Senegal president asks Obama for more help against Islamists

By Daniel Flynn

DAKAR (Reuters) - Senegalese President Macky Sall said on Friday he had asked U.S. President Barack Obama to provide more help to African nations fighting an Islamist threat in the Sahara, particularly in the sphere of military training, hardware and intelligence.

Sall, who held talks with Obama in Dakar on Thursday on the first leg of a three-nation African tour, said they had discussed the menace from al Qaeda-linked groups in the vast and lawless desert region, which runs east to west across Africa.

Senegal borders Mali, where armed Islamists seized control of the country's north last year. France launched a military campaign in January to oust the jihadists - warning that their enclave was a threat to the West - but groups of fighters have regathered in the deserts of south Libya and north Niger.

"We need in Africa, not just in Senegal but the whole of Africa, to have the military capacity to solve this problem but we need training, we need materials, we need intelligence," Sall told Reuters in an interview.

The United States, as well as the European Union and France, had a crucial role to play in helping African countries overcome a lack of military capacity and resources, Sall said. The Islamists had armed themselves with weapons looted from the stocks of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi after he was toppled in 2011.

"We need our friends to cooperate with us to help build those capacities and I think President Obama understands that terrorism since September 11 moves around the world," he said. "It is a global action and I think he's ready to work in that way."

The United States has already stationed surveillance drones and sent military trainers to Niger to prepare African troops which will form part of a 12,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali, due to start on July 1.

Washington had for many years conducted counter-terrorism training in Mali but military cooperation was halted by a March 2012 coup in Bamako, prompted by a northern uprising by Islamists and Tuareg separatists.

Sall said both he and Obama agreed it was essential for planned presidential elections in Mali to go ahead on July 28, despite reservations from some advocacy groups, in order to complete a transition back to democracy.

Some rights groups have said Mali will not be ready to hold the ballot and have called for it to be postponed, warning that a botched vote could jeopardize the legitimacy of a new government charged with ending ethnic and religious tensions.

"We think, and we discussed this, that on July 28 the Malians should hold presidential elections. I think we can really do it," said Sall, whose country has sent troops to take part in the U.N. mission.

TIME TO BUILD BETTER RELATIONS

Sall voiced confidence Obama intended to devote more attention to Africa after a first term spent dealing with the global financial crisis and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Many Africans have seen their initial enthusiasm over America's first black president turn to disappointment after he visited the continent only once during his first term: a one-day stopover in Ghana shortly after taking office in 2009.

"Today it's his second term and the time has come for him to build better the relation between the USA and Africa," Sall said.

"Africa is a place where you can invest and get back your investment very easily ... His visit to Africa will facilitate American investment in the continent."

Sall said U.S. companies were interested in investing in Senegal in the energy sector and infrastructure projects, like toll roads and railways. Senegal was seeking joint-ventures with U.S. firms to add value, particularly in agriculture where local companies needed help to meet U.S. sanitary standards.

(Reporting by Daniel Flynn; editing by Ralph Boulton)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senegal-president-asks-obama-more-help-against-islamists-190006769.html

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Iraq official says Baghdad open to US military aid

BAGHDAD (AP) ? Iraq is open to greater American military cooperation as U.S. commanders explore ways to boost security assistance to the country, a top Iraqi official said Thursday as a fresh wave of bombings claimed 16 lives.

The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, has recommended that military American commanders look for ways to help improve the military capabilities of Iraq and Lebanon, which both face the risk of spillover from the civil war in neighboring Syria.

Dempsey said Wednesday that the assistance would not involve sending U.S. combat troops, but could involve the U.S. sending in training teams and accelerating sales of weapons and equipment.

The last American combat troops left Iraq in December 2011, ending a nearly nine-year war that cost nearly 4,500 American and more than 100,000 Iraqi lives.

About 100 military and civilian Department of Defense personnel remain in Iraq as an arm of the American Embassy to act as liaisons with the Iraqi government and facilitate arms sales. The U.S. has similar offices in other countries.

Ali al-Moussawi, the media adviser for Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, told The Associated Press that Baghdad would welcome increased arms sales and faster weapons deliveries along with U.S. training teams to help it confront rising regional instability and terrorist threats.

"We welcome this kind of cooperation and we consider it a part of the existing agreement between us," al-Moussawi said when asked about Dempsey's comments.

"Because of the high risks the region faces, I think there should be bigger cooperation and coordination between all countries threatened by terrorism."

Iraq is struggling to contain a resurgent al-Qaida that is one of the main drivers behind the country's worst uptick in violence in half a decade. More than 2,000 people have been killed in car bombings and other violent attacks in Iraq since the start of April.

More violence rocked Iraq late Thursday when bombs struck cafes in and around Baghdad, killing 16 and wounding dozens. The attacks struck in quick succession at the start of the local weekend while the cafes were filled with patrons watching a soccer match.

Police reported five people killed and 17 wounded in Baghdad's largely Sunni neighborhood of Azamiyah, and another three dead and 14 wounded in Shiite-dominated Umm al-Maalif, in the southwestern suburbs of the capital.

Another blast struck the Shiite town of Jbala, about 50 kilometers (35 miles) south of Baghdad, killing 8 and wounding 25.

Hospital officials confirmed the casualty toll. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information to journalists.

The upsurge in violence comes as Iraqi fighters have been traveling to fight on both sides of Syria's civil war. The Iraqi branch of al-Qaida is pushing to make itself a player in the conflict, and now calls itself the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant to highlight its cross-border ambitions.

Iraq has acquired billions of dollars' worth of American-made military equipment, including howitzers, armored personnel carriers and Abrams tanks in recent years.

It has yet to receive the first of as many as 36 F-16 fighter jets it has ordered, and Baghdad has been pressing U.S. officials to speed delivery of the warplanes.

Also on Thursday, a spokesman for Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission said a voting list backed by influential Sunni politicians has won the biggest single bloc of seats in provincial elections in the Sunni-dominated province of Anbar.

Safaa al-Moussawi, a spokesman for the Independent High Electoral commission, said the United list led by Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi won 8 of 30 seats in Anbar's provincial council. A bloc backed by al-Maliki came in second with five seats.

The western province of Anbar, a former al-Qaida stronghold, has been the center of anti-government rallies protesting what Sunnis say is their second-class treatment by the Shiite-led government.

Residents in Anbar and neighboring Ninevah province voted last week in local elections that had been delayed due to security concerns.

___

Associated Press writers Sameer N. Yacoub and Adam Schreck contributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iraq-official-says-baghdad-open-us-military-aid-142850054.html

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Sony RX100 II: A Totally New Sensor, a More Perfect Point-and-Shoot

Last year, Sony overhauled basically its entire line of cameras from the very bottom to tippiest top. Surprisingly, the most exciting of the bunch weren't mirrorless cameras or DSLRs, but fixed-lens Cyber-shots: The RX100, a point-and-shot superior to all others, and the RX1, a compact full-frame sensor camera priced for professionals. Sony's expanding on its success on both cameras with some well-considered fine-tuning.

Read more...

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Jackson's son says father feared concert promoter

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Michael Jackson's eldest son testified Wednesday that his father was excited about going back on tour before his death but wasn't happy about the pressure that came with the ill-fated shows.

Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson Jr. told jurors his father wanted more time to rehearse and had several tense phone conversations with promoters of his "This Is It" shows that sometimes ended with his father in tears.

The 16-year-old said his father remarked after one of the conversations, "They're going to kill me." He did not elaborate.

The testimony came in a lawsuit claiming AEG negligently hired Conrad Murray, the doctor who was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter for giving Jackson an overdose of the anesthetic propofol.

AEG denies it hired the physician or bears any responsibility for the entertainer's death.

Wearing a black suit with a dark grey tie and his long brown hair tucked behind his ears, Prince testified that he saw AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips at the family's rented mansion in a heated conversation with Murray in the days before his father died. The teenager said Phillips grabbed Murray's elbow.

Phillips "looked aggressive to me," Prince testified.

Michael Jackson wasn't at home at the time and was probably rehearsing, Prince said.

Murray's attorney Valerie Wass and AEG defense attorney Marvin S. Putnam later denied outside court that the meeting Prince described ever happened.

Putnam said Prince would be recalled to the witness stand during the defense case later in the trial.

"I think as the testimony will show when he is called in our defense that's not what happened," Putnam said. "He was a 12-year-old boy who has had to endure this great tragedy."

For the first time, the teenager publicly provided details about the day his father died. Prince testified that he saw Murray performing CPR on his father, who was hanging halfway off a bed. It appeared his dad's eyes were rolled up in the back of his head, Prince told jurors.

Prince's eyes appeared red as he recalled being told by Murray at a hospital that his father was dead.

Prince said he never saw Murray's treatments of his father.

"I was 12. To my understanding he was supposed to make sure my dad stayed healthy," Prince testified.

Prince said none of the household staff was allowed upstairs at the mansion, and the singer kept his bedroom locked while receiving treatments from Murray.

During cross-examination, Putnam played a clip from a deposition of Prince in which the teen said he discovered the bedroom was locked when he and his siblings were playing hide-and-seek and couldn't get inside.

Prince also said his father gave him and his sister Paris a stack of $100 bills on a few occasions to give to Murray. The teen said his father told him that Murray wouldn't take the money from him, and the doctor wouldn't take the full amount from the children.

The teenager said his understanding was that the money was meant to tide Murray over until he got paid by AEG Live.

Prince's grandmother, Katherine Jackson, sat in the front row of the courtroom during his testimony. She held a tissue and removed her glasses several times.

The testimony began with the teenager showing jurors roughly 15 minutes of private family photos and home videos.

He described growing up on Neverland Ranch and showed the panel videos of the property's petting zoos, amusement park and other amenities. After his father's acquittal of child molestation charges, Prince described living in the Middle East, Ireland and Las Vegas.

He told the jury that his father was always working, but the children had no idea he was a global superstar.

"We always listened to his music, but we never knew how famous he was," Prince said.

He said he and his sister Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson watched a video of one of their father's performances and got a sense of his fame when overwhelmed fans were carried from his shows on stretchers.

Prince is the first Jackson family member to testify during the trial, now in its ninth week. Attorneys have said TJ Jackson, who serves a co-guardian to Prince and his siblings, and Taj Jackson, are also expected to take the witness stand. They are the sons of Tito Jackson.

Prince Jackson, his sister Paris and brother Prince Michael "Blanket" Jackson are plaintiffs in the case against AEG, which their grandmother and primary caretaker filed in August 2010.

Prince spoke softly as he began testifying, and the first exhibit shown to jurors was a photo taken with his grandmother on his and Paris' first day of school.

He described his school life, including taking a summer course in U.S. history, participating on the school robotics team and volunteer work.

Another image showed Michael Jackson playing piano with his son while Prince was still a toddler.

Plaintiffs' attorney Brian Panish asked Prince whether he was interested in pursuing a career in music.

"I can never play an instrument and I definitely cannot sing," Prince said to laughter from the jury.

He said he wanted to study film or business when he goes to college.

The trial is expected to last several more weeks.

___

Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP .

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jacksons-son-says-father-feared-concert-promoter-175534619.html

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Why Are Guys Afraid to Wear Speedos?

A man prepares to swim on bank of a canal in subzero temperatures in central Beijing, Dec. 7, 2012.

Photot by Petar Kujundzic/Reuters

Summer is here, and again I am seething with frustration. Why? Every year I scan the beaches for men in Speedos and every year I am disappointed. The ridiculous board-shorts trend shows no sign of waning. I had high hopes for change after last year?s Olympics, when the entire nation was gripped by the spectacle of those jackknifing water sprites in their micro-briefs. (Those preposterously teensy swim skivvies worn by Tom Daley et al could only be explained by some kind of harsh polyester-rationing scheme: ?Sorry, boys, but only 1 square inch of fabric per customer. Don?t worry. It is quite stretchy.?) I just assumed that, come this summer, one might see an increased willingness on the part of the U.S. male to embrace a little European savoir-faire. But, yet again, all I see are men in billowing shorts.

My interest is not entirely sordid. My primary motivation is, in fact, safety. Dudes are getting waterlogged, and dudes are sinking. In the course of my far-from-extensive research, I spoke to legendary West Coast swimwear magnate Mr. Turk. He shares my conviction that ?board-shorts aficionados are drowning because their swimsuits are so voluminous.? A California lifeguard pal of Turk?s has been obliged, on more than one occasion, ?to pull guys out of the surf because they get tangled up in huge baggy shorts.?

Drowning is not the only peril: Yes, I?m talking about gender misidentification. This past weekend I spotted two burly figures walking toward me wearing what I assumed were large peasant skirts. ?What made these two beefy, short-haired possibly lesbians decide to go topless?? I asked myself. Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be a couple of dudes with man boobs in garishly printed board shorts, prompting the question: Why do American men insist on concealing their willies ?neath yards of fabric?

If only Freud could have lived long enough to dissect the semiotics of Speedos. What would he have made of the U.S. male?s horror of being caught in a tiny swimsuit? (I use the word ?horror? advisedly. For my straight friends, the most traumatizing moments in HBO?s recent Liberace movie Behind the Candelabra occurred when Matt Damon, Mr. Bourne Identity, was forced to prance about in panty-size swim briefs.) I was raised in the U.K. and grew up thinking sassier swimwear was normal, but I then moved to the U.S. and became indoctrinated into the cult of Speedo shame. So I feel uniquely qualified to address this issue. I have, as it were, a foot in both gussets.

Clearly there is a class issue. WASPs don?t do Speedos?old money has no need to resort to gratuitous flesh exposure to achieve social currency. Butt cracks are banned at the country club. Nobody has ever come upon a cache of old Kennedy family snapshots and found images of Jack, Bobby, and Teddy strutting round Martha?s Vineyard in stretch velour leopard swim briefs (like the ones I once purchased at Frederick?s of Hollywood when I lived up the street in the early 1980s).

Speedo-wearing is also a cultural flashpoint. Revealing men?s swim garments are, for the U.S. consumer, irrevocably associated with ?foreigners? and, most terrifying of all, friends of Dorothy. However, there is something even more mysterious to this issue than the persistent fear of being mistaken for a bisexual Serbian cruise-ship croupier: American dudes are driven by a Wizard of Oz?like desire to ?curtain off? their genitals. They are impelled to gird up their loins with yards of fabric, thereby protecting?symbolically and literally?their reproductive equipment, while sinewy Spaniards, hard-body Greeks, bronzed Aussies, diverse Latin Americans, and pale squishy Brits take a reverse approach. These fellows prefer to wear swimsuits that say, ?In case you wondered, I am the proud possessor of male genitalia, and in case you don?t believe me, here it is!?

I argue that the Puritans who colonized America are to blame. There they go again, spoiling all our European fun with their exaggerated notions of modesty. If I run into any Puritans on Long Island this summer (stranger things have happened), I intend to give them a piece of my mind: ?Why do you persist in making dudes wear dirndl skirts while you allow their girlfriends to dress like vacationing strippers??

As The Soup?s Joel McHale says every week, ?Let?s talk about chicks, man.?

American women have never presented themselves with more over-the-top va-va-voom than they do now, especially on the beach. Bikinis have never been smaller. Hoochies have never been hotter. Tramp stamps have never been trampier. It?s obviously time for men to correct this inequity, join the partaay, and start channeling their inner Magic Mike ? or inner Borat.

Lastly, let me address the elephant in the Vilebrequin. I am talking about lard. Are most American dudes simply too fat to wear a Speedo? Is that what?s inhibiting men from embracing this comfy, functional garment? Does it only work if you are some Tom Daley-esque Adonis? Mr. Turk weighs in: ?Your moobs [man-boobs] and your widening gut are going to be visible either way. I say throw on a pair of groovy ?70s shades?like the guy in those Southern Comfort ads?and learn to strut in a nifty brief or a spiffy square-cut trunk.?

Source: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/doonan/2013/06/men_in_speedos_american_men_need_to_get_over_their_fear_of_wearing_swim.html

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Emotional McCain calls on Senate to pass immigration bill

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As G8 wraps up, Cameron sends surprising tweet

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (AP) ? Well, that was close. Or was it? Shortly after wrapping up one of the most peaceful Group of Eight summits in recent memory, Prime Minister David Cameron let a cat out of the bag.

"Now #G8UK is over I can reveal a bomb was found in Lough Erne," he posted on Twitter. "It was American from WW2. Apparently they had a practice mortar range here!"

Not to worry, however. Northern Ireland police mounted a massive security operation to protect the Loch Erne resort west of Enniskillen involving thousands of officers, restricted airspace and contingencies for protesters. While the security appeared aimed at more modern threats, it clearly paid off.

Police in Northern Ireland confirmed that "during ongoing checks" ahead of the G-8, a suspicious item was discovered on June 12, which later was confirmed to be military ordnance from WWII.

___

While Dad was off deep in talks of pressing world affairs, presidential daughters Malia and Sasha Obama joined their mom for lunch with Irish rock star Bono.

Hundreds of onlookers had gathered by the time Bono and wife Ali Hewson arrived at the U2 frontman's favored local pub, Finnegan's, in the exclusive Dublin suburb of Dalkey. "I thought this was supposed to be secret," the singer said to the crowd. The spectators may have been tipped off by the U.S. flag flying outside and the restaurant closed to the public amid tight security.

The Obamas dined on fish and chips, natch, with cookies and tea for dessert. "We talked about everything and nothing," said Bono, who is well known to world leaders as an anti-poverty campaigner. "It was a family lunch."

Earlier Tuesday, the Obama ladies had a private guided tour of the Wicklow Mountains National Park south of Dublin. The sun was shining, but the heat brought swarms of unwelcome visitors ? swarming flies called "midges" that forced 12-year-old Sasha to flail her arms as she toured monastic ruins.

But the flies didn't dampen her spirit. Sasha closed the door to the ruins of a 1,500-year-old church, then turned to 14-year-old Malia and the first lady for a high-five.

___

Cameron has been pushing three T's throughout the G-8 summit in Northern Ireland ? tax, trade and transparency.

He might've tacked on one more as he closed out the gathering of world leaders, making a hard sell for tourism to rejuvenate Northern Ireland's economy.

Cameron acknowledged that many people had a negative impression of Northern Ireland after the country's divisions and struggles. He said that he'd had many goals for the summit ? and improving the image of Northern Ireland was one of them through a bit of free advertising.

You couldn't put a value on the "infomercial" that was the G-8 summit, he told reporters. He boasted that all his fellow G-8 leaders were impressed by their meeting site.

"It's only when you come and see it for yourself that you just see what a magnificent part of the United Kingdom this is," he said.

Cameron isn't the only one hoping that the free advertising pays off. The Loch Erne resort where he spoke went bankrupt in 2011.

___

While Russian President Vladimir Putin might be more prone to pose for sporting pictures, it appears Cameron might have one-upped him ? if anyone can find the evidence.

Cameron told reporters he'd gone for a dip in Loch Erne, saying a swim in the chilly waters was a good way to prepare for a day of tough negotiations.

"It certainly wakes you up in the morning and gets you going for a hard day of chairing these meetings," he told a press conference.

The prime minister's spokesman described the experience as "brisk" in earlier remarks to reporters. Temperatures around Loch Erne were in the low 60s ? but felt much chillier.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/g-8-notebook-cameron-tweets-wwii-bomb-g-204201304.html

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BP ends cleanup of oil spill in Gulf of Mexico

BP is wrapping up cleanup operations of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The move comes with permission from the US Coast Guard, which says BP no longer needs to send out regular patrols to clean the tar from the coastline.

By Joao Peixe,?Guest blogger / June 18, 2013

Tar balls lie mixed with shells on the beach last week in Gulf Shores, Ala. Some locals and environmentalists say that the effects of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill are still very noticeable in some areas.

Dave Martin/AP

Enlarge

BP, and the US government, have decided that beaches in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi are clean enough now compared to just after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, and that BP no longer needs to send out regular patrols to clean the tar from the coastline.

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offers extensive coverage of all energy sectors from crude oil and natural gas to solar energy and environmental issues. To see more opinion pieces and news analysis that cover energy technology, finance and trading, geopolitics, and sector news, please visit?Oilprice.com.

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In the three years since the spill, BP has spent $14 billion on clean-up work according to?The Huffington Post, and it whilst it has stopped directly searching for oil slicks and tar balls to clean up in the three states mentioned above, it will continue to send out crews in Louisiana, who was more affected by the spill.

Some locals and environmentalists wonder at the decision to stop patrolling the coast, believing that the effects of the spill are still very noticeable in some areas, but Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Natalie Murphy explained that the amounts of oil are minute compared to before, and it has gotten to the stage that the clean-up work itself could actually cause more damage to the environment as it damages habitats and nests for birds and sea turtles.?(Related article:?No End to BP Settlement Deal)

Compared to 2010, the chemicals smells and thick oil slicks across the sand have gone. On most beaches the white sand no stretches unmarred, for miles along Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.?

Twitter Acquires Local Discovery Startup Spindle, Will End Spindle Service

Twitter today acquired Spindle, an app that uses mobile devices and social networks to make a smarter localized search engine. The Spindle team will move to San Francisco and shutter the Spindle app. Using social networks, the time of day, and your location, Spindle would show you places you may want to visit, like restaurants or stores or other points of interest.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/bV3isLPkd1U/

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GOP congressman: I oppose abortion because fetuses masturbate (video) (Americablog)

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Why three Chinese are spending 12 days in space lab

Three Chinese astronauts docked at Tiangong 1, an experimental space module Thursday, the next step in China's pursuit of a space station. The team includes China?s second woman in space.

By Elizabeth Barber,?Contributor / June 13, 2013

A policeman stands guard next to a component of the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft found in Badain Jaran Desert after the launch in Mongolia earlier this June.

Reuters

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Three Chinese astronauts docked at an experimental space module Thursday morning, beginning what is to be China?s longest stay in space so far and the latest step in China?s plan to put a space station into orbit.

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The team aboard the Shenzhou 10 space capsule, launched from the remote Gobi Desert two days ago, will spend 12 days at Tiangong 1, a laboratory whose name translates to Heavenly Palace. They will spend in total 15 days in space, the longest yet for China.

Schenzhou 10 is the fifth Chinese mission into space in 10 years. Those missions have continuously become more complex, beginning with an orbital mission that lasted under 24 hours in 2003. Most recently, a three-member team on Shenzhou 9 spent 13 days in space, also docking at Tiangong 1.

China is ultimately hoping to build an international space station similar to Russia's Mir space station, a seven-module station. Russia dumped that station in 2001, joining the International Space Station project instead.

The Shenzhou 10 astronauts will test new docking techniques aboard Tiangong 1 that will be critical to developing a Chinese space station. The team, which includes China?s second woman in space, will also present a video lecture for Chinese schoolchildren.

This is the last time Tiangong 1 will house astronauts. After more than 600 days in space, and playing host to three Chinese teams, the space lab will be out of the resources needed to support docking teams after the Shenzhou 10 team de-boards, bound for a landing in Mongolia. Tiangong 1 will be converted into a miles-high warehouse used while the proposed space station is undergoing construction.

In the next step toward that space station, China plans to later this year send into orbit a new module, Tiangong 2, which is designed to host a crew of three for up to 20 days. It also has a second docking port, to accept resupply missions. Another module, Tiangong 3, is expected to launch in 2015 and will be incorporated into the eventual space station.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/nWO_oC2hv8g/Why-three-Chinese-are-spending-12-days-in-space-lab

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The Daily Roundup for 06.11.2013

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Xbox 360 gets a One-like redesign, is available today

While all eyes are on Xbox One news at Microsoft's E3 keynote, the company's just announced that the Xbox 360 is getting yet another design iteration. Taking cues from the "modern look and feel of the Xbox One," it's touted as smaller, sleeker and quieter. Microsoft did a good job keeping this quiet, as it's available today. "Hundred of new games" are apparently headed to the 360 over the next couple of years, proving the old console's still got some life in it yet. We're in the dark on the price of the new model, but we'll let you know more as soon as we do.

Follow our liveblog for all of the latest news from E3 2013.

Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft

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Dell unveils redesigned Alienware 14, 17 and 18 gaming notebooks ...

Alienware Redefines the PC Gaming Experience: Unveils the Most Powerful Gaming Laptops in the Universe with Bold, New Iconic Design
? Alienware 18 is the most powerful 18-inch gaming laptop in the universe; Alienware 14 is the most powerful 14-inch laptop available today
? Alienware introduces new, iconic industrial design that evokes power and performance
? New Alienware 14, 17, and 18-inch laptops feature all new performance graphics, processors and components engineered for extreme performance
? New Alienware Vindicator laptop bags exclusively designed to protect the new Alienware laptops with smart organization and matching design
Los Angeles, CA, June 10, 2013 ? Alienware, the pioneer in specialty high-performance PC gaming systems, introduced its latest and most powerful gaming laptops with the unveiling of the Alienware 14, Alienware 17 and Alienware 18 at E3 in Los Angeles. The systems feature a bold new design and extraordinary performance, uniquely engineered to deliver the ultimate gaming experience.

The new laptops include the Alienware 14 for the enthusiast gamer who requires a laptop that provides enough performance for any task, yet is mobile enough to fit into a backpack; the Alienware 17 for an immersive, graphics-intensive experience with the latest technologies for desktop-grade performance; and the Alienware 18, the ultimate gaming laptop that commands respect among top gamers for its unparalleled performance and construction.

All three laptops feature a new, iconic, angular design that takes its cues from jet engines and stealth bombers with an anodized aluminum shell and magnesium alloy body. The latest laptops are exceptionally durable, with over 60 percent of the main mechanical components made of various metals. The keyboard is protected by a reinforced plate to ensure a solid typing experience, while the travel and responsiveness is specifically designed with gamers' needs in mind. Based on customer feedback, the new Alienware 14 now features an anti-glare LCD display with wide viewing angles for reflection-free gaming in nearly any lighting condition, including a premium Full HD panel option with IPS. For 3D gaming enthusiasts, the Alienware 17 has an optional 3D panel for an immersive visual experience, while the Alienware 18 will feature a Full HD display with PLS wide viewing-angle technology.

Along with the new design, the laptops also feature a number of components that when combined create a superb PC gaming experience. The laptops sport full voltage, quad-core 4th generation Intel Core i7 processors, and NVIDIA GeForce 700 series graphics. DDR3L memory provides exceptional bandwidth with lower voltage requirements designed for increased battery life, and the laptops now provide support for up to three storage drives on the Alienware 14, and up to four storage drives on the Alienware 17 and 18. For the first time ever, the Alienware 18 will feature NVIDIA SLI dual graphics technology as standard, and the laptop will offer an overclocked CPU option with a maximum speed of 4.3GHz . The laptops all feature Ethernet technology by Qualcomm's Killer networks, Klipsch speakers and Dolby Home Theater v4 audio.

The updated Alienware Command Center software provides intuitive, user-friendly access to Alienware-exclusive applications and controls in one centralized hub. Command Center includes the exclusive AlienFX lighting control system which allows users to create their own custom lighting themes and special effects. The new laptops have up to 20 colors to choose from across 10 different lighting zones, totaling to over 10 trillion lighting combinations. Alienware has worked closely with game developers to incorporate AlienFX in over 60 game titles, including cross-platform titles like Anomaly2, to PC-exclusive titles like SMITE and Neverwinter, for an immersive experience that can only be found on an Alienware. Whether healing, taking damage, or completing missions, AlienFX lights are an extension of the game play. Alienware Command Center also features AlienAdrenaline, a custom configurable game and application automation tool, the new Accelerator dynamic performance optimizer, and a new performance monitoring tool.

"The new laptops and matching Vindicator bags are the latest culmination of listening and learning from our customers since we delivered our first gaming system back in 1996", said Frank Azor, General Manager of Alienware. "We spent countless hours meticulously thinking through every detail of these new products to ensure they would be the most amazing line-up we've introduced yet."

Alienware X51 ? Big Gaming in Any Living Space
Last week, Alienware announced an update to its award-winning X51 gaming desktop, which provides big gaming without a big box or big budget and on any HDTV. The new X51 offers more performance with improved technology in nearly every category over the previous generation. The compact desktop features an efficiently-designed chassis for an immersive experience in a variety of living spaces, and dual orientation capability allows it to lie horizontally or stand vertically. The new X51 boasts Intel 4th generation Core i5 and i7 processors, enthusiast graphics up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670, a dual hard drive configuration of 256GB SSD, and 1TB storage for fast boot and resume times and massive storage capabilities.

Alienware Vindicator Laptop Bags ? Exclusively Designed for Alienware
Gamers can protect their performance powerhouse with the exclusive line of Alienware Vindicator laptop bags, specifically designed to house the new Alienware 14, Alienware 17 and Alienware 18 laptops. The series includes a backpack, messenger bag, slim carrying case, briefcase and neoprene sleeve, while their styling reflects a fusion of urban and military influences. The bags feature sturdy, weather-resistant materials and reinforced handles or straps for comfort and durability, and have smartly-designed, dedicated compartments that allow for organization and protection of essential accessories. With a stylish industrial design that fits into any setting, the bags are a must-have accessory while making the trek to a gaming competition or around town.

Availability
The Alienware 14, Alienware 17 and Alienware 18 laptops, Alienware X51 desktop and Alienware Vindicator laptop bags are available today on Dell.com in the United States and in select countries around the world.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/11/dell-alienware-14-17-18-hands-on/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Research needed on child abuse prevention: panel

By Andrew M. Seaman

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - There still isn't enough evidence to say whether office- or home-based programs ordered by doctors actually prevent child abuse when obvious signs of maltreatment are absent, according to a government-backed panel.

The lack of a recommendation - known as an I statement, for "insufficient" - from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) echoes the same group's 2004 conclusion, which also found a lack of evidence for or against child abuse prevention programs being applied to all kids, instead of just those clearly at risk.

"It is about interventions that can occur in the primary care office or can be referred by the doctor to someone in the community," said Dr. David Grossman, a member of the panel and a senior investigator at the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle.

"It is disappointing because we had hopes that we could uncover evidence to convert it from an I statement to something more positive," Grossman said.

Approximately 680,000 children younger than 18 years old were victims of maltreatment in 2011 and more than 1,500 died from it. That includes physical, sexual and psychological abuse.

The kids who survive abuse, according to the panel, are at increased risk for a number of troubles later in life, including psychological disorders and physical ailments, such as chronic pain and diabetes.

"Although we recognize the extreme importance of this issue and the protection of children should be paramount? The role of the primary care physicians in being the prevention, so to speak, is unclear because there is not enough evidence to say what doctors can do to prevent abuse in the first place," Grossman told Reuters Health.

In January, the USPSTF published a draft of its findings, which are based on a review of 10 past studies of home-based interventions and one office-based program to reduce the number of related Child Protective Services (CPS) family reports and emergency room visits by kids (see Reuters Health article of January 22, 2013 here: http://reut.rs/13xjBZO.)

Some of the programs were tied to drops in CPS family reports and child ER visits but others found no link, according to the review.

Dr. Lynn K. Sheets, medical director of child advocacy and protection services at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, said the panel's conclusion is "not surprising because there are methodological challenges to doing research on high-risk groups." She added that it's also hard to study interactions that happen in a doctor's office.

But Sheets, who was not involved in crafting the new recommendations, said she thinks some people may misinterpret the conclusion to mean doctors shouldn't try to prevent child abuse.

"It doesn't mean we shouldn't continue to screen and prevent child abuse in the best ways we know how," she said.

Grossman told Reuters Health that the panel's final conclusion, which was published on Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, doesn't apply to interventions involving children with obvious signs and symptoms of abuse.

"It's a whole different ball game for a pediatrician or primary care physician when a child comes in with signs and symptoms of abuse. Everyone is aware in that case about the protocols they need to follow," he said.

But the USPSTF emphasized that filling gaps in the research should be a priority. For instance, the panel wrote, the relationship between harsh punishment, such as spanking, and abuse needs further exploration, "as does that between intimate partner violence and child maltreatment."

The report also flagged the need for research to determine effective ways for health care providers to identify children at risk for abuse or currently being abused, and for studies to find effective ways to prevent maltreatment of older children in particular.

Grossman said the hope is that the panel will be able to make more of a recommendation once additional studies are done.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/Ms1ZbQ Annals of Internal Medicine, online June 10, 2013.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/research-needed-child-abuse-prevention-panel-211636146.html

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Harsher sentence sought for Tunisian feminist

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) ? A lawyer says a prosecutor has appealed a sentence that a court gave to a Tunisian feminist for possessing pepper spray as not harsh enough.

Amina Sboui is a member of the Ukrainian feminist group Femen.

Known by her pseudonym Amina Tyler, she shocked Tunisia by protesting the treatment of women by posting topless photos of herself on Internet.

In May, she was arrested in the central city of Kairouan while planning another protest. She was convicted of carrying pepper spray and fined about $180 under an 1894 law against carrying "burning objects."

Defense lawyer Mokhtar Jannene said Monday that a prosecutor is demanding the maximum sentence of six months.

Sboui remains in prison while the court also considers other charges against her.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/harsher-sentence-sought-tunisian-feminist-171049745.html

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