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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21134540/vp/46192445#46192445
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Amazon Kindle Fire?s Apple-like blitz scorches Samsung (Appolicious)
Amazon?s Kindle Fire fourth quarter sales threw Samsung Galaxy onto a pyre, as Android-based tabs made their moves against the dominant Apple iPad.
Strategy Analytics reported that that 27 million units of tabs shipped in the fourth quarter. Apple and its iPad owned 58 percent of the market.
But Google Android-based tabs increased their share to 39 percent of the global tablet market, up 10 percentage points from the same quarter a year earlier. Shipments of Android tabs tripled to 10.5 million, as Amazon, Samsung, Asus and others busted a move, said Neil Mawston, SA?s executive director.
?Android is so far proving relatively popular with tablet manufacturers despite nagging concerns about fragmentation of Android?s operating system, user-interface and app store ecosystem,? he said.
Mobile app analysts Flurry?s Peter Farago said, ?Overall, Android tablets are growing aggressively as a category.?
But the big surprise was the success of e-tailer and upstart device-maker Amazon and its Kindle Fire against established device giant Samsung. The Fire scorched Samsung?s breakfast, lunch and dinner, according to Flurry.
Farago added: ?Amazon?s launch of Kindle Fire had more in common with an Apple-style launch than it did with aligning with the Android system. To date, the Android world has focused on marketing the operating system and the ?power? of the devices, with quality of content and the consumer experience subordinated in priority. With Google managing the Android Market, which lacks content control and a seamless commerce experience, inertia pushes those developers who choose to build for the platform toward advertising models.?
He said following the holiday season?s boom in Kindle Fire sales, significant downloads driven from the Amazon App Store ?resulted in a massive surge in session usage that just edges out the Galaxy Tab.?Unrounded, Kindle Fire represents 35.7 percent of sessions and Galaxy Tab represents 35.6 percent.?Remarkably, and from a standing start, the Kindle Fire overtook the Galaxy Tab in just a few short months.?
Can Amazon Kindle Fire?s scorched Earth path close the huge gap to take on ?Apple?s iPad? Let?s revisit this a year from now.
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Monday, January 30, 2012
U.S.A.! We're No. 1! Er ... rather, we used to be No. 1?
Americans are used to the U.S. being the leader, or a top-ranked nation, in many areas. But in a number of industries and businesses, the U.S. has lost that first place, usually to China. While some, such as coal production, may not come as a surprise, other industries the U.S. has lost the market leadership might. 24/7 Wall St. looked at a large number of manufacturing, agricultural and financial businesses to find those in which China has surpassed the U.S.
For several years, economists have said that China?s GDP growth indicates that its economy will pass that of the U.S. in the next two or three decades. China?s GDP is measured at about $6.5 trillion, now second in the world. America?s GDP is over $15.2 trillion, according to the International Monetary Fund. While China certainly has much catching up to do, the two countries? rate of GDP growth is also very different. Last year, China?s economy expanded at more than 9 percent. America?s GDP grew at a little better than 2 percent.
One reason that China continues to gain so rapidly on the U.S. is the high cost of American labor and manufacturing. In fact, U.S. manufacturing costs have risen so much that they are much higher than in any developed nation with factory capacity. This includes countries like China, Mexico and South Korea ? places the U.S. and Japanese companies often contract to do their factory work. The labor price advantage has helped China become the largest steel producer in the world. China is also first place in car manufacturing.
24/7 Wall St.: The most popular U.S. companies in China
Low labor costs are not the sole reason China has become the single largest provider of many goods. China?s 1.3 trillion citizens have become voracious consumers as workers in its manufacturing sector have grown the number of its middle class. China also has decided that it is often financially better to provide its own raw material for its factories? items like cotton ? than it is to import such items from overseas.
24/7 Wall St. examined the manufacturing, agricultural and financial businesses in which China has surpassed the U.S. China likely will become the world?s largest economy based on GDP. It certainly has shown that it has the capacity to advance on that position ? one large industry at a time.
1. Steel
- China production: 627 million metric tons in 2010
- U.S. production: 80 million metric tons in 2010
- U.S. position: 3rd
In 1973, the U.S. was the largest producer of steel, making more than 136 million metric tons of crude steel, according to the International Iron and Steel Institute. Up to that point, the U.S. had enjoyed many decades of industry dominance, centered around the city of Pittsburgh. The following year, U.S. production was overtaken by the USSR, which produced 136.2 million metric tons, compared with the U.S.?s 132.2 million. Today, however, completely different players dominate the steel market. In 2010, the world?s top producer of crude steel was China, which produced approximately 627 million metric tons. Japan was a distant second-largest producer with nearly 110 million metric tons. The U.S. was third, producing approximately 80 million.
2. Cotton
- China production: 7.3 million metric tons in 2011
- U.S. production: 3.4 million metric tons in 2011
- U.S. position: 3rd
In 2000, the U.S. produced 4.2 million metric tons of cotton ? the largest amount in the world. China was not far behind, producing 3.81 million metric tons. By 2008, however, China had not only surpassed the U.S., but made nearly double the U.S.?s production amount. China produced approximately 8.1 million metric tons to the U.S.?s 4.2 million. A year earlier, the U.S. lost its second spot among top cotton producers to India, thanks in part to technological breakthroughs in seed and production practices. Between 2011 and 2012, China produced 7.3 million metric tons, India produced 6 million and the U.S. was third, producing 3.4 million.
24/7 Wall St.: The 10 most-hated companies in America
3. Initial Public Offerings
- China production: $73 billion raised in 2011
- U.S. production: $30.7 billion raised in 2011
- U.S. position: 2nd
Even in the world of finance the U.S. is losing its dominance to China. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, ?the yearly average of U.S. IPOs has decreased from 27 percent (global share) in the 1990s to 12 percent in the 2000s.? And as the U.S.?s share of IPO proceeds decreased, China?s share increased. It is now the world leader in IPOs. In 2011, companies raised a total of $73 billion through IPOs in the Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong stock markets. This is nearly double the amount raised in New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, according to Dealogic. The last time the U.S. raised the most in IPO funds globally was 2008.
4. Tobacco
- China production: 3 million metric tons in 2010
- U.S. production: 0.33 million metric tons in 2010
- U.S. position: 4th
Until 1976, the U.S. produced the largest share of the world?s tobacco. Today, the U.S. only produces 6 percent of the global output, according to Stephan Richter, editor-in-chief of The Globalist, in an interview by Marketplace. The most recent data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations places the U.S. as the fourth-largest producer of tobacco in the world. China is the largest, producing more than 3 million metric tons of the crop in 2010. The U.S. produced slightly more than 326,000 metric tons that year. The other larger producers are Brazil and India, in that order.
24/7 Wall St.: The best- and worst-run companies in the U.S.
5. Autos
- China production: 18.3 million autos in 2010
- U.S. production: 7.8 million autos in 2010
- U.S. position: 3rd
Automotive manufacturing is considered one of the U.S.?s most critical industries. But in recent years, other countries have surpassed the U.S., which is now the third-largest producer of autos in the world, according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. The American auto industry nearly collapsed in 2008, requiring massive federal support for General Motors and Chrysler. By 2010, the U.S. manufactured 7.8 million cars and commercial vehicles. Japan, which is headquarters to major brands such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Mazda, produced 9.6 million vehicles ? the second most ? although damage caused by the earthquake has hurt production in the country. China is the world?s largest carmaker, producing 18.3 million in 2010.
6. Beer Production
- China production: 443.8 million hectoliters in 2010
- U.S. production: 227.8 million hectoliters in 2010
- U.S. position: 2nd
The U.S. lost its top position even in beer production. In 2000, the U.S. beer industry was the greatest in the world, producing 232 million hectoliters, compared with China?s 220 million. One decade later, and China is in first place, generating 443.8 million hectoliters of beer, versus the U.S.?s 227.8 million. Not only does China have a population that is more than four times that of the U.S., but beer consumption in the country has increased dramatically in recent years. According to the World Health Organization, the average Chinese citizen drank about half a bottle of beer in 1961. By 2007, that amount had increased to 103 beers per year.
24/7 Wall St.: States losing the most jobs to China
7. High-Technology Exports
- China production: $348 billion in 2009
- U.S. production: $142 billion in 2009
- U.S. position: 2nd
High-technology exports are defined as ?products with high R&D intensity, such as in aerospace, computers, pharmaceuticals, scientific instruments, and electrical machinery,? according to the World Bank. The U.S. remains home to the largest pharmaceutical industry in the world, and the rest of industries mentioned are also huge domestically. According to the World Bank, China began earning more from high-technology exports than the U.S. as recently as 2005. In 2009, Chinese high-technology exports were worth $348 billion. High-technology exports from the U.S. were worth a more modest $142 billion.
8. Coal Production
- China production: 3.24 billion short tons produced in 2010
- U.S. production: 985 million tons produced in 2010
- U.S. position: 2nd
America led the world in coal production up until 1984, and it is now a distant second to China. According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy, the U.S. produced just under 1 billion tons of coal in 2010. China produced more than three times that amount, generating 3.2 billion short tons. There has been exponential growth in the Chinese energy infrastructure in the past decade. Since 2005, American coal production has decreased slightly, while Chinese production has increased by nearly 38 percent. Despite the U.S.?s decline in coal production, it is still the world?s second-largest producer, and combined, the two countries account for more than half of the world?s total coal production.
Copyright ? 2012 24/7 Wall St. Republished with permission.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46181723/ns/business-world_business/
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S&P 500 Week in Review: Netflix Draws Investing Demand, E-Trade ...
By Scott Gillette
January 29 2012
Email This
Monday
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) was hit hard pre-market by Wedbush?s lack of confidence. Wedbush believes that Q1 earnings will be poor, and 2012 consensus estimates ill drop a buck a share. Piper Jaffray, for what it?s worth, is optimistic about Netflix, as they think the customer base will stabilize and ultimately grow again.
Don?t Miss: Netflix?s Streaming Service Comes Up Short for Movie Buffs.
Halliburton?s?(NYSE:HAL) results came in this morning, and although EPS and revenues beat estimates, the higher expectations of the market were not met. Interesting tidbit: unconventional oil drilling has twice as much activity as unconventional gas drilling.
Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN): The entire pharmaceutical sector is being downgraded, and Amgen is no exception. Its stock has been downgraded to underweight by JP Morgan.
Earnings Report: PetMed Express Inc. Earnings: Shrinking Margins for Fifth Consecutive Quarter, Net Income Falls.
Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD): The performance of this stock has been remarkable: up 69% year to date, the stock jumped by 8% before coming down close to where it started at the beginning of trading. Some believe Sears is now in a classic short squeeze.
Southwestern Energy Co. (NYSE:SWN) popped along with other natural gas producers because the spike of prices and Chesapeake?s planned cuts in production.
Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK): After sinking overnight to $2.20, natural gas futures jumped 6.4% in a matter of minutes. Apparently there were too many short-sellers in the natural gas market, and the market has taken care of them for the time being.
Tuesday
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
Russia backs Assad, last friend in Arab world (AP)
MOSCOW ? Russia's defiance of international efforts to end Syrian President Bashar Assad's crackdown on protests is rooted in a calculation that it can keep a Mideast presence by propping up its last remaining ally in the region ? and has nothing to lose if it fails.
The Kremlin has put itself in conflict with the West as it shields Assad's regime from United Nations sanctions and continues to provide it with weapons even as others impose arms embargoes.
But Moscow's relations with Washington are already strained amid controversy over U.S. missile defense plans and other disputes. And Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seems eager to defy the U.S. as he campaigns to reclaim the presidency in March elections.
"It would make no sense for Russia to drop its support for Assad," said Ruslan Pukhov, head of the independent Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. "He is Russia's last remaining ally in the Middle East, allowing it to preserve some influence in the region."
Moscow may also hope that Assad can hang on to power with its help and repay Moscow with more weapons contracts and other lucrative deals.
And observers note that even as it has nothing to lose from backing Assad, it has nothing to gain from switching course and supporting the opposition.
"Russia has crossed the Rubicon," said Igor Korotchenko, head of the Center for Analysis of Global Weapons Trade.
He said Russia will always be marked as the patron of the Assad regime regardless of the conflict's outcome, so there's little incentive to build bridges with the protesters. The U.N. estimates that more than 5,400 people have been killed since the uprising began in March.
"Russia will be seen as the dictator's ally. If Assad's regime is driven from power, it will mean an end to Russia's presence," said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of the magazine Russia in Global Affairs.
Syria has been Moscow's top ally in the Middle East since Soviet times, when it was led by the incumbent's father, Hafez Assad. The Kremlin saw it as a bulwark for countering U.S. influence in the region and heavily armed Syria against Israel.
While Russia's relations with Israel have improved greatly since the Soviet collapse, ties with Damascus helped Russia retain its clout as a member of the Quartet of international mediators trying to negotiate peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
After Bashar Assad succeeded his father in 2000, Russia sought to boost ties by agreeing to annul 73 percent of Syria's Soviet-era debt. In the mid-2000s, Putin said Russia would re-establish its place in the Mideast via "the Syria route."
Syria's port of Tartus is now the only naval base Russia has outside the former Soviet Union. A Russian navy squadron made a call there this month in what was seen by many as a show of support for Assad.
For decades, Syria has been a major customer for the Russian arms industries, buying billions of dollars' worth of combat jets, missiles, tanks and other heavy weapons. And unlike some other nations, such as Venezuela, which obtained Russian weapons on Kremlin loans, Assad's regime paid cash.
The respected newspaper Kommersant reported this week that Syria has ordered 36 Yak-130 combat jets worth $550 million. The deal, which officials wouldn't confirm or deny, may signal preparations for even bigger purchases of combat planes.
Korotchenko said Syria needs the jets to train its pilots to fly the advanced MiG-29M or MiG-35 fighter jets it wants to purchase: "It's a precursor of future deals."
Korotchenko said Syria's importance as a leading importer of Russian weapons in the region grew after the loss of the lucrative Iraqi and Libyan markets.
Russia, whose abstention in a U.N. vote cleared the way for military intervention in Libya, later voiced frustration with what it described as a disproportional use of force by NATO.
The Kremlin has vowed not to allow a replay of the Libyan strategy in Syria, warning that it would block any U.N. resolution on Syria lacking a clear ban on any foreign military interference.
Moscow accuses the West of turning a blind eye to shipments of weapons to the Syrian opposition and warns it won't be bound by Western sanctions.
Earlier this month, a Syria-bound Russian ship allegedly carrying tons of munitions was stopped by officials in Cyprus, an EU member, who said it was violating an EU arms embargo. The ship's captain promised to head to Turkey but then made a dash to Syria.
Asked about the ship, Russia's foreign minister bluntly responded that Moscow owes neither explanation nor apology to anyone because it has broken no international rules.
Nonetheless, Moscow has shown restraint in its arms trade with Damascus, avoiding the sales of weapons that could significantly tilt the military balance in the region.
In one example, the Kremlin has turned down Damascus' requests for truck-mounted Iskander missiles that can hit ground targets 280 kilometers (175 miles) away with deadly precision. While the sale of such missiles wouldn't be banned under any international agreements, Moscow has apparently heeded strong U.S. and Israeli objections to such a deal.
Moscow also has stonewalled Damascus' request for the advanced S-300 air defense missile system, only agreeing to sell short-range ground-to-air missiles.
"Russia has taken a very careful and cautious stance on contracts with Syria," Korotchenko said.
The most powerful Russian weapon reportedly delivered to Syria is the Bastion anti-ship missile complex intended to protect its coast. The Bastion is armed with supersonic Yakhont cruise missiles that can sink any warship at a range of 300 kilometers (186 miles) and are extremely difficult to intercept, providing a strong deterrent against any attack from the sea.
Observers in Moscow said that Russia can do little else to help Assad. The chief of the Russian upper house's foreign affairs committee, Mikhail Margelov, openly acknowledged that this week, saying that Russia has "exhausted its arsenal" of means to support Syria by protecting it from the U.N. sanctions.
Lukyanov said Russia has made it clear it would block any attempts to give U.N. cover to any foreign military intervention in Syria, but wouldn't be able to prevent Syria's neighbors from mounting such action.
"Russia realizes that it has limited opportunities and can't play a decisive role," he said.
Pukhov also predicted that Russia wouldn't take any stronger moves in support for Damascus.
"Going further would mean an open confrontation with the West, and Russia doesn't need that," he said.
____
Elizabeth A. Kennedy contributed from Beirut.
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Saturday, January 28, 2012
Liberal Union Joins Attack on Romney in Florida
Newt Gingrich is getting help from a surprising ally: the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. The liberal-leaning labor group is running a TV ad in Florida slamming Mitt Romney for profiting personally from a company later convicted of Medicare fraud while he was a director. The ad began airing just before a new poll showed Gingrich in a dead heat with Romney to win the Jan. 31 Republican primary.
The ad, called ?Greed,? says that ?while Romney was a director at the Damon Corporation, the company was defrauding Medicare of millions,? and that ?the company was fined $100 million, but Romney, himself, made a fortune.?
Some viewers could be misled by this ad. Fraud did occur while Romney was a member of the board of the Damon Corp., which pleaded guilty in 1996 to defrauding Medicare of $25 million between 1988 and 1993. But Romney was never accused of fraud personally.
Nevertheless, the company paid a then-record $119 million fine for billing the federal health insurance program for unnecessary blood tests, according to a 2002 Boston Globe report. Romney, who was on Damon?s board from 1990 to 1993, personally collected $473,000 when Bain Capital, which Romney once headed, sold the Damon Corp. to Corning Inc. in 1993.
The ad closes by morphing an image of Romney into one of Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott, and asks: ?Corporate greed. Medicare fraud. Sound familiar?? And indeed, that scenario does sound familiar.
As we previously reported, Scott?s former hospital company, Columbia/HCA, paid $1.7 billion in fines for Medicare fraud for practices that took place while he was its chief executive officer. And when Scott left the company in 1997, he received $300 million in stocks and options.
Scott, like Romney, wasn?t personally charged with any wrongdoing. As the Globe reported in 2002, ?the federal investigation never implicated Romney ? who left the board in August 1993 after the company was bought by Corning.? And Scott issued a statement to the Miami Herald in 2010, saying: ?An army of federal investigators spent seven years examining every aspect of this case. If they found any merit in these allegations ? they would have certainly charged me, or at the very least questioned me ? neither of which ever happened.?
A recent Washington Post article noted that the ad is an ?unusually direct intervention by one side into the other party?s primary race.? And one of the labor group?s political strategists told the paper that it saw an opportunity to go after Romney, whom it still sees as the likely GOP nominee:
Washington Post, Jan. 25: ?The target of opportunity presented itself, and we decided to take advantage of it,? said Seth Johnson, assistant director in ?AFSCME?s political action department. ?Before South Carolina and after South Carolina, Mitt Romney is still the front-runner. We thought it was a good time to educate Florida voters about his record.?
AFSCME is paying $1 million to run the ad in Tampa, Orlando and West Palm Beach.
? D?Angelo Gore
Source: http://factcheck.org/2012/01/liberal-union-joins-attack-on-romney-in-florida/
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Google+ now allows teens
By Suzanne Choney
Teens ages 13 and up in the U.S. can now join Google's social network, Google+, although the search giant said it is adding safety measures for younger users. What it didn't say is that it adds to Google's efforts to get more users on Google+, including an announcement earlier this week it will allow users to have alternate names.
"With Google+, we want to help teens build meaningful connections online," wrote Bradley Horowitz, vice-president of Product, G+, on his G+ page. "We also want to provide features that foster safety alongside self-expression. Today we're doing both, for everyone who?s old enough for a Google Account (13+ in most countries)."
Previously in the U.S., Google+ had restricted membership to those 18 and older, although as Facebook users know all too well, despite that social network's 13-and-older age restriction and efforts to monitor it, it's easily violated. And often with a wink and a nod from parents.
Google Safety Center
Google has set up a new "Google+ Safety Center" that describes some of the things Google+ will do for those ages 13 to 17 when they sign up for a G+ account (if they sign up using their true age). The measures include "in-product guidance and more conservative defaults" when using G+'s features:
- For Sharing and Circles, "sometimes the message you?re about to send deserves a big audience, but isn?t quite right for the whole world," Google says. "When you add 'Public' or 'Extended Circles' to your post, we?ll give you a quick heads up that this could be a pretty big deal. You can then decide if you really want to tell everyone about what you ate for lunch."
- For video Hangouts, "sometimes someone joins a conversation that you don?t want to chat with ... So when someone outside your circles joins a Hangout, we?ll pull you out and ask if you want to continue," Google says. "This gives you a safe and easy way to leave the conversation without having to interact with the new attendee first. At the same time, this still gives you the ability to stay if the new person is someone you want to chat with, but you haven?t added to circles yet."
- For Profiles, the default settings "are meant to make you think before you share broadly. Although some fields, like name and photo are public for you, just like they are for adults, most information is limited to people in your circles. Note that you can always change these settings at any time."
- For Posts and Conversations, when there are "people out there that you don?t really want to connect with (like your weird Uncle Sal). Google+ has recently added new settings for you to help you control how people can contact you." The settings are: ?Who can notify me?? which "lets you decide who can send a notification to you (either via email or the notification widget at the top of your screen)" and "Who can comment on my public posts?" The latter "lets you decide who you want commenting on posts you?ve sent to 'Public' or 'Extended Circles,' " Google says.
Furthermore, "for both of these settings, we?ve made the default to be the people in your circles (for adults 18+, the default is 'Anyone'). This means that, unless you change your settings, you won?t see comments from people outside your circles on your public posts, and those people also can?t contact you via Google+ (except for a 'Joe added your to his circles' notification)."
In the U.S., the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires commercial websites to get parental permission before collecting the personal information of any user under the age of 13. As msnbc.com's Helen A.S. Popkin wrote, "Facebook and other popular social networks avoid COPPA's costly,?cumbersome restrictions by simply restricting user age."
Google+, which debuted last summer, says it has 90 million users compared to Facebook's 800 million.
Said Horowitz: "Between strong user protections and teen-focused content, it?s our hope that young adults will feel at home (and have some fun) on Google+. And of course, we do have at least one thing in common with our newest users: we?re both busy growing up."
Related stories:
Check out Technolog, Gadgetbox, Digital Life and In-Game on?Facebook,?and on Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.
Source: http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/26/10244513-google-now-allows-teens
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Friday, January 27, 2012
Experts cast doubt on Japan nuclear power plant stress tests (The Christian Science Monitor)
Tokyo ? Advisers to Japan's nuclear safety agency have condemned stress tests being conducted at nuclear power plants around the country as the government seeks international support for the early resumption of dozens of idle reactors.
The government ordered tests on all of Japan's reactors after the March 11, 2011, accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant cast doubt on the safety of nuclear power in a country prone to earthquakes and tsunami.
A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) began a review of the safety tests this week. Although the inspectors say their role is not to offer advice, moves to get reactors back online will be boosted by a positive appraisal of the tests in the IAEA report, due at the end of the month.
But two nuclear experts said the stress tests being conducted at Ohi and elsewhere were deeply flawed and raised concern that the Japanese government was pushing for a return to nuclear power too soon.
"It is a misunderstanding to believe these tests prove that a nuclear plant is safe," says Masashi Goto, a former nuclear power plant designer.
RELATED: Japan's nuclear crisis: 6 reasons why we should ? and shouldn't ? worry
Currently only three of Japan's 54 reactors are in operation, 10 months after the Fukushima accident forced the closure of active reactors for safety checks. The latest closure came on Friday, when a reactor at a plant near the Japan Sea was shut down to undergo regular inspections.
The government is pushing for the early restart of idled reactors to ward off a possible power shortage during the long, humid summer.
The trade and industry minister, Yukio Edano, said on Friday he believed Japan would be able to cope without imposing power cuts even if all 54 reactors were offline by the summer, a popular move for the public.
Mr. Edano said in an interview with the newspaper Asahi Shimbun that any energy-saving measures would not affect industry. "Last year, the automobile industry changed its days off and workers were asked to put up with the inconvenience," he said. "We cannot allow the same thing to happen this year. There is still room for society as a whole to conserve electricity."
After the Fukushima disaster Japan abandoned plans to generate more than half of its electricity supply through nuclear power by 2030, but the prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda, has said the country needs to retain some nuclear plants until alternative sources of energy are developed.
Attention is now focused on a plant in the town of Ohi in western Japan, which could be the first to resume operations since the Fukushima disaster.
Its operator, Kansai Electric Power, has said that two of the facility's reactors are able to withstand quakes and tsunami much stronger than predicted for the area, a view reportedly endorsed by the country's nuclear and industrial safety agency.
But Mr. Goto, and others have found fault with the pace and the method of the inspections
"The reality is that the inspectors only look at the reactors' design and then factor in possible problems such as earthquakes and tsunami of a certain size,??
Hiromitsu Ino, an emeritus professor at Tokyo University and fellow member of the nuclear safety agency advisory panel, said the tests should not have been introduced until all the facts of the Fukushima disaster were known.
"The tests are being presented as a comprehensive survey of the safety of Japan's nuclear power plants, but the reality is very different," Mr. Ino says. "They only look at potential problems in isolation, and the process of testing is exactly the same as it was before the March earthquake."
Ino and Goto say they are the only two dissenters on the advisory panel, which includes experts who conduct research funded in part by the nuclear power industry.
"Japan's 'nuclear village' is so strong that collusion is allowed to flourish," Ino said. "Professors who conduct research and promote the nuclear industry are also acting as advisers to the nuclear safety agency. There is no independence."
Goto and Ino said it would be impossible to appraise the causes and consequences of the Fukushima disaster unless the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), releases all of the relevant data that would then be used to perform a simulation, which it has been notably reticent to do.
Ino says he had little confidence in the IAEA team, which is slated to present its latest report at the end of the month.
"The last time the IAEA inspectors came to Japan they simply inspected sites and documents and left saying everything was fine. They submitted a flimsy report and I fear the same will be the case this time."
Japan's nuclear crisis: 6 reasons why we should ? and shouldn't ? worry
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Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/japan/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20120127/wl_csm/457412
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US: American's weak health led to Somali rescue
The Navy SEALs caught the kidnappers by surprise and rescued Jessica Buchanan and Poul Thisted in Somalia. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
By NBC News and news services
WASHINGTON -- As two aid workers freed by a Navy SEAL team flew out of Somalia to be reunited with family, details emerged Wednesday about the rescue operation that the Pentagon says left nine captors dead.
Vice President Joe Biden told NBC's "TODAY" show that the U.S. decided to stage the rescue because of concerns that the health of American Jessica Buchanan "was beginning to decline."
"We wanted to act," Biden said.
Buchanan,?32,?and Dane Poul Thisted, 60,?were kidnapped on Oct. 25, and then held for ransom. They both work for the nonprofit Danish Demining Group and had just finished training Somalis on how to clear mines when they were captured.
A Pentagon spokesperson in Washington characterized the captors as "criminal suspects," adding that the U.S. military has no firm indication they were connected to piracy or to any terror group, NBC News reported.
The first official recognition of the rescue operation came Tuesday night in Washington from President Barack Obama himself.?
Danish Refugee Council
As the president entered the House chambers to give his State of the Union Speech, he pointed to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta standing in the crowd and said, "Leon. Good job tonight. Good job tonight."
The president made no mention of the hostage rescue, but finished his speech with a reference to the killing of Osama bin Laden last May in a similar operation to the one conducted by Navy SEALs Tuesday night.?
Immediately after the speech, Obama telephoned Buchanan's father from the Capitol to tell him that she was safe and "on her way home," according to the White House.
According to the U.S. officials, two teams of?Navy SEALs landed by helicopter near the compound where the two hostages were being held.?
STORY: Second American, a writer, held in Somalia; rescue next?
As the SEALs approached the compound on foot gunfire broke out, the U.S. officials said.
Pentagon officials?said the Americans originally intended to capture alive and detain the kidnappers. Instead, for reasons that have not been explained publicly, they killed all nine of them.
Tuesday's rescue was carried out by the same SEAL unit that killed Osama bin Laden, two U.S. officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the operation. The unit is the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, also known as SEAL Team 6. The members of the unit who carried out the rescue operation were not the same personnel as those who killed bin Laden, the officials said.
STORY: Overnight Navy SEAL?rescue frees?hostages
Panetta's press secretary, George Little, said the kidnappers were heavily armed, with explosives "nearby." He said neither the two hostages nor any members of the U.S. assault team were injured.
An official for the group the finances the Danish?Demining Group?said Buchanan and Thisted were flown to?Djibouti and would soon be moved to a "safe haven."
The Danish Refugee Council official, Mary Ann Olsen, added that Buchanan, who reportedly was running low on some?medication,?did not need to be hospitalized.
"One of the first things Poul and Jessica were able to do was to call their families and say they were freed," Olsen said. "They will be reunited with their families as quickly as possible," Olsen said.
Buchanan lived in neighboring Kenya before Somalia, and worked at a school in Nairobi called the Rosslyn Academy from 2007-09, said Rob Beyer, the dean of students.
She graduated in 2006 from Valley Forge Christian College, a small suburban Philadelphia school.
This article includes reporting by NBC Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski and The Associated Press.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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Thursday, January 26, 2012
Mitt Romney tax return poses a challenge: how to talk about his wealth
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With the release of the Mitt Romney tax return, which showed nothing illegal, the worst may be over for the candidate, but GOP analysts say he needs to develop a better message about his money.
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Ashton Kutcher Parties with Supermodels in Brazil
Everyone deals with a breakup in their own way -- as Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher have demonstrated this week. While Moore, 49, is seeking professional help to deal with the stress from her divorce, Kutcher, 33, is hanging out with lingerie models in Brazil.
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
A year after uprising, Egyptians celebrate and protest (Reuters)
CAIRO (Reuters) ? Thousands of Egyptians gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the revolt that toppled Hosni Mubarak with some seeking a new revolt against army rule and others celebrating the changes already achieved.
It is a year since protesters inspired by an uprising in Tunisia took to the streets in Egypt and the January 25 anniversary has exposed divisions in the Arab world's most populous country over the pace of democratic evolution.
Concerned that generals are blocking reform to protect their interests, activists behind the "January 25 revolution" planned marches to Tahrir to demand that the army council which replaced Mubarak hand power to civilians immediately.
"Down with military rule" and "Revolution until victory, revolution in all of Egypt's streets" were chanted by one group of mainly youths in an area of Tahrir near a street where protesters clashed in November and December with police and the army.
But well-organized Islamist parties that dominated Egypt's most democratic election since army officers overthrew the king in 1952 are among those who oppose a new uprising.
"Today we will celebrate the revolution as a people's achievement but also push for the rest of the revolution's demands that must be met," said Farid Ismail, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, banned under Mubarak but now with the biggest bloc in parliament.
There were signs of friction late on Tuesday as hundreds of people had already begun to congregate in Tahrir, pitching tents in winter rain and hanging the national flag from buildings.
"The military council is Mubarak," said Amr al-Zamlout, a 31-year-old protester clutching a sign declaring "there is no change" and stating his aim was to topple the army rulers.
Mohamed Othman, an accountant, stopped to put forward a different view based on the idea that Egypt needs stability for economic recovery, not more protests. "The council will leave power in any case. Sure, the revolution is incomplete, but it doesn't mean we should obstruct life," he said. His criticism quickly drew a crowd and touched off an argument.
Grocery stores were unusually busy as shoppers stocked up, reflecting concern at the prospect of a repeat of last year when protests went on for 18 days, disrupting normal life, before Mubarak was forced to step down on February 11.
WHITE HOUSE PRAISE
The United States, a close ally of Egypt under Mubarak, praised "several historic milestones in its transition to democracy" this week, including the convening of parliament.
"While many challenges remain, Egypt has come a long way in the past year, and we hope that all Egyptians will commemorate this anniversary with the spirit of peace and unity that prevailed last January," a White House statement said.
Headed by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the military council has said it will cede power to an elected president by the end of June, thus completing a democratic transition.
Yet pro-democracy activists doubt their intentions, pointing to a surge in military trials and the use of violence against protesters as signs of autocratic ways similar to Mubarak's era. They fear the army wants to cling on to power behind the scenes.
Tantawi, for two decades Mubarak's defense minister, again defended the military from such accusations during a televised speech on Tuesday. "The nation and the armed forces had one aim: for Egypt to become a democratic state," he said.
In an apparent attempt to appease reformist demands, the military council has in recent days pardoned some 2,000 people convicted in military courts since Mubarak was deposed. On Tuesday it announced a partial lifting of a state of emergency.
But it kept a clause saying emergency laws in place since 1981 would still apply in cases of "thuggery," a vague term that triggered calls for clarification from Washington and more criticism from human rights groups.
The activist movement, a coalition of groups united in calls for deeper and faster reform, has been fighting back in the run-up to the anniversary against what they describe as state efforts to present them as foreign-backed trouble-makers.
The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group which won nearly half the seats in the parliament, said last week he was against calls for a new revolt against the military.
"I hope we will go down together to be joyful at what we have accomplished, to guard our Egypt and to complete the demands of the revolution," Mohamed Badie said in an interview with Egypt's Dream TV.
(Additional reporting by Dina Zayed, Yasmine Saleh and Shaimaa Fayed in Cairo and Laura MacInnis in Washington; Writing by Tom Perry and Edmund Blair; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
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Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
No. 23 Louisville drops Pittsburgh 73-62
Pittsburgh's Tray Woodall (1) fouls Louisville's Kyle Kuric (14) as he shoots in the first half of the NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh's Tray Woodall (1) fouls Louisville's Kyle Kuric (14) as he shoots in the first half of the NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh's Ashton Gibbs (12) hits a three-point shot over Louisville's Peyton Siva in the first half of the NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Louisville's Kyle Kuric (14) hits a three-point shot over Pittsburgh's Tray Woodall (1) in the first half of the NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Louisville's Russ Smith (2) looks to shot around Pittsburgh's Nasir Robinson in the first half of the NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh's Nasir Robinson (35) and Louisville's Russ Smith chase after a loose ball in the first half of the NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
PITTSBURGH (AP) ? Kyle Kuric won't be able to shed the walking boot protecting his bum left ankle for at least one or two more weeks.
The Louisville senior forward can deal with the cumbersome shoe so long as it helps him play with the confidence he showed in the 23rd-ranked Cardinals' surprisingly easy 73-62 win over reeling Pittsburgh on Saturday night.
Kuric scored a season-high 21 points in his return after missing two games with a high ankle sprain, only occasionally favoring his injured leg.
"I didn't want to just get there and make excuses, 'Oh, my ankle's sore,'" Kuric said. "So I just put it outside of my mind."
Chane Behanan added a career-high 19 points, while Gorgui Dieng had 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Cardinals (15-5, 3-4 Big East), who took control during an 11-2 run midway through the second half to send the Panthers (11-9, 0-7) to their eighth straight loss.
"It's definitely tough, but at the same time, we have to continue to keep our heads up," Pitt guard Ashton Gibbs said. "If you want to win a game, you can't win a game and not be mentally there."
Gibbs and Lamar Patterson led Pitt with 14 points each but the defending Big East champions remained the only winless team in conference play.
The Panthers hoped the return of point guard Tray Woodall, who missed 11 of the last 12 games with groin and abdominal injuries, would end the program's longest losing streak in more than a decade.
Instead, Woodall went scoreless in 21 minutes, missing all five of his shots and turning it over three times. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon didn't blame Woodall for the sluggish play considering the lengthy layoff.
"We've got to get him out there," Dixon said. "He's got to play and he'll be better the next time out."
Kuric joined a long list of Cardinals players who have missed significant playing time due to injury when he turned his left ankle in practice a week ago, missing a win over DePaul and a loss to Marquette.
He practiced 20 minutes on Friday but wasted little time making an impact upon his return early in the first half. He took a charge on his first offensive defensive possession then hit a layup at the other end of the floor.
"He gave us a big lift in the first half," Pitino said. "Offensively you're so much better of a basketball team with him in."
It was the kind of leadership the Cardinals have lacked at times over the last month, when they lost five of seven to drop from No. 4 in the polls to the bottom half of the Big East.
They righted themselves in front of a national television audience at a place that used to be formidable. Pitt lost just 12 times in its first nine seasons at the Petersen Events Center. The Panthers have now dropped four straight on their home floor.
Pitt never led over the game's final 26 minutes, with its best chance of making a game of it coming when Dante Taylor's dunk drew the Panthers within 45-41 with 13:04 to play.
Then, the turnover problems that have plagued the Panthers all season returned. Louisville scored 11 of the game's next 13 points, six coming off Pitt giveaways. By the time Russ Smith buried a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Cardinals up 56-43, the packed house at the Pete started to thin out.
Pitt, the worst shooting team in the league, shot 55 percent (26 of 47) from the field but only made it to the free throw line six times, making just one.
Not exactly the kind of performance the Panthers ? the Big East's winningest program over the last decade ? were looking for in the midst of the toughest season Dixon's nine-year tenure.
The Panthers have spent the last two months searching for an identity after Woodall went down in a win over Duquesne on Nov. 30. His absence forced Gibbs to take over most of the ballhandling duties, with mixed results ? at best.
The Panthers looked more comfortable with Woodall running the show at the outset, racing to a quick 13-7 lead. But maybe Woodall was too anxious. He picked up two fouls before the game was 6 minutes old, and Pitt's rhythm disappeared.
Louisville turned an early six-point deficit into a 31-28 halftime lead, with Kuric displaying the kind of clutch shotmaking that makes him arguably the Big East's most improved player as a junior.
Thrust into a true leadership role this season, Kuric hasn't quite been able to muster the same magic. Yet he looked like his old self at times, calmly drilling 3-pointers from the corner and mixing it up as Louisville turned a typically tight series ? three of the last four meetings had been decided in overtime ? into a relative laugher.
It was the kind of win the Cardinals knew they needed to get back in the Big East race after late-game meltdowns against Georgetown and Notre Dame and 31-point whipping at the hands of lowly Providence.
"We said all along we've got to win two on the road and win our home games," Pitino said. "Now we're one game away from .500 getting back into this."
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Saturday, January 21, 2012
Carbon dioxide is 'driving fish crazy'
ScienceDaily (Jan. 20, 2012) ? Rising human carbon dioxide emissions may be affecting the brains and central nervous system of sea fishes with serious consequences for their survival, an international scientific team has found.
Carbon dioxide concentrations predicted to occur in the ocean by the end of this century will interfere with fishes' ability to hear, smell, turn and evade predators, says Professor Philip Munday of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University.
"For several years our team have been testing the performance of baby coral fishes in sea water containing higher levels of dissolved CO2 -- and it is now pretty clear that they sustain significant disruption to their central nervous system, which is likely to impair their chances of survival," Prof. Munday says.
In their latest paper, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, Prof. Munday and colleagues report world-first evidence that high CO2 levels in sea water disrupts a key brain receptor in fish, causing marked changes in their behaviour and sensory ability.
"We've found that elevated CO2 in the oceans can directly interfere with fish neurotransmitter functions, which poses a direct and previously unknown threat to sea life," Prof. Munday says.
Prof. Munday and his colleagues began by studying how baby clown and damsel fishes performed alongside their predators in CO2-enriched water. They found that, while the predators were somewhat affected, the baby fish suffered much higher rates of attrition.
"Our early work showed that the sense of smell of baby fish was harmed by higher CO2 in the water -- meaning they found it harder to locate a reef to settle on or detect the warning smell of a predator fish. But we suspected there was much more to it than the loss of ability to smell."
The team then examined whether fishes' sense of hearing -- used to locate and home in on reefs at night, and avoid them during the day -- was affected. "The answer is, yes it was. They were confused and no longer avoided reef sounds during the day. Being attracted to reefs during daylight would make them easy meat for predators."
Other work showed the fish also tended to lose their natural instinct to turn left or right -- an important factor in schooling behaviour which also makes them more vulnerable, as lone fish are easily eaten by predators.
"All this led us to suspect it wasn't simply damage to their individual senses that was going on -- but rather, that higher levels of carbon dioxide were affecting their whole central nervous system."
The team's latest research shows that high CO2 directly stimulates a receptor in the fish brain called GABA-A, leading to a reversal in its normal function and over-excitement of certain nerve signals.
While most animals with brains have GABA-A receptors, the team considers the effects of elevated CO2 are likely to be most felt by those living in water, as they have lower blood CO2 levels normally. The main impact is likely to be felt by some crustaceans and by most fishes, especially those which use a lot of oxygen.
Prof. Munday said that around 2.3 billion tonnes of human CO2 emissions dissolve into the world's oceans every year, causing changes in the chemical environment of the water in which fish and other species live.
"We've now established it isn't simply the acidification of the oceans that is causing disruption -- as is the case with shellfish and plankton with chalky skeletons -- but the actual dissolved CO2 itself is damaging the fishes' nervous systems."
The work shows that fish with high oxygen consumption are likely to be most affected, suggesting the effects of high CO2 may impair some species worse than others -- possibly including important species targeted by the world's fishing industries.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- G?ran E. Nilsson, Danielle L. Dixson, Paolo Domenici, Mark I. McCormick, Christina S?rensen, Sue-Ann Watson, Philip L. Munday. Near-future carbon dioxide levels alter fish?behaviour by interfering?with neurotransmitter function. Nature Climate Change, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/nclimate1352
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vJrmiN-YJNc/120120184233.htm
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Friday, January 20, 2012
Records Reveal Sent Sky-High Sum To Mormon Church
ABC News:
Underscoring the prominent, if little discussed role that Mitt Romney played as a Mormon leader, the private equity giant once run by the GOP presidential frontrunner carved his church a slice of several of its most lucrative business deals, securities records show, providing it with millions of dollars worth of stock in some of Bain Capital's most well-known holdings.
Read the whole story: ABC News
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
Redwood sophomore Jacob Gatewood commits to play baseball at University of Southern California
Redwood sophomore Jacob Gatewood commits to play baseball at University of Southern California
Jacob Gatewood is only a sophomore at Redwood High School, but he already knows where he is going to college.
A link to this page will be included in your message
Source: http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20120118/SPORTS/201180301/-1/rss04
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Federal college student aid applications accepted
published online: 1/17/2012
'); }// end if Advertisement
The FAFSA is a standardized application used to determine eligibility for federal, state, and, in some cases, institutional financial aid.
System updates and enhancements have helped to make filing the FAFSA easier for students and families.
"We encourage students and parents to complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov because the instructions, help features and built-in edits which reduce applicant error simply aren't an option when completing the paper FAFSA," said Karen Misjak, executive director of the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (Iowa College Aid). "It is also processed faster than the paper version, which can be an important factor when meeting financial aid deadlines."
Iowa College Aid urges all college-bound students to complete the FAFSA regardless of their financial situation.
To help Iowa families, Iowa College Aid offers the following FAFSA filing tips.
*? File the FAFSA no matter your financial situation. Even if families do not think they will qualify for need-based financial aid, they still should file. Many colleges require completed FAFSA applications to be considered for institutional aid. In addition, completed FAFSA are necessary to be eligible for federal Stafford loans. Completing the FAFSA does not obligate a student to accept any aid offered.
*? Never pay to file the FAFSA. Students can file the FAFSA for free at www.fafsa.gov. Reputable resources, including Iowa College Aid, are available for free assistance.
*? Meet state and college deadlines. Many states, including Iowa, have a FAFSA filing deadline for state-funded scholarships, grants and work-study opportunities.
To be eligible for several State of Iowa financial aid programs, a FAFSA must be completed and received at the federal processing center before July 1 (earlier priority filing deadlines exist for certain programs). Students also need to complete the Iowa Financial Aid Application, which can be accessed through the statewide community web portal, www.IHaveaPlanIowa.gov.
*? Double check information to avoid delays. Make sure the student's Social Security number and the parent's Social Security number are typed in the correct spaces. Mix-ups will cause processing delays.
*? Electronically sign your FAFSA. The electronic application is not complete until both the student and parent electronically sign the FAFSA using their Federal Student Aid Personal Identification Numbers. Go to the Federal Student Aid PIN website,www.pin.ed.gov, to obtain a PIN prior to starting the FAFSA.
Students and families who have questions about financial aid, or are interested in learning more about the resources available through Iowa College Aid can contact their Information Service Center at (877) 272-4456.
Additional resources are available on Iowa College Aid's website, www.IowaCollegeAid.gov.
Commentary by News - City & RegionFor college-bound students and their parents, January marks when they can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2012-2013 academic year.
The FAFSA is a standardized application used to determine eligibility for federal, state, and, in some cases, institutional financial aid.
System updates and enhancements have helped to make filing the FAFSA easier for students and families.
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Iowa College Aid urges all college-bound students to complete the FAFSA regardless of their financial situation.
To help Iowa families, Iowa College Aid offers the following FAFSA filing tips.
*? File the FAFSA no matter your financial situation. Even if families do not think they will qualify for need-based financial aid, they still should file. Many colleges require completed FAFSA applications to be considered for institutional aid. In addition, completed FAFSA are necessary to be eligible for federal Stafford loans. Completing the FAFSA does not obligate a student to accept any aid offered.
*? Never pay to file the FAFSA. Students can file the FAFSA for free at www.fafsa.gov. Reputable resources, including Iowa College Aid, are available for free assistance.
*? Meet state and college deadlines. Many states, including Iowa, have a FAFSA filing deadline for state-funded scholarships, grants and work-study opportunities.
To be eligible for several State of Iowa financial aid programs, a FAFSA must be completed and received at the federal processing center before July 1 (earlier priority filing deadlines exist for certain programs). Students also need to complete the Iowa Financial Aid Application, which can be accessed through the statewide community web portal, www.IHaveaPlanIowa.gov.
*? Double check information to avoid delays. Make sure the student's Social Security number and the parent's Social Security number are typed in the correct spaces. Mix-ups will cause processing delays.
*? Electronically sign your FAFSA. The electronic application is not complete until both the student and parent electronically sign the FAFSA using their Federal Student Aid Personal Identification Numbers. Go to the Federal Student Aid PIN website,www.pin.ed.gov, to obtain a PIN prior to starting the FAFSA.
Students and families who have questions about financial aid, or are interested in learning more about the resources available through Iowa College Aid can contact their Information Service Center at (877) 272-4456.
Additional resources are available on Iowa College Aid's website, www.IowaCollegeAid.gov.
Source: http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/FAFSA-filing-010312
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012
PM warns violence could destabilize Romania
Romanian riot police charge protesters in University Square, the scene of the first anti-communist protest in 1989, in Bucharest, Romania, early Sunday morning, Jan. 15, 2012. Romanian police fired tear gas during an anti-government protest Saturday, the third consecutive day of demonstrations against austerity cuts and falling living standards. More than 1,000 protesters rallied in Bucharest's main University Square, blocking traffic. (AP Photo/Octav Ganea)
Romanian riot police charge protesters in University Square, the scene of the first anti-communist protest in 1989, in Bucharest, Romania, early Sunday morning, Jan. 15, 2012. Romanian police fired tear gas during an anti-government protest Saturday, the third consecutive day of demonstrations against austerity cuts and falling living standards. More than 1,000 protesters rallied in Bucharest's main University Square, blocking traffic. (AP Photo/Octav Ganea)
A man walks by a fire burning in University Square, the scene of the first anti-communist protests in 1989, in Bucharest, Romania, early Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. Romania's government called an emergency meeting late Sunday to discuss violent protests that show no sign of abating after demonstrators angry about austerity measures hurled stones and firebombs at police. At least six people were injured. (AP Photo/Octav Ganea)
Protesters evacuate an injured person during clashes with Romanian riot police in University Square, the scene of the first anti-communist protest in 1989, in Bucharest, Romania, early Sunday morning, Jan. 15, 2012. Romanian police fired tear gas during an anti-government protest Saturday, the third consecutive day of demonstrations against austerity cuts and falling living standards. More than 1,000 protesters rallied in Bucharest's main University Square, blocking traffic. (AP Photo/Octav Ganea)
Paramedic attends to an injured protester during clashes between riot police and anti-government demonstrators downtown Bucharest, Romania, Saturday night, Jan. 14, 2012. Romanian police fired tear gas during an anti-government protest Saturday, the third consecutive day of demonstrations against austerity cuts and falling living standards. More than 1,000 protesters rallied in Bucharest's main University Square, blocking traffic. (AP Photo/Octav Ganea)
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) ? More than 1,000 demonstrators jeered government austerity measures in downtown Bucharest on Monday as Romania's prime minister warned that violent clashes like those that left 59 injured over the weekend could jeopardize stability and economic growth.
Protesters who gathered in freezing temperatures for a fifth day of demonstrations chanted "Freedom!" and held banners saying "Hunger and poverty have gripped Romania!" They waved flags with the center ripped out, a symbol of the 1989 uprising against former Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. A car parked in the vicinity was set on fire but firefighters put out the blaze.
There were no reports of injuries.
There were smaller protests in another dozen Romanians cities, but it was not clear how many people had gathered around the country.
On Sunday, police clashed with a small contingent of around 1,000 protesters in the capital. Tear gas and flares were used to repel demonstrators hurling stones and firebombs.
Interior minister Traian Igas said Monday that around 8,700 people attended weekend demonstrations, but only in Bucharest did the protests turn violent, when ? according to interior ministry officials ? fans of football clubs infiltrated the demonstrations and wreaked havoc in the city.
Bucharest Mayor Sorin Oprescu said the windows of shops, banks and bus stations were smashed, and street lights vandalized.
Prime Minister Emil Boc on Monday called the violence "unacceptable" and said it "cannot be tolerated." He promised, however, that a controversial health law allowing for some privatization of emergency services will be redrafted.
Boc urged Romanians to understand that tough austerity measures are needed to avoid a default. "We understand the hardships Romanians are facing. ... The crisis has been harsher than we imagined," he said.
But Monday's protesters were not convinced that the austerity measures were necessary.
"We are staying here, even though it is freezing cold," said one protester who identified himself only as Radu, wrapped in a thick coat, scarf and hat as snow fell. "We have a real backbone not like the government which turned its back on us."
The protesters included TV engineer Adrian Sobaru, who become a symbol for anti-government demonstrations after he dove from a balcony onto the floor of Romania's parliament in December 2010 to criticize austerity measures.
He said he had come to support Health Ministry official Raed Arafat ? a Palestinian with Romanian citizenship ? who resigned last week after opposing the government health care plans that sparked the current protests. "He is a moral beacon for us," Sobaru told Antena 3 TV. "He makes us proud that he is Romanian."
In 2009, Romania took a two-year euro20 billion ($27.5 billion) loan from the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and the World Bank as its economy shrank by 7.1 percent. It imposed harsh austerity measures under the agreement, reducing public wages by 25 percent and increasing taxes.
Anger has mounted over the wage cuts, slashed benefits, higher taxes and widespread corruption.
Alis Grasu of Bucharest's ambulance services said 59 people have suffered injuries during the disturbances, 23 were briefly hospitalized and three are still in the hospital. Police official Aurel Moise said about 250 people were fined for their conduct and 36 will be investigated.
Authorities urged peaceful protesters to distance themselves from troublemakers at future marches.
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Legal hit by Niners' Whitner on Saints' Thomas
San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner, right, is called for pass interference while defending New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham during the first quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner, right, is called for pass interference while defending New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham during the first quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2011, file photo, New Orleans Saints' Pierre Thomas runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. Overshadowed by all the record-breaking passing statistics the Saints put up in 2011 was a running game that ranked sixth in the league. Running backs Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory give New Orleans ample depth. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
The helmet-to-helmet hit by San Francisco safety Donte Whitner that sent Saints running back Pierre Thomas to the locker room early in Saturday's NFC playoff game was legal.
Whitner was not penalized because the tackle was not against a defenseless player. Helmet-to-helmet hits are outlawed against eight categories considered defenseless players, and a runner is not one of those categories.
Thomas was considered a runner because he'd made a catch, turned and made a "football move" before being hit.
The competition committee that recommends rules changes could examine such hits in the offseason.
NFL spokesman Michael Signora said Sunday the "committee always closely studies and analyzes anything having to do with player safety."
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