It may help explain why black women have higher rates of breast cancer at young ages, a more aggressive form of the disease, and worse survival. It doesn't mean that all black women are at risk or even that all blacks with cancer need genetic counseling or testing, said the study's leader, Dr. Jane Churpek of the University of Chicago.

Experts offer some advice about what to make of this information:

Q. What are the genes?

A. Mostly BRCA1 and BRCA2. Everyone has two copies of these genes, and a mutation in one can give a woman up to an 87 percent risk of developing breast cancer and up to a 54 percent risk for ovarian cancer. Sixteen other genes also can raise risk but are thought to be less common.

Q. Why might blacks have high risk?

A. African-Americans' genes are more diverse than those of many other racial and ethnic groups. Most of the mutations identified in this study were novel, or unique to each woman, Churpek said. It's possible that more detailed tests in whites and other groups might find a higher prevalence of mutations than previous studies have found in them, too.

Q. Should more black women be tested?

A. National guidelines do not specify any groups that should be tested except Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish women with breast or ovarian cancer or a close relative who has had one of those diseases. Genetic counseling should be offered to black women who develop breast cancer before age 50, who have a close relative with the disease, or who have "triple-negative" breast cancer. Triple negative means tumors that are not fueled by estrogen, progesterone or the gene that the drug Herceptin targets.

Q. What can be done if a gene mutation is found?

A. Women who find the mutation after they have breast cancer may want to consider removing both breasts or their ovaries. Those who are screened before cancer develops can consider more frequent screening and prevention measures ranging from hormone-blocking drugs to removal of breasts and ovaries. They also can let relatives know about potential family risk.

Q. Why did this study find so many more gene flaws?

A. Standard tests look for just a few common mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. The tests cost around $3,000, and insurance will often cover them if a woman has a family history suggesting high risk. A second $750 test is needed to look for a different type of genetic flaw. That test often is not done or covered by insurance.

In the Chicago study, researchers decoded, or sequenced, all 18 genes tied to breast cancer risk, so it could pick up all types of mutations in any of them.

___

Online:

Breast cancer: http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer

and http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/brca

___

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

Whereas drones are often criticized elsewhere for being morally and legally objectionable, in Israel they are a source of pride. Israel a pioneer of drone technology has emerged as the world's leading exporter of the aircraft and its accessories, putting it in a strong position as the industry continues to grow

A report produced by U.S. consulting firm Frost & Sullivan determined earlier this year that Israel is now the largest exporter of unmanned aerial systems, surmounting aerospace giants in the U.S. The report said that from 2005 to 2012, Israel exported some $4.6 billion worth of systems, including aircraft, payloads, operating systems and command and control caravans. U.S. overseas sales for the same time period were between $2 and $3 billion, the report said.

Since Israeli drone makers do not release precise sales figures, the Israeli numbers are estimates based on the number of UAVs sold and the overall value of contracts that were announced during the seven-year period. Industry experts could not confirm the report's numbers, but said Frost & Sullivan is a respected firm and its conclusions reflected Israel's leading spot in the field.

Israel is well-positioned for the future. Analysts see demand for military UAVs quadrupling over the next decade, driven by their success in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they have been used by Western forces to monitor and attack militants. Countries like Italy, Germany and South Africa, among others, also export their drones and dozens of others have started their own UAV programs.

Global spending on the technology is expected to jump from an estimated $6.6 billion this year to $11.4 billion in 2022, according to the Teal Group, which analyzes the aerospace industry. A fledgling civilian market is also expected to surge.

While the U.S. has faced criticism over the use of its drones in lethal missile attacks against militants, in Israel, they are being used in a growing number of operations.

Defense officials say that drones account for roughly half of the military's flight time. Drones proved essential in Israel's last two wars in the Gaza Strip, providing its troops eyes over its enemies in congested urban areas of the Palestinian territory, and are lauded for sparing dozens of soldiers' lives. They also keep watch on neighboring Syria and Lebanon.

The Palestinians claim that Israeli drones, like their U.S. counterparts, can fire missiles and have carried out dozens of airstrikes that have killed civilians as well as militants. Israel does not say whether drones it uses can fire missiles, but foreign experts believe they can.

Exported Israeli drones, on the other hand, are believed to be used for surveillance and not thought to have attack capabilities.

Experts say Israel's long record of using drones in the region has turned it into a dominant force in the industry.

"The Israeli companies are very good and very advanced and very smart at making systems that function in a tactical environment because they've been at war constantly," said Michael Blades, an industry analyst who authored the Frost & Sullivan report. "It came out of necessity but they got really good at it."

Israel first made widespread use of drones during the 1982 Lebanon war, after developing the technology following failures in the 1973 Mideast war. During that conflict, the Israeli air force suffered heavy losses, and defense officials sought a solution that would allow them to identify anti-aircraft missile batteries before sending in fighter planes. Drones that could paint a picture of the battlefield in real time were created to meet that challenge.

Since then, Israeli companies, such as Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems and Aeronautics Defense Systems, have begun producing drones, selling them at first to Israel's military, then branching out worldwide. Israeli drones have flown in conflict zones around the world, from Afghanistan to Mali. Britain and Brazil are among the biggest clients.

"We exist because of the international market," said Shmuel Falik, who markets drones for state-owned IAI. "We're too big for Israel, to our delight." IAI, considered the leading Israeli unmanned aerial system exporter by Frost & Sullivan, sells drones to 49 customers worldwide and says 80 percent of its UAV products are destined for foreign markets.

At a recent tour of the sprawling IAI complex in central Israel, The Associated Press was shown some of the company's cutting-edge technology. IAI has produced one of the world's largest drones, the Heron TP, which has a wingspan of 26 meters (85 feet) and can reach Iran. Another, the Heron 1, can remain in the air for about 45 hours. A smaller drone can be assembled in the field, its parts carried on the backs of two servicemen.

IAI's subsidiaries produce sensitive radars that can scan swaths of territory even during the most inhospitable weather conditions. Software can detect in real time movements on the ground. A laser beamed from a drone can guide a missile fired from a nearby jet. Cameras transmit home high definition footage of enemy activity below

"The next step would be to make the payloads smaller, and on the other hand to make them smarter," said Igal Mevorach, head of marketing for the IAI division that makes the sensitive cameras.

IAI has also shown creativity when it comes to aircraft sales, carrying out short-term lease agreements with a number of countries, including Canada and Australia, which used their rented drones in Afghanistan.

Experts said Israeli companies benefit from a strong link with Israel's army. Beyond that, drone manufacturers employ former soldiers, granting them a deeper understanding of a soldier's needs. Israel's head start in exporting the technology also secured it devoted customers, who often seek to remain with the same producer.

Israel also has managed to surpass its competitors in the U.S., like General Atomics and Northrop Grumman, partly because regulations on exporting defense products are more stringent there, analysts say.

The American manufacturers have for years been able to rely on large contracts from the U.S. government. But recent cuts in the defense budget are pushing American companies to lobby to loosen export regulations, potentially threatening Israel's dominance.

The market is also set to grow in civilian drones that can be used in a variety of industries, from monitoring crops to acting as lookouts for police SWAT teams, especially in the U.S. Industry experts predict the takeoff of a multibillion-dollar market for civilian drones as soon as the Federal Aviation Administration completes safety regulations.

Congress has directed the FAA to provide drones with widespread access to domestic airspace by 2015, but the agency is behind in developing regulations and isn't expected to meet that deadline. Still, Israeli companies hope to nab a chunk of that new market.

As long as military demand rises, Israel can expect to remain a top player.

"As long as they keep providing support and keep providing efficient and capable platforms, they're going to maintain their advantage," said Blades, the analyst.

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Follow Tia Goldenberg at www.twitter.com/tgoldenberg

INVENTORIES: A decline in housing inventory is helping push prices higher. There were only 2.14 million homes available for sale at the end of the month, the lowest in 10 years.

GAINS LIKELY TO CONTINUE: As the economy slowly recovers, more people have started looking to buy homes or rent apartments. Mortgage rates are at record lows and rents are rising. That makes buying a home more attractive.

Rev. Corts said, "I urge the Senate to pass this landmark immigration bill as soon as possible. Our immigration system has been broken for far too long. I'm proud that the bill has lived to see another day but we need legislators who believe in action and are willing to work together to make this bill pass." The bill will move to the Senate floor in June when Congress returns from the Memorial Day recess.

Written by eight U.S. senators, including John McCain (R-AZ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and others, the bill would signify a massive overhaul of the U.S. immigration system, creating a pathway to citizenship for 11.5 million immigrants.

All ten Democrats from the Senate Judiciary Committee, in addition to three Republicans Senators Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) approved the bill on the final vote.

Rev. Corts, who participated on the immigration and general Hispanic advisory committees to both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, is also the founder and president of Esperanza, the premier Hispanic faith-based organization in the nation.

Rev. Corts stated that it is important for "all Americans, especially the Hispanic community, to get involved in the immigration debate by learning the issues and making their collective and individual voices known to their elected officials."

In three short weeks, Esperanza is hosting its National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference, one of the largest gatherings of Hispanic clergy and communityleaders in the nation, in Washington, D.C. The conference, which will be held June 18-20, provides an excellent opportunity for members of the Hispanic community to discuss U.S. immigration policy as well as other pressing issues, such as housing, education, climate change and nutrition.

Invited guests include the President of the United States, Democratic and Republican elected officials, and corporate, academic, and faith leaders from across the nation, among others.

Said Rev. Corts: "I encourage members of the Hispanic community, and all interested Americans, to join me at the 2013 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference. We should all be involved in this national debate on the state of our immigration process and the course of our nation's future."

Guests at the conference will have the opportunity to meet members of their Congressional delegation and exchange views on topics ranging from immigration to housing to nutrition.,

"It's imperative that we, as members of the Hispanic clergy put our faith into action by visiting our leaders on Capitol Hill and share with them our concerns, views and hopes for the type of laws and leadership we'd like in our country. Together, we can have a transformative influence on our nation's leadership," he said.

Confirmed speakers for this year's conference include: Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Reince Priebus; TV personality, Myrka Dellanos; Archbishop of San Juan, Dr. Francis Collins; former director of the Human Genome Project. Katherine Hayhoe; Nobel-prize winning climate scientist, Robert Octavio Gonzalez Nieves; radio and TV host, Dr. Diaz Pabon; actor Tony Plana, education activist; Marcos Witt, five-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Christian singer (who will be the moderator for the National Prayer Breakfast), and many others.

Several invitations for speakers are pending including Democratic Party Chairman, Cong. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL). Past speakers include President Barack Obama; then-President George W. Bush; then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY), and others. The conference will also feature entertainment by multi-award winning gospel singers and musicians. To learn more or to register, visit:.

Esperanza is also a member of The Evangelical Immigration Table, a group of Christian leaders and pastors who have lobbied for an immigration reform package that includes a pathway to citizenship. Earlier this year, the group launched a radio campaign in four states that ran ads advocating for a "biblical approach" to the issue.

SOURCE Esperanza

Royal Mail's remuneration committee has yet to sign off on the pay proposals for the 2012-13 financial year, but is expected to do so ahead of the release of the company's annual report, which will be published by the end of July, Sky News said on its website.

The annual report will show that Greene, eligible for an annual bonus equivalent to a year's salary, will get a base salary of 498,000 pounds for a third consecutive year, Sky News said, citing people close to Royal Mail.

Earlier this week, the company reported a full-year profit that was more than double what it reported last year, on the back of an online shopping boom. That was a marked turnaround for a business that has been fighting to adapt to a more competitive market and falling letter volumes.

Sky News cited sources as saying that given the company's sharply improved performance, Greene's bonus was likely to be higher than the 371,000 pounds, or 74.5 percent of base salary, that she received last year.

Royal Mail was not immediately available for comment. The company declined comment to Sky News.

(Reporting by Abhishek Takle in Bangalore; Editing by Leslie Adler)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Gasoline prices in Rhode Island have climbed 2 cents in the past week and a nickel over the past month.

AAA Southern New England said Monday the latest gas survey shows the average cost of a gallon of regular, self-serve in Rhode Island is $3.57, up from $3.55.

Even with the increase, the local price is still eight cents below the national per-gallon average of $3.65.

A year ago at this time Rhode Islanders were paying a lot more: an average of $3.81 gallon.

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Reaction to Zach Braff's use of Kickstarter to fund his next indie film has been mixed, to say the least. But according to the "Scrubs" star, Woody Allen is "riveted" by it.

During an interview on SiriusXM talk show "Unmasked," Braff said that the Oscar-winning "Annie Hall" director had no idea what crowdfunding was before meeting with him to discuss a project.

"By the way, I'm the one who explained crowdfunding to Woody Allen," Braff said. "He's one of my heroes and I met him because we were talking about doing something together."

Their meeting fell on the same day that Braff's Kickstarter campaign for his upcoming film, "Wish I Was Here," began its quick climb to $2 million and beyond.

"Everyone else in the room was like, 'Oh my God! Congratulations! That's insane! I can't believe it worked! No one thought it would work,'" Braff said. "And he clearly didn't know what anyone was talking about, so I started explaining it to him."

"He's riveted," Braff continued. "We sat there and talked for about ten minutes with him asking all of these really intelligent questions and having this discourse and it was awesome. It was like, 'Oh my God! I can't believe I just explained crowdfunding to Woody Allen.'"

The lead in to Braff's story came when SiriusXM noted that Allen "goes foreign" to secure financing for his films - the last eight of which took place in Europe - and the revered filmmaker might be able to raise enough money from fans on Kickstarter to produce another New York-set classic like the 1979 film "Manhattan."

"I would jump at that in a second," Braff said.

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Weiner, who seems to be New York'sbehind Christine Quinn, is  on another round of local interviews — his first since officially declaring on Wednesday — and now he's really putting out the fires before they start. Today, in an interview with , Weiner stated, once again, that there may be more embarrassing photos out there:

People may decide they want to come forward and say, here’s another email that I got or another photo. I’m certainly not going to do that. So people may hear things that are true, they may hear things that are not true, but I’m going to try to keep being focused on issues that are important to New York City. 

If there's a way to make the act of sending shirtless photos to a potential sexy-times partner sound as bland and unappealing as we just did, Weiner has it mastered. And today's interview sounds a lot like what he told  last month (we emphasized the parts where our eyes felt like they were reading the same thing): 

I can tell you that some things may come out that are true; some things are not. But here's where I'm going to try and draw the line. Basically New Yorkers know the story. I did it. I did it with multiple people. These things were wrong and inappropriate and I never should have been dishonest about them."

So: Is it working? While a few tabloid headlines making penis-centric Weiner jokes were fun when , there's a sense thatgetting bored. Weiner hasn't exactly made it easy for tabloid editors, either. When Weiner officially announced his mayoral run, he released the official announcement in an overnight video and past deadline for the tabloids. If New York's tabloid editors so desperately wanted to run a lewd Weiner pun, they'd risk looking late. (andran the attacks in London on their front covers today.) "The campaign declined to comment about whether avoiding tabloid covers was part of the strategy behind the late night rollout," . If that was unintentional, then it's one of the savviest unplanned dodges in New York political history — and there have been a lot of those. 

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But back to the would-be Selfies Round 2: Weiner isn't making it easier for tabloids on that front either. By saying that there are seemingly unpublished photos everywhere, without really defining who might have them or which tabloid might be threatening his future with them, he's essentially changed the supply — suddenly that exclusive photo might not be quite so special to, say, The National Enquirer. Now tabloid editors and political blogs will have to make sure that the photo they're pursuing is really badder, sexier, and sadder than what we saw in late May of 2011. At the time, he denied it, then had one of the stranger public meltdowns in a while. But now he's back, owning up to everything, and trying to make his sex scandal just another commodity news story about a guy running for mayor in a big city. 

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Perhaps this might change the questions we now ask of Weiner. Maybe everyone will pay more attention to how he plans to solve  or how he feels about ? That might not be such a bad thing. Selfies might be hotter than democracy, but politicians still apparently practice in both.

Lee Rigby, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, who had joined the army in 2006, was posted in Cyprus, Afghanistan and Germany before becoming a recruiter, assisting with duties in the Tower of London.

"All he wanted to do from when he was a little boy was be in the Army," Rigby's family said in a statement issued through the Ministry of Defense. "He wanted to live life and enjoy himself."

The family said that Rigby would "do anything for anybody," always looked out for his sisters and took a "big brother" role with everyone he met.

"He was a loving son, husband, father, brother, and uncle, and a friend to many," the statement added.

Rigby, nicknamed Riggers, was an important member of the Corps of Drums who was known for his good nature and wit, as well as his love of his hometown soccer team, fellow soldiers said. Two men believed to have extremist Islamic beliefs are suspected of attacking and killing him.

"He was one of the battalion's great characters, always smiling and always ready to brighten the mood with his fellow Fusiliers. He was easily identified ... on parade by the huge smile on his face and how proud he was to be a member of the Drums," Warrant Officer Class 1 Ned Miller said in a statement issued by the defense ministry. "He would always stop for a chat just to tell me Manchester United would win the league again."

The ministry said Rigby had a 2-year-old son, Jack.

"His loss will be felt across the battalion, but this is nothing compared to how his family must be feeling at this difficult time," said Capt. Alan Williamson, the adjutant of the 2nd Fusiliers in the statement.

A small group of mourners gathered Thursday at a church in Woolwich near where Rigby was killed to remember him. The Rev. Christopher Chessun said he had come to show solidarity with members of all faiths shocked by the killing.

Help for Heroes, a military support charity, said it was working hard to keep up with the many people who were showing their solidarity by buying T-shirts and hoodies.