News Headlines (152) 11 February 2013

ONLINE TODAY


► Maternal Exposure to Outdoor Air Pollution Associated With Low Birth Weights Worldwide - Feb. 6, 2013 — Mothers who are exposed to particulate air pollution of the type emitted by vehicles, urban heating and coal power plants are significantly more likely to bear children of low birth weight, according to an international study led by co-principal investigator Tracey J. Woodruff, PhD, MPH, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at UC San Francisco along with Jennifer Parker, PhD, of the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

► Pop-up 'container hotel' hits Belgium. Extreme hipness ensues - Sleeping Around converts abandoned shipping containers into boutique hotel rooms, guests into trendy cargo | By Frances Cha 5 February, 2013

► Tiny Pin - Cushions Made of Sugar Are The Sweetest, Cheapest Way To Get Vaccinated. Feb 8, 2013 ::

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King's College London: Injection-free vaccination technique. Published on Feb 5, 2013 by kingscollegelondon :: Scientists at King's have demonstrated the ability to deliver a dried live vaccine to the skin without a traditional needle, and shown for the first time that this technique is powerful enough to enable specialised immune cells in the skin to kick-start the immunising properties of the vaccine. Dr Linda Klavinskis from the Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology at King's explains the research behind the new technique and its wider potential.



► Humble Damon cheers Oscar hopeful, friend Ben Affleck  ||  ► Damon's fracking drama gets run at Berlin prize - Associated Press – Fri, Feb 8, 2013




► Revellers engulf Brazil for carnivals. Published on Feb 10, 2013 :: Nearly two million beaming revellers in outlandish costumes invade Brazil on day two of the world's most famous carnival.

► Iranians on the march to mark revolution day.  Published on Feb 10, 2013 :: Hundreds of thousands of people marched on Sunday in Tehran and other cities chanting "Death to America" as Iran marked the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution that ousted the US-backed shah.

► US northeast digs out from blizzard. Published on Feb 10, 2013 :: The US northeast slowly digs itself from a mammoth blizzard.

► Millions bathe in Ganges at India's Kumbh Mela. Published on Feb 10, 2013 :: Tens of millions of Hindus plunge into the sacred waters of India's river Ganges on the most auspicious day of the world's largest religious festival.






► Raw: Almost 2 Feet of Snow in Hartford. Published on Feb 10, 2013 :: Residents and business owners in Hartford, Connecticut spent Sunday digging out from a major snow storm. Nearby Bradley Airport near got 22 inches, for the No. 2 spot in the record books there. (Feb. 10)  ||  ► Conn. Digs Out, Prepares for Week. Published on Feb 10, 2013 :: The mighty and historic Noreaster has left five people dead in Connecticut. The dig out is slow, hard work. With rain coming early this week the new concern for a state needing a break, is ice. (Feb, 10)  ||   ► Blizzard Leaves Many Without Power Miserable. Published on Feb 10, 2013 ::  At the height of the storm more than 400,000 people were without power. Many still in the dark and without heat are trying to keep warm by huddling under blankets or seeking shelter. (Feb. 10) ||  ► Weather Service: Tornado, Injuries in Mississipp.  Published on Feb 10, 2013 ::  Emergency officials say an apparent tornado has caused significant damage in Hattiesburg, Miss., after passing along a main road. || ► Raw: Amateur Video of Hattiesburg Tornado. Published on Feb 10, 2013 ::  Eric Price, a resident in Hattiesburg, Miss., used his cell phone to capture a tornado that touched down in the area Sunday, causing significant damage and at least several injuries, according to officials. (Feb. 10)


► Clear Sky Aids Mountain Hunt for Fugitive Ex-cop. Published on Feb 9, 2013 ::  Clear skies in the San Bernadino Mountains allowed aircraft with heat-sensing technology to aid in the search for fugitive Christopher Dorner, the former police officer suspected of killing three people in a vendetta against the LAPD. (Feb. 9) ||  ► $1 Million Reward Offered in Dorner Case. Published on Feb 10, 2013 ::  Authorities are offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Christopher Dorner, the former LA police officer suspected in three killings who is the subject of a manhunt in Southern California. (Feb. 10)

► Significant storm damage in Hattiesburg, Miss. - By HOLBROOK MOHR | Associated Press

► U.S. Northeast digs out from blizzard; new storm brews in Plains - By Daniel Lovering and Aman Ali | Reuters

► Homes wrecked, dozen hurt in Mississippi tornado - By HOLBROOK MOHR and JANET MCCONNAUGHEY | Associated Press 

► Snowfall totals: Who got the most in New England? - By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News

► 31 dead in stampede at Hindu festival in India - By RAJESH KUMAR SINGH | Associated Press 

► Iran marks revolution anniversary with soaring, defiant rhetoric. On the 34th anniversary today of the Iranian revolution, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejected Western pressure to negotiate over Iran's nuclear program 'at the point of a gun.' - By Scott Peterson | Christian Science Monitor

► Rio's Carnival - Rio de Janeiro's Carnival celebrations kick off with a explosion of color and wild pageantry. (PHOTOS)

► Senator Vows to Delay Obama's Nominees Over Libya - ABC OTUS News

► A Man's Guide to Lingerie - By Elise Solé, Shine Staff | Love + Sex – Thu, Feb 7, 2013

► Fabio's Date Night Survival Guide: Cocktails. Fri, Feb 8, 2013

► 2013: YEAR OF THE snake OVERVIEW





► EASY MINESTRONE - For the TEXT VERSION of this recipe, please see the RECIPE BOX below. Looking for a comforting warm way to fill up on everything that's good for you? Try Fabio's take on classic Minestrone, a one-pot wonder.

► The Story Behind the Sweetheart

► Houdini Horse. Have you ever heard of a horse with seemingly magical abilities? Well check out this girl who has been picking both her own, and anyone else's gate locks since she was about six months old. Her name is Mariska and she is one talented Friesian Mare. The Friesian breed of horses originated in the Netherlands, and are known for being especially graceful and nimble for their size. While they've almost gone extinct a number of times, their expertise and ability at dressage has the breed currently going strong. Considering her evolutionary attributes, it’s no wonder that Mariska has such special talents. While her skill is impressive enough that her owners set up this video sting operation to catch their own little Houdini in the act, her intentions are innocent. She uses her extraordinary talents to just visit her other horsey friends, get some fresh air, and go for small walks at the Misty Meadows Farm in Midland, Michigan. Now that's what we call a friendly Friesian!



► The 11 Scariest Things in Your Food



► 9 most colorful beaches in the world

► World's most beautiful hotel pools


► Maybe Management Isn't Your Style

► 11 February 2013 - Switzerland guns: Living with firearms the Swiss way | By Emma Jane Kirby BBC News, Zurich

► 10 February 2013 - Sylvia Plath: Jillian Becker on the poet's last days 

► Celine Dion sings in Mandarin for state TV's New Year Gala show. 10 February 2013 - Singer Celine Dion has performed in Mandarin on Chinese state TV as part of its New Year Gala show welcoming in the Lunar New Year. Dion's first performance at the concert was a rendition of the Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower, which she sang with Chinese soprano Song Zuying. She also performed My Heart Will Go On, the song that made her a household name in China.||  NEWS - Millions welcome Year of the Snake

► US Gen Joseph Dunford assumes Nato command in Afghanistan. 10 February 2013  -  The outgoing commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan has said the alliance is on the road to winning the war. Gen John Allen, who handed over to Gen Joseph Dunford on Sunday, said troops had gone "a long way" towards winning a counter-insurgency. Gen Allen is set to be nominated as the alliance's supreme commander in Europe. Last month, he was cleared of misconduct by the Pentagon in a scandal that led former CIA director David Petraeus to resign. Jonathan Beale reports.  ||  ►  NEWS -  Isaf 'on road' to Afghan victory

► Tunisia PM Hamadi Jebali warns of risk of chaos. 10 February 2013  - Tunisia's Prime Minister is warning the country could slide into "chaos" unless he succeeds in forming a new non-partisan government in the next few days. Hamadi Jebali has threatened to resign if he fails to do so. Thousands of supporters of his ruling Islamist party staged a counter-demonstration in Tunis, a day after huge crowds attended the funeral of the assassinated opposition leader Chokri Belaid. James Kelly reports. ||  VIDEO - Graffiti inspires Tunisia art revolution


► Tunisia party 'to leave government' :: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21401201

The party of Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki says it will quit the Islamist-led government, amid the country's worst crisis since the Arab Spring.
* Clouds gather over Tunisia
* Analysis: Resurgence of revolt

► Kumbh Mela: Millions on 'spiritual journey of a lifetime'. 10 February 2013 - The organisers of the world's largest religious festival, the Kumbh Mela, have said 30 million Hindu pilgrims have bathed at the confluence of the Ganges and Jamuna rivers. Heads of monasteries arriving on chariots and ash-smeared naked ascetics led the ritual, which Hindus believe cleanses them of their sins. The population of the city of Allahabad has swollen from over one million to about 40 million for the most auspicious day of the festival. Sanjoy Majumder reports.||  ► Holiest day at India's Kumbh Mela   ||  ► In pictures: Kumbh Mela's holiest day 


► The ancient Knights of Malta get blessing from the Pope. 9 February 2013 - At the Vatican 4,000 members and volunteers of the Knights of Malta, a medieval religious order of the Roman Catholic Church, marched in procession to St Peter's basilica to receive a papal blessing. It is exactly 900 years this week that the crusader knights were granted recognition by the Pope as a sovereign state. The BBC's David Willey reports.  ||  NEWS - The ancient Knights of Malta in modern world


► A new dimension to faking it


► 11 February 2013  - Viewpoint: Megatrends that will change everyone's lives | By Sarwant Singh Author and consultant


► 11 February 2013  - The road to uncovering a wartime Colossus | By Mark Ward Technology correspondent, BBC News


► 11 February 2013  -  In pictures: Nazi massacre at Oradour-sur-Glane, France

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'US sanctions against Iran create bad blood' - Russian UN Envoy. Published on Feb 10, 2013 :: Russia's Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin sat down with RT in an exclusive interview to discuss the wave of instability spreading across North Africa and the Middle East, the common threats we all face, and how dialogue is the only way forward. From the threat of a unilateral strike against Iran, the raging civil war in Syria, French intervention in Mali, and Libyan spillover that further threatens to ignite greater conflict in an already volatile region, the international community is faced with a series of complex challenges that offer no simple solutions.



► Ahmadinejad: 'I'm ready for direct talks with US if pressure stops'

► $1 million reward offered for fugitive LA ex-cop

► New software can track your every move and predict future behavior

► US 'jumped to conclusions' on N. Korea nuclear test – state media

► Budget cuts may force Pentagon to cut armed forces – US top military chief 

► Syrian opposition ready to talk with government in rebel-held areas

► US allies provide Syrian rebels with weapons 'at the wink and nod' of Washington –  Vitaly Churkin (Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United Nations) to RT

► Ban Ki-moon 'impressed' by Russian preparations for Sochi 2014

► 'US hides real debt, in worse shape than Greece'. Published on Feb 9, 2013 :: The US national debt is twenty times higher than is officially reported, approaching $222 trillion, and today's children could soon be paying their parent's debts, reputed American economist Laurence Kotlikoff told RT.  ||  NEWS - Debt crisis looming as Washington 'hides the real fiscal cliff numbers'

► 'Europe was always plagued with debt, even before euro'.  Published on Feb 9, 2013 :: RT interviews Robert Mundell - Nobel Prize winner, economics professor and 'the Godfather of the Euro".

► Cosmodoomed? Politics hover over future of iconic Russian spaceport. Published on Feb 9, 2013 :: It could be the end of an era for a legendary cosmodrome that saw the first man blasting off into space. Political differences between Russia and Kazakhstan, have led to rumors Astana might stop renting Baikonur to Moscow. RT's Tom Barton reports.

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Gaming 4 Life: When real world is not enough (RT Documentary). Published on Feb 10, 2013 :: For gamers the computer is everything, so much so that they can even earn money through tournaments and sponsorships. Some even meet their future spouses online, but for others games can take up too much of their time and affect family life. Psychiatrists and psychologists argue whether or not the human mind can be negatively affected by games, but for many they instead serve to help bring people together.

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Inside Syria - Can dialogue end Syria's crisis? Published on Feb 10, 2013 :: The head of the Syrian National Coalition has intensified his push for talks with President Bashar al-Assad's government, despite criticism and opposition from his colleagues in the coalition. Moaz al-Khatib went as far as as identifying Farouk al-Sharaa, Syria's deputy president, as the figure with whom he would like to begin talks. This initiative from the head of the SNC to talk to Assad's government came with certain conditions; mainly the release of 160,000 prisoners and the extension of passports held by Syrian citizens. The Syrian government responded saying it is open to dialogue, but with no preconditions. So, is dialogue the best way out of the crisis in Syria? To discuss this, Inside Syria with presenter Hazem Sika is joined by guests: Najib Ghadbian, a member of the Syrian National Coalition and its representative in the US; Hillary Mann-Leverett, a professor of US foreign policy at the American University and co-author of the new book: Going to Tehran: Why the United States Must Come to Terms with the Islamic Republic of Iran; and Joseph Kechichian, a Middle East analyst and a columinst for Gulf News.



► Snowstorm paralyses US northeast. Published on Feb 9, 2013 ::  A huge storm with hurricane-force wind gusts and blizzard conditions has hammered the northeastern US, leaving at least five people dead. New York City was spared by the worst of the storm, but further north in Boston, the storm dumped as much as two feet of snow. About 650,000 homes and businesses also lost power. Al Jazeera's Kristen Saloomey reports from New York.

► Following the trail of the horse meat scandal. Published on Feb 10, 2013 ::  What began as a horse meat scandal in Britain, is quickly spreading across Europe - and food safety authorities are warning it could go global. Claims that organised crime gangs are behind the contamination, are threatening to erode consumer confidence in Europe's food industry. Let's take a look at the countries caught up so far.

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Iran's revolution turns 34 | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "Iran has become nuclear".  Published on Feb 10, 2013 :: Iran is marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Thousands joined celebrations in the capital, Tehran, waving flags and portraits of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used the occasion to hail the country's technological achievements.  ||   ► Iranians march to mark 1979 revolution. Published on Feb 10, 2013 ::  In his final major address to the Iranian nation, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has hinted at more political infighting to come. Speaking on the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran - Ahmadinejad also criticised U.S. offers of direct nuclear talks. Al Jazeera's Soraya Lennie reports from Tehran.

► Fewer New Year Fireworks in Polluted Beijing

► Airports Returning to Normal After Northeast Storm

* In Pictures: Two Feet of Snow Buries Northeast
* Northeast Blizzard: Five Great Time-Lapse Videos

► Valentine's Day Deals: Romance in the Form of Heart-Shaped Meat, Fast Food By Candle Light

► Pictures of the Week: February 1 – February 8 

► Dorner manhunt leads LAPD to Lowe's store in Northridge
By Andrew Blankstein and Wesley Lowrey  - SWAT officers show up after reports that a man resembling the suspect in three slayings was spotted there. Several such incidents have taken place. Full coverage

* $1-million reward announced for information 
* Mayor: L.A. 'will not tolerate this reign of terror'
* Skelton: A rogue ex-cop who shouldn't be armed 
* Riverside officials release name of slain officer

► Venice program gives the homeless a place to keep belongings. Check-in Storage allows people to put things in a container for up to a week at a time. 'We're not going to let [homeless people] keep items on the beach anymore,' L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl said.

► Healthcare

* State lacks doctors to meet demand
* A balancing act in senior healthcare
* Medicaid expansion divides GOP governors
* Quiet deaths don't come easy

► Highway

* Review: Tesla's all-electric Model S is truly competitive 
* Automakers hope to rev up sales of diesel vehicles
* Chevy to unveil Corvette Stingray Convertible at Geneva show on March 5
* A call for 10 more years of carpool lane access for green car buyers

► Ex-Defense chief calls for review before drone strikes on Americans

► Senator threatens to hold up Obama nominations for Defense, CIA 

► 55th Grammy Awards | Feb. 10, 2013 

► The Week in Pictures | Feb. 4-10, 2013