Aapep blog

U.N.'s Ban urges peaceful transition in Egypt

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Friday for a "transparent, orderly and peaceful transition" in Egypt following President Hosni Mubarak's resignation in the face of huge protests.

In a statement to reporters, Ban also said he wanted to see "free, fair and credible" elections in Egypt that would lead to early establishment of civilian rule.

"I respect what must have been a difficult decision (by Mubarak), taken in the wider interests of the Egyptian people," said Ban, who was criticized last week by Egypt's U.N. mission for what it considered overly outspoken earlier comments.

"The voice of the Egyptian people, particularly the youth, has been heard, and it is for them to determine the future of their country," Ban said, terming this a "historic moment.".

(Reporting by Patrick Worsnip; Editing by Christopher Wilson)

First 3-D Mammography Test Cleared

FRIDAY, Feb. 11 (HealthDay News) -- The first three-dimensional mammography system has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Selenia Dimensions System produces 3-D and 2-D X-ray images of the breast to help doctors in the early detection of breast cancer. With conventional 2-D mammography systems, about 10 percent of patients require additional testing to determine if abnormalities are cancerous, the FDA said in a news release.

Nearly 40 million mammograms are done each year in the United States, the agency said. The U.S. National Cancer Institute recommends the procedure every one to two years for women 40 and older.

In clinical testing of the newly approved system, radiologists showed a 7 percent improvement in the ability to distinguish cancerous and non-cancerous abnormalities, compared with conventional mammography systems, the FDA said.

Noting that the Selenia system exposed women to about double the amount of radiation of a conventional mammogram, the agency said fewer women had to be re-tested with the new system, sparing them exposure to additional radiation.

The Selenia system is produced by Holgoic Inc., based in Bedford, Mass.

More information

The FDA has more about this approval.

Family of AWOL Marine renews interest in book deal

SALT LAKE CITY – More than six years after a Marine corporal was charged with desertion for allegedly faking his own kidnapping in Iraq, his family is once again making rumblings about clearing his name.

The effort, however, wouldn't play out in military court. Instead, the Utah family of Wassef Ali Hassoun contacted a Los Angeles publicist in search of a $1 million book and movie deal.

"Our purpose from the book and the movie is to tell the public what really happened in year 2004 and clear Wassef's name once and for all," Hassoun's brother, Sami Hassoun, wrote in e-mails to Los Angeles publicist Michael Sands that were provided to The Associated Press.

Wassef Ali Hassoun, now 31, went missing twice from the military — first in June 2004 in the purported kidnapping at the hands of Islamic extremists, and again in January 2005, when he failed to return to Camp Lejeune, N.C., after a visit to Utah to see relatives.

He was charged twice with desertion, and his whereabouts remain unknown, although Sands said Sami Hassoun told him on the phone that his brother was in Lebanon.

Last month, however, Sami Hassoun contacted Sands and asked if a book and movie deal the family had tried to negotiate in 2005 — then refused to sign — might be revived.

"They come back, reappear six years later as if they had amnesia," said Sands, a contractor who has worked with the Pentagon and various branches of the military. "This is a very compelling story, but there is a dark shadow over (Wassef) and he needs to come clean."

Sands said clearing the name of Wassef Ali Hassoun would require him to take responsibility for his actions by returning to the U.S. to face military sanctions.

But Sami Hassoun backed away when pressed to answer questions about happened to his brother in 2004, including what proof exists of the kidnapping and whether Wassef was abused by his captors, Sands said.

In one e-mail, Sami Hassoun said he has the answers but then asked Sands to "send the numbers to us so we can move forward," a reference to the book and movie deal.

Soon after, Sami Hassoun claimed he was pursuing other offers involving the project, according to the e-mails. He did not respond to multiple e-mails from the AP seeking comment.

Multiple messages left at the Utah homes of Hassoun's parents and his elder brother, Mohamad Hassoun, were not returned.

In interviews with the AP in 2005, Mohamed Hassoun maintained his brother had not done anything wrong except failing to return to Camp Lejeune after being allowed to visit family in Utah for Christmas in 2004.

Wassef Ali Hassoun was an Arabic translator who joined the Marines following the September 2001 terrorist attacks. His strange saga began June 20, 2004, when he failed to report for duty at Camp Fallujah in Iraq.

Seven days later, a photo of a blindfolded Hassoun with a sword poised above his head turned up on Al-Jazeera television. A group called the National Islamic Resistance/1920 Revolution Brigade claimed to be holding him.

On July 8, 2004, Hassoun contacted American officials in Beirut, Lebanon, claiming to have been kidnapped. He was returned to the U.S. and eventually to Camp Lejeune.

After a Navy investigation, the military charged Hassoun with desertion, loss of government property, theft of a military firearm for allegedly leaving camp with a 9 mm service pistol, and theft of a Humvee.

A January 2005 hearing on the matter was cancelled when Hassoun failed to return to Camp Lejeune.

A warrant issued in 2005 for Hassoun by the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, II Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Lejeune remains active, said Maj. Carl Redding, a spokesman for the Marines. If he were to return to U.S. soil, Hassoun would be arrested and prosecuted.

It's not clear where Hassoun, who holds dual citizenship in Lebanon and the U.S., might be hiding.

In Feb. 2006, then-Secretary of State Condolezza Rice asked the Lebanese government to turn Hassoun over to the U.S., along with four other men. Lebanese officials refused.

In his communications with Sands, Sami Hassoun claims to be living in Dubai, and said he is communicating with his brother but does not disclose Wassef Ali Hassoun's location.

During negotiations with the family, Sands, who has never spoken with Wassef Ali Hassoun, and retired FBI agent and author Bob Hamer were invited to the Middle East to meet with Hassoun.

"We still want to go," Sands said. "I think it's still an incredible story about how all of this happened."

Vote For Your Super Bowl Ad Faves On Facebook

For the first time, this year you'll have a chance to vote on your favorite Super Bowl ads on Facebook. By the way, the Super Bowl is on Fox this year; kickoff is at 3:25 pm PST / 6:25 pm EST.

Go to thepage, and there you'll see Facebook Replay, eventually including all the . Although the page was supposed to open at 2 p.m. Eastern today, according to , it's already populated with lots of spots waiting for your vote.

Click "like" on your favorites, and the winner will be announced on Thursday. Don't worry if you've missed the voting on Super Bowl Sunday you'll be able to pick your favorites until Wednesday.

Couple of comments: Isn't this an ad man's dream, where people scramble to watch corporate advertisements? Consumers are transformed into instant fans of these mini masterpieces, recommending them to their friends in an explosion of viral marketing. Maybe this year's $3 million price tag for each 30 seconds of ad time is getting closer to being a good investment, thanks to .

One other point: Have you noticed the numerous references everywhere to "The Big Game?" Advertisers and corporate entities are bending over backwards not to mention those hallowed registered trademarked words owned by the , because, of course, that'll cost them. But not us -- we can write it all we want, like so: Super Bowl, Super Bowl, Super Bowl.

I'll write one more thing. Packers by 7.

Vonn uncertain for worlds' super-G

ZWIESEL, Germany (AFP) – American Lindsey Vonn has placed doubt on whether she will be ready to defend her super-G crown at next week's alpine ski world championships.

Vonn, who suffered a head injury in a crash Wednesday while training for the women's World Cup events this weekend, said she will wait until the last minute before making any decision on her participation.

"It's possible, everything is possible. Basically my plan is I'll train Monday Super-G and I will see how it holds up," said Vonn, the reigning and three-time overall World Cup champion.

Vonn hinted she was still feeling the effects of Wednesday's crash, to the extent it has left her with doubts over whether she could handle the speed and last-minute decision-making required in the super-G.

"It's one thing to be a little confused in GS (giant slalom), it's not so fast. In super-G, if I can't concentrate, it's a major safety concern," added Vonn, who pulled out of the women's slalom on Friday.

"I am going to wait to the last minute, because it's getting better and better."

The world championships will be held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany on February 8-20.

Vonn, who took Olympic bronze in the super-G and gold in the downhill at Vancouver last year, is also the reigning world downhill champion.