SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The parents of Shane Todd, an American engineer found dead in Singapore last year, intend to prove at a coroner's inquiry that he was murdered over a project they say involved the illegal transfer of sensitive technology to China.

But Rick and Mary Todd told Reuters they would push for an investigation by the U.S. Congress no matter what verdict emerges from the inquiry in Singapore that starts next Monday.

"We believe China and Singapore are illegally transferring technology, our technology, from the United States," Mary Todd, a Christian pastor, said in an interview on Wednesday.

"We believe it's so high up that if our son was murdered, the implications for Singapore and China are so extreme that they will go to any lengths to make it look like suicide."

An autopsy in the Southeast Asian city-state concluded that Todd, 31, died by hanging after his body was found suspended from a door in his apartment on June 24, two days after he quit his job at Singapore's Institute of Microelectronics (IME).

The Todds said they had proof, on a hard drive they say they found in the apartment, that their son worked on a project between state-linked IME and Chinese telecommunications company Huawei involving the advanced semiconductor material gallium nitride, which has commercial and military purposes.

Huawei and Singapore officials have denied the allegations.

The Chinese company, which has been blocked from some projects in Australia and deemed a security risk by the U.S. Congress on the grounds its equipment could be used for spying, said in February it had not worked with IME on any projects involving gallium nitride (GaN).

Colleagues of Todd's at IME told Reuters he had worked on a routine project testing semiconductors for Huawei.

"We feel we know what happened to our son and we want it to come out and to be exposed," Mary Todd said.

"If they come out with a verdict of suicide, that's too bad for Singapore. This is not going to go away. Our government, our FBI, has the proof. We have it."

Todd "was involved in a small project with Huawei that lasted nine months", K. Shanmugam, Singapore's foreign minister and law minister, told Reuters in an interview in late March.

"IME discussed a project involving GaN with Huawei. This GaN project has been the subject of much, and sometimes breathless, media speculation. The reality is IME and Huawei could not agree terms on the project and thus the project never materialized."

'PUBLIC AND TRANSPARENT'

District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt, a former prosecutor at the Attorney General's Office, will oversee the inquiry rather than the state coroner, Imran Abdul Hamid.

District judges "will assist the state coroner on an ad hoc basis if there are cases that will take a long time to be heard", a court spokeswoman said, adding that the state coroner will oversee other inquiries in May.

Authorities have set aside 12 days to review the forensic reports and hear testimony from the police, experts and other witnesses. The Todds can testify and ask questions themselves or through their lawyer.

"It will be a public and transparent process," Shanmugam, who discussed the Todd case with U.S. officials during a visit to Washington in March, told Reuters.

Interviews by Reuters with Todd's family, colleagues and friends last July revealed conflicting views on his state of mind before his death, the nature of his work and how he died.

Colleagues said Todd was depressed in his last few months, his concerns appearing to center on a sense of failure about his work and ambivalence about returning to the United States.

The Todds dispute that, saying they were in frequent contact with their son and he had expressed fears for his life related to his work at IME.

IME is part of a network of research institutes managed by Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research, or A*Star. During his visit to Washington, Shanmugam said IME was subject to a "very rigorous audit" to ensure there was no improper transfer of technology.

Senator Max Baucus, who represents Todd's home state of Montana, has said he will "stop at nothing" to satisfy the Todd family or determine there had been no transfer of technology that might jeopardize U.S. security.

"This is far bigger than our son's death. This is a matter of national security. Our goal is to take it to a congressional investigation," said Rick Todd, an airline pilot.

"When it comes down to it, it doesn't matter what they decide. It matters for Singapore because it shows how they run things. It will come out in the trial, but the significance for the world is what we're concerned about."

(Additional reporting by Kevin Lim; Editing by Ron Popeski)

(This story is corrected to show district judge, not state coroner, will oversee inquiry in 14-16th paragraph)

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Auction house Christie's said the song - "Go Away You Bomb" - was written for an unpublished book of protest songs when Dylan was working on his second album, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan", which helped to propel him to global fame.

Dylan's early years were dominated by poetic, anti-war songs, including the folk classic "Blowin' In The Wind".

The lyrics of the new song include typically "beat" Dylan verse: "I hate you cause yer man-made and man-owned an' man-handled/An' you might be miss-made an' miss-owned an' miss- handled an' miss-used/An' I hate you cause you could drop on me by accident an' kill me."

Christies said Dylan compositions at the time were among his most political and led to him being dubbed the "Spokesman of a Generation".

"(This) is not only a beautiful example of Dylan's songwriting, representing his political protest activities during that era, but is also a potent symbol of the anxieties of the American public in the early 1960s," Nicolette Tomkinson, a director of Christie's, said in a statement.

She said the sheet of typed lyrics, including handwritten deletions and alterations, was expected to sell on June 26 for between 25,000-35,000 pounds ($39,000-$54,000).

Dylan wrote "Go Away You Bomb" in 1963 for Izzy Young, who owned the Folklore Center in Greenwich Village, New York, and organized Dylan's first concert in 1961.

Young, 85, who moved to Stockholm in the early 1970s and set up a similar center, came across the forgotten lyrics in a drawer a few years ago.

Funds raised from the sale will go to keep the center running.

(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)

New car registrations increased for the 14th month running to 163,357 units, up 14.8 percent on the year and the best April since 2008.

The industry body said attractive financing deals were supporting demand but noted April's rise had been flattered by the fact there were more sales days this year than last.

Car sales have been one of Britain's few economic bright spots over the past year. New registrations have risen strongly since the start of the year, in contrast to falls in Germany -- Europe's biggest car market -- and France.

"The UK new car market continues to perform surprisingly strongly, with volumes again increasing in April," said SMMT Interim Chief Executive Mike Baunton. "The UK continues to perform well ahead of the troubled Eurozone as consumer confidence, regular purchase cycles, attractive finance deals and wider market factors continue to make new car buying favourable for motorists."

The industry body revised up its full year sales forecast to 2.106 million units, a 3 percent rise on 2012 volumes. In January it forecast full year sales of 2.057 million.

(Reporting by Christina Fincher, editing by Olesya Dmitracova)

"Every little bit makes a difference" and the intensity doesn't matter just getting a minimum amount of exercise does, said Dr. Mathew Sorensen of the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.

He led the study, which was to be discussed Friday at an American Urological Association conference in San Diego.

About 9 percent of people will get a kidney stone sometime in their life. The problem is a little more common in men, but incidence has risen 70 percent over the last 15 years, most rapidly among women.

Obesity raises the risk as do calcium supplements, which many women take after menopause. A government task force recently advised against supplements for healthy older women, saying that relatively low-dose calcium pills don't do much to keep bones strong but make kidney stones more likely.

The new research involved nearly 85,000 women 50 and older in the government-funded Women's Health Initiative study. All had an exam to measure weight and height so doctors could figure out their body mass index, a gauge of obesity. They also filled out annual surveys on what they ate, so researchers could take into account things known to lower the risk of kidney stones, such as drinking a lot of fluids and eating less salt or meat.

Participants said how much exercise they usually got and that was translated into "METs" a measure of how much effort an activity takes. For example, 10 METs per week is about 2 1/2 hours of walking at a moderate pace, four hours of light gardening or one hour of jogging.

After about eight years, 3 percent of the women had developed a kidney stone. Compared to women who got no leisure-time exercise, those who got up to 5 METs per week had a 16 percent lower risk for stones. The risk was 22 percent lower with 5 to 10 METs per week and 31 percent lower for 10 METs or more. Exercise beyond 10 METs added no additional benefit for kidney stone prevention. Exercise intensity didn't matter just how much women got each week.

"We're not asking people to run marathons. This is just a very mild to moderate additional amount of activity," Sorensen said.

Why might exercise help? It changes the way the body handles nutrients and fluids that affect stone formation. Exercisers sweat out salt and tend to retain calcium in their bones, rather than having these go into the kidneys and urine where stones form. They also tend to drink water and fluids afterwards, another plus for preventing stones.

"There's something about exercise itself that probably produces things in your urine that prevent stone formation," said one expert not involved in the work, Dr. Kevin McVary. He is chairman of urology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill., and a spokesman for the urology group. "It's not just being skinny or not being fat, it's something about the exercise that protects you."

Exercise is known to cut the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions that raise the risk of kidney stones. Next, researchers want to study men and younger women to see if exercise helps prevent kidney stones in them, too .

___

Marilynn Marchione can be followed at http://twitter.com/MMarchioneAP

* Marsh rewarded for strong domestic performance

* Bailey named vice captain

May 1 (Reuters) - Australia recalled all-rounder Mitchell Marsh to the squad for their Champions Trophy defence and named George Bailey as vice captain on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Marsh, who played his only one day international in 2011 against South Africa, was rewarded with a place in the 15-member squad for his strong domestic limited over performance for Western Australia.

"Mitchell's domestic season was interrupted by (hamstring) injury but there's no doubt he has the potential to perform strongly at international level," national selector John Inverarity said in a statement.

Fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile and his Western Australia team mate Adam Voges also made it to the squad, who will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against hosts England at Edgbaston on June 8.

Twenty20 captain Bailey was named vice captain, stepping in after all-rounder Shane Watson stepped down from the post last month.

"The NSP (National Selection Panel) has been impressed with George's leadership when he stepped in to guide the ODI team in Michael's absence last summer and leadership of the T20 team over the past two seasons," Inverarity said.

"Given George's experience and credentials, he was viewed as the ideal person for the role."

Steve Smith, Aaron Finch and Moises Henriques were "close to selection", while paceman Ben Cutting was not considered because of injury concerns, Inverarity said.

Pacemen Mitchell Starc and Clint McKay were recovering well from injury and would join Mitchell Johnson to form the core of the limited-overs bowling group, he said.

"The ICC Champions Trophy is another important step in our aim to get back to the number one ranking," Inverarity said.

"As the two-time defending champion, the squad has been selected with the aim of winning the tournament ... while also keeping the 2015 ICC World Cup firmly in mind." (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

(Logo:)

The nonprofit's video"Counterpart in 90 Seconds"earned an honorable mention from the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals.

"The 2011 Annual Report combined innovative design, outstanding writing and terrific photography into one complete package that highlights our work around the globe," says Joan Parker, President and CEO of Counterpart. "I want to thank the Communications team for its outstanding work on the annual report and the promotional video."

Approximately 5,600 entries were received for the 2013 Hermes Award, which is an international competition for creative professionals, organizers reported. Today, the annual competition is one of the largest of its kind. ()

The 2011 Annual Report was designed by Bruce Jewett of Double-0 Marketing (); it was written by Jeff Baron, Michael J. Zamba and Maggie Farrand; photos were from multiple sources, including David Snyder () and Nadia Abdullah.

You may see the 2011 Annual Report here: ()

The video, which earned honorable mention, provides a fast-paced overview of the global nonprofit. The lead writer of the script Michael J. Zamba, the video editor was Amy Overbeck () and the voice over was by Mike O'Brian (). Photos and video footage were from multiple sources.

You may see the "Counterpart in 90 seconds" and other videos here:

About Counterpart InternationalCounterpart International is a global development organization that works in partnership to empower people, communities and institutions to drive and sustain their own development.

For 48 years, Counterpart has been working in partnership with communities in need to address complex problems related to economic development, food security and nutrition, and building effective governance and institutions. Learn more at

For more information:Michael J. ZambaVice President of Communications & PartnershipsCounterpart International(541) 447-5786

SOURCE Counterpart International

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Civil rights activists in Texas are seeking a pardon from President Barack Obama for the late boxer Jack Johnson, an African-American convicted a century ago for the crime of taking a woman across state lines.

"Here in 2013, this man shouldn't still be carrying the stigma of being convicted," said Leon Phillips of the Galveston County Coalition for Justice.

Johnson, who died in 1946, was born in Galveston and fought under the nickname The Galveston Giant. He was the first black heavyweight boxing champion of the world, and faced off against a series of fighters each dubbed The Great White Hope, who were urged to strip Johnson of his title.

This was in the Jim Crow era of segregation in the United States, when African-Americans were generally not allowed to participate in sports with whites, and black men consorting with white women could be selectively targeted by law enforcement.

In 1912, at the height of his fame, Johnson was arrested with Lucille Cameron, a white woman who would later become his wife, for violating the Mann Act, a law that had passed two years earlier in response to a morality campaign.

The law made it a federal crime for a man to transport a woman across state lines "for immoral purposes."

Cameron refused to testify against Jackson, and when he was convicted the following year, it was for taking another white woman, former girlfriend Belle Schreiber, across state lines. He was sentenced to spend a year and a day in prison.

In a video made to promote the request for a presidential pardon, Linda Haywood, Johnson's great-grand-niece, draws a parallel to today's battle over same-sex marriage.

"This was about who you love and how you love," she said. "A pardon would erase the shame and the stigma and allow us to hold our heads up high."

A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In 2009, Congress passed a resolution encouraging Obama, the nation's first black president, to pardon Johnson.

On Sunday, at a rally at the recently named Jack Johnson Park in Galveston, where there is a statue of the boxer, former Galveston City Council Member Tarris Woods said that the president should remove an injustice.

"One hundred and one years ago, this was injustice," Woods said. "One hundred and one years later, he has still not been pardoned."

(Editing by Corrie MacLaggan and Todd Eastham)

LOS ANGELES, April 25 (Reuters) - The struggling Los Angeles Lakers suffered yet another morale-sapping injury setback on Thursday with the news that backup guard Steve Blake will miss Friday's Game Three against the visiting San Antonio Spurs.

Blake, who has produced good form since shooting guard Kobe Bryant was ruled out for the rest of the season following Achilles tendon surgery, was diagnosed with a moderate strain of his right hamstring after having an ultrasound test.

"He (Blake) is out indefinitely," the Lakers said in a statement as the team prepare to claw their back from a 2-0 deficit in their best-of-seven first-round playoff series.

With the inspirational Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, sidelined for up to nine months, the Lakers were looking to Blake and veteran point guard Steve Nash to shore up the team's playmaking role against the second-seeded Spurs.

However those hopes were swiftly disappearing with Blake out and Nash also in trouble after being described as "doubtful" for Game Three.

The 39-year-old Nash missed the last eight games of the regular season because of back and hip problems and on Thursday he received two epidural injections in his ailing back.

"He also received a cortisone shot in his right hip," the Lakers said. "His status for tomorrow's game is doubtful."

INJURIES FLARED UP

Nash scored just nine points during the Lakers' 102-91 loss to the Spurs in Wednesday's Game Two in San Antonio after his hip and back injuries flared up in the first half.

"It got worse as the game went on," two-time NBA MVP Nash told reporters. "This has been far and away the worst season for injuries I have ever been a part of personally and collectively."

Blake cut an even more forlorn figure as he spoke to the media in front of his locker after scoring 16 points on six-for-15 shooting on Wednesday.

"No matter what happens, we're going to keep fighting, whether I'm playing or I'm not playing," he said, referring to Friday's Game Three at the Staples Center.

The seventh-seeded Lakers may be 16-time NBA champions but, without Bryant and Blake and possibly Nash at their disposal, they will have their work cut out as they strive to fend off a rejuvenated Spurs team.

San Antonio have limited Los Angeles to an average of just 85 points in the first two games while totally outplaying them from the bench.

"They know that if they win this next third game, it's going to be very difficult for us to come back," said Lakers forward Pau Gasol said. "It's a must-win for us." (Editing by Frank Pingue)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Thursday, lifted by stronger-than-expected earnings and a large drop in weekly jobless claims.

The S&P 500, up for five straight sessions, traded within a point of its record closing high before shedding about half of the day's gains. The high was near the 1,593 level that is expected to be technical resistance.

Telecommunications companies' shares led the S&P 500's advance, with the sector's indexup 1.7 percent. Verizon Communicationshit a 13-year high with a 2.7 percent jump to $53.22 after sources told Reuters it has hired advisers to prepare a possible bid to take full control of Verizon Wireless.

Dow Chemicalposted a 33 percent jump in quarterly profit as farmers in the Americas bought more of its seeds and pesticides, sending its shares up 5.6 percent to $33.97.

Investors expected the first quarter to be difficult for corporate America after cuts in government spending and the increase in the payroll tax earlier in the year.

"But consumers are holding on pretty well," said Peter Jankovskis, co-chief investment officer of OakBrook Investments LLC in Lisle, Illinois.

"There's optimism out there that conditions will improve," he said. "There's potential for an uptick in the economy."

The Dow Jones industrial averagerose 24.50 points or 0.17 percent, to close at 14,700.80. The S&P 500gained 6.37 points or 0.40 percent, to finish at 1,585.16. The Nasdaq Compositeadded 20.33 points or 0.62 percent, to close at 3,289.99.

The S&P 500 climbed intraday to a high of 1,592.64 - just a tad below its record closing high of 1,593.37 - set two weeks ago - on April 11.

Expectations were lowered sharply before the start of the current reporting season, and 68 percent of S&P 500 companies that have reported results so far have beaten earnings forecasts. However, less than 42 percent have beaten revenue forecasts - below the average beat rate of 52 percent over the last four quarters.

After the closing bell, online retailer Amazonreported solid first-quarter profits as it controlled shipping expenses and other costs, but international revenue growth slowed. Its shares fell 3.9 percent to $264 in after-hours trading, more than offsetting the 2.2 percent gain in the regular session when the stock closed at $274.70.

Thursday's U.S. data gave a less worrisome view of the economy than other data of late. Initial claims for unemployment benefits in the latest week dropped 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 339,000 compared with expectations for 351,000.

Cliffs Natural Resourcesjumped 15 percent to $20.95 after it posted earnings late on Wednesday that were much better than analysts had estimated.

On Nasdaq, Alexion Pharmashares jumped nearly 11 percent after the company reported earnings and revenue above expectations. Akamai Techsoared almost 18 percent after a surge in earnings and a rosy outlook for this quarter. Alexion shares rose 10.7 percent to end at $98.82 and Akamai spiked 17.7 percent to close at $42.48.

UPS Inc , the world's largest package-delivery company, advanced 2.3 percent to $85.42 after it reported a quarterly profit above analysts' estimates.

But Exxon Mobil Corp and 3M Co bucked the trend as their shares fell.

Shares of Exxon Mobil , the world's largest publicly traded oil company, slid 1.5 percent to $88.07 after it said quarterly profit edged up, helped by its chemicals business, but oil and gas production fell.

Fellow Dow component 3M Colost 2.8 percent to $104.88 after the diversified U.S. manufacturer posted first-quarter earnings and revenue that missed Wall Street's expectations and cut its 2013 profit forecast.

Shares of retailer J.C. Penney rose more than 7 percent to $16.39 in extended-hours trading after billionaire investor George Soros reported a 7.9 percent passive stake in the struggling department store chain. In the regular session, J.C. Penney shares rose 0.3 percent to close at $15.24.

About 7.0 billion shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and NYSE MKT, more than the daily average so far this year of about 6.38 billion shares.

On the NYSE, advancers outnumbered decliners by a ratio about 2 to 1, while on the Nasdaq, roughly five stocks rose for every three that fell.

(Editing by Jan Paschal)