China says its most wanted man admits crimes (Reuters)

BEIJING (Reuters) ? China's most wanted man, who was deported from Canada in July after a decades-long legal battle, has admitted to his crimes and will now be handed over to prosecutors, state media reported Friday.

Beijing had sought the deportation of Lai Changxing for years, accusing him of running a multi-billion dollar smuggling ring in the southeastern city of Xiamen in the 1990s in one of China's biggest political scandals in decades.

Nothing has been heard of him since he was returned to China over the summer.

A brief report on state radio's website (www.cnr.cn) said the probe into his crimes had finished and that Lai would now be handed over to Xiamen prosecutors.

"Lai Changxing and other mainstay members of his criminal clique candidly confessed the facts of their smuggling and bribery crimes," state radio said.

The "legal rights" of Lai and the other suspects were "fully guaranteed," with Lai able to meet with his lawyer, the report added.

The investigation team carried out the probe "fairly and in accordance with the law," it said.

Lai may face life imprisonment, state media has reported. But some legal experts and human rights activists have said it was unlikely Lai could receive a fair trial in China.

The report did not say when Lai's case may come to trial.

The probe found that between 1996 and 1999, Lai and his accomplices smuggled cars, oil, chemicals, cigarettes and other goods and bribed "dozens" of government officials, state radio added.

"The figure involved was enormous," it said, without providing other details.

Lai, whose case had plagued Sino-Canadian relations, was sent back after a Canadian court dismissed concerns he could be tortured or executed back home.

Lai fled to Canada with his family in 1999 and claimed refugee status, saying the allegations against him were politically motivated.

China had promised Canada Lai would not be tortured or executed and that Canadian officials would have access to him.

Lai's alleged crimes occurred in the special economic zone of Xiamen in Fujian province in the mid-1990s when Jia Qinglin, now the ruling Communist Party's fourth most senior leader, was the province's Party boss.

Beijing has accused Lai's business empire, the Yuanhua Group, of bribing officials to allow a massive smuggling ring in a scandal that implicated more than 200 senior figures, including Jia's wife, Lin Youfang. She denied any wrongdoing.

Lai admitted in a 2009 interview with Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper that he had avoided taxes by exploiting loopholes in the law, but he denies bribery charges. He said he would have been executed had he not been in Canada.

China put more than 300 suspects on trial and sentenced 14 to death, including provincial officials and a former vice minister of public security, in a case Beijing has used for a propaganda campaign against corruption.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Paul Tait)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111230/wl_nm/us_china_fugitive

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'Octomom' in one-child China stuns public (AP)

BEIJING ? The photo was undeniably cute: a studio portrait of eight babies in identical onesies and perky white cotton hats, sporting an array of expressions from giggly to goofy, baffled to bawling.

Intended as an advertisement for the studio, the photo grabbed a different kind of attention: In a country that limits most couples to one child, many Chinese were amazed to learn that a couple had spent nearly a million yuan ($160,000) and illegally enlisted two surrogate mothers to help have the four boys and four girls.

The incident has highlighted both the use of birth surrogates, a violation of Chinese law, and how wealthy Chinese do as they please, with scant regard for the rules that constrain others. The most common reaction, though, has been simple disbelief.

"Heavens. To have one family with eight kids ... in an era of family planning where most people have just one, the contrast is just too much," said popular Chinese Central Television news anchor Bai Yansong as he introduced a 20-minute special report on the babies last weekend. "It doesn't sound like news. It sounds more like a fairy tale."

Chinese media are calling the mother "babaotai muqin," or "octomom," a reference to the American woman who gave birth to octuplets using in vitro fertilization.

Much remains uncertain about the family from Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong province. According to the Guangzhou Daily, a government newspaper, the biological mother carried two of the babies, while two surrogates gave birth to three each. After the babies were born in September and October last year, 11 nannies were hired to help take care of the children, the report said.

While some suspect a hoax, a media officer with the Guangdong Health Department said the case was real and under investigation. He declined to identify the couple, citing privacy concerns.

The story has captivated the public because it symbolizes a bold defiance of the country's strict family planning rules, said Liang Zhongtang, a demography expert at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

"People are very interested in the policy these days and the need for changes to it," he said. "A lot of people think it should have been dropped a long time ago, or relaxed at least."

A 2001 law prohibits Chinese medical institutions and personnel from performing gestational surrogacy services, in which an embryo created from a couple is implanted into another woman who carries the baby to term.

Still, an underground market is thriving as more couples put off marriage and childbirth until later in life, only to find they are unable to conceive. The law forbids only the medical procedures, and agencies connecting couples and surrogates are easy to find online.

The Guangzhou Daily said the octomom couple resorted to in vitro fertilization and surrogates after years of failed attempts to conceive.

A manager for the Guangdong branch of the Daiyunguke surrogacy agency, Liu Jialei, said that this has been the busiest of his company's seven years in business, with more than 600 surrogates matched to families. His customers are Chinese, but the medical procedures are carried out abroad, in Southeast Asia and Japan, to circumvent the law.

Chinese media reports say many procedures are also done illegally at hospitals in China.

Many Chinese frown on surrogacy, which is often portrayed as a way for the rich to avoid going through pregnancy.

An opinion piece about the eight babies in the China Daily denounced surrogacy as something done by wealthy women unwilling to disrupt their careers or ruin their figures.

Author Cai Hong, a senior writer for the newspaper, wrote that the practice would inevitably give rise to "a breeder class" of poor women who end up "renting their wombs to wealthy people."

But Therese Hesketh, a University College London professor who has done numerous field studies in China on family planning issues, says that her impression is that Chinese who can afford surrogates tend to seek out attractive university graduates, not the underprivileged.

Chinese media say octomom and her family have gone into hiding. A Chinese Central Television investigative report could only dig up former neighbors who described seeing a pack of nannies taking the babies for strolls and to a toddler center for playtime.

A series of outtakes from the portrait session posted to a blog show the logo for the QQ Baby studio prominently displayed in the background, but staff at the shop in Guangzhou denied knowing anything about the photos.

Only the relatively well-off can afford in vitro fertilization and surrogacy or to live in a villa, as this couple reportedly did.

The rich also find it easier to flout the one-child limit, because they are better able to afford the hefty fines for doing so. Some also acquire foreign citizenship, which exempts them from the birth quotas.

On the popular Sina microblog, one user posted an article about the couple and commented: "If you have money, what does the law mean?"

All the hoopla may be boosting the surrogacy business. At Daiyun.com ? an agency whose website is splashed with photos of babies nestled in flowers ? a manager said all the attention made it inconvenient for any staff to speak with reporters.

"But one thing is for sure, our business is getting better and better," said the woman, who would only give her surname, Liu. "More and more people come to us for services."

___

Associated Press researchers Zhao Liang and Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report.

___

Online:

Photos on a Chinese blog: http://bit.ly/uxwW80

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/china/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111230/ap_on_re_as/as_china_octomom

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PFT: Tebow's fumbling is a growing problem

Getty Images

It?s here.? The last week of the regular season.? And I have even worse of a chance to catch Rosenthal as the Jets do of making it to the playoffs.

But I can?t give up now.? With a two-game win in Week 16, the game is down to seven games.? We disagree on four this week.? With a sweep, the 11 postseason games could get interesting.

Last week, I finished 10-6.? Rosey was a pathetic 8-8.? For the year, he?s 159-81.? I?m 152-88.

Lions at Packers

Florio?s take:? The Lions should try to beat the Packers, in order to avoid having to go back to New Orleans for the first round of the playoffs.? The Packers should try to beat the Lions, in order to force them to return to the Superdome.? Green Bay remains the better team, as long as they go with their starters.

Florio?s pick:? Packers 34, Lions 24.

Rosenthal?s take: The Packers aren?t likely to play their starters four quarters.? That doesn?t mean this will be a cakewalk for Detroit.? Ask the 2004 Bills about playing a No. 1 seed?s backups.? Or the 2010 Patriots about facing Matt Flynn.? Still, Detroit wants to avoid a trip to New Orleans.? Their defensive line will make the difference.

Rosenthal?s pick: Lions 28, Packers 27.

Titans at Texans

Florio?s take:? Technically, it?s a meaningless game for the Texans.? But with two ugly losses in a row, the AFC South champs need to build some confidence and momentum before the postseason begins.? Though Tennessee still has a shot at the postseason, they?re not ready to beat a quality-yet-flawed team on the road.

Florio?s pick:? Texans 24, Titans 16.

Rosenthal?s take: I believe Gary Kubiak when he says he?ll play this game like any other. The Texans don?t want to hit the playoffs on a three-game losing streak.? T.J. Yates needs his defense and running game to carry him.? They will on Sunday.

Rosenthal?s pick: Texans 21, Titans 17.

Colts at Jaguars

Florio?s take:? If the Colts win, they lose.? If they lose, they win.? So they?ll lose.? And win.? The question, of course, is what they?ll lose.? And what they?ll win.

Florio?s pick:? Jaguars 10, Colts 6.

Rosenthal?s take: The Colts were in this spot in 1997.? They had a random two-game winning streak in late December to put the No. 1 overall pick in jeopardy.? They lost in Minnesota in the season finale, ensuring the top pick and Peyton Manning.? Expect history to repeat.? The Colts haven?t won on the road yet and the Jaguars aren?t lucky enough to lose.

Rosenthal?s pick:? Jaguars 16, Colts 13.

Jets at Dolphins

Florio?s take:? Of all the things that must happen for the Jets to make it to the playoffs, the hardest part could be the business to which the Jets must personally tend ? beating the Dolphins in Miami.? Once 0-7, the Dolphins have improved dramatically in the second half of the season.? But the Jets seem to be destined to swipe another playoff berth, which means that the Jets will have to find a way to punch their way out of a corner yet another time.

Florio?s pick:? Jets 20, Dolphins 17.

Rosenthal?s take: The Dolphins are playing well. The Jets are playing lousy, but I?m still convinced Rex Ryan?s lap band is made out of horseshoe particles. Don?t be surprised if the Jets still sneak in the playoffs.

Rosenthal?s pick: Jets 20, Dolphins 17.

Bears at Vikings

Florio?s take:? Last month, the Bears were 7-3 and poised to give the Packers a run for their money in the playoffs.? After injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, the Bears have lost five in a row.? Though the Vikings also have lost their starting tailback, they?re trying desperately to get a boost as they head into the offseason.? As long as Chris Kluwe doesn?t kick to Devin Hester, the Vikings should be able to give the Bears the boot.

Florio?s pick:? Vikings 27, Bears 20.

Rosenthal?s take: Josh McCown remains at quarterback for the Bears. Toby Gerhart and Kahil Bell will be the primary running backs. I used to think the 18-game season could work, but can you imagine two more weeks like this?

Rosenthal?s pick: Vikings 24, Bears 20.

Bills at Patriots

Florio?s take:? With a win, the Pats lock up the No. 1 seed.? With another huge passing performance, Tom Brady could leapfrog Drew Brees.? One will happen, and the other might.

Florio?s pick:? Patriots 35, Bills 17.

Rosenthal?s take: The way to beat New England:? Hit Tom Brady, keeping Brady guessing by changing up your looks, and play great man-to-man coverage against the Patriots receivers.? The Bills secondary can handle the last part of the equation, but Buffalo?s pass rush is non-existent.

Rosenthal?s pick: Patriots 37, Bills 21.

Panthers at Saints

Florio?s take:? The Saints plan to go ?full steam ahead,? and they?ll need every ounce of it to beat the up-and-coming Panthers.? Though it?ll take an epic upset by the Rams over the 49ers to help the Saints improve their playoff positioning, this one is as much about ensuring that Drew Brees will fend off Tom Brady for the all-time single-season passing yardage record.

Florio?s pick:? Saints 42, Panthers 31.

Rosenthal?s take: I first picked the Panthers in this game based on the logic that Sean Payton will pull his starters once he sees the 49ers take a big lead in St. Louis.? And then I remembered the Saints could score 30 in the first half.

Rosenthal?s pick: Saints 40, Panthers 38.

Redskins at Eagles

Florio?s take:? With four straight wins to finish the 2011 season, the Eagles will give themselves a significant boost heading into 2012.? Though neither team technically has anything to play for, the Eagles know the value of creating some doubt as to whether the best team will actually win the Super Bowl; there?s a chance that the best team as of right now won?t be in the playoff field at all.

Florio?s pick:? Eagles 34, Redskins 20.

Rosenthal?s take: The Eagles have saved some jobs with their effort the last three weeks. One more win, and they will finish in second place in the division because of a tiebreaker advantage over Dallas and New York. So that?s pretty exciting. The Redskins have clinched double digit losses for a third straight year.

Rosenthal?s pick: Eagles 26, Redskins 16.

49ers at Rams

Florio?s take:? If this were John Harbaugh?s team, we?d be worried about the Ravens playing down to the Rams? level.? Then again, the Ravens rolled the Rams in St. Louis earlier this year.? With the No. 2 seed hanging in the balance, the Niners will, too.

Florio?s pick:? 49ers 27, Rams 7.

Rosenthal?s take: The Rams aren?t competitive in a league where almost everyone is competitive. Only four of their losses were by less than a 12-point margin. Five losses were by more than 20 points. It?s almost impossible to survive a season like that when it comes in a coach?s third year.

Rosenthal?s pick: 49ers 24, Rams 3.

Seahawks at Cardinals

Florio?s take:? Before Week One, anyone would have assumed that a Week 17 battle between a pair of 7-8 NFC West teams would have involved a home playoff game for the winner.? But with the 49ers at 12-3, it?s one of Sunday?s few meaningless games, except as it relates to draft order.? With Kevin Kolb out, John Skelton has only one more chance to show what he can do.? Until Kolb gets injured again in 2012.

Florio?s pick:? Cardinals 23, Seahawks 20.

Rosenthal?s take: Both the Cardinals and Seahawks have reasons for optimism heading into 2011 after second-half runs that fell short of the playoffs.? Seattle?s success has a better foundation and is based less on lucky finishes.? The Seahawks defense is the best unit in this game.

Rosenthal?s pick: Seahawks 24, Cardinals 17.

Buccaneers at Falcons

Florio?s take:? The Buccaneers have played the Falcons tough in recent years.? But the Bucs currently are in a full-blown free-fall.? Even as they play for their coach?s job, the Bucs are struggling to simply remain competitive.? And if/when the Lions lose to the Packers, the Falcons will have an opportunity to avoid having to go back to New Orleans for the wild-card round.

Florio?s pick:? Falcons 35, Buccaneers 21.

Rosenthal?s take: If the Lions win in Green Bay early, the Falcons will be stuck in the No. 6 seed. That means Chris Redman could make an appearance in this game. And Chris Redman can throw on this Bucs defense.

Rosenthal?s pick: Falcons 30, Buccaneers 21.

Ravens at Bengals

Florio?s take:? The Bengals haven?t been able to take down the big boys in the AFC North.? But they lost by only seven points at Baltimore, and Sunday?s game has high stakes for both teams.? Still, since it?s essentially a playoff game for the Bengals and given that the Bengals are 0-2 in playoff games under Marvin Lewis, the Ravens? desire to secure the bye and a home game likely will prevail.

Florio?s pick:? Ravens 17, Bengals 16.

Rosenthal?s take: The Ravens can?t beat mediocre competition on the road (San Diego, Jacksonville, Tennessee, and Seattle.) The Bengals can?t seem to beat playoff teams. (They?re 0-5 against teams already in the playoffs.) Something has to give here. It?s more likely to include the team with the rookie quarterback.

Rosenthal?s pick: Ravens 21, Bengals 17.

Steelers at Browns

Florio?s take:? With or without Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers are the better team.? And with the Ravens-Bengals game possibly going down to the wire, any scoreboard-watching by the Steelers will point to maintaining the pedal to the proverbial metal.

Florio?s pick:? Steelers 20, Browns 10.

Rosenthal?s take: The combined record of the three teams that beat Pittsburgh this year: 33-12. The combined record of the Cleveland Browns: 4-11. The Steelers won?t need a lot from Ben Roethlisberger.

Rosenthal?s pick: Steelers 23, Browns 10.

Chiefs at Broncos

Florio?s take:? The Prodigal Son returns to Denver, with Kyle Orton looking to punish the Broncos for their good deed of giving him his freedom.? And if the Chiefs can topple the Broncos and knock them out of the playoffs, it?ll be a long offseason for anyone and everyone who was involved in the decision to let Orton walk away.? If Tim Tebow can save the front office from that fate, maybe he will end up with the starting job, for life.

Florio?s pick:? Broncos 14, Chiefs 13.

Rosenthal?s take: The Chiefs have the personnel to play man coverage on the outside and load up the box to stop Denver?s run game. They also have a quarterback competent enough to score on a suddenly vulnerable secondary. Tebow struggled last week, but it was also alarming to see the Bills offense score on four straight drives of at least 55 yards.

Rosenthal?s pick:? Chiefs 17, Broncos 14.

Chargers at Raiders

Florio?s take:? The Raiders have a shot at their first winning season since 2002, and with a little help a playoff berth.? The Chargers have no shot at saving the skin of Norv Turner.? Reeling after last weekend?s blowout in Detroit, the Chargers could be in for a similar fate in Oakland.

Florio?s pick:? Raiders 27, Chargers 10.

Rosenthal?s take:? San Diego?s no-show last week was the worst game by a team fighting for a playoff spot since . . . San Diego?s no-show in Cincinnati of Week 16 last season. The Raiders finally have their receivers healthy. Deion Sanders would call this a ?U-Haul? game for San Diego.? They are ready to go.

Rosenthal?s pick: Raiders 33, Chargers 30.

Cowboys at Giants

Florio?s take:? The 256th game of the 2011 regular season also will be the first game of the 2011 postseason.? Since I picked the Cowboys to win the division way back in September, I can?t abandon them now.? Even if logic and common sense points to the Giants finishing their unlikely late-season climb to the postseason.

Florio?s pick:? Cowboys 27, Giants 23.

Rosenthal?s take: They Giants are as dangerous as their pass rush allows. It was great last week, with Justin Tuck finally looking healthy. Osi Umenyiora returns this week. There is no figuring out this Giants team, but I took them to win the NFC East before the year and can?t give up now.

Rosenthal?s pick: Giants 24, Cowboys 21.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/29/tebows-fumbles-have-been-growing-problem/related/

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11 killed as Cyclone Thane hits southeast India

Aijaz Rahi / AP

People walk past fallen sign boards and other trash caused by heavy winds in Pondicherry, India, on Dec. 30, 2011. India's weather office has warned residents along parts of the country's southeastern coast that Cyclone Thane is likely to cause heavy rains and gale-force winds.

Aijaz Rahi / AP

People take shelter during heavy rain and wind in Pondicherry on Dec. 30, 2011.

Aijaz Rahi / AP

Motorcyclists drive past fallen trees during heavy rain and winds in Pondicherry on Dec. 30, 2011.

The Associated Press reports from NEW DELHI:

A cyclone brought heavy rains and gale-force winds to India's southeastern coast, killing at least 11 people, uprooting trees and damaging homes.

The India Meteorological Department said Friday morning that Cyclone Thane was centered in the Indian Ocean, 22 miles southwest of the town of Pondicherry. Continue reading.

Source: http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/30/9822473-11-killed-as-cyclone-thane-hits-southeast-india

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Oil eases after Iran threat, Italy gets debt boost (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) ? Crude prices broke a six-day rally on Wednesday after Iran's threat to stop the flow of oil from the Gulf was written off as no more than rhetoric, while a strong short-term Italian debt sale eased stress in European markets.

Tehran said on Tuesday it would stop oil transiting through the Strait of Hormuz if sanctions were imposed on its crude oil exports because of its nuclear ambitions. Washington said it saw "an element of bluster" in the threat.

Brent fell 0.9 percent to $108.28 a barrel by 1150 GMT after climbing more than a dollar in the previous session. Prices have surged over 5 percent since December 16.

European shares reversed early losses to add 0.5 percent (.FTEU3), while Asian stocks slipped, leaving the MSCI world equity index (.MIWD00000PUS) flat on the day. Futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Wall Street.(.N)

"The threat by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz supported the oil market yesterday, but the effect is fading today as it will probably be empty threats as they cannot stop the flow for a longer period due to the amount of U.S. hardware in the area," said Thorbjoern bak Jensen, oil analyst with Global Risk Management.

It has been an ugly year for equities outside the United States.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell 0.7 percent, keeping it on course for a 2011 loss of 18 percent, underperforming a 12 percent decline in European shares (.FTEU3) and a 9 percent drop in world stocks.

Japan's Nikkei stock average (.N225) ended down 0.2 percent, on track for a 17.6 percent drop this year. (.T)

Naohiro Niimura, a partner at research and consulting firm Market Risk Advisory Co, said the chances of a violent confrontation with Iran were remote for now but added the tensions would be a major source of volatility in 2012 along with the unresolved euro zone debt crisis.

EURO CURBED

The euro held above an 11-month low against the dollar after Italian short-term debt costs halved at auction, helped by a new government austerity package and cheap liquidity from the European Central Bank.

The country faces the more difficult task of selling long-term debt on Thursday where there will be a greater reliance on international investors to buy 8.5 billion euros of debt with maturities of up to 10 years.

Analysts said market tensions could easily reignite. Italy faces almost 150 billion euros of debt refinancing in February-April alone.

"Tomorrow's auction is more important and will give more insight into general sentiment. Today was a warm-up," said Neil Mellor, currency strategist at Bank of New York Mellon.

The euro was last marginally higher on the day at $1.3071.

Safe-haven German Bund futures were barely changed while yields on Italian 10-year bonds dropped to 6.8 percent, just below the 7 percent rate that is widely seen as unsustainable in the long term for the country's finances.

Banks deposited a record 452 billion euros ($538 billion) at the European Central Bank overnight, giving no sign that interbank lending is reviving, although the nearly half a trillion euros of 3-year liquidity handed out by the ECB last week pushed bank-to-bank lending rates lower.

In the United States, data suggested the economy was on track for a moderate recovery, with improving labor market conditions lifting U.S. consumer confidence to an eight-month high in December although U.S. single-family home prices fell more than expected in October.

Wall Street ended flat on Tuesday following a five percent rally last week which pushed the S&P 500 into positive territory for the year.

Gold edged lower, tracking falls in industrial metals and equities.

The 19-commodity Reuters-Jefferies CRB index (.CRB) -- largely influenced by U.S. crude oil -- is set for a 7 percent drop in 2011, faring slightly better than equities.

U.S. crude oil has been among the best performers this year with a 10 percent increase, while gold has gained 12 percent as a loss of confidence in the euro zone accelerated investor flight to bullion.

(Additional reporting by Valentina Za in Milan, Nia Williams and William James in London, Chikako Mogi in Tokyo, editing by John Stonestreet)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111228/bs_nm/us_markets_global

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Brand spotted minus wedding ring

Russell Brand has been seen out without his wedding ring

Russell Brand has been seen out and about without his wedding ring after spending Christmas 7,000 miles away from his wife Katy Perry.

The funnyman was snapped on a shopping trip in London minus the ring - just days after Katy was pictured in Hawaii without hers.

The Teenage Dream singer frolicked in the sea with pals on Christmas Day, while Russell was spotted on a beach in Cornwall where he stayed in a rented holiday cottage.

Katy, 27, and Russell, 36, have been forced to deny claims their marriage is in turmoil, with Russell recently telling US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres: "I am really happily married."

The couple married in India last year and have spent much of their time apart while Katy was on her 122 date California Dreams Tour around the world, which ended earlier this month.

Source: http://celebrity.uk.msn.com/news/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=160166261

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North Korea vows no softening under its new leader

In this undated photo released by the Korean Central News Agency and distributed in Tokyo by the Korea News Service on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, a commemorative postage stamp featuring late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his son Kim Jong Un is shown. The words on the top read "The great leader comrade Kim Jong Il will always be with us." (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service) JAPAN OUT UNTIL 14 DAYS AFTER THE DAY OF TRANSMISSION

In this undated photo released by the Korean Central News Agency and distributed in Tokyo by the Korea News Service on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, a commemorative postage stamp featuring late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his son Kim Jong Un is shown. The words on the top read "The great leader comrade Kim Jong Il will always be with us." (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service) JAPAN OUT UNTIL 14 DAYS AFTER THE DAY OF TRANSMISSION

In this photo taken Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, new North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, presides over a national memorial service for his late father Kim Jong Il at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea. Flanking him are Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and the ceremonial head of state, right, and Ri Yong Ho, a vice marshal of the Korean People's Army. (AP Photo)

North Korean men unload goods on the river bank of the North Korean town of Sinuiju, opposite side of Chinese city of Dandong bordering with North Korea, on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011. North Korea warned rival South Korea and the rest of the world Friday not to expect any change after Kim Jong Il's death, sending a tough message as Kim's young son strengthened his position as supreme leader. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

North Korean men unload goods off a boat on the river bank of the North Korean town of Sinuiju, opposite side of Chinese city of Dandong bordering with North Korea, on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011. North Korea warned rival South Korea and the rest of the world Friday not to expect any change after Kim Jong Il's death, sending a tough message as Kim's young son strengthened his position as supreme leader. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Copies of a book about late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his son Kim Jong Un are on flat display at a bookstore in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 30, 2011. North Korea warned the world Friday there would be no softening of its position toward South Korea's government after Kim Jong Il's death as Pyongyang strengthened his son and heir's authority with a new title: Great Leader. (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) ? North Korea warned the world Friday there would be no softening of its position toward South Korea's government after Kim Jong Il's death as Pyongyang strengthened his son and heir's authority with a new title: Great Leader.

North Korea's powerful National Defense Commission said the country would never deal with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, a conservative who stopped a no-strings-attached aid policy toward the North in 2008.

The stern message also said North Korea was uniting around Kim Jong Un, referring to him for the first time with the title Great Leader ? previously used for his father ? in a clear message of continuity. It was the latest incremental step in a burgeoning personality cult around the son following the Dec. 17 death of Kim Jong Il.

The younger Kim on Thursday was pronounced Supreme Leader of the ruling party, military and people at a massive public gathering on the final day of official mourning for his father.

The top levels of government appear to have rallied around Kim Jong Un, who is in his late 20s, in the wake of his father's death. Still, given his inexperience and age, there are questions outside North Korea about his leadership of a nation engaged in delicate negotiations over its nuclear program and grappling with decades of economic hardship and chronic food shortages.

"We declare solemnly and confidently that the foolish politicians around the world, including the puppet group in South Korea, should not expect any change from us," the National Defense Commission said. "We will never deal with the traitor group of Lee Myung-bak."

In a combative voice, a female news anchor for state TV read the National Defense Commission statement, saying the "evil misdeeds" of the Lee administration reached a peak when it prevented South Koreans from visiting North Korea to pay respects to Kim Jong Il, except for two delegations led by a former first lady and a business leader, both of whose husbands had ties to North Korea.

North Korea had said foreign official delegations would not be allowed at the funeral but that it would welcome any South Koreans who wanted to travel to pay respects to Kim.

"Even though we lost Kim Jong Il, we have the dear respected Kim Jong Un," Kang Chol Bok, a 28-year-old officer of the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, told The Associated Press. "We will turn our profound sorrow into strength and courage."

In a newly released postage stamp, Kim Jong Un was featured alongside Kim Jong Il against the backdrop of sacred Mount Paektu, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said. It appeared to be the first time that the son has been featured on a postage stamp. North Korea has often depicted Kim Jong Il and his father, North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, together in official artwork.

The North's statement is a warning for Seoul not to take the new leadership lightly, said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Dongguk University.

"It is also raising the stakes in case the South wants better relations so Pyongyang can extract greater concessions" during any later talks, Koh said. He added that it's "too early to say the North is dashing hopes for reforms."

While blasting the South's leader, the North also offered a bit of hope for improved ties with the South, saying it "will continue to push hard toward the path of improved relations."

But it added that any better ties won't be "based on the deceitful ploys South Korea is employing by mixing 'toughness' and 'flexibility.'" Seoul has signaled a change in its approach toward Pyongyang in recent months, saying it will be more flexible in dealing with the North.

South Korea's Unification Ministry will maintain its North Korea policy and not react to every statement out of Pyongyang, according to a ministry official who declined to be identified citing the sensitivity of the relations between the countries.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta spoke by phone with his South Korean counterpart and they agreed to keep close ties in the coming months, Pentagon press secretary George Little said.

Panetta and South Korean Minister of Defense Kim Kwan-jin discussed the situation on the Korean peninsula in the 20-minute call, Little said in a statement sent out late Thursday.

"The secretary and the minister shared the view that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is our overarching priority and agreed to maintain close cooperation and coordination in the weeks and months ahead," Little said.

On Thursday, Kim Jong Un stood with his head bowed at the Grand People's Study House, overlooking Kim Il Sung Square, as mourners gathered below. Top officials flanking him included Kim Jong Il's younger sister, Kim Kyong Hui, and her husband, Jang Song Thaek, who are expected to be mentors of their young nephew.

"The father's plan is being implemented," Ralph Cossa, president of Pacific Forum CSIS, a Hawaii-based think tank, said of the power transfer. "All of these guys have a vested interest in the system and a vested interest in demonstrating stability. The last thing they want to do is create havoc."

Titles are important in North Korea and part of the myth-building surrounding the Kim family legacy.

Kim Il Sung, the country's first and only president, retains the title Eternal President even after his death.

Kim Jong Il held three main positions: chairman of the National Defense Commission, general secretary of the Workers' Party and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army. According to the constitution, his position as chairman of the National Defense Commission made him Supreme Leader of North Korea.

Kim Jong Un was made a four-star general last year and appointed a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party. Since his father's death, North Korean officials and state media have given him a series of new titles: Great Successor, Supreme Leader and now Great Leader.

___

Associated Press writers Foster Klug, Scott McDonald and Sam Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Pauline Jelinek in Washington contributed to this report. Follow AP's North Korea coverage at twitter.com/APklug and twitter.com/samkim_ap.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-12-30-AS-Kim-Jong-Il/id-5d27bd1623c240b9bb91cebcc130e12a

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Israel: As part of SACH project, Israeli pyhsicians treat Palestinian #pediatric #heart patients & train doctors http://t.co/p2qT88Dr #Israel #Video

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Iran says it recorded video of US aircraft carrier (AP)

TEHRAN, Iran ? An Iranian surveillance plane has recorded video and photographed a U.S. aircraft carrier during Iran's ongoing navy drill near a strategic waterway in the Persian Gulf, the official IRNA news agency reported on Thursday.

The report did not provide details and it was unclear what information the Iranian military could gleam from such footage. But the announcement is an indication Iran is seeking to cast its navy as having a powerful role in the region's waters.

IRNA quoted Iran's navy chief, Adm. Habibollah Sayyari, as saying the action shows that Iran has "control over the moves by foreign forces" in the area where Tehran is holding a 10-day military exercise.

"An Iranian vessel and surveillance plane have tracked, filmed and photographed a U.S. aircraft carrier as it was entering the Gulf of Oman from the Persian Gulf," Sayyari said.

He added that the "foreign fleet will be warned by Iranian forces if it enters the area of the drill."

State TV showed what appeared to be the reported video, but it was not possible to make out the details of the carrier because the footage was filmed from far away.

The Iranian exercise is taking place in international waters near the Strait of Hormuz ? the passageway for one-sixth of the world's oil supply.

Beyond it lie vast bodies of water, including the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet is also active in the area, as are warships of several other countries that patrol for pirates there.

Lt. Rebecca Rebarich, a spokeswoman for the U.S. 5th Fleet, said the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis and guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay headed out from the Gulf and through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, after a visit to Dubai's Jebel Ali port.

She described the passage through the strait as "a pre-planned, routine transit" for the carrier, which is providing air support from the north Arabian Sea to troops in Afghanistan.

Rebarich did not directly address Iranian claims of possessing the reported footage but said the 5th Fleet's "interaction with the regular Iranian Navy continues to be within the standards of maritime practice, well known, routine and professional."

Thursday's report follows U.S. warnings over Iranian threats to choke off traffic through the Strait of Hormuz if Washington imposes sanctions targeting Iran's crude exports. On Wednesday, Rebarich said the Navy was "always ready to counter malevolent actions to ensure freedom of navigation."

Gen. Hossein Salami, the acting commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard rejected the warning.

"The U.S. is not in a position" to affect Iran's decisions, Salami told the semi-official Fars news agency Thursday. "Iran does not ask permission to implement its own defensive strategies."

___

Associated Press Writer Adam Schreck contributed to this report from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iran/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111229/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran

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Update: Florida congresswoman plans hazing law

7:47 P. M.

"It's not a color thing," U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a first-term Miami Democrat, said in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat this evening. "You have hazing in white sororities and fraternities, whether it's making children visit graveyards, or drinking liquor 'til you pass out or smoking drugs."

Wilson, an educator who headed a dropout-prevention program for Miami-Dade schools when she was in the Florida Legislature, was regional director for Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation's first black sorority, from 1986 through 1990. She said she became know as "the haze-buster" for rooting out the ritualized harassment of sorority pledges, band members, new players on sports teams and other organizations.

"I stopped it. I stopped it," Wilson said of her AKA tenure. "They were afraid of me."

She said "you can reach them two ways" -- by getting adult alumni to advise students not to inflict indignities on pledges and by holding students responsible for submitting to violent or abusive initiation rites. Getting young people to talk about hazing is difficult, she acknowledged, but Wilson said her experience has shown that the silence of victims helps the offenders perpetrate the "demeaning, dangerous and, sadly, deadly" tradition of hazing.

"Each one of those fraternities and sororities has graduate members who can mentor," she said. "Also, you can put some onus on the children who are being hazed, and make it their responsibility to report it?.I know they're going up against a wall of tradition and that wall is very deep, especially among people who have already graduated from college."

Wilson said "it's gotten better but it still exists" since the Florida Legislature passed a state statute making hazing a misdemeanor -- or a felony, if severe injury or death results.

Champion, 26, died Nov. 19 in Orlando. A medical examiner's report released last week ruled his death a homicide, caused by a severe beating.

FAMU President James Ammons suspended all appearances by the Marching 100 indefinitely and moved to fire band director Julian White. White is fighting to keep his tenured faculty position, saying he suspended more than two-dozen Rattler band members involved in hazing and had reported incidents to Ammons repeatedly prior to Champion's death.

(Page 2 of 2)

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the homicide, as well as undescribed "financial irregularities" in band operations.

Separately, three men have been charged with beating a young Atlanta woman who suffered a cracked thigh bone and knee injuries. She subsequently left FAMU.

2:35 P. M.

A Florida Congresswoman with a long history of combating hazing in schools plans to introduce federal legislation next month to outlaw the practice.

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a first-term Democrat from Miami, said today her bill was motivated by the current investigation at Florida A&M University into the Nov. 19 death of Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating his death, which medical examiners determined to be a homicide caused by a severe beating.

?I am having policy discussions now with presidents of historically black colleges and universities, band members and presidents of Greek-letter organizations so that we will be able to craft a strong bill for introduction next month,? said Wilson.

She said hazing ?is demeaning, dangerous and, sadly, deadly.?

Wilson, an educator and administrator for Miami-Dade County schools before her election to Congress, supported anti-bullying and hazing legislation as a member of the Florida Legislature. She also fought hazing as south Atlantic regional director of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

She said Champion?s death and the FAMU investigation prompted her to work on a federal hazing law. The state has already made hazing illegal.

?It?s time that we put an end to this horrible and humiliating ritual once and for all, so that no more students suffer the way that Robert and others have,? Wilson said in announcing her planned legislation.

Source: http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20111227/NEWS/111227008

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New Providence Wharf Apartments To Rent, East London, E14 Flats

(Prudent Press Agency.com) Finding a holiday apartments in London, it?s a simple and stress-free apart from of length of stay. Whatever your requirement, family holidays or leisure, whether for business, London hotel apartments offers a cost effective option for tourist with an excellent list of London apartments and flats.

With so many varieties of hotels, rented apartments and lettings available in the city one need not worry about a comfortable and peaceful accommodation in the London city. Well when we talk about Renting we can very easily find good apartments for rent in the centre of the London city these lettings are very much similar to the rented apartments. With competition between the letting owners in London the renting in New Providence Wharf E14 Apartments areas seem to be worth living. The landlords of these apartments want more and more tenants so that they can make good profit out of it.

Those planning a short trip to the London city or a short vacation can easily have a good stay at New Providence Wharf E14 Apartments. The services offered in these lettings are very similar to those offered in the rented apartments. One can easily put down all their belongings and have a wonderful sightseeing tour around the London city without worrying about belongings. The apartments have good security services so that tourists and other travelers can stay tension free. The letting agents look after of their customer well. A person can rent lettings in New Providence Wharf E14 Apartments for how much ever days he wishes to stay in London.

The cost of these apartments is not too expensive and is quite affordable. These lettings are any day better than living in a posh five star hotel and spending all your money. Also the view of New Providence Wharf E14 Apartments is too awesome and one is surely not going to go back home after staying in these lettings. Travelling is not a problem as everything is very near and at a walk able distance. You can very well take a bus or train for sightseeing purpose as they are very much affordable.

People who wish to do shopping and try different cuisines of London can very well find many restaurants and stores in the streets of the London city. The different facilities which the Renting offer are good parking place, nice room service, good food or you can prepare your own food as the letting consist of an attached kitchen very similar to an apartment. Basically the letting owners own these apartments and give it to let in. this letting forms his second home which becomes an income for him.

New Providence Wharf E14 Apartments is very popular in the whole of London and one could easily rent it whenever he wants. There are online sites available which provides you information about the many Renting in and around London city. This is indeed a good way to do bookings. Online bookings are also offered for these renting which make it even more convenient for the tourists and visitors. Thus, make sure whenever you plan a trip to London with your family or friends you choose to stay in New Providence Wharf E14 Apartments.

Get more information on New Providence Wharf E14 Apartments, Flats to Rent

Source: http://prudentpressagency.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=24103

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Video: No more Mr. Nice Guy for Gingrich?

Richard Ellis?/?Getty Images file

With the Iowa caucuses just a week away, it appears Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gringrich isn?t playing nice anymore. NBC?s Peter Alexander reports.

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/45795168/

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Roy E. "Red" Hollenbach, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Roy E. "Red" Hollenbach, age 88, a resident of Albuquerque since 1945, passed away December 24, 2011. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean, and his daughter, Jeri Sue Bauman. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Jean Stebner Hollenbach; his brother, George Hollenbach of Arcadia, CA; his sisters, Virginia Barta of Fort Mohave, AZ and Betty Lozano and husband Trinny of Killeen, TX; his step daughter Randee Flowers and husband Alan of Moseley VA; stepson, Keith Cooper and wife Donna of Rio Rancho, NM; step grand children Eric and Tieler Cooper, Casi Cooper Foster and husband Justin of Rio Rancho, John Flowers and wife Tami and Alanna Ballard and husband Michael of Richmond, VA..; and great grandchildren Taryn and Logan Foster of Rio Rancho, NM. An Air Force veteran of World War II, he was stationed at Iwo Jima. He received his amateur radio license in 1940 (WK5KZU). Red was a member of the original technical crew of Albuquerque's first television station, KOB, in 1948. Red retired from Sandia Laboratory. A charter member of the New Mexico Woodturners and a life member of the Rio Grande Carvers, he won numerous ribbons at the New Mexico State Fair for his woodturnings and carvings. He was a member of the Del Norte Baptist church and a charter member of the church when it was Bel Air Baptist church in 1950. He also attended services at Carlisle Plaza United Methodist Church. A memorial service will be held at the Carlisle Plaza Methodist Church, 3023 Montclaire, N.E., Albuquerque, NM at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2011. Pastor Cheri Lyon and Dr. Robert Meyer will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the building fund at Del Norte Baptist Church, 5800 Montgomery Blvd., Albuquerque, NM, or Carlisle Plaza Methodist Church.

Source: http://krqe.tributes.com/show/Roy-E.-Red-Hollenbach-93013716

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Roberto Alomar Baseball Hall of Famer Autographed Upper Deck Buyback Baseball Card LIMITED EDITION!*

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Newt Gingrich Remains At Top Of Gop Presidential Field, But Gop Voters Not Satisfied

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is spending one more week atop the?Republican field in the contest for that party?s presidential nomination. In this?week?s Economist/YouGov Poll, 29% of registered voters who say they will likely?vote in a Republican caucus or primary in 2012 favor Gingrich, while former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney trails in second place with 18%.??

?

?Once again, Texas Congressman Ron Paul is third. Gingrich runs eight points better?among Republican voters who identify with the Tea Party than with those who do?not. He also runs especially well with less well-off and less-educated GOP voters.?College graduates favor Romney.?

But with less than three weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses, there is evidence that?many GOP voters still aren?t happy with the field. This week, only 42% of them?say they are satisfied with the candidates running; 28% want other choices. Two?weeks ago, before businessman Herman Cain suspended his campaign, 51% said?they were satisfied with their options.??

?

And President Barack Obama still leads each of the three top Republicans in a head?to head November matchup. Romney fares the best, trailing by just three points,?within the poll?s margin of error. Gingrich trails Obama by nine points, and Paul?trails the President by seven.??

Photo source: Press Association????

Economist/YouGov poll?archives can found here?.?????

Source: http://today.yougov.com/news/2011/12/21/newt-gingrich-remains-top-gop-presidential-field-g/

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Steve Jobs wins a posthumous Grammy (Yahoo! News)

The late Apple CEO will be given a Trustees Award mainly due to iTunes and the iPod

Tributes to the late?Apple executive keep pouring in a couple of months since he passed away. After a?Mythbusters style documentary, an?80-minute tribute video, an?iPad 2 snowboard, and a?7' tall bronze statue, comes a posthumous Grammy award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).

Jobs was recently named a recipient of the Trustees Award that's given to people who've made "outstanding contributions to the industry in a nonperforming capacity." He's the sole awardee this year who's not directly involved in the creation of music. Steve's influence convinced record labels to start selling on?iTunes during the store's early days, which immensely contributed to the current popularity of digital music purchases. Not all musicians are happy with what's done, though ??Bon Jovi, for instance,?thinks that one day, people will say that Steve Jobs is responsible for killing the music business.

By granting Jobs the Trustees Award, members of NARAS demonstrate that they believe differently. In fact, he's being recognized at the Grammy's for changing the way we consume not just music but also?movies, books, and?TV. "A creative visionary, Jobs' innovations such as the iPod and its counterpart, the online iTunes store, revolutionized the industry and how music was distributed and purchased," the official announcement says.

A separate ceremony from the main Grammy's event will be held for all special awardees on February 11, 2012 in Los Angeles.

NY Times via?Contra Costa Times

This article was written by Mariella Moon and originally appeared on Tecca

More from Tecca:

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/techblog/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_technews/20111223/tc_yblog_technews/steve-jobs-wins-a-posthumous-grammy

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CMEGroup: A discussion on the invisible hand and public policy with @EconTalker and Dan Klein from George Mason University http://t.co/X8vsGTN6 $$

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Steve Jobs awarded honourary Grammy

News

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has been given a Grammy Award for his contribution to the music industry.

The Special Merit Award recipients were announced this week by The Recording Academy, the organisation responsible for handing out Grammys, with Jobs honoured alongside Dave Bartholomew and Rudy Van Gelder in the Trustees Award category.

?As former CEO and co-founder of Apple, Steve Jobs helped create products and technology that transformed the way we consume music, TV, movies, and books. A creative visionary, Jobs? innovations such as the iPod and its counterpart, the online iTunes store, revolutionized the industry and how music was distributed and purchased,? a statement on the Grammy website reads.

?In 2002 Apple Computer Inc. was a recipient of a Technical Grammy Award for contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field. The company continues to lead the way with new technology and in-demand products such as the iPhone and iPad.?

Others who have been honoured with Special Merit Awards include Diana Ross, Gil Scott-Heron and Glen Campbell, who all received Lifetime Achievement Awards.

?This year?s honorees offer a variety of brilliance, contributions and lasting impressions on our culture,? said Neil Portnow, President and CEO of The Recording Academy.

?It is an honour to recognise such a diverse group of individuals whose talents and achievements have had an indelible impact on our industry.?

The Grammys ceremony will take place on February 12, 2012.

Source: http://www.macworld.com.au/news/steve-jobs-awarded-honourary-grammy-42240/

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Time and again, Boehner forced by conservatives to back away from deals (Star Tribune)

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Ultrasonic screwdriver to make plastic planes safer

Paul Marks, senior technology correspondent

Air Transat flight 961 lost its rudder in a composite explosion (Image: TSB)

When the plastic rudder of a Canadian Airbus airliner exploded off Cuba in March 2005 the aviation industry began waking up to the risks of carbon fibre aircraft structures. Invisibly, water had got into the layers of its carbon composite structure, forming ice at altitude that blasted the rudder structure to pieces. That was followed by FedEx finding that a hydraulic fluid leak had had a similar invisible effect on the tail of one of its reinforced plastic Airbus planes.

The problem? Unlike aluminium which buckles or cracks visibly, damage to lightweight carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) - comprising hundreds of layers of epoxy resin shot through with carbon fibre - can remain hidden deep within those layers. Engineers can only tap on it with a small hammer (or even a coin) to listen out for a hollow sound that might indicate trouble within.

Even if a plane is struck on the ground by a catering or luggage truck, structure-weakening damage can often remain invisible - and that's a major-league concern now entire pressurised fuselages, like that of the Boeing 787 and the upcoming Airbus A350, are being made from CFRP.

Now EADS, owner of Airbus, alongside DolphiTech of Norway, are close to developing an answer: an ultrasonic camera gun with which ramp engineers can scan CFRP airplane surfaces to visualise in 3D any damage that's hidden to the eye and/or the ear. Dolphitech say the technology, which fires ultrasound and deduces from the reflections what lies beneath (it's effectively an ultrasonic tap test), is the first to be geared for composite aircraft.

EADS doesn't expect the system to be commercially available until the end of 2012, but you can see from the graphic below what kind of images it will produce. Trained on a series of CFRP drill holes, it's clear that a crack has developed from the top one beneath the surface - something no engineer would have been able to sense from a tap test.

Ultrasound gun shows a hidden crack leading from the top drill hole (Image: EADS)

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/1b26ac3f/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Conepercent0C20A110C120Cultrasonic0Escrewdriver0Eaims0Eto0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

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