Vodafone lifts Essar stake by 33 % Vodafone will buy an additional 33 percent stake in its Indian joint venture for $ 5 billion -LRB- R34bn -RRB- after its partner , Essar , exercised an option to sell the holding in India 's third-largest cellular operator . The deal will raise Vodafone 's stake to 75 percent . Essar would exit the company after it implemented a put option over 22 percent of the venture , Vodafone said yesterday , while the British company exercised its call option to buy another 11 percent stake . The deal is a boost for Vodafone chief executive Vittorio Colao as Essar failed to gain a higher valuation for part of its stake in Vodafone Essar . Founded by billionaires Shashi and Ravi Ruia , Essar had an option to sell its entire 33 percent stake for $ 5bn to Vodafone or to sell a smaller stake at an independently appraised fair market value . `` The advantage for Vodafone is that they do n't have to consider the other shareholder now , '' said Macquarie Securities analyst Guy Peddy . Vodafone had already set aside the $ 5bn cash payment within its net debt of # 30bn -LRB- R328bn -RRB- . The deal would increase Vodafone 's direct equity stake in the venture to 75 percent , spokesman Ben Padovan said . The company would comply with local rules , he added . India does not allow foreign companies to own more than 74 percent in local cellular operators . `` They 'll have to sell that 1 percent to some Indian entity , or they 'll have to consider an initial public offering -LRB- IPO -RRB- , '' said MF Global analyst Naveen Kulkarni in Mumbai . Vodafone said the deal was predicted to be completed no later than November this year . Essar spokesmen Manish Kedia and Rabin Ghosh did not respond to calls for comment . Vodafone is increasing its stake in the venture in one of its fastest growing markets . India was one of the `` jewels '' in the three months to December , Colao said in February . While Vodafone is expanding in India , it is seeking to exit from French cellular operator SFR , in which it holds a 44 percent stake . Vivendi , which owns the rest , has said it wanted full control of the unit . Colao , who last year sold Vodafone 's $ 6.5 bn stake in China Mobile in his biggest divestment since he took charge in 2008 , is reviewing all the company 's minority interests amid pressure from shareholders to squeeze more out of the investments . Last year bankers had valued Vodafone Essar at between $ 13bn and $ 18bn when Essar was considering an IPO for the Indian venture , a source said earlier this year . That would have valued Essar 's stake at between $ 4.3 bn and $ 6bn . Vodafone bought 67 percent of Hutchison Essar for $ 10.7 bn in 2007 . Its outlook for India soured a year after its entry , when six new national licences were awarded . Vodafone took a $ 3.3 bn charge for the Indian unit last May , citing `` intense price competition '' . Since then , Vodafone 's service revenue from India increased by 17 percent in the financial third quarter . The Indian cellular market is forecast by Gartner in the US to exceed 993 million users by the end of 2014 . Standard Chartered advised the Essar Group on the transaction , and Vodafone used Goldman Sachs . UBS was hired as a third investment bank to help reach a valuation of the Indian joint venture . -- Bloomberg

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This week 's new live music Dum Dum Girls , On tour Rather than a place , US indie bands of 2011 are united by time : 1986 , a moment of innocently jangling guitar and heavy reverb , and the last instance groups tried to copy the grandeur of Phil Spector 's productions using the most ramshackle of ingredients . As with Crystal Stilts or Best Coast , Dum Dum Girls - in essence the project of singer-guitarist Dee Dee - are all about candour and spontaneity . This extends to the content and playing of their music . Their debut album I Will Be -LRB- released on Sub Pop , home also to the Vaselines -RRB- has a coy charm , but live , they surge into the 1990s . Whether they 're aiming for girl-group insouciance is a moot point ; they sound , refreshingly , like Ride or Lush . Black Box , Belfast , Sat ; Stereo , Glasgow , Sun ; Brudenell , Leeds , Mon ; Dingwalls , London , Tue ; Komedia , Brighton , Wed John Robinson Jessie J , On tour Jessie J Much like Lady Gaga , Jessie J is someone who has emerged from behind the scenes to reveal an eyebrow-raising appetite for the spotlight . A young British songwriter who has enjoyed US success with songs for Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus , now that she 's emerged with her own material , she 's done so with an eye to the world stage . Rather than the parochial stylings of , say , Lily Allen , Jessie J has kept some of the strong language , but ramped up the volume and presentation . At this stage , it 's the sensory assault of Do It Like A Dude and the rather less aggressive Price Tag -LRB- you 're right : it does sound a bit like Torn by Natalie Imbruglia -RRB- that we know her for best . With the release of her debut album , however , Jessie Cornish reveals more of her backstory , and a sensitive side . O2 Academy , Birmingham , Sat ; Manchester Academy , Mon ; O2 Shepherd 's Bush Empire , W12 , Tue John Robinson Kylie Minogue , On tour Kylie Minogue . As her Aphrodite : Les Folies tour arrives in the UK , so does the news that it 's the most expensive tour Kylie Minogue has ever attempted . As if you can put a price on a golden winged horse , or a group of synchronised swimmers on a water wheel ! If the show is glamorously elaborate , however , it 's worth noting that the album that it 's nominally promoting - 2010 '' `` s Aphrodite - is really as near as Minogue is ever going to come to a back-to-basics record . Of course , she can make a go of her torch singer persona when she 's on Later ... With Jools . But a heartland record for Kylie is a dance record , and that - launched in Ibiza , produced by Madonna 's stalwart musical director Stuart Price , with no slow ones - is assuredly what Aphrodite is . Of course , the hits will get an outing here . But listen particularly for a heavy metal take on Ca n't Get You Out Of My Head . MEN Arena , Manchester , Sat , Mon , Tue ; O2 Arena , SE10 , Thu , Fri John Robinson Storms/Noctures , Sheffield Storms/Nocturnes . Photo : Eric Richmond Tim Garland , the British reeds player and composer , has a stack of credentials as a powerful postbop tenor-swinger . But there 's a lot more to Garland , who has also worked with symphony orchestras , in folk-jazzy world music bands , and small chamber ensembles . The Storms/Nocturnes trio is another instance of both Garland 's musical flexibility and his international stature , a decade-long collaboration with Grammy-nominated pianist Geoffrey Keezer and dynamic vibraphone virtuoso Joe Locke . The band name accurately represents this threesome 's range from improvisational ferocity to delicate lyricism . Crucible Studio Theatre , Sheffield , Sat ; Zeffirelli 's , Ambleside , Sun ; Ronnie Scott 's Club , W1 , Mon , Tue ; Royal Northern College Of Music , Manchester , Wed John Fordham Xenakis : Architect In Sound , London Iannis Xenakis . Photo : Gilbert Rancy And Ralph Fassey Composers '' '' reputations often go into decline in the years following their deaths , but Iannis Xenakis is proving an exception to that rule . The Romanian-born Greek architect turned composer died 10 years ago , and the Ether festival 's tribute to his work is the latest event to show how audiences respond enthusiastically to his challenging and sometimes eerily beautiful music . Architect In Sound will emphasise the links between Xenakis 's two careers , the way he introduced architectural concepts in his music , and his pioneering use of computers and electronics in his scores . There 's an international symposium as well as a pair of concerts , which are given by the London Sinfonietta , a long-time champion of Xenakis 's music , and by Ensemble Exposé , whose programme includes the premiere of tributes from three British composers . Southbank Centre , SE1 , Sat , Sun Andrew Clements Esperanza Spalding Chamber Music Society , London Esperanza Spalding . Photo : Sandrine Lee Former classical violinist turned jazz bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding hit the headlines in February by beating teenage Canadian pop phenomenon Justin Bieber to the Best New Artist Grammy award , incurring vitriol from his fans . That wo n't make much difference to the sussed and focused Spalding , a gifted 27-year-old cross-idiom creator who has already made a lot of difference to other leaders ' ventures -LRB- notably saxophonist Joe Lovano 's Us Five ensemble -RRB- and a mark of her own through her broad-ranging Chamber Music Society . The Grammy kerfuffle may have put her in the media spotlight , but she wo n't have a problem thriving in it . Barbican Hall , EC2 , Fri

O O O O O O B B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O B O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O B O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

se10 copy price expensive scenes refreshingly tim head elaborate director language london postbop stereo stack cornish phenomenon winged surge society eyebrowraising attempted young arena album john architect creator grandeur electronics brighton dum stormsnocturnes powerful dude assuredly vibraphone beautiful stormsnoctures tour aphrodite dingwalls release ambleside stage rancy heartland


Metronomy guide us around The English Riviera One night in Devon with Joe Mount of Metronomy as he explains how they 've swapped Nights Out in London for US West Coast vibes on their new album Known magniloquently as the English Riviera , Torbay would like to think it 's in southern California . Instead it 's in south Devon , where its white yachts , paved coastal esplanades and streets lined with palm trees give off an LA glamour , undermined only by the need for layers . Joe Mount , the man behind Metronomy and the Guardian 's escort around this seaside town , grew up in Torbay and nearby Totnes , '' `` making my own fun '' '' going to beach parties while driving round the bay blasting Ace Of Base . In the winter , while the bay hibernated , he 'd fiddle with electronic sounds on his home computer . By the time Joe was 18 , Metronomy was fully formed in his mind . Almost immediately , he moved away . As a student in Brighton he put together a band to play his songs , enlisting his cousin Oscar Cash and Gabriel Stebbing to play keyboards and bass . Mount then moved to London where he made up for a youth without a scene . '' `` I became so absorbed in London , '' '' he says . '' `` I was caring about what NME said , who the new bands were , getting jealous when others were doing better than us . I was going out every night , just because I could . '' '' Metronomy 's second album , Nights Out , offered despondent reportage from that metropolitan underworld . Or , as Mount puts it now : '' `` Eugh , parties . '' '' Nights Out was successful enough for Mount to spend the next year attending parties , in places which had pop music in their bones : '' `` Where I 'm from , if you 're into music you really struggle . There are no venues , no bands , no scene . I wanted to make music like that for the people I grew up with . '' '' So where there was n't a scene , Joe started to imagine one . He summoned up images of American west coast cool . He loved the thought of workshy stoner bands , sleeping in until 12 , hitting the beach and stumbling across songbook classics like shells in the sand . '' `` This area is very laid-back , there are kids who 've got so much time they can spend hours in a recording studio and make this sun-kissed , seaside music . '' '' he says . '' `` I was trying to imagine what that would sound like . That 's why the new album shares its name with the English Riviera . '' '' '' `` This area is very laid-back ... the kids can spend hours in a studio and make this sun-kissed , seaside music I was trying to imagine what that would sound like '' '' Joe Mount of Metronomy dresses for a day on the English Riviera . Photograph : Linda Nylind for the Guardian For Metronomy 's regeneration into a laid-back coastal band to be complete , Joe had to take himself aside for a chat . While he had been in the grip of his musical fantasies , bandmate Gabriel left the band to concentrate on being frontman of Your Twenties . It forced Joe to reconsider the concept of Metronomy as '' `` a spiky synth , wonk-pop party band '' '' and retool it as a four-piece . Squeaking doors and 99p toy synthesizers , staples of Metronomy 's sound until now , were replaced by more delicate percussion and warm lounge keyboards : '' `` Although the album is self-produced , I imagined what a producer would say to me . The first thing he 'd say would be , '' `` Stop cluttering up your songs with weird little noises . '' '' '' '' So that was that : Metronomy transformed themselves from a new-rave London three-piece to the Fleetwood Mac of the West Country . Welcome to The English Riviera : please drift slowly . Wind in our hair and sun on our skin , it 's easy to buy in to Joe 's American dream in the golden-brown resort that English pessimism forgot . Torbay , however , is still Torbay . We walk down the wide coastal road , lined by what looks like a Jersey Shore theme parkwith lurid arcades called Stardust , Regency Palace and Leisure 2000 . The bar we go into might serve mojitos on tap , but the sex-toy vending machine in the toilet proffers inflatable sheep . Mount finds a flyer boasting '' `` LADY GAGA IS IN TOTNES TONIGHT '' '' with a picture of a girl in a blonde wig and papier-mache dress . A quick Google search reveals she does Christina and Britney tributes , too . As for Mount himself , he would n't know how to deploy the bombast that comes naturally to Californians . His face spattered with brown freckles , his manner is polite , considered and encumbered by a modest Englishness . His answers are always suffixed with an awkward '' '' ... but I do n't know '' '' , and he describes the popularity of the XX and James Blake as the rise of '' `` groovy music '' '' . It 's this clash of Super-8 US fantasy with stark English reality that makes The English Riviera a triumph . Its sparse arrangements , commanding first-person narrative and off-kilter rhythms will lead to comparisons with LCD Soundsystem . But while James Murphy 's barbed nihilism is a deadpan dissection of New York living , Mount 's rose-tinted love letter to Torbay paints a picture of a home to which he 'd like to return . '' `` I know , it 's not very cool to be from the south , is it ? '' '' he says . '' `` But it would be so disrespectful to people who grew up in worse places to just moan about where you came from . '' '' '' `` Nights Out was a bit cynical , '' '' adds Oscar . '' `` This one 's supposed to be affectionate . It 's offering a sound to bands : here 's an idea , you could try this . '' '' '' `` It 's not very cool to be from the south , is it ? But it 's so disrespectful to people who grew up in worse places to just moan about where you come from '' '' Metronomy keyboards and sax man Oscar Cash . Photograph : Linda Nylind for the Guardian The record has none of the brashness of US yacht rock . Even its most brazen moment , The Bay , a paean to Torbay 's sexy charm , is n't a boast as much as a spurt of giddy excitement . Its charisma lies in the bits of Americana it gets wrong . It 's groovy music . After a few jugs of - go on then - the on-tap mojitos , the idea of Masqueradey Gaga is starting to appeal . A taxi ride later , we 're in a drab hotel conference room where a woman dressed in a leotard and wrapped in party lights is bent over a Roland keyboard and warbling something that sounds a bit like Poker Face . Behind her , two very enthusiastic male dancers do their best to make the whole thing look less like The Mighty Boosh . After the third airing of Bad Romance , we give up and head to the kebab shop to talk about our favourite Magic FM bands over a polystyrene box full of sweating lettuce . '' `` These LA bands like the Beach Boys and the Eagles : they had so much time , '' '' says Mount , doner meat dangling from his lip . '' `` It was just , '' `` Let 's go chill out . Smoke a doob . Spend three months in the studio . Smoke a doob . '' '' '' '' Does he think it 's the same here ? '' `` I think it could be . But all it ends up creating is drum 'n' bass DJs , tribute acts and singer-songwriter shit . There 's another guy from round here who got a record deal recently who does that James Morrison style-thing . That 's what it creates : a kind of douchebaggery . '' '' The next day Joe flies off to Paris to play a DJ set at 4am . Once he 'd been blinded by stage lights , the charms of a Torbay sunset were never going to be enough . But he no longer fears the ennui that follows a small-town upbringing , nor that of middling indie fame . He may not be the coolest man in London , but Joe smiles the smile of a man who know he 's already lodged himself into local history . '' `` I 've already been getting emails from the English Riviera tourist board , '' '' he grins . '' `` Their Google alerts must be going crazy . '' ''

B B O O O B O O B O O O O B O B O O B O O O B I O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B B O B O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B I O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O B O B O O B B B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O O B O O O O O B O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B I O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O B O O B B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B B O O B B O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B I I O B O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B O B O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O B O O O O B O O O O O B O O B I O O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O

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Gadhafi 's gas stations pose dilemma for Europe Flames and smoke shoot up from the Libyan-owned oil refinery on the eastern tip of Lake Geneva , suggesting one of Moammar Gadhafi 's outposts in Europe is still in business . As world powers tighten their military and financial grip around his regime , some governments are hesitating to freeze all of the assets controlled by the North African country 's repressive ruler . An Associated Press investigation has found that several European countries have accepted assurances from Libya 's Tamoil petroleum company that none of its profits reach Tripoli . In return , Tamoil has been allowed to continue operating unchecked , despite the fact its parent company is on a United Nations sanctions list . Officials at Tamoil 's European headquarters did n't return requests for comment , but representatives at four of the group 's national subsidiaries said they were abiding by the sanctions . '' `` No money from the gas stations flows , directly or indirectly , to persons or institutions subject to sanctions , '' '' Catrin Bedi , of Tamoil 's German subsidiary , told AP . All money was reinvested to expand the German operation , she said . Yet experts say European governments are being naive , or simply self-serving , in an attempt to protect European jobs and oil supplies . '' `` It 's a political decision . It would be naive to think that Tamoil is independent , '' '' said Zurich-based money-laundering expert Michael Alkalay . He said Western governments that readily did business with Libya in recent years now criticize Gadhafi 's regime but are doing little to clamp down on its assets , the most visible of which is Tamoil whose logo fronts gas stations from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean . Gary Hufbauer , a former U.S. Treasury deputy assistant secretary in the Carter administration , said European governments _ which like the U.S. have frozen Libyan cash deposits in their banks _ are essentially taking Tamoil 's word for it that the profits wo n't get back to Gadhafi . '' `` If the Europeans are serious about imposing the freeze , they should n't be allowing any money to be paid if it 's going to any part of the Libyan regime , '' '' said Hufbauer , now a senior fellow with the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington . World powers intentionally stopped short of naming Tamoil in their sanctions lists , he said , citing its importance to Europe . The company 's Swiss branch is registered in the southwestern town of Collombey-Muraz , where it operates a 72,000 barrels-per-day refinery that supplies more than 300 gas stations throughout Switzerland . Sister companies in Spain , Germany , the Netherlands and Italy operate 2,500 more gas stations , and there are two other refineries in Hamburg , Germany , and Cremona , Italy . The refineries ' combined capacity is 255,000 barrels of crude oil a day , or about 2 percent of the 14 million barrels that power Europe daily . Libya was producing 1.58 million barrels a day of crude oil in January , according to International Energy Agency figures . All are part of a Dutch-based holding company , Oilinvest -LRB- Netherlands -RRB- B.V. , whose sales ran to some $ 10 billion in 2009 . Oilinvest , in turn , is owned by the Libyan Investment Authority , the country 's sovereign wealth fund estimated to be worth $ 65 billion . Last month , the LIA was placed under international sanctions on the grounds that it is controlled by Gadhafi or persons close to him . Tamoil 's links to the regime , however , are n't enough for Switzerland to shut it down , according to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs , or SECO . '' `` Tamoil has pledged in writing to SECO to fully respect the sanctions imposed by the Swiss Federal Council , in particular not to make any payments or transfer other assets , in whichever form , to natural or legal persons who are subject to sanctions , '' '' spokeswoman Antje Baertschi told AP . She acknowledged that Switzerland is n't checking whether Tamoil is living up to its pledge , nor could she say when Tamoil made its last payment to Libya . '' `` It 's not possible to monitor all transactions , '' '' she said . A spokesman for Germany 's Economy Ministry , who spoke on condition of anonymity , said Berlin was satisfied Tamoil would comply with international sanctions after receiving written assurances . Monitoring compliance was a matter for the prosecutors , he said . But in a sign that some Tamoil entities are prepared to go further to protect their operations , the company 's German spokeswoman , Bedi , said an external auditor would be given access to its books . Meanwhile , Italy 's Finance Ministry said in a statement last week that '' `` no freezing measure has been adopted toward Tamoil Italia S.p.a , '' '' which it said was '' `` collaborating with the authorities to ensure the adopted international sanctions are respected fully regarding the situation in Libya . '' '' Charles Huyskens , a spokesman for Tamoil 's branch in the Netherlands , told AP the company had struck a deal with the Dutch government . '' `` The operation here is business as usual , but the guarantee is that they will not transfer money abroad or to any shareholder or whatever , '' '' he said . Finance Ministry spokesman Niels Redeker disputed this , saying the government was still in talks with Tamoil '' `` to prevent -LRB- cash -RRB- reserves from reaching entities on the banned list . But these are talks and have not led to any agreement . '' '' Dutch opposition lawmaker Harry van Bommel said Tamoil 's many shell companies in tax havens _ from Monaco to Curacao in the Caribbean _ make it impossible to guard against Gadhafi 's allies funneling money out of the company . '' `` All assets of Tamoil should be frozen , period , '' '' he said . '' `` We 're talking about U.N. resolutions , we 're talking about Gadhafi who is willing to kill his own people . Would he not ask a company under his control to transfer assets ? '' '' U.S. sanctions apply to anything owned or controlled by the government of Libya , which would include Tamoil if it did business with or processed payments through the U.S. , said a senior U.S. Treasury Department official , speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter . After Libya agreed to scrap its secret nuclear weapons program and compensate victims of terrorist attacks , the U.S. in 2006 rescinded its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism . And with the country emerging from international isolation , western firms rushed to sign oil exploration deals . Libya 's more than 46 billion barrels of oil reserves are the largest in Africa and all but five percent of its exports come from oil . Flush with petrodollars , Libya invested heavily in foreign assets , from Spanish banks to Italian football clubs , and a growing network of petroleum companies in the long chain stretching from supplier to consumer . EU documents show that the 27-nation bloc has used financial sanctions against Iran , Iraq , Myanmar , North Korea , Yugoslavia , Zimbabwe as well as Libya . In recent years there have been increasing calls for '' `` targeted '' '' financial sanctions that aim to freeze a person or a company 's profits , rather than shut it down and cause broader economic distress . Enrico Carisch , a U.S.-based Swiss field investigator who has worked for the U.N. enforcing sanctions against Somalia , Liberia , Congo and Sudan , said Tamoil 's profits should be frozen rather than simply shut down . '' `` Every government has to conduct due diligence to make sure they are not inadvertently contributing to the problem , '' '' he said . '' `` The enemy is not Libyan workers , the enemy is not Libyan companies . The enemy is those who derive benefits from the Libyan oil and use them against the Libyan people . '' '' One argument for keeping Tamoil afloat is that any future government in Libya would be entitled to reclaim ownership over the company on behalf of ordinary Libyans . An attempt by Los Angeles-based private investment firm Colony Capital LLC in 2007 to buy a 65 percent stake in Tamoil and Oilinvest from the Libyan government valued the entire company at over $ 8 billion . The deal never came off . Sven Behrendt , a Geneva-based expert on sovereign wealth funds , said Tamoil may only be the most visible tip of the Libyan Investment Authority 's assets . He recently ranked the LIA among the least transparent of some two dozen sovereign wealth funds , making it difficult for governments to fully know what it owns or controls . The most immediate threat to the company 's operations may be its rivals . Royal Dutch Shell has halted a supply agreement with Tamoil in the Netherlands , citing the international sanctions . The parties are due in court next week . Meanwhile , a monthlong maintenance period at the Swiss refinery has been brought forward to April due to '' `` uneconomical margins , '' '' a spokesman there said . ___

O O O B O B O B B O B O O O O B O B O O O O O B I O O O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O B O O O B I O O B I O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B I O O O O B O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O B B O B I O O B O O O O B O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O B O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O B O O B O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O B O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O

oilinvest
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smoke
curacao
lake geneva
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january
michael alkalay
zurichbased
catrin bedi
hesitating
europe
flames
behrendt
treasury
72000
business
peterson
uneconomical
dilemma
libyanowned
collombeymuraz
carter
genevabased
switzerland
tamoil petroleum
spanish
monaco
baertschi
german
military
seco
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expert michael alkalay
company oilinvest netherlands bv
german subsidiary
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American Apparel warns it may file for bankruptcy Troubled clothing chain American Apparel Inc. , losing money and faced with a cash crunch , says it may have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection . The company , which has a store in Trolley Square in Salt Lake City , warned in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it could take the action if it ca n't improve its sales or cash position or find other sources of financing to keep it afloat . The retailer known for its sexually provocative advertising also indicated that even if it does file for bankruptcy , it may be forced to liquidate if it ca n't put together a reorganization plan or find bankruptcy financing . American Apparel has been plagued by financial and image problems . On Friday the company reported a fourth-quarter loss of $ 19.3 million , or 27 cents per share , compared with net income of $ 3 million , or 4 cents per share , a year ago . Revenue for the three months ended Dec. 31 dropped 9 percent to $ 144 million from $ 158.1 million . It shares lost 6 cents Friday , to close at 90 cents . American Apparel 's full-year results were also rough . The retailer posted a loss of $ 86.3 million , or $ 1.21 per share , compared with earnings of $ 1.1 million , or 1 cent per share , in the previous year . Annual revenue declined 5 percent to $ 533 million from $ 558.8 million . The losses are only one facet of American Apparel 's problems . In October , it amended a credit agreement with Lion Capital so it could get some breathing room on its financial performance . American Apparel received a temporary waiver on its credit agreement with Lion Capital and others in February as it tried to avoid defaulting on another agreement . Copyright 2011 The Associated Press . All rights reserved . This material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten or redistributed .

B I I O O B I I B O O B I I O B I O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I I O O O O B O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O O O O O B I I O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B I I I I O O O O O O O O O O B I I I I O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I I O O O O O O O O O O B O O B I I O O O B O O B O O B O B I O B I O O O O O B O O O O B O B I I O B I O O B I O B I O O B I O O O O O O O O B O O O O B I O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O

exchange commission
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credit agreement
salt lake city
amended
chapter 11 bankruptcy
american apparel inc
losses
lion capital
temporary waiver
trolley square
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file for bankruptcy
annual revenue declined 5 percent
shares lost 6 cents friday
in february
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liquidate
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indicated
reorganization
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advertising
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associated press
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american apparel warns
breathing
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fourthquarter loss of 193 million
compared with net income of 3 million
a year ago revenue
published broadcast rewritten
troubled clothing
bankruptcy protection


Penelope Cruz gets star on Hollywood Boulevard Oscar-winning actress Penelope Cruz received a coveted star on Hollywood Boulevard 's Walk of Fame on Friday , becoming the first Spanish actress to earn the honour . Cruz , who won her Oscar for supporting actress playing a fiery artist in Woody Allen 's movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona , called the unveiling of her pink granite star '' `` a very special day that I will always remember . '' `` Every time I look at that star , I will see the names of all the people that have helped me make many of my dreams a reality , '' '' she said at the unveiling attended by a large crowd , including her husband Javier Bardem and friend , Johnny Depp . Cruz , 36 , thanked her parents , siblings , Bardem and their newborn son , '' `` for making me happy every day . '' '' The Spanish beauty made her acting debut on television when she was just a teenager and began her feature film career under the direction of Pedro Almodovar in his 1992 movie Jamon Jamon , in which she starred opposite Bardem . She was featured in several Almodovar films before making the move to Hollywood where she has worked movies such as Blow , Vanilla Sky and Nine . Next up , she stars opposite Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean : On Stranger Tides .

O O O O O B O B I I I I O B I O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O B O O O O O B O O O B O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O O O B O O O O O O O B B O O O B O O B O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O

oscarwinning actress penelope cruz received

friday becoming
actress penelope
friend johnny
will always remember every time


Job growth lifts outlook on economy Unemployment rate reaches a two-year low as companies add 216,000 workers to the payrolls . Reporting from Washington and Los Angeles -- The nation 's job-creation engine revved up last month and pushed the unemployment rate to its lowest level in two years , spreading optimism that the economic recovery is firmly in place and giving President Obama a political boost . The economy lured back unemployed Americans who had given up hope of getting another paycheck as increases across nearly all sectors led to 216,000 additional jobs , the Labor Department said . The unemployment rate ticked down to 8.8 % -- a full percentage point lower than in November and the sharpest four-month drop in 28 years . Obama , trying to fend off a Republican push for deep budget cuts that administration officials warn could derail the recovery , said Friday that the economy was showing '' `` signs of real strength . '' '' But he cautioned that millions of Americans still are out of work and that '' `` we have to keep the momentum going . '' '' The improvement bettered economists ' predictions of about 200,000 new jobs and led forecasters to say that strong job growth appeared to have taken hold . Chris Rupkey , chief financial economist for the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi in New York , said there was '' `` powerful forward momentum '' '' in the jobs market , which should help buffet the headwind on the economy from rising gasoline prices . That price rise , as well as uncertainty over the Middle East and debt-burdened economies in Europe , might yet cause the economy to slow again . But the favorable jobs report had an immediate effect on Wall Street , where the Dow Jones industrial average rose Friday to nearly 12,377 , and on the political scene , where Republicans could find it difficult to push their conservative agenda in Congress . Republicans have said that employers are n't hiring because of overregulation , overspending and the new healthcare law , and that the economic recovery requires a change of direction . As businesses start hiring again , that argument weakens . Republicans also could find it tougher to push for deep budget cuts as public-sector job losses continue to be one of the few major drags on employment . The GOP won big in elections last fall at a time when some economists predicted unemployment might hit double digits this year . Amid worries about the economy , Obama 's reelection prospects dimmed . But his standing in opinion polls has improved . And partly because of continued economic recovery , national polls show his reelection prospects now are as good or better after a little more than two years in office than Bill Clinton 's or George W. Bush 's , both of whom won second terms . At this point , Obama 's presidency is tracking closer to that of Ronald Reagan , who rode an economic rebound to victory , than to Jimmy Carter , who was bounced after one term because of economic woes . '' `` Reagan 's rise from a pretty unfavorable position ... was built on a dramatic improvement in jobs numbers in '' `` 83 and '' `` 84 , '' '' said Carroll Doherty , associate director of the nonpartisan Pew Research Center . During that two-year period , the unemployment rate fell from 10.4 % to 7.2 % . The recent drop in the unemployment rate from 9.8 % in November is the best since then . House Majority Leader Eric Cantor -LRB- R-Va . -RRB- downplayed the job growth , describing it as an '' `` uptick . '' '' While acknowledging it was good news , he said the still-high unemployment showed Republicans '' `` need to continue our efforts in Washington to foster pro-growth policies that will help businesses small and large to innovate and expand . '' '' White House officials were delighted by the new numbers , which they said surpassed their own internal projections . '' `` Obviously , things can go wrong , but this continues to be a very solid trend that we 've seen over the last year , '' '' said Austan Goolsbee , chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors . '' `` Yes , it was a deep hole , but we 're growing our way out of that hole . '' '' Optimism also has spread to unemployed workers , such as 37-year-old Air Force veteran Matthew Mabry of Bakersfield . On Thursday , he signed up for job-search help from Jewish Vocational Services .

O B O O O B B O B O O O O O O B I O O B O B O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O B O O B O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O B I I I I O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B O O O O O O O O B O O B I O O

ronald reagan
forecasters
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jobsearch
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continues
innovate
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partly
derail
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optimism
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losses
delighted
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bettered
rising
72
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showing
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effect
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growth
fell
216000 workers
national
bakersfield
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trying
hiring
104
payrolls
98
improvement
standing
lowest
88
firmly
overspending
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momentum
uptick
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political
growing
debtburdened
bank of tokyomitsubishi
middle east
obama
americans
council of economic advisors
europe
dow jones
white house
matthew mabry
gop
chris rupkey
house majority leader eric cantor
labor department
reporting
republicans
los angeles

george w bush's
bill clinton's
president obama
lowest level
unemployment rate
reagan's
congress republicans


$ 9 million bequest offers & lsquo ; stability & rsquo ; Love , infidelity and stable finances are in the air at the Atlanta Opera , with Mozart 's subversive `` Cosi Fan Tutte '' opening Saturday , and with the realization that a recent $ 9 million bequest has opened a new chapter for the 31-year-old company . Alarming news has been frequent from across the local performing arts scene . The mighty Atlanta Symphony Orchestra groans under the weight of a debt beyond $ 8 million . The smaller Cobb Symphony issued an urgent plea to its patrons to bridge a budget gap of almost $ 50,000 . Tiny arts groups across the region struggle to make payroll . But there have been a few breakthrough stories in recent years , such as the Atlanta Ballet 's big capital campaign , big endowment gifts and deluxe new dance studio . The Atlanta Opera was in financial hot water , too , until an unexpected bequest from the late Barbara D. Stewart , a corporate economist , arrived in February . Soon after , the opera sold out its run of `` Porgy and Bess , '' the cap to what might be remembered as the best month the company has ever had . Suddenly its future is looking as buoyant as its upcoming Mozart production at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre with four performances through April 17 . `` Cosi Fan Tutte '' is the third and final production of the Atlanta Opera 's 2010-11 season . By the terms of Stewart 's will , half of the $ 9 million must go to the endowment , which brings the total to $ 5.4 million . -LRB- If the opera gets 5 percent interest off the endowment , that means $ 270,000 will be added to the budget annually . -RRB- The rest , general director Dennis Hanthorn says , will go into the checking account . `` We have n't actually received the money , but we 'll need it to replenish our cash reserves , '' he said . `` Our balance sheet has been weak , and we were known as a pay-as-you-go organization . These funds will help us cover the bills when cash is low , to cover the months between when a grant has been announced and when it 's actually paid . '' He continued : `` The funds wo n't allow us to add another production -- each costs about $ 600,000 -- but it gives us stability . Her gift legitimizes the organization . Before , we 'd be asked -LSB- by foundations and individual donors -RSB- ` How long you gon na stay in business ? ' Well , now we are not going out of business . '' In addition to the opera 's $ 9 million , Stewart also left $ 1.5 million each to the High Museum of Art and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra . Although Stewart had been a steady patron of the arts over the decades , and had served on the Atlanta Opera 's board , Hanthorn was surprised by the size of the gift . `` Barbara was a very modest person , '' he said . `` The Woodruff Arts Center was n't aware she 'd give that much away . `` I suspect few people knew she had that kind of money , '' Hanthorn said , `` and no one was suspecting that level of generosity for the arts in Atlanta . I 'm humbled by it , and the best way we can honor her memory is to double or triple her bequest . '' The other way to honor Stewart is to produce great opera . `` Cosi Fan Tutte '' is the third and most subtle , and slightly louche , of the trio of masterpiece operas Mozart composed with librettist Lorenzo da Ponte . Like `` Marriage of Figaro '' and `` Don Giovanni , '' `` Cosi '' is brought to a boil by the subject of sex that is risqué or unwelcome , depending on your perspective . The title is an imprecise translation from Italian meaning `` all women are like that , '' a bit of barbed chauvinism that sets the plot in motion . On a bet , two young soldiers test their fiancées ' fidelity . The girls are sisters , and to trick them each guy appears in disguise to woo the other 's betrothed . Dispiritingly , each soldier seems to have more chemistry with his pal 's gal than with his own . The seductions are successful . ``` Cosi Fan Tutte ' is a statement about how we lie to each other but really lie to ourselves , '' said Carter Joseph , who has taught an Evenings at Emory class on the opera . `` Historically , it opens the door to the end of the Enlightenment , where we 've tried rational thought and it does n't work : Everyone is disillusioned at the end of the opera and our passions won out . '' Many elements of the plot , however , would fit the pop culture of our own time . By classical convention , da Ponte 's unerringly brilliant libretto has all the action take place in a single day and in -LRB- mostly -RRB- one location , including spontaneous dual weddings at the end . `` That sounds far-fetched and decadent , but Britney Spears got married for just a day , '' Joseph pointed out . `` The whole plot could be the premise for a reality television show . But the music is by Mozart , and he does n't pass judgments . He finds their humanity . '' Pierre Ruhe is classical music critic of www.ArtsCriticATL.com .

O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O B O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O B O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B B B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O B I O O B O O B O O B O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O B O O O B O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O B O O B B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O B I O O O O B B B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O

suspecting
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people
production
high museum
orchestra
general director
million
endowment
soldier
carter joseph
deluxe
scene
pierre
love
evenings
gift
patron
subject
mozart
money
opera
chemistry
porgy and bess
account
studio
disguise
foundations
future
hanthorn
buoyant
atlanta
enlightenment
suddenly
31yearold
stories
season
company
disillusioned
cosi
sex
cobb symphony
chapter
judgments
music
capital campaign
urgent
symphony
women
realization
tutte

unwelcome depending
stewarts
subversive cosi fan tutte
betrothed dispiritingly
ballets


This week 's new live comedy Gareth Richards , On tour The Omnichord is not an instrument you often see in musical comedy . Actually , it 's not an instrument you often see , full stop . A cross between an early synth and a banjo , it produces a limited range of twee electronic sounds , and it 's the weapon of choice for low-key but extremely talented young comic Gareth Richards . Having built a live reputation with well-crafted , pun-heavy stand-up , his debut solo show breaks up the spoken material with surprisingly tuneful , gently eccentric songs . He comes across like a quiet , introverted version of Irish keyboard wizard David O'Doherty , but there are flashes of Demetri Martin , too . It adds up to a delightful hour of comedy , mixing silly jokes about his mum with surreal but touching songs about love , loss and his mate Dave , who is , somewhat inexplicably , a fridge . Rondo Theatre , Bath ; Sat ; Barnstaple Queens Theatre , Wed ; Soho Theatre , W1 , Fri Dan Clark , On tour Dan Clark . Those of you unfamiliar with the recent comedy output of BBC3 might not be up to speed with the rise of Dan Clark , whose laddish sitcom How Not To Live Your Life has been one of the much-criticised channel 's most consistent successes . The show takes its strength from Clark 's ability to come up with great comic observations about the nature of feckless young blokedom , and his live show features plenty more of the same . But Clark adds a secret weapon to this apparent retread of laddish sensibilities : a diamond-hard , impregnable charisma , even when contemplating the most appalling things . Onstage , the alpha-male vibes and strong comic sensibilities make for an impressive spectacle . Derby Theatre , Sat ; Komedia , Bath , Sun ; Corn Exchange , Ipswich , Tue ; Memorial Hall , Sheffield , Wed ; Wulfrun Hall , Wolverhampton , Thu ; Town Hall , Birmingham , Fri The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society , London Thom Tuck , appearing as part of The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society . Just how meaningful a term is '' `` alternative comedy '' '' these days ? After all , we live in a world where a maverick talent like Harry Hill commands a sizable Saturday night audience on ITV , while the likes of Jim Davidson or Cannon and Ball seem condemned to light entertainment 's sidelines . But if alternative comedy has succeeded in going mainstream , did it sacrifice its radical , experimental edge to get there ? This ultra-quirky new night aims to redress the balance , offering a show that 's genuinely alternative and properly comedic . The off-the-wall brainchild of John-Luke Roberts and Thom Tuck , whose routines see him mixing accounts of his troubled love life with analysis of straight-to-video Disney films , this is a night where anything goes , so long as it 's envelope-pushing , creative and funny . Last time out , a man shaved off his beard , stuck it to a piece of card and announced it was Dave Lee Travis 's beard -LRB- perhaps you had to be there -RRB- . Performers this week include philosopher-disser Sara Pascoe , and hairless , high-energy character comic Marek Larwood . New Red Lion Theatre , EC1 , Tue

O B O O O B B I O O O O B O O O B O O O O B B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O B I O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O B B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O B O O B O O O O B I O O O B I O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O B O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O B O O O O O B B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O B O B O O O B O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B I O B O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O B O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B I B I O O O O B O B O O

nature
creative
sizable
keyboard
young
electronic
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world
week
long
light
properly
character comic
early
succeeded
analysis
observations
accounts
speed
maverick
shaved
inexplicably
sacrifice
features plenty
announced
comedy
exchange
show
love
apparent retread
jokes
talented
breaks
eccentric
condemned
instrument
consistent
standup
cannon
banjo
mainstream
wed
omnichord
theatre
marek larwood
disney
wolverhampton
bbc3
birmingham
memorial
jim davidson
demetri martin
musical
komedia
ipswich
ec1
brainchild
gareth richards
dan clark
johnluke roberts

dave lee travis's
rondo theatre bath sat barnstaple
clark's
david o'doherty
sun corn


U.S. economy adds 216,000 jobs Marking a continuing improvement in job market conditions in the United States , the economy added 216,000 jobs in March , according to the monthly report of the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics . The news would cheer the Obama administration , for which job creation is likely to be the top priority for the remainder of this year . Reacting to the report Austan Goolsby , Chairman of President Barack Obama 's Council of Economic Advisors , said , '' `` Today 's employment report shows that private sector payrolls increased by 230,000 in March , marking 13 consecutive months of private employment growth . Private sector employers added 1.8 million jobs over that period , including more than half a million jobs in the last three months . '' '' While expressing optimism that the unemployment rate had fallen for the fourth straight month to 8.8 per cent , he cautioned that , '' `` as long as millions of people are looking for jobs , there is still considerable work to do to replace the jobs lost in the downturn . '' '' Mr. Goolsby also lauded specific stimulus policies of the administration for boosting jobs , arguing , '' `` We are seeing signs that the initiatives put in place by this Administration - such as the payroll tax cut and business incentives for investment - are creating the conditions for sustained growth and job creation . '' '' According to economists , while a sustained improvement in the job market would benefit Mr. Obama 's prospects of re-election in 2012 , most estimates , even those of the White House , do not place the unemployment rate at anything below eight per cent until 2013 . Mr. Goolsby also warned that while the overall trajectory of the economy had '' `` improved dramatically over the past two years , '' '' there would '' `` surely be bumps in the road ahead . '' ''

B I O B O B O O B O B I B O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O B I O O B I O B I O O O O O O O B O O O B I O O O O O B I O O B O O B O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I B I O B O B O B B I O O O O O O B I O O B I I O O O O B O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O B I I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O B O B O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O B O B O O O O O O O B O B O B I O B I O O O O O B O O O O B O O B I O O O O O B O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B I O B I O O B O O O O O B I O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O

2012
year
labour statistics
us economy
eight per
18 million jobs
88 per cent
job market
fourth straight month
reelection
until 2013
improvement
remainder
monthly report
job creation
216000
bumps
private sector
march
us bureau
230000
marking
top priority
payrolls increased
reacting
goolsby
creating
conditions
overall trajectory
13 consecutive
boosting
prospects
optimism
improved dramatically
including
cut
unemployment
initiatives
sustained growth
administration
surely
payroll
half a million
arguing
lauded
economists

mr obama's
obama's
advisors said
cent until 2013
payrolls
bureau
eight
austan goolsby chairman
straight
continuing improvement
216000 jobs


Acer pledges efforts to rebound amid slowing sales TAIPEI , Taiwan -LRB- AP -RRB- -- Taiwan 's Acer Inc. has pledged to meet new challenges in the slowing PC market after it replaced its top executive as sales fall amid competition from tablets and other devices . Stan Shih , Acer 's founder and a board member , acknowledged smartphones and tablet computers such as Apple 's iPad have brought '' `` a far greater impact on the PC industry than we had anticipated . '' '' '' `` I hope once again we can face the challenges with a new strategy ... and push again for corporate reconstruction , '' '' Shih said in a statement . Henry Wang , director of Acer 's corporation relations , said the company will seek to enhance its brand by offering users '' `` a different experience '' '' and better services . Acer announced Thursday its chief executive Gianfranco Lanci has resigned over differences with board members about the company 's future . The company announced last week its first-quarter results would be worse than expected -- a 10 percent quarter-on-quarter drop in revenue against an earlier forecast of a three percent increase . Acer also missed its revenue target in the previous quarter . The company said that board members failed to agree with Lanci on various business priorities . '' `` The personal computer remains the core of our business , '' '' J.T. Wang , who 's taking over as interim chief executive , said in the statement . '' `` In addition , we are stepping into the new mobile device market , where we will invest cautiously and aim to become one of the leading players . '' ''

B O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O B O O B O B O O B O O B O O O O B O B O O B O B I O B O B O O O O O B I O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O B O B I O O O B O O O B O O O B O O O O B I O O O O B O B O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O B I O O O B O O O B B B O B O O O B O O O B B O B O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O B O O O O

lanci
thursday
pledged
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invest cautiously
services
priorities
different experience
greater impact
devices
device market
personal
results would
acer
quarteronquarter
corporation relations
percent
remains
founder
challenges
acknowledged smartphones
offering
replaced
statement
executive
market
company
anticipated
enhance
revenue
forecast
slowing
expected
tablet
wang
competition
stepping
leading
drop
rebound
tablets
stan shih
jt
increase

apple's ipad
executive gianfranco lanci
taiwan's acer
gianfranco lanci
acer pledges
smartphones
cautiously
taipei taiwan
henry wang
experience


Senate report on subprime mess due soon : report NEW YORK -LRB- Reuters -RRB- - A Senate subcommittee is nearing completion of a long-awaited report on the role Wall Street banks played in creating complex securities that fueled the meltdown of the housing market , according to the Wall Street Journal . The report by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations , which has been in the works for months , will include potentially embarrassing emails and internal communications from investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank AG , the Journal said . It also will discuss a little-known dispute between Goldman and Morgan Stanley that developed in 2008 over one complex subprime-mortgage backed security called Hudson Mezzanine Funding , the newspaper said . The subcommittee learned that Morgan Stanley lost money on the collateralized debt obligation that Goldman had a hand in arranging and marketing , the Journal said . The dispute between the rival investment banks got so heated that Morgan Stanley considered suing Goldman over its losses , it said . The Senate 's investigations subcommittee normally follows up its hearings with reports that outline the findings and recommend legislative reforms . An aide to Senator Carl Levin , a Democrat who heads the subcommittee , declined to comment on the report . Late last year , two people familiar with the subcommittee told Reuters that they expected the report to be finished in early 2011 and said it would contain more information than surfaced during last year 's series of subcommittee hearings . An all-day hearing last spring on the role Goldman played in creating and marketing several CDOs - complex securities constructed from a pool of subprime mortgaged-backed bonds - drew particular attention . A number of current and former Goldman executives testified at the hearing , including Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein . -LRB- Editing by Vicki Allen -RRB-

O O O O O O O O O B I O B O O O O B O O O O O B I O O O B I I O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O O O B B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B O O O B O O B I I I O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O O B O O O O O O O B B O B I I I O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O B B B I I O O O O O O O

legislative reforms
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goldman
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morgan stanley lost money
losses
dispute
new york
investigations
ceo lloyd blankfein
reuters
morgan stanley
creating complex securities
follows up its hearings
longawaited report
wall street banks
cdos
democrat
wall street journal

the senate's investigations subcommittee


Disaster takes toll on auto , department store sales in March TOKYO -LRB- Kyodo -RRB- - The devastating March 11 earthquake and ensuing tsunami took a toll on sales of new motor vehicles and merchandise at major department stores , according to data released Friday . Sales of new vehicles including minivehicles in Japan totaled 437,599 units in March , down 35.1 percent from a year earlier and marking the sharpest percentage point fall on record for the month due to the disaster that devastated northeastern and eastern Japan , industry bodies said . The percentage decline , the biggest since auto sales data began to be compiled in 1968 , beat the previous record fall of 33.3 percent in March 1974 , according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Mini Vehicles Association . Japan 's worst-ever disaster forced automakers to temporarily suspend production and discouraged consumers from shopping even in areas that were not affected by it . Isetan Co. , a major department store under the wing of Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. , said sales in March plunged 23.5 percent from a year earlier . Mitsukoshi Ltd. , which also belongs to the holding company , reported a year-on-year drop of 22.8 percent in sales for the month . Takashimaya Co. suffered a sales decline of 16.8 percent , while J. Front Retailing Co. , which has Daimaru and Matsuzakaya department stores under its umbrella , incurred a drop of 9.6 percent . The automobile dealers association said pre-quake inventories were running out and sales in April may therefore be lower than March . The industry body expressed hope for carmakers to resume full-scale production promptly . In March , sales of new cars , other than minivehicles with engine displacements of up to 660 cc , plunged 37.0 percent to 279,389 units for the all-time sharpest percentage point decline and the seventh straight month of fall . Sales fell short of 300,000 units for the first time in 37 years . Sales of minivehicles dived 31.6 percent to 158,210 units for the second sharpest percentage point fall and the sixth straight month of decline . In fiscal 2010 ended Thursday , new car sales , including those of minivehicles , totaled 4,601,136 units , down 5.7 percent from the previous year in the first yearly contraction in two years .

B O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O B I I O B I O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O B B O O B B O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O B O O O B I I I I O O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O B I O B O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O B O O O O O O O B I O O B O B I I I O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O B O O O O B I O O B O O B B O O O B I I O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O B B O O B I I O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O B B O B O O O O O O O O O O B I I I I O B O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O B O B B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O B O O B O B B O O O B B O O B O O O O O O O O O O


Cemetery owner pleads guilty in Memphis to tax evasion in trust fund case MEMPHIS , Tenn. - A cemetery owner charged with helping steal millions from funeral home trust funds has pleaded guilty to tax evasion . According to WMC-TV , 71-year-old Clayton Smart made the plea Friday as part of a larger deal reached earlier this year transferring the charge from Oklahoma to Memphis . Smart , a former Oklahoma oilman , faces up to five years in prison on the charge and a fine of $ 250,000 when he is sentenced June 30 . Smart was indicted in 2007 in Memphis , accused of diverting $ 20 million from cemetery trust funds . The cemeteries are in Tennessee and Michigan . Prosecutors in Oklahoma have said Smart filed a federal tax return for 2004 showing he had no income that year , but actually made more than $ 11 million and owed more than $ 4 million in taxes .

B O O O O B O B I O B O B B O O O O B O O O O B O O O O B O O B O O B I O O O O O O O B I O O B O B O O B I O O O B O O B I B O B O B O O B I O O O O O B I O B O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O B O B O B O B O O O O O O O O B B O O O B O O B O O O B O B O O B O O B I O O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

cemeteries
income
tennessee
year
prosecutors
charge from
steal
trust
cemetery
pleaded
part
tax evasion
memphis
larger deal
case
federal tax
smart made
friday
smart
former oklahoma
oklahoma
2007
prison
250000
indicted
five years
fine

wmctv 71yearold
cemetery owner
funeral home trust
memphis accused
clayton smart
made more than 11 million
helping steal millions
michigan prosecutors
former oklahoma oilman faces
cemetery owner charged
federal tax return
2004 showing he had no income
funeral home trust funds
diverting 20 million
cemetery trust funds
in tennessee
said smart filed
memphis tenn
pleaded guilty


Rivers promises to rib Wilkins for dust-up with ex-ref ATLANTA - Boston coach Doc Rivers said Friday it was '' `` unfortunate , obviously '' '' that his friend and former Atlanta teammate Dominique Wilkins was involved in a fight this week that left another man with a swollen eye . Otherwise , Rivers could n't contain his glee as he poked fun at Wilkins ' sudden fame as a fighter . '' `` I 'm gon na roast him forever , '' '' Rivers said before the Celtics ' game against the Hawks . Rashan S. Michel , a former NBA referee , was released early Thursday on $ 1,000 cash bond after being charged with two counts of simple battery . Michel , claiming Wilkins owes him $ 12,500 for suits , confronted Wilkins after Wednesday night 's game against Orlando in Atlanta . Wilkins apparently landed at least one punch . A police booking photo showed Michel with a large welt under his left eye . '' `` I told him yesterday when we talked I was considering hiring him for security , '' '' Rivers said . '' `` I had no idea he had that skill set . I was really impressed , I got ta say . ... I called him . You know how '' `` Nique is : '' `` I did n't mean to do anything . I did n't throw but one punch . '' '' And then I saw it . I said , '' `` Wait a minute ! '' '' '' '' A video obtained by TMZ showed a person identified as Wilkins throwing at least two punches at a man in the first row before he was pulled away . Rivers played with Wilkins in Atlanta from 1983-91 . Rivers was the Hawks '' '' point guard and leader . Wilkins was the '' `` Human Highlight Film '' '' and one of the league 's most prolific scorers known best for his creative and powerful jams . Wilkins worked as a TV color analyst in Wednesday night 's game . The 51-year-old Wilkins is also a vice president with the Hawks . He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 . Wilkins did not work on the broadcast of Friday night 's game . He attended the game , sitting in the front row , but passed word through a team official he had no comment on the incident . '' `` It 's unfortunate , obviously , that it happened , '' '' Rivers said . '' `` But now that it has happened and everybody 's OK , I 'm gon na roast him forever ! It 's terrific ! With '' `` Nique , if you have ammunition , it 's awesome . And I have ammunition . '' '' Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press . Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited .

B I O O B O B O O B O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O O B O B O O B O O O O B I O O B O O O O B O O B O B O O B O O B O B B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O B I O O O B O O O O B I I O O B O B I O O O O B O O B O O O B O O O B B O O O O O O B O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O B I O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O O B O O B O O B I O B O B O O O O B I I O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B O B I O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O B O O O B I O O B O O O B O O B O O B O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O B I O O B I O O B I O B O O O O B O B I O O B I O O O O

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former atlanta teammate dominique wilkins


Dividends are back in vogue on Wall Street NEW YORK • Big companies increased their dividends by a record amount in the first quarter . Since the start of the year , 117 companies in the Standard & Poor 's 500 index said they would raise or start paying dividends . The value of the new and raised annual dividends announced by these companies amounted to a record $ 16.6 billion , according to Howard Silverblatt , senior index analyst at S&P . Just 78 companies raised their dividends in the same period a year ago . The surge in dividends reflects a turning point in the long recovery from the financial meltdown in 2008 . After the meltdown many companies slashed or eliminated their dividends and , like many Americans , put their cash in the bank and sat on it . As a result , U.S. companies have amassed a record $ 940 billion in cash . But now the economy is recovering , profits are rising and investors are demanding something for their patience . An easy way to keep shareholders happy is to restore or raise dividends . Even companies that have long resisted dividends are instituting them . Cisco Systems Inc. said it would begin paying shareholders $ 1.3 billion per year , a record amount for a first-time dividend payer in the S&P 500 . '' `` The fact that dividends are increasing is a clear signal that the economy and businesses worldwide are on a much firmer footing than a few years ago , '' '' said Kent Croft , the manager of the $ 421 million Croft Value Fund . Financial companies announced they would raise annual dividends by $ 7 billion , accounting for 42 percent of all S&P 500 dividend increases . JPMorgan Chase & Co. is quintupling its annual dividend to $ 1 a share from 20 cents , amounting to an increase of $ 3.1 billion . The value of the payout is a record for an S&P 500 company . The increased dividends came after the Federal Reserve announced March 18 it would allow some banks to raise dividends if they passed certain '' `` stress tests . '' '' JPMorgan , Wells Fargo & Co. and State Street were among those that increased their dividends for the first time since the financial crisis . Citigroup Inc. reinstated its dividend . Ten S&P 500 companies announced in the first quarter that they would begin paying dividends . That 's the most for any three-month period since at least 2003 , when Silverblatt began collecting data . Besides Cisco , discount department store Kohl 's and health benefits company WellPoint also became first-time dividend payers . Besides financials , industrial companies and businesses focused on consumer products announced the most dividend increases during the quarter . Among those raising their dividends : cruise operator Carnival Corp. , retailer Limited Brands and manufacturer Eaton Corp. . But even the strong recovery in dividends has n't made up for all the losses . With the increases , quarterly dividends by companies in the S&P 500 are 13 percent lower than their peak in 2008 . Some companies that have raised their dividends still pay far less than before the recession . That is particularly true for banks and other financial services companies . Their dividend yield , which measures how much cash is being paid per share , runs about 1.41 percent today , far below the 3.32 percent yield in 2007 . '' `` Companies are paying more dividends , but they are also taking it slow , '' '' Silverblatt says . '' `` Dividends are far from being completely back . '' ''

B O O O B O B I B I O O B B O B O O B O O O B I O O O B O O B O O B O O O O O O O B O O O B O B B B O O B O O O O O B B O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O O B I O B O O O B O B B O B O O O B B O O B B O O O O O B O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O B O O B O O O B O O O O B O O O O B O B O O O B O O O B O O O B O O B O O O O B O O O O B B O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B I O O B O B B O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B B O O O B B B O O O O O B O O O O O O O B B O O O O O O B O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O O B O O O O B O O B B O O O B I O O O O O B O O O B B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O B I O O O O B B O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B I B O O O O B O O O B O B B O B O O O O O O O B B O O B O O O O O B O O B O O O B B O O B I O O O O O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O B O O B O O O B O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O B O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O

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Best friend leads cops to pot house MURRIETA , Calif. -- A police officer shot a vicious dog roaming a Southern California neighborhood , then followed the wounded animal to the owner 's marijuana growing and selling operation . The chase began when officers responding to a report of a loose pit bull found it attacking a leashed dog . An officer tried to control the aggressive dog and it tried to bite him . The officer shot the dog in the head and it ran to a nearby home , where the pot operation was discovered . Murrieta police investigators on Thursday arrested 25-year-old Justin Shaun Armstrong for investigation of cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale . He is in jail with bail set at $ 25,000 . The wounded dog is being treated by a veterinarian . Police : Fake faxes freed hubby -- twice MADRID -- Spanish police say they have arrested a man who twice escaped from custody by having his wife send fake faxes ordering his release . Fifty-seven-year-old Jose Carlos Serna was taken into custody at his home in San Lorenzo del Escorial , a suburb north of Madrid , yesterday , while hiding in a hollowed-out sofa , police said . In December , he was in a cell at Arganda del Rey courthouse awaiting trial when officers got a fax purportedly from a regional court . It was followed by a phone call purportedly from a court official , corroborating the release order . Officers tried to verify the order , but their calls went unanswered . When a second call was received confirming Serna 's release , he was freed to a waiting taxi . Police said Serna used the same trick to escape from Valdemoro jail in October . Dead man 's vote stands in NY village election SYRACUSE , N.Y. -- The election was decided by one vote , and both sides agree that a dead man voted . But a judge in New York says the man 's absentee ballot can stand because it was n't challenged before it was counted . Arnold Ferguson , the father of a candidate running for village of Manlius trustee , had submitted an absentee ballot but died three weeks before the March 15 election in central New York . His rival , Marc Baum , had challenged the vote . Election officials admit the vote should n't have counted , but a state supreme court judge on Thursday ruled that any challenge had to happen before the ballot was removed from its envelope and counted . Baum , who lost the race by a single vote to Harold Hopkinson , says he 's through with politics for now . © Copyright 2011 Associated Press . All rights reserved . This material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed .

B I O B O O B B O O O O B O O O O O B O B I O O O O O O B O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O B B O O B B B B I I O B O B O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O B O O B O B O O O O O O O B O B B O O O B O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B I O B O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B B O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O B O B I O O O O O O O O O O B O O O B O B O O O O O O O B I B O B B I O O O O O B O O B O O O B O O O O O O O B O O O O B I I O B O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O O B O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O O O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O

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2 convicted of kidnapping slain US drug trafficker EL PASO , Texas -LRB- AP -RRB- - A jury on Friday convicted two men of kidnapping an American drug trafficker from his home near El Paso two years ago , five days before he turned up dead with his hands chopped off in a city across the border in Mexico . The West Texas Federal Court jury found Cesar Obregon-Reyes and Rafael Vega guilty of abducting Sergio Saucedo from his home on Sept. 3 , 2009 . They could be sent to prison for life when they are sentenced in July . Attorneys for both men said they would appeal . Prosecutors say Obregon-Reyes , Vega and a third man , Obregon-Ortiz , kidnapped Saucedo under orders of a Mexican drug cartel in what was a rare case of drug war violence spilling into the U.S. Saucedo 's body was found on an unpaved street in Juarez , across the border from El Paso . Obregon-Ortiz , who gave incriminating testimony about the other two men after his arrest , pleaded guilty to undisclosed charges last week and will be sentenced separately , court documents indicate . Obregon-Reyes and Vega also were convicted of three other counts Friday , including conspiracy to kidnap and kill in a foreign country , and interstate and foreign travel in aid of racketeering . '' `` We are going to appeal , I think we have pretty good chance there , '' '' Vega 's attorney , Robert J. Perez , said after the hearing . Friends and relatives of the defendants wept as they listened to the jury 's verdict . '' `` Before this , I wanted to become a prosecutor . I wanted to work with the system . Now I 'll become a defense attorney to defend innocent people like my cousin '' '' , Vega 's cousin , Maria Biddlestone , said after the hearing . During the trial , a bus driver testified that Obregon-Reyes was among a group of men she saw shoving another man into a sport utility vehicle . Two other witnesses testified that they heard Vega bragging at a party about the abduction and the money , car and drugs he received as payment . Prosecutors also presented an undercover recording in which the defendants were heard discussing a defense strategy and how Obregon-Ortiz had wronged them by talking to detectives . Defense attorneys argued that Saucedo 's wife - who admitted on the witness stand that her husband was a drug trafficker - could not identify the kidnappers , and that it was therefore unlikely that the bus driver could do so after allegedly seeing the abduction for less than 10 seconds . A defense witness also testified that they never went to the party where Vega allegedly bragged about the abduction . They also cited excerpts from the recording in which Obregon-Reyes is heard saying that , when questioned by detectives about the kidnapping , he had told them he did n't do it . A convicted drug trafficker , testifying under an assumed name , said he and Saucedo had been distributing drugs in the U.S. for more than 16 years and that the owners of a 670-pound -LRB- 300-kilogram -RRB- marijuana shipment that was intercepted at a Border Patrol checkpoint east of El Paso were angry at Saucedo for lying to them about the date it was seized .

O O O B O B B I O O O O O O O O O B O O B I I O B O B I I O O O B I I I I I O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O B I I I I I I I O B I I O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O B I I O O O O O O O B I O O O O B B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O B I I O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I I O B O O O O B I O B I I O B I O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O B O O B I O O B O B I I I O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B O O B I O B I I I O B O B O B O O O O O O O O O

west texas federal court jury found cesar obregonreyes

third man obregonortiz kidnapped saucedo under orders of

my cousin vega's cousin maria biddlestone


Sweden 's Ericsson suing Chinese rival ZTE Swedish wireless equipment maker LM Ericsson on Saturday said it is suing Chinese rival ZTE Corp. for alleged infringement of several of its patents in handset and network technology . Fredrik Hallstan , a spokesman for the Stockholm-based group , said lawsuits were filed in Britain , Germany and Italy on Friday , after several attempts to get the Chinese telecom equipment maker to sign a patent licensing agreement had failed . '' `` This has been going on for many years , '' '' Hallstan said , declining to give any details on the total sum demanded in the lawsuits or exactly how many patents are concerned . '' `` This is a last resort . '' '' The Italian and British lawsuits regard handset technology , while the one in Germany covers both handset and infrastructure patents . '' `` We want them to pay going forward , but we also want payment for past usage , '' '' he added . Ericsson would not disclose how many patents it is accusing ZTE of infringing . Ericsson is also asking the courts in the countries where the lawsuits have been filed to block ZTE from selling mobile phones that contain the alleged patented technology , as well as some network products . Hallstan said this is the first time that Ericsson has mounted a legal action against a Chinese rival for infringing its patents .

O O B O B I I O B O B O B O B O O O O B I I O O B I O O O O B O B O B I O O O O O B O O B I O O B O O O O O B O B O O O O B I O O O O B I B O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B O O O O B O O B O B O O B O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B O B B O B O O O O O O B O O B O O B O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O B O O B O O O O O O B O O B O O B O O O O O B O B O O B O B O O B O O B O O O O O O O O B I O B O B I I O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O B O B O O B I O B I O B O B O

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