Obama: Israel has 'no greater friend' than US

Following the first meeting of his Mideast tour, President Obama delivers a statement with Israel's President Shimon Peres.

By Alastair Jamieson and Ian Johnston, NBC News

Israel has "no greater friend than the United States," President Barack Obama said Wednesday on his first state trip to the country.

During his visit, Obama is expected to discuss Iran's disputed nuclear program and the crisis in Syria, and will also meet Palestinian officials in the West Bank on Thursday, but little progress on the peace process is expected.

Standing alongside Israel?s President Shimon Peres following a?private bilateral meeting, Obama said the two countries' joint efforts were important in securing peace for future generations.?

Peres warmly praised Obama as ?very knowledgeable,? adding there could be ?no better? leader to take the peace process forward. He also thanked Obama for the ?lots of sleepless nights? the president had endured in support of Israel.

Obama then entered a formal meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he has not always seen eye to eye.

Earlier Wednesday, Obama was met at Tel Aviv's airport by Netanyahu and Peres, along with a military band and a host of other officials and dignitaries.

Oliwer Weiken / EPA

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (second right) and President Shimon Peres (left) welcome President Barack Obama to Israel Wednesday. All three emphasized the enduring friendship between the U.S. and Israel.

All three men gave speeches that emphasized the friendship between the U.S. and Israel ? Netanyahu spoke of the ?unbreakable alliance,? Obama the ?unbreakable bond.?

'Eternal' alliance
Obama, who began his speech with ?shalom,? said he was ?confident in declaring that our alliance is eternal.?

?The United States is proud to stand with you as your strongest ally and your greatest friend,? he said.

He said it was not an accident that he had made the first overseas trip of his second term in office to Israel.

?Across this region, the winds of change bring both promise and peril,? Obama said, likely a reference to the Arab Spring uprisings that saw an Islamist president voted into power in Egypt and a civil war erupt in Syria.

In his speech, Netanyahu thanked Obama for ?standing by Israel at this time of historic change in the Middle East.?

?We deeply appreciate your friendship and we share your hope that the Middle East will enjoy a future of freedom, prosperity and peace,? he added.

Picking up on comments Obama made before the trip ?- expressing the desire to put on a disguise and go to a Tel Aviv bar -- Netanyahu joked that he had lined up a few locations and ?even picked out a fake mustache for you.?

Obama also viewed an ?Iron Dome? air defense missile launcher, a?U.S.-funded system, that was brought to the airport for him to see. The system has helped protect Israelis from Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza.

Ammar Awad / Reuters

Palestinian demonstrators hold placards, some depicting President Barack Obama dressed as an Israeli soldier during a protest in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday.

Netanyahu is expected to attempt to get Obama to agree to define a ?red line? for Iran -- the point in its nuclear development at which military action would be taken to stop it from getting an atom bomb. Last week, Peres described Iran as ?the greatest threat to peace in the world.?

Israel also worries that Islamist factions among the rebels fighting Syria?s Bashar Assad could seize control of the buffer zone between the two countries from the United Nations and threaten Israel with chemical weapons and long-range rockets captured from the regime.

On Thursday, the president will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, where he can expect a mixed reception.

"It's not a positive visit," Wasel Abu Yousef, a senior official in the Palestine Liberation Organization, which is led by Abbas, told Reuters.

In Ramallah on Tuesday, Palestinian police scuffled with scores of demonstrators protesting Obama's visit.

Obama is likely to offer reassurance that the U.S. still supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

However, little progress on the peace process is expected during the trip.

'Horrible conclusion'
In an editorial Wednesday, the Haaretz newspaper said it would ?take a good bit of imagination to expect a breakthrough over the next two days.?

President Barack Obama leaves Tuesday for his first ever trip to Israel as president and the White House is already lowering expectations for that visit. The New York Times' Elizabeth Bumiller, USA Today's Susan Page and The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus discuss.

?Here lies the central danger of the visit. The Israeli government and public could conclude, based on the polite tone of the president and the lack of a threat or demonstrative pressure, that Israel is now exempt from having to initiate steps toward resuming the peace process,? it wrote.

?This would be a horrible conclusion. Obama and the United States are not a party to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The president of the United States is not the one who must live in a society that is being transformed as a result of the occupation and pushed to the margins of the international community,? it added.

The Jerusalem Post said that there would ?admittedly? be ?little if any headway? on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

However, its editorial said the visit would be more than just a ?charm offensive,? given the war in Syria and the prospect of Iran getting a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful means only.

?As the leader of the Jewish people, who have been threatened with destruction by Iran?s leaders, Netanyahu wants assurances that the U.S. will launch a military strike if necessary to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran,? the Post wrote.

?Ideally, he would also like to define a mutually agreed upon ?red line? or the point at which it has been determined that diplomacy and sanctions are useless and military action must be taken,? it added.

Obama will be in the Middle East until Saturday. He will also lay a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance for victims of the Holocaust, and visit the Church of the Nativity with Abbas.

On Friday, he will go to Amman, Jordan, for talks and a dinner with King Abdullah. On Saturday, Obama will take a walking tour of the ancient city of Petra before flying home.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Former NSC spokesperson Tommy Vietor and Aaron David Miller, a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center, discuss what's at stake with President Barack Obama's trip to Israel and debate whether he will be able to repair a fractious relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Related:

Rough ride ahead for Obama as Palestinians, Israelis lukewarm over visit

Israel to grill Obama over possible military strike on Iran

Plenty to discuss as Obama heads to Israel

Syria chaos looms large over Obama's Israel trip

This story was originally published on Wed Mar 20, 2013 4:56 AM EDT

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/20/17382317-on-historic-mideast-trip-obama-says-israel-has-no-greater-friend-than-us?lite

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Russian President Putin wants BRICS to tackle geopolitics

By Steve Gutterman

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia wants the BRICS group of major emerging economies to broaden its role and get more involved in geopolitics, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published on Friday.

Putin, who has frequently criticized European and U.S. activities and has teamed up with fellow BRICS nation China to counter Western clout, spoke before a summit next week of the group, which also includes Brazil, India and South Africa.

He told news agency Itar-Tass that the BRICS members were working on joint declarations on the conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan, Iran's nuclear program, the situation in the Middle East and other issues.

"We invite our partners to gradually transform BRICS from a dialogue forum that coordinates approaches to a limited number of issues into a full-scale strategic cooperation mechanism that will allow us to look for solutions to key issues of global politics together," Putin said according to a Kremlin transcript of the interview.

BRICS leaders are expected to use the March 26-27 meeting in Durban, South Africa to endorse plans to create a joint foreign exchange reserves pool and an infrastructure bank, senior emerging market officials said on Thursday.

Putin, who wants more for foreign investment to bolster Russia's economy, said Russia plans to announce the creation of a BRICS Business Council to promote trade and investment within the group and help launch multilateral business projects.

(steve.gutterman@thomsonreuters.com)(+74957751242)(Reuters Messaging: steve.gutterman.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russian-president-putin-wants-brics-tackle-geopolitics-224320943.html

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The Meeting Of Great Minds Happens In Marvellous Melbourne

Melbourne is continuously increasing in population size and simultaneously increasing in popularity. More and more travellers are heading to Melbourne to see what delights this eclectic city has to offer, while a growing number of businesspeople are also setting their sights on Melbourne as a world-class destination for business meetings. Whether you are planning to host a seminar, a workshop, a meeting with prospective clients or even if you need a space in which to have interviews, you will need a corporate meeting room in Melbourne where you can facilitate your corporate event.

As Melbourne is growing as a centre of commerce, so is the range and availability of corporate function rooms. There are a few points to keep in mind when selecting the room in which you wish to host your corporate event. A logical place to start from is to think of your budget. Are you looking for a small, simple venue for the sake of practicality? Or are you hosting the business event of the year with wealthy clients that need to be wined and dined? For the former, you could look for a small meeting room in a community centre, as perhaps it will be a small amount of people meeting for a short time. But, if you are getting the events coordinator and party planner out, then you should perhaps be looking at a corporate meeting room Melbourne that is part of a hotel or expo centre.

The hotel option is a winner for many reasons. Firstly, if you choose a hotel with an ample amount of stars, the meeting rooms will definitely be luxurious. You can expect delicious food from the caterers, state of the art technology in the rooms, wifi access all around and gourmet coffee made barista style to keep your guests focused and the ideas flowing all day long. The other reason why a hotel meeting room is a good idea is because you have the luxury and convenience of accommodation added into the picture. Especially if many or all of your guests are flying in to join your corporate event, it helps a lot to have the guests stay just upstairs from the meeting room. It allows visitors to be more relaxed, and they could even enjoy a night out on the town with a few drinks, knowing that they do not have to worry about getting up at ridiculously early hours of the morning. Instead they can just leisurely amble down the stairs following the smell of freshly brewed coffee and freshly printed documents.

Regardless of your business in Melbourne, when it comes to meeting rooms youll be spoiled for choice!

About the Author:
John M Wilson primarily writes articles that offer recommendation about planning and booking for corporate meeting room Melbourne. If you would like to use any of John Wilsons existing work please visit the grandhotelmelbourne.com.au.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-Meeting-Of-Great-Minds-Happens-In-Marvellous-Melbourne/4494547

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Deadly chemical weapons attack reported in Syria

George Ourfalian / Reuters

Residents and medics transport a wounded Syrian army soldier to hospital Tuesday after heavy fighting in Aleppo province during which both rebels and government forces said a chemical weapon was used.

By Ian Johnston, Charlene Gubash and Ammar Cheikomar, NBC News

A chemical weapon was used during fierce fighting in a strategically important Syrian town, rebels and the government claimed Tuesday, with each side blaming the other for the deadly attack.

If it is confirmed that a banned chemical agent was used, it could significantly change the international response to the ongoing civil war.

The death toll was put at 25 by Syria?s state-run SANA news agency, which said dozens of other people were injured.

White House spokesman Jay Carney addresses reports that chemical weapons may have been used in Syria as civil war continues under the rule of President Bashar Assad.

A photographer for the Reuters news agency visited hospitals in the city of Aleppo, and said a number of patients had breathing difficulties. They told him of people dying and ?suffocating in the streets.?

SANA blamed the rebels for the attack, which happened in Khan al-Asal in Aleppo province.

?Terrorists on Tuesday launched a rocket containing chemical materials,? it said.

?Initial information indicated that about 16 citizens were killed, and 86 others were injured, most of them are in critical condition. Later, the death toll due to the firing of the rocket rose up to 25 martyrs,? it added.

SANA?s website showed photographs of a number of people, including several children, in what appeared to be a hospital.

'Convulsions, then death'
Information Minister Omran al-Zoabi said that ?the substance in the rocket causes unconsciousness, then convulsions, then death,? Reuters reported.

Rebel spokesman Fahd al Masry said a Scud missile was fired by the government and that "most probably" chemical weapons had been used. "This is not the first time," he added.

There was ?a state of panic and fear among the civilians and dozens of cases of suffocating and poisoning,? he said.

George Ourfalian / Reuters

A man is treated at a hospital after a chemical weapons attack in Syria's Aleppo province. Rebels and Syrian government forces blamed each other for the attack.

Masry said the attack would not have happened if foreign governments had taken stronger action.

"They?wouldn't?have used it if not for the silence of the international community on the crimes and massacres committed in Syria for the past two years," he said.

Masry said that the rebel forces may "be forced to reevaluate the rules of engagement in the coming days."

Khan al-Asal is the last town in the area to the west of Aleppo that has not been taken by the rebels, and if it fell that would hamper the flow of supplies to the regime?s forces in the city.

The town's population has traditionally been split between Sunni Muslims, who tend to be sympathetic toward the rebels, and Shiites, who are more likely to be supporters of President Bashar Assad.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday the U.S. was looking carefully at allegations that both sides are using chemical weapons, but he said he was skeptical of any claims made by the Syrian regime, The Associated Press reported.

He added there was no evidence to back up the Assad regime's claim that Syrian rebels have used chemical weapons.

Carney said it was a serious concern for the U.S. that the Assad regime could use such weapons, the AP reported. He said President Barack Obama believed that would be unacceptable and that there would be consequences.?

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) also said it was aware of the reports and hoped to release a statement later Tuesday.

/

A look back at the conflict that has overtaken the country.

On Dec. 24 last year, there were claims that a number of Syrians were killed after inhaling ?poisonous gases? released by government forces in rebel-held areas of the city of Homs.

OPCW spokesman Michael Louhan said the body was asked by the United Nations to give its assessment of this incident, but it was unable to find any ?conclusive information regarding whether they were banned chemical weapon substances or not.?

According to the international body, the Chemical Weapons Convention says it was created ?for the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibility? of their use.

'Abhorrent'
The U.K., which recently announced it was sending armored vehicles to the rebel forces, warned Tuesday that if the use of chemical weapons was confirmed it would change its approach.

?We are aware of today?s press reports alleging that a chemical weapon was fired in the north of Syria and we are looking into this,? a spokesman for the U.K. Foreign Office said.

?The use of chemical weapons would be abhorrent and would be universally condemned,? he added. ?The U.K. is clear that the use or proliferation of chemical weapons would demand a serious response from the international community and force us to revisit our approach so far.?

Russia ? one of Syria?s dwindling number of allies - blamed the opposition, saying it was ?seriously concerned? that ?weapons of mass destruction are falling into the hands of the rebels,? according to a foreign ministry statement reported by Reuters.

NBC News

People resisting the army of President Bashar al-Assad in northern Syria cope with loss and prepare for fighting.

The Reuters photographer said victims he had visited in Aleppo hospitals were "mostly women and children."

"They said that people were suffocating in the streets and the air smelt strongly of chlorine,"?said the photographer, who Reuters said cannot be named for his own safety.?

The photographer quoted victims he met at the University of Aleppo hospital and the al-Rajaa hospital as saying: "People were dying in the streets and in their houses."

Reuters described footage aired by Syrian state television:

Men, women and children were rushed inside on stretchers as doctors inserted medical drips into their arms and oxygen tubes into their mouths. None had visible wounds to their bodies, but some interviewed said they had trouble breathing.

An unidentified doctor interviewed on the channel said the attack was either "phosphorus or poison" but did not elaborate.

"The Free Syrian Army hit us with a rocket, we smelled something and then everyone got dizzy and fell down. People were falling to the ground, " said a sobbing woman, lying on a stretcher with a drip in her arm.

A young girl on a stretcher wept as she said: "My chest closed up. I couldn't talk. I couldn't breathe ... We saw people falling dead to the floor. My father fell, he fell and now we don't know where he is. God curse them, I hope they die."

A man in a green surgical mask, who said he had been helping to evacuate the casualties, said: "It was like a powder, and anyone who breathed it in fell to the ground."

Reuters, The Associated Press and NBC News' John Newland contributed to this report.

Related:

Syria threatens military action in Lebanon

'Human river' of Syria refugees hits 1 million; UK to send armored vehicles to rebels

US defense chief: Intel 'raises serious concerns' about Syria chemical weapons

This story was originally published on Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:10 AM EDT

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/19/17370550-suffocating-in-the-streets-chemical-weapons-attack-reported-in-syria?lite

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High Fantasy with a slice of Steampunk

The RP Magelord needs more players. This RP is set in a fantasy universe where a feudal society ruled by nobleborn sorcerers is under threat from a new magic, Alchemical Science, that is available to anyone regardless of pedigree. The game will be almost completely player driven with players deciding through their actions whether a revolutionary war between the two factions is inevitable or avoidable. Being an open world RP, any style of play is possible and non combative characters are welcome.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/Aoyv4Mb_yDo/viewtopic.php

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Smallest vibration sensor in the quantum world

Monday, March 18, 2013

In their experiment the researchers used a carbon nanotube that was mounted between two metal electrodes, spanned a distance of about 1 ?m, and could vibrate mechanically. Then, they applied an organic molecule with a magnetic spin due to an incorporated metal atom. This spin was oriented in an external magnetic field.

"In this setup, we demonstrated that the vibrations of the tube are influenced directly when the spin flips parallel or antiparallel to the magnetic field," explains Mario Ruben, head of the working group at KIT. When the spin changes, the resulting recoil is transferred to the carbon nanotube and the latter starts to vibrate. Vibration changes the atomic distances of the tube and, hence, its conductance that is used as a measure of motion.

The strong interaction between a magnetic spin and mechanical vibration opens up interesting applications apart from determining the states of motion of the carbon nanotube. It is proposed to determine the masses of individual molecules and to measure magnetic forces within the nano-regime. Use as a quantum bit in a quantum computer might also be feasible.

According to the supplementary information published in the same issue of nature nanotechnology such interactions are of high importance in the quantum world, i.e. in the range of discrete energies and tunnel effects, for the future use of nanoscopic effects in macroscopic applications. Combination of spin, vibration, and rotation on the nanoscale in particular may result in entirely new applications and technologies.

###

Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres: http://www.helmholtz.de/en/index.html

Thanks to Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127331/Smallest_vibration_sensor_in_the_quantum_world

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Question about buying a distressed home... I am the ... - Zillow Real ...

Your next step should be to contact a Real Estate professional. There are so many ways that you could fall victim to a contract if you were to fill one out yourself or rely on the seller to do that, as he would only act in his best interest.

Also keep in mind that you only want to pay fair market value, where the seller is "under water" you would want to confirm market information in your area to be sure this home is a good deal, even though it sounds like you have checked out the tax information. ?

If you don't know where to start, meet with an agent to represent YOUR interests and hopefully you will be well on your way to owning your first home. ?

Source: http://www.zillow.com/advice-thread/Question-about-buying-a-distressed-home-I-am-the-tenant/483516/

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