Panic In Presidency Over Mounting Tension In Military?As Fear Of ...

There is panic in the Nigerian presidential villa, Abuja over a secret document prepared by a group of senior Army officers detailing the crisis rocking the Nigeria Army over recruitments and promotion exercises being carried out by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika among other issues. The officers operating under the name ?Group for the Salvation of the Nigerian Army and the Motherland (GROSNAMM)? however warned in the document that the crisis in the Army has already generated serious heat that can lead to mutiny in the military barracks and eventually result in a conflagration in the polity.?

According to them ?The President, the National Assembly, the Minister of Defence and the National Security adviser should know that the actions? and inactions of General Ihejirika portend great danger for the army and the country at large. A disgruntled officer corps is a recipe for disaster. It means the army will lack unity, cohesion and purpose. It will be? pre- occupied with fighting itself, as our terrible experiences of 1966 -67 showed. Already, information filtering out of the barracks indicate rising tension which is not unconnected with the injustices? discussed above. There are even reports of officers moving their immediate families out of the barracks, away from harms way. President Jonathan needs to act and act NOW. He must not allow himself to be a? pawn in a grand design to destroy his government by brewing the kind of discontent within the Nigerian Armed Forces which could become contagious and eventually engulf the entire society?? The document which content could however not be verified by iReports-ng.com as none of those contacted in government was ready to speak on it, is reproduced below unedited:

A DANGEROUS TREND IN THE NIGERIAN ARMY

There is a new dangerous trend in promotions and recruitment in the? Nigerian Army, which should be firmly and promptly checked before it destroys the military and the country. This trend is clearly visible in the manner in which the current Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike? Ihejirika is handling these two important aspects of running an effective army institution, which is very critical to the survival of any state. It appears that the Chief of Army Staff? is on a specific mission, most probably, sponsored by some sinister dark forces bent on destroying the army and setting the country on the path of serious conflagration. From all indication General Ihejirika is deliberately and recklessly pursuing a plan? to destroy the career of? senior non Igbo officers while at the same time embarking on a massive recruitment of soldiers of Igbo stock in order to eclipse all other ethnic groups in the Nigerian Army. This is raising serious concern within the army.

Let us, first, examine the promotion exercises carried out in all the formations since the elevation of Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika? to the office of Chief of Army Staff.? We begin with the Ordinance Corps.

THE ORDINANCE CORPS

In 2010, the Ordinance Corps presented the following brigadiers for consideration for promotion to the rank of Major General:

1. Brigadier Kachallah of NDA Course 22

2. Brigadier Oginni of NDA Course 23

3. Brigadier Martins of NDA Course 24

4. Brigadier Ugwu of NDA Course 25

It is instructive to note that of these four officers it was only Brigadier Ugwu, the most junior who was promoted. As is well known Brigadier Ugwu? was of NDA Course 25 but was eventually relegated to course 26. This promotion was cynically effected? in order to elevate Brigadier Ugwu above the others who by this act, automatically lost their seniority. Thus Brigadier Ugwu? is today,? Ordinance Corps Commander ahead of all his seniors.

THE ARMOURED CORPS

The situation was no different in the Armoured Corps. In 2010 the following officers were promoted.

1 Brigadier Oshonowo of NDA Course 24

2. Brigadier Nwaogbo of NDA Course 25

3. Brigadier Awala of NDA Course 25

In appointing the Corps Commander,? Lieutenant General Ihejirika sacrificed the vaunted military tradition of respect for seniority and competence.? He by-passed Brigadier Oshinowo, who was the most senior and the overall best in NDA Course 24. Instead, General Ihejirika appointed Brigadier Nwaogbo? Corps Commander. Obviously this happened because Nwaogbo is Igbo.? Let us examine the Supply and Transport Corps.

SUPPLY AND TRANSPORT CORPS

A similar situation presented itself in? the Supply and Transport Corps which recommended the following Brigadiers for promotion in 2011:

1. Brigadier Baidon of NDA Course 25

2. Brigadier Magaji of? NDA Course 26

3. Brigadier Nienger of NDA Course 26

4. Brigadier Agha Okoro of NDA Course 28

It is astonishing that of these officers, only their junior? Agha Okoro of NDA Course 28 was promoted. Clearly, this was done? in order to give Brigadier Okoro undue advantage to take over from Major General Gana as Corps Commander.

CORPS OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

This dangerous trend was also noticeable in? the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. In 2011 the following Brigadiers were presented for promotion.

1. Ariende ( of Edo State)

2. Labaran

3. Amao

4. Adekanye

5. Chioba.

Since Labaran was already in the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), where a Major General vacancy existed, he was lucky but Chioba was also promoted. Chioba?s promotion was to pave the way for him to emerge as Corps Commander of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE COURSE 18

Let us also consider the case of officers of? the National Defence College Course 18

Of all the officers of NDA Course 33 who attended the National Defence College Course 18, only one officer was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. His name is Duru. The Igbo boy. This officer?s grade on the course was a High C. Many other officers on the course came out with C+ grades but were not promoted last year.

Col Oyekan who was outstanding in the course and even had an award was not promoted. Similarly Col Shodunke who also got an award, was not promoted.? He? only got promoted this year having lost seniority by one year. The scheme was to deliberately slow down Col Shodunke to give Duru seniority. What is even more diabolical about this terrible scheme is that the award-winning? Col Oyekan is still languishing for a second year without promotion. The treatments meted out to these two officers become even more disturbing given the fact that both Shodunke and Oyekan were Directing Staff? (DR), at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, an appointment reserved for only the most outstanding officers. The question that arises from all this, is, what should an officer do in the Nigerian Army led by General Ihejitika to get recognition? Mediocrity?

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AS A CURSE

It appears that it is a curse for an officer to perform outstandingly and professionally in the Nigerian? Army headed General Ihejirika. This can be exemplified by the case of? Colonel Soleye, one of the finest officers of? his generation.

Two officers from the same state , Ogun, attended the National Defence College, Course 18. Both of them? hail from Abeokuta.? They were? Colonels Soleye and Fadunsi. The former came out of that course with C+ grade. He had a High C in his Senior? Division Staff Course and C+ in his Junior Division Staff Courses. The other officer, Fadunsi had a High C grade in the NDC Course and a C grade in both his Senior and Junior Staff Courses. Yet this officer was promoted ahead of Soloye who has a National Honour for Gallantry in Liberia as a platoon commander. Col Soloye also had various awards from the then Chief of Army Staff. But he is now languishing for a second year without promotion.? Reason? His outstanding personal and professional records. The plan here,? just as in the case of Oyekan, is to slow down this rising star who might get in the way of Igbo officers ?destined? by General Ihejirika to rise above him. By the way, Soleye?s type of gallantry in Liberia was not the cash and carry type. He almost lost both of his legs in trying to save his soldiers? lives. Investigation has also revealed that he has so far no disciplinary case against him.? Lieutenant General Ihejirika is still not done. He pursued his fiendish scheme with NDC Course 19.

NDC COURSES 19 and 20:EXCELLENCE AS DAMNATION

Let us again examine the case of NDC Course 19. Two officers excelled in that course: Col Unuigbe and Adefarati. Col Unuigbe not only came third, but also had an award for his performance. He was also given a commendation by the Chief of Army Staff and recommended to return as Directing Staff. He is still a Colonel!! Colonel Adefarati was also outstanding. Although he came 5th in that? course, he was also denied promotion.

This deliberate destruction of the careers of? diligent officers has continued with? NDC course 20.

Col Olu who came 1st? in the course, was for some strange reason not promoted. Of all the officers on the course who were due for promotion, only two were promoted. These are Colonels Egbudon and Okonkwo who coincidentally happen to be Igbo.

The most shocking was the case of Colonel John Enenche who is Idoma. Enenche had? two Chief of Army Staff commendations, one National Honour and very strong C+ in the course. Yet he was denied promotion in order to, just? like in the case of Col Soleye, to slow him down for General Ihejirika?s kinsmen to catch up,with them in the Corps of Engineers.

CRUDE MANOEUVRES

Let us go back to the Corps of Supply and Transport where two Brigadiers were retired, thus creating two vacancies for promotion. The two officers retired were Magaji and Baidom. The Corps had only one officer to present for promotion to Brigadier. This officer is Colonel Jidda who is a former Directing Staff at the Command and Staff College,? Jaji. Col Jidda also graduated from the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru with a B Grade. Colonel Jidda was not promoted in the last promotion exercise. The point here is that there were vacancies for two but only one was available. A good officer at that, but he was denied promotion. The only reason for this is that the other officer , Col Anene, an Igbo, who could have been presented alongside Jidda for promotion could not be presented because? he was in NIPPS, Kuru on a course. If Jidda had been promoted, he would have? automatically gained seniority over this Igbo officer.? The idea is for Jidda to wait for the Igbo boy to graduate from NIPPS so they can be presented next year with other officers from NDC course 21. Most likely, some Igbo officers would then edge out Jidda who will then suffer the faith of Col Oyekan and Col Soleye.

Similarly in the Finance Corps, a Brigadier General was retired thereby creating vacancy for promotion. So far only one officer has been presented for promotion for two consecutive years without success. This officer is Colonel Rufus Adejoro who graduated from NDC with a C+. It is obvious that? Col Adejoro who is on his last lap is being deliberately kept for age to catch up with him, so that when next he is presented along with a suitable? ?Kith and Kin? he will be edged out.

Furthermore, there is the case of Brig. Gen M. L. Raji of? the Artillery Corps. This officer was wrongfully accused of? releasing a Boko Haram terrorist from detention. Although Raji was court martialled? he was cleared of all charges and acquitted. As is well-known, this? officer?s record has always been outstanding. He was clearly heading to the top but had to be slowed down for others. Having been cleared of all charges, he was presented for promotion in 2011 but was denied . The idea was to stigmatize him. He was again denied? promotion in 2012. This means he is now in a precarious situation.

PROMOTING MEDIOCRITY AND NEPOTISM

In some instances it appears that? Gen Ihejiriaka is not only interested in advancing the interests of? his kith and kin but is also hell bent on promoting? mediocrity in the army. We can illustrate this by taking the case of? NDA Course 29. This course has many outstanding officers but pre-eminent amongst these is Brigadier General Oyebade.

Brigadier? Oyebade not only had? a B grade in his Senior Staff Course in Pakistan, he achieved? an A Grade in National Defence University in Pakistan. Brigadier Oyebade was a? Directing Staff (DS),? in both the Staff College, Jaji and Defence College, Abuja. However? the officer was denied promotion in the just concluded exercise.

Still on NDA course 29. Brig. Odunukwe of the Corps of Signals had to be promoted at all costs during the last promotion, otherwise age would have caught up with him on the rank. He just had to be promoted. This explains why he was promoted alongside two other signal officers. Out of the three promoted, two are Igbos, the other being Brig Orji.? Again for Orji, he was in a tight spot. This was his last chance, but because Ihejirika did not want his calculations to appear obvious, he inserted a Yoruba officer,? Ologundudu, to smoke up people?s vision.

It should be mentioned that many Igbo officers who have an age problem were not presented with letters of retirement unlike others who have since been eased out without a chance to progress. A case in mind is that of Brig Gen U.M Danko from Bauchi who was never presented for any promotion board since he was promoted in 2008. Nefariously, the officer was blocked from being presented three times so that age will catch up with him.

In course 30 of NDA, four (4) officers were presented but none was promoted. These officers include Brigadier P.A.T Akem, S. Abubakar, Ebenebe and Okoh. The reason is that if any were to be promoted, it would have to be an Igbo officer. It would difficult to drop Akem,? a Tiv officer or,? Abubakar an Igbirra officer, both with very good records. General Ihejirika therefore preferred to sacrifice Ebenebe and Okoh, who in any case did not have age on their side,? for officers from junior course (SS 26). The idea again being that for every promotion he must insert an Igbo. For example,? he picked Duru from course 33, leaving behind Akem whose records are outstanding or Abubakar who did very well in NDC.

SINISTER MOVES

Gen Ihejirika?s entrenchment of mediocrity and nepotism in the Nigerian army becomes clearer when we consider the promotion and postings of Brigadier Onoeveta. This officer was the ADC to the late President Umary Yar?adua, who was central to the scheme to deploy soldiers at the airport when the late Yar?adua was flown into the country from Saudi Arabia. He did so by disobeying the Chief of Defence Staff, National Security Adviser and the acting President. He prevented Acting President Goodluck from functioning until the death of President Yar?adua. Curiously after the death of President Yar ?adua, Brigadier Onoeveta?s colleagues were summarily retired or denied promotion. For example, Brigadier Mustapha, the Commander Guards Brigade is still a Brigadier years after the death of President Yar?adua.? However,? not only was Brigadier Onoeveta a crafty never ? do ? well Officer promoted, he has also been elevated above all his seniors who are known in the army to be far more solid and diligent officers than him. Mention should also be made here of Brigadier S.D Bala, Dadan Garba, D.E. L Yakubu, Oyekan, Akem and S. Abubakar, Soleye, Adefarati, Olatunde and Jidda, Marmoni, A.M Aliyu etc all officers who have made their mark in the army as we mentioned above. The question that arises is, what explains the retention and the preferential treatment being given to Brigadier Oneveta, who is notorious for? mediocrity. One? plausible explanation for this elevation of mediocrity is that it is a calculated attempt to achieve certain sinister or diabolical objective perhaps known only to General Ihejirika? and the dark forces behind his actions.

DISREGARD FOR ARMY COUNCIL DECISIONS

The pursuit of General Ihejirika?s evil agenda also manifest themselves clearly in his disregard for decisions of the Army Council. As the table below shows the Army Council approved the retirement of 11Major Generals but General Ihejirika retired? 12. Similarly, 26 Brigadiers were retired instead 25 approved by the Council while 13 Colonels were retired instead of the 12 approved.

Analysis of Retirement in the Nigerian Army

Rank	Retirements Approved by Army Council	Retirements Carried Out
Major General	11	12
Brigadier General	25	26
Colonel	12	13
Total	48	51

?

The unauthorised officers retired were:

Major General O. Akinyemi	N/6071	South West
Brigadier General U.M Danko	N/7178	North East
Col F.C. Adaka	N/8876	South South

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IHEJIRIKA?S IGBO ARCHITECTURE

General Ihejirika?s Igbo architecture becomes very clear when we look at the disposition of Brigadiers holding strategic positions in the Nigerian Army today. Just consider this:

Brig OKORO is the sector commander in UNAMSIL( Liberia).

Brig DURU is the Director of Logistics in NDC, being prepared for a higher position.

Brig CHIOBA is the de facto oga in AHQ Policy and Plans.

Brig EGWUAGU is the Director at AHQ in charge of recruitment, positioning and promotion of all soldiers in the NIgerian Army!

Brig EBENEBE is the Director of operations in AHQ.

Brig OKOH is the Acting Chief of Logistics in AHQ. His three Directors are all Igbos.

Major General BUZUGBE is the Military Secretary in charge of postings, retirements etc.

RECRUITMENT OF SOLDIERS? INTO THE NIGERIAN ARMY DEPOT, ZARIA

This attempt to? Igbonise the Nigerian Army becomes clearer when we look at the pattern of recruitment of soldiers into the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, under General Ihejirika. As the table below? shows,? there has been a massive recruitment of soldiers from his ethnic group to the disadvantage of others.

For example,? Abia state, the home state of General Ihejirika, with a population of only 2.8 million has so far had the largest share of recruits, 450, far above Kano with a population of 9.3 million and Lagos with a population of just over 9 million and Kaduna with a population? of just over 9 million. These states have so far? had 259, 255 and 382 recruits respectively. The case of Ebonyi is also symptomatic of this glaring lopsidedness in the recruitment figures. Thus although 377 were recruited from Ebonyi with a population of just 2.2 million, Oyo State with a population of 5.6 million had only 282; Katsina with a population of 5.8 million had only 248; Lagos State with a population of just over 9 million had only 255 and only 271 was recruited from Plateau state with a population of? of 3.2 million.

When the same? table is analysed on zonal basis, General Ihejirika?s bias in favour of his zone also becomes patently clear. The South east geopolitical zone with a population of? 16.3 million has so far had the highest recruits ? 1925. The North West, which is the largest geopolitical zone with a population of? 35.8 million, double that of South East, has only 1949 recruits.? Similarly, the South west geopolitical zone with a population of? 27.6 million, has only 1561 recruits. Thousands of qualified recruits from these states have had their applications turned down by a kangaroo selection group set up by General Ihejirika.

GEOPOLITICAL ZONES	STATES	POPULATION	66 RRI	67 RRI	68 RRI	TOTAL
? ? ? ?? SOUTH EAST	ABIA	2,833,999	155	143	152	450
	ANAMBRA	4,182,032	93	105	115	313
	EBONYI	2,173,501	126	141	110	377
	ENUGU	3,257,928	114	129	110	353
	IMO	3,934,899	153	129	152	432
	TOTAL	16,382,359	641	647	639	1925
? ? ? ? SOUTH SOUTH	AKWA IBOM	3,920, 208	90	101	116	307
	BAYELSA	1,703,358	67	144	105	316
	CROSS RIVER	2,888,966	128	115	152	395
	DELTA	4,098,391	85	122	121	328
	EDO	3,218,332	90	103	108	301
	RIVERS	5,185,400	72	102	95	269
	TOTAL	21,014,655	532	687	697	1916
? ? ? ? SOUTH WEST	EKITI	2,384,212	52	87	93	232
	LAGOS	9,013,534	65	102	88	255
	OGUN	3,728,098	66	98	96	260
	ONDO	3,441,024	68	100	99	267
	OSUN	3,423,535	71	98	96	265
	OYO	5,591,589	77	102	103	282
	TOTAL	27,581,992	399	587	575	1561
? ? ? NORTH WEST	JIGAWA	4,348,649	68	82	101	251
	KANO	9,383,682	76	72	111	259
	KATSINA	5,792,578	71	80	97	248
	KEBBI	3,238,628	91	77	99	267
	KADUNA	6,066,562	138	100	144	382
	SOKOTO	3,696,999	67	92	90	249
	ZAMFARA	3,259,846	72	117	94	283
	TOTAL	35,786,944	583	620	736	1939
? ? ? NORTH ??? CENTRAL ? ?	BENUE	4,219,244	112	105	145	362
	KOGI	3,278,487	103	81	128	312
	KWARA	2,371,089	69	112	99	280
	NASARAWA	1,863,275	75	107	114	296
	NIGER	3,950,249	78	79	110	267
	PLATEAU	3,178,712	76	78	117	271
	TOTAL	18,861,056	513	562	713	1788
? ? ? ? ? ?? NORTH EAST	ADAMAWA	3,168,101	95	72	113	280
	BAUCHI	4,676,465	79	76	100	255
	BORNO	4,151,193	87	88	101	276
	GOMBE	2,353,879	77	98	94	269
	TARABA	2,300,736	85	101	94	287
	YOBE	2,321,591	77	99	94	270
	TOTAL	18,971,965	500	534	596	1637
	????? F.C.T Abuja	1,405,201	78	54	51	183
	Nigeria	140,003,542

Is this not a scheme for the eventual total takeover of the Nigerian Army by one ethnic group? Does this not give a hint of some sinister moves by the Chief of Army Staff and some dark forces outside the the Nigerian Army?? Is this an attempt to repeat the 1966 agenda, according to which all non Igbo senior officers were eliminated and replaced, as shown below,? by Igbo officers appointed by General Ironsi, on 17th january, 1966?

Serial	Name	Command	Ethnic group
1	Lt Col George Kurubo	Chief of Staff Nigeria Airforce	Ibo, East
2	Lt Col Njoku	Commanding Officer 2nd Brigade	Ibo
3	Major H. Igboba	Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion	?Ibo, East
4	Major. G. Okonweze	Commanding Officer, Abeokuta Garrison	Ibo, Mid West
5	Major Nzefili	Commanding Officer 4 Battalion	Ibo, Mid West
6	Major Ochei	Commanding Officer Federal Guards	Ibo, Mid West
7	Major D. Ogunewe	Commanding Officer1Bn	Ibo, East
8	Lt Col Bassey	Commanding Officer 1 Brigade	East Non Ibo
	Major Okoro	Commanding Officer,3 Battalion	Igbo, East
10	Major F Akagha	Commanding Officer Depot.	Igbo, East

?

DANGEROUS TREND IN THE NIGERIAN ARMY

FUTHER DISTURBING POSTINGS.

The recent postings of the officers of the Nigerian Army, has confirmed our earlier observation of the dangerous trend in that important state institution. ?The ?on-going attempt to Igbonise ?the Nigerian Army has been given further impetus, as the table below brings out clearly. This dangerous trend has to be stopped to avert a looming disaster.

No	Name	Posting	Ethnic Group
1.	Major General Emeka	Commandant, Nigeria Defence Academy	Igbo
2.	Major General Umahi	GOC 81Division	Igbo
3.	Major General Nwuago	Commander, Armoured Corps	Igbo
4.	Major General Chioba	Commandant, DICON, Kaduna	Igbo
5.	Major General Odunukwe	Director of Operations, Army Headquarters	Igbo
6.	Major General Nwuagbo	Chief of Training Operations, Army Headquarters	Igbo
7.	Major General Orji	Commander, Corps of Signals	Igbo
8.	Brigadier General Azinta	Brigade Commander, Calabar	Igbo
9.	Brigadier General Egwuagu	Director Army Recruitment	Igbo
10.	Brigadier General Okorie Affra	Commandant, NYSC	Igbo
11.	Col Anene	Commander, AHQ S&T	Igbo

?

CONCLUSION

What is the ultimate Igbo agenda that General Ihejirika is pursuing? Is there a plan by these dark forces? to recklessly pursue some form of vengeance? for? perceived??? Igbo loses of the civil war? Is it therefore not a mere coincidence that Chinua Achebe?s unashamed fabrication of Nigerian history in the? book,?There Was a Country?, appeared at this point in time?? Has President Jonathan, on the advice of the late General Azazi, unwittingly created? a Frankenstein monster, by appointing Ihejirika? to the position of COAS and retaining him even after he was due to have retired?? The President, the National Assembly, the Minister of Defence and the National Security adviser should know that the actions? and inactions of General Ihejirika portend great danger for the army and the country at large. A disgruntled officer corps is a recipe for disaster. It means the army will lack unity, cohesion and purpose. It will be? pre- occupied with fighting itself, as our terrible experiences of 1966 -67 showed. Already, information filtering out of the barracks indicate rising tension which is unconnected with the injustices? discussed above. There are even reports of officers moving their immediate families out of the barracks, away from harms way. President Jonathan needs to act and act NOW. He must not allow himself to be a? pawn in a grand design to destroy his government by brewing the kind of discontent within the Nigerian Armed Forces which could become contagious and eventually engulf the entire society?

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Group for the Salvation of the Nigerian Army and the Motherland.

GROSNAMM?

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Source: http://ireports-ng.com/2013/01/30/panic-in-presidency-over-mounting-tension-in-military-as-fear-of-mutiny-grips-army-barracks/

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Google to continue offering Exchange ActiveSync support on Windows Phones through July 31st

Today is the day that Google has been planning to shut off its support for Exchange ActiveSync, but it appears that the company has had a slight change of heart. Google has confirmed that it will allow Windows Phones to access Google Sync services for an additional six months, ending on July 31st. This move will allow Microsoft a little extra breathing room, giving the company more time to determine how to best resolve the concern that will affect countless Gmail fans that currently use Windows Phone as their primary driver; let's hope this means the platform will be updated to offer CalDAV and CardDAV support before time runs out.

We reached out to Google and received this confirmation: "As announced last year, our plan is to end support for new device connections using Google Sync starting January 30, 2013. With the launch of CardDAV, it's now possible to build a seamless sync experience using open protocols (IMAP, CalDAV and CardDAV) for Gmail, Google Calendar and Contacts. We'll start rolling out this change as planned across all platforms but will continue to support Google Sync for Windows Phone until July 31, 2013."

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft, Google

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Via: The Verge

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/30/google-exchange-activesync/

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Pathway for membrane building blocks

Jan. 30, 2013 ? Biomembranes consist of a mosaic of individual, densely packed lipid molecules. These molecules are formed inside the cells. But how do these building blocks move to the correct part of the membrane? Researchers from Technische Universit?t M?nchen (TUM) have discovered a mechanism to show how this is done.

The lipid molecules of membranes, also known as phospholipids, are composed of two elements: A hydrophilic head and two long-chain fatty acids. The molecules form a bilayer in the membrane, with all of the heads pointing outwards and the fatty acid chains hanging in a zip-like interlay position.

Biomembranes are constantly reorganized or renewed, for example whenever cells divide. The cell is constantly creating new phospholipids that have to align themselves -- which they do in both layers of the biomembrane. However, cells only produce phospholipids on one side of the biomembrane. From there, they need to be transported to the other half of the bilayer.

A helping hand through the membrane

The problem is that the hydrophilic and lipophilic parts of the molecule repel each other. "The molecules can anchor themselves in one of the two membrane layers with their lipophilic tail," explains Prof. Dieter Langosch of the TUM Chair of Biopolymer Chemistry. "Translocation to the second layer is not possible because the hydrophilic heads cannot pass through the lipophilic fatty acid chains."

The key to establishing order in the membranes lies in enzymes that transport the molecules to their correct location in the "second layer." Scientists have been searching for such enzymes -- known as flippases -- for many years. But now Prof. Langosch and his team have made a breakthrough. They experimented with synthetic peptides, which transport phospholipids through the membrane. A clever trick

In this process, the researchers came across an indirect transport mechanism. The peptides span both layers of the membrane -- and are able to bind to individual phospholipids. Prof. Langosch explains: "When the peptides bind the molecules, the surrounding membrane is briefly destabilized. The new phospholipids use this opportunity to slip through the barrier of the first lipid layer and flip to the second layer of the membrane."

The researchers now have a clear idea of how flippases work. "Our peptides stretch through the membrane like a corkscrew. If this "alpha-helix" has dynamic elements, it can bind to phospholipids," says Prof. Langosch. "This model will help us to detect the flippases."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Technische Universitaet Muenchen.

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Journal Reference:

1. Marcella Langer, Rashmi Sah, Anika Veser, Markus G?tlich, Dieter Langosch. Structural Properties of Model Phosphatidylcholine Flippases. Chemistry & Biology, 2013; 20 (1): 63 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2012.11.006

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/ZMt_sqtudU0/130130101939.htm

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New evidence highlights threat to Caribbean coral reef growth: Many Caribbean coral reefs are starting to erode

Jan. 29, 2013 ? Coral reefs build their structures by both producing and accumulating calcium carbonate, and this is essential for the maintenance and continued vertical growth capacity of reefs. An international research team has discovered that the amount of new carbonate being added by Caribbean coral reefs is now significantly below rates measured over recent geological timescales, and in some habitats is as much as 70% lower.

Coral reefs form some of the planet's most biologically diverse ecosystems, and provide valuable services to humans and wildlife. However, their ability to maintain their structures and continue to grow depends on the balance between the addition of new carbonate, which is mostly produced by corals themselves, set against the loss of carbonate through various erosional processes. Scientists have long known that reef ecosystems are in decline and that the amount of live coral on reefs is dwindling. But the paper, published on DATE TBC in Nature Communications, is the first evidence that these ecological changes are now also impacting on the growth potential of reefs themselves.

Professor Chris Perry of the University of Exeter, who led the research, said: "Our estimates of current rates of reef growth in the Caribbean are extremely alarming. Our study goes beyond only examining how much coral there is, to also look at the delicate balance of biological factors which determine whether coral reefs will continue to grow or will erode. Our findings clearly show that recent ecological declines are now suppressing the growth potential of reefs in the region, and that this will have major implications for their ability to respond positively to future sea level rises.

"It is most concerning that many coral reefs across the Caribbean have seemingly lost their capacity to produce enough carbonate to continue growing vertically, whilst others are already at a threshold where they may start to erode. At the moment there is limited evidence of large-scale erosion or loss of actual reef structure, but clearly if these trends continue, reef erosion looks far more likely. Urgent action to improve management of reef habitats and to limit global temperature increases is likely to be critical to reduce further deterioration of reef habitat."

The team was funded by the Leverhulme Trust (UK), through an International Network Grant. It included scientists from James Cook University and The University of Queensland in Australia, from The University of Auckland in New Zealand, Memorial University in Canada, and the University of Maine in the USA. They examined rates of carbonate production across 19 reefs in the four Caribbean countries of the Bahamas, Belize, Bonaire and Grand Cayman.

They discovered that declines in rates of carbonate production were especially evident in shallow water habitats, where many fast growing branching coral species have been lost. The study compared modern day rates with those measured in the region over approximately the last 7,000 years. In key habitats around the Caribbean, the findings suggested that in waters of around five metres in depth, reef growth rates are now reduced by 60-70% compared to the regional averages taken from historical records. In waters of around 10 metres in depth, the rates are reduced by 25%.

The study also suggests that these key habitats must have a minimum of around 10% living coral cover to maintain their current structures. The amount of cover varies between sites, but some are already below this threshold and are therefore at risk of starting to erode. Given that previous studies have shown that coral cover on reefs in the Caribbean has declined by an average of 80 per cent since the 1970s, this raises alarm bells for the future state of reefs in the region. These changes have been driven by human disturbance, disease and rising sea temperatures, and are only expected to intensify as a result of future climate change.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Exeter, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Chris T. Perry, Gary N. Murphy, Paul S. Kench, Scott G. Smithers, Evan N. Edinger, Robert S. Steneck, Peter J. Mumby. Caribbean-wide decline in carbonate production threatens coral reef growth. Nature Communications, 2013; 4: 1402 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2409

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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/gDQmeTdXkdA/130129111450.htm

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Police chiefs, sheriffs split on Obama gun initiative

President Barack Obama says he's looking forward to a "robust conversation" on reducing gun violence.

By M. Alex Johnson, staff writer, NBC News

In urging law enforcement leaders to back new gun control efforts, President Barack Obama is asking police chiefs and county sheriffs to unite behind a cause they don't even agree about among themselves.

Obama said Monday that he was seeking a "basic consensus" among law enforcement executives to pressure Congress for legislation to ban assault-style weapons and restrict high-capacity ammunition magazines, among a score of other measures.

But it turns out the two national groups representing police and sheriffs at a?meeting of law enforcement officials?Monday at the White House ??the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the Major County Sheriffs Association ??disagree on the initiative. The chiefs back it, while the sheriffs oppose it.

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Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, president of the police chiefs group, said the deaths of 20 students and six teachers and staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., last month had settled the issue.

"If the slaughter of 20 babies does not capture and hold your attention, then I give up, because I don't know what else will," Ramsey said last week. "We have to pass legislation."

But?in a letter to Vice President Joe Biden (.pdf), who is leading the White House lobbying effort, the sheriffs group argued that "a ban on assault weapons alone will not address the issues of gun violence we are facing in our country today."

Nor would limiting magazine capacity, it said: "The problem is not the law-abiding citizen that will follow the restrictions; the problem again is one of access. ... (E)ven if you can?t buy in bulk, you can still buy multiple boxes of smaller quantities."

Similarly, the International Association of Chiefs of Police said?in a position paper (.pdf)?that it was "a strong supporter of the assault weapons ban" and measures to limit ammunition capacity. But the?Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association?applauded what it called efforts to "uphold and defend the Constitution against Obama's unlawful gun control measures."

Chiefs vs. sheriffs
The divide reflects a cultural and political gulf between police chiefs and sheriffs in a number of areas, criminal justice experts told NBC News.

Police chiefs run departments in cities where most gun crimes take place, according to FBI crime statistics over the past decade. Sheriffs run departments in counties, some or all of their jurisdictions covering rural areas where hunting and sport shooting are cherished rights. As a result, "you have these wildly different views of guns," said Gary Kleck, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

In counties, particularly heavily rural ones, "guns equal hunting, fishing, father-and-son-bonding-type things," he said, while in cities, "guns equal crime."

Those community views have real political effects, according to Kleck and another expert, Scott H. Decker, a professor of criminology at Arizona State University in Tempe.

"The big difference is a sheriff is elected and has to face the voters every four years," Decker said, but police chiefs are almost always appointed.

"If you're a police chief, you're not responsible to an electorate," Kleck said, and are therefore more free to advocate for politically unpopular policies like bans on certain kinds of weapons.

Sheriffs vs. sheriffs
Decker suggested that there was likely to be a broad range of opinion among sheriffs, because it's not just elections that keep them in touch with community sentiment. Because they have more varied duties ? running jails and patrolling areas that can include rural, suburban and urban communities, all in the same county ??their jurisdictions range across populations with widely?different political views on guns.

So while?many sheriffs say they wouldn't enforce new federal gun control laws, there are other sheriffs who call those sheriffs misguided.

Last week, Milwaukee County (Wis.) Sheriff David Clarke issued a public service announcement urging residents to learn how to handle a firearm "so you can defend yourself until we get there."

"With officers laid off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option," Clarke says in the spot,?which you can listen to here.

Just a few counties over, Ron Cramer, sheriff of Eau Claire County, objected that Clarke was sending the wrong message.

Clarke could have gotten across his point that residents could take more responsibility for their own safety "without having to say it's time to join our team and pick up a gun," Cramer told?NBC station WEAU of Eau Claire.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/28/16740488-police-chiefs-sheriffs-divided-over-gun-control-measures?lite

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Researchers break million-core supercomputer barrier

Jan. 28, 2013 ? Stanford Engineering's Center for Turbulence Research (CTR) has set a new record in computational science by successfully using a supercomputer with more than one million computing cores to solve a complex fluid dynamics problem -- the prediction of noise generated by a supersonic jet engine.

Joseph Nichols, a research associate in the center, worked on the newly installed Sequoia IBM Bluegene/Q system at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL) funded by the Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) Program of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Sequoia once topped list of the world's most powerful supercomputers, boasting 1,572,864 compute cores (processors) and 1.6 petabytes of memory connected by a high-speed five-dimensional torus interconnect.

Because of Sequoia's impressive numbers of cores, Nichols was able to show for the first time that million-core fluid dynamics simulations are possible -- and also to contribute to research aimed at designing quieter aircraft engines.

The physics of noise

The exhausts of high-performance aircraft at takeoff and landing are among the most powerful human-made sources of noise. For ground crews, even for those wearing the most advanced hearing protection available, this creates an acoustically hazardous environment. To the communities surrounding airports, such noise is a major annoyance and a drag on property values.

Understandably, engineers are keen to design new and better aircraft engines that are quieter than their predecessors. New nozzle shapes, for instance, can reduce jet noise at its source, resulting in quieter aircraft.

Predictive simulations -- advanced computer models -- aid in such designs. These complex simulations allow scientists to peer inside and measure processes occurring within the harsh exhaust environment that is otherwise inaccessible to experimental equipment. The data gleaned from these simulations are driving computation-based scientific discovery as researchers uncover the physics of noise.

More cores, more challenges

"Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, like the one Nichols solved, are incredibly complex. Only recently, with the advent of massive supercomputers boasting hundreds of thousands of computing cores, have engineers been able to model jet engines and the noise they produce with accuracy and speed," said Parviz Moin, the Franklin M. and Caroline P. Johnson Professor in the School of Engineering and Director of CTR.

CFD simulations test all aspects of a supercomputer. The waves propagating throughout the simulation require a carefully orchestrated balance between computation, memory and communication. Supercomputers like Sequoia divvy up the complex math into smaller parts so they can be computed simultaneously. The more cores you have, the faster and more complex the calculations can be.

And yet, despite the additional computing horsepower, the difficulty of the calculations only becomes more challenging with more cores. At the one-million-core level, previously innocuous parts of the computer code can suddenly become bottlenecks.

Ironing out the wrinkles

Over the past few weeks, Stanford researchers and LLNL computing staff have been working closely to iron out these last few wrinkles. This week, they were glued to their terminals during the first "full-system scaling" to see whether initial runs would achieve stable run-time performance. They watched eagerly as the first CFD simulation passed through initialization then thrilled as the code performance continued to scale up to and beyond the all-important one-million-core threshold, and as the time-to-solution declined dramatically.

"These runs represent at least an order-of-magnitude increase in computational power over the largest simulations performed at the Center for Turbulence Research previously," said Nichols "The implications for predictive science are mind-boggling."

A homecoming

The current simulations were a homecoming of sorts for Nichols. He was inspired to pursue a career in supercomputing as a high-school student when he attended a two-week summer program at Lawrence Livermore computing facility in 1994 sponsored by the Department of Energy. Back then he worked on the Cray Y-MP, one of the fastest supercomputers of its time.

"Sequoia is approximately 10 million times more powerful than that machine," Nichols noted.

The Stanford ties go deeper still. The computer code used in this study is named CharLES and was developed by former Stanford senior research associate, Frank Ham. This code utilizes unstructured meshes to simulate turbulent flow in the presence of complicated geometry.

In addition to jet noise simulations, Stanford researchers in the Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program (PSAAP), sponsored by the Department of Energy, are using the CharLES code to investigate advanced-concept scramjet propulsion systems used in hypersonic flight (with video) -- flight at many times the speed of sound -- and to simulate the turbulent flow over an entire airplane wing.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Stanford School of Engineering. The original article was written by Andrew Myers.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ms7cX5a1IAs/130128104628.htm

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Gravity-Controlled Pac-Man Is Now Available for iOS and Android?and It Looks Quite Fun

I thought Not Pacman—a version of Pac-Man that uses gravity to control the yellow hungry monster—was awesome and needed to be ported to iOS and Android ASAP. Gizmodo reader Pierre-Yves Gatouillat agreed with that opinion and he did just that. He sent this via email: More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/I0TXX0FhkHA/gravity+controlled-pac+man-is-now-available-for-ios-and-android++and-it-looks-like-fun

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Toyota back on top as global auto sales champ

1 hr.

Paul A. Eisenstein , The Detroit Bureau

Toyota has officially reclaimed its global sales crown, the maker confirming it produced 9.75 million vehicles in 2012.

That was slightly ahead of a preliminary tally Toyota forecast as the year came to a close and locks it in first place ahead of General Motors, which sold 9.29 million vehicles.? Volkswagen, at 9.1 million, came in third for 2012.

Toyota?s sales were slightly lower than the company had projected earlier in the year, the shortfall reflecting the ongoing dispute between Japan and China over a chain of small, uninhabited islands both nations claim.?

In customary fashion, Toyota officials downplayed the sales results. ?Rather than going after numbers, we hope to make fine products, one by one, to keep out customers satisfied. The numbers are just a result of our policy. And our policy will continue unchanged,? Toyota spokeswoman Shino Yamada told the Associated Press.?

The Detroit Bureau:?US Auto Sales Surging as New Year Gets Underway

Nonetheless, it marked a significant comeback for the Japanese giant which first captured the global sales crown in 2008, displacing GM after seven decades as the sales leader. The U.S. maker plunged into bankruptcy the following year, recovering only with the assistance of a massive government loan.

With production back to normal, Toyota saw its sales in the home Japanese market surge 35% in 2012 while overseas sales jumped 23%.? Adding additional models to the ?family,? the Prius line firmed up its position as the world?s best-selling hybrid nameplate.Toyota briefly fell to third in the global chase in 2011, the maker suffering significant production cuts in the wake of Japan?s March earthquake and tsunami. It didn?t fully restore its worldwide production network to normal operations until the end of the year.

But not everything went as well as expected ? notably in China where Toyota was just one of many Japanese businesses to suffer as the dispute over the Senkuko Islands ? which the Chinese call the Daioyu ? flared up. A Toyota dealership was torched and mobs destroyed many of the maker?s products. Sales fell by roughly half in the early weeks of the dispute though they have begun to recover more recently.?

The Detroit Bureau:?Mazda betting on alliances with Toyota, Fiat

Toyota did have some other issues, notably a surge of safety-related problems including additional recalls related to the maker?s unintended acceleration issue. In all, Toyota recalled more vehicles than any other maker in the American market in 2012, and it ended the year by agreeing to an estimated $1.2 billion settlement related to the unintended acceleration issue. Even so, most analysts say the maker?s reputation escaped with relatively little damage.

Toyota is forecasting another increase in sales for 2013, hoping to reach a record 9.91 million. That is still short of an earlier projection of at least 10 million, however.

General Motors officials have not yet set out their own forecast and that could depend on the strength of the ongoing U.S. recovery. Earlier this month, Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson said the maker expected sales in the States to reach somewhere between 15.0 million and 15.5 million for 2013.?

The Detroit Bureau:?Toyota Settles First of 100s of Wrongful Death, Injury Lawsuits

The wild card is Volkswagen, the aggressive German maker laying out plans to snatch the sales ground by the time it wraps up its current, 10-year growth plan in 2016.? The weakness of the home European market could delay that strategy, though VW hopes to offset that by stressing China, Latin America and the recovering U.S. market where it was one of the fastest-growing brands in 2012

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Copyright 2013 The Detroit Bureau

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/toyota-back-top-global-auto-sales-champ-1C8137475

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Senate proposes bipartisan plan for immigration

Launching a ramped up effort to prioritize immigration reform under the Obama administration?8 Senators (4 Republican and 4 Democrat) have proposed bipartisan plan to reform immigration law in this country. After four years of?disastrous?immigration law enforcement and border patrolling splitting up thousands of families, leaving children orphaned and subjecting undocumented immigrants to a slue of human rights violations?is there hope in sight?

Yes and no. The proposed law does propose pathways to citizenship, but only after there has been an increase patrolling on the border and in places of work.

Seth Freed Wessler writes at Colorlines:?

The plan is a mix of legal immigration programs for undocumented immigrants and additional immigration enforcement measures. The path to citizenship will kick in only after additional border security and visa entry controls are implemented.

Immigrants under the plan would be required to pay back taxes, fines and other penalties and learn English before they can apply for permanent status. Applicants will also have to show they are currently employed. Those who have been convicted of crimes or are found otherwise ineligible for visas will be susceptible to deportation. It?s not clear now many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the country would be excluded because of these restrictions.

To accommodate conservatives who have long demanded increased border security before agreeing to a path to citizenship, the framework states clearly that the process to gain permanent immigration status will begin only ?[o]nce the enforcement measures have been completed.?

They also acknowledge that the path to citizenship will be long and hard. Obama will be addressing the nation tomorrow and proposing his own plan, as well.

Source: http://feministing.com/2013/01/28/senate-proposes-bipartisan-plan-for-immigration/

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Players defend Pro Bowl after 62-35 NFC win

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) of the AFC attempts to chase down Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) of the NFC in the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) of the AFC attempts to chase down Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) of the NFC in the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali (91) of the AFC and his teammate strong safety Eric Berry (29) tackle Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) of the NFC in the second quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) of the NFC makes a pass during the second quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) hands off the football to Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) of the AFC in the first quarter of the NFL football Pro Bowl game against the NFC in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) of the AFC manages to throw a pass just as Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) of the NFC grabs Schaub during the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

HONOLULU (AP) ? After a week in Hawaii and a blowout game, the NFL's all-stars are defending the Pro Bowl as a worthy reward for top players who don't make the Super Bowl.

"I hope we keep it here and keep it here for a long time," Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph said after winning Pro Bowl MVP in a 62-35 NFC win on Sunday.

Rudolph called the award icing on a cake of being named to the roster and getting to spend time with other Pro Bowl players in Hawaii.

"That was the big emphasis this week, making sure that we were competitive and I think we showed that," he said.

The shenanigans were limited. The teams scored plenty of points. Yet the results were familiar ? another ho-hum Pro Bowl.

Now, the future of the game depends on how Commissioner Roger Goodell sees it.

"That's for him to decide," Denver quarterback Peyton Manning said. "I thought it was a good, competitive game."

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson got the crowd pumped up in the second half with some nifty scrambles and three passing touchdowns. There was also Houston's sack-happy defensive end J.J. Watt going out for a couple of passes as a wide receiver, and retiring Green Bay center Jeff Saturday snapping to two Mannings on opposite teams.

But while the NFC appeared unstoppable on offense, with nearly each player putting up fantasy-worthy lines in limited play, the AFC had five turnovers and scored most of its points well after the game was no longer competitive.

"Guys were competing, guys wanted to win and guys want to keep the game here," Rudolph insisted. "That was the point before the game. We want to keep this game rolling for future Pro Bowlers."

Watt, who had 20? sacks for Houston, lined up as a wide receiver on the AFC's third play from scrimmage, but missed a pass from Peyton Manning. He was targeted one more time, but didn't make a catch.

He later showed a television camera a bloody left pinkie, joking with NBC broadcasters that it was proof that the players were trying.

"Hey, Commish, we're playing hard," Watt said as he showed his finger.

Watt said after the game that he wanted to stay in even as things got lopsided.

"I'm sure some guys thought about (letting up), but I'm not going to sit out," Watt said. "I like to play football, it's fun, so I just tried to enjoy it."

Goodell has said the Pro Bowl won't be played again if play didn't improve this year. Last year, fans in Hawaii booed as lineman were clearly not trying. On one play in that game, Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen did a barrel roll to switch positions with a teammate.

If players were coasting this time around, it was less obvious. The AFC just played poorly. And fans didn't boo much ? the stands were relatively empty even though the game sold enough tickets to lift a local television blackout.

The game was trending on Twitter in the United States early on, but quickly gave way to the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the WWE Royal Rumble.

Saturday, retiring at the end of this season, played for both teams, though he came representing the NFC. He lined up on one play for the AFC to snap the ball one last time to Manning, his longtime former Colts teammate.

Saturday said it meant a lot to him that the Broncos quarterback, whom Saturday called a true friend, orchestrated the stunt.

"He's got a little more pull than I got," Saturday said. "He got it all set up and timed up for me, so it was really nice of him to do that."

Saturday played 13 seasons in Indianapolis, all with Manning ? except 2011, when Manning was out with a neck injury. Saturday then played later in the game for the NFC, snapping to Peyton's brother, Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

Saturday's last play on the field was a passing touchdown by Eli Manning.

Peyton Manning said it was nice for the NFL to allow the play to happen.

"It's something that I'll always remember," he said, "that he'll always remember to kind of get that one, final snap together after the thousands that we've taken together."

Even as the NFC piled up touchdowns, the game struggled for memorable moments after Saturday's momentary switch.

In the second quarter, referee Ed Hochuli drew cheers when announcing a pass interference penalty on Denver cornerback Champ Bailey in the second quarter ? the first flag of the game.

"Yes, there are penalties in the Pro Bowl," Hochuli said, drawing laughs and loud cheers.

Giants wideout Victor Cruz broke a Pro Bowl record with 10 catches. Tampa Bay receiver Vincent Jackson had 91 yards and two touchdowns. Eli Manning threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

Cincinnati's A.J. Green had three TD catches for the AFC.

NFL officials said earlier in the week that the league wants to decide the future of the Pro Bowl by the time next season's schedule is released in April.

"We understood exactly what (Goodell) wanted, guys were making plays all over the field," Cruz said. "There was a little bit more high intensity than in years past and we were excited to play."

___

Oskar Garcia can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/oskargarcia

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-28-FBN-Pro-Bowl/id-625f3b6e2b2e4371b579a6b1364de92d

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How Conservative Columnist George Will Lies With Statistics (Little green footballs)

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French, Mali forces retake airport in city of Gao

In this image taken during an official visit organized by the Malian army to the town of Konna, some 680 kilometers (430 miles) north of Mali's capital Bamako, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, a Malian army armored vehicle used by islamist rebels stands charred. One wing of Mali's Ansar Dine rebel group has split off to create its own movement, saying that they want to negotiate a solution to the crisis in Mali, in a declaration that indicates at least some of the members of the al-Qaida linked group are searching for a way out of the extremist movement in the wake of French air strikes. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

In this image taken during an official visit organized by the Malian army to the town of Konna, some 680 kilometers (430 miles) north of Mali's capital Bamako, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, a Malian army armored vehicle used by islamist rebels stands charred. One wing of Mali's Ansar Dine rebel group has split off to create its own movement, saying that they want to negotiate a solution to the crisis in Mali, in a declaration that indicates at least some of the members of the al-Qaida linked group are searching for a way out of the extremist movement in the wake of French air strikes. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

In this image taken during an official visit organized by the Malian army to the town of Konna, some 680 kilometers (430 miles) north of Mali's capital Bamako, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, a videographer films Malian soldiers walking through the rubbles of a former army based leveled during fighting with islamist rebels. One wing of Mali's Ansar Dine rebel group has split off to create its own movement, saying that they want to negotiate a solution to the crisis in Mali, in a declaration that indicates at least some of the members of the al-Qaida linked group are searching for a way out of the extremist movement in the wake of French air strikes. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

in this image taken during an official visit organized by the Malian army to the town of Konna, some 680 kilometers (430 miles) north of Mali's capital Bamako Saturday , Jan. 26, 2013, an ammunition belt lays on the ground of a destroyed base used by Islamist rebels. One wing of Mali's Ansar Dine rebel group has split off to create its own movement, saying that they want to negotiate a solution to the crisis in Mali, in a declaration that indicates at least some of the members of the al-Qaida-linked group are searching for a way out of the extremist movement in the wake of French airstrikes. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

In this image taken during an official visit organized by the Malian army to the town of Konna, some 680 kilometers (430 miles) north of Mali's capital Bamako, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, a charred flack jacket lays on the ground of a destroyed base used by islamist rebels. One wing of Mali's Ansar Dine rebel group has split off to create its own movement, saying that they want to negotiate a solution to the crisis in Mali, in a declaration that indicates at least some of the members of the al-Qaida linked group are searching for a way out of the extremist movement in the wake of French air strikes. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

In this image taken during an official visit organized by the Malian army to the town of Konna, some 680 kilometers (430 miles) north of Mali's capital Bamako, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, a jacket lays on the ground of a destroyed base used by islamist rebels. One wing of Mali's Ansar Dine rebel group has split off to create its own movement, saying that they want to negotiate a solution to the crisis in Mali, in a declaration that indicates at least some of the members of the al-Qaida linked group are searching for a way out of the extremist movement in the wake of French air strikes. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

KONNA, Mali (AP) ? French and Malian troops regained control of the airport and bridge of the crucial, northern city of Gao on Saturday, marking their biggest advance yet in their bid to oust al-Qaida-linked extremists who have controlled northern Mali for months, military officials said.

The move comes just two weeks after France launched its military offensive in support of the shaky, central government of this former French colony. It is unclear what kind of resistance French and Malian troops will face in the coming days.

The French military said in a statement on its website that their special forces, which had stormed in by land and by air, had come under fire from "several terrorist elements" that were later "destroyed."

In a later press release entitled "French and Malian troops liberate Gao" the French ministry of defense said they were bringing back the town's mayor, Sadou Diallo, who had fled to the Malian capital of Bamako far to the west.

However, a city official interviewed by telephone by The Associated Press said coalition forces so far only controlled the airport, the bridge and surrounding neighborhoods.

And in Paris, a defense ministry official clarified that the city had not been fully liberated, and that the process of freeing Gao was continuing.

Both officials spoke only on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Swooping in under the cover of darkness, the French and Malian forces faced sporadic "acts of harassment" during the day, said Col. Thierry Burkhard, a French military spokesman in Paris. He had no immediate estimate on casualties.

Gao, the largest city in northern Mali, was seized by a mixture of al-Qaida-linked fighters more than nine months ago, and the battle to retake the city is expected to be tough.

The rebel group that turned Gao into a replica of Afghanistan under the Taliban has close ties to Moktar Belmoktar, the Algerian national who has long operated in Mali and who last week claimed responsibility for the terror attack on a BP-operated natural gas plant in Algeria.

His fighters are believed to include Algerians, Egyptians, Mauritanians, Libyans, Tunisians, Pakistanis and even Afghans.

The French assault began with the capture of the airport, a strategic landing strip that opens the way for easier sorties all over northern Mali.

The further capture of a major bridge leading into the town means that the jihadists "saw their means of transport and their logistics sites destroyed," French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement.

The operation in Gao comes at the same time as airstrikes in the two other provincial capitals held by the extremists ? the cities of Timbuktu and Kidal, which like Gao fell to the rebels last April, during the chaotic aftermath of a coup in the distant capital. Nearly 30 bombs have been fired from fighter jets over the past two days, said France's military in a communique.

The simultaneous aerial attacks also come at the same time that ground troops are carrying out a pincer movement, with French and African land forces heading to Gao from Niger, where Chad has sent a battalion.

The Pentagon said late Saturday that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has told Le Drian the U.S. will aid the French military with aerial refueling missions.

U.S. aerial refueling planes would be a boost to air support for French ground forces as they enter areas of Mali that are controlled by al-Qaida-linked extremists.

The U.S. was already helping France by transporting French troops and equipment to the West African nation.

French and Malian forces are also heading to Timbuktu, via the central corridor that leads straight north from the central Malian city of Segou, via the recently recaptured town of Diabaly.

In an interview Saturday, Col. Shehu Usman Abdulkadir told The Associated Press that the African force will be expanded from an anticipated 3,200 troops to some 5,700 ? which does not include the 2,200 soldiers promised by Chad.

Most analysts had said the earlier figure was far too small to confront the Islamists given the vast territory they hold ? an area larger than Afghanistan.

"Because they've seen that the area itself, northern Mali is too large for that number of troops so there was a need to increase the number and that's why we arrived at 5700," said Abdulkadir, the force commander. "I believe that as time goes on it may be necessary to increase the strength again. Because France pulls out we definitely must have to increase the strength."

Since France began its military operation, the Islamists have retreated from three small towns in central Mali: Diabaly, Konna and Douentza.

For the first time on Saturday, Malian authorities opened the town of Konna to reporters. Although in most places Malians have applauded the arrival of the French, the town of Konna, built around a single, hard-top road, provides a counterweight and reveals the human toll of the operation.

Konna's mayor had earlier said that 11 civilians were killed during the airstrikes. Among them were four relatives of Souleymane Maiga, a young, 20-something man who ran for cover on Jan. 11, the first day of the airstrikes.

He hid between two mud walls separating his compound from that of his neighbor. His aunt, and the four children, including several young girls that were with her, abandoned the pot on an open flame where they were preparing the midday meal and ran inside the house.

French combat helicopters, looking for rebels, strafed the buildings made of nothing more than mud mixed with straw.

"The women were preparing food right here in the shade of this tree, when we heard the noise made by the aircraft. I ran and threw myself between the two walls over there," said Maiga. "After it was over, I went to the house, and when I opened the door, I saw that they were dead. Of the five people inside, only one survived. A toddler. The bodies were one on top of the other. The toddler was crying. The bullets had pierced the door. I tried to find their pulses, but they were gone. I realized it was over. I picked up the child and took him to a relative's house in town."

The zinc door of the modest house is pockmarked by bullet holes, some several inches wide. If you close it behind you, they let in jets of light, which illuminate the unlit interior. The can of tomato paste that the women had just opened in order to make a sauce served over rice, still sits where they left it. It had been partially opened, and now the tomato paste inside has spoiled.

___

Larson reported from Sevare, Mali. Jamey Keaten in Dakar, Senegal; Baba Ahmed in Konna, Mali; and Robbie Corey-Boulet in Abidjan, Ivory Coast contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-01-26-Mali%20Fighting/id-df1d891002474225afea599264061992

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