Americans kidnapped in Egypt's Sinai released

The head of Egyptian security in North Sinai and the kidnapper say two Americans and their Egyptian tour guide, abducted four days ago, have been released.

Gen. Ahmed Bakr, head of security in North Sinai, says the three were now in the protection of Egyptian security officials in Sinai.

The kidnapper, Jirmy Abu-Masuh, says he freed them Monday after officials promised they would work on releasing his uncle from prison.

He told The Associated Press by telephone after releasing the Americans that he wanted to grant them mercy, because they had nothing to do with his dispute with police.

The Boston-area residents and their Egyptian tour guide were abducted along a Sinai road to a Christian monastery on Friday.

Rev. Michel Louis, a 61-year-old pastor from Boston, a 39-year-old American woman and their Egyptian guide were taken off a bus on a road between Cairo and Mount Sinai on Friday while on a church trip.

Rev. Michel Louis, who is diabetic, left his medicine on the bus and security officials will have to help with getting it, Abu-Masuh said. He said Michel was tired and was sleeping a lot. He would not allow the AP to talk with the Americans.

Abu-Masuh also said that his imprisoned uncle is diabetic and claimed his relative was not getting the medical assistance he needs.

The Rev. Jean Louis, Michel's son, said his father was on a church trip with 23 other members of the clergy and worshippers when he was abducted.

A senior U.S. official said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton brought up the case of the two kidnapped Americans when she met with her Egyptian counterpart in Cairo on Saturday.

Need to evolve world opinion against n-weapons: A.P.J.Abdul Kalam

Shimla, 
July 14:
 Former Indian president and world renowned scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam today said world opinion was needed to be created against nuclear weapons of mass destruction.

"Nuclear energy is a clean source of energy but world opinion should be formed against nuclear weapons," he said at an interface with students of Shimla's schools and colleges.

Kalam said there were more than 10,000 nuclear weapons in the world. "Russia and America have signed nuclear arms reduction treaty. Attempts should be made not only to put curbs on addition of new weapons but also on their use. We are also a nuclear state. There is a need for universal pressure to free the world from nuclear weapons."

Kalam's comments came as school children asked him, "With technological advancement, how can we check the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction."

"This is really a difficult question," Kalam, who was the principal scientific advisor to the government before serving as the president from 2002 to 2007, remarked on being asked by another student about his experience with the political parties (during his presidentship).

"In politics, there are some good people. But the focus now shifted from development to politics. Normally, the development polity should be 70 percent and the politics of parties to get elected should be 30 percent. But now, the phenomenon has reversed. Development polity has reduced to 30 percent and the focus of political parties (to get elected) is 70 percent."

The missile man, who was the key player in India's 1998 nuclear test, asked students to read 'Biology of Beliefs' by Bruce Lipton to develop scientific temper.

"One should have four qualities -- great aim, upgradation of knowledge, hard work and perseverance," he told a class 4 student on being asked, "How one can become a president?"

He advised students to follow the footsteps of great personalities and get inspirations from them.

"When I was a 10-year-old boy studying in Class 5 in a small school, my teacher taught me about the bird's flight by drawing pictures on the blackboard. This developed my inclination towards science. I chose physics as one of my subjects. Thereafter, I learnt aeronautics and rocket engineering."

He said he had met 12 million youths in a decade and he could say there "is a marked change in their thinking process".

He told the students that India was going through difficult times. Despite corruption and scams, with the inner strength of the country and its strong economic base, India has the potential to become the leader of the world. "The 60 crore youth below the age of 25 give a lot of hope."

The former president was in town to deliver the keynote address at a public colloquium on fundamental duty.

His address to the select gathering of students, judiciary and government functionaries at the historic Gaiety Theatre was interactive.

Before taking questions from the children, Kalam asked the children to recite poem "I Will Fly" with him.

"I am born with potential. I am born with goodness and trust. I am born with ideas and dreams. I am born with greatness. I am born with confidence. I am born with wings. So, I am not meant for crawling, I have wings, I will fly I will fly and fly."(IANS)

India limits FDI in too many sectors: Barack Obama

WASHINGTON: Noting that India prohibited foreign investment in too many sectors such as retail, US President Barack Obama on Sunday cited concerns over deteriorating investment climate there to endorse another "wave" of economic reforms. 

Still sounding positive about Indian economy, "which continues to grow at an impressiverate," he said that to some extent, India's slower growth is a reflection of the larger slow down in the global economy. 

The US President made these observations in an interview to PTI here. 

Obama was careful not to be directly critical of the negative investment climate in India but cited the concerns of the American business community to make his points. 

Many in the American business community, "one of the great champions of the US-India partnership", have expressed concerns that the investment climate in India is deteriorating, he said. 

"They tell us it is still too hard to invest in India. In too many sectors, such as retail, India limits or prohibits the foreign investment that is necessary to create jobs in both our countries, and which is necessary for India to continue to grow," Obama said. 

Refraining from prescribing any solutions for India's economic difficulties, the president said, "it is not the place of the United States to tell other nations, including India, how to chart its economic future. That is for Indians to decide." 

Obama noted that "there appears to be a growing consensus in India that the time may be right for another wave of economic reforms to make India more competitive in the global economy." 

Obama then went on to add, "and as India makes the difficult reforms that are necessary, it will continue to have a partner in the United States." 

"It is important, though, to put this in the context of India's incredible growth and development in recent decades," he said. 

The president pointed out that India had lifted tens of millions of people out of poverty to create one of the world's largest middle classes. 

"Indian innovation is an engine of the global economy. And even with the recent challenges, the Indian economy continues to grow at an impressive rate. The Indian people have displayed aremarkable capacity to meet India's challenges," he said. 

Describing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as "my friend and partner with whom I have worked closely", Obama said he valued the insights of the Indian leader at various international fora including the recent G20 meeting in Mexico. 

He said at the G20 they agreed that one of the best things they could do to get the global economy growing faster was to renew the focus on growth and job creation in their own countries. 

"That's my priority in the US. Of course, one of the most effective ways we can create jobs is to continue expanding trade and investment, including between the US and India." 

The president said they need to keep strengthening the pillars of the long-term economic vitality and competitiveness, including the education of the people of the two countries, science and technology, and the modern infrastructure that allows them to move goods and services faster. 

"We need to keep up the fight against corruption, which stifles innovation and is one of the biggest barriers to job creation and economic growth around the world. These are some of the things we can do together as global partners," he said

74 Amarnath pilgrims die in 19 days

Jammu, July 14: Seventy-four Amarnath pilgrims have died in the first 19 days of the pilgrimage. This was acknowledged officially today by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) that manages the "yatra" to the 13,500-foot altitude cave shrine devoted to Lord Shiva in the south Kashmir's Pir Panjal range.

"Between June 25-July 13, a total of 74 lives have been lost, of which six were due to accidents, including the case of drowning of a non-Yatri, and 68 due to different medical reasons. It was noted that two Yatris had died in hotels, 12 in hospitals and two on the way to hospitals outside the Yatra area. As reported by the health department, as many as 1,85,259 pilgrims received treatment at various Medical Aid Centres and hospitals," said Navin K. Choudhary, chief executive officer of the SASB.

Of the 74 who lost their lives, 53 were in the 20-60 years age group, 16 in the 61-70 years group, three were above 70 years, and in two cases ages could not be ascertained.

A release issued by the spokesperson of the shrine board, which is headed by Governor N.N. Vohra, said that these facts came to light during a review meeting of the board. It was also acknowledged that some of the pilgrims were carrying "fake health certificates", thus dodging the authorities at the entry gates.

Choudhary said that the pilgrims died as they did not adhere to the advisory of the shrine board.

The board CEO also disclosed that till date more than 4.50 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at Amarnath.(IANS)

Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation to make use of satellite imaging to determine green cover

PUNE: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), which will soon be conducting its tree census, is planning to use global positioning technology (GPS) andsatellite imaging to determine the tree cover in the city.

Prakash Kadam, additional commissioner, PCMC, said, "We are finalising the conditions of the bid for inviting agencies to conduct the census. We will invite the bids soon. By the year-end, once the census is over, we will know about the exact percentage of the tree cover."

He said, "We want to use the GPS technology for the tree census. There are some companies in Bangalore who have the expertise in the field and are able to identify trees through satellite imaging."

According to the last tree census, which was conducted in 2006, there were 18 lakh trees in the city and there was 28 percentage of tree cover.

Kadam said the civic body has planted around eight lakh trees after 2006 and there are an estimated 22 lakh trees in the city now.

Meanwhile, the PCMC will be undertaking a tree plantation programme this year, wherein around 1.5 lakh saplings will be planted in the defence areas, bordering the municipal limits, at the Aundh military camp and the College of Military Engineering, Kadam said.

"We have held discussions with the defence authorities and told them to specify the area where the saplings can be planted," he said

Pimpri-Chinchwad mayor Mohini Lande told mediapersons that another tree plantation drive, which will start on July 22, will be held the year through for conservation of environment and trees as part of the birth centenary celebrations of the state's first chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan.

Municipal commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi has said that the local elected representatives, citizens, reputed people, organisations, schools and housing societies be consulted in deciding the spots where the saplings will be planted and also the species that are to be grown.

While appealing that citizens participate in the tree plantation drive, Lande said the civic body will felicitate people and organisations that successfully participate in the drive.

The civic body will provide free saplings to the social and voluntary organisations, government and semi-government offices, schools and colleges that will participate in the tree plantation drive.

Unbelievable to allege Pakistani involvement in 26/11: Salman Bashir

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's new envoy to IndiaSalman Bashir said on Sunday it was "unbelievable" and "incredible" to allege his country's state institutions' involvement in the Mumbai attacks, days after New Delhi demanded further action following LeT terrorist Abu Jundal's revelations.

Stating that Pakistan was looking at a new way of conducting its ties with India, Bashir said he expects India to do its part since it takes "two to tango".

"As I said if our own army headquarters are attacked, if ISI offices are attacked, then I think it is really unbelievable, incredible to allege that Pakistani state institutions have been involved in this (Mumbai attacks). We ought to look at the situation very objectively in our own respective national interests," Bashir told Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme.

Trying to clear any question marks over Islamabad's commitment to renewed peace process with India especially in the backdrop of the arrest of Jundal, who has alleged involvement of certain ISI officers in the Mumbai attacks, Bashir said Pakistan's leadership, state institutions and people have realised that it is in national interest to have best of relations.

"I would say there has been a sea change in Pakistan- India relationship scenario. I can say for Pakistan with great degree of certainty that all levels, the leadership, state institutions, people of Pakistan, we realise that it is in Pakistan's self interest, national interest to have best of relations," he said.

On the issue of terror, Bashir said Pakistan was willing to cooperate and reiterated his country's offer for a joint investigation into the Mumbai attacks. He said Pakistan is yet to hear from India on this.

Replying to queries if Pakistan was willing to probe the involvement of its state institutions in theMumbai attacks that killed 166 people, Bashir argued that his country itself was a victim of terror, which he described as a "virus". 

He also said it was wrong to say Pakistan was epicentre of terror. 

Refraining from direct comments, he said Pakistan was willing to cooperate and said it was "mindful" of its responsibilities. 

He referred to the recent foreign secretary-level talks and said there was "very good conversation, good dialogue" which also included the points raised by India pertaining to Jundal specifically and other matters related to terror. 

Pressed further on the issue of Jundal, who was deported from Saudi Arabia recently with a fake Pakistani passport, Bashir said India should share information with Pakistan. 

Asked if Jundal's statements on role of Pakistani state elements in the Mumbai attacks is a corroboration of what Pakistan-born American terrorist David Headley said, Bashir said one cannot take things reported in the media at face value. 

"Elements of Pakistan's state, that is what the media has been saying attributing it to Abu Jundal. We have taken note of all that is being said here and my answer again is the same. Let the two sides get together, work through this and I think you cannot take the word of an individual or what is being said out in the public opinion, more credence than actual conversations at official track," he said. 

Bashir also denied charges that the Mumbai terror attacks trial in Pakistan was a sham, saying Islamabad was serious about it. 

He deflected the blame to the judicial process and said the Pakistan government has done its best and "will continue to persist to ensure justice finally prevails."

future airplanes

Tsunami - Caught On Camera - P1

Future Laptops

Mobile phones concepts

The man who Filmed the Tsunami - Indonesia

Microsoft Windows History

Microsoft's Latest Concept Smartphone

UK soccer player John Terry not guilty of racist abuse

London (CNN) -- John Terry, one of England's biggest soccer stars, was found not guilty Friday of racially abusing fellow soccer player Anton Ferdinand, ending a high-profile trial in London.

Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said of Terry: "No one has been able to show that he is lying."

Reading his ruling, Riddle said it was a crucial fact that no one heard what Terry said.

Terry, the Chelsea captain, sat impassively in the courtroom as the verdict was read out at Westminster Magistrates' Court. It was greeted by cheers from the public gallery.

What's your reaction to the verdict? Have your say on iReport

Riddle said he accepted it was possible that Terry himself thought Ferdinand had accused him of using racial abuse.

But he also said he considered it "highly unlikely" that Ferdinand had accused Terry of calling him a "black c---."

Terry, who has received strong backing from Chelsea Football Club throughout the trial, left the court without addressing the public or media.

A statement issued on behalf of Terry by his legal team said he had been acquitted of all charges.

"He did not racially abuse Mr. Ferdinand and the court has accepted this. John would like to thank his legal team for their hard work and his family, friends and Chelsea Football Club for their support," the statement said.

Chelsea's chairman, Bruce Buck, welcomed the verdict, saying: "We at Chelsea are pleased that John Terry can now put his mind back to football."

The football club also said it respects the magistrate's decision to clear Terry.

"We are pleased that John can now focus on football and his preseason preparations with the team," it said in a statement on the official Chelsea website.

The English Football Association, which could still open its own disciplinary proceedings against Terry, said it noted the court's verdict and would "now seek to conclude its own enquiries."

Alison Saunders, chief crown prosecutor for London, defended the decision to bring the case to trial.

"The very serious allegation at the heart of this case was one of racial abuse. It was our view that this was not 'banter' on the football pitch and that the allegation should be judged by a court," she said in a prepared statement.

"The chief magistrate agreed that Mr. Terry had a case to answer, but having heard all of the evidence he acquitted Mr. Terry of a racially aggravated offense. That is justice being done and we respect the chief magistrate's decision."

The weeklong trial, during which the normally staid chambers got an earful of shockingly foul language, gripped the British press.

Terry, who was captain of the England national team at the time of the incident, was accused of calling Ferdinand, who plays for Queens Park Rangers, a "f------ black c---" as the pair traded insults during a game last October.

Terry did not deny directing a barrage of foul language at Ferdinand and referring to him as "black," but he denied engaging in racist abuse.

He told the court that he was repeating what he mistakenly thought Ferdinand had accused him of saying.

The highly unusual criminal prosecution over words uttered on a soccer field comes as English soccer officials fight to stamp racism out of the sport, with mixed results.

Lord Herman Ouseley, the chairman of UK football's anti-racism campaign, Kick It Out, said it would wait to hear the conclusions of the Football Association with regard to the Terry case.

"It will be interesting to hear from other organizations this will impact on, from governing bodies to leagues and clubs, and how they deem matters like this to be dealt with in the future," he said in a statement.

Terry was stripped of his England captaincy after a preliminary court hearing on the racism charge in February.

Obama says he and Romney don't need tax cuts

President Obama touted his tax cut plan today by citing some people who would benefit from an extension of all the George W. Bush tax cuts -- including himself and opponent Mitt Romney.

"To give me another tax break, or to give Warren Buffett another tax break, or to give Mitt Romney another tax break -- that would cost about a trillion dollars" in the federal budget, Obama told people in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

"We can't afford it," he said. "Not at a time when we're trying to bring down our deficit."

The president cited his and his opponent's wealth in again calling on Congress to extend the Bush tax rates for middle-class Americans but end them for Americans making more than $250,000 annually.

The Bush tax cuts are set to end at the end of the year.

Romney and other Republicans say ending the high-level tax cuts would hurt job creators, further slowing down the economy.

"At the very time the American people are seeing fewer jobs created than we need, the president announces he's going to make it harder for jobs to be created," Romney said in Colorado. "I just don't think this president understands how our economy works."

In Iowa, Obama said Republican support of tax cuts for the wealthy reflects a "top-down" approach to the economy that led to the financial meltdown of 2008.

"This election will determine our economic future for the next generation," Obama said.

Before his speech, Obama met with a Cedar Rapids family that would benefit from an extension of the middle-class tax cut.

Experts: Child hot-car deaths more common than expected

INDIANAPOLIS – The news that two parents in separate central Indiana incidents left their young child in a sweltering vehicle during a record heat wave has stirred outrage, but national child car-safety advocates say that, in reality, it happens more often than people realize and it happens to all kinds of parents.

On Saturday, a 4-month-old girl died in Greenfield and a 16-month-old girl in Fishers suffered a seizure and was in critical condition after being left locked in stifling hot cars.

Right before he left for his parents' home on Saturday afternoon, 18-year-old Joshua Stryzinski helped change his 4-month-old daughter into a one-piece outfit. It left her legs and arms exposed, a way to help keep her cool in the triple-digit heat.

He arrived to a busy home in Greenfield, Ind., his brother outside painting and the family preparing to go on vacation. He chatted with his father, Ronald, about maybe buying a car from him. About a couple of hours later, he realized it was time to pick his baby's mother up from her shift at Arby's.

When he got back to his 2002 Saturn SL1, the doors closed and the windows rolled up, he screamed when he realized what was inside — his daughter. He ripped her out and rushed her inside, still in her car seat.

She wasn't breathing. Joshua's father tried CPR as they rushed her to the hospital, only a block or two away.

But it was too late. Emergency-room doctors pronounced her dead. Her arms and legs had suffered third-degree burns.

These details emerged Monday in a 911 call and police probable-cause affidavit used to charge Stryzinski with neglect of a dependent leading to death. He has pleaded not guilty and was released from Hancock County Jail on Monday afternoon on a $50,000 cash bond.

On the same day Stryzinkski's infant daughter died, 30-year-old Meg Trueblood was shopping at a clothing store while her 16-month-old was in a locked car in the parking lot. That child suffered a seizure and was taken to the hospital but survived. Trueblood also has been charged with neglect of a dependent.

Janette Fennell tracks these cases as the president and founder of KidsAndCars.org. She says that perhaps 90% of the time, the parent is the type to put latches on their doors and padding around the coffee table.

She has met college professors, lawyers and ministers who have done it. Only a small percentage, she said, have drug problems or have had interactions with child protective services. "It's the exact opposite of the stereotype," she said.

Several who knew the Stryzinskis said they left no impression that they were anything but upstanding citizens.

"This is a good family that has lost a child they loved," said 39-year-old next-door neighbor Cherie Sirosky.

The 911 call — made by Stryzinki's brother and with audible screaming and wailing in the background — captures a family overcome with grief, desperation and panic.

Attempts to reach the Stryzinskis at their home Monday were unsuccessful.

Stryzinski had stopped at a friend's home en route to his parents' home to show the baby to the friend's parents, but apparently got confused and thought he had left the baby with the friend.

He told police he could not believe his daughter was in the car.

"The normal routine," Stryzinski told police, "is that someone is always watching my kid."

Statistically, what Stryzinski described fits what typically happens in such cases, according to the organization Safe Kids Worldwide.

The organization has been tallying fatal incidents where children have been left in cars since 1998. They count 550 cases nationwide where a child has died from hyperthermia or heat stroke while in a car. In 2010, at least 51 children died; in 2011, there were 33. The children have ranged in age from 5 days to 14 years old, though more than half of the dead are 2 years old or younger.

Of those cases, 52% of the parents didn't realize they had left the children there; 17% left the kids there knowingly. In 30% of the cases, the child managed to get into the car alone.

But how does it happen? How does a parent forget his or her child?

Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide, said so many factors can contribute to such a scenario — a change in routine, stress, lack of sleep. That might be especially true with a young, new parent.

"We can't rush to judgment," Carr said.

If Stryzinski simply forgot or became confused, less is known about the mother in the Fishers case.

Police detained Trueblood, 30, but records released to the media do not say what she told police as to why she left the child there.

According to police reports, Trueblood was shopping at Simply Chic clothing store in Fishers, leaving her 16-month-old in the back of her silver 2004 Ford Explorer.

A Simply Chic customer had noticed the child in the parking lot and returned inside to tell the store's manager. The customer and manager went outside, noticed the windows were up, tried to open the door — it was locked — and eventually called 911.

A police officer who responded tried to locate the child's mother, then smashed the window in. He carried the child, limp and unconscious, inside the store.

Employees wetted some fabric and started blotting her body with it. The police officer tried unsuccessfully to get her to drink some water. As medics arrived, she began to convulse.

At some point while the officer was caring for the baby, Trueblood identified herself as the girl's mother.

A store employee told police, though, she had arrived at the store about an hour before the police did, saying she wanted to find a dress because she was about to go and meet a guy. The employee said she was sure Trueblood had never left the store.

A Fisher's police spokesman told The Star on Saturday that it didn't appear the woman was coherent, but there was no mention of that in the police report.

When investigators measured the temperature inside the Ford Explorer it was 120 degrees.

Trueblood was charged with neglect resulting in serious bodily injury and taken to Hamilton County Jail, where she was released on bond.

Stryzinski also faces a neglect charge, though if convicted, he perhaps faces a worse sentence. In Indiana, the neglect charges make for a Class B felony if the child is seriously harmed and a Class A felony if the child dies.

10 years after hormone therapy study: What doctors know now

It's been 10 years since researchers of the Women's Health Initiative, a large randomized, controlled trial on hormone therapy sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, announced their first findings: that the health risks outweighed the benefits of estrogen plus progestin hormone therapy (HT) in postmenopausal women. Since then, additional research has advanced the understanding of the benefits and risks. JoAnn Manson, one of the study's lead investigators and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, is the president of the North American Menopause Society. She spoke with USA TODAY'sJanice Lloyd about what women need to know to get through the challenging time and to protect their health.

Q: Millions of women stopped taking hormone therapy as a result of the study 10 years ago. Was that a good thing?

A: Although the pendulum may have swung too far, it was a good thing that many women who were inappropriate candidates for HT stopped taking the medications. For example, it was fortunate that many women at high risk of heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer stopped taking HT. However, even young, newly menopausal, and healthy women with significant hot flashes and other symptoms became afraid to seek treatment. Also, many, many clinicians no longer prescribe, or know how to prescribe. This isn't a good situation for young women who are having severe menopausal symptoms. They're going to have trouble finding clinicians who will help them make the most informed decision.

Q: Critics fault the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) for using mostly older women who wouldn't benefit from hormone therapy. But what do you think was one of the biggest takeaways from that study?

A: WHI deserves credit for stopping what was becoming common practice of starting hormone therapy in older women who were at high risk for heart disease because we found it failed to protect them from heart disease, stroke or dementia, and actually increased their risk. We also learned there are major differences in the benefit-risk profile of estrogen alone — used by women who have had a hysterectomy — and estrogen plus progestin, used by women who have an intact uterus. The balance of benefits and risk was more favorable with estrogen alone.

Q: Was the study flawed in any way?

A: It's fortunate there was a broad range of age groups so we could assess differences by age, but unfortunate there were not more women in the younger age group so we'd have a clearer understanding of the results for younger women seeking relief from menopausal symptoms.

Q: What has been learned since 2002 about who is most likely to benefit from hormone replacement therapy?

A: It's become very clear that a "one size fits all" approach is not appropriate. The WHI has pointed the way to more individualized decision making and health care.

Q: Can you describe a woman likely to get the most benefit?

A She is newly menopausal, within five years of onset of menopause, and in generally good health and with few risk factors for heart disease or breast cancer. For example, she would be a nonsmoker, not obese and does not have diabetes or poorly controlled blood pressure. That is the optimal candidate. But an optimal candidate would also have moderate or severe hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms, so she'd have a clear indication for treatment. From a breast cancer standpoint, she would not have first-degree relatives (mother, sister) with breast cancer and would not be known to have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. (Women who have inherited mutations in these genes have a higher risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.) Even though that's the optimal candidate, I don't want to suggest that these are the only women who would benefit from HT or be considered for treatment.

Q: What length of time is safe for HT?

A: We usually advise women and their clinicians to avoid more than five years of estrogen plus progestin because of the risk of breast cancer. Estrogen alone did not increase the risk of breast cancer in the WHI over seven years and may be used for that time period, or even longer if needed.

Q: What if a woman has mild menopause symptoms but wants to also take it for bone protection?

A: We don't generally recommend a woman start or continue on HT just for bone protection. The reason is, once you discontinue estrogen there is accelerated bone loss. If a woman is taking estrogen in her 50s by the time she gets to her 70s or 80s, when risk of osteoporotic fracture is greatest, she'll retain only a limited benefit (from HT). And we wouldn't recommend using estrogen plus progestin for 20-30 years for bone benefit because that would put women at increased risk for breast cancer and stroke. Other strategies are available for bone protection.

Q: If a woman wants to re-evaluate her decision about HT, how does she get started?

A: The website for the North American Menopause Society provides a great deal of information for patients and their clinicians. Finding a good clinician who is up to date on HT research and has experience prescribing these medications can be a challenge. The NAMS website (menopause.org) lets people know which clinicians in their zip code area have extra training and interest in menopausal issues and are NAMS certified menopause practitioners (NCMPS).

Q: What important research is in the pipeline?

A: We need more information on different formulations and doses of HT. The results of the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study will be presented at the North American Menopause Society meeting in October. KEEPS is a study of 727 women who were within three years of the onset of menopause (42 to 58 years old) when they enrolled in the HT trial. KEEPS is looking at a number of outcomes, including whether early estrogen prevents or delays atherosclerosis and improves cognitive function or quality of life. It's also comparing different formulations of treatment.

British PC users face 'internet doomsday' as FBI shuts off servers

Hundreds of thousands may have been affected by the FBI's battle against computer crime

                                                      

More than 250,000 people, including many in the UK, may have been affected, after the FBI shut down servers today as part of their fight against computer crime.

In November 2011 the FBI brought charges against an Estonia-based gang who used a malware known as "DNS Changer" to net more than £9m. The virus hijacked web searches, forcing victims to see certain adverts.

The FBI had delayed shutting down the servers until today to allow time for victims to disinfect their computers. Millions of users have since been alerted, but it is feared that around 250,000 unaware victims worldwide will have lost internet access when the FBI shut down the servers at 00.00 EDT (5am GMT) this morning.

The FBI arranged for a private company to run a website, http://www.dcwg.org, which PC users could visit to instantly check if their computer has been infected. By now it's too late for those who have already lost access. They will have to rely on telephone helplines set up by internet service providers.

UK Remploy plants closure confirmed

The Government today confirmed the closure of 27 factories employing disabled workers, saying the loss-making sites could not be subsidised any longer.

Maria Miller, minister for disabled people, told MPs the £320 million budget for disabled employment services could be spent more effectively.

She also announced a further consultation on the future of nine other Remploy factories which have been the subject of bids.

Union sources said the 27 factories will close between August and mid-December.

Workers at Remploy's 54 factories are due to stage two 24-hour strikes in the coming weeks in protest at an announcement by the Government earlier this year of closures.

The GMB union said the strikes would go ahead despite today's announcement.

The minister, who was heckled by opposition MPs during her statement to the Commons, said Remploy workers had been informed of the announcement this afternoon.

"This is difficult news. We are doing everything we can to ensure that Remploy workers will receive a comprehensive package of support and guidance to make the transition from Government-funded sheltered employment to mainstream jobs," said Ms Miller.

The Government announced in March that Remploy was planning to close 36 of its 54 factories, putting more than 1,700 jobs at risk.

The factories were established 66 years ago as part of the creation of the welfare state.

Workers are employed in enterprises that vary from furniture and packaging manufacturing to recycling electrical appliances and operating CCTV systems and control rooms.

The Government said money from the disability employment budget should be reinvested into other schemes to help disabled people find work.

The move follows a review conducted by Liz Sayce, chief executive of Disability Rights UK, into the way in which the Government spends its disability employment budget.

Her report recommended that the Government funding should focus on support for individuals, rather than subsidising factory businesses.

The minister told MPs that the report had made it clear that subsidised employment was not consistent with equality for disabled people.

By spending money more effectively, thousands more disabled people can be helped into work, she said.

The minister said: "Our approach has been led by disabled people's organisations and disabled people themselves, many of whom have welcomed the move to end the pre-war practice of segregated employment."

Phil Davies, national officer of the GMB union, said: "GMB is very angry with the Government's confirmation today that it will close 27 Remploy factories in the first wave by December with the rest to follow shortly afterwards.

"To close these factories that employ disabled people in the present economic climate is a sentence to life of unemployment and poverty.

"The strikes will go ahead on July 19 and 26 as planned and should be a rallying point giving for each local community, the opportunity to stand behind these disabled workers who will be facing the scrapheap."

Kevin Hepworth, Unite's national officer, said: "Remploy workers will be taking strike action to defend their jobs as the axe is wielded by the Government.

"By taking strike action they are trying to avoid their certain destiny of being chucked on the economic scrapheap. They deserve the support of all trade unionists and the public in Britain."

The list of the 36 factories that were announced in March to close were: Aberdare, Aberdeen, Abertillery, Acton, Ashington, Barking, Barrow, Birkenhead, Bolton, Bridgend, Bristol, Chesterfield, Cleator Moor, Croespenmaen, Edinburgh, Gateshead, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Merthyr Tydfil, Motherwell, Newcastle, North London, North Staffs, Oldham, Penzance, Pontefract, Poole, Preston, Southampton, Spennymoor, Springburn, Swansea, Wigan, Worksop and Wrexham.

The nine factories to be subject to further consultation are: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Springburn, Barrow, Bristol, Chesterfield, Poole, Bridgend, Croespenmaen.

Unite accused the Government of showing a "callous disregard" for disabled workers and attacked Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith for not making the statement himself.

National officer Sally Kosky said: "Today's announcement has come totally out of the blue with the Government and Iain Duncan Smith showing a callous disregard for vulnerable disabled workers.

"He's lived up to his own description of being the 'quiet man', by getting a junior minister to try and bury bad news ahead of the Lords reform debate.

"Our members are desperate to work in an environment that takes account of their disability, where they can make a valued contribution to society and pay their way. They do not want to be thrown on the scrapheap and relying on handouts."

A Welsh Government spokesman said: "This statement is a hammer blow for Remploy workers and factories in Wales.

"When the UK Government made their closure announcement we asked them to devolve the Remploy budget and factories to the Welsh Government so that we could create our own sustainable future for this organisation. The Department for Work and Pensions has refused to consider this.

"We will continue to work with Remploy, the unions and other interested parties - of which there are many - to see whether we can find a viable option for the workers. We will strive to find the best solution we can and to save as many jobs as possible."

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "We have been absolutely clear that the £320 million budget for specialist disability employment services has been protected. But by spending the money more effectively, we can support thousands more disabled people in work.

"That is why we accepted the recommendation from disability expert Liz Sayce, to focus support on individuals through services like Access to Work, rather than institutions like Remploy, so more disabled people can work in mainstream employment rather than segregated factories.

"All disabled Remploy staff affected by the change will be guaranteed a package of tailored support to help with the transition; £8 million is available for this support which includes a personal case worker with one-on-one sessions and access to a personal budget.

"They can also access support from Remploy Employment Services which has found 35,000 jobs for disabled and disadvantaged people since 2010 - many with similar disabilities to those working in Remploy factories."

Mark Lever, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society, said: "The closure of the Remploy factories will be devastating for those people currently working there and every effort has to be made to help them find new employment. The change in routine will be particularly challenging for people with autism and steps must be taken to ensure that they are adequately equipped to deal with the transition.

"With 2.61 million people already unemployed in the UK and 59% of adults with autism telling us that they don't believe or don't know if they will ever get a job, the Government must ensure that the right support is in place for those with autism. Otherwise they risk depriving many more adults on the spectrum of making the valuable contribution to society that they want and deserve, potentially for the rest of their lives."

Former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain said: "This is a callous, shameless betrayal of thousands of disabled workers who will never work again in areas like Neath where 10 people are chasing every job vacancy. The Government is out of touch and arrogant.

"It is also cynically misrepresenting the truth when it says that the modernisation programme I announced as Secretary of State in December 2007, funded by a £555 million subsidy over five years has 'failed'.

"It was never allowed to succeed by this Government because the plan depended on Remploy factories getting more government and public sector orders. Instead the Government just washed their hands of Remploy."

SNP Work and Pensions spokesman Dr Eilidh Whiteford said: "This is a devastating blow to the employees at Remploy in Wishaw and my thoughts are with all those affected. It is crucial that meaningful, specialist employment advice is available and a fair support package is put in place for those facing redundancy.

"Any efforts to assist disabled people into mainstream work are to be commended, but there is little in the UK Government's plans to show how this will happen in practice."

(Latest in Climate Change) Study forecasts global increase in freak weather

Heatwaves and flooding are more likely in coming decades because of climate change, according to a new report which found that global warming probably caused freak weather around the world last year.

The burst of heat in the UK in November and Texas’s driest summer for 100 years were more likely to have happened because of climate change, according to the study.

However other freak weather events such as floods in Thailand were unlikely to have been caused by an increase in man-made greenhouse gases, the scientists explained in the Bulletin of the American Metereological Society.

They calculated that the chances of the exceptionally cold December experienced in the UK in 2011 had halved; but it still happened – as a result of natural variations in the weather.

The research into “climate attribution”, which included a contribution from the UK Met Office’s Peter Stott, looked at six key weather events shortly after they happened.

Dr Stott, head of climate monitoring and attribution, said: “While we didn’t find that climate change has affected the odds of all the extreme weather events we looked at, we did see that some events were significantly more likely. Overall, we’re seeing that human influence is having a marked impact on some types of extreme weather.”

He said the extremely warm November was 60 times more likely to have occurred as a result of climate change than in the 1960s.

Germany's oddest tourist attractions

Valhalla temple, Bavaria

This neo-classical structure perches high on the banks of the Danube and is an almost perfect copy of the Parthenon in Athens. Housing over 200 busts and plaques of eminent Germans, the Valhalla temple is a 169-year-old who’s-who of German history and is visited by over one million people annually.

German Hygiene Museum, Dresden

Less soap and scrubbing brushes, and more social and scientific revolution, The Hygiene Museum in Dresden receives over 300,000 visitors a year. Main exhibitions centre now centre around the human body, and the promotion of bodily awareness and health over the past century. During the Third Reich, however, it was used to produce material in support of eugenics.

Surfing on the Isar River, Bavaria

For the past 30 years, water sport enthusiasts in Munich have been turning their hand at city centre surfing on a tributary of the Isar River. A one metre high standing wave can be found just beyond the Haus der Kunst and during sunny days, queues of people can be found waiting for their turn to carve it up.

As Slow As Possible - John Cage performance, Saxony-Anhalt

One for the music aficionados, John Cage’s composition As Slow As Possible is being played one note at a time in St. Burchardi church, Halberstadt, Saxony-Anhalt. Played normally, the piece should last between 20 and 70 minutes, but in St. Burchardi’s the piece will end in 2640, making it the longest performance ever, lasting a whopping 639 years long. The next note change is scheduled for July 5 2012, when crowds are expected to gather to hear it.

Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Leipzig

One of the largest Goth events in the world takes place every spring in Leipzig, where 20,000 dark revellers will be getting their freak on. The global meet-up started in old East Germany, but was swiftly banned. Restarted again in 1992, Goths worldwide have been descending on the Saxon city over Whitsun weekend ever since.

Hermann memorial, North Rhine-Westphalia

Deep in the Teutoburg forest near Detmold stands a 54 metre tall homage to ancient Germanic war chief Hermann. The monument, atop of which stands a 26 metre tall figure of Hermann himself, was built in the 19th century to commemorate several battles in the area, in which German tribes triumphed over Roman legions in 9 AD.

Tropical Islands, Brandenburg

A (not so genuine) touch of the exotic in Brandenburg; Tropical Islands is the world’s largest indoor pool complex nestled in a 66,000 metre square airship hangar. And for just €29 visitors can enjoy a day exploring the tropical rainforests, playing mini golf and swimming in the Balinese lagoon. Tropical Islands is open every day of the year and stays at a pleasant 26 degrees Celsius in deepest winter.

Teufelsberg, Berlin

Teufelsberg, or "the devil’s hill" in English stands at 80 metres over Berlin and was built by the Allies post World War II using the mounds of rubble left over from bombing raids. The site was originally earmarked by Hitler as the location of a new military training school, but now hosts an abandoned Cold-War listening station. The stunning views from the top and sloping sides make it popular with both thrill-seekers and those looking to relax.

Mud Olympics, Schleswig-Holstein

North of Hamburg, around 500 contestants in the annual Mud Olympics – Wattolümpiade – throw themselves around on the soggy banks of the river Elbe. Teams take part in events such as mud volleyball, tug of war, and a wriggly eel relay race in this unorthodox battle of the fittest. Getting filthy isn’t just in the name of fun, however, as proceeds are donated to local charities.

Pope blocks magazine over 'leaks' stain picture

Pope Benedict was obviously not amused when he saw himself pictured with yellow stains down his cassock on a German satire magazine in a nod to the Vatican leaks scandal. He has taken legal action to stop publication.


Hamburg district court said on Tuesday afternoon it would issue an injunction preventing further publication of the Titanic magazine, although copies already on the market can still be sold. 

The front cover bears a photograph of the pope with a large yellow stain on the front of his cassock and the headline, “Hallelujah in the Vatican - the leak has been found!”

The back cover has a photo of him from behind with a large brown stain and the headline, “Another leak is found!”

Matthias Kopp, spokesman for the German Bishops’ Conference said was an infringement of Benedict’s personal rights and was illegal. The magazine had overstepped “any acceptable mark” with the pictures, he said. 

But Titanic editor Leo Fischer said he was pursuing personal contact with the pontiff and was prepared to fight the case all the way through the courts. 

The German Press Council said on Tuesday afternoon that it had received one complaint from a reader about the picture. 

The last time the Vatican took legal action against the Titanic was in 2010 when it complained against a cover which showed a Catholic priest kneeling in front of a crucified Jesus – who was blushing. 

That cover, which referred to the sex abuse scandals in the church, provoked around 200 complaints to the Press Council, which nonetheless decided not to take action. 

An initial statement from the magazine quoted Fischer saying, “Benedict must have misunderstood us.” 

He suggested that the cover showed the pope, “who was celebrating after the leak affair was solved and in his excitement has spilled a glass of lemonade over his cassock.” 

The "Vatileaks" scandal has seen whistleblowers copying and leaking private documents straight from Benedict's desk, causing deep embarrassment to the Vatican.

The leaked documents shed light on many Vatican secrets, including the Church's tax problems, paedophile priest scandals and negotiations with hardline traditionalist rebels.