Cumbria nuclear waste dump vote

28 January 2013 Last updated at 03:54 ET By Francesca Williams BBC News

Britain needs to find a site for the long-term underground storage of high-level radioactive waste.

With some of it staying dangerous for up to 100,000 years, the government's agreed solution is to bury it - permanently.

Three Cumbria councils are due to vote on Wednesday on whether to proceed to the next stage in the process of investigating whether such a facility would be possible - and safe - in the county.

The underground storage facility would be up to four times the size of Sellafield - between 6 sq km and 23 sq km (2.5 and 9 sq miles).

Continue reading the main story

What is radioactive waste?

• Material containing levels of radioactivity hazardous to humans and the environment
• Usually a by-product of nuclear power generation - 95% of UK's radioactive waste comes from the nuclear power industry
• Waste is categorised by its radioactivity level - high (heat-generating), intermediate and low
• High level waste (HLW) is the liquid by-product of reprocessing highly-radioactive spent nuclear fuel
• HLW is converted into glass blocks within steel containers, then placed in a store where it is cooled by air - for at least 50 years

Source: Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)

At its smallest, it would be about the size of Workington or Whitehaven; at its biggest, larger than Carlisle.

Waste would be stored in underground vaults at a depth of between 200m (656ft) and 1,000m (3,280ft) and there would be some buildings on the surface.

About 1,000 construction workers would take about 15 years to complete it at an estimated cost of between ?12bn and ?20bn.

Currently, radioactive waste is stored above ground in various "long-term temporary" sites around the UK, mostly at Sellafield.

In its final report, the West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) Partnership - set up to coordinate discussions - said there could be "positive and negative impacts".

Concerns include the noise and traffic caused by construction and possible effects on landscape, tourism, investment and jobs, the report said.

But the partnership said: "Our overall opinion is that, at this stage, we are fairly confident that an acceptable process can be put in place to assess and mitigate negative impacts, and maximise positive impacts."

The waste needs to go somewhere and MRWS is the only group still considering an underground storage facility in its area.

Continue reading the main story

Timeline highlights

March 2009 - West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) Partnership is formed by Copeland and Allerdale Borough Councils and Cumbria County Council.

November 2009 - MRWS starts to inform residents about government plans to store radioactive waste underground.

March 2010 - a public meeting is held to discuss the possibilities.

June 2010 - a geological survey starts to assess which areas are unsuitable.

November 2010 - people are again asked for their views but West Cumbria Friends of the Earth, describes the consultation as "tokenistic."

September 2011 - MRWS members visit a research facility in France to find out about geological disposal in other countries.

November 2011 - a four-month consultation starts.

Feb 2012 - a study is published looking at how to counter bad publicity created by the research.

May 2012 - the results of an Ipsos Mori poll suggest a majority is in favour of considering hosting the facility. In Copeland, which covers Sellafield, 68% of people backed entering formal talks with government. Across Cumbria as a whole, 53% were in favour and 33% opposed.

July 2012 - MRWS publishes its final report. It says a suitable rock formation that could act as an effective barrier would be essential for the construction of a safe disposal facility.

October 2012 - The three councils ask the government for more time and further information before deciding whether to allow detailed studies and investigations to take place.

January 2013 - that decision is due to be made.

Dungeness in Kent, who had initially shown interest, withdrew at the end of 2012 in the face of opposition from residents.

The government, keen to attract volunteers, rather than impose the proposal on an unwilling area, has promised certain benefits, such as money for tourism marketing and clean-up, for any council which agreed to accept the storage facility.

Advocates of the plans say it will protect, and create, nuclear industry jobs, with more than 9,000 people already working at Sellafield.

Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland, which encompasses the plant, said: "Cumbria stands to benefit hugely, in a genuinely unprecedented fashion, should a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) ever be sited here."

He stressed the "investment package" must be suitable, the final decision must "rest with a local referendum not politicians" and unsuitable geology would put paid to the whole scheme.

Lynn Berger, who runs the Woolpack Inn near Boot in the Eskdale Valley, is more concerned about the effect of "scaremongering" on tourism than the facility itself.

"It's not going to make any difference to us from a radiation point of view," she said.

"And, if anything, everything is so much more controlled because it [Sellafield] is there. The house isn't going to fall down, we're not going to bash a hole in the cellar wall and find the beer turns green."

John Rowlands, of Romar Innovate in Whitehaven, is also positive: "We've had waste stores at Sellafield before and it hasn't affected the industry.

"The nuclear industry has worked alongside tourism for as long as I can remember."

There are concerns about safety and, particularly, the perception of safety among tourists and investors.

Critics are also concerned about visual damage to the landscape and the effect on farming.

Some point out the research is pointlessly going over old ground, citing a plan by Nirex, the agency then responsible for the disposal of nuclear waste, to build an underground waste laboratory in the 1990s which was scrapped after a planning inspector ruled the area's geology made it unsafe.

Former Nirex inspector, Chris McDonald, has said he was "very surprised" West Cumbria was again being suggested as a potential site and "the probability of their finding a suitable site is low".

The Lake District National Park Authority has already told the government that a repository "would not be in the long-term interests of the Lake District" and would risk the area's "brand image".

Its chairman, Bill Jefferson, has said the effects on the landscape and tourism could be disastrous and that tourism brings more income to the area than the nuclear industry.

Campaigner Harry Marsland, from Keswick, has said a "nuclear dump will do significant damage" to the area's image.

"In Cumbria tourism is worth ?2bn per annum, and employs 56,000 people directly, plus it provides the work for countless trades people, suppliers and retailers. Let's be clear, it depends upon the Lake District," he said.

Cumbria County Council, Copeland Borough Council and Allerdale Borough Council will decide whether to move to the next stage of a process that is still decades away from completion, even if approved.

They have sought further assurances from the government, including clarification on when, exactly, they could legally withdraw from the process should they want to.

"Stage 4" would involve undertaking vast geological investigations, properly testing theories for and against, and holding formal talks with the government over any "community benefits package".

Unsuitable sites will be ruled out and, if any remain, further tests will be carried out, including seismic surveys.

If any site is ultimately deemed acceptable construction could begin as soon as 2025.

For more on this story watch Inside Out at 19:30 GMT on BBC One on Monday 28 January.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-21161367#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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Kenya elections observers to enhance transparency

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) ? Kenya's first nation-wide vote since devastating violence broke out after the nation's 2007 presidential election will be closely monitored by the international community and local observers to help ward off potential problems, officials said Monday.

The disputed 2007 presidential election sparked off ethnic fighting that killed more than 1,000 people, and observers warn there is an unacceptably high risk of repeat violence around Kenya's March 4 vote. A chaotic primary vote this month and outbreaks of deadly violence around the country have done little to instill confidence that peace will prevail.

Kenya's election commission says at least 1,014 international observers and more than 10,000 local observers have been accredited. The United States said it will field a team of about 105 observers.

"We hope our ongoing engagement on electoral preparations combined with the presence of election observers from the U.S. government, international partners, and Kenyan groups before and during the election will help ensure that the electoral process is free, fair and peaceful, thereby giving the Kenyan people confidence in the legitimacy of election results," U.S. Embassy spokesman Christopher Snipes said.

The U.S. is encouraging Kenyans to put aside tribal and ethnic differences, reject intimidation and violence, demand an end to impunity and to address any electoral disputes through Kenya's courts, rather than on the streets, Snipes said.

The European Union observer team will be smaller in number than in 2007 ? 70, down from 132 ? but will spend more time in the country analyzing the buildup to the vote, said Gillian McCormack, deputy head of the EU observer mission.

Kenya has introduced political reforms to address the flawed 2007 polls. A new constitution passed in August 2010 has put checks and balances on government bodies. The constitution also established a robust Supreme Court and initiated judicial reforms that have resulted in more than a dozen higher court judges being fired over lack of integrity.

A report this month by the Council on Foreign Relations listed several reasons to fear violence might reoccur: the country's top presidential candidates are mobilizing voters along ethnic lines; the vote is likely to be very close; the election commission will be unable to fully prepare for the election; and one presidential candidate faces trial at the International Criminal Court for violence perpetrated after the 2007 vote.

"The United States and others may have limited leverage over Kenya's domestic politics, but they are not without options that would significantly improve the prospects for acceptable elections and help avert a major crisis," the report said. "However, with little more than two months before the elections, Washington must intensify its engagement or forsake its opportunity to make a difference."

The U.S. is financially supporting observers from the Carter Center ? run by former President Jimmy Carter ? and the largest Kenyan group of observers, said Snipes.

The International Crisis Group said in a recent report that high youth unemployment and inequality encourage the growth of criminal groups and militias who want to intimidate political opponents.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kenya-elections-observers-enhance-transparency-103508146--politics.html

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Hillary Clinton hits back on Benghazi criticisms

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pounds her fist on her table during a contentious exchange about Benghazi with??In one of her last acts as America?s top diplomat, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hit back hard Wednesday at fierce Republican criticisms over the deadly Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya. Clinton, delivering long-awaited congressional testimony, alternately choked up, pounded the table in anger, laughed and offered clinical replies while vowing to do her utmost to prevent similar tragedies in the future as she was hammered by combative Republicans.

"You let the consulate become a death trap, and that?s national security malpractice," Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) said during the afternoon House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. He asked Clinton to define what taking responsibility for the attack means to her.

"I think I've made that very clear, congressman," Clinton responded testily.

Duncan added that the American people felt mislead by the way the administration handled the dissemination of information surrounding the attacks?a comment that had been repeated throughout the day of hearings, which started in the morning when Clinton appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Clinton also faced repeated criticism from some on the House Foreign Affairs Committee for not being interviewed by the Accountability Review Board investigating the attack.

"I think that?s outrageous," Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said after questioning why Clinton was not interviewed.

"I was not asked to speak," Clinton responded, adding that she would have been "happy to ... if they thought I was relevant."

Earlier in the day, Clinton said to the Foreign Relations Committee, ?For me, this is not just a matter of policy?it?s personal."

Her voice broke as she recalled welcoming home the ?flag-draped caskets? of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans killed in the terrorist strike at the compound, and putting her arms around bereaved family members.

And she hit the witness table with her fist several times during a contentious exchange with Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who accused President Barack Obama?s administration of misleading Americans by initially saying the attack grew out of a protest against an Internet video mocking Islam. There was no such demonstration, as officials later acknowledged. Johnson said, ?We were misled.?

?With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest? Or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they?d go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make,? Clinton scolded Johnson, raising her voice. ?It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, Senator.?

And Clinton criticized Congress throughout Wednesday's hearings, calling on lawmakers to authorize department funding?something she said the Senate was capable of when she served as a New York senator?as well as approve new rules that would allow personnel to be fired in the absence of a "breach of duty."

Democrats repeatedly made what they probably considered sly allusions to speculation that Clinton will run for president come 2016. Sen. Robert Menendez predicted, ?You will not go gently from the world stage,? and Sen. Barbara Boxer said, ?You will be sorely missed?but I, for one, hope not for too long.?

Even some Republicans joined in on 2016 talk.

"I wish you the best in your future endeavors ... mostly," Ohio Republican Rep. Steve Chabot said during the House committee hearing, drawing laughter from Clinton herself and other hearing attendees.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responds forcefully to intense questioning on the September attack on the U.S.??

Clinton, whose department has drawn heavy fire over the insufficient security arrangements at the American compound in Benghazi, also praised diplomatic security officials. ?I literally trust them with my life," she said during the Senate hearing. And she repeatedly denied being aware of numerous requests for more security in Benghazi. "I didn't see those requests," Clinton added.

Senate committee Republicans seized on that admission. Sen. John McCain, in his first hearing as a member of the panel, drew a chuckle from Clinton when he described her as being "as combative as ever" and an appreciative nod as he declared, "we are proud of you" and underlined "you are viewed with admiration and respect." But the Arizona lawmaker quickly got down to business.

He described Clinton's answers as "not satisfactory to me" and scolded the administration for its evolving explanation about who carried out the attack. Americans "don't deserve false answers," he said. "You oughta have your facts straight."

Republican Sen. Rand Paul, making his maiden appearance, was blunter, charging that the fact that Clinton had not been more personally involved had "cost lives."

Paul said, "Had I been president at the time and I found that you did not read the cables from Benghazi, you did not read the cables from Ambassador Stevens, I would have relieved you of your post. I think it's inexcusable."

Clinton said anew that she accepted responsibility for the tragedy.

The secretary of state also said that American diplomats overseas cannot hide behind higher walls and more armed guards. ?Our men and women who serve overseas understand that we accept a level of risk to protect the country we love,? she said. ?They represent the best traditions of a bold and generous nation. They cannot work in bunkers and do their jobs.?

She rebuked those who may advocate that the U.S. take a more limited role on the world stage at a time when the ?Arab Spring? has sown chaos across North Africa and the Muslim world. ?We cannot afford to retreat now,? she said.

?When America is absent, especially from unstable environments, there are consequences," Clinton said. "Extremism takes root, our interests suffer, our security at home is threatened.?

Clinton also appeared to confirm that those behind the attacks have not yet been captured.

?We continue to hunt the terrorists responsible for the attacks in Benghazi and are determined to bring them to justice,? she said during the Senate hearing.

Among Clinton?s more notable?and chilling?other comments: Islamist fighters around the region are now equipped with heavy weapons seized from unsecured Libyan arsenals after the fall of strongman Moammar Gadhafi. Critics of the NATO-led campaign to help rebels topple him had warned of the prospect that his arsenals would fall into extremist hands.

That proliferation is ?the source of one of our biggest threats? in the region, Clinton said. The American mission in Benghazi was trying to ?track down and find and recover? weapons like missiles that can bring down an airplane, she said. But there is ?no doubt," she added, that the extremists who carried out a bloody hostage-taking in Algeria, members of Al-Qaida in the Maghreb (AQIM) in Mali and fighters in Syria all had arms from Libya.

?We just have to do a much better job,? she said.

Clinton also told lawmakers that the U.S. ?cannot confirm? claims by Algeria?s government that the hostage-takers had also taken part in the attack on Benghazi. And she warned that some 20 American diplomatic facilities face what she described as a serious threat environment.

The secretary of state had been expected to testify in December, but suffered a concussion in a fall at her home while recovering from a stomach bug, then needed treatment for a blood clot near her brain. She had taken questions from lawmakers on the issue once before, but Republicans complained that she had not shared much information.

Clinton appeared one day before Democratic Sen. John Kerry goes before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he used to chair for a confirmation hearing to succeed her as secretary of state. Democratic Sen. Menendez, Kerry?s successor, leads both hearings.

The Sept. 11 attack raised new questions about Obama?s handling of the ?Arab Spring? uprisings that toppled authoritarian regimes in places like Egypt and Libya. It also triggered a months-long battle over how the administration handled repeated requests from Stevens for more security and then explained the tragedy to the American public.

Most notably, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice withdrew her name from consideration to be Clinton?s successor in the face of Republican opposition. Rice went on major Sunday news shows one week after the attack in Benghazi and, relying on administration-approved talking points, described it as emerging from a protest against an Internet video that ridicules Islam. There was no such demonstration.

Clinton told the committee on Wednesday that she had not been consulted on the decision to make Rice?who was an expert in neither embassy security issues nor Libya? the official in charge of updating Americans on the tragedy. But she defended Rice. "People have accused Ambassador Rice and the administration of misleading Americans," she noted. "Nothing could be further from the truth."

Some of the anger has fizzled, sapped by contentious congressional hearings and a scathing report commissioned by Clinton that faulted the State Department for its handling of repeated requests from Stevens for more security. That report also refuted media reports that the administration chose not to send in troops that might have been able to save Stevens and his colleagues.

Rachel Rose Hartman contributed to this story.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/clinton-face-lawmakers-benghazi-attack-090039480--politics.html

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Kantar: iPhones Top Seller In U.S., Japan; Android (Read: Samsung) Winning Everywhere Else; Windows Phone Growing Most In Europe

Android smartphones, led by Samsung, were the overall winner in the crucial holiday sales period at the end of last year, although Apple's iPhone continues to shine in the U.S. as well as Japan, according to the latest numbers out from Kantar Worldpanel Comtech, a division of WPP that tracks handset sales in a number of key markets over a rolling, 12-week period. It also found that while handsets built on Microsoft's Windows Phone OS continue to struggle in markets like the U.S., they are showing small signs of growth in Europe -- although we're still talking about single-digit percentages in almost all cases.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/O2kwBTLXJhU/

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Nintendo Wii U to get Virtual Console service this spring

Nintendo's Satoru Iwata just announced via Nintendo Direct that Virtual Console will be available on the Wii U this spring. Previously, the service was only accessible via the Wii emulator on Nintendo's new console, but will now arrive on the eShop at some unspecified time in Q2 and feature GameBoy Advance titles for the first time. Before that can happen, however, the company wants to implement two key software updates designed to address system performance issues. Nintendo's also devised a pricing scheme to offer users who've amassed a retro gaming library a more affordable way to re-download past VC purchases (as opposed to that clunky transfer system). For any previously downloaded NES ($4.99 - $5.99) and SNES ($7.99 - $8.99) titles, users will have to fork over $1.00 and $1.50, respectively.

And, as part of a celebration of the Famicom's 30th anniversary, Nintendo's offering up a trial campaign that'll make certain titles available to download for 30 cents over a 30 day period. Starting in January and running through July, users will be able to demo one select title per month from the eShop: Balloon Fight, F-Zero, Punch-Out featuring Mr. Dream, Kirby's Adventure, Super Metroid, Yoshi and Donkey Kong. But, take heed, these teases will only last for the month they're offered and, hopefully, entice you to pay full price when the service officially launches on Wii U.

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Jan. 23, 2013 14:41 UTC
Two Zelda Games, Mario, Mario Kart and Other Fan-Favorite Franchises Planned for Wii U

Nintendo Outlines Its Vision for Wii U, Including Launching Virtual Console and How Miiverse and Second-Screen Gaming Features Will Continue to Evolve

NOTE: Multimedia available here

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nintendo President Satoru Iwata unleashed Wii U news in an installment of Nintendo Direct today as he outlined Nintendo's future plans for the console. Iwata revealed how the Wii U launch lineup will be bolstered by a long list of top game franchises headed for the new console. These are games that longtime players and newcomers alike will love to play, and everyone will be experiencing them in new ways, thanks to the integrated second-screen experiences enabled by the Wii U GamePad controller. Iwata also detailed a number of enhancements designed to make the Wii U game experience more social, even if people are not playing in the same room.

"The fun of video games is not only just playing games, but also sharing experiences together with people - even though they live far away, their skill levels are different or their experience does not happen at the same time," Iwata said. "We want Wii U to be the system that brings everyone together."

To view the Nintendo Direct in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct. The many announcements included:

Game News

Two Zelda Games: Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda series, revealed two entries in the series for Wii U.
Super Mario is on His Way: The Nintendo EAD Tokyo Software Development team that created the Super Mario Galaxy games for Wii and Super Mario 3D Land for Nintendo 3DS is working on a new 3D Mario action game for Wii U. The game is scheduled to be playable at this year's E3.
Buckle Up!: Nintendo is also working on a new installment of the hit Mario Kart franchise. This game is also planned to be playable at E3.
Yarn Yoshi: The team that created Kirby's Epic Yarn is hard at work on the first console game to feature Yoshi as the main character since 1998's Yoshi's Story for Nintendo 64. Takashi Tezuka, director of Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Story, is supervising the development of the new game, which is set in a fanciful world of yarn and textiles.
Wii Fit U Communities: New features coming to Wii Fit U include letting players create user communities on Miiverse from within the game. Community members can discuss exercises, BMI or weight changes and other health topics with other players as a way to encourage one another to reach their fitness goals. Similar functionality for other games is also planned.
Pikmin 3 Photos: The upcoming Pikmin 3 game includes a feature that lets players use the Wii U GamePad as a camera to share the same perspective as Pikmin and take close-up pictures of landscapes and creatures in the game and share them in Miiverse.
The Party Continues: A new installment in the Wii Party franchise is planned to launch this summer. The game features various play styles, including one that lets both players compete head-to-head using just the GamePad.
RPG Mashup: Nintendo has begun many collaborations with outside development partners to bring the best franchises and experiences to Wii U. In one such partnership, Nintendo and Atlus are working on a collaboration that features the Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei franchises. A video trailer for the game was shown in the Nintendo Direct.
A New Game from Monolith Soft: Tetsuya Takahashi and the team at Monolith Soft that worked on Xenoblade for Wii are working on a new game. A video trailer for the game was shown in the Nintendo Direct.
More on the Way: Iwata shared a new trailer for The Wonderful 101. That game and GAME & WARIO are scheduled to launch in the first half of 2013. Iwata also showed a new video for Bayonetta 2. That game and the new Super Smash Bros. installment are still on the way, but will need more development time before details can be revealed.

Virtual Console

Virtual Console for Wii U: A spring system update will add Virtual Console software to the Nintendo eShop for Wii U. The service will launch right after the spring update and will include a selection of NES and Super NES games, with Game Boy Advance games to be added in the future. The prices for NES and Super NES Virtual Console games for Wii U will be the same as they were for the Virtual Console on Wii. People who have already purchased the Wii version of a certain NES or Super NES Virtual Console game and transferred it to their Wii U console can buy the enhanced Wii U version of the same game for the reduced price of $1 for NES games and $1.50 for Super NES games.
Classic Games for 30 Cents! To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the Famicom in Japan (which was known as the NES in the United States), Nintendo is making one NES or Super NES game available each month now through July at the anniversary price of just 30 cents. Each game will be available at that price for 30 days, and the first is the NES game Balloon Fight, which is now available in the Nintendo eShop for Wii U.

Social and System Enhancements

Miiverse Expands to Smartphones: Starting this spring, people will be able to browse Miiverse from their smartphones. Initially the experience will be browser-based, but Nintendo plans to create a dedicated Miiverse app in the future.
System Updates: Two major updates are on the way, one in the spring and one in the summer. The updates will introduce a wide range of functionality, such as Virtual Console capabilities and shortening the time it takes users to launch software or return to the menu screen.

Remember that Wii U features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu. Standalone versions of the trailers for The Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2, the new game from Monolith Soft and the collaboration featuring the Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei franchises can be found at http://www.youtube.com/nintendo.

Filed under: Gaming, Nintendo

Comments

Source: Nintendo Direct

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/23/nintendo-wii-u-to-get-virtual-console-service-this-spring/

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Planning a Gluten Free Day Out By Harvey Mcewan | Food and Drink

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If you or a family member suffer from coeliac disease or other conditions that make you gluten intolerant, it is worth setting aside some time to plan a safe, gluten free day out which will not limit you or leave anyone starving due to a lack of access to gluten free food. Spontaneous day trips can lead to unpleasant situations such as not being able to order a suitable meal.

Start the day with a filling breakfast to keep your energy levels up so you do not have to stop at a roadside cafe with a limited selection of foods. Gluten free porridge works a treat. Sprinkle on some seeds and nuts, and swirl in a dollop of honey for a healthy, hearty treat to prepare you for a day out. Alternatively, toast a few slices of gluten free bread and top off with your favourite jam or savoury topping.

Nowadays, many cafes and restaurants will either feature gluten free dishes in their menus or be able to offer a gluten free alternative upon request. This makes it a whole lot easier to spend the day outside your home as you needn?t worry about not being able to find somewhere to have breakfast, lunch or dinner. Even bakeries and tea rooms are likely to offer at least one gluten free cake or pastry so treat yourselves to elevenses or afternoon tea.

If booking a table in advance, which is advisable, particularly at weekends, let the staff member know about your special requirements and they will ensure the kitchen is prepared in advance with gluten free products stocked and ready for your arrival.

Sadly, some places have been slower to respond to the needs of gluten intolerant foodies. This is particularly true in small villages and towns with limited supplies. Also, some foreign countries are less aware of gluten intolerance.

Alternatively, in nice weather it is always lovely to have a picnic in the great outdoors. Fortunately, there is now plenty of gluten free food which comes in convenient packaging to slip into your picnic basket or backpack.

Oatcakes make a nice alternative to bread and come in pocket-sized packaging. Bring along some homemade dips like hummus, taramasalata, salsa or guacamole and fresh, pre-prepared vegetables to dip into the sauce for a light, refreshing but energising snack. For a little something heavier, pack some lunch meats but be careful not to keep them outside the ice box or fridge for too long in hot weather. This applies to the dips too.

Article source: http://www.articlebiz.com/article/1051604311-1-planning-a-gluten-free-day-out/

Source: http://food.homeschoolcooking.com/2013/01/23/planning-a-gluten-free-day-out-by-harvey-mcewan/

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Email: The ultimate guide

Everything you need to know about settings up and using email on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad

Mail is one of the core apps of the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Rich, HTML email was shown off by Steve Jobs in 2007 when he first introduced the iPhone, and again in 2010 when he introduced the iPad. It was and is so important, he put it in the iPhone and iPad Dock, and by default there it still remains. Whether you use the free iCloud account that comes with your Apple device, or Yahoo!, Google's Gmail, Microsoft's Hotmail, Live, or Outlook.com, your local ISP email or something else entirely, whether you have an IMAP, ActiveSync, or POP account, your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad can keep you connected to it wherever you go, and whatever you're doing.

Bookmark this page and check back often, because we'll be updating it regularly. And f you already know everything there is to know about email on iOS, then forward it on to friends and family who need it. We'll do the heavy support lifting for you!

• How to set up Apple iCloud Mail on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad
• How to setup Google Gmail on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
• How to set up Hotmail, Live Mail, or Outlook.com email on your iPhone or iPad
• How to delete or disable an email account on your iPhone and iPad
• How to create and use multiple email signatures on your iPhone and iPad
• How to create rich HTML email signatures on your iPhone and iPad
• How to choose which email account to send from on iPhone and iPad
• How to use the VIP Inbox on your iPhone and iPad
• How to mark an email as read or unread on your iPhone and iPad
• How to flag an email message on iPhone and iPad
• How to add new mailboxes to your email account right from your iPhone and iPad
• How to move messages to different mailboxes on your iPhone and iPad
• How to insert a photo or video into an email on iPhone and iPad

How to set up Apple iCloud Mail on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad

The free iCloud account that comes with your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad includes equally free push email. That means whenever you get an email, it's immediately made available on all your devices. Typically you set up iCloud email, and other services, when you first setup your device. If you didn't, however, you can still set it up at any time via the iOS Settings app, and access the service via the iOS Mail app. You can also access your iCloud.com email via the website from any desktop browser, or through popular mail, calendar, and contacts apps on your Mac or Windows PC.

• How to set up iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendars
• How to enable or disable individual iCloud services
• How to access iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendars via the Web
• How to access iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendars, and more via Windows PC
• How to access iCloud Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and more via Mac

How to setup Google Gmail on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

As of January 30, 2013, Google will no longer allow new iPhones, iPod touches, iPads, or other devices to be setup using Google Sync (their implementation of Microsoft's excellent ActiveSync protocol). While existing Google Sync setups will keep working, the next time you want to add Gmail to a device, you'll have to use something else -- namely Google's eccentric IMAP service, which works with Apple's Mail app and allows for a unifed inbox with other, non-Gmail accounts, and the Gmail app, which is excellent but is a silo unto itself.

• How to set up Gmail in Google's Gmail app
• How to setup Gmail in Apple's Mail app
• How to setup Gmail Contact Sync with CardDAV
• How to set up Gmail's 2-step verification with Mail on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac

How to set up Microsoft Exchange, Hotmail, Live Mail, or Outlook.com email on your iPhone or iPad

Microsoft originally bought Hotmail (n?e HoTMaiL after HTML, get it?) and turned it into their web-based email service, a complement to their corporate Exchange service, which came to use ActiveSync. Eventually Hotmail kinda-sorta became Live Mail. More recently, Microsoft has released Outlook.com, what they consider to be the next-generation of email. And much to their credit, Microsoft have gone above and beyond to make sure you can access all their mail services not only on the web, but from any and all of your devices, including the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

• How to set up Hotmail, Live Mail, or Outlook.com email on your iPhone or iPad
• How to set up Exchange ActiveSync on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Note: While setting up Exchange on iOS is straight forward, the exact settings can vary depending on whether you're using Microsoft 360 or a server run by your employer. When in doubt, check with your IT administrator.

How to delete or disable an email account on your iPhone and iPad

If you no longer need an email account on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, say if you changed schools, jobs, or service providers, you can easily delete. If you're simply going out of town, on vacation, or otherwise off-the-grid and you don't want the distraction or data demands that might go with mail, you can also temporarily turn it off and give yourself a break.

• How to delete or disable an email account on your iPhone and iPad

How to create and use email signatures on your iPhone and iPad

Thanks to iOS 6, not only can you have multiple email signatures -- one per account -- but you can also include rich HTML content like links and images in the signature. If you've got more than one email account on your iPhone or iPad, for example, an iCloud account, Gmail account, and/or a Hotmail/Outlook/Exchange account, or a work, school, and/or personal account, you'll probably want and need separate email signatures for each account. And once you've got them, you might even want to jazz them up!

• How to create and use multiple email signatures on your iPhone and iPad
• How to create rich HTML email signatures on your iPhone and iPad

How to change which email account you send from on your iPhone and iPad

If you've got multiple email accounts set up on your iPhone or iPad, the Mail app will automatically send a new message from your default account, or a reply from whichever account received the email. However, you can not only change you default account, but you can also quickly and easily change which account you're sending emails from at any time.

• How to set a default email account on your iPhone and iPad
• How to switch between email accounts on your iPhone and iPad

How to use the VIP Inbox on your iPhone and iPad

iOS 6,lets you favorite specific Contacts and have their messages filtered into a special VIP Inbox so they're always easy to find. You can also set up specific tones and alerts for your VIP contacts, which makes knowing who is contacting you easier than ever. For your significant other, your boss, or anyone you can't afford to miss a message from, VIP Inbox has your back.

• How to add contacts to your VIP list on iPhone and iPad
• How to set custom alert tones for your VIP inbox on iPhone and iPad

How to mark an email as read or unread on your iPhone and iPad

If you come back to your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad only to find a ton of new emails you really don't want to go through, or if you opened an email by accident and don't want to forget about it later, you can easily mark one or more messages as read or unread right in the built-in Mail app.

• How to mark an email as read or unread on your iPhone and iPad

How to flag an email message on iPhone and iPad

If you get an email that you want to easily find again later, maybe to follow up, maybe just to keep handy, you can flag it right in your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad Mail app. Flagged messages are easy to spot, thanks to an icon, and even easier to find, thanks to a dedicated smart mailbox that keeps them all handy.

• How to flag an email message on iPhone and iPad

How to add new mailboxes to your email account right from your iPhone and iPad

If you got a lot of email, you might want to start managing it better by filing it away into specific mailboxes. You can have separate mailboxes for certain people, for projects at school or at work, for sorting important messages you want to deal with immediate, from things you want to keep handy to reference later. Best of all, you can create new mailboxes right on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

• How to add new mailboxes to your email account right from your iPhone and iPad

How to move messages to different mailboxes on your iPhone and iPad

The iPhone and iPad are great for quickly handling email. However, if something is important, or requires a lengthy reply, or you can only get to it later, or you simply want to keep your inbox close to zero, the iPhone and iPad are also great for quickly sorting and filing your mail into well organized mailboxes.

• How to move individual mail messages to different mailboxes on your iPhone and iPad
• How to move multiple messages to different mailboxes on your iPhone and iPad

How to insert a photo or video into an email on iPhone and iPad

While older versions of iOS required you to email pictures and videos using the Photos app, or more recently, tediously copy and paste them into a Mail app email, iOS 6 adds the ability to insert them directly into an email.

• How to insert a photo or video into an email on iPhone and iPad

How to get more help with email

If you need more help with using email on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, check out iCloud, Gmail, and other discussions on the iMore forums.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/4F_lOPEhzzg/story01.htm

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Home Inventory Builds a List of Your Possessions In Case of Emergency, Backs It Up Online

OS X/iOS: One thing you should do to prepare for a disaster is take a home inventory. All of your belongings you would want replaced, their values, their warranties, receipts, and home or rental insurance information should all be included. Home Inventory for Mac, iPhone, and iPad can help you build one.

Home Inventory walks you through the process of building your inventory by taking you room to room in your home and encouraging you to add items that would be common in those rooms. You can record warranty information, model numbers, serial numbers, and relevant receipts quickly, and also take, edit, and attach photos to each record.

When you save everything it's automatically backed up to the web, Dropbox, SugarSync, or another cloud storage service you choose for safe keeping. You can also export your inventory for use in other apps, or password protect your inventory. The app also has fields for insurance information, emergency contacts, attachments, and other custom fields so you can add other important data. The app even supports collections, so you can add and manage your music or movie collections as block items. Home Inventory can also examine your policy to see if you're properly covered for the items in your inventory.

Home Inventory is $20 for Mac, and the iPhone and iPad companion apps are free. Admittedly, it doesn't do anything that cheaper or free alternatives don't offer, but it's easy to use and great for someone who wants to make an inventory but isn't sure how to get started.

Home Inventory | Binary Formations

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/XVKROj6qMeM/home-inventory-builds-a-list-of-your-possessions-in-case-of-emergency-backs-it-up-online

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Iran beefed up cyber strengths post-Stuxnet: US

15 hrs.

By Andrea Shalal-Esa

WASHINGTON???Iran responded to a 2010 cyber attack on its nuclear facilities by beefing up its own cyber capabilities, and will be a "force to be reckoned with" in the future, a senior U.S. Air Force official told reporters on Thursday.

General William Shelton, who heads Air Force Space Command and oversees the Air Force's cyber operations, declined to comment about Iran's ability to disrupt U.S. government computer networks, but said Tehran had clearly increased its efforts in that arena after the 2010 incident.

While no government has taken responsibility for the Stuxnet computer virus that destroyed centrifuges at Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility, it was widely reported to have been a U.S.-Israeli project.

Western analysts say Iran has launched increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks in a growing confrontation with its adversaries, including the United States, Israel and Gulf Arabs, at a time of rising pressure on Tehran to curb its nuclear program.

Iran denies Western accusations it is seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability, and says its program is aimed only at power generation and medical research.

This week, a senior Iranian commander was quoted as saying that the Islamic Republic could disrupt enemy communication systems as part of its growing "electronic warfare" capabilities.

Iranian officials have denied hacking into U.S. banks in recent months, but have devoted resources to building up their cyber defense capabilities after suffering a string of cyber attacks in the past year targeting industrial sites, an oil export terminal and oil platforms.

"The Iranian situation is difficult to talk about," Shelton told reporters. "It's clear that the Natanz situation generated reaction by them. They are going to be a force to be reckoned with, with the potential capabilities that they will develop over the years and the potential threat that will represent to the United States."

Shelton said the Air Force expected orders in coming months to expand its cyber workforce of about 6,000 by 1,000 people. He said he was pressing Air Force leaders to boost funding for cyber operations, but added there were competing demands and the budget outlook remained uncertain.

(Editing by Warren Strobel and Peter Cooney)?

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Check for restrictions at:?http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/iran-beefed-cyber-capabilities-after-stuxnet-us-general-1B8024450

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BPA Replacement Also Alters Hormones

Just like the controversial compound it's designed to replace, a chemical used in consumer products messes with the endocrine system, according to new research

By Brian Bienkowski and Environmental Health News

BPA replacement alters hormones at low doses, study finds. Image: Flickr/Klearchos Kapoutsis

Just like the controversial compound it's designed to replace, a chemical used in cash register receipts and other consumer products messes with hormones, according to research published today.

The study by University of Texas scientists is the first to link low concentrations of bisphenol S (BPS)? ? a bisphenol A (BPA) alternative? ? to disruption of estrogen, spurring concern that it might harm human health.

Researchers exposed rat cells to levels of BPS that are within the range people are exposed to. And, just like BPA, the compound interfered with how cells respond to natural estrogen, which is vital for reproduction and other functions.

Previous studies already have shown BPS mimics estrogen, but the new study advances that by showing it can alter the hormone at low doses people are exposed to.

?People automatically think low doses do less than high doses,? said Cheryl Watson, a University of Texas biochemistry professor and lead author of the study published in Environmental Health Perspectives. ?But both natural hormones and unnatural ones like [BPS] can have effects at surprisingly low doses.?

Laura Vandenberg, a postdoctoral fellow at Tufts University who studies BPA, said one limitation of the research was that it used rat cells, but she was quick to point out the method is ?extremely informative about predictions for a whole animal.?

The study ? is a great first research step on BPS and, in my opinion, should be sufficient to say this is an estrogen and we don?t want it in our bodies,? Vandenberg said.

As its name would suggest, BPS has a similar structure to BPA, which has been used since the 1950s for a variety of purposes, including the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics.

In the past several years, BPS has replaced BPA in the printing of thermal paper used for cash register receipts. Every thermal receipt tested in a study published last year contained BPS.

Bill Van Den Brandt, a manager at Wisconsin-based Appleton Papers, said company representatives couldn?t comment on the Watson study because they had not fully reviewed it yet. He added that they ?welcome ongoing scientific review of BPS and other potential BPA substitutes.?

The largest manufacturer of thermal papers in North America, Appleton switched to BPS after it stopped using BPA in 2006 due to health concerns.

Nearly everyone worldwide is exposed to BPS. Eighty-one percent of urine samples from eight different countries contained traces of it, according to a study published last year. In comparison, about 93 percent of Americans have BPA in their urine.

Watson said she is worried that BPS is becoming more widespread without proper testing for health impacts.

?I think we should all stop and be very cautious about just accepting this as a substitute for BPA,? Watson said. ?And not just BPS. We should question the whole process about how we introduce chemicals into the marketplace without properly testing them first.?

In addition to thermal papers, BPS is used in some hard plastics, Vandenberg said.

?A lot of consumer products say BPA-free, but they don?t say BPS, a similar compound, replaced it,? she said. She said BPS is less likely to leach into food and beverages because the bonds that hold the compounds in the plastic are stronger than those in BPA products.

A lesser-known use for thermal paper is for ultrasound and other medical machine printouts. According to a 2012 report by the EPA, these BPA-free printouts largely contain BPS.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=8adc1e41200369183926038c04529c53

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Fantasy Xtra: NFL & NBA: Add / Drop / Trade / Waiver / Roto - Jan 17,2013

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Source: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/macbizzo/2013/01/17/fantasy-xtra-nfl-nba-add-drop-trade-waiver-roto

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IOC strips Lance Armstrong of Olympic bronze medal

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept 30, 2000 file photo Russia's Viacheslav Ekimov, center, winner of the gold medal in the men's individual time trials, celebrates with Germany's silver medal winner Jan Ullrich, left, and U.S bronze medal winner Lance Armstrong at the cycling road course in Sydney, for the Summer Olympic Games. Officials familiar with the decision tell The Associated Press the IOC has stripped Lance Armstrong of his bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics because of his involvement in doping. Two officials say the IOC sent a letter to Armstrong on Wednesday night Jan. 16, 2013, asking him to return the medal. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours, File)

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept 30, 2000 file photo Russia's Viacheslav Ekimov, center, winner of the gold medal in the men's individual time trials, celebrates with Germany's silver medal winner Jan Ullrich, left, and U.S bronze medal winner Lance Armstrong at the cycling road course in Sydney, for the Summer Olympic Games. Officials familiar with the decision tell The Associated Press the IOC has stripped Lance Armstrong of his bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics because of his involvement in doping. Two officials say the IOC sent a letter to Armstrong on Wednesday night Jan. 16, 2013, asking him to return the medal. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours, File)

FILE - In a Sept. 30, 2000 file photo, U.S. cyclist Lance Armstrong waves after receiving the bronze medal in the men's individual time trials at the 2000 Summer Olympics cycling road course in Sydney, Australia. Officials familiar with the decision tell The Associated Press the IOC has stripped Armstrong of his bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics because of his involvement in doping. Two officials say the IOC sent a letter to Armstrong on Wednesday night, Jan. 16, 2013, asking him to return the medal. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)

This Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 photo provided by Harpo Studios Inc., shows talk-show host Oprah Winfrey interviewing cyclist Lance Armstrong during taping for the show "Oprah and Lance Armstrong: The Worldwide Exclusive" in Austin, Texas. The two-part episode of "Oprah's Next Chapter" will air nationally Thursday and Friday, Jan. 17-18, 2013. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Harpo Studios, Inc., George Burns)

LONDON (AP) ? Thirteen years after he stood on the podium in Sydney, Lance Armstrong was stripped of his bronze medal from the 2000 Olympics because of doping.

The International Olympic Committee sent a letter to Armstrong on Wednesday night asking him to return the medal, just as it said it planned to do last month.

The decision was first reported Thursday by The Associated Press.

The IOC executive board discussed revoking the medal in December, but delayed a decision until cycling's governing body notified Armstrong he had been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and all results since 1998. He then had 21 days to appeal.

Now that the deadline has expired, the IOC decided to take the medal away. The letter to Armstrong was also sent to the U.S. Olympic Committee, which would collect the medal.

"Having had confirmation from UCI that Armstrong has not appealed the decision to disqualify him from Sydney, we have written to him to ask for the return of the bronze medal," IOC spokesman Mark Adams told the AP. "We have also written to USOC to inform them of the decision."

The move was confirmed on the same day that Armstrong's admission of using performance-enhancing drugs ? after years of denials ? is to be broadcast in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. The timing of the IOC move, however, was not related to the TV interview.

Two months after winning his second Tour de France title in 2000, Armstrong took the bronze in Sydney in the road time trial behind winner and U.S. Postal Service teammate Vyacheslav Ekimov of Russia and Jan Ullrich of Germany.

The IOC opened a disciplinary case in November after a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report detailed widespread doping by Armstrong and his teammates. The report called it the most sophisticated doping program in sports.

The IOC will not reallocate Armstrong's bronze medal, just as cycling's ruling body decided not to declare any winners for the Tour titles once held by the American. Spanish rider Abraham Olano Manzano, who finished fourth in Sydney, will not be upgraded and the bronze medal will be left vacant in Olympic records.

In August, the IOC stripped Tyler Hamilton, a former Armstrong teammate, of his time-trial gold medal from the 2004 Athens Olympics after he acknowledged doping. In that case, Ekimov was upgraded to gold.

The IOC is also investigating Levi Leipheimer, a former Armstrong teammate who won the time-trial bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games. The American confessed to doping as part of his testimony against Armstrong in the USADA case.

The IOC is looking into the details of Leipheimer's admitted doping, including when the cheating took place, before moving to strip his medal. Finishing fourth behind Leipheimer in 2008 was Alberto Contador, the Spaniard who was stripped of the 2010 Tour de France title after testing positive for clenbuterol.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-17-OLY-IOC-Armstrong-Medal/id-1419fa270e6e4399ae77dd8d4aa54426

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Drone systems to create Oklahoma jobs, officials say

The organization is the largest nonprofit dedicated exclusively to advancing the drone industry.

Toscano said the small unmanned aircraft are expected to be integrated into U.S. airspace by 2015. His organization commissioned a study to determine the economic impact on the country and state by state.

Some of the report's findings were announced Tuesday at a press conference featuring Toscano, Gov. Mary Fallin and Secretary of Science and Technology Stephen McKeever.

The economic impact to Oklahoma in the three years is $57.6 million, Toscano said.

Fallin said the state is projected to create 593 jobs from 2015 to 2017 after the Federal Aviation Administration completes a plan to integrate drones into U.S. airspace.

The study, which has not been released, was conducted by Darryl Jenkins, an aviation industry economist and former professor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Fallin said the devices can be used to assist emergency responders and for public safety.

Toscano said they can also be used in farming operations and in the oil and gas industry.

"As we all know, the aerospace industry has been very important to Oklahoma's economy and is one of our top industries in our state," Fallin said. "It supports around 150,000 jobs. It contributes about $12 billion in industrial output into our economy and also provides an annual payroll of $5 billion in our state. The industry will continue to be a big part of Oklahoma's future."

Fallin said she hopes the state will continue to be a leader in technology, research and development.

Unmanned aerial systems is one of the fastest-growing aerospace industries in the nation, the governor said.

Last year Fallin formed a council led by McKeever that produced a strategic plan to develop the industry in Oklahoma.

McKeever said programs already have been developed at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma to train students in the field. And the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has established a test facility for unmanned aerial vehicles in Elgin that takes advantage of unrestricted air space at Fort Sill.

McKeever said several of Oklahoma's top industries, including agriculture, oil and gas production, and weather research also are prime targets for the commercial application of drones. He added that public safety agencies likely would be the first commercial consumers of the technology, which can be particularly useful in search-and-rescue operations and to survey disaster scenes such as tornadoes or flooding.

But there are some who worry about the law enforcement applications of unmanned aerial vehicles and how they could be used to monitor citizens.

Ryan Kiesel, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Oklahoma chapter, said he is working with lawmakers to develop restrictions on how law enforcement can use drones.

"While there are plenty of good uses for domestic drones, like searching for a missing child in the woods, we anticipate that outside of those emergency situations, that law enforcement should be required to get a probable cause warrant before they use these for surveillance purposes," he said.

McKeever said surveillance is not a primary application for law enforcement, but he acknowledged that there are some legitimate concerns about how the drones can be used.

---

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Original Print Headline: Drone systems heralded as a job creator for state

---

Barbara Hoberock 405-528-2465
barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com

Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?articleid=20130117_16_A12_OKLAHO640143&rss_lnk=12

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Panetta: U.S. will take 'necessary' steps in Algerian hostage situation

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) ? In what could be the first spillover from France's intervention in Mali, Islamist militants attacked and occupied a natural gas complex in southern Algeria on Wednesday. Two people were killed and dozens of others, including several Americans, were reportedly taken hostage.

A militant group claimed responsibility for the rare attack on one of oil-rich Algeria's energy facilities, saying it came in revenge for the North African nation's support for France's military operation against al-Qaida-linked rebels in neighboring Mali. The militants said they were holding 41 foreigners from the energy complex, including seven Americans.

The group ? called Katibat Moulathamine or the Masked Brigade ? phoned a Mauritanian news outlet to say one of its affiliates had carried out the operation at the Ain Amenas gas field, located 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) south of Algiers, the Algerian capital.

BP, together with the Norwegian company Statoil and the Algerian state oil company Sonatrach, operates the gas field. A Japanese company, JGC Corp, provides services for the facility as well.

In Rome, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta declared that the U.S. "will take all necessary and proper steps" to deal with the attack in Algeria. He would not detail what such steps might be but condemned the action as "terrorist attack" and likened it to al-Qaida activities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

Algeria's top security official, Interior Minister Daho Ould Kabila, said that "security forces have surrounded the area and cornered the terrorists, who are in one wing of the complex's living quarters."

He said one Briton and one Algerian were killed in the attack, while a Norwegian and two other Britons were among the six wounded.

"We reject all negotiations with the group, which is holding some 20 hostages from several nationalities," Kabila said on national television, raising the spector of a possible armed assault to try to free the hostages.

It was not immediately possible to rectify the discrepancies in the number of reported hostages. Their identities were also unclear, but Ireland announced that they included a 36-year-old married Irish man and Japan, Britain and the U.S. said their citizens were involved as well. A Norwegian woman said her husband called her saying that he had been taken hostage.

Hundreds of Algerians work at the plant and were also taken hostage in the Islamist attack, but the Algerian state news agency reported they were gradually released unharmed Wednesday in small groups.

The Algerian minister said the militants appeared to be hoping to negotiate their departure from the area, something he rejected. He also dismissed theories that the militants came from across the border in Libya, which is just 60 miles (100 kilometers) away, or from Mali, more than 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) away.

Kabila said the roughly 20 well armed gunmen were from Algeria itself, operating under orders from Moktar Belmoktar, al-Qaida's strongman in the Sahara.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland confirmed that "U.S. citizens were among the hostages."

The caller to the Nouakchott Information Agency, which often carries announcements from extremist groups, said the kidnapping was carried out by "Those Who Signed in Blood," a group created to attack the countries participating in the offensive against Islamist groups in Mali.

The Masked Brigade was formed by Belmoktar, a one-eyed Algerian who recently declared he was leaving the terror network's Algerian branch, Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, to create his own group. He said at the time he would still maintain ties with the central organization based in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The name of his group could be a reference to the nomadic Tuareg inhabitants of the Sahara, known for masking their faces with blue veils.

A close associate of Belmoktar blamed the West for France's recent air and ground intervention against Islamist fighters in Mali.

"It's the United Nations that gave the green light to this intervention and all Western countries are now going to pay a price. We are now globalizing our conflict," said Oumar Ould Hamaha told The Associated Press by telephone Wednesday night from an undisclosed location.

French President Francois Hollande launched the surprise operation in Mali, a former French colony in West Africa, on Friday, hoping to stop the al-Qaida-linked and other Islamist extremists whom he believes pose a danger to the world.

Further kidnappings could well be on the horizon, warned Sajjan Gohel, the international security director for the Asia-Pacific Foundation.

"The chances are that this may not be a one-off event, that there could be other attempts in Africa ? especially north and western Africa ? to directly target foreign interests," he said. "It's unclear as to what fate these individuals may meet, whether these terrorists are going to want a ransom or whether they'll utilize this for propaganda purposes."

Wednesday's attack in Algeria began with an ambush on a bus carrying employees from the massive gas plant to the nearby airport but the attackers were driven off, according to the Algerian government, which said three vehicles of heavily armed men were involved.

"After their failed attempt, the terrorist group headed to the complex's living quarters and took a number of workers with foreign nationalities hostage," the government said in a statement.

Attacks on oil-rich Algeria's hydrocarbon facilities are very rare, despite decades of fighting an Islamist insurgency, mostly in northern Algeria.

In the last several years, however, al-Qaida's influence in the poorly patrolled desert of southern Algeria and northern Mali and Niger has grown and the group operates smuggling and kidnapping networks throughout the area. Militant groups that seized control of a vast section of northern Mali last year already hold seven French hostages as well as four Algerian diplomats.

Prime Minister David Cameron's office said "several British nationals" were involved, while Japanese news agencies, citing unnamed government officials, said there are three Japanese hostages.

Late Wednesday, Statoil said five employees ?four Norwegians and a Canadian ? were safe at an Algerian military camp and two of them had suffered minor injuries. It said 12 employees were unaccounted for.

The Norwegian newspaper Bergens Tidende said a 55-year-old Norwegian working on the site called his wife to say he had been abducted.

Algeria had long warned against any military intervention against the rebels in northern Mali, fearing the violence could spill over its own long and porous border. Though its position softened slightly after Hollande visited Algiers in December, Algerian authorities remain skeptical about the operation and worried about its consequences on the region.

Algeria, Africa's biggest country, has been an ally of the U.S. and France in fighting terrorism for years. But its relationship with France has been fraught with lingering resentment over colonialism and the bloody war for independence that left Algeria a free country 50 years ago.

Algeria's strong security forces have struggled for years against Islamist extremists, and have in recent years managed to nearly snuff out violence by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb around its home base in northern Algeria. In the meantime, AQIM moved its focus southward.

AQIM has made tens of millions of dollars off kidnapping in the region, abducting Algerian businessmen or politicans, and sometimes foreigners, for ransom.

_____

Paul Schemm reported from Rabat, Morocco. Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Rukmini Callimachi in Bamako, Mali, Bradley Klapper in Washington, Jill Lawless in London, Elaine Ganely in Paris, Jan Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Shawn Pogatchnik in Dublin contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/militants-seize-dozens-hostages-algeria-212226289--finance.html

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Health plans audited for health care reform compliance ? Business ...

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care reform law doesn?t fully kick in for another year. That hasn?t stopped Department of Labor (DOL) auditors from scrutinizing group health plans for provisions that have already taken effect, such as the grand?fathering rules and rules that allow adult children to stay on their parents? plan until they turn 27. Here?s what you need to consider.

Note: Find the model notices referenced below at the DOL's website.

Grandfathered plans

Grandfathered plans (those in existence on March 23, 2010, when the ACA was enacted) don?t have to comply with substantial portions of the law. Catch: Those plans must maintain a host of documentation to prove they have retained their grandfathered status. DOL auditors are interested in the following:

• Notification to employees regarding grandfathered status. The DOL created a model notice for this purpose. Key: The grandfathering rules apply separately to each benefit package in a group plan, so some packages could be grandfathered and others not. Your documentation should clearly reflect those differences.
• Records of the terms of the plan coverage that was in effect on March 23, 2010, and other documents necessary to verify grandfathered plan status.
• For plans that entered into new policies, certificates or contracts of insurance after March 23, 2010, documents showing that the old and new plans were identical in terms of employee cost-sharing, benefits offered and the employer?s contribution.

Nongrandfathered plans

New plans and plans that lose their grandfathered status must comply with the law as a whole. These plans must maintain these documents:

• Plans that require participants to designate primary care physicians must have provided participants with notice no later than the first day of the first plan year that began after Sept. 23, 2010. The DOL created a model notice for this purpose.
• Notices informing participants that their claims were denied, and notices informing participants about the outcome of their internal appeal/external review of that adverse determination. The DOL created model notices for this purpose.
• Documentation of coverage mandates, including allowing participants to go to any in-network or out-of-network hospital without prior authori??za??tion to receive emergency care and to receive certain preventive services (e.g., flu shots) at no cost.

All plans

Grandfathered and nongrandfathered plans must comply with four basic provisions of the law. The following documentation supports these four provisions.

• Plans must have provided employees? adult children notice of a 30-day special election period to re-enroll in their parents? plan. The DOL created a model notice for this purpose.
• Participants who had reached their lifetime limit must have been provided notice regarding re-enrollment rights by the first day of the first plan year beginning Sept. 23, 2010. The DOL created model notices for this purpose.
• A list of participants whose benefits were rescinded and the reason for the rescission.
• The law forbids plans to impose annual limits on essential benefits. Plans that had imposed annual limits must maintain documentation of those annual limits for each plan year, beginning Sept. 23, 2010.

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