Geoscientists predict new compounds could change our view of what planets are made of

Apr. 24, 2013 ? A team of researchers led by Artem R. Oganov, a professor of theoretical crystallography in the Department of Geosciences, has made a startling prediction that challenges existing chemical models and current understanding of planetary interiors -- magnesium oxide, a major material in the formation of planets, can exist in several different compositions. The team's findings, "Novel stable compounds in the Mg-O system under high pressure," are published in the online edition of Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. The existence of these compounds -- which are radically different from traditionally known or expected materials -- could have important implications.

"For decades it was believed that MgO is the only thermodynamically stable magnesium oxide, and it was widely believed to be one of the main materials of the interiors of the Earth and other planets," said Qiang Zhu, the lead author of this paper and a postdoctoral student in the Oganov laboratory.

"We have predicted that two new compounds, MgO₂ and Mg₃O₂, become stable at pressures above one and five million atmospheres, respectively. This not only overturns standard chemical intuition but also implies that planets may be made of totally unexpected materials. We have predicted conditions (pressure, temperature, oxygen fugacity) necessary for stability of these new materials, and some planets, though probably not the Earth, may offer such conditions," added Oganov.

In addition to their general chemical interest, MgO₂ and Mg₃O₂ might be important planet-forming minerals in deep interiors of some planets. Planets with these compounds would most likely be the size of Earth or larger.

The team explained how its paper predicted the structures in detail by analyzing the electronic structure and chemical bonding for these compounds. For example, Mg₃O₂ is forbidden within "textbook chemistry," where the Mg ions can only have charges "+2," O ions are "-2, and the only allowed compound is MgO. In the "oxygen-deficient" semiconductor Mg₃O₂, there are strong electronic concentrations in the "empty space" of the structure that play the role of negatively charged ions and stabilize this material. Curiously, magnesium becomes a d-element (i.e. a transition metal) under pressure, and this almost alchemical transformation is responsible for the existence of the "forbidden" compound Mg₃O₂.

The findings were made using unique methods of structure prediction, developed in the Oganov laboratory. "These methods have led to the discovery of many new phenomena and are used by a number of companies for systematically discovering novel materials on the computer -- a much cheaper route, compared to traditional experimental methods," said Zhu.

"It is known that MgO makes up about 10 percent of the volume of our planet, and on other planets this fraction can be larger. The road is now open for a systematic discovery of new unexpected planet-forming materials," concluded Oganov.

This work is funded by the National Science Foundation and DARPA.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Stony Brook University.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Qiang Zhu, Artem R. Oganov, Andriy O. Lyakhov. Novel stable compounds in the Mg?O system under high pressure. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2013; DOI: 10.1039/C3CP50678A

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/technology/~3/e0dYr5OduAk/130424125444.htm

HGTV Dream Home 2013 eric cantor eric cantor HGTV Sugar Bowl 2013 chick fil a chick fil a

Rescued fisherman: 'Freak wave' quickly sank boat

HOUSTON (AP) ? John Reynolds and the other four members on a fishing boat off the Texas Gulf Coast couldn't make it back to shore after coming upon some thunderstorms.

So, they tied the vessel, called the Nite Owl, to an oil rig and turned in for the night, not worried because they'd been through worse weather.

But early Friday morning, Reynolds says a "freak wave" hit the side of the boat, sending their captain overboard and sinking the vessel within two minutes.

One crew member tried to reach the captain while Reynolds and the two others saw a life raft. Reynolds was the only one who reached it.

He was later rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. The search for the four other fishermen continued Sunday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rescued-fisherman-freak-wave-quickly-sank-boat-184653436.html

Rick Pitino

Injured Boston Cop Has 'Wicked' Humor

Richard Donohue Jr., the MBTA police officer who was seriously wounded in a chase and shootout with the alleged Boston Marathon bombers, had, as they say in Boston, "a wicked sense of humor," according to his college friend.

Jake Copty, who knew Donohue as "Dic" from their days at the Virginia Military Institute, told ABCNews.com in an email that the injured officer was a "fun and laid back cadet."

Live Updates Here

Donohue was injured last night when police pulled over a carjacked Mercedes SUV with the alleged bombing suspects inside. Donohue had a critical wound to his thigh but is now reportedly in stable condition at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, according to authorities.

SEE: Timeline of the Boston Marathon bombing.

The 33-year-old lives in Woburn with his wife, Kimberly, and their 7-month-old son. Donohue was a police academy student alongside MIT patrol officer Sean Collier, 26, who was slain on the campus Thursday night.

Collier was shot about 10:29 p.m. as he sat in his police cruiser, according to authorities. Police received a call shortly afterward that a vehicle had been carjacked on Memorial Drive.

A short time later, a transit officer spotted the vehicle and pursued a chase west that came to a stop in Watertown. Authorities said 200 rounds were fired by both police and bomber suspects Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, who died in the gunfire exchange.

Friend Says Bombing Suspect 'Was Someone I Could Count On' Watch Video Boston Suspect on Run Could Have Suicide Vest, Trigger: Police Scanner Watch Video

READ: Boston Bomb Suspect Became a U.S. Citizen on 9/11 Last Year26

Collier and Donohue were "actually really good friends" in the 26-member MBTA Police Academy class they were in together three years ago, according to the Boston Herald.

In a statement today, the MBTA said Donohue had faced "extraordinary danger" and "never hesitated in fully engaging the terrorists in order to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth."

"I am extremely proud of him, and cannot say enough about his heroic actions," said MBTA Transit Police Chief Paul MacMillan. "There has been a tremendous outpouring of support, and the Donohue family wants to thank all of those who have offered their prayers and support."

"Officer Donohue represents the best that the law enforcement profession has to offer, and he exemplifies the dedication and commitment of the MBTA Transit Police Department," he said.

MacMillan also offered "prayers and support" to both the Donohue family and that of Sean Collier.

Neighbors of the Donohue family in Woburn said the injured officer was athletic and a runner.

"The fact that he is in good shape is giving me hope that he would be all right," Linda Mawn told the Boston Globe.

Mawn said the family moved to the neighborhood a year ago, and cherish their son Richie. "They love that baby to death," she told the Globe.

Donohue was a 2002 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and a "brother rat" of Roanoke real estate agent Jake Copty, who remembered the police officer's bawdy sense of humor. He said Donohue had also served in the Navy.

He said the men were not particularly close but shared a sense of humor and a bond with the school.

"We had a lot of fun," he said. "The only rule we didn't break was the honor code."

"We VMI men and women, more than most, understand the nature of sacrifice and what it means to be in harm's way," he wrote. " On mornings like this morning when we wake up to find that one of our own has been injured or killed in the service of others, it is a terrible but all too familiar feeling."

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/injured-boston-police-officer-wicked-humor-friend/story?id=19002157

dont trust the b in apartment 23

It?s Over! Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries Officially Divorced!

It’s Over! Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries Officially Divorced!

Pregnant reality star Kim Kardashian has finally ended her bitter court battle with Kris Humphries. Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian reached an agreement on a divorce settlement that was finalized this morning! Humphries, the Nets forward, won’t have to miss practice or a playoff game as the team prepares to play against the Bulls. Kris, ...

It’s Over! Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries Officially Divorced! Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/04/its-over-kim-kardashian-kris-humphries-officially-divorced/

usa today yahoo news regions Google News Pray For Boston Anne Frank What Happened In Boston

'Castle', temporada 5: dos hombres que van a hacer reflexionar a Beckett

Contenido spoiler.

La emisi?n de la serie 'Castle' en el canal ABC ha sido modificada como consecuencia de los atentados del marat?n de Boston y la cadena ha querido variar su parrilla prime time de los lunes para no herir sensibilidades. El cap?tulo 21, 'Still', con una tem?tica relacionada con bombas, que deb?a emitirse el pr?ximo lunes 22 de abril pasa a emitirse el 29 y el cap?tulo 22, 'The Squab and the Quail', se emitir? el 22 de abril en lugar del 29.

Ya hemos hablado de que en 'Still' tendremos a la protagonista en problemas con una bomba a punto de acabar con su vida y tambi?n seremos testigos de un 'te quiero' entre Rick y Beckett. En 'The Squab and the Quail' las cosas cambian porque aparecer? en escena un guapo multimillonario dispuesto a hacerle cuestionar su relaci?n con el escritor.

Este hombre har? que Castle est? dispuesto a resolver el caso m?s r?pido que nunca para as? evitar que su chica pase demasiado tiempo con el multimillonario. Pero mientras que Beckett se cuestiona su relaci?n con Rick, va a patrullar durante el pen?ltimo episodio del a?o, con un investigador federal (Carlos Bernard) que podr?a hacerla reflexionar sobre su futuro amoroso.... Este hombre le abrir? los ojos ante otras oportunidades que podr?an aparecer.

?

Source: http://www.pizquita.com/noticia1128.html

chipotle lsu football lsu football Jessie Andrews bloomberg bloomberg Daily Caller

Rihanna cancels show due to illness

Frederic J. Brown / AFP - Getty Images

By Us Weekly

Get well soon, Rihanna! The 25-year-old singer has had to cancel her "Diamonds World Tour" show in Houston, Texas on Monday, April 15 due to illness.

PHOTOS: Rihanna through the years

Live Nation released a statement on Monday (via The Associated Press ) saying Rihanna is unable to perform "as a result of illness." Fans have been told to hang onto their tickets to use at a rescheduled show.

PHOTOS: Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years

Last month, the "Diamonds" singer was forced to cancel two dates after contracting laryngitis. She issued a heartfelt apology to her fans on Twitter, saying, "This is the hardest thing for me to deal with! I feel like we've been waiting on this day forever, and I'm hurt that I let you down. I hate disappointing people that never ever let me down!! I'm so embarrassed about this! Thank you for your prayers and well wishes!"

PHOTOS: Rihanna's best hairstyles

Rihanna has yet to tweet a personal announcement to her fans after canceling her April 15 show. She is next scheduled to perform in Dallas, Texas on April 16.

Related content:

Source: http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/16/17776416-rihanna-cancels-houston-show-due-to-illness?lite

birth control pill recall ground hog day florida primary results black history groundhogs day paula abdul cinnamon challenge

'We will hold them accountable' (CNN)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/299419112?client_source=feed&format=rss

prince jessica biel Lena Dunham elton john janelle monae MBTA national signing day

Major earthquake rocks Iran, Gulf and India

Apr 15 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $4,139,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $3,137,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,442,389 4. Adam Scott (Australia) $2,100,469 5. Steve Stricker $1,935,340 6. Phil Mickelson $1,764,680 7. Dustin Johnson $1,748,907 8. Jason Day $1,659,565 9. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 10. Keegan Bradley $1,430,347 11. Charles Howell III $1,393,806 12. John Merrick $1,375,757 13. Russell Henley $1,331,434 14. Michael Thompson $1,310,709 15. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 16. Bill Haas $1,271,553 17. Billy Horschel $1,254,224 18. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/strong-8-magnitude-quake-hits-iran-110149111.html

newsweek Tony Scott UFC 151 empire state building Hurricane prince harry hunger games

Storm system to bring more snow from South Dakota to Minnesota

Freezing rains and high winds are expected to push deeper into the South on Thursday. Meanwhile, South Dakota and nearby states are prepping for more snow. The Weather Channel's Chris Warren reports.

By Erin McClam, Staff Writer, NBC News

A vast storm system Wednesday night may bring snow from eastern South Dakota into northeast Nebraska, northwest Iowa, and central and southern Minnesota, to include the Twin Cities, The Weather Channel reported. Four to eight inches of snow could fall Wednesday night alone in the Sioux Falls to Minneapolis corridor.

Light snow could reach as far east as northern Wisconsin, The Weather Channel reported.

Farther east, in upstate New York, Buffalo could see a brief period of freezing rain Thursday morning.

Earlier Wednesday, the storm pounded the Dakotas with snow, coated Oklahoma with rare spring ice and took aim at parts of the Mid-Atlantic and South.

---

Snow, freezing rain and strong winds snapped trees, broke power poles and left cars sheathed in ice in South Dakota, and the city of Sioux Falls declared a state of emergency.

More coverage from weather.com

Farther south ? and much more unusually ? ice coated roads in Oklahoma, all the way down to the Red River border with Texas.

?For April, that is really amazing,? said Tom Niziol, a meteorologist and winter weather expert for The Weather Channel.

It all made for a messy day of travel in the Great Plains and the Midwest. Chicago O?Hare, a hub airport for the central United States, reported almost 500 flight cancellations.

Dirk Lammers / AP

Icy branches partially block a city street and fall amid parked cars in Sioux Falls, S.D.

As the storm system lumbers eastward, powerful thunderstorms are expected later Wednesday and overnight in Pennsylvania and Maryland, including Philadelphia and its suburbs.

It has been unusually cold this week in the West and unseasonably warm in the East, including temperatures pushing 90 degrees Wednesday in Washington. That warm air makes the weather system more dangerous.

?There will be more than enough fuel for these storms,? said Carl Parker, another meteorologist for The Weather Channel.

A line of late-day storms was expected to sweep across Arkansas on Wednesday afternoon, threatening to dump damaging hail and perhaps spawn tornadoes before pushing out of the state in the evening.

The same storm system has already produced bizarre weather elsewhere in the country.

Earlier this week, the temperature fell 55 degrees in Denver in less than 24 hours. Gusty wind nudged 21 cars of a freight train off the tracks in Nebraska. And snowflakes the size of cotton balls fall in Marshall, Minn., NBC affiliate KARE in Minneapolis reported.

This story was originally published on Wed Apr 10, 2013 6:32 AM EDT

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/2a939e12/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A40C10A0C176835280Estorm0Esystem0Eto0Ebring0Emore0Esnow0Efrom0Esouth0Edakota0Eto0Eminnesota0Dlite/story01.htm

tesla model s tesla model s act Black Ops 2 Secede ben roethlisberger Diwali

Samsung Galaxy Mega is official and comes in 6.3- and 5.8-inch sizes

We knew Samsung was planning more devices, but we didn't expect the arrival of two Galaxy Mega smartphones at the same time. First up, the 6.3-inch model has an 'HD display' (we're chasing the precise resolution) alongside a dual-core 1.7GHz processor, Android 4.2 and an 8-megapixel camera. Software features like Air View, Multi Windows, Pop-up Play will make sure you have plenty to do on that giant screen. The Galaxy Mega arrives somewhere between Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy Note II, although we're hoping it'll be priced slightly more humbly than either neighbor. The Galaxy Mega 6.3 houses LTE and HSPA radios, while you'll get GPS and GLONASS to aid any location-based antics. There's a 3,200mAh battery and internal storage that can be expanded by microSD up to 64GB, with 8 or 16 gigs (there's two models) to start you off with.

The HSPA-only Galaxy Mega 5.8 reduces the size -- and pretty much all the other specs. The resolution drops down to qHD (960 x 540), while it packs a lesser 1.4GHz dual-core processor. It has the same 8-megapixel camera, while the smaller, er, Mega, only comes as an 8GB model. No word on pricing for either yet, but Ubergizmo has already got the chance to handle the Korean manufacturer's 6.3-inch goliath. Take a look at their first impressions at the More Coverage link.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 press images

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/11/samsung-galaxy-mega-6-3-5-8/

best new artist 2012 grammys foo fighters nikki minaj album of the year grammy red carpet grammy award winners

Hagel: Job not to cut heart out of Pentagon

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel pauses while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 11, 2013, before the House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Defense Department's fiscal 2014 National Defense Authorization Budget Request. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel pauses while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 11, 2013, before the House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Defense Department's fiscal 2014 National Defense Authorization Budget Request. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel listens at right, as Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 11, 2013, before the House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Defense Department's fiscal 2014 National Defense Authorization Budget Request. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, left, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 11, 2013, before the House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Defense Department's fiscal 2014 National Defense Authorization Budget Request. At right is Defense Undersecretary, Comptroller Robert F. Hale. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Buck McKeon, R-Calif., listens as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 11, 2013, before the committee's hearing on the Defense Department's fiscal 2014 National Defense Authorization Budget Request. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel rejected the suggestion that President Barack Obama tapped him to "cut the heart out of the Pentagon," pointedly reminding lawmakers Thursday that Congress approved the smaller, deficit-driven military budgets long before he took the job.

Faced with a $487 billion budget cut over a decade, Hagel and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon had no choice in drawing up the politically unpopular reductions in the president's proposed $526.6 billion budget for next year.

The blueprint calls for another round of domestic base closures, higher health care fees for retirees and their dependents, and a smaller pay raise for personnel. Dempsey cast the choice as between a well-compensated force and the readiness of the nation's war fighters.

Cost-conscious lawmakers have clamored for fiscal austerity in a period of trillion-dollar deficits, but often balk when the cuts hit military bases in their home states or affect powerful veterans' groups. That disconnect was on stark display during the nearly four hours the Pentagon leaders testified before the House Armed Services Committee.

In one exchange, Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, questioned Hagel on what his role is ? managing the decline in defense spending or warning of the dangers of military cuts.

"There is a widespread view that you were brought into the Pentagon to cut defense," Thornberry told Hagel.

The secretary, on the job six weeks, said the cuts were law, part of the budget agreement reached between Obama and congressional Republicans in August 2011. Added to those reductions are $41 billion in automatic, across-the-board cuts, commonly known as sequestration.

Military leaders have warned that the automatic cuts would do harm to the military, but deficit hawks in Congress prevailed over defense hawks and the cuts kicked in March 1. Tea partyers, Republicans and Democrats continued to disagree over whether to reverse them.

"I can't lead my institution into a swamp of knife fighting over protesting what's already in place," Hagel told the committee.

He dismissed any notion that he was a hired gun at the Pentagon to gut the budget.

"The president did not instruct me, when he asked me to consider doing this job ... to go over and cut the heart out of the Pentagon. That wasn't his instruction to me, nor in any implication in any way."

The hearing underscored the difficulty the Pentagon faces in persuading Congress to accept what it says are cost-saving steps.

Republicans and Democrats on the panel criticized any additional base closings, arguing that the upfront costs were too high. Hagel said the base closing system was "imperfect," but argued it was a "comprehensive and fair approach" that would result in considerable savings in the long term.

The Pentagon has proposed $2.4 billion over five years to cover the initial costs of closings, set the round for 2015 and indicated that the closures would not be implemented until a year after that.

Hagel, along with his two predecessors ? Robert Gates and Leon Panetta, have called for increased fees for military health care, especially for retirees under the age of 65. The leaders pointed out that those in the TRICARE program once paid 27 percent of health care costs. Now their cost is 11 percent.

The overall health care program is some $50 billion and accounts for 10 percent of the Pentagon budget. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost could reach $65 billion by 2017 and $95 billion by 2030.

But several Republicans and Democrats on the committee, including Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., chairman of the military personnel subcommittee, dismissed the notion of raising fees.

Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the committee's top Democrat, summed up the difficulty for the Pentagon.

"There are places where we can cut the defense budget that will not affect our national security, that Congress rather consistently stops you from doing," he told Hagel.

One exchange ? over the disputed program known as MEADS missile defense ? captured the lack of consensus within Congress.

Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., challenged Hagel's decision to spend $310 million for the last year of the program despite a prohibition in this year's defense policy bill. Hagel answered that he checked with Pentagon lawyers who advised that the department was obligated to make the last payment under the federal spending bill that Congress passed last month.

"Well, I, respectfully, think you need to get some new lawyers," Shuster said.

Obama's 2014 budget proposal calls for a base Pentagon budget of $526.6 billion ? about $52 billion more than the $475 billion level established by the spending cuts set in the 2011 budget agreement between Obama and congressional Republicans.

Obama's budget plan also includes an $88.5 billion placeholder for additional war costs in Afghanistan as the president decides on the pace of the drawdown of American combat troops next year and the eventual size of the residual force after December 2014. The administration likely will submit a war cost request in late April or early May.

Obama's budget reflects the end of more than a decade of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan and the military's strategic pivot to Asia as a nuclear North Korea increases its belligerence and China builds up its forces. The cuts now envisioned come after years of robust budgets.

Instead of the across-the-board cuts of some $500 billion over 10 years, the administration is proposing $150 billion in additional defense savings over a decade, though Hagel said the reductions wouldn't occur until "beyond fiscal 2018."

One fact remains constant despite the cuts: The United States spends more on defense than the next 16 largest militaries in the world combined.

___

Follow Donna Cassata on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DonnaCassataAP

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-04-11-Defense%20Budget/id-85bd01f8e0274adbad2ad14303a63980

sugar bowl downton abbey season 3 2013 Calendar chris christie sofia vergara American Horror Story Patti Page

Facebook's Zuckerberg launches political group

NEW YORK (AP) ? Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has formally launched a political group aimed at revamping immigration policy, boosting education and encouraging investment in scientific research.

Zuckerberg announced the formation of Fwd.us in an op-ed in The Washington Post late Wednesday. In it, he says the U.S. needs a new approach to these issues if it is to get ahead economically. This, he writes, includes offering talented, skilled immigrants a path to citizenship.

He also calls for higher standards and accountability in schools and increased focus on learning about science, technology, engineering and math.

Also backing the group are tech leaders such as LinkedIn Corp. CEO Reid Hoffman, venture capitalists John Doerr and Jim Breyer, as well as Ruchi Sanghvi of Dropbox, who was Facebook Inc.'s first female engineer.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/facebooks-zuckerberg-launches-political-group-134946177.html

girl scouts printable bracket game change own stacy francis tournament brackets 2012 ncaa basketball tournament

NY judge approves $115 million AIG shareholder settlement

By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday approved a $115 million settlement between American International Group Inc shareholders and former CEO Maurice "Hank" Greenberg and other defendants over alleged improper accounting at the insurance giant.

The accord is the latest in a string of settlements to spill out of class-action securities fraud litigation tied to practices at the insurer dating to 1999. In total, $937.5 million in settlements have been approved with defendants, including AIG.

U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts in Manhattan gave final approval to the pact at a court hearing, calling it "fair, reasonable and adequate."

"Defendants are pleased that all those claims have been resolved," Robert Dwyer, a lawyer for Greenberg at Boies, Schiller & Flexner, said in a statement.

Batts approved a $725 million settlement with AIG in February 2012. She earlier approved a $97.5 million accord with accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers .

In August, a federal appeals court reversed a decision by Batts rejecting preliminary approval of a fourth settlement for $72 million with General Re, a unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

LONG-RUNNING LAWSUIT

The settlement with Greenberg and the other defendants resolves a 2004 lawsuit accusing the defendants of misleading investors in connection with an alleged illegal bid-rigging scheme in the insurance industry.

The lawsuit also accused Greenberg and others of making false and misleading statements about an alleged accounting fraud that resulted in a $3.9 billion restatement by AIG in 2005.

AIG separately paid $1.6 billion to settle various regulatory investigations of the accounting fraud, and Greenberg and former Chief Financial Officer Howard Smith paid $16.5 million to settle claims by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The alleged activities took place well before AIG accepted $182 billion in taxpayer bailouts during the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009.

Among those participating in the $115 million settlement are Greenberg, Smith, two other executives and two of Greenberg's companies, C.V. Starr & Co and Starr International Co.

Two Ohio state pension funds acted as lead plaintiffs for the class, which covers AIG shareholders who bought stock from October 1999 to April 2005.

Batts also approved awarding 13.25 percent of the settlement, or $15.24 million, as attorneys fees to plaintiffs' lawyers led by the law firms Labaton Sucharow and Hahn Loeser & Parks.

Thomas Dubbs, a lawyer at Labaton, did not respond to a request for comment.

IMPACT ON NEW YORK LAWSUIT

Dwyer, Greenberg's lawyer, said in his statement that the settlement also "effectively extinguishes all damages claims" asserted in a separate civil fraud lawsuit being pursued by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

The lawsuit, filed in 2005, seeks more than $6 billion in damages and centers on two allegedly fraudulent reinsurance transactions in 1999 and 2000.

Schneiderman had sought to object to the settlement, but Batts said in January he did not have standing. Schneiderman has filed a notice of appeal.

Damien LaVera, a spokesman for Schneiderman, said regardless the outcome of the settlement, "our office intends to continue to pursue this case."

An AIG spokesman declined to comment on the settlement.

The case is In re American International Group Inc Securities Litigation, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 04-08141.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Martha Graybow, Matthew Lewis and Dan Grebler)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ny-judge-approves-115-million-aig-shareholder-settlement-200220676--sector.html

kendall marshall whitney houston news sylvia plath whitney houston autopsy results obama trayvon jim yong kim michael bush

UN whistleblower asks US to withhold UN payments

NEW YORK (AP) ? A U.N. whistleblower who won his case but received only 2 percent of the $2.2 million he sought in damages and costs is asking the U.S. government to withhold 15 percent of its payments to the United Nations.

James Wasserstrom alleged corruption involving senior officials in the U.N. peacekeeping operation in Kosovo in 2007. He is now an anti-corruption adviser at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

Wasserstrom told a news conference Monday that he was sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and key lawmakers asking that they implement a federal law requiring such withholding if an organization does not take steps to implement "best practices" to prevent retaliation against whistleblowers.

"The evidence is overwhelming that the U.N. has failed to take such steps," Wasserstrom said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-04-08-US-UN-Whistleblower/id-c13f29f7a93a42c8acd2a88c603df875

Espn College Football Eddie Murphy died Suzanne Barr Clint Eastwood speech Maria Montessori clint eastwood Julian Castro

Must See HDTV (April 8th - 14th)

Tonight the Men's NCAA basketball tournament comes to an end as Louisville faces Michigan. That's not the only finale this week, as Being Human, Go On, Legit and others wrap up their seasons. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames.

Archer
If you're somehow not watching this cartoon, you should be. Part two of the season finale airs Thursday night as the ISIS agents find themselves trapped undersea (it's all Carol's fault.)
(April 11th, FX, 10PM)

Louis CK: Oh My God
It's going to be Louis CK, on stage, telling some jokes. Don't have HBO? the comic will be selling this one on his website as well, although you'll have to wait until November to get it.
(April 13th, HBO, 10PM)

Filed under: HD

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/08/must-see-hdtv-april-8th-14th/

tour de france Magic Mike Anderson Cooper Gay NBA draft 2012 alicia sacramone Don Grady ann curry

Rubio seeks to assure GOP on immigration overhaul

Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

At a private lunch meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will brief his fellow Republican senators on the details of a comprehensive immigration reform plan set to be released later this month, and he is expected to assure them that the legislation will contain the "the toughest immigration enforcement laws in U.S. history."

The pitch, however, may be a tough sell for some Republican lawmakers still smarting from past failed attempts to overhaul the nation's immigration system.

Among his colleagues in the Senate Republican caucus, Rubio and the other members of the so-called "Gang of Eight"?the bipartisan group of senators tasked with writing the first draft of a new immigration bill?face many tough critics, particularly Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, senior Republicans on the Judiciary Committee. Through press releases, media appearances and official letters sent over the past several weeks, Sessions and Grassley have warned that the immigration bill would not mandate adequate border security and could hurt U.S. workers. They have called for the Gang of Eight, which for months has held weekly meetings behind closed doors, to begin negotiating in public, and they want to see immigration reform done piece-meal, instead of through one giant, comprehensive bill.

With the first draft of the bill set to be made public in the coming days, skeptical Republican senators will have an opportunity to have some of their questions answered and air their concerns. Many of their questions, presumably, will concern the immigration enforcement measures in the bill.

So what should lawmakers concerned about enforcement mechanisms expect to hear?

According to an overview of part of the legislation provided to Yahoo News by a source familiar with the bill's language, the enforcement proposals are indeed sweeping: First, the bill would require the federal government to meet specific security and border enforcement goals for 10 years before anyone living in the country illegally is allowed to obtain legal status. Applicants who applied for the new, Registered Provisional Immigrant status would be required to continually meet eligibility requirements by remaining employed and in good standing with the law. They also would be required to pay fines, taxes and maintain a physical presence within the United States during the years-long application process.

If passed, the law ultimately would cost billions of dollars in new spending for border security measures, while creating a visa-exit system to track when people overstay their visa and a program that would enforce workplace compliance laws. There also is language in the bill that would prohibit those currently in the country illegally to receive government-subsidized health insurance benefits tied to the 2010 federal health care law for up to 15 years.

For his part, Rubio should be at ease explaining the bill to his colleagues. Since the overhaul's blueprint was unveiled earlier this year, he has made it his task to sell the bill to skeptical friends on the right who worry that the effort to overhaul immigration laws will amount to nothing more than "amnesty" for illegal immigrants and that the border enforcement rules in the new bill will lack the teeth necessary to prevent future flows of immigrants.

In January, Rubio embarked on a media blitz of conservative radio and television programs in an effort to put Republican minds at ease over the march toward a bill. He tussled with conservative media heavyweights such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, who challenged him over parts in the blueprint that offer a path to legality for the nearly 12 million immigrants currently living in the country illegally.

As for the process of passing the bill, Rubio also has vowed to ensure that once the measure's first draft is released to the public, it stays public. There is a fear among Republicans, and even some Democrats, that instead of putting the bill through a process of transparent, regular order, the bill's path toward passage could devolve into the realm of secret, backdoor negotiations that plagued Obamacare in 2009 and 2010.

One of the last things immigration reform advocates want is a sideshow of demonstrators arriving in Washington furious because the final bill is perceived as being the product of crony kickbacks to special interests and backroom dealing. With an issue as emotional and important as immigration, everyone will want to know exactly what's in it long before it's time to take a final vote.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/rubio-seeks-convince-gop-immigration-overhaul-create-toughest-093049158--election.html

mary tyler moore x games pro bowl 2012 rick santorum daughter gainesville 2012 royal rumble the grey

Hubble sees J 900 masquerading as a double star

Apr. 2, 2013 ? A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows Jonckheere 900 or J 900, a planetary nebula -- glowing shells of ionized gas pushed out by a dying star. Discovered in the early 1900s by astronomer Robert Jonckheere, the dusty nebula is small but fairly bright, with a relatively evenly spread central region surrounded by soft wispy edges.

Despite the clarity of this Hubble image, the two objects in the picture above can be confusing for observers. J 900's nearby companion, a faint star in the constellation of Gemini, often causes problems for observers because it is so close to the nebula -- when observation conditions are bad, this star seems to merge into J 900, giving it an elongated appearance. Hubble's position above the Earth's atmosphere means that this is not an issue for the space telescope.

Astronomers have also mistakenly reported observations of a double star in place of these two objects, as the planetary nebula is quite small and compact.

J 900's central star is only just visible in this image, and is very faint -- fainter than the nebula's neighbor. The nebula appears to display a bipolar structure, where there are two distinct lobes of material emanating from its center, enclosed by a bright oval disk.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NASA.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/kMnYyBDbXrY/130402101919.htm

aladdin black forest ufc 144 fight card ufc 144 results acura nsx all star weekend 2012 giada de laurentiis

VatorNews - Credit Karma raises $30M for personal finance tools

Personal finance services became all the rage at the peak of the recession. It?s one of those things that gives the illusion of being in control of your finances. Like how you eat a salad with dinner and tell yourself it?s practically the same thing as doing cardio.

One personal finance startup that landed its first round of funding during the recession?Credit Karma?announced Tuesday that it has raised a $30 million Series B round led by Ribbit Capital and Susquehanna Growth Equity, with help from existing investor Felicis Ventures. The new round brings Credit Karma's total raised to $33.5 million.

The world of personal finance is a pretty crowded space, and Credit Karma offers many of the same features that other services offer, such as bill reminders, alerts, and spending breakdowns to show you where your money is going. The site also offers a comparison feature that lets you compare interest rates on credit cards and loans of all types.

Lots of other personal finance services offer similar tools. Mint offers a spending breakdown, bill reminders, low balance alerts, and more, although the experience isn?t always as smooth as I?d like, considering I still get bill reminders for services I canceled years ago. Pageonce sends mobile alerts to your phone so you can stay on top of spending. Personal Capital is a much more complete service that gives users an overview of all of their assets as well as a breakdown of their portfolio diversity. ReadyforZero helps users pay off their debt.

My personal favorite is Learnvest, which offers all the usual personal finance tools in addition to online courses in financial education and daily money management articles and newsletters.

Credit Karma offers users a more complete picture of their credit, which is missing from a lot of other personal finance sites. It's a real pain in the ass to find out that even though your finances are perfect, your credit score is keeping you from qualifying for a loan because of a missed payment three years ago.?

?Credit Karma has revolutionized the relationship consumers have with their credit, as evidenced by the company?s exponential growth over the past several years,? said Micky Malka, founder and General Partner of Ribbit Capital, in a statement.

Since the company raised its Series A round in 2009, it has grown revenue by 4000% and added 10 million members. Credit Karma is also available on iOS and Android.

?We spent the last seven years looking for a disruptive player in personal financial management and credit analytics that set out to bring transparency to the market, and we finally found Credit Karma,? said Scott Feldman of Susquehanna Growth Equity, in a statement. ?No other company offers consumers access to their personal financial condition data and assistance in finding the right credit products, at the right time and at the right cost. All of this for free! It?s a game changing business model that we think could redefine how consumers and financial institutions interact in the future.?

Feldman and Malka will both be joining Credit Karma?s board of directors.?

The company plans to use the new funds from this round to expand into new verticals and markets, hire more team members, expand infrastructure and resources, and introduce new products and tools.?

Source: http://vator.tv/news/2013-04-02-credit-karma-raises-30m-for-personal-finance-tools

mia super bowl tom coughlin eli manning eli manning kelly clarkson national anthem halftime show super bowl halftime show 2012

Gunmen attack Iraq's Akkas gasfield, three workers killed

By Ahmed Rasheed

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Gunmen attacked a contracting company in Iraq's Akkas gasfield on Monday, killing at least three local workers and kidnapping two more before burning their camp in the remote western desert.

Akkas, operated by Korea Gas Company (KOGAS) in Anbar province near the Syrian border, is still not producing gas. But the attack is another indication of increased insurgent presence along the frontier where Syria's war is spilling into Iraq.

"Gunmen in vehicles attacked the headquarters of a local company hired by KOGAS to do work in the field," said the mayor of nearby al Qaim town, Farhan Ftaikhan. "They killed an engineer and two workers and kidnapped two more. Before they left they set fire to vehicles and offices."

No group claimed responsibility for the late-night assault, but security officials say the local wing of al Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq, is regaining ground in the remote hills, caves and villages along the Syrian border.

Ten years after the U.S.-led invasion, Iraq still struggles with political instability and Sunni Islamist fighters who often attack Shi'ite Muslims to try to provoke the kind of sectarian confrontation that killed thousands at the height of the war.

But al Qaeda in Iraq is also now linked to Sunni Islamists fighting in neighboring Syria. Officials say it has been invigorated by arms, insurgents and support flowing to rebels battling against President Bashar al-Assad across the border.

The Akkas strike was the second large attack on Monday. Earlier, a suicide bomber driving a fuel tanker packed with explosives hit a local government compound and killed at least nine people in the northern city of Tikrit.

Attacks on Iraq's energy sector are less common, and usually hit pipelines, as country builds up its oil production to more than 3 million barrels per day after signing massive deals with foreign companies to develop its reserves.

Iraq, which holds the world's 10th largest gas reserves, has said the priority for the Akkas field would be domestic consumption once it starts production.

Baghdad signed a final deal for the field, which has reserves of 5.6 trillion cubic feet, in October 2011 after months of delays because of disagreements between the central government and Anbar provincial officials over terms.

(Additional reporting by Kamal Naama in Ramadi; writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Rosalind Russell)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gunmen-attack-iraqs-akkas-gasfield-four-local-workers-200852190.html

Cam Cameron Ada Lovelace 12/12/12 manny pacquiao Chopper Live jerry brown michael buble

Jonas Brothers Throw 'Pom Poms' Up For Summer Tour

Brothers tease new album, talk Miley Cyrus and Frank Ocean while officially debuting new single.
By Jocelyn Vena

Jonas Brothers' "Pom Poms"
Photo: Jonas Brothers Recording

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1704807/jonas-brothers-pom-poms-summer-tour.jhtml

news 12 world series Natina Reed giants Sandy Hurricane flight tracker Marina Krim

Manhattan's Oldest Time-Keeping Sidewalk Has Been Ticking for Over a Century

Deep in lower Manhattan, embedded in the sidewalk, is a clock that's been ticking since long before you knew what time was. Installed in 1889 with a single redesign in 1940, the timepiece has counted off hundreds of minutes, and tens of millions of seconds, all while withstanding the endless march of both time and the pedestrians above it. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ZHgEeO6_xBw/manhattans-oldest-time+keeping-sidewalk-has-been-ticking-for-over-a-century

texas chainsaw massacre nfl playoffs crystal harris Texas A Texas A&m cotton bowl Fiscal cliff deal

Pope appeals for end to Korea tensions in first Easter message

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis, appearing before more than 250,000 people for his first Easter Sunday address, called for world peace, respect for the environment and a diplomatic solution to the crisis on the Korean peninsula.

In his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message, he also appealed for a resumption of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, an end to the civil war in Syria and political solutions to conflicts in several African countries.

The former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, who has made defense of nature an early hallmark of his pontificate, also condemned the "iniquitous exploitation of natural resources" and urged everyone to be "guardians" of creation.

Francis delivered his message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica - the same spot from where he first appeared to the world as pope after his election on March 13 - to a crowd estimated by the Vatican at more than 250,000.

"Peace in Asia, above all on the Korean peninsula: may disagreements be overcome and a renewed spirit of reconciliation grow," he said, speaking in Italian.

North Korea said on Saturday it was entering a "state of war" with South Korea. Tensions have been high since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered a third nuclear weapons test in February, breaching U.N. sanctions and ignoring warnings from North Korea's sole major ally, China, not to do so.

People thronged the open jeep that carried Pope Francis around at the end of a Mass. He stopped to accept a jersey with his "Bergoglio" name on it from fans of an Argentine football club and to comfort a handicapped man.

Francis, who has brought a more simple and personal style to the papacy, said the message of Easter is that faith can help people transform their lives by letting "those desert places in our hearts bloom".

GUARDIANS OF CREATION

"How many deserts, even today, do human beings need to cross?! Above all, the desert within, when we have no love for God or neighbor, when we fail to realize that we are guardians of all that the creator has given us and continues to give us," he said.

Earlier, at a Mass in a square bedecked by more than 40,000 plants and flowers, he wore relatively simple white vestments, as opposed to his predecessor Benedict, who preferred elaborate robes.

The huge crowd spilled out of St. Peter's Square and into surrounding streets. They included many who had come to see a pope counted on to rehabilitate a Church marred by scandals to do with sexual abuse of children and allegations of corruption.

"It's a new pope and new beginning," said Tina Hughes, 67, who came to Rome with her family from Nottingham, England to see the pope. "I think he brings something special. He connects with people. I feel good about him."

Francis, who took his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who is revered as a symbol of austerity and the importance of respecting nature, said the world was "divided by greed looking for easy gain". He condemned human trafficking and violence linked to drug trafficking.

Easter Sunday, the day Christians believe Jesus was resurrected from the dead three days after his crucifixion, was the culmination of four hectic days of activity for the pope, during which he instituted several novelties.

On Holy Thursday, two women were included among the 12 people whose feet he washed and kissed during a traditional ceremony that had previously been open only to men.

Francis again showed on Sunday that he would carry out his papal duties his own way. The Vatican had prepared a list of brief Easter greetings for him in 65 languages - identical to those read by his predecessors - but he decided not read them, and spoke only in Italian.

Instead of moving into regal papal apartments, he is still living in the Vatican guesthouse where he stayed during the conclave that elected him as the first non-European pope in 1,300 years.

(Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-appeals-peace-end-korea-tensions-easter-message-102404763.html

bill cosby us open bill nye Hurricane Isaac 2012 Snooki Baby terrell owens terrell owens

Twitter Announces ?Twttr? - Will Start Charging $5 A Month If You Want To Tweet Using Vowels

Vowels aren’t really necessary in today’s digital age, are they? Twitter doesn’t think so, as it announced a new “two-tiered” service including its free model called “Twttr.” You can only tweet without vowels though. Want the vowels back? Pony up $5 a month. Seems like a pretty sweet deal to me. Luckily, Twitter really cares about its users and will offer up the “sometimes Y” free of charge…forever. Also free are vowels in link URLs. Whew. If you’ve seen the text messages from anyone under 25 years old, you know that vowels often get left out already. This is pretty forward-thinking of Twitter, as it attempts to monetize its older set of users who can still speak and write using a real language. Here’s what Twitter had to say about the disruptive approach to scl ntwrkng: We?re doing this because we believe that by eliminating vowels, we?ll encourage a more efficient and ?dense? form of communication. We also see an opportunity to diversify our revenue stream. Here’s a mockup, with a condensed version of the legendary Barack Obama re-election tweet: Take that, Fcbk. How did they come up with this amazing concept? Michael Sippey, Twitter’s VP of Product shared the brainery that went behind this genius move to beef up its revenue before next year’s IPO: I was carpooling home after Twitter?s seventh birthday party with my head filled with images from our past, like our early logo where we spelled it TWTTR, in neon green toothpaste. And then Prince?s song ?I would die 4 U? came on the radio. I felt like there was something there, but I wasn?t sure what or how to bring it to market. Then later that night, I was watching ?Wheel of Fortune? with @adambain, and a contestant yelled out ?I wanna buy a vowel?. Everything just sort of clicked. Adam and I turned to each other and high-fived. It was one of those product moments that just felt like magic. The company had some other revenue-producing ideas up its sleeve and will introduce extra characters, past 140, for a price: In addition to our normal suite of Promoted Products for advertisers, we are now also offering a single character extension, expanding the length of a Tweet to 141 characters, for those moments when you need just one more character to finish your thought. The price of the extra character is based on a

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/8vd59NBA09U/

finish line Conclave tmz Sizzurp the bachelor earthquake What is a Jesuit

Engadget Podcast 337 - 03.28.13

Missed us live at our new weekly livestream home on YouTube at 3PM ET last Thursday? Fret not, because we've got you covered here with the video and audio recordings as usual. So, listen on your own time as Tim, Brian and Peter talk everything from OUYA to Angry Birds hand sanitizer. Stream it below, or catch the subscription links and video embed after the break. Happy weekend!

Hosts: Tim Stevens, Peter Rojas, Brian Heater

Producers: James Trew, Joe Pollicino

Hear the podcast

Filed under: Podcasts

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/31/engadget-podcast-337-03-28-13/

danielle fishel daylight savings Daylight Savings Time 2013 DeAndre Jordan Oz the Great and Powerful elisabeth hasselbeck Mothers Day 2013