Global shares up, yen slips after G20 accepts Japan stimulus

By Richard Hubbard

LONDON (Reuters) - The Japanese yen weakened toward 100 to the dollar on Monday and shares rose after the G20 accepted Japan's bold stimulus policies, helping to counter the gloom over the global growth outlook.

U.S. stock index futures also pointed to a higher open on Wall Street, where the focus is on quarterly corporate results and whether these suggest further weakness ahead. <.n/>

In its communique after a two-day meeting, the G20 avoided any direct criticism of Japan's policies and appeared to accept the need to reflate the world's third largest economy as part of efforts to invigorate a shaky global economic recovery.

Major world central banks have been holding interest rates at rock-bottom levels since 2008 while pumping over $6 trillion into their banking systems through loans and asset-purchase operations with only modest success so far.

"The real issue of deflation in Japan has to be tackled before we can have a genuine global recovery," said James Bevan, chief investment Officer at CCLA Investment Management.

The G20's actions removed any remaining obstacles to further yen weakness, setting up a test of the symbolic 100 yen to the dollar level and boosting demand for Japanese stocks.

"Japan not only escaped criticism, but on the contrary won praise as a country that was fulfilling its global obligations," said Marshall Gittler, head of global FX strategy at IronFX.

"That is in effect the green light for the BOJ's easing, which we expect will push USD/JPY through the magic 100 number in the not-too-distant future - perhaps as early as today."

The dollar was at 99.75 yen, off an intraday high of 99.90 and just below a four-year peak of 99.95 hit on April 11.

The euro also rose against the yen, reaching 130.70 from around 129.98 late on Friday, near a three-year peak of 131.10 set earlier this month.

Against the dollar, the euro eased slightly to $1.3040 after touching a session high of $1.3130 on Friday. The euro, which failed to break above $1.32 recently, has been stuck in a $1.30/32 range for the past week.

ITALIAN RESOLUTION

European stock markets were on course for a second straight daily gain, helped up by a jump in Italy's blue-chip index after the country's long-running political crisis moved a step closer to resolution.

Milan's FTSE MIB index <.ftmib> gained as much as 2 percent on hopes the re-election of Italy's 87-year old president Giorgio Napolitano would see a new government emerge within days, ending two months of political stalemate.

The broad FTSEurofirst 300 index <.fteu3> was up 0.8 percent at 1,162 points at midday, while Paris's CAC-40 <.fchi> and Frankfurt's DAX <.gdaxi> were about 0.75 percent higher. <.eu/>

MSCI's world equity index <.miwd00000pus> gained 0.25 percent, in part due to the better tone seen earlier in Asia when Japan's Nikkei hit its highest level in five years <.n225> as the yen weakened after the G20 statement.

In the debt market Italian 10-year bond yields dropped to near their lowest levels in two years at 4.08 percent in response to the political resolution, while safe-haven equivalent German bonds were steady at 1.24 percent.

Traders had not expected a big move in German bonds as the market is awaiting key surveys on European purchasing managers' activity in April, due on Tuesday. These are likely to show the euro zone remains mired in recession, increasing the chance of a rate cut by the European Central bank.

COMMODITIES SHAKY

In the commodity markets gold rebounded from its sharp sell-off last week, though sentiment remained shaky after the precious metal posted its biggest-ever daily loss in dollar terms last Monday.

The spot gold price rose more than 2 percent at one point to a high of $1,436.70 an ounce, well above the two-year low of $1,321.35 touched last week.

U.S. gold futures hit a high of 1,434.50 an ounce, up 2.8 percent from the previous close of 1,395.60.

Oil also rebounded, extending its gains into a third day as low prices brought buyers back into the market following sharp drops earlier in the month due to the worries about the growth outlook and its impact on demand.

Brent has lost 10 percent since the start of April as growth in the United States and China - the world's two largest oil consumers - slowed while recession in Europe deepened.

June Brent crude rose $1 a barrel to $100.65, while U.S. crude for June delivery gained 65 cents to $88.65 a barrel after a 3.6 percent loss last week.

"This is more bargain-hunting than anything else. People are getting back in the market, but that may not be sustained depending on the (economic) data this week," said Simon Wardell, an analyst at Global Insight.

(Additional reporting by Anooja Debnath. Editing by Anna Willard and Will Waterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nikkei-bulls-charge-dollar-yen-hovers-100-003913196--finance.html

McKayla Maroney gronkowski jeremy renner best buy black friday deals breaking dawn part 2 breaking dawn part 2 Jennifer Lacy

New U.S. rocket blasts off from Virginia launch pad

By Irene Klotz

(Reuters) - A privately owned rocket built in partnership with NASA to haul cargo to the International Space Station blasted off on Sunday for a debut test flight from a new commercial spaceport in Virginia.

The 13-story Antares rocket, developed and flown by Orbital Sciences Corp, lifted off at 5 p.m. EDT from a Virginia-owned and operated launch pad at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia.

"Beautiful view," said NASA launch commentator Kyle Herring as live video from the rocket, broadcast on NASA TV, showed the booster riding atop a bright plume of fire above the Atlantic Ocean.

Ten minutes later, the rocket deposited its payload - a 8,380-pound (3,800-kg) dummy capsule - into an orbit 158 miles above the planet, fulfilling the primary goal of the test flight.

Orbital Sciences and privately owned Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, hold NASA contracts worth a combined $3.5 billion to fly cargo to the space station, a $100 billion research outpost that flies about 250 miles above Earth.

NASA turned to commercial suppliers after retiring the space shuttles in 2011.

Flight controllers radioed news of Antares' successful debut to the station crew shortly after launch.

"Wahoo, that's super," replied station commander Chris Hadfield, with the Canadian Space Agency.

"Congratulations to all concerned. That bodes well for all of our futures," Hadfield said.

On its next flight, scheduled for late June or early July, another Antares rocket will carry a Cygnus cargo ship on a demonstration mission to the station.

California-based SpaceX completed three test flights and last year began delivering cargo to the station under its $1.6 billion contract.

'A LONG SLOG'

The debut of Orbital Sciences' Antares rocket was delayed by the construction of its launch pad at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, located on the southern end of NASA's Wallops Island facility. Two launch attempts last week were canceled due to a last-minute technical problem followed by bad weather at the launch site.

"It's been a long slog," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said after the launch. "It's absolutely incredible what this team has done."

NASA's share of developing the Antares rocket and Cygnus capsule will total about $288 million upon successful completion of the second and final planned test flight.

Combined, NASA and Orbital Sciences spent about $300 million to develop Cygnus and slightly more than that to develop the rocket, Orbital Sciences Executive Vice President Frank Culbertson told reporters after the launch.

"As a company it was a huge risk to invest in this," he said. "But I think it's going to demonstrate a commercial capability that will pay off in the long run."

"With the right people pulling together and with great teammates, we were able to achieve this. We're real happy," Culbertson said.

NASA's contribution to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo capsule development was $396 million.

Standing 130 feet tall and packing 740,000 pounds of thrust at liftoff, Antares was the largest rocket to fly from Wallops Island, which has been operating for 68 years as a launch site for smaller suborbital rockets, high-altitude balloons and research aircraft.

In addition to station cargo runs, Orbital Sciences has a separate contract to launch a NASA moon probe aboard a Minotaur 5 rocket from Wallops in August.

(Reporting by Irene Klotz in Cape Canaveral, Florida; Editing by Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-rocket-blasts-off-virginia-launch-pad-002105502--finance.html

shuttle discovery bonnie raitt internal revenue service intc tupac andrew shaw hologram

After Earth Release Date Moved Forward One Week

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/after-earth-release-date-moved-forward-one-week/

senior bowl norovirus Eclampsia Kendrick Lamar JJ Abrams New Orleans Pelicans chris brown

91% The Angels' Share

All Critics (65) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (6)

The plot thickens, but the mood grows lighter.

Unexpectedly, and blithely, amusing.

The film itself vaporizes before your eyes, but it's likable. Given its unstable mishmash of thuggery and whimsy, that's something of an achievement.

Like the spirit it celebrates, "The Angel's Share" is a neat little jolt of pleasure - and guaranteed to leave you feeling just a mite warmer.

While a few farcical moments fizzle, it's mostly charming.

"The Angels' Share" leaves a warm glow.

The Angels' Share is a stellar bit of activist cinema with a light touch.

Sweet-natured and high-spirited, it's a fanciful fable with a wee dash of magical realism.

This is one of the most likable movies so far this year.

Although the English director Ken Loach has been making socially conscious movies for close to 50 years, this shaggy comedy unfolds like the work of a young man on a lark.

With The Angels' Share, Ken Loach expertly combines a handful of genres which congeal into an often funny, always charming affair that serves as a salute to whisky to boot.

Loach films have been funny while making their point before (see "Riff Raff"), but this one is imbued with a little bit of magic...Those offended by four letter words should be warned that even the voice of God slings a heavy dose of them here.

Ken Loach comedy about young Glaswegian reprobates fighting for a second chance has charm aplenty, but suffers from occasional portions of cheese and a hard-to-swallow premise (whisky-tasting as gateway to a better life).

I'm not suggesting The Angels' Share is a chock full of bellylaughs, but it's the first Loach film in some time that lacks the sensation of having a plastic grocery bag pulled over one's face.

Some good laughs and a passable air of bonhomie do nothing to cover up the fact that The Angels' Share is totally lightweight and distractingly underdone.

No quotes approved yet for The Angels' Share. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_angels_share/

Clara Schumann Jael Strauss Alison Pill Sam Bacile sprint britney spears At&t Wireless

This Is the World's Most Complicated Timepiece

Modern digital watches can be beautifully engineered and designed items, but they will always lack the craftsmanship that their mechanical predecessors possess. This hand-wound masterpiece, declared "the most complicated watch in the world" by its maker, doesn't do anything a digital watch couldn't replicate but it does so with soul. It also costs $5 million which makes for some very expensive soul. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/qmevL9yBUEo/this-is-the-worlds-most-complicated-timepiece

tony robbins bon iver abraham lincoln vampire hunter their eyes were watching god lara logan manu ginobili sports illustrated swimsuit 2012

Amazon Has Acquired a Siri-Like App Company

Amazon has ponied up a cool $26 million for a company that builds a voice recognition app called Evi—yes, essentially a Siri clone—prompting speculation about a forthcoming phone from Bezos and co. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/imhCU5axeNA/amazon-has-acquired-a-siri+like-app-company

oakland pinnacle airlines kansas vs kentucky joe posnanski michael kidd gilchrist national championship calipari

Image leads to hunt for Boston bombing suspect

BOSTON (AP) ? The painstaking work to identify a bombing suspect from reams of Boston Marathon footage yielded a possible breakthrough as investigators focused on a man seen dropping off a bag, and then walking away from the site of the second of two deadly explosions.

The discovery of the image ? found on surveillance footage from a department store near the finish line ? was detailed by a city politician two days after the attack that left three people dead, wounded more than 170, and cast a dark shadow over one of this city's most joyous traditions. The footage hasn't been made public.

At an interfaith service honoring the victims Thursday, President Barack Obama said "there is a piece of Boston in me" as he paid tribute to the city shaken by what he has called an act of terror.

"Every one of us stands with you," he said, declaring later: "You will run again!"

President Barack Obama attended Thursday in Boston, and closed his eyes at times while listening to speakers. There was a heavy police presence around the city's main Roman Catholic cathedral as residents lined up before dawn, hoping to get one of the roughly 2,000 seats inside. By 9 a.m., they were being turned away.

Streets were blocked off around the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston's South End.

Among the hundreds in line was 18-year-old Eli Philips. The college student was a Marathon volunteer and was wearing his volunteer jacket on Thursday morning.

He said he was still shocked that "something that was euphoric went so bad."

Ricky Hall, 67, of Cambridge, showed up at 8 a.m. but was turned away from the line to get inside that was already stretching down at least two city blocks, so decided just to stay outside.

"I came to pay my respects to the victims," he said, but was also angry that someone would desecrate the marathon and urged maximum punishment for the perpetrators.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Thursday the FBI wants to speak with individuals seen in at least one video from marathon, but she says she isn't calling them suspects.

Without providing details of the men's appearance or what the video shows, Napolitano told the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday that "there is some video that raised the question" of individuals the FBI would like to interview. She said the investigation is continuing "apace."

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said he shared the frustration that the person or people responsible were still at large, but he said solving the case will not "happen by magic."

"It's going to happen by doing the careful work that must be done in a thorough investigation," Patrick said. "That means going through the couple of blocks at the blast scene square inch by square inch and picking up pieces of evidence and following those trails, and that's going to take some time."

The bombs were crudely fashioned from ordinary kitchen pressure cookers packed with explosives, nails and ball bearings, investigators and others close to the case said. Investigators suspect the devices were then hidden in black duffel bags and left on the ground.

As a result, they were looking for images of someone lugging a dark, heavy bag. Investigators had appealed to the public to provide videos and photographs from the race finish line.

City Council President Stephen Murphy, who said he was briefed by Boston police, said investigators saw the image of the man dropping off a bag and matched the findings with witness descriptions of someone leaving the scene.

One department store video "has confirmed that a suspect is seen dropping a bag near the point of the second explosion and heading off," Murphy said.

Separately, a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity confirmed only that investigators had an image of a potential suspect whose name was not known to them and who had not been questioned.

Several media outlets reported that a suspect had been identified from surveillance video taken at a Lord & Taylor department store between the sites of the bomb blasts.

At least 14 bombing victims, including three children, remained in critical condition. Dozens of victims have been released from hospitals, and officials at three hospitals that treated some of the most seriously injured said they expected all their remaining patients to survive. A 2-year-old boy with a head injury was improving and might go home Thursday, Boston Children's Hospital said.

On Wednesday, investigators in white jumpsuits fanned out across the streets, rooftops and awnings around the blast site in search of clues. They picked through trash cans, plastic cup sleeves and discarded sports drink dispensers.

Marian Wilson said she tried not to notice the men slowly pacing and looking for evidence on the street behind her as she ate a tuna sandwich at Stephanie's on Newbury, a restaurant a block from the site of the bombings.

"I just go in and out of being completely freaked out," she said.

Boston remained under a heavy security presence, with scores of National Guard troops gathering among armored Humvees in the Boston Common.

Kenya Nadry, a website designer, took her 5-year-old nephew to a playground.

"There's still some sense of fear, but I feel like Boston's resilient," she said. "The fine men in blue will take care of a lot of it."

Dr. Horacio Hojman, associate chief of trauma at Tufts Medical Center, said patients were in surprisingly good spirits when they were brought in.

"Despite what they witnessed, despite what they suffered, despite many of them having life-threatening injuries, their spirits were not broken," he said. "And I think that should probably be the message for all of us ? that this horrible act of terror will not bring us down."

Obama and his challenger in the last election, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, planned to visit Boston on Thursday to attend the vigil.

The blasts killed 8-year-old Martin Richard, of Boston, 29-year-old Krystle Campbell, of Medford, and Lu Lingzi, a Boston University graduate student from China.

___

Associated Press writers Jay Lindsay, Pat Eaton-Robb, Steve LeBlanc, Bridget Murphy and Meghan Barr in Boston; Eileen Sullivan, Julie Pace and Lara Jakes in Washington; and Marilynn Marchione in Milwaukee contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/image-leads-hunt-boston-bombing-suspect-062420888.html

the replacements how to hard boil eggs new nfl uniforms derbyshire the matrix oceans 11 ferris state hockey

Justice's wife says husband shot Texas DA

KAUFMAN, Texas (AP) ? The wife of a former North Texas justice of the peace implicated her husband in the shooting deaths of a local district attorney, his wife and an assistant prosecutor, according to court records filed Wednesday.

An arrest affidavit revealed Kim Lene Williams told investigators Tuesday that her husband, Eric Lyle Williams, was the triggerman in the slayings of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, and assistant prosecutor Mark Hasse. McLelland and Hasse prosecuted Eric Williams last year for theft of three computer monitors.

Kim Williams was arrested early Wednesday and charged with capital murder. Eric Williams has been in custody, charged with making terroristic threats. He has not been charged in the slayings.

The affidavit says Kim Williams "described in detail her role along with that of her husband." However, the document does not outline what Kim Williams' alleged role was.

After Eric Williams was convicted of theft, he lost his elected position as justice of the peace ? a judge who handles mostly administrative duties ? and his law license. He was sentenced to probation.

The McLellands were found dead March 30, two months after Hasse was slain.

The officer who signed the affidavit, Kaufman County Sheriff's Sgt. Matt Woodall, said he had learned from other officers and county employees that Hasse and Mike McLelland both believed Williams blamed them for the loss of his job and carried handguns because they thought he was "a threat to their personal safety."

Kim Williams was being held on $10 million bond at the Kaufman County Jail, sheriff's spokesman Lt. Justin Lewis said. He declined to answer questions Wednesday about the investigation but said families of the victims would be briefed on the case.

Her husband is being held on $3 million bond.

A probable cause affidavit says the former justice of the peace sent an email one day after the McLellands' bodies were discovered implying there would be another attack if authorities didn't respond to various demands.

A law enforcement official said ballistics experts were testing at least 20 weapons found in a storage locker under Eric Williams' name at a facility near Dallas. A Ford Crown Victoria similar to one spotted in the McLellands' neighborhood around the time the couple was killed was parked at the storage facility, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

Jail records did not list an attorney for Kim Williams. A message left with an attorney who had been representing her husband was not returned Wednesday.

Williams has said that after the McLellands' deaths and after Hasse was gunned down Jan. 31 near the county courthouse, he submitted to gunshot residue tests and turned over his cellphone.

Williams has appealed his theft conviction, and a day before the McLellands' bodies were found, a state appeals court in Dallas agreed to hear oral arguments in the case.

During closing arguments at Williams' trial, the prosecutors presented testimony indicating he had made death threats against a former girlfriend and a local attorney.

In the sentencing phase, Kim Williams testified in her husband's defense. She said she suffers from several illnesses, including rheumatoid arthritis and chronic fatigue syndrome. She said her husband was her sole caregiver as well as the caregiver for her two ailing parents.

"Eric is a loving man," she testified. "He wouldn't do anything to hurt anybody. I'm standing by him 100 percent."

While Eric Williams was well known in the community as a lawyer and more recently a justice of the peace, his wife was largely invisible, according to Steve Hulme, an attorney who lives in Kaufman.

Hulme said he knew that Kim Williams had illnesses and that her parents, who live in the same neighborhood, also are in poor health. Beyond that, little else about her was known, he said.

"This is just shocking," Hulme said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/records-ex-officials-wife-says-husband-shot-da-210124457.html

Frys tryptophan BestBuy.com Kohls Black Friday www.walmart.com Macho Camacho Rise of the Guardians

CA-NEWS Summary

Boston Marathon bombs believed carried in dark, heavy bags

BOSTON (Reuters) - Authorities suspect whoever perpetrated the Boston Marathon bombings carried heavy devices made out of pressure cookers in dark-colored nylon bags or backpacks before dropping them near the finish line, causing the worst attack on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001. The twin blasts on Monday killed three people including an 8-year-old boy and injured 176 others, some of whom were maimed by bombs packed with ball bearings and nails.

Pakistan bears brunt of Iranian earthquake, 35 killed

QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake struck a border area of southeast Iran on Tuesday killing at least 35 people in neighboring Pakistan, destroying hundreds of houses and shaking buildings as far away as India and Gulf Arab states. Communications with the sparsely-populated desert and mountain region were largely cut off, making it difficult to assess Iranian casualties. But an Iranian provincial governor later said there were no reports of deaths there so far.

Venezuela accuses opposition of plotting coup, seven dead

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President-elect Nicolas Maduro accused the opposition on Tuesday of planning a coup against him after seven government supporters were killed in clashes over his disputed election victory. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles wants a full recount of votes from Sunday's election after official results showed a narrow victory for Maduro, who is late socialist leader Hugo Chavez's hand-picked successor.

At least nine killed in blast at Pakistan election rally

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - At least nine people were killed and more than 50 wounded on Tuesday when a suicide bomber attacked an election rally for a party opposed to Pakistan's Taliban movement, police said. The blast struck a gathering called by senior politicians of the Awami National Party (ANP) in the northwestern city of Peshawar ahead of the May 11 general elections.

Ivory Coast wants surveillance drones to replace U.N. troops

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council should consider deploying surveillance drones in Ivory Coast to aid the world body's peacekeeping mission in the west African country, Ivory Coast's U.N. envoy said on Tuesday, echoing a recommendation by the U.N. chief. Ivory Coast U.N. Ambassador Youssoufou Bamba told the 15-member council that surveillance drones should be deployed to offset any planned cuts to the peacekeeping force in the world's biggest cocoa producer.

Quake of 6.8 magnitude recorded off Papua New Guinea: USGS

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 was recorded off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles) on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. (Reporting by Paul Tait; Editing by John Mair)

Serbian U.N. official blasts "intimidation" over justice meeting

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The Serbian president of the U.N. General Assembly accused his critics on Tuesday of trying to intimidate and pressure him into canceling a special meeting on international criminal justice that the United States and other nations boycotted. The meeting last week was set up by former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who is serving as president of the 193-nation assembly, a largely ceremonial but high-profile post. Critics of the event said Jeremic organized it as an excuse to attack the war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - an allegation Jeremic rejected.

North Korea issues new threats over protests in South

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea issued new threats against South Korea on Tuesday, vowing "sledge-hammer blows" of retaliation if South Korea did not apologize for anti-North Korean protests the previous day when the North was celebrating the birth of its founding leader. The North also rejected what it called "cunning" U.S. overtures for talks, saying it will not be humiliated into being dragged to sit at the negotiating table by Washington.

Plea deal sought by U.S. soldier accused in Iraq killings: lawyer

SEATTLE (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier charged with killing five fellow servicemen in 2009 at a military counseling center in Iraq is seeking a plea deal with Army prosecutors that would spare him from facing the death penalty, his lawyer told Reuters on Tuesday. Army Sergeant John Russell faces five charges of premeditated murder, one charge of aggravated assault and one charge of attempted murder in the shootings that killed two medical staff officers and three soldiers at Camp Liberty, near Baghdad airport.

Congo army battalion accused of mass rape U.S. trained: U.N. envoy

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - An army battalion in the Democratic Republic of Congo, some of whose members have been accused of mass rape, was trained by the United States, a senior U.N. envoy said on Tuesday. The United Nations said 126 women were raped in Minova in Congo's volatile east in November after Congolese army troops fled to the town when M23 rebels briefly captured the nearby provincial capital, Goma.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ca-news-summary-103756524.html

summer solstice Summer Solstice 2012 Waldo Canyon fire nba finals K Michelle roger clemens multiple sclerosis

The Weird And Wonderful World Of Beauty | Jackie&#39;s Women&#39;s ...

Related eBooks

Historically people have tried a vast array of treatments to beautify themselves. Today we will often to go a beauty salon for varying treatments such as having a manicure, getting a new hairstyle or having a spray tan. Today we will look at the latest and greatest treatments from Europe.

Source:The Weird And Wonderful World Of Beauty

Related Reading:

The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women

The bestselling classic that redefined our view od the relationship between beauty and female identity.

In today's world, women have more power, legal recognition, and professional success than ever before. Alongside the evident progress of the women's movement, however, writer and journalist Naomi Wolf is troubled by a different kind of social control, which, she argues, may prove just as restrictive as the traditional image of homemaker and wife. It's the beauty myth, an obsession with physical perfection that traps the modern woman in an endless spiral of hope, self-consciousness, and self-hatred as she tries to fulfill society's impossible definition of "the flawless beauty."

The Green Beauty Guide: Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care, Hair Care, Makeup, and Fragrances

Go green and get gorgeous

The promise of beauty is as close as the drugstore aisle?shampoo that gives your hair more body, lotions that smooth away wrinkles, makeup that makes your skin look flawless, and potions that take it all off again. But while conventional products say they'll make you more beautiful, they contain toxins and preservatives that are both bad for the environment and bad for your body?including synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, and even formaldehyde. In the end, they damage your natural vitality and good looks.

Fortunately, fashion writer, nutritionist, and beauty maven Julie Gabriel helps you find the true path to natural, healthy, green beauty. She helps you decipher labels on every cosmetic product you pick up and avoid toxic and damaging chemicals with her detailed Toxic Ingredients List. You'll learn valuable tips on what your skin really needs to be healthy, glowing, and youthful.

Julie goes one-step further?and shows you how to make your own beauty products that feed your skin, save your bank account, and are healthy for your body and the environment, such as:

? Cleansing creams and oils ? toners?? facials ? under eye circle remedies?? anti-aging serums ? lip balms ? scrubs ? exfoliators ? clay and cleansing masks
? moisturizers ? acne treatments ? makeup remover ? teeth whiteners ? shampoos, conditioners ? fragrances ? sun protection ? bug repellants ? baby products ? and much more!

With her friendly, thorough, and helpful advice; fabulous beauty recipes; product recommendations and ratings; Toxic Ingredients List; and a complete appendix of online resources, Julie Gabriel gives you all the information you need to go green without going broke and become a more natural, healthy, and beautiful you. Feed Your Face: Over 80 Natural Skin Care Recipes for Homemade Facial Masks for All Skin Types. (Natural Beauty Recipes)"Natural Beauty Recipes: Over 80 Easy Natural Skin Care Recipes for Homemade Facial Masks for All Skin Types".

This book will teach you to make your own organic and natural skincare products.

Natural Beauty Recipes contains more than 80 recipes and step-by-step techniques used by the author to create her own organic skincare products.

In this book readers will learn:

• how to care for different types of skin
• how to determine your skin type
• about ingredients for the masks and their properties
• secrets of making your own organic and natural skincare products (more than 80 recipes).

After reading this book, you will be able to create your own natural face masks. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Making Natural Beauty ProductsA natural treasure for every body.

Whether it's about saving money, living greener, or treating sensitive skin, The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Making Natural Beauty Products has everything the hobbyist will need to create organic, natural beauty products.

?Includes everything from face creams to mineral makeup to shampoo and more

?Each formula is clearly presented in recipe style, with notes on prep time, storage, and uses

?All products are made from natural ingredients which will appeal to people going green as well as to people with sensitive skin

Tags: beauty products

Source: http://www.jackiesbazaar.com/womensinterests/beauty-products/the-weird-and-wonderful-world-of-beauty

Sally Field The Oscars Searching For Sugar Man george clooney Zero Dark Thirty Academy Awards 2013 Django Unchained

Immigration bill increases visas for skilled workers, tightens rules

By Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate immigration bill outlined Tuesday attempts to meet long-sought demands from America's technology sector for more high-skilled workers from abroad to fill the gap created by a shortage of American candidates.

Under the proposed bipartisan legislation outlined Tuesday, the official quota of "H1-B" visas for high-skilled, foreign workers would increase by 69 percent to 110,000.

But businesses would need to pay these employees high salaries and ensure qualified American applicants are not passed over.

The visa quota could go as high as 180,000 in future years from the current 65,000 limit, based on certain conditions, according to an outline of the bill.

In addition, the number of visas for foreigners who hold advanced degrees from U.S. universities would increase to 25,000 from the current 20,000.

Businesses, particularly tech companies, have lobbied for more H-1B visas for years. Companies apply for these visas annually, and demand routinely outstrips supply.

The H-1B is a nonimmigrant visa in the United States that allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. The duration of stay is three years, extendable to six years.

Earlier this month, the United States awarded 85,000 H-1B visas while receiving about 124,000 applications.

Critics of the H-1B visas say the program allows companies to pay foreign workers lower salaries than they pay to Americans with comparable skills.

To address this concern, the Senate's draft legislation calls for employers "to pay significantly higher wages for H-1B workers than under current law," the outline said.

Businesses would also need to advertise to American workers first any job openings that could be obtained by foreign applicants.

Companies that are found to be abusing the visa program would be hit with penalties.

More broadly, the Senate's proposal would phase in requirements that businesses of all sizes verify an employee's work status.

Separately, the proposed legislation would create a new visa for foreign entrepreneurs looking to emigrate to the United States to start their own companies.

Another part of the proposed legislation creates a new system for admitting temporary workers for unskilled jobs - janitors, hotel and restaurant workers and laborers - for companies that can show they need them.

Businesses will need to file an estimate of the number of these employees they want to hire, the dates of employment and a description of the type of work.

Businesses can be denied permission to hire these workers if they have previously violated certain U.S. labor rules.

Yet another section of the legislation would cover the flow of agricultural workers, creating a new "guest worker" visa program to ensure an adequate agriculture workforce.

A portable "W" category of visa would replaced the current H-2A visa program for agricultural employment.

(Reporting by Patrick Temple-West. Editing by Fred Barbash and Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/immigration-bill-increases-visas-skilled-workers-tightens-rules-041134035.html

nationwide race wanderlust gone tyler perry good deeds pretty in pink shark tank john wall

Pa. woman cited for calling 911 seeking divorce

Apr 15 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $4,139,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $3,137,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,442,389 4. Adam Scott (Australia) $2,100,469 5. Steve Stricker $1,935,340 6. Phil Mickelson $1,764,680 7. Dustin Johnson $1,748,907 8. Jason Day $1,659,565 9. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 10. Keegan Bradley $1,430,347 11. Charles Howell III $1,393,806 12. John Merrick $1,375,757 13. Russell Henley $1,331,434 14. Michael Thompson $1,310,709 15. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 16. Bill Haas $1,271,553 17. Billy Horschel $1,254,224 18. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pa-woman-cited-calling-911-seeking-divorce-134304345.html

roman numerals superbowl halftime madonna madonna guacamole recipe ufc 143 results kickoff time super bowl 2012

Obama Releases Tax Returns (Voice Of America)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/298753764?client_source=feed&format=rss

nike foamposite galaxy bill maher seabiscuit dingo nba all star weekend malin akerman jeff carter

Bird Flu Widens Reach in China

Officials in Beijing confirmed today that a 7-year-old girl is infected with H7N9 avian influenza, widening the geographic spread of the virus that's already killed 11 people.

The girl, whose parents sell live poultry, was admitted to the hospital Thursday with pneumonia and is the first case reported outside eastern China, where the virus was first reported in late March.

Government officials said the total number of new bird flu infections across the country rose to 47 today as the eastern province of Jiangsu reported two fresh cases and shanghai reported one, The Associated Press reported.

What is concerning about this latest report is the distance between Shanghai and Beijing.

ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

The virus was able to travel more than 750 miles without leaving a trail of dead birds.

Unlike the H5N1 bird flu that raised concerns starting in 2003, H7N9 does not seem to make birds very sick or sick at all. This makes tracking the movement of the virus and containing it to limited flocks of birds next to impossible.

You can't just test sick flocks. This case of bird flu in Beijing illustrates that clearly. This means that to understand where people might be at risk, China will have to screen a lot of healthy birds across an increasingly large area.

The epidemiologic investigations of people who were sickened by H7N9 are extremely important. In order to prevent infections, we need to understand what kind of exposures put people at risk.

Are there particular types of birds that are implicated? For those people with no apparent bird contact, how did they get infected? This information is essential if one is to begin to think about rational control strategies.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/h7n9-avian-influenza-virus-widens-geographic-reach-china/story?id=18948297

pekingese tcu football westminster bonnaroo 2012 lineup twisted metal sea lion si swimsuit

Ask Engadget: best touchscreen monitor?

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Icy, who wants to embrace their metro (geddit?) side. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"As Windows 8 is bringing touch to the desktop, I'm curious what touchscreen monitor I should buy. Any suggestions? Thanks!"

Short and sweet, Icy, just the way we like it. We'll return the favor by pointing you in the direction of options from Viewsonic, Samsung and LG. Then we'll bow out and let the massed ranks of the Engadgetarti oblige you with their worldly wisdom.

Filed under: Displays

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/13/ae-touchscreen-monitors/

gregg williams theraflu joe avezzano kanye west theraflu joey votto the masters live mega millions winner

INOVA Microlight STS ? Keychain flashlight with touch controls

EDC flashlights are usually either of the clicky or twisty variety. The INOVA Microlight STS (Swipe to Shine) just blew my mind because it is ?a touch controlled light for your keychain. That’s right, this small 16 lumen LED flashlight does not have any buttons or switches that you have to press or slide in [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/04/13/inova-microlight-sts-keychain-flashlight-with-touch-controls/

troy tulowitzki katie couric good morning america the rock vs john cena acm awards 2012 january jones ncaa final game reba mcentire

Stocks close higher, buoyed by upbeat jobless claims report?

JeeYeon Park , CNBC ? ? ? 2 hrs.

Stocks ended higher Thursday lifted by an upbeat jobless claims report, with the Dow and S&P 500 closing at fresh levels, while weakness in large tech companies limited gains on the Nasdaq.

"The market seems to be on autopilot," said Joe Saluzzi, co-manager of trading at Themis Trading. "Everyone believes there are some serious issues being overlooked, but no one wants to fight a momentum-fueled rally?Plus, we've been on very light volume; when you see rallies, you want to see buyers."

(Read More: 'Amazed' Cramer Tells Why This Rally Is 'Very Unusual')

The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced for the fourth-consecutive session, lifted by Pfizer and Verizon. Hewlett-Packard dropped more than 6 percent.

The S&P 500 also finished higher, while the Nasdaq finished largely unchanged after soaring nearly 2 percent in the previous session. Still, the S&P and Nasdaq are on pace for their second best weekly gains for the year.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, ended above 12.

Most key S&P sectors closed in positive territory, led by consumer discretionary and telecoms, while techs remained lower.

Shares of major tech companies including Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and Intelslumped sharply after market research firm IDC said worldwide shipments of personal computers tumbled 13.9 percent in the first quarter, the biggest drop since the firm began issuing quarterly numbers in 1994. At least three brokerages downgraded Microsoft.

(Read More:Suckers! Tech Execs Selling Stock at Record Pace)

"Forget [S&P] 1,660, 1,700, etc. You should be concerned about protecting big gains," wrote Elliot Spar, market strategist at Stifel Nicolaus. "With new money, be selective and patient. ... This is not the first quarter anymore. You'll have to work harder to get on base and then stay close to the bag."

Retailers were among the day's strongest performers. L Brands (formerly Limited Brands) and Ross Stores rallied to lead the S&P 500 gainers after both firms posted higher-than-expected same-store sales in March. Meanwhile, top retailers Costco and TJX reported weaker-than-expected sales, but still traded higher along with the broader market.

JC Penney jumped after three more top executives at the retailer parted ways with the company, according to a New York Post report, following the ouster of Chief Executive Ron Johnson.

Herbalife jumped after the SEC charged former KPMG partner Scott London and his friend Bryan Shaw for insider trading. In recorded conversations, London told Shaw details about earnings announcements for Herbalife and another KPMG client, Deckers. In one call, London referenced rumors that had been spread about Herbalife going private.

Among earnings, Rite Aid surged after the pharmacy chain posted its second consecutive quarterly profit as the company filled more prescriptions and sold more generic drugs.

Pier 1 Imports slid after the furniture retailer posted earnings that were mostly in line with expectations, but handed in a weaker-than-expected outlook.

Banking giants JP Morgan and Wells Fargo are slated to post earnings on Friday. (Vote Now: Will JP Morgan Meet, Beat, Miss?)

On the economic front, weekly jobless claims declined 42,000 to a seasonally adjusted 346,000, according to the Labor Department, after a huge jump in the prior week. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a reading of 365,000.

Import prices fell in March as weak petroleum costs offset a spike in food prices, according to the Labor Department, matching expectations. The tame inflation environment should allow the Federal Reserve to stay on its ultra-easy monetary policy course as it tries to nurse the economy back to health.

On Wednesday, minutes from the Fed's March meeting released suggested some policymakers expect to slow the pace of asset purchases by mid-year and end them later this year. Under its current quantitative easing program, the Fed purchases $85 billion in Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities each month.

Still, the market rally continued despite concerns about when the central bank might start to pull back its stimulus efforts amid the healing U.S. economy.

Treasury prices eased off their highs after the government sold $13 billion in 30-year bonds at a high yield of 2.998 percent. The bid-to-cover ratio, an indicator of demand, was 2.49.

?By CNBC's JeeYeon Park (Follow JeeYeon on Twitter: @JeeYeonParkCNBC)

? 2013 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653351/s/2a9ceacb/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Cbusiness0Cstocks0Eclose0Ehigher0Ebuoyed0Eupbeat0Ejobless0Eclaims0Ereport0E1C930A8387/story01.htm

courtney upshaw catch me if you can delmon young arrested the raven the raven zerg rush david wilson

FDA Cites 30 Compounding Pharmacies for Unsanitary Practices

The safety practices of compounding pharmacies in relation to preparation of sterile fluids came to the forefront in 2012, when products from the New England Compounding Center , NECC, were linked to the fungal meningitis outbreak that occurred. In March, two other compounding pharmacies issued voluntary recalls for potentially contaminated sterile products, this time before any harm was reported to those receiving the products.

Yesterday, Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. , commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , provided a post on the agency's blog detailing continued difficulty the FDA is experiencing in inspecting some of the compounding pharmacies and how 30 out of 31 inspected compounding pharmacies were found to have deficient sanitary practices.

30 Compounding Pharmacies Failed Inspection of Sterile Practices

In reaction to the combined deaths and illnesses of more than 700 people who received contaminated injectable drugs as medical treatment for back and joint pain in the fall of 2012's fungal meningitis outbreak, the FDA has been proactively inspecting the facilities of various compounding pharmacies throughout the nation based on risk-based model of known data about such facilities, explained Hamburg in the blog post. This was initiated in February and is ongoing. In addition, inspections for-cause due to complaints/reports about serious adverse reactions and in response to states' request for assistance from the federal agency have also been conducted.

Between February and early April, 30 of the 31 proactively inspected compounding pharmacies were found to be deficient in their sterile practices -- and the one such pharmacy that received no FDA form 483 that does not list objectionable conditions at the facility is not producing sterile drugs. In other words, all 30 of the compounding pharmacies inspected that produce sterile drugs were doing so without compliance with established sterile practices. A summary of the 2013 FDA inspection report details the agency's findings.

Among the findings were technicians handling supposedly sterile products with their bare hands, black particles floating in a labeled sterile product, and rust and mold found in rooms used to prepare sterile products.

Should It Come as a Surprise that Some Compounding Pharmacies Resist FDA Inspection?

As realistic or cynical as the public at large is these days about government and big business, it is unlikely that the fact that some of the compounding pharmacies are resisting inspection by the FDA, although it is a sad commentary of the ethics practiced in some health care realms where profit is more important than safety.

Hamburg wrote that in at least four of the agency's recent inspections were delayed by the compounding pharmacies' tactics to deny the FDA full access to necessary documents and facilities and in two other instances, the agency was required to obtain administrative warrants from the courts to allow such inspections. U.S. marshals accompanied FDA inspectors into these two facilities.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fda-cites-30-compounding-pharmacies-unsanitary-practices-193600644.html

Tropical Storm Isaac path Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Isaac Path Isaac Hurricane earthquake san diego Hurricane Isaac Sam Claflin

Remaining black Pebbles set to ship, red flavor due in two to three weeks

Kickstarter backers have been receiving Pebble smartwatches with a black paint job since January, but if you're a supporter and haven't gotten ahold of your own yet, that's about to change. The folks behind the hardware announced today that the remaining watches are out of the factory and are being readied for delivery, making for over 55,000 shipped. Now that noir Pebbles are out of the way, the team says it's hard at work perfecting the production of the devices in other colors, and that the very first red Pebbles should be ready for shipping in two to three weeks. Other flavors don't have an estimated ship date just yet, but the team says Orange hardware will come next, with gray / white tagging along afterwards. Those who cherish speed over color can switch their order to a black ticker and snag one within roughly two weeks. On the software side, the e-paper timepiece can now take advantage of five 12-hour watch faces, so long as they carry firmware version 1.9.1. Hit the source link for details on the tribulations of color Pebble production and the perils of plastic injection.

Comments

Source: Pebble (Kickstarter)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/1JPq4tZJJTE/

George McGovern braxton miller braxton miller Whitney Heichel Tippi Hedren Big Tex Sweetest Day

Ford says Focus tops world car sales in 2012

(Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said its Focus model was the world's best-selling passenger car in 2012, boosted by demand from China and the United States, citing data from automotive consulting firm Polk.

The carmaker sold 1,020,410 Ford Focus compact cars last year, it said on Tuesday. (http://link.reuters.com/dyx27t)

More than one out of four Focus cars were sold in China, with registrations in the world's biggest auto market up 51 percent, according to Polk.

Focus was launched in China in late March last year.

U.S. sales were up 40 percent in 2012, said the carmaker, whose line-up also includes the popular F-Series pickup trucks.

The overall industry has posted annual sales increases in the double digits since 2009, when it hit the worst annual sales rate since World War Two, adjusted for population.

(Reporting by Garima Goel in Bangalore; editing by Jason Neely)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ford-says-focus-tops-world-car-sales-2012-065008098--finance.html

carole king crystal renn matilda cab calloway melissa gilbert deadliest catch dwts

Obama's pick for Medicare and Medicaid finally gets a hearing (Washington Bureau)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/297807265?client_source=feed&format=rss

dark knight rises trailer vince young vince young evan longoria john edwards conocophillips capitals

Syria: Suicide car bombing kills 15 in Damascus

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows smoke rising from burned cars after a huge explosion shook the Sabaa Bahrat Square, one of the capital's biggest roundabouts, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, April. 8, 2013. A car bomb rocked a busy residential and commercial district in central Damascus on Monday, killing more than a dozen with many more injured and sending a huge cloud of black smoke billowing over the capital?s skyline, Syrian state-run media said. (AP Photo/SANA)

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows smoke rising from burned cars after a huge explosion shook the Sabaa Bahrat Square, one of the capital's biggest roundabouts, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, April. 8, 2013. A car bomb rocked a busy residential and commercial district in central Damascus on Monday, killing more than a dozen with many more injured and sending a huge cloud of black smoke billowing over the capital?s skyline, Syrian state-run media said. (AP Photo/SANA)

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows a Syrian fire fighter extinguishing a burning car after a huge explosion shook the Sabaa Bahrat Square, one of the capital's biggest roundabouts, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, April. 8, 2013. A car bomb rocked a busy residential and commercial district in central Damascus, killing at least a dozen people with more than fifty injured and causing heavy material damage, a Syrian government official said. (AP Photo/SANA)

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows Syrian fire fighters extinguishing burning cars after huge explosion shook the Sabaa Bahrat Square, one of the capital's biggest roundabouts, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, April. 8, 2013. A car bomb rocked a busy residential and commercial district in central Damascus, killing at least a dozen people with tens more injured and causing heavy material damage, a Syrian government official said. (AP Photo/SANA)

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows Syrians inspecting a damaged car at the scene of a car bomb attack near the Sabaa Bahrat Square, one of the capital's biggest roundabouts, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, April. 8, 2013. A car bomb rocked a busy residential and commercial district in central Damascus, killing at least a dozen people with tens more injured and causing heavy material damage, a Syrian government official said. (AP Photo/SANA)

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows smoke rising from burned cars after a huge explosion shook the Sabaa Bahrat Square, one of the capital's biggest roundabouts, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, April. 8, 2013. A car bomb rocked a busy residential and commercial district in central Damascus on Monday, killing more than a dozen with many more injured and sending a huge cloud of black smoke billowing over the capital?s skyline, Syrian state-run media said. (AP Photo/SANA)

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) ? A suicide bomber detonated a car packed with explosives on Monday in a busy residential and financial district of central Damascus, killing at least 15 people, setting cars and buildings on fire and sending plumes of black smoke rising the capital, Syrian state-run media said.

The explosion came as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said inspectors were ready to deploy to Syria within 24 hours to investigate reports of chemical weapon attacks, but have not yet received permission from President Bashar Assad's government.

The blast, described by state-run Syrian TV as a terrorist suicide bombing, occurred near Sabaa Bahrat Square, one of the capital's biggest roundabouts. The Syrian central bank, the Finance Ministry and state-run investment agency, a mosque and a school are located nearby.

The explosion also wounded 146 people, according to the official news agency SANA.

It was the latest in a series of car bombs and suicide bombings to hit the Syrian capital in recent months. The two-year civil war, which the U.N. says has killed more than 70,000 people, has become increasingly chaotic as rebels press closer to Assad's seat of power in Damascus after seizing large areas in northern and eastern parts of the country.

TV images showed thick black smoke billowing from a wide street with several cars on fire. At least six bodies were seen lying on the pavement. Paramedics carried a young woman lying on a stretcher, her face bloodied, into an ambulance.

Shaken teenage students holding their backpacks were seen walking away. The blast occurred some 20 meters (yards) from the Bukhari School.

Among the buildings damaged was the state-run Syrian Investment Agency. Several cars in the building's parking lot were set ablaze in the explosion. Witnesses said a suicide attacker tried to storm the building with his vehicle but was stopped by guards. He then detonated his explosives outside the building.

In the early days of the uprising, the Sabaa Bahrat Square was home to huge pro-regime demonstrations that took place with a giant poster of Assad hanging as a backdrop over the central bank building.

"I was in the square when I heard a strong explosion that threw me on the ground," civil servant Hussein Khalil, 32, told The Associated Press at the scene. "I ran and saw what happened."

Electrician Mohammed Ali Kheir, 21, said he was nearby and felt the pressure of the blast. "I immediately ran here and helped paramedics evacuate four wounded people," he said.

"Is this the freedom that Qatar and Saudi Arabia want?" asked the man, referring to the Gulf Arab countries that have backed Syrian rebels fighting to remove Assad from power.

In Syrian TV footage, one woman shouted sarcastically: "Thank you, Hamad!" She was referring to the emir of Qatar, a major rebel supporter. "Is this what you want?" she asked.

Assad's regime denies there is a popular uprising and refers to the rebels as "terrorists" and "mercenaries," allegedly backed by foreign powers trying to destabilize the country.

Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi, visiting the scene, said the blast targeted the Syrian economy.

"This is the work of cowards," he said, vowing that the army would continue to crush all armed groups.

According to the TV footage, the dead included a young man whose face was blown off by the force of the blast. Shortly after, another man is seen covering the victim's head with his T-shirt.

Nearby, several men are seen twisting the wreckage of a car, trying to rescue a man who appears motionless in the back seat of a car.

Fire fighters struggled to extinguish flames that engulfed the two buildings near the site of the explosion as well as a row of cars near the roundabout.

The last large explosion in central Damascus was on March 21, when a suicide bomb ripped through a mosque in the heart of the capital. That bombing killed 42 people, including a top Sunni Muslim preacher and outspoken supporter of Assad in what was one of the most brazen assassinations of the war.

A month earlier, a suicide car bombing near the ruling Baath Party headquarters, just a few blocks from Monday's site, killed 53 people and wounded more than 200, according to state media.

Anti-regime activists at the time put the death toll at 61, which would make it the deadliest bombing in the capital in the two-year Syrian civil war.

There was no claim of responsibility for those two Damascus attacks and there was no immediate claim for Monday's blast.

In the past, Jabhat al-Nusra, an Islamic militant group with ties to al-Qaida that the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization, has claimed responsibility for some of the deadliest suicide bombings targeting regime and military facilities across the country.

The violence has shattered the sense of normalcy that the Syrian regime has desperately tried to maintain in Damascus, a city that was until recently mostly insulated from the bloodshed and destruction that has left other urban centers in ruins.

The anti-Assad rebels launched an offensive on Damascus in July after a stunning bombing on a high-level government crisis meeting that killed four top regime officials, including Assad's brother-in-law and the defense minister. Following that attack, rebel groups that had established footholds in the suburbs pushed in, battling government forces for more than a week before being routed and swept out.

Since then, government warplanes have pounded opposition strongholds on the outskirts of the capital, and rebels have managed only small incursions on the city's southern and eastern sides. More recently, they have taken to firing deadly mortar shells deep into the capital as way to loosen the regime's grip on power.

Assad's government has asked the U.N. chief to investigate an alleged chemical weapons attack by rebels on March 19 on a village in northern Syria. Both the rebels and the regime traded blame for the alleged attack in the village of Khan al-Assal in the northern Aleppo province, which has not been confirmed.

Also Monday, a Syrian human rights group said nearly 9,000 Syrian government troops have been killed since the uprising started in March 2011. The Syria-based Violations Documentation Center, which tracks the dead, wounded and missing, said 8,785 Syrian troops have died in the fighting.

It said the rare report on the regime's death toll was compiled from government and opposition sources.

At the start of the revolt, authorities published names of the fallen troops daily. As the uprising turned more violent and eventually became a civil war, reports of casualties on the government side vanished from the public domain.

___

AP writers Barbara Surk and Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Mike Corder in The Hague contributed.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-04-08-ML-Syria/id-7cedde0da0d9464496e9aaa6f33b46d3

allen iverson jr smith chris anderson rondo suspended bay bridge band of brothers presidents