Suicide bomber kills Pakistani president's guard

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) ? A suicide bomber attacked a vehicle Wednesday carrying one of the Pakistani president's guards in the southern city of Karachi, killing him and two police officers, police said.

President Asif Ali Zardari was in Karachi at the time but was not near the scene of the attack, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said. The guard who was killed, Bilal Sheikh, provided security at Zardari's private residence in Karachi and also traveled with the president, Babar said.

"He was a sincere and a long-time member of our party, and we are sad over his death," the spokesman said.

The suicide bomber attacked Sheikh's vehicle when he stopped to buy fruit from a market, senior police officer Raja Umar Khatab said. The blast wounded 11 people, Khatab said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Karachi has a long history of violent attacks, both by Islamic militants and criminal gangs, some of which are allegedly connected with the city's main political parties.

The Pakistani Taliban, who are fighting a bloody insurgency against the government, have made significant inroads in the city in recent years. Many of its members fled Pakistan's northwest to escape army operations and U.S. drone attacks.

The Taliban are suspected of killing Zardari's wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, in a gun and bomb attack in Pakistan's capital of Islamabad in 2007.

___

Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/suicide-bomber-kills-pakistani-presidents-guard-145246370.html

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Millard Fillmore sworn in as president

On this day in 1850, Vice President Millard Fillmore is sworn in as the 13th president of the United States. President Zachary Taylor had died the day before, five days after falling ill with a severe intestinal ailment on the Fourth of July.

Fillmore's manner of ascending to the presidency earned him the nickname His Accidency. He was only the second man to inherit the presidency after a president's death. The first was John Tyler, who had assumed the presidency in 1841 after William Henry Harrison died of pneumonia 30 days into office.

Fillmore was born in 1800 and came from humble beginnings in New York. As a young man, he worked as a wool-carder, cloth-dresser and school teacher. In 1823, he became a lawyer and rose to political prominence in the Whig Party as New York's representative to Congress between 1832 and 1842. In 1847, he was elected New York state comptroller and a year later was chosen as Taylor's vice-presidential running mate.

As vice president, Fillmore quietly expressed his support of a compromise in slavery legislation and thus appeared sympathetic to slave-owning interests. However, President Taylor opposed slavery and vowed to use force against southern states who threatened to secede if denied the right to use slave labor. During Fillmore's single term as president, he passed the Fugitive Slave Act (1850), which made it a crime to support slaves trying to escape to free territories. He also presided over an era of increased settlement across the western part of the continent. As white settlers clashed with indigenous peoples, Fillmore approved one-sided treaties that forcibly placed Native Americans onto government reservations. During this time, millions of Native Americans died from disease and starvation and in wars with government-funded militias.

After losing the support of his northern anti-slavery constituency, the incumbent Fillmore was defeated by the Democrat Franklin Pierce in the 1852 presidential race. After making two more unsuccessful bids for the presidency in 1856 and 1860, he retired to Buffalo, New York, where he served on various legal and historical committees until his death in 1874.

Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!

Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/millard-fillmore-sworn-in-as-president

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BYU elite at turning players into NBA prospects

According to research at Emory University, BYU is one of the best schools in the country at turning recruits into draftable, NBA prospects.

A recent story out of Emory University's Sports Marketing Analytics group ranked BYU 2nd among non-BCS conference schools at transforming high school talent into NBA draft picks. They looked at recruiting classes from 2002 to 2011. Nevada was top among non-BCS schools. Truth be told, Nevada and BYU had the highest rates of any schools in the country.

* Chart courtesy of Emory Sports Marketing Analytics. For a full explanation of their system and the complete rankings, look here.

Of course, this is not apples to apples. In the time period covered, BYU only had one 4+ star recruit according to Rivals.com (DeMarcus Harrison); Duke averages nearly 3 of those recruits every single season. What the BYU coaching staff has excelled at is taking 3-star recruits (like Jimmer Fredette and Trent Plaisted) and turning them into NBA prospects. Or in one extreme case, they took a JC transfer (Rafael Araujo) and groomed him to be a lottery pick.

Why is this important? Well, this is the opposite of the criticism Bronco Mendenhall has endured from some observers about his inability to turn players into NFL prospects. That's mainly been put to bed with the early selection of Ziggy Ansah in the NFL draft, and the draft prospects of Kyle Van Noy and Cody Hoffman in 2014.

As the line goes, recruiting should be helped if you can show high school prospects that their professional dreams are more likely at your school than another. Not that Dave Rose is going to start handing out analytical reports to parents and high school athletes, but the point Rose could (and maybe does) make is that BYU has been a well above average place for 3-star recruits to turn into NBA draftees. It's not just Jimmer either. Trent Plaisted was drafted, Araujo was a nobody, and Travis Hansen was drafted as well if you go back a little further. Brandon Davies made an NBA summer team, and Tyler Haws is likely to get drafted and is playing for team USA.

BYU is not, in most cases, in the business of recruiting the elite hoops talent. This incoming class (which includes two 4-star recruits in Nick Emery and Eric Mika) is a huge exception to that. But what if Rose can get the best 3-star talent, in part by using the NBA draft success of guys like Jimmer and Plaisted as a recruiting pitch?

I don't think this report or these data points are likely to be the deciding factor in a recruit's decision, or will bring in 5-star talent; as Jabari Parker recently showed the world, BYU is not in the elite schools. But Rose (and Steve Cleveland before him) have shown they can create an experience that seems to enhance a recruit's chances to make an NBA roster.

Not many 3-star recruits make the NBA, and BYU is one of the best places to make that happen.

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Source: http://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2013/7/9/4506922/byu-elite-at-turning-players-into-nba-prospects

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Islands Planet for Android 1.0.14

Islands Planet is an innovative 3D puzzler inspired by the Japanese logic game Nurikabe.

The objective is to create continents on a water-covered planet according to specific rules.

Islands Planet features 160 challenging puzzles and 4 difficulty levels.

Requirements:

? Android 2.3.3 or later

What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]

? Added 40 new levels!

Source: http://handheld.softpedia.com/get/Games/Puzzle/Islands-Planet-for-Android-143195.shtml

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The $38000 Midsize SUV Challenge: Results - Automotive News ...

A quick look again at our judges:

• Aaron Bragman, Detroit bureau chief for Cars.com
• Joe Bruzek, editor and car reviewer for Cars.com
• Mike Hanley, editor and car reviewer for Cars.com
• James R. Healey, auto writer for USA Today
• Ben Davis, producer for PBS' "MotorWeek"
• Brian and Melissa Brown, our family judges for this Challenge

Here's how the score broke down: The experts' scores account for 75% of the total score; 15% from the family's scores; and 10% was based on fuel economy. To help you make your own comparisons of these SUVs, we've pulled together a list of what you get for $38,000.

2013 Toyota Venza

Scorecard | Monroney Sticker | Research | Photo Gallery

What they liked: "Rides the lowest and feels the most carlike of the bunch," said Davis, and several others agreed. "That low ride also means easy access to the rear cargo area," he added. "The low step-in height makes it easy to get into and out of," Hanley said. Space was another favored attribute of the Venza. "Great backseat room," Healey said, "probably enough to minimize the 'are-we-there-yet' whining." More than a couple judges enjoyed the Venza's responsive engine. Bruzek liked the "sporty handling and acceleration," and Healey found it "fun to hammer. And it likes corners, and most SUVs can't say that." Davis also pointed out the "refreshingly simple-to-use climate and audio controls. The buttons and knobs are nice and high on the console."

What they didn't: The experts couldn't stop harping on the brakes. "You have to use lots of leg to get very little response," Healey said, "with a lot of sponginess in the bargain." He was not alone in his assessment. "The interior lacks the premium look and feel that the other models in this comparison have," Hanley said. Bragman said the "cheap, hard-plastic parts squeak and creak." And Davis knocked the "tired design, inside and out" of one of the oldest models in this segment. Bruzek noted the small display screen for the navigation system, and finally, several found the ride to be rough, in large part because of the large wheels.

The verdict: "It feels like there's less in this car for the same price as the others," Brian Brown said.

Key Features

• IIHS Top Safety Pick and NHTSA five-star overall crash-test rating
• All-wheel drive
• The most bottleholders and cupholders (10 total)
• Toyota's Entune multimedia system with app integration from your smartphone
• Leather seating; front seats are heated
• All windows are one-touch up and down
• Power liftgate
• Two years or 25,000 miles of complimentary maintenance
• Cargo-area release levers for easy second-row seat folding

2013 Toyota Venza Payment Facts
Price as tested: $35,887
Monthly payment*: $738.18

Find a 2013 Toyota Venza near you.

2013 Nissan Murano

Scorecard | Monroney Sticker | Research | Photo Gallery

What they liked: In many ways, this was a driver's choice. "Light and tossable, the Murano is fun to drive," Bragman said. It "invites you to fling it a bit," Healey said, "yet also rewards you with mechanical aplomb when you don't feel like playing boy racer." The continuously variable automatic transmission "seems much more dialed in than what I'm used to from other Nissans," Davis said. It wasn't all drivetrain, though. The Murano provides "extreme seating comfort," Bruzek said, "with minimal wind and road noise." Bragman agreed. "Those aren't seats, they're thrones: amazingly big and comfortable." And Hanley applauded the "comfy backseat, even for taller adults."

What they didn't: The Murano is one of the oldest and most expensive competitors here, and it showed. "The Murano was the only model with cloth seats in the comparison, and their fuzziness wasn't appealing," Hanley said. Davis found them "hard to look at." Bragman wasn't won over by its polarizing looks: "Ugly is right," he said. "The styling isn't just dated, it's downright odd. It has no chin!" Healey was bothered by a lack of space. It "seems a bit tight for its apparent size," he said. Brian wasn't impressed with the interior: "I just don't like the materials or colors in here."

The verdict: "Ugly and a bit dated inside," Healey said, "but exceptional chassis tuning make driving rewarding."

Key Features

• Only vehicle with a continuously variable automatic transmission
• All-wheel drive
• Only has four cupholders
• Has RCA and USB inputs
• Only vehicle with cloth seats; only vehicle without heated seats
• Power liftgate
• Cargo-area release levers for easy second-row seat folding

2013 Nissan Murano Payment Facts
Price as tested: $37,770 (highest in test)
Monthly payment*: $776.91

Find a 2013 Nissan Murano near you.

2013 Ford Edge

Scorecard | Monroney Sticker | Research | Photo Gallery

What they liked: The Edge stands out visually, both for its unique shape and the brilliant blue color that the tester arrived in. "The styling inside and out is attractive, if a little dated now," Bragman said. "Its bulldog stance is appealing," Healey agreed. Another area of agreement was the Edge's strong visibility. The large greenhouse for the crossover creates "great visibility, thanks to thin roof pillars," Hanley said. The Edge also seems to be a driver's car for a variety of reasons. "I like the sporty, driver-focused dash design," Davis said. "It creates a true cockpit feel." The Edge "feels planted and hunkered down at highway speeds," Bruzek said, and several experts raved about the Edge's ride quality and comfort.

What they didn't: That unique look rubbed some the wrong way. "The once-bold look no longer looks great," Davis said. "It's time for a refresh." Healey found fault with the Edge's handling. "It's very wallowing: The tighter the corner, the more you feel out of control," he said, "even at low speed." But the gorilla in the room for the Edge was Ford's MyFord Touch multimedia system. "The touch-sensitive center stack may look slick," Bragman said, "but it requires you to take your eyes off the road to use it, every time." For Hanley, the system "remains a frustratingly slow multimedia system with a poor interface." For the family, "technology is valuable, but it has to be technology I'm going to use," Missy Brown said. In the end, Healey said, what bothered him was the "price is too high for the features. It's more than $37,000, but there's no all-wheel drive or power liftgate, no push-button start."

The verdict: "The Edge is a solid servant with a nice list of features," Davis said. "The rise is sporty, quiet and comfortable. Unfortunately, its aging design looks even older when parked next to some of the others, and the pricing is a bit strong as well."

Key Features

• Front wheel drive
• IIHS Top Safety Pick
• One of two vehicles with a blind spot warning system
• No keyless access
• Plenty of multimedia hookups: RCA, SD card, iPod and USB inputs
• One of two without a power liftgate
• Leather heated (front) seats, configurable gauge cluster and rear parking sensors
• MyFord Touch multimedia system with app integration from your smartphone
• Cargo-area release levers for easy second-row seat folding

2013 Ford Edge Payment Facts
Price as tested: $37,125
Monthly payment*: $763.64

Find a 2013 Ford Edge near you.

2014 Kia Sorento

Scorecard | Monroney Sticker | Research | Photo Gallery

What they liked: Fun to drive, comfortable ride and a cool-looking interior. What's not to like? "The drivetrain goes fast and shifts great," Healey said, "and it doesn't default to Eco mode on restart." It has a "refined ride at all speeds," Bruzek said. Its "refined and powerful V-6 provides exceptional passing power," Hanley added. "Excellent design textures inside and out," Davis said. "Even the grille was impressive." Bragman also chimed in that the Sorento has a "commanding driving position from the high seats and the low dashboard." And he noted: "Lots of great content for the money," a Kia recipe that continues to work for the automaker.

What they didn't: While that dashboard looks cool and is out of the way, it's a "dim digital dashboard," Davis complained. Several experts also said that rear visibility was lacking, and Healey said the amount of room was "not much versus the others." Tight rear-seat knee space and small rear-door storage pockets also drew knocks. Experts were split over both the ride quality (which some applauded) and material quality, which some called cheap. "I like the style of the Kia, but the others felt higher quality," Missy said. In terms of driving, "the gas pedal is unusually stiff, requiring extra effort when accelerating," Hanley said. It also has "notable body roll," he added. And Healey thought its price was "a bit steep, even considering it has all-wheel drive. Seems wrong that value-oriented brand Kia would be among the priciest models."

The verdict: "The Kia Sorento's ride is like no other Sorento before: refined, smooth and quiet over the roughest suburban roads," Bruzek said. "Its second row is roomy and filled with family-friendly features like side-window sunshades, a 110-volt household outlet and a flat floor for extra room."

Key Features

• Redesigned for 2014
• All-wheel drive
• IIHS Top Safety Pick
• Blind spot warning system
• Kia's new UVO multimedia uses your smartphone via Bluetooth
• Leather seating, front seats are both heated and ventilated
• Rear parking sensors and a large panoramic sunroof
• 40/20/40-split folding backseat
• Power liftgate
• Three driver-selectable modes: Sport, Comfort and Normal

2014 Kia Sorento Payment Facts
Price as tested: $37,650
Monthly payment*: $774.44

Find a 2014 Kia Sorento near you.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Scorecard | Monroney Sticker | Research | Photo Gallery

What they liked: The Santa Fe Sport was the crowd favorite, for many reasons. "It feels premium and has thoughtful features," Healey said, "such as large, color displays of numbers and letters in the driver information panel that are easily read with a peek." Its "premium interior finishes and cabin design might surprise some car shoppers," Hanley added, and Bragman called the Santa Fe Sport "the surprise athlete of the group. It feels light on its feet and is fun to drive quickly." Davis was wowed by the "out-of-this-world sunroof" and said that the below-load floor "hidden storage made me feel like Han Solo." Bruzek pointed out it was the only competitor "tested with a sliding rear seat," which is always helpful in a vehicle of this type. It wasn't just interior features, though. "The turbo four-cylinder's great low-end power makes passing and merging easy," Hanley said, and Bruzek said it was the "most nimble-handling of the bunch." Finally, the Santa Fe Sport was also the least expensive of the group.

What they didn't: That sunroof came at a cost, though: "It eats up headroom in the backseat," Bragman said. "Anyone taller than 5 feet 11 [inches] will not be comfortable." Several experts thought the four-cylinder engine was noisy and found its ride "bumpy," as Bruzek called it. That low price also meant that some key features, including a power liftgate or all-wheel drive, were missing. The SUV lacked space, Healey said: "Not exactly the [Chevrolet] Suburban of the bunch." And Healey and Hanley both faulted the handling. "It has a disappointing steering feel that's both numb and artificially weighted," Hanley said. Finally, several noted that visibility out the back was less than optimal.

The verdict: "The Santa Fe Sport's acceleration and features list are both impressive," Hanley said, "but Hyundai hasn't cracked the code as far as driving dynamics are concerned."

Key Features

• New model for 2013
• Only vehicle tested with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine
• Front-wheel drive
• IIHS Top Safety Pick and NHTSA five-star overall crash-test rating
• No memory settings for power adjustable driver's seat and no smartphone app integration
• Leather seats, heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel
• One of two without a power liftgate
• Three driver-selectable modes: Sport, Comfort and Normal
• Has a large panoramic sunroof
• Has a 40/20/40-split folding backseat
• Hyundai's Blue Link teleconnect service (three years of free service come standard)

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Payment Facts
Price as tested: $34,205 (lowest in test)
Monthly payment*: $703.58

Find a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport near you.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Scorecard | Monroney Sticker | Research | Photo Gallery

What they like: Like isn't a strong enough word for how everyone felt about the Grand Cherokee's interior. "A luxury liner compared to the challengers," Healey raved. "It looks, feels, even smells like a luxury car in there," Bragman said. "Beautiful," "premium," "elegant" and "best in test" were also thrown around. But it's more than just a pretty face. "When the Eco mode is deactivated," Hanley said, "the V-6 engine and eight-speed transmission are a well-matched pair." It provides a "commanding view of the road," Bruzek noted. "It has nice rear visibility helped out by generous side mirrors," Davis said. Several noted the Chrysler Uconnect system's ease of use. "It's the best multimedia system of the bunch," Bragman said. And in the biggest affirmation possible, "it does as you ask" Healey said. "This feels nicer than the other cars," Missy said, "and for the same price? It's hard to believe something this nice costs the same as the others!"

What they didn't: That Eco mode drove a few judges crazy. "To leave it on is an offense against God and man," Healey said, "given how it hobbles the drivetrain and erases the Jeep's fun-to-drive factor." "That big power comes with a big thirst," Bragman pointed out, "and rear-wheel drive may not go over well in some climates." "I wish the pricing was a little lower so I could more easily afford one," Davis said. Both Davis and Bragman noted how busy the steering wheel is with buttons, both on the front and back of the wheel. Seriously. Interestingly, both Hanley and Davis found fault with the shifter. "The electronic gear selector has a cheap feel and makes it harder to select the gear you want," Hanley said.

The verdict: "This is the one to have if you are looking for a true SUV and not merely a carlike tall wagon," Bragman said.

Key Features

• Refreshed for 2014
• Rear-wheel drive (only one)
• IIHS Top Safety Pick
• Chrysler's Uconnect multimedia system with app integration from your smartphone
• Only vehicle with a complimentary 12-month satellite radio subscription
• USB inputs throughout the cabin to charge or play mobile devices
• Leather seats, heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel
• Rear parking sensors and a configurable gauge cluster
• Power liftgate
• Fits three child-safety seats in the second row (only vehicle to do so)

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Payment Facts
Price as tested: $37,585
Monthly payment*: $773.11

Find a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee near you.

*Monthly payment assumes good credit, no money down, 60-month loan, 5% interest and 9% sales tax.

Index | Overview | Family | Results | Mileage | Cargo

Source: http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2013/07/the-38000-midsize-suv-challenge-results.html

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Afghanistan arrests former US translator

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? Afghan authorities have arrested a man who served as a translator for U.S. Special Forces and was wanted on allegations he tortured and killed civilians, the country's intelligence service said Monday.

Zakaria Kandahari was picked up "recently" in the southern city of Kandahar for "various crimes," in a special operation conducted by the Afghan National Directorate for Security, the intelligence agency said in a statement.

It did not elaborate, but the Defense Ministry has said Kandahari was wanted on charges of murder and torture in connection with the disappearances of nine boys and men who turned up dead.

The U.S.-led coalition has denied any involvement in the disappearances, but the case has further strained Washington's relations with President Hamid Karzai, and could complicate plans to leave special operations forces in Afghanistan after combat troops complete their withdrawal next year. American officials have suggested keeping a special operations presence in Afghanistan in a counter-terrorism role against al-Qaida even after all other combat troops leave at the end of 2014.

When the allegations about Kandahari surfaced, Karzai ordered U.S. special forces out of the Narkh district of Wardak province, where the disappearances occurred. Karzai had originally ordered them out of the whole province but Gen. Joseph Dunford, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, said such a move would threaten the security of Kabul, 45 kilometers (less than 30 miles) south.

When he was arrested, Kandahari had three pistols, two fake Afghan National ID cards and seven other false IDs on him, the intelligence service said.

It added that it would release further details about the case later, and that its investigation of Kandahari is ongoing.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/afghanistan-arrests-former-us-translator-112813859.html

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Escape from Roswell with Google's Intergalactic Point-and-Click Doodle

Today is the 66th anniversary of Roswell, whatever Roswell really was. But according to a festive Google Doodle, it was definitely an alien crash-landing. And also a point-and-click adventure. If you can spare a few minutes?you can spare a few minutes?it's worth investigating, with or without a crew of federal agents. [Google]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/escape-from-roswell-with-googles-intergalactic-point-a-701384937

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