RoyalDutchShell is changing lanes. While oil development will continue to dominate its portfolio, the energy developer is now making plans to invest heavily in liquefied natural gas, or LNG. Shell, and others, see the export of the super-cooled natural gas as a lucrative venture.
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Apple Has Its iPad Cannibalization Timed Perfectly
Ever since the iPad Mini launched, Apple watchers wondered how long it would take for the Mini to cannibalize the iPad's sales. Not long, as various figures are showing.
Boys and Girls May Get Different Breast Milk
Mother's milk may be the first food, but it is not created equal. In humans and other mammals, researchers have found that milk composition changes depending on the infant's gender and on whether conditions are good or bad. Understanding those differences can give scientists insights into human evolution.
[More]
[More]
Reservoirs 'can affect rainfall'
Researchers say large man-made reservoirs can increase the intensity of rainfall and can affect the effectiveness of flood defences.
Leaked Report Confirms Human-Induced Climate Change
A rogue reviewer posted a draft this week of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 's next report, in a bid to promote climate change denial .
[More]
[More]
Sheep Help Scientists Fight Huntington s Disease
When University of Cambridge neurobiologist Jenny Morton began working with sheep five years ago, she anticipated docile, dull creatures. Instead she discovered that sheep are complex and curious. Morton, who studies neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, is helping evaluate sheep as new large animal models for human brain diseases.
Huntington's is a fatal, hereditary illness that causes a cascade of cell death in the brain's basal ganglia region. The idea to use sheep to study this disease arose in 1993 in New Zealand, a country where sheep outnumber humans seven to one. Researchers had already identified disorders shared by humans and sheep, but University of Auckland neuroscientist Richard Faull and geneticist Russell Snell had a more ambitious notion. They decided to develop a line of sheep carrying Huntington's, which is brought on by repeats within the gene IT15 , in the hopes of studying the condition's progression and developing a treatment. They accomplished their goal in 2006 after extensive efforts.
[More]
Huntington's is a fatal, hereditary illness that causes a cascade of cell death in the brain's basal ganglia region. The idea to use sheep to study this disease arose in 1993 in New Zealand, a country where sheep outnumber humans seven to one. Researchers had already identified disorders shared by humans and sheep, but University of Auckland neuroscientist Richard Faull and geneticist Russell Snell had a more ambitious notion. They decided to develop a line of sheep carrying Huntington's, which is brought on by repeats within the gene IT15 , in the hopes of studying the condition's progression and developing a treatment. They accomplished their goal in 2006 after extensive efforts.
[More]
California Planning Low-Carbon Oasis Where Cars Aren't King
By Braden Reddall and Rory Carroll
NEWARK, California (Reuters) - Vacant industrial land near salt marshes and a derelict rail bridge seem like an odd setting for the beginnings of a lifestyle revolution in scenic California, but planners in the San Francisco Bay suburb of Newark view it as just that.
With an eye on the state's new land-use laws to cut carbon output, Newark's city council just voted to convert 200 acres owned largely by chemical companies into a development that should set the trend for a state bent on decarbonizing its economy, the world's ninth largest.
The marshes could be turned over to birds, satisfying environmentalists, or paved over with single family homes, like most of the Bay Area.
Newark planners envision something different, which might satisfy both - or neither: 2,500 new homes, mostly townhouses and apartments, built within walking distance of stores and schools and connected by a new train to jobs across the Bay.
That trip would put commuters right in the heart of Silicon Valley, where 1950s suburbs with two-car-garage homes grew out of orchards to create a California dream that has endured decades.
California's success in reshaping that dream, leaving behind big convertibles cruising past strip malls, will determine its future. [More]
NEWARK, California (Reuters) - Vacant industrial land near salt marshes and a derelict rail bridge seem like an odd setting for the beginnings of a lifestyle revolution in scenic California, but planners in the San Francisco Bay suburb of Newark view it as just that.
With an eye on the state's new land-use laws to cut carbon output, Newark's city council just voted to convert 200 acres owned largely by chemical companies into a development that should set the trend for a state bent on decarbonizing its economy, the world's ninth largest.
The marshes could be turned over to birds, satisfying environmentalists, or paved over with single family homes, like most of the Bay Area.
Newark planners envision something different, which might satisfy both - or neither: 2,500 new homes, mostly townhouses and apartments, built within walking distance of stores and schools and connected by a new train to jobs across the Bay.
That trip would put commuters right in the heart of Silicon Valley, where 1950s suburbs with two-car-garage homes grew out of orchards to create a California dream that has endured decades.
California's success in reshaping that dream, leaving behind big convertibles cruising past strip malls, will determine its future. [More]
Japanese Operator in Most Frank Admission over Nuclear Disaster
By Aaron Sheldrick
TOKYO (Reuters) - The operator of a Japanese nuclear power plant that blew up after a tsunami last year said on Friday its lack of safety and bad habits were behind the world's worst nuclear accident in 25 years, its most forthright admission of culpability.
The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co, said it accepted the findings of a parliamentary inquiry into the Fukushima nuclear disaster that accused the company of "collusion" with industry regulators.
An earthquake on March 11 last year generated a tsunami that smashed into the nuclear plant on Japan's northeast coast and triggered equipment failures that led to meltdowns and the spewing of large amounts of radiation into the air and sea.
Takefumi Anegawa, the head of a company reform task force, told a news conference the report by a parliamentary committee contained "so many descriptions about the lack of a safety culture and our bad habits".
"We admit, we completely admit, that part of the parliamentary report," Anegawa, told a news conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan.
He was responding to a question on whether the company accepted the parliamentary committee's findings that the disaster was preventable and the result of "collusion" between the company and regulators.
Tepco President Naomi Hirose said several months ago he was baffled by criticism of the company, which until recently has denied it could have foreseen the scale the tsunami and earthquake that knocked out cooling and power at the plant, despite warnings from scientists.
The once well-respected utility, now under government control, has been widely castigated for its failure to prepare for the disaster, and lampooned for its inept response as the crisis unfolded.
In October, 18 months after the disaster, the company admitted for the first time it could have been avoided.
TRYING TO CHANGE
Anegawa, who has worked at the Fukushima plant, said there were some misunderstandings in the "technological part" of the report.
"But (for) most of the investigation of our organization culture, we admit that, and we will try to change," he said.
Anegawa was speaking at the news conference with outside monitors Tepco appointed two months ago to oversee its reforms.
Asked to give an example of a step Tepco had taken to improve since he was appointed, Dale Klein, a former chairman of the U.S. [More]
TOKYO (Reuters) - The operator of a Japanese nuclear power plant that blew up after a tsunami last year said on Friday its lack of safety and bad habits were behind the world's worst nuclear accident in 25 years, its most forthright admission of culpability.
The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co, said it accepted the findings of a parliamentary inquiry into the Fukushima nuclear disaster that accused the company of "collusion" with industry regulators.
An earthquake on March 11 last year generated a tsunami that smashed into the nuclear plant on Japan's northeast coast and triggered equipment failures that led to meltdowns and the spewing of large amounts of radiation into the air and sea.
Takefumi Anegawa, the head of a company reform task force, told a news conference the report by a parliamentary committee contained "so many descriptions about the lack of a safety culture and our bad habits".
"We admit, we completely admit, that part of the parliamentary report," Anegawa, told a news conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan.
He was responding to a question on whether the company accepted the parliamentary committee's findings that the disaster was preventable and the result of "collusion" between the company and regulators.
Tepco President Naomi Hirose said several months ago he was baffled by criticism of the company, which until recently has denied it could have foreseen the scale the tsunami and earthquake that knocked out cooling and power at the plant, despite warnings from scientists.
The once well-respected utility, now under government control, has been widely castigated for its failure to prepare for the disaster, and lampooned for its inept response as the crisis unfolded.
In October, 18 months after the disaster, the company admitted for the first time it could have been avoided.
TRYING TO CHANGE
Anegawa, who has worked at the Fukushima plant, said there were some misunderstandings in the "technological part" of the report.
"But (for) most of the investigation of our organization culture, we admit that, and we will try to change," he said.
Anegawa was speaking at the news conference with outside monitors Tepco appointed two months ago to oversee its reforms.
Asked to give an example of a step Tepco had taken to improve since he was appointed, Dale Klein, a former chairman of the U.S. [More]
Video catches huge asteroid buzzing Earth
A new video captures the giant asteroid 4179 Toutatis tumbling through space on its flyby of Earth earlier this week.
New Toxic Nocturnal Primate Species Discovered
The slow loris shouldn't be a difficult object of study. For one thing, it's slow--very slow (think sloth slow ). And these small primates, which are unique in possessing a toxic bite to ward off predators, are charismatic due in large part to their compelling, wide-eyed faces. But they are also nocturnal , and they tend to live in hard-to-reach places, such as the rainforests of Borneo. Which might be why until recently, scientists had lumped all the slow lorises ( Nycticebus ) into just two species. [More]
Don t Sweat It: Premenopausal Women, Reproductive State, and the Joy of Night Sweats
Hot flashes occur in a slightly higher frequency among menopausal women (32 versus 19%, Mold et al. 2002), which explains why research has tended to focus on them as a menopausal phenomenon. But night sweats occur at a more similar frequency in menopausal and premenopausal women (29 versus 22%, Mold et al. 2002). [More]
China plans over 300 dam projects worldwide
A new report by the NGO, International Rivers, takes an in-depth look at the role China is playing in building mega-dams worldwide. According to the report, Chinese companies are involved in 308 hydroelectric projects across 70 nations. While dams are often billed as "green energy," they can have massive ecological impacts on rivers, raise local conflict, and even expel significant levels of greenhouse gases when built in the tropics.
New Emphasis on Keeping the Weight Down for Older Women
Being too overweight is known to be detrimental to one's health. But for postmenopausal women, keeping the weight down, and not letting it come back up is just as critical. A new study From Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC found that gaining weight back AFTER an intentional weight loss is associated with negative long-term effects for cardio and metabolic (CM) risk factors for older women. This study puts a new emphasis on the importance of the hardest part of weight loss, keeping the weight down
Global Decline of Big, Old Trees Impacts Forest Ecosystems
Trees can live hundreds, even thousands of years. But the problem is that these trees aren’t making it to old age and according to a new study, big, old trees are in decline throughout the world which can have detrimental impacts to forest ecosystems. Old trees are crucial organisms for many ecosystems: they provide homes for animals, provide space for other plants to grow, and they produce seeds, leaves, and nuts that serve as food. They also store large amounts of carbon and continue to sequester it as they grow, said study co-author David Lindenmayer, a researcher at Australian National University.
Last Turbine Installed at World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm
Construction of the 125th and last turbine at the London Array Offshore Wind Farm has been completed, marking the end of major construction activities at the massive 630MW renewable energy site. Turbine installation began in January 2012 and has been completed by MPI Discovery, A2SEA's Sea Worker and Sea Jack. With all turbines in place and 55 connected and supplying power to the national grid, the wind farm is on track to be fully operational in Spring 2013. The wind farm has been generating energy since October 2012 when the first turbine began producing power.
Fisheries Commission Ignores Advice for Ending Overfishing
A five-day meeting on fisheries ended last week (6 December) amid complaints that big fishing nations have blocked efforts to curb tuna overfishing and ignored scientific advice. The accusations were made following the ninth regular session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, which is the governing body for an international fisheries agreement that seeks to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish, such as tuna, in parts of the Pacific Ocean.
Lawsuit Targets $3 Billion in U.S. Funding for Fossil Fuel Project in Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the U.S. Export-Import Bank's nearly $3 billion in financing for a massive Australian fossil fuel facility in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Construction and operation of the liquefied natural gas facility will threaten sea turtles, dugongs and many other protected marine species, as well as the Great Barrier Reef itself.
Increasing Urban Populations May Lead to More Slums and Health Issues
The world's urban population is expected to grow by 2.6 billion people between 2011 and 2050, bringing the total number of urbanites to 6.3 billion, according to new research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online service. This urban expansion will be especially burdensome for developing countries, where 82 percent of the world's population currently lives, writes report author Grant Potter. Although the developing world is less urbanized than the industrial world in relative terms, developing countries are home to an estimated 1.54 billion more people.
Edison Mission prepares bankruptcy filing: source
(Reuters) - Edison Mission Energy, a power company that operates in more than a dozen U.S. states, is preparing a possible bankruptcy filing as it tries to restructure about $5 billion in debt, according to a source close to the matter.
Effects of Neonatal Overfeeding on Juvenile and Adult Feeding and Energy Expenditure in the Rat
by Aneta Stefanidis, Sarah J. Spencer
Overfeeding during perinatal life leads to an overweight phenotype that persists throughout the juvenile stage and into adulthood, however, the mechanim(s) underlying this effect are poorly understood. We hypothesized that obesity due to neonatal overfeeding is maintained by changes in energy expenditure and that these changes differ between males and females. We investigated feeding, physical activity, hormonal and metabolic alterations that occur in adult rats made obese by having been nursed in small litters (SL) compared with those from control litters (CL). There were no differences in absolute food intake between the groups, and juvenile and adult SL rats ate less chow per gram body weight than the CL did in the dark (active) phase. Juvenile, but not adult SL rats did have reduced whole body energy expenditure, but there were no differences between the groups by the time they reached adulthood. Adult SL females (but not males) had reduced brown adipose tissue (BAT) temperatures compared with CL in the first half of the dark phase. Our results indicate a persistent overweight phenotype in rats overfed as neonates is not associated with hyperphagia at any stage, but is reflected in reduced energy expenditure into the juvenile phase. The reduced dark phase BAT activity in adult SL females is not sufficient to reduce total energy expenditure at this stage of life and there is an apparently compensatory effect that prevents SL and CL from continuing to diverge in weight that appears between the juvenile and adult stages.
Overfeeding during perinatal life leads to an overweight phenotype that persists throughout the juvenile stage and into adulthood, however, the mechanim(s) underlying this effect are poorly understood. We hypothesized that obesity due to neonatal overfeeding is maintained by changes in energy expenditure and that these changes differ between males and females. We investigated feeding, physical activity, hormonal and metabolic alterations that occur in adult rats made obese by having been nursed in small litters (SL) compared with those from control litters (CL). There were no differences in absolute food intake between the groups, and juvenile and adult SL rats ate less chow per gram body weight than the CL did in the dark (active) phase. Juvenile, but not adult SL rats did have reduced whole body energy expenditure, but there were no differences between the groups by the time they reached adulthood. Adult SL females (but not males) had reduced brown adipose tissue (BAT) temperatures compared with CL in the first half of the dark phase. Our results indicate a persistent overweight phenotype in rats overfed as neonates is not associated with hyperphagia at any stage, but is reflected in reduced energy expenditure into the juvenile phase. The reduced dark phase BAT activity in adult SL females is not sufficient to reduce total energy expenditure at this stage of life and there is an apparently compensatory effect that prevents SL and CL from continuing to diverge in weight that appears between the juvenile and adult stages.
Quase meio milhão de cubanos vacinados contra a gripe
Cerca de 475 mil pessoas foram vacinadas contra a gripe sazonal em Cuba, no âmbito de uma campanha nacional de imunização, anunciou, esta sexta-feira, o ministro da Saúde.
Changing of the Guard: Chinese Opposition to Labor Camps Widens
Opponents of China’s “re-education through labor” system say new leadership could put an end to abuses at the labor camps, which confine perceived troublemakers without trial.
Family of slain border agent sues federal officials
PHOENIX (Reuters) - The parents of a slain U.S. Border Patrol agent have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in connection with the botched "Fast and Furious" federal sting operation that saw guns purchased in the United States slip to suspected criminals in Mexico.
The Saturday Profile: A Diver Sifts Through São Paulo’s Polluted Rivers
osé Leonídio Rosendo dos Santos has been diving into the polluted Tietê and Pinheiros rivers for more than 20 years, bringing to the surface a list of items that is eerie and bizarre.
Small boat sinks off Greek island, 20 migrants drown
Small boat sinks off Greek island, 20 migrants drown: ATHENS (Reuters) - A small boat carrying migrants hoping to get to Greece sank near the eastern island of Lesvos early on Saturday, drowning 20 people, Greek police said.
IHT Rendezvous: China Calls for 'No Delay' on Gun Controls in U.S.
China, which enforces a near-total ban on the private possession of firearms, has called for stricter gun controls in the United States. On the same day that a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six women at a school in Connecticut, a man in China stabbed 22 children and an 85-year-old woman. There were no fatalities in that attack, although some of the children reportedly had their ears and fingers cut off.
IHT Rendezvous: China Calls for 'No Delay' on Gun Controls in U.S.
China, which enforces a near-total ban on the private possession of firearms, has called for stricter gun controls in the United States. On the same day that a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six women at a school in Connecticut, a man in China stabbed 22 children and an 85-year-old woman. There were no fatalities in that attack, although some of the children reportedly had their ears and fingers cut off.
School league table overhaul to stop teachers 'cheating'
League tables for schools in England are to be radically changed after the exam watchdog found they were being "fiddled" by teachers
Artificial Intelligence Knows When People Are Tweeting About You
Social media marketer Salorix has upgraded its analytics product, Amplify, which is a machine learning program that focuses on social networks. The purpose of Amplify is simple: it searches social media for conversations related to your business. But the program goes beyond just looking for people talking about you. It looks for conversations that are relevant to the products and services you provide - giving you an opportunity to market your product.
Prince of Wales defends tax status
Prince of Wales defends tax status: Clarence House has defended the Prince of Wales' financial arrangements after antimonarchy campaigners accused the Duchy of Cornwall of using "a highly questionable interpretation" of its legal status to avoid corporation tax.
Justice Dept. Shelved Ideas to Improve Gun Background Checks
Justice Dept. Shelved Ideas to Improve Gun Background Checks: In 2011, the Justice Department proposed an expansion of the background-check system, but it remains unclear whether the Obama administration will take on the powerful gun-rights lobby.
Google Map App's Version of Anonymity Might Violate EU Privacy Laws
Ars Technica reports that Google's map application for iOS, however popular it might be with users, raises red flags with European regulators, who maintain that it by default does not sufficiently safeguard user privacy as required by EU privacy rules. Ars quotes Marit Hansen of Germany's Independent Centre for Privacy Protection on why: "Hansen's main gripe is that Google's use of 'anonymous' is misleading. 'All available information points to having linkable identifiers per user," she told Computerworld. Hansen added this would allow Google to track several location entries, thus leading to her assumption that Google's 'anonymous location data' would be considered 'personal data' under the European law."
Comet collapse leaves £50m bill for government to pick up
Comet collapse leaves £50m bill for government to pick up:
Deal agreed to cover unpaid tax and redundancy costs for electronic retailer's 6,600 staff who have been left jobless
The government will take a £50m hit from the collapse of Comet, in the form of unpaid tax and redundancy costs it has agreed to pay the 6,600 staff left jobless after the collapse of the electronics chain.
Administrators Deloitte will publish a report on Monday detailing the decline of the 236-branch chain, which collapsed under £200m of losses at the beginning of November. The report will show that Comet racked up more than £30m of losses in the five months leading up to administration, following a £95m loss in the year to April 2012.
The administrators have scrutinised company accounts from the past three years, but it is thought their report will not criticise the management team, led by former Dixons chief executive John Clare.
Deloitte has divided up over £80m of assets held by Comet between the chain's preferential creditors. Comet's backers, Hailey Acquisitions Limited (HAL), will receive almost £50m of the £145m they are owed. The group of US and British investors bought Comet for £2 from Kesa in November 2011, in a deal arranged by private equity firm OpCapita. The identity of the investors is a closely guarded secret, but it is thought that OpCapita was among them, alongside activist investor Elliott Advisors.
Staff will also get £2.1m of holiday and back pay they are owed in full. Trade suppliers, meanwhile, will receive some of what they are owed, under a scheme that means they still own the goods they have supplied if they are not paid for them. About 85% of suppliers have claimed so-called "retention of title", resulting in payments of about £40m from the administrators.
Unsecured creditors will, however, get nothing from the administration process. These include customers who have paid for goods that have not been delivered, landlords, and HM Revenue and Customs. The taxman is facing an unpaid bill of £26.2m in VAT and payroll taxes. On top of that, sources close to the administrators said the government has agreed to pay staff £24m of redundancy pay.
The administrators' report is expected to detail steps taken to turn the business around over the past six months, noting that although costs were coming down, sales were declining at a faster pace.
Comet found it increasingly difficult to get goods on credit following its sale in November 2011. The administrators noted that some credit insurers – who pay out to suppliers if a retailer goes bust – stopped offering cover on the chain from that point, while others demanded higher premiums. As a result, Comet needed increasingly more money simply to get goods in store ahead of the Christmas rush.
The government will take a £50m hit from the collapse of Comet, in the form of unpaid tax and redundancy costs it has agreed to pay the 6,600 staff left jobless after the collapse of the electronics chain.
Administrators Deloitte will publish a report on Monday detailing the decline of the 236-branch chain, which collapsed under £200m of losses at the beginning of November. The report will show that Comet racked up more than £30m of losses in the five months leading up to administration, following a £95m loss in the year to April 2012.
The administrators have scrutinised company accounts from the past three years, but it is thought their report will not criticise the management team, led by former Dixons chief executive John Clare.
Deloitte has divided up over £80m of assets held by Comet between the chain's preferential creditors. Comet's backers, Hailey Acquisitions Limited (HAL), will receive almost £50m of the £145m they are owed. The group of US and British investors bought Comet for £2 from Kesa in November 2011, in a deal arranged by private equity firm OpCapita. The identity of the investors is a closely guarded secret, but it is thought that OpCapita was among them, alongside activist investor Elliott Advisors.
Staff will also get £2.1m of holiday and back pay they are owed in full. Trade suppliers, meanwhile, will receive some of what they are owed, under a scheme that means they still own the goods they have supplied if they are not paid for them. About 85% of suppliers have claimed so-called "retention of title", resulting in payments of about £40m from the administrators.
Unsecured creditors will, however, get nothing from the administration process. These include customers who have paid for goods that have not been delivered, landlords, and HM Revenue and Customs. The taxman is facing an unpaid bill of £26.2m in VAT and payroll taxes. On top of that, sources close to the administrators said the government has agreed to pay staff £24m of redundancy pay.
The administrators' report is expected to detail steps taken to turn the business around over the past six months, noting that although costs were coming down, sales were declining at a faster pace.
Comet found it increasingly difficult to get goods on credit following its sale in November 2011. The administrators noted that some credit insurers – who pay out to suppliers if a retailer goes bust – stopped offering cover on the chain from that point, while others demanded higher premiums. As a result, Comet needed increasingly more money simply to get goods in store ahead of the Christmas rush.
Barack Obama expected to name John Kerry as secretary of state
Barack Obama expected to name John Kerry as secretary of state:
Massachusetts senator set to replace Hillary Clinton after UN ambassador Susan Rice withdraws from consideration
President Barack Obama has decided to nominate senator John Kerry as the next secretary of state, to replace Hillary Clinton, according to two major news outlets. An announcement is possible before Christmas.
Kerry, a senior ranking Democrat who ran for the White House in 2004, emerged as favourite after the US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, withdrew from contention on Thursday. That speculation hardened over the weekend, with both ABC and CNN reporting that Obama had opted for Kerry.
His appointment would require Kerry to resign from the senate, with a special election having to be held by the summer. His replacement as Democratic candidate would almost certainly face a strong challenge from the former Republican senator Scott Brown, who lost the other Massachusetts seat to Elizabeth Warren in November.
Kerry, who is currently chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, is in the classic diplomatic mould, with decades of experience in foreign policy and a desire to be engaged in the big issues of the day, from Syria to Iran. While Clinton also wanted to be involved in the major issues of the day, she also pursued single, universal issues such as championing women's rights.
Conventional thinking in Washington has it that Clinton has never been close to Obama and has tended to be excluded from decision-making on major issues such as Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, though she played an important part in shaping policy on Libya. Likewise, Kerry is not thought to be part of Obama's inner circle, but he will harbour hopes that he will not be left on the sidelines, having been used by the president as an envoy to resolve awkward issues in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Unlike Rice, Kerry, as a senator, can expect a smooth nomination process.
The vacancy in Massachusetts could prompt infighting among Democrats for a plum senate seat in what is normally one of the safest Democratic states. But Brown's surprise 2010 victory in the state, following the death of Ted Kennedy, offers the Republicans hope for another election upset.
The special election would have to take place within 145 to 160 days of Kerry's resignation. The winner would then complete the remaining year and a half of Kerry's term, before facing re-election in 2014.
Another place in Obama's diplomatic and national security team could be filled by the appointment of a former Republican senator, Chuck Hagel, as defense secretary, a move that would help Obama portray his cabinet as bipartisan. But Hagel's appointment could provoke a backlash from some pro-Israeli groups.
Hagel has long been an advocate of the US taking a more balanced approach towards the Israelis and Arabs. He is also a passionate advocate of direct US negotiations with Iranian leaders over the nuclear issue – during the Bush presidency he publicly opposed air strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. Hagel has emerged as one of the frontrunners to replace Leon Panetta at the Pentagon.
"I don't know who else is in contention but he is a contender," said a source who knows Hagel.
Bloomberg News disclosed on Thursday that Hagel had been vetted for the job.
The source added: "He has met with many people in the White House about this." There have been three meetings, including one with Obama on 4 December, it is thought.
Hagel, a former infantry sergeant who saw combat in Vietnam and was awarded two Purple Hearts, has often adopted positions on foreign policy that put him at odds with his Republican colleagues, including opposition to the 2003 Iraq war. Since leaving the Senate in 2009, he has been co-chair of the president's intelligence advisory board.
Other contenders for the job include Michele Flournoy, the former under-secretary for defense.
President Barack Obama has decided to nominate senator John Kerry as the next secretary of state, to replace Hillary Clinton, according to two major news outlets. An announcement is possible before Christmas.
Kerry, a senior ranking Democrat who ran for the White House in 2004, emerged as favourite after the US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, withdrew from contention on Thursday. That speculation hardened over the weekend, with both ABC and CNN reporting that Obama had opted for Kerry.
His appointment would require Kerry to resign from the senate, with a special election having to be held by the summer. His replacement as Democratic candidate would almost certainly face a strong challenge from the former Republican senator Scott Brown, who lost the other Massachusetts seat to Elizabeth Warren in November.
Kerry, who is currently chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, is in the classic diplomatic mould, with decades of experience in foreign policy and a desire to be engaged in the big issues of the day, from Syria to Iran. While Clinton also wanted to be involved in the major issues of the day, she also pursued single, universal issues such as championing women's rights.
Conventional thinking in Washington has it that Clinton has never been close to Obama and has tended to be excluded from decision-making on major issues such as Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, though she played an important part in shaping policy on Libya. Likewise, Kerry is not thought to be part of Obama's inner circle, but he will harbour hopes that he will not be left on the sidelines, having been used by the president as an envoy to resolve awkward issues in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Unlike Rice, Kerry, as a senator, can expect a smooth nomination process.
The vacancy in Massachusetts could prompt infighting among Democrats for a plum senate seat in what is normally one of the safest Democratic states. But Brown's surprise 2010 victory in the state, following the death of Ted Kennedy, offers the Republicans hope for another election upset.
The special election would have to take place within 145 to 160 days of Kerry's resignation. The winner would then complete the remaining year and a half of Kerry's term, before facing re-election in 2014.
Another place in Obama's diplomatic and national security team could be filled by the appointment of a former Republican senator, Chuck Hagel, as defense secretary, a move that would help Obama portray his cabinet as bipartisan. But Hagel's appointment could provoke a backlash from some pro-Israeli groups.
Hagel has long been an advocate of the US taking a more balanced approach towards the Israelis and Arabs. He is also a passionate advocate of direct US negotiations with Iranian leaders over the nuclear issue – during the Bush presidency he publicly opposed air strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. Hagel has emerged as one of the frontrunners to replace Leon Panetta at the Pentagon.
"I don't know who else is in contention but he is a contender," said a source who knows Hagel.
Bloomberg News disclosed on Thursday that Hagel had been vetted for the job.
The source added: "He has met with many people in the White House about this." There have been three meetings, including one with Obama on 4 December, it is thought.
Hagel, a former infantry sergeant who saw combat in Vietnam and was awarded two Purple Hearts, has often adopted positions on foreign policy that put him at odds with his Republican colleagues, including opposition to the 2003 Iraq war. Since leaving the Senate in 2009, he has been co-chair of the president's intelligence advisory board.
Other contenders for the job include Michele Flournoy, the former under-secretary for defense.
Matan en asalto a comandante de la PGJDF
Matan en asalto a comandante de la PGJDF: Arturo Reyna, comandante de la Policía de Investigación de la PGJDF, fue asesinado de un disparo por asaltantes que lo despojaron de su auto, en Neza.
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