Asian stocks gain ahead of central bank meetings

(AP) ? Asian stock markets were boosted Wednesday by hopes European central bankers will buoy economic growth with new stimulus measures.

Global equities and commodities have rallied so far this week amid growing expectations that policymakers will use fiscal and monetary stimulus to bolster flagging growth. The European Central Bank and the Bank of England are scheduled to meet Thursday, and analysts are expecting lending rate cuts or a boost of money in circulation.

Investors this week have brushed off signs of weakening economic growth, including reports that showed falling industrial production in the U.S. and China, the world's two biggest economies. Some analysts say investors may be expecting too much from possible stimulus measures.

"The markets are seemingly banking on European policymakers and the U.S. Fed to turn things around quickly," said Julian Jessop, an economist with Capital Economics. "However, at best, further monetary stimulus may limit the downside for the prices of riskier assets."

Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.5 percent to 9,109.10 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.1 percent to 19.749.07.

South Korea's Kospi gained 0.3 percent to 1,872.90. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.8 percent to 4,158.20. China's Shanghai Composite fell 0.2 percent to 2,225.37.

On Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 0.6 percent at 12,943.82. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 0.6 percent to 1,374.02. The Nasdaq composite average added 0.8 percent to 2,976.08.

The Commerce Department said factory orders increased 0.7 percent in May from April while U.S. car companies said sales rose in June.

Trading volume was light as markets in the U.S. were open for only a half-day Tuesday and will be closed Wednesday for the Independence Day holiday. The government's June jobs report is due Friday and second-quarter corporate earnings start next week.

Benchmark oil for August delivery was down 21 cents at $87.45 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $3.91 to close at $87.66 in New York on Tuesday.

In currencies, the euro fell to $1.2592 from $1.2610 on Tuesday in New York. The dollar dropped to 79.74 yen from 79.87 yen.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-07-03-World%20Markets/id-65fe7b80ef05474ebe89a373c52b1b55

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British deaths in Afghanistan: How the war has fallen out at home

Stephen Lennon explains to Monitor reporter, Ben Arnoldy, how he co-founded the English Defence League in the wake of an Afghan war protest.

By Ben Arnoldy,?Staff writer / July 2, 2012

British troops keep watch at a checkpoint, where a man shot and killed three British soldiers, in Helmand province July 2. The man, an Afghan policeman, shot the soldiers at the checkpoint on Sunday, Afghan officials said, the latest in a chain of increasingly frequent rogue killings. A fourth British soldier was also injured. The soldiers were serving with an Afghan police advisory team.

Abdul Malik/Reuters

Enlarge

An Afghan policeman turned his weapon on British troops Sunday, killing three and sending more bad news to a British public deeply unhappy with the war.

Skip to next paragraph Ben Arnoldy

Deputy International Editor

Ben Arnoldy is the Deputy International Editor at The Christian Science Monitor. He has served as the Monitor's bureau chief in India and Northern California.?

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British forces have lost more than 400 soldiers as well as public support for the conflict. A YouGov poll in April found just 14 percent supported staying on, with 77 percent favoring troops withdrawing immediately or soon. In the US, by contrast, 32 percent still support staying on until the situation is stabilized, according to a Pew poll in April.

The near universal disillusionment with Afghanistan in Britain has meant anti-war thinking lives not just in lefty and mainstream circles but within some emergent groups on the flag-waving right.?

In the postindustrial city of Luton on London?s northern fringe, Stephen Lennon explained to me this May how he cofounded the English Defence League, an anti-Islamic group, in the wake of an Afghan war protest.

In 2009, some hard-line Muslims protested a homecoming parade in Luton of British troops from Afghanistan. They held signs calling the troops butchers and killers and shouted ?terrorists.? Mr. Lennon channeled anger in Luton over the protest into a broader backlash against Muslim immigration and, he argues, those Muslims whose ideology is separation, not integration, into British society. The group is also trying to bolster English pride through St. George's Day celebrations and waving the English flag, which is a less common sight than the British Union Jack.?

?You know how they say multiculturalism has failed?? asks Lennon. ?That?s just a weak, pathetic way of saying Islam has failed.?

Despite all this, he told me he doesn?t support the Afghan war either.

?Don?t get me wrong, I?m against the war as well, but I still give full support to our boys and girls,? says Lennon, who in the early days of the EDL went by the pseudonym Tommy Robinson. ?If you want to protest the war, take it to ? Parliament.?

Lennon had just joined the executive council of the recently formed British Freedom Party in May. The first bullet point of the party?s defense platform is ?Withdraw British forces from wars that are no concern of this nation.?

The US right has an isolationist strain too, a view that has gotten a high-profile airing by Ron Paul?s runs for president, and before that Patrick Buchanan.?

The EDL, however, has drawn considerable debate whether they belong within the boundaries of mainstream discourse. The group drew condemnations?after some supporters turned violent, something Lennon says is now self-policed. Membership fell quickly after Norwegian killer Anders Behring Breivik wrote positively of the EDL in his manifesto; Lennon refers to Mr. Breivik with an expletive. Lennon bristles at being called racist or fascist, and banters with black friends who drop in during the interview at a local hotel. ?

But the group uses its controversial image for political intimidation.

?We threaten things with [the EDL] really,? says Lennon. ?Because it?s all about money with politicians, it costs them a million pounds to police our demonstrations. So if you build a mosque in our shopping center which they wanted to do ? [we say] we?ll be here, and then they didn?t.?

Now Lennon, by joining the British Freedom Party, is trying to steer the EDL into politics, albeit on the fringes.?

For a group that formed in reaction to an anti-Afghan-war protest, it?s remarkable the EDL's leader has found a political home in a party that also eschews the military effort abroad. Or as Point 8 in British Freedom?s defense platform puts it: ?Desist from tasking our forces to undertake hostilities in a war that is not directly threatening the homeland or British territory abroad.?

The party, formed in 2010, also wants to beef up the Army to 1980 levels, focus it on defending the country?s borders, and strengthen overseas bases in Cyprus, Gibraltar, the Falklands, and Antarctica.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/gprkFYymSgU/British-deaths-in-Afghanistan-How-the-war-has-fallen-out-at-home

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Spotify, Rdio or MOG: What Streaming Music Service Do You Use? [Chatroom]

News spread this morning that MOG has been purchased by HTC/Beats Audio for $10 million, which probably was not the payout the Berkeley-based company was hoping for (disclosure: I used to work there once upon a time). And while Spotify appears destined to win the streaming music wars (as far as subscription services go, at least), each service has its own merits. So what service did you end up choosing? Spotify, Rdio or MOG? Maybe even Rhapsody or Slacker? More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/pNUIEYaM77o/spotify-rdio-or-mog-what-streaming-music-service-do-you-use

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Google Places for iOS becomes Google Local, adds voice search in the process

Google Places for iOS becomes Google Local, gets voice search in the bargain

It was only a matter of time before Google+ Local started spreading to the mobile space, and iOS looks to be its first landing spot through a rebadge of the Google Places app. Apart from achieving harmony with Google's rapidly swelling social universe and letting us check Zagat ratings for nearby establishments, the update slips in the same voice search that Google has had in its primary Google Search app: we won't have to search for the best Vietnamese cuisine with that archaic keyboard. The refresh makes it similarly easy to find locations that aren't directly close by, and there's a tighter login process to keep that bar search history away from prying eyes. If you're a social adventurer with an iPhone or iPod touch, Google just gave your expeditions a shot in the arm.

[Thanks, Bono]

Google Places for iOS becomes Google+ Local, adds voice search in the process originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 05:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/pLTLk3t78AM/

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Microsoft takes $6.2B hit to account for ad woes

FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2009 file photo, a man walks on the Microsoft headquarters campus in Redmond, Wash. Microsoft Corp. said on Monday, July 2, 2012, that it will take $6.2 billion charge for the declining value of online ad division. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, file)

FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2009 file photo, a man walks on the Microsoft headquarters campus in Redmond, Wash. Microsoft Corp. said on Monday, July 2, 2012, that it will take $6.2 billion charge for the declining value of online ad division. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, file)

(AP) ? Microsoft is absorbing a $6.2 billion charge to reflect that one of the biggest deals in its 37-year history turned out to be a dud.

The non-cash charge announced Monday could saddle Microsoft Corp. with a loss for its fiscal fourth quarter ended in June. Analysts polled by FactSet had predicted Microsoft would earn about $5.3 billion for the period. The company hasn't suffered a quarterly loss during the past 20 years, according to its website.

Microsoft, which is based in Redmond, Wash., is scheduled to release its latest quarterly results on July 19.

The world's largest software maker blamed the setback on the disappointing performance of aQuantive. That's an online advertising service that Microsoft bought for $6.3 billion in 2007 to mount a more serious challenge to one of its biggest rivals, Internet search leader Google Inc.

The aQuantive deal ranked as the most expensive deal in Microsoft's history until it was eclipsed last year by the company's $8.5 billion purchase of Internet video chat service Skype.

Investors can only hope Skype works out better than aQuantive.

Microsoft's $6.2 billion charge represents a sobering acknowledgement that aQuantive didn't bring in as much online advertising revenue as envisioned, forcing management to write off most of the purchase price.

To add to Microsoft's mortification, Google has been milking the acquisition of an aQuantive rival to widen its lead in the steadily growing online ad market. Google bought DoubleClick for $3.2 billion about eight months after Microsoft took control of aQuantive,

Since then, Google's annual profit and advertising sales have more than doubled. Last year, Google earned $9.7 billion and collected $36.5 billion in ad revenue.

Microsoft's online division has sustained losses totaling of nearly $9 billion since the company bought aQuantive. The online division generated $2.5 billion in revenue during Microsoft's fiscal 2011, just $54 million more than in fiscal 2007.

Although the online division has been faring slightly better in the past year, "the company's expectations for future growth and profitability are lower than previous estimates," Microsoft said in a Monday statement.

Bing, a search engine that Microsoft unveiled four years ago, has been getting more usage, but most of its gains have come at the expense of a business partner, Yahoo Inc. Microsoft's search technology has been powering searches on Yahoo's website for nearly two years, but that alliance hasn't dented Google's market share.

Google's share of the U.S. search advertising market has risen from 74 percent in 2010 to 78 percent this year, according to the research firm eMarketer. Meanwhile, Yahoo's share U.S. search advertising has fallen from 10 percent in 2010 to less than 5 percent this year while Microsoft's cut has remained unchanged at 7 percent.

BGP Financial Partners analyst Colin Gillis doesn't expect the hefty charge to dampen investors' enthusiasm as the anticipation builds for the upcoming release of Microsoft's latest version of the Windows operating system that remains the company's biggest moneymaker. The revisions in Windows 8, expected to hit the market this fall, are being counted on to help revive personal computer sales and establish Microsoft as a major player in the tablet computer market.

"AQuantive didn't work out, but everyone already pretty much knew that," Gillis said. "Now, they are just mopping up."

Microsoft shares shed 13 cents to $30.43 in Monday's extended trading. At that level, Microsoft's stock price has still posted a 17 percent gain so far this year.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-07-02-Microsoft-Online%20Ad%20Business/id-08825be25def449e94d537d512aff7da

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Current Windows users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 for just $39.99

Get the newest features for a very reasonable price

Microsoft has confirmed that its previously announced Windows 8 upgrade will cost just $39.99. That means people already running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 on their computers will pay a mere forty bucks for the latest version.

It's a notable price drop compared with other system updates from Microsoft, with the Pro version of Windows 7 carrying a $99 price tag and the Home Premium version costing $50. It will cost you a little extra if want the packaged DVD version of the new Windows 8. The company is also running a special offer for its newest customers: Windows 8 will be available for $14.99 for anyone purchasing a new PC after June 2.

The low price is also impressive considering the features it will bring to your computing experience. Windows 8 features the new Metro UI when your device initially boots up, as well as better search, a jump list, and Ribbon menus. Check out those features and compare them with Windows 7 here.

This article was written by Anna Washenko and originally appeared on Tecca

More from Tecca:

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/current-windows-users-able-upgrade-windows-8-just-010719181.html

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Moffitt Cancer Center study validates activity of rare genetic variant in glioma

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 2-Jul-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Patty Kim
patty.kim@moffitt.org
813-745-7322
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

High risk and better outcome for glioma wrapped up in rare gene variant

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center working with colleagues at three other institutions have validated a link between a rare genetic variant and the risk of glioma, the most common and lethal type of brain tumor. The validation study also uncovered an association between the same rare genetic variant and improved rates of survival for patients with glioma.

The study, the first to confirm a rare susceptibility variant in glioma, appeared in a recent issue of the Journal of Medical Genetics, a journal published by the British Medical Association.

"Glioma is a poorly understood cancer with high morbidity and devastating outcomes," said study lead author Kathleen M. Egan, Sc.D., interim program leader of Cancer Epidemiology and vice chair of the Department of Cancer Epidemiology. "However, the discovery of the association of the TP53 genetic variant rs78378222 with glioma provides new insights into these tumors and offers better prospects for identifying people at risk."

According to the authors, their study "genotyped' the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, or "snip") rs78378222 in TP53, an important tumor suppressor gene. The researchers said the SNP disrupts the TP53 signal and, because of its activity, has been linked to a variety of cancers. This study linked the presence of the rare form of rs78378222 to deadly glioma.

The researchers conducted a large, clinic-based, case-control study of individuals age 18 and older with a recent glioma diagnosis. A total of 566 glioma cases and 603 controls were genotyped for the rs78378222 variant.

Study results reveal that the odds of developing glioma were increased 3.5 times among the rare variant allele carriers. However, when researchers examined the impact of rs78378222 on survival, they found an approximately 50 percent reduction in death rates for those who were variant allele carriers.

"That the variant increased survival chances was an unexpected finding," Egan said. "It is tempting to speculate that the presence of the risk allele could direct tumor development into a less aggressive path."

The researchers concluded that their study results "may shed light on the etiology and progression of these tumors."

In addition to researchers from Moffitt, researchers from The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Emory School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University participated in the study and co-authored the paper.

###

The study was supported by funding from Public Health Service Grants R01CA11674 from the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as institutional funding from Moffitt and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Follow Moffitt on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MoffittCancerCenter
Follow Moffitt on Twitter: @MoffittNews
Follow Moffitt on YouTube: MoffittNews

Located in Tampa, Moffitt Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, which recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Hospitals" for cancer.

Media release by Florida Science Communications


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 2-Jul-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Patty Kim
patty.kim@moffitt.org
813-745-7322
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

High risk and better outcome for glioma wrapped up in rare gene variant

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center working with colleagues at three other institutions have validated a link between a rare genetic variant and the risk of glioma, the most common and lethal type of brain tumor. The validation study also uncovered an association between the same rare genetic variant and improved rates of survival for patients with glioma.

The study, the first to confirm a rare susceptibility variant in glioma, appeared in a recent issue of the Journal of Medical Genetics, a journal published by the British Medical Association.

"Glioma is a poorly understood cancer with high morbidity and devastating outcomes," said study lead author Kathleen M. Egan, Sc.D., interim program leader of Cancer Epidemiology and vice chair of the Department of Cancer Epidemiology. "However, the discovery of the association of the TP53 genetic variant rs78378222 with glioma provides new insights into these tumors and offers better prospects for identifying people at risk."

According to the authors, their study "genotyped' the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, or "snip") rs78378222 in TP53, an important tumor suppressor gene. The researchers said the SNP disrupts the TP53 signal and, because of its activity, has been linked to a variety of cancers. This study linked the presence of the rare form of rs78378222 to deadly glioma.

The researchers conducted a large, clinic-based, case-control study of individuals age 18 and older with a recent glioma diagnosis. A total of 566 glioma cases and 603 controls were genotyped for the rs78378222 variant.

Study results reveal that the odds of developing glioma were increased 3.5 times among the rare variant allele carriers. However, when researchers examined the impact of rs78378222 on survival, they found an approximately 50 percent reduction in death rates for those who were variant allele carriers.

"That the variant increased survival chances was an unexpected finding," Egan said. "It is tempting to speculate that the presence of the risk allele could direct tumor development into a less aggressive path."

The researchers concluded that their study results "may shed light on the etiology and progression of these tumors."

In addition to researchers from Moffitt, researchers from The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Emory School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University participated in the study and co-authored the paper.

###

The study was supported by funding from Public Health Service Grants R01CA11674 from the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as institutional funding from Moffitt and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Follow Moffitt on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MoffittCancerCenter
Follow Moffitt on Twitter: @MoffittNews
Follow Moffitt on YouTube: MoffittNews

Located in Tampa, Moffitt Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, which recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Hospitals" for cancer.

Media release by Florida Science Communications


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-07/hlmc-mcc070212.php

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Cissy Houston, Mariah Carey Lead Whitney Tribute at BET Awards


Cissy Houston and Mariah Carey were at the forefront of an emotional tribute to Whitney Houston at last night's BET Awards.

The latter kicked off the 19-minute event, recalling stories about Whitney - who tragically overdosed and died in February - and told the audience: "I miss my friend. I miss hearing her voice and laughter."

Monica and Brandy also took to the stage, singing multiple Whitney hits, while former Waiting to Exhale co-stars Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon and Loretta Devine honored their late friend.

But it was Cissy who brought tears to the eyes of all in attendance. She sang a version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and A-listers such as Beyonce and Soulja Boy were caught on camera crying.

Watch the entire tribute for yourself:

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/07/cissy-houston-mariah-carey-lead-whitney-tribute-at-bet-awards/

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