered a $139 million in insurance proceeds in a settlement with shareholders over the board of directors' actions related to the company's phone hacking scandal and its acquisition of Shine studios.
The company said the money would come from insurance policies held by members of the board who were the defendants in the suits.
News Corp also said it would adopt enhanced corporate governance procedures, which would stay in place after the company's pending split later this year.
The agreement said the settlement is not an admission of wrong doing by News Corp.
"We are pleased to have resolved this matter," News Corp said in a statement.
"The agreement reflects the important steps News Corporation has taken over the last year to strengthen our corporate governance and compliance structure and we have committed to building on those efforts going forward."
Plaintiffs, including Amalgamated Bank and the New Orleans Employees' Retirement System, first sued in March 2011 over News Corp's acquisition of Shine Group Ltd, a company owned by Chairman Rupert Murdoch's daughter.
They amended the lawsuit in July 2011 to add claims related to the phone hacking scandal, which led News Corp shut down its British newspaper News of the World.
"We are proud of this historic settlement, which continues the 20 year history of Amalgamated Bank encouraging corporate reform and improved corporate governance." Edward Grebow, president & CEO of Amalgamated Bank, said in a statement.
Central Laborers Pension Fund and the City of New Orleans Employees' Retirement System (NOMERS)Chairman Edgar Chase said in statement, "We are proud of the meaningful role that we and our counsel played in the Company's continuing efforts to strengthen its governance on behalf of our beneficiaries in achieving this recovery and further improving corporate governance practices at News Corporation."
The agreement represents one of the largest derivative settlements in Delaware.
(Reporting by Ben Berkowitz; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick and Jeffrey Benkoe and Theodore d'Afflisio)
In Morocco, ?India? immediately conjures up pictures of ?Bollywood? stars to the locals. But that?s not the only connection between the two countries. In fact, ever since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Morocco in 1957, the ties between the two countries have grown stronger to encompass diverse areas. Morocco considers India as its top trading partner in Asia and the third largest globally. Bilateral relations have expanded beyond trade and supply of phosphates, a key ingredient for fertilizers of which Morocco holds two-thirds of global reserves, to investment in services and a slew of other segments. Home to over 70 pristine tourist destinations Morocco, the North African country, is proactively seeking investments from India in the hospitality sector as it courts Indian travellers to come and explore its natural beauty. The Tata group is perhaps the only Indian chain to have opened a luxury property, Taj Palace Marrakech, a 130-acre resort that overlooks the Atlas Mountain, last November. Following the Taj?s entry would be a host of brands like Banyan Tree, Mandarin Oriental, among others, who are literally making a beeline in Morocco. Now, home-grown brand like La Mamounia, an iconic property that seldom needed much marketing for its sheer popularity, is left to venture out of its comfort zone seeking a new market. Considered a destination in itself, La Mamounia has been the favourite of people like Winston Churchill, who stayed there through many winters. So did the legendary Franklin D. Roosevelt. With a beautiful landscaped garden dotted with trees and plants, the resort has never been large enough to satisfy all the guests who wanted to be accommodated. Until the end of thirties, the hotel had only fifty rooms. But it was expanded in 1946 to include 100 rooms, then refurbished successively in 1950, 1953, 1986 and finally in 2006 for a reopening with 210 keys on September 29, 009. Seeped in history, the property which dates back to the eighteenth century is a true monument combining the traditional Moroccan architecture with the Art Deco style. Didier Picquot, the affable General Manager, La Mamounia, who has played a pivotal role in entrenching the hotel?s global reputation, recently visited India, wooing new clients to come and experience his property. In this interview with Hoihnu Hauzel, Picquot speaks about cultural connections between India and Morocco and how Morocoo?s hospitality industry is looking at the growing market for luxury travel anew. (Excerpts from the interview) Q) You have a very negligible percentage of guests from India, particularly in your property. Now, what makes you think that India is a potential market for your hotel/country? A) Indeed, India is currently considered a niche market for La Mamounia and Marrakech in general; we have ended in 2012 with less than 1 per cent. Being the official partner of the Marrakech Film Festival during the last edition of 2012 when India was the country being honoured, we believe it is a great platform for us to work on penetrating this market with high potential. The Indian market is becoming very mature for the European destinations and it will show a bigger interest for Marrakech in the upcoming years. In addition, we thought that the opening of a new Taj property in Marrakech will also generate media focus on Marrakech as a lifestyle and leisure destination. Q) Would the opening of Taj Palace Marrakech in some ways be considered a competition for your brand? In what way will it impact your occupancy? A) Taj is a landmark brand in India and La Mamounia is the landmark hotel in Marrakech; the future opening of Taj Marrakech will definitely help us to stir an interest toward the destination and introduce our property to the Indian high-end travellers. Taj will be a competitor as it is a strong luxury brand which has very high quality standards. It will also attract a new kind of travellers, and thus further strengthen the position of Marrakech as an upscale luxury destination. Q) During your recent trip to India (through Rajasthan), what are the cultural affinities between India and Morocco that you noticed?
A) As in Morocco, there is in India a very strong family bond. There is also the delight to display and share the various food of the country as well as enjoyment of music and dance. There is respect for ancestral rites and legacies and concomitantly a great interest towards modernity. Tradition and modernity ? which is also the equilibrium which La Mamounia straddles. Q) How would you make your property or the destination appealing for Indian customers? A) La Mamounia is one of the most iconic hotels in the world. This year, we are celebrating our 90th anniversary. La Mamounia is a lifestyle destination in itself, combining a unique sensory experience with handcrafted architecture and decoration, gastronomy from Morocco, France and Italy, Spa and Wellness, personalized service. We are also a children-friendly hotel. The location of La Mamounia is ideal to discover Marrakech as we are located just five minutes away from the most famous square in Marrakech: The Jammaa El Fna square. In addition, our legendary gardens of eight hectares are silent witness of our long and fabulous history. Q) What kind of tourists are you targeting from India? A) We are targeting all travellers who are luxury-sensitive and looking for a one of a kind experience. Q) How is Indian culture perceived in Morocco? What do you think connects us? A) Indian culture is well known and loved in Morocco! Moroccans are big fans of Bollywood. Movies are the way to export culture so you will find lots of Moroccans, who are very familiar with all the customs you have in India as weddings, family celebrations or food, culture, familiar habits, food are the biggest connections between us but they are also some small similarities like the way women are dressed in Morocco and in India: for instance, the traditional Indian wear, sari, is very popular in Morocco and is used to make traditional women Moroccan dress: Kaftan. Q) You (your hotel) has played host to our top film stars during the recently-concluded international film festival. In what manner can Bollywood be used as a ticket to further connect our cultural bond? A) Celebrities are always a way to attract people as they are considered as opinion leaders. When we were in India we realized how film stars like Shahrukh Khan or Amitabh Bachchan are adored and respected. We sincerely believe that having welcomed them in our hotel is a ?plus? for La Mamounia and will certainly play a big role in attracting travellers who wish to visit Marrakech. Q) What are you specific plans/strategies for Indian market? How do you plan to reach out? A) As we do in all our markets, we focus on direct contact with travel agents, the media and consortia. We do believe that a direct contact and a close relationship with our partners is the best way to strengthen and reinforce our presence in a market. We will definitely return next year and will keep in touch with our partners and new contacts we have met during this visit. Q) Would you at any time consider introducing Indian cuisine as a part of the menu in your coffee shop or any restaurants in your property? A) Not for the moment?.we do believe that offering Moroccan food is a good way to introduce the Moroccan culture. In addition, we do offer two gastronomic restaurants ?Le Fran?ais by Jean-Pierre Vigato? and ?L? Italien by Don Alfonso?; both are two stars Michelin chefs. We propose vegetarian recipes in all our restaurants and room service.
MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) ? Organizers of Bahrain's Grand Prix said Thursday that sporadic protests against the race and violent unrest across the Gulf nation do not pose a threat to the premier international event in the kingdom.
Anti-government groups have stepped up protests against the race in attempts to embarrass authorities, but the demonstrations have been mostly isolated to areas that are hotbeds of opposition to the ruling royal family. Rights groups also are using the race to criticize Bahrain's arrests and other security crackdowns.
Zayed Alzayani, the chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, said security measures in place this week at the circuit were no different than in past races. Police vehicles dotted the road leading to the circuit and there were several checkpoints before the track.
"We don't feel there is a direct threat to the track nor have we received any threats to the track," Alzayani said. "But we take everything into account. For us, we want to produce an event that is memorable for those who attended."
Alzayani insisted that Sunday's race, which is biggest event in the Gulf nation and generates as much $220 million, is a unifying force in the country and that a majority of Bahrainis were backing it. He said ticket sales were up 20 percent over last year with 25,000 fans expected at the race.
"One of the distinctions of our race, when compared to other races around world, is you have total buy in from the nation," he said. "The race has been endorsed by all members of society, including the opposition. If there are people who are against the race, that is fine. They are entitled to express their opinion within the confines of the law."
Bahrain has faced more than two years of violence between the Sunni-led government and majority Shiites seeking a greater political voice. The latest clashes occurred mostly in Shiite districts of the country, which are often scenes of unrest. Graffiti on walls said: "No F1," a reference to the Formula One event. "Don't race on our blood."
The race was postponed in 2011 after the Arab Spring-inspired uprising hit the country. The 2012 race was held, but was remembered more for massive protests before the event rather than Sebastian Vettel's victory.
One man died last year near the scene of the demonstrations, but this year there has been less attention on the race from rights groups and the protests so far have been smaller and less violent.
Still, rights groups have used the race to highlight what they contend has been the slow pace of reform on the strategic island nation, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. They also complain of widespread arrests in the weeks preceding the race in villages surrounding the circuit.
There were clashes much of Thursday between stone-throwing protesters and riot police firing bird shot and tear gas, said Yousef al-Muhafedha, acting president of the Bahrain Human Rights Center. Thirteen people were detained and three were injured, he said.
The Ministry of Interior said seven people have been detained, including one person for a "car explosion" in Bahrain's new financial district. It provided no other details about the explosion. Four others were detained for stealing a car and burning it, and another for blocking a highway.
"Instead of responding to the uprising of February 2011, the last two years have seen continued killings, arbitrary arrests and alleged torture in Bahrain," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Program. "The authorities are trying to use the Grand Prix as a platform to show progress, with claims that the human rights situation has improved, whilst stepping up repression in order to ensure nothing disturbs their public image."
Several groups have called for the race to be canceled, including a group of British parliamentarians who sent a letter to Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone.
Responding to several rights groups concerned about the race, Jean Todt, the president of F1A, the governing body of world motor sports that includes Formula 1, said in an email that it is "our firm belief that sports, and the F1 Grand Prix, can have a positive and healing effect in situations where conflict, social unrest and tensions are causing distress."
At the Bahrain International Circuit, the only driver who talked extensively about the political situation was Red Bull's Mark Webber who had raised concerns about holding the race last year. He said he had "softened" his stance this year after the 2012 race was held without incident.
"We proved in past the event as a whole can go off not too badly," Webber said. "It's awkward but we have shown we can have the event but there is still one eye on what is happening here. ... We need to try to, as a sport we love, to do whatever we can for the fans and make sure the countries (where) we go, everything is as good as possible. We can't control everything."
LOS ANGELES (AP) ? NBC said Friday that it's pulling an episode of its serial killer drama "Hannibal" out of sensitivity to recent violence, including the Boston bombings.
The episode that was to air next week features a character, played by guest star Molly Shannon, who brainwashes children to kill other children.
"Hannibal" executive producer Bryan Fuller asked NBC to pull the episode, citing the Newtown, Conn., school shooting in December and this week's Boston Marathon attack, NBC spokesman Stuart Levine said.
The episode, the fourth for the freshman series, will be replaced by another "Hannibal" hour. Viewers will not see a plot continuity issue, Levine said.
But a "clip package" with scenes from the unaired episode will be available at NBC.com next week, without the scenes of child violence and with commentary by Fuller.
"Hannibal" stars Mads Mikkelsen as the title character, the brilliant cannibalistic killer seen on the big screen in "The Silence of the Lambs" and its sequel and introduced in the Thomas Harris novel "Red Dragon." Hugh Dancy and Laurence Fishburne also star in the drama.
There have been other instances of networks responding quickly to the potentially difficult overlap between fact and fiction.
ABC has delayed airing an episode of the crime drama "Castle" in which a main character, New York police Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), steps on a pressure-sensitive bomb. It had been scheduled to air next Monday, one week after two bombs exploded near the Boston Marathon finish line, killing three people and injuring more than 180.
"Out of respect," Katic tweeted Wednesday.
Last December, after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, the Syfy channel pulled an episode of the series "Haven" that featured a campus violence story line.
___
Online:
http://www.nbc.com
___
Lynn Elber can be reached at lelber(at)ap.org and on Twitter (at)lynnelber.
YouTube trends may have changed over the last few years, but the company's legal standing hasn't: according to a federal judge, the DMCA still protects the streaming site from Viacom's copyright claims. The ruling responds to Viacom's appeal of a 2010 case, which stated that YouTube couldn't be held responsible for copyright infringing content uploaded by its users. Viacom sought to revise the ruling, insisting that YouTube was "willfully blind" of the activity. That may be the case, but Judge Louis Stanton sees things differently. "Knowledge of the prevalence of infringing activity, and welcoming it, does not itself forfeit the safe harbor. To forfeit that, the provider must influence or participate in the infringement." Since YouTube doesn't pre-screen content before throwing it live, and because it always takes down infringing content upon request, it simply isn't liable.
Viacom says that the decision "ignores the opinions of the higher courts and completely disregards the rights of creative artists," and promises to appeal the decision again with hopes of taking the case to a jury. Google, on the other hand, is playing it cool. "The court correctly rejected Viacom's lawsuit against YouTube, reaffirming that Congress got it right when it comes to copyright on the Internet. This is a win not just for YouTube, but for people everywhere who depend on the Internet to exchange ideas and information." Looking for a side to pick? Check out the court's full decision after the break.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (AP) ? Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's political comeback already hinged on persuading conservative voters in the state's Lowcountry to forgive him for past infidelity and political mistakes. Now he'll have to do it with his ex-wife accusing him of repeatedly trespassing in her home.
That revelation prompted the National Republican Congressional Committee to pull its support from the campaign Wednesday, a day after The Associated Press obtained court documents detailing the accusations from Sanford's ex-wife, Jenny.
The group, which had conducted polling and provided additional resources to the campaign, was blindsided by the news and said it wouldn't provide more funding or pay for television advertising because officials worried Sanford would have difficulty making inroads with women voters. That blow effectively leaves Sanford on his own with three weeks to go before Election Day.
The latest Federal Election Commission reports still show that Sanford had $272,000 on hand to about $210,000 for Elizabeth Colbert Busch, his opponent in the race for a vacant seat in the state's 1st Congressional District.
"Mark Sanford has proven he knows what it takes to win elections. At this time, the NRCC will not be engaged in this special election," said Andrea Bozek, an NRCC spokeswoman. The decision was first reported by Politico.
Gibbs Knotts, chairman of the political science department at the College of Charleston, said it's not an insurmountable problem if Sanford can stick to his small-government talking points and appeal to the GOP base.
"I don't think this is fatal for Sanford. It's just a bad day for Sanford," Knotts said. "He needs to be out there talking about the size of government, the federal budget deficit and the themes he did very well talking about during the primary."
The NRCC made its announcement just hours after Sanford issued a statement explaining why he was at his ex-wife's home on Feb. 3. Jenny Sanford filed a complaint the next day, saying his visit on that night and several other occasions violated their divorce settlement.
"I did indeed watch the second half of the Super Bowl at the beach house with our 14-year-old son because as a father I didn't think he should watch it alone," Sanford said. "Given she was out of town I tried to reach her beforehand to tell her of the situation that had arisen, and met her at the back steps under the light of my cellphone when she returned and told her what had happened."
She did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment on her ex-husband's explanation.
As for Colbert Busch, she has refused to exploit the latest image problem of the man who once was mentioned as a potential presidential contender before his affair with a woman in Argentina and ethics violations left a once-promising career in ruins.
After a visit to a Mount Pleasant diner, Colbert Busch ? the sister of comedian Stephen Colbert ? refused to discuss Sanford's personal life or past indiscretions.
"We're going to focus on the positive message of job creation for this district," she said, after being asked several times about Sanford by reporters.
So far, voters in the conservative district have seemed open to forgiving Sanford for his past misdeeds and re-electing him to the seat he held for three terms in the 1990s.
He and Curtis Bostic emerged as the top vote-getters in a primary of more than a dozen candidates. He then defeated Bostic in a runoff, boosted by strong name recognition and his message of fiscal responsibility.
Sanford famously left the state for five days in 2009, with staffers telling the media he was out hiking the Appalachian Trail. Instead, he was in Argentina, visiting the mistress to whom he is now engaged.
Sanford tearfully admitted the affair during a news conference after he returned to the U.S., and he and Jenny Sanford divorced shortly thereafter. Before leaving office, Sanford avoided impeachment but was censured by the Legislature over state travel expenses he used for the affair. He also paid what is still the largest ethics fine ever in South Carolina at $70,000.
"I think what he did was silly and stupid, but he was still a good governor," said voter Stephanie Shackelford of James Island. As for the trespassing complaint "I don't see why we should even know about it. That's between them and their lawyers."
Sanford must now appear before a family court judge on May 9, two days after the election. During the hearing, he'll have to show why he should not be held in contempt for violating the couple's divorce settlement, which stipulates that neither may enter the other's home without permission.
Jenny Sanford has said the timing of the court complaint had nothing to do with her husband's political campaign.
However, it has some voters wondering if it demonstrates a pattern of poor judgment.
"I think it speaks to his morality and his ethics, and that just by itself gives me pause," said Dana Frazeur of Mount Pleasant. "I know that people should get second chances and everything, but when you are a figure at that level, you are held to a different standard and you should be."
___
Associated Press Writer Ken Thomas contributed to this report from Washington.
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 25-Apr-2013
Share ] 
