Lutheran pastor apologizes over Sandy Hook vigil

Pastor Rob Morris of Newtown's Christ the King Lutheran Church provided the closing benediction at an interfaith event following the Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 16.

By Edith Honan, Reuters

Published at 6:33 a.m. ET: A Connecticut Lutheran pastor has apologized for participating in an interfaith prayer vigil for the 26 children and adults killed at a Newtown elementary school in December because his church bars its clergy from worshipping with other faiths.

The December prayer vigil was attended by President Barack Obama, leaders from Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths, and relatives of the 20 first graders who were gunned down in their classrooms two days earlier after a gunman entered their school.

The Dec. 14 shooting shook the nation and led to calls for improved school security, gun control and better mental health care.

Watch the entire interfaith vigil for Connecticut shooting victims, including President Obama's speech. Pastor Rob Morris gives the closing benediction, beginning 73 minutes, 10 seconds into the video.

The pastor, Rob Morris of Newtown's Christ the King Lutheran Church, provided the closing benediction at the interfaith event on Dec. 16.

Earlier this month, the president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Pastor Matthew Harrison, wrote a letter to church members saying he had requested an apology from Morris for his participation in "joint worship with other religions."

"There is sometimes a real tension between wanting to bear witness to Christ and at the same time avoiding situations which may give the impression that our differences with respect to who God is, who Jesus is, how he deals with us, and how we get to heaven, really don't matter in the end," Harrison wrote.

"There will be times in this crazy world when, for what we believe are all the right reasons, we may step over the scriptural line," he wrote.

Harrison said he had accepted Morris' apology.

This is not the first time a Lutheran leader has been chastised for participating in a community service in the wake of a local tragedy.

'False teaching'
David Benke, a Lutheran pastor in New York, was suspended for praying at an interfaith vigil in 2001, 12 days after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Benke, who had refused to apologize for the incident, was reinstated in 2003.

In his own letter to his church, Morris wrote that it was not his intent to endorse "false teaching" and apologized to those who believed he had.

"I did not believe my participation to be an act of joint worship, but one of mercy and care to a community shocked and grieving an unspeakably horrific event," he wrote. "I apologize where I have caused offense by pushing Christian freedom too far, and I request you charitably receive my apology."

Related:

Full coverage of the Sandy Hook shooting from NBC News

Fierce debate after Newtown school shootings: Where was God?

People of Newtown pray and grieve together

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/07/16882169-lutheran-pastor-apologizes-for-taking-part-in-sandy-hook-service?lite

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New route to justice for poorest being denied to millions | Amnesty ...

People who have their economic, social and cultural rights routinely trampled on are set to gain a fresh route to justice via the UN ? but once in force it will only immediately apply to citizens of 10 nations, Amnesty International said.

The new complaints mechanism, established by the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights (the Protocol), will allow individuals and groups to seek justice from the UN if their rights ? including adequate housing, food, water, sanitation, health, work, social security and education ? are violated and their government fails to provide justice.

?Access to justice is essential for victims of all human rights violations and the Protocol is a key step towards accomplishing this,? said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

?Almost 40 years after the equivalent Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights came into force we have finally achieved parity between the two treaties and meaning to the principle of indivisibility of all rights.

?We congratulate the first ten countries that have ratified the Protocol but all other states must follow. For human rights to be truly achieved, everyone whose human right is violated must have an effective remedy.?

Uruguay today provided the crucial tenth ratification of the Protocol, which means it will be in force in three months time on 5 May 2013.

Despite this significant step, not a single African country is party to the Protocol, while Mongolia is the only Asian country to ratify it. Globally 160 countries are parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights and are therefore in a position to also ratify the Protocol.

The Protocol is only legally binding in those countries which are party to it.

?Governments have too often only paid lip service to their obligations under international law to ensure economic, social and cultural rights for all,? said Shetty. ?The reality is that in many countries there are no effective mechanisms to address the violations many people suffer.?

The Protocol enables people, who have suffered violations such as being forcibly evicted from their homes, or denied an education because of where they live, to have their complaints heard in front of an independent, international panel of experts once they have exhausted all domestic options.

Amnesty International has documented many cases around the world where people are finding it impossible to obtain justice for such violations, and for whom the Protocol could be crucial.

In Nigeria, more than 13,000 people were forcibly evicted in August 2009 when a local government ignored a court order and destroyed their waterfront settlement.

In Slovenia, the government has failed to help the many Roma families who today are living without water or sanitation in informal settlements.

In the USA, the government's failure to ensure that all women have access to maternal health services reduces their chances of having a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

?The Protocol establishes a vital tool for people, in particular for those living in poverty, to hold their government accountable for their rights ? otherwise violations can continue with impunity,? said Shetty.

The ten states that have ratified so far are Argentina, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mongolia, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Uruguay.

The decisions made through this new mechanism are likely to influence national and regional courts around the world.

"In additional to joining the Protocol, governments must also ensure that there are national mechanisms in place such as courts and human rights commissions with the mandate and capacity to enforce economic, social and cultural rights."? said Shetty.??

Background

The Protocol was adopted by the UN General Assembly by consensus on December 10, 2008 and was opened for ratification on September 24, 2009. Thirty?two other countries have signed the Protocol, indicating their intention to ratify, but ratification is necessary to make the Protocol legally binding.

Argentina, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mongolia, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Uruguay have ratified the Optional Protocol. The 32 other countries who have signed the Optional Protocol and need to ratify it are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Finland, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Montenegro, Netherlands, Paraguay, Senegal, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Togo, Ukraine and Venezuela.

160 countries around the world are Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The ICESCR provides the main legal framework for the protection and promotion of economic, social and cultural rights. Economic, social and cultural rights include the rights to work, health, education, food, water, sanitation, adequate housing, social security, and the right to take part in cultural life, amongst others. All States that are parties to the ICESCR are obliged under international law to respect, protect and fulfil these rights for all, without discrimination.

Amnesty International is part of the global NGO Coalition for an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, made up of more than 300 civil society groups globally. It has been campaigning for the last eight years for the Protocol and is calling on all governments worldwide to ratify it.

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Source: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/new-route-justice-poorest-being-denied-millions-2013-02-05

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DreamWorks Animation Layoffs - Business Insider

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A shift in DreamWorks Animation's planned film schedule may be due to the weak early performance of "Rise of the Guardians."

Rumors are circulating that there's about to be layoffs at DreamWorks Animation.?

Cuts are expected to come to the studio's production, technology, and overhead departments, according to The Hollywood Reporter.?

Deadline is now reporting that the company may cut up to 500 employees in the coming months.

Word of a potential staff reduction comes after the announcement this morning that the studio plans to cut its 2013 film lineup down from three to two films.?

"Mr. Peabody & Sherman" which was originally scheduled for release November 1 of this year has been pushed back until next March leaving films "The Croods" with a March release and "Turbo" to debut in July.?

In addition, the Kate Hudson and Bill Hader 2014 animated flick "Me & My Shadow"? has been shelved indefinitely.?

The move of "Peabody" from November to March leaves a clear pathway for Disney's November release, "Frozen."

CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg released a brief statement on the move:??

"We believe the best strategy for DreamWorks Animation in the long run is to ensure that every one of our films has an optimal release date with the biggest opportunity to succeed at the box office," said Katzenberg, "The move of Mr. Peabody & Sherman means that we will now release two films in 2013, and we are adjusting our operating infrastructure costs accordingly."?

The changed film schedule follows the underwhelming performance of "Rise of the Guardians" last fall. Though the film eventually earned $300 million worldwide (thanks to a $200 million cushion from the foreign box office), its opening weekend was $23.8 million. For comparison, a DreamWorks film hasn't had that low of an opening since its 2006 film "Flushed Away" which earned $18.8 million in 2006.?

The film's weak opening caused DreamWork's stock to sink nearly five percent following final weekend box-office estimates.

A DreamWorks spokesperson declined further comment.?

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about Disney's "Star Wars" spinoff films >

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/dreamworks-animation-layoffs-2013-2

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PIX11 nominated for 31 Emmy Awards for television news ...

PIX11 was nominated for 31 Emmy Awards by the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, earning more nominations than WCBS, WABC, WNYW and WWOR.

To date, PIX11 has won over 200 Emmy Awards including multiple awards for Best Morning Newscast and Best Evening Newscast.

The New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences? 56th Annual New York Emmy Awards honor outstanding achievement in the television industry during the eligibility period of September 1, 2011 through August 31, 2012. NY NATAS? 56th Annual New York Emmy? Award Ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square.

The following are PIX11?s 31 Emmy Award nominations:

EVENING NEWSCAST: OVER 35 MINUTES

• PIX11 News at 5: The Barbara Sheehan Verdict. (WPIX-TV) October 6, 2011 John Houseman, Asst. News Director. Saul Adams, Executive Producer. Nicole Clarity, ?Producer, ?Ann Isaac, , ?Producer, James Ford, Mario Diaz, Kirstin Cole, reporters, Tom Wisnosky, Director,

CONTINUING COVERAGE

• Taco Mayor Scandal. January 24, 2012. (WPIX-TV). ?Mario Diaz, Reporter. Victor Lopez, Photographer.

HARD NEWS: SINGLE STORY
? ????????Remembering Joey D. November 23, 2011. (WPIX-TV). Mary Murphy, Writer/Reporter.

INTERACTIVITY
? ????????PIX11 @sk Our Guests. January 1, 2012. (www.WPIX.com). Chaleampon Oates Ritthichai, Producer; Kelly Gray, Assistant Producer; Shelley Ng, Assistant Producer.

ENTERTAINMENT: NEWS
? ????????From Broadway to Homeless and Back to Broadway. November 18, 2011. (WPIX-TV). Sam H. Shirakawa, Writer/Producer.

ENTERTAINMENT: PROGRAM/SPECIAL

• 30 Seconds to Air: The Making of the Bill Cunningham Show. July 12, 2012. (WPIX-TV). ?John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director. ?Ari Pitchenik, Creative Director. ?Executive Producers: ?Kim Brechka, Sean Compton, John Zeigler, Ari Pitchenik, Steve Farber. Director/Editor: Jeff Pinilla. ?Producers: ?Andrew Oshan/Jeff Pinilla. Writers: ?John Zeigler/Jeff Pinilla. Associate Producer: Jessica Bellucci. ?Graphics: ?Jimmy Yeo, Mark Koenov.

MILITARY: NEWS

• The Endless War. September 14, 2011. (WPIX-TV). Larry Mendte, Writer/Producer/Commentator; Peter Ruello, Editor. Kenton Young, Photographer.

ENVIRONMENT: NEWS

• Toxic Discovery: Le Roy, New York. February 6, 2012. (WPIX-TV). Dan Mannarino, Reporter. David Scanlon, Editor.

HEALTH/SCIENCE: PROGRAM FEATURE/SEGMENT

• Rotator Cuff Surgery. June 6, 2012. (WPIX-TV). Marvin Scott, Reporter/Producer. Mark DeGennaro, Editor. Bill Muller, Photographer.

HEALTH/SCIENCE: PROGRAM/SPECIAL
? ????????Dr. Steve Show: Down Home With Dolly Parton. April 29, 2012. (WPIX-TV). Dr. Steve Salvatore, Host. David Brown, Executive Producer. Craig Rogers. Associate Producer. Ian Handler, Photographer.

• Dr. Steve Show: PIX11 Health and Wellness Expo. October 2, 2011. (WPIX-TV). Eric Meyrowitz, Creator/Executive Producer; Jessica Bellucci, Event Producer, Vas Mountzouros, Field Producer

CRIME
? ????????Confessed Killer Mom Tells All. October 27, 2011. (WPIX-TV). Kirstin Cole, Reporter; Peter Ruello, Editor.

• The Facebook Stalker. February 2, 2012. (WPIX-TV). Mary Murphy, Reporter.

RELIGION: PROGRAM/SPECIAL

• Live from Rome: A New Cardinal for New York. February 14, 2012. (WPIX-TV). Mary Murphy, Reporter/Producer; Dan Mannarino, Videojournalist.

SOCIETAL CONCERNS: NEWS

• Help Me Howard: Starting Over. May 21, 2012. (WPIX-TV). Howard Thompson, Reporter. Allen Levine, Producer. John Frasse, Photographer.

PUBLIC/CURRENT/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS: SERIES

• Community Inferno: Yonkers Firefighters vs. City Hall. June 5, 2012. (WPIX-TV). Mario Diaz, Reporter.

PROMOTION: NEWS PROMO ? SINGLE SPOT/CAMPAIGN

• News at 5: A New Perspective. October 7, 2011. (WPIX-TV). John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director. Ari Pitchenik, Creative Director. ?Dan Petersen, Writer/Producer/Editor. Erica Hom-Yern, Producer. Jimmy Yeo, Lead Visual FX Designer. Randy Wilkins, Cinematographer.

PROMOTION: NEWS PROMO ? SINGLE SPOT/CAMPAIGN

• The Bully. April 25, 2012. (WPIX-TV). John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director. Ari Pitchenik, Creative Director. ?Jeff Pinilla, Writer/Producer/Editor.

PROMOTION: PROGRAM PROMO ? SINGLE SPOT/CAMPAIGN

• New York Mets Image Campaign. May 1, 2012. (WPIX-TV). John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director. Ari Pitchenik, Creative Director. ?Andrew Oshan, Producer/Director/Editor. ?Mark Koenov, Motion Graphics. Ryan Scarfuro, Cinematographer. JD Gargano, Concept Art. ?Adam Steiglitz, Sound Design.

PROMOTION: PROGRAM PROMO ? SPORTS

• NY Jets: The Chase. November 10, 2011. (WPIX-TV). John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director. Ari Pitchenik, Creative Director. ?Jeff Pinilla, Writer/Producer/Director. Randy Wilkins, Cinematography. Jimmy Yeo, Lead Visual FX designer. Mark Koenov, Graphic Design.

PROMOTION: PROGRAM PROMO ? IMAGE

• Sounds of New York. September 15, 2011. (WPIX-TV). John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director. Ari Pitchenik, Creative Director. ?Erica Hom-Yern, Producer/Editor. ?Young Bum Kim, Lead Designer. ?JD Gargano, Graphic Designer Jimmy Yeo, Visual FX Designer. Randy Wilkins, Cinematographer. ?Adam Steiglitz, Lead Sound Designer.

ON-CAMERA TALENT: ANCHOR- NEWS

• Sukanya Krishnan. September 7, 2011. (WPIX-TV).

ON-CAMERA TALENT: REPORTER- SPECIALTY ASSIGNMENT/CONSUMER
? ????????Larry Mendte. September 28, 2011. (WPIX-TV).

ON-CAMERA TALENT: COMMENTATOR/EDITORIALIST
? ????????Larry Mendte. November 18, 2011. (WPIX-TV).

? ????????Larry Mendte. October 15, 2011. (WPIX-TV). ?K Street, Wall Street and Broadway.?

DIRECTOR: POST-PRODUCTION
? ????????John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director. ??Jeff Pinilla, Director. July 12, 2012. (WPIX-TV). ?30 Seconds to Air: The Making of the Bill Cunningham Show.?

DIRECTOR: SHORT FORM (PROMOS, PSAS, COMMERICALS, OPENS, ETC)
? ????????John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director. ?Andrew Oshan, Director. May 1, 2012. (WPIX-TV). ?New York Mets Image Campaign.?

? ????????John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director. ?Jeff Pinilla, Director. November 10, 2011. (WPIX-TV). ?NY Jets: The Chase.?

EDITOR: NEWS
? ????????Peter Ruello. February 1, 2012. (WPIX-TV).

AUDIO: POST-PRODUCTION
? ????????John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director. ?Erica Hom-Yern, Producer/Editor. ?Adam Steiglitz, Lead Sound Designer . ?September 15, 2011. (WPIX-TV). ?Sounds of New York.?

GRAPHICS: SPORTS

• John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director. ?Andrew Oshan, Producer. ?Mark Koenov, Motion Graphics/Lead Designer ?May 1, 2012. (WPIX-TV). ?New York Mets Image Campaign.?

Source: http://pix11.com/2013/02/06/pix11-nominated-for-31-emmy-awards-for-television-news-excellence/

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Magazine aims to capitalize on ?mindfulness? movement

The premiere issue of Mindful magazine (via Mindful)Meditation used to be a ritual associated largely with the serene setting of the yoga studio. But in recent years, a wide range of people?from Marines and office workers to even a member of Congress?have embraced a modern take on the practice called ?mindfulness,? a Buddhism-inspired mental technique that encourages participants to focus on ?being in the present? in hopes of leading a less stressful and more productive life.

Another sign of the movement?s journey into the mainstream: the arrival of Mindful, a new bimonthly magazine aimed at encouraging the mindfulness movement and helping average Americans apply its teachings to their own lives.

To the unfamiliar, the concept of trying to find time to ?be mindful? can sound as stressful as trying to find balance in a world fueled by text messaging, endless email and a 24-hour news cycle.

But the magazine?s creators are hoping to demystify the concept of mindfulness, which they equate to learning how to ride a bike?something that?s intuitive, but is helped by simple practice.

?Mindfulness is an inherent human ability that we all have, a basic human ability to fully (be) attentive to where we are and what we are doing at any given moment and also, out of that, (to be) more caring,? says Barry Boyce, Mindful?s editor in chief. ?From our point of view, mindfulness is not an add-on to your life. It?s something you already have and can cultivate it further.?

The magazine, published by the Foundation for a Mindful Society, includes articles that wouldn?t be out of place in other general interest magazines?including advice columns, profiles, travel pieces and recipes. But the stories in its April 2013 premiere issue, hitting newsstands this week, all include an element of the theory of mindfulness?whether its imploring readers to focus on the taste and crunch of food or how someone is being mindful in their jobs and personal lives.

James Gimian, Mindful?s publisher, says ?being mindful? is something that most people are already doing but describe it in different terms.

?In sports, they talk about ?being in the zone.? If you are in the caregiver community of nurses, doctors and therapists, they talk about ?presence? or ?empathy? or ?attention.? Businesspeople might call it ?flow? or ?innovation,?? Gimian said. ?Being fully present with whatever is occurring in your life is already an existing experience that people have, and what we are doing with the magazine is having people share stories about that.?

Mindful magazine comes as the mindfulness movement seems to be growing in popularity. ?Being mindful? has been embraced by leading corporations, including Target, Google, Facebook and General Mills, which have offered training to its workers on how to use the techniques at work. Last month, the U.S. Marine Corps launched a pilot program integrating mindfulness into its teaching curriculum for soldiers?a program that could ultimately be added to training if the results are positive.

And along with that popularity presumably has come profits?for everyone from authors who have written books about mindfulness to people who have organized retreats and teaching sessions on how to apply the techniques to your life.

Mindful magazine?s founders say they are hopeful their publication will promote the movement?s expansion, but they also acknowledged an ?entrepreneurial? element to their decision to launch the magazine, hoping that it will grow and become profitable despite a stagnant publishing industry that has suffered layoffs and seen older titles like Newsweek close their doors.

Gimian acknowledged that he had heard concerns from supporters of the movement, especially in Silicon Valley, that the magazine should be focusing on digital content rather than a print product. But he downplayed it with language befitting someone who has been a longtime practitioner of mindfulness.

?Because we come from this community of leaders in the mindfulness movement, because we have been present where the larger community is adopting it, we have the conviction that a print magazine is still the only way to sustain a business model that is viable,? Gimian said.

Mindful?s founders argued the publication could be successful as a ?niche? title, likening it to Runner?s World and Men?s Health?and said it could be especially popular in a world where people are trying to find ways to help their bodies and minds navigate an increasingly demanding world where, as Boyce put it, ?the deadline is always now.?

Boyce said a growing number of people are suffering from what he described as ?constant partial attention,? where people are unable to focus because their minds are overwhelmed with too many other things.

?It?s almost what Yoda said to Luke Skywalker: ?You?re never where you are. You?re always someplace else,'? Boyce said. ?I think that?s having an effect on people. We are built to be able to operate in certain ways, and when you try to speed it up too much and put too many demands, people look for a way out.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/magazine-aims-capitalize-mindfulness-movement-203259234--finance.html

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Euro, shares recover as European worries recede

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares, oil and the euro bounced back on Tuesday from a selloff caused by rising political risks in southern Europe, as data confirmed the region's economy is showing signs of recovery.

The euro, which had taken the brunt of the selling and fallen from a high of over $1.37 at the end of last week to under $1.35 on Monday, rose 0.3 percent to trade at $1.3560.

European shares followed a similar path, recovering from the Monday sell off, while U.S. stock index futures indicated Wall Street would rebound from its worst daily session since November when trading resumed later on Tuesday.

Analysts saw the market's gyrations as a necessary stage in a rally linked to signs of increasing euro zone economic stability and an improving global outlook, underpinned by the easier monetary policies of major central banks.

"Our working hypothesis remains that, after the correction, the trends in place before will continue, as the two main drivers are still there - namely central banks continuing to inject liquidity and more and more proof of an economic recovery," said Philippe Gijsels, head of research at BNP Paribas Fortis Global Markets in Brussels.

The markets regained their composure on Tuesday after data confirmed the euro zone's still struggling economy was starting to turn around.

Markit's Eurozone Composite PMI, which gauges business activity across thousands of companies and is seen as good gauge of future growth, rose in January to a 10-month high of 48.6 - though this still means the region's economy is contracting.

"The euro zone is showing clear signs of healing, with the downturn easing sharply in January and the region moving closer to stabilization in the first quarter," said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit.

But the data also highlighted a growing divergence in the euro zone between the performance of its biggest economy, Germany, and those of other partners, leaving some doubts about the region's prospects.

Markit's composite German PMI chalked up its biggest one-month rise since August 2009, reaching its highest since June 2011. But in neighboring France it fell to its lowest level in nearly four years.

"The downturn we saw at the end of last year is starting to peter out, but I don't think we're going to see any spectacular growth yet," said Peter Westaway, chief European economist at Vanguard Asset Management.

After the data, the broad FTSE Eurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.6 percent while London's FTSE 100, Paris's CAC-40 and Frankfurt's DAX were between 0.3 and one percent higher.

Analysts said the euro and equity markets could see further volatility on Thursday when the European Central Bank holds its monthly policy meeting and President Mario Draghi is due to address a news conference.

None of the 75 economists surveyed in a Reuters poll last week expect the ECB to cut rates from their record low of 0.75 percent at Thursday's policy meeting, but Draghi may be pressed to comment on the recent sharp rise in the euro.

GLOBAL CORRECTION

MSCI's world equity index was down around 0.1 percent reflecting an earlier sell-off across Asia when investors joined in the global correction in prices and ignored positive economic news from China.

The HSBC China services purchasing managers' index rose to a four-month high of 54 in January, underlining the strengthening momentum in the world's second-biggest economy, which is expected to grow 8.1 percent this year.

The MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.9 percent, led by a steep 1.7 percent fall in Hong Kong shares, after the pan-Asian index had climbed to an 18-month high on Monday.

Investors will next look at data from the vast U.S. services sector, due later on Tuesday, to gauge the monetary policy outlook after recent releases have painted a mostly upbeat picture of the world's largest economy.

BONDS STEADY

Bond markets were also stabilizing on Tuesday after the sudden upsurge in political worries about Spain and Italy had caused a sharp rise in yields on peripheral euro zone debt and fresh demand for safe-haven German government bonds.

Spanish 10-year government bond yields eased back six basis points to 5.38 percent, while equivalent Italian yields were a four ticks lower at 4.43 percent.

German Bunds meanwhile rose slightly to be up four basis points at 1.67 percent.

Commodity markets were more mixed. Brent crude oil, which has dropped almost 1.5 percent since the start of the month, rose over $1 a barrel to $116.75 while growth-attuned copper slipped 0.2 percent to 8,290 a ton.

Platinum and palladium consolidated around multi-month highs, as traders chose to sell into the rally to lock in profits, while gold was again little changed.

Palladium dropped 0.3 percent to $753.54 an ounce, having peaked at a 17-month high of $759.75 an ounce on Monday. Platinum was up 0.2 percent at $1,695.99 an ounce, off a four-month high of $1,705.25 hit in the previous session.

Gold, which has been trapped in a tight $1,660 to $1,680 range since late last week, again saw little movement with investors increasingly wondering whether its 12-year rally is now over.

Monetary stimulus was a driver of gold's rise in the last few years, and an improving U.S. economy has stirred thoughts that the Federal Reserve might curtail the bond-buying that has dominated its support efforts.

"People are mostly waiting for more data from the United States to assess how the economy is and whether quantitative easing will continue," said Ronald Leung, a dealer at Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong.

(Additional reporting by Marc Jones and Atul Prakash; Editing by Alastair Macdonald and David Stamp)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asian-shares-drop-euro-zone-worry-soft-u-034745061--finance.html

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Monopoly tosses iron token, adds a cat

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) ? Scottie dog has a new nemesis in Monopoly after fans voted in an online contest to add a cat token to the property trading game, replacing the iron, toy maker Hasbro Inc. announced Wednesday.

The results were announced after the shoe, wheelbarrow and iron were neck and neck for elimination in the final hours of voting that sparked passionate efforts by fans to save their favorite tokens, and by businesses eager to capitalize on publicity surrounding pieces that represent their products.

The vote on Facebook closed just before midnight on Tuesday, marking the first time that fans have had a say on which of the eight tokens to add and which one to toss. The pieces identify the players and have changed quite a lot since Parker Brothers bought the game from its original designer in 1935.

Rhode Island-based Hasbro announced the new piece Wednesday morning.

Other pieces that contested for a spot on Monopoly included a robot, diamond ring, helicopter and guitar.

Fans from more than 120 countries voted.

"We put five new tokens out for our fans to vote on and there were a lot of fans of the many different tokens, but I think there were a lot of cat lovers in the world that reached out and voted for the cat to be the new token for Monopoly," said Jonathan Berkowitz, vice president for Hasbro gaming marketing.

The Scottie Dog was the most popular of the classic tokens, and received 29% of the vote, the company said. The iron got the least votes and was kicked to the curb.

The cat, which has no name, received 31% of votes for new tokens.

The online contest to change the tokens was sparked by chatter on Facebook, where Monopoly has more than 10 million fans. The initiative was intended to ensure that a game created nearly eight decades ago remains relevant and engaging to fans today.

"Tokens are always a key part of the Monopoly game ... and our fans are very passionate about their tokens, about which token they use while they play," Berkowitz said.

Monopoly's iconic tokens originated when the niece of game creator Charles Darrow suggested using charms from her charm bracelet for tokens. The game is based on the streets of Atlantic City, N.J., and has sold more than 275 million units worldwide.

To make the game relevant to fans abroad, the names are changed to well-known streets in when it is introduced to a new country.

The other tokens are a racecar, a shoe, thimble, top hat, wheelbarrow and battleship. Most of the pieces were introduced with the first Parker Brothers iteration of the game in 1935, and the Scottie dog and wheelbarrow were added in the early 1950s.

"I'm sad to see the iron go," Berkowitz said. "Personally, I'm a big fan of the racecar so I'm very relieved it was saved but it is sad to see the iron go."

The social-media buzz created by the Save Your Token Campaign attracted numerous companies that pushed to protect specific tokens that reflect their products.

That includes garden tool maker Ames True Temper Inc. of Camp Hill, Penn., that spoke out in favor of the wheelbarrow and created a series of online videos that support the tool and online shoe retailer Zappos which pushed to save the shoe, Berkowitz said.

"We've even had some companies like Jolly Time Pop Corn reach out and petition to have a popcorn token added to the game, even though that's not one of the new five tokens," he said.

Versions of Monopoly with the new token will come out later this year.

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Monopoly: https://www.hasbro.com/monopoly

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Rodrique Ngowi can be reached at www.twitter.com/ngowi

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/monopoly-fans-vote-add-cat-toss-iron-tokens-125615568--finance.html

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