Survey: Chinese youth to postpone marriage because of housing pressures

A recent survey shows that the housing pressures in China's urban youth, 24.8% led to the postponement of marriage, while 21.3% of delayed children.

According to building a well-magazine, nearly 70% of respondents, mostly young people aged 25-35 living in urban areas the survey said they do not want to get married, if they still had to rent.

Monthly magazine, seeking (seeking truth from facts) magazine, which is by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee, organized jointly with Tsinghua University subsidiary of a survey conducted last month university study, the majority of the housing situation of young people living cities .

In nearly 22% of surveyed people living in a rented house, who, however, that they lack a sense of security.

Many young people in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, life, said they are considering moving because of high housing prices of the second and third tier cities, according to the survey.

However, in the second and third line cities, housing prices still pose a headache for Chinese youth, 65.6% of the respondents were under enormous pressure, almost the same results for the first-tier cities.

In the major cities in the real estate prices in April showed mixed growth in new and additional reports from the March housing prices and lower resale prices last month, the monthly increase and the city, according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) last month.

Chinese Government has repeatedly stressed its efforts to cool the real estate market out of control, take all measures to curb property prices.

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Police arrest cross-border drug smuggling ring in northeast China

Chinese police have detained 10 cross-boundary drug Dandong, Liaoning Province, a city adjacent to the Democratic People's Republic of trafficking cases.

The group was caught dealing 450 grams of methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, said Dandong police said.

Criminal suspects, all Chinese citizens, were found to carry drugs and 15 million yuan(about 23,145 U.S. dollars), according to police.

Police are hunting is believed related to the Group two.

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Afghan roadside bomb killed three workers

Three people were killed when the vehicle runs in a roadside bomb in Khost province on Friday, the capital of Kabul, 150 kilometers southeast of the city, police said Saturday.

"A construction company hit the Spera district road vehicles roadside bombs Friday night caused a powerful explosion. the three workers were killed, the result, " said Jacobs, chief deputy, Mohammed, the provincial police.

Police officials said that all the victims were Afghans working in a local company in the construction of local road pricing. No one has claimed responsibility for the incident.

Taliban fighters, who on April 30 announced the launch of the Afghan and NATO-led spring offensive forces, often made ​​in the past couple of years, road construction and development company threats.

A total of 35 workers were killed and 20 wounded, the Taliban attacked the neighboring Paktia province on May 19 road construction company.

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One NATO soldier killed in Afghanistan

One NATO soldier killed in the volatile southern Afghanistan, militant attacks on Friday and Saturday confirmed that the military alliance.

"International Security Assistance Force soldiers were killed yesterday following a rebel attack in southern Afghanistan, " said the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in a statement here.

However, the brief statement did not disclose the nationality of the victims, saying it is the policy of the International Security Assistance Force casualties identification procedures to defer to the relevant national authorities.

Forces mainly from the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia already stationed in the framework of the International Security Assistance Force fighting the Taliban insurgents in the southern region.

220 NATO soldiers, most of them Americans, were killed in total in Afghanistan, starting this year.

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Progress Report on Environmental Protection in TibetProgress Report on Environmental Protection in Tibet

Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region maintained sound environment last year thanks to a series of protection measures, a report issued by the local environment watchdog said Friday.

Tibet's 2010 environment status report said the region reported progress in environment protection, as its water and air quality indicated.

Last year, the water quality in Tibet's major rivers and lakes, including the Yarlung Zangbo, Lhasa River and Rongpo River that originates in Mount Qomolangma, met national standards for clean water, the document said.

Meanwhile, all Tibetan cities and towns reported good air quality last year.

The regional capital Lhasa reported good air quality on 98.9 percent of the days in 2010. In Tibet's second largest city Xigaze, air quality was good on 99.5 percent of the days.

In Bayi town of Nyingchi Prefecture, air quality was good all during the year.

The report attributed the good air and water quality to effect environment protection.

"Effective measures were taken to protect the pastureland, forests, wetlands and bio-diversity and curb pollution," the document said.

Last year, the regional environment protection administration closed down nine ore concentration plants to curb pollution.

Another 26 ore concentration plants and 16 mines were suspended production for overhaul, said Jampel, deputy chief of the regional environment protection administration.

He said Tibet had banned ultra-thin plastic bags and lunch boxes and started building three garbage treatment plants in Nagqu, Qamdo and Ngari prefectures.

Another 14 garbage treatment plants will be built in 14 counties across the plateau region, he said.

To expand the region's forest reserves, an additional 60,000 hectares of trees were planted in Tibet last year and 4,000 hectares of cropland was reclaimed to forests.

Last year, Tibet set up three new nature reserves and spent 20.7 million yuan (3.2 million U.S. dollars) to improve rural environment in 26 villages.

Meanwhile, the region spent a total of 780 million yuan to preserve its natural forests, wetlands and wildlife, prevent forest fire, plant diseases and insect pests and promote clean energy in nomadic communities.

Experts say environment protection on the Tibet Plateau, dubbed the "roof of the world", is essential in fighting glacial melting and climate change.

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Chinese company won the tender to design a new bridge to the Panama Canal

The Chinese infrastructure giant, the China Communication Construction Company (CCCC), was awarded a contract to design a third bridge over the Panama Canal, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said Friday.

The ACP said in a statement that the Chinese company has presented the lowest budget worth 4.662 million U.S. dollars and won the bid over five other competing companies.

The bid was presented in partnership with engineering consultancy firm Louis Berger Group, the ACP said.

Other competing companies included a 4.9 million dollar bid from the TYPSA Principia group, a 6.1 million dollar bid submitted by URS Holdings, a 7.2 million dollar bid from the Puente de Colon JV company, a 8.5 million dollar bid from the group ARUP and a 9.6 million dollar bid from Ty Lin International.p The ACP has specified that the new bridge must be braced with ties, built at 75 meters above sea level with a full length of five kilometers including access roads to the bridge.

Currently, the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge -- both on the Pacific side -- provide the only routes for vehicles to cross the Canal. This new bridge, the first-ever on the Atlantic side of the waterway, will double trans-canal traffic capacity once completed in 2014.

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European Union, Denmark banned baby bottles containing the chemical may be harmful

The European Union on the manufacture, import and plastic baby bottles containing the potentially harmful industrial chemicals banned the sale this week to take effect.

The chemical is bisphenol A (BPA), is used to make polycarbonate plastic used to make bottles, including many everyday products.

By fear, bisphenol A can inhibit brain development under the impetus of Denmark has banned baby bottles, milk cups and food packaging containing Bisphenol A baby in the three early in the March 2010 sale.

Pulled from store shelves in Europe's less-than-expected products to create a sensation with the government, manufacturers and consumers are willing to be cautious.

"We have test results that show there is a risk that bisphenol A may affect the learning ability of male rats, said:" Mary Louise Flake Denis Erjia De, the Division is responsible for the quality of food in the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration .

"But we do not have any evidence that bisphenol A affect humans. Therefore, the ban is the expression to the precautionary principle," she told reporters.

Research shows that food containers, such as baby bottles, bisphenol A compounds, can be released into the food itself, if the container is heated to high temperatures.

It is said that the lives of infants in the first six months of the most vulnerable intake of bisphenol A, because they can not remove the substances from your body.

"As much about the concerns of these hormones, especially in the chemicals-related children and pregnant women, it is important to take preventive measures," said Dr Jorgen Schlundt, the National Food Research Institute, Deputy Director in Technical University of Denmark.

"This is why it is important to ban bisphenol A in some real use," he told reporters in an interview.

Tests to determine the impact of BPA, mostly in laboratory mice, it seems that the study who suffered when exposed to a chemical disability. Implementation of the ban, researchers and government worried that this may be the same impact on humans.

However, for more than three years old children and adults of products may also contain bisphenol A, even in Denmark. The European Union has banned from the age of three infant feeding bottles only bisphenol A.

The impact of industry

Denmark does not constitute a ban on plastic industries are major economic threats.

"It does not have any effect, because in Denmark the [project] is not produced in Denmark. They are usually from other parts of the import manufacturers," said Peter line SKOV, on Plastindustrien, the country's plastics industry Association.

According to De Nier Gardner, on the economic impact was muted because the manufacturer "has been able to find alternatives to bisphenol A. These products on the shelf without bisphenol A, but they come back."

However, SKOV that the ban has tarnished the image of the plastic industry, as it is doubtful the other plastic products, especially the safety of children's toys.

But he added that the industry to accept, because it is -. "Part of the decision by the authorities and parts of the consumer"

Consumer Satisfaction

In fact, consumer acceptance of the ban has helped to ensure that business as usual.

"At first, customers were a bit worried about the ban of curiosity, but when they heard that because of bisphenol A, they fully accepted, and said:" Klaus Gervig, Denmark, baby products retailer, a large store manager.

He said the ban has led to higher product prices, but did not affect sales.

"Customers have been willing to pay more, when they heard that this is why more and more expensive," he said.

According to Schlundt, prediction of bisphenol A on human health are still being studied, the actual effect may be only after many years. But the Danish consumers are willing to security.

"This is a potential risk until it is a good assessment of the ban, said:" Every Wincentz pythons, 33, who has a nine-month-old daughter.

"Overall, I think this is a better limit, especially for children, the use of potentially harmful chemicals," his wife, Mai 31, added.

The couple avoid buying plastics and cosmetics containing hormonal imbalance caused by the human body, or other adverse health effects of chemical substances suspected, they said.

Like Julie Lykkegaard, 26, had not heard others bisphenol A or a ban, but he knew her 5-month-old son's bottle in the packaging, that product is free of bisphenol A to.

In the study, BPA can have adverse long-term development of children's health, she would like to know why the ban has not yet extended to other products.

"If I know it's dangerous for children under three years old, why I would buy its products, including the elderly, even if their children?" She asked.

Danish ovarian cancer SKOV that the ban was extended to include other products may be contrary to EU legislation. He also believes that it is hard to find "appropriate alternatives" to polycarbonate plastic beverage bottles, as some products.

There is an implicit agreement that the ban is tough, and now is enough.

"This issue has been stopped, to ensure that our exposure, where it is most important achievements has been banned," Schlundt said, referring to the existing restrictions on baby related products. "In this sense, this is a sensible way forward, it might be sufficient."

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Weak U.S. jobs report concerns about slowing economic growth Stokes

The latest official statistics show that the U.S. unemployment rate rose slightly, the second row in May, triggering new fears, the nascent economic recovery has reached the other weak.

Non-agricultural sector to increase opportunities for new employment may only be 54,000, a level far 20 million per month, economists think it is strong enough to reduce the long term, short-term unemployment rate, according to the weak employment report released Friday, the Labor Department .

The unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent, from May 9 per cent of the previous month, reversing four months of extensive deliberations map down.

Chrysler in the United States to resolve a factory worker in Ohio on Friday, Obama said the U.S. economy through some "rough terrain."

Economists believe that the rate of job creation against the 13.9 million Americans are anemic in the context of the unemployment pool, approximately double the level before the recent international financial crisis and economic recession.

Pace of job creation in May was the slowest in eight months, as the nation's private employers added 29,000 jobs to 83,000 jobs and government spending cuts to fall.

Meanwhile, cut 8,500 jobs in retail and manufacturing employment was down 5,000.

Construction employment was flat in May, as prices hit a new bottom of the country, threatening the fragile families and with their largest decline in the value of the investment of millions of Americans grappling economic recovery.

Lower prices will damage bank balance sheets, so that families feel poorer, and to combat domestic consumption, and many families are still paying back the debt from the start to recover, says Sebastian Mallaby, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

From the Obama administration officials acknowledge that even if the economy's unemployment rate is "unacceptable." Austan Goolsbee, economic adviser to the Committee by the Chairman, he said, although the private sector increased in the past 15 months more than 21,000 job opportunities , rapid growth, the economic downturn need to replace lost their jobs.

The world's largest economic losses in the recent recession, the worst in decades, more than 8.4 million employment opportunities, and the Obama administration to reduce the unemployment rate lower than the eight percent target was not achieved.

Although the country's economy on the right track, but should strive to create jobs and stimulate consumer confidence, the U.S. Secretary of Labor on Friday Hilda Solis said in an interview with CNBC, ABC.

As another sign of tough job market is still the fault data also indicate that long-term unemployed who have at least 27 weeks the number of unemployed increased by 361 thousand to 620 million yuan this year in May, 45.1 percent of total unemployment, not far A year ago at a record high 45.6 percent.

Experts believe that a number of factors contributed to a very slow job market and overall economic improvement, and the new incentives are needed to boost the economy.

Some economists believe the job market downturn, while sputtering to a full recovery.

The U.S. economy has expanded 4.9 percent from June 2009 officially, this is the end of a relatively small total recent recession.

As many American feel the pain of consumers at the fuel pump, horse than that soaring energy prices, has driven the family cut down discretionary spending, resulting in reduction of the Leisure and hospitality industry after four years of steady development jobs.

Solis stressed that countries need to develop a small business investment and stimulate economic growth, warning that the U.S. job market will improve the road difficult.

"The U.S. demand for labor was significantly accelerate the pace of employment growth in order to re-establish any reasonable time frame to full employment, but on the contrary, the recovery pause, said:" Heidi Shierholz, and the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute economist .

"Without additional stimulation, the unemployment rate may rise further," Shierholz added.

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IMF needs the voice of emerging countries: Mexico central bank governor

Agustin Carstens, Mexico's central bank governor said here on Friday, he was the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to offer senior positions in the emerging countries to say to the world for trial.

He said: "My main motivation is to make the nomination in the International Monetary Fund to hear the voice of emerging countries such bodies become more diverse and open,"he said, with the U.S. president, Ma Mercedes Del Punta, Argentina Minister of Economy and Central Banks Amado Boudou.

"Today, global economic growth driven by emerging countries, and the International Monetary Fund must accept that,"he added.

Mexico's central bank governor, who arrived here from Brazil on Friday, is a tourist in Latin America to seek support for his race to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who stepped down in May after administration, allegations of sexual assault on a hotel room under the IMF director Maid in New York.

The Washington-based IMF has developed a June 30 deadline to determine the new directors, have been held in Europe since 1945. Other competitors in the French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde.

The electoral process must be "fair and transparent ", and based on "the merits and abilities, said: " Carstens.

Argentina has not announced any formal decision on whom to support.

Recently, Boudou said, "This is an important appointment by a new country. "

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In the two-star Sofitel Wanda Beijing chefs shine

Sofitel Wanda Beijing, the Le Gourmet French restaurant before Lenotre proud to host gastronomic events of Life -: René Meilleur, two-star Michelin chef at the Shangri-La Bouitte Virgin laissez-faire Centre, France.

This is the first time to China Meilleur. He will bring his signature dish to Beijing, he has been held in La Bouitte "in acacia honey duck tortillas and fried steak."

"I think it will be popular in the Chinese market is a salty and sweet taste, which is often mixed in with the Chinese dishes," he said.

Meilleur fascination with food began 14 years old, he lived in a ski resort. While many of his friends became a ski instructor, he was involved in to the kitchen, he said. He became a chef at 23 years old. He bought his restaurant in his hometown of Saint-Marcel of the land in 1975.

Meilleur starting characteristics of the local products, such as fonudes and Raclette. But the ultimate goal of his to another type of dishes, such as gourmet restaurants, Paul Bocuse in 1980 he was discovered by. In his instinct to create a more refined cuisine has paid off. He won the 2000 Article pull by the Gault Millau German cuisine, or a Michelin star in 2003 and again in 2008.

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The zongzi rice dumpling is not the only famous Chinese food wrapped in leaves

Dumplings zongzi is not the only famous Chinese food wrapped in leaves. The smell of the lotus leaf, nuomiji, or glutinous rice chicken bundled package is a must, if you are in Guangdong Province, snacks, hungry.

The number of known composition and a huge variety of dishes, snacks as taste and texture of sequences normally associated with taste buds. These include salt, sweet, rich, soft and strong. In a separate nuomiji food, you have to ensure that these together with the smell of herbs from a lotus leaf.

Of delicious mixed rice dish-shaped pillow mushrooms, chicken, shrimp and Chinese smoked pork sausage. Mixed, and then wrapped in lotus leaves and dry steam. Leaves impart a slightly sweet aroma and taste is open - which is why I like to start the food itself is the most favorite part.

In order to ensure its unique aroma and taste, fresh lotus leaves of summer vegetables is the best choice. However, the dry leaves have replaced them, because fresh produce is difficult to obtain.

It is said that in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, the use of Lotus Smart companies replacing the ancient bowl at the night market leaves nuomiji. Vegetables reduced their weight (selling snacks on the shoulders of their suppliers, etc.) and add a personal signature of the odor.

Sticky rice with chicken is a major feature of vegetables. If Cook is generous enough, sausages, seasonings, salted egg yolk of the traces, and even scallops were detected in the second or third bite.

The formula proposed composition of an afternoon, and requested the list of formidable concentration for beginners. For those of China, a side trip to an Asian grocery store packaging proposals.

However, all the hard sections, chopped, bag, steamed, fried can also lead people to the new restaurant to spend, the hard work of delicacies.

In typical Cantonese style, food comes first, not the dcor and the same philosophy applies to nuomiji.

Almost all of the publicity, a small restaurant in Guangdong to provide our customers enjoy the time in the tea, snacks and hot nuomiji.

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China's cosmetic surgery is on the rise

Cosmetic surgery has been implemented in China in the 20th century since the 60's and 70's. At the time, these procedures are rare, few consumers separate from the entertainment industry. With China's economic reform deeply rooted among a more affluent class emerged, began to take corrective facial surgery or body of interest. It was the 20th century, 80's and 90's.

Although this is slowly formed in the 90s, but until 2003, the industry has not grown more rapidly. Li from the plastics and aesthetics Association (CAPA) and other requirements described Bin exploded.

Great popularity, however, lead to the safety of which has largely been ignored careless practices.

When the U.S. response to the age of 24 artists Cup Wang died on the operating table in 2010 during a routine procedure.

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Archaeologists in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, began to Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum of the second round of excavations of mass graves

Archaeologists in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, began to Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BC) tomb excavation of mass graves in the second round.

Burial pit, encoding K9901, is one of 180 tombs graves. A March 1999 excavation of the last round produced a huge bronze cooking vessels and terracotta figurines 11 on their upper body exposed.

Cao Wei, deputy head of Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, said that the pit is unique, because there is no armor warriors may acrobatics.

Friday's launch of a new round of digging, because the previous excavation covered only 700 square meters less than ten percent of the pit, not enough to give a complete picture of the structure, Zhang said the satellite, the archaeological team captain.

Since 1974, archaeologists excavated more than 30 Chinese emperor, Shi Huang Mausoleum Pei Zangkeng unified China. More than 7,000 life size terracotta army was first discovered in 1974, the Web site. The tomb was built in later declared national heritage and world heritage sites.

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Enteric disease outbreaks in Europe, triggered trade disputes

Spain, Germany, said the source of infection of cucumber, Spanish farmers will pour about 300 kg of vegetables before the Consulate General in Germany.
Russia 2, from the day from all EU countries banned imports of fresh vegetables. Not only do all the fresh vegetables from the EU countries not to enter the Russian domestic market sales, all EU countries are selling vegetables have been taken off the shelves, the trigger trade disputes.

Russia's approach to immediately lead to strong dissatisfaction with the EU. The day of the European Commission to protest the Russian government Bianxiang require the Russian government revoked the ban.

Spain, Germany, mistakenly refers to the dissatisfaction of cucumber is leaving the source of infection in this outbreak severely damaged the Spanish vegetable exports, a number of Spanish farmers from 2 to about 300 kg of vegetables fell to the Spanish port city of Valencia before the German Consulate General.

This outbreak involved at least nine European countries, Germany as "disastrous." As of 3 May, the epidemic has killed 18 people, in addition to 1, the rest are all in Germany.

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HTC Android developers, the world's largest, second only to Google

HTC CEO Peter Chou today in the high-pass Uplinq conference that is in addition to the current HTC Google Android beyond theworld's largest developers.
Said Peter Chou, HTC sold in 2010, a total of 25 million smart phones, and currently continues to grow. First quarter of 2011, HTC smart phone sales 9.7 million. Chou said that HTC is among the world's top five ranks of smart mobile phone brands, marketsand even in some areas it is routed to the first 2 or No. 3.
Moreover, the report says, according to Canalys, HTC Android is now the world's largest mobile phone supplier and, followingGoogle's Android, after the world's largest developers.
Although the supplier of HTC Android has been made as a great success, but Chou confirmed the company will also developWindows Mobile. Chou said the company had launched theprevious based on several different versions of the Windows Mobile operating system phones. So far, HTC has releasedWindows Phone 7 6 system-based smart phones.
In addition to the statistical data released outside Uplinq HTC alsoannounced a new conference of software developers kit HTC OpenSense. The kit sink Sense HTC look and feel of the interfaceto facilitate the HTC mobile phone developers to develop applications. HTC OpenSense also allows software developersaccess to the device in the HTC 3D mode. HTC will start in the coming weeks to provide software developers the tools andsupport website htcdev.com.

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CLSA: Apple iPad 3 pre-Christmas launch

CLSA said that Apple will launch before Christmas iPad 3.

CLSA said: "While most vendors are still matching iPad 2specifications and features, but our research shows that Apple willlaunch the holiday shopping season iPad 3, it will have a betterdisplay and LET function. "

However, that CLSA, LTE iPhone will launch in 2011.

Apple will be held next Monday's Worldwide Developers Conference, company CEO Steve Jobs will speak at the meeting, the market focus of the meeting is iCloud.

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Production is limited: firms said iPad3 Samsung AMOLED screen is not equipped with

Limited capacity, said manufacturers do not carry Samsung AMOLED screen iPad3
According to sources, the recent market rumors that Apple want the next generation Tablet PC iPad 3 can adopt AMOLED screen.Parts supplier in Taiwan to refute the message that this type of screen production capacity is still low, manufacturers are unlikely to meet the huge demand for Apple. Insiders said that Samsung's Samsung mobile display panel business units previously announced, the 5.5G of the AMOLED panel production capacity will be less than 2 months ahead of scheduled time of production. However, panel makers have pointed out, just its own brand of Tablet PC Samsung, AMOLED screen is still not fully used; present, only the Galaxy S II Samsung smartphone adopted AMOLED panel. Apple iPad 3 therefore less likely to take with this type of screen. Industry observers also said that the demand for small and medium sized AMOLED panels continues to increase, resulting in shortages. In other words, this type of screen production, and perhaps not catch up schedule for launch of Apple's iPad 3.Therefore more likely to be the future of Apple products iPad 3, only with AMOLED screen. In addition, the current AMOLED market, Samsung still dominate the mastery of advanced technology, so Apple is not likely in only one case of a supplier, hastily adopted AMOLED screen; Apple tend to have more than one source of supply of spare parts .

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James Arness, star of "Gunsmoke" left us

James Arness,a television icon who played the title role in long-running classic Western series " Gunsmoke," died Friday in Brentwood, Southern California. He was 88.

The actor died of natural causes at his home, family spokesperson Ginny Fazer was quoted by the Los Angeles Times as saying.

Arness left a farewell message to his fans on his website, "in the event I was no longer here."

"I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of `Gunsmoke,' 'The Thing,' 'How the West Was Won' and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of," he wrote. "I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years."

A World War II veteran from Minnesota who received a Purple Heart, Arness launched his acting career in the 1947 film "The Farmer's Daughter" opposite Loretta Young. He also co-starred in John Wayne movies including "Island in the Sky," "Hondo" and "Big Jim McLain."

At the recommendation of John Wayne, the towering actor landed a role as Marshal Matt Dillion, symbol of frontier justice who watched over the town of Dodge City and kept it clear of bad guys, in "Gunsmoke" which made him an instant sensation and one of the television's most enduring stars. The series, debuted on CBS on Sept.10, 1955, ended its run in 1975, making it one of the longest- running series in history.

Arness also reprised the iconic role in five made-for- television movies during the 1987-94 period.

According to his website, the actor is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons and six grandchildren.

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"Dr. Death" Jack Kevorkian dies

 Jack Kevorkian, a former Oakland County pathologist who was known as "Dr Death" for having helped more than 130 people end their lives, died on Friday morning in Royal Park, Michigan, at the age of 83, according to a report of Detnews.

Kevorkian, who had previously been diagnosed with liver cancer, had been hospitalized with kidney and respiratory problems for several weeks at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, according to his longtime attorney Geoffrey Fieger.

Fieger said at a press conference that he believes that if Kevorkian hadn't been so weak and infirmed that he might have made choice to end his life the way he helped others do so.

Kevorkian has been focused on death and dying long before he stirred a still-unsettled debate in U.S. over assisted suicide by helping sick and suffering people to end their lives with the help of a machine he devised that allowed the patient themselves to trigger an injection of a lethal drug.

Fieger described him as "a rare human being who can single- handedly take on an entire society by the scruff of its neck and force it to focus on the suffering of other human beings."

His admirers lauded him as a hero who allowed the terminally ill to die with dignity, while his critics described him as a cold- blood killer.

Kevorkian was charged with first-degree murder after he launched an assisted suicide campaign in 1990 by allowing Alzheimer's patient to kill themselves, but the charges were later dismissed.

He was finally convicted of murder in the second-degree in 1999 after being declared not guilty four times in Michigan, and was released in 2007 under a condition that he promised no longer assist in any more suicides.

After his release from prison, the doctor remained in the spotlight by giving occasional lectures and running unsuccessfully for the U.S. Congress in 2008. An HBO documentary on his life and a movie, "You Don't Know Jack", starring Al Pacino, brought him back into the limelight last year.

Doctor-assisted suicide essentially became law in Oregon in 1997 and in Washington state in 2009. The practice of doctors writing prescriptions to help terminally ill patients kill themselves was ultimately upheld as legal by the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Wal-Mart 15 billion in stock repurchases

Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's largest retailer, plans to repurchase 15 billion U.S. dollars of its shares, the company announced Friday at its 41st annual meeting of shareholders.

The buyback replaces the previous 15 billion U.S. dollars share repurchase program, announced on June 4, 2010. Through June 2, under the 2010 program, Walmart had spent more than 12.9 billion U. S. dollars to buyback more than 244 million shares, the company said in a statement.

"Our purchase of almost 13 billion U.S. dollars of Walmart stock since last June is indicative of our strong free cash flow position," said Charles Holley, Walmart executive vice president and chief financial officer. "We are pleased to continue our share repurchase program with this new 15 billion U.S. dollars authorization."

In addition to share repurchase, the company continues to return value to shareholders through dividends. Walmart increased the current fiscal year dividend per share by approximately 21 percent to 1.46 U.S. dollars, from 1.21 U.S. dollars in fiscal 2011. Moreover, during the first quarter of this year, the company distributed 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in dividends.

Analysts said that share repurchases had boosted the founding Watlton family's ownership to about 48 percent as of March from 38 percent in March 2003. The new buyback program may help the family to gain a majority of the shares by the end of next year.

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The researchers found that mutations to promote hair growth

 A team of U.S. and Chinese researchers have discovered a chromosomal mutation responsible for a very rare condition in which people grow excess hair all over their bodies.

The finding ultimately will lead to new treatments for this and less severe forms of excessive hair growth as well as baldness, said researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC).

The researchers made the discovery in cooperation with their counterparts at Peking Union Medical College. Study findings were published in the June issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

The initial discovery of the mutation came from a lab at the Peking Union Medical College, which examined the condition, known congenital hypertrichosis syndrome (CGH), in a Chinese family. Males with this disorder have hair covering their entire face including their eyelids and their upper body, while females have thick patches of hair on their bodies.

Then researchers confirmed the finding in a Mexican family that Pragna Patel, professor in the Keck School, the USC Institute for Genetic Medicine, and the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, first began studying in 1993.

"In 1995, we traced the approximate location of the mutation responsible for CGH to a section of the X chromosome in the Mexican family," said Patel.

"We sequenced nearly 100 genes but could not find any mutations. Then recently, Xue Zhang and his colleagues in Beijing were able to pinpoint the exact location, discovering that there was an insertion of chromosome 5 into the X chromosome in the Chinese family," Patel said.

"When the Mexican family was examined, a piece of chromosome 4 was found to be inserted into the same part of the X chromosome, thus confirming that these extremely rare events caused the disorder."

The investigators suggest that insertion of the "extra" DNA sequences into the X chromosome apparently turns on a gene, likely SOX3, located near the insertion site. SOX3 is a strong candidate because other members of this gene family have been shown to play a role in hair growth.

In addition, the insertion has occurred within a block of DNA sequence called a "palindrome," in which the sequence of the four building blocks of DNA (akin to letters of the alphabet) read exactly the same as their complementary sequences, but in the reverse direction. The particular palindrome at the site that the researchers studied is only found in humans.

"We don't yet know the significance of the palindromic sequence in this case," Patel said. "But it appears to be unstable, and can be entirely absent in many individuals with normal hair growth. It 's only when there is insertion of certain chromosome segments at this site that people have extra hair."

Earlier, researchers had theorized that the CGH mutation is " atavistic" -- a trait that reappears after being absent for a long time. One example of an atavistic trait is extra nipples in both men and women.

"It's like the information is there in the genome, but is silenced," Patel said. "Then somehow it's reactivated, and can manifest as the trait. We don't know yet if this is the case with CGH."

Further studies will test if this is indeed true. "If in fact the inserted sequences turn on a gene that can trigger hair growth, it may hold promise for treating baldness or hirsutism (excessive hair growth) in the future, especially if we could engineer ways to achieve this with drugs or other means," Patel said.

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Airbus and its parent company, EADS EFW and its Russian partners, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and decided to stop passengers Irkut at cargo (P2F) conversion program

Airbus, its parent company EADS EFW and their Russian partners, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and IRKUT decided Friday to stop Passenger to Freighter (P2F) conversion program, thus ending their joint venture "Airbus Freighter Conversion GmbH (AFC)".

A statement issued by France-based Airbus announced the decision, attributing the change to strong demand for A320 passenger aircraft that squeezes the amount of A320 Family aircraft that can be used as freighters.

"Recent market developments ... have resulted in more demand for A320 passenger aircraft and ... used A320 Family aircraft, thus reducing the amount of aircraft available for conversion," and "the partners have decided to dissolve AFC," the statement said.

The Germany-based joint venture AFC was established by EADS EFW, Airbus and the Russian companies UAC, IRKUT, in April 2007, with shares equally divided between Russia and EADS/Airbus.

According to Airbus, the joint venture has strengthened the partnership between the European and the Russian aviation industry.

Airbus said its partnership with IRKUT will continue in components manufacturing for the Single Aisle program.

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Eating the earth can prevent the toxins, parasites and pathogens, a new study shows that gastric

Eating earth may protect the stomach against toxins, parasites and pathogens, a new study suggests.

To examine the possible benefits from eating earth, researchers at Cornell University analyzed reports from missionaries, plantation doctors, explorers, and anthropologists to put together a database of more than 480 cultural accounts of geophagy -- the eating of earth.

The database includes as many details as possible about the circumstances under which earth was consumed, and by whom. The researchers could then use patterns in the data to evaluate each potential explanation.

Studies in the database indicate that geophagy is common even when food is plentiful. Moreover, when people eat dirt they tend to eat only small quantities that are unlikely to fill an empty stomach.

The database shows that geophagy is documented most commonly in women in the early stages of pregnancy and in pre-adolescent children. Both categories of people are especially sensitive to parasites and pathogens, according to the researchers.

In addition, geophagy is most common in tropical climates where foodborne microbes are abundant. Finally, the database shows that people often eat earth during episodes of gastrointestinal stress.

It's unlikely the intestinal problems are caused by the dirt itself because the type of clay people usually eat comes from deep in the ground, where pathogens and parasites are unlikely to contaminate it. Plus, people usually boil the clay before eating it.

More study would be helpful to confirm the protection hypothesis, the researchers say, but the available data at this point clearly support it over the other explanations for eating earth.

"We hope this paper stimulates (more) research," said Sera Young, a researcher at Cornell University and the study's lead author. "More importantly, we hope readers agree that it is time to stop regarding geophagy as a bizarre, non-adaptive gustatory mistake."

"With these data, it is clear that geophagy is a widespread behavior in humans ...that occurs during both vulnerable life stages and when facing ecological conditions that require protection."

The study is appearing in the June issue of The Quarterly Review of Biology.

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United States to promote immigration reform

 U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Friday made the case for comprehensive immigration reform, citing its importance to U.S. economic competitiveness.

The secretaries participated in a conference call to discuss comprehensive immigration reform with members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, according to a readout of the call.

Approximately 175 people from at least 30 states joined the call, including 80 CEOs and representatives from businesses, local and state chambers of commerce and industry and trade associations.

Locke highlighted two proposed approaches for reforming the current visa system: encouraging top foreign talents who receive a graduate degree in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to remain in the U.S. after they graduate by allowing them to acquire legal permanent residence; and issuing two-year visas to immigrant entrepreneurs whose start-up companies receive investment from a U.S. investor, and giving these entrepreneurs permanent residence if their companies create full- time jobs in the U.S. within those two years.

Duncan emphasized the importance of opening the doors of America's top-notch higher education to more immigrants. He specifically underscored the DREAM Act, a measure to give tens of thousands of young illegal immigrants a path to legal status, as an important part of the administration's comprehensive immigration reform agenda.

Obama had vowed to reform the country's immigration system during his presidential campaign in 2008, which helped him win critical support from an important and still growing constituency - - Hispanic voters. But more than two years passed, those voters did not see what the president had promised them, and are getting impatient and dissatisfied with the administration.

Given an emboldened Republican Party in Congress after the midterm elections, comprehensive immigration reform is almost impossible in the near future.

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By the "poisonous" cucumber incident, Austria vegetable sales have fallen sharply

The Austrian government will take a series of measures to stop the huge decline in its vegetable sales caused by the incident of "poisonous" cucumber, according to Austrian Minister of Agriculture Nikolaus Berlakovich on Friday.

The Austrian government will take a total sum of 1 million euros (about 1.4637 million U.S. dollars) from the Austrian agricultural marketing company and the EU special funds for implementing these measures. Berlakovich asked for a complete recovery in Austrian fruit and vegetable industry.

It is reported that the following measures will be implemented by the government: market promotion and information transparency, improvement in the cooperation between the farmers and restaurants.

In addition, the measures also include strengthening the origin labeling system of agricultural products in commercial circulation, in order to restore consumer confidence, resulting in an increase in sales, in particular, sales of domestic agricultural products.

According to a report published by the Austrian Press Agency ( APA) the same day, Fabian Fusseis, spokesman of the Austrian Health Ministry told the APA on Friday that there are so far no fruits and vegetables contaminated with Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) in Austria.

He said the Austrian health sector has tested on more than 100 samples collected from all states over the past few days, and all of these samples showed negative results. These samples include vegetables imported from Spain that have been reclaimed, as well as vegetables imported from the German large-scale wholesalers.

The incident of "poisonous" cucumber spreading in Europe currently imposed a great psychological impact on the Austrian consumers.

As the largest vegetable wholesaler in Austria, "LGV- Frischgemuese", which is located in South of Vienna, admitted that they had to chuck away 500,000 cucumbers on one day (day 3.). They estimated that the loss would reach 300,000 euros by this weekend.

"Spar" and "Rewe", two Austrian supermarkets also acknowledged that their cucumber sales fell by 60 percent after the "poisonous" cucumber incident. (1 U.S. dollar = 0.6832 euros)

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A homemade Danish space rocket, said to be the world's largest amateur vehicle, was launched successfully

A homemade Danish space rocket, said to be the world's largest amateur vehicle, was launched successfully from Danish territory Friday.

The unmanned Heat 1X Tycho Brahe rocket took off from a homemade floating launchpad in the Baltic Sea, off the east coast of the Danish island of Bornholm, at 16:32 p.m local time.

The orange-and-white rocket blasted into the clear-blue spring sky before a section containing its electronic systems parachuted back to sea.

"I think we have written a small piece of history ... we have worked for three years on this," Kristian von Bengtson, one of the rocket's designers, told Danish broadcaster TV2 after the launch.

The rocket which aimed to reach a height of 15 or 16 kilometers actually flew a height of 2.8 kilometers.

"It rose a few kilometers and we heard the sound wall (sonic- boom) ... Now we are collecting sufficient data to build a better one next time," said Peter Madsen, the rocket's other designer.

"It was a fantastic flight and we have become smarter about how one launches a rocket into space ... The fact we could sea- launch a rocket was proved by us today," he told TV2.

The designers say the rocket is 500 times bigger than what amateurs normally build, and cost just 60,000 U.S. dollars to develop.

Named after a 16th-century Danish astronomer, the Heat 1X Tycho Brahe is 9.5 meters long, weighs around 1,500 kilograms, and packs 165,000 horsepower.

Mostly built of steel, the rocket is wrapped in cork which acts as a heat shield. It is not designed to be steered. It can be constructed with materials and tools available from most hardware stores, its designers say.

Friday's launch aimed to prove that such a launch could be achieved without financial backing from a major private or public organization, the designers added.

Their company, Copenhagen Suborbitals, which calls itself an open-source, non-profit organization, ultimately aims to achieve manned spaceflight using micro-size spacecraft.

The launch, which was originally scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, was delayed as the rocket experienced niggling problems with its auto-launch sequence.

An earlier launch attempt in September 2010 failed owing to a faulty liquid oxygen valve.

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Italy took "the right approach" in beating Estonia 3-0, said striker Giampaolo Pazzini following the win at home

 Italy took "the right approach" in beating Estonia 3-0, said striker Giampaolo Pazzini following the win at home on Friday.

"Tonight there were plenty of chances, as we were very determined from the start and took the right approach," he said.

"It wasn't easy, as don't forget in Estonia it was a real battle and we only won 2-1 at the end with two set plays."

The Azzurri have gone five points clear at the top of Euro 2012 qualifying Group C with a game to spare.

Giuseppe Rossi and Antonio Cassano scored before Pazzini added a third at the Stadio Braglia in Modena.

"I am happy to be here and to give a hand to this team. This is Italy, so there's bound to be a lot of competition for places," he said after coming off the bench to score the third goal after break.

"We concluded the campaign on a high with a victory that we needed.

"We were happy to see a packed and enthusiastic stadium, including during training, as that always helps morale.

"I was very eager to do well, as it was the last game of qualifying for this season. I knew from yesterday that I was going to start from the bench, but I was not upset," he said.

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Italy Beat Estonia 3-0 to stop group at Euro qualifier

Italy beat minnows Estonia 3- 0 on Friday to remain a five-point advantage in Euro 2012 Group C as they moved closer to a place at the finals.

The Azzurri's new striking partners Giuseppe Rossi and Antonio Cassano did not wait too long before scoring in the 21st and 39th minutes, and gave the hosts a comfortable 2-0 lead before break.

Giampaolo Pazzini came off the bench in the second half to score Italy's third goal in the 68th minute.

This is Italy's fifth win in their six competitive matches under coach Cesare Prandelli, and now they garnered 16 points ahead of second-placed Slovenia.

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7 killed in U.S. drone strike in northwest Pakistan

At least seven people were killed in a U.S. drone strike launched late Friday night in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of South Waziristan, reported local Urdu TV channel Express.

According to the report, the U.S. drones fired three missiles at a suspected militants' hideout in the Wana area of South Waziristan, one of the strongholds of militants along the Pakistan- Afghanistan border area.

Friday night's strike by U.S. drones is the 33rd of its kind in Pakistan since 2011. So far a total of 241 people, most of whom are believed to be militants, have reportedly been killed in such strikes since this year.

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Mexican volcano could erupt at any time

Mexico's highest volcanic ash released three kilometers, the height over the column, but the prospect remains distant volcano, Mexico,civil defense officials said.

The Popocatepetl volcano, located about 70 km southeast ofMexico City, made ​​a five-breath eleven o'clock on Thursday, therelease of steam and ash column. Gray is expected to drop to the city of Puebla.

Civil protection officials have been kept the same for the 5426 mPopocatepetl alert level, asking people to stay away from thecrater.

Popocatepetl, the second highest peak in Mexico, near Mexico City will not be dangerous, although some small communities near the volcano have been evacuated in recent years.

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