Sunday, April 22, 2012

Made In The USA: An Export Boom : NPR

Made In The USA: An Export Boom : NPR: "In his State of the Union address two years ago, President Obama argued there were a few things the U.S. needed to do in order to recover from the economic recession. One of them was to export more of our goods around the world.

"The more products we make and sell to other countries, the more jobs we support right here in America," Obama said.

That night, the president unveiled a new goal: to double U.S. exports over the next five years. It would be an increase that the president said would "support two million jobs in America."

Most economists dismissed the pledge at the time as somewhat quixotic, but two years later, the U.S. is on pace to meet that goal. American exports are up 34 percent since the president gave that speech, and the number continues to rise."

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Thursday, April 19, 2012

BBC News - Nante's theme park economics at Machines de L'Ile

BBC News - Nante's theme park economics at Machines de L'Ile: "This summer, Machines de L'Ile unveils its latest creation. The Carousel of Marine World is 25m tall and will have three levels of elaborate mechanical sea life, including a giant squid, flying fish and manta ray. It promises to be quite a sight.

Once again the regional government, the city and the European Union are helping to fund the park.

But Machines de L'Ile creator Pierre Orefice is not complacent about the future. He describes the business environment as "fragile" and feels the pressure of having to create new attractions ever year.

His theme park is part of a much larger regeneration of Nantes. Covering 337 hectares, it is one of the largest urban projects in Europe."

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BBC News - Nante's theme park economics at Machines de L'Ile

BBC News - Nante's theme park economics at Machines de L'Ile: "This summer, Machines de L'Ile unveils its latest creation. The Carousel of Marine World is 25m tall and will have three levels of elaborate mechanical sea life, including a giant squid, flying fish and manta ray. It promises to be quite a sight.

Once again the regional government, the city and the European Union are helping to fund the park.

But Machines de L'Ile creator Pierre Orefice is not complacent about the future. He describes the business environment as "fragile" and feels the pressure of having to create new attractions ever year.

His theme park is part of a much larger regeneration of Nantes. Covering 337 hectares, it is one of the largest urban projects in Europe."

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BBC News - Sudan president seeks to 'liberate' South Sudan

BBC News - Sudan president seeks to 'liberate' South Sudan: "Sudan President Omar al-Bashir has said his main goal is now to "liberate" the people of South Sudan from its rulers following recent border clashes.

The former rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) has ruled South Sudan since it seceded from Sudan in July 2011.

President Bashir described the SPLM as "insects" that needed to be eliminated."

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

America's deadly devotion to guns | World news | The Guardian

America's deadly devotion to guns | World news | The Guardian:

It is also an important component of something else that is central to American society: capitalism. Guns make money. A lot of it. Since 1990 the sale of legal guns alone has come to, on average, about $3.5bn every year. And it is recession-proof, rising and falling less with the economic tide than the electoral one. When Democrats are elected the sales go up. And when a black Democrat is elected, they skyrocket. The week Barack Obama was elected gun sales leapt 50% against the previous year. And they have continued to rise sharply.

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Sunday, April 15, 2012

BBC News - Stand Your Ground: Four case studies

BBC News - Stand Your Ground: Four case studies: "The death of Trayvon Martin has thrown a spotlight on Florida's controversial Stand Your Ground law, which grants individuals wide latitude to use deadly force if they feel seriously in danger.

The provision is backed by America's powerful gun lobby, but critics say it creates a Wild West legal environment in which people can kill one another without fear of prosecution.

With George Zimmerman facing a second-degree murder charge over the 17-year-old's fatal shooting, what are the chances of a conviction?

Here are four previous cases in Florida where killers were freed after citing Stand Your Ground:"

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Friday, April 13, 2012

BBC News - Connecticut votes to abolish the death penalty

BBC News - Connecticut votes to abolish the death penalty: "Legislators in the US state of Connecticut have voted to repeal the death penalty for all future cases, after a 10-hour floor debate.

Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy says he will sign the bill, making his state the 17th to end capital punishment.

As expected, state lawmakers voted 86 to 62 for the bill on Wednesday."

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BBC News - 'Gunfire heard' in Guinea-Bissau capital

BBC News - 'Gunfire heard' in Guinea-Bissau capital: "Soldiers have taken over parts of the capital of the West African state of Guinea-Bissau, reports say.

Heavy gunfire has been heard and soldiers are in control of main roads in the city, Bissau, according to eyewitnesses.

There are also reports of fighting near the residence of outgoing Prime Minister Carlos Gomes.

Mr Gomes came first in an inconclusive presidential election last month, but failed to win outright."

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Thursday, April 12, 2012

BBC News - Congo's 'Terminator': Kabila calls for Ntaganda arrest

BBC News - Congo's 'Terminator': Kabila calls for Ntaganda arrest: "President Joseph Kabila has said ex-rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, must be arrested.

But Gen Ntaganda must be tried in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the president says.

Mr Kabila had previously refused to call for the arrest of the man known locally as "The Terminator".

The ICC indicted him five years ago, for allegedly recruiting child soldiers during DR Congo's bloody five-year war."

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BBC News - New Mali leader Dioncounda Traore warns rebels of war

BBC News - New Mali leader Dioncounda Traore warns rebels of war: "Mali's new leader, Dioncounda Traore, has threatened a "total war" against separatist rebels in the north.

Mr Traore's inauguration marks a return to civilian rule following last month's coup in the West African state.

Mr Traore now has 40 days to organise elections - though correspondents say this deadline is unlikely to be met because of the situation in the north.

Since the coup, Tuareg and Islamist militants have taken control of much of the northern desert region."

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America's forgotten POW: Bowe Bergdahl - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com

America's forgotten POW: Bowe Bergdahl - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com: "For nearly three years Bergdahl, a 26-year old from Sun Valley, Idaho has been held captive by the Afghan Taliban. Captured in an attack on his unit in Paktia province in Eastern Afghanistan, the only glimpses his family and the outside world have seen of him over the past several years have come through intermittent video transmissions  released by his captors to confirm his continued detention. In the first of these videos released in 2009, Bergdahl can be seen visibly choking back tears as he describes his life in detention, “Well, I’m scared,” he says. “It’s very unnerving to be a prisoner.” From what little intelligence that has come out about his life in captivity since, it is known that as recently as 2011 he made an escape attempt from his captors only to be recaptured and confined permanently in shackles to prevent any further attempts."

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Zimmerman Arrested On Murder Charge In Trayvon Martin Case : The Two-Way : NPR

Zimmerman Arrested On Murder Charge In Trayvon Martin Case : The Two-Way : NPR: "George Zimmerman, who says he killed unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin in self defense, has been arrested and will face a charge of second-degree murder, says State Attorney Angela Corey, the special prosecutor investigating Martin's death.

Corey said that Zimmerman turned himself in to the authorities Wednesday.

The arrest and charges come more than six weeks after Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot Martin, an African-American who was 17 when he died. Zimmerman, 28, was not jailed or charged after the Feb. 26 shooting. Since then, the case has become a cause of both outrage and contention."

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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

BBC News - Malaysia moves to end detentions without trial

BBC News - Malaysia moves to end detentions without trial: "Malaysia has announced a new security law that will end the government's power to detain people indefinitely without trial.

The new bill, expected to be passed by parliament, limits the detention period to 28 days and offers more legal protection to those accused.

Prime Minister Najib Razak described it as a historic day for Malaysia.

But opposition groups say the new law is draconian and that the 28-day time limit is still unacceptable."

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Conservative Politics, 'Low-Effort' Thinking Linked In New Study

Conservative Politics, 'Low-Effort' Thinking Linked In New Study: "And now there's the new study linking conservative ideologies to "low-effort" thinking .

"People endorse conservative ideology  more when they have to give a first or fast response," the study's lead author, University of Arkansas psychologist Dr. Scott Eidelman, said in a written statement released by the university.

Does the finding suggest that conservatives are lazy thinkers?

"Not quite," Dr. Eidelman told The Huffington Post in an email. "Our research shows that low-effort thought promotes political conservatism, not that political conservatives use low-effort thinking.""

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4 Politically Controversial Issues Where All Economists Agree - Megan McArdle - Business - The Atlantic

4 Politically Controversial Issues Where All Economists Agree - Megan McArdle - Business - The Atlantic: "In reality economists agree about a lot of things, and in many cases they do so with a high degree of certainty.

This fact is on display frequently at the IGM Economic Experts  Panel from the University of Chicago. This is a panel of 41 of the worlds top economists who are offered statements about economic policy to which they can indicate whether they agree, disagree, or are uncertain. In addition they rate the certainty of their answer on a scale of 1 to 10, which allows the answers to be weighted. Over the past few months there have been several issues where this ideologically diverse group of economists have shown resounding unanimity. Some of these may surprise people, as it's fairly obvious that public opinion would not side with economists with the same amount of unanimity. So here are a few things economists strongly agree on."

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Umoja – Where men now fear to tread in Kenya | Newstime Africa

Umoja – Where men now fear to tread in Kenya | Newstime Africa: "UMOJA, Kenya, Hannah Rubenstein (IPS ) – No man, except for those raised here as children, lives in Umoja village in Kenya; one has not for two decades. It is a village only of and for women, women who have been abused, raped, and forced from their homes. In the culture of northern Kenya’s Samburu district there is a saying: “Men are the head of a body, and women are the neck.” The neck may support the head, but the head is always dominant, towering
above. But in this remote village, located in the grasslands of Samburu district, this mantra does not ring true.
In Umoja, as one female resident says, “We are our own heads.”

Umoja, which means “unity” in Swahili, holds a unique status in the country: it is a village populated
solely by women. For more than two decades, no men have been permitted to reside here. The rule is one of the requirements of a community that has fought against overwhelming odds to
become a place of refuge for women. It is a sanctuary where men – who have been the cause of so
many problems for these women – are simply not welcome."

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Sunday, April 8, 2012

BBC News - Resistance spread 'compromising' fight against malaria

BBC News - Resistance spread 'compromising' fight against malaria: "Scientists have found new evidence that resistance to the front-line treatments for malaria is increasing.

They have confirmed that resistant strains of the malaria parasite on the border between Thailand and Burma, 500 miles (800km) away from previous sites.

Researchers say that the rise of resistance means the effort to eliminate malaria is "seriously compromised"."

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BBC News - Why don't black Americans swim?

BBC News - Why don't black Americans swim?: "Just under 70% of African-American children surveyed said they had no or low ability to swim. Low ability merely meant they were able to splash around in the shallow end. A further 12% said they could swim but had "taught themselves".

The study found 58% of Hispanic children had no or low swimming ability. For white children, the figure was only 42%.

"It is an epidemic that is almost going unnoticed," says Sue Anderson, director of programmes and services at USA Swimming."

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BBC News - Mali coup leaders to stand down as part of Ecowas deal

BBC News - Mali coup leaders to stand down as part of Ecowas deal: "Coup leaders in Mali have agreed to stand down and allow a transition to civilian rule, as part of a deal struck with regional bloc Ecowas.

In return, the bloc will lift trade and economic sanctions and grant amnesty to the ruling junta, mediators said.

The move came after Tuareg rebels in the north declared independence of an area they call Azawad.

The rebels seized the area after a coup two weeks ago plunged the West African nation into political crisis."

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BBC News - Joyce Banda sworn in as new Malawi president

BBC News - Joyce Banda sworn in as new Malawi president: "Malawi's Vice-President Joyce Banda has been sworn in as president following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika.

She becomes southern Africa's first female head of state after taking the oath before parliament in the Malawian capital, Lilongwe.

Ms Banda, who had been vice-president since 2009, was cheered and applauded before, during and after the ceremony.

Mr Mutharika, 78, went into cardiac arrest on Thursday, although his death was not confirmed until Saturday."

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Friday, April 6, 2012

BBC News - World Bank job should go to Okonjo-Iweala, say ex-staff

BBC News - World Bank job should go to Okonjo-Iweala, say ex-staff: "A group of former World Bank officials has written a letter backing Nigeria's Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to be its next president.

Traditionally the post is given to the candidate put forward by the US, which this time is Dr Jim Yong Kim.

But in an open letter, 35 former economists and managers said the Bank should choose the next chief on merit.

Another group of economists this week signed a petition backing Colombia's Jose Antonio Ocampo.

This is the first time the World Bank has had to choose between candidates since its creation more than 60 years ago.

The executive board of the Bank has to choose between Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, a former World Bank managing director, Jose Antonio Ocampo, a former finance minister of Colombia, and Jim Yong Kim, a public health expert and president of Dartmouth College in the US."

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BBC News - Mali Tuareg rebels declare independence in the north

BBC News - Mali Tuareg rebels declare independence in the north: "A rebel group in northern Mali has declared independence for a region it calls Azawad, after seizing control of the area last week.

The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) made the statement on its website, adding that it would respect other states' borders.

The MNLA is one of two rebel groups to have gained ground in the area after Mali's government was ousted in a coup.

The African Union has condemned the declaration as "null and void".

Former colonial power France and the European Union have also said they will not recognise Azawad's independence.

Meanwhile, the UK has closed its embassy in the capital, Bamako, and withdrawn its staff.

The army seized power on 22 March, accusing the elected government of not doing enough to halt the two rebel groups - the MNLA and an Islamist group opposed to independence, which wants to impose Islamic law, or Sharia, across the whole country."

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Average U.S. Farmer's Age Rising, Younger People Needed In Agriculture

Average U.S. Farmer's Age Rising, Younger People Needed In Agriculture: "The country's farmers and ranchers are getting older and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place.

New Mexico has the highest average age of farmers and ranchers of any state at nearly 60 years old, and neighboring Arizona and Texas aren't far behind. Nationally, the latest agricultural census figures show the fastest growing group of farmers and ranchers are those over age 65.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is beginning work on its 2012 census, and Merrigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the data is compiled.

"If we do not repopulate our working lands, I don't know where to begin to talk about the woes," she told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "There is a challenge here, a challenge that has a corresponding opportunity.""

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Thursday, April 5, 2012

BBC News - Senegal musician Youssou N'dour given ministerial post

BBC News - Senegal musician Youssou N'dour given ministerial post: "Senegalese musician Youssou N'dour has been appointed tourism and culture minister in the cabinet of new President Macky Sall.

The singer threw his weight behind Mr Sall in elections earlier this year after being disqualified from running as a candidate himself.

Mr Sall, 50, was sworn into office on Monday, becoming the country's first new leader in 12 years."

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BBC News - US to ease sanctions against Burma

BBC News - US to ease sanctions against Burma: "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said some travel and financial restrictions would be relaxed, with Burmese leaders allowed to visit the US.

European Union leaders had said earlier on Wednesday that they would consider taking similar steps.

The news follows by-elections in Burma on Sunday in which an opposition party headed by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi took the majority of the seats.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) took 40 out of 45 seats in the polls, which were generally deemed to be free and fair.

In response to Burma's democratic reforms, Ms Clinton said the US would take steps to open an office of the Agency for International Development in the country and send a full ambassador."

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Male Birth Control: New Procedure Is 100 Percent Effective, Reversible

Male Birth Control: New Procedure Is 100 Percent Effective, Reversible: " the procedure, which is in advanced clinical trials in India, has been found to be 100 percent effective.

One downside -- depending on how you feel about shots -- is that it requires the man's penis to be injected with a polymer gel called Vasalgel, after a local anesthetic has been given. The substance works by breaking apart sperm.

The whole procedure takes about 15 minutes and lasts ten years or more and is more easily reversible than a vasectomy.

As the Male Contraception Information Project notes , if a man decides he'd like to have his sperm up and running again, he can get another shot and, within two to three months, the baby-making can commence."

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Curbing Female Reproductive Rights Raises Taxpayer Costs - Bloomberg

Curbing Female Reproductive Rights Raises Taxpayer Costs - Bloomberg: "Family Planning Savings
Publicly-funded family planning services save state and federal governments $4.3 billion each year, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy . Contraceptive use saves almost $19 billion in direct medical costs annually and reduces the occurrence of abortion, according to the campaign, a Washington-based nonprofit.
The effects of an unintended pregnancy on women are both personal and financial.
A disproportionate share of women who experience unplanned pregnancies are teenaged, unmarried or low-income with higher incidences of mental illness, unstable relationships, physical abuse and welfare assistance, said Adam Thomas, a visiting assistant professor at Georgetown University ’s Public Policy Institute in Washington . Expanded access to contraception, meanwhile, increases educational attainment and labor force participation, he said."

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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Kampala, Uganda

Kampala, Uganda: "I shall not use two words I hate, "charity" and "compassion," as they are both meaningless, as they will help people get some food for a few days or pacify miserable souls for a few hours. Then, everyone will go back to their homes, and "bye-bye." And those staying will have to manage, somehow. No way: We must work hard to create job opportunities for them in their own countries, and this can be done in many ways. Doctors aside -- who are the primary requirement and that, besides curing patients, could train new doctors and nurses -- we may set up workshops and start producing there and not just in far east countries, and then we could go and teach there because culture is the main instrument to get away from ignorance and poverty."

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BBC News - Burma poll: Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD sweeps by-elections

BBC News - Burma poll: Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD sweeps by-elections: "Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party has won a landslide victory in by-elections, local election officials have confirmed.

With partial results announced, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won at least 40 of the 45 seats being contested.

Ms Suu Kyi said she hoped the polls marked the start of a new era in Burma.

But the parliament remains dominated by the military and its allies, who hold the vast majority of the 664 seats.

As the results started to come in from Sunday's poll, Ms Suu Kyi called the vote a "triumph of the people" and said the goal now was reconciliation with other parties.

The United States said the vote was an important step in Burma's "democratic transition"."

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BBC News - Mali junta caught between rebels and Ecowas sanctions

BBC News - Mali junta caught between rebels and Ecowas sanctions: "West African leaders had given Mali's junta until Monday to leave power or face sanctions.

The army said it had staged its coup because the campaign against the Tuareg rebels had been poorly run.

But the Tuareg fighters have responded by making rapid advances.

After seizing the historic city of Timbuktu on Sunday, rebel spokesman Moussa Ag Assarid told the BBC that his forces had no intention of moving south, towards the capital, Bamako, but would consolidate their control of the areas they had seized.

His National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) group wants independence for the Tuareg's northern homeland, which it calls Azawad. Other rebel forces in the north have recently joined forces with Islamist militants in the region."

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