Thursday, January 31, 2013

Open online classes could change education

Dozens of elite institutions are now partnering with start-up companies such as Coursera, Udacity and edX, to deliver so-called massive open online courses or MOOCs. NBC's Rehema Ellis reports.

Allison Flicker, NBC News writes

University of Virginia history professor Philip Zelikow has taught the course, "The Modern World: Global History Since 1760" for 16 years -- but this semester is different. Instead of delivering it to 120 students on campus, he'll be teaching 42,000 students around the world.

While online learning is not new, access to top-notch professors at some of the world's most prestigious universities is. Along with the University of Virginia, Harvard University, Stanford University, Brown University, Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia University are among dozens of elite institutions partnering with start-up companies such as Coursera, Udacity and edX, to deliver so-called massive open online courses or MOOCs.

Now, Greek history at Wesleyan University, poetry at the University of Pennsylvania, astronomy at Duke University, and "Introduction to Music Production" at the Berkley College of Music are all just a click away. And they're absolutely free.

Since 2011, more than 2.5 million students from around the world have enrolled in MOOCs. Even though they are not offered for college credit and completion rates are low, some educators see the potential to revolutionize higher learning.

"Thanks to these free online courses, you can shop a range of disciplines and do it all from the comfort at your own home," Coursera co-founder Daphne Koller said.

Zelikow was apprehensive at first.?

"I'm not a techie guy who's interested in experimenting with all this computer stuff," he said. "In fact, I was kind of a skeptic about all this online stuff. I thought it was fad-ish."

But after spending hundreds of hours preparing for this semester's course, Zelikow now sees the potential in expanding online.

"Bruce Springsteen is involved in selling recorded music to people all over the world. And he also sells tickets to live concerts," Zelikow said. "Nobody thinks the recorded music is just as good as the live concert. But he wants to be in both those lines of business."

He says there's not only value in reaching thousands of students worldwide, but believes the move online has actually improved his course for those taking it on campus.

"I thought of ways to use this [online course] to actually re-invent the ways I teach my ordinary class at the university and make it a better class than it used to be, to solve certain problems that are kind of structural problems in the way we teach our residential courses," Zelikow said.

Dawn Smith, 38, has taken "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" through the University of Pennsylvania and a public health class through Johns Hopkins after deciding to change careers.??

"I needed some textbook knowledge," Smith said. "I felt in order to be taken seriously as a candidate I needed to show I was doing something proactive."

Critics of MOOCs complain about their size, saying it leads to minimal student-professor interaction.

"I've met students from Germany that I've spoken to quite frequently - Australia, Japan, China, and then some in Africa," Smith said.

Although she would "absolutely recommend" this online platform, Smith acknowledges the limitations, too.

"There isn't that immediacy of being able to ask a question and then have an answer," Smith said. "There's no one standing in front of you showing you how to do something."

Other concerns include measuring student progress and the sustainability of these courses over a long period of time.

Siva Vaidyanathan, University of Virginia media studies professor, says he thinks MOOCs are an "interesting experiment," but that they're just that - an experiment.

He doesn't believe they can replace a traditional college education.

"Imagine taking a university and removing all the really fun stuff," Vaidyanathan said. "And all you're left with is me talking to you through a camera. That's not that good for anybody."

As professors, students and investors navigate this new terrain, there are questions about the potential for profit in the future and the place MOOCs may have in higher education.

For some, however, these online classes bring about hope.

"Education is such an equalizer. It raises people's abilities ? lets people build a better life," Coursera co-founder Andrew Ng said.

Even Vaidyanathan sees the silver lining.

"I hope somewhere in some corner of the world ? some child discovers calculus, discovers physics, or discovers poetry through a MOOC and gets ? inspired to change the world," he said.??

Source: http://dailynightly.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/31/16795195-massive-open-online-classes-raise-questions-about-future-of-education?lite

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Shooting reported at Phoenix workplace, reports of four shot

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Four people were reported shot when gunfire erupted at a mortgage company in Phoenix, Arizona media reported on Wednesday.

Officers are looking for a suspect described as a white male in his 60s, local FOX 10 news reported. A nearby intersection was reported closed.

(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Cynthia Johnston)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/shooting-reported-phoenix-workplace-reports-four-shot-182718485.html

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

ECB's Draghi met Italy minister over Monte Paschi case

SIENA/ROME (Reuters) - European Central Bank head Mario Draghi, head of Italy's central bank until 2011, met Economy Minister Vittorio Grilli to discuss the widening scandal at Monte dei Paschi bank a day before Grilli was due to address parliament on the issue on Tuesday.

An ECB spokesman in Frankfurt confirmed the meeting, declining to give any details, but a source with knowledge of the encounter said earlier it was likely they talked about Grilli's address to a parliamentary committee later on Tuesday.

As governor of the Bank of Italy from 2005 until late 2011, Draghi was responsible for supervision of the banking sector when Monte Paschi got into trouble following its 9-billion-euro cash acquisition of rival Banca Antonveneta in 2007, just before the global financial crisis broke out.

A series of complex derivatives trades, apparently aimed at massaging accounts to lessen the impact of past losses, are also in focus in the scandal, after the bank revealed last week that they had led to losses of as much as 720 million euros ($969.19 million).

The case, involving allegations of bribery and corruption connected with the Antonveneta acquisition, has raised questions over the future of Italy's third-largest bank, which depends on state support to continue, and to the wider issue of links between politicians and Italian banks.

Grilli is expected to outline the actions of the government and the Bank of Italy in overseeing the Antonveneta acquisition, as well as the derivatives and structured finance transactions which a central bank report had already identified as problematic as long ago as 2010.

He is due to address a finance committee hearing in parliament at 1400 GMT and prepared for the session at his meeting with Draghi in Milan on Monday.

MILAN MEETING

"Draghi was already in Milan. There was a meeting with Grilli at the office of the Economy Ministry in Milan," the source with knowledge of the meeting said.

Prosecutors in Siena are investigating allegations of massive bribery connected with the Antonveneta acquisition, judicial sources say, and newspapers on Tuesday identified several senior former managers of Monte Paschi as under investigation.

The Bank of Italy has said that Monte Paschi management concealed vital information connected with the loss-making derivatives trades.

Monte Paschi chief executive Fabrizio Viola, appointed last year after a clear-out of the bank's former management, has acknowledged accounting irregularities by his predecessors but said he had seen no evidence of bribery.

Giuseppe Mussari, former chairman of the bank until he was replaced last year, resigned from his position as head of the Italian banking association last week after Monte Paschi revealed the problems with its derivatives trades.

($1 = 0.7429 euros)

(Additional reporting by Paul Carrel in Frankfurt and Francesca Landini in Milan; editing By Barry Moody)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ecbs-draghi-met-italy-minister-over-monte-paschi-092400162--finance.html

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Union chief vows ?full-fledged campaign? for immigration overhaul

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (Carolyn Kaster/AP)Organized labor is ?entirely behind? comprehensive immigration reform and will mount a ?full-fledged? campaign to help drive it through Congress, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told Yahoo News on Tuesday.

Trumka, whose federation comprises 57 unions representing some 12 million people, called the planned overhaul ?one of our top priorities right now.? He spoke by telephone from Las Vegas, Nev., where he was to attend President Barack Obama?s speech on immigration reform.

?We think everybody ought to have the right to work hard and to progress to citizenship,? Trumka said.

White House officials cite robust support from organized labor?which at times in recent history has opposed giving the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants on U.S. soil a path to citizenship?as a key factor in their optimism about getting a comprehensive bill through Congress. They also point to the expansion of support among Christians, notably evangelicals. And they joke that the difficulty of managing a broad coalition is the kind of problem they like having.

Unions ?did have at one point some differences? on the issue, but ?the entire labor movement is entirely behind this now,? Trumka said. ?We?ll be at the table the whole time this thing is being developed to make sure it meets the needs of workers.? Once it?s drafted, he continued, ?we?ll be pushing this thing [with a] full-fledged campaign? aimed at both public opinion and wary lawmakers.

?We?ll be targeting those in the House or the Senate that either are recalcitrant and don?t want to do anything or aren?t where they need to be," he said.

Labor wants to see a comprehensive overhaul?"It can?t just be hit and miss," Trumka added?that does a better job of managing legal immigration to meet labor market needs, ensures employers are not exploiting undocumented immigrants, gives those on U.S. soil illegally a path to citizenship and makes sure that families are not broken up, he said.

Trumka also noted that unions are ?a little concerned? about a proposed provision in the bipartisan Senate framework requiring that undocumented immigrants seeking legal status provide ?a proven history of employment.? That could be difficult?employers may not want to admit that they hired such workers?but it could ?be defined in a very broad sense,? he said.

?The system is clearly broken right now, doesn?t work for anybody, doesn?t work for the country,? he added.

The AFL-CIO, the country's largest labor federation, isn't exactly a newcomer to the debate. It produced an outline of its own in August 2009. While organized labor's national clout has diminished along with shrinking membership, unions remain a core constituency for Democrats, and much of the party's backbone, providing cash and voter outreach.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/afl-cio-chief-vows-full-fledged-campaign-immigration-171525302--politics.html

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Canon PowerShot A2500, ELPH 330 HS, 115 IS point-and-shoots debut ahead of CP+

Canon PowerShot A2500, ELPH 330 HS, 115 IS pointandshoots to debut this week at CP

You might have figured Canon's 2013 PowerShot lineup was diverse enough to satisfy just about any point-and-shoot craving. Well, no matter -- we're about to see a trio of compacts added to the mix. The ELPH 330 HS is the company's premium model for CP+, Japan's up-and-coming digital imaging trade show, which kicks off later this week in Yokohama. The 330 is similar to the 130 IS, which we first saw at CES, boosting the focal range from 8x to 10x, with a 24mm wide-angle lens. There's also an upgraded 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with a Digic 5 processor, a 461k-dot 3-inch LCD and built-in WiFi. The next higher-end offering is the ELPH 115 IS, which packs specs more in line with the 130 IS, including the same 16-megapixel CCD sensor and 8x 28mm lens. There's no WiFi to speak of, however, and the display drops to a 2.7-inch 230k-dot panel. It can shoot 720p video and offers the same Eco Mode bundled with all of Canon's 2013 compacts.

Finally, for photogs on an even tighter budget, there's the PowerShot A2500. The specs are similar to the 115 IS, including a 16-megapixel CCD chip, a 2.7-inch 230k-dot display and 720p video shooting. Despite the reduced 5x 28-140mm lens, this flavor is a bit heftier, though it's a step up from most other A-series Canons. If you have the cash to spare, the $230 ELPH 330 HS is clearly the most compelling option launching this week -- it ships in March with black, pink or silver finishes. The slightly less capable 115 IS will be available in March for $170, in black, blue, pink and silver, while the A2500 will hit stores in April for $130, in black, silver and red. Catch a few more details in the PR just past the break.

Show full PR text

CANON U.S.A. INTRODUCES THREE NEW STYLISH POWERSHOT DIGITAL CAMERAS PROVIDING WIDE-ANGLE AND LONG TELEPHOTO LENSES IN COMPACT DESIGNS

New Lineup Includes the Wireless-Enabled PowerShot ELPH 330 HS Digital Camera With a Powerful 10x Optical Zoom Lens

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 28, 2013 - Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the addition of three stylish, feature-packed PowerShot Digital Cameras: the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS, ELPH 115 IS and A2500. These new models are ideal for photography enthusiasts of all levels looking for great photo quality and excellent video performance in compact, powerful point-and-shoot designs.

The new PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera provides advanced wireless connectivity for easy sharing. Providing great performance in dimly lit situations, the ELPH 330 HS digital camera includes the Company's HS SYSTEM that delivers clear images with minimal noise and maximum detail even when shooting in low-light. The new cameras offer great features such as Canon's Smart AUTO, enabling even novice users to get optimal camera performance automatically, so whether photographing a running child or a solo recital on stage the cameras deliver spectacular images with ease. Smart AUTO allows the cameras to detect up to 58 scenes for the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera and up to 32 scenes for the PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera and PowerShot A2500 digital camera. All three models also feature ECO Mode, an advanced new method that manages power consumption and extends battery life by approximately 30 percent, when enabled, allowing you to shoot more photos for a longer amount of time.

"With the introduction of these sleek, new models to our family of PowerShot digital cameras, we are able to provide our customers with a range of imaging options including more models with wireless connectivity to upload and share their amazing creative images," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.

PowerShot ELPH 330 HS Digital Camera

Photography today is as much about image quality as it is about sharing, whether through prints or online communities. With this in mind, the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera builds upon the success of the PowerShot line with built-in advanced wireless capabilities to easily share high-quality images captured with an impressive 10x optical zoom lens and 12.1-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS image sensor. After an initial one-time set-up, the camera can connect to both iOS(R) or AndroidTM smartphones and tabletsi for quick and easy sharing. Users launch Canon's free CameraWindow application [i]i, available on both the iOS(R) and AndroidTM operating systemsi, to wirelessly transfer photos and videos from the camera to their device. Frequently used devices and accounts are conveniently stored in the camera's wireless history menu for quick one-touch access.

With these enhanced wireless capabilities, users now have the ability to comment on their uploaded photos directly from the camera - so being part of conversations taking place on social networking sites is easy and convenient. In addition, individuals can control the destination of Facebook uploads - choosing to share content with everyone, or post photos only to selected Facebook groups. Users can also instantly upload images wirelessly from the camera to Canon iMAGE GATEWAYiii, and automatically upload them to a computer remotely. Photos can also be printed wirelessly using Wireless PictBridgeiv on select Canon wireless inkjet printers, including the new PIXMA MG6320 Photo All-In-One printer, so special moments can be preserved and cherished.

A fantastic multipurpose lens: the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera provides a 10x optical zoom lens taking images from 24mm wide, up to 240mm at the telephoto end, able to capture that group shot, or zoom in for a dynamic close-up. Great even in low light, the camera's 12.1-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS image sensor and DIGIC 5 image processor combine and deliver on Canon's HS SYSTEM helping ensure detail is captured even in dark or shadowed areas at a maximum ISO speed of up to 6400. For capturing memorable moments on video, at the touch of a dedicated movie-record button, the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera shoots beautiful 1080p Full HD video and includes a built-in stereo microphone for great sound. Helping document vacations with your own personal highlight reel, the camera's new Hybrid AUTO mode utilizes a combination of Smart AUTO and Intelligent IS to create a beautiful and steady HD video clip (up to approximately 4 seconds) in Movie Digest mode every time you shoot a still image. Helping ensure you don't miss those magic moments, the camera features both High Speed AF for fast focusing speed and High?Speed Burst for continuous capture at up to 6.2 frames per second while maintaining superb image quality. The combination of features, including wireless connectivity, Canon's Intelligent IS system and ECO Mode, help make the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera a great imaging companion for vacations, all-day sporting events, or family parties.

Expected to hit store shelves in March, the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS digital camera will be available in three modern colors: black, silver and pink for an estimated retail price of $229.99.

PowerShot ELPH 115 IS Digital Camera

The new pocket-able PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera features an 8x optical zoom lens (28-224mm), which provides a focal range to capture most any situation. The PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera includes a 16-megapixel image sensor and DIGIC 4 image processor for exceptional image quality. For those photographers who "shoot it all" and seamlessly move from scene to scene, the PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera provides Canon's Smart AUTO mode that intelligently selects the proper camera settings based on up to 32 predefined shooting situations for capturing spectacular images in a variety of settings with ease. For creative video capture, users can record HD video with a built-in microphone for great sound. The PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera also includes Canon's unique Intelligent IS system technology, matching the lens movement with one of six stabilization modes for smooth video and sharp still images. The camera also includes Canon's new ECO Mode allowing you to shoot more photos for a longer amount of time.

With anticipated in-store availability in March, the PowerShot ELPH 115 IS digital camera will be available in four sleek colors: blue, silver, black and pink at an estimated retail price of $169.99.

PowerShot A2500 Digital Camera

Rounding out Canon's new PowerShot lineup is the PowerShot A2500 digital camera, which includes a 16-megapixel image sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor, as well as a 28mm wide-angle lens with 5x optical zoom that can extend out to 140mm at the telephoto end. The camera also features Canon's Smart AUTO mode that analyzes each scene to intelligently select camera settings based on 32 predefined shooting scenarios to help capture stunning images with ease. The PowerShot A2500 digital camera can also capture great video, recording HD through a dedicated movie button. Helping ensure crisp images, Canon's Digital IS reduces the effect of camera shake and subject movement. For travelers and those on the go, Canon's new ECO Mode conserves battery life, allowing you to shoot more photos over a longer period of time. For those photographers looking to be a little more creative, the camera also features various Scene Modes such as Fisheye Effect, Toy Camera Effect and Monochrome to help provide additional creative freedom when capturing your photos. And for those just learning the art of photography, a Help Button will provide simple explanations of camera settings and functions.

Expected for sale in April, the PowerShot A2500 digital camera will be available in silver, red and black for an estimated retail price of $129.99.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/29/canon-powershot-a2500-elph-330-hs-115-is/

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Twinkie lovers can relax: Hostess sale is imminent

36 min.

The indestructible Twinkie appears to be one step closer to a comeback.?

Hostess Brands is close to announcing that it has picked two investment firms ? C. Dean Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo Global Management ? as the lead bidders for its Twinkies and other snack cakes, according to a source close to the situation.??

The so-called stalking horse bid would be for more than $400 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. It would serve as the baseline offer for the business and could be topped by others at an auction.??A judge would have to approve any final sale.??

A deal, part of Hostess's bankruptcy reorganization, is not yet final, said the source, who declined to be identified as the discussions are not public.??

Spokesmen for Metropoulos and Apollo were not immediately available to comment. Hostess declined to comment.?

After years of management turmoil and turnover, Hostess declared it was going out of business and selling its brands in November.?

Earlier this month, Hostess chose a $390 million offer by Flowers Foods , maker of Tastykake products, as the stalking horse bid for several brands including Wonder bread?and?Drake's.

?On Monday, Hostess said it chose McKee Foods Corp, maker of Little Debbie snack cakes, as the initial bidder for its Drake's cakes, which include Ring Dings, Yodels and Devil Dogs. It also chose United States Bakery as the lead bidder for four of its smaller bread brands plus bakeries, equipment and depots.?

The?Associated?Press?and?Reuters?contributed?to?this?report.?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/twinkie-lovers-can-relax-hostess-sale-imminent-1C8161026

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Robotic Cars May Pull Death-Defying ?High G? Maneuver To Avoid Sloppy Human Drivers

self-driving-car (1)Now that Google's self-driving cars are on the long-path to mainstream availability, engineers have to cope with our robotic chauffeurs can deal with inferior human drivers. UK scientists have helped spark a new trend in research by exploring how automatic cars can avoid human-caused collisions. When braking isn't an option to avoid a crash, Lecturer Matthew Best of Loughborough University has been running simulations of an action-movie-quality 70 MPH "high g" lane change.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/nYU2s135EtU/

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Many Small Oil Spills Are Larger Than We Thought

The Gulf of Mexico during Deepwater Horizon cleanup. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

While it's the big oil disasters like BP's Deepwater Horizon that get our attention, small and medium-sized spills happen frequently, too. Do we really know who much oil we're losing into the ocean? A new study of the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico, one of the world's most heavily drilled bodies of water, finds that authorities do a good job of tracking the total number of spills. But, the authors say, many of those smaller spills actually leak more oil than is reported.

Samira Daneshgar Asl of Florida State University used the school's database of high resolution satellite images?which are far superior to publicly available sat imagery, Nature News reports?to track the extent of small oil spills in the Gulf. In addition to tracking the spills reported to the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center, she cooperated with non-profit environmental groups to find any spills that had gone unreported. Finally, she and her colleagues analyzed the images with a program that let them tell the difference in texture between seawater and oil to track the extent of spills.

The Florida State team found that most spills had, in fact, been reported to the Coast Guard. The size of the spills was consistently underreported, however, according to team leader Ian MacDonald, who called it "quite laughable." (This certainly brings to mind the Deepwater Horizon mess; early estimates pegged the leak at 1000 to 5000 barrels of oil per day, when in fact the spill caused an average of more than 50,000 barrels per day to enter the Gulf.)

MacDonald says that while it's quite difficult to get a perfect tally of something like an oil spill, where the amount of petroleum is hard to measure and constantly in flux, perhaps it's not surprising that oil spill totals are underreported. While oil companies can get in big trouble for not reporting spills, he tells Nature News that those companies don't appear to be punished when their estimate of a leak's size is way off.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/how-to/blog/many-small-oil-spills-are-larger-than-we-thought-15031755?src=rss

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Dutch Queen Beatrix abdicating, son will be king

Image taken of a TV screen showing Dutch Queen Beatrix announcing she will abdicate April 30, 2014, during a speech prerecorded in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday Jan. 28, 2013. Beatrix, who turns 75 on Thursday, has ruled the nation of 16 million for more than 32 years and would be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. (AP Photo/NOS Television/Peter Dejong)

Image taken of a TV screen showing Dutch Queen Beatrix announcing she will abdicate April 30, 2014, during a speech prerecorded in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday Jan. 28, 2013. Beatrix, who turns 75 on Thursday, has ruled the nation of 16 million for more than 32 years and would be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. (AP Photo/NOS Television/Peter Dejong)

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2011 file photo, Dutch Queen Beatrix, center, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, left and Princess Maxima, second left, arrive at the "Hall of Knights" to formally open the new parliamentary year in The Hague, Netherlands. Queen Beatrix announced she is to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Willem Alexander during a nationally televised speech Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Beatrix, who turns 75 on Thursday, has ruled the nation of 16 million for more than 32 years and would be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2011 file photo, Dutch Queen Beatrix formally opens the new parliamentary year with a speech in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011. Queen Beatrix announced she is to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Willem Alexander during a nationally televised speech Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Beatrix, who turns 75 on Thursday, has ruled the nation of 16 million for more than 32 years and would be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. (AP Photo/Toussaint Kluiters, Pool, File)

FILE - In this April 30, 1980 file photo, Princess Juliana, just after her abdication, kisses her eldest daughter Queen Beatrix, left, on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch Queen Beatrix announces she is to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Willem Alexander during a nationally televised speech Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Beatrix, who turns 75 on Thursday, has ruled the nation of 16 million for more than 32 years and would be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. (AP Photo/ Ferry van Groen, File)

FILE - In this April 30, 1980 file photo, Queen Beatrix is shown during her crowning ceremony at Nieuwe Kerk, or New Church in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch Queen Beatrix announced she is to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Willem Alexander during a nationally televised speech Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Beatrix, who turns 75 on Thursday, has ruled the nation of 16 million for more than 32 years and would be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. (AP Photo, File)

(AP) ? The Netherlands' Queen Beatrix announced Monday that she is ending her reign after 33 years and passing the crown to her eldest son, who has long been groomed to be king but who will have to work hard to match his mother's popularity.

The widely expected abdication comes at a time of debate over the future of the largely ceremonial Dutch monarchy, but also as calm has descended upon the Netherlands after a decade of turmoil that saw Beatrix act as the glue that held together an increasingly divided society.

"Responsibility for our country must now lie in the hands of a new generation," Beatrix, one of Europe's longest-serving monarchs, said in the simple, televised speech announcing her abdication.

The queen, who turns 75 in just a few days, said she will step down from the throne on April 30. That same day, her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, will be appointed king at an inauguration in Amsterdam. He will be the Netherlands' first king since Willem III died in 1890.

Willem-Alexander is a 45-year-old father of three young daughters, an International Olympic Committee member, a pilot and a water management expert.

Over the years, he has struggled to win the affection of this nation of 16 million, but his immensely popular wife, the Argentine-born Maxima, has helped him gain more acceptance ever since she brushed away a tear during their wedding in 2002.

They are a hard-working couple: Willem-Alexander regularly gives speeches at water conferences, sharing his low-lying nation's centuries of experience battling to stay dry, while soon-to-be Queen Maxima, a former investment banker, has carved out a career as a microfinance expert.

Together, the pair has often been seen cheering on Dutch sportsmen and women at Olympics from Beijing, to Vancouver and London.

"He's known as 'Mister Water,' isn't he? He seems like a reliable person, just like his mother," said Desiree Hoving, an Amsterdam resident. "I don't really have an emotional response to him, but I do think it's nice that Maxima is going to be queen."

Despite regular public appearances, Willem-Alexander is also fiercely private, giving reporters and photographers brief, choreographed glimpses of his family in return for being left in peace the rest of the time.

"He and Princess Maxima are fully prepared for their future roles," Beatrix said. "They will serve our nation with dedication, faithfully preserve the constitution and bring all their talents to the monarchy."

Despite her popularity, Maxima has always carried an air of controversy because her father was an agriculture minister in the military junta that ruled Argentina with an iron fist in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

In a move that may curtail possible protests, the Royal House said that Maxima told Prime Minister Mark Rutte that her parents will not attend the inauguration.

In her brief, prerecorded speech from her Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, Beatrix said she was, "deeply grateful for the great faith you have shown in me in the many years that I could be your queen."

The queen's departure is sure to bring about an outpouring of sentimental and patriotic feelings among the Dutch, most of whom adore Beatrix. In everyday conversation, many of her subjects refer to her simply by the nickname "Bea."

Well-wishers immediately gathered outside the palace Monday.

One of them, Laura Dinkshof, took along a homemade orange banner. "We hope the queen will see it," she said. "It says we were very happy with our queen and we wish her a nice retirement and that we have trust in our new king."

Rutte, a staunch monarchist, said that ever since her coronation in 1980, Beatrix ? the nation's oldest-ever monarch ? "applied herself heart and soul for Dutch society."

Beatrix succeeded her mother, Juliana, as head of state, and her reign has been marked by tumultuous shifts in Dutch society and, more recently, by personal tragedy.

Observers believe Beatrix remained on the throne for so long in part because of unrest in Dutch society as the country struggled to assimilate more and more immigrants, mainly Muslims from North Africa, and shifted away from its traditional reputation as one of the world's most tolerant nations.

Beatrix was also thought to be giving time for her son to enjoy fatherhood before taking the throne.

The abdication also comes at a time of trial for Beatrix. A year ago, she was struck by personal tragedy when the second of her three sons, Prince Friso, was left in a coma after being engulfed by an avalanche while skiing in Austria.

And even in a job that is mostly symbolic to begin with, the previous government stripped her of one of her few remaining powers: the ability to name a candidate to begin Cabinet formation after the election of the national parliament.

Beatrix's reign began in difficult economic times and there were riots in Amsterdam at her inauguration, as thousands of demonstrators protesting the city's housing shortages fought pitched battles with police just a few hundred meters (yards) from the downtown palace where she was crowned.

But throughout her tenure she was a calming influence on society, particularly in the aftermath of the 2002 assassination of populist politician Pim Fortuyn and the murder two years later of filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a Muslim extremist.

Personal tragedies have exposed a softer side of the queen and brought her closer to her subjects.

The 2002 death of her German-born husband, Prince Claus, took a toll on her, and it was apparent how deep her reliance on the quiet man had been: she was filmed leaning heavily, almost hanging, on Prince Friso's arm as they entered the church for her spouse's funeral.

In another blow, a deranged loner tried to slam a car into an open-topped bus carrying members of the royal family as they celebrated the Queens Day national holiday in 2009. The driver killed seven people who had gathered to watch the royals, a brazen attack that shocked the nation.

Friso, who had been such a support after Claus' death, remains in a coma. Late last year, the Royal House said he showed "very minimal" signs of consciousness.

"I think it's a good time for her to leave, with all that happened in her life recently," said 44-year-old Bert Duesenberg of The Hague as he stood at the queen's palace gates. "I also think that Alexander is ready to take over, and he has to do that. It is good news, and it's time for the change."

____

Associated Press writer Toby Sterling contributed from Amsterdam and Alex Furtula contributed from The Hague.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-01-28-Netherlands-Queen/id-544a9b9fd7a64ced91264c086025e7d5

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BoE policymaker doubts value of long-term rate commitment

LONDON (Reuters) - A senior Bank of England policymaker raised doubts on Monday about whether the bank would benefit from longer-term policy commitments of the type championed two days ago by its future governor, Mark Carney.

The intervention by David Miles, an external member of the bank's Monetary Policy Committee, adds to growing uncertainty about whether Carney's arrival from the Bank of Canada in July will lead to big changes at the British central bank.

"I don't think it would be helpful for the MPC to say: 'Here is where policy is going to be for the next several months'. If we did that there wouldn't be any point in having monthly meetings," he told the London Evening Standard newspaper.

Carney has not yet made any detailed public comments about British monetary policy, but in some general remarks on central banking on Saturday he said there was still scope to do more to help the economy.

"Within the framework of flexible inflation targeting that exists in most of the developed economies, there remains considerable flexibility which includes the use of communications," he told a conference in Davos, Switzerland.

At the Bank of Canada, Carney - who starts at the Bank of England in July - has favoured long-term commitments to keep interest rates low as an effective tool to stimulate the economy when interest rates cannot go lower.

But Miles said this would not be effective in Britain. "I think we are able in the current framework to give plenty of guidance about our thinking and how we see the economy evolving," he said.

GUIDANCE NEEDED?

Unlike the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England produces detailed policy minutes of its MPC meetings, in which readers can see the debates and disagreements that lie behind each month's interest rate decision.

The Bank of England's chief economist, Spencer Dale, and its executive director for markets, Paul Fisher, expressed reservations about a change to their approach to future policy guidance and the correct target for monetary policy in comments last month, after Carney raised the issue in a speech.

But current governor Mervyn King said last week that there may be some benefit in clarifying how rapidly the Bank of England was expected to return inflation to target during periods of economic weakness.

Any change to the BoE's remit would require approval from finance minister George Osborne, who repeatedly courted Carney to come to Britain.

In December, Osborne said he welcomed a debate on the remit, but that there would need to be a very strong case to do so.

Late on Sunday the Financial Times, reported that Osborne had told Carney in Davos that he may have accidentally raised unrealistic expectations of change.

A finance ministry spokeswoman declined to comment on the meeting between Carney and Osborne.

"The Chancellor has made clear there no plans to change the current monetary policy framework and agrees with the Governor (King) that keeping inflation under control is of vital importance," she added.

According to the FT, Osborne still wants Carney to be more active in trying to put an end to Britain's economic woes, but said there was no need to change the BoE's remit from targeting inflation to targeting nominal gross domestic product, a measure that explicitly takes growth into account.

Carney mentioned nominal GDP targeting briefly in his speech in December, but has not raised it since, and Miles said on Monday that it would only be appropriate as a temporary emergency measure.

(Additional reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Ron Askew)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boe-policymaker-doubts-value-long-term-rate-commitment-025416942--business.html

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Cyprus: German politics and 'envy' hurt bailout - The Local

Cypriot officials are hitting back at Germany with charges that German domestic politics and "envy" over the island's role as a financial hub are damaging efforts to seal an EU bailout before the eurozone nation sinks into bankruptcy.

German politicians have criticized plans to bail out Cyprus, saying its banks are havens for tax evaders and money launderers.

Cyprus's request for EU financial aid for its debt-ridden economy has been undermined by damaging allegations it is a laundromat for dirty Russian money as international lenders call for greater transparency.

"The issue is a political one because of the German elections," a government source told news agency AFP on condition of anonymity.

Cyprus sought out aid last June. But suspicions over banking sector transparency and Nicosia's reluctance to push through tougher reforms such as privatization have delayed the urgently needed bailout, leaving the country on the brink of bankruptcy.

"We are making sure we comply with all recommendations of the International Monetary Fund and the Eurogroup to ensure these allegations go away," said the
government source, referring to money-laundering charges.

"Another reason is that countries would like to have a piece of our pie as a financial centre," the source added.

Former finance minister Michalis Sarris said the money laundering issue keeps resurfacing because it is a "sexy topic" that sells in the German media and the election campaign in that country.

"Cyprus has to be above suspicion and do more than is necessary to demonstrate it is a reputable financial centre," Sarris told AFP.

He said under a draft bailout agreement, international lenders called for more transparency and a timely exchange of data when other countries request tax information.

"The government should ask for specifics and take the necessary measures required."

Nicosia is now on the counter-offensive on the issue of financial crime.

"It is obvious that behind the attacks against Cyprus there are vested interests. Those who attack Cyprus want to take its role as a serious, international, financial and investment centre," government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou told reporters on Thursday.

He said Cyprus was the fourth largest investor in Russia and the second biggest in Ukraine.

Fed up with negative reports alleging Cyprus to be a haven for the ill-gotten gains of Russian oligarchs, the Cypriot parliament is launching a campaign to defend the island's "clean" reputation on the European stage. And the government says it welcomes closer scrutiny of its financial sector.

"We are doing everything within our power for the implementation of all international recommendations. We disagree with allegations that there is non-implementation of laws and regulations," said central bank official Michalis Stylianou.

Eurogroup finance ministers made no decision on a rescue package for Cyprus
at a meeting in Brussels on Monday because negotiations on bank recapitalization are continuing. They said a decision would most probably be taken in March.

Outgoing Eurogroup president Jean Claude Juncker said this wait will also provide time for "close monitoring of the anti-money laundering" framework and its implementation.

Cyprus says it has adopted more international standards and recommendations than many of its fellow eurozone colleagues.

A Deutsche Bank report on the Cyprus debt crisis issued last week said there was an "excessive focus" on money laundering.

"It is rather Cyprus's status as an offshore tax haven with a relatively opaque banking sector heavily used by foreign depositors that is under scrutiny," said the report, referring to non-resident deposits of ?24 billion, or $32 billion, much of it from Russia.

Nicosia called for a bailout in June when its banks, hit by the EU-imposed writedown on Greek debt, needed financial assistance.

In a draft agreement with the EU and IMF, the amount for the banks was set at up to ?10 billion as part of a total package which could reach ?17.5 billion - matching the output of the island's entire economy.

Although Cyprus has pushed through harsh austerity measures of around ?1.2 billion in tax hikes and savings, fellow EU partners have called for more reforms.

AFP/mry

Source: http://www.thelocal.de/money/20130128-47607.html

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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Senator Rand Paul's teenage son arrested on alcohol charges

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Reuters) - The 19-year-old son of Senator Rand Paul and grandson of former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul faced charges in North Carolina after a weekend arrest on allegations of underage alcohol consumption and disorderly conduct.

Police arrested William Hilton Paul on Saturday at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where he had arrived on a US Airways flight from Kentucky, the state his father represents in the Senate.

Jail records show the younger Paul was booked on three misdemeanor charges, including disorderly conduct, consuming alcohol while underage and being intoxicated and disruptive.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department did not release additional details on Monday regarding the circumstances of his arrest.

A spokesman for US Airways said there was a "passenger disruption" on the flight in question but that it did not result from alcohol being served by the airline.

"Our reports indicate that the passenger slept through the drink service and was not served on board at all," spokesman Andrew Christie said on Monday, without naming the passenger involved.

Rand Paul, a Republican, is Kentucky's junior senator. His office asked for privacy on the matter of his son.

"Senator Paul is a national public figure and subject to scrutiny in the public arena, however, as many parents with teenagers would understand, his family should be afforded the privacy and respect they deserve in a situation such as this," said Moira Bagley, his communications director.

(Reporting by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Claudia Parsons)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senator-rand-pauls-teenage-son-arrested-alcohol-charges-225752783.html

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Sunday, January 6, 2013

Air Force recruiter charged with rape as sex scandal expands

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - A male Air Force recruiting sergeant in the Houston area was charged on Friday with rape and other sexual misconduct with female applicants and a female recruiter, said officials with the Air Force, which is already dealing with a widespread sex-with-recruits scandal.

The scandal has centered on male training instructors at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, six of whom have been convicted on charges ranging from rape to attempting to engage in inappropriate sexual relationships with female recruits or trainees, and have been sentenced to terms ranging from 30 days to 20 years in prison.

Six other training instructors are awaiting trial on similar charges in what is the largest sex scandal in the U.S. military since the 1990s.

In the latest case, which does not involve training, Technical Sergeant Jaime Rodriguez of the Air Force recruiting station in Lake Jackson, Texas, is charged with several felonies, including indecent conduct, aggravated sexual contact, forcible sodomy and rape, officials said.

He is charged with improper sexual activity with 18 women, said Christa D'Andrea, chief of public affairs for the Air Force Recruiting Service. In some cases, Rodriguez is accused of inappropriate sexual contact and in other cases, he is accused of sending or requesting inappropriate photos, she said.

Rodriguez, who has been reassigned to a National Guard unit in East Texas pending court martial, is scheduled to appear in court at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio next week, she said. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, rape is potentially punishable by the death penalty.

"We rely on our recruiters not only to recruit our best and brightest, but our recruiters also mirror those expectations," D'Andrea said. "All of our recruiters have to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism."

She said there have been two other recent cases of recruiters being charged with sexual misconduct with Air Force applicants, but that this is the most serious recent case.

The allegations against Rodriguez show that fundamental changes are needed, said Nancy Parrish, president of Protect Our Defenders, which advocates against sexual assault in the military.

"This is yet another horrible example of the 'silent epidemic' and if the military keeps looking they will find thousands more," Parrish said.

Fifty-two current or former female Air Force members have come forward with what prosecutors consider to be credible reports of being victims of unprofessional conduct at the hands of their basic training sergeant.

In a report in November, an internal Pentagon investigation blamed the scandal on a "flawed basic training structure which led to the opportunity for the abuse of power" and made several recommendations, including adding more female training sergeants.

(Editing by Corrie MacLaggan and Richard Chang)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/air-force-recruiter-charged-rape-sex-scandal-expands-011212200.html

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Saturday, January 5, 2013

Balanced approach: Health insurance premiums skyrocket as ...

Heckuva job, Barry. Despite repeated assurance from President Obama that ?if you like your plan, you can keep it,? Americans are quickly realizing that their health insurance plans are becoming increasingly difficult to hold onto. Premiums are skyrocketing:

Source: http://twitchy.com/2013/01/04/balanced-approach-health-insurance-premiums-skyrocket-as-payroll-taxes-climb/

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Incentive Winter Program in S?len Ski Area in Sweden - Travel Gate ...

P1020499Here is a winter program for a destination in the south Swedish mountain area S?len. With a distance of only 350 km from Stockholm (and from Oslo in Norway) it is also easy accessible for shorter stay.? Read the suggested itinerary?here

To the Mora Airport there are direct flights from Sk?ne, Copenhagen and Stockholm. It is a well known and experienced ski resort for families and friends but also an exiting incentive destination. ?For more information and quotation contact Travel Gate Sweden.?

?

The programs are offered to the travel trade for reselling.

Source: http://www.travelgatesweden.se/2013/01/04/incentive-winter-program-in-salen-ski-area-in-sweden/

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Carrie Remake Bumped to October

First Look at Chloe Grace Moretz in the Carrie remake

Sony has pushed back the release of?Carrie. It is the second updating of a classic (don?t call it a remake!) the studio has delayed recently, following?Jos? Padilha?s RoboCop moving from an August to February 2014 launch.

Carrie is now scheduled to open on October 18th, some seventh months later than its previous March 15th date. The Stephen King adaptation has been replaced by the gestating thriller The Call (formerly, The Hive) and is now facing off against Luc Besson?s Malavita and Warner Bros.? Seventh Son adaptation ? with Paranormal Activity 5 arriving a week later, also hoping to court moviegoers in the mood for a scare during the Halloween season.

Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don?t Cry, Stop-Loss) is directing a script penned by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, a writer and co-producer whose credits include Big Love and Glee; he?s currently working on?the?Little Shop of Horrors remake with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The project features Chlo? Grace Moretz as the teenager who discovers she possesses telekinetic abilities ? and eventually snaps, after enduring torment from her peers and overbearing religious mother (Julianne Moore).

Peirce and Moretz are distancing themselves from the remake stigma, referring to Carrie as a modernization and calling attention to the relationship betwen Carrie and her mother, rather than similarities to Brian De Palma?s 1976 film or the 2002 made-for-TV adaptation written by Bryan Fuller. Moretz in particular has referred to the film as?a psycho-drama, which explores the inner-workings of its troubled protagonist in the aftermath of her infamous killing spree (think?We Need to Talk About Kevin meets Black Swan and you?ve got the gist).

[NOTE: The poster below references the original March release date.]

CLICK FOR LARGER VERSION

CARRIE Poster

Carrie, in other words, taps into the contemporary zeitgeist of school bullying and massacres in an attempt to recreate the shock-factor of King?s source material and De Palma?s adaptation. That?s a wise move, considering the story?s prom slaughter sequence is so engrained in the public?s conscious (as some of our readers pointed out, following the teaser trailer). Similarly, the supernatural horror genre angle allows it to overcome criticisms about exploitation;?that?s something Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk picked up on, while putting together the Murder House storyline for season one of American Horror Story.

However, given how everything from select costumes and the general plot?falls closely to previous versions?(De Palma?s especially), there?s reason to wonder: is the new Carrie going to feel out-dated ? with its warnings about fire-and-brimstone religious beliefs and teen outsiders ? by taking place in a time when social media exists and 21st century attitudes about parenting prevail? Unfortunately, the poor track record of horror re-tellings doesn?t work in its favor?

Let us know your thoughts about Carrie in the comments section below.

-

Source: Sony Pictures

"Follow us if you want to live."

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1926584/news/1926584/

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Obama may round out natl. security team next week (The Arizona Republic)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/274891446?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Foursquare will now show users' full names

44 min.

Foursquare is changing its privacy policy so that all users will have to share their full name on the location-based social network. Some users already do, but others go by a first name with last name initial. That's going to end, starting Jan. 28.

The change was announced in an email sent to users. Foursquare also said in the same email that businesses using the social network, now limited to seeing customers who have checked in in the last three hours, will be able to ?have more time to review those logs.

"This is great for helping store owners identify their customers and give them more personal service or offers," Foursquare said in the?email. "But a lot of businesses only have time to log in at the end of the day to look at it. So, with this change, we?re going to be showing them more of those recent check-ins, instead of just three hours worth."

Foursquare notes, that, "as?always, if you?d prefer not to permit businesses to see when you check into their locations going forward, you can uncheck the box under ?Location Information? at?https://foursquare.com/settings/privacy."

The extra-diplomatic tone of the email likely was shaped by the recent?Instagram debacle over user privacy.

Foursquare, which says it has more than 25 million users worldwide now, with more than 3 billion check-ins, noted in the email that users who want to know more about the social network's privacy policy can find those details and others in its "Privacy 101" document online.

Check out Technology, GadgetBox, Digital Life and InGame on Facebook,?and on Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/foursquare-will-now-show-users-full-names-1C7755877

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Asia stocks wilt hours before U.S. fiscal cliff hits

BANGKOK (AP) ? With just hours left before the U.S. hits the "fiscal cliff," stocks on the other side of the world wilted as investors sold off riskier assets to lock in profits just in case budget negotiations fail in Washington.

American political leaders face a Monday night deadline to reach an agreement before steep tax increases and spending cuts begin to take effect Jan. 1 ? this, at a time when the U.S. economy is still struggling to recover from the last recession.

Democrats and Republicans have failed so far to reach a budget deal despite intense negotiations. Much of the impasse centers on how to address the automatic tax increases that take effect in 2013. That's when tax cuts first enacted under President George W. Bush, and extended under President Barack Obama, are scheduled to expire.

That would drive taxes up for nearly all Americans and deplete the already fragile economy of $600 billion. And budget cuts of 8 percent or 9 percent would hit most of the federal government, touching all sorts of things from the military to weather forecasting.

Some economists predict the tax-and-spending effects of the fiscal cliff could eventually throw the economy into recession. If the deadline passes, politicians still have a few weeks to keep the tax hikes and spending cuts at bay by repealing them retroactively once a deal is reached.

Still, the failure to adhere to the deadline will be bad for investor confidence, according to Francis Lun, managing director of Lyncean Holdings in Hong Kong.

"I think the market reaction to that will be very negative. This means the U.S. will never be able to bring its house in order. And the deficit will continue to accumulate," Lun said. "No meaningful reform and no solution in sight. You can throw confidence out of the window."

The uncertainty drove down stock markets on the last trading day of the year. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.5 percent to 4,648.90. Hong Kong's Hang Seng, trading for a half-day, was flat at 22,668.48. Benchmarks in New Zealand, Singapore and India also declined. Mainland Chinese stocks rose. Markets in Japan and South Korea were closed for the New Year's holidays.

Even if Washington bypasses the fiscal cliff, the next crisis is just around the corner, in late February or early March, when the government reaches a $16.4 trillion ceiling on the amount of money it can borrow.

Republicans won't go along with raising the limit on government borrowing unless the increase is matched by spending cuts to help attack the long-term debt problem. Failing to raise the debt ceiling could lead to a first-ever U.S. default that would roil the financial markets and shake worldwide confidence in the United States.

Compounding that is U.S. earnings season in February, according to Peter Esho, chief market analyst at CityIndex in Sydney.

"There are some very aggressive assumptions for earnings to improve in 2013 and ... if the earnings numbers don't meet expectations, it is going to be quite disappointing," Esho said.

Benchmark oil for February delivery fell 8 cents to $90.72 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 7 cents to finish at $90.80 per barrel in New York on Friday.

In currencies, the euro fell to $1.3215 from $1.3221 late Friday in New York. The dollar fell to 85.95 yen from 86.07 yen.

___

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asia-stocks-wilt-hours-us-fiscal-cliff-hits-043948008--finance.html

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The Big Orange, 'La Gran Naranja,' Gets Installed In Downtown Miami (PHOTOS)

With just two days until the start of the New Year, workers are busy installing the Big Orange that will be hoisted to the top of downtown's InterContinental Hotel to initiate the city's fireworks display.

Dubbed Mr. Neon, the glowing fruit got a makeover last year when its mug started sporting a coy wink.

This year, it?s the name that's getting the facelift. Mr. Neon has been renamed 'La Gran Naranja' to honor Viva Florida 500, a three-year Spanish heritage campaign that begins January 1.

This years marks the 26 trips for the 35-foot fruit, which will ascend 400 feet to ring in Miami's New Year's Eve.

The Bayrfront Park bash is free and starts at 8 p.m. with a dance party with Tony the Hitman, DJ at Power 96.

Click below to see La Gran Naranja's installation:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/30/the-big-orange-la-gran-na_n_2384121.html

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