United States HIV cases down 20 percent

U.S. HIV cases down 20%, but up 87% for 2 groups

Southern states currently have greatest incidence of HIV infection, CDC says

While the overall number of HIV diagnoses continues to fall in the United States since the first cases were documented 30 years ago, at least two groups of the population are seeing a sharp increase in those numbers.

A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released this month shows a nearly 87% increase in the number of HIV diagnoses of African-American gay and bisexual males and Latino gay and bisexual males, aged 13-24.

Overall, the number of diagnoses for the entire population dropped by 19% from 2005-2014, the analysis showed.

A risky environment

There is a high prevalence of HIV in the African-American gay and bisexual community, according to Dr. Eugene McCray, director of the CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.

"If you are a young black man, and are having sex with other black men, your chance of being exposed is really high," he said.

Part of the problem, he said, is the low rate of condom use in that community.

Adding to the risk is the fact that nearly a third of black gay and bisexual men between the ages of 13-24 who are HIV-positive don't know it, said Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of the CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention.

"A fair proportion haven't been diagnosed. It creates a risky environment," Mermin said.

In all ages of black gay and bisexual men, the number of diagnoses increased 22% over the past decade, but those rates have been leveling off since 2010, the CDC report showed. Latino gay and bisexual men of all ages have also seen their number of HIV diagnoses rise by 24% over the past 10 years.

In the same time period, the number of HIV cases has dropped 35% among heterosexual adults, 63% among intravenous drug users, and 22% among all African-Americans, according to the CDC. Women have also seen a significant decline in HIV infections, down 40%, from 12,499 diagnoses in 2005 to just 7,533 in 2014, with the biggest drop occurring among African-American women, who have seen the number of cases nearly drop in a half, from 8,020 HIV diagnoses in 2005 to 4,623 in 2014.

Southern states have highest incidences of HIV

Across the country, Southern states currently have the greatest incidence of HIV infection, illness and death. In fact, while the South represents about a third of the general population, it is home to 44% of those who are HIV-positive. Those individuals are also three times more likely to die than those with HIV living in other parts of the country.

Mermin said it's very important to target groups that have been disproportionately impacted by HIV with more intervention.

"We have to accelerate access to HIV testing, treatment and prevention, including PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), to those at greatest risk," he explained.

Today, more than 1.2 million people in the United States are HIV-positive. About one in eight of those infected are unaware of their status.

NATO will not trust their security to Russia

U.S., against Russia and NATO share missile defense.

NATO admits that negotiations are at a "dead" but expected to agree on a proposal that the agreement of the parties.

U.S. rejects the Russian proposal for a joint missile defense between NATO and Russia in Europe, said the U.S. ambassador to NATO, Ivo Daalder, in an interview published Wednesday by the Russian daily Kommersant.

Daadler and reiterated the U.S. position to the proposal made at the time by the Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev, which called for creating a joint Russia-NATO, in which each party is responsible for the security of a sector the continent.

Only the Alliance, not a foreign power can guarantee the security of its members and their territory "The NATO can not accept that idea. Only because we are convinced that only the Alliance, not a foreign power, can ensure the safety of its members and its territories. Nor Moscow wants his safety is in the hands of NATO, "the U.S. diplomat.

The Alliance insists on cooperation in which the parties to respond only to defend its territory.

"We can accept an adapted version of the Russian proposal (defense) sector. NATO will defend its territory, and Russia on their own. Together we can determine how our systems can cooperate to enhance missile independent European security and protect the Iranian threat, "he said.

In late November, the Russian president announced the deployment of a radar and ordered to reinforce the security of the facilities of Russia's strategic forces in response to U.S. refusal to give written assurances that its missile defense system in Europe does not threaten the Russian nuclear power.

A quagmire

"There is nothing new among the measures announced by President Medvedev. The most important thing we heard is that the door to dialogue remains open. We intend to cooperate with Russia, but at the same time we intend to deploy our missile defense " Daadler said.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO acknowledged that at present negotiations between the Alliance, the United States and Russia on the missile shield are in neutral. " We are in a quagmire, but no exit. We are all ready to talk. We see clearly our differences and we are ready to overcome them. No one hands down and surrendered, including representatives of Russia, "he said.

Iran announced the downing of a reconnaissance aircraft of US

The demolition occurred in the east of the country.

Iran's armed forces have taken over the unit.

This demolition could increase tensions between U.S. and Iranian side facing the alleged military nuclear program.

U.S. denies any of its planes crashed or have been shot down.

Iran announced on Sunday the downing of a U.S. aircraft reconnaissance drone in eastern DRC, local news agency Fars , which is linked to the body of the Revolutionary Guards the agency said the device was RQ170 model had violated Iranian airspace and, after its demolition, was left to the Armed Forces Iran, which is not the first time they make these ads, because in January this year said they had shot down two unmanned aircraft U.S. in the Persian Gulf.

Drones RQ179 Sentinel of the U.S. Air Force are stationed in Afghanistan , a country with which borders Iran. It is also one of the devices in Washington have used more surveillance and attack operations , along with Pakistan, Iraq and Somalia.

Iran is in the midst of a political storm after publication, on October 8, a report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which suggest suspicions that Iran's nuclear program has a military dimension , which Tehran strongly denies and says is purely civilian and peaceful.

Israeli and U.S. have raised the possibility of a military attack on Iran to halt its nuclear program, what the Iranians have responded that his answer will be "overwhelming "and that could strike targets all countries to participate in the attack in place of their choice.

U.S. denies demolition

While Iraq announced the demolition of this device, U.S. sources have reported that Washington has no indication that one of its planes has crashed unmanned Iranian territory or that has been knocked down. "There is no indication at all at this time that the Iranians have knocked this 'drone'" said the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Iran could send warships near US

The head of the Navy has raised the possibility of sending ships to the Atlantic.

"As the powers are present in our borders, we will also have a strong presence there."

The Iranian Navy chief, Admiral Sayyari Habibolá, on Tuesday raised the possibility of sending warships to the Navy near the U.S. Atlantic coast.

"Like the arrogant powers are present close to our maritime borders, we will also have a strong presence close to U.S. maritime borders," said Sayyari, according to official news agency IRNA.

U.S. and Israel do not rule out military action against Iran if diplomacy fails to halt its production of nuclear weapons. But Tehran says its nuclear program is purely peaceful purposes and denies it is developing nuclear weapons.

Facing the threat of military action is warned that Iran will respond by hitting American interests in the Persian Gulf and Israel. The Islamic Republic often conducted military exercises in the country to demonstrate its military capabilities against the threat.

A few months ago Iran has sent warships through the Suez Canal after the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak.

In early September announced that Turkey will host a radar system for early warning of NATO. This system will help the defense against ballistic missiles that could pose a threat to Europe. This decision has angered Tehran maintains an anti-Western policy and so far had close relations with Ankara.

New Missile

The Iranian Defense Ministry will begin tomorrow to equip the fleet vessels Corps IRGC new cruise missile with a range of 200 kilometers, said Wednesday the Iranian news agency, IRNA. According to the source, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi general, will preside over the ceremony tomorrow projectiles, called "Ghadir", designed to meet naval targets. These missiles are small and lightweight, they can fly at low altitude and with high precision, According to the Ministry of Defense. The Ghadir carry a strong explosive charge and can be fired from the shore or from ships, he adds.

Obama plan to create jobs

Obama presented a plan of over 200,000 million to create jobs

The amount of the proposal will be offset by budget cuts to convince the Republicans.

Obama will give details of the employment plan in Congress on Thursday.

The U.S. president, Barack Obama , on Thursday will propose to Congress a package of measures to boost job creation will cost 300,000 million dollars (213.427 million euros), as reported by the U.S. network CNN quoted sources the Democratic Party.

The money from the proposal, which will be announced by Obama in a speech to Congress to be televised, will be offset by budget cuts to try to convince Republicans who are unresponsive to the approval of new spending.

It seeks to stimulate a direct impact the economy Obama's aides had avoided giving public figures. Hours before it became public the cost of the package, the White House spokesman, Jay Carney, had asserted that the U.S. government "needs to do things that have a direct impact in the short term to grow the economy and create jobs and the president will make proposals that create just that. "

Republicans have criticized Obama for not having them in discussions on the economic package of the new measure before it is presented.

US to sue four major banks

They are Bank of America, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank.

The reason: They did not observe due diligence when it comes to qualifying mortgages.

Expect to get 631 million euros.

The Federal Finance United States is preparing a lawsuit against more than a dozen banks for mortgage securities incorrectly assess that were granted in full burburja estate, according to the newspaper 'The New York Times.

The application shall be addressed, among others, against Bank of America, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, as reported by three sources close to the case cited by the U.S. newspaper.

The agency argues that these big banks did not observe the diligence due to the time of rating mortgage securities, and that inflated their value, which was significantly reduced with the onset of debtors.

The application shall be made by Wednesday The agency mission is to recover millions in losses that resulted, and that most have had to meet Americans with tax increases. In particular, it seeks to recover from losses caused by the rating agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, worth about 30,000 million (21.043 million euros).

The New York Times says the agency hopes to get compensation from $ 900 million (631 million) , the same as that demanded in July to USB, another rating agency mortgage in a similar lawsuit.

The sources cited by the newspaper explained that the application shall be made before Wednesday when the deadline for filing claims under the summonses sent last year by the agency in these banks.

In parallel, fifty U.S. attorneys general preparing a lawsuit against several financial institutions, including Bank of America, JP Morgan and Citigroup for the abuses in mortgages. This expected gain of $ 20,000 million (14.029 million euros) that used to pay part of the mortgages at risk of foreclosure.

USA to Palestine

U.S. threatens to stop aid to Palestine if they ask to be recognized as a State

The president of the Palestinian Authority calls to intervene with the UN on September 23.

Islamic Jihad will respect the ceasefire agreement with Israel.

U.S. may suspend economic aid to the Palestinians if they continue with plans to apply for recognition of a Palestinian state or integration as a full member of the UN in September.

So says the U.S. consul general in Jerusalem, Daniel Rubinstein, the same day as the president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has asked to speak to the UN on 23 September. Nabil Shaath, head of Foreign Fatah movement, believes that "will use this opportunity to announce the application for membership in the organization." Some countries like Honduras and India have announced that they would recognize the new state should be the situation.

If necessary, we will go to court has not ruled Shaath Palestinian request that does not receive support from United Nations because of opposition from some countries like the United States, Israel's main ally. "If necessary, we will go to international tribunals," he said.

Meanwhile, in Gaza the Palestinian faction Islamic Jihad has announced its commitment to respect the new cease-fire with Israel, reached through the mediation of Cairo and after the upsurge in violence in recent days.

Washington intends to veto any resolution in the Security Council to call the UN recognition of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on the borders of June 4, 1967, as well as an application for full membership of the Palestinians in the international organization.

The U.S. diplomat has warned that Washington considers "useless" the Palestinians turn to the UN for recognition and it would be advisable to make peace with Israel through direct negotiations.

Google investigated by US authorities

Google confirms that it is investigated by U.S. authorities

The Federal Trade Commission United States would be investigating the company for abusing its dominant position in the web.

Through its official blog , Google confirmed today it is being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. (FTC), which had already advanced the press a few days ago, saying the motive was primarily to study alleged monopolistic practices the company network. 

"It is unclear exactly what worries the FTC, but we have made our position clear," said Amit Singhal, Google executives said in a statement released today. 

According to various media, the FTC suspicion that Google may be abusing its dominant position in the web and harming competition. 

Among other things, authorities are expected to review the advertising system associated with the Google search engine, the main source of income for the company to see if the company directs users to its platform of services irregularly. 

"We recognize that our success has led to greater scrutiny. Yesterday we received an official notification from the Federal Trade Commission on U.S. had begun to revise our business," said Singhal. 

Finally, the Google executive said the company is willing to work with the FTC in this case to clarify the situation, and noted further that the company values ​​focus on "giving priority to the user."

Taliban dismiss ceasefire

Afghan Taliban dismiss ‘symbolic’ US troop announcement

The Taliban dismissed President Barack Obama’s announcement of US troop withdrawals from Afghanistan as “only as a symbolic step,” in a statement released Thursday.

The Taliban “consider this announcement, which currently withdraws 10,000 soldiers this year, only as a symbolic step which will never satisfy the war-weary international community or the American people,” it said.

The statement, emailed to media by Taliban spokesman Tariq Ghazniwal, also accused the United States of “repeatedly giving false hopes to its nation about ending this war and claiming baselessly about victory”.

The Taliban said the solution to the Afghan crisis “lies in the full withdrawal of all foreign troops immediately” and said that until that happened “our armed struggle will increase from day to day”.

It made no reference to contacts with the Americans. Afghan president Hamid Karzai announced last week talks were underway and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said US officials are involved in preliminary talks with the Taliban.

The militants accused Obama of having “no respect” for demands to end the war given US-Afghan government negotiations over a strategic partnership agreement which will forge a long-term relationship between the two.

Obama announced Wednesday that 10,000 US troops would leave Afghanistan this year and all 33,000 forces sent as part of a surge ordered in late 2009 would be home by next summer.

As he made the announcement, he said that “the tide of war is receding” and “the light of a secure peace can be seen in the distance.”

The Taliban are leading an insurgency against foreign troops in Afghanistan which started in 2001 when they were ousted from power by a US-led invasion.

Us to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

Barack Obama orders the withdrawal of 33 000 troops from Afghanistan by 2012

The U.S. president announced in a speech to the country from the White House, that 10 thousand of the troops will leave the Asian country before the end of the year.

  

Afghan Taliban say U.S. military withdrawal does not alter their plans to combat

The U.S. president, Barack Obama , Wednesday announced the withdrawal of 33,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, 10,000 of them before the end of this year and the remaining 23,000 by September 2012, just in time for November elections following when play re-election. "Of course, there are still big challenges ahead, this is the beginning not the end of our efforts" to end this war, the longest in U.S. history , Obama acknowledged an address to the nation delivered from the White House.  With this announcement, Obama kept his promise to order the withdrawal of two additional brigades in Afghanistan decided to deploy in 2009, when violence raged and the bombings in China. In Anyway, now ten years since the launch of the campaign in Afghanistan in the invaded country a few weeks after the attacks of 11 September 2001, will be deployed about 65 U.S. soldiers . White House officials asserted that the decision of this partial withdrawal was taken 18 months after Obama ordered climbing and after having achieved "substantial progress" in combating the Taliban and al Qaeda militants in Afghanistan. The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 just to prosecute the leaders of Al Qaeda, the Islamic militant group considered responsible for the attacks of September 11 of that year, and overthrow the Taliban government, which gave refuge to these radicals. Today, Obama said that U.S. troops are "serving" with the objectives taxes in 2009 when he decided to climb . At that time, the Pentagon proposed to "refocus on Al Qaeda" while withdrawing troops from Iraq and "reverse" the growth of the Taliban, who "had regrouped and were on the offensive, "he said. Obama included among the developments since the coup the military escalation command in early May in Pakistan over the life of Osama bin Laden , "the only known al-Qaeda leader," said President . 'We have Al Qaeda on the road to defeat, " Obama said, and "serious losses applied to the Taliban." The president also seemed to recognize many of the criticisms against him for keeping America at war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya as the country continues to suffer the harsh consequences of the recent recession. "It is time that we focus on building our country," said the president. With an unemployment rate of 9.1% and an economic situation that does not end recover from the crisis, Obama needs to limit the weak points of his administration as they approach the 2012 elections, when Republicans sought to evict the White House. "In the last decade we spend a trillion dollars on wars, at a time increasing debt and economic hardship, "Obama admitted. "Now we must invest in the most precious resource of the United States: its people," he said.

US Harvesters to check Weeds in Dal

In a bid to control the unbridled growth of weeds in the Dal lake and speed up the conservation measures, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has procured two state-of-the-art harvesters from United States.

Officials said the machines have been successfully tested in the Dal and presently foreign experts are imparting training to the staff of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to operate them.

 The harvesters have been procured from the US based Aquarius Systems— the oldest manufacturer of surface water management equipments in the world. The machines known as Aquatic Plant Harvesters are barge mounted machines designed to cut and collect aquatic vegetation including weeds from the water bodies.

 “These machines have been exclusively designed for working in the Dal Lake. We tested the efficacy of the machines in various part of the lake and the results are excellent,” vice-president (Engineering) Aquarius Systems, David D Dauffenbach told Greater Kashmir.

 Having worked in restoration projects in various countries including Brazil, Thailand, Nigeria and Columbia, Dauffenbach believes that glory of Dal can be restored.

 “The condition of Dal is far better than the polluted lakes and water bodies around the lake. Out of scale of 10, I would rate the lake at 6. I believe that sustained conservation measures will pave way for restoration of this beautiful lake. This is the first lake which I have seen where people not only live but earn their livelihood,” he said. 

 On his maiden visit to Kashmir, Dauffenbach says his family has been associated with conservation of Dal decades ago. “My father John Dauffenbach supplied the first harvester for Dal conservation in early eighties. However, for the past three decades, none of our family members could visit Kashmir due to pressing business engagements back home. However, my father used to keep track of Dal through internet. I feel privileged to be associated with Dal conservation,” he said.

 Due to ingress of silt and nutrients from Dal catchments, there has been heavy infestation of weeds in the Dal. The LAWDA’s Executive Engineer, Mechanical, Mushtaq Hussain Jan said the harvesters have effectively cleared the weeds near SKICC. 

 “This part of the lake witnesses massive growth of weeds. With the help of the harvesters, we have managed to cut the weeds near the roots to prevent their speedy growth,” Jan said. He said the foreign experts are imparting training to the LAWDA’s mechanical staff to operate the harvesters. 

 The vice-chairperson of LAWDA, Irfan Yasin said the Aquatic Plant Harvesters can help in the long-term management of weeds in the Dal. “We have to understand that the growth of weeds is a continuous process in the lake. These machines are considered as best for management of weeds and would be beneficial for sustainable management of the lake,” Yasin said.

 Pertinently, in 2007 the High Court had directed the LAWDA to procure latest machines for restoring the lake’s glory. Last year, the LAWDA procured two Water Master Classic III machines and three Truxors from Finland and Switzerland.

 “These machines have increased the pace of our conservation measures and helped us to restore many waterways and channels in Dal,” Yasin added.

U.S. loses 6,600 million dollars in Iraq

Around 6,600 million (4,600 million) of U.S. funds for the reconstruction of Iraq after the invasion of 2003, there have probably been lost, stolen, reported Monday the Los Angeles Times.

The newspaper, citing as a source of information to auditors Americans who have reviewed the accounts, indicating that this amount "was part of the consignment of 12,000 million dollars (nearly 8350 million at current exchange rates) in cash that President George W. Bush authorized in 2003 and 2004. "

"Governments in the U.S. and Iraq are closing the books of that program this month, but after multiple audits and investigations, the Pentagon can not determine what happened to the 6,000 million," adds the article.

According to the newspaper, "first federal auditors indicate that part or all of that wasted money could have been stolen and that (his death) can not be explained simply by accounting errors or misallocation."

Stuart Bowen, special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction program, told the newspaper that the loss of 6,600 million dollars "could be the biggest theft of funds from the U.S. history."

For their part the Iraqi authorities argue that an agreement signed in 2004 between the governments of the U.S. and Iraq, leaving Washington the responsibility of that money. "Abdul Basit Turki Saeed, the chief auditor and president of the Iraqi Board of Supreme Audit Iraqi has warned U.S. officials that Iraq will take legal action to recover funds lost," writes Los Angeles Times.