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MEXICO CITY — A powerful earthquake struck offshore in Mexico's Gulf of California today, causing people to flee into the streets in the western state of Sinaloa, but there were no reports of damage or injury. The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the magnitude of the quake as 6.9, but later in the day revised it to 6.7. It hit at 11:53 a.m. (1:53 p.m. EDT, 1753 GMT). The tremor struck about 72 miles (116 kilometers) south of Los Mochis, a city just inland from the coast in Sinaloa. It was centered at a relatively shallow depth of 5.6 miles (9 kilometres). Sinaloa civil protections authorities said there were no reports of injuries or damage. Alberto Montoya Rodriguez, who runs the losmochis.com website from his home in Ahome, north of the city, said the ground seemed to shake for more than a minute, sending him and his neighbors into the streets. "There was a lot a panic," he said, but there was no damage beyond "just a big scare." Alejandra Cruz, a worker who answered the telephone at the Best Western Hotel in Los Mochis, said employees and guests were evacuated but returned to the building shortly after. "We had customers in the restaurant that took to the streets," added Sujey Becerra, an employee of Las Fuentes Los Mochis, another hotel in the city. In the city of La Paz, in Baja California Sur, authorities also reported panic, but said there was no damage or injuries. Alfonso Gomez, assistant director of civil protection in La Paz, told The Associated Press by telephone that some schools and public buildings were evacuated, and city offices received calls from alarmed residents. The same region was hit by three moderately powerfulearthquakes ranging in magnitude from 5.5 to 5.8 Tuesday night and early Wednesday, but they caused no known damage. (AP) \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Mexico's Gulf of California on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The quake, which registered at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers), was centered between southern Baja California and the Mexican state of Sinaloa, about 65 miles from the city of Los Mochis in Sinaloa, the USGS said. There were no immediate reports of major damage, though residents in the area were shaken up. Frightened people streamed out of their buildings, local journalist Julio Cesar Martinez told CNN en Español. Schools in the area let out for the day, he said. "It was very strong," Los Mochis fire department Cmdr. Victor Manuel Ledezma said. Weaker earthquakes had been felt in the area in the past few days, he said. The fire department had not received any calls for emergencies in the immediate aftermath of the quake, he said. CNN's Mariano Castillo contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Tsunami Information The earthquake locations and magnitudes cited in NOAA tsunami statements and bulletins are preliminary and are superseded by USGS locations and magnitudes computed using more extensive data sets. NOAA Tsunami Bulletins for this Earthquake General Tsunami Information	Location of the esrthquake A 6.7 earthquake struck western Mexico today at 11:53 a.m. (17:53 UTC) local time , according to the (USGS). There were no reports of damages or injuries. The epicenter was located in the , 105 km (65 miles) south of , , with a depth of just over five and a half miles. The earthquake caused residents of Sinaloa to panic and run into the street. The USGS initially reported the quake as a 6.9, but later revised it to 6.7. The earthquake occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6.2 mi) according to the USGS and lasted about one minute according to local resident Alberto Montoya Rodriguez. There was no damage or injuries reported as a result of the quake, however schools were let out for the day. == Sources == * * *
Capt Robert Mansell (Pic courtesy of St Maarten Island Time.com) A British pilot has been hailed a hero after he died while saving his nine passengers by ditching his plane into the Caribbean sea. Robert Mansell, 32, originally from Knowle, West Midlands, had used his skills as a "good pilot" to save lives, said his employers Divi Divi Air. He was flying between the south Caribbean islands of Curacao and Bonaire on Wednesday when he crashed. All nine passengers escaped the sinking plane, but the pilot's body is missing. Captain Mansell was five minutes short of the destination when he was forced to ditch the twin-engine Britten-Norman Islander. The passengers escaped the sinking aircraft, but he was still strapped into his seat as it disappeared into waters reported to be 150 metres deep. Other pilots wouldn't have known what to do but he landed the aircraft so that everyone could get out safely Simon Janzen, Divi Divi Air Colleagues at Divi Divi Air are said to be devastated by his death, describing him as a highly respected and qualified flyer. Simon Janzen, from the company, said: "He's a hero. All the passengers survived and he is the only one missing. If he wasn't a good pilot, he couldn't have ditched it so everyone could be saved. "Other pilots wouldn't have known what to do but he landed the aircraft so that everyone could get out safely." The crash happened after the right engine of the plane failed, and Capt Mansell made a mayday call before ditching, he added. Divi Divi Air Managing Director Germaine Ritchie said the local civil aviation authority were conducting a "thorough investigation" into the accident. She said passengers had informed her that the pilot was "performing beyond what is expected of a person", had been "calm throughout the entire flight" and was "doing his utmost to save those on board". She added that Capt Mansell was a meticulous pilot who had an "excellent track record" and was "very much respected" among his peers. Tributes on a local news website, the St Maarten Island Time, have described Capt Mansell as a "true hero" for saving the passengers. Capt Mansell worked for Winair before moving to work for Avion di Divi Divi. Divi Divi Air, established in 2001 on the island of Curacao, operates up to nine flights a day between Caribbean islands. Bonaire, which along with Curacao is part of the Netherlands Antilles, lies about 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Login Enter your details below to login If you are an existing member of The Times and The Sunday Times enjoying the full benefits of thetimes.co.uk, then simply enter your Times+ login details below and press 'Enter' Enter your details to login Email address Password Keep me logged in information Keeps you logged in for a rolling 15 days or until you logout \|\|\|\|\| He saves passengers but is trapped as plane sinks A hero pilot died in his sinking plane moments after saving the lives of his nine passengers. Robert Mansell, 32, managed to ditch his twin-engined aircraft near land after sending out a mayday message when the engine failed. His terrified passengers were quickly picked up by rescue boats as the plane sank in 600ft of water in the Caribbean. But Robert, originally from Knowle in the West Midlands, had been knocked out when the plane nosedived into the sea. His safety harness was damaged so it could not be undone and the passengers - mostly Dutch tourists - had nothing to cut him free with. Trapped Robert went down with the plane near the island of Curacao, about 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela. Robert was last night hailed a hero by his employers and locals. Simon Janzen, of Curacaobased plane-owners Divi Divi Air, said: "He is the only one missing. Advertisement - article continues below » "If he wasn't a good pilot, he couldn't have ditched it so everyone could be saved. Other pilots wouldn't have known what to do - but he landed the aircraft so that everyone could get out safely." Websites were yesterday flooded with tributes to Mr Mansell. One said: "He got the bitter end of the stick but he died doing what he loved most... flying!" Another said: "If only the passengers had had some sharp objects to cut the harness with... but they are prohibited on planes." Les Laplace, operations manager of Bonaire Airport, where the plane was due to land, said Robert "took a pretty heavy blow to his head" as the plane hit the sea. He added: "He was strapped in by the shoulder and lap belt. The passengers tried to release him but could not. "The plane was nose down and was going to sink like a brick." The Royal Netherlands Navy was last night searching for the wreckage of the Britten-Norman Islander plane. A Foreign And Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in a plane crash near Curacao." Play FREE poker and win cash!	A British pilot has died in a plane crash in the Caribbean Sea but managed to help save the lives of the nine passengers on the plane. Robert Mansell, aged 32, was a pilot who lived in the village of Knowle in the West Midlands of England. He had previously worked with Windward Islands Airways but was flying planes for Divi Divi Air at the time of his death. At 0930 local time, Mansell was flying with his nine passengers between the Caribbean islands of Curaçao and Bonaire when the right engine of his Britten-Norman Islander light aircraft failed. At this time the height above sea level was roughly 3,500 feet. The pilot made a mayday call. It has emerged that the last words that he said on the transmission were: "I’ve lost control of one of my engines…so long." The aircraft then crashed into the Caribbean Sea. File photo of a Britten-Norman Islander. The passengers — seven of them local, two of them tourists from the Netherlands — managed to escape from the plane and were rescued by services in the area. The impact of the crash caused the pilot and several passengers to lose consciousness, however the passengers managed to recover and escape, suffering only minor head injuries. Two passengers tried to rescue the pilot as the plane was beginning to sink and Robert was still unconscious. However, the crash had damaged the safety harness attached to the pilot, and the passengers were unable to free him. They were left with no choice but to escape through the plane door when they noticed that it was beginning to sink. The body of Mansell has yet to be found but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has now confirmed that he died on Wednesday, with a spokesperson for them saying: "We are aware of the death of a British national in a plane crash near Curaçao." "He's a hero," said Simon Janzen from Divi Divi Air. "All the passengers survived and he is the only one missing. If he wasn't a good pilot, he couldn't have ditched it so everyone could be saved. Other pilots wouldn't have known what to do but he landed the aircraft so that everyone could get out safely." Robert Mansell's father Roger expressed his disapproval. "I am furious," commented Roger. "If you have nine people on board and a plane is overloaded and a problem develops, it becomes much harder to fix." Roger said that Robert had repeatedly explained to him problems about overloading, as the weight of the luggage and the passengers was not checked properly. Roger continued: "He was a wonderful son and a hero. Quite how he managed to bring the plane down in the water like that without it breaking apart is beyond me. It is a miracle that the passengers survived." In response to the allegations made, Germaine Richie who is the owner of Divi Divi Air, made a comment saying: "We reject any allegations that we are overloading planes and putting safety at risk."
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in his office in Jerusalem May 23, 2010. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel on Saturday rejected as "flawed and hypocritical" a declaration by signatories of a global anti-nuclear arms treaty that urged it to sign the pact and make its atomic facilities subject to U.N. inspections. Politics All 189 parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, including the United States, called on Friday in a declaration that singled out Israel for a conference in 2012 to discuss banning weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. "As a non-signatory state of the NPT, Israel is not obligated by the decisions of this conference, which has no authority over Israel," the Israeli government said in an emailed statement. "Given the distorted nature of this resolution, Israel will not be able to take part in its implementation," it said. The 28-page declaration said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and key states would arrange a conference that would include all nations in the region, by implication including bitter enemies Israel and Iran. Israel is presumed to have a sizable nuclear arsenal but neither confirms nor denies it. It is the only Middle East state that has not signed the NPT and, like fellow non-members India and Pakistan, did not take part in the review conference. U.S. officials, irked at efforts to single out Israel, made clear the proposal might go nowhere, saying the Middle East could not be declared WMD-free until broad Arab-Israeli peace prevailed and Iran curbed its uranium enrichment programme. "HYPOCRITICAL" Alluding to this point, the Israeli statement said: "This resolution is deeply flawed and hypocritical. It ignores the realities of the Middle East and the real threats facing the region and the entire world." Iran was not mentioned in the NPT declaration. Israel and Western powers suspect Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons capability due to its past concealment of nuclear activity from the watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency and continued restrictions on IAEA access. Tehran says it is enriching uranium only to generate electricity and isotopes for agriculture and medical treatment. The Israeli statement said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would discuss the NPT declaration with President Barack Obama when the two leaders meet on Tuesday at the White House. Obama welcomed agreements on a range of non-proliferation issues at the NPT meeting but said he would oppose efforts to isolate Israel and any actions to jeopardize its security. Israel, whose jets bombed Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981 and mounted a similar sortie over Syria in 2007, has hinted that it could use force to deny Iran the means to build an atomic bomb. The Israeli government statement said: "The real problem with WMDs in the Middle East does not relate to Israel but to those countries that have signed the NPT and brazenly violated it: Iraq under Saddam, Libya, Syria and Iran." Libya in 2003 ended years of international isolation after it promised to give up nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and has followed through on those promises. (Writing by Joseph Nasr, Editing by Mark Heinrich) \|\|\|\|\| Israel key to conference on banning nuclear arms UNITED NATIONS — After 15 years, Arab nations finally won agreement from the United States and the other nuclear powers to take the first step toward banning nuclear weapons from the Middle East. Now the next move is Israel's. But the Israeli government rejected the resolution Saturday, calling it "deeply flawed and hypocritical." Although the U.S. joined the 188 other member nations of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty on Friday in giving a green light to a conference in 2012 "on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction," senior U.S. officials appeared to backtrack afterward, setting several conditions for the talks to go ahead. Taking the toughest line, U.S. National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones said in a statement Friday night that the United States has "serious reservations" about the 2012 conference and believes Mideast peace and full compliance by all countries in the region to their arms control and nonproliferation obligations "are essential precursors" of a WMD-free zone. The compliance demand appeared to be aimed at Iran, which the U.S. believes is pursuing a nuclear weapons program despite Tehran's claims its only goal is nuclear power. Jones also strongly defended longtime U.S. ally Israel, which was singled out for not being a member of the NPT. He said the United States "deplores" the naming of Israel which puts prospects for the 2012 conference "in doubt." As a co-sponsor of the conference, Jones said the United States will ensure that it will only takes place "if and when all countries feel confident that they can attend." Israel, which has not signed the NPT, said due to the "distorted nature" of the resolution, it would not take part in its implementation. "It singles out Israel, the Middle East's only true democracy and the only country threatened with annihilation. Yet the terrorist regime in Iran, which is racing to develop nuclear weapons and which openly threatens to wipe Israel off the map, is not even mentioned in the resolution," Israel's government said in its statement. It said the resolution ignores "the real threats" facing the Middle East and "not only fails to advance regional security but actually sets it back." The Arab proposal for a WMD-free zone — to pressure Israel to give up its undeclared arsenal of perhaps 80 nuclear warheads — was endorsed by the 1995 NPT conference but never acted on. At this month's NPT review, a conference to begin talks on a nuclear-free Mideast was considered by many delegates as "the make-or-break issue," and agreement on the 2012 meeting was widely welcomed after the 28-page final declaration was approved by consensus. But the U.S. reaction raised questions and doubts about whether Israel, Iran and other countries in the Mideast will even hold a meeting in two years. Several delegates suggested that earlier comments by U.S. Undersecretary of State Ellen Tauscher and President Barack Obama's coordinator for weapons of mass destruction, Gary Samore, warning about the difficulties of holding a conference and persuading Israel to attend may have been sparked by the upcoming visit of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on Tuesday. Egypt's U.N. Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz, speaking for the 118-nation Nonaligned Movement of mainly developing countries, said that during the negotiations there was "a little bit of disagreement" on mentioning Israel. But he said NAM members thought that since the document issued at the end of the 2000 NPT review conference mentioned the need for Israel to join the treaty and subject its nuclear capabilities to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards there was "no going back on that commitment" and Israel had to be mentioned in the 2010 document as well. Iran had loomed as a potential spoiler that would block consensus at this conference, and Iran and Syria dissented loudly on various points in the final hours, but no objections were raised in the concluding session. Facing possible new U.N. sanctions because of its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment and enter negotiations on its nuclear program, the Iranians had sought to turn the spotlight instead on the big nuclear powers, demanding the final document call for speedier disarmament moves. Iran's chief delegate Ali Asghar Soltanieh lamented that the deadline of 2025 sought by NAM for complete disarmament was not included in the final document. Nonetheless, Soltanieh called "the limited measures" in the agreement "a step forward." Jones, the U.S. National Security Adviser, said the failure of the resolution to mention Iran, which he said poses the greatest threat of nuclear proliferation in the region, is "deplorable." Iran's Soltanieh said the Americans should "think twice" before making such statements. "This was not the right reaction to a positive response, positive measure by our delegation joining the consensus," he said. According to the final document, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the co-sponsors of the 1995 Mideast resolution — the U.S., Russia and Britain — will now appoint a "facilitator" to conduct consultations in preparation for the 2012 conference. Jones said the United States "will insist that the conference operate only by consensus by the regional countries." Under the 1970 nonproliferation treaty, nations without nuclear weapons committed not to acquire them; those with them committed to move toward their elimination; and all endorsed everyone's right to develop peaceful nuclear energy. The last NPT conference, in 2005, failed to adopt a consensus declaration. In sharp contrast, a final declaration was not only adopted this year but for the first time it laid out complex action plans for all three of the treaty's "pillars" — nonproliferation, disarmament and peaceful nuclear energy. Under its action plan, the five recognized nuclear-weapon states — the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China — commit to speed up arms reductions, take other steps to diminish the importance of atomic weapons, and report back on progress by 2014. The plan also has 24 steps to promote nonproliferation including making the treaty universal to include Israel, Pakistan India and North Korea, all of which have or are suspected of having nuclear arsenals. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| The Prime Minister's Office commented on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation conference's decision to note Israel as a country's whose facilities must be regulated as "fundamentally wrong and duplicitous." Head of the National Information Directorate Nir Hefetz said Saturday that the decision disregarded the "reality in the Middle East and the genuine threats looming in the region and the entire world." US-Israel Ties Obama rejects 'singling out' of Israel in NPT deal / Yitzhak Benhorin and AFP US president says agreement reached at Non-Proliferation Treaty conference 'includes balanced, practical steps to advance nuclear disarmament', but opposes 'efforts to single out Israel' by naming it while ignoring Iran Full Story Hefetz stressed that Israel will not comply with the decision. "This decision is focusing on Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East and the only country facing existential threats," he said. "Iran, on the other hand, which openly breaches the treaty and declares its desire to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, is not even mentioned," Hefetz said. According to him, "The problem of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East does not lie with Israel, but with those countries that signed the NPT and then blatantly breached it while supporting terror – Iraq under Saddam Hussein, Libya, Syria and Iran. "Therefore, not only does the conference's decision not promote security in the region, it diminishes it," Hefetz said. In New York on Friday, the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty's 189 signatory nations proposed new steps towards disarmament and making the Middle East free of atomic weapons. Diplomats approved a document that laid out action plans on the three pillars of the treaty -- disarmament, non-proliferation and promoting peaceful atomic energy. The NPT called on Israel to join the treaty, which would oblige the Jewish state to do away with the nuclear weapons it is widely believed to have but does not acknowledge. It mentioned ¨the importance of Israel's accession to the treaty and the placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards.¨ Hefetz added, "As a country that has not signed the NPT, Israel is not bound by the conference's decision. Due to the decision's distorted nature, Israel will not take part in its implementation." He said the issue will be discussed during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scheduled meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington this coming Tuesday. Obama welcomed the accord but "strongly" opposed singling Israel out over talks on a nuclear weapons-free Middle East while making no mention of Iran. "The greatest threat to proliferation in the Middle East, and to the NPT, is Iran's failure to live up to its NPT obligations," the US leader said. AFP contributed to the report \|\|\|\|\| Nations at the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty review conference yesterday received a draft proposal aimed at strengthening the regime against atomic weapons, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, May 25). The 2010 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty review conference convenes earlier this month. Conference participants yesterday received a draft proposal aimed at helping to prevent the spread of the nuclear weapons (U.N. photo). The document combines the work of three conference panels that separately addressed the key elements of the 189-member pact -- nonproliferation, disarmament and the peaceful uses of atomic energy. The 29-page paper, issued by conference President Libran Cabactulan of the Philippines, would seek a 2012 meeting of Middle Eastern states to begin talks on making the region a WMD-free zone. Specifically, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon would organize “an initial conference in 2012, to be attended by all states of the Middle East, leading to the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, on the basis of arrangements freely arricvd at by the states of the region," according to the document. Treaty states at the 1995 review conference signed off on the Middle Eastern zone, but "little progress has been achieved" since then in bringing it into existence, the draft declaration states. Egypt has led a renewed push at this session on the matter, calling for a conference in 2011. Cabactulan's plan would also establish a special coordinator position at the United Nations to help organize the event. Israel is the only Middle Eastern state believed to hold nuclear weapons, though it refuses to confirm or deny the stockpile's existence. It has linked willingness to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty or to consider a nuclear weapon-free zone to success in the Middle East peace process. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the beginning of the conference said the Obama administration was "prepared to support practical measures for moving toward" the WMD-free zone goal, but later said ongoing regional conflicts meant its time had not yet come, AP reported. Washington is believed to have discussed the matter with both Cairo and Jerusalem. Clearly addressing Israel, the draft proposal "calls on all states in the Middle East that have not yet done so to accede to the treaty as non-nuclear weapon states so as to achieve its universality at an early date.” It also calls on India and Pakistan -- which both hold nuclear arsenals outside of the treaty -- to join the pact “and to place all their nuclear facilities under comprehensive (International Atomic Energy) Agency safeguards without conditions and promptly.” The document further requests that former NPT member North Korea rejoin the nonproliferation regime "at an early date" and meet its denuclearization obligations established in a 2005 agreement with China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States (Edith Lederer, Associated Press/Khaleej Times, May 26). The document makes no direct reference to Iran or Western suspicions that it is seeking a nuclear-weapon capability, Reuters reported. The closest the paper comes to addressing the matter is in a statement of concern "with cases of noncompliance of the treaty by states parties." Envoys from Tehran had argued that any reference to Iran in the document should be accompanied by inclusion of the United States and other nations for "serious noncompliance with Article 1 of the treaty," according to Ray Acheson of the disarmament organization Reaching Critical Will. The article demands that Washington and the other formal nuclear powers -- China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom -- refrain from passing nuclear-weapon technology to other states (Louis Charbonneau, Reuters, May 25). Cabactulan said he hoped the draft plan would move the conference toward compromise rather than discord in its final days, Agence France-Presse reported. "I feel that this is the spirit of what we're trying to achieve," he said yesterday between full meetings of conference participants. His proposed document offers no specific schedules for the nuclear powers to give up their arsenals, declaring only that "the final phase of the nuclear disarmament process and other related measures should be pursued within a legal framework with specified time lines." The monthlong conference is scheduled to end Friday (Michael Adler, Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, May 25). The conference makes its decisions by consensus, though a mechanism exists that would allow for approval of a final statement by a two-thirds "super-majority" vote. Key to the final outcome would be Arab nations' readiness to accept compromises on the WMD-free zone conference proposal, according to Western diplomats. It would be up to Arab states to work with the permanent members of the Security Council to prepare the wording on the matter, sources told Reuters. "If we can't get a Middle East deal, there will be no outcome document and we'll have another failure," a Western delegate said, referring to the 2005 conference that ended without a consensus final document. "The Arabs have to decide whether they want something (on a WMD-free zone) Israel can participate in, or if they just want to beat up on Israel" (Charbonneau, Reuters).	Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2009 On Friday, the 189 Parties to the (NPT) agreed to a final resolution calling for steps toward the banning of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the Middle East. The resolution directs United Nations Ban Ki-Moon to organize a conference of all the Middle East states. The resolution singles out Israel, calling on "all states in the Middle East that have not yet done so to accede to the treaty as non-nuclear weapon states so as to achieve its universality at an early date." In an official statement from the Prime Minister's Office, Israel said the resolution, "is deeply flawed and hypocritical. It ignores the realities of the Middle East and the real threats facing the region and the entire world." The statement went on to state, "the resolution singles out Israel, the Middle East's only true democracy and the only country threatened with annihilation. Yet the terrorist regime in Iran, which is racing to develop nuclear weapons and which openly threatens to wipe Israel off the map, is not even mentioned in the resolution." An Arab-backed proposal for a WMD-Free zone in the Middle East, supported in 1995 by the NPT Conference, was never acted upon. As a non-signatory state, Israel is not bound by any resolutions of the NPT.
J.C. Penney files for bankruptcy protection J.C. Penney Co Inc filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday with plans to permanently close some stores and also explore a possible sale, making it the latest brick-and-mortar retailer to crumble as prolonged store closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic drive a final stake through long-troubled businesses. \|\|\|\|\| A United Nations panel today made the strongest call yet on the United States to close down the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and to disclose the locations of all of its rumoured secret prisons abroad. The ten members of the UN Committee Against Torture also called upon President Bush to end the use of torture and cruel treatment in interrogation of detainees, citing sexual humiliation, mock drownings and the use of dogs to induce fear. In a 11-page report published today, the panel urged the US to reveal the location of any of the secret prisons, believed to be in Egypt, Jordan and Eastern Europe, to which suspects are allegedly transported by special rendition for interview under conditions which violate human rights conventions. The panel has no legal power to enforce the US to abide by any of its demands, but it wields considerable moral authority. For the first time in six years, the US sent a delegation of 30 officials to Geneva to defend its conduct at a hearing before the committee earlier this month. The delegation was criticised for refusing to comment on questions about secret prisons. The report's findings will add to growing condemnation of America's activities in the War on Terror. It also stated that if proved, many of these actions could be in breach of international law. The dossier said that there had been "reliable reports of acts of torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment" by US military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. It said that some "have resulted in the death of some detainees during interrogation" and criticised vague US guidelines that "have led to serious abuse of detainees." In a judgment which could also have implications for British efforts to deport foreign nationals suspected of terrorism-related offences, the report also demands detainees should not be returned to any state where they face a "real risk" of being tortured." In its testimony, the US delegation told the committee that use of torture or inhumane and degrading treatment by the US military or intelligence services was outlawed, wherever they may be operating. The delegation also told the committee that 89 service personnel had been convicted in 103 courts martial as authorities attempted to root out abuse. They included a series of prosecutions following revelations in 2004 of the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison, outside Baghdad, as well cases involving personnel in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. Nineteen of the convictions involved sentences of at least one year, while 28 personnel were thrown out of the US military, officials said. Nevertheless, the UN committee said it was "deeply concerned" at the "very lenient sentences" even after cases that had involved fatalities. It added that such action did "not reflect the seriousness the state party claims in dealing with those abuses." \|\|\|\|\| The United Nations committee against torture told the United States on Friday it should close any secret prisons abroad and the Guantanamo Bay facility in Cuba, saying they violated international law. The 10 independent experts, who examined the US record at home and abroad, urged President George W. Bush's administration to "rescind any interrogation technique" that constituted torture or cruel treatment of foreign terrorism detainees. The United States "should ensure that no one is detained in any secret detention facility under its de facto effective control" and "investigate and disclose the existence of any such facilities," said the committee, which has moral authority but no legal power to enforce its recommendations. The United States is holding hundreds of terrorism suspects, most arrested since al-Qaida's Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, at its prisons in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay. Washington, which sent 30 senior officials to Geneva in early May for the committee's two-day hearings, defended its treatment of foreign terrorism suspects held abroad, saying there had been "relatively few actual cases of abuse".	Camp X-Ray, January 2002 The United Nations Committee against Torture told the United States today that the US should close its detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as well as disclose the existence of any secret prisons it operates. The committee, made up of 10 independent experts has urged the Bush administration to put a stop to the use of torture or cruel treatment during the interrogation of terror suspects. In an 11-page report, the committee said that the US should not detain anyone in a secret facility under its control. The committee also said that the US should disclose and investigate any such facilities. It is alleged that the US has a number of secret prisons where suspects are transported to and questioned using techniques that violate international human rights conventions. Earlier this month, the US sent 30 officials to a torture committee hearing in Geneva. The delegation was criticized for failing to comment on questions relating to America's alleged secret prisons. The committee ruled that there was evidence that US military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan had violated the rights of some detainees. The committee said that some of the US' techniques had resulted in the deaths of prisoners during the interrogation process. The committee further claimed that "vague" guidelines had led to abuse of detainees. According to the ''Associated Press'', John B. Bellinger III, a State Department legal advisor and participant during the hearings at Geneva, said of the recommendation to close the base that, "one, seems to be beyond their mandate; two, legally wrong to say that the existence of Guantanamo is a per se violation of the convention; and, three, a not very practical recommendation given that they say that it ought to be closed but that individuals can't be sent back to a large number of countries." President Bush said previously on ARD German television that he wants to close the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp. According to White House spokesman Tony Snow, the President is waiting for the US Supreme Court to decide on the issue of whether military tribunals or civilian courts would try the detainees.
Hurricane IGNACIO Home Public Advisory Forecast/Advisory Discussion Graphics Archive 000 WTPZ44 KNHC 252033 TCDEP4 HURRICANE IGNACIO DISCUSSION NUMBER 16 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 2 PM PDT MON AUG 25 2003 IGNACIO IS FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THE LAND MASS OF BAJA CALIFORNIA. THE CLOUD PATTERN HAS BEEN GRADUALLY BECOMING LESS ORGANIZED. USING A COMPROMISE OF THE DVORAK T-NUMBERS AND CURRENT INTENSITY NUMBERS FROM TAFB...SAB...AND AFWA...SUPPORTS ABOUT 65 KT. SINCE THE CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE BEING AFFECTED BY LAND...GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST. THE DECAY SHIPS MODEL SUGGESTS EVEN FASTER WEAKENING THAN INDICATED HERE. THE MOTION HAS BEEN MORE WESTWARD OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS...BUT STILL VERY SLOW. THERE APPEARS TO BE ENOUGH OF A MID-LEVEL RIDGE TO THE NORTH OF IGNACIO TO PRODUCE A SLOW WEST-NORTHWESTWARD TRACK FOR THE NEXT DAY OR SO. AFTERWARDS...MID-LEVEL HEIGHTS ARE EXPECTED TO BUILD MORE TO THE EAST OF THE CYCLONE...WHICH A MORE NORTHWESTWARD MOTION LATER IN THE PERIOD. HOWEVER THE STEERING WINDS ARE LIKELY TO REMAIN QUITE WEAK FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS... SO SOME ERRATIC MOTION IS STILL POSSIBLE. THE CONTINUED SLOW MOTION MEANS THAT LARGE AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL AND FLOODING ARE STILL A SERIOUS THREAT. FORECASTER PASCH FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 25/2100Z 24.3N 110.2W 65 KT 12HR VT 26/0600Z 24.5N 110.7W 60 KT 24HR VT 26/1800Z 24.9N 111.2W 55 KT...INLAND 36HR VT 27/0600Z 25.3N 111.7W 50 KT...INLAND 48HR VT 27/1800Z 25.8N 112.1W 45 KT...INLAND 72HR VT 28/1800Z 27.0N 113.0W 35 KT...INLAND 96HR VT 29/1800Z 28.0N 114.0W 30 KT...INLAND 120HR VT 30/1800Z 29.0N 115.0W 30 KT \|\|\|\|\| Tropical Storm Carlos forms far off Mexico coast MEXICO CITY (AP) — Tropical Storm Carlos formed far off Mexico's Pacific coast Friday and is expected to reach hurricane strength in the next few days as it moves further out to sea. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Carlos — which had been a depression — now had maximum sustained winds near 40 mph (65 kph) and was expected to continue moving west for the next few days. At 2 p.m. PDT (2100 GMT), the storm was about 910 miles (1,465 kilometers) south-southwest of the tip of the Baja California peninsula. It was moving west at about 14 mph (22 kph), out to sea. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	NOAA five-day forecast map The United States (NHC) has upgraded Tropical Depression Four-E to tropical storm status. The storm, now officially Tropical Storm Carlos, is the third named storm of the 2009 hurricane season. The storm currently has maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour, with slightly higher gusts. Carlos is located about 910 miles south-southwest of Baja California, Mexico, and is currently tracking west at 14 miles per hour. Minimum barometric pressure is 1005 millibars. A fairly small and well-organized storm, Carlos is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it continues westward, the NHC reports.
The blast on Tuesday occurred in a market, close to the house of Zulfiqar Khosa, an adviser to the chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab province. At least 33 people have been killed and 70 injured in a car bomb blast in the town of Dera Ghazi Khan in Pakistan's Punjab province, local officials have said. The house was damaged in the blast but he was not among the injured, officials said. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. "There are many people trapped in the rubble after the powerful blast demolished some 10 shops ... The rescue work is under way and we fear the toll may go up," Hassan Iqbal, the town commissioner, said. "It was a terrorist activity, similar to those being carried out in other parts of the country." 'Direct attack' Raza Khan, a local resident, told The Associated Press: "The whole market has collapsed. "There is smoke and people running here and there.'' Pervez Haider Altaf, a district health officer, told AFP news agency that people were frantically searching for survivors. "The hospital in the town has been crowded by people looking for their relatives. Rescue efforts are still going on," he said. An emergency has been declared at all local hospitals. Zulfiqar Khosa's son, Dost Mohammad Khosa, told The Associated Press that the bombing was "a direct attack on us" and that two of his cousins were among the wounded. But Imran Khan, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, said that it was unclear whether Khosa was the target of the bombing. "Zulfikar Khosa is a close confidante of Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister of Pakistan and the PML-N leader. It is the Islamic holy of Muharram right now, and Dera Ghazi Khan has seen violence take place [during that time]," he said. "Muharram is a very holy month for the Shia community here in Pakistan. Ever since Muharram started, Shia community leaders have been saying that [they] need to have more security around holy sites. "Shia leaders had said that Dera Ghazi Khan was one of the targeted areas and should be more secure." More than 500 people have been killed in bomb blasts in Pakistan since October, in violence blamed on pro-Taliban fighters who are battling an army offensive in the country's northwest. The US government has called on Islamabad to step up its efforts against Taliban- and al-Qaeda-linked fighters who cross over into Afghanistan. However, Pakistan has said that it has to focus on a rising domestic insurgency which has killed more than 2,680 people in the last two-and-a-half years. \|\|\|\|\| Why did this happen? Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy.	Local officials in the town of Dera Ghazi Khan in Pakistan said on Tuesday that at least twenty people were killed after a suicide car bomber attacked the house of a provincial governor. The Al Jazeera news agency reports that seventy people were injured from the blast. According to Siddiq-ul-Farooq, a spokesman for the Pakistan Muslim League, the bomber drove his car into the wall of Dost Muhammad Khosa's home, damaging it. Khosa and his relatives, however, were not at home, Farooq added. The house was reportedly close to a market, which also suffered from the explosion. A reporter for Al Jazeera, however, noted that it wasn't immediately clear if Khosa was intended as a target in Tuesday's attack. "There are many people trapped in the rubble after the powerful blast demolished some 10 shops ... The rescue work is under way and we fear the toll may go up. It was a terrorist activity, similar to those being carried out in other parts of the country," said town commisioner Hasan Iqbal. A local resident, Raza Khan, was witness to the chaos that resulted after the detonation. "The whole market has collapsed. There is smoke and people running here and there," he said to the Associated Press. A local health official told Agence France-Presse news agency that "the hospital in the town has been crowded by people looking for their relatives. Rescue efforts are still going on."
Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad to hand power to son Tamim Sheikh Tamim (left) was named heir apparent by Sheikh Hamad (right) in 2003 Continue reading the main story Related Stories The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, is to hand over power to his son, the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. A palace statement said that Qataris would be invited to swear allegiance to the new emir on Wednesday. Sheikh Hamad is due to address the nation at 08:00 (05:00 GMT) on Tuesday, which will be a national holiday. Rumours had been circulating for days that Sheikh Tamim, 33, was preparing to succeed his 61-year-old father. Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV reported that Sheikh Hamad had told a meeting of the "ruling family and top advisers" of his decision on Monday. The Emiri Diwan later announced that Sheikh Hamad and Sheikh Tamim would both receive Qatari citizens after the emir had addressed the nation on Tuesday, the official Qatar News Agency reported. Continue reading the main story Analysis This marks the end of an extraordinary era for Qatar under the rule of Sheikh Hamad. He seized power from his own father in 1995, and has since overseen the transformation of the tiny Gulf state into an influential global player. He invested the country's huge oil and gas revenues in large projects here and overseas. The IMF estimates Qatar now has, by some margin, the highest GDP (economic output) per capita in the world. Under Sheikh Hamad, Qatar enhanced its co-operation with the US, which has a large military base outside Doha. While other regional powers feared what the Arab Spring would bring, Sheikh Hamad saw it as an opportunity. Qatar funded rebel movements, particularly in Libya, and is doing so now in Syria. Accusations of a dangerous Islamist agenda, one that is fuelling sectarian tensions across the region, have been brushed aside. No-one appears to expect any sudden change in foreign policy under the new emir. Considering Sheikh Tamim's age and the amount of financial and political clout he will wield internationally, there may be a little nervousness amongst the country's allies until his vision for Qatar's future becomes clear. On Wednesday morning, they would also receive citizens wanting "to swear allegiance to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as emir of Qatar", it added. A cabinet reshuffle is also expected as part of the changes in the government line-up, with younger ministers likely to take charge. It is not clear if the long-serving Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, will also step aside. Qatar has been dominated by the Al Thani family for almost 150 years. Sheikh Hamad seized power from his father Sheikh Khalifa in a bloodless coup in 1995, with the support of the armed forces and cabinet, and also neighbouring states. Since then the emir has introduced some political and economic liberalisation, and in recent years has made Qatar a major player in regional diplomacy. In 2003, he named Sheikh Tamim - his second son by his second wife Sheikha Moza bint Nasser - as his heir apparent. He replaced his elder brother, Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Analysts say the British-educated Sheikh Tamim, who is deputy commander-in-chief of the armed forces, is unlikely to deviate far from his father's policies. He chairs the 2030 Vision project which outlines the development goals for the country and has a clear liberalising social agenda. The project has had significant input from his father and mother. Sheikh Tamim is also head of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, which is in charge of preparing the emirate to host the 2022 Fifa World Cup. In foreign policy, the emirate is expected to maintain its alliance with the West while at the same time pursuing an activist stance in Syria and other Arab countries. However, he will also inherit strained relations with some of Qatar's Gulf neighbours, notably Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who have been angered by Qatar's perceived closeness to the influential regional Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood. The emirate has also tried to increase its diplomatic prestige further afield. Earlier this month, Afghanistan's Taliban movement opened its first office in the capital Doha to facilitate peace talks with the United States. \|\|\|\|\| Hamad, the eldest of the emir's five sons, returned home and was commissioned as lieutenant colonel in the Qatari armed forces, quickly rising to commander in chief of the forces, overseeing modernization of the military. He married a cousin, which cemented a problematic political alliance. He married Sheikha Mozah, because she caught his fancy. And he married yet again, solidifying another alliance with another cousin. Everything one might expect. Nothing really new in the desert. Yet. During these years, Sheikh Khalifa was busy creating a benevolent welfare state, complete with free healthcare for the people – and, reportedly, Swiss bank accounts for himself. By the end of his 23-year rule, the emir had cultivated a taste for the extravagant, and spent significant time out of the country, often on the French Riviera, leaving the day-to-day rule to Hamad. "Don't make any changes" seemed to be the fatherly advice offered from the luxury hotel suites across Europe to the earnest young man in charge back home. Why, indeed, make any changes? The nation's riches endowed its 200,000 citizens with free education, healthcare, housing, utilities, and one of the highest per capita incomes in the world: between $20,000 and $30,000 today. But Hamad – young, intelligent, well educated, and by the mid-1990s heading a fast-growing family of new-generation al-Thanis – was restless. "Think Spain in the 16th century," suggests James Reardon Anderson, dean of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service outpost in Qatar. "That country, too, had a huge windfall, but all they did was reinforce the feudal system – and so eventually went into receivership. Qatar was at a similar moment in history and ... [Hamad] recognized it and did not want to squander it. He is savvy." In the summer of 1995, after getting the blessings of the various al-Thani factions, Sheikh Hamad staged a bloodless coup, calling his father at a Zurich hotel, according to local legend, to inform him of the change. His father, so it is told, hung up. Determined to cling to power, the elder sheikh disowned his son and returned to the Gulf to gather support among the tribes for a countercoup. Sheikh Hamad responded in typically modern fashion – by hiring a big US law firm to help freeze money, reported to be in the billions, that his father had in bank accounts around the world. Sheikh Hamad was in his mid-40s when he took Qatar's reins of power, in a region where the median age of rulers at the time was 60. He was of a new generation, open to the sorts of social, technological, economic, and political ideas from outside that his elders had never known. And, surrounding himself with young, Western-educated advisers, the new emir got right down to the business of remaking the national agenda of this traditional Wahhabi land. Since then, Qatar has not only reformed and redefined itself, it has begun to play an international role, both on TV, via the emir's Al Jazeera but also as a US ally in the Middle East. Sheikha Mozah need not have been sad on that wedding day long ago – for nothing was going to turn out as expected. And she would get that chance to fight her father's fight for reform after all. • Next: Part 2 – a modern marriage reforms a traditional nation. Page: 1 \| 2	H.H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Qatari officials announced Monday that the Emir of Qatar, , would abdicate in favor of his son, the Crown Prince . The outgoing leader Sheikh Hamad met with the ruling family along with several key people in the country and informed those invited of his decision to abdicate, reported Al Jazeera Television, which is owned by the Qatari state. In an address to the nation aired Tuesday morning, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa announced his abdication and added that it is time for the younger generation to take charge. The prime minister of Qatar may give up his post as part of the power transfer. The abdication — a rare move in the politics of the monarchs of the region — is reportedly a step to stabilize the political atmosphere in this wealthy country. Sheikh Hamad seized power in 1995 through a bloodless coup that removed his father from the throne. He has overseen the transformation of his country to a significant player in the politics of the region, including forming the Al Jazeera news channel, and supporting Arab nations that ousted their rulers during the . == Sources == * * * * *
Its goal was to assure Justice Kennedy that his judicial legacy would be in good hands should he decide to step down at the end of the court’s term. \|\|\|\|\| TUNCELI, Turkey (Reuters) - Nine Turkish soldiers including a lieutenant colonel were killed on Monday when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device planted by separatist guerrillas, military sources told Reuters. After what was one of the biggest attacks on the military this year, special forces troops backed by Cobra helicopters searched the area for the rebels behind it, the sources said. In addition to the nine killed, two soldiers were also wounded in the military vehicle attack on a country road near a bridge in Kemah district in Turkey's eastern Erzincan province. The bomb was detonated by remote control, the sources said. Earlier Turkish media had described the device as a landmine. Several F-16 fighter jets took off in the main southeastern city of Diyarbakir after the ambush but their destination was unclear. "This attack, which once again shows the ugly face of terrorism, demonstrates plainly how far the terrorists are from human values," President Abdullah Gul said in a statement. Erzincan province rarely witnesses separatist conflict but neighboring Tunceli is the scene of frequent clashes between Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels and Turkish armed forces. The PKK claimed responsibility for an explosion last week in Erzincan which damaged the key Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and has said it would carry out more attacks on economic targets in Turkey. However military and local official sources have said the pipeline blast and subsequent fire were due to a technical fault and not sabotage. The pipeline fire was extinguished on Monday, according to a senior source at oil company BP. The PKK, regarded as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and European Union, took up arms against Turkey in 1984 with the aim of establishing a Kurdish homeland in the southeast of the country. Some 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict. In the southern Turkish province of Hatay, which borders Syria, police shot an unidentified man early Monday after a clash outside a special forces police station. State-run Anatolian news agency said some 12 kg (26 lb) of plastic explosives, equipped with a remote control detonator, were found in a sports bag which the dead man had placed a few meters away from the station's entrance. (Writing by Daren Butler; editing by Paul de Bendern and Mary Gabriel) \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- A bombing in eastern Turkey on Monday killed nine soldiers and wounded two others, the state news agency said, citing a provincial governor's office. A mine exploded near a bridge in the town of Kemah, in Erzincan province, when a military vehicle was going by, according to the Anadolu news agency. It cited the Erzincan provincial governor's office. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility, but Turkish officials suspect the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. Turkish troops and PKK guerrillas have been fighting since the 1980s. \|\|\|\|\| refid:9632294 ilişkili resim dosyası Erzincan Valisi Ali Güngör, teröristler tarafından operasyondan dönen askeri aracın geçişinde uzaktan kumandalı mayının patlatılması sonucu bir kurmay yarbay ile iki uzman çavuş ve 6 erin şehit olduğunu bildirdi. Kars 14'üncü Mekanize Tugay Komutanlığı'ndan yaz mevsiminde bölgede operasyonlar yapmak üzere Erzincan’ın Kemah İlçesi'ndeki Alp İstasyonunda konuşlanan birliğin komutanı Kurmay Yarbay ile İlçe Jandarma Komutanı Yüzbaşı ve 2'si uzman çavuş toplam 11 asker, Erzincan ile Kemah arasında bulunan Olukpınar Köyüne gitmek isterken, PKK’nın mayınlı tuzağına düştü.� Operasyona giden askerlerin bulunduğu askeri kamyon geçerken, saat 10.30'da teröristler yola döşedikleri mayını uzaktan kumandayla patlattı. Patlamayla birlikte yaralılar, ambulanslarla Erzincan ve 13 Şubat Devlet Hastanelerine kaldırdı. Ağır yaralı olan askerlerden 9’u hayatını kaybetti, 2'sinin sağlık durumu ciddiyetini koruyor. Vali Ali Güngör, bölücü terör örgütünün mayınlı tuzağını ve 9 askerin şehit olduğunu doğruladı. Devlet Hastanesi’ne giderek tedavi altına alınan askerlerin sağlık durumlarını yakından izleyen Vali Güngör, olayın üzücü olduğunu belirtti. Vali Güngör, askere tuzak kuran töreristlerin yakalanması için bölgede havadan ve karadan operasyonların hemen başlatıldığını bildirdi. Erzincan- Kemah karayoluna birkaç kilometre uzaklıktaki mayınlı tuzağın olduğu bölgeye, basın mensuplarının girişine izin verilmedi. Fırat’ın kolu Karasu Nehrine paralel olan karayolunun 10’uncu kilometresinde araçlar, sıkı denetimden geçiriliyor. ORDU KOMUTANI DEVİR TESLİMDEN ERKEN AYRILDI Öte yandan Ardahan’da konuşlanan 25’inci Mekanize Piyade Tugay Komutanlığında bugün sabah saatlerinde sancak devir teslim töreni düzenlendi. Saygı duruşu ve İstiklal Marşının okunmasının ardından gerçekleşen törene katılan 3'üncü Ordu Komutanı Orgeneral Saldıray Berk, “Arkadaşlar, Erzincan’da üzücü bir olay nedeniyle sizden erken ayrılmak zorunda kalıyorum” dedi. Vali Selim Cebiroğlu’nun hazır bulunduğu törenden 9’uncu Kolordu Komutanı Korgeneral Nejat Bek ile birlikte ayrılan Orgeneral Saldıray Berk, helikopterle Erzincan’a geçti. PATLAMA YOLDA ÇUKUR AÇTI Kemah Belediye Başkanı AKP'li Şükrü Balcı, mayınlı tuzak olayını öğrenir öğrenmez hemen olay yerine gittiklerini belirtti. Pusunun Sarıyazı Köyü yol ayrımında meydana geldiğine dikkat çeken Başkan Balcı, “Mayının uzaktan kumandayla patlatılması sonucu askeri kamyon tanınmaz duruma gelmiş. Ürperten bir görüntüsü vardı. Yolda büyük de bir çukur açılmış. Yaz mevsiminde Kemah'ın Alp İstasyonu'na gelerek konuşlanan asker birliğin komutanı olan yarbay şehit olurken, Kemah'da görevli yüzbaşı da ağır yaralanmış. Yaralıların tümünün durumları ağır olduğu için şehit sayısı fazla oldu” dedi. İŞTE ŞEHİTLERİN KİMLİKLERİ "Miktat Şamdancı (Piyade Kurmay Yarbay), Selim Kabataş ve�Gökhan Kugat (Jandarma Uzman Çavuş), Abdullah Aydın Emer, Önder Muratoğlu, Adem Hilaloğlu, Murat Atsen, Abdurrahman Bulut, Barış Demir (Jandarma er)." �	A map highlighting the Erzincan Province At least nine Turkish soldiers were killed and two others injured after their military vehicle ran over a roadside bomb near a bridge in Kemah, Turkey. Originally, eight were reported dead, but one of the injured later died at a local hospital. Governor Ali Gungor of the Erzincan Province has stated that after the explosion, the vehicle was attacked. ''Reuters'' states that militants with the Kurdistan Workers' Party were responsible for the attack and that military personnel were searching for more attackers. The attack occurred in an area where Turkey has been frequently fighting militants of the PKK. Recently, the Turkish military launched airstrikes in Iraq in an attempt to disable the group. Turkey has been fighting militants of the PKK since 1984.
Hawaii Department of Health officials said today that of the state’s total infection count, 753 cases were considered to be active. Read more × Our Privacy Policy has been updated. By continuing to use our site, you are acknowledging and agreeing to our updated Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service \|\|\|\|\| US soldier charged with murder in Iraq base death BAGHDAD — A U.S. soldier has been charged with murder in the slaying of a civilian contractor on an American base in Iraq, the military said Tuesday. Spc. Beyshee Velez of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, was charged Monday in the Sept. 13 shooting death of a contractor who worked for Houston-based KBR at Camp Speicher in the city of Tikrit, a military statement said. The 31-year-old suspect faces dishonorable discharge and a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty. He is being held in Hawaii pending the outcome of the trial. He was also charged with assault and fleeing arrest. Velez is assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. The military statement gave no other details and said the investigation into the shooting was ongoing. The slain KBR employee, 27-year-old Lucas Vinson, was from Leesville, Louisiana. Authorities told Vinson's family that he was shot three times after offering a ride to an American soldier who flagged down his vehicle on the base, according to his mother. Vinson had worked in Iraq for five years before returning to Louisiana for a time. He returned to Iraq last year with KBR. He worked on the base with his father and uncle. KBR is the primary support contractor in Iraq, providing troops with essential services, including housing, meals, mail delivery and laundry. The U.S. military makes wide use of contractors in Iraq for security, technical support and supply functions. According to an AP count, 1,396 civilian employees of U.S. government contractors have been killed in Iraq since the war began in March 2003. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	A soldier from the United States is imprisoned in Hawaii charged with the murder of a civilian contractor in Iraq. Spc. Beyshee O. Velez is accused of shooting dead Lucas Vinson. Vinson, 27, offered a ride to an American soldier who flagged his vehicle down on September 13, following which he was shot three times. He died of his wounds. At the time he was stationed at Contingency Operating Base Speicher near Tikrit and worked for KBR. Vinson and 31-year-old Velez are both from Louisiana. Velez faces two alternate charges of murder, an assault charge and a charge of fleeing from authority. The maximum sentence he faces at his court martial if convicted is life imprisonment. Details on the shooting are scarce and the military says investigations are ongoing.
The earliest surviving complete census of all of Ireland is now available at the click of a mouse. More than 4.5 million records made by 850,000 households on census night in 1901 have been put online for the public to access. The census provides personal details including religion, profession, and if the person spoke Irish or English. It was launched on Thursday by the Republic's Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin. Famous historical and literary figures can be easily traced. The census lists James Joyce as a 19-year-old student living with his family in Fairview, Dublin. Fires and pulpage It also details the two-year-old C.S. Lewis, then living at Dundella Avenue in Victoria, Down, with his parents, brother and two servants. At 17, author John Ervine, recorded his profession as a clerk, and lived in Lisbon Street in Pottinger, County Down, with his mother, sister and four boarders. Also listed is Thomas Andrews the shipbuilder in charge of the plans for the Titanic, who died on its maiden voyage. He was then an "assistant shippered manager", boarding with a family at Wellington Place in Belfast. Digitisation of the records cost almost 4m euros and was carried out by the National Archives in partnership with Library and Archives Canada over the past five years. There are now no further complete sets of records to make available. The 1911 Census records went online in 2009 and have recieved more than 260m hits. Most of the census records from the 19th century have been lost for a variety of reasons including a fire at the Public Records Office during the Civil War in 1922, and records being pulped because of a paper shortage during First World War. \|\|\|\|\| Census records from 1901 go online A window has been opened into life in 1901 with census records going live online, including family detail of some of the greatest Irishmen and women. The National Archives have put 4.5 million individual returns, from 850,000 households across the 32 counties on the night of Sunday March 31 1901, free on the internet. It is the earliest surviving complete population record creating an invaluable tool rivalling demand for the 1911 census among the 70 million strong curious diaspora. Copyright © 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| 1901 CENSUS GOES ONLINE:THE EARLIEST surviving complete Census of Ireland has been put online, giving access to more than 4.5 million records from 1901 for historians, genealogists and anyone curious about their family history. Some 850,000 households on the entire island were covered in the census, which was taken on the night of Sunday, March 31st, 1901. Minister for Culture Mary Hanafin described the service as “an important and exciting day for people all over the world who want to trace their roots”. She added: “In a world which is very troubled, people want to know where they are rooted and are anxious to know about their background and their heritage.” The latest records to go online are expected to rival the popularity of the 1911 Census records, which were went up on the web between 2007 and 2009 and have since attracted more than 260 million hits and seven million individual users, in spite of the fact that it has not been launched formally in the US. There are no further complete sets of records to make available, as most of the census records from the 19th century have been destroyed. Those from the early part of the century were lost in a fire at the Public Records Office during the Civil War in 1922, while some later records were pulped because of a paper shortage during first World War. The 1901 Census provide information about a household on a single sheet, covering the following categories: first name; surname; relation to head of family; religious profession; education; age; sex; occupation; marriage status; where born; if the individual spoke English, Irish or both and if the person had a disability. Digitisation of the records has cost almost €4 million and the work has been carried out by the National Archives in partnership with Library and Archives Canada over the past five years. Ms Hanafin said the project brought history “a bit closer to us all” in searching for our ancestors. The 1901 census shows her own great-great-grandparents, Patrick and Jane Hanafin, were clothes dealers living with their children and grandchild in Longford. “That’s where my interest in clothes came from,” the Minister said. Ms Hanafin undertook to do everything possible in the coming months to enhance the storage facilities available to the National Archives. The archives’ director of special projects Caitriona Crowe said most of the interest in census records was coming from Ireland and Britain, with the US growing steadily. Despite the absence of further complete census records, other documents would shortly be made available online and free, starting with the Applotment Books from the 1820s. History at a click - famous names revealed ANYONE WHO has tried to trace their family history using the 1911 Census, which has been online for several years, will have no problem extracting information from the 1901 Census that is now available. The website census.nationalarchives.ie also provides contextual material consisting of historical commentary, photographs and digitised documents from the period, as well as links to relevant scholarly and genealogical sites. The information in the census is fully searchable by category, so even a small tidbit of historical information can open up access to the full records. Being vague about matters genealogical, I know only that my late father’s forbears came from Delgany in Co Wicklow. But an instant search for “Cullen” and “Delgany” reveals a house of eight Cullens in “farm 11.1”, and two of them are listed as painters, which was my father’s occupation. Mary Cullen, who was three at the time of the Census in 1901, is probably the same “Aunt Mary” I remember meeting as a child when she was in a retirement home in the 1970s. Far more interestingly, the census lists one James Joyce, then a 19-year-old student living with his family in Fairview. Then there’s Peig Sayers, returned under her married name of Margaret Guiheen, living with her husband Patrick and in-laws on the Great Blasket Island. Compared with the 1911 Census, when the Gaelic revivial was in full bloom, English is in greater evidence in the earlier records. Even the 22-year-old Pádraig Pearse (inset) makes his entry as head of household in English in the 1901 Census, while 10 years later he fills the form out in Irish. Meanwhile, Edward (Eamon) de Valera is listed as an 18-year-old boarder in Blackrock College. Having accessed the basic information they have sought from the census records, users can then have the entire information on the return displayed at the click of a mouse. A further click brings up a pdf of the original census record. The returns for both censuses also give details of houses, recording the number of windows, type of roof and number of rooms occupied by each family. Each house is classified according to its overall condition. The number of out-offices and farm buildings attached to each household is also given. In addition to returns for every household in the country, both censuses contain returns for police and military barracks, public and private asylums, prisons, hospitals, workhouses, colleges, boarding schools and industrial schools among other institutions. Access to all information is free. The census website is census.nationalarchives.ie.	The earliest surviving complete census of Ireland is now available freely online. It may be viewed through the website of the . Within the census are more than 4.5 million records from 850,000 households across the 32 counties; the information covers the night of Sunday March 31, 1901. records were made available online in 2009, subsequently attracting more than 260 million hits. The 1901 census lists a number of now-famous Irish people; as a 19-year-old student living with his family in Fairview, . Author , under her married name of Margaret Guiheen, on . A 22-year-old , one of the leaders of the and , a significant leader of Ireland's struggle for independence, at the time an 18-year-old boarder in , are also included. The majority of 19th century Irish census records are now lost for a variety of reasons, including a fire at the Public Records Office during the 1922 . Digitisation of the records cost almost €4 million; the work was carried out by the in partnership with .
Little Mosque On The Prairie Little Mosque on the Prairie Producers Ink First International Distribution Deal With French Broadcasting Giant Canal+ - Show to begin airing July 2007 in France, French-speaking regions in Switzerland and French-speaking African countries TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - May 8, 2007) - WestWind Pictures, the Toronto-based television production company responsible for the break-out hit Canadian television situation comedy Little Mosque On The Prairie has signed its first international distribution deal for the show with French broadcasting giant Canal+, announced Mary Darling, the show's executive producer and president of WestWind Pictures. Canal+ will begin airing Little Mosque On The Prairie's first season (8 episodes) in July 2007. Canal+ also has an option within the deal for acquiring future seasons of the show. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The show, which will air in France as well as in French-speaking regions in Switzerland and French-speaking countries in Africa, will air in voice-over format. Additionally, Canal+ will make Little Mosque On The Prairie available to viewers (who do not have the pay channel) via un-encrypting the show when it airs. "Little Mosque On The Prairie's international success is a testament to the quality of Canadian talent and how it is embraced around the world," said Kirstine Layfield, executive director, network programming, CBC Television. Little Mosque On The Prairie averaged one million viewers per episode in its first season and is currently in production on season two. Canal+ is responsible for bringing such hit American television shows as 24, Desperate Housewives, Will & Grace, Weeds and The Simpsons into the international French-speaking markets. About WestWind Pictures WestWind Pictures is a film and television production company that develops products for a global marketplace, focusing on themes that resonate throughout the world. Productions include Little Mosque on the Prairie, Designer Guys, Time & Place, English Teachers, Trash to Treasure, This Small Space and The Perfect Divorce. With over 15 years of experience, WestWind has developed a reputation for delivering high-quality products in a variety of genres for diverse audiences. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.westwindpictures.com. \|\|\|\|\| Little Mosque on the Champs Élysées The French will soon be watching some homespun Canadiana - the quirky CBC-TV comedy Little Mosque on the Prairie.Mary Darling, the show's executive producer, announced yesterday that the powerful French broadcaster Canal Plus has jumped on board to distribute the show starting in July in France and in French-speaking parts of Switzerland and Africa. The full text of this article has 306 words. To continue reading this article, you will need to purchase this article. Already have a member account? Login now \|\|\|\|\| May 08, 2007 03:48 PM Lee-Anne Goodman canadian press French broadcasting giant Canal Plus has inked a deal to distribute Canada's Little Mosque on the Prairie, attracted not so much by the show's comedy, but by its message of racial tolerance. Canal Plus, a premium pay-TV channel, is so enthralled with the way the show breaks down cultural stereotypes that it plans to air it unscrambled to entice non-subscribers to watch it, Mary Darling of Westwind Pictures, the Toronto-based company that produces Little Mosque, said Tuesday. "They really feel that, given all of the difficulties that France has had in the past year with diversity issues, that they want as many people to see the show as possible," she said. The show, to be dubbed by French actors, will begin airing in July in France and in French-speaking regions in Switzerland and Africa. Canal Plus also has an option to acquire future seasons of the show, which is currently in production for its second season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. It's the first international distribution deal for the show, but Darling says more are in the works. "All of the Nordic countries are hanging fruit right now; they're very interested and we're in the midst of negotiating with those countries. The U.S. is also in that same mode. I'm not sure what channel it's going to end up on yet, but we are talking to several channels," she said. Little Mosque on the Prairie is the brainchild of Muslim filmmaker Zarqa Nawaz and tells the story of devout Muslims living on a small Canadian prairie town. The show's humour is derived mostly from the interactions of the Muslim characters with the occasionally ignorant townsfolk. Little Mosque was a bona fide prime-time saviour for the CBC this year. The show attracted an average 1.2 million viewers for its eight-episode season – quite an accomplishment given that Little Mosque was rushed to air in January after CBC brass decided to capitalize on the worldwide buzz about the sitcom and premiere it then instead of waiting until the fall. The gamble paid off: the show's debut in early January pulled in almost 2.2 million viewers, a record for a series premiere for the CBC. Darling says as she shopped the show at the annual MIPTV television trade show in April in Cannes, broadcasters were most intrigued by its message. "When people came in the booth and sat down to talk to us, the first sentence wasn't: 'Hey, hilarious show, love the jokes, what a laugh,"' Darling recounted. "Instead, it was viewed as a show that's needed beyond comic relief. People are looking at it to break down barriers, build bridges, create understanding, and find a voice for people who are unheard or unrepresented." Darling had high praise for the public broadcaster and its role in the success of the show. "The CBC always takes a lot of crap for not promoting their shows, for not doing what people think they should be doing, but we've really had a great experience with them," Darling said. ``They promoted the heck out of the show, and they really kept us in the loop on the promotion so we were able to participate and give our own two cents' worth." "It's a real Canadian success story." Kirstine Layfield, executive director of network programming for CBC-TV, was instrumental in the promotion and success of the show, Darling added. Layfield said Tuesday the international success of the show "is a testament to the quality of Canadian talent and how it is embraced around the world."	CBC Television's hit show ''Little Mosque on the Prairie'' is set to debut in France, Switzerland, and French-speaking African countries. The show, which is owned by WestWind Pictures, is a comedy about a Muslim family living in Canada's Prairies, in a largely Muslim populated fictional town called Mercy, Saskatchewan. It deals with day-to-day life between the North American culture and Muslim culture and has been featured around the world with reviews from ''The New York Times'' to ''The Daily Telegraph.'' French television company Canal+ Group will distribute the show's first season in July to non-subscribers of Canal+, a channel which viewers must subscribe to watch. French voice-actors will dub the show in all three regions' local French dialect. "Little Mosque On The Prairie's international success is a testament to the quality of Canadian talent and how it is embraced around the world," said Kirstine Layfield, executive director of network programming with CBC Television. Mary Darling of Westwind Pictures said the show creates a good understanding between both cultures. "When people came in the booth and sat down to talk to us, the first sentence wasn't: 'Hey, hilarious show, love the jokes, what a laugh.' Instead, it was viewed as a show that's needed beyond comic relief. People are looking at it to break down barriers, build bridges, create understanding, and find a voice for people who are unheard or unrepresented," Darling said. The series premiere gained 2.1 million viewers; it gained an average of 1.2 million viewers for the first season. The second season is already in filming and is set to air this fall.
Israeli Discovery Converts Dangerous Radioactive Waste into Clean Energy By Karin Kloosterman Israel 21C Photo (Israel 21C) An Israeli firm has taken the laws of science and turned them into a useful invention for mankind - a reactor that converts radioactive, hazardous and municipal waste into inert byproducts such as glass and clean energy. The laws of conservation of energy and mass say that energy or mass cannot be created or destroyed - only change form. With the help of Russian scientists, Israeli firm Environmental Energy Resources (EER), has taken the laws of science and turned them into a useful invention for mankind - a reactor that converts radioactive, hazardous and municipal waste into inert byproducts such as glass and clean energy. The problem of radioactive waste is a global one, and getting increasingly worse. All countries in the industrialized world are waking up to the need for safer hazardous waste disposal methods. "In the beginning, nobody believed that we could do it," says Itschak Shrem, chairman of investment company Shrem, Fudim and Keiner representing EER at a press briefing announcing the innovation last week in Tel Aviv. Shrem, himself an invoker of small miracles through the founding of one of Israel's most lucrative venture capital funds - Polaris (now Pitango) - points to a chunk of black, lava-like rock sitting on the table in front of everyone's coffee cups. The journalists cautiously eye Shrem as he assures them that the shiny dark material, emitted from EER's pilot waste treatment reactor near Karmiel in the north, is safe to touch. "It also makes a good recyclable material for building and paving roads," he assures them. Earlier, Shrem told ISRAEL21c that EER can take low-radioactive, medical and municipal solid waste and produce from it clean energy that "can be used for just about anything." Using a system called plasma gasification melting technology (PGM) developed by scientists from Russia's Kurchatov Institute research center, the Radon Institute in Russia, and Israel's Technion Institute - EER combines high temperatures and low-radioactive energy to transform waste. "We go up to 7,000 degrees centigrade and end at 1,400 centigrade," says Moshe Stern, founder and president of the Ramat Gan-based company. Shrem adds that EER's waste disposal rector does not harm the environment and leaves no surface water, groundwater, or soil pollution in its wake. The EER reactor combines three processes into one solution: it takes plasma torches to break down the waste; carbon leftovers are gasified and inorganic components are converted to solid waste. The remaining vitrified material is inert and can be cast into molds to produce tiles, blocks or plates for the construction industry. EER's Karmiel facility (and its other installation in the Ukraine) has a capacity to convert 500 to 1,000 kilograms of waste per hour. Other industry solutions, the company claims, can only treat as much as 50 kilograms per hour and are much more costly. According to the journal Research Studies (Business Communications, Inc.), 'The production of nuclear weapons/power in the US has left a 50-year legacy of unprecedented volumes of radioactive waste and contaminated subsurface media and structures... Nuclear waste generators include the national laboratories, industrial research facilities, educational and medical institutions, electrical power utilities, medical diagnostics facilities, and various manufacturing processes.' In the US alone, Research Studies predicts that this year's market for radioactive waste-management technologies in America will cap $5.5 billion. EER was founded in 2000 and has maintained a low profile until revealing its reactor last week. "We spent our time on R&D and building up the site in Israel which we started constructing in 2003. We realized that nobody was going to believe us unless we started doing the process physically. They always said it sounded too good to be true, so we had to prove it to them," said Shrem. Back in 2004, the Ukrainian government put out a tender searching for a solution that would provide safer hazardous waste disposal methods. At that time, the country was looking for a way to treat its low-radioactive waste zones resulting from the Chernobyl explosion. EER sent in their proposal, and their technology won the bid. According to Stern, the former Soviet Union was the first to build nuclear plants. Over the years they have generated "huge amounts of low-radioactive waste. They came to us looking for a solution," he said. The Chernobyl nuclear meltdown on April 26, 1986 - was beyond a doubt the largest civil nuclear explosion in the world and one still linked to thousands of deaths. More than 20 years after the explosion, tens of kilometers around the reactor is still highly radioactive; and some 30,000 radioactive homes remain buried along with household appliances, food and clothing, explained Stern. "The European community is afraid of what is happening there," notes Stern, warning that it is time for the clean up to begin, even if it means making only a small dent in the massive pile. "The low-radioactive waste is slowly contaminating the water and will continue to do so over the 300 years it takes to break down." And since new conventions have been set by The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, first world countries are no longer permitted to traffic their hazardous waste to third world nations - forcing Western countries to drum up immediate and responsible solutions. With a strict eye over its operations by Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection, EER revealed its proof-of-concept to Israeli and foreign dignitaries in Aeblin, near Karmiel last week, showing how it can take mountains of municipal waste and reduce it to a pile of black rubble. "We are not burning. This is the key word," Shrem said. "When you burn you produce dioxin. Instead, we vacuum out the oxygen to prevent combustion." EER then purifies the gas and with it operates turbines to generate electricity. EER produces energy - 70% of which goes back to power the reactor with a 30% excess which can be sold. "In effect, we are combining two of the most exciting markets in the US - the environment and clean energy," says Stern, "We also reduce the carbon footprint." The cost for treating and burying low-radioactive nuclear waste currently stands at about $30,000 per ton. The EER process will cost $3,000 per ton and produce only a 1% per volume solid byproduct. In the US, EER is working to treat low-radioactive liquid waste and recently contracted with Energy Solutions, the largest American company in the field with 75% of the US market. \|\|\|\|\| The plant near Karmiel More Israel Develops System to Neutralize Nuclear Waste by Ezra HaLevi The system was developed by The process was developed together with scientists from Haifa’s Technion and the Russian research institute of Kurchatov in Moscow. According to EER, the facility turns radioactive medical and municipal waste into harmless solid substances at a low level of radiation, which leaves no pollution in the soil or water – both above and below ground. EER says the process is economically and environmentally superior to all other waste disposal methods such as landfill and incineration, as well as other non-incineration thermal treatments. The end products of the process can be used to power generators and in the construction industry as non-leeching molds to form tiles and blocks. A demonstration of the process, set for Thursday, will not involve actual radioactive material, the company said. Representatives from the United States, Russian, Japan and South Korea are in Israel to attend. (IsraelNN.com) Israel has developed a new technology that is supposed to safely dispose of radioactive waste.The system was developed by Environmental Energy Resources (EER), an Israeli company that helped clean up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and is based on plasma gasification melting (PMG) technology. The toxic waste is turned into a highly ionized gas, broken down, solidified, melted and vitrified - forming a solid glassy environmentally benign material when cooled.The process was developed together with scientists from Haifa’s Technion and the Russian research institute of Kurchatov in Moscow. According to EER, the facility turns radioactive medical and municipal waste into harmless solid substances at a low level of radiation, which leaves no pollution in the soil or water – both above and below ground.EER says the process is economically and environmentally superior to all other waste disposal methods such as landfill and incineration, as well as other non-incineration thermal treatments.The end products of the process can be used to power generators and in the construction industry as non-leeching molds to form tiles and blocks.A demonstration of the process, set for Thursday, will not involve actual radioactive material, the company said. Representatives from the United States, Russian, Japan and South Korea are in Israel to attend. Click here to receive our free Daily Israel Report \|\|\|\|\| Technology » Process Details: MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) or other waste material is fed into a vertical shaft reactor by means of air-tight feeding hoppers, passing on its way down through three zones: In the lowest part of the reactor, in the melting chamber, the inorganic waste components that reached this zone, are melted and vitrified by the high temperature plasma jets. Hot gases rise from the melting chamber toward the gasification zone, as a counterflow to the downward moving mass of waste. Oxidizing agents introduced at this stage cause gasification of the char (carbonaceous residues of pyrolysis). In the next zone up, the pyrolysis zone, the putrescible organic waste components are converted into pyrolytic gas that together with the gasification products form the Syngas, which is evacuated from the reactor to be used in the subsequent stages of the process – energy recovery.	Israeli firm Environmental Energy Resources (EER) has announced that it has developed a new technology, plasma gasification melting technology (PGM), to safely dispose of low- and medium-level nuclear waste. Extremely high temperatures are used to turn the waste into a mildly radioactive glass-like substance, which can be used as a building material. The process also releases an extremely hot mixture of gases that can be used to power steam turbines, generating electricity. The company claims that 70% of this electricity is used to drive the PGM process, while 30% is available as exportable energy.
(CNN) -- It's been a long, long time since the last "last" time: When Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr. rode off into the sunset in May 1989, courtesy of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," the Berlin Wall was still standing, George H.W. Bush was only four months into his presidency, and Harrison Ford was just a young whippersnapper of 46. Harrison Ford returns as Indiana Jones in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Quite why Ford, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas -- three of the wealthiest men in Hollywood -- should feel the need to resurrect Indiana Jones at this late stage of the game is anybody's guess. The three men have a combined age of 191, but like many boomers, they're not ready for the rest home just yet, even if living in the past seems a strange way to show it. The first Indiana Jones film, "Raiders of the Lost Ark," was already a nostalgia trip when it was released in 1981, a guileless celebration of the old-fashioned Saturday morning adventure serials that were a staple for any kid growing up in the '30s, '40s and '50s. That makes the new film, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," a throwback to a throwback. But time is catching up with the series. The new film is set in 1957, enabling Ford to act his age (or something like it). But this is the outer edge of a time when America could still believe in the simple black-and-white morality Indiana represents. If the Nazis and the Reds couldn't finish him off, the '60s surely would. Still, in some ways, the extra years suit Ford. Indiana has always been a surly old sourpuss, a pragmatic, world-weary hero in the classic WWII mold. Indy's fondness for griping is part of what makes him human. And when it comes to trading punches, cracking heads or disinterring the dead, Ford can still get it done. If he can't, his stunt double can. Watch what some other critics are saying » The movie opens in Nevada, where Dr. Jones is caught up in a daring raid on Area 51 led by Soviet agent Irina Spalko, played by a Cate Blanchett in a severe black bob, long black rubber gloves and a rapier. (It's a get-up so outré, even Joe Stalin would smile.) In a twist worthy of "The Twilight Zone," Indy finds himself in an ersatz small town populated by cardboard figures watching "Howdy Doody" -- a test site for an imminent A-bomb explosion. This bravura, breakneck opening immediately rekindles the old magic: the mixture of bravado and wit with action sequences that keep piling on layer upon layer of peril. Unfortunately, this is also the high point of the movie, or close to it. Indiana's brush with the Reds makes him a person of interest to the FBI just after the height of the McCarthy period, a quick, passing nod toward a post-9/11 sensibility that the movie runs away from almost as desperately as Indy scrambles from an army of man-eating ants. At this point, screenwriter David Koepp in effect starts the story all over again, this time with Brylcreemed biker Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) making a clumsy pitch about rescuing his mom from kidnappers in South America. That, and something about a legendary crystal skull, get Indiana Jones' juices churning, and suddenly the old professor and the young tough are off on an adventure. This outlandish hokum doesn't bear close scrutiny, so it's probably just as well Dr. Jones is not one for introspection. He does his thinking on his feet, and so does Spielberg, who sometimes seems to be directing this with one eye on the exit signs. It is good to see Karen Allen back as Marion Ravenwood, easily the pick of Indiana's women. She lends the enterprise some heart that is sorely lacking elsewhere. It's just a pity Koepp can't find more for her to do. (Ray Winstone, as an Indy colleague, is also poorly used.) A long jungle chase is another bona fide highlight, but Spielberg and Lucas misjudge the film's extravagant CGI climax; I won't spoil it here, but it feels alien to Indy's world. Let's just say we have seen this before, from Spielberg himself, and done better, too. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" has enough going for it to secure the bronze medal in the series and even compete for the silver, but "The Last Crusade" was a more graceful farewell. Indeed, the prospect of a revived series -- either with Ford or LaBeouf in the driver's seat -- isn't especially enticing. "The Adventures of Mutt Williams," anyone? "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is rated PG-13 and runs 123 minutes. For Entertainment Weekly's take, click here. \|\|\|\|\| By Paul Rincon Science reporter, BBC News The skulls were made with tools not available to Pre-Columbian cultures Two of the best known crystal skulls - artefacts once thought to be the work of ancient American civilisations - are modern fakes, a scientific study shows. Crystal skulls are the focus of the story in the latest Indiana Jones film. But experts say examples held at the British Museum in London and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC are anything but genuine. Their results show the skulls were made using tools not available to the ancient Aztecs or Mayans. Researchers say the work, which is published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, should end decades of speculation over the origins of these controversial objects. And it casts serious doubt over the authenticity of other crystal skulls held in collections around the world. A team including Margaret Sax, from the British Museum in London, and Professor Ian Freestone, from Cardiff University, used sophisticated techniques to work out how the two skulls had been made. There seems to be the assumption that if it is roughly worked, it is more likely to have been made by a traditional society. That's untrue of course Prof Ian Freestone, Cardiff University "There are about a dozen or more of these crystal skulls. Except for the British Museum skull and one in Paris, they seem to have entered public awareness since the 60s, with the interest in quartz and the New Age movement," Professor Freestone told BBC News. "It does appear that people have been making them since then. Some of them are quite good, but some of them look like they were produced with a Black & Decker in someone's garage." He added: "There seems to be the assumption that if it is roughly worked, it is more likely to have been made by a traditional society. That's untrue of course, because people were quite sophisticated. They might not have had modern tools, but they did a good job." The researchers used an electron microscope to show that the skulls were probably shaped using a spinning disc-shaped tool made from copper or another suitable metal. The craftsman added an abrasive to the wheel, allowing the crystal to be worked more easily. Modern technology This "rotary wheel" technology was almost certainly not used by pre-Columbian peoples. Instead, analysis of genuine Aztec and Mixtec artefacts show they were crafted using tools made from stone and wood. The British Museum skull was worked with a harsh abrasive such as corundum or diamond. But X-ray diffraction analysis showed a different material, called carborundum, was used on the artefact in the Smithsonian. Carborundum is a synthetic abrasive which only came into use in the 20th Century: "The suggestion is that it was made in the 1950s or later," said Professor Freestone. Who made the skulls is still a mystery. But, in the case of the British Museum object, some point the finger of suspicion at a 19th Century French antiquities dealer called Eugene Boban. "We assume that he bought it from, or had it made from [craftsmen] somewhere in Europe," said Professor Freestone, a former deputy keeper of science and conservation at the British Museum. Anonymous donation Contemporary documents suggest Mr Boban was involved in selling at least two of the known crystal skulls - the one held in London and another in Paris. The London skull was probably manufactured no more than a decade before being offered up for sale. Despite the findings, a spokeswoman for the British Museum said the artefact would remain on permanent display to the public. The skull held by the Smithsonian was donated to the museum anonymously in 1992, along with a note saying it had been bought in Mexico in 1960. Nothing is known of its history before that date, but like the British object, it was probably manufactured shortly before being purchased. The researchers were not able to determine where the quartz used in the skulls was quarried. But locations with suitably large deposits include Brazil, Madagascar and, possibly, the Alps. Professor Freestone said the work did not prove all crystal skulls were fakes, but it did cast doubt on the authenticity of other examples: "None of them have a good archaeological provenance and most appeared suspiciously in the last decades of the 20th Century. So we have to be sceptical," he explained. The findings are likely to be a disappointment to enthusiasts and collectors; the skulls have become a part of popular culture, appearing in numerous films and novels. Paul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| Maybe they should change the title to Indiana Jones and the Quest for the Palm d'Or. Because instead of evading poison darts and being chased by a giant boulder, your favorite globe-trotting fictional archaeologist will be fending off the flashbulbs of waiting paparazzi along the Croisette. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will hold its world premiere at the 61st edition of the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, according to Variety. The long-in-the-works fourth adventure in the eternally popular big-screen series will then swing into theaters worldwide four days later, on May 22. Judging from the newly released teaser trailer for Crystal Skull, the only fortune and glory Indy is seeking this time around is a trip down memory lane—unlike Raiders of the Lost Ark, when he "protected the power of the divine," Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, when our whip-wielding hero "saved the cradle of civilization," or Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, when he "triumphed over the armies of evil." Director Steven Spielberg, producer George Lucas and stars Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett are expected to suit up in their black-tie best and hit the red carpet for the hotly anticipated unspooling, the first Indiana Jones film in 19 years. Crystal Skull will not actually be competing, however, for Cannes' biggest prize, the Golden Palm. It'll be showing out of competition, essentially serving as the festival's lone Hollywood summer blockbuster (following such recent tentpole screenings as The Matrix Reloaded and Lucas' Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith) amidst the more arty fare that traditionally gets spotlighted at the Palais along the French Riviera. Cannes organizers have yet to confirm the screening, as they are still working on the lineup for the May 14–25 bash, but an official announcement should be forthcoming sometime in April. That is, once programmers get a look at the finished flick, which Spielberg is busy editing and whose plot has been more carefully guarded than the Holy Grail. (What we can tell you so far is that Indy goes up against the Soviets and one of the locations is Area 51.) The last time the Tinseltown showman attended Cannes was way back in 1982, for the premiere of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, which went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of all time. No doubt Spielberg and company will be looking for history to repeat itself. Heading up this year's jury will be Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn, who, as it happens, just finished directing Ford and Ashley Judd in the immigrant drama Crossing Over.	Theatrical poster The new film about the fictional character Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr. played by Harrison Ford premiered worldwide on May 22, four days after the opening of the 61st Cannes Film Festival in France. The film is about the fictional mystery surrounding the crystal skulls, which do exist in reality, but are considered fakes by some sceptical scientists. "Some of them are quite good, but some of them look like they were produced with a Black & Decker in someone's garage", Professor Ian Freestone of Cardiff University said, arguing that the ancient Aztecs or Mayans might not have had instruments with modern tool capabilities for the task. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by George Lucas (Lucasfilm). Alongside Ford, the film features stars Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett. The latter of the two was 'butched up' for the role of the Soviet agent, the main villain in the film. ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'' was rated PG-13 and runs 2 hours and 3 minutes. The film budget was US$185 million and it will need to gross US$400 million or more at theatres to make a profit for Paramount Pictures. The previous film of the franchise was released in May of 1989 — 19 years ago.
BAGHDAD, Oct. 6-- A pickup truck piled with explosives blew up in front of a restaurant frequented by Iraqi police near Fallujah on Tuesday, killing nine people and wounding dozens more in the second attack in as many days in western Iraq. After the bombing, a curfew was imposed on Amiriyah, about 10 miles south of Fallujah, a town once synonymous with Iraq's insurgency that has largely quieted in past years. Residents and police, though, have warned that violence seems to be worsening lately in Fallujah and other towns along the Euphrates River that stretch west of Baghdad. "Security forces are still looking for victims under the rubble," said Shaker al-Issawi, who serves as the head of the municipal council in Amiriyah, adding that at least 31 people were wounded. Witnesses said the explosion was so powerful that corpses were hurled onto the roofs of neighboring buildings. The victims appeared to be civilians, police and members of Sons of Iraq, a U.S.-backed militia that fought the insurgency in 2007 and 2008. Unlike previous attacks, Tuesday's blast was not the work of a suicide bomber. A witness, 27-year-old Mohammed al-Issawi, who sells tea on the street, said the assailant parked the blue truck and left about 15 minutes before the explosion. Some residents blamed lax security at checkpoints for letting the truck into the town. The attack came a day after a man with explosives strapped to his body blew himself up at a funeral service in the town of Haditha, further west along the Euphrates. At least six people were killed and 15 injured. The funeral was held for the mother of a well-known figure in the town who was once an official in the government of President Saddam Hussein. Among those attending were police and members of the Sons of Iraq. As residents ferried the dead and wounded to the hospital, mosques broadcast appeals over their loudspeakers for residents to donate blood. A vast desert bisected by the Euphrates, Anbar province was once the cradle of the insurgency. But after tribes and the Sons of Iraq turned against the insurgents in 2006, the region gradually came under the control of the provincial government and the U.S. military. American soldiers have since withdrawn from all but a handful of bases. But in past months, violence has increased. Insurgents have proven they remain a presence in Anbar, with the logistics and men to carry out attacks on tribal figures, U.S.-backed militiamen, security forces and provincial officials. Some residents have also blamed political infighting ahead of January's election, as factions and figures turn to violence to settle disputes that many expect to escalate. Special correspondent Othman al-Mukhtar in Fallujah contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| At least five of the dead were police, Sharqiya al-Isawi, the leader of Amiriya town council said. A car bomb has exploded in the town of Amiriya near the western Iraqi city of Falluja, killing nine people and wounding 31 others, a local official has said. A number of cars were set alight by the explosion. It was the second bomb in Anbar province in as many days. On Monday, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a funeral in the western town of Haditha, killing up to six people. Attacks common Once the heartland of Sunni Arab opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq, Anbar province has calmed down since some influential tribes joined US troops to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq in 2007. However, anti-government fighters have shown they are still capable of striking government targets with roadside bombs, shootings and suicide attacks remaining common. Violent deaths in Iraq dropped by more than half in September compared to the previous month, official figures showed last week, with 203 people killed across the country. September's death toll was the lowest since May, when a total of 155 people were killed.	Nine people were killed and 31 were injured after a car bomb blew up in the city of Falluja in western Iraq, local officials said. At least five of the victims were police officers. This is the second bomb blast in the Anbar province within the past few days. Six people were killed after a suicide bomber detonated explosives at a funeral in Haditha on Monday. "Security forces are still looking for victims under the rubble," said the head of the Amiriya local municipal council, Shaker al-Issawi. According to reports from witnesses, the blast was so strong that it threw bodies onto rooftops of neighbouring buildings. Unlike previous such explosions, this explosion did not appear to be set by a suicide bomber. A witness near where the car bomb exploded said that a man had parked a blue truck, and left it a quarter of an hour before it exploded.
The capital's mayor is expected to sign the bill into law Lawmakers in Mexico City have become the first in Latin America to legalise gay marriage. City legislators passed the bill 39-20, with five abstentions. The city's mayor is now widely expected to sign the bill into law. Gay marriage is only allowed in seven countries and some parts of the US. Certain parts of Latin America allow civil unions for same-sex couples. The Catholic Church and conservative groups had opposed Mexico City's move. The bill calls for a change in the definition of marriage in the city's civic code - from the union of a man and a woman to "the free uniting of two people". Regional differences Lawmaker David Razu had proposed the change to give same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples regarding social security and other benefits. Mexico City's legislature is dominated by the leftist Democratic Revolutionary Party, which has already legalised abortion and civil unions for same-sex couples. Spokesman Oscar Oliver told AFP news agency that city legislators were now taking up a measure in the bill that would allow married same-sex couples to adopt children. A handful of cities in Argentina, Ecuador and Colombia permit gay unions. Uruguay alone has legalised civil unions nationwide and allowed same-sex couples to adopt children. Last month, an Argentinean court narrowly blocked what would been the continent's first gay marriage. In a last-minute challenge, a court referred the case to the country's Supreme Court, which is due to rule on the issue. \|\|\|\|\| AFP - Mexico City on Monday became Latin America's first municipality to approve gay marriage, an aide to a city lawmaker told AFP. "It was approved overall by 39 votes in favor and 20 against, with five abstentions," said a spokesman for the bill's chief sponsor, assemblyman Davi Razu. Spokesman Oscar Oliver said city legislators were now taking up a measure in the bill that would allow married same-sex couples to adopt children. The new measure modified a civil union law already on the books in Mexico City, as in other Latin American nations including Uruguay and Colombia. In Argentina the Supreme Court is to rule on a court-approved gay marriage that was challenged earlier this month. Mexico City's gay marriage bill was fully backed in the Assembly by the city's majority leftist party, the Democratic Revolution Party, and opposed by the country's ruling National Action Party. Before Monday's vote, Mexico City was among a handful of Latin American cities that allowed gay unions.	Mexico City, MexicoLawmakers in the municipality of Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, became the first to approve gay marriage in Latin America yesterday, despite opposition from conservative groups and the Catholic Church. "It was approved overall by 39 votes in favor and twenty against, with five abstentions," said a spokesman for David Razu, the bill's chief sponsor. Razu proposed the bill to allow same-sex couples to have the same access as heterosexual married couples to social security and other benefits. Some cities in countries in Latin America, such as Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador permit homosexual civil unions, Uruguay permits civil unions throughout the country as well as adoption, and last month a court in Argentina blocked a bill proposing gay marriage; the country's Supreme Court has yet to make the final ruling. Spokesman Oscar Oliver said that the next step for the capital's lawmakers was to use a measure in the bill intended to permit adoption for same-sex married couples.
Teen Mom: Australia Join new moms Ammi, Sita, and Georgie as they learn what life is like with a baby to care for while still only being teens themselves. \|\|\|\|\| Two months after Tom Cruise's insane Scientology video surfaced, people continue to lampoon the leaked footage, often with weak results. But now the meme has leapt into mainstream cinema. The following clip comes from Dimension Films' forthcoming Superhero Movie and is, as you might expect, the slickest crazy-Cruise imitation yet, as well as one of the funniest. Actor Miles Fisher's Scientology spoofing is after the jump. (Gawker's previous roundup of parodies is here.) \|\|\|\|\| The trend of releasing sequences from upcoming films online has taken off over the past few months — Alien vs. Predator: Requiem did it, Dark Knight did it, Walk Hard did it. But never has it made as much sense than in the case of upcoming spoof flick Superhero Movie, which has posted a two-minute clip that will look familiar to fans of Tom Cruise (or Jerry O’Connell): In this excerpt, Miles Fisher does an eerily dead-on impersonation of Cruise’s infamous leaked Scientology indoctrination video. (I think Jerry O’Connell gets the voice a little better, actually, but Fisher’s laugh is just exceptional.) Although the title might lead one to believe that the movie is directed by the same, um, “filmmakers” behind such, er, “films” as Date Movie and Epic Movie, Superhero Movie is actually written and directed by Craig Mazin, who, while credited as a writer on the last few Scary Movies, has a proven track record when it comes to satirizing superheroes in a creative way. How this clip actually fits into the film is of course completely unclear — though clues such as “Dragonfly…He can’t even fly! I, I can fly…” indicate it has something to do with the film’s main character. And the overall quality of this spoof is a sign that even if Mazin is following the format of previous pop culture parodies, he’s at least pushing it to the next level — specifically, the funny place. \|\|\|\|\| Tom Cruise Superhero Movie Clip Our friends over at TheMovieBlog found a great clip from Superhero Movie. Now I have absolutely zero interest in seeing this movie but this clip is hillarious. The actor hits every point he needs to and it is almost scary how close he is to the actual Tom Cruise way of thinking. Check it out below.. Got News? Dont hesitate to share your knowledge and send us your news. You can also syndicate our news and read it with any popular newsreader with the links below! \|\|\|\|\| “Hey, that guy is me!” As much as I will forever remain a fan of Tracy Morgan’s “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah,” I won’t be checking out Superhero Movie in theaters this weekend. Insert commenter saying, “yeah Hunter, but it’s still worth a torrent.” But Slashfilm would like to salute young actor and Harvard alum Miles Fisher for easily giving the best impression of Tom Cruise we’ve ever seen in the yuk-yuk comic book spoof. The nostalgic mannerisms, the curious energy, the perma-grin, the laser beam concentration and the confident laugh of a motivated, nicely groomed champion are all here. Word is The Cruise slays in this summer’s Tropic Thunder, but until then, bask in Fisher’s superhero-worthy performance. Bonus star stickers for nailing it without rocking the signature Wayfarers! CLICK HERE TO WATCH! Discuss: Is it just me or is Fisher nearly impersonating Christian Bale impersonating Tom Cruise? \|\|\|\|\| It's from Superhero Movie, which, from the trailers, looks every bit as bad as a movie that The Weinstein Company is pretty much smuggling into theaters can be. But this bit? Hilarious. And you thought Ben Stiller did a mean Tom Cruise impression. And Jerry O'Connell. Miles Fisher is the name of the Sci-Tol Tommy impersonator. \|\|\|\|\| ReelzChannel.com, March 24, 2008 The folks behind the Scary Movie series of spoofs take on comic book flicks. The quality of the various Scary/Epic/Date Movie brand of parodies has enjoyed a precipitous decline in recent years, arguably reaching its low point in January with the utterly dreadful 300 satire Meet the Spartans. And while Superhero Movie ranks as a slight improvement over that epic debacle, it still doesn't come anywhere close to redeeming the once-proud genre. Aping the Spider-Man storyline, Superhero Movie centers on Rick Riker (Drake Bell), a gawky teen who becomes infused with special powers after being bitten by a radioactive dragonfly. Donning a green costumer and assuming the moniker "The Dragonfly," he embarks on a crime-fighting career, eventually taking on the worst bad guy of them all, The Hourglass (Chris McDonald), an evil industrialist turned super-villain after a medical experiment gone horribly wrong. Superhero Movie takes aim at all the major comic-book franchises, including Batman, X-Men, Fantastic Four and the aforementioned Spider-Man, and while it occasionally registers a comedic bulls eye (including a dead-on spoof of Tom Cruise's now-infamous Scientology video), it more often than not misses the target completely. Writer/director Craig Mazin's script contains all the requisite elements of the modern movie spoof, from Leslie Nielsen to fart jokes, one of the latter featuring Marion Ross of Happy Days fame. (Watching beloved sitcom mom Mrs. C reduced to the centerpiece of an extended flatulence gag is almost heartbreaking. Where's The Fonz when you need him?) Pamela Anderson, Lil' Kim and Tracy Morgan all issue cameos, with Morgan the lone funny standout as an African-American Professor Xavier. If you're a fan of the Scary/Date/Epic Movie line of flicks, chances are you'll find something to like in Superhero Movie, but in the end I think you'll agree that it's anything but a super spoof. ReelzChannel Rating: Disagree? Let me know at tleupp@reelzchannel.com. \|\|\|\|\| Hilarious Superhero Movie Clip Published March 24, 2008 in Movie Clips Dimension, TrailerAddict, ComingSoon By Ryan Parsons \| Image property of Superhero Movie Before I discuss this hilarious clip from Superhero Movie I have to give a self-disclaimer. I still like Tom Cruise. Though he has some crazy moments -- Scientology video included -- he does seem want to do good for people. The actor has recently become more popular than Paris Hilton in movie spoofs and it looks like Superhero Movie is taking their own shot at him; with humorous consequences mind you. Tom Cruises Superhero Movie Spoof No, Tom Cruise does not appear in Superhero Movie, but a guy who impersonates him perfectly does. The clip spoofs the recently leaked Scientology clip featuring Cruise, so you might want to head on over to YouTube first to check that out. Finished? Good. Now watch the clip from Superhero Movie. According to early screening reports of Tropic Thunder, Tom Cruise's popularity will likely spike when the film hits theaters thanks to what is said to be an awesome cameo role. Superhero Movie opens to theaters March 28th. For the trailer, poster and more movie info, go to the Superhero Movie Page. You Like? (Bookmarks) Compiled By (Sources) Sources: Image property of Dimension, TrailerAddict, ComingSoon Contact Ryan ParsonsSources: Image property of Related Articles © 2004 Minds Eye One, All Rights Reserved The Can Magazine™ is a trademark of Minds Eye One All movie titles, movie icons, movie stills/clips/trailers/other media... are registered trademarks and/or copyrights of stated holders CanMag.Com banners contain movie/gaming icons that were created by individual holders \|\|\|\|\| © 1998 - 2008 Coming Soon Media, L.P. All rights reserved. © 2004 - 2008 Crave Online Media, LLC. All rights reserved Not in any way associated with Crave Entertainment, Inc. or Crave Magazine® MORE IN THE CRAVE FILM CHANNEL: ONLINE VIDEOS AND CRAZY VIDEOS AT CRAVEONLINE \| SUPERHERO HYPE! \| SHOCKTILLYOUDROP.COM \|\|\|\|\| Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player This video has been added to your favorites Loading... The video has been added to your playlist. This video will appear on your blog shortly. close) Thank you for sharing your concerns. close) Thank you for flagging this video. Content of this nature is not necessarily prohibited on YouTube, however we will review this video and take action as appropriate. close) Thank you for sharing your concerns. We can only process copyright complaints submitted by authorized parties in accordance with processes defined in law. There may be significant legal penalties for false notices. Please refer to our Help Center for more information and the complete instructions. close) In order to process a privacy complaint we need more information from you. Please refer to our Help Center for more information and the form to submit. Loading... Loading... Loading... Thank you for sharing this video!	Miles Fisher impersonates Tom Cruise in ''Superhero Movie''. Producers of the film ''Superhero Movie'', out today, released clips from the film on the Internet parodying a Church of Scientology promotional video featuring Scientologist Tom Cruise. ''Superhero Movie'' is written and directed by Scott Mazin, director of the 2000 comedy about superheroes ''The Specials''. The film stars Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald, Pamela Anderson, Tracy Morgan, Regina Hall, Craig Bierko, Simon Rex, Leslie Nielsen, Marion Ross, Kevin Hart, Jeffrey Tambor, Ryan Hansen, Brent Spiner and Keith David. Drake Bell plays Rick Riker, a young man figuring out how to use his superpowers. The film parodies blockbuster superhero movies including Spider-Man, Batman, X-Men, and Fantastic Four. Tom Cruise in 2006. In the original Scientology video, Cruise discusses his faith and his opinion on what it means to be a Scientologist, while the theme music from his ''Mission: Impossible'' series of films plays in the background. The video, which was not intended for public distribution outside of the Church of Scientology, is nine minutes long and contains heavy use of Scientology terminology. The video appeared on YouTube January 15, two days before the release of a biography on Cruise by Andrew Morton: ''Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography''. The Church of Scientology sent legal letters to YouTube and to Gawker.com, sites which were hosting the Cruise video at the time, and requested that they take it down. YouTube complied, but Gawker.com did not, and Nick Denton of Gawker.com commented: "It's newsworthy, and we will not be removing it." The video later appeared on websites other than Gawker.com, including the ''New York Post'', Independent Television News and the BBC. Attempts by the Church of Scientology to remove the video from the Internet motivated an Internet-based group known as "Anonymous" to take action in a movement called Project Chanology. Members of Anonymous bombarded Scientology websites and were successful in taking some of them down, including Scientology.org. Anonymous later changed tactics towards legal measures, and held international protests against Scientology on February 10 and March 15, with another international protest planned for April 12. According to Scientology critic David S. Touretzky, the Scientology terms used in the video by Cruise have "entered the national lexicon", and the Scientology video itself has become something of an Internet phenomenon. Touretzky also referred to the negative effect on Cruise's publicity as a consequence of the leak. In the excerpt released online from ''Superhero Movie'', actor Miles Fisher imitates Cruise in what Liz Shannon Miller of ''NewTeeVee'' described as "an eerily dead-on impersonation of Cruise’s infamous leaked Scientology indoctrination video". She also compared the clip to a different spoof of the Cruise video, by actor Jerry O'Connell. Craig Ferguson also spoofed the video in a clip on his show on CBS, ''The Late Late Show'', as did the comedy website Super Deluxe. Christopher McDonald plays the villain "Hourglass" in ''Superhero Movie'', and told ''MTV News'' he was surprised at some of the parodies that successfully appear in the film: "The thing I didn't think we'd get away with was the actual Tom Cruise stuff. There may be lawsuits there." A post at ''Slashfilm'' wrote positively of Fisher's performance: "Slashfilm would like to salute young actor and Harvard alum Miles Fisher for easily giving the best impression of Tom Cruise we’ve ever seen in the yuk-yuk comic book spoof." A post at ''MoviesOnline'' commented: "The actor hits every point he needs to and it is almost scary how close he is to the actual Tom Cruise way of thinking." Thomas Leupp of ''ReelzChannel.com'' called the scene "a dead-on spoof of Tom Cruise's now-infamous Scientology video". Ryan Parsons of ''CanMag'' wrote that Fisher impersonates Cruise "perfectly", and Ryan Tate of ''Gawker.com'' called the clip "the slickest crazy-Cruise imitation yet, as well as one of the funniest".
Huddersfield men guilty of Gurmail Singh murder Continue reading the main story Khalid, left, and Shafi will be sentenced next month Two men have been convicted of murdering a shopkeeper during a robbery at his village store in West Yorkshire. Gurmail Singh was hit over the head with bottles of wine from the shelves of Cowcliffe Convenience Stores in Cowcliffe, Huddersfield, in February. A jury convicted Huddersfield men Muawaz Khalid, 20, and Nabeel Shafi, 18, of murder at Bradford Crown Court. Three other men, Umare Aslam, 20, Shoaib Khan, 18, and Rehman Afzal, 18, were cleared of murder. Khalid, of Blackmoorfoot Road, and Aslam, of Coniston Avenue, Dalton, were also convicted of robbery. Prince's letter Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote Local people showed great courage in attempting to tackle and capture those responsible at the time of the attack” End Quote Det Supt David Pervin West Yorkshire Police During the six-week trial the prosecution said Mr Singh, 63, was attacked on the night of 20 February after he refused to "meekly hand over his property, his hard-earned money" during the robbery. He died in hospital the following day. The court heard smokers outside the pub opposite the shop realised something was wrong when they saw two men running from the scene. One man trapped the remaining two members of the gang inside by holding the door shut but they got out of a back door after attempts to smash their way through. Those men were tackled by other members of the public but managed to free themselves and get away, prosecutors told the jury. The court heard Mr Singh was attacked after he refused to hand over his "hard-earned money" After the conviction, Mr Singh's son Jas said the family were "relieved that those who committed these terrible crimes have now been found guilty". He said: "My mother has been completely devastated by the murder of her husband. Since he was killed her health has deteriorated vastly. "We miss our father's patience, support, calmness, warmth, strength and love. He showed all these characteristics every day of his life." Det Supt David Pervin, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "The people found guilty of Mr Singh's death will have a long time now to think about the fact that they killed a man for just a few pounds, some cigarettes and sweets." The detective said letters and messages of support had been sent to Mr Singh's family from across the country, including the office of the Prince of Wales. He added: "Local people showed great courage in attempting to tackle and capture those responsible at the time of the attack and, after the tragic events of that night, the wider community united and showed massive support in helping us to put these people before the courts. "I cannot thank them enough for that." Khan, of Calton Street, Hillhouse, was cleared of the robbery charge. The jury was told he had earlier admitted a charge of assisting an offender. Sharfi, of Park Hill, Bradley, and Afzal, of Jacinth Court, Fartown, pleaded guilty to robbery at a hearing earlier this year. Sentencing was adjourned until 16 November so pre-sentence reports could be prepared. All five men were remanded in custody. \|\|\|\|\| 18:01 See you tomorrow That’s all from us on the live blog for today. We’ll be back from 7.30am tomorrow. See you then. More » 17:48 Local news Tell you what these are big plans to have slipped under the radar. Fields off Sands Lane, Mirfield, Clr Martyn Bolt (right) with Marcus Jessop campaigner for horses not houses. More » 17:21 Local news We understand from Chloe, our reporter at the scene, that this is all clear now. Quick work by our friends from Kirklees Rural NPT! STUCK LORRY -ROADS CLOSED. Lowergate at Paddock and Cross Firs Street. Hoping to get Lorry moved within the hour. #sorry — Kirklees Rural (@WYP_KirkRural) Tue Apr 19 15:53:51 +0000 2016 More » 17:12 Local News Another driver appears to have got into a bit of a tight spot. We’re on the way to check it out! @Examiner lorry stuck at bottom of cross firs Street, on main road to milnsbridge. Traffic chaos everywhere. https://t.co/xooKAzkWtk — Mark (@markimark35) Tue Apr 19 15:49:06 +0000 2016 More » 16:56 Hand over That’s all from me. I am handing the news baton over to Martin... More » 16:48 #HD4 #Manchester Road. We're isolating mains water to carry out essential repairs.Sorry for any inconvenience caused. Updates to follow. ^GH — Yorkshire Water Help (@YWHelp) Tue Apr 19 15:38:07 +0000 2016 More » 16:39 Traffic There’s heavy traffic on A629 Calderdale Way Westbound between A6025 Halifax Road and A6026 Wakefield Road / B6112 Stainland Road More » 16:30 Fire A 14-year-old boy has been praised by fire officers after saving an elderly couple by alerting them to a blaze in their home in Dewsbury. Couple saved in fire drama in Crackenedge Lane More » 16:18 News #handsoffhri I'm covering Kirklees & Calderdale Health Scrutiny Panel at Halifax Town Hall. They're discussing hospital shake up @Examiner — Dave Himelfield (@Dave_Examiner) Tue Apr 19 14:40:05 +0000 2016 More »	Two men have been found guilty of murdering shopkeeper Gurmail Singh in a robbery at his shop in West Yorkshire, England. During the robbery at Cowcliffe Convenience Store in in February, Singh was hit over the head with bottles of wine and died the next day. Muawaz Khalid, aged twenty, and Nabeel Shafi, aged eighteen, both from Huddersfield were convicted of murder after a six-week trial at Crown Court. Three other men were cleared of murder but two were convicted of robbery; the third had previously admitted to assisting an offender. They will be sentenced on November 16. Cowcliffe Convenience Store in The court was told how smokers at a opposite the shop became aware of the robbery when two of the gang were seen fleeing the scene. A man attempted to trap two remaining members of the gang inside the shop but they escaped through a back door. Other members of the public tried to stop them but they were able to get away. Detective Superintendent David Pervin of , speaking after the convictions said, "local people showed great courage in attempting to tackle and capture those responsible at the time of the attack and, after the tragic events of that night, the wider community united and showed massive support in helping us to put these people before the courts. I cannot thank them enough for that."
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If you continue to browse the site, we shall assume that you accept the use of cookies. \|\|\|\|\| Sergio Ramos analizó el estado anímico del equipo al término del Clásico en el Camp Nou: “Es un momento difícil, tenemos que estar juntos y pasar página cuanto antes. Vamos a intentar mantener la cabeza fría y reflexionar. La clave del éxito está en la unión y ahora tenemos que juntar una buena racha de partidos. El Barcelona ha aprovechado este momento para reivindicar la diferencia y ahora se nos van de distancia, pero hay que pasar página para intentar reaccionar porque aún queda mucha temporada". "En la primera parte regalamos 45 minutos y cuando lo haces ante un rival con tanto talento te castiga. En la segunda parte vimos otro Real Madrid distinto. Como capitán soy el primero en dar la cara y en estar convencido de que queda mucho por delante. Tenemos que seguir creciendo y mejorando, esa es la mentalidad que hay que tener". Continuidad de Lopetegui “No son decisiones nuestras. Siempre hemos dicho que estamos a muerte con el entrenador que esté al mando y esas decisiones se toman desde arriba y tenemos que respetarlas. Ya veremos qué pasa en las próximas horas. Hay que mantener la calma, no señalar a nadie y hacer autocrítica. El respeto se gana, no se impone". \|\|\|\|\| Sergio Ramos spoke about the mood in the camp at the end of el Clásico at the Camp Nou: "It's a difficult moment, we have to stick together and move on as soon as possible. We’ll try to keep a cool head and reflect. The key to success is in togetherness and we now have to put together a good run of results. Barcelona have taken advantage of this moment to press home the difference, but we have to move on and try to react because there is still a long way to go in the season". "In the first half we gave them a 45 minute start and when you do it against an opponent with so much talent, they punishes you. In the second half a different Real Madrid turned up, as a captain I’m the first to show my face and I’m convinced that there’s a lot to come from us. We have to keep growing and improving, that's the mentality that we have to have". Continuity of Lopetegui "They are not our decisions. We have always said that we’re 100% behind whoever the coach is and those decisions are made from above and we have to respect them. We'll see what happens in the next few hours. We have to keep calm, not point the finger at anyone and look at ourselves. Respect is earned, it is not imposed". \|\|\|\|\| It was a magical afternoon at Camp Nou in which Barça cruised past Real Madrid, 5-1. Barça were vastly superior in the first half, with goals from Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suárez giving the Catalans a 2-0 lead. Real Madrid got one back in the second half courtesy of Marcelo, but Suárez bagged two more and Arturo Vidal added a late strike to sign, seal, and deliver a historic win. \|\|\|\|\| ‘We color football’ proclaimed the pre-match mosaic, and if anyone could possibly have doubted that, then the 90 minutes that followed were living proof. Barça put five goals past their historic rivals, playing astonishing football in a performance that we’re going to be remembering for a long, long time. Pure magic … and Leo Messi wasn’t even playing! Champagne football It was an uncharacteristically chilly October afternoon in the Catalan capital, but it didn’t take Barça long to get warmed up. After ten minutes they moved in for the kill. What a build-up. One minute and 33 seconds. 30 passes involving all eleven players. Ivan Rakitic picked out Jordi Alba down the left. Where Messi is normally lurking, this time the full-back’s pass found a total unmarked Philippe Coutinho. And that was goal number one. Everything was shining. Orchestrated by a magnificent Sergio Busquets, the football was flowing freely and confidently in the direction of Thibaut Courtois’ goal. It only seemed a matter of time before the Camp Nou would be celebrating again. VAR to the rescue In days gone by, Raphael Varane would have got away with his shove in Luis Suárez’s back. But now we have VAR. And it’s first ever use in Clásico history proved the Uruguayan was right to protest. The same man slotted in a fine penalty, dedicated it to his newborn son, and that was 2-0 … with only half an hour played. Have the first 45 minutes of a Clásico ever been as one-sided as that? Barça were waltzing it. Blancos wake up But as Ernesto Valverde warned this week, a wounded Madrid is a dangerous Madrid. Shortly after the restart, a counter attack ended with the ball landing scrappily in the Barça area. Marcelo was onto it and suddenly things weren’t looking quite so pretty. Luka Modric hit the post at one end. Suárez did likewise at the other. We had a game on. It may have been great for the neutrals, but it was far less placid from a home fan’s perspective. Suárez again… and again! Barça needed to get back on top. And boy, they didn’t half do that … and the rest! Sergi Roberto’s ‘mini-cross’ to Suárez on the edge of the area was a peculiar choice. But it worked. The number 9’s head made perfect contact, Courtois was beaten and that was 3-1. We could breathe again. And moments later the celebrations could truly begin. The same duo were involved, Sergi Roberto snapping up a Sergi Ramos’ error and teeing up Suárez to complete his first Clásico hat-trick. The finishing touch Barça were well and truly twisting in the sword. And there was still time for more. Ousmane Dembélé flipped the ball over to fellow substitute Arturo Vidal and that was five – La manita… The ‘little hand’! Surreal scenes. A dream performance. So impressive that we’d completely forgotten about a certain Argentinian. Anyone who has ever said Barça would be nothing without Messi had better think again! That was truly sublime... \|\|\|\|\| Suarez has scored nine goals against Real Madrid Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick as Barcelona outclassed Real Madrid to seal a stylish El Clasico victory that further damages their bitter rivals and Madrid's stricken manager Julen Lopetegui. The former Spain boss now seems certain to lose his job in the wake of a humiliating defeat in a match crucial to his chances of survival. His side conjured something of a revival in the second half but ultimately they were sunk by an irresistible Barca performance, and it now appears only a question of when he will be fired. Philippe Coutinho slotted in and Suarez converted a penalty, awarded by a video assistant referee decision for Raphael Varane's foul on the Uruguayan, for Barca's half-time advantage. Marcelo chested down and finished to give Real hope, but Suarez's header and chipped finish, followed by Arturo Vidal's header, completed the rout. The visitors had begun the day within four points of Barca, but now trail them by seven and find themselves ninth in the table after 10 matches. Ernesto Valverde's side, winners of seven league titles from the past 10, are top of the league, leading Atletico Madrid by two points. A Real man on the brink European champions Real began the post-Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo era impressively under former Spain boss Lopetegui, but since then the mood has shifted dramatically. Before Sunday's match, everyone, except those with any official connection to Real Madrid that is, was saying the same thing: Lopetegui was set for the sack and only a handsome win in El Clasico could save him. Even then the consensus seemed to be that only a wide victory margin - a 5-1, for example - would do the job. In the second half, his side might easily have drawn themselves level on more than one occasion but luck did not run their way. Winners of the past three Champions Leagues, they were looking desperately short on confidence, but emerged from the break transformed and almost dragged themselves level in a 10-minute spell of clear superiority. First Marcelo poked home from close range after good work by Isco and substitute Lucas Vazquez down the right, before Luka Modric clipped the inside of the post and Karim Benzema missed with a header. That period of dominance was reminiscent of the 1-0 defeat at CSKA Moscow in the Champions League where they had 23 shots at goal and hit the post twice, and last weekend's 2-1 home defeat by Levante, where they had 33 shots, hit the woodwork three times and had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee. But ultimately, none of this will count in Lopetegui's favour. Madrid have now failed to win in their past five La Liga games, drawing once and losing four, their worst run since May 2009 under Juande Ramos, who lost six in a row at the end of the 2008-09 season. Suarez outshines Barca's big signings In the absence of Lionel Messi, the question was who would be Barca's talisman? Ousmane Dembele, the £135.5m France international forward? Or Coutinho, signed for £142m? In the end it was Suarez who stole the show and defined this classic Clasico encounter in the Argentine's absence. His second goal was perhaps the most vital to his side, as it restored a two-goal cushion following significant Real Madrid pressure, but his third, Barcelona's fourth of the night, was by far the most stylish. The former Liverpool striker dinked a wonderful chip over Thibaut Courtois with Real Madrid ragged at the back. It seemed to mark the point of humiliation that Barca's fans behind Courtois' goal had been dreaming of, and the reaction in the stands matched that of the players on the pitch: sheer glee as they watched their rivals suffer. Late substitute Vidal's header provided the final painful blow, and Dembele even came close to adding a sixth in injury time. The European champions had simply crumbled. And who, now, can suggest Lopetegui is the man to rebuild them? Man of the match - Luis Suarez A dream of a performance in what many consider the biggest match in club football Match stats - Suarez follows Romario and Ronaldinho Excluding Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez is the first Barcelona player to score a hat-trick in El Clasico in La Liga since Romario in 1994. Also not counting Messi, Suarez is the first Barcelona player to score a penalty in El Clasico since Ronaldinho in April 2006. There were 30 passes in the build-up to Philippe Coutinho's goal for Barcelona against Real Madrid, the most of any goal in El Clasico in La Liga since at least 2005-06. Real Madrid have conceded five goals in a competitive game for the first time since November 2010 against Barcelona in La Liga (5-0). Barcelona are unbeaten in each of their past 42 league games at the Nou Camp in (W34 D8), their longest such run since February 1977 (67). Barcelona's Luis Suarez has scored nine league goals against Real Madrid since his debut in the competition during 2014-15, more than any other player in that time. Barcelona have scored in each of their past 22 league games against Real Madrid in La Liga (53 goals total), equalling the best scoring record in El Clasico history in the competition - Real Madrid (22 games between 1959 and 1969). Real Madrid have failed to win in their past five La Liga games (D1 L4), their worst run in the competition since May 2009 under Juande Ramos (five defeats). Marcelo has scored in three consecutive games for Real Madrid for the first time ever in all competitions. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has conceded 19 goals against Barcelona in La Liga, more than against any other side in the competition. \|\|\|\|\| It has been 3,962 days since Messi and Ronaldo were both absent from El Clasico The most famous football fixture in the world: El Clasico. For the past 10 years, it has been a personal playground for two larger-than-life global icons. But neither of them will be playing on Sunday afternoon when Barcelona and Real Madrid lock horns at the Nou Camp. Cristiano Ronaldo, of course, has departed for Juventus after a nine-year stay in Madrid that yielded 450 goals and 15 trophies including four Champions League crowns. And now Lionel Messi is absent too, with Barca's talisman sidelined after breaking his arm in last weekend's 4-2 victory against Sevilla - a result that sent the reigning champions top of the table and gives them the chance to move seven points clear of struggling Real on Sunday. It will be the first Clasico featuring neither Messi nor Ronaldo since December 2007, when Real triumphed with a solitary goal from Julio Baptista in a game featuring other blasts from the past such as Deco, Gianluca Zambrotta, Gabriel Heinze and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Since then, Messi and Ronaldo have been the brightest of stars in the galaxy of world-class talent that is El Clasico: Messi is the fixture's all-time leading scorer (26 goals) and assister (14), while Ronaldo holds the record for the most consecutive Clasicos with a goal (six games, all in 2012). So how will Barca cope with Messi's sudden absence? How will Real overcome their post-Ronaldo hangover? How will the pair's absence affect the wider pattern of the game? Let's take a look. Where are Real's goals without Ronaldo? To say that Real are finding it difficult to come to terms with the summer departures of Ronaldo and equally legendary coach Zinedine Zidane is putting it mildly. Los Blancos have drawn one and lost three of their past four league games, including shock defeats by Alaves and Levante, to drop down to seventh in the table and leave new manager Julen Lopetegui's position hanging by a thread. The root of their problems is obvious: they have only scored once in those four games, and that came from left-back Marcelo in last weekend's 2-1 home defeat by Levante. Even the midweek Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen didn't offer much solace. True, Karim Benzema got on the scoresheet for the first time in nearly two months, but the 2-1 victory - sealed by another goal from Marcelo - was far from convincing, especially in the kind of game they would routinely win by a street when Ronaldo was around. Removing a player who scored at least 40 goals in each of the past eight seasons without adequately replacing him was bound to carry consequences, especially as Ronaldo's departure was only one part of a gradual but significant thinning of the squad, which has left an alarming lack of genuine goalscorers. Ronaldo v Barcelona Messi v Real Madrid Games 30 38 Won 8 17 Win percentage 26% 44.7% Goals 18 26 Assists 1 13 Minutes played 2,537 3,373 When Real won the league and Champions League double in 2017, 48 league goals were provided by Ronaldo, Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez. All of them have now left, with only the unproven Mariano Diaz added. There is still an abundance of creative talent in the squad: any manager would love to be able to call upon Gareth Bale, Isco, Marco Asensio and Benzema. But none of those players are out-and-out scorers, they are players who do most of their best work outside the penalty area, supplying the ammunition rather than firing it. One statistic to illustrate the team's dramatic downturn in firepower is that last year they equalled a world record by scoring in 73 consecutive games, whereas this season they have already been scoreless four times. This week Isco bristled at the suggestion that Real are badly missing Ronaldo, snapping: "We can't cry about someone who didn't want to be here." But the facts speak for themselves. Real possess nothing like the same kind of goal threat since the Portuguese departed. Isco can be excused from the recent drop in form having only just returned following an operation for appendicitis but unless his team-mates significantly improve their output very soon, more tears will flow. Mission impossible: replace Messi Barca boss Ernesto Valverde had a simple answer when asked how he intended to compensate for the loss of Messi in the aftermath of the Argentine's injury last weekend, saying: "I don't know." A few days later full-back Jordi Alba, who enjoys a particularly fruitful relationship with his captain, was similarly downbeat. "Nobody can replace Messi," he lamented. "He's the best player in the world." But, for the short-term, Barca do have to find a way of replacing him, and at least Valverde has plenty of options at his disposal. The most obvious is Ousmane Dembele, the speedy winger who was signed in a £135.5m deal from Borussia Dortmund following the departure of Neymar before the start of last season. Who replaces Messi? Stats in La Liga Ousmane Dembele Rafinha Munir El Haddadi Games played 26 82 96 Goals 6 12 21 Assists 7 10 13 But Dembele's time at the club so far has been maddeningly inconsistent, with the Frenchman looking equally likely to race past three opponents or sloppily concede possession whenever he receives the ball, and regularly provoking the ire of Luis Suarez by concluding a promising run with a wasteful cross or over-ambitious shot. Considering Dembele's shortcomings, the preferred option could be a more advanced role for versatile Sergi Roberto, who was selected for that task the last time Messi missed a Clasico in 2015. On that occasion it worked a treat, with Roberto assisting the opener for Suarez in a thumping a 4-0 victory at the Bernabeu. (Messi appeared from the bench with his team already 3-0 up.) Valverde could also turn to an unknown quantity in the form of Brazilian winger Malcom, who was signed for more than £30m from Bordeaux in the summer but has barely featured so far, making just two brief substitute appearances. Another possibility is homegrown midfielder Rafinha, who had started just twice this season before scoring in Wednesday's win over Inter Milan, the club he joined on loan last term. Valverde could instead choose to bolster the centre of midfield by selecting veteran Arturo Vidal, who has also started just twice since joining from Bayern Munich and got himself into trouble for using social media to voice his dissatisfaction with that lack of playing time. There is also the option of adopting a more conventional 4-4-2 formation with Suarez partnered by young striker Munir El Haddadi. So Barca have plenty of potential solutions for their Messi problem… but none of them look particularly convincing. Marcelo the main beneficiary? Other than whoever eventually replaces Messi, the player most directly affected by the absence of the Argentine should be Real's left-back Marcelo. The dynamic Brazilian is an incredibly important part of Real's attacking approach, illustrated by the fact that he has scored two of their past three goals. However, in previous Clasicos since Messi moved back to the right wing from his 'false nine' role, Marcelo has often - albeit reluctantly - accepted the need to subdue his attacking instincts and give himself a better chance of shackling his adversary. This indirect but important consequence of Messi's presence was articulated by his former international team-mate Pablo Zabaleta. Marcelo played alongside Ronaldo for nine years at Real Madrid "The full-back can't get forward too much because then Messi will be standing behind him, so he can't leave himself exposed," Zabaleta told me for my book. "If you give space to Messi, you'll be in trouble and concede goals. So of course when you play against him you don't try to go forward so much." That observation is backed up by stats: Marcelo's average number of passes per game over his career is 51.8, but in three of his past four Clasico appearances at the Nou Camp that figure drops to just 41. The exception was last season's 2-2 draw, when Marcelo exerted his usual influence with 66 passes but was punished by being caught out of position for both Barca goals. In this particular Clasico, Marcelo will be released from the burden of having to guard Messi and will therefore have the freedom to play his natural game, much to the benefit of Real's attacking play. But Barca could still attempt to target the Brazilian's love for pushing high up the pitch, with Dembele's pace particularly suited to exploiting the gaps he leaves behind if Valverde dares to take an aggressive approach. Either way, it seems certain whichever team adjusts better to Messi's absence will significantly boost their chances of victory.	On Sunday, FC Barcelona defeated Spanish capital football club Real Madrid 5–1 in week 10 of LaLiga at the stadium. One goal each from Philippe Coutinho and Arturo Vidal and a by Luis Suárez guided Barcelona to victory, as the Catalan club reached 21 points, at the top of league table standings. Sergio Busquets wore the captain armband for Barcelona while Sergio Ramos captained the visiting Madrid team. Barcelona's talisman Lionel Messi was not in the team due to a fractured arm. Barcelona opened the scoring early, in the 11th minute. Brazilian forward Coutinho scored the first goal in the 11th minute, assisted by Jordi Alba. A few minutes later, Luka Modrić assisted Gareth Bale who tried to equalise for Real Madrid, but was stopped by Barcelona's goalkeeper . In the 26th minute, Toni Kroos tried a through ball but Marcelo Vieira was caught offside. Two minutes later, French defender Raphaël Varane committed a foul and brought down Barcelona's striker Luis Suárez in the penalty area. After consulting the video assistant referee, match official José María Sánchez awarded Barcelona a penalty kick. Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois guessed the direction of Suárez's kic correctly, but could not stop the spot kick as Barcelona was 2–0 at the half-hour mark. In the 38th minute, Barcelona's midfielder Ivan Rakitić was shown yellow card, and in the next minute, Real Madrid's was booked as well. The first half ended with the Catalan side leading 2–0. In the beginning of the second half, replaced Varane. In the 50th minute, Marcelo scored the goal for Madrid. In the 53rd minute Bale was booked for a bad foul. Karim Benzema's 53rd minute attempt to equalise for Madrid was blocked. In the 69th minute, Barcelona made a substitution, as was substituted off for , and five minutes later, replaced Coutinho. In the 75th minute, Sergi Roberto assisted Suárez and the Uruguayan scored a header as Barcelona led 3–1. Suárez received a yellow card in the 77th minute. Roberto assisted Suárez again, in the 83rd minute. Suárez chipped over Courtois, scoring the fourth Barcelona goal of the game. Arthur was swapped with Arturo Vidal a minute later. Vidal headed Dembélé's cross in the 87th as Barcelona finished the match 5–1, collecting three points from the game. Madrid is currently ninth in the LaLiga standings with fourteen points. This was Madrid's fourth defeat in the ten league games played so far this season. After the match, Real Madrid's captain Ramos said, . ----
categories \| Show, Music xtheband.com I want to be John Doe. As a drummer, I’d like to have the skills of D.J. Bonebrake, the classically trained percussionist of legendary California punk act X, but it’s vocalist/bassist Doe that has the most swagger and charm. He plucks away at his bass maniacally on stage; he’s smooth on the mic and he’s aged pretty well. A poet who continues to write and record to this day (his latest solo effort, A Year in the Wilderness, was released last year), he also owns a shirt that reads, simply, "John Fuckin’ Doe." The band behind classic albums like Los Angeles and Wild Gift is currently on its "13 X 31" tour, honoring the group’s 31st anniversary. A May 22 performance at the TLA with fellow punk/rockabilly enthusiasts The Detroit Cobras confirmed that this odd-numbered celebration wasn’t unjustified — 21 years after its formation, X is still a top live act. The Detroit Cobras were a perfect complement to X, and the crowd certainly agreed. While there wasn’t too much dancing in the TLA — minus a smattering of enthusiastically ungainly adults — there was plenty of hooting and hollering after every Cobras song. Frontwoman Rachel Nagy’s voice is a good selling point — soulful but ever-so-slightly cracked. The band’s sunny, boozy 50-minute cover set included fine cuts from the rock canon, something the slightly older crowd appreciated. It’s cool to see the punk lifers in X. Frontwoman Exene Cervenka still rocks a black granny dress. Like Doe, she’s still artistically active, with a slew of art collages ranging from postcard collections to a NYC gallery show, running through July 18, entitled "Sleep in Spite of Thunder." Billy Zoom looks almost exactly as he did in ‘ 77 — lightly older, of course, but he’s still got the slicked-back blonde coif, the leather jacket and the wolfish grin. As for Bonebrake … he’s bald now, but he dominates the kit fiercely and pounds cans of Guinness awfully well. An incredibly full rendition of "Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not," the first song off X’s debut, marked the beginning of the band’s set, which ended up leaning toward the group’s first two efforts, though a few mid-period tunes like "The New World," "Devil Doll" and "We’re Having Much More Fun" from worked their way in. Tunes like "Adult Books," "We’re Desperate" and "The Hungry Wolf" sound superior live. It was the Los Angeles material, though, that got the biggest response — the band pretty much played that album in its entirety. X often posed for photos while performing. Doe engaged the crowd in conversations about voting, drinking and urban decay. Bonebrake, when he could get away from his kit, was quick with handshakes. Zoom made it a point to have every woman in the room touch his guitar. The instrument’s phallic nature has never been so clear, nor so traumatizing, to me. After playing for an hour, X returned for two encores, busting out a few more favorites before bowing out. Doe and Cervenka trimmed down vocal parts here and there to save energy, but that didn’t bother the crowd. It’s funny — in 1983, X released "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts," a song about being the last active punk act in the U.S. The Ramones and The Clash disbanded long ago; even X’s ’80s hardcore peers have burned out. But in 2008, X is still touring, enticing crowds to "bring the flag." \|\|\|\|\| Though he’s a few years older, the author of this book clearly undertook a musical journey similar to my own, starting with Top 40 and MTV hits in the ‘80s, shifting to the Anglophilia of late ‘80s and early ‘90s 120 Minutes-inspired alternative and modern rock, and finally ending up in the indie-rock world, with much of the book taken up with his GUIDED BY VOICES obsession. Unlike me, he doesn’t seem to have a fascination with all things hardcore, punk, and post-punk, but otherwise I recognize a lot of his baby steps to get to the music he loves as similar to my own. Although I don’t bemoan the fact that music is so much more accessible now than when I first got into it, since there are many advantages to this, reading this book made me wonder if these steps are even possible now with everything available at the click of a mouse. \|\|\|\|\| News \| Concerts \| Events We are also flattered and gratified when supporters conduct their own fundraisers for us, and will post news about these events on our website and/or myspace site. We believe that charity need not involve soggy hankies or rubber chicken dinners and are known industry-wide for our unique, nontraditional approach to special events and fundraisers. Sweet Relief hosts concerts, parties, auctions and other events throughout the year. We've earned a reputation for putting a twist on tired old fashioned can-rattling. Most importantly, we are cautious about keeping our costs to an absolute minimum so the funds that are raised go directly to the musicians who need our help. CONCERTS Benefit concerts are the lifeblood of Sweet Relief. We encourage musicians and club owners around the country to pitch in and help. Join artists Patti Smith, Beck, Everclear, Michelle Shocked, Frank Black, Maria McKee, Sparklehorse, Aimee Mann, and many local luminaries who have generously donated their time and talent to the cause. 2004 TORTOISE headlines benefit concert in CHICAGO! Chicago faves Tortoise, The Eternals, and Hypnotic put on one heck of a rock show at the Abbey Pub in Chicago. Big thanks to everyone who helped to make this happen including the bands, retailers, and of course the ever-wonderful Sarah Dandelles. For more information please visit www.pop-tart.com. More Good Friends; More Great Benefits - Los Angeles JT Productions and Crooked Halo Entertainment. Presented an acoustic benefit concert and silent auction at Molly Malone’s Featured were: Jay Nash, Mare Winningham, Amy Jo Johnson, Bird, Quincy, Garrison Starr, Gabriel Mann, Josh Kelley, Joe Firstman, and Tony Lucca. Friends with Badass Benefits As part of our tenth anniversary celebration and the badass benefits series (in collaboration again with Music for Charity Productions), Sweet Relief made its Nashville debut on August 25th for a four night celebration of our motto: Music Heals. Night One was hosted by beloved radio personality Billy Block Featuring: Jamie O'Neal, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Jeffrey Steele, David Ball, Joy Lynn White, James Otto, Christy Sutherland. Night Two was hosted by Local mover and shaker and manager Kim Webber Featuring: Josh Rouse, Victoria Williams/Mark Olson, Julie Miller, Jason White, Will Kimbrough, Tommy Womack, Last Train Home, Jeff Black and more Starwood Amphitheater John Mayer's concert included a donation from every ticket to Sweet Relief. Perfect timing for a perfectly compassionate artist! Country Music Hall of Fame Industry mixer to stimulate ideas on musicians health care reform. Hosted by Dave Marsh and Lee Ballinger (Rock & Rap Confidential); Music for Charity Productions, and Sweet Relief. EVENTS Tom Freund's 'Sweet Affection' for Sweet Relief "Sweet Affection" is the title and lead off track on Tom Freund's 4th album. Half of the proceeds of this recording go to Sweet Relief! To learn more, please visit www.tomfreund.com. Medicine Ball In 1999 Sweet Relief inaugurated the Medicine Ball as an annual fundraiser honoring the people who've helped make Sweet Relief's world (and the worlds of the musicians we help) a better place. The Medicine Ball usually includes dinner, an awards ceremony, and entertainment - which in the past has featured daring feats by contortionists, fire dancers, and plate spinners as well as incredible musical performances by Beck, Patti Smith, and our very own Victoria Williams. In 2003 our CandyLand themed Medicine Ball honored Fred Davis and Steve Rifkind for their advocacy on behalf of artists and achievements in the industry. Both Fred and Steve have sweetened the lives of those they've touched. click here Raffler Amp AX84/Doberman Music Products in Minnesota built this prototype amplifier and donated it to Sweet Relief. One lucky Texan made a year end contribution and ended up with this one-of-a-kind item from our pals at AX84! 2004 The Worst Records For The Best Cause: Sweet Relief was amused and honored to be chosen by Diesel Clothing Co to benefit from their Bad Record Amnesty Campaign: Following their Global Bad Record Amnesty, Diesel has accumulated the biggest, baddest record collection in the world - over 3000 "classics"! Thousands of so-called music lovers flocked to Diesel stores to hand over their musical misdemeanors. Many came in search of forgiveness and the chance to make a fresh start. Others simply claimed, "it was a present". And Diesel gave the proceeds to, yes, SWEET RELIEF. And just so you can feel all smug when anyone questions your sanity, all the proceeds are going to go to SWEET RELIEF 2003 Sweet Relief Screens... a double-feature screening of Penelope Spheeris' punk documentaries Decline of Western Civilization Part I and III at Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre. Punk heroes Alice Bag (Alice Bag Band), Keith Morris (Circle Jerks) and Lee Ving (Fear) joined us as panelists for the Q&A.; In 2000 we hosted Jeff Buckley Remembered, a premiere of the Jeff Buckley "Fall in Light," which was followed by a CD release party and reception at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. click here 2002 Winter Games Big fun was the name of the game at this year's Winter Games held December 8 at the Ivar Project in Hollywood. Family and friends gathered for heated rounds of bingo, twister, and the chance to stump Comedy Central's famed Music Geek. Famed music geek, Andy Zax, mugs for the camera Mini Golf Summer 2002 - Tom Whalley, Chairman & CEO of Warner Brothers Records, served as Honorary Tournament Marshal for Sweet Relief's first-annual Mini Golf Tournament. Turning the typical ho-hum charity golf tournament on its head, Sweet Relief's party succeeded on all levels. It was a perfect balmy night. As the sun set in a slinky pink, guests took to the green. Competition was, well, non-existent but that didn't stop music industry leaders from finessing their shots and chili dipping their chips out on the Astroturf. Much needed funds were raised, we all had a good time, and the industry was once again reminded that their most precious resource - musicians - must be protected. It's a message we cannot emphasize enough.	X performing at the TLA On Thursday, May 22, X played at the Theater of the Living Arts (TLA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. ''Wikinews'' was there for the concert. The band stopped in Philadelphia as part of their "13 x 31 Anniversary Tour," marking the bands 31st anniversary. The performance was the first since the bands last visit on their "As the World Burns Tour" in 2006, and featured the original line-up of John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake. Having not released an album of new work since 1993's hey Zeus!, the tour is an opportunity for one of punk rock's seminal bands to connect with their fans. The band played a strong set of material from their first four albums, all recorded during the years of 1980 - 1983. No material from their last two studio albums was played, with some citing the strong preferences of guitarist Billy Zoom for the earlier work. X came on stage around 10:30 pm and played until close to midnight. Their full-throttle set started with "Your Phone's Off the Hook, But You’re Not," and didn’t slow down after that, although slowing down might be hard seeing as the set was classic punk – high energy songs full of angst and anger. This was moderated though by Doe’s on-going comments to the audience and Zoom's mugging. Exene, dressed in an oversize black dress seemed subdued and her vocals seemed quieter than usual – though her off-key harmonizing with Does’ vocals was true to the song's original recordings. During the second encore they were joined by Rachel Nagy who provided additional vocals. That encore was delayed by Zoom, who was in the audience seemingly determined to meet every woman in the audience. While X has not produced an album of new material in 21 years, the band did visit recently as their alter-ego, The Knitters. Each of the members of the band has kept busy. Doe has released several solo albums and tours regularly and acts on television; Cervenka fronts the band, the Original Sinners, as well as spoken word performances; Zoom works as an album producer for other bands, and designs his own line of amps and guitars; while Bonebrake works with the Bonebrake Syncopators and Orchestra Superstring. The opening act for X was the Detroit Cobras. The Cobras, fronted by singer Nagy and guitarist Mary Ramirez, provided an energetic opening for the headliners. The word for the night was fun as the members of X spent a good deal of time watching the opening act from the sides of the stage, with Zoom flirting with guitarist Ramirez and coming out on stage to wrestle with her. The Cobras returned the favor by dancing on stage during the last third of X's set. On this tour, X has donated sets of tickets to the non-profit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund to provide assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems.
Hurricane ADRIAN ZCZC MIATCPEP1 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN TROPICAL DEPRESSION ADRIAN ADVISORY NUMBER 13 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 8 AM PDT FRI MAY 20 2005 ...ADRIAN DISSIPATING OVER HONDURAS...STILL PRODUCING HEAVY RAINS... AT 8 AM PDT...1500Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION ADRIAN WAS DISSIPATING NEAR LATITUDE 15.0 NORTH... LONGITUDE 87.5 WEST...OR INLAND OVER WESTERN HONDURAS. THE DISSIPATING DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 17 MPH...28 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 30 MPH... 45 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1007 MB...29.74 INCHES. ADRIAN IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES OVER HONDURAS DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM-TOTAL AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS IN ASSOCIATION WITH ADRIAN. REPEATING THE 8 AM PDT POSITION...15.0 N... 87.5 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHEAST NEAR 17 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 30 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1007 MB. THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ON THIS SYSTEM UNLESS REGENERATION OCCURS. FORECASTER KNABB/AVILA $$ NNNN \|\|\|\|\| BAGHDAD - Iraqi government forces got within a kilometer (half a mile) of the country's biggest refinery on Friday, the closest they have come to breaking an Islamic State siege of the facility during months of fighting, two army officers and a witness said. \|\|\|\|\| By Carlos Mario Marquez San Salvador - Hurricane Adrian was downgraded to a tropical storm after making landfall on Friday in El Salvador, quickly losing wind speed but still packing torrential rains and flash-flood danger, as thousands of evacuees await news they can go home. Hurricane wind speeds that at one point reached 140km/h when Adrian was over the Pacific Ocean have slowed to near 100km/h as the tropical storm was now over central El Salvador travelling north-east at 19km per hour, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre said in a statement at 9am. Hurricane warnings along the coast of El Salvador have been replaced with a tropical storm warning as the circulation of the storm continues dwindling with the centre predicting that it may dissipate altogether before reaching the Caribbean Sea. 'For anyone who has children, the situation is worrisome' The centre, however, continued to warn against rainfall accumulations of 15 to 25 centimetres with isolated higher amounts of near 50 centimetres in the mountains, warning of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. Ahead of the storm, El Salvador authorities evacuated 19 000 people in the path of swollen rivers in the western part of the country, while the streets of San Salvador emptied of people in the evening hours forcing restaurants, shops and movie theatres to close early. In Honduras, where Adrian was expected to reach later on Friday, emergency services had earlier prepared to evacuate up to 160 000 people from coastal areas and flood prone regions. Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos said in Managua: "A yellow alert has been declared beginning Thursday to last 48 hours." Central America is still recovering from flooding triggered by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed more than 11 000 in the region and left about 1,5 million homeless. 'I don't think anyone expected a hurricane' Martin Nelson, with the National Hurricane Centre, said it was "rare, although not unheard of," for a storm that gathers in the Pacific to move eastward and across Central America. "It's been a few years since that happened," Nelson said. Virtually the entire region across Central America has been on alert since Wednesday in preparation for the hurricane's arrival. In El Salvador, Family Affairs Minister Auda Prieto said the government had seven tons of beans, rice and corn ready for emergency delivery, enough to feed about 500 000 families. In the San Salvador, markets on Thursday were bursting with customers buying emergency supplies. "For anyone who has children, the situation is worrisome," said Victor Campos, 30, who was at San Salvador's main open-air market with his wife. "In El Salvador we are accustomed to earthquakes and storms, but I don't think anyone expected a hurricane," he said. If Adrian holds together after crossing Honduras, it is expected to to head out over the Caribbean Sea where it could pick up speed once again.Martin Nelson, with the National Hurricane Centre, said it was "rare, although not unheard of," for a storm that gathers in the Pacific to move eastward and across Central America. "It's been a few years since that happened," Nelson said.Virtually the entire region across Central America has been on alert since Wednesday in preparation for the hurricane's arrival.In El Salvador, Family Affairs Minister Auda Prieto said the government had seven tons of beans, rice and corn ready for emergency delivery, enough to feed about 500 000 families.In the San Salvador, markets on Thursday were bursting with customers buying emergency supplies."For anyone who has children, the situation is worrisome," said Victor Campos, 30, who was at San Salvador's main open-air market with his wife. "In El Salvador we are accustomed to earthquakes and storms, but I don't think anyone expected a hurricane," he said.	Tropical Depression Adrian May 20 15:45 UTC Hurricane Adrian appears to be dissipating over Honduras, but is still providing heavy rainfall to the region. At 8 a.m. PDT, the center of now Tropical Depression Adrian was dissipating at 15.0° N, 87.5°W and was inland over western Honduras. It is moving toward the northeast at about 17 mph (28 km/h) with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h). The Salvadoran Comité de Emergencia Nacional (National Emergency Committee) reported that over 15,400 people were evacuated from high risk areas. Tropical Depression Adrian is expected to produce an additional 4 to 6 inches of rainfall over Honduras over the next 24 hours, and mudslides are a major fear for residents. The National Hurricane Center has discontinued its public advisories for Adrian unless the storm regenerates.
Billy Joel Billy Joel's 32 Coliseum shows Explore the Piano Man's Coliseum history, 1977-now. Long Island Taxpayer cash for felon's nonprofit Elected officials have steered $1.38M in taxpayer dollars and other assistance to the organization, a Business Does your grocer have violations? Check to see if your supermarket or grocery store received any violations using our interactive Long Island LI battling 'zombie house' epidemic Long Island is being called the 'epicenter' of the 'zombie house' problem. Newsday Long Island through the years A collection of nostalgic photos from LI's rich history. \|\|\|\|\| NEW YORK An American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to London on Thursday was diverted to JFK Airport after crew reported a suspicious passenger, an airline spokesman said. A crew member recognized and questioned a person from the employee shuttle and determined the passenger was not an American Airlines employee, causing Flight 136 to Heathrow to be diverted to the New York airport. The flight attendant on the plane apparently became suspicious of a male passenger because there was "some confusion as to whether the man was properly security screened" before boarding at Los Angeles International Airport, a law enforcement official said. Authorities were questioning the passenger Thursday morning at Kennedy International Airport, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak to the media. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the incident may have been a miscue. "The individual in question was, in fact, an employee who was traveling in a private capacity," Chertoff told a cable news network, saying he had gotten information from airline representatives. "It may very well turn out that this is nothing more than a misunderstanding with an employee." (Story continues below) Advertise Here Advertisements Advertisements The scare followed on the heels of a new threat assessment and Chertoff's comment earlier this week that he had a "gut feeling" the United States faced a heightened risk of attack this summer. The new threat assessment from U.S. counterterrorism analysts said Al Qaeda restored its operating capabilities to a level unseen since the months before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The diverted plane, carrying 230 passengers, landed in New York about 3:30 a.m., said Alan Hicks, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport. He said the agency was told about an hour earlier that Flight 136 was being diverted. The plane’s cabin was to be searched and passengers were to be screened and reassigned flights at JFK. The plane was still at the airport later Thursday morning, Hicks said. The Department of Homeland Security told FOX News that the situation had been resolved and that the passenger had a valid round-trip ticket purchased on April 19. A message left with an after-hours contact number at AMR Corp.'s American Airlines in Fort Worth, Texas, was not immediately returned. \|\|\|\|\| One of these Prizes is Yours: Dell Inspiron Laptop, iPad mini, Samsung 65"! Participation Required. HelpfulHint.net/Free_iPad \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An American Airlines flight was diverted to New York early on Thursday after the crew reported a suspicious passenger in what the U.S. homeland security chief later said may have been a misunderstanding. The Transportation Security Administration said American Flight 136 from Los Angeles to London made an emergency landing at JFK Airport around 4 a.m. (9 a.m British time). The decision to divert was made after a flight attendant became suspicious about the behaviour of one of the passengers, the airline said in a statement. American Airlines said the passenger has been handed over to the FBI. It offered no further details. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told CNN he had received a report the man in question was an employee who was travelling in a private capacity. "It may very well turn out that this is nothing more than a misunderstanding with an employee who used an employee bus to get on a plane for a private flight," Chertoff said. CNN said security agents boarded the plane and took a man off. The network said the pilot initially told passengers the plane did not have enough gas. The Boeing 777-200 was carrying 218 passengers and 14 crew members, according to the airline statement. \|\|\|\|\| More AP Plane Diverted To JFK; Officials Say No Ties To Terrorism POSTED: 6:31 am EDT July 12, 2007 A flight from Los Angeles to London was diverted to New York early Thursday because a passenger was believed to have breached security. Within hours, federal officials dismissed the possibility of terrorism. A flight attendant on the American Airlines plane became concerned that a passenger might not have gone through proper security screening before boarding the London Heathrow Airport-bound flight at Los Angeles International Airport Wednesday evening, said airline spokeswoman Sonja Whitemon. A flight attendant on the American Airlines plane became concerned that a passenger might not have gone through proper security screening before boarding the London Heathrow Airport-bound flight at Los Angeles International Airport Wednesday evening, said airline spokeswoman Sonja Whitemon. The flight attendant had seen the male passenger ride to the terminal on an employee bus and bypass security, as employees are able to do, Whitemon said. The flight attendant had seen the male passenger ride to the terminal on an employee bus and bypass security, as employees are able to do, Whitemon said. After talking to the passenger, flight crew members decided they needed to divert the plane to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to search the cabin and re-screen the 230 passengers, in keeping with standard security procedures, she said. After talking to the passenger, flight crew members decided they needed to divert the plane to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to search the cabin and re-screen the 230 passengers, in keeping with standard security procedures, she said. The incident appeared to have "no nexus to terrorism," the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement. The incident appeared to have "no nexus to terrorism," the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement. Authorities were questioning the passenger Thursday morning at JFK, officials said. Authorities were questioning the passenger Thursday morning at JFK, officials said. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told CNN the passenger may have been an airline worker traveling for pleasure, but Whitemon said she could not confirm whether the passenger was an airline employee. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told CNN the passenger may have been an airline worker traveling for pleasure, but Whitemon said she could not confirm whether the passenger was an airline employee. The plane landed at JFK at about 3:30 a.m., said Alan Hicks, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport. The plane landed at JFK at about 3:30 a.m., said Alan Hicks, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport. The flight was later canceled because the unplanned stop ended up exhausting the crew's allowed flight time, and passengers were transferred to other flights, Whitemon said. The flight was later canceled because the unplanned stop ended up exhausting the crew's allowed flight time, and passengers were transferred to other flights, Whitemon said. The flight scare came amid renewed anxieties about potential terrorist attacks. Chertoff said this week he had a "gut feeling" that the United States faced a heightened risk of attack this summer. The flight scare came amid renewed anxieties about potential terrorist attacks. Chertoff said this week he had a "gut feeling" that the United States faced a heightened risk of attack this summer. Numerous government officials have said they know of no specific, credible threat of a new attack on U.S. soil. Numerous government officials have said they know of no specific, credible threat of a new attack on U.S. soil. IMAGES IN THE NEWS © 2007 by WNBC.com The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Sign Up For E-mail Alerts Sign up for wnbc.com E-mail Alerts for news, weather, sports and more directly in your inbox. Click here for more details. Select a feed... Local News National News Entertainment News Sports News Health News Money News Irresistible Headlines Videos \|\|\|\|\| Jul 12, 2007 9:43 am US/Eastern L.A.-London Flight Diverted To JFK Crew Alerted To Suspicious Passenger, TSA Tells CBS 2 News (© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. ) \|\|\|\|\| More construction, manufacturing and curbside retail pickups have begun in parts of New York state. Shuttered sectors of the economy started reopening slowly Friday in a wide strip down the middle of the state that was spared the brunt of the outbreak. 7 hours ago	FAA diagram for John F. Kennedy International Airport. An American Airlines plane, Flight 136 carrying 230 passengers was traveling from Los Angeles, California to London, England when it was diverted to John F. Kennedy International Airport due to a suspicious passenger. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) states that "the flight crew alerted security to a suspicious person on board" and the plane was then diverted to JFK Airport while it was still en route to London. The plane made an emergency landing at 4:00 a.m. (eastern time). The man was traveling alone, and was taken into custody after the plane landed safely. Reports also say that the unnamed individual was riding an employee bus, then boarded the plane, but does not have proper identification which says he works for the airline. "It may very well turn out that this is nothing more than a misunderstanding with an employee who used an employee bus to get on a plane for a private flight," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. The man boarded the plane without proceeding through security screenings, but Chertoff states that the Middle Eastern man had purchased a round trip ticket for the flight. "The individual in question was, in fact, an employee who was traveling in a private capacity," added Chertoff. Andrea McCauley, a spokeswoman for the TSA says the flight has been canceled, and all passengers were being checked, along with the plane, but authorities did not find anything suspicious. Passengers were told that the plane had run out of fuel and are being reassigned to different flights.
A STOLEN generations member's claim that Aboriginal children were taken from their families and used as "guinea pigs" to trial a leprosy drug has shocked the Federal Government into scouring its records for more information. Aboriginal elder Kathleen Mills made the allegation yesterday in Darwin on day one of a Senate inquiry into compensation for the stolen generations. She said some children held at the city's Kahlin Compound in the 1920s and '30s had been injected with a leprosy serum that made them sick and almost killed them. The compound, a holding house for half-caste Aborigines, closed after World War II. While Ms Mills's claim was based on the recollections of her uncle, a medical orderly at the compound, it was given weight last night by another source, who confirmed a Darwin family had been subjected to similar testing at another institution in the city, the leprosarium, as late as the 1960s. This may suggest such experimentation was systemic. "What you heard today wasn't the worst of all the stories," Ms Mills told the Herald last night. "Whether you're prodding them with sticks and needles, the actual removal of children from their mothers and their countries without any records is the issue." She told the inquiry: "These are the things that have not been spoken about. As well as being taken away, they were used there are a lot of things that Australia does not know about." Ms Mills said information to do with the testing would be in health department archives and she called on the Government to assist "opening Pandora's box". The Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, promised to do anything she could to get the facts. "These are obviously very serious allegations," Ms Roxon said. "I have requested my department to examine their archives to determine if there are any documents that can shed any light on this situation." Ms Mills said her uncle had told her about the drug's effects. "It made our people very ill and he said the treatment almost killed them," she told ABC radio outside the inquiry. The Greens Senator Bob Brown, who was at the inquiry, said: "It's clearly a matter that's worrying indigenous people so it should be investigated. First, we have to find out if there's any records of experimentation." An expert on leprosy, Clem Boughton, said he had not heard of such claims but it was possible they were triggered by early uses of sulfone drugs which provided the first effective treatment of leprosy. A former professor of infectious diseases at Prince Henry Hospital in Sydney, now in his 80s, Dr Boughton said the claims should be treated with caution. "It could be they were using preparations of sulfones to see how effective they were," Dr Boughton said. "This would not be deliberately targeted at Aboriginal people because there was a lot of leprosy around then. Patients themselves would want to have the treatment even if it was a bit experimental because it was their only hope." Ms Mills said she raised it to highlight the problem Aborigines had accessing their records. But she worried last night it would detract from the bigger issue of compensation. "It was like throwing the cat among the pigeons and there's a lot of fluttering now." with AAP and Mark Metherell \|\|\|\|\| Some Stolen Generations children used in research Injected with leprosy treatments, inquiry told Award-winning Culture in Crisis special SOME Aboriginal children who were taken from their parents and put into institutions were used as medical guinea pigs, a senate inquiry has been told. Greens Senator Bob Brown said he was "shocked and alarmed" by the allegations, heard today by the senate legal and constitutional committee's inquiry into a Stolen Generation Compensation Bill 2008. On the first day of hearings in Darwin today, Kathleen Mills from the Stolen Generations Alliance said the public did not know the full extent of what happened to some children. And efforts to obtain records that support the claims, such as that children were injected with serums to gauge their reaction to the medication, had been hampered, she said. "These are the things that have not been spoken about," Ms Mills told the inquiry. "As well as being taken away, they were used ... there are a lot of things that Australia does not know about." Outside the inquiry, Ms Mills said her uncle had been a medical orderly at the Kahlin Compound in Darwin. She said he told her that children were used as "guinea pigs" for leprosy treatments. "He said it made our people very, very ill ... the treatment almost killed them," she said. "It was a common experience and a common practice ... People are very inhibited to speak about their experience and it is not a nice subject ... I don't want them to be shamed." Senator Brown said it was important to get to the bottom of the claims, which he called "very, very serious". "It may be right, it may not," he said. "It needs investigation. If within the indigenous community there is a feeling that children may have been experimented upon for a treatment for leprosy or anything else, the air needs to be cleared." Ms Mills said information to do with the testing would be in health department archives and she called on the Government to assist "opening Pandora's box". She also said it was important to work with indigenous groups to ascertain who is eligible for compensation. "It has to happen ... but there's this reluctance to do it," she said. "We don't have the necessary information ... it's probably tucked away in some archive but we don't have the resources to research, we don't have the people who are qualified." The compensation Bill aims to pay money to victims of the stolen generations, including living descendants, out of a Stolen Generations Fund. Ex gratia payments would be set at $20,000 as a common experience payment with an additional $3,000 for each year of institutionalisation. Rodney Dillon, from the National Sorry Day Committee, said that while the Government debated action, Aboriginal elders entitled to compensation were dying. "We are going to lose a lot of people between now and the next time this Bill is put on the table," he said. Share this article NEWS.com.au is not responsible for the content of external sites.	During the opening day of a Senate inquiry into compensation for Australia's "Stolen Generations", Aboriginal elder Kathleen Mills has claimed that children held in Darwin's Kahlin Compound in the 1920s and '30s were injected with an experimental serum. The serum, a treatment for leprosy, had severe adverse effects. According to Mills, "it made our people very, very ill ... the treatment almost killed them". Mills' claim, aimed at highlighting the difficulty experienced by Aboriginal people in accessing records, has had the effect of "throwing the cat among the pigeons", and Mills has asked for the Government's assistance in "opening Pandora's box" with regards to records she says will be found in departmental archives. The Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, has called on her staff to search for any relevant documents. "These are obviously very serious allegations," Roxon said. The term "Stolen Generations" refers to a government practice in the 20th century where Aboriginal and half-caste children were removed from their families and raised in institutions such as the Kahlin Compound, or in foster families. Awareness of the practice was raised in the 1997 report ''Bringing Them Home'', which recommended the Government offer recompense to victims of the act and issue a formal apology. The Prime Minister at the time, John Howard, issued a statement of regret but refused to offer an apology. In February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued the apology, which was accepted unanimously by Parliament, and the Stolen Generations Fund and Senate inquiry were established to process claims for compensation.
Mr Litvinenko's condition deteriorated rapidly in hospital Radiation briefing Mr Litvinenko's death has been linked to the presence of a "major dose" of radioactive polonium-210 in his body. Scotland Yard confirmed traces were also found at his home, a sushi bar and a hotel, but the risk to others was said by health experts to be very low. The Kremlin has denied UK citizen Mr Litvinenko's claims it was involved. The traces were found at the Itsu sushi restaurant in Piccadilly, the Millennium Hotel, Grosvenor Square, and at Mr Litvinenko's home in Muswell Hill, north London, Scotland Yard said. Information Moscow has been asked to help British police in their investigations, the Foreign Office has said. Officials discussed the issue with the Russian Ambassador, Yuri Fedotov, at a meeting this afternoon, said a spokeswoman. Officers are looking at CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses, trying to find out who he met around the time he fell ill on 1 November, said Peter Clarke, head of the Counter Terrorism Command which is leading the investigation. Tests are also being carried out at the two London hospitals where Mr Litvinenko had been treated, University College and the Barnet General, the Health Protection Agency said. Professor Pat Troop from the HPA told a news conference that the tens of hospital staff who had come into contact with him would be monitored. RADIATION TYPES Alpha particles are stopped by a sheet of paper and cannot pass through unbroken skin Beta particles are stopped by an aluminium sheet Gamma rays are stopped by thick lead She said Mr Litvinenko would have had to either eaten, inhaled or been given the dose of polonium-210 through a wound. She said the nature of death as an "unprecedented event in the UK". Roger Cox from the HPA said a large quantity of alpha radiation emitted from polonium-210 had been detected in Mr Litvinenko's urine. The radiation cannot pass through the skin, and must be ingested or inhaled into the body to cause damage. He said people who came into contact with Mr Litvinenko's excreta - including sweat - could in theory be affected, but described the risk as "insignificant". POLONIUM-210 a highly radioactive and toxic element present in foods and tobacco in low doses small amounts occurs naturally in the body can be manufactured using the bombardment of neutrons has industrial uses such as in anti-static devices very dangerous if significant dose ingested external exposure not a risk 'No radiation risk' to public What is polonium-210? As the conference drew to a close, a heckler interrupted saying he was from Ukraine and had also been the victim of poisoning. A post-mortem examination on Mr Litvinenko has not been held yet. The delay is believed to be over concerns about the health implications for those present at the examination. The Home Office said anybody concerned should contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, who have been briefed about the issues. Meanwhile, the government's civil contingencies committee Cobra has met to discuss the case. 'Sheer nonsense' Friends have said Mr Litvinenko was poisoned because of his criticism of Russia. In a statement dictated before he died at University College Hospital on Thursday, the 43-year-old accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of involvement in his death. Mr Litvinenko had recently been investigating the murder of his friend, Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, another critic of the Putin government. LITVINENKO TIMELINE 1 Nov - Alexander Litvinenko meets two Russian men at a London hotel and then meets Italian academic Mario Scaramella at a sushi bar in Piccadilly. Hours later he falls ill and is admitted to Barnet General Hospital 17 Nov - Mr Litvinenko is transferred to UCH 19 Nov - Reports say Mr Litvinenko is poisoned with thallium 21 Nov - A toxicologist says he may have been poisoned with "radioactive thallium" 22 Nov - Mr Litvinenko's condition deteriorates overnight. Thallium and radiation ruled out 23 Nov - The ex-spy dies in intensive care Litvinenko statement in full Reaction: Russian's death Timeline of case in full Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated the Kremlin's earlier dismissal of allegations of involvement in the poisoning as "sheer nonsense". Mr Putin himself has said Mr Litvinenko's death was a tragedy, but he saw no "definitive proof" it was a "violent death". Police have been examining two meetings Mr Litvinenko had on 1 November - one at a London hotel with a former KGB agent and another man, and a rendezvous with Italian security consultant Mario Scaramella, at the sushi restaurant in the West End. Mr Litvinenko, who was granted asylum in the UK in 2000 after complaining of persecution in Russia, fell ill later that day. In an interview with Friday's Telegraph newspaper, former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi said he had met Mr Litvinenko at the Millennium Hotel but vigorously denied any involvement in the poisoning. Mr Scaramella, who is involved in an Italian parliamentary inquiry into Russian secret service activity, said they met because he wanted to discuss an e-mail he had received. \|\|\|\|\| Traces of the radioactive substance have since been discovered on two British Airways flights What is polonium-210? It is a naturally occurring radioactive material that emits highly hazardous alpha (positively charged) particles. It was first discovered by Marie Curie at the end of the 19th century. There are very small amounts of polonium-210 in the soil and in the atmosphere, and everyone has a small amount of it in their body. But at high doses, it damages tissues and organs. However the substance, historically called radium F, is very hard for doctors to identify. Philip Walker, professor of physics, University of Surrey said: "This seems to have been a substance carefully chosen for its ability to be hard to detect in a person who has ingested it." What is the risk to other people from the dose Mr Litvinenko received? It cannot pass through the skin, and must be ingested or inhaled into the body to cause damage. And because the radiation has a very short range, it only harms nearby tissue. However, there is a theoretical risk that anyone who came into contact with the urine, faeces, and possibly even sweat, of Mr Litvinenko could ingest a small amount of the polonium. William Gelletly, professor of physics at the University of Surrey, said: "Polonium-210 is very unlikely to have contaminated any staff who treated Mr Litvinenko or anyone who came in contact with him since they would have had to ingest or breathe in the contaminated fluids from his body." Where does polonium-210 usually occur? It has industrial uses such as static control and as a heat source for satellite power supplies, but is not available in these areas in a form conducive to easy poisoning. It is also present in tobacco. Professor Dudley Goodhead, Medical Research Council Radiation and Genome Stability Unit, said: "To poison someone much larger amounts are required and this would have to be man-made, perhaps from particle accelerator or a nuclear reactor." Where would someone obtain polonium 210 from? Although it occurs naturally in the environment, acquiring enough of it to kill would require individuals with expertise and connections. It would also need sophisticated lab facilities - and access to a nuclear reactor. Alternatively, it could have been obtained from a commercial supplier. Polonium 210 can either be extracted from rocks containing radioactive uranium or separated chemically from the substance radium-226. Production of polonium from radium-226 would need sophisticated lab facilities because the latter substance produces dangerous levels of penetrating radiation. How could polonium 210 have got onto the BA flights? It is not clear whether the polonium was carried on to the flight in its raw form in some type of container, such as a vial, or whether the source of the radiation was a passenger who had ingested the polonium before boarding the flight. Jon Miles, group leader for airborne radionuclides at the Health Protection Agency, said both ways were feasible. He said: "It is possible if it was in a vial that was not well sealed it could have got out. It is a material that does spread very easily." If ingested, polonium 210 comes out in sweat, vomit, urine and faeces. Mr Miles said that if these contaminated fluids were on a person's clothes they could rub off. He said the health advice for the flight passengers would be similar to that for the people who had dined at the West End sushi restaurant where Mr Litvinenko had dined. "Those actually there at the time will probably need to get in touch for more detailed analysis. But those on a later flight on the same plane might not have to because the risk is much lower." \|\|\|\|\| Mr Litvinenko's condition deteriorated rapidly in hospital Litvinenko statement Mr Litvinenko, 43, who died in a London hospital on Thursday evening and is thought to have been poisoned, said his killer was "barbaric and ruthless". Protest from around the world "will reverberate, Mr Putin, in your ears for the rest of your life," he said. The Kremlin has dismissed allegations it was involved as "sheer nonsense". Scotland Yard said officers were now investigating "an unexplained death". Anti-terror police are leading the investigation, and it is still unclear what killed the former KGB agent. Friends have said he was poisoned because of his criticism of Russia. 'Barbaric and ruthless' In the statement, read out by his friend Alex Goldfarb outside University College Hospital, London, Mr Litvinenko said he had a "message to the person responsible for my present condition". LITVINENKO TIMELINE 1 Nov - Alexander Litvinenko meets two Russian men at a London hotel and also meets Italian academic Mario Scaramella at a sushi bar in Piccadilly. Hours later he falls ill and is admitted to Barnet General Hospital 17 Nov - Mr Litvinenko is transferred to UCH 19 Nov - Reports say Mr Litvinenko is poisoned with thallium 21 Nov - A toxicologist says he may have been poisoned with "radioactive thallium" 22 Nov - Mr Litvinenko's condition deteriorates overnight. Thallium and radiation ruled out 23 Nov - The ex-spy dies in intensive care Litvinenko statement in full Reaction: Russian's death Timeline of case in full "You may succeed in silencing me, but that silence comes at a price. "You have shown yourself to be as barbaric and ruthless as your most hostile critics have claimed." "The howl of protest from around the world will reverberate Mr Putin in your ears for the rest of your life," the statement added. The statement was dictated on 21 November, when Mr Litvinenko realised he could die. Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated the Kremlin's earlier dismissal of allegations of involvement in the poisoning as sheer nonsense. "Any death is always a tragedy," he said. "Now it's up to the UK law enforcement agencies to investigate what happened." 'Excruciating death' After Mr Goldfarb had read out the statement, Mr Litvinenko's elderly father, Walter - who flew to the UK from Russia this week - said his son had been killed by a "tiny nuclear bomb". Even before his death, in such a state, he never lost his human dignity Walter Litvinenko Obituary: Alexander Litvinenko "It was an excruciating death, he was taking it as a real man," he said. "Even before his death, in such a state, he never lost his human dignity." Mr Litvinenko had recently been investigating the murder of his friend, Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, another critic of the Putin government. Russian dissident Oleg Gordievsky, a former KGB colonel and friend of Mr Litvinenko, maintained that the poisoning had been the work of the Russians. The Russian security service had "sent a man with a poisonous pill to Britain", put a pill into Mr Litvinenko's tea and killed him, he told BBC News. Intelligence analyst Glenmore Trenear Harvey said Mr Litvinenko had "made a lot of enemies" when he had been tasked with fighting corruption during his time with the Federal Security Service (FSB) - the KGB's successor. Mr Harvey also said the poisoning could have been carried out by the "Russian mafia", made up of former-KGB men who had formed the group when the service broke up. "So I think that while one could say they were trained by the KGB this is not in any way a Russian intelligence service hit," he told BBC News. London meetings Before Mr Litvinenko's death, police said they suspected "deliberate poisoning" was behind his illness. HAVE YOUR SAY I really hope the police will continue investigating and find out what really happened to Litvinenko Anastasia, Manchester Send us your comments Mr Litvinenko, who was granted asylum in the UK in 2000 after complaining of persecution in Russia, fell ill later that day. In an interview with Friday's Telegraph newspaper, former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi said he had met Mr Litvinenko at the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square but vigorously denied any involvement in the poisoning. Mr Scaramella, who is involved in an Italian parliamentary inquiry into Russian secret service activity, said they met because he wanted to discuss an e-mail he had received. Speaking in Friday's Times, film-maker Andrei Nekrasov said that, before he fell unconscious for the last time, his friend had told him: "I want to survive, just to show them. The bastards got me but they won't get everybody." \|\|\|\|\| He said he could hear "the beating of wings of the angel of death" Litvinenko statement I would like to thank many people. My doctors, nurses and hospital staff who are doing all they can for me, the British police who are pursuing my case with vigour and professionalism and are watching over me and my family. I would like to thank the British government for taking me under their care. I am honoured to be a British citizen. I would like to thank the British public for their messages of support and for the interest they have shown in my plight. I thank my wife Marina, who has stood by me. My love for her and our son knows no bounds. But as I lie here I can distinctly hear the beating of wings of the angel of death. I may be able to give him the slip but I have to say my legs do not run as fast as I would like. I think, therefore, that this may be the time to say one or two things to the person responsible for my present condition. You may succeed in silencing me but that silence comes at a price. You have shown yourself to be as barbaric and ruthless as your most hostile critics have claimed. You have shown yourself to have no respect for life, liberty or any civilised value. You have shown yourself to be unworthy of your office, to be unworthy of the trust of civilised men and women. You may succeed in silencing one man but the howl of protest from around the world will reverberate, Mr Putin, in your ears for the rest of your life. May God forgive you for what you have done, not only to me but to beloved Russia and its people. Alexander Litvinenko 21 November 2006 \|\|\|\|\| Speaking before UK police said they had found radioactive material in his body, Mr Putin said there was no evidence Mr Litvinenko's death had been unnatural. Friends of Mr Litvinenko believe he was poisoned by Russian government agents. In a statement made before his death, Mr Litvinenko accused the Russian leader himself of involvement. Kremlin officials have dismissed such allegations as "sheer nonsense". Mr Litvinenko's death has been linked to the presence of a "major dose" of radioactive polonium-210 in his body. British authorities are investigating how it got there. The dead man's friends have alleged he was poisoned because of his criticism of Russia. Mr Litvinenko was granted asylum in the UK in 2000 after complaining of persecution in Russia. 'Howl of protest' "The death of a person is always a tragedy. And I convey my condolences to those close to Mr Litvinenko, to his family," Mr Putin told a news conference in the Finnish capital Helsinki, where he is attending a summit with the EU. Even before his death, in such a state, he never lost his human dignity Walter Litvinenko Litvinenko obituary Denials fail to solve mystery "Meanwhile, as far as I know, in the medical report of British doctors, there is no indication that this was an unnatural death. There is none. That means, there is no reason for discussion of that kind. "I hope that the British authorities will not encourage political scandals that do not have real grounds to be blown up, whatever they are." The accusation against Mr Putin came in a "message to the person responsible for my present condition" read out by Mr Litvinenko's friend Alex Goldfarb. It was dictated on 21 November, when Mr Litvinenko realised he could die. "You may succeed in silencing me, but that silence comes at a price," the statement said. "You have shown yourself to be as barbaric and ruthless as your most hostile critics have claimed. "The howl of protest from around the world will reverberate Mr Putin in your ears for the rest of your life," the statement added. 'Tiny nuclear bomb' After Mr Goldfarb had read out the statement, Mr Litvinenko's elderly father, Walter - who flew to the UK from Russia this week - said his son had been killed by a "tiny nuclear bomb". Mr Litvinenko's condition deteriorated rapidly in hospital Litvinenko statement "It was an excruciating death, he was taking it as a real man," he said. "Even before his death, in such a state, he never lost his human dignity." Mr Litvinenko was a fierce critic of Mr Putin. He alleged that the Russian authorities were responsible for bombings in Moscow seven years ago that killed 200 civilians. The attacks were blamed on Chechen rebels and led to the second Chechen war. He had also recently been investigating the murder of another Putin critic, outspoken Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Mr Litvinenko died in a London hospital on Thursday - more than three weeks after falling ill. \|\|\|\|\| Tools Traces of radioactive polonium have been found in the blood of the deceased Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko, the UK’s Health Protection Agency (HPA) said on Friday. His urine also tested positive for radiation. “This is an unprecedented event in the UK,” said HPA chief executive Pat Troop. “It is the first time someone in the UK has apparently been deliberately poisoned with a radioactive agent.” The agency is now assessing the health risks posed to members of the public who may have come into contact with Litvinenko, including family members and hospital staff who cared for him during the weeks he spent in hospital. They are also trying to decide the safest way for pathologists to conduct an autopsy of his body, and indeed whether such a procedure is safe enough to be performed at all. Litvinenko, aged 43, died on Thursday of heart failure after claiming he had been poisoned in a London restaurant. He was formerly an agent of the Soviet, then the Russian, security service. He specialised in investigating organised crime and its involvement with corrupt officials. High levels of radiation have been discovered in a central London hotel that Litvinenko frequented, and at the sushi restaurant where he said he ate on 1 November 2006. The restaurant has now been closed, said the HPA. “Tests have established that Mr Litvinenko had a significant quantity of the radioactive isotope polonium-210 in his body,” the HPA announced on Friday. “It is not yet clear how this entered his body. Police are investigating this.” Dissolvable salt Litvinenko was not admitted to London's University College Hospital until 17 November. His symptoms, reported to include hair loss, dehydration, vomiting and a very low white blood cell count, are consistent with poisoning by a radioactive material. To poison someone, polonium would most likely have been chemically combined in some type of dissolvable salt, for example polonium nitrate, experts told New Scientist. In this form the material could easily have been added to his food and ingested. Polonium is a radioactive element that is used industrially as an anti-static material. It is difficult to get hold of and not used regularly by research scientists, but very small traces of it occur naturally. The metal is usually made by bombarding the element bismuth with neutrons. "To poison someone, large amounts of polonium-210 are required and this would have to be manmade, perhaps from a particle accelerator or a nuclear reactor," said Dudley Goodhead at the UK's MRC Radiation and Genome Stability Unit. “Polonium has a half-life of 138 days. This means that if that was the poison it will still be in the body and in the area – which makes it relatively easy to identify.” Knocking out electrons Polonium-210 decays to lead-206, which is stable. During the decay it emits alpha particles – two neutrons combined with two protons. These are not able to penetrate most materials, including skin. This means that Litvinenko would have had to ingest the polonium or have it enter his body through a wound or by inhaling it, said Roger Cox, director of the UK’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards. “Alpha particles are ionising. When they strike tissue they knock electrons out of molecules. Such damage can in serious cases wreck cellular machinery resulting in cancer, radiation sickness, or worse," said chemist Andrea Sella at University College London. But the short-range action of alpha particles decreases the risks faced by people who may have come into contact with Litvinenko. Normal hygiene practices would reduce the risks still further, since people would have to ingest or breathe in his bodily fluids or faeces to be at risk, Cox added. Many details are still unknown, such as how much of the material may have been given to Litvinenko. Cox was only able to say that a fatal dose would have to be something greater than 5 grays (a gray is a measurement of the amount of radiation absorbed by body tissue). Organ malfunction Determining the amount of polonium originally given will involve a “backwards analysis”, taking into consideration the radiation currently in his body, the days that have passed since it entered his body, and the half-life of the isotope. In low doses over a long period of time, radiation poisoning produces few symptoms, but an increased risk of cancer. In high doses – as in this case, apparently – organs begin to malfunction within a few days to a few weeks, Cox said. Radioactive poisoning was once used against dissidents by the Stasi, the former security service of East Germany. The Stasi favoured the element scandium (see Cold war, hot secret). Litvinenko left Russia after reportedly falling out with President Vladimir Putin over a failure to crack down on corruption. His job is said to have made him many enemies. Those enemies, he claimed, poisoned him at a meal in a London restaurant on 1 November 2006. He was reportedly a close associate of exiled Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky, himself a politically controversial figure in Russia. On Friday, the British Home Secretary John Reid stated that police have called in experts “to search for any residual radioactive material at a number of locations".	Mr Alexander Litvinenko, reputed to have been an Ex-Russian spy who had defected to Britain, died last night in mysterious circumstances. He had alleged many associations between people in high places and organised international crime, implying that President Putin and Romano Prodi among others had been involved personally. He had sought political asylum in UK in 2000 and became a naturalised citizen in October this year, just weeks before his death. Mr Litvinenko was said to have been investigating the shooting of Russian journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya, a well-known critic of Russian activities in , in her apartment in Moscow October 7, 2006. It is reported that he had met two Russians in a hotel room, one said to be former member of the in connection with the affair and he went on to meet Mario Scaramella at a bar in Piccadilly where some papers were exchanged. Some hours after this he was taken ill. Mr Litvinenko was admitted to , north London on November 1, 2006 complaining of feeling sick. By November 11, he was said to be suffering from ''serious poisoning''. A week later he was transferred to in central London. A week later he was said to have been poisoned by ingesting , once used in rat poison, but, in the opinion of some doctors, there were signs of , including loss of weight and shedding of hair. Various explanations of his condition were offered. Last night he suffered a heart attack, after having left a message blaming President Putin for having him killed. The radioactive -210 was found in his blood and urine as reported by the . The post-mortem was cancelled. Subsequently the Agency examined conditions in the hospitals in which Mr Litvinenko has been treated. Police visited the Itsu sushi restaurant in Piccadilly, his home in Muswell Hill and the Millennium Hotel, Grosvenor Square where the meeting on November 1 had been held. Traces of radiocactivity were found in all three places. It is speculated that the polonium was probably eaten by Litvinenko as a substance that could be combined with a salt-like substance, such as . It was reported that a meeting had been held in Cabinet Office Briefing Room A (COBRA) used for high level emergency planning and control, to consider the implications of these events. The Foreign Office asked Moscow for a response to the accusation of Russian involvement and President Putin himself dismissed the allegations saying (before the cause of death had been established) that there was no proof of an unnatural death and that the case was being used as a "political provocation".
Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos OMG, boy bands – One Direction announced their 2015 tour a mere two months after ending their 2014 one. There's no question that Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Harry Styles are heartthrobs -- not unlike the Rolling Stones were once upon a time, Mick Jagger told CNN . Malik announced on March 25, 2015 that he'd be leaving the group, to fans' dismay. Here are some other boy bands to scream over. Hide Caption 1 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos NSYNC – NSYNC members Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez and Joey Fatone struck gold in the United States with "I Want You Back" in 1998. Before they broke up in 2002, the group established a mega fan base with songs like "No Strings Attached" and "Bye, Bye, Bye." Although they're not together anymore, NSYNC is as popular as ever; you should've heard the shrieking their reunion at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards caused. Hide Caption 2 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos Backstreet Boys – In 1996, the Backstreet Boys released their debut album, "Backstreet's Back." "Millennium," "Black & Blue," "Never Gone," "Unbreakable" and "This Is Us" followed. After parting with the group years ago, Kevin Richardson rejoined A.J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and Nick Carter. They released their album "In a World Like This" in 2013 and embarked on a world tour for their fans. Hide Caption 3 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos New Kids on the Block – Danny Wood, Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre and Jonathan Knight of New Kids on the Block perform live in 2008. The group, which rose to superstardom in the late '80s and early '90s, reunited for 2008's "The Block" and 2011's "NKOTBSB" with the Backstreet Boys. The Kids released their box set "10" in 2013. Hide Caption 4 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos New Edition – Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Ricky Bell, Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill of New Edition perform an homage to Michael Jackson during the 2009 BET Awards. The R&B group's albums include 1983's "Candy Girl" and 1988's "Heart Break," among others. Hide Caption 5 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos 98 Degrees – 98 Degrees perform in 1999, made up of brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre and Jeff Timmons. The group released three albums, in addition to one Christmas album, between 1997 and 2000. Their latest album, "2.0," arrived in 2013. Hide Caption 6 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos Hanson – Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson of Hanson perform in 2001. The brothers became superstars with their 1997 album "Middle of Nowhere" thanks to a little earworm called "MMMBop." Hide Caption 7 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos The Wanted – The Wanted released their self-titled debut album in 2010, and by 2012 their song "Glad You Came" was inescapable. Jay McGuiness, Nathan Sykes, Max George, Siva Kaneswaran and Tom Parker, here after receiving a 2013 People's Choice award, are repped by Justin Bieber's manager Scooter Braun, so they know a thing or two about heartthrobbing. The group has appeared on TV in the E! reality show "The Wanted Life," and their album "Word of Mouth" was released in September 2013. Hide Caption 8 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos Menudo – Menudo performs in 2008. Originally formed in the '70s, they helped launch Ricky Martin's career. The boy band has had many members over the years. Hide Caption 9 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos 2gether – The made-for-TV boy band 2gether debuted on MTV in 2000. Shown here at the 2000 MTV Movie Awards, the guys attracted attention with songs like "U + Me = Us (Calculus)" and "Say It (Don't Spray It)." "2ge+her: The Series" followed the original TV movie, but ended in 2001 when member Michael Cuccione died of cancer. In November 2011 , Alex Solowitz, Evan Farmer, Noah Bastian and Kevin Farley said they were looking to reunite the band. Hide Caption 10 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos The Boys – The Boys released three albums between 1988 and 1992. "Dial My Heart" was the debut single from brothers Khiry, Hakim, Tajh and Bilal Abdulsamad. Hide Caption 11 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos O-Town – Erik-Michael Estrada, Jacob Underwood, Trevor Penick, Dan Miller and Ashley Parker Angel of the group O-Town perform in 2002. The group, which came to be thanks to the first season of MTV's "Making the Band," is perhaps best known for the single "Liquid Dreams" in 2000. Hide Caption 12 of 14 Photos: OMG, boy bands 14 photos LFO – Lyte Funky Ones, also known as LFO, released their first album in 1999. Made up of Rich Cronin, Devin Lima and Brad Fischetti, the boy band referenced New Kids on the Block and gave a shout out to girls who wear Abercrombie & Fitch on their single "Summer Girls." Hide Caption 13 of 14 \|\|\|\|\| Workers have made more than 200 calls to employment law experts requesting compassionate leave because Zayn Malik quit One Direction. The singer, who is engaged to Little Mix star Perrie Edwards, announced he had left the boyband yesterday. Between 6pm last night and 9.30am this morning Manchester-based Peninsula received 220 calls to its Employer Advice Service. Alan Price, employment law director, said ‘it was a situation you just couldn’t make up’. He did however say that it wasn’t ‘unusual’, as when Take That split in 1996 there was a spike in calls from bosses concerned that employees were requesting time off. Mr Price told the M.E.N.: “While I sympathise with One Direction fans, I hardly think this qualified as compassionate leave. “It’s a story you could not make up but I don’t think that Zayn Malik’s departure qualifies for compassionate leave and this is the advice we have had to give to employers. “If employees feel strongly about the issue then request that they take days off as a holiday, but compassionate leave is what you allow if a close relative dies, unless the employer is unaware of family ties with Zayn Malik then I hardly think that this qualifies. "Abusing compassionate leave is inconsiderate to fellow colleagues who may genuinely need the time off.” And it's stirred a WILD debate on the M.E.N's Facebook page....Read it below. The singer was signed off from the group’s world tour last week due to ‘stress’ after pictures emerged of him cosying up to another girl in Thailand. It left legions of fans distraught that he will no longer be performing in Manchester with them later this year. Peninsula this morning told the M.E.N. it had received 220 calls – to its Employer Advice Service – from employers since 6pm Wednesday, March 25 to 9.30am on Thursday, March 26, with workers requesting compassionate leave on the news that Zayn Malik has left One Direction. @AWBellMENMedia Hard to believe but we have received calls from bosses whose staff requested compassionate leave over Zayn Malik leaving 1D — Alan Price (@alan__price) March 26, 2015 Mr Price added: “Strangely, this situation is not unusual, as when Take That split in 1996 there was a spike in calls from bosses concerned that employees were requesting time off, and while I sympathise to a point, you have to ask yourself whether it’s more of an obsession and whether time off is really needed. “If you have employees who request time off then give them the option of holiday leave, this will no doubt make the individual reappraise the situation, chances are they will decline the offer; or if they do take time off, they will not wish to use up all of their entitlement. “It’s worth noting that the dismissal of Jeremy Clarkson has not led to calls.” \|\|\|\|\| Zayn Malik has quit One Direction, the band have confirmed in a statement. Malik said: "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. "I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right." One Direction will continue their world tour as a four piece and record a fifth album later this year. Last week, Malik walked away from the band's world tour after being signed off with stress. He returned to the UK shortly after being forced to defend his relationship with his fiancee, Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards. A photo had earlier emerged of him holding another woman around the waist. A second photo, taken from behind, showed Malik standing close to the woman. Their hands and arms looked as though they were linked. In a statement, the rest of the group said: "We're really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future. "The past five years have been beyond amazing - we've gone through so much together, so we will always be friends. "The four of us will now continue. We're looking forward to recording the new album and seeing all the fans on the next stage of the world tour." Simon Cowell, who discovered the boyband on talent show The X Factor, said: "I would like to say thank you to Zayn for everything he has done for One Direction. "Since I first met Zayn in 2010, I have grown very, very fond - and immensely proud - of him. I have seen him grow in confidence and I am truly sorry to see him leave. "As for One Direction, fans can rest assured that Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis are hugely excited about the future of the band." Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Records in 2010 after finishing third on The X Factor. Zayn's had a tumultuous time with the band and almost quit during bootcamp. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube \|\|\|\|\| Sad to hear about Zayn leaving 1D. Cool fella with a wicked voice. Wish him the best of luck @zaynmalik WAIT WHAT?? Am I hearing this correctly? Zayn has quit One Direction? :( — Zoë (@ZozeeBo) March 25, 2015 6:30pm Who is Zan Malik? He first joined the British supergroup after narrowly avoiding elimination when he appeared on X Factor in 2010. He was initially kicked off the show during the preliminary stages, before the judges decided to group him with four other solo artists - Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson - to form One Direction. Born Zain Malik, the young star is 1D's sole Yorkshireman, hailing from East Bowling, Bradford. He comes from a Muslim family and once tweeted an affirmation of his faith to his millions of followers. He has been engaged to Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards since 2013 and has her face tattooed on his arm. He was previously linked with another member of the X Factor alumni, Rebecca Ferguson. Malik is also One Direction's least popular member on social media - lagging four and a half million twitter followers behind Louis Tomlinson and almost 10 million behind Harry Styles. He found himself the subject of considerable public criticism after a video appearing to show him and fellow band member Tomlinson smoking marijuana in Peru surfaced last year. The pair both apologised and were this week ordered to lodge a £3,000 bond with the Peruvian government, which would be forfeited if they used or promoted the use of the drug during a scheduled show in Manila. Malik again courted controversy a few months later by tweeting Free Palestine during the Israel-Gaza conflict in 2014, prompting outrage from some of the group's Israeli fans. One tweeted: "It broke me that one of my idols wants me to die." Speculation about his future with the band has been mounting since last week when he walked away from their current world tour because he was suffering stress. 6:00pm Lets take a minute to remember the good times 5:45pm Things are getting a little heated over on Twitter. Within 45 minutes of the announcement, One Direction's official statement on Twitter had been re-tweeted 57,000 times and favourited 50,000 times. On Facebook the statement received more than 100,000 likes and 48,000 comments. Despite Malik's departure, One Direction's fan base continued to swell on Twitter and Facebook, adding approximately a thousand new followers and fans every two minutes since the announcement. The departure of Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear just before Malik's exit led some to connect the two. Comedian Dom Joly tweeted: BREAKING NEWS* Clarkson to replace Zayn Malik in One Direction "It'll take some training but we are determined to make it work" — Dom Joly (@domjoly) March 25, 2015 And the Department for Work and Pensions offered its services Hi @zaynmalik, heard your news. Around 735,000 vacancies available at any time. Get job seeking tips here: http://t.co/7MxPeMGLrA #ZaynMalik — DWP Press Office (@dwppressoffice) March 25, 2015 5:28pm Here are the statements in full from Malik, the band and Simon Cowell: Zayn Malik: "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart. "I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world." One Direction: "We're really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future. The past five years have been beyond amazing, we've gone through so much together, so we will always be friends. The four of us will now continue. We're looking forward to recording the new album and seeing all the fans on the next stage of the world tour." Simon Cowell: "I would like to say thank you to Zayn for everything he has done for One Direction. Since I first met Zayn in 2010, I have grown very, very fond - and immensely proud - of him. "I have seen him grow in confidence and I am truly sorry to see him leave. As for One Direction, fans can rest assured that Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis are hugely excited about the future of the band." 5:20pm The news that there are now only four members of One Direction has hit the fans hard. STOP TWEETING 'no 1D without zayn' I MEAN ITS TRUE BUT WOULD YOU LIKE THE BAND BREAK UP? — noura \| fb pls ??? (@coffeecupzjm) March 25, 2015 zayn left one direction???? @god what did i do wrong — liya lasagna (@LoveFromLiyax) March 25, 2015 zayn left one direction???? @god what did i do wrong — liya lasagna (@LoveFromLiyax) March 25, 2015 5:00pm Malik quit the boyband's world tour last week after being "signed off with stress" and returned to the UK after he was forced to defend himself online and declare his love for fiancee Perrie Edwards when pictures emerged of him apparently close to another woman. In a statement, the rest of the group said: "We're really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future. "The past five years have been beyond amazing - we've gone through so much together, so we will always be friends. "The four of us will now continue. We're looking forward to recording the new album and seeing all the fans on the next stage of the world tour." Simon Cowell, who discovered the boyband on talent show The X Factor, said: "I would like to say thank you to Zayn for everything he has done for One Direction. "Since I first met Zayn in 2010, I have grown very, very fond - and immensely proud - of him. I have seen him grow in confidence and I am truly sorry to see him leave. "As for One Direction, fans can rest assured that Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis are hugely excited about the future of the band." After five incredible years Zayn Malik has decided to leave OneDirection. Niall, Harry, Liam and Louis will continue as... Posted by One Direction on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 4:36pm Zayn Malik has left One Direction, the band said in a statement today. We track all the latest as it happens. They said they would continue as a four-piece for their world tour and record another album - their fifth - later this year. Malik said: "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. "I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right."	Malik pictured while performing with One Direction in 2012. , one of the members of British pop boy-band , has left the group after five years. The band confirmed yesterday that Malik has left the group with a statement on Facebook. They also announced they would continue with the remaining four members and their fifth album would be recorded later this year. The statement posted on One Direction's Facebook page said "After five incredible years Zayn Malik has decided to leave One Direction. , , and will continue as a four-piece and look forward to the forthcoming concerts of their world tour and recording their fifth album, due to be released later this year". Malik, 22, also released a statement through Facebook confirming his departure. He said "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right." After news of Malik's departure spread fans took to social media to share their disappointment. On Twitter the hashtag #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik was created and 48,000 comments were left on the statement posted by the band on Facebook. The Employer Advice Service, based at Manchester company Peninsula, said 220 people had called overnight regarding relating to the news. Speaking to the '''', employment law director Alan Price said “While I sympathise with One Direction fans, I hardly think this qualified as compassionate leave". One Direction formed as a group in 2010 after competing as single artists on the British reality music competition . The band was signed by 's record label after the show, which they finished third on. The remaining members of the group are Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson. == Sources == * * * *
By Kristin Roberts WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon plans to shoot down a disabled U.S. spy satellite before it enters the atmosphere to prevent a potentially deadly leak of toxic gas from the vehicle's fuel tank, officials said on Thursday. President George W. Bush decided to have the Navy shoot the 5,000-pound (2,270 kg) minivan-sized satellite with a modified tactical missile, after security advisers suggested its reentry could lead to a loss of life. U.S. officials said they were not trying to protect classified information on the satellite or to demonstrate their capabilities to China, which downed one of its own satellites with a missile last year, drawing criticism from Washington. But some experts disagreed and questioned the risks associated with shooting down the satellite. Two defense officials also cited disagreement within the administration over the action and said the decision appears to have been strongly influenced by the White House. The Pentagon hopes to strike the satellite just before it reaches the atmosphere and drive it into ocean waters. Officials would not estimate the likelihood of success, only calling it high. Thousands of space objects fall to Earth each year, but they generally scatter over a huge area and there have never been any reported injuries. What makes this different is the likelihood that the satellite could release much of the more than 1,000 pounds (454 kg) of hydrazine fuel as a toxic gas, according to James Jeffries, deputy national security adviser. He said the satellite was unlikely to hit a populated area and described the danger from toxic gas as limited. But Jeffries added: "There was enough of a risk for the president to be quite concerned about human life." SIGNAL TO CHINA? Jeffries and other U.S. officials rejected suggestions that Bush opted to shoot down the satellite out of concern that classified material on board could survive reentry into Earth's atmosphere, and potentially land in the wrong hands. They also said Washington was not shooting the satellite down in response to China's anti-satellite test last year, noting the United States had already demonstrated its capability to hit a space object with a missile in the 1980s. China did not notify other countries before its test, marking a significant departure from U.S. efforts this week. But some experts questioned Bush's decision and the calculation of the risks associated with shooting the missile down compared with allowing it to burn up upon re-entry. Jonathan McDowell, astronomer with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center For Astrophysics, called the decision "regrettable." "Clearly someone in the administration who has the instincts of a cowboy has decided this is the perfect excuse to rattle our sabers and show the Chinese that we have the same capabilities," he said. SATELLITE NEVER WORKED The satellite is a classified National Reconnaissance Office spacecraft launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in 2006, according to four senior U.S. officials, who asked not to be named. Defense officials said the satellite, known as L-21, was built by Lockheed Martin Corp. It cost hundreds of millions of dollars but the U.S. government will not say precisely how much, calling the figure classified. Boeing Co played a role early in the project, but was relieved by Lockheed. The satellite has been out of touch since shortly after reaching its low-Earth orbit. Since the satellite never became operational, it has toxic rocket fuel on board that would have been used to maneuver the satellite in space. Officials said that without the shootdown, about half the satellite, including the fuel tank, would survive reentry into Earth's atmosphere and estimated a crash could spread toxic material across an area equal to two football fields. "The tank will survive. It will be breached. The hydrazine will reach the ground and that's not an outcome we want to see," NASA administrator Michael Griffin said at the briefing. The Pentagon has a window of about seven to eight days to fire the missile. That window opens in about three to four days, the officials said. (Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa) (Reporting by Kristin Roberts and David Morgan; Editing by Todd Eastham) \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. military may try within days to shoot down a failed satellite using a missile launched from a Navy ship, officials announced Thursday. A Delta II rocket lifts off in December, carrying a reconnaissance satellite that failed hours later. Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at the Pentagon that the window to accomplish the mission could begin in three to four days, and remain open for seven to eight. While much space trash and debris have safely crashed to Earth after burning up in the atmosphere on re-entry, authorities said what makes this 5,000-pound satellite different is the approximately 1,000 pounds of frozen toxic hydrazine propellant it carries. Without any intervention, officials believe the satellite would come down on its own in early March. If it came down in one piece, nearly half the spacecraft would survive re-entry and the hydrazine -- heated to a gas -- could spread a toxic cloud roughly the size of two football fields, Cartwright said. Learn more about the shoot-down mission » Hydrazine is similar to chlorine or ammonia in that it affects the lungs and breathing tissue, the general said. The option of striking the satellite with a missile launched from an Aegis cruiser was decided upon by President Bush after consultation with several government and military officials and aerospace experts, said Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffrey. "After further review of this option and, in particular, consideration of the question of saving or reducing injury to human life, the president, on the recommendation of his national and homeland teams, directed the Department of Defense to carry out the intercept," Jeffrey said. The goal is to hit the satellite just before it enters Earth's atmosphere and blast it apart so that the hydrazine tank explodes. The smaller debris would be more likely to burn up in the atmosphere. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said there's nothing the military can do to make the outcome worse. "If we miss, nothing changes. If we shoot and barely touch it, the satellite is just barely in orbit" and would still burn up somewhat in the atmosphere, Griffin said. "If we shoot and get a direct hit, that's a clean kill and we're in good shape," he added. Experts said that with three-quarters of Earth covered in water, there's a 25 percent chance the satellite's remnants will hit land -- and a 1 percent chance they will hit a populated area. There will be three Navy ships involved in the operation. The USS Lake Erie, an Aegis cruiser, will fire the missile, while trajectory information comes from a second ship. The third ship will be used as a backup, U.S. Navy officials said. The Lake Erie has long been used as the platform for the sea-based missile defense program. Cartwright said the satellite stopped working within hours of its launch in December and has not responded to attempts to communicate with it. He brushed off blog theories that the military wants to shoot down the satellite with a missile to destroy any classified data it may have accumulated in its short life, or to prevent other countries from acquiring the technology. In January 2007, China used a land-based missile to destroy a 2,200-pound satellite that was orbiting 528 miles above Earth. But the impact left more than 150,000 pieces of debris floating above Earth, NASA estimates. The space agency characterizes nearly 2,600 pieces as "large," meaning greater than 4 inches across, which pose a potential threat to satellites and spacecraft. China is responsible for 42 percent of all satellite debris in orbit as of January 1, most of it from that Fengyun-C meteorological satellite. NASA has called it the worst satellite breakup in history. E-mail to a friend CNN's Mike Mount and Kate Tobin contributed to this report. All About The Pentagon • U.S. Navy \|\|\|\|\| The U.S. will shoot down a damaged spy satellite expected to hit Earth in early March, officials said at a news conference Thursday. Gen. James Cartwright, Joint Chiefs of Staff vice-chairman, speaks to the media on Thursday. (CBC) The satellite, launched in December 2006 and weighing more than 2,000 kilograms, lost power almost immediately and never reached its final orbit. President George W. Bush, acting on advice of security officials, has decided to try to shoot down the satellite before it enters Earth's atmosphere. Officials said a missile would be fired from a U.S. navy cruiser off Hawaii next week at the earliest. The officials said downing the satellite would help ensure it landed in an unpopulated area and help destroy the satellite's thruster tanks. The tanks contain a toxic rocket fuel called hydrazine, which can harm anyone who comes in contact with it, causing a burning sensation similar to chlorine. Deputy national security adviser James Jeffrey said that if the satellite impacted on land, the hydrazine could spread to an area as large as two football fields. "The likelihood of it falling in a populated area is small. But there was enough of a risk that the president asked us to review our options," said Jeffrey. In addition to safety concerns, U.S. officials told the Associated Press earlier that they do not want the satellite to fall into the wrong hands, as it carries a sophisticated and secret imaging sensor. China drew criticism But Joint Chiefs of Staff vice-chairman Gen. James Cartwright denied that, saying classified technology is not an issue because the heating that would occur on re-entry would destroy any technology and "would not justify using a missile to shoot it down." NASA administrator Michael Griffin said the risks to the International Space Station and space shuttle Atlantis was negligible. It will be the first time the U.S. has ever attempted to shoot a spacecraft down with a surface-to-air missile, Cartwright said. Last year, China drew criticism from a host of countries, including the U.S., after it used a missile to shoot down an old weather satellite about 865 kilometres above the Earth. The move was widely viewed as one that could lead to the increasing militarization of space. Cartwright said this case is different because the U.S. is notifying countries and international organizations before attempting to knock out the satellite. He also said the plan to shoot it down as it enters the atmosphere will reduce the potential for debris to remain in orbit. With files from the Associated Press	The launch of USA-193. The United States military has announced their intention to use a missile to destroy USA-193, a spy satellite which failed immediately after launch in December 2006. Since launch, the satellite's orbit has decayed and it is approaching the point at which it will re-enter the atmosphere and potentially fall to Earth. The missile will be used as a kinetic anti-satellite weapon (ASAT), and will destroy the satellite through hitting it at high speed. The satellite potentially has hazardous materials on board, including hydrazine. Ordinarily, the hydrazine would be used as fuel, but since the satellite failed immediately after launch, this was never used. It is expected that about half of the satellite would be capable of surviving re-entry, potentially including the fuel tank. Since hydrazine is toxic, the satellite could pose a severe danger if it hits in a populated area, however it has been considered likely that the tank would probably rupture and explode during re-entry. Destroying the satellite on the grounds of safety is the stated purpose of shooting down the satellite. Officials have denied claims that it is to prevent secrets that the satellite is carrying from falling into the wrong hands, or that it is a demonstration in response to a Chinese ASAT test in January 2007. The missile which will be used to shoot down the satellite will be a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3), which will be launched from the USS Lake Erie in the North Pacific Ocean. The missile, which was designed to shoot down other missiles, will be modified slightly in order to allow it to recognise USA-193 as its target. If the attack is successful, the satellite will be broken into many small pieces. This will eliminate the hazard from the hydrazine and break into small enough pieces that nothing will survive reentry. Officials reported that the likelihood of success was "high". NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said that it was impossible to make the situation any worse. Missing the satellite would change nothing, while a slight blow would still result in the satellite returning to Earth, and a direct hit would destroy the satellite. It is believed that the missile will be aimed directly at the satellite's fuel tank. While the debris will not pass near enough to the International Space Station to cause disruption, it is not clear whether it could affect spacecraft passing through the lower orbit in which USA-193 currently resides. For this reason, the satellite will not be destroyed until the Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'', which is currently conducting mission STS-122, has landed. The debris caused by the satellite's destruction is expected to re-enter the atmosphere within a few weeks.
This is one unprovoked attack police won't be investigating. Jogging up Mt Ainslie during his lunch break on Thursday, 25-year-old David Striegl was king-hit from nowhere by a kangaroo and knocked unconscious and he has a black eye to prove it. The Macgregor man told The Canberra Times yesterday he did not see the boxing kangaroo coming until it was too late. ''I was jogging along, then I heard something I didn't know what it was coming at me from my left side,'' Mr Striegl said. ''I turned around and the kangaroo had a swipe at me, and scratched me across the face. Then it threw a punch, I guess, and collected me on my right side, so I'm sporting a black eye now.'' Mr Striegl had been jogging alongside the road, and a passing motorist tended to him as he regained consciousness. Mr Striegl estimated he was only unconscious for a few seconds and the motorist drove him to the hospital, where he was given a tetanus shot and discharged. Battered but not beaten, Mr Striegl was back at work yesterday, but already his close encounter with the furred kind had earned the corporate real estate worker the nicknames ''Skippy'' and ''Skip'' from his colleagues at United Group Limited in Civic. Mr Striegl said the whole episode was a bit of a blur, but it appeared the roo lined him up. ''It appeared to come after me, so whether I disturbed what it was doing or it had a joey around, I wouldn't have a clue.'' Mr Striegl expects ribbing from his footy mates today, with the story already going global. For more on this story, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times. \|\|\|\|\| EVEN after years playing football, ACT local David Striegl had never got into a fight - until he was knocked out cold by a rogue kangaroo. Mr Striegl, 25, was running up the city's Mount Ainslie during his lunchbreak yesterday and did not think twice when he spotted one of the resident roos nearby. The bushland reserve in the nation's capital is popular with joggers and cyclists, and assaults by the marsupials who share the mountain are rare. Mr Striegl was knocked unconscious and remembers little about the attack. "I turned around and before I knew it, it took a swipe at my face," he said. A passing motorist roused the dazed and bloody victim and took him to hospital. After x-rays and a tetanus shot he was able to go home with only a black eye to show for the encounter. But he has now become something of legend at his corporate real estate office, where he returned to work the next day to discover he had a new nickname - "Skippy". "I didn't want to wait til Monday to face the music," he said. "The main thing they've been asking is whether I got one (punch) back on the roo. "I can't even say that, because one punch and it put me to the floor. "All my years of playing football and never a fight, and then I have a fight with a kangaroo." So will Mr Striegl be running back to the area any time soon and risk a second round? "Yeah, a few guys from work said they might come with me though," he laughed. The attack comes a year after a crazed kangaroo crashed through a sleeping family's window at Garran, in Canberra's south, before going on a rampage through their home. Beat Ettlin, his partner Verity Beman and their nine-year-old daughter Beatrix hid under blankets as the two-metre high animal jumped on top of them and gouged holes and their furniture. Mr Ettlin eventually wrestled the thrashing animal and dragged it out of the house, saving his family from serious injury. \|\|\|\|\| Photo: EPA Photo: AFP/GETTY Photo: GETTY IMAGES In a real life example of the country's infamous "Boxing Kangaroo" mascot, the 25 year-old was out running when he was attacked by the rogue animal on Thursday. The Australian Rules football player, from Canberra, the country’s capital, was then knocked unconscious after it punched him in the face and remembers little about the unprovoked attack. "I turned around and before I knew it, it took a swipe at my face," he said. Mr Striegl, who works in a corporate real estate office, was found by a passing motorist who took the dazed and bloody victim to hospital. His only injury seemed to be some cuts and bruises, a black eye and a wounded ego with his colleagues making fun of his misfortune and giving him a new nickname – “Skippy”. "The main thing they've been asking is whether I got one (punch) back on the roo,” he told the Australian Associated Press. "I can't even say that, because one punch and it put me to the floor. "All my years of playing football and never a fight, and then I have a fight with a kangaroo." He had been running up the city's Mount Ainslie during his lunch break and did not think twice when he spotted one of the resident kangaroos nearby. The bushland reserve in the nation's capital is popular with joggers and cyclists and assaults by the marsupials who share the mountain are rare. Though exceptional, it is not uncommon for kangaroos to attack humans The attack comes a year after a nine-foot kangaroo invaded a house in Canberra during the night, terrifying its occupants before going on a rampage through their home. Beat Ettlin, his partner Verity Beman and their nine-year-old daughter Beatrix hid under blankets as the two-metre high animal jumped on top of them and gouged holes and their furniture. Mr Ettlin eventually wrestled the thrashing animal and dragged it out of the house, saving his family from serious injury. "My initial thought when I was half awake was: it's a lunatic ninja coming through the window," he said at the time. The previous year a jogger was attacked by a kangaroo in the outer Melbourne suburb of Sunbury. \|\|\|\|\| EVEN after years playing football, ACT local David Striegl had never got into a fight - until he was knocked out cold by a rogue kangaroo. Mr Striegl, 25, was running up Canberra's Mount Ainslie during his lunchbreak yesterday and did not think twice when he spotted one of the resident roos nearby. The bushland reserve in the nation's capital is popular with joggers and cyclists, and assaults by the marsupials who share the mountain are rare. Mr Striegl was knocked unconscious and remembers little about the attack. "I turned around and before I knew it, it took a swipe at my face," he said. A passing motorist roused the dazed and bloody victim and took him to hospital. After X-rays and a tetanus shot he was able to go home with only a black eye to show for the encounter. But he has now become something of legend at his corporate real estate office, where he returned to work the next day to discover he had a new nickname - "Skippy". "I didn't want to wait til Monday to face the music," he said. "The main thing they've been asking is whether I got one (punch) back on the roo. "I can't even say that, because one punch and it put me to the floor. "All my years of playing football and never a fight, and then I have a fight with a kangaroo." So will Mr Striegl be running back to the area any time soon and risk a second round? "Yeah, a few guys from work said they might come with me though," he laughed. The attack comes a year after a crazed kangaroo crashed through a sleeping family's window at Garran, in Canberra's south, before going on a rampage through their home. Beat Ettlin, his partner Verity Beman and their nine-year-old daughter Beatrix hid under blankets as the two-metre high animal jumped on top of them and gouged holes and their furniture. Mr Ettlin eventually wrestled the thrashing animal and dragged it out of the house, saving his family from serious injury. Originally published as Rogue kangaroo knocks out jogger	Eastern grey kangaroo. 25-year-old man David Striegl was knocked unconscious by a kangaroo on the Mount Ainslie nature reserve in the Australian capital Canberra on Thursday. He received cuts and bruises and a black eye after being scratched and hit by the kangaroo. Mount Ainslie is located near the centre of the Australian capital, with Australia's parliament houses designed to be viewed from the top of the mountain. He does not remember much about the incident, only that he turned around and saw the kangaroo which hit him in the face. He said that the kangaroo scratched him at first then guessed that it must have hit him which caused him to lose consciousness. He was taken to hospital by a motorist who was passing by. At the hospital he was given x-rays and a tetanus shot before being discharged. Striegl had been jogging up the mountain during his lunch break. Joggers and cyclists are common on the mountain, which is located a few kilometres from the city centre. He was a former Australian rules footballer, and says he had never been in a fight, until being hit by the kangaroo. He had seen kangaroos box each other before but didn't know they would box people. He said he would not have thrown a punch back if he had the chance because of their status as a national symbol, and he has no hard feelings against kangaroos. His colleagues at the United Group Ltd. real estate office where he works have given him the nickname ''Skippy'', after the famous television show. He said he will continue jogging at the reserve, but with company next time. Injuries from kangaroos in Australia are rare, and it is almost unheard of for someone to be knocked out by one. This attack comes a year after a kangaroo crashed through a window of a house in Canberra before rampaging through the house.
Boy hangs himself 'like Saddam' 01/01/2007 22:43 - (SA) Multan - A young boy who tried to copy hanging scenes from the execution video of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein died in central Pakistan, said police on Monday. Mubashar Ali, 9, hanged himself, while re-enacting Hussein's hanging with the help of elder sister, 10, after tying a rope to a ceiling fan and his neck in his home in Rahim Yar Khan district on Sunday, said a local police official. The father of the deceased boy said that his children had been watching the video of Saddam Hussein's execution on television and attempted to imitate the hanging as other family members thought they were playing in another room. "My wife and sister rushed to rescue Mubashar when children cried for help from the adjoining room, but he died due to hanging," said Alamgir Paracha, father of Mubashar. Police said that the death was accidental and a case of parental negligence. "It was an accident which happened due to carelessness of parents," said district police chief Sultan Ahmad. Images of the fallen Iraqi dictator with a strap around his neck, surrounded by executioners in balaclavas, were repeatedly telecast by Pakistani television channels at the weekend. Commentators and the media across Europe had expressed shock and unease on Sunday at graphic television pictures showing the last moments of Hussein just before his execution. News24 is now available on your cellphone. Sign up and win a Samsung phone! \|\|\|\|\| MULTAN (Pakistan): A young boy who tried to imitate hanging scenes from the execution video of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein died in central Pakistan, police said on Monday. Mubashar Ali, 9, hanged himself, while re-enacting Hussein's hanging with the help of elder sister, 10, after tying a rope to a ceiling fan and his neck in his home in Rahim Yar Khan district on Sunday, a local police official said. The father of the deceased boy said that his children had been watching the video of Saddam Hussein's execution on television and attempted to imitate the hanging as other family members thought they were playing in another room. "My wife and sister rushed to rescue Mubashar when children cried for help from the adjoining room, but he died due to hanging," Alamgir Paracha, father of Mubashar, said. Police said the death was accidental and a case of parental negligence. "It was an accident which happened due to carelessness of parents," district police chief Sultan Ahmad said. Images of the fallen Iraqi dictator with a noose around his neck, surrounded by executioners in balaclavas, were repeatedly telecast by Pakistani television channels at the weekend. Commentators and the media across Europe had expressed shock and unease Sunday at graphic television pictures showing the last moments of Hussein before his execution.	A Pakistani boy got his older sister to hang him in the same manner as Saddam Hussein. Mubashar Ali, 9, hanged himself, while re-enacting Hussein's hanging with the help of elder sister, 10, after tying a rope to a ceiling fan and his neck in his home in the Punjab district of Rahimyar Khan on Sunday, said a local police official. The father of the deceased boy said that his children had been watching the video of Saddam Hussein's execution on television and attempted to imitate the hanging as other family members thought they were playing in another room. "My wife and sister rushed to rescue Mubashar when children cried for help from the adjoining room, but he died due to hanging," said Alamgir Paracha, father of Mubashar. Police said that the death was accidental and a case of parental negligence. "It was an accident which happened due to carelessness of parents," said district police chief Sultan Ahmad.
LEONA Lewis has made history by becoming the first female Brit to top the US charts in two decades, and denied speculation about the state of her voice. Share this article What is this? LEONA Lewis is on course to be the most successful winner of Britain's X Factor talent quest with her debut single Bleeding Love charging into No.1 on the US charts this week.Lewis was set for the historic debut on the Billboard charts after an emotional performance of the song on the Oprah Winfrey Show, organised by her mentor Simon Cowell.Winfrey proved prophetic when she declared "Wow, wow, wow... Talk about a star is born. You're the real deal, girl."Bleeding Love makes Lewis the first British female artist to top the American charts since Kim Wilde in 1987 with her cover of You Keep Me Hanging On.Lewis, who plans a low-key night out with friends to celebrate the phenomenal achievement this weekend, confirmed yesterday she will arrive in Australia for a promotional tour on April 24.She reigned on top of the Australian singles charts with Bleeding Love for several weeks and her album spirit debuted at the top spot on the ARIA charts."Everything has been unbelieveable but coming to Australia...that's a place I have wanted to visit my entire life.''Lewis also denied speculation her voice is in danger because of recurring tonsil infections, particularly as that body part isn't involved in singing."Everything is fine with my throat; people went crazy about that. Singers get sore throats like everyone else but that doesn't mean it affects their voice.'' \|\|\|\|\| Last year Lewis signed a £5m record deal in the US Leona's reaction Singer Leona Lewis has become the first British woman to top the US pop chart for more than 20 years with her single Bleeding Love. The track, which was last year's best-selling single in the UK, was released in the US six weeks ago. Kim Wilde was the last UK female to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with her 1987 cover version of the Supremes hit You Keep Me Hangin' On. Lewis wrote on her website that it was her "dream" to break America. 'Real honour' "I'm so excited to be able to spend some time in the US and showcase my music to everyone here," the former receptionist from east London said. "Its been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and I can't wait." Last year her manager Simon Cowell negotiated a £5m contract with US mogul Clive Davis, the man who discovered Whitney Houston. LEONA'S RAPID RISE Won The X Factor in 2006 Debut single A Moment Like This downloaded 50,000 times in 30 minutes It was the 2006 UK Christmas number one Spirit became Britain's fastest-selling debut album ever Bleeding Love was number one for seven weeks Signed a £5m US music deal in 2007 Nominated for four Brit Awards in 2008 At the time, Cowell, who also judged the 22-year-old on ITV1 talent show The X Factor, said: "We'll do everything in our power to make her an international star." Last week the pair appeared on Oprah Winfrey's talk show together to promote the single. It is thought download and mobile phone track sales soared after her appearance, while the Hot 100 chart also counts radio airplay. Meanwhile, a spokesperson has denied reports that Lewis is considering undergoing throat surgery to end recurring bouts of tonsillitis. He said: "She has got a pretty bad throat. She just can't shake it off at the moment but I don't think she needs to have an op." Lewis is the third UK solo female artist to reach number one in the Hot 100 with her debut hit. Petula Clark was the first, with her 1965 track Downtown, while Sheena Easton's Morning Train - released in the UK as 9 To 5 - followed in 1981. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these?	British pop star Leona Lewis has broken Billboard records in the United States to become the first female British pop star to reach a number one spot on the music charts in over 20 years and became the third solo British artist ever to reach the top charts. Lewis made the number one spot with her new hit single ''Bleeding Love.'' According to Billboard.com her single ranks number one in the top 100, the pop 100 and hottest digital songs. "I'm so excited to be able to spend some time in the US and showcase my music to everyone here. Its been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and I can't wait," said Lewis on her website. The last female singer from the UK to top the charts in the U.S. was Kim Wilde in 1987 when she did her own version of The Supremes 'You Keep Me Hangin' On.' Lewis took the UK by storm when she won The X Factor (UK) in 2006 and became the biggest selling female artist of all time in the UK.
The disaster committee said flooding in Phu Yen was the worst in 30 years [AFP] The disaster committee said flooding in Phu Yen was the worst in 30 years [AFP] State television confirmed the toll on Wednesday and a report from the government's flood prevention office said eight people remained missing by the end of Tuesday. At least 42 people have been killed after tropical storm Mirinae swept across central Vietnam, state media have reported. The Vietnam News put the number of missing at 21. The national disaster committee said in a statement, after part of the province's system of dykes was overwhelmed: "It's the most devastating flooding in more than 30 years in Phu Yen." About 2,000 soldiers had been deployed to help with the rescue effort. The storm destroyed 154 houses, damaged 2,500 others and inundated about 1,800 hectares (4,450 acres) of crop land, Vietnam News reported. Reports added that many more people were missing although residents said the situation was returning to normal. Rain and wind from the storm delayed coffee harvesting in parts of the central highlands' coffee belt. Photos from the south-central provinces of Phu Yen and Binh Dinh showed floodwaters rising to near the top of house doors. One showed people hoisting an elderly woman out of her home through an opening in the roof. \|\|\|\|\| At least 90 die in Vietnam floods: officials HANOI — At least 90 people have been killed in flooding in central Vietnam sparked by Tropical Storm Mirinae, which slammed into the country after pummelling the Philippines, officials said Wednesday. A further 22 people were reported missing after the storm struck on Monday, destroying hundreds of homes, according to regional officials who asked not to be named and local reports. Television pictures from the provinces of Phu Yen and Gia Lai, which were among the worst hit regions along with Binh Dinh, showed rescuers in boats helping desperate residents escape some of the worst flooding there in decades. Water in places reached the rooftops of buildings, where some residents had sought refuge. "It is the most devastating flooding in more than 30 years in Phu Yen," the national disaster committee said in a statement, after part of the province's system of dykes was overwhelmed. Vietnamese television reported Wednesday evening that thousands of people were stranded in pagodas, schools and other public buildings in Phu Yen, unable to reach their homes. Local authorities in the province had asked Hanoi for thousands of instant food sachets as food and drinking water started to run low. Two thousand soldiers had been deployed to help with the rescue effort. Mirinae destroyed 900 homes and damaged more than 14,000 others while some 18,000 hectares (44,479 acres) of rice land was flooded, according to a UN report that cited Vietnamese authorities. More than 50,000 people fled the coastal provinces before the storm, which battered the Philippines as a typhoon, was downgraded to a tropical depression and made landfall late on Monday. Mirinae also killed two people in Vietnam's neighbour Cambodia and left 27 people dead in the Philippines, where almost 16,000 people were living in evacuation centres. Danish media reported that Queen Margrethe of Denmark's aircraft was forced to make a diversion during a visit to Vietnam after being hit by strong winds. The queen and her family, who arrived in Vietnam on November 2 for a five-day state visit, were on their way to the old imperial town of Hue. But the aircraft they were travelling in was unable to land due to strong winds and it was forced to head instead to Da Nang, the Ritzau news agency and the TV2 News channel reported. Queen Margrethe, Prince Consort Henrik and their children, Crown Prince Henrik and his wife Princess Mary then continued their journey to Hue by bus. Vietnam and the Philippines are frequently hit by tropical storms and flooding at this time of year and both were hit hard by Typhoon Ketsana in September. Ketsana caused one of communist Vietnam's worst disasters in recent years, leaving more than 170 dead and hundreds injured. It caused devastating floods, inundated hundreds of thousands of homes and damaged tens of thousands of hectares of rice and other crops. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	Vietnamese media reported on Wednesday that at least 90 people have been killed after Tropical Storm Mirinae passed through the country. Another 22 people were reported to be missing. According to Vietnam News, the storm completely destroyed 154 houses, damaged 2,500 others, and flooded 1,800 hectares of farmland. Some dikes in the Phu Yen province were overloaded with water, further exacerbating the damage. Around 2,000 soldiers were dispatched to assist with rescue efforts, and local authorities had asked for food aid from the government. The Vietnamese disaster committee said that "it's the most devastating flooding in more than 30 years in Phu Yen." Two people were also killed by Mirinae in neigbouring Cambodia, and a further 27 in the Philippines.
By Ben Dirs Hatton (left) shipped some solid blows against Urango All three judges scored the fight 119-109 to Hatton at the Paris Hotel, but that did not reflect an extremely tough night for the Manchester fighter. Hatton, 28, started brightly but had become ragged by the middle rounds as Urango's strength began to tell. But Hatton was rarely troubled and clung on down the final straight. "I have done what I had to do to win it," said Hatton, whose last four fights have all been world title challenges. "The way the two of us fight, it was always going to be tough. He takes some shifting - he is very strong. "The first six rounds felt too comfortable. Maybe I took my foot off the gas, but I don't think it was boring by any stretch. I was always dominating, the whole fight - but he was always in it Ricky Hatton "You know the way I fight - I've shown it over and over again. I think I showed another side, that I can box. "I was always dominating, the whole fight - but he was always in it." Hatton, now undefeated in 42 professional fights, was roared on by an estimated 3,000 British fans but the encounter failed to live up to the hype. He looked sharp in the early exchanges, bouncing in and out of range and landing with a series of uppercuts. And he followed up with a big right hand in round two as the static Urango struggled to get close. But there were warning signs for Hatton in round three as Urango landed with two solid right hands before the 'Hitman' hit back with a booming right in round four. Castillo has won 54 of his 62 fights But Urango, previously unbeaten in 18 fights, began to home in on Hatton's body in round five and rattled the challenger with another hurtful right hand. Hatton stepped up the pace again in the sixth and seventh, putting his superior ring-craft to good use and tying Urango up on the inside. But Hatton was fading badly by round nine, Urango finding the target with another left to the body as Hatton's punches dried up and he continued to spoil. Hatton's corner looked concerned ahead of the 10th and the final three rounds were little more than a wrestling match. Urango, though, landed with the cleaner punches, including another energy-sapping left to the body and a wicked right to the head that stiffened Hatton up. 606: DEBATE Hatton's boozing and gorging between fights is catching up with him BD However, Hatton, by now running on fumes, managed to stay out of trouble in the final round and was the deserving winner, although not as emphatic a winner as the scorecards suggested. Hatton is now set to face Mexico's Jose Luis Castillo in the summer after the former two-time lightweight world champion defeated Cameroon's Hernan Ngoudjo on the undercard. Castillo, 33, failed to impress on his light welterweight debut and could only manage a split decision over his game, but limited, opponent. Bullied in clinches and occasionally wobbled by Ngoudjo, Castillo claimed a 115-113 verdict on two judges' cards. Chuck Giampa favoured Ngoudjo by the same score. \|\|\|\|\| Hatton is desperate to make a name for himself in America The 28-year-old takes on the undefeated Colombian in Las Vegas in the knowledge that the American city has ended the dreams of a host of British fighters. But he said: "Las Vegas is the pinnacle of any fighter's career and I want to go out there and put on a big show. "I'd like to be one of the first Britons to be a success in the States." Frank Bruno, Lloyd Honeyghan, Naseem Hamed and Barry McGuigan are among the top British names to falter on the famous strip. I refuse to believe fighting in America will make me any less of a fighter Ricky Hatton But, after surviving arguably the toughest fight of his career in winning the WBA welterweight title against Luis Collazo last time out, Hatton says he will rediscover his best form this weekend. 606 DEBATE: Your predictions for Saturday's fight "I have still got to prove myself because I am my own worst critic," he said. "I could box sensationally and it would still not make me entirely happy. "I don't think I have anything to prove to the Americans. I think it's clear that they rate me as a slugging, come-forward fighter. "But I have got another side to my style and that is what I need to show. "I refuse to believe fighting in America will make me any less of a fighter. I've started the right way by beating Collazo and now I plan to do the same against Urango."	Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton regained the IBF light welterweight title belt he relinquished less than 12 months ago when he defeated Juan Urango in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight. "The Hitman" won by unanimous decision, as the fight went to 12 rounds. Despite early match odds suggesting Hatton would dominate the fight, this was not the case. Each round was close, but most pundits and judges alike agreed that Urango only won 1 of the 12 rounds, with Hatton taking the other 11. Despite the unfamiliar confines of Las Vegas, Hatton looked touched by the ringing of football fan-like chants, familiar in British boxing, that rang around the arena, as more than half of it was filled by traveling support from across the atlantic. Many in the UK will hope Hatton has ended the "curse" that has seen names such as Frank Bruno, Naseem Hamed, Barry McGuigan and others fall short while headlining fights on "The Strip". From here, it is widely believed "The Hitman" will move on to fight Jose Luis Castillo in June, again likely in Vegas.
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (second left) with her supporters outside her residence in Islamabad, 09 Nov 2007 The government of Pakistan freed former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto from house arrest late Friday, after earlier blocking her from leading a rally against emergency rule. A spokeswomen for Ms. Bhutto said she is due to meet with officials of her Pakistan People's Party and foreign diplomats Saturday. Earlier, Ms. Bhutto tried twice to leave her residence in the capital, Islamabad, to attend a rally she organized against President Pervez Musharraf in nearby Rawalpindi. But she was unable to break through the barricades, barbed wires and riot police surrounding her home. Speaking outside the house with supporters by her side, Ms. Bhutto repeated opposition demands that General Musharraf lift the state of emergency, resign as army chief and hold elections by mid-January. Ms. Bhutto also said she still plans to lead a protest march early next week from Lahore to Islamabad. In Rawalpindi, police clashed with several hundred protesters who tried to gather for the rally, defying a ban on public demonstrations. Meanwhile, a suicide bombing killed at least four people at the home of a government minister in the northwestern city of Peshawar. Political affairs minister Amir Muqam was not hurt. Muqam is the regional head of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League party and an ally of the president. General Musharraf imposed emergency rule last Saturday, saying it was necessary to curb growing extremist attacks and judicial activism. Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| I am still trying to lead rally: Benazir Islamabad (PTI): Former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto, who has been put under detention at her house, said she was still "trying" to leave her house to lead her party rally in Rawalpindi against the emergency imposed by President Pervez Musharraf. "I am trying to get out (of the house) as I want to go to Rawalpindi," Bhutto told Geo News channel over phone. Bhutto was "put under detention for unspecified period" after she tried to step out of her house here to lead her Pakistan People's Party rally in Rawalpindi on Friday. "I am in front of my house in my car. I have not been arrested and no arrest warrant has been served on me. Large numbers of policemen are present here and there are barb wire barricades and blockades in front of me," she said. Bhutto said police had baton-charged PPP workers in Peshawar and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to prevent them from going to Rawalpindi for the rally. "People should try to go to Rawalpindi and I will also try to go there," she said. "The government is saying I should not go out of the house because some suicide attackers have come to Islamabad. But if they know these suicide attackers are in Islamabad, I want to ask whey they haven't been arrested?" Hundreds of policemen surrounded Bhutto's residence here to prevent her from going to Rawalpindi to lead a rally Earlier, defying the government's order that she should not leave her house "for her own security", Bhutto left her house at around 1: 40 pm but was stopped by policemen. A magistrate served detention order on her and she was taken back to the house. \|\|\|\|\| Ms Bhutto's residence has been sealed off by police Scenes of protest The move came as she tried to leave her Islamabad residence to join a planned rally in nearby Rawalpindi. The United States has criticised the move saying that she must be "permitted freedom of movement." Ms Bhutto has vowed to wage a campaign aimed at forcing President Pervez Musharraf to stand down as army chief. Police in Rawalpindi clashed with members of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) who were trying to defy a ban on rallies imposed under emergency rule. A three-day detention order was served on the former prime minister after she tried to cross the heavy police cordon set up outside her home on Friday. We are calling for General Musharraf to keep his commitment and retire as chief of army staff Benazir Bhutto Eyewitnesses to clampdown Who's winning power game In pictures: Pakistan crisis Earlier reports said the order would apply for 30 days. Speaking outside the house, in front of police barricades, she repeated opposition demands that Gen Musharraf should lift the state of emergency, resign as army chief and hold elections by mid-January. "We are calling for the revival of our constitution and respect for our judiciary," she said. "We are calling for General Musharraf to keep his commitment and retire as chief of army staff on 15 November." The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says Ms Bhutto's defiance raises the possibility of mass protests. She had been intending to address a huge rally in Rawalpindi, but thousands of police were deployed to block the main roads. White House concerns The United States, which has been the principal backer of President Musharraf in his fight against pro-Taleban militants, was quick to criticise the restrictions on Ms Bhutto. "Former Prime Minister Bhutto and other political party members must be permitted freedom of movement and all protesters released," US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. "We remain concerned about the continued state of emergency and curtailment of basic freedoms, and urge Pakistan's authorities to quickly return to constitutional order and democratic norms." Security threat Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party says thousands of its supporters have been detained in the past two days. A small number of PPP activists tried to evade security by going to a planned rally in Rawalpindi through alleyways and side streets. HAVE YOUR SAY The situation in Pakistan is deteriorating more than most people imagine Omer Salim Khan, Lahore Send us your comments But after a while a running battle started, with protesters throwing stones and police using teargas. The authorities had banned the event, saying attackers were trying to target it. Last month a suicide bomber killed nearly 140 people at a mass gathering as Ms Bhutto returned home from exile. Pakistani deputy information minister Tariq Azim told the BBC that the opposition leader was being detained "for her own security". Another minister said the three-day detention order might be lifted early. Meanwhile in the city of Peshawar, police say a suicide bomber targeted the residence of the minister for political affairs, Amir Muqam. They say two security personnel were killed, along with the attacker, but the minister is safe. 'Indispensable ally' On Thursday Gen Musharraf pledged to hold parliamentary elections by 15 February - a month later than they were due. He also renewed a promise to quit as head of the army, if and when the Supreme Court validated his recent election as president for another term. However, Ms Bhutto dismissed his words as "vague" and "generalised". Gen Musharraf announced his decision to hold elections after coming under pressure from US President George W Bush. The general imposed a state of emergency on Saturday, blaming militant violence and an unruly judiciary. On Wednesday, Mr Bush telephoned the Pakistani leader to urge him to call off the state of emergency and stand down as head of the army. But he also noted that Gen Musharraf had been an "indispensable ally". A media blackout is still in force. International channels like the BBC and CNN were allowed back on air on Thursday but have since been blocked again.	Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto (center), speaks to supporters outside her house. Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, surrounded by barb wire outside her house. The government of Pakistan late on Friday has withdrawn the earlier detention notice and house arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Police had served her with a temporary detention notice and ordered her to serve 30 days of house arrest. Bhutto was not detained by the police. The move came as Bhutto planned to attend a protest she organised today in Rawalpindi. She was stopped by troops who were ordered to surround and block off her home located in Islamabad. They then served her with a 30 day detention when she attempted to cross the blockade. "I am trying to get out, as I want to go to Rawalpindi. I am in front of my house in my car. I have not been arrested and no arrest warrant has been served on me. Large numbers of policemen are present here and there are barb wire barricades and blockades in front of me," said Bhutto. Police claimed that they are protecting Bhutto from a possible suicide bomb attack because "some suicide attackers have come to Islamabad," added Bhutto. In Rawalpindi, protesters clashed with police who were enforcing a ban against public demonstrations. Bhutto has publicly announced that she will head a protest against the country's president, Pervez Musharraf, in an attempt to get him to resign as head of the country's military. A protest march from Lahore to Islamabad is scheduled for early next week.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Ceremonies have taken place across the UK to remember the servicemen and women who lost their lives in all past and current armed conflicts. The Queen led Remembrance Sunday tributes at the Cenotaph in London's Whitehall before thousands of veterans marched past the monument. Troops on active service in Iraq and Afghanistan also held services. This year's events come just two days before the 90th anniversary of the armistice at the end of World War I. The commemoration of Britain's war dead began with a gun blast and two minutes' silence on Whitehall. The Queen then laid the first wreath of poppies. She was followed by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Prince William and other members of the royal family. It's important to keep remembering, and it's not just limited to the First or Second World War Des Feely Father of Corporal Sarah Bryant Silence as Britain remembers WWI veteran's tribute Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Foreign Secretary David Miliband, opposition party leaders and Commonwealth envoys also laid wreaths. For the first time, the Territorial Army - which is celebrating its 100th anniversary - laid a wreath at the monument. Royal British Legion spokesman Stuart Gendall said it was important for the nation to come together and remember all those that died fighting for their country. 'Pause for thought' Dozens more remembrance services have been held in towns and cities across the UK. Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond laid a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance in Edinburgh and said this was a time to "pause for thought". At the Welsh National War Memorial in Cathays Park, Cardiff, First Minister Rhodri Morgan paid tribute to the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces. In Belfast, up to 1,000 people gathered in the grounds of the City Hall for the Act of Remembrance ceremony, which included a fly-past by three helicopters. Des Feely, the father of the first female British soldier killed in Afghanistan, laid a wreath in her honour at a ceremony in Carlisle's city centre. Corporal Sarah Bryant, 26, was killed on duty in June in a roadside explosion near Lashkar Gah, in the south of the country. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Mr Feely said: "It's important to keep remembering, and it's not just limited to the First or Second World War. There are ongoing sustained casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. "It highlights the fact that for people here in this country, their way of life - freedom of speech, freedom of movement - is still being preserved through the actions of others." In Somerset, Harry Patch, Britain's last living veteran of the First World War trenches, laid a wreath in honour of his fallen comrades. My father died aged 98 but on his death bed he called out for his horse Maisie, who saved his life on many occasions S Wright Readers' remembrance thoughts "It was 90 years ago. But you can't forget it," said the 110 year old. On the other side of the country, a lone Spitfire flew over Duxford near Cambridge, home to one of England's most famous Battle of Britain air bases. In the Essex garrison town of Colchester, thousands gathered to salute the war dead, turning out in higher numbers than last year. The Colchester-based 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, lost nine soldiers during its recent tour of Afghanistan, plus a further six linked to it. Overseas services British troops stationed at Afghanistan's largest military base, in Kandahar, held their own Remembrance Day ceremony. The BBC's Ian Pannell in Afghanistan said in the 12 months since the last Remembrance Sunday service, 39 British men and women have died while serving their country. Their comrades stationed in the southern Iraqi city of Basra also laid wreaths and attended a prayer service. Harry Patch, accompanied by Henry Allingham, 112, and Bill Stone, 108 - the three remaining First World War veterans who still live in the UK - are due to mark the two-minute silence at the Cenotaph to commemorate Armistice Day on Tuesday. Will you be attending one of the ceremonies today? Send us your comments, tributes and experiences using the form below. In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. You can send us your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Unfortunately you've also found the 404 error page, which means the page you wanted to see cannot be found. But don't worry, you can always use our search to find what you need, right at the top of every page. Or you can visit our homepage and take it from there.	Corley today Today is Remembrance Sunday, an annual observance in which Britons killed in wars around the world are remembered. Many events have taken place across the United Kingdom today and earlier this week, including many affiliated with the Poppy Appeal. Queen Elizabeth II led the main event to mark the occasion at the Cenotaph in London, with events also taking place in North Staffordshire, Coventry, Wales, Lytham, St Anne's, Northern Ireland and Birmingham, in addition to small local events across the country. North Staffordshire marked the event when television presenter Nick Hancock released 15,500 poppy petals, representing the 15,500 British soldiers to be killed while in conflict since World War II. This weekend's football match between Coventry FC and Crystal Palace featured the players from both sides holding a minutes silence around a giant poppy. The Royal British Legion sent its "Poppy Man" sculpture around Wales and Northern Island to draw attention to it's appeal, while in Lytham and St Anne's, the wife and daughter of the deceased comedian Les Dawson launched the appeal for funds. Tracy, the wife stated that "Les was in the army, where he served as a Trooper, in the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays), he did lots of work for charity, and the Poppy Appeal was one of the ones close to his heart. I feel it is so fitting that I am able to help." In Birmingham, a team from the Royal Marines Commando, abseiled down a hotel to mark the appeal. Services were also held in Iraq and Afghanistan by British troops, in addition to church services across the country. === Photos ===
Exista si alti factori care iti pot afecta negativ libidoul. Specialistii sfatuiesc sa se minimizeze nivelul de stres din viata de zi cu zi, pentru a avea o erectie mai lunga si mai puternica, precum si un libidou mai mare in ansamblu. Stresul este unul dintre factorii majori … Citeste in continuare despreLibido Drive pt. marirea penisului – pareri, forum ,pret, farmacii \|\|\|\|\| Cu o gură mai mare decât a „tribunului” Liliana RUSE Războiul dintre Gigi Becali şi Vadim Tudor pare să fie câştigat de primul, mai ales că ambii se bat pe acelaşi electorat. Un sondaj CURS arată că patronul Stelei a reuşit să crească spectaculos în popularitate, cu 10 procente în patru luni, în timp ce preşedintele peremist a scăzut cu patru procente, în acelaşi interval. Astfel, Becali are o cotă de popularitate de 30 la sută, faţă de 20 la sută în ultima măsurătoare CURS, iar C.V. Tudor are tot 30 la sută, dar cu patru procente mai puţin faţă octombrie 2005.Preşedintele Traian Băsescu este în continuare liderul politic cu cea mai mare cotă de încredere şi de apreciere – 63 la sută dintre intervievaţi au o părere bună şi foarte bună despre şeful statului, cu trei procente mai mult decât în octombrie.Pe locul al doilea vine liderul pesedist Mircea Geoană, cu 47 la sută, în scădere cu opt procente.Premierul Călin Popescu Tăriceanu este este mai popular cu două procente, ajungând la 44 la sută, urmat de Emil Boc – 38 la sută, cu doar un procent mai mult faţă de sfârşitul anului trecut. Sondajul a fost realizat în perioada 11-18 februarie, pe un eşantion de 1.050 de persoane, cu o marjă de eroare de +/- 3 la sută.Primii mari doi actori politici – Alianţa D.A. şi PSD – îşi menţin aproximativ cotele electorale, dar formaţiunea pesedistă are un trend descendent, care a început în octombrie. Astfel, Alianţa are un scor de 42 la sută, la fel ca luna trecută, iar PSD – 25 la sută, cu un procent mai puţin faţă de ianuarie. PRM scade trei procente, ajungând la 14, UDMR are 6 la sută, cu 1 la sută mai mult, iar PC îşi menţine scorul de 3 procente. Deşi creşte spectaculos, Gigi Becali nu reuşeşte să-şi tragă, în acelaşi ritm, şi partidul după el, PNG ajungând la 4 la sută, cu un procent mai mult faţă de luna trecută. Totuşi, acest partid ar putea intra singur în Parlament, pragul fiind de 5 la sută.Dacă pentru Alianţa în ansamblu lucrurile stau relativ bine, PNL primeşte veşti proaste. Alegătorii Alianţei preferă, în proporţie de 47 la sută, PD şi de 35 la sută PNL, raportul ajungând la 1,3 în favoarea democraţilor, exact invers faţă de alegerile trecute. Sondajul mai arată că 39 la sută din electorat este favorabil alegerilor anticipate, iar 37 împotrivă. Intervievaţii – în procent de 64 la sută – îi dau dreptate lui Traian Băsescu atunci când acesta afirmă că grupurile mafiote influenţează decizia Guvernului, dar numai 11 la sută cred că această afirmaţie este valabilă pentru actualul Cabinet.Marea majoritate a subiecţilor – 64 la sută – consideră că ziarele nu ar trebui să publice caricaturile cu profetul Mahomed, pentru a respecta sentimentele religioase ale musulmanilor. Doar 11 procente cred că respectivele caricaturi ar trebui publicate. Părerile subiecţilor sunt împărţite când vine vorba despre cazul ucigaşului lui Teo Peter. În proporţie egală – 24 la sută –, subiecţii declară că rezultatul procesului puşcaşului marin se datorează faptului că autorităţile române nu s-au preocupat să trimită probe şi martori în SUA sau că autorităţile americane îşi protejează militarii, indiferent de faptele acestora. 22 la sută declară că România este tratată de Statele Unite ca o ţară inferioară, iar 20 de procente susţin că Justiţia americană nu este corectă.	Traian Băsescu remains the most popular political figure in Romania, with an approval rating of 63% The president of Romania, Traian Băsescu, continues to be the most popular politician in the country, according to a survey by the Romanian Centre for Urban Resources (CURS). The survey shows that 63% of those interviewed have a good or very good opinion of the president. Even though this result is better than the 60% approval rating he received in October 2005, it is lower than the 71% approval he obtained in June 2005. The second-most popular major politician is the opposition leader and head of the Social Democratic Party, Mircea Geoană, who has an approval rating of 47%. He is trailed by the Prime Minister, Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, with 44%. Gigi Becali, the leader of the New Generation Party, recorded the largest increase in popularity, with an approval rating of 30%, in comparison to the 20% he achieved in October 2005. The survey also looked at Romanians' opinions towards the major political parties. 42% of the respondents stated that they would vote for the governing Justice and Truth Alliance, made up of the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Party. 25% stated that they would vote for the Social Democratic Party, while the right-wing Greater Romania Party would receive 14% of the vote. Both of these parties recorded decreases in popularity. On the other hand, the New Generation Party and the National Initiative Party gained in popularity, with the New Generation Party attracting 4% of potential votes. 44% of the people interviewed believe that Romania will join the European Union in January 2007, as scheduled, while 18% think that the safeguard clause will be activated, postponing accession until 2008.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement The first mobile telephone using Google's Android software has been unveiled. The T-Mobile G1 handset will be available in the UK in time for Christmas. The first device to run the search giant's operating system will feature a touch screen as well as a Qwerty keyboard. It will be available for free on T-Mobile tariffs of over £40 a month and includes unlimited net browsing. Other features include a three megapixel camera, a 'one click' contextual search and a browser that users can zoom in on by tapping the screen. The handset will be wi-fi and 3G enabled and has built-in support for YouTube. Users will also have access the so-called Android Market, where they will be able to download a variety of applications. Prototypes The T-Mobile G1 is the first phone to use Android Google announced its plans for the Android phone software in November 2007 with a declared aim of making it easier to get at the web while on the move. To help develop Android, Google also unveiled the Open Handset Alliance - a partnership of more than 30 firms that would work to make phone software easier to work with. The group includes operators such as Telefonica, handset makers such as HTC and Motorola as well as chip makers such as Intel and Qualcomm. Many of the partners demonstrated early prototype Android phones at the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona in mid-February. The idea behind Android is to do for phone software what the open source Linux software has done for PCs. Developers of phone software can get at most of the core elements of the Android software to help them write better applications. Smartphones However, in launching Android, Google faces stiff competition from established players such as Nokia with its Symbian software and Microsoft with its Mobile operating system. More recently Apple has been gaining customers with its much hyped iPhone. The Android software is squarely aimed at the smartphone segment of the handset market which adds sophisticated functions to the basic calling and texting capabilities of most phones. Current estimates suggest that only 12-13% of the all handsets can be considered smartphones. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| T-Mobile USA shows off the first device to run Google's long-awaited mobile operating system, Android. CNET News reports from the event in New York. NEW YORK--Nearly a year after word of a "Google phone" started spreading, T-Mobile USA and the search giant are revealing the first mobile device to run on Google's Android operating system. Anticipated is a smartphone manufactured by Taiwanese electronics maker HTC called Dream. Below is CNET News' live coverage of the event here, which has concluded. Click here for full coverage of Google Android. 10:15 a.m. ET: We're waiting for the event to start. As noted by my colleague Stephen Shankland, some photos of T-Mobile's G1 phone--also known as the HTC Dream--are emerging shortly before the official debut here. 10:30 a.m.: T-Mobile USA's chief technology and innovation officer, Cole Brodman, takes the stage and introduces everyone for the launch. Andy Rubin of Google takes the stage, as does the chief technology officer of Deutsche Telekom, Christopher Schläffer. 10:35 a.m.: Schläffer announced that Deutsche Telekom is also announcing the Android phone across the pond on T-Mobile by the end of the year. He is talking about how Deutsche Telekom has grown its data revenue by 43 percent. Traffic has grown 250 percent, and the company is ready to capitalize further. A first official view of the G1 phone, aka the HTC Dream. Google's Android operating system, on which it runs, lets people view photos and add them as shortcuts to the phone's desktop. (Credit: T-Mobile/CNET Networks) 10:40 a.m.: Andy Rubin takes the stage and introduces Peter Chou, CEO of HTC. He starts off by congratulating everyone, from Andy Rubin to the whole T-Mobile team. We're 15 minutes into the press conference, and we still haven't seen the phone. That said, Chou described the device and called it iconic. 10:45 a.m.: Brodman says the company is going to drive change by working with third parties. No more fuzzy pictures, and no more unsubstantiated blog posts. "Here is the G1." And he reveals it. They start to play a video on the big screen. Everyone in the crowd holds up their phones and cameras to get a picture of it. Peter Chou, CEO of HTC, addresses the crowd. (Credit: T-Mobile/CNET Networks) 10:50 a.m.: Now all the executives line up on stage to take pictures. They are bombarded with photographers. The phone looks a lot like the Sidekick. I'm not sure how iconic the device is. But now they're going through the features, showing how to drag and drop by swiping the touch screen. The home screen looks a lot like the iPhone screen. One of the big things the G1 allows you to to is multitask, so you can be getting messages as you're talking or doing something else on the phone. 10:51 a.m.: The G1 comes with Google Maps street view, and there is a compass mode, and the scene moves as you do. Google is front and center. There isn't a pinch feature to zoom in and out, as you would with the iPhone, but you can highlight an area, and blow up the image. They also show how you can use the dedicated keyboard and then use the touch screen to access links on a Web page. They show the long press so that you can click on a link and then send an e-mail directly. Google Maps on the G1 phone is a bit more dynamic than the version on Apple's iPhone. (Credit: T-Mobile/CNET Networks) 10:55 a.m.: Now Brodman is talking about the Android Market, a sort of application store for the Android phones. He talks about how third parties will drive innovation. And then he rolls another video. Now we are going to get into the nitty gritty, hopefully, of what the Android Market will be. 10:58 a.m.: The video is of a bunch of programmers singing the praises of open source. They are talking about how cool it is to develop on the platform. But they aren't really saying anything about what the Android market will be and how it will work. Now Brodman is bringing developers on stage. There is an application called Eco Reo, which allows you to track your carbon footprint to be a better global citizen. And Shop Savvy helps people find the best prices on things. 11 a.m.: Now we are into the Q&A. The price of the G1 will be $179, with a two-year contract. It will have two data-messaging plan options. The first offers a unlimited Web usage and some messaging for $25. Then there will be a $35 plan, with unlimited messaging and Internet access. It will require a voice plan, and it can't be used as a tethered modem. T-Mobile is live with 3G connectivity now in 16 markets. By the time of the G1 launch, it will be in 22 markets, and by November, it will offer 3G in 27 markets, which will cover about 80 percent of T-Mobile's customers. The Android Developer Community invites outside developers to make applications for Android. (Credit: Google) The Deutsche Telekom executive said the G1 will be available in the United Kingdom in early November and across Europe in the first quarter of 2009. 11:05 a.m.: The phone will be locked to the T-Mobile network. Brodman said Google and T-Mobile will be marketing the device together. There is no Microsoft Exchange support. But it could be a perfect opportunity for the developers in the Android Market to develop something. Executives from HTC, Google, and T-Mobile answer questions at the G1 launch event. (Credit: T-Mobile/CNET Networks) The phone uses browser technology called WebKit that uses the same base technology as Google's Chrome browser. Andy Rubin called it Chrome Lite. Brodman said the device is aimed at the consumer market. 11:10 a.m.: Rubin says the phone will have a robust Gmail experience, enabling fast e-mail search. There will also be integrated online presence with Google Talk. As for music, you won't be able to port iTunes music to the device. No big surprise there, though the question was asked. DRM-free music, however, can be added to the device. Another question regarded Skype. There will be no integration with eBay's VoIP service, though the device has Wi-Fi. The G1 will be able to be used internationally. It has a dual-band radio for UMTS and a quad-band radio for GSM. Google co-founders Larry Page, left, and Sergey Brin speak at the G1 launch. (Credit: T-Mobile/CNET Networks) 11:13 a.m.: Now it's time for some special guests. Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page take the stage. They just rushed over from the Google transit launch, braving the Manhattan traffic. Brin said he has already been playing around with the device and described an application he developed that allows him to throw up his phone and calculate the amount of time it takes before it hits the ground. Not an application that will likely be found in the Android Market. Larry Page also said he's been having tons of fun playing with the G1. And he said the phone is as good a PC as anything people were using just a few years ago. Now the press conference is over, and they have invited the crowd downstairs, where they have a bunch of G1s set up to play with. 11:18 a.m.: "It's exciting for me to have a phone I can play with and modify, just like I could with computers in the past," Brin says. And Page asks audience members to compare how fast they can search on laptops to searching on their phones. Android is designed to narrow the gap. "Being able to do search with the ability you're used to having on your laptop is a really, really worthwhile thing, and we're really excited about that," Page says. Google, of course, makes the vast majority of its considerable revenue and profit from ads that appear next to search results. 11:28 a.m.: Gmail messages are pushed to the phone, so new e-mail arrives without the user having to check for it manually. The Gmail application can work as a front end to other e-mail services, too. "The device syncs well to Google services--also to Yahoo, AOL, and Microsoft as well," Rubin said. He also said the Gmail application has several features from the Web-based Gmail interface: threaded conversations, fast search, and the ability to archive messages. Thanks for joining the live blog! We'll post more photos and detail from the event shortly. CNET News' Stephen Shankland contributed to this report.	The Android interface. Source: Google Software Development Kit. The first phone that runs on Google Android was unveiled today by T-Mobile. The announcement of this new handset, named the T-Mobile G1, was made in an event run by T-Mobile USA which took place today. The event started at 14:30 UTC (10:30 local time) when Cole Brodman, the chief technology and innovation officer of T-Mobile USA, started introducing the people who were going to be present at the launch. These people were Andy Rubin, who represents Google, and Christopher Schlaffer, who is the CTO of Deutsche Telekom. Five minutes later Schlaffer announced that Google Android will be available for Christmas 2008 on T-Mobile for customers of Deutsche Telekom. The new phone was then revealed by Cole Brodman, who described the phone as "iconic." Commentators, however, dismissed claims that the phone was iconic. Marguerite Reardon from CNET said that Android looks rather like the iPhone, and as a result she does not think the phone can be described as iconic. She also said that the Android device looks the Danger Hiptop device, which is also known as the T-Mobile Sidekick. The new phone will be available free in the UK for users with contracts that cost over 40GB£ (Approximately 74 US$) per month. These planned tariffs are expected to include unlimited web access. Android is completely open source, and was developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance, a partnership of over thirty companies working to develop open source software for mobile phones.
The 18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale was placed in a special pontoon in shallow water near Battersea Bridge. It was then tethered close to two boats and towed to a barge which is heading for the river estuary. Experts hoped it could be let out into deep waters but the plan now is to release it off Whitstable in Kent. If the whale is too weak experts may take the decision to put it down. Tony Woodley from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), which is leading the rescue operation, said the vet on the barge was "pessimistic" about the whale's chances. Rescuers tried to keep the whale cool as they moved it by barge The vet had told him the animal was suffering muscle stiffening and was under stress due to what it has gone through and being out of the water. "The plan was to go round at least to the English Channel before it was released, but now it is just get as far out of the Thames as possible," he said. "We have the awful trade off of how far out we can take it and how long we can keep it out of the water." A BDMLR spokesman said the barge should reach the a location known as "Shivering Sands" 15 miles off the coast of Whitstable from 2100 GMT to 2130 GMT. A sighting of the whale on Saturday morning near Albert Bridge, in Chelsea, disappointed rescuers buoyed by an earlier report that it had been seen in Greenwich, which is closer to open water. But as the rescuers moved the whale applause broke out among the 3,000 onlookers some on Battersea Bridge, which had been closed, as the whale passed beneath. It is on an inflatable raft which is functioning as "makeshift whale mattress" on which it is being constantly watered down and monitored by experts. The whale was captured near Battersea Bridge Enlarge Map It has been given several injections including antibiotics and earlier a vet on board the barge said the whale's had sustained cuts and its breathing was irregular. Mark Stevens, from BDMLR, said lifting the animal onto the barge had "gone like clockwork" but it was the "scariest thing I've ever done in rescuing whales". The whale, which could weigh about four tonnes, was first spotted at 0830 GMT on Friday by a man on a train and has since attracted massive public and media attention. It soon became clear there was cause for concern, as the animal came within yards of the banks, almost beaching, and crashed into an empty boat, causing itself slight bleeding. There were reports of a pod of whales in the Thames estuary earlier in the week, and it was possible that the whale had become separated from this group. There was also an unconfirmed sighting of a whale in Southend in Essex on Friday. It was the first sighting of the endangered species in the Thames since records began nearly a century ago. In an unrelated incident, what is thought to be a harbour porpoise was found dead on the banks of the Thames in Putney, south-west London, on Saturday afternoon. \|\|\|\|\| The 18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale was placed in a special pontoon in shallow water near Battersea Bridge. It was then tethered close to two boats and towed to a barge which is heading for the river estuary. Experts hoped it could be let out into deep waters but the plan now is to release it off Whitstable in Kent. If the whale is too weak experts may take the decision to put it down. Tony Woodley from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), which is leading the rescue operation, said the vet on the barge was "pessimistic" about the whale's chances. Rescuers tried to keep the whale cool as they moved it by barge The vet had told him the animal was suffering muscle stiffening and was under stress due to what it has gone through and being out of the water. "The plan was to go round at least to the English Channel before it was released, but now it is just get as far out of the Thames as possible," he said. "We have the awful trade off of how far out we can take it and how long we can keep it out of the water." A BDMLR spokesman said the barge should reach the a location known as "Shivering Sands" 15 miles off the coast of Whitstable from 2100 GMT to 2130 GMT. A sighting of the whale on Saturday morning near Albert Bridge, in Chelsea, disappointed rescuers buoyed by an earlier report that it had been seen in Greenwich, which is closer to open water. But as the rescuers moved the whale applause broke out among the 3,000 onlookers some on Battersea Bridge, which had been closed, as the whale passed beneath. It is on an inflatable raft which is functioning as "makeshift whale mattress" on which it is being constantly watered down and monitored by experts. The whale was captured near Battersea Bridge Enlarge Map It has been given several injections including antibiotics and earlier a vet on board the barge said the whale's had sustained cuts and its breathing was irregular. Mark Stevens, from BDMLR, said lifting the animal onto the barge had "gone like clockwork" but it was the "scariest thing I've ever done in rescuing whales". The whale, which could weigh about four tonnes, was first spotted at 0830 GMT on Friday by a man on a train and has since attracted massive public and media attention. It soon became clear there was cause for concern, as the animal came within yards of the banks, almost beaching, and crashed into an empty boat, causing itself slight bleeding. There were reports of a pod of whales in the Thames estuary earlier in the week, and it was possible that the whale had become separated from this group. There was also an unconfirmed sighting of a whale in Southend in Essex on Friday. It was the first sighting of the endangered species in the Thames since records began nearly a century ago. In an unrelated incident, what is thought to be a harbour porpoise was found dead on the banks of the Thames in Putney, south-west London, on Saturday afternoon.	Battersea Bridge Crowds watch the rescue Battersea Bridge watching the whale Rescue teams are attempting to save the life of the whale which has been swimming in the London Thames river over the past few days. The northern bottle-nosed whale, which had gotten weaker and weaker, became beached this afternoon. Rescue teams quickly moved the whale onto an inflatable pontoon, keeping the whale in water but with its blowhole above the surface. Experts then tried to evaluate the condition of the whale by performing ultrasound checks to see how much blubber and blood the whale has, and by taking some blood tests. The breathing rate of the whale was around four inhalations per minute. The pontoon is currently being towed by a barge slowly downstream. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue team lead the rescue effort. They hope to be able to release the whale in as deep water as possible, but only if it is in good enough health. If the whale is considered to be in too weak a condition to survive, it may be euthanised, experts have said. The rescue mission is being filmed by television crews, including from helicopters, and broadcast live onto rolling news channels. Mark Stevens, a member of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue team reported on the situation live on TV using a mobile phone, direct from the scene where he was standing in the water. At one point he asked the BBC to tell their helicopter to fly higher, as the noise made the whale's breathing rate temporarily go up. The whale sightings have captivated the British public, with spectators lining the banks of the Thames to take photographs and try and spot the whale. However, the inital surprise at seeing the whale soon turned to concern as experts fear for the whale's long term health. Initial plans to transfer the whale from the barge "Crossness" to a deep-sea ship have been abandoned as the condition of the whale deteriorates, but it is still hoped to release the whale in the Thames estuary.
British media agreed not to report the prince's deployment The 23-year-old royal, who has spent the last 10 weeks serving in Helmand Province, is flying back to the UK amid concerns for his safety. The move follows the collapse of a news blackout deal over his tour of duty, which was broken by foreign media. There had been fears the prince, who is third in line to the throne, could become a target for the Taleban. In a statement, the Ministry of Defence described the reporting of Harry's deployment by foreign media as "regrettable" but said that contingency plans for such a leak were in place. Prince Harry, in an interview recorded in Afghanistan prior to his withdrawal, said he had enjoyed being away from the press and England. "I don't want to sit around Windsor, because I generally don't like England that much and it's nice to be away from all the press and the papers.....," he said. More recently he took part in a major operation to disrupt Taleban lines of communication Brigadier Andrew Mackay It added that while the prince should have returned "in a matter of weeks" with his Household Cavalry regiment battlegroup, the situation had now "clearly changed". Brigadier Andrew Mackay, Commander of Task Force Helmand, said Harry had been "deployed in the field, conducting operations against the Taleban" at the time of the decision. He continued: "He has seen service both in the south of Helmand and in the north. More recently he took part in a major operation to disrupt Taleban lines of communication." 'Risks' Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, in consultation with head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, had taken the final decision to withdraw Harry immediately, the statement said. "This decision has been taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage of Prince Harry in Afghanistan could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier," it added. Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to the prince and said Britain owed him a "debt of gratitude" for his service in Afghanistan, but he added that it was correct to bring Harry back to the UK. HAVE YOUR SAY Prince Harry is a trained soldier. I'm in the service too and I'm pleased for him that he was allowed to go Deborah, Hampshire, UK "Security considerations come first. That has been the deciding factor which was made by our defence staff and I think that everybody will respect that is the right decision." He thanked Harry, a second lieutenant, for the "professionalism and dedication he has shown", and said the decision to bring him home was a reminder of the "difficulties and challenges" the armed forces faced on active duty. Conservative leader David Cameron agreed that it was "right" to withdraw the prince from Afghanistan, but said everyone in Britain should be "proud of what he has done". "It's incredibly tough out there. He's obviously shown great courage and bravery as all our soldiers do out there. "And what they do is really important, not just for the future of Afghanistan but for the safety of our country too." 'Dangerous tasks' A member of the Household Cavalry, Prince Harry was based in a former madrassa along with a Gurkha regiment. Work involved calling up allied air cover in support of ground forces and going out on foot patrols. Defence Secretary Des Browne also commended Harry, saying the prince was "an example of a generation of young people" who were "prepared to take on these very serious and dangerous tasks for our security". The Queen, opening the Queen's Court Care Home in Windsor, said she believed he had done "a good job in a very difficult climate". THE EDITORS' BLOG A news black-out is unusual, but not unique Jon Williams, World news editor, BBC News Jon's comments in full The prince's deployment was subject to a news blackout deal struck between the MoD and newspapers and broadcasters in the UK and abroad. It is understood that the news was first leaked in an Australian publication in January but only after it appeared on the influential US website, The Drudge Report, did the deal break down. In exchange for not reporting the prince's deployment, some media organisations were granted access to the prince in Afghanistan for interviews and filming. The prince's withdrawal is the second major blow to his army career. Last year, a planned tour to Iraq had to be cancelled at the last minute because of a security risk. \|\|\|\|\| By Luke Baker LONDON (Reuters) - Prince Harry flew out of Afghanistan on Friday after news leaked that he had been fighting on the frontline for 10 weeks, defence sources said. The 23-year-old grandson of the Queen and third in line to the throne left Afghanistan prematurely amid fears for his security and for those soldiers fighting alongside him. He was sent to Afghanistan in December. But for security reasons and in agreement with the Ministry of Defence, the British media did not report the deployment. That agreement collapsed after Web sites in Australia, Germany and the United States leaked the news on Thursday. The ministry said the decision to withdraw him was "taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage of Prince Harry in Afghanistan could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier". Harry has been active during his 10 weeks of combat, calling in air strikes against Taliban positions, carrying out foot patrols and firing a heavy-duty machine gun at suspected fighters. It is the first time a British royal has been deployed in combat since the Falklands war 25 years ago, when Prince Andrew flew helicopters. After his presence became known, there were heightened concerns he could become a target of the Taliban, al Qaeda or other Islamist militants operating in Afghanistan, endangering the prince as well as fellow soldiers. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| 2pm GMT update Prince Harry to be recalled from Afghanistan Prince Harry is to be pulled out "immediately" from Afghanistan after a news blackout on his deployment broke down, the Ministry of Defence confirmed today. The 23-year-old is 10 weeks into a 14-week tour but army chiefs have decided the risk is too great, amid fears the Taliban will step up attacks on British bases. "This decision has been taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage of Prince Harry in Afghanistan could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier," said the MoD. US political blog the Drudge Report publicised Harry's posting yesterday, repeating a report from an Australian women's magazine and thus bringing to an end a voluntary agreement by the British media to keep it secret until he returned. The MoD described the decision to report the prince's presence in Afghanistan without consulting it as "regrettable" and said his situation had "clearly changed" as a result. It said the decision to withdraw Harry had been taken by Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, chief of defence staff, in consultation with General Sir Richard Dannatt, chief of the general staff and head of the army, "following a detailed assessment of the risks". Gordon Brown said the prince had served with "great distinction" but it was the "right decision" for him to return. "Everybody wants to thank him and all our serving forces for the courage and professionalism they show," said the prime minister. The Queen, visiting a care home in Windsor, said her grandson had done a "good job in a difficult climate". The role of the prince has been to direct aircraft to enemy positions in Garmser, south of Helmand province, close to the Pakistan border. But last night, defence forces said he was no longer there. His recall from the frontline will come as a bitter blow to the prince who was last year refused permission to fight in Iraq with the soldiers he had led throughout his army career. Initially the MoD had said the prince would serve with his unit just like any other soldier. But Dannatt later announced Harry would not be going after intelligence reports of a series of specific threats to the prince and his fellow soldiers. Harry had threatened to resign his commission following the decision and a special role for the prince to take up in Afghanistan was carved out in an attempt to placate him. In a pre-prepared interview that was meant to be broadcast after his return, the prince said: "I think there's a lot of guys where who hopefully won't be targeted, but as I say now that this film has been made and now… people will know I'm out here no doubt I'll be a top target." He flew out to Afghanistan on December 14 and had been due to complete a four-month tour without the standard two-week rest and recreation break other soldiers enjoy. The MoD thanked the UK media for its "responsible attitude" in maintaining the news blackout and asked that it "refrain from speculating on his [Harry's] current location, timelines and routes" until his return.	Prince Henry of Wales Prince Harry has today been ordered to return home, after details that the 23 year old's front line engagement was leaked by an American website. The details of the Prince's engagement had previously been kept secret by many British and international news agencies, including the BBC and the Associated Press. The leak of the information was said to be "regrettable" by the Ministry of Defence, however this meant that Prince Harry was ordered to return home due to fears for his, and the others in his unit's safety. Prince Harry will be flown home "immediately", after 10 weeks of front line service. During this he worked as a Joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) and was involved in major operations on the frontline against Taliban forces. The media blackout was created to lower the risk to the royal, whilst in service in Afghanistan, and was the first large scale agreement of its kind. The media groups who signed up to the agreement were rewarded with interviews with the Prince.
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer Fri May 6, 4:54 PM ET WASHINGTON - Thenow foresees a much smaller round of base closings and consolidations, saying it has only half as much surplus space as previously estimated, according to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. That is likely to make the politically touchy subject of base closings less difficult for the Bush administration, although any closures cause angst among the affected communities and their representatives in Congress. Cutting surplus capacity saves billions for the Pentagon. Rumsfeld is to submit his list of recommended closures and realignments to the independent Base Realignment and Closure Commission no later than May 16, and the commission is required by law to submit its final report toby Sept. 8. The Pentagon has kept an exceptionally tight lid on information about which bases might be closed or realigned. Rumsfeld is scheduled to testify publicly before the commission on May 16. For the past few years, the Pentagon has said it had 20 percent to 25 percent more U.S. base capacity than needed for the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. But in a conference call with newspaper editorial writers across the country on Thursday, Rumsfeld said the amount of surplus is not nearly as large as had been estimated, in part because tens of thousands of U.S. troops will be brought home from bases in Asia and Europe. "Without final figures, I would say the percent will be less than half of the 20 to 25 percent that has been characterized previously," Rumsfeld said, according to two writers who were on the conference call. A third writer confirmed that he said the cuts would be about half previous estimates. Rumsfeld had previously said the current round of base closings and realignment the first since 1995 would result in less shrinkage of capacity than the 20 percent to 25 percent figure. But he had not previously said it might be only half that range. Because bases vary in size and utility, cutting capacity is not the same as cutting a specific number of bases. Rumsfeld has given no estimate of the number of bases that might get cut. Sen. John Cornyn ( news voting record ), R-Texas, said in an interview Friday that in a meeting on Feb. 8 Rumsfeld told him and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison ( news voting record ) that about 15 percent of base capacity would be eliminated. In a related development, a congressionally chartered commission that studied the Pentagon's plan for adjusting its troop presence on foreign bases released a report Friday endorsing the concept as "important to our nation and necessary," but advised that it be slowed and re-ordered. Bush's plan, announced last summer, to bring about 70,000 troops home from Germany and, along with their 100,000 dependents, is a major part of that global force adjustment. "The timing and synchronization of the overseas basing plan needs further review," the report said, adding, "We foresee great disruption in the overall stability and capability of the force to meet even near term contingencies should we proceed as we currently plan." The commission said it failed to understand the logic in the Pentagon's plan to begin investing billions to adjust the overseas troop presence before decisions are made about closing domestic bases. "If unforeseen threats arise in either the near term or the mid term, we could be caught in mid-stride unable to meet them," it said. A Pentagon spokesman, Bryan Whitman, said the overseas basing commission's report would be taken under advisement, but he defended the Pentagon plan as having been carefully put together. The Pentagon estimates that it can save billions of dollars by closing unneeded bases, and base realignments are aimed at advancing the ability of the military services to operate and train together, as well as to save money. While some bases will be cut, others may be expanded. States and cities are trying to avoid closures by making the case that their bases are crucial for national security. The Pentagon declined to release a transcript of Rumsfeld's remarks to the editorial writers until their editorials have been published. Three of the writers confirmed in telephone interviews Friday that Rumsfeld made the statement that the reduction in base capacity would be less than half the 20 percent to 25 percent range. J.R. Labbe, editorial writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, said Rumsfeld was pressed on this point, noting that his words suggested that only 10 percent to 12 percent of capacity would be eliminated in this round of base closings. She said Rumsfeld did not dispute her characterization. Andrea D. Georgsson, editorial writer for the Houston Chronicle, confirmed that Rumsfeld did not object to the 10 percent to 12 percent estimate, although he did not use those figures in his own comments. ___ On the Net: Overseas Basing Commission at http://www.obc.gov Defense Department at http://www.defenselink.mil \|\|\|\|\| UPDATED: Brooks City-Base, Ingleside on closure list; Fort Sam to gain WASHINGTON – The Pentagon on Friday proposed closing Brooks City-Base, Naval Station Ingleside and two other major Texas installations as part of a sweeping transformation of the armed services that will have a resounding impact nationwide. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recommended the elimination of 180 installations, including 33 major bases, as part of an effort to save $48.8 billion in spending and retool the military for the war on terror. “Our current arrangements, designed for the Cold War, must give way to the new demands of the war against extremism and other evolving 21st Century challenges,” Rumsfeld said. Several states would be hard hit by the Pentagon recommendations, which now go to an independent panel that has scheduled hearings on the closure list next week. In Texas, officials immediately questioned the value of closing Brooks and Ingleside, as well as Red River Army Depot and the Lone Star Ammunition Plant, both in Texarkana. The Pentagon also wants to close its portion of Ellington Field near Houston, scrapping an Air Force reserve F-16 wing there. “This recommendation list is a first step in the base realignment process and is by no means final,” said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. The biggest blow to the state would be the closure of Ingleside, a facility built with $50 million in funds from Texas and Nueces County in the 1980s. Shifting the missions at Ingleside to facilities in California and other ports would cost the Coastal Bend region about 2,200 jobs. “Our all-consuming job,” Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, said, “is to do everything in our power to get our South Texas bases off the list.” Texarkana would see a loss of 2,650 jobs with the closure Red River Army Depot and the Lone Star Ammunition Plant. Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced the creation of a “strike force” to help communities facing a base closure. Perry said the goal would be to convince officials of the targeted installations' importance in the war on terror “so that those bases remain open.” Closure of four of Texas' 17 major active-duty military installations would crimp the $49 billion in annual federal spending that adds to the state's economy. The state also stands to lose federal spending at reserve and guard facilities, like Ellington Field. The Department of Defense estimated that Texas will see a net increase of 6,150 military and civilian jobs, with Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio (9,364) and Fort Bliss (11,501) showing the largest gains. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, said the expansion at Fort Bliss “is the result of a solid strategy and lots of hard work by our community.” The Pentagon also proposed a major restructuring of its military medicine capabilities, with the largest transformation coming from a consolidation of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington with National Naval Medical Center in Maryland. Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston would become a San Antonio regional medical center with the transfer of the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland AFB and missions from realigned bases, including Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls. The two trauma centers at BAMC and Wilford Hall in San Antonio would be combined at the regional center, reducing operating costs. Pentagon officials put the price tag of closing and realigning bases at $24 billion, starting in 2006 when the six-year process of shuttering facilities begins. Eliminating the facilities and realigning missions to cut duplication would save $48.8 billion, with $5.5 billion in recurring annual savings, Pentagon officials said. The Bush administration supported the cuts, the fifth round of closures and realignments since 1988, saying they are necessary to restructure the military and prepare for new threats. “This process is important to making sure we continue to have the best-trained, best-equipped and best military in the world to address the threats that we face in this day and age,” said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. The Bush administration and the Pentagon have pledged economic assistance for communities hard hit by the closures. The Labor Department will offer job training and the Defense Department has pledged economic assistance to help cities recover from the loss of a base. Scores of communities – and states – would be affected by the closures and realignments. Georgia would lose 4,200 jobs with the closure of Fort McPherson, and Maine would lose nearly 7,000 jobs from realignment of Brunswick Naval Air Station and closure of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and a defense accounting office. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, called the recommendations outrageous “and devastating.” Other high-profile closure recommendations include the Navy's submarine base in Groton, Conn. – costing nearly 8,500 jobs – and Naval Station Pascagoula, a target in the 1995 round. Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said the closures would have a disproportionate economic impact on Corpus Christi, Northern Virginia and Mississippi. “I believe the national security analysis that underlies these decisions must be compelling when basing decisions are likely to yield draconian economic consequences in communities that have long supported our military,” Skelton said. Many of the closure recommendations singled out reserve and National Guard units. Gen. Steven Blum, director of the National Guard Bureau, said consolidating both Army and Air Guard units would better help governors protect citizenry as well as aid Army and Air Force commanders overseas. The Pentagon recommended closing seven guard and reserve centers in Texas, including El Paso, Ellington (Houston), Lufkin, Marshall, New Braunfels and two in Dallas. But members of the independent base closure commission have asked for a legal ruling on the closing of guard units after governors from Illinois and other states vowed a legal challenge to the proposals. The Pentagon has said it has authority to close facilities and consolidate units, even though many are located on publicly owned lands like airports. Hearings on the base closure proposals are scheduled next week, with Rumsfeld appearing before the panel on Monday to defend the list. Commission Chairman Anthony Principi said the panel would not be a “rubber stamp” for the Pentagon, and the hearings would “ensure a voice for the people affected by the DoD's proposals.” Texas officials will tour Lone Star state communities facing closures this weekend. San Antonio leaders are expected to attend the hearings this week and have begun plotting strategy to remove Brooks City-Base from the closure list – a task it accomplished in 1995. “We want to hear the justification,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, whose congressional district includes the South San Antonio base. The base closure commission has until Sept. 8 to craft a final version of the list and submit it to President Bush, who can either accept or reject the roster in its entirety. Principi has vowed to hold 15 regional hearings to give communities a chance to make the case for local installations and argue against closure or realignment. In the four previous closure rounds, the Pentagon closed 97 major installations. Seven of those bases were located in Texas – Naval Air Station Galveston, Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Naval Air Station Chase Field in Beeville, Naval Air Station Dallas, Reese AFB in Lubbock and Kelly AFB in San Antonio. gmartin@express-news.net	'''May 14, 2005''' Defense Department senior advisers on Base Realignment and Closure United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced the closure of 33 major military facilities in 22 states around the U.S. When word of the plans to shuffle facilities was released, closing some and expanding others, many community leaders shuddered. Cities like San Antonio, Texas, a town built on the back of military establishments, fear the possible economic effects. If the city's bases were closed, the city and local businesses could be crippled. The current announcement, however, benefits the city of San Antonio with the expansion of Ft. Sam Houston, despite the closure of two air bases. Groton, Connecticut, on the other hand faces the closure of a submarine base. Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn) claimed the closure was "cruel and unusual punishment." His state would lose 7,133 military jobs as well as 1,041 civilian jobs. Many communities around the nation stand to lose, while others could end up winners, as a result of the announced re-shuffle.
February 13th, 2007 "Live! At the Genies" will air on: will air on: TORONTO and 9:00pm ET WINNIPEG EDMONTON CALGARY 10:00pm CT/MT VANCOUVER 9:00pm PT and Other Information Click Here! You can search over 50 years of Canadian Film & TV Awards in our history database. Share your thoughts Click here to give us your thoughts about the Genies. Contact the Academy Genie Information Genie Website Media Information \|\|\|\|\| Trailer Park Boys: The Movie and Bon Cop, Bad Cop, one of the top-grossing films in Canadian history, were nominated Tuesday for a Genie Award for best picture. In a field dominated by Quebec movie-makers, they are competing in the best picture category with three French-language films: Guide de la petite vengeance (The Little Book of Revenge): Jean François Pouliot's witty tale about an accountant who takes revenge on his psychotic boss. Un dimanche à Kigali (A Sunday in Kigali): Robert Favreau's film about a romance between a white journalist and a black woman in 1990s Rwanda. Maurice Richard/The Rocket: Charles Binamé's film, a hit in Quebec, about Montreal Canadiens hockey legend Maurice Richard. The Rocket has a leading 13 nominations, including best director, best screenplay and best cinematography, and Bon Cop has 10. A Sunday in Kigali has seven nominations, including two for acting. Richard (played by Roy Dupuis) hits the ice in The Rocket. Dupuis is nominated for a best actor Genie and the film has a total of 13 nominations. (Alliance Atlantis) Colm Feore and Patrick Huard, who play bickering cops from Ontario and Quebec in Bon Cop, are up for best actor Genies. They are competing with Roy Dupuis, who plays Maurice Richard in The Rocket, Olivier Gourmet of Congorama and Luc Picard of A Sunday in Kigali. Bon Cop also won nominations for best direction, cinematography, art direction and original song. Jodelle Ferland, who plays a girl disturbed by the death of her mother in Tideland, and Sigourney Weaver, who plays an autistic woman in British-Canadian co-production Snow Cake, have been nominated for best actress. Also nominated for best performance in a leading role are Julie Le Breton, who plays Lucille Richard in The Rocket, Fatou N'Diaye, who plays the love interest in A Sunday in Kigali, and Ginette Reno of Le Secret de ma mère, a film about the secrets that emerge when a Québéçois family is reunited for a funeral. Bon Cop's Érik Canuel and The Rocket's Charles Binamé are vying for best director honours with Robert Favreau of A Sunday in Kigali, Jean François Pouliot of The Little Book of Revenge and Stéphane Lapointe of The Secret Life of Happy People. Jennifer Baichwal's Manufactured Landscapes, based on the work of photographer Edward Burtynsky, is one of only two films nominated in the best documentary category. "We're thrilled. We're so honoured," she said in an interview with CBC Arts Online. "What it's done is recognize in my mind the excellence of everyone who worked with us on the film," she said, adding that she has to credit the artistry of Burtynsky himself as well as her crew. There may not have been a lot of feature-length documentaries that had theatrical release, now a requirement for Genie nomination, she said. The other film competing in the documentary category is La planète blanche (The White Planet), a French-language documentary about animal life in the North Pole. The Genie Awards gala, given annually to celebrate the best in Canadian cinema, is Feb. 13. Other nominations: Best supporting actor:. Ricky (Robb Wells), left, Bubbles (Mike Smith), right, and Julian (John Paul Tremblay) star in the Trailer Park Boys movie. (Alliance-Atlantis/Canadian Press) Trailer Park Boys: The Movie: Hugh Dillon. Whole New Thing: Robert Joy. Eve and the Fire Horse: Chan Chit Man Lester. Maurice Richard/The Rocket: Stephen McHattie. Guide de la Petite Vengeance/The Little Book of Revenge: Michel Muller. Best supporting actress: Niagara Motel: Caroline Dhavernas. La Vie secrète des gens heureux/The Secret Life of Happy People: Marie Gignac. Snow Cake: Emily Hampshire. Snow Cake: Carry Anne Moss. Eve and the Fire Horse: Vivian Wu. Best art direction: Bon Cop, Bad Cop: Jean Bécotte. Eve and the Fire Horse: Mary-Ann Lui, Athena Wong. The Rocket: Michel Proulx. La Rage de l'ange/Angel's Rage: Francois Séguin. Tideland: Jasna Stefanovic. Best costume design: The Journals of Knud Rasmussen: Michelline Amaaq. Eve and the Fire Horse: Sandy Buck. Maurice Richard/The Rocket: Francesca Chamberland. Tideland: Mario Davignon. The Secret Life of Happy People: Annie Dufort. Best cinematography: Bon Cop, Bad Cop: Bruce Chun. Snow Cake: Steve Cosens. The Rocket: Pierre Gill. Beowulf & Grendel: Jan Kiesser. Tideland: Nicola Pecorini. Best editing: Colm Feore (left) and Patrick Huard face off over who will investigate the murder in Bon Cop, Bad Cop, which has 10 Genie nominations. (Dominique Chartrand/Alliance Atlantis) The Rocket: Michel Arcand. Bon Cop, Bad Cop: Jean-Francois Bergeron. Congorama: Frédérique Broos. Cheech: Michel Grou. Tideland: Lesley Walker. Best music, original score: Cheech: Normand Corbeil. The Rocket: Michel Cusson. The Secret Life of Happy People: Pierre Desroshers. Beowulf & Grendel: Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson. Sans Elle/Without Her: Jean Robitaille. Best original song: In a Heartbeat from Eighteen, Bramwell Tovey, Richard Bell. L'Astronaute from Angel's Rage, Dan Bigras. Trace-Moi from La belle bête/The Beautiful Beast, Patrick Watson, Caroline Dhavernas. Tattoo from Bon Cop, Bad Cop, Eric Lapoint, Stéphane Dufour. Have Hope from Unnatural & Accidental, Jennifer Kreisberg. Best sound: Eve and the Fire Horse: Daniel Pellerin, Gashtaseb Ariana, Jeff Carter. The Rocket: Claude Hazanavicius, Claude Beaugrand, Luc Boudrias, Bernard Gariépy Strobl. Bon Cop, Bad Cop: Dominique Chartrand, Gavin Fernandes, Nathalie Morin, Pierre Paquet. Tideland: David Lee, Douglas Cooper, Robert Farr. A Sunday in Kigali: Marie-Claude Gagné, Claude la Haye, Hans Peter Strobl, Bernard Gariépy Strobl. Sound editing: Cheech: Pierre-Jules Audet, Guy Francoeur, Guy Pelletier. The Rocket: Claude Beaugrand, Olivier Calvert, Jérome Décarie, Natalie Fleurant, Francine Poirier. Bon Cop, Bad Cop: Christian Rivest, Valéry Dufort-Boucher, Tchae Measroch. A Sunday in Kigali: Marie-Claude Gagné. Beowulf & Grendel: Jane Tattersall, Barry Gilmore, David McCallum, Donna Powell, Dave Rose. Best original screenplay: Congorama: Philippe Falardeau. The Little Book of Revenge: Ken Scott. The Rocket: Ken Scott. Le Secret de ma mère: Martin Girard, Gyslaine Coté. The Secret Life of Happy People: Stéphane Lapointe. Best adapted screenplay: Trailer Park Boys: The Movie: Mike Clattenburg, Robb Wells. Cheech: Francois Létourneau. A Sunday in Kigali: Robert Favreau, Gil Courtemanche. Best Documentary: Manufactured Landscapes: Jennifer Baichwal, Nick de Pencier, Gerry Flahive, Daniel Iron, Peter Starr. La planète blanche/The White Planet: Jean Lemire, Thierry Piantanida, Thierry Ragobert. Best live action short: Big Girl: Renuka Jeyapalan, Anneli Ekborn, Michael Gelfand. Hiro: Matthew Swanson, Oliver-Barnet Lindsay. Jack et Jacques: Marie-Hélène Copti. Le Rouge au Sol/Red: Maxime Giroux, Paul Barbeau. Snapshots for Henry: Teresa Hannigan, Charlotte Disher. Best animated short: The Danish Poet: Torill Kove, Lise Fearnley, Marcy Page. Histoire tragique avec fin heureuse/Tragic story with a Happy Ending: Regina Pessoa, Patrick Eveno, Abi Feijò, Jacques-Rémy Girerd, Marcel Jean. The Genie Awards are administered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. They were founded in 1979 to promote and celebrate the growing Canadian film industry. The first awards, held at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre, took place on March 20, 1980.	Nominations for the Genie Awards, Canada's leading motion picture honours, were announced on Tuesday by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. The following films received the most nominations this year: * ''The Rocket: The Maurice Richard Story'', a dramatic portrayal of the honoured Montreal Canadiens hockey player, earned 13 nominations; * The bilingual police-comedy ''Bon Cop, Bad Cop'' was 2006's most financially successful Canadian movie and it picked up ten nominations; * Seven nominations went to ''Un dimanche à Kigali (A Sunday in Kigali)'', a drama set in Rwanda; * ''Tideland'', a movie produced by Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame, was filmed in Saskatchewan and earned six nominations. A best picture nomination was also given to ''Trailer Park Boys: The Movie'', one of the few successful domestic films at Canadian box offices in 2006. That movie is based on a popular, internationally-distributed Canadian television series. The Genie Awards will be presented on 13th February at a ceremony at the Carlu theatre in Toronto.
Earthquake Summary Earthquake Summary Poster Tectonic Summary The Vanuatu earthquake of May 27, 2010 occurred on or near the plate boundary between the Australia and Pacific plates in the Coral Sea region of the southwest Pacific. In the region of the earthquake, the Australia plate moves to the east-northeast with respect to the Pacific plate at a velocity of approximately 91 mm/year. The Australia plate thrusts under the Pacific plate at the New Hebrides trench and dips to the east-northeast. The May 27 earthquake's location, depth, and focal mechanism are consistent with the earthquake having occurred as thrust faulting associated with subduction along the Australia-Pacific plate boundary. This earthquake occurred between 70-130 km to the north of a sequence of large subduction thrust earthquakes in October of 2009. On October 7th, two earthquakes of M 7.7 and M 7.8 occurred 15 minutes apart. After these events, an M 7.4 aftershock struck approximately one hour later, and two M 6.6 and M 6.8 aftershocks occurred on the following day. The Vanuatu region experiences a very high level of earthquake activity, with almost 50 events of magnitude 7 and larger having been recorded since 1973. The subducting Australia plate is seismically active to depths of about 350 km beneath the islands. \|\|\|\|\| Tsunami Information The earthquake locations and magnitudes cited in NOAA tsunami statements and bulletins are preliminary and are superseded by USGS locations and magnitudes computed using more extensive data sets. NOAA Tsunami Bulletins for this Earthquake No Bulletins have been issued at this time. General Tsunami Information \|\|\|\|\| Tsunami Information The earthquake locations and magnitudes cited in NOAA tsunami statements and bulletins are preliminary and are superseded by USGS locations and magnitudes computed using more extensive data sets. NOAA Tsunami Bulletins for this Earthquake No Bulletins have been issued at this time. General Tsunami Information \|\|\|\|\| Tsunami Information The earthquake locations and magnitudes cited in NOAA tsunami statements and bulletins are preliminary and are superseded by USGS locations and magnitudes computed using more extensive data sets. NOAA Tsunami Bulletins for this Earthquake No Bulletins have been issued at this time. General Tsunami Information \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- A tsunami warning was canceled Friday for Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean when the threat from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake had passed. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued the warning early Friday when the quake struck near the island of Vanuatu, saying that an earthquake of that size "has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours." There were no reports of serious damage or injuries. The earthquake was 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) deep, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Its epicenter was 215 kilometers (135 miles) from Luganville, Vanuatu. It struck at 4:14 a.m. Friday (1:14 p.m. Thursday ET), the USGS said. The USGS initially classified the quake as a 7.6 -magnitude, but later downgraded it. \|\|\|\|\| (Changes dateline, updates with damage estimates, quotes) CANBERRA, Aug 2 (Reuters) - A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake rattled the Pacific nation of Vanuatu on Thursday, cracking roads and disrupting power supplies, but did not cause major damage, local authorities said. The quake occurred at 0409 locally on Thursday (1709 GMT Wednesday) about 45 km (30 miles) southeast of the central island of Santo at a depth of around 150 km (90 miles) below the Pacific Ocean surface. "It's a pretty good size, but it's deep and there is no tsunami threat. It's aways out to sea," Geophysicist Robert Cessaro at the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center told Reuters. Jesse Benjamin, a spokesman for the Vanuatu government meteorological office, said the quake was felt strongly on Santo. "There are cracks in the roads, cracks in the offices, the power went down and computers, but we do not expect major damage," he said from the capital Port Vila. \|\|\|\|\| de 7,6 grados WASHINGTON, 27 May. (Reuters) - El Centro de Alerta de Tsunamis del Pacífico ha levantado la alerta activada después de un terremoto de 7,2 grados registrado frente a la costa noroeste de Vanuatu. El terremoto, cuya magnitud inicial fue cifrada en 7,6 grados por el Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos, se registró a las 17.14 horas GMT (19.14 horas en la España peninsular) a 244 kilómetros de distancia al noroeste de Santo, en Vanuatu. Su epicentro se localizó a 36 kilómetros de profundidad. Las autoridades de Vanuatu aclararon que en la isla principal no se había sentido y, por lo tanto, no habría provocado daños materiales o personales en la zona. \|\|\|\|\| WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Residents of a northern town in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu ran into the streets Friday as a powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake shook the area, police said. The magnitude 7.2 quake rattled the island country, briefly triggering a tsunami watch for the region, officials said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injury. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 4.14 a.m. local time and was centered 300 miles (485 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Port Vila, at a depth of 22 miles (36 kilometers). Three more sharp quakes followed in the same area, including a magnitude 6.4 more than three hours later. "Some people left their houses in the town – they ran out the doors," police spokesman James Tari said from Luganville, the main settlement on Espirito Santo, the main island closest to the quakes. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a tsunami warning for Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, but canceled the alert about an hour later. The center's duty geophysicist Barry Hershorn said they had confirmed there was no tsunami from ocean buoys and from coastal sea level gauges in Vanuatu. The quake was "a little bigger than usual – for me the shake was a really big one," he said. "At the moment there are no reports of injury or damage." Authorities in Vanuatu said they were checking for information on the quake and were pleased the tsunami alert had been canceled. "The very close proximity (of the quake epicenter) to Espirito Santo meant there was nothing much we could do" to alert residents to any danger, said Meteorological Office acting director Salesa Kaniaha. Story continues below Vanuatu – a chain of 83 islands – lies just over 1,400 miles (2,200 kilometers) northeast of Sydney. Vanuatu is part of the Pacific "ring of fire" – an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones stretching from Chile in South America through Alaska and down through Vanuatu to Tonga in the South Pacific.	Shakemap of the earthquake. Vanuatu has been hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake at 04:14 local time on Friday (17:14 UTC on Thursday). The epicenter was located 215 kilometers to the northwest of , Espíritu Santo, Vanuatu; 340 kilometers to the southeast of , , Solomon Islands; 485 kilometers to the northwest of , Vanuatu; and 2,070 kilometers to the northeast of Brisbane, Australia. The earthquake had a depth of 36.1 kilometers, approximately 22.4 miles. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in issued a tsunami warning for Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia. They said on the report: "It is not known that a tsunami was generated. This warning is based only on the earthquake evaluation. An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours." The Vanuatu government Meteorological Office reported infrastructure cracks, and power outages, but does not foresee major damage. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, CNN reported. USGS initially reported the earthquake as 7.6, but they later downgraded it. Magnitude 5.7, 5.2 and 6.4 aftershocks were reported later by USGS. The tsunami warning was cancelled an hour after it was issued. Geophysicist Barry Hershorn said to The Huffington Post that they had confirmed there was no tsunami from ocean buoys and from coastal sea level gauges in Vanuatu. The Vanuatu goverment said they were pleased the tsunami alert had been canceled. "We haven't received any reports yet about earthquake damage," said Salesa Kaniaha, Meteorological Office acting director of Vanuatu. "The very close proximity of the epicenter to Espíritu Santo the closest island meant there was nothing much we could do to alert residents to any danger," he added. Vanuatu is an insular country located in southern Pacific Ocean, located 1,750 kilometers to the east of Australia.
Consuming too much of Santi bovine penis erecting capsule will cause serious harm as it reduces the person's blood sugar to a dangerously low level, resulting in seizures, stroke, coma or death. -- PHOTO: COURTESY OF HSA TWO new illegal sexual enhancement products have been found to cause adverse side effects on patients. They are Santi bovine penis erecting capsule and Zhong Hua Niu Bian, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). The samples of Santi bovine penis erecting capsule were given on April 9 by a patient who was warded for symptoms of low blood sugar. The other product was found in the course of testing seized products. HSA laboratory analysis confirmed on Thursday that the Santi bovine penis erecting capsule contains high amounts of glibenclamide - a potent western medicine used to treat diabetes. Consuming too much of it will cause serious harm as it reduces the person's blood sugar to a dangerously low level, resulting in seizures, stroke, coma or death. The capsule also contains sildenafil and tadalafil - potent western medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction. VIDEO These sex pills can kill! (2:46) The other product, Zhong Hua Niu Bian also contains sildenafil and glibenclamide - prescription only medicines to be taken under strict medical supervision. A middle-aged local Chinese man died last week after being in a coma state. He had taken the illegal sexual enhancement drug Power 1 Walnut. The same potent substances, sildenafil and glibenclamide were also found in the drug. To date there is a total of 30 confirmed cases of serious adverse reactions to such illegal products, with another 59 suspected cases. All patients are men aged between 21 and 97 years old, made up of all races and population. Almost seven in ten of them are residents while some three in ten of them are foreign workers. Interviews with the patients revealed that they bought the drugs from illegal peddlers located at various parts of Singapore. To minimise exposure and casualty, HSA has stepped up its enforcement efforts including alerts to healthcare professionals and enhanced collaboration with overseas counterparts like the regulatory and enforcement agencies. Since Feb 2008 there has been one death and two cases of coma from the total of 89 hospitalised cases linked with the consumption of illegal products claiming to enhance sexual performance. Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicious sales of illegal products by calling the hotline number 6866 3485. \|\|\|\|\| These sex pills can kill! They are : Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule and Zhong Hua Niu Bian, loosely translated as China Cow 'Whip'. The red alert on these 2 products comes hot on the heels of concerns over the ill effects of Power 1 Walnut and fake Cialis drugs identified over the past 3 months. HSA's message - Don't gamble with your health. Illegal products can kill. More from Imelda Saad. \|\|\|\|\| Foreign Product Alert 2008-06 January 7, 2008 For immediate release Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the following product listed in the table below due to concerns about possible side-effects. More info Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule Date of alert January 7, 2008 Source of Alert Health Sciences Authority of Singapore Product Name Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule Manufacturer / Place of Origin Unknown manufacturer / Unknown place of origin Product Description Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule is promoted for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Reason for Warning The Health Sciences Authority of Singapore advised the public not to purchase or consume the product Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule because it contains sildenafil. Sildenafil is a prescription drug used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and should only be taken under the guidance of a health professional. Possible Side-Effects Unsupervised use of sildenafil by patients with heart disease can result in serious cardiovascular side-effects such as sudden cardiac death, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, chest pain and abnormal heartbeat. Additionally, use of sildenafil may be associated with other side-effects including temporary vision loss, seizure, prolonged erection, headache, flushing, nasal congestion and abdominal pain. Sildenafil should not be used by individuals taking any type of nitrate drug (e.g., nitroglycerine) due to the risk of developing potentially life-threatening low blood pressure. -30- Media Inquiries: Alastair Sinclair Health Canada (613) 957-1803 For more details on these Foreign Product Alerts, please visit the Health Canada Web site. This product is not authorized for sale in Canada and has not been found in the Canadian marketplace. However, it is possible this product could be purchased by Canadians travelling abroad or has been brought into Canada through personal importation by travellers or purchased over the Internet. Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product. Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality. Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the product listed in the table in the Canadian marketplace. For more information about the information contained in this advisory, please contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709. As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.	Health Sciences Authority headquarters New 'deadly' sexual enhancement products have been found in Singaporean markets and can cause serious side effects on users. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced the presence of the illegal drugs, known as Power 1 Walnut, Santi bovine penis erecting capsule, Zhong Hua Niu Bian and fake Cialis, which have been discovered over the past 3 months. Santi bovine penis erecting capsule has been found to contain high amounts of glibenclamide, a potent drug used to treat diabetes. The tablets also contain sildenafil and tadalafil - potent western medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction. Zhong Hua Niu Bian also contains sildenafil and glibenclamide. High consumption of the tablets can be potentially deadly as the glibenclamide in the capsules can lead to drastically reduced blood sugar levels which can lead to seizures, stroke, coma or death. Consuming half of a Power 1 Walnut capsule has led to unconsciousness and frothing at the mouth. Consumption of Power 1 Walnut has led to the death of a middle age man last week who fell into a coma. Currently, one death and two cases of coma have been reported from the total of 89 hospitalised cases linked with the consumption of the illegal drugs. It has been revealed that patients obtained the drugs by purchasing them from illegal peddlers located in various parts of Singapore. The HSA has advised people to stop consuming the drugs and to report on any cases of consumption to them.
Aquino victorious in Philippine presidential race MANILA, Philippines — Benigno Aquino III, the son of Philippine democracy icons who promised to eradicate corruption and fight poverty among the country's many ills, won the May presidential election by a landslide, the congressional count that ended Tuesday showed. A fellow opposition politician and mayor of Manila's Makati financial district, Jejomar Binay, won as vice president. Aquino garnered more than 15 million votes — about 5.7 million ahead of his closest opponent, ousted leader Joseph Estrada, who pledged to support him. Congress will officially proclaim Aquino's victory on Wednesday. "We have done this ... for the Filipino people," Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile told a jubilant crowd before he and House of Representatives Speaker Prospero Nograles banged the gavel to conclude several days of vote canvassing. A 50-year-old bachelor and economics graduate, Aquino will officially become this Southeast Asian nation's 15th president on June 30. He will replace Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who ran and won a House seat after a turbulent nine-year rule. Aquino's historic rise to power, via the country's first automated elections, has been largely attributed to his family name and strong anti-corruption campaign. His late parents — opposition Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino — are deeply revered figures for their opposition to late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was ousted in a 1986 "people power" revolt. Aquino's victory reflected the public's longing to fill a moral vacuum in a country plagued by corruption, poverty and violence. For many voters, it's been nearly a quarter century of disappointment since his mother led the 1986 uprising and restored democracy. Aquino's father was shot to death in 1983 while in military custody at Manila's airport as he returned from U.S. exile to challenge Marcos. With little legislative record to speak of, Aquino has emphasized his clean public image. His campaign was replete with poignant symbols of the 1986 revolt — yellow ribbons, pro-democracy anthems and raised hands flashing the L-sign for "Laban," or fight in Tagalog, drawing huge crowds everywhere he barnstormed. Close ally Florencio Abad said that by restoring trust in government and fighting graft, Aquino would likely avoid the military unrest that hounded past presidents, including his mother, who fought off seven coup attempts, and Arroyo, who survived four attempted power grabs. Aquino has said he'll make prosecuting corrupt officials a priority, in what would be a marked departure from Arroyo's administration, which is widely accused of turning a blind eye to graft to shield her political allies. Arroyo herself has been linked to massive corruption but has denied any wrongdoing. She is ready to face any investigation or criminal charges, according to her aides. Aquino also will have to tackle decades-long Marxist and Muslim insurgencies, a restive military, violent crimes and political strife. "The problems I will be inheriting are still growing to this very day and, perhaps, to the last day," Aquino told reporters Monday, adding his incoming administration has to produce results in the first two years to meet the public's high expectations. Two groups of peasants and slum dwellers rallied in front of Aquino's suburban home Tuesday, demanding he carry out land reform, including redistribution of his family owned sugar estate, one of the country's largest. Aquino said he has been busy assembling his Cabinet from the ranks of defectors from Arroyo's administration and loyal Aquino supporters. He has pledged to create a commission to investigate corruption allegations against Arroyo and her officials — a potential flash point early in his six-year term. Born to one of the country's wealthiest political clans, Aquino in 1998 won a House seat, where he served three terms before being elected to the Senate in 2007. Associated Press writer Oliver Teves contributed to this report. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Aquino victorious in Philippine presidential race MANILA, Philippines — Benigno Aquino III, the son of Philippine democracy icons who promised to eradicate corruption and fight poverty among the country's many ills, won the May presidential election by a landslide, the congressional count that ended Tuesday showed. A fellow opposition politician and mayor of Manila's Makati financial district, Jejomar Binay, won as vice president. Aquino garnered more than 15 million votes — about 5.7 million ahead of his closest opponent, ousted leader Joseph Estrada, who pledged to support him. Congress will officially proclaim Aquino's victory on Wednesday. "We have done this ... for the Filipino people," Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile told a jubilant crowd before he and House of Representatives Speaker Prospero Nograles banged the gavel to conclude several days of vote canvassing. A 50-year-old bachelor and economics graduate, Aquino will officially become this Southeast Asian nation's 15th president on June 30. He will replace Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who ran and won a House seat after a turbulent nine-year rule. Aquino's historic rise to power, via the country's first automated elections, has been largely attributed to his family name and strong anti-corruption campaign. His late parents — opposition Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino — are deeply revered figures for their opposition to late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was ousted in a 1986 "people power" revolt. Aquino's victory reflected the public's longing to fill a moral vacuum in a country plagued by corruption, poverty and violence. For many voters, it's been nearly a quarter century of disappointment since his mother led the 1986 uprising and restored democracy. Aquino's father was shot to death in 1983 while in military custody at Manila's airport as he returned from U.S. exile to challenge Marcos. With little legislative record to speak of, Aquino has emphasized his clean public image. His campaign was replete with poignant symbols of the 1986 revolt — yellow ribbons, pro-democracy anthems and raised hands flashing the L-sign for "Laban," or fight in Tagalog, drawing huge crowds everywhere he barnstormed. Close ally Florencio Abad said that by restoring trust in government and fighting graft, Aquino would likely avoid the military unrest that hounded past presidents, including his mother, who fought off seven coup attempts, and Arroyo, who survived four attempted power grabs. Aquino has said he'll make prosecuting corrupt officials a priority, in what would be a marked departure from Arroyo's administration, which is widely accused of turning a blind eye to graft to shield her political allies. Arroyo herself has been linked to massive corruption but has denied any wrongdoing. She is ready to face any investigation or criminal charges, according to her aides. Aquino also will have to tackle decades-long Marxist and Muslim insurgencies, a restive military, violent crimes and political strife. "The problems I will be inheriting are still growing to this very day and, perhaps, to the last day," Aquino told reporters Monday, adding his incoming administration has to produce results in the first two years to meet the public's high expectations. Two groups of peasants and slum dwellers rallied in front of Aquino's suburban home Tuesday, demanding he carry out land reform, including redistribution of his family owned sugar estate, one of the country's largest. Aquino said he has been busy assembling his Cabinet from the ranks of defectors from Arroyo's administration and loyal Aquino supporters. He has pledged to create a commission to investigate corruption allegations against Arroyo and her officials — a potential flash point early in his six-year term. Born to one of the country's wealthiest political clans, Aquino in 1998 won a House seat, where he served three terms before being elected to the Senate in 2007. Associated Press writer Oliver Teves contributed to this report. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Aquino to be proclaimed Philippine president MANILA — Benigno Aquino will on Wednesday be proclaimed the next president of the Philippines after he achieved one of the most emphatic election wins in the Southeast Asian nation's history. Aquino crushed his rivals in last month's election after promising to tackle the massive corruption and deep poverty that pervade the sprawling archipelago of more than 90 million people. The 50-year-old bachelor also deftly used the enormous pSublic support for his democracy hero parents, who remain revered for their efforts in ending the 20-year dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Aquino secured just over 15.2 million votes, or nearly 42 percent of the total number cast, according to final results released by parliament on Tuesday following the May 10 election. Former president Joseph Estrada finished well back in second place with nearly 9.5 million votes. A joint session of parliament is due to convene on Wednesday at 2:00 pm (0600 GMT) to formally ratify the results and proclaim Aquino the Philippines' 15th president. He will begin his six years in office on June 30, taking over from the unpopular Gloria Arroyo, who is required by constitutional term limits to step down. Reflecting the Philippines' chaotic brand of democracy, legislators said that Wednesday's proclamation proceedings could drag on for hours, with members of parliament allowed to voice their opinions. "Those who want to speak against it will speak against it. (Then) we will call for a vote," House of Representatives Speaker Prospero Nograles said after ballot counting finished on Tuesday. Nograles said he expected the proclamation to occur by 6:00 pm (1000 GMT). Ironically, Estrada had the record for the biggest win in recent Philippine political history when he triumphed in the 1998 elections with 39 percent of the total votes. He was ousted three years later, just half way through his term, amid allegations of corruption for which he was later convicted. But although his re-election bid failed, securing nearly 10 million votes offered the 73-year-old some form of personal redemption. For Aquino, victory is another chapter in his family's dramatic political story. His father, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, was shot dead in 1983 at Manila airport as he returned from US exile to lead the democracy movement against Marcos. His mother, Corazon Aquino, took over from her martyred husband and led the "People Power" revolution that eventually toppled Marcos in 1986. She then served as president for six years. Her death from cancer last August triggered a massive outpouring of support for the family that turned the son from a low-key politician to presidential frontrunner. Aquino, an economics graduate, has said that fighting corruption, improving the economy and bridging the enormous wealth divide will be among his top priorities. He has vowed to boost foreign investment, rein in wasteful government spending, improve the civil service and invest in education. But his Liberal Party will be hamstrung in its efforts to implement reforms after its choice for the vice presidency, Mar Roxas, lost. Estrada's running mate, Jejomar Binay, won the vice presidential contest and could potentially be a destabilising force for Aquino. The Liberal Party will also not have a majority in either house of parliament. Arroyo's Lakas Kampi CMD coalition will remain powerful in parliament, and the outgoing president won a seat in the lower house, where she could lead opposition to Aquino. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More » \|\|\|\|\| Benigno Aquino has been declared the winner of the Philippine presidential election, after the vote count from May's poll was finally concluded. Mr Aquino, commonly known as Noynoy, won a decisive victory campaigning for an end to corruption and poverty. He is set to be inaugurated as president at the end of this month. The result was never really in doubt - an unofficial count within hours of the poll showed that Mr Aquino had won by a landslide. But the votes had to be officially counted by parliament - a time-consuming procedure, subject to frequent delays. Nearly a month after the election, the final tally is now in - Mr Aquino secured more than 15 million votes, five-and-a-half million more than his nearest rival, former president Joseph Estrada. In a country where elections are often followed by claims of cheating and vote rigging, with no obvious winner, this was a clear, decisive victory. But not everything has gone well for Mr Aquino. His choice for vice president, Mar Roxas, lost out in a close battle with Mr Estrada's running mate Jejomar Binay, the major of Manila's business district. And Mr Aquino will also face some tough challengers in the Philippine Congress, including the woman he is replacing as president, Gloria Arroyo.	, the next . In the Philippines, the 's presidential candidate , commonly known as Noynoy, was officially elected as the next in the 2010 . The announced Noynoy's victory on Wednesday. He campaigned for an end to corruption and poverty and says he'll make prosecuting corrupt officials a priority. Noynoy received more than 15 million votes, about 5.7 million ahead of his closest opponent, ousted . Noynoy said in an interview, "I want to lead by example. We talk about corruption. I did make a public vow, I will never steal". Senate President told a crowd after the count: "We have done this ... for the Filipino people ... This is a historic event." He is 50 years old, a bachelor, an economics graduate, a and is the only son of former President and former Senator . Noynoy's father was shot while in military custody during the regime of late dictator , before his mother, Corazon Aquino, led the that toppled Marcos in 1986. She then served as president for six years. In the Philippines, the president and vice president are elected separately; the 's vice-presidential candidate will become the country's vice-president. Noynoy is the President-elect, while Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the outgoing incumbent. He will officially become the Philippines's fifteenth president on June 30.
Cast of Strictly Come Dancing announced Published on 27 August 2009 by Shanni Elcock A host of actors are to take part in reality show, Strictly Come Dancing, along with former Wimbledon champion, Martina Hingis. Joining Hingis will be 61-year-old actress Lynda Bellingham who recently appeared in Calendar Girls on the West End with a slew of other actors including The Bill's Ali Bastian, Natalie Cassidy, formerly of EastEnders and ex-Footballers' Wives stars Zoe Lucker and Laila Rouass. Other actors include Hollyoaks' Ricky Whittle, Coronation Street's Craig Kelly and Ricky Groves from EastEnders. Strictly Come Dancing is in its seventh series and faced scrutiny earlier this year when it replaced judge Arlene Phillips for ex-celebrity-contestant Alesha Dixon. Phillips will return to the show as a choreographer. \|\|\|\|\| Jockey Richard Dunwoody, boxer Joe Calzaghe and ex-cricketer Phil Tufnell are also among the 16 contestants waltzing their way onto our screens next month. Footballers' Wives actresses Zoe Lucker and Laila Rouass, Ali Bastian from The Bill , one-time EastEnders co-stars Natalie Cassidy and Ricky Groves, Olympic athlete Jade Johnson, Coronation Street ’s Craig Kelly, BBC Breakfast presenter Chris Hollins, Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle and former Crimewatch police officer Rav Wilding complete the cast. Jo Wood, who split from Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood when he ran off with a teenage cocktail waitress, has been paired with Brendan Cole, Strictly’s resident heart-throb. The new series has been overshadowed by a row over ageism at the BBC, with veteran judge Arlene Phillips, 66, dumped in favour of 30-year-old Alesha Dixon. Darcey Bussell, the 40-year-old former ballerina, will appear as a guest judge. Jay Hunt, controller of BBC One, has denied that ageism played a part in the decision to “refresh” the judging panel. The BBC is committed to featuring “an array of different people of different ages and different ethnicity”, she said. Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly will return as co-hosts. Daly said this year’s line-up is “possibly the strongest yet”. In a change to previous years, the new Strictly series will kick off with shows on Friday and Saturday nights. In week three, it will revert to Saturday nights only. The Sunday night results show has been scrapped. The points system has also been changed to avoid a repeat of last year’s voting fiasco, when the three semi-final couples tied and were all put through to the final. The Contestants: Ali Bastian Lynda Bellingham Martina Hingis Natalie Cassidy Jade Johnson Zoe Lucker Laila Rouass Jo Wood Phil Tufnell Richard Dunwoody Craig Kelly Joe Calzaghe Ricky Groves Chris Hollins Rav Wilding Ricky Whittle	The cast for BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing has been announced from the BBC. Contestants will include a huge number of actors and actresses, such as Laila Rouass and Zoe Lucker from ITV1 drama Footballers' Wives, Ricky Whittle from Channel 4 drama Hollyoaks, former Eastenders co-stars Natalie Cassidy and Ricky Groves, Craig Kelly from ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, and Ali Bastian from crime drama The Bill from the same channel. Other television personalities that will be appearing on the show include BBC Breakfast presenter Chris Hollins and former Crimewatch police officer Rav Wilding. Also included in the cast, which will total 16, will be jockey Richard Dunwoody, boxer Joe Calzaghe, ex-cricketer Phil Tufnell, Jo Wood, who split from Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, and former tennis star Martina Hingis. Fern Britton will not be appearing on the show, despite previous talks with producers. Brendan Cole is going to be teamed up with Jo Wood.
The sixth - and final - "Star Wars" movie won't hit theaters until May 19, but the tidal wave of books, toys, games and other licensed goodies breaks today. No fewer than 11 books from Random House's Del Rey/LucasBooks unit started selling today at a book store near you. Chief among them is Matthew Stover's "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith," a novel based on filmmaker George Lucas' dark story and screenplay about Anakin Skywalker's transformation to an evil Sith - Darth Vader. Del Rey/LucasBooks said it's printed 550,000 copies of "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith," which ranked No. 27 in orders late yesterday on Amazon.com. Lucas line-edited Stover's manuscript, which focuses on what the novelist called "the interior lives of the characters," so the book will work as "a companion piece" to the screen action. Other titles out today include two coffee-table books by Lucasfilm senior editor J.W. Rinzler - "The Making of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" and "The Art of Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" - and Jeremy Beckett's "Official Price Guide to Star Wars Memorabilia." The movie-based product blitz started at 12:01 a.m. last night, as Wal-Mart stores and some 300 Toys "R" Us outlets, including the Times Square giant, started selling everything from electronic lightsabers to a special edition of Monopoly tied to "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith." Even the maker of M&M;'s is in on the act. Masterfoods USA has brought back dark chocolate M&M;'s, after a 64-year absence, in a special "Darth Mix" featuring black, maroon and other new colors. Cingular Wireless, Frito-Lay, Burger King, Pepsi and Kellogg also have promotional tie-ins. Hasbro has a huge stake in the film's success, under a longstanding $505 million deal with Lucas Licensing to make "Star Wars" toys and games. Though toy sales fell between "Episode I - The Phantom Menace" in 1999 and "Episode II - Attack of the Clones" in 2002 - to $225 million from $500 million - the series' end could be the force for heavier spending. Maria Weiskott, editor of the trade magazine Playthings, said she believes sales will approach the much higher levels reached after the original "Star Wars" wowed viewers in 1977. "That's because the toys happen to be imaginative and collectable," Weiskott said. "And if we believe this really is the last film, that adds an edge to it." Originally published on April 1, 2005 \|\|\|\|\| No such article. If it's an older article that you had bookmarked, you may be able to find it in the archives. If you got to this page from a current link on our site, then it's an error. In this case, the system has automatically detected and logged the error, but you can submit a Problem Report to report additional information or if you have any questions. Thank you for visiting HoustonChronicle.com! \|\|\|\|\| 'Star Wars' finishes with a toy/game flourish By Mike Snider, USA TODAY There's a new disturbance in the Force: an onslaught of Star Wars merchandise hitting stores this weekend. Starch wars: Hasbro's Darth Tater Hasbro, Inc. A squadron of action figures, life-size lightsabers and Star Wars-based Lego kits and games will be up for grabs. Some stores — including Toys R Us and Wal-Mart — are having special events tonight at midnight to unveil the tie-ins with Revenge of the Sith, opening May 19, the last movie in the saga that began in 1977. Since then, Star Wars toys, books and games have sold more than $9 billion worldwide. Maria Weiskott, editor in chief of Playthings magazine, thinks Sith excitement is the biggest yet. "There is all this pent-up demand, and from what I've seen, the movie is good. And it's the end. This is it." This weekend also brings Sith-related books, clothing, paper goods and sweets. Darth Vader's visage will be everywhere from T-shirts and party favors to Corn Flakes boxes and Pepsi bottles. Even M&M's are going to the dark side, with Revenge of the Sith dark chocolate candies coated in black, maroon, purple, dark blue and silver. For moral balance, there's a Jedi mix: milk chocolate in beige, cream, pastel green, gold and blue. The toys run the gamut from classic to quirky. A sampling: • Anakin Skywalker electronic lightsaber ($20). It changes color from blue to red, depending on whether you want the light or dark side of the Force flowing through you. Also available (same price): an Obi-Wan Kenobi lightsaber with "Feel the Force" vibration, and Yoda's lightsaber with audio training tips. • The Chewbacca action figure ($6). When you squeeze his leg, his arms raise up in a Wookiee rage. Other figures come separately or with vehicles, such as General Grievous' Wheel Bike ($20). •Trivial Pursuit DVD Star Wars Saga Edition Game ($50). The 2,400 questions cover all six movies. • Darth Tater ($8). Mr. Potato Head has been seduced by the dark side, too. • Call Upon Yoda ($30). The foot-tall interactive animatronic doll moves and offers wisdom such as, "Aah ... the Force I sense in you. Teach you more, I can." Says Eric Nyman of Hasbro, which makes many of the tie-in toys: "It's turned from a traditional movie and product launch into a pop-culture phenomenon." \|\|\|\|\| "We are delighted to extend our long-term relationship with Lucas," said Alan G. Hassenfeld, Hasbro's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This extension provides us with a real economic benefit by allowing us to continue to build and expand on the success of this franchise property for many years to come." "Lucas and Hasbro have always viewed Star Wars as a long-term proposition. This extension truly gives us the opportunity to plan far into the future for the benefit of all the fans who have followed the saga for the last 27 years," said Howard Roffman, President of Lucas Licensing. "Hasbro is unmatched in the boys action arena, and we are confident that their future work on Star Wars toys and games will continue the tradition of excellence they have established." Under the terms of the extension, the agreement is expected to run through 2018. The minimum guarantee payable to Lucas has also been reduced by $85 million. "Based on the restructuring of these agreements, we do not expect any current or future impairment charge related to Star Wars," said David Hargreaves, Hasbro's Chief Financial Officer. "Lucas has shown they are a true partner of Hasbro." In a separate agreement, Hasbro extended by ten years the terms of the warrants it previously granted to Lucas Licensing Ltd. and Lucasfilm Ltd. The warrants provide for the purchase of an aggregate of 15,750,000 shares of Hasbro common stock. This agreement further provides Hasbro with an option running through October 13, 2016, to purchase these warrants from Lucas for an aggregate purchase price of either $200 million in cash, or $220 million in Hasbro common stock, such stock being valued at the time of exercise of the option. In addition, the agreement provides Lucas with an option during the next five years to sell all of these warrants to Hasbro for a price to be paid at Hasbro's election of either $100 million in cash or $110 million in Hasbro common stock, such stock being valued at the time of exercise of the option. The agreement with Lucas Licensing Ltd., continues to give Hasbro exclusive worldwide rights to core action figures, vehicles and games, electronic hand-held games, die cast vehicles and creative play products. Hasbro will announce its fourth quarter and full year 2002 results on Thursday, February 13, 2003 and will be hosting a webcast of the conference call at 9:00 a.m. EST. Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world. Lucas Licensing Ltd. manages all the domestic and international merchandising activities of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones properties. Star Wars is the most successful film-based merchandising program in history. The Star Wars licensing program is renowned for its attention to product detail and quality in the fields of publishing, toys, games, collectibles, apparel and home furnishings.	With six weeks before the sixth and final ''Star Wars'' film saga, ''Revenge of the Sith'', hits theaters worldwide on May 19, the movie studios behind the brand have launched a massive marketing and merchandising campaign. It includes toys aimed at children, collectibles for adults active in fandom and other related merchandise such as science fiction novels based in the Star Wars universe. The 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilm studios make millions of dollars in licensing fees from toy manufacturers and promotional deals with fast-food restaurants, candy and cereal boxes. Even telephone companies are getting into the act. Cingular Wireless will be rolling out a ''Star Wars''-themed promotion and handset downloads within the next few days, according to a company spokesman. Sales from ''Star Wars'' tie-in merchandise have brought in a lot of money over the years. ''Star Wars'' toy sales themed with ''The Phantom Menace'' brought in $500 million. In 2002, ''Attack of the Clones'' toy sales were $225 million, according to reports. In January 2003, toymaker Hasbro struck the biggest licensing deal for the brand when it agreed to pay Lucasfilm $200 million in cash and stock for the exclusive rights to make ''Star Wars''-themed toys until 2018. That figure does not include Lucasfilm's percentage of the profit from each toy's sale. Wal-mart and Target, the two largest toy retailers in the U.S. have entire aisles devoted to tie-in ''Star Wars'' action figures, full-sized mock ups of light sabers and other more whimsical items. Hasbro is even marketing a "Darth Tater" special edition of its classic Mr. Potato Head. The merchandise also has a literary side. Author Matthew Stover has a monetization of ''Revenge of the Sith'' as part of a multi-book deal between Lucasfilm and publisher Random House's science fiction specialty label, Del Rey. Stover's book has consistently been in the Top 50-most ordered books, according to Amazon.com. Other ''Sith''-themed books released within the past few weeks include coffee table picture books and behind-the-scenes documentation detailing the making of the film.
Why did this happen? Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy. \|\|\|\|\| BERLIN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A 45-year-old woman was killed and 10 others were injured Saturday when a plane ploughed into a crowd at an air show in central Germany. The small airplane came off the runway and rolled into a group of people at a snack stand during take-off in Kindel near the city of Eisenach, police said. Three people were seriously injured. Of the seven less seriously injured, two were children aged nine and 14, a police spokeswoman said, adding that the cause of the crash is still under investigation. According to local media, the plane was a Czech-made Z-37 single seater formerly used for crop dusting. The pilot, who was trapped in the cockpit, was among the injured. \|\|\|\|\| (Adds details)BERLIN, April 26 (Reuters) - A small propeller airplane crashed into a group of people at an air show near the eastern German town of Eisenach on Saturday, killing a 45-year-old woman and injuring 10 others, police said."A small airplane taking off came off the runway and rolled into a group of people," a police spokeswoman said. The accident happened at the Kindel air field near Eisenach, south of Berlin.She said three people were seriously injured and seven others, including two children aged nine and 14, suffered less serious injuries. The spokeswoman said it was not known what caused the crash.German television network ZDF reported the plane had come to a halt in a children's carousel near the end of the runway. It said the pilot was injured in the crash and had been pinned in the cockpit.The network said the bright yellow plane was formerly used for crop dusting.German media said it was a Z-37, a Czech-made single seat plane. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold; writing by Erik Kirschbaum; Editing by Janet Lawrence)	This Z-37 is very similar to the aircraft involved, although the accident aircraft was painted almost entirely in yellow, except a tailfin as shown here. A spectator has been killed and at least 10 people injured after an aircraft struck spectators at an airshow in Germany yesterday. The one-engined propellor-driven aircraft exited the runway after failing to take off and ploughed into a group that had congregated around a snack stand. The accident occurred at Kindel Air Field, which is located south of Berlin, near Eisenach. The aircraft involved was a Zlin Z-37 Cmelak, a Czech built single-seater plane which had been used by authorities in former East Germany as a cropduster. A 45-year-old woman was killed, and the 35-year-old pilot had to be freed from his wrecked aircraft and was badly injured. A 14-year-old girl is hospitalised in a critical condition, according to Bloomberg, although other sources suggest the 14-year-old and a nine-year-old child were amongst those less seriously injured. Some reports suggest 15 people were wounded by the crash, and German TV network ZDF suggested the plane struck a children's carousel near the runway's end and not a refreshments stall.
He started singing as a choirboy in Chichester before moving to New York where he became a cross-dressing performance artist. But as well as his extraordinary, androgynous voice, it was Antony Hegarty's nationality that was in the spotlight last night after his band, Antony and the Johnsons, won the Nationwide Mercury music prize. I Am a Bird Now, the American-based singer's second album of strikingly stark songs about sexual identity, fought off more orthodox competition from a raft of very British guitar bands, including the favourites Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay and Bloc Party, to win the £20,000 prize. "Crazy" "insane" "nutty" and "bonkers" were how the self-effacing Hegarty described his victory. "It's like a contest between an orange and a space ship and a potted plant and a spoon," he said of the diverse range of 12 artists on the Mercury shortlist, including the jazz of Polar Bear and Seth Lakeman's Devon folk album. "Which one do you like better? It's mad." While other shortlisted artists drew influence from places such as Staines and Sunderland, Hegarty has worked in the US with Lou Reed and his partner, the singer Laurie Anderson, who once likened the effect of Hegarty's voice to that of hearing Elvis Presley sing for the first time. Before the 14th Mercury awards, one critic said the presence of Hegarty on the shortlist showed the prize had adopted the equivalent of football's "Irish granny" approach to nationality. Although he holds a British passport and has drawn inspiration from Boy George - who appears on his album - Marc Almond and Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, Hegarty, 34, has spent most of his life in America after his parents relocated to California when he was 12. Earlier this month, Kaiser Chiefs accused Hegarty of sneaking on to the shortlist through a "technicality". "He's an American, really," said Nick Hodgson of Kaiser Chiefs, who hail from the rather less exotic Leeds. "It's a good album, but it's daft he's got in on a technicality." Asked if he was influenced by mainly British music after performing the haunting Hope There's Someone on a grand piano at the ceremony in west London, Hegarty said it was singers, rather than a particular country, that inspired him. "My thing is really mixed up because I've been moved around my whole life. I take influence from soulful singers." Unlike ceremonies such as the Brit Awards, which are more directly related to sales success, the Mercury prize aims to provide a snapshot of the best in British music - always a more contentious field than simple popularity. According to organisers, eligibility for the prize is defined by nationality, not residency. They have argued that today's globalised music industry makes it is harder to decide than ever who can be chosen, with very British artists such as Morrissey spending years in the US. The controversy over his country of origin has not troubled most of Hegarty's fellow nominees, with many being keen fans of his starkly emotional album. At the announcement of the nominations, Sean and Angela Gannon of the Magic Numbers - another shortlisted band to boast an exotic background - declared I Am A Bird Now was their personal favourite. KT Tunstall also recently declared that she would pick Antony and the Johnsons as the winner. "For me the Mercury is about originality, and Antony has made the most original record of the year," she said. While Damon Albarn once famously likened the Mercury prize to "carrying a dead albatross around your neck for eternity", the award is unlikely to weigh so heavily on Hegarty. Despite being described by Attitude magazine as the "gayest thing ever recorded", I Am A Bird Now has crossed into the mainstream and has even received rave reviews from British tabloids. Describing his "exciting relationship" with British music, Hegarty said the prize was not about acclaim or becoming the next big thing. "For me, singing has always been an opportunity to take a flight of fantasy, to dream," he said. \|\|\|\|\| Chichester-born Antony Hegarty is now based in New York Antony and the Johnsons have won this year's Mercury Music Prize for the album I Am A Bird Now. Led by New York-based singer Antony Hegarty, they beat acts including Coldplay, favourites Kaiser Chiefs and hip-hop artist MIA. The £20,000 award is for the best album of the year by a British or Irish act. "I think they must have made a mistake," Chichester-born Hegarty said. "I am completely overwhelmed. I think that's insane." The pianist and torch singer's winning album, features contributions from Boy George and Lou Reed. It's not like any album I've heard before or since Simon Frith, chairman of judges Ceremony highlights Have your say on the Mercury winner Standing 6ft 4in tall and with a shock of black hair, the 34-year-old has a voice as unconventional as his looks. The Mercury Music Prize was voted for by a panel of industry experts, journalists and artists, and is said to reward originality and creativity rather than sales success. As he collected his award from host Jools Holland to a standing ovation, Hegarty said the competition was "a bit nutty". "It's kind of like a crazy contest between an orange and a spaceship and a potted plant and a spoon - which one do you like better?" he said. Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs had been favourites to win "What's really exciting about this night is just this wonderful biennial that shows the rich diversity of the spectrum of music that's going on at the moment. "It's been so wonderful to be here and just to meet everyone. I just love so many of the artists performing tonight, I think it's a bit bonkers to just give it to one person." He performed at the Mercury award ceremony in London's Grosvenor House Hotel, as did fellow nominees Kaiser Chiefs, KT Tunstall, Seth Lakeman, Bloc Party, Polar Bear, Maximo Park, The Magic Numbers and the Go! Team. Multi-million selling band Coldplay, nominated for their third album X&Y;, could not attend the ceremony as they were on tour in the US. Previous winners of the Mercury prize include hip-hop artist Dizzee Rascal, Primal Scream, PJ Harvey and last year's victors Franz Ferdinand. KT Tunstall was among the other performers at the ceremony Simon Frith, chairman of the judges, said Antony and the Johnsons won because they produced "such an extraordinary album". "It's not like any album I've heard before or since," he said. "It doesn't seem to have any obvious place where it's coming from - and yet play it to anybody and they're arrested. "Some of them hate it, some of them absolutely love it - but nobody can ignore it." The Mercury Prize was not designed to pick the least offensive album, he said, but to pick "a record that's really interesting, and this one is". 'American album' Chris Salmon, music editor of Time Out magazine, said it was a surprise choice. "There were a lot of strong albums on there and I don't think a lot of people thought Antony and the Johnsons would be the one," he said. "Some people thought of it as an American album - its whole genesis was in New York," he said. "But he's got a beautiful voice and he writes beautiful songs, so in that sense it shouldn't be a surprise - but I think it still is." Mercury Music Prize 2005 nominees: Antony and the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now Bloc Party - Silent Alarm Coldplay - X&Y; The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike Hard-Fi - Stars of CCTV Kaiser Chiefs - Employment KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger MIA - Arular Polar Bear - Held on the Tips of Fingers Seth Lakeman - Kitty Jay Did What do you think of this year's winner? Did Antony and the Johnsons deserve to beat the other acts? Send us your reaction on the postform at the bottom of the page. Your comments The future of music began tonight Chris McCooey, England Fantastic. Justice at last for music that moves the soul. The bar has just been raised to the highest mark ever and all future contenders should worry if they could ever reach as high. If not don't bother. The future of music began tonight. Chris McCooey, England What a worthy winner. Go out and buy this album. It's just so different and he has one of the greatest voices. Paul, UK I didn't see that coming! What a great result, it proves that the Mercury really is about originality and creativity. Al Absolutely fantastic - I'll say no more Alex, England A worthy winner, head and shoulders above the other entries. One hopes it translates to sales. Dave, UK Worthy winner. For once with the Mercury it seemed the right choice in a stronger than usual field. Alex N, UK Antony's voice is a stunning instrument! Martin Jones, England This is great news. "I Am A Bird Now" is an amazing album and deserves wider exposure. Antony's voice is a stunning instrument! Martin Jones, England Good choice, only original band on the list! Stunning tunes, interesting, beautiful, eerie, moving. Ride on Anthony! Ralph Mathers, England The Mercury Prize has a history of picking unique talent as its winners, and they've done it again! Antony and the Johnsons are outstanding and unique in every way! Nick, UK I just don't get him... How on earth did Kaisers/ Magic Numbers/ Hard Fi not win??! Paul, UK Absolute genius! Chris, England I get the impression that a lot of the public probably won't like this result as it's certainly not the most poppy of records and I doubt it will have much appeal to Kaiser Chiefs fans. However, in my opinion it's an amazing record and Antony has an incomparable voice. Lee Cartwright, UK Antony and the Johnsons album is amazing - deserved to win - can't wait to see him live in December. Charlotte, UK An absolutely brilliant decision!!! Anthony and the Johnsons fully deserve this accolade as their album is the most original and inventive record in years, and is of a quality far superior to that of any of the other nominees! Chris Senior, England The underdog is victorious. So musically gifted and deserved. J Flockton, UK All the nominees this year have produced outstanding work Kieran, Berkshire, UK Great to see Anthony and the Johnsons win. While I am a fan of bands like the Kaisers and the Magic Numbers, I just loved the album I am a Bird Now and just kept listening to it again and again. All the nominees this year have produced outstanding work, but Anthony and the Johnsons just had that extra something. Well done! Kieran, Berkshire, UK I think it was the strongest year for a long time, with M.I.A., The Go! Team and Antony and the Johnsons all deserved of the prize. Yet of those 3, only the winner is capable of moving me to tears! Adam, UK Justice! I am happy that Antony and The Johnsons has won this award. One, because the music is something fresh amongst most of the other rubbish (ie Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, and last year's ludicrous winner) that is contemporary music. Connor Wolf, UK Well deserved prize for a stunning album with beautiful heartfelt songs. It's number one on my playlist! Tony Tansley, UK I think Antony deserved the award, especially compared to other artists, such as the Kaiser Chiefs, who are not all that novel in their sound. It's nice to see that the more interesting artist walked away the winner. Ehsan Sheikh, USA Kaiser Chiefs were clearly robbed, but I don't think it will effect their record sales, they have the goods to match the hype, best band of 2005 definitely. Claire, Ireland Another English-born songwriter with great talent. He really deserves all the accolades that are thrown his way. Antony is definitely one to watch... Glen, Sanderstead, Eng So delighted that Antony has won this award. His album is so moving and we urge anyone who hasn't listened to this to give it a try. Well done Antony - and it was so well deserved. We were cheering you on from the sofa all evening! Amanda and Dave, England Name Your E-mail address Country Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions E-mail this to a friend Printable version LINKS TO MORE MUSIC STORIES Select Antony and Johnsons win Mercury Live 8 concerts get DVD release US singer Crow engaged to cyclist Napster users 'giving up on CDs' Kazaa hit by file-sharing ruling McFly beat West to album top spot Rap star attacks Bush at benefit Domino 'shaken' by storm ordeal Conductor Barenboim in radio row Stones fall victim to web pirates Mariah singles make chart history Choirboys land £500k record deal Kate Bush returns after 12 years Delta bluesman R L Burnside dies Lease ends on defiant punk club Destiny's Child take sales award	Antony & The Johnsons have won the 2005 Mercury Music Prize for their album ''I Am a Bird Now''. Anthony Hegarty, born in Chichester, United Kingdom, won the award of £20,000 for creating the most original album by a British or Irish act during the last year. Other nominees included Coldplay, M.I.A. and the bookies favourites The Kaiser Chiefs.
3 Suicide Bombers Attack Baghdad Hotels, Killing 36 People Officials concerned insurgents could stage high-profile attacks to disrupt national parliamentary elections scheduled for March 7 Photo: AP Three large explosions ripped through Baghdad Monday, killing at least 36 people and wounding more than 70 others. In the midst of the chaos, the Iraqi government announced the execution of "Chemical Ali" one of Saddam Hussein's most notorious lieutenants. The series of explosions hit the center of the capital in mid-afternoon. Iraqi officials said car bombs were detonated outside the Babylon, Ishtar Sheraton, and al-Hamra hotels. The buildings house foreign aid and news organizations and are frequented by government officials. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Lawmaker and national security advisor Moafak al Robaie said they bore the hallmarks of the al-Qaida offshoot in Iraq. Al Robaei told al-Arabia television that the bombers targeted civilian areas to show the government is weak and incapable of protecting the public. He also conceded the attacks showed a clear defect in national security. The explosions were similar to other major security lapses in Baghdad in the past six months. In August, October and December, bombers managed to pass through numerous checkpoints and set off coordinated attacks that killed hundreds of people. Iraqi and western security officials have warned that militants might step up their attacks ahead of parliamentary elections planned for March. There are also tensions over efforts to ban some 500 candidates from the election, most of them Sunnis, although it was reported Monday that 50 of those placed on a list will now be allowed to take part. AP In another development Monday, the government said it had put to death Ali Hassan al-Majid. Also known as "Chemical Ali," al-Majid was a military and intelligence chief under the government of his cousin Saddam Hussein and led numerous brutal campaigns against domestic opponents. He earned his grim nickname for the use of poison gas during an attack against the residents of Halabja in Kurdish northern Iraq in 1988. The Iraqi judiciary had sentenced him to death four times, the last time earlier this month. In addition to the crimes against the Kurds, he was found guilty of repression campaigns against Iraqi Shi'ites. \|\|\|\|\| BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Three large car bombs rocked well-known Baghdad hotels on Monday, killing at least 36 people and ending a 1-1/2-month lull in coordinated assaults on the Iraqi capital as the country heads into a March election. World Police said at least 71 people were wounded in the separate suicide car bombings, which went off within minutes of one another. Some of the casualties were police. Health Ministry data showed a lower figure for the death toll. The first blast occurred near an entrance of the Ishtar Sheraton hotel, a Baghdad landmark on the eastern side of the Tigris River. The shock wave blew open doors, shattered windows and sent thick dust swirling into the Reuters offices nearby. A giant mushroom cloud of debris rose from the blast site as ambulances and fire trucks rushed to the scene. Helicopters buzzed overhead and soldiers blocked off entry. Towering concrete blastwalls protecting the hotel along the Abu Nawas riverside boulevard fell like dominoes. The blast took place across from a park frequented by families and picnickers. The building has not been a regular hotel for years and largely houses company offices and some media organizations, but some adventurous international tour groups began using it last year. Zina Tareq, an Iraqi journalist who was in her office at the time of the blast, said she dived under a desk with the five-year-old daughter of a colleague. "We heard a deafening sound. The ceiling collapsed on us and the windows shattered," she said. Another colleague was wounded by broken glass. Police said another blast went off just outside the al-Hamra hotel, which has been a hub for many Western journalists since the 2003 U.S. invasion. One Western reporter said the hotel had sustained heavy damage. The Washington Post said three of its Iraqi employees were wounded. Houses collapsed near the Hamra, and civil defense officials searched for survivors. The blast at the Hamra, like that at the Sheraton, ripped a giant crater in the pavement. A final bomb appeared to have blown up near the Babylon hotel, which is used by Iraqi travelers and sometimes for government meetings. The area around the hotel has been hit several times in the past year by mortar or rocket fire aimed at the U.S. embassy, located across the river in the heavily guarded Green Zone. Baghdad security spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi put the death toll at seven killed with 51 wounded, citing Health Ministry data. Death tolls from major attacks have become a political football in the run-up to the March 7 vote. The last major attack on Baghdad occurred on December 8 when a series of car bombs killed more than 100 people. On October 25 and August 19, a total of around 250 people were killed in suicide assaults on government buildings. The March ballot is a critical moment for the country as it emerges from the sectarian slaughter unleashed by the 2003 invasion and begins to sign multibillion-deals with global oil firms that could set the stage for future prosperity. (Additional reporting by Aseel Kami and Ahmed Rasheed; Writing by Michael Christie; Editing by Missy Ryan and Charles Dick) \|\|\|\|\| Reporting from Baghdad - Suicide bombers struck almost simultaneously at three landmark Baghdad hotels Monday, killing 37 people, nearly half of them after a shootout between security guards and militants outside the residence of several major Western news organizations.The midafternoon attacks -- which authorities quickly blamed on Al Qaeda associates and loyalists of the Baath Party that ruled Iraq under Saddam Hussein -- echoed three large-scale suicide bombings last year in which assailants' coordinated strikes sowed panic and chaos in the capital.Though the latest bombings caused fewer casualties than those in December, October and August, in which hundreds died, they sent the same deadly message: that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's government is unable to fully secure key locations in Baghdad despite major security gains in recent years.Officials have been predicting that extremists would strike at high-profile targets in the run-up to March 7 elections, and they expect them to strike again as the polling nears."We were expecting that the terrorist groups will continue their terrorist work on the eve of the elections, and they will continue until the day of elections," said Abbas Bayati, a lawmaker with the ruling Shiite coalition. "But they cannot achieve their goals."By attacking hotels, including the Hamra, which is favored by Westerners, the bombers again called into question the capability of Iraq's security forces, whose leaders had boasted only a week ago that they had thwarted a plot to carry out high-profile bombings in the city.The first bomb hit outside the Sheraton on the Tigris River about 3:30 p.m., killing 14 and sending a huge boom reverberating across the capital. Less than five minutes later, the nearby Babylon was struck, with seven people reported killed there.The Hamra, home to several foreign news bureaus including the Times', was hit moments later, after a shootout between Iraqi security guards and a couple of gunmen who were seeking to help the bomber enter the closely guarded compound. Sixteen people were reported dead in that attack, most of them residents of two homes adjacent to the site that collapsed.Witnesses said at least one assailant, dressed in a business suit, got out of a white minivan and opened fire on the guards in an apparent bid to lure them away from the barriers protecting the hotel. The guards fired back, but also took cover, and then one gunman calmly raised the metal barrier blocking access to the compound, allowing the minivan to race through.Video from the hotel's security camera shows the van hurtling through concrete barriers toward the building, as the hotel's security chief, Abu Ahmed, runs toward it, trying to make it stop.The guards again opened fire on the van and this time, Abu Ahmed said, they hit the driver, who detonated the bomb about 50 feet from the hotel entrance. That may have saved many lives inside. Rescue workers sifted through the rubble of the two nearby homes, bringing out bodies wrapped in blankets. Pieces of charred flesh lay strewn all around. Dazed survivors wearing makeshift bandages crunched their way around on mounds of broken glass. One man, who had been watching the action from the upper balcony of a nearby hotel, was flung to the ground by the blast, leaving a bloody smear down the wall of the building.Ahmed Abdullah, 25, who lives nearby, raced to the scene from his computer shop and found that his aunt and grandmother had been badly injured. At least 10 of his neighbors were dead, he said, including two teenage girls and a baby. "Who is doing this to us?" he said despairingly.Though the hotel suffered extensive damage, with walls and ceilings collapsed and windows shattered, no one inside was badly hurt. Usama Redha, a reporter and interpreter for The Times, was hit in the chest by flying glass but was treated at a hospital and released.The Washington Post, which maintains a bureau in the same compound, reported that three of its Iraqi staffers were slightly injured.The government laid most of the blame for the previous attacks on loyalists of the Sunni-dominated Baath Party, though they were all claimed by the Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq.Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta Moussawi accused "terrorist organizations of Al Qaeda and the Baathists, who are working together," for Monday's attacks, which came amid heightened political tensions surrounding the decision to ban about 500 mostly secular and Sunni candidates from the March elections because of their alleged ties to the Baath Party.Officials said they did not believe the attacks were linked to that decision, nor to the execution Monday of Ali Hassan Majid, the former Hussein henchman known as Chemical Ali. His hanging was made public after the bombers had struck.It is clear, however, that extremists are intent on sowing instability ahead of the elections, in which Maliki will be fighting to keep his job against an array of opponents, including rivals from within his own Shiite coalition and a potentially powerful secular coalition headed by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.With Maliki staking much of his reputation as the man who restored a measure of security to Baghdad after the sectarian warfare of 2005-07, he has much to lose from such bombings.The attacks also occurred amid controversy over a bomb-detecting device on which the Iraqi security forces rely heavily. The wand-like device, which is supposed to be able to detect the presence of explosives, is used at nearly every police checkpoint in the capital.A BBC investigation recently exposed the wands as useless, and the British businessman who sells them was arrested over the weekend on fraud charges. Iraqi lawmakers have called for an investigation into their use, but only hours before the explosions, Iraq's Interior Ministry expressed full confidence in their reliability and said police would continue to use them.Arrawi is a staff writer in The Times' Baghdad Bureau. Times staff writers Caesar Ahmed and Raheem Salman contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| BAGHDAD In a coordinated attack as devastating as it was ruthlessly efficient, three bombs unleashed minutes apart on Monday wrecked landmark Baghdad hotels catering to foreigners, wilting a tattered sense of security and underscoring the uncertainty of the political landscape weeks before parliamentary elections. The bombings, which killed 36 people and wounded 71, seemed to be the latest chapter of a campaign that began in August and that has hewn to a relentlessly political logic. With similar attacks in August, October and December, insurgents have sought to wreck pillars of Baghdad’s government and civic life, proving that the government and its security forces are unable to preserve the state’s fledgling authority. The targets on Monday were hotels that served foreign journalists and expatriate businessmen, and they were soon to house observers of the March 7 parliamentary elections, suggesting that the attack was aimed as much at shaping opinions abroad of the government’s durability as it was aimed at wreaking destruction. “The attackers wanted to send a message to the world,” said Hazim al-Nuaimi, a political analyst here. “The message is that Iraq can’t provide security for foreigners.” The bombs cut through snarled traffic at rush hour and sheared off a facade of one hotel. In streets strewn with broken glass, where the scent of shorn eucalyptus trees mixed with the stench of charred flesh, some survivors rued a sense of the inevitable. In the past attacks wrecking ministries, government offices, a courthouse, colleges and a bank the blasts had thundered across the capital, only to be followed by weeks of relative calm. With the passage of each peaceful day, they said, time for a recurrence seemed to be growing short. “We had been expecting more,” said Abbas Salman, gazing at a street where rescue workers carried severed legs and arms through crowds of stunned onlookers. The three bombs exploded within about 10 minutes of one another during afternoon rush hour. The first struck the Ishtar Sheraton at 3:28 p.m.; followed three minutes later by one at the Babylon Hotel; and then, at 3:37 p.m., by one at the Hamra Hotel. The Hamra and Sheraton are home to much of the capital’s foreign press corps. The Washington Post reported that three of its staff members were wounded by flying glass, though the injuries were not life threatening. The blasts shook the city and shattered windows miles away. In neighborhoods near the hotels, which are within about a mile of one another, residents spilled into the streets wailing, as plumes of dust, smoke and debris wafted across the skyline. Staccato bursts of gunfire echoed through the streets, as security forces tried to cordon off the bombing scenes, some of them draped in the banners and flags of a major Shiite Muslim commemoration this week. “By God, move!” one officer shouted. “Are you staring at people’s disasters?” Residents often answered with their own anger, in a striking sign of the lack of respect the security forces, particularly the police, are often shown in the capital. “We have the right to complain!” one survivor shouted at a police officer. Since last summer, the army and Interior Ministry forces have assumed sole responsibility for security after the withdrawal of American combat troops from the cities last summer. At checkpoints punctuating virtually every street, intersection and bridge, nearly all of the Iraqi forces deploy a bomb-detecting device that Britain has banned for export on the grounds that it is useless. Iraqi officials have said that they would begin an investigation into why the government paid at least $85 million to a British company, ATSC Ltd., for at least 800 of the bomb detectors, called ADE 651s. But the Interior Ministry has yet to withdraw the device from duty, and some officials have continued to defend its effectiveness. “Checkpoints, security precautions, these devices?” asked Abbas Mohammed, 45, an air-conditioner repairman standing outside the Babylon Hotel. “What are they doing? How can these cars get through the checkpoints? How can all these explosives pass?” The attack came at a precarious time. The capital’s political class is mired in a dispute over the disqualification of hundreds of candidates for promoting the Baath Party of former President Saddam Hussein. Despite calls for compromise and warnings by the United States and United Nations officials that barring the candidates threatens the credibility of the vote, Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki has taken a hard line. The prime minister faces a competitive campaign against a rival Shiite Muslim alliance, which has proved eager to question his anti-Baathist credentials as well as his claims of restoring a semblance of security. American officials have warned that violence will almost assuredly escalate before the vote, and survivors of the attack offered as many suspects as motives including Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, a homegrown terrorist group, acting with Baathists, as well as Mr. Maliki’s rivals. Mr. Maliki has blamed Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia and the Baathists for the previous attacks, though American military officials have consistently maintained that Al Qaeda acted alone. “The parties have already started fighting over the seats of power,” said Heidar Abbas, 42, a pharmacist. “Who’s responsible? It’s the parties themselves.” The highest toll, 16 dead and 33 wounded, was reported at the Hamra Hotel, situated in a densely populated but fortified neighborhood. At the hotel, a day laborer who gave his name as Abu Haider said he saw men in a car exchange gunshots at a checkpoint outside the compound, then watched a second car speed through. “It was just seconds before the explosion,” he said. The bomb left a crater about 12 feet wide and 6 feet deep about 50 feet from the Hamra Hotel. It destroyed the house in front of the hotel, where rescue workers pulled bodies from the rubble. A woman who gave her name as Um Riyadh emerged from the ruined hulk of a house across the street from the hotel, blood on her head and face. “We lost the house,” she said, crying. “We lost everything. Why should I stay in Iraq? I’m going to leave. There’s no other solution.” Eleven people were killed and 26 were wounded at the Sheraton, which is no longer affiliated with the hotel chain and shares a street with the Palestine Hotel. The bomb there, which left a crater six feet deep, toppled a row of 20 30-foot blast walls like dominoes. Trees were split as if they were matchsticks. At the Babylon, officials said nine people were killed and 12 were wounded. Blood was smeared on the hoods of two cars, and rescue workers hurried to cover corpses with whatever they could find cardboard; a tattered, soiled blanket; a sheet of plastic. Onlookers gathered around what they said was the corpse of the attacker, a bloodied torso still attached to wires, the watch on his wrist still keeping time.	Three successive suicide car bombs in Baghdad, capital of Iraq killed at least 36 people, according to the Iraqi ministry. The incident occurred just before the country's election, scheduled for March 7. "There were three explosions, one near the Sheraton hotel the other near the Babylon hotel. The third we are checking into," stated Baghdad security spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi. The Ministry of Interior, Iraq stated that 36 people had died and 71 wounded. The three explosions occurred in rapid succession and sent smoke clouds in the sky. The first bomb exploded at 3.40 pm. Subsequently, fire engines arrived at the hotels and the police and soldiers together barred entry. The next blast occurred at the Babylon hotel, which is often used by the government for meeting. Subsequently, another car bomb blasted the Hamra hotel compound, which hosts multiple news agencies. According to witnesses, gunmen dressed in business suits had fired the checkpoint guards. During the firing, the building gate was opened. The van entered and was detonated. The explosion took place in a section where there were residential homes. The blast opened a gigantic crater, 12 feet wide and 6 feet deep only about 50 feet from the hotel. It completely destroyed the house just in the front of the building, where several bodies were discovered by rescue workers. Um Riyadh, resident of the demolished house escaped with multiple injuries. "We lost the house. We lost everything. Why should I stay in Iraq? I’m going to leave. There’s no other solution.", said the victim of the attack. Although no group claimed responsibility, Saad Mutalabi, an adviser to the Iraqi Cabinet, blamed Al Qaeda. "It is a signature of Al Qaeda. I don't think any of the political forces in Iraq would commit such an atrocity. It would not benefit any of them.", said he. The attack collided with the execution of Ali Hassan Majid, or "Chemical Ali". Earlier this month, Iraqi security forces, aided American intelligence agencies, had barred a massive attack on the city. They had seized several pounds of explosives and had brought the city to a temporary standstill. The earlier attacks were allegedly executed by Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, in alliance with Saddam Hussein’s Baath party. This has not been proved as of now. Multiple bombings have killed several people in Iraq, in the past few months. Iraqi authorities fear that such attacks may have been carried out to disrupt the forthcoming the general elections of Iraq.
NST Online » Local News 2007/06/22 Ministry suspends 19 maid agencies after complaints By : Farrah Naz Karim Email to friend Print article PUTRAJAYA: Nineteen maid agencies have been suspended following public complaints of cheating and breach of conditions of their permits. They have a week to explain the complaints received by Immigration enforcement officers failing which their licences would be revoked. Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said this action was necessary in view of the many complaints against them. "They have until the end of this month to appeal the suspension and if they fail to do so, their permits will be immediately terminated," he said, adding this was the first time the ministry was resorting to such a move. The mInistry before merely issued warnings to emp-loyment agencies which breached their permit conditions. He warned the company owners that once their operating licences were terminated, they would not be able to operate, even under a new company name. This, he added was because the ministry had all the details required to prevent them from doing so. The agencies, Radzi said had been asked to see Immigration Department enforcement officers to reply to the reports lodged against them. Radzi said the private limited companies that have been suspended are Philipmore, Has, Sasyaz, MNK, Uni Tenaga, Sri Nadin, Indomaid, AZ, Alaf Baru and Speecomaju. Also suspended are Priceton, Cita Selasih, Ibu, Ryugi, Srikanti, Abdullah and Friends, Sri Anika, Advance Advisory and Vegah. Radzi said his ministry had also blacklisted 85 employers of maids, for failing to pay their maids wages. "The ministry is giving them a chance to appeal but they must prove that they would be able to pay the salaries soon," he said. He added that they would be required to open bank accounts for their maids for the purpose. He also said that Kemas Cerah Sdn Bhd (from Kuala Lumpur), the agency that provided the Indonesian maid Ceriyati Daplin, 34, who escaped her alleged abusive employers last Saturday by climbing out a condominium window, had its licence terminated for breach of regulations. "She was supposed to be sent to an employer in Terengganu, but was instead delivered to a different one," he said. He also urged maid agencies to take the initiative to check on the maids they supplied every three months. He said the ministry provided 24-hour hotline numbers: 03-8880-1455 and 03-8880-1399 for anyone to lodge reports on maid abuse. Rank this story Current rank : 3.4 (5-High 1-Low) 1 2 3 4 5 \|\|\|\|\| Papa shocked Govt has suspended licenses of 19 maid agencies PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Association of Foreign Housemaids (Papa) is shocked that the Government has suspended the licenses of 19 maid agencies under allegations and complaints which remain unknown to its members. More surprising is the fact that 12 of the suspended maid agencies are Papa members, and are known to be good, reputable and active companies, claimed Papa president Datuk Raja Zulkepley Dahalan. He was speaking in response to Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad's statement on Friday, that the agencies risk having their licenses revoked if they cannot disprove the allegations and complaints made against them. "We panicked when news of this came out. No show-cause letters were given, nor were we informed by the Ministry before hand on the decision. "The issue was only made known to us when several reporters tried to contact us for a response. We immediately called for an emergency meeting after that. "In addition to this, 12 of those agencies are registered under Papa, and have a good track record," said Raja Zulkepley. He lamented that the maid agency industry had already been suffering a 50% drop in business for the past year, and that the surfacing of this issue would bring further implications. He attributed the plunge in business to low salary for maids (in comparison to other countries) and abusive employers, coupled with other factors. "Almost every day, about 200 maids from various countries, especially from Indonesia, make their way into the country. "With these 19 agencies under suspension, these maids are all now stuck in immigration and others in hostels, unable to move anywhere. We dare not even think about the other maids who are coming tomorrow, or the day after. "And, what will the employers of the maids say? Some have booked a maid for two months and surely many will vent their anger at the agencies,” said Raja Zulkepley, who also questioned the issue of cost liability. "On Monday , Papa members will meet with Ministry enforcement officers to establish the allegations against the agencies and cooperate with them to iron out the issue," he said. Raja Zulkepley also lauded the Government's call for all of the 400-odd agencies in the country to be members of Papa. He said this would help the association to work better with the Government in monitoring foreign maids and their agencies, in addition to alleviating related problems. \|\|\|\|\| Malaysia Suspends Maid Agencies, Blacklists Employers By The Associated Press June 22, 2007 Email Article Print Article Malaysia has suspended the licenses of 20 maid agencies and blacklisted 85 employers after complaints of irregularities and unpaid wages, a government official said Friday. Pressure on maid agencies and employers has increased after a highly publicized escape by an Indonesian maid last weekend. The woman, Ceriyati Dapin, climbed from the 15th-floor apartment of her allegedly abusive employer with a makeshift rope. on the parapet of the 12th floor she froze in fear, and firefighters rescued her. The maid agency, which sent Dapin, 33, to the employer, has lost its license, a spokesman of the Home Affairs Ministry said. He declined to be named because he is not authorized to make public statements. The agency lost its license not because of the alleged abuse by the employer, The Star and the New Straits Times said. They said the license was revoked because the agency was supposed to send Dapin to work in eastern Terengganu town and not to the household in Kuala Lumpur, from where she escaped. Nineteen other maid agencies have temporarily lost their licenses after complaints of cheating and breaching permit conditions. The spokesman said the agencies have until June 30 to appeal or else lose their licenses permanently. The spokesman said 85 employers had been blacklisted and would be investigated following maids' complaints that they had not paid the maids' salaries and not taken care of them properly. Dapin's employer was arrested on Monday and remains in police custody while police are investigating claims that her employer had repeatedly beaten and starved her, said K. Kumaran, the police chief of Sentul district in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia relies heavily on foreign laborers—mainly Indonesians—for menial work, including in construction sites and plantations. Officials have said some 1,200 Indonesian housemaids run away every month, often because of mistreatment or dissatisfaction over long working hours, lack of freedom of movement or unpaid salaries. Write comments on this story Read comments/letters Latest Articles: Junta Orders Monk Curfew at Some Monasteries The Burmese military government has limited alms rounds to one hour and ordered a curfew at some monasteries across Burma, following increased tension between the authorities and monks. ILO Demands Release of Burmese Labor Activists The International Labour Organization called on Wednesday for the immediate release of six Burmese labor activists who were sentenced to life imprisonment last week on charges of bringing the regime in contempt. Families Ask ICRC to Locate Detainees’ Whereabouts Members of the families of activists detained in recent demonstrations have appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross to help them discover where the detainees are being held after an inconclusive visit to Insein prison on Tuesday. Lone Demonstrator Gets Four Year Jail Term A court in Taunggok Township, Arakan State, yesterday sentenced a lone protester to four years imprisonment hours after he was arrested for displaying a placard demanding the excommunication from the Buddhist faith of junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe. US Calls on Burma to Give Access to Detained Activists The US called on Burma on Tuesday to give international humanitarian organizations access to activists detained in recent demonstrations.	An American poster from the 1930s depicts a stereotypical image of a housemaid. Following the dramatic escape of an Indonesian housemaid from a 15th-floor apartment in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian government has suspended the licences of 19 housemaid agencies, following complaints of abuse and unpaid wages. The move by the Home Ministry yesterday comes after an Indonesian woman named Ceriyati Dapin climbed from a 15th-floor Sentul apartment on a makeshift cloth rope to escape an employer she said was abusive. In the incident last Saturday, the 33-year-old woman made it to the parapet of the 12th floor when she became fearful and froze. She was eventually rescued by the fire brigade. She said she had been repeatedly beaten and starved by her employer. The maid agency that sent Ceriyati to her employer was a company called Kemas Cerah, and it is among the agencies suspended. The employer was arrested on Monday and remains in custody while police investigate Ceriyati's claims, a police spokesman told the ''Associated Press''. "The maid was supposed to be sent to an employer in Terengganu but was indiscriminately sent to another employer," Home Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad was quoted as saying by ''Bernama'' news agency. In Indonesia, where newspapers have been carrying the story on their front pages, the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta assured the Indonesian government it was doing all it could to investigate the case. In addition to suspending the agencies, 85 agency owners and managers have been blacklisted, and will be prevented from opening new operations under different names, the ministry said. "They have until the end of this month to appeal the suspension and if they fail to do so, their permits will be immediately terminated," Radzi was quoted as saying by the ''New Straits Times''. This was the first time the ministry has taken such an action on maid abuse, Radzi added. An industry group, the Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies, or Persatuan Agensi Pekerja Asing (PAPA), said it was shocked by the government's move, and that it could inconvenience maids. "We panicked when news of this came out. No show-cause letters were given, nor were we informed by the ministry beforehand on the decision," the group's president, Raja Zulkepley Dahalan, was quoted as saying by ''The Star''. "In addition to this, 12 of those agencies are registered under Papa, and have a good track record," Raja Zulkepley said. The suspensions will leave maids in a lurch, Raja Zulkepley said. "Almost every day, about 200 maids from various countries, especially from Indonesia, make their way into the country," he told ''The Star''. "With these 19 agencies under suspension, these maids are all now stuck in immigration and others in hostels, unable to move anywhere. We dare not even think about the other maids who are coming tomorrow, or the day after." Malaysia relies heavily on migrant labour, mainly Indonesians, for such jobs as domestic servants, construction and plantation work. Around 1,200 Indonesian housemaids run away from their employers every month, according to the Associated Press, often because of abuse, unpaid salaries or harsh working conditions. The government has established a 24-hour hotline for reports on maid abuse. The hotline numbers are 03-8880 1455 and 03-8880 1399.
Fighter pilots scrambled from RAF Leuchars in Fife could have been forgiven for thinking they had been thrown 20 years back into a Cold War timewarp. The British airmen were still at primary school the last time the UK's sentinel radar showed "Bears in the Air" over the North Sea and the station klaxon sounded what might well have been the warning notes for the Third World War's opening round. The two Tornado F3s interceptors swiftly found themselves flying in close formation with a pair of Russian Bear Foxtrot bombers - the legendary maritime raiders that regularly probed the UK's airspace when the Kremlin still flew the hammer and sickle of communism. advertisement The Cold War-era aircraft had swept down from Murmansk from a base on the Kola Peninsula, in the far north of Russia, to snoop on Neptune Warrior, a Royal Navy exercise. The exercise was staged in international waters off the Scottish coast over the past week and involved UK and allied warships. The RAF would not disclose exactly when the brief incident to the north of the Outer Hebrides took place, but said no contact was made between Russian and British aircraft. Squadron Leader Keith Wardlaw said he could not remember the last time such an encounter took place. "The Russians obviously thought it might be worth coming through to have a look at what we were up to and probably take some photos," he said. "It's a throwback to the Cold War when they used to fly in regularly to poke and prod at the edges of British airspace and test our reaction times. "It's normal to let such aircraft know we're there by pulling up alongside them and they left quietly. The whole encounter probably lasted 15, 20 minutes." Neptune Warrior was a live-fire naval training exercise involving warships, submarines and aircraft that took place between April 22 and last week. The 161ft-long Bear Foxtrot was designed to fly 3975 miles without refuelling, carrying a payload of more than 10 tons - about the weight of a nuclear bomb at the time the plane was made. Paul Jackson, editor of Jane's All The World's Aircraft, said: "This aircraft dates back to the 1950s and although the air frame might look dated it is still highly effective in terms of long-range maritime reconnaissance. "These used to fly over the North Sea and the Greenland Gap daily during the Cold War and, while rare today, it's by no means a unique occurrence. It's nice to know the Russians are out and about again. "The exercise was in international waters and the Russians have got just as much right to be there as we have. We do it to them, they do it to us. "All the RAF is doing is telling them: We could do this for real if we wanted to, so go and tell your mates back home'." Squadrons of long-scrapped Phantom interceptors were on constant quick-reaction standby through the 1970s and 80s to counter the threat of Soviet long-range bombers launching a sneak attack on northern airfields and the Royal Navy's submarine base at Faslane. The Bears were also designed to carry an arsenal of missiles, some nuclear-tipped, to strike Nato warships blocking the entrance to the vital North Atlantic sealanes between the US and Europe. Interceptions of a friendlier nature became common- place as superpower tensions thawed in the late-1980s. RAF and Russian aircrew would then hold up Playboy centrefolds against the cockpit canopies of their aircraft as they passed each other. \|\|\|\|\| Cold War reheated - RAF Tornados foil Russian spy in sky Last updated at 09:52am on 10.05.07 It could have been an episode from the dark days of the Cold War. Britain's air-defence radar system picks up a long-range Russian Bear bomber speeding towards the UK across the North Sea, apparently on a spying mission. Within minutes, at a windswept RAF base, four airmen race to their fighter jets and roar away to intercept the intruder. Scroll down for more A tense stand-off in the sky follows before the Russians turn away. It is the type of incident which was routine two decades ago. But this took place last week. Two Bears were spotted during a major Royal Navy exercise to the north of the Outer Hebrides. Commanders believe they were planning to spy on the warships, including the aircraft carrier Illustrious. Two Tornado F3 fighters took off from RAF Leuchars in Fife and intercepted the Bears in international airspace. The pilots were close enough to wave but there was no radio contact. After shadowing the Russians for some 15 minutes, they watched as the giant bombers turned and headed home to their base in Murmansk. In similar skirmishes during the 1970s and 80s, Soviet spies were sometimes spotted watching from the perimeter of RAF stations to time exactly how long it took jets to take off and intercept Bear bombers, probing the UK's defences and testing the response. Scroll down for more Nato pilots in those days were well accustomed to an almost daily aerial game of cat-and-mouse. While such visits from the Russians have become extremely rare, the latest one is a reminder that Moscow's long-term ambitions are not entirely clear and that the old Cold War rivalries could well resurface. Under President-Putin - a former KGB general - Russia has been flexing its economic muscle by cutting off gas flows to the West, highlighting Europe's growing dependence on its energy. The Kremlin has also begun to take a more aggressive stance in foreign affairs. Paul Jackson, editor of Jane's All The World's Aircraft, said, "The exercise was in international waters and the Russians have got just as much right to be there as we have. "The RAF are telling them, 'We could do this for real if we wanted to, so go and tell your mates.'" The Russian Embassy in London declined to comment. \|\|\|\|\| Memories of the Cold War were raised when RAF jets had to be scrambled after Russian aircraft were detected observing a British naval exercise. Two Tornado F3s took off from Leuchars air base in Fife after a pair of Russian Bear Foxtrot spy planes were spotted on radar screens. The aircraft were snooping on Neptune Warrior, a Royal Navy exercise taking place near the Outer Hebrides last week. The RAF would not say yesterday exactly when the incident happened, but said no contact was made between the Russian and British aircraft. Sqn Leader Keith Wardlaw said: "The Russians obviously thought it might be worth coming to have a look at what we were up to and probably take some photos. "It's a throwback to the Cold War when they used to regularly poke and prod at the edges of British airspace and test our reaction times. The whole encounter probably lasted 20 minutes." Paul Jackson, the editor of Jane's All The World's Aircraft, said: "The exercise was in international waters and the Russians have got as much right to be there as we have. We do it to them, they do it to us. "All the RAF did was to tell them, 'We could do this for real if we wanted'." \|\|\|\|\| Login Enter your details below to login If you are an existing member of The Times and The Sunday Times enjoying the full benefits of thetimes.co.uk, then simply enter your Times+ login details below and press 'Enter' Enter your details to login Email address Password Keep me logged in information Keeps you logged in for a rolling 30 days or until you logout \|\|\|\|\| An RAF Tornado F3 escorting the Russian Bear Foxtrot plane. RAF/MoD/PA Wire Enlarge Image The jets were scrambled after the foreign planes were detected by radar in the skies over the Outer Hebrides. They were identified as Russian Bear Foxtrot planes, commonly seen by RAF pilots during the Cold War. The Russian aircraft were escorted from the area by the RAF who said no radio contact took place between the pilots. A spokesman for the RAF refused to say when exactly the incident took place but revealed it had lasted no longer than 15 to 20 minutes. An international live firing exercise, named Operation Neptune Warrior and involving 14 countries, was carried out in the area between 22 April and 3 May. During the exercise 14 destroyers and frigates, submarines and patrol boats were engaged in collective training. \|\|\|\|\| Cold War reheated - RAF Tornados foil Russian spy in sky Comments (4) It could have been an episode from the dark days of the Cold War. Britain's air-defence radar system picks up a long-range Russian Bear bomber speeding towards the UK across the North Sea, apparently on a spying mission. Within minutes, at a windswept RAF base, four airmen race to their fighter jets and roar away to intercept the intruder. Scroll down for more Warning: A Tornado (top) escorts one of the Bear bombers A tense stand-off in the sky follows before the Russians turn away. It is the type of incident which was routine two decades ago. But this took place last week. Two Bears were spotted during a major Royal Navy exercise to the north of the Outer Hebrides. Commanders believe they were planning to spy on the warships, including the aircraft carrier Illustrious. Two Tornado F3 fighters took off from RAF Leuchars in Fife and intercepted the Bears in international airspace. The pilots were close enough to wave but there was no radio contact. After shadowing the Russians for some 15 minutes, they watched as the giant bombers turned and headed home to their base in Murmansk. In similar skirmishes during the 1970s and 80s, Soviet spies were sometimes spotted watching from the perimeter of RAF stations to time exactly how long it took jets to take off and intercept Bear bombers, probing the UK's defences and testing the response. Scroll down for more On guard: Two Tornado F3 fighters were scrambled when Russian planes appeared on RAF radar screens Nato pilots in those days were well accustomed to an almost daily aerial game of cat-and-mouse. While such visits from the Russians have become extremely rare, the latest one is a reminder that Moscow's long-term ambitions are not entirely clear and that the old Cold War rivalries could well resurface. Under President-Putin - a former KGB general - Russia has been flexing its economic muscle by cutting off gas flows to the West, highlighting Europe's growing dependence on its energy. The Kremlin has also begun to take a more aggressive stance in foreign affairs. Paul Jackson, editor of Jane's All The World's Aircraft, said, "The exercise was in international waters and the Russians have got just as much right to be there as we have. "The RAF are telling them, 'We could do this for real if we wanted to, so go and tell your mates.'" The Russian Embassy in London declined to comment. View all Add your comment Mail to a friend Print story Read later	Tornado F3 Last week, RAF Leuchars in Fife scambled two Tornado F3 interceptors, when radar detected two Tupolev Tu-142 Bear Bombers and the alarm was sounded "Bears in the Air". The RAF would not disclose the exact time of the incident, which was to the north of the Outer Hebrides. It did say that no contact was made between the aircraft. The Russian Bear Foxtrot bombers are renowned maritime raiders that regularly probed the United Kingdom's airspace during the Cold War. The Russian aircraft were snooping on Neptune Warrior, a Royal Navy exercise taking place near the Outer Hebrides last week. Neptune Warrior was a live-fire naval training exercise involving warships, submarines and aircraft that took place between April 22 and May 3. The Tornado's watched the Russians for approximately 15 minutes until the bombers returned to their home base in Murmansk. During the Cold War in the 1970s and 1980s, Soviet spies were sometimes spotted watching from the perimeter of RAF stations to time exactly how long it took jets to take off and intercept Bear bombers, probing the United Kingdom's defences and testing the response. Nato pilots in those days were well accustomed to an almost daily aerial game of cat-and-mouse. Squadrons of Phantom interceptors were on constant quick-reaction standby through the 1970s and 1980s to deal with the threat of Soviet long-range bombers engaging in a long-range attack on Great Britain. The Bears can carry an arsenal of missiles, some nuclear-tipped, to strike NATO warships blocking the entrance to the vital North Atlantic sealanes between the United States and Europe. In July, the Tornado will be replaced by the new Eurofighter Typhoon. Currently, RAF personnel on scrambling duty spend most of their time on counter-terrorist missions, checking out commercial airliners approaching Britain in ways that arouse suspicion, either because they have taken the wrong flight path or because the pilot has not contacted ground control.
Bill Wippert / Buffalo News file photo Buffalo News sportswriter Tom Borrelli died Nov. 20 of injuries sustained in a fall at All-High Stadium two weeks earlier. Updated: 03/30/09 03:29 PM Sportswriter Borrelli's name added to memorial at journalism museum News Washington Bureau Chief WASHINGTON —Some 62 journalists worldwide died in the line of duty in 2008 — including Tom Borrelli of The Buffalo News. And thanks to the Newseum, the capital's massive tribute to the journalism profession, they will not be forgotten. The names of Borrelli and dozens of his colleagues were added to the Newseum Journalists Memorial this morning as it was rededicated. Many of the late journalists died in war zones, or in retribution for their coverage, but some, like Borrelli, died in accidents while covering stories. Those journalists all have one thing in common, said Alberto Ibarguen, chairman of the Newseum. "Their communities and we are all poorer because of the work these storytellers have left undone," he said. The Newseum also honored 15 journalists who died in earlier years, bringing the number of names on the massive frosted-glass wall that honors such journalists to 1,913. The memorial also includes a separate mosaic, about 10 feet square, that includes a picture of every journalist who has died doing his or her job in the past 171 years. And at the bottom of that wall there's a series of larger pictures and written summaries about the wall's latest additions. Karen Borrelli, the widow of the late Buffalo News sportswriter, stared wistfully at his picture and recalled a man who covered the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team with distinction and whose wit and spirit made the Buffalo News sports department come alive. "There he is," she said. "He's my man." She met Borrelli when he hired her to work for him in the sports department at a paper in Bluefield, W.Va., in the 1980s. Their first date consisted of a minor-league baseball game and dinner at McDonald's. "We made $147 [a week] so that was a pretty good date," she said. The couple married in 1990 and, for years afterwards, "we did everything together," Karen Borrelli said. "He loved his job, he loved sports," she said. "And I don't know if you can tell by looking at his picture, but he was a great guy." Left unsaid this morning was the horror of Borrelli's death. Assigned to cover a high school football game at All-High Stadium, he hit his head on a steel girder while climbing the steep set of metal stairs leading to the press box. He then fell down the stairs, landing on his head. He died of his injuries two weeks later, on Nov. 20. State labor investigators later cited the Buffalo City Schools for the hazardous condition of the stairs, which resembled a ship's ladder. In addition, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has said it will fine The Buffalo News $31,000 for sending Borrelli to a dangerous work location. Lawrence Bayerl, director of human resources and legal counsel for the News, said the paper is exploring its options for appealing the proposed fine. Other American journalists who were honored this morning included David Garrett, a television cameraman who died in a helicopter crash while covering a story, and Misty Ann Spurgeon, a photographer for the Northwest Signal in Ohio who died while driving to cover a football game. Overseas honorees included 11 journalists who died covering violence in Iraq, five who were killed in retaliation for their coverage of drugs and crime in Mexico, and four journalists who were killed in similar circumstances in Thailand. "These 77 individuals were brought together in a fellowship that none of them would have chosen, a fellowship created by their commitment, their courage and, ultimately, their sacrifice," said Chris Wells, senior vice president of the Freedom Forum, which runs the Newseum. For the late Borrelli, the son of longtime Buffalo News political reporter George Borrelli, the ceremony marked an important honor, his wife said. "I hate more than anything that it had to come to this, but it did come to this," she said. "And the honor is just tremendous. He would say he didn't deserve it, but he did." jzremski@buffnews.com \|\|\|\|\| Steven Shoob honored at journalism memorial Posted: Monday, March 30, 2009 4:30 PM EST Updated: Wednesday, April 1, 2009 1:09 PM EST By Matt Butner WASHINGTON (WTOC/WWBT) - Today, 62 new names of slain journalists were added to the Newseum Journalist's Memorial in Washington. Among the nearly 2,000 names etched into the glass of the, you'll find the name of WTOC's own managing editor, producer, videographer, anchor, reporter and phenomenal friend Steven Shoob. Along side the names of men and women who in some cases were murdered simply for doing their jobs as journalists, Steven might have thought his seemed out of place. "Steven was never. 'me, me, me.' He always talked about other people. I don't think he realized how much people thought of him," said his brother Cary Shoob. But to his family, his co-workers and his community, his life and work were invaluable and his tragic death affected everyone he had touched in his 58 years. "The whole town was just upside down," said Cary. "The station is still, they still feel it. I talk to them. They say it's just never going to be the same." "He was so dedicated to his work and to family and he was so funny," said daughter Jenna Robinson. And now, Steven Shoob takes his place in the history of journalism as one of the 62 names added to this memorial this year, one of 62 worldwide to die in 2008 doing the important work of reporting the news. His brother, his daughter and three granddaughters joined a long line of families who filed past a wall of photographs and laid flowers at the foot of the glass monument. "He was just doing his job, doing the best he could," said Cary. "This is just such an honor for him. We're real proud of him." The Newseum Journalist's Memorial contains the names of 1,913 journalists who have died either on the job or as a result of their reporting from 1837 to 2008. They add names and rededicate the memorial each year. ©2009 WTOC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| 77 names added to slain journalists memorial in DC WASHINGTON (AP) — The journalism and free speech museum called the Newseum added 77 names to its Journalists Memorial on Monday to honor reporters, photographers and broadcasters who died while covering the news, including several killed in Mexican drug violence. Mexico ranked second only to Iraq among the deadliest places for journalists last year, said Alberto Ibarguen, the Newseum's chairman, and president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The names of five journalists killed in Mexico were added to the memorial wall, along with 13 who were killed in Iraq in 2008. "These are not long ago and far away events," said Ibarguen, a former publisher of The Miami Herald. "The story they're covering in Mexico is a story of drugs and corruption and guns." Among the fallen journalists in Mexico was Armando Rodriguez, a crime reporter for El Diario in Ciudad Juarez who had covered the violent city across the border from El Paso, Texas, for 10 years. He had received death threats and was sent to work for a time in El Paso for his protection but returned to Juarez shortly after. On Nov. 13, Rodriguez was shot to death in his driveway as he sat in his car with his 8-year-old daughter, waiting for her younger sister to drive the girls to school. "These murders strike at the heart of democracy by silencing speech and by depriving a community of the information it needs to conduct its affairs," Ibarguen said. Last year was the deadliest for journalists in Mexico in at least five years, according to Newseum records. Iraq has been the most dangerous country for journalists since the war began in 2003. Frank Smyth of the Committee to Protect Journalists said journalists are at greater risk now in places like Mexico, but he said the risk for local correspondents, such as Rodriguez, has always been high. The soaring glass memorial was rededicated Monday at the museum on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol. Each new name added to the wall was read aloud, followed by a single chime. The memorial includes 1,913 names dating back to 1837. It began in 1996 with less than 1,000 names. The new names include 62 journalists killed in 2008. One was Magomed Yevloyev, the owner of an independent Russian news site that the government had been trying to shut down. Yevloyev, 37, was shot while in police custody. Police said he had tried to seize an officer's weapon. The names of 15 journalists killed in previous years also were added to the wall. Among those was Sarah Park, a reporter for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin who was killed in 1957 in a small plane crash while covering a tsunami. The youngest journalist's name added to the wall was Ryan Rendleman, 22, who was on assignment for the Daily Egyptian student newspaper at Southern Illinois University in April 2008 when a tractor-tractor slammed into his stopped car at a construction zone. More than 500,000 visitors have passed by the Journalists Memorial since the Newseum reopened in its new home in April 2008, said Charles Overby, the museum's CEO. That's a comfort for family members like Virginia Parrish-Loy of Greenville, S.C., whose husband, Joel Scott Loy, was killed while filming an overturned lumber truck in 2007 for WHNS-TV. Police never caught the driver who struck Loy. "Nobody even got a ticket," Parrish-Loy said, holding a yellow rose in her husband's honor near the memorial wall. "I know he's here." Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	The names of 77 reporters, photographers and broadcasters were added to a memorial to honor slain journalists in the in Washington, D.C.. "These 77 individuals were brought together in a fellowship that none of them would have chosen, a fellowship created by their commitment, their courage and, ultimately, their sacrifice," said Chris Wells, vice president of the , which runs the Newseum. The Newseum Journalist's Memorial contains the names of 1,913 journalists dating back to 1837. Thirteen of the names added Monday were journalists killed in Iraq in 2008, which has been the most dangerous country for journalists since the Iraq War began in 2003. Mexico was the second deadliest country for journalists last year, with five journalists being killed due to drug violence. According to Newseum records, Mexico had not been so dangerous for journalists in at least five years. Among the slain journalists in Mexico was Armando Rodriguez, a reporter who covered crime along the border of El Paso, Texas, for 10 years. He was shot to death in his driveway while sitting in his car with his eight-year-old daughter. "These murders strike at the heart of democracy by silencing speech and by depriving a community of the information it needs to conduct its affairs," said Newseum chairman Alberto Ibarguen. The , a journalism museum in Washington, D.C..Another was , who ran the independent Russian news site , which the Russian government tried to shut down. Yevloyev was shot while in police custody; authorities said he tried to take an officer's weapon. Some of the journalists added to the memorial were killed in accidents, rather than murders or war zones. Tom Borrelli, a sports writer for '''', died after falling down a set of metal stairs at a high school football stadium and landing on his head. "I hate more than anything that it had to come to this, but it did come to this," said Borelli's widow, Karen. "And the honor is just tremendous. He would say he didn't deserve it, but he did." Steven Shoob, a broadcaster with '''' in Georgia, was also added to the memorial. Shoob was struck by a car while covering an accident story in in July 2008. Among the new names, 62 journalists were killed in 2008 and 15 were killed in prior years, including '''' reporter Sarah Park, who died in 1957 in a small plane crash while covering a tsunami. The name of the youngest journalist on the memorial was added Monday. Ryan Rendleman, 22, of the ''Daily Egyptian'' of who died in April 2008 when a tractor-trailer hit his parked car while he was on assignment.
Nelson Mandela has been at the forefront of the fight against Aids Mandela urges action The UN recently reduced its estimate of the number of people with HIV/Aids, but the figure still stands at 33 million. Campaigners warn that better treatment has bred complacency about the risks. "The trend is encouraging but still for every person receiving treatment four others are newly infected," said former South African President Nelson Mandela. 'Breaking the cycle' Mr Mandela was speaking at a concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, where international musicians, including Annie Lennox and Peter Gabriel, were performing alongside local talent. "If we are to stop the Aids epidemic from expanding, we need to break the cycle of new HIV infections. All of us working together with government, communities and civil society can make the difference that is needed," he added. The concert is the latest event organised by the 46664 campaign - which is named after Mr Mandela's old prison number and began five years ago. South Africa has more HIV infections than any other country - five million South Africans are HIV positive. After years in which the South African government was accused of "Aids denial", the country now has the world's largest programme of antiretroviral treatment. But Aids campaigners say more must still be done - especially in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission. And I call for leadership at all levels to scale up towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 Ban Ki-moon UN Secretary General Fears over homeopathy role UN chief Ban Ki-moon said strong leadership was needed if the fight against the disease was to be won. And he called for renewed efforts to focus on helping women, who now make up half of those living with Aids worldwide, and for better funding for prevention and care programmes. "I call for leadership among all governments in fully understanding the epidemic - so that resources go where they are most needed," he said in a speech in New York. "And I call for leadership at all levels to scale up towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010," he added. US fund increase US President George W Bush on Friday urged the US Congress to authorise the doubling of financial aid to combat HIV/Aids to $30bn (£15bn) over the next five years. "We will turn the tide against HIV/Aids once and for all," he said, adding that he would visit Africa during 2008. In China, the Miss World pageant is coinciding with World Aids Day Almost three-quarters of Aids-related deaths during 2006 were in sub-Saharan Africa. Two-thirds of those living with HIV are found there. But the number of people living with the virus has increased everywhere, with the most striking increases in East Asia and Central Asia/Eastern Europe. The BBC's David Loyn, in Afghanistan, says that nearly 30 years after HIV/Aids first emerged onto the world stage, it is now moving into the country with unpredictable consequences. Only 266 cases of HIV/Aids have been recorded in Afghanistan but returning refugees, truck drivers, and Afghans now flying abroad to work are bringing in the disease. There are fears the official figures are just the tip of the iceberg, our correspondent says. Vatican view In India, the Red Ribbon Express, a train with a giant Aids ribbon running the length of its side, has set off on a journey of almost 27,000km (16,000 miles) to spread advice about tackling the disease to almost 60,000 villages across the country. An estimated two and a half million people in India are affected by the Aids virus - only Nigeria and South Africa have higher numbers. In India, the Red Ribbon Express is spreading anti-Aids advice And Chinese President Hu Jintao has appeared on the front page of major state-controlled newspapers shaking the hand of a woman with HIV. The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has said this week that he is spiritually close to victims of Aids and their families, but the Vatican still opposes the use of condoms as a means of fighting the epidemic. At his weekly general audience the pope called for stepped-up efforts to stop the spread of the HIV virus that causes Aids and deplored the disdain with which Aids sufferers are often treated. Yet the Vatican refuses to end its opposition to the use of condoms. Roman Catholics in many parts of the world, however, believe condom use helps save lives, according to an opinion poll published by a liberal Catholic group in the United States, Catholics for Choice. According to the survey, a majority of Catholics living in Ghana, Ireland, Mexico, the Philippines and the US all believe that Catholic hospitals and government-funded clinics should be required to include condoms as part of Aids prevention. \|\|\|\|\| Global leaders call for action on World AIDS Day PARIS (AFP) — Activists and global leaders used World AIDS Day Saturday to warn against complacency in fighting the disease and called on governments to fill a multi-billion-dollar funding gap. "We have made tangible and remarkable progress on all these fronts. But we must do more," United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a message for World AIDS Day. The highlight of events across the globe was a concert in Johannesburg organised by Nelson Mandela's 46664 AIDS campaign group, named after his prison number from his 27 years in jail during South Africa's apartheid regime. An estimated 50,000 people attended the concert of local and foreign artists, ranging from Peter Gabriel to Ludacris, broadcast to millions around the world. Mandela himself put in a rare appearance, and the crowd erupted in screams before falling silent as the 89-year-old urged people to stand up and take the fight against AIDS into their own hands. "It is still alarming that for every person who receives treatment there are four others who are newly infected," said the Nobel laureate, after slowly walking to the podium with the aid of his wife and a walking stick. "Yes, big ambitious plans are needed to deal with the epidemic. But what really matters are small acts of kindness ... such as protecting yourself," he said. South Africa has the world's worst rate of HIV, according to recent UN statistics, with around 5.5 million people infected out of a population of 48 million. But while sub-Saharan Africa has been hard hit, other African nations have registered successes. Mali's HIV infection rate dropped from 1.7 percent in 2001 to 1.3 percent last year, an official from the state's national council against AIDS said. Since the first World AIDS Day in 1988 there has been progress in levelling off the percentage of the world's population living with HIV and AIDS from a peak in the late 1990s, the UN AIDS programme UNAIDS said last month. The tally of new infections fell to an estimated 2.5 million in 2007, from 3.0 million in the late 1990s, it added. Efforts to bring anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs to sub-Saharan Africa, where more than two-thirds of those with HIV/AIDS live, were now bearing fruit, it said. But with 33.2 million people around the world estimated to be living with AIDS and 2.1 million deaths in 2007, campaigners warned there was still a long way to go. "Despite substantial progress against AIDS worldwide, we are still losing ground," said James Shelton of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in a commentary in the medical journal The Lancet on Saturday. Treatment was still only available to about 10 percent of those in need, he said, while in developing countries, "the number of new infections continues to dwarf the numbers who start anti-retroviral therapy in developing countries." One of the biggest areas of concern was funding. According to the UN, there is currently an eight-billion-dollar (five-billion-euro) shortfall in resources to fight AIDS. To meet the Group of Eight (G8) goal of providing universal access to ARVs by 2010, 42 billion dollars will be needed. So far, only 15.4 billion is in the kitty. US President George W. Bush marked the day by repeating his call on US lawmakers to double support for anti-AIDS programmes to 30 billion dollars over five years. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner in the 2008 US presidential race, said "AIDS is not just an African problem, an Asian problem, or an American problem. It's not someone else's problem." Chinese President Hu Jintao was on front pages of state newspapers shaking the hand of a woman infected with HIV, a day after UN warnings that up to 50 million Chinese were at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. In Australia, campaigners warned that complacency after earlier success in fighting HIV/AIDS risked giving rise to a new wave of infections. "This is the moment it all could go astray. This is the moment when it can become a pandemic," said AIDS awareness educator Vince Lovegrove. Indonesia -- which the UN says has Asia's fastest growing HIV epidemic -- marked the day with the launch of its first national campaign to promote the use of condoms. And in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, several dozen AIDS activists observed a minute of silence to remember the 12,000 Ukrainians who have died of AIDS in two decades. Some stood with their mouths taped to protest what they say is the government's silence about Ukraine's growing HIV and AIDS problem. During the first 10 months of the year, close to 14,500 new HIV cases were reported, prompting UN AIDS officials to warn that Ukraine's HIV epidemic was the most severe in Europe. French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited the country's leading HIV research hospital and called the battle against AIDS "absolutely fundamental". In Latin America, campaigns promoting condom use were in high gear particularly in Brazil, which the United Nations says is home to one third of the people infected with HIV across the region. In Peru, at least 3,000 people formed a human chain to raise awareness, while a separate exposition with "Blankets of Love," made for loved ones who dies of the disease, was held in a Lima park. In Haiti, the country with the greatest number of HIV infected people in the Americas (190,000) after Brazil, despite a relatively small population, HIV clinics were opened in the impoverished Caribbean country's capital. \|\|\|\|\| Huge concert marks World AIDS Day Posted Updated Tens of thousands of people filed into a Johannesburg stadium for a 10-hour music extravaganza beamed to millions around the globe to mark World AIDS Day. The concert at the 50,000-seater Ellis Park stadium featured 30 local and international artists performing, ranging from Ludacris to Peter Gabriel. The event was organised by the 89-year-old Nelson Mandela's 46664 AIDS campaign, named after his prison number from his 27 years in jail during South Africa's apartheid regime. Thirteen years after apartheid ended and after Mr Mandela became president in South Africa's first ever democratic elections, the country is now on the front line of the struggle against HIV. Around 5.5 million of its 48 million people are infected - the world's worst rate, according to recent UN data. Addressing the crowd, Mr Mandela urged people to stand up and take the fight against AIDS into their own hands. "It is still alarming that for every person who receives treatment there are four others who are newly infected," said the Nobel laureate, after slowly walked to the podium with the aid of his wife and a walking stick. "Here in South Africa we are making every effort to reach into communities because we believe the answer is in our hands. "Yes, big ambitious plans are needed to deal with the epidemic. But what really matters are small acts of kindness ... such as protecting yourself," he said. South Africa's deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka thanked the performers. "It's about preventing the infections. It's about caring for the people who are already sick ... it's about rolling out the treatment, and ensuring we empower women who are at the frontline of the battle," she said. Worldwide ceremonies Earlier United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon launched the 20th World AIDS Day at a midnight ceremony at St Bartholomew's Church in New York. Mr Ban has called on governments around the world to allow universal access to HIV prevention and treatment. He says the stigma associated with the disease is the biggest barrier towards combating AIDS. "For AIDS is a disease unlike any other," he said. "AIDS is a social issue, a human rights issue, an economic issue. "It targets young adults, just as they should be contributing to economic development, intellectual growth and bringing up the children." Growing complacency Activists are trying to keep the battle against HIV in the public eye on in the face of growing complacency amid progress in treating and slowing the spread of the disease. Even the Miss World beauty pageant on the Chinese holiday island of Sanya was enlisted to get out the message that the disease daily kills some 6,000 people. Chinese President Hu Jintao appeared on the front page of major state-controlled newspapers shaking the hand of a woman HIV carrier, a day after the UN warned that as many as 50 million Chinese are at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. December 1 has become a time of grim stocktaking as AIDS campaigners worldwide sound the alarm over the disease's rampage through Africa, the threat it poses to Asia and former Soviet republics, and the risks to vulnerable communities such as sex workers, drug users and gay men. In Australia, campaigners have warned that complacency after earlier success in fighting HIV/AIDS risks giving rise to a new wave of infections. AIDS awareness educator Vince Lovegrove is calling for a new campaign aimed at a new generation. "This is the moment it all could go astray. This is the moment when it can become a pandemic," he said. Australian government figures show that by the end of 2006, 26,267 Australians had been diagnosed with HIV and 10,l25 people had been diagnosed with AIDS, with 6,723 having died. - AFP/BBC \|\|\|\|\| BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- On the 20th World AIDS Day, the campaign to prevent HIV/AIDS and combat discrimination is being publicized across China with the aim of raising public awareness about the virus, which was previously linked to "immoral conduct" in the country. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao talks with AIDS orphans at the Zhonghua Red Ribbon Home of the Lugang township in Shangcai County, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 30, 2007, a day before the 20th World AIDS Day. Wen on Friday paid a visit, the second since 2005, to China's worst AIDS-hit villages in Henan Province. (Xinhua Photo) In cities like Beijing and Shanghai, people distributed AIDS prevention brochures along the streets and promoted the use of condoms. In Changsha, capital of Hunan Province in central China, more than 40,000 official warning signs were put on the bedstand of 120 hotels across the city. In Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, hundreds of volunteers delivered brochures to more than 15,000 homosexuals in colleges, gay bars and residential districts over the past two years. In the eastern city of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, people flew kites embroidered with red ribbons in front of the railway stations. Volunteers fly kites carrying red ribbon at the Renmin Square in Weihai, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 1, 2007. A group of volunteers from local medical institutions and Shandong University Weihai Branch gathered on the World AIDS Day to popularize knowledge about AIDS and promote the awareness of preventing the epidemic. (Xinhua Photo) By the end of October 2007, a total of 223,501 people had been officially reported to have contracted HIV, including 62,838 AIDS patients, according to an appraisal report by the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS. Though the rate of AIDS growth has slowed down, the government has admitted the situation remains grave in the country with a population of 1.3 billion. Official reports say there are estimated to be as many as 700,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in China. The Ministry of Finance announced Friday that 860 million yuan (114 million U.S. dollars) would be allocated from the central budget for AIDS prevention and control. Statistics show Chinese government has allocated 3.81 billion yuan (508 million dollars) since 2003 to combat AIDS. Chinese college students display a kite carrying a red ribbon during an activity to commemorate the World AIDS Day in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Dec. 1, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] \|\|\|\|\| 1 December 2007 Calling AIDS “a disease unlike any other,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the need for strong leadership in a number of areas, saying that “without it, we will never get ahead of the epidemic.” While “tangible and remarkable” progress has been made in a number of areas, including reducing infections and providing care, Mr. Ban emphasized the need to do more on several fronts. “It is our crucial mission to ensure that everyone can access HIV prevention, treatment, care and support,” he said, recalling the pledge made by all Governments last year to work towards universal access by 2010. In addition, Mr. Ban called for renewed leadership in eradicating stigma associated with HIV, which he termed “the single biggest barrier to public action on AIDS” and one of the reasons why the epidemic continues to wreak its devastation around the world. The Secretary-General also emphasized the need for leadership among Governments in fully understanding the epidemic, so that resources go where they are most needed. In addition he pledged to ensure that the UN becomes a model in responding to the virus. “As Secretary General, I am determined to lead the United Nations family in this endeavour – to ensure that we prioritize action on AIDS, to encourage Member States to keep the issue high on national and international agendas, and to work to make the UN a model of how the workplace should respond to AIDS,” Mr. Ban said. The Executive Director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said the challenge now is to keep AIDS at the top of the agenda, and to accelerate action at national and local level, warning that “any slackening of leadership would be fatal.” “The epidemic reached global proportions precisely because it took so long for the world to act,” stated Dr. Peter Piot. “And although we are beginning to make progress, there remains a long way to go.” Citing a serious shortfall in resources for AIDS, and prevailing stigma and discrimination around the disease, he noted that two-thirds of those who require anti-retroviral treatment are unable to access it. “Less than one in ten people at risk of HIV infection have the means to protect themselves,” he said. Dr. Piot stressed that sustaining leadership and accelerating action on AIDS isn't just an imperative for politicians. “It involves religious leaders, community, youth and council leaders, chief executives and trade union leaders. It involves people living with HIV, and their families and friends. It involves you, me – each and every one of us – taking the lead to eliminate stigma and discrimination, to advocate for more resources to tackle AIDS.” In her message to mark the Day, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed that the first and primary leadership call is for Governments to step forward and provide the basic human rights guarantees necessary for HIV to be overcome. The commitment by Governments to achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support by 2010 is not only an ambitious goal, “it is also a human right,” Louise Arbour stated. To achieve this goal, she called for action on several fronts, including ending the discrimination against people living with HIV and supporting them to become strong, active players in determining policies and programmes that will prevent further infections and provide treatment. In addition, she stressed the need for Governments to care for the most disaffected and marginalized groups, even those who engage in activities which may be illegal in some countries. “Sex workers, prisoners and persons in detention, men who have sex with men, and injecting drug users must have their human rights respected and protected, including rights to health, non-discrimination and freedom from violence,” she stated. “These people are amongst the worst affected in the pandemic, yet their rights are disproportionately violated.” Highlighting the leadership role played by the General Assembly in raising awareness of the issues surrounding the epidemic, its President, Srgjan Kerim, noted that the 192-member body will hold a meeting next year to take stock of and accelerate the implementation of global commitments to combat HIV/AIDS. Mr. Kerim also drew attention to the fact that the disease remains a major challenge for many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. “Eight countries in Africa now account for almost one-third of all new HIV infections and AIDS deaths globally,” he stated, adding that “every human life lost to AIDS is a tragedy when knowledge and resources have made it possible to prevent these deaths.” In the lead up to World AIDS Day, UNAIDS worked with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Bank to produce “HIV and Prisons in sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities for Action.” While it is well known that sub-Saharan Africa has been hardest hit by the epidemic, little is known about the prison community and HIV, the three agencies said in a joint communiqué. The new document summarizes what is known, identifies gaps in information and proposes ways forward to address this underserved population within the context of the HIV/AIDS response in the region. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has announced that its Goodwill Ambassador and tennis great Roger Federer will star in a World AIDS Day public service announcement to raise awareness about the transmission of HIV from mothers to their children. Mr. Federer is among several celebrities and sports personalities lending their voices to the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign, launched in October 2005 by UNICEF and UNAIDS to draw attention to the impact of the disease on children and young people. Search UN News Past 2 weeks Past 30 days Past 45 days Advanced Search Related news stories Cambodia and UN anti-hunger agency launch three-year meal programme - 14 December Ban Ki-moon voices profound sadness as UN death toll in Algiers reaches 17 - 14 December Countries pledge to realize rights of every child at General Assembly gathering - 13 December Secretary-General extends stay in Bali to pursue climate change negotiations - 13 December Creating a world fit for children focus of General Assembly high-level event - 11 December Related press briefingsPRESS CONFERENCE TO RELEASE REPORT ON ATTITUDES OF DEVELOPED-WORLD POPULATIONS TOWARDS THOSE AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS GLOBALLY - 29 November PRESS CONFERENCE ON JOINT HIV/AIDS REPORT - 20 November Related press releasesSECRETARY-GENERAL, IN REMARKS AT WORLD AIDS DAY OBSERVANCE, CALLS FOR RENEWED LEADERSHIP IN ERADICATING STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH HIV - 3 December Footer <!-- .style1 { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; color: #000099; } .footerborder { border-top: 1px dotted #000000; border-right: 1px #000000; border-bottom: 1px #000000; border-left: 1px #000000; } .colulef { font-size: 10px; font-family: Arial; } --> UN News Centre Home \| Latest Headlines \| Search News \| E-Mail News Alerts \| RSS version UN Daily News \| News Focus \| News Resources \| Press Releases \| UN System Links \| Back to Top \|\|\|\|\| Queen release new single for AIDS Day You can download 'Say It's Not True' for free 30.Nov.07 6:14pm Queen have released a new single for free to mark World AIDS Day tomorrow (December 1). The band, whose lead singer Freddie Mercury died of an AIDS-related illness in 1991, have been in the studio with Paul Rodgers recording 'Say It's Not True', their first new song in 10 years. "By making the song available for free, we hope to help Nelson Mandela with his campaign to get across the message that no-one is safe from infection," drummer Roger Taylor said in a statement. "We have to be aware, we have to protect ourselves and those we love. The song follows the line of Mr. Mandela's personal message: 'It's in our own hands to bring a stop to this'." Taylor wrote 'Say It's Not True' as a gift to Mandela and originally performed it for him in 2003 with Brian May and Dave Stewart at the inaugural 46664 concert in Cape Town. The new studio recording of the track is currently available as a free download on the band's website. --By our Los Angeles staff. Find out more about NME. Related items News Submit this story to: Del.icio.us \| Digg \| Technorati \| Blinklist \| Furl \| Reddit \| Newsvine \| NowPublic \| Stumbleupon \|\|\|\|\| For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 30, 2007 President Bush Discusses World AIDS Day Calvary United Methodist Church Mount Airy, Maryland Fact Sheet: World AIDS Day 2007 11:43 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Tomorrow is World AIDS Day, and Laura and I are honored to commemorate the occasion here at the Calvary United Methodist Church. And we're honored to commemorate the day with people who have dedicated their lives to save lives. I want to start by thanking Ambassador Mark Dybul, who is the Global AIDS Coordinator. His job is to make sure that America's great compassion is effective and widespread; that the goals we have set are met. And I -- Mr. Ambassador, you're doing a fine job and I want to thank you very much for serving. I also want to thank Pastor Dennis Yocum, the pastor of this church. Dennis, I want to thank you for your hospitality -- it's not easy to host the President and all those who follow the President. I want to thank the members of your church who have so graciously made our stay here so comfortable. I really want to thank the people standing behind me for not only joining Laura and me in discussions, but for serving as such powerful examples of the human spirit. Behind me are folks who understand that the scourge of HIV/AIDS can be mitigated and that people's lives can be improved; who have seen hopelessness and have seen hope; people who are willing to act on the universal call to love a neighbor. People here come from obviously different backgrounds and different denominations, yet they share this timeless calling to heal the sick and comfort the lonely. And their stories are incredibly inspirational and touching. I appreciate the fact that they live out their faith, just like hundreds of thousands of other people do who are involved with the HIV/AIDS crisis. And in so living out their faith, they better our world. World AIDS Day is both a day of sadness and a day of hope. We remember with sadness all those lost to AIDS. We mourn their lives cut short, their dreams of future denied. And we ask for God's blessing on the loved ones they have left behind. We also mark this day with hope -- for the improving prospects of those living with the virus, for the unprecedented number of infections being prevented, and for new progress toward eradicating this disease. Above all, we rededicate ourselves to a great purpose: We will turn the tide against HIV/AIDS -- once and for all. According to the most recent estimates by the United Nations, more than 33 million people around the world live with HIV. They are mothers, they are fathers, brothers and sisters, friends and teachers. And each day, some 5,700 lose their lives. When Americans witness this suffering, they feel a duty to respond. Some are motivated by conscience and a conviction that America should use its great influence to be a force for good. Many others are driven by faith -- by the call to love your neighbor as yourself, even when that neighbor may live on the other side of the world. This spirit of brotherhood and generosity has long defined our country. And over the past six years, we have rallied that spirit in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Here at home, we've taken new measures to increase HIV/AIDS testing, expand treatment, and improve care. We've worked with healthcare providers to make voluntary HIV screening a routine part of medical care, so all Americans can know their status. And we've worked with Congress to renew the Ryan White Care Act, which helps HIV/AIDS patients receive lifesaving drugs. Overseas, the scope of the challenge is much longer -- much larger, and this nation is responding. In 2003, I proposed the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- a five-year, $15 billion initiative to expand prevention, treatment, and care in the most heavily-affected countries. Congress approved the plan with bipartisan support. I want our fellow citizens to think about what this means: Every year, American taxpayers send billions of their hard-earned dollars overseas to save the lives of people they have never met. In return for this extraordinary generosity, Americans expect results. So the Emergency Plan includes specific, measurable targets for progress. It demands honesty and accountability for all those involved. It puts local partners in the lead, because they know the needs of their people best. With this strategy, we have pioneered a new model for public health. And so far, the results have been striking: Five years ago, only 50,000 people with AIDS in sub-Sahara Africa were receiving antiretroviral drugs. Today, thanks to the emergency plan and to the generosity of the American taxpayer, that number is nearly 1.4 million. Think about that, over a five-year period of time the number of people in sub-Sahara Africa has increased from 50,000 to 1.4 million thanks to the American taxpayer. Around the world, another 6.7 million people with HIV/AIDS have received compassionate care, including 2.7 million orphans and vulnerable children. Tens of millions have received prevention -- prevention messages based on the proven principles of ABC, which is Abstinence, Be faithful, and use Condoms. The money that you have spent [sic] is being spent wisely and saving lives. Some call this a remarkable success. I call it a good start. So we have worked with the private sector and G8 nations to increase their commitments. This May, I proposed to double our nation's initial pledge to $30 billion over the next five years. These American funds will help us support treatment for nearly 2.5 million people, prevent more than 12 million new infections, and support care for 12 million people, including more than 5 million orphans and vulnerable children. Now the time has come for United States Congress to act again. I'm confident they will, and I call on Congress to show America's leadership and compassion by reauthorizing the emergency plan and doubling our commitment to this urgent cause. One reason for the effectiveness of our efforts is the leading role of faith-based organizations. Last summer, volunteers from this church traveled to Namibia to serve at a home for AIDS orphans. Think about that -- people from this part of Maryland took it upon themselves to travel to a faraway land to help orphans, to say we love you, to inspire through their compassion. With me today is a fellow named Chris Dominick from the McLean Bible Church. He briefed Laura and me and the others on the training that he had received in order to go to Zambia tomorrow. Faith-based groups like these are the foot soldiers in the armies of compassion. They are changing behavior by changing hearts -- and they are helping to defeat this epidemic one soul at a time. This morning, I also met a woman a named Martha Chilufya -- was afraid you left. (Laughter.) Eight years ago, she established the Mututa Memorial Center in Zambia to honor her husband, who had died of AIDS. Today, the center partners with the emergency plan and faith-based care-givers to serve more than 150 patients. Martha hosted Laura and Jenna on their recent trip to Africa. And they listened to a choir of orphans who had received loving care at the center. The children sang these inspiring words: "God, you are really there when I pray, when I cry, when I am ill, you are there." Stories like these bring pride to our country. And they should bring something more. When we support nations seeking to replace chaos and despair with progress and hope, we reduce the appeal of extremism. When we replace despair with progress, when we replace hopelessness with hope, we add to the security of our country. As well, we make friends who will always remember that America stood with them in their hour of need. The new relationships that America has forged in Africa are a high priority for our nation. I'm pleased to announce that Laura and I will travel to sub-Sahara Africa early next year. I look forward to seeing the results of America's generosity -- and to assure our friends that they have a steady partner in the United States of America. The Scriptures tell us, "I have set before you life and death T therefore, choose life." All who wage the battle against AIDS have made the choice for life. Because of their compassion and courage, millions who once saw the disease as a death sentence now look to the future with hope. This World AIDS Day is a day of importance, because it's a day we resolve to continue this work of healing and redemption. It's a day to strive for the day when the scourge of AIDS is a part of history. Laura and I are honored to be here with you all. May God bless your work, may God bless those who suffer from HIV/AIDS, may God continue to bless our country. Thank you. END 11:54 A.M. EST	White House on December 1, 2007. The 20th annual World AIDS Day was December 1, 2007. The theme selected by the World AIDS Campaign is "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise" as it will be through 2010. The day was marked by thousands of events around the world. "It is now time for bold leadership at all levels in order to turn the tide of HIV," said Felicita Hikuam, Global Programmes Manager, World AIDS Campaign. An estimated 33.2 million people around the world—one in every 200—are living with HIV, and approximately 6,800 people are infected with HIV and 5,700 people die of AIDS-related illnesses every day. "The trend is encouraging but still for every person receiving treatment four others are newly infected," said Nelson Mandela, speaking at a concert in Johannesburg, South Africa. "If we are to stop the Aids epidemic from expanding, we need to break the cycle of new HIV infections. All of us working together with government, communities and civil society can make the difference that is needed," he continued. As many as 50,000 people attended the concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, which was telecast around the world. It was organized by Nelson Mandela's 46664 AIDS campaign and featured performances by artists such as Peter Gabriel, Ludacris, Razorlight, the Goo Goo Dolls and Annie Lennox. At a fundraiser in the town of Midrand, in the province Gauteng, near Johannesburg on Friday, singer Annie Lennox had strong words for the South African government's AIDS policies. "AIDS, as Madiba Mandela has said, is a human rights issue and should be treated as such in order to avoid this genocide that is affecting millions and millions of people around the world," said Lennox in a speech. Lennox has previously been critical of the South African government's position on suggesting some AIDS medications were toxic. "It is unacceptable that treatment has not been made available to those who need it most," said Lennox. The rock band Queen, which lost its lead singer Freddie Mercury to AIDS, released a new song entitled, ''Say It's Not True'', to coincide with World Aids Day. It has been made available as a free download from the band's website. "By making the song available for free, we hope to help Nelson Mandela with his campaign to get across the message that no-one is safe from infection," said Queen drummer Roger Taylor. "We have to be aware, we have to protect ourselves and those we love." In China, people distributed AIDS prevention brochures in the streets and promoted safe sex in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. In Changsha, official warning signs were put on hotel bedstands. The government announced on Friday an allocation of CNY860 million for AIDS prevention and control. According to official reports, there are estimated to be 700,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in China. Also in China, the Miss World 2007 was in Sanya on World AIDS Day. The pageant presented a special tribute to the fight against AIDS, with a televised speech from former South African President Nelson Mandela, along with traditional dancers from South Africa who joined the contestants in a special song. Friday, United States President George W. Bush urged the United States Congress to double the 2003 Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to US$30 billion over the next five years. "Above all, we rededicate ourselves to a great purpose: We will turn the tide against HIV/AIDS—once and for all," he said. "I'm pleased to announce that Laura and I will travel to sub-Sahara Africa early next year," Bush said. Sub-Saharan Africa suffered nearly three-quarters of AIDS-related deaths during 2006 and is home to two-thirds of those living with HIV/AIDS.
Fighting has broken out in Baghdad between Sunnis and the Iraqi army after Saddam Hussein, the former president, was sentenced to death. US armour has been deployed in Baghdad to enforce a curfew Heavy firing was reported in Adhimiyah, a mainly Sunni district of Baghdad, within half an hour of Saddam Hussein's death sentence being announced on Sunday morning. Several mortarshells also reportedly landed near the Abu Hanifa mosque in Adhimiya. The mosque is a focus for Sunni armed groups in the area. Before the verdict was announced, Iraq's army imposed a complete curfew in Baghdad, in Diyala province, a mainly Sunni region and around Tikrit, Saddam's hometown. In Tikrit as many as 1,000 people defied the curfew and carried pictures of the former president through the streets. Some Sunnis there declared the court a product of the U.S. "occupation forces" and decried the verdict. "By our souls, by our blood we sacrifice for you Saddam", they shouted. "Saddam your name shakes America." Kurds and Shias celebrate But while Iraq's Sunnis reacted angrily to the verdict, Iraq's other sects and ethnic groups have began celebrating. Iraq's Shia who made up over half of Iraq's population have begun holding impromptu celebrations in Najaf and other cities to mark Saddam's sentencing. Over 100,000 Iraqi Shias were killed in 1991 after attempting to overthrow Saddam's predominantly Sunni government. Shias in Najaf have poured into the streets to celebrate In Sadr City, a mainly Shia area of Baghdad, people celebrated in the streets, calling out: "Where are you Saddam? We want to fight you." A jubilant crowd of young men carried pictures of radical Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and handed out sweets to children. In the streets of Dujail, a city of 84,000 on the river Tigris, people celebrated as the verdict was read out and then burned pictures of Saddam. \|\|\|\|\| Saddam Hussein in court as the verdict was being read Saddam's reaction The former Iraqi leader was convicted over the killing of 148 people in the mainly Shia town of Dujail following an assassination attempt on him in 1982. His half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and Iraq's former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bandar were also sentenced to death. Former Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan got life in jail and three others received 15-year prison terms. Another co-defendant, Baath party official Mohammed Azawi Ali, was acquitted. Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants will be given the right to appeal, but that is expected to take only a few weeks and to end in failure for the defendants. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki hailed the conviction in a televised address, saying that the sentence was "not a sentence on one man, but a sentence against all the dark period of his rule". "Maybe this will help alleviate the pain of the widows and the orphans, and those who have been ordered to bury their loved ones in secrecy, and those who have been forced to suppress their feelings and suffering, and those who have paid at the hands of torturers," Mr Maliki said. US President George W Bush welcomed the verdict as a "milestone" in the efforts of the Iraqi people "to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law". But the European Union urged Iraq not to carry out the death sentence. 'Triumphant smile' When called to court, Saddam Hussein, dressed in his usual dark suit and white shirt and carrying a Koran, walked to his seat and sat down. Judge Rauf Abdel Rahman ordered him to stand while he read out the verdict, but the former president refused to do so and had to be moved from his seat by court attendants. As the judge began reading the death sentence Saddam Hussein shouted out "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Great) and "Long live Iraq! Long live the Iraqi people! Down with the traitors!" The verdict sparked celebration in Baghdad but protests in Tikrit Enlarge Image The former leader looked shocked and furious as the sentence was passed, and continued to shout, denouncing the court, the judge and the US-led occupation force in Iraq. But the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson said that after his tirade, which was clearly deliberate, Saddam Hussein seemed to have a small smile of triumph on his face as he was led away from the courtroom. "It was as if he was thinking 'I've come here and done what I intended to do,'" our correspondent said. Hometown anger Shortly after the verdict there were jubilant scenes in the Shia district of Sadr City, and in the holy city of Najaf. The Baghdad celebrations came in defiance of a 12-hour curfew on the city, amid fears of violence from Saddam Hussein's Sunni Arab supporters. THE VERDICTS Saddam Hussein, former Iraqi president: found guilty and sentenced to death Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Saddam Hussein's half-brother: found guilty and sentenced to death Awad Hamed al-Bandar, Chief Judge of Revolutionary Court: found guilty and sentenced to death Taha Yasin Ramadan, former Iraqi vice-president: found guilty and sentenced to life in jail Abdullah Kadhem Ruaid Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jail Abdullah Rawed Mizher, Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jail Ali Daeem Ali, Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jail Mohammed Azawi Ali, Baath official: acquitted Three nearby provinces are also under curfew, including Salahuddin, which contains Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. Thousands also defied the measure in Tikrit - to voice support for Saddam Hussein. Almost three years since his capture, soaring sectarian violence has brought Iraq to the brink of civil war. Few Iraqis think the trial verdict will ease conflict, the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says. Even those who want to see their former leader dead do not believe his execution will make things better, our correspondent says. 'Trial flawed' Many critics have dismissed the trial as a form of victors' justice, given the close attention the US has paid to it. Before the sentencing session began, former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark was ejected from the courtroom after handing the judge a note in which he called the trial a "travesty". Saddam Hussein's defence team have also accused the government of interfering in the proceedings - a complaint backed by US group Human Rights Watch. The first judge assigned to preside over the case, Rizgar Amin, resigned after complaining of government interference and three defence lawyers were assassinated. And the former leader's lawyers have attacked the timing of the planned verdict, which comes days before the US votes in mid-term elections. Mr Bush's Republican Party is at risk of losing control of Congress, in part because of voter dissatisfaction over its handling of the Iraq conflict. \|\|\|\|\| Iraq has put its security forces on alert and imposed a curfew in Baghdad and three other provinces ahead of Sunday's verdict in the trial of Saddam Hussein. If convicted, Saddam may be sentenced to death Saddam and seven co-accused have been charged with crimes against humanity for the killing of 148 Shia villagers in the town of Dujail in 1982. The murders came after an assassination attempt on Saddam for which the Islamic Dawa party of Nuri al-Maliki, the current Iraqi prime minister, claimed responsibility. If convicted, the former Iraqi leader may be sentenced to death. Al-Maliki has said that Saddam's execution cannot come soon enough. In a televised message, he said: "We hope that the verdict will give this man what he deserves for the crimes he committed against the Iraqi people." But he said that Iraqis should celebrate a guilty verdict in a way that "does not risk their lives". Appeal A death sentence or life imprisonment generates an automatic appeal, which would delay any execution by months or possibly years. "We hope that the verdict will give this man what he deserves for the crimes he committed against the Iraqi people" Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister In an interview with Aljazeera, Najeeb al-Nuaimi, a member of Saddam's defence team, said that he expected that Saddam would be sentenced to death. He added that the defence team would appeal against the verdict despite the fact that it considers the court to be illegitimate. Saddam is due back in court on Tuesday in another trial, for genocide against ethnic Kurds. Lock down Baghdad went into total curfew overnight, as did Saddam's home province, including Dujail, and other areas where it is thought that Sunni Arabs could react to a guilty verdict. Vacationing soldiers were recalled to duty and new checkpoints appeared on major roads. "We warn anyone who intends to exploit this event that our response will be tough and severe" Abdul Karim Khalaf, an interior ministry spokesman Ali Abbas, a policeman, said: "We received orders to tighten security measures and to use any available policemen to tighten security." Abdul Karim Khalaf, an interior ministry spokesman, said: "We warn anyone who intends to exploit this event that our response will be tough and severe." US elections A conviction could be a timely lift for George Bush, the US president, ahead of US midterm elections on Tuesday, when Republicans could lose control of Congress in a backlash over the Iraq war. US officials have denied suggestions by Saddam's lawyers that the verdict was timed with the elections in mind. Khalil al-Dulaimi, the head of Saddam's defence team, has called for the postponement of sentencing as he said that issuing a verdict on Sunday would help to bolster support for Bush ahead of the elections. Deaths An interior ministry spokesman said that Iraqi police killed 53 suspected al-Qaeda fighters in a gunbattle on the southern outskirts of Baghdad on Saturday. In another incident, mortar bombs killed eight people and wounded 25 in Baghdad's western Adhamiya district on Saturday night. \|\|\|\|\| Story Highlights • NEW: Bush calls verdict "a major achievement for Iraq's young democracy" • Iraqi Interior Ministry shuts down two TV stations accused of inciting violence • Saddam Hussein receives death sentence for his role in 1982 crackdown • Crowds jubilant in Shiite areas, angry in Hussein's hometown Adjust font size: BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Many Iraqis reacted with jubilation to Saddam Hussein's death sentence Sunday, while others took to the streets in protest. The Interior Ministry closed two Sunni satellite TV stations accused of inciting sectarian violence, a ministry official told CNN. Iraqi police and soldiers ordered the employees of First Channel [Zawra] and Salaheddin TV to leave their offices in Tikrit, Hussein's hometown. That is where as many as 2,000 people protested Sunday's verdict and sentence against the former Iraqi leader, defying the government's curfew. Earlier in the day, a witness said the protesters in Tikrit carried posters of the former president and were shooting into the air. The numbers of demonstrators grew after the sentence was announced. There have been no reports of widespread violence, and the measure to close the two TV networks is largely precautionary. A complete movement ban -- both people and vehicles -- was imposed on Sunday in the provinces of Baghdad, Diyala and Salaheddin, where Tikrit is located. Meanwhile, gleeful Iraqis took to the streets in celebration in predominantly Shiite areas, including Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood, southern towns in Wasit province, and the southern city of Najaf. Some carried pictures of Muqtada al Sadr's grandfather -- a cleric who was murdered by Hussein in the '80s -- and shot their guns in the air in celebration. Witnesses said people shouted "the killer deserves to be killed" and set pictures of Hussein on fire. In the climax to a trial that began more than a year ago, a combative Hussein and two other defendants Sunday were sentenced to death by hanging for a brutal crackdown in 1982 in the Shiite town of Dujail. (Watch what's next for Hussein -- 3:13 ) One other defendant was sentenced to life in prison, and three received 15-year sentences. The Dujail case stemmed from a crackdown against townspeople after a 1982 assassination attempt against Hussein in the town. According to court documents, the military, political and security apparatus in Iraq and Dujail killed, arrested, detained and tortured men, women and children in the town. Homes were demolished and orchards were razed. Sunday's 50-minute court session was dramatic. Hussein entered with a Quran in hand, as he had in the past. He began shouting "Allahu Akhbar" -- God is great -- as the verdict and sentencing was read. (Watch Hussein shout protests during sentencing -- 4:05 ) He also argued with the chief judge and shouted, "Damn you and your court." As the judge ordered him taken away, Hussein said to one of the guards, "Don't push me, boy." President Bush called the verdict "a milestone in the Iraqi people's efforts to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law." "It's a major achievement for Iraq's young democracy and its constitutional government," Bush said, speaking on the tarmac at the airport in Waco, Texas, before heading to Nebraska for a campaign event. The appeal process has now been set in motion. Within 10 days, the court will forward the cases of Hussein and three other defendants to the appellate chamber of the Iraqi High Tribunal. Appeals of death penalties and life sentences are automatic. Within 20 days after the appeals are made, the prosecution and the defense must submit their documents to the appellate chamber. A court official told The Associated Press the appeals process was likely to take three to four weeks once the formal paperwork was submitted. However, there is no time limit for the appellate court to rule on the appeal. Once the court does reach a decision, if the sentences are upheld, they must be carried out in 30 days. Iraqis, not the coalition, would carry out the executions. (Full story) "The Saddam Hussein era is in the past now, as was the era of Hitler and Mussolini," said Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, calling Hussein the worst ruler ever in Iraq. "We want an Iraq where all Iraqis are equal before the law," he said. "The policy of discrimination and persecution is over." (Watch al-Maliki call Hussein 'worst ruler' in Iraq's history -- 3:06) Barhim Salih, the Kurdish deputy prime minister of Iraq, called this a "historic day." Many Iraqis wanted "swift" and "summary" justice, Salih told CNN, but Iraq "abided by the legality of the process." The Iraqi Islamic Party -- the country's most powerful Sunni political group -- indicated that while justice was served, the present government urgently needs to grapple with widespread injustices now. Sunnis were predominant in Hussein's government and have lost much of their clout since he was toppled. They have been dominant in the insurgency, and critical of the Shiite-led government for not dealing strongly with Shiite death squads. The group said Iraqis have the right to ask whether crimes being committed today are not unlike the crimes under the Saddam Hussein regime. The group mentioned sectarian killings and displacement and the imprisoning of innocents. White House spokesman Tony Snow praised the Dujail trial verdict, including Hussein's sentence of death by hanging for crimes against humanity. "It demonstrates that you've got an independent Iraqi judiciary and that they were applying their own laws," Snow said. World reaction to the verdict was mixed.(Full story) Along with Hussein, his half brother and former intelligence chief Barzan Hassan, and former chief judge of the Revolutionary Court Awad Bandar also were sentenced to death. Taha Yassin Ramadan, a former vice president of Iraq, was sentenced to life in prison. Mohammed Azzawi Ali, a former Dujail Baath Party official, was acquitted because of insufficient evidence against him, the court said. The three others -- Abdullah Kadhem Ruwaid, Ali Dayem Ali, and Misher Abdullah Ruwaid -- were sentenced to 15 years each. Hussein is also in the middle of another trial involving the 1988 Anfal campaign, the government offensive in the country's Kurdish region. Hussein is charged in that case with genocide. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh and Aneesh Raman contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| US lawyer slams Saddam trial as prejudiced Web posted at: 11/5/2006 8:17:30 Source ::: REUTERS AMMAN • A death sentence on Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity would deliver “victor’s justice” that would fuel violence in Iraq for decades, former US attorney general Ramsey Clark said yesterday. “It’s an unfair trial in more ways than you can count. Where have we seen a trial take place in the midst of such uncontrollable violence?” Clark said. Saddam will almost certainly receive the death sentence today when the court is due to deliver its verdict, said Clark who leads a team of international lawyers defending Saddam. He described the court as prejudiced and lacking impartiality, and said it had already condemned the ousted Iraqi president for killing 148 Shi’ite villagers after an attempt on his life in 1982. “To let there be worse than victors’ justice and the revenge of all enemies at a time like this for Iraq is something history and humanity should not have to bear,” Clark said before flying to Baghdad. “It will create violence maybe for generations to come. “The trial will go down in history as politically forced, it was a disaster for justice. It just went on for too long with lawyers killed and judges kicked off,” said Clark. The government has urged a rapid conviction and hanging for Saddam whose Sunni-dominated administration oppressed the Shi’ite and Kurdish communities, who now dominate political power. “When you think of all the things people have said, it’s very difficult to see anything happening except a death sentence,” Clark said. The veteran anti-war campaigner, who first met Saddam before the 1991 Gulf War, was among the last Westerners to see him weeks before the US-led invasion in March 2003. Clark said Saddam should be tried by an independent UN-sponsored court and he was scathing about the Saddam verdict coming only two days before US mid-term elections. “We call it the corruption of justice, the abuse of the judicial system for political ends. It’s a crime and a very serious crime because it impacts on the integrity of government,” he said. A death sentence would not only deepen divisions but would prove to Iraqis aggrieved by the US occupation that there was no other way than a fight to the bitter end, Clark said. “It’s now or never for us and posterity ..they will see there is no compromise, no fairness... so it’s a struggle to the death,” Clark said. \|\|\|\|\| Knife found at O.J. Simpson's former L.A. home studied by police LOS ANGELES Police said on Friday they were examining a knife purportedly found at the former home of O.J. Simpson, the onetime football star acquitted of stabbing to death his ex-wife and her friend in the "Trial of the Century" two decades ago. \| Supreme Court temporarily blocks Louisiana abortion law WASHINGTON The Supreme Court, two days after hearing a major abortion case from Texas, on Friday temporarily blocked a Louisiana law imposing regulations on doctors who perform abortions in a move that would allow two recently closed clinics to reopen. Exclusive: U.S. watchdog to probe Fed's lax oversight of Wall Street NEW YORK A U.S. watchdog agency is preparing to investigate whether the Federal Reserve and other regulators are too soft on the banks they are meant to police, after a written request from Democratic lawmakers that marks the latest sign of distrust between Congress and the central bank. Brazil's Lula detained in corruption probe; Rousseff objects SAO PAULO/BRASILIA Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was briefly detained for questioning on Friday in a federal investigation of a vast corruption scheme, fanning a political crisis that threatens to topple his successor, President Dilma Rousseff. \| \|\|\|\|\| Knife found at O.J. Simpson's former L.A. home studied by police LOS ANGELES Police said on Friday they were examining a knife purportedly found at the former home of O.J. Simpson, the onetime football star acquitted of stabbing to death his ex-wife and her friend in the "Trial of the Century" two decades ago. \| Supreme Court temporarily blocks Louisiana abortion law WASHINGTON The Supreme Court, two days after hearing a major abortion case from Texas, on Friday temporarily blocked a Louisiana law imposing regulations on doctors who perform abortions in a move that would allow two recently closed clinics to reopen. Exclusive: U.S. watchdog to probe Fed's lax oversight of Wall Street NEW YORK A U.S. watchdog agency is preparing to investigate whether the Federal Reserve and other regulators are too soft on the banks they are meant to police, after a written request from Democratic lawmakers that marks the latest sign of distrust between Congress and the central bank. Brazil's Lula detained in corruption probe; Rousseff objects SAO PAULO/BRASILIA Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was briefly detained for questioning on Friday in a federal investigation of a vast corruption scheme, fanning a political crisis that threatens to topple his successor, President Dilma Rousseff. \| \|\|\|\|\| Le diaporama du jour 0 / 10 05/03/2016 - Un porcelet peint aux couleurs du drapeau tricolore, pour les besoins d'une action coup de poing d'un collectif d'éleveurs "Sauvons l'elevage francais", dans une grande surface de la région rennaise (ouest de la France) 1 / 10 05/03/2016 - Le soleil se couche sur le port de Manille, où est amarré le navire militaire américain "USS Blue Ridge" 2 / 10 05/03/2016 - Une femme se couvre le visage,alors que la police anti-émeutes turque fait usage de gaz lacrymogènes pour disperser une manifestation de soutien au quotidien Zaman, à Istanbul 3 / 10 05/03/2016 - Des danseurs montés sur échasses, devant le palais de la Culture, à Abidjan pour l'ouverture de la 9e édition du festival MASA (Marché des arts du spectacle africain) 4 / 10 05/03/2016 - Une patrouille de la police montée britannique en tenue anti-émeutes à Londres, avant un match de Premier League entre Tottenham Hotspur et Arsenal 5 / 10 05/03/2016 - Le magnat des médias australien Rupert Murdoch (g), 84 ans, et sa nouvelle épouse, l'ancien mannequin américain Jerry Hall, 59 ans, posent sur le parvis de l'église Saint-Bride, à Londres, après la cérémonie religieuse 6 / 10 05/03/2016 - Des participants à une parade de carnaval gay et lesbien dansent dans une rue de Sydney 7 / 10 05/03/2016 - Duel entre la Chinoise Li Xiaoxia (d) et la Taïwanaise Cheng I-Ching en demi-finale des Championnats du monde de tennis de table au stade Malawati de Shah Alam, en Malaisie 8 / 10 05/03/2016 - Une route enneigée près de Beaufort en France	The Iraq Special Tribunal has finally sentenced the deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to death by hanging over the killings of 148 villagers in the town of Dujail in 1982. Hussein was charged with crimes against humanity for ordering the killings after a failed assassination attempt was made on him in the mostly Shiite town. Of his seven co-defendants in the trial, the former head of the Iraqi secret police, Hussein's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and the former chief judge of the Revolutionary Court, Awad Hamed al-Bandar were also sentenced to death. Former vice-president Taha Yassin Ramadan was sentenced to life in prison, three other officials received 15 years in prison and one was acquitted.
A US APPEALS COURT has ruled that Wikipedia entries, which anyone might edit, are not authoritative sources of information suitable for federal judges to base their decisions upon. In particular, the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals decided last Friday that the Department of Homeland Security should not rely upon information found at Wikipedia in deciding whether to admit asylum seekers applying to enter the country. The appeals court reversed a ruling by the Board of Immigration Appeals that said it wasn't an error for DHS to cite Wikipedia in its decision to deport Lamilem Badasa, an Ethiopian woman who was seeking asylum in the US, claiming her laissez-passer travel permit didn't prove her identity. The government used a Wikipedia entry to convince an immigration judge that the document was just a one-way travel document based on information provided solely by the applicant. In overturning the Board's decision, the appellate court noted that, because anyone can edit Wikipedia, there was no assurance that the information the government found there was accurate. The court said that looking up information on Wikipedia might have misled and tainted the government officials' decision in the case. The court of appeals remanded the case back down to the Board of Immigration Appeals to explain why it believes that consulting Wikipedia did not taint the decision-making process. That's the appeals court's restrained and oblique manner of saying to the judges down at the lower court, "You have got to be kidding." µ See Also Wackypedia dodges defamation claims Wackypedia wants to take down Google Public servants censor Wikipedia entries Plus 200 more using Search... \|\|\|\|\| The Department of Homeland Security should not use the user-generated Wikipedia to decide whether an asylum seeker can enter the United States, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. That judicial statement of the obvious (.pdf) from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a ruling by the Board of Immigration Appeals, which said DHS committed no big foul in using a site editable by anyone with a computer to decide the fate of a woman named Lamilem Badasa. DHS decided to deport Badasa after consulting Wikipedia to decide whether a Ethiopian travel document known as a laissez-passer was adequate to prove her identity. Using the Wikipedia page as evidence, the government convinced an immigration judge that the document did not prove her identity, calling it a one-way travel document based on information provided by the applicant. While the Board of Immigration Appeals subsequently said it didn't "encourage the use of resources such as Wikipedia.com in reaching pivotal decisions in immigration proceedings," it allowed the decision to stand since it couldn't find any clear error. The three-judge panel of the appeals court found that split decision disturbing. The court reiterated that anyone can edit Wikipedia and there's no guarantee that the information on the page at the time the government officials looked at it had any correct information at all. The site may have misled and tainted government officials' decisions in the case, the judges ruled: The [Board of Immigration Appeals] presumably was concerned that Wikipedia is not a sufficiently reliable source on which to rest the determination that an alien alleging a risk of future persecution is not entitled to asylum. [...] We do not know whether the [Immigration Judge] would have reached the same conclusion without Wikipedia, or whether (and, if so, why) the [Board of Immigration Appeals] believes that the IJ’s consideration of Wikipedia was harmless error, in the sense that it did not influence the IJ’s decision. The appeals court sent the case back down to the Board of Immigration Appeals to have it explain why it believes Wikipedia didn't taint the entire decision-making process. Future U.S. asylum seekers are well advised to make sure the Wikipedia page about, say, Burma's repressive government are adequately dire before submitting their application. Photo: Flickr/Kevin Wong See Also: \|\|\|\|\| Laissez-passer issued to International Civil Servants of the United Nations A laissez-passer (from the French let pass) is a travel document issued by a national government or an international treaty organization. When issued by a national government a laissez-passer is often for one-way travel to the issuing country. When issued by an international treaty organization it is often for employee travel on official business. Some national governments issue laissez-passers to their own nationals as emergency passports. Others issue them to people who are stateless, who are unable to obtain a passport from their own government or whose government is not recognized by the issuing country. The United Nations and its agencies issue laissez-passer to officials and members of their families for official use. The U.N. laissez-passer is similar to a passport, and is widely recognized worldwide, although some countries will not accept a U.N. laissez-passer as sufficient to gain entry. A U.N. laissez-passer does not generally confer diplomatic immunity, but may confer limited immunities and privileges. Historically, laissez-passer were commonly issued during wartime and at other periods, literally acting as a pass to allow travel to specific areas, out of war zones or out of the country for various officials, diplomatic agents, or representatives or citizens of third countries. In these contexts, laissez-passer would frequently include quite specific and limited freedom of movement. The form and issuing authority would be more or less standardized depending on the circumstances.	The seal of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Department of Homeland Security was wrong in using the online encyclopedia ''Wikipedia'' as a reference when deciding whether to allow asylum seekers to stay in the United States. The department used the ''Wikipedia'' article named laissez-passer to decide whether the document was a valid form of identification. This is despite the fact that the article had a large orange notice at the top of the article saying that "this article does not cite any references or sources." Wikipedia logo The Board of Immigration Appeals has stated that it doesn't "encourage the use of resources such as Wikipedia.com sic in reaching pivotal decisions in immigration proceedings." They said that they allowed the decision to stand due to the fact that the information seemed accurate. The appeals court noted when making the decision that Wikipedia admits that articles will stay inaccurate and unbalanced for long periods of time. Below is the extract from the court documents that makes this point: Cary Bass, the volunteer coordinator of the Wikimedia Foundation, gave Wikinews the following statement on this issue:
Play Nimrod families to sue Government The families of 14 servicemen who died when an RAF spy plane crashed in Afghanistan are set to sue the Government. A writ will be served on Defence Secretary Des Browne, accusing the Ministry of Defence of negligence, failing to minimise risk and a breach of the right to life in relation to the mid-air accident. It will be the first time the department has faced a legal challenge under the European Convention of Human Rights. If successful it could open the way for other families to sue the Government over the death of loved ones in Iraq or Afghanistan. The action is being brought by the families of Sergeant Ben Knight, 25, and Flight Lieutenant Steven Swarbrick, 28 - both of whom died in the accident. Ben's father Graham Knight said today was the last chance for the families to launch the bid, as it had to be carried out within two years of the accident - Tuesday is the second anniversary of the disaster. Mr Knight said his main motivation was to see someone accept responsibility for the crash of the Nimrod jet. "Nobody has been held accountable for the actual crash," he said. "The Government has stood up and said we are sorry. The coroner has said the aircraft was never airworthy but nobody in the RAF or MoD has ever been held accountable for it." Mr Knight, 56, said he was "disappointed", adding: "My son was proud to be in the RAF and I thought it was full of honourable men. But no one would stand up and take responsibility or resign." The Nimrod spy plane exploded on September 2, 2006, just minutes after undergoing air-to-air refuelling. The cause of the blast was fuel leaking into a dry bay and igniting on contact with a hot air pipe. Earlier this year, a coroner ruled that the entire RAF fleet of Nimrod aircraft should be grounded. Assistant Deputy Coroner for Oxford Andrew Walker said: "The aircraft was in my judgment never airworthy from the first release to service in 1969." But the Government refused to agree with the recommendation that the entire fleet be grounded and that new procedures meant the aircraft was "safe to fly". © Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Families of Nimrod crash victims sue UK military LONDON: The families of two of the 14 military personnel killed when their Royal Air Force spy plane exploded in Afghanistan began legal proceedings against the British government on Monday. Attorney John Cooper said papers filed Monday accused the Ministry of Defense of negligence, failing to minimize workplace risk and breaching the airmen's right to life as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights. Cooper represents the families of Sgt. Ben Knight, 25, and Flight Lt. Steven Swarbrick, 28, who both died in the crash. Tuesday is the second anniversary of the crash, which caused the military's biggest loss of life in a single incident since the 1982 Falklands War. The Nimrod MR2 was on an intelligence-gathering mission when it exploded following air-to-air refueling near Kandahar on Sept. 2, 2006. The crash killed 12 crew members, a Royal Marine and an army soldier. The plane was part of a fleet of 15 aging Nimrod MR2 aircraft that originally had been due to leave service a decade ago. The planes have suffered a series of fuel leaks and other mechanical problems. An official inquiry found last year that fuel leaking into a dry bay and igniting against a hot pipe was the most likely cause of the fire that destroyed the plane. The Ministry of Defense says safety issues with the Nimrod have been addressed and the planes are safe to fly. But a coroner investigating the deaths said earlier this year that the entire Nimrod fleet was not airworthy and should be grounded.	This RAF Nimrod MR2 is almost identical to the one involved. The families of two members of the crew of a United Kingdom RAF Hawker Siddeley Nimrod which crashed almost exactly two years ago during a mission in Afghanistan are suing their government. None of the twelve crew and two other officers on board Royal Air Force Nimrod XV230 survived the midair explosion. According to a report last year by Assistant Deputy Coroner for Oxford Andrew Walker "The aircraft was in my judgment never airworthy from the first release to service in 1969." The coroner recommended grounding the entire Nimrod fleet, but this was never done, with the government saying that the aircraft were safe after modifications carried out after the crash. The final report on the accident blamed the crash on a fuel leak into a dry bay, which ignited after contacting an air pipe that was hot. The jet had undergone midair refueling just minutes previously. The plane was one of a fleet of fifteen that were intended for retirement last decade but still operate, despite having suffered various mechanical problems, including fuel leaks. A writ was today served on UK Defence Secretary Des Browne by the families of Sergeant Ben Knight, 25, and Flight Lieutenant Steven Swarbrick, 28. The writ accuses the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of failing to minimise risks, negligence and denial of the right to life. This last charge makes it the first time the MoD has faced a legal challenge under the European Convention of Human Rights. Graham Knight, Ben's father, claimed that "Nobody has been held accountable for the actual crash. The Government has stood up and said we are sorry. The coroner has said the aircraft was never airworthy but nobody in the RAF or MoD has ever been held accountable for it." He went on to say he was 'disappointed' in the RAF and that My son was proud to be in the RAF and I thought it was full of honourable men. But no one would stand up and take responsibility or resign." September 2 will mark the second anniversary of the accident, the biggest loss of UK military lives in a single incident since the war in the Falklands in 1982. It is the last chance for compensation to be sought, as this must be done within two years of the event.
November 5, 2007 CCST Fellow Arthur Kornberg, MD, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1959, died on October 26 of respiratory failure at Stanford Hospital. He was 89. Dr. Kornberg shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine with Severo Ochoa, MD, for discovery of the mechanisms in the biological synthesis of DNA. He was instrumental in building the Stanford Department of Biochemistry into a world-class department known for a strong spirit of cooperation and groundbreaking biomedical research over a span of decades. "Dr. Kornberg was one of the most distinguished and remarkable scientists in American medicine," said Philip Pizzo, MD, dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine, in a statement. "His towering contributions have continued virtually up until the time of his death. Without doubt, his legacy will certainly live on for many, many generations to come." Kornberg received his M.D. in 1941 from the University of Rochester. He was Professor and Head of the Department of Microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis; Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1959-1969; and Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry, Stanford School of Medicine, 1959-2007. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and Foreign Member of the Royal Society, 1970. His honors and awards include the National Medal of Science. Stanford University will host a celebration of Kornberg's life and legacy; details will be released by the university as they become available. \|\|\|\|\| October 30, 2007 OBITUARY Arthur Kornberg Dies At 89 Nobel Laureate was first to synthesize DNA Arthur Kornberg, professor emeritus of biochemistry at the Stanford University School of Medicine and winner of the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on DNA replication, died of respiratory failure on Oct. 26. He was 89. Jamie Kripke Photography LAUREATE Kornberg in his Stanford office his past summer. Kornberg received a B.S. degree in chemistry and biology from the City College of New York in 1937. He earned an M.D. degree from the University of Rochester in 1941. At Stanford, Kornberg elucidated the key steps in the pathways of pyrimidine and purine nucleotide synthesis, including the discovery of 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) as an intermediate. He was the first to isolate DNA polymerase and synthesize DNA in a test tube. Kornberg shared the Nobel Prize with the late Severo Ochoa of New York University, who synthesized RNA. In the early 1990s, Kornberg switched his focus from DNA replication to inorganic polyphosphate (poly P). Elliott Crooke, who was a postdoctoral researcher in Kornbergâ€™s lab from 1988 to 1993, notes that Kornberg had come across polyphosphates in the early 1950s while working in the lab with his first wife, Sylvy. "It wasn't just a brand new field for him," says Crooke, who is now chair and professor of biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology at Georgetown University School of Medicine. "It was something that had laid dormant for 35 years that he still thought was very important and wanted to get back to." Kornberg found a variety of functions for poly P that include response to stresses, and motility and virulence in some major pathogens. He concluded that enzymes that create poly P might be manipulated and become a new category of antibiotic. Xiaobing Shi, a postdoc in Kornberg's lab from 2001–05, says Kornberg cared about his students as much as he cared about science. Even after Shi moved to a different lab at Stanford, Kornberg still sent him newspaper clippings about interesting research happening in China, Shi recalls. Kornberg's legacy also lives on with his three sons. Stanford structural biologist Roger D. Kornberg won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his studies on the molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription. Thomas Kornberg is professor and vice chair of biochemistry and biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. And Kenneth Kornberg is an architect and founder of Kornberg Associates, which specializes in laboratory design. He is also survived by his third wife, Carolyn Frey Dixon. \|\|\|\|\| J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 280, Issue 49, 46, December 9, 2005 Classics Arthur Kornberg's Discovery of DNA Polymerase I Nicole Kresge Robert D. Simoni Robert L. Hill Enzymatic Synthesis of Deoxyribonucleic Acid. I. Preparation of Substrates and Partial Purification of an Enzyme from Escherichia coli (Lehman, I. R., Bessman, M. J., Simms, E. S., and Kornberg, A. (1958) J. Biol. Chem. 233, 163-170) Enzymatic Synthesis of Deoxyribonucleic Acid. II. General Properties of the Reaction (Bessman, M. J., Lehman, I. R., Simms, E. S., and Kornberg, A. (1958) J. Biol. Chem. 233, 171-177) Arthur Kornberg was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1918 and was educated in its public schools. He received his undergraduate degree in science from the City College of New York in 1937 and an M.D. degree from the University of Rochester in 1941. After a 1-year internship in internal medicine, he served as a commissioned officer in the U. S. Public Health Service. He was first assigned to the Navy as a ship's doctor and then as a research scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, from 1942 to 1953. He obtained training in enzymology with Severo Ochoa at New York University School of Medicine in 1946 and with Carl Cori at Washington University School of Medicine in 1947. Both Ochoa and Cori were authors of Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC) Classics (1, 2), and additional information on Kornberg's research in these laboratories can be found in his JBC Reflections (3). Upon returning to Bethesda, Kornberg organized and directed the Enzyme Section at the NIH. He resigned in 1953 with the rank of Medical Director to assume the chairmanship of the Department of Microbiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1959, he organized the Department of Biochemistry at the Stanford University School of Medicine, serving as its chairman until 1969 and thereafter as professor. He accepted the title of Professor Emeritus in 1988 and has been on active status to the present. From his early studies of the mechanisms of the enzymatic synthesis of coenzymes and inorganic pyrophosphate, Kornberg extended his interest to the biosynthesis of the nucleic acids, particularly DNA. After elucidating key steps in the pathways of pyrimidine and purine nucleotide synthesis, including the discovery of 5'-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophospate (PRPP) as an intermediate, he found the enzyme that assembles the building blocks into DNA, named DNA polymerase. This is the subject of the two JBC Classics reprinted here. Earlier, Kornberg's group had discovered an enzyme system in Escherichia coli extracts that catalyzed the incorporation of deoxyribonucleotides into DNA. Joined by two postdoctoral fellows, Maurice J. Bessman and Robert I. Lehman, and his technician, Ernest S. Simms, Kornberg set about purifying the active enzyme from the extracts and elucidating the properties of the DNA synthesis system. In the first Classic, Kornberg and his colleagues describe the purification of DNA polymerase from E. coli. In the second Classic, they report that polymerized DNA, Mg2+, and all four deoxynucleoside triphosphates (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine) are needed for DNA synthesis to occur. From these requirements, they hypothesized that the polymerized DNA was serving as a template to guide the formation of new DNA. These two Classics were declined by the JBC when submitted in the fall of 1957. Among the critical comments were: "It is very doubtful that the authors are entitled to speak of the enzymatic synthesis of DNA"; "Polymerase is a poor name"; "Perhaps as important as the elimination of certain banalities..." etc. Through the fortunate intervention of John Edsall, who had just assumed the position of Editor-in-Chief in May 1958, the two papers were eventually accepted and appeared in the July 1958 issue. A more in-depth account of the discovery of DNA polymerase can be found in Lehman's JBC Reflections (4). One year after these Classics were published, Kornberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Ochoa "for their discovery of the mechanisms in the biological synthesis of ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid." Although the pursuit of research has been his primary concern, Kornberg's other interests include the formal teaching of graduate, medical, and postdoctoral students, and the authorship of major monographs: DNA Synthesis in 1974, DNA Replication in 1980, Supplement to DNA Replication in 1982, and DNA Replication, 2nd Ed., in 1992. A scientific autobiography, For the Love of Enzymes: the Odyssey of a Biochemist, Harvard University Press, appeared in 1989. The Golden Helix: Inside Biotech Ventures, University Science Books, was released in July of 1995 and provides an insider's view of biotechnology. In his academic career, Kornberg has served as departmental chairman, on the committees of the Medical School and university, as president of the American Society of Biological Chemistry (1965), and on the advisory boards and councils of numerous university, governmental, and industrial research institutes. He is a founder of the DNAX Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (a Division of Schering-Plough, Inc.) and a member of its Policy and Scientific Advisory Boards. He serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Maxygen, and the XOMA Corp. and is also a member of the Board of Directors of XOMA Corp. Among Kornberg's honors are memberships in the National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society, American Philosophical Society, a number of honorary degrees, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1959), the National Medal of Science (1979), the Cosmos Club Award (1995), and other medals and awards.1 The other authors of the two Classics, Lehman and Bessman, have also had distinguished research careers and remain active in research today. Lehman is currently Hume Professor Emeritus at the Stanford School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry. He studies the enzymology of eukaryotic DNA replication and is an Associate Editor for the JBC. Some of his work will be featured in an upcoming JBC Classic. Bessman is at Johns Hopkins University where he is currently studying the Nudix hydrolase family of enzymes. FOOTNOTES 1 Biographical information on Arthur Kornberg was taken from Ref. 5.	Arthur Kornberg Stanford biochemist Arthur Kornberg, winner of the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, died on October 26, 2007 of respiratory failure. He was 89. He is survived by his third wife, Carolyn Frey Dixon. Kornberg is best known for his discovery (with Severo Ochoa) of "the mechanisms in the biological synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)", including the isolation of DNA polymerase I, which led to his Nobel prize. He was the first scientist to make DNA in a test tube. He also studied pathways for synthesis of ATP and nucleotides, and he was the first to synthesize PRPP. In his later years, Kornberg studied inorganic polyphosphates. Kornberg's son, Stanford structural biologist Roger D. Kornberg, won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work on the molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription.
Historic day: The two leaders sat side by side at Stormont Enlarge Image Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams, sitting side by side for their first news conference in Stormont, confirmed that power-sharing would begin on 8 May. Mr Paisley said the DUP was committed to full participation in government and Mr Adams said it was a "new era". Tony Blair said it was a very important day for the people of Northern Ireland. The British and Irish governments had said they would shut the assembly if an executive was not agreed on Monday. Emergency legislation will now be rushed through Parliament on Tuesday to give effect to the 8 May power-sharing deal. Mr Adams - wearing his Easter lily to commemorate those who died in the 1916 rebellion - and Mr Paisley were sitting at one corner of a table at Stormont. The SDLP's Mark Durkan and the UUP's Sir Reg Empey discuss events After the meeting, Mr Paisley said: "Our goal has been to see devolution returned in a context where it can make a real, meaningful improvement in the lives of all the people of this part of the United Kingdom. "On Saturday, the DUP executive overwhelmingly endorsed a motion committing our party to support and participate fully in government in May of this year - this is a binding resolution." Mr Adams said he welcomed Mr Paisley's statement. "I believe the agreement reached between Sinn Fein and the DUP - including the unequivocal commitment made by their party executive and reiterated today - to the restoration of political institutions on 8 May marks the beginning of a new era of politics on this island," he said. Everything we have done over the last ten years has been a preparation for this moment Tony Blair Gerry Adams's statement Ian Paisley's statement "The basis of the agreement between Sinn Fein and the DUP follows Ian Paisley's unequivocal and welcome commitment to support and participate fully in the political institutions on 8 May." Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was "a very important day for the people of Northern Ireland, but also for the people and the history of these islands". "Everything we have done over the last 10 years has been a preparation for this moment." Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said this had "the potential to transform the future of this island". "This morning saw unprecedented and very positive developments." Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said: "When you have got both major parties saying we will deliver... that gives me confidence that this process is finally achieved." He said people now wanted their politicians to concentrate on "bread and butter issues". After 8 May, he said there would still be a need for a secretary of state, as well as ministers, until there was devolution in justice and policing. Water 'reprieve' Both Sinn Fein and the DUP have asked the British government not to issue water bills due to be sent out this week for the first time. Until now, people in Northern Ireland have not had to pay separate charges for their water supply. But the government has moved to change this, in line with the rest of the United Kingdom. Speaking after Mr Paisley and Mr Adams' historic news conference, SDLP leader Mark Durkan while welcoming the development, said he could not understand why devolution could not happen on Monday. HAVE YOUR SAY Why wait six weeks? The taxpaying people of Northern Ireland are fed up with the games politicians are playing Chris, Belfast Send us your comments An order signed by the NI secretary restarted devolution at midnight. In the assembly election earlier this month, the DUP and Sinn Fein emerged as the two largest parties. Chancellor Gordon Brown promised an extra £1bn if devolution was back on Monday on top of £35bn pledged by the government over four years. The power-sharing executive will have four DUP ministers, three Sinn Fein, two UUP and one SDLP. The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date. \|\|\|\|\| Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams today agreed a date for the return of power sharing in Northern Ireland during historic talks at Stormont. Following their first ever face-to-face discussions, the leaders of the Democratic Unionist party and Sinn Féin announced a target date of May 8 for the restoration of devolved government. The government had set today as a final deadline for a restoration of power sharing before direct rule from London was restored permanently and will now have to rush emergency legislation through the House of Commons to prevent this. "After a long and difficult time in our province, I believe that enormous opportunities lie ahead for our province," Mr Paisley told reporters, as he sat at a conference table next to Mr Adams. The agreement "marks the beginning of a new era of politics on this island", the Sinn Féin leader agreed, but added that he found it "disappointing" that Northern Ireland's political institution could not be restored immediately. The British prime minister, Tony Blair, hailed the agreement, saying: "This is a very important day for the people of Northern Ireland but also for the people and the history of these islands." "In a sense, everything we have done over the last ten years has been a preparation for this moment, because the people of Northern Ireland have spoken through the election," he told reporters, after talking by phone with his Irish counterpart, Bertie Ahern. "They have said we want peace and power-sharing and the political leadership has then come in behind that and said we will deliver what people want." In Ireland, Mr Ahern called today's developments "unprecedented and very positive", and said both governments would cooperate with the new May 8 date for devolution. The Northern Ireland secretary, Peter Hain, said a one clause emergency bill would be put through parliament with the agreement of opposition parties, and would need royal assent before midnight tomorrow to prevent the dissolution of the Stormont assembly. Mr Hain described today's events as "really, really momentous". "Today the clouds have lifted and the people can see the future," he told BBC Radio 4's The World At One. "These pictures of Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams will resonate around the world. They are a graphic manifestation of the power of politics over bigotry and conflict, bitterness and horror." The crucial meeting saw delegations from the DUP and Sinn Féin spend an hour together inside a room at Stormont to hammer out the final agreement for a return to power sharing. A beaming Mr Paisley emerged and shouted down to reporters: "Do you have two eyes in your head?", drawing attention to the momentous nature of what had just taken place. Afterwards, both leaders talked about the work still needing to be done, including regular meetings between Mr Paisley and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness as the de facto first and deputy first ministers. Clearly conscious of the historical significance of their talks, Mr Paisley and Mr Adams spoke of the suffering caused by the decades of inter-community violence and their responsibility to ensure permanent peace and reconciliation. Northern Ireland's politicians must "never forget those who have suffered during the dark period from which we are, please God, emerging", Mr Paisley said. He added: "I want to make it clear that I am committed to delivering not only for those who voted for the DUP but for all the people of Northern Ireland. "We must not allow our justified loathing for the horrors and tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and more stable future for our children." Mr Adams said there was now new hope for the future, following the previous "sad history of orange and green". "There are still many challenges, many difficulties, to be faced. But let us be clear: the basis of the agreement between Sinn Féin and the DUP follows Ian Paisley's unequivocal and welcome commitment to support and participate fully in the political institutions on May 8," he said. "We've all come a very long way in the process of peace making and national reconciliation. We are very conscious of the many people who have suffered. We owe it to them to build the best future possible." The proposal for the historic meeting came after a frantic weekend of consultation in Belfast and Berlin, where Mr Blair and Mr Ahern were attending a ceremony to mark 50 years of the European Union. Both prime ministers had repeatedly insisted the assembly would be dissolved if no agreement on an executive had been reached by today's legal deadline. No 10 was forced into a last-minute change of strategy after Mr Paisley's DUP, agreed in principle on Saturday to share power with Sinn Féin, but demanded an extension of the deadline for the formation of the executive until May. The DUP, which is badly split, said they needed the further time to see if Sinn Féin would comply with its commitment to cooperate with the Northern Ireland police service. Until now Mr Paisley's DUP had always refused to meet Sinn Féin; each represents what used to be seen as the two extremes of Northern Ireland sectarian politics. \|\|\|\|\| The Irish and British governments have agreed to accommodate the new target date of 8 May for the restoration of power-sharing arrangements in Northern Ireland. The leader of the British House of Commons, Jack Straw, has announced that emergency legislation will be introduced in Westminster tomorrow to give effect to the agreement between the DUP and Sinn Féin. The deal came after the first bilateral talks between Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams at Stormont this morning. Advertisement Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair discussed this morning's developments by phone, and agreed to the six-week delay, in view of what is seen as an 'absolute commitment' to restore the institutions. Mr Ahern said this morning saw 'unprecedented and very positive' developments in Northern Ireland, and that the agreement between Sinn Féin and the DUP had the potential to transform the future of this island. Mr Blair described this morning's meeting as a 'very important day for the people of Northern Ireland, but also for the history of these islands'. He added that everything that had been done over the last ten years had been in preparation for 'this moment'. Stormont meeting The date was confirmed after the first face-to-face meeting between the Sinn Féin and the DUP in the dining room at Stormont's Parliament Buildings. Mr Paisley said the meeting represented an important step on the road to the setting-up of a power-sharing executive in six weeks' time. The Sinn Féin President said the agreement marked the beginning of a new era of politics in Ireland. Sinn Féin and the DUP are to seek a meeting with British Chancellor Gordon Brown to agree an economic package and they have asked Mr Blair to delay the introduction of water charges. Meanwhile, US Envoy for Northern Ireland Paula Dobriansky congratulated the Irish and British governments and the people of Northern Ireland on the agreement. Ms Dobriansky said it ushered in 'a new era' and augured well for the successful establishment of a fully functioning Northern Ireland Assembly.	StormontFollowing an historic meeting between Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams, the leaders of the DUP and Sinn Fein respectively, devolved government is to return to Northern Ireland. A delay has been agreed by those involved and a new target date of the 8th of May has been set for the restoration of power sharing in Northern Ireland. The governments of Britain and Ireland had warned that the Stormont assembly would be shut down if an executive had not been agreed by today.
COTONOU (Reuters) - Benin will vote for a new president on Sunday in a crowded race focused on boosting the flagging economy, though logistical problems may keep hundreds of thousands from casting their ballots. \|\|\|\|\| By Amber Henshaw BBC News, Khartoum An investigation is taking place into the cause of the crash in June Sudan's national airline has been warned that all of its flights will be suspended from Monday for failing to comply with aviation requirements. Sudan Airways has been told that it will not be allowed to fly unless it undertakes certain measures. It comes less than two weeks after a Sudan Airways plane burst into flames after landing, killing 30 people. The Civil Aviation Authority said the decision had nothing to do with the accident on 10 June. Its director of safety and flight operations, Mohamed Hassan al-Mujammar, said Sudan Airways had failed to undertake measures outlined by the authority in an annual audit carried out at the end of May. He said it was time to stop this type of non-compliance with international standards. Safety record As a result the company's Air Operators Certificate has been suspended from Monday, which will affect all international and domestic flights. Mr Mujammar said the national carrier said it had been too preoccupied by the crash to take the actions urged by the CAA. The airline has one month to appeal against the suspension or to carry out the necessary improvements. No-one was available for comment from Sudan Airways. An investigation into what caused the accident at Khartoum International Airport on 10 June is under way. Sudan has a poor reputation for air safety, especially on domestic flights. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these?	Sudanese flag carrier Sudan Airways has been grounded by the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The airline's Air Operators Certificate will be revoked starting from Monday. CAA director of safety and flight operations Mohamed Hassan al-Mujammar said that the grounding was not directly connected to the crash of Sudan Airways Flight 109 at Khartoum International Airport, which has 30 confirmed fatalities. However, he did say that the airline said it was unable to make urgent improvements suggested by the CAA in a safety audit last month because they were too preocupied with dealing with the disaster's aftermath. "It is high time to stop this type of non-compliance with international standards," said Mujammar. Sudan Airways now has one month in which to appeal the decision or make the requested improvements. The airline had prevously complained of trouble acquiring spare parts and pilot training because of sanctions imposed by the United States on Sudan. The airline says even parts for European-manufactured Airbus planes are affected. The airline operates mainly routes in the Middle East and the Gulf.
The parents of baby Gloria Thomas, who had such severe eczema that she was constantly crying and unable to move her legs, were so fixated on their social activities that they did not bother to get medical attention for her, a court heard today. But despite allegedly shunning conventional medical attention for the nine-month-old girl in favour of homeopathic remedies, when the mother became ill with gallstones she was rushed to a mainstream hospital. The Supreme Court heard today that nine-month-old Gloria would have lived if she had been treated by conventional doctors even days up until the moment her parents brought her into hospital. Homeopath Thomas Sam, 42, and Manju Sam, 36, from Earlwood, are on trial in the Supreme Court charged with manslaughter by gross criminal negligence after their daughter, Gloria Thomas, died of septicemia in May 2002. Gloria was not taken to the emergency department of the Sydney Children's Hospital until her skin was weeping, her body malnourished and her corneas melting, the court heard. The Crown prosecutor, Mark Tedeschi, QC, told the court that, even though Gloria was suffering and clearly in pain, Manju Sam took the baby to India in February 2002 against the advice of a pediatrician, who described the journey as "cruel". The pediatrician wanted Gloria to stay in Australia to see another specialist, but Manju Sam insisted on taking her to India because she wanted the support of her wealthy family, where servants would help look after the baby, and for citizenship reasons, Mr Tedeschi said. Once in India, Manju Sam allegedly continued to disregard creams prescribed for the baby by conventional doctors, instead applying homeopathic drops that did not work. In April, mother and baby were joined in India by Thomas Sam, who flew out for his brother's wedding, and the couple embarked on a manic social schedule during which time Gloria's condition became progressively worse, Mr Tedeschi said. "The Crown case is that, during that 2½-week period while they were travelling around, Gloria's skin condition became so bad that any reasonable parent, let alone any reasonable homeopath, would have immediately taken her for urgent medical attention at either a hospital or some conventional medical practice," Mr Tedeschi said. "Thomas and Manju continued to administer homeopathic drops while they carried out their active social life. "The Crown case is that they put their social obligations well ahead of any concern for Gloria's wellbeing." Shortly before the wedding, Manju Sam developed extreme abdominal pain and, the day after the wedding, she was diagnosed with gallstones, Mr Tedeschi said. But instead of treating her with homeopathic remedies as they had done for their daughter, Manju Sam immediately went to a conventional hospital for treatment. "Thomas Sam showed a considerable degree of fear and concern for Manju's condition in contratst to what they both showed to Gloria's condition," Mr Tedeschi said. "The Crown case is that Gloria's health and welfare was the last thought on the minds of her parents other than to continue using homeopathic drops to treat her condition." Mr Tedeschi said the parents arrived home from India eight days before their daughter died, and she was in such a state that passengers on the plane back to Australia noticed she was constantly crying with skin red as though it had been burnt or covered in tumours. "From the time they arrived in Australia until they took Gloria to the Sydney Children's Hospital eight days later they were grossly negligent in failing to get proper medical care for Gloria,'' Mr Tedeschi said. "Had they gone straight to hospital, had they got proper medical attention for Gloria when they first got back to Australia or even for several days after that, the evidence will be that Gloria would have survived.'' Four days after they arrived in Australia, Thomas Sam's sister allegedly offered to take the baby to hospital but he declined. Later that night, the couple decided they would take the baby to hospital, but they were too tired to do it that evening and waited until after he had completed an obligation at the church the next day before going in about midday on May 5. Immediately, the baby was categorised as in need of urgent medical attention and rushed into emergency. She died three days later. The trial continues. \|\|\|\|\| A SYDNEY homeopath and his wife should not be found guilty of manslaughter in the death of their child because they were following a "respectable and accepted" form of treatment, a jury has heard. Tom Molomby SC, for the wife, said cultural characteristics should be taken into account in determining what a reasonable person would have done in the same circumstances surrounding the death of their baby daughter.Thomas Sam, 42, and Manju Sam, 36, of Earlwood, have pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of their nine-month-old daughter Gloria Thomas in Sydney in May 2002.They are accused of "gross criminal negligence" by failing to get conventional medical help for Gloria, born in July 2001.An autopsy revealed she had septicaemia, chronic eczema and malnutrition.In his opening address, Tom Molomby SC, acting for Mrs Sam, said the parents were from a culture where homeopaths were "pretty much" the same as doctors.The NSW Supreme Court jury heard the couple were from a background where homeopathy was "a respectable and accepted thing to use."He said the "fatal turning point" in the death was caused by a doctor twice failing to notice the child was suffering from malnutrition.The trial continues. \|\|\|\|\| THE parents of a nine-month-old girl who died from septicemia were responsible for their baby's death because they shunned conventional medical treatment for her eczema in favour of homeopathic remedies, a court heard yesterday. A homeopath, Thomas Sam, 42, and his wife, Manju Sam, 36, are standing trial in the NSW Supreme Court charged with manslaughter by gross criminal negligence after they allegedly resisted the advice of nurses and a doctor to send her to a skin specialist. Instead Gloria Thomas, who was born in perfect health in July 2001, allegedly died with malnutrition and eczema so severe that her skin broke every time her parents removed her clothes and nappy. The court heard that Gloria was above average weight, height and head circumference until she was four months old, but lost 20 per cent of her body weight in the last five months of her life after a nurse first identified her eczema and advised her parents to send her to a skin specialist. The Crown prosecutor, Mark Tedeschi, QC, told the court they sat on this advice for two months and then saw a general practitioner who was so concerned by her condition that he told them to see a skin specialist immediately. But again, they demurred. "The Crown case is that from this point on, for the next five months of her life until her death … Gloria's eczema played a devastating role in her overall health and it is asserted by the Crown that both her parents knew this and discussed it with each other," Mr Tedeschi said. "Over time the eczema caused her skin to become thinner and weaker and the constant breaking of the skin allowed infections to enter her body." The parents, who each had university degrees and postgraduate qualifications, instead sought help from other homeopaths and natural medicine practitioners, Mr Tedeschi said. On the few occasions that they did follow conventional medical advice, Gloria would improve, but they would soon revert to homeopathic remedies and she would continue to deteriorate. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| IN the last months of her life, baby Gloria Thomas suffered such terrible eczema her skin would weep and peel, sticking to her clothing when she was changed. Despite her bleeding, crying and malnutrition, her mother and homeopath father failed to get conventional medical help before she died a painful death, a Sydney jury has been told. Thomas Sam, 42, and his IT professional wife, Manju Sam, 36, have pleaded not guilty to their nine-month-old daughter's manslaughter by gross criminal negligence in Sydney in May 2002. In the Crown's opening address to the New South Wales Supreme Court jury, Mark Tedeschi QC said Gloria's parents failed to get her proper medical attention in the last five months of her life. He said Thomas Sam's sister had pleaded with her brother on a number of occasions to get Gloria some conventional medicine. "He responded by saying: 'I am not able to do that,'" Mr Tedeschi said. "Instead, Thomas Sam and Manju Sam gave to Gloria various types of homeopathic drops."He said Gloria spent much of the final months "crying, irritable, scratching"."The only thing that gave her solace was to suck on her mother's breast."Born in July 2001, Gloria thrived until November when a nurse noticed her eczema and told the mother to see a skin specialist.Instead of doing this, Mr Tedeschi said the mother took her to a GP who was extremely concerned at the eczema, saying it was the most severe case he had ever seen.Although the GP wrote a referral letter to a specialist, the parents never saw him.Mr Tedeschi said Gloria's skin would break when her clothing and nappy were changed and she became thinner and weaker, which allowed infections to enter her body.The eczema and infections placed "an enormous toll on her body" which meant all the nutrition she took in was spent on fighting this off, instead of being used to grow.At four months, she weighed 6.5kg but at nine months she was down to 5.3kg and died of septicemia.Mr Tedeschi said the parents were married in India. The father was educated in homeopathy in India and in Australia undertook a masters degree in health administration, while his wife had a science degree and a postgraduate diplomat in computers. "They both come from very supportive, giving families," he said. Thomas Sam worked as a homeopath in Sydney and taught the subject at a Sydney college. Mr Tedeschi will continue his opening address tomorrow, at the trial before Justice Peter Johnson.	Thomas Sam, 42, and his wife Manju Sam, 36, from Sydney, Australia, are undergoing trial for manslaughter by gross negligence for the death of their nine-month-old child, Gloria. She died from infection caused by severe eczema after they shunned effective conventional medical treatments for homeopathy, a form of alternative medicine that has been described as pseudoscience. Articles in peer-reviewed academic journals including ''Social Science & Medicine'' have characterized homeopathy as a form of quackery. An example of severe eczema. Gloria developed severe eczema at the age of four months and the parents were advised to send the child to a skin specialist. Thomas Sam, a practising homeopath, instead decided to treat his daughter himself. His daughter's condition deteriorated, to the point that the baby spent all her energy battling the infections caused by the constant breaking of the skin, leading to severe malnutrition and, eventually, her death. By the end, Gloria's eczema was so severe that her skin broke every time her parents changed her clothes or nappy, and in the words of the Crown prosecutor, Mark Tedeschi, QC, "Gloria spent a lot of the last five months of her life crying, irritable, scratching and the only thing that gave her solace was to suck on her mother's breast." Gloria also became unable to move her legs. Mr. Tedeschi also told the court that, over the last five months of her life, "Gloria's eczema played a devastating role in her overall health and it is asserted by the Crown that both her parents knew this and discussed it with each other." However, despite their child's severe illness, and her lack of improvement, the Sams continued to shun conventional medical treatment, instead seeking help from other homeopaths and naturopaths. Gloria temporarily improved during the rare times they used conventional treatments, but they soon dropped them in favour of homeopathy, and she consistently worsened. Allegedly, Thomas' sister pleaded with him to send Gloria to a conventional medical doctor, but he replied "I am not able to do that". The parents are also accused of putting their social life ahead of their child, taking her on a trip to India and leaving her to servants while embarking on a busy social schedule, and giving her homeopathic drops instead of using the prescription creams they had been given. Gloria was finally taken to the emergency department shortly before her death. By this time, "her skin was weeping, her body malnourished and her corneas melting", according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Speaking in the parents' defense, Tom Molomby, SC, said that, as the parents came from India, where homeopathy is in common use, they should be declared not guilty due to cultural differences. Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine which treats patients with massively diluted forms of substances that, if given to a healthy person undiluted, would cause symptoms similar to the disease. Typical treatments take the dilutions, with ritualised shaking between each step of the dilution, past the level where any molecules of the original substance are likely to remain; for homeopathic treatments to work, basic well-understood concepts in chemistry and physics would have to be wrong. There is no evidence that homeopathy is more effective than placebo for any condition.
SEOUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea will prevent its civilians from visiting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, excluding the Kaesong Joint Complex, for safety reasons, starting from Tuesday, the nation's unification ministry said Monday. Unification ministry spokesperson Chun Hae-sung said, "Visits to the North (DPRK) will be banned for the time being due to safety concerns as the country has conducted a nuclear test." South Koreans will be prevented from traveling to the areas near Pyongyang, the DPRK's capital city, and the Mount Kumgang, starting from Tuesday, the spokesperson said. However, people heading for Kaesong for business purposes will still be allowed to cross the border as the Kaesong Joint Complex is still open amid the current political tension, the spokesperson added. Although necessity items will continue being permitted to flow into the country as humanitarian supports are to be maintained, other non-priority facility objects will not be allowed to go into the DPRK, according to the spokesperson. The businesses to engage in inter-Korean trades are accordingly expected to be hurt by the ministry's ban, local media reported. The move came as South Korea's presidential office reported it has detected an "artificial earthquake" in the DPRK, later confirmed by the DPRK as its second nuclear test. The DPRK has recently threatened to conduct another nuclear test after the U.N. Security Council announced in a statement condemning the April 5 rocket launch. \|\|\|\|\| ・DPRK said Monday it has successfully conducted "one more" underground nuclear test. ・DPRK: test was "part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defence..." ・The statement did not give any details about the test, including its location. PYONGYANG, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said on Monday it has successfully conducted "one more" underground nuclear test earlier in the day. South Korea's nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac (R) speaks during an emergency meeting at the foreign ministry main office in Seoul May 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>> In a statement released by the official news agency KCNA, the DPRK government said the test was "part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defence in every way as requested by its scientists and technicians." "The current nuclear test was safely conducted on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control and the results of the test helped satisfactorily settle the scientific and technological problems arising in further increasing the power of nuclear weapons and steadily developing nuclear technology," the statement said. But the brief statement did not give any details about the test, including its location. South Korea's nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac (top R) speaks during an emergency meeting at the foreign ministry main office in Seoul May 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>> The test came after the United Nations Security Council adopted a presidential statement in late April, condemning the April 5 rocket launch by the DPRK and demanding the country "not conduct any further launch." Pyongyang subsequently announced it was quitting the six-party talks on nuclear disarmament and would restart nuclear facilities in protest of the UN statement. A Democartic People's Republic of Korea missile launch facility at Musudan-Ri is seen in this April 5, 2009 GeoEye-1 satellite file photo taken from 423 miles in space as the GeoEye-1 commercial Earth-imaging satellite moved from north to south over the Korean peninsula at a speed of 4 miles per second.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>> The DPRK conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. Backgrounder: Nuclear issue on Korean Peninsula Backgrounder: DPRK's two nuclear tests Yonhap: DPRK test fires two more short-range missiles SEOUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) test fired two additional missiles off its east coast on Monday amid heightened tension over its second nuclear test, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency quoted an anonymous source report. The launch came after the country fired a short-range missile off its east coast base around noon, the source said. Full story S Korea to disallow civilians to visit DPRK for safety reasons SEOUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea will prevent its civilians from visiting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, excluding the Kaesong Joint Complex, for safety reasons, starting from Tuesday, the nation's unification ministry said Monday. Unification ministry spokesperson Chun Hae-sung said, "Visits to the North (DPRK) will be banned for the time being due to safety concerns as the country has conducted a nuclear test." Full story Chinese gov't "resolutely opposes" DPRK's nuclear test BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government is resolutely opposed to the nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Chinese Foreign Ministry said here in a statement Monday. According to a report by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the DPRK announced it successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25. Full story U.S. consulting with allies on DPRK's fresh nuclear test WASHINGTON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The United States is consulting with allies on DPRK's fresh nuclear test, an anonymous State Department official told reporters late Sunday. The official said the department is establishing the facts and will have more to say. Full story Russia confirms DPRK nuclear test: reports MOSCOW, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed Monday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted an underground nuclear test earlier in the day, Russian news agencies reported. "Yes, indeed, our national facilities fixed the fact of a nuclear test in North Korea. Now we are analyzing data on the test. The power of the nuclear explosion is being specified," the Itar-Tass news agency reported citing a defense ministry source. Full story FM: Russia urges DPRK to demonstrate responsibility MOSCOW, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to demonstrate responsibility, the Interfax news agency quoted Russian Foreign Ministry as saying on Monday. The ministry said in a statement that the nuclear problem on Korean peninsula can only be solved through six-party talks. Full story Japan sets up special task force following DPRK's nuclear test TOKYO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government has set up a special task force at the emergency management center of Prime Minister Taro Aso's office after Pyongyang reportedly conducted a nuclear test Monday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said that the DPRK's nuclear test is not to be tolerated. And Japan will take decisive measures, the top government spokesman added. Full story Japan to monitor radioactivity in the air following DPRK's nuclear test TOKYO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Vice Defense Minister Kohei Masuda said Japan will take samples from the air over Japan to determine if any radioactive material has been emitted into the air following Pyongyang's nuclear test on Monday. Earlier in the day, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada convened an emergency meeting with senior officials of the ministry and theSelf-Defense Forces to discuss information gathered on the Pyongyang's nuclear test, said Masuda. Full story British PM condemns DPRK's nuclear test LONDON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned "in the strongest terms" a new nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday. Brown said "this act will undermine prospects for peace on the Korean Peninsula and will do nothing for North Korea's security." Full story Germany condemns DPRK's nuclear test BERLIN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The German government on Monday condemned the latest nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying it was a provocation. In a statement read out by Foreign Ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner here in Berlin, the German government accused the test of violating relevant resolutions of the United Nations (UN) and posing a threat to the peace and stability in the region. Full story S Korean financial market tumbles over DPRK nuclear test news SEOUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean financial market plunged late Monday morning as local media reported the news of Democratic People's Republic of Korea's apparent nuclear test, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported. Earlier in the day South Korea's presidential office said it has been reported of an "artificial earthquake" in the DPRK, seemingly caused by a nuclear test. Full story India voices deep concern over DPRK nuclear test NEW DELHI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- India Monday voiced deep concern over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's underground nuclear test, saying New Delhi is against "nuclear proliferation". "It is a development of serious concern. India is against nuclear proliferation," Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony told the media. Full story CTBTO chairman expresses concern over DPRK's nuclear test VIENNA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Peter Shannon, chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) for 2009, expressed serious concern over the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday. \|\|\|\|\| #BTS BTS earns double platinum in U.S. with megahit 'Dynamite' The BTS megahit "Dynamite" has become a double platinum certified single in the United States in the latest record-breaking streak for the K-pop juggernauts. The Recording Indu... \|\|\|\|\| North Korea insists it has a right to nuclear weapons North Korea says it has staged a "successful" underground nuclear test, prompting international condemnation. The state says it was more powerful than the previous one in October 2006. A number of external agencies have confirmed a powerful explosion took place, suspected to be associated with a nuclear test. US President Barack Obama described the North Korean action as a threat to international peace. Crisis talks were being held in South Korea. An emergency session of the UN Security Council is being convened by Russia, which currently occupies the council's rotating presidency. BBC world affairs correspondent David Loyn says North Korea appears to have moved from a posture of negotiation to confrontation over the nuclear issue. 'Safeguarding sovereignty' An official communique read out on North Korean state radio said another round of underground nuclear testing had been "successfully conducted... as part of measures to enhance the Republic's self-defensive nuclear deterrent in all directions". Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. It said the test had been "safely conducted at a new high level in terms of explosive power and control technology". The test would "contribute to safeguard the sovereignty of the country and the nation and socialism", the communique said. The North gave no details of the test location, but South Korean officials said that a seismic tremor was detected in the north-eastern part around the town of Kilju - the site of North Korea's first nuclear test. The US Geological Survey said a 4.7-magnitude quake was detected at 0054 GMT, 10km (six miles) underground. Geological agencies in both South Korea and the US said the tremor indicated a nuclear explosion. David Loyn, BBC world affairs correspondent Understanding the motivation behind the actions of this most secretive of powers is never easy, but North Korea does now appear to have moved from a posture of negotiation to confrontation. Two years ago North Korea agreed to close its main nuclear plant at Yongbyon and reveal its nuclear assets. But it has since refused to allow in inspectors, and has now withdrawn from all negotiations. Monday's tests come a little over a month after a test of a long-range missile that threatened Asia and could have reached the US. Neither pressure nor the offer of a large aid package have worked. When it meets later on Monday, the UN Security Council will issue a strong statement of condemnation. President Obama is threatening action, but there are very few options left short of war. In quotes: Reaction to N Korea test North Korea: engage, appease, oppose? Russian news agencies quoted the defence ministry as saying said its systems had detected a blast of "between 10 and 20 kilotons" - making it much bigger than the 2006 test, which the US said was less than a kiloton. Hours after the explosion North Korea test-fired three short-range missiles, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. Pyongyang has so far not commented on Yonhap's reports. The US state department said it was still analysing the available data from the test. But in a strongly worded statement, President Obama said the North's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatened peace and was in "blatant defiance of the United Nations Security Council". "The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants action by the international community. We have been and will continue working with our allies and partners in the six-party talks as well as other members of the UN Security Council in the days ahead," his statement said. A spokesman for the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said the test was a "grave challenge" to international non-proliferation efforts, while Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said any nuclear test by the North would be "unacceptable". Both have formed crisis management teams, and said they would ask for action from the UN Security Council. The UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said he condemned the test "in the strongest terms" and said it would "undermine prospects for peace on the Korean peninsula". South Korea's stock market fell 4% on the news, over fears that regional tensions would rise. Rocket condemnation The North says it remains under military threat from its historic rival, South Korea, and South Korea's allies, primarily the US - citing such examples as the annual US-South Korean military exercises undertaken in South Korea. NUCLEAR CRISIS Oct 2006 - North Korea conducts an underground nuclear test Feb 2007 - North Korea agrees to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for fuel aid June 2007 - North Korea shuts its main Yongbyon reactor June 2008 - North Korea makes its long-awaited declaration of nuclear assets Oct 2008 - The US removes North Korea from its list of countries which sponsor terrorism Dec 2008 - Pyongyang slows work to dismantle its nuclear programme after a US decision to suspend energy aid Jan 2009 - The North says it is scrapping all military and political deals with the South, accusing it of "hostile intent" April 2009 - Pyongyang launches a rocket carrying what it says is a communications satellite 25 May 2009 - North Korea conducts a second nuclear test N Korea a problem for Obama Timeline: North Korea It says it is entitled to retain a military deterrent. Last month, Pyongyang pulled out of six-party talks on its nuclear programme, in protest against international condemnation of its test-firing of a rocket on 5 April. The UN Security Council adopted a statement calling on North Korea to comply with a 2006 resolution banning missile tests. Pyongyang says its rocket carried a satellite, but several nations viewed it as cover for a missile test. The six-party talks - involving the US, China, Japan, Russia and the two Koreas - have stalled over the failure of Pyongyang to verify the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear plant. North Korea had agreed to dismantle the facility as part of an aid-for-disarmament deal and, in response, the US removed North Korea from its terrorism blacklist. But the North now believes it is no longer bound by its previous bilateral agreements with the US and agreements under the six-party talks, reports the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul, South Korea. He says the North, which already faces a stringent sanctions regime, probably thinks it has little to lose. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Versión en Español Earthquake Summary Tectonic Summary The shallow, magnitude 4.7 seismic event that occurred on 25 May 2009 at 00:54:43 UTC is linked to the claim of a nuclear test by North Korean officials. While the USGS cannot positively identify the seismic event as a nuclear test, it was shallow and located in the vicinity of the 9 October 2006 North Korean nuclear test (magnitude 4.3). Moreover, comparison of the seismograms of the 9 October 2006 and 25 May 2009 events at individual seismic stations shows similar features, suggesting that the two events are in close spatial proximity and are the same type of source, although the more recent event is larger. Earthquake Information for Asia \|\|\|\|\| #BTS BTS earns double platinum in U.S. with megahit 'Dynamite' The BTS megahit "Dynamite" has become a double platinum certified single in the United States in the latest record-breaking streak for the K-pop juggernauts. The Recording Indu... \|\|\|\|\| NKorea says it conducted nuclear test SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says it has successfully conducted a nuclear test. The country's official Korean Central News Agency reported that the test was carried out Monday. Lee Dong-kwan, a spokesman for the South Korean president, says that a nuclear test may have been carried out in the North. President Lee Myung-bak has called an emergency security session. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean media are reporting that North Korea may have conducted a nuclear test. YTN television is citing an unnamed government official and the Yonhap news agency cites a ruling party member as saying the nuclear test may have occured Monday morning. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has convened an emergency meeting. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	North Korea's official news agency is reporting that the country's government has carried out a "successful" test of a nuclear weapon. Yonhap News Agency in South Korea also reports the possible test. Location of the test "According to the demand of our scientists and technicians, our republic has successfully conducted another underground nuclear test on May 25 ... as part of measures to strengthen its nuclear power in self-defense," said the Korean Central News Agency as quoted by Yonhap. North Korea claimed the test was 'part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defence'. Yonhap says an "artificial earthquake" was detected that suggested a test had been conducted, but that the government was working to confirm the report. "The South Korean government is still trying to verify whether it in fact was a nuclear test, but it believes there is a possibility," said presidential office spokesperson Lee Dong-kwan. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that at approximately 00:54:44 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 earthquake was detected 70 kilometers (45 miles) North, Northwest of Kimchaek, North Korea. South Korea reports the magnitude at a 4.5. North Korea previously conducted a nuclear test in 2006. That blast was measured at a magnitude 3.6. South Korean officials have called an emergency meeting to discuss the event. South Korea has also banned its citizens from entering North Korea, except the Kaesong Joint Complex, from Tuesday. Russia is convening an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on Monday. Japan's government has set up a special task force at the crisis management center in the prime minister's official residence. South Korea, Japan, The People's Republic of China, the United States, Russia, and the European Union have all condemned the test. Russia, the US and the EU claimed the tests are a breach of United Nations' Security Council Resolutions. Iran has refused to condemn it, stating it was an "internal affair".
Su-25 military jet crashes in Russia's Far East, pilot killed MOSCOW: A Russian pilot is dead after his fighter jet blew up in mid-air near the Far East city of Vladivostok. The Russian air force says the Su-25 plane had been on a training flight some 140 kilometers (90 miles) outside the Pacific port city. All Su-25s are grounded while the military investigates the cause of the explosion. The Su-25 is a single-seat, twin-engine jet used to support ground troops. \|\|\|\|\| Russia-IC / News Archive / Regions & Cities news / SU-25 Strike Jet Crashes in Russia’s Far East SU-25 Strike Jet Crashes in Russia’s Far East On March 20 early in the morning a SU-25 strike jet of the Russian Air Force exploded in mid-air during a training flight in the Russia’s Far East 143 kilometres (90 miles) distant from the city of Vladivostok; the pilot died in the crash. According to unofficial data, before the crash information about engine fire outbreak was sent from the SU-25 but then the connection was out. A special commission of the Ministry of Defense of the RF has launched an investigation to find what caused the fatal crash. By the moment flights of all SU-25 strike jets have been suspended in Russia, in accordance with an order by the commander of the Russian Air Force. Sources: lenta.ru lenta.ru Thinking of visiting Russia? Click here. Your comments Comment on our site \|\|\|\|\| Su-25 Strike Aircraft Crashes in Primorye March 20. VOSTOK MEDIA – An aircraft of the Russian Air Force Su-25 crashed in the Primorsky Krai today. The aircraft was carrying out a training flight when fell down to mountains at 10:33 a.m. local time (0:33 GMT), 143 km (90 miles) from Vladivostok. The pilot died. The investigation commission of the Far Eastern Union of Air Force and Air Defense has flown to the crash site. “Today, on March 20 at 3:33 Moscow time (0:33 GMT), a Su-25 aircraft crashed during a training flight near the Chernigovka airbase, 143 kilometers from Vladivostok… The commander of the Russian Air Force has ordered the suspension of Su-25 flights,” AF spokesman Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky said, RIA Novosti reports. “According to preliminary reports, the plane developed technical problems during live firing exercises,” Drobyshevsky said. The Su-25 is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau to provide close air support for the ground troops. Добавляйте в свои контакты редакционный номер WhatsApp "Восток-Медиа"! Мы ждем ваших комментариев, реплик и новостей. Если вы хотите, чтобы о каком-то событии или происшествии узнали все, напишите нам. +7 902 554 54 54	A Soviet Su-25, pictured in 1989 A Sukhoi Su-25 military jet has exploded in midair near Vladivostok, Russia, killing the pilot. The Russian Air Force said the plane was 140km (90 miles) from the port city on the Pacific coast. The plane, a single seat twinjet used to support ground forces, was on a training mission when the explosion occurred. Russia has grounded all their Su-25s while the crash is investigated by order of the air force's commander. The investigation will be conducted by a special commission of the Ministry of Defence. Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky, spokesman for the Air Force, said "Today, on March 20 at 3:33 Moscow time (0:33 GMT), a Su-25 aircraft crashed during a training flight near the Chernigovka airbase, 143 kilometers from Vladivostok." The crash site is in mountainous terain, and the Far Eastern Union of Air Force and Air Defense's investigational commission has flown in and is on-site. Uncomfirmed reports suggest that immediately prior to the crash the pilot reported an engine fire, followed by a loss of contact. ''Interfax'' reports that an anonymous source involved with the investigation said "The head of flight control reported that he saw a flash under the fuselage of the strike plane. More than likely one of the weapons exploded." Drobyshevsky offered an alternative explanation. "According to preliminary reports, the plane developed technical problems during live firing exercises," he said.
Former president hails Franken as a friend, says Obama has earned his bid for president This text is replaced by the Flash movie. Aiming to spur Minnesota Democrats to get out and vote next week, former President Bill Clinton on Thursday night made a case for Barack Obama's election and argued Al Franken will be needed in the Senate to help the next president deliver on his promises. Speaking to almost 4,000 fired-up supporters at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Clinton said that "unless the wheels fall off," Obama will be elected president Tuesday. He said Obama has earned it by demonstrating strong decision-making skills in two areas. First, Clinton said, the Democratic nominee made the right choice in picking Joe Biden as his running mate. Next, he said, Obama showed leadership in dealing with the national financial crisis. Before he proposed a solution, the Illinois senator "talked to all his economic advisers, and then he talked to all my economic advisers," because he wanted to understand the economic situation better. Five days before Election Day, Clinton said he wants a president who "wants to understand and can understand" the economy. Obama passed that test and "will be a good decider-in-chief." He will be a president who can "turn good intentions into real changes in your life," he said. Clinton called Franken a good friend and great candidate. He said Obama will need his vote in the Senate to change America's course. Clinton is still a big star to many in the crowd. "In terms of a president, he was the best thing to happen to this country in my Advertisement lifetime," said Bill Nelson, an engineering technician from Bloomington. Joan Bulfer, a public health nutritionist from Roseville, said she came to the rally because Clinton is a "historical figure, now. Compared to the last eight years, he was pretty phenomenal." Polls show Obama with a double-digit lead in Minnesota. He was up by 12 percentage points — 51-39 percent — in the RealClearPolitics.com average of the most recent surveys. But Franken could use a boost from Clinton. He and Coleman are running about even, with the Republican senator at 37.3 percent and Franken at 35.8 percent, in the RealClearPolitics.com average. Independent Party candidate Dean Barkley was favored by 16 percent. While the upbeat crowd exuded optimism about winning the election, a parade of Democratic warm-up speakers admonished them not to be overconfident. "I can feel victory in the air," former Vice President Walter Mondale told the audience before Clinton arrived. "But it is close, and we must fight complacency." Clinton's appearance here was a sign the bitterness of the long primary contest between Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton has been repaired. The former president and Obama made their first joint appearance Wednesday night in Kissimmee, Fla., where they heaped praise on each other. Clinton endorsed Obama at the Democratic National Convention two months ago, and he has been making campaign speeches for him since. But during the primary season, Clinton questioned whether Obama had enough experience for the presidency. "We need somebody ready to do the job on the first day," he said while campaigning for his wife in South Carolina. He, in turn, was stung by criticism from black leaders who accused him of injecting race into the contest. "Maybe he's finally forgiven Senator Obama for painting him as a racist in the South Carolina primary," Deb Bartosevich, a former Wisconsin delegate to the Democratic National Convention for Hillary Clinton who now supports John McCain, said before the rally. Bartosevich came to Minneapolis to appeal to other Hillary Clinton supporters to take a second look at McCain. She said she supports the Republican nominee "because of his character, judgment, his record of working across the aisle and his experience in national security and foreign relations." Obama is more liberal than Bill Clinton was, she said, but she planned to listen to Clinton's speech because she thought he was a good president. \|\|\|\|\| Former President Bill Clinton brought his full-throated praise of Barack Obama to Minnesota on Thursday night, urging the crowd of 4,000 to keep working hard for Obama and DFL Senate candidate Al Franken. "It's never too late to get more votes for Al Franken and Barack Obama," Clinton said. "You should not give up on that." Arms on each other's shoulders, Clinton and Franken hit the stage at the Minneapolis Convention Center together, the very picture of party unity. Franken took the stage after a string of DFL luminaries praised him, telling the crowd that a Franken triumph over GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is crucial to electing a Senate with 60 Democrats, enough for an Obama administration to effectively overcome Republican opposition. Clinton agreed, praising Obama's performance during the nation's financial crisis but asking "If he's all that great, why does he need Franken?" The answer, he said, is to turn back "a radical right-wing philosophy ... You've got to send him [Franken] to the Senate to make sure America doesn't blow this chance" to repudiate the Republicans' governing philosophy. "[Obama] has a chance to rewrite the 21st century," Clinton said. "Let's go back and do it right this time. In order to do that, he's going to have to get some votes" in the Senate, like Franken's. Clinton also served as a politically potent backdrop as Franken wound through his stump speech, regularly nodding in agreement as Franken warned, "this election's going to be close." When his turn came, Clinton sounded a confident tone. "Unless the wheels come off, Barack Obama's going to be elected next Tuesday," he said of the Democratic nominee's campaign against GOP candidate Sen. John McCain. Recalling his own landslide reelection victory in Minnesota in 1996, Clinton told the crowd, "I want you to do better than that for Barack Obama." Some of those who showed up made it clear that Clinton was the true draw and not a mere substitute for Obama. \|\|\|\|\| FULL VIDEO: Bill Clinton rallies for Franken, Obama MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton rallied several thousand Minnesota Democrats on Thursday night to vote for Barack Obama and Al Franken, uncorking a blistering attack on Republican rule and saying Democrats will show they can do it better. Clinton said voters over the last 40 years have turned to Democrats only during tough economic times. "We're in trouble again, let's go get the Democrats. That's how Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale got elected and that's how Bill Clinton and Al Gore got elected," Clinton said. But, in a long, passionate speech marked by Clinton's penchant for brainy digressions and folksy humor, the former president said Obama has the chance to expand the Democratic coalition for decades to come thanks to voter disenchantment after the last eight years. "Barack Obama can lead us in changing the way Americans think about America, the role of government and the way we work together," Clinton said. "We learned the other way is not worth a flip. We've got to work together." Clinton also offered high praise for Franken, who he's known since the early 1990s, and in a way that indicated he's tuned in to Franken's tight race with incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman. "I admire the way he has put up with the ridicule to which he has been subject, to the cheap shots to which he has been subject," Clinton said, an apparent reference to Republican criticism of some of the more outrageous jokes from Franken's previous career as a TV comedian and writer. Clinton referred to Coleman, who was once a Democrat and chaired Clinton's re-election campaign in Minnesota in 1996, as "that good-looking guy that changed parties when Republicans were more popular." Clinton cited Franken's race as one of several that, if Democrats are successful, could give the party the 60 votes it needs in the U.S. Senate in order to overcome Republican filibusters that could block major pieces of Obama's policy agenda. For Franken, Clinton's two terms in the White House served as a handy shorthand for the direction he'd like to see the country take going forward. Franken talked about the time he's spent recently campaigning on college campuses, meeting students who were 10 years old when Clinton left office. "They don't remember what it was like to have a president who knew how to run the economy," Franken said. "They don't remember what it was like to have a president who knew how to talk to our allies. They don't know what it was like to have a president who knew how to lead." With a crowd of about 3,800 people in attendance, it was likely Minnesota's last large-scale rally of the election season. Neither presidential candidate is scheduled to appear in Minnesota again before Tuesday, although last-minute surprise appearances can't be totally ruled out. The Democratic crowd brimmed with confidence, sparked by numerous polls in recent weeks that have shown Obama holding a sizable lead over Republican John McCain among Minnesota voters, and with Democrats poised to make gains in both the U.S. Senate and House. "Unless a wheel runs off and people forget what this election is about, Barack Obama is going to be elected president next Tuesday," Clinton said. Still, a succession of the state's Democratic leaders urged those in attendance to take nothing for granted. They urged hard work between now and Election Day to get out the vote. "Barack Obama is going to be the next president of the United States," St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said. "But we've got to work to make it happen." In response to Clinton's appearance, McCain's Minnesota campaign brought over Deb Bartosevich - a Wisconsin woman who served as a national delegate for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton during the Democratic primaries and is now supporting McCain. "I think when I look at who has the resume and who is fit to be commander of our armed forces, I have to see who's fit to walk the walk," Bartosevich said. "I think you have to look at character, you look at judgment." But most of the Clinton fans in the crowd seemed more than ready to come out for Obama. Maud Olsson, a retired nurse from Woodbury, said she was hoping for another Clinton presidency but has been inspired by Obama's effect on young people. "I'm so excited to see that, because that's what the future is," Olsson said. "I love it." (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) \|\|\|\|\| ST. PAUL, Minn. - With just days to go until the election, a new poll finds Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama maintaining a commanding lead over Republican John McCain in Minnesota. The Minnesota Public Radio News/University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute poll released Thursday finds Obama with a 19 percentage point lead among likely voters over McCain in Minnesota, 56 percent to 37 percent. Six percent were undecided. "If I'm a John McCain supporter, I'm concerned," University of Minnesota political science professor Larry Jacobs said. "This is just not good news." The pollsters questioned 451 likely voters by telephone between last Friday and Tuesday. The poll has a margin of sampling error of 4.6 percentage points. Pollsters found the economy and jobs was named as the top concern by nearly two-thirds of likely voters, and among those who think the economy is the most important issue Obama holds a 25 percentage point lead. "There's really no evidence here that McCain has been able to overcome the basic hurdles that he started the campaign with which is that the economy is working for Barack Obama," Jacobs said. "The financial crisis played just into the Obama strategy that the country is headed in the wrong direction. That's a view shared by more than eight out of 10 Minnesota voters. That's breaking decisively for Obama." The poll also finds that Obama has a large lead over McCain among independent voters, Jacobs said. The poll finds that the Illinois senator has built a 33-point advantage over likely voters earning less than $50,000 a year, an indication that McCain's "Joe the plumber" strategy has not caught on here. A Big Ten Battleground Poll of registered voters and those likely to register released last week also found Obama up 19 points in Minnesota. A Star Tribune Minnesota Poll of likley voters from two weeks ago found Obama with an 11-point lead in the state. \|\|\|\|\| Home \| Politically Connected The GOP candidate cut his deficit from 18 points to 11, but voters whose top concern is the economy favor Obama. Go to the polls armed with info about all of the choices on your ballot with myVote Democrat Barack Obama continues to hold a wide lead over Republican John McCain in Minnesota, largely because most likely voters believe Obama would do a better job with the economy, according to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll. The poll, conducted Thursday and Friday, found that Obama is supported by 52 percent of likely voters, while 41 percent are backing McCain. The results show that while McCain has cut into Obama's 18-point lead from two weeks ago, it's not enough to move Minnesota back into the toss-up column, as it was immediately after the Republican National Convention was held in St. Paul in early September. Obama's consistent lead in Minnesota in recent weeks mirrors his sustained edge nationwide and in several battleground states. The Gallup organization's most recent national daily tracking poll, released Saturday, showed Obama ahead of McCain 50 percent to 42 percent among registered voters. Obama also has pulled ahead in a handful of critical states such as Missouri and Virginia (by about six percentage points), Florida (about four points) and North Carolina (about two points). Also, in two neighboring states that both campaigns have targeted -- Wisconsin and Iowa -- the race looks very much like it does in Minnesota, with Obama holding leads of more than 10 points in recent polls. Just as it is nationally, the bedrock of Obama's support in Minnesota can be found among likely voters' worries about the wobbling economy. It is far and away the most important issue in the campaign, cited by half of Minnesota's likely voters. That's three times more than the next issue -- taxes and government spending -- cited by just 16 percent of respondents. Asked which candidate would do a better job handling the economy and jobs, they favor Obama over McCain by a crushing 55 percent to 35 percent. "I like the way Obama's talking about the economy overall. ... Yes, he's talking about spending more to help it, but he's talking about spending as an investment," said Michelle Aspelin, 37, a real estate broker from Victoria. "He's saying the same thing about energy and transportation -- by making investments, we're going to be better in the long run." McCain supporter Daniel Weinzett, 19, a carpenter from Cambridge, is equally worried about the economy, but said Obama "is just talking in circles about it. I just don't think he really knows much about it when people are out of work and losing their homes. McCain's a better alternative." Broad support The latest Minnesota Poll of 1,049 likely voters, which has a margin of sampling error of 3.8 percentage points, plus or minus, found that Obama's support is broad and deep across most demographic measures. He is favored by whites and female voters and is tied with McCain among men, a traditional Republican base in presidential elections. Obama has a 2-1 edge among voters younger than 35 and has an overwhelming lead among first-time voters. McCain has a slight edge with likely voters age 35 to 44 and those with an annual household income of more than $75,000. He leads Obama 2-1 among white evangelicals. Beyond the economy, the only issues McCain holds an edge on are the Iraq war (a slight one) and terrorism and national security (an overwhelming one). But both issues register only in the single digits when likely voters were asked to assess their importance. "My granddaughter's headed for Iraq at the end of the month, so it's very important to me," said Peggy Smith, 61, a retired teacher from Cloquet. "The way Obama talks about pulling the troops out so quick, he's going to get some of them killed. And that will let Al-Qaida in, which will really leave this country in trouble." Obama supporter David Bird, 53, a state government employee from Fergus Falls, said his support stems from his candidate's stands on both the war and the economy. "We can't take eight more years of this economy and the war," he said. "If you look at all the money we're spending on that war, it has a lot to do with how badly the economy's doing." The poll found that both campaigns' signal attacks on their opponents aren't gaining significant traction. Most likely voters (52 percent) don't accept Obama's assertion that a McCain presidency would merely be a continuation of George W. Bush's. "I don't buy it," said Dana Friese, 28, an administrative assistant from Pine Island. "Sure, McCain's backed Bush on some things, I mean, they're both Republicans, but he's his own man and will stand up for what he believes." Not surprisingly, the argument that McCain equals Bush resonates with Obama's supporters. "Bush has been a disaster and I'm just afraid McCain will be more of the same," said Sandra Becker, 63, an interior designer from Edina. "He's just so old-school and Washington's so screwed up that we really need some new blood like Obama.'' McCain's attempt to lash Weather Underground founder William Ayers tightly to Obama also doesn't appear to resonate with likely voters. More than half (57 percent) said it isn't relevant to the election while about one-third said it "raises serious questions about [Obama's] character and fitness for office." "This whole Ayers thing is a big ... it's just irrelevant," said Obama supporter Peggy Anderson, 56, a retired early childhood educator from Minneapolis. "There were Republicans and Democrats serving on a board with him, so it doesn't sound even close that they were palling around with a terrorist. It's a non-issue." But McCain backer Scott Engen, 50, a printing contractor from Castle Rock Township, said the Obama-Ayers connection "bothers me because it raises questions about his judgment. Everyone's entitled to make mistakes about who they associate with, but this gives you a sense of the kind of person he is." Ben Golnik, McCain's regional campaign manager, said the poll "shows the volatility of the race in Minnesota." If the state's voters focus on Obama's plans for taxes and spending, "more Minnesotans will choose John McCain," he said. McCain's gains in Minnesota came during a period when he visited the state, advertised heavily and turned in what is considered his strongest debate performance. In addition, the poll found that likely voters' self-identified party affiliation has shifted slightly away from the DFL and toward Republicans during the past two weeks. Party identification can be volatile in presidential election cycles and often moves in concert with the results of the candidate horse race.	Speaking to about 4000 people at the Minneapolis Convention Center Thursday night, former U.S. President Bill Clinton gave a speech exhorting audience members to support U.S. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama and Minnesota senatorial candidate Al Franken in the upcoming election on Nov. 4. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (right) speaks at a rally on Oct. 30 in support of Barack Obama, Al Franken (pictured, left) and other Democratic candidates. "Barack Obama can lead us in changing the way Americans think about America, the role of government and the way we work together," Clinton said, according to the Associated Press. "We learned the other way is not worth a flip. We've got to work together." Clinton — whose wife Hillary Clinton ran against Obama for the Democratic nomination earlier this year — has been accused in the past of not fully supporting Obama's presidency. He showed no lack of support for both Obama and Franken with whom he shared the stage. Franken is running against incumbent Republican Norm Coleman and independent candidate Dean Barkley. According to Clinton, the Minnesota race is crucial. If Franken is elected, Clinton says he will be one more senator to help Obama run the country without major Republican opposition in the Senate. With 60 Democrats in the Senate, Democrats will be able to push legislation through without filibusters by GOP members, which can cause a bill to delay in passing or fail all together. "Obama has a chance to rewrite the 21st century," Clinton said, according to the ''Star Tribune'', referring to the presidency of George W. Bush. "Let's go back and do it right this time. In order to do that, he's going to have to get some votes. ..." in Congress. The Minnesota race is close. According to the ''St. Paul Pioneer Press'', Sen. Coleman leads Franken 37.3 percent to 35.8 percent in an average of recent polls. 16 percent supported Barkley. Before introducing Clinton, Franken thanked him for the support of him and his wife. "I am privileged to say the Clintons are my friends," Franken said, according to the Star Tribune. "But more important, they are friends of the middle class, of working men and women in this state and this country I'm running to represent." A Minnesota Public Radio News/University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute poll conducted this week found that 52 percent of likely voters supported Obama, while 41 percent supported GOP candidate John McCain. Clinton — who carried the state by a landslide in 1996 — did not hesitate to ask for more votes, telling the crowd: "I want you to do better than that for Barack Obama." Clinton was the final speaker in a long list of Minnesota Democrats, including: former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale, the mayors of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, R. T. Rybak and Chris Coleman, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Mayor Coleman is not related to Senator Coleman, who also served as mayor of Saint Paul. All of the speakers touched on continuing to work toward electing Obama, Franken and other Democrats to Minnesota seats in congress. Even with the 11-point lead Obama holds in the MPR poll, Obama campaign staff circulated the hall at the beginning on the rally and at the end asking attendees to volunteer their time going door-to-door and making phone calls to registered Democrats. "Barack Obama is going to be the next president of the United States," Mayor Coleman said, according to the Associated Press. "But we've got to work to make it happen."
Raggs and his friends just finished their first TV series! It started airing daily on Seven Network in Australia and will soon be seen in other countries around the world. In the coming months, we'll announce where you can find the show in the US! In the Raggs show, you'll visit the band in their new clubhouse and watch as they explore their world together. Of course, you'll hear all of your favorite Raggs Kids Club Band songs... plus many more new songs! It's a fun show with lots of surprises including animated cartoons, music videos, concerts, letters from friends and more. \|\|\|\|\| Catch Raggs, Trilby, Razzles, Pido and B.Max on the Seven Network Monday to Friday at 9.00am. If you would like to send them a message, please contact the following: Megan Bulmer Southern Star International Tel: 61 2 9202 8581 Fax: 61 2 9956 6918 Email: sales@sstar.com.au \|\|\|\|\| On vacation in Northern Ontario, Canada recently, a song came into my head. What in the world was it? It kept bugging me, but I couldn't figure out just what it was. Then it dawned on me. It was Wag and Wiggle, from the RAGGS Kids Club Band DVD "Pawsuuup! Tour".† While some of you are shuttering with fear, not wanting to experience the same fate, don't. Unlike many shows, namely one with a purple dinosaur in it, most songs in the "Pawsuuup! Tour" are really, really good kid's fare. So what is this DVD anyway? The RAGGS Kids Club Band started out as a costumed character touring band, heading around from shopping mall to country fair across the United States. The RAGGS Kids Club Band now have proven to be such a success, that they perform daily this summer at The Palace Theatre in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a fantastic looking venue. The "Pawsuuup! Tour" DVD is a compilation of this performance, plus music videos on location (at a beach, a park, etc.) and backstage joking. The concept of rockers as the stars has been tackled a bunch of other times, take The Archies, Josie and the Pussycats, The Banana Splits, and Alvin and the Chipmunks, all but the rodent three have left the scene completely. There are three reasons that these television bands are much different than the RAGGS Kids Club Band. One, RAGGS is much more educationally founded, with three experience professors, and the President of the American Music Center on its Educational Advisory Board. Two, Raggs et al are bone-a fide (pun intended), real life stars, touring towns and cities across the US of A. Three, and maybe most interesting the format. The production is a college of performances, backstage scenes, music videos, even a red carpet, and so is indistinguishable from any other bandís tour DVD. Except Mick Jagger isnít blue, and his Keith Richardsí doesnít have rainbow coloured hair. Raggs and his band, consisting of Trilby, Pido, B. Maxwell Oliver, and Razzles play a fairly wide variety songs, ranging from soulful to rock anthems, hip-hop, funk, and pop-opera. All modified for younger music aficionados, of course.† The production qualities are absolutely outstanding. The choreography is provided by Hardin Minor, who has taught for the National Dance Institute. The lighting design is by triple-Emmy Award winner Alan Adelman, whose credits include 75 episodes of PBS' "Great Performances", the "Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards", "The NBC 60th Anniversary Special" and Nathan Lane's "The Man who Came to Dinner". The screenwriter is Mark Valenti, whose credits include Rugrats, Catdog, Hey Arnold!, Rocket Power, Totally Spies, and four telefilms/specials. Once VP of Development at Universal Studios, he has a feature in development with DreamWorks.† Executive producer Carole Rosen was VP of Family Programming at HBO for eight years, during which time her division won a Peabody and two Emmys. She was even senior producer on "King Gimp", the winner of the 2000 Academy Award for Best Documentary Subject. While credits don't always mean a good production, Raggs' and the band have used them to come out with a stellar performance. Like anything really, there are elements of the DVD that need to be ironed out. For example, the "rap-ballad" TNT, which seems convoluted in getting to the intended message. But the clouds donít shadow out the fact that this is a neat musical anthology, and interesting concept. Raggs and crew are great singers, whose songs carry great messages, all while having a ton of fun. It's really an unbeatable combination. A second title in the series, Unleashed, will be available October 12, and the seasonal Holiday Jam, will be released November 2.	New television stars in Australia, the RAGGS Kids Club Band started as simply a mall touring promotion. Airing on Australia's Seven Network weekdays at 9:00 am, the series features new songs, animated segments, and "letters from friends", as well as the music videos and concert scenes that the DVD releases focused on. Another noticeable change is the design of the costumed characters that star in the series, which now have larger heads, besides many other modifications. Characters in the series include original members RAGGS, Trilby, Fido, B. Max (B. Maxwell Oliver) and Razzles. New to the series is Dumpster, an opinionated cat. The stars live together in a home, and learn to develop positive relationships with each other. More concerts for the show will be filmed in September 2006. Producers are inviting fans to contact them, to be notified when the open tapings happen. Created by RAGGS LLC Production, the series is co-produced with Southern Star Entertainment Pty Limited. RAGGS was created by former advertising executive Toni Steedman, who now manages RAGGS LLC full-time. Beginning as a promotional company managing mall's kids clubs, RAGGS expanded to a touring show, released CDS, a DVD, and a line of merchandise. The series' creator plans to have the show on the air in the United States, within the next few months. Sixty-five episodes were produced. This certainly isn't the first time a fictional band has had a television series. The Archies, Josie and the Pussycats, The Banana Splits, and Alvin and the Chipmunks are all notable examples.
Suspected missile strikes by a U.S. drone on a tribal area in northwest Pakistan, a stronghold of Taliban and Al-Qaida, killed more than eight persons Monday, media reports said. Two missiles struck in quick succession the villages of Karikot and Shin Warsak in South Waziristan on the border with Afghanistan. According to a senior security official two vehicles fitted with guns were destroyed in two separate attacks that also damaged a house. However, it was not immediately clear if any senior Taliban or Al-Qaida operatives were killed, he said, adding that the eight persons killed were all inside the vehicles. The strikes caused huge fires in both villages, sending panicked residents running into the streets, he said. U.S. forces in Afghanistan have launched more than 30 airstrikes this year against suspected Al-Qaida and Taliban hideouts in Pakistan's lawless tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. The strikes, all blamed on unmanned CIA drones, have raised tensions between Washington and Islamabad, with the former alleging that Pakistan has not been doing enough to halt attacks on western forces by Al-Qaida and Taliban operating from its soil. Last week, U.S. President George Bush categorically ruled out consultations with other governments (read 'Pakistan') prior to carrying out drone attacks on suspected terrorist targets inside the lawless tribal areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan. "You know very well that when it comes to certain matters, the U.S. government doesn't discuss operations," Bush said when asked if Afghan President Hamid Karzai and he were on the same wavelength on drone attacks. Pakistan says the U.S. strikes violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity and undermine efforts to fight militancy by inflaming public anger against the west. However, it has been reluctant to move either diplomatically or militarily to stop these strikes, fuelling speculation that the attacks may be part of a secret pact between Pakistan and the U.S. Rashid Rauf, the alleged Al-Qaida mastermind of a 2006 transatlantic airplane bombing plot, as well as an Egyptian Al-Qaida operative were killed in a missile attack last month. by RTT Staff Writer For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com \|\|\|\|\| Twin suspected US missile strikes on a tribal area in northwest Pakistan have killed at least eight militants At least eight dead in Pakistan missile strike: officials PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) — Twin suspected US missile strikes Monday on a tribal area in northwest Pakistan known as a hub of Taliban and Al-Qaeda activity killed at least eight militants, officials said. The strikes were the latest on extremists in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan -- all said to have been launched by unmanned CIA aircraft -- that have raised tensions between Washington and Islamabad. Two missiles "fired by US drones" struck the villages of Karikot and Shin Warsak in troubled South Waziristan, a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "Two vehicles fitted with guns were destroyed," the official said, adding that the eight people killed were all inside the vehicles. It was not immediately clear if any senior Taliban or Al-Qaeda operatives were killed in the strikes, which took place just minutes apart, he said. Local intelligence sources said they believed the militants killed were members of local Pakistani Taliban groups. The strikes caused huge fires in both villages, sending panicked residents running into the streets, he said, adding that one house was damaged. The suspected US strikes have continued despite a warning by Taliban militants based in tribal territory last month that any more would lead to reprisal attacks across Pakistan. A missile attack late last month by a US jet killed Rashid Rauf, the alleged Al-Qaeda mastermind of a 2006 transatlantic airplane bombing plot, as well as an Egyptian Al-Qaeda operative, security officials have said. Pakistan has repeatedly protested to the United States that the strikes violate its territorial sovereignty and deepen resentment among the 160 million people of the nuclear-armed Islamic nation. President Asif Ali Zardari recently promised zero tolerance for violations of his country's sovereignty, but some officials say there is a tacit understanding between the two militaries to allow such action. Islamabad has come under increased pressure to quash militant activity within its borders, with Washington and Kabul saying it has not done enough to stop militants crossing the border to attack US and NATO troops in Afghanistan. Pakistan rejects those accusations, pointing to its operation against militants in the semi-autonomous Bajaur region bordering Afghanistan. The military says more than 1,500 rebels have been killed there since August. Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is widely believed to be hiding in Pakistan's rugged border region, although there is no clear information about his whereabouts. US Vice President Dick Cheney said at the weekend that he was unsure if bin Laden -- held responsible by Washington for the September 11, 2001 attacks -- was even still alive. \|\|\|\|\| US missile strikes have been criticised by Pakistan's political parties A suspected pilotless American drone has fired two missiles in a border area of Pakistan, killing at least seven people, Pakistani officials have said. Reports say two vehicles and a house were hit in South Waziristan. The identity of those killed is not known. US-operated pilotless drones have launched more than 20 missile attacks in Pakistani tribal areas since August. The Pakistani government is under huge public pressure to defend its territory against such attacks. The latest missile strikes came as America's top military commander, Admiral Mike Mullen, made his second visit to Pakistan this month. Adm Mullen, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, arrived from Afghanistan where he met President Karzai and discussed the deployment of additional US forces. At the weekend, Adm Mullen said the US could send up to 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan by the middle of next year, more than previously mentioned. 'Anti-aircraft fire' Reports quoted unnamed officials as saying that the missiles struck two villages in South Waziristan on the border with Afghanistan. Reports said a drone began circling at about 0300 local time, and then struck a few hours later. Witnesses say that one of the targets was a vehicle mounted with an anti-aircraft gun, and that militants had been using the weapon to fire at the drone. Four people are believed to have been killed as missiles tore into both the vehicle and an adjacent building. Soon afterwards there was another strike in a second village nearby, with another vehicle targeted. Witnesses say that Taleban fighters gathered to bury the bodies. A resident of one of the villages told Reuters by telephone that local tribespeople had "opened fire on the drones after the attacks". A security official told AFP news agency that it was not clear whether the missile attacks had targeted any senior al-Qaeda or Taleban members. Violation US drone attacks are believed to have been largely on target, hitting Taleban and al-Qaeda hideouts in the north-western Waziristan tribal region. There have been few civilian casualties, officials say. But Pakistani media and opposition parties view these attacks as a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Last month, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said his government was considering "a number of options" to counter attacks by US drones inside its territory. His statement came after Pakistan's air force chief said his force was equipped to tackle the drones militarily. The opposition has been pressing the government either to counter US strikes militarily, or to at least raise the issue at the United Nations. The Pakistani government says these attacks are counter-productive as they help offset the negative popularity the militants have gained in areas under their control. However, it has been reluctant to move either diplomatically or militarily to stop these strikes. This has fuelled speculation that the attacks may be part of a secret pact between Pakistan and the US. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Suspected U.S. missiles hit targets in Pakistani tribal areas near the border with Afghanistan on Monday, killing at least seven people, Pakistani intelligence sources and local officials said. Pakistani Islamists in Quetta on November 27 protest a U.S. missile strike in Pakistan's tribal areas. Three missiles reportedly targeted vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns, according to the sources. One missile missed its intended target and landed near a house. The dead were suspected Taliban militants, a local intelligence official said. Another local official said nine other militants were wounded in the attack. The missile strikes took place Monday morning about nine miles (15 km) from the town of Wana in South Waziristan. The U.S. military in Afghanistan routinely offers no comment on reported cross-border strikes, which are normally launched from unmanned drones. But the United States is the only country operating in the region known have the capability to launch missiles from drones, which are controlled remotely. South Waziristan is located in Pakistan's ungoverned tribal region, where the Pakistani military are battling Taliban fighters. CNN's Zein Basravi contributed to this story. All About Pakistan • United States • Afghanistan • The Taliban	Pakistan Afghan Border. Location of the and where the air strike took place. A suspected United States military air strike launched by a remote-controlled and unmanned CIA aircraft on Monday morning killed at least 8 militants. Media reports claim that in two separate attacks, three missiles were fired by US drones at 's Karikot and Shin Warsak villages, a tribal area in northwest Pakistan, well-known as center of and Al-Qaeda activity. The site of the attack is about nine miles (15 km) from the town of Wana in South Waziristan, an ungoverned tribal region. South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² (4,473 mi²). It comprises the area west and southwest of between the Tochi River to the North and the Gomal river to the south, forming part of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The North-West Frontier Province lies immediately to the east. The region was an independent tribal territory from 1893, remaining outside of British-ruled empire and Afghanistan. Tribal raiding into British-ruled territory was a constant problem for the British, requiring frequent punitive expeditions between 1860 and 1945. The region became part of Pakistan in 1947. A senior security official said that "two vehicles fitted with guns were destroyed," adding that "the eight people killed were all inside the vehicles." Pakistani intelligence said they believed the extremists killed were members of local Pakistani Taliban groups. The reports also said that the missiles "targeted vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns, and one missile missed its intended target and landed near a house." A local official said nine other extremists were wounded in the drone strike. similar to the one alleged in the air strike. Agence France-Presse has reported that "a missile attack late last month by a US jet killed Rashid Rauf, the alleged Al-Qaeda mastermind of a 2006 transatlantic airplane bombing plot, as well as an Egyptian Al-Qaeda operative, security officials have said." US unmanned drones have launched not less than 20 missile attacks in Pakistan Afghan border or tribal areas since August. The strikes have raised tensions between Washington and . In November, Prime Minister viewed these missile strikes as flagrant violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He announced his government was considering "a number of options to counter attacks". BBC has reported, however, that Pakistan "has been reluctant to move either diplomatically or militarily to stop these strikes." "This has fuelled speculation that the attacks may be part of a secret pact between Pakistan and the US," it added. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush, last week, said that "you know very well that when it comes to certain matters, the U.S. government doesn't discuss operations." He ruled out consultations with other governments, including Pakistan, prior to drone strikes operations.
TEHRAN, October 20 (RIA Novosti) - Iran has the capability to fire 11,000 rockets at enemy bases within one minute if the country is attacked, a top commander in the Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Saturday. "Within the first minute of any attack by enemies against our country, the missile and artillery unit of the ground force is capable of firing 11,000 missiles and shells at targets that are known to us," Gen. Mahmoud Chaharbaghi, the top missile commander of the Revolutionary Guards, said on national TV. Iran has precise data on the deployment of potential attackers' military bases in the region, he said. "A possible war will not last long, because within days we will reduce our enemies to ashes. The enemy must ask himself what losses he is prepared to suffer for his stupidity," the commander said. The commander's comments come four days after United States President George W. Bush's warning that if Iran's nuclear program is not stopped, World War III could break out. The United States has military bases in several countries near Iran, including thousands of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, which share borders with the Islamic Republic. In response to Bush's comments, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said on Thursday: "Statements of this kind reflect America's expansionist goals, which will surely weaken international security and ignite the U.S. government's militarist policy." Washington, which along with many other Western nations accuses Iran of pursing a secret nuclear weapons program, despite Iranian denials, has refused to rule out military action against the country in the long-running international dispute. Bush's comments at a White House news conference came a day after President Vladimir Putin's visit to Tehran, where the Russian leader said he saw no evidence that Iran was developing nuclear weapons. Putin's trip to Iran for a summit of Caspian littoral states, the first visit by a Russian or Soviet leader since Joseph Stalin traveled to Iran in 1943, provoked concerns in the West over increasingly close ties between Moscow and Tehran. The summit resulted in a five-way agreement that no Caspian nations would allow the use of their territories for a military strike against any of them. \|\|\|\|\| President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that Russia was developing a new generation of nuclear weapons as part of a "big, grandiose" plan to boost the country's defences against the US. Speaking during his annual live question-and-answer session, Mr Putin said Russia was upgrading its nuclear arsenal, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear submarines and strategic bombers. It was also developing "completely new strategic [nuclear] complexes", he said. "Our plans are not simply considerable, but huge. At the same time they are absolutely realistic. I have no doubts we will accomplish them," Mr Putin said, during a three-hour phone-in programme shown across Russia on state-run TV. Mr Putin said Russia would defend itself if the US goes ahead with its plan to install elements of its missile shield in central Europe. "I can assure you that such steps are being prepared and we will take them," he said. His comments follow unsuccessful talks last week with the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, and the defence secretary, Robert Gates. Mr Putin began their meeting in Moscow by signalling that Russia might dump the intermediate-range nuclear missiles treaty. Mr Putin fielded 68 questions yesterday from ordinary Russians living in nine time zones across the world's biggest country. Beginning in Vladivostok, where it was dark, he discussed the price of milk, IVF treatment, and the fate of Russia's provincial towns. One caller was so stunned to speak directly to the president she forgot her question. "Is it you?" she said. "Yes," Mr Putin said. "Is it really you?" she asked. "Yes," he repeated. "Thank you very much for everything, Vladimir Vladimirovich," she gasped. She then hung up. Mr Putin also congratulated Russia's football team for its 2-1 win against England in Moscow on Wednesday. Mr Putin said he had been too busy to watch the game in person but had followed Russia's second-half comeback on TV. Nobody appeared to ask about Mr Putin's personal intentions. Mr Putin is obliged to step down as president next year. He has hinted he may carry on running the country as prime minister. He confirmed merely: "In 2008, in the Kremlin there will be a different person." Analysts said Mr Putin's latest remarks were designed to reassure his public that Russia still had an effective nuclear deterrent. But they were also a message to Washington: that its new and costly missile shield was effectively useless against the latest Russian technology. Mr Putin did not spell out details of his new weapons, which he hinted at in 2004. They are believed to be equipped with manoeuvrable warheads, which detach from the main missile during the final stage of descent. Predictably, Mr Putin took several swipes at US foreign policy. The US-led invasion of Iraq had been a failure, he said, as was its strategy of confrontation with Iran over its alleged nuclear programme. Mr Putin, who met Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on Tuesday in Tehran, declared: "Direct dialogue with the leaders of states ... is the shortest path to success, rather than a policy of threats, sanctions, and a resolution to use force." Yesterday's annual Q&A; session is Mr Putin's sixth since becoming president in 2000. More than a million people sent questions by email, text or phone - all of them screened by the Kremlin. The newspaper Novaya Gazeta published its own list of questions, which the president failed to answer. It wanted to know who had killed its star columnist Anna Politkovskaya. It also asked about corruption, the Beslan massacre, and why politicians from the pro-presidential United Russia party kept appearing on state TV. \|\|\|\|\| A recent war of words between Vladimir Putin and George Bush gives Europeans an unpleasant sense of nostalgia. But not all German commentators are convinced it's the Cold War all over again. AP President Vladimir Putin as he listens to a question during a call-in show on Russian TV. He announced "grandiose" plans for Russia's military during the show. Average citizens would be forgiven this week for thinking they'd slipped back in time. After off-the-cuff remarks by the American president and his counterpart in Moscow, things felt uncomfortably -- cold. During a press conference, US President George W. Bush answered a question about Russian President Vladimir Putin's friendly state visit to Iran. "I've told people," he said -- and by people he probably meant Putin -- "that if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing [Iran] from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon." Then Russia's military test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile from a base in northern Russia, reportedly into the Pacific. On a Russian TV show announcing the test, Putin told viewers about "grandiose" plans to restore Russian military might and "develop missile technology, including completely new strategic (nuclear) complexes, completely new." Hang on -- a nuclear arms buildup? Ballistic missile tests? Rhetoric from Washington about World War III? What year is this, again? Bush tried to reassure reporters at his press conference that relations with Russia hadn't slipped back to the twentieth century. "We don't agree on a lot of issues; we do agree on some," he said. "Iran is one; nuclear proliferation is another. Reducing our nuclear warheads was an issue that we agreed on early." But the mood in Moscow has apparently changed, and German papers on Friday are responding to this feeling of déjà vu with guarded pessimism. The left-wing Berliner Zeitung writes: "George W. Bush has been talking about war for six years without rest. To secure peace, he started two wars; in the case of Iran he keeps threatening to attack. In the meantime Putin's Russia has started to erupt with military threats, sending long-distance bombers around the world and announcing new armament projects almost by the week -- and international rhetoric as well as behavior patterns from the Cold War have enjoyed a comeback." "The mention of a Third World War, which Bush used this week to threaten Iran, Russia and the world, also came up a year ago in a speech by Osama bin Laden. 'The war will end in glory and triumph, or in misery and humiliation.' Back then Bin Laden saw Iraq as the crystallized heart of a world war; now Bush sees the same thing in Iran. The difference isn't huge, and the logic of simple contrasts used by both men is the same." The center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes, more skeptically: "Vladimir Putin can be satisfied. He talks about 'grandiose plans' for new weapons -- and the world listens. The Russian president has thereby achieved one of his goals. Threats from Russia are taken seriously again. The nation's military forces may still be ramshackle, and Putin's latest announcements may not be concrete or even new. But now there's a climate of confrontation between Russia and the West, which allows even hollow threats to sound threatening." "Putin's remarks, in any case, weren't in this instance aimed at the West, but at the Russian public ... (And) it appeals to a majority of Russians that the world respects them again, even if respect come in the form of fear. The climate of confrontation therefore has a domestic political goal." The Financial Times Deutschland writes: "The list of disagreements is long, ranging from the planned American missile defense system in Europe to the still-undetermined status of Kosovo. The Russians are right to feel that the West undervalues their geopolitical importance. Changing that is Putin's mission." "But the US-Russia relationship isn't as frosty as the recent exchange of words would lead one to believe. Take the issue of Iran's nuclear program, the most important issue in international politics today -- the two sides have more in common than one might think at first glance." "Putin's embrace of the Iranian president and his salvos against US policy in Iraq should be understood the way they're meant: as diplomatic provocations, not as declarations of war." "As long as the Russian-American arms race is limited to rhetoric, it presents no direct threat to world peace. That separates today's situation from the Cold War: Harsh words are easier to defuse than SS-20 missiles and Pershing rockets." -- Michael Scott Moore, 12 p.m. CET \|\|\|\|\| Gennady Zyuganov looked completely at home as he stood on a dirt road in the village of Verkhovye, listening to a dozen or so middle-aged workmen and elderly women pour out their troubles. >> State utility Unified Energy System is feeling a chill in the air that has nothing to do with the onset of winter. >> \|\|\|\|\| MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Yelena Shesternina) - Of the 68 questions answered by President Vladimir Putin at his three-hour question and answer session Thursday, less than a dozen dealt with the Russian government's foreign policies. This does not necessarily mean that international events are of little interest to the general public in Russia or any other post-Soviet country such as Kazakhstan (representatives of that Central Asian nation took part in this year's Q&A). Those few questions that were posed suggest, in fact, that the interest is high and profound. A resident of Novosibirsk, for instance, recalled former U.S. State Secretary Madeleine Albright described the fact that Russia was the only country to benefit from Siberia's natural wealth as unfair. Putin could not remember whether Albright had said something to that effect, but one thing he was certain of is that there are quite a few politicians in the United States besides her who engage in what he described as "political erotica," something that "may or may not give pleasure to people, but is unlikely to generate any results." Moving away from Siberia's resources, craved for by the former secretary of state, Putin cited the example of Iraq, whose own oil wealth was, according to him, the main motive behind the U.S. invasion of that country in 2003. "They've learned to shoot, but are still struggling to restore order," he said, adding that "a war against the people is impossible to win." That said, however, the U.S. administration's policies in Iraq are not completely derived of political wisdom, in Putin's view. For example, George W. Bush's point that it would be too early to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq now does stand to reason. But unlike Bush, the Russian leader believes that a timeframe should be established on the prospective pullout, if only to stimulate the Iraqi government's efforts toward self-sufficiency. "Feeling protected under the American umbrella, it [the Iraqi leadership] is in no hurry to develop its own armed forces and law-enforcement agencies," Putin said. Bush's plans for a national missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic seem to be the main complaint in current U.S.-Russian relations. Residents of the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad find the plans particularly unsettling, which is hardly surprising, given that this westernmost region of Russia is also the closest to the Kaczynski government. Yet, Putin dismissed suggestions that a Russian missile shield would be installed in the Kaliningrad Region to protect the Poles against any potential missile attacks from Iraq. "I don't think we should make any efforts to ensure security in other European countries if their leaders don't care about ours." He said there was no reason to panic and promised to give an appropriate response if the U.S. decides to go ahead with its plans for a missile defense system in Central Europe without taking into account Russia's security concerns. What the response should be is up to the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff to decide. It is highly unlikely that Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his twin brother Jaroslaw, the country's prime minister, watched a broadcast of Putin's Q&A session Thursday. A related statement made almost simultaneously in Warsaw must have been, therefore, a sheer coincidence. But Jaroslaw Kaczynski's remarks that Poland needs American interceptors to protect itself from Russian missiles, not Iranian ones, caused quite a stir. "We should bear in mind that we are under a permanent threat," the Polish PM said. "The Russians have refused to accept the transformations that have taken place since 1989. They must be thinking we are still within their sphere of influence." Of course, Kaczynski's remarks could be seen as part of his campaign to score political points ahead of this weekend's election. Anyway, he was more outspoken on this controversial issue than the U.S. administration has been so far. Aware of potential controversies, however, the Polish Foreign Ministry tried to soften the premier's pronouncements somewhat by saying he did not mean to say Poland was seeking a conflict with Russia and that potential missile strikes from Iran were actually the Polish leadership's primary concern. Speaking of Iran, Putin said he would continue working to develop good-neighborly relations with the Islamic republic. He used the occasion to criticize those advocating a tough line against Tehran. In dealing with "countries that tend to generate problems, direct dialogue would be more productive; this would be a shorter way toward success than a policy of threats, sanctions and pressure." When asked why he went to Tehran despite rumors of an assassination attempt being plotted against him, Putin said these rumors had been intended to disturb his visit. He stopped short of making any guesses as to its masterminds. The mystery surrounding Putin's Tehran visit made it a popular subject at his Q&A session. Western media reported that apart from the trip's official schedule, which involved a summit of the Caspian states and bilateral meetings with the host country's leadership, the Russian president also had some secret mission to accomplish in Iran. The New York Times suggested that Washington had allegedly struck a deal with Moscow, promising to back down on its missile defense plans in Central Europe if the Russians succeeded in getting Iran to freeze its nuclear program. One indirect piece of evidence supporting the paper's theory was an official statement by Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, who said that at his meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei, Putin had delivered a "special proposal" and that the Iranian side was now closely studying it. He did not elaborate, though. All those backstage intrigues were left out of Putin's Q&A. The Russian president disclosed only as much as he saw fit. He said, for instance, that Russia is willing to develop normal relations with any Ukrainian government, but will make no concessions on fuel prices - a more than timely signal to Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine's would-be prime minister. He also set out his vision for the Commonwealth of Independent States, saying this loose union of post-Soviet nations would never become an analogue of the European Union, but the post-Soviet economic alliance EurAsEC may develop into an EU-like structure someday, he said. The six-nation bloc has already made the first step toward that goal by agreeing to create a customs union. And speaking about Russia's foreign policies, Putin surprised many by saying the key priority would be to develop relations with former Soviet republics rather than deal with Iran's nuclear program, U.S. missile defense plans and other headline-making issues. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 — President Bush issued a stark warning on Iran on Wednesday, suggesting that if the country obtained nuclear arms, it could lead to “World War III.” “We got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to destroy Israel,” Mr. Bush said at a White House news conference, referring to a remark by the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, that Israel “will disappear soon.” Mr. Bush said he had “told people that if you’re interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon.” Mr. Bush has said in the past that he would never “tolerate” a nuclear-armed Iran. But the comment on Wednesday was another sign that he did not accept a view stated last month by Gen. John P. Abizaid, who retired this year as the top American commander in the Middle East. The general said that “there are ways to live with a nuclear Iran.” Mr. Bush sought in the news conference to make clear that his pressure tactics, including economic sanctions, were aimed at persuading the Iranian people to find new leadership. “The whole strategy is that, you know, at some point in time leaders or responsible folks inside of Iran may get tired of isolation and say, ‘This isn’t worth it,’ and to me it’s worth the effort to keep the pressure on this government,” Mr. Bush said. He added, “My intent is to continue to rally the world, to send a focused signal to the Iranian government that we will continue to work to isolate you in the hopes that at some point somebody else shows up and says it’s not worth the isolation.” The president was responding to a question about the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, who visited Iran this week and warned the United States against military action there. Before that, in Moscow, Mr. Putin said he saw “no evidence” that Iran was trying to acquire nuclear weapons. Mr. Bush insisted that he and Mr. Putin see eye to eye on the Iranian nuclear threat. “We don’t agree on a lot of issues,” Mr. Bush said. “We do agree on some: Iran is one; nuclear proliferation is another.” The president made his remarks on a day when Mr. Putin appeared in newspaper photographs standing side by side with Mr. Ahmadinejad. Mr. Bush dismissed any notion that the pictures reflected like-mindedness, saying, “Generally, leaders don’t like to be photographed scowling at each other.” Mr. Bush has never quite been able to ride out his oft-quoted remark that he had looked into Mr. Putin’s eyes and gotten “a sense of his soul.” On Wednesday, he defended his brand of personal diplomacy, even as he expressed a wariness about Mr. Putin’s commitment to democracy. Under Russia’s Constitution, Mr. Putin is supposed to step down next year, but he has indicated that he may try to keep his power by becoming prime minister. At a recent meeting in Australia, Mr. Bush said, he asked Mr. Putin about his plans. “I tried to, you know, get it out of him — who’s going to be his successor, what he intends to do,” Mr. Bush said. “And he was wily. He wouldn’t tip his hand.” \|\|\|\|\| Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, appearing side by side with his Iranian counterpart at a five-nation summit here Tuesday, made a powerful show of support for America’s regional archenemy, drawing the line against any attack on Iran and reaffirming Tehran’s right to a civilian nuclear program. At the same time, Putin stopped short of unconditional support for the Iranian regime, although the tenor of his remarks appeared at odds with earlier suggestions from the Bush administration that Putin might take a more pro-Western stance. Officials in Washington did not express disappointment about Putin’s visit or his comments, but face a growing challenge in dealing with the Russian leader’s maverick, frequently anti-U.S. public statements. The image of Putin smiling in appearances with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as well as the leaders of three other nations served to highlight the differences between the Russian and American relationships with Iran, which Washington views as a threat to peace but Moscow considers a valuable ally and trading partner. Days after having publicly dismissed U.S. plans for a missile defense system, Putin arrived in the Iranian capital in a painstakingly scrutinized visit that was the first here by a Kremlin leader since Josef Stalin mapped out World War II strategy with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill in 1943. Despite continuing threats from the West against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Putin told reporters that Tehran had the right to continued civilian nuclear enrichment. “Russia is the only country that has assisted Iran in implementing its peaceful nuclear program,” Putin said. “We believe all countries have the right to a peaceful nuclear energy program.” The Russian president also warned the other Caspian Sea nations present not to allow their countries to be used for military assaults against Iran, a clear message to Washington, which has refused to rule out an attack to halt or slow the Iranian nuclear program it believes is ultimately aimed at building nuclear weapons. “We are saying that no Caspian nation should offer its territory to third powers for use of force or military aggression against any Caspian state,” Putin told reporters. Washington maintains strong military ties with the Caspian Sea nation of Azerbaijan, and has been wooing Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan for flyover privileges and intelligence sharing. The three nations, all formerly part of the Soviet Union, retain authoritarian leadership and have become political battlegrounds between the U.S. and Russia. At the summit session, the five nations issued a declaration saying they would not allow their territories to be used for military strikes against any of the others. Tom Casey, a State Department spokesman, said the U.S. did not object to Putin’s appearance with Ahmadinejad, and said the administration still believed that Moscow agreed with U.S. and European aims concerning Iran’s nuclear program. “The Russian government position on this hasn’t changed,” Casey said. “I don’t think the Russian government has been, in any way, shape or form, trying to encourage Iran’s nuclear developments. In fact, they’ve been very concerned about it.” However, senior U.S. officials earlier had expressed optimism that the Russian president would demonstrate greater public cooperation with American and Western European goals on Iran. The U.S. officials included Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who met with Putin in Moscow on Friday. Tight security was the watchword for the summit, with black-clad Iranian security forces gripping submachine guns lining the upscale streets near the Sadabad Palace, a 19th century compound in north Tehran. Putin came ostensibly to discuss energy, security and environmental policy with his regional counterparts, and international analysts say he would have attended the summit regardless of the heightened international tension over Iran’s nuclear program. “In case you haven’t noticed, Russia doesn’t have a lot of friends,” said Dimitri K. Simes, president of the Nixon Center, a Washington think tank, and a Russia expert. “Putin is looking for friends and strategic alliances where he can find them.” The U.S. and Western European powers believe Iran is cloaking an effort to build nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists that it is seeking to produce only energy for civilian use. Washington and Paris hope to slap Iran with a third round of international sanctions, which Russia and China oppose. Moscow and Beijing appear more willing than the U.S. to tolerate Iran enriching its own uranium so long as it clears up lingering doubts about the peaceful intent of its past nuclear research. To the long-standing dismay of Washington, Russia is also building a light-water nuclear power plant in the southern Iranian city of Bushehr and annually conducts $2 billion in trade with Iran. Despite Putin’s rhetorical support, analysts say Moscow harbors misgivings about Iran. The Kremlin deplores Ahmadinejad’s belligerent talk, including his questioning of the Holocaust, and Iran’s defiant tone on its nuclear program. Russia fears that its association with Iran could damage its carefully cultivated relations with Israel and Europe, especially Germany. Although he condemned any possible U.S. attack, Putin did not vow to stand up for Iran in case of one. And although the Russian president’s presence at the summit might have lowered the Iranian government’s sense of isolation, Putin left Tehran without granting Iran any of the concessions it had hoped for, including a timetable for the completion of the Russian-built nuclear plant in Bushehr or a deal on divvying up Caspian Sea energy reserves. Putin’s visit also signaled Russia’s claim to a large share of the oil- and gas-rich Caspian Basin, believed to hold the world’s third-largest energy reserves. Russia and Iran are united in opposition to U.S. plans for building pipelines that draw petroleum and natural gas out of the region without passing through either country. Though Iran borders less than 15% of the Caspian, it insists on a fifth of its resources, a demand the other countries reject. Ahmadinejad walked away from the meeting with no clear gains on the Caspian. But Putin’s visit itself might mark a milestone for Ahmadinejad, regardless of any tangible outcome. The Russian is considered the first leader of a world power to visit Iran during Ahmadinejad’s presidency, which has been criticized at home for tarnishing relations with Persian Gulf countries and Europe and isolating Tehran diplomatically. “His popularity at home has taken a serious fall since the imposition of a fuel-rationing program and failing economic policies which have caused an increase in inflation and unemployment,” said Meir Javedanfar, an Israel-based Iran expert. “Ahmadinejad and other pro-nuclear program people in Iran can [now] claim that [the nuclear] issue is putting Iran on the map as a serious regional player.” Putin’s raising the specter of war, just after meeting with U.S. officials in Moscow, could be interpreted as a subtle warning to the Iranians that the Bush administration could attack from the north as well as from warships in the Persian Gulf. “There’s a lot of symbolism involved because Putin is the only high-level leader from a significant country who is personally engaged on the nuclear issue,” said a European oil executive based in Tehran, speaking on condition of anonymity. It has become a pattern for U.S. officials to offer muted reaction to Putin’s high-profile public criticisms. American officials have repeatedly explained that Putin has been more conciliatory in private meetings than in public statements. Carlos Pascual, a longtime former U.S. official and expert on Russia, said the White House has been mistaken to take Putin’s private assurances at face value. He said the friendly face Putin presents behind closed doors is a case of “managing his client,” a talent acquired during his years as a KGB officer. “Believe the bluster and don’t believe what’s said in private,” said Pascual, who served as ambassador to Ukraine under Bush and headed Russian affairs at the National Security Council during the Clinton administration. “We have it backwards.” daragahi@latimes.com Special correspondent Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran and Times staff writers Peter Spiegel in Washington and David Holley in Moscow contributed to this report.	George W.Bush and Vladimir PutinUnited States President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been in a war of words this week, with Bush suggesting that the Iranian nuclear program could be the lynchpin for launching World War III. "So I’ve told people that, if you’re interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon" and "we got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to destroy Israel. My intent is to continue to rally the world, to send a focused signal to the Iranian government that we will continue to work to isolate you in the hopes that at some point somebody else shows up and says it’s not worth the isolation," said Bush during a press conference. The Tehran Times responded to Bush reporting that "either Bush has gone totally mad and now makes statements without consulting his advisors, or the neo-conservatives are dreaming of a new world order and no longer feel compelled to hide their goal and U.S. officials should put a muzzle on Bush to prevent him from giving people the impression that the United States is the main threat to world peace." Putin in a telephone question and answer session advises that Russia is developing a "big, grandiose" plan to boost the country's defenses with new types of nuclear weapons to defeat the U.S. anti-missile system based in Europe. "Our plans are not simply considerable, but huge. At the same time they are absolutely realistic. I have no doubts we will accomplish them. I can assure you that such steps are being prepared and we will take them," stated Putin. Analysts said Mr Putin's latest remarks were designed to reassure his public that Russia still had an effective nuclear deterrent. But they were also a message to Washington: that its new and costly missile shield was effectively useless against the latest Russian technology. Putin even suggested that the U.S. might be after Siberia’s resources and the U.S. has considered invading Russia. One thing Putin was certain of is that there are quite a few politicians in the United States who engage in what he described as "political erotica," something that "may or may not give pleasure to people, but is unlikely to generate any results," Putin added.
Obama's Grandmother Dies On Eve Of Election CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ― On the eve of the biggest day of his political life, Barack Obama says his grandmother died Monday.Obama flew to Hawaii last week to visit Madelyn Dunham, 85, who helped raise Obama. The Illinois senator said he left the campaign trail with less than two weeks remaining before the election because his grandmother is ill but alert. Her brother has said she recently fell and broke a hip.The Democratic presidential candidate announced the news in a joint statement with his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng. He said his grandmother had died peacefully after a battle with cancer.He said: "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances."The candidate learned of her death Monday morning while he was campaigning in Jacksonville, Fla. He planned to go ahead with campaign appearances.Obama told ABC's "Good Morning America" in an interview broadcast recently: "Without going through the details too much, she's gravely ill. We weren't sure and I'm still not sure whether she makes it to Election Day.""We're all praying and we hope she does, but one of the things I want to make sure of is I had a chance to sit down with her and to talk to her. She's still alert and she's still got all her faculties. And I want to make sure that I don't miss that opportunity."Obama has said he missed a chance to visit his mother just before she died of ovarian cancer - she was 53 when she died in 1995 - and didn't want to repeat that mistake. Dunham was staying at her Honolulu apartment.While campaigning for the U.S. Senate and for president, Obama often told warm, loving stories about his grandmother. His Philadelphia speech about race relations, in the wake of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright fallout, was different. He said she was, on occasion, frightened to see black men approaching on the street.Dunham's brother, Chicagoan Charles Payne, said recently that Dunham's reaction to her role in her grandson's race speech was "no more than just sort of raised eyebrows."Obama was born in Hawaii. His Kansas-born mother and Kenyan father met as college students there, but Dunham and her husband, Stanley, raised Obama for extended periods when his mother lived overseas.In his memoir "Dreams from My Father," Obama described his grandfather as something of a dreamer. It was his grandmother who was practical enough to support the family by working her way up in the ranks at a local bank.Obama has often mentioned "Toot" - his version of the Hawaiian word "tutu," or grandparent - as an example of a strong woman succeeding through intelligence and determination. Many of his speeches describe her working on a bomber assembly line during World War II."She's really been one of the cornerstones of my life. She's a remarkable woman," he said. (© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.) \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died following a bout with cancer, Obama and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, said Monday. Barack Obama and his grandmother Madelyn Dunham are seen together in this photo from 1979. She was 86. At a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, Monday night, the Illinois senator said "she has gone home and she died peacefully in her sleep with my sister at her side." "I'm not going to talk about it long because it's hard to talk about," he added. Obama remembered her as "one of those quiet heroes we have across America, who aren't famous ... but each and every day they work hard. They look after their families. They look after their children and their grandchildren." In a statement released Monday afternoon, Obama and his sister said that Dunham was "the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility." Watch CNN contributors discuss Obama's grandmother » "She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure." Obama and Soetoro-Ng asked that donations be made for the search for a cure for cancer in lieu of flowers. A small private ceremony will be held "at a later date." Dunham passed away peacefully at her home shortly before midnight Sunday night (5 a.m. ET), campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki told CNN. She said Obama learned of her death around 8 a.m. Obama's republican rival, Sen. John McCain, issued a statement Monday afternoon: "We offer our deepest condolences to Barack Obama and his family as they grieve the loss of their beloved grandmother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them as they remember and celebrate the life of someone who had such a profound impact in their lives." The Democratic presidential candidate left the campaign trail on October 23 and flew to Honolulu, Hawaii, to spend the day with Dunham, whose health deteriorated after she suffered a broken hip. His wife, Michelle Obama, filled in for him at events in Columbus and Akron, Ohio, on October 24. Obama said in an interview taped for that day's "Good Morning America" that Dunham had been "inundated" with flowers and messages from strangers who read about her in Obama's 1995 book, "Dreams From My Father." "Maybe she is getting a sense of long-deserved recognition toward the end of her life," he said. Watch Obama tell supporters that his grandmother was "one of those quiet heroes" » The candidate resumed his campaign on October 25. Obama has spoken often about his grandmother -- who helped raise him -- as an integral figure in his youth and how she struggled against the glass ceiling in her career. He and his family traveled to Hawaii in August to visit her. "She's the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life," he said in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. "She poured everything she had into me. And although she can no longer travel, I know that she's watching tonight, and that tonight is her night as well." CNN political producer Ed Hornick contributed to this report. All About Barack Obama \|\|\|\|\| Barack Obama was raised by his grandparents in Hawaii The grandmother of US candidate Barack Obama has died on the eve of the presidential election. Madelyn Dunham, 86, had cancer. She had been a key figure in Mr Obama's early life, and helped raise him. When her health deteriorated last month, the Democratic candidate left the campaign trail for two days to visit her in Hawaii. Mr Obama has spoken of their strong bond and referred to her in some of his most powerful campaign speeches. Announcing her death on Monday, Mr Obama said: "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. "She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances." Role model His Republican rival, John McCain, and his wife Cindy offered their "deepest condolences to Barack Obama and his family as they grieve the loss of their beloved grandmother". "Our thoughts and prayers go out to them as they remember and celebrate the life of someone who had such a profound impact in their lives," they said in a statement. Ten days ago, Mr Obama broke away from the campaign trail to pay one last visit to Ms Dunham, whom he had mentioned at several key moments during his run for the White House. At his speech to the Democratic Convention, he praised her as a role model - someone who had risen from bank clerk to bank vice president through endeavour, but who had been prevented from getting to the very top because of her gender. And in the speech he gave on race in Philadelphia, he spoke of her in connection with his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright - whose inflammatory comments about white America had threatened to derail Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Although he later cut his ties to Reverend Wright - at the time he said he could no more disown him than he could disown his white grandmother, who had once admitted her fear of passing black men in the street. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Makiki in Downtown Honolulu, the neighborhood where Obama lived with his maternal grandparents. Madelyn Dunham, the maternal grandmother of United States 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama, has died of cancer at 86, just one day before the election. Dunham, who was born in Peru, Kansas in 1922, helped to raise Obama from the age of 10. She lived in Honolulu, Hawaii for most of her life, where she died peacefully in her apartment shortly before midnight local time. "It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility," said Obama and his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng in a joint statement to the press. During his acceptance speech for Democratic presidential nominee he noted her with the words, "She's the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life... She poured everything she had into me." Obama took time out from his presidential campaign in October to visit her at her bedside a week before she died. Obama's opponent John McCain also issued a statement saying his "thoughts and prayers go out" to Obama and his family. "We offer our deepest condolences to Barack Obama and his family as they grieve the loss of their beloved grandmother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them as they remember and celebrate the life of someone who had such a profound impact in their lives," said McCain in a statement to the press.
Obama campaign says New Yorker cartoon goes too far Satirical cover of The New Yorker July 21 issue by artist Barry Blitt, shows Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama dressed as a Muslim and his wife as a terrorist. (The New Yorker/Associated Press) Satirical cover of The New Yorker July 21 issue by artist Barry Blitt, shows Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama dressed as a Muslim and his wife as a terrorist. (The New Yorker/Associated Press) The New Yorker magazine has stirred up controversy in the U.S. for a satirical cover that shows Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama dressed as a Muslim and his wife as a terrorist. Both the Obama campaign and the campaign for the Republican candidate, John McCain, have objected to the cover art for the magazine's July 21 edition. The illustration by artist Barry Blitt depicts Obama wearing traditional Muslim garb and his wife, Michelle — dressed in camouflage, combat boots and an assault rifle strapped over her shoulder — standing in the Oval Office. An American flag is burning in the fireplace and over the mantle hangs a portrait of Osama bin Laden. In a statement, the magazine said the cover "combines a number of fantastical images about the Obamas and shows them for the obvious distortions they are." The New Yorker says it is satirizing rumours about Obama — including rumours that he's Muslim and anti-American. It defended its choice, saying its readership is sophisticated enough to get the joke. Inside the magazine is a serious critique of Obama's political skills by writer Ryan Lizza. The Obama campaign issued a statement condemning the cartoon. "The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in the statement. McCain's campaign also issued a statement saying the cartoon is "tasteless and offensive." The U.S. media are divided on whether the cartoon will provide fuel for right-wing critics of Obama's candidacy. The Washington Post has termed the image "incendiary" and said the magazine has succeeded in gaining attention. Sean Gardner of the Huffington Post says the magazine fails to provide an explanation for the satire. Other columnists throughout the U.S. agreed it has gone too far. But Pulitzer Prize winner Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune said the image is "just lampooning all the crazy ignorance out there." Behind the controversy is an e-mail campaign that purports to show Obama in Muslim clothing and repeatedly questions his patriotism, political author Jeffrey Feldman said in an interview with CBC News. "The idea [is] that somehow Barack Obama is an urban terrorist with a secret agenda that is aligned with al-Qaeda and the second he gets in the White House, he's going to launch some covert plan in order to bring down the United States," Feldman said. "It's such a ridiculous claim, but no matter how many times people fight back against it — including on the Obama website [where] they have an entire section dedicated to just fighting these smears…it still seems to be gaining ground. There's almost an exhaustion, a frustration that this type of smear campaign is working to spread these ideas." Rachel Sklar, media editor at the Huffington Post, said she believed the image may be used by Obama opponents. "This is so clearly a send-up and I understood that when I saw the image, but what I also understood was that it so perfectly encapsulated all the most vitriolic smears about the Obamas, that it could well be used as genuine irony-free propaganda," she told CBC News. The fear among supporters of Obama is that he will be forced to talk about the cartoon, rather than substantive policy issues. Obama has not yet commented directly on the cartoon. \|\|\|\|\| Obama campaign outraged by New Yorker cover NEW YORK (AFP) — Barack Obama's campaign decried Monday a satirical cartoon on the cover of The New Yorker magazine showing the Democratic presidential hopeful wearing Islamic dress while his wife holds a Kalashnikov. The influential weekly defended its cover, titled "The Politics of Fear," as a critique of unfounded allegations during the campaign that have attempted to paint Obama, who is Christian, as a closet radical Muslim. "The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said. "But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree," he said in a statement. The campaign of Obama's Republican rival, John McCain, took his side. "We completely agree with the Obama campaign that it is tasteless and offensive," spokesman Tucker Bounds said. The Obama campaign has fended off attempts to question his patriotism and religion, creating a website, www.fightthesmears.com, to debunk false rumors against the candidate propagated online. The cartoon drawn by Barry Blitt shows the couple standing in the White House's Oval Office with an American flag burning in the fireplace under a portrait of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Obama, who aims to become the first African-American US president, wears a robe and turban while his wife Michelle is in military fatigues with a Kalashnikov strapped to her back. The couple also give each other a fist bump -- a common greeting they have given each other in public and which a Fox News television presenter once called a "terrorist fist jab." "Our cover 'The Politics of Fear' combines a number of fantastical images about the Obamas and shows them for the obvious distortions they are," said New Yorker editor David Remnick. "The burning flag, the nationalist-radical and Islamic outfits, the fist-bump, the portrait on the wall -- all of them echo one attack or another," he said. "Satire is part of what we do, and it is meant to bring things out into the open, to hold up a mirror to prejudice, the hateful, and the absurd. And that's the spirit of this cover." The editor noted that the magazine includes two "very serious" articles about Obama -- a commentary and a 15,000-word reporting piece on the candidate's political education and rise in Chicago. The cartoonist, for his part, defended his drawing. "I think the idea that the Obamas are branded as unpatriotic (let alone as terrorists) in certain sectors is preposterous," Blitt told the Huffington Post website. "It seemed to me that depicting the concept would show it as the fear-mongering ridiculousness that it is," he said. \|\|\|\|\| Advertisement Search CBS News The Web • » » New Yorker Obama Cover Sparks Uproar Politico: Campaign Calls Magazine Cover Art "Tasteless And Offensive" E-Mail Story Print Story Sphere Share A A Text Size: A Videos Photos The cover of the July 21 issue of the New Yorker. (AP/CBS/The New Yorker) Obamas Portrayed As Terrorists » More Videos Related Photo Essay Barack Obama A look at the young senator from Illinois and his pursuit of the presidency. Photo Essay Obama Claims Nomination Barack Obama secures the Democratic presidential nomination in historic race against Hillary Rodham Clinton. Stories Horserace: Veepstakes Race Heats Up Official: Obama To Meet Palestinian Pols (The Politico) This story was written by Mike Allen. campaign is condemning as tasteless and offensive a New Yorker magazine cover that depicts Obama in a turban, fist-bumping his gun-slinging wife. An American flag burns in their fireplace. The New Yorker says it's satire. It certainly will be candy for cable news. The Obama campaign quickly condemned the rendering. Spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement: The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Sen. Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree." McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds quickly e-mailed: We completely agree with the Obama campaign, its tasteless and offensive. The issue, which goes on sale Monday, includes a long piece by Ryan Lizza about Obamas start in Chicago politics. At a press availability Sunday afternoon in San Diego, Obama was asked, according to a transcript by Maria Gavrilovic of CBS News: The upcoming issue of The New Yorker, the July 21 issue, has a picture of you, depicting you and your wife on the cover. Have you seen it? If not, I can show it to you on my computer. It shows your wife Michelle with an Afro and an AK-47 and the two of you doing the fist bump with you in a sort of turban-type thing on top. I wondered if youve seen it or if you want to see it or if you have a response to it? Obama, shrugging incredulously, replied: I have no response to that. The magazine explains at the start of its news release previewing the issue: On the cover of the July 21, 2008, issue of The New Yorker, in The Politics of Fear, artist Barry Blitt satirizes the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the presidential election to derail Barack Obamas campaign. Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post said Sunday on his CNN media show Reliable Sources that the cover is arguably incendiary. I talked to the editor of The New Yorker, David Remnick, who tells me this is a satire, that they are making fun of all the rumors, Kurtz added. Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune defended it as quite within the normal realms of journalism, adding that it's just lampooning all the crazy ignorance out there. The panelists agreed it would succeed in its goal of getting attention. Barack Obama's campaign is condemning as tasteless and offensive a New Yorker magazine cover that depicts Obama in a turban, fist-bumping his gun-slinging wife.An American flag burns in their fireplace.The New Yorker says it's satire. It certainly will be candy for cable news.The Obama campaign quickly condemned the rendering. Spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement: The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Sen. Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree."McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds quickly e-mailed: We completely agree with the Obama campaign, its tasteless and offensive.The issue, which goes on sale Monday, includes a long piece by Ryan Lizza about Obamas start in Chicago politics.At a press availability Sunday afternoon in San Diego, Obama was asked, according to a transcript by Maria Gavrilovic of CBS News: The upcoming issue of The New Yorker, the July 21 issue, has a picture of you, depicting you and your wife on the cover.Have you seen it? If not, I can show it to you on my computer. It shows your wife Michelle with an Afro and an AK-47 and the two of you doing the fist bump with you in a sort of turban-type thing on top. I wondered if youve seen it or if you want to see it or if you have a response to it?Obama, shrugging incredulously, replied: I have no response to that.The magazine explains at the start of its news release previewing the issue: On the cover of the July 21, 2008, issue of The New Yorker, in The Politics of Fear, artist Barry Blitt satirizes the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the presidential election to derail Barack Obamas campaign.Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post said Sunday on his CNN media show Reliable Sources that the cover is arguably incendiary.I talked to the editor of The New Yorker, David Remnick, who tells me this is a satire, that they are making fun of all the rumors, Kurtz added.Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune defended it as quite within the normal realms of journalism, adding that it's just lampooning all the crazy ignorance out there.The panelists agreed it would succeed in its goal of getting attention. By Mike Allen Copyright 2008 POLITICO E-Mail Story Print Story Sphere Share A A Text Size: A We cover politics with enterprise, style, and impact.	''The New Yorker'''s July 21, 2008 cover illustration by Barry Blitt. Controversy surrounds a cartoon on the cover of the latest issue of ''The New Yorker'' magazine, which portrays United States Presidential contender Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as terrorists. In the cartoon, Obama dons a robe and turban, while Michelle is dressed in fatigues and carries a gun. The two are in the Oval Office giving each other a fist bump, a greeting which one Fox News Channel commentator has previously called a "terrorist fist jab", while an American flag burns in the fireplace in the background. ''The New Yorker'' indicated that Barry Blitt's cartoon was intended to lampoon "the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the Presidential election to derail Barack Obama’s campaign." Editor David Remnick noted that satire is a useful tool in bringing sensitive issues to people's attention. Statements from both Obama's campaign office and that of prospective Republican candidate John McCain, however, have condemned the cover as "tasteless and offensive". The publication continues to defend its position that the cover is a work of satire.
Thousands of steelworkers and their families took to the streets of Redcar, Teesside, yesterday as part of a campaign to head off devastating job losses in the region, writes Zoe Wood. Corus, the Indian-owned steelmaker, is threatening to halt production at the local plant after its biggest customer pulled out of a 10-year contract in May citing the global downturn. The Teesside plant is now operating at a fraction of its capacity and could be closed next month. Up to 10,000 jobs depend on the Redcar site, which employs 1,920 people directly and up to 2,000 contractors. Community leaders warned of a dramatic rise in the number of children living in poverty. The future of plants in Scunthorpe, Rotherham, Port Talbot and Llanwern also hangs in the balance. \|\|\|\|\| Thousands of steelworkers took to the streets with their families yesterday in a bid to save jobs. Unions leaders warned of devastation if the threatened closure of the giant Corus steel plant goes ahead. The firm has warned it may have to close the plant in Redcar, North Yorks, putting 2,000 jobs at risk. Derek Simpson, of union Unite, warned: "The loss of the Corus plant will rip the heart out of this community." Union members marched through Redcar, recalling the Jarrow March to London in the Thirties to protest at unemployment and poverty. Marcher Calum Anderson, 28, said: "Yet another great British industry is dying off." Play FREE poker and win cash! \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Thousands of people have taken part in a march calling on the government to help the Corus steel plant in Redcar which is faced with closure. Up to 2,000 jobs at the Teesside Cast Products factory are at risk after an international consortium pulled out of a 10-year-deal to buy its steel. Organisers said Saturday's "Save our Steel" event sent out a strong message. The government said: "We are... engaged with Corus to try to secure the future for as many workers as possible." Union organisers said up to 5,000 workers and their families had turned out for the march and rally. Marchers included workers from the local port, and Teesside's chemical industry, as well from the Corus plants in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, and Rotherham and Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire. 'Real peril' There was also a message of support from the Australian Workers' Union, which is fighting to save its steel jobs. It was announced in May that the 150-year-old Redcar plant was to be mothballed, and progress in talks to resolve the contract problems has been hindered by a slump in demand for steel. Unite, one of the unions active at the plant, said the Teesside community will be devastated if the Corus plant is shut down, as many local families and businesses depend on the plant for their livelihoods. People came from all over the country to be here, and it tells us that we are not alone Bob Stainthorpe, multi-union committee deputy chairman Bob Stainthorpe deputy chairman of the multi-union committee at the plant, said up to 5,000 people were crammed the length of Redcar High Street. "It just shows the public support we have," he said. "People came from all over the country to be here, and it tells us that we are not alone." Roy Rickhuss from the Community Union said: "We need help, we need support from the government if the manufacturing base in this country is going to survive. "And steel is key to that, without steel there is no manufacturing base in this country." However, Vera Baird, the MP for Redcar, said she was hopeful Corus would get the contract back. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "There are other people who are interested in buying our steel now," she said. "So I feel that although we are still in real peril, we do have a real prospect. "And make no mistake, the government is 100% behind, and has played a key role in encouraging these negotiations to resume." A Department for Business spokesman said: "We have offered £5m in training support to help the workforce up skill for the upturn, signalling a real commitment from the Government to Corus and its workforce. "The difficulties that the company is facing are caused by an extreme downturn in demand for steel around the world. "It is restructuring as it seeks to match production to lower demand and to position itself for to the future." Do you work at Corus? Have you been marching today? Send us your stories using the form below. Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Corus steelworkers in Redcar, Cleveland, England marched yesterday for a campaign to save their jobs, after the closure of Redcar's steelworks was announced in May 2009. Unite, marchingApproximately 5,000 people, including employees of Redcar's steelworks, other Corus steelworks, Teesport and the local chemical industry, partook in the march, and the Australian Workers' Union also expressed their support. Trade unions called on the government to help the plant. Roy Rickhuss, Community's National Officer for Steel, said that "we need help, we need support from the government if the manufacturing base in this country is going to survive". He also said that "the government has helped the bowler hats, now it's time to help the hard hats". Derek Simpson, of Unite the Union, was concerned that "the loss of the Corus plant will rip the heart out of this community". Community also warned that the job losses would increase child poverty rates in Teesside. 200pxVera Baird QC MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Redcar and Solicitor General, expressed hope that Corus at Redcar would regain its main contract. She claimed that "the government is 100% behind, and has played a key role in encouraging these negotiations to resume". A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that "the difficulties that the company is facing are caused by an extreme downturn in demand for steel around the world". The government has offered £5 million (€5.8 million, $8.2 million) to retrain the workers. 10,000 jobs could be lost in Teesside from the closure of Redcar steelworks. 1,920 people are directly employed by Corus in Redcar, with a further 2,000 contractors being employed, and other local businesses relying on Corus' business.
With rain-swollen rivers still dangerously above flood level throughout Northeastern Massachusetts, water-weary residents began to take stock yesterday of damage to homes, businesses, and communities and braced for new problems. Some of the most serious flooding to hit the state in 70 years has plagued dozens of cities and towns, particularly in the Merrimack Valley, with more than 1,500 people leaving their homes, millions of gallons of raw sewage pouring into the Merrimack River, and emergency officials warning that the worst might lie ahead. The National Weather Service warned that dangerously high rivers, such as the Merrimack and Spicket, were not scheduled to crest until last evening and early this morning and that most of them would recede very slowly. More rain was expected to fall north of Boston again last night, adding about another inch of precipitation to three-day totals that had been exceeded only once in the last century. ''It's going to get worse before it gets better," Governor Mitt Romney said yesterday afternoon after touring the hard-hit Merrimack Valley. ''This is a level of crisis which is beyond anything these communities have ever experienced from water in their history." Since Friday, 12.64 inches of rain had fallen in Rockport by 4 p.m. yesterday, according to the National Weather Service. In Topsfield, the total was 11.95 inches; in Gloucester, it was 11.75. Romney said he would ask the federal government to declare the state a disaster area, predicting that the flooding's cost would easily surpass the $7 million threshold needed for US aid. The governor said 35 million gallons of sewage had entered the Merrimack River by yesterday afternoon because of a break in the main sewage line in Haverhill. Officials feared that problem would become much worse because a transformer for a regional waste-water facility in North Andover had been flooded, threatening to spill 115 million gallons of sewage a day into the river. National Guard troops, many of them veterans of the Iraq war, enforced roadblocks and filled sandbags. The US Army Corps of Engineers helped monitor dams. And rescue teams in Essex County and northeastern parts of Middlesex County took to boats to ferry residents to dry ground. ''This has been the worst flood that I've been through," said Peabody Fire Chief Steven Pasdon. ''In terms of Saugus, it is a catastrophe," said Saugus Town Administrator Andrew Bisignani. Flooding also fouled the commute, closing Route 1 in Saugus in both directions yesterday and forcing drivers from the North Shore and nearby communities to use Route 128 and Interstate 93 to reach and leave their jobs in Boston. As a result, 14 miles of Route 128 became a sodden stretch of nerve-fraying gridlock for much of the day. No deaths or serious injuries had been reported by last night. ''We still have a few more days of dealing with this," said Peter Judge, spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. The problems throughout the region were many. Here is a compilation: Sewer systems besieged The rain overwhelmed sewer systems in at least seven communities, leading to a major spill in the Merrimack River and backing up sewage systems that pushed contaminated water into homes, businesses, and roadways. The rain overwhelmed sewer systems in at least seven communities, leading to a major spill in the Merrimack River and backing up sewage systems that pushed contaminated water into homes, businesses, and roadways. ''The sewer industry in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire is under siege," said Fred Laskey, executive director of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, speaking yesterday at the massive treatment plant at Deer Island in Winthrop. ''We've been at full capacity here for about 48 hours; that's 1.3 billion gallons per day. On an average day, we treat 350 million gallons a day. . . . We're hanging on by our fingernails and hope to get through it." Overflows occurred in Melrose, Haverhill, Swampscott, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Saugus, Woburn, and Lowell. The sewage spills and runoff from streets are raising concerns about contamination of drinking water, particularly in Lowell and Tewksbury, state officials said. Clean water supplies in those communities are available for 24 hours, Romney said, in case residents need assistance. State officials will monitor the quality of river water, but residents are being cautioned to stay out of the Merrimack River and away from standing water in their streets. Shellfish beds and marine life along the river could also be threatened by sewage flowing downstream. In Saugus, manhole covers popped off all over town, sending the main pumping station on Lincoln Avenue into overdrive, and prompting the discharge of about 4 to 6 million gallons of untreated sewage and storm runoff directly into the Saugus River. The state allows such discharge only in extreme conditions. Bisignani, the town administrator, estimated that ''99.9 percent" of the untreated flow was composed of rain water. Many fleeing the flood Safety officials estimated last evening that 1,500 to 2,500 people from 17 cities and towns statewide had left their homes, most of them in the Merrimack River Valley. Mayor William Manzi of Methuen said 400 residents had been ordered yesterday afternoon to leave a downtown apartment complex near the dangerously surging Merrimack and Spicket rivers. Safety officials estimated last evening that 1,500 to 2,500 people from 17 cities and towns statewide had left their homes, most of them in the Merrimack River Valley. Mayor William Manzi of Methuen said 400 residents had been ordered yesterday afternoon to leave a downtown apartment complex near the dangerously surging Merrimack and Spicket rivers. Officials urged residents to leave their homes on the banks of the Spicket River before nightfall made evacuations more difficult. ''The dam's 150 years old. If that let go, that would be devastation for the downtown," said Matthew Kraunelis, the Methuen mayor's chief of staff. In Haverhill, buses were used to transport about 100 residents of the Bethany Homes Senior Center to safer quarters. In Peabody, the Fire Department and National Guard helped 250 people to move away from the flood threat. \|\|\|\|\| San Diego News Fix A crash in a tunnel near San Diego City College left three dead and many others injured. We’ll talk to Teri Figueroa about this developing story. Then, letters editor Andrew Kleske shares reader thoughts. Newsletter Get Essential San Diego, weekday mornings Get a special coronavirus news summary from the Union-Tribune in your inbox weekday mornings along with other top news headlines. Enter email address Sign Me Up You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. \|\|\|\|\| Schools in the region were closed on Monday, and some were to remain closed Tuesday. St. Paul's School in Concord, N.H., an Episcopal boarding school, suffered extensive damage after the Turkey River spilled its banks. The Merrimack River in Massachusetts crested Monday afternoon at six feet above flood level and is expected to stay that high until Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. A number of its tributaries in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, including the Spicket River in Methuen, Mass., and the Shawsheen River in Billerica, Mass., were beyond flood stage and had not yet crested. Photo Officials were particularly concerned about a weak dam on the Spicket River. If it fails, downtown Methuen could flood. Gov. John Lynch of New Hampshire declared a disaster in eight of the state's 10 counties, and called out more than 400 National Guard troops to assist with evacuations and to guard the more than 600 roads that have closed. "You can go to a town in any of those eight counties and find flood damage," Mr. Lynch said. In Massachusetts, tens of thousands of gallons of sewage were spewing into the Merrimack River after Haverhill's main sewage line broke and the Lawrence's sewage treatment facility flooded. Lowell's drinking water plant is in danger of shutting down. Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. "We're under siege; water is coming out everywhere," said Frederick Laskey, executive director of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, which provides water and sewer services to 43 municipalities. "This is overwhelming." The first part of the storm system, which hit the area late last week, was fed by moisture that came up from the Gulf of Mexico and sat off the shoreline. The second wave came from a system stuck in the Ohio River Valley. The two essentially set up a conveyor belt of moisture that will not be gone until Wednesday, said meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Taunton, Mass. In Methuen, Karen Baggetta, a visiting nurse, and her husband, Nick, a state trooper, hauled belongings out of their house next to the Spicket River. The first floor was flooded, and the living area was on the brink of flooding. "Our house is an island in the middle of the river," Ms. Baggetta said in a phone interview. After the house flooded in 1987, the family raised it five feet. This time, she does not want to go back. Advertisement Continue reading the main story "It's devastating," Ms. Baggetta said. "All those feelings come flooding back — ha-ha. But I'm out of here. We're so out of here. I can't go through this again." \|\|\|\|\| Tuesday, May 16, 2006 PHOTOS VIDEO PHOTO ESSAYS STORIES More than a foot of rain fell across New Hampshire, Massachusetts and southern Maine between Friday and Tuesday, with up to 17 inches in some places. Police reported a single fatality, a 59-year-old man whose body was found in a partially submerged car north of Boston. Gov. Mitt Romney said the damage would reach tens of millions of dollars in Massachusetts alone. And more rain was forecast for the weekend. But on Tuesday, the worst appeared to be over. In Maine, roads reopened and the threat against two dams on the Salmon Falls River eased. In Methuen, Mass., state and federal engineers watched a granite dam in danger of collapse after it was reinforced with 5,000 sandbags. Many property owners began cleaning up, although major rivers remained above flood stage. Jeffrey Saba, 42, used a 20-foot canoe to inspect his swamped home in Lowell, Mass., near the swollen Merrimack River. The water flooded Saba's garage and rose past his deck, 10 feet off the ground. "I just canoed over a 6-foot fence," Saba said. (Story continues below) ADVERTISEMENTS Advertise Here "We are up against a battle now," Saba said. "The next couple of days will be just a waiting game." Water flooded the first floor of a nursing home in Lawrence, forcing officials to cut power to the place and evacuate 243 residents, many of whom emerged in wheelchairs and on stretchers, wrapped in white blankets and clutching oxygen masks. "I think these people are suffering more than any others I've seen," said Romney, who watched as rescuers removed the residents using a plywood bridge laid over the floodwaters. Paul Monayer, a financial planner, skipped work to fight the floodwaters swamping his basement in Methuen. "For the past two days, every three or four hours I've pumped out 100 to 200 gallons," Monayer said. In Haverhill, officials worked to repair a burst sewage pipe dumping tens of millions of gallons of waste per day into the Merrimack River. State environmental officials said that the sewage posed no immediate threat to public health, and that a temporary fix should be in place by Friday. The heavy rains triggered the worst flooding in some areas since 1936, according to the National Weather Service. And even though the month is only half over, it already ranks as the wettest May on record in Concord, N.H., and Portland, Maine. Scattered showers were forecast through the weekend, but the rains should be much lighter, said Charlie Foley, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Taunton. In central New Hampshire, 200 to 400 families were evacuated late Tuesday from Bristol because a dam on the Newfound River was clogged with debris and had loose welds on its steel beams. Gov. John Lynch said authorities were concerned the structure could fail and were watching it carefully. Entire neighborhoods in Nashua, N.H., were sandbagged as firefighters rescued about a dozen people and their pets by boat. About 40 female inmates from a halfway house in Concord, N.H., were taken to higher ground because of a leaky dam. Many of the 2,000 New Hampshire residents who had been evacuated from their homes along the Salmon Falls River were able to return home by Tuesday evening. Earlier in the day, the rain had stopped, and the sun came out for a short while. Maine Gov. John Baldacci joined Peggy Fennelly as she walked inside her candy store in York to find soda bottles and supplies bobbing in the dark floodwaters. Her freezer had fallen over, and boxes of candies and chocolate were soggy and ruined. "I started crying and he hugged me," said Fennelly, 73. "He said, `You're a strong lady and you'll make it.'"	US Route 1 was shut down due to flooding, between Interstate 95/Massachusetts Route 128 and Massachusetts Route 60. The New England region of the United States has received the heaviest rainfall in decades leading to flooding and massive road closures. The states affected are Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. A state of emergency has been declared in all these areas. The floods have also led to thousands of evacuations in many cities. Only a single death has been reported. The main concern in many cities and towns is whether the dams that hold rivers from flowing in cities will hold long enough. These floods are the worst in New England since 1936 when over 150 died.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement At least 12 miners have been killed and 83 others are trapped following two explosions at Russia's largest underground coal mine. Twenty of those still in the Raspadskaya mine, in western Siberia, are rescuers sent in following the first blast, officials say. The country's emergencies minister said 55 miners have been injured. Many of Russia's mines have poor safety records, and there have been calls for standards to be tightened. More than 300 were underground when the first explosion happened just before midnight on Saturday and most were brought safely to the surface. Reports blamed the blast on methane gas. Officials said 12 miners died in the first explosion. The second explosion came about three hours later and contact with a team of 20 rescuers was lost. Emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu said 12 miners were killed in the blasts and 55 wounded, the Interfax news agency said. Rescue efforts were suspended, although were due to resume on Sunday evening, a rescuer told Itar-Tass news agency. "The mine is being ventilated to reduce the concentration of gas. There is no contact with the workers inside the mine," he was quoted as saying. The governor of Siberia's western Kemerovo region, Aman Tuleyev, has taken charge of the rescue operation. He said the second blast had destroyed the main air shaft, causing more injuries, and there was a risk of more explosions. "The rescue work will continue when the atmosphere in the mine is restored, but to conduct rescue work now means to send people to their death," he said. Emergency teams are now trying to pump air into the underground shafts. Vladimir Putin said the rescue operation should resume as soon as possible. Speaking at a meeting with emergency officials broadcast on state TV, the Russian Prime Minister said: "It is clear that the situation at the mine is very hard. I would say that it is tragic. "The saddest thing is that we cannot send in additional rescuers now as it is very dangerous due to the lack of ventilation. "But we cannot sit on our hands and must do everything to save people," he was quoted as saying by AFP. State TV pictures showed that the explosions had been so powerful that buildings on the surface had been badly damaged. The mine, about 3,500km (1,900 miles) east of Moscow, produces about eight million tons of coal a year, according to its website. Kemerovo is part of the major coal-producing Kuzbass region. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| MOSCOW (Reuters) - Two blasts at a big Siberian coal mine killed at least 12 people and the search for dozens trapped underground was halted after a damaged ventilation shaft choked the mine with smoke and gas, Russian officials said Sunday. World Itar-Tass news agency cited a source at the coal company as saying 12 people were dead. Another 41 people were injured in the explosions at the Raspadskaya mine in the Kemerovo region in Russia's coal-rich Kuzbass late Saturday, Valery Korchagin, a regional emergency official, told Reuters by telephone. The first explosion was caused by methane gas but authorities did not specify what caused the second blast. Korchagin said 64 miners and 20 rescuers were still underground nearly nine hours after the first explosion, which came just before midnight (6 p.m. BST) Saturday. Rescue operations were suspended because of dangerous conditions and fears of further explosions after the second blast some four hours later damaged the ventilation shaft, Korchagin said. Emergency workers were trying to pump air into the mine, he said. "To conduct rescue efforts now would be to send people to their death," Kemerovo region governor Aman Tuleyev said at the site, according to the Itar-Tass news agency. He said they would continue once suitable conditions are restored. Itar-Tass quoted a source at the company that owns the mine, also called Raspadskaya, as saying contact with the 20 emergency workers in the mine -- three rescue teams -- had been lost and their fates were unknown. Korchagin said 12 of the injured were hospitalised. They were among more than 200 who emerged alive after the blast on Saturday. The deadly mine drama marred weekend celebrations of the 65th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two, whose centrepiece will be a military parade in Moscow's Red Square Sunday with Russian and foreign leaders looking on. The mine in the city of Mezhdurechensk had reserves of some 450 million tons of coal and produced 8.9 million tons in 2007, according to the Raspadskaya company. It says the pit is the largest underground mine in Russia. Raspadskaya, Russia's largest standalone coking coal producer, is part-owned by steel and mining firm Evraz Group. Rossiya-24 said another blast three months ago killed one worker at the mine, located in the coal-rich area of central Siberia known as the Kuzbass. President Dmitry Medvedev ordered Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu to ensure everything possible was done to rescue the miners, and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin spoke with Kemerovo region governor Aman Tuleyev, Russian media reported. Mine blasts and other industrial accidents have prompted repeated calls from Russia's leaders for improvements to creaking infrastructure and stricter adherence to safety rules. Kremlin critics say little has been done. (Reporting by Steve Gutterman; editing by Michael Roddy)	Reports suggest methane gas was to blame for two explosions in a Russian which are thought to have left up to twelve miners dead and eighty others unaccounted for. Local officials say at least 41 miners have been injured. The explosions come after calls for coal mines in Russia to improve their poor safety records. Over three hundred miners were underground when the first explosion occurred just prior to midnight on Saturday night and most of them were brought safely to the surface. However, officials report that eleven miners died in the first explosion. Around three hours later a second explosion occurred and authorities on the surface lost contact with a rescue team below. Following the second explosion, an emergency services ministry spokeswoman told the media that rescue operations had been suspended indefinitely. , the governor of Siberia's western region, has taken charge of the rescue operation. Tuleyev said the second blast had caused more injuries and destroyed the main air shaft. He also stated that there was a risk of more explosions. "The rescue work will continue when the atmosphere in the mine is restored, but to conduct rescue work now means to send people to their death," he said. Reports suggest emergency workers are attempting to pump breathable air into the mine. The mine, owned by Russian company , is the largest underground coal mine in Russia. A worker was killed after part of the mine collapsed in January 2010.
aus Wikinews, einem freien Wiki für Nachrichten Veröffentlicht: 19:40, 11. Okt. 2007 (CEST) Bitte keine inhaltlichen Veränderungen vornehmen. Doris Lessing (2006) Stockholm (Schweden), 11.10.2007 – Nach vielen Spekulationen steht nun fest: Der Literaturnobelpreis 2007 geht an die Britin Doris Lessing, Autorin von „Das Goldene Notizbuch“ aus dem Jahr 1962. Auf der derzeit stattfindenden Internationalen Frankfurter Buchmesse wurde diese Nachricht allgemein begrüßt, als Entscheidung, die das Werk einer bekannten Autorin auszeichnet, ohne dass die Auszeichnung selbst eine vornehmlich politische Aussage darstellt. Lessing selbst, die am 22. Oktober ihren 88. Geburtstag feiert, war seit dreißig Jahren im Gespräch für den Preis gewesen und allmählich zu der Überzeugung gelangt: „Ich bekomme ihn nie.“ Der mit zehn Millionen schwedischen Kronen (1,1 Millionen Euro) dotierte Preis wird am 10. Dezember in Stockholm verliehen. bearbeiten] Themenverwandte Artikel bearbeiten] Quellen \|\|\|\|\| Lessing has been nominated for the Booker Prize three times Profile: Doris Lessing The 87-year-old has been honoured with the 10m kronor (£763,000) award for her life's work over a 57-year career. Her best-known works include The Golden Notebook, Memoirs of a Survivor and The Summer Before the Dark. Lessing said she was "very glad" about the honour - particularly as she was told 40 years ago that the Nobel hierarchy did not like her. She told BBC Radio 4: "I've won it. I'm very pleased and now we're going to have a lot of speeches and flowers and it will be very nice." They can't give a Nobel to someone who's dead so I think they were probably thinking they had better give it to me now Doris Lessing "So now they've decided they're going to give it to me. So why? I mean, why do they like me any better now than they did then?" The author, who turns 88 on 22 October, said she thought she had become more respectable with age. "They can't give a Nobel to someone who's dead so I think they were probably thinking they had better give it to me now before I popped off," she said. Lessing was told the news by reporters after returning from shops And she is the second British writer to win in three years, after Harold Pinter was honoured in 2005. Turkish author Orhan Pamuk won last year. The Swedish Academy, which awards the prize, described Lessing as "that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny". "Oh good, did they say that about me?" she replied. "Oh goodness, well obviously they like me better now than they used to." Lessing was out shopping when the announcement was made and said she thought a TV show was being filmed on her street when she returned to find TV crews outside her house. Lessing was born in what is now Iran and moved to Rhodesia - now Zimbabwe - as a child before settling in England in 1949. Her debut novel The Grass is Singing was published the following year and she made her breakthrough with The Golden Notebook in 1962. 'Pioneering work' "The burgeoning feminist movement saw it as a pioneering work and it belongs to the handful of books that informed the 20th Century view of the male-female relationship," the Swedish Academy said. But Lessing herself has distanced herself from the feminist movement. The content of her other novels ranges from semi-autobiographical African experiences to social and political struggle, psychological thrillers and science fiction. She has been nominated for the Booker Prize three times - for Briefing for a Descent into Hell in 1971, The Sirian Experiments in 1981 and The Good Terrorist in 1985 - but has never won. In addition to the Nobel cash prize, Lessing will receive a gold medal and an invitation to give a lecture at the academy's headquarters in Stockholm. She can also expect to see a rise in sales. US author Philip Roth had been the bookmakers' favourite for the award. His name has been mentioned in connection with the prize for many years, but he has always been overlooked. \|\|\|\|\| Lessing honoured for life's work Respected author Doris Lessing has won the £40,000 David Cohen literature prize. The prize is awarded every two years to a writer in recognition of a lifetime's achievement in literature. Ms Lessing was presented with the prize by Culture Secretary Chris Smith at a ceremony at Coutts Bank in London. The 81-year-old author was chosen by a panel which included Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, who was chair, as well as actor Simon Callow, Claire Armitstead, literary editor of The Guardian, and biographer Michael Holroyd. A quarter of the prize money is given to enable the winner to support a young writer or literature organisation. Miss Lessing has requested that the money is given to The Art of Regeneration, a programme led by the National Theatre which works with young people in and around Deptford, south-east London. I have been part of an astonishing period in this country's literature Doris Lessing In her acceptance speech, Doris Lessing said: "Of all our prizes this one is the best, the nicest, and I really do feel so honoured, and so pleased. "I have been part of an astonishing period in this country's literature. I am proud to have been part of it. "And proud that this prize you have given me acknowledges that I have been part of it." The David Cohen prize was set up in 1991 and previous winners include V S Naipaul, Harold Pinter, Muriel Spark and William Trevor. 'Literary landscape' Gerry Robinson, chairman of the Arts Council of England, said: "We recognise individual achievement; we acknowledge, as it were, an accumulation of excellence, a body of work that has, in its unique and determined way, shaped the literary landscape." Ms Lessing has been one of the towering figures in British literature for the last 50 years and, along with Iris Murdoch, is considered to be among the greatest female writers of the 20th century. She has been awarded numerous prizes including the Somerset Maugham Award in 1956 and the WH Smith Award in 1986 and has been shortlisted three times for the Booker prize. A prolific writer, she has written at the rate of a book a year over the last half-century and still writes for three or four hours a day.	Doris Lessing (2006). . After lots of speculations and speculative London betting on the outcome it has been announced that British author Doris Lessing ("The Golden Notebook", 1962) is the winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature. At the International Book Fair at Frankfurt, Germany, which is currently underway, this decision has met with general approval, as a decision awarding the literary work of an author well established beyond her native country, rather than a political statement. The reason given for giving the prestigious award to Doris Lessing was to honour "that epicist of the female experience, who with skepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny". Lessing herself, who will turn 88 on October 22, has been named a potential candidate over the last 30 years - so long in fact, that she herself once exclaimed: "I'll never get it". Finally, on December 10, 2007, the Nobel Prize including 10 million Swedish Kronor (€1.1 million) will be awarded to her in Stockholm, Sweden.
(CNN) -- Syria accused Israel of a "flagrant violation" of its obligations when it carried out an airstrike inside the country last week, according to a copy of a letter released Tuesday. Israeli soldiers deployed in the Golan Heights look toward Syria on September 7. Syria called the incursion a "breach of airspace of the Syrian Arab Republic" and said "it is not the first time Israel has violated" Syrian airspace, the letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon read. It also accused the international community of ignoring Israeli actions. Earlier, a U.N. spokeswoman said Syria had not requested a meeting of the Security Council. Meanwhile, France -- the current president of the Security Council -- said it had received no letter from Syria. Last week, Syria reported that its aircraft fired on Israeli "enemy aircraft" that flew into northern Syria early Thursday. The airstrike may have targeted weapons that were destined for Hezbollah militants, according to sources in the region and in the United States. Watch a report on the airstrike » The Israel Defense Forces had no comment on the report, and have refused to comment further on the new revelations. But the sources told CNN the military operation, which happened Wednesday into Thursday, may have also involved Israeli ground forces who directed the airstrike, which "left a big hole in the desert" in Syria. The strike may have targeted Hezbollah weapons coming into Syria or transiting through the country from Iran -- a pattern that, over the past three or four years, has occurred without any retaliation or other action taken against it -- the sources said. The Israeli government is very happy with the success of the operation, the sources said. Sources in the U.S. government and military confirmed to CNN's Barbara Starr that the airstrike did happen, and that they are happy to have Israel carry the message to both Syria and Iran that they can get in and out and strike when necessary. Right now, diplomats in the region are trying to ensure the incident does not escalate. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, is serving as a conduit between Israeli and Syrian foreign ministers, urging both sides to allow cooler heads to prevail, Solana's office said. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem and other Syrian officials have been putting out their version of events. The Syrian government said Israeli bombs were dropped on its territory and fuel tanks from Israeli jets were dropped on the Turkish side of the border. Al-Moualem was in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Monday protesting this action and trying to get Turkey to support its desire to take Israel to the Security Council for the airstrike. Israel fought a war with Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon last year after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers, who are still being held. E-mail to a friend CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour and U.N. Correspondent Richard Roth contributed to this report. All About Syria • Israel \|\|\|\|\| Syria yesterday said it had opened fire on Israeli aircraft after they crossed into Syrian airspace, broke the sound barrier and "dropped ammunition" over the desert. The claim comes after several months of shifting and sometimes tense relations between Israel and Syria. A Syrian military spokesman was quoted on the state news agency as saying that shortly after midnight the Israeli aircraft had crossed into north-east Syria from the Mediterranean, close to the Turkish border. Reports said the incident happened near al-Abyad, close to the border. "Air defence units confronted them and forced them to leave after they dropped some ammunition in deserted areas without causing any human or material damage," the spokesman said. "We warn the Israeli enemy government against this flagrant aggressive act, and retain the right to respond in an appropriate way." It was not clear exactly what the aircraft had dropped and the Syrian news agency did not say any targets had been hit. "We are a sovereign country. They cannot do that," said Buthaina Shaaban, a Syrian cabinet minister. The Israeli military said it had no comment on the incident. "We cannot discuss military operations," a spokesman said. In Washington, a White House spokesman also declined to comment. Israeli aircraft frequently fly over Lebanon, sometimes breaking the sound barrier, and operate on training missions in Turkey. But flights over Syria are less commonly acknowledged, although Israeli aircraft flew into Syrian airspace last summer, after the capture of an Israeli soldier near Gaza, and again at the start of the war with Hizbullah in Lebanon. Israel's military does monitor activities near the Golan Heights, but yesterday's incident occurred a considerable distance away. Israel's border with Syria has been its quietest in the past 30 years and it emerged earlier this year that secret peace talks had been held between some Israelis and the Syrian government over the previous two years to draw up a formal peace treaty, although they eventually broke up without success. Since then the Israeli press has repeatedly forecast a brewing conflict with Syria, although that prompted both Israeli and Syrian officials to say publicly they do not intend to go to war. Israel said it had begun to reduce troop levels near the Golan Heights, captured from Syria during the 1967 war and later annexed to Israel. \|\|\|\|\| CAIRO, Egypt – Air defense systems fired at Israeli warplanes that violated Syria’s northern airspace early Thursday, according to Syrian officials, who said the jets broke the sound barrier when they crossed the border after flying in from the Mediterranean Sea. A Syrian army spokesman told the official Sana news agency that air defense units “confronted” Israeli military jets over Tall Abyab, near the Turkish border, “and forced them to leave after they dropped some ammunition in deserted areas without causing any human or material damage.” The spokesman added: “We warn the Israeli enemy government against this flagrant aggressive act and retain the right to respond in an appropriate way.” Israel would not confirm or deny the claim by Damascus. “It is not our custom to respond to these kinds of reports,” an Israeli government statement said. A U.S. official confirmed the incident Thursday. In Washington, the State Department had no specific comment on the incident, citing lack of details about what happened. “I’d leave it up to the parties to describe what happened. We’ll leave it to them to try to sort this out,” said deputy spokesman Tom Casey. The incident comes amid Arab and Israeli media reports in recent weeks that the region may be headed toward war, provoked either by an Israeli airstrike or a military move by Syrian President Bashar Assad to try to retake the Golan Heights, which Israel captured during the Six-Day War in 1967. Peace talks between Damascus and Jerusalem have yet to be revived since stalling in 2000. Israel has been agitated by Syrian involvement in Lebanon and its support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have attempted to calm the rhetoric through diplomatic channels. Israel recently shifted some military exercises from the Golan Heights to southern Israel in an effort to defuse talk of war. Olmert’s government was heavily criticized at home for its handling of the 2006 war with Lebanon, and analysts say Israel wants to avoid another conflict. Comments by Syrian officials about Thursday’s incident suggest that planes may have been conducting reconnaissance flights near Syria’s border with Turkey. Syria said ammunition was found in the area. It is common for a pilot under attack to drop some ammunition and fuel to help the aircraft maneuver. The Israeli military in the past has acknowledged when its aircraft have entered Syrian airspace, such as when warplanes circled Assad’s presidential compound in coastal Latakiya last year. Israeli media were left Thursday to speculate about the nature of the reported flight and about whether the incident would heighten border tensions. Ayala Hasson, diplomatic reporter for Israel’s state-owned Channel 1 TV station, said government censors prevented details from being publicized but that there was no doubt Israel had been carrying out some kind of activity in Syrian skies. \|\|\|\|\| Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Jerusalem, said: "All that Israel has said is that it did not carry out a military attack against Syria." She said: "This has been a summer of heightening tensions between Israel and Syria, certainly in terms of rhetoric and talk ... this flurry of allegations and denials won't have helped." Intrusion claim A Syrian army spokesman told the official Sana news agency: "Enemy Israeli planes penetrated Syrian air space from the Mediterranean Sea heading towards the northeast, breaking the sound barrier." He said: "Our air defences forced them to leave ... without causing human or material loss." "What are they going to do with about $30m of armaments except attack neighbouring countries?" Buthayaa Shaaban, Syrian government minister "We warn the Israeli enemy government against this flagrant aggressive act, and retain the right to respond in an appropriate way," he said. "We warn the Israeli enemy government against this flagrant aggressive act, and retain the right to respond in an appropriate way," he said. "Air defence units confronted them and forced them to leave after they dropped some ammunition in deserted areas without causing any human or material damage." But asked by Al Jazeera if the Israeli jets had attacked targets in Syria, Buthayaa Shaaban, a Syrian government minister, would only confirm that the Israelis "intervened in our airspace". She said: "The Israeli aeroplanes went into our airspace at night on our northern borders and this is not really surprising. What are they going to do with about $30m of armaments except attack neighbouring countries?" She said that Syria was still looking into the "ammunition" that the Israeli jets are alleged to have dropped. Long hostilities At the beginning of last summer's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israeli aircraft flew over the palace of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, in what analysts called a warning to Damascus. In June of the same year, Israeli jets also flew over al-Assad's summer home in the coastal city of Latakia, after Syrian-backed Palestinian fighters in Gaza captured a young Israeli soldier. Syria and Israel remain technically at a state of war. Peace talks broke down in 2000 over the fate of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.	Syria has fired on Israeli fighter jets after they claim that the planes entered Syrian territory "dropping ammunition" and traveling at the speed of sound. "Air defense units confronted them and forced them to leave after they dropped some ammunition in deserted areas without causing any human or material damage. We warn the Israeli enemy government against this flagrant aggressive act, and retain the right to respond in an appropriate way," said a spokesman for the Syrian military force. Israel has neither confirmed or denied the reports, simply stating that "we cannot discuss military operations." Past Israeli military operations into Syrian airspace have been confirmed by the Israeli military, such as the circling of Syrian President Bashar Assad's compound in 2006. Israel, in the past, would fly over Lebanon and Turkey to perform training exercises and have at times traveled at the speed of sound. The last reported Israeli fighter planes to fly into Syria was in 2006 after an Israeli soldier had been kidnapped. They also flew into Syria just before the armed conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon had begun. Syria has said that no targets were hit and that no one was injured in the incident.
U.S. Yahoo News A group of House Democrats is mounting a renewed push to strip J. Edgar Hoover's name off the FBI headquarters in the wake of a powerful new film that highlights one of the bureau's worst abuses under his leadership: a secret, decades-long program known as COINTELPRO that was aimed at discrediting civil rights activists, and which ultimately led to the 1969 killing by law enforcement of Chicago Black Panther leader Fred Hampton. “You take a poll and I would bet 90 percent of the society has no clue what COINTELPRO was,” said Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, who, along with 22 co-sponsors, has reintroduced a bill to remove the longtime FBI director's name from the bureau's headquarters building in Washington, D.C. “This is an ugly part of our past that is not well known.” \|\|\|\|\| Press Notes Tuesday, October 30, 2001 Circulation rises at most top U.S. newspapers Newspapers treading lightly on ad rates Portland daily closes up after 13 issues MSNBC to make major cost cuts MTV to lay off 450, 8 to 9 percent of workforce Meredith Corp. reports 47 percent drop in earnings Judge refuses to unseal Oklahoma City bombing files Mercury News sues court for document access Radio talk show host claims reporter’s privilege Iowa courts to charge fee for some materials Florida lawmakers urge moderation in restricting records Auburn to stop electing newspaper editor Arab countries may change news offerings Canadian broadcasters are promised relief Deputy Wall Street Journal editor is hospitalized Mazzarella is named Stars and Stripes editor in chief Deaths: Lee, Vanett, Gantner Monday, October 29, 2001 Echo Star reaches deal to buy DirecTV Disney buys Fox Family Worldwide from News Corp. Fisher Communications reveals deepening losses Studio scraps segment on séances with WTC victims SPJ: Anti-terrorist bill could restrict speech USA Today stands by Rumsfeld headline New Jersey officials pull some Web pages Buffalo News gets powdery letter U.K. to allow CNN to cover serial killer inquiry Malaysian police free journalist and cameramen Panama continues to file charges against journalists Dominican Republic newspaper to fold Mother fires son from SF Examiner publisher post Deaths: M.W. Newman, Lisa Baird Friday, October 26, 2001 Florida Senate OKs secret meetings, may add exemptions Czech prime minister threatens to bankrupt weekly New Internet library holds over 10 billion Web pages Second NBC employee likely has anthrax Center to help journalists deal with trauma Advertisers pull Post ads over anthrax cartoon Cox cable net income falls 83 percent Cox Interactive cuts 16 percent of staff Primedia lays off workers as loss widens N.Y. Observer owner sells Connecticut weekly ABC suspends journalist for anthrax remarks Money magazine publisher is replaced Deaths: Stephen Clements, 34 Thursday, October 25, 2001 Ongoing news chopper ban frustrates media Texas court abolishes ban on anonymous political ads Pakistani journalist is beaten in New York Small, midsized dailies shift focus after attacks Powder used by Boston Globe is found harmless Belo reports narrow third quarter loss Taliban to try French reporter on spying charges Opposition TV stations stir up unrest in Iran Deaths: Gib Twyman, 57 Wednesday, October 24, 2001 NY Times closes mail room after receiving powder Arrest of Japanese journalist is confirmed by Taliban Reporter hands over unpublished notes to prosecutor Settlement is reached in suit against Dallas station Inter American Press criticizes AP subpoena ABC.com lays off “significant'' number of staff Newspaper publisher McClatchy’s profits fall 34 percent Viacom revenues fall 7 percent AT&T; shake-up may lead to cable-unit sale Louisville paper to build $80 million production plant School backs, then rejects journalist's censorship request TV reporter is fired after sprinkling powder in newsroom Hillard is named editor of The Morning Call Read past press notes here \|\|\|\|\| U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres suspended a $1,000-a-day fine he had imposed when he found Jim Taricani in civil contempt in March, saying it had not achieved its goal. WJAR has paid $85,000 in fines on Taricani's behalf so far. But the judge set a trial for Nov. 18 on criminal contempt charges that could send Taricani to prison for up to six months. Prosecutors want to know who gave the tape to Taricani because the leak violated a court order. He broke no law by airing the tape, which shows a chief of staff for former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci Jr. taking an envelope stuffed with cash. The judge said the leak was meant to either disrupt the corruption investigation at City Hall or deprive defendants of a fair trial by influencing prospective jurors. He asked Taricani to consider if his source deserves to be protected. "What kind of person would sit back and keep quiet while you face ... the prospect of criminal contempt?" Torres asked. Taricani, who had a heart transplant in 1996 and has a pacemaker, said he will talk with his lawyers and family about his options. "I think anyone would have to think seriously about what actions they could take to stay out of prison," he said. But he said if necessary, he was prepared to accept jail time because "my source expects me to uphold my promise." Cianci was convicted in 2002 in a scheme to take bribes for tax breaks, favors and jobs. The aide on the tape, Frank Corrente, was convicted of serving as Cianci's "bag man." Reporters around the country have been held in contempt in recent months for refusing to disclose their sources. Judith Miller of The New York Times and Time magazine's Matt Cooper are both appealing contempt charges. Five reporters, including one from The Associated Press, were held in contempt last summer in a civil case brought against the government by former nuclear physicist Wen Ho Lee. Fines were levied; payments were suspended pending appeals. \|\|\|\|\| Press Notes Tuesday, October 30, 2001 Circulation rises at most top U.S. newspapers Newspapers treading lightly on ad rates Portland daily closes up after 13 issues MSNBC to make major cost cuts MTV to lay off 450, 8 to 9 percent of workforce Meredith Corp. reports 47 percent drop in earnings Judge refuses to unseal Oklahoma City bombing files Mercury News sues court for document access Radio talk show host claims reporter’s privilege Iowa courts to charge fee for some materials Florida lawmakers urge moderation in restricting records Auburn to stop electing newspaper editor Arab countries may change news offerings Canadian broadcasters are promised relief Deputy Wall Street Journal editor is hospitalized Mazzarella is named Stars and Stripes editor in chief Deaths: Lee, Vanett, Gantner Monday, October 29, 2001 Echo Star reaches deal to buy DirecTV Disney buys Fox Family Worldwide from News Corp. Fisher Communications reveals deepening losses Studio scraps segment on séances with WTC victims SPJ: Anti-terrorist bill could restrict speech USA Today stands by Rumsfeld headline New Jersey officials pull some Web pages Buffalo News gets powdery letter U.K. to allow CNN to cover serial killer inquiry Malaysian police free journalist and cameramen Panama continues to file charges against journalists Dominican Republic newspaper to fold Mother fires son from SF Examiner publisher post Deaths: M.W. Newman, Lisa Baird Friday, October 26, 2001 Florida Senate OKs secret meetings, may add exemptions Czech prime minister threatens to bankrupt weekly New Internet library holds over 10 billion Web pages Second NBC employee likely has anthrax Center to help journalists deal with trauma Advertisers pull Post ads over anthrax cartoon Cox cable net income falls 83 percent Cox Interactive cuts 16 percent of staff Primedia lays off workers as loss widens N.Y. Observer owner sells Connecticut weekly ABC suspends journalist for anthrax remarks Money magazine publisher is replaced Deaths: Stephen Clements, 34 Thursday, October 25, 2001 Ongoing news chopper ban frustrates media Texas court abolishes ban on anonymous political ads Pakistani journalist is beaten in New York Small, midsized dailies shift focus after attacks Powder used by Boston Globe is found harmless Belo reports narrow third quarter loss Taliban to try French reporter on spying charges Opposition TV stations stir up unrest in Iran Deaths: Gib Twyman, 57 Wednesday, October 24, 2001 NY Times closes mail room after receiving powder Arrest of Japanese journalist is confirmed by Taliban Reporter hands over unpublished notes to prosecutor Settlement is reached in suit against Dallas station Inter American Press criticizes AP subpoena ABC.com lays off “significant'' number of staff Newspaper publisher McClatchy’s profits fall 34 percent Viacom revenues fall 7 percent AT&T; shake-up may lead to cable-unit sale Louisville paper to build $80 million production plant School backs, then rejects journalist's censorship request TV reporter is fired after sprinkling powder in newsroom Hillard is named editor of The Morning Call Read past press notes here	Television reporter Jim Taricani was convicted of criminal contempt Thursday for not revealing to authorities the source of a video that he had received and reported on. The video had been sealed to prevent the public from seeing it. US District Court Judge Ernest Torres convicted Taricani, a reporter for WJAR-TV News in Providence, Rhode Island. The video in question showed the city's mayor, Vincent Cianci, taking a $1000 bribe. The official was subsequently convicted for corruption. During Cianci's trial, the court had ordered the video to be sealed. It was subsequently released to reporter Jim Taricani. Torres opined that the leak had been designed to prevent a fair trial and, as the video was sealed, the person who leaked it had broken the law. Taricani's refusal to identify the leaker had been the basis for his conviction of civil contempt on March 16. A USD $1000 fine was to be issued every day until Taricani revealed his source. He has paid all fines, and was reimbursed by WJAR-TV News for all expenses. Torres suspended the fine, calling it ineffective. Taricani defended his action, saying: "I made a promise to my source, which I intend to keep." Prosecutions for not revealing sources are becoming an increasingly common occurrence. Eight journalists have been convicted in recent months. Speaking in an interview Wednesday, he said, "I'm proud to be a part of this effort with other reporters who are facing this same thing." Sentencing is to take place December 9th. Torres has said Taricani will receive no more than six months due to ill health.
New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Roadrunner Records) -was announced as the new singer for Nightwish. The band met Anetten on her first visit to Finland earlier this year, and after going through over 2,000 applications, knew they had found a match. In an official statement Nightwish said, "She's already so much more than we were ever expecting to get. Long live new Nightwish! The new album will be a monster!!!" Olzon stems from a musical upbringing, she has been performing and singing since childhood. She has also studied music and performing at Goteborg Balettakademie, Copenhagen Conservatory and Malmo Music University. Nightwish is currently in the studio working on their next album, due this fall, and you can get an early taste of the work-in-progress via an audio sample of the new song, "Eva." You can also see new photos of the band and their new singer below and find video and more goodies at their WEBSITE www.nightwish.com \|\|\|\|\| New NIGHTWISH singer Anette Blyckert's (a.k.a. Anette Olzon) former bandmates in the Swedish AOR act ALYSON AVENUE have posted the following message on their MySpace page: "It's with pride, enthusiasm and love that we wish you all the best in your position as the new lead vocalist in. We know what you are capable of, and we know that you will kick ass!! "This will be a new tough experience for you, but most of all a fun journey, and you will do more than well, for sure. "We have had a lot of fun together through the years and we are here as friends forever. "It's very hard to find enough words to express the emotions but... HUGS AND KISSES from your old bandmates!!! "And to the rest of: You have for sure picked the best girl to frontor any other band in the world." Threesongs featuringare currently available for download on the band's MySpace page. Check out the songsandat this location . Also available for streaming is a 2005 demo version of the song last week released three more samples from its forthcoming album, due in September. In addition to first single,, you can now check out short clips of the songsand 's new single,, was released in Finland on Friday (May 25) via The sixthalbum will be released on September 26, preceded by a second, regular single release in August. \|\|\|\|\| The band met Olzon on her first visit to Finland earlier this year. After having gone through over 2000 applications, Nightwish knew they had found a match. In an official statement the band said, Shes already so much more than we were ever expecting to get. Long live new Nightwish! The new album will be a monster!!! Olzon stems from a musical upbringing, she has been performing and singing since childhood. She has also studied music and performing at Gφteborg Balettakademie, Copenhagen Conservatory and Malmφ Music University. Nightwish is currently in the studio, working on a new album due this fall. \|\|\|\|\| Nightwish signs Swede Anette Olzon as new vocalist print this Olzon has studied at the Royal Swedish Ballet School in Gothenburg, the Copenhagen Conservatory, and the Malmö Music College. The 35-year-old Olzon lives in Katrineholm, Sweden. Until now, she has not been a devout Nightwish fan. "The first time I heard of Nightwish was a couple of months before "A week after I had sent out my demo, I received a personal reply from Tuomas via email, in which he said he had liked my version and my voice. I was completely flabbergasted!" Olzon describes her sentiments after the first contact by the Nightwish central figure, keyboards player In March 2006 , however, Holopainen informed Olzon that she could not become the Nightwish vocalist, as she had a child, and it would not compute well with the band's extensive touring schedule. After that Olzon sent Nightwish a DVD of a live concert of Alyson Avenue, a move that apparently convinced the Nightwish members and the organisation of Olzon's willingness to commit to the band's future. After a long wait , on the 30th of January 2007, Tuomas Holopainen finally told Olzon of the band's decision. It was planned to release the information only next week, to coincide with the appearance of a new single. However, a leak of the single on a British download site brought forward both the release and the announcement of Anette Olzon's signing. Nightwish are scheduled to bring out their sixth studio album in September of this year. The new single, Eva , will be included on this album. Swedish singer Anette Olzon (b. 1971) has been signed as the new vocalist of the Finnish symphonic metal act Nightwish. Olzon, previously known as Annette Blyckert, has earlier sung in bands such as Alyson Avenue and Disdain. In the early 1990s she also performed some rock opera.Olzon has studied at the Royal Swedish Ballet School in Gothenburg, the Copenhagen Conservatory, and the Malmö Music College.lives in Katrineholm, Sweden.Until now, she has not been a devout Nightwish fan."The first time I heard of Nightwish was a couple of months before Tarja Turunen got sacked. Before that I knew nothing about the band or its history", Olzon explains in a communiqué distributed by the record label Spinefarm."A week after I had sent out my demo, I received a personal reply from Tuomas via email, in which he said he had liked my version and my voice. I was completely flabbergasted!" Olzon describes her sentiments after the first contact by the Nightwish central figure, keyboards player Tuomas Holopainen , however, Holopainen informed Olzon that she could not become the Nightwish vocalist, as she had a child, and it would not compute well with the band's extensive touring schedule.After that Olzon sent Nightwish a DVD of a live concert of Alyson Avenue, a move that apparently convinced the Nightwish members and the organisation of Olzon's willingness to commit to the band's future., on the 30th of January 2007, Tuomas Holopainen finally told Olzon of the band's decision.It was planned to release the information only next week, to coincide with the appearance of a new single. However, a leak of the single on a British download site brought forward both the release and the announcement of Anette Olzon's signing.Nightwish are scheduled to bring out their sixth studio album in September of this year. The new single,, will be included on this album. Previously in HS International Edition: "A Hispanic in the Nightwish works" (16.5.2006) Nightwish sack female vocalist after lengthy world tour (24.10.2005) Links: Nightwish – The Official Website Nightwish (Wikipedia) Helsingin Sanomat	Anette Olzon will replace the bands previous vocalist Tarja Turunen (above). Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish have announced the signing of Anette Olzon, also known as Anette Blyckert, a 35-year-old Swede, as their new lead vocalist. The announcement comes 19 months after original vocalist Tarja Turunen was sacked. Olzen had previously been in the band Alyson Avenue, and was selected from over 2,000 separate applicants for the place in Nightwish. Part of an official statement by the band said “She’s already so much more than we were ever expecting to get. ... The new album will be a monster ” The band first met with Olzen earlier this year during Olzen's first visit to Finland. Olzon said she had not previously heard much of Nightwish until shortly before Turunen was sacked. One week after sending Nightwish a demo, she received a personal reply from Nightwish keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen. She was informed at one point, however, that she could not take the part as she was a mother and Nightwish were worried that could impact on their touring schedule, but Olzon forwarded a DVD of a live concert with her previous band that apparently changed Nightwish's mind. She was not told of the band's decision, however, until January 30th this year. Olzon's Former bandmates posted a message to the official MySpace account of their own band, wishing her "all the best" and stated that they "Know That You Will Kick Ass " in her new position. Olzen is on the recently released single, "Eva", and has recorded her vocals for Nightwish's sixth studio album, due out in September. The rest of the band is currently in studio finishing the album.
The odds of an interest rate rise this week are better than putting your shirt on Melbourne Cup favourite Master O'Reilly. Economists say a rate rise on Wednesday after Tuesday's Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board meeting now seems a foregone conclusion as further data shows the strength of the economy needs to be reined in. A private survey indicated that it may be better for homebuyers to budget for more than one rate increase with inflation zipping along, while another showed hiring intentions had returned to a canter from a trot. A key business group also estimated that a rate rise will put a $1.8 billion dent in an economy that is otherwise going "gang-busters". Prime Minister John Howard, while not willing to wager on the RBA's decision, continues to use the risk of a rate rise as a platform not to change governments because of the challenges facing the economy. "My argument, to the Australian people, will be we are entering a slightly more challenging phase of economic management," Mr Howard told journalists in Gosford, NSW. "And that is not the time to substitute a very experienced, successful government when it comes to economic management with a group of people who will be very inexperienced." Mr Howard conceded for the first time on Sunday that inflation pressures are unavoidable because of the strength of the economy, high oil prices and the drought. Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd accused Mr Howard of again refusing to take responsibility for rising inflation and interest rates and that he had sold people a "big interest rate con" at the last election. "What I see increasingly though is Mr Howard quite arrogantly pushing aside all responsibility for the problems of inflation in the Australian economy," Mr Rudd told journalists in Sydney. "He also said there would be no problem of policy miscalculation or policy failure, whereas three years ago he told everyone that he would keep interest rates at record lows." A rate rise on Wednesday would mark the sixth increase since the 2004 election. Labor's treasury spokesman Wayne Swan calculates home buyers in NSW are already paying an extra $209 per month or $62,594 over the life of the loan since the last election. However, a new Galaxy poll published by News Ltd has found that only 12 per cent of voters will blame Mr Howard if rates go up again. The TD Securities-Melbourne Institute monthly inflation gauge showed an annual rate of 3.3 per cent, the highest annual increase since March, and above the RBA's two to three per cent inflation target. "There is a risk that one more interest rate increase will not be enough to quell inflationary pressure (and) more interest rate increases may be required in the months ahead," TD Securities senior strategist Joshua Williamson said. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) chief executive Peter Hendy says ACCI's latest business survey showed the economy is going "gang-busters", but any rate rise could cost the economy $1.8 billion. "But the fact is that inflation is a beast that needs to be kept under control and if the Reserve Bank coordinates a balanced decision that interest rates need to rise to keep inflation under control, we would support that," Mr Hendy said. \|\|\|\|\| The latest measure of inflation adds to the case for an interest rate rise when the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board meets tomorrow, economists say. The TD Securities-Melbourne Institute Monthly Inflation gauge increased 0.3 per cent in October after a rise the month before. In the 12 months to October, inflation rose by 3.3 per cent, which is the highest growth rate since March. TD Securities senior strategist Joshua Williamson says the figure is above the RBA's comfort range of between 2 and 3 per cent "At the end of the day it really means that a rate rise in November is pretty much a fait accompli," he said. The RBA board will meet tomorrow and will announce its decision on Wednesday. Most economists predict it will lift the cash rate by 0.25 per cent to 6.75 per cent.	The Australian Prime Minister John Howard is bracing himself for the probable interest rate rise on Wednesday. Experts are saying that a rise is almost certain and that as many as three could occur within the next three months. Interest rates have never risen so close to a federal election (this year's election on November 24) but the Prime Minister says that some interest rate rise is unavoidable in a good economy. "Now is not the time to replace an experienced government on economic issues with an inexperienced government," Howard warned today. Labor leader Kevin Rudd recalls the Prime Minister's promise at the 2004 election to keep interest rates low - labelled the 'big interest rate con' by the opposition leader. Treasurer Peter Costello reaffirms the Coalition's policy on the workplace relations laws, saying that a reversal of the laws by a Labor government would push up inflation and interest rates.
China's New Carrier Rocket To Debut In 2014 In addition to bigger capacity, the Long March 5 rockets will be designed using pollution-free technologies. by Staff Writers Beijing (XNA) Mar 04, 2008 China's new generation of carrier rocket, the Long March 5, with a maximum payload capacity of 25 tons, will come into use in 2014, said an official with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology on Sunday. The rockets will be made in Tianjin and launched in Hainan, said Liang Xiaohong, vice president of the academy and a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body. The 11th CPPCC National Committee will start its annual full session on Monday. The 25-ton payload capacity, more than double the current limit of 9.2 tons, will greatly improve the country's capability in space exploration, said Liang. Meanwhile, Liang said the Long March 3C carrier rocket will come out of production later this month and is scheduled to be launched at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan next month. A Long March 2F carrier rocket will be used for China's third manned space mission this year. Compared with the previous two manned space flights, the upcoming Shenzhou VII space mission, which includes a space walk, is more complex. China used Long March 3A for its first lunar probe Chang'e-1 in October 2007. In addition to bigger capacity, the Long March 5 rockets will be designed using pollution-free technologies. The new series of rockets will lift off from a new space launch center in Wenchang, in the southern island province of Hainan. The new center, the fourth in China, is expected to be completed in 2012 and formally put into use in 2013. The rockets will be made in a new base located at the Binhai New Area in the northern port city of Tianjin, and construction on the base was started last October. The first phase of the 200-hectare base will be completed at the end of 2009. A total of 4.5 billion yuan (630 million U.S. dollars) will be invested in the project. The base will meet the demands of China's space technology development and peaceful use of space for 30 to 50 years, according to Yu Liegui, deputy head of the Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense. China has launched more than 100 Long March carrier rockets since April 24, 1970, when the Long March 1 successfully sent Dongfanghong-1 satellite into the space. Source: Xinhua News Agency \|\|\|\|\| Home > Sci-Tech > Space China`s rocket to be operated in 2014 New Delhi, March 03: China has announced that its new generation of carrier rocket - the Long March 5, which has a maximum payload capacity of 25 tons, would start operations in 2014. "The rockets will be made in Tianjin and launched in Hainan," said Liang Xiaohong, Vice President of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. "The 25-ton payload capacity, more than double the current limit of 9.2 tons, will greatly improve the country`s capability in space exploration," he added. In addition to bigger capacity, the Long March 5 rockets will be designed using pollution-free technologies. The new series of rockets will lift off from a new space launch center in Wenchang, in the southern island province of Hainan. The new center, the fourth in China, is expected to complete in 2012 and formally put into use in 2013. The rockets will be made in a new base located at the Binhai New Area in the northern port city of Tianjin, and construction on the base was started last October. The first phase of the 200-hectare base will be completed at the end of 2009. A total of 4.5 billion yuan (630 million dollars) will be invested in the project. "The base will meet the demands of China`s space technology development and peaceful use of space for 30 to 50 years," according to Yu Liegui, deputy head of the Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense. "Meanwhile, the Long March 3C carrier rocket will come out of production later this month and is scheduled to be launched at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan next month," said Liang. Bureau Report New Delhi, March 03: China has announced that its new generation of carrier rocket - the Long March 5, which has a maximum payload capacity of 25 tons, would start operations in 2014."The rockets will be made in Tianjin and launched in Hainan," said Liang Xiaohong, Vice President of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology."The 25-ton payload capacity, more than double the current limit of 9.2 tons, will greatly improve the country`s capability in space exploration," he added.In addition to bigger capacity, the Long March 5 rockets will be designed using pollution-free technologies.The new series of rockets will lift off from a new space launch center in Wenchang, in the southern island province of Hainan. The new center, the fourth in China, is expected to complete in 2012 and formally put into use in 2013.The rockets will be made in a new base located at the Binhai New Area in the northern port city of Tianjin, and construction on the base was started last October.The first phase of the 200-hectare base will be completed at the end of 2009. A total of 4.5 billion yuan (630 million dollars) will be invested in the project."The base will meet the demands of China`s space technology development and peaceful use of space for 30 to 50 years," according to Yu Liegui, deputy head of the Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense."Meanwhile, the Long March 3C carrier rocket will come out of production later this month and is scheduled to be launched at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan next month," said Liang.Bureau Report Toolbox Print this page E-Mail Share What's this Digg it Reditt Delicious Newsvine My Yahoo Post comment \| Alert Moderator Your comment(s) on this article	CZ-2F. China has confirmed that the newest generation of Long March rockets has been re-scheduled to enter use in 2014. Liang Xiaohong, Vice President of China's Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, also confirmed that the ''Changzheng 5'' design was built around pollution-free technologies. The rocket has been under development since 2002, and was initially said to require only six years' research. However the new design, which will allow more than twice the payload of previous models, has seen a number of delays in funding and development. Due to the large size of the new rockets, a new 200-hectare launch centre has been under construction at the existing Wenchang Satellite Launch Center since September. Until then, China is relying on its older fleet of rockets to carry on its space program, consisting of more than ten launches scheduled for this year. This month a CA-3a rocket will take a Beidou navigation system into Medium Earth Orbit.
After months of delays, the PlayStation 3 (PS3) was finally launched in the UK last month. But inmates in British prisons will have to wait even longer before trying out Sony's next generation games console. The Home Office has confirmed that the PS3 has been banned from prisons because of concerns about its Wi-Fi capabilities. "Advice was issued to all prisons in December 2005 that the Sony PlayStation 3 was barred from the prison estate because of the equipment's ability to send and receive radio signals," home secretary John Reid told MPs. The PS3 offers improved gaming and a built-in high-definition DVD player. Despite the delay in launching the new console, Sony is confident that its latest offering can challenge Microsoft's Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii. However, because it uses wireless technology to connect with its portable cousin, the PSP, and other devices, it will not be allowed in British prisons. A similar ban was slapped on the PS2 amid concerns about inmates using it to look at pornography. Monday, 2nd April 2007 © Adfero Ltd Back to Broadband News * Fair Usage Policy applies. Click on Go to find out more information and Fair Usage Policy conditions for relevant providers. ** All Costs excludes the cost of line rental. \|\|\|\|\| Unfortunately, the page you were trying to retrieve does not exist on itv.com Please try one of the following options: \|\|\|\|\| The decision was made based on fears surrounding the PS3’s Wi-Fi functionality and its ability to share data with Sony’s handheld PSP. "Advice was issued to all prisons in December 2005 that the Sony PlayStation 3 was barred from the prison estate because of the equipment's ability to send and receive radio signals," said John Reid, in a response to shadow secreatery David Davis’ recent querying of Home Office regulations concerning the use of games consoles. Back in June 2006, it was reported that PS2s had been banned from UK prisons due to inmates watching porn.	The PlayStation 3. Sony's PlayStation 3 Entertainment System has been banned in British prisons. One of its key features is built in Wi-Fi which has the ability to send radio signals. To prevent prisoners from sending messages about jail breaks and other possible violations, it has been banned. "The Sony PlayStation 3 was barred from the prison estate because of the equipment's ability to send and receive radio signals," said British Home Secretary John Reid. The PlayStation 3 was launched in the United Kingdom last month. A similar ban was put in for Sony's PlayStation 2 which was alleged that inmates could use it to look at pornography.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Emily Cook was asleep when she assumed the title of Miss Georgia. The reigning Miss Cobb County was informed Sunday morning that the previous night’s winner, Gwinnett County schoolteacher Kristina Higgins, had turned down the prize. “We were heading home to Marietta when we got the call,” said Annie Cook, the new Miss Georgia’s mother. Higgins had decided she’d rather teach, saying in a statement, “Due to my current job responsibilities as a middle school teacher and the responsibilities and time commitment as Miss Georgia, I have decided to not fulfill the duties of Miss Georgia 2009.” After digesting the news, Emily Cook told her, “Mom, you need to turn around.” Miss Georgia’s crown and sash were waiting back in Columbus, scene of Saturday night’s state pageant. “Her reaction was hilarious,” Annie Cook said. “The thing is we were very happy with runner-up. She was going to get $7,000 to use toward law school (she had been accepted at the University of Georgia).” Instead she’ll receive a $15,000 cash scholarship, a new Kia and wardrobe for the Miss America pageant in January. Not bad for someone who entered her first pageant just a year ago. “She was in the top 15 for Miss UM (University of Miami, where Cook received her bachelor’s degree),” her mother said. “She wore a dress from Ross she had bought for $7.” Higgins has not returned calls seeking comment. \|\|\|\|\| By Andrew Wittenberg - bio \| email \| Twitter COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) - Miss Capital City Kristina Higgins, who took home the 2009 Miss Georgia crown on Saturday night at the Columbus RiverCenter, has given up the title to first runner-up, Miss Cobb County, Emily Cook. In a press release from the Miss Georgia Scholarship Pageant, Higgins commented on her decision. "Due to my current job responsibilities as a middle school teacher and the responsibilities and time commitment as Miss Georgia, I have decided not to fulfill the duties of Miss Georgia 2009. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been chosen as Miss Georgia and fully support the system and wish Emily Cook the best of luck." Cook, 22, is a University of Miami graduate and plans to attend law school at the University of Georgia. Cook is scheduled to appear live on News Leader Nine at 6:00 tonight. \|\|\|\|\| Less than 24 hours after winning the crown, Miss Capital City Kristina Higgins has stepped down from her role as Miss Georgia. The first runner-up Emily Cook, Miss Cobb County, takes over. In a press release issued by the Miss Georgia Scholarship Pageant, Higgins says: "Due to my current job responsibilities as a middle school teacher and the responsibilities and time commitment as Miss Georgia, I have decided to not fulfill the duties of Miss Georgia 2009. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been chosen as Miss Georgia and fully support the system and wish Emily Cook the best of luck." \|\|\|\|\| The first runner up was Emily Cook, Miss Cobb County. “I’m very excited,” she said backstage in the RiverCenter’s Bill Heard Theatre. “It doesn’t feel real to me yet.” The third time was the charm for Kristina Higgins, 24, who is the 2009 Miss Georgia. She competed as Miss Capital City. “When I was standing there (with Cook), I didn’t really realize what was going on. It was fast,” Higgins said. “I’ll probably be up all night.” Higgins’ platform is Autism Speaks; she sang “There Will Come a Day” in the talent competition. Higgins receives a $15,000 scholarship for the win, while Cook receives $7,500. Higgins takes over the crown from Miss Georgia 2008 Chasity Hardman of Columbus. Hardman was first runner-up in the 2008 Miss America pageant. Higgins will represent Georgia in the Miss America pageant. The Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen is Miss Cobb County Brianna Godshalk, 16, who gets a $1,500 scholarship. The runners up are Colby Dee Coskery, Miss Capital City, $750; Maggie Bridges, Miss Southern Rivers, $500; Cammie Cunningham, Miss Warner Robins, $350; and Sara Whetsell, Miss Albany, $250. And, yes, there was a Miss Congenialty prize given Saturday night. That went to Miss Cherokee County Casy Walker. ContactSandra Okamoto at 706-571-8580	Former Miss Georgia 2009 titleholder Kristina Higgins. Kristina Higgins, who won the title of Miss Georgia 2009 Saturday evening at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts in downtown Columbus, gave up the crown almost as quickly as she received it. On Sunday morning, Emily Cook, the first runner-up, received word that she would be the new Miss Georgia 2009, and would compete for the title of Miss America next January in Las Vegas, Nevada. Higgins, 24, having previously won the title of Miss Capital City, beat out 34 other pageant hopefuls to take the crown, only to relinquish it privately the next morning. In a rather confusing twist, Higgins had competed twice before in the Miss Georgia pageant, placing second just last year. Emily Cook, the newly crowned Miss Georgia 2009. In a prepared statement via the Miss Georgia Scholarship Pageant, Higgins said, "Due to my current job responsibilities as a middle school teacher and the responsibilities and time commitment as Miss Georgia, I have decided to not fulfill the duties of Miss Georgia 2009. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been chosen as Miss Georgia and fully support the system and wish Emily Cook the best of luck." Higgins is a 2008 graduate from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, receiving her degree in special education. Cook, 22, won the title of Miss Cobb County before eventually placing second in Saturday's competition, and now takes over duties for Higgins effective immediately. A 2005 graduate of Kennesaw Mountain High School, Cook graduated this May with a degree in music from the University of Miami, and will be pursuing a law degree this year at the University of Georgia in Athens. Cook was scheduled to make her first televised appearance as Miss Georgia 2009 on Sunday evening, during WTVM's six o'clock news.
Famed motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel dies at home at age 69 CLEARWATER, Fla. - Evel Knievel, the red-white-and-blue-spangled motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69. Knievel's death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs. Knievel had undergone a liver transplant in 1999 after nearly dying of hepatitis C, likely contracted through a blood transfusion after one of his bone-shattering spills. Longtime friend and promoter Billy Rundel said Knievel had trouble breathing at his Florida condominium and died before an ambulance could get him to a hospital. "It's been coming for years, but you just don't expect it. Superman just doesn't die, right?" Rundel said. Immortalized in the Washington's Smithsonian Institution as "America's Legendary Daredevil," Knievel was best known for a failed 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered cycle and a spectacular crash at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980. Although he dropped off the pop culture radar in the '80s, Knievel always had fans and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years. In later years, he still made a good living selling his autographs and endorsing products. Thousands came to Butte, Montana, every year as his legend was celebrated during the "Evel Knievel Days" festival. "They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives," Knievel once said. "People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner." His death came just two days after it was announced that he and rapper Kanye West had settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked image in a popular West music video. For the tall, thin daredevil, the limelight was always comfortable. To Knievel, there always were mountains to climb, feats to conquer. "No king or prince has lived a better life," he said in a May 2006 interview with The Associated Press. "You're looking at a guy who's really done it all. And there are things I wish I had done better, not only for me but for the ones I loved." He had a knack for outrageous stories: "Made $60 million, spent 61. . . . Lost $250,000 at blackjack once. . . . Had $3 million in the bank, though." He began his daredevil career in 1965, when he formed a troupe called Evel Knievel's Motorcycle Daredevils, a touring show in which he performed stunts such as riding through fire walls, jumping over live rattlesnakes and mountain lions and being towed at 200 mph (321 km/h) behind dragster race cars. In 1966 he began touring alone, barnstorming the U.S. West and doing everything from driving the trucks, erecting the ramps and promoting the shows. In the beginning he charged $500 for a jump over two cars parked between ramps. He steadily increased the length of the jumps until, on New Year's Day 1968, he was nearly killed when he jumped 151 feet (46 metres) across the fountains in front of Caesar's Palace. He cleared the fountains, but the crash landing put him in the hospital in a coma for a month. His son, Robbie, successfully completed the same jump in April 1989. In the years after the Caesar's crash, the fee for Evel's performances increased to $1 million for his jump over 13 buses at Wembley Stadium in London - the crash landing broke his pelvis - to more than $6 million for the Sept. 8, 1974, attempt to clear the Snake River Canyon in Idaho in a rocket-powered "Skycycle." The money came from ticket sales, paid sponsors and ABC's "Wide World of Sports." The parachute malfunctioned and deployed after takeoff. Strong winds blew the cycle into the canyon, landing him close to the swirling river below. On Oct. 25, 1975, he jumped 14 Greyhound buses at Kings Island in Ohio. Knievel decided to retire after a jump in the winter of 1976 in which he was again seriously injured. He suffered a concussion and broke both arms in an attempt to jump a tank full of live sharks in the Chicago Amphitheater. He continued to do smaller exhibitions around the country with his son, Robbie. Many of his records have been broken by daredevil motorcyclist Bubba Blackwell. Knievel also dabbled in movies and TV, starring as himself in "Viva Knievel" and with Lindsay Wagner in an episode of the 1980s TV series "Bionic Woman." George Hamilton and Sam Elliott each played Knievel in movies about his life. Evel Knievel toys accounted for more than $300 million in sales for Ideal and other companies in the 1970s and '80s. Born Robert Craig Knievel in the copper mining town of Butte on Oct. 17, 1938, Knievel was raised by his grandparents. He traced his career choice back to the time he saw Joey Chitwood's Auto Daredevil Show at age 8. Knievel worked in the Montana copper mines, served in the Army, ran his own hunting guide service, sold insurance and ran Honda motorcycle dealerships. As a motorcycle dealer, he drummed up business by offering $100 off the price of a motorcycle to customers who could beat him at arm wrestling. At various times and in different interviews, Knievel claimed to have been a swindler, a card thief, a safe cracker, a holdup man. Evel Knievel married hometown girlfriend, Linda Joan Bork, in 1959. They separated in the early 1990s. They had four children, Kelly, Robbie, Tracey and Alicia. Robbie Knievel followed in his father's footsteps as a daredevil. Knievel had 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Knievel lived with his longtime partner, Krystal Kennedy-Knievel. They married in 1999 and divorced a few years later but remained together. \|\|\|\|\| Evel Knievel Dies at 69 CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Evel Knievel, the hard-living motorcycle daredevil whose exploits made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69. Knievel's death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs. Knievel had undergone a liver transplant in 1999 after nearly dying of hepatitis C, likely contracted through a blood transfusion after one of his bone-shattering spills.	Knievel in 1970 at his Florida home. Daredevil Evel Knievel has died today at the age of 69, according to a family member. Knievel's granddaughter, Krysten Knievel confirms that he died after his health failed due to diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In 1999 he also underwent a liver transplant after complications from hepatitis C. He was born Robert Craig Knievel Jr. on October 17, 1938 in Butte, Montana. Knievel will likely be most remembered for a failed stunt he tried to perform in Idaho. He attempted to jump over the Snake River Canyon with a rocket powered motorcycle, which ended in a premature ejection of the parachute and the motorcycle's subsequent fall into the canyon, resulting in minor injuries to Knievel. "No king or prince has lived a better life. You're looking at a guy who's really done it all. And there are things I wish I had done better, not only for me but for the ones I loved," said Knievel in an Associated Press interview in 2006. Knievel is survived by four children, ten grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Knievel retired in 1980.
L’Alliance pour la Planète (groupement national d’associations environnementales) lance 5 minutes de répit pour la planète, un appel simple à l’attention de tous les citoyens : le 1er février 2007 entre 19h55 et 20h00, éteignez veilles et lumières. 1er février 2007,Par Cyrielle Den Hartigh Il ne s’agit pas d’économiser 5 minutes d’électricité uniquement ce jour-là, mais d’attirer l’attention des citoyens, des médias et des décideurs sur le gaspillage d’énergie et l’urgence de passer à l’action ! 5 minutes de répit pour la planète : ça ne prend pas longtemps, ça ne coûte rien, et ça montrera aux candidats à la Présidentielle que le changement climatique est un sujet qui doit peser dans le débat politique. Pourquoi le 1er février ? Ce jour là sortira, à Paris, le nouveau rapport du groupe d’experts intergouvernemental sur l’évolution du climat (GIEC) des Nations Unies. Cet événement aura lieu en France : il ne faut pas laisser passer cette occasion de braquer les projecteurs sur l’urgence de la situation climatique mondiale. Si nous y participons tous, cette action aura un réel poids médiatique et politique, moins de trois mois avant l’élection présidentielle ! Faites circuler au maximum cet appel autour de vous et dans tous vos réseaux ! Faites le également apparaître sur votre site Internet et dans vos news letters. Contact : Cyrielle den Hartigh, Les Amis de la Terre : Tél : 01 48 51 18 95 \|\|\|\|\| Lire l'article complet 5 minutes de répit pour la planète Le 1er février 2007, dans toute la France : Participez à la plus grande mobilisation des citoyens contre le Changement Climatique ! LAlliance pour la Planète lance un appel simple à tous les citoyens, 5 minutes de répit pour la planète : tout le monde éteint ses veilles et lumières le 1er février 2007 entre 19h55 et 20h00. Il ne sagit pas déconomiser 5 minutes délectricité uniquement ce jour-là, mais dattirer lattention des citoyens, des médias et des décideurs sur le gaspillage dénergie et lurgence de passer à laction ! 5 minutes de répit pour la planète : ça ne prend pas longtemps, ça ne coûte rien, et ça montrera aux candidats à la Présidentielle que le changement climatique est un sujet qui doit peser dans le débat politique. Pourquoi le 1er février ? Car le lendemain sortira, à Paris, le nouveau rapport du groupe dexperts intergouvernemental sur lévolution du Climat (GIEC) des Nations Unies. Cet événement aura lieu en France : il ne faut pas laisser passer cette occasion de braquer les projecteurs sur lurgence de la situation climatique mondiale. Si nous y participons tous, cette action aura un réel poids médiatique et politique, moins de trois mois avant lélection présidentielle! Faites circuler au maximum cet appel autour de vous et dans tous vos réseaux ! Faites le également apparaître sur votre site Internet et dans vos news letters. Contact/ information : Cyrielle, Les Amis de la Terre : 01 48 51 18 95. \|\|\|\|\| (Belga) L'Alliance pour la Planète, een groepering van een dertigtal ngo's en milieuverenigingen die werd opgericht op initiatief van WWF France, doet een oproep om op 1 februari collectief 5 minuten alle lichten te doven. De bedoeling is de aandacht van de burgers, de media en politici te vestigen op de energievoorspilling die overmatig lichtgebruik met zich meebrengt. De actie "Gun de planeet 5 minuten rust" moet de grootste mobilisatie van burgers tegen de klimaatverandering worden. Van 19.55 uur tot 20 uur wordt iedereen gevraagd alle lichten in zijn huis of op kantoor te doven. "Het gaat er niet om enkel die dag gedurende 5 minuten energie te besparen, maar wel om duidelijk te maken dat dringend iets ondernomen moet worden tegen de energieverspilling", zegt Bavo Strobbe, politiek secretaris van Groen! in Zottegem, die de actie ondersteunt. De actie vindt op donderdag 1 februari plaats omdat die dag in Parijs het nieuwe VN-rapport over het klimaat wordt bekendgemaakt. (svr) \|\|\|\|\| mehr zum Thema Umweltschutz Klimaschock für Autofirmen Orkan "Kyrill" Vorbote des Klimawandels? Studie zum Klimawandel EU-Kommission warnt vor dramatischen Auswirkungen Erste Hilfe Klimaschutz allein zu Haus Man kann nicht sagen, was das IPCC erklären wird, bevor es seine Erklärung tatsächlich abgegeben hat, sagte einer der Mit-Autoren des Berichts, Kevin Trenberth vom National Center for Atmospheric Research in Bolder, USA, der Zeitung. Derzeit beträgt die Kohlendioxid-Konzentration in der Atmosphäre etwa 380 ppm (Teile pro Million). Vor dem Beginn der industriellen Revolution lag die Konzentration bei 280 ppm. Sollte es zu einer Zunahme auf bis zu 550 ppm kommen, dann droht ein Anstieg der Temperaturen um 2 bis 4,5 Grad Celsius, warnen die Forscher in dem Entwurf. Diese Zunahme zu verhindern dürfte angesichts der weltweit wachsenden Bevölkerung mit ihren Bedürfnissen nach Energie schwierig sein. Der Golfstrom lässt nach Erst kürzlich hatten Wissenschaftler des Max-Planck-Instituts für Meteorologie in Hamburg auch auf eine Abschwächung des Golfstroms infolge des Klimawandels hingewiesen. Während Modellrechnungen der Hamburger für den IPCC-Bericht 2007 eine Reduzierung von 30 Prozent bis zum Jahre 2100 ergaben, berücksichtigten die Forscher nachträglich auch den Einfluss des abschmelzenden grönländischen Inlandeises. Unter diesen Bedingungen könnte die Abschwächung sogar bis zu 42 Prozent betragen, berichteten die Wissenschaftler im Fachblatt Geophysical Research Letters. Diese Abschwächung würde eigentlich zu einer Abkühlung in Nordeuropa führen doch der zunehmende Temperatur-Anstieg der Atmosphäre hebt diesen Effekt auf. Letztendlich wird es vermutlich trotzdem zu einer Erwärmung kommen. Nach 2100 rechnen die Wissenschaftler allerdings damit, dass der Golfstrom sich wieder erholt. Unsere Berechnungen deuten nicht darauf, dass das Abschmelzen der Gletscher auf Grönland zu einem abrupten Klimawandel führen wird, erklärte Johann Jungclaus vom MPI für Meteorologie sueddeutsche.de. Masterplan zur Weltrettung Unterdessen haben die Umweltorganisation Greenpeace und der Dachverband der Europäischen Erneuerbaren Energien-Industrie (Erec) angekündigt, am Donnerstag einen globalen Masterplan zur Abwendung des drohenden Klimawandels zu präsentieren. Wie der Spiegel berichtet, wird in der 100 Seiten starken Machbarkeitsstudie Energy (R)evolution, die das Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt sowie elf internationale Forschungsinstitute erarbeitet haben, erklärt, das Weltklima sei noch zu retten, wenn Politik und Wirtschaft sofort handelten. Dem globalen Masterplan zufolge könnte der Anstieg der Treibhausgase durch Energiesparmaßnahmen sowie die verstärkte Nutzung von Wind-, Wasser- und Sonnenkraft bis 2050 halbiert werden. Dadurch bleibe die Erderwärmung unter zwei Grad. Deutschland als Weltmarktführer bei Wind- und Solartechnik würde besonders profitieren, sagte Sven Teske von Greenpeace dem Blatt, die Milliardensubventionen für Kohle und Atomkraft gehören allerdings sofort gestrichen. Die Greenpeace-Erec-Studie kalkuliert eine Bevölkerungszunahme von derzeit 6,3 Milliarden auf 8,9 Milliarden Menschen sowie gängige Wirtschaftsprognosen ein. Der Vorsitzende des UNO-Ausschusses für Klimaveränderungen (IPCC), Rajendra Pachauri, lobt die neue Studie als gut recherchierte und stimulierende Analyse. Ohne Energiewende droht IPCC zufolge eine Erwärmung der Erde bis 2050 um bis zu 5,8 Grad. (sueddeutsche.de/dpa)	The campaign's poster. "L’Alliance pour la Planète", a collective of French environmental organizations (such as WWF France), has launched a campaign to promote awareness on climate change. Under the theme ''Turn everything off!'', they're asking people to turn off their electricity for five minutes on February 1st, between 7:55pm and 8:00pm CET. With the initiative, they hope to remind others, the media and politicians (such as the candidates for the upcoming French Presidential elections) of the ongoing waste of energy. Everyone should turn off the light, as well as all electrical appliances -maybe a good moment for a candlelight dinner, they suggest. The "five minutes of silence" are believed to put pressure on world governments to discuss the topic more seriously on an international scale. Since the first call various similar international groups have stated their support and currently promote the idea on their websites and newsletters. The date was originally chosen to match the release of the United Nations fourth climate change report, in which 2,500 scientists from more than 130 countries present their latest findings. The report however has been delayed and will now be released on February 2nd. In Belgium, non-profit organizations such as Oxfam support the action. The consortium is working with the power distribution company to prevent any negative impact a sudden drop of energy demand might have on the electricity network.
By Katrina Kernodle-Walsh East West reporter Katrina Kernodle-Walsh sat in on the Dalai Lama’s recent talk hosted by the Asia Society, the Brookings Institution, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington , D.C. to cut through the hubbub about his U.S. visit and bring you his honest messages on life, war, Tibet , global warming and President Bush. When most parents look at their two-year-old child they have big hopes and dreams. Lhamo Dhondrub’s parents probably felt similarly. If the name doesn’t sound too familiar that’s because he was recognized at the age of two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama and renamed Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Gyatso –– Tibetan for Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom. On Thursday morning in downtown Washington, D.C., one day after the 72-year old monk received the Congressional Gold Medal a few blocks down the road, Andrea Koppel simply referred to him as “Your Holiness” at the standing-room-only Park Hyatt hotel ballroom where Washington’s politicians, political wannabes and the press corps packed in to hear what the exiled 14th Dalai Lama had to say to Richard Armitage, Strobe Talbott and Richard Holbrooke. There were no microphones set up for the audience to ask questions, there was no pressing of the flesh, there was a standing ovation as the Dalai Lama entered the room and as he exited and in between he said some pretty cool and inspiring things. Being the Dalai Lama must be a strange and peculiar thing. On the one hand, every word he speaks is eagerly awaited, on the other hand, he noted that his life can be “like a prisoner surrounded by guards.” In response to the first question posed by former Deputy Secretary of State Armitage regarding whether or not the Dalai Lama believes the Chinese Congress may mollify requests someday for Tibetan autonomy in light of recent conciliatory dialogue with Taiwan , the exiled monk paused before offering his first words before the baited breath of hundreds, “I don’t know.” In a town so often filled with long-winded and meandering answers, the honesty and brevity bordered on astonishing. The Dalai Lama did have a bit more to say on the subject in a follow-up question by former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke that might require t-shirt silk screeners to add a few caveats to their “Free Tibet” tees. The Dalai Lama called Tibet “materially very backward and landlocked” adding that it would be economically crippled without China . “Genuine autonomy” for a place with its own “language, spirit and culture” is far preferable in the opinion of the Dalai Lama, his resounding message for decades. His visit to the U.S. has been marked by hostile reaction from Beijing including warnings from China Daily that the award “will certainly cast a shadow over the relations” between the U.S. and China . Over and beyond dialogue about the specifics of Tibet ’s relationship with China or the crisis in Rangoon or his exile in India since 1959, the Dalai Lama did what he does best, he spoke in clear and simple terms about giant, overwhelming topics—emphasizing, above all, peace. On the topic of global warming, he observed that crises of the environment are “invisible month by month” whereas in warfare “governments or a few individuals” can exact change in days or weeks. Showing his humorous side, he said, “in the early morning many people take a bath everyday…for decades I only take [a] shower to preserve water,” plunging the crowd into laughter only to get serious and soulful just moments later, noting that the American lifestyle is one of consumption and that the gap between the rich and the poor is not only morally wrong but also economically impractical. Emphasizing action and not just thought, the Dalai Lama observed that “it is not good to say ‘how poor, what a pity’ and then pray to God…not effective.” He stressed his opinion that people need to foster a sense of self-confidence in others noting that lack of confidence “leads to frustration, frustration leads to anger and anger turns to violence.” “There is not much use to fight –– your religion, my religion…” said the Nobel Peace Prize award winner, adding “we are 6 billion people, one planet.” “Individual life is very, very precious,” he stated before the rapt audience, “but that precious human life…too many.” A succinct way of addressing warfare, overpopulation, consumption and manmade environmental challenges. As it relates to the U.S. and President Bush, the Dalai Lama observed that for many years the U.S. had the image as a “champion of freedom, democracy and liberty.” He pointed out that decades ago in Asia that view began to shift following various U.S. political and military actions and that today even in Europe many people have expressed to him dislike for U.S. policy and the American president, “I tell them ‘I love him,’” he said about Bush noting that “some of his policies, I have reservations,” but, “as a person, very nice person.” The exiled Buddhist leader told the crowd to “keep your ancestors’ principles of democracy, freedom and rule of law [for] in the long run these principles are very important. The United States is the most powerful democratic country, India is the most populated democratic country…these two together are very important.” In closing remarks, the Dalai Lama pointed to the cameras in the back of the room where dozens upon dozens of the press gathered and said that the media has the role to educate and change society without “preaching” and that education is a key to provoke positive change. “India, the Indian constitution is not a rejection of religion…it respects all beliefs, all equal…this interpretation, this inclusive secular way of education is very, very important.” With that, he was done. \|\|\|\|\| The Dalai Lama spoke today as he accepted the Congressional Gold Medal in front of the worlds leaders and press. After spending some time fixing his formal robes he explained how despite learning English from 1947 he still felt like he was at kindergarten level but would not speak in Tibetan as it would be long and boring. The Dalai Lama called it a Great Honour to receive the medal and that it would bring joy and encouragement to the Tibetan people. He accepted responsibility for his people and spoke about how he was always thinking of them and looking after their welfare. The medal would be a powerful symbol to promote peace. He was personally touched that a monk from such humble beginnings should be awarded this honour and he regretted the tension it was causing between the U.S. and China. After saying that both China and India were deserving of a role in the worlds arena he went on to give more specifics on his stance with China. He claimed China would need more transparency, rule of law and more freedom of information. He showed concern at how the Chinese government would manage to integrate such a wide range of cultures without losing their diversity and was worried about Tibetans becoming a minority in Tibet. Then, in a very clear statement aimed at China and the world he said the future was not an independent Tibet but for an autonomous state as China could offer many economic benefits. He reiterated past comments of wanting no future political role in an independent Tibet and that he had no hidden agenda. This article may be used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License (just include a link back to here) By NetNewsPublisher \|\|\|\|\| Attribution 2.5 You are free: to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work to make derivative works to make commercial use of the work Under the following conditions: Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor. For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder. Your fair use and other rights are in no way affected by the above. This is a human-readable summary of the Legal Code (the full license).	The Dalai Lama spoke today as he accepted the Congressional Gold Medal in front of the World's leaders and press. After spending some time fixing his formal robes he explained how despite learning English from 1947 he still felt like he was at kindergarten level but would not speak in Tibetan as it would be long and boring. The Dalai Lama called it a great honour to receive the medal and that it would bring joy and encouragement to the Tibetan people. He accepted responsibility for his people and spoke about how he was always thinking of them and looking after their welfare. The medal would be a powerful symbol to promote peace. He was personally touched that a monk from such humble beginnings should be awarded this honour and he regretted the tension it was causing between the United States and China. After saying that both China and India were deserving of a role in the world's arena he went on to give more specifics on his stance with China. He claimed China would need more transparency, rule of law and more freedom of information. He showed concern at how the Chinese government would manage to integrate such a wide range of cultures without losing their diversity and was worried about Tibetans becoming a minority in Tibet. Then he explained the future was not an independent Tibet but for an autonomous state as China could offer many economic benefits. He reiterated past comments of wanting no future political role in an independent Tibet and that he had no hidden agenda.
Premier Anna Bligh put the pressure on Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg this afternoon questioning how he will pay for new police and for a upgrade of the Royal Children's Hospital at Herston. Ms Bligh did not release a police recruitment policy as expected this afternoon when she gave an afternoon news conference at the Sleeman Sports Complex at Chandler. She welcomed Constable Michael Dunlop as Queensland's 10,000 police officer, but said an announcement about recruiting police would be made later in the campaign. \|\|\|\|\| QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh will try to defend 11 years of Labor government and the shocking deterioration of the budget bottom line at an early election that will decide who should lead the Sunshine State out of the darkness. Calling a snap poll for March 21, six months before the end of the term, Ms Bligh yesterday declared she could not let political and economic uncertainty bring Queensland to a halt and she needed a mandate to deal with the "troubled times ahead in 2009". The early election comes after it was revealed that Queensland had plunged $1.6 billion into the red and as a Newspoll - conducted exclusively for The Australian - shows the opposition Liberal National Party making up ground but still trailing Labor 47 per cent to 53 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis. Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said a vote for Queensland Labor was a vote for jobs. The state poll coincides with the rollout of the federal Government's $42 billion economic stimulus package, including cash payments of up to $900. The payments will start to arrive during the campaign. Ms Bligh, who would become Australia's first elected female premier if successful, is hoping togive Labor a historic fifth term in power. The Premier of 17 months - Ms Bligh took over from Peter Beattie in a well-orchestrated succession plan - said that while there were clear policy differences between Labor and the LNP, she would campaign mostly on her record. "Now is not the time for big-spending promises," she said, publicly urging the LNP to be careful with unfunded or wasteful policies. "This election may well be one of the lowest-spending campaigns in the history of Queensland." While Ms Bligh was widely expected to call an early election, she did so only days after a budget update revealed that the looming deficit, which has already cost Queensland its AAA credit rating, would double next year when economic growth is predicted to slow and 60,000 people could lose their jobs. Queensland's downgrading to AA+ by ratings agency Standard & Poor's ranks the state's finances below every state other than Tasmania. LNP leader Lawrence Springborg - leading the conservatives to a third election but the first as a single party - suggested Ms Bligh was calling an early poll out of fear the economy would get worse and the Government would be left further exposed. "After 11 years in office, Ms Bligh only cares about one job: her own," Mr Springborg said. "Queensland deserves better. Over the next 27 days, the LNP will build on our vision for the Queensland we all deserve." The Newspoll shows the major parties are almost evenly placed in the primary votes, with Labor leading the LNP by 53-47 on a two-party-preferred basis, albeit still a winning position for the Government. The LNP would need a swing of more than 8 per cent to collect the 20-plus seats it needs to overcome Labor's massive majority in parliament and several immovable conservative independents. Before heading north last night, for the first full day of campaigning today, Ms Bligh used a business lunch to offer a spirited defence of her Government, insisting it had a good relationship with the private sector and had achieved economic growth above the national average. Ms Bligh reiterated the borrow-for-building program, which has seen Queensland lose its AAA credit rating for the first time, would not be abandoned as it secured 119,000 jobs, maintained economic growth, and would position the state well for the next boom. "And, yes, you will hear our opponents criticise that decision; you will hear people scaremongering over the next 27 days as we go through an election campaign; you will hear this program called irresponsible," Ms Bligh said. "I think the alternative is unthinkable." But Mr Springborg said Labor had nothing to show for its 11 years in power, and had squandered the opportunities of a booming economy. "It is a sad legacy of economic management and mismanagement of the Labor Government that after 11 years of the rivers of gold, our state is broke," Mr Springborg said. "It's a little bit like lighting a fire and then running around and wanting credit for putting it out." Ms Bligh pre-empted her visit to Governor Penny Wensley yesterday - having already announced her intentions on her personal website - by writing to Kevin Rudd with a list of schools, public housing, highway and rail projects that were ready to be funded under the federal stimulus package. Having rallied behind the package, which will see many Queenslanders receive $900cheques during the campaign, Ms Bligh also received the immediate backing of Wayne Swan. "Now is the worst time possible to risk Lawrence Springborg and the Nationals; they have a weak and unstable team with very little experience and they haven't put forward any positive ideas," the Treasurer, a former Queensland Labor state secretary, said in a statement. "They have no plan for Queensland other than to slash jobs and cut the building projects that will sustain jobs and create the Queensland of the future." \|\|\|\|\| Around 11am this morning, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh drove the short distance from George Street in Brisbane's CBD to Government House in Bardon to ask Governor Penelope Wensley to dissolve parliament for an election to be held on the 21st of March. Bligh might have considered as she drove through Paddington that, as she passed from funky inner citydom to leafy upmarket suburbia, she never left Labor territory. If some such thought passed through the Premier's mind, it might serve as a metaphor for the stakes of the coming battle. In fact, Bligh could have driven almost anywhere in Brisbane without hitting a Liberal held seat, and done that at any time since the first Peter Beattie landslide in 2001. It's not that upper middle class as well as swinging voters have necessarily become enamoured of state Labor, though Beattie's pizzazz certainly didn't hurt while the romance lasted. It's rather that the Liberals and Nationals have presented an unelectable face over the past three elections. If Lawrence Springborg had gone for a drive around town this morning, he might have been thinking about the traffic jams and the shiny new hospitals, which still generate a drumbeat of horror stories in the media day by day. Springborg and the LNP will be hoping voters focus on infrastructure, education and health, and decide that eleven years is long enough. Bligh, by contrast, will be running against the Nationals and painting the Borg and his crew as both inexperienced and having been round the block too many times without much of a record of achievement. But, above all, Bligh will be arguing that tough economic times require proven leadership -- that's why the election follows on so closely from the state's budget review on Friday. The stakes in this contest are high -- and at federal level as well. A loss in Kevin Rudd's own heartland would be unthinkable for the Prime Minister. But -- equally -- the newly amalgamated LNP would lie in tattered ruins if the Borg can't surmount the forbidding electoral mountain in his way. And whatever is left -- after even a narrow defeat -- won't look pretty. Labor has to be favoured to win this election, but past experience shows that campaigns -- which in true Queensland style can be quite mad and surprising despite all the best efforts of the apparatchiks to script them minutely -- do matter. It'll be a fascinating ride. See Anna Bligh's poll announcement, made this morning via YouTube. Send your tips to boss@crikey.com.au, submit them anonymously here or SMS tips and photos to 0427 TIP OFF. \|\|\|\|\| Qld Labor rejects early election despite new TV ad By Jessica van Vonderen Posted Updated The Queensland ALP has fired its first shot in the TV ad campaign ahead of this year's state election. Premier Anna Bligh is yet to set the poll date, but the Liberal National Party (LNP) has already broadcast several ads pushing for a change in government. Labor's first ads went to air last night, attacking the economic credentials of LNP Leader Lawrence Springborg. ALP state secretary Anthony Chisholm says it does not mean he senses an early election. "I've got no idea on timing - the Premier has indicated she intends on going full term," he said. "I've got no reason to doubt that, but I thought it was time for the Labor Party to respond given Lawrence Springborg has been on air for more than a year now with an expensive ad campaign." \|\|\|\|\| Home » 2009 » #782 » Australian News » Socialists to contest QLD elections Socialists to contest QLD elections Dave Riley, Brisbane 7 February 2009 With the Queensland ALP state government rumoured to announce an election date soon, the Socialist Alliance (SA) has selected two candidates to contest the poll. Watson is well known in Brisbane as one of the main community spokespersons following the death in police custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee on Palm Island in November 2004. He is an activist of long standing who traces his engagement with Indigenous rights back to the campaigns of the early 70s. Watson is also the Socialist Alliance national spokesperson on Indigenous rights. Mike Crook is the SA candidate for the northside seat of Sandgate. Crook has been active in many local community campaigns, especially the local Your Rights at Work committee which was very effective in the region against Howards Work Choices. A long-time member of the ALP, who had stood as a candidate for the party in the past, Crook resigned from the party at his local ALP branch meeting a week ago. The Greens will also be looking to consolidate on their recent break into the parliamentary sphere in these elections. Until Roman Lee defected from the ALP to the Greens in October last year, the Greens had no representation in Queensland either at the state, federal or local level. The Socialist Alliance is not as yet a registered political party in Queensland as the states electoral registration laws are some of the most undemocratic in Australia. However, the Socialist Alliance will be running an open campaign that seeks to engage its membership and support base in the development of its platform. A wide consultation process will be a key part its electoral campaign. SA is seeking suggestions to be included in its platform as a means to encourage a broader discussion about what sort of politics we need. You can find out more about the campaign, volunteer your time, join the alliance or contribute to its election platform by visiting In the inner urban seat of South Brisbane, standing against state Premier Anna Bligh, the SA candidate is Indigenous activist Sam Watson.Watson is well known in Brisbane as one of the main community spokespersons following the death in police custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee on Palm Island in November 2004.He is an activist of long standing who traces his engagement with Indigenous rights back to the campaigns of the early 70s. Watson is also the Socialist Alliance national spokesperson on Indigenous rights.Mike Crook is the SA candidate for the northside seat of Sandgate. Crook has been active in many local community campaigns, especially the local Your Rights at Work committee which was very effective in the region against Howards Work Choices.A long-time member of the ALP, who had stood as a candidate for the party in the past, Crook resigned from the party at his local ALP branch meeting a week ago.The Greens will also be looking to consolidate on their recent break into the parliamentary sphere in these elections. Until Roman Lee defected from the ALP to the Greens in October last year, the Greens had no representation in Queensland either at the state, federal or local level.The Socialist Alliance is not as yet a registered political party in Queensland as the states electoral registration laws are some of the most undemocratic in Australia.However, the Socialist Alliance will be running an open campaign that seeks to engage its membership and support base in the development of its platform. A wide consultation process will be a key part its electoral campaign.SA is seeking suggestions to be included in its platform as a means to encourage a broader discussion about what sort of politics we need.You can find out more about the campaign, volunteer your time, join the alliance or contribute to its election platform by visiting 7 February 2009 \|\|\|\|\| ANNA Bligh has fuelled speculation of an early election by moving quickly to tie off issues that could hurt Labor's prospects during a campaign. Over the past week the Government has reined in judicial entitlements after revelations centred around magistrate Di Fingleton and moved to introduce a lobbyist register after 11 years of inaction.A "multi-faceted" inquiry into continuing concerns with Bundaberg Hospital was also announced by Health Minister Stephen Robertson, a day after he dismissed the issue as dated.The quick action is in stark contrast to the Government's responses to other issues, such as last year's "Gravy train" affair and Ms Bligh's free holiday at the home of a director of a prominent construction firm.The move to quell issues has sparked fresh conjecture among LNP ranks that an election is planned for next month, possibly on the 28th.A March 28 election date would allow the Government to introduce its plan for a Charter of Budget Honesty at next week's sitting of Parliament.The charter would put pressure on the LNP to submit its policies to Treasury for independent costing.Treasurer Andrew Fraser has plans to release updated Budget forecasts soon - figures likely to show a deep deficit after a further $350 million fall in GST income for 2008-09.However, Mr Fraser yesterday said he was focused on Queensland's economic dire straits rather than election dates."There is always going to be rumour about (the election) until it actually happens," he said."But it's not something that occupies a lot of our time - there's a fair bit else on."His comments came ahead of a special Cabinet meeting yesterday to discuss the economy and the Rudd Government's stimulus package.Directors-general were ordered to cancel all meetings and were told their jobs depended on spending the stimulus cash without delay.	The regions of Queensland, Australia. The Premier of the Australian state of Queensland has announced that the state will have its election on Saturday, March 21. In an address on YouTube, Anna Bligh of the Australian Labor Party said that she called the election due to the state of the economy and to stabilise the government. "It's time for Queensland to settle this election. It's time to settle the speculation. So that government, business and the community can get on with the task at hand and not be distracted and destabilised by looming elections," Ms Bligh said in the statement. Ms Bligh has recently denied that she would call an early election. "I have always said that I want my government to run the full term and I have not changed my view on this lightly," she said. "After 11 years in office, Ms Bligh only cares about one job: her own," said Lawrence Springborg head of the Liberal National Party (LNP) and the Leader of the Opposition. "Queensland deserves better. Over the next 27 days, the LNP will build on our vision for the Queensland we all deserve." Anna Bligh in 2007. The Opposition need to pick up at least twenty seats from the government to overcome the significant Labor majority and a number of independents. "It is a sad legacy of economic management and mismanagement of the Labor Government that after 11 years of the rivers of gold, our state is broke," Mr Springborg said. "It's a little bit like lighting a fire and then running around and wanting credit for putting it out." A March 21 election gives candidates twenty six day to campaign. This is just within the legal requirements. The Queensland Electoral Act (1992) requires the election campaign to last between 26 and 56 days. The Queensland Greens nominated an environmental lawyer to run against treasurer Andrew Fraser. "We can tackle climate change and create long-term jobs, but Labor can't see that because they are blinded by the interests of their big donors - the urban development and coal industries," says Larrisa Waters, the Greens candidate for Mt-Cootha. "The Greens want to give the community and the environment a voice back in State Parliament." "The current stance taken by both major parties, in relation to Daylight Saving in Queensland, is outdated, out of touch and inflexible. South East Queenslanders are frustrated that neither major party is currently prepared to explore options on the issue of Daylight Saving", DS4SEQ party leader Jason Furze told ''Wikinews'' on January 30. DS4SEQ is a single-issue party, focused on the debate on daylight saving time. Indigenous activist Sam Watson will be contesting the South Brisbane electorate which is currently held by the premier. He will represent the Socialist Alliance. Watson campaigned heavly for indigenous rights since the 1970s and was a community spokesperson following the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee in 2004.
“We reached a point where I felt it was important to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong,” she said. Because of the separation, she said, she did not know where he was in the last week. The governor, who raised his national profile by opposing the Obama administration’s economic stimulus plan, said he would resign from his position as chairman of the Republican Governors Association. He will be succeeded by Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi. A reporter tried to ask Mr. Sanford if he would resign from the governor’s office, but he did not answer. Coming a week after the admission of an extramarital affair by Senator John Ensign, a Nevada Republican who had also begun exploring a presidential run in 2012, the governor’s acknowledgment was yet another blow to Republican hopes for a strong field of challengers to President Obama. “Personal circumstances over the course of the last week have managed to shrink the front line of the 2012 possible contender list by 30 percent,” said Phil Musser, a former executive director of the Republican Governors Association. Mr. Sanford is regarded as a political lone wolf and has made numerous enemies even within his own party, which controls both houses of the state legislature. Scott H. Huffmon, a political science professor at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., said it was unclear whether there would be pressure on the governor to resign. “His opponents,” Dr. Huffmon said, “are sitting back trying to figure out if they’d be better off with a completely emasculated governor to deal with or if they’d be better off with André Bauer,” the lieutenant governor, who would take office if Mr. Sanford resigned. Mr. Sanford made at least one state-sponsored trip to Argentina during the period of his relationship. In an interview late Wednesday, Daniel Scioli, the governor of Buenos Aires Province, said he met with Mr. Sanford on June 26, 2008, in La Plata, a town outside Buenos Aires. Mr. Scioli said the request for the meeting had come from Mr. Sanford’s office via the United States Embassy. The governor was not known as a moralist but has frowned on infidelity and as a congressman voted to impeach President Bill Clinton after the Monica Lewinsky affair. “He lied under a different oath, and that’s the oath to his wife,” Mr. Sanford said at the time on CNN. “So it’s got to be taken very, very seriously.” Photo Mr. Sanford and his wife had joined an intensive Bible study group for couples in the last few months, according to William H. Jones, president of Columbia International University, a conservative evangelical college. Dr. Jones said the governor and his wife had been encouraged to join the Bible study by a longtime friend, Cubby Culbertson, a businessman in Columbia who teaches the Bible and who was thanked by the governor in his news conference. Advertisement Continue reading the main story At the news conference, Mr. Sanford said his friendship with the unnamed woman began eight years ago and became a romance about a year ago. He said he had seen her three times since then. The relationship was “discovered” five months ago, he said, and he had been trying to reconcile with his wife. Mr. Sanford strongly implied that he had ended the affair. “The one thing that you really find is that you absolutely want resolution,” he said. “And so oddly enough, I spent the last five days of my life crying in Argentina.” Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. On Wednesday afternoon, The State, the leading newspaper in Columbia, published on its Web site several e-mail messages it said it obtained in December between Mr. Sanford and a Buenos Aires woman the newspaper identified only as Maria. In one of the messages, the governor describes himself as being in a “hopelessly impossible situation of love” and stops just short of going into what he describes as sexual details of their encounters. After a barrage of news media requests about the missing governor began Monday, the governor’s spokesman, Joel Sawyer, released a statement on Monday afternoon saying that the governor was taking some time to recharge after the stimulus battle and to work on “a couple of projects that have fallen by the wayside.” Ms. Sanford told The Associated Press that her husband had gone somewhere over the Father’s Day weekend to write, but that she did not know where. Mr. Sawyer played down the controversy as a creation of Mr. Sanford’s political enemies. Then, around 10 p.m. Monday, Mr. Sawyer sent a “high priority” e-mail alert to reporters that Mr. Sanford was hiking on the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail. Mr. Sawyer flatly denied a television news report that the governor had been seen boarding a plane at the airport in Atlanta. At the news conference, the governor said his staff members had based their statements on tentative scheduling information he had given before he left. Mr. Sanford’s rivals immediately pounced on the apparent confusion in the governor’s office. “The people of this state deserve complete honesty from Governor Sanford,” said State Senator John C. Land III, the Senate Democratic leader, in a statement issued Wednesday morning before the news conference. “Never in my 32 years as a state senator have I witnessed a governor and his staff act in a more dishonest, secretive and bizarre manner.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story But Mr. Land said that he doubted there would be pressure for Mr. Sanford to go because a resignation would mean that State Senator Glenn McConnell, the powerful president pro tem, would have to become the lieutenant governor, a relatively powerless position. Mr. Sanford recently lost a high-profile battle to divert $700 million in federal stimulus money toward reducing the state deficit, challenging the Obama administration on the issue. Critics said he was simply seeking to raise his national profile, but the governor maintained that his primary goal was to strengthen the executive office in South Carolina, where the governor has few powers. Mr. Sanford has long been known as an iconoclast. As a congressman, he slept on a futon in his office. To showcase his opposition to pork-barrel spending, he once brought two live piglets onto the floor of the legislature. Still, many were shocked by his announcement. “I never figured Sanford for anything like this, said Neal D. Thigpen, a political science professor at Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C. \|\|\|\|\| South Carolina Governor Says He Was 'Unfaithful' Just The Latest Sex Scandal Sanford's admission of an extramarital affair is just the latest sex scandal to rock the Republican Party. It follows Nevada Sen. John Ensign's confession last week to a similar transgression. And fellow Nevada Republican, Gov. Jim Gibbons, has been in hot water over salacious details regarding his ongoing divorce proceedings. Of course, sexual indiscretions are hardly the property of one party. New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned in disgrace last year in a prostitution scandal, and New Jersey's Jim McGreevey resigned as governor following his declaration that he is a "gay American." And John Edwards was carrying on an affair with a videographer as he was simultaneously campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination last year. For more on political sex scandals over the last decade, visit Political Junkie. Ending days of speculation about his whereabouts, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said Wednesday he had been "unfaithful to my wife" during a secret trip to Argentina. "The bottom line is I've been unfaithful to my wife. I developed a relationship with a dear, dear friend in Argentina," said Sanford, a second-term Republican governor, former congressman and rumored 2012 presidential candidate. "It started as I guess many of these things do, a casual e-mail back and forth. Here recently over the last year, it developed as something much more than that. "As a consequence I hurt her, my wife, Jenny, my boys ... I hurt a lot a lot of different folks," the governor said, adding that he has known the woman for about eight years, but their relationship intensified while he was on an economic development trip to Argentina a year ago. Sanford said his wife and family have known about the affair for about five months, and that he and his wife are separated. She and the couple's children are living at the family beach house on Sullivan's Island. Jenny Sanford said she asked her husband to leave home and stop talking to her two weeks ago. In a statement Wednesday, she said she needed a trial separation from her husband of nearly 20 years to preserve her own sense of dignity. The governor said he is seeking his wife's forgiveness and wants to reconcile. Jenny Sanford's statement said he has earned a chance to resurrect their marriage. Sanford said he was resigning his post as head of the Republican Governors Association, but he refused to answer questions about whether he would remain in office. First lady Jenny Sanford had told reporters she did not know where her husband was during his absence, which began last Thursday and included the Father's Day weekend. When questions persisted, Sanford's staff released a statement saying the governor was hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Wednesday morning, The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C. reported that Sanford had arrived at Atlanta's airport on a flight from Argentina. The governor told the paper he decided to go to Buenos Aires at the last minute, rather than going hiking. He said he wanted to clear his mind after a difficult legislative session. Sanford said he was alone on the trip and declined to give any additional details about what he did other than to say he drove along the coastline. On Monday, a state legislator raised questions about Sanford's whereabouts after hearing reports from security officials that the governor could not be contacted. The governor's spokesman, Joel Sawyer, said Sanford wanted to get away to clear his head after the legislative session, during which he lost a key battle. Jenny Sanford said Tuesday, "Leave us to our privacy." The governor has long been known as a loner — bucking GOP leadership during three U.S. House terms and casting the only dissenting vote on Medicaid coverage for some breast and cervical cancer treatment. But past vacations never left Sanford completely out of touch, said Chris Drummond, Sanford's former spokesman. At worst, Sanford would call in daily or would respond to voice mails. Who was in charge became the political and practical question. Essentially, Sanford's staffers said they would decide whom to call if an emergency popped up and the governor couldn't be reached. South Carolina's Constitution says a temporary absence would give the lieutenant governor full authority in the state. But the temporary absence has never been defined. Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, a Charleston Republican, said the state's law needs to be clarified. He said residents want important decisions to be made by elected leaders. "In an emergency," he said, "it should be those people who consult with staff to make a decision and not the other way around." Sanford served in the U.S. House for three terms before honoring a term limits pledge and leaving office in 2001. In 2002, he defeated incumbent Democrat Jim Hodges by 4 percentage points to become governor, and he won re-election in 2006, beating Democratic state Sen. Tommy Moore. As governor, Sanford has had seemingly endless run-ins with the GOP-dominated Legislature, once bringing pigs to the House chamber to protest pork-barrel spending. He also put a "spending clock" outside his office to show how quickly a proposed budget would spend state money. From WFAE in Charlotte, N.C., NPR staff and The Associated Press	At a press conference in Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, Republican Governor admitted that a week-long disappearance by him was to , Argentina, where a woman he had been having an affair with resides. His wife, Jenny Sanford, was not aware of her husband's location during this time, as they have been undergoing a trial separation for the past two weeks following his private disclosure of the matter previously. The Governor's staff was also not sure of where Governor Sanford was, telling the press earlier that he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail. After it was discovered that he had flown back to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport from Buenos Aires, Governor Sanford admitted on Wednesday morning that he left for South America after the conclusion of a tenuous legislative session, initially saying only that he had been driving along the coastline. The affair was only made known to the public at a nationally-televised press conference on Wednesday afternoon, where the Governor also resigned from his post as the chairperson of the U.S. Republican Governors Association. He did not answer questions about if he would serve out the remainder of his last term in office, which concludes in 2011. In a press release issued by his office, Governor Sanford apologized to his family, staff, and constituents — the people of South Carolina. He also explicitly declared that his staff at no time had "intentionally relayed false information ... what they've said over the past two days they believed to be true." Jenny Sandford, in a statement issued Wednesday, said that she would be willing to be reunited with her husband, if he continued to work towards a reconciliation. Governor Sanford had been named previously as a potential candidate for the .
2013-06-27 16:03 'BMOst of Summer' Financial Tip of the Day: Get More Out of Your Travel Rewards TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/27/13 -- As part of BMO Financial Group's ongoing commitment to financial literacy and 'Making Money Make Sense', BMO is releasing a financial tip every day in the summer to help Canadians make the 'BMOst of summer' in 2013. BMOst of Summer Financial Tip o .. [ More ] \|\|\|\|\| Mouse eats cash machine, makes nest A mouse munched its way through thousands of pounds worth of cash after managing to find its way inside a cash machine in a bank in Estonia. The animal was found inside the machine after a customer withdrew some money and got partly-eaten banknotes outside the bank in the capital Tallinn. Bank security experts are investigating how the mouse managed to get into the machine. Kristina Tamberg, spokeswoman for Hansapank Bank, said: 'We have never heard of anything even remotely like this happening before. 'At some stage over the weekend the chewed money jammed, and the mouse seems to have spent the rest of the weekend turning the notes into bedding. It probably was attracted by the warmth from the machine and decided to make itself at home.' Share this article Diggit Reddit Delicious Farkit Stumble Facebook Metro Headlines Your views Add your comment	ATM during service in Cambridge, United Kingdom. In Estonia, a mouse made its nest in a cash machine and spent the weekend eating tens of thousands of kroons in bank notes. The critter was discovered after a customer making a withdrawal got half-eaten bills from the machine. Experts are now investigating how the rodent was able to get into the ATM.
Finance ministers and central bank governors wait to start a meeting at the US Treasury Department G7 aims broad five-point action plan at global crisis WASHINGTON (AFP) — The finance chiefs of the Group of Seven major advanced economies announced have a broad five-point action plan to tackle a global crisis that has markets and the banking system reeling. The G7 pledged to use "all available tools" to support key institutions and prevent their failure in the worst financial crisis since the 1930s Great Depression. "The G7 agrees today that the current situation calls for urgent and exceptional action," a joint statement released by the US Treasury. "We commit to continue working together to stabilize financial markets and restore the flow of credit, to support global economic growth." The plan states that the G7 would "take decisive action and use all available tools to support systemically important financial institutions and prevent their failure." Short on specifics, the communique was released after a meeting of finance ministers and central bankers of the United States, Germany, Japan, France, Britain, Italy and Canada in Washington. US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said the G7 had "finalized an aggressive action plan to address the turmoil in global financial markets and the stresses on our financial institutions. "This action plan provides a coherent framework that will direct our individual and collective policy steps to provide liquidity to markets, strengthen financial institutions, protect savers, and enforce investor protections," Paulson said in a separate statement. There had been conflicting signals on how far officials would go towards establishing a common platform and the G7 statement on the meeting recommended no specific actions, sticking to broad objectives. "Never has it been more essential to find collective solutions to ensure stable and efficient financial markets and restore the health of the world economy," Paulson said. He said "it is critical for governments to continue to take individual and collective actions to provide much-needed liquidity, strengthen financial institutions, enhance market stability, and develop a comprehensive regulatory response. "We must continue to closely coordinate our actions and work within a common framework so that the action of one country does not come at the expense of others or the stability of the system as a whole." At a news conference, Paulson said the US was working closely with China and Japan, two of the biggest holders of Treasury bonds, amid the financial crisis. "We are in close coordination and communication with Japan and China and other investors around the world," he said. China holds some 1.8 trillion dollars in foreign reserves, the world's largest, and Japan has nearly one trillion dollars in foreign reserves. There has been speculation about what the two countries might do with their reserves, which are mostly held in dollar instruments, in light of the ongoing crisis. Paulson also announced the US would start moving "as soon as we can" to inject capital into troubled banks as part of efforts to stem the global financial crisis, in cooperation with the G7. Earlier this week, the White House said such a plan to directly recapitalized trouble banks was "actively" being considered as part of the 700-billion-dollar US rescue designed initially to buy troubled mortgage assets. The G7 statement said the members will "take all necessary steps to unfreeze credit and money markets and ensure that banks and ensure that banks and other financial institutions have broad access to liquidity and funding." "Fluff. Good fluff but fluff," said Robert Brusca, analyst at FAO Economics. "A pledge of everything (makes it) sound like they are clueless," he added. The G7 meeting heralded a weekend of International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings that begin Saturday against a backdrop of growing panic in global markets. As finance leaders and private financiers from the twin 185-nation institutions' members descended on the US capital, they face a stunning loss of confidence in the financial system that has sent markets into a freefall. US President George W. Bush is hosting a meeting of the G7 finance chiefs at the White House early Saturday. The major industrial powers have already pumped massive amounts of liquidity into the global banking system in an effort to unclog credit markets, and led a coordinated cut in interest rates. \|\|\|\|\| October 10, 2008 HP-1195 G-7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Plan of Action Washington-- The G-7 agrees today that the current situation calls for urgent and exceptional action. We commit to continue working together to stabilize financial markets and restore the flow of credit, to support global economic growth. We agree to: Take decisive action and use all available tools to support systemically important financial institutions and prevent their failure. Take all necessary steps to unfreeze credit and money markets and ensure that banks and other financial institutions have broad access to liquidity and funding. Ensure that our banks and other major financial intermediaries, as needed, can raise capital from public as well as private sources, in sufficient amounts to re-establish confidence and permit them to continue lending to households and businesses. Ensure that our respective national deposit insurance and guarantee programs are robust and consistent so that our retail depositors will continue to have confidence in the safety of their deposits. Take action, where appropriate, to restart the secondary markets for mortgages and other securitized assets. Accurate valuation and transparent disclosure of assets and consistent implementation of high quality accounting standards are necessary. The actions should be taken in ways that protect taxpayers and avoid potentially damaging effects on other countries. We will use macroeconomic policy tools as necessary and appropriate. We strongly support the IMF's critical role in assisting countries affected by this turmoil. We will accelerate full implementation of the Financial Stability Forum recommendations and we are committed to the pressing need for reform of the financial system. We will strengthen further our cooperation and work with others to accomplish this plan. -30- \|\|\|\|\| October 10, 2008 HP-1194 Statement by Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. Following Meeting of the G-7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Washington, DC-- At today's meeting of the G-7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, we finalized an aggressive action plan to address the turmoil in global financial markets and the stresses on our financial institutions. This action plan provides a coherent framework that will direct our individual and collective policy steps to provide liquidity to markets, strengthen financial institutions, protect savers, and enforce investor protections. The G-7 is compelled to robust international partnership and cooperation. Never has it been more essential to find collective solutions to ensure stable and efficient financial markets and restore the health of the world economy. Global financial market conditions are severely strained. In the United States, our economy has been facing a prolonged period of uncertainty and our financial markets are experiencing unprecedented and extraordinary challenges. A root cause of this situation is the housing correction and a lack of confidence in mortgage assets, as well as a lack of confidence in many of the financial institutions that hold these assets. We are squarely focused on the immediate need to stabilize our financial markets, and recognize that investor confidence is critical to restore liquidity and enhance the stability of our financial system. As recent developments have demonstrated, the market turmoil is a global event. Governments around the world have taken actions to address financial market developments, and international cooperation and coordination has been robust. It is critical for governments to continue to take individual and collective actions to provide much-needed liquidity, strengthen financial institutions, enhance market stability, and develop a comprehensive regulatory response. We must continue to closely coordinate our actions and work within a common framework so that the action of one country does not come at the expense of others or the stability of the system as a whole. Central banks from around the world have acted together to provide additional liquidity for financial institutions, taking the necessary steps to support the global economy. The Federal Reserve has established swap lines with nine central banks to reduce pressures in global short-term U.S. dollar markets. Additionally, the U.S. Treasury implemented a temporary guaranty program for the U.S. money market mutual fund industry. Here in the United States, the members of the President's Working Group on Financial Markets (PWG) made it clear that we will coordinate the use of our existing and new authorities to restore market confidence. Other countries are considering appropriate programs given their national circumstances, and we pledge to stay in close contact as they move forward with their plans. I briefed my colleagues on the work we are pursuing to implement swiftly and thoughtfully the new financial rescue package. We are developing strategies to use the authority to purchase and insure mortgage assets and to purchase equity in financial institutions, as deemed necessary to promote financial market stability. As we develop plans to purchase equity, as in the approach we are taking to broad mortgage asset purchases, we are working to develop a standardized program that is open to a broad array of financial institutions. Such a program would be designed to encourage the raising of new private capital to complement public capital. Consistent with the legislation, any equity the government purchases through a broadly available equity program would be on a non-voting basis, except with respect to the market standard terms to protect our rights as investors. Securities regulators around the world have taken measures to enhance market stability by addressing market abuse. Here in the United States, we have taken steps to protect the savings of the American people by increasing deposit insurance limits, and the European Union member states have raised individual deposit limits to an EU-wide minimum. The G-7 and others are working together through the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) to ensure a comprehensive, international regulatory response to the financial market turmoil. FSF Chairman Mario Draghi reported to us on the good progress that has been made in improving prudential supervision and regulation, increasing disclosure and transparency, and enhancing accounting frameworks. I am committed to making sure this work continues. We are also committed to tackling the next steps laid out by Chairman Draghi to be done by the end of this year and our ambitious agenda for 2009. -30-	The financial leaders pose for a group photo. In the midst of the intensifying global financial crisis, finance ministers and central bankers of the G7 nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom – met in Washington, D.C. and released a joint statement. With failures of large financial institutions in the United States, the crisis rapidly evolved into a global crisis resulting in bank failures in Europe and the Americas, and sharp reductions in the value of stocks and commodities worldwide. The crisis further lead to a liquidity problem and the de-leveraging of world assets, which further accelerated the problem. The crisis has roots in the subprime mortgage crisis and is an acute phase of the financial crisis of 2007–2008. After the meeting, a joint statement was released with a commitment to "stabilize financial markets and restore the flow of credit." The statement outlined five steps to achieve these goals: #Take decisive action and use all available tools to support systemically important financial institutions and prevent their failure. #Take all necessary steps to unfreeze credit and money markets and ensure that banks and other financial institutions have broad access to liquidity and funding. #Ensure that our banks and other major financial intermediaries, as needed, can raise capital from public as well as private sources, in sufficient amounts to re-establish confidence and permit them to continue lending to households and businesses. #Ensure that our respective national deposit insurance and guarantee programs are robust and consistent so that our retail depositors will continue to have confidence in the safety of their deposits. #Take action, where appropriate, to restart the secondary markets for mortgages and other securitized assets. Accurate valuation and transparent disclosure of assets and consistent implementation of high quality accounting standards are necessary. "Central banks from around the world have acted together to provide additional liquidity for financial institutions, taking the necessary steps to support the global economy," said US Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson in a statement after the meeting. "We have taken a lot of actions," said European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet. "My experience of markets is that it always takes a little time to capture the elements of the decisions taken." The Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King said: "Central banks will work together as we demonstrated this week, to ensure sufficient short term liquidity is provided to stabilise banking systems. But it is also vital that governments work together to ensure their banking systems are recapitalised to enable them to lend to finance spending in the real economy."
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union agreed on Monday to set up a military mission in Uganda to train Somali government forces who are fighting an Islamist insurgency. The mission, expected to be led by Spain and involving around 100 troops, should begin in the second quarter of this year, EU foreign ministers decided at a meeting in Brussels. "The EU should ... continue to help stabilise Somalia by providing support to vital and priority areas such as the security sector, development, assistance to the population and capacity-building support," they said in a statement. "In this context, the Council agreed to set up a military mission to contribute to training of Somali security forces." Some EU member states expressed concern that training Somali troops and providing them with guns could cause more problems than it solves if there were not long-term commitments in place to pay them and give them institutional support. Those issues, including the vetting of trainees and the monitoring of the force once it is back in Mogadishu, must be addressed before the mission gets under way, the ministers said. Spain and France have already committed troops to the training team and other countries are expected to follow, including Britain, Slovenia, Greece and Hungary. Somalia has had no central government since 1991. Foreign governments have stepped up efforts to stabilise the country in the past three or four years, since it became a major source of piracy, with dozens of ships and crew taken hostage for ransom. Since the start of 2007, conflict in Somalia has killed 20,000 civilians and uprooted more than 1.5 million from their homes. The government is confined to a few small blocks of the capital and exerts little influence over the state. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| MOGADISHU, Somalia, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Intense gun battles between African Union peacekeepers and Islamic fundamentalists erupted Monday in parts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, witnesses said. Shabelle Radio quoted witnesses saying one battle between soldiers backing the country's transitional government allied with the African peacekeepers against Islamic forces broke out at a large base used by Burundian troops. It said the early morning fighting included heavy weapons exchanges, while another battle was reported in the Hodan district in south the capital. Shabelle also reported at least three people were killed and others wounded in the breakaway republic of Somaliland when soldiers found explosive devices that later detonated. Mohamed Abdi Dimbil, deputy governor of the Somaliland administration, told Shabelle that residents found the devices and gave them to troops. After the troops took possession of the materials, they exploded, killing three soldiers and wounding several others, the report said.	Heavy fighting has broken out in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. As troops clash with Islamic fighters the European Union has said it will train 2,000 more soldiers for the country. One major battle erupted at a base used by Burundian troops. African peacekeepers as well as local soldiers working for the transitional government fought back, according to eyewitnesses. Heavy artillery was used this morning. Soldiers in Somaliland found explosives which later went off, killing at least three people. Somaliland's deputy governor, Mohamed Abdi Dimbil, said locals had discovered the bombs and handed them over to soldiers. They detonated while the soldiers still had them, causing the deaths as well as injuries. EU foreign ministers in Brussels responded to the clashes. A joint statement read: "The EU should ... continue to help stabilise Somalia by providing support to vital and priority areas such as the security sector, development, assistance to the population and capacity-building support. In this context, the Council agreed to set up a military mission to contribute to training of Somali security forces." Spain will lead the mission and France has pledged troops as well. Britain, Slovenia, Greece, and Hungary are expected to participate, according to Reuters.
All post and comments are subject to review and filtering by the KXNet.com Webmaster - Any posts containing offensive language, threats, or any other form of abuse will be DELETED In addition, all posts are logged and tracked in our database system including the IP Address and source computer details of the individual who submitted the post. All users commenting on KXNet.com articles and talk-forums are bound by the rules outlined in our Any posts containing offensive language, threats, or any other form of abuse will be DELETEDIn addition, all posts are logged and tracked in our database system including the IP Address and source computer details of the individual who submitted the post. All users commenting on KXNet.com articles and talk-forums are bound by the rules outlined in our Comment, Blog and Talk Forum Rules and are required to login as a registered member Click here for the KXNet.com Commenting Rules \|\|\|\|\| MADISON, Conn. - A state official says one person has died and four remain hospitalized after lightning struck a pavilion at Hamonasset Beach State Park in Madison. Dennis Schain of the Department of Environmental Protection says the lightning struck shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday near the West Beach parking area. The names of the victims have not been released. Schain says the person who died was brought to the Shoreline Clinic in Essex. No other details are available.	At least 4 people are injured, one "very seriously", and at least one is dead after being struck by lightning during a thunderstorm which passed over a park located in Madison, Connecticut. According to the city's local chapter of the environmental Protection Agency, lightning struck a pavilion at approximately 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) at Hamonasset Beach State Park. The names ofthe victims have not yet been released. At least four people remained hospitalized. Nearly 26,000 people are reported to have lost power when the storms moved through the area.
cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: '36af7c51-0caf-4741-9824-2c941fc6c17b' }).render('4c4d856e0e6f4e3d808bbc1715e132f6'); }); if(window.location.pathname.indexOf("656089") != -1){console.log("hedva connatix");document.getElementsByClassName("divConnatix")[0].style.display ="none";} US Vice President Mike Pence was met with one standing ovation after another in the Knesset, during his speech rife with Biblical references and expressions of support for Israel and the Jewish people.Under US President Donald Trump, Pence said, US-Israel ties are stronger than ever.“We stand with Israel, because we believe in right over wrong, in good over evil, and in liberty over tyranny...The people of the US have always held a special affection and admiration for the People of the Book. In the story of the Jews, we’ve always seen the story of America. It is the story of Exodus, a journey from persecution to freedom, a story that shows the power of faith and the promise of hope,” he stated.Pence, the first US Vice President to address the Knesset’s plenary, spoke to a packed room.A devout Evangelical Christian, Pence paraphrased Psalms: “The USA is proud to stand with Israel and her people, as allies and cherished friends. And so we will pray for the peace of Jerusalem, that those who love you be secure, that there be peace within your walls and security in your citadels. And we will work and strive for that brighter future, so everyone who calls this ancient land home shall sit under their vine and fig tree, and none shall make them afraid.”Pence urged the Palestinians, who are boycotting his visit to the region, to come to the negotiating table.“We recognize that peace will require compromise, but you can be confident in this: The USA will never compromise on the safety and security of the State of Israel,” he stated.“The US remains committed to peace,” Pence stated, saying that the US will support a two-state solution if both sides want it. That comment was met by a standing ovation from the opposition, while the coalition noticeably stayed in their seats.The vice president announced that the US embassy will move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by the end of next year, emphasizing that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital.He also spoke out against Iran, calling the nuclear deal a “disaster,” and saying Trump will not certify it again.Pence rapped Iran as the world’s biggest state sponsor of terrorism, and used the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism” several times, saying it “respects no creed, stealing the lives of Jews, Christians and especially Muslims.”“Together with our allies we will continue to bring the full force of our might to drive radical Islamic terrorism from the face of the earth,” he said.During his speech, Pence waxed poetic about Israel and Jewish history.“As I stand in Abraham’s Promised Land, I believe that all who cherish freedom and seek a brighter future should cast their eyes here and marvel at what they behold...How unlikely is Israel’s birth; how more unlikely is her survival,” he said.Pence said the Jewish people held on to the hope of returning to their homeland over a 2,000 year exile, “through the darkest and longest nights.”“Tomorrow, when I stand with my wife Karen at Yad Vashem to honor the six million Jewish martyrs of the Holocaust, we will marvel at the faith and resilience of your people, who just three years after walking in the shadow of death, rose up from the ashes to resurrect yourselves, to reclaim a Jewish future and rebuild the Jewish State.”Speaking on Israel’s upcoming 70th Independence Day, Pence said the Shehechiyanu (“who has granted us life”) blessing, said to thank God on momentous occasions.Pence’s blessing was met with a standing ovation from nearly all of the MKs present, as were several other points in his speech.At the start of the speech, Joint List MKs held up signs that said “Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.” They were immediately ejected by ushers. Holding up signs or other props in the Knesset is prohibited in all plenary sessions, and when a foreign dignitary speaks, there is a zero-tolerance policy against heckling.Pence took the interruption in stride, praising Israel’s “vibrant democracy.”Joint List chairman Ayman Odeh tweeted that he was proud to lead his party in a “strong, legitimate protest, against the Trump-Netanyahu regime’s exaltation of racism and hatred, who speak of peace solely as lip service.”Pence’s speech was otherwise extremely well-received from both the opposition and the coalition.The vice president concluded his speech with “God bless the Jewish people, God bless Israel, and God bless the USA.” Likud MK Yehudah Glick shouted: “God bless you, Mr. Vice President!”Transportation and Intelligence Minister Israel Katz called Pence’s speech “inspiring,” and Bayit Yehudi chairman Naftali Bennett said “it will go down in the history books of both nations.” \|\|\|\|\| Pence Draws Applause, Some Heckles, For U.S. Embassy Move To Jerusalem Enlarge this image toggle caption Ariel Schalit/AFP/Getty Images Ariel Schalit/AFP/Getty Images Vice President Pence says the United States will open an embassy in Jerusalem by the end of 2019 — much more quickly than initially promised. Pence announced the new timetable in a speech before the Knesset, Israel's parliament, drawing a standing ovation from Israeli lawmakers and accelerating one of the Trump administration's most contentious foreign policy decisions to date. "In the weeks ahead, our administration will advance its plan to open the United States Embassy in Jerusalem — and that United States Embassy will open before the end of next year," Pence said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shot up from his seat, smiling and clapping. He appeared overjoyed, even surprised. In December, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said it will take at least three years to build an embassy in Jerusalem. Senior White House officials have previously said the embassy could not be moved to an existing building in Jerusalem. When President Trump last month appeared before cameras and announced the U.S. was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and beginning to prepare for a new embassy in the city, Pence stood behind Trump — in more ways than one. As a devout Christian and an ardent supporter of Israel, Pence was one of the biggest advocates for the move as the Trump administration debated the decision. "You are a true friend of Zion!" read large posters hung in Jerusalem for Pence's visit by the Friends of Zion, a U.S. evangelical Christian organization in the city. The group said it had plastered more than 100 such posters throughout the city and on buses. In Pence's speech Monday, he said the first settlers in America were inspired by the Hebrew Bible. "My country's very first settlers also saw themselves as pilgrims, sent by Providence, to build a new Promised Land. The songs and stories of the people of Israel were their anthems, and they faithfully taught them to their children, and do to this day," Pence said. Palestinian official Saeb Erekat denounced the speech. "The messianic discourse of Pence is a gift to extremists and has proven that the U.S. administration is part of the problem rather than the solution," he said. Enlarge this image toggle caption Ariel Schalit/AFP/Getty Images Ariel Schalit/AFP/Getty Images Israeli Arab lawmakers protested on the parliament floor as Pence took the stand and were ushered out of the hall. Jerusalem — home to some of the most sacred shrines in Christianity, Islam and Judaism — is perhaps the most emotionally charged aspect of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel claims the whole city as its capital, while Palestinian leaders want to establish a capital in the city's east, where Palestinians live. No country has its embassy in Jerusalem. The U.S. previously backed the current international consensus not to move embassies there because the city's status should be negotiated by Israelis and Palestinians. The U.S. decision on Jerusalem sparked ongoing Palestinian protests, some of which turned deadly. An overwhelming majority of countries rejected the decision in the United Nations. During his meeting with Pence in Amman, King Abdullah of Jordan denounced the move and called on the U.S. to restore "trust and confidence" in the possibility of achieving Israeli-Palestinian peace — with a Palestinian state alongside Israel. During his visit in Jerusalem, Pence offered an explanation for the Jerusalem decision: By recognizing the "obvious" fact that Jerusalem is Israel's capital, he said, it creates an opportunity to "move on" to other issues that must be negotiated in peace talks. But instead of allowing the parties to move on, it has led to a crisis in U.S.-Palestinian relations — the lowest point in the Trump administration's months of shuttle diplomacy and attempts to restart the peace process. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says the U.S. sided with Israel and that he will not participate in peace negotiations led by the United States. Trump tweeted that if the Palestinians were not prepared to negotiate, the U.S. should cut funding for them. Indeed, the administration subsequently cut $65 million in funds to a U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees but said it was meant to encourage reform in the agency, not as punishment. In a rambling and fiery speech, Abbas directed a colloquial Arabic phrase at Trump — literally "may your house be destroyed" — that is often used casually but was widely criticized by Israeli leaders and seen as brash rhetoric directed at a foreign leader. Meeting with European Union foreign envoys in Brussels, Abbas said the Palestinians would participate in peace talks only if they were held with the involvement of other countries, not just the United States. Abbas sees European countries as more favorable than the Trump administration to the Palestinians. Pence delivered another message in his speech in the Knesset: that the U.S. would support the creation of an independent Palestine next to the state of Israel — if both sides agree to it. Opposition lawmakers stood and applauded, but not Netanyahu. Many members of his right-wing coalition reject a two-state solution. Since Trump's election, many in the Israeli government have called for annexing parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank where Israeli settlements are located and where Palestinians want to establish a state. Israel has refrained from such an annexation since capturing the territory 50 years ago, fearing international and American backlash, but many lawmakers believe the time to do it is now — with a sympathetic President Trump in the White House. The Trump administration has been much more tolerant of Israeli West Bank settlements than have previous U.S. administrations, Republican and Democratic alike. The speaker of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, announced in the parliament — with Pence sitting next to him — that Israel would continue to build homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. After Pence's speech, Edelstein gave the vice president a gift basket of products made in the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, including wine from two wineries, a sesame-based fudgelike treat called halvah and the savory condiment tahini. Edelstein's office said it was a taste of products from a settlement industrial zone where "Arabs and Jews work together in harmony and cooperation." Meanwhile, the Foreign Press Association, representing international journalists covering Israel and the Palestinian territories, protested what it called "clear ethnic profiling" by Israeli security officials of a journalist of Palestinian descent from Finland's state broadcaster covering Pence's visit. The FPA said the journalist was asked to remove her bra during a search and, when she refused, was denied entry. "The repugnant practice of strip-searching journalists puts Israel in a category all of its own and is a mark of shame for a country that boasts of its democratic credentials," the FPA said in a statement.	Mike Pence (official portrait) United States Vice President Mike Pence was in Israel on Monday and addressed the , Israel's highest legislative body. During his speech, Pence promised the US would transfer its embassy from to Jerusalem before the end of 2019. He also spoke of US support of Israel, often using references. "In the story of the Jews, we’ve always seen the story of America. It is the story of an exodus, a journey from persecution to freedom, a story that shows the power of faith and the promise of hope," said Pence. "My country’s very first settlers also saw themselves as pilgrims, sent by Providence, to build a new Promised Land. The songs and stories of the people of Israel were their anthems, and they faithfully taught them to their children, and do to this day. And our founders, as others have said, turned to the wisdom of the Hebrew Bible for direction, guidance, and inspiration." "Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. And, as such, President Trump has directed the State Department to immediately begin preparations to move the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem," Pence said later in the speech. "In the weeks ahead, our administration will advance its plan to open the United States Embassy in Jerusalem, and that United States Embassy will open before the end of next year." Twelve Israeli Arab and one Jewish member of the Knesset protested Pence on the floor of the legislature. Holding signs such as "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine," they were escorted out by security. Generally, Pence's words were met by applause and some standing ovations. Pence was to visit the and the on Tuesday. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would not meet with Pence, and Pence had no scheduled meetings with any Palestinians. US President Donald Trump announced recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December 2017.
Three suicides at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, may have been part of a broader plot by detainees who were using confidential lawyer-client papers and envelopes to pass handwritten notes their guards could not intercept, according to documents that government lawyers filed yesterday in federal court. Detainees could apparently hide documents in their cells -- including instructions on how to tie knots and a classified U.S. military memo regarding cell locations of detainees and camp operational matters at Guantanamo -- by keeping the materials in envelopes labeled as lawyer-client communications. Notes that investigators found after the suicides on June 10 were apparently written on the back of notepaper stamped "Attorney Client Privilege," which allowed detainees to communicate secretly without interference, according to government officials. The alleged discoveries have led military commanders to suspend allowing detainees to have paper provided by defense lawyers. Government lawyers have also asked a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to allow them to assemble "filter teams" to scour more than 1,100 pounds of documents seized by investigators, some of which are protected by lawyer-client privilege and would usually be off-limits to authorities. Defense lawyers for Guantanamo detainees said that their clients are closely monitored and should have no way to pass such notes, and that the filing yesterday is designed to complicate their efforts. In an affidavit filed with the court, Rear Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., the facility's commander, said the Naval Criminal Investigative Service has information that suggests the suicides "may have been part of a larger plan or pact for more suicides that day or in the immediate future." He also said that on June 22, he asked NCIS to investigate whether the suicides were "otherwise encouraged, ordered, or assisted by other detainees or third persons" -- implying that the probe could extend to lawyers for the men -- and whether their private communications could have included improper materials. Lawyers are permitted to share with detainees legal communications or publicly filed documents, but they are not allowed to pass classified or "protected" information to clients. Barbara Olshansky of the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents most of the Guantanamo detainees, said the allegations that lawyers could have played a role in the suicides are "patently offensive" and "outrageous." She said the government is again trying to make it difficult for lawyers to represent the 450 detainees held there. "I can't imagine what they think they've found," Olshansky said last night. "All I can see this as is an elaborate ruse to take away whatever these people have so they have absolutely nothing, and to make these lawyers fight for yet another thing." Investigators impounded detainees' written materials on June 14, taking them from plastic bins the detainees use to store personal items and papers, according to the court filing and an affidavit by Carol Kisthardt, an NCIS special agent in charge of the agency's Southeast field office. Four days later, investigators focused on materials related to 11 detainees, though government lawyers did not detail why they picked those men. "The materials uncovered in these initial searches comprising a very small amount of detainee materials demonstrated, however, that detainees had developed practices for misusing the existence of a privileged attorney-client communication system," the government lawyers wrote, "presumably to shield the communications from the suspicion or scrutiny of JTF-Guantanamo guards, who have not been permitted to inspect or review attorney-client communications." The court papers say that investigators found suicide notes written in Arabic on the bodies of the detainees and that they found notes hidden in the wire mesh of their cells and neighboring cells. The discovery of the papers "indicated the passing of materials and messages between detainees and that some level of planning or coordination of the suicides had taken place" because two of the men had never been visited by attorneys, yesterday's filing says. The three detainees used torn bedsheets and clothing to hang themselves, military officials have said. Defense lawyers have called the suicides acts of desperation by detainees who saw no hope of being released or of having a fair trial. "The whole concept that these suicides are a plot or a plan is of a piece with the absurd contention that suicide is an act of warfare in this setting," said David Remes, a Washington lawyer who represents a group of Guantanamo detainees. "What comes through to me is that the military has found a way to use the suicides to break through a very carefully constructed and painstakingly negotiated mechanism of protecting the attorney-client privilege." David Engelhardt, who represented Ali Abdullah Ahmed, a Yemeni detainee who killed himself June 10, said there is no way to know if there was a suicide plot because he was never granted access to his client. "A plot to do what?" Engelhardt said. "Who exactly did he hurt by hanging himself? What do you have to gain besides the stretching of your own neck? This is offensive and ignorant." Researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BLASTS BUSH ADMINISTRATION FOR SUICIDES AT GUANTÁNAMO Lawyers for Detainees Outline Systematic Psychological Neglect at Guantánamo Bay, Demand Closure of the Prison Opinions and Documents Synopsis After learning of the apparent suicides of three men who were detained at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), condemned the Bush Administration's policy of indefinite detention and released a document which provides concrete examples of attempts by CCR and its cooperating attorneys to get medical and psychological attention to men at Guantánamo. Bill Goodman, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights said: "The Bush Administration has systematically and deliberately denied these men their most basic rights through a policy of choking off all contact, communication, information and hope. For this administration to now claim that these suicides were acts of war by men who have no regard for human life is powerful evidence that the Bush Administration itself has no conception of the desperation they have caused. "This government has consistently fought to keep these men from lawyers, doctors and others who were willing to help them. Now in attempting to deny the truth this administration will not only cause more pain and misery amongst the detainees at Guantánamo, it will ultimately undermine fundamental democratic institutions of the United States." "We are greatly saddened by the news of the passing of Yasser Talal Al Zahrani, Mana Shaman Allabardi Al Otaibi, and Ahmed Abdullah., and we send our deepest sympathies to the families of these men," said Barbara Olshansky, Deputy Legal Director and Director Counsel of the Guantanamo Global Justice Initiative at CCR, "the men imprisoned at Guantánamo have been held for years without ever seeing the inside of a court room. The vast majority of them have never been charged with a crime. Their despair and hopelessness has increased as the years have gone by without justice, it should not surprise anyone that some of the men were pushed to such desperate measures." Documents released by CCR outline the numerous times it and other organizations have attempted to force the Department of Defense to provide adequate medical and psychological care for the detainees at Guantánamo. "George Bush claims that he needs the approval of the Supreme Court to close Guantánamo. That is a lie. Before more men die in desperation, the Bush Administration must close Guantánamo and either give them their day in a court of law or let them go," said Gitanjali Gutierrez, a staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights who has visited the men at Guantánamo. \|\|\|\|\| These are the first suicides at the base, despite dozens of attempts The camp commander said the two Saudis and a Yemeni were "committed" and had killed themselves in "an act of asymmetric warfare waged against us". Lawyers said the men who hanged themselves had been driven by despair. A military investigation into the deaths is now under way, amid growing calls for the detention centre to be moved or closed. Walter White, an international lawyer who specialises in human rights, told the BBC the Guantanamo camp was likely to be considered a "great stain" on the human rights record of the US. There have been dozens of suicide attempts since the camp was set up four years ago - but none successful until now. The men were found unresponsive and not breathing by guards on Saturday morning, said officials. They were in separate cells in Camp One, the highest security section of the prison. I believe this was not an act of desperation, but an act of warfare waged against us Rear Adm Harry Harris Camp commander They hanged themselves with clothing and bed sheets, camp commander Rear Adm Harry Harris said. He said medical teams had tried to revive the men, but all three were pronounced dead. 'Creative' Rear Adm Harris said he did not believe the men had killed themselves out of despair. "They are smart. They are creative, they are committed," he said. "They have no regard for life, either ours or their own. I believe this was not an act of desperation, but an act of asymmetrical warfare waged against us." If it's perfectly legal and there's nothing going wrong there - well, why don't they have it in America? Harriet Harman UK Constitutional Affairs Minister All three men had previously taken part in some of the mass on-and-off hunger strikes undertaken by detainees since last August, and all three had been force-fed by camp authorities. They had left suicide notes, but no details have been made available. The US military said the men's bodies were being treated "with the utmost respect". White House spokesman Tony Snow said Mr Bush had "expressed serious concern" at the deaths. "He also stressed that it was important to treat the bodies humanely and with cultural sensitivity," he said. A spokesman for UK Prime Minister Tony Blair described the suicide as a "sad incident". 'Heroes' UK Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman told the BBC on Sunday the camp should be moved to the US or shut down. "If it's perfectly legal and there's nothing going wrong there - well, why don't they have it in America and then the American court system can supervise it?" she said. HAVE YOUR SAY We are losing credibility with our friends and allies Jim, Pinehurst, USA Send us your comments William Goodman from the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights told AFP news agency the three dead men were "heroes for those of us who believe in basic American values of justice, fairness and democracy". Mr Goodman, whose organisation represents some 300 detainees, said the government had denied them that. Ken Roth, head of Human Rights Watch in New York, told the BBC the men had probably been driven by despair. "These people are despairing because they are being held lawlessly," he said. "There's no end in sight. They're not being brought before any independent judges. They're not being charged and convicted for any crime." On Friday, Mr Bush said he would "like to end Guantanamo", adding he believed the inmates "ought to be tried in courts here in the United States".	File image of detainees upon arrival at , January 2002 Lawyers asked a federal court Friday to allow the government to inspect written materials that it seized from inmates at Guantanamo Bay last month and requested approval to use "filter teams" to look at documents that may contain privileged lawyer-client communication. In documents they filed with the , government lawyers argued that three inmates who committed suicide last month by hanging themselves coordinated their actions by using attorney-client confidentiality to communicate with each other. Government officials said that among papers marked "Attorney Client Privilege" were instructions on how to tie knots and a classified memo on camp activities and inmate locations. Military officials seized more than 1,100 pounds of documents from inmates after the suicides on June 10. They have since stopped defense lawyers from sending any documents to inmates. In an affidavit that lawyers for the government filed with the court, Rear Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., the naval commander of the camp, described evidence of a "larger plan or pact for more suicides" among detainees. His statement implied that the investigation might extend to defense attorneys as third parties who "encouraged, ordered or assisted" the detainees in killing themselves. Harris earlier described the suicides as part of a pattern of hostile actions on the part of terror suspects. "They have no regard for life, either ours or their own," he said last month. "I believe this was not an act of desperation, but an act of asymmetrical warfare waged against us." The , which has provided legal assistance to about 200 Guantanamo detainees, has been critical of the conditions at Guantanamo Bay that they say finally led the detainees to kill themselves in desperation. Barbara Olshansky, a deputy legal director at CCR, described the government's latest legal activity as a tactic to impede detainees' access to legal representation "and to make these lawyers fight for yet another thing." Last month after the document seizures, defense attorney Richard Wilson, who represents a Canadian detainee, said in an affidavit that the military had told him that they were conducting no investigation into the role of attorneys in the prisoners' deaths. He added, however, that at least one detainee claimed that camp officials had confiscated his written materials and told him that they were looking into "whether lawyers had actively encouraged detainees to commit suicide."
Why did this happen? Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy. \|\|\|\|\| GUATEMALA CITY (AP) A powerful earthquake that shook Guatemala and parts of El Salvador on caused traffic chaos in Guatemala City, damaged some houses and generated landslides outside the capital. But officials said there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries from the 6.8 magnitude quake that struck Wednesday afternoon southwest of Guatemala City. Aid workers across Guatemala reported only minor damage to homes in a couple of rural communities, according to Francois de la Roche, Latin America's director for humanitarian and emergency affairs for the aid organization World Vision. "I didn't notice it at first but then felt this long, swaying motion back and forward," de la Roche said in a telephone interview from Antigua, Guatemala. The quake struck at 1:29 p.m. local time and was centered 70 miles southwest of Guatemala City off the Pacific coast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Guatemala's seismology institute said the quake lasted 49 seconds. In Guatemala City, people fled buildings into the streets following the quake, throwing traffic into chaos in the sprawling capital city. "It rattled a lot of nerves," said Benedicto Giron, spokesman for the National Disaster Reduction Center. Outside the capital, landslides were reported in the southwest province of Escuintla, but they apparently caused no casualties, Giron said. He added, however, that phone service was knocked out in some areas and information was only trickling in slowly. The quake was felt strongly in neighboring El Salvador, where people ran into the streets in the capital of San Salvador, but the Red Cross there said it had no reports of damage or injury. It was also felt in the Mexican city of Tapachula along the Guatemalan border. The Geological Survey said the earthquake could have caused damage due to its location and size. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in Hawaii said no tsunami was expected from the quake. The region is prone to earthquakes. One of Guatemala's most devastating quakes was in 1976 when nearly 23,000 people died. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map. \|\|\|\|\| (Adds quotes, details) By Mica Rosenberg GUATEMALA CITY, June 13 (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake rattled Guatemala and El Salvador on Wednesday, forcing terrified residents to flee shaking buildings, but there were no reports of casualties. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8 and was centered in the Pacific Ocean some 46 miles (75 km) south of the Guatemalan town of Escuintla. The quake occurred at a depth of about 40 miles (65 km). Buildings in Guatemala City swayed for about 30 seconds and people ran into the streets. Parents formed long lines outside schools to look for their children, and authorities asked residents to stay out of high buildings. "I was kind of scared that something would collapse. It was strong," said Marcelo Rocha, a 19-year-old security guard at a sugar export facility in Puerto Quetzal, which is Guatemala's busiest port and close to the earthquake's epicenter. Emergency services said the country escaped virtually unscathed. "We are all on alert but we've got to keep calm," Guatemalan President Oscar Berger said in a public address. "There have been no reports of any harm to people or structures." El Salvador's Interior Ministry said there were no reports of fatalities or injuries there. Twin earthquakes just one month apart killed around 1,150 people in El Salvador in 2001, most of the victims buried in a huge mudslide near the capital San Salvador. The impoverished countries of Central America are susceptible to earthquakes, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, often followed by dangerous mudslides. SCARY MEMORIES Earthquakes in Guatemala evoke frightening memories of a 7.5 magnitude quake that struck the country's poor indigenous highlands in 1976, killing more than 23,000 people, many of them crushed under collapsed adobe houses. "It felt just like that other quake," said Ponciano Martinez, a 49-year-old fireman in Escuintla. "We have some very big water tanker trucks here that were moving, that's how we know it was strong." The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a notice of Wednesday's earthquake but said there was no danger of a tsunami. "The earthquake was too deep to generate a tsunami hazard," said Gerard Fryer, a geophysicist at the center. "We don't think there is going to be a dangerous Pacific-wide tsunami but we will monitor the situation," said David Walsh, an oceanographer with the warning center. A spokeswoman for Guatemalan coffee growers group Anacafe said there were no reports of any damage to crops while sugar mills said they felt the quake but were not damaged. (Additional reporting by Alberto Barrera in San Salvador, Frank Jack Daniel and Jason Lange in Mexico City and Brian Harris in Costa Rica) \|\|\|\|\| The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 115 km (70 miles) SSW of GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala at 1:29 PM MDT, Jun 13, 2007 (1:29 PM local time in Guatemala). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. No reports of damage or casualties have been received at this time; however, this earthquake may have caused damage due to its location and size. \|\|\|\|\| The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 115 km (70 miles) SSW of GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala at 1:29 PM MDT, Jun 13, 2007 (1:29 PM local time in Guatemala). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. No reports of damage or casualties have been received at this time; however, this earthquake may have caused damage due to its location and size.	Shake map showing epicenter and quake intensity. At 19:29:46 UTC (2:29:46 local time), an earthquake estimated by the United States Geological Survey at a magnitude of 6.8 struck just off the Pacific coast of Guatemala, approximately 115 km (70 miles) south-southwest of Guatemala City. The USGS estimates the depth at 64.8 km (40.3 miles). "It has not caused any damage, there is no damage reported," said emergency services spokesman for Guatemala's emergency response team, Benedicto Giron. Despite the claims of no damage, the swaying of buildings, damages to houses, collapsing buildings and mudslides are being reported in Guatemala. Buildings also swayed in El Salvador. There are no reports of injures or deaths, but the USGS reports that damage in the area could be moderate to heavy. "There are no reports of damage or casualties at this time; however, this earthquake may have caused damage due to its location and size," said a statement posted on the USGS website. A Red Cross spokesman in El Salvador, Carlos Lopez says that there are no reports of damage or injuries in El Salvador. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a bulletin stating that there was little risk of a tsunami; the bulletin listed the magnitude of the earthquake at 7.0. "The earthquake was too deep to generate a tsunami hazard. We don't think there is going to be a dangerous Pacific-wide tsunami but we will monitor the situation," said spokesman for the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, David Walsh. On June 8, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Guatemala in the same region 100 km (60 miles) south-southwest of Guatemala City.
We spoke to four people about the impact losing a loved one has had on them, and about their search for answers in a country with the worst death toll per capita of any of the world’s large economies \|\|\|\|\| ROME, March 21 —An Italian journalist who was held hostage for 15 days by the Taliban in lawless southern Afghanistan was ransomed for five Taliban prisoners, the Italian government and Afghan officials confirmed Wednesday. It appears to be the first time prisoners have been openly exchanged for a hostage in the wars that the United States and its allies are fighting there and in Iraq, and the move drew immediate criticism from Washington and London, and from other European capitals. “We don’t negotiate with terrorists, and we don’t advise others to do so either,” said the State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack. A senior Bush administration official said the prisoners exchanged had been held by the Afghan government, not by NATO, which is directing the allied military in Afghanistan. The official said he did not believe that NATO officials in Afghanistan had been formally alerted before the exchange. \|\|\|\|\| By Phil Stewart ROME (Reuters) - The United States and Britain criticized Italy's hostage deal with the Taliban on Wednesday, saying the release of five guerrillas in exchange for an Italian reporter put NATO troops in danger and encouraged kidnappings. A senior U.S. administration official said Washington had formally complained to Rome through diplomatic channels for putting pressure on Kabul to release the Taliban, adding the deal "caught the U.S. by surprise". A spokeswoman at the British Foreign Office said the deal sent "the wrong signal to prospective hostage-takers". Italy, which has 1,900 troops under NATO command in Afghanistan, confirmed on Wednesday that five Taliban had been released and said this was in exchange for the freeing on Monday of reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo, held for two weeks by the Taliban. A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said only the Afghan government made the deal "in recognition of the friendship with Italy". The U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the release of five "dangerous Taliban operatives" would not have been approved by Washington. "We did not and do not approve of concessions to terrorists," the official told Italian reporters in Washington, in comments confirmed to Reuters in Rome. "(The concessions) increase the risk to NATO and Afghan troops and the Afghan people." Continued... \|\|\|\|\| This story is from The Times His release was negotiated by Emergency, an Italy aid charity, which confirmed that five Taliban prisoners had been freed. In Kabul, Muhammad Karim Rahimi, a spokesman for President Hamid Karzai, said that the exchange “was an exceptional measure taken because we value our relations and friendship with Italy”. But there was strong condemnation of the agreement, with critics accusing the Afghan and Italian governments of negotiating with terrorists. After two weeks in captivity the Italian journalist, Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who arrived back in Italy today, gave an extraordinary account of how his Afghan driver, Sayed Agha, had died in the poppy fields of Helmand province. Writing in La Repubblica, Mastrogiacomo, who is 52, described how he and Mr Agha, with Ajmal Naqshbandi, his Afghan interpreter, were loaded on to a Jeep to wait for hours in the sun for the arrival of a Taliban commander. “They tie our hands behind our backs, bandage our eyes and make us kneel,” Mastrogiacomo wrote. “But I can see what is going on. I can’t help looking. Our driver, who disappeared for two days and was held in a separate cell, is taken to the middle. The commander announces his sentence, in the name of Islam. He says we are all spies, and that we must die. I see Ajmal weeping. I don’t understand, and I ask him what they said. He replies sobbing, ‘They are going to kill us’.” Mastrogiacomo said that he then got up on his knees. “I see the driver being held down by four young men. They press his face into the sand, they cut his throat then go on cutting, they cut his whole head off. He manages to make only a single sound, a long moan. They wipe the knife clean on a tunic, and tie the detached head back on the body, and take it to the river bank and let him go. “I wait, my legs trembling. I stutter something to the commander. I ask him what is happening. I feel myself being held. I imagine myself with my throat being cut, the blood spurting from my arteries, drying in the sand, my body entrusted to the flowing river.” Mastrogiacomo said that his captors rejoiced when his release was agreed, firing their machineguns into the air in celebration. “The commander embraces me, both false and sincere at the same time. I tell him he has won. Before he lets me go he whispers in my ear, in perfect English, ‘If God so wishes, Inshallah, we will meet again in Paradise.’ I turn round, but he has disappeared already.” Mastrogiacomo, who is married with two children, was kidnapped on suspicion of spying for British forces. On his way home to Italy last night, he said: “My head is spinning but I am happy” he said. “I managed to get out, and I thank everybody who helped me.” Mr Karzai’s spokesman said: “There were some demands, and some of the demands were accepted. You see the result of it, the journalist was released. This was an exceptional case, and it will not happen again.” But Adrian Edwards, the UN spokesman in Afghanistan, said: “The UN does not negotiate with terrorists.” The Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association said that the deal was “not acceptable”, and a spokesman from the US Embassy in Kabul said: “It is US policy not to make concessions to terrorists’ demands.” In Rome, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi was challenged by the Opposition to explain to Parliament why the reporter had been freed “at the price of freeing terrorists”. It is not the first time that Italy has been accused of bowing to kidnappers’ demands. Italian hostages in Iraq, including a reporter and charity workers, were previously released amid rumours of huge payments to the Islamic militant kidnappers. Meanwhile, relatives and friends of the dead driver protested outside the Italian-run hospital at Lashkar Gah where Mastrogiacomo had been recovering. They accused Kabul of caring more about an Italian than an Afghan. “Why would the Government release five criminals for an infidel foreigner and not for a poor Afghan?” demanded Khan Jan, an uncle of Sayed Agha. Another uncle, Delbar Jan, said “The government makes sacrifice for foreigners, but not for an Afghan.” In exchange The Taliban prisoners who were freed were named as Ustad Yasir, head of the Taliban’s cultural wing; Mufti Latifullah Hamkimi, a former spokesman; two commanders, believed to be Hafiz Hamdullad and Abdul Ghaffar; and Mansoor Ahmad, brother of the notorious Taliban fighter Mullah Dadullah	Location of Helmand Province within Afghanistan where Daniele Mastrogiacomo was taken hostage. Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo who was held hostage for 15 days, was traded for five Taliban prisoners, as confirmed by Italian and Afgani authorities. This likely represents the first time during the Iraq War or War in Afghanistan that prisoners were openly exchanged for a hostage. An Afghani government source said the swap "was an exceptional measure taken because we value our relations and friendship with Italy." The move received sharp criticism from allies of Italy. In Washington, a senior State Department official said the United States was pleased the journalist had been released unharmed, but was troubled by possible ramifications of the swap. A spokesperson at the said the deal sent "the wrong signal to prospective hostage-takers". , spoke against the swap, "When we create situations where you can buy the freedom of Taliban fighters when you catch a journalist, in the short term there will be no journalists anymore." The international backlash is the latest headache for Italian Prime Minister , who has fought hard to keep troops in Afghanistan despite resistance from within his centre-left coalition. Prodi briefly resigned last month after a defeat in the over his foreign policy, including Afghanistan, and needs the Senate next week to approve a refinancing of the mission. An opinion poll published by Mastrogiacomo's newspaper, '''', showed that 51 percent of Italians surveyed supported the exchange, while 41 percent opposed it.
Jan. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Bobby Fischer, the American chess prodigy who defeated the Soviet Union's best player at the height of the Cold War to become the only U.S. world champion, then spent the next three decades in self-imposed exile and anti- American rage, has died. He was 64. Fischer died of kidney failure yesterday in a Reykjavik, Iceland, hospital after a long illness, the Associated Press reported, citing his spokesman, Gardar Sverrisson. It was in Reykjavik in 1972 that Fischer defeated Boris Spassky in a two-month match that transfixed a worldwide audience, both for its significance as a Cold War proxy and the idiosyncratic behavior of its 29-year-old underdog. At one point, Fischer insisted the match be relocated to a room not much bigger than a closet because he was bothered by the sound of television cameras. Fischer's defeat of Spassky was a revolutionary moment in the international sporting world, on par with the U.S. Olympic hockey team's defeat of its seemingly unbeatable Soviet counterpart in Lake Placid, New York, in 1980, or Australia's 1983 victory over the U.S. in yachting's America's Cup, ending the world's longest winning streak -- 132 years. Fischer characterized ``this little thing between me and Spassky'' as no less than ``the free world against the lying, cheating, hypocritical Russians'' and ``a microcosm of the whole world political situation.'' Match Point What became known as the ``match of the century'' almost didn't happen because of Fischer's demands about the prize money and playing conditions. The possibility of Fischer refusing to play was so troubling to U.S. officials that President Richard Nixon directed Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to place a call to Fischer. Fischer arrived in Iceland just hours before the match was to begin on July 11, 1972, and made uncharacteristic mistakes that led to a Spassky victory in the first game. Fischer resumed his complaints: now he was bothered by the cameras in the competition hall. Match organizers called his bluff when he refused to play, and Spassky was awarded the second game by forfeit. At Fischer's insistence, the third game was moved to a small room and broadcast to the live audience via closed-circuit television. Fischer won that game and never looked back, even after the match returned to the main stage. Piling up Wins As Fischer piled up wins, he complained about the shininess of the chess board and the proximity of the audience, while Spassky's Soviet advisers accused Fischer of wearing a concealed electronic device. On Sept. 3, after the 21st game of the match had adjourned, Spassky resigned the game by telephone. That gave Fischer 12 1/2 points to Spassky's 8 1/2, clinching the victory. In all, even with his forfeit, Fischer had won seven games and lost three, with 11 ending in draws. Fischer returned home an American hero, but was already souring on the nation that saluted him. ``He later said to a reporter, `The creeps are beginning to gather,''' Shelby Lyman, who hosted public television's coverage of the Fischer-Spassky match, told Atlantic Monthly magazine in 2002. ``He was referring to press, lawyers, agents -- everyone he thought was out to take advantage of him. After that his whole life was about avoiding the creeps.'' Best U.S. Player He was regarded in the chess world as the greatest U.S. player, and may have been the best natural talent to play the game. He worked as an individual, studying alone and practicing against himself, a contrast to well-prepared Soviet players backed by teams of strategists. ``The gap between Mr. Fischer and his contemporaries was the largest ever,'' fellow grandmaster Garry Kasparov wrote in the Wall Street Journal in 2004. Fischer was known for unpredictable tactics at the board and bold, flamboyant attacks. He took risks, enjoyed complicated positions, and kept opponents guessing by rarely repeating opening strategies during matches. Chess books cite Fischer as achieving an IQ score of more than 180 in tests at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, New York, before he dropped out at age 16. He often unnerved competitors with what some of them considered psychological warfare. For example, Fischer's failure to appear for the second game of the 1972 Spassky match is sometimes cited as a turning point in that contest, and chess writers have speculated that Spassky's composure was undermined. The popularity of chess in the U.S. is widely attributed to Fischer's compelling victory. Yet his legacy is tarnished by his actions away from the game he mastered. Spassky Rematch After 20 reclusive years, he violated a U.S. ban by playing a 1992 rematch with Spassky on an island in the Adriatic Sea that was part of Yugoslavia, then under United Nations sanctions. As the years passed he became more vitriolic in his denunciations of the U.S. After the attacks of Sept. 11, he gave a radio interview praising the terrorists and urging the arrest of all U.S. Jews. The 1993 movie ``Searching for Bobby Fischer'' told the story of a young chess prodigy who tries to adopt Fischer's legendary ruthlessness at the chess board without also mimicking his angry approach to the larger world. Robert James Fischer was born March 9, 1943, in Chicago. After his parents divorced, Fischer's mother Regina, who was of German Jewish descent, moved Bobby and his sister, Joan, to California, then to Arizona, and finally to New York. At their Brooklyn apartment, Bobby learned from his sister how to play chess at age 6 and was playing competitively within two years. Fixated on his chess-playing, Fischer dropped out of high school and became the youngest U.S. national champion at 14, and an international grandmaster a year later. Lost Title His 1972 triumph over Spassky was followed by two decades of withdrawal from competitive play as he lived as a recluse. The first challenger to his title was the Soviet Union's Anatoly Karpov, in 1975. Fischer eventually boycotted the match, and he lost his title without making a single move. In 1992, Fischer emerged for the rematch with Spassky, which he won, taking about $3.5 million in prize money. The U.S. government issued a warrant for his arrest for taking part in the competition, claiming he violated UN sanctions against the country in place during the Balkan wars. By then, a split in chess authorities meant Kasparov was widely recognized as world champion, although Fischer objected. Spassky was ``very sorry'' to hear of his former opponent's death, he told the New York Times from France. Japan Arrest In contrast to pictures of the young champion in suits, in later life Fischer often sported a long, unkempt beard and baseball cap. In 1981, he was arrested after being mistaken for a bank robber in California. He later said he was brutalized by police. Fischer was arrested in 2004 at a Japanese airport, and was accused of trying to leave the country on a revoked passport. He was detained for eight months. After considering his deportation to the U.S., the authorities released him to Iceland in 2005 after the country offered him citizenship. He often criticized the U.S., renounced his American citizenship, and though his mother was Jewish, he frequently made anti-Semitic remarks in media interviews. To contact the reporter on this story: Laurence Arnold in Washington at larnold4@bloomberg.net. To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Greiff at jgreiff@bloomberg.net. \|\|\|\|\| By Kristin Arna Bragadottir REYKJAVIK (Reuters) - Bobby Fischer, the eccentric genius who became America's only world chess champion by humbling the Soviet Union's best but who spent his last years as a fugitive from U.S. authorities, has died at 64. A spokesman for Fischer said he died after an unspecified illness at midday on Thursday in Reykjavik, the site of his 1972 victory over Boris Spassky at the height of the Cold War. Once feted as a national hero and seen by some as the greatest chess talent ever, the Chicago-born former child prodigy seemed unable to resist perplexing his public with angry gestures, decade-long sulks and outrageous opinions. Having won the world title, he gave it away again to the Soviet champion Anatoly Karpov three years later by refusing to defend it. After years of obscurity, he defied U.S. sanctions to play and beat Spassky again in former Yugoslavia during the Balkan wars. This was the match that got him into trouble and forced him to become a fugitive wanted by U.S. authorities. Of Jewish ancestry himself, Fischer claimed to be the victim of a Jewish conspiracy. After the September 11, 2001 attacks he said he wanted to see the United States wiped out. He spent months in a Japanese jail cell, and his last years as a wild-haired, shambling recluse after Iceland gave him refuge. Fischer's triumph over Spassky ended the dominance of the seemingly invincible Soviet chess system. From the late 1920s to 1972, Soviets had held the world title for all but two years. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Chess master Bobby Fischer, one of the greatest chess players in history, has died, a spokesman for the World Chess Federation confirmed to CNN Friday. He was 64. Prodigy Bobby Fischer, 15, plays Russian grand master Tigran Petrosian in a practice game in 1958. more photos » No cause of death was given. Fischer became the first American world chess champion when he defeated Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in a legendary encounter during the Cold War in 1972. Former Russian chess champion Garry Kasparov said Fischer would be remembered as "the pioneer, some would say the founder, of professional chess" and called his death "very sad news." According to media reports in Iceland, Fischer died at a hospital in the capital, Reykjavik. He moved to Iceland after being granted citizenship in 2005. Watch Fischer arrive to cheers in Iceland » Fischer became almost as famous for his personality quirks and his renegade behavior as for his brilliance at chess. He learned to play as a child in Brooklyn, New York, and quickly became a prodigy. He was only 15 when he reached the level of grand master in August, 1958. Don't Miss I-Report: Share your memories of Bobby Fischer His memorable and tumultuous defeat of Spassky in 21 games highlighted his eccentricity. He forfeited the second game of the contest after he refused to play on, complaining that the presence of cameras was distracting him. The match was then moved to a back room. See photos of Fischer's life » Some suspected that Fischer's sometimes bizarre behavior throughout the match was intended to unnerve the highly disciplined Spassky. Fischer never defended his crown, refusing a 1975 match against Anatoly Karpov, another Soviet. The WCF awarded the title to Karpov and Fischer dropped from sight for nearly two decades. In 1992, he resurfaced to play Spassky in a rematch in Belgrade, a move that defied U.S. sanctions against the former Yugoslavia. He won the chess match and the prize money of $3.5 million, but spent the next decade as a reclusive and somewhat mysterious figure who was regarded as a fugitive by American authorities. "He was truly a great player, one of the best there has ever been. It is a sad loss to the world of chess," said Gerry Walsh, the head of the English branch of the WCF. He had been ill for some time, Walsh said. "Fischer was a source of inspiration for all young players," said Kasparov, who said he would be remembered for his efforts to improve conditions for fellow professionals in the game and as a "warrior" on the chessboard. He added that Fischer's early retirement was a great loss to chess as he retreated into what Kasparov termed "his mental self-exile." In recent years, Fischer became better known for his outspoken criticism of the United States. Interviewed by a Philippines radio station hours after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he allegedly called reports of a plane hitting the Pentagon "wonderful news" and said American foreign policy had provoked the attacks. He also become known for virulent anti-Semitism, even though his mother was Jewish. In 2002, Atlantic magazine reported that during a Manila radio broadcast he described his enemies as "Jews, secret Jews, or CIA rats who work for the Jews." "The tragedy is that he left this world too early, and his extravagant life and scandalous statements did not contribute to the popularity of chess," former champion Kasparov told The Associated Press. Fischer was arrested in 2004 at Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan, for traveling on a U.S. passport that was revoked after the 1992 Belgrade match. Japan detained him for nine months while he fought deportation to the United States. In March 2005 Iceland invited Fischer to live there. Japan released him, and he promptly renounced his U.S. citizenship and became a citizen and resident of Iceland. E-mail to a friend Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. All About Bobby Fischer • Chess • Boris Spassky	Dubbed as one of the world's greatest chess players of all-time, Bobby Fischer has died at the age of 64 from , according to his spokesman Gardar Sverrisson. He died in Iceland at a hospital in . Fischer is most known for beating his opponent from the then in 1972, to become the first and so far only American world champion chess player. He became a in August of 1958 at the young age of 15. Fischer was also a fugitive of the U.S. after violating the terms of sanctions by going to an island of the former country of in 1992 to play Spassky in a rematch, and won. He was detained in Japan for nine months through 2004 and 2005, accused of trying to leave the country on a revoked U.S. passport. After his detainment he was granted Icelandic citizenship and moved to the country in 2005, instead of being deported to the U.S. by the Japanese government. "Fischer was the pioneer, some would say the founder, of professional chess. His death is very sad news," said Garry Kasparov, a former world champion of chess. Fisher was born on March 9, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois.
EPA Announces Public Health Emergency in Libby, Montana; EPA to Move Aggressively on Cleanup and HHS to Assist Area Residents with Medical Care Release date: 06/17/2009 Contact Information: EPA Press Office-202-564-1692 HHS Press Office-202-690-6343 \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A northwest Montana town where asbestos contamination has killed more than 200 people will get more than $130 million in cleanup and medical assistance from the Obama administration, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. Libby, Montana, will get new help dealing with asbestos contamination. The declaration is the first issued by the agency, which has grappled with the "toxic legacy" of a mine outside Libby, Montana, since 1999, Administrator Lisa Jackson said. The town was heavily contaminated with asbestos-laced dust that federal prosecutors said resulted in more than 200 deaths and 1,000 illnesses. "For decades, the disease and death rate from asbestosis in the Libby area was staggeringly high -- much higher than the national average," Jackson told reporters. Not only did dust from the mine spread all over Libby and the neighboring town of Troy for decades, but tailings from the facility also were used as fill for driveways, gardens and playgrounds, she said. "Literally no matter where these residents turned, they were being exposed yet again," Jackson said. She said the declaration "should be a reminder of the serious consequences of mismanaging hazardous material." EPA spokeswoman Adora Andy said $6 million from the Department of Health and Human Services will go to local health care providers to screen, diagnose and treat asbestos-related illnesses, while $125 million will go toward cleaning up contaminated areas. The new commitment brings the total amount the EPA has designated for the Libby area to $333 million, she said. The agency still needs to conduct "significant research" into the health effects of the type of asbestos that has been spread around town since the 1920s, she said, and does not yet know how many properties will need to be cleaned up. During Jackson's confirmation hearing in January, Montana Sen. Max Baucus said the valley's 12,000 residents had been "hung out to dry" and pressed Jackson to review the issue. Wednesday, Baucus presented Jackson and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with a photo of one of his constituents, former miner Les Skramstad. "He died, and others in Libby have died," said Baucus, a Democrat. "But the decision is the beginning of what needed to be done. It's the first time in American history that we've had this declaration, and I cannot think of a more fitting time and place for it than Libby, Montana." Baucus is the former chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and now leads the Finance Committee. He is a key architect of a still-being-drafted health care bill the Obama administration has said it wants to see pass this year. The Libby operation began producing vermiculite -- a mineral often used in insulation -- in 1919. Dust from the plant covered patches of grass, dusted the tops of cars and drifted through the air in a hazy smoke that became a part of residents' daily lives. But the product was contaminated with tremolite asbestos, a particularly toxic substance that has been linked to mesothelioma, a cancer that can attack the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. In May, a federal jury acquitted mine operator W.R. Grace and three of its former executives of criminal charges related to the contamination. Grace operated the facility from 1963 until it closed in 1990, and prosecutors argued that its executives knowingly released the substance and tried to hide the danger from the community. Baucus said that despite the verdict, he still believes the company "knew it was contaminating the town." "Regrettably, the trial did not conclude the way I thought that it should," he said. There was no immediate response from the company to the senator's remarks. During the three-month trial, Grace did not deny that the asbestos came from its mine, but it said it acted responsibly to clean up the contamination. It also paid millions in medical bills for area residents, and agreed in 2008 to pay $250 million to reimburse the EPA for its cleanup efforts. All About U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Montana • W.R. Grace & Company	For the past ten years, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been overseeing the asbestos clean-up in the small town of Libby, Montana, which has been on the EPA’s Superfund National Priorities List since 2002. On Wednesday, the Obama administration declared Libby and the immediate area a "public health emergency". Under this state of emergency the EPA is increasing clean-up assistance and medical care. According to federal prosecutors, asbestos has taken 200 lives and is the root cause of at least 1,000 illnesses in the surrounding area. Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator of the EPA "This is a tragic public health situation that has not received the recognition it deserves by the federal government for far too long," according to EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. In the 1920's The Zonolite Company began producing vermiculite, a mineral that is often used in insulation. Between 1963 and 1990, W.R. Grace & Company took over the mine operations. Tremolite asbestos was discovered in the vermiculite product. A study conducted by the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry discovered that the incidence of asbestosis in the population of the mine site area is far higher than the national average. Airborne asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma, a cancer which develops in the sac surrounding the lungs and chest cavity, the abdominal cavity, or the sac surrounding the heart. Prolonged exposure can lead to lung scarring, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma generally are left with six months to a year before death. The tremolite dust from the mine began leaking into the air from the plant in 1919. This resulted in a hazy asbestos dust cloud covering lawns, cars, clothing, and school athletic fields, creating an issue that citizens of Libby had to deal with on an everyday basis. The large amount of dust gave the impression of the aftereffects of a light sandstorm. W. R. Grace and Company did not deny that asbestos was found contaminating the vermiculite in the old mine. They said they proceeded in a responsible manner to clean up contamination following the mine closure. Grace will reimburse the EPA for US$250 million of the US$333 million that the EPA and the Department of Health and Human Services has set aside for medical expenses and asbestos clean-up. This money will be invested over the next five years, and does not include the millions in medical costs already footed by the company for residents of Libby and the nearby town of Troy. "Today is the day that after years of work we were able to succeed in getting this emergency declaration done," Senator from Montana Max Baucus said, speaking at the EPA press conference. "We will continue to push until Libby has a clean bill of health."
NEPHI, Utah (AP) -- A wildfire that may have been started by sparks from a flat tire raced across thousands of acres toward a small town Friday, a day after burning through a campground and motel and forcing rescues. A huge wildfire smokes in the background as a golfer takes a swing at the Cedar Hills golf course in Nephi, Utah. more photos » With a highly skilled team on its way from Florida, 150 area firefighters were battling the 20-square-mile fire against a backdrop of extraordinary heat and drought, with no immediate relief predicted. "It only takes a cigarette or a match and this stuff will explode," said Fred Burns, owner of Burns Brothers Ranch RV Resort in Fountain Green, which was nearby but not affected. The fire was burning toward the tiny community of Indianola, and residents in at least two dozen homes were advised to be ready to leave. The wildfire began Thursday in a private campground in Salt Creek Canyon, 85 miles south of Salt Lake City. The campground was not a total loss, although a motel on site and some vehicles and trailers were burned, the U.S. Forest Service said. Campgrounds and cabins along a 32-mile scenic road in the Uinta National Forest were evacuated overnight, but a portion reopened Friday. Eighteen Boy Scouts and two hikers had to be rescued by helicopter Thursday from Nephi Canyon. Watch how the drought is fueling the fires » Emergency calls show that a motorist may have sparked the fire by riding on the rim of a flat tire on a highway that is an access route to the forest, Forest Service spokeswoman Loyal Clark said. Temperatures hit 100 degrees Friday in many spots. The National Weather Service has already recorded 10 days of 100 degrees or higher in Salt Lake City. The summer average is five days. Precipitation is more than 4.5 inches below normal. The Salt Lake area went 41 days without any measurable rain before a hundredth of an inch fell Tuesday. The nation's firefighting preparedness has moved to its highest level this week because of bone-dry conditions in the West and the number of fires. Almost half the 72 large fires burning nationally are in Nevada and Idaho. Two tiny towns on the states' shared border were evacuated Thursday. The 40 or so residents of Jarbidge, Nevada, were ordered to leave because of fears that a nearby 195-square-mile fire could spill into the steep, narrow canyon where the town is located. A 280-square-mile wildfire crept within a mile of Murphy Hot Springs, Idaho, on Friday, but so far none of the town's 50 homes has burned, fire managers said. Firefighters started sprinklers in the yards nearest the fire, said Brock Astle of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The mandatory evacuation order imposed Thursday won't be lifted until at least Friday evening, the sheriff's office said. Regular work schedules resumed Friday at the Idaho National Laboratory, where more than 700 workers had been asked to stay home the previous day because of a wildfire. No facilities at the nuclear research site were in danger. More Montana residents were told to evacuate Friday as a blaze nearly doubled in size to 570 acres north of Wolf Creek. Residents of nearly 60 homes had been asked to leave earlier in the week, but firefighting officials said up to 100 buildings were threatened Friday. Near Reno, Nevada, firefighters were getting a handle on a 4-square-mile wildfire that had threatened hundreds of homes on the edge of town. It was 34 percent contained and some of the more than 700 firefighters assigned to the fire were being sent to battle other blazes. Firefighters made progress on a large wildfire in Los Padres National Forest near California's central coast, and an evacuation order for about 50 homes was lifted Friday. In southwestern Utah, a group of fires that began in Zion National Park spilled into neighboring land. Evacuations were ordered and some structures were threatened, although numbers were not immediately available. The fires have burned 8,000 acres, or 12.5 square miles. E-mail to a friend Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All About Wildfires \|\|\|\|\| Fast Moving Wildfire is Burning East of Nephi If you have photos of this wildfire you wish to submit, please send them to photos@ksl.com PHOTOS: Utah Wildfires 2007 Sam Penrod Reporting Flames and smoke still dominate the ridgeline up Nephi Canyon today, as the Salt Creek Fire scorches thousands of acres. Fire crews are working hard to save dozens of homes in the Holiday Oaks subdivision there. So far, they haven't managed to contain any part of the fire. A helicopter is still working at sundown tonight, making water drops on the flames. It's one of the few resources allotted to fire bosses there.That's because there is a critical shortage of fire equipment and personnel. Bert Hart, Interagency Fire Spokesman, said "With all the fires going on in the nation, I don't know when the crews will get here, but I hope it comes soon, we need a lot of help." The road just off of I-15 and State Road 132 is closed as firefighters try to make progress on the blaze in the mountains, which has already caused some property damage up this canyon. All roads on Mt. Nebo Loop have been closed. Last night the fire moved quickly up a ridgeline. In places, it threatened some power lines and torched some structures, including some at a campground. Chopper Five found the CamperWorld campground in Nephi Canyon suffered devastating losses yesterday, and we saw just how close the fire is burning to homes and travel trailers in the Holiday Oaks subdivision. Brent Boswell, a property owner in the area, says, "A lot of people have planned to retire up there and they are seeing their whole retirement on the verge of going up in smoke." Property owners wait for any word. Those who built fire breaks around their cabins are hoping that decision will pay off. "When we bought the property we were concerned about fire, and the insurance premiums up there are so high we felt the best way to take care of ourselves, and cut back trees and brush," Boswell said. The wind and dry, hot conditions fueled the fire for a second day, as it continues to move south towards the town of Fountain Green and northeast, towards the community of Indianola. Local volunteer firefighters from Juab and Sanpete County are keeping the fire from getting any closer to cabins and the communities. Boswell said, "We really appreciate the men and women who are up there trying to stop the fire, and we know they are doing their best. The cabins we can replace, but we don't want to see anyone getting hurt trying to save our property." Today, we were told there are about 100 firefighters on hand. The fire is zero percent contained and has burned 13,000 acres. It's a patchy fire burning in several locations all at once in rugged terrain.	On Friday, a group of hikers and 18 were airlifted by helicopters away from a in , Utah. The hikers and scouts escaped into a rough rocky area to keep a safe distance from the dangerous wildfire after it advanced on their campground. The wildfire started in a campground in , 85 miles from , and has burned 13,000 acres across 20 square miles as of Friday. The fire has burned a campground and motel, and forced the evacuation of all campgrounds and cabins in its path.
Execution by beheading in Saudi Arabia. © Private Two men who were juveniles at the time of their alleged crimes were among five men beheaded in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Amnesty International has revealed. The death sentences against Sultan Bin Sulayman Bin Muslim al-Muwallad, a Saudi Arabian, and ‘Issa Bin Muhammad ‘Umar Muhammad, a Chadian, were imposed after grossly unfair trial proceedings. The two men were executed, along with three other men, after being convicted of a number of offences committed when they were 17 years old, including the abduction and rape of children, theft, and consumption of alcohol and drugs. These offences had, according to the judgement by the General Court in Madina, amounted to “corruption on earth”, a charge that can carry the death penalty even when the offences do not result in lethal consequences. “Yesterday’s beheadings are a deplorable addition to Saudi Arabia’s grim tally of executions,” said Philip Luther, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme. “It is cruel and inhumane to put anyone to death, but it is particularly outrageous to do so when the executions take place after grossly unfair procedures and when they take the lives of individuals accused of committing crimes when they were still minors.” The men were among seven arrested in 2004 and held incommunicado at police stations in Madina, where they were allegedly beaten in an attempt to make them confess. Four years later, in February 2008, the Madina General Court sentenced five of them to death after a trial that was held in secret. Their sentences were upheld by the Court of Cassation in Makkah in July 2008. Two other men in the same case – Bilal Bin Muslih Bin Jabir al-Muwallad, a Saudi Arabian, and Ahmad Hamid Muhammad Sabir, a Chadian, who were just 15 and 13 respectively at the time of their alleged offences – were sentenced to “severe flogging” on the same charges, in addition to 15 years of imprisonment. Specifically, they will receive 1,500 and 1,250 severe lashes respectively, administered in instalments at 10-day intervals in public at the scene of the offences. Amnesty International has repeatedly raised the cases of these seven men with the Saudi Arabian authorities in the past year. Saudi Arabia is a state party to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which expressly prohibits the use of punishments such as flogging. Due to the strict secrecy of the criminal justice system, it is not possible to know how many of those convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18 have been put to death in Saudi Arabia, but Amnesty International is aware of at least eight other juveniles who are feared to be on death row. They include Rizana Nafeek, a Sri Lankan national who was 17 at the time of the alleged murder for which she was sentenced to death following her arrest in 2005. They may also include Sultan Kohail, a 16-year-old Canadian national who is facing trial in an adult court on murder charges, along with his brother Mohamed Kohail, aged 22, who has been sentenced to death. Saudi Arabia is also a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which expressly prohibits the execution of juveniles. Saudi Arabian officials have maintained that they comply with this obligation because they do not execute children. In fact, the Convention prohibits executions for crimes committed while a person is under 18, regardless of when the sentence is carried out. At least 158 people, including 76 foreign nationals, were executed by the Saudi Arabian authorities in 2007, and at least 102 people, including almost 40 foreign nationals were executed in 2008. Since the beginning of 2009, a further 36 people are known to have been executed. Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty for a wide range of offences. Court proceedings fall far short of international standards for fair trial. Defendants are rarely allowed formal representation by a lawyer, and in many cases are not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them. Prisoners under sentence of death may not be informed of the date of execution until the morning when they are taken out and beheaded. They may be convicted solely on the basis of confessions obtained under duress or deception. Amnesty International has called for the sentences of flogging against Bilal Bin Muslih Bin Jabir al-Muwallad and Ahmad Hamid Muhammad Sabir to be commuted to a humane punishment. \|\|\|\|\| Saudi court upholds Montreal man's death sentence Mohamed Kohail, shown in an undated photo, was convicted of murder and sentenced to a public beheading following a schoolyard brawl in Saudi Arabia. (Canadian Press) Mohamed Kohail, shown in an undated photo, was convicted of murder and sentenced to a public beheading following a schoolyard brawl in Saudi Arabia. (Canadian Press) A lower court in Saudi Arabia has upheld the death sentence of a Montreal man convicted of murder. Mohamed Kohail, 23, was convicted of murder and sentenced March 3, 2008, to a public beheading following a schoolyard brawl in 2007 in the city of Jeddah that left one person dead. In February, the Supreme Judicial Council, Saudi Arabia's highest court, asked the lower court that had made the ruling to review its decision. But after considering the council's recommendations, the lower court rejected that request, according to local media reports on Thursday. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said in a statement Thursday afternoon it will ask for a review of the decision after it is formally submitted in writing. "We are deeply disappointed at reports that a Saudi court has upheld its decision to sentence Mohammed Kohail to death," said the statement. "Canada continues to express its concern for a fair and transparent review of the verdict and sentence." Liberal MP Dan McTeague, who has been closely involved in the case from the beginning, told CBC News the Kohail family is falling victim to an internecine political struggle. "My concern was that if we returned this case to the same court, they'd simply boot it back and we'd have this standoff in which lives remain in the balance," McTeague said. New trial possible Despite the lower court upholding its original verdict and sentence, the higher court could now order a new trial, something that could bode well for Kohail. The Canadian government could also intervene, something Kohail's supporters have lobbied for during the two years he has already spent in a Saudi jail. If Ottawa did choose to formally act on Kohail's behalf, there are fears the issue may move beyond a judicial issue and become a political hot potato, especially as world leaders meet in London this week for a G20 summit. But McTeague insists Canada could do so without its action being viewed as a foreign interference, since the highest Saudi court has already expressed reservations over the Kohail case. "The Supreme Council made it abundantly clear as early as February that this was not a matter of murder, and it was not a matter of a death sentence," McTeague said. "There is a golden opportunity to say, 'We ask that you ensure the life of an innocent man, Canadian or not, is respected.' But the prime minister has to give that message," he said. \|\|\|\|\| Canada to seek clemency for Montrealer facing beheading Prime Minister Stephen Harper has ordered government officials to seek clemency for a Montreal man facing execution in Saudi Arabia for killing a teen. Mohamed Kohail, shown in an undated photo, faces a public beheading in Saudi Arabia for the death of a teenage boy during a schoolyard brawl. (Canadian Press) Mohamed Kohail, 23, was sentenced to beheading after he was convicted of killing a student in a schoolyard brawl in 2007. His case marks the first test of the Conservative government's new policy of not asking for mercy when Canadians are sentenced to death in democratic countries with a strong rule of law. Traditionally, Canada lobbied foreign governments for clemency but last fall Ottawa changed its position in response to the case of an Albertan on death row in Montana. An e-mail went out from Harper's office Wednesday morning stating that Canadian officials in Saudi Arabia have been instructed to seek clemency in the case. Brawl escalated from alleged insult Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier also said that his department will do what it can to help the man's family appeal the death sentence. It's unclear when Canada will make a clemency request for Kohail, who is jailed in the city of Jeddah. The appeal window closes in 30 days. Bernier said he hopes Saudi officials make a "decision that will be in line" with Canadian values. Kohail grew up in Saudi Arabia but moved to Montreal with his family as a teenager. The family had temporarily returned to the Middle Eastern country to attend a wedding but planned to return to Quebec where they still own a home. In January 2007, Kohail allegedly became embroiled in a brawl after his 16-year-old brother, Sultan, called him to the school asking for help. Sultan wanted his brother to defend him after being accused by a schoolmate of insulting a girl. According to his brother's account, Kohail arrived at the school with a friend to find a group of men waiting for him armed with clubs and knives. A fight erupted and a student died in the clash. Both Kohail and his brother were arrested and jailed, though there are media reports his younger brother has since been freed. Policy reversed after U.S. case Canada abolished the death penalty in 1976 and for years has pressured foreign governments for clemency when its citizens faced execution. But late last October, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day indicated a change in policy. "We will not actively pursue bringing back to Canada murderers who have been tried in a democratic country that supports the rule of law," Day told the House of Commons at the time. The remarks were in response to the case of Ronald Allen Smith, the only Canadian on death row in the United States. He faces lethal injection for the 1982 murders of two men. Smith is taking Ottawa to court over the policy reversal, arguing the government acted unconstitutionally by abruptly ending its long-standing tradition of helping citizens sentenced to death abroad. His lawyers argue that Day's statements show tacit approval of Smith's execution, which they say violates his constitutional rights as a Canadian and his rights under international law. An application was recently filed asking the Federal Court to force the government to continue seeking clemency for Smith. With files from the Canadian Press	A copy of a letter written to the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper by a Canadian man facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia has been obtained by The Canadian Press. In it, Mohamed Kohail pleads with the prime minister to utilise "every way possible to get me out of this situation." Kohail, 23, of Montreal, was sentenced on March 3, 2008 to be publicly executed following a confession for murder at a Saudi school. Kohail claims the confession was obtained under duress. The Saudi Supreme Court advised the lower court on April 9, 2009 to renounce the death penalty; however, the request was refused. Munzer Al-Hiraki, 19, was killed in an after-school fight in January 2007, allegedly after Kohail's brother, Sultan, insulted a girl. The brothers claim that the fight involved a large group of boys, and felt they were acting in self defense. Sultan, 16 at the time, said that Mohamed came to his rescue with a friend, only to be greeted by a group armed with knives and clubs. Witnesses for the brothers say that Al-Hiraki had arrived at the school with carloads of friends to seek vengeance on Sultan. "I was tortured to sign a confession. I was misinformed that I would be allowed out of custody the moment I signed it," said Kohail. In the letter, delivered by Canadian MP Deepak Obhrai last December, Kohail continues, "Mr. Harper, I have been in jail for two years now. I am imprisoned with hundreds of high-profile criminals in Saudi Arabia for a crime that I did not commit. I've lost my hair, two years of my life and see death coming to me closer every day." Kohail received 80 days to appeal the sentence. "There were nine hearings in total and only one time was the lawyer for Mohamed and his friend allowed in the courtroom; not even Mohamed's father, Ali (was allowed in)," said a relative. Harper is seeking clemency for the Kohail brothers. "It has to be worked within the confines of the Saudi law and it's important to recognize that and work with the Saudi officials to come to a resolution," said Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon. According to the letter, the Canadian government began seeking clemency March of 2008. If the court continues to uphold the death penalty, the only other option is the payment of dia, or blood money, in exchange for forgiveness — but Al-Hiraki's family seeking CA$5 million. Sultan Kohail is a juvenile who is out on bail awaiting to be tried in adult court on murder charges. The Convention on the Rights of the Child forbids execution of youths under the age of 18, which Saudi Arabia officials declare they comply with. However, the Convention also prohibits execution for crimes committed as juveniles no matter when the court sentences them. Born in Palestine, the Kohail brothers moved to Canada in 2000, and became Canadian citizens in 2005. They moved to Jiddah in 2006. In October 2007, Canadian Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said, "We will not actively pursue bringing back to Canada murderers who have been tried in a democratic country that supports the rule of law." Previously Canada consistently sought clemency from all foreign governments after the death penalty was abolished in Canada in 1976. Since the beginning of 2009, 36 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia. 102 were executed in 2008 and 158 were executed in 2007.
An Iraqi child, with a baby doll given to her by U.S. soldiers, is carried by her mother in Hay Heten neighbourhood in Baghdad on July 7, 2007. An Iraqi woman with medicine given to her by U.S. soldiers carries her daughter in Hay Heten neighbourhood in Baghdad July 7, 2007. An Iraqi woman and her children walk past a barb wire fence to receive medical aid from U.S. soldiers in Hay Heten neighborhood in Baghdad July 7, 2007. A U.S. soldier conducts a search on an Iraqi woman, who was waiting in line to receive medical aid from U.S. soldiers, in the Hay Heten neighborhood of Baghdad, July 7, 2007. U.S. soldier gives a toy to young Iraqi girl in Hay Heten neighborhood in Baghdad July 7, 2007. Iraqi children watch from a window of the co-operative medical society center while their mother waits to get U.S. medical aid in Baghdad's Hay Heten neighborhood on July 7, 2007. U.S. soldiers pray in a circle before leaving Camp Victory for their patrol mission on the streets of Baghdad July 7, 2007. U.S. soldiers run on a street during their patrol in Hay Heten neighbourhood in Baghdad July 7, 2007. A victim is treated in hospital following a truck bomb that ripped through a bustling outdoor market in the northern town of Tuz Khurmato July 7, 2007. A victim is rushed to hospital following a truck bomb that ripped through a bustling outdoor market in the northern town of Tuz Khurmato July 7, 2007. BAGHDAD A huge truck bomb killed more than 100 people and wounded 250 in a crowded market in northern Iraq on Saturday, one of the deadliest attacks in the country this year, police said. Colonel Abbas Mohammed Amin, the police chief in Tuz Khurmato, said he feared the toll would rise after the bomb leveled dozens of shops and small houses. "There are still bodies under rubble. We are trying to dig them out," Amin told Reuters, putting the death toll at more than 100. Other police in the town said 105 people were killed. There had earlier been conflicting reports about the toll in Tuz Khurmato, a largely Shi'ite town, with other police and local officials saying 30 people had been killed. The bombing was a blow to a U.S.-backed security crackdown in Iraq, and underscored the ability of militants to stage large-scale attacks despite the arrival of nearly 30,000 additional U.S. troops. U.S. officials blame most major car bombings on Sunni Islamist al Qaeda, which they say is trying to spark full-scale civil war between majority Shi'ites and minority Sunni Arabs. Jasim Ali, 30, said he looked frantically for his wife when he heard the explosion in Tuz Khurmato. "I ran to the market and saw burned cars along with dead and wounded people everywhere. I screamed until I found my wife. She was wounded in the head and her hand," said Ali, his clothes stained with his wife's blood. In other violence, the U.S. military reported eight of its soldiers were killed in the past two days, mostly in and around Baghdad. Growing U.S. casualties have put U.S. President George W. Bush under increasing pressure from opposition Democrats and from some senior figures in his own Republican Party to justify his strategy of ordering more troops to Iraq. There are now 157,000 U.S. military personnel in Iraq. A suicide car bomber killed six people including five Iraqi soldiers on Saturday when he drove into a military checkpoint in east Baghdad, an army spokesman said. The attack wounded 24 people, including 18 soldiers. Late on Friday, a suicide car bomber killed 22 people and wounded 17 when he drove his vehicle into a group of Shi'ite Kurds near Iraq's border with Iran. The victims were returning from a funeral, a local official said. One British soldier was killed in the southern city of Basra in fierce fighting with militants overnight, during raids involving 1,000 troops which a military spokesman described as the biggest British operation in Iraq this year. (Additional reporting by Mariam Karouny, Alister Bull, Mussab Al-Khairalla and Waleed Ibrahim) \|\|\|\|\| Unfortunately we are unable to process your request at this time. This error is usually temporary. Please try again later. If you continue to experience this error, it may be caused by one of the following: You may want to scan your system for spyware and viruses, as they may interfere with your ability to connect to Yahoo!. For detailed information on spyware and virus protection, please visit the Yahoo! Security Center. This problem may be due to unusual network activity coming from your Internet Service Provider. We recommend that you report this problem to them. While this error is usually temporary, if it continues and the above solutions don't resolve your problem, please let us know. Return to Yahoo! \|\|\|\|\| Rescuers had to take people to a nearby town for treatment The morning blast destroyed the market in the small town of Amirli, south of Kirkuk, killing many people instantly and trapping dozens among the rubble. It was the deadliest single attack in Iraq since April, correspondents say. It came as 29 people were killed in separate violence, including 22 people who died overnight in Diyala province when a suicide bomber hit a cafe. Kirkuk referendum The truck bomb struck Amirli on a busy shopping morning, destroying several buildings around the heart of the market, police said. I heard the cries of my child, then I heard nothing else until I woke in hospital Sukaina Abdul Razak Amirli housewife Rescuers were forced to move injured people to Tuz Khurmato, the nearest major town, some 45km (28 miles) away, and some casualties were said to have died on the way. Others were taken on to Kirkuk, the largest city in the region, for more intensive treatment. "I heard the cries of my child, then I heard nothing else until I woke in hospital," housewife Sukaina Abdul Razak told AFP news agency in Kirkuk. "I don't know the fate of my husband and my family. They were all in the kitchen, but I was in my room." Correspondents say the market bombing could have been linked to political developments in the region, where a referendum on the status of Kirkuk province is due to take place by the end of this year. MAJOR ATTACKS IN 2007 7 July: 105 killed in Amirli market bombing 19 June: 87 die in Baghdad mosque blast 18 April: 190 killed in car bombings in Baghdad 29 March: 82 killed in double suicide bombing in Baghdad market 6 March: 90 killed in double suicide bombing in Hilla 3 Feb: 130 die in suicide truck bombing in Baghdad 22 Jan: 88 killed in Baghdad car bombings Source: AFP In pictures: Amirli blast Officials in Diyala said the bomber who struck on Friday night targeted a busy cafe used by the Shia Kurdish community. The small village is close to the border with Iran. In other violence, police said a family of seven sleeping on a Baghdad roof died when a mortar hit the building. The dead reportedly included a couple and their four children, aged nine to 17, as well as a relative. Many Iraqis choose to spend hot summer nights sleeping on the roof of their home because of frequent electricity failures. The US and British military also confirmed new deaths. One British soldier died and three others were injured in southern Iraq during a night of heavy fighting in Basra. The US said nine of its troops have died in recent days, most in Baghdad and two in the western province of Anbar.	On Saturday, a suicide truck bomb in a Shiite village, Tuz Khurmato, north of Baghdad damaged homes, shops and a large outdoor market. The bomb blast, blamed on Sunni militants, killed at least 100 and wounded another 250 Iraqi civilians.
This story was updated at 2:11 p.m. ET. An unmanned Russian cargo ship veered out of control near the International Space Station on Friday, sailing clear past the orbiting lab instead of docking on autopilot, as engineers on Earth struggle to determine what went wrong. The robotic cargo ship Progress 38 was slated to dock at the space station at 12:58 p.m. EDT (1658 GMT) but lost its navigational lock on the orbiting lab about 28 minutes before the rendezvous. "The Progress literally flew past the station, but at a safe distance from the outpost," NASA commentator Rob Navias said. "The station crew reported seeing the Progress drift beyond their view, as they worked to reestablish telemetry with the spacecraft." The six people living aboard the space station three Americans and three Russians were never in any danger, NASA officials said. The Progress 38 spacecraft flew by the space station at a distance of nearly 2 miles (3 km) away, posing no threat of impact. But because of its orbit, there was no second chance to dock the spacecraft by remote control today. "It's been officially decided that there will be no docking today," Russian flight controllers radioed the station crew. Flight controllers at Russia's Mission Control team in Moscow are working to determine when a second attempt to dock the spacecraft may occur. Because of orbital mechanics, it may be possible to try another docking attempt in 48 hours, but that still remains to be determined, Navias said. The aborted docking attempt is the second malfunction in a row for Russia's usually reliable Progress cargo ships. On May 1, cosmonauts on the space station had to take remote control of the Progress 37 cargo ship when it experienced a space navigation system glitch during its own docking attempt. Russia's robot space freighters Russia's automated Progress cargo ships have a long track record of delivering supplies to the International Space Station. They rely on a radio beacon system called Kurs that is designed to allow the spacecraft to dock itself at the space station. Cosmonauts on the space station can also take remote control of incoming Progress spacecraft using a console inside the station's Russian segment. Space station commander Alexander Skvortsov was getting that remote control console called the Telerobotically Operated Rendezvous Unit (TORU) ready when the Progress 38 vehicle veered off course. "I don't think there was any impact to Progress," a Russian flight controller told Skvortsov in a discussion over whether the TORU system may have inadvertently sent a corrupt command to the cargo ship, aborting the rendezvous. Navias said that once the Progress 38 spacecraft's navigation system went offline, the cargo ship automatically aborted its docking attempt as it is designed to. Space station supplies Known in Russia as Progress M-06M, the new Progress 38 spacecraft is packed with nearly 2.5 tons of fresh food, clothes, equipment and other supplies for the space station's six-person crew. It launched Wednesday from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Packed aboard the spacecraft are 1,918 pounds (nearly 870 kg) of propellant for the station, 110 pounds (nearly 50 kg) of oxygen, 220 pounds (99 kg) of water and 2,667 (1,209 kg) pounds of dry cargo which includes spare parts, science equipment and other supplies. Navias said those supplies are not critical for the space station's crew. Another Progress spacecraft is due to launch toward the space station in early September. Russia's disposable Progress spacecraft are similar in appearance to the three-module Soyuz space taxis that ferry crews to and from the space station. Both vehicles have a propulsion and orbital module, however Progress vehicles do not have a crew-carrying module like the Soyuz ships. Instead, Progress vehicles are equipped with a propellant module to store fuel for the space station's maneuvering thrusters. \|\|\|\|\| An unmanned Russian cargo ship sailed past the International Space Station instead of docking on autopilot, as engineers on Earth struggle to determine what went wrong. A telemetry lock between the Russian-made Progress module and the space station was lost and the module flew past at a safe distance. NASA said the crew was never in danger and that the supplies are not critical and will not affect station operations. NASA said that it will not attempt another docking today. Russian flight controllers don't know yet what caused the failure in the unmanned modules automated docking system. The robotic cargo ship Progress 38 was slated to dock at the space station at 12:58 p.m. ET (1658 GMT) but lost its navigational lock on the orbiting lab about 25 minutes before the rendezvous. "The Progress literally flew past the station, but at a safe distance from the outpost," NASA commentator Rob Navias said. "The station crew reported seeing the Progress drift beyond their view, as they worked to reestablish telemetry with the spacecraft." The Progress 38 spacecraft flew by the space station at a distance of several kilometers (a couple miles) away, posing no threat of impact. But because of its orbit, there may not be a second chance to dock the spacecraft by remote control today, Navias said. Known in Russia as Progress M-06M, the new Progress 38 spacecraft is packed with nearly 2.5 tons of fresh food, clothes, equipment and other supplies for the space station's six-person crew. It launched Wednesday from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Packed aboard the spacecraft are 1,918 pounds of propellant for the station, 110 pounds of oxygen, 220 pounds of water and 2,667 pounds of dry cargo — which includes spare parts, science equipment and other supplies. Russia's disposable Progress spacecraft are similar in appearance to the three-module Soyuz space taxis that ferry crews to and from the space station. Both vehicles have a propulsion and orbital module, however Progress vehicles do not have a crew-carrying module like the Soyuz ships. Instead, Progress vehicles are equipped with a propellant module to store fuel for the space station's maneuvering thrusters.	Pictured is the Progress M-55 spacecraft in 2006. A similar spacecraft was scheduled to dock at the space station today, but flew past due to a technical failure. The unmanned supply ship failed to dock with the International Space Station Friday due to an apparent critical communications failure. The spacecraft bypassed the station at a safe distance and NASA officials report that the six member American-Russian space station crew were never in any danger; however, flight controllers are struggling to determine what exactly went wrong. It is believed that the abort was caused by a malfunction in the Progress spacecraft's automatic docking system, resulting in the loss of telemetry data. The malfunction occurred while the spacecraft was at a distance of several kilometers from the orbital outpost, and there was never any threat to the spacecraft or the station, report NASA officials. "The Progress literally flew past the station, but at a safe distance from the outpost," says NASA commentator Rob Navias, "The station crew reported seeing the Progress drift beyond their view, as they worked to reestablish telemetry with the spacecraft." The Progress supply ship was intended to deliver food, water, fuel, and other supplies to the space station and was launched earlier this week. According to Russian officials, no additional docking attempts will be made today. Flight controllers in Moscow are analyzing the problem and are weighing the possibility of a second docking attempt within 48 hours, but this still remains to be determined.
KENTUCKY DERBY Draw a line through the race Suicidal pace gave big boost to Giacomo, nullified contenders STAFF CORRESPONDENT LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- There are times, such as this, when there is no alternative but to turn the page and move on. Though it is not difficult in the aftermath of the 131st Kentucky Derby to form a clear picture of what led to the mass slaughter of the principal figures, it is not possible to impose logic on the outcome. There was no evidence to form a positive opinion of Giacomo's chances and though he won't be 50-1 in the Preakness, he will not be the favorite when the second leg of the Triple Crown is run in Baltimore. The "rabbit," Spanish Chestnut played a large role, though it did nothing to help Bandini, the intended beneficiary. Bandini, 19th of 20, finished behind the horse entered for no reason beyond assuring a fast pace. In that respect, Spanish Chestnut overachieved, running the second-fastest 6 furlongs in Derby history, 1:09.59, before fading to 16th. At the 6-furlong call, Giacomo was 18th and six-wide. Spanish Chestnut's intended victims, however, had already fallen into the trap. Bellamy Road chased the pace down the backstretch while five-wide. High Fly was even closer to the pace than the favorite. Both moved to challenge and were head to head for the lead leaving the quarter pole. Both were already finished. Sustaining a quarter-mile rally after running close behind a kamikaze pace is impossible. The first five at the 6-furlong call finished seventh, ninth, 10th, 16th and 18th. The first five at the wire were 18th, sixth, ninth, 19th and seventh at 6 furlongs. Mike Smith played a huge role in the outcome. His ride was brilliant and he expressed confidence in Giacomo's ability to pull off the upset. Nevertheless, Giacomo's odds in the Preakness may be the longest ever on a Derby winner. "Let me put it to you this way," trainer D. Wayne Lukas told the Louisville Courier-Journal while joining the massive ripping of tickets after the Derby. "I train in California, where that horse trained, and I used eight horses in my Derby superfecta. I never thought about Giacomo." Trainer Nick Zito, who established a new standard for bad Derby days with all five starters absent from the purse distribution, ruled out only Andromeda's Hero as a possible starter in the Preakness. Bellamy Road, if he survived without damage, is likely to be given the opportunity for redemption and may have company. "At the top of the stretch, we were getting excited because those two horses [Bellamy Road and High Fly] were making a winning run," Zito said. "But when that big burst of horses came around the turn, I couldn't believe that none of them were our other horses. You know, Noble Causeway, Andromeda's Hero -- I couldn't believe that. "Noble Causeway lost all chance. He checked and had a legitimate excuse. He was sharp and he was out of his game. Sun King is kind of like a mystery. He came back great. I don't know. You know he is better than that." Todd Pletcher's immediate plans for his trio of Derby starters was not clear yesterday. Flower Alley, another casualty of the pace, finished ninth in the best effort among the Pletcher-trained horses. Bandini's race was too dull to be true and Coin Silver ran evenly if ineffectively. Until Giacomo substantiates the result, the Derby is a throw-out, an aberration not to be taken seriously. Copyright © 2005, Newsday, Inc. Subscribe to Newsday home delivery \|\|\|\|\| Kentucky Derby chart UNION-TRIBUNE 131ST RUNNING. 10th Race at Churchill Downs. 1¼ Miles. Purse $2,000,000. Open 3-Year-Olds. The Kentucky Derby (Grade I). Time: 22.280, 45.380, 1:09.590, 1:35.880, 2:02.750. Original post position numbers are listed in parentheses. Horse WgtPP¼½¾1MStrFinJockey Odds (10)Giacomo 126101818181161-½Smith50.30 (18)ClosingArgmnt 12618566412-½Velasqz71.60 (12)Afleet Alex 1261211119623-2½Rose4.50 (17)Dont Get Mad 126171919191074-2¾Baze29.20 (20)Buzzards Bay 1262010107555-½Guidry46.30 (14)Wilko 1261413141613106-noNakatani21.70 (16)Bellamy Road 12616355237-¾Cstllno2.60 (2)AndromedasHero 126216151316148-noBejarano57.30 (7)Flower Alley 1267432789-hdChavez41.30 (11)High Fly 126116431410-nkBailey7.10 (9)Greeley s Galaxy 126917161481211-2¼Desrmx21.00 (5)Coin Silver 126514121291112-1¼Valnzla38.6 0 (8)Greater Good 1268202020171513-¾McKee58.40 (4)Noble Causeway 1264121315121314-2½Stevens12. 30 (3)Sun King 1263998151615-4Prado15.70 (13)Spnsh Chestnut 126131113916-7Bravo71.00 (1)Sort It Out 1261151717181717-3¼Blanc61.90 (19)Going Wild 12619224141818-3½Valdivia59.5 0 (15)Bandini 126157811201919-12Velzqz6.80 (6)High Limit 12668710192020Domngz22.50 10–(10) GIACOMO 102.6045.8019.80 18–(18) CLOSING ARGUMENT 70.0024.80 12–(12) AFLEET ALEX 4.60 $2 EXACTA (10-18) PAID $9,814.80 $2 TRIFECTA (10-18-12) PAID $133,134.80 $1 SUPERFECTA (10-18-12-17) PAID $864,253.50 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (9-10) PAID $1,973.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (OAKS/DERBY - 5-10) PAID $595.20 $2 PICK 3 (8-9-10) 3 CORRECT PAID $21,335.20 $2 PICK 4 (1-8-9-10) 4 CORRECT PAID $164,168.60 $2 PICK 6 (5-5/6-1-8-9-10) 5 CORRECT PAID $11,228.20 Winner–gr/ro c, 3, by Holy Bull-Set Them Free. Trainer–John Shirreffs. No scratches. GIACOMO unhurried and four or five wide between rivals during the early stages, continued four wide along the backstretch, worked his way forward between horses six wide on the far turn, was in behind a wall of horses entering the upper stretch, was alertly angled eight abreast to secure racing room at the furlong grounds, then closed determinedly under extreme left-handed urging to prevail. \|\|\|\|\| U.S. NBC's Kentucky Derby Ratings Dip Slightly Amid Record Wagering May 8 (Bloomberg) -- NBC's broadcast of the Kentucky Derby win by 50-1 shot Giacomo drew big-city ratings slightly below last year as a record amount of money was bet on the race. Yesterday's telecast on the General Electric Co. network was watched by an average of 8.2 percent of viewers in the top 56 U.S. media markets, according to Nielsen Media Research Inc. The rating peaked with an 11.5 from 6-6:30 p.m. New York time as Giacomo became the longest shot since 1913 to win the 1 1/4-mile race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Favored Bellamy Road, a horse belonging to New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, finished seventh. The combined on- and off-track betting total of $103.3 million marked the first time more than $100 million was wagered on a thoroughbred race at a North American track, according to Churchill Downs Inc. The previous record was $99.4 million bet on the Derby last year, track spokesman John Asher said in a telephone interview. Yesterday's top-rated individual markets were Louisville at 30.6 percent, Tampa, Florida, at 12.6 and Cincinnati at 12.0, Nielsen said. Steinbrenner lives in Tampa, where the Yankees hold spring training. Bellamy Road was his fifth Kentucky Derby entry since 1977. None have finished higher than fifth. Last year's victory by Smarty Jones drew 8.3 percent of big- city viewers, tying it with 2003 and 2001 as the highest-rated for the first leg of the Triple Crown since 1992. Lil E. Tee won the 1992 races with a 9.5 large-market rating. Full national ratings for the race will be available in four days, Nielsen said. There are 109.6 million U.S. households with televisions. Large-market ratings represent about 70 percent of those households. Giacomo moves on to the Preakness Stakes on May 21 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The Belmont Stakes is June 11 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Six horses in the past eight years won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, but none could win the Belmont. The last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978. NBC averaged an 8.3 rating for last year's Triple Crown races, 22 percent higher than 2003 and 2002. New York-bred Funny Cide won the first two legs in 2003 before losing at the Belmont to Empire Maker. War Emblem also won the first two races in 2002, but lost to 70-1 long shot Sarava at the Belmont. NBC is completing a five-year, $51.5 million contract to broadcast the Triple Crown. The network on May 3 extended agreements to show the Kentucky Derby and Preakness until 2010. Walt Disney Co.'s ABC will begin showing the Belmont Stakes next year.	Saturday's running of the Kentucky Derby left favorites in dry churned up dust, as speedster '''''Spanish Chestnut''''' forced an early pace that only long-shot horses fully answered. The two top finishers, '''''Giacomo''''' and '''''Closing Argument''''' ran past race favorites '''''Bellamy Road''''' and hopeful '''''Bandini''''', who came off the starting gate well and into the first turn. But they faded under a blistering early pace that at the half-mile pole was second fastest in race history. Only '''''Afleet Alex''''', showing at third, applied salve to the wounded crowd of 154,000 ticket-tearing fans. Betting for this year's race totaled a record $103.3 million counting both on- and off-track wagering. A 2 dollar wager on the winning horse '''''Giacomo''''' paid $102.60. TV viewership in top metropolitan markets was down only slightly from the previous year, which considering the wagering shows no lack of interest in the race: :Win: Giacomo $102.60 :Place: Closing Argument: $45.80 :Show: Afleet Alex: $19.80
Articles 12.02.2007 IBM's New Open Client Offering to Cut Costs On Sunday the officials from IBM stated that the company is going to launch an open desktop software system for businesses. Thus it will allow to put the managing costs of both Linux and Apple computers on a more equal basis with Windows software designed by Microsoft. According to IBM's representatives, the new software is to improve the economics of alternatives for Windows operating system. IBM named its new product "Open Client Offering". The product pulls together the software developed by IBM in-house and with its partners: Novell Inc. and Red Hat Inc. to provide clear answers on questions regarding cost-effectiveness of managing both desktop PCs of Linux and Apple alongside Microsoft's Windows PCs. The representatives of IBM also mentioned that the company's new software will allow businesses to offer their employees a choice to use the same software on Windows, Linux or Apple Macintosh on their desktop PCs. By creating a software that can be used on all Windows alternatives, IBM hopes to cut costs of managing those alternatives relative to Microsoft's product. Open Client is to chip away in long-term Windows franchise by allowing businesses to save money. This is because there will be no necessity of purchasing from Microsoft licenses for operations that are no longer relying on Windows-based software. The decision to create Open Client came after corporate decision-makers began stumbling upon the idea of upgrading Microsoft's Windows Vista. Apart from Microsoft, IBM will provide its own software entitled Open Document Format (ODF) for word processing, presentation, together with Lotus collaboration, instant messaging and blog tools, and Firefox - the biggest competitor to Internet Explorer. Scott Handy, who is the Vice President of Worldwide Linux for IBM, said that the company believes its new software will save money for business that use not just Windows but other software as well. He mentioned that Gartner and IDC- technology market researchers, estimated that businesses pay from $ 4,000 to $ 6,000 to manage every office employee's desktop PC. IBM looks forward to install its software on 5 percent of desktop computers across the company's branches around the world. To note that the company now employs about 320,000 staff worldwide. Among them there are customer call centers as well as software development groups located in Brazil, India, Europe and some other offices of the company. Open Client will be available late this year. A part of IBM's new software is called Expeditor. It enables a company to manage various systems like a unified underlying system. PSA Peugeot Citroen, the second largest automaker in Europe, last month made a multi-year deal with Novell (provider of Linux). The automaker is to run Linux on 20,000 desktop PCs as well as 2,500 server computers. Mr. Handy outlined that the deal will be supported by the Open Client Offering software. Stephen O'Grady, an analyst from RedMonk (research firm), stated that no one will significantly damage the desktop domination that Microsoft has. He said that today there's a tendency of using Windows alternatives which has nothing to do with displacing its wholesale. \|\|\|\|\| By Eric Auchard and Michael Kahn SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - IBM (IBM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Sunday it will offer an open desktop software system for businesses that puts the cost of managing Apple or Linux computers on a more equal footing with Microsoft's Windows software, improving the economics of Windows alternatives. The product -- which the company calls its "Open Client Offering" -- pulls together software IBM has developed in-house and with partners Novell Inc. (NOVL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) and Red Hat Inc. (RHAT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) to answer questions over the cost-effectiveness of managing Linux or Apple desktop PCs alongside Windows PCs. International Business Machines Corp. said the new software makes it feasible for big businesses to offer their employees a choice of running Windows, Linux or Apple Macintosh software on desktop PCs, using the same underlying software code. This cuts the costs of managing Linux or Apple relative to Windows. IBM's Open Client software chips away at long-time rival Microsoft's (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Windows franchise by making it unnecessary for companies to pay Microsoft for licenses for operations that no longer rely on Windows-based software. The move comes as corporate decision-makers have begun to mull when it makes sense to upgrade to Microsoft's Windows Vista. "We worked with the open source community and found a way to write software once that will work regardless of operating system. It will run on Windows, Macintosh or Linux," said Scott Handy, IBM's vice president of Linux and open source. As an alternative to Microsoft, IBM will offer its own Open Document Format (ODF) software for tasks like word processing, spreadsheets or presentations, along with Lotus collaboration, instant messaging and blog tools, and the Firefox Web browser, which is the biggest rival to Microsoft's Internet Explorer. IBM believes that using its software can cut the cost of managing applications, maintenance and customer support costs on company networks that need to run not just Windows but other software, Handy said. Technology market researchers Gartner and IDC estimate that it costs $4,000 to $6,000 to manage the average desktop PC of any office worker, he noted. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Armonk, NY - 12 Feb 2007: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today unveiled a new Open Client Solution for customers of any size or industry so they can help their employees better collaborate, improve productivity, and lower the total cost of information technology ownership. The solution addresses customer demand to improve interoperability and provide more choice to run different vendors' products that work together. Customers will now have the opportunity to run a mix of Lotus, open source, and other commercial software products - - running on either Linux, Microsoft Windows, or planned for later this year, Macintosh - - on PCs, desktops and other devices. IBM developed the new solution based on best practices it learned from an IBM internal desktop deployment, which supports open standards, and includes Lotus collaboration software products running on Red Hat's Enterprise Linux Workstation. One of the largest corporate Linux desktop roll-outs to date, the Open Client Solution complements the company's broad roles-based strategy which is aimed at providing employees the right platform for an individual's specific job role. Customers can benefit from the opportunity to make one investment in the single, flexible Open Client Solution, a more efficient alternative to vendor lock-in because only minor changes are typically required to run on different operating system platforms. The solution can include capabilities for desktop management support and application migration and are aimed at helping customers pilot, implement, and gain value from security-rich and reliable Linux and other open standards-based solutions. Operating system services will be provided by Linux distributors Red Hat and Novell. Further advancing the company's open standards push beyond Linux, customers will be afforded the freedom to choose from a variety of IBM technologies or Business Partner applications including: IBM Productivity tools that support the OASIS Open Document Format (ODF), the Firefox Web browser, Lotus Notes & Lotus Domino, Lotus Sametime and IBM WebSphere Portal v6 on Red Hat Desktop Linux suite, or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop. Alternative to Vendor Lock-In Includes Lotus Software Running With Linux or Windows and Macintosh Customers can choose to run both Linux and Windows on PCs and include social collaboration products from Lotus. The Lotus Notes and Lotus Sametime collaboration and instant messaging products were the first two mass-marketed enterprise products to be delivered for Linux-based PCs. Lotus Notes 8 is currently scheduled to support Macintosh later this year. IBM's Open Client Solution combines best-of-breed collaboration solutions and can include: Lotus Notes : Email and collaboration software that has been used by more than 130 million users worldwide. : Email and collaboration software that has been used by more than 130 million users worldwide. Lotus Sametime : A unified communication and collaboration platform featuring an industry leading business instant messaging solution. : A unified communication and collaboration platform featuring an industry leading business instant messaging solution. WebSphere Portal 6.0 : A server-based foundation for building portal applications and services accessed through a common entry point via popular browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari. : A server-based foundation for building portal applications and services accessed through a common entry point via popular browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari. Lotus Expeditor: An Eclipse-based Rich Client Platform (RCP) for deploying composite applications or business "mashups" for on-line and off-line use. "Our goal is to provide a flexible open client platform that minimizes customer investment needs and gives users the option to choose the tools they need to do their jobs more efficiently," said Scott Handy, vice president, Worldwide Linux and Open Source, IBM. "Increasingly, customers are asking for software and tools that are based on open standards that easily integrate within existing open IT environments, and have enterprise-level security features. "We've addressed this market demand by creating an open solution that runs on multiple operating systems with components supported by services from IBM, Red Hat and Novell." IBM Rolling Out One of the Largest Corporate Open Client Solutions IBM has deployed its own Open Client solution built on many of the same components it is making available to customers with today's announced solution, including the extensive Lotus portfolio, IBM Productivity tools that support ODF, the Firefox Web browser, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4. Linux is one component of the company's broader roles-based computing strategy to provide IBM employees with the right client platform depending upon business roles. Today, IBM offers an internal solution that provides a supported, standards-based desktop Linux client that helps increase the productivity of IBM professional developers with a business need for Linux. IBM's user segmentation model is used to deploy Linux to appropriate user populations. One of the largest Open Client corporate desktop roll-outs, it enables IBM employees worldwide to integrate standards-based applications, like Lotus Notes and Lotus Sametime - - running with either the Windows or Linux operating system - - into the IBM enterprise infrastructure. While users are afforded the freedom to choose the best solution for their individual needs, the deployment also serves as an opportunity for IBM to test the functionality, stability and security features of open standards-based solutions running on different operating systems. "With the Open Client platform we've internally battle-tested a Linux-based solution running Lotus software in one of the world's largest enterprises based on what customers have been demanding from the market," said Scott Handy, vice president, Worldwide Linux and Open Source, IBM. "We've met those market needs by creating a single flexible software stack that only requires one set of investment and one team of developers to run on multiple operating systems." The solution is currently available worldwide and is priced based on customer requirements.	On Sunday the representatives of International Business Machines Inc. said that the company will launch its new desktop software system for businesses. IBM's new product is called “Open Client Offering”. The company hopes that its product will put Macintosh or Linux software on a more equal footing with Windows. The Open Client Offering software was developed by IBM in-house, as well as with partners like Novell Inc. and Red Hat Inc. It is to answer the questions regarding the cost-effectiveness of managing Linux or Apple desktop personal computers alongside Windows PCs. IBM officials stated that Open Client Offering will allow enterprises to use the same software on Windows, Linux or Apple's OS X. It will be unnecessary for companies using Open Client to pay Microsoft for licenses for operations because these will no longer rely on Windows-based software. Scott Handy, IBM's vice president of Linux and open source, stated that the company worked together with the open source community and in the end found a way to develop a software that is able to function regardless of the operating system. To create an alternative to Microsoft, IBM is going to offer Open Document Format software that the company developed for word processing, spreadsheets or presentations, instant messaging and blog tools and Internet Explorer's long time rival – Firefox Web browser. The software developers at IBM believe that the usage of Open Client Offering can cut the cost of managing applications as well as maintenance and cost regarding customer support on company networks that require other software rather than Windows. PSA Peugeot Citroen, being the second largest car manufacturer, signed a multi-year agreement with Novell, which is the provider of Linux software, to run Linux on its 20,000 desktop PCs. In addition Linux will be installed on 2,500 server computers. RedMonk's analyst, Stephen O'Grady, said that today there is a strong appetite for Windows alternatives. However, he said, this doesn't mean that the alternatives are to displace Windows wholesales. O'Grady outlined that no one is going to significantly damage the desktop dominance of Microsoft.
U.S. Yahoo News A group of House Democrats is mounting a renewed push to strip J. Edgar Hoover's name off the FBI headquarters in the wake of a powerful new film that highlights one of the bureau's worst abuses under his leadership: a secret, decades-long program known as COINTELPRO that was aimed at discrediting civil rights activists, and which ultimately led to the 1969 killing by law enforcement of Chicago Black Panther leader Fred Hampton. “You take a poll and I would bet 90 percent of the society has no clue what COINTELPRO was,” said Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, who, along with 22 co-sponsors, has reintroduced a bill to remove the longtime FBI director's name from the bureau's headquarters building in Washington, D.C. “This is an ugly part of our past that is not well known.” \|\|\|\|\| MAHABALIPURAM, India - Archaeologists have begun underwater excavations of what is believed to be an ancient city and parts of a temple uncovered by the tsunami off the coast of a centuries-old pilgrimage town. advertisement As the waves receded, the force of the water removed sand deposits that had covered the structures, which appear to belong to a port city built in the seventh century, said T. Satyamurthy, a senior archaeologist with the Archaeological Survey of India. Mahabalipuram is already well known for its ancient, intricately carved shore temples that have been declared a World Heritage site and are visited each year by thousands of Hindu pilgrims and tourists. According to descriptions by early British travel writers, the area was also home to seven pagodas, six of which were submerged by the sea. The government-run archaeological society and navy divers began underwater excavations of the area on Thursday. "The tsunami has exposed a bas relief which appears to be part of a temple wall or a portion of the ancient port city. Our excavations will throw more light on these," Satyamurthy told The Associated Press by telephone from Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu state. The six-foot rocky structures that have emerged in Mahabalipuram, 30 miles south of Madras, include an elaborately carved head of an elephant and a horse in flight. Above the elephant's head is a small square-shaped niche with a carved statue of a deity. Another structure uncovered by the tsunami has a reclining lion sculpted on it. According to archaeologists, lions, elephants and peacocks were commonly used to decorate walls and temples during the Pallava period in the seventh and eighth centuries. "These structures could be part of the legendary seven pagodas. With the waters receding and the coastline changing, we expect some more edifices to be exposed," Satyamurthy said. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.	Probably one of the first good things to come out of the 2004 Tsunami in Asia, ancient ruins were discovered in India. Fishermen along the shores report seeing the ruins along the shoreline near Mahabalipuram when the waters receded just prior to the arrival of the tsunami. Mahabalipuram is a port city of South India, dating back to the 7th century, around 60 km south from the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The fishermen reported a complex consisting of ancient temples. Some mention seeing at least 20 distinct temples, and hundreds of refrigerator-sized blocks. The walls were covered with barnacles, coral and mud. Local folklore tells of an ancient port in the area. On the shore, three structures consisting of elaborate carvings in the shape of animals were uncovered. The structures appear to have been covered in sand, which had been wiped away by the force of the tsunami. The structures appear to belong to a port city built in the 7th century, said T. Satyamurthy, a senior archaeologist with the Archaeological Survey of India. The sculptures, representing an elephant, a lion and a flying horse, were commonly used during the Pallava dynasty, which ran from the 4th to the 9th century, archeologists say. The temples along the shores of Mahabalipuram are already a famous feature of the city, and have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Legend has it that the city was home to seven pagodas. Underwater excavations of the area by the archaeological society, run by the Indian government and navy divers, began on Thursday.
AN explosive device has been detonated underneath a car parked outside a school in Liverpool. Merseyside Police said the device went off outside St Edward's College in Sandfield Park, West Derby, at about 2.50pm on Friday. Nobody was hurt in the explosion, a spokesman for the force said. Inspector Michael O'Callaghan said: "There was an explosion under a car at the school this afternoon. "Nobody has been injured and there has been no collateral damage," he said. Police described the device as a nail bomb. The school was evacuated immediately after the bomb went off, the spokesman said. Damon Younis, 38, who lives next to the school, said the car was at the entrance to the school. St Edward’s College in Sandfield Park, Liverpool, is a Christian Voluntary Aided school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. Around 1280 students currently attend the school, under the principal John Waszek. Police tonight confirmed the silver saloon belonged to a teacher and implied the detonation was timed to coincide with the end of the school day. Speaking near the cordoned-off entrance to the private Runnymeade infant and junior school, Superintendent Ian Pilling said the crime was “despicable”. \|\|\|\|\| A nail bomb exploded today inside a car belonging to a teacher at a leading Liverpool school, police said. The explosion, shortly before 3pm, seriously damaged the vehicle parked outside St Edward's College, a private Catholic school in West Derby. No one was injured in the blast. Speaking outside the school, Superintendent Ian Pilling from Merseyside Police said the explosion appeared to have been timed to coincide with the end of the school day. The car was about 10 metres from the school building when the device, inside the vehicle, exploded, Mr Pilling said. "An explosive device had been placed inside the car," he said. "At this stage we can't say exactly what device it was but it was detonated inside the vehicle. "This was a despicable offence. Children were in the process of leaving. Nobody was killed or injured but that was down to good luck." There was no damage other than to the car, another officer, Inspector Michael O'Callaghan, said, describing the device as a nail bomb. Roads around the school grounds, which is a few miles outside Liverpool city centre, were cordoned off by police. The school was evacuated immediately after the device went off. \|\|\|\|\| Officers remain at the scene of the explosion The blast happened outside Runnymede St Edward's in Sandfield Park, West Derby - an independent Roman Catholic school. Witnesses said the device was a nail bomb, but police described it as an improvised firework-type device. Supt Ian Pilling described the incident as a "despicable" act. He said children had been leaving at the time and it was lucky no-one was killed or injured. Merseyside Police said a man was seen running away from the scene after the blast, and they appealed for witnesses. Officers are looking for two men, one of whom is described as white, aged in his forties, stocky, about 5ft 10in tall with light coloured hair. The school was evacuated immediately after the device went off and pupils were moved to another part of the building. No-one was hurt. I think if they had actually been inside the vehicle they would have been seriously injured or quite possibly killed Supt Ian Pilling The interior of the car was extensively damaged and the windows were smashed by the blast, which happened just 10 minutes before most of the pupils were about to begin leaving. Police confirmed the silver saloon belonged to a teacher and said the timing of the blast could have proved fatal. Speaking near the cordoned-off entrance to the private school, Supt Ian Pilling said: "Children were in the process of leaving. Nobody was killed or injured but that was down to good luck." He added: "I think if they had actually been inside the vehicle they would have been seriously injured or quite possibly killed. "This type of offence is despicable, particularly as it was close to a school at a time when the students were due to leave. "This is an extremely unusual offence and I would like to reassure the public that it appears to be an isolated incident." Students 'shaken' One student at the neighbouring St Edward's College said: "I am appalled and shocked at what has taken place. "The area where the bomb went off was very close to where the young primary school children leave the school. "If the bomb had detonated only 20 minutes later this could have been a very different story indeed." Another college student added: "This incident was very unusual for the area and the school was shook to it foundations by it. "The roads were shut off and no-one could get in or out of the school area for a considerable amount of time. I am thankful that no-one got hurt." Fingertip search Although he confirmed the device was in a teacher's car, Mr Pilling said there was nothing to indicate why the member of Runnymede St Edward's staff was targeted. Forensic teams remain at the scene carrying out a fingertip search of the scene and the car. Runnymede St Edward's is a Catholic independent school for boys and girls between the ages of three and 11, and is Choir School to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Liverpool. It is on the same site as St Edward's College. The school, a few miles outside the city centre, has annual fees of about £5,000. \|\|\|\|\| Bomb explodes at UK school 21/09/2007 20:18 - (SA) Liverpool - An explosive device went off underneath a car outside a school in Liverpool, north-west England, on Friday, police said, but no injuries were reported. The device, reportedly involving a nail-bomb, went off outside St Edward's College in the city, said a Merseyside police officer. "There was an explosion under a car at the school this afternoon," said Inspector Michael O'Callaghan. "What caused the explosion and the reasons behind it we are investigating." "Nobody has been injured and there has been no collateral damage," he added. A nearby resident, Damon Younis, said: "There was a bomb, it was a nail-bomb. I don't think anyone was injured. The car was at the entrance to the school and one police car has arrived." Britain has been on high alert since failed terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow at the end of June, although there was no indication that the Liverpool incident was terrorism-related. -Sapa-AFP - SAPA	Map highlighting location of Liverpool, England. A nail bomb has exploded under a car, thought to belong to a teacher, at least ten meters from the entrance of St. Edward's College in Liverpool, England at approximately 14.50 BST. There were no injuries, but the car was severely damaged in the blast. Merseyside Police confirmed that officers were investigating a security alert at the college which is an independent Catholic boys and girls school for children ages 11-18. They also confirmed that it was "some kind of explosive device" which was involved. "There was an explosion under a car at the school this afternoon. What caused the explosion and the reasons behind it we are investigating. Nobody has been injured and there has been no collateral damage," said Michael O'Callaghan, an Inspector for the Scotland Yard. Other reports say that the bomb was inside the car. Police believe that the bomb was timed to detonate at the time children were being let out of school for the day. Almost 2,000 students attend the school, which was evacuated after the blast.
Open Letter to Richard Stallman Posted 4 Nov 2008 at 21:52 UTC by cdfrey Dear Mr. Stallman, I am writing to express my disappointment with the Free Software Foundation regarding the recent release of the GNU Free Documentation License version 1.3. The new version 1.3 adds a new clause, section 11, which, according to the FAQ, allows wiki sites to relicense specific content from GFDL 1.3 to CC-BY-SA 3.0, for content added before November 1, 2008. They have this relicensing option until August 1, 2009. This, in my view, is a serious moral mistake and breach of trust. Even if this new clause does no harm, it is still the wrong thing to do. Many years ago, I read criticisms about the recommended way of applying the GNU GPL license to software. People criticized the common phrasing "version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version," saying that this gave the FSF too much power, and was basically writing a blank cheque to possible future abuse of one's work. This criticism began to hold less weight for me when I witnessed the extreme care and meticulous and open process of writing the new GPL version 3. All comments were logged and processed in a website in an extremely open fashion. The process was long and cautious, balancing the opinions of users of the license with the commitment to Free Software. It was a thing of beauty. I started to see the benefits of having an open ended license. I saw the direction that the FSF took. They did not loosen the grip on Free Software principles, they tightened it. And since only the FSF could change the GPL, and given their trustworthy method used to update it, it seemed like a worthy place to put my trust. Unfortunately, this seemingly hasty change to the GFDL undoes all that. Not only does it violate the assumption that the author of the work decides what license to use, it adds another party to the equation. Not only can the FSF now change the terms of the GFDL, the Creative Commons Corporation can now change the terms that some older GFDL work is licensed under. Fortunately this only lasts until August 1, 2009. But old GFDL wiki content is basically dual licensed now. Perhaps I was living under a legal rock, but I also didn't see any announcement for public input to this revision. If I did miss it, I regret not being able to give my feedback earlier in the process. If the input cycle was shorter or non-existent, this is a flaw in the update process of the GFDL, which I hope the FSF will fix. In practical terms, the relicensing is not that big a deal. The restrictions on what can be relicensed are good, and it is basically swapping one set of legal boilerplate for another that does the same thing. Some authors may have specifically chosen the GFDL over CC-BY-SA, for various reasons, one of them being the fact that the license had to be copied along with the work. This part of the GFDL is both a feature and a bug. But this specific choice, which was previously up to the author, is now gone. In the greater scheme of things, very little harm is probably done. Indeed, many have hailed this change as a great improvement. I suspect that the most harm is simply done to the FSF's reputation. The problem is the message this sends to users of other FSF licenses. Can we trust the FSF not to allow relicensing of our works, to non-FSF licenses, if we use the "future version" clause? In the past, I would have been confident that this was the case. Now I'm not so sure. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this, and if you like, I will post your reply verbatim in the same places I post my letter. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Chris Frey missing the point, posted 5 Nov 2008 at 00:41 UTC by jbuck » (Master) The GFDL is widely considered a flawed license, and I doubt if you will be able to find actual copyright holders that used that license but that have a moral objection to CC-BY-SA. In fact, many contributors to GFDL documents object to the GFDL, but are pretty much forced to use it because they contribute to GNU projects. If anything, most of us were hoping for more changes, not fewer changes. We still have the invariant sections issue and the flawed DRM language (which would appear to be make "chmod 600 gfdl_doc.pdf" illegal on a multi-user system). Copyright holders who care about the legal details can specify a specific version number; those who care only that a work be free usually don't care about those details and are unlikely to care about the distinctions between GFDL with no invariant sections, and CC-BY-SA. practical vs. principle, posted 5 Nov 2008 at 07:39 UTC by cdfrey » (Journeyer) I agree that in a practical sense, little has changed, and in many cases CC-BY-SA is preferable. My concern was that this sets a bad precedent by allowing licensing control to pass from FSF to some other organization. I'm not slamming the Creative Commons Corp here, but the trust that people put into the "any later version" clause is directed at the FSF. I don't think that trust should be taken lightly. Lack of trust in the FSF regarding this clause causes things like the Linux kernel to be GPL v2 only. The FSF and the GNU project have historically been very strict about these things, requiring transfer of copyright, etc. This is why I'm surprised and disappointed about the change. I would think more people support this move, a surprise on RMS's part because he is not a big egomaniac like some would think. \|\|\|\|\| In December 2007, the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation formally decided to ask the Free Software Foundation, which administers the GNU Free Documentation License under which Wikipedia is distributed, to release a new version of the license which will allow Wikimedia to switch its content to the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike license (CC-BY-SA). The underlying motivation of this change is that CC-BY-SA is an easier-to-use license granting the same essential freedoms as the GFDL. It is also more widely used by other educational projects, and switching the license would allow Wikimedia wikis to freely share content with those projects. We’re very pleased that the Free Software Foundation has today released version 1.3 of the GNU Free Documentation License which implements this requested change. Next, the Wikimedia Foundation will organize a community wide referendum to decide whether existing GFDL wikis should be made availabe under the terms of the CC-BY-SA license. We are deeply grateful to the Free Software Foundation for making this change. I’ve posted a more in-depth summary of what it means on the Wikimedia Foundation mailing list, and an energetic discussion on the topic has already begun. We will post more details on this topic soon. See also: Erik Möller Deputy Director \|\|\|\|\| The Free Software Foundation released version 1.3 of the GNU Free Documentation License on November 3, 2008. This FAQ addresses questions that people may have about why we have released this new version of the license, and how it relates to FDLv2. More resources are available from the license page for FDL 1.3. Q. Why did you release a new minor version of the FDL? A. Late last year, the Wikimedia Foundation, which oversees the Wikipedia project, passed a resolution asking us to update the FDL so as to allow Wikipedia and similar Wikis using the FDL to also use the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) 3.0 license. Because we are not ready to release FDL 2.0, we have made this release in the meantime. This new version of the license is meant to fulfill the Wikimedia Foundation's request. Q. How is FDL 1.3 related to the work that's been done so far on FDL 2.0? A. FDL 1.3 incorporates a couple of features that have been proposed for FDL 2.0, but that's the extent of their relationship. Our goals for FDL 2.0 are not affected by this release. Q. What are the changes in FDL 1.3? A. The primary change is the addition of section 11. This new provision allows certain materials released under this license to also be used under the terms of CC-BY-SA 3.0. For more information about exactly what materials can be licensed this way, see the related questions below. As part of this change, we also introduced a new definition in section 1. We also borrowed a couple of changes from GPLv3. The first is in section 9, which explains how the license can be terminated when you violate it. We now provide a means for violators to automatically have their rights restored if they cure the violation. The second is in section 10: now licensors can choose a proxy who is allowed to decide whether or not a work can be licensed under the terms of future versions of the FDL. Q. What is the rationale behind these changes? A. Section 11 has been added to allow wikis like Wikipedia to use FDL-covered works under the terms of CC-BY-SA 3.0 if they choose to do so. They have told us that they would like to explore this option, and adding this provision gives them a clear path to do so. Normally, these sorts of licensing decisions can and should be handled by the copyright holder(s) of a particular work. However, because Wikipedia has many copyright holders, the project needed some alternative way to accomplish this, and we've worked with them to provide that. The other changes are minor improvements that were easy to make while we were at it. They've met with wide approval in GPLv3, and they don't change the license's fundamental permissions or requirements at all. Q. Exactly what material can be licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0? A. In order to license an FDL-covered work under CC-BY-SA 3.0, a few conditions must be met: The work must be available under the terms of FDL 1.3, which provides you with this permission. If the work was released under the terms of “the GNU Free Documentation License, version 1.2 or (at your option) any later version,” then it meets this criteria. The work must not have any “Cover Texts” or “Invariant Sections.” These are optional features in all versions of the FDL. If the work was originally published somewhere other than a public wiki, it must have been added to a wiki (or some other kind of web site where the general public could review and edit the materials) before November 1, 2008. All FDL-covered material added to Wikipedia before November 1, 2008 satisfies these conditions. Q. What is the purpose of the two different dates in section 11? Why did you choose those specific dates? A. Section 11 imposes two deadlines on licensees. First, if a work was originally published somewhere other than a public wiki, you can only use it under CC-BY-SA 3.0 if it was added to a wiki before November 1, 2008. We do not want to grant people this permission for any and all works released under the FDL. We also do not want people gaming the system by adding FDLed materials to a wiki, and then using them under CC-BY-SA afterwards. Choosing a deadline that has already passed unambiguously prevents this. Second, this permission is no longer available after August 1, 2009. We don't want this to become a general permission to switch between licenses: the community will be much better off if each wiki makes its own decision about which license it would rather use, and sticks with that. This deadline ensures that outcome, while still offering all wiki maintainers ample time to make their decision. Q. What are your current plans for FDL 2.0? \|\|\|\|\| [Foundation-l] GFDL 1.3 Release All - As has been pointed out, the Free Software Foundation has now released version 1.3 of the GNU Free Documentation License, which is the standard text license used by all Wikimedia Foundation projects with the exception of Wikinews. The updated license text can be found here: http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html [If you are still seeing version 1.2 on that URL, you may need to clear your browser cache.] We are very grateful to the Free Software Foundation for working with us to develop this re-licensing language. The only change is the addition of section 11, "Relicensing". This section permits "massive multi-author collaboration websites" (i.e. wikis and wiki-like websites) to relicense GFDL content to the CC-BY-SA, under two key constraints: * Newly added externally originating GFDL content cannot be relicensed after November 1, 2008. (In other words, we should stop importing GFDL content from non-Wikimedia sources, unless they plan to switch as well. I believe Wikia is planning to switch, but will confirm that shortly. Please feel free to begin reaching out to other relevant GFDL sources.) * The relicensing clause will expire on August 1, 2009. Relicensing can only be done by the operator of such a website, not by any other party. So the Wikimedia Foundation can choose to re-license Wikipedia, Wikibooks, etc., but no other party can. We will be able to do so because most GFDL-licensed content implicitly or explicitly permits re-use under "any later version" of the GFDL. == Why wasn't this license available for review earlier? == The restriction on externally originating FDL content is intended to prevent bulk-import and bulk-relicensing of FDL content from external sources. This is intended to protect the autonomy of site operators in making a re-licensing decision, and to prevent FDL-licensed software documentation from being re-licensed without the permission of the authors. This was a key condition for the Free Software Foundation to agree to this change. While an earlier draft was published, the specifics of the migration process have been negotiated privately in order to not allow for such systematic bulk-relicensing by interested third parties. == What's next? == * Later this month, we will post a re-licensing proposal for all Wikimedia wikis which are currently licensed under the GFDL. It will be collaboratively developed on meta.wiki and I will announce it here. This re-licensing proposal will include a simplified dual-licensing proposition, under which content will continue to be indefinitely available under GFDL, except for articles which include CC-BY-SA-only additions from external sources. (The terms of service, under this proposal, will be modified to require dual-licensing permission for any new changes.) It will be the obligation of re-users to validate whether an article includes CC-BY-SA-only changes -- dual licensing should not be a burden on editors. This is also not intended to be bidirectional, i.e., merging in GFDL-only text will not be possible. We _will_ propose to continue to permit GFDL 1.2-only media uploads for the forseeable future, to address concerns regarding strong and weak copyleft, until such concerns are fully resolved to the satisfaction of community members. However, GFDL 1.2-or-later media are expected to be migrated to CC-BY-SA under this proposal. It is expected that we will launch a community-wide referendum on this proposal, where a majority will constitute sufficient support for re-licensing. * As a heads up, communities should be more careful with importing external FDL content, unless they know for sure that it will be migrated to CC-BY-SA in the near future. This will not affect Wikimedia-internal copying transactions, as either all or no GFDL-licensed Wikimedia wikis will be switched to CC-BY-SA. If some GFDL 1.2 content that cannot be migrated later is imported by accident, that should not present any great difficulty -- we will simply remove it as we would remove any other problematic copyrighted content. More information will follow later this month as we develop the re-licensing proposal. Let me know if you have any immediate questions. Thanks, Erik -- Erik Möller Deputy Director, Wikimedia Foundation Support Free Knowledge: http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Donate \|\|\|\|\| From the Wikimedia Foundation Whereas the Board seeks to respond responsibly to longstanding community concerns about issues of compatibility between the GNU Free Documentation License and the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA license, as well as to continue longstanding traditions of strong community input and control over major decisions affecting the projects, and Whereas a long period of discussion and negotiation between and amongst the Free Software Foundation, Creative Commons, the Wikimedia Foundation and others has produced a proposal supported by both the FSF and Creative Commons to modify the Free Documentation License in such a fashion as to allow the possibility for the Wikimedia Foundation to migrate the projects to CC-BY-SA, and Whereas, Creative Commons and the Free Software Foundation (FSF) would like formal support for this license change, It is hereby resolved that: The Foundation requests that the GNU Free Documentation License be modified in the fashion proposed by the FSF to allow migration by mass collaborative projects to the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA license; Upon the announcement of that relicensing, the Foundation will initiate a process of community discussion and voting before making a final decision on relicensing. 5 approval (Jimmy, Florence, Jan-bart, Erik, Frieda), 1 missing vote (Kat)	The logo of the GNU project The Free Software Foundation (FSF) has announced a new version of the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) which paves the way for the Wikimedia Foundation's (WMF) projects, including the popular Wikipedia, to switch to the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike (CC-BY-SA) license. The logo of the Wikimedia Foundation The move was announced following discussions between the Wikimedia Foundation and the FSF. Erik Möller, deputy director of the WMF, explained the reasoning behind this move. "The underlying motivation of this change is that CC-BY-SA is an easier-to-use license granting the same essential freedoms as the GFDL," he stated on the official Wikimedia blog. "It is also more widely used by other educational projects, and switching the license would allow Wikimedia wikis to freely share content with those projects." Möller also state that "later this month, we will post a re-licensing proposal for all Wikimedia wikis which are currently licensed under the GFDL." The change was made in section eleven of the license. It says that conversion to CC-BY-SA is only possible if: Logo of Creative Commons The work is licensed under version free of the GFDL The work has no “Cover Texts” or “Invariant Sections.” *The work must have been added to a wiki, or a similar website, before November 1, 2008. The condition of the license allows for conversion to the CC license before August 1, 2009, although after that date it will no longer be possible. The Wikimedia Foundation formally decided to ask the FSF for the change in December 2007, with the approval of five of the six members of the Wikimedia board, with one member not voting. Despite the support of the Wikimedia Foundation, some people have voiced their opposition to the move. On Advogato, Chris Frey sent an open letter to the chair of the FSF, Richard Stallman. "I am writing to express my disappointment with the Free Software Foundation regarding the recent release of the GNU Free Documentation License version 1.3," he stated. "The new version 1.3 adds a new clause, section 11, which, according to the FAQ, allows wiki sites to relicense specific content from GFDL 1.3 to CC-BY-SA 3.0, for content added before November 1, 2008. They have this relicensing option until August 1, 2009. This, in my view, is a serious moral mistake and breach of trust. Even if this new clause does no harm, it is still the wrong thing to do."

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