Understand the characteristics of structured settlements to state

Understanding Structured Settlements
What is Structured Settlements? How does it work for me?

Have you brought a lawsuit against a company or an individual that you claim caused you permanent harm as a result of their negligence or intentional misconduct? (that's just a fancy "lawyer" way of saying that you’re hurt and you say it’s their fault). Did you win or settle your lawsuit? If so, then you need to understand the basics about structured settlements, as it may be an important option to consider.

Ordinarily, when you win a judgment or settle your lawsuit the defendant has to pay you the judgment or settlement amount in a lump sum. Let's say, for example, you have a form of cancer caused by asbestos called asbestosis. You sue the asbestos manufacturer, who agrees to settle out of court for a million dollars (don't get excited or disappointed; this is just an imaginary amount for example purposes). You get a check for a million dollars, right?

That's one option, but a structured settlement might make more sense depending on your circumstances. A structured settlement pays you in installments over time instead of a single lump sum.

Installment payments can be structured in a number of ways to suit your needs and to protect you from inflation. They can range from a simple yearly payment to complex arrangements consisting of an initial lump sum payment, monthly indexed installments, deferred payments, and special provisions relating to the future care or death of the insured.

Typically, the defendant would purchase an annuity (from an annuity or insurance company) for a dollar amount that is paid up front. The annuity provides regularly scheduled income payments as specified by you and your attorney under the terms of the structured settlement.

What are the advantages of a structured settlement? Well, for one thing, you are guaranteed a source in income for life. A second important advantage is tax management: you may be able to substantially reduce the taxes you would have to pay Uncle Sam on any investment income that would otherwise accrue from investment of a lump sum settlement.

Apart from the tax savings, it's also important to "know thy self" when making a decision about structured settlements. Are you the kind of person who would head to Vegas, do a little world travel, buy lots of toys, and basically blow your money until you have nothing left of your million dollars in a year or two? If so, a structured settlement might be the way to go.

There are some negatives, however, that you need to be aware of. First, once you agree to it, you are stuck with the terms of the structured settlement. You cannot change it at some later date. Hence, it's very important to be represented by a good attorney and tax advisor who will help negotiate structured settlement terms that meet your needs, such as protection from rising inflation. If you don’t expect to live very long, on the other hand, you may want a settlement that guarantees a minimum payment even if you die before the guarantee period expires. This can protect your family or beneficiaries from being left without financial resources.

Contrary to the suspicions of some uniformed plaintiffs, structured settlements are not intended to and do not (assuming you are represented by a decent lawyer) re-assess or change your award. They are simply a device to allow for payment of your judgment or settlement over time, or on an installment basis. They are flexible and can be structured to meet many needs and life circumstances.

People who receive structured settlement payments however may decide at some point during the life of the settlement that they need more money in the short term rather than periodic payments over time. In this case, some people opt for a structured settlement factoring transaction. With this type of transaction the structured settlement recipient can sell (or encumber) all or part of their future periodic payments for a present lump sum.

While a structured settlement is not appropriate for everyone, they can be very useful, depending on your needs. Your attorney can help you evaluate whether they are suitable for you. Some additional links with more information about structured settlements are included at the bottom of this page.

This article is intended to provide general information only, not legal advice. Please consult an attorney for advice in connection with structured settlements or any of the issues addressed in this article

Mesothelioma cancer the most common - after night !

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma cancer most commonly develops in the lungs of people exposed to asbestos.

Effective treatments are available to ease symptoms and improve your prognosis.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos. It can affect the thin, protective membrane surrounding the lungs, heart or abdominal cavity. An estimated 3,000 cases annually are diagnosed in the United States, and the majority of those are traced to an occupational exposure.

Although the use of asbestos has been reduced dramatically in recent decades, the incidence of mesothelioma has remained steady. It can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos before obvious symptoms appear and a definitive diagnosis is made. While there still is no cure - and the prognosis is typically poor - significant progress has been made in recent years regarding treatment options and various alternative therapies.

How Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma cancer develops after exposure to asbestos, which most often occurs in the workplace – in industrial settings, shipyards, auto repair shops, old houses, schools and public buildings. It takes long-term exposure to make someone at risk, but heavy, short-term asbestos exposure is known to cause mesothelioma cancer.

Microscopic asbestos fibers are breathed in or swallowed. The human body has difficulty destroying or getting rid of these fibers. Over decades, the fibers cause biological changes that result in inflammation, scarring and genetic damage. The most susceptible area to these fibers is the lining of the lungs, called the pleura, although fibers also can become trapped in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Once fibers cause biological damage, the stage is set for a 20- to 50-year latency period for malignant mesothelioma to develop.

Learn more about the causes of mesothelioma

Types and Symptoms

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, representing about 75 percent of cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common type, consisting of about 10 to 20 percent of cases. Approximately 1 percent of cases are of the pericardial variety. Another rare type known as testicular mesothelioma represents less than 1 percent of cases.

Pleural

This type forms in the lining of the lungs, and its increased incidence has allowed more studies to improve treatment methods and survival rates.

Learn more

Peritoneal

Developing in the lining of the abdominal cavity, peritoneal mesothelioma responds best to a combination of surgery and heated chemotherapy.

Learn more

Pericardial

Emerging from the lining of the heart, pericardial mesothelioma is the most challenging to treat because of the proximity of the tumors to the heart.

Learn more

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Because early symptoms of mesothelioma are so mild, few people notice or recognize them, and many don’t experience any symptoms until later stages of the cancer. Fatigue and slight pain around the tumor may surface in early stages. Late-stage malignant mesothelioma symptoms are more noticeable and commonly provoke someone to visit the doctor. These late-onset symptoms can include shortness of breath, chronic pain near the tumor, weight loss, fluid buildup or bowel obstruction. Effective therapies are available to relieve symptoms, and some treatments, like talc pleurodesis, can even prevent symptom recurrence.

Learn more about mesothelioma symptoms

How Mesothelioma is Diagnosed

All patients have a unique path to a diagnosis, but the most important factors to an accurate diagnosis are imaging scans and biopsies. Doctors use several tests to diagnose mesothelioma. Most people initially undergo a basic chest X-ray to check for any abnormalities. If abnormal growth is detected, a doctor will recommend a more detailed imaging scan like a PET scan, CT scan or MRI. If mesothelioma is suspected, a biopsy will be recommended. In a biopsy, a tissue sample is collected to confirm the presence of mesothelioma cells.

Blood tests for mesothelioma are also available, but they do not confirm the presence of mesothelioma. Research and development is underway to determine if mesothelioma blood tests can aid in early diagnosis for at-risk former asbestos workers.

Learn more about how mesothelioma is diagnosed

Staging

There are at least five systems that doctors use for the staging of pleural mesothelioma. Older systems like those created by Drs. Butchart and Sugarbaker did not classify tumors with tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) descriptors, so the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (IMIG) developed the detailed IMIG staging system in 1995. This system is the most widely used staging system for mesothelioma.

Learn more about mesothelioma stages

Mesothelioma Treatment

Treatment options for mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Many mesothelioma doctors prefer to combine two or more of these treatments, an approach known as multimodal therapy. Clinical trials show this approach has improved survival rates

Acne common skin disease - it's bad face for man and women

Acne is a common skin disease that causes pimples. Pimples form when hair follicles under your skin clog up. Most pimples form on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Anyone can get acne, but it is common in teenagers and young adults. It is not serious, but it can cause scars.

No one knows exactly what causes acne. Hormone changes, such as those during the teenage years and pregnancy, probably play a role. There are many myths about what causes acne. Chocolate and greasy foods are often blamed, but there is little evidence that foods have much effect on acne in most people. Another common myth is that dirty skin causes acne; however, blackheads and pimples are not caused by dirt. Stress doesn't cause acne, but stress can make it worse.

If you have acne

Clean your skin gently
Try not to touch your skin
Avoid the sun

Treatments for acne include medicines and creams.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

The importance of life insurance to secure the family's income, as much as possible

Definition of 'Life Insurance'
A protection against the loss of income that would result if the insured passed away. The named beneficiary receives the proceeds and is thereby safeguarded from the financial impact of the death of the insured.

Investopedia Says
Investopedia explains 'Life Insurance'
The goal of life insurance is to provide a measure of financial security for your family after you die. So, before purchasing a life insurance policy, you should consider your financial situation and the standard of living you want to maintain for your dependents or survivors. For example, who will be responsible for your funeral costs and final medical bills? Would your family have to relocate? Will there be adequate funds for future or ongoing expenses such as daycare, mortgage payments and college? It is prudent to re-evaluate your life insurance policies annually or when you experience a major life event like marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, or purchase of a major item such as a house or business

The characteristics and qualities of asbestos mineral fiber new news

Asbestos

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance it has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. Asbestos has been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.

Elevated concentrations of airborne asbestos can occur after asbestos-containing materials are disturbed by cutting, sanding or other remodeling activities. Improper attempts to remove these materials can release asbestos fibers into the air in homes, increasing asbestos levels and endangering people living in those homes

The risks and benefits of Bextra on humans now

What is the most important information I should know about Bextra?

Bextra was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2005.

The manufacturer of Bextra has announced the voluntary withdrawal of the drug from the U.S. market. This withdrawal is due to safety concerns of an increased risk of cardiovascular events (including heart attack and stroke) in patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Bextra is a "COX-2" selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and safety concerns of an increased risk of rare but serious skin reactions in patients taking Bextra.
Do not take Bextra without first talking to your doctor if you have experienced asthma, hives, or an allergic reaction after taking a sulfa-based medication such as sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, Gantanol, and others) or sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin); aspirin; or another NSAID such as celecoxib (Celebrex), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, and others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine, Lodine XL), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin). You may experience a similar reaction to Bextra. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop abdominal pain, tenderness, or discomfort; nausea; bloody vomit; bloody, black, or tarry stools; unexplained weight gain; swelling or water retention; fatigue or lethargy; a skin rash; itching; yellowing of the skin or eyes;"flu-like" symptoms; or unusual bruising or bleeding. These symptoms could be early signs of dangerous side effects. Serious skin reactions have occurred in patients taking Bextra. These reactions tend to occur within the first two weeks of treatment, but may occur at any time during treatment. Stop taking Bextra and contact your doctor immediately if you develop a skin rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; swelling of the lips, tongue or face; or other symptoms of an allergic reaction.
What is Bextra?

Bextra was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2005.

Bextra is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Bextra works by reducing substances in the body that cause inflammation, pain, and fever.
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Bextra is used to reduce pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis. Bextra is also used to treat painful menstruation.

Bextra may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Bextra?

The manufacturer of Bextra has announced the voluntary withdrawal of the drug from the U.S. market. This withdrawal is due to safety concerns of an increased risk of cardiovascular events (including heart attack and stroke) in patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Bextra is a "COX-2" selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and safety concerns of an increased risk of rare but serious skin reactions in patients taking Bextra.
Do not take Bextra without first talking to your doctor if you have experienced asthma, hives, or an allergic reaction after taking a sulfa-based medication such as sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, Gantanol, and others) or sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin); aspirin; or another NSAID such as celecoxib (Celebrex), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, and others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine, Lodine XL), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin). You may experience a similar reaction to Bextra.

Bextra should not be used for the treatment of pain after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). The use of Bextra in such patients has led to an increased incidence of cardiovascular events, deep surgical infections and wound complications. Talk to your doctor before taking Bextra if you are being treated for pain associated with CABG.

Before taking Bextra, tell your doctor if you

smoke;

drink alcohol;

have an ulcer or bleeding in the stomach;
have liver disease;
have kidney disease;

have asthma;

have congestive heart failure;

have fluid retention;

have heart disease;

have high blood pressure;

have a coagulation (bleeding) disorder or are taking an anticoagulant (blood thinner) such as warfarin (Coumadin); or

are taking a steroid medicine such as prednisone (Deltasone and others), methylprednisolone (Medrol and others), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred, and others), and others.

You may not be able to take Bextra, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions, or are taking any of the medicines, listed above.
Bextra is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Bextra should not be taken late in pregnancy (the third trimester) because it may affect the formation of the baby's heart. Do not take Bextra without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Bextra passes into breast milk. Do not take Bextra without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. If you are over the age of 65 years, you may be more likely to experience side effects from Bextra. You may require a lower dosage or special monitoring during your therapy

Bankruptcy and exit routes in the United States

Enron filed for bankruptcy in the Northern District of Texas. See more corporation pictures.

­Bankruptcy is one of the most complex areas of law, incorporating elements of contract law, corporate law, tax law and real estate law. In recent years, several high-profile corporations like Enron, WorldCom and Adelphia have filed for bankruptcy. Although businesses only accounted for about 2 percent of all bankruptcy filings in the United States last year, commercial bankruptcies can have a big impact on the economy because there can be a lot of money at stake

In this article, we'll explain the different types of bankruptcy filings under United States law, figure out who pays what to whom, and describe the process of reorganizing a company and running it under bankruptcy.

All of the different kinds of corporate bankruptcy amount to the same problem -- a company has more debt than it can pay. In this situation, a company files for bankruptcy. This gives it legal protection from its creditors. The company can either get out from under the debt or work out a repayment plan and continue operating. A bankruptcy filing prevents creditors from trying to collect on debts outside the process of the bankruptcy filing itself.

What circumstances lead a company to file for bankruptcy? Sometimes debt grows over time until the business owners realize they have no hope of paying it off. The 2002 bankruptcy of Kmart is an example of this. Competition from other discount store chains led to a steady decline in sales, and the company began missing payments to their suppliers

Big Money Kmart filed the largest United States retail bankruptcy in 2002, with over $17 billion in assets. Those numbers seem tiny compared to the top United States bankruptcies:   Filing Year   Company   Assets   2002   WorldCom   $104 billion   2001   Enron   $64 billion   2002   Conseco Corporation   $63 billion   2005   Delta Airlines   $21.8 billion   2002   Adelphia Communications   $21.4 billion   2005   Delphi   $16.5 billion

Companies sometimes face a sudden loss of revenue that prevents them from paying their suppliers. For example, a printing company might draw 30 percent of its revenue from a single publisher. If that publisher moved its contract to a different company, the printer would lose almost a third of its revenue. However, it would still have to pay employee wages, health care plans, taxes, suppliers and all of its other bills.

A sudden, massive financial loss can result in instant debt without the revenue to pay for it. This is often the result of some wrongdoing on the company's part. A lawsuit or government fines can cost a company millions or billions of dollars. Scandals can also cause stock prices to drop. WorldCom was already struggling in 2002 when an accounting scandal became public. The scandal severely damaged the company and forced them into bankruptcy.

Creditors can also force a company into bankruptcy. They might do this if they discover that the owners are selling off all of the company's assets and preparing to dismantle the company without paying their debts. A creditor might also force a bankruptcy if the company is already making large payments to a different creditor.

Next, we'll take a look at the different terms used in bankruptcy filings and see how bankruptcy filings generally work.

Usefulness of auto insurance and insurance rates news now

For many newer drivers car insurance is more a pain than a benefit, with the pain part being located in the higher premiums they have to pay. Here are some of the main reasons car insurance is important.

The state in which you live in and drive in probably requires that you carry a certain amount of car insurance on your vehicles. The amount of car insurance that you must carry as a minimum on each vehicle varies from state to state.

States will also mandate what type of car insurance is required. In some states, you only need liability, while other states may require more.

Drivers should understand that in many states if you are pulled over by the authorities and found to be without car insurance you run the risk of having your vehicle impounded on the spot. In some states it is literally illegal for the police to allow you to continue driving once they know you do not have the proper automobile insurance.

In addition to having your vehicle impounded you may also find yourself being charged heavy fees and fines by the courts. Of course, in addition to all these troubles, you may have your driver's license suspended or revoked for a certain amount of time.

Car insurance protects you from personal liability should you be in an accident. Aside from the legal requirements, this is the main reason you want car insurance. If you are in an accident and you are at fault you can be held personally responsible for the costs of medical bills if a person is injured and major monetary awards if a person is killed. These costs can all but ruin most families.

It can mean selling your home, selling your stocks and bonds, or selling other assets in order to pay the costs. It can also mean years of future payments in the event you cannot pay them all at once, which most people cannot do. Depending on the amount of the rewards, you could spend the rest of your natural life paying them off.

But what about you? What if you are hit by someone who does not have insurance? If you do not have insurance either, chances are good you will be faced with your own medical payments. You can, of course, sue the other person but what if they are destitute and cannot pay? Your own car insurance will usually help with those payments.

In addition, depending on the type of car insurance that you have, your vehicle can be repaired or replaced, thus saving you the out of pocket expense of replacing it yourself.

The last reason for having car insurance has to do with repair of the other vehicle if you hit someone. As you know, vehicle repairs can be very expensive. If you are shown to be at fault in an accident you may be required to pay for the repairs or the replacement of the vehicle that you hit. Again, this is money that has to come out of your pocket.

As an aside to this, you are also responsible for any real property damage that you might cause. For example, if you run into a house and cause a wall to collapse, you would be required to make payment for those repairs. One single accident can all but force you into bankruptcy court if you are not protected by car insurance

Inventor of computer mouse dies at 88

Douglas Engelbart, a technologist who conceived of the computer mouse and laid out a vision of an Internet decades before others brought those ideas to the mass market, died on Tuesday night. He was 88.
His eldest daughter, Gerda, said by telephone that her father died of kidney failure.
Engelbart arrived at his crowning moment relatively early in his career, on a winter afternoon in 1968, when he delivered an hour-long presentation containing so many far-reaching ideas that it would be referred to decades later as the "mother of all demos".
Speaking before an audience of 1,000 leading technologists in San Francisco, Engelbart, a computer scientist at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI), showed off a cubic device with two rolling discs called an "X-Y position indicator for a display system". It was the mouse's public debut.
Engelbart then summoned, in real-time, the image and voice of a colleague 48 km away. That was the first videoconference. And he explained a theory of how pages of information could be tied together using text-based links, an idea that would later form the bedrock of the Web's architecture.
At a time when computing was largely pursued by government researchers or hobbyists with a countercultural bent, Engelbart never sought or enjoyed the explosive wealth that would later become synonymous with Silicon Valley success. For instance, he never received any royalties for the mouse, which SRI patented and later licensed to Apple.
He was intensely driven instead by a belief that computers could be used to augment human intellect. In talks and papers, he described with zeal and bravado a vision of a society in which groups of highly productive workers would spend many hours a day collectively manipulating information on shared computers.
"The possibilities we are pursuing involve an integrated man-machine working relationship, where close, continuous interaction with a computer avails the human of radically changed information-handling and -portrayal skills," he wrote in a 1961 research proposal at SRI.
His work, he argued with typical conviction, "competes in social significance with research toward harnessing
thermonuclear power, exploring outer space, or conquering cancer."
He is survived by Karen O'Leary Engelbart, his second wife, and four children: Gerda, Diana, Christina and Norman. His first wife, Ballard, died in 1997.

International reactions to Morsi's removal

The Egyptian army's suspension of the constitution and removal of President Mohamed Morsi has drawn mixed responses from world leaders:
European Union
The European Union has called for a rapid return to democracy in Egypt.
"I urge all sides to rapidly return to the democratic process, including the holding of free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections and the approval of a constitution, to be done in a fully inclusive manner, so as to permit the country to resume and complete its democratic transition," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement on Thursday.
Ashton said she hoped Egypt's new administration would be fully inclusive. She stressed the importance of ensuring full respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law and said she would hold the authorities to account.
"I strongly condemn all violent acts, offer my condolences to the families of the victims, and urge the security forces to do everything in their power to protect the lives and well-being of Egyptian citizens," she said.
France
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday that Paris took note that elections had been announced in Egypt following a transition period after the army ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
"In a situation that has worsened seriously and with extreme tension in Egypt, new elections have finally been announced, after a transition period," Fabius said in a statement.
France hoped a timetable would be drawn up respecting "civil peace, pluralism, individual liberties and the achievements of the democratic transition, so that the Egyptian people can freely choose their leaders and their future", he added.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi King Abdullah sent a message of congratulations to the head of the Egyptian Constitutional Court, Adly Mansour, on Wednesday for being appointed interim head of state after the armed forces overthrew Morsi, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
"In the name of the people of Saudi Arabia and on my behalf, we congratulate your leadership of Egypt in this critical period of its history. We pray for God to help you bear the responsibility laid upon you to achieve the ambitions of our brotherly people of Egypt," the message said.
Syria
Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday praised Egypt's protests against their leader and said his overthrow by the military means the end of "political Islam".
Assad, who is seeking to crush a revolt against his own rule, said Egyptians have discovered the "lies" of the Muslim Brotherhood.
He spoke in an interview with the state-run Al-Thawra newspaper to be printed in full Thursday.
"What is happening in Egypt is the fall of so-called political Islam," Assad said. "This is the fate of anyone in the world who tries to use religion for political or factional interests."
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates welcomed the change in Egypt, according to state news agency WAM, and praised the Egyptian armed forces.
"His Highness Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan, the foreign minister of the UAE, expressed his full confidence that the great people of Egypt are able to cross these difficult moments that Egypt is going through," WAM said in a statement.
"Sheikh Abdullah said that the great Egyptian army was able to prove again that they are the fence of Egypt and that they are the protector and strong shield that guarantee Egypt will remain a state of institutions and law," it added.
United Kingdom
Britain urged for calm in Egypt following the army's ouster of Morsi and spoke out against the use of military intervention in bringing about regime change, but stopped short of calling it a coup.
"The situation is clearly dangerous and we call on all sides to show restraint and avoid violence," said Foreign Secretary William Hague.
"The United Kingdom does not support military intervention as a way to resolve disputes in a democratic system," Hague said in the statement.
Britain called on all parties to move forward and "show the leadership and vision needed to restore and renew Egypt's democratic transition."
"It is vital for them to respond to the strong desire of the Egyptian people for faster economic and political progress for their country," stressed Hague.
This must involve early and fair elections and civilian-led government, he said.
"In the long run only democratic processes and government by consent will bring the stability and prosperity that the people of Egypt seek," added the minister.
United States
The United States declined on Wednesday to criticise Egypt's military, even as it was ousting of Morsi from power.
Shortly after Egypt's army commander announced that Morsi, the country's first democratically elected president, had been deposed and the constitution suspended the US State Department expressed concern over the military intervention.
The US ordered the mandatory evacuation of its embassy in Cairo, just hours after the army deposed Morsi. A later travel advisory confirmed that "the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members from Egypt due to the ongoing political and social unrest."
US President Barack Obama released a statement saying he was deeply concerned by decision by Egyptian military to depose Morsi, and calls for a swift return to civilian government.
"No transition to democracy comes without difficulty, but in the end it must stay true to the will of the people. An honest, capable and representative government is what ordinary Egyptians seek and what they deserve," Obama said.
"The long-standing partnership between the United States and Egypt is based on shared interests and values, and we will continue to work with the Egyptian people to ensure that Egypt’s transition to democracy succeeds.”
However, the US also stopped short of calling the military intervention a coup.
Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane, reporting from Washington, noted that any country involved in a coup was not entitled to aid from the US.

Despondent scenes at pro-Morsi rally

Cairo - The fireworks celebrating Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s removal by the military are visible a few kilometres away, where thousands of his supporters are holding a sit-in, a protest they plan to continue until Morsi is reinstated.
Hours after his removal, the mood at the rally, outside a mosque in Cairo’s Nasr City neighbourhood, was sombre and confused.
Supporters of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood wondered how the man who last year became Egypt’s first democratically-elected president could be ousted so ignominiously.
Fear hovered over the rally, too, with many Brotherhood members wondering if Morsi’s removal would portend a wider crackdown on the once-banned group.
The army has encircled the site of the protest, blocking main roads with barbed wire and armoured vehicles; helicopters buzz overhead, often to jeers and curses from below. One man spat at a helicopter, dismissing its pilots as traitors.
Rumours were rife in the early hours of Thursday morning that the army would soon raid the camp and detain the protesters. One man brought up the memory of 1954, when then-president Gamal Abdel Nasser crushed the Brotherhood, jailing thousands of its members.
"What the army did, they have unleashed hell on Egypt," said Mahdi Asfar, an elderly religious scholar at the sit-in. "The Islamists will not be able to stand back, because we are not going back to jail."
Determination waning 
Many of these protesters have been on the streets since Friday, when a coalition of pro-Morsi political groups organised a rally under the banner "legitimacy is a red line." The mood on Friday was defiant, with large crowds convinced that Morsi could survive nationwide anti-government protests that were scheduled for Sunday.
As the week wore on, and the scope of the protests became clear, the mood grew increasingly tense. Security checks increased; protesters warned of impending raids by "thugs."
Even on Wednesday, just hours before the army’s deadline for Morsi to resolve the political crisis, there was still a sense of determination in the camp.
Leading members of the Brotherhood and their allies held a fiery press conference in which they demanded that the military back down. "We are the constitution, we are freedom, we are legitimacy, we are the revolution," said Essam el-Erian, the vice chairman of the Brotherhood’s political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party.
Determination had morphed into exhaustion by early Thursday morning.
Those who were still awake seemed taken aback by the day’s events, and blamed the overthrow on members of former President Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
"The problems that people could see, like the fuel crisis, stopped a day or two ago. The stock market rose on the 30th of June by 5 percent. How is everything solved moments before he leaves? I believe it is due to Mubarak and the deep state," said Sharif Ahmed, a businessman.
One speaker railed against a group of prominent political figures, dubbing them thugs. Most of his targets were predictable - Hamdeen Sabbahi, for example, an opposition leader who recently has tried to align himself with the army.
He also singled out Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand mufti of Al-Azhar University, the highest seat of Sunni learning in Egypt. Tayeb threw his support behind the coup, sitting in the audience while Defence Minister Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced Morsi’s ouster and then adding brief remarks of his own.
With most of the media’s attention on the jubilant scenes in Tahrir Square and the presidential palace, many people at the sit-in said they felt ignored.
Journalists arrested
Their isolation was compounded by the shutdown of the Brotherhood’s television channel, Misr 25, and several other religious channels; Brotherhood officials said journalists working for their channel were arrested. “They don’t want people to see what is happening here,” Ahmed said.
Morsi himself is under house arrest, according to top Brotherhood officials, and has no access to the media; he resorted to YouTube to release a brief message after his ouster was announced.
More than a dozen other members of the movement have been arrested as well, according to security officials, a speedy move that to many here highlighted the government’s longstanding hostility towards the Brotherhood and other Islamist movements.
“Morsi’s people have been arrested already. The top people of Mubarak, they’re still out there, more than a year later,” said Ismail Abdel Aziz, a doctor. “The security forces have been sleeping for all this time. And now suddenly they wake up?”

Key players in Egypt's politics

Who are the key political players in Egypt?  Egyptian armed forces The Egyptian army has been a powerful force in Egypt since the 1952 coup, bringing forth presidents such as Abdel Nasr and Hosni Mubarak. Its generals removed Mubarak in 2011, controlled government until president Mohamed Morsi was elected, and now holds the reins following his forced removal on Wednesday. Fattah al-Sisi was appointed by Morsi as the general commander of Egypt’s armed forces and defence minister. He was  instrumental in the army's decision on July 3 - following two days of warnings - to remove Mosri, dissolve the country's constitution and parliament and call for new elections. In the days leading up to the coup, the army gave details of a “roadmap” on what it would do in the aftermath of overthrowing Morsi. The leaders of the army are adamant no a coup was staged- they say they have removed Morsi after listening to the will of the people. The army also says that political power will be handed back to them as soon as a new president is elected and a new constitution is agreed. Muslim Brotherhood The oldest and largest Islamist organisation in the country, the movement gained legality after former President Hosni Mubarak was toppled in the 2011 revolution. The group’s political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, backed Mohamed Morsi in the 2012 elections. But within a year its fortunes have turned once again, with Morsi out and widespread public anger at the Brotherhood's agenda. The Brotherhood's headquarters in Cairo was among several of its buildings ransacked during protests that led to Morsi's downfall. With a conservative agenda, the F&J Party gained the most seats in the 2012 parliamentary elections, and Morsi won office with 51 percent of the presidential vote. But it remains to be seen how the party and any new presidential candidate will fare in the forthcoming elections, such has been public anger at its policies and record over the last year. Tamaroud Tamaroud - meaning rebellion in Arabic, was the driving force behind the protests that led to the end of Morsi's presidency. The group was founded in April by members of the Egyptian Movement for Change, a group which was opposed to Mubarak even before the 2011 revolution. The group connected with youth discontent with Egyptian politics, gaining support through social media campaigns and more traditional street canvassing. The group claims it gathered 22 million signatures in a petition demanding Morsi to step down. Among other things, the petition blamed Morsi for: rising crime, the poor state of Egypt's economy, and the growing influence of the United States in Egyptian affairs. Tamaroud is part of the June 30 Front movement, a coalition of opponents to the rule and influence of the Muslim Brotherhood. Its leaders will join discussions on a new constitution and the formation of a new government. Tajarroud In response to Tamaroud’s claims of gaining 22 million signatures demanding Morsi’s exit, the president’s supporters launched a rival petition campaign called “tajarroud” meaning “impartiality” and organised protests in Cairo. In June, the counter campaign claimed that they had received 10 million signatures in favour of Morsi. However, Shehab Wagih, the spokesperson for the Free Egyptians Party and a member of the National Salvation Front in Cairo said that “no one” in Egypt’s streets have seen the petition for Tajarroud – but the Tamarroud petitions are abundant. Al-Nour and Salafist parties Al-Nour, the second-largest Islamist party, was created after the 2011 revolution. It supports Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood but has pushed for the implementation of Sharia law. Al-Nour has agreed to take part in the army's "roadmap" process - an act which the Muslim Brotherhood and Freedom and Justice Party has branded as trecherous. National Salvation Front The National Salvation Front, also known as the National Front for Salvation of the Revolution or the National Rescue Front, is an alliance of political parties and the largest opposition bloc. It has appointed former UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei to negotiate with the military on the way forward following Morsi's removal. One of the group's leaders Hamdeen Sabahi, 58,  is a leading voice against Morsi and came third in 2012 presidential elections. Overall, the group has been largely irrelevant to this week's protests, which were organised by Tamaroud. Analysts say a member of the bloc could emerge as the army's preferred candidate and run in early elections. Al-Azhar and Coptic Church The Cairo-based highest Sunni Islamic authority is led by Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb. Al-Azhar has claimed to have been marginalised since the Muslim Brotherhood came to power. Opponents of Morsi have in the past accused the Muslim Brotherhood of seeking control over Al-Azhar by planning to replace El-Tayyeb with a Brotherhood figure, a claim which the group has repeatedly denied. Al-Azhar's establishment can be traced back to the Fatimid dynasty more than a thousand years ago. Its seat of learning, Al-Azhar university in Cairo has held its position at the forefront of religious education for much of that time. El-Tayyeb has been vocal during the recent protests. On Tuesday he issued a statement that the “unity of the Egyptian people is above all”, and praised the protesters: “People have surprised and inspired the world through elegant expression of their peaceful demands.” Al-Azhar will play a pivotal role in the religious aspects of the post-Morsi era. Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church has praised mass protests against Morsi, saying it was "wonderful to see the Egyptian people taking back their stolen revolution in a peaceful way”. Pope Tawadros II, took office less than a year ago, is already reported to have held meetings with ElBaradei and the grand mufti of Sunni Islam's top religious authority. The Coptic pope and is the leader of Egypt's estimated four million to eight million Christian minority, which had complained of being targeted by Muslim Brootherhood sympathisers during Morsi's period in office.

Army ousts Egypt's President Morsi

The head of Egypt's army has given a TV address, announcing that President Mohammed Morsi is no longer in office.

Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said the constitution had been suspended and the chief justice of the constitutional court would take on Mr Morsi's powers.
He said Mr Morsi had "failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people".
Later, the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice party, and his deputy were detained, officials said.
Saad al-Katatni, who heads the party, and the Islamist movement's deputy head, Rashad al-Bayoumi, were reportedly picked up hours after the speech.
Anti-Morsi protesters in Cairo gave a huge cheer in response to Gen Sisi's speech.
However, US President Barack Obama said he was "deeply concerned" by the latest turn of events and called for a swift return to civilian government.
'Military coup' The army's move to depose the president follows four days of mass street demonstrations against Mr Morsi - Egypt's first freely elected president - and an ultimatum issued by the military which expired on Wednesday afternoon.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Rana Jawad BBC News, Cairo

It took the Muslim Brotherhood eight decades to come into power. It's unlikely they ever considered it would only last for a year.
The crowd in Tahrir Square roared its approval of General Sisi's eagerly anticipated and largely expected announcement. Millions of Egyptians from all walks of life have felt ignored and belittled since Mr Morsi gained power - he spoke, they say, for his party alone.
The army does not want the world to call this a coup. But conventional wisdom and politics tells us this was a military coup.
As the statement was read, an Egyptian woman standing next to me said: "There is jubilation on the streets but do they understand what's behind it?" In truth perhaps no one does yet.

TV stations belonging to Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood went off air at the end of the speech and state news agency Mena said managers at the movement's Misr25 channel had been arrested.

Security forces were also reported to have raided the Cairo offices of al-Jazeera's Egyptian television channel Mubasher Misr, arresting several workers.
Clashes have erupted in the northern city of Marsa Matrouh, with at least four people killed.
Another person was reported killed in the coastal city of Alexandria. If confirmed, this would bring the death toll from the past 24 hours to 21.
A notice went up on Mr Morsi's Facebook page denouncing the army move as a "military coup".
The statement asked Egyptian citizens - both civilians and military - to "abide by the constitution and the law and not to respond to this coup".
The whereabouts of the ousted leader are unclear.
However, earlier reports said security forces had imposed a travel ban on both him and other leading figures in the Muslim Brotherhood.
'Roadmap' for the future General Sisi said on state TV that the armed forces could not stay silent and blind to the call of the Egyptian masses.

Anti-Morsi protester Soraya Bahgat: "There is a festive mood right now"

He spoke of a new roadmap for the future, and said that the chief justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adli Mansour, would be given the task of "running the country's affairs during the transitional period until the election of a new president".
After Gen Sisi's address, both Pope Tawadros II - the head of the Coptic Church - and leading opposition figure Mohammed ElBaradei made short televised speeches about the new roadmap for Egypt's future which they had agreed with the army.
Mr ElBaradei said the roadmap aimed for national reconciliation and represented a fresh start to the January 2011 revolution.
"This roadmap has been drafted by honourable people who seek the interests, first and foremost, of the country," added Pope Tawadros.
Opposition leader and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa told AFP news agency that consultations for a government and reconciliation "will start from now".
Reacting to the army announcement, President Obama said he hoped to see a quick restoration of a democratically elected government in Egypt.
He ordered a review of US foreign aid to Egypt which by US law must be suspended in the event an elected leader is deposed by a military coup.
Fireworks The Egyptian army is currently involved in a show of force, fanning out across Cairo and taking control of the capital, BBC correspondent Quentin Sommerville reports.

Troops are fanning out across Cairo

He described seeing eight armoured personnel carriers heading for Cairo University in Giza, where one of the main pro-Morsi demonstrations was being held.
Morsi supporters shouted: "No to military rule.''
Egyptian media said the security forces were preparing to clear the rally.
The official al-Ahram newspaper also reported that arrest warrants had been issued for 300 leaders and members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The tens of thousands of anti-Morsi protesters celebrated late into the night, with fireworks lighting up the sky and car drivers honking their horns in excitement.
Mr Morsi became Egypt's first Islamist president on 30 June 2012, after winning an election considered free and fair following the 2011 revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak.
However his term in office was marred by constant political unrest and a sinking economy.
The mass protests at the weekend that led to the army's intervention were called by the Tamarod (Rebel) movement, in response to worsening social and economic conditions.
But there has been a growing sense of discontent since last November, when Mr Morsi issued a controversial constitutional declaration granting himself extensive powers.
His moves to entrench Islamic laws and concentrate power in the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood also alienated liberals and secularists.

Lions 2013: Warren Gatland defends Brian O'Driscoll decision to my site

Lions 2013: Warren Gatland defends Brian O'Driscoll decision to my site

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland says he used his "head not his heart" in deciding to drop Brian O'Driscoll.

The Irish veteran's absence from Saturday's series decider against Australia has drawn strong criticism.
"When I go back to the UK and say 'Did I make the decision because I believed it was right? Or did I make it because it was the right political decision?'" said Gatland, "I can put my hand on my heart and say I think it is the right rugby decision."

Brian O'Driscoll's Lions record

Tours: 4 (2001, 2005, 2009, 2013)
Matches: 18 (8 Tests)
Tries: 9 (1 in Tests)
Captain: 7 times (1 Test)
Test record: 2 wins, 6 defeats

O'Driscoll, 34, was expected to take over the captaincy in the absence of the injured Sam Warburton, but failed to even make the match-day 23.

Fit-again Welsh centre Jamie Roberts joins compatriot Jonathan Davies in midfield, with Manu Tuilagi providing back-up on the bench.
"It is only hard because you are making the decision by using your head and not your heart," added Gatland.
"Then you realise what comes of making a decision like that is all the periphery stuff, not the rugby decision, because it becomes a major story for 48 hours and a big debate.
"That is the process I have gone through.
"But I would hate to think we made calls based on trying to avoid any criticism or [gain] public popularity."
While O'Driscoll has almost certainly played his last game in a Lions shirt at the end of his fourth and final tour, Gatland was reluctant to indulge in tributes to a player who has opted to continue his career with Leinster and Ireland for another year.
"He is not finished yet!" the New Zealander said. "He has been a big part of this tour.

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"He played in the first two Tests, and he is obviously very disappointed as any player would be.
"Like everything it is a learning process. It is quite hard when you have been number one in your position for 15 years and have been first choice in every team you have been part of.
"There are a lot of people who have experienced the disappointment of Brian always being selected ahead of them. It is just part of sport, isn't it?
"We have made a really tough decision, and that is part of it too.
"Brian has been around a long time. He understands how things work. He is a professional, he appreciated we had the conversation. We don't always speak to everyone [before announcing the team] but he was one that definitely needed the respect of being spoken to."
The furore over O'Driscoll's omission overshadowed a team selection that with the introduction of Roberts, Mike Phillips, Richard Hibbard, Alex Corbisiero, Sean O'Brien and Toby Faletau, sends out a clear signal that the Lions intend to subject Australia to a ferocious physical assault.

Analysis

Ian Robertson BBC rugby union correspondent

"You just wonder if they got a lucky bag and picked some names out. The Lions won the first Test and made eight changes to their squad. The Wallabies won the second and probably won't make any changes.
"The Lions lose by one point and there are six changes in the team and three guys on the bench who were nowhere near the team for the second Test.
"I was convinced Brian O'Driscoll should have been named as captain. It's catastrophic leaving him out. He's still one of the top centres in world rugby. He's a fantastic guy and has been on four tours and knows it all inside out.
"It's a massive mistake."

While the Wallabies neutered the Lions' expected set-piece strength in Melbourne and restricted their attacking game, Gatland does not believe they will be able to summon the same emotional intensity to the task in Sydney.

By way of example, the Lions coach recalled the time his Wasps side played Leicester in the last game of the regular Premiership season in 2005 at Welford Road, when Tigers legends Martin Johnson and Neil Back were playing their last game for the club.
Leicester won comfortably that day, but a fortnight later "they couldn't bring the same emotion and we put 40 points on them in the Premiership final," Gatland noted.
"It is hard to get yourself completely on edge every week.
"Australia had to be like that last week. You saw that with the reaction of [captain] James Horwill at the end.
"We think emotionally we can improve quite a bit. I would question whether they could do the same.
"Emotionally we will be there on Saturday, which is why we have picked a side that physically we think will dominate them."

Rockets serve championship pitch at dinner with Dwight Howard - its beutiful week -really-

Houston has emerged as the frontrunner to sign the Los Angeles Lakers center, league sources said, and those close to Howard confirmed late Sunday that the Rockets did nothing to dampen Howard's enthusiasm for the possibilities of playing for Houston.

 Beyond Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander, general manager Daryl Morey, his front office staff, and coach Kevin McHale, the organization brought Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler to make cases to Howard about ownership's long commitment to winning and its relationships with its iconic players.

"Hakeem didn't say much, but what did he say was very impactful," one source in the room told Yahoo! Sports. Olajuwon talked about the Rockets as a destination for championships and drew upon his own personal relationship with Howard, sources said.

Yao Ming, another former great Rockets center, connected into the meeting from China through Skype and talked to Howard about his experiences with Houston.

Rockets stars James Harden and Chandler Parsons pitched Howard about how they wanted him as a teammate, how the chemistry of the locker room would welcome him. Without bringing up the Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets could sell two things that the Lakers likely can't: a chance for a close connection with the franchise's star players; and an immediate chance to be a championship contender.

"His main focus was winning and we will give him the best opportunity to do that," Parsons told Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears.

Former Rockets center Yao Ming made his own pitch to Howard via Skype. (AP)Howard was flanked with his agent, Dan Fegan, and Happy Walters, the CEO of Relativity Media and an agent in the company. What those close to Howard had been saying privately for months was clearly apparent through the probing that Howard did himself with Rockets officials: Winning was his most important priority in the process, and most of the evening was spent discussing how the Rockets had a history of constructing themselves around iconic centers in pursuit of championships.

McHale made it clear to Howard that he planned to build his system around him, and that, ultimately, he would hold Howard accountable every day in the franchise's pursuit of a title. The Rockets had long believed that McHale, a Hall of Fame power forward, would be an immense asset in the recruitment of Howard. Howard had never had a head coach that could identify with him so well, who could literally look him in the eyes.

Rockets officials plan to stay in Los Angels for several days this week, meeting with free agents around the area and staying connected to Howard as he meets with the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and ultimately the Los Angeles Lakers.

Agents talking to the Rockets about potential additions to the roster say they're searching for shooters and complementary players to surround Howard. "They're progressing on everything with Dwight in mind," one prominent agent said Sunday night. "They seem very confident."

Yankees give A-Rod green light to begin rehab assignment Tuesday - it nice game

You didn't hear this on A-Rod's Twitter: The injured $28 million man will begin his rehab assignment on Tuesday, the New York Yankees announced.

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News says Rodriguez, who is recovering from hip surgery, got the all-clear and will play a minimum of three innings at third base for the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs. A-Rod's on a 20-day rehab stint, which would put him back in a Yankees uniform on July 22.

You might think all the A-Rod drama from last week is now behind us. Nope. People can critique him on the field now. That means we're just getting started.

Baseball season's in full swing. Don't miss a thing.
Follow @MikeOz and @bigleaguestew, on Twitter, along with the BLS Facebook page.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo! Sports
• Chris Davis answers fan's steroids question on Twitter
• Rangers' Lance Berkman injured on team plane
• Are Phillies sellers as trade deadline approaches?

Padraig Harrington thinks Rory McIlroy is more Phil than Tiger

It has been a pretty forgettable 2013 for Rory McIlroy, the No. 2 golfer in the world. After switching gear to start the season, Rory struggled to get going, and after a second place finish at the Valero Texas Open it seemed that things would start turning for the better, but that wasn't the case.

Rory struggled at the Masters, finished T-57 at the Memorial and was never in the equation at the U.S. Open. His play across the pond hasn't been much better, missing the cut at the BMW PGA Championship in late May and again missing the cut last week at the Irish Open.

What's the deal with Rory? Padraig Harrington actually makes a pretty keen comparison of the 24-year-old. Maybe it isn't Rory, it's the way we perceive Rory. For years the title of "the next Tiger Woods" has followed around the Northern Irishman, but there is a player that makes more sense when comparing McIlroy to some of the legends.

    “Rory is compared to Tiger a lot, but maybe he's more like Phil Mickelson: very talented, very streaky," Harrington said.

If you simply take a look at how Rory has played in the majors, this makes a ton of sense. McIlroy has won two majors by a combined 16 shots, but sprinkled between the U.S. Open and PGA Championship wins are no top-10s in any of the majors, including a missed cut at the U.S. Open last year and a number of high finishes for a kid as talented as Rory.

Tiger has always been one of those rare athletes that absolutely hates to lose, but more than that, he wants to finish one spot higher no matter where he sits. When Tiger is T-23rd heading into Sunday, he wants to finish T-22, and some guys, like Phil, aren't as invested in golf tournaments they aren't going to win. Rory seems to have a little of that in him, and while it isn't an insult to the two-time major winner, it's just who he is.

Bryce Harper homers in his first at-bat back from disabled list

The Washington Nationals 20-year-old dynamo returned from the disabled list Monday and in his first at-bat, he put a hurting on a ball. He launched a homer to left-center field off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo, perhaps the best "I'm Back" announcement Harper could make. Fans responded and  Harper emerged for a curtain call afterward.

He missed 31 games after injuring his knee in that brutal collision with the Dodger Stadium right-field wall. The Nats are 16-21 without Harper in the lineup this season, and 25-19 when he plays. If these 41-40 Nationals — whose 2013 expectations are much higher than .500 ball — want to make a summer run at the first-place Atlanta Braves, they're going to need a healthy and potent Harper.

Before the game, Nats manager Davey Johnson talked about what it means to have Harper back in the clubhouse. Via the AP:

    ''Not only his bat, but I think the energy he brings, he takes a lot of the focus and he's a competitor,'' Johnson said. ''Just to have that 20-year-old energy running around 100 percent, I'm sure he's still probably going to run into the wall, I'm sure he's going to dive headfirst. ... I don't want to put a damper on that. That's who he is, and that's how he plays the game, and that's great.''

Before Bryce's at-bat one of the Nats TV announcers said, "Maybe he can pretend it's opening day and just homer his first couple of times up." He did — but only once in the Nats 10-5 win. The scene after Harper's first-inning homer actually looked a lot like opening day, when Harper homered in his first at-bat and earned a curtain call afterward.

Obama ends Africa trip by meeting Bush at memorial - it is nice day

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) — President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush have laid a wreath at a memorial for Americans killed in the 1998 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania.

It was a rare joint public appearance by the two presidents.
Both men bowed their heads after a Marine placed the wreath on a stand. They shook hands with victims and family and walked back to the embassy together. The ceremony lasted minutes; neither man made any public comments.
Tuesday's embassy visit is one of Obama's final stops as he wraps up a weeklong tour of the continent. Bush's institute is hosting a two-day summit here on African women.
Both of the presidents' wives were at the summit Tuesday.

Egypt's military issues 48-hour ultimatum

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's military issued a "last-chance" ultimatum Monday to President Mohammed Morsi, giving him 48 hours to meet the demands of millions of protesters in the streets seeking the ouster of the Islamist leader or the generals will intervene and impose their own plan for the country.

The military's statement, read on state TV, put enormous pressure on Morsi to step down and sent giant crowds opposing the president in Cairo and other cities into delirious celebrations of singing, dancing and fireworks. But the ultimatum raised worries on both sides the military could outright take over, as it did after the 2011 ouster of autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

It also raised the risk of a backlash from Morsi's Islamist backers, including his powerful Muslim Brotherhood and hard-liners, some of whom once belonged to armed militant groups. Already they vowed to resist what they depicted as a threat of a coup against a legitimately elected president.

Pro-Morsi marches numbering in the several thousands began after nightfall in a string of cities around the country, sparking clashes in some places. An alliance of the Brotherhood and Islamists read a statement at a televised conference calling on people to rally to prevent "any attempt to overturn" Morsi's election.

"Any coup of any kind against legitimacy will only pass over our dead bodies," one leading Brotherhood figure, Mohammed el-Beltagi, told a rally by thousands of Islamists outside a mosque near the Ittihadiya presidential palace.

A line of around 1,500 men with shields, helmets and sticks — assigned with protecting the rally — stamped their feet in military-like lines, singing, "Stomp our feet, raise a fire. Islam's march is coming."

After midnight, Morsi's office issued a statement saying a "modern democratic state" was one of the main achievements of the anti-Mubarak revolution, adding, "With all its force, Egypt will not allow itself to be taken backward." It said Morsi was still reviewing the military's statement, but added some parts of it "could cause disturbances in the complicated national scene."

U.S. President Barack Obama said the U.S. is committed to democracy in Egypt, not any particular leader. Traveling in Tanzania, Obama said that although Morsi was democratically elected, the government must respect its opposition and minority groups.

Egypt's Presidency said in a statement that Morsi received a phone call from Obama. According to the statement, Obama said the US administration "supports peaceful democratic transition in Egypt."

Army troops at checkpoints on roads leading to the pro-Morsi rally searched cars for weapons after reports that some Islamists were arming themselves.

In the second day straight day of anti-Morsi protests nationwide, men and women danced outside the Ittihadiya palace, some cried with joy and bands on a stage played revolutionary songs after the military's statement.

But the army's stance also raises an unsettling prospect for many of them as well. Many expressed worries of an army takeover. During the time the generals were in power, many of those now in the anti-Morsi campaign led demonstrations against military rule, angered by its management of the transition and heavy hand in the killing of protesters.

"Morsi will leave, but I'm concerned with the plan afterward. The military should be a tool to pressure, but we had a bitter experience with military ruling the country, and we don't want to repeat it," said Roshdy Khairy, a 24-year-old doctor among the throngs in Tahrir Square.

Hours after its announcement, the military issued a second statement on its Facebook page denying it intended a coup. "The ideology and culture of the Egyptian armed forces does not allow for the policy of a military coup," it said.

In its initial statement, the military said it would "announce a road map for the future and measures to implement it" if Morsi and its opponents cannot reach a consensus within 48 hours — a virtual impossibility. It promised to include all "patriotic and sincere" factions in the process.

The military underlined it will "not be a party in politics or rule." But it said it has a responsibility to find a solution because Egypt's national security is facing a "grave danger," according to the statement.

It did not detail the road map, but it heavily praised the massive protests that began Sunday demanding that Morsi step down and that early elections be called — suggesting that call had to be satisfied. It said the protests were "glorious," adding that the participants expressed their opinion "in peaceful and civilized manner." It urged "the people's demands to be met."

Morsi met with military chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Prime Minister Hesham Kandil, according to the president's Facebook page, without giving details. Associated Press calls to presidential spokesmen were not answered.

In a sign of Morsi's growing isolation, five Cabinet ministers said they have resigned, the state news agency said. The five are the ministers of communications, legal affairs, environment, tourism and water utilities, MENA reported. The foreign minister also submitted his resignation, government officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.

The governor of the strategic province of Ismailia on the Suez Canal, Hassan el-Rifaai, also quit.

The swiftness of the military's new statement suggested it was prompted by the stunning turnout by the opposition on Sunday — and the eruptions of violence that point to how the confrontation could spiral into chaos if it continues.

Sunday's protests on the first anniversary of Morsi's inauguration were the largest seen in the country in the 2½ years of turmoil since Egyptians first rose up against Mubarak in January 2011. Millions packed Tahrir Square, the streets outside the Ittihadiya presidential palace and main squares in cities around the country.

Violence broke out in several parts of the country, often when marchers came under gunfire, apparently from Islamists. In Cairo, anti-Morsi youth attacked the main headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood with stones and fire bombs, while Brotherhood supporters barricaded inside opened fired on them. The clash ended early Monday when the protesters broke into the luxury villa and ransacked it, setting fires.

Nationwide, at least 16 people were killed Sunday and more than 780 injured, Health Ministry spokesman Yehya Moussa told state television.

The crowds returned Monday across the country — in slightly smaller numbers, but in a more joyous mood after the military's announcement gave them hope of a quick victory. The group organizing the protests, Tamarod, Arabic for "Rebel," issued an ultimatum of its own, giving Morsi until Tuesday afternoon to step down or it would escalate the rallies.

"Come out, el-Sissi. The people want to topple the regime," protesters in the Nile Delta city of Mahalla el-Kubra chanted, drumming out a rhythm with a stick on the carcass of a sheep. "Sheep" is the slur many in the opposition use against Brotherhood members, depicting them as mindless followers — to the fury of the Brothers, many of whom are professionals from doctors to university professors.

The broad boulevards packed with anti-Morsi protesters outside the presidential palace transformed into a party.

"In every street in my country the sound of freedom is calling," blared a song that originally emerged during the Arab Spring. Bands on a stage played other revolutionary songs.

"God willing we will be victorious over the president and his failing regime," said Mohammed el-Tawansi, sitting on the pavement with his wife singing along.

"He divided us, now the people and the army are together. They will not be able to do anything. They can't fight the people and the army," he said, referring to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Down the street, protester Amr el-Ayat raised a banner reading "cautious optimism."

"The military statement was good, because we have no other way now," he said. "But I worry people will deify el-Sissi. The military is to protect, not to rule."

Some were perfectly happy to have the military take over. In Tahrir, Omar Moawad el-Sayed, a math teacher with the beard of a Muslim conservative, said he wished el-Sissi had outright announced military rule.

"The military is the most impartial institution now," he said.

Some hoped that the military's road map would be a framework drawn up by Tamarod. Under it, after Morsi steps down, the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court would become an interim president and a technocrat government would be formed. An expert panel would write a new constitution to replace the one largely drafted by Islamists, and a new presidential election would be held in six months.

For Islamists, however, the idea of Morsi stepping down was an inconceivable infringement on the repeated elections they won since Mubarak's fall, giving them not only a longtime Muslim Brotherhood leader as president but majorities in parliament.

Morsi and Brotherhood officials say they are defending democratic legitimacy and some have depicted the protests as led by Mubarak loyalists trying to return to power. But many of his Islamist allies have also depicted it as a fight against Islam.

"The military has sacrificed legitimacy. There will be a civil war," said Manal Shouib, a 47-year-old physiotherapist at the pro-Morsi rally outside the Rabia al-Adawiya Mosque not far from Ittihadiya.

Ahmed Abdel-Aziz, who was the "trainer" of the line of men doing military-style drills, shouted and roared in a tirade against Mubarak loyalists, Christians, judges, police, opposition politicians, columnists and writers he said were conspiring against Morsi. He said they attacked "anywhere that has Islam in it."

"El-Sissi's statement doesn't concern us. We will sacrifice ourselves to defend legitimacy and we will die if this is our destiny," he told the AP. "If the whole of Egypt is wiped out so that God's word can remain, so be it."

At sunset, the cleric at Rabia al-Adawiya led prayers, asking God to "accept us as martyrs for your cause and make your slave Mohammed Morsi victorious."

Nearly 1,500 supporters of the president marched in the Canal city of Suez after night prayers, chanting for Morsi and damaging cars. Some carried sticks and rifles that fire birdshot, witnesses said. Residents confronted them, taking their weapons and firing in the air to disperse them, while the army deployed and fired tear gas.

Outside the palace, protesters contended that Morsi could not survive with only the Islamist bloc on his side.

"It is now the whole people versus one group. What can he do?" said Mina Adel, a Christian accountant. "The army is the savior and the guarantor for the revolution to succeed."

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Associated Press writers Tony G. Gabriel and Mariam Rizk contributed to this report.

WikiLeaks: Snowden makes expanded asylum requests

WASHINGTON (AP) — National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, believed to be in legal limbo in the Moscow airport, is expanding his requests for asylum to another 19 countries, including China, according to WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy group that has adopted Snowden and his cause, on Monday night posted a statement said to be from Snowden that slammed President Barack Obama for "using citizenship as a weapon."

"Although I am convicted of nothing, it has unilaterally revoked my passport, leaving me a stateless person," Snowden says in the statement. "Without any judicial order, the administration now seeks to stop me exercising a basic right. A right that belongs to everybody. The right to seek asylum.

"Their purpose is to frighten, not me, but those who would come after me."

WikiLeaks legal adviser Sarah Harrison delivered the requests for asylum to an official at the Russian consulate at the Moscow airport on Sunday, according to the website. WikiLeaks says some of the requests have already been delivered to the appropriate embassies.

The WikiLeaks statement said requests were made to China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, India and several European countries. Snowden had planned earlier to seek asylum in Ecuador and has requested asylum in Russia.

The asylum requests reported by WikiLeaks and the Snowden statement could not be independently authenticated.

Snowden, who has been on the run since releasing sensitive NSA documents, is believed to have been in Moscow airport's transit zone since his arrival from Hong Kong on June 23. The U.S. has annulled his passport, and Ecuador, where he had hoped to get asylum, has been giving mixed signals about offering him shelter.

After Snowden applied for political asylum to remain in Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters in Moscow that Snowden would have to stop leaking U.S. secrets if he wanted asylum there — and he added that Snowden seemed unwilling to stop publishing leaks of classified material.

At the same time, Putin said he had no plans to turn over Snowden to the United States.

The expanded requests for asylum come as the Obama administration contends with European allies angry about the release of documents that alleged U.S. eavesdropping on European Union diplomats.

Obama, in an African news conference with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, said the U.S. would provide allies with information about new reports that the NSA had bugged EU offices in Washington, New York and Brussels. But he also suggested such activity by governments would hardly be unusual.

"We should stipulate that every intelligence service —not just ours, but every European intelligence service, every Asian intelligence service, wherever there's an intelligence service — here's one thing that they're going to be doing: They're going to be trying to understand the world better, and what's going on in world capitals around the world," he said. "If that weren't the case, then there'd be no use for an intelligence service."

The latest issue concerns allegations, published in the German newsweekly Der Spiegel, of U.S. spying on European officials. French President Francois Hollande demanded Monday that the U.S. immediately stop any such eavesdropping and suggested the widening controversy could jeopardize next week's opening of trans-Atlantic trade talks between the United States and Europe.

"We cannot accept this kind of behavior from partners and allies," Hollande said on French television.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters in Berlin, "Eavesdropping on friends is unacceptable." He declared, "We're not in the Cold War anymore."

Even before the latest disclosures, talks at the upcoming free-trade sessions were expected to be fragile, with disagreements surfacing over which items should be covered in or excluded from an agreement. The United States has said there should be no exceptions. But France has called for exempting certain cultural products, and other Europeans do not appear eager to give up longtime agricultural subsidies.

Obama said the Europeans "are some of the closest allies that we have in the world." But he added: "I guarantee you that in European capitals, there are people who are interested in, if not what I had for breakfast, at least what my talking points might be should I end up meeting with their leaders. That's how intelligence services operate."

Nonetheless, Obama said he'd told his advisers to "evaluate everything that's being claimed" and promised to share the results with allies.

Meanwhile, the Interfax news agency said a Russian consular official has confirmed that Snowden had asked for asylum in Russia.

Interfax cited Kim Shevchenko, the duty officer at the Russian Foreign Ministry's consular office in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, as saying that Snowden's representative, Harrison, handed over his request Sunday.

"If he wants to go somewhere and there are those who would take him, he is welcome to do so," Putin said. "If he wants to stay here, there is one condition: He must stop his activities aimed at inflicting damage on our American partners, no matter how strange it may sound coming from my lips."

Obama said "there have been high-level discussions with the Russians" about Snowden's situation.

"We don't have an extradition treaty with Russia. On the other hand, you know, Mr. Snowden, we understand, has traveled there without a valid passport, without legal papers. And you know we are hopeful that the Russian government makes decisions based on the normal procedures regarding international travel and the normal procedures regarding international travel and the normal interactions that law enforcement has. So I can confirm that."

Putin didn't mention any Snowden effort to seek asylum in Russia, and spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to say what the Russian response might be. Putin insisted that Snowden wasn't a Russian agent and that Russian security agencies hadn't contacted him.

Three U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss the Snowden case, said Washington's efforts were focused primarily on persuading Russia to deport Snowden either directly to the United States or to a third country, possibly in eastern Europe, that would then hand him over to U.S. authorities.

In a sign of the distrust generated by the Der Spiegel report, the German government said it had launched a review of its secure government communications network and the EU's executive, the European Commission, ordered "a comprehensive ad hoc security sweep."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday he didn't know the details of the allegations, but he still played them down, maintaining that many nations undertake various activities to protect their national interests. Kerry failed to quell the outrage from allies, including France, Germany and Italy.

A spokesman for Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, said, "The European Union has demanded and expects full and urgent clarification by the U.S. regarding the allegations."

According to Der Spiegel's report, which it said was partly based on information leaked by Snowden, NSA planted bugs in the EU's diplomatic offices in Washington and infiltrated the building's computer network. Similar measures were taken at the EU's mission to the United Nations in New York, the magazine said.

It also reported that the NSA used secure facilities at NATO headquarters in Brussels to dial into telephone maintenance systems that would have allowed it to intercept senior officials' calls and Internet traffic at a key EU office nearby.

As for Snowden, White House national security spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said the White House won't comment on specific asylum requests but reiterated its message to all countries that he "needs to be expelled back to the U.S. based on the fact that he doesn't have travel documents and the charges pending against him."

Regarding possible effects on U.S. interactions with Russia, she said it remains the case "that we don't want this issue to negatively impact the bilateral relationship."

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Associated Press writers Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Sarah DiLorenzo in Paris, Frank Jordans and Geir Moulson in Berlin, Elena Becatoros in Athens, Raf Casert in Brussels, Deb Riechmann in Brunei, Nicole Winfield in Rome, Julie Pace in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.