Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki called for "tolerance" in the port of Mombasa Thursday, as he visited the troubled city after days of violence sparked by the killing of a radical Muslim cleric.
"We must maintain peace, which is the foundation of democracy," Kibaki said to crowds in Mombasa. "We must embrace tolerance and co-exist peacefully as one nation."
Authorities insist security has been restored. Hundreds of armed officers have been deployed to quash stone-throwing rioters who took to the streets in their hundreds following the assassination of preacher Aboud Rogo Mohammed on Monday.
"We have tightened security, we have enough security forces," said regional police chief Aggrey Adoli, speaking a day after attackers hurled a grenade at a police truck, wounding at least four officers. "We have not had problems today."
The attack, in which the Red Cross said one person was killed, was the second such blast since riots broke out on Monday, with an earlier grenade killing three policemen on Tuesday.
Kibaki flew to Mombasa to open an agricultural trade fair, a longstanding engagement, but one which is also viewed as a government effort to show confidence in security in the city, Kenya's main port and a key tourist hub.
For two days, angry youths fought running battles with police, looting churches and torching cars. But Muslim leaders said Thursday the situation had improved, with many businesses closed during the rioting now open.
"Things are much calmer after last night's house to house searches by the police... Mombasa is slowly returning to normal," said Khalid Hussein, head of the local organisation Muslims for Human Rights.
"All we can do is pray that police do not go out on a revenge mission since some of their own have fallen victim to the violence. This might provoke the rioters again."
The murdered cleric -- popularly known as Rogo -- was on US and UN sanctions lists for allegedly supporting neighbouring Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab militants.
Rogo had fiercely opposed Kenya's invasion of southern Somalia last year to attack Shebab bases. The United States and United Nations had accused him of recruiting and fundraising for the extremist insurgents.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday visited Mombasa, where he called for the nation to come together to stop religious violence.
"We are not going to allow outside forces to incite Kenyans to create religious war," Odinga said, after meeting with religious leaders from the majority-Muslim region, which also has a significant Christian population.
Foreign embassies -- including those of Australia, Britain, France and the United States -- have issued travel warnings for Mombasa, where several large tourist resorts are based.
Rogo was killed Monday in Mombasa when unidentified gunmen opened fire on his vehicle as he was driving with his wife and children, leaving it riddled with bullets.
Images released by his supporters showed his bloody corpse slumped behind the wheel. His wife and children reportedly survived the attack.
Human Rights Watch has called for a probe into the killing, noting it "follows the abductions and deaths earlier this year of several other people charged with recruitment and other offences related to the Shebab."
Rogo's supporters accused the security forces of murdering him, calling his death an "extra-judicial killing". The police reject the claim and have appealed for help in hunting down those responsible.
Kidney stenting lowers blood pressure in patients with severe hypertensionPublic release date: 30-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Dawn Peters sciencenewsroom@wiley.com 781-388-8408 Wiley
Patients with uncontrolled renovascular hypertension saw a significant improvement in their blood pressure with renal artery stent deployment. The multicenter HERCULES trial, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the RX Herculink Elite Stent, found that patients with higher blood pressure levels at baseline had the most dramatic reduction in blood pressure following intervention. Trial details appear in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI).
Narrowing of the arteries to the kidney known as renal artery stenosis (RAS) is mainly caused by the build-up of fat and cholesterol (atherosclerosis) along the artery walls. The plaque build-up can cause high blood pressure and kidney damage. While kidney artery stenting is considered a safe procedure, the efficacy of the procedure for lowering blood pressure and preventing injury that leads to end-stage renal disease remains unclear, particularly when compared to medicines alone.
"Findings from the HERCULES trial expand scientific evidence of renal artery stenting in treating patients with high blood pressure who do not respond to standard therapy," explains Michael R. Jaff, DO, FSCAI, from the Vascular Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "As part of the trial we also explored the predictive value of the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) test prior to performing the stent procedure." The BNP test is used to diagnose heart failure and researchers sought to understand if BNP could predict clinical success, which is valuable information for interventionists prior to performing invasive procedures.
For the HERCULES trial researchers enrolled 202 patients with 241 total lesions and 78 bilateral lesions between August 2007 and October 2009. Patients had a history of high cholesterol levels and active or recently discontinued tobacco use. The majority of participants were Caucasian, mean age was 72 years, and 62% of patients were female. BNP testing was performed before and after stenting with the RX Herculink Elite Renal Stent System by Abbott Vascular.
At the start of the trial the mean systolic blood pressure of the trial group was 162 mm Hg and nearly 70% of patients were taking three or more medications to control hypertension. Success rates for the trial device, procedure and clinical outcomes were 96%, 99%, and 98%, respectively. Researchers reported that freedom from major adverse events (death, kidney removal, or embolism causing renal injury) was 95%.
Further results show that at the nine-month follow-up the restenosis rate was 11% and the mean systolic blood pressure for participants was 145 mm Hg post-stenting with no change in medications. Researchers found no association between a reduction in blood pressure following stenting and elevated BNP pre-procedure, or a decrease in BNP levels following successful stenting. While there was a significant decrease in BNP following stenting, the BNP level prior to the procedure was not reliable in predicting blood pressure response.
"The HERCULES trial demonstrates that renal artery stent revascularization significantly lowers systolic blood pressure in patients with severe hypertension," concludes Dr. Jaff. "Those patients with the highest blood pressure rates at baseline had the greatest magnitude of blood pressure lowering." The authors point out that because the majority of trial participants were Caucasian the findings may not be applicable to other racial groups.
In a related video, Dr. Jaff discusses specifics of his research with Steven R. Bailey, MD, FSCAI, Editor-in-Chief of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions. "The research by Dr. Jaff and colleagues is an important contribution to the evidence supporting stenting as an effective intervention for patients with renovascular disease," said Dr. Bailey.
###
To view the video, please visit: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1002/ccd.24449/asset/supinfo/Jaff.HERCULES.mp4?v=1&s=7fa3eaf468da5868b47a740ed15176ae6b68e65a
This study is published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact sciencenewsroom@wiley.com
Full citation: "Significant Reduction in Systolic Blood Pressure Following Renal Artery Stenting in Patients with Uncontrolled Hypertension: Results from the HERCULES Trial." Michael R. Jaff, Mark Bates, Timothy Sullivan, Jeffrey Popma, Xingyu Gao, Margo Zaugg and Patrick Verta, on behalf of the HERCULES Investigators. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Published Online: June 27, 2012 (DOI: 10.1002/ccd.24449); Print Issue Date: September, 2012.
URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ccd.24449/abstract
About the Author: To arrange an interview with Dr. Jaff, please contact Colleen Marshall with Massachusetts General Hospital at cmarshall3@partners.org or at 617-726-0275.
Dr. Jaff relates that he is an unpaid advisor to Abbott Vascular, and is a board member of VIVA Physicians, a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit education and research organization.
About the Journal:
Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions is the official journal of The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. This international journal covers the broad field of cardiovascular diseases. Subject material includes basic and clinical information that is derived from or related to invasive and interventional coronary or peripheral vascular techniques. The journal focuses on material that will be of immediate practical value to physicians providing patient care in the clinical laboratory setting. To accomplish this, the journal publishes Preliminary Reports and Work In Progress articles that complement the traditional Original Studies, Case Reports, and Comprehensive Reviews. Perspective and insight concerning controversial subjects and evolving technologies are provided regularly through Editorial Commentaries furnished by members of the Editorial Board and other experts. Articles are subject to double-blind peer review and complete editorial evaluation prior to any decision regarding acceptability. For more information, please visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1522-726X.
About the Society:
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) is the primary professional association for invasive and interventional cardiologists, representing over 4,300 physicians in 60 countries. The Society's mission is to promote excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation, its monthly journal Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, and the advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. For more information, please visit www.scai.org or SCAI's comprehensive patient education website, www.SecondsCount.org.
About Wiley:
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace.
Our core businesses publish scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and Web sites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's Web site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
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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.
Kidney stenting lowers blood pressure in patients with severe hypertensionPublic release date: 30-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Dawn Peters sciencenewsroom@wiley.com 781-388-8408 Wiley
Patients with uncontrolled renovascular hypertension saw a significant improvement in their blood pressure with renal artery stent deployment. The multicenter HERCULES trial, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the RX Herculink Elite Stent, found that patients with higher blood pressure levels at baseline had the most dramatic reduction in blood pressure following intervention. Trial details appear in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI).
Narrowing of the arteries to the kidney known as renal artery stenosis (RAS) is mainly caused by the build-up of fat and cholesterol (atherosclerosis) along the artery walls. The plaque build-up can cause high blood pressure and kidney damage. While kidney artery stenting is considered a safe procedure, the efficacy of the procedure for lowering blood pressure and preventing injury that leads to end-stage renal disease remains unclear, particularly when compared to medicines alone.
"Findings from the HERCULES trial expand scientific evidence of renal artery stenting in treating patients with high blood pressure who do not respond to standard therapy," explains Michael R. Jaff, DO, FSCAI, from the Vascular Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "As part of the trial we also explored the predictive value of the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) test prior to performing the stent procedure." The BNP test is used to diagnose heart failure and researchers sought to understand if BNP could predict clinical success, which is valuable information for interventionists prior to performing invasive procedures.
For the HERCULES trial researchers enrolled 202 patients with 241 total lesions and 78 bilateral lesions between August 2007 and October 2009. Patients had a history of high cholesterol levels and active or recently discontinued tobacco use. The majority of participants were Caucasian, mean age was 72 years, and 62% of patients were female. BNP testing was performed before and after stenting with the RX Herculink Elite Renal Stent System by Abbott Vascular.
At the start of the trial the mean systolic blood pressure of the trial group was 162 mm Hg and nearly 70% of patients were taking three or more medications to control hypertension. Success rates for the trial device, procedure and clinical outcomes were 96%, 99%, and 98%, respectively. Researchers reported that freedom from major adverse events (death, kidney removal, or embolism causing renal injury) was 95%.
Further results show that at the nine-month follow-up the restenosis rate was 11% and the mean systolic blood pressure for participants was 145 mm Hg post-stenting with no change in medications. Researchers found no association between a reduction in blood pressure following stenting and elevated BNP pre-procedure, or a decrease in BNP levels following successful stenting. While there was a significant decrease in BNP following stenting, the BNP level prior to the procedure was not reliable in predicting blood pressure response.
"The HERCULES trial demonstrates that renal artery stent revascularization significantly lowers systolic blood pressure in patients with severe hypertension," concludes Dr. Jaff. "Those patients with the highest blood pressure rates at baseline had the greatest magnitude of blood pressure lowering." The authors point out that because the majority of trial participants were Caucasian the findings may not be applicable to other racial groups.
In a related video, Dr. Jaff discusses specifics of his research with Steven R. Bailey, MD, FSCAI, Editor-in-Chief of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions. "The research by Dr. Jaff and colleagues is an important contribution to the evidence supporting stenting as an effective intervention for patients with renovascular disease," said Dr. Bailey.
###
To view the video, please visit: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1002/ccd.24449/asset/supinfo/Jaff.HERCULES.mp4?v=1&s=7fa3eaf468da5868b47a740ed15176ae6b68e65a
This study is published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact sciencenewsroom@wiley.com
Full citation: "Significant Reduction in Systolic Blood Pressure Following Renal Artery Stenting in Patients with Uncontrolled Hypertension: Results from the HERCULES Trial." Michael R. Jaff, Mark Bates, Timothy Sullivan, Jeffrey Popma, Xingyu Gao, Margo Zaugg and Patrick Verta, on behalf of the HERCULES Investigators. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Published Online: June 27, 2012 (DOI: 10.1002/ccd.24449); Print Issue Date: September, 2012.
URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ccd.24449/abstract
About the Author: To arrange an interview with Dr. Jaff, please contact Colleen Marshall with Massachusetts General Hospital at cmarshall3@partners.org or at 617-726-0275.
Dr. Jaff relates that he is an unpaid advisor to Abbott Vascular, and is a board member of VIVA Physicians, a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit education and research organization.
About the Journal:
Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions is the official journal of The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. This international journal covers the broad field of cardiovascular diseases. Subject material includes basic and clinical information that is derived from or related to invasive and interventional coronary or peripheral vascular techniques. The journal focuses on material that will be of immediate practical value to physicians providing patient care in the clinical laboratory setting. To accomplish this, the journal publishes Preliminary Reports and Work In Progress articles that complement the traditional Original Studies, Case Reports, and Comprehensive Reviews. Perspective and insight concerning controversial subjects and evolving technologies are provided regularly through Editorial Commentaries furnished by members of the Editorial Board and other experts. Articles are subject to double-blind peer review and complete editorial evaluation prior to any decision regarding acceptability. For more information, please visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1522-726X.
About the Society:
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) is the primary professional association for invasive and interventional cardiologists, representing over 4,300 physicians in 60 countries. The Society's mission is to promote excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation, its monthly journal Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, and the advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. For more information, please visit www.scai.org or SCAI's comprehensive patient education website, www.SecondsCount.org.
About Wiley:
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace.
Our core businesses publish scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and Web sites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's Web site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.
[ | 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.
LAS VEGAS -- It's estimated there are thousands of foreclosed homes about to hit the local housing market.
According to banking and real estate insiders, Las Vegas real estate is about to take another big hit, and it could delay the recovery for years to come.
Foreclosure notices continue to be posted on homes around the Las Vegas valley. ?
"What I'm hearing from sources, is that work has never been busier," realtor Jared Jones said.
According to real estate experts, a new wave of foreclosures is about to hit the market. It will most likely turn what has been a seller's market, for the last few months, into another foreclosure free-for-all. It could potentially drive Las Vegas Home prices down even further.
See the background numbers that impact the housing market
Industry experts are expecting as many as 70,000 newly foreclosed properties to flood the market. The inventory has been building up since October when a new law took effect making it more difficult for banks to foreclose. That gave the Las Vegas housing market a much needed shot in the arm.
"It almost feels like it did in the boom years of 2004, 2005 and 2006. People were receiving multiple offers and people were bidding over list price," said Brian Gordon of Applied Analysis.
"The reality is that a lot of that's been a function of limited supply on the markets," he added.
In September 2011, just before Assembly Bill 284 took effect, banks were foreclosing on about 3 to 4,000 Clark County properties a month. After the new law took effect, notices of default dropped dramatically to a low of about 800 a month. Foreclosures have stayed down ever since, but that's about to change.
"Foreclosures will ramp up shortly. I would argue, probably in September," said Bill Uffleman, president of the Nevada Bankers Association.
Uffleman said the banks have found legal ways to step up the foreclosure process again.
"If you took 3,000 a month is the norm, I think we will get back to 3,000 a month maybe 4,000 thousand."
"A lot of experts that are watching the default data are saying there are 70,000 homes that are in some type of default status,"Jones said.
He believes the entire Las Vegas housing market will start feeling the effects of this next wave by February or March and people will see many more properties available.
"I believe builders will slow down land purchases, later this year,' Jones said.
Jones, who the Wall Street Journal named the 4th most productive agent in the nation in 2011, is so convinced prices are going to drop here, that he's selling some of his own investment properties now before prices decline.
"You in my opinion, want to be on the market, sold, closed, or near closed. if not completely closed before the spring. I'm taking this agenda with my own portfolio," Jones said.
He plans on buying more properties after the market hits bottom again. The consensus seems to be sometime next yea with the after-affects impacting the Las Vegas market for quite a while.
"It's still a delicate situation, and is going to remain in that state for months or potentially years to come," Gordon said.
The numbers show increased foreclosure activity. There were 521 in May, 629 in June, 914 in July, and possibly 1,000 new foreclosures in August. And Uffleman expects to see three or four times that amount per month. The good news is the banks can't release all the built up foreclosures all at once. It takes time to process them so there will be a steady stream, expected to reach as many as 4,000 a month which will create a buyer's market.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? A state official says the levee in southeast Louisiana's Isaac-flooded Plaquemines Parish will be breached to relieve pressure on it.
State Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority head Garret Graves says the levee won't be breached Wednesday because of weather conditions but it will happen as soon as they can get equipment to the site.
In hard-hit Plaquemines Parish, officials rescued dozens of people by boat after they became stranded by floodwaters. Flooding has plagued the area after Isaac sloshed ashore Tuesday evening as a Category 1 hurricane.
HAIFA, Israel (AP) ? An Israeli court ruled Tuesday that the military was not at fault for killing a U.S. activist crushed by an army bulldozer during a 2003 demonstration, rejecting a lawsuit filed by her parents.
The bulldozer driver has said he didn't see 23-year-old Rachel Corrie, a pro-Palestinian activist, who was trying to block the vehicle's path during a demonstration in the Gaza Strip against the military's demolition of Palestinian homes.
The military deemed her March 2003 death an accident, but Corrie's parents said the driver acted recklessly and filed a civil lawsuit two years later.
Explaining the district court's ruling, Judge Oded Gershon said Corrie "put herself in a dangerous situation" and called her death "the result of an accident she brought upon herself." He said the military conducted a proper investigation and rejected the Corrie family's request for a symbolic $1 in damages and legal expenses.
Corrie's family, who flew in from the U.S. for the verdict, lamented the court's ruling. Their lawyer, Hussein Abu Hussein, said he would appeal the ruling to Israel's Supreme Court.
"We are of course, deeply saddened and deeply troubled by what we heard today," said her mother, Cindy Corrie of Olympia, Washington. "I believe this was a bad day. Not only for our family but for human rights, the rule of law, and also for the country of Israel."
Corrie's sister, Sarah, held up a picture of her sister lying lifeless in bulldozer tracks. The family's lawyer, Hussein Abu Hussein pointed at it: "How did the bulldozer not see her?" he asked. To say that the driver did not see her "is lies to the living and also lies to the dead."
The home demolitions were part of an unsuccessful campaign to halt thousands of attacks on soldiers and Jewish settlers in southern Gaza, along the border with Egypt, in the preceding 3 ? years. On the day Rachel Corrie died, she and other activists had entered a closed military zone to protest the demolition policy.
According to the U.N. agency handling Palestinian refugees, the military had left more than 17,000 Gazans homeless in the four years after a Palestinian uprising against Israel erupted in September 2000. The demolitions drew international condemnation at the time.
In her death, Corrie became the embodiment of what Palestinian activists say is Israel's harsh repression of nonviolent protest to occupation. Israel says by entering conflict zones to try to interfere with military activities, activists recklessly choose to risk their lives.
Her parents have relentlessly pursued her case since going to court in 2005 after a military investigation cleared the driver.
They say they have spent $200,000 to fly in witnesses, attend 15 hearings and translate more than 2,000 pages of court transcripts.
At the news conference, Cindy Corrie read a passage from one of her daughter's letters, biting her lip as her husband, grim-faced, held a microphone for her.
"Life is very difficult. Human beings can be kind, brave and strong, even in the most difficult of circumstances," Rachel Corrie wrote. "Thank you for existing, for showing how good people can be, despite great hardship."
The Corrie case was the first civil lawsuit of a foreigner harmed by Israel's military to conclude in a full civilian trial. Others have resulted in out-of-court settlements.
U.S. citizen Rachel Corrie, 23, speaks through a megaphone to an Israeli army bulldozer before she was killed in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on March 16, 2003.
By NBC News staff and wire reports
HAIFA, Israel -- An Israeli court rejected on Tuesday accusations that Israel was at fault over the death of American activist Rachel Corrie, who was crushed by an army bulldozer during a 2003 pro-Palestinian demonstration in Gaza.
Corrie's family had accused Israel of intentionally and unlawfully killing their 23-year-old daughter, launching a civil case in the northern Israeli city of Haifa after a military investigation had cleared the army of wrongdoing.
In a ruling read out to the court, judge Oded Gershon called Corrie's death a "regrettable accident," but said the state was not responsible because the incident had occurred during what he termed a war-time situation.
At the time of her death, during a Palestinian uprising, Corrie was protesting against Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
"I reject the suit," the judge said. "There is no justification to demand the state pay any damages."
He added that the soldiers had done their utmost to keep people away from the site. "She (Corrie) did not distance herself from the area, as any thinking person would have done."
Oliver Weiken / EPA
Rachel Corrie's parents Craig and Cindy and her sister Sarah, left, are seen prior to the announcement of the verdict at the Haifa district court on Tuesday.
Mom: 'I am hurt' Corrie's death made her a symbol of the uprising, and while her family battled through the courts to establish who was responsible for her killing, her story was dramatized on stage in a dozen countries and told in the book "Let Me Stand Alone."
"I am hurt," Corrie's mother, Cindy, told reporters after the verdict was read.
Corrie's mother Cindy told a news conference after the court's decision that the bulldozer personnel had the "ability" and also an "obligation" to have seen that her daughter was in its path.
NBC station KING5: 'Rachel Corrie' aid ship boarded by Israelis
She said she hoped the lawsuit would help change Israel's policies regarding the demolition of Palestinian houses.
Cindy Corrie said that previously a senior Israeli soldier had said there were "no civilians in war."
"Rachel was in Gaza because there were and are civilians there, those who have rights and deserve protection," she added. "Rachel's right to life and dignity were violated by the actions of the Israeli military."
She said her daughter was a "rich thinker and a beautiful person" from "Olympia, Washington, USA," her voice breaking as she spoke.
The family's attorney, Hussein Abu Hussein, said that the court's decision was so close to the Israeli government's position that the state's lawyers could have written it themselves, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The U.K.'s Guardian newspaper reported that Corrie was with a group of international activists acting as human shields against the demolition of Palestinian houses.
"She was standing on top of a pile of earth," fellow activist and eyewitness Richard Purssell, from Brighton, U.K., said at the time, according to the Guardian. "The driver cannot have failed to see her. As the blade pushed the pile, the earth rose up. Rachel slid down the pile. It looks as if her foot got caught. The driver didn't slow down; he just ran over her. Then he reversed the bulldozer back over her again."
Few Israelis showed much sympathy for Corrie's death, which took place at the height of the uprising in which thousands of Palestinians were killed and hundreds of Israelis died in suicide bombings.
Getty Images / Getty Images, file
Rachel Corrie speaks during an interview with MBC Saudi Arabia television on March 14, 2003 in the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza strip.
Corrie was from Olympia, Washington, and was a volunteer with the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement.
Senior U.S. officials criticized the original military investigation into the case, saying it had been neither thorough nor credible. But the judge said the inquiry had been appropriate and pinned no blame on the army.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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In the city of Antakya on the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkish government support for the Syrian opposition has unnerved locals belonging to the same Shiite sect as President Assad.
By Alexander Christie-Miller,?Correspondent / August 28, 2012
New Syrian refugees rest as they arrive at a stopover facility for breaking fast near the Turkish border town of Reyhanli in Hatay province August 9.
Umit Bektas/Reuters
Enlarge
Syrian refugee Abdulhefiz Abdulrahman remembers when he had many local friends in the Turkish city of Antakya, but those days seem over.?
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The political dissident fled Syria, arriving in this border city several months before the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's regime erupted last year.
?I had a lot of Alawite friends here,? says Mr. Abdulrahman, referring to the offshoot of Shiite Islam to which a large part of Antakya's population adheres.
Alawites?dominate the regime in Syria, where the 18-month uprising has split the country along sectarian lines, pitting the privileged Alawite minority against the Sunni majority.?
In Antakya, where support for the Alawite Assad regime runs deep, hostility is growing toward Syrian rebels and dissidents who have made a temporary base there. And throughout the province,?Turkey's apparent backing of the Syrian opposition is upsetting a delicate ethnic balance.?
?Before, when I told them I was a refugee, they respected me,? Abdulrahman told the Monitor. ?They won?t even say hello to me in the street anymore.?
Now,?local frustration about the government's apparent decision to let?Syrian dissidents and fighters?operate on Turkish soil could ignite wider ethnic tensions in the country.?
Turkey's rebel support draws ire
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has strongly backed the Syrian opposition, calling for the regime's overthrow.
?Even though Turkey?s a secular country, it?s increasingly being seen as a Sunni actor [in the Syrian conflict], along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar,? says Bulent Aliriza, director of the Turkey Program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. ?Inevitably that affects the body politic.?
On Aug. 26, the leader of the Republican People?s Party, Turkey?s main opposition party, accused the government of training Syrian anti-regime fighters, after a delegation from his party was denied access to a Syrian refugee camp along the border.
"I sent our deputies to check out the camp, which was said to be full of agents and spies, but the authorities said you cannot enter this camp,? Kemal Kilicdaroglu told journalists. ?Now I expect an answer from the government: ?What is in that camp? Who are you training in that camp? Are you raising men to spill Muslims? blood?'"
Ankara denies offering?support to the Syrian armed opposition, or allowing it to freely operate from Turkish territory. But when the Monitor visited the Reyhanli border crossing near Antakya yesterday, one rebel commander waiting there said authorities were allowing him to cross into Syria even though he had no passport. And?Reuters, quoting Doha-based sources, reported last month that Ankara has set up a secret base near the Syrian border, in cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to provide military and communications assistance to the rebels.
'Sectarian solidarity'
Meanwhile, tensions are rising in Antakya. Last week, some residents held a protest calling for Syrians to be removed, while Syrian activists told the Monitor they had been called to a meeting with Turkish military and municipal officials and told they would have to leave the city "for their own security." Turkish officials deny such a meeting took place.
?The people of Hatay have lived together for thousands of years without regard for ethnicity or religion,? says Mehmet Ali Edipoglu, a local member of parliament from Mr. Kilicdaroglu?s opposition party. ?The fact that attempts for regime change in Syria have turned into a sectarian war is damaging that."
?It?s not the refugees who are coming to Antakya, but the Syrian militants who are being armed by the government to go back into Syria,? he says, describing those living there as "assassins."
PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? Wonder Woman and Superman are an item, locking lips in a passionate embrace as the pair realize that there's no one out there like them.
The couple's kiss is the culmination of a dramatic story in "Justice League" No. 12, which marks the first full year since DC relaunched its stable of heroes with new stories, new costumes and revised origins.
DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee, who has drawn each issue of "Justice League" since its debut, called the canoodling in Wednesday's issue not a stunt or an alternate reality smooch.
"This has been in the works for some time and we certainly wouldn't have pulled the trigger on without there being great creative benefit to the liaison," he said in an email. "Beyond the joy and sorrows of new love, there are potentially huge ramifications and dramatic ways this single relationship between these iconic characters will change the entire political and interpersonal landscape of the DC Universe."
The characters have long formed, with Batman, the triumvirate of DC Entertainment's heroes and are among the most powerful and best-known.
In the 1980s, the pair had a brief fling but Superman went on to marry Lois Lane. They also kissed in Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Strikes Again" a decade ago. In a 2006 epilogue to 1996's "Kingdom Come," the couple asks Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, to stand as godfather to their unborn child.
Since DC relaunched its characters and universe nearly a year ago, some of the origins have changed ? Wonder Woman is now the daughter of Zeus ? and the costumes have, too.
One aspect that did not survive the relaunch: Lois Lane's role as Superman's love. She's still around, but the two have never dated, nor are they likely to.
Geoff Johns, who writes "Justice League" is laying out a story that looks not only at the couple but the effects on others, too, Lee said.
"The way Geoff unfolds the story and the implications of two of the most powerful characters in the DCU becoming a team is something that goes beyond the question of 'What about Lois and Clark?'" Lee said.
"This is a statement to every nation and geopolitical organization in the entire DC Universe giving creative teams ample material to explore this relationship on so many different levels."
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Follow Matt Moore at http://www.twitter.com/mattmooreap
He was the first man to walk on the Moon, but Neil Armstrong didn't have any good photos to prove it. He had the camera most of the time, so it was Aldrin who got all the awesome shots. Sure—he was on grainy TV and reflected on Buzz's visor but—except for his footprint—there were no cool shots of Neil. More »
Your mood is influenced by your surroundings, and this is especially true within your own home. Some people spend even more time at home if they work there. If this is your situation, it makes it even more important that you are happy with your home. When your home is nice, it is easier to do everything. Here are some tips to assist you in creating a home that you can truly enjoy and love to live in.
Being comfortable in your home is paramount to your well-being. True, no home is perfect, but if your home?s shortcomings cause everyday irritation, this will affect your outlook on life. To live a happy life, you should make your home as comfortable as possible. Your home?s comfort level is a key feature of your home that needs appropriate attention paid to it. A good example of increasing your comfort level at home is to make sure your furniture is suited to your needs. If you can?t reach that high shelf, lower it, or get yourself a step stool. If your shins are constantly bruised from bumping the coffee table?s corners, get a round one. Even a small change can lead to vast improvements in your life.
Expand your space. No matter how much organizing and reorganizing you do, there?s only so much space in your home, and you can run out of room. When the walls are creeping in on you, an expansion is a good option. Even a very small expansion can do a lot to remove the stress associated with junk and clutter.
Make your home more pleasant and valuable by adding recreational features to your property. You can increase the value of your home by adding something simple like a basketball hoop or something large like a pool. These types of amenities can add to the enjoyment of your home.
Consider the lighting in your home. Just by altering it a little bit can bring a drab, dark spot to life and it can make an area seem more appealing. A quick and very easy way to improve your home?s lighting is to check for old bulbs. These bulbs create a dimmer ambient light, so when you replace them, it can prove enlightening by brightening your spaces. If you know how, you can even change the fixtures.
Make the most of your outdoor space by planting a garden; this turns any yard into a lush and inviting space. You can use the services of a gardener and still see the benefits that a garden provides. Some of these benefits include relief of stress and better air, and if you pick the right things to plant, you can also enjoy flowers, herbs and veggies.
It is also wise to think about doing things to improve the exterior of your home. You can add value and beauty to your house by brightening up the appearance with fresh paint, new windows, or updating the roof. Plus, your refreshed home will be a much more inviting experience for your guests!
Projects to improve your home are investments in both your emotional well-being and financial future. Life is so much more enjoyable when you can spend time in a home that you really love.
A Bahrain appeals court on Thursday acquitted activist Nabeel Rajab, who had been sentenced to three months in jail for alleged insults issued via Twitter, but he must still serve a three-year term for taking part in protests, a judicial source said.
The Shiite human rights activist had been handed a three-month jail sentence on July 9 for alleged insults made on Twitter to members of the Sunni community which was overturned on Thursday.
Rajab, 48, will remain in jail, however, after he received a three-year sentence on August 16 for "unauthorised" protests against Bahrain's Sunni monarchy.
The appeal process in that case is due to start on September 10, his lawyer said.
Rajab complained during Thursday's hearing of suffering "physical and psychological torture" whilst under arrest, according to defence lawyers.
He said he had been kept in solitary confinement in a "dark cell" and was refused contact with family members, they added.
The head of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Rajab led anti-government protests following a brutal crackdown on Shiite-led demonstrations against the regime in March 2011.
He had insisted on demonstrating inside Manama, unlike the main Shiite opposition which now stages protests in villages, after last year's clampdown on protesters who occupied the capital's Pearl Square for a month.
Recent protests demanding the release of Rajab in Shiite villages surrounding Manama have been put down by security forces using tear gas and shotguns, according to witnesses and residents.
Security forces on Friday shot dead a 16-year-old Shiite boy in Sunni-dominated Muharaq, the town at the centre of Rajab's alleged insults.
Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa on Wednesday sought to reassure Muharaq's inhabitants on a visit there, telling them the town was crucial to "the security stability of the country," Bahrain's BNA news agency reported.
Human rights groups and Western powers have urged Bahrain to overturn the three-year sentence and release Rajab immediately from jail.
Amnesty International described the sentence as "a dark day for justice in Bahrain."
EU foreign affairs Chief Catherine Ashton said she expected "that this sentence... will be reconsidered in the appeal process."
Bahrain, which is ruled by the Al-Khalifa dynasty, has come under strong criticism from international rights organisations over last year's crackdown on demonstrations that were inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings.
Even though many tobacco users wish to quit, they give up also very easily. Quitting can be obtained by having a good mindset, and the appropriate tricks that can help you, much like the ones created in the following paragraphs. Begin using these ideas inside your want to giving up smoking, and you will probably learn that it must be a bit more basic than you initially thought.
Find someone that you could ask for support just in case you truly feel tempted to light up when you?re trying to cease. Take the time to go about your feelings and responses regarding your weakening determination having a close friend or someone with your family members. Time you spend in chat using them on the telephone will provide a fantastic distraction which means your craving has time to pass, and you will definitely recognize you aren?t by itself in this whole procedure.
When you plan to go your entire existence without getting confronted with the cravings yet again, regrettably this is not the way it is. Continue to be robust and never give in towards the urge, even after. Recall how hard laying off was at the first try, and decide regardless of whether you wish to will need to go by means of that once again.
Don?t forget about to plan for rewards if you decide to stop cigarette smoking. You will certainly be investing much less funds while you are no more being forced to purchase cigarettes. Established the money you would probably have spent on tobacco cigarettes aside, and employ it to help remedy your self. This real benefit from avoiding cigarette smoking could be a fantastic motivator to stick with it.
Converting the music group of cig you smoke cigarettes may help cause you to laying off. Selecting a brand name you detest the flavor or aroma of is a great way to allow you to loathe cigarette smoking a lot more. Tend not to smoke cigarettes an increased number of them than usual or modify the way in which you take in them. This will help get yourself started on your cessation quest.
If you make the decision to give up using tobacco, write down all of your current stimulating variables. If you discover on your own grasping for good reasons to persevere, you are able to refer straight back to this list for help.
Think of your meals choices while you are dealing with yearnings. In case you are quitting tobacco, don?t attempt to diet as well. Rather, try to have a balanced diet plan. Studies have revealed that many fruits, greens, and dairy foods which are less fat will depart a terrible preference in the mouth when you cigarette smoke. Having these types of food will never only improve your wellness but in addition enable you to give up smoking.
To cut down about the indications of withdrawal you possess, do more exercise. Working out and moving around lets out hormones that can quit irritation lifeless in the path. Doing exercises when attemping to stop may help prevent you from packing on weight.
If you decide to give up smoking, locate a help class to aid. Conversing with your friends will help you to locate new methods for fighting yearnings, have mental support and look for new no-using tobacco friends. This helps you sense cozy by associating with those who have gone through exactly the same problems. To locate an assistance group in your area, seek advice from churches, leisure time locations, or local community colleges in your neighborhood.
Would pure nicotine alternative therapy meet your needs? The products, for example patches and gum area with nicotine, can sort out withdrawals whilst your are laying off. After you give up the habit of cigarette smoking cigarettes, you?ll be able to wean from the nicotine too.
Annoy those who make an effort you constantly about stop smoking. Usually do not kick your routine for somebody different practice it for your self. When someone nags you regarding your cigarette smoking, don?t pick-up yet another vice to spite them. If you love keeping them within their place and your new vice, you could even discover youself to be failing to remember that you?re quitting.
You have all the details you will need to acquire began expressing so long to cigarette smoking forever. Stopping causes you to more happy, more healthy, and this will lengthen your life-span by many years. As you become beyond the worst of stopping and can begin to see the light, go commemorate! You should have it!
Should you want extra information on psoriasis treatment see Olinda M. Bonadona?s site there?s a lot of points not detailed in this post, take a look at Author?s website to locate more.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? An insurgent rocket attack damaged the plane of the top U.S. military general as it sat parked at a coalition base in Afghanistan on Tuesday, dealing another blow to the image of progress in building a stable country as foreign forces work to wind down the 10-year-old war.
Petronet?s Dahej LNG terminal on India?s west coast is due to get a cargo of LNG onboard the?138,097 cbm Disha from Qatar on August 22, according to shipping data.
The Dahej terminal in Gujarat is India?s first LNG import terminal and has a nominal capacity of 10 MMTPA.
The terminal is meeting around 20% of the total gas demand of the country.
LNG World News Staff, August 20, 2012; Image: Petronet
Save cash and credit and get the rugged computing equipment you need at a price you can afford!
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ScienceDaily (Aug. 20, 2012) ? In evaluating the bioactive compounds of Illinois blueberry and blackberry wines, University of Illinois scientists have found compounds that inhibit enzymes responsible for carbohydrate absorption and assimilation. And that could mean a tasty way to help people with diabetes decrease their blood sugar.
"We're thinking about a dealcoholized fermented fruit beverage that would optimize the inhibition of the alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes and also make use of the wines' other healthful bioactive components," said Elvira de Mejia, a U of I professor of food chemistry and food toxicology.
Graduate student Michelle Johnson evaluated the nutritional value of 19 Illinois wines, deciding on a blueberry-blackberry blend for maximum effectiveness.
In the in vitro study, the scientists compared the anti-carb effects of the alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes with acarbose, an anti-diabetes drug. The carb-degrading enzymes were inhibited in a range of 91.8 percent for alpha-amylase compared to acarbose and 103.2 percent for alpha-glucosidase compared to acarbose, de Mejia said.
The study is the first to assess the effect of berry fermentation at different temperatures on these carb-inhibiting enzymes. At both room and cold (4?C) temperatures, berry wine retained the ability to degrade the enzymes, she said.
In a second study, Johnson quantified the antioxidant, polyphenol, and anthocyanin content of blueberry and blackberry wines. Her proposed blend contains an abundance of these bioactive compounds, which add to its healthful properties.
The researchers are particularly interested in the ability of anthocyanins to reduce inflammation, which contributes to the development of many chronic illnesses, including cancer, metabolic disease, and cardiovascular disease. To that end, they are experimenting with the berries' effects on inflammatory cells, and they have found that anthocyanins reduce markers associated with the inflammatory response.
"Preliminary studies have indicated that anthocyanins may have a positive effect on cognition and overall brain health while protecting against some of the effects of aging, such as Alzheimer's disease and memory loss. These berries have some very intriguing components," de Mejia said.
A food chemist, de Mejia would like to remove the alcohol from the wines, leaving the carb-degrading enzyme compounds, the inflammation-fighting anthocyanins, and other beneficial bioactive components in a functional and flavorful drink for diabetics and others.
The bioactive ingredients could also be added to any prepared beverage to give it color, flavor, and nutritional punch, making them useful to the food industry, she said.
Studies detailing this research were published in a recent issue of the Journal of Food Science, with Michelle H. Johnson of the U of I's Division of Nutritional Sciences as co-author, and in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry with the U of I's Michelle H. Johnson, Anita Lucius, and Tessa Mayer as co-authors.
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The link building methodology is a powerful component in search engine optimization and you need to obtain benefit of the technique for the online business. The collections of inbound links that are pointed to your site are found in articles and various forms of contents through hyperlinks. You must admire the number of such one way links, which prove the popularity of the site and help in directing fresh traffic to your site. It is the vital component of optimization process because popular search engines provide more value to the website with higher number of high quality links. The specific website gains additional importance from search engines and is offered increased web visibility. Your main intention is to reach such advantageous stage with the support of a reliable and quality link building service.
Google recognizes websites with high quality one way links relative to specific keywords and hence you need quality links for the improvement of your website in search results to affect developed web presence. It considers the quality and relevance of the content that carries the one way link. Therefore, the service provider engaged in link building for SEO should be able to provide high quality content to draw the notice of search engines; otherwise merely addition of hyperlinks is not enough to make a positive difference in the position of rankings in search results.
Google prefers continuous activity of a website in the web, which is to be considered a fundamental rule in achieving higher positions in popular search. Creating hyperlinks may give access to better rankings, but you need to impress Google with the quality and relevancy aspect of one way links that you collect from different web pages. You must understand the importance of inbound links, which are vital for the Google algorithm.
You should adopt a transparent technique to collect one way links in a totally ethical manner and be cautious concerning links from link farms, which should be immediately rejected to avoid most horrible consequences. You should interact with the proposed link building service on the subject of methodology of obtaining one way links for your business website and start with a trial project with the link building company to judge the suitability of the service for your online business.
You need effective link building if you are engaged in internet marketing where you sell your products or services and must rely on this aforesaid to attain higher rankings in search results and enjoy improved traffic for the growth of your online business.
Pebble Beach, CA -- Proving there's something for literally everyone?amidst the dizzying vehicular glitterati of Monterey Classic Car Week, Hagerty's "Tour of LeMons" has been trundling through the sleepy coastal community of Seaside in celebration of oddball automotive outcasts.
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Led by "Sweetest LeMon" winner Mindy Kindelberger's 1970 Subaru 360 Deluxe taxi, a curious string of nonconformist rides are stirring up the week's otherwise posh proceedings which include the Quail Motorsports Gathering, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and of course the granddaddy of them all, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
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Highlights (or lowlights, depending on your perspective) from?the 2nd Annual LeMons?include a Trabant, DKW, and a Scooby Doo van, offering a cosmic counterbalance to the seven, and sometimes eight figure masterpieces rolling through the tonier events... and to that, we say vive la diff?rence!
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment improved in early August to the highest in three months as sales at retailers and low mortgage rates spurred Americans to boost their buying plans, a survey showed on Friday.
But concerns about rising food prices caused a jump in both short- and long-term inflation expectations, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey.
The data reinforced the view that economic growth could pick up in the second half of the year but still be lackluster. That was reinforced by July's leading indicator.
Growth and hiring were disappointing in the spring, but hiring picked up in July and consumers are now feeling more confident about spending, though they remain concerned about the economic outlook.
With stubbornly high unemployment and a weaker global economic picture, some analysts have raised their expectations that the Federal Reserve could launch a new round of bond buying to help prop up the economy.
"We've had this mixed bag from the economic data," said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer's Investment Research in Cincinnati, Ohio. "We are all just kind of wondering 'Is this recovery real?'"
The preliminary reading on the index on consumer sentiment rose to its highest level since May, at 73.6 from 72.3 last month, topping economists' forecasts for a slight uptick to 72.4.
Americans were also more optimistic about the state of the economy, with the measure of current economic conditions rising to its highest level since January 2008 at 87.6 from 82.7.
Purchasing plans were bolstered by cheap prices, and the measure of buying conditions for household durables rose to 140 from 130.
Consumers' outlook cooled, with the expectations index slipping to 64.5 from 65.6, the lowest since December. The majority of households expected no income increase during the year ahead, while one-in-four thought the unemployment rate would rise.
"People are still concerned about jobs, but they're seeing home prices stabilize so they're feeling better about that," said Gary Thayer, chief macro strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors in St. Louis.
U.S. stocks were little changed in late morning trading, while the dollar hit a five-week high against the yen. Treasuries yields edged down but remained near three-month highs.
INFLATION FEARS
Growth in personal spending is likely to be just under 2 percent into early next year, said survey director Richard Curtin.
The one-year inflation expectation rose to the highest level since March at 3.6 percent from 3.0 percent as consumers worried about the impact a drought in the U.S. Midwest could have on food prices.
The five-to-10-year inflation outlook also gained, to 3.0 percent from 2.7 percent.
Separate data showed a gauge of future U.S. economic activity improved in July on a drop in new claims for jobless benefits and an increase in housing permits. Still, the reading pointed to sluggish growth ahead.
The Conference Board said its Leading Economic Index climbed 0.4 percent to 95.8 for July, reversing a 0.4 percent decline in June.
The odds that the Fed will launch a third round of bond buying, known as quantitative easing, have risen to 60 percent, according to a Reuters poll released on Friday.
The majority thought the central bank's next policy meeting in September was the most likely time for an announcement. The consensus was for $500 billion in bond purchases, adding to the $2.3 trillion in assets the Fed has already bought.
As the summer winds down, analysts are turning their attention to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech at a gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in late August as having the potential to shed some light on the central bank's plans.
(Additional reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak and Ellen Freilich in New York, Jason Lange in Washington; Editing by Dan Grebler)
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Public release date: 30-Aug-2012
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