Trial of Russian opposition leader Navalny resumes

SYDNEY, April 24 (Reuters) - Australia named the following squad for the Ashes test series against England in July and August. Squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Brad Haddin (vice captain), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Chris Rogers, Matthew Wade, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird (Compiled by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/trial-russian-opposition-leader-navalny-resumes-062003191.html

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Israeli focus on Syria gives Hagel respite on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, welcomes U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel at his office in Jerusalem, on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Hagel said the U.S. and Israel need to ensure that their alliance is "closer than ever," as Mideast security challenges grow more complicated. (AP Photo/Jim Watson, Pool)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, welcomes U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel at his office in Jerusalem, on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Hagel said the U.S. and Israel need to ensure that their alliance is "closer than ever," as Mideast security challenges grow more complicated. (AP Photo/Jim Watson, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, center, and Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon speak with an Israeli military K-9 unit at Camp Adam near Tel Aviv, on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Jim Watson, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, center, is welcomed by Saudi ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir, center left, as he arrives at the residence of Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense Salman bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Jim Watson, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, left, listens at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the latter's office in Jerusalem, on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Hagel said the U.S. and Israel need to ensure that their alliance is "closer than ever," as Mideast security challenges grow more complicated. (AP Photo/Jim Watson, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, center, is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, at his office in Jerusalem, on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Hagel said the U.S. and Israel need to ensure that their alliance is "closer than ever," as Mideast security challenges grow more complicated.(AP Photo/Jim Watson, Pool)

JERUSALEM (AP) ? On Chuck Hagel's inaugural visit to Israel as U.S. defense secretary, Syria surpassed Iran as the security threat of greatest urgency to the U.S.' closest Mideast ally. That quite unexpectedly gave the new Pentagon chief a temporary respite from the delicate duty of tempering Israeli warnings about attacking Iran to stop it from building a nuclear bomb.

Israeli leaders see Iran's nuclear ambitions as a threat to their country's very existence, given Tehran's vow to wipe it off the map. But Syria suddenly has emerged so prominently that it overshadowed Iran during Hagel's three days in Israel.

That explains, in part, why Hagel repeatedly stressed in public Israel's right to defend itself and to decide on its own, if necessary, whether and when to attack Iran. He gave less emphasis than usual by American officials to Washington's wish that diplomacy and sanctions be given more time to persuade Iran to change course.

Notably, Israel's new defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, said at a joint news conference with Hagel on Monday that he, too, thinks non-military means ought to be pursued further.

"By one way or another, the military nuclear project of Iran should be stopped," Yaalon said. "Having said that, we believe that the military option, which is well discussed, should be the last resort anyhow." He added, "There are other tools to be used and to be exhausted, whether it is diplomacy, economic sanctions, or even more support of the opposition in Iran."

Hagel seemed to sense slightly less urgency in the Israeli concern about Iran, although he by no means dismissed the problem. One year ago, Hagel's predecessor, Leon Panetta, was letting it be known that he feared Israel could attack Iran in a matter of weeks. Washington worries that such a strike could ignite a wider war in which it would be difficult for the U.S. to avoid getting involved.

That was before the Syrian civil war had reached the point of widespread concern that its illicit stockpiles of chemical weapons could pose a threat to Israel and other neighbors.

Jordan, too, is worried about transfers of Syrian chemical weapons. Hagel stopped briefly in Jordan Tuesday.

"The United States and Jordan share mutual concerns about the ongoing crisis in Syria and continue to consult closely on a number of issues including chemical weapons and the demands posed by the influx of Syrian refugees fleeing the violence," Pentagon press secretary George Little said after Hagel's meeting in Amman.

Little said the Pentagon has provided more than $70 million to Jordan this year to help secure its border and prevent the transfer of chemical weapons from Syria.

Hagel ended his day in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, who also serves as the Saudi defense minister. Little said they discussed a proposed sale of advanced U.S. missiles for Saudi F-15 fighters as well as mutual concerns about Iran's nuclear program and the violence in Syria.

The Israelis see immediate dangers in the Syrian civil war, not only in the threat along Israel's northeastern border but also in the grim possibility that Syrian chemical weapons could fall into the hands of extremists. Israel says each of those possibilities is a "red line" beyond which it would have to act.

The concern is that if President Bashar Assad is overthrown, any of the Islamic extremist groups trying to oust him could turn his extensive arsenal against Israel.

A senior Israeli military intelligence official said Tuesday that Assad has repeatedly used chemical weapons against insurgent groups. It was the first such public claim by Israel and appeared to increase pressure on Washington and other Western countries to intervene in Syria.

President Barack Obama has warned that the use of chemical weapons by Assad would be a "game changer." Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said Tuesday the U.S. government is still assessing reports of Syrian chemical weapons use, adding that such acts would be "entirely unacceptable." He did not elaborate on possible U.S. actions.

The White House said Tuesday the U.S. hasn't yet come to the conclusion that Assad has used chemical weapons even though close U.S. allies say he has.

In his assessment, Brig. Gen. Itai Brun, the head of research and analysis in Israeli military intelligence, told a security conference in Tel Aviv that Assad has used chemical weapons multiple times, including near Damascus, the capital, last month.

During Hagel's visit, Israeli leaders still emphasized the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran ? as did Hagel. But to a degree not foreseen when Hagel arrived in Israel over the weekend, the threat posed by Syria's chemical weapons overshadowed Iran.

Hagel wrapped up his visit Tuesday by meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who greeted him with a brief but pointed caution about resolving the Iran problem. He complained of Iran arming terrorist groups with sophisticated weapons, and its "attempt to arm itself with nuclear weapons."

"This is a challenge that Israel cannot accept, and as you and President Obama have repeatedly said, Israel must be able to defend itself, by itself, against any threat," Netanyahu said.

___

Associated Press writer Ariel David contributed to this report.

Robert Burns can be followed on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/robertburnsAP

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-04-23-US-Israel/id-8d46ec02266d45df91003b3ab04b6f09

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Trulia Launches Redesigned iPad App With Improved Navigation, Listing Pages And Maps

The U.S. real estate market is seeing a bit of a rebound right now and, with it, real estate-related online services like Zillow, Redfin?and?Trulia and newcomers like Houzz are also getting back in the groove of launching regular updates. Trulia today launched its redesigned iPad app, which now features new listing pages with large photos, a new navigation menu and an improved map view. The Trulia redesign comes a week after?Zillow launched its revamped iPhone app. Previously, Trulia’s property pages looked a bit cluttered compared to some of the competing services, but in this redesign, they are being overhauled. Images are now significantly larger, and the sidebar now features a map view, as well as pricing history and additional information, without trying to cramp all of the details about the home into it. The sidebar now also features a bit more local info, including the median home price in the neighborhood and school ratings. Trulia previously only showed this information in its property results map. Users can also use the usual iOS gestures to zoom in and out of the new images. The rest of the app now follows the same design style as the property pages, including the new navigation menu, which has also been streamlined and simplified compared to the previous version. Just like before, though, the app still puts a map at the center of the search experience. In this new version, however, the company has added colored markers to make it easier to see which houses you’ve already looked at and which ones have just come on the market. Trulia has been slowly ramping up its development over the last few months, recently launching its Trulia Suggests feature, which learns from your browsing habits on the site and provides users with personalized recommendations. As we reported last month, Trulia is also currently looking to raise about $150 million in follow-on funding to strengthen its cash reserves and for potential acquisitions and mergers.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Q0ekDnY5_so/

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People care about source of money, attach less value to 'tainted' wealth

Apr. 23, 2013 ? It's no accident that money obtained through dishonest or illegal means is called "dirty money." A new study from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that when people perceive money as morally tainted, they also view it as having less value and purchasing power.

Challenging the belief that "all money is green," and that people will cross ethical boundaries to amass it, social scientists from UC Berkeley and Stanford University have found compelling evidence that the source of wealth really does matter. In fact, some people avoid ill-gotten gains -- such as profits from unfair labor practices or insider trading -- for fear of "moral contagion," according to a paper published this week in the online issue of the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.

"Our work suggests morality is an important force shaping economic decision-making," said Jennifer Stellar, a doctoral student in psychology and lead author of the study. "Though we often think $50 is $50, these results demonstrate that when money takes on negative moral associations, its value is diminished."

The findings help explain the psychology behind such economic trends as socially responsible investing and the boycotting of sweatshop-produced goods. They also shed some light on why companies go to great lengths to avoid the perception that they are accepting money from corrupt investors or are themselves profiting from illegal or unethical practices, researchers said.

"People possess powerful motivations to view themselves as fundamentally good and moral," said Robb Willer, associate professor of sociology at Stanford University and co-author of the paper. "We find this motivation is so great that it can even lead people to disassociate themselves from money that has acquired negative moral associations."

The first experiment involved 59 college-age participants who were told they could enter a raffle for a $50 cash prize sponsored by one of two corporations. They were then split into an "immoral money" group and a "neutral money" group.

The neutral money group was told that the raffle prize money was provided by the retail giant Target. Meanwhile, the "immoral money" group was told that the source of the prize money was Walmart, and also given information on a 2005 lawsuit by the International Labor Rights Forum that alleged Walmart had failed to meet internationally mandated labor standards. It was suggested that the raffle prize money might be tied to the profits of Walmart's labor practices.

The participants were then given 70 raffle tickets and told they could enter as many of them as they wished as long as they completed the tedious task of writing their names and contact information on each ticket. As predicted by the researchers, those in the "immoral money" group filled out fewer raffle tickets to win the Walmart cash prize.

Next, to gauge the value of tainted prize money, participants were asked to estimate how many of eight food or beverage items -- such as a gallon of milk, bottle of Pepsi and Snickers bar -- they could purchase with the $50. Those in the Walmart group consistently calculated that the $50 would buy them fewer items, compared to the Target group, indicating how they felt psychologically about the money they considered tainted.

In the second study, researchers sought to explain why people devalue morally tainted money. They recruited 140 men and women ages 18-68 through a national research website and paid them a small amount to participate in the study. They also were given the option of earning extra money by completing a series of word categorization tasks and were told the extra earnings would come from Walmart. The same information about the lawsuit alleging substandard labor practices was shown to them.

This time, the researchers used "moral licensing" on half of the participants, a technique in which people are primed to feel on solid moral ground by recounting the good deeds they had done. The researchers speculated that those groomed to feel more moral would consider their standing high enough to afford a little leeway in accepting morally tainted money. They were right. Those participants did the extra work for more money.

The results suggest individuals believe that acquiring morally tainted money threatens their own moral character. But by removing those fears and making participants feel certain in their moral high ground, the researchers are able to diminish the threat of accepting morally tainted money, Willer said.

"Money is often believed to separate individuals from their moral values," Willer said. "However, our results suggest that, for most people, morality is a powerful force that shapes economic decisions and even alters how we perceive the value of money itself."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of California - Berkeley. The original article was written by Yasmin Anwar,.

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xMF6bRvSCVA/130423172734.htm

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US futures moving higher as corporate profits roll

NEW YORK (AP) ? Stock futures are moving higher on more strong earnings from U.S. corporations, and ahead of new data expected to show that the number of homes being built is approaching levels last seen more than four years ago.

Dow Jones industrial futures are up 53 points to 14,552. S&P futures have added 3.1 points to 1,559. Nasdaq futures are up 12.25 points to 2,809.50.

DuPont, the chemical maker, reported first-quarter profits Tuesday that more than doubled as its agricultural unit did brisk business. Travelers insurance and Coach are soaring in premarket trading after big quarters.

Apple posts earnings after the market closes.

The Commerce Department releases new home figures and most economists expect a slight uptick from March, which would be close to record highs reached just before the housing collapse.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-futures-moving-higher-corporate-profits-roll-120854533--finance.html

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Americans Anxiety With Savings And Stocks Lingers | Bankrate.com

Financial Security Index Charts ? Americans' Anxiety With Savings And Stocks Lingers

Americans reported feeling comfortable with their overall financial security for the second straight month in April, according to Bankrate's Financial Security Index. But their optimism had waned since March and wasn't enough to push them into investing in stocks or to dispel their unease with their savings.

The index registered 100.4 in April, down from an all-time high of 101.5 in March. A reading above 100 indicates a positive feeling of financial security versus the year before. April's reading marked the second time the FSI -- which began in December 2010 -- has hit positive territory for two months in a row. The last time was May and June of last year.

The index, which was conducted before the latest anemic jobs report, may have captured earlier enthusiasm created by the sharpest increase in home prices in six years and post-recession highs from the Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 stock indexes.

"Americans have recouped entirely the $16 trillion in household wealth that they lost since the Great Recession," says Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist at The Economic Outlook Group. "That's one of the two main drivers of consumer confidence."

The other important factor is the jobs outlook, Baumohl says. While March jobs numbers were disappointing, there's a good chance the government will revise those preliminary figures higher as it has done nine times in the past 14 months, he says.

The Financial Security Index showed that 85 percent reported feeling better or the same about their job security versus a year ago. More than three-quarters felt better or the same about their net worth and debt levels. Overall, 3 out of 4 rated their overall financial security as better or about the same compared with last year.

Stocks shy

Despite the upbeat attitude, Americans remain reluctant to invest in stocks. While the value of the S&P 500 has grown 135 percent since 2009, our survey found that more than 3 out of 4 people were not more inclined to invest in the stock market, even as yields on savings accounts and certificates of deposit remain comically and persistently low.

"I think investors are still in a state of post-traumatic stress investing," says Ron Florance, CFA, managing director of investment strategy at Wells Fargo. "They've been so beaten up over the decade that even a rally doesn't give them confidence."

The survey found that the higher the income, the more likely a person was to invest in stocks. Thirty-one percent of those who earned more than $75,000 a year were more inclined to invest in stocks versus only 13 percent who earned less than $30,000 a year.

That's hardly a shock. Florance noted that higher-income people are generally more familiar with the risks and rewards of stock investing. About 7 in 10 households in the highest two income quintiles have stock or mutual fund investments, compared with only about 2 in 10 in the lowest two quintiles, according to 2011 government data.

Higher-income people also typically invest for the longer term, a strategy that better weathers the ups and downs of the stock market, he says.

The rainy-day fund

Along with stocks, Americans also felt uncomfortable with their savings compared with other parts of their personal finances. Only 61 percent felt better or the same as last year about their savings level. That left more than a third worried about their nest egg.

"People's attitudes have changed since the recession," says Paul Edelstein, director of financial economics at IHS Global Insight. "They want to have a lot of cash on hand."

But higher payroll taxes this year have hampered consumers' ability to save. A worker earning $50,000 a year is bringing home $20 less each paycheck this year than in 2012, thanks to the expiration of the 2 percent payroll tax holiday enacted during the recession. The effect has been immediate.

Americans socked away 2.4 percent on average of their disposable personal income in the first two months of the year, according to the most recent data available. In 2012, the savings rate was 3.9 percent on average each month.

What consumers can put away for a rainy day isn't earning much in savings accounts and certificates of deposit, either. Those returns have averaged less than 1 percent a year, hardly better than stuffing the couch cushions with cash. No wonder Americans are still worried about their cash reserves.

"Instead of buying big-ticket items or investing in the stock market," says Edelstein, "Americans are thinking, 'I'd like to save a lot more.'"

Source: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/consumer-index/americans-anxiety-with-savings-and-stocks-lingers.aspx

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Stop Blogging, Stop Marketing. It's Not Working. - ClickNewz!

Coming up with blog topics, struggling through the actual content writing, posting your links to every social networking site, doing ?SEO? and market research, studying and trying every marketing strategy you can find, etc ? it?s boring. It?s stressful, frustrating, and makes you want to pull your hair out.

You just want to get more traffic and make more sales online, but it?s hard work! Even if it IS working, you?re probably investing entirely too much time, for too small a return. Would you agree?

This may sound outrageous, but ? stop blogging. And for that matter, stop marketing too. Trust me on this. I?m about to share a secret that will make your online business FUN again?

See the photo above? That?s me on the left, enjoying a slice of pizza in Atlanta with several people from my Private Brainstorming Group. I like to attend events and meetups around the world every chance I get, and meet people in person that I?ve gotten to know online through my work. It has really personalized my business!

And that leads me to this HOT tip that could make a BIG difference in yours?

Stop blogging, Stop Marketing, and Start Talking.

Blogging is not fun. It?s work. But talking about a topic you?re passionate about, now that?s fun! And chances are, you?re pretty good at talking about your business or the topic of your blog/site. If that isn?t the case, you?re in the wrong niche.

I find it easiest to talk about various topics in a more casual setting. Staring at a blank screen trying to write a blog post puts the pressure on. You?re trying to get all the elements right, and you?re focused on ?writing a good blog post.?

But if you?re sitting around a table on a beautiful afternoon having pizza, you could talk for hours on end about your topic! I know I can?

The same goes for forums, discussion groups, etc. You probably share valuable advice and great tips when you?re in ?conversational mode? whether online or offline.

And it comes easy, right?

I use this to my advantage when it comes to creating content, and also when marketing my business online. The trick is to get in that conversational mode. Having met so many people offline and in real life, I find it easiest to imagine those scenarios when we?re talking in person ? with specific faces in mind.

Even if you don?t get out to meetups and events, you likely interact with your target market on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, forums and other social sites around the web. You get to know people, you see their pictures and know what they look like, and you have a feel for who they are as individuals.

THAT is who you need to write TO.

Pick one person you have interacted with in your niche, and write specifically to them when you create blog posts and email your list. The same goes for your social media profiles too ? start posting updates, sharing valuable tips, asking questions, and engaging your ?followers? with real conversation!

If you stop trying to blog, and stop trying to promote your site, and just start talking? two things will happen. First, it will come much easier! Second, you?ll see a much better response rate from your market.

Forget strategies and tricks and methods. Your online business should be built around you, and your business should thrive from serving your market.

Talk TO them, not AT them.

If you have a hard time writing a blog post, press release, article, guest post, email newsletter, etc ? try this:

Imagine that someone has just emailed you a question. Or that they called you on the phone. Or that you are responding to a question in a niche forum.

Now? respond freely. Not only does it make the task of writing MUCH easier, your ?response? will be a much better ? and more appealing ? piece of content than you could ever write out of thin air for a blank screen.

Just publishing content and posting it around the web is not going to make you stand out in your niche. You really need to go the extra mile and get actively engaged with your market.

Don?t get caught up in the ?tasks? such as blogging and posting. Get caught up in your market and what they?re talking about. Your ?market? is made up of REAL PEOPLE. Figure out what they need or want, and how you can best help them.

Stop ?blogging? and start talking. That?s the key!

Best,

p.s. If you DO struggle with writing or blogging, and we *all* do from time to time!, here are some great posts that will help you out when you?re feeling stuck:

Source: http://www.clicknewz.com/6693/stop-blogging/

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