CAIRO (AP) ? Jon Stewart took the guest's seat Friday on Egypt's top satirical TV show, modeled after his own program "The Daily Show."
Stewart was brought to the set wearing a black hood and introduced by host Bassem Youssef as a captured foreign spy.
Stewart, wearing a scruffy beard, spoke briefly in Arabic as the studio audience gave him a raucous welcome.
"Please sit down, I am a simple man who does not like to be fussed over," he said in Arabic to laughter.
Youssef, host of the show "Al-Bernameg" and one of Egypt's most popular TV presenters, has been questioned by prosecutors on accusations of blasphemy and insulting the president. Stewart defended his counterpart and friend in one of his monologues after Youssef was interrogated earlier this year, and Youssef has appeared as a guest on the popular New York-based show.
Stewart, who is on a summer-long break from anchoring the Comedy Central fake newscast is in the Middle East making his first movie. He expressed admiration for Youssef in Friday's episode, which was recorded earlier this week during a visit to Cairo.
"Satire is a settled law. If your regime is not strong enough to handle a joke, then you have no regime," Stewart said, adding that Youssef "is showing that satire can be relevant."
True to form, Youssef began the weekly show with a series of jokes about Islamist President Mohammed Morsi's appearance and address at a rally last weekend hosted by his hard-line Islamist backers.
The president, Egypt's first freely elected leader, announced at the rally a complete break of diplomatic relations with the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Youssef, however, criticized Morsi for remaining silent and wearing a stone face while one of the rally's organizers denounced as non-believers opposition protesters planning massive, anti-government demonstrations on June 30, the anniversary of the start of the president's term.
Stewart said he was overwhelmed with the generosity of Egyptians but took a jab at Cairo's horrendous traffic. "I flew in three days ago and I have just arrived to do the show," he joked.
Youssef ? known as Egypt's Jon Stewart ? was interrogated in April for allegedly insulting Islam and the country's leader. His questioning drew criticism from Washington and rights advocates. A trained heart surgeon, Youssef catapulted to fame when his video blogs mocking politics received hundreds of thousands of hits shortly after the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime leader Hosni Mubarak.
Unlike other local TV presenters, Youssef uses satire to mock fiery comments made by ultraconservative clerics and politicians, garnering him a legion of fans among the country's revolutionaries and liberals. He has 1.4 million fans on Facebook and nearly 850,000 followers on Twitter.
During his hiatus, Stewart will be directing and producing "Rosewater" from his own script, based on a memoir by Maziar Bahari. This Iranian journalist was falsely accused of being a spy and imprisoned by the Iranian government in 2009 while covering Iran's presidential election.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) ? The Food Network said Friday it's dumping Paula Deen, barely an hour after the celebrity cook posted the first of two videotaped apologies online begging forgiveness from fans and critics troubled by her admission to having used racial slurs in the past.
The 66-year-old Savannah kitchen celebrity has been swamped in controversy since court documents filed this week revealed Deen told an attorney questioning her under oath last month that she has used the N-word. "Yes, of course," Deen said, though she added, "It's been a very long time."
The Food Network, which made Deen a star with "Paula's Home Cooking" in 2002 and later "Paula's Home Cooking" in 2008, weighed in with a terse statement Friday afternoon.
"Food Network will not renew Paula Deen's contract when it expires at the end of this month," the statement said. Network representatives declined further comment. A representative for Deen did not immediately return phone and email messages seeking comment on the decision.
The news came as Deen worked to repair the damage to her image, which has spawned a vast empire of cookbooks, a bimonthly cooking magazine, a full line of cookware, food items like spices and even furniture.
She abruptly canceled a scheduled interview on NBC's "Today" show Friday morning, instead opting for a direct appeal via online video ? one that allowed her and her staff complete control of what she said and how she said it.
"Inappropriate, hurtful language is totally, totally unacceptable," Deen said in the first 45-second video posted on YouTube. "I've made plenty of mistakes along the way but I beg you, my children, my team, my fans, my partners - I beg for your forgiveness."
Deen adopted a solemn tone as she looked straight into the camera. Still, her recorded apology featured three obvious edits ? with the picture quickly fading out between splices ? during a statement just five sentences long.
It was soon scrapped and replaced with a second video of Deen talking unedited for nearly two minutes as she insists: "Your color of your skin, your religion, your sexual preference does not matter to me."
"''I want people to understand that my family and I are not the kind of people that the press is wanting to say we are," Deen says in the later video. "The pain has been tremendous that I have caused to myself and to others."
Deen never mentions Food Network or its decision to drop her in either of her online videos.
Deen initially planned to give her first interview on the controversy Friday to the "Today" show, which promoted her scheduled appearance as a live exclusive. Instead, host Matt Lauer ended up telling viewers that Deen's representatives pulled the plug because she was exhausted after her flight to New York. Deen said in her video she was "physically not able" to appear.
Court records show Deen sat down for a deposition May 17 in a discrimination lawsuit filed last year by a former employee who managed Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House, a Savannah restaurant owned by Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers. The ex-employee, Lisa Jackson, says she was sexually harassed and worked in a hostile environment rife with innuendo and racial slurs.
During the deposition, Deen was peppered with questions about her racial attitudes. At one point she's asked if she thinks jokes using the N-word are "mean." Deen says jokes often target minority groups and "I can't, myself, determine what offends another person."
Deen also acknowledged she briefly considered hiring all black waiters for her brother's 2007 wedding, an idea inspired by the staff at a restaurant she had visited with her husband. She insisted she quickly dismissed the idea.
But she also insisted she and her brother have no tolerance for bigotry.
"Bubba and I, neither one of us, care what the color of your skin is" or what gender a person is, Deen said. "It's what's in your heart and in your head that matters to us."
___
AP Television Writer David Bauder contributed to this story from New York.
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Friday:
1. DOW SHEDS 350 POINTS
Among Wall Street's fears are a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing and reports of a credit squeeze there.
2. FRESH REASON FOR HOPE IN HAILEY, IDAHO
The hometown of Bowe Bergdahl, a U.S. soldier held captive in Afghanistan since 2009, is buoyed by word that the Taliban are willing to release him in a prisoner exchange.
3. BATTLE OVER NEXT-DAY BIRTH CONTROL ENDS
The FDA, heeding a judge's order, approves unrestricted sales of the morning-after pill, lifting all age limits on the emergency contraceptive.
4. GAUGING A GLOBAL THREAT TO WOMEN
Around the world, about 1 in 3 women have been physically or sexually abused by a partner, the World Health Organization reports.
5. WHO WILL DECIDE GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'S FATE
Most of the six women picked for the jury in the racially charged murder trial are white.
6. SECURITY FIRM FACING SCRUTINY
The company that conducted the background check on NSA leaker Edward Snowden is now under investigation itself, a government watchdog says.
7. WHY ARMING SYRIA'S OPPOSITION IS SO COMPLEX
Every weapons shipment enters a tangle of rebel politics, with dozens of rival brigades and battalions operating on the ground.
8. REARVIEW CAMERAS: NOT AS CLOSE AS THEY MIGHT APPEAR
The White House is again delaying regulations that would require the cameras on new cars and trucks. Automakers say mandating them would cost too much.
9. MEXICO URGES CHINA TO GIVE TEQUILA A SHOT
The drink's producers see a huge emerging market after the Asian nation changes its import rules.
10. GANDOLFINI'S LEGACY
In his portrayal of Tony Soprano, the actor blazed a path for the antihero.
Cell Press publishes articles of the highest relevance and impact according to JCR 2012Public release date: 21-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Mary Beth O'Leary moleary@cell.com 617-397-2802 Cell Press
The science published in Cell Press journals continues to deliver high impact across the research community as reflected in the measures of citation released this week in the 2012 Journal Citation Reports (JCR) published by Thomson Reuters. Looking across impact factor (IF) and immediacy index as measures of a journal's short-term value as well as 5-year IF and cited half-life as indications of a journal's robustness and longevity, Cell Press journals made significant increases in multiple citation-based measures of impact.
Cell continues to lead in its field with an impact factor of 31.957, and remains the number one research journal in the Cell Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology categories. Currently celebrating 25 years of exciting neuroscience, Neuron has delivered strong growth in impact over the last 3 years, rising from 13.260 in 2009 to 15.766 in 2012. Now in its 50th volume, Molecular Cell's impact factor grew by 8% from 14.178 to 15.280. In just its 6th year of publication, Cell Stem Cell is holding steady with an impact factor of 25.315, having risen rapidly from 16.826 in 2008.
Seven of the fourteen Trends review journals published by Cell Press increased in impact. In particular Trends in Cognitive Sciences grew by 27% from 12.586 to 16.008, Trends in Biochemical Sciences went up from 10.847 to 13.076, an increase of over 20%, and Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism grew by 10% to 8.901.
Launched in 2007, Cell Host & Microbe increased its immediacy index by 29% up from 2.274 in 2011 to 2.943, and Cell Metabolism's immediacy index increased by 24% from 2.624 to 3.250. Trends in Microbiology's immediacy index went up by 58% from 1.365 to 2.153, and other notable increases include Trends in Cognitive Sciences (64%), Trends in Immunology (24%), and Trends in Pharmacological Sciences (24%).
For many of these journals the trends of increase in the 2-year IF and immediacy index are also reflected in the 5-year IF and cited half-life. These measures reflect that our published articles are cited more frequently in both the shorter- and the longer-term, illustrating the timeliness and longevity of their value and impact. Visit http://www.cell.com/cellpress/impact to see additional metrics which provide a means to assess journal performance.
In 2012 the Cell Press primary research and Trends review journals received over 715,000 citations, representing 6% growth on 2011. As well as considering traditional citation-based measures, several months ago Cell Press added article-level altmetrics to its website so that readers can track the real-time community response to individual papers.
"We're are delighted to see that our editorial efforts in engaging with the scientific community, identifying exciting science, providing a fast, fair, informed peer review, and having a clear editorial vision have paid off in continuing to provide content of high value and impact to the scientific community." said Emilie Marcus - CEO, Cell Press, and Editor-in-Chief, Cell.
Cell Press owes thanks to all the authors who entrusted us with their best research articles and reviews and to the reviewers who helped us understand the strengths and limitations of each paper. Thanks also to all our readers who were inspired by the papers we published in their own research and went on to build on them and cite them.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Cell Press publishes articles of the highest relevance and impact according to JCR 2012Public release date: 21-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Mary Beth O'Leary moleary@cell.com 617-397-2802 Cell Press
The science published in Cell Press journals continues to deliver high impact across the research community as reflected in the measures of citation released this week in the 2012 Journal Citation Reports (JCR) published by Thomson Reuters. Looking across impact factor (IF) and immediacy index as measures of a journal's short-term value as well as 5-year IF and cited half-life as indications of a journal's robustness and longevity, Cell Press journals made significant increases in multiple citation-based measures of impact.
Cell continues to lead in its field with an impact factor of 31.957, and remains the number one research journal in the Cell Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology categories. Currently celebrating 25 years of exciting neuroscience, Neuron has delivered strong growth in impact over the last 3 years, rising from 13.260 in 2009 to 15.766 in 2012. Now in its 50th volume, Molecular Cell's impact factor grew by 8% from 14.178 to 15.280. In just its 6th year of publication, Cell Stem Cell is holding steady with an impact factor of 25.315, having risen rapidly from 16.826 in 2008.
Seven of the fourteen Trends review journals published by Cell Press increased in impact. In particular Trends in Cognitive Sciences grew by 27% from 12.586 to 16.008, Trends in Biochemical Sciences went up from 10.847 to 13.076, an increase of over 20%, and Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism grew by 10% to 8.901.
Launched in 2007, Cell Host & Microbe increased its immediacy index by 29% up from 2.274 in 2011 to 2.943, and Cell Metabolism's immediacy index increased by 24% from 2.624 to 3.250. Trends in Microbiology's immediacy index went up by 58% from 1.365 to 2.153, and other notable increases include Trends in Cognitive Sciences (64%), Trends in Immunology (24%), and Trends in Pharmacological Sciences (24%).
For many of these journals the trends of increase in the 2-year IF and immediacy index are also reflected in the 5-year IF and cited half-life. These measures reflect that our published articles are cited more frequently in both the shorter- and the longer-term, illustrating the timeliness and longevity of their value and impact. Visit http://www.cell.com/cellpress/impact to see additional metrics which provide a means to assess journal performance.
In 2012 the Cell Press primary research and Trends review journals received over 715,000 citations, representing 6% growth on 2011. As well as considering traditional citation-based measures, several months ago Cell Press added article-level altmetrics to its website so that readers can track the real-time community response to individual papers.
"We're are delighted to see that our editorial efforts in engaging with the scientific community, identifying exciting science, providing a fast, fair, informed peer review, and having a clear editorial vision have paid off in continuing to provide content of high value and impact to the scientific community." said Emilie Marcus - CEO, Cell Press, and Editor-in-Chief, Cell.
Cell Press owes thanks to all the authors who entrusted us with their best research articles and reviews and to the reviewers who helped us understand the strengths and limitations of each paper. Thanks also to all our readers who were inspired by the papers we published in their own research and went on to build on them and cite them.
###
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A popular backlash against Brazil's nationwide protests took hold on Friday after widespread rioting overnight, as even the leftist group at the movement's core said it was done organizing marches for now because of growing discord and violence.
President Dilma Rousseff was meeting with top aides on Friday morning to figure out how to respond after more than 1 million Brazilians in over 100 cities took to the streets.
The protests blossomed over the past week, catching Rousseff and other politicians off guard as Brazilians vented anger over issues from corruption and poor public transport to billions of dollars being spent to host the soccer World Cup next year.
The marches have contributed to a selloff in Brazilian financial markets and deeply embarrassed the country as it hosts the Confederations Cup, a warm-up tournament for the World Cup taking place in several cities hit by the protests. TV images have shown terrified fans and tourists running past clashes between police and demonstrators to get to stadiums.
World soccer body FIFA said on Friday it condemned the violence, but had not considered cancelling the tournament.
Most of the demonstrators have been peaceful. But social media buzzed on Friday with condemnations of violence after widespread scenes of masked youths looting stores, setting fires and defacing buildings including the foreign ministry in Brasilia, which had its windows smashed.
The Free Fare Movement in Sao Paulo, an activist group that was instrumental in the rise of the protests, said it would stop organizing new demonstrations for now after street fights broke out among some protesters with different objectives and political views on Thursday.
Douglas Belome, a bank teller and member of the Free Fare group, said things turned ugly when some protesters sought to prevent left-wing political parties from waving their flags.
"At least for now, there are no new demonstrations scheduled," he told Reuters, expressing regret for the violence.
The group's decision will not totally halt the protests, since the movement has taken on a life of its own on social media and grown to include a wide range of grievances and groups. Other, smaller protests were still scheduled for Friday around Brazil.
Unlike previous demonstrations, much of the violence on Thursday was generated by the protesters themselves, rather than a heavy-handed police response.
Dozens were injured across the country on Thursday night, including 62 people in Rio de Janeiro, according to city officials. One person was killed in the interior of Sao Paulo state after someone drove a car into a group of protesters.
"I support these (protests), but I think it's out of control," said Nilson Chabat, a 31-year-old gas station attendant on his way to work on Friday in Sao Paulo. "Many of us are angry but you can't just go make a mess every day."
FRUSTRATION WITH STATUS QUO
The sudden unrest, which started on June 13 when police cracked down on a small demonstration over rising bus and subway fares in Sao Paulo organized by the Free Fare Movement, has shocked a country that until recently was considered a successful emerging-market power on the rise.
Polls show that most Brazilians remain happy with Rousseff and with an economy that has slowed recently but has still been able to keep unemployment at record lows. Unlike recent youth protesters in the Arab world, the demonstrators are not trying to bring down the government, and Brazil's robust democracy appears able to address some of their complaints.
Yet the protests have revealed clear frustration with the status quo. Brazil has some of Latin America's highest taxes but one of the lowest rates of public investment, leaving many Brazilians frustrated with subpar schools, hospitals, infrastructure and police forces.
It's unclear what Rousseff can do in the short term, apart from making a general appeal for calm. Mayors of several cities already tried to yield to one of the protesters' main demands this week by rolling back a recent hike in bus and subway fares, but the demonstrations only grew.
Rousseff, a leftist guerrilla in the 1970s, has expressed solidarity with the protesters' aims and has appeared hesitant to order a crackdown that could just make the crowds even angrier.
But she is also at risk of having her probable re-election bid next year complicated by both the growing unrest and the backlash against the scenes of violence.
Some think she is already tardy in her response.
Fernando Rodrigues, a columnist for Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, wrote that Rousseff's silence on Thursday night "sums up the lack of action by politicians."
"They seem, in essence, to be only rooting for the tsunami to pass," he said.
(Reporting by Brian Winter and Silvio Cascione; Editing by Todd Benson and Eric Beech)
June 20, 2013 ? Taking iron daily during pregnancy is associated with a significant increase in birth weight and a reduction in risk of low birth weight, finds a new study.
The effects were seen for iron doses up to 66 mg per day. The World Health Organization currently recommends a dose of 60 mg per day for pregnant women.
Iron deficiency is the most widespread nutritional deficiency in the world. It is the most common cause of anemia during pregnancy, especially in low and middle income countries, affecting an estimated 32 million pregnant women globally in 2011.
Studies suggest an association between prenatal anemia and risk of premature (preterm) birth, but evidence on other birth outcomes is inconsistent. The effect of prenatal iron use on adverse birth outcomes is also unclear.
So researchers in the UK and US analysed the results of over 90 studies (a mix of randomised trials and cohort studies) of prenatal iron use and prenatal anemia, involving nearly two million women.
Iron use increased a mother's average haemoglobin levels compared with controls and significantly reduced the risk of anemia.
There was no reduction in risk of preterm birth as a result of iron use. However analysis of cohort studies showed a significantly higher risk of low birth weight and preterm birth with anemia in the first or second trimester of pregnancy.
Further analysis indicated that for every 10 mg increase in iron dose per day (up to 66 mg per day), risk of maternal anemia was 12% lower, birth weight increased by 15 g and risk of low birth weight decreased by 3%.
No differences were seen in duration of iron use after adjusting for dose.
"Our findings suggest that use of iron in women during pregnancy may be used as a preventive strategy to improve maternal haematological status and birth weight," say the authors. They call for "rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of existing antenatal care programmes in high burden countries to identify gaps in policy and programme implementation."
And they say future research should explore "feasible strategies of iron delivery" as well as "evaluation of the effectiveness of other strategies, such as fortification and dietary diversification."
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Public release date: 21-Jun-2013
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