(Reuters) - Spanish government data showing registered jobless fell in April for the first time in nine months was leaked to Spanish media on Saturday in the second unplanned release of sensitive job data in less than a week.
Newspaper El Mundo said data showing unemployed people registered at government agencies fell by 24,000 in April was leaked by government sources to EFE news agency on Saturday ahead of its official release on Tuesday.
Another Spanish newspaper, ABC, obtained on Tuesday prematurely released unemployment data which showed Spanish unemployment grew to over 20 percent in the first quarter. The figures were confirmed by Spain's INE statistics institute in the official release on Friday.
Spain's mass unemployment, the highest in the euro zone, has crimped economic activity and made Spain one of the few countries in Europe not to bounce back to positive growth.
Spanish business association CEOE frequently demands the government reform the country's labor market to make it more flexible, but trade unions have said workers rights should not be made vulnerable.
Spanish union leader Candido Mendez said on Saturday that any attempts by the government to lower compensation payments for unemployed workers will generate confrontation in Spain's labor market.
"We don't know what (government plans for) a restrictive budget means, but if it means cutting unemployment protection then it will generate a significant labor conflict," Mendez said at a May day workers demonstration in Madrid.
(Reporting by Jonathan Gleave; Editing by Ron Popeski)
JACKSON, Tenn. — At least five people had died and hundreds were being evacuated Saturday as flooding was reported across Tennessee and heavy rains continued to pound the state, officials said.
The forecast called for more rain through the weekend.
The five deaths reported in Stewart, Davidson, Williamson and Carroll counties were storm related, but the exact causes of the deaths were not yet known, Jeremy Heidt, spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, said Saturday evening.
Hundreds of homes had been evacuated in Tennessee and shelters were being opened across the state for people stranded due to flooded roads.
Memphis received up to 10 inches or more of rain during the day and officials were warning that 4 - 8 more inches could fall overnight and into Sunday.
Heidt said crews were called out for swift-water rescues from Nashville to Memphis.
"It's so widespread, it's a very serious concern," he said.
The southwestern part of the state was extremely hard hit, with several Memphis-area streets declared impassable.
Corey Chaskelson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said a levee had been breached along the Big Creek River in Millington. He said 4 to 5 feet of water had flooded 200-300 homes at the Naval Support Activity base in Millington.
"Water rescue of people from their homes is still ongoing," he said Saturday evening.
Emergency officials in Shelby County said hundreds of people were being evacuated due to high water, including residents of the Navy base and inmates at a federal prison.
Bob Nations, director of the Shelby County Office of Preparedness, said most of the roads into and out of Millington had been cut off by flooding.
"Our weather forecast says we could get 4 to 8 inches tonight," he said Saturday evening. He advised people to stay off roads if possible.
Charles Shannon, a spokesman for the Nashville Fire Department, said one person drowned in flood waters on Interstate 24 south of Nashville.
In Nashville, emergency responders had rescued 50 people from flooding, Mayor Karl Dean said at a news conference Saturday night. Police Chief Ronal Serpas said two police officers had to be rescued from a tree.
"It is only going to get worse as the night goes on," Dean said.
Water was neck deep at a mobile home park that was evacuated Saturday morning, Millington Police Department Inspector Reggie Fields said. Two shelters have been set up and officials are trying to set up others because many people wouldn't be able to return home, he said.
The area hadn't seen such flooding in more than 20 years, he said.
A group of Shelby County firefighters on a rescue call ended up having to be rescued after their truck flipped on its side after being swept up in flood waters, Shelby County Fire Department spokesman Brent Perkins told WMC-TV.
Segments of Interstate 40 were closed between Nashville and Memphis. Pooling water in the median and along the sides of the highway gave some sections the appearance of a causeway. A sign in the east bound lanes outside Jackson warned drivers that there was "no detour" for a closed lanes on I-40.
The National Weather Service said up to 12 inches of rain had fallen along areas of Interstate 40 since midnight and up to 6 more inches was expected through Sunday.
First lady Michelle Obama, flanked by comedian Jay Leno, left, and Matt Winkler of Bloomberg News, right, is welcomed by the White HouseCorrespondents' Association as she and President Obama arrive for the annual fundraising dinner, at the Washington Hilton Hotel, Saturday, May 1, 2010, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
(AP)
President Barack can take a joke — and he knows how to deliver them, too.
This time it was at the expense of White House Correspondents' Association dinner headliner Jay Leno.
Obama dinged Leno as "the only person whose ratings fell more than mine."
Obama also said he was glad he was before Leno.
Obama told the 3,000-strong mix of celebrities, elected officials, political appointees and journalists that "we've all seen what happens when you take the time slot after Leno."
Dozens of staff cleared for travel to Gulf of Mexico; no word on whether U.S. has accepted
Vancouver — The Canadian Press Published on Saturday, May. 01, 2010 10:00PM EDT Last updated on Saturday, May. 01, 2010 10:02PM EDT
British Columbia's Premier offered help from his province Saturday to help in the massive cleanup of a catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Premier Gordon Campbell said the province can send 15 environmental emergency-response officers and about 30 other specialists with expertise in dealing with emergencies such as spills.
Oil has been spewing from a ruptured underwater well into the Gulf of Mexico since an explosion on a BP PLC oil rig on April 20, which killed 11 workers.
“In emergencies such as this, it is important that British Columbia offers assistance and expertise to help lead agencies address the situation as quickly as possible,” Mr. Campbell said in a news release.
“Whether it's forest fires in the U.S. or other provinces or earthquakes abroad, British Columbians have always shown a willingness to help and this situation is no different.”
The statement didn't say whether the help has been accepted or when the experts might travel to the Gulf. Mr. Campbell couldn't be reached for comment.
The size of the spill has been growing rapidly, tripling during the past two days.
The U.S. Coast Guard estimates more than 750,000 litres of oil are spewing out each day.
KATE McCANN has written an emotional letter to mark the third anniversary of the disappearance of her daughter Madeleine.
In it, she vows never to give up the search, promising: "We will not be going away and will never stop looking."
And she says she and husband Gerry are still searching for the "key piece of information" that will solve the mystery of their girl's abduction.
Madeleine went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007, days before her fourth birthday.
Kate reveals how her twins, Sean and Amelie, who were two at the time, often talk about their "big sister".
She writes: "They are just fantastic. They are enjoying school and are incredibly happy children - and really funny.
"Madeleine remains a hugely significant person in their life. She appears in their role-play, in their conversations and in their prayers at night."
Kate also reveals details of the new life the family have settled into: "We have reached a new kind of normality. Gerry works full-time at the hospital and concentrates on 'Madeleine-work' in the evening when the children have gone to sleep.
"I have not returned to medical work but spend my 'working day' dealing with the campaign to find Madeleine. This set-up also gives me the flexibility to support Sean and Amelie as much as I can.
"The work to find Madeleine continues on a daily basis. Every day, both the investigation and the campaign go on."
Kate adds: "We will continue to request a review of all the information held and hope that in the coming months, the governments and law enforcement agencies will work together to achieve this.
"In the meantime, we will continue with our work, knowing that there's somebody out there who knows what's happened to Madeleine and where she is.
"As long a period as three years sounds, it's incredibly small when compared to a lifetime. It's those many, many years ahead with Madeleine that we long for and aim towards. The effort of perseverance pales into insignificance compared to a reward so precious.
"We will not be going away and will never stop looking. We will press on with the same commitment and tenacity, for as long as it takes."
O laboratório McNeil Consumer Healthcare, filial do grupo Johnson & Johnson, anunciou neste sábado a retirada de circulação de vários lotes de medicamentos pediátricos comuns, como o Tylenol e o Benadryl, por problemas de fabricação.
A decisão envolve lotes distribuídos nos Estados Unidos, Guatemala, República Dominicana, Porto Rico, Panamá, Trinidad e Tobago, Jamaica, Canadá, Dubai (EAU), Ilhas Fiji e Kuwait. Na lista estão Tylenol, Motrin em gotas, o antialérgico Zyrtec e o xarope Benadryl.
Segundo a Johnson & Johnson, ocorreram incidentes com alguns lotes destes produtos e a retirada foi decidida por precaução. A autoridade de medicamentos dos Estados Unidos, a FDA, anunciou a abertura de uma investigação e aconselhou os consumidores a deixar de consumir estes medicamentos imediatamente.
Cinco estatais do governo Lula (Petrobras, Caixa Econômica Federal, Banco do Brasil, BNDES e Eletrobras) teriam desembolsado R$ 2 milhões para bancar as festas do 1º de Maio, neste sábado, em São Paulo, das principais centrais sindicais do país, a qual comparecerão o presidente e a pré-candidata, Dilma Rousseff (PT). A informação é da edição desse sábado do jornal A Folha de S.Paulo. A título de patrocínio, as cinco autarquias do governo, do qual Dilma foi ministra até o final de março, destinaram verbas para os festejos de CUT (Central Única dos Trabalhadores), Força Sindical e UGT (União Geral dos Trabalhadores), que farão um ato unificado com outras centrais menores. O governo patrocina anualmente esses eventos, mas é a primeira vez, em oito anos de governo, que Lula comparecerá. Petrobras, Caixa e BNDES (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social) divulgaram os valores.
Segundo técnicos do Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE) que teriam sido ouvidos pela reportagem do jornal, a passagem de Lula e Dilma nos eventos poderá ser questionada na Justiça por uso da máquina pública em ato de pré-campanha. Um dos argumentos que caracterizariam cunho eleitoral do evento da CUT, segundo os especialistas consultados pela Folha de S. Paulo, é que foi anunciado o lançamento de um documento intitulado "Plataforma para as eleições de 2010". O presidente já foi multado duas vezes, num total de R$ 15 mil, por campanha antecipada - só é permitida a partir de julho.
Por lo visto el tatuaje no es un capricho de Bieber sino que tiene mucho significado para él y para su familia, ya que su primo, Jared Marion, luce el mismo tatuaje.
Justin Bieber sigue dando que hablar y no porque parece ser que otros artistas como él comienzan a sentir cierta envidia de que el chico no deje de sumar más y más fans (los Jonas Brothers parece que se han mosqueado que sus iniciales y las de Bieber coincidan y por ello le llaman Bustin Jieber) sino porque ahora al fin chicas vais a poder ver a Justin sin camiseta en la playa y descubrir además que el cantante tiene un pequeño tatuaje.
No sabiamos todavía que Bieber era un aficionado a los tatuajes, y es por ello que nos ha sorprendido el verle en unas fotos que se le hicieron en una playa de Sidney, donde podemos apreciar que el chico luce un tatuaje a la altura de su estómago.
Por lo visto el tatuaje no es un “capricho” de Bieber sino que tiene mucho significado para él y para su familia, ya que su primo, Jared Marion, luce el mismo tatuaje.
El significado del tatuaje viene del libro “Johnathon Livingstone Seagul” por el autor Richard Bach donde este simbolo expresa las ideas eternas sobre el comportamiento humano y hay un pasaje que dice”Tu tienes la libertad para ser quien eres, se tu mismo, aquí y ahora, y nada puede ponerse en tu camino”.
(Updates with Obama’s remarks beginning in 2nd paragraph, Granholm speech in 13th, 14th.)
By Roger Runningen
May 1 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama told University of Michigan graduates “over-the-top rhetoric” in the country’s political debate undermines chances for compromise and hinders the search for solutions.
“We can’t expect to solve our problems if all we do is tear each other down,” the president said in a commencement address for about 8,000 members of the class of 2010 at the university in Ann Arbor. “You can question somebody’s views and their judgment without questioning their motives or their patriotism.”
With the partisan debate over bailouts for banks and automakers, financial regulations and the president’s economic stimulus and health-care overhaul reverberating in the campaign for November’s congressional election, Obama called for more civility in political discourse.
“Throwing around phrases like ‘socialist’ and ‘Soviet- style takeover’ and ‘fascist’ and ‘right-wing nut,’ that may grab headlines, but it also has the effect of comparing our government, our political opponents, to authoritarian, even murderous regimes,” Obama said.
While U.S. politics long has been “noisy and messy, contentious, complicated,” Obama said, the “echo chamber” of 24-hour news and commentary amplifies “inflammatory soundbites louder and faster than ever before.”
Role of Government
The debate over the proper size and role for government goes back to the founding of the nation, he said. Much of that discussion no longer fits the current times, the president said.
“We know that too much government can stifle competition and deprive us of choice and burden us with debt,” he said. “But we’ve also clearly seen the dangers of too little government -- like when a lack of accountability on Wall Street nearly leads to the collapse of our entire economy.”
The president urged the graduates to expose themselves to the other point of view, and get involved, whether on the community, state or national level.
A crucial ingredient in a functioning democracy is participation, he said.
“When we don’t pay close attention to the decisions made by our leaders, when we fail to educate ourselves about the major issues of the day, when we choose not to make our voices and opinions heard, that’s when democracy breaks down,” Obama said.
Ceremony
About 92,000 students, families and friends of graduates packed commencement ceremonies at Michigan Stadium, the biggest crowd Obama has addressed since the inauguration, spokesman Bill Burton said.
Among the speakers was Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat who is a potential Obama pick to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.
She said the state owes the president gratitude for delivering on his promise to overhaul the health-care system and for supporting government aid to U.S. auto companies, General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC.
The car companies, which are based in Michigan, “have bright futures now,” she said.
The president, a 1991 graduate of Harvard Law School and the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2009, received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university.
Second Michigan Visit
The appearance marked Obama’s second visit to Michigan since he took office. The state has been grappling with an unemployment rate of 14.1 percent in March, compared with the U.S. average of 9.7 percent, as the auto and auto-supply industries reshape themselves after Obama approved bailouts last year.
The 193-year-old university, the oldest in Michigan, is best known for its public research, athletics and having one of the largest football stadiums in the world, known as the “Big House.”
Twelve presidents have spoken at one of its three campuses over the past 100 years, starting with Grover Cleveland in 1892, according to the university.
One of its most famous graduates was President Gerald R. Ford, who earned a degree in 1935.
Presidents have used the university to make news. John F. Kennedy used an appearance in October 1960 to announce his idea for the Peace Corps. President Lyndon Johnson first spoke of the “Great Society” in the spring commencement speech in 1964.
Last year Obama spoke at college commencements at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Arizona State University in Tempe and at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, where he was greeted by opponents protesting his views on abortion.
Teerã, 1º mai (EFE).- O presidente iraniano, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, afirmou hoje que as raízes dos maiores atentados terroristas do mundo estão nos Estados Unidos e em Israel e assegurou que seu país possui "provas documentais" disso.
Em discurso por ocasião do Dia do Trabalhador, Ahmadinejad ressaltou que, se Washington quer "sobreviver no futuro, deve ter uma relação amistosa com o Irã".
"Temos documentos que provam que (em Washington) estão as raízes do terrorismo mundial. Têm ajudado e incentivado grupos extremistas há anos", afirmou o presidente iraniano antes de atacar Israel.
"Também são a maior causa do terrorismo. Também o organizam e o apoiam", acrescentou, em direta alusão ao Estado judeu.
Neste contexto, Ahmadinejad voltou a acusar os EUA de serem o único país do mundo que utilizou armas atômicas e de continuarem amedrontando o mundo com seu arsenal nuclear.
"Os EUA são o único Governo que usou a bomba atômica e seus responsáveis admitiram ter usado armas nucleares durante a Guerra do Iraque", disse o presidente iraniano, citado pela agência de notícias "Isna".
Ahmadinejad voltou a atacar o Governo americano apenas dois dias antes de viajar a Nova York para participar da reunião quinquenal sobre o Tratado de Não-Proliferação Nuclear.
Erro na administração das doses anulou eficácia no medicamento contra doença conhecida como gripe suína
Priscila Trindade, da Central de Notícias
As secretarias municipais de saúde de Porto Alegre e Santa Maria, no Rio Grande do Sul, terão de revacinar 285 pessoas contra o vírus do vírus A H1N1, conhecido como gripe suína. O procedimento terá de ser refeito devido ao erro na administração das doses que anulou a eficácia do medicamento.
Em Santa Maria, o problema foi constatado no último sábado, 24, em uma das Unidades de Saúde da Família. Em nota, a Prefeitura informou que "mesmo previamente orientadas quanto ao recebimento de vacinas contra a gripe H1N1 de laboratórios diferentes e com apresentação diferente, sendo em 2 frascos, um com o componente do antígeno (fração de vírus morto) e outro com o adjuvante (potencializador), a equipe da referida unidade, administrou as primeiras doses, apenas com um desses componentes".
As vacinas terão de ser aplicadas também nas pessoas que se vacinaram na Unidade Básica de Saúde HCPA, em Santa Cecília, em Porto Alegre, nos dias 22 e 23 de março. A data para a reaplicação das doses não foi divulgada.
De acordo com a Secretaria de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul, até sexta-feira, 30, mais de 2,5 milhões de gaúchos foram imunizados contra a doença. A campanha vai até o dia 21 de maio. A meta é de aplicar 5,5 milhões de doses.
“Democracia não é tratar o movimento social a cassetete, mas respeitá-lo. O papel dos movimentos sociais é ver se tudo está nos conformes”.
Dilma Rousseff, que sempre apreciou os clássicos mas ainda não sabe direito qual é a diferença entre Fla-Flu e Gre-Nal, explicando que os companheiros do MST fizeram aquilo na fazenda da Cutrale porque o laranjal não estava nos conformes.
![[Valid Atom 1.0]](valid-atom.png "Validate my Atom 1.0 feed")
BBC MUNDO RADIO
Download ] 
