BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP, MI ? The Michigan Economic Development Corp. has announced the extension of a tax credit for automotive-steering maker Nexteer Automotive, a Chinese-owned supplier headquartered in Saginaw County.
Nexteer received a state tax credit for 2,400 jobs at its Buena Vista Township facility in 2009. The credit was valued at $70 million over 10 years.
It subsequently received a tax credit estimated at $2.3 million to create 325 additional jobs, but that credit was due to expire. The state announced Wednesday, May 22, that it would extend the credit to encompass the new jobs.
?Currently, the company has the opportunity to locate new electric power steering and steering column manufacturing programs to the Buena Vista Township facility, requiring an estimated $36 million in new investment and 325 new jobs by December 2015. As a result of this growth, (the Michigan Strategic Fund) approved an increase in the maximum allowance for retained jobs on Nexteer?s Job Retention MBT Tax Credit from 2,400 to 2,725 for the years 2014 through 2017,? the release states.
The 325 new jobs will be a mix of hourly and salaried employees, the company said in announcing the expansion in December 2012. Nexteer employed about 4,200 people at its facility in Saginaw County as of that date.
The investment will expand Nexteer's development, manufacturing and test capabilities. Throughout 2014, work will be done to modernize plant infrastructure and invest in high-tech manufacturing machinery and equipment, the company said.
?Nexteer appreciates the continued support from the state of Michigan and local government organizations. We continue to work with our partners at all levels to remain competitive and secure new business. As a result of our close partnerships, Nexteer has committed more than $220M in investment over the past two years to the Saginaw Operations,? Luis Canales, director, global external affairs, Nexteer Automotive, said in a prepared statement.
During the past 2 1/2 years, Nexteer has booked $12 billion in new business.
Nexteer, the former Delphi Saginaw Steering Systems, became a wholly owned, standalone subsidiary of General Motors Co. when Delphi Corp. emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009.
GM sought to spin off Nexteer due to its contracts with other Detroit Three automakers and global auto manufacturers.
GM sold Nexteer to Chinese auto-parts maker Pacific Century Motors in 2010. Chinese state-owned parts manufacturer AVIC Automobile Industry Holding Co. in March 2011 acquired a 51 percent stake in Pacific Century Motors.
May 22, 2013 ? In the tropics at heights more than 10 miles above the surface, the prevailing winds alternate between strong easterlies and strong westerlies roughly every other year. This slow heartbeat in the tropical upper atmosphere, referred to as the quasibiennial oscillation (QBO), impacts the winds and chemical composition of the global atmosphere and even the climate at Earth's surface.
The pulse of the QBO has weakened substantially at some altitudes over the last six decades, according to a new study by scientists at the International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology. The decline in the strength of the QBO is consistent with computer model projections of how the upper atmosphere responds to global warming induced by increased greenhouse gas concentrations. The study appears in the May 23, 2013, online issue of Nature.
"This is the first demonstration of a systematic long-term trend in the observed QBO record," says co-author Kevin Hamilton and Director of the IPRC. "We see a similar trend in computer models of the global atmosphere when they simulate the last century using the historical changes of greenhouse gases. So this change in upper atmospheric behavior can be considered part of the "fingerprint" of the expected global warming signal in the climate system."
The global atmospheric circulation is characterized by air slowly rising in the tropics into the upper atmosphere and sinking at higher latitudes. While this circulation is so slow that a blob of air may take decades to travel to the upper atmosphere, it impacts the chemical composition of the global atmosphere because many chemical properties are very different in the lower and upper atmosphere layers. Although computer models used to project climate changes from increasing greenhouse gas concentrations consistently simulate an increasing upward airflow in the tropics with global warming, this flow cannot be directly observed.
"We demonstrated that the mean upward-air motion suppresses the strength of the QBO winds in the models and thus interpret our observed weakened QBO trend as confirmation that the mean upward velocity in the tropics has indeed been increasing," notes Hamilton.
Hamilton provides an example of why the upward airflow is so significant: "The manufacture of ozone-destroying chemicals such as the freon compounds used in the past in spray cans and in refrigerators has been largely banned for over 20 years. These chemicals, however, remain in the atmosphere for many decades. They are slowly flushed out of the lower atmosphere into the upper atmosphere where they are destroyed. Stronger mean upward airflow transports these chemicals more quickly into the upper atmosphere, and the ozone layer will recover more quickly to its natural state before the introduction of man-made freon compounds."
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Hawaii ? SOEST, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
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Journal Reference:
Yoshio Kawatani, Kevin Hamilton. Weakened stratospheric quasibiennial oscillation driven by increased tropical mean upwelling. Nature, 2013; 497 (7450): 478 DOI: 10.1038/nature12140
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The General Assembly pledged commitment to its "current doctrine and practice in relation to human sexuality" but said it would not prevent liberal congregations to opt out of the convention.
The assembly will re-analyse the decision at next year's meeting and draft new regulations if it decides to implement the result of Monday's historic vote.
Church leaders were expected to vote for one of three options: to reject the ordination of gay men and women as ministers, to allow their ordination or to allow their ordination but with the option for individual congregations to opt out.
In the end, the Church voted for a fourth proposal put forward by the Very Reverend Albert Bogle.
Bogle's motion to "affirm the Church's historic and current doctrine and practice in relation to human sexuality, (but) nonetheless permit those Kirk Sessions who wish to depart from that doctrine and practice to do so" was carried with 340 votes in favour to 282 against.
"We welcome this decision by the Church of Scotland, which is particularly important for the many LGBT people within the Church and their friends and family," said Equality Network policy co-ordinator Tom French.
"This is a positive step forward for a more equal society, and speaks to the progressive values of 21st century Scotland."
However, the Free Church of Scotland, which split from the Church of Scotland in the 19th century, called the result "totally confusing".
"The winning motion says that it affirms the historic doctrine of the Church, which is of course opposed to the ordination of ministers in same-sex relationships," said a spokesman.
"Yet at the same time the motion permits congregations to call ministers in same-sex relationships. The whole thing is totally confusing."
Networking for business women. The fastest, most effective way for women to grow their businesses. Athena business lunch meetings have informal networking time as well as lunch with many opportunities to promote your business. Two business speakers deliver topics very relevant to women in business and there's a chance to identify people you would like to meet up with in the future. It is designed to support and inspire as well as to be a source of business contacts and most of all it is FUN.
Event Organised By
The Athena Network
www.theathenanetwork.co.uk
Vibrant and fast-growing, Athena is the UK's premier business networking organisation for women in business and is establishing a significant international presence.
Focusing exclusively on women business owners or those fulfilling a business development role, The Athena Network offers inspiring opportunities to engage with business owners and decision makers from diverse industry sectors.
Founded on values of respect and integrity, Athena groups are committed to welcoming members and visitors in a relaxed, mutually supportive and ethical environment.
At the heart of Athena's activities, networking groups meet each month over lunch in an attractive venue to make new contacts, develop valuable business expertise and explore visionary ideas.
Some marvellous connections are being made as ladies find suppliers, clients and colleagues within the groups they attend. Many ladies are now working on joint projects and considerably enhancing the services they offer their clients.
A typical group will have members from large corporates, SMEs and sole traders. Ladies should be able to find all the skills they need within each group to help them establish and develop their businesses and their business development skills.
Additional local and regional initiatives provide excellent membership value, through motivational workshops on networking skills and business planning, social events, training courses, informal networking events, business retreats and one-to-one consultancy services.
The Athena Network operates a 'one person per discipline' policy so once a profession is represented at a local group, all competition is effectively locked out and all business from the group is referred to that one individual. A group normally has 18-25 members and members are able to visit other groups if their profession isn't already represented.
In addition there is an informal network of Cappuccino Connections events run throughout the area for ladies who want to see what all the excitement is all about.
Attending this event or want to share it on Facebook? Comment below!
Convicted killer Jodi Arias speaks during an interview at the Maricopa County Estrella Jail on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Phoenix. Arias was convicted recently of killing her former boyfriend Travis Alexander in his suburban Phoenix home back in 2008, made a plea in court on Tuesday for life in prison, instead of execution, saying she can contribute to society if allowed to live. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Convicted killer Jodi Arias speaks during an interview at the Maricopa County Estrella Jail on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Phoenix. Arias was convicted recently of killing her former boyfriend Travis Alexander in his suburban Phoenix home back in 2008, made a plea in court on Tuesday for life in prison, instead of execution, saying she can contribute to society if allowed to live. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Convicted killer Jodi Arias pauses before answering a question during an interview at the Maricopa County Estrella Jail on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Phoenix. Arias was convicted recently of killing her former boyfriend Travis Alexander in his suburban Phoenix home back in 2008, made a plea for life in prison, instead of execution, saying she can contribute to society if allowed to live. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Convicted killer Jodi Arias makes a point as she answers a question during an interview at the Maricopa County Estrella Jail on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Phoenix. Arias was convicted recently of killing her former boyfriend Travis Alexander in his suburban Phoenix home back in 2008, made a plea in court for life in prison, instead of execution, saying she can contribute to society if allowed to live. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Convicted killer Jodi Arias pauses for a moment during an interview at the Maricopa County Estrella Jail on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Phoenix. Arias was convicted recently of killing her former boyfriend Travis Alexander in his suburban Phoenix home back in 2008, made a plea in court Tuesday for life in prison, instead of execution, saying she can contribute to society if allowed to live. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX (AP) ? In a surprise jailhouse interview just hours after a jury began deliberating her fate, Jodi Arias spoke out Tuesday about her murder trial, her many fights with her legal team and her belief that she "deserves a second chance at freedom someday."
Arias spoke to The Associated Press as part of a series of interviews with media outlets. She repeated many of her claims from previous interviews, testimony on the witness stand and her statements to the jury earlier Tuesday as she pleaded for mercy.
But she provided some new information about her case and how she believed her lawyers let her down by not calling more witnesses who could have bolstered her claims that she was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Travis Alexander.
Arias was convicted last week of first-degree murder in the June 2008 stabbing and shooting death of her one-time lover in what prosecutors described as a cold, calculated killing carried out in a jealous rage. Arias has maintained all along it was self-defense.
The jury began deliberating Tuesday as they worked to determine whether she should live or die for her crime. If the jury opts for a life sentence, the judge will have the option of determining whether she spends the rest of her days behind bars or is eligible for release after 25 years. Arias acknowledged it was unlikely she would ever be released, but believed she deserves a second chance.
Following her conviction last week, she told a local TV station that she preferred the death penalty. She said Tuesday night that she changed her mind after a tearful meeting with family members that same day, realizing that her death would only cause them more pain.
"I felt like by asking for death, it's like asking for assisted suicide and I didn't want to do that to my family," she told the AP.
Arias said she fought from the beginning to keep cameras out of the courtroom to limit the media spectacle, and believes that the jury should have been sequestered. She stated flatly that she did not receive a fair trial.
"The prosecutor has accused me of wanting to be famous, which is not true," she said.
However, Arias has sought the spotlight at every turn, providing TV interviews and even using a third-party to tweet throughout the trial.
Arias repeated her claims that she never wanted to go to trial in the first place but instead wanted to reach a deal with prosecutors on a second-degree murder count that would have carried a maximum of 22 years in prison. However, she said, "no deal was offered."
She gave the interviews Tuesday after the judge lifted an order barring jail officials from arranging any media requests. The judge did not elaborate on the reason for the ruling, but Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office quickly began making the media arrangements that lasted late into the night.
A shackled Arias wore makeup for the interviews and showed up in a jail classroom with a comb in hand as she fixed her hair for the cameras. When pressed for details on some of her conflicting stories, she was mostly evasive, citing advice from her attorneys and possible pending appeals.
She was also asked about the conflicts she had had with her two court-appointed lawyers, Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott.
Arias said she wanted at least three people called as witnesses who could have testified to having seen bruises on her neck "when I was choked out" by Alexander but she said she was rebuffed by her lawyers. The prosecutor insisted her claims of self-defense were an exaggerated attempt to avoid being convicted.
She said her lawyers "felt a little betrayed" and blindsided by her post-conviction interview but that they gave their blessings for Tuesday night's interviews, warning her to be cautious.
Arias said she sometimes wishes she'd never met Alexander, "just because of how ultimately everything ended and I say that for his sake and mine ? not just a selfish thing."
She said if the attack never occurred and she never crossed paths with the victim, she would likely now be a happily married 32-year-old with children, good finances and a successful wedding photography business.
Earlier Tuesday, Arias told jurors she planned to use her time in prison to bring about positive changes, including donating her hair to be made into wigs for cancer victims, helping establish prison recycling programs and designing T-shirts to raise money for domestic abuse victims.
Arias became emotional as she displayed for jurors photos of her friends, boyfriends and family members, including newborn relatives she has met only from behind bars.
She asked jurors to reject the death penalty for the sake of her family.
"I'm asking you to please, please don't do that to them. I've already hurt them so badly, along with so many other people," she said. "I want everyone's healing to begin, and I want everyone's pain to stop."
Arias stabbed and slashed Alexander nearly 30 times, shot in him in the forehead and slit his throat, nearly decapitating him, before leaving his body in his shower to be found by friends about five days later.
"To this day, I can hardly believe I was capable of such violence. But I know that I was," Arias told jurors. "And for that, I'm going to be sorry for the rest of my life."
Her speech to jurors came a day after her attorneys asked to be removed from the case, saying the five-month trial had become a witch hunt that prompted death threats against a key witness in the penalty phase. They also argued for a mistrial. The judge denied both requests.
Alexander's family showed little emotion as Arias' mother, father and sister looked on from the other side of the gallery and cried.
After Arias finished speaking, Judge Sherry Stephens explained to jurors that their finding would be final.
The jury heard closing arguments later Tuesday, with Willmott citing Arias' mental health problems and lack of a criminal record among the reasons to spare her life.
"The question now before you is: Do you kill her? Do you kill her for the one act that she did, the one horrible act, or can you see that there is a reason to let her live? Can you see that there is value in her life?" she said.
Prosecutor Juan Martinez said that despite Arias' claims, there were no factors in the case that would warrant a sentence other than death.
He implored jurors to look at the "whole panorama" of the case, not just Arias' statement Tuesday, and explained how Alexander's family will live with the pain of their loss for the rest of their lives.
"They can't forget that what happened on that afternoon, Travis Victor Alexander suffered immense physical pain," Martinez said. "They can't forget that."
It appears that we need a refresher course in the difference between "legal" and "ethical", at least from reading a lead story in today's New York Times by Nelson Schwartz and Charles Duhigg on the "web of tax shelters" that allowed Apple to escape from billions of dollars in US tax payments.
The US tax code may have Byzantine rules that encourage gaming the system, and I'm sure that Apple will argue that keeping its taxes as low as possible was the responsible thing for the company to do for its shareholders.
But if I am going to pick one of two short-hand phrases about taxation by which to live, I'll go with the late Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes ("Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society") over the also-late but unlamented Leona Helmsley ("Only the little people pay taxes"). Apple apparently went with the Queen of Mean.
Schwartz and Duhigg explained:
Even as Apple became the nation?s most profitable technology company, it avoided billions in taxes in the United States and around the world through a web of subsidiaries so complex it spanned continents and went beyond anything most experts had ever seen, Congressional investigators disclosed on Monday....
... [They] found that some of Apple?s subsidiaries had no employees and were largely run by top officials from the company?s headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. But by officially locating them in places like Ireland, Apple was able to, in effect, make them stateless ? exempt from taxes, record-keeping laws and the need for the subsidiaries to even file tax returns anywhere in the world.?
The investigators are not claiming that Apple broke any laws, nor is it the only major corporation using all kinds of arcane schemes to keep its tax bill as low as possible. But Apple's "gimmicks" and "schemes" (words used by US lawmakers) were on a whole new scale. The Times journalists quote a University of Southern California law professor on the Apple strategy: "There is a technical term that economists like to use for behavior like this: Unbelievable chutzpah." I might have used a stronger term.
Corporate tax avoidance on this scale encourages those of us who pay our own fair share -- willingly or not! -- to feel like chumps.
Meanwhile, technology companies like Apple are lobbying hard for changes in immigration legislation to permit them to hire more foreign engineers and computer scientists due to the (alleged) lack of sufficient US talent. But it is taxes that pay for long-term research and development, that support the colleges and universities that train engineers and other scientists, that underwrite the infrastructure that delivers products from the port (since most while designed in the US, are built elsewhere) to the retail stores.
Legal, sure (although I'd like to see these rules changed!). Ethical? Not hardly.
The new Kinect is kind of awesome. Just by the numbers, it's a huge upgrade. You can see (most of) the full walkthrough we saw just a bit ago here at Microsoft's Redmond campus in the video above. Parts are jaw-dropping.
Did you know that providing employees vision care benefits (including some provision for computer glasses) can help a company be more profitable?
If you own a company this should be especially interesting news for you. But, even if you aren?t the person in charge, this is information you?ll want to share with your boss!
A study was conducted at the University Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry where they researched the relationship between productivity and the vision of a person who works at a computer all day.? The study found that there is a direct correlation between a person?s vision and productivity.? This relationship was particularly important when they tested productivity in complex or repetitive tasks like data entry.? In other words, people who had had their eyes examined regularly and who (with or without vision correction) were able to see better ? did better at computer related tasks.
The study also found that people with proper vision correction were able to complete computer related tasks faster.? The subjects in the study that did not have the proper vision correction (were wearing outdated glasses or had not had a recent eye exam) took much longer to do the same task as a person who was seeing clearly.
According to researchers, even users that weren?t aware of their vision problems still had a reduced rate of productivity.? In fact, their performance on specific tasks was reduced by as much as 20 percent.
Since more and more jobs require constant computer use, Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) and its related problems ? ranging from headaches to shoulder and neck pain, to dry and tired eyes ? is also hurting productivity!? The American Optometric Association reports that 10 million eye exams per year in the United States are initiated because of computer use.
If your company doesn?t currently provide vision coverage, increased productivity may be an incentive for them to consider it.? Or, here?s another.? The study also showed that with proper vision correction but an employee?s attention to detail can also increase.? Fewer errors saves everyone time (and accordingly money) in the long run.
Offering vision insurance could help your company?s bottom line by incentivizing employees to keep their vision at its peak!? If vision insurance is already a part of your employee benefits package then companies would do well to encourage and motivate their employees to use their vision benefits package and get their eyes examined regularly.? Even if you don?t have insurance, America?s Best can help you save money with our amazing two pair deals. Contact your closest America?s Best about scheduling eye exams for your employees!
May 20, 2013 ? A Mediterranean diet with added extra virgin olive oil or mixed nuts seems to improve the brain power of older people better than advising them to follow a low-fat diet, indicates research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
The authors from the University of Navarra in Spain base their findings on 522 men and women aged between 55 and 80 without cardiovascular disease but at high vascular risk because of underlying disease/conditions.
These included either type 2 diabetes or three of the following: high blood pressure; an unfavourable blood fat profile; overweight; a family history of early cardiovascular disease; and being a smoker.
Participants, who were all taking part in the PREDIMED trial looking at how best to ward off cardiovascular disease, were randomly allocated to a Mediterranean diet with added olive oil or mixed nuts or a control group receiving advice to follow the low-fat diet typically recommended to prevent heart attack and stroke
A Mediterranean diet is characterised by the use of virgin olive oil as the main culinary fat; high consumption of fruits, nuts, vegetables and pulses; moderate to high consumption of fish and seafood; low consumption of dairy products and red meat; and moderate intake of red wine.
Participants had regular check-ups with their family doctor and quarterly checks on their compliance with their prescribed diet.
After an average of 6.5 years, they were tested for signs of cognitive decline using a Mini Mental State Exam and a clock drawing test, which assess higher brain functions, including orientation, memory, language, visuospatial and visuoconstrution abilities and executive functions such as working memory, attention span, and abstract thinking.
At the end of the study period, 60 participants had developed mild cognitive impairment: 18 on the olive oil supplemented Mediterranean diet; 19 on the diet with added mixed nuts; and 23 on the control group.
A further 35 people developed dementia: 12 on the added olive oil diet; six on the added nut diet; and 17 on the low fat diet.
The average scores on both tests were significantly higher for those following either of the Mediterranean diets compared with those on the low fat option.
These findings held true irrespective of other influential factors, including age, family history of cognitive impairment or dementia, the presence of ApoE protein -- associated with Alzheimer's disease -- educational attainment, exercise levels, vascular risk factors; energy intake and depression.
The authors acknowledge that their sample size was relatively small, and that because the study involved a group at high vascular risk, it doesn't necessarily follow that their findings are applicable to the general population.
But they say, theirs is the first long term trial to look at the impact of the Mediterranean diet on brain power, and that it adds to the increasing body of evidence suggesting that a high quality dietary pattern seems to protect cognitive function in the ageing brain.
[Mediterranean diet improves cognition@ the PREDIMED-NAVARRA randomised trial 10.1136/jnnp-2012-304792
The government will use any and all information at its disposal to find journalist sources, as shown in?The Washington Post's report this morning?on?a Department of Justice investigation into Fox News chief correspondent James Rosen, who may face criminal charges for reporting government secrets.
CAIRO (AP) ? Seven men purported to be the members of Egypt's security forces kidnapped by suspected militants last week appeared in a video posted online Sunday and urged the government to secure their release by meeting their captors' demands.
The video, posted on YouTube, is the first sign of the six policemen and one border guard since they were abducted by gunmen on the road from the Sinai Peninsula to Cairo on Thursday. Egyptian security officials said they believed the men in the clip were the missing personnel and that authorities were treating the matter seriously. The father of one of the captives identified his son in the video.
The kidnappings have embarrassed President Mohammed Morsi's government, and are seen as a test of his administration's ability to restore security to the volatile peninsula. They also have renewed a national debate on how best to tackle the troubles in northern Sinai, which borders Gaza and Israel. While many called for a swift security response, some argued that such a move would spark a backlash.
Authorities have been in contact with the kidnappers through mediators. The kidnappers have demanded the release of several militants held in Egyptian jails, including some convicted during Mubarak's rule, officials say.
In a statement Sunday, the president said that there is "no room for dialogue with the criminals" responsible for the kidnappings. The statement followed a meeting Morsi held with politicians from largely Islamist groups to brief them on efforts to secure the captives' release.
The president wrote on the social media website Twitter Sunday evening that "all options are on the table" to free the men and that the government will "not succumb to blackmail."
Sinai has been wracked by lawlessness since the 2011 uprising that ousted longtime leader Hosni Mubarak. Criminal gangs, militants and local tribesmen disgruntled with what they say is state-sponsored discrimination have exploited the security vacuum to smuggle weapons, attack security forces and kidnap tourists to trade for relatives held in Egyptian jails.
In the video released Sunday, the men, blindfolded and holding their hands on their heads, introduce themselves one by one.
One of the men identified himself as Cpl. Ibrahim Sobhi Ibrahim and asked Egypt's leaders to free jailed Sinai militants.
"The demands of the brothers, Mr. President, is the release of political prisoners from Sinai," he says. "Please, Mr. President, release them quickly. We can no longer tolerate torture."
The video closes with the men pleading to the camera: "Rescue us, Mr. President. We can't take it. Rescue us, people." At one point, the tip of a rifle appears over the head of some of the captives, before it is swiftly pulled back off the screen. There were no visible signs of torture on the young men.
It was not immediately clear who posted the video, which was uploaded to a YouTube account created Sunday. Later YouTube took it down, saying it violated its policy on violence.
An Egyptian security official identified the captives in the video as the missing personnel. He said a copy of the video was sent to security agencies, but it was not immediately clear by whom. Another security official in Cairo said families and friends of the captives were called in to identify their relatives.
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.
The names of five of the missing also correspond with names previously obtained by The Associated Press.
Security officials say they believe the assailants carried out the kidnapping after being angered over reports that a prisoner, Ahmed Abu Sheta, had been tortured while in jail. Abu Shehata was convicted of attacking a police station in 2011 that killed police officers.
After meeting Morsi on Sunday, Younes Makhyoun, a leading member of the ultraconservative Islamist Salafi al-Nour party, said the president is eager to avoid a security response.
"Even though there are voices who are demanding security interference and decisiveness, (Morsi) said he wants to rescue the soldiers peacefully, and is keeping the engagement with local tribesmen," Makhyoun told The Associated Press. "The security solution would be easiest, but he wants to save lives."
Makhyoun said his party is also against a security solution because it would lead to bloodshed and won't resolve the problem ? a lingering feeling of injustice by many of those who were convicted and arrested during the Mubarak era. He said the kidnappers' demands include the release of as many as 600 prisoners, some of whom were convicted before 2011. A way out, he said, would be to offer retrials for those convicted in the past or in haste.
Mohammed Abdel-Hamid, the father of one of the policemen, told the private Al-Youm TV station that his son was in the video. He said he would rather see his son dead than have his release negotiated.
Expressing their anger at the recent kidnapping, scores of policemen blocked a commercial border crossing with Israel Sunday to protest the abduction of their colleagues. The policemen closed the main gates of the Awja crossing with chains, leaving around 40 trucks stranded, according to local official Ahmed Osman.
On Friday, policemen blocked a border crossing into Gaza. There was no indication that either Israel or the Palestinians were involved in the kidnapping.
___
Associated Press writer Ashraf Sweilam contributed to this report from south Sinai.
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Secretary of State John Kerry is vowing that the Obama administration will spare no expense or effort to protect U.S. diplomats serving overseas.
Speaking to State Department trainees on Monday, Kerry said he was fully committed to implementing and expanding on the recommendations of an independent review board that investigated the deadly Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya. He said the risks to American officials abroad are not new and noted that most of the 244 diplomats who have been honored for having been killed in the line of duty died long before Benghazi.
Kerry said the risks can never be eliminated, but they can and will be mitigated because America's national security interests demand diplomatic outreach even in the most dangerous places.
The Publix in Zephyrhills, Florida, where the winning ticket was sold.
By Becky Bratu, Staff Writer, NBC News
Do you have the lucky ticket? A winner for the huge Powerball jackpot was sold at a supermarket in Zephyrhills, Fla., a Florida Lottery official confirmed to NBC News early Sunday.
The winning Powerball numbers drawn late Saturday were 10, 13, 14, 22, 52 with Powerball number 11.
Powerball's website said one winner was sold in Florida, and David Bishop of the Florida Lottery confirmed that it was sold at a Publix supermarket in Zephyrhills, a suburb of Tampa.
The jackpot of the 43-state lottery game surged ahead of the drawing and had been estimated at $600 million -- the second-largest pot in U.S. lottery history. Powerball officials later revised that to more than $590 million.
Still, that grand prize, accumulated after two months of drawings, surpassed the previous record Powerball payoff of $587.5 million, set in November 2012. That was split by two winners.
The largest jackpot in U.S. history stands at $656 million, won in the Mega Millions lottery of March 2012. That prize was split between winners in Maryland, Kansas and Illinois.
The store where the winning ticket was sold will receive an $85,000 bonus commission, according to Shelly Gerteisen, a spokeswoman for the Florida Lottery.
Who has the lucky ticket? The winning ticket for the $590 million Powerball jackpot was sold at a supermarket in Zephyrhills, Fla., just south of Tampa. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports.
The chances of winning the big prize were low ? 1 in 175.2 million ? but it didn't stop hopeful Americans across the country from purchasing about 80 percent of all possible combinations, according to lottery officials.
In addition to the big prize at stake Saturday, tickets worth $2 million were sold in New York and South Carolina. In California, which joined the Powerball lottery in April and figures winnings by pari-mutuel, two tickets each worth $2.3 million were sold, according to the California State Lottery website.
The estimated cash value of Saturday's drawing, if it had hit $600 million and the winner chose to be paid in one lump sum, would have been roughly $377 million -- before taxes, of course.
Tiffany Satchell told NBCMiami.com that she knows exactly what she'd do if she won.
"Pay off all my bills," she said. "I really want a Range Rover."
NBC News' Hasani Gittens, Justin Kirschner and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Saturday night, someone who felt lucky may turn out to be the luckiest person in the world as they pick the numbers for the Powerball jackpot, now at $600 million. NBC's Miguel Almaguer reports.
This story was originally published on Sun May 19, 2013 10:28 AM EDT
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. A rugby player tries on some head gear during Fridays game. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Les fun?railles de Rowan Stringer, d?c?d?e ? l'?ge de 17 ans, lors d'une partie de rugby ? l'?cole, ont eu lieu, le samedi 18 mai 2013, ? Ottawa. CHRIS HOFLEY/OTTAWA SUN/QMI AGENCY
Some of Rowan Stringer's memorabilia sits boxed at her home before a memorial, Thursday, May 16, 2013. Rowan died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Pictures of Rowan Stringer playing rugby and with her teammates is photographed at her home Thursday, May 16, 2013. Rowan died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Some of Rowan Stringer's memorabilia sits boxed at her home before a memorial, Thursday, May 16, 2013. Rowan died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Pictures of Rowan Stringer playing rugby and with her teammates is photographed at her home Thursday, May 16, 2013. Rowan died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Gordon Stringer, left, and his wife, Kathleen Stringer, pose with a framed portrait of their daughter, Rowan, Thursday, May 16, 2013, who died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Pictures of Rowan Stringer playing rugby and with her teammates is photographed at her home Thursday, May 16, 2013. Rowan died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Gordon Stringer, left, and his wife, Kathleen Stringer, pose with a framed portrait of their daughter, Rowan, Thursday, May 16, 2013, who died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Some of Rowan Stringer's memorabilia sits boxed at her home before a memorial, Thursday, May 16, 2013. Rowan died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Copy photo of Rowan Stringer's high school portrait at her home Thursday, May 16, 2013. Rowan died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Gordon Stringer, left, and his wife, Kathleen Stringer, pose with a framed portrait of their daughter, Rowan, Thursday, May 16, 2013, who died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Pictures of Rowan Stringer playing rugby and with her teammates is photographed at her home Thursday, May 16, 2013. Rowan died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Pictures of Rowan Stringer playing rugby and with her teammates is photographed at her home Thursday, May 16, 2013. Rowan died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Copy photo of Rowan Stringer's high school portrait at her home Thursday, May 16, 2013. Rowan died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Pictures of Rowan Stringer playing rugby and with her teammates is photographed at her home Thursday, May 16, 2013. Rowan died after a head injury suffered while playing high school rugby last week. Darren Brown/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. Gloucester (red) taking on Grande-Riviere Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. St. Thomas taking on Philemon Wright Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. Gloucester (red) taking on Grande-Riviere Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. St. Thomas (Black and red) taking on Lisgar Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. St. Thomas taking on Philemon Wright Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. A Gloucester rugby player got hurt during the game Friday, Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. St. Thomas taking on Philemon Wright Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. The womens rugby players wore purple in memory of Rowan Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. St. Thomas taking on Philemon Wright Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. St. Thomas (Black and red) taking on Lisgar Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. Gloucester (red) taking on Grande-Riviere Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. Notes written for Rowan's family members. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. The womens rugby players wore purple in memory of Rowan Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. A player from Lisgar tries to get the ball before it went out of bounds Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. St. Thomas (Black and red) taking on Lisgar Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
The Gee Gees 4th Annual Junior Girls High School 7 A-Side Tournament took place at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, On. Friday May 17, 2013. The tournament was dedicated to Rowan Stringer, captain of her rugby team at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, who died in hospital Sunday from suffering a rugby head injury. St. Thomas (Black and red) taking on Lisgar Friday. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
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Rowan Stringer was the young girl all of her peers wanted to be like.
With her bubbly personality, her infectious smile and her easygoing approach to life, her friends gravitated towards her like moths to a lamp.
She was bursting with energy, always steaming full speed ahead, ready to jump from one activity to the next.
But what really set her apart was the way she meticulously balanced her life.
She was beautiful, a veritable fashionista in her own right, her father Gordon admits, but sports were always her true passion, the driving force behind her life.
Captain of her rugby team, a seasoned athlete in half a dozen other sports, she wasn?t content unless she was weaving, deking, tackling or checking.
Yet her boisterous, high-octane lifestyle came to a sudden and screeching halt last week when she took her final tackle on the rugby pitch at John McCrae Secondary school.
Landing headfirst into the unforgiving ground ? the second, perhaps even the third such fall in the same week ? the bright light behind her eyes slowly dimmed.
She fell into a coma, her head injury so severe she wouldn?t wake. After four days, her parents knew they wouldn?t truly see their daughter open her eyes ever again, and chose to do what she?d always insisted on ? donating her organs to patients in desperate need.
The knee-jerk reaction to her sudden and tragic death is obvious to many.
Lock up our children after school; forbid them from ever enrolling in contact sports; encase them in protective bubble wrap to let the minds of parents rest easy.
Some school boards are considering outright banning rugby from their sports programs.
Other parents insist extra padding ? even helmets ? should be enforced in all high school sports.
But Gordon and Kathleen Stringer, who this very weekend are putting to rest their beloved daughter ? surrounded by the sports memorabilia she held most dearly ? insist these impulsive decisions must be put aside.
Gordon asserts it?s education that?s lacking in high school sports ? learning the true toll head injuries can have on even the healthiest athletes ? and there needs to be a shift in the way students approach concussions.
As a nurse, Kathleen has seen her fair share of concussion symptoms at work. And with Rowan playing every sport under the sun, they?ve have brushes with concussions even closer to home.
?We were always aware of (concussions), but this one was a bit over the top,? said Gordon, thinking back to the afternoon Rowan was hit.
?Kids just want to shrug it off and keep playing, they hide their symptoms from their coaches.
?That was Rowan, and that was a lot of her friends,? he said. ?They?re kids, they?re teenagers, they feel like they?re invincible, but sometimes they?re not completely ready to go. The adrenalin is going and everything at that time, but they really do have to take care of themselves.?
The school board is reviewing the incident, but the Stringers hope they would never cancel rugby at school.
?That?s not where we want to go with this at all,? he said. ?We?re not pursuing anything like that, that?s the last thing Rowan would have wanted.?
He added this is a real opportunity to teach students about the risks of concussions and open up the lines of communication between them and coaches and their parents.
?But as far as demonizing the sport, that?s something that?s going way, way out of bounds,? he said.
?What happened in Rowan?s case, it was an accident. It was a horrible accident.?
Their daughter was torn away from them, but she?s become a powerful beacon shining her light into the darkest corners of this insidious condition.
?I just want to raise awareness with the athletes, the kids and their friends,? he said. ?There can be serious consequences they have to be aware of, and I hope she can help save the lives of others just like her.?
Sports injury stats
There are 4 million sports-related concussions a year in North America.
15% of kids take longer than a month to recover
About 1 to 20 people die each year from second-impact syndrome across North America
About 10-12% of high school athletes have suffered a concussion
1 in 5 sports-related injuries are brain injuries
18,000 Ontarians suffer a brain injury each year
Brain injuries are the No. 1 killer and disabler of people under 44 in Canada
Repeated concussions could lead to brain degeneration with symptoms similar to Alzheimer?s and Parkinson?s disease
Twitter: @ottawasunmaubry
Do you think more should be done to prevent teen concussions?
Oh HTC. You've produced one of the finest Android smartphones ever (seriously, just look at all these reviews), but you've faced more than your share of challenges when it came to actually pumping your top-tier One smartphone. As it happens, that may all soon change. FocusTaiwan reported earlier today that HTC is preparing to pump out more of its wonderful Ones in short order -- Jack Tong, the company's North Asia president, noted that this month's production capacity for the flagship device is twice that of April, and that surge will only continue into June.
SAN DIEGO (AP) ? Finals week was dangerous for Thomas Saenz.
The Navy lieutenant needed armed guards and an armored car to get to an exam site, in Kabul, Afghanistan. A deadly bomb attack also caused him to his miss classes ? transmitted live via the Internet ? but he persevered and earned a master's degree in engineering from the University of Southern California while commanding a top security team.
His class graduated on Friday, as he joins a growing number of service members earning college degrees while deployed in a war zone.
"Not only was he out there living on the edge, but he had to get his homework done," USC professor Frank Alvidrez said.
The Obama administration is pushing universities to find creative ways to help service members complete their degrees as it tracks the success of its post 9/11 GI Bill, which is designed to be the most comprehensive education benefit for veterans since World War II.
Enrollments for the new GI Bill number more than 480,000, according to the Veteran's Administration, which is starting to track the number of graduates.
It's not known just how many others like Saenz earn their degrees while in combat. A commencement ceremony for 100 war-zone graduates from various universities is planned in late May in Kandahar.
"They really are multi-tasking in the extreme," said Bob Ludwig, spokesman for the University of Maryland University College, adding that the coursework can provide relief from the mental turmoil of war. "It really is an opportunity to step away from the battlefield and have the sort of the safety of being in a classroom."
UMUC has about 30,000 active-duty service members among its students and was among the first schools to send faculty to Iraq to teach troops in 2008 during the war. UMUC also has adjunct professors giving classes in tents in remote outposts of Afghanistan as well as online instruction on bases.
Completing degrees online is a growing phenomenon, as more traditional public universities join private, for-profit schools in offering courses.
Saenz, a 33-year-old father of two, used the GI Bill to enroll at USC but midway through his studies, the Navy pilot was called to be deployed to Afghanistan.
After getting approval from his professors and Navy commanders, Saenz spent his final year of studies racing to his computer on base at 5 a.m. to attend the live transmission of his classes before dedicating his day to overseeing security for top generals and then-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.
He missed a class that required his online presence when a suicide bomber blew himself up near NATO's headquarters in Kabul, killing six civilians.
The base was locked down. Saenz wrote to his professor and aide when the Internet was back up to explain his absence.
"I was worried because it was early in the semester and I was afraid it would affect my grade," he said. "But they were real supportive."
Another time, he was absent because he was arranging a helicopter to transport Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Saenz caught up by watching the recorded classes.
"I told my class if Thomas can get his homework done on time then I don't think there are any excuses for the rest of you all," Alvidrez said. "And he pulled an 'A.' He was one of the top 10 percent."
Even getting to finals was treacherous. After military officials checked intelligence to ensure there were no imminent threats, he crossed Kabul on a highly dangerous road with armed guards in an armored SUV to the Army base where a military official was certified to give him the university exams. While there, he picked up ammo, weapons and dropped off radios to be repaired, then grabbed some barbeque at a tent.
Saenz said he was determined to finish his advanced degree ? the second person in his extended family to do so ? knowing his 10-year Navy career was ending in June. He is one of 91 service members in the university's online engineering graduate program called DEN(at)Viterbi.
An essay he wrote for one of his classes was on WWII veterans going on to lead top companies after returning home. With today's technology, he sees opportunities for veterans to follow in those footsteps more easily than ever.
"I think we're in that period again, with the post 9/11 GI Bill and all these kids coming back with their experience overseas," Saenz said. "Hopefully we can come back and do great things for our country outside of our uniform."
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17 May 2013Last updated at 00:52 ETBy Alex CampbellBBC News
Eighty thousand years ago the Earth began to cool, marking the start of the last Ice Age. Experts are still discovering how the big freeze affected the giant mammals which prowled its dramatically changing landscape.
Scientists are helping to uncover the secrets of giant Ice Age beasts like the sabretooth cat - by foraging in crates of dirt which were collected during the building of a car park.
Wooden boxes were built around deposits of earth in 2006 after construction workers discovered the near-complete skeleton of a woolly mammoth while digging underground parking spaces at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
The crates were designed to salvage the remains for scientists at nearby Page Museum while also making way for the bulldozers.
More than three million prehistoric fossils from 600 species have been excavated from California's tar pits, which trapped and preserved Ice Age creatures as they roamed the territory tens of thousands of years ago.
The 23 crates, which each have a resident palaeontologist, and 327 buckets of fossil material are yielding vital discoveries and are expected to take several years to examine in full.
Project 23 is just one of a series of explorations documented by a new BBC series, Ice Age Giants, which has combined cutting edge fossil studies and CGI to create lifelike footage of the prehistoric beasts.
Here are some of the Ice Age giants of North America. The continent was half-covered by an enormous ice sheet at the peak of the last Ice Age, but land south of the ice suddenly became richer than ever before.
Continue reading the main story
Find out more
Professor Alice Roberts travels back 40,000 years in Ice Age Giants. CGI experts and wildlife cameramen have combined to recreate stunning scenes for the three-part series. The first episode airs on BBC Two at 20:00 BST on Sunday 19 May
Despite the notoriety of the sabretooth cat's seven-inch fangs, it may actually have been its muscular forelimbs and large paws which made it so deadly.
The infamous predator's long, thin teeth were surprisingly vulnerable to snapping after becoming stuck in the sinews or bones of a violently struggling victim. It forced the cat to develop a unique killing method.
Modern day African big cats such as lions usually kill their prey by suffocation - smothering or crushing the windpipe. Their teeth barely break the skin.
But their Ice Age predecessor killed by stabbing and biting with its teeth, having first held the prey steady using its powerful paws and limbs.
Dr Blaire Van Valkenburgh, of the University of California, found the sabretooth had a huge temporal bone linking its jaw and skull - allowing it to open its mouth twice as wide as a lion and deliver huge blows to the throat.
"With those canines they could drive these two things together, then pull backwards and take out a large amount of flesh," she said.
"The animal would probably bleed to death within minutes," she added.
The sabretooth thrived across North America in the Ice Age, with many specimens found in modern day Los Angeles.
A new three-part series, Ice Age Giants, saw wildlife cameramen and CGI experts combine to recreate the life of the sabretooth cat.
Scientists have used the perfectly-preserved dung of the giant ground sloth to trace its movements across the desert land of the Grand Canyon.
Huge piles of the sloth's dried waste still lie in its cavernous lairs, high in the canyon walls, where it is too dry for the deposits to decompose.
They reveal how the 500lb (226kg) sloth survived in barren conditions, chomping through tough vegetation which other creatures would have struggled to digest.
Its surviving cousin, the South American tree sloth, lives similarly. It dines on tough, toxic leaves which take weeks to digest and provide little energy - leading to its infamously languid lifestyle.
As well as being as big as a grizzly bear, the ground sloth had long claws to swipe away predators as formidable as the sabretooth cat.
Scientists have analysed layers of the dung to explain the ground sloth's demise.
There are no traces of the dung beyond the peak of the last Ice Age, 16,000 years ago. Conditions became too cold and too dry for its favourite plants to grow and its slow metabolism meant it struggled to stay warm.
The size of a small car and equipped with a huge bony shell, an armoured tail and a trunk, the glyptodont is described by Professor Alice Roberts as "by far the oddest mammal I've ever seen."
But as well as being a spectacle for researchers, it provides insights into life in those parts of the world which were not dry and cold during the Ice Age.
Large parts of Arizona, where the glyptodont roamed, were covered in swamps and rivers.
There have been about 20 Ice Ages over the last 2.5 million years, and the proliferation of the glyptodont reflected the impact of the advancing ice sheet on the rest of the world.
The marshes expanded every time the ice sheet grew, leading to a surge in the number of glyptodonts, while they began to die out each time the ice retreated.
Scientists believe a two-mile high ice sheet in North America was acting like a mountain range; pushing moisture-laden winds across the desert and creating a fertile marshland.
The Columbian mammoth was the greatest giant of them all.
It would have towered above the modern elephant and, with a shoulder height of 14ft (4.27m), it stood several feet taller than the woolly mammoth.
Consuming up to two tonnes of grass a week, the Columbian mammoth roamed in search of vegetation as expanding ice replaced sea water. The Ice Age global sea level was about 120 metres lower than today.
Large coastal rocks just north of San Francisco have provided scientists with vital clues about the mammoth's movements.
The rocks have been worn down to a smooth, polished finish in patches which reach several metres high.
"You could have a horse sitting on the shoulder of a cow and still not do that. It's too high for domestic livestock," said archaeologist Breck Parkman.
Scientists believe the mammoths used the rocks as scratching posts for exfoliating their skin and grinding away parasites - leaving breadcrumb clues about their journey across the Ice Age world.
Watch episode one of Ice Age Giants on BBC Two at 20:00 BST on Sunday 19 May and afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.
Samsung's Galaxy S4 has hit 10 million channel sales one month after its release. The company 
Oh HTC. You've produced one of the finest Android smartphones ever (seriously, just look at all these reviews), but you've faced more than your share of challenges when it came to actually pumping your top-tier One smartphone. As it happens, that may all soon change. 