Nadal leads Spanish players' criticism of federation

Rafa Nadal and David Ferrer along with other high-profile figures in Spanish tennis have signed an open letter criticizing their federation over the poor running of the sport in the latest development of an ongoing feud.

A total of 44 people put their name on Sunday to a seven-point statement that hit out at general poor organization along with a lack of transparency by the Spanish federation (RFET).

It emphasized the "chaotic" and "belligerent" way that the federation is led by president Jose Luis Escanuela and asks that the "necessary authorities" take swift action to remedy the situation.

The letter comes on the back of claims in local media that the nation's first female Davis Cup captain Gala Leon offered her resignation following continued disapproval of her appointment last September, but it was not accepted by the federation.

Nadal was among those who reacted with disbelief at the RFET's naming of Leon, who had a career-high ranking of 27 as a player, to replace Carlos Moya.

It has led to accusations of sexism and Nadal himself admitted over the weekend that the controversy is tarnishing the image of Spanish tennis.

"The situation is terrible," Nadal told a news conference ahead of the Wimbledon.

"All these things that are happening cause damage to tennis, to the desire sponsors might have to invest in our sport, to the excitement that kids might have in continuing to play," added the 14-times grand slam champion.

There has also been a standoff between the government sports council (CSD), which has questioned Leon's appointment, and Escanuela.

Spain's disciplinary committee for sports (TAD) last week suspended Escanuela for one month for failing to collaborate in a probe into the federation's finances.

The CSD says it is attempting to track down what happened to at least 700,000 euros ($775,140) the RFET paid out in transactions linked to the Spanish Tennis Foundation and the Spanish Tennis Observatory. - Reuters

Europe rejects Greek bailout extension after referendum shock

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Greece hurtled towards default and a possible euro exit Saturday after Europe responded to the leftist government's announcement of a surprise referendum by refusing to extend Athens's desperately needed bailout.

The most dramatic day in the five-month crisis saw long lines of people queuing at cash machines in Greece after the announcement by radical Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, amid fears of a bank run and possible capital controls.

In Brussels, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis had asked eurozone colleagues to stretch the aid plan for a few days past its June 30 expiry date and until after the July 5 referendum vote on a creditor reform plan, but they unanimously rejected his appeal.

The move leaves debt-laden Athens struggling to meet a crucial 1.5 billion euro IMF debt payment on Tuesday, putting Greece's place in the single currency at risk and threatening the entire post-war European project.

"The Greek government has broken off the process, has rejected the reform proposal and is now putting the question in a negative way to the Greek people, which is an unfair way of putting the question," Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem told a press conference.

"Given that situation, I think we might conclude that however regretful, the program will expire Tuesday night," the Dutch minister said.

Underscoring Greece's perilous position in the currency union, Dijsselbloem said the other 18 eurozone finance ministers would now hold fresh talks without Greece present to discuss the "consequences" and "prepare for what's needed to ensure the stability of eurozone remains at its high level."

Greece fears ‘permanent’ damage

The Greek parliament will vote on whether to go ahead with the referendum at midnight  (2100 GMT), after an address by Tsipras.

The outspoken Varoufakis warned that the decision could permanently damage the single currency, formed in a bid to bring unity to a once fragmented continent.

"The refusal of the Eurogroup today to endorse our request for an extension of this agreement for a few days or a couple of weeks ...will certainly damage the credibility for the Eurogroup as a democratic union and I am very much afraid the damage will be permanent," Varoufakis said.

But he said he was "still fighting" for a deal, and insisted the radical leftist Syriza government would "honor the verdict of the Greek people" in the referendum.

A Eurogroup statement issued after the meeting said it was "supported by all members... except the Greek member."

Greece's negotiations with its international creditors that have dragged on since January, when Tsipras's Syriza party first took power on a promise of ending austerity after two EU-IMF bailout programs since 2010, worth 240 billion euros.

Syriza has repeatedly refused to make cuts to pensions and changes to the VAT system demanded by Greece's bailout monitors: the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund.

A week of intensive talks in Brussels ended with Greece's creditors on Friday offering Athens a five-month, 12-billion-euro ($13.4-billion) extension of its rescue program, on condition it committed to fresh reforms.

Germany's hardline pro-austerity finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said the Greek government had "ended the negotiations unilaterally" and rejected that offer.

ATM queues

The European Central Bank will now play a crucial role in ensuring Greece's banks have the cash to open on Monday, and two top Tsipras aides were meeting ECB head Mario Draghi in Brussels on Saturday.

The governing council of the ECB was also reported to be meeting on Sunday, and was "closely monitoring developments", the bank said.

Greece was stunned by the referendum announcement by radical leader Tsipras, which came just hours after he had been at a summit with European leaders in a bid to end the crisis.

"The people must decide free of any blackmail," the 40-year-old prime minister said in a televised address to the nation late on Friday.

"We were asked to implement austerity measures... allowing the deregulation of the labor market, pension cuts, and an increase in VAT on food products, targeting the humiliation of an entire people," Tsipras said in his address.

Queues built up at cash machines in Athens. In Greece's second city, Thessaloniki, some banks have run out of money, according to an AFP reporter, while a National bank branch had a queue of 50 people.

"I have a shop. I came to the bank to withdraw as much money as I can in order to cover the needs of my shop for next week," 42-year-old Maria Kalpakidou told AFP.

Demand at petrol stations was also said to have "heightened" but there were no fuel shortage problems, according to state news agency ANA.

Draghi has been keeping the Greek banking system alive with near-daily cash infusions as it is frozen out of the capital markets.

The Eurogroup will now discuss worst case scenarios, ranging from a Greek default next week to a possible exit from the eurozone and even, as suggested by the Greek central bank, the 28-nation European Union. — Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Mesothelioma Pain Control With Radiation Therapy

Mesothelioma pain control is essential for being able to live every moment to the fullest. To do that it is essential that your medical team help you manage mesothelioma pain (Pain management is also called palliative care). The goal of mesothelioma pain control is simply to relieve pain, reduce symptoms and optimize the quality of life. As the illness progresses, pain may unfortunately increase and may not respond to the usual pain medications. An alternative to consider with your physician is radiation therapy.

Why Mesothelioma Pain Control Works With Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses X-rays to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation damages the genetic material inside the cells in the area being treated. This makes it impossible for the cells to continue to grow. Radiation can damage normal cells as well as cancer cells, but the normal cells repair themselves. The cancer cells do not.

Radiation can help with mesothelioma pain control by destroying a growing tumor that is invading or interfering with normal tissue. Pain results when a tumor presses on bones, nerves, or other organs and destroying the tumor with radiation can relieve this pain. This may be done with radiation to part of the body or, in rare cases, with radiation to the whole body. Another method uses injections with radioactive medicine. Often only a single treatment is needed to relieve pain.

Possible Side Effects of Radiation for Mesothelioma Pain Control

While mesothelioma pain control is an important goal, the possible side effects common to radiation therapy need to be anticipated. These side effects usually go away after radiation therapy is over and in some instances, can be minimized with medication.

Side effects may include:

    Tiredness
    Loss of hair near a treated area
    Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
    Appetite loss
    Reddened or darkened skin in the area exposed to a beam of radiation
    Sore throat (with neck or chest radiation)

Mesothelioma Pain Control with Two Types of Radiation Therapy

Mesothelioma pain control is treated with either of two types of radiation therapy:

    External radiation beam therapy
    Internal radiation therapy with radioactive injections

External radiation therapy is the most common type of radiation treatment. The radiation beam is directed at the area affected by mesothelioma from outside the body. It is similar to having an X-ray taken. You may have a single treatment or a series of daily treatment sessions every one to two weeks.

You can’t feel the radiotherapy. It doesn’t hurt but you may find it uncomfortable to lie in one position for the duration of the treatment. You can ask your doctor or nurse if you can take a pain reliever half an hour before your appointment if you think it might help.

Internal radiation therapy may be suggested by your oncologist. This involves an injection of a very small amount of radioactive material. The treatment is targeted to where you need it most. It is only a small amount but can work well for mesothelioma pain control.

How well does radiation therapy control mesothelioma pain?

Mesothelioma pain control with radiation therapy generally achieves good results. It may take several weeks to work fully.

Some studies report that about 3 out of 10 people (30%) will have no pain within a month of radiotherapy treatment. For at least another 4 out of 10 (40%) people, the treatment reduces the pain by half. That means about 7 out of 10 people (70%) experience anywhere from no pain to half as much pain after radiotherapy treatment.

It typically takes between one and four weeks for radiation therapy to start to reduce pain. The pain relief may last for up to 18 months.

You will need to keep taking pain relief medication at first. But within a few weeks, you may be able to cut down on the amount of pain medication you take. Ask your doctor or nurse about how to safely reduce your pain medication as the radiotherapy treatment results take effect.

If your first course of mesothelioma pain control radiation therapy doesn’t work well, your doctor may recommend that you have a second course. You may also have a second course if the pain gets better, but then comes back again.

source: mesotheliomacircle.org

Top pick Towns vows to deliver for Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns is a young man with many gifts, but the 19-year-old top pick of the National Basketball Association Draft vowed to give all he can to help turn around his new team, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The 19-year-old Towns, who has thrived academically and aspires one day to become a doctor, is focused on helping to cure the ills of the Wolves, who have missed the playoffs for the last 11 years.

"That's going to be the main goal of the season for me, making the playoffs," said Towns, who helped Kentucky to a 38-0 record as a freshman forward-center last season.

"I know the one thing I have to do is I have to live up to the expectations and goals and lofty expectations that people are going to have for me for being the number one pick.

"But through my life, there's always been expectations and goals set against me, and I've just always had to meet them ... and also jump over the goals and the hurdles."

The versatile big man honed his game on a homemade basketball court at his New Jersey house that was promised to him by his father after a Christmas when they had no money for presents.

All the early training with his father paid off.

He won New Jersey state high school titles and played on the Dominican Republic national team as a 6-foot-10 (2.08m) ninth-grader, representing his mother's home country.

Towns said it was special to share his NBA Draft moment with close to 50 friends and family from neighboring New Jersey on hand at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

"I mean, I'm home. This is home to me," he told reporters.

"My sister started crying immediately. My mom started crying. My dad was just very ecstatic. All those times me and him were in the gym, and you see the end result." - Reuters

Google is working on its own fitness smartwatch

Google has designed a medical wristband that can provide doctors real-time data on their patients' vital signs.

The wristband can measure the wearer's pulse, heartbeat, skin temperature and activity level, PC World reported.

Quoting Google, PC World said the device can also monitor the patient's behavior outside the hospital or clinic.

Google's life sciences group developed the wristband, which PC World said looks like a smartwatch with a square display.

PC World quoted Google spokesperson Jacquelyn Miller as saying Google now working with research partners to see if a constant stream of data can help doctors treat diseases better.

However, Miller said it may take years before they could measure how useful the device is.

Also, the device is not your typical consumer wearable - it's strictly for a medical setting.

Google has also not indicated if the device would run Android Wear. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News

source:gmanetwork.com

Instagram now lets you see the world through its eyes

Instagram, Facebook's popular photo-sharing service, has upgraded and revamped its search function to focus on trends.

The service said in a blog post the trending Tags and Places can now be accessed in the new Explore page.

"With more than 70 million photos and videos posted to Instagram every day, wherever something is happening, chances are you can see it here. Whether it’s behind the scenes at the NBA Finals, on the runway with the latest fashion trend at a favorite club with a local band, people are capturing moments large and small on Instagram. But, until now, there’s never been an easy way to find these moments," it said.


With the revamped Explore page, it said discovery on Instagram will be "immediate and effortless."

"The new Explore now surfaces trends as they emerge in real-time, connecting you to events and conversations both near you and around the globe," it added.

Also, it said trending Tags and trending Places can help users experience moments like #bonnaroo or #fathersday from every perspective.

Meanwhile, the top of the Explore page will feature new curated collections updated regularly.

Also, Instagram said it has "dramatically" improved its search ability.

"With the new Places Search, you can now peer in at just about any location on earth, allowing you to scout out your next vacation spot in the South Pacific, get a look inside that hot new restaurant or experience your favorite music festival — even if you couldn’t make it this year. The new Top Search also lets you search across people, places and tags all at once," it added.

Tech site Mashable said Instagram has made available its updated apps for iOS and Android.

But the new Explore features will be available initially in the United States, though it will expand to more countries. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Wall Street edges up in quiet session; Nasdaq ends at record

U.S. stocks ended with slight gains on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq eking out another record close while investors continued to await clarity on whether Greece could reach a deal to prevent defaulting on its loans.

The day's action was quiet, with trading volume below average. While energy shares rose alongside a jump in the price of crude oil, a sharp rise in the U.S. dollar capped broader gains.

While there were no major developments involving Greece, investors continued to hope that the country's newest budget proposals - introduced on Monday - would avert a looming default.

Greece needs fresh funds to avoid defaulting on a $1.8 billion debt repayment to the International Monetary Fund on June 30. Equities have been largely driven by Greece lately, with investors concerned that if the country defaults, it may have to leave the euro or the European Union, potentially shaking the region's economic foundations.

"The market seems to expect that this will end favorably, or at least benignly, but I think people need to be nimble right now as circumstances could change at any time," said Steve Sosnick, equity-risk manager at Timber Hill/Interactive Brokers Group in Greenwich, Connecticut.

"Greece may not be all that meaningful to the U.S. market, but it could have a big impact on the euro and the dollar, and it is unclear how big of an impact that will have on stocks."

The U.S. dollar index .DXY, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, rose 1.1 percent. A strong dollar is considered a headwind for equity prices as it weighs on the profits of multinational corporations.

U.S. crude futures settled up 1 percent at $61.01 per barrel, lifted ahead of U.S. inventory data expected to show strong demand for gasoline. The S&P energy index .SPNY rose 0.3 percent and was one of the day's top-performing sectors. Halliburton Co (HAL.N) rose 0.9 percent to $44.49.

AT&T Inc (T.N) rose 2.5 percent to $35.91 and was one of the biggest percentage gainers on the S&P 500 after at least two brokerages upgraded the stock.

Facebook Inc (FB.O) shares rose 3.7 percent to $87.88, a record close. With the day's gains, the social network's market value is now bigger than that of Dow component Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N).

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI rose 24.29 points, or 0.13 percent, to 18,144.07, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 1.35 points, or 0.06 percent, to 2,124.2 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 6.12 points, or 0.12 percent, to 5,160.10. The Nasdaq ended at a record while the S&P 500 closed 0.3 percent below its own record.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by 1,772 to 1,276, for a 1.39-to-1 ratio on the upside; on the Nasdaq, 1,567 issues rose and 1,203 fell for a 1.30-to-1 ratio favoring advancers.

The S&P 500 posted 43 new 52-week highs and 2 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 180 new highs and 23 new lows.

About 5.4 billion shares traded on all U.S. platforms, according to BATS exchange data, below the month-to-date average of 6.15 billion. — Reuters

Marvel's new 'Spider-Man' is Tom Holland

NEW YORK - Little-known English actor Tom Holland has been picked to play the web-slinging superhero in the next "Spider-Man" film, which is due for release in July 2017, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios said on Tuesday.

Holland, 19, will play Spider-Man's teenage alter ego Peter Parker as a high-school age student in the upcoming, yet-to-be titled film.

He follows in the footsteps of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, who have portrayed the comic book superhero at older stages of his life in the five previous movies.

Holland played Naomi Watt's son in the 2012 tsunami drama "The Impossible" and recently appeared in the British television miniseries "Wolf Hall."

He was selected after a worldwide casting search to appear in the film that will be directed by Jon Watts.

"We saw many terrific young actors, but Tom's screen tests were special," Tom Rothman, the chairman of Sony Pictures Motion Pictures Group, said in a statement.

News of Holland's selection may disappoint some fans who had said they wanted a black actor to play Spider-Man for the upcoming film.

Walt Disney Co's Marvel Studios will co-produce the film with Sony. Under the agreement announced in February, Spider-Man will appear in the Marvel film, and Marvel characters, such as Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, can appear in later Spider-Man films.

Holland is expected to make his first appearance as Spider-Man in "Captain America: Civil War," which is due for release in summer 2016.

Sony Pictures Entertainment, a division of Sony Corp, will continue to own the cinematic rights to Spider-Man.

Writer Stan Lee and writer/artist Steve Ditko created the fictional superhero character, who first appeared in comics in 1962.

The "Spider-Man" franchise has earned more than $4 billion at the box office worldwide, making it the most successful franchise in the history of Sony Pictures.  — Reuters

Behind the scenes, Greece and creditors push for breakthrough

ATHENS/BRUSSELS - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke to the leaders of Germany, France and the European Commission by phone on Sunday in an attempt to break the deadlock over a cash-for-reforms deal as time runs out to save Greece from bankruptcy.

After months of wrangling and with anxious depositors pulling billions of euros out of Greek banks, Tsipras's leftist government has signaled a willingness to make concessions in order to unlock 7.2 billion euros in bailout money.

But a day before an emergency summit in Brussels, it is still unclear how far Tsipras, elected in January on a pledge to lift his people out of years of austerity, will yield.

His Syriza party plans a rally in Athens to send "a loud message of resistance" against demands for more cuts and tax hikes in a country battered by years of recession.

But the mood has also hardened in Germany, which has contributed more money than any other country to bailing out Greece. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is under pressure from within her ranks not to give in to Greek demands, even if that means contemplating Greece leaving the euro zone.

Athens urgently needs access to funds to avoid defaulting on a 1.6 billion euro IMF loan that falls due at the end of the month. But as the crisis gets pushed from one meeting to the next, each side has put the responsibility on the other's shoulder for finding a deal.

Money has drained out of Greek banks after a breakdown in talks last weekend, and Greece might have to impose capital controls within days if there is no breakthrough.

Tsipras called Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Juncker with the latest Greek offer over the weekend.

"The prime minister presented the three leaders Greece's proposal for a mutually beneficial agreement that will give a definitive solution and not a postponement of addressing the problem," a statement from Tsipras's office said.

His government was holed up in an hours-long cabinet meeting on Sunday. Over the weekend, senior European officials have remained in close contact ahead of a meeting of finance ministers and euro zone leaders on Monday.

"Everyone's talking to everyone," an EU official said. "We're continuing to work informally on a solution."

No to blackmail

For a deal to work, Tsipras will need a solution that is acceptable to his party or else may be pushed to call a snap election or a referendum to secure a mandate for an agreement.

Under the austerity measures imposed by the IMF, the European Union and the European Central Bank in two bailouts, Greece's economic output has fallen 25 percent, wages and pensions have been slashed, and one in four Greeks is jobless.

The Greek government has resisted demands for pension cuts or tax rises, arguing that the austerity imposed on the southern European country had made the crisis worse. A senior Syriza lawmaker said on Sunday that previous ideas put forward by Juncker would have led to a "social holocaust".

"Democracy cannot be blackmailed, dignity cannot be bargained," the Syriza party said in a statement on Sunday, announcing its planned protest.

"Workers, the unemployed, young people, the Greek people and the rest of the peoples of Europe will send a loud message of resistance to the alleged one-way path of austerity, resistance to the blackmail and scare-mongering."

European ministers have played down the prospect of a final agreement on Monday but hope a political understanding can be reached in time for a full deal by the end of June.

Merkel's Bavarian allies warned against giving in to Greece, with senior Christian Social Union lawmaker Hans Michelbach saying he saw no realistic chance of an agreement on Monday.

"If the EU lets the government in Athens get away with its intransigence, we can bury the euro," Michelbach said in a statement on Sunday.

"Either Greece declares itself willing for a viable solution or the country must leave the euro. The euro zone could cope with the consequences of a Greek exit," he said. — Reuters

FATHER’S DAY: I have three dads

Yes, you didn’t read the headline wrong. I really have three dads.  And it’s three times the effort to remember and greet each one every Fathers’ Day, so I thought writing an article about them would be a great way to tell them how awesome they’ve all been to me through the ups and downs of my life.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the way you think it is. Having more than just one dad to greet is perhaps one of the perks exchange students like me enjoy—not only do we get to explore other countries and cultures; we also get to meet people so significant, they’ll forever be etched in our hearts and minds.

So, again, I have three fathers: A papa, a dad, and an otou-san. Let me tell you about them.

First off, here's Fernando Cabristante, my Papa and biological father. Perhaps one of the most heartwarming stories I've heard about him from my mother was his effort to buy me milk when I was born on Christmas Day 1993—he had to walk from drugstore to drugstore, most of which were closed at the time. Throughout my life he taught me to never give up on my dreams, because his life story itself is an example of that.

Now that we've been apart for almost a year since I left home to work here in Manila, he often calls me up to check on how I am—and more recently, called in the middle of our NBA Finals game coverage to ask who won between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

My second father, or my "Dad," lives 13,000 kilometers away. His name's Bob Freeland, who I met as an exchange student in the US back in April 2011 under the Southeast Asian Youth Leadership Program. He lives together with my "Mom" Susan in a cozy home in suburban DeKalb, Illinois, an hour away from Chicago.

The Freelands were my host family for two weeks, long enough for me to consider them like a second family. Dad is totally different from the typical American fathers usually depicted in Hollywood movies—after all, he told me, "We're ordinary people. The people in Hollywood are crazy." He first introduced us to an authentic American cookout when he let us grill a couple of burger patties, while he fixed a remote control car we had fun playing with. We were both dog lovers, and we used to take their pet dogs Buck (part German Shepherd) and Oliver (a Rottweiler) out for a walk in the park. Dad and I shared a lot of memories together and I cried so hard when it was time to leave at the end of our exchange program.

And here's another fun fact: A few weeks after the program, my Mom told me Dad was on the road... touring with Irish rock band U2 all over the States.

If you know Nippongo, perhaps you would've figured out by now where my third father, or otou-san, comes from. He's Manabu Hattori, a farmer who lives in the peaceful town of Hino in the Shiga prefecture, around an hour away from Tokyo. I got to live with him and his family, again as an exchange student, back in the summer of 2012.

It was pretty tough for us to communicate as he didn't know English; he even first asked us when we met: "Nihongo ga wakaru?" (Do you understand Japanese?) The language barrier, though, didn't stop us from making good memories with him and the rest of the Hattori family. Thanks to otou-san, we got to experience some Japanese customs first-hand, such as the traditional Kendama toy and the act of turning off the lights before someone blows his birthday candles. I only got to live with the Hattoris for a weekend, but we got so close together it seemed that we'd known each other for years.

If there's anything I've learned about having three fathers from different parts of the globe, it's this: the definitive basis of family is love, not blood. And this love so profound transcends cultures, races, and even language barriers.

Whether you have three, or ten, or just one Dad, don't forget to greet him a happy Father's Day today. Because having a Dad is perhaps the best thing anyone in this world can experience.

source: gmanetwork.com

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner ruled competent

NEW ORLEANS  - A judge ruled on Thursday that the 87-year-old billionaire who owns the New Orleans Saints may continue to control the National Football League team he has owned for 30 years after denying a petition by his daughter and two grandchildren to have him declared mentally incompetent.

Tom Benson, who also owns the National Basketball Association's New Orleans Pelicans, prevailed in the case following an eight-day trial that pitted family members against him in a New Orleans courtroom.

In a six-page ruling, Orleans Civil District Judge Kern Reese noted that in addition to considering psychiatric evaluations of Benson by three physicians and hearing testimony from witnesses for both sides, he had personally interviewed Benson in April to assess his condition.

During that meeting, "Tom Benson had clarity of thought and volition, despite some memory lapses ...," Reese wrote, adding that he had "listened carefully" to Benson's responses "and concluded the capacity to make reasoned decisions was present."

Benson's daughter Renee Benson Benham and two grandchildren, Rita and Ryan LeBlanc, filed the lawsuit in January claiming that Tom Benson is "infirm" and "unable to consistently make reasoned decisions" regarding his assets.

The suit charged that Tom Benson's third wife, Gayle, has blocked family members' access to him and is manipulating his decisions.

The family's action followed Tom Benson's move in December to ban their participation in running either of his teams, and to name Gayle Benson as his successor in owning them.

Thursday's ruling does not end the family battle as related litigation continues in a probate court in San Antonio, where the family members are fighting Benson's attempt to remove their ownership shares in the sports teams and other businesses from trusts created over a period of years for their benefit.

Benson's lawyers have also brought a related suit in federal court in New Orleans.

Tom Benson had been grooming his granddaughter Rita LeBlanc, 38, to succeed him as owner and chairman of both teams, but their relationship turned rocky last year as a rift between her and Gayle Benson, whom Tom Benson married 11 years ago, grew more serious and as he developed health issues.

"I cannot wait for training camp to start in late July," Tom Benson said in a statement after the ruling.

Randy Smith, who represents Benson's daughter and grandchildren, said they were "disappointed" with the ruling, and did not say if they would file an appeal.  — Reuters

Nasdaq tops dotcom high on buoyant data, Greece hopes

The Nasdaq Composite index surpassed the 15-year all-time high it set during the peak of the dotcom bubble as more data on Thursday showed the U.S. economy was gathering steam.

The index hit 5,143.31, topping the previous high of 5,132.52 it touched on March 10, 2000. The S&P and Dow were at their highest levels in about a month.

Brian Fenske, head of sales trading at ITG in New York, said the Nasdaq was on firmer footing and there were no similarities between its rally in 2000 and the surge in recent months.

"The current rally is more durable. It is incredibly tough to go public in this market. We just didn't have this kind of scrutiny back in 2000," said Fenske.

U.S. stocks briefly extended their rally on an unconfirmed report in German daily, Die Zeit, that Greece's aid will be extended until year-end but the IMF would not take part in the financing for the "time being".

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis presented new proposals to counterparts in the euro zone meeting in Luxembourg, a Greek government official said.

The Fed said on Wednesday that the U.S. economy was likely strong enough to withstand an interest rate increase later this year but cut its economic growth forecasts for 2015.

Even though a majority of Fed officials continue to see higher rates by the end of 2015, they expect rates to rise slightly less by the end of 2016 and 2017 than they did in their March forecasts.

U.S. consumer prices in May recorded their largest increase in more than two years as gasoline prices surged, while factory activity in the U.S. mid-Atlantic region expanded in June at a faster pace than expected.

Other data showed the labor market tightened as first-time applications for unemployment benefits declined to a near 15-year low last week.

At 13:31 p.m. ET (1731 GMT) the Dow Jones industrial average was up 188.94 points, or 1.05 percent, at 18,124.68, the S&P 500 was up 19.16 points, or 0.91 percent, at 2,119.6 and the Nasdaq Composite was up 63.62 points, or 1.26 percent, at 5,128.50.

All the 10 major S&P 500 sectors were higher with the health index leading with a 1.4 percent rise.

Microsoft's 1.4 percent rise lifted the Nasdaq and the S&P 500, while 3M's 1.9 percent gain was the biggest boost to the Dow. All 30 Dow components were in the black.

Fitbit shares ran up as much as 60 percent to $31.90 in their debut, valuing the maker of popular wearable fitness-tracking devices at $6.5 billion.

Oracle shares fell as much as 8.7 percent to $40.97 - a nearly six-month low - a day after the company forecast a quarterly profit below analysts' estimates.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by 2,228 to 775. On the Nasdaq, 1,978 issues rose and 761 fell.

The S&P 500 index showed 40 new 52-week highs and two new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 144 new highs and 25 new lows.  — Reuters

Lack of experience proves no problem for champion Warriors

CLEVELAND - The NBA champion Golden State Warriors proved on Tuesday that an age-old mantra -- you have to learn to lose before you can win -- doesn't apply to them.

The inexperienced Warriors beat a LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers team to win the championship despite a roster that did not include one player with any NBA Finals experience.

Golden State are the first team to win a title behind a roster without any previous Finals experience since the 1991 Chicago Bulls. And Steve Kerr is the first rookie coach to win an NBA title since the Los Angeles Lakers' Pat Riley in 1982.

"Every year is so different," Kerr told reporters. "A lot is based on matchups and injuries and maybe a little good fortune. We had good fortune with our health most of the year, and that was big."

The championship series had plenty of sub-plots, including reigning league Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry up against two-time champion James as well as it being a clash of franchises looking to end decades-long title droughts.

But the best-of-seven series was also one of inexperience versus experience, and in the pressure-cooker environment that is the NBA playoffs, the latter tends to prevail.

The Warriors, however, displayed the demeanor of a team that competed on the game's biggest stage several times before, bending at times but refusing to break en route to capturing the Oakland-based franchise's first NBA title since 1975.

"We have a lot of different personalities ... but the common denominator is guys were like really hungry to show what they can do individually," said NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Andre Iguodala.

"When you get all those guys together and say we're going to do it together as a team, that's an awesome formula for what we put together tonight, and that is a championship."

After splitting the first two games of the championship series on their home court, the Warriors went to Cleveland and promptly fell behind in the series 2-1 as their usual potent offense lost its punch.

Kerr made a bold change to his lineup for Game Four when he gave Iguodala his first start of the season.

The steely veteran led the way in a pivotal victory that reinvigorated the deadly run-and-gun offense that had defined the Warriors all season.

Led by sharp-shooting guard Curry, the Warriors dominated the regular season and were barely tested as they captured a league-best 67 wins out of 82 games.

By comparison, the Cavaliers were an exhausted and banged-up team in the Finals but they were led the whole way by James, one of the most polarizing figures in NBA history.

Even James had to lose before he won, having fallen short in his first trip to the NBA Finals with Cleveland in 2007, where they lasted a minimum four games to a veteran San Antonio team.

James finally won a championship in 2012 after joining a Miami Heat team stocked with talent.

The Warriors' road to the Finals was made somewhat easier after the 2014 champion San Antonio Spurs, a potential opponent in the Western Conference finals, lost in the opening round of the playoffs, while Cleveland were without their second and third-best players.

"Things went our way, but we took advantage of that. Every year that's the case. A team fails, a team soars, there's injuries, bounce of the ball, whatever," said Kerr.

"In the end, none of it matters. The only thing that matters is that we got the job done."  — Reuters

Microsoft unveils Xbox with 1TB storage, souped-up wireless controller

A souped-up Xbox controller, an Xbox One console with 1TB capacity, and a lower-priced Xbox One 500GB model are among Microsoft's offerings to gamers ahead of the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles this week.

Microsoft unveiled an Xbox One console with 1TB capacity and a new matte finish, which it said stemmed from frequent fan request.

"Since Xbox One launched, one of the most frequent requests from fans is to add more storage to their consoles. Today, we’re unveiling the Xbox One 1TB console, with a new matte finish and more storage for your games and media, making it the best place to play the biggest blockbusters this holiday like Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Forza Motorsport 6," Major Nelson said in a blog post.

The new console also lets users extend game storage further by adding an external USB 3.0 drive.

Bundled with the new console are Microsoft's new wireless Xbox controller and for a limited time in selected regions the game "Halo: The Master Chief Collection."

The Xbox One 1TB consoles will start shipping to retailers June 16 in the United States and select markets later this month, with prices starting at $399.

Microsoft also brought down the price of the 500GB Xbox One consoles to $349 in the US and select regions.

Wireless controllers

Microsoft also unveiled its new Xbox One Wireless Controller that now has a built-in 3.5mm stereo headset jack to accommodate gamers' gaming headsets.

"With the updated controller, in addition to the volume and mute controls on gaming headsets, you’ll also have the option to adjust headset volume, mic monitoring, and voice and game audio balance through the Settings menu on your console," Major Nelson said.

Microsoft also said it has improved the quality of audio coming through the controller and increased the maximum audio volume on headsets used with this controller.

The bumpers have been fine-tuned for more consistent performance and the controller can now get firmware updates wirelessly.

Gamers can also buy the new controller as a standalone item in black or as a new camouflage design in silver and black.

Windows 10 support 

Also, Microsoft is releasing the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows so gamers can use the wireless controller on Windows 10 PCs, laptops, and tablets.

"[S]imply plug the Adapter into the USB 2.0 or 3.0 port of your Windows 10 PC and bind the Adapter to your Wireless Controller to enable the same gaming experience you’re used to on Xbox One, including in-game chat and high-quality stereo audio," Major Nelson said.

He said the wireless adapter for Windows will be available for $24.99 or bundled with an Xbox One Wireless Controller for $79.95. — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Microsoft retiring Skype 'modern/metro' app

Here's not-so-good news for users of Windows 8 who are just getting used to the Modern or Metro version of Microsoft's Skype video conferencing app: Microsoft's killing it by July.

In a blog post, Microsoft's Aga Guzik said they want to simplify the PC experience "down to one app" that can be controlled by touch or by keyboard-and-mouse.

"Starting on July 7, we’re updating PC users of the Windows modern application to the Windows desktop application, and retiring the modern application," Guzik said.

Guzik noted that with the upcoming Windows 10, it would be better to use the Skype app optimized for mouse and keyboards use, and capable of doing touch "rather than two separate applications performing the same function."

Besides, Guzik said feedback from users indicate the "traditional" Skype desktop app helps users efficiently navigate, with all information in one window "so you don’t have to scroll back and forth."

The traditional app also helps get more done like group video calling, sharing a screen for showing directions or working together on a document - and soon - translation.

After July 7

Guzik said that after July 7, users trying to access the modern app on PCs will be automatically directed to download the desktop app.

"All of your contacts and conversations from last 30 days will be available. If you already have Skype for Windows desktop you don’t need to do anything. Also, if you’re on a Windows RT tablet device, there is no change for you," Guzik added.

Disparities

A report on PC World said many users have complained about differences between the modern and desktop apps.

"While the modern version is somewhat easier to interact with on touchscreens, it’s far too dependent on swiping to see all information. It also doesn’t include some features from the desktop program, such as screen sharing and group video calls," it said.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2934507/skype-kills-its-modern-windows-8-app-in-the-name-of-efficiency.html

It also noted Skype appears heading in a different direction than Microsoft's Office productivity suite, which will soon feature touch-friendly apps.  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Apple tests fix vs. iMessage app-crashing bug in iOS 8.4 beta

For those iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users suffering from pranksters sending a string of characters that can crash their iMessage apps, help is on the way.

Apple is now testing a fix for the bug in the beta of its upcoming iOS 8.4 update, Apple-centric site MacRumors said.

The beta has been seeded to developers and may be released before the launch of Apple Music on June 30, the site said.

Last month, the messaging bug was found to crash not just the iMessage app but also third-party messaging apps including Snapchat, Twitter and WhatsApp.

For now, affected users may have to follow the temporary fix Apple outlined. — Joel Locsin/RSJ, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

South Korea cuts rates as MERS clouds outlook; 10th patient dies

SEOUL - A deadly outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) forced South Korea to cut interest rates on Thursday in the hope of softening the blow to an economy already beset by slack demand, as authorities reported 14 new cases and a 10th fatality.

Worry about the disease has been reflected across the region with dozens of suspected cases being tested in Hong Kong, though none confirmed, and many thousands of people cancelling trips to South Korea.

The outbreak, with 122 cases and 10 deaths, is the largest outside Saudi Arabia and began last month when a 68-year-old South Korean businessman brought the disease back from a trip to the Middle East.

He was diagnosed with MERS on May 20, and all subsequent infections have been traced to him and happened in health facilities.

The 10th person to die was a 65-year-old terminal lung cancer patient whose condition deteriorated after testing positive for the MERS virus, South Korea's health ministry said.

President Park Geun-hye has put off a trip to the United States to deal with the outbreak as the total number of cases rises daily.

The central bank of Asia's fourth biggest economy said it had to act and cut its policy rate by 25 basis points to a record-low 1.50 percent.

"We decided to cut rates today in a pre-emptive move to contain the economic fallout from MERS," Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol told a media briefing.

Policymakers were already under pressure to stimulate the economy as weak global demand and a strong won have dented exports and discouraged spending by consumers and companies.

One positive sign was a decline in the number of South Korea's schools and universities that have closed.

The total dipped to 2,622 on Thursday from about 2,700 the previous day after a joint team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and South Korea recommended that schools be reopened as they were unlikely to spread the disease.

Some schools were set to reopen on Monday as the province of Gyeonggi, which surrounds the capital, said it would call off an advisory to suspend classes.

"We all need to put behind us excessive fear and psychological withdrawal over MERS and try to go back to normal daily lives next week so we can minimise the impact on the economy," Kim Moo-sung, who heads the ruling Saenuri party, said at a party meeting.

Hong Kong alert

MERS was first identified in humans in 2012. Most of the global cases, which number 1,271 according to WHO data and at least 448 related deaths, have been in the Middle East.

But memories are fresh in Asia of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which emerged in 2002-2003 and killed about 800 people worldwide.

MERS is caused by a coronavirus from the same family as the one that caused SARS. It is more deadly than SARS but does not spread as easily, at least for now.

Its symptoms include fever and a cough.

In Hong Kong, a clinic said it was testing two people who had both recently travelled to South Korea. Thirty-one people in Hong Kong who suspected they might have caught the disease have tested negative.

Hong Kong issued a "red alert" advisory on Tuesday against non-essential travel to South Korea, while Singapore Airlines said it would waive fees for customers who want to cancel or re-book flights to South Korea.

Despite the fears, only one case has been reported outside South Korea in the current outbreak, that of a South Korean man who travelled to China via Hong Kong after defying a suggestion from health authorities that he stay in voluntary quarantine at home.

China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the country was fully capable of containing any outbreak.

"There is no need to panic," the Xinhua news agency quoted the centre's deputy head, Feng Zijian, as saying.

Among the new South Korean cases was a pregnant woman who contracted the virus in an emergency ward that has been linked to other confirmed cases, the health ministry said.

The woman's pregnancy would limit the scope of treatment available, but she was in stable condition, the ministry said. The woman's parents had previously tested positive for MERS.

Another new patient was a police officer in the city of Pyeongtaek, where dozens of infections occurred, all linked to the first patient.

Three more patients were discharged, the health ministry said on Thursday, taking the total number of patients recovered in the outbreak to seven. — Reuters

Tablet maker Fuhu launches new content subscription service

Fuhu Inc, creator of kid-friendly computer tablets, said it will launch a new tablet that includes content from Walt Disney Co, Dreamworks Animation SKG Inc, Discovery Communications Inc and others.

The tablet, called nabi Pass Tab, has a $9.99 monthly fee for a two-year subscription, while a one-year subscription costs $14.99 a month.

Subscribers can access content from National Geographic Kids and learning apps and games developed by Cupcake Digital, which features characters such as DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda", Fuhu said in a statement on Tuesday.

The nabi Pass Tab also includes access to Wings Learning System, which has educational courses for children in areas such as math, reading and writing.

A subscription also includes the tablet, Fuhu said.

Nabi Pass Tab will be available from June 16 and an early pre-sale period will start on June 9.  — Reuters

One Direction scotch split rumors

LONDON, United Kingdom - British boyband One Direction insisted Saturday they would not be splitting up despite the departure of band member Zayn Malik.

The chart toppers, who have sold more than 50 million records worldwide and have a huge teenage following, hit back at rumors concerning their future.

Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson played their first Brtish concert as a foursome on Friday night in Cardiff.

Payne responded to rumors of a split before they performed Saturday at London's Wembley Stadium.

"We don't know where that came from because we've got loads of stuff going on," he said.

"We have just started the process for recording the new album, we've got a whole new tour going on, there are some really good songs so I don't think we are going anywhere for a while."

One Direction announced in March that Malik was quitting, but that the band would continue as a foursome.

"I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight," Malik said. — Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Cavaliers' Irving has successful surgery on fractured kneecap

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving had surgery on Saturday to repair his fractured left kneecap, a procedure described as successful by the National Basketball Association team.

Irving underwent surgery as the injury-depleted Cavs prepared to face the Golden State Warriors in Game Two of the NBA Finals on Sunday.

Already trailing after losing Game One of the best-of-seven series, the Cavs will be without two of their three regular starters, Irving and the previously injured Kevin Love, and must depend even more on four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James.

"Irving's return to basketball activity is projected to be in three to four months and appropriate updates will be issued as he moves through the recovery process," the Cavaliers said in a statement.

Irving, 23, who has been bothered with tendinitis in the same knee for the past six weeks. He incurred the fracture in an awkward fall during overtime of Game One on Thursday.

He had 23 points in the game along with seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocked shots. His timely block from behind on Stephen Curry late in the fourth quarter helped the Cavs force overtime.

Despite the absence of Irving and Love, four-time NBA most Valuable Player James, who had a game-high 44 points in the loss, is nonetheless talking up his team's chances.

"The good thing about it, we've been in this position before," James said.

"It's something that's not new to us. So next man up, and guys will be ready for the challenge." - Reuters

Fiji cause massive upset with 3-0 win over Honduras in U-20 World Cup

Fiji caused a massive upset in the under-20 World Cup on Thursday with a 3-0 win over Honduras, arguably doing more for the fortunes of Oceania soccer than any other team from the collection of 11 South Pacific nations.

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is FIFA's smallest by population and has nine of their nations in the bottom 25 of FIFA's rankings.

Australia went to two World Cup finals as Oceania champions before they joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 while New Zealand have also been to two World Cups.

While Oceania club champions Auckland City have performed credibly at Club World Cups, finishing third last year, no national side from the far-flung region have truly made their mark on world soccer.

With a population of just 900,000 Fiji are more well known for the exploits of their rugby sevens side and are appearing in their first FIFA tournament of any kind.

Even then, their qualification was made easier because Oceania's top-ranked nation New Zealand are the tournament hosts.

Fiji were hammered 8-1 by world soccer heavyweights Germany in their opening game in Christchurch on Monday but on Thursday, Frank Farina's side looked far from the team that had appeared pleased to have just scored their first goal at a World Cup.

First-half goals within five minutes of each other from Ratu Waranaivalu and Saula Waqa had given the Fijians a surprise 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

They extended their lead with a third right on the brink of half time when an Atonio Tuivuna header from a corner was deflected past Cristian Hernandez to give the Fijians a surprising 3-0 lead at the break.

Honduras, who had beaten Uzbekistan 4-3 in their opening encounter, did everything but score in the second half, and were denied several times by the post and some superb saves from close range by Misiwani Nairube.

In New Plymouth, Nigeria managed to get their campaign back on track with a 4-0 victory over North Korea after their 4-2 opening loss to Brazil. - Reuters

Martin del Rosario denies alleged viral nude photo

Mariing itinanggi ng Kapuso actor na si Martin del Rosario na siya ang lalaki sa kumakalat ngayong nude photo sa Internet.

Unang lumabas ang naturang larawan sa isang gossip blogsite, gabi ng Miyerkules, June 3.

"Hindi po ako yun!" natatawang pahayag ni Martin sa eksklusibong panayam sa kanya ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), sa pamamagitan ng telepono ngayong araw, June 4.

Paano niya nasabing hindi siya ang lalaking nasa larawan?

Sagot ng aktor, "Wala, e. Kilala ko naman ang sarili ko. Kaya hindi po talaga ako yun."

Masasabi ba niyang pinaglaruan lang o in-edit ang larawan ng isang nakahubad na lalaki upang palabasin na siya ito?

Giit ni Martin, "Hindi ko alam kung na-Photoshop yun o ano, pero hindi talaga ako yun."

Nalaman daw ng Buena Familia star ang tungkol sa naturang larawan nang may nag-tag nito sa kanya.

Pero sigurado ba siyang wala siyang mga hubad na larawan, na posibleng nakuha sa kanyang telepono na nanakaw?

"Wala, wala. Wala po," sabi ni Martin.

Bago pa lumabas ang isyung ito, matagal na ring pinagdududahan ang pagkalalaki ni Martin, ngunit nilinaw na niya ang tungkol dito sa kanyang mga nakaraang panayam. -- For the full story, visit PEP.

source: gmanetwork.com

Blatter replacement must be 'squeaky clean' says FA boss

Sepp Blatter's replacement as FIFA president must be "squeaky clean" and have a forensic eye to turn world soccer's scandal-hit governing body into a transparent organisation, said English FA chairman Greg Dyke.

Blatter unexpectedly announced earlier on Tuesday that he was quitting as FIFA chief, just four days after he was re-elected to a fifth term.

Dyke has been an outspoken critic of Blatter and said in the wake of the 79-year-old's re-election that the Swiss would not see out his term of office.

Dyke described Blatter's decision to step down as a "good day for football", but said the replacement would have his work cut out after a corruption investigation plunged FIFA into the worst crisis in its history.

"The real issue now is whoever replaces Blatter has got to be squeaky clean because we haven't had a squeaky clean president of FIFA for many, many years," Dyke told Sky Sports.

"It has got to be somebody who can forensically look at that organisation, or bring in the forensic accountants to look at that organisation, sort out the money, find where it has gone.

"We don't even know how much money these people get paid, we don't know what their expenses are -- we know nothing. All that has got to be transparent.

"There's a lot of good people who work in FIFA who I think must be dismayed at what they've had to endure, certainly in the last week."

Dyke, who said future presidents should be prevented from standing for more than two terms in office, questioned the reasons behind Blatter's sudden resignation.

"He was triumphant in Zurich, four days later he's gone. So who got him, who shot him, is the interesting question," he said.

"I don't believe he went for any sort of moral basis because I don't believe that's the man, so something has happened between then and now which means he has to resign.

"I just don't think he's the sort of person who would suddenly have had a moral conversion on the road to Damascus and said, 'Oh maybe I'm not the right person for football'.

"He would have hung on forever so clearly something has happened. We'll find out no doubt in the next few days."

FIFA was rocked two days before the election when the FBI raided a hotel in Zurich and arrested several FIFA officials. - Reuters

Google increases user privacy controls

SAN FRANCISCO- Google increased privacy controls for users and rolled out a website on Monday that answers frequently asked questions in response to increasing concern over how the search giant collects and uses its massive amounts of data.

Users have been able to control certain privacy settings for months or years, such as whether to save web browser and location history, which is also used in targeted advertising.

But managing the controls is confusing and time consuming because the settings are in various places across the web that are not always easy to find.

Now users will be able to use My Account, which provides a privacy checkup and security checkup, or lists where people can check off which data they want to be public and private.

Google's new website answers frequently asked questions, such as whether the company sells personal data and what information is given to advertisers.

"We knew that users find privacy and security really mysterious so we wanted to make it very approachable," said Guemmy Kim, product manager for account controls and settings.

Data control has become increasingly important to users in recent years as more day-to-day activity has moved to the Internet.

In 2013, Edward Snowden leaked classified documents that showed the U.S. National Security Agency was engaging in mass collection of phone records, placing companies that have enormous amounts of data, such as Google, Facebook and Apple, under increasing scrutiny.

Only 9 percent of people in a recent Pew survey felt they had a "lot" of control over their data.

Monday's rollout comes on the heels of newly increased app permissions for Android, which Google announced at its annual developer’s conference last week. The new system mirrors the app permissions on Apple's iPhones, which do not allow apps to automatically access numerous types of data, such as location or phone contacts.  — Reuters