Nearly 20 percent of suicidal youths have guns in their home

Public release date: 6-May-2013
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Contact: Susan Stevens Martin
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847-434-7131
American Academy of Pediatrics

Researchers say emergency department doctors should screen all pediatric patients for suicide risk

WASHINGTON, DC Nearly one in five children and teens found to be at risk for suicide report that there are guns in their homes, and 15 percent of those at risk for suicide with guns in the home know how to access both the guns and the bullets, according to a study to be presented Monday, May 6, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Washington, DC.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24 years in the United States, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Nearly half of youths who die by suicide use a firearm.

Researchers conducted a study to create a suicide risk screening tool that health care professionals in emergency departments (EDs) could use to figure out which youths need further mental health evaluation to keep them from harming themselves. As part of that study, researchers asked youths about access to guns in or around their home and about gun/bullet storage.

"For more than 1.5 million adolescents, the ED is their primary point of contact with the health care system, which makes the ED an important place for identifying youth at risk for suicide," said Stephen J. Teach, MD, MPH, FAAP, associate chief in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, and co-author who will be presenting the study at the PAS meeting.

Many clinicians and parents do not know how to ask youth about suicide, so they require screening tools to assist in detection, added study senior author Lisa M. Horowitz, PhD, MPH, staff scientist/pediatric psychologist at the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. "According to our data, when asked their opinion, nearly all of the kids in our study were in favor of suicide screening in the ED. Our study shows that if you ask kids directly about suicide, they will tell you what they are thinking."

Study participants included 524 patients ages 10 to 21 who were seen for medical/surgical or psychiatric complaints at one of three pediatric EDs. They were asked to fill out a 17-item questionnaire that the researchers used to develop the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ), a four-question screening tool that can be used for all pediatric patients visiting the ED. The ASQ has been validated against a longer more in-depth suicide assessment tool.

"While many youths who kill themselves have mental health disorders, up to 40 percent of youths who kill themselves have no known mental illness," said co-author and youth suicide expert Jeffrey A. Bridge, PhD, principal investigator at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University. "Therefore, it is important to screen all children and adolescents for suicide, regardless of the reason they are visiting the ED."

Of the patients who completed the screening tools, 151 (29 percent) were found to be at risk for suicide, and 17 percent of them reported guns in or around the home. Of those at risk for suicide and reporting guns in the home, 31 percent knew how to access the guns, 31 percent knew how to access the bullets, and 15 percent knew how to access both the guns and the bullets.

"This study highlights the importance of parents understanding the risks of having guns in their homes," said Dr. Bridge. "Being at risk for suicide and having access to firearms is a volatile mix. These conversations need to take place in the ED with families of children at risk for suicide."

###

To view the abstract, "Access to Firearms among Patients Screening Positive for Suicide Risk in Pediatric Emergency Departments," go to http://www.pas-meeting.org/2013DC/Abstracts/LB%20Pub%20All%202013.pdf

The research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institutes of Health (Drs. Horowitz & Pao); institutional research funds from the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and grant K01 MH-69948 from the National Institute of Mental Health (Dr. Bridge); institutional research funds from the Program for Patient Safety and Quality at Boston Children's Hospital Boston (Dr. Wharff).

The Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) are four individual pediatric organizations that co-sponsor the PAS Annual Meeting the American Pediatric Society, the Society for Pediatric Research, the Academic Pediatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Members of these organizations are pediatricians and other health care providers who are practicing in the research, academic and clinical arenas. The four sponsoring organizations are leaders in the advancement of pediatric research and child advocacy within pediatrics, and all share a common mission of fostering the health and well-being of children worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.pas-meeting.org. Follow news of the PAS meeting on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PedAcadSoc.

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 6-May-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Susan Stevens Martin
ssmartin@aap.org
847-434-7131
American Academy of Pediatrics

Researchers say emergency department doctors should screen all pediatric patients for suicide risk

WASHINGTON, DC Nearly one in five children and teens found to be at risk for suicide report that there are guns in their homes, and 15 percent of those at risk for suicide with guns in the home know how to access both the guns and the bullets, according to a study to be presented Monday, May 6, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Washington, DC.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24 years in the United States, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Nearly half of youths who die by suicide use a firearm.

Researchers conducted a study to create a suicide risk screening tool that health care professionals in emergency departments (EDs) could use to figure out which youths need further mental health evaluation to keep them from harming themselves. As part of that study, researchers asked youths about access to guns in or around their home and about gun/bullet storage.

"For more than 1.5 million adolescents, the ED is their primary point of contact with the health care system, which makes the ED an important place for identifying youth at risk for suicide," said Stephen J. Teach, MD, MPH, FAAP, associate chief in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, and co-author who will be presenting the study at the PAS meeting.

Many clinicians and parents do not know how to ask youth about suicide, so they require screening tools to assist in detection, added study senior author Lisa M. Horowitz, PhD, MPH, staff scientist/pediatric psychologist at the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. "According to our data, when asked their opinion, nearly all of the kids in our study were in favor of suicide screening in the ED. Our study shows that if you ask kids directly about suicide, they will tell you what they are thinking."

Study participants included 524 patients ages 10 to 21 who were seen for medical/surgical or psychiatric complaints at one of three pediatric EDs. They were asked to fill out a 17-item questionnaire that the researchers used to develop the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ), a four-question screening tool that can be used for all pediatric patients visiting the ED. The ASQ has been validated against a longer more in-depth suicide assessment tool.

"While many youths who kill themselves have mental health disorders, up to 40 percent of youths who kill themselves have no known mental illness," said co-author and youth suicide expert Jeffrey A. Bridge, PhD, principal investigator at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University. "Therefore, it is important to screen all children and adolescents for suicide, regardless of the reason they are visiting the ED."

Of the patients who completed the screening tools, 151 (29 percent) were found to be at risk for suicide, and 17 percent of them reported guns in or around the home. Of those at risk for suicide and reporting guns in the home, 31 percent knew how to access the guns, 31 percent knew how to access the bullets, and 15 percent knew how to access both the guns and the bullets.

"This study highlights the importance of parents understanding the risks of having guns in their homes," said Dr. Bridge. "Being at risk for suicide and having access to firearms is a volatile mix. These conversations need to take place in the ED with families of children at risk for suicide."

###

To view the abstract, "Access to Firearms among Patients Screening Positive for Suicide Risk in Pediatric Emergency Departments," go to http://www.pas-meeting.org/2013DC/Abstracts/LB%20Pub%20All%202013.pdf

The research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institutes of Health (Drs. Horowitz & Pao); institutional research funds from the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and grant K01 MH-69948 from the National Institute of Mental Health (Dr. Bridge); institutional research funds from the Program for Patient Safety and Quality at Boston Children's Hospital Boston (Dr. Wharff).

The Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) are four individual pediatric organizations that co-sponsor the PAS Annual Meeting the American Pediatric Society, the Society for Pediatric Research, the Academic Pediatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Members of these organizations are pediatricians and other health care providers who are practicing in the research, academic and clinical arenas. The four sponsoring organizations are leaders in the advancement of pediatric research and child advocacy within pediatrics, and all share a common mission of fostering the health and well-being of children worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.pas-meeting.org. Follow news of the PAS meeting on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PedAcadSoc.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/aaop-n2o042613.php

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Nintendo reportedly offering Wii U game conversion software to smartphone app devs

While we knew Nintendo was happy to hook up its newest consoles with smartphones, we thought that would only extend to social networking and shopping. Nope, it looks like the company is planning to go a step further, with a report from Japan Times suggesting that the games maker is offering high-level conversion software to app developers "so they can produce smartphone games that can be played on Wii U." A weak existing games library has been blamed for Nintendo's recent financial woes and the company is hoping the addition of some popular titles will offer enough of a reason to invest in a dedicated device. We just hope it's able to glean some fresh gaming gems -- the first Angry Birds title launched in 2009.

Filed under: Gaming, Nintendo

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Via: ZDNet

Source: Japan Times

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/06/nintendo-rumor-wii-u-app-devs/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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How To FIle Bankruptcy With No Trouble - Stock Market Finance

Those dealing with personal bankruptcy filing are known to experience feelings of embarrassment, irritation and shame. People sometimes assume incorrectly that they are up against a wall, and there?s no way out. This article will show you some of the best ways to cope with having to file bankruptcy.

Visit web sites and read information to learn as much as possible about the topic of personal bankruptcy. The US Department of Justice and American Bankruptcy Institute are both sites that provide free advice. Knowing is half the battle, after all, and these websites are the first step in learning what you need to know to make your bankruptcy smooth and stress-free.

Be sure you?re doing what?s right before you file for bankruptcy. You have other options available like consumer credit counselling services. Bankruptcy permanently affects your credit, so avoid filing until you have exhausted all of your other options.

Before you decide to file bankruptcy proceedings, determine which assets will be safe. The Bankruptcy Code includes a list of the types of assets that are exempt from the bankruptcy process. You need to compare this list to the assets you own so that you are not surprised when certain assets are seized. If you don?t read it, you could have nasty surprises pop up later due to your prized possessions being seized.

Familiarize yourself with the bankruptcy code before you file. Bankruptcy laws constantly change and it?s crucial you know about them so you the process of filing for bankruptcy goes smoothly. To stay up-to-date on these laws, check out your state?s government website.

Before making your decision to file for bankruptcy, double-check to see if other, less drastic options could make sense. For example, consumer credit counseling programs can help you by renegotiating your debts with your creditors into payments that you can afford. You may have the ability to negotiate much lower payments, just be sure any debt modifications you agree to are written and that you have a copy.

Since the majority of attorneys are willing to provide no-cost initial consultations, it is smart to meet with more than one before you make a selection. Never settle for speaking with a paralegal or an assistant. They are not trained, nor allowed, to pass on legal advice. Seeking out different attorneys is all part of the process until you find someone that you can trust.

Once the initial filing period is over, ensure that you are getting out and enjoying life. Filing for personal bankruptcy can be very stressful for the debtor. This stress could actually cause depression, if you don?t combat it. Bankruptcy is hard to go through, but you must remember that a less stressful, more enjoyable life is waiting on the other side of it.

Before you choose Chapter 7 bankruptcy, think about what effect that is going to have on any co-signers you have, which are usually close relatives and friends. You may have your responsibility for your portion of the loan discharged under Chapter 7. Sadly, this will not be the case for your co debtor. Your creditors may simply turn their attention to your hapless acquaintance.

You can still take out a car loan or mortgage while you are in Chapter 13 bankruptcy. There are extra hoops to jump through. You must meet with a trustee to gain approval for a new loan. Draft a personal budget to show that you will be able to repay your new loan. The odds are also good that you will be asked exactly why you?re purchasing a new item. Make sure you have a good reason.

When you do file for bankruptcy, make sure you know your rights. Certain unscrupulous creditors will try to convince you that certain debts can?t be discharged in bankruptcy. Most loans can be discharged outside of certain things, like child support or loans you are paying back due to student lending. If the debt collector tries to tell you that your debts, which do not fall into those categories, cannot be bankrupted, take a note of it, look up the debt type, and report them to your state?s attorney general office.

This article has, hopefully, taught you that bankruptcy does not mean life is over. It can be difficult in the beginning, but bankruptcy can be effectively managed. Using these tips will allow you to get through this process with ease.

You?ll master smart penny stocks in no time, as long as you continue to learn about them. If you use the information contained in this article, you?ll find that you are becoming comfortable with smart penny stocks at an amazing pace. You will find success if you take things one day at a time.

Related Posts:

Source: http://www.stockmarketfinances.com/2013/05/06/how-to-file-bankruptcy-with-no-trouble/

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Syria news agency: Israel strikes near Damascus

This photo released on the official Facebook page of Syrian President Bashar Assad, shows Syrian president Bashar Assad, right, surrounded by bodyguards as young people, wave at him during the inauguration ceremony on Saturday of a statue dedicated to "martyrs" from Syrian universities who died in the country's two-year-old uprising and civil war, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, May. 4, 2013. Assad's second public appearance in a week came as Israeli officials confirmed the country's air force carried out a strike against Syria, saying it targeted a shipment of advanced missiles bound for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. (AP Photo)

This photo released on the official Facebook page of Syrian President Bashar Assad, shows Syrian president Bashar Assad, right, surrounded by bodyguards as young people, wave at him during the inauguration ceremony on Saturday of a statue dedicated to "martyrs" from Syrian universities who died in the country's two-year-old uprising and civil war, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, May. 4, 2013. Assad's second public appearance in a week came as Israeli officials confirmed the country's air force carried out a strike against Syria, saying it targeted a shipment of advanced missiles bound for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. (AP Photo)

FILE - In this June 3, 2012 file photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad delivers a speech at the parliament in Damascus, Syria. Israel launched an airstrike into Syria, apparently targeting a suspected weapons site, U.S. officials said Friday night, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/SANA, File)

BEIRUT (AP) ? Israeli missiles struck a research center near the Syrian capital Damascus, setting off explosions and causing casualties, Syria's state news agency reported early Sunday, citing initial reports.

If confirmed, it would be the second Israeli strike on targets in Syria in three days, signaling a sharp escalation of Israel's involvement in Syria's bloody civil war.

There was no immediate Israeli comment. However, Israel has said it will not allow sophisticated weapons to flow from Syria to the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad and a heavily armed foe of the Jewish state.

Two previous Israeli airstrikes, one in January and one on Friday, targeted weapons apparently bound for Hezbollah, Israeli and U.S. officials have said.

The Syrian state news agency SANA reported early Sunday that explosions went off at the Jamraya research center near Damascus, causing casualties. "Initial reports point to these explosions being a result of Israeli missiles that targeted the research center in Jamraya," SANA said.

A Syrian activist group, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, also reported large explosions in the area of Jamraya, a military and scientific research facility northwest of Damascus, about 15 kilometers (10 miles) from the Lebanese border.

An amateur video said to be shot early Sunday in the Damascus area showed a huge ball of fire lighting up the night sky. The video appeared genuine and corresponded to other Associated Press reporting.

Israel's first airstrike in Syria, in January, also struck Jamraya.

At the time, a U.S. official said Israel targeted trucks next to the research center that carried SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles. The strikes hit both the trucks and the research facility, the official said. The Syrian military didn't confirm a hit on a weapons shipment at the time, saying only that Israeli warplanes bombed the research center.

On Saturday, Israeli officials confirmed that a day earlier, Israeli aircraft targeted advanced surface-to-surface missiles in Syria that were apparently bound for Hezbollah.

The missiles were believed to be m600s, a Syrian version of Iran's Fatah 110 missile, an extremely accurate guided missile capable of traveling roughly 300 kilometers (190 miles) with a half-ton warhead, an Israeli official said

The Israeli officials spoke anonymously because they had not been given permission to speak publicly about the matter.

In Washington, a Pentagon spokeswoman said she had no information relating to Sunday's report of a new Israeli airstrike in Syria.

President Barack Obama said Saturday, before the latest incident, that it was up to Israel to confirm or deny any strikes, but that the U.S. coordinates very closely with Israel.

"The Israelis, justifiably, have to guard against the transfer of advanced weaponry to terrorist organizations like Hezbollah," Obama told the Spanish-language TV station Telemundo.

Israel has said it wants to stay out of the brutal Syria war, but could inadvertently be drawn in as it tries to bolster its deterrence and prevent sophisticated weapons from reaching Hezbollah.

Since the conflict in Syria erupted more than two years ago, fighting has repeatedly spilled into Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

Renewed concern about a wider conflagration come as Washington considers how to respond to indications that the Syrian regime may have used chemical weapons in its civil war.

Obama has described the use of such weapons as a "red line," and the administration is weighing its options ? including possible military action.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has drawn his own red line, saying repeatedly that the Jewish state would be prepared to take military action to prevent Hezbollah from obtaining new weapons that could upset the balance of power.

Israel believes Hezbollah has restocked its arsenal with tens of thousands of rockets and missiles since a 2006 war between the two ended in a stalemate.

Israel is concerned that Hezbollah will take advantage of the chaos in Syria to smuggle advanced weapons into Lebanon.

These include anti-aircraft missiles, which could hamper Israel's ability to operate in Lebanese skies, and advanced Yakhont missiles that are used to attack naval ships from the coast.

In recent days, there were signs of mounting tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

In a warning to Israel earlier this week, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said his militia "is ready and has its hand on the trigger" in the event of an Israeli attack on any targets in Lebanon.

The Israeli military, meanwhile, called up several thousand reservists earlier this week for what it called a "surprise" military exercise on its border with Lebanon.

Details about Friday's strike remained sketchy.

The U.S. officials said the airstrike apparently hit a warehouse, but gave no other details.

Israeli officials did not say where in Syria the Israeli aircraft struck or whether they fired from Lebanese, Syrian or Israeli airspace.

Israel possesses bombs that can travel a long distance before striking their target. The use of such weapons could allow Israel to carry out the attack without entering Syrian skies, which would risk coming under fire from the regime's advanced, Russian-made anti-aircraft defenses.

The Syrian government said it had no information on an Israeli attack, while Hezbollah and the Israeli military spokesman's office declined comment.

Amos Gilad, an Israeli defense official, would not confirm or deny the airstrike, but played down cross-border tensions.

Hezbollah has not obtained any of Syria's large chemical weapons arsenal and is not interested in such weapons, Gilad said. Instead, the militia is "enthusiastic about other weapons systems and rockets that reach here (Israel)," he said Saturday in a speech in southern Israel.

Assad "is not provoking Israel and the incidents along the border (between Syria and the Israeli-controlled Golan) are coincidental," Gilad said.

With Israel apparently enforcing its red lines, much now depends on the response from Hezbollah and Syria, analysts said.

Israeli officials have long feared that Assad may try to draw Israel into the civil war in hopes of diverting attention and perhaps rallying Arab support behind him.

But retaliation for Israeli airstrikes would come at a high price, said Moshe Maoz, an Israeli expert on Syria.

"Bashar has his own problems and he knows that conflict with Israel would cause the collapse of his regime," Maoz said. "He could have done that long ago, but he knows he will fall if Israel gets involved."

Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside Assad's troops, appears to have linked its fate to the survival of the Syrian regime. Nasrallah, the Hezbollah chief, said this week that Syria's allies "will not allow Syria to fall into the hands of America or Israel."

On the other hand, Hezbollah could endanger its position as Lebanon's main political and military force if it confronts Israel, and it's not clear if the militia is willing to take that risk.

The U.S. concerns have focused on Syria's chemical weapons.

Obama has said the use of chemical weapons would have "enormous consequences," but has also said he needs more definitive proof before making a decision about how to respond.

Obama said Friday that he didn't foresee a scenario in which the U.S. would send troops to Syria. Instead, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has said Washington is reviewing its opposition to arming the opposition.

The U.S. so far has balked at sending weapons to the rebels, fearing the arms could end up in the hands of al-Qaida-linked groups or other extremists in the opposition ranks.

Secretary of State John Kerry, meanwhile, is heading to Moscow next week to try to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to support, or at least not veto, a fresh effort to impose U.N. penalties on Syria if Assad doesn't begin political transition talks with the opposition.

Russia, alongside China, has blocked U.S.-led efforts three times at the United Nations to pressure Assad into stepping down.

___

Federman reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Ian Deitch in Jerusalem, Bassem Mroue in Beirut, and Bradley S. Klapper and Josh Lederman in Washington contributed reporting.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-05-04-ML-Israel-Syria/id-11fe95b09a124b568b895d8e2238cbb0

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Cosplayers Have Business Cards, Too, You Know - Kotaku

In Japan (and most of Asia), business cards are a big deal. You need business cards! There's even a correct way to exchange them. So no wonder many Japanese cosplayers have business cards, too.

Cosplayers having business cards is not new?and it's not limited to Japan by any stretch. I've met plenty of Western cosplayers with cards of their own.

However, as Nikkei Trendy and ShiftEast.com point out, there are business card services in Japan that are aimed directly at the country's cosplaying community.

Japanese printing company Choei, for example, has a cosplay centric business card service called Proof, which, as ShiftEast.com explains, allows cosplayers to order several sets of business cards, each of different outfits, for a reasonable price. One hundred cards cost around the equivalent of US$26.

Instead of company names and job descriptions, cosplayer cards feature photos, character names, and website info.

The cards look more like glossy trading cards, with full color pictures, than business cards. What's more, since many cosplayers have multiple characters in their cosplay repertoire, they might carry multiple business cards for their cosplay networking purposes.

And those who are looking for the perfect background for their cosplay cards, they can always rent space at one of Japan's cosplay studios.

(As I mentioned to cosplayer Nebulaluben via Twitter, it's not that these cards exist?as I wrote above, we know that. The interesting thing, and what Nikkei is reporting, is how there are printing services in Japan that are now specifically catering to cosplayers!)

Cosplay Business Cards [ShiftEast]

??????????????? [Nikkei Trendy]

(Top photo: Cosplay.exblog)

To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft.

Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.

This isn't the most beautiful business card. Folks like Goichi Suda (No More Heroes) or Hideo? Read?At any geek event in Japan, you'll see them: cosplayers. Convention centers are not ideal? Read?

Source: http://kotaku.com/cosplayers-have-business-cards-too-you-know-488446743

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How the NYPD Hunted Down an iPhone Thief in an Awesome Subway Chase

The subway is a prime place for phone theft. Snatch, grab, run. Whether you're getting on or getting off, you'll make a quick escape from your target. It doesn't always work, though. The NYPD managed to catch someone who tried exactly that trick by using Find My iPhone and following along on the ground in a righteous chase.

Read more...

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/FItQuAeSDSA/how-the-nypd-hunted-down-an-iphone-thief-in-an-awesome-491380685

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Readying new Syria push, US feels out Russia again

FILE - In this Friday, May 3, 2013, file photo president Barack Obama responds to a question about the ongoing situation in Syria during a news conference in San Jose, Costa Rica. Obama said Friday that he didn't foresee a scenario in which the U.S. would send troops to Syria. Just hours before his news conference Israel launched an airstrike into Syria, apparently targeting a suspected weapons site, U.S. officials said Friday night. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

FILE - In this Friday, May 3, 2013, file photo president Barack Obama responds to a question about the ongoing situation in Syria during a news conference in San Jose, Costa Rica. Obama said Friday that he didn't foresee a scenario in which the U.S. would send troops to Syria. Just hours before his news conference Israel launched an airstrike into Syria, apparently targeting a suspected weapons site, U.S. officials said Friday night. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

This photo released on the official Facebook page of Syrian President Bashar Assad, shows Syrian president Bashar Assad, right, surrounded by bodyguards as young people, wave at him during the inauguration ceremony on Saturday of a statue dedicated to "martyrs" from Syrian universities who died in the country's two-year-old uprising and civil war, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, May. 4, 2013. Assad's second public appearance in a week came as Israeli officials confirmed the country's air force carried out a strike against Syria, saying it targeted a shipment of advanced missiles bound for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. (AP Photo)

FILE - In this June 3, 2012 file photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad delivers a speech at the parliament in Damascus, Syria. Israel launched an airstrike into Syria, apparently targeting a suspected weapons site, U.S. officials said Friday night, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/SANA, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Obama administration is trying to leverage new evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad's government used chemical weapons, and make a fresh diplomatic and possible military push with allies to end the country's civil war.

This renewed effort starts with Secretary of State John Kerry's trip to Moscow this coming week for talks with leaders in Russia, the Syrian government's most powerful international friend.

Russia, alongside China, has blocked U.S.-led efforts three times at the United Nations to pressure Assad into stepping down. The U.S. hopes to change Moscow's thinking with two new arguments, officials said: the evidence of chemical weapons attacks and, with the war now in its third year, American threats to arm the Syrian rebels.

Russia represents the most difficult diplomatic test as the U.S. tries to assemble a global coalition to halt a war that has claimed more than 70,000 lives.

Washington wants a peaceful resolution and sees U.N.-imposed sanctions against Syria as an effective tool for pressuring Assad into negotiations. With Assad's government unwilling to talk with the opposition, and Russia providing military and diplomatic backing, hopes of a negotiated transition are all but dead for now.

The stalemate and the risk of greater chemical weapons usage are driving President Barack Obama to explore new options, including military ones. But, he made clear Friday during a visit to Costa Rica, "I do not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria, American boots on the ground, would not only be good for America but also would be good for Syria."

Obama said at a Washington news conference earlier in the week that any new U.S. action should be taken prudently and in concert with international partners. Two days later, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said arming the Syrian opposition was a policy consideration.

Kerry's departure Monday for Russia sets the stage for some critical discussions.

In Moscow, officials said Kerry will attempt to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to support, or at least not veto, a fresh effort to impose U.N. penalties on Syria if Assad doesn't begin political transition talks with the opposition.

To make his case, Kerry will present the Russians with evidence of chemical weapons use and relay the Obama administration's readiness to give weapons to the Syrian rebels, according to the officials, who demanded anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly about the confidential diplomacy.

Although the U.S. is prepared to act with or without the Russians' help, officials say a coordinated effort to end the war would be much easier with Moscow on board.

China is seen as largely following Russia's lead.

The U.S. also wants Russia, which maintains a naval base in Syria, to stop honoring existing contracts with the Assad government for defense hardware and to refrain from doing anything else to bolster his forces.

Unlike with Afghanistan and Iraq, several of America's Western and Arab allies are significantly ahead of the United States in their readiness to intervene in Syria.

Just on Friday, an Israeli airstrike against Syria targeted a shipment of advanced missiles believed bound for the Lebanese military group Hezbollah, Israeli officials said Saturday. The officials said the attack was aimed at sophisticated "game-changing" weapons, but not chemical arms.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have provided the rebels with advanced weaponry. Turkey has given the opposition leadership a home base and significant logistical support. Britain and France have ramped up support ahead of the U.S. at almost every step.

Somewhat similar to the Libya intervention two years ago, Washington is being pulled by several of its closest partners into an ambivalent escalation in Syria.

As the U.S. extricates itself from a decade of fighting in the Muslim world, it has been reluctant to get involved in a new conflict colored by sectarian warfare and terrorist groups engaged on both sides of the battle.

The U.S. also notes that the Syrian government has far greater defensive capacities than those of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, whose military was easily eliminated in 2011.

But the rising death toll, increased international clamoring for greater American leadership and the threat of weapons of mass destruction proliferation in the heart of the Middle East, between Iraq and Lebanon and bordering Israel, have led Obama to reassess his options.

Obama this past week reaffirmed his view that the "only way to bring stability and peace to Syria is going to be for Assad to step down." Even before the reports of chemical weapons use, he said, the U.S. sought to strengthen Syria's opposition. Now, however, "some options that we might not otherwise exercise ... we would strongly consider."

"The use of chemical weapons would be a game changer," Obama told reporters. "When you use these kinds of weapons, you have the potential of killing massive numbers of people in the most inhumane way possible, and the proliferation risks are so significant that we don't want that genie out of the bottle."

But the administration also has said the intelligence reports citing physical evidence of chemical weapons use were not certain enough to cross Obama's stated "red line," which he said last summer would have "enormous consequences."

Obama said Friday in Costa Rica that "we have evidence that chemical weapons have been used. We don't know when, where, or how they were used." A U.S. investigation, he said, will help "get a better handle on the facts."

"When it comes to using chemical weapons, the entire world should be concerned," he added.

Arming the rebels is the most likely escalation, officials said. Even the most ardent advocates of U.S. intervention don't want American military boots on the ground. A no-fly zone would demand an intensive operation to neutralize Syria's Russian-supplied air defenses. Officials said targeted strikes are likely to be considered only after uncontested proof emerges of chemical weapons use or the intelligence suggests repeat attacks may be imminent.

Any U.S. military action, including arming the rebels, would be weeks away, officials said. They stressed that a strategy would first have to be coordinated with several important allies to ensure that the right weapons get to the right forces and that donors aren't duplicating efforts. The U.S. also would try to secure contributions from more Arab and European partners, they said, while continuing to check rebel brigades that are untainted by al-Qaida or other extremists who've joined the anti-Assad fight.

The range of reservations to direct military intervention explains why the administration is putting great stock in a unified international approach. Swaying Russia would remove an important consideration for many potential coalition partners and leave Assad with only Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as reliable allies.

It would eliminate the possibility of a Russian veto to any future request for U.N. authorization to directly intervene in Syria.

Obama never has said he must have a U.N. mandate to act, but U.S. officials repeatedly have cited it as one explanation for why the American response in Syria hasn't been more forceful. Also, no one in the United States wants a repeat of the diplomatic humiliation suffered by President George W. Bush in the runup to the 2003 Iraq war.

The chances for a Russian shift are unclear. U.S.-Russian relations are mired in disputes from missile defense in Europe to adoptions and new Russian laws against political dissent. Arguments outlining the costs of increased international criticism for remaining steadfast in support of the Assad government have repeatedly failed to move Moscow.

Officials say Kerry is optimistic he can sway Putin; others are more skeptical.

At a minimum, officials said, reaching out to Russia could pre-empt arguments that the U.S. is moving toward military options in Syria without giving diplomacy a final chance.

Gaining even Russia's grudging acquiescence in private to greater American involvement in Syria, as with NATO's Kosovo intervention in the 1990s, could be viewed as a critical if silent diplomatic victory for the United States.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-05-04-US-Syria/id-d0a7b371556e4668be30afe8c656041e

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ECB meets amid rate cut expectations

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ? The European Central Bank's governing council is meeting Thursday amid expectations it will cut its key interest rate to stimulate the lagging economy in the 17 countries that use the euro.

The council will announce its rate decision after its meeting in Bratislava, Slovaki ? one of its two meetings per year that are held outside Frankfurt. Mario Draghi, ECB president, will hold a press conference after the announcement.

Many investors expect the ECB to cut its key interest rate from 0.75 percent, which is already a record low.

In theory, a cut would help companies by lowering borrowing costs. Economists say this cut may not have much direct effect since banks are not always passing on lower rates to customers in indebted countries, where the help is needed most.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-05-02-European%20Central%20Bank/id-0a17f9ea19c0423a84b2a3f23ae84956

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Renee Ellmers: Cancer Patients Were Where 'We Should've Gone ...

Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) appeared on Wednesday's edition of "All in With Chris Hayes," admitting that the government's priorities on sequestration were not carried out in the right order.

Ellmers introduced a bill last month aimed at preventing sequestration cuts from harming cancer patients on Medicare. As of April 1, payments under that plan for cancer-related drugs and services suffered a two percent cut. Two days later, The Washington Post detailed how that hit displaced thousands of cancer patients, leaving them long distances or hospital capacity issues.

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama signed a bill ending furloughs on air traffic controllers -- a measure that swiftly passed the House and Senate over a two-day span. When asked by Hayes what her reaction was to Congress fixing the FAA's situation first, Ellmers leveled about how she felt.

"I have to admit, I, like so many, were saying, you know, this is a very important issue," Ellmers said. "We don't want people waiting in lines in airports. But at the same time, when we have cancer patients, who are vulnerable and need our help, I really thought that should've been the place that we should've gone first."

Hayes then pressed Ellmers on her decision to vote for the FAA bill, asking if she had "given away the leverage" to get cancer patients their care. Ellmers thought otherwise, vowing that it "actually helps our cause" because "we've seen that we can actually vote."

For the full segment from Wednesday's edition of "All In With Chris Hayes," click here.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/02/renee-ellmers-cancer-patients_n_3198411.html

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