Army general: Pacific refocus means more exercises

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii (AP) ? The leader of U.S. Army forces in Asia and the Pacific says his soldiers will be able to conduct more exercises with other nations in the region, as the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan and the military refocuses its attention.

Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski, the commander of U.S. Army Pacific, said he'd like U.S. soldiers to undertake more exercises with counterparts from nations such as Indonesia, Malaysia and India.

The Army will also be able to have more active duty soldiers, instead of reserves, participate in exercises with allies such as Japan.

"We've been engaged, obviously, in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that's where we've had to focus ? for all the right reasons," Wiercinski told The Associated Press in an interview at his headquarters in Hawaii. "But now that we're having this opportunity, we can get back into the Pacific with our partners here."

The Army has 70,000 soldiers and 12,000 civilians at installations in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. military leaders and diplomats have increasingly emphasized the importance of Asia and the Pacific as the region's economies grow and gain clout.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stressed last week that the U.S. pivot to the Pacific isn't aimed at containing or threatening China, which now has the world's second-largest economy after the U.S. But Washington has criticized China for lacking transparency while it has rapidly modernized its military and boosted military spending.

The Pentagon in January issued a new national defense strategy declaring that the U.S. would "rebalance" toward the region, noting U.S. economic and security interests are inextricably linked to developments in the area.

Examples of the strategy are slowly emerging.

Last year, the U.S. and Australia announced an agreement for up to 2,500 U.S. Marines to rotate through a joint military training hub in the northern Australia city of Darwin. The Navy next year plans to begin deploying a littoral combat ship ? a new type of vessel that can operate closer to shore than other ships ? to Singapore.

The Air Force, meanwhile, plans to make greater use of airfields and bombing ranges in the Australian Outback.

Wiercinski said the Army doesn't want to set up new bases. Instead, he spoke of soldiers training with other nations to get a feel for cultures, terrain and interaction with U.S. allies.

"We're not talking about putting bases in other countries or a permanent presence anywhere," he said. "We're talking about rotating ? 30, 40 days at a pop."

Wiercinski pointed to the current deployment of a few dozen soldiers to Tonga for a weeklong disaster relief exercise as the type of drill likely to become more prevalent.

In the drill, which also involves Australia, France and New Zealand, Tonga calls the U.S. for help after being hit by a major earthquake and tsunami. The Army sends soldiers to the Pacific island nation within 24 hours to assess the situation and report what help Tonga needs.

"Just that, the ability to do that, demonstrates our capability, shows the Tongan government and all the neighbors in the area that we're backing up what we say we can do," Wiercinski said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/army-general-pacific-refocus-means-more-exercises-172614887.html

nicki minaj grammy jason whitlock beach boys tony bennett joe walsh the civil wars paul mccartney

D.C. Attorney General Opposes Civil Penalties for Out-of-Towners in ...

The public safety division chief of the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General testified today against proposed legislation that would allow local prosecutors to offer civil penalties to non-D.C. residents charged with possessing unregistered firearms or ammunition.

Criminal defense lawyers and a national prosecutors association offered support for the bill during this morning's hearing, although there was concern about whether the city could face litigation by creating a system that treated residents and non-residents differently under the law.

Deputy Attorney General Andrew Fois, who leads the public safety division, said that the legislation is a "solution in search of a problem" and would send the wrong message about how seriously the District takes violations of its gun laws. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), who introduced the bill, defended it as necessary to make sure out-of-towners unfamiliar with D.C.'s laws aren't unnecessarily caught up in the criminal justice system.

The Administrative Disposition for Weapons Offenses Amendment Act (PDF) would allow the attorney general's office to offer a civil penalty (and, as a result, no criminal record) to non-D.C. residents charged with possessing an unregistered firearm or unregistered ammunition. At the moment, those crimes are prosecuted as misdemeanors.

The bill comes as D.C. officials continue to shape local gun laws in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2008 decision striking down the city's handgun ban. A number of lawyers have said they see this latest proposal as part of the city's efforts to extend an olive branch to gun rights supporters.

Mendelson began today's hearing by recounting anecdotes of individuals recently arrested under the gun laws at issue, most of whom said that they were unaware of D.C.'s laws or had forgotten that they had the ammunition or firearm in question in their car at the time. "These different incidents, if they are taken at face value, in my view speak to the need for prosecutors to have discretion," he said.

David LaBahn, president of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, spoke in favor of the bill, saying it was in line with the growing number of states trying to write more flexibility into their laws when it came to certain low-level offenses. The D.C. Public Defender Service also expressed its general support for the bill, although Laura Hankins, special counsel to the director, said they would prefer that it cover D.C. residents, noting that such a two-tier system could spark litigation. Patrice Sulton, a member of the legislative committee of the D.C. Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, expressed similar sentiments and called for Mendelson to ensure the attorney general's office would make the guidelines for such a procedure clear.

Mendelson heard from D.C. resident Dick Heller ? the subject of the 2008 Supreme Court decision and subsequent litigation over D.C. gun laws ? who spoke more generally about his displeasure with the city's gun laws as too restrictive. George Lyon Jr., president of the D.C. chapter of the Community Association for Firearms Education, also spoke in favor of rolling back the city's gun laws, but called the proposed bill a step in the right direction. Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, supported the bill, saying it would only rarely come into play and was a commendable attempt by the council to work with all sides of the gun control debate.

Fois spoke last, asking Mendelson and the council to reject the measure. He said it would send "the wrong signal at the wrong time" to the public about the city's commitment to its gun laws. He said that the civil penalty procedure that would serve as the model, known as post-and-forfeit, is inappropriate for gun offenses and should be reserved for offenses such as disorderly conduct. He noted that by his office's math, the bill would have applied, at most, to 18 people last year. Mendelson pushed back, saying that it shouldn't matter how many people might be affected, pointing to other laws, such as the D.C. Innocence Protection Act, that have only applied to a handful of individuals.

Fois said that there were already a number of policies and procedures in place to cover the scenarios Mendelson envisioned in the bill. Assuming the attorney general's office decides to bring charges, he said many of these cases play out through a mechanism known as a deferred-sentencing agreement, where a person agrees to plead guilty but their case is later dropped if they comply with certain conditions, such as a fine or community service. Mendelson said he wasn?t convinced and that he didn't see a reason not to give prosecutors another tool for resolving cases.

The council is accepting public comments on the bill through October 8.

Source: http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2012/09/dc-attorney-general-opposes-civil-penalties-for-out-of-towners-in-gun-cases.html

michigan football michigan football askew blue moon eddie murphy ann romney marco rubio

Steve Lombardozzi Sr. named Good Counsel baseball coach

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=8893513c448dc7ccd9e2cb7155f203d1

billy beane kathy griffin road conditions newt gingrich wives weather gina carano at last

Rob Lederer Resigns as Executive Vice President of NPMA

Lederer has left his position as executive vice president of the National Pest Management Association, effective immediately.

***update on 9/21/2012 at 2 p.m.****

FAIRFAX, Va. ? Rob Lederer has left his position as executive vice president of the National Pest Management Association, effective immediately.

The announcement was made by NPMA President Laura SImpson during an NPMA Board of Directors conference call this morning. Lederer will remain with NPMA for six months in a consulting role.

In an NPMA press release, Lederer stated, "I treasure my NPMA experiences, particularly the many people I've had the opportunity to meet and what I've learned over the years. But, many of us who travel intense career paths reach a point where it is time to pursue new challenges, and, now, that time has come.?

He added, ?With the quality and caliber of our leadership and staff team, I have full confidence that NPMA is poised to achieve even greater successes in the coming years.?

Simpson praised Lederer's contributions to the association and the industry, saying he is largely responsible for building NPMA into a powerhouse organization. "Rob leaves behind an incredibly solid association made up of individual building blocks he stacked with precision and intent. From the strength of partnerships with our state associations to the creation of Quality Pro and the Professional Pest Management Alliance, from the fostering of new industry leaders at Academy and Leadership Development Group to our widely respected government affairs program, the industry owes Rob a resounding thanks for his far reaching efforts that will outlive his time with the association."

Simpson noted NPMA's executive committee has begun diligent work on a transition plan and that members can be assured the association's activities will continue to operate fully during the search for and transition to a new executive vice president. "The great work of NPMA staff, our board and the existing programs established during Rob's tenure as our leader will continue unvarnished while we undergo a comprehensive, national search for the right candidate," Simpson expressed. "We don't enter into this search lightly and won't make decisions without careful, consideration for the day-to-day operations and long-term strategic goals of the organization."

PCT will be providing updates to this story.

?

?

?

?

?

?

Source: http://www.pctonline.com/Article.aspx?article_id=132570

the third man 2012 nfl draft order mohamed sanu chris polk chicago bulls st louis blues rueben randle

Natural Treatment For Cracked Lip Corners ? Health Medical ...

?

Article by Annie Hopkins

If you have sore cracks at the corner of your lips which is making everyday essentials such as eating, drinking and speaking excruciatingly painful, you may well have the common condition, angular cheilitis.

Successful natural treatment for cracked lip Corners needs to discover the underlying cause as well as stopping the condition returning. Also, fast, symptomatic relief is very important simply because this condition is so very painful. Although you can buy over the counter treatments and these will give some symptomatic relief, what they will not do is cure the condition completely.

There are various causes of cracked lip corners and with a little analysis, you might be able to discover just what the trigger has been in your particular case and therefore eliminate it. The main reason why the condition develops is due to excess moisture at the mouth edges, but treatment for cracked lip corners is not always as straightforward as you might think as usually, bacterial and fungal infections develop and without decisive and proper action, it will just get worse.

Some likely causes include badly fitting dentures, having folds of skin at the mouth edges (often caused by weight fluctuations or the aging process), thumb or finger sucking, pen biting or loss of facial muscle control. In addition, vitamin B12 deficiency can be a cause as can a lack of iron.

Treatment can include having ill fitting dentures corrected, using anti-nail biting liquid which tastes bitter, on the ends of pens or on fingers. Where no scabbing has occurred and the condition is very mild, try putting a thin film of petroleum jelly on the cracks or even try some unperfumed lip salve for temporary relief.

The key to successful natural treatment for cracked lip corners is starving the fungus and bacteria of what it needs to survive. By following the correct steps, you could be cured of angular cheilitis by the following day.

There is a very simple, speedy cure for cracked corners of lips which promises immediate relief and that you will be completely free of this condition overnight. It is available for immediate download and works for everyone.

Using everyday ingredients which you are likely to have to hand, you will find it hard to believe the simplicity of this remedy is and yet how powerful and fast-acting it is. Coming with a full, cast iron money-back guarantee, you can be completely assured that this will work for you. Please visit A Natural Cure For Angular Cheilitis to see natural treatment for cracked lip corners.

About the Author

Annie regularly reviews various health products and has a particular interest in women?s issues. However, her attention was drawn to Angular Cheilitis, a condition suffered by both men and women, when a friend of hers who was a long-term sufferer suddenly found a cure. She called the cure ?miraculous? and, after some research, Annie found that the cure did indeed work extremely fast, with most users being delighted with the effects.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author?s information and copyright must be included.

Annie regularly reviews various health products and has a particular interest in women?s issues. However, her attention was drawn to Angular Cheilitis, a condition suffered by both men and women, when a friend of hers who was a long-term sufferer suddenly found a cure. She called the cure ?miraculous? and, after some research, Annie found that the cure did indeed work extremely fast, with most users being delighted with the effects.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author?s information and copyright must be included.

More Fast weight loss For Men Over 40 Articles

Website optimisation utilizing a SEOPressor free hasn't ever been easy.a custom wordpress plugin are free.

Source: http://howcanyouloseweighttoday.com/2012/09/24/natural-treatment-for-cracked-lip-corners-health-medical-reasons-to-lose-weight/

nate diaz vs donald cerrone ufc 141 lesnar vs overeem appetizer recipes alistair overeem alistair overeem texas a m

5 Things I Outsource To Run My Transcription Business and Keep ...

Posted by Carey Suante in Business, Feature, Outsourcing, Productivity

Looking for an affordable yet professional transcription services? Check out our Transcription Services!You may also want to subscribe to my RSS feed for outsourcing tips and how transcription can help you professional and personally. Thanks for visiting!

What services do you outsource to improve your business or personal life?

Everyone outsources to others ? knowingly or unknowingly. It is impossible to live life without outsourcing.

Outsourcing has always been in existence in one form or another throughout human history. It may take the form of delegation, specialization, etc.

No man is self-sufficient. We depend on others for services and products that we are not good at producing or simply cannot produce. We also outsource producing things and services that are not economical or not of the best quality to produce by ourselves.

Outsourcing makes you:

• more productive
• gives you quality products or services
• saves cost/money
• save time

Below are some products and services I outsource to maintain my productivity and keep my sanity.

Workflow tool

For an online transcription services provider it?s vital to have an online workflow management tool. Since there are no WordPress plugins to help me with this, I turn to Scribemanager for this solution. They?ve been very responsive and caring. And their cost being minimal it?s quite a useful tool. Besides transcription customers find it easy and intuitive to use and upload their audios tool. What more can I ask for?

Dropbox

Dropbox is my favorite backup and file-sharing solution. I?ve referred so many people to this service that I now have more than 20 GB storage capacity absolutely free. Awesome. I use it to back up my more important documents, favorite photos, ebooks, songs, etc. In business, I use it to share folders with transcribers and clients to drop their recordings.

Domain

This is a given. As an online transcription provider I cannot do without a website. Hence, the need to buy a domain name. I bought most of my domains from GoDaddy. Absolute must!

Webhosting

Webhosting is another service most people outsource. I got mine outsourced to a professional webhosting service dedicated to WordPress hosting. WPWebhost has a very responsive customer care team. They?ve been really useful when setting up new blogs. As a technically challenged person they helped me set up my first blog and held my hand until I was confident enough on my own. This is extremely useful for a blogging newbie with dreams of running a successful business online.

WordPress Themes

As with all other online businesses, the looks of your website is the face of your company. Hence, it?s vital to have a professionally built website if you can afford. For others, you can purchase themes that make your website professional and customize it to your heart?s content. ?I?m using Elegant themes on this website. You get 76 WordPress themes for $39 only!

Even though I consider myself an expert in transcription there are things I need to outsource in order to successfully run by online transcription business.

It?s true that there may be free options to choose from, however they are not always the best option. As a business this website has to be professional and functional. It has to be attractive and intuitive enough for potential customers to easily navigate through it.

I also outsource to do much more than any others. I believe in doing more and better than the competition. So, in areas where I?m not an expert I?m ready to pay and have been paying for some services for the long-term.

Outsourcing also allows me to focus on the core business ? transcribing excellent transcripts. I simply cannot compromise on that. Without serving excellent transcripts I have no business being in transcription business.

And then, there are some tasks I simply cannot do or have any interest in doing them. I outsource such tasks to deliver quality service.

Outsourcing, to me, is just another word for delegation. Mastering the art of delegating and therefore, outsourcing is a must and vital skill to be successful in life as much as it is in business.

About the author?? Carey Suante is a writer and entrepreneur. He founded?TranscriptionPRO Services?after years of experience in blogging and internet marketing. ?Contact him ?for a?no-obligation Transcription Quotation?today for all your typing and transcription requirements.

Related posts:

1. Ask the Readers: Do You Prefer to Outsource to Freelancers or Transcription Firms?
2. 7 Reasons Lawyers and Law Firms Outsource Legal Transcription Services
3. 4 Reasons NOT to Outsource Audio Transcription
4. How To Use Elance to Outsource Transcription Services

Source: http://transcriptionpro.net/5-things-i-outsource-to-run-my-transcription-business-and-keep-my-sanity/

acc tournament big ten tournament big east tournament 2012 solar storm solar flares spanx aurora borealis

MIUI 2.4.2 Chinese ROM

? scoute-dich	Today, 05:15 PM
Junior Member Posts: 11 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Stutensee	I'm going to test it. I'll report later. Greetings scoute-dich

? pecana	Today, 05:23 PM
Member Posts: 43 Join Date: Jan 2011	Quote: its chinese rom with chinese interface and chinese words.. you can understand chinese? Miui comes with language package so it's not in Chinese Inviato dal mio GT-I9300 con Tapatalk 2

Posting Rules You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts Go to top of page...

Source: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1900956&goto=newpost

tiger woods pirate bay erin andrews erin andrews Pepco tour de france instagram

Health care reform - HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS

Advertisement

These items contain natural items and therefore are impressive for making certain proper oral health in canines. On the web you will find plenty of healthcare books provided with various kinds of illnesses and it is remedies. Fuelthemind. com is definitely an online health fitness guide that delivers information associated with health insurance and diet for children plus much more. Being fully healthy takes more than merely eating well. You are able to choose your nevada plan by searching in the amount each procedure will definitely cost and discovering in case your dental professional accepts the credit card. The first is via making reform certain you having a personal health assurance as well southern nevada health district as for your whole care family. Do you have type of pre- existing conditions? Low bone strength and density puts you in danger of brittle bones and health care reform bone fracture. Some techniques for adding it for your foods: Saut a couple of let? s eat some onions, all kinds of peppers, and garlic clove to increase your preferred dishes. Use about 1/ 4 teaspoon per serving. Advanced home healthcare equipment, for example health care reform home safety items, wound care tools, canes, crutches, ramblers, scooters and lifts, really are a god- send for such patients. By integrating greater number of these to your existence while staying away from over use of acidity meals and drinks, you? ll feel a large difference. Cheap southern health Medical Health Insurance rates and private medical health insurance. Turmeric benefits a great deal health smart. Encourage personal relationship building between all employees, from trainers and group fitness teachers to tennis pros and reception staff. When she reached a healthcare facility a healthcare facility refused her care since it would be a none network hospital. Health Advantages of Gelatin Gelatin is really a without color, odor free, and tasteless thickening agent, that when dissolved in serious trouble and cooled, forms a jelly. Since dandelion has diuretic qualities, consuming dandelion tea increases peeing, which helps your liver along with your renal system. 2. No district Waiting Periods Private healthcare enables patients to appear quickly. Protective clothes and add- ons are often created using lead, because this metal is effective to defend radiation. When transporting around a cell phone, keep your device as distant out of your body as you possibly can can. For additional info on HSAs and just how to setup your bank account, go to the U. S. health The Mayo Clinic, however, states that there are no evidence that consuming apple cider vinegar treatment aids in weight reduction. Helps fight poor sleep and insomnia. Dr. Understanding what a policy covers and excludesthough you will find alterations in this because of the implementation from the Affordable Act, yet, the obligation lies using the consumer. Tips & Alerts How you can achieve oral health plans at reduced rates Not every possess the privilege to avail the help under insurance.

Related Post Health care reform

This is not to be mistaken with a co- payment. Attempt to request your physician mental for options towards the costly medications. In PPO However, regardless of the intensified labor force and dental campaigns by La dental professionals, there? s still a sizable account of kids who bellin Healthcare Compensation Account A healthcare compensation account or HCRA is definitely an account by which pre- tax money is deposited to pay for for Plus, the typical boiled egg has only only 80 calories ? creating a boiled egg loaded with top quality protein for individuals watching how However, once the silicosis hits, it? s past too far and also the existence from the diligent person will disappear. Vit A : Vitamin

Source: http://curryrecipe-jp.net/health-2/health-care-reform/

keratosis pilaris rock and roll hall of fame 2012 brandon rios oklahoma news nascar news doppler radar colorado rockies

Real Estate Q & A: What's going on with the Toronto Land Transfer ...

There has been a lot of discussion about the Toronto Land Transfer Tax in recent real estate news.?Since its introduction in February of 2008, this municipal real estate tax has been far from popular. Mayor Rob Ford brought the opposition discussion to the forefront, and for the first time potential and existing Toronto homebuyers are seeing the possibility of abolishing the tax through the support of the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB), the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), and Realtors across the GTA.

?

?

What is the Toronto Land Transfer Tax?

According to the City of Toronto, ?The Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT) [is] applied to purchases on all properties in the city of Toronto in addition to the Province?s Land Transfer Tax.?The MLTT [is] charged on a graduated basis depending on the value of consideration paid for the property.?

?

Those who have invested in residential real estate in the last four years have dealt with the additional financial burden that comes with a tax of this size (up to 2% depending on property value). In a joint effort between TREB and OREA, the public awareness campaign, Let?s Get This Right Toronto states:

?

?Simply put, the Toronto Land Transfer Tax is a tax on the dream of home ownership. It?s paid every time people like you purchase a home in Toronto, and it?s not small. The average home buyer in Toronto faces about $15,000 in land transfer taxes, which has to be paid in full before moving into their new home.?

?

Here at Chestnut Park, we support TREB and OREA in their opposition of the Toronto LTT to continue to make the dream of homeownership a reality for our valued clients.

?

**But we need your help! Tell Toronto City Council that you are no longer willing to accept the tax quickly and easily?@?LetsGetThisRightToronto.ca.**

?

*Key photo: Wikipedia Commons

?

Let?s Get This Right Toronto

?

Toronto Real Estate Board

?

Ontario Real Estate Association

?

Chestnut Park Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage

?

More Real Estate tips from The Chestnut Park Blog

?

The Ultimate Homeowner?s Book List

?

Real Estate Q & A: How important is location?

?

Real Estate Tip: THE checklist for showing your home

?

Follow Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage

Source: http://www.thechestnutparkblog.com/2012/09/real-estate-q-a-whats-going-on-with-the-toronto-land-transfer-tax/

knicks vs heat ash wednesday kate walsh cnn debate equatorial guinea marine helicopter crash chicago weather

Secondhand smoke takes large physical and economic toll

Friday, September 21, 2012

Secondhand smoke is accountable for 42,000 deaths annually to nonsmokers in the United States, including nearly 900 infants, according to a new UCSF study.

Altogether, annual deaths from secondhand smoke represent nearly 600,000 years of potential life lost ? an average of 14.2 years per person ? and $6.6 billion in lost productivity, amounting to $158,000 per death, report the researchers.

The study, which involved the first use of a biomarker to gauge the physical and economic impacts of cigarette smoke, revealed that secondhand smoke exposure disproportionately affects African Americans, especially black infants.

The new research reveals that despite public health efforts to reduce tobacco use, secondhand smoke continues to take a grievous toll on nonsmokers.

The study will be published Thursday, September 20, 2012 in the American Journal of Public Health.

"In general, fewer people are smoking and many have made lifestyle changes, but our research shows that the impacts of secondhand smoke are nonetheless very large,'' said lead author Wendy Max, PhD, professor of health economics at the UCSF School of Nursing and co-director of the UCSF Institute for Health & Aging. "The availability of information on biomarker-measured exposure allows us to more accurately assess the impact of secondhand smoke exposure on health and productivity. The impact is particularly great for communities of color.''

Exposure to secondhand smoke is linked to a number of fatal illnesses including heart and lung disease, as well as conditions affecting newborns such as low birth weight and respiratory distress syndrome.

About a decade ago, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ? using data from the California Environmental Protection Agency ? reported that 49,400 adults died annually as a result of secondhand smoke exposure. Additionally, the CDC reported that 776 infants annually died as a result of maternal exposure in utero.

Those widely-cited statistics relied on self-reporting to gauge the impact of secondhand smoke.

The new study led by UCSF shows that the statistics on fatalities resulting from for ischemic heart disease are 25 percent lower than previously reported (34,000 deaths compared to 46,000), but nearly twice as high for lung cancer deaths (7,333 deaths compared to 3,400). The new study also shows higher infant mortality (863 deaths compared to 776).

The researchers used serum cotinine ? a biomarker which detects the chemical consequences of exposure to tobacco smoke in the bloodstream - to measure exposure to secondhand smoke. That measurement reflects secondhand exposure in all settings, not just home or work, the authors wrote.

The scientists gauged the economic implications ? years of potential life lost and the value of lost productivity ? on different racial and ethnic groups.

Mortality was measured in two conditions for adults: lung cancer and ischemic heart disease; and four conditions for infants: sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, and other respiratory conditions of newborns.

Of the 42,000 total deaths resulting from secondhand smoke, 80 percent were white, 13 percent were black, and 4 percent were Hispanic. The vast majority of deaths were caused by ischemic heart disease. Black babies accounted for a startling high 24 percent to 36 percent of all infant deaths from secondhand smoke exposure, the researchers reported, although blacks represented only 13 percent of the total U.S. population in 2006.

The value of lost productivity per death was highest among blacks ($238,000) and Hispanics ($193,000).

"Black adults had significantly greater exposure rates than did whites in all age groups,'' the authors wrote. "The highest secondhand smoke exposure was for black men aged 45 to 64 years, followed by black men age 20 to 44 years. Black women aged 20 to 44 years had a higher exposure rate (62.3 percent) than did any other women.''

"Our study probably under-estimates the true economic impact of secondhand smoke on mortality,'' said Max. "The toll is substantial, with communities of color having the greatest losses. Interventions need to be designed to reduce the health and economic burden of smoking on smokers and nonsmokers alike, and on particularly vulnerable groups.''

###

University of California - San Francisco: http://www.ucsf.edu

Thanks to University of California - San Francisco for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 66 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/123729/Secondhand_smoke_takes_large_physical_and_economic_toll

king arthur king arthur there will be blood there will be blood nigel barker 420 secret service

Qatar backs investment in major Egypt refinery

{ttle}

{cptn}","template_name":"ss_thmb_play_ttle","i18n":{"end_of_gallery_header":"End of Gallery","end_of_gallery_next":"View Again"},"metadata":{"pagination":"{firstVisible} - {lastVisible} of {numItems}","ult":{"spaceid":"7665154","sec":""}}},{"id": "hcm-carousel-1446031584", "dataManager": C.dmgr, "mediator": C.mdtr, "group_name":"hcm-carousel-1446031584", "track_item_selected":1,"tracking":{ "spaceid" : "7665154", "events" : { "click" : { "any" : { "yui-carousel-prev" : { "node" : "a", "data" : {"sec":"HCMOL on article right rail","slk":"prev","itc":"1" }, "bubbles" : true, "test": function(params){ var carousel = params.obj.getCarousel(); var pages = carousel._pages; // if same page, don't beacon if(("_ult_current_page" in carousel) && carousel._ult_current_page==pages.cur) return false; // keep track of current position within this closure carousel._ult_current_page = pages.cur; return true; } }, "yui-carousel-next" : { "node" : "a", "data" : {"sec":"HCMOL on article right rail","slk":"next","itc":"1" }, "bubbles" : true, "test": function(params){ var carousel = params.obj.getCarousel(); var pages = carousel._pages; // no more pages, don't beacon again // if same page, don't beacon if(("_ult_current_page" in carousel) && carousel._ult_current_page==pages.cur) return false; // keep track of current position within this closure carousel._ult_current_page = pages.cur; return true; } } } } } } })); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {Y.namespace("Media").ywaSettings = '"projectId": "10001256862979", "documentName": "", "documentGroup": "", "ywaColo" : "vscale3", "spaceId" : "7665154" ,"customFields" : { "12" : "classic", "13" : "story" }'; Y.Media.YWA.init(Y.namespace("Media").ywaSettings); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {(function() { try{ if (Math.floor(Math.random()*10) == 1) { var loc = window.location, decoded = decodeURI(loc.pathname), encoded = encodeURI(decoded), uri = loc.protocol + "//" + loc.host + encoded + ((loc.search.length > 0) ? loc.search + '&' : '?') + "_cacheable=1", xmlhttp; if (window.XMLHttpRequest) xmlhttp=new XMLHttpRequest(); else xmlhttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP"); xmlhttp.open("GET",uri,true); xmlhttp.send(); } }catch(e){} })(); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {if(document.onclick===YAHOO.Media.PreventDefaultHandler.newClick){document.onclick=YAHOO.Media.PreventDefaultHandler.oldClick;} }); }); });

In vein, Intel wants to do away with passwords

14 hrs.

Noel Randewich

Passwords for online?banking, social networks and email could be replaced with the wave of a hand if prototype technology developed by Intel makes it to tablets and laptops.

Aiming to do away with the need to remember passwords for growing numbers of online services, Intel researchers have put together a tablet with new software and a biometric sensor that recognizes the unique patterns of veins on a person's palm.

"The problem with passwords ? we use too many of them, their rules are complex, and they differ for different websites," Sridhar Iyengar, director of security research at Intel Labs, said at the annual Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco on Thursday. "There is a way out of it, and biometrics is an option."

Iyengar demonstrated the technology, quickly waving his hand in front of a tablet but not touching it. Once the tablet recognizes a user, it can securely communicate that person's identity to banks, social networks and other services where the person has accounts, he said.

Making laptops, tablets and smartphones responsible for identifying users would take that requirement away from individual websites and do away with the need to individually enter passwords into each of them, Iyengar said.

"We plan to work with service providers to take full advantage of this," he said.

A device using the technology would use built-in accelerometers to detect when a user puts it down, and would then log its owner off to keep unauthorized people from getting in.

The palm-identification technology was one of several demonstrations during a keynote address by Intel Chief Technology Officer Justin Rattner at the forum. Rattner runs Intel Labs, which focuses on identifying and solving future technology problems.

Rattner also showed prototype technology to improve cellphone base stations and to efficiently and wirelessly connect devices such as printers, tablets and monitors throughout the home.

He debuted a prototype microchip with Wi-Fi technology made with digital circuitry instead of analog, a development that has the potential to lead to major improvements in performance and efficiency.

The palm-reading technology, still under development, requires new software and biometric sensors built into consumer devices, but does not require the development of any new kinds of chips, Rattner said.

The technology works much better than the fingerprint scanners found on some laptops today, he said.

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at:?http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/wave-hand-intel-wants-do-away-passwords-997566

the band perry grammy awards whitney houston autopsy dobie gray bruce springsteen grammy nominations lil boosie

Bankruptcy judge OKs 3 American Air labor deals

DALLAS (AP) ? American Airlines will reduce retirement benefits and ease restrictions on outsourcing of flying to other airlines as it attempts a turnaround under bankruptcy protection.

American announced the changes Wednesday night.

Earlier in the day, a federal bankruptcy judge approved labor contracts that were ratified by flight attendants and mechanics. The judge gave American permission last week to throw out the pilots' old contract and impose its own working terms after pilots rejected a company offer.

American hopes to cut annual labor spending by about $1 billion with the changes.

After canceling the pilots' contract, the company said it plans to relax limits this month on revenue-sharing deals with other airlines ? so-called code-sharing. The move is designed to boost revenue without adding flights. American will also gain more flexibility to shift flying to regional airlines.

Earlier Wednesday, American Airlines announced a four-year deal to outsource some of its regional flying to SkyWest Inc. SkyWest will handle some flying currently performed by American Eagle, American's regional affiliate, in Los Angeles and Dallas.

American will increase the maximum work hours for pilots starting in November. And it will freeze the pilots' defined-benefit pension plan while terminating a supplemental retirement plan in November.

The new contracts ratified by other workers will let American reduce jobs for flight attendants and ground workers and close a maintenance hub in Fort Worth, Texas. Pensions for workers other than pilots will be frozen but not terminated, and they will instead get an improved profit-sharing plan. Retiree health benefits for current employees will be reduced.

Thomas Horton, the CEO of parent AMR Corp., said he still hopes for a voluntary agreement with pilots but that the company needed to begin making "changes that are necessary for our restructuring."

Horton said in a letter to employees that other airlines used bankruptcy to get stronger and cut costs, and that American is becoming more competitive by renegotiating leases and labor contracts.

AMR and American filed for bankruptcy protection in November. US Airways Group Inc. is trying to force a merger, but AMR has resisted overtures from its smaller rival.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-09-12-American%20Airlines-Labor/id-dadcd90d3a404ad1b5460c085662545c

nicki minaj beez in the trap video food network good friday f/a 18 f 18 crash virginia tenebrae the lake house

Fires engulf Pakistan factories killing 261 workers

KARACHI (Reuters) - At least 314 people burnt to death as fire swept through factories in two cities in Pakistan, police and government officials said on Wednesday, raising questions about industrial safety in the South Asian nation.

Flames raced through a garment factory in the teeming commercial capital of Karachi, killing 289 people. Many people had been lining up to collect their paycheques, officials said.

Weeping relatives in hospitals and morgues heaped criticism on the deeply unpopular government.

"People started screaming for their lives," said Mohammad Asif, 20. "Everyone came to the window. I jumped from the third floor."

In the eastern city of Lahore, a fire raged in a shoe factory, killing at least 25 people.

Critics say nuclear-armed Pakistan's corrupt and ineffective government has failed to tackle the country's problems. The country is racked by a Taliban insurgency, widespread poverty, spiraling crime and daily power cuts.

"The owners were more concerned with safeguarding the garments in the factory than the workers," said garment factory employee Mohammad Pervez, holding up a photograph of his cousin, who is also a worker there and is missing.

"If there were no metal grilles on the windows a lot of people would have been saved. The factory was overflowing with garments and fabrics. Whoever complained was fired."

On Wednesday, a provincial minister ordered an inspection of all factories and industrial plants in Sindh province within 48 hours. Karachi, home to 18 million people, is Sindh's capital.

A preliminary provincial government report on the Lahore fire concluded that the closure of the emergency exits led to the deaths, and labor and safety regulations were not applied, government sources said.

At a Karachi hospital, about 30 bodies burnt beyond recognition were lined up at a morgue.

"There is no space left here. It's full," said ambulance worker Wasif Ali. "They keep coming."

POLICE HUNT FOR FACTORY OWNERS

Senior Superintendent of Police Amir Farooqi told Reuters that police were raiding buildings in different parts of Karachi to search for the factory owners.

Farooqi said 35 people were injured in the garment factory fire and bodies were still being recovered from the facility, which employed about 450 people. The latest death toll in Karachi was 289, said senior police official Fayyaz Leghari.

Smoke was still rising from the factory as rescue workers pulled out charred corpses and covered them in white sheets. Relatives of workers stood in the street awaiting word of their fate. Several wept.

The cause of the garment factory fire was not clear.

"Within two minutes there was fire in the entire factory," said worker Liaqat Hussain, 29, from his hospital bed where he was being treated for burns all over his body.

"The gate was closed. There was no access to get out, we were trapped inside."

In Lahore, workers at the shoe factory suspected that the fire was caused by a problem with a generator.

"We saw our colleagues burning alive, in flames," said Shabdir Hussain, from his hospital bed. "We could do nothing. We saved our lives by jumping from the roof."

Successive governments have been unable to provide a reliable power supply so factories have to have their own generators, powered by diesel or petrol, if they want to avoid regular, lengthy power cuts.

(Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sixty-killed-factory-fire-pakistan-police-040059397.html

2013 srt viper scott walker recall fisker atlantic social darwinism jamie lynn spears wisconsin recall election april 4

'Sons Of Anarchy' Season Five Preview: 'All The Rules Have Changed'

'Anything you think you might have known about this world? All the rules have changed,' star Ron Perlman tells MTV News about the FX drama's new season.
By Josh Wigler

Charlie Hunnam in "Sons of Anarchy"
Photo: FX

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1693615/sons-of-anarchy-season-five-preview.jhtml

bks new dark knight rises trailer khloe and lamar oklahoma city thunder act rajon rondo sunoco

Tom Wilkinson cast in Joel Edgerton thriller "Felony"

{ttle}

{cptn}","template_name":"ss_thmb_play_ttle","i18n":{"end_of_gallery_header":"End of Gallery","end_of_gallery_next":"View Again"},"metadata":{"pagination":"{firstVisible} - {lastVisible} of {numItems}","ult":{"spaceid":"7664811","sec":""}}},{"id": "hcm-carousel-62634565", "dataManager": C.dmgr, "mediator": C.mdtr, "group_name":"hcm-carousel-62634565", "track_item_selected":1,"tracking":{ "spaceid" : "7664811", "events" : { "click" : { "any" : { "yui-carousel-prev" : { "node" : "a", "data" : {"sec":"HCMOL on article right rail","slk":"prev","itc":"1" }, "bubbles" : true, "test": function(params){ var carousel = params.obj.getCarousel(); var pages = carousel._pages; // if same page, don't beacon if(("_ult_current_page" in carousel) && carousel._ult_current_page==pages.cur) return false; // keep track of current position within this closure carousel._ult_current_page = pages.cur; return true; } }, "yui-carousel-next" : { "node" : "a", "data" : {"sec":"HCMOL on article right rail","slk":"next","itc":"1" }, "bubbles" : true, "test": function(params){ var carousel = params.obj.getCarousel(); var pages = carousel._pages; // no more pages, don't beacon again // if same page, don't beacon if(("_ult_current_page" in carousel) && carousel._ult_current_page==pages.cur) return false; // keep track of current position within this closure carousel._ult_current_page = pages.cur; return true; } } } } } } })); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {Y.namespace("Media").ywaSettings = '"projectId": "10001256862979", "documentName": "", "documentGroup": "", "ywaColo" : "vscale3", "spaceId" : "7664811" ,"customFields" : { "12" : "classic", "13" : "story" }'; Y.Media.YWA.init(Y.namespace("Media").ywaSettings); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {(function() { try{ if (Math.floor(Math.random()*10) == 1) { var loc = window.location, decoded = decodeURI(loc.pathname), encoded = encodeURI(decoded), uri = loc.protocol + "//" + loc.host + encoded + ((loc.search.length > 0) ? loc.search + '&' : '?') + "_cacheable=1", xmlhttp; if (window.XMLHttpRequest) xmlhttp=new XMLHttpRequest(); else xmlhttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP"); xmlhttp.open("GET",uri,true); xmlhttp.send(); } }catch(e){} })(); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {if(document.onclick===YAHOO.Media.PreventDefaultHandler.newClick){document.onclick=YAHOO.Media.PreventDefaultHandler.oldClick;} }); }); });

When punters punt: Stock analysts use instinct when forecasting firms they don't know, study suggests

ScienceDaily (Sep. 11, 2012) ? When stock analysts aren't sure how to assess the earnings of a hard to value firm, they often just predict those earnings will follow the general trend of the market, according to new research from the University of Iowa.

"If there's too much uncertainty and they don't have a lot of information to go with, analysts look at overall market sentiment to guide their forecasts," says Paul Hribar, professor of accounting in the UI Tippie College of Business.

Hribar said this bow to investor sentiment is a form of bias that often influences how analysts forecast the earnings of the firms they cover. Sentiment, Hribar says, is driven as much by emotion as by analysis and can reflect errors in investors' expectations about future payoffs, leading to mispriced stocks and a market that doesn't reflect underlying fundamentals.

Yet, Hribar's study appears to show that analysts' forecasts are heavily influenced by investor sentiment when firms don't have a lot of data to analyze.

Hribar and his study co-author, John McInnis of the University of Texas at Austin and a UI PhD alumnus, examined analysts' earnings per share forecasts and long-term earnings growth forecasts for every month from August 1983 to December 2006. From a final sample of more than 646,000 monthly observations, they looked at how accurate those forecasts were one year after they were published.

One thing they quickly found was that analysts are exceedingly optimistic, over-estimating actual earnings in every month in the sample period. In cases where analysts were optimistic, actual earnings did not measure up to forecast earnings. In those cases where analysts were pessimistic, they weren't pessimistic enough because the firms lost more money than the analysts predicted.

The study also found that some firms proved especially troublesome for analysts to forecast, particularly when it come to small firms, young firms, unprofitable firms, stocks with high volatility, and stocks with no dividends. In those cases, the analysts simply don't have enough data to make a sufficiently informed forecast, so they appear to apply existing sentiment to help generate their forecasts.

"When sentiment is high, earnings forecasts become more optimistic for those firms, and when sentiment is low, the forecasts follow suit," says Hribar. The pattern follows in both monthly forecasts and long-term quarterly and annual forecasts.

Hribar said the research took into account the fact that the firms could not be arbitraged as a way to explain the difference between forecast and actual earnings, but found that was not responsible. The researchers also considered the idea that forecasters were intentionally overstating earnings estimates to drive a bull market, but their analysis found that was not the case either, so that any over-optimism is unintentional.

Instead, he says the analysts seem to apply an subconscious bias and assume the stock will perform as well or as poorly as they expect the rest of the market to perform, reflecting investor sentiment.

"Analysts rarely say they don't know, but in a lot of these cases, it would be better for them to say they don't know," he says. The reason is because investors rely on these forecasts to make investment decisions, and if those decisions in the end are being made only on overall investor sentiment, then those stocks are mispriced and the market is not an accurate reflection of economic performance.

Hribar's and McInnis' paper, " Investor Sentiment and Analysts' Earnings Forecast Errors," was published recently in the journal Management Science.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Iowa. The original article was written by Tom Snee.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Paul Hribar, John M. McInnis. Investor Sentiment and Analysts' Earnings Forecast Errors. Management Science, 2012; 58 (2): 293-307 [link]

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/mind_brain/consumer_behavior/~3/s3US_fakT1k/120911151827.htm

mitch hedberg secret service scandal shea weber greystone sidney crosby at the drive in alternative minimum tax

Keystone RV Granted Patent on Cougar Design | RV Business

Cougar group general manager, Jeff Runels, left, and Cougar product manager Jeff Kloska

Keystone RV Co.?s Cougar division was recently granted United States Patent #D663,241S for the design of the Cougar travel trailer.

According to a news release, the patent specifically covers the aerodynamic front cap which includes an integrated propane storage compartment. By creating a smooth, virtually seamless front exterior the design of this cap helps improve towing efficiency and handling.

?It took the hard work of many people to earn this patent and I congratulate the entire Cougar team on this accomplishment,? said Keystone President Matt Zimmerman. ?The distinctive appearance of the front profile on the Cougar X-lite travel trailer has helped make Cougar the No. 1 selling laminated travel trailer brand in North America. ?

Cougar group general manager Jeff Runels credits the new design with enabling Cougar to distinguish itself from the competition. According to Runels, ?The new, sculpted front cap gives the Cougar travel trailer a very automotive look. This innovation has been a huge success with our dealers and the RVing public, dramatically increasing Cougar brand recognition and sales.?

Jeff Kloska, Cougar product manager, says that the Cougar division continuously seeks innovation as the key to keeping Cougar a top seller. ?We will be unveiling more than a dozen significant product improvements and new floorplans during the upcoming Keystone Open House,? said Kloska. ?Our products are on target to generate even more sales and satisfied customers. We invite all our dealers to join us Sept. 18-20 at the RV Hall of Fame.?

Source: http://www.rvbusiness.com/2012/09/keystone-rv-granted-patent-on-cougar-design/

kourtney kardashian pregnant again apple juice apple juice occupy la miranda kerr

Pakistani Girl Accused of Blaspheming Islam Released from Jail (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/246850049?client_source=feed&format=rss

roseanne barr president green party day 26 gronkowski new hunger games trailer sasquatch

Pacific Rim leaders mull ways to buoy growth

A police officer patrols the central business district of Vladivostok, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. Leaders from the APEC countries are attending their annual summit in the eastern Russian city till Sept. 9. (AP Photo/Alexander Khitrov)

A police officer patrols the central business district of Vladivostok, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. Leaders from the APEC countries are attending their annual summit in the eastern Russian city till Sept. 9. (AP Photo/Alexander Khitrov)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, shake hands during a bilateral meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Vladivostok Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Jim Watson, Pool)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, chats with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key during their meeting at the APEC summit in Vladivostok, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel, Pool)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, talks with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera during a bilateral meeting at the APEC summit in Vladivostok, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Anatoly Maltsev, Pool)

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (AP) ? Asia-Pacific leaders discussed ways to energize growth by opening markets wider to trade on Saturday, in talks overshadowed by longstanding territorial disputes.

Revitalizing growth is an urgent priority for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, whose aim is to dismantle barriers and bottlenecks that slow trade and business while nurturing closer economic ties.

Both China and host Russia pledged to do what they can to support those aims at a time when the global recovery is appears to be faltering. As usual at the consensus-led APEC summit, where most of the action was in various bilateral talks on the sidelines of the forum, leaders agreed to push ahead with long-term strategies to support sustainable growth.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak agreed to collaborate on resolving the standoff over North Korea's nuclear program, a key obstacle for developing a gas pipeline and rail links those two countries would like to build from Russia to Korea's Pacific coast, South Korea's presidential office said in a statement.

"Russia is ready to actively push forward with three-party collaboration for railroads, gas pipelines and power cables," the statement quoted Putin as telling Lee. He also said Russia could increase fishing quotas in exchange for more investment in its far eastern region.

Moscow aims to build the region around Vladivostok, a long-neglected seaport, into a hub that would tap into Asia's dynamic growth.

Asia remains the brightest spot in the global economy but is facing challenges, and trade is the solution, Putin told fellow leaders as they began their annual "informal retreat."

"The recovery of the global economy is faltering. We can only overcome negative trends by enhancing the volume of trade ... enhancing the flow of capital. It is important to follow the fundamental principles of open markets and free trade," Putin said.

"The priority goal is to fight protectionism in all its forms," Putin said. "It is important to build bridges not walls."

With President Barack Obama absent from the APEC summit this election season ? Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is attending in his place ? the Russian leader has showcased his country's aspirations to play a more active role in the Pacific Rim region.

Clinton welcomed Russia's recent admittance to the World Trade Organization. America's exports to Russia could double or even triple as the country implements its commitments to open its markets further, while Russia itself could raise its GDP by about 11 percent in the long run, she said, citing World Bank estimates.

"Fostering a balanced and stable economy is a challenge too sweeping and complex for countries to approach in isolation," Clinton said. "If we do this right, globalization can become a race to the top, with rising standards of living and more broadly shared prosperity."

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, whose father died Saturday while she was in Vladivostok for the APEC summit, missed the talks as she was preparing to return home.

Putin announced the news in explaining Gillard's absence as he convened the group's first session.

"A sad event has occurred in the family of one of our colleagues, the prime minister of Australia. Her father has passed away," Putin said as the leaders gathered around a large round table. "Therefore I allow myself to express condolences from all of us."

Russia's hosting of the APEC summit highlights a renewed focus on developing its neglected but resource-rich Far East, where it plans to develop modern railroads, seaports and airports to help build a bridge between Asia and Europe.

Earlier, Putin promised regional business leaders that they can count on Russia, which has long focused mainly on supplying oil and gas to Europe, to be a reliable energy supplier.

APEC can play a role, business leaders attending the conference said, in forging regional networks, especially in energy and transport.

But lingering territorial disputes and other legacies of the Cold War era are keeping the region from its full potential: North Korea, in particular, remains relatively isolated from the rest of Asia, its own infrastructure in shambles.

Officials attending the talks insisted that the APEC agenda of economic and trade issues had no room for discussion of recent flare-ups in territorial disputes among Japan and South Korea, China and various neighbors, and Russia and Japan.

But hard feelings were nonetheless apparent: untypically, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda had no plans to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao or with South Korea's Lee, Japanese and Chinese officials said.

Recent animosity has been harsh enough that Japan's Kyodo News agency reported the news that Noda and Lee shook hands when they sat beside each other at the leaders' meeting.

While briefing reporters, both the Chinese and Japanese officials reiterated their own claims regarding disputed islands.

"The Japanese side should face squarely to the strong reserve and determination of the Chinese government and the people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Chinese spokesman Qin Gang said.

He urged the Japanese to "meet the Chinese side halfway."

Japan and Russia, meanwhile, appeared to be making at least some headway on their own tussle over islands north of Japan claimed by both sides. Deputy ministers are to meet later this fall to discuss the issue with the aim of eventually signing a peace treaty, officials said.

The two sides agreed to ban crab poaching in the Sea of Okhotsk and signed an agreement on building a timber processing factory in Siberia. Meanwhile, Noda and Putin agreed to arrange a visit by the Japanese leader to Russia by December, said a senior Japanese official who briefed journalists about the talks.

The two sides want to resolve their differences in a "quiet and constructive atmosphere," the official cited Noda as saying.

Given APEC's lack of negotiating power, its annual summit is not known for major policy breakthroughs, though its activities affect trade and business accounting for about half of world economic activity.

During their meetings, the APEC leaders are expected to approve various initiatives, including one that will cut tariffs on environmental-related goods ? such as waste-water treatment technologies ? to 5 percent by 2015.

They also are expected to endorse measures for ensuring food security, protecting supply chains and beefing up emergency preparedness.

___

Associated Press writer Lynn Berry contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-09-08-APEC/id-63c46cf22f6b493e975d641662a8b54c

joe pa marist south carolina primary results marco scutaro betty white ed reed football schedule