Saturday, May 11, 2013

Former Guatemala dictator Rios Montt convicted of genocide

By Mike McDonald

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt was found guilty on Friday of genocide and crimes against humanity during the bloodiest phase of the country's 36-year civil war and was sentenced to 80 years in prison.

Hundreds of people who were packed into the courtroom burst into applause, chanting, "Justice!" as Rios Montt received a 50-year term for the genocide charge and an additional 30 years for crimes against humanity.

It was the first time a former head of state had been found guilty of genocide in his or her own country.

Rios Montt, now 86, took power after a coup in 1982 and was accused of implementing a scorched-earth policy in which troops massacred thousands of indigenous villagers thought to be helping leftist rebels. He proclaimed his innocence in court.

"I feel happy. May no one else ever have to go through what I did. My community has been sad ever since this happened," said Elena de Paz, an ethnic Maya Ixil who was two years old in 1983 when soldiers stormed her village, killed her parents and burned her home.

Prosecutors say Rios Montt turned a blind eye as soldiers used rape, torture and arson to try to rid Guatemala of leftist rebels during his 1982-1983 rule, the most violent period of a 1960-1996 civil war in which as many as 250,000 people died.

He was tried over the killings of at least 1,771 members of the Maya Ixil indigenous group, just a fraction of the number who died during his rule.

A throng outside the court chanted "Justice! Justice!" when the guilty verdicts were handed down on Friday.

"They convicted him, they convicted him. I can't believe it," said Marybel Bustamante, whose brother was 'disappeared,' a euphemism for kidnapped and murdered, the day that Rios Montt took power.

The human rights group Amnesty International hailed it as the trial of the decade.

'FULL KNOWLEDGE'

"He had full knowledge of everything that was happening and did not stop it," Judge Yasmin Barrios, who presided over the trial, told a packed courtroom where Mayan women wearing colorful traditional clothes and head-dresses closely followed proceedings.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu was among them.

"Today we are happy, because for many years it was said that genocide was a lie, but today the court said it was true," she said.

Barrios called a hearing for Monday to discuss compensation for the victims of Rios Montt's rule.

Rios Montt's intelligence director, Jose Rodriguez Sanchez, also stood trial, but he was acquitted on both charges.

During the trial, which began on March 19, nearly 100 prosecution witnesses told of massacres, torture and rape by state forces. At one point, the trial hung in the balance when a dispute broke out between two judges over who should hear the case.

Rios Montt denied the charges in court on Thursday, saying he never ordered genocide and had no control over battlefield operations.

"I am innocent," he told the courtroom, sporting thick glasses and a gray mustache. "I never had the intent to destroy any national ethnic group.

"I have never ordered genocide," he added, saying he took over a "failing" Guatemala in 1982 that was completely bankrupt and full of "subversive guerrillas."

Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan provided support for Rios Montt's government and said in late 1982 that the dictator was getting a "bum rap" from rights groups for his military campaign against left-wing guerrillas during the Cold War.

He also once called Rios Montt "a man of great personal integrity".

Defense attorneys said earlier they would appeal if Rios Montt was convicted. They argued that prosecution witnesses had no credibility, that specific ethnic groups were not targeted under Rios Montt's 17-month rule and that the war pitted belligerents of the same ethnic group against one another.

DIVISIVE CONFLICT

Rios Montt has been under house arrest for more than a year. The right-wing party that he founded changed its name this year to distance itself from its past.

Guatemala's civil war ended with peace accords signed in 1996 but the Central American nation remains a deeply divided society with very poor indigenous areas.

President Otto Perez, a former army general during the civil war, says he was part of a group of captains that stood up to Rios Montt.

Declassified U.S. documents from the civil war years suggest Perez was one of the Guatemalan army's most progressive officers and that he played a key role in an ensuing peace process.

But Perez was himself implicated in war crimes during the trial when one prosecution witness testified that soldiers under his command had burned down homes and executed civilians during Rios Montt's rule.

Perez has argued that genocide did not take place during the war, underlining the divisions that persist in Guatemala over the conflict, which pitted leftist insurgents against a string of right-wing governments.

Perez, who took office in 2012, is the first military man to run the country since the war ended, and rights groups were concerned he could interfere with human rights trials.

Courts in Guatemala have only recently begun prosecutions for atrocities committed during the conflict.

Until August 2011, when four soldiers received 6,060-year prison sentences for mass killings in the northern village of Dos Erres in 1982, no convictions had been handed down for massacres carried out during the war.

A judge who initially presided over pre-trial hearings cast a new shadow of doubt over the Rios Montt case on Friday when she confirmed a decision she had announced on April 18 to wind back proceedings to November 2011, and void all developments since then.

Prosecutors insist that decision is illegal and are preparing legal challenges to the ruling, while defense attorneys have argued that the decision is binding and the trial should never have proceeded.

(Writing by Simon Gardner; Editing by Kieran Murray, Peter Cooney and Paul Simao)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/former-guatemala-dictator-rios-montt-found-guilty-genocide-003356834.html

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Two Marana High School students win Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills state finals

Two Marana High School students have earned the title of Arizona?s top high school auto technicians after winning the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills State Finals on May 3.?

They were led by their instructor Donald Zell, Evan Cloutier and Kevin Reich will go on to represent Arizona in the National Finals in June, thanks in part to their instructor Donald Zell, and will compete against other finalists from across the U.S.

As the first-place team, Cloutier and Reich have both won scholarships valued at more than $35,000 each for use in automotive programs nationwide, including the Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix and the Ford ASSET program at Glendale Community College.

The second-place team, Hung Dinh and Robert Wineinger from Flowing Wells High School were awarded more than $28,000 to automotive programs, while the third-place team, Heriberto Gutierrez and Michael Butler from Kofa High School each were awarded more than $17,000 to fund their automotive education.

In a recent news release about the competition, Don Nunnari had this to say, ?As an automotive resource, AAA recognizes the need to have qualified technicians to help maintain our ever-evolving cars. ?We?re honored to be a part of this competition, and give motivated students a chance to obtain the best technical training and a means to pay for it.? ?Nunnari is the vice president of automotive services for AAA Arizona.?

The 2013 results of the competition are as follows: (School, instructor, students)

  • First place: Marana, Donald Zell; Evan Cloutier, Kevin Rich
  • Second place: Flowing Wells, Jerrad McMurrich; Hung Dihn, Robert Wineinger
  • Third place: Kofa, Norm Champagne; Heriberto Guiterrez, Michael Butler
  • Fourth place: Sunrise Mountain, Scott Herder; Shawn Kurowski, Gabriel Yost
  • Fifth place: Centennial, Stephen Maish, Shawn Brown, Richard Krajewski
  • Sixth place: Prescott, Mickey Chaney; Raymond Federwisch, Chase Beazer
  • Seventh place: ?East Valley Insititute of Technology, Randy Golding; Brighton Hornbaker, Thomas Reeves
  • Eighth place: ?Safford, Edward Taylor; Keith Vigus, Daniel Ward.
  • Ninth place:? ?Pueblo, Seth Levy; Mateo Rodarrte, Jose Guerrero
  • Tenth place:? Gilbert, Jonathan Strait; David Lehrer, Corey Hermann

The Marana High School trio of Cloutier and Reich and Zell, their instructor will travel to Dearborn, Mich., to compete in the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills National Finals, which will take place June 9 - 12 on the front lawn of Ford World Headquarters.

At the National Finals, the duo will compete for additional scholarship money to help kick-start their automotive careers.

The Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills nationwide automotive technology competition offers nearly $12 million in scholarships and prizes to high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing careers as automotive service technicians. More than 10,000 students from across the nation compete for the chance to represent their school and state as part of a two-person team in the National Finals on the front lawn of Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.

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Source: http://orovalley.tucsonnewsnow.com/news/news/142163-two-marana-high-school-students-win-fordaaa-student-auto-skills-state-finals

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Battle for Dell continues as shareholders Icahn, Southeastern partner on an offer

Michael Dell's deal with Microsoft to buy back the computer company bearing his name hasn't gone through yet, and tonight two of its largest shareholders joined forces on another option. Carl Icahn and Southeastern Asset Management have both opposed the $24.4 billion / $13.65 per share buyout proposal from the start and have an alternative proposal: a $12 per share dividend, funded by Dell's $9 billion in cash and $5.2 billion in new debt. If that's not accepted, the two also claim to be ready to put up a slate of 12 director's ahead of Dell's annual shareholder meeting, or take their challenge to the courts. Even with the reported withdrawal of a counter offer from Blackstone Group, things remain complicated -- we'll wait and see if any of these threats go through, or if they successfully wrangle a better buyout offer from Dell, Microsoft & Co.

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Source: Wall Street Journal

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/l80UVwtAcRw/

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Friday, May 10, 2013

Slacker lures 6 million new listeners, makes profit on both free and paid users

Slacker lures 6 million new listeners, bucks industry with profit on free and paid users

When Slacker launched its big software overhaul in February, many were skeptical that a refresh could bring it back to prominence. Apparently, all that doubt was misguided: Slacker says it's racked up 6 million new listeners in the past three months, 3.5 million of which are on mobile. They're more involved, too -- there are 100,000 new paying customers, iOS installs have tripled and members of all kinds tune in for an average of 25 percent longer. And did we mention that Slacker may even benefit from the rush? Where some peers face a constant fight to stay above water without enough premium customers, Slacker says both its ad-supported free radio and paid on-demand service are profitable. While there's no guarantee the company will hold on to those bedazzled new users, it's good to see renewed competition in a field with fewer and fewer participants.

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Source: Slacker

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/myxXlGF0a-U/

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Obama, House Democrats Gather Over Dinner

  • Obama Holds Final Primary Night Event In St. Paul

    ST. PAUL, MN - JUNE 3: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) (R) and his wife Michelle Obama bump fists at an election night rally at the Xcel Energy Center June 3, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Obama clinched the Democratic presidential nomination following today's primaries in South Dakota and Montana, although his rival Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) has not yet conceded the race. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

  • Barack Obama

    President Barack Obama acknowledges the crowd as he exchanges fist bumps with the audience after speaking at Hyde Park Academy, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

  • Obama Fist Bump

    President Barack Obama fist-bumps custodian Lawrence Lipscomb in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building following the opening session of the White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth, Dec. 3, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

  • President Barack Obama does a fist bump

    President Barack Obama does a fist bump with Ethan Gibbs, the son of Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, after arriving by Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Washington, DC, April 19, 2009. President Barack Obama returned from the Fifth Summit of the Americas held in Trinidad and Tobago. AFP PHOTO/Aude GUERRUCCI (Photo credit should read Aude GUERRUCCI/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Barack Obama Campaigns Across U.S. Ahead Of Primaries

    SPRINGHILL, WV- MAY 12: Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) (L) bumps fists with Iraq war veteran Paul Scott after playing a game of pool during a stop at Schultzie's Bar & Hot Spot May 12, 2008 in Springhill, West Virginia. Sen. Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) continue to battle for the Democratic presidential nomination. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

  • McCain And Obama Address LULAC National Convention

    WASHINGTON - JULY 8: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (L) gives a 'fist bump' to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) during the national convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) at the Washington Hilton July 8, 2008 in Washington, DC. Obama has been recently criticized for moving to the political center after calling for a slowing of withdrawal of troops from Iraq, supporting a proposed wiretap law and government funding of faith-based programs. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  • Barack Obama Campaign Weeks Away From Election Day

    CHANTILLY, VA- OCTOBER 22: Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) fists bumps with Ethan Gibbs the son of Robert Gibbs the campaign communication director as he arrives at Dulles International Airport October 22, 2008 in Chantilly, Virginia. Obama continues to campaign with election day less than two weeks away. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • US Democratic presidential candidate Ill

    US Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama (R) and North Carolina Governor Mike Easley bump fists at Sen. Obama's surprise appearance at a North Carolina Democratic Party dinner October 4, 2008 at the The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

  • President Barack Obama

    BAGHDAD, IRAQ - APRIL 7: In this handout provide by the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama (L) receives a fist-bump from a U.S. soldier as he greets hundreds of U.S. troops during his visit to Camp Victory on April 7, 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq. Obama is serving as the 44th President of the U.S. and the first African-American to be elected to the office of President in the history of the United States. (Photo by Pete Souza/White House via Getty Images)

  • President Barack Obama

    WASHINGTON - APRIL 8: In this handout provide by the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama (L) holding a football, offers a fist-bump, to senior staff member Pete Rouse (R), during a meeting with senior advisors in the Oval Office of the White House on April 8, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama is serving as the 44th President of the U.S. and the first African-American to be elected to the office of President in the history of the United States. (Photo by Pete Souza/White House via Getty Images)

  • US President Barack Obama gives a studen

    US President Barack Obama gives a student a fist bump while touring the Wind Turbine Manufacturing and Fabrication Lab at Lorain County Community College, in Elyria, Ohio, January 22, 2010. Obama is visiting Ohio to tour local businesses and hold a town hall meeting on jobs and the economy. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

  • US President Barack Obama bumps fists wi

    US President Barack Obama bumps fists with a school children after reading Christams book 'The Polar Express' to an audience of elementary school children at the Richard England Clubhouse and Community Center in Washington, DC, on December 21, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

  • US President Barack Obama fist-bumps wit

    US President Barack Obama fist-bumps with a supporter after speaking at a fundraiser for Senator Michael Bennet February 18, 2010 at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

  • US President Barack Obama (2nd-R) fist b

    US President Barack Obama (2nd-R) fist bumps with Marvin Nicholson as he plays golf at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on August 26, 2010. The US First Family is vacationing on the Island until August 29. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

  • President And Mrs. Obama Host Annual Easter Egg Roll

    WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: (AFP OUT)U.S. President Barack Obama gives a fist bump to a young boy during a 'Let's Move' tennis clinic during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House April 25, 2011 in Washington, DC. About 30,000 people are expected to attend the 133-year-old tradition of rolling colored eggs down the White House lawn. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  • US President Barack Obama gives a young

    US President Barack Obama gives a young boy a fist bump as he greets guests after speaking about the economy at Shaker Heights High School in Shaker Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, on January 4, 2012. Obama announced plans to appoint Richard Cordray as acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in a recess appointment, bypassing Congress and setting up a bitter election-year legal showdown with Republicans. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Barack Obama

    President Barack Obama fist bumps service members after he addressed troops at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Wednesday, May 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • US President Barack Obama (L) asks for a

    US President Barack Obama (L) asks for a fist bump from a young girl as he speaks with patrons outside the Kozy Corner restaurant in Oak Harbor, Ohio, July 5, 2012, where he made an unannounced visit to speak with supporters while on a bus tour of Ohio and Pennslyvania. AFP PHOTO/Jim Watson (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Obama Welcomes 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Champions To White House

    WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 18: U.S. President Barack Obama gives a fist bump to Baylor University basketball guard Terran Condrey while welcoming the 2012 NCAA Women?s Basketball champions in the East Room of the White House July 18, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Baylor Lady Bears became the first NCAA basketball team to complete a 40-0 season by defeating Notre Dame 80-61 in the NCAA women's championship. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  • Barack Obama, Odyssey Sims

    Point guard Odyssey Sims gets a fist bump from President Barack Obama at a ceremony honoring the 2012 NCAA Women's basketball champions Baylor University Bears in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • US-VOTE-2012-DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN

    US President Barack Obama (L) fist bumps with supporters after delivering remarks during a campaign event at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada, August 21, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Barack Obama

    President Barack Obama pounds fists with a supporter after speaking at a campaign event at The Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center at Kent State University Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, in Kent, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

  • US-VOTE-2012-DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN

    US President Barack Obama fist-bumps with a woman during a lunch visit to the West Tampa Sandwich Shop and Restaurant in Tampa, Florida, September 8, 2012, during the first day of a 2-day bus tour across Florida. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

  • US-VOTE-2012-DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN

    US President Barack Obama (L) fist bumps a supporter after speaking at a campaign rally in Nashua, New Hampshire, on October 27, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/obama-house-democrats-dinner_n_3242018.html

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    Sunday, May 5, 2013

    DERBY LIVE: Orb wins after surging among bettors

    Joel Rosario rides Orb to victory during the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

    Joel Rosario rides Orb to victory during the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

    Joel Rosario rides Orb during the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

    Joel Rosario celebrates after riding Orb to victory in the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

    Joel Rosario sits on Orb in the winners circle after winning the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)

    Joel Rosario rides Orb to a victory in the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

    (AP) ? The 139th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs had a field of 19 horses, with Orb topping the field in just over two minutes.

    He's the newest contender for a Triple Crown in thoroughbred racing.

    The Preakness follows in two weeks and the Belmont Stakes is June 8. The last horse to sweep all three races was Affirmed in 1978.

    Black Onyx was scratched from the race on Friday.

    NBC televised the 1?-mile race from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. The purse is $2,199,800, with $1,439,800 to the winner.

    Here's a running account of the event and everything going on around it, with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of everything surrounding the race.

    ___

    PREAKNESS NEXT

    Orb is almost certain to be among the favorites as he chases the second leg of a Triple Crown in two weeks. On May 18, Orb will be at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes. The race lasts 1 3/16 miles.

    ___

    FINAL PAYOUTS

    Orb paid $12.80, $7.40 and $5.40. Golden Soul returned $38.60 and $19.40 while Revolutionary paid $5.40 to show.

    ___

    QUICKQUOTE: SHUG McGAUGHEY

    "I'm thrilled to death for (the owners), thrilled to death for the people who put so much time into this horse, and, of course, I'm thrilled to death for me." ? Orb trainer Shug McGaughey, who said the victory meant everything to him.

    ___

    THE CALL

    "Orb! Has come in with giants strides in the center of the track. It is Orb in front, down to the wire, Orb has won the Kentucky Derby!" ? Larry Collmus, NBC's play-by-play announcer, as the Kentucky Derby finished.

    ___

    SIGN UP

    The sign makers at Churchill Downs were ready, no matter who won. Once the horses at the Kentucky Derby headed for the post parade and the starting gate, a tall ladder went up in front of the posted name of I'll Have Another, the 2012 winner.

    Workers began taking down the name as soon as the race started. Once Orb crossed the finish line, the name of 2013 Orb quickly went up.

    Orb joins Aristides, who won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875, on the awning of the paddock until a new winner crosses the finish line the first Saturday in May 2014.

    ? Brett Barrouquere ? http://twitter.com/BBarrouquereAP

    ___

    QUICKQUOTE: JOEL ROSARIO

    "I was so far behind and I just let him be calm and let him be relaxed and he was available to do it all." ? Orb jockey Joel Rosario after winning the Kentucky Derby.

    ___

    MONEY SURGE

    The moments before the running of the Kentucky Derby included a 7-figure avalanche of betting on Orb, the winner. According to live odds on the Kentucky Derby website, more than $4.7 million was wagered on Orb of $36.6 million gambled on the race, making the horse a 5-1 favorite as betting closed.

    Just minutes before, Orb pulled even with Revolutionary as a 6-1 favorite even though more than $4 million was bet on Revolutionary and around $3.5 million on Orb.

    ? Oskar Garcia ? http://twitter.com/oskargarcia

    ___

    ORB WINS

    Orb rewarded last-minute bettors with a win at the Kentucky Derby, with a time of 2:02.89.

    ___

    HERE COMES ORB MONEY

    Orb is surging among bettors and is now a 6-1 co-favorite in the race with Revolutionary moments before the horses load into the gate. With $33.7 million wagered, more money has come in on Revolutionary but Orb backers made a late move.

    ___

    TIME TO GO

    The bugle has called the horses to the post, and it's almost time for the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby. The riders are trotting across the track, and soon they'll be ready to settle the race.

    ___

    QUICKQUOTE: HAVE A CIGAR

    "I saw a lot of men doing it today and I thought I'll try one. ... It might be a once-a-year thing." ? Missy Reynnolds of Cincinnati, Ohio, as she puffed on a thick cigar in the paddock area with some friends. Women smoking cigars is a common sight at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day.

    ? Dylan Lovan ? http://twitter.com/dylanlovan

    ___

    SPELLING COUNTS

    The AP's Brett Barroquere is in the paddock, where some of the folks most anticipating the race are waiting.

    There, sign makers are scrambling to replace the name sign in Frac Daddy's stall after misspelling it "Farc Daddy."

    Also, Vyjack is jumpy in the paddock stall, repeatedly kicking its back wall.

    ? Brett Barrouquere ? http://twitter.com/BbarrouquereAP

    ___

    WOODFORD RESERVE TURF CLASSIC

    Wise Dan, the Horse of the Year, overcame a boggy turf course to easily win the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic.

    Jose Lezcano was aboard as the 6-year-old extended his winning streak to six, a span that began when he switched from the main track to the turf last August at Saratoga. Wise Dan, the 3-5 favorite, beat Optimizer by 4 ? lengths with Middie third.

    ___

    OUT FROM HIDING

    Steady showers for most of the day have finally stopped, bringing many out from under cover and livening up the Derby atmosphere.

    Hanging cloud cover didn't stop many from discarding plastic ponchos and hat covers, which began piling up around the grandstand. Judging from those blowing on their hands, gloves might've been a nice idea as temperatures dropped into the 50s.

    Ladies trying to brave the cool temperaturess in sleeveless dresses probably would welcome jackets.

    ? Gary Graves ? http:://twitter.com/GaryBGraves

    ___

    CHURCHILL DOWNS STAKES

    Delaunay, the 9-5 choice, powered to a four-length win in the $443,600 Churchill Downs Stakes for his sixth straight victory.

    Rosie Napravnik was aboard as the 6-year-old gelding improved to 4 for 4 here. Long shot Pass the Dice rallied to take second.

    Trinniberg, last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint champion, set the early pace before fading to seventh.

    ___

    DRY VALUE

    It's impossible to ignore the rain amid the partying and anticipation at Churchill Downs. As AP photographer David Goldman notes, boxes in the clubhouse considered premier seats on the second level overlooking the straightaway have been deserted during early races because they're wet. They can fetch about $1,000 per seat.

    Others have been using plastic sheets to make tents.

    Even in a downpour, Megan Grable and Cindy Brenner of St. Louis stayed perfectly dry and enjoyed a box lunch in their trackside box along the finish line.

    ? David Goldman

    ___

    ODDS CHECK:

    With just under 1 hour before post time, bettors are racking up the wagers but not changing the odds on the Kentucky Derby much.

    Revolutionary is still a 5-1 favorite with $24.5 million wagered, according to the Kentucky Derby website. Orb and Goldencents are at 7-1, while the longshot is Falling Sky at 36-1.

    ? Oskar Garcia ? http://twitter.com/oskargarcia

    ___

    CAPPIELLO'S PICKS

    AP correspondent Janet Cappiello's picks for the Derby are personal ? a tribute to her mom who adored the race and never missed a bet, despite living in Connecticut, not Kentucky. Since she always made her bets based on numbers, Cappiello bet a four-horse, $2 exacta box of her mother's favorite numbers: 3, 8, 7 and 11. That's Revolutionary, Goldencents, Giant Finish and Lines of Battle. An added connection: Janet's father lives in St. Croix, home of Goldencents jockey Kevin Krigger.

    ? Janet Cappiello ? http://twitter.com/janetcappiello

    ___

    CHURCHILL DISTAFF TURF MILE

    Stephanie's Kitten rallied from eighth to edge Hungry Island by a neck in the $288,750 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.

    Julien Leparoux swung the 4-year-old to the far outside with a five-wide move turning for home over the rain-soaked course. She improved to 3 for 3 on the turf here, including the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Fillies.

    ___

    QUICKQUOTE: RICK PITINO

    "You think about it: A state of 3 million people. Last year Kentucky wins the (NCAA basketball) championship, we win it this year, the Derby is part of our fabric and we have a horse in it. It's really special. ... We have no professional sports, this is it." ? Louisville coach Rick Pitino to NBC anchor Bob Costas when asked whether people outside Kentucky can truly understand the influence of basketball and horse racing in Kentucky.

    ___

    MEET THE HORSE: VERRAZANO

    Of all 19 horses in the field, Verrazano is the only one who's undefeated after winning five races this year.

    The horse didn't run as a 2-year-old, so to keep the unbeaten streak Verrazano will have to buck a trend that's lasted more than a century: No horse since Apollo in 1882 has won without racing as a juvenile.

    Verrazano is named for the bridge that links Brooklyn with Staten Island in New York City.

    Verrazano will be ridden by John Velazquez, who broke a rib and wrist in a racing accident nearly a month ago. He hustled back two days ago and rode a handful of races in preparation for the big Derby.

    ___

    DISAPPOINTING SCRATCH

    For trainer Kelly Breen, it's not the Derby Day he was expecting.

    Breen was forced to scratch Black Onyx from the Derby on Friday morning when an X-ray showed a chip in his right front ankle. His absence leaves the field at 19 horses.

    "Disappointment is probably the best word to describe it," Breen said Saturday morning. "I thought he had legitimate chance and I was going to bet my money. I was ready to put my money where my mouth was. Now we'll never know."

    The injury is unlikely to require surgery, Breen said, but the Spiral Stakes winner will need at least 60 to 90 days of time off before returning to training.

    The New Jersey-based trainer will stick around for Derby but may pass the glitz of the frontside and just watch from the barn area.

    He wasn't the only member of his family looking to put money on the horse.

    "My son is 9 years old. He'd saved up 20 bucks to bet on Black Onyx. He's even disappointed," Breen said.

    ? Josh Abner ? http://twitter.com/joshabner

    ___

    DRY REAL ESTATE

    Umbrellas are piling up in growing puddles at the security station outside Churchill Downs, as national guardsmen and police confiscated the items which barred from the Kentucky Derby.

    The lack of cover that could be carried made ponchos, dry shirts and hats popular sellers at vendor stands surrounding the paddock at the historic racetrack. Of course, getting into a vendor tent Saturday afternoon is proving to be a challenge.

    People are taking shelter under nearly every inch of overhang, awning and vendor tent, even if they have no interest in buying officially licensed items. Even with a roof over their heads, though, racing fans can't escape the water. Rain is pooling on the brick walkways at the entrance to the track and around the Kentucky Derby Museum.

    Alas, of all the branded goodies being sold at the Run to the Roses, dry socks are not among the offerings.

    ? Brett Barrouquere ? http://twitter.com/BbarrouquereAP

    ___

    DERBY PICKS

    AP reporters have been on the Churchill Downs backstretch all week, interviewing owners, trainers and jockeys and keeping their eyes on each and every horse during their morning gallops. Now that it's Derby Day, Derby Live presents their picks:

    ? Beth Harris (http://twitter.com/bethharrisap) 1. Goldencents 2. Itsmyluckyday 3. Revolutionary.

    ? Jim Litke (http://twitter.com/jimlitke) 1. Overanalyze 2. Normandy Invasion 3. Goldencents.

    ? Gary Graves (http://twitter.com/GaryBGraves) 1. Orb 2. Goldencents 3. Verrazano.

    ? Josh Abner (http://twitter.com/joshabner) 1. Orb 2. Revolutionary 3. Overanalyze

    ? Mike Farrell: 1. Itsmyluckyday 2. Orb 3. Goldencents.

    ___

    HUMANA DISTAFF

    Aubby K, the 7-2 favorite, rallied past Burban to win the $345,600 Humana Distaff for fillies and mares. Edgar Prado guided the 4-year-old through the slop to get up by 1 ? lengths for her second straight stakes victory.

    ___

    MORE SLIDING, FEWER CUFFS

    The normally rowdy infield crowd at the Kentucky Derby appears well behaved.

    As the rain comes down, fans have taken to sliding across water-slickened tarps and muddy stretches in a makeshift slip-and-slide.

    Louisville Police Officer Carey Klain said as of mid-afternoon, only two people had been arrested and three cited for ticket scalping.

    "So far, so good," Klain said.

    While the area under the grandstand is crowded, people are milling about and moving through slowly but efficiently.

    ? Brett Barrouquere ? http://twitter.com/BbarrouquereAP

    ___

    IT'S SO RAINY...

    How rainy is it at Churchill Downs?

    Even the bugler is wearing a red poncho as he blows the call to the post in the early races.

    ? Beth Harris ? http://twitter.com/bethharrisap

    ___

    STAT CHECK

    This stat check comes from ESPN sports business reporter Darren Rovell (http://twitter.com/darrenrovell ). According to Rovell, roughly 5.1 million ounces of beer will be consumed at the Kentucky Derby.

    That's nearly 319,000 16-ounce pours.

    ___

    UNDERCARD RACE

    Berlino Di Tiger held off Chamblerlain Bridge by a nose to win the $138,250 Twin Spires Turf Sprint, the first stakes on the Derby Day program at Churchill Downs.

    Making his third start in the U.S. after beginning his career in Brazil, Berlino Di Tiger pulled the 11-1 upset with Leandro Goncalves aboard.

    Chamberlain Bridge showed he is still going strong at 9. He won the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint here in 2010.

    ___

    THE LONGSHOT

    With $11,2 million wagered and a little more than four hours before post time, Falling Sky is getting the least love from bettors. The horse trained by John Terranova II and ridden by Luis Saez was at 37-1 odds.

    ___

    GAMBLERS ABOUND

    Among the actors, musicians and athletes arriving on the red carpet are a fitting type of celebrity for a horse race: Poker players.

    Imagine that, gamblers at the Kentucky Derby.

    Among them is Phil Hellmuth, who's won 13 gold bracelets and $12.2 million at the World Series of Poker and is known to place a bet or two beyond the felt. He tweeted a picture (http://bit.ly/10duKeu ) of himself, with "The Voice" contender Nicholas David and actress Jennifer Tilly ? all posing with the Stanley Cup. Makes sense, we guess.

    Fellow poker player Robert Williamson dressed in all black and white, from his hat to his shoes, with one exception ? socks covered in sometimes neon-colored daisies.

    "They give me a little color," Williamson said.

    Tilly, a poker player herself, glided onto the red carpet to cheers from a large throng of onlookers assembled under a canopy near food and booze vendors at Churchill Downs. Tilley, who voices some characters on "Family Guy," agreeably posed as photographers shouted requests: "Look this way please!" ''Can you pose to the right?"

    ? Brett Barrouquere ? http://twitter.com/BbarrouquereAP

    ___

    TRACK CONDITIONS

    David Lehr, the Churchill Downs track superintendent, has downgraded the main track to "sloppy" due to consistent rain falling Saturday morning and early afternoon. The track is now "sealed," or packed down so that excess water rolls off rather being absorbed in the surface.

    Track conditions could continue to change before the Kentucky Derby, the day's 11th race.

    Only eight of the 19 Derby runners have ever run on a dirt track rated worse than "fast."

    Normandy Invasion is one of the 11 never to have run on an off track but trainer Chad Brown hoped this morning that his colt would take to the possibility of a sloppy surface.

    "I'm told his breeding is good for the mud," Brown said. "I see that go both ways. Sometimes it does prove to be true and sometimes even if they're bred for it, they don't run in it. You really don't know until you try it."

    ? Josh Abner ? http://twitter.com/joshabner

    ___

    $1M MARK

    Revolutionary is the first Kentucky Derby horse with $1 million in bets. The 5-1 favorite passed the mark with $8.3 million in total wagers at Churchill Downs.

    ___

    CELEBS ARRIVING

    The famous faces are starting to arrive. Among the sightings: National anthem singer Martina McBride, TV personality Star Jones, basketball greats Julius "Dr. J" Erving and Scottie Pippen, Speaker of the House John Boehner, New England Patriots lineman Vince Wilfork, actor Anthony Anderson and actress Valerie Harper, who was recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

    ? Janet Cappiello ? http://twitter.com/APLouJanet

    ___

    QUICKQUOTE: TIGHT SECURITY

    "The more, the merrier, as far as I'm concerned." ? Frank Hanlon, 31, of Memphis, Tenn., on added security joining at Churchill Downs in response to the bombings at the Boston Marathon last month. Kentucky National Guardsmen searched bags and passed metal detecting wands over race goers, while raincoats, towels and small cameras were being inspected.

    ? Brett Barrouquere ? http://twitter.com/BbarrouquereAP

    ___

    SLOPPY DERBY

    The last Kentucky Derby run on a track listed as sloppy was in 2010, when Calvin Borel rode 8-1 Super Saver to victory. That day, 1.32 inches of rain fell at Churchill Downs. Saturday's forecast calls for the rain to become progressively steadier as post time approaches.

    Borel also won on a sloppy track in 2009 when 50-1 shot Mine That Bird splashed home first. The jockey nicknamed "Bo-rail" because of his rail-hugging rides at Churchill will be aboard Revolutionary in the Derby.

    ? Beth Harris ? http://twitter.com/bethharrisap

    ___

    I'VE GOT A SYSTEM

    Betting strategies at the Kentucky Derby vary as wildly as the hats.

    Some racing fans plan out their wagers days in advance, poring over statistics and previous races to make an informed decision. But many fly by the seat of their pants, choosing an interesting looking horse or colorful jockey silks.

    "I love cats," said Shelly Dozier-McKee of Atlanta, who decided to bet on Charming Kitten in the Derby. It's her first trip to Churchill Downs, and Dozier-McKee said she received some betting tips from former University of Louisville coach Denny Crum during a party Friday night.

    She said Crum, who won two NCAA basketball championships, showed her how to bet exactas and trifectas, she said.

    "I got some good insider tips from him," Dozier-McKee said from under a black, wide-brimmed hat adorned with a feather.

    Jeremy Hewson learned how to bet horses from his grandfather back in Greenfield, Ind. He'll study the racing form, looking at speeds and performances in past races.

    Hewson said the rainy track would factor into his picks, but so far he likes Verrazano in the Derby.

    "Unless I see something that changes my mind," he said.

    ? Dylan Lovan ? http://twitter.com/dylanlovan

    ___

    Derby Live follows the Kentucky Derby and all the activities surrounding the event as seen by journalists from The Associated Press from across Louisville, Ky. It will be updated throughout the day with breaking news and other items of interest. Follow AP reporters on Twitter where available.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-05-04-Kentucky%20Derby-Running/id-69718439ac6e43d78e5c4272e8bfdc7c

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    Israel's Netanyahu, Palestine's Abbas head to China

    By Sui-Lee Wee

    BEIJING (Reuters) - China will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas next week for separate bilateral talks as it tries to shore up its role in a region where its diplomatic influence is limited.

    Netanyahu's visit -- the first trip by a top Israeli leader to China since former prime minister Ehud Olmert visited in 2007 -- will be focused on trade, though experts have also said he is likely to discuss Iran's nuclear program with China.

    China, Iran's top oil customer and a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, has opposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran such as those imposed by Washington and the European Union and has called repeatedly for talks to resolve the stand-off over Iran's nuclear program.

    Netanyahu's visit comes as a U.S. official said Israel has conducted an airstrike in Syria, apparently targeting a building, a development that is likely to worry Beijing.

    Netanyahu is set to arrive on Monday in China's commercial capital of Shanghai, where he will meet business leaders, and fly to Beijing after for talks with Chinese leaders. Abbas will arrive in Beijing on Sunday.

    It is unclear whether Netanyahu and Abbas will meet in China. China's foreign ministry said the country "is willing to offer necessary assistance if the leaders of Palestine and Israel have the will to meet in China".

    China has traditionally had a low profile in Middle East diplomacy, but is keen to assert its role as a key player in international politics. It has tried on and off over the years to mediate in the Israeli-Palestinian issue but with little apparent success.

    The visits by Netanyahu and Abbas come nearly a month after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Abbas discussed reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

    China believes that "strengthening its relationship with Jerusalem would be a sign that it gradually is coming to possess a foothold in the region, while somewhat offsetting, and perhaps even undermining, American political influence there", the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS), a top Israeli think-tank, said in a paper on Thursday.

    Beijing has maintained close relations with the Palestinians for decades. In recent years, it has also cultivated good ties with Israel, especially in the field of defense.

    In an interview with China's state news agency Xinhua on Friday, Abbas said he will let the Chinese leaders know the barriers currently rooted in the Palestinians' talks with Israel, as he "expects Beijing's contribution to the stalled peace process".

    "It is very good that Netanyahu will visit China too because it is a good opportunity that the Chinese listen to both of us," Abbas was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

    Abbas said he will urge the Chinese leadership "to use its relationship with Israel to remove the obstacles that obstruct the Palestinian economy".

    Israeli officials say Netanyahu is expected to sign several bilateral deals with China in sectors such as agriculture and water during his five-day visit, with the aim of boosting bilateral trade worth about $10 billion.

    Netanyahu will also raise the issue of Iran, according to the INSS. Israel, the United States, the EU and their allies say Iran is amassing the capability to produce a nuclear bomb, an allegation the Islamic Republic denies.

    Netanyahu, at the United Nations last September, set a "red line" of spring or summer for when Iran would be close to weapons capability, suggesting prospects for an Israeli attack around that time. But Iran's latest talks with world powers plus adjustments in Tehran's uranium enrichment processes are widely thought to have pushed back that deadline.

    (Additional reporting by Crispian Balmer in Jerusalem; Editing by Michael Perry)

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israels-netanyahu-palestines-abbas-head-china-040629737.html

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