Tuesday, 29 April 2014

14 Creepy Abandoned Military Sites From Around the World

Designed as a pyramid for an unknown reason, the Mickelsen Safeguard Complex near Nekoma, N.D., was a radar system intended to find and destroy missiles launched at the U.S. Inside the complex, along with radar, were 30 Spartan antiballistic missiles and 16 Sprint missiles.

Because of a treaty with the Soviet Union that limited the number of weapons complexes each country could have, Mickelsen didn't even stay in service for an entire year. The complex was deactivated on Feb. 10, 1976.



Grain higher, cattle mostly lower and pork higher


Grain futures were higher Tuesday in early trading on the Chicago Board of Trade.


Wheat for July delivery was unchanged at 7.0850 a bushel; July corn was 4.50 cents higher at 5.1825 a bushel; July oats were unchanged at 3.6250 a bushel; while July soybeans was 5.50 cents higher at 15.0550 a bushel.


Beef mostly lower and pork higher on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.


June live cattle was .03 cents higher at $1.3685 a pound; Aug feeder cattle was .05 cent lower at 1.8630 a pound; June lean hogs gained 0.35 cents to $1.2457 a pound.



Lawmakers review Republican roads funding proposal


Michigan lawmakers are working to advance a Republican roads funding plan to spend at least $500 million annually by the 2018 budget year.


The House transportation committee heard testimony Tuesday on bills in the package that would require warranties on road work to avoid short-term fixes and would change various streams of tax revenue. It holds another hearing Thursday.


Minority Democratic lawmakers say a plan to double permit fees for overweight and oversized vehicles doesn't go far enough, since fees are low to begin with and those vehicles have the greatest impact on roads.


Some lawmakers also question whether state and local governments have the staff and resources to oversee performance-based contracts and warranties. Michigan Transportation Director Kirk Steudle says officials are still working out the details of those plans.



National NAACP wants meeting with NBA commissioner

The Associated Press



The NAACP wants a meeting with NBA commissioner Adam Silver to discuss Clippers owner Donald Sterling and the racist comments he allegedly made in a recorded conversation.


The announcement was made Tuesday morning by Roslyn M. Brock, the chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors. She says the NAACP wants to talk to Silver about what it calls, quote, "the influence and impact of racism in the National Basketball Association."


This comes as the organization's Los Angeles chapter withdrew its decision to give Sterling a lifetime achievement award, and returned money he donated. Brock says the situation reminds us "racism and bigotry are still alive and well in all corners of society."


The NBA is scheduled to announce later Tuesday the result of its investigation into Sterling's alleged remarks.



Comer: First hemp crop in decades set for planting


Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer says the state's first hemp crop in decades will be planted next month.


Comer said Tuesday he expects hemp seeds to start arriving soon at the state Agriculture Department.


He says eight pilot projects are planned as the crop that once thrived in Kentucky is reintroduced on a small scale.


The new federal farm bill allows state agriculture departments to designate pilot projects for research in states that allow the growing of hemp.


Kentucky lawmakers passed legislation last year allowing hemp to be reintroduced, if the federal government allows its production.


The versatile crop was banned decades ago due to its ties to marijuana. Hemp and marijuana are the same species, but hemp has a negligible content of the psychoactive compound that gives marijuana users a high.



Future bloc reiterate support to Geagea for presidency


BEIRUT: The Future Movement parliamentary bloc reiterated its support to Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in the race to the presidency and called Lebanese lawmakers to vote for him, said a statement issued after the bloc's weekly meeting said Tuesday.


Following a meeting headed by former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, the bloc announced it will take part in Wednesday's election session and urged various parliamentary groups to follow suit.


"Participating in the session is at the core of Parliament's democratic mission and aims to safeguard Lebanon's Constitution and institutions," said MP Ammar Houri who read the statement.


Houri said Geagea was the March 14 coalition's candidate for the presidential election, adding that his bloc urged MPs to vote for him.


"The platform of [Samir] Geagea, which embraces the principles of independence and sovereignty, fulfills the aspirations of the March 14 coalition and the majority of the Lebanese."



Goodyear posts 1Q loss of $58M


Goodyear posted a first-quarter loss of $58 million as it navigated a volatile situation in Venezuela.


The tire company's loss amounted to 23 cents per share, compared with a profit of $26 million, or 10 cents per share, in the year-ago period.


Excluding one-time items, including $132 million in charges related to the Venezuelan currency, the company turned in a profit of 56 cents per share, which was still 4 cents short of Wall Street expectations.


Revenue fell 8 percent to $4.47 billion from $4.85 billion, just shy of projections for revenue of $4.81 billion according to a poll by FactSet.


Shares of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., based in Akron, dropped 7 percent, to $25.27 in premarket trading.



Orr meets with lawmakers on Detroit bankruptcy


Detroit's emergency manager is in Lansing updating lawmakers on the city's bankruptcy as they consider a potential vote on a financial bailout to help Detroit emerge from insolvency.


Kevyn Orr on Tuesday declined to comment on Republican House Speaker Jase Bolger's demand that unions add money to a deal to prevent steep pension cuts and the sale of valuable art. He says he's explaining to legislators his proposed restructuring plan and focusing on what's "feasible."


Orr says Detroit's reaching deals with unions and creditors he thinks make sense after "hard-fought" negotiations. Orr has an afternoon meeting with Bolger.


The success of Orr's plan hinges on $350 million promised by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. The money is part of more than $800 million from foundations, private donors and the art museum.



Outside lab asked to review Hanford vapor problem


A South Carolina lab will lead an independent review of chemical fumes reported by workers at waste storage tanks at the nation's most contaminated nuclear weapons site in Washington state.


Washington River Protection Solutions, a contractor, asked the Savannah River National Laboratory to provide a broader analysis and recommendations for the Hanford Nuclear Reservation than previous reviews in 2008 and 2010.


The U.S. Energy Department supports the review to resolve questions raised this spring after more than two dozen workers received medical attention following apparent exposure to chemical vapors at the nuclear reservation in eastern Washington, the Tri-City Herald reported (http://bit.ly/1fMpnuX ).


The fumes that vent from the underground tanks have been a concern for two decades. A number of safety steps have been taken in recent years, but the latest exposures show more needs to be done, said Dave Olson, president of Washington River Protection Solutions.


The independent team will look at the technology used to protection against contact with vapors and additional technology that can test the personal breathing space of individual workers.


Now, after vapors are smelled and industrial hygienists try to detect them, fumes often have dispersed into the air, said Kevin Smith, manager of the Energy Department's Hanford Office of River Protection.


Hanford's 177 underground tanks hold 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste left over from nuclear weapons production from World War II through the Cold War. So far, the cleanup has cost some $40 billion, and officials estimate it will cost $115 billion more.



Tensions high in Roumieh over investigation


BEIRUT: Tensions were running high in Roumieh Prison Tuesday after security forces transferred three inmates to a different building for an investigation, a security source told The Daily Star.


Security forces tried to transfer the inmates earlier in the day but were faced with fierce opposition from other prisoners, prompting an elite unit of the Internal Security Forces to be brought in to move the men.


The source said the three inmates were suspected of heading a ring that smuggles drugs into Roumieh, Lebanon's most notorious prison.


In a statement, the ISF said the three were accused of forming a gang inside the prison and blackmailing other inmates, adding that the judiciary had asked to interrogate them.



Senate committee approves 3 nominees for Fed board


A Senate committee has advanced the nominations of three officials selected by President Barack Obama to fill vacancies on the seven-member Federal Reserve Board.


The Banking Committee approved the nominations of Stanley Fischer to be vice chairman and Lael Brainard to be a board member. It also approved the nomination of Jerome Powell, a current board member, for another term.


The three, approved on a voice vote, are expected to win easy approval in the full Senate. Committee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-S.D., has said that, given the vacancies on the Fed board, it's important for the Senate to act quickly on the nominations.


Fischer, a former head of the Bank of Israel, would succeed Janet Yellen in the No. 2 job, the post she vacated to become Fed chair.



Stocks move higher as company earnings impress


Stock prices are moving higher in early trading as more companies deliver strong earnings reports.


Merck and Ameriprise Financial were among the corporations reporting better-than-expected earnings. Merck rose 3 percent and Ameriprise rose 5 percent.


The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose eight points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,877 in the first few minutes of trading Tuesday.


The Dow Jones industrial average rose 80 points, or 0.5 percent, to 16,525. The Nasdaq composite increased 18 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4,093.


Some companies disappointed investors with their results. Coach slumped 8 percent after the luxury goods maker said its profit fell in the first three months of the year.


Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.72 percent.



Terrifying Albino Kingsnakes Are Destroying the Canary Islands


The international exotic pet trade is one of those issues we kinda think about but then just ignore because we don't really get it. It might not help that the closest thing to demonstrate its potential impact on an environment was the movie Outbreak but unfortunately we have a real, Dustin Hoffman-free, example in the Canary Islands.


According to phys.org, a species of California Kingsnake bred only in captivity has been causing chaos in the Canary Islands' biosphere because of its ability to adapt to any condition and its ability to eat whatever it wants without a predator to keep the species in check. Most of the snakes are on the main island of Gran Canaria which is a volcanic island with a tropical climate and plenty of flora and fauna. Or until recently.


USGS invasive species specialists estimate that there are thousands of kingsnakes on the island as part of an invasive species issue that first raised alarms back in 2007. Their inaction then will require plenty of action now. Since the kingsnakes spend most of their time underground, the USGS will use earth movers to plow up the land where they are believed to be. Officials say they'll be delighted if they can halve the kingsnake population through this effort.


They also believe this sort of invasive species problem will continue to exist so long as people with high incomes have tastes in having exotic pets. So when you get that promotion, do yourself a favor: don't go Mike Tyson on us and buy a tiger or any other exotic animal. Buy a goldfish, or else Dustin Hoffman will have to save us from an epidemic.



Consol Energy turns 1Q profit


Consol Energy Inc. earned $116 million in the first quarter, helped in part by growth from its division that focuses on oil and gas exploration and production.


Its overall results bat Wall Street expectations, and its shares rose more than 4 percent in morning trading.


The Canonsburg, Pa., company said revenue from the E&P Division jumped 58 percent to $267.2 million, as production from its higher margin Marcellus Shale operation increased 94 percent. The Marcellus Shale is a gas-rich formation deep underground that extends across several states, but most of the current production is in Pennsylvania.


"Our E&P segment continues to grow production, to deliver more efficient drilling and completions results, and is becoming a larger contributor to our earnings," Consol President Nic Deluliis said in a statement.


Consol also runs a division focused on coal mining.


Overall, the company earned 50 cents a share in the three months that ended March 31. It lost about $1.6 million, or a penny per share, in last year's quarter. Total revenue climbed 15 percent to about $969.1 million.


Analysts expected, on average, earnings of 19 cents per share on nearly $912 million in revenue, according to FactSet.


Shares of the energy company jumped $1.93, or 4.6 percent, to $43.88 in morning trading Tuesday. Its shares had been up 16 percent so far this year through Monday's close.



UnitedHealth, Snyder to make jobs announcement


The country's largest health benefits and services company will join Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to make a jobs-related announcement.


UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley and Snyder on Tuesday afternoon are planning to discuss the future of subsidiary Optum in the state. Optum has offices in the Detroit suburb of Southfield and is described as an information and technology-enabled health services business with more than 50,000 employees worldwide.


UnitedHealth Group is based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Optum says it delivers "intelligent, integrated solutions" to help modernize the health system. One of its newer functions is helping government officials fix online state health insurance marketplaces unveiled under the federal health care law.



No more Mr. Nice Guy: Drug dealer detained


BEIRUT: Security forces arrested Tuesday one of the most infamous drug dealers in the country who was known as "Nice Guy," a security source told The Daily Star.


The suspect, identified as Adel Njeim, was in his chalet in Faraya, a mountainous region, when security forces detained him.


Describing him as one of the country's main drug dealers, the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that "Nice Guy" sold drugs in several areas, including the Beirut district of Ashrafieh and the northern town of Batroun.


He used to work in nightclubs, cabarets, schools, colleges and coffee shops, the source said.


"He used to sell 3 kilograms of cocaine on a daily basis," the source said, adding that authorities had been tracking Njeim's movements for three months.



Hariri, Bassil hold contacts ahead of election session


BEIRUT: Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks Tuesday with Foreign Affairs Minister Gebran Bassil, dispatched by MP Michel Aoun, over the presidential election - just a day before parliament is set to convene for the second round of voting.


Several local media outlets reported Hariri and Bassil met in Paris over lunch.


Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement has been discussing with the Future Movement their potential support for the former general’s presidency bid. However, a senior Future source told The Daily Star Monday that Aoun’s hopes were misplaced.


Speaker Nabih Berri along with Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil, the speaker’s aid, also met with Abu Faour in Ain el-Tineh and discussed current developments and the election.


Abu Faour, dispatched by MP Walid Jumblatt, returned to Beirut after a two-day trip to Saudi Arabia, the second in 10 days, where he discussed the presidential election with Saudi officials.


MPs are scheduled to meet in Parliament for the second round of voting after no candidate was able to secure the two-thirds vote needed to win last week.


However, the session is expected to fail to obtain the needed quorum as several March 8 blocs are likely to scuttle the vote to push their rivals in the March 14 coalition to agree on a consensus candidate.


FPM MP Ibrahim Kanaan said the bloc would not attend what he described as a "folklore" session.


“We do not believe in a presidential vacuum ... but in the National Covenant and a genuine, serious national choice rather than folklore session,” Kanaan said after the Change and Reform bloc’s weekly meeting.


“We will deal with the presidential election stemming from such a belief."


Last week, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, the March 14-backed candidate, won 48 votes against 52 blank ballots cast by lawmakers from MP Michel Aoun’s bloc and March 8 parties. Some 16 lawmakers voted for MP Henry Helou from Jumblatt’s bloc.


Separately, Abu Faour slammed Deputy Parliament Speaker Farid Makari for comments he had made about Jumblatt, defending the PSP leader by saying he played a role in preserving civil peace in the country.


"The world witnessed him contributing to preserving civil peace, supporting consensus and protecting stability,” Abu Faour said. "Wise people appreciate Jumblatt's role and that is enough for us."


Earlier Tuesday, Makari criticized Jumblatt’s role as a kingmaker in Lebanese politics, saying: “The only good thing that could come out of an agreement between Future Movement and Free Patriotic Movement is eliminating the role Jumblatt plays as the kingmaker between the two coalitions in Parliament.”



Samsung reports higher Q1 earnings on smartphones


Samsung Electronics Co. says its first quarter earnings improved moderately from the previous year.


Samsung said Tuesday its January-March net income rose 6 percent to 7.6 trillion won ($7.4 billion) while its revenues gained 2 percent to 53.7 trillion won.


More than three-quarters of its 8.5 trillion won quarterly operating profit came from its handset business, with its Galaxy smartphones continuing to see solid sales.


Samsung launched the Galaxy S5 earlier in April at a cheaper price than its previous flagship smartphones, as sales of affordable handsets see strong growth in emerging countries.


The Korean company said lower marketing expenses also bolstered its profit.


It forecast its second-quarter earnings will grow because its key businesses — display panels, TVs, handsets and memory chips — are all likely to see improvements.



HCA 1Q profit climbs but misses expectations


Shares of HCA Holdings Inc. slipped Tuesday after the hospital operator reported first-quarter earnings that inched up but fell short of Wall Street's expectations.


The Nashville, Tenn., company said results for the quarter that ended March 31 included $78 million in legal claim costs from an increase in an estimate of the company's liability in a lawsuit over the purchase of some hospitals from Health Midwest. The quarter also included a $21-million gain on the sale of some facilities.


Not counting those items, HCA earned 84 cents per share in the quarter, a penny short of average analyst expectations for 85 cents per share.


Overall, the company earned $347 million, or 76 cents per share, in the first quarter. That compares with earnings of $344 million, or 74 cents per share, last year.


Revenue climbed 4.6 percent to $8.83 billion.


Analysts expected, on average, $8.87 billion in revenue, according to FactSet.


HCA runs about 165 hospitals and 115 free-standing surgery centers in 20 states and England. It said adjusted admissions at hospitals open at least a year fell slightly, but revenue per admission at those locations rose 3.7 percent.


The company's stock fell 3 percent, or $1.61, to $51Tuesday morning, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index climbed slightly. The stock had just reached a 52-week high price of $53.81 on Monday.



Chinese pork giant WH Group shelves IPO


Chinese pork-producing giant WH Group says it's shelving its multibillion-dollar Hong Kong IPO as investor demand sags amid rocky financial markets.


The company said late Tuesday it is abandoning the plan to sell shares because of "deteriorating market conditions and recent excessive market volatility."


It said the global stock offering "will not proceed at this time."


WH Group became the world's biggest pork company after buying Smithfield Foods of the U.S. last year.


The company, which changed its name from Shuanghui International Holdings, had initially planned to raise up to $5.3 billion in an initial public offering on Hong Kong's stock exchange.


According to its prospectus, WH Group planned to source cheap, high quality hogs from the U.S. to feed growing demand for pork in China.



Stock futures higher


U.S. stock futures are edging higher Tuesday, suggesting a higher open for the market, as more companies report earnings.


KEEPING SCORE: Dow Jones industrial average futures were up 42 points, or 0.2 percent, to 16,440 as of 9:08 a.m. Eastern time. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures gained four points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,870 and Nasdaq futures rose six points, or 0.2 percent, to 3,547.


COST-CUTTING BOOST: Merck edged up 57 cents, or 1 percent, to $57.25 in pre-market trading after the drugmaker reported a 7 percent rise in first-quarter profit, well ahead of Wall Street expectations.


KORS FOR CONCERN: Coach fell $8.90, or 4.7 percent, to $45.95 ahead of the open after the maker of luxury handbags said its profit fell in the first three months of the year. Profit declined as sales in North America came under pressure from competitors like Michael Kors Holdings.


TREASURIES AND COMMODITIES: In government bond trading, prices edged lower. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.72 percent from 2.74 percent on Monday. The price of oil rose $1.03, or 1 percent, to $101.87 a barrel.



MGM Resorts 1Q profit leaps on Macau strength


MGM Resorts International's first-quarter net income soared, bolstered by continued strength in Macau and improved room bookings on the Las Vegas Strip.


Chairman and CEO Jim Murren said in a statement that MGM Resorts is increasing U.S. convention business at its properties in the middle of the week and hosting a strong slate of events on weekends.


At CityCenter — the massive development in Las Vegas that is owned jointly with Dubai World — revenue from resort operations edged up 2 percent to $313 million.


MGM China — which runs the MGM Macau casino-resort and is developing a new Cotai resort — reported that revenue rose 26 percent. Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal. MGM Cotai is on pace to open in early 2016.


For the period ended March 31, the casino operator earned $108.2 million, or 21 cents per share. A year earlier it earned $6.5 million, or 1 cent per share.


The current quarter included a $3.5 million income tax benefit. The prior-year period reflected a $30.4 million income tax provision.


Analysts polled by FactSet expected earnings of 8 cents per share for the Las Vegas company.


Revenue climbed 12 percent to $2.63 billion from $2.35 billion, topping Wall Street's average estimate $2.57 billion.


Occupancy improved on the Las Vegas Strip to 92 percent from 90 percent. The average daily rate for rooms rose to $147 from $132. And revenue per available room, a key lodging industry metric, increased to $135 from $118.


Food and beverage revenue on the Las Vegas Strip climbed 6 percent on more convention and banquet business and the opening of some new retail outlets.


MGM Resorts' stock rose 78 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $23.80 in Tuesday premarket trading about 20 minutes before the market opening.



Europe warns Google, Samsung on phone patent abuse


The European Commission said Monday that Google's Motorola Mobility abused its market position in Europe by refusing to grant crucial technology licenses to rival Apple, then suing Apple for patent infringement when the company used them anyway.


Separately, Samsung settled a case where it had tried to use its patents to block Apple from bringing a phone to market.


But neither company was slapped with a fine.


At a press conference, the Commission's chief competition authority, Joaquin Almunia, said that's because it can be difficult to determine when a company has the right to protect its patents — which drive innovation — and when a dominant company is wielding the power a patent gives them to stifle competition and harm consumers.


"We are trying to trike the right balance" between patent holder rights and competition rules, Almunia said in Brussels, where the Commission, the European Union's executive arm, is based. "The Motorola case set up the framework we think should be followed."


Almunia said the dividing line should be when patents have become an industry standard.


In those cases, if someone wanting to use a patent agrees to pay "fair and reasonable terms" to use it, the holder must agree. In Motorola and other cases, disagreements about what's fair should be referred to arbitration — not used right away to block someone else from bringing a product to market.


Ultimately, however, companies may still decide to sue each other over patent infringement, as Apple, Samsung and others have been doing in courts around the world for several years.


Samsung agreed Tuesday not to try to seek injunctions against competitors for five years in Europe, and to submit future disagreements to arbitration along the lines Almunia suggested.


Google is in the process of selling Motorola to China's Lenovo.



U.N. praises Lebanon on success of security plan


BEIRUT: U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly praised Tuesday the Interior Minister on the success of his security plan in restive parts of the country as well as the Tfeil aid operation.


“I congratulated him on the initiative he had taken to bring relief to Tfeil. I congratulated him as well, very warmly on his efforts and the efforts of his ministry and the security forces to ensure the success of the security plan in Tripoli and in the Bekaa,” Plumbly told reporters after his meeting with Nouhad Machnouk.


The government last month launched a security plan to restore law and order in the northern city of Tripoli and Lebanese regions bordering Syria.


The plan has so far been successful in limiting the infiltration of gunmen into Lebanon and curbing the phenomenon of suicide attacks and restoring normalcy to Tripoli.


Plumbly also said he discussed with Machnouk the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon as well U.N. cooperation with the ministry in preparation for the parliamentary elections.


“We discussed different aspects of the humanitarian situation as it relates to refugees and host communities and our efforts to encourage burden-sharing and greater international support for Lebanon,” he said.


“Of course, we are all focused at the moment on the presidential election process, on which, as I have said before, we are all concerned that it should be completed successfully within the timeframe set by the constitution,” the U.N. official said.


“But it is also important that Lebanon be ready to complete the other key part of the democratic process, that is to say the parliamentary elections, and I know that the minister shares that concern."


Machnouk also held talks with Russian Ambassador Alexander Zasypkin, who added his praise for the successful the security plan.


"Lebanese authorities are exerting all efforts to impose security and stability in this country and that reassures us and we support it particular that it would pave the way for the presidential election,” Zasypkin told reporters. "We are optimistic about the next phase although consultations over the presidential election will take some time."


He said Russia did not favor a specific candidate and that foreign countries should work to secure the appropriate environment to allow Lebanon to hold the election.


“We believe that foreign parties can play a role in clearing the air on this issue and not interfere but provide the appropriate conditions,” he said.



Shooting at FedEx center wounds 6, suspect dead


Police say at least six people are injured after a shooter opened fire at a FedEx center north of Atlanta.


Cobb County police spokesman Michael Bowman says an active shooter was reported early Tuesday at the FedEx package sorting facility in Kennesaw. He says police have surrounded the building and are working to clear it. He calls the situation "active and fluid."


Marietta police spokesman David Baldwin says six injured patients were taken to nearby Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, one of them with potentially critical injuries. Police didn't' immediately say if anyone has died.


FedEx spokesman Scott Fiedler says the company is cooperating with authorities.



US home price gains slow for third straight month

The Associated Press



U.S. home price gains cooled in February for the third month in a row, as harsh winter weather and high buying costs have slowed sales.


The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 12.9 percent in February compared with 12 months earlier. While healthy, that is down from a 13.2 percent gain in January.


And home prices fell in 13 of the 20 cities in February compared with the previous month. The index is not adjusted for seasonal variations, so those declines partly reflect weaker sales in the winter.


In addition to bad weather, sales have also been held back by a limited supply of available homes, which has forced potential buyers to bid up prices. Most economists forecast that price gains will keep dropping this year.



EU Follows U.S. In Imposing New Sanctions On Russia



Armed pro-Russian militants attacked a demonstration of supporters of the Ukraine where violent clashes erupted in Donetsk on Monday.i i


hide captionArmed pro-Russian militants attacked a demonstration of supporters of the Ukraine where violent clashes erupted in Donetsk on Monday.



Olya Morvan/Maxppp/Landov

Armed pro-Russian militants attacked a demonstration of supporters of the Ukraine where violent clashes erupted in Donetsk on Monday.



Armed pro-Russian militants attacked a demonstration of supporters of the Ukraine where violent clashes erupted in Donetsk on Monday.


Olya Morvan/Maxppp/Landov


The European Union has followed the U.S. in imposing a new round of sanctions on Russia for the Kremlin's intervention in Crimea and alleged support of separatist elements inside eastern Ukraine.


The sanctions, which specifically target Russian President Vladimir Putin's "inner circle," drew a response from Moscow, which described them in Cold War terms.


According to The Guardian, the EU has named 15 people for sanctions, including General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian general staff, and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, who has been charged with developing Crimea. Kozak was also named on Monday by the U.S.


Several leaders of the pro-Russian militia and protesters who have been occupying buildings in eastern Ukraine have also been named, according to the Guardian. They will be subject to asset freezes and travel bans.


The Washington Post says:




"The European Union has been more reluctant than the United States to target Russian businesses, in part because E.U. companies have far stronger economic relations with Russia than their U.S. counterparts. U.S. officials have indicated that they were ready to issue new sanctions last week but decided to wait for the European Union in order to project a unified front against what they say is Russia's escalating campaign to destabilize Ukraine."




Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkhov said the U.S. and EU had revived the legacy of the Cold War.


"This is a revival of a system created in 1949 when Western countries essentially lowered an 'Iron Curtain', cutting off supplies of hi-tech goods to the USSR and other countries," he said.


Meanwhile, The Guardian also reports that Gennady Kernes, the mayor of Kharkiv who was shot in the back by an unknown gunman on Monday, has been flown to Israel for treatment, where he is "fighting for his life."



European authorities push to weed out shaky banks


European authorities will put banks through a test scenario that envisions plunging stock and bond markets and a steep loss of a full 7 percentage points of growth over three years.


The stress tests are aimed at weeding out shaky banks so financial institutions can better support growth and jobs in an economy that's suffering from weak lending.


The European Banking Authority said Tuesday banks will have to maintain adequate financial buffers even if growth falls well short of official predictions through 2016. Banks that flunk could have to ask investors for more capital, or cut back dividends or bonuses.


The scenario envisions output falling 0.7 percent this year instead of growth of 1.5 percent and a drop of 1.5 percent next year instead of growth of 2 percent.



NE Pa. mall heads to auction in June


A northeastern Pennsylvania shopping mall goes on the auction block in June.


The (Scranton) Times-Tribune (http://bit.ly/PNLf1P ) reports that the Steamtown Mall will head to a sheriff's sale on June 10. A list released Monday by the Lackawanna County sheriff's office indicates that the asking price will be $43.7 million.


Al Boscov, chairman and chief executive of Boscov's department store, the mall's sole anchor tenant after Bon-Ton closed in January, has said he is interested in bidding. Attorney Scott Esterbrook said Boscov is still trying to put together financing for the acquisition.


The mall defaulted on a mortgage payment last summer and entered foreclosure March 7. Boscov said at the time that mall occupancy was about 65 percent, but the complex has lost three tenants since then.



Mercedes recalls over 284,000 cars to fix lights


Mercedes-Benz is recalling more than 284,000 C-Class cars in the U.S. and Canada because the rear lights can fail.


The recall affects some C300, C350 and C63 AMG cars from the 2008 through 2011 model years.


Corrosion on a connector can cause the tail, brake or rear turn signal lights to dim or fail. That can make the cars less visible to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.


The problem affects nearly 253,000 cars in the U.S. and another 31,000 in Canada. A Mercedes spokesman says cars in other countries also are affected, but he did not have a number. The company says if the problem occurs, drivers will see a dashboard warning message.


The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says dealers will replace bulb holders and any rusted connectors at no cost to owners. Replacement parts aren't expected to be available until August or September.



BMW recalls 156,000 cars and SUVs


BMW is recalling more than 156,000 cars and SUVs in the U.S. because the engines can lose power or stall.


The recall covers multiple models from 2010 through 2012. It includes some 128i, 328i, Z4, 135i, 335i, 528i, 535i and 640i cars. Also covered are many X3, X5, and X6 SUVs.


The German automaker says bolts that hold a camshaft housing can loosen and break. That can cause reduced power or stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says dealers will replace bolts at no cost to owners. The company expects the recall to start in May.


BMW says another 170,000 vehicles from 2010 through 2012 with inline six-cylinder engines will not be recalled, but will receive an extended warranty due to the problem.



Jil Sander Group names new creative director


A new creative director has been named to succeed Jil Sander six months after she departed for the third time from the fashion house that she founded.


Jil Sander Group said in a release Tuesday that Vionnet designer Rodolfo Paglialunga has been named creative director. His first designs will be presented in September on the spring/summer 2015 womenswear runway.


Sander, 69, stepped down as designer in October, citing personal reasons. An in-house team designed the company's winter collections shown earlier this year.


Paglialunga started his fashion design career at Romeo Gigli in the 1990s, joining Prada in 1996 and leaving for Vionnet in 2009. Jil Sander Group CEO Alessandro Cremonesi praised Paglialunga's "refined and cosmopolitan approach."


Jil Sander's minimalist man-tailored looks took off in the 1990s.



Salam: Presidential vacuum a 'bitter pill to swallow'


BEIRUT: Prime Minister Tammam Salam expressed hope Tuesday that his government would not have to fill a power vacuum should President Michel Sleiman’s term end without a successor to replace him.


“Talk about the government taking over power in the event of a presidential vacuum is a bitter pill to swallow,” Salam said following a meeting with the Press Club’s administrative board.


He stressed the need for timely elections within the Constitutional period, which ends May 25.


Salam said he intends to visit Arab countries soon to garner support for Lebanon and encourage fellow Arabs to visit the country.



Army arrests suspects over Beirut clashes


BEIRUT: The Army said Tuesday it arrested four people from Beirut's southern suburbs who were involved in clashes last week.


In a statement, the military identified the suspects as Ali Jamaleddine, Hasan Rafik Meqdad, Abbas Ali Nassereddine, and Maher Issam Al-Ali.


They are wanted on several warrants for discharging weapons, threatening citizens, and attacking soldiers, the statement said.


Members of the Nassereddine and Meqdad families engaged in armed clashes last week, wounding seven people in the Jamous neighborhood.


The Army also said it also arrested Syrian Faisal Saleh Ikhlif for firing shots in Bir Hasan



Amal Alamuddin: The woman behind the media frenzy


BEIRUT: Amal Alamuddin recently become famous as the fiance of elusive heartthrob George Clooney, but the raven-haired beauty is a powerhouse in her own right.


As a barrister with the Doughty Street Chambers in London, the Beirut-born 36-year-old was a member of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's prosecution as well as the legal adviser to the head of the UN commission investigating former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination and other terrorist acts in Lebanon. She is also credited as the co-editor of a book called The Law and Practice of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, published last year by Oxford University Press.


Aside from her work with the STL, she was also appointed as an adviser for Kofi Annan while he was the Joint Special Envoy of the UN and the Arab League on Syria.


Throughout her career, she has not hesitated to represent controversial figures such as former Libyan Intelligence chief Abdallah Al Senussi and Wikileaks head Julian Assange. She also acted as a legal adviser to the King of Bahrain and represented former Ukrainian Prime Minister turned political prisoner Yulia Tymoshenko.


Alamuddin specializes in international law, human rights, extradition and criminal law, and according to British daily The Independent was once voted the “hottest barrister in London” by a legal blog called Your Barrister Boyfriend.


Alamuddin’s father, Ramzi Alamuddin, is a retired business professor at the American University of Beirut and hails from the Chouf town Baakline. Her mother, Bariaa Miknass, is a veteran journalist who has contributed to numerous publications, including The Daily Star. She is currently a correspondent and editor at Al-Hayat newspaper.


Bariaa's brother is Akram Miknass, the CEO of Fortune Promoseven, a leading Lebanese advertising agency.



Volkswagen profits rise by a quarter to $3.42B


German automaker Volkswagen is reporting a 26.8 percent rise in net profits despite a slump in earnings for its namesake brand.


Group net profit rose to 2.47 billion euros ($3.42 billion) during the first quarter, up from 1.95 billion euros in the same period last year.


The biggest contribution came from its Audi luxury division, which saw an operating profit on a level with the previous year's first quarter 1.3 billion euros.


This was followed by an increased operating profit of 698 million euros for its Porsche unit.


The Volkswagen brand brought the group 440 million euros before interest and taxes, compared with 590 million euros in the year-ago period.


Volkswagen said Tuesday its first-quarter sales revenue was up 2.7 percent at 47.8 euros billion.



Senna, Ratzenberger deaths prompt safer F1


The deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 were the last driver fatalities in Formula One, due largely to the safety review prompted by their deaths and ongoing measures to reduce the almost annual incidence of such tragedies in the series.


Here are the main F1 safety measures enacted since that time:


---


HEAD AND NECK SUPPORT


Senna died due to head injuries, and protection of the head and neck is the principal safety priority, as it is those traumas which are the most likely to cause death in the short time before on-track medical personnel can attend. Helmets are subject to testing to ensure they can withstand heavy impacts. The modern helmets are made of carbon fiber, Kevlar and polyethylene, and are fire resistant. The visor has removable strips which can be torn off if debris or liquid gets onto it, so the driver can retain a clear view. In 2003, F1 made compulsory the Head and Neck Support (HANS). The device, attached to the rear of the helmet and resting on the driver's shoulders, is connected to the interior of the cockpit adjacent to the safety-belt mounting. It prevents rapid and excessive head movement during accidents.


MAKING THE CARS SAFER


F1 cars are safer now than they have ever been, able to withstand extremely powerful impacts. Robert Kubica's terrifying crash at the Canadian Grand Prix in 2007 was evidence of just how much the cars can withstand. The Pole sustained only minor injuries from a collision with a trackside wall that was heavier in impact than Senna's at Imola. Most focus has been on the literally named "survival cell," which is the area in front of the engine and surrounding the driver. Made of light but very strong carbon fiber, they are designed to resist both impacts and penetration by the sharp debris created in accidents. The opening of the cockpit has also been forcibly increased in recent years, to prevent drivers being trapped inside during fires, and enable safer and easier removal of injured drivers. Crash tests have been made more rigorous, showing cars can withstand impacts from all directions. Tethers prevent wheels detaching during accidents to protect other cars, trackside marshalls and spectators. Another key change has been the switch away from the old metal fuel tanks to hi-tech rubber-coated, fiber tanks which are much less likely to rupture in a crash, and therefore prevent fires.


EMERGENCY MEDICINE


Prof. Sid Watkins was the on-course doctor at the San Marino GP in 1994, and performed an emergency tracheotomy on Senna at trackside. It was a particularly tragic moment for Watkins, as he was a close friend of Senna, and he had done more to improve the series' safety than any person since entering F1 in the 1970s. It was at his insistence that many of the post-Senna medical improvements were made. The medical cars, with paramedics on board, are stationed around the circuits and can reach the site of any crash within 30 seconds. The state-of-the-art trackside medical center has a surgeon and other staff on site, and there are helicopters at every race to transport seriously injured drivers and personnel to nearby hospitals. F1 says there are an average of 130 medical staff at each race.


TRACK DESIGN


Gone are the days of straw bales and, for the most part, concrete walls on the edge of tracks. Modern circuit design puts a premium on safety. With the exception of Singapore's Marina Bay, which has the inherent restrictions of all street circuits, the new tracks designed since the 1990s have generous run-off areas at high-speed corners, unlike the Tamburello bend at Imola where Senna lost his life. The efficacy of trackside barriers has been greatly increased, and they are able to absorb most of the energy of a car crashing at high speed. Among the other trackside measures is the introduction of the safety car to slow the field while the scene of an accident is cleared or a stricken car removed. Pit lane speed limits have also been introduced and progressively lowered to prevent racing in an area full of team crews and trackside personnel.


SLOW PROGRESS


The relative safety of F1 compared to the past has evolved only slowly. It is staggering to the modern fan to realize how lax safety standards were in past eras. Helmets became compulsory only in 1953, fireproof overalls were first introduced in 1963, and seatbelts in 1972. Crash tests to show the cars can withstand impacts were introduced only in 1985. Three-time world champion Jackie Stewart was a strong advocate in the 1970s for improving safety standards, and his work, along with that of Sid Watkins, and the tragedies of Imola 1994 have vastly improved the series.



Rifi backs STL, says journalists must work under law


BEIRUT: Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi defended Tuesday the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon that recently issued summons for two Lebanese journalists and said newspersons must do their duty under the law.


Rifi said that while freedom of expression is protected by the Lebanese Constitution, journalists, under Lebanese law, are “prohibited from breaching the confidentiality of the judicial investigation and publishing of witnesses’ names, which could have a negative impact on the course of justice."


Rifi reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to cooperate with the STL.


Last week, the STL court accused editors from Al-Akhbar newspaper and Al-Jadeed television of obstructing justice and contempt after the two outlets published a list of alleged STL witnesses.


The court, which is in the process of trying five Hezbollah suspects for involvement in the 2005 killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, issued a summons for Ibrahim al-Amin, the editor-in-chief of the pro- Hezbollah daily Al-Akhbar, and Karma al-Khayyat, the deputy head of news at Al-Jadeed TV.


Head of Editors' Syndicate Elias Aoun called on media outlets to observe a one-day strike on May 13 in solidarity with Al-Akhbar and Al-Jadeed.


Lebanese officials of all stripes attended a gathering Monday in support of Amin and Khayyat.



Police foils attempt to smuggle drugs to foreign country


BEIRUT: Police foiled an attempt to smuggle quantities of drugs into a foreign country and arrested the suspect behind the operation, the Internal Security Forces said Tuesday.


The regional anti-drug office in north Lebanon received a tip about an attempt to smuggle drugs outside Lebanon.


"On April 28, a police unit confiscated six boxes of candy filled with a mix of cocaine and ephedrine prepared to be smuggled to a foreign country,” the statement said.


A day later, police raided the house of a man suspected of being behind the operation, identified by his initials as M.M., 31, and detained him.


Police also confiscated quantities of ephedrine hid in glass bottles and a grinding machine found in the suspect’s house in Minnyeh.



CGI tech center coming to UL-Lafayette


Information technology company CGI will open a technology center in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Research Park.


The plans were announced Monday at a Lafayette Economic Development Authority gathering attended by Gov. Bobby Jindal, CGI officials and others. The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/1tWToS5) that the facility is expected to employ 400 high-tech workers in the next four years. CGI executive James Peake said annual salaries will average $55,000.


Peake said CGI will begin hiring in a few months, and will start operations at a temporary location later this year,


Construction is to begin this year on the $13.1 million, 50,000-square-foot building. The Louisiana-financed facility will be leased by CGI and owned by UL-Lafayette or a nonprofit associated with the university.


As part of the CGI project, Louisiana will fund a $4.5 million program over 10 years to enhance UL-Lafayette's School of Computing and Informatics. The goal is to triple the number of four-year computer science degrees awarded each year so Louisiana's growing high-tech sector can stay staffed, Jindal said.


Jindal said the state pledged other incentives to get CGI to locate an office in Lafayette. He said Louisiana will provide a grant of $5.3 million to help offset the cost of relocating personnel, to recruit and train employees and to pay building operating expenses.


CGI chose Lafayette over other U.S. sites after a nearly two-year selection process, Peake said, because it's in a business-friendly state and because of UL-Lafayette School of Computing and Information's strong reputation in high-tech circles for graduating top-notch personnel.


Peake said CGI officials also were drawn to Lafayette because of events such as Innov8 Lafayette, the ongoing festival celebrating innovation and technology, and the just concluded Festival International de Louisiane.



NYC carriage driver accused in horse switch

The Associated Press



Regulators are investigating allegations that one of New York City's embattled carriage horse drivers tried to evade industry rules by disguising a 22-year-old horse with a mild breathing ailment as another horse nearly half its age.


City health officials filed an administrative order on March 6 accusing driver Frank Luo of altering a hoof identification number so that a draft horse named Ceasar, who was supposed to be resting on a Pennsylvania farm, could work under a license issued to a 12-year-old horse named Carsen.


A Health Department veterinarian questioned the horse's identity in late January during an inspection at a Manhattan stable, according to records obtained by The Associated Press through a freedom of information request.


In the written order, city officials said the vet noticed that while the horse had Carsen's ID number on its hoof, its "physical characteristics and medical condition was that of the older horse." Ceasar had a condition called "heaves," which is similar to asthma, city officials said.


Luo told The Associated Press on Friday that the vet simply got it wrong.


"I did not switch the horses. It's just very confusing because they look alike," he said.


Initially, Luo submitted paperwork intended to prove that the horse really was Carsen, including a handwritten note from a Pennsylvania farmer who said Ceasar hadn't left his farm since July. The city asked for more proof, including a veterinarian's evaluation of the horse's age and the condition of its lungs.


Five days later, Luo's lawyer informed the department that he couldn't afford to have the horse sitting idle and had shipped him to Pennsylvania and sold him. Ceasar was sold to the same farmer Feb. 11.


"It's all settled now," Luo said. He said he would continue to operate his business using other horses.


The sale effectively ended the investigation by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which monitors the horses' health. But the Department of Consumer Affairs, which regulates the drivers, is still investigating, said spokeswoman Abigail Lootens.


Mayor Bill de Blasio announced before taking office that he intended to ban the carriages, saying horses don't belong on busy Manhattan streets. Carriage operators fought back by opening up their stables to anyone who wanted to check conditions firsthand. In opinion polls, New Yorkers have largely sided with the drivers. Jillian Michaels, a star of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" weight-loss competition, joined an anti-carriage horse rally on the steps of City Hall on Monday.


Luo's regulatory problems date to September, when he was cited for working at least two horses without active licenses. He also was accused of working Ceasar for nine days in July when the horse was supposedly in Pennsylvania. City regulations give the horses five weeks of pasture time each year.


Also in September, the Department of Consumer Affairs cited Luo for false advertising, overcharging customers and operating a carriage for more hours than allowed. Luo's company, the Manhattan Carriage Co., agreed in January to pay a fine and restitution.


In an unrelated incident, a horse Luo was driving in September bolted on 8th Avenue and hit a car. It suffered minor injuries.


Luo told the AP he loves each of his horses and cares for them well. None of the accusations against him involved allegations of mistreatment.


In 2007, the city's comptroller noted in an audit that health certificates kept for carriage horses sometimes contained physical descriptions that changed from year to year, suggesting they weren't the same animals. In 2008, a stable owner pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct to resolve allegations that he tried to bribe a city investigator. Carriage owners have denied any subterfuge and maintained that their animals are among the healthiest and most tightly regulated anywhere.



Chinese insurer Ping An's profit rises 46 percent


Ping An Insurance Co., one of China's biggest state-owned insurers, says its quarterly profit soared 46.2 percent on stronger insurance and banking business.


Ping An said Tuesday it earned 10.8 billion yuan ($1.8 billion), or 1.37 yuan (23 U.S. cents) per share, in the three months ending March 31. Revenue rose 28 percent to 147.1 billion yuan ($24.5 billion).


Life insurance premiums rose 22.7 percent to 91.8 billion yuan ($15.3 billion) while those for property and casualty were up 27.9 percent at 34.7 billion yuan ($5.8 billion.


Profit at Ping An's banking subsidiary rose 40.8 percent to 5 billion yuan ($830 million).



10 more suspects charged over Tripoli clashes


BEIRUT: Military Prosecutor Saqr Saqr charged Tuesday 10 more suspects with involvement in armed clashes in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.


Saqr accused the men, only three of which are in custody, of forming an armed ring aimed at carrying out terrorist attacks and inflicting damage on structures and properties.


They were referred to Military Investigative Judge Riad Abu Ghayda.


Similar charges have been brought against dozens of suspects over the Tripoli clashes.


On Monday, Judge Fadi Sawan requested the death penalty for 32 suspects allegedly involved in the Tripoli violence.


Hundreds of people have been killed and scores wounded in at least 20 rounds of violence between the rival Tripoli neighborhoods of Sunni-dominated Bab al-Tabbaneh and the largely Alawite Jabal Mohsen since 2008.



UK economy grows 0.8 percent in 1st quarter


Britain's economy grew by 0.8 percent in the first quarter of 2014, recovering much of the ground it lost during the financial crisis.


The Office of National Statistics said Tuesday that all the major industrial sectors assessed, excluding agriculture, posted gains, with services doing best with a 0.9 percent rise compared with the previous quarter.


The statistics office's chief economic adviser, Joe Grice, told the BBC that it now seems as if the economy has a different tone.


Unlike the United States and Germany, the British economy remains smaller than it was in 2008 when the global financial crisis hit hardest and prompted the country's deepest recession since World War II.


But Grice says it is improving and is now estimated to be 0.6 percent below the 2008 peak.



Construction is deadliest job in Kentucky


The Kentucky Labor Cabinet says statistics from the past few years indicate construction workers have the deadliest job of the occupations it examined.


The cabinet said Monday that since 2011, the construction industry had 21 deaths, followed by landscaping/tree services workers with 16 deaths, truck drivers and maintenance/repair workers with seven deaths each and mechanics with six.


The cabinet says the leading hazards were being struck by an object, with 42 deaths, 15 fall deaths, 10 in which people were caught between objects and five electrocutions.


Other workplace deaths occurred in Kentucky, but the cabinet didn't include them because the employers weren't under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Program or were under federal agencies, such as the Mine Safety and Health Administration or Federal Railroad Administration.



Silicon Valley phone technology battle nears close


The Silicon Valley court battle between Apple and Samsung is entering its final phase.


Lawyers for both companies are expected to deliver closing arguments Tuesday before jurors are sent behind closed doors to determine a verdict in a closely watched trial over the ownership of smartphone technology.


Each company accuses the other of stealing key features to develop some of the latest smartphones on the market, but Samsung's newest device, the Galaxy S5 released earlier this month, is not at issue.


The four men and four women on the jury are to determine which company is right and how much is owed in damages. Apple Inc. is demanding $2.2 billion after arguing that nine of Samsung's smartphones and one of its Galaxy tablets infringes five patents. Samsung Electronics Co. seeks a fraction of that figure, some $6 million, saying Apple infringed two of its patents in creating the iPhone.


Samsung also argues that if it is found to have infringed Apple's patent, it owes only $38.4 million.


Testimony wrapped up Monday with the recall of two expert witnesses to the stand to argue the effects of an appeals court ruling in an unrelated legal dispute between Apple and Motorola. The appeals court ruling upheld a trial judge's definition of an Apple "quick link" patent that automatically turns phone numbers and email addresses into links, enabling users to make calls and send messages with a single click.


Apple's expert, Carnegie Mellon professor Todd Mowry, argued the definition adopted by the appeals court made little difference in the case and that he believes Samsung still infringed Apple's patent for the "quick link" patent. Kevin Jeffay, a professor of computer science at the University of North Carolina and Samsung's expert, argued the opposite, saying the definition adopted by the appeals court supports Samsung's position that it didn't infringe Apple's patent.


In the end, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh said the matter was best left for the jury to decide along with infringement questions of the other four patents. Jurors were read 53 pages of instructions Monday directing them how to decide whether an infringement occurred and how to calculate damages if fault is found.


Samsung and Apple have been locked in a worldwide struggle for dominance of the $330 billion annual market for smartphones. Samsung has captured about 31 percent of the market while Apple retains a 15 percent share.


Apple contends that many of the key functions and vital features of Samsung phones important to consumers were invented by Apple. Samsung argues that its phones operate on the Google Android software system and that any legal complaint Apple has is with the search giant.


Google Inc. is not a party to the litigation. Google spokesman Matt Kallman declined to comment.


A different jury in San Jose presiding over an earlier trial regarding older technology ordered Samsung to pay Apple $930 million. Samsung has appealed that ruling.



Rep. Grimm Pleads Not Guilty To Fraud Charges



Audio for this story from Morning Edition will be available at approximately 9:00 a.m. ET.





New York City Congressman Michael Grimm has been indicted on tax, perjury, fraud and other charges. He announced on Monday that he would step down from the powerful House Financial Services Committee.



BP: committed to Russia stake despite sanctions


BP says it remains committed to its investment in the Russian oil firm Rosneft, despite U.S. sanctions targeting its president, Igor Sechin, and sharp drops in income from its stake.


BP said its so-called underlying pre-tax replacement cost profit, a measure of earnings, for Rosneft fell to $271 million for the quarter ending in March, compared with $1.08 billion during the fourth quarter. The company says the result was hurt by depreciation of the ruble against the dollar.


Sechin has been president of Rosneft since the early 1990s. He is seen as the mastermind behind the 2003 legal assault on the private oil company Yukos and its founder, Mikhail Khodorkovsky.


BP says underlying replacement cost profit for the quarter was $3.2 billion, compared with $2.8 billion the previous quarter.