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U.N. atom agency head "solidly in U.S. court": WikiLeaks

VIENNA (Reuters) – U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Yukiya Amano suggested before he took office last year that he was "solidly in the U.S. court" on key issues including Iran, U.S. diplomatic cables cited by the Guardian newspaper said.

The report may worsen tension between Amano, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Iran at a sensitive time in wider diplomatic efforts to resolve a dispute over the Islamic state's nuclear program.

Talks between Iran and six big powers -- the United States, France, Russia, Britain, China and Germany -- are due to resume next week in Geneva in the first such meeting in more than year.

Western powers suspect Iran of seeking to develop nuclear bombs behind the front of a declared civilian nuclear energy program, an accusation Tehran rejects.

A European diplomat predicted that Tehran's envoy would raise the issue of the leaked U.S. cables at a meeting of the IAEA's 35-nation governing board starting on Thursday, which is due to discuss its latest report on Iran's nuclear activities.

"I'm certain that at some point he will comment on how the United States has stated Amano is their person or is on their wavelength," the diplomat said.

Washington's envoy to the Vienna-based U.N. agency, Ambassador Glyn Davies, said the United States regretted any "embarrassment or discomfort" caused by the leaked documents.

Iran has accused Amano, a veteran Japanese diplomat, of bias and relations, which soured further in June when he said Tehran was hampering IAEA work by barring some of its inspectors.

Throwing independent weight behind the West's suspicions about Tehran's atomic ambitions, Amano said in his first report on Iran in February that the IAEA feared Tehran may be working now to develop a nuclear-armed missile.

U.S. REGRETS

Britain's Guardian is one of a number of publications worldwide to have had early access to some 250,000 U.S. cables obtained by the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks.

The U.S. mission to the IAEA, in a cable written after Amano was elected but before he took office in December 2009, described him as a "DG (Director General) of all states, but in agreement with us."

It said Amano had reminded the U.S. ambassador on several occasions that he would need to make concessions to developing countries, "but that he was solidly in the U.S. court on every key strategic decision, from high-level personnel appointments to the handling of Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program."

Amano, who succeeded Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei after serving as Japanese ambassador to the IAEA, rose into the position thanks to overwhelming support from industrialized states, while many developing countries regarded him as a tool of Western powers.

The cables also suggested there were staff tensions within the IAEA, with one quoting Amano as saying he was seeking to replace a senior official with someone who was closer to his own thinking. The official named is still in his position.

The European diplomat said he believed the impression created by the leaked documents was unfair to Amano, who he said had "done bis best to be a neutral and technical DG."

Davies, the U.S. ambassador, said: "We regret the disclosure of any information that was intended to be confidential and we regret any embarrassment or discomfort to colleagues that the publications of the documents may cause."

(Additional reporting by Sylvia Westall; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Jay-Z decodes life, hip-hop, songs in literary debut

NEW YORK (Reuters) – From selling crack cocaine as a teenage hustler to becoming one of America's richest rappers, Jay-Z writes about his life, decodes his music and explains hip-hop culture in his literary debut "Decoded," set for release on Tuesday.

The New York City native writes in the sometimes coarse language of the Brooklyn streets where he grew up, explaining how hip-hop was his generation's way of telling the world what it was like to grow up in an urban "wartime."

"I lost people I loved, was betrayed by people I trusted, felt the breeze of bullets flying by my head. I saw crack addiction destroy families -- it almost destroyed mine -- but I sold it, too," Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, writes in "Decoded."

"Guns were easier to get in the 'hood than public assistance. There were times when the violence just seemed like background music," Jay-Z, who has won 10 Grammy Awards, said of growing up in the 1980s and early 1990s.

The 40-year-old said he started rapping in 1978 when he was nine and saw an older child "rhyming" at the Marcy public housing complex in Brooklyn where he lived. "That night I started writing rhymes in my spiral notebook," he tells readers.

Hip-hop music was born in New York's South Bronx in 1970s and has grown into an industry worth billions of dollars with mass appeal beyond its urban roots. Rappers not only make music, but also sell the hip-hop lifestyle.

Jay-Z has released 11 studio albums -- 2009's "The Blueprint 3" produced No. 1 U.S. hit "Empire State of Mind" -- and also founded the Rocawear fashion label, which he sold in 2007 for $204 million.

DREAM OF A HUSTLER

He co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and from 2005 to 2007, he was president and chief executive of Def Jam Recordings, which is owned by the Universal Music Group. Jay-Z signed acts including R&B singers Rihanna and Ne-Yo to the label.

The man Forbes magazine predicts will be one of the richest 400 Americans by 2015, said he was inspired by hip-hop pioneer and Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons, describing him as an "informal mentor." Jay-Z met Simmons when he was negotiating a Def Jam deal soon after the 1996 release of his debut album.

"I was looking at Russell and thinking, I want to be this nigga, not his artist," writes Jay-Z, who is married to singer Beyonce. "He'd discovered a way to work in the legit world but to live the dream of a hustler: independence, wealth, and success outside of the mainstream's rules."

In "Decoded" Jay-Z translates 36 of his songs and defends his regular use of "nigga," saying "it's just a word."

"People give words power, so banning a word is futile, really," he wrote. "The key is to change the person. And we change people through conversation, not through censorship."

He likens hip-hop to a mix of poetry and boxing with a competitive edge that is learned by many rappers growing up in tough neighborhoods across the United States.

"That competitive spirit that we learned growing up in the streets was never just for play and theater. It was real. That desire to compete -- and to win -- was the engine of everything we did. And we learned how to compete the hard way," he said.

"This is what the streets have done for us, for me: They've given us our drive; they've made us stronger," Jay-Z writes. "Through hip-hop we found a way to redeem those lessons, and use them to change the world."

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

4-H Programs Worldwide Mobilize to Fight World Hunger

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Nov. 12, 2010 – Global 4-H Network Begins with Pilot in Africa

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an effort to address major global issues such as poverty, food security and youth unemployment in emerging economies, 4-H programs around the world are uniting in a Global 4-H Network. љWith help from five founding partners - the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Cargill, DuPont, Motorola, and the Nike Foundation - National 4-H Council has begun an initiative to bring existing 4-H programs around the world together to create sustainable livelihoods and economic security for the next generation of farmers.

"By 2025, the global youth population will top 1.5 billion, weighing even more heavily on nations that are already facing extreme hunger, poverty and unemployment," said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council. љ"With more than 100 years of proven success in the U.S., 4-H is now a tremendous worldwide asset capable of transforming these challenges into opportunities. By linking existing 4-H programs, youth around the world will be engaged in a global movement to improve their own lives and the economy of their country."

The Global 4-H Network has launched a pilot partnership with Tanzania 4-H, a program that reaches 34,000 children, adolescents and young adults every year. љIn addition to the pilot project in Tanzania, the Global 4-H Network is expanding to connect African and Asian 4-H programs, and 4-H-type programs around the world. љ

"The farmer who will feed the world in 2025 is today's 13-year old boy or girl," said JamesљC. Borel, executive vice president, DuPont and chair of the National 4-H Council Board of Trustees. љ"DuPont believes this global partnership will help prepare tomorrow's farmers to sustainably improve their livelihoods, in turn enhancing the quality of life for their families and supporting their country's economy for generations to come."

To bring the Global 4-H Network to life, National 4-H Council is mobilizing public and private partners for this important work. Faculties from several U.S. land-grant universities are providing guidance and expertise to build the Network's capabilities, including Dr. Mary Crave from The University of Wisconsin-Extension, and Dr. Robert Horton from The Ohio State University.

Additionally, to aid in the further development and management of the Global 4-H Network, a new subcommittee has been created within National 4-H Council's Board of Trustees. The Trustee Global Advisory Committee will serve as advisors to Council's Board and CEO regarding global efforts with Dan Glickman, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, serving as chair.љ

Since its beginning in the United States more than 100 years ago, 4-H has proven to be a successful model for teaching agricultural innovation, building civic engagement, and improving incomes for rural youth. Researchers in the U.S. and around the world report that 4-H is effective in promoting science literacy, civic engagement, and educational attainment. The Global 4-H Network will use the 4-H model to:

Provide research-based information and technical assistance to help improve a country's agricultural productivity, generate income, and improve education;Establish a virtual 4-H Knowledge Center offering culturally-relevant and research-based resources, tools and expertise that can be used at the local level;Link and expand 4-H programs around the world for greater impact and scale through innovative partnerships.Work on the Global 4-H Network has already begun. African 4-H leaders from ten countries are collaborating with National 4-H Council to develop a virtual 4-H Knowledge Center with resources that can be used worldwide. љIn the coming months, Tanzania 4-H club advisors will learn how to use mobile phones and other emerging technologies to receive training and share best practices for working with young people. љ

Susan Naburi, CEO of Tanzania 4-H, said, "Our mission is to build a world in which youth can learn, grow and work together to become economically independent and responsible adults. љWe are excited and look forward to the positive impact of the Global 4-H Network." љ

To learn more about the Global 4-H Network, contact Dr. Jo Turner at .

About 4-H:

4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA. љ4-H programs are implemented by the 109 land grant colleges and universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their local Extension offices. љ4-H programs are further supported by 514,000 dedicated adult volunteers around the nation who help to put 4-H youth on a path towards successful careers. љ Learn more about 4-H at .

SOURCENational 4-H Council

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Linkin Park and Trey Songz race for chart honors

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – Rock band Linkin Park is in a close race with R&B singer Trey Songz for top honors on next week's U.S. pop album chart.

Industry prognosticators suggest that Linkin Park's fourth studio set, "A Thousand Suns," could sell as many as 250,000 to 260,000 copies by week's end on Sunday. Songz's "Passion, Pain & Pleasure" is looking to move between 230,000 and 250,000.

Sales data will be released on Wednesday. The current chart champ is pop singer Sara Bareilles, who sold 89,500 copies of her second album "Kaleidoscope Heart," during the week ended September 12.

Linkin Park reached the top on three other occasion: with 2003's "Meteora," its 2004 "Collision Course" mash-ups set with Jay-Z, and its last studio effort, 2007's "Minutes to Midnight," which kicked off with 623,000 units.

Songz's last album, 2009's "Ready," debuted and peaked at No. 3 with 131,000 units; it has so far shifted 807,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Other albums in the hunt for a top 10 debut next week include country singer Jamey Johnson's "Guitar Song," Weezer's Epitaph Records label debut "Hurley," the Killers frontman Brandon Flowers' "Flamingo" and former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant's "Band of Joy."

Shortage of Single Ladies Drives Men to Commit

Wedding bells ring sooner for women in places where single ladies are scarce, according to a new study of metropolitan areas in America.

Where single women are rare, women marry earlier, researchers reported Aug. 4 in the journal Evolutionary Psychology. The shift may be because the ladies have , while the men have extra motivation to put a ring on it.

"Women are basically getting , because the guys want to get her before somebody else does," study author Daniel Kruger, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Michigan, told LiveScience.

Attack of the single woman

Kruger first became interested in studying the effects of gender imbalance on the marriage market when he caught a glimpse of a magazine cover on a trip to New York City.

"It had this cover picture on it that said, ',' and it had this giant woman with a big red dress like Godzilla tromping through the city," Kruger recalled. "It made me wonder just what would happen to these relationship dynamics if there really was a surplus of single women."

To find out, Kruger analyzed census data on marriage age and gender imbalances in the 50 largest metropolitan areas in America. Using the data, he calculated what's called an operational sex ratio, which is the number of sexually available men per 100 sexually available women, multiplied by 100. A ratio of 100 means a balanced population, while numbers larger than 100 indicate a surplus of men. A ratio of 110, for example, means 11 men are available for every 10 women. A ratio of 90 would mean nine men are available for every 10 women.

After controlling for income and race, Kruger found that in areas where women were scarce, women married slightly earlier. Men's average age of marriage didn't change relative to the abundance of potential mates, but they did show more variability in the age when they married than women did. That's likely because guys who can snag a women will settle down quickly, Kruger said, but because women can be more choosey, other men may have to build up their finances and social status before they can catch a bride.

"[Some guys will] settle down and take the women before other guys can," Kruger said. "But other guys will have to work more and thus they'll get married at later ages."

Top imbalanced cities

The top five areas where women were scarce, with their gender ratio and median age of marriage for women, were:

Las Vegas: ratio 116, 24.5 years (Median marriage age for women)San Diego: ratio 115, 25.9 yearsSalt Lake City: ratio 113, 23.2 yearsAustin, Texas: ratio 112, 26.2 yearsPhoenix: ratio 111, 25 years

The top five areas where men were scarce were:

Birmingham, Ala.: ratio 88, 26.7 years (Median marriage age for women)Memphis, Tenn.: ratio 88, 27.2 yearsNew Orleans: ratio 89, 27.8 yearsRichmond, Va.: ratio 89, 26.3 yearsA three-way tie for New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., ratio 92, where median marriage ages were 28.3, 27.9 and 27.8, respectively.Original Story: chronicles the daily advances and innovations made in science and technology. We take on the misconceptions that often pop up around scientific discoveries and deliver short, provocative explanations with a certain wit and style. Check out our science ,and .to debate hot-button issues like stem cells, climate change and evolution. You can also sign up for free , register forand get cool gadgets at the .