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If you’re the proud owner of a cast-iron pan , then you already know what a good investment it is. Once well-seasoned, it can cook just about anything from pancakes to fried chicken, it can go from stovetop to oven with ease, it’s nearly indestructible, it’s inexpensive and it holds its heat like a dream. But if you’re just using your pan to cook the occasional burger, then you’re missing out; you really can cook pretty much anything in it. \|\|\|\|\| Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Supreme Court breathed new life into a lawsuit against the country’s military leaders by four British men who say they were tortured and denied religious freedoms while imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The justices today told a federal appeals court to reconsider its ruling shielding former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other Pentagon officials from the suit by the former inmates. The high court pointed to its June 12 decision that said inmates at Guantanamo have constitutional rights. Shafiq Rasul, Asif Iqbal, Rhuhel Ahmed and Jamal al-Harith say they were beaten, stripped naked, threatened by dogs, subjected to extreme temperatures and deprived of adequate food, water and sleep. Each was captured in Afghanistan or Pakistan, held for more than two years at Guantanamo, then flown home to England and released in 2004. “The torture, abuse and religious humiliation of Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay stands as a shameful episode in our history,” the four men said in their appeal. The men are seeking to press claims under the U.S. Constitution, the Geneva Conventions and several federal statutes, including one that protects religious freedom. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia threw out the suits in January on a 3-0 vote. “The court of appeals reasonably concluded that military detainees could not impose personal monetary liability on the nation’s military commanders for overseas conditions of confinement during a time of war,” argued U.S. Solicitor General Gregory Garre, the Bush administration’s top courtroom lawyer. Humanitarian Mission Rasul, Iqbal and Ahmed, who are childhood friends, say they were in Afghanistan to help provide humanitarian relief after the 2001 war against the Taliban. According to the lawsuit, they were captured by a warlord who turned them over to the U.S. military in exchange for a bounty. Al-Harith says he was in Pakistan for a religious retreat, kidnapped and turned over to the Taliban in Afghanistan. When the Taliban fled, U.S. forces arrived at the prison and took him into custody, according to the suit. Their religious freedom claims include allegations that they were unable to fulfill their daily obligation as Muslims to pray at Guantanamo, the U.S. naval base in Cuba. They say they were subjected to loud rock music, shackled in ways that prevented them from assuming the required posture and forced to be naked while praying, violating the Muslim tenet of modesty. Some of the men also say they saw a copy of the Koran being thrown into a toilet bucket, their attorney, Eric L. Lewis, said in an interview. Rumsfeld has denied that allegation, which sparked deadly rioting in Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries in 2005. The June 12 Supreme Court decision, Boumediene v. Bush, said inmates may seek release in federal court. The justices, voting 5-4, said a 2006 law unconstitutionally stripped Guantanamo prisoners of their right to file so-called habeas corpus petitions. The case is Rasul v. Myers, 08-235. To contact the reporter on this story: Greg Stohr in Washington at gstohr@bloomberg.net. To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Forsythe mforsythe@bloomberg.net. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON - A federal court judge who is hearing a historic case involving Guantanamo Bay detainees lashed out yesterday at Congress and the Supreme Court for not defining "enemy combatant," a label that can trigger a suspect's detention without charge for the duration of a war. In a rare public hearing, US District Judge Richard J. Leon said that question remains unresolved more than six years after suspects were first brought to Guantanamo Bay. "We are here today, much to my dismay, I might add, to deal with a legal question that in my judgment should have been resolved a long time ago," Leon said. "I don't understand, I really don't, how the Supreme Court made the decision it made and left that question open. . . .I don't understand how the Congress could let it go this long without resolving" it, Leon said. Leon spoke before lawyers representing six Algeria-Bosnian suspects who argued that their clients should not be considered enemy combatants because they were not captured on the battlefield and are no longer accused of a specific terrorist plot. Lawyers representing the US government argued that the men should be considered enemy combatants because they showed an intent to support anti-American fighters in Afghanistan. The detainees won the right to petition Leon for their release in June, after the Supreme Court ruled that they have a constitutional right to a hearing. Leon said that he would issue a ruling Monday as to whether the men were enemy combatants before beginning a series of closed-door hearings evaluating the evidence against them. The detainees' case, brought pro bono by the Boston law firm WilmerHale, is the first to reach the trial stage. FARAH STOCKMAN © Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company. \|\|\|\|\| Powell said Afghanistan is moving in a similar positive direction and has made "incredible" progress since late 2001, when the Taliban regime, hosting Al Qaida terrorists, was toppled. The secretary said the Afghan warlords are slowly but surely yielding power to the central government led by President Hamid Karzai. "[T]he electricity is higher than it was before the war, the oil is starting to flow, the people are getting back to work, newspapers are flourishing, women have entered the workplace and the business place and political life. Kids are back to school. Schools are springing up. The hospital system is coming back to life. The marshlands are filling back up with water in the south. The Kurds are happy with their place in life and are willing to be part of this new nation that is being created. And all of these are good signs. Town councils are forming. Parent-teacher associations are forming," Powell said. The failure to find WMD stockpiles notwithstanding, Powell said the invasion of Iraq was justified because the operation has put Iraq on a path toward a better future. He said regardless of the fact that WMD stockpiles have not been found, Saddam Hussein undoubtedly had the intention and capability to produce WMD if he had been able to get out from under the international sanctions on Iraq. In dealing with questions about the intelligence assessments of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) before the invasion, Powell said the decision to invade was made based on the best information available at the time. The secretary said the United States was justified in holding the detainees at Guantanamo, observing that they were picked up in Afghanistan, which was then a terrorist country, and that the United States was engaged in protecting itself and other civilized nations from terrorism. Powell said the United States will examine the charges of mistreatment by the detainees and will "refute them as appropriate." McDonald questioned Powell about the charges leveled by a recently released British detainee, Jamal al-Harith, who was held at Guantanamo for two years before being repatriated to Britain. Powell responded to assertions that the detainees were chained to their seats and shackled and hooded when being transported to Guantanamo, and that the detention authorities shaved the private parts of the detainees. "I think that unlikely. I think we have discharged all of our obligations under the Geneva Convention to treat people in our custody, our detainees, in a very, very humanitarian way. Now, it is not a resort area in Guantanamo Bay. But at the same time we did not abuse the individuals who were down there, and we have had visits from the ICRC and other organizations, as well as our organizations, and it is not in the American tradition to treat people in that manner," Powell said. In an interview with British journalist Trevor McDonald March 15, Powell said the allegation that the Guantanamo detainees were beaten is "unlikely." Secretary of State Colin Powell says the U.S. military is treating the detainees at Guantanamo Bay in a humanitarian way according to the obligations laid out in the Geneva Convention.	On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States directed an appeals court to reconsider its ruling concerning the claims of four former British Guantanamo captives. The lower court had ruled that the four men were not entitled to bring senior Bush Presidency officials to court, because they were not citizens, and were not detained within the United States, they had no recourse under the United States Constitution. In its direction, the Supreme Court pointed out that in its landmark ruling in Boumediene v. Bush it ruled that overseas captives were entitled to Constitutional protection. Following its ruling on June 12, 2008 all the current Guantanamo captives were entitled to re-initiate their habeas corpus petitions, which had been stayed following the United States Congress passing the Military Commissions Act. United States District Court Judge Thomas F. Hogan, the judge in charge of setting the rules of procedure for captives' habeas petitions has explicitly allowed former captives to seek relief in the US court system. This is the first instance of former captives whose cases had already been turned down being given renewed access. The four British former captives were Shafiq Rasul, Asif Iqbal, Rhuhel Ahmed and Jamal al-Harith. All four men claimed they were captured by bounty hunters who falsely claimed the four men were Mujahideen. Al-Harith claimed he was attending a religious retreat in Pakistan when he was captured. Rasul, Iqbal and Ahmed, childhood friends from Tipton, said they had traveled to Afghanistan to render humanitarian assistance, when the war broke out during a trip they made to Pakistan. The men reported that they were bound, naked, in painful "stress positions", and bombarded with loud music, which they described as a form of religious persecution. The four men all claimed that, during their captivity, they observed a copy of the Koran being thrown into a latrine. The four men were repatriated to the United Kingdom in early 2004, where they were set free.
GRAHAM, Wash. A man who fatally shot his five children and killed himself had just discovered his wife was leaving him for another man, authorities said Sunday. The bodies of James Harrison's children, ages 7 to 16, were found with multiple gunshot wounds Saturday in the family's mobile home, most of them in their beds. Harrison's body had been found earlier in the day with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, behind the wheel of his idling car. The night before, the father and his eldest daughter went in search of his wife, Angela Harrison. The daughter used a GPS feature in her mother's cell phone to find her with another man at a convenience store in nearby Auburn, said Ed Troyer, spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff. Click here for photos. The woman told her husband she was not coming home, and was leaving him for the man with her at the store. The father and the daughter left, distraught, Troyer said. Sometime after the children went to sleep, he shot each of them multiple times. Four died in their beds. The fifth was found in the bathroom, surrounded by signs of violent struggle. "He wanted the kids dead," Troyer said. "It wasn't like he shot a few rounds. He shot several rounds." Investigators believe he then returned to the area near the convenience store looking for his wife. His body was found near the store, Troyer said. "We think he was going to go back to kill the wife," Troyer said. "He probably didn't find her and realized the gravity of what he'd done and shot himself." Several weapons were found in the home. Authorities have not released the names of the family. Relatives identified the couple as Angela and James Harrison and the children as Maxine, Samantha, Heather, Jamie and James. Ryan Peden, Maxine's classmate, had said she told him Friday night that her parents had gotten into a fight and her mother had left. The father followed the mother and tried to get her to return, Peden said. Photo Essays 6 Dead in Murder-Suicide "Maxine texted me at 11 p.m. Friday. She said: "I'm tired of crying. I'm going to bed,"' he said. His text to her the next day went unanswered. Candy Johnson, an aunt of the mother, described Harrison as a strict, controlling husband and father who didn't allow his wife to make decisions without asking him first. "My niece has been so controlled from the time she was young," Johnson said, adding that Harrison had impregnated Angela when she was 13. State child welfare officials put Harrison on a parenting plan in 2007 after a "minor assault" on one of the children, Troyer said, adding that the father agreed to the plan and the case was closed. Ron Vorak, who lives across the street from the family's trailer at the Deer Run mobile home park, said he called 911 at about 3:20 p.m. Saturday after one of the family's relatives couldn't get anyone to answer the door. "He knocked on the door, and knocked on a couple of windows," Vorak said of the relative. "He walked around the side of the house, looked into the window. He could see somebody laying on the bed." The home, about 15 southeast of Tacoma, became a makeshift memorial Sunday as neighbors left cards and bouquets of flowers. School officials said they were arranging to have grief counselors available when teachers and students returned Monday. "We're going to try to get through this the best we can given the circumstances," said Jeff Davis, Orting School District superintendent. "In a small community like this, we know these kids. Teachers know the kids. All the kids know the kids." Davis said the eldest, Maxine, was a 10th grader at Orting High School. Jamie was in the eighth grade and her sister Samantha in the sixth grade at Orting Middle School. The two youngest, Heather and James, were second-graders at Orting Primary School. The father worked as a diesel mechanic, and the mother works at Wal-Mart, said another of Angela Harrison's aunts, Penny Flansburg. Troyer, however, said the father worked as a security guard at a casino. One neighbor, Sheree Lund, who lives in the mobile home park, signed a community notebook left in front of the family's house. She wrote: "God Bless the five little ones. God bring peace to Mom." Click here to read more from Q13FOX.com. \|\|\|\|\| Originally published April 4, 2009 at 6:07 PM \| Page modified April 5, 2009 at 1:11 PM Comments (92) E-mail article Print view Share GRAHAM, Pierce County — A 34-year-old man apparently shot and killed his five children in a mobile-home park in the Graham area of Pierce County, then drove to Auburn and killed himself, the Pierce County Sheriff's Office said Saturday. GRAHAM, Pierce County — Throughout the day Sunday, people have been driving by, sometimes dropping off flowers, at the Graham-area home where five children were apparently fatally shot by their father Saturday. According to The Associated Press, police are saying the father killed the children and himself after learning his wife was leaving him. The Pierce County Sheriff's Office plans a news conference this afternoon to discuss the case. Police said Saturday that the 34-year-old man shot his children in their home in a mobile-home park in the Graham area of Pierce County. He then drove to Auburn and killed himself. Jodi Mercer didn't know the family, but drove down from Tacoma to the mobile-home park with her 9-year-old son Zack. "We wanted to leave some animals and a card to let them knowâ€¦ thousands of people are praying for them. You didn't have to know them to be sad." Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer on Saturday called the crime scene the worst he has seen in his nine years with the sheriff's office. "One could only hope they were all asleep when this happened," Troyer said of the children. The children, ages 7 through 16, were found dead late Saturday afternoon after a relative saw one of the victims through a window at their home in the Deer Run mobile-home park. The 7-year-old was a boy and the girls were 16, 13, 11 and 14 or 15, Troyer said. The father's body had been found earlier Saturday in a still-running car near the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn. He had apparently killed himself with a rifle, but left no note in the car, Auburn Police Sgt. Scott Near said. Troyer said investigators believe the children were killed by their father and Troyer described the killings as a domestic-violence case. "There's nothing that leads us to believe it wasn't gunshot wounds and it wasn't the father," Troyer said. Said Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor: "This was not a tragedy. It was a rotten murder. Five innocent kids lost their lives." Penny Flanasburg and Tammy Dettwiler, both of Tacoma, who identified themselves as aunts of the children's mother, arrived at the mobile-home park Saturday night. They identified the father as James Harrison and the mother as Angela Harrison, and said the couple had been together since Angela was 13. The children were Maxine, Samantha, Jamie, Heather and James Harrison, they said. They said Angela works at Wal-Mart and James was a diesel mechanic. Angela Harrison was with the sheriff's department chaplain Saturday evening, but then went to stay with a family member. Troyer and neighbors said the couple argued loudly late Friday night or early Saturday morning, and the mother left by herself. Troyer said four of the children were found in bedrooms and one in a bathroom of a home in the 20400 block of 135th Avenue Court East. He said the sheriff's office would be in touch with Orting School District officials and counselors would be made available to classmates of the children on Monday. He said they attended various schools. Ron Vorak and his wife Kelly live across the street from the Harrison home, and on Saturday Ron saw Angela Harrison's brother-in-law across the street pounding on doors and looking in windows. Ron Vorak said Sunday he went over to check on the situation Saturday as the brother-in-law, who is married to Angela Harrison's sister, tried to get an answer inside. He said the brother-in-law peeked through a back window, where the shade was pulled up about a half-inch. The brother-in-law saw a body on a bed, and Vorak called 911. The Pierce County deputy who arrived at the home, looked through the windows, too, then kicked in the door, Vorak said. Vorak said he had heard family arguments, and heard James Harrison "holler many times for them (the children) to get their butts home." Carolyn and Raymond Bader, who used to live across from the home where the children were found, said they often heard the father screaming and yelling at the children. The Baders said they called the sheriff's department and Child Protective Services several times with concerns about the family. "We did all we could to help these kids," Raymond Bader said tonight. "We tried to protect these kids. We did what we could." Carolyn Bader said a friend had called her with the news of the deaths. "I couldn't believe he'd actually done it. Do I think he was capable of it? Sure," she said, referring to the father. "It just shocks me. I'm totally shocked. What could five children do that was so bad? I can't imagine what would go through someone's head to make them do something like this." Dale Lund, another neighbor in the mobile-home park, said the boy who was killed played at times with his grandson and the two shared the same school-bus stop. The boys attended elementary school together, Lund said. The slain children played in their own yard most of the time, he said. "They pretty much kept to themselves over there," Lund said of the family. Lund's wife, Sheree Lund, said, "We're tore up. We're just tore up. Why the kids, you know?" Lund said the father was considered by neighbors to be "plenty mean" and he "kept a real tight rein on the kids." Mary Ripplinger, another neighbor, said her children played with the boy who died. "They played tag. They played ball," she said. Since learning of the killings, Ripplinger said, her five children, ages 6 to 19, keep asking: "How could he do this? How could he do this? "I didn't know what to tell them," Ripplinger said, breaking into tears. "It's not fair. It's not right at all." In front of the home Sunday morning, is an Easter basket with blue and pink bunnies. Bouquets of flowers have been placed there, as has a spiral notebook and pen, so visitors can leave messages. "God please give this family peace where there is no peace. Strength where there is no strength." Someone else wrote, "God bless the five little ones. God bring peace to mom." Pastor said the killings represented the worst single-incident slayings in unincorporated Pierce County's history. The incident is among the worst Western Washington mass slayings. Last September, Isaac L. Zamora went on a shooting rampage that began in Alger in Skagit County that left six people dead and four wounded. On Christmas Eve of 2007, six family members were shot and killed at their home in Carnation. Michele Kristen Anderson and her boyfriend, Joseph McEnroe, are charged with murdering Anderson's parents, her brother and his wife and two children, ages 3 and 5. In July 2006, a Kirkland woman and her two children, ages 3 and 5, and the woman's sister were slain in her home. A neighbor, Conner Schierman, has been charged in the slayings and could face the death penalty if he is convicted. In March 2006, Kyle Huff, 28, shot and killed six people and wounded two others in a Capitol Hill house where a rave after-party had taken place. After the rampage, Huff fatally shot himself. Seattle Times staff reporters Steve Miletich and Sara Jean Green, Times sports editor Bill Reader, news researcher Gene Balk, The News Tribune of Tacoma and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Steve Miletich: 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com. \|\|\|\|\| Larger screen Video: Five children found dead near Orting, WA ORTING, Wash. - Authorities are investigating the deaths of five children in a mobile home between Orting and Graham, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department. The children are between seven and 16-years-old. The 7-year-old is a boy, and the rest are girls. The bodies were discovered after the children’s father apparently committed suicide in King County. Sergeant Scott Near of the Auburn Police Department says at about 8 a.m., two children found the 34-year-old man's body inside a black 1999 Ford Expedition at a mobile home park in the 4200 block of Auburn Way South, near the Muckleshoot Casino. Near tells KING 5 News the man died of an apparent gunshot wound to the head. The engine of the SUV was running. He had apparently killed himself with a rifle, but left no note in the car, Near said. The case was treated as a suicide. King County authorities asked Pierce County deputies to do a welfare check at the man's home. When deputies arrived at the home, located in a mobile home park in the 20400 block of 135th Street Court East, they found the children's bodies. Investigators told The News Tribune the children apparently were victims of homicidal violence. According to the News Tribune report, four of the children were found in their beds and one in the mobile home's bathroom. Troyer says the child's mother, who apparently was not at the mobile home at the time of the shooting, is being comforted by friends and relatives. KING A chaplain comforts grieving residents of a mobile home park where five children were found dead near Orting, WA. April 4, 2009. According to the News Tribune, neighbors said they had heard the couple arguing loudly Friday night and then believe they saw the mother leave by herself. "Clearly she's been very traumatized," Troyer told The News Tribune. "You kind of get hardened to seeing people who are killed because of their own bad actions. But these kids died through no fault of their own. This is something you never want to see." Neighbors in the Deer Run mobile home park, a neat, well-kept community nestled among towering evergreens, were shocked and weeping at the news. "How could something like this happen?" asked Mary Riplinger, whose kids were playmates of the slain children. "Everyone's asking: Why did he do it? It's not right." Another neighbor, Dale Lund, told The Seattle Times the 7-year-old boy who was killed played at times with his grandson and the boys shared the same school bus stop and attended the same elementary school together. He said the dead boy played in his own yard most of the time. "They pretty much kept to themselves over there," said Lund, who had never spoken with the parents even though they were neighbors for about a year. The mother's aunt, Penny Flansburg, was at a loss to explain the crime. "They were pleasant together," Flansburg said. "We can't even figure out why." Flansburg identified the couple as Angela and James Harrison and the children as Maxine, Samantha, Heather, Jamie and James. The father worked as a diesel mechanic, and the mother works at Wal-Mart, Flansburg said. Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor described the crime as a "horrible thing." "This was not a tragedy. It was a rotten murder," Pastor said. "This appears to be the terrible work of the biological father. If that doesn't break your heart, I don't know what does." The King County Medical Examiner's Office is performing an autopsy on the man's body. Results are expected to be released on Monday.	Map highlighting location of Graham, Washington. At least five children have been found dead in a home in Graham, Washington in Pierce County located in the United States. The bodies were found on Saturday after officials in neighboring King County found the body of their father who committed suicide by way of a self inflicted gunshot wound. According to the Pierce County sheriff's office, the ages of the children, one boy and 4 girls, range from 7-years-old to 16-years-old and all were shot and killed. Police went to check on the children's health after King County sheriffs contacted Pierce County regarding the father's suicide, whose name has not been released. Authorities believe the 35-year-old man killed all five children before he killed himself, but the motive is not yet known.
Add a location to your Tweets When you tweet with a location, Twitter stores that location. You can switch location on/off before each Tweet and always have the option to delete your location history. Learn more \|\|\|\|\| LOS ANGELES — Disney’s witty and relevant “Zootopia,” the box-office smash tale of a rural rabbit and a big-city fox who team up to investigate a string of animal disappearances, won the Oscar for best animated feature on Sunday. The film tells the story of Judy Hopps, Zootopia Police Department’s sole bunny cop, who fights stereotypes about her species to earn a position on the force. She enlists the reluctant help of Nick Wilde — a sly, jaded scam artist of a fox fighting against his own species’ stereotypes — in a 48-hour bid to solve the case of the missing animals. “We got this idea about five and a half, six years ago to talk about bias with talking animals,” the film’s co-director Byron Howard said following the win, adding that using animals prevented audiences from pre-judging the characters. “Aesop knew this hundreds of years ago and it was something that animation is very uniquely equipped to do,” Howard said. “We were surprised by how timely the film became as the world sort of blew up.” Co-director Rich Moore said he’s grateful to audiences for embracing a “story of tolerance being more powerful than fear of the other.” “Zootopia” was widely considered the front-runner in the animation category, taking home six trophies at the Annie Awards and snagging a Golden Globe. The film raked in more than $1 billion at the box office. \|\|\|\|\| Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. \|\|\|\|\| One of the smartest and most subversive movies in the Oscar race this year comes in an unexpected package — that of a Disney animated film featuring adorable animals who tackle such weighty issues as racism, sexism, and governing through fear. “Zootopia” was helmed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore (with co-director Jared Bush), who also developed the story, with a screenplay by Jared Bush and Phil Johnston. In the film, Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) sets out to be the first rabbit police officer, only to team up with a con artist fox (voiced by Jason Bateman) to solve the mystery of why some animals are turning feral. The serious subject matter is cleverly buoyed by humor, such as when Hopps explains to a cheetah, “You probably didn’t know, but a bunny can call another bunny cute, but when other animals do it, it’s a little…” Howard and Moore spoke to Variety about the timeliness of their film, the Oscar nominee that praised the film, and the possum that took up residence in their office vending machine. What was the response from the studio when you pitched a $150 million animated movie about racism? Byron Howard: When we pitched this idea five years ago, doing a movie about bias and discrimination didn’t seem like the most mainstream thing for Disney to go after. But the fact is, it was really readily embraced by everyone. We got nothing but support. And the more chances we took, the deeper and edgier it got. We had a guerilla filmmaking style, we were working in this crazy warehouse out by the Burbank airport that had possums in the vending machines, and we all bonded over this bizarre film we’d committed to making. Wait, you don’t associate the term “guerilla filmmaking” with Disney. Why were you working in a warehouse? Rich Moore: Our animation building was being renovated. When it was built in the early ’90s, it wasn’t really conducive to human beings. So we all had to move out for about two years. We were in a big warehouse in North Hollywood next to the runway of the Burbank airport and some train tracks and a junkyard. It was a pretty down and dirty operation. It reminded me of a lot of the places I worked at early in my career — animation in the late-’80s was not burgeoning like today. It was about the love of the craft, and the rough-around-the-edges location kind of made it more fun. Howard: It felt like a big college loft and you were making a film with your roommates. And how did the possum get into the vending machine? Howard: I still have no idea how it got in the machine. Moore: It was a baby possum, and I want everyone to know, it’s fine. It wanted to get into the snack machine but it made the mistake of going into the drink vending machine. I actually bought it thinking it was a Snapple. Disney consistently turns out quality animated films; what do you think is the secret to that? Howard: I think it’s very collaborative and it’s something John (Lasseter) and Ed (Catmull) brought to Disney 10 years ago. Everyone in the building has a voice. Everyone feels like it’s their film. I think that makes a huge difference. Moore: Especially with this film. It wasn’t a traditional subject matter, so any suggestions to make it better, we were open to hearing. You have an amazing cast in the film, including two Oscar winners. Do you pitch them the story or do people actually sign on because of the Disney brand? Moore: No one signs on just because it’s a Disney movie. The actors really care about the roles. We go for people who are more than just somebody who comes in and plant themselves in front of a mic and say what we want. These guys were terrific, better than you would even hope. You go in with a vision in your head of what Jason Bateman’s going to be like in person, and he was that and more. Because these things take a long time to make, these guys are coming in for over two years to work on these things and they become family members. Was J.K. Simmons an Oscar winner when you went out to him? Moore: He was, he had just won the Oscar when we went out to him. Howard: And boy, did he let us know! (Laughs) No, he was great. Everyone was such a thrill to work with. Both Rich and I grew up loving Cheech and Chong, so having Tommy Chong sitting in our recording booth voicing this nudist yak…it was amazing. In many ways, the film is timelier than ever. Howard: That’s true. When we were in production on the film, we wanted to really look at the topic and talk about it honestly. Things were not great in the world. Ferguson and other incidents like it were happening. It made us pause for a moment, not to ask, “Do we really want to be doing this movie about things going on in the real world?” It was more like we had our finger on something important right now and we really need to do our best to portray this as honestly as we can. Then with the election and the campaign, the real move towards governing by fear — which is what our entire third act is about, our villain is using fear to stoke division — I don’t think we could have predicted it any closer with this film. Moore: We got to do this remarkable thing last week at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, we had 4,400 kids, fifth and sixth graders, come in for a screening of “Zootopia.” Howard: They talked about it and did craft projects about it and the intelligence and awareness about these tough social ideas resonating with kids was very heartening. Moore: We were just in London for the BAFTAs and I ran into Barry Jenkins, director of “Moonlight.” And he said, “Oh my God I love ‘Zootopia!’” And he even mentioned something like Byron was saying, that around his house, there are kids — I think nieces and nephews — that saw it and then talked about current events by using “Zootopia” as a prism. Howard: He said, “Whatever you do, make the next one just as subversive!” \|\|\|\|\| Easter is still weeks away, but pet stores may find that the added demand for rabbits the holiday brings will come early this year thanks to the irresistible “Zootopia,” an animated movie with an intrepid bunny named Judy Hopps at its core. Her fox sidekick, Nick Wilde, is mighty enjoyable, too. This film, action-packed and filled with enough savvy jokes that adults should consider slipping into the theater even if they don’t have an accompanying child, is set in a world where animals have transcended the carnivore-and-prey dichotomy and now live together more or less harmoniously. Judy (the voice of Ginnifer Goodwin of “Once Upon a Time”), a country bunny, wants to become the first rabbit police officer in the bustling metropolis of Zootopia, but her parents are not exactly the follow-your-dreams type. “If you don’t try anything new, you’ll never fail,” her father (Don Lake) tells her. It’s a gag that encapsulates one of the best things about this film: It trusts young viewers to recognize the clichés they’ve been fed by other animated movies over the years and to appreciate seeing them subverted.	On Sunday, Disney's '''' won the Oscars award for the Best Animated Feature Film at the 89th ceremony held at Los Angeles. Pixar's animated short '''' won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film and Disney's won for Visual Effects. Others competing with ''Zootopia'' in the category were '''', '''', '''', and Disney's ''''. This was the first Oscar for directors and who were previously nominated for, respectively, '''' and ''''. In the acceptance speech, director said, "About five years ago, almost six now, ... we got this crazy idea of talking about humanity with talking animals in the hopes that, when the film came out, it would make the world just a slightly better place." The Disney movie addresses several social problems such as racism, sexism, prejudice, stereotyping, and fear. ''The New York Times'' said the parental guidance (PG) rated movie was "Funny, smart, thought-provoking — and musical, too." Before announcing the award, Mexican actor said, "As a Mexican, as a Latin-American, as a migrant worker, as a human being, I'm against any form of wall that wants to separate us." The movie was released in March, during the 2016 US presidential race. In an interview with ''Variety'', the directors of ''Zootopia'' said movies about bias and discrimination haven't been Disney's main focus, but during its production, "Things were not great in the world. ... It was more like we had our finger on something important right now and we really need to do our best to portray this as honestly as we can. Then with the election and the campaign, the real move towards governing by fear ... I don't think we could have predicted it any closer with this film." With this win, the Walt Disney Company has won nine out of ten Best Animated Feature Film Oscars in the last decade, with Pixar Animation Studio winning six out of them. ''Zootopia'' also won Best Animated Film at the and the .
Deliberations begin on fate of Thailand's main political parties Related News Thailand puts 15,000 troops on alert for court verdict Thaksin website blocked ahead of Thai court ruling Thai PM leaves for China amid security fears BANGKOK : Senior Thai judges began deliberating Tuesday on whether to dissolve the kingdom's two main political parties as thousands of troops were put on alert amid security fears ahead of the court verdict. Thailand's Constitutional Tribunal must decide whether Thai Rak Thai (TRT), the party formed by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the Democrat Party are guilty of a slew of charges of electoral fraud related to annulled elections in April last year. If the parties are found guilty, the nine judges assigned to the tribunal by Thailand's military-backed government have the power to dissolve them and ban their executives from politics for five years. The judges are meeting under absolute secrecy -- they have police escorts to and from their homes and journalists are barred from their office premises. They are expected to make individual decisions before meeting as a group to agree on a final verdict later Tuesday. The potentially divisive ruling, which will be read out Wednesday, comes after more than a year of political upheaval culminating in the September 19 coup against Thaksin. The military government which seized power has promised to hold a referendum on its new constitution ahead of planned elections by December. But analysts say dissolving Thailand's main parties could cause chaos, and fears of violence in Bangkok have prompted warnings that the government could resort to "an emergency decree" if necessary. Small numbers of unarmed soldiers were posted in and around at least three television stations in Bangkok late Tuesday, according to station employees who said the troops were there for security reasons. "The CNS considers the event on Wednesday as a top priority," said Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd, Council for National Security (CNS) spokesman. Some 15,000 troops have been put on alert in their barracks, waiting to deploy if the security situation deteriorates, Sunsern said, warning that a state of emergency would be declared at the first sign of trouble. "We will assess the situation after the court delivers its verdict and combine that with our intelligence gathering before we stand the troops down," he told AFP. Military government leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin will command security operations beginning Tuesday, said a source at the Internal Security Operation Command, adding that troops had already secured strategic areas around the country. Intelligence sources said they expected that not more than 10,000 people could rally against an unpopular court verdict, and that so far the situation was calm. "As of now there is nothing to be worried about, but we are closely monitoring every movement," Council for National Security Secretary-General Prakit Prachonpachanuk told reporters. But several foreign countries have already warned their citizens to remain vigilant ahead of the verdict. "You should avoid demonstrations, political rallies and concentrations of military personnel," the Australian embassy said in a statement, joining Canada, France and Japan in issuing advisories. The French embassy late Tuesday decided to close the French Lycee on the day of the verdict, a diplomat said. Four Thai schools near the court will also be closed Wednesday. Some 900 police will be deployed throughout Bangkok on Tuesday evening, protecting the Constitutional Tribunal offices and setting up checkpoints to deter party supporters from travelling to the capital from the provinces, officials said. "Police who deploy at checkpoints will also search for possible bombs and firearms," said General Wichian Potphosri of the National Police Office. An additional 900 police would also be put on alert, he said. - AFP /ls \|\|\|\|\| Fear of violence in Bangkok as fate of political parties to be decided Related News Thailand puts 15,000 troops on alert for court verdict Thaksin website blocked ahead of Thai court ruling Thailand to beef up security ahead of key party ruling Thai parties braced for key ruling after king's comments BANGKOK: Security is being beefed up in Bangkok as Thailand's top judges prepare to decide the fate of the country's two main political parties. Their verdict could plunge the political system into disarray, raising concerns for violent unrest. Security officers were scanning for explosives at the Constitutional Courthouse in Bangkok, ahead of the tribunal's verdict on the Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties. The two parties are alleged to have committed electoral fraud, and if found guilty, the court could order that they be dissolved. Such a ruling is however expected to spark outrage from many Thais on both sides of the political divide. With tensions running high in the capital, several foreign embassies have warned their citizens to be vigilant, and to avoid public gatherings. Barricades are just one part of Bangkok's security plan to contain possible unrest after the dissolution verdicts are handed down. 13,000 security personnel will be on alert in case things turn violent and emergency rule in the capital has not been ruled out. In a rare televised address last week, Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej appealed for calm and caution. Both the political parties have insisted they are not mobilising supporters to rally against the court, and are maintaining their pleas of innocence. Thai Rak Thai says there is no justification for the case, as coup leaders had abolished the 1997 Constitution that was the basis for the trial. "There is no legal basis to prosecute and punish us. We challenge the authority of the tribunal," says Chaturon Chaiseng, Acting Leader, Thai Rak Thai Party. If the two parties are ordered to be dissolved and their executives banned from politics for five years, the ruling could sideline up to 160 of Thailand's most experienced politicians. Many Thais see this as a step backwards, as the kingdom gears up for General Elections in six months. "To have every politician banned as a result would be seen by everybody as being too draconian," says Korn Chatikavanij, Deputy Secretary General, Democrat Party. Some analysts suggest that the punishment should focus on the individuals who committed electoral fraud, rather than the parties as a whole. "According to the general rules of law, I think any person, only the person who committed offence should be punished. The party did not commit offence," says Narongdech Sarukhosit, Assistant Prof of Law, Chulalongkorn University. For now, Thais can only wait anxiously to see what lies ahead on the road back to democratic rule. - CNA/yy \|\|\|\|\| Countdown Begins Constitution Tribunal judges have entered the final phase of the election fraud cases. They have compared their individual rulings inside a well-secured room at their court's headquarters. Rumours that they have already cast votes for the verdict could not be verified. Tuesday 29, 2007. 7:00 pm: Soldiers arrive at Nation Multimedia Group head office to protect Nation Channel at about 7 pm and they are also sent to other stations. 5.15pm : Narenthorn Rescue Centre Director Dr Surachet Sathitniramai said ambulances will be on standby at risky spots across the capital on Wednesday in the face of growing concerns that the Constitution Tribunal's verdict on the country's two largest political parties may trigger violence. "There will be 80 - 90 ambulances stationed at major spots in Bangkok. In case an emergency arises, the ambulances are ready to reach the scene within five minutes," he said. Permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot said people could call hotline number 1669 around the clock if they needed urgent medical assistance. According to him, all state hospitals across the country were already instructed to be on high alert. He said medical staffs, tools, equipment, supplies and ambulances must be ready to respond to any emergency that might arise. 5pm : International and local media arrived at the tribunal court to prepare for their works on Wednesday. 4.54pm : Pol Lt Gen Kittithat Ruenthip, a Chiang Rai police chief insisted that there were no movement of people from Chiang Mai to Bangkok to take part in the mass gathering to greet the court's ruling. However, Kittithat said he is not taking any chances and assigned police to closely monitor the situation. Pol Col Worapat Wattanawisarn, a Kanchanaburi provincial police force, said he assigned police to investigate if there was any recruitment of local residents to take part in the gathering in Bangkok. Police checkpoints have been set up along the roads leading to Bangkok to monitor movement of possible demonstrators. Authorities have encouraged people to stay put at their houses and to watch the court's rulings through television instead. 4.30pm : Police and security officials checked security preparation of the Constitutional Tribunal court again in the afternoon. Bomb squads were deployed to inspect areas in and around the court's compound. Security measures, including the use of bomb squad, will continue tomorrow. Police have set up iron bars around the court to prevent non-essential persons from entering the area. Abandoned residences near the court are being watched closely around the clock. Police are unable to search without a proper warrant. 3.15pm : Police said all mobilephone signals will be cut off in the court's area from noon on Wednesday until the judges completed the verdict delivery. 3pm Police will clear banks of Ong Ang Canal which is near the court out of fear of unauthorised entry from the bank. 2pm : Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr, assistant secretary-general of Council for National Security, says army officers are keeping close watch on key members of the Thai Rak Thai Party for fear that they would incite unrest. Saprang says Third Army Area commander Lt Gen Jiradej Khajarat had been told to ensure that Yongyuth Tiyapairaj, a leader of Thai Rak Thai, would be under close monitoring. He said not many top leading members of the party would be watched but many middle-level and local leaders would be closely watched. 1pm : Nine Constitutional Tribunal judges start their historic meeting at the Supreme Court near Sanam Luang to consider whether to dissolve the Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties. Security around the Supreme Court has been tight since Tuesday morning. Some 40 police were posted at three entrances of the court. City police barred vendors from doing business near the court's compound. Meeting room of the judges was changed for unknown reason from third to second floor. 12.30pm : Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin chaired a meeting of senior city officials and Metropolitan police officers to discuss in details security measures in Bangkok as the Contitutional Court was about to entered their historic meeting to discuss the future of the Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties. The governor's meeting also discussed strategic plans to handle the situation on the eve and on the day of the judgement day following reports that large number of supporters of both parties are planning to converge in Bangkok as a show of force at a number of locations in the capital. Authorities have designed a number of high risk areas, which include compound of the Constitution Tribunal office on Sathorn Road and Sanam Luang where the supporters are said to gather. The Public have been urged to stay away from these areas for fear that the verdict could set off a street protest. \|\|\|\|\| SMS messages remind Bangkok resident to vote BANGKOK, Aug 6 (TNA) The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to use SMS messages to remind the citys residents to vote in the forthcoming elections for the Bangkok governor. Mobile phones operators will send various SMS messages to remind their customers about the schedule of election-related activities. The messages will also inform voters on how to cast their ballots. These reminder messages will be sent with increased frequency as the election day 29th August --gets closer. The scheme aims to raise the political awareness of Bangkoks residents and persuade them to vote. The Bangkok authorities have pledged to get more electors to vote in this years poll, than voted in the last election for the governor, four years ago. The SMS reminder scheme is being supported by Thailands leading telecommunications companies, including Advance Info Service (AIS), Total Access Communications (TAC), Asia Wireless Communications, TA Orange, and Hutchison CAT Wireless Multimedia. So far there are twenty-two candidates contesting the election. The final list of approved candidates will be posted at all district administration offices, BMA city clerk, Khun Ying Nathanon Thavisin, told TNA on Thursday.(TNA)--E113 Last Update : 2004-08-06 / 14:00:22 (GMT+7:00)	Deliberations by Thailand's Constitution Tribunal have begun to decide the fate of the former ruling party, Thai Rak Thai, and the main opposition Democrat Party. With authorities expecting supporters of the two parties to cause disturbances, security forces in the capital Bangkok are on high alert, with 15,000 troops at the ready to keep order. Nine judges began their deliberations at around 1 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), and are expected to announce their decision on Wednesday. Both Thai Rak Thai and the Democrat Party are accused of legal violations in connection with general elections on April 2, 2006, and could be dissolved. Thai Rak Thai was formerly led by Thaksin Shinawatra, the ex-prime minister who was ousted in a coup d'état last year. The Democrat Party, the ruling party before Thaksin was elected premier in 2001, is the main opposition. Since the coup on September 19, 2006, the military-led Council for National Security has banned political activity, but has promised to hold a referendum on a new constitution ahead of planned elections by December. Analysts have warned that the dissolution of the country's two main parties could cause chaos, and that the junta could resort to an emergency decree. Small units of unarmed Royal Thai Army soldiers were posted at television stations and other strategic locations. In total, some 15,000 troops are on alert in their barracks, ready to deploy if the security situation warrants. Foreign embassies warned their citizens to use caution, urging them to avoid demonstrations, political rallies and military personnel. Last week, King Bhumibol Adulyadej made a rare televised address as he granted an audience to the judges, urging them to use care in their verdict. Both parties deny rallying their supporters and say they are innocent. "There is no legal basis to prosecute and punish us. We challenge the authority of the tribunal," acting Thai Rak Thai leader Chaturon Chaiseng said, pointing out that since the coup, the 1997 Constitution that was the basis for law had been abolished. Along with the dissolution of the parties, party leaders could be banned from politics for five years, possibly sidelining up to 160 of the country's top politicians. "To have every politician banned as a result would be seen by everybody as being too draconian," said Korn Chatikavanij, Democrat Party deputy secretary general.
Oil breaks through record $75 Continued fears over Iran and Nigerian supplies, reports of gasoline shortage in the U.S. lead to 2 percent jump. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Oil smashed through record highs Friday, cruising past $75 a barrel on continued fears of a supply disruptions in Iran and Nigeria and reports of spot gas shortages on the U.S. East Coast. U.S. oil for June delivery set a new trading high of $75.35 before easing to settle up $1.48 at 75.17 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, also a new closing record. The May contract expired Thursday at $71.95. One trader said the tense international situation left many investors reluctant to bet prices were going to come down before they left for the weekend. "Over the weekend traders aren't able to respond to any political news," said Brian Hicks, co-manager of the Global Resources Fund at U.S. Global Investors. "It's safer to be long than short." Hicks said the soaring prices could start eating into demand and that certain predictions - like one he said he heard by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez that oil could spike to $100 a barrel if the U.S. attacks Iran - aren't helping. "It's that kind of news flow that seems to be driving the oil traders," he said. "It's somewhat concerning." Oil has been hitting record highs in recent sessions, unadjusted for inflation, on supply worries fed by fears of a confrontation with Iran, the world's fourth-biggest producer. But it's also within sight of inflation-adjusted highs of around $80 a barrel set in the late 1970s and early 1980s following the gas crisis and the Iranian revolution. U.S. average gas prices moved closer to the $3 a gallon mark Friday as spot shortages were reported along the East Coast. Gasoline averaged $2.855 for a gallon of regular Friday, up 35 cents, or about 14 percent, in the last month, according to AAA, the consumer group formerly known as the American Automobile Association. The shortages were not expected to be serious however and were blamed on seasonal changes in gasoline formulas. Gas prices closely follow crude prices, which have jumped about 19 percent this year, mainly on political uncertainty or violence in Iran, Nigeria, Venezuela and Russia - all major producers. Oil prices soared 45 percent in 2005. Iran has been at the forefront in recent weeks as it tangles with the West over its nuclear program. Friday passed with no easing of the tensions in sight. Iran's president said the country would rely on domestically produced gasoline starting this fall, a move that was seen as an attempt to insulate the country against sanctions, which the U.S. has been pushing for, Reuters reported. The U.S. said Friday that Russia must halt a planned sale of surface-to-air missiles to Iran. An American official said the Islamic state had "both feet on the accelerator" with its nuclear program, according to Reuters. Iran says its nuclear program is intended for civilian purposes, while many western countries say its intended to build a bomb and President Bush has refused to rule out a preemptive nuclear strike on the country. The situation in Nigeria is also pushing up prices, as nearly one quarter of the country's high-quality crude is shut in due to tensions with militants, who want more control over how the country's oil wealth is dispensed. The militants, who operate in an oil rich but impoverished area of the country, have reportedly set a deadline of April 25 before they renew attacks on government and oil facilities in the country. But politics is only part of the story with crude prices. Oil has been on a charge for the last few years, more than tripling in price since the start of 2002. Big fund money, faced with low global interest rates and a lackluster U.S. stock market, have helped fuel the rise as they chase returns in all types of commodities, including oil. And fundamental supply and demand has also played a big part as discoveries of new, easily recoverable supplies have failed to keep pace with ever rising demand from the U.S. and developing countries like China and India. ___________________ Gasoline soars amid reported shortages. Click here \|\|\|\|\| 404 We're sorry but the page you requested could not be found.Please try again from the home page or contact us \|\|\|\|\| Europe Oil Rises to a Record $71.60 in New York as Iran Supply Concern April 18 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil touched an all-time high of $71.60 a barrel in New York on concern that the standoff over Iran's nuclear program may lead to a cut of exports from the world's fourth-largest producer. Prices have jumped $10 in less than a month to climb back to the record set after Hurricane Katrina shut refineries, pipelines and offshore production in late August. Insurgent attacks earlier this year in Nigeria and continued fighting in Iraq have left global suppliers straining to meet rising demand. ``If we were to lose Iran's exports of around 2 million barrels a day there's no way we can make up the loss,'' said Frank Verrastro, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies energy program in Washington. ``There is no spare capacity, so consumers don't want to use their stockpiles.'' Crude oil for May delivery rose 90 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $71.30 a barrel at the 2:30 p.m. close of floor trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil touched $71.60, the highest since trading began in 1983. Prices are 42 percent higher than a year ago. Oil prices more than doubled in 1979 after a revolution in Iran slashed the nation's oil exports. By 1981 U.S. refiners were paying an average $35.24 a barrel, according to Energy Department figures, or $78.50 in 2006 dollars. Futures reached $70.85 a barrel, the previous record, on Aug. 30, the day after Katrina struck production platforms and refineries along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast. ``We are missing about 1 million barrels of output,'' Verrastro said. ``Production in the Gulf has yet to recover and the trouble in Nigeria shows no signs of easing.'' Nigeria's Production Militant attacks in Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer, have slashed output this year. OPEC President Edmund Daukoru said today that about 500,000 barrels a day of output, or a fifth of Nigeria's production, remains halted. Production outages have reached more than 630,000 barrels. In Iraq, violence and instability plagued efforts to increase production. Iraq has the world's third-biggest proved oil reserves. President George W. Bush, asked whether the U.S. would consider a nuclear strike against Iran, said ``all options are on the table'' in dealing with that country's atomic program, while stressing that diplomacy is still the best course. Bush said he's working with France, Germany and the U.K. on a ``united effort'' to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear activities. `Latest Technology' Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who last week announced his country's enrichment of uranium, said his forces will use ``the latest technology'' against enemies. Envoys from the United Nations Security Council's permanent members, and Germany, meet in Moscow today to discuss the dispute over Iran's nuclear research. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency on March 8 referred Iran's atomic program to the Security Council after three years of IAEA inspections failed to conclude that Iran's nuclear research is peaceful. In November 2003, the IAEA had already condemned Iran for concealing parts of its nuclear program for 18 years. ``We are in a bull run,'' said Michael Lynch of Strategic Energy & Economic Research in Winchester, Massachusetts. ``Prices will keep rising until inventories are so high that we don't care about Iran, because the Iranian problem will not be resolved anytime soon.'' Stockpiles may rise in the weeks ahead because spot prices are cheaper than futures for oil delivered later in the year, a price difference traders call ``contango.'' Crude oil for June delivery rose $1.12 to $73.10 a barrel, a $1.80 premium over the May contract. The July contract was up 99 cents at $73.93 a barrel. Storing Oil ``You are getting paid to store crude oil and products,'' said John Kilduff, vice president of risk management at Fimat USA in New York. ``Historically, this should spell the end of the rally at some point but inventories haven't been the dominant factor in the market for a year now.'' The Goldman Sachs Commodity Index of 24 commodities rose to a record today as investment funds purchased energy and metals futures because of increased demand. The 11 percent increase in the Goldman Sachs index this year compares with a 3 percent rise in the Standard & Poor's 500 stocks index. Benchmark U.S. Treasuries have lost about 1.6 percent, according to Merrill Lynch & Co. indexes. ``There are a lot of investors moving into the market,'' Kilduff said. ``It's not fair to say it's only speculators, a lot of investors truly see energy as an asset that they want to keep in their portfolios for the long term because of the high returns.'' Global Consumption The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which pumps 40 percent of the world's oil, said risks to the world economy pose the biggest threat to growth in demand. Consumption will average 84.5 million barrels a day this year, OPEC said today in a monthly report, unchanged from a month ago. Oil demand will increase 1.7 percent this year, it said. OPEC raised its estimate for 2006 world economic growth to 4.5 percent in today's report, from 4.4 percent a month ago. It raised its economic growth estimates for the U.S., China and India to 3.3 percent, 9.1 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively, and kept Japan unchanged at 2.6 percent. ``Energy prices largely reflect growth in the global economy, which is the demand side and on the supply side concerns about supply availability,'' Treasury Secretary John Snow said today in Manchester, New Hampshire. ``There's concerns about Nigeria, there's concerns about Chad, there's concerns about Iraq and Iran.'' Brent crude oil for June settlement rose $1.04, or 1.5 percent, to $72.50 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures exchange. Futures touched $72.64 a barrel, the highest since the contract began trading in 1988. Gasoline Supplies Prices also rose on speculation that an Energy Department report tomorrow will show that U.S. gasoline inventories fell for a seventh-straight week. Stockpiles probably declined 2.2 million barrels in the week ended April 14 from 207.9 million the week before, according to the median of forecasts by 12 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. Gasoline for May delivery jumped 5.03 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $2.22 a gallon in New York. Futures touched $2.223, the highest since Sept. 30. Gasoline is up 49 percent in a year. \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|	Lack of spare capacity in oil production and refining are keeping prices high prices surged to a new record of over $75.00 a barrel on Tuesday closing at a price of $75.17. In Europe, rose to $74.59. In less than a month, prices have risen $10, back to the record highs set after Hurricane Katrina caused refineries to shut down in August 2005. Prices are also 42% higher than a year ago. Political instability in oil-producing countries is seen as a major cause of this rise. The standoff over 's nuclear program has led to strong words being exchanged and a possibility of sanctions being imposed on Iran, the world's fourth largest producer of oil. Violence in earlier this year has led to a drop the country's production by almost a quarter. Nigeria is Africa's largest oil exporter and is also a major supplier of gasoline-rich crude oil to the United States, where demand is set to increase as the "driving season" begins next month. Edmund Daukoru, the president of OPEC and Nigerian oil minister said on Tuesday, "The current shoot up we are experiencing is as a result of the Iran problems and it's not helped by the flare up between Israel and the Palestinians. But mainly it's the threatening statements being made against Iran as a result of its nuclear program."
The Ottawa Senators are off to the Stanley Cup final. Captain Daniel Alfredsson scored 9:32 into overtime as the visiting Senators captured the NHL's Eastern Conference title with a 3-2 victory Saturday in Game 5 of their series against the top-ranked Buffalo Sabres. The Senators celebrate after Daniel Alfredsson's series-clinching goal in overtime of Game 5. (David Duprey/Associated Press) Carrying the puck into the Buffalo zone, Alfredsson snapped a low shot around defenceman Brian Campbell, surprising goalie Ryan Miller to the glove side and silencing the sellout crowd of 18,690 at HSBC Arena. "Right now it's kind of surreal," Alfredsson, who has been with Ottawa since his rookie season of 1995-96, told CBC's Elliotte Friedman. "I don't think it's really sunk in yet." The goal gave the modern-day Senators, who came into the league in 1992, their first berth in the Cup final. They'll meet the winner of the Western Conference final between the Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks. That series is tied at two games apiece heading into Game 5 Sunday afternoon in Detroit. Courtesy of Saturday's win, the Senators will be the fourth Canadian team to play for the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens won it all in 1993. The Vancouver Canucks (1994), Calgary Flames (2004) and Edmonton Oilers (2006) were the others, but each lost in seven games. Saturday's victory also completed a deliciously symmetrical arc for the Senators, who last spring were upset in their second-round matchup against Buffalo when Jason Pominville went around Alfredsson to score the series winner in overtime of Game 5. Eaves returns Alfredsson's linemates Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza had big games Saturday. Spezza scored once and added an assist, while Heatley had a goal and two helpers, including one on the overtime winner. Alfredsson, whose strong two-way play has keyed the Senators attack this post-season, set up Spezza's goal. "What else can you say about Alfie?" Spezza said. "He's been our leader the whole time. It's only fitting he scores that winner." Second-year goalie Ray Emery, much maligned during last year's playoff defeat to the Sabres, stopped 27 shots. "It's just exciting to play for a team that has battled through what we have this year, and to get a chance to help that team achieve their goal is just great," Emery told CBC. The Senators welcomed back right wing Patrick Eaves, who missed 11 games because of a head injury suffered in the first round against Pittsburgh. Oleg Saprykin, who scored the winner in Game 1 against Buffalo, was forced to sit. 'Tough to swallow' Jochen Hecht and Maxim Afinogenov scored, and Miller made 22 saves for Buffalo, which lost the Eastern final for the second straight year. Last May, the injury-riddled Sabres fell in seven games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. While that team was a pleasant surprise all season, this year's squad carried the heavy burden of expectations placed on them by Buffalo's long-suffering fans. The Sabres didn't disappoint, capturing the Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's best regular-season record before knocking off the Islanders and Rangers in the first two playoff rounds. But Buffalo, which also led the league with 308 goals, didn't have an answer for the high-powered Senators, who won nine of 13 meetings in the regular season and playoffs. "It's tough to swallow," said Sabres co-captain Daniel Brière, who had two assists. "I really believed it was our year. We just couldn't get it going." Heatley's hustle keys Spezza goal Following a cautious opening few minutes, the Sabres showed the gusto of a team facing elimination while outplaying Ottawa in the first period. It was perhaps Buffalo's finest stretch of the series, but Emery was equal to the task, matching Miller's seven saves to help the Senators escape to the dressing room with a scoreless draw. The Sabres broke through 4:30 into the second, using a dump-in to get the puck in front of the net, where Spezza inadvertently kicked it to Hecht, who buried his fourth of the playoffs. Ottawa drew even with under five minutes remaining in the period. Seconds after a tripping penalty on Campbell expired, Spezza collected a rebound in front of Miller and fed Heatley at the side of the goal for his first of the series and sixth of the post-season. Heatley's hustle helped the Senators pull ahead less than a minute before the intermission. Charging back into his own zone to foil a shot attempt by Toni Lydman, Heatley caught the defenceman out of position by chipping the puck up to Alfredsson for a 2-on-1 chance that Spezza completed for his seventh. Afinogenov notches equalizer The Sabres didn't quit, though, evening the game on a power-play with nine minutes left in regulation. Just after Buffalo saw its 5-on-3 advantage expire, a Brière shot bounced off the post and directly to Afinogenov, who tapped it into a yawning cage for his fifth. It was the second assist of the game for Brière, the slick centre who along with fellow co-captain Chris Drury will be a free agent on July 1. Drury's possible last game with the Sabres ended in painful fashion after he took a point shot to the face in the third period, forcing him to play the overtime with a plastic shield protecting his gashed chin. Sabres forward Dainius Zubrus did not play due to a lower-body injury, and was replaced in the lineup by rookie Drew Stafford. Stafford had a glorious chance to put Buffalo ahead after the Afinogenov goal, but had his wraparound attempt foiled by a sprawling Emery. The play was part of a wild end to regulation time that saw the Senators kill off two penalties in the final eight minutes. The second of those fouls was a delay of game to Mike Comrie, who may have prevented a game-winning goal when he slid into and dislodged the Ottawa net to prevent a Sabres scoring chance. \|\|\|\|\| The Ottawa Senators are off to the Stanley Cup final. Captain Daniel Alfredsson scored 9:32 into overtime as the visiting Senators captured the NHL's Eastern Conference title with a 3-2 victory Saturday in Game 5 of their series against the top-ranked Buffalo Sabres. The Senators celebrate after Daniel Alfredsson's series-clinching goal in overtime of Game 5. (David Duprey/Associated Press) Carrying the puck into the Buffalo zone, Alfredsson snapped a low shot around defenceman Brian Campbell, surprising goalie Ryan Miller to the glove side and silencing the sellout crowd of 18,690 at HSBC Arena. "Right now it's kind of surreal," Alfredsson, who has been with Ottawa since his rookie season of 1995-96, told CBC's Elliotte Friedman. "I don't think it's really sunk in yet." The goal gave the modern-day Senators, who came into the league in 1992, their first berth in the Cup final. They'll meet the winner of the Western Conference final between the Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks. That series is tied at two games apiece heading into Game 5 Sunday afternoon in Detroit. Courtesy of Saturday's win, the Senators will be the fourth Canadian team to play for the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens won it all in 1993. The Vancouver Canucks (1994), Calgary Flames (2004) and Edmonton Oilers (2006) were the others, but each lost in seven games. Saturday's victory also completed a deliciously symmetrical arc for the Senators, who last spring were upset in their second-round matchup against Buffalo when Jason Pominville went around Alfredsson to score the series winner in overtime of Game 5. Eaves returns Alfredsson's linemates Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza had big games Saturday. Spezza scored once and added an assist, while Heatley had a goal and two helpers, including one on the overtime winner. Alfredsson, whose strong two-way play has keyed the Senators attack this post-season, set up Spezza's goal. "What else can you say about Alfie?" Spezza said. "He's been our leader the whole time. It's only fitting he scores that winner." Second-year goalie Ray Emery, much maligned during last year's playoff defeat to the Sabres, stopped 27 shots. "It's just exciting to play for a team that has battled through what we have this year, and to get a chance to help that team achieve their goal is just great," Emery told CBC. The Senators welcomed back right wing Patrick Eaves, who missed 11 games because of a head injury suffered in the first round against Pittsburgh. Oleg Saprykin, who scored the winner in Game 1 against Buffalo, was forced to sit. 'Tough to swallow' Jochen Hecht and Maxim Afinogenov scored, and Miller made 22 saves for Buffalo, which lost the Eastern final for the second straight year. Last May, the injury-riddled Sabres fell in seven games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. While that team was a pleasant surprise all season, this year's squad carried the heavy burden of expectations placed on them by Buffalo's long-suffering fans. The Sabres didn't disappoint, capturing the Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's best regular-season record before knocking off the Islanders and Rangers in the first two playoff rounds. But Buffalo, which also led the league with 308 goals, didn't have an answer for the high-powered Senators, who won nine of 13 meetings in the regular season and playoffs. "It's tough to swallow," said Sabres co-captain Daniel Brière, who had two assists. "I really believed it was our year. We just couldn't get it going." Heatley's hustle keys Spezza goal Following a cautious opening few minutes, the Sabres showed the gusto of a team facing elimination while outplaying Ottawa in the first period. It was perhaps Buffalo's finest stretch of the series, but Emery was equal to the task, matching Miller's seven saves to help the Senators escape to the dressing room with a scoreless draw. The Sabres broke through 4:30 into the second, using a dump-in to get the puck in front of the net, where Spezza inadvertently kicked it to Hecht, who buried his fourth of the playoffs. Ottawa drew even with under five minutes remaining in the period. Seconds after a tripping penalty on Campbell expired, Spezza collected a rebound in front of Miller and fed Heatley at the side of the goal for his first of the series and sixth of the post-season. Heatley's hustle helped the Senators pull ahead less than a minute before the intermission. Charging back into his own zone to foil a shot attempt by Toni Lydman, Heatley caught the defenceman out of position by chipping the puck up to Alfredsson for a 2-on-1 chance that Spezza completed for his seventh. Afinogenov notches equalizer The Sabres didn't quit, though, evening the game on a power-play with nine minutes left in regulation. Just after Buffalo saw its 5-on-3 advantage expire, a Brière shot bounced off the post and directly to Afinogenov, who tapped it into a yawning cage for his fifth. It was the second assist of the game for Brière, the slick centre who along with fellow co-captain Chris Drury will be a free agent on July 1. Drury's possible last game with the Sabres ended in painful fashion after he took a point shot to the face in the third period, forcing him to play the overtime with a plastic shield protecting his gashed chin. Sabres forward Dainius Zubrus did not play due to a lower-body injury, and was replaced in the lineup by rookie Drew Stafford. Stafford had a glorious chance to put Buffalo ahead after the Afinogenov goal, but had his wraparound attempt foiled by a sprawling Emery. The play was part of a wild end to regulation time that saw the Senators kill off two penalties in the final eight minutes. The second of those fouls was a delay of game to Mike Comrie, who may have prevented a game-winning goal when he slid into and dislodged the Ottawa net to prevent a Sabres scoring chance.	After scoring to tie the game on home ice in the third period, the Buffalo Sabres were defeated, Saturday afternoon, at the 9:32 mark in overtime on a goal by Ottawa Senators Captain Daniel Alfredsson. The win by the Senators knocked the Sabres out of the Stanley Cup race and sent the Senators to the finals for the first time in modern franchise history. The Senators are now a total of 12 and 3 in the three series so far, with only one loss per series. They now await the outcome of the Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings series to see who they will play in the finals. On Sunday, the Ducks pulled ahead 3 games to 2 on the Red Wings with their overtime win on an unassisted Teemu Selanne goal at 11:57 into the first overtime period. Alfredsson now has ten goals in the playoffs, and is in good standing for consideration as playoff MVP. The Senators first line dominated the game after being shut out in the previous game. Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza both scored on Saturday. Spezza also had one assist, while Heatley managed two assists, one of which came on the game-winning goal. Ray Emery made 27 saves in the win for Ottawa. "What else can you say about Alfie?" said Spezza. "He's been our leader the whole time. It's only fitting he scores that winner." Jochen Hecht and Maxim Afinogenov scored for the Sabres, while Ryan Miller made 22 saves. It was the third loss in the series for the Sabres at HSBC Arena, who were unable to capitalize on their home-ice advantage. "We had a lot to be proud of," said Lindy Ruff, the Sabres head coach. "It's disappointing. It's painful. You've got to grow, you've got to stick with the program. It was a fun year. It was hard to lose those two overtime games here in our building."
(04-15) 19:36 PDT LOS ANGELES, (AP) -- Ollie Johnston, the last of the "Nine Old Men" who animated "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,""Fantasia,""Bambi" and other classic Walt Disney films has died. He was 95. Johnston died of natural causes Monday at a long-term care facility in Sequim, Wash., Walt Disney Studios Vice President Howard E. Green said Tuesday. "Ollie was part of an amazing generation of artists, one of the real pioneers of our art, one of the major participants in the blossoming of animation into the art form we know today," Roy E. Disney, nephew of Walt Disney and director emeritus of the Walt Disney Co., said in a statement. Walt Disney lightheartedly dubbed his team of crack animators his "Nine Old Men," borrowing the phrase from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's description of the U.S. Supreme Court's members, who had angered the president by quashing many of his Depression-era New Deal programs. Although most of Disney's men were in their 20s at the time, the name stuck with them for the rest of their lives. Perhaps the two most accomplished of the nine were Johnston and his close friend Frank Thomas, who died in 2004 at age 92. The pair, who met as art students at Stanford University in the 1930s, were hired by Disney for $17 a week at a time when he was expanding the studio to produce full-length feature films. Both worked on the first of those features, 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Johnston and Thomas and their families became next-door neighbors in the Los Angeles suburb of Flintridge, and during their 45-minute drive to the Disney Studios each day, they would devise fresh ideas for work. Johnston worked as an assistant animator on "Snow White," became an animation supervisor on "Fantasia" and "Bambi" and animator on "Pinocchio." He was especially proud of his work on "Bambi" and its classic scenes, including one depicting the heartbreaking death of Bambi's mother at the hands of a hunter. That scene has brought tears to the eyes of generations of young and old viewers. "The mother's death showed how convincing we could be at presenting really strong emotion," he remarked in 1999. Johnston's other credits included "Cinderella,""Alice in Wonderland,""Peter Pan""Lady and the Tramp,""Sleeping Beauty,""101 Dalmatians,""Mary Poppins,""The Jungle Book,""The Aristocats,""Robin Hood" and "The Rescuers." "(People) know his work. They know his characters. They've seen him act without realizing it," said film historian Leonard Maltin. "He was one of the pillars, one of the key contributors to the golden age of Disney animation." After Johnston and Thomas retired in 1978, they lectured at schools and film festivals in the United States and Europe and co-authored the books "Bambi; the Story and the Film,""Too Funny for Words,""The Disney Villains" and the epic "Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life." They were also the subjects of the 1995 documentary "Frank and Ollie," produced by Thomas' son Ted. The pair's guide to animation is considered "the bible" among animators, said John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar animation studios and Johnston's longtime friend. Oliver Martin Johnston Jr. was born on Oct. 31, 1912, in Palo Alto, Calif., where his father was a professor at Stanford. He once noted that he and Thomas "were bound to be thrown together" at the university, as they were two of only six students in its art department at the time. When not in class, they painted landscapes and sold them at a local speakeasy for meal money. Johnston had planned on becoming a magazine illustrator but fell in love with animation. "I wanted to paint pictures full of emotion that would make people want to read the stories," he once said. "But I found that here (in animation) was something that was full of life and movement and action, and it showed all those feelings." Johnston was honored with a Disney Legends Award in 1989 and, in 2005, he was the first animator honored with the National Medal of Arts at a White House ceremony. He was also a major train enthusiast. The backyard of his Flintridge home boasted a hand-built miniature railroad, and Johnston restored and ran a full-size antique locomotive at a former vacation home in Julian, Calif. Johnston's wife of 63 years, Marie Worthey, died in 2005. Johnston is survived by sons Ken and Rick and daughters-in-law Carolyn Johnston and Teya Priest Johnston. The Walt Disney Studios is planning a life celebration for Johnston. Funeral services will be private. ___ AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The last of Walt Disney's original team of animators, known as the Nine Old Men, has died at the age of 95, a Walt Disney Co spokesman said on Tuesday. Ollie Johnston worked for Disney for 43 years, drawing characters for animated Mickey Mouse short films before contributing to such classics such as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Pinocchio", "Peter Pan" and "The Jungle Book." Johnston died of natural causes in a long-term care facility in Sequim, Washington on Monday. Born in Palo Alto, California in 1912, Johnston showed early artistic promise and attended Chouinart Art Institute in Los Angeles. During his final year of college in 1935, Disney approached Johnston to join his fledgling animation studio. Starting with "Song of the South" in 1946, Johnston became directing animator and served in that capacity in nearly every subsequent film. He retired in 1978 after completing some work on his final film, "The Fox and the Hound." Johnston devoted his retirement to writing, lecturing and consulting and to model trains, of which he was considered one of the world's foremost experts. In 2005, he became the first animator awarded a National Medal of the Arts, and he and his lifelong friend and fellow Disney animator, Frank Thomas, were profiled in the 1995 documentary "Frank and Ollie." Disney Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter, who pioneered computer animated films such as "Toy Story" and "Cars," considered Johnston and Thomas as mentors. "He taught me to always be aware of what a character is thinking, and we continue to make sure that every character we create at Pixar and Disney has a thought process and emotion that makes them come alive," Lasseter said in a statement. Continued...	Ollie Johnston in 1993 American animator Ollie Johnston, the last of Disney's so-called "Nine Old Men", has died at the age of 95. Johnston died of natural causes on Monday in Sequim, Washington, according to Walt Disney Studios Vice President Howard E. Green. Johnston worked on many of the Disney's classic films, including ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' (1937), ''Pinnochio'' (1940), ''Fantasia'' (1940), ''Bambi'' (1942), and many others. Johnston worked extensively with his best friend Frank Thomas, a fellow "old man" who died in 2004. The pair met at Stanford University in the 1930s and worked together until Thomas' death. They retired from animation in 1978, but remained popular speakers and authors about Disney and animation. "Ollie was part of an amazing generation of artists, one of the real pioneers of our art, one of the major participants in the blossoming of animation into the art form we know today," said Roy E. Disney. Johnston devoted much of his retirement to writing and lecturing, but perhaps even more to model trains, a field in which he became considered one of the world's foremost experts. Ollie Johnston's last film was ''The Fox and the Hound'' (1981) on which he worked as a supervisor.
El mapa revela que los mexicanos comparten 64% de haplotipos con los africanos, 74% con los asiáticos y 80% con poblaciones del norte de Europa. (Foto: http://diversity.inmegen.gob.mx) El mapa del genoma de los mexicanos, del que en los últimos días se ha hablado mucho como un gran paso en la investigación genómica del país, está al alcance de todos. El Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica (Inmegen) abrió la base de datos con los resultados de su investigación por medio de un mapa interactivo publicado en el sitio http://diversity.inmegen.gob.mx, disponible para todo público. En él puede verse que los mestizos mexicanos y las poblaciones indígenas son sustancialmente diferentes de los otros tres subgrupos genéticos conocidos (Yoruba de África, caucásicos descendientes de europeos, y chinos y japoneses de Asia). Los resultados contribuyen al desarrollo de la farmacogenómica con el fin de producir medicinas diseñadas para personas de un grupo genético específico. También sienta las bases para la generación de medicamentos más seguros y menos tóxicos. Este mapa permitirá a los médicos analizar un menor número de marcadores genéticos cuando diagnostiquen el riesgo que tiene un paciente para desarrollar una enfermedad que depende de factores complejos según afirmó el doctor Julio Frenk, decano de la Escuela de Salud Pública, en Harvard. Se descubrió que las diferencias genéticas entre mestizos de diferentes regiones de México se deben principalmente a diferencias en contribuciones ancestrales de europeo y amerindio (en el caso de los zapotecas). En la mayoría de los análisis, las muestras de las regiones centrales del norte se comportaron cercanas a los europeos, correlacionando con la densidad poblacional amerindia actual y prehispánica en esas regiones. Se sabe, a partir de este mapa, que los mexicanos comparten el 64% de los haplotipos -combinación de variaciones en el genoma humano que se encuentran tan cercanas unas de otras en el mismo cromosoma que se heredan juntas- comunes (presentes en más del 5% de la muestra) con los africanos, 74% con la población de Asia y el 80% con poblaciones del norte de Europa. Dichos resultados también indican que existe un porcentaje de la variabilidad que se deriva del componente amerindio de la población mestiza. Los resultados de la comparación entre poblaciones mestizas señalan que un mapa de haplotipos específicos para la población mestiza mexicana permitirá una mejor selección y reducirá el número de marcadores genéticos necesarios para estudios de asociación a enfermedades complejas, haciendo estos estudios más eficientes y baratos. Los resultados iniciales demostraron la factibilidad e importancia estratégica para México de contar con una base de datos pública con la información inicial sobre la estructura genómica de los mexicanos y un catálogo de sus variaciones más comunes. Se construye una importante fuente de información para el diseño de los estudios genómicos dirigidos a encontrar genes asociados a enfermedades comunes, no sólo en México sino en América Latina. También se podrán iniciar nuevas líneas de investigación para identificar variaciones genéticas asociadas a la predisposición de enfermedades comunes y a la respuesta a medicamentos. El proyecto El proyecto Diversidad Genómica de la Población Mexicana se inició en junio de 2005 con el liderazgo del investigador titular del Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica (Inmegen), Gerardo Jiménez Sánchez. Dicho proyecto fue financiado con recursos públicos del Instituto y aportaciones otorgadas por la Fundación Mexicana para la Salud y la Fundación Gonzalo Río Arronte. La selección de los estados de la República participantes en el proyecto se hizo con base en su historia demográfica, ubicación y voluntad para participar. Los estados elegidos fueron Yucatán, Zacatecas, Sonora, Guanajuato, Veracruz, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Campeche, Tamaulipas y Durango. En todos los estados se realizó un proceso de consulta comunitaria y consentimiento individual. Se contó con la participación de las autoridades estatales, secretarías de salud, universidades locales y miembros de la comunidad. Se recibieron de cerca de 3,000 participantes de los 10 estados de la república: 1,500 hombres y 1,500 mujeres. La muestra incluyó cuatro grupos indígenas: Tepehuanos de Durango, Mixtecos, Zapotecos de Oaxaca y Mayas de Campeche. Los voluntarios fueron mestizos de los estados de Yucatán. Sonora, Guerrero, Veracruz, Zacatecas, Guanajuato y un grupo de indígenas zapotecas de Oaxaca. Primero, se distribuyó un folleto informativo sobre el proyecto y se exhibió un póster que reproduce el formato del consentimiento informado, mismo que fue colocado en lugares públicos. Se hicieron sesiones públicas informativas y conferencias de prensa con diversos medios de comunicación y finalmente se solicitó el consentimiento informado de cada participante en presencia de testigos. En el caso de los participantes zapotecas las fases y consentimiento se tradujeron a su lengua nativa. Se procedió a tomar muestras de sangre. Se llevó a cabo la toma de las muestras y una vez "purificado" el DNA de los glóbulos blancos de la sangre, éste fue procesado para su análisis con una plataforma de microarreglos (chips) marca Afymetrix, que permite determinar más de 100,000 variantes genéticas en cada muestra. Se obtuvo la información de más de 33 millones de variantes genéticas (genotipos) denominados polimorfismos de un solo nucleótido (SNP por sus siglas en inglés), y que corresponden a cambios de una sola letra a lo largo del genoma. Con esta información, un grupo de expertos en bioinformática analizó los resultados y ensambló el mapa en un portal electrónico interactivo para compararlo con las poblaciones europea, africana y asiática. La primera fase incluyó voluntarios de seis estados y al grupo zapoteca, en este grupo se analizaron 100 mil SNP. Se analizó la composición genética de 330 muestras la mitad de hombres y la mitad de mujeres de cada estado. Además de en internet, los resultados también fueron publicados en el artículo "Analysis of genomic diversity in Mexican Mestizo populations to develop genomic medicine in México" en la revista Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Con información del Inmegen \|\|\|\|\| Claudia Herrera Beltrán El libro de la vida de los mexicanos, como fue bautizado nuestro mapa genómico, muestra que tenemos una estructura genómica propia, diferente de otras personas en el mundo, que se conforma fundamentalmente de dos tipos: europeo y amerindio. Este último representa el rasgo distintivo de nuestra población mestiza. Una vez descifrado el mapa del genoma de los mexicanos por cien científicos, liderados por Gerardo Jiménez Sánchez, director del Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica (Inmegen), el siguiente paso será investigar el genoma de la diabetes, de la obesidad y del cáncer de mama, enfermedades recurrentes en los mexicanos, e incluso determinar por qué han muerto más personas en México a causa de la influenza A/H1N1. Antes de pulsar una tecla, acción con la que el mapa fue colocado en Internet (www.inmegen.gob.mx), el presidente Felipe Calderón afirmó que el genoma permitirá hacer una medicina predictiva y desarrollar medicamentos más efectivos y seguros con base en la estructura genómica de cada grupo de población. Además será útil para América Latina, ya que estos avances sólo se han hecho en países como Estados Unidos, Japón y Reino Unido. Luego de pasar escrupulosos filtros sanitarios para evitar que el virus de la influenza A/H1N1 pudiera colarse a Los Pinos, algunos miembros de la comunidad científica, como Guillermo Soberón, promotor de este estudio, y los gobernadores Amalia García, de Zacatecas, y Jorge Carlos Hurtado, de Campeche, atestiguaron ayer la presentación del genoma de los mexicanos. Molécula con la información de las funciones del organismo Descrito como un mapa de carreteras por Jiménez Sánchez, el genoma humano es la molécula que contiene la información de cada una de las funciones del organismo. Está formado por tres mil 200 millones de unidades o letras, que se conocen por sus iniciales A, G, T y C. La importancia de este estudio radica en que por primera vez describe el mapa genómico de los mexicanos e inclusive será de utilidad para los latinoamericanos, ya que hasta ahora el esfuerzo internacional conocido como Hat Map se había limitado a descubrir las variaciones frecuentes de tres poblaciones ancestrales: caucásicas, africanas y asiáticas. América Latina había quedado fuera. Este proyecto costó 15 millones de pesos que, según el director el instituto, fueron aportados por el gobierno federal y las fundaciones Gonzalo Río Arronte y Mexicana de la Salud; además fue respaldado por la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) y el Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt). \|\|\|\|\| May 12, 2009 NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – In a paper appearing online last night in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from Mexico's National Institute of Genomic Medicine, or INMEGEN, reported on their survey of genetic diversity in Mexican populations. As part of the Mexican Genetic Diversity Project, or MGDP, researchers assessed roughly 100,000 SNPs in hundreds of Mexican individuals from different parts of the country, focusing on admixed, Mestizo populations of Amerindian, European, and African descent. In so doing, they uncovered common alleles specific to Mexican populations as well as genetic variation and ancestry differences between Mestizo populations in different parts of Mexico. "Today, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences are publishing truly a landmark representation of the genomic variation in the Mexican populations," former Mexican Minister of Health and current Harvard School of Public Health Dean Julio Frenk, who was not directly involved in the research, said during a conference call with reporters yesterday. "It is the first time in any developing country that a local institution has been able to understand the genetic variability in its own populations." Frenk said such research is particularly pertinent in the wake of the recent influenza outbreak in Mexico. With nearly all of the swine flu fatalities so far occurring in Mexico, he explained, it's possible that some unidentified genetic contribution in Mexican populations is involved in mediating response to the flu virus. Understanding genetic variation in Mexican populations may eventually provide a clearer picture of both infectious and common disease susceptibility in these populations, Frenk said. The Mexican government created INMEGEN five years ago, with the goal of not only developing world class genetic research, but also training people in related fields and taking advantage of the medical applications of the human genome, INMEGEN Director Gerardo Jimenez-Sanchez, senior author on the new paper, told reporters. "This resource will be useful to develop strategies for the genetic analysis of Mexican and related admixed populations, such as marker selection for optimal coverage of common genetic variation in [genome-wide association] and targeted association studies," Jimenez-Sanchez and his co-authors explained, "and also for the adequate application of tagging and imputation approaches and for [admixture mapping] in Mexicans and other Latino populations." The researchers used an Affymetrix 100K SNP array to evaluate DNA samples from 300 unrelated Mestizo individuals from six states in north, south, east, west, and central Mexico. In an effort to evaluate ancestral contributions to Mestizo genomes, the team also evaluated dozens of individuals from an indigenous group — Zapotecos from Oaxaca state — as a proxy for information on ancestral populations. Overall, the researchers found that the Mexican populations were less diverse than HapMap populations tested so far. Even so, they detected 89 common, private alleles in at least one Mestizo population that were not present in HapMap populations. Most of these seemed to be linked to Amerindian ancestry, since the Zapotecos population carried 86 common private alleles also present in Mestizos. Using more than 1,800 ancestry informative markers, the team found support for at least four different Mestizo sub-populations with varying levels of European and Amerindian ancestry. In general, sub-populations in northern Mexico had the highest levels of European ancestry, while sub-populations in the central and coastal parts of the country that were sampled had the highest level of Amerindian ancestry. "Our results show that genetic differences among Mexican Mestizos from different regions in Mexico are mainly because of differences in [Amerindian] and [European] contributions," Jimenez-Sanchez and his co-authors wrote. Along with providing information about genetic variation within and between Mexican populations, the researchers noted that the study is also yielding information that may be used in future GWA studies in these and other Mexican populations, including data that should allow more accurate SNP imputation in these populations. Data from the current study is publicly available in an MGDP database, which also includes a state-by-state breakdown of haplotype data. Along with the 100,000 SNPs evaluated in the current study, Jimenez-Sanchez said the team has since evaluated roughly 1.5 million SNPs in the same samples using Affymetrix and Illumina chips. Results from those studies will be incorporated into the database down the road. Finally, Jimenez-Sanchez said the team is also doing re-sequencing studies aimed at finding Mexican genomic variation missed by existing microarrays. That data will not only be included in the database, but will also aid in the development of arrays that more effectively capture genetic variation in Mexico, he said. \|\|\|\|\| Researchers map diverse Mexican genome The most detailed look yet at the genetics of Mexicans is showing significant diversity, a finding that could help point the way to customized drugs and identification of people prone to certain diseases. Researchers led by Dr. Gerardo Jimenez-Sanchez studied the genes of 300 mestizos — people of mixed Indian and European background — from six states in Mexico, and one Indian population. They found significant differences between the mestizos and such groups as Europeans, Africans and Asians, the researchers report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. A more detailed gene mapping could help doctors determine an individual's risk of developing certain diseases as well as help them find treatments that will work better for one person or another. "It is not possible today to say genetic variation is responsible for the unique H1N1 influenza mortality rate in Mexico. However, knowledge of genomic variability in the Mexican population can allow the identification of genetic variations that confer susceptibility to common diseases, including infections such as the flu," Jimenez-Sanchez, of Mexico's National Institute of Genomic Medicine, said in a statement. Possible aid to diagnosis The study was formally presented at the presidential residence in Mexico City Monday. At the presentation, Mexican President Felipe Calderon praised the work as a step toward making medical diagnoses more accurate, fighting illness more efficiently and preventing common diseases. "The results of this study will improve and accelerate the medical research of hundreds of Mexican scientists, and that will contribute, for example, to identifying genetic risk markers in order to develop treatments and prevention for diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer and some kinds of infections," Calderon said. Using mathematical analysis, the researchers produced a map of the genetics of the different groups. They found that the mestizo genome includes variations that stretch from Indian to European. The mestizos studied were from Sonora, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Veracruz and Yucatan. In addition the research included 30 Zapotecos from Oaxaca. They found genomes closer to Europeans in northern states and closer to American Indians in southern areas. Indications of African ancestry were low in most areas, though a few individuals had high levels of African genes. Mestizos from Yucatan were the only ones with a detectable Maya influence. \|\|\|\|\| Could genetic differences explain why some people and not others have died of H1N1 Influenza A? That is among the questions raised by a landmark Mexican study showing significant genetic variation between Mestizos (Latin Americans of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry) and the world's other known genetic subgroups. The study, by Mexico's National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Led by Dr. Gerardo Jimenez-Sanchez of INMEGEN, a team of 16 Mexican researchers, analyzed the genetic composition of 300 Mestizos from six geographically distant states in Mexico and one Amerindian population (30 members of the indigenous Zapotecas group in the state of Oaxaca). They discovered that genetically the Mexican Mestizo and Indigenous populations are substantially different from the three other known human genetic subgroups (Yoruba from Africa, Caucasians of European descent, and the Chinese and Japanese of Asia), whose DNA make-ups were documented through the historic International HapMap Project, 2002 to 2006. The Mexican research was undertaken to establish the comparability of Latino genomes to others in the global search for health-related genes throughout humanity. A recent study in Asia identified a genetic characteristic in Asians that indicates a susceptibility to Hepatitis B; other studies have identified people with genetic predispositions to HIV1 or Kawasaki Disease. While the latest work is at far too early a stage to enlighten authorities on the current outbreak of H1N1 Influenza A, it may one day help explain why, for example, with cases of that virus appearing worldwide, fatalities to date have occurred almost exclusively in Mexico. Says Dr. Jimenez-Sanchez: "It is not possible today to say genetic variation is responsible for the unique H1N1 Influenza A mortality rate in Mexico. However, knowledge of genomic variability in the Mexican population can allow the identification of genetic variations that confer susceptibility to common diseases, including infections such as the flu." "It will also help develop pharmacogenomics to help produce medicines tailored to people of a specific genetic group, to the creation of drugs that are both safer and more effective." President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon Hinojosa commended the achievement. "The genomic map of the Mexican population is an essential contribution of Mexico to science and public health. This study represents an important landmark to develop genomic medicine in Mexico to improve healthcare of its population. I commend our National Institute of Genomic Medicine, INMEGEN, for such a significant milestone." The young National Institute of Genomic Medicine in Mexico City was established in 2004 under then-Health Minister Julio Frenk, now Dean of the School of Public Health, Harvard University. "This study makes clear that Latin Americans with mixed ancestry are different enough from other people worldwide that a full-scale genomic mapping project would be wise both scientifically and economically. It would allow doctors to analyze fewer genetic markers when diagnosing the risk that a patient will develop a disease that depends on complex factors," says Dr. Frenk. "Mexico has created a state-of-the-art genomic medicine institution, unique in Latin America, where world-class scientific research can be developed to understand the molecular relationships between humans and germs. This valuable facility will enable Mexico to prepare for the health challenges that await us all in the future." Dr. Edison T. Liu, President of the Human Genome Organization (HUGO) said: "This work by the INMEGEN group is important both for the scientific content which can be used to direct personalized medicine in Mexico, but also for its sociologic impact in defining the uniqueness of Mexico's genetic heritage." "Studies such as this are helping us define the future of the genome era," says Dr. Jeffrey Trent, President of the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona. "Gaining a clearer understanding of how genetic variation plays a role in disease, including the risk to some infections, will help tip the scales in our favour in terms of understanding and treating disease at the individual level." "We have studied a number of genomics initiatives in the developing world and emerging economies, recently published in Nature Reviews Genetics. There is no doubt that INMEGEN is a unique institution and one of the most advanced in the world in terms of its infrastructure but, more importantly, in its linkage to the national health system. It is a model for the rest of the world," said Prof. Abdallah Daar of the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health at the University Health Network and University of Toronto. The INMEGEN study was financially supported by the Federal Government of Mexico, with in-kind support of the Mexican Health Foundation (FUNSALUD) and the Gonzalo Río Arronte Foundation. Background: The human genome project (1990-2004) identified common genetic variation, mostly Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), which provide the basis for genetic individuality. Genetic variants associated to susceptibility to common disease and the ability to predict disease-associated risks and response to treatments are the basis of genomic medicine. The International HapMap Project (2002-2006) systematically analyzed genetic variation in three ancestral populations: Yoruba from Africa, Caucasian of European descent, Han Chinese and Japanese from Asia. This project created a haplotype map of these populations as a tool to identify disease-related genes in a more efficient way. This project did not include the Latin American populations, which are of recent admixture from ancestral populations that include native Indians of the region. This represented a potential risk of segregating Mexican population from genomic medicine in the future. Mexico is developing a national platform in genomic medicine. In 2004, the Mexican government founded the National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN) to conduct world-class scientific research, implement technological platforms and develop educational programs in genomic medicine (http://www.inmegen.gob.mx). In addition to generating important scientific information, INMEGEN's Mexican Genome Diversity Project has produced unprecedented human and technological infrastructure in Mexico in less than 5 years. INMEGEN is the most advanced institution in Latin America with the ability to study interactions between humans and the environment, including microorganisms, enabling Mexico to prepare for future challenges. It's research aims to identify genetic variation that predisposes to common diseases in Mexicans. A haplotype map provides a resource of significant impact to enable faster identification of disease-related genes. However, the question was whether the HapMap from ancestral populations would fit the Mexican population. This study indicates that the genetic structure in the Mexican population would identify tagSNPs that better fit this population and speed genome-wide association studies and admixture mapping at a much lower cost. This would be a corner stone to develop genomic medicine in Mexico. Goal of the Mexican Genome Diversity Project: To determine common genomic variation in the Mexican Mestizo population and compare different regions in Mexico, as well as to compare such variability with results from the HapMap. In addition, the project produced a simple visual map of the genetics of different population groups throughout the country (http://diversity.inmegen.gob.mx). In general, the Mestizo genomes occupy points on a linear spectrum that ranges from Amerindian to European. There are major differences between Mexican Mestizos and subgroups of the HapMap such as Africans or Chinese, although Mexican Mestizos share 96 percent of their haplotypes with the complete HapMap population. Haplotype sharing analysis showed that all Mexican subpopulations share, on average, 86% (84-87%) of the common haplotypes when one subpopulation is used as a reference and that the proportion of shared haplotypes increases to an average of 96% (95-97%) when each subpopulation is compared to any pair of the studied subpopulations. These results support the idea that a haplotype map of the Mexican Mestizo population may help reduce the number of tagSNPs required to characterize common genetic variation in this population. Journal references: Irma Silva-Zolezzi, Alfredo Hidalgo-Miranda, Jesus Estrada-Gil, Juan Carlos Fernandez-Lopez, Laura Uribe-Figueroa, Alejandra Contreras, Eros Balam-Ortiz, Laura del Bosque-Plata, David Velazquez-Fernandez, Cesar Lara, Rodrigo Goya, Enrique Hernandez-Lemus, Carlos Davila, Eduardo Barrientos, Santiago March, and Gerardo Jimenez-Sanchez. Analysis of genomic diversity in Mexican Mestizo populations to develop genomic medicine in Mexico. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0903045106 Jimenez-Sanchez, G. Developing a Platform for Genomic Medicine in Mexico. Science, 2003; 300 (5617): 295 DOI: 10.1126/science.1084059 Seguin B, Hardy BJ, Singer PA, Daar AS. Genomics, public health and developing countries: the case of the Mexican National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN). Nature Reviews Genetics, 2008; 9S5 DOI: 10.1038/nrg2442 Jimenez-Sanchez G, Silva-Zolezzi I, Hidalgo A, March S. Genomic medicine in Mexico: Initial steps and the road ahead. Genome Research, 2008; 18 (8): 1191 DOI: 10.1101/gr.065359.107 Email or share this story: \|\|\|\|\| Ángeles Cruz Martínez Alrededor de 20 por ciento de los mexicanos tienen en su sistema de defensas genes que se sobrexpresan ante la presencia de algunas enfermedades, y en lugar de proteger al organismo, le causan daños más severos. Esa podría ser parte de la explicación de las 48 muertes que se han registrado hasta ahora a causa del virus de influenza A/H1N1, aunque tampoco se descarta que la falta de acceso a los servicios de salud haya influido en la mortalidad, afirmó Lorena Orozco, jefa del Laboratorio de Investigación Genómica en Enfermedades Multifactoriales del Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica (Inmegen). La especialista comentó que se han identificado unos 20 genes del sistema de defensas, y uno en particular, el TLR, cuya sobrexpresión favorece el desarrollo de padecimientos autoinmunes como el lupus eritomatoso sistémico y la artritis juvenil. Esa misma reacción genética ocasiona complicaciones e insuficiencia respiratoria, iguales a las que han tenido los pacientes muertos por la influenza A/H1N1. En entrevista, Orozco resaltó que a partir de una revisión de algunos de los expedientes de los fallecidos, se observó que la mayoría son mujeres de 20 a 40 años de edad. En este sector de la población también son más frecuentes los males autoinmunes. Estas similitudes hacen pensar a los especialistas que esos genes, diseñados para defendernos de las enfermedades, exageran en su trabajo y en algunos casos pueden conducir a la muerte . Con esa hipótesis, Orozco y su equipo de trabajo iniciaron una investigación para confirmar si esos genes del sistema inmune, que ya han sido estudiados en la población mexicana y se conoce su actuación frente a ciertos padecimientos, también están involucrados en las complicaciones que presentaron las personas fallecidas por la nueva cepa de influenza. Dijo que en torno a la epidemia que hasta el sábado había afectado a mil 626 personas, la comunidad científica está tratando de encontrar la explicación a la respuesta del ser humano ante la infección: por qué algunos individuos presentan una enfermedad leve y otros llegan a la muerte. No se puede descartar la responsabilidad de sistemas de salud inadecuados, la presencia de una cepa distinta y el factor genético, dijo. Respecto de este último, Orozco explicó que en el Inmegen se hará la comparación de la secuencia de los genes que forman parte del sistema inmune entre los casos de enfermedad leve contra los que han presentado cuadros graves de influenza A/H1N1 y las diferencias que existen con respecto a la población en general. \|\|\|\|\| Roberto González Amador El gasto en México para investigación científica y desarrollo de tecnología equivale a una cuarta parte de los recursos públicos para el pago de intereses de la deuda gubernamental. Su bajo monto representa una carencia que limita la capacidad de crecimiento de la economía y frena la capacidad de respuesta ante emergencias como la epidemia de gripe que afecta al país. Por su tamaño, la de México es la decimotercera economía del mundo. Medida por el ingreso de sus habitantes es la número 74, según el Banco Mundial. Pero en cuanto al gasto en investigación y desarrollo (I+D) es el país más rezagado entre las naciones que conforman la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE), de acuerdo con un reporte de este organismo. Último lugar en personal ocupado en áreas de ciencia y tecnología México invierte en un año el equivalente a 0.4 por ciento de su producto interno bruto (PIB) en investigación y desarrollo, porcentaje que lo ubica en el último sitio entre las naciones que pertenecen a ese organismo, y que a precios actuales equivale a 51 mil 450 millones de pesos, unos 3 mil 958 millones de dólares, indicó el informe OECD regions at a glance 2009. El país también ocupa el último puesto en cuanto a personal ocupado que se desempeña en las áreas científicas y tecnológicas y en registro de patentes, de acuerdo con el organismo. El último año, el pago de intereses de la deuda pública significó una erogación de recursos públicos por 235 mil 96 millones de pesos, cantidad que cuadruplica los recursos destinados por el país a investigación y desarrollo y que no incluye otros 30 mil millones de pesos que se emplean cada año para financiar el costo del rescate bancario de 1995, que se sigue pagando con fondos públicos, indican datos de la Secretaría de Hacienda. El desarrollo de innovaciones en las regiones es crucial para mejorar en general la competitividad de las regiones y lograr el crecimiento de las naciones en el largo plazo , apunta el reporte de la OCDE, organismo con sede en París que agrupa a naciones altamente desarrolladas y de nivel medio de desarrollo. La OCDE, bloque de 30 países al que pertenece México desde 1994, define la investigación y el desarrollo como: el trabajo creativo realizado de manera sistemática con el fin de incrementar el acervo de conocimiento del hombre, la cultura y la sociedad, y la utilización de ese acervo de conocimiento para desarrollar nuevas aplicaciones . \|\|\|\|\| Abstract Mexico is developing the basis for genomic medicine to improve healthcare of its population. The extensive study of genetic diversity and linkage disequilibrium structure of different populations has made it possible to develop tagging and imputation strategies to comprehensively analyze common genetic variation in association studies of complex diseases. We assessed the benefit of a Mexican haplotype map to improve identification of genes related to common diseases in the Mexican population. We evaluated genetic diversity, linkage disequilibrium patterns, and extent of haplotype sharing using genomewide data from Mexican Mestizos from regions with different histories of admixture and particular population dynamics. Ancestry was evaluated by including 1 Mexican Amerindian group and data from the HapMap. Our results provide evidence of genetic differences between Mexican subpopulations that should be considered in the design and analysis of association studies of complex diseases. In addition, these results support the notion that a haplotype map of the Mexican Mestizo population can reduce the number of tag SNPs required to characterize common genetic variation in this population. This is one of the first genomewide genotyping efforts of a recently admixed population in Latin America.	DNA molecule, which stores genetic information in chromosomes, which in turn make up an organism's genome. This image presents only 12 base pairs, while the human genome consists of over 3 billion base pairs. National Institute of Genomic Medicine of Mexico (Inmegen) Director Gerardo Jiménez Sánchez presented in Los Pinos the genome map of Mexicans, a stepping-stone for Latin American genomic medicine. Previous endeavours of this kind had so far only covered some of the most ancient races on the planet, native from Africa, Europe and Asia, leaving out the recently admixed races of Latin America. During the ceremony Jiménez, who led the project, symbolically presented President Felipe Calderón with a hard copy of the results. Calderón then uploaded the map to the Internet making it publicly available for researchers around the world. The President commented on the research being a step towards population-specific predictive medicine and medications, and particularly useful for Latin America for being genetically closer to the Mestizo peoples of those countries than genome maps published so far. Among other results, the five year-long work found that, while sharing the 99.9% of the genome common to all humans, in the remaining portion the Mexican population has significant genetic variation from the world's other known genetic subgroups. This makes importing genome maps from other groups unfeasible, and hence justifies the study. Also, by comparing with data sets from the HapMap Project (a map of the human genome's haplotypes, which are clusters of the possible genetic variations a human individual can present), it was found that Mexicans share 64% of their haplotypes with West Africans, 74% with East Asians and 81% with Northern Europeans. Genetic analyses aimed at common disorders in Mexico like diabetes, obesity and breast cancer are yet to be performed. "With a drop of saliva we would be able to tell whether to prescribe a medication or not", forecast Jiménez about the applications of the genome map in the long run. "Studies such as this are helping us define the future of the genome era", commented U.S. Translational Genomics Research Institute President Jeffrey Trent. "Gaining a clearer understanding of how genetic variation plays a role in disease, including the risk to some infections, will help tip the scales in our favour in terms of understanding and treating disease at the individual level", he added. "It is not possible today to say genetic variation is responsible for the unique H1N1 Influenza A mortality rate in Mexico. However, knowledge of genomic variability in the Mexican population can allow the identification of genetic variations that confer susceptibility to common diseases, including infections such as the flu", said Jiménez when talking about the current swine flu outbreak. Recently, however, Inmegen's Multifactorial Diseases Genomic Research Laboratory head Lorena Orozco revealed that one fifth of the Mexican population have genes in their immune system that can trigger an immune overreaction in presence of some diseases. According to Orozco one of these genes is responsible for symptoms similar to the ones A/H1N1 victims presented, which makes it a strong candidate for explaining these deaths. Although blood samples were collected from 10 different states and 4 Amerindian populations, the published results are based on data from only 6 states and 1 Amerindian population. The presentation ceremony and the online publication of the research paper in the PNAS journal came just days after the Mexican Government came under criticism for its low investment in science and the resulting dependency on other countries in the beginning of the current sanitary crisis.
630 Gazans enter Egypt as Rafah reopens for 2 days Published today (updated) 22/12/2014 16:48 Palestinians await permission to enter Egypt as they gather inside the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and southern Gaza Strip on Dec. 21, 2014 (AFP Said Khatib) Tweet RAFAH (AFP) -- Around 630 Palestinians left Gaza and entered the Egyptian Sinai through the Rafah crossing on Sunday after Cairo authorised a temporary reopening of the border, a Palestinian official said. It was only the second time in two months that Egypt had opened the Rafah terminal. On Saturday, an Egyptian official confirmed to AFP that the crossing would be open on Sunday and Monday. All of those crossing were either seeking medical treatment or were holders of a permit to stay overseas, according to Maher Abu Sabha, director of border crossings in the Gaza Strip. The southern Rafah crossing is Gaza's only gateway to the world not controlled by Israel. An AFP correspondent at the scene said hundreds of people had gathered in front of the terminal. "At around midday (1000 GMT), three buses carrying around 200 people left Gaza through the Rafah terminal and entered Egypt," Abu Sabha said. On Monday, Palestinians studying abroad would be permitted to enter Egypt, he said. Meanwhile Egyptian state media reported that Cairo deported 52 Palestinians to Gaza through Rafah on Sunday. MENA news agency, quoting an unnamed official at the border, said 30 of the deportees had been rounded up for living illegally in Egypt, while the others had tried to enter without a visa. After investigating their cases the security services decided to send them back to Gaza, the official said. Cairo closed the crossing on October 25, the day after a deadly suicide attack killed 30 soldiers in north Sinai. The closure has prevented thousands of Gazans from accessing medical treatment or higher education in Egypt and beyond, and also prevented some 3,500 Palestinians from returning home, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. On Saturday, 378 Gaza residents were finally able to return to the enclave through Rafah, a Palestinian statement said. During the first six months of the year, when the crossing was closed for a total of 22 days, an average of 6,400 people crossed each month, the UN said. \|\|\|\|\| Egypt initially planned to open the border Sunday and Monday only Egyptian authorities announced on Monday the extension of the opening of Rafah border crossing for an additional day, after initially planning to open the border Sunday and Monday only. On Sunday and Monday, 995 passed through the crossing; 614 entered Egypt while 381 left Egypt to Gaza. This is the second time that the crossing has opened to Palestinians in the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip since one of the deadliest attacks on Egyptian soldiers took place in North Sinai in October. On 24 October, militants killed 31 army personnel and injured at least 30 others in a single car bomb attack in North Sinai. The border has been closed since then, apart from a two-day period starting 26 November. Egyptian authorities have kept the crossing mostly closed since former president Mohamed Morsi's ouster in 2013, citing security concerns in the north of the peninsula where Islamist militants are active. Egypt has accused Hamas, which rules the Gaza strip, of involvement in terrorist activities in Sinai Peninsula. Hamas leaders have distanced themselves from violence in Egypt and say they have no armed presence in areas outside Palestinian areas. Egypt’s army has been facing a decade-long jihadist militant insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula, with militant attacks increasing over the past year and expanding into Cairo and the Nile Delta, killing hundreds of army and police personnel. The military has also announced killing and arresting hundreds of militants. Short link:	File photo of Rafah border crossing, 2009. On Sunday, opened the for two days, allowing many people, who had been waiting since it closed two months ago following a terror attack in the , to cross the border with the in both directions. On Monday, Egyptian authorities announced they were opening the border crossing for another day. During the first two days, almost 1,000 people passed through the border crossing, about two thirds of them from the Gaza Strip to Egypt and a third in the opposite direction. Gaza citizens who had been stuck in Egypt as they were unable to enter the Gaza Strip, were able to return home. Director of Gaza Strip border corssings Maher Abu Sabha said those who crossed to the Egyptian side were people in need of medical treatment or who hold an overseas stay permit, only. On October 24, a car bomb detonated in northern Sinai, causing the death of 31 Egyptian security personnel and injuring 30 or more. Following the attack and as part of the Egyptian authorities' long-term fight against in the Sinai peninsula, the Rafah border crossing was closed, and opened for only two days in late November.
The vote was broadcast on live television and ending after midnight Serbia's parliament has passed a landmark resolution offering an apology for the Srebrenica massacre in 1995 - the worst incident of the Bosnian War. The resolution says Serbia should have done more to prevent the tragedy. It was approved by a narrow majority. However it stopped short of calling the killings a genocide. The killing of nearly 8,000 Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) was carried out by Bosnian Serb forces - allies of then-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. Meanwhile, a Dutch court has rejected an attempt to hold the United Nations responsible for the massacre. Burden 'lifted' The resolution was approved after almost 13 hours of heated negotiations in the Belgrade parliament. AT THE SCENE Mark Lowen, BBC News, Belgrade It was passed with a majority of just two - highlighting how divisive the Srebrenica massacre remains in Serbia almost 15 years on. The governing Democratic Party believes this resolution will go some way towards rebuilding Serbia's image as it strives for EU membership. But for nationalists, the text reiterates what they see as an unfair demonisation of Serbs. Survivors of Srebrenica say that real reconciliation can only be achieved if the fugitive general Ratko Mladic is finally apprehended. The pro-Western governing coalition managed to pass the resolution with a slim majority - 127 MPs voted in favour, out of a total of 250. Only 173 were present for the vote. "The parliament of Serbia strongly condemns the crime committed against the Bosnian Muslim population of Srebrenica in July 1995," the text says. It formally extends "condolences and an apology to the families of the victims because not everything was done to prevent the tragedy". The head of the governing coalition's parliamentary group said during the debate that approval would help close a tragic chapter in Balkan history. "Condemning the crime against the Bosniaks of Srebrenica, while paying respect to the innocent victims and offering condolences to their families, will lift the burden off future generations," Nada Kolundzija was quoted as saying by Serbia's B92 website. But opposition deputies criticised the text, describing it as "shameful" for Serbia. Some nationalist politicians voted against, while others abstained in protest. Velimir Ilic, an opposition MP, said: "Why do you want to put a mark on the future generations that they will never wash away?" Serbian nationalists had argued that any resolution must also denounce crimes committed by Bosniaks and Croats during the 1992-95 war. Several mass graves have been discovered near Srebrenica The BBC's Mark Lowen in Belgrade says the resolution comes after years of denial in Serbia that the Srebrenica massacre even took place. The resolution has been criticised by Bosniaks and Muslims in Serbia because it does not describe the Srebrenica massacre as an act of genocide. It has been recognised as such by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Several Bosnian Serbs have been convicted over their role in the massacre, when Bosniak men and boys were taken from their families and shot dead. The town had been designated a UN "safe haven" under the protection of Dutch UN troops. The wartime leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Radovan Karadzic, is currently on trial in The Hague. The general accused of masterminding the killings, Ratko Mladic, is still on the run. Lawyers for the victims' relatives have tried to hold the Dutch government and the UN accountable for failing to stop the massacre. But on Tuesday, The Hague Appeals Court upheld a 2008 lower court ruling affirming UN immunity from prosecution, which it said was essential for it to be able to carry out its duties around the world. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Serbian parliament adopts landmark Srebrenica apology BELGRADE — The Serbian parliament early Wednesday passed a landmark resolution condemning the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of some 8,000 Bosnian Muslims but stopped short of labeling the killings a genocide. The adoption of the text with a majority of 127 of the 173 lawmakers present ends years of denial by Serbian politicians about the scale of the killings. "The parliament of Serbia strongly condemns the crime committed against the Bosnian Muslim population of Srebrenica in July 1995, as determined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling," the text says. The lawmakers also formally extended "their condolences and an apology to the families of the victims because not everything possible was done to prevent the tragedy." The ruling coalition which proposed the resolution hailed its adoption after 13 hours of often heated debate but warned this was only the beginning of the process for Serbia of coming to terms with its recent history. "This declaration is only a beginning because the issues it treats are only the tip of the iceberg of the past we have to face," ruling coalition member Nenad Canak said after the vote. "(The resolution) was the most difficult step but I am convinced that we will now open the process of reviewing recent history; this will be long and painful." In the text the parliament also vowed to continue its cooperation with the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and stressed the importance of "the discovery and arrest of Ratko Mladic so that he might stand trial before the ICTY". Mladic, the UN war crimes court's most wanted fugitive, was in charge of the Bosnian Serb troops who overran the UN protected enclave in July 1995. He is believed to be hiding in Serbia. The timing of the historical declaration coincides with Serbia's push to join the European Union with Belgrade hoping to achieve candidate status next year. The EU has made full cooperation with the ICTY a prerequisite for being allowed to join the bloc and has hammered on the importance of reconciliation in the region. Although Serbian President Boris Tadic attended the 10-year-anniversary of the massacre in 2005 and apologized to survivors there, he was widely condemned for doing so at home. The pro-European Tadic has pushed for the Srebrenica resolution and was expected to react to the vote later Wednesday. Belgrade is also keen to show it respects rulings of the ICJ ahead of an expected advisory opinion of the highest UN court on the legal status of Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Although the Srebrenica massacre has been ruled a genocide by both the ICTY and the ICJ, the resolution avoids using the term in order to ensure the widest possible backing in parliament. Still, many hours of debate on Tuesday were devoted to the definition of genocide and opposition parties complained the text branded all Serbs as guilty over Srebrenica. The massacre is the only episode in Bosnia's bloody 1992-95 war to have been ruled as genocide by the international courts. In their ruling, ICJ judges cleared Serbia of responsibility for the actual killings themselves but said Belgrade was responsible for doing nothing to prevent the massacre. After separating the men from the women, Bosnian Serb troops led by Mladic summarily executed some 8,000 Muslim men and boys and buried the bodies in various mass graves. Fifteen years after the killings, the remains of thousands of massacre victims have been exhumed from more than 70 mass graves around the town of Srebrenica, with more than 5,600 victims identified by DNA analysis. But for many years Serbia downplayed the scale of the killings and many here still consider Mladic a war hero who fought for Serb interests. Copyright © 2013 AFP. All rights reserved. More » \|\|\|\|\| The vote was broadcast on live television and ending after midnight Serbia's parliament has passed a landmark resolution offering an apology for the Srebrenica massacre in 1995 - the worst incident of the Bosnian War. The resolution says Serbia should have done more to prevent the tragedy. It was approved by a narrow majority. However it stopped short of calling the killings a genocide. The killing of nearly 8,000 Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) was carried out by Bosnian Serb forces - allies of then-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. Meanwhile, a Dutch court has rejected an attempt to hold the United Nations responsible for the massacre. Burden 'lifted' The resolution was approved after almost 13 hours of heated negotiations in the Belgrade parliament. AT THE SCENE Mark Lowen, BBC News, Belgrade It was passed with a majority of just two - highlighting how divisive the Srebrenica massacre remains in Serbia almost 15 years on. The governing Democratic Party believes this resolution will go some way towards rebuilding Serbia's image as it strives for EU membership. But for nationalists, the text reiterates what they see as an unfair demonisation of Serbs. Survivors of Srebrenica say that real reconciliation can only be achieved if the fugitive general Ratko Mladic is finally apprehended. The pro-Western governing coalition managed to pass the resolution with a slim majority - 127 MPs voted in favour, out of a total of 250. Only 173 were present for the vote. "The parliament of Serbia strongly condemns the crime committed against the Bosnian Muslim population of Srebrenica in July 1995," the text says. It formally extends "condolences and an apology to the families of the victims because not everything was done to prevent the tragedy". The head of the governing coalition's parliamentary group said during the debate that approval would help close a tragic chapter in Balkan history. "Condemning the crime against the Bosniaks of Srebrenica, while paying respect to the innocent victims and offering condolences to their families, will lift the burden off future generations," Nada Kolundzija was quoted as saying by Serbia's B92 website. But opposition deputies criticised the text, describing it as "shameful" for Serbia. Some nationalist politicians voted against, while others abstained in protest. Velimir Ilic, an opposition MP, said: "Why do you want to put a mark on the future generations that they will never wash away?" Serbian nationalists had argued that any resolution must also denounce crimes committed by Bosniaks and Croats during the 1992-95 war. Several mass graves have been discovered near Srebrenica The BBC's Mark Lowen in Belgrade says the resolution comes after years of denial in Serbia that the Srebrenica massacre even took place. The resolution has been criticised by Bosniaks and Muslims in Serbia because it does not describe the Srebrenica massacre as an act of genocide. It has been recognised as such by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Several Bosnian Serbs have been convicted over their role in the massacre, when Bosniak men and boys were taken from their families and shot dead. The town had been designated a UN "safe haven" under the protection of Dutch UN troops. The wartime leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Radovan Karadzic, is currently on trial in The Hague. The general accused of masterminding the killings, Ratko Mladic, is still on the run. Lawyers for the victims' relatives have tried to hold the Dutch government and the UN accountable for failing to stop the massacre. But on Tuesday, The Hague Appeals Court upheld a 2008 lower court ruling affirming UN immunity from prosecution, which it said was essential for it to be able to carry out its duties around the world. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Srebrenica Potocari Memorial Serbia's parliament has approved a landmark resolution condemning the July 1995 Srebrenica massacre, in which 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb troops. This tragedy is considered the worst atrocity carried out in Europe since the Second World War and a symbol of the brutality of the 1992–95 Balkan wars. After thirteen hours of debate, 127 of the 250 Serbia's parliament lawmakers voted to pass the landmark resolution; only 173 were present. "The parliament of Serbia strongly condemns the crime committed against the Bosnian Muslim population of Srebrenica in July 1995", says the resolution. Also, the text apologises to the families of the victims "because not everything possible was done to prevent the tragedy". But yesterday, Serbia showed the world how deeply divided it was. Democrats and Socialists, the pro-Western ruling coalition, voted in favor of the resolution because they want to bring Serbia closer to its goal of becoming a member of the European Union. The nationalist opposition, on the other hand, voted against it, saying that war crimes were made against Bosnian Serbs as well. Serb Muslim lawmakers were not satisfied with the text because it doesn't use the word "genocide", despite the term's use by the European Union and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. The former Serb Bosnian leader Radovan Karadžić is currently on trial in the UN court. The general who commanded the Serb soldiers in Srebrenica massacre, Ratko Mladić, is still on the run. Slobodan Milošević, president of Serbia during the Balkan wars, was found dead in his cell four years ago.
The M/S Explorer has been listing for hours Enlarge Image The M/S Explorer is now lying on its side close to the South Shetland Islands, in the Antarctic Ocean. Gap Adventures, which owns the ship, said 91 passengers, nine guides and 54 crew members were safely evacuated to lifeboats and then to another ship. The company said 23 Britons, 17 Dutch, 10 Australians, 13 Americans and 10 Canadians were among the 154 on board. The remaining nationalities of the rescued tourists are Irish, Danish, Swiss, Belgian, Japanese, French, German and Chinese, said the Toronto-based tour company. There was confusion earlier over crew and passenger numbers due to uncertainty at Gap Adventures. Following the news of the incident, the specialist Lloyds List maritime publication said the 2,400-tonne Explorer had five faults at its last inspection. We were passing through ice as usual but this time something hit the hold and we got a little leakage downstairs Peter Svensson first officer Worldwide rescue hub In pictures: Ship rescue Lure of polar extremes However, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), whose inspectors found the faults, said that they had all been rectified by the time the ship set sail again. "These were not huge problems and were all rectified before the vessel sailed. It would not have been allowed to depart if everything had not been sorted out," MCA spokesman Mark Clarke told PA news. All passengers and crew were transferred to a Norwegian cruise ship, the Nordnorge. 'In good spirits' The passengers were going to stay overnight at a Chilean air force base on King George Island, before being transferred on Saturday for flights home, said Gap Adventures. "They are all in good spirits," company spokeswoman Marie Anne MacRae told the BBC News website. Paola Palavecino, an ornithologist onboard the rescue ship, the Nordnorge, told the BBC that four of those rescued had suffered moderate hypothermia, but that they were all fine now, having eaten and been given additional warm clothes: "They have been in touch with their families, in the different countries and they're waiting to arrive in the Chilean base Frei to take a flight tomorrow to Punta Arenas," she added. The group had embarked from Ushuaia, on Argentina's southern tip, on 11 November for a 19-day "Spirit of Shackleton" cruise through the Drake Passage. The captain and the first officer abandoned the Liberian-registered Explorer after initially remaining on board to pump water. First officer Peter Svensson told Reuters: "We were passing through ice as usual. But this time something hit the hold and we got a little leakage downstairs. "No one was hysterical, they were just sitting there nice and quiet, because we knew there were ships coming." 'Deficiencies' According to a report on Lloyds List's website, the Explorer was found to have five "deficiencies" at an inspection in May at Greenock, Scotland, by the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Watertight doors were described as "not as required", while lifeboat maintenance problems and missing search and rescue plans were also noted. The hull has a hole the size of a fist and the outlook is not so positive for the ship at the moment Susan Hayes, vice-president of marketing for Gap Adventures Chilean port inspectors also found six deficiencies during an inspection in Puerto Natales in March, including two related to navigation matters, said Lloyds List. Gap Adventures said the Explorer was passed as fit for sea by inspectors in October this year at a dry dock before their tourist season began. The MCA said it became aware at 0524 GMT on Friday that the expedition ship was in distress near King George Island. It ran into trouble approximately 120km (75 miles) north of the Antarctic Peninsula. Susan Hayes, vice-president of marketing for Gap Adventures, said: "The hull has a hole the size of a fist and the outlook is not so positive for the ship at the moment." The company said the pumps had been used in an effort to stop the ship sinking. But the vessel is now lying on one side, with its hull exposed. The rescue operation was co-ordinated by the Ushuaia coastguard. Prices for the 19-day tour start from around $8,000 (£3,900) per cabin. Gap Adventures said that before Friday's incident, the tour group had visited the Falkland Islands to spot black-browed albatrosses, before going to South Georgia to see Shackleton's grave and the king penguin colonies. Coastguards said the weather conditions were good for this time of year, though the average temperature is still -5C. M/S EXPLORER Built: 1969, Finland Capacity: 100 passengers Tonnage: 2,400 Cruising speed: 11 knots Engines: 3,800 hp diesels Crew: 54 First custom-built expedition ship Known as the 'Little Red Ship' to aficionados Became the first passenger vessel to navigate the North West passage in 1984 Involved in rescue of crew from Argentine cargo vessel off Anvers Island, Antarctica, in 1989 You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 0044 (0)7725 100 100 When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Name: Email address: Town and Country: Phone number (optional): Comments: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. \|\|\|\|\| Tourists from a ship look for a place to disembark from a boat at the Antartic Evacuees from stricken Antarctic ship safe: coastguard LONDON (AFP) — Passengers and crew evacuated from a sinking cruiseliner were being picked up from their lifeboats after another cruise ship arrived on the scene, a coastguard spokesman said Friday. The rescue vessel, another cruise ship called the "Endeavour," steamed to help after the "MV Explorer" hit an iceberg off the Argentinian coast near the South Shetland Islands, said Falmouth coastguard spokesman Fred Caygill. "The 'Endeavour' is on the scene and is now taking them on board. All persons are accounted for," told Sky News television. The captain of the "Explorer", first officer and a number of other crew members had remained on board and were trying to deal with water entering the vessel, he added. "It's too early to say at this stage whether it will actually sink...but it is taking some ingress of water," he said. Another spokesman earlier said the ship was listing at 25 degrees. The "Endeavour" was another small cruise liner, he said, adding that other ships were also heading for the scene after being alerted by the distress call. Asked if the vessel could have hit an iceberg, the spokesman said: "We were informed that it struck something ... obviously with the terrain that it's in, it's quite possible." A Chilean navy captain later told CNN television that the ship had struck an iceberg. Weather in the area is relatively good, with the Antarctic heading from late spring into summer. The average temperature is about minus five degrees Celsius (23 Fahrenheit), he said. "It's not too inclement weather," he said.	The ''MS Nordnorge'', the cruise ship to which ''Explorer'''s passengers and crew have been transferred. All passengers and crew from the stricken Canadian cruise ship ''MS Explorer'' are safe. Since broadcasting a call for help at approximately 05:24 UTC, a number of vessels in the area have raced to rescue her 156 passengers and crew. Four vessels led by the cruise ship the ''Endeavour'' were the first to arrive and pick up the evacuees from lifeboats and RIBs, later being transferred to the Norwegian ship, ''MS Nordnorge''. In less than one hour all passengers and crew, said to be cold but in good health, were safely transferred to the ''Nordnorge'', and that vessel is now heading towards King George Island, three or four hours steaming away. Speaking on the BBC's News 24, the captain of the ''Nordnorge'' said that he was heading for the Chilean research station, from where it is expected that all can be flown back to the South American mainland. Off the South Shetland Islands the ship struck an underwater object (believed to be a submerged iceberg ) the Explorer developed a fist sized crack and began taking on water. Initially said to be listing to starboard at 25° the Argentine Coast Guard reports that the list has since increased to 45° and the vessel is expected to sink soon. Concerns now turn to possible environmental concerns and damage. The rescue effort was an international affair involving the coast guards of Argentina, USA, Chile and the UK. The UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency received notification from the US Coast Guard between 5.30-6.00 asking for the ''Explorer'''s emergency data plans.
Mstislav Rostropovich, the cellist, conductor and champion of human rights who stood at the center of musical and international life for more than half a century, died Friday of cancer at a Moscow hospital. He was 80. Rostropovich was hospitalized in February with an unspecified illness, but seemed to have recovered somewhat in subsequent weeks. He reportedly appeared frail at an 80th birthday party hosted last month at the Kremlin by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rostropovich, known to friends and fans alike by the nickname Slava, was one of the three or four greatest cellists of the 20th century, a fearless virtuoso who played with extraordinary accuracy, tonal power and expressive fervor. But he was much more. He also was an intimate friend and muse of many of the leading composers of the age. Among the composers who wrote music inspired by his genius were Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Britten, Bernstein, Witold Lutoslawski and Alfred Schnittke. He was a conductor of power and eloquence, especially in the music of composers he had known well. As a pianist, he was a dexterous recital accompanist for his wife, soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He taught generations of cellists, from Jacqueline Du Pré to Han-Na Chang. In addition to his stature as a performing artist, Rostropovich was a leading figure in the struggle for human rights within the Soviet Union. As a result of his outspokenness -- including his vocal support for the dissident author Alexander Solzhenitsyn -- Rostropovich's ability to travel was restricted. He left Russia in 1974 and remained in exile until the collapse of the Soviet Union. Finally, he was that rarity in the world of the arts, a deeply benevolent and beloved figure who inspired not only admiration but affection from colleagues and listeners alike. A warm and witty figure, Rostropovich was willing, for example, to don tutu and tights for a surprise appearance as the "ballerina" Natasha Milanova Rostropovich at a 1990 birthday celebration in Stern Grove for violinist Isaac Stern. San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas, who collaborated frequently with Rostropovich over the years, said Friday that his death left "one of those big empty spaces" in the music landscape. "With such a colossal figure, it's difficult to know where to start," he said by phone from Miami, where he was rehearsing with the New World Symphony. "The tremendous influence he had on cello playing and on the repertoire -- because of all the composers he worked with -- was just extraordinary. During the '60s and '70s, these new pieces were all emerging so quickly, it seemed like every couple of weeks there was another piece. "(Cellist Gregor) Piatigorsky used to say, 'You know, I get so tired of hearing Slava play those same 39 concertos.' "As a colleague," Thomas went on, "he was so strong and so clear that you had to hold your ground with him, especially at the beginning. By the time I met him, he had already begun doing some conducting, and it was like, 'I'm going to play the cello, but also conduct the performance, and I'll conduct it using you' -- which was not what I wanted. So we had to work it out, and we did work it out. "He was warm, he was wily, he used to give everyone bear hugs and big wet kisses and say, 'My belooooved!' "And he was tireless. I can't remember a time Slava took a vacation -- he always had some new project. He was a phenomenon, what can you say?" David Finckel, cellist with the Emerson String Quartet and co-artistic director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Music@Menlo, studied with Rostropovich. In an interview last month with the Associated Press, he said that Rostropovich "picked up from where (Pablo) Casals left off in terms of popularizing the instrument as a solo instrument. "People like Casals and (Emanuel) Feuermann brought the cello to a soloistic visibility. But Slava was the one who really provided the repertoire, particularly the repertoire of his time for us to play. (After hearing him play) I always had the same reaction: I just wanted to run home and pick up my cello. There was nothing about it that was intimidating. He was only ever encouraging, just by his presence." Rostropovich made his first San Francisco appearance in 1956, playing Prokofiev's Symphony-Concerto -- one of the many cello works written for him -- with the San Francisco Symphony and conductor Enrique Jordá. The response was rapturous. "Rostropovich is one of the most amazing cellists of modern times," music critic Alfred Frankenstein wrote in The Chronicle. "He possesses a colossal technique and has not the slightest inhibition about displaying it. What is more important, he has a fiery, temperamental, immensely exhilarating kind of musicianship." Rostropovich made his U.S. conducting debut at the San Francisco Opera in 1975, leading a production of Tchaikovsky's "Queen of Spades" with Vishnevskaya as Lisa. Controversy ensued when General Director Kurt Herbert Adler, enraged by the negative review by critic Stephanie von Buchau in the Pacific Sun, retaliated by striking her from the company's press list. That was Rostropovich's only appearance at the Opera, but he appeared frequently in Davies Symphony Hall, both with the Symphony and at the helm of the National Symphony, where he was music director from 1977 to 1994. In 1998, he performed Dvorák's Cello Concerto with Thomas and the Symphony in a single sold-out performance, lavishing his interpretive gifts on a score he had performed countless times and making it sound intense and fresh. Last year, he led the Symphony in two weeks of music by Shostakovich in honor of the composer's centennial. Rostropovich was born March 27, 1927, in Baku, the capital of what was then the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan. The family was musical, and as a child, he studied piano with his mother and cello with his father. He entered the Moscow Conservatory at 16, where he became acquainted with Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich. His early years brought a stream of recognition and acclaim, including victories at several international competitions and a Stalin Prize in 1951. Prokofiev, worn down near the end of his life by ill health and the repeated persecutions of the Soviet regime, found inspiration in the buoyant skills of the young virtuoso and revised his Cello Concerto for him. Shostakovich wrote his First Cello Concerto for him in 1959. Perhaps Rostropovich's most productive artistic friendship was with Benjamin Britten, whom he met in 1960 when he performed the Shostakovich in London. In the decade-and-a-half before his death in 1976, Britten composed his Cello Sonata, Cello Symphony and the three Suites for Unaccompanied Cello -- all mainstays of the modern cello repertoire -- for Rostropovich. Meanwhile, Rostropovich was developing as a conductor, beginning with a 1968 production of Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. But he also was coming into conflict with Soviet authorities. He was a public supporter of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who lived with him for four years, and a critic of restrictions on cultural freedom. One of his last appearances in Russia during this period was at a 1973 Moscow performance of the Dvorák Cello Concerto with Seiji Ozawa and the touring San Francisco Symphony. He and Vishnevskaya went into exile in 1974 and were stripped of their citizenship four years later. Settling in the West, Rostropovich became music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington and a regular guest conductor with the London Philharmonic, and he recorded prolifically. In 1989, he performed Bach during the demolition of the Berlin Wall. He remained a prominent figure in the fields of human rights and philanthropy, both individually and through the Vishnevskaya-Rostropovich Foundation, which supports health care initiatives for children in the former Soviet Union. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Olga and Elena. For all his involvement with the political struggles of his era, Rostropovich remained an artist first and foremost. "Music is part of history, and our history has lessons that cannot be separated from our greatest music," he said in a 1999 interview with The Chronicle. "But maybe soon, maybe finally we can feel free just to love music." E-mail Joshua Kosman at jkosman@sfchronicle.com. \|\|\|\|\| Mourning of Rostropovich watched over by Bach Printer Friendly Top News U.S. concerned at Sri Lanka abuses, halts some aid India beat Bangladesh in first one-dayer Govt to sell Maruti stake for 23.68 bln rupees Pakistan forces poised to defeat rebels - Musharraf New questions raised in Canada over Air India bomb By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) - In death as in life, Russian cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich was steeped in music when his coffin was placed in the Moscow Conservatory on Saturday. Rostropovich, who came to symbolise the fight for artistic freedom under Soviet rule, died on Friday aged 80. Thousands of people including many of Russia's most prominent cultural and public figures, paid their respects in the Conservatory's Great Hall under portraits of Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Bach and other composers. President Vladimir Putin, who had awarded Rostropovich Russia's highest order last month, laid red roses on his coffin. A recording of Rostropovich's cello music echoed through the hall. An orchestra also played Rachmaninov's First Symphony in the cellist's honour. Russian news agencies quoted organisers as saying more than 5,000 people had attended the conservatory by 1400 GMT, two hours before the end of the mourning ceremony. His wife, soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, wearing dark glasses and holding a handkerchief to her mouth, sat near the coffin which was placed on a bed of roses by the orchestra pit. "He was a great musician, the greatest," Vladimir Mikhailov, 80, said. "When I first heard him play, it brought tears to my eyes, but it also warmed my heart." Georgy, a 19-year-old cellist at the conservatory, said: "He was the last genius of his generation. I never heard him play live but I often listen to his recordings and he is like a mentor for me." Putin, who last month feted the maestro at an 80th birthday celebration in the Kremlin, called Rostropovich irreplaceable. "Spiritually generous, never indifferent, determined, fiery. So he will remain in our memories," he said in a telegram to Rostropovich's family released by the Kremlin. The cellist's death was announced four days after that of former President Boris Yeltsin, whom Rostropovich joined on the barricades to resist a coup by Soviet hardliners in 1991. LONG ILLNESS Russian news agencies quoted a source close to the musician as saying Rostropovich had died in a Moscow hospital after a long illness. A funeral service will take place in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral on Sunday and he will be buried in Moscow's Novodevichye cemetery, where Yeltsin was laid to rest on Wednesday with full state honours. Rostropovich was one of Russia's best-loved cultural figures and considered among the world's greatest cellists. He also earned a reputation internationally as a champion of civil rights during Soviet rule. While he was out of the country in 1978, the Kremlin stripped him of his citizenship for what state newspapers labelled "unpatriotic activity". He spoke up in defence of dissidents Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Andrei Sakharov when they came under attack from the Soviet authorities. The Kremlin restored his citizenship in 1990 in the new spirit of openness under Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Within days of the Berlin Wall coming down in 1989, Rostropovich took his cello to Berlin to play at an impromptu concert by the remains of the wall. "It was a call of the heart," he said later. © Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.	Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, performing at the White House on September 17, 1978. Azerbaijan-born cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich (nicknamed ''Slava'', Russian for glory) has passed yesterday at age 80, after having been admitted to a Moscow hospital in February this year, allegedly for intestinal cancer. The exact cause of death however has not been released. His coffin has been put in the Moscow Conservatory today, and many prominent and thousands of other Russians came to salute him. The cello player only died four days after his friend Boris Yeltsin. Rostropovich was not only considered to be one of the best cellists in the world, but he also was a symbol of the resistance to the Soviet regime. In 1970, he provided shelter to Alexander Solzhenitsyn, whose writings alerted the world to the Gulag system of forced labour camps in the Soviet Union. Because of his support for dissidents, Rostropovich fell in disgrace and lost his citizenship in 1978. He was restored during the perestroika reforms. Rostropovich conducted the U.S. National Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 1994. In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered him the First Degree in the Order of Service to the Fatherland for his "outstanding contribution to the development of world music and many years of creative activity." President Putin, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, French PM Dominique de Villepin and others have already expressed their regrets about the loss of Rostropovich. De Villepin brought to memory Rostropovich's performance at the Berlin Wall during it's fall, an image globally broadcasted which earned him international fame.
Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, April 16, 2005; Page E01 The Food and Drug Administration has ordered drug giants Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC to immediately pull a television ad for impotence drug Levitra, saying that the commercial does not adequately state the drug's potential side effects and that it cannot substantiate claims that it is superior to competitors such as Viagra or that it improves female satisfaction during sexual activity. The 15-second ad, called "My Man," which includes the tag line, "Levitra: When it counts," features an actress asking, "In the mood for something different?" She goes on to say Levitra is "the best way to experience that difference." The FDA ruled the claim suggests that Levitra is better than its rivals in treating erectile dysfunction. "FDA is not aware of substantial evidence or substantial clinical experience demonstrating that Levitra is superior to other [erectile dysfunction] treatments," the FDA said in a letter to the companies that was posted yesterday. Levitra is the second impotence drug to have one of its television ads pulled. In November, the FDA told Pfizer Inc. to discontinue a Viagra ad that referred to the actor as "wild thing," saying the company did not state that the drug is for men and failed to mention potential side effects. During the commercial, a browbeaten actor grows blue horns the same color as the pill and appears to become more sexually interested in his female partner. The drugmakers responsible for Levitra will comply with the FDA's order, said Michael Fleming, Glaxo spokesman. Bayer developed Levitra and joined with Glaxo to market the drug in 2001. In recent months, Bayer turned its half of the Levitra-promotion business over to Schering-Plough Corp. Sales of Levitra in 2004 totaled $248 million, according to the companies' annual reports. Fleming said the commercial in question is called a "reminder ad" and does not include the listing of potential side effects that the longer, 45-second version does. The ad was produced by the Quantum Group. Fleming would not say whether Glaxo agrees with the FDA's ruling that the commercial claims Levitra is better than its rivals. Pfizer's Viagra owns the majority of the erectile-dysfunction market share, with Levitra and Eli Lilly and Co.'s Cialis controlling around 15 percent each. The FDA said reminder ads can only call attention to a drug, not say how to use the drug or how well it might work. "In one of [the ad's] scenes, the man strokes the woman's hair and face as she affectionately puts her hand on his wrist," the FDA wrote. "In the other, she puts her arms around his neck and they embrace. \|\|\|\|\| SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Bayer Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline have been ordered by federal regulators to pull a television ad for their impotence drug, Levitra, because it made an unsubstantiated claim and failed to include information about side effects. The Food and Drug Administration on Friday sent a letter to a Bayer BAY, official outlining what elements it believes were missing or exaggerated in the advertisement. The letter was also posted on the FDA's Web site. GlaxoSmithKline GSK, +0.12% , with Schering-Plough SGP, , markets Levitra for Bayer. The FDA said the "My Man" ad fails to address Levitra's side effects, including a warning that taking alpha-blockers in addition to Levitra can produce hypotension. "The TV ad fails to include the specific indication for the drug (namely, treatment of erectile dysfunction) or the required risk information," the FDA wrote to Bayer. "The TV ad also fails to make adequate provision for dissemination of the FDA-approved labeling." Company officials at Bayer could not be reached for comment Saturday. A call to GlaxoSmithKline wasn't immediately returned. Also in the ad, a woman asks, "In the mood for something different? How about Levitra," followed by a statement that doctors should be asked "if Levitra is right for you. It's the best way to experience that difference." The FDA says those lines suggest the drug is superior to other treatments for erectile dysfunction and that it's not aware that Levitra provides better results than other drugs. The agency said Bayer should submit data, if any, to substantiate the claim. Shares of Bayer fell 75 cents to $32.96 on Friday. Shares of GlaxoSmithKline rose 32 cents to close at $47.82. Schering-Plough shares rose 8 cents to end at $20.65.	Levitra "reminder" ads pulled from TV The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has penned a stiff reminder to drug giants Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC: pull your 15-second “reminder” ad for the erectile dysfunction drug, Levitra, off TV. FDA said there is no evidence Levitra is better than rival drugs Viagra from Pfizer, or Cialis, owned by Eli Lilly and Co., in producing results that make female partners happy. Levitra and Cialis together control about 30 per cent of the market for such drugs, but Pfizer takes the majority share. Reminder ads can only call attention to a drug, not claim it works better, or at all. "In one of the ad's scenes, the man strokes the woman's hair and face as she affectionately puts her hand on his wrist," the FDA wrote. "In the other, she puts her arms around his neck and they embrace." "The totality of the TV ad also represents or suggests that Levitra will provide a satisfying sexual experience from the female partner's perspective," the agency wrote. Glaxo spokesman Michael Fleming said the drug makers would comply. Bayer developed Levitra and partnered with Glaxo to market the pills in 2001. Bayer recently turned its part of the promotion over to Schering-Plough Corp. Shares of Bayer fell 75 cents to $32.96 on Friday. Shares of GlaxoSmithKline rose 32 cents to close at $47.82. Schering-Plough shares rose 8 cents to end at $20.65.
An Iraqi man walks under the falling snow in Baghdad First snow for 100 years falls on Baghdad BAGHDAD (AFP) — Light snow fell in Baghdad early on Friday in what weather officials said was the first time in about a 100 years. Rare snowfalls were also recorded in the west and centre of Iraq, plunging temperatures to zero degrees Centigrade (32 degrees Fahrenheit) and even colder, an official said. The snow in Baghdad, which melted as it hit the ground, began falling before dawn and continued until after 9 am, residents said. "Snow has fallen in Baghdad for the first time in about a century as a result of two air flows meeting," said a statement by the meteorology department. "The first one was cold and dry and the second one was warm and humid. They met above Iraq." The director of the meteorology department, Dawood Shakir, told AFP that climate change was possibly to blame for the unusual event. "It's very rare," he said. "Baghdad has never seen snow falling in living memory. "These snowfalls are linked to the climate change that is happening everywhere. We are finding some places in the world which are warm and are supposed to be cold." Snow was also reported in the mountainous Kurdish north of the country, where falls are common. \|\|\|\|\| An Iraqi man and his child enjoy light snow fall in eastern Baghdad, Iraq on Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. After weathering nearly five years of war, Baghdad residents thought they'd pretty much seen it all. But Friday morning, as muezzins were calling the faithful to prayer, the people here awoke to something certifiably new. For the first time in memory, snow fell across Baghdad.(AP Photo/ Adil al-Khazali) Snow Day in the Sands of Baghdad BAGHDAD (AP) — The flakes melted quickly. But the smiles, wonder and excited story-swapping went on throughout the day: It snowed in Baghdad. The morning flurry Friday was the first in memory in the heart of the Iraqi capital. Perhaps more significant, however, was the rare ripple of delight through a city snarled by army checkpoints, divided by concrete walls and ravaged by sectarian killings. "For the first time in my life I saw a snow-rain like this falling in Baghdad," said Mohammed Abdul-Hussein, a 63-year-old retiree from the New Baghdad area. "When I was young, I heard from my father that such rain had fallen in the early '40s on the outskirts of northern Baghdad," Abdul-Hussein said, referring to snow as a type of rain. "But snow falling in Baghdad in such a magnificent scene was beyond my imagination." After weathering nearly five years of war, Baghdad residents thought they'd pretty much seen it all. But as muezzins were calling the faithful to prayer, the people here awoke to something certifiably new. Snow is common in the mountainous Kurdish areas of northern Iraq, but residents of the capital and surrounding areas could remember just hail. And that, only very occasionally. Summer temperatures in Baghdad are routinely a sweltering 120 degrees and winters generally mild. But this week has been unusually cold and blustery, with overnight temperatures more than 10 degrees below normal. On Thursday morning, the thermometer hovered around freezing after a low of 27, and the Baghdad airport closed because of low visibility. "I asked my mother, who is 80, whether she'd ever seen snow in Iraq before, and her answer was no," said Fawzi Karim, a 40-year-old father of five who runs a small restaurant in Hawr Rajab, a village six miles southeast of Baghdad. "This is so unusual, and I don't know whether or not it's a lesson from God," Karim said. Some said they'd seen snow only in movies. Talib Haider, a 19-year-old college student, said "a friend of mine called me at 8 a.m. to wake me up and tell me that the sky is raining snow." "I rushed quickly to the balcony to see a very beautiful scene," he said. "I tried to film it with my cell phone camera. This scene has really brought me joy. I called my other friends and the morning turned out to be a very happy one in my life." An Iraqi who works for The Associated Press said he woke his wife and children shortly after 7 a.m. to "have a look at this strange thing." He then called his brother and sister and found them awake, also watching the "cotton-like snow drops covering the trees." For a couple of hours anyway, a city where mortar shells routinely zoom across the Tigris River to the Green Zone became united as one big White Zone. There were no reports of bloodshed during the snowstorm. The snow showed no favoritism as it dusted neighborhoods Shiite and Sunni alike, faintly falling (with apologies to James Joyce) upon all the living and the dead. \|\|\|\|\| Snow is associated with north Iraq People came out on to the streets to watch and some Iraqis said it was the first time they had seen such weather other than in films. Snow is common in Iraq's mountainous Kurdish north but the closest thing Baghdad usually sees is hail. Freezing night temperatures in the city are forecast for the weekend. "I woke up and I saw snow falling, so I woke up all the family and told them to come and see the snowfall," Baghdad resident Aysar Khaled told Reuters news agency. "Everyone in Baghdad is delighted because this is a new thing, this is the first time that it snows in Baghdad... The view is very beautiful." Mohammed Abdul-Hussein, 63 and retired, told the Associated Press he had heard from his father when he was young that snow fell in the early 1940s on the outskirts of northern Baghdad. "But snow falling in Baghdad in such a magnificent scene was beyond my imagination," he added. Fawzi Karim, 40, said he had asked his 80-year-old mother, and she had never seen snow before in Iraq. "This is so unusual, and I don't know whether or not it's a lesson from God," he added. \|\|\|\|\| BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Snow fell on Baghdad on Friday for the first time in memory, and delighted residents declared it an omen of peace. "It is the first time we've seen snow in Baghdad," said 60-year-old Hassan Zahar. "We've seen sleet before, but never snow. I looked at the faces of all the people, they were astonished," he said. "A few minutes ago, I was covered with snowflakes. In my hair, on my shoulders. I invite all the people to enjoy peace, because the snow means peace," he said. Traffic policeman Murtadha Fadhil, huddling under a balcony to keep dry, declared the snow "a new sign of the new Iraq." "It's a sign of hope. We hope Iraqis will purify their hearts and politicians will work for the prosperity of all Iraqis." The streets of the capital were largely empty as big, thick, wet flakes fell on Friday morning, a weekend day in Iraq. The temperature hovered around freezing and the snow mostly melted into grey puddles when it hit the ground. But it was still lovely, said Mohanned Rahim, a baker: "This snow will bring pleasure to the people of Iraq. It's beautiful!" (Reporting by Aws Qusay; writing by Peter Graff)	Snow has fallen in Baghdad, Iraq for the first time in approximately 100 years. Although Baghdad sometimes sees hail and sleet, snow has never been seen in living memory. Snow was also recorded in the western and central parts of the country, where it is also very unusual, and in the Kurdish north, which is mountainous and commonly sees snowfall. A statement by the meteorology department read "Snow has fallen in Baghdad for the first time in about a century as a result of two air flows meeting. The first one was cold and dry and the second one was warm and humid. They met above Iraq." Dawood Shakir, director of the meteorology department, told ''AFP'' his take on the causation of the snow: "It's very rare. Baghdad has never seen snow falling in living memory. These snowfalls are linked to the climate change that is happening everywhere. We are finding some places in the world which are warm and are supposed to be cold." Temperatures in some parts of the country fell below freezing, compared to winters that are normally mild in a climate that sees summer temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow fell in the capital city from prior to dawn until just after 9 a.m. local time. The flakes failed to provide a covering of snow, instead melting quickly. However, many local people still had positive things to say about the once in a lifetime event. Mohammed Abdul-Hussein, a 63-year-old in retirement, commented "For the first time in my life I saw a snow-rain like this falling in Baghdad. When I was young, I heard from my father that such rain had fallen in the early '40s on the outskirts of northern Baghdad but snow falling in Baghdad in such a magnificent scene was beyond my imagination." Fawzi Karim, who runs a small restaurant in Hawr Rajab, six miles from Baghdad said "I asked my mother, who is 80, whether she'd ever seen snow in Iraq before, and her answer was no... This is so unusual, and I don't know whether or not it's a lesson from God," while college student Talib Haider said "a friend of mine called me at 8 a.m. to wake me up and tell me that the sky is raining snow. I rushed quickly to the balcony to see a very beautiful scene. I tried to film it with my cell phone camera. This scene has really brought me joy. I called my other friends and the morning turned out to be a very happy one in my life." Resident Aysar Khaled told ''Reuters'' "I woke up and I saw snow falling, so I woke up all the family and told them to come and see the snowfall. Everyone in Baghdad is delighted because this is a new thing, this is the first time that it snows in Baghdad... The view is very beautiful." Some viewed it as a sign of impending peace, or at least of an improving situation in the war-torn country. Hassan Zahar, a 60-year-old resident, said "It is the first time we've seen snow in Baghdad. We've seen sleet before, but never snow. I looked at the faces of all the people, they were astonished... A few minutes ago, I was covered with snowflakes. In my hair, on my shoulders. I invite all the people to enjoy peace, because the snow means peace." The snow was "a new sign of the new Iraq," according to traffic policeman Murtadha Fadhil, who spoke to ''Reuters'' whilst sheltering under a balcony. "It's a sign of hope. We hope Iraqis will purify their hearts and politicians will work for the prosperity of all Iraqis." There are no reports of any bloodshed during the time the snow was falling.
25 January 2010 10:20 David Abraham has been chosen as the new chief executive of Channel 4 following the departure of Andy Duncan.Mr Duncan stepped down from the top media job in November last year and the hunt for a replacement has been going on since then.It is not clear when Mr Abraham will step into his new post, although he has said he is looking forward to leading the organisation through its next growth period."This is an extremely exciting, if challenging, time to be working in the media," he stated."Innovation has been part of Channel 4's history and it will be at the heart of its future."Currently the chief executive of UKTV, Mr Abraham worked on the rebrand of the G2 channel to Dave in 2007.Prior to this he was president and general manager of the TLC channel for Discovery Networks USA.In November, Channel 4 announced that Lord Burns would be its new chairman, succeeding the outgoing Luke Johnson, who will leave this week.Posted by Stanley JackFor the latest media agency jobs from pfj, click here \|\|\|\|\| By Ian Burrell, Media Editor David Abraham, who transformed the reputation of the broadcaster UKTV with the marketing slogan "Everybody knows a bloke called Dave", was yesterday revealed as the new chief executive of Channel 4. A co-founder of the groundbreaking advertising agency St Luke's, Mr Abraham, 46, has held senior positions in broadcasting at the Discovery network and at UKTV, where he was appointed chief executive in 2007 and has overseen the rebranding of its portfolio, with channels being given names such as Dave, Blighty, Eden and Alibi. The renaming of the G2 channel as Dave, aimed primarily at men, brought in 8 million viewers and was widely admired within the industry. Mr Abraham must now work with newly appointed chairman Lord Burns to manage Channel 4 in an uncertain period, beyond the next election and the switch-off of the analogue signal in 2012. The broadcaster has already expressed its intention to undergo "the biggest creative transformation" in its history following the removal from the schedules of the reality show Big Brother later this year. Mr Abraham, who is said to have been appointed because of his mix of creative and commercial skills, is the first of Channel 4's six chief executives not to have previously worked at the BBC. His appointment comes in spite of pressure on the broadcaster to choose its first female chief executive. "I look forward to leading the whole organisation through its next period of growth and innovation, both creatively and commercially," he said. "What I bring ... is idealism, versatility and a record of leading creative organisations through change." In an attempt to demonstrate frugality, Channel 4 will pay Mr Abraham a salary of £490,000, with no incentive bonuses. His predecessor, Andy Duncan, received £580,000 and claimed nearly £700,000 in bonuses during his last four years. The appointment is a disappointment for Channel 4's director of television, Kevin Lygo, who was considered for the role and whose future at the channel is not clear. \|\|\|\|\| Mr Abraham's appointment follows the departure in November of the broadcaster's previous chief executive, Andy Duncan. Mr Duncan's position had, however, looked increasingly untenable ever since June, and the publication of the Government's Digital Britain white paper. Digital Britain offered no financial relief to the cash-strapped Channel 4 despite fierce lobbying from Mr Duncan. Mr Abraham's appointment coincides with the end of Luke Johnson's term as Channel 4 chairman. Mr Johnson hands over to the new chairman, Lord (Terry) Burns, next week. Both Mr Johnson and Lord Burns sat on the interview panel that appointed Mr Abraham. Lord Burns said: "David is a rare commodity as a broadcaster in that he has an exceptional track record as an innovative leader, both creatively and commercially. "At all stages of his career he's led creative teams and commissioned creative output of the highest quality in a commercial environment. It is that experience, we believe, that so well qualifies him for the challenge of running a commercially-funded, public service broadcaster like Channel 4." Mr Abraham has been chief executive of UKTV, the pay-TV joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Virgin Media, since April 2007. During that time, he has rebranded UKTV's portfolio of channels – most notably turning UKTV G2 into Dave, which has proved a huge commercial and ratings success. Prior to joining UKTV, he had been general manager of Discovery Networks UK and then president and general manager of TLC in the US. At Channel 4, he will be paid a basic salary of £490,000, compared with Mr Duncan's £580,000, though Mr Abraham will also be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 50pc of his basic salary. In common with other commercial broadcasters, Channel 4 faces a difficult financial future as online competitors such as Google compete ever more fiercely for advertising revenue. With Mr Duncan's bid for increased support from the Government having failed, the broadcaster is now focusing on maximising its commercial revenues. Channel 4's head of programming, Julian Bellamy, has recently been briefing independent producers that the broadcaster's commissioning process will increasingly rely on input from his commercial colleagues.	According to The Independent and The Telegraph, British television channel Channel 4 appointed David Abraham as the new chief executive of the channel on Friday. Abraham has been chief executive of UKTV, an organisation owned between BBC Worldwide and Virgin Media Television, since April 2007. He was also famous for creating the marketing slogan for the television channel Dave: "Everybody knows a bloke called Dave." As well as this, David was previously the general manager and president of The Learning Channel, which is currently owned by Discovery Communications. Abraham was given the appointment as chief executive of Channel 4 after the previous chief executive of the channel, Andy Duncan, departed from his position in November 2009. At around the same time that David Abraham becomes chief executive of the channel, Luke Johnson's time on the channel is due to come to an end, after it was reported in November 2009 that Lord Terence Burns was confirmed to take over his position as chairman of Channel 4. When Abraham was appointed, both Burns and Johnson were part of the interview panel. "David is a rare commodity as a broadcaster in that he has an exceptional track record as an innovative leader, both creatively and commercially," Lord Burns noted about Abraham. "At all stages of his career he's led creative teams and commissioned creative output of the highest quality in a commercial environment. It is that experience, we believe, that so well qualifies him for the challenge of running a commercially-funded, public service broadcaster like Channel 4." David Abraham commented: "I look forward to leading the whole organisation through its next period of growth and innovation, both creatively and commercially. What I bring...is idealism, versatility and a record of leading creative organisations through change."
Story Highlights • Nancy Pelosi takes the gavel as speaker of the House • Pelosi, D-California, wins election by 233 votes to 202 • Cheers and applause echo around chamber as Democrats take control • First on agenda: Tighter restrictions on earmarks, lobbying, gifts and travel Adjust font size: WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Nancy Pelosi became the first female speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday, as Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress. "I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship," Pelosi said, taking the symbol of her new job from Republican minority leader John Boehner. Cheers of the Democrats almost drowned out the clerk of the House's announcement that Pelosi was elected speaker by 233 votes to 202 -- reflecting the number of seats held by each party. (Watch jubilant congressmen as the House makes history ) In the Senate, Harry Reid took charge as majority leader, sealing the power shift to the Democrats, who have spent most of the past dozen years in the minority. Pelosi stressed that she wanted cooperation between Democrats and Republicans, echoing similar calls by President Bush on Wednesday as well as Boehner, who addressed the House before her. (Read Pelosi's speech transcript) "In this House, we may be different parties, but we serve one country," she said. Pelosi noted that her election marked "an historic moment for the women of America." "It is a moment for which we have waited over 200 years. Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights. "But women weren't just waiting," she continued. "women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal. "For our daughters and our granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling. (Watch Pelosi celebrate breaking 'the marble ceiling' ) Pelosi then moved on to promote her party's agenda. She urged Congress to hit the ground running and pass legislation quickly to ensure it will be the "most honest and open Congress in history." House Democrats want to use the first 100 hours of legislative work of the new Congress to reform lobbying, push raises to the national minimum wage, implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and reduce prescription drug costs for seniors and college loan interest rates for students. Lobbying reform will be taken up first. (Watch to see what the Democratic-led Congress might accomplish ) Reid outlined the same agenda but said the Senate would maintain its historical role of reviewing legislation at a slower pace. "It is important that we legislate the right way, with the best information available," he said. A national poll released this week showed Democrats have strong support for nearly all the measures they want to pass in their first days in charge. But Democrats' thin hold on power ensures that any successful legislation must have at least some GOP support. The Senate is divided 51-49, with two senators elected as independents caucusing with the Democrats. South Dakota Democrat Tim Johnson, who is recovering from a brain hemorrhage, was not present. Integrity tops to-do list Before the House and Senate were called to order, Reid invited Democrats and Republicans to a rare closed-door conference Thursday in the Old Senate Chamber in hopes of setting a bipartisan mood after years of political rancor. Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said the meeting gave senators in both parties "a chance to express some of their quiet frustrations [about] the level of partisanship that we've witnessed in recent years," according to The Associated Press. After passage of a series of routine resolutions -- including elevating 89-year-old Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, as President Pro Tempore, third in the line of presidential succession -- the Senate floor opened for business. (Watch Dick Cheney and Robert Byrd signal the transfer of power ) Incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, told reporters that Democrats would move quickly on rules changes. "On Thursday and Friday, we're going to adopt rules that will change the way the people's House operates to ensure its integrity, to ensure its openness and to ensure its transparency," Hoyer said Wednesday. Tighter restrictions on spending earmarks, lobbying, gifts and travel will be proposed, Democratic House leaders said. (View what House Democrats pledge to pass in the first 100 legislative hours) A $2.10 hourly increase in the minimum wage to $7.25 is among six bills Democrats pledged to advance in their first 100 hours of making new laws next week, after members are seated and committees are organized. The minimum wage was last increased in 1997. Democrats want to phase increases over two years, a proposal that has drawn conditional support from President Bush. (Minimum wages by state) But they may face a tougher hurdle in efforts to repeal Bush's ban on federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. In the only veto of his presidency to date, Bush killed a similar bill that passed with bipartisan support last year -- and White House spokesman Tony Snow said Wednesday that the president's position has not changed. The schedule for the 100 legislative hours stretches from Tuesday through January 18, five days ahead of Bush's State of the Union address. Grandchildren and grand stars Cheers and children were key components of the opening ceremonies in the House, with congressmen bringing their families to witness their swearing in. Pelosi was escorted into the House chamber by her grandchildren. She greeted colleagues with hugs and handshakes as her family walked beside her and later invited all the children present to come up to the speaker's chair for a chance to touch the gavel. Among guests watching from Pelosi's box in the House gallery were singers Tony Bennett and Carole King, and actor Richard Gere. CNN's Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report. Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| The following is the text, as prepared, of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's remarks at the opening of the 110th Congress. SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI: "Thank you, Leader Boehner. "I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship, and look forward to working with you on behalf of the American people. "In this House, we may belong to different parties, but we serve one country. We stand united in our pride and prayers for our men and women in the armed forces. They are working together to protect America, and we, in this House, must also work together to build a future worthy of their sacrifice. "In this hour, we pray for the character, courage, and civility of a former Member of this House - President Ford. He healed the country when it needed healing. This is another time, another war, and another trial of our American will, imagination, and spirit. Let us honor his memory, not just in eulogy, but in dialogue and trust across the aisle. Let us express our condolences and appreciation to Mrs. Ford and the entire Ford family for their decades of service to our country. (Story continues below) Advertise Here Advertisements Advertisements "With today's convening of the 110th Congress, we begin anew. I congratulate all Members of Congress on their election, especially our new Members. The genius of our Founders is that every two years, new Members bring to this House their spirit of renewal and hope for the American people. This Congress is reinvigorated by your optimism, your idealism, and your commitment to our country. Let us acknowledge your families, whose support has made your leadership possible. "Each of us brings to this new Congress our shared values, our commitment to the Constitution, and our personal experience. "My path to the Speakership began in Baltimore where my father was Mayor. I was raised in a large family that was devoutly Catholic, deeply patriotic, proud of our Italian American heritage, and staunchly Democratic. My parents taught us that public service was a noble calling, and that we had a responsibility to help those in need. My parents worked on the side of the angels and now they are with them. "I am so proud that my brother Tommy, also a Mayor of Baltimore, is here with my D'Alesandro family today. "Forty-three years ago, Paul Pelosi and I were married. We raised our five children in San Francisco, where Paul was born and raised. I want to thank Paul and our children Nancy Corinne, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul, and Alexandra and our six magnificent grandchildren for giving me their love, support and the confidence to go from the kitchen to the Congress. "And I thank my constituents in San Francisco for the privilege of representing them in Congress. Saint Francis of Assisi is our city's patron saint, and his prayer is our city's anthem: 'Lord, make me a channel of thy peace; where there is darkness may we bring light, where there is hatred, may we bring love, and where there is despair, may we bring hope.' "It is in that spirit that I was sent to Congress. "And today, I thank my colleagues. By electing me Speaker, you have brought us closer to the ideal of equality that is America's heritage and hope. "This is an historic moment - for the Congress, and for the women of this country. It is a moment for which we have waited more than 200 years. Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights. But women weren't just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal. For our daughters and granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling. "The election of 2006 was a call to change - not merely to change the control of Congress, but for a new direction for our country. Nowhere were the American people more clear about the need for a new direction than in Iraq. "The American people rejected an open-ended obligation to a war without end. Shortly, President Bush will address the nation on the subject of Iraq. It is the responsibility of the President to articulate a new plan for Iraq that makes it clear to the Iraqis that they must defend their own streets and their own security, a plan that promotes stability in the region, and that allows us to responsibly redeploy American forces. "Let us be the Congress that rebuilds our military to meet the national security challenges of the 21st century. "Let us be the Congress that strongly honors our responsibility to protect our people from terrorism. "Let us be the Congress that never forgets our commitment to our veterans and first responders, always honoring them as the heroes they are. "The American people also spoke clearly for a new direction here at home - they desire a new vision, a new America, built on the values that made our country great. "Our Founders envisioned a new America driven by optimism, opportunity, and courage. So confident were they in the new America they were advancing, they put on the great seal of the United States, 'novus ordo seclorum' - a new order for the ages. They envisioned America as a just and good place, as a fair and efficient society, as a source of hope and opportunity for all. "This vision has sustained us for more than 200 years, and it accounts for what is best in our great nation: liberty, opportunity, and justice. "Now it is our responsibility to carry forth that vision of a new America. "A new America that seizes the future and forges 21st century solutions through discovery, creativity, and innovation, sustaining our economic leadership and ensuring our national security. "A new America with a vibrant and strengthened middle class for whom college is affordable, health care accessible, and retirement secure. "A new America that declares our energy independence, promotes domestic sources of renewable energy, and combats climate change. "A new America that is strong, secure, and a respected leader among the community of nations. "The American people told us in the election that they expect us to work together for fiscal responsibility, with the highest ethical standards and civility. "After years of historic deficits, this new Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: pay as you go, no new deficit spending. Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt. "In order to achieve a new America, we must return this House to the American people. So our first order of business is passing the toughest ethics reform in history. This new Congress doesn't have two years or 100 days to renew itself. "Let us join together in the first 100 hours to make this Congress the most honest and open in history. This openness requires respect for every voice in the Congress. As Thomas Jefferson said, 'Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.' My colleagues elected me to be Speaker of the House - the entire House. Respectful of the vision of our Founders, the expectations of our people, and the great challenges we face, we have an obligation to reach beyond partisanship to serve all Americans. "Let us all stand together to move our country forward, seeking common ground for the common good. "We have made history, now let us make progress for our new America. "May God bless our work, and may God bless America. "For all of America's children, the House will be in order."	Nancy Pelosi Californian Democrat Nancy Pelosi, 66-years-old, has been named the 60th United States Speaker of the House with the votes 233-202. She is the first female House speaker in United States history. The opening of the Congress in 2007 marks the first time in a dozen years that the Democrats have control of the entire Congress. In her speech she said it was time for a new America: "Now it is our responsibility to carry forth that vision of a new America. A new America that seizes the future and forges 21st century solutions through discovery, creativity, and innovation, sustaining our economic leadership and ensuring our national security. A new America with a vibrant and strengthened middle class for whom college is affordable, health care accessible, and retirement secure. A new America that declares our energy independence, promotes domestic sources of renewable energy, and combats climate change. A new America that is strong, secure, and a respected leader among the community of nations," said Pelosi in her speech. She finished her speech by calling all the children, including her own grandchildren, to the microphone and declaring "For all of America's children, the House will be in order." Rep. John Boehner of Ohio was named the new Republican minority leader.
Peter Jennings dies of lung cancer Longtime ABC News anchor was 67 NEW YORK (CNN) -- Veteran newsman Peter Jennings was remembered Monday as an outstanding journalist, a hard worker and "a man of conscience and integrity." The longtime anchor of ABC "World News Tonight" died Sunday, some four months after he announced on the air that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Jennings was 67. "Good Morning America" co-host Charles Gibson announced late Sunday that Jennings had died in his New York City apartment. His wife, Kayce, his children Elizabeth and Christopher, and his sister were at his side, Gibson said. He read a statement from the family that said: "Peter died with his family around him, without pain and in peace. He knew he had lived a good life." ABC News President David Westin told reporters Monday that it was a sad day at the network where Jennings had worked for more than 40 years. "Peter, in addition to being an outstanding journalist, an outstanding leader, was also a very warm and decent man and a great friend and colleague to so many of us," Westin said. "We all got to see how professional he was on the air, and sometimes his urbanity could be mistaken for a certain distance. But in fact he was a very sensitive, warm, decent man who cared passionately for what he did, for what all of us do -- for reporting the news every day of the year." In a written statement to his staff, Westin wrote on Sunday that "we will have many opportunities in the coming hours and days to remember Peter for all that he meant to us all. ... But for the moment, the finest tribute we can give is to continue to do the work he loved so much and inspired us to do." Anchor Barbara Walters described Jennings as a stickler for details, adding that "if I knew the name of the person in the parade, he knew the name of the horse." "He pushed himself, he pushed us, he made us better. One of the things that I think was very interesting about Peter is that he didn't graduate from high school, and this gave him a kind of insecurity that made him want to work harder, and learn more," Walters said. "He wrote like a dream. You would think that he was reading a script, and it was all ad-lib. He was an anchor in every true sense of the word." President Bush remembered Jennings as a distinguished journalist. "A lot of Americans relied upon Peter Jennings for their news. He became a part of the life of a lot of our fellow citizens, and he will be missed," Bush said as he prepared to board Air Force One. "May God bless his soul." Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement that she was saddened by the death of her "close, personal friend." "Peter Jennings represented all that was best in journalism and public service. A man of conscience and integrity, his reporting was a guide to all of us who aspire to better the world around us. I learned from him and was inspired by him," she wrote. Determined fight Since April 5, when Jennings announced his diagnosis on the news program, he kept his public comments positive. Even during the initial announcement, he said he would be undergoing chemotherapy and joked about losing his hair. "I wonder if other men and women ask their doctors right away, 'OK, doc, when does the hair go?' " he said. Jennings said he was determined to fight the disease, citing National Cancer Institute statistics that nearly 10 million Americans are living with cancer. "I have a lot to learn from them, and 'living' is the key word," he said. The network's "World News Tonight" Web site has maintained an online forum where viewers could post expressions of support and good wishes for Jennings. It has also posted statements from Jennings thanking viewers for their support and his thoughts on topics such as the recent terrorist bombings in London. In an April 29 letter posted on the site, Jennings said he had been "spoiled rotten" by well-wishers and added, "I assume there are a few others out there who, like me, are going with the flow until the day gets better." His last posting came on July 29, Jennings' birthday. "Many thanks to all of you for your birthday wishes," the statement from Jennings said. "Your words -- as always -- are a great source of strength. I am celebrating today with my family -- we are all grateful." Network anchor at age 26 Jennings was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1938. His father, Charles, was the first voice of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation when it was established in the mid-1930s. At age 9, Jennings hosted "Peter's Program," a short-lived Saturday morning children's show on the CBC. A high school dropout, Jennings worked as a bank teller for several years before moving into radio and then into television in 1961. He was hired by ABC in 1964. The following year, when he was 26, Jennings was picked to anchor "The ABC Evening News." But two years later, he told his bosses he needed more seasoning and returned to field reporting, CNN correspondent Jeff Greenfield, a former ABC News employee, has said. Jennings became a foreign correspondent for the network, covering such stories as the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, when members of the Arab terrorist group Black September seized the Israeli compound and took athletes hostage and later killed them. Since he began anchoring the program in 1983, Jennings has won numerous awards, including a National Headliner Award, a George Foster Peabody Award and several Overseas Press Club Awards. He also won some 16 Emmys, according to the ABC News Web site. Asked how it felt after anchoring ABC's evening news program for 20 years, Jennings told CNN's Larry King on September 8, 2003: "Seems like yesterday; seems like forever -- all at the same time." "It's sort of, how do you measure it? Do you measure the fact that I'm 20 years older? No. I think I measure it by the events. You know, I came just as the Cold War was coming to an end." "When you think about the events that we've been through, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to, I guess you'd say, 9/11 being the culmination at the end of that, of that scope, what extraordinary changes there have been." \|\|\|\|\| Newsman Jennings Dead At 67 (Page 1 of 3) NEW YORK, August 8, 2005 Peter Jennings, the suave, Canadian-born broadcaster who delivered the news to Americans each night in five separate decades, died Sunday. He was 67.Jennings, who announced in April that he had lung cancer, passed away at his New York home, ABC News President David Westin said."Peter has been our colleague, our friend, and our leader in so many ways. None of us will be the same without him," Westin said.President Bush remembered Jennings as a distinguished journalist who became a familiar face in millions of households."A lot of Americans relied upon Peter Jennings for their news. He became a part of the life of a lot of our fellow citizens, and he will be missed," Mr. Bush said before boarding Air Force One for a trip to New Mexico to sign a major energy bill.With CBS News' Dan Rather (video) and NBC News' Tom Brokaw, Jennings was part of a triumvirate of evening news broadcast anchors who dominated U.S. network news for more than two decades, through the birth of cable news and the Internet. His smooth delivery and years of international reporting experience made him particularly popular among urban dwellers."He was a great pro, a loving husband and father, a loyal friend. Peter Jennings was one of the most talented, caring and successful journalists, not just TV journalists, of all time," said Rather."He was a fierce competitor, but a principled one. With Peter on the story, you always knew you weren't going to sleep very much because you had to have your eye on him all the time. But you also knew how ethical he was and what a passion he had for news."Brokaw said Jennings "was born to be an anchor. Peter, of the three of us, was our prince. He seemed so timeless. He had such elan and style."Like Rather and Brokaw, Jennings wasn't entirely comfortable stuck in a studio. He traveled around the world to cover stories and, when he didn't journey to Asia to cover the aftermath of the tsunami less than four months before his cancer diagnosis, it was noticed.Jennings was the face of ABC News whenever a big story broke. He logged more than 60 hours on the air during the week of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, offering a soothing sense of continuity during a troubled time."There are a lot of people who think our job is to reassure the public every night that their home, their community and their nation is safe," Jennings once told author Jeff Alan. "I don't subscribe to that at all. I subscribe to leaving people with essentially - sorry it's a cliche - a rough draft of history. Some days it's reassuring, some days it's absolutely destructive.""My favorite picture of Peter," said former colleague Justin Friedland, "is no matter where you see him, no matter what he's doing, Peter's always got a reporter's notebook tucked into the back of his belt, just so in case he runs into somebody interesting, he's ready.""First and foremost," said Friedland, a former ABC News producer, "Peter Jennings wanted to be a reporter. He wanted to tell people stories. He wanted to understand what was going on in the world and how it related to them. And I think that if people remember Peter that way, he'd be happy." \|\|\|\|\| originalreport Peter Jennings Dies at 67 'World News Tonight' Anchor Since 1983 "World News Tonight" anchor Peter Jennings (ABC News ) Aug. 7, 2005 ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings died today at his home in New York City. He was 67. On April 5, Jennings announced he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings died today at his home in New York City. He was 67. On April 5, Jennings announced he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. He is survived by his wife, Kayce Freed, his two children, Elizabeth, 25, and Christopher, 23, and his sister, Sarah Jennings. "Peter died with his family around him, without pain and in peace. He knew he'd lived a good life," his wife and children said in a statement. In announcing Jennings' death to his ABC colleagues, News President David Westin wrote: "For four decades, Peter has been our colleague, our friend, and our leader in so many ways. None of us will be the same without him. "As you all know, Peter learned only this spring that the health problem he'd been struggling with was lung cancer. With Kayce, he moved straight into an aggressive chemotherapy treatment. He knew that it was an uphill struggle. But he faced it with realism, courage, and a firm hope that he would be one of the fortunate ones. In the end, he was not. "We will have many opportunities in the coming hours and days to remember Peter for all that he meant to us all. It cannot be overstated or captured in words alone. But for the moment, the finest tribute we can give is to continue to do the work he loved so much and inspired us to do." President Bush praised Jennings' work, and said Americans will miss his reporting. "Laura and I were saddened to learn about the death of Peter Jennings," Bush said. "Peter Jennings had a long and distinguished career as a news journalist. He covered many important events, events that helped define the world as we know it today. A lot of Americans relied upon Peter Jennings for their news. He became a part of the lives of a lot of our fellow citizens, and he will be missed. May God bless his soul." Reported World-Shaping Events As one of America's most distinguished journalists, Jennings reported many of the pivotal events that have shaped our world. He was in Berlin in the 1960s when the Berlin Wall was going up, and there in the '90s when it came down. He covered the civil rights movement in the southern United States during the 1960s, and the struggle for equality in South Africa during the 1970s and '80s.	Jennings conducting an interview. Peter Jennings, longtime anchor of ABC's ''World News Tonight'' died Sunday in Manhattan after a four month fight with lung cancer. From the anchor desk or from the field, Jennings covered more than 40 years of national and international news including the erection and destruction of the Berlin Wall, the fall of apartheid, the demise of communism in Europe, the millennium, and the September 11 terrorist attacks. Jennings was honored with numerous awards for journalism, including 16 Emmys, two George Foster Peabody Awards, several Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards and several Overseas Press Club Awards. Jennings told viewers back in April in a taped message that he had lung cancer and was going to start chemotherapy treatment for it. He stated he would continue to host ''World News Tonight'' when it was possible, although he never again appeared on the broadcast. During his absence, Charles Gibson and Elizabeth Vargas filled in for Jennings. It is unknown who will replace Jennings at this time. Jennings first broadcast experience came at age nine, when he hosted his own radio show for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Following many years of reporting from the Middle East, Jennings began appearing on ''World News Tonight'' in 1978, and became its sole anchor in 1983. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the broadcast became the most popular network news program in the US, surpassing the CBS Evening News in 1986. Jennings followed in his father's footsteps: Charles Jennings served as Canada's first network news anchorman on the CBC. A native of Canada, Jennings became a U.S. citizen in 2003. He is survived by his wife, Kayce, his daughter, Elizabeth (25), his son, Christopher (23), and his sister, Sarah. Soon after he died his wife, Kayce Freed, issued this statement: "Peter died with his family around him, without pain and in peace. He knew he'd lived a good life."
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. \| \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| Leading US technology stocks suffered a sell-off on Wednesday as the market’s reaction to earnings from Intel and Yahoo demonstrated how much optimism is embedded in current share prices. Yahoo, the internet portal, and Intel, the largest chip manufacturer, ended down 12.3 per cent and 11.4 per cent respectively, while negative sentiment surrounding these two dragged down other current stars of the sector, such as Google (down 4.8 per cent) and Apple Computer (off 2.6 per cent). Further unwelcome news came after the market closed as news of strong earnings from Apple was balanced by an outlook that the market found disappointing. Apple shares fell almost 7 per cent in after-hours trading. EBay’s outlook was similarly greeted, triggering a 6 per cent fall in shares in the internet auction site in the after-market. The dramatic reaction appeared to confirm warnings from several equity strategists that optimism about earnings was already embedded in share prices, and that the market was exposed to surprises on the down-side. Intel’s failure to meet analysts’ expectations, and its warning that the outlook for revenue in the current quarter was worse than it had previously predicted, prompted a number of banks to cut their recommendations, including Citigroup and UBS. But this had more to do with its competitive position than with worries about the sector as a whole. UBS highlighted the threat to Intel from rival Advanced Micro Devices. “AMD is likely to remain a serious competitor to Intel and Intel’s longer-term risk profile is now higher than we previously believed,” analyst Thomas Thornhill said, lowering his rating on Intel to “neutral”. In the case of Yahoo!, the reaction occurred despite the company meeting its own guidance figures. At 16 cents per share, its earnings fell only marginally short of Wall Street’s official consensus of 17 cents, as compiled by First Call. Both Citigroup and Morgan Stanley described its revenue as “in line”. Justin Post, tech sector analyst at Merrill Lynch, suggested that valuations had grown so high that companies needed to deliver a positive surprise in order to avoid damage to their share prices. He said: “Beat and raise quarters are probably necessary to support near-term valuations.” He added: “While we expect strong results from eBay, given lofty expectations exiting the fourth quarter, we continue to prefer more conservatively valued InterActive in e-commerce and Expedia in online travel.” Mark Mahaney of Citigroup described the sell-off as an “over-reaction”. He said: “We attribute this to a ‘miss and lower’ quarter, and the 12 per cent intra-quarter rally in the shares. But we believe that the market over-reacted.” Mary Meeker, technology analyst at Morgan Stanley, said that she continued to rate Yahoo! an “overweight,” but said that “it may be up to (an) especially strong financial performance - that exceeds the Street’s expectations - to drive the shares higher”. She said this was more likely in the second quarter than the first.	Sharp declines in technology bellwethers Intel and Yahoo dragged down the tech laden Nasdaq Composite Index Wednesday. The index finished at 2279.64, a drop of 23.05 points or 1 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 Index ended the day with losses of 0.38 percent and 0.39 percent to end at 10,854.86 and 1277.93 respectively. The world's largest chipmaker fell nearly $3 or 11 percent to $22.60. Internet software giant Yahoo was down nearly $5 to close at $35.18 a loss of nearly 12 percent. Analysts blamed disappointing sales forecasts for the first quarter for today's selloff. A number of research firms including Citigroup and UBS handed downgrades to Intel stock today. This followed the company's failure to meet analysts’ and its own expectations for revenue and earnings during its fourth quarter earnings release yesterday. Thomas Thornhill lowered his stock rating to "neutral" and commented on Intel's competitive situation with arch-rival Advanced Micro Devices. “AMD is likely to remain a serious competitor to Intel and Intel’s longer-term risk profile is now higher than we previously believed”
Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to be sworn in on 11 February Zimbabwe's parliament has unanimously approved a constitutional amendment allowing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister. The move allows a power-sharing deal to go ahead with Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe remaining the president Mr Mugabe is expected to sign the amendment on Friday and Mr Tsvangirai is due to sworn in on 11 February. The power-sharing deal was agreed in September 2008 but has been mired by bitter disputes. Last week, southern African leaders, who have been mediating the deal, persuaded Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to join a joint administration despite their concerns over Zanu-PF's commitment to sharing power. The unity government is intended to ease Zimbabwe's economic meltdown but correspondents say this is largely dependent on the restoration of foreign aid and investment. Donors say they will only restore aid when the government is working efficiently and equally. 'Miracle' Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe told the BBC that all 184 MPs and 72 senators had approved the bill. Reuters news agency reports that the vote was greeted with jubilation and stomping of feet by MPs from both parties in the lower house - in a rare show of unity. It is important to establish trust from the word go MDC's Tendai Biti Relief and trepidation in Harare As the amendment was tabled in the lower house, the MDC's chief negotiator Tendai Biti told MPs it was a feat that the rivals had come so far. "Everything has happened on the negotiating table other than physical confrontation. It is a miracle that we are here," AFP news agency quotes him as saying. Correspondents say Mr Biti arrived in parliament after a morning in court relating to his treason charges. His trial was set for 4 May. He is accused of announcing March's presidential poll result before the official electoral body, which took more than a month to make its announcement, as well as publishing false statements and insulting the president. The MDC says the results were rigged. "We go into this government knowing that for this to work there has to be commitment," he told MPs. "It is important to establish trust from the word go." Wrangling Last week, the MDC agreed to a new timetable proposed by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc). The months of wrangling between Zanu-PF and MDC have centred on how the most powerful cabinet posts were to be shared out - especially that of the Home Affairs ministry which controls the police. Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for nearly 29 years Negotiators are still trying to hammer out who gets what ahead of the unity government taking over on 13 February. Another stumbling block had been attacks on and abduction of opposition and human right activists after the September deal - and Mr Tsvangirai still insists political abductees must be released. Zimbabwe is enduring rampant inflation and an escalating food crisis. An outbreak of cholera, fuelled by the collapse of infrastructure, has now infected nearly 66,000 people and killed more than 3,300. Mr Tsvangirai won the first round of presidential elections last March, but pulled out of a run-off against Mr Mugabe in June, citing state-sponsored violence against his supporters. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| WORLD NEWS Zimbabwe's parliament passes unity government law By MacDonald DzirutwePosted 2009/02/05 at 12:08 pm EST HARARE, Feb. 5, 2009 (Reuters) Zimbabwe's parliament passed a constitutional bill on Thursday to allow a coalition government of President Robert Mugabe and opposition rivals being set up under a deal to end political and economic crisis. Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai agreed last week to join a unity government with Mugabe's ZANU-PF after months of wrangling over ministerial posts had stalled a power-sharing deal signed last year. The vote on Wednesday was the first concrete step by the two parties to meet a deadline set by leaders from the Southern Africa Development Community for a unity government to be in place by February 13. Parliamentary Speaker Lovemore Moyo said 184 lawmakers in the 210-seat parliament had voted for the bill, easily surpassing the two-thirds needed. Tsvangirai's party has 100 seats to 99 for ZANU-PF. The vote was greeted with jubilation and stomping of feet by legislators from both parties, in a rare show of unity. When he introduced the bill, Mugabe's Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa described the establishment of a unity government as "a leap of faith." "With the enactment of the bill, the train of the inclusive government will be leaving the station, and we should let bygones be bygones," he said. MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti said the new unity government should give hope to Zimbabwe. "We have no choice other than to give this experiment a try," he said. After its endorsement by the lower House of Assembly, the bill was immediately taken to the Senate where it was passed unanimously. It should then be signed into law by Mugabe. Tsvangirai will become prime minister in the envisaged unity government. Mugabe will remain president. He was re-elected last June in a run-off vote which the opposition boycotted, citing attacks on its supporters. Once a prosperous country, Zimbabwe's economy is in ruins, with half the population in need of food aid. Official inflation, last recorded in mid-2008, had soared to 231 million percent and the United Nations says unemployment is 94 percent. The southern African country is also stricken by the continent's deadliest cholera epidemic in 15 years, infecting 65,739 people and killing 3,323. John Makumbe, a veteran political commentator and critic of Mugabe, said although the process of forming a unity government was now on track after being stalled for months, the MDC needed to remain vigilant. "I think Mugabe's plan is to compromise them, and I think he is going to play his usual devious games in that new government as well, try to grab all the powers for himself," he said. Reuters 2008. See Copyright2008. See Restrictions for more details. Related Stories Zimbabwe drops treason charge against MDC official HARARE, Feb. 6, 2009 (Reuters) A Zimbabwe court dropped a treason case against an opposition leader on Friday after state lawyers failed to provide a trial date, a sign that President Robert Mugabe's government wanted a coalition government to succeed. Zimbabwe parliament delays unity govt law HARARE, Feb. 4, 2009 (Reuters) Zimbabwe's parliament will delay debate on a law to form a unity government, a senior opposition official said on Wednesday, a setback that could further prolong a political and damaging economic crisis. Zimbabwe to pass unity government law on Wednesday: media HARARE, Feb. 1, 2009 (Reuters) Zimbabwe will this week push constitutional changes through parliament to pave the way for a power-sharing government between President Robert Mugabe and the opposition, state media reported Sunday. Zimbabwe MDC doubtful summit will resolve deadlock HARARE, Jan. 20, 2009 (Reuters) Zimbabwe's main opposition party said on Tuesday it was doubtful another regional summit next week would rescue a fragile power-sharing pact between President Robert Mugabe and his rivals. Reuters 2008. See Copyright2008. See Restrictions for more details. Search NewsDaily Number of stories in archives: 2,855	Robert Mugabe The parliament of Zimbabwe has unanimously voted for a constitutional amendment allowing a coalition government to be formed between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Under the bill, Mugabe would remain president of the country, but Tsvangirai would take the office the prime minister. The latter is to be sworn into office on the 11th of February. The bill, after being endorsed by the House of Assembly, was subsequently taken to the Senate, where it was passed without a single dissenting vote. Mugabe is expected to sign the bill into law on Friday. Tendai Biti, the secretary-general for the MDC, stated that the new coalition government should give hope to the country, saying that "we have no choice other than to give this experiment a try." Other people, such as political commentator John Makumbe, however, are wary of the deal. "I think Mugabe's plan is to compromise them, and I think he is going to play his usual devious games in that new government as well, try to grab all the powers for himself," Makumbe said. Tsvangirai won the presidential election in March of last year, but not by a large enough margin to avoid a run-off election, held in June. Tsvangirai withdrew from those elections, citing state-sponsored attacks against his supporters. The southern African country has been crippled by several crises recently, not least of which are a cholera epidemic, which has killed 3,323 people, and rampant hyperinflation, which has officially been measured at 231,000,000% per annum. The United Nations has estimated Zimbabwe's unemployment rate at 94%.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A Taliban suicide bomber wearing an Afghan army uniform set off a huge explosion Saturday while trying to board a military bus in the capital, killing 30 people, most of them soldiers, officials said. An Afghan soldier guards the site of a suicide bus blast in Kabul, Afghanistan, as others collect evidence. Hours later, the Afghan president offered to meet personally with the Taliban leader for peace talks and give the militants a position in government. Strengthening a call for negotiations he has made with increasing frequency the last several weeks, President Hamid Karzai said he was willing to meet with Taliban leader Mullah Omar and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former prime minister and factional warlord leader. "If I find their address, there is no need for them to come to me, I'll personally go there and get in touch with them," Karzai said. "Esteemed Mullah, sir, and esteemed Hekmatyar, sir, why are you destroying the country?" Karzai said he has contacts with Taliban militants through tribal elders but that there are no direct and open government communication channels with the fighters. "If a group of Taliban or a number of Taliban come to me and say, 'President, we want a department in this or in that ministry or we want a position as deputy minister ... and we don't want to fight anymore... If there will be a demand and a request like that to me, I will accept it because I want conflicts and fighting to end in Afghanistan," Karzai said. "I wish there would be a demand as easy as this. I wish that they would want a position in the government. I will give them a position," he said. Four employees with the International Committee of the Red Cross, kidnapped earlier this week while negotiating the release of a German hostage, were freed in good health Saturday, said Mohabullah, the police director of criminal investigations of the Sayad Abad district where the four were taken. He had no news about the German. The number of kidnappings in Afghanistan has spiked in recent months after the Taliban secured the release of five insurgent prisoners in exchange for a captive Italian journalist in March -- a heavily criticized swap that many feared would encourage abductions. The Taliban kidnapped 23 South Koreans in July, a hostage crisis that scored the militants face-to-face talks with South Korean government delegates. Two of the Koreans were killed; 21 were eventually released. Karzai earlier this month renewed a call for talks with the Taliban, and a spokesman for the militant group initially said the fighters might be open to negotiations. But spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi later said foreign troops must first leave the country -- a demand Karzai said Saturday he would not meet. "It should be very clear until all our roads are paved, until we have good electricity and good water, and also until we have a better Afghan national army and national police, I don't want any foreigners to leave Afghanistan," he said. He said he still wanted negotiations with Taliban militants of Afghan origin "for peace and security." He ruled out talks with al-Qaida and other foreign fighters. NATO and the United Nations have said an increasing number of Taliban fighters are interested in laying down their arms. NATO's ambassador to Afghanistan, Daan Everts, said this month that NATO would look into the possibility of talks. More than 4,500 fighters have taken part in a two-year reconciliation process, but the Taliban have launched more than 100 suicide attacks this year, a record pace. Saturday's explosion ripped off the roof of the bus and tore out its sides, leaving a charred hull of burnt metal. It was reminiscent of the deadliest insurgent attack in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 -- when a bomber boarded a police academy bus at Kabul's busiest transportation hub in June and killed 35 people. Dozens of civilians and police officers searched for bodies. Nearby businesses also were damaged. "For 10 or 15 seconds, it was like an atom bomb -- fire, smoke and dust everywhere," said Mohammad Azim, a police officer who witnessed the explosion. Watch soldiers secure area around bombed-out bus » Karzai said 30 people were killed -- 28 soldiers and two civilians. The Health Ministry said another 30 were wounded. "It was a terrible tragedy, no doubt an act of extreme cowardice," Karzai said. "Whoever did this was against people, against humanity, definitely against Islam. A man who calls himself Muslim will not blow up innocent people in the middle of Ramadan," the Muslim holy month. A purported Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed the militant group was responsible for the blast in a text message to The Associated Press. Mujahid said the bomber was a Kabul resident named Azizullah. The bus had stopped in front of a movie theater to pick up soldiers when a bomber wearing a military uniform tried to board around 6:45 a.m. local time, army spokesman Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi said. "Typically there are people checking the IDs of soldiers who want to board the bus," Azimi said. "While they were checking the IDs the bomber tried to get on the bus and blew himself up there." 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 Hamid Karzai • The Taliban • Kabul • Afghanistan War • Afghanistan \|\|\|\|\| NEWS CENTRAL/S. ASIA Afghan troops killed in bus bomb A crime scene investigator works at the site of the blast in Kabul [Reuters] At least 31 people have now died after a bomb tore through a bus carrying Afghan soldiers in the country's capital, Kabul. The explosion on Saturday morning, carried out by a suicide bomber in army uniform, split the bus in two. A police officer at the scene said the bus had been full at the time. The Taliban said it carried out the attack. The health and defence ministries have said that most of the dead were military personnel, going to work at the defence ministry, but several civilians were also killed. The blast shattered nearby shop windows in the residential suburb. Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatemi, the public health minister, said: "At this time I can tell you that 31, almost all of them military personnel, have been martyred." Fatemi also said that 17 of the wounded were in a critical condition. The attacker detonated explosives strapped to his body as he approached the bus, the ministry said in a statement. The attack is the deadliest in the city since an explosion on a police bus in June that killed as many as 35 people. Carnage Mohammad Zaher, a witness who had cuts to his forehead from flying glass, said: "The explosion happened just after a group of Afghan National Army soldiers got on to the bus." Mohammad Azim, a police officer at the scene, said: "For 10 or 15 seconds, it was like an atom bomb - fire, smoke and dust everywhere," Azim said. Sulahdin, an army officer at the scene who goes by one name, said there were more than 50 people on the bus at the time of the explosion. Television pictures had showed the bodies of men who appeared to be Afghan national army soldiers being pulled from the wreckage. Some of the dead were still in their seats. Month of 'operations' Zabihullah Mujahed, a Taliban spokesman, said the attack was part of a Taliban "operation" for the holy month of Ramadan. There have been more than 100 suicide attacks in Afghanistan this year, many blamed on the Taliban. While most attacks occur in remote areas in the south and east of Afghanistan, there have been a series of blasts inside Kabul this year. This attack was the first inside the heavily patrolled capital since a suicide bomb struck a Nato armoured vehicle on September 21, killing a French soldier and wounding several Afghans. Source: Agencies \|\|\|\|\| You can now read The Irish Times on your computer screen exactly as it appears in the print edition. » Click here to find out more	Map highlighting location of Afghanistan. A suicide bomber blew himself up on a bus carrying more than 50 people in Kabul, Afghanistan killing at least 31 and critically injuring 17 of the people on board. 28 were Afghan soldiers, and so far at least two civilians have been killed. "At this time I can tell you that 31, almost all of them military personnel, have been martyred," said Afghanistan's Public Health Minister, Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatemi. Reports say that the suicide bomber, who was dressed in a military uniform, walked onto the bus and blew himself up, tearing it into two pieces. Several businesses were also damaged in the attack and military personnel were retrieving body parts from trees. Zabiullah Mujahid of the Taliban, says they are responsible for the blast and stated that the bomber was 'Azizullah', a Kabul resident.
AFP - Saudi forces battled Yemeni rebels for a fifth straight day on Saturday as medics said seven Saudis and an unknown number of rebels had been killed. Huge plumes of smoke could be seen rising above Jebel al-Dukhan, a 2,000-metre (6,600-foot) peak that marks the frontier near the border town of Al-Khubah, some 60 kilometres (40 miles) inland from the Red Sea coast. Saudi commanders said troops were shelling suspected rebel positions. At the district hospital in the nearby town of Samtah, a medical official said seven Saudis, four of them women civilians, had been killed and 126 people wounded since the fighting first erupted on Tuesday. The official said Friday had been the "heaviest day" for casualties so far, with two soldiers killed and many people wounded. Saudi media said the four women, all of them from the same family, had been killed in rebel shelling. They said fighting flared again on Friday night after rebels dress as women infiltrated the Saudi border villages of Al-Qarn, Qawa and Al-Dafeneyah. Local news website Jazannews.com said some 40 rebels had surrendered to Saudi forces. Saudi authorities say the fighting erupted when the rebels attacked a border post, killing one Saudi border guard and wounding 11. But the rebels said they had come under attack by Saudi ground troops inside Yemen. They said they had repulsed the cross-border assault, capturing a number of soldiers. "With Allah's help, the Saudi tyrannical advance into Yemen's territory has been defeated," a statement on the rebels' website said. "A number of its troops have been captured and several military vehicles and supplies been seized." A Saudi statement said the air force had struck the border zone on Wednesday and Thursday to clear areas where the rebels had encroached on the kingdom's territory. But a Saudi government adviser told AFP on Thursday that F-15 and Tornado jets had bombed rebel camps inside Yemen with Sanaa's blessing. The adviser's comments were the first acknowledgement of Saudi involvement in the Yemeni government's efforts to put an end to the five-year-old uprising by Zaidi Shiite rebels in the mountainous north of the country, one of the world's poorest. Saudi authorities have evacuated residents of border villages to newly erected camps. In Yemen, relief agencies have expressed mounting concern about getting aid to the tens of thousands of people who have fled the fighting since the government launched an all-out offensive on August 11. Washington has voiced concern over the expansion of the conflict to involve its key Gulf ally. "It's our view that there can be no long-term military solution to the conflict between the Yemeni government and the rebels," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said on Thursday. But Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates all voiced support for the regional kingpin in its battle with the Yemeni rebels. Yemeni authorities accuse the rebels of seeking to restore the Zaidi imamate that ruled in Sanaa until its overthrow in a republican coup in 1962 that sparked eight years of civil war. The rebels deny the charge. An offshoot of Shiite Islam, the Zaidis form the majority community in the far north but are a minority in mainly Sunni Yemen. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is himself a Zaidi. \|\|\|\|\| The rebels claim Saudi planes have bombed Yemeni villages Saudi Arabia has insisted its forces only attacked Yemeni rebel positions on Saudi territory, according to the state news agency. This directly contradicts a number of separate reports on Thursday that air strikes had taken place on on rebel strongholds in northern Yemen. The government said it would continue fighting to drive out all the rebels who had infiltrated across the border. The rebels say that Saudi airplanes are bombing northern Yemeni villages. A spokesman for the rebels, who are known as Houthis, alleged on Thursday that a Saudi air strike hit a market in Saada in north Yemen, killing a group of civilians. The Saudi government has said that its conflict with the rebels began when a Saudi border official was killed and rebels later captured an area of mountainous territory in the Saudi province of Jizan. The rebels had claimed there were minor clashes with Saudi forces along the border before then. Intense fighting The Houthis have been engaged in an intense wave of fighting with the Yemeni army since the government launched a major new offensive in August 2009. They have long alleged that Saudi Arabia has been giving support to the Yemeni regime, a claim both governments denied, but in recent weeks Saudi forces have been overtly drawn into the fighting. The Houthis, named after the family of their leader, say they want greater autonomy and a greater role for their version of Shia Islam. They complain that their community is discriminated against. The Yemeni government accuses the rebels of wanting to re-establish Zaidi Shia clerical rule, and of receiving support from Iran. The Zaidi Shia community are a minority in Yemen, but make up the majority in the north of the country. The insurgents first took up arms against the government in 2004, after which government forces killed or captured much of the Houthi leadership. Aid agencies say tens of thousands of people have been displaced in the latest round of fighting. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Royal Saudi air force F-15 used in attacks Saudi Arabian military forces have continued their five-day attack against Yemeni rebels, leaving seven Saudis and an unknown number of Yemeni dead, according to the state news agency. The military has stated that only rebel forces on Saudi soil have been attacked, in contradiction with previous reports. Rebels have claimed that the military have targeted Yemeni villages. An official at Samtah's district hospital listed seven Saudis, of which four women civilians, as dead and 126 wounded since fighting began. He said Friday had been the "heaviest day" for casualties since Tuesday, leaving two soldiers dead and many wounded. According to Saudi media, rebel shelling killed the women, who were all from the same family. According to the Saudi government the fighting began when rebels killed a Saudi border official and wounded eleven, going on to capture an area in the province of Jizan, though rebels say that border clashes had started earlier. The latest attacks took place after rebels disguised as women entered Saudi border villages on Friday night. Rebels claim that Saudi ground troops have entered Yemeni territory, and that they have captured soldiers. They stated on their website that "with Allah's help, the Saudi tyrannical advance into Yemen's territory has been defeated ... A number of its troops have been captured and several military vehicles and supplies been seized." The Saudi government responded that the airstrikes were on Saudi border territory to repel the rebels, although on Thursday a Saudi government adviser informed reporters that jets had bombed rebel camps within Yemen with the Yemeni government's blessing. Relief agencies are concerned about providing aid to the tens of thousands displaced since the latest offensive started on August 11.
Six killed as helicopters collide over Arizona LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Six people were killed and one critically injured Sunday when two medical helicopters collided mid-air over Flagstaff, Arizona, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said. Both helicopters were headed to the hospital when they collided, spokesman Ian Gregor said. Three of those killed were aboard a Bell 407 operated by a company called Air Methods. At least one of those killed was a patient. The other three fatalities were aboard the same type of chopper, operated by a company called Classic Helicopter Service of Utah. Another person on board was critically injured. The FAA earlier said that seven people were killed and three injured. No one on the ground was killed, Gregor said. However, two ambulance workers were injured by the explosion of one of the helicopters when they arrived at the scene, a fire spokesman told local KPHO television. The crash of the two choppers triggered a wildfire in a heavily wooded area that was swiftly brought under control, a Flagstaff Fire Department spokesman said. FAA inspectors were heading to the scene of the accident, which occurred at 3:45 pm (1045 GMT), Gregor said. "I certainly wouldn't want to speculate on what would have caused this," he said. Copyright © 2013 AFP. All rights reserved. More » \|\|\|\|\| (Adds details background) LOS ANGELES, June 29 (Reuters) - Six people were killed and one was seriously injured on Sunday when two medical helicopters collided on their way to a hospital in Flagstaff, Arizona, air officials said. The helicopters crashed near Flagstaff at about 3.45 p.m. PDT (2245 GMT), said Ian Gregor, a spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration in Los Angeles. Preliminary reports indicated at least one patient was among the three people killed in a helicopter operated by Air Methods Corp (AIRM.O), Gregor said. The other four fatalities, as well as as the injury, occurred aboard a helicopter operated by Classic Helicopter of Utah, he added. A spokesman for the Flagstaff Police Dept. said two rescue workers were slightly injured in a secondary blast as one of the helicopters on the ground exploded. "They were treated for minor burns injuries and were released from the hospital in good condition," Sergeant Tom Boughner told Reuters by telephone from the crash site. Boughner said the two helicopters slammed into a hillside covered with ponderosa pines, leaving a large field of scattered debris and sparking a fire. The blaze torched about 10 to 15 acres (4 to 6 hectares), but was quickly contained. Flagstaff lies about 75 miles (120 km) south of the Grand Canyon National Park, one of the largest tourist draws in the United States, which attracts some 5 million visitors a year. Four people were killed in a similar accident in Arizona last year, when two news television helicopters collided while following a car chase in Phoenix. (Reporting by Dean Goodman. Additional reporting by Tim Gaynor in Arizona; editing by Philip Barbara)	Two medical helicopters en route to Flagstaff Medical Center reportedly crashed into each other near Flagstaff Arizona, United States, leaving six of the seven passengers dead, and one, a nurse, seriously injured. A Bell 407 helicopter on land At least one passenger of three on a Bell 407 helicopter operated by Air Methods Corp. was reported to be a patient. The other helicopter, also a Bell 407, operated by Classic Helicopters, Ltd., carried four passengers who are all dead except for one with serious injures. Spokesperson Matt Stein of Classic Helicopters said that the patient on board the helicopter they operated was being lifted from a medical emergency on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The helicopters collided at about 3:45 pm PDT (22:45 UTC), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and crashed about half a mile (800 metres) from the hospital. The helicopters crashed into a forested hillside, igniting a fire that burned about ten to fifteen acres (four to six hectares) of land, but was contained quickly by rescue workers. Two medical rescue workers were released from a hospital after an explosion of one of the helicopters on the ground. Reuters was told by Sergeant Tom Boughner that "They were treated for minor burns injuries and were released from the hospital in good condition". Downtown Flagstaff, Arizona Flagstaff is a city near the centre of Arizona in the United States. The surrounding areas north-east, west, and south-west are lined with hillsides. The city is just south-east of the popular tourist attraction, the Grand Canyon. Classic Helicopters states that their pilot had over 10,000 hours of experience and this is the first fatal incident they've had. The FAA is performing an investigation of the incident.
Ginger Baker, the volatile and propulsive British musician who was best known for his time with the power trio Cream, died Sunday at age 80, his family said. Baker wielded his blues power and jazz technique to help break open popular music and become one of the world's most admired and feared musicians. With blazing eyes, orange-red hair and a temperament to match, the London native ranked with The Who's Keith Moon and Led Zeppelin's John Bonham as the embodiment of musical and personal fury. Using twin bass drums, Baker fashioned a pounding, poly-rhythmic style uncommonly swift and heavy that inspired and intimidated countless musicians. But every beat seemed to mirror an offstage eruption — whether his violent dislike of Cream bandmate Jack Bruce or his on-camera assault of a documentary maker, Jay Bulger, whom he smashed in the nose with his walking stick. DIAHANN CARROLL, PIONEERING ACTRESS KNOWN FOR 'JULIA' AND 'DYNASTY,' DEAD AT 84 Bulger would call the film, released in 2012, "Beware of Mr. Baker." Baker's family said on Twitter that he died Sunday: "We are very sad to say that Ginger has passed away peacefully in hospital this morning." His daughter Nettie confirmed that Baker died in Britain but gave no other details. The family had said on Sept. 25 that Baker was critically ill in the hospital. While Rolling Stone magazine once ranked him the third-greatest rock drummer of all time, behind Moon and Bonham, Baker had contempt for Moon and others he dismissed as "bashers" without style or background. Baker and his many admirers saw him as a rounded, sophisticated musician — an arranger, composer and student of the craft, absorbing sounds from around the world. He had been playing jazz since he was a teenager and spent years in Africa in the 1970s, forming a close friendship with the Nigerian musician-activist Fela Kuti. ANNA QUAYLE, ‘GRANGE HILL’ AND ‘CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG’ STAR DEAD AT 86 "He was so unique and had such a distinctive personality," Stewart Copeland of the Police told www.musicradar.com in 2013. "Nobody else followed in his footsteps. Everybody tried to be John Bonham and copy his licks, but it's rare that you hear anybody doing the Ginger Baker thing." But many fans thought of Baker as a rock star, who teamed with Eric Clapton and Bruce in the mid-1960s to become Cream — one of the first supergroups and first power trios. All three were known individually in the London blues scene and together they helped make rock history by elevating instrumental prowess above the songs themselves, even as they had hits with "Sunshine of Your Love," ''I Feel Free" and "White Room." Cream was among the most successful acts of its time, selling more than 10 million records. But by 1968 Baker and Bruce had worn each other out and even Clapton had tired of their deafening, marathon jams, including the Baker showcase "Toad," one of rock's first extended drum solos. Cream split up at the end of the year, departing with two sold-out shows at London's Albert Hall. When told by Bulger that he was a founding father of heavy metal, Baker snarled that the genre "should have been aborted." THE MUFFS SINGER KIM SHATTUCK DEAD AT 56 To the surprise of many, especially Clapton, he and Baker were soon part of another super group, Blind Faith, which also featured singer-keyboardist Stevie Winwood and bassist Ric Grech. As Clapton would recall, he and Winwood had been playing informally when Baker turned up (Baker would allege that Clapton invited him). Named Blind Faith by a rueful Clapton, the band was overwhelmed by expectations from the moment it debuted in June 1969 before some 100,000 at a concert in London's Hyde Park. It split up after completing just one, self-titled album, as notable for its cover photo of a topless young girl as for its music. A highlight from the record: Baker's cymbal splashes on Winwood's lyrical ballad "Can't Find My Way Home." From the 1970s on, Baker was ever more unpredictable. He moved to Nigeria, took up polo, drove a Land Rover across the Sahara, lived on a ranch in South Africa, divorced his first wife and married three more times. ‘KARATE KID’ ACTOR ROBERT GARRISON DEAD AT 59 He recorded with Kuti and other Nigerians, jammed with Art Blakey, Elvin Jones and other jazz drummers and played with John Lydon's Public Image Ltd. He founded Ginger Baker's Air Force, which cost a fortune and imploded after two albums. He endured his old enemy, Bruce, when Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and for Cream reunion concerts a decade later. Bruce died in 2014. Baker continued to perform regularly in his 70s despite arthritis, heart trouble, hearing loss dating from his years with Cream and lung disease from smoking. No strangers to vices and not a fan of modesty, he called his memoir "Hellraiser: The Autobiography of the World's Greatest Drummer." "John Bonham once made a statement that there were only two drummers in British rock 'n' roll; himself and Ginger Baker," Baker wrote in his book. "My reaction to this was, 'You cheeky little bastard!'" Born in 1939, Peter Edward Baker was the son of a bricklayer killed during World War II when Ginger was just 4. His father left behind a letter that Ginger Baker would quote from: "Use your fists; they're your best pals so often." Baker was a drummer from early on, even rapping out rhythms on his school desk as he mimicked the big band music he loved and didn't let the occasional caning from a teacher deter him. As a teenager, he was playing in local groups and was mentored by percussionist Phil Seamen. "At this party, there was a little band and all the kids chanted at me, 'Play the drums!''', Baker told The Independent in 2009. "I'd never sat behind a kit before, but I sat down — and I could play! One of the musicians turned round and said, 'Bloody hell, we've got a drummer', and I thought, 'Bloody hell, I'm a drummer.'" JESSYE NORMAN, OPERA LEGEND, DEAD AT 74 Baker came of age just as London was learning the blues, with such future superstars as Clapton, Mick Jagger and Jimmy Page among the pioneers. Baker joined Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, where he met (and soon disliked, for allegedly playing too loud) the Scottish-born bassist Jack Bruce, with whom he was thrown together again as members of the popular British group the Graham Bond Organization. Clapton, meanwhile, was London's hottest guitarist, thanks to his work with the Yardbirds and John Mayall's Blues Breakers, his extraordinary speed and agility inspiring "Clapton is God" graffiti. Clapton, Baker and Bruce would call their band Cream because they considered themselves the best musicians around. "Oh for god's sake, I've never played rock," Baker told the blog JazzWax in 2013. "Cream was two jazz players and a blues guitarist playing improvised music. We never played the same thing two nights running. Jack and I had been in jazz bands for years. All that stuff I did on the drums in Cream didn't come from drugs, either. It was from me. It was jazz." \|\|\|\|\| Image caption The drummer was known for his hair-trigger temper as much as his music Ginger Baker, one of the most innovative and influential drummers in rock music, has died at the age of 80. A co-founder of Cream, he also played with Blind Faith, Hawkwind and Fela Kuti in a long and varied career. His style combined the lyricism of jazz with the crude power of rock. One critic said watching him was like witnessing "a human combine harvester". But he was also a temperamental and argumentative figure, whose behaviour frequently led to on-stage punch-ups. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Baker continued to play around the world despite his failing health Nicknamed Ginger for his flaming red hair, the musician was born Peter Edward Baker in Lewisham, south London, shortly before World War Two. His bricklayer father was killed in action in 1943, and he was brought up in near poverty by his mother, step-father and aunt. A troubled student, he joined a local gang in his teens and became involved in petty theft. When he tried to quit, gang-members attacked him with a razor. 'Natural time' His early ambition was to ride in the Tour de France but he was forced to quit the sport when, aged 16, his bicycle got "caught up" with a taxi. Instead, he took up drumming. "I was always banging on the desks at school," he recalled. "So all the kids kept saying, 'Go on, go and play the drums', and I just sat down and I could play. "It's a gift from God. You've either got it or you haven't. And I've got it: time. Natural time." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption He honed his craft in London's pubs and clubs The strong legs he'd developed on long bike rides helped him play the double bass drum set-up he favoured and Baker soon talked his way into his first gig. He played with jazz acts like Terry Lightfoot and Acker Bilk but his style - fragmented and aggressive, but articulate and insistent - was often an odd fit. Instead, he gravitated towards London's burgeoning blues scene and, in 1962, joined Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated on the recommendation of Charlie Watts - who was leaving to join the Rolling Stones. He gained early fame as a member of the Graham Bond Organisation alongside bassist Jack Bruce - but it was their partnership with Eric Clapton in Cream that made all three superstars. One of rock's first "supergroups", they fused blues and psychedelia to dazzling effect on songs like Strange Brew, Sunshine of Your Love, Badge and I Feel Free. They sold more than 35 million albums and were awarded the world's first ever platinum disc for their LP Wheels of Fire. Along with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the band expanded the vocabulary of heavy rock, especially during their incendiary live shows, where the three musicians would stretch simple riffs into long, exploratory improvisations. "It was as if something else had taken over," Baker once said of playing with Cream. "You're not conscious of playing. You're listening to this fantastic sound that you're a part of. And your part is just… happening. It was a gift, and we three had it in abundance." But the volatility that fuelled their performances was rooted in animosity. Baker and Bruce's arguments were frequent and violent, even driving Clapton to tears on one occasion. Once, Baker attempted to end one of Bruce's solos by bouncing a stick off his snare drum, and into Bruce's head. "So I grabbed my double bass," Bruce later recalled, "and demolished him and his kit." The band eventually split after two years and four albums, with a farewell concert at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1968. "Cream came and went almost in the blink of an eye, but left an indelible mark on rock music," wrote Colin Larkin in the Encyclopaedia of Popular Music. Bands who built on their template included Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin - not that Baker was impressed. "I don't think Led Zeppelin filled the void that Cream left, but they made a lot of money," he told Forbes. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Cream in Central Park, shortly before their farewell concert (L-R): Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce Following the band's demise, he teamed up with Clapton and Steve Winwood to form Blind Faith, followed by the ambitious 10-piece Air Force, which combined his interests in jazz and Afro-fusion. While the musicianship was of a high standard, the eclectic mix of jazz, blues, African music and a surfeit of drums - there were three percussionists - was never going to inspire a mass following. After one studio album and a live concert at the Royal Albert Hall, Air Force, undermined by personnel changes, finally crashed and burned. The drug-related death of his friend, Jimi Hendrix, persuaded Baker it was time to leave the London music scene and get clean. He left Britain to live in Nigeria, where he recorded with Fela Kuti and built his own recording studio. He helped Paul McCartney record the classic Wings' album Band On The Run, although their relationship soured over claims that he was never paid. Financial problems of one sort or another dogged him throughout this period and he eventually lost control of his studio. Image copyright Rex Features Image caption He became a proficient polo player Away from music, he took up rally driving and, somewhat incongruously, developed a love of polo, building up a sizeable collection of ponies, despite his tendency to get injured. "I've had a lot of falls which have wrecked my body," he told the Telegraph in 2013. "They had to take a piece of my hip bone out and screw it into my neck." In the 1980s, he played with John Lydon's Public Image Ltd, while continuing to form and discard new bands that combined his African and Western musical influences, like African Force and Middle Passage. While commercial success eluded him, his reputation, particularly with a new generation of drummers, remained high. "His playing was revolutionary," said Neil Peart, drummer with the Canadian band Rush. "He set the bar for what rock drumming could be." Cream were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, briefly reuniting to play three songs, then teamed up again in 2005 for a series of concerts in London and New York. Almost inevitably, the performances ended with Baker and Bruce fighting on stage. "It's a knife-edge thing for me and Ginger," Bruce said afterward. "Nowadays, we're happily co-existing in different continents... although I was thinking of asking him to move. He's still a bit too close." Baker had, in fact, headed to South Africa, where he spent the reunion money buying polo ponies and funding a veterinary hospital. In 2012, he became the subject of a hugely enjoyable documentary - Beware of Mr Baker - which illustrated how his jaw-dropping drumming was neither as wild nor as extraordinary as his personal life. In the opening scene, the musician was seen attacking director Jay Bulger with a metal cane, declaring: "I'm going to put you in hospital." He later settled down to reflect, cantankerously, on the trail of broken bands, ex-wives and neglected children he'd left in his wake. Contributors marvelled at his talent, but little else. "He influenced me as a drummer, but not as a person," recalled Free's Simon Kirke, who toured with Cream. In later years, he was beset by ill health, breaking most of his ribs and subsequently being diagnosed with a degenerative spine condition and the onset of emphysema. "God is punishing me for my past wickedness by keeping me alive and in as much pain as He can," he told Rolling Stone at the time. The musician fought osteoarthritis to record his final album, Why?, in 2014. Two years later, he underwent open heart surgery and announced his retirement from touring. "Just seen doctor… big shock… no more gigs for this old drummer... everything is off," he wrote on his official blog. "Of all things I never thought it would be my heart." Baker's death will see him feted as one of rock's most influential musicians, but he scoffed at such accolades, insisting: "Drummers are really nothing more than time-keepers." He told Rhythm magazine: "It's the drummer's job to make the other guys sound good." Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| Ginger Baker, esteemed as one of the most virtuosic drummers ever to sit behind a kit through his innovative work with English rock bands Cream and the short-lived Blind Faith, died on Sunday. He was 80. His Facebook page posted, “We are very sad to say that Ginger has passed away peacefully in hospital this morning. Thank you to everyone for your kind words over the past weeks.” Baker’s family had previously issued statements on Twitter and Facebook saying that he was “critically ill” and asking fans to “please keep him in your prayers.” Baker revealed in 2013 that he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after a lifetime of smoking. He underwent open-heart surgery in 2016. He also suffered chronic back pain from degenerative osteoarthritis. Baker formed Cream in 1966 with guitarist Eric Clapton and bassist Jack Bruce. Clapton had emerged as a stellar guitarist during his stint with the Yardbirds, while Baker and Bruce both established their credentials as members of the Graham Bond Organization. Advertisement In concert, Cream pushed rock to new extremes of volume and expanded the boundaries of rock song conventions, with each member frequently taking extended solos, live and on record, bringing the music to new pinnacles of technical and creative dexterity. It was not, however, at the expense of chart success: Cream logged a handful of hits in short order, with signature songs including “Sunshine of Your Love,” “White Room,” “Badge,” “I Feel Free” and its hallmark reworking of a Robert Johnson blues number, “Crossroads.” Cream — Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton — plus friends, at London’s Heathrow Airport in 1967. (Peter Kemp / Associated Press) Peter Edward Baker was born Aug. 19, 1939, in Lewisham, a borough of south London. He grew up in postwar England admiring jazz drummers including countryman Phil Seamen, from whom he took lessons as a teenager — although he described himself as largely self-taught — as well as American drummers such as Max Roach, Art Blakey and Elvin Jones. Baker injected rhythmic complexity and dizzying flourishes into his playing, pushing his instrument’s role in a rock setting well beyond basic timekeeping, reflecting the expansive mindset of the dawning psychedelic era. Advertisement “He changed the game,” said John Sykes, incoming chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted Cream in 1993. “I was in awe of him because he was trained as a jazz drummer and played in a completely different way, and sounded different from most [rock] drummers, like Charlie Watts.” Cream released four albums before disbanding in 1968, among them “Fresh Cream,” which included Baker’s five-minute drum solo on the track “Toad,” which quickly became a highlight of the group’s concerts. Baker went on to form the supergroup Blind Faith, teaming again with Clapton, as well as bassist Ric Grech from the band Family and organist-singer Steve Winwood from Traffic. The quartet released just one album, “Blind Faith,” and then disbanded. That segued into Ginger Baker’s Air Force, a rock fusion group with which he toured and recorded in the early 1970s, before moving to Lagos, Nigeria, to indulge his fascination with African music, collaborating at one point with Nigerian saxophonist Fela Kuti. “He understands the African beat more than any other Westerner,” Nigerian drummer Tony Allen once said. Among the other ensembles Baker was part of in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s were the Baker Gurvitz Army, progressive rock band Hawkwind and Masters of Reality. Along the way, he struggled with heroin addiction, which he said he overcame in 1981. In 1994, he formed the Ginger Baker Trio with bassist Charlie Haden and guitarist Bill Frisell, and briefly took part in BBM, a power trio that reunited him with Bruce and also featured Irish blues-rock guitarist Gary Moore. Baker, Clapton and Bruce came together again in 2005 for four shows at the Royal Albert Hall, documented in a live recording. Bruce died in 2014 at age 71. Advertisement Baker published his autobiography, “Hellraiser,” in 2009, and resumed touring in 2013 and 2014 with Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion, consisting of saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis, bassist Alec Dankworth and percussionist Abass Dodoo. When heart surgery was required in 2016, Baker wrote on his blog, “Just seen doctor ... big shock ... no more gigs for this old drummer ... everything is off ... of all things I never thought it would be my heart.” That same year, he was ranked No. 3 in Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time,” behind first-place finisher John Bonham of Led Zeppelin and the Who’s Keith Moon. “Gifted with immense talent, and cursed with a temper to match, Ginger Baker combined jazz training with a powerful polyrhythmic style in the world’s first, and best, power trio,” Rolling Stone wrote at the time, referring to Cream. “[T]he London-born drummer introduced showmanship to the rock world with double-kick virtuosity and extended solos.” \|\|\|\|\| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more \|\|\|\|\| Statement On The Passing Of Ginger Baker "A very sad loss, and my condolences to his family and friends. A loss also for his contribution to music. He was well-grounded in jazz from very early on, and later managed to combine this with African and rock music to create his own inimitable style of playing. I was lucky to play with him in Ginger Baker’s Air Force, and to meet and work with such luminaries as Phil Seamen, Harold McNair and Graham Bond. And also in Blind Faith with Eric Clapton and Rick Grech. Although his appointment was very unorthodox (he showed up on the doorstep and said, 'Here I am') - he made a great contribution to the Blind Faith album which has withstood the test of time. Beneath his somewhat abrasive exterior, there was a very sensitive human being with a heart of gold. He’ll be missed." - Steve Winwood Photo credit: Doug Hartley \|\|\|\|\| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more \|\|\|\|\| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more	Yesterday morning, English drummer died in a hospital at the age of 80. The news came from the Twitter account in his name and was independently confirmed by Associated Press with his daughter Nettie Baker. On September 25, it was reported Baker was hospitalized in critical condition. Baker was widely known as the drummer and co-founder of the rock band , an early . Baker, a life-long smoker and former heroin addict, suffered from health problems for years. The list of ailments included hearing loss, , and , as well as heart problems for which he had surgery in 2016. Although known to have lived his latter years in South Africa, his daughter said he died in Britain without elaborating. Ginger Baker was born Peter Edward Baker in , London, in 1939. His father was killed in combat in 1943 during World War II. Baker — who was reportedly nicknamed due to his red hair — began playing drums in his teens. In a story he sometimes told, he had a habit of tapping on school desks. When an opportunity arose at a party, his classmates encouraged him to sit down at a drum set. "I'd never sat behind a kit before, but I sat down — and I could play! One of the musicians turned round and said, 'Bloody hell, we've got a drummer', and I thought, 'Bloody hell, I'm a drummer' ", he recalled in a 2009 retelling of the story to the ''''. Baker began his career as a drummer in jazz bands. He played with and . In 1962, when fellow drummer was leaving for , Watts recommended Baker to be his replacement. Later, Baker found early success with band where he met bassist . In 1966, Baker, Bruce and singer/guitarist , who was known from , formed Cream. The rock trio was a massive success, selling tens of millions of records, including the first ever album ''''. Cream recorded four albums, then in 1968 disbanded with Baker and Bruce having developed a volatile relationship. Clapton and Baker were subsequently in another supergroup with and . Blind Faith recorded only one studio album but notably played before a crowd of a hundred thousand at a in London's . In the 1970s, Baker moved to Nigeria where he established a studio and began playing . Here he collaborated with and worked on 's album '''' with of The Beatles fame. Later, he recorded with 's . Cream was inducted in 1993 into the . The band reunited in 2005 for several London and New York concerts. Afterwards he moved to South Africa, and still lived there when the 2012 documentary '''' was filmed. Baker's last recording was 2014's '''' solo album. Baker retired from live performances in 2016 due to his ill health. Paul McCartney wrote on Twitter, "Ginger Baker, great drummer, wild and lovely guy. We worked together on the 'Band on the Run' album in his ARC Studio, Lagos, Nigeria. Sad to hear that he died but the memories never will." "A very sad loss, and my condolences to his family and friends. A loss also for his contribution to music. He was well-grounded in jazz from very early on," wrote Steve Winwood in a statement. "Beneath his somewhat abrasive exterior, there was a very sensitive human being with a heart of gold. He’ll be missed." of The Rolling Stones also reacted on Twitter, "Sad news hearing that Ginger Baker has died, I remember playing with him very early on in Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated. He was a fiery but extremely talented and innovative drummer." == Sources == * * * * * * *
The construction industry has been particularly hard hit by the recession The Irish Republic's economy has suffered its largest contraction in recent decades. The economy shrank by 7.5% in the last three months of 2008 compared with the same period a year earlier, the official statistics office said. The construction industry, which has faced a housing market slump, suffered a 24% fall in output, the biggest fall on record. In the whole of 2008 the economy shrank by 2.3%, the first decline since 1983. Once known as the Celtic Tiger due to the strong growth it enjoyed, Ireland has experienced a sharp downturn, becoming the first eurozone country to fall into recession in 2008. We are of the view that GDP is set to decline in the order of 6.5% for the current year Deirdre Ryan, Goodbody Stockbrokers The declines announced by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) were significantly larger than had been expected. Analysts are now expecting Ireland's economy to shrink by much more than expected in 2009. "We are of the view that GDP is set to decline in the order of 6.5% for the current year... given the extent of the downward momentum at the turn of the year as evidenced by today's data," said Deirdre Ryan from Goodbody Stockbrokers. Housing market collapse Analysts suggest Ireland is having a tougher time than most during the recession because added to the general economic crisis it is also dealing with a dramatic collapse in house building. Irish homes built 2006: 90,000 2007: 77,000 2008: 45,000 2009: 20,000 (estimate) Source: Construction Industry Federation During the housing boom in 2006, house building accounted for 15% of Irish GDP. "At its peak in 2006 90,000 dwellings were built. That was clearly at an unsustainable level," said Dr Alan Barrett from economic think tank ERSI. In the last 12 months it is estimated only half that amount were built. "We had hoped the market would gently decline but it essentially evaporated between 2007 and 2008," said Dr Barrett. Problems for the construction industry are getting worse because of a lack of government funding for public infrastructure projects, according to Cathal Lee, a spokesperson for the construction industry in Ireland. "The decline was first felt in the residential sector. It has now spread to commercial developments and to general contracts and projects like schools and hospitals," he said. Ireland's deteriorating economy has also hit public finances hard. Ireland's budget deficit is expected to reach 9.5% of GDP in 2009, the highest in the EU and far above the EU rules of 3%. Unemployment has nearly doubled, too. At the start of 2008 it was running at 5%. It is now more like 10%. The country is also suffering from deflation - a period of falling prices - which could pose a big risk for the economy because it encourages people to defer purchases in the hope of getting them cheaper later on. People are being very careful with their money according to Sean Murphy, director of policy at Chambers Ireland, which represents 13,000 businesses. But he is remaining positive believing the decline in sales is "indicative of the flexibility of Irish society and their willingness to drive down debt and increase their personal savings". 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 30 days or until you logout	The economy of Ireland shrank by 7.5% in the last quarter of 2008 compared to the same period a year previously, according to official statistics. The decline is the worst in decades. For the entire period of 2008, the economy contracted by 2.3%, the first loss since 1983. The construction industry has suffered badly as a result of the recession, with a 24% fall in output, the largest decline ever recorded. Industrial output plunged at an annualised rate of 12.5%. Unemployment has also shot up. It currently stands at around 10%, twice as high as the levels reported last year. The economy has also experienced deflation. Alan McQuaid, the senior economist at Bloxhams Stockbrokers, said that the statistics "highlight the extent of the Irish economic out-turn and the huge task facing the Government in attempting to get the country’s public finances back in order." "Quite simply, there is no hope of sorting out our budgetary position by 2013 without economic growth, and we are a long way off that at the moment," McQuaid said, noting that "(...) one has to go back to the 1956-1958 period for the last time we had a decrease of this magnitude." "(...) As things currently stand, it is not hard to see double digit declines in real GDP over the coming quarters," he said. "The extreme weakness of the economy at this point in time must also raise serious questions marks about the wisdom of the Government’s intention of imposing further income levies on already hard-pressed consumers and PAYE workers. All that can be said is that the outlook for economic output and employment in 2009 are fairly bleak indeed." The Irish government is creating an emergency budget, due to be unveiled in April.
Paul the 'psychic' octopus in action during this year's World Cup – choosing winners with uncanny results. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters Death's inescapable tentacles have curled themselves around Paul the octopus, the cephalopod sage who won worldwide fame over the summer by correctly predicting the results of a host of World Cup matches. Paul the 'psychic' octopus predicted the winners of all Germany's World Cup clashes, and then the victors in the final, by selecting one of two boxes, each loaded with a mussel food treat and marked on the outside with one of the teams. Stefan Porwoll, the manager of the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre in Germany that the tentacled psychic called home, said Paul appeared to have died peacefully of natural causes during the night. "We are consoled by the knowledge that he enjoyed a good life here and that the care provided for him by our dedicated displays team could not have been bettered," Porwoll said. Staff at the centre said his death was not entirely unexpected, since common octopuses generally live only a couple of years. "His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself," Porwoll said. "We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine." He added: "While this may seem a curious thing to do for a sea creature, Paul achieved such popularity during his short life that it may be deemed the most appropriate course of action." Paul will achieve lucrative immortality in commercial enterprises ranging from special clothing lines to a mobile phone application, and will feature in a documentary to be released early next year. His final prediction was that England would win the right to host the World Cup in 2018. \|\|\|\|\| World Cup's Paul the octopus dies Paul the octopus, who won unlikely worldwide fame correctly predicting a host of World Cup matches, has died. Stefan Porwoll, manager of the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre in Germany, said: "His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself." Paul predicted the winners of all Germany's World Cup clashes, and then of the final by selecting one of two boxes, each loaded with a mussel food treat and marked on the outside with one of the teams. Copyright © 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Octopus Paul swims in front of a football in his tank at the Sea Life Aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters Paul, the English-born octopus turned mystic sensation is going to retire after correctly predicting the outcome of as many World Cup matches as he has legs, including last night's final. The intuitive invertebrate will "step back from the official oracle business," said Tanja Munzig, a spokeswoman for the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany where Paul resides. "He won't give any more oracle predictions – either in football, nor in politics, lifestyle or economy," she said. "Paul will get back to his former job, namely making children laugh." However, Paul took one last curtain call today. Aquarium employees presented the octopus with a golden cup – similar to the official World Cup trophy. Although the cup was garnished with three mussels, Paul ignored it for several minutes as it was lowered into his tank. He finally picked off one mussel and devoured it in front of television cameras. Paul, who was born in Weymouth in 2006, became the closest thing to an English World Cup success after accurately foretelling match results throughout the tournament. The octopus, correctly predicted the outcome of all seven matches involving his adopted homeland by choosing to eat a mussel from boxes emblazoned with the flags of the German team and its rivals. He crowned his prediction career by forecasting correctly that Spain would beat Holland in the final. He has also been subjected to abuse by disgruntled fans of teams he predicted would lose. After Argentina lost to Germany in the quarter-final, Argentines threatened to kill the octopus and put him in a paella. Similar insults came from Germans when Paul correctly predicted Germany's demise semi-final demise against the Spain. \|\|\|\|\| Paul the octopus correctly chooses Spain to win the final this Sunday Photograph: Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images Paul the psychic octopus maintained his flawless performance in the World Cup by correctly predicting Spain's victory over Holland in the final. Dubbed the "oracle octopus", Paul beat his rival Mani, Singapore's psychic parakeet, who incorrectly predicted a win for Holland. Punters gambling on the mystic mollusc's predictions have won up to half a million pounds during the month-long tournament, according to bookmakers William Hill. Paul, who was born in Weymouth in 2006, has become the closest thing to an English World Cup success after accurately foretelling match results throughout the tournament. The octopus, who now resides in Germany's Oberhausen Sea Life aquarium, correctly predicted the outcome of all six matches involving his adopted homeland by choosing to eat a mussel from boxes emblazoned with the flags of the German team and its rivals. After his prediction that Germany would be defeated by Spain came to pass, some angry fans called for him to be thrown in a shark tank. But he won support from Spanish fans who pledged to protect him, despite their country's fondness for calamari. Paul has become an internet star with videos of his predictions posted on YouTube attracting hundreds of thousands of hits. His rival Mani had, according to his owner – fortune teller M Muniyappan, predicted the last five games of the tournament correctly.	Paul the Octopus correctly predicts a win by Germany over Uruguay in the of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Paul the Octopus, the who became famous for correctly predicting the winner of Germany's seven matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as well as the final, has died of natural causes. During the football tournament in South Africa earlier this year, Paul, who lived in an aquarium in , Germany, chose between two glass boxes placed in his tank, which would have a German flag and the flag of the country which the country would be playing against. Both boxes would contain food, and the box which Paul chose to eat out of would be the winners. The octopus correctly predicted the result of all of Germany's games, and hypothesised that Spain would beat the Netherlands in — which they duly did. Paul became internationally famous for his correct predictions, and was dubbed by some as the "oracle octopus". All his predictions were filmed and broadcast across the world, and he became a hit on the video sharing website YouTube. During the World Cup, Rupert Adams of , one of Britain's largest , said that the octopus's success rate was remarkable. "If you had had ten pounds on each and every prediction then re-invested your winnings you would currently have over 1,450 pounds," he said. "It's an astonishing feat to get six predictions in a row. I am told people are walking into our shops and saying 'I will have what the Octopus predicted.'" After the World Cup this year, it was announced Paul would retire. "He won't give any more oracle predictions — either in football, nor in politics, lifestyle or economy," a spokesperson for the aquarium said at the time. "Paul will get back to his former job, namely making children laugh." Paul's life was not without controversy. During the tournament Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the media storm was a sign of decay in Western culture. "Those who believe in this type of thing cannot be the leaders of the global nations that aspire, like Iran, to human perfection, basing themselves in the love of all sacred values," he said. Paul's death was announced by the aquarium on Tuesday, when a spokesperson said that he had died of natural causes during the night. "We are consoled by the knowledge that he enjoyed a good life here and that the care provided for him by our dedicated displays team could not have been bettered," he said. He added that common octopuses live for only a few years. Paul's final prediction was that England would host the . A special clothing line and a mobile phone application are to be released, along with a documentary tracking his life. "His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself," the spokesperson said. "We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine. While this may seem a curious thing to do for a sea creature, Paul achieved such popularity during his short life that it may be deemed the most appropriate course of action."
By John Nedy PADANG, Indonesia (Reuters) - Two strong earthquakes killed at least 15 people and injured dozens on Indonesia's Sumatra island on Tuesday, and were felt as far away as Malaysia and Singapore, where several buildings were evacuated. In the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang, the first quake of magnitude 6.3 sparked panic among seaside residents who feared it might trigger a tsunami. However, there was no immediate tsunami warning after the quakes, which were on land. The United States Geological Survey said its epicentre was around 420 km from Singapore. The Indonesian national quake centre measured the quake at 5.8 on the Richter scale. Some buildings collapsed and several homes and other buildings were badly damaged by the tremors that sent several people scrambling for safety, including 200-300 patients who ran out of a hospital in Padang, a Reuters witness said. A second 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the same area just two hours later, sparking fresh panic among residents. Thirteen people died and more than 100 were injured in Solok town, about 40 km northeast of Padang, Syamsu Rahim, the mayor of Solok, told Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| "The board of governors see faster economic growth as well as investment inflow," said central bank spokesman Budi Mulya as reported by MetroTV television station after a meeting of the BIboard of governors. According to Budi, the economic growth in the first quarter reached 5.9 percent and would increase to some 6 percent in the second quarter. He added that BI also did not worry over the strengthening of rupiah since the recent days, saying that it was affected by a global trend and would not affect Indonesian exports. Analysts even saw that the cut of the benchmark rate was likely also caused by the slowing inflation and a surging rupiah. (**) \|\|\|\|\| Versíon en Español Earthquake Summary Earthquake Summary Poster Felt Reports At least 70 people killed, hundreds injured and severe damage in the Bukittinggi-Solok-Payakumbuh area. Felt in central Sumatra and along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Felt (III) in Singapore. Tectonic Summary The locations and focal-mechanisms of the Sumatra earthquakes of March 6, 2007, are consistent with these shocks occurring on the Sumatran fault, a 1900 km-long strike-slip fault that extends the length of the island. At the latitude of the earthquake, the average long-term rate of displacement on the fault is about 20 mm/yr. The exact position of the 2007 earthquakes with respect to earlier historic earthquakes on the Sumatran fault will not be known until detailed studies have been conducted of the recent earthquakes. Two earthquakes having magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, respectively, occurred within seven hours of each other on June 8-9, 1943, with epicenters assigned to the section of the fault immediately to the southeast of the epicenters of the 2007 earthquakes. The magnitude 7.5 shock was among the largest earthquakes to have occurred on the Sumatran fault since the late nineteenth century. Two earthquakes that occurred within three hours of each other on June 28, 1926, which have been assigned magnitudes of 6 ½ and 6 ¾ respectively, have been assigned epicenters virtually identical to the epicenters of the 2007 earthquakes. The tectonics of west-central Sumatra are dominated by the motion of the Australia plate northward with respect to the Sunda plate at a velocity of about 50 mm/yr. The principal plate boundary is taken to be the axis of the Sunda trench, but significant plate-boundary deformation occurs in a zone that extends hundreds of kilometers inland from the Sunda trench. The component of motion of relative plate motion that is perpendicular to the trend of the plate-boundary is mostly accommodated by underthrusting along the Sumatra subduction zone, which dips eastward from the Sunda trench and is seismically active to depths of over 200 km in west-central Java. The Sumatra subduction zone has historically produced great thrust-fault earthquakes. The component of relative plate motion that is parallel to the plate-boundary is substantially accommodated by strike-slip faulting on the Sumatra fault, which is about 300 km inland of the Sunda trench. The part of the Sunda plate that lies to the west of the Sumatra fault and east of the principal plate boundary at the Sunda trench is sometimes called the “forearc sliver” of the Sunda plate, being distinguished from the rest of the Sunda plate because of its relative motion with respect to the plate's interior. Earthquake Information for Asia Earthquake Information for Indonesia \|\|\|\|\| People hunt through rubble in Payakumbuh, west Sumatra Patients flee tremor The 6.3 magnitude quake struck close to the city of Padang in the west of the island, at 1049 local time (0349 GMT). Rescue teams are trying to reach survivors but communications and electricity supplies have been cut. As night fell, many people around Padang remained out in the open, too afraid or unable to return home. The quake and a powerful aftershock had caused panic among residents on Tuesday morning, bringing many rushing out of their homes and offices. It was like the being in a ship where you were swayed around when there were big waves Solok resident Eyewitness accounts Rescue workers said hundreds of buildings had been brought down, although the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says many of these are likely to be small, wooden houses. Residents of some coastal areas fled to higher ground, but local officials said there was no risk of a tsunami as the earthquake happened under land rather than under the sea. Communications cut The epicentre of the quake was about 50km (30 miles) north-east of Padang, the capital of West Sumatra. RECENT INDONESIAN QUAKES 6 March 2007: Magnitude 6.3 quake hits Sumatra, at least 70 dead 18 December 2006: Mag 5.7 quake hits Sumatra, seven dead 17 July 2006: Tsunami from Mag 7.7 quake off Java kills 500 27 May 2006: Mag 6.2 quake near Yogyakarta kills 5,000 26 December 2004: Tsunami from Mag 9.1 quake kills 130,000 in Sumatra Officials said 18 people had been killed in the town of Solok, while 16 were killed in Tanah Datar. The mayor of Solok, Samsurahim, said he could not say how many people were still trapped in the rubble. Local hospitals struggled to cope and medical teams hastily erected tents to treat many of the wounded outside. Christelle Chapoy, from the aid charity Oxfam's earthquake response team, told the BBC her organisation was ready to assist. "We have a standby emergency response team based in Yogyakarta [on Java], and they're collecting information from our local partners at this stage," she said from Banda Aceh in northern Sumatra. Ring of fire The quake was also felt hundreds of kilometres away in parts of Malaysia, and several tall buildings in Singapore's business district swayed slightly. Indonesia sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, and experiences frequent earthquakes - as well as tsunamis triggered by underwater earthquakes. Last year, more than 500 people died when a tsunami hit an area of the Java coast after an undersea earthquake. And in the Asian tsunami of December 2004, more than 130,000 people died in Sumatra when waves destroyed swathes of the province of Aceh. Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments	Sumatra, Indonesia Two earthquakes, measuring 6.3 and 6.0 on the Richter scale struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra within the space of two hours, killing at-least 70 people. The death toll may rise as a large number of buildings were destroyed and the search for survivors continues. No tsunami warning was issued, although some people in coastal areas moved inland. However, as the quake was under land there was no likelihood of a tsunami. The tremors were felt in Singapore and Malaysia as well.
'Sultanahmet'te köle muamelesi gördük' Kongolu H.R.M. ve Eritreli I.J., Papa'nın ziyareti sırasında gözaltına alındıklarını söyledi. FOTOĞRAF: İSMAİL SAYMAZ Bir grup Afrikalı sığınmacı, polisin kendilerini gözaltına alıp bariyer taşıttığı iddiasıyla Mülteci Destek Programı'na başvurdu: Kendimizi köle gibi hissettik 08/12/2006 (1291 kişi okudu) İSMAİL SAYMAZ (Arşivi) İSTANBUL - Kölelik çoktan kalktı ama Türkiye'de bir grup Afrikalı sığınmacı, Papa'nın İstanbul ziyareti sırasında 29 Kasım-1 Aralık günleri gözaltına alınıp, güvenlik amaçlı kullanılan bariyerleri taşıttığı iddasıyla Helsinki Yurttaşlar Derneği (HYD) Mülteci Destek Programı'na başvurdu. Mülteci Destek Programı'na başvuranlardan Kongo Demokratik Cumhuriyeti vatandaşı 38 yaşındaki H.R.M. 16 aydır Türkiye'de. Kumkapı'daki evinde 12 arkadaşıyla kalıyor. H.R.M.'nin iddiasına göre, Papa'nın Ayasofya Müzesi ve Sultanahmet Camii'ni ziyaret ettiği 30 Kasım'da, siyahların gözaltında alındığı haberi üzerine evden çıkmamışlar. H.R.M., sonunda yiyecek almak için 22.00'de evden ayrılmış, dönüşte gözaltına alınarak Kumkapı'da polis noktasına götürülmüş. Burada 11 siyahla polis araçlarına dağıtılmış. H.R.M. ve üç siyah kendilerini Sultanahmet'te bulmuş. "Burada iki boş kamyon ve çok sayıda bariyer vardı. 'Bunları toplarsanız sizi tutuklamayacağız' dediler. İlk kamyonda yerden bariyer topladım. İkinci kamyonda ise toplananları kasaya dizdim." H.R.M.'ye göre, iş iki saat sürdü. İş bitince polis aracıyla Ayasofya'ya gittiler. Buradaki işçiler de araca bindi. Bariyerlerle yüklü üç kamyon ve 12 siyahın bulunduğu polis minibüsü Kadıköy'e gitti. H.R.M., Moda'da olduğunu sandığı polis karakolunun yanında etrafı demir setle çevrili şantiye önünde durduklarını belirtip, "Saat, 02.00'ydi. Beş kamyon bariyer vardı. 'Bunları boşaltın' dediler. Sultanahmet'te elim yaralandığı için çalışmadım. Zorlamadılar. İş saat 05.00'te bitti. Kumkapı'ya götürüp bıraktılar. Bir kez yemek verdiler" dedi. H.R.M, hâlâ 'köle' muamelesi görmekten şikâyetçi: "Ben Sultanahmet'te polise, 'Neden sadece siyahlar alındı?' diye sordum, cevap vermedi. Kendimi köle gibi hissettim. Daha önce de İzmir'de çalışırken, paramı istediğim için işten atılmıştım." 'Ben reddettim, iki arkadaşım taşıdı' Eritreli I.J. 11 ev arkadaşıyla Kumkapı'da oturuyor. Dokuz aydır Türkiye'de bulunan, 30 yaşındaki I.J., HYD'nin bürosuna gitmek üzere Taksim'e yürürken Saraçhane'de gözaltına alınmış: "Sabah yolda durdurulunca pasaport gösterdim, 'Gerek yok' dediler. Araca bindirdiler. Büyük bir binanın alt katındaki koridora sokulduk. Bariyer taşıyıp taşımayacağımızı sordular. Çalışmayacağımı, hasta olduğumu söyledim. Bazılarını götürdüler. Akşam bizi bilmediğimiz bir yerde bıraktılar." Eve döndüğünde, iki ev arkadaşına bariyer taşıttırıldığını öğrenen I.J., "Terörist değiliz. Çalışmamızı istiyorlarsa para ve yemek vermeliydiler" dedi. HYD Mülteci Destek Programı sorumlusu Özlem Dalkıran, bariyer taşıtma ya da toplu gözaltı gibi birçok şikâyet geldiğini ve bunları derleyip İçişleri Bakanlığı'na göndereceklerini söyledi. İstanbul Emniyet Müdürlüğü'nden dün sorular üzerine yapılan açıklamada ise 'bu iddialara yanıt verilmesinin uygun görülmediği' kaydedildi. Yazdır \| Yolla \| Arşive Ekle \|\|\|\|\| Africans get waylaid in Turkey Migrants stuck in Istanbul on their way to Europe have started their own 'African Cup' soccer tournament. \| Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor Despite stands filled with cheering African fans and the sound of pulsating drums, the game was not taking place anywhere in Africa but rather in a small, rundown stadium in the heart of Istanbul. When Nigerians and Guineans faced off in a championship soccer match Sunday, neither side could claim home-field advantage. In fact, neither team even had home continent advantage. There are so many Africans living (mostly illegally) in Turkey's largest city that for the past two years they have been able to organize an "African Cup," an amateur tournament of teams representing their home countries. The tournament is a vivid example that Turkey is quickly becoming a major transit route for African migrants trying to reach Europe to escape warfare and economic misery. But as Europe clamps down its borders, many are getting stuck in Turkey, especially in Istanbul, where there are few services or jobs. "We are going to be facing a growing number of people who are totally uprooted, displaced, without a home, waiting at the gates of the European Union [EU] to enter, and they will not be able to enter," says Behzad Yaghmaian, an economist at Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J., who is the author of a forthcoming book about migration through Turkey. As EU-candidate Turkey gets closer to the start of its negotiations for joining the bloc, the pressure on it to stem the illegal migration flow to Europe will increase, potentially leaving even more immigrants unable to move on, Mr. Yaghmaian says. "Putting a stop sign at the border is not going to stop the flow of people. People are going to continue to come and they are going to continue to need help," he adds. The International Organization for Migration estimates that some 250,000 migrants - mostly from the Middle East and Africa - flow through Turkey every year, although some experts say that number could be much higher. "We are overwhelmed," says Ekin Ogutogullari, social-services program director for the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), a Swiss aid group working in Turkey. "There is nothing available in terms of accommodations. There isn't enough in terms of financial assistance. They live in overcrowded and very substandard housing," he adds. In a country where many Turks themselves are struggling to find work and to make ends meet, the arrival of African migrants has been greeted with a sense of bewilderment and some resentment. One of the Cup's organizers, a young Nigerian who wished to be named only as Donald, says a main goal of the tournament was to show Turks a different side of the Africans living among them. "We found that people here focused on the negative things [about us]," says Donald, a slender man who fled Nigeria three years ago after religious riots between Christians and Muslims in his hometown killed his parents. "We thought that as footballers we could let them know about us in a positive aspect." Donald says he hopes the tournament will serve as an anchor for other projects to serve the African migrant community. "We believe we have the potential and the ability to contribute to this society, but we are not encouraged, there is no room for that. So we are working very hard to change this attitude," he says. Watching the cup's final game near a large group of singing and dancing Nigerians (whose team would go on to beat Guinea 2-0), Mahad Mahmoud, a 20-year-old Somali, says life in Turkey has been a constant struggle. He shares a two-bedroom apartment with 15 other Somalis and has only been able to do temporary work that usually pays less than 10 Turkish Lira ($7.56) per day. "I'm now in a place where I can't go back and I can't go forward. It's very hard," says Mahmoud, who left the instability of Somalia last year to escape clan-related violence that targeted his family. He was smuggled to Turkey in the cargo hold of a ship, told he was being taken to Europe. Somalia was a new entry in this year's tournament, even though the players could barely afford cleats. Although his team failed to advance, Mahmoud says seeing them play was a sweet, if brief, respite from his troubles. "When Somalia was playing, I felt like I was in my country, encouraging my team," he says with a smile. "I was very happy when they were playing, even if they lost." Links of interest Most-viewed stories \|\|\|\|\| Monday, September 10th, 2001 Racism and the Plight of Kurds in Turkey and Iraq Listen Help Printer-friendly version Email to a friend Despite the large presence of NGOs, the structure of the conference has meant that government delegates could easilyarrive, negotiate and leave without ever having considered actual, real-life experiences and effects of racism. To address this problem, Gay McDougal of the International Human Rights Law Group teamed up with the South AfricaHuman Rights Commission to organize the "Voices Special Forum on Comparative Experiences of Racism." The forum wascarefully planned to attract as many government delegates as possible: the sessions were held during the delegates'lunch break in a room next door to the main hall. One of the speakers at the forum was Rayhan Yalsindach, a Kurdish lawyer now living in Turkey, where hundreds ofKurdish villages have been destroyed and thousands killed in recent years by the Turkish government in its efforts tocrush an armed resistance movement and Kurdish calls for self-determination. Guest: Rayhan Yalsindach, a Kurdish lawyer now living in Turkey. To purchase an audio or video copy of this entire program, call 1 (800) 881-2359.	A group of African refugees complained to the Helsinki Citizen's Assembly (HCA) Refugee Support Program that they were taken under custody and that they were forced to work for the Turkish police. According to H.R.M., a 38 years old refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo who has been in Turkey for the last 16 months, on November 30th, when the Pope was visiting Hagia Sophia and Sultan Ahmed Mosque, he and his twelve roommates decided not to go outside because of the rumours that blacks were being taken under custody by the Turkish police. However, when he ended up having to go outside to buy food at 10pm, he was taken under custody and put on a police car. H.R.M. claims to find himself in Sultanahmet area, where According to H.R.M.'s claims, this took about two hours, after which they were taken to a work site where they were made to empty the fences in the trucks. He tells: He complains that he was treated like a slave by the Turkish police. He says: Özlem Dalkıran, a spokeswoman for HCA Refugees Support Program told that they were receiving many reports of collective false arrests and forced labor and that they will be reporting these to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The İstanbul Police Office released a press statement that said they "do not think any response to the allegations would be appropriate". There are many illegal African immigrants in Istanbul seeking a way into Europe; which has led to conflicts with native Turks.
Bush defends free-trade agreement with Mexico and Canada NEW ORLEANS (AP) — President Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon strongly defended free trade across North America on Monday, fending off anti-trade remarks that Democrats running for the White House are using to lure working class voters. Opening a two-day summit with Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Bush hailed the benefits of cross-border trade despite a rising protectionist sentiment on Capitol Hill. The president said that when he and Calderon were growing up, the border was poor, but today it's prospering. "Our trade has tripled, and our economies have grown," said Bush, who decided to host the summit in New Orleans to showcase its rebirth following Hurricane Katrina. "This has been a very positive aspect for both our countries." Calderon was more specific, saying the North American Free Trade Agreement is misunderstood. Launched in 1994, the accord eliminated trade barriers among the United States, Mexico and Canada. "I stress this issue because recently NAFTA has come under criticism," the Mexican president said. "And I do not believe that people are realizing how many benefits NAFTA has brought, both to the United States and to Mexico." He said the far-reaching trade deal has led to the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs on both sides of the border, has offered more choices to consumers and has raised the quality of products. Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, both have threatened to pull the U.S. out of NAFTA if elected as a means to pressure Canada and Mexico to negotiate more protections for workers and the environment. Bush calls the idea isolationist and reckless. Clinton, D-N.Y., has made opposition to new trade deals a centerpiece of her campaign and has vowed to at least re-negotiate NAFTA, which has been blamed for moving blue collar jobs to Mexico and elsewhere. Obama, D-Ill., has chided Clinton about NAFTA, saying it was passed while her husband, former President Clinton, was in office. Recently in Pittsburgh, Clinton told manufacturers and union workers that her husband made mistakes related to NAFTA that she plans to fix. She said she would correct problems that have led to job losses, or would tell Canada and Mexico the United States is pulling out of the agreement. While Obama and Clinton compete in Tuesday's Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, Bush is using the summit in Louisiana as a stage to not only promote NAFTA, the world's largest trading zone, but push Congress to ratify free trade deals with Panama, South Korea and Colombia. The House recently put off a vote on the Colombia free trade pact, making it less likely that it will be approved this year. Bush pushed anew for the Colombia deal at a reception of business leaders Monday night. "I fully understand that this is a tough political vote for some, but it's about time America sets aside petty politics and focuses on doing what's right for the United States of America," he said. Before his meetings with Calderon and Harper, Bush attended a ceremony to reopen the Mexican consulate in New Orleans. The Mexican government closed the consulate as a cost-saving measure in 2002. In recent years, immigrants from Mexico and across Latin America have worked to rebuild the city, and tens of thousands now live in the New Orleans area. "Our relations are not just economic in nature," Calderon said. "They also have deep ties of friendship, and I'm sure that we are going to strengthen them even more at this meeting. "Those links were strengthened on the occasion of the devastating tragedies caused by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. At that time the people of Mexico expressed its solidarity to our brothers and sisters in Louisiana. I know that thousands of Mexicans have participated in the reconstruction of New Orleans. I'm very happy today to see New Orleans standing and working." The summit was held in the city's business district near the French Quarter, but far from areas obliterated by Katrina. White House officials said Bush's decision to host the event in New Orleans shows the city is ready to be the venue for international events. But it's not its first big event. Last year, the city hosted college football championship games, the Mardi Gras and the NBA All-Star Game. Katrina roared onto land on Aug. 29, 2005, and the Bush administration was criticized widely for its slow response in dealing with what turned out to be the most destructive natural disaster in U.S. history. The monster storm swamped New Orleans, killed hundreds of people across the Gulf Coast, destroyed or damaged more than 200,000 homes and made more than 800,000 people homeless overnight. In New Orleans, a beloved American city, progress is uneven almost 32 months later. The city is repopulating, the music and restaurant scenes are recovering, the port business has steadily improved and sales tax revenues are near normal. Yet it is still dogged by crime, homelessness and frustrations about the pace of rebuilding efforts. \|\|\|\|\| For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 21, 2008 President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Harper of Canada Windsor Court Hotel New Orleans, Louisiana In Focus: North American Leaders' Summit 4:19 P.M. CDT PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, thank you, sir, for your personal friendship, thank you for your leadership. I don't know if the people of Canada understand the leadership role you took in Romania, but it was strong and effective. And I want to congratulate you in front of your media about the job you did. Not only did you represent your country well, you represented universal values. You spoke clearly about them, and so I thank you for that. We had a good visit. I'm always interested in making sure that, if there's any bilateral tensions or bilateral issues, that I know of them, so that we can work collaboratively to deal with them. And in the past, one such issue was whether or not our people could travel back and forth between our respective countries in a way that didn't inconvenience them, or the borders were -- being able to flow smoothly so it didn't inconvenience trade. And I think we've worked through those issues. I can remember the last time we visited, there was great concern about whether or not the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative would be counterproductive to our friendship and relationship. I thank your government, thank your ministers and the people in your staff for working hard to find a way that meets our laws and didn't inconvenience the people of Canada or the United States. So I'm pleased with that progress. We also talked about the importance of trade between Canada and the United States, and Canada and Mexico, and the United States and Mexico. And I assured the Prime Minister that I'm a strong advocate for free trade. I believe it's in our nations' interests that we continue to have a free trade agenda. All of us want to make sure we're treated fairly, and we can do that. And this summit comes at an opportune time to reaffirm the benefits of the trading arrangements between our three nations. Canada and the United States have got a very unique and important relationship, and I really appreciate the chance to spend time with you and visit about these -- about the issues of concern. Finally, the Prime Minister is very articulate on the subject of climate change, and I assured him that my speech in the Rose Garden was a sincere speech, a speech that laid out a strategy that I think will be effective. And I look forward to continuing to work with you on that issue. But, thanks, good to see you. PRIME MINISTER HARPER: It's nice to see you again. Thank you for the warm welcome and hospitality. (Speaks in French.) I'll just say once again, delighted to be here in New Orleans, originally a Francophone city; in fact, founded by New France -- my dad's favorite American city, I was telling him. We discussed a lot of things to do with the border, to do with environment, energy, trade and commercial relations. And as you've mentioned, we've made some considerable progress on some of these things. That said, what I appreciate most, what I've appreciated in our relationship over the past couple years has been the fact that whether we agree or disagree, we're always able to talk very frankly, very up-front. The President has never promised me anything he couldn't deliver, and that's always appreciative -- appreciated. We have some important joint work going on, not just in this continent but around the world, including in Afghanistan. I appreciate your words about Bucharest, and I can tell you our armed forces look very much forward to working in partnership with your people in Kandahar. So I'm sure we'll have a great summit. And see you again at the G8, I'm sure -- we've got a few more of these to go through before it's over. (Laughter.) PRESIDENT BUSH: That's right. (Laughter.) Thank you, sir. END 4:24 P.M. CDT \|\|\|\|\| Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, United States President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon (left to right) share a laugh with proprietors Leah and Dooky Chase before breakfast in New Orleans, Louisiana, Tuesday, April 22, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tom Hanson Harper says U.S. won't get better deal if it seeks to reopen NAFTA NEW ORLEANS — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has linked any potential renegotiation of NAFTA to American dependence on Canadian energy. And should a future U.S. president decide to reopen the 14-year-old agreement, says Harper, Canada will be bargaining from a position of great strength. "We'll be prepared for any eventuality," Harper told a closing news conference at the North American leaders' summit. Talk of reopening or killing the North American Free Trade Agreement became a dominant theme at this fourth annual incarnation of the Security and Prosperity Partnership. Harper, outgoing U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon were responding to strong anti-NAFTA rhetoric coming from the super-charged Democratic primary contenders. While Bush and Calderon used Tuesday's closing conference to praise NAFTA and reject talk of reopening the deal, Harper took a more pointed position. As Democratic contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton - both of whom have blasted NAFTA - awaited the results of Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary, Harper laid down some markers. "The American people are going to make a decision," said the prime minister. "A future American administration may have a different view (on NAFTA)." While stressing the trade arrangement's position attributes for all three countries, Harper suggested reopening the deal might not improve U.S. fortunes. "Canada is the United States' No. 1 supplier of energy. We are a secure and stable supplier," said Harper, standing at a lecturn next to Bush and Calderon. "That is of critical importance to the future of the United States. And if we had to look at this kind of an option, I think quite frankly, you know, we would be in an even stronger position now than we were 20 years ago. And we'll be in a stronger position in the future." As Bush chuckled into his microphone, Harper added: "But my preference is not to renegotiate what we discussed in the past, and to talk about the future." Rather than revisiting NAFTA, all three leaders at the summit said they're endeavouring to add even greater integration to North America's economic region. "Now is not the time to renegotiate NAFTA or to walk away from NAFTA," Bush said in his closing statement. Calderon said the three countries shouldn't "even think about amending it" at present. And Harper said business leaders across the continent agree the discussion should be on "how to make our relationship more integrated and deeper." The prime minister said he "specifically raised concerns about the so-called thickening of the Canada-U.S. border," during talks over two days in New Orleans. Congestion and more extensive security screening at border crossings have resulted in logjams that impede the easy movement of people and goods between the two countries. Harper said it's an issue that has been of particular concern to the business community for several years now. The four-year-old Security and Prosperity Partnership among the three countries was designed to cut red tape and increase efficiencies within NAFTA, but U.S. presidential politics and the American economic downturn have conspired to make NAFTA a whipping post. The three countries share the largest trading partnership in the world, totalling nearly US$1 trillion a year. \|\|\|\|\| For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 21, 2008 President Bush Meets with President Calderon of Mexico The Windsor Court Hotel New Orleans, Louisiana In Focus: North American Leaders' Summit 2:40 P.M. CDT PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, thank you very much. We've had a very long and very good discussion on a variety of issues. U.S. and Mexican relations are very important. And sometimes we in America take those relations for granted, but we share a large border, we share the same values, we've got people on both sides of the border, we've got friends and family members. And it is fitting that you and I have this kind of conversation. I want to congratulate you and thank you for your strong leadership. I appreciate the fact that you inherited a very difficult situation. One, you inherited the high demand for drugs in the United States. In other words, people are using drugs, and therefore people are supplying drugs, and it's caused difficult security problems in your country, and you've responded aggressively. And I think it's in our interests that we fund the joint initiative. We got to work hard on our side to make sure that we reduce our drug use, and at the same time work with you in close coordination to defeat these drug traffickers. We need to do -- continue our initiative that we started with -- during your administration, Mr. President, on dealing with arms trafficking -- arms from the United States into Mexico. We've got a strategy in place and we're now beginning to implement it. Congress has a chance to send a strong statement that we want to work in a collaborative fashion with the money that's going to be in the supplemental. My hope, of course, is they fully fund the program, and they fund it -- a strategy that will be effective. We talked about trade, and how trade has been beneficial to both of our countries. When you and I grew up in our respective countries, the border region of Mexico and the United States was very poor. And today when you go down there, there's prosperity on both sides of the border. A lot of that has to do with trade; our trade has tripled, and our economies have grown. And this has been a very positive aspect for both our countries, so we're going to talk about that, of course, with the Canadian Prime Minister in our dinner tonight. But we talked about the need to have a successful Doha Round. We talked about climate change. We talked about a lot of issues and -- but that's what you expect friends to do. So I welcome you. PRESIDENT CALDERÓN: (Speaking Spanish.) PRESIDENT BUSH: I understood every word. (Laughter.) PRESIDEN CALDERÓN: (As translated.) Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thank you so much for your hospitality and for a very long and productive discussion we had today. As is fitting for the relationship that Mexico and the United States enjoy, we have been able to discuss a long list of issues today, because we have a very complex and rich relationship. We talked first of all, as President Bush said, about security. We talked about security along our common border, we talked about the common strategies that we are implementing in order to fight the double scourge of organized crimes and drug trafficking. PRESIDENT CALDERÓN: (Speaking English.) The common enemy. TRANSLATOR: Common enemy -- thank you, Mr. President. PRESIDENT CALDERÓN: (As translated.) We discussed the Merida initiative, a very important initiative that will allow a common strategy that will benefit families on both sides -- on the side of Mexico and on the side of the United States. I also want to express my appreciation for the work the U.S. government has begun on the problem of arms trafficking. We know that this is a complex issue, we know there is much to be done, but a very important first step has already been made in that direction. We also discussed the defense of the Mexican administration, of the rights of our Mexican citizens. And we have also discussed the issue of trade and how trade is benefiting both of our peoples. I think that I have made it very clear that as far as I am concerned, trade is an issue that benefits both sides greatly. It is something that generates jobs both on the U.S. side and on the side of Mexico. We have seen an enormous increase in benefits for consumers as a result of trade, as well. We see that the quality of products in general has gone up as a result of increased trade. And I stress this issue because recently NAFTA has come under criticism, and I do not believe that people are realizing how many benefits NAFTA has brought both to the United States and to Mexico. I can say that hundreds of thousands of jobs have been created on both sides of the border. As far as Mexico is concerned, this increase in jobs has also led to a direct decrease in the amount of immigration from Mexico to the United States. It has generated growth, it has generated jobs, and it is decreasing the flow of immigration. And we have discussed the defense of the rights of Mexican citizens and the need to increase the way we watch over those rights. This is a very important issue for my administration. We need to continue working on an agenda to find a comprehensive solution for that. I understand that the United States is going through an electoral process and we respect that process, of course. But I do want to point out that it's very important for my administration for us to find a solution to this issue --and a solution that will not just find a way to deal with the immigration problem, but one that will do so with respect and responsibility. We also discussed the concern that we have with regard to the increase of prices of foods around the world, and the public policies that are involved in finding alternative fuels and how all of this goes into the mix. We need to face the problem of economies all around the world who have not been able to deal with this problem very well. In Mexico we have been able to find solutions, but we are concerned about the situation of other countries in Latin America that are not faring quite as well. And, finally, I simply want to say how happy I am to be in the United States. And I don't want to get ahead of myself, but tonight I will be extending an invitation, hopefully, to the next President of the United States to visit us in Mexico next year for this event. And of course, President Bush will always be a welcome visitor in Mexico. END 2:52 P.M. CDT	George Bush with the Canadian Prime Minster yesterday Canadian Prime Minster Stephen Harper, US President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderón met yesterday at the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America summit, held this year in New Orleans, Louisiana. The first meeting was between Bush and Calderón. Afterwards, Bush noted that they "had a very long and very good discussion on a variety of issues. U.S. and Mexican relations are very important." Bush congratulated Calderón. "I want to congratulate you and thank you for your strong leadership," he said. "We talked about trade, and how trade has been beneficial to both of our countries," continued Bush, describing the meeting before the speech. "When you and I grew up in our respective countries, the border region of Mexico and the United States was very poor. And today when you go down there, there's prosperity on both sides of the border," he said, claiming that the countries had been successful in combating poverty. Listen to the audio of the speech made by Bush and CalderónMr. Calderón then took over. "Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thank you so much for your hospitality and for a very long and productive discussion we had today. As is fitting for the relationship that Mexico and the United States enjoy, we have been able to discuss a long list of issues today, because we have a very complex and rich relationship." Later in the day Bush met with Canada's Prime Minister. "I don't know if the people of Canada understand the leadership role you took in Romania, but it was strong and effective," stated Bush in the joint press conference after the meeting. Later in the press conference, Bush noted that he's "always interested in making sure that, if there's any bilateral tensions or bilateral issues, that I know of them, so that we can work collaboratively to deal with them." Listen to the audio of the speech made by Bush and Harper Bush also mentioned other points from the meeting: "We also talked about the importance of trade between Canada and the United States, and Canada and Mexico, and the United States and Mexico. And I assured the Prime Minister that I'm a strong advocate for free trade. I believe it's in our nations' interests that we continue to have a free trade agenda. All of us want to make sure we're treated fairly, and we can do that. And this summit comes at an opportune time to reaffirm the benefits of the trading arrangements between our three nations." Calderón finished the press conference with, "we the two leaders have some important joint work going on, not just in this continent but around the world, including in Afghanistan. I appreciate your words about Bucharest, and I can tell you our armed forces look very much forward to working in partnership with your people in Kandahar."
SIA's historic A380 arrives in Singapore Related News First delivered A380 superjumbo takes off for Singapore Airbus to delay delivery of A400M military transport plane Riding on the A380 Singapore's A380 'has no first class' Airbus delivers A380 to launch customer SIA in glittering ceremony Picture Gallery:The A380 in Singapore Related Videos A380 launch a milestone for SIA and Changi Airport: PM Lee A new chapter in Singapore's aviation history has been written, with the arrival at Changi Airport Terminal 3 of the world's first superjumbo bought by Singapore Airlines. The Airbus A380 touched down at approximately 6.40pm (Singapore time) on Wednesday after a 12-hour flight from Toulouse, France. Some 400 guests, including Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, were on hand to welcome the A380 which was brought home to land by SIA's Chief Pilot, Captain Robert Ting. Speaking at the welcome ceremony, Prime Minister Lee said SIA's success is a triumph of the ingenuity, hard work and spirit of its people. It is also a source of pride for all Singaporeans and a symbol of the nation's relentless drive for excellence. But being a top airline alone is not enough, said the Prime Minister, it also needs good airport infrastructure to complete the travel experience. "In this regard, the launch of the A380 is a milestone not just for SIA, but also for Changi Airport. Changi is the first airport in the world to handle commercial A380 operations." Changi's preparedness, said Mr Lee, will stand it in good stead as a key international air hub and strengthen Singapore's position as a gateway to the Asia Pacific. SIA has purchased 19 Airbus A380 planes in all and five are expected to be delivered next year. The double-decked aircraft offers greater efficiency, lower fuel emissions and less noise compared to existing long-haul jets. The new A380 planes are expected to replace SIA's fleet of 14 Boeing 747 jets, which will be phased out in three to four years. The superjumbo will be flying to Sydney on 25 October on a charity flight, which has raised some S$1.9 million through an auction of the seats onboard. SIA will then use the A380 to operate a daily service between Singapore and Sydney. Come next year, A380 planes will also be used to launch a daily service to London. A big welcome party, that took almost 18 months to organise, was laid out for the arrival of A380 at Changi Airport Terminal 3, a S$1.75 billion facility that will open its doors to the public only in January next year. The 380,000-square metre terminal is seven storeys high and located directly opposite Terminal 2. Its main feature is a unique roof architecture which allows natural light into the building. There is also a five-storey vertical garden called the 'Green Wall' which spans 300 metres. Terminal 3 will have some 100 retail, food and beverage outlets, and service concessions. It will handle 22 million passengers annually, bringing Changi Airport's total annual passenger handling capacity to about 70 million. - CNA/sf/so \|\|\|\|\| SIA's historic A380 arrives in Singapore Related News First delivered A380 superjumbo takes off for Singapore Airbus to delay delivery of A400M military transport plane Riding on the A380 Singapore's A380 'has no first class' Airbus delivers A380 to launch customer SIA in glittering ceremony Picture Gallery:The A380 in Singapore Related Videos A380 launch a milestone for SIA and Changi Airport: PM Lee A new chapter in Singapore's aviation history has been written, with the arrival at Changi Airport Terminal 3 of the world's first superjumbo bought by Singapore Airlines. The Airbus A380 touched down at approximately 6.40pm (Singapore time) on Wednesday after a 12-hour flight from Toulouse, France. Some 400 guests, including Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, were on hand to welcome the A380 which was brought home to land by SIA's Chief Pilot, Captain Robert Ting. Speaking at the welcome ceremony, Prime Minister Lee said SIA's success is a triumph of the ingenuity, hard work and spirit of its people. It is also a source of pride for all Singaporeans and a symbol of the nation's relentless drive for excellence. But being a top airline alone is not enough, said the Prime Minister, it also needs good airport infrastructure to complete the travel experience. "In this regard, the launch of the A380 is a milestone not just for SIA, but also for Changi Airport. Changi is the first airport in the world to handle commercial A380 operations." Changi's preparedness, said Mr Lee, will stand it in good stead as a key international air hub and strengthen Singapore's position as a gateway to the Asia Pacific. SIA has purchased 19 Airbus A380 planes in all and five are expected to be delivered next year. The double-decked aircraft offers greater efficiency, lower fuel emissions and less noise compared to existing long-haul jets. The new A380 planes are expected to replace SIA's fleet of 14 Boeing 747 jets, which will be phased out in three to four years. The superjumbo will be flying to Sydney on 25 October on a charity flight, which has raised some S$1.9 million through an auction of the seats onboard. SIA will then use the A380 to operate a daily service between Singapore and Sydney. Come next year, A380 planes will also be used to launch a daily service to London. A big welcome party, that took almost 18 months to organise, was laid out for the arrival of A380 at Changi Airport Terminal 3, a S$1.75 billion facility that will open its doors to the public only in January next year. The 380,000-square metre terminal is seven storeys high and located directly opposite Terminal 2. Its main feature is a unique roof architecture which allows natural light into the building. There is also a five-storey vertical garden called the 'Green Wall' which spans 300 metres. Terminal 3 will have some 100 retail, food and beverage outlets, and service concessions. It will handle 22 million passengers annually, bringing Changi Airport's total annual passenger handling capacity to about 70 million. - CNA/sf/so	The Airbus A380 Superjumbo in SIA livery, which was featured at the 2006 Asian Aerospace. It was a milestone in aviation history: the first Airbus A380 landed at Singapore's Changi International Airport at 6:40 p.m. (GMT+8) after a 12-hour flight from Airbus' Delivery Center. The aircraft was greeted by some 400 guests, including the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, at the soon-to-open Terminal 3 of Changi International Airport. In his speech, the Prime Minister applauded Singapore Airlines (SIA) - the recipient carrier - and cited its success as a source of pride for all Singaporeans. He also said that the landing was a milestone not only for SIA, but also for Changi International Airport, the country's main airport. All existing terminals are currently A380-ready, and the SGD1.75-billion Terminal 3 will open its doors in January next year. The A380 will make a special charity flight on October 25 from Singapore to Sydney and will begin regular service on the Singapore-Sydney route on October 28.
ABC News Tropical Storm Alpha Forms in Caribbean Tropical Storm Alpha Forms in Caribbean, Sets Record for Most Named Storms in Hurricane Season A portion of the status board at the National Hurricane Center in Miami shows some of the names of tropical cyclones for the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005. Tropical Storm Alpha formed Saturday in the Caribbean, setting the record for the most named storms in an Atlantic hurricane season and marking the first time forecasters had to turn to the Greek alphabet for names. (AP Photo/Andy Newman) By RON WORD Associated Press Writer The Associated Press MIAMI Oct 22, 2005 Tropical Storm Alpha formed Saturday in the Caribbean, setting the record for the most named storms in an Atlantic hurricane season and marking the first time forecasters had to turn to the Greek alphabet for names. The previous record of 21 named storms had stood since 1933. Alpha was the 22nd to reach tropical storm strength this year, and the season doesn't end until Nov. 30. At 8 p.m. EDT, Alpha had sustained winds of about 40 mph 1 mph over the threshold for a tropical storm. It was centered about 70 miles south of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, and moving northwest at about 15 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. A tropical storm warning was in place for Haiti and parts of the Dominican Republic, and a tropical storm watch was in effect for the Turks and Caicos islands and the southeastern Bahamas. Since 1995, the Atlantic has been in a period of higher hurricane activity, a cycle expected to last at least another 10 years. Scientists say the cause of the increase is a rise in ocean temperatures and a decrease in the amount of disruptive vertical wind shear that rips hurricanes apart. The busy seasons are part of a natural cycle that can last for at least 20 years, and sometimes 40 to 50, forecasters at the hurricane center say. The current conditions, they say, are similar to those in the 1950s and 60s. The U.S. Gulf Coast has been battered this year by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Dennis and Wilma will be next. It had sustained winds of about 100 mph as it moved over the Yucatan Peninsula on Saturday and was expected to turn northeast, pushed by a strong wind current, and approach southern Florida on Monday. A hurricane watch was in effect for the state's entire southern peninsula. Wilma was the last on the list of 21 storm names for 2005; the letters q, u, x, y and z are skipped. The Greek alphabet provides a continuation of that list but had never been used in six decades of regularly naming Atlantic storms. \|\|\|\|\| Tropical Depression ALPHA Public Advisory Home Public Adv Fcst/Adv Discussion Maps/Charts Archive 000 WTNT35 KNHC 242143 TCPAT5 BULLETIN TROPICAL DEPRESSION ALPHA ADVISORY NUMBER 10 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 5 PM EDT MON OCT 24 2005 ...TROPICAL DEPRESSION ALPHA WEAKENS TO A TROUGH... AT 5 PM EDT...2100Z...SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATED THAT TROPICAL DEPRESSION ALPHA HAS WEAKENED TO A TROUGH NEAR LATITUDE 29.0 NORTH... LONGITUDE 70.0 WEST OR ABOUT 385 MILES... 620 KM... SOUTHWEST OF BERMUDA. THE REMNANTS OF THE DEPRESSION ARE MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 29 MPH...46 KM/HR. THIS GENERAL MOTION SHOULD CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS...UNTIL THE SYSTEM IS ABSORBED BY HURRICANE WILMA. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH... 55 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS...TO THE EAST OF THE TROUGH. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1004 MB...29.65 INCHES. REPEATING THE 5 PM EDT POSITION...29.0 N... 70.0 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 29 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 35 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1004 MB. THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ON THIS SYSTEM. FORECASTER BEVEN $$	Image and projected storm track by . Tropical Storm Alpha formed Saturday in the Caribbean to break the record for most tropical storms in an ever, making it the 22nd storm of the year. It is also the first storm to be named with a letter of the Greek alphabet. Wilma exhausted the English alphabetic list as the 21st named storm; the letters Q, U, X, Y and Z are skipped when naming storms. Currently, the storm has sustained winds of 40mph, which is only 1mph over the threshold for a tropical storm. It is centered about 70 miles south of , Dominican Republic. A tropical storm warning has been issued for Haiti and portions of the Dominican Republic. According to scientists, since 1995 an increase in hurricane activity has been due to a rise in ocean temperatures and decrease of wind shear that rip apart hurricanes. The prior record has stood since the . However the season does not end till November 30, leaving room for more storms to form and shatter the record. Scientists have noted that the number of very strong hurricanes is likely to increase further in future years as the effects of global warming increase. Researcher Dr Peter Webster stated that "What I think we can say is that the increase in (hurricane) intensity is probably accounted for by the increase in sea-surface temperature, and I think probably the sea-surface temperature increase is a manifestation of global warming."
(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) It keeps going and going. NASA's Opportunity rover has logged a total of more than 30 kilometers (18.64 miles) of travel on Mars since 2004, thanks to a recent drive of 482 feet (146.8 meters) that put it past the 30 km milestone. In a report, NASA noted the distance is "50 times the distance originally planned for the mission and more than 12 times the distance racehorses will run next week at the Belmont Stakes." The twin rover Spirit has been out of communication with Earth since March 2010 after driving 4.8 miles, and NASA finally gave up on trying to communicate with it just last month. But Opportunity is still rolling along and taking photos of nearby craters, such as a 30-foot hole informally dubbed "Skylab" after the first U.S. space station. Opportunity has been investigating exposed rock outcroppings on a long journey to Endeavour, an enormous impact crater measuring 14 miles across that's now only about 2 miles away. The rover's right front wheel motor has been drawing more power than the other wheels, and intermittent cosmic rays have delayed Opportunity's progress, but its extended performance after its initial three-month mission has been remarkable. Thanks to the painstaking care of NASA managers, it has survived a sand trap, dust storms, and numerous other hazards. We hope Opportunity's first landfall at Endeavour comes soon. \|\|\|\|\| › Full image and caption NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used its navigation camera to take the exposures combined into this view of a wee crater, informally named "Skylab," along the rover's route. June 02, 2011 A drive of 482 feet (146.8 meters) on June 1, 2011, took NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity past 30 kilometers (18.64 miles) in total odometry during 88 months of driving on Mars. That's 50 times the distance originally planned for the mission and more than 12 times the distance racehorses will run next week at the Belmont Stakes. Opportunity has passed many craters on its crater-hopping tour. One of the youngest of them is "Skylab" crater, which the rover passed last month. Rocks scattered by the impact of a meteorite surround the resulting crater in a view recorded by Opportunity on May 12. The view is at http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA14132 , and in 3-D stereo at http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA14133 . This crater, informally named after America's first space station, is only about 9 meters (30 feet) in diameter. Opportunity passed it as the rover made progress toward its long-term destination, Endeavour crater, which is about 22 kilometers (14 miles) in diameter. The positions of the scattered rocks relative to sand ripples suggest that Skylab is young for a Martian crater. Researchers estimate it was excavated by an impact within the past 100,000 years. Opportunity and its twin, Spirit, completed their three-month prime missions on Mars in April 2004. Both rovers continued for years of bonus, extended missions. Both have made important discoveries about wet environments on ancient Mars that may have been favorable for supporting microbial life. Spirit has not communicated with Earth since March 2010. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Exploration Rover Project for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington. More information about the rovers is online at: http://www.nasa.gov/rovers . Guy Webster 818-354-6278 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. guy.webster@jpl.nasa.gov 2011-170	Artist's conception of a Mars Exploration Rover on the Martian surface. The has passed the 30-kilometer (18.64-mile) milestone in its travels over the Martian surface. ''Opportunity'' has been on Mars since 2004. It was during a small recent drive of 146.8 meters (482 feet) that the rover passed the distance milestone. According to NASA, the distance traveled by ''Opportunity'' is 50 times that originally planned for the rover. ''Opportunity'' has passed several craters since landing on Mars in 2004, including one of the youngest craters yet investigated by the rover, named "Skylab" after the . The rover's ultimate destination is a large crater approximately in diameter; ''Opportunity'' is now within about of this crater. ''Opportunity'''s sister rover, , traveled about across the Martian surface before it lost communication with Earth in March 2010; last month, NASA ceased attempts to regain contact with the rover. Both the ''Opportunity'' and ''Spirit'' rovers have greatly surpassed their intended operational lifespan—which ended in April 2004—and have helped researchers make discoveries about the history of Mars, as well as the possibility that microbial life could have once been supported on the fourth planet from the sun. == Sources == * * fr:Mars : le rover américain Opportunity franchit une nouvelle étape
Israel's ex-PM Ariel Sharon dies Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has died aged 85 after spending eight years in a coma following a stroke. He was a giant of Israel's military and political scene, but courted controversy throughout his long career. The head of the Sheba Medical Centre near Tel Aviv said Mr Sharon had died on Saturday afternoon of heart failure. PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he was a great warrior but a senior Palestinian said his path was war and aggression. Continue reading the main story Analysis Ariel Sharon's life was intimately entwined with the life of the country he loved from the moment of its birth. He fought in its war of independence in 1948 and from that point until he slipped into a coma in 2006 it seemed there was hardly a moment of national drama in which he did not play a role. He was always a controversial figure in Israeli politics - certainly not universally loved - but in mourning his passing, Israelis are marking the loss of one of the few public figures left whose career stretched back to the earliest days of their state. "His memory will live forever in the nation's heart", the Israeli leader's spokesman said on Twitter. But leading Palestinian political figure Mustafa Barghouti said while no-one should gloat at his death, Mr Sharon had taken "a path of war and aggression" and had left "no good memories with Palestinians". The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Jerusalem, says Ariel Sharon's life was intimately entwined with the life of the country he loved. He fought in Israel's war of independence in 1948, and from that point until he slipped into a coma in 2006 it seemed there was hardly a moment of national drama in which he did not play a role, our correspondent says. The 85-year-old became PM in 2001 and in 2005 completed a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, barely a year before he suffered a massive stroke. His health had declined for the past week and a half, Sheba Medical Centre Director Professor Shlomo Noy told reporters. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "Over the past week he struggled with surprising strength and determination against the deterioration in his condition. Today he departed peacefully with his loving family at his side." One of his two sons, Gilad Sharon, said outside the hospital: "He has gone. He went when he decided to go." He had been in a persistent vegetative state since a stroke in 2006 and Professor Noy said he had suffered "ups and downs" throughout that period. As prime minister, Mr Sharon presided over some of the most turbulent times in Israeli-Palestinian history, a Palestinian uprising that erupted after peace talks collapsed in 2000 and a subsequent tough Israeli military response. After playing an important part in the 1973 war, Ariel Sharon became a defence adviser to the government As defence minister, he supervised the invasion of Lebanon in 1982 To many Israelis, he was a heroic warrior, having led decisive campaigns in the 1967 and 1973 wars. But Palestinians remember him for Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982, during which a massacre of civilians was carried out by Christian Phalangist militia in Beirut's Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. Ariel Sharon was found personally responsible by an Israeli inquiry for allowing the massacre to happen. UK Prime Minister David Cameron said Israel had lost "one of the most significant figures" in its history while French President Francois Hollande said after a long military and military career Mr Sharon had "taken the choice to turn to dialogue with the Palestinians". Ex-US President Bill Clinton said he "gave his life to Israel". Known as Arik, Mr Sharon entered politics after the 1973 war but he became defence minister in 1981 and took charge of the invasion of Lebanon the following year, in an attempt to remove Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) fighters who had carried out attacks across Israel's northern border. After the Kahan commission into the Beirut massacres recommended he be removed from office, Mr Sharon was forced to resign as defence minister but stayed in government. But it was not until 2001 that he came to power as prime minister. \|\|\|\|\| Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has died following a long illness. The 85-year-old's son was quoted as saying he had died, eight years since a stroke at the height of his powers left him in a coma. Gilad Sharon said: "He has gone. He went when he decided to go." Gilad Sharon announces his father's death Sheba Medical Centre, where he was being treated, said he died at around 2pm (midday UK time). His body will lie in state in the Knesset, before his funeral takes place at a ranch in the Negev desert. Sharon's 2000 visit to a disputed Jerusalem site caused the second Intifada Mr Sharon's condition suddenly deteriorated on January 1 when he suffered serious kidney problems after surgery. Nicknamed 'The Bulldozer', the veteran soldier fought in all of Israel's major wars before beginning a turbulent political career in 1973. Long considered a pariah for his personal but "indirect" responsibility for the 1982 massacre of hundreds of Palestinians by Israel's Lebanese Phalangist allies in Beirut's Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, he was elected premier in 2001. Ministers in Israel's right-wing government and the political opposition mourned a leader who left big footprints on the region through military invasion, Jewish settlement building on captured land and a unilateral decision to pull Israeli troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005. President Shimon Peres said: "My dear friend, Arik Sharon, lost his final battle today. "Arik was a brave soldier and a daring leader who loved his nation and his nation loved him. He was one of Israel's great protectors and most important architects, who knew no fear and certainly never feared vision." Mr Sharon was accused over the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz said in a statement: "The nation of Israel has today lost a dear man, a great leader and a bold warrior." There was no immediate comment on the death from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, with whom Mr Sharon's Likud party successor, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been holding US-sponsored peace talks. But in Gaza, Hamas welcomed Mr Sharon's death and celebrated in the streets. "We have become more confident in victory with the departure of this tyrant," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zurhi said. "Our people today feel extreme happiness at the death and departure of this criminal whose hands were smeared with the blood of our people and the blood of our leaders here and in exile." Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Ariel Sharon is one of the most significant figures in Israeli history and as prime minister he took brave and controversial decisions in pursuit of peace, before he was so tragically incapacitated. "Israel has today lost an important leader." Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "Ariel Sharon was a figure who dominated Israeli politics for a generation. Nobody can doubt the impact he had on Middle East politics." US President Barack Obama offered his condolences to Mr Sharon's family, saying: "We join with the Israeli people in honouring his commitment to his country." \|\|\|\|\| Israel's ex-PM Ariel Sharon dies Continue reading the main story Related Stories Ariel Sharon's life was intimately entwined with the life of the country he loved from the moment of its birth. He fought in its war of independence in 1948 and from that point until he slipped into a coma in 2006 it seemed there was hardly a moment of national drama in which he did not play a role. He was always a controversial figure in Israeli politics - certainly not universally loved - but in mourning his passing, Israelis are marking the loss of one of the few public figures left whose career stretched back to the earliest days of their state. Ariel Sharon's roots were in the world of Zionist pioneering zeal - he was born between the two world wars in Palestine when it was under British control - to a Jewish couple who had fled to the Holy Land from Belarus. Sharon was admired among Israelis for his military exploits His reputation as an uncompromising and unapologetic defender of his country's interests dates back to his military career. He was still a teenager when he fought in the war of 1948 and in his autobiography, fittingly called Warrior, he described intense fighting against soldiers from the Jordanian Arab Legion for control of a crucial police fort on the road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. He and his men lay in fields ignited by gunfire in the burning heat with water and ammunition running low. He remained a soldier for many years afterwards, fighting with distinction in Israel's battles with its Arab enemies in the wars of 1967 and 1973. He helped set up Unit 101 - a commando detachment whose job was to conduct reprisal operations across the border in Arab territories to retaliate for attacks against Israel. Such was his reputation as a military commander that some accounts of his army career say he was nicknamed the Lion of God after a particularly daring tactical parachute operation against Egypt in 1967 in the Sinai desert. Shadow of Lebanon But already there was a dark undertone. Allegations emerged that Egyptian prisoners had been shot and there were questions at home about whether the operation had been a military necessity. Fifteen years later, it was another dark episode that brought Ariel Sharon international attention. Continue reading the main story Political Career 1973 : Elected Knesset member for Likud : Elected Knesset member for Likud 1975-77 : Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's special security adviser : Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's special security adviser 1977-81 : Minister of Agriculture : Minister of Agriculture 1981-83 : Minister of Defence : Minister of Defence 1984-90 : Minister of Trade and Industry : Minister of Trade and Industry 1990-92 : Minister of Construction and Housing : Minister of Construction and Housing 1996-98 : Minister of National Infrastructure : Minister of National Infrastructure 1998-99 : Foreign Minister : Foreign Minister 2001-2006 : Prime Minister : Prime Minister 2005: Left Likud to found Kadima He was minister of defence when Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982. The strategic goal was to bring stability to the country's northern border by crushing Yasser Arafat's PLO, which was then holed up in southern Lebanon and Beirut. But the war was deeply controversial at home as well as in the wider world. And there was worse too. Fighters from a Christian militia group which was co-operating closely with the Israelis carried out extensive massacres in Palestinian refugee camps in Sabra and Shatilla. It is likely the names of those camps will be associated with Mr Sharon's own name as long as the history of that conflict is remembered. Eventually an Israeli inquiry held that Ariel Sharon was "indirectly responsible" for the killing. The war cost many lives - Israeli as well as Palestinian and Lebanese - and it casts a long shadow over his historical legacy. Second intifada Within Israel Mr Sharon was not finished though. Long a supporter of the settlers who moved on to the lands Israel captured in the war of 1967 in defiance of international opinion, he saw himself as a natural leader of the Israeli right. In a volatile place, he could be a provocative figure. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. In the year 2000, flanked by hundreds of Israeli riot police, he staged a visit to the area of the Old City in Jerusalem which contains sites sacred both to Jews and Muslims - the Temple Mount or Harem al-Sharif. Even though the area is in the part of East Jerusalem captured by Israel in the war of 1967, Jewish rights to pray there are limited - and it is a microcosm of the tensions that fuel the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians. Intense rioting followed his visit there and many people trace the outbreak of the second Palestinian intifada to that moment. Ariel Sharon was characteristically unrepentant. Bold moves He became prime minister in 2001, promising to bring peace and security to his country but it was a turbulent period in Israeli politics and he eventually left the governing Likud party to found his own Kadima movement while still in office. Sharon pulled Israeli troops and settlers out of Gaza in 2005, a move which divided his supporters Peace remained elusive then as it is elusive now. It was on his watch as prime minister that construction of a barrier began with the intention of preventing suicide attacks on Israel from the Palestinian territories. His supporters would argue that it worked. Its detractors would say it entrenched an already deep sense of separateness. He did not shy away from bold political moves though. The man who had supported Israeli settlers ordered their removal from Gaza when he decided to withdraw from the Palestinian enclave beside the Mediterranean in 2005. It was precisely his reputation as a hardliner that allowed him to sell to his supporters a decision with which many felt instinctively uncomfortable. Not long afterwards, he slipped into the coma from which he was never to emerge and we will never know how he would have followed up that decision or where it might have led. Ariel Sharon died hated by Israel's enemies but there are plenty of Israelis who would argue that the depth of that hatred was a measure of the success with which he always defended the country he served. \|\|\|\|\| Israel's ex-PM Ariel Sharon dies Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Ariel Sharon was known as The Bulldozer: a larger-than-life, blustering figure who came to dominate the domestic political scene as much by his sheer physical presence as by his rhetoric. To many Israelis, Sharon was a heroic warrior, having led decisive campaigns in the 1967 and 1973 wars. But to many Palestinians he was The Butcher, who laid siege to Beirut and was responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon in 1982. "No-one can lecture me about the need for peace," he once said. "I am the one who was in those battles. Therefore I am the person who can prevent war." And it is true that Sharon had fought in all of Israel's five wars. Late in his career, Sharon pushed through disengagement from Gaza against strong opposition in Israel and from the party he led. In 2005, despite fierce opposition in Israel, Sharon ordered a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip This policy was an attempt to define, on Israeli terms, the borders of the state and provide security for Israel, even before a final settlement with the Palestinians. Sharon was born Ariel Scheinerman in the Sharon Valley in 1928, in a Palestine still under a British mandate. His parents, Shmuel and Devorah, were farmers - Zionist emigres from Russia. The family farm was often subjected to raids by neighbouring Arab tribesmen. Sharon learned how to fight at an early age. Wounded warrior It is said that, as a child, he would bury the family rifle under dung in the cowshed when British patrols passed by. At high school in Tel Aviv he studied agriculture, politics and military affairs, while also learning to be a teenage warrior. Aged just 14, the young Sharon joined the Haganah, the underground Jewish military organisation which was the forerunner of the Israeli army. Six years later, in 1948, he was commanding an infantry company when Israel came into being. Sharon fought at Suez in 1956 Sharon, at one point badly wounded in the stomach in the ensuing war, led from the front, often in an armoured car liberally stocked with vodka and caviar for his men to share. In 1953, while a military intelligence officer, he founded the commando Unit 101, charged with raiding the West Bank - then under Jordanian occupation - in retaliation for attacks on Israel. One raid, on the border village of Qibya, ended in shame for Sharon. His men, who had been instructed to blow up 10 homes in retaliation for a raid on Israel which had killed three people, demolished 45 houses and a school and killed 69 people. The international furore forced the then Israeli Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, publicly to apologise for his troops' excesses. Admired strategist Even so, Sharon's career went from strength to strength. October 1956 saw Israeli armour spearhead an attack into Egyptian territory on the Sinai peninsula, in support of the British and French attacks on Suez. Ariel Sharon was once again in the vanguard, in charge of a parachute brigade which captured the strategically-crucial Mitla Pass. This bloody battle was condemned even by the army's Chief of Staff, Moshe Dayan, as unnecessarily brutal. After a spell studying military theory at the British Army's Staff College at Camberley, the newly-promoted Colonel Sharon returned to Israel where, for three years, he ran the army's infantry school. Sharon led decisive battles in Israel's wars, but his conduct sometimes dismayed Moshe Dayan (left) He was back in action in the 1967 war, commanding an armoured division when Israel's armed forces launched a pre-emptive strike on its Arab neighbours. He recaptured the Mitla Pass and the route to the Suez Canal, cementing a reputation as a brilliant strategist. His troops however were accused of shooting their Egyptian prisoners but Sharon denied any knowledge of these alleged atrocities. 'Undecided war' Frustrated in his ambition to become chief of staff, Sharon resigned from the Israeli army in June 1972 to pursue a career in public life. But his promising political career - he formed the Likud party shortly after leaving the army - was put on hold when he was recalled to active service following Egypt and Syria's surprise attack on Israel in October 1973. Once again in charge of an armoured division, he spearheaded Israel's counter-attack, crashing through the Egyptian lines to reach, and cross, the Suez Canal again before being ordered by his superiors to advance no further. Israel's failure, as he saw it, to finish the job by destroying Egypt's armed forces, was a huge mistake. He called it "an undecided war". Sadat, Carter and Begin celebrated the Camp David Agreement His army career over, Sharon now devoted his life to politics. December 1973 saw him elected to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, as a Likud member. During the mid-1970s he served as defence adviser to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin before being appointed minister of agriculture by Rabin's successor, Menachem Begin, in 1977. He greatly expanded the ministry's remit, dealing with rural matters but also developing a plan for permanent Jewish settlements in the territories occupied by Israel in 1967. "I believe that if we establish these settlements," he said at the time, "we will feel sufficiently secure to accept risks for the sake of peace." Refugee camp massacres He opposed the Camp David peace accord thrashed out by Begin and Presidents Carter and Sadat, believing that the guidelines on future Palestinian autonomy were too vague. But he remained, and prospered, in the Israeli government. Promoted to defence minister, Ariel Sharon was still to face the most controversial moment of his career. In June 1982, he ordered an invasion of Lebanon, Israel's northern neighbour, to push back Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) fighters who were based there. Within days, Israeli armour and artillery were besieging Lebanon's capital, Beirut. Israeli forces besieged Beirut in 1982 while Sharon was defence minister After two months, 14,000 PLO and Syrian fighters agreed to leave Beirut. But tens of thousands of Palestinians remained behind, crammed into refugee camps such as Sabra and Shatila in Beirut. Breaking a promise he had given to the Americans, Sharon sent his troops into West Beirut, saying that 2,000 PLO fighters were hiding in the camps. However he made the fateful decision to let the PLO's foe, the Phalangist Christian militia, go in. Added to this, the Phalange's former leader, Lebanon's President-elect, Bashir Gemayel, had been assassinated the day before. In the massacre which followed at least 800 - though figures of up to 2,000 have been mooted - Palestinian refugees died and many others were raped and tortured. Worldwide condemnation followed - 400,000 people took part in the largest demonstration ever seen in Israel. Sharon was called a murderer. But he refused to resign from the government and Begin demoted him to minister without portfolio. Forced from office The following year an Israeli commission of inquiry ruled that he carried personal responsibility for allowing the massacre in the camps to happen. Sharon (2nd L) testifying at the inquiry into the 1982 Beirut massacres Sharon refused to accept any responsibility for the tragedy. "Not for a moment did we imagine that they would do what they did," he protested. "They [the Phalange] had received harsh and clear warnings. Had we for one moment imagined that something like this would happen we would never have let them into the camp." But the Kahan commission concluded that he "disregarded the danger" and recommended that he resign from office. Sharon's career suffered after Lebanon and he remained in the background of Israeli politics, running a number of ministries but not scaling the heights he had previously enjoyed. That is, until Likud's 1999 election defeat. Unexpectedly, the party chose Sharon to succeed its former leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. He swept into power in 2001, six months after the beginning of the second Palestinian uprising, or intifada, which began when Sharon paid a controversial visit to the the holy site in Jerusalem known as the Temple Mount to Jews, and Haram al-Sharif to Muslims. He was elected, like so many of his predecessors, on a promise of peace and security for Israelis, but he struggled to achieve that illusive goal. Sharon ordered the West bank barrier to be built after waves of deadly attacks by Palestinian militants, but it has been seen as a device to take land Sharon looked to unilateral measures - the building of a barrier in the West Bank after scores of deadly attacks by Palestinian militants and pulling settlers and troops out of the Gaza Strip and a small area of the West Bank. But the West Bank barrier - built on occupied land - was unacceptable to the international community. The Gaza disengagement plan had his own constituency, the settlers and the hard right, accusing him of weakness and betrayal. Tired of the opposition from within his own party over the withdrawal, in November 2005 he resigned from Likud to form a new centrist party, Kadima - "forward" in Hebrew. The idea was to give himself more room for manoeuvre in seeking a peace deal with the Palestinians. What this would have achieved will now never be known. In December 2005, Sharon suffered a mild stroke. A second, major stroke in January 2006 sent Israel's warrior into a coma from which he never awoke. \|\|\|\|\| Ariel Sharon, who was Israel 's prime minister in one of its most turbulent phases and one of the most controversial figures in its history, has died, aged 85, after spending the last eight years of his life in a coma. Dr Shlomo Noy, who has personally treated Sharon since his debilitating stroke eight years ago, said that Mr Sharon had struggled with "surprising strength" over the past week as his condition had deterioriated. "He departed peacefully with his wife and family at his side," he said. The decorated former army general was pronounced dead at the Tel Hashomer Hospital, near Tel Aviv, days after doctors reported a sharp deterioration in his health, leading to multiple organ failure. He was prime minister from 2001 until he suffered a massive stroke in January 2006, which left him incapacitated. "He went when he decided to go," Gilad Sharon, his son, said. Sharon's death set in motion plans for an elaborate state funeral for a divisive political figure who excited widely contrasting emotions among his admirers and detractors. It drew a warm tribute from Shimon Peres, Israel's president and a political contemporary and rival, who described him as a "dear friend". "Arik [Mr Sharon's widely-used nick-name] was a brave soldier and a daring leader who loved his nation and his nation loved him," Mr Peres said in a statement issued by his office. "He was one of Israel's great protectors and most important architects, who knew no fear and certainly never feared vision. "He knew how to take difficult decisions and implement them. We all loved him and he will be greatly missed. I send my condolences to the Sharon family, may he rest in peace." Yuval Stenitiz, the Israeli intelligence and strategic affairs minister and one of Mr Netanyahu's closest allies, said Mr Sharon's death meant Israel had "lost a dear man, a great leader and a bold warrior". His tribute contrasted to the gloating tone of Hamas, the Islamist group which runs Gaza, which said it greeted the former Israeli leader's death with "extreme happiness". "We have become more confident in victory with the departure of this tyrant," said Sami Abu Zurhi, a spokesman for Hamas, which refuses to recognise Israel and several of whose leading figures were killed in "targeted assassinations" while Mr Sharon was prime minister . "Our people today feel extreme happiness at the death and departure of this criminal whose hands were smeared with the blood of our people and the blood of our leaders here and in exile." Many Israelis respected Mr Sharon for his combativeness, admiring his uncompromisingly hawkish response to the second Palestinian intifada [uprising] after he was elected prime minister in 2001. Mr Sharon ordered a series of overwhelming military incursions into the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip amid a wave of violence that saw hundreds of Israelis die in suicide bomb attacks. His premiership was also marked by the decison to build a massive separation barrier though the West Bank, justified as a measure to foil suicide bombers. Palestinians lambasted the long concrete and steel barrier as an "apartheid wall" and insisted its true goal was the annexation of land they wanted for a future state. Mr Sharon's reputation as one of Israel's leading hawks was well established long before he became prime minister. In 1983, he was forced to step down as defence minister after an official public inquiry implicated him in the massacre of Palestinian civilians by Lebanese Christian forces in the Beirut refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila. The massacre happened after Israel's invasion of Lebanon, of which Mr Sharon was a leading instigator under the leadership of the then prime minister, Menachem Begin. Serving in the Israeli army, where he rose to the rank of general, Mr Sharon had a reputation for ruthless violence, recklessness and occasional insubordination. During the Suez War of 1956, he exceeded orders by capturing the Mitla pass in Egypt's Sinai region. The action cost 38 Israeli and 250 Egyptian lives, drew widespread international condemnation and overshadowed Mr Sharon's military career for years afterwards. Yet in 1973, drafted back into the army shortly after having retired, he was credited with turning the tide also in Sinai after Egypt and Syria launched the Yom Kippur war in an unsuccessful attempt to re-gain territories captured by Israeli in an earlier conflict. Ironically, Mr Sharon's stroke came at a time when he was under fire from Israeli Right-wingers for having unilaterally withdrawn Israeli forces and troops from the Gaza Strip in what some hawks saw as an act of weakness. The move split Mr Sharon's Likud party and led to him leaving to form a new centrist political movement called Kadima, which won the 2006 elections under Ehud Olmert, his close ally and successor as prime minister. Born Ariel Sheinermann, Mr Sharon was married and widowed twice. After his first wife, Margalit, died in a car crash in 1962, Mr Sharon married her sister, Lily, the following year. Lily died from lung cancer in 2000. Mr Sharon is survived by two sons from his second marriage. Omri, 49, his eldest son, served as a political adviser to his father and was jailed in 2008 for illegal election financing. Gilad, 46, the younger son, runs the family farm in the Negev. An earlier son, Gur, from Mr Sharon's first marriage died in 1967 from wounds suffered in a shooting accident.	Ariel Sharon in 2001. Ariel Sharon, the former Prime Minister of Israel, died today at the just outside Tel Aviv after his conditioned worsened significantly over the last few days. Sharon had been in a coma since suffering a stroke in January 2006. Before becoming a politician, Sharon served in the army, having joined the at age fourteen — the Jewish paramilitary operating in the before the founding of the State of Israel. Sharon was elected to the Knesset in 1973, then took a number of ministerial roles in the government including as a security adviser to Yitzhak Rabin, terms as minister of agriculture, defence, trade and industry, construction and housing, and national infrastructure. He became Foreign Minister in 1998 and Prime Minister in 2001. In 2005, Sharon left the Likud Party to form Kadima and pursued a policy of . Sharon was married twice: his first wife Margalit died in 1962, his second wife Lily died in 2000. He is survived by two sons.
Parvathy makes India proud! When the fingers were crossed across the world to hear the name of their country’s representative, Pantaloons Femina Miss India World’08 Parvathy Omanakuttan made Indians proud standing tall as the first runner-up at the Miss World 2008 contest. She was also the 2 nd runner-up at the Miss World Top Model contest that took place on December 3 at Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Soweto, South Africa. 32 semifinalists competed in the event. Back home in India, she won the Pantaloons Femina Miss India South 2008 in December last year. From there she moved to win the Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2008 title in April. Miss World 2008: Winners The final verdict is out, here are the results: Miss World 2008, Winner Miss Russia: Ksenia Sukhinova Miss World 2008, First runner-up: Pantaloons Femina Miss India World’08: Parvathy Omanakuttam Miss World 2008, Second runner-up: Miss Trinidad & Tobago: Gabrielle Walcott Top 5 stunners From the Top 15, race to the coveted Miss World 2008 crown shortened down to the Top 5, which included: 1. Pantaloons Femina Miss India: Parvathy Omanakuttan 2. Miss Trinidad & Tobago: Gabrielle Walcott 3. Miss Angola: Brigith dos Santos 4. Miss Russia: Ksenia Sukhinova 5. Miss South Africa: Tansey Coetzee The Semi-finalists Now comes the moment when the jury has given their word of the semi-finalists. The shortlisted beauties include: 1. Miss Russia: Ksenia Sukhinova (Miss World top model) 2. Miss Mexico: Anagabriela Espinoza (Winner of the beach wear round) 3. Miss Barbados: Natalie Griffith (Winner of the talent round) 4. Miss Iceland: Alexandra Ívarsdóttir (Winner of the sports round) 5. Miss Trinidad & Tobago: Gabrielle Walcott (Winner of Beauty with a purpose) 6. Miss Venezuela: Hannelly Quintero 7. Miss Ukraine: Irina Zhuravskaya 8 . Miss Croatia: Josipa Kusić 9. Miss Brazil: Tamara Almeida 10. Miss Angola: Brigith dos Santos 11. Miss Kazakhstan: Alfina Nassyrova 12. Miss Puerto Rico: Ivonne Orsini 13. Miss Spain: Patricia Rodríguez 14. Miss South Africa: Tansey Coetzee 15. Pantaloons Femina Miss India World’08: Parvathy Omanakuttan Peppy performances Soon after the jury was announced, 109 beauties begin grooving to the tunes of a musical band. The ladies are looking sensuous in real short-numbers. Five major colours that rule the ramp include fuschia pink, turquoise, yellow, red and orange. During the semi-finalists’ announcement, British singing sensation Alisha, dressed in a glittering golden short dress added zing to the show with a breathtaking performance. The hosts & the jury Hosts for the evening Tumisho Masha and Angela Chow, are looking great in black tuxedo and a gorgeous golden gown, respectively. The panel of judges include: Albin Beart (France), Andre Sleigh (Taiwan), Fahad Khan (Pakistan), H.K. Lee (China), Jimmy Steele (Canada), Jean Vandecasteele (Belgium), Martina Aubrechtova (Czech R.), Marjukka Nieminen (Finland), Jose Cinqueterra (Philippines), Sean Spurrier (South Africa), David Iza (Mexico), EJ Toledo (Puerto Rico), Josi Watkins (Ghana), Marcelo Stein (Argentina), Carmen Wu (Hong Kong), Arturo Gallo (Spain), Roberto Rodriguez (Costa Rica) and Patrick Tripoldi (USA) The action begins The much-awaited event opened in grandeur with a splendid show by a bunch of dazzling dancers. The beauties from across the world have started sashaying down the ramp in alluring evening gowns. Pantaloons Femina Miss India World’08, Parvathy Omanakuttan is looking gracious in a scintillating red dress. Miss World 2008: Curtain raiser More than 100 international beauties are primping and preening in the final anxious moments before the Miss World pageant begins tonight. The event this time is hosted by South Africa for an expected one billion-strong TV audience. South African and Jamaican designers have created racks of dresses for the women, aged 17 to 25, who have spent a gruelling month in galas, rehearsals and even a safari on the tip of the African continent. Contestants from the eight countries participating in the FIFA Confederation Cup, taking place in South Africa in June as a warm-up for the 2010 World Cup, also joined in the draw for their teams. The event, which begins at 2030 hours (IST), has a special focus on song, dance and music, and includes a high-tech twist with an online competition where viewers can vote for their favourite beauty. The winner of the online vote will go directly to the semi-final round, where Miss Barbados, Miss Mexico, Miss Russia and Miss Iceland have already secured spots by winning special competitions in the run-up to the big show. An international jury will decide on the next Miss World, who will succeed China's Zhang Zi Lin, who was crowned last year when the pageant was held in her home country. (With inputs from AFP) \|\|\|\|\| Kseniya Sukhinova from Russia competed against 108 contestants Russian contestant Kseniya Sukhinova has won the Miss World 2008 competition at a ceremony in South Africa. Trindad and Tobago's Gabrielle Walcott was second runner-up and India's Parvathay Omanakuttan was first runner-up, from among 109 contestants. Millions of people were expected to watch the annual pageant, being held in Johannesburg. It was the sixth time that South Africa has held the event, more than any other country except England. South Africa organisers were said to be keen to calm concerns about the country's ability to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. For this first time in the competition's history, viewers in 180 countries had the opportunity to vote for one of the semi-finalists through the internet. An international jury decided the winner. Miss Sukhinova is from Siberia, studying for an engineering degree. \|\|\|\|\| An engineering student from Russia has been crowned the 58th Miss World after a two-hour spectacle in South Africa. Miss World: Kseniya's hobbies include skiing and roller-skating Beaming after her victory, Kseniya Sukhinova said her immediate ambitions included meeting Russia's president. The 21-year-old added that she planned soon to return to her studies at the Tyumen Oil and Gas University in her home region of northwestern Siberia. She is currently studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineer of Administration. "I am so happy to be here," she said of South Africa, which was hosting its sixth Miss World final. "I am so excited. It's amazing." Ms Sukhinova, who in a biography on the Miss World Web site listed becoming a supermodel as a goal, won the contest's top model award and was third in the swimsuit competition. She was a crowd favorite - though not as popular as home favourite Miss South Africa, Tansey Coetzee, who made the final five. Second runner up was Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Gabrielle Walcott. First runner up was Miss India, Parvathy Omankuttan. Miss Angola, Brigite Santos, completed the top five. In addition to the swimsuit and modelling rounds, the 109 contestants competed in a "pentathlon" that included building a small boat and taking football penalty kicks. There was also a talent show and an event showcasing the women's charity work in the month leading up to Saturday's live international broadcast. The contest was to have taken place in Ukraine, but was moved to South Africa because of tensions between Russia and Georgia and fears conflict could spread to Ukraine. South Africa has hosted more Miss World finals than any other country. The broadcast included clips of the contestants visiting South African game parks, golf courses and pristine beaches and dancing in the famed Johannesburg township of Soweto. \|\|\|\|\| RUSSIAN bombshell Kseniya Sukhinova was crowned Miss World in South Africa on Saturday. Miss India Parvathy Omankuttan came second. Trinidad and Tobago's Gabrielle Walcott was second runner-up as Siberian Sukhinova beat 109 other contestants in the two-hour show in Johannesburg. See all the Miss World entrants See photos of Miss World contestants - Miss Albania to Miss Costa Rica See photos of Miss World contestants - Miss Curacao to Miss Indonesia See photos of Miss World contestants - Miss Ireland to Miss Phillipines See photos of Miss World contestants - Miss Poland to Miss Zimbabwe But MIss England's 22-year-old business graduate Laura Coleman (below), featured last week, was nowhere to be seen in the final run-in. South African stunner Tansey Coetzee made the final five. It was the sixth time that South Africa has held the event, which featured online voting from viewers in 180 countries. \|\|\|\|\| Russian crowned Miss World 2008 JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — Russia's Kseniya Sukhinova won the Miss World 2008 crown on Saturday in a glittering African-themed pageant where she outshone 108 other international beauties and pledged to "help people." "And Miss World 2008 is Russia," announced Julia Morley, head of the Miss World committee that organises the event. The second runner up was Gabrielle Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and the first runner up Parvathay Omanakuttan of India. The 21-year-old blue-eyed blonde beauty, who declared shortly before her win was announced that being nervous made her "feel stronger," takes over from Zhang Zi Lin of China to become the 58th Miss World. "I think I can help people and I want to help people and today if I walk away with this crown I will do that," Sukhinova told judges through a translator after being asked why she should be crowned the winner. Hailing from Nizhnevartovsk in the north west of Siberia, Sukhinova was dressed in a purple gown, with a decorative neckline and flowing skirt. She is a student pursuing an engineering degree from the Tyumen Oil and Gas University. Sukhinova becomes the second Miss Russia to win the global event after Julia Kourochkina took the crown in 1992. India's Omanakuttan wooed the crowd by greeting them in the Afrikaans language, spoken by many in South Africa. She also referred to heroes such as Mahatma Ghandi and South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela, who was quoted by Trinidad and Tobago's Walcott as well. Contestants, aged 17 to 25, were dressed by South African and Jamaican designers for the final show after a month of galas, rehearsals and even a safari on the tip of the African continent. Trading glamour for the bush, the beauties donned T-shirts and sneakers as they gamely tramped into the bush to see lions and giraffes, play African drums, sleep in huts and cook traditional Zulu meals. Johannesburg sought to use the event to boost its image as a world class city, despite being known for its high crime rates, while the country also hopes to benefit from the publicity ahead of staging the football World Cup in 2010. "I think we have been able to showcase the best of what our country has to offer," said judge Lindiwe Mahlangu, the chief executive of Johannesburg tourism. Beauties from 109 countries were whittled down to 15 semi-finalists with India, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, Angola and South Africa among the five finalists. South Africa's Tansey Coetzee had her home crowd on their feet shouting support as her name as a finalist was announced. The winner of the event, broadcast live to millions of viewers in 187 countries, has to espouse "beauty with a purpose" with charity being one of the main focuses of the pageant. "Over the years the crown that is worn by the winner is a symbol for fundraising. Miss World herself, this year, the winner from China, she's raised over 30 million dollars in her year in office," Morley said. "So perhaps from anything else it does a lot of good things for needy children and old people, which I think is important too." The 51-year-old competition was originally scheduled for October 4 in Kiev, but was delayed in September over security concerns due to the conflict between neighbours Russia and Georgia. \|\|\|\|\| Russia's Kseniya Sukhinova won the Miss World 2008 crown on Saturday in a glittering African-themed pageant where she outshone 108 other international beauties and pledged to "help people." "And Miss World 2008 is Russia," announced Julia Morley, head of the Miss World committee that organises the event. The second runner up was Gabrielle Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and the first runner up Parvathay Omanakuttan of India. The 21-year-old blue-eyed blonde beauty, who declared shortly before her win was announced that being nervous made her "feel stronger," takes over from Zhang Zi Lin of China to become the 58th Miss World. "I think I can help people and I want to help people and today if I walk away with this crown I will do that," Sukhinova told judges through a translator after being asked why she should be crowned the winner. Hailing from Nizhnevartovsk in the north west of Siberia, Sukhinova was dressed in a purple gown, with a decorative neckline and flowing skirt. She is a student pursuing an engineering degree from the Tyumen Oil and Gas University. Sukhinova becomes the second Miss Russia to win the global event after Julia Kourochkina took the crown in 1992. India's Omanakuttan wooed the crowd by greeting them in the Afrikaans language, spoken by many in South Africa. She also referred to heroes such as Mahatma Ghandi and South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela, who was quoted by Trinidad and Tobago's Walcott as well. Contestants, aged 17 to 25, were dressed by South African and Jamaican designers for the final show after a month of galas, rehearsals and even a safari on the tip of the African continent. Trading glamour for the bush, the beauties donned T-shirts and sneakers as they gamely tramped into the bush to see lions and giraffes, play African drums, sleep in huts and cook traditional Zulu meals. Johannesburg sought to use the event to boost its image as a world class city, despite being known for its high crime rates, while the country also hopes to benefit from the publicity ahead of staging the football World Cup in 2010. "I think we have been able to showcase the best of what our country has to offer," said judge Lindiwe Mahlangu, the chief executive of Johannesburg tourism. Beauties from 109 countries were whittled down to 15 semi-finalists with India, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, Angola and South Africa among the five finalists. South Africa's Tansey Coetzee had her home crowd on their feet shouting support as her name as a finalist was announced. The winner of the event, broadcast live to millions of viewers in 187 countries, has to espouse "beauty with a purpose" with charity being one of the main focuses of the pageant. "Over the years the crown that is worn by the winner is a symbol for fundraising. Miss World herself, this year, the winner from China, she's raised over 30 million dollars in her year in office," Morley said. "So perhaps from anything else it does a lot of good things for needy children and old people, which I think is important too." The 51-year-old competition was originally scheduled for October 4 in Kiev, but was delayed in September over security concerns due to the conflict between neighbours Russia and Georgia. \|\|\|\|\| The Gods, the solar system and the spirits within are aligning themselves to what seems to be the triumph of Russia in the 2008 Miss World pageant. Ksenia Sukhinova just won the “Top Model” fast track event, just like Zi Lin Zhang did last year. Also, Sukhinova was 2nd runner-up in the Beach Beauty event;Zi Ling Zhang ended up at the same position in the same event. Russia’s victory this year would not come as a surprise to those of us following the pageant. Ever since she stepped off the airplane in South Africa, this blonde beauty has impressed everyone with her looks, her presence and her smile. If Sukhinova takes the crown on December 13th, she will be the second Miss World from Russia. The first one was Julia Kourochkina, in 1992. \|\|\|\|\| 12/03 - RUSSIA WINS TOP MODEL FAST TRACK 1st Runner up: Angola 2nd Runner up: India Miss Russia, Ksenia Sukhinova, automatically enters the Top 15 semifinals. "Being voted Top Model is the highlight of my trip so far to South Africa," said a glowing said Miss Kseniya SUKHINOVA "I had my heart set on winning this event and now my dream has come true. Now, I am setting my sights higher and am focusing on the Miss World 2008 crown." Courtesy of MissWorld.com \|\|\|\|\| 11/29 - Mexico wins Beach Beauty Fast Track DURBAN, November 29th - The Beach Beauty 2008 event took place at the beach of the Beverly Hills resort in Umhlanga Rocks, with the participation of this year's 109 contestants vying for the Miss World title. Miss Mexico, Anagabriela Espinoza Marroquin, was the winner of the coveted award. Her trophy was presented by reigning Miss World Zilin Zhang, along with South African actor and presenter Tumisho Masha. Miss Mexico is now one of this year's semi finalists, so she can now sit and relax waiting for the finals on December 13th. The 1st and 2nd runner-ups were Misses South Africa (Tansey Coetzee) and Russia (Ksenia Sukhinova), respectively. The top 3 finalists were announced among a group of 10 beauties, which included the contestants from Angola, India, Lebanon, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain and Venezuela. Completing the Top 25 semi finalists were the delegates from Australia, Colombia, Croatia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Paraguay, Serbia, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay and Zimbabwe. It is worth mentioning that Mexico also won Best in Swimsuit awards at other major beauty contests this year. Congratulations! See photos of the Competition \|\|\|\|\| July 14, 2008 (Monday) gave the people of Venezuela a cause of celebration. The moment was when Dayana Mendoza was crowned Miss Universe 2008. Sharing the platform, in the moment of glory, were four other participants - Miss Columbia Taliana Vargas (1st runner up), Miss Dominican Republic Marianne Cruz Gonzalez (2nd runner up), Miss Russia Vera Krasova (3rd runner up) and Miss Mexico Elisa Najera (4th runner up). All of them competed against 75 other participants, to become one of the top five. As a custom, elated Dayana Mendoza received the crown from her predecessor, Riyo Mori of Japan. Born on 1st July 1986, Dayana is a model, who hails from Caracas, Venezuela. She signed with Elite Model Management in 2001 and since then, has been walking the ramp for various international designers, like Versace and Roberto Cavalli. She speaks Spanish, English, and Italian fluently. A model by profession, Dayana Mendoza wants to make her career in Interior Design and also advertising. First Runner Up Standing second to Dayana is Miss Columbia Taliana Vargas, with the 1st runner up position. Born on 20th December 1987, this brown-eyed beauty is a student of Journalism, at the Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia. She is from Santa Marta, Magdalena, and speaks fluent Spanish, English, and Italian, apart from some Greek and Arabic. Taliana Vargas claims of Greek descent, through her grandparents. One of the ever youngest Miss Colombia, she is often described as a typical Latino model. Second Runner Up Marianne Cruz Gonzalez, of Dominican Republic, bagged the position of the 2nd runner up, in Miss Universe 2008. Before this, she won Miss Continente Americano 2007 beauty pageant. Born in Hermanas Mirabal, Salcedo, this femme fatale started working at a very young age, in order to provide financial support to her family. The 23-year old beauty is presently studying Fashion Design and Merchandising and aspires to become a world class fashion designer, just like Oscar De La Renta. Third Runner Up Miss Russia Vera Krasova became the third runner up in Miss Universe 2008 pageant. A 20-year old bombshell, who has just got over her teen years, she proclaims herself to be very ambitious. She is very independent by nature and has been helping her parents since the age of sixteen. Vera Krasova has had work experience during her college years, including one as a waitress. Though she is studying Management and economics presently, Krasova hasn’t yet chosen on the career path that she wants to follow in future. Fourth Runner Up Last, but not the least, is Miss Mexico Elisa Najera, who managed to gain the 4th runner up position in Miss Universe 2008. Standing tall at 6½ feet, this Mexican beauty also won the ‘Queen Of Vinpearl - Best in Swimsuit’ title. She was born on 16th August 1986, in Celaya, Guanajuato. Elisa Najera is currently studying ‘engineering in food industries’. In the future, she wants to open her own business, in the same area in which she is studying, along with her family, especially her mother, who is a chef.	- of Russia. of Russia, won the crown on Saturday, outshining 108 other international competitors. She was crowned by her predecessor , of the People's Republic of China. She pledged to "help people" and said, "I think I can help people and I want to help people and today if I walk away with this crown I will do that." Sukhinova, 5' 10", said that her immediate ambitions included meeting Dmitry Medvedev. She is a student of , she is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program, majoring in Engineering. Sukhinova was born in 1987 in , in the north west of Siberia. Sukhinova won the 2007 Miss Russia beauty contest on December 14, in Moscow, where she represented Tyumen. Ksenia surpassed 50 other contestants from all over Russia. She was unable to represent Russia at due to her college work, so her 2nd runner-up, , replaced her in the contest. Vera placed as the 3rd runner-up to Venezuela's . Miss World 2008, the 58th Miss World was held at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 13, 2008. Originally, the pageant was going to take place in Kiev, Ukraine, but because of the ongoing in neighboring South Ossetia, the decided to move the pageant away from Eastern Europe. 109 contestants from all over the world competed for the crown, marking the biggest turnout in the 58 years of the pageant, surpassing the previous record of 107 during Miss World 2004. A locator map for showing number of winners from each country. She is the second Russian contestant to win Miss World, the first was in . The first runner-up was India's , while the second runner-up was Trinidad and Tobago's . The other finalists were Angola's and South Africa's . There were 15 semi-finalists. , Miss World committee head, and wife of Miss World creator said that the winner has to espouse "beauty with a purpose" with charity via fund raising, being one of the main focuses of the contest. "Over the years the crown that is worn by the winner is a symbol for fundraising. Miss World herself, this year, the winner from China, she's raised over 30 million dollars in her year in office. So perhaps from anything else it does a lot of good things for needy children and old people, which I think is important too." she said. It was the sixth time that South Africa hosted the pageant, more than any other country except England. The event was aired live to millions of viewers in 187 countries, who, for the first time in the pageant's history, were allowed to vote for one of the semi-finalists through the Internet. An international jury elected the winner.
Britney Spears faces multi-million dollar lawsuit accused of 'ripping off' song lyrics for Hold It Against Me By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 2:04 PM on 20th February 2011 The video for her new single Hold It Against Me debuted just last week but Britney Spears and the first song from her new album has certainly made an impact, although perhaps not in the way she was hoping for. In fact, the 29-year-old singer is being accused of plagiarism and is facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit. Britney is accused of ‘ripping off’ the rock ballad If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me by the Bellamy Brothers. Scroll down to watch Britney's music video and the Bellamy Brother's song In hot water:Britney Spears leaving LAX on Friday night with her boys and boyfriend, Jason Trawick, heading to her hometown of Louisiana. The singer is being accused of 'ripping off' song lyrics The American singers claim Britney’s song is too close to their own 1979 hit which topped the charts in six countries, and David and Howard Bellamy are set to met with lawyers, according to reports. David, 60, told The Daily Star: ‘Howard and I have no personal beef with Britney. She’s a talented gal. But professionally we feel completely ripped off. ‘We will without doubt take the appropriate legal action if our attorneys agree we’ve been ripped off.’ Holding it against her: David and Howard Bellamy are planning to take legal action against Britney as they claim she has ripped off their rock ballad If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me A spokesman for Britney told the paper: ‘If this is now a legal matter then I am afraid we would have nothing to say until our lawyers have been alerted.’ Britney jetted back to her home state of Louisiana last night - and one of the first things on the agenda was a drive-thru stop. The singer and her boyfriend Jason Trawick paid a visit to the burger joint Sonic today where they indulged in some junk food from the privacy of their SUV. She was spotted departing LAX Airport in Los Angeles on Friday night to make the 2,000 mile trip home with her sons Sean Preston, aged five, and four-year-old Jayden James in tow. Blushing bride: Britney Spears has unveiled the new music video to Hold It Against Me in full She's back! The star unveiled Hold It Against Me today Britney recently got trim for her new video, but it seems the mother of two was giving herself a day off from her fitness blitz after arriving in Kentwood - the sleepy town of her youth. Spears and her boys will be spending a few days with her family while she takes a break from promoting her upcoming album Femme Fatale. Back in Los Angles, Britney has been spotted hitting up the gym ready for her big comeback - and all of her hard work is paying off. Her manager, Larry Rudolph, recently told MTV that he felt the video for the new song is more than ‘just about the really two different Britneys. I think it’s also about Britney just being strong and still on top after all these years.’ After her music label released a staggering 14 sneak previews, the highly-anticipated music video unveiled in full in the US on thursday night. The 29-year-old also revealed the clip on Twitter, writing: ' Without further adieu, I present my video for Hold It Against Me, directed by the wonderful Jonas Akerlund... Hope you guys love it as much as I do. If you didn't I'll kung fu kick you like I did to that chick in the video.' Standing in a futuristic set surrounded by television sets playing footage of her old videos from the late Nineties, Britney appears in a strapless, corseted dress with an enormous puffball skirt. The white gown is quickly transformed, though, when the singer shoots colourful paint from her fingers, which splashes in all directions and leaves her dress techni-coloured. Blushing bride: Britney first appears in the white gown Paint party: The 29-year-old is splashes with colourful paint, leaving the gown techni-coloured The gown is transformed into the style of gown preferred by travellers, whose staggering wedding traditions - including £150,000 dresses which can weigh up to 20-stone - have become a talking point thanks to the Channel 4 series. At another point in the video Britney gets into a stiletto-clad catfight with her own mirror image. Her manager Larry Rudolph says the scenes are a metaphor for the star's life. 'There are really two different Britneys. There's a public Britney and there's a private Britney, and they're very different,' he told MTV. 'Maybe the world doesn't really know that, maybe those of us who do know her really well understand that, but there really are two different Britneys. Catfight: Scenes where Britney has a brawl with herself are supposed to be a metaphor for the singer's real life No body double: Britney was forced to deny she used a body double for the vigorous dance routines Helping hand: It does appear that she got a little help from an airbrush though in the video, compared to her more natural appearance today 'Maybe at some times the two Britneys are at odds with each other; most of the time they're not.' 'I think it's also about Britney just being strong and still on top after all these years. But there's a few different ways to look at it.' The catfight scenes have also solved the puzzle over claims Britney used a body double for the video. The singer recently had to deny the use of a double after several reports suggested she was unable to complete the choreography and even walked off set in tears. Step back in time: The set features televisions playing footage of her old music videos You better love it! Britney asked fans on Twitter whether they liked the clip, adding 'If you didn't I'll kung fu kick you like I did to that chick in the video' Her spokesperson angrily denied the claims at the time, but explained today: 'Of course, there was a body double in there that she was fighting most of the time, which is where some confusion came in. 'I heard some rumours that she used a body double. The reality is, she used a body double for the fight scene, because it's all the fight herself.' He said last week: ' Britney worked extremely hard on this video and rehearsed for six weeks prior to shoot.' 'Fans will immediately see how inaccurate these claims are once they see the video.' She certainly looks in great shape, showing off her trim figure in a midriff top during a vigorous dance routine. Britney has also been in the studio with Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am recording a new single. \|\|\|\|\| Music Britney Spears has reportedly been accused of plagiarising the work of an American country rock duo on her single 'Hold It Against Me' David and Howard Bellamy are allegedly planning to sue the pop princess and four credited song writers on the grounds that her chart-topping track is "too close" to their 1979 ballad, 'If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me?'David told the Daily Star: "Howard and I have no personal beef with Britney. Shes a talented gal. But professionally we feel completely ripped off."We will without doubt take the appropriate legal action if our attorneys agree weve been ripped off."Responding to the possible lawsuit, a spokesperson for Spears stated: "If this is now a legal matter then I am afraid we would have nothing to say until our lawyers have been alerted."The quote is thought to have originally been coined by Groucho Marx on his 1950s gameshow You Bet Your Life.	Britney Spears performing at , in 2009. US pop and country duo are accusing singer Britney Spears — also from the United States — of plagiarism in her latest single "". The group believes that Spears is "ripping off" one of their songs, a 1979 track entitled ""; they are thought to be attempting to have Spears prosecuted. Howard and David Bellamy claim that Britney Spears' single, the first to be released from her upcoming album '''', is "too close" to The Bellamy Brothers song. Both tracks have reached number one on various music charts. Speaking to British '''', David Bellamy said, "Howard and I have no personal beef with Britney. She’s a talented gal. But professionally we feel completely ripped off. We will without doubt take the appropriate legal action if our attorneys agree we’ve been ripped off." A spokesperson for Britney Spears, made a statement to the same newspaper. "If this is now a legal matter then I am afraid we would have nothing to say until our lawyers have been alerted," the spokesperson stated.
Carly Fiorina is one of America's most successful businesswomen Ms Fiorina, one of America's most powerful businesswomen, said she was leaving after a dispute with the company's board over future strategy. The company has struggled to remain profitable since Ms Fiorina pushed through a controversial merger with rival Compaq in 2002. Investors cheered Ms Fiorina's exit, HP's shares rising 10%. They stayed sharply higher all day, closing up nearly 7%. Chief financial officer Robert Wayman has replaced Ms Fiorina temporarily. Under pressure Ms Fiorina, who headed HP for six years, has been under pressure in recent months as the firm's profits failed to meet market expectations. While I regret the board and I have differences about how to execute Hewlett-Packard's strategy, I respect their decision Carly Fiorina Ms Fiorina's life and times Earlier this month, Ms Fiorina denied newspaper reports that she had been sidelined and said her relationship with the board remained excellent. Ms Fiorina oversaw a diversification of HP's activities away from of its core printer and imaging business into the highly competitive personal computer market. She pushed through the acquisition of Compaq Computer in 2002 despite strong opposition from fellow directors and shareholders. "Carly Fiorina came to HP to revitalise and reinvigorate the company," Patricia Dunn, HP's non-executive chairman, said in a statement. "We thank Carly for her significant leadership over the past six years as we look forward to accelerating execution of the company's strategy." Change of direction? "While I regret the board and I have differences about how to execute Hewlett-Packard's strategy, I respect their decision," Ms Fiorina said. Analysts said Ms Fiorina's abrupt departure marked a change of strategy for the company. "I think Fiorina very much personified the strategy that the company had embraced in the past several years," said Peter Sorrentino, chief investment officer at Bartlett & Co. "With her departure, it signals to me that they have elected to take a whole new course of action and that they have decided that this was not a strategy she was in support of." \|\|\|\|\| '); //--> Computer Hardware & Software The HP Way Out Scott Reeves and Lisa DiCarlo , Carleton "Carly" S. Fiorina, Hewlett-Packard's chief executive, was asked to resign yesterday afternoon. NEW YORK - After a tumultuous six-year tenure,'s chief executive, was asked to resign yesterday afternoon. Robert P. Wayman, HP's (nyse: news - Patricia C. Dunn, an HP director since 1998, has been named nonexecutive chairman of the board. , HP's(nyse: HPQ people ) longtime chief financial officer, has been named interim CEO., an HP director since 1998, has been named nonexecutive chairman of the board. "Carly Fiorina came to HP to revitalize and reinvigorate the company," Dunn said in a prepared statement. "She had a strategic vision and put in place a plan that has given HP the capabilities to compete and win. We thank Carly for her significant leadership over the past six years as we look forward to accelerating execution of the company's strategy." Fiorina joined the company as chief executive, amid deafening fanfare, in July 1999. She was the poster girl for breaking the glass ceiling, the first woman to lead a Dow component. She was attractive, well-dressed and sharp as a tack. Her face was plastered on many magazine covers, and reporters breathlessly covered her arrival. But the honeymoon didn't last long. Right off the bat, Fiorina said things everyone wanted to hear. She promised 15% annual sales and earnings growth, a remarkable feat considering that HP, then a $42 billion company, had come off its fifth consecutive year of declining revenue growth. She also vowed that HP would not miss the "second chapter" of the Internet the way it had so badly missed the first. And she promised to foster the inventiveness and creativity that had been HP's hallmark since the company's founding in a Palo Alto, Calif., garage in 1939. Fiorina decided that HP's future looked a lot different from its storied past. To put its slow-growth past behind it, Fiorina and HP's top brass broke down the company's decentralized structure. Rather than having dozens of product groups operating like mini-companies, Fiorina wanted to centralize sales and marketing for all products into two massive divisions. Lucent Technologies' (nyse: news - But breaking down a system so entrenched at the venerable company was not easy. And implementation of the plan was not gentle. There was resentment among many people who were stripped of responsibilities, and confusion stemming from suddenly working in an entirely new way. Some say Fiorina, who ran(nyse: LU people ) $20 billion service provider business as its president before taking over HP, may have underestimated the extent to which employees, many of whom had never worked for another company, clung to the HP way. Walter Hewlett, then a director and the son of a co-founder, fought tooth and nail to squelch the deal. In the end, it came down to a proxy vote that HP won by a small margin. People unhappy with the new system left, and eventually things settled down, until the 2002 announcement that HP and Compaq planned to merge. It was one of the most contested deals in history., then a director and the son of a co-founder, fought tooth and nail to squelch the deal. In the end, it came down to a proxy vote that HP won by a small margin. IBM (nyse: news - Dell (nasdaq: news - The merger helped HP cut billions in costs and certainly increased its leverage and buying power in the industry, but it hasn't done much to accelerate HP's growth. In fact, many analysts say the company is stuck between(nyse: IBM people ) and(nasdaq: DELL people ), unable to compete effectively or on the same footing with those leaders. Now, Wayman says HP believes in the strategy Fiorina put forth, but not in her ability to accelerate its execution. Its search committee, which encompasses the entire board of directors, is launching a broad search for a replacement. HP will report first-quarter results after the market close Feb. 16. It expects results to be in line with analysts' consensus estimates of 37 cents per share. HP shares rose as much as $2.12 to $22.26 today from yesterday's close of $20.14. Later in the morning, they settled to a gain of about a dollar per share. Based on an average of 2.991 billion shares outstanding on a diluted basis for the fiscal fourth quarter ended Oct. 31, 2004, that gain of one dollar per share from Fiorina's resignation has added about $2.99 billion in market capitalization to the company. Fiorina earned a bachelor's degree in medieval history and philosophy from Stanford University. She received an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland and an M.S. from M.I.T.'s Sloan School. Last month, HP's board of directors reportedly discussed shifting some day-to-day duties to other executives from Fiorina in an effort to boost the company's performance. At the time, company insiders said Fiorina's job was not in question. Video: HP Exposed 1 of 1 '); //--> News Headlines \| More From Forbes.com \| Special Reports Subscriptions > \|\|\|\|\| HEWLETT-PACKARD: ONLINE EXCLUSIVE What's Next for HP and for Carly? Now that the Hewlett-Packard board fired chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina, the betting begins on who will replace her, whether the board will split up the company, how Dell will react, and what will become of Carly. And so we need to change the tense on Carol Loomis's epochal FORTUNE cover story released two weeks ago: Carly's big bet has failed. HP's board flat-out fired Carly Fiorina, which the company disclosed Wednesday to investors and the media in an early-morning news release and subsequent teleconferences. The release cited strategic "differences." It named steady-eddy CFO Bob Wayman as interim CEO and Patricia Dunn, the former CEO of Barclays Global who stepped down from her job to battle cancer, as non-executive chairman. Now the betting begins on any number of other fronts. To wit: · Who will replace her? Fiorina had staunchly rejected the notion of a hands-on chief operating officer beneath her. The board undoubtedly will look for an operations whiz to head the far-flung company now. Merrill Lynch analyst Steve Milunovich already has weighed in with his nominee: Michael Capellas, currently CEO of MCI, former CEO of Compaq, and, waddya know, former president of HP, following its acquisition of Compaq. Intel's Paul Otellini was mentioned last go-round, but don't look for his name to surface this time because he's about to become his company's CEO. Motorola's Ed Zander might welcome a warmer climate, but he's barely a year into his new job. His ex-president, former General Electric executive Mike Zafirovski, probably will be considered. My guess: Ray Lane, the former president of Oracle and, like Dell CEO Kevin Rollins, an ex-management consultant. Lane's technology roots are deep, including a 10-year stint at IBM. He's the natural pick, if he wants to leave his cushy perch as a venture capitalist at Kleiner Perkins. · Will HP's board split up the company? For now the line is no. But Wall Street clearly thinks otherwise. HP is up 7% to $21.58 in midday trading. Ever since the Compaq merger, investors have complained that HP is a "value trap," meaning primarily that the true value of the printer business was trapped within HP. Simply replacing the CEO won't unlock that value. Spinning off the printer division would. · How will Dell react? What if, down the road, HP does jettison its printer business? Dell has said rather clearly that it got into printers to deny HP the ability to use its own printer unit to subsidize PCs. Would Dell stop making printers if HP no longer had that crutch? · What will become of Carly? There's been a ton of mostly ill-informed speculation for years that Carly is interested in politics. Before Arnold, she was widely rumored as a Republican candidate for governor of California. A Fiorina-Boxer or Fiorina-Feinstein Senate campaign would be worth the price of admission. It wouldn't be shocking to see Fiorina show up in a sub-cabinet position in the Bush administration, either. But one thing is clear: Whatever else you say about Carly Fiorina, she has thrown everything, and I mean everything, into this job for the last five-plus years. At this point, she deserves a break. Next: Carly Fiorina Out at HP: Why Her Big Bet Failed \|\|\|\|\| advertisement Hewlett-Packard Ousts CEO Carly Fiorina Fiorina, 50, one of the most powerful women in business, said in a statement, "While I regret the board and I have differences about how to execute HP's strategy, I respect their decision. HP is a great company and I wish all the people of HP much success in the future." Analysts said her departure would be good for the company, and HP shares jumped 10 percent in early trading. "I would say there will be a boost to employee moral because internally people had become frustrated, certainly within the printing division," said Shannon Cross, a Wall Street analyst with Cross Research who tracks the printing industry. Peter Sorrentino, chief investment officer of Bartlett & Co. in Cincinnati, also expressed relief at the management change. "This was a move that we had long hoped they would take. We thought the stock, just from the imaging business, is worth $24 a share, and you were being impaired as a shareholder because of the other businesses," he said. Shares of HP, a component of the Dow Jones industrial average, rose $2.06 to $22.20 in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Robert Wayman, HP's chief financial officer, was named CEO on an interim basis and appointed to the board of directors of HP. Wayman rose through the ranks at HP after joining the company in 1969. HP said a search for a new CEO was underway. Patricia Dunn, vice chairman of Barclays Global Investors and a member of HP's board since 1998, was named non-executive chairman of the board. MERGER HEADACHES Fiorina, who joined HP as CEO in 1999, became a lightning rod for criticism from investors and some in the Silicon Valley establishment for pushing through the 2002 merger with rival PC maker Compaq. Continued ...	New York - Carly Fiorina was ousted by the board of directors of HP yesterday, much to the delight of Wall Street. Ms Fiorina's resignation was the result of a disagreement with the board over the future of the company. Often cited as America's most powerful businesswoman, Ms Fiorina presided over the multi-billion dollar merger between Hewlett Packard and Compaq Computers in 2002. The move comes after several months of intense speculation about her future with the company. Having promised billions in annual savings to the company from the 2002 merger, the combined company failed to keep pace with competitors such as Dell, or to deliver any significant increases in profits, particularly in the personal computer market. A recent investigation by Fortune magazine highlighted the fact that the firm's highly profitable printer business supported the lower-margin computer business. After the announcement, HP shares surged 10% on Wall Street against a generally poor performance by the major indices.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) Angel Cabrera claimed the second major championship of his career Sunday, winning the Masters on the second hole of a three-way playoff. Cabrera, the 2007 U.S. Open winner, pulled off a remarkable par at No. 18 after hitting his tee shot behind a tree. Kenny Perry also made par after his chip rolled up just short of the hole, while Chad Campbell was eliminated in sudden death when he missed a 4-footer to save par from the bunker. The two survivors moved on to No. 10, where Perry hit an awful approach far left of the green. His chip skidded past the cup and he never got a chance to finish up. Cabrera two-putted for par to win the green jacket. \|\|\|\|\| More Coverage: FanHouse Masters 2009 Podcast Latest From Augusta Reuters AP AP AP AP AP Reuters Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Getty Images The final day of the 2009 Masters certainly unfolded in a bizarre fashion, but after Kenny Perry pulled his second shot on the 10th hole left of the green and failed to get up and down, Angel Cabrera had two putts to win the tournament on the second sudden-death playoff hole and became the last golfer standing in a Sunday slugfest at Augusta.Perry seemed locked to win the tournament, holding a two-stroke lead with just two holes to play, but he finished bogey-bogey down the stretch, allowing playing partner Cabrera and Chad Campbell to join him in a sudden-death playoff The most bizarre circumstance surrounding Cabrera's win -- outside his Sunday yellow becoming the "new red" -- might be his early Sunday play: he shot an inexplicable one-over on the front-nine Sunday, bogeyed 10 and appeared poised to free fall from the leaderboard before rattling off three birdies on the final six holes.His first playoff hole was no less odd, as Cabrera managed to hit his second shot off a tree before scrambling back for a par that extended his hopes of winning the green jacket to the 10th hole.The win was Cabrera's second major in the past three years -- in 2007 he was the first Argentinian to win the U.S. Open -- as he became the first Argentinian to don a green jacket in Augusta's rich history.And as surprising as watching Cabrera storm back to win was, it seems like a pretty fitting ending considering the insanity that consumed Augusta on Sunday.	Argentine Ángel Cabrera won the 2009 Masters Tournament Sunday with a second-hole playoff victory over Kenny Perry at the Augusta National Golf Club in the American state of Georgia. Cabrera, who gained international attentional with a win at the 2007 U.S. Open, shot a 12-under-par over 72 holes to force a playoff with Americans Perry and Chad Campbell. With a pair of 68s in the first two rounds, Cabrera sat in third place, one stroke behind leaders Perry and Campbell. In the third round, Cabrera shot a 69 to share the lead with Perry, before shooting a 71 on Sunday to end the day at 12-under-par. With two holes to go, Perry had a two-shot lead at 14-under. He bogeyed both holes, while Cabrera parred both, having shot 3 birdies in the final six holes. In the first playoff hole, Perry and Cabrera both shot pars, while Campbell dropped out after missing his par shot. In the second playoff hole, Perry hit his second shot off the green, and Cabrera was able to two-putt his way to victory.
Posted Sat, 05 Mar 2016 10:50:00 GMT by JW DoweyFrom cougars to tree frogs and tiger to elephant, we protect the wild from many threats. It is not only orangutans that are affected by lack of planning and knowledge in wildlife reintroductions. The situation on the ground and in the labs that unearth genetic mistakes is made clear with painstaking research. The future could leave us with little wildlife in Africa, SE Asia or in fact, anywhere, unless the planning is logical and forward-looking. Posted Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:10:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThe lists for leading nations in annual growth dont often include Central Asia. The slow but steady investment in private enterprise and international partnerships with aid have brought some environmental improvements and greater water security in the dry, extreme climates found in the region. Posted Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:37:01 GMT by Dave ArmstrongSolar or biofuel? Well, we know which plane will get you there quicker at the moment. Posted Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:59:00 GMT by Paul RobinsonPlants such as Rafflesia spp. are closest to the Euphorbias, but literally stand out as amazing examples of evolution to attract insects for pollination and mammals for dispersal. We take off our hats, and place it round our noses to a plant that parasitizes and almost paralyses us, and perpetually pleases flies!!! Posted Wed, 24 Feb 2016 09:25:34 GMT by Dave ArmstrongWe have a record for being obsessed with camouflage in the sea or on land. The incredible lengths that species will go to (evolve) in order to resemble an object that is either dangerous or inedible. The name is mimicry (Batesian or otherwise) and the game here is masquerade. Posted Mon, 22 Feb 2016 11:20:00 GMT by JW DoweyWhy do we allow the rainforest to die? How can we possibly encourage the regeneration of large stretches of the habitat needed for organisms large and small? Posted Sat, 20 Feb 2016 10:50:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongAn important step for many countries now is relieving the strain on health services from the heavy but invisible pollution, not only from our cars but actually drawn into our vehicles. Posted Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:42:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThe revealing of the oceans wealth probably postdates the almost-total human exploitation of perhaps our most valuable resource. Here is an important indication that wealth remains deep below our puny explorations. The hope must be that it can be preserved or conserved and not canned. Posted Tue, 16 Feb 2016 10:00:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThe genome is already possibly the most useful tool in fighting disease, enabling conservation, and improving our scientific efficiency all round. Here the most ancient organisms are investigated and found absolutely amazing, if just a little small and hard-to-get! Posted Mon, 15 Feb 2016 09:20:26 GMT by Paul RobinsonIt is impossible to judge exactly how global warming will affect all of us. This includes remote populations of plants and animals, many of which could be important in predicting how climate is changing. We now know just how complex the rainfall, the temperatures, the sea ice and the desertification can become. Posted Tue, 09 Feb 2016 10:47:50 GMT by JW DoweyHow do we evaluate modern humans in their approach to high fidelity learning. We are barely adequate in evaluating teaching, so maybe it is about time we looked more closely at how children really learn. The so-called professionals, from areas that are barely concerned, have failed to agree for generations, even on defining true teaching, instruction, coaching or mentoring properly. That leaves the field wide open for novel or ingenuous suggestions about early (or even late) learning and the teaching that successfully provides it. Posted Fri, 05 Feb 2016 10:50:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThe joy of mutualism is in forever finding new connections although in this case, we should have listened to the seers at least as long ago as 1653. Many crows and their relatives hoard food n activity known as scatter-hoarding. Even the giant of the family, the raven, has been recorded as encouraging the limited tree growth in isolated patches of almost-Arctic Shetland. No wonder the Norse regarded the species as among the gods. Posted Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:50:01 GMT by Dave ArmstrongMore important than food, if you are not starving; more important than children, if you are currently without; the sustainability of civilisation from the ancients to the International Space Station, is connected to waste and recycling, whether it is water or solid obstructions. Here is a compendium of current problems caused by yours truly in his or her own home. Posted Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:08:19 GMT by JW DoweyThe world's water problems do not simply include the Aral Sea and this Bolivian lake. Whole states and nations are suffering from droughts that go unnoticed internationally. If we can alleviate the suffering of people and renovate some of the environmental conditions, then these neglected regions could achieve some of their former glory. In this case, ancient civilisations thrived in these high, inhospitable mountains, while we fail to maintain even a potable supply of water. Posted Wed, 27 Jan 2016 21:09:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThe distribution of animals and plants can be absolutely fascinating. While fossils may not interest everybody, the mammals that occupy our earth currently give us a wealth of information. This concerns climate and geological change, as their ancestors, and those who didnt make it, show us the details of the climate changes that concern us very deeply at this moment in time. Posted Mon, 25 Jan 2016 18:00:00 GMT by JW DoweyAs Parisand April promises yet further promises, how are the pollution and carbon footprints decreasing over some of the major players in world climate change? Posted Fri, 22 Jan 2016 12:11:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongWhether we eat vegetables or meat, tofu or McDonalds, the basis of human and animal ingestion is the producers. These are the plants that are eaten by us all, in all their incredible varieties, providing food and drink to every living thing on the planet. Wouldnt it be a good idea to safeguard all the variety for our future needs. You bet your fat bottom! Now Norway and Germany are leading the way, along with 137 other nations to conserve what we have, in case we havent much left in 2017. Posted Wed, 20 Jan 2016 01:00:00 GMT by JW DoweyMost recent among a mass of work appearing on dolphin and whale society alongside the equivalent in birds and primates, among many others, the language of sperm whales could well be translated soon as a fascinating set of clan chats. Posted Sun, 17 Jan 2016 15:57:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongWhatever you think of deadbeat species or lost causes, the kakapo certainly isnt one of them. This year may see an upturn in their fortunes finally after years of dedicated effort on New Zealands islands in the cold, unfruitful and uninspiring situations we have placed this bird in. Posted Tue, 12 Jan 2016 12:36:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongYou wouldnt want to meet up with the common puff adder. This African species is not only visually camouflaged but your dog (or even a mongoose) would find it more or lesstoo. The Earth Times site and content have been updated. We do apologise, as this may mean that the article or page you were looking for has changed. The Earth Times now focuses on producing and publishing our own unique content on environmental issues, which is written by our own team of expert authors and journalists. We now publish environmental news articles and information on various environmental problems. You can use the site search at the top of each page, otherwise there are links to some of the main site categories and green blogs we publish included on this page. Some of the environmental topics and categories that we now focus on include climate change and the effects of global warming, including their various impacts on both people and the planet as well as conservation issues and news articles relating to nature and wildlife. The site puts an emphasis on sustainability issues, including the use and technological progress made with various types of alternative or renewable energy. Earth Times runs several eco friendly blogs (environmentally friendly) on various topics such as ecotourism (sustainable travel and tourism), eco fashion, green living, green gadgets and clean technology, plus various other environment based news categories including pollution and science news. If you have any questions or queries please contact us. \|\|\|\|\| Photo BERLIN — Firefighters brought a large fire in the roof of the famed home of the Berlin Philharmonic under control on Tuesday, but the full extent of damage to the building remained unclear. The Berlin Fire Department reported no injuries, and the musicians’ irreplaceable instruments were rescued from the building, the Philharmonie. Nevertheless, the roof, made of metal, was in shambles after firefighters tore through it to get at the flames in the structure underneath, and significant water damage to the building, which is one of the world’s great concert halls, remained a concern. Pamela Rosenberg, administrative director of the Philharmonic, said, however, that she held out hope that performances might even resume as scheduled on Thursday. “I am very relieved, but I don’t want to allow myself to become euphoric too soon,” said Ms. Rosenberg, standing in the main concert hall as firefighters unfurled enormous sheets of plastic to catch drops of water falling from the ceiling onto the upper seats. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Officials said they believed that a team of welders working on the roof had accidentally started the fire, but the cause remained under investigation. The fire commander at the scene said that more than 17,000 square feet of the roof was damaged, from the fire and the rescue efforts.	The entrance to the Philharmonie. At least 170 firefighters in Berlin, Germany battled a fire on Tuesday at the Berliner Philharmonie, the building that is home to the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra. The fire broke out around 2:00 p.m. local time, while the orchestra was rehearsing, but all the members of the audience and orchestra made it out of the building without injury. Much of the instruments were also saved before the fire grew out of control. Firefighters had to take off large portions of the metal roof in order to battle the blaze which took almost five hours to bring under control and burned for almost 12. It is believed that welding on the roof may have caused the fire to start, but an investigation is ongoing. Officials have yet to determine the total extent of the damage, but do say that nearly 17,000 square feet of the roof is burned. The building, designed by Hans Scharoun, was built in 1963 to replace the previous concert hall which was destroyed in 1944 during World War II. The orchestra was first formed by 54 individuals in 1882. All future concerts that have been scheduled to take place at the Philharmonie are canceled until further notice.
Although slightly less offensive than Santorum's unwelcome slang meaning, Mitt Romney will be furious to learn that according to spreadingromney.com, a website that now ranks among the top search results on Google for "Romney," the candidate's last name is a verb that means, "To defecate in terror." The link for terror, as it does on spreadingromney.com, directs to a story on the Huffington Post about how Romney's dog suffered that humiliation when Mitt reportedly strapped his Irish setter to the roof of his car in 1983 en route to Canada. But it could be worse — Santorum came to be "defined" in the same manner. It means, "the frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex." A domain name search indicates that spreadingromney.com is registered by Go Daddy to Ayokay, LLC. Ayokay is an Indiana-registered LLC created on the first of this year, and according to its own website is a web design and development company. At a glance, it doesn't appear connected to any other campaign. \|\|\|\|\| It appears that Mitt Romney now has a Rick Santorum Internet-age problem. Recall that Web users who search for "Santorum" using a tool like Google are immediately confronted with a parody site that offers a faux definition of the word "santorum" which is not suitable for work or polite conversations. Within the past few weeks, enterprising Romney-haters have pulled off the same trick, albeit at a slightly less tasteless level. Searching for Romney using Google now yields a page defining the term Romney as "to defecate in terror" within the first five links or so, reports Danny Sullivan of SearchEngineLand.com. (Go ahead, try it for yourself). advertisement Clicking on the site brings visitors to a Web site called "SpreadingRomney.com" which echoes the SpreadingSantorum.com site. The page repeats the definition and links to a story about Romney's ill-fated family vacation that include a lengthy trip with the family dog strapped to the roof of the car. "I don’t recall seeing it recently, so it appears to be a new gain," Sullivan wrote in a blog post about it. The rise is unusually meteoric, and almost certainly signifies a concentrated effort to game Google's ranking system. In fact, Sullivan uncovered a page at DemocraticUnderground.com encouraging people to "Google Bomb" the SpreadingRomney site. (Geeks would say this technique isn't, strictly speaking, a Google bomb. But it certainly must feel like one to the Romney camp). The site launched on Jan. 10, site creator Jack Shepler told Sullivan. He also said he's not affiliated with any campaign, and created the site just to be funny, "and to make a point." It got a boost when msnbc's Rachel Maddow mentioned it during her show two days later, but that hardly justifies the high Google ranking. SpreadingSantorum has been around for years, has attracted thousands of links the old-fashioned way, and the site offers real points of debate about gay rights debate. SpreadingRomney.com is hardly more than a blank page, yet still managed to fool Google and Microsoft's Bing. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal.) We've discussed earlier how political entities can trick search engines, and why Google seems to let this go on as a form of political speech. Sullivan supports that concept, but the quick rise of SpreadingRomney.com might be changing his mind a bit. "For this site to leap-frog ... others, it creates all the same issues that Google initially encountered with real Google bombs, the impression that anyone can fire off a linking campaign and make it into the top results for anything," he said. "Certainly Google should take a harder look at why its algorithm rewarded a site with so little substance to it." Follow Bob Sullivan on Facebook Follow Bob Sullivan on Twitter. \|\|\|\|\| The hijinks that placed a crude, sexual definition of “Santorum” high on Google search results have influenced a new set of pranksters, who have targeted GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The definition on SpreadingSantorum.com (language NSFW) responded to fellow GOP candidate Rick Santorum’s controversial anti-gay remarks, and the new SpreadingRomney.com links to an article recounting the now-infamous tale of how Romney reportedly strapped his dog to the roof of a car for 12 hours. The original prank, created by columnist and gay-rights activist Dan Savage, currently appears in Google search results for “Santorum” just beneath a graphic depicting the Maine Republican Caucus results. “Romney,” which has been redefined as a verb meaning “to defecate in terror,” appears several entries down, but still within the first page of results. On Bing, the new Romney definition can be found within the first page of entries. (MORE: Twitter Users Weigh In on Mitt Romney’s Secret Service Nickname) Along with a Huffington Post article about Romney’s alleged dog-neglecting escapades, the site also links to an Indianapolis web design firm, the group likely responsible for the prank. Unlike the related Santorum site, which is also linked beneath the Romney definition, there doesn’t appear to be any corresponding blog. According to the rule of threes, it seems probable that another GOP candidate will be “redefined” soon. Incidentally, “Spreading Gingrich” already exists, and is now accepting submissions. MORE: Mitt Romney’s French Skills Mocked on Parody Twitter Account @LeVraiMitt MORE: Can Anyone Stop Romney? \|\|\|\|\| Mitt Romney might want to ask Rick Santorum for some helpful tips on how to deal with a pesky Google problem, now that "Romney" has become a very popular, Google-bombed joke. Yes, it's a little bit immature, but search "Romney" on Google and you'll see spreadingromney.com high up on your results (right behind Mitt Romney's Wikipedia page this morning; image below) with this definition: "1. To defecate in terror 2. Former Governor Mitt Romney." This is a reference to "Crate-Gate," the story of how Romney's dog Seamus reacted to being strapped to the roof of the candidate's car. As Santorum knows from his experience with his own Google-bombing, Google's algorithm depends a lot on popularity. And Spreading Romney's 3,416 Facebook "likes", 1261 Tweets, coupled with shoutouts from sites like New York's Daily Intel and Romney's not-so-solid inevitability as of late all helped it climb up the Google results chart. Search Engine Land's Danny Sullivan noted one week ago that ninth seemed to be the most consistent position for the site. Not counting the news results, Romney's Google problem is the third result today. Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at aabadsantos at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.	A new website SpreadingRomney.com now appears prominently among Internet search results for Mitt Romney's last name and defines ''romney'' as: "to defecate in terror". ''Spreading Romney'' was inspired by the santorum neologism coined in Dan Savage's column '''' in response to comments made by former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum about homosexuality; Savage's readers voted to define ''santorum'' as: "the frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex." While defining ''romney'' as a , the word "terror" in the definition given at SpreadingRomney.com links to an article that appeared January 5 in '''' titled "Mitt Romney's Dog Incident Comes Back To Haunt Him". The article describes a 1983 incident where Romney was reported to have affixed his family’s pet named Seamus to the roof of their vehicle for 12 hours while on a car trip to Canada; press coverage of the matter recounted how the animal let loose its bowels due to a fear response during the experience. Similar to online searches leading to the santorum neologism website originally created by Dan Savage, SpreadingSantorum.com, queries for Romney yielding top search results for SpreadingRomney.com are not limited only to Google but extend to other search engines including as well. '''' quoted search engine expert , who observed that the website had likely risen of late in search results: "I don’t recall seeing it recently, so it appears to be a new gain." '''' reported that as of yesterday, SpreadingRomney.com had received 3,416 clicks from and 1,261 posts on . The site appeared third in a Google search for Romney, directly below the former Governor's Wikipedia page. In a 2003 interview with the Associated Press, Rick Santorum compared legalizing to supporting . Readers of the '''' advice column selected a new definition for the Senator’s last name, and Savage created a website SpreadingSantorum.com to promulgate the spread of the phenomenon. The term became a prominent result in searches online, and gained dominance on including Google, Bing, and Yahoo!. Rick Santorum himself has acknowledged and discussed the existence and prevalence of the santorum neologism phenomenon; he was quoted by '''' on his assessment of Google's response: "To have a business allow that type of filth to be purveyed through their website or through their system is something that they say they can't handle. I suspect that's not true." Santorum criticized the response of the press to the phenomenon in a 2011 radio interview, saying, "It's offensive beyond, you know, anything that any public figure or anybody in America should tolerate, and the mainstream media laughs about it." The company manages the for the website SpreadingRomney.com; the site was registered by an , Indiana-based company named Ayokay LLC which was formed on January 1. The website reportedly started operating on January 10. commented upon it on January 12 on her program ''''. The founder of SpreadingRomney.com, Jack Shepler, informed Sullivan that he holds no ties to any political campaign group and formed the website out of a . '''' noted that there may be another this time derived from the last name of presidential candidate Newt Gingrich; linking to an established website for SpreadingGingrich.com. That site is currently asking visitors to submit suggestions for a new definition of ''gingrich''.
THE NATION Last moments aboard the Columbia A NASA report details when the seven shuttle astronauts probably died and lists several equipment failures. Even though parts of the report were redacted to protect the astronauts' families, it represents the most graphic and harrowing account of the crew's final moments. Fixing the deficiencies would not have saved the astronauts because the accident -- occurring at high altitude and hypersonic speed -- was "unsurvivable," the report said. But such corrections could improve chances of survival in less serious accidents. Other design flaws with seat belts, helmets and parachutes also could have caused their deaths if they had survived the depressurization and intense buffeting, the panel said in its final report on the incident. Poor design of their pressure suits led the seven astronauts aboard the Columbia space shuttle to black out almost immediately as the craft started breaking apart during reentry in 2003, and they were probably killed by the violent contortions, a NASA panel said Tuesday. NASA officials already knew the astronauts had died from either a lack of oxygen or from striking objects in the cabin, and the report was unable to distinguish between the two possibilities. But it does catalog all the things known to have gone wrong and provide new details about the crash. One comforting conclusion in the 400-page report is that, after the first few seconds, the astronauts were probably unconscious and never knew what was happening. "On behalf of their colleagues and families, I can say that we are relieved that we discovered this," astronaut Pamela Melroy, deputy project manager for the investigative team, said at a news conference. The mission was doomed when a piece of foam broke off the external fuel tank during launch on Jan. 16, 2003, and damaged the leading edge of Columbia's wing. The wing was not inspected because the prevailing belief was that foam could not cause significant damage. On its reentry to Earth's atmosphere on Feb. 1, Columbia broke up over Texas, killing all seven astronauts. A 2003 report angrily blamed the accident on a "broken safety culture" at NASA. The new report said the first problem crew members encountered was their pressure suits, which were not part of the shuttle's original equipment. They were added after the 1986 Challenger disaster. Because of design problems with the suits, crew members could not keep the visors of their helmets down throughout reentry because it led to high oxygen concentrations in the cabin. And wearing the suit's gloves made it difficult or impossible to perform many tasks. At the time of the accident, three crew members were not wearing gloves, one did not have his helmet on, and none had the visors down. The report said the crew members immediately lost consciousness from depressurization. But "the crew was doing everything they had been trained to do and were doing everything right," Melroy said. NASA has since made astronauts seal their pressure suits earlier in the reentry, she said. As the cabin began its wild gyrations during descent, the astronauts were protected only by lap belts. The upper-body belts did not hold them in place because the inertial locks, such as those on car seat belts, were not designed for such sideways motion. The astronauts were thrown around violently. The contortions were exacerbated by the helmets on the pressure suits, which did not conform to the astronauts' heads and offered no protection from impacts. The breakup of the cabin exposed the crew to heat and abrupt deceleration caused by friction from the atmosphere. The report said "all crew were deceased before, or by the end of," the breakup. \|\|\|\|\| 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.	The remains of the shuttle NASA has issued a report on survivability during the Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' disaster, entitled "Columbia Crew Survival Investigation Report". Although the report finds the accident was impossible to survive, it still faulted a number of design issues with the astronauts' equipment. The accident investigation report was released in 2003, the year of the crash. During launch on January 16, the spacecraft's wing was holed when a chunk of foam detached and struck it. The shuttle then broke up on re-entry on February 1 over Texas, killing the seven on board. This new report reveals details of what happened to the astronauts during the accident sequence, although some parts have remained confidential to the victims' families. The report reveals that within seconds of the breakup commencing the crew became unconscious due to the rapid depressurization and that they never regained consciousness prior to their deaths. The report notes that the cabin began spinning wildly, causing some of the astronauts' helmets to come off. The report noted that most on board were secured only by lap harnesses that offered no restraint to the upper body and were not designed to cope with sideways motion, meaning "lethal trauma" was caused by the rotation. However, the report was unable to determine whether the astronauts had died from oxygen deprivation or the extreme nature of their injuries. The shuttle's crew The pressure suits the crew wore, introduced after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, were criticised as the crew could not keep their visors down throughout re-entry due to a design limitation that would have caused excess levels of oxygen to be present had they done so, leaving the suits unsealed. The gloves also made many tasks difficult or impossible. When the accident occurred, three people were not wearing gloves, one was not wearing a helmet, and none had their visors down. The helmets also did not conform to the heads of the wearers. Upon disintegration, the occupants were exposed to extreme heat and high friction from re-entry. The astronauts likely died very quickly, and were probably dead by the time ''Columbia'' broke apart. The report added that although the crew all wore parachutes, they had to be activated by the crew — impossible as they were unconscious. The report concluded that future spacecraft require sturdier construction and better restraints, while safety devices should be automatic. NASA is designing better suits and helmets.
Police: Driver of stolen vehicle sought in deadly hit-and-run Philadelphia police say they have recovered the striking vehicle in a deadly hit-and-run crash that killed an 18-year-old man in Hunting Park. \|\|\|\|\| More Crews Demolish Old City Establishment One Day After Four-Alarm Fire POSTED: 11:45 am EST February 3, 2007 One day after fire destroys The Five Spot, a popular old city restaurant and bar, a demolition crew tore down the charred remains. Demolition crews and fire investigators were both going over the scene Sunday. Demolition crews and fire investigators were both going over the scene Sunday. Officials said Saturday it appeared the fire began on the first floor, but they have yet to announce a cause. Officials said Saturday it appeared the fire began on the first floor, but they have yet to announce a cause. There were no injuries reported as a result of flames that broke out at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Third and Bank streets, near Market Street. There were no injuries reported as a result of flames that broke out at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Third and Bank streets, near Market Street. "We were just trying to figure out what was going on, and you could see all of this smoke coming up the back of the building," said one witness. "It was bad. It was really bad." "We were just trying to figure out what was going on, and you could see all of this smoke coming up the back of the building," said one witness. "It was bad. It was really bad." The fire in the historic section of the city quickly went to four alarms and took about two hours to bring under control. The fire in the historic section of the city quickly went to four alarms and took about two hours to bring under control. "I just saw a lot of smoke, heard a lot of sirens, and I thought, 'Oh, they're just going by. Nothing happened.' I didn't think it could happen here, but they were here," said Laura Dunning, one of eight people evacuated from an adjacent building as a precaution. "I just saw a lot of smoke, heard a lot of sirens, and I thought, 'Oh, they're just going by. Nothing happened.' I didn't think it could happen here, but they were here," said Laura Dunning, one of eight people evacuated from an adjacent building as a precaution. "It looks bad. It's been a couple of hours. I thought it would have been done by now," she said. "It looks bad. It's been a couple of hours. I thought it would have been done by now," she said. Investigators said the fire was so intense and the smoke was so thick that, at first, firefighters couldn't even get inside the building. Investigators said the fire was so intense and the smoke was so thick that, at first, firefighters couldn't even get inside the building. "The fire did indeed tear through the building, enough to cause a collapse of the building," said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers. "So, that means it took the systems -- the flooring systems, the wall systems and the roofing systems." "The fire did indeed tear through the building, enough to cause a collapse of the building," said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers. "So, that means it took the systems -- the flooring systems, the wall systems and the roofing systems." "It's shocking," said one woman who was a securty guard at The Five Spot and came to see the damage for herself. "...It's a hurtful situation because we're like a family there." "It's shocking," said one woman who was a securty guard at The Five Spot and came to see the damage for herself. "...It's a hurtful situation because we're like a family there." She was hopeful the establishment would be back, saying: "They'll probably do it again. I'll work for them if they would." Copyright 2007 by NBC10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. She was hopeful the establishment would be back, saying: "They'll probably do it again. I'll work for them if they would." Add our headlines to your site! Select a catagory: Local News National News Irresistible Headlines Video Sports Entertainment Technology Money Health Add our headlines to your site! Select a catagory: \|\|\|\|\| Fire destroys Five Spot nightclub By Tom Avril INQUIRER STAFF WRITER A four-alarm fire destroyed a well-known city nightclub this morning, filling several blocks of Old City with thick black smoke and shutting down traffic in parts of the busy neighborhood for much of the day. At least one wall collapsed at the Five Spot - a complex of four buildings on narrow Bank Street just south of Market Street - and emergency workers were preparing last night to demolish another that looked unstable. Firefighters needed two hours to control the blaze after it was reported at 9:31 a.m., but they were still dousing the smoky ruins well into the afternoon. No one was injured, but eight people were evacuated from nearby apartments, Fire Department Deputy Chief Mike Roeshman said. The cause of the blaze was unclear. The Five Spot brought an eclectic mix to Old City's bustling club scene, hosting swing bands and jazz, Latin music and hip-hop. Jill Scott performed at the club, as did jazz trombonist Jeff Bradshaw. The club also presented a monthly burlesque revue, which had been scheduled for tonight. Lovett Hines, a longtime guru of the Philadelphia jazz scene, said the club was a creative cauldron of sorts for "neo-soul" music. "It became almost like a beacon for all of those young new talents who were trying out new ways to do the new music," said Hines, director of education at the Clef Club at Broad and Fitzwater Streets. Owner Philip Cohen, who opened the Five Spot in 1996, said he had learned of the fire when a friend called him. He went to the club and commiserated with friends and employees. "It was heart-wrenching," said Cohen, of Gloucester City. "A lot of us were in tears." He said he had planned since the fall to sell the club and had entered into a tentative agreement with a new owner whom he declined to identify. According to a city government Web site, Cohen owes thousands of dollars in back taxes on the Five Spot's buildings, but Cohen said that had nothing to do with his trying to sell the place. "It was just time," he said in a phone interview. "We were looking to sell... to somebody who would carry on the tradition." An adjacent nightspot, the Red Sky restaurant and lounge on Market Street, suffered no damage. But fire officials did not let employees into the building until late afternoon. Owner Scott Stein said that the bar would be open later in the evening, but that he had to cancel 250 dinner reservations - a loss of thousands of dollars, he said. "It's devastating," Stein said. "In the same breath, we're just thankful we still have a building." Two other businesses, Skinner's Dry Goods tavern and Sonny's Steaks, suffered water damage and remained closed pending the demolition work last night at the Five Spot. Parts of eastern Market and Chestnut Streets were closed for much of the day. City Managing Director Pedro Ramos praised the Fire Department for containing a major fire in such a dense area. Fire officials won't be able to determine a cause until they enter the Five Spot buildings, which Ramos said they would not do until the unstable wall was demolished. Cohen also is an owner of a historic 21-room hotel and restaurant in the Catskills, the Lexington Hotel, which is for sale at $399,000, according to a Web posting. The hotel ceased operation last summer after a small fire damaged three of the upstairs bathrooms, according to the owners' description on the Web site.	Fire destroyed a building that hosted the Five Spot night club in Philadelphia’s historic Old City section. No one was injured in the blaze, Firefighters battled for two hours to control the flames and people were evacuated from nearly buildings. Reports indicate that at least one wall inside the group of buildings that make the Five Spot collapsed, causing major structural damage. The fire was contained to three buildings, authorities say. The Five Spot brought an eclectic mix to Philadelphia’s Old City section where the business had thrived for 11 years. During an interview the owner said, "It was just time. We were looking to sell ... to somebody who would carry on the tradition." Lovett Hines, a longtime guru of the Philadelphia Jazz music scene said the club was a creative caldron of sorts for the neo-jazz genre. Cohen of Gloucester City said, “It was heart-wrenching; A lot of us were in tears.”
POLICE have named the gunman who killed a 43-year-old solicitor and critically injured two others in a cold-blooded CBD shooting today. Christopher Wayne Hudson, 29, who has an involvement with the Hell's Angels, is being sought by police in connection with the shooting. The killer callously opened fire on an innocent jogger and pedestrian who came to the aid of a woman he was dragging by the hair from a taxi. Det-Insp Stephen Clark of the homicide squad said the dead solicitor's last act ``was one of extreme bravery''. ``It's a tragic, tragic set of circumstances and it does appear as though he's been in the wrong place at the wrong time and has gone to the assistance of a female. It really strikes at the heart of all investigators to see somebody who's going about their daily life to be killed in such a tragic way,'' he said. The gunman ran off after shooting the three people on the corner of Flinders Lane and William St at 8.15am. Earlier, he punched an exotic dancer in the face at the nearby Barcode 24-hour venue in King St. This afternoon police revealed they know who the gunman is and have issued warrants for his arrest across Australia. They also revealed the the good Samaritan who was killed trying to help the girl is a 43-year-old lawyer. The other man who attempted to help is 30 and reported to be in a critical condition in hospital. Det-Insp Clark said the investigation was currently the force's number one priority, and called on the gunman to hand himself in. Eyewitness Zali said the gunman was "as cool as a cucumber" as he cold-bloodedly blasted his victims. "He just went bang, bang, bang, there was no mucking around," she told ABC Radio. "There were five shots fired and the people went straight down to the ground. There wasn't even a scream, just a whimper." Witnesses reported hearing six or seven shots in the area before police and emergency services arrived. One man was shot in the chest and died in the street after paramedics worked frantically on him for almost an hour. The woman, 24, is thought to know the shooter. She and the other man, 30, had emergency surgery in the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The exotic dancer, believed to work at the Spearmint Rhino, is also being treated in hospital for minor injuries. Police recovered a semi-automatic handgun and discarded black jacket at a nearby building site about two hours after the shooting. It is understood the gunman may have thrown the weapon as he fled the scene. Hundreds of office workers were ordered to remain inside in the shooting aftermath. Some barricaded furniture against doors. Police describe the gunman as about 180cm, aged late 20s to early 30s, with short brown hair and wearing a dark Adidas tracksuit top and dark denim jeans. Dozens of building workers where a worker found the gun were told to leave the site as police cordoned off the area. And schools have been ordered to cancel any excursions into the city today. Detectives are checking security camera footage from the club where the gunman was involved in a fight. Melbourne's city centre was in shutdown as police searched the area for the shooter, with offices sealed off and people kept away from nearby workplaces. Carly, who was in the Rialto building on Collins Street, said people in her building had been told not to move. "We've just been told that none of our people who are waiting downstairs to come upstairs can come up," Carly told 3AW. "They've blocked off all the access to the floors in our building because they're still looking for the shooter. "We're not allowed to go anywhere and no one is allowed to come up into the building." Carly said she had heard six or seven shots. Malcolm Bates said that before the shooting broke out the gunman grabbed a woman by the neck as she sat in a taxi, and tried to get into the vehicle. "The lady got away and he turned and shot three people basically point blank," Mr Bates said. "I was right across the road." He told ABC radio the gunman then ran down Flinders Lane toward the city centre. He said the entire incident took no longer than "the wink of an eye". Police wearing bullet-proof vests were scouring the area and police helicopters hovered overhead. Insp Glenn Weir said the last confirmed sighting of the gunman was east of the shooting scene, on Flinders Lane. One witness rang her mother and said: "Mum, I've just witnessed this horrible shooting, I have to go." She reported seeing people lying in the street. Another witness, Peter, said he rang emergency services after coming across the scene, but he initially thought it was a car crash with three people in the gutter and on the street. "The people who were standing around didn't seem to be perturbed by anyone with a gun, it was almost as if there had been a car accident," Peter said. The crime scene triggered peak-hour traffic chaos. The intersection of Flinders Lane and William St was closed. Flinders and Queensbridge streets have been re-opened but William St will remain closed for some time. \|\|\|\|\| Did you see what happened? Contact the newsdesk at 9601 2939. Send photos and video to 0406 THE AGE (0406 843 243) or email scoop@theage.com.au Manhunt continues for gunman Victims under armed guard in hospital City streets re-open after lockdown Police have named the man they are hunting over the fatal shooting in central Melbourne today. He is Christopher Wayne Hudson, 29, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said in a statement tonight. "No further details or a photograph of the suspect are available at this stage," the spokeswoman said. But the Nine Network tonight said Hudson was a member of the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang. The spokeswoman urged anyone who saw him to contact police or Crimestoppers. "Under no circumstances should anyone approach Mr Hudson," she said. A 43-year-old solicitor died during an act of "extreme bravery" after he was shot while trying to save a woman from Hudson in Melbourne's city centre today, police have said. Police have yet to identify the man - who was one of three people shot near the corner of William Street and Flinders Lane about 8.20am - as his next of kin are still being contacted. The solicitor was blasted in the chest at point blank range and died at the scene an hour later, despite the efforts of paramedics to revive him. "It appears he has gone to the aid of the female ... and was shot," Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Stephen Clark said. He said the man's attempts to protect the woman, who was also shot, was an act of "extreme bravery". Detective Inspector Clark described the incident as "tragic". "It really strikes at the heart of all investigators to see somebody who's going about their daily life to be killed in such a tragic way so our hearts and thoughts go out to the family of the man who died," he said. "Its a tragic, tragic set of circumstances and it does appear as though he's been in the wrong place at the wrong time, he was trying to give assistance to the female,'' Detective Inspector Clark said. Massive manhunt All CBD streets have re-opened to traffic this afternoon as police continue a massive manhunt for Hudson. After fleeing the scene, Hudson was last seen heading east. \|\|\|\|\| Much of the centre of Melbourne is in lockdown as police search for the gunman who fled on foot east of the city after the shooting. Eyewitnesses saw the man drag a woman out of a cab on the corner of Flinders Lane and William Stree in the city just after 8am. Two bystanders apparently came to help the woman, only for the aggressor to pull a handgun and shoot all three. A police spokesman said a male had died in the shooting and a man and a woman had been taken to hospital. Ambulance officers have placed a sheet over a body at the scene of the shooting, near the corner of Flinders Lane and William Street. Cherie Harding, a worker in the Rialto building opposite the shooting scene, said several of her colleagues heard up to four shots. Ms Harding said she saw ambulances at the scene and stretchers being used to transport patients. “There are a few people here who heard them (gunshots),” she said. Police said they were now searching for the gunman in Melbourne's city district. Ambulance spokesman James Howe earlier told of paramedics trying to resuscitate a critically injured victim at the scene. He believed the gunshot wounds were in the victims' upper bodies. Melbourne's city centre was in shutdown as police searched the area for the gunman, with offices sealed off and people kept away from nearby workplaces. Witness Carly, who is in the Rialto building on Collins Street, said people in her building had been told not to move. “We've just been told that none of our people who are waiting downstairs to come upstairs can come up,” Carly told 3AW. “They've blocked off all the access to the floors in our building because they're still looking for the shooter. “We're not allowed to go anywhere and no-one is allowed to come up into the building.” Carly said she had heard six or seven shots about 8.15am, coming from the corner of Flinders Lane and William Street. Police Inspector Glenn Weir asked people in the area not to panic. “There is an extensive search underway to try and find the offender at the moment,” Insp Weir said. “There are numerous police attending to the search within the vicinity of the incident and there is a large cordon and containment operation underway as we speak. “We are just asking the public not to panic and assist police if requested and if you have no business being in the vicinity of Flinders Lane and William Street please keep out of the area.” The gunman is described as wearing black jeans and a denim jacket, with short light brown hair. Inspector Weir said it appeared the gunman knew the victims. “There is no suggestion this is a random act - it appears there was a relation with the gunman and the victims, so we are asking people not to panic,” he told ABC radio. Malcolm Bates, a witness, said before the shooting broke out the gunman grabbed a woman by the neck as she sat in a taxi, and tried to get into the vehicle. “The lady got away and he turned and shot three people basically point blank,” Mr Bates said. “I was right across the road.” He told ABC radio the gunman then ran down Flinders Lane toward the city centre. He said the whole scenario took no longer than “the wink of an eye”. Police wearing bullet-proof vests were scouring the area, and police helicopters hovered overhead. Insp Weir said the last confirmed sighting of the gunman was east of the shooting scene, on Flinders Lane. The Victoria Police homicide squad this morning took over the investigation as the police Special Operations Group joined the search for the gunman. Police have blocked off a number of city streets until further notice and have also begun evacuating some buildings. Police said a handgun had been found a short time ago at a Melbourne city construction site near where the three people were shot. The gun was found at the construction site on the corner of Flinders and Queens streets they said, but had yet to confirm if it was the one used in the shooting spree. - with wires \|\|\|\|\| A SOLICITOR shot dead by a gunman at a busy Melbourne city intersection may have been just a good samaritan helping a woman involved in a domestic dispute, police and witnesses say. The gunman was on the run this morning after shooting three people on the corner of Flinders Lane and William Street, killing the man and wounding a woman and a man. The man killed was a 43-year-old solicitor, police said today. The solicitor was blasted in the chest at point blank range and died at the scene an hour later, despite the efforts of paramedics to revive him. Paramedics fought for an hour to save the man before he died. Read story here Police said this afternoon they had identified a person of interest, who was believed to be the gunman, but refused to release further details for fear of jeopardising their investigation. The gunman fled on foot after the 8.15am shooting and police later found a handgun at a nearby construction site, which was believed to be that used in the incident. As heavily-armed police searched for the shooter, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, office workers were told to stay put and not panic. Witnesses and police said the gunman appeared to be involved in a violent domestic dispute with a woman in a taxi and when two men intervened, he shot all three down. Police appealed for the taxi driver to come forward. Police said the shooting followed an earlier incident outside a King Street nightclub. Heavily armed police are searching the centre of Melbourne for the gunman who opened fire at a city road intersection before fleeing on foot. Police said a handgun had been found a short time ago at a Melbourne city construction site near where the three people were shot. The gun was found at a construction site on the corner of Flinders and Queens streets they said, but had yet to confirm if it was the one used in the shooting spree. Inspector Glenn Weir said a witness had found the gun and reported it to police. "I understand he's located the firearm and not the person. "(It was) a handgun I can confirm and there are reports that it's a semi-automatic handgun but I can't confirm that." One man died at the scene despite paramedics attempting to resuscitate him, while a man in his 30s and a 24-year-old woman were this morning in a critical condition, undergoing surgery at Royal Melbourne Hospital. Eyewitnesses said the gunman shot the two men and one woman after struggling with the woman as she got out of a taxi. Inspector Weir said police were speaking with a large number of witnesses at the shooting scene. He said it appeared the shooting was a domestic incident between the shooter and the female taxi passenger and not a gang-related or random act. "It does appear that there was a relationship between the female and the male suspect and certainly we're not looking that it's a random act, certainly not gang-related, it appears as though its a domestic related incident." He said the two male victims appeared to be good samaritans who had stopped to come to the woman's aid as she struggled with the shooter in the street. "That's certainly one of the avenues of inquiry that we're undertaking and that looks more likely as time goes on," Insp Weir said. Malcolm Bates, a witness, said before the shooting broke out the gunman grabbed a woman by the neck as she sat in a taxi, and tried to get into the vehicle. "The lady got away and he turned and shot three people basically point blank," Mr Bates said. "I was right across the road." Eyewitness Zali said the gunman was "as cool as a cucumber" as he cold-bloodedly blasted his victims. "He just went bang, bang, bang, there was no mucking around," she told ABC Radio. "There were five shots fired and the people went straight down to the ground. There wasn't even a scream, just a whimper." Zali said the drama began while she was on her way into work. "I heard what sounded like a cap gun and I turned my head over to look to the right of me and saw the gentleman shoot the three people and them go down. "I quickly pulled over to the side of the road and ran across the road and he'd taken off up the road (and) ran up towards Flinders Street station. "It's amazing what happens in a time of crisis because the people that flocked around to help those that had been hurt were just excellent, in the sense of as much as there were some screams of hysteria, the sense of protectiveness and getting help and the number of people (calling for help) on the phone was just outstanding." Bystander Ross Murchie said he saw the gunman grabbing a woman by the neck and hair. "She was screaming and a guy had her by the hair," Mr Murchie told ABC Radio. "She tried to grab hold of a taxi that was going by and the couple of bystanders went over to ask what was happening. "He let go of her hair, pulled out a gun and shot them all." The area around the shooting was locked down as police searched for the gunman, with offices sealed off and people kept away from nearby workplaces as the drama unfolded. Carly, who was in the Rialto building on Collins Street, said people in her building had been told not to move. "We've just been told that none of our people who are waiting downstairs to come upstairs can come up," Carly told 3AW. "They've blocked off all the access to the floors in our building because they're still looking for the shooter. "We're not allowed to go anywhere and no-one is allowed to come up into the building." One worker, Joanne, said she left her building for cigarettes at 8.15am, and heard gunshots. "I saw police cars coming from everywhere," she told AAP. "I thought 'wow'. What is happening?" She said she was worried someone she knew may have been shot. "You hope it's not them, but you just don't know." The gunman was last seen heading east after the shooting on the corner of Flinders Lane and William Street at 8.15am (AEST). < p>Police Inspector Glenn Weir said police had cordoned off an area around the shooting scene near the corner of Flinders Lane and William Street and were combing the district to find the man. Inspector Weir said it appeared the gunman knew the victims. "There is no suggestion this is a random act - it appears there was a relation with the gunman and the victims, so we are asking people not to panic," he told ABC radio. Malcolm Bates, a witness, said before the shooting broke out the gunman grabbed a woman by the neck as she sat in a taxi, and tried to get into the vehicle. "The lady got away and he turned and shot three people basically point blank," Mr Bates said. "I was right across the road." He told ABC radio the gunman then ran down Flinders Lane toward the city centre. He said the whole scenario took no longer than "the wink of an eye". Police wearing bullet-proof vests were scouring the area, and police helicopters hovered overhead. Insp Weir said the last confirmed sighting of the gunman was east of the shooting scene, on Flinders Lane. Police and ambulance paramedics were called to Fitzroy Lane shortly after 8.15am, where they found one person in a critical condition and two others wounded. Police have since confirmed one person has died and two have been taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital. Witnesses heard a volley of gunshots before the victims were discovered. The gunshot wounds are believed to be to the victims' upper bodies. Cherie Harding, a worker in the Rialto building opposite the shooting scene, said several of her colleagues heard up to four shots. Ms Harding said she saw ambulances at the scene and stretchers being used to transport patients. "There are a few people here who heard them (gunshots),'' she said. Inspector Weir asked people in the area not to panic. "There is an extensive search underway to try and find the offender at the moment,'' Insp Weir said. "There are numerous police attending to the search within the vicinity of the incident and there is a large cordon and containment operation underway as we speak. "We are just asking the public not to panic and assist police if requested and if you have no business being in the vicinity of Flinders Lane and William Street please keep out of the area.'' The gunman is described as wearing black jeans and a denim jacket, with short light brown hair. The Victoria Police homicide squad this morning took over the investigation as the police Special Operations Group joined the search for the gunman. Police have blocked off a number of city streets until further notice and have also begun evacuating some buildings. \|\|\|\|\| PREMIER Mike Rann has written to the Prime Minister and other state leaders seeking a "national comprehensive strategy" to combat motorcycle gang "terrorism". Comparing SA's fight against bikies to the U.S. Government's war on terror, Mr Rann today told reporters that bikie "terrorists" did not respect state borders. "We need a nationally consistent policy and legislative approach to avoid the risk of simply transferring the problem from one state to another," he said. In his letter to Prime Minister John Howard, the Premier outlined the State Government's initiatives to police and control outlaw motorcycle gangs since coming to power in 2002 and argued it was "essential that a national policy response be adopted". "In my letter to the Prime Minister, I have also indicated that in addition, the National Counter Terrorism laws that have been appropriately modified and adopted, could provide a nationally consistent approach to ban and control outlaw bikie gangs." Opposition leader Mr Martin Hamilton-Smith said today that Premier Rann's call for a national strategy on bikies "shows he's out of touch and out of date." Mr Rann's letter today to the Prime Minister "is a clear sign he's given up on succeeding at a local level. " "It might be news to Mr Rann but the Commonwealth agreed with South Australia back in September 2001 to crack down on interstate activities of bikies," Mr Hamilton-Smith said. "Then federal Minister for Justice and Customs referred the lawless activities of bikies to the National Crime Authorities Panzer Taskforce." "South Australia's then Police Minister Rob Brokenshire was in close consultation with his federal and interstate counterparts – Mr Rann's government appears to have dropped the ball sometime in the last five years. "At the same time, in September 2001, all state and federal police Ministers agreed to develop national uniform laws to combat motorcycle gangs. "Perhaps Mr Rann might want to check to see how he let that slip for five years." "Once again we see proof that Rann doesn't get results," Mr Hamilton-Smith sad. The move comes after the father of alleged Melbourne gunman Christopher Wayne Hudson has appealed for his son to give himself up to police. Earlier, Mr Rann, Deputy Premier Kevin Foley and Attorney-General Michael Atkinson met at Parliament House today with Police Commissioner Mal Hyde, who suggested several options for legislative reforms in SA to fight the influence of bikie gangs. Mr. Hyde claimed there were eight bikie gand with 13 chapters across SA. Mr Hyde's proposals include: AUTHORISING police to seek control orders from a court to prevent bikies from associating and preventing their involvement in specified activities, such as attendance at certain places. PROHIBITING display of outlaw motorcycle gang insignia such as "colours" or "patches". OUTLAWING the association between individuals who have a known connection with bikie gangs involved in crime. REQUIRING persons involved with or connected to bikie gangs to account for unexplained wealth or assets. Mr Hyde did not rule out banning bikie gangs, but said it was not the "preferred option" as similar moves around the world had had limited success. Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Pallaras said he supported a national approach to deal with the issue, but does not want terror laws to be used.	Police in Melbourne, Australia are on the hunt for a gunman who killed a man and injured two others in the city's central business district this morning. Officials warned all office workers to remain indoors, and train services to Flinders Street Station were temporarily on hold, as investigations were carried out on the intersection of Flinders Lane and William Street. Malcom Bates, who witnessed the shootings at around 8:15 a.m., said the gunman grabbed a woman from inside a taxi. "The lady got away and he turned and shot three people basically point blank," Mr Bates said. "I was right across the road". He said that the incident took no longer than the "wink of an eye". Paramedics struggled to revive the one victim for almost an hour before declaring him dead at the scene. The two injured people have been taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition. Police believe the incident began at the Bar Code 24-hour bar in King Street, when a woman attempted to get into a taxi. She was apparently grabbed by the hair by the gunman who then shot her and two men who attempted to come to her aid. Police have identified the gunman as Christopher Wayne Hudson, aged 29. They believe him to be a member of the Hells Angels bikie gang. Police have described Hudson as about 180 cm tall, with short brown hair and wearing a dark tracksuit top and dark denim jeans. A building worker on a construction site on the corner of Queen and Flinders Streets has reportedly discovered a handgun. It is understood the gunman may have thrown the weapon into the site as he fled the scene.
You could almost hear the world’s collective sigh of relief. This year’s U.S. presidential election was a global event in every sense. Barack Hussein Obama, the son of a black Kenyan father and a white Kansan mother, who grew up in Indonesia and Hawaii, represents to so many a living bridge—between continents and cultures. Democracy Now! producer Anjali Kamat writes, “To all those for whom America has represented generations of racial injustice, the election of America’s first Black president marks the beginning of a new era…But unless the inspired millions who brought him to power continue to believe their demands matter and insist on holding him accountable each step of the way, it will be Obama’s corporate and hawkish friends who determine the domestic and foreign policies of the coming administration and our collective future.” Alice Walker is the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. But Monday, I called her to talk about a true story. The Obamas had just visited the White House. The first African-American elected president of the United States had visited his soon-to-be residence, a house built by slaves. Evo Morales knows about “change you can believe in.” He also knows what happens when a powerful elite is forced to make changes it doesn’t want. As President-elect Barack Obama focuses on the meltdown of the U.S. economy, another fire is burning: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You may not have heard much lately about the disaster in the Gaza Strip. That silence is intentional: The Israeli government has barred international journalists from entering the occupied territory. President-elect Barack Obama introduced his principal national-security Cabinet selections to the world Monday and left no doubt that he intends to start his administration on a war footing. Perhaps the least well known among them is retired Marine Gen. James Jones, Obama’s pick for national security adviser. The position is crucial—think of the power that Henry Kissinger wielded in Richard Nixon’s White House. A look into who James Jones is sheds a little light on the Obama campaign’s promise of “Change We Can Believe In.” Headlines for November 24, 2008 Gov’t Approves Massive Bailout of Citigroup The federal government has agreed to a massive bailout of the banking giant Citigroup that could cost taxpayers almost $300 billion. The bailout is seen as the most sweeping rescue ever of a US bank. As part of the plan, the government will inject $20 billion of new capital into Citigroup, on top of $25 billion it already gave the bank. In addition, the government has agreed to back some $300 billion of Citigroup’s risky loans and securities. Before the bailout was announced, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York appeared on ABC’s This Week and said the government must take action to help Citigroup. Senator Chuck Schumer: “I think what we learned with Lehman Brothers is you can say that the company made mistakes—and, boy, did they—but the ramifications of letting them go under affect millions of innocent people. And I think most economists who looked at letting Lehman go down now regard that as a mistake.” Last week, shares in Citigroup plunged by more than 60 percent. The bailout of Citigroup was coordinated by the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Obama Announces Economic Stimulus Plan to Create 2.5 Million Jobs President-elect Barack Obama has revealed plans to pursue a massive economic stimulus program by creating 2.5 million jobs and spending as much as $700 billion to improve the nation’s infrastructure. Obama unveiled the plan on Saturday during the weekly Democratic radio address. President-elect Barack Obama: "I have already directed my economic team to come up with an economic recovery plan that will mean 2.5 million more jobs by January of 2011, a plan big enough to meet the challenges we face that I intend to sign soon after taking office. We’ll be working out the details in the weeks ahead, but it will be a two-year nationwide effort to jump-start job creation in America and lay the foundation for a strong and growing economy. We’ll put people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, modernizing schools that are failing our children and building wind farms and solar panels, fuel-efficient cars and the alternative energy technologies that can free us from our dependence on foreign oil and keep our economy competitive in the years ahead. These aren’t just steps to pull ourselves out of this immediate crisis. These are the long-term investments in our economic future that have been ignored for far too long.” Obama Reconsiders Pledge to Repeal Tax Cuts for Wealthy Aides to Obama have said he is also reconsidering his campaign pledge to repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Instead of repealing the tax cuts, Obama is now considering letting those tax cuts expire as scheduled in 2011. Obama to Name Geithner, Summers to Top Economic Posts At a press conference today, Obama is expected to introduce Timothy Geithner as his nominee to be Treasury Secretary. Geithner is currently the president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank. Geithner played a key role in the government bailouts of Bear Stearns Cos. and American International Group. He is seen by many as a protege of former Clinton administration Treasury chief Robert Rubin. During the late 1980s, Geithner worked at Henry Kissinger’s firm, Kissinger Associates. President-elect Obama is also expected to name Lawrence Summers to be the director of the National Economic Council in the White House. Summers served as Treasury Secretary under President Clinton and is former president of Harvard University. Clinton & Richardson to be in Obama’s Cabinet Advisers to Obama say he has decided on several other key cabinet posts. The President-elect is on track to name Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary. Richardson served as UN ambassador under President Bill Clinton and later as Energy Secretary. Eric Holder is expected to be named Attorney General. Holder held the number two slot in the Justice Department under Bill Clinton. Other expected cabinet nominees include former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota as Secretary of Health and Human Services and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as Homeland Security Secretary. Gates Proposes Surge of 20,000 Troops in Afghanistan The Pentagon is considering a plan to send more than 20,000 troops to Afghanistan over the next twelve to eighteen months as part of a so-called surge. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he and top commanders had discussed sending five brigades to Afghanistan, including four brigades of combat ground forces as well as an aviation brigade. Gates said, “I think it’s important that we have a surge of forces before the election.” UN: Gaza Faces Humanitarian Catastrophe The United Nations Relief and Works Agency is warning Gaza faces a humanitarian “catastrophe” if Israel continues to prevent aid reaching the territory. Karen AbuZayd, commissioner general of UNRWA, said the human toll of this month’s sealing off of Gaza was the gravest since the early days of the Palestinian intifada eight years ago. 18 Killed in Two Bombings in Baghdad In Iraq, at least eighteen people have died in a pair of rush-hour bomb attacks in Baghdad. A roadside bomb blew up a minibus killing thirteen female employees of Iraq’s trade ministry. A female suicide bomber blew herself up outside the Green Zone, killing five people. Thousands of Iraqis Protest US Security Pact On Friday, thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr marched to protest a security deal that would allow US troops to stay in Iraq until 2011. Protesters toppled an effigy of President George Bush. The demonstration took place in Baghdad’s Firdos Square, where US forces pulled down a statue of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Chavez Allies Win 17 of 22 States in Regional Elections In Venezuela, allies of President Hugo Chavez won regional elections in seventeen of Venezuela’s twenty-two states. The opposition won two of Venezuela’s largest and wealthiest states, Zulia and Miranda. The opposition has also taken control of city hall in the capital of Caracas. Thousands Protest School of the Americas at Fort Benning And in Georgia, thousands gathered this weekend outside the gates of Fort Benning to demand the closing of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly known as the School of the Americas. Six people were arrested and charged with criminal trespass. Frequently dubbed the “School of the Assassins,” critics say the school’s graduates are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America. \|\|\|\|\| UN says Gaza is dangerously short of supplies because of the Israeli blockade [AFP] UN says Gaza is dangerously short of supplies because of the Israeli blockade [AFP] However, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) warned that temporarily lifting the blockade imposed by Israel on the Palestinian territory would not allow enough supplies into Gaza. Israel has briefly opened three border crossings with Hamas-controlled Gaza, allowing some essential food and fuel into the territory for the second time in three weeks. "It is just not enough," Christopher Gunness, a UNRWA spokesman said, estimating that Gazans need at least 15 lorries worth of UN supplies daily to get by. Around 45 lorries of goods were allowed through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Monday, including 10 United Nations vehicles carrying food and medical supplies. Around 15 truckloads of supplies were allowed through the Karni crossing with an unspecified number also passing via the Nahal Ouz crossing. Sherine Tadros, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Gaza, said supplies of European Union-funded fuel destined for Gaza's only power plant would only last a few days - raising fears that hospitals and other key insitutions will continue to be hit by power cuts and blackouts. Temporary respite "This is, perhaps, a bit of respite for Palestinians but there is no security in the coming week ahead that they will have enough power to keep businesses going," she said. "The cycle is continuing whereby Israel drips in supplies but a few days later [Gazans] are back at the same point where they are running out of supplies... there's no security because they have no idea of when the crossing will be open again." Israel's decision to temporarily open the crossings comes just one day after doctors at Gaza's biggest hospital said they had been forced to rely on a faulty generator to operate life-saving equipment. Hassan Khalaf, director of Shifa hospital, said lives were being put a risk and that the intensive care unit could be rendered useless. Israel closed all of its crossings with Gaza on November 5 in response to rocket attacks launched by Palestinian fighters within the Strip. The Israelis have repeatedly said that they will not lift the blockade on Gaza until the rocket attacks end. A Palestinian official said the Israelis agreed to temporarily lift the blockade after Egyptian mediators intervened, asking Israel to let in essential humanitarian supplies while calling on Palestinian fighters to simultaneously stop rocket fire. Both sides blame each other for breaching a fragile five-month old ceasefire, also brokered by the Egyptians. However, both say they want the truce, that is due to expire in December, to hold. \|\|\|\|\| Shifa hospital is being forced to run incubators off old generators amid the power shortages [AFP] Shifa hospital is being forced to run incubators off old generators amid the power shortages [AFP] Shifa hospital in Gaza City is using a faulty generator to operate essential equipment since Gaza's main power plant restricted supplies due to a lack of fuel from Israel. Patients at the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip could die if Israel continues to prevent fuel and essential supplies to the territory, doctors have told Al Jazeera. "Officials both here at the hospital and from the Red Cross describe the situation as critical," Ayman Mohyeldin, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Gaza, said. "Almost every part of the intensive care unit runs on electricity which comes from Gaza's main power plant ... that plant is run on fuel from Israel, but no supplies have reached the plant for well over a week now." Hassan Khalaf, director of Shifa hospital, said the intensive care unit could be rendered useless and lives were being put at risk. "These patients are directly threatened," he said. "The first threat they face because of the power cut is their low temperature and the lack of oxygen." One dialysis patient told Al Jazeera: "I am a kidney failure patient. When a power cut takes place, all dialysis machines stop. We will then suffer from blood clots." Israel closed all of its crossings with Gaza on November 5, citing rocket attacks from Palestinian fighters inside Gaza. Lives threatened Only about 30 truckloads of essential supplies have been allowed into Gaza since the latest round of closures began. Kidney patients cannot get the treatment they need amid the power cuts [AFP] About 1,000 trucks entered the Gaza Strip every day before the blockade. Although electricity is still being supplied to Gaza by Israel and Egypt, it is not enough to prevent regular power cuts. On Saturday, doctors at Shifa hospital had to abandon using electronic equipment in the newborn baby unit when there was a power failure, Mohyeldin reported. "When there was a power cut, the generator kicked in, but it had a problem," he said. "As a result, all the machines shut down and staff had to manually pump oxygen to all the infants here." Stocks of about 160 essential medicines have run out, while about 120 other healthcare drugs are running low, the hospital has said. "It is indispensable to have all the supplies because we cannot continue working manually for a long period. Yesterday we had to transport oxygen cylinders to the beds," Radwan Hasoun, a manager of Shifa's intensive care unit, said. "We want the frontiers opened and the siege to be lifted, so we can participate in the progress of the world like other people." UN aid shortages The delivery of United Nations aid to nearly two-thirds of Gaza's 1.5 million people has also been severely affected by the blockade. The UN has said that it only has enough supplies in Gaza to last a few more days, unless the Israeli restrictions on the territory are lifted. Amid the closures, Israeli army forces have launched several raids into Gaza, killing more than a dozen Palestinians. Several Israelis have been injured by rockets fired by Palestinian fighters into Israel in recent days. Israel and Palestinian Hamas, which has de facto control of the Gaza Strip, have observed a shaky ceasefire deal since July but the agreement is due to expire next month. Israel is holding a US-backed peace dialogue with the Palestinian Authority, which is led by Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian president and leader of the rival Fatah faction. Hamas, deemed a "terrorist" organisation by Israel, is not a party to the negotiations.	Although Israel briefly lifted its blockade of crossings in the Gaza Strip today, United Nations (UN) officials warn that a further blockade could lead to dire consequences for some 750,000 Gazans who rely on UN food aid. Israel blockaded the Gaza Strip in early November, preventing access for UN aid workers and journalists. The border crossing was opened to allow some food aid and medical supplies through, however, United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) spokesman Christopher Gunness warned that "it is just not enough." Map showing location of the Gaza Strip The UNRWA also warns that Gaza faces "a humanitarian catastrophe." Karen Abu Zayd, commissioner general of UNRWA, said the death toll since the beginning of the Israeli blockade is the gravest since the early days of the Palestinian intifada eight years ago. The Israeli blockade has shut down power for the Gaza Strip, and patients at local hospitals are in grave risk of death because of faulty generators. "Almost every part of the intensive care unit runs on electricity which comes from Gaza's main power plant ... that plant is run on fuel from Israel, but no supplies have reached the plant for well over a week now," said Al Jazeera's correspondent in Gaza. Israel closed the Gaza Strip on November 5 because of rocket fire emanating from the area after the Israeli army units entered and carried out an operation against members of the Hamas combat wing. Currently all foreign journalists are banned from entering Gaza. AP, Reuters, the New York Times, the BBC, CNN and other major news organizations have protested the blockade.
Kyrgyzstan Sets June 26 Election Agencies, Arab News BISHKEK, 27 March 2005 — Kyrgyzstan’s ousted interior minister, warning of a risk of civil war, said yesterday he was leading thousands of demonstrators toward the capital to protest against the coup that overthrew President Askar Akayev. But the new leadership, which seized power on Thursday after mass protests, said the action had fizzled out and declared it was in control of the mountainous ex-Soviet state. The capital was jumpy after widespread looting following the lightning coup. Tensions increased when acting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev switched the venue of a news conference because officials got word of a possible plot to kill him. The Kremlin said Russia had granted Akayev asylum at his request. “Askar Akayev asked that he be allowed to come to Russia, and this has been granted,” the Kremlin’s press service said, quoted by the Interfax news agency. It was not clear whether Akayev was in Russia. But Interfax, citing unnamed sources, reported earlier that he had arrived in the country. “Akayev arrived during the night from Kazakhstan,” the agency quoted one of the sources as saying. Ignoring Akayev’s refusal to resign, Parliament set June 26 for a new presidential election in the central Asian nation. Bakiyev said he would run in the election. The new leader, who has criticized Akayev for fleeing the country when it was in crisis, said he had been as surprised as anybody by the speed of events. “It didn’t enter my head that this could happen. God forbid that anyone should come to power in this way. I am not a supporter of such things,” Bakiyev said. He said the protest march toward Bishkek from Akayev’s home region of Chym Korgon in Kemen province to the east was a provocative action. His security chief, Felix Kulov, later said it had been called off for lack of support. “They are not coming any more. They went a few kilometers from their Kemen region, but the other villages did not join them. They are not moving any more,” he told a news conference. About 3,000 people had set off from Chym Korgon, some 90 km from the capital, led by Keneshbel Dushebayev, who was appointed interior minister by Akayev just before he was ousted. “The country is virtually split and everything is in place for a civil war,” Dushebayev said. But there was confusion over the protesters’ aims. Some had posters saying “No to the coup!” and “The people of Kyrgyzstan are one nation!”. Other placards announced support for Kulov. One man, Rustam Ibraimov, 24, said: “We do not support President Akayev, but the change of power should have been carried out according to the law.” Kulov, put in charge of security just days after crowds freed him from jail, insisted earlier order had been restored. “The situation is fully under control. We do not need a curfew,” he said. \|\|\|\|\| advertisement Kyrgyz Leaders Appear to Survive Challenge to Power Acting President Kurmanbek Bakiev raised tensions in Bishkek Saturday when he switched the venue of a news conference on what officials said was word of a possible plot to kill him. Ignoring the exiled Akayev's refusal to resign, parliament set June 26 for a new presidential election. Bakiev said he would run in the election. Bakiev appeared on Saturday to have secured a fresh pledge of support from vital ally Russia which, like the United States, maintains a military base near Bishkek. A Kremlin spokesman, quoted by Interfax, said President Vladimir Putin had told Bakiev by telephone he was ready to look at "concrete ways aimed at rendering assistance in stabilizing the situation in Kyrgyzstan." Western countries have so far been less forthcoming toward the new leaders. Earlier, Bakiev had said he hoped Russia would help with fuel supplies. The pace of events appears to have overwhelmed the new leaders, who appear hard put to assert control. "It didn't enter my head this could happen. God forbid that anyone should come to power in this way. I am not a supporter of such things, but what happened happened," Bakiev said. (Additional reporting by Olga Dzhybenko and Christian Lowe in Bishkek and Dmitry Solovyov in Chym Korgon) \|\|\|\|\| Print Mail Wikipedia Kyrgyzstan police battle pillagers as chaos grows EYEWITNESS: One reporter witnessed first-hand the chaos that gripped the capital, as the new government tried to restore order since the old one was ousted AP , Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Sunday, Mar 27, 2005,Page 6 Elderly opposition supporters wearing traditional Kyrgyz hats attend a rally to mark the stunningly swift change of power yesterday. PHOTO: AP Gunfire, wailing sirens, dark deserted streets and groups of young men with armbands helping police confront looters: so began the Kyrgyz capital's second night after the country's sudden shift of power. Hundreds of pillagers wandered the rain-slick streets in mobs, throwing stones at cars and seemingly seeking a repeat of the previous night, when the city was theirs. But this night, police were back on duty -- cruising the streets in marked cars and barking shouts for order through megaphones. Groups of stick-wielding young men hovered outside shops and offices -- this time to guard them. Police appeared to be trying to determine the location of groups of looters, then rush to the area in several cars and go after them in vehicles and on foot, firing into the air. One such operation played out beneath our second-floor office windows for some 10 minutes, the quiet street breaking out into shouts and shots that filled the air with the smell of gunpowder. The only major department store that survived Thursday night's plundering, TsUM, was guarded by about 100 volunteers. Standing in the rain, they said they would defend the store all night long. One of the volunteers tore a piece of yellow cloth in two, using one strip as an armband and another to wrap it around an iron bar gripped in his hand. I asked him if he would really hit anyone with it. He smiled broadly and said: "Yes." Earlier in the day, hundreds of poor treasure-hunters wandered up and down the five floors of a shopping mall that stood bare, its windows smashed and their frames charred. All the goods in this Turkish-owned Beta Stores mall were swept away in a rampage the previous night, but people sifting through the remaining trash still found things to take away: metal scrap, empty boxes, broken mannequins. Almazbek Abdykadyrov was mounting several wooden boards on his bicycle. "I want to build a house; I don't have any material myself. Others are taking, so I'm taking, too," he said. Two teenagers carried a sink, saying it was "a present from Beta Stores." The area was littered with pieces of cardboard boxes and cloth, empty bottles. Shops that escaped damaged Thursday night were closed, or their owners hung signs reading "we are with the people" in hopes of warding off attacks. Bishkek residents were frightened and shocked. An elderly woman told me she was shaking as she watched the looting overnight and cars passing by her windows until 3 am stuffed with carpets and other goods, some even hauling refrigerators and other large appliances or pieces of furniture on the roof. "I've never seen anything as horrible as this in my entire life. Nobody was stopping them," she said, overwhelmed. Meanwhile, Felix Kulov, an opposition leader and former interior minister, released from jail immediately after the fall of President Askar Akayev, was trying to restore order, holding meetings with police and security officials and trying to convince them to return to work. Put in charge of law enforcement by the new government, Kulov pledged to "give a big battle to the pillagers." Some police were back on the streets Friday -- but without their uniforms. They still appeared shocked by the storming of the government building the previous day. About a dozen of them were guarding TsUM, the department store. One of them, a senior police lieutenant who would not give his name, said police were ready to resume service. But when asked if they would work under Kulov, he said: "We could, but how legitimate is he at the moment?" This story has been viewed 508 times. Advertising \|\|\|\|\| Washington Post Foreign Service Sunday, March 27, 2005; Page A15 BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 26 -- The plan called for yurts, and patience. A small army of protesters weary of the stiffening, unresponsive rule of President Askar Akayev was to assemble on a great plaza outside the presidential headquarters in the capital. The plan, according to organizers of the demonstration, was for participants to listen to speeches, chant slogans and, as the sun set, begin a vigil, reclaiming their country by sleeping in yurts, the domed, supremely portable tents made of skins and sticks popular in Central Asia. The camp-out would put a Kyrgyz stamp on a rebellion that opposition leaders said was inspired in part by recent uprisings in Georgia and Ukraine, two other former Soviet republics where the populace had grown unhappy with the autocrats in power. In both countries, mass demonstrations sparked by disputed elections went on for weeks, wearing down the incumbent while opponents honed plans for an orderly transfer of power. But nothing went quite as planned in Bishkek on Thursday. When the first few thousand protesters arrived at the plaza, the president sent thugs to break up the demonstration. Incensed, a few dozen young protesters returned and simply broke past police guarding the presidential headquarters, known as the White House. To the cheers of thousands assembled below, the youths broke a window and chucked out a portrait of Akayev, who, after nearly 15 years in power, disappeared from the scene. It all took a couple of hours. "Nice words, 'coup d'etat,' 'revolution,' '' said Kurmanbek Bakiyev, an opposition figure who was installed as acting president that night. "But what happened on the 24th of March was not planned by anyone beforehand, neither by people who came to the rally nor by others. "Nobody expected and nobody prepared for this event." That much was clear almost immediately. As soon as darkness fell Thursday, hundreds of young men turned to looting, unleashing a spasm of destruction that emptied or burned more than 100 stores in a capital abruptly devoid of uniformed police. The next morning, the hallways of parliament filled with the sound of workers hammering shut the front doors. Inside, two legislatures were meeting: One was elected five years ago. The other was seated this month, after disputed elections that set in motion the wave of outrage. The rebellion sprang up almost simultaneously in several remote places, and came together in cities in the notably poorer south. When it crested in the mountains that bisect Kyrgyzstan, what shattered was the brittle government of a man whose son drove a Hummer in a country with a per capita income of about $300. "It was a natural outcome," said Emil Aliev, a senior official in an opposition party called Dignity. "The main forces were a very severe social and economic situation, in the background of wide-scale corruption." Akayev came to power as a reformer. Trained as a physicist, he had led the country since 1990. Kyrgyzstan became independent when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, but ties with Russia remain strong. The United States has heaped aid and praise on the little country, which, under Akayev, tolerated a free press and encouraged the proliferation of nonprofit civic groups, regarded as the cornerstone of a democratic society. Under Akayev, Kyrgyzstan also broke out of a state-controlled economy, welcoming foreign investment in a country of 5 million blessed with staggering beauty but few of the mineral resources of its neighbors. \|\|\|\|\| David Cameron claimed victory today in a French-led assault on Britain’s EU rebate, saying he always came to Brussels summits armed with a loaded gun. “In this town you have to be ready for an ambush at any minute and that means lock and load and have one up the spout when you’re ready for it,” Mr Cameron said. He voiced “immense frustration” with what he depicted as an attempt at one am to unravel a February agreement on Britain’s discount from its EU budget contributions. After a meeting with Herman Van Rompuy, the EU Council President, Mr Cameron headed of the effort by France to recalculate the rebate on British payments for east European farm spending. “The end result is that the rebated has been secured in an even more detailed way than what we had in the past,” he said. The attempted rewrite of the leaders’ February agreement would have led over seven years to to Britain losing 1.5 billion euros from its rebate, worth some three billion pounds a year, he said. The Prime Minister gave vent to his discontent with the EU summit machinery. “It is, and I won’t lie, it is immensely frustrating sometimes, the way this organisation works,” he said. “I think this is no way for an organisation to conduct itself.” Mr Cameron’s version of events were contested by French and some EU officials, who said that the Prime Ministe	Hunne''Ignoring ousted president Askar Akayev's refusal to resign, the former, pre-election, Kyrgyzstan parliament has scheduled a new presidential election for June 26. Acting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said he would run in the election. Meanwhile, former interior minister Keneshbek Dushebayev, who was ousted along with Akayev, announced today he was leading thousands of counterdemonstrators from Akayev's native area of Kemin toward the capital of Bishkek, to protest Thursday's coup, which also began with a group of a few thousand young demonstrators, who in a few hours broke through the lines of guards protecting the presidential headquarters and effectively unseated President Akayev, ending his 14 years in power. It was unclear as night fell whether Dushebayev's march had succeeded in making its way to the capital, but the new leadership which seized power on Thursday following the protests said that it was maintaining control of the country, and that the march had fizzled out. Bakiyev switched the venue of a news conference today, reportedly because of a rumoured assassination plot. Bishkek was calm compared to the looting and chaos that followed on the heels of the Thursday protests and coup, but bands of looters still roamed the city and government officials were taking no chances. According to an eyewitness AP report, residents of the capital are still "frightened and shocked." It is not clear where Akayev is right now; the Interfax News Agency, citing unnamed sources, reported earlier that he has arrived in Russia. Bakiyev has criticized Akayev for fleeing the country in its time of need, and maintains that he is surprised by the speed of recent events. "It didn’t enter my head that this could happen," Bakiyev said, according to a Reuters report.
Sign-up to receive the weekly top stories, contest and promotion announcements every Tuesday Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of Canada.com Newsletter will soon be in your inbox. \|\|\|\|\| Cyclists had already passed when the blasts occurred No-one was injured in the blasts, which officials said followed a phone call from the Basque separatist group Eta. The small explosions occurred just outside the town of Belagua, 1km (half a mile) from the French border. Eta has waged a violent campaign since the 1960s for an independent state in northern Spain and south-west France. Officials said the devices, which included only "a small amount of explosives", were placed on either side of the road and hidden in plastic food containers. They did not explode until some time after the cyclists had passed through the town, according to local media. It is not the first time that Eta, which called off a ceasefire in June, has targeted the top cycling event to draw attention to its aim of achieving an independent Basque homeland. \|\|\|\|\| Digg del.icio.us Newsvine Reddit Facebook MADRID (AP) Two small explosives were detonated Wednesday along the Tour de France route in northern Spain before the cyclists raced by, but no one was injured, the Interior Ministry said. The blasts — 40 minutes apart on bluffs overlooking the road — occurred after a warning call from the Basque separatist group ETA The site of the explosions was about a half-mile from the border with France, outside Belagua, a town in the Navarra region. A caravan of Tour-related publicity vehicles had passed by the site before the blasts, which went off on either side of the road. The race's route was not changed, an official with the Navarra office of the Interior Ministry said on condition of anonymity because of department rules. About 30 minutes after the second blast, the riders started coming into Belagua, passed through it safely, and eventually rode back into France along the scheduled Tour route. Officials found plastic food containers containing "a small amount of explosives," the official said. The blasts kicked up some dirt, but caused no injuries, he said. ETA has staged similar, minor attacks coinciding with the Tour in what Spanish officials have described as attempts to use one of the world's top sporting events to draw attention to the group's drive for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France. The group called a cease-fire in March 2006, but grew frustrated with a lack of government concessions in ensuing peace talks, and set off a huge bomb in a parking area at Madrid's airport on Dec. 30, killing two people. It insisted then that the truce was still in effect, but finally declared it over last month, and Spanish security forces have been on alert ever since. Meanwhile, French police detained a suspected ETA member Wednesday after a tourist noticed he was behaving suspiciously, police officials said. The man was detained in the southwestern French town of Lannemezan after a tourist alerted police that he was looking into car windows, officials said. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Share this story: Digg del.icio.us Newsvine Reddit Facebook 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.	Authorities in Spain say that at least two explosive devices were found on a section of the Tour de France bicycle race just outside the Spanish town of Belagua. Authorities say that "a small amount of explosives", were placed inside plastic food containers then placed on both sides of the road. There are no reports of injuries but conflicting reports say that the cyclists passed the area before the devices went off, while others report that the devices were detonated before the cyclists passed. The Basque separatist group known as the ETA have claimed responsibility for placing the devices on the route. A telephone call was placed to authorities by someone claiming to be from the ETA who threatened to use the devices.
Two foreign aid workers connected to a United Nations project were kidnapped in southern Somalia. The United Nations said the two men, a Kenyan and a Briton, were abducted by gunmen while they were working on a survey of local rivers. Kidnappings have recently increased here, partly because several Western organizations have paid hefty ransoms to free their employees. \|\|\|\|\| April 02, 2008 Wednesday Rabi-ul-Awwal 24, 1429 Two foreign aid workers kidnapped in Somalia MOGADISHU, April 1: A Briton and a Kenyan initially identified as UN aid workers were kidnapped by armed men on Tuesday in southern Somalia in the latest in a string of attacks targeting humanitarian operations. Local elders said gunmen opened fire during the attack and one of the hostages was slightly wounded. However UN officials later explained in Rome that the two were not actually members of the staff of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a United Nations agency, as originally reported. They said the victims were in fact working for an Indian-based group sub-contracted to do aerial survey work for the FAO. Confirming the nationalities and the abductions, the FAO said they were employees of Genesys International Corporation, an information technology firm based in Bangalore, India. In a communique published at FAO headquarters in Rome, it said the Genesys was operating in Somalia under a contract to the FAO. In Somalia, Genesys undertakes aerial surveys to prepare detailed maps in order to help sections of the population affected by floods caused by rise in the water level of the Juba and Shabelle rivers. Local district commissioner Ibrahim Noleye originally told AFP “two foreign aid workers from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) were intercepted by armed militiamen on their way to Buale.” “We believe they are being held hostage,” he added. “There is one from Kenya and the other is British. I have worked on projects with them before,” said a Somali aid worker on condition of anonymity. Several local elders confirmed the nationalities and the British foreign office in London said it was investigating the incident. The abduction took place on a road leading to Buale, in Somalia’s southern Lower Jubba region, north of the city of Kismayo.—AFP \|\|\|\|\| A British environment researcher has been kidnapped in Somalia by gunmen who ambushed his armed convoy. Murray Watson, 69, who is world-renowned for pioneering aerial surveys of remote regions, was abducted with a Kenyan colleague, Patrick Amukhuma, by six armed militiamen who ambushed their vehicles close to the southern Somali town of Buale. Witnesses said that Mr Watson, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, was injured in the leg during a brief gun battle between his guards and their attackers. advertisement Amos Nyaoro, of Somalia Water and Land Information Management, the United Nations-backed agency for which Mr Watson was working, said: "We are attempting to make contact with the people who abducted our colleagues. It is unclear why this attack has taken place. We understand that Mr Watson has been hurt, but we don't know the extent of his injuries." Mr Watson, an ecologist and pilot, was in Somalia to carry out aerial surveys of the Middle Juba region to produce maps of flood-prone areas for the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation. A spokesman for the British High Commission in Nairobi, which oversees Somalia, said diplomats were working with UN security staff to begin efforts to free Mr Watson. Mr Watson, who speaks eight languages, is a world expert in environmental surveys of developing countries and has worked with many UN agencies, conservation authorities and private clients including BP. Piloting small aircraft at low altitudes in the 1960s, he pioneered aerial surveying of remote parts of Africa and Asia as a way to collect data for areas difficult to reach by land. He has worked extensively in Africa, first travelling to Somalia in 1974 to survey the country's livestock from the air. His latest trip began two weeks ago, said a colleague at Resource Management and Research, the firm that Mr Watson founded in Dorking, Surrey, in 1967. "He is very experienced working in very difficult spots all over the world, but even so this has come as a shock to us all," she said. "We have been in touch with the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Nairobi and I'm sure everything's being done to find him." Attacks on foreigners have soared in lawless Somalia in recent months, but they have mostly taken place in the northern region of Puntland. Hostages are usually released unharmed after negotiations involving local clan elders. Few Westerners dare to venture into the capital, Mogadishu. The emergency medical agency Médecins Sans Frontières evacuated all of its staff from Somalia in February after a roadside bomb attack in the port city of Kismayo killed three of its workers. Insurgent attacks against the weak Somali government and its Ethiopian military backers have increased in the past six months, with Islamist forces seizing key towns in a show of force. A joint statement from 40 aid agencies including Oxfam said last week that more than a million people had been forced from their homes. \|\|\|\|\| (Recasts with UN statement, adds details) By Ibrahim Mohamed and Mohamed Abdi MOGADISHU, April 1 (Reuters) - Somali gunmen on Tuesday kidnapped two contractors, a Briton and a Kenyan, working for a U.N.-funded project in southern Somalia, the United Nations said. Local militias were pursuing the kidnappers in the hope of freeing the captives, residents said, and local clan elders were pressing the gunmen to release the two men. "Two foreign nationals -- a Briton and a Kenyan -- were abducted this morning by unknown gunmen between Saakow and Bu'aale in Middle Juba," the U.N. country office for Somalia said in a statement. The two work for Genesys International Corporation Ltd of Bangalore, India, which has been hired by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation to carry out a survey of the Juba and Shabelle rivers, the statement said. It did not give their names. A call to Genesys offices in Bangalore was not answered. "Witnesses on the ground say there was gunfire when the men were taken, but there is no information to suggest that any serious injury was sustained by either man," it said, referring to reports that one of the men had been wounded. The two are being held in or near the town of Jilib, and "clan elders and community leaders who do not condone such abductions are putting pressure on the perpetrators to release the men," the statement said. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Two United Nations contract workers, a Briton and a Kenyan, were kidnapped Tuesday in southern Somalia, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. The two worked for India-based Genesys International Corp., which conducts aerial surveys for the U.N. to prepare detailed maps for eventual floodings in the area. They were seized on a main road between Saakow and Bualle, about 200 miles southwest of Mogadishu, according to the FAO's office in Rome, Italy. E-mail to a friend \|\|\|\|\| 3.30pm BST update Two UN workers kidnapped in Somalia Gunmen kidnapped two men, one a Briton, who were working on a UN project in southern Somalia, the UN food and agriculture organisation confirmed today. The men were abducted earlier today after gunmen opened fire on their car somewhere between Bule and Sakow, in the Middle Jubba province, earlier today, local government officials said. The Briton is believed to have been injured when clan militiamen began firing at the car before taking him and a Kenyan national. Alison Small, based at the FAO's Rome headquarters, said the workers had been hired under contract to carry out aerial surveys of Somalia. "We can confirm that an incident took place this morning … in which two individuals were abducted by armed militia," she said. "The individuals concerned were not employed by the FAO or any other UN agency." Small said the FAO would be monitoring the situation closely. Local forces were pursuing the kidnappers towards the Jilib district, south of Mogadishu, in the hope of freeing the captives, residents said. Hajir Bille, a local official, said the identities and motives of the gunmen were unknown. Mohamed Mumin, a local resident, said he saw six armed men open fire on the car as it approached them. "I could see a white man running out of the vehicle with blood on his leg," he added. Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, when rival warlords overthrew the then dictator, Mohamed Siad Barre, before turning on each other. More than 1 million citizens in the lawless country currently depend on foreign aid. The kidnappings confirmed today come after a string of attacks on aid workers in previous months, including abductions and landmine attacks on vehicles. Kidnapping is lucrative for Somali criminals, who are known for treating captives well, viewing them investments on which they can earn a handsome reward in the form of ransom payments. \|\|\|\|\| Somali gunmen kidnap two aid workers Last Updated: 01/04/2008 10:33 Gunmen have kidnapped two foreign aid workers working for the United Nations in southern Somalia. One British and one Kenyan working for UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation were kidnapped by militiamen somewhere between Bule and Sakow towns in Middle Jubba province. The British man was reportedly wounded during gunfire between Somali bodyguards and the militia. © 2008 ireland.com \|\|\|\|\| Two foreign contractors, a Briton and a Kenyan, working for the UN in Somalia have been seized by unknown gunmen in southern Somalia, reports say. They were doing work for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. The incident happened on a road between the towns of Bu'aale and Sikow in the Juba region of Somalia, when gunmen fired on the men's car, witnesses say. The UN based in neighbouring Kenya says it cannot confirm the kidnapping, although it had confirmed it earlier. A number of foreign aid workers have been kidnapped in Somalia in the past few months. It is not known why the two men, who are believed to be working for the FAO-funded Somalia Water and Land Information Management project, may have been kidnapped. It is not known if either man has been harmed, although there are unconfirmed reports that a white man was seen with blood coming from a wound possibly on his leg. In February, MSF withdrew all its international staff from Somalia after three of its workers were killed by a bomb. \|\|\|\|\| Somali Gunmen Kidnap Foreign Aid Workers KISMAYO, Somalia (AP) — A local government official says gunmen have abducted two foreign aid workers in southern Somalia. Hajir Bille, an official from Juba region, said Tuesday the identity and motives of the gunmen was unknown but that security forces were looking for the kidnappers. The victims work for the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization, which was not immediately available for comment.	Two foreign aid workers attached to a United Nations (UN) project were kidnapped in southern Somalia on Tuesday. The UN stated that the two men, one British and one Kenyan, were abducted at gunpoint while conducting a survey of local rivers. The men were taken hostage on a road leading to Bu'aale, in the southern Lower Jubba region of Somalia. Lower Jubba region in Somalia. Briton Murray Watson was abducted along with his Kenyan colleague, Patrick Amukhuma, by six armed militiamen who ambushed their armed convoy. The abduction took place on a main road between Saakow and Bu'aale. Gunfire was exchanged between Somali bodyguards and militia members. According to ''Agence France-Presse'', local elders said that the gunmen fired shots during the attack and wounded one of the hostages, and ''The Daily Telegraph'' reported that witnesses said Watson was wounded in the leg. Local district commissioner Ibrahim Noleye spoke with ''Agence France-Presse'' about the incident: "two foreign aid workers from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) were intercepted by armed militiamen on their way to Buale ... We believe they are being held hostage". Amos Nyaoro of Somalia Water and Land Information Management, the UN-supported agency where Watson was working, told ''The Daily Telegraph'': "We are attempting to make contact with the people who abducted our colleagues. It is unclear why this attack has taken place. We understand that Mr Watson has been hurt, but we don't know the extent of his injuries." ''Reuters'' has reported that local militias were pursuing the kidnappers in an attempt to free the hostages, and local clan elders are pressing for their release. Hajir Bille, an official from the Juba region in Somalia, told the ''Associated Press'' that security forces were looking for the abductors. A statement released by the UN country office for Somalia addressed reports that one of the men kidnapped had been wounded: "Witnesses on the ground say there was gunfire when the men were taken, but there is no information to suggest that any serious injury was sustained by either man." ''Reuters'' has reported that the hostages are being held "in or near" the town of Jilib. UN officials in Rome, Italy said that the two men worked for an Indian-based group sub-contracted to do aerial survey work for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a United Nations agency. The men are not themselves members of the FAO, but are employees of Genesys International Corporation, an information technology company in Bangalore, India. Genesys International Corporation performs aerial surveys in Somalia which help the area population deal with flooding due to a rise in water level of the Juba and Shabelle rivers. Western companies and organizations have paid ransoms to free their employees, and kidnappings in the area have increased as a result. In recent months attacks on foreigners in Somalia have increased, but had been localized to the northern region of Puntland. Médecins Sans Frontières withdrew its international staff from the country after three workers were killed by a bomb in February. Attacks against Somalia's weak government and its Ethiopian military backers have increased in the last six months. Somalia's government has not been functional since civil war began in 1991, when dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown and rival warlords then turned on each other. Over one million citizens in Somalia depend on foreign aid, and UN aid helps millions of Somalians each year.
Pavarotti's coffin was covered in his favourite sunflowers Applause rang out inside the cathedral in his home town of Modena as a recording of a duet the tenor sang with his father was played. Among the thousands of mourners were stars such as U2's Bono and the tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. Pavarotti died on Thursday aged 71, after a long battle against cancer. The Roman Catholic service culminated in a recording of Pavarotti's famous rendition of Nessun Dorma and a fly-past by the Italian air force. The singer was then to be buried in a private ceremony at the Montale Rangone cemetery near Modena, alongside members of his family, including his parents and stillborn son Riccardo. Luciano Pavarotti had been suffering from pancreatic cancer It was also broadcast live on Italian state television and the internet. The requiem mass was attended by Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and celebrated by Modena's Archbishop, Benito Cocchi. It began with a moving rendition of Verdi's Ave Maria by Bulgarian-born soprano Raina Kabaivanska, also a resident of Modena who had worked with Pavarotti. It was followed by a tribute to Pavarotti from Archbishop Cocchi. "The death of Pavarotti has made us feel poorer," he said. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sang Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus, and flutist Andrea Griminelli performed. Pavarotti's white maple casket, covered in his favourite sunflowers lay before the altar, with his wife Nicoletta Mantovani, looking on. Sitting nearby were Pavarotti's three daughters from his first marriage. A message from Pavarotti's four-year-old daughter, Alice, was read during the service. "Papa, you have loved me so much, I know you will always protect me. I will hold you dear to my child's heart every tomorrow," it said. Pavarotti's family had expressed a desire for a private ceremony, but with the attendance of fans, celebrities and politicians, it took on the look and feel of a state event. Archbishop Cocchi said the presence of so many dignitaries at the funeral was a sign "of the esteem, of the affection and of the gratitude that universally surrounds the great artist". Pavarotti's widow listened as her daughter's message was read The Italian air force's Frecce Tricolori display team created the green, red and white of the country's flag when it passed over Modena cathedral as the tenor's coffin was brought out at the end of the service. Modena city officials have estimated that 100,000 people came to pay tribute to Pavarotti and view his coffin since was brought to the cathedral on Thursday night. Admirers signed books of condolence placed by vases of sunflowers outside the cathedral. The foreign ministry said similar books would be available for well-wishers at Italian embassies and consulates around the world. \|\|\|\|\| Charities have prince in their sights after he said hunting old infertile animals for money could be excused if funds went to saving the species	The Cathedral at Modena The family and friends of the world-famous opera singer Luciano Pavarotti have gathered in his hometown of Modena, Italy to pay their final respects. Pavarotti died on Thursday of complication from pancreatic cancer at the age of 71. The Roman Catholic service at the cathedral in Modena was attended by such international stars as fellow tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras, as well as U2's Bono. It included Mozart's ''Ave Verum Corpus'', Giuseppe Verdi's ''Ave Maria'' and a message of condolence from Pope Benedict XVI, who said Pavarotti had "honored the divine gift of music through his extraordinary interpretative talent". At least 800 people were present in the cathedral, but thousands gathered outside to watch the service on a television screen placed in Modena's main square. The service was also shown on Italian state television and via the Internet. A recording of Pavarotti's famous duet with his father in 1978 was played and prompted a standing ovation of the crowd inside and outside the cathedral, and Italy's air force gave a flyover releasing smoke in the colours of the Italian flag. It is estimated that over 100,000 people have seen Pavarotti's casket in the past two days, where it has been publicly displayed in Modena's main piazza, to many of Pavarotti's recordings and appearances shown on the public screen. Pavarotti will be buried in his family plot in a private ceremony at the Montale Rangone cemetery near Modena.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Gordon Brown has apologised after being caught on microphone describing a voter he had just spoken to in Rochdale as a "bigoted woman". Sixty-five-year-old Gillian Duffy had challenged Mr Brown on a number of issues including immigration and crime. As he got into his car, he was still wearing a broadcast microphone and was heard to say "that was a disaster". Mr Brown later phoned Mrs Duffy to apologise after the tape was played to him during a BBC Radio 2 interview. After listening to the recording, with his forehead resting on his hand, he said: "I do apologise if I've said anything that has been hurtful." The Prime Minister is now travelling to apologise to Mrs Duffy in person. The comments were made after the conversation with Mrs Duffy which ended with him complimenting her and her family. As he went to get into his car, Mr Brown told her: "Very nice to meet you, very nice to meet you." But off camera, and not realising he still had a Sky News microphone pinned to his shirt, he was heard to tell an aide: "That was a disaster - they should never have put me with that woman. Whose idea was that? It's just ridiculous..." Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Asked what she had said, he is heard to reply: "Ugh everything! She's just a sort of bigoted woman that said she used to be Labour. I mean it's just ridiculous. I don't know why Sue brought her up towards me." Mrs Duffy said after hearing of Mr Brown's comments: "I'm very upset. He's an educated person. Why has he come out with words like that? "He's supposed to be leading the country and he's calling an ordinary woman who's come up and asked questions that most people would ask him... It's going to be tax, tax, tax for another 20 years to get out of this national debt, and he's calling me a bigot." Mrs Duffy, a widow who has a daughter and two grandchildren, said she used to work with disabled children for Rochdale council before she retired. She had earlier told reporters she was a lifelong Labour voter and described Mr Brown as being "very nice". BBC political editor Nick Robinson said it was a disaster for the prime minister because it showed the gap between his public face and private face. "For those of us who have known Gordon Brown for many years, what we have seen is no huge surprise. He has got better and better at handling himself in public, but quite often he flares up in private, expresses frustration," he said. Nick Robinson added that the irony was that if his comments had not been picked up, it would have been a lively election exchange which would have been seen to do him credit. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Speaking on Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show, Mr Brown said: "Of course I apologise if I've said anything that's been offensive and I would never put myself in a position where I would want to say anything like that about a woman I'd met. "I blame myself for what is done, but you've got to remember that this was me being helpful to the broadcasters, with my microphone on, rushing into the car because I had to get to another appointment and they have chosen to play my private conversation. These things can happen, I apologise profusely to the lady concerned." Mr Brown later telephoned Mrs Duffy to personally apologise for the comments, telling her he was very sorry and said she "is a good woman". When asked did this in any way make up for the comments she said "no - absolutely not". 'Resilience' A spokesman for the prime minister said: "Mr Brown has apologised to Mrs Duffy personally by phone. He does not think that she is bigoted. He was letting off steam in the car after a difficult conversation. "But this is exactly the sort of conversation that is important in an election campaign and which he will continue to have with voters." The Conservatives said Mr Brown's comments spoke for themselves. Shadow chancellor George Osborne said: "That's the thing about general elections, they do reveal the truth about people." Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "You should always try to answer the questions as best you can. He has been recorded saying what he has said and will have to answer for that." Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said Mr Brown was "mortified" over the hurt he had caused Mrs Duffy. He told the BBC: "It is very unfortunate that this remark that he didn't believe got picked up. But he should be judged on how he responded. And that's why he apologised immediately." Chancellor Alistair Darling said Mr Brown's apology was profuse and he was well aware he should not have made the comments. "The election campaign will be decided not just on individuals but what the party stands for. There are big issues at stake. Gordon is a man of considerable strength, considerable resilience and considerable substance," he said. "I hope people will judge him in the round. The fact we are coming out of this recession is down to him in no small part." Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| * PM makes first big election gaffe Bonds \| Global Markets * Issue overshadows discussion about the economy * Polls show May 6 election headed for inconclusive result (Adds quote from voter, edits) By Kylie MacLellan and Fiona Shaikh LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised in person for describing a voter as "a bigoted woman" on Wednesday in an embarrassing gaffe before next week's parliamentary election. A campaign stop to meet locals in a northern English town backfired when Brown let slip the unguarded comment about grandmother Gillian Duffy, a supporter of his own Labour Party. It was picked up by a microphone on his lapel as he was driven away in his car after meeting her. Labour, in power for 13 years but trailing in opinion polls, had already been on the defensive after opposition parties said the Greek financial crisis was an example of what could happen if Britain's record budget deficit was not tackled. Brown later visited Duffy in her own home to apologise, saying he was mortified by what had happened. "Sometimes you do make mistakes and you use wrong words, and once you've used that word and you've made a mistake, you should withdraw it and say profound apologies, and that's what I've done," he said, after spending more than 30 minutes in the grandmother's modest home in the town of Rochdale. Brown was shown on television with his head in his hands as the comments were replayed to him during a BBC interview. The furore over a rare unscripted moment in a highly choreographed campaign may undermine his attempts to reclaim lost ground on Thursday in the last of three televised leaders' debates, which will focus on the economy. Labour, which has narrowed the Conservatives' lead in opinion polls in recent months, had high hopes for this week's campaigning. So far Brown's performances in the TV debates -- which have dominated campaigning -- have not drawn plaudits. "A politician in a stronger position could recover from this. What we know is that Gordon Brown is not in that position ... I don't think it's a good idea to call voters bigots," said Andrew Russell, a politics lecturer at Manchester University. The pensioner had asked Brown how he would tackle the country's record deficit, as well as other issues ranging from east European immigration to university fees and pensions. Brown's gaffe could reinforce public perceptions of a leader lacking in social skills and prone to outbursts of temper. However, some TV pundits and voters were more sympathetic. "For me, I've got more respect for him. Let's be honest, we all meet people who we think are a moron, we don't like them," said accountant Nigel Howcutt, 29, in Watford, north of London. GREEK MELTDOWN Bookmakers widened their odds against Labour winning a majority to 46-1 after Brown's gaffe, from 30-1 before. "There's no doubt in what the punters are saying: Brown has royally messed up this time," said Mike Robb, a spokesman for online betting company Betfair. Opinion polls on Wednesday continued to point to a hung parliament, in which no one party wins an overall majority. But they showed the Conservatives and Labour had regained some ground from the Liberal Democrats, the traditional third party in British politics, who have enjoyed a strong ratings boost since the first TV leaders' debate and turned the contest into a three-horse race. [ID:nUKPOLLS10] Much of Wednesday's campaigning had been focused on the economy and Britain's record budget deficit. Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman, told Reuters all the big parties were agreed on the need to cut government borrowing, warning that failing to do so risked Greek-style financial chaos. [nLDE63R0XK] Greece, which saw its debt downgraded to junk status by rating agency Standard & Poor's on Tuesday, is currently in talks with the IMF and the European Union on getting a 45 billion euro bail-out package to prevent a sovereign default. Greece's budget deficit last year stood at 13.6 percent of GDP, compared to a British deficit running at over 11 percent. Labour Business Minister Peter Mandelson said that likening Britain to Greece was "frankly ridiculous". Opposition Conservative leader David Cameron said that while there were many differences between the two countries, Britain should take note of Greece's troubles.	File photo of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is now at the centre of controversy when, on Thursday, a live microphone caught him describing a voter he had talked to as being a "bigoted woman". The incident occurred after Brown, encouraged by his advisors to interact with ordinary people more often before next week's parliamentary elections, went for a walkabout in the town of , located near Manchester. There, he spoke with Gillian Duffy, aged 65, who challenged him on topics such as health and education, before asking about immigration: "All those Eastern Europeans what are coming in, where are they flocking from?" she asked him. Brown responded by saying that "a million people come from Europe, but a million people, British people, have gone into Europe." The prime minister, upon finishing the discussion, said it was "very nice to meet you" and returned to his car. Unbeknownst to him, however, the Sky News microphone attached to his lapel was still turned on and picked up the conversation that followed inside the vehicle: "That was a disaster ... they should never have put me with that woman," Brown said. "Whose idea was that? It’s just ridiculous." When an aide asked what Duffy had said, Brown responded: "Everything, she was just a bigoted woman that said she used to be Labour ... I don't know why Sue an aide brought her up towards me." The PM, upon being informed what had happened, returned to Duffy's home to personally apologise. "Sometimes you do make mistakes and you use wrong words, and once you’ve used that word and you’ve made a mistake, you should withdraw it and say profound apologies, and that’s what I’ve done," he said. During an interview with the BBC, Brown is seen with his head in hands as the comments were replayed. Duffy, speaking to reporters immediately after having talked with the PM, described Brown as being "very nice", but later said she was "very upset" when informed what Brown had said off-camera. "Why has he come out with words like that? He's supposed to be leading the country and he's calling an ordinary woman who's come up and asked questions that most people would ask him," she said in an interview with the BBC. "... It's going to be tax, tax, tax for another twenty years to get out of this national debt, and he's calling me a bigot," later adding: "I want to know why — them sic comments I made there — why I was called a bigot." A spokesman for Brown said: "Mr Brown has apologised to Mrs Duffy personally by phone. He does not think that she is bigoted. He was letting off steam in the car after a difficult conversation. But this is exactly the sort of conversation that is important in an election campaign and which he will continue to have with voters." === Media and opposition parties react === Some political analysts have said the gaffe may hurt Labour's chances in the upcoming elections; the party had managed to narrow the Conservatives' lead in recent opinion polls. The Conservatives responded to the incident — dubbed by some media outlets as "Bigotgate" — with Shadow chancellor George Osborne saying that "general elections ... do reveal the truth about people." Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, meanwhile said: "You should always try to answer the questions as best you can. He has been recorded saying what he has said and will have to answer for that." Andrew Russell, a politics lecturer for , commented on the situation. "A politician in a stronger position could recover from this. What we know is that Gordon Brown is not in that position."
Sean Penn to endorse Kucinich Posted: Friday, December 07, 2007 1:32 PM by Domenico Montanaro Filed Under: , From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Sean Penn will endorse Kucinich this afternoon at a press conference in San Francisco, a source close to the Hollywood actor said. He will also be speaking on "the Constitution, the media and Dennis Kucinich," the source said. Expect a political speech. Penn has donated $4,600 to John Edwards' campaign and $2,300 to Kucinich during this cycle, per FEC campaign finance data. In March of this year, Penn wrote in a WorldNetDaily column that, "As things stand today, I will be voting for Dennis Kucinich, who has fought this war from the beginning. You might say Kucinich can't win. Well, we have an opportunity to re-establish the credibility of democracy as viewed by the world at large." Penn is set to deliver "a blistering indictment of political leaders and an impassioned endorsement of Presidential proportions," according to a Kucinich press release. More: "Penn and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich have been close friends for years, but the Kucinich campaign was not involved with Penn in preparing the remarks he plans to deliver today. 'Sean Penn is a good friend, but he's also a very intense, independent-minded person,' said a spokesman for the Kucinich campaign. 'He's going to say whatever he's going to say.'" \|\|\|\|\| Celebrity Endorsement Watch Penn lending Kucinich some star power. (Reuters). If you're keeping track at home, or in the pages of US Weekly: Oprah Winfrey's spending the weekend with Barack Obama. After keeping her options open by donating to several Democrats, Barbra Streisand formally endorsed Hillary Clinton. (Previous musical support for the Democratic front-runner included rapper 50 cent, who told Time magazine "I like Hillary." Not to be outdone by high-wattage friends of his front-running opponents, Dennis Kucinich has the support of none other than Sean Penn. At an event in San Francisco today, the Academy Award winner was scheduled to give what was billed as "a blistering indictment of political leaders and an impassioned endorsement of Presidential proportions." The "blistering" script the actor chose was not vetted by the Kucinich campaign, whose spokesman stressed, in a statement, that "Sean Penn is a good friend, but he's also a very intense, independent-minded person. He's going to say whatever he's going to say." Penn's progressive politics are pretty well documented--most of all by the actor himself, who has written dispatches from travels to both Iraq and Iran for the San Francisco Chronicle. The other side of the race is not without its boldface moments. This week, Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling worked the crowd with John McCain in New Hampshire. And, of course, there's Mike Huckabee, whose recent surge in Iowa polls did roughly coincide with the celebrity endorsement he revealed last month: the backing of Chuck Norris. --Rachel Dry Posted at 8:20 PM ET on Dec 7, 2007 Share This: Technorati \| Tag in Del.icio.us \| Digg This Posted by: FedupwithPolitics \| December 8, 2007 4:12 PM Posted by: newagent99 \| December 8, 2007 3:11 PM Posted by: rosaliefontana \| December 8, 2007 9:47 AM Posted by: rat-the \| December 7, 2007 10:43 PM Posted by: markinboston \| December 7, 2007 10:41 PM Posted by: pmorlan1 \| December 7, 2007 10:10 PM Posted by: pmorlan1 \| December 7, 2007 10:06 PM The comments to this entry are closed. \|\|\|\|\| CARACAS, Venezuela Hollywood star Sean Penn applauded President Hugo Chavez as the Venezuelan leader lambasted the Bush administration and demanded an end to war in Iraq. Chavez met privately with Penn for two hours Thursday, praising the actor as "brave" for urging Americans to impeach President Bush. "In the name of the peoples of the world, President Bush, withdraw the troops from Iraq. Enough already with so much genocide," Chavez said before an auditorium packed with his red-clad supporters. Penn sat near the front, at times applauding and nodding in agreement. He is the latest in a series of celebrities who have visited Caracas, including actor Danny Glover and singer Harry Belafonte. Chavez said he and Penn discussed the question of "why the (U.S.) empire attacks Chavez so much," saying Venezuela's oil wealth is a key reason. He also said Washington is "afraid that the people of the United States will learn the real truth" about the situation in Venezuela, citing his social programs for the poor. (Story continues below) Advertise Here Advertisements Advertisements "If the people of the United States, those millions and millions of poor people ... if that nation realizes what is truly happening here, there would be a revolution in the United States," Chavez said, eliciting applause from Penn. Some Chavez opponents were angered by Penn's visit. Cuban-born actress Maria Conchita Alonso, who grew up in Venezuela, said Penn is lending support to a "totalitarian" leader who wants increasing control of society — a charge Chavez denies. In a phone interview from her home in Beverly Hills, California, Alonso said although she respects Penn as an actor, she hopes he "comes to his senses and he realizes that he's being used." Penn did not speak publicly. Chavez said the actor came wanting to learn about Venezuela. "That man has opposed the war in Iraq with all his strength, and not only that, he went to Baghdad ... and now he comes here. He's going around touring the 'axis of evil,"' Chavez said with a chuckle. \|\|\|\|\| OPINION Sean Penn has shown up in New Orleans to save the day! Spicoli showed up overnight with a boat to personally go rescue stranded children in New Orleans, but the thing sprung a leak and didn't get far. He's just trying to help out The Children. Why do you hate The Children so much Al? It's a subtle distinction. It's not The Children in general that I feel contempt for, but the 45 year old manchild incompetently trying to commandeer our nation's worst natural disaster for a cheap public relations ploy. For starters, he's showing up WAY late to be out on this kind of rescue mission, and has no apparent connection to organized rescue efforts. He just showed up with his entourage and a personal photographer with the apparent intent of just wandering around looking for a good photo op. Did I mention that he shows up for a rescue mission with a PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHER? Such a person would be not just useless, but obviously a positive hindrance- if your goal was helping out hurricane victims. Of course, if your goal was just to put on an act for the cameras and convince everyone that you're a HERO, this deal makes more sense. You can easily imagine the photo that he was hoping for. Imagine Sean Penn standing in a boat with a Jesus look on his face, cradling a freshly rescued dirty, wet and miserable child lovingly in his arms- preferably a brown or black one. Instead, the boat sprang a leak near immediately, and the image we end up with is Penn with his little red plastic cup frantically trying to bail the water out of his toy boat. On the plus side, at least no real emergency response crews had to stop their work to go rescue the little boy out playing "hero" in the water. \|\|\|\|\| Print This Story E-mail This Story t r u t h o u t \| Statement Actor Sean Penn On the Occasion of His Visit to Iraq Sunday, December 15, 2002 Text of Statement by Sean Penn At News Conference in Baghdad The actor and director Sean Penn made the following statement at a news conference in Baghdad on Sunday afternoon: "I am a citizen of the United States of America. I believe in the Constitution of the United States, and the American people. Ours is a government designed to function "of"-"by"-and-"for" the people. I am one of those people, and a privileged one. I am privileged in particular to raise my children in a country of high standards in health, welfare, and safety. I am also privileged to have lived a life under our Constitution that has allowed me to dream and prosper. In response to these privileges I feel, both as an American and as a human being, the obligation to accept some level of personal accountability for the policies of my government, both those I support and any that I may not. Simply put, if there is a war or continued sanctions against Iraq, the blood of Americans and Iraqis alike will be on our hands. My trip here is to personally record the human face of the Iraqi people so that their blood -- along with that of American soldiers -- would not be invisible on my own hands. I sit with you here today in the hopes that any of us present may contribute in any way to a peaceful resolution to the conflict at hand. I thank Norman Solomon and the Institute for Public Accuracy for facilitating my visit." Sean Penn December 15, 2002 Go To Original Actor Sean Penn Visits Baghdad By The Associated Press Sunday, 15 December, 2002 BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Actor Sean Penn visited a Baghdad children's hospital Friday, saying he came to Iraq for a better understanding of the crisis with the United States. Penn said only that he was ``very glad I'm here'' when he arrived at the Al-Mansour Children's Hospital. He refused to talk further with reporters or allow them to join his tour of the hospital, saying he needed privacy with the sick children. In a statement issued here and in Washington. D.C., Penn said that ``as a father, an actor, a filmmaker and a patriot'' his visit to Iraq ``is for me a natural extension of my obligation ... to find my own voice on matters of conscience.'' Penn said he was happy that he had a chance ``to pursue a deeper understanding of the conflict'' and hoped that ``all Americans will embrace information available to them outside conventional channel.'' Penn's three-day visit to Iraq was organized by the Institute for Public Accuracy, which has offices in Washington and San Francisco. (In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)	Sean Penn at Cannes Film Festival, 2000. Academy Award winning actor and political activist Sean Penn has just thrown his support in the 2008 US Presidential election behind Dennis Kucinich. In a San Francisco speech described by his PR people as "a blistering indictment of political leaders and an impassioned endorsement of Presidential proportions," Penn threw his support behind the lesser known Democratic candidate. The Kucinich campaign did not vet the speech. Other recent celebrity endorsements in the race include Oprah Winfrey for Barack Obama, Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling for John McCain, Harry Belafonte endorsed John Edwards, and both 50 Cent and Barbra Streisand behind Hillary Clinton. Chuck Norris has backed Mike Huckabee in a high profile, comedic endorsement ad. Penn first became politically active in October 2002, when he spent $56,000 on a full-page ad in the ''Washington Post'', asking President George W. Bush to end "a cycle of violence". He visited Iraq briefly in December of that year, Iran in 2005 as a journalist, and met with Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez for two hours in 2007. Penn went to New Orleans to "aid rescue workers" after Hurricane Katrina; many questioned how much of a liability an untrained worker, especially when his boat sprang a leak, would be. One website commented "just showed up with his entourage and a personal photographer with the apparent intent of just wandering around looking for a good photo op."
It seems Madagascar’s slow-motion coup has at last come to a head with the removal of President Marc Ravalomanana, announced almost casually in a text message from one of his aides. The change has been a long time coming — the first outbreaks of violence were in January — and it’s all rather different from what many would regard as the traditional African coup d’etat. Over the years that has developed into a familiar formula — the dawn announcement from a little-known colonel on national radio, the setting up of a military council to restore order after the sins of the previous regime, and the vague promise of a return to democracy in due course. The ousted leader may well have been out of the country at the time. The new boys move quickly to consolidate power. In its final stages, the Madagascar version has been a little slower. Troops announced that they had deployed tanks but initially did not show them on the streets. Soldiers stormed the presidential palace, but the president was not at home. The central bank was seized, but the colonel in command of that operation then announced he had no more orders for the time being. There is a sense that this is the elite fighting amongst itself for control of an island rich in natural resources and it took a while for the opposition leader, Andry Rajoelina, to gather the support he needed, particularly from the military. But although the timeline has seemed relaxed, some 135 people have died along the way. Even if the elephants fight slowly, the ants still get crushed. \|\|\|\|\| March 17 (Reuters) - Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana's handover of power to the armed forces paves the way for opposition leader Andry Rajoelina to take office and end months of violent power struggle.* Key to future peace will be whether the army maintains a united stance. The decision by officers to get off their traditionally neutral fence and side with Rajoelina was the tipping point that ultimately isolated the president.* So far, the signs are positive for stability. Military heads are to back Rajoelina en masse and reject the idea of military government -- a position they have always maintained.* While the immediate danger of civil war seems to have been avoided, some in the ranks supported Ravalomanana to the end. But the military appears to be quashing dissent for now.* When Rajoelina is installed, he faces major challenges at home and abroad. His power base is mainly in the capital and if he is deemed to have won power through a military coup, he may be ostracised by the international community.* International groups such as the European Union and the African Union are united in their condemnation of non-democratic changes of government and can impose sanctions, or cut development aid to offenders -- even though some African Union members have questionable democratic records themselves.* Ravalomanana's decision to resign, rather than fight to the end, could help the opposition and mute condemnation. If Rajoelina can convince donors he is serious about democracy and hold elections as promised, he may be able to finesse the international reaction.* There is huge foreign interest in Madagascar from mining and oil firms and plenty of money to be made from tourism, if the country is stable. Dragging much of the population out of poverty is going to be another major challenge for a new leader.* New mines being developed in Madagascar are far enough from the capital to have been untouched by the disturbances since the start of the year, but continuing uncertainty would discourage new investment as the world economy slows.* First, though, Rajoelina would need to change the law. At 34, he's too young to be president. Opposition officials say they plan to re-write the constitution and electoral code and hold elections within 24 months. \|\|\|\|\| ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - The African Union warned on Tuesday it would take firm measures against Madagascar if the situation in the Indian Ocean island deteriorated and called for the constitution to be respected. "We remind (you of) our commitment to the respect of the constitutional order, especially in the succession of the president," Bruno Zidouemba, Burkina Faso's envoy to Ethiopia and the African Union, told reporters. "The AU council will be firm in the measures to be taken if the situation becomes worse than it is today. If the military takes over, it will be a coup d'etat," he said after an emergency meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council. "The council heard the succession of the presidency is being discussed in Madagascar, but we do not know the outcome." (Reporting by Tsegaye Tadesse; Editing by David Clarke) \|\|\|\|\| Just hours after Madagascar's president handed over power to military leaders on Tuesday, they ceded control to his political rival. In a radio broadcast from the capital, Antananarivo, vice-admiral Hyppolite Rarison Ramaroson placed opposition leader Andry Rajoelina in charge of the country. Ramaroson said he and two other top generals rejected a move by the president to transfer his power to a military directorate. African Union weighs in Even before the military's decision, the Africa Union said it was opposed to Rajoelina being in charge. Any assumption of power by non-constitutional means would be considered a coup d'etat, the union's senior diplomat, Jean Ping, told Reuters on Tuesday. Earlier on Tuesday, also in a radio address, President Marc Ravalomanana told his country he had decided to step down "after deep reflection." His term was up in 2011. Elections promised within two years An aide to Ravalomanana had said a military directorate composed of veteran, high-ranking military leaders, not yet named, would organize a national conference responsible for holding elections within two years. Rajoelina has led anti-government protests in his bid for power, embroiling the tiny Indian Ocean island in weeks of unrest. Over the weekend, Rajoelina had declared himself president of a transitional government and promised new elections within two years. Army refused to arrest president On Monday, he called on the army to arrest the president, but soldiers refused. Tensions have been rising since late January, when the government blocked an opposition radio station's signal. Rajoelina supporters set fire to a building in the government broadcasting complex as well as an oil depot, a shopping mall and a private TV station linked to Ravalomanana, killing scores of people. Days later, soldiers opened fire on anti-government protesters, killing at least 25. The incident cost Ravalomanana much of the support of the military, which blamed him for the order to fire at demonstrators. The president, who remained hunkered in his official residence Tuesday surrounded by supporters and army guards. A breakaway army faction had claimed it was neutral and interested only in restoring order, but the split in the military had greatly weakened the president. \|\|\|\|\| ANTANANARIVO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The decision of Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana to hand over power to a military committee was rejected by the opposition and the rebel armed forces on Tuesday. In a presidential degree issued on Tuesday, Ravalomanana agreed to transfer his power to the oldest in the highest militaryr ank, who would lead a Military Executive Board. The military would be in charge of the functions of the president and prime minister under the constitution, according to the degree. The mission of the Executive Military Board is to arrange a national discussion and the development of possible amendments to the constitution, to prepare for the revision of the electoral code, the law on political parties and for organizing elections within 24 months. The board is authorized to take other measures it considers necessary to restore security and peace, and to promote genuine national reconciliation for economic and social development of the island country. However, the degree was rejected by the opposition and the armed forces, which have already chosen to support the opposition led sacked Antananarivo mayor Andry Rajoelina. The rebel armed forces detained four military generals and one Christian church leader following a meeting between the generals, Rajoelina and the Christian Church leaders on Tuesday afternoon, in which the opposition was informed of the president's decision. Shortly after, Ravalomanana addressed the nation, saying that his decision to step down was difficult to make, but he made it after careful and deep reflection for the supreme interest of the nation and for a peaceful solution to the differences among both the army and the citizens. He reiterated that his respect for the constitution was sacred and the restoration of social peace was important. Calling for calm, Ravalomanana thanked his people, staff, the international community, partners of Madagascar for everything that has been achieved so far. \|\|\|\|\| Marc Ravalomanana has resigned as Madagascar's president and handed over power to the military a day after soldiers stormed his offices in the capital. Ravalomanana has signed a document confirming his resignation, according to a statement issued by his office. The statement said full powers were to be given to a military authority headed by the most senior officer of all forces. But it was not immediately clear who would be running the country as the opposition, led by Andry Rajoelina, has already said it has put in place a transitional government and taken over major ministries. Ravalomanana, who won power seven years ago, was holed up at the presidential palace, about eight miles outside the capital, when troops seized his offices. He initially vowed to fight to the end and discussed military support with the United Nations and African states. But he appears to have bowed to the inevitable after the seizure of his offices following a declaration by the army chief of staff, Colonel Andre Ndriarijaona, that his forces had thrown their support behind Rajoelina. The opposition leader moved in to the presidential offices today and several cabinet ministers resigned. Ndiarijaona said the military was almost completely behind Rajoelina, who at the weekend declared he had taken power and ordered Ravalomanana's arrest following weeks of political confrontation that has left more than 100 people dead. "We are there for the Malagasy people. If Andry Rajoelina can resolve the problem, we are behind him," said Ndriarijaona, who replaced the previous army chief of staff after last week's mutiny. "I would say 99% of the forces are behind him." However, there are signs the army is divided and it is not clear if a power struggle is in the making between elements of the military hostile to Rajoelina and his new administration. Ravalomanana may have set up a confrontation by giving power to a military board, to be led by Admiral Hyppolite Ramaroson, whose loyalties are not immediately clear. The African Union commission chairman, Jean Ping, today called on the army not to hand over to the opposition, saying this would be "unconstitutional", but instead to retain power. The ousted president earlier also described demands for him to relinquish power as unconstitutional and accused Rajoelina's movement of using "fear and repression to survive". Rajoelina, a 34-year-old former disc jockey who moved against the government after he was sacked as the capital's mayor in February, announced the creation of a two-year interim government before new elections are held. Ravalomanana had proposed a referendum on his rule after public outrage over a massacre of 28 civilian protesters when the army was ordered to open fire on an anti-government demonstration in February. But the opposition rejected the referendum and issued a warrant for Ravalomanana's arrest for allegedly violating the constitution, including hiring mercenaries to prop up his government. "The people are thirsty for change and that's why we won't have a referendum and will put our transitional government in place," said Rajoelina. Last week the US ambassador to Madagascar, Niels Marquardt, warned the country was on the verge of civil war after the former army chief, Edmond Rasolofomahandry, and the defence minister, Vice-Admiral Mamy Ranaivoniarivo, were forced from office by junior officers. As Antananarivo's mayor, Rajoelina organised protests against rising food prices and government graft. He brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets, resulting in violent confrontations with government forces. At one point he sought shelter in the embassy of the former colonial power, France, prompting accusations that Paris was backing his attempt to topple the government. \|\|\|\|\| ANTANANARIVO, March 17 (Reuters) - Madagascar's military heads, including a navy admiral to whom outgoing president Marc Ravalomanana says he has transferred power, will formally back the head of the opposition as national leader, military sources said on Tuesday. "They are going to make a statement. They are going to say that they are against a military government and that the power should be given to Andry Rajoelina," a senior military official told Reuters as a ceremony was being prepared.	Leadership in Madagascar is unclear as Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana announced his resignation in favor of a military committee headed by Vice Admiral Hyppolite Ramaroson, only to have that resignation rejected by the Admiral, the military and opposition political groups. Admiral Ramaroson joined other military leaders in saying they would back opposition leader, former Antananarivo mayor and former DJ Andry Rajoelina. Mr Ravalomanana attempted to hand power over to the heads of the military, given the tasks of discussing and drafting constitutional changes, rather than transfer power to Mr Rajoelina. After the resignation was announced to the opposition, four Army generals and a head of the church were detained for reasons unknown. The true extent of the Army's loyalty to Mr Rajoelina is unclear, as reportedly the military refused to arrest President Ravalomanana despite orders from Mr Rajoelina. Mr Rajoelina installed himself in the Presidential Palace in upper Antananarivo, which troops had seized yesterday. A cabinet loyal to him has been in operation since the end of January, when Mr Rajoelina proclaimed Mr Ravalomanana's rule to be illegitimate. The Madagascan opposition accuses Mr Ravalomanana of mismanaging the country while restricting personal freedoms. President Ravalomanana was reportedly first announced via an text message from one of his aides before being confirmed by Ravalomanana's office in a radio broadcast, in which the President proclaimed, "After deep reflection, I have decided to dissolve the government and give up power so that a military directorate can be established". Madagascan Army Chief of Staff Colonel Andre Ndriarijaona has declared his support for Rajoelina and says that "99% of the forces are behind" the opposition leader. Eco-tourists visit Madagascar to see its unique wildlife. The African Union, meanwhile, reiterated its position that a military takeover in Madagascar would be considered a coup d'etat, which could result in "firm measures" such as Madagascar's suspension from the organization or a blocking of international aid, and urged the military to obey the country's constitution, which bars Mr Rajoelina from the presidency due to his age, and not hand power over to the former mayor, instead suggesting that power could be given to Madagascan Prime Minister General Charles Rabemananjara. Members of the Madagascan opposition say they plan to re-write the constitution and electoral code before holding new elections within two years. While reports are that the country has been overall stable during the coup, the unrest of the past two months has deprived the country of tourist revenue. Tourism, especially eco-tourism highlighting the country's rainforests and unique mammal species, brings $800 million annually to the Madagascan economy.
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Countess Andree De Jongh, who set up an escape route that helped hundreds of British airmen flee the Nazi occupation of Belgium during World War II, has died. She was 90. De Jongh died Saturday, a former resistance organization said. No cause of death was given. De Jongh, a nurse, helped found the Comet Line escape route while still in her 20s. After her arrest in 1943, she survived German camps before being liberated at the end of the war. "She was driven by humanitarian conscience," historian Etienne Verhoeyen told VRT network. "She stood out because she could not be deterred and because she was a woman." The escape route, known as Comete in French, was set up in 1940 to allow downed British airmen to return home and escape German imprisonment. The route went through Belgium, occupied France and over the Pyrenees into Spain's Basque country. "We accepted that we could be arrested. It was our job," she said years ago. "We didn't say, 'If we get arrested,' we said, 'When we get arrested.' " By the time she was arrested, she had already brought 118 people, including 80 downed pilots, to safety. The Comet Line itself rescued more than 700 pilots, according to verzet.org, a Web site for ex-resistance fights. De Jongh was made countess in 1985. \|\|\|\|\| Op deze plaats staat een flash die video aanbiedt. Hieronder vindt u de informatie van deze video en links naar de beschikbare formaten. Welkom Bekijk het Windows Media Player fragment Bekijk het QuickTime fragment Op deze plaats staat een flash die video aanbiedt. Hieronder vindt u de informatie van deze video en links naar de beschikbare formaten. Politietop onder vuur Bekijk het Windows Media Player fragment Bekijk het QuickTime fragment Op deze plaats staat een flash die video aanbiedt. Hieronder vindt u de informatie van deze video en links naar de beschikbare formaten. "Moet controlecommissie worden opgedoekt?" 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Hieronder vindt u de informatie van deze video en links naar de beschikbare formaten. \|\|\|\|\| Andree De Jongh, who set up escape route for British pilots during WWII, dead at 90 BRUSSELS, Belgium: Countess Andree De Jongh, who set up an escape route that helped hundreds of British airmen escape the Nazi occupation in Belgium during World War II, has died. She was 90. De Jongh died Saturday, a former resistance organization said. No cause of death was given. De Jongh, a female nurse in a men's world of war resistance, helped found the Comet Line escape route while still in her 20s. After her arrest in 1943, she survived German camps before being liberated at the end of the war. "She was driven by humanitarian conscience," historian Etienne Verhoeyen told VRT network. "She stood out because she could not be deterred and because she was a woman." The escape route, known as "Comete" in French, was set up in 1940 to send downed British airmen home and escape German imprisonment. The route went through Belgium, occupied France and over the Pyrenees into Spain's Basque country. "We accepted that we could be arrested. It was our job," she said years ago. "We didn't say 'if we get arrested,' we said 'when we get arrested.'" By the time she was arrested, she had already brought 118 people, including 80 downed pilots to safety. The Comet Line itself rescued over 700 pilots, according to verzet.org, a Web site for ex-resiststance fights. She was made countess in 1985. \|\|\|\|\| Verzetsstrijdster Andrée De Jongh overleden De Belgische verzetsstrijdster Andrée De Jongh, die in de tweede wereldoorlog de stichtster was van de ontsnappingsroute Comète, is zaterdag in Brussel overleden. Zij was 91. Haar overlijden is vernomen van haar familie. Gravin De Jongh heeft onder het pseudoniem Dédée vele Engelse piloten geholpen om terug te keren naar hun vaderland via Frankrijk, de Pyrenee‘n en Spanje. Deze ontsnappingslijn functioneerde van 1941 tot aan de bevrijding. Op 15 januari 1943 werd Andrée De Jongh opgepakt toen ze zich klaar maakte om de Pyreneeën over te steken met een groep piloten. Zij verbleef in verscheidene gevangenissen alvorens achtereenvolgens te belanden in de concentratiekampen van Ravensbrück en Mauthausen. Haar vader wordt op 7 juni 1943 aangehouden en opgesloten in Fresnes. Hij werd gefusilleerd op 28 maart 1944. De ontsnappingsroute Comète zou volgens de internetsite van de vroegere verzetsleden (www.cometeline.org) in totaal 700 à 800 geallieerde piloten hebben gered. http://www.cometeline.org \|\|\|\|\| Belgische verzetsstrijdster Andrée De Jongh overleden BRUSSEL - (Belga) De Belgische verzetsstrijdster Andrée De Jongh, die in de Tweede Wereldoorlog de stichtster was van de ontsnappingsroute Comète, is zaterdag in Brussel overleden. Zij was 91. Haar overlijden werd vernomen van haar familie.	Countess Andrée de Jongh, who as a young nurse founded the Comet Line, an escape route for Allied airmen during World War II, died Saturday in Brussels at the age of 90. The Comet Line went from Brussels to the Pyrenees through France to the British consulate in Madrid and on to Gibraltar. Andrée de Jongh and her father Frédéric De Jongh organised the escape line, which helped more than 700 airmen to escape Nazi-occupied Belgium. Andrée herself accompanied 118 of them before she was arrested by the Gestapo. The Gestapo captured Frédéric de Jongh in June 1943 and later executed him. Many other members of the Comet Line were also captured and 23 in all were executed. Andrée was captured in January 1944. Unwilling to believe she could have organised the network herself, the Gestapo let her live. She was sent first to Fresnes prison in Paris and eventually to Ravensbrück concentration camp and Mauthausen concentration camp. She was liberated by the advancing Allied troops in April 1945. "We accepted that we could be arrested. It was our job," she said later. "We didn't say 'if we get arrested,' we said 'when we get arrested.'" The Comet Line inspired the BBC drama series Secret Army. Andrée de Jongh was awarded the United States Medal of Freedom and the George Medal by the late King George VI of the United Kingdom. She was also granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Belgian Army. Later, she was granted the title of countess by the late King Baudouin of Belgium in 1985.
Government calls for replay of match with France EMMET MALONE and RUADHÁN MAC CORMAIC in Paris THE GOVERNMENT intervened yesterday in the escalating row over France’s fiercely disputed win in the World Cup play-off against Ireland by calling for the match to be replayed. Minister for Sport Martin Cullen wrote to Fifa president Sepp Blatter urging him to call a rematch in the interests of fair play. Taoiseach Brian Cowen raised the issue with French president Nicolas Sarkozy on the fringes of last night’s EU summit. Mr Cowen said: “I think that he would understand the sense of disappointment that the Irish feel after the tremendous performance last night. And, as I say, this matter is going to be resolved by the sports organisations responsible for football, not in Brussels or anywhere else.” Mr Sarkozy said: “I said to Brian Cowen, who is a friend of mine as you know, that I was sorry for them and how I was struck by the talent and vigour of the Irish team.” The FAI’s hopes of winning what would be a remarkable reprieve appeared to rest with the French football federation last night, however, after officials of the game’s governing body dismissed the idea that the game might be replayed. “There is no way the game can be replayed,” said a source at Fifa headquarters in Switzerland. “To do so would cause absolute chaos for football. If it was replayed then every match in the future would also be subject to these calls for a replay any time a referee misses an incident.” The French Federation was keeping a low profile yesterday amid suggestions that Fifa was attempting behind the scenes to budge it into some sort of action. Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni told reporters he believed a replay was an “impossible” hope, however. French captain Thierry Henry has admitted handling the ball before setting up team-mate William Gallas for the late goal that denied the Republic a place at next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa. As the story filled airwaves around the world yesterday, online petitions sprung up in support of a rematch, with more than 100,000 people joining one of many Facebook groups making the demand. In France, where politicians, pundits and philosophers have been drawn into the intense debate over l’affaire Henry, prime minister François Fillon said “neither the French government nor the Irish Government should interfere in the functioning of the international federation” but added that Paris would respect Fifa’s decision. \|\|\|\|\| Republic Of Ireland And France Replay Unlikely Under FIFA Ruling Any calls for a play-off replay will likely be rejected. Nov 19, 2009 11:45:53 AM Photo Gallery Zoom Robbie Keane Goal (France vs Ireland) Teams Ireland Republic Justice Minister for the Republic of Ireland, Dermot Ahern, has called for a replay of the second-leg play-off that resulted in a 1-1 tie after extra-time, denying Ireland a passage to the World Cup finals in South Africa due to a contentious added-time goal struck by France defender William Gallas after a hand-ball by Thierry Henry. However, Ahern's desire for a rematch will likely be rejected, as they contravene FIFA ruling that explicitly state that the referee's decision is final. Law 5 of the Laws of the Game state that: "The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final." It continues: "The referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match." In relation to the standard of overall refereeing, and the inclusion of video technology, FIFA issued the following comment, claiming that technology would jeopardize the human element of the game, while additional referees are currently in experimental stages: "FIFA has consistently underlined that it is crucial that the same laws and conditions must apply worldwide so as to avoid any distortions in competitions, including the World Cup. "For example, for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, there have been over 850 preliminary qualifying matches played on six continents in order to determine the 31 countries joining South Africa in the draw next month. "Amongst others issues, the questions of the human aspect of the game as well as the universality of the Laws of the Game have to be taken into consideration. "The International Football Association Board (IFAB) which is the custodian of the Laws of the Game, decided at their Annual General Meeting in 2009 to introduce Additional Assistant Referees into a top level competition. "The season-long implementation in the UEFA Europa League will conclude in May 2010, and a full analysis will be reviewed by IFAB at its annual meeting in 2011. "IFAB sees each of the four 'Home Nations' have one vote each, whilst FIFA also has four votes which represents the other 204 FIFA Member Associations. For any proposal regarding the Laws of the Game to be approved, any proposal requires a 75 per cent majority." Alan Dawson, Goal.com \|\|\|\|\| You're on the front pages of the papers today lads, well done!!! All the authorities may have given in to FIFA, but we will keep this petition open to show 385,000+ of us are still here. We may not have got our replay, but once we hit 1/2 million people we will present this petition to FIFA and demand the introduction ... of video referee'ing so this does NOT happen again to another team. \|\|\|\|\| Photo: AP Keane's clinical first-half goal put Ireland ahead at Stade de France, but William Gallas equalized in extra time and sent the French through 2-1 on aggregate after their scrappy 1-0 win in Dublin last weekend. Although angry at Thierry Henry's handball in the move leading to Gallas' goal, Keane was livid over the decision to make France one of the four seeded teams in the playoff draw, whereas Ireland was not seeded. Keane said Blatter and Uefa president Michel Platini, who is French, would rather see France than Ireland playing at next year's World Cup in South Africa. "Of course it is an easy decision to do the seedings," Keane said. "They're probably all clapping their hands, Platini sitting there on the phone to Sepp Blatter, texting each other, delighted with the result, with France (getting through)." Keane, who had an outstanding match but should have added to his 41st international goal, believed Ireland was the far better team overall. Nicolas Anelka's scrappy goal decided Saturday's match at Croke Park. "Of course, over the two legs we were certainly the better team. I can't recall them having many chances tonight. We caused them many problems. But at the end of the day they're through," Keane said. "We can keep our heads up, in the manner that we played. As captain I am very proud to be part of this team, I'm just gutted we didn't make it to the end." Keane played many times for Tottenham against Henry when the Frenchman played for Arsenal until joining Barcelona two years ago, and was seething that Henry used his hand to guide the ball into his feet and then onto Gallas. "Devastated to be honest with you. The way we played we deserved to win the game, there's no question about that," Keane said. "We saw it (on the replay). We knew anyway. When you see the reaction of goalkeeper Shay (Given), he's two yards away from it. You don't get a reaction like that (otherwise). He almost caught it and walked into the net with it." Still, Keane felt he should have won the match, missing a great chance late in the second half when France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris forced him wide and Keane pushed the ball out of touch as he tried to get the ball under control. "My touch let me down, I should have taken it round the 'keeper. I'm absolutely devastated," Keane said. Lloris foiled Keane in the first half by diving at his feet, just as he did late on in Saturday's match at Croke Park. \|\|\|\|\| FOOTBALL DAMIEN DUFF CLAIMS FIFA FIXED WORLD CUP FINALS By Tony Banks DAMIEN DUFF has accused FIFA of being in league with the multinational sports companies to ensure the big teams made it to the World Cup finals at Ireland’s expense. And as the recriminations from Wednesday night’s World Cup play-off furore in Paris grew , Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane accused both Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini of robbing him of his last chance to reach the finals. The Republic are still raging at the blatant double handball by Thierry Henry, which enabled France to score the extra-time goal that won their play-off 2-1 on aggregate and sent them through to the finals in South Africa next summer. One of France’s official sponsors are adidas and they are one of the blue chip FIFA World Cup finals partners. And last night as the conspiracy theories grew in Ireland, Duff accused FIFA of being in league with the big corporations to make sure the more powerful nations get to South Africa. He said: “Adidas sponsor the World Cup, they sponsor France. Maybe we’d have had a better chance of going to the World Cup if it was sponsored by Umbro. We might have got the decision then. “That’s the way the world goes around at the minute. FIFA have to take a long, hard look at themselves. There was the draw, then that decision. Incredible.” Duff, who wears, in a deep irony, adidas boots, added: “FIFA want the big teams in the World Cup. They want France. And it may sound silly, but they want teams sponsored by adidas.” Keane accused Henry of cheating, but also directed his anger at FIFA president Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Platini, accusing them of conspiring to make sure the big boys get through. SEARCH FOOTBALL for: \|\|\|\|\| The Buzz \| Ochoa takes first-round lead More News Golf: Ochoa has first-round lead Lorena Ochoa shot a 66 on Thursday and has a 1-shot lead over Reilley Rankin after the first round of the LPGA’s season-ending Tour Championship in Richmond, Texas. Michelle Wie shot a 72. She withdrew after hobbling around the course on a sprained left ankle. The first round was suspended because of darkness with four threesomes on the course. •Robert Allenby of Australia shot a 7-under 65 for a 1-shot lead after the first round of the Dubai World Championship, the final event of the European Tour season, while Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy vied for the European Tour money title and a $1.5 million bonus. Irish: ‘Oui were robbed’ Ireland appealed to France and FIFA on Thursday to replay their World Cup playoff after an obvious hand ball by Thierry Henry set up the deciding goal. France advanced to next year’s World Cup on total goals. The French union representing the nation’s gym teachers declared outrage at what it called “indisputable cheating.” Semenya keeps gold medal South African runner Caster Semenya will keep her 800-meter gold medal from the world championships, and the results of her gender tests will be kept confidential, the South African sports ministry said. The International Association of Athletics Federations was mum, raising the question of whether she remains eligible to compete as a woman. Auto racing: Power gets ride Penske Racing has hired 28-year-old Australian Will Power to drive full time next year after giving the Indy Racing League driver a part-time gig last season. He will drive the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dallara/Honda. •Rusty Wallace Racing is moving its Nationwide Series team from Chevrolet to Toyota next season. Elsewhere •U.S. skier Resi Stiegler was hospitalized after injuring her left knee when she crashed after hooking a gate during giant slalom training Thursday in Copper Mountain, Colo. •The Yankees’ Andy Pettitte and the Mets’ Fernando Tatis became the final of 171 players to file for free-agency this year. •The California State Athletic Commission has assigned a Swedish judge to Andre Ward’s fight against Mikkel Kessler, clearing up a dispute over the neutrality of the officiating crew at Saturday’s WBA super middleweight title bout. \| Star News Services \|\|\|\|\| ROBBIE KEANE They are all probably clapping hands, (Michel) Platini sitting up there on the phone to Sepp Blatter, probably texting each other, delighted with the result. France and Germany had a chance of being in the play-offs as well, two massive countries. There was no way in a million years it was going to be a fair draw -- and it wasn't. We knew straight away. You could see by the reaction of the players, Shay especially. He was two yards away from it, and you don't get a reaction like that unless he is sure it's a handball. He almost caught it and actually ran into the net with it, so obviously, we are all devastated. JOHN O'SHEA I try not to use too strong words because you'll only get yourself in trouble. They had two chances to get the decision right. I think they may have thought we were asking for something against Gallas, but you could see from the reaction of the players that they are actually saying 'handball'. It was such a blatant handball. KEVIN KILBANE It's probably thrown up all sorts of conspiracy theories -- the way it finished. It makes it so much harder. I won't get a chance to play at a World Cup again and it's really hard to take when we go out like that. DAMIEN DUFF FIFA have to take a long, hard look at themselves now. The draw, and then the decision. Incredible. If it was down the other end, maybe we wouldn't be complaining. The whole world has seen what happened, every man and his dog. I don't know what's going on behind the scenes, it's just a joke. The lads are devastated. It's reminiscent of Maradona in '86. We feel so cheated. We were the best team all night by a mile. Even going into penalties, we would have been confident. We felt their heads were gone. Shay Given We were the better team but now we're going home with nothing and it's very hard to take. I'm sure in a few weeks UEFA and Platini will be up in the stands all happy as the French are going to the World Cup. They're a big nation and us, as a small nation, have been cheated out of going there first with the seedings issue and again last night. I don't know if Henry has tarnished his reputation but he has got them to the World Cup and it's cheating. RICHARD DUNNE There's nothing you can do, there is no way. They probably wouldn't even answer the phone to the FAI. What chance have you go with FIFA, the people who decide. The referee was 100pc certain that he didn't handle the ball. Henry then said he did. He said he didn't mean to. He admitted he cheated and told us we deserved to win. That makes me feel worse. They're going to the World Cup, and we're not. It's not going to change. It wasn't a difficult one to see. The linesman should have seen the offside and then there was the handball. Surely, one of them should have seen it. It doesn't take a TV replay, we saw it straight away. SEAN ST LEDGER Even more so now, we need TV replays. We need the technology, I can't believe that FIFA would not even consider that for whatever amount of years. Maybe that might have helped. It needs to happen sooner rather than later. It was a boyhood dream to go and play in the World Cup and to have it taken away from me... I mean, if it had gone to penalties, who knows, it was a 50-50 kind of thing. But to have it taken away like that... Henry said it just hit his hand but I can't believe that for one minute. In the replay, you see his eyes looking at the ball, and you see his hand move. If it was one of our players we probably wouldn't have said anything either. If we were going to the World Cup, we wouldn't be talking about TV replays and referees. LIAM LAWRENCE It was scandalous. You could see Henry's face, the smirk. He knew what he had done. There is a lot of anger. We've had the better chances. We should have gone through. The first leg was a deflection, the second was a handball. LIAM BRADY A few years ago against Sheffield United in a FA Cup tie, Arsenal got an advantage from a throw in and scored a goal. Arsene Wenger said it was not right and we played the match again. So I would ask FIFA 'do you want to play the match again?' Ask Mr Blatter 'Do you want to play the match again?' We would go to Paris and play the match again. I don't think it would come to that, but we'd be willing to play it again in Paris, on their home ground, and have a fair winner. Daniel McDonnell - Daniel McDonnell Irish Independent	FIFA - For the good of the game The Football Association of Ireland (FAI), Irish Minister for Sport, Taoiseach and Facebook social network groups are requesting a replay of the controversial FIFA World Cup play-off between Ireland and France in the interests of Fair Play. The FAI lodged an appeal with FIFA and also contacted the French Football Federation (FFF), it appears FAI hopes FFF may agree that a replay is fair play. Both captians, Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane, have called for a replay. The Irish supporters, who in the past have won the FIFA Fair Play Award, are angry after a blatant double handball by Thierry Henry enabled France to score the extra-time goal that cost Ireland entry to next year’s FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa. Most Irish anger has been directed at FIFA, although French captain Thierry Henry has admitted handling the ball. FAI has argued that there is a strong precedent; in 2005 where FIFA invalidated the result of a FIFA World Cup qualification match between Uzbekistan and Bahrain on the basis of a technical error by the match referee. However, Law 5 of the Laws of the Game state that: "The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final." and a source at Fifa headquarters in Switzerland said that “there is no way the game can be replayed”. The generic concept of fair play is a fundamental part of the game of football and the Fair Play Campaign was conceived largely as an indirect result of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, when the handball goal by Diego Maradona. The referee Martin Hansson and (referee's assistants) Stefan Wittberg and Fredrik Nilsson were unable to see the incident but didn't ask Thierry Henry if he handled the ball. Its hoped the mistake won't cost the Swedish referee's a place in South Africa. FIFA's Fair play policy is playing by the rules, using common sense and respecting fellow players, referees, opponents and fans. The French union representing the nation’s gym teachers declared outrage at what it called “indisputable cheating.” Minister for Sport Martin Cullen wrote to FIFA president Sepp Blatter urging him to call a rematch in the interests of fair play. Taoiseach Brian Cowen raised the issue with French president Nicolas Sarkozy on the fringes of last night’s EU summit. French Prime minister François Fillon said “neither the French government nor the Irish Government should interfere in the functioning of the international federation”.
Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld are now species of slime-mold beetles -- but strictly in homage Drawing by Frances Fawcett, Ithaca, NY. ITHACA, N.Y. -- U.S. President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld may not all get a library, airport or highway named after them. But each has a slime-mold beetle named in his honor. Two former Cornell University entomologists who recently had the job of naming 65 new species of slime-mold beetles named three species that are new to science in the genus Agathidium for members of the U.S. administration. They are A. bushi Miller and Wheeler, A. cheneyi Miller and Wheeler and A. rumsfeldi Miller and Wheeler. The entomologists also named some of the new species after their wives and a former wife, Pocahontas, Hernan Cortez, the Aztecs, the fictional "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader ("who shares with A. vaderi a broad, shiny, helmetlike head"), Frances Fawcett (their scientific illustrator) and the Greek words for "ugly" and "having prominent teeth" and the Latin word for "strange." Many of the other names they used for the recently described beetles were derived from various geographic locations, such as California, Georgia and a few states in Mexico, and for various distinguishing features they discovered on the beetles. The decision to name three slime-mold beetles after Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld, however, didn't have anything to do with physical features, says Quentin Wheeler, a professor of entomology and of plant biology at Cornell for 24 years until last October, but to pay homage to the U.S. leaders. "We admire these leaders as fellow citizens who have the courage of their convictions and are willing to do the very difficult and unpopular work of living up to principles of freedom and democracy rather than accepting the expedient or popular," says Wheeler, who named the beetles and wrote the recently published monograph describing the new slime-mold beetle species while a professor at Cornell. Wheeler is now the keeper and head of entomology at the Natural History Museum in London. The monograph, which is co-authored by Kelly B. Miller, Cornell Ph.D. '01 and currently a postdoctoral fellow at Brigham Young University, was published in the March 24, 2005, issue of the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History . Wheeler and Miller collected and borrowed thousands of specimens of slime-mold beetles -- named for the fungilike molds on which they feed -- in order to study their evolution and classification. In so doing, they found that more than five dozen in North and Central America had never before been described. According to rules established by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, the first word of a new species is its genus; the second word must end in "i" if it's named after a person; and the final part of the name includes the person or persons who first described the species. That's why all the new slime-mold beetle species' names end with Miller and Wheeler. For anyone who may want to hunt down one of the new slime-mold beetles named for Bush, Cheney or Rumsfeld, Wheeler says that Agathidium bushi so far is known from southern Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia; Agathidium rumsfeldi is known from Oaxaca and Hidalgo in Mexico; and Agathidium cheneyi is known from Chiapas, Mexico. \|\|\|\|\| Bush gets a bug of his own ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) Not just anybody can say he has a slime-mold beetle named in his honor. But George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld can. Entomologists Quentin Wheeler and Kelly Miller, who recently had the task of naming 65 newly discovered species of slime-mold beetles, named three species after the president, vice president and defense secretary. The monikers: Agathidium bushi Miller and Wheeler, Agathidium cheneyi Miller and Wheeler, and Agathidium rumsfeldi Miller and Wheeler. According to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, the first word of a new species is its genus; the second word must end in "i" if it's named after a person; and the final part of the name includes the person or persons who first described the species. Naming the beetles after Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld was intended to pay homage to them, said Wheeler, who taught at Cornell University for 24 years and now is with the Natural History Museum in London. "We admire these leaders as fellow citizens who have the courage of their convictions and are willing to do the very difficult and unpopular work of living up to principles of freedom and democracy rather than accepting the expedient or popular," he said. Wheeler and Miller, who was at Cornell and now is a postdoctoral fellow at Brigham Young University, published the names in the March 24 issue of the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| advertisement Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld share beetles honor Two former Cornell University entomologists named three species in the genus Agathidium after the U.S. leaders, Cornell announced on Wednesday. Quentin Wheeler and Kelly Miller christened 65 new species of slime-mold beetles, named for the fungi-like molds on which they feed, which they discovered after collecting thousands of specimens for a study of their evolution and classification. Wheeler, who after 24 years as a professor of entomology and plant biology at Cornell is now the keeper and head of entomology at the Natural History Museum in London, said the U.S. leaders were being honored for having "the courage of their convictions." The bushi beetle is found in southern Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia; the rumsfeldi is from Oaxaca and Hidalgo in Mexico, and the cheneyi is known from Chiapas, Mexico, Wheeler said.	While naming 65 new species of slime-mold beetles, entomologists Quentin Wheeler and Kelly Miller named three after U.S. President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Of the genus Agathidium, they are bushi, cheneyi and rumsfeldi. Wheeler, keeper and head of entomology at the Natural History Museum in London, intended the names to be an honor: "We admire these leaders as fellow citizens who have the courage of their convictions and are willing to do the very difficult and unpopular work of living up to principles of freedom and democracy rather than accepting the expedient or popular." Miller is a post-doctoral fellow at Brigham Young University. A. bushi Miller and Wheeler inhabits southern Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia. A. cheneyi Miller and Wheeler lives in Chiapas, Mexico. A. rumsfeldi Miller and Wheeler is from Oaxaca and Hidalgo in Mexico. Other inspirations for names include their illustrator Frances Fawcett, their wives, geographic areas, Latin and Greek words, the Aztecs, Pocahontas, and Darth Vader.
Retired colonel claims U.S. military operations are already 'underway' in Iran Ron Brynaert Published: Saturday April 15, 2006 Print This \| Email This During an interview on CNN Friday night, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Sam Gardiner claimed that U.S. military operations are already 'underway' inside Iran, RAW STORY has found. "I would say -- and this may shock some -- I think the decision has been made and military operations are under way," Col. Gardiner told CNN International anchor Jim Clancy (as noted by Digby at the blog Hullabaloo). (Crooks and Liars has a video clip of the interview) Gardiner, who designed a war game in November of 2004 for Atlantic Magazine ("Will Iran be next?") which simulated "preparations for a U.S. assault on Iran," also claimed that Aliasghar Soltaniyeh, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nation's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told him a few weeks ago that units who had attacked the Revolutionary Guard had been captured and confessed to working with Americans. "The secretary point is, the Iranians have been saying American military troops are in there, have been saying it for almost a year," Gardiner said. "I was in Berlin two weeks ago, sat next to the ambassador, the Iranian ambassador to the IAEA. And I said, 'Hey, I hear you're accusing Americans of being in there operating with some of the units that have shot up revolution guard units.'" "He said, quite frankly, 'Yes, we know they are. We've captured some of the units, and they've confessed to working with the Americans,'" said the retired Air Force colonel. Last Thursday, Raw Story's Larisa Alexandrovna reported (On Cheney, Rumsfeld order, US outsourcing special ops, intelligence to Iraq terror group, intelligence officials say) that, according to former and current intelligence officials, the Pentagon has been using a right-wing terrorist organization known as Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MEK) as an operational asset "to create strife in Iran in preparation for any possible attack." "[I]nstead of securing a known terrorist organization, which has been responsible for acts of terror against Iranian targets and individuals all over the world including US civilian and military casualties Rumsfeld under instructions from Cheney, began using the group on special ops missions into Iran to pave the way for a potential Iran strike," Larisa reported. "They are doing whatever they want, no oversight at all, an intelligence source told Larisa. Larisa reported that the MEK soldiers were told to "quit" their organization and were "renamed" in accordance with a plan conceived by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld so that they could be "converted" into a military special ops team. According to a UN official close to the Security Council whom Larisa interviewed, the "newly renamed MEK soldiers" were being employed in the place of U.S. military advance teams to commit "acts of violence in hopes of staging an insurgency of the Iranian Sunni population." We are already at war, the UN official told RAW STORY . \|\|\|\|\| On Cheney, Rumsfeld order, US outsourcing special ops, intelligence to Iraq terror group, intelligence officials say Larisa Alexandrovna Published: Thursday April 13, 2006 Print This \| Email This The Pentagon is bypassing official US intelligence channels and turning to a dangerous and unruly cast of characters in order to create strife in Iran in preparation for any possible attack, former and current intelligence officials say. One of the operational assets being used by the Defense Department is a right-wing terrorist organization known as Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MEK), which is being “run” in two southern regional areas of Iran. They are Baluchistan, a Sunni stronghold, and Khuzestan, a Shia region where a series of recent attacks has left many dead and hundreds injured in the last three months. One former counterintelligence official, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the information, describes the Pentagon as pushing MEK shortly after the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The drive to use the insurgent group was said to have been advanced by the Pentagon under the influence of the Vice President’s office and opposed by the State Department, National Security Council and then-National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice. “The MEK is run by a brother and sister who were given bases in northern Baghdad by Saddam,” the intelligence official told RAW STORY . “The US army secured a key MEK facility 60 miles northwest of Baghdad shortly after the 2003 invasion, but they did not secure the MEK and let them basically be because [then Deputy Defense Secretary Paul] Wolfowitz was thinking ahead to Iran.” Another former intelligence official added that the US military had detained as many as 3,500 members of MEK at Iraq’s Camp Ashraf since the start of the war, including the highest level ranking MEK leaders. Ashraf is about 60 miles west of the Iranian border. This intelligence official, wishing to remain anonymous, confirmed the policy tensions and also described them as most departments on one side and the Pentegon on the other. “We disarmed [the MEK] of major weapons but not small arms. [Secretary of Defense Donald] Rumsfeld was pushing to use them as a military special ops team, but policy infighting between their camp and Condi, but she was able to fight them off for a while,” said the intelligence official. According to still another intelligence source, the policy infighting ended last year when Donald Rumsfeld, under pressure from Vice President Cheney, came up with a plan to “convert” the MEK by having them simply quit their organization. “These guys are nuts,” this intelligence source said. “Cambone and those guys made MEK members swear an oath to Democracy and resign from the MEK and then our guys incorporated them into their unit and trained them.” Stephen Cambone is the Undersecretary of Defense Intelligence. His office did not return calls for comment. Recent bomb attacks in Iran have been linked to former Baathist group Eight killed in Iran bomb attacks Bomb blasts hit Iran oil cities Bomb blasts rock Iran According to all three intelligence sources, military and intelligence officials alike were alarmed that instead of securing a known terrorist organization, which has been responsible for acts of terror against Iranian targets and individuals all over the world – including US civilian and military casualties – Rumsfeld under instructions from Cheney, began using the group on special ops missions into Iran to pave the way for a potential Iran strike. “They are doing whatever they want, no oversight at all,” one intelligence source said. Indeed, Saddam Hussein himself had used the MEK for acts of terror against non-Sunni Muslims and had assigned domestic security detail to the MEK as a way of policing dissent among his own people. It was under the guidance of MEK ‘policing’ that Iraqi citizens who were not Sunni were routinely tortured, attacked and arrested. Although the specifics of what the MEK is being used for remain unclear, a UN official close to the Security Council explained that the newly renamed MEK soldiers are being run instead of military advance teams, committing acts of violence in hopes of staging an insurgency of the Iranian Sunni population. “We are already at war,” the UN official told RAW STORY . Asked how long the MEK agents have been active in the region under the guidance of the US military civilian leadership, the UN official explained that the clandestine war had been going on for roughly a year and included unmanned drones run jointly by several agencies. In a stunning repeat of pre-war Iraq activities, the Bush administration continues to publicly call for action and pursue diplomatic solutions to allegations that Iran is bomb-ready. Behind the scenes, however, the administration is already well underway and engaged in ground operations in Iran. The British, however, are less enthused about a strike in Iran. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has called an American strike on Iran “inconceivable,” while Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he’s keeping all his options open. Asked about the MEK, a senior British intelligence official said that the Brits are not yet sure of what the situation on Iran’s southern border is, but vehemently condemned any joint activity with the terrorist organization. “We don’t know who precisely is carrying out those attacks in the south but we believe it is MEK,” the British official said. When asked if the US military is running the MEK, the source was careful to indicate that while there is a US unit in Iran gathering information, it’s difficult to say if they are in any way involved with MEK. “The people who are inside Iran are from a US Special mission unit,” the source explained. “They are called by codenames, but would not be involved in the bomb blasts. They want to get in, get the intelligence and go out with anyone knowing they have been there. But the bomb blasts might be diversions away from the operations by this US special mission unit. The British are definitely not involved in any of this.” Moreover, the British official expressed that any operations with MEK would violate their own military code and would absolutely not be tolerated. “We have very strict rules and can’t go consorting with terrorists," the official added. "We did it in Northern Ireland. No more.” # Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the geographic position of Khuzestan Province. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. \|\|\|\|\| NCRI - The only way to confront Iran's threats is to support the opposition Mojahedin-e Khalgh (MEK, aka PMOI) and its removal from the terror lists, said Professor Raymond Tanter of Georgetown University and a former White House aide in an interview with Al Jazeera television. Responding to a question about Iran's threats to block the Strait of Hormuz and endanger the flow of oil out of this vital area, Professor Tanter said: "If Iran tries to close the Strait of Hormuz, it has engaged in an aggressive military act. This is an international waterway and is very much difficult to close it and prevent ships from crossing this narrow waterway." Professor Tanter added that Iran's intimidations showed that its days are numbered, therefore, the only thing that can stop this regime from executing its threats is the main Iranian opposition, Mojahedin-e Khalgh. This is an important element and must be recognized, said tanter and stressed that the MEK must be removed from the terror list. The former White House aide noted that there was an increasing effort to recognize this element in Washington. Professor Tanter also reminded that Iranian regime was politically weak, both in the UN and in the IAEA in Vienna, therefore, it is trying to compensate for this weakness using its military force.	Map of Iran On Thursday, the Internet news publication Raw Story corroborated claims that the U.S. is involved in acts of violence committed in Iran. It claims that these are being carried out by retrained ex-members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) rather than by traditional US soldiers. A previous claim was made by former United Nations weapons inspector Scott Ritter in June 2005 that United States security forces have been sending members of the MEK into Iranian territory. Ritter claimed that the CIA had used the MEK "to carry out remote bombings in Iran of the sort that the Bush administration condemns on a daily basis inside Iraq". Early this month, Seymour Hersh made a similar statement in New Yorker Magazine about the entry of US troops themselves into Iranian territory, but without supporting the claim that they carried out acts of violence. Hersh claimed that US combat troops are "now operating in Iran" and that according to a "government consultant with close ties to civilians in the Pentagon, the units were also working with minority groups in Iran, including the Azeris, in the north, the Baluchis, in the southeast, and the Kurds, in the northeast ." According to Hersh, the government consultant also said that the US troops "are studying the terrain, and giving away walking-around money to ethnic tribes, and recruiting scouts from local tribes and shepherds." In Thursday's report, Raw Story supported the previous claims about the US committing acts of violence in Iran, with the difference that it claimed that the acts are being carried out by proxy retrained ex-MEK members rather than by traditional US soldiers, and that the incursions have been occurring for about a year. Raw Story cited an unnamed United Nations source "close to" the UN Security Council who stated that former MEK members have been used as a proxy by the US for "roughly a year" inside of Iranian territory. An intelligence source quoted by Raw Story said that the former MEK members were made to "swear an oath to Democracy and resign from the MEK" before being incorporated into US military units and retrained for their operations in Iran. The MEK is an Iranian opposition group listed by the U.S. State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization but describes itself as "secular" and "patriotic, Muslim and democratic". Raw Story cited the UN official saying that "We are already at war". Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Sam Gardiner made similar remarks on CNN on Friday saying "I would say -- and this may shock some -- I think the decision has been made and military operations are under way." Raw Story said that the MEK has been used in the Iranian provinces of Baluchistan and Khuzestan and quoted a senior British intelligence official saying that British intelligence believes that the MEK is responsible for the violent attacks in the southern Iran, and that people from a "US Special mission unit" are present on Iranian territory, but was unsure as to the links between US military and the MEK. According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which is alleged by the FBI to be "an integral part of the MEK", Professor Raymond Tanter of Georgetown University and a former White House aide argued on Al-Jazeera television that the only way to confront Iran's threats is to support the MEK and its removal from the U.S. State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations and from its classification as a terrorist organization by the Council of the European Union. Raw Story reports that the office of the Undersecretary of Defense Intelligence did not return calls for comment.
South Africa's Red Cross is rushing much-needed medicine to Zimbabwe The United Nations says 978 people have now been killed by the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe, an increase of 25% from the last figure given three days ago. Another 18,413 suspected cases have been reported since August, the report said ahead of the UN Security Council's first talks on Zimbabwe since July. The talks ended without agreement on a motion to censure Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Separately, Botswana denied plotting to overthrow Zimbabwe's president. The UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) said the worst-hit area was the capital, Harare, with 208 confirmed deaths and 8,454 suspected cases. The South African Red Cross has sent much-needed medical supplies to Zimbabwe, and has issued an appeal for funds to treat a total of 30,000 people. The UN has warned that up to 60,000 people could become infected if the outbreak is not contained. Economic meltdown The Ocha's revised death figures were released hours before the UN Security Council met for its first discussions on Zimbabwe since it failed to pass new sanctions on the country's leaders in July. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The meeting was designed, as UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband put it, to "restart UN engagement on this issue". But a motion to censure Mr Mugabe was blocked by opposition from South Africa. Speaking to reporters after the Security Council's discussions, Mr Miliband said the council had heard a "devastating report" from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about "the disintegration of state institutions, the collapse of the economy, the disembowelling of the economic institutions, [and] the collapse of health and education services" in Zimbabwe. "And of course, the symptom of that disintegration is the shocking fact that cholera has returned to Zimbabwe" and was spilling over into neighbouring states, Mr Miliband said. The Security Council also heard a briefing on the stalled power-sharing agreement between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The rivals agreed to form a power-sharing government in September but its implementation has been dogged by disagreements over whose supporters would get key ministries. The political crisis has aggravated an ongoing economic meltdown that has brought Zimbabwe the world's highest inflation rate. In the southern town of Beitbridge, which borders South Africa, 91 people have died from cholera while several more thousand people are believed to be infected. 'Pretext to invade' On Thursday, Mr Mugabe gave a nationally televised speech saying the outbreak had been contained. "I am happy to say our doctors are being assisted by others, and the WHO [World Health Organization] have now arrested cholera." Now that there is no cholera, there is no cause for war Robert Mugabe Zimbabwean president Botswana denies coup claim Reports on failing Zimbabwe He has accused Western powers, including Zimbabwe's former colonial ruler Britain, of using the cholera outbreak as a pretext to invade the country and overthrow him. "Now that there is no cholera, there is no cause for war," he said. Other high-ranking officials have accused Britain of deliberately spreading cholera. Zimbabwe has accused its neighbour Botswana of being involved in a plot to overthrow Mr Mugabe's government. Zimbabwean Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said there was "compelling evidence" that Botswana was hosting military training camps for opposition rebels. Botswana's foreign ministry said the Zimbabwean claim was "nothing more than distorted or concocted evidence, none of which is supported by facts". Botswana's President Ian Khama is one of the few African leaders to have publicly criticised Mr Mugabe. Are you in Zimbabwe? Have you been affected by the disease? What should the UN do to help Zimbabweans? Please send your comment 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 \|\|\|\|\| The country's capital Harare is the worst-hit district, with 208 deaths and 8,454 suspected cases, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. Beitbridge, which border South Africa, was also badly affected. Some 91 people in the border town have been killed by the disease, while 3,546 are suspected to be suffering from it. The latest toll came even as the United States and Britain were expected to lobby the UN Security Council to turn up the heat on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. But Harare has vowed to thwart western efforts to put Zimbabwe on the Security Council agenda, saying it was not a threat to international security. The South African Red Cross has sent medical supplies to Zimbabwe, and has issued an appeal for funds to treat a total of 30,000 people. The UN has said it estimates up to 60,000 people may eventually be affected. On Thursday, Mr Mugabe gave a nationally televised speech saying the outbreak had been contained. "I am happy to say our doctors are being assisted by others, and the WHO [World Health Organization] have now arrested cholera." He has accused Western powers, including Zimbabwe's former colonial ruler Britain, of using the cholera outbreak as a pretext to invade the country and overthrow him. "Now that there is no cholera, there is no cause for war," he said. Other high-ranking officials have accused Britain of deliberately spreading cholera. In a separate development, neighbouring Botswana has denied a Zimbabwean accusation that it was involved in a plot to overthrow Robert Mugabe's government.	President Mugabe declared that the cholera outbreak has been contained The United Nations has reported that a total of 978 people have been killed by a cholera epidemic in the African nation of Zimbabwe, an increase of 25% from just three days ago. The UN also says that there have been 18,413 reported cases in the country since the epidemic began in August of 2008. The outbreak of the disease has been quickened by the lack of proper sanitation and the collapse of water systems and healthcare. The area worst affected by cholera is Zimbabwe's capital of Harare, where 208 people died out of 8,454 suspected cases. The town of Beitbridge, which is located on the border with South Africa, has also been hard hit, with 3,546 cases reported and 91 people dead. The South African Red Cross has sent medical aid to Zimbabwe, and has asked for funds to treat thirty thousand people. The UN says that as many as sixty thousand people could become affected by the disease if no action is taken. Last Thursday, Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe announced in a televised address that the outbreak had been halted, saying that "I am happy to say our doctors are being assisted by others, and the w:World Health Organisation\|WHO World Health Organization have now arrested cholera." Mugabe has also accused Western powers of plotting to use the epidemic as a reason to overthrow him. "Now that there is no cholera, there is no cause for war," he stated. Other Zimbabwean high-ranking officials have also blamed the United Kingdom for spreading cholera on purpose. The UN Security Council will have a briefing on the Zimabwean cholera crisis soon.
Page 1 of 2 The award was founded in 1984 to recognize people who promote peace in Ireland and abroad. Tipperary is a major county in the Irish Republic. Bhutto, who was assassinated on December 27 after addressing a rally in Rawalpindi, is being honored for her courageous work on democracy and reconciliation in her country. Speaking on World Day of Peace, the Tipperary Peace Convention said the accolade would be presented to a member of the politician's family in Tipperary in April. "Ms Bhutto was an incredibly brave and courageous woman who had returned from exile to her homeland to lead her party in the forthcoming elections," Spokesman Martin Quinn said. "She knew the risks involved in her return but she did so because she felt that her country and the Pakistani people needed her. "Ms Bhutto fought all her battles through dialogue and political debate and was an example to all those who do not use or surrender to terrorism. " Her selection as Peace Prize recipient should act as an inspiration to those in Pakistan who seek to secure democracy and reconciliation for their country," he added. The award will be presented during the International Festival of Peace in Tipperary Town, Ireland in April 2008. The Convention committee chose Bhutto after considering nominations received from members of the public. \|\|\|\|\| Share this story! Irish peace prize for Benazir DUBLIN: Former premier Benazir Bhutto is to be posthumously awarded Ireland’s 2007 Tipperary Peace Prize, the organisers said on Tuesday. Benazir was recognised for her “courageous” work for democracy and reconciliation, said the Tipperary Peace Convention, which has in the past honoured South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof. “Benazir fought all her battles through dialogue and was an example to all those who do not use or surrender to terrorism,” it said in a statement. “Her selection as Peace Prize recipient should act as an inspiration to those in Pakistan who seek to secure democracy and reconciliation for their country,” it added. The convention said the accolade was to “recognise the very difficult path towards peace and democracy in Pakistan and the ultimate sacrifice made by Benazir in her campaign to put her country back on democracy”. “She was an incredibly brave and courageous woman who had returned from exile to her homeland to lead her party in the forthcoming elections,” it said. afp Home \| Main Share this story! \|\|\|\|\| It’s a long, long way to Tipperary ....” The clarion call for many thousands of young men, who lost their lives in what mankind believed would be the war to end all wars. Many of the dead were Irish, and indeed many were in fact from that very Golden Vale, to which the song refers. Ironically, the Great War as it was known, turned out to be the prelude to an even more horrific conflict just 19 years later. Since then, the technology has developed at a mesmeric rate...to the point at which man learnt how to destroy entire countries and their populations, within seconds. Against this background, it is perhaps fitting that a small group from the same Tipperary , should try to learn from the past, when attempting to plan for a peaceful future. The Tipperary Peace Award was founded in 1984. It’s principal aim...to give recognition to those who promote the ideals of peace and peaceful co-operation both in Ireland and abroad. Over the past years, the Prize has been awarded to a range of peacemakers. Some have taken centre stage; others have worked behind the scenes, in brokering peace accords under the most difficult of circumstances. They are recognised for their courage in the face of adversity, for their perseverance through the most despairing of situations, for their vision and foresight at times when all around was disillusion and despair. The recipients are extraordinary achievers, who have overcome innumerable Everest’s along the way, in order to achieve the unthinkable... South African President Nelson Mandela Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev The late Senator Gordon Wilson Live-Aid organiser Bob Geldof Theses are just some of the worthy recipients of the award. The only one of its kind in the country, The Tipperary Peace Award has already achieved national and international acclaim. In this, the era of ‘sound byte’ media coverage of world events...the Award has year after year emerged on international television screens and newspapers as the ultimate ‘good news’ story. Too often accused of concentrating on hardship, misery and death...the media highlights the annual award ceremony as a brilliant contrast to the doom and gloom of everyday news. But what significance does the Tipperary Peace Prize hold for the winners? When he visited Ireland in 1989, Mikhail Gorbachev expressed his deep appreciation of the Tipperary Peace Convention’s response to his efforts to make the world a better place to live in. The 1993 winners, Mona Juul and Terje Larsen, two of the key backroom negotiators in putting together the Israel/PLO Peace Agreement, said the award would act as a continuing inspiration for their work in the Middle East . Nelson Mandela thanked the people of Tipperary for their belief in him and his cause ...the 1989 Tipperary Crystal Peace Trophy now takes pride of place alongside Mandela’s Nobel Peace Prize in the Presidential Office in Capetown. The late Senator Gordon Wilson was overwhelmed by his award in 1988...tearfully admitting he never thought it could be so touching. In its short history, the Tipperary Peace Award has evolved into much more than a tribute to the peacemakers. It has served as a reminder to us all of what man is capable of achieving. We see the great humility with which the prize is accepted and the genuine appreciation displayed by the winners. These are people who are not used to receiving; they have devoted their lives to giving. Whereas the award serves as an inspiration to them, they in turn serve as an inspiration to us all. An example of what can be achieved, against what seems insurmountable odds. Christ said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.	Reports say that the Tipperary Peace Convention located in Ireland will be giving its 2007 Peace Prize to former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. "Benazir fought all her battles through dialogue and was an example to all those who do not use or surrender to terrorism. Her selection as Peace Prize recipient should act as an inspiration to those in Pakistan who seek to secure democracy and reconciliation for their country. She was an incredibly brave and courageous woman who had returned from exile to her homeland to lead her party in the forthcoming elections," said the organization in a statement to the press. Bhutto was assassinated during a rally for democracy on December 27. She was shot by a suicide attacker in the neck and chest, who then blew himself up killing 21 others. The organization was founded in 1984. Its goal is to "give recognition to those who promote the ideals of peace and peaceful co-operation both in Ireland and abroad," says their website. The award will be presented in her honor in April of 2008 during the organization's ''International Festival of Peace'' in Tipperary Town. Past recipients of the prize include former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani who received his honors in 2001, former United States President Bill Clinton received the award in 2000 and Nelson Mandela in 1989.
Tony Blair and Christopher Hitchens on stage in Toronto. Photograph: BBC Christopher Hitchens walked on stage with the evidence of his cancer plain for the world to see. His dark suit jacket hung off a much-reduced frame and his head – now devoid of hair due to chemotherapy – shone under the arc lights. He shuffled slowly to the white chair and sat down, occasionally sipping from a plastic bottle of water. But if Hitchens, who knows that his cancer of the oesophagus will probably be fatal, is preparing to meet his maker, it was not apparent. Not that anyone would expect anything else from one of the world's most prominent atheists. "Religion is a real danger to the survival of civilisation… it will be the death of us all, the end of humanity," he declared. Hitchens was on stage in Toronto to take on Tony Blair and debate whether or not religion is a force for good in the world. Blair, perhaps the world's most famous convert to Roman Catholicism, was on the side of God. Hitchens, author of the uncompromisingly titled book God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, was not. If Hitchens felt any temptation to hedge his bets with God he gave no hint of it. He compared the Almighty to "a kind of divine North Korea" with arbitrary rules and a hatred of freedom and rationality. Religion, he said, was a bargain based on ignorance and fear of death. "Redemption is promised at the low price of your critical faculties," he said. Not surprisingly Blair – who often appeared slightly shell-shocked in the face of Hitchens's barbs – was having none of that. Religious people, he insisted repeatedly, did good in the world. He listed a long list of charities and mercy missions from Africa to Asia to the Toronto suburbs in a bit of demographic positioning that bore all the Blairite hallmarks of a Third Way. "The proposition that religion is unadulterated poison is unsustainable," he said before adding: "Science and religion are not incompatible and destined to fight each other." The intellectual face-off had been heavily promoted and the citizens of Toronto had responded by snapping up all 2,700 tickets. A spill-over venue was arranged for those who could not pack inside the space-age venue of the Roy Thompson Hall. Peter Munk, whose Aurea Foundation organised the debate, could not resist gloating about its success. "I hear rumours, I hope they're false, that people paid stupid, crazy prices for tickets," he said as he introduced the protagonists. Munk portrayed the coming attraction as a sort of philosophical cage match with metaphysical blood likely to be shed at any moment. That was a touch of hyperbole, but the spectacle was more than worth the cost of admission. Hitchens's frail physical appearance did not extend to his voice or his mind; both as sharp as cut glass. In truth he was pushing at an open door. A pre-debate poll revealed that 57% of the audience already agreed with Hitchens's position, and 22% with Blair's. But even so, the journalist's was a masterful and funny performance that often left Blair wrong-footed. Hitchens could be brutally uncompromising. He started by reading a quote from the recently beatified Cardinal John Henry Newman, upon whom Blair had heaped praise in an article on the front page of the Vatican's newspaper. "The Catholic Church holds it better for the sun and moon to drop from heaven, for the earth to fail, and for all the many millions on it to die from starvation in extremist agony… than that one soul… should commit one single venial sin, should tell one wilful untruth, or should steal one poor farthing without excuse," Hitchens quoted, throwing Blair's own beliefs directly back in his face. "It is a distillation of precisely what is twisted and immoral of the faith mentality," Hitchens explained as Blair sat a few feet away. If it had been a boxing match Hitchens would have been described as landing blow after blow, many of them decidedly low – especially those about circumcision or women's rights. He described the aid work done by religious missions as "conscience money" to make up for the harm they have done. After all, why bother treating HIV-infected people in Africa while working against the use of condoms? Several times Blair waived his right to respond to what Hitchens had said, instead just meekly accepting the next question. When one member of the audience asked each debater what was most powerful about his opponent's argument, Hitchens simply gestured for Blair to go first, in a move that brought loud laughter from the crowd. Blair repeatedly returned to his defence that religious men and women did good deeds in their millions all around the world every day. But it was also a position that could get him in trouble. Blair outlined the work that religious groups in Northern Ireland put in on bridging the "religious divide" in order to work for peace. Hitchens did not allow that one to slip by. "I never miss an opportunity to congratulate someone on being humorous, even if unintentionally," he said. Then he delivered the punchline. "Where does the 'religious divide' come from?" he asked to another round of laughter from the crowd. Blair was on stronger ground when he argued that fanaticism was hardly a preserve of the religious-minded. "The 20th century was scarred by visions that had precisely that imagining at its heart. That gave us Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot," he said. The only area that the two agreed upon was the one area where most of the crowd in liberal Toronto would have judged both of them guilty: the Iraq war. Both were asked whether religion had played a role in the invasion of Iraq – or, as Hitchens and Blair agreed to call it, "the liberation of Iraq". Neither budged an inch. "It was not about religious faith… they were decisions based on policy," Blair insisted. Hitchens was sterner, attacking those who had opposed the war. But, in truth, it was not a night about Iraq. It was an occasion for Hitchens to riff on a subject that has become one of his greatest passions. It was full of sharp humour and, towards the end, a little pathos. Perhaps it was just his way of tweaking the nose of a reaper he does not believe in, but Hitchens hinted at a belief – or a yearning, or an understanding: what he called a "numinous" or "transcendent" element of human experience. "Without that we are really merely primates. It is important to appreciate the finesse of that," he said. If that was a small concession to what Hitchens's current intimate brush with mortality has meant to him, it was a brief one. He ended with another rousing condemnation of religious doctrine and urged the audience to avoid becoming part of a religious flock because they might end up being "sheep". At the end of it, he suddenly looked a little exhausted, standing up with Blair for an ovation from the crowd but leaning with two hands on the back of his chair. He was tired and indeed during the last half hour of debate had suffered coughing fits. But that final image was not what one took from Toronto. Rather it was an off-the-cuff remark Hitchens made earlier as the debate moderator cut him off in full flow as his allotted time ran out. "I have done my best," Hitchens had said. "Believe me, I have more." \|\|\|\|\| Tony Blair and Christopher Hitchens to debate religion Former UK prime minister Tony Blair is to take on columnist Christopher Hitchens in a televised public debate for and against religion. Mr Blair, a Catholic convert, will argue that faith is a force for good. Mr Hitchens, terminally ill with cancer, is expected to argue it is the world's "main source of hatred", as he did in his 2007 book God is not Great. A 23-country poll paid for by the debate's Canadian organisers suggests the world is evenly split on the issue. Some 48% of the 18,192 people questioned by Ipsos took the view that "religion provides the common values and ethical foundations that diverse societies need to the thrive in the 21st Century". Fractionally more - 52% - supported the view that "religious beliefs promote intolerance, exacerbate ethnic divisions, and impede social progress in developing and developed nations alike". Continue reading the main story Blair v Hitchens on the BBC BBC World Service radio will air the Blair-Hitchens debate on 4 December, followed by Radio 4 on 11 December It can be viewed on BBC World News and the News Channel on 1 January 2011 Rich countries were less likely to see religion as a force for good than poor countries - the main exception being the United States, where 65% said it had a positive impact. Ahead of the debate, which will take place in front of a sell-out audience of 2,700 people in Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall, Tony Blair said: "The good that people of faith all over the world do every day, motivated by their religion, cannot be underestimated and should never be ignored." Continue reading the main story Tony Blair Fifty-seven-year-old former Labour prime minister Brought up in a Christian family, he says he became a practising Christian while studying at Oxford University Converted to Catholicism in 2007 Launched Tony Blair Faith Foundation in 2008 It could, and should, be a force for progress, he said. Christopher Hitchens - who has described Christianity, Judaism and Islam as the "real axis of evil" - has continued his outspoken attacks on religion in interviews as he is treated for cancer of the oesophagus. He is scathing about those who suggest his illness might lead him to retract his atheism. In a BBC Newsnight interview to be broadcast on 29 November, he says he is not afraid of death, but regrets the fact that it will cause distress to friends and family. In comments released by the debate's organisers he said it was "bizarre" that Mr Blair, a Catholic since 2007, had converted "at one of the most conservative times for the Catholic Church, under one of the most conservative popes". Continue reading the main story Christopher Hitchens Sixty-one-year-old journalist, author and critic Went to Christian boarding schools but refused to take part in communal prayers Says his "bohemian and rackety" lifestyle may have caused his cancer of the oesophagus Regarded as a leader of the "New Atheism" Both men have recently published autobiographies. Tickets for the debate - the sixth in a semi-annual series of Munk Debates - sold out within hours of going on sale. The event will also be available to watch online, on a pay-per-view basis, on the Munk Debates website. The Ipsos poll, conducted in September, found that Europe was the region most doubtful about the benefits of religion, with just 19% in Sweden agreeing that it was a force for good. At the other end of the scale, in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, it was seen as a positive force by more than 90% of those questioned. Within North America there was a pronounced divide. In Canada only 36% agreed with the positive view of religion whereas 64% saw it as a negative force - figures almost exactly the reverse of those in the US. \|\|\|\|\| The former prime minister said it was true that "people commit horrific acts of evil in the name of religion". But Mr Blair, who converted to Catholicism after leaving government in 2007, said it was also true that religion inspires acts of extraordinary good. He said it was important not to condemn all people of religious faith because of the "bigotry or prejudice shown by some". Mr Blair also told the 2,700-strong audience in Toronto, Canada, the invasion of Iraq was "not about religious faith" but decisions on the war were "based on policy". He said it was "futile" to try to "drive religion out" and it was more important to concentrate on how to get people of different faiths to work together, particularly in the Middle East where the conflict would only be resolved if people worked across the "faith divide". Sceptic Mr Hitchens, who has terminal cancer, likened God to a "celestial dictatorship, a kind of divine North Korea". He appeared to win over the audience, which voted two-to-one in his favour following the debate, which argued the motion "be it resolved, religion is a force for good in the world". Mr Blair, 57, who became a practising Christian while studying at Oxford University, said: "It is undoubtedly true that people commit horrific acts of evil in the name of religion. "It is also undoubtedly true that people do acts of extraordinary common good inspired by religion." He pointed to the good done by faith based organisations, including the millions of lives saved in Africa and care for the mentally ill, disabled and destitute. He added: "The proposition that religion is unadulterated poison is unsustainable. "It can be destructive, it can also create a deep well of compassion, and frequently does." Mr Blair said the common thread running through all faiths was to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and continued: "(Faith) answers a profound spiritual yearning, something we feel and sense instinctively. "This is a spiritual presence, bigger, more important, more meaningful than just us alone, that has its own power separate from our power, and that even as the world's marvels multiply, makes us kneel in humility not swagger in pride. "If faith is seen in this way, science and religion are not incompatible, destined to fight each other, until eventually the cool reason of science extinguishes the fanatical flames of religion. "Rather science educates us as to how the physical world is and how it functions, and faiths educates us as to the purpose to which such knowledge is put, the values that should guide its use, and the limits of what science and technology can do not to make our lives materially richer but rather richer in spirit." Mr Hitchens, 61, said: "Once you assume a creator and a plan, it makes us objects, in a cruel experiment, whereby we are created sick, and commanded to be well. "And over us, to supervise this, is installed a celestial dictatorship, a kind of divine North Korea." He said it was not necessary to have "divine permission to know right from wrong". And he said religion may promise salvation but the price was the "surrender of your critical faculties". He continued: "Religion forces nice people to do unkind things, and also makes intelligent people say stupid things." In a question from the audience Mr Blair was asked what role faith played in his decision to invade Iraq. He said: "I think we can nail this one pretty easily. It was not about religious faith. "You know, one of the things that I sometimes say to people is, look, the thing about religion and religious faith is if you are a person of faith, it's part of your character, it defines you in many ways as a human being. "It doesn't do the policy answers, I am afraid. "Even on the major decisions that are to do with war and peace that I've taken, they were decisions based on policy, and so they should be, and you may disagree with those decisions, but they were taken because I genuinely believed them to be right."	Photo of Blair and Hitchens at the debate. Last Friday, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair debated the role of religion with atheist author and journalist Christopher Hitchens at the Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto, Canada. Organised under the auspices of the 'Munk Debates', the motion was: "That religion is a force for good in the world". Hitchens argued that religion is "a cruel experiment whereby we are created sick and ordered to be well" and that the omnipresent, omniscient God supposed by many world religions was "a celestial dictatorship, a kind of divine North Korea". Blair — who in 2008 established the — conceded whilst religion is not necessary for everybody to act morally, it was still helpful for many despite violent interpretations of texts by extremists. He said the world religions unite in a moral mission to, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you", describing "a spiritual presence, bigger, more important, more meaningful than just us alone, that has its own power separate from our power, and that even as the world's marvels multiply, makes us kneel in humility not swagger in pride." Continuing, Blair stated: "If faith is seen in this way, science and religion are not incompatible, destined to fight each other, until eventually the cool reason of science extinguishes the fanatical flames of religion." Hitchens listed numerous aspects of religion he thought were negative, arguing "is it good for the world to appeal to our credulity and not to our scepticism? Is it good for the world to worship a deity that takes sides in wars and human affairs? To appeal to our fear and to our guilt, is it good for the world? To our terror, our terror of death, is it good to appeal?" Pressing his points, Hitchens asserted: "To preach guilt and shame about the sexual act and the sexual relationship, is this good for the world? And asking yourself all the while, are these really religious responsibilities, as I maintain they are? To terrify children with the image of hell and eternal punishment, not just of themselves, but their parents and those they love. Perhaps worst of all, to consider women an inferior creation, is that good for the world, and can you name me a religion that has not done that?" Blair responded, "I don't think we should think that because you can point to examples of prejudice in the name of religion, that bigotry and prejudice and wrongdoing are wholly owned subsidiaries of religion." Before the debate, the audience opposed the motion 57% to 22% (21% undecided). Post-debate, the motion was opposed by 68% of the audience and supported by 23%.
The US deficit in 2008 stood at $459bn The US budget deficit hit a record $1.4 trillion (£877bn) in the year to 30 September, US Congress estimates say. Analysts had predicted a $1.6tn deficit but revised the estimate, which comes after the end of the US financial year. The deficit was equal to 9.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) - more than treble the 2008 level and the highest since the end of World War II. The surging deficit was put down to increased government spending and a big drop in tax revenues. The Treasury Department will report the actual deficit later this month. The previous record deficit was $459bn, set last year. 'Alarm bells' The CBO said the increased spending was due in large part to the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program for financial firms, the $787bn economic stimulus, and the rescue of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Unemployment benefit payouts have surged as jobless figures have climbed, but observers say the full impact of stimulus spending is yet to feed through. Much of the planned construction work which formed part of the kick-start package has not yet begun. The huge deficits have raised worries about the willingness of foreigners to keep purchasing US Treasury debt - in the form of bonds - which itself has contributed to recent falls in the value of the US dollar. Economists have predicted that the deficits could result in high interest rates as the government is forced to offer more attractive rates to lure investors. Republicans said that the data underlined the dangers of President Obama's policy of spending and borrowing. "How many alarm bells have to be set off before Washington Democrats get serious about tackling dangerous budget deficits?", House Minority Leader John Boehner said. The White House has insisted it is suffering for the financial crisis it inherited from the Bush administration. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Oct. 8 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. government ended its 2009 fiscal year with a deficit of $1.4 trillion, the biggest since 1945, the Congressional Budget Office reported. The deficit amounted to 9.9 percent of the nation’s economy, triple the size of the shortfall for 2008. The nonpartisan CBO said yesterday the government was squeezed on both sides of the budget ledger in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. Tax revenue fell by $420 billion, or 17 percent, to the lowest level in more than 50 years. Individual income taxes, the biggest source of tax receipts, fell by 20 percent, the agency said. Corporate income taxes dropped by 54 percent, reflecting the slow economy. At the same time, federal spending rose by 18 percent, the CBO said. About half of the spending increase, $245 billion, was driven by the costs of bailing out the financial industry and taking over mortgage financiers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The spending increases and tax cuts included in the economic stimulus package approved in February added almost $200 billion to the 2009 deficit, the CBO said. Obama administration officials and Democratic leaders in Congress have expressed reluctance about pushing for a second stimulus package. Still, with unemployment on the rise and likely to reach 10 percent by the end of the year, President Barack Obama and his advisers are considering a mix of spending programs and tax cuts aimed at boosting the economy. White House Meeting Obama met at the White House yesterday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, to discuss the proposals. Steps under consideration include extending unemployment insurance benefits and an $8,000 tax credit to help first-time homebuyers that is due to expire later this year. “We have been working with Congress for quite some time on this,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Oct. 6. “I think there’s bipartisan agreement to extend the safety net to ensure that those that have fallen on hard times and have lost their job have the benefits they need to provide for their families.” The CBO’s deficit estimate is based on U.S. Treasury data and its own estimates. The Treasury Department will report the actual 2009 deficit later this month. To contact the reporters on this story: Brian Faler in Washington at bfaler@bloomberg.net; Julianna Goldman in Washington at jgoldman6@bloomberg.net; To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jim Kirk in Washington at jkirk12@bloomberg.net	According to the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the US budget deficit reached a record $1.4 trillion in the fiscal year to September 30. The deficit was about 9.9% of the country's GDP, over three times the level in 2008 and the highest since the Second World War ended. Economical analysts had initially predicted a deficit of $1.6 trillion. The deficit was blamed on decreased tax revenues and higher government spending. The CBO also said on Wednesday that tax revenue dropped by 17%, or $420 billion, to its lowest level for over half a century. The previous record deficit was in 2008, at $459 billion.
The ship's disappearance confounded experts for weeks Eight people have been arrested for hijacking the cargo ship Arctic Sea, Russia's defence minister says. Anatoly Serdyukov said the group of suspects included Russian, Estonian and Latvian nationals. The Arctic Sea went off the radar after passing through the English Channel in late July, but was found late on Sunday far south in the Atlantic. Speculation swirled after the ship vanished, with suggestions of piracy, a mafia dispute or a commercial row. The ship's owners had reported that the vessel was attacked 24 July in Swedish waters. Russia's Interfax news agency quoted Mr Serdyukov as saying the hijackers had approached the Arctic Sea in a dinghy, claiming they needed help to repair their vessel. But once on board the cargo ship, they threatened the crew with guns and forced them to sail south, the defence minister said. The suspects include four Estonians, two Latvians and two Russians. Mr Serdyukov said an investigation was under way aboard the Russian warship Ladny, where the Arctic Sea's 15-strong crew members and the suspected pirates were being questioned. Carrying timber reportedly worth $1.8m (£1.1m), the 4,000-tonne Maltese-flagged vessel sailed from Finland and had been scheduled to dock in the Algerian port of Bejaia on 4 August. The crew reported having been boarded by up to 10 armed men as the ship sailed through the Baltic Sea. Before being found, the last known contact with the crew was when the Arctic Sea reported to British maritime authorities in Dover as it passed through the English Channel. It was then sighted in the Bay of Biscay on 30 July. Last weekend, police in Finland said a ransom demand had been made, but emphasised that they could not confirm its authenticity. The Arctic Sea was eventually found on Sunday night 300 miles (480 km) off Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean. \|\|\|\|\| The Arctic Sea went missing in mysterious circumstances last month Russia says it has found a missing cargo vessel near the Cape Verde islands and retrieved its Russian crew. Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said that the 15-member crew had been taken on board a Russian navy vessel. They were in good condition, he said. The Finnish-owned Arctic Sea went off radar after passing through the English Channel with its cargo of timber. Speculation over the cause of its disappearance had ranged from pirates to a mafia dispute to a commercial row. The Arctic Sea was found at 0100 Monday (2100 GMT Sunday) 300 miles (480 km) off Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean, Tass news agency quoted Mr Serdyukov as telling Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Click here for a map charting reported sightings of the Arctic Sea "The crew have been transferred to another ship. They are being interrogated now in order to find out what happened," Mr Serdyukov said. TIMELINE: ARCTIC SEA 24 July: Crew say masked men board vessel, then leave 28 July: Ship contacts UK coastguard in English Channel 4 Aug: Ship fails to arrive in Algeria 17 Aug: Russia says ship found 300 miles off Cape Verde islands What happened on Arctic Sea? The sailors were "alive, healthy and are not under armed guard", the agency quoted him as saying. Malta's Maritime Security Committee confirmed that the vessel was in the hands of the Russian military. Further clarification in the case was being sought, it said in a statement. Carrying timber reportedly worth $1.8m (£1.1m), the 4,000-tonne Maltese-flagged vessel sailed from Finland and had been scheduled to dock in the Algerian port of Bejaia on 4 August. The crew reported having been boarded by up to 10 armed men as the ship sailed through the Baltic Sea on 24 July, but the intruders were reported to have left the vessel on an inflatable boat after 12 hours. The last known contact with the crew was when the Arctic Sea reported to British maritime authorities in Dover as it passed through the English Channel. It was then sighted in the Bay of Biscay on 30 July. On Saturday, police in Finland said a ransom demand had been made, but emphasised that they could not confirm its authenticity. Click here to return Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Postimees.ee andmetel on neli kaubalaeva Arctic Sea kaaperdamisega seostatud isikut mitte-eestlastest Eesti kodanikud ja kaks Venemaa kodanikud, kes omavad elamisluba Eestis. Täna alustas kapo väidetava kaaperdamise asjus uurimist. Eesti riigiprokuratuur pole andmeid Eesti ja Venemaa kodanike kohta kinnitanud. Eesti välisminister Urmas Paet ütles ERR Uudistele, et esialgsetel andmetel on eile leitud laeva Arcitc Sea kaaperdamisjuhtumiga seoses kinnipeetute hulgas ka Eesti kodanikke. «Meil on sellised andmed, et tõepoolest Eesti kodanikud on seoses selle juhtumiga kinni peetud,» ütles välisminister «Aktuaalsele kaamerale». Paet lisas, et pole alust arvata, et tegemist oleks meeskonnaliikmetega. Riigiprokuratuuri teatel alustas kaitsepolitseiamet kriminaalmenetlust, et kontrollida väiteid võimalike Eestist pärit isikute seotusest Arctic Sea väidetava kaaperdamisega. Kriminaalmenetlus on alustatud karistusseadustiku paragrahvi (KarS 110) tunnustel, mis käsitleb piraatlust. Kriminaalmenetlust viivad läbi riigiprokuratuur ja kaitsepolitseiamet. Toimunu asjaolude ja sündmusega seotud isikute selgitamiseks teevad Eesti õiguskaitseasutused koostööd oma partneritega erinevatest välisriikidest. Venemaa kaitseminister Anatoli Serdjukov teatas täna, et kaubalaeva Arctic Sea kaaperdajate seas oli neli Eesti kodanikku, samuti Läti ja Venemaa kodanikud, teatas Interfax.	Reports are emerging that eight people suspected of hijacking the 4,000-tonne Maltese registered vessel MV ''Arctic Sea'' have been arrested by the Russian Navy, and are being detained on the frigate ''Ladny''. Artist's image of the MV ''Arctic Sea''. Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov confirmed that none of the detainees were members of the crew, and had boarded the vessel after approaching in a small dinghy, "using the threat of arms and demanded that the crew follow all of their orders without condition". The vessel was found on Sunday off of the Cape Verde Islands, following over a week of searching. The vessel was previously last seen off the coast of France near Brest. There was much speculation as to the whereabouts of the vessel, after it did not arrive in Béjaïa, Algeria as scheduled on August 4, 2009. The ship is said to be carrying a cargo of Finnish timber that is worth $1.8 million. According to the Estonian Security Police, among those detained were four Russians who were naturalized Estonian nationals, two Latvians and two Russians.
By Ellen Wulfhorst NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday entered the 2008 presidential race, officially joining a crowded field for her party's nomination. "I'm in. And I'm in to win," Clinton wrote on her Web site that reads "Hillary for President." The second-term U.S. senator from New York and former U.S. first lady had been widely anticipated to announce her bid to become the first woman to win the U.S. presidency. She is considered a front-runner among five other candidates in the Democratic White House field. Reuters Pictures Editors Choice: Best pictures from the last 24 hours. View Slideshow Her announcement comes days after a similar move by Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who is expected to be her leading party competitor and whose campaign could make him the first black U.S. president. Obama's candidacy has stoked enthusiasm among Democrats looking for an alternative to Clinton, who some fear could be too polarizing to defeat a Republican candidate next year. "I am forming a presidential exploratory committee. I am not just starting a campaign though, I am beginning a conversation with you, with America," she said in a videotaped message on her Web site. An exploratory committee is a first step toward official candidacy and allows her to raise campaign funds and hire staff. "After six years of George Bush it is time to renew the promise of America," she said. President George W. Bush was elected to a second four-year term in 2004. \|\|\|\|\| By Ellen Wulfhorst NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday entered the 2008 presidential race, officially joining a crowded field for her party's nomination. "I'm in. And I'm in to win," Clinton wrote on her Web site that reads "Hillary for President." The second-term U.S. senator from New York and former U.S. first lady had been widely anticipated to announce her bid to become the first woman to win the U.S. presidency. She is considered a front-runner among five other candidates in the Democratic White House field. Reuters Pictures Editors Choice: Best pictures from the last 24 hours. View Slideshow Her announcement comes days after a similar move by Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who is expected to be her leading party competitor and whose campaign could make him the first black U.S. president. Obama's candidacy has stoked enthusiasm among Democrats looking for an alternative to Clinton, who some fear could be too polarizing to defeat a Republican candidate next year. "I am forming a presidential exploratory committee. I am not just starting a campaign though, I am beginning a conversation with you, with America," she said in a videotaped message on her Web site. An exploratory committee is a first step toward official candidacy and allows her to raise campaign funds and hire staff. "After six years of George Bush it is time to renew the promise of America," she said. President George W. Bush was elected to a second four-year term in 2004.	Official Senate portrait of Hillary Clinton. Releasing a video on her website, Hillary Clinton announced today that she will be forming a presidential . "I'm in. And I'm in to win", the Senator for New York announced on her website today, confirming the widely held assumption that she will seek the U.S. presidency in 2008. This is widely speculated to be in immediate response to senator Barack Obama's presidential exploratory committee announcement earlier this week.
MISSION UPDATE — February 16, 2009 PROGRAM STATUS Observation of Frame-Dragging Processed data showing geodetic effect in all four gyroscopes. Processed data indicating frame-dragging effect in all four gyroscopes The latest GP-B results, detailed in the papers and NASA report described below, show substantial improvement over the preliminary results announced at the April 2007 meeting of the American Physical Society (APS). At that time the geodetic effect was measured with a total uncertainty of 1%, but evidence of the frame-dragging effect was inconclusive. The latest data analysis that includes a model for the "roll-polhode resonance torque" yields a 15% statistical uncertainty for the Frame-Dragging effect. This 15% uncertainty does not include all systematic effects. Click on the thumbnails at right to view these extraordinary results. The data analysis leading up to this important result proved more subtle than expected. ‘Patch-effect’ anomalies on the gyro rotor and housing have complicated the gyro behavior in two ways: Put simply, while mechanically both rotor and housing are exceedingly spherical, electrically they are not. Steadily advancing progress, reported to NASA directly and via successive meetings of the SAC, has brought a rather complete understanding of these effects. A turning point came last August with the incorporation of an elegant approach for computing the detailed history of the “roll-polhode resonance” torques discovered a year earlier by Jeff Kolodziejczak of NASA MSFC. The result was a large reduction in previously unexplained discrepancies between the four gyroscopes. Much further work remains to bring the analysis to completion. To date, limits in computational power have bounded the processing to essentially one point per 97-minute GP-B satellite orbit. The driving period of the roll-polhode resonance torques is at the difference between the 77.5 sec roll period of the spacecraft and a harmonic of the gyroscope polhode period. High-speed computing techniques now in development will lead to more detailed analyses, and allow GP-B to approach the intrinsic limit of the gyro readout. ISSI Presentations/Publications & Final NASA Science Report Early last October, five members of our GP-B team presented papers on various aspects of the GP-B data analysis at the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) workshop in Bern, Switzerland on “The Nature of Gravity: Confronting Theory and Experiment in Space.” The five papers summarize the interim results of the GP-B experiment, as also reported to our GP-B external Science Advisory Committee (SAC) at their 18th meeting on August 29, 2008. Following the ISSI meeting, the papers were submitted for publication in the international, refereed journal, Space Science Reviews. They will be reprinted in a hardcover book in the Space Sciences Series of the ISSI, both to be published by Springer later this year. The papers, along with an introductory preface, comprise the contents of a document entitled “Gravity Probe B Science Results—NASA Final Report,” now posted on our website. Click on the text link or thumbnail at right to view/download it. GP-B Funding Richard Fairbank We are profoundly honored that in January, 2008 Richard Fairbank (founder, Chairman and CEO of Capital One Financial Services Company and one of the three sons of GP-B co-founder, William Fairbank) made a private donation of $512K to Stanford, specifically to support GP-B’s continuing data analysis work. Fairbank’s generous offer was subsequently matched by both Stanford and NASA. This support carried the program until 30 September 2008. All of us here at GP-B are most grateful to Mr. Fairbank for his generous support. Signing of the Stanford-KACSTAgreement in Ocober 2008 Discussions begun last summer with Dr. Turki al Saud, Vice President for Research Institutes at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Saudi Arabia, have led to the creation of an important Stanford-KACST collaboration, with Professor Charbel Farhat of the Stanford Aero-Astro Department as Co-PI for GP-B data analysis. (The photo at right shows the Stanford-KACST collaboration signing last October.) As part of this agreement, a team of research scientists from KACST will join the Stanford team to help with the data analysis as well as participate in future projects being developed. Additionally, KACST provided funding for GP-B from October 2008 through December 2009. To maximize the benefit to the scientific and engineering community, we plan to make the capstone of the GP-B program a conference on Fundamental Physics and Innovative Engineering in Space, in honor of William Fairbank. We thank NASA for forty-four years of continued support since issuing the first research Grant NSG-582 to the program in March 1964. The March 2007 "GP-B Post-Flight Analysis—Final Report" contained an extensive history of GP-B and the NASA personnel who guided it. It is appropriate here to express further special thanks to three individuals, the MSFC Manager Mr. Anthony T. Lyons, the HQ Program Scientist for Physics of the Cosmos Dr. Michael H. Salamon, and the HQ Program Executive Dr. Alan P. Smale. Lastly, we are most grateful to the GP-B Science Advisory Committee (SAC) for their continuing advice and support. Previous Update \| Index of Updates \|\|\|\|\| To persevere into 2008, he had already won a $500,000 contribution from Richard Fairbank, the founder and chief executive of Capital One Financial and the youngest son of his old mentor, the Stanford physicist William Fairbank. Richard Fairbank stipulated that Stanford and NASA each match his contribution, and they did. But by mid-2008, that $1.5 million was running out. That is when Dr. Everitt turned to Turki al-Saud, vice president for research institutes at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and a member of the Saudi royal family. Dr. Saud, who has a doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford, arranged a $2.7 million grant. The work goes on. “I didn’t imagine I would ever visit Riyadh,” Dr. Everitt said. “We will need more money, but $2.7 million by itself is really helpful. We now have a clear end in sight.” The Gravity Probe B experiment was conceived at the dawn of the Space Age by the Stanford physicist Leonard Schiff and George E. Pugh of the Defense Department. Dr. Schiff brought William Fairbank into the project in 1959, and in 1962 Dr. Fairbank induced the British-born Dr. Everitt to come for a visit. Now 74, Dr. Everitt has directed Gravity Probe B ever since. While the experiment itself was relatively straightforward, the engineering demands were unprecedented. The theoretical distortion in space-time for the geodetic effect was 6,614.4 milliarcseconds per year; for frame-dragging it was only 14 milliarcseconds per year. A milliarcsecond is about one four-millionth of a degree of arc. Photo To make measurements that fine using an object as large as Earth, the spacecraft’s gyros had to be virtually friction-free and unaffected by heat, magnetic fields or unpredictable movements. The pristine environment of space made the attempt possible. But success was not guaranteed. Arcane, often unprecedented technologies were needed. The four fused-quartz, Ping-Pong-ball-size gyroscopes, coated with the metal niobium, were the most perfectly spherical objects ever created by humans. A coffin-size lead “bag” shielded the gyros from Earth’s magnetic field. Advertisement Continue reading the main story A large thermos-like container called a dewar contained 645 gallons of liquid helium to be cooled to within two degrees of absolute zero. The helium held the niobium coating at superconducting temperatures, so the metal could track the deviations in the gyros’ spin axis. 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. By the time the 21-foot-long, 3-ton spacecraft was launched on April 20, 2004, Gravity Probe B had become a very expensive tool designed to prove something that many scientists over the years had come to accept as already proved by theoretical physics and some previous experiments. That argument has no heft with Dr. Everitt. “We are doing a measurement with a massive object, and this is valid,” Dr. Everitt said. “This is what the general theory of relativity says, and this is the experiment.” The mission, however, did not go according to plan. The niobium coating on the gyros and their housings was slightly uneven, causing tiny unpredictable electrical torques that made the gyros drift. The mission ended in 2005, but since then the Stanford team has been mapping niobium anomalies on each gyro, finding the patterns of distortion and subtracting the noise from the data. NASA had budgeted money for a year’s worth of post-flight data analysis, but Dr. Everitt needed a lot more time, and NASA financed the project through 2007. That, it seemed, would be the end. Richard Fairbank, whom Dr. Everitt had known since he was a child, thought differently. “Nearly 50 years ago, my father had talked with me about the integrity of a bold quest and never giving up,” Mr. Fairbank said. “I just felt that the project was on the 1-yard line.” The financing brought about by his contribution took the project into 2008, but in May, Gravity Probe B went before NASA’s senior review, where an independent committee of scientists rates continuing agency projects to determine financing priorities. “We ended up dead last,” Dr. Everitt said. That month, however, Dr. Saud visited Stanford and spoke briefly with Dr. Everitt. Saudi Arabia, which has built 12 small satellites, “was interested in forming partnerships” for future space missions, Dr. Saud said in a telephone interview, and has since done so with Stanford and NASA. Dr. Everitt met with Dr. Saud in London in July, and Gravity Probe B received $2.7 million. The team has forged ahead. In August, graduate students made a breakthrough in data analysis to bring the frame-dragging deviation within 15 percent of the predicted result. Dr. Everitt hopes to get it within 3 percent by mid-2010. The geodetic effect is currently within 1 percent of the predicted result and is expected to go even lower. “They fly the mission and have what seems like an insurmountable problem,” said Michael Salamon, program scientist for the Physics of the Cosmos Program at NASA and a staunch supporter of the project despite the senior review decision. “Then they do this. It’s spectacular, frankly, and when it’s done we are going to have a press announcement.”	A team of scientists at Stanford University claim to have detected a subtle, missing element of Einstein's theory of relativity. In a press release dated February 16th, Robert Kahn, Stanford University's Public Affairs Coordinator, announced the experimental confirmation of frame dragging, an effect in which the presence of a rotating body causes space itself to be pulled along as the body rotates. While the effect was theorized by Josef Lense and Hans Thirring as far back as 1918, the small scale of the effect, as little as one part in a trillion for a satellite orbiting the Earth, made detecting the effect difficult. The observation was made by the Gravity Probe B satellite, which carries finely-machined gyroscopes. Scientists looked for small changes in the motion of the gyroscopes to detect the frame dragging effect, as well as the much larger geodetic effect – small corrections to the Earth's gravitational field due to differences between Einstein's and Newton's theories of gravity. The experiment was conducted on the satellite from 2004 to 2005. However, the complexity of the data analysis along with unforeseen engineering problems have made finding the effect in the experiment's results difficult. In particular, the presence of small electrical charges on the gyroscopes interfered with their results. Francis Everitt, the experiment's Principal Investigator, stresses in an interview with the New York Times that their announcement is only preliminary and that, with further analysis, they hope to improve the precision of their results; currently, they say they have only detected the frame dragging effect to within plus or minus fifteen percent of its expected value. The theory of general relativity was developed by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century to explain the behavior of moving objects in space, after the discovery that the speed of light was always the same no matter how the person measuring it was moving. While it successfully explains many strange behaviors in space, such as the slow shifting of the orbit of Mercury and the bending of light by massive objects such as black holes, testing the theory on Earth has always been difficult due to the small scale of relativity's effects in everyday life.
By Clive Lindsay Rangers captain Barry Ferguson worked hard in midfield Goalkeeper Allan McGregor was Rangers' hero, twice denying Igor Burzanovic during the opening 45 minutes. Dusan Andjelkovic sliced over and then forced McGregor into another save. Jean-Claude Darcheville and Lee McCulloch went close for Rangers after the break, while McGregor denied Ognjen Koroman to preserve the aggregate lead. It was some revenge for Rangers following the 3-0 defeat suffered in Belgrade in 1990, when Red Star went on to win the European Cup. The Serbian champions' present line-up is not of that quality and were unable to break down a Rangers side determined to protect the 1-0 lead given them by Nacho Novo's late winner at Ibrox. Brahim Hemdani, McCulloch and Darcheville had been promoted to Rangers' starting line-up, with DaMarcus Beasley, Kris Boyd and Daniel Cousin dropping out of the side that defeated Kilmarnock. Red Star had Dusan Basta and playmaker Burzanovic back in their team. Jean-Claude Darcheville (right) was a lone man up front And Burzanovic almost made an immediate impact after Rangers' 4-5-1 formation was breached within seconds of kick-off. Carlos Cuellar missed his attempt at a headed clearance then slipped - and the Red Star playmaker's shot was blocked by McGregor from point-blank range. Darcheville claimed for a penalty when tackled by Ibrahima Gueye, but referee Lucilio Batista decided that the ball was won cleanly. Rangers threatened again when Darcheville's power saw him find space on the right, but Ferguson could only fire wide of the near post from his cross to the near post. McGregor made a decent block just after the half-hour point of the game. Burzanovic burst into the penalty area and drove a shot from the right of goal towards the far corner, but McGregor pushed the ball to safety. MY SPORT: DEBATE It would be churlish to deny that Rangers are now looking like a good side under Smith Macaroons Red Star should have gone ahead when Filip Dordevic's shot was deflected into the path of Andjelkovic, but the defender sliced his right-footed volley well over the bar from 14 yards. McGregor kept Rangers ahead in the tie with another save from a goal-bound drive from 15 yards by Andjelkovic. Darcheville had a chance to virtually kill-off Red Star's hopes after 56 minutes when he wriggled clear but drove the ball wide of the far post from the edge of the box. Red Star goalkeeper Ivan Randjelovic had to get down swiftly to push a McCulloch drive wide after the Rangers midfielder made room for himself 20 yards out. McGregor matched that and more when he turned a blistering 25-yard effort from Koroman over the crossbar. And Rangers saw out the remaining minutes to move into the group stages via toil rather than aplomb. Crvena Zvezda: Randjelovic, Andjelkovic, Milijas, Koroman, Burzanovic, Tutoric, Lucas, Gueye, Basta, Dordevic, Castillo. Subs: Banovic, Barcos, Bronowicki, Bajalica, Molina, Raskovic, Milovanovic. Rangers: McGregor, Hutton, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Hemdani, Thomson, Cuellar, McCulloch, Ferguson, Darcheville. Subs: Carroll, Boyd, Novo, Beasley, Broadfoot, Webster, Cousin. Referee: Lucilio Cardoso Cortez Batista (Portugal) \|\|\|\|\| Rangers player Jean-Claude Darcheville (left) challenges Crvena Zvezda's Ibrahima Gueye (©Getty Images) Rangers through with Belgrade draw Match report by Alex O'Henley e-mail Print Rangers FC held FK Crvena Zvezda to a scoreless draw in Belgrade to progress to the UEFA Champions League group stage courtesy of their 1-0 first-leg win in Glasgow. Rearguard action The Scottish club survived an early scare before producing a solid defensive performance to take their place in Thursday's draw and deny the Serbian champions a first appearance in the UEFA Champions League proper. Early chance Backed by a capacity 50,000 crowd, 'Red Star' went out in search of a goal to level the tie and it almost arrived within two minutes. Uncharacteristically, Carlos Cuéllar misjudged a high ball which presented Igor Burzanović with a scoring opportunity from eight metres, but the Crvena Zvezda striker – who had missed the first leg through suspension – shot straight at Allan McGregor. Home pressure Dušan Andjelković should have broken the deadlock on 34 minutes when a loose ball fell to him deep inside the Rangers box, yet with the goal at his mercy the left-back lifted a shot harmlessly over. Milorad Kosanović's men were doing all the running with Rangers content to soak up the pressure and McGregor forced into action again just before half-time, blocking Andjelković's attempt at the expense of a corner. Counterattack Crvena Zvezda continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession after the break without creating clear-cut openings. Indeed, the best chance fell to Jean-Claude Darcheville at the other end on 57 minutes. The Rangers forward used his strength to wriggle away from his marker on the edge of the area but his strike failed to find the target. Late rally Buoyed by that effort, Lee McCulloch tried his luck and Ivan Randjelović had to turn his shot around the post, before home captain Ognjen Koroman prompted another good stop from McGregor with an attempt from just outside the box. In the closing minutes the home team pushed for a goal that would take the tie to extra time but Rangers held on, ensuring that Nacho Novo's solitary strike in Glasgow sent them into the group stage for the eighth time. ©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.	survived a testing match in Belgrade to progress through to the group-stages of the UEFA Champions League. was Rangers' hero twice in the opening 45 minutes denying striker, , twice in the first half. and shot close for Rangers in the second half, whilst McGregor denied to preserve the 0-0 draw, and the 1-0 lead on aggregate. ----
Sáb, 13 Nov - 17h00 Presidente da China almoça churrasco com Lula Agência Estado O presidente da China, Hu Jintao, almoçou hoje com o presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, antes de embarcar para o Rio. Vestindo terno cinza claro e acompanhado da mulher, Jintao chegou à Granja do Torto pouco antes das 13 horas. Lula o levou para conhecer a churrasqueira, explicou como era feito o churrasco brasileiro e, pouco antes de ir para o almoço, Jintao visitou o lago e deu comida aos peixes. No almoço, além de carnes tradicionais, foi servida uma costela, cujo tempo de preparação é de mais de 12 horas. Entre as bebidas oferecidas, estava um vinho produzido na região do Vale do São Francisco, Rio Sol. Vários ministros participaram do churrasco de despedida: Antônio Palocci, o da Ciência e Tecnologia, Eduardo Campos; o da Agricultura, Roberto Rodrigues; o de Desenvolvimento, Luiz Fernando Furlan; das Relações Exteriores, Celso Amorim; e de Minas e Energias, Dilma Rousseff. O presidente da Vale do Rio Doce, Roger Agnelli e o da Petrobras, Eduardo Dutra, também participaram do encontro. O almoço foi o último dos três compromissos do presidente chinês em Brasília. Logo pela manhã, Jintao e a mulher fizeram um pequeno passeio em Brasília, para conhecer a Catedral e a Ponte JK. Depois, tiveram um encontro com a colônia chinesa no Brasil. Durante o encontro, de cerca de 20 minutos, Jintao pediu para que integrantes da colônia procurem estreitar os laços com brasileiros. A aproximação servirá como uma ponte para aproximar os dois países, afirmou Jintao a cerca de 110 integrantes da colônia, entre eles, o acupunturista do presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Gu Hanghu. A cerimônia foi rápida. Antes do discurso de 15 minutos, que todos ouviram de pé, Jintao cumprimentou os ocupantes de uma das três fileiras formadas por integrantes da colônia. Posou para foto e, depois da cerimônia, fez uma parada rápida no hotel para trocar de terno e preparar-se para o almoço com Lula. \|\|\|\|\| Sáb, 13 Nov - 16h00 Presidente da China almoça churrasco com Lula Agência Estado O presidente da China, Hu Jintao, almoçou hoje com o presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, antes de embarcar para o Rio. Vestindo terno cinza claro e acompanhado da mulher, Jintao chegou à Granja do Torto pouco antes das 13 horas. Lula o levou para conhecer a churrasqueira, explicou como era feito o churrasco brasileiro e, pouco antes de ir para o almoço, Jintao visitou o lago e deu comida aos peixes. No almoço, além de carnes tradicionais, foi servida uma costela, cujo tempo de preparação é de mais de 12 horas. Entre as bebidas oferecidas, estava um vinho produzido na região do Vale do São Francisco, Rio Sol. Vários ministros participaram do churrasco de despedida: Antônio Palocci, o da Ciência e Tecnologia, Eduardo Campos; o da Agricultura, Roberto Rodrigues; o de Desenvolvimento, Luiz Fernando Furlan; das Relações Exteriores, Celso Amorim; e de Minas e Energias, Dilma Rousseff. O presidente da Vale do Rio Doce, Roger Agnelli e o da Petrobras, Eduardo Dutra, também participaram do encontro. O almoço foi o último dos três compromissos do presidente chinês em Brasília. Logo pela manhã, Jintao e a mulher fizeram um pequeno passeio em Brasília, para conhecer a Catedral e a Ponte JK. Depois, tiveram um encontro com a colônia chinesa no Brasil. Durante o encontro, de cerca de 20 minutos, Jintao pediu para que integrantes da colônia procurem estreitar os laços com brasileiros. A aproximação servirá como uma ponte para aproximar os dois países, afirmou Jintao a cerca de 110 integrantes da colônia, entre eles, o acupunturista do presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Gu Hanghu. A cerimônia foi rápida. Antes do discurso de 15 minutos, que todos ouviram de pé, Jintao cumprimentou os ocupantes de uma das três fileiras formadas por integrantes da colônia. Posou para foto e, depois da cerimônia, fez uma parada rápida no hotel para trocar de terno e preparar-se para o almoço com Lula. \|\|\|\|\| Brazil backs China on trade bid China sees the deal as an important step towards getting better trade terms from the World Trade Organisation. Mr Hu is in Brazil for five days to discuss multi-billion dollar trade and investment deals ranging from soy to football and satellite. Meanwhile, Brazil won greater access to China's huge market for food products. Analysts say both countries are also strengthening ties as part of a strategy to lobby for improved trade conditions for developing nations. Trade booms Mr Hu was "all smiles" as he emerged from talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ("Lula"), according to the BBC's Tom Gibb in Sao Paulo. "This position of Brazil will certainly make the conditions of the strategic relationship even richer and will favour economic and trade co-operation," Mr Hu said in a speech later. He said he hoped annual trade between the two countries could reach $20bn in three years. " They are trying to create a new axis of developing nations that work together, to form a counterweight to the industrialised nations " Sue Branford Latin America analyst But the bilateral talks, which went on for 20 hours, nearly collapsed on Thursday night, said Luiz Fernando Furlan, Brazil's industry and trade minister. "At first, the Chinese position was like a samba song with only one note: 'We are here to get the market economy status, full stop,'" Mr Furlan said, according to AFP news agency. He said President Lula's "position was that we had to have a balanced agreement or we wouldn't have an agreement." In return for its agreement, Brazil received greater access to China's market for chicken and beef products. The beef deal alone is expected to be worth $600m a year for Brazil, ministers said. It also gained a commitment from China to order at least 10 aeroplanes from Brazilian maker Embraer, reported AFP. To facilitate trade, the Chinese are offering between $5bn and $7bn worth of investment to improve Brazil's roads, railways and ports. China already imports large amounts of Brazilian soy beans and mineral ores. In the long term, it sees Brazil's vast territory, much of it unexplored, as a potential solution for its own growing need for raw materials, says our correspondent. China joined the WTO in 2001 and is currently deemed a "non-market economy" - attracting anti-dumping trade barriers on its exports until it gains market economy status. In joining some 20 countries in designating China a market economy, Brazil waives the right to raise anti-dumping barriers on Chinese goods. According to analysts, the backing of the world's ninth-largest economy also gives China a boost ahead of talks among the G20 group of developed and emerging market economies in Berlin next week. 'Counterweight' In the talks, Mr Hu also urged the two countries to co-operate within international organisations such as the UN and WTO to promote the interests of developing nations. Analysts say the Brazil and China are helping strengthen a new bloc of developing nations - namely Brazil, Russia, India and China, collectively known as Bric - that flexed its muscles at trade talks in Cancun in 2003. "They are trying to create a new axis of developing nations that work together, to form a counterweight to the industrialised nations," Latin America analyst Sue Branford said. "But they have very different political systems. The grounds for their alliance are economic, and come from a common interest in changing the rules that cover world trade," she said. (01 Aug 04 \| Business ) (28 May 04 \| Business ) (08 Sep 04 \| Business ) (20 Aug 04 \| Country profiles ) (13 Aug 04 \| Country profiles ) (05 Mar 03 \| Asia-Pacific ) \|\|\|\|\| Brazil sees market economy in China By Meng Yan (China Daily) Updated: 2004-05-24 22:21 Visiting Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday his country will immediately set about handling issues concerning the recognition of China's status as a market economy. Lula made his remarks during talks with President Hu Jintao, according to a foreign ministry spokesman. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) and his Brazilian counterpart Inacio Lula da Silva shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing May 24, 2004. Silva is on a five-day state visit to Beijing and Shanghai aimed at boosting exports to Asia's fastest growing economy. [Reuters] Hu said such recognition will consolidate the strategic partnership between China and Brazil and further enhance bilateral trade ties. Brazil is China's largest trade partner in Latin America, and China is Brazil's fourth largest trade partner, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Lula arrived in Beijing on Saturday evening for a six-day state visit to China. Afterwards, he will travel to Mexico to attend the third summit between Latin America and the European Union. Lula also told Hu that Brazil supports China's stances on the question of Taiwan and such issues as human rights, according to the spokesman. Hu and Lula Monday also signed a joint communique. Hu said the success of Sino-Brazilian collaboration indicates the potential and vigor of co-operation between developing countries. The first Sino-Brazilian ERJ145 regional jet aircraft made a successful 10-minute test flight in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, last December. Two months before that, in October, China successfully launched the second of a series of four scientific research satellites developed jointly with Brazil. The two countries launched their first Earth Resources Satellite, developed at a cost of US$300 million, in October 1999 to gather information on the environment, agriculture, urban planning and water pollution. The second satellite also aimed at collecting environment data during its two-year life span. Lula said Brazi is confident of the prospects of working with China on political, economic and trade and technological areas. An impressive lineup of visitors also made the trip with the Brazilian president. His entourage includes ministers of foreign affairs, agriculture, planning and finance as well as development, industry and foreign trade. A delegation of roughly 500 businessmen is also travelling with the president to seek Chinese business opportunities. Lula said he hoped to enhance bilateral co-operation in agriculture, energy and mineral resources, science and technology, space and information technology, as well as infrastructure construction. Brazil's petroleum giant Petrobras set up a representative office in Beijing on Sunday, and the visiting Brazilian president attended the inauguration ceremony. Petrobras, as Brazil's biggest state-owned enterprise, plays an important role in Brazil-China economic and trade ties, Lula said, adding there is huge potential in energy co-operation between the two countries. The Brazilian president will also attend the Global Conference on Poverty Reduction in Shanghai during his visit.	, the of the People's Republic of China had lunch today with the of Brazil, , at the ''Granja do Torto'', the President's country residence in the . Lunch was a traditional Brazilian with different kinds of meat. Some Brazilian ministers were present at the event: (Economy), (), (Agriculture), (Development), (), (Mines and Energy). Also present were ( company president) and Eduardo Dutra (, government oil company, president). This meeting is part of a new agreement between Brazil and China where Brazil has recognized mainland China's status, and China has promised to buy more .
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement A driver was taken to hospital after his bus crashed into a sports shop on one of the main streets in Cardiff. The single-decker Cardiff Bus, marked with the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (Uwic) logo, veered off St Mary Street and into the Pure Rugby shop. Firefighters were called to free the bus, which ploughed through the front window just after 1800 GMT on Monday. Cardiff Bus said it was investigating, as were police. No passengers on board were hurt in the incident, it added. South Wales Police were also called to the street, which has been partly-pedestrianised, with traffic banned, apart from buses and some taxis. A temporary road closure was put in place while the vehicle was recovered and the shop was secured. In a statement it said: "The front end of the bus struck the front window and metal shutters of the Pure Rugby Store on St Mary Street causing substantial damage." Anyone with information is asked to contact the Roads Policing Unit on 02920 633 438, or 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. \|\|\|\|\| There are always big stories on WalesOnline - don't miss any with our daily email Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign me up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice A BUS driver was taken to hospital after three buses collided in Cardiff city centre during yesterday morning’s rush hour. The driver was taken to the University Hospital of Wales after suffering minor back injuries after the crash in Westgate Street just before 9am. The Number 27 from Llanishen to the city centre was involved in the incident outside the Queens Vaults pub, along with another Cardiff Bus, thought to be on the Heath Hospital route, and a Stagecoach bus. South Wales Police and ambulance services were called to the scene but no passengers on any of the buses were thought to be hurt. A spokesman for South Wales Ambulance Service said: “We had a call just after 9am to an incident outside the Queens Vaults in Westgate Street. There was one casualty, one of the drivers, who had minor back injuries and was taken to UHW.” Paul Hampson, a passenger on the Number 27, was on his way to work as an adviser at Media Wales in Park Street. He said there were about 15 passengers on the bus at the time of the crash. He said: “The driver put through on the radio what had happened and asked if all the passengers were all right. No-one was injured.” The windscreen of one of the buses was completely smashed by the impact. Nancy Luceas, from Llanrumney, Cardiff, arrived at the scene just after the collision on her way to her work at Southgate House, Wood Street. She said she heard the windscreen smash. She said: “I came here just after it had happened. The windscreen just shattered. The bus driver looked like he was hurt and was taken in the ambulance. I don’t think any passengers were hurt.” A spokesman for Cardiff Bus said: “Cardiff Bus can confirm that an incident took place involving two of its vehicles on Westgate Street. One driver has been taken to hospital as a precaution but no passengers have been injured. “We are investigating the collision, taking into account the hazardous road conditions, and cannot comment further at this time.”	A public bus has crashed into a shop in , Wales. No one is believed to have been injured. The bus was nearly empty when it crashed into a closed, shuttered shop. The nearly-empty bus was leaving the Cardiff central bus depot in Wood Street at approximately 7pm local time when witness say it failed to complete a left turn onto , instead crashing into the shuttered doors of the Pure Rugby sport memorabilia shop. The shop was closed and empty at the time. Police and an ambulance were called to the scene of the accident and the area was cordoned off; St. Mary Street was closed to bus traffic and buses throughout the city centre were put on alternate routes for the evening. While South Wales, along with much of Great Britain, has suffered from icy conditions in recent weeks, roads and sidewalks were clear. The accident comes three days after a three-bus collision injured a driver on Westgate Street, one street over from St. Mary Street.
MSNBC’s scouting report on candidates in the fight for the White House. July 30: Chief Justice John Roberts, 52, took a fall Monday that sent him to the hospital. NBC's Pete Williams reports. WASHINGTON - Chief Justice John Roberts suffered a seizure at his summer home in Maine on Monday, causing a fall that resulted in minor scrapes, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said. He will remain in a hospital in Maine overnight. “It’s my understanding he’s fully recovered, said Christopher Burke, a spokesman for Penobscot Bay Medical Center, where Roberts was taken. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Roberts, 52, was taken by ambulance to the medical center, where he underwent a “thorough neurological evaluation, which revealed no cause for concern,” Arberg said in a statement. Roberts had a similar episode in 1993, she said. Doctors called Monday’s incident “a benign idiopathic seizure,” Arberg said. The White House described the January 1993 episode as an “isolated, idiosyncratic seizure.” Both descriptions indicate that doctors could not determine the seizure’s cause or link it to another medical condition. For example, doctors would have quickly ruled out simple explanations such as dehydration or low blood sugar. Roberts, who was named to the court in 2005, has led the Supreme Court to a more conservative stance, along with Justice Samuel Alito, who won confirmation in early 2006. Conservative causes have won twice as often as they lost on the Roberts-led court. The 2006-07 term brought limits on abortion rights, restrictions on school integration programs and greater freedom for political advertising. Medical opinions differed on just what Roberts’ seizures mean. Someone who has had more than one seizure without any other cause is determined to have epilepsy, said Dr. Marc Schlosberg, a neurologist at Washington Hospital Center, who is not involved in the Roberts’ case. ‘Conscious and alert’ Whether Roberts will need anti-seizure medications to prevent another is something he and his doctor will have to decide. But after two seizures, the likelihood of another at some point is greater than 60 percent. “When it’s going to occur, obviously nobody knows,” Schlosberg said. The National Institutes of Health’s Web site says that “only when a person has had two or more seizures is a person considered to have epilepsy.” Epilepsy is merely a term for a seizure disorder, but it is a loaded term because it makes people think of lots of seizures, cautioned Dr. Edward Mkrdichian, a neurosurgeon at the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch. Still, Mkrdichian said anyone who has had two otherwise unexplained seizures is at high risk for a third, and that he puts such patients on anti-seizure medications. “Having two seizures so many years apart without any known culprit is going to be very difficult to figure out,” agreed Dr. Max Lee of the Milwaukee Neurological Institute. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on a dock near the home in Port Clyde on Maine’s Hupper Island. Port Clyde, which is part of the town of St. George, is about 90 miles by car northeast of Portland, midway up the coast of Maine. Roberts was taken by private boat to the mainland and then transferred to an ambulance, St. George Fire Chief Tim Polky said. “He was conscious and alert when they put him in the rescue (vehicle),” Polky said. Named to the court by President Bush in 2005, Roberts is the youngest justice on a court in which the senior member, John Paul Stevens, is 87. Bush was informed of the hospitalization by his chief of staff, Josh Bolten, the White House said. Roberts is the father of two young children. Larry Robbins, a Washington attorney who worked with Roberts at the Justice Department in 1993, said he drove Roberts to work for several months after the incident. Robbins said Roberts never mentioned what the problem was and he never heard of it happening again. ‘Excellent’ health In 2001, Roberts described his health as “excellent,” according to Senate Judiciary Committee records. Roberts became chief justice after the death of William Rehnquist in September 2005, although Bush had first chosen him to take Sandra Day O’Connor’s seat when she announced her retirement earlier that year. He had served as an appellate judge in Washington and spent more than a decade before that as a lawyer at the Hogan and Hartson law firm, where he specialized in arguing cases before the Supreme Court. Roberts also served in the Reagan and Bush administrations in the 1980s and ’90s. He was a clerk for Rehnquist after graduating from Harvard Law School. Roberts spent a couple of weeks in Europe in July, teaching a course in Vienna and attending a conference in Paris. He was at the court in Washington late last week. © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON, July 30 — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. was hospitalized on today after suffering a seizure at his summer home in Maine, the Supreme Court announced. The episode, described as a “benign idiopathic seizure,” was similar to one he suffered 14 years ago, according to the court’s press release. Idiopathic means that the cause of the seizure remains unknown. He had no lasting effects from the earlier incident and was “fully recovered” from the seizure he suffered about 2 p.m. today, the court said, adding that the chief justice had undergone “a thorough neurological evaluation, which revealed no cause for concern.” He was to remain overnight “as a precaution” at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport. The seizure caused a fall, in which he “experienced minor scrapes,” the court said.	Chief Justice John G. Roberts, 2005. Chief Justice John Roberts was hospitalized after having a seizure in his summer home in Maine. A statement released by Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg stated that Justice Roberts took a minor fall from the seizure, and has been transported to the Penobscot Bay Medical Center. In addition, she said that Justice Roberts has undergone a, "thorough neurological evaluation, which revealed no cause for concern." Justice Roberts, 52, had a similar incident in 1993, when he suffered a "isolated, idiosyncratic seizure," according to White House doctors. The Justice was returning from a boat ride at around 2 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) Monday when he fell on a dock near his home in Port Clyde on Maine's Hupper Island, Arberg said. He was taken by boat to the mainland, and transferred to an ambulance, said St. George Fire Chief Tim Polky. Doctors have determined that this incident was caused by "a benign idiopathic seizure." Both descriptions, according to Arberg, hint that doctors could not determine the cause of the seizures, or link them to any known condition.
Get a daily dose of showbiz gossip straight to your inbox with our free email newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Phil Collins yesterday revealed he will never play the drums again because of a spine injury. The Genesis star says he can no longer even hold his drum sticks because sitting at a kit is too painful. Phil, 58, said: "I've got a condition that means I can't play any more. After playing drums for 50 years, I've had to stop. "Obviously I'm very sad about it. My vertebrae has been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. "It comes from years of playing. I can't even hold the sticks properly without it being painful. "I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through. But don't worry, I can still sing." The news will be heartbreaking for Phil's millions of fans worldwide. A friend said: "He is devastated as drumming is everything to him. It's how he made his name and it set him on the road to superstardom. "But drumming has been getting more and more painful and he decided enough was enough and called it a day. He has to put his health first." Phil, who has sold more than 150 millions albums, was speaking at a garden party on Tuesday in aid of the Prince's Trust. He is a celebrity ambassador for the charity and Prince Charles and Camilla invited Phil to the reception at their Highgrove home near Tetbury, Glos. Phil first found stardom as the drummer in 70s prog rock favourites Genesis after answering an advert in the music paper Melody Maker He initially only did backing vocals but took over the microphone when lead singer Peter Gabriel left in 1975. A Trick Of The Tail, the group's first album featuring Collins on lead vocals, entered the charts at No.3. He subsequently launched a solo career as well and his first album Face Value went to No.1. It was followed by a string of hit singles such as In The Air Tonight and You Can't Hurry Love. Phil, who was a child actor, also starred in the 1988 movie Buster. In 1996 he announced was leaving Genesis after 26 years. He recently won a new generation of fans with a Cadbury's advert featuring a gorilla drumming along to In The Air Tonight. It became an instant YouTube classic generating millions of hits and a chart re-release reached No.14. \|\|\|\|\| I can never play the drums again, says Phil Collins Phil Collins today revealed he will never drum again because he is suffering from a painful spine injury. The former Genesis star can't even hold his sticks after years of sitting in front of a drumkit. Collins, 58, whose hits include In The Air Tonight, said: 'After playing drums for 50 years, I've had to stop. 'My vertebrae have been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. Painful: Phil Collins, pictured performing in New York two years ago, is quitting the drums 'It comes from years of playing. I can't even hold the sticks properly without it being painful, I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through.' But this is not the end of his music career, as Collins told fans: 'Don't worry, I can still sing.' 'I can still sing': Phil will stick to crooning He also hinted that the Prince's Trust series of all-star rock concerts could be resurrected. The Prince's Trust Rock Gala was held for the first time in 1983 at London's Dominion Theatre. A show held five years later at the Royal Albert Hall was recently released on DVD, and Collins has been watching it with his children. The concerts featured performers including Collins, Eric Clapton, Sir Elton John, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, The Bee Gees and Ultravox's Midge Ure. Collins said there had been discussions about reviving the Prince's Trust concerts. Speaking at a celebrity reception hosted by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at Highgrove, he said: 'It's fantastic to see Bryan Adams here today, he performed too, but there was a core group, the house band, which was me, Eric, Elton, Sting, Midge and Mark Knopfler. 'I think there is talk of trying to do another one. We built up a live reputation, but people don't wait to see people live now like they used to. 'There is music on tonnes of television channels and that means we hear a record constantly for a month and then don't hear from the act.' \|\|\|\|\| Friday, September 11 2009, 10:20 BST By Mayer Nissim, Entertainment Reporter Rex Features Phil Collins has said that he will never play the drums again. The former Genesis star told The Mirror that a spinal injury causes too much pain for him to even hold his drumsticks. Collins said: "I've got a condition that means I can't play anymore. After playing drums for 50 years, I've had to stop. "Obviously I'm very sad about it. My vertebrae has been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in." He added: "It comes from years of playing. I can't even hold the sticks properly without it being painful. I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through. "But don't worry, I can still sing." Collins joined Genesis as the band's drummer in 1970 before moving to vocals following Peter Gabriel's departure in 1975. He later had a successful solo career with hits including 'In The Air Tonight' and 'Another Day in Paradise'.	Former Genesis band member Phil Collins has announced that he will never play the drums ever again. Phil Collins singing in Dusseldorf, Germany. Collins says his decision is due to a spinal injury which makes it too painful for him to hold up his drumsticks. In an interview with British tabloid, the ''Daily Mirror'', Collins, age 58 said, "I've got a condition that means I can't play any more. After playing drums for 50 years, I've had to stop." "Obviously I'm very sad about it. My vertebrae has been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. I can't even hold the sticks properly without it being painful. I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through," added Collins who also said that he is still able to sing. One of Collins' friends said to the ''Daily Mirror'', "He is devastated as drumming is everything to him. It's how he made his name and it set him on the road to superstardom."
AN Indonesian sailing ship which was stranded on a southeast Queensland beach for a week was today being towed to Brisbane for repairs. The Indonesian navy's 35m Arung Samudera was heading to Sydney for the APEC leaders' forum when it ran into a storm last Thursday and grounded at Inskip Point. Australian navy Commander Forbes Peters, who has been overseeing its salvage, said the schooner would berth near the naval barracks at suburban Bulimba at 11am (AEST). He said the sail training ship appeared to be seaworthy when refloated last night, but its damaged keel and rudder needed repairs. "There's still some significant defects which need to be repaired, so I don't really have any idea of how long that will take," Cdr Peters said. "The negotiations are proceeding between the Indonesian government and various repair agencies in Brisbane." Cdr Peters said the ship's 18 crew were "very happy" the operation went so well. After repairs, the New Zealand-built three-masted ship will continue to Sydney, but will not arrive in time for the APEC tall ships festival. \|\|\|\|\| Beached Indonesian ship refloated Updated An Indonesian Navy sailing ship has been refloated, after becoming stranded on the Queensland coast during wild storms last week. Commander Forbes Peters from the Australian Navy says tonight's full moon, high tides and calm seas have provided ideal conditions for the salvage effort of the Arung Samudera at Inskip Point, near Gympie. Commander Peters says the ship will now be towed to Brisbane for repairs. "Once the ship is safely off the beach we'll stop off the beach and conduct a full survey of the ship and then the tug will tow the ship down to the Brisbane river," he said. He says Indonesian sailors and officials are delighted the operation went so well. "The naval attache and the first secretary to the ambassador are on site here and they cuddled Lieutenant Commander Larry Cook," he said. "They are over the moon and I'm sure the commanding officer is as well, even though he's currently at sea on his ship." The majority of the Arung Samudera's crew were taken to Brisbane on Monday. Topics: maritime, accidents, inskip-4581, brisbane-4000, indonesia First posted	''Arung Samudera'', the Indonesian naval tall ship that was recently grounded off Queensland, Australia, has been salvaged from the beach at Inskip Point and is currently being towed to Brisbane for repairs. The 35m vessel has been stranded since last Thursday, when she was grounded whilst on her way to the APEC meeting in Sydney. The ship is expected to berth in Brisbane near the naval barracks at approximately 11 a.m. (AEST). The tri-masted sailing training vessel, built in New Zealand, is believed to be seaworthy, but has serious damage to her keel and rudder. After the completion of repairs, the ship is expected to continue to Sydney, although it will not reach it in time for the APEC meeting. The ship's 18-man crew are said to be "very happy" with developments. According to the Australian Navy's Commander Forbes Peters, Indonesian officials are as pleased as the ships crew, with Peters saying "The naval attache and the first secretary to the ambassador are on site here and they cuddled Lieutenant Commander Larry Cook. They are over the moon and I'm sure the commanding officer is as well, even though he's currently at sea on his ship."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States had cautioned Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf against declaring emergency rule and urged him on Saturday to stick to his pledge to hold free elections early next year. "This action is very disappointing," said White House National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe. "President Musharraf needs to stand by his pledges to have free and fair elections in January and step down as chief of army staff before retaking the presidential oath of office," Johndroe added. Musharraf imposed emergency rule on Saturday in a bid to reassert his flagging authority against challenges from Islamist militants, a hostile judiciary and political rivals. "All parties involved should move along the democratic path peacefully and quickly," Johndroe said. Earlier, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, while on a visit to Turkey, said she was "deeply disturbed" by Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule, calling it a step backward for democracy. "The U.S. has made very clear that it does not support extra-constitutional measures as they would take Pakistan away from the path of democracy and civilian rule," Rice told reporters as she was taking off from Turkey. "We will be urging the commitment to hold free and fair elections be kept and we will be urging calm on all parties," she said while en route to Jerusalem. Rice said she had spoken multiple times recently to Pakistan's leaders as had other Bush administration officials and expressed strong U.S. reservations about declaring emergency rule. She said she had not spoken to Musharraf since he made the announcement on Saturday. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Islamabad's political and judicial core has been sealed off Musharraf defiant He defended his actions in a national address, saying he was curbing a rise in extremism in Pakistan. Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has been replaced and the Supreme Court surrounded by troops, who also entered state-run TV and radio stations. The moves come as the Supreme Court was due to rule on the legality of Gen Musharraf's October election victory. The court was to decide whether Gen Musharraf was eligible to run for re-election last month while remaining army chief. The BBC's Barbara Plett reports from Islamabad that fears had been growing in the government that the Supreme Court ruling could go against Gen Musharraf. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who recently returned to the country after years of self-exile to lead her party in planned parliamentary elections, was in Dubai on a personal visit when news of the declaration broke. However, she immediately flew back to Karachi where she condemned Gen Musharraf's decision. It is not clear whether the parliamentary elections due in January will go ahead. Gen Musharraf made no mention of them in his speech, but he insisted he wanted to restore democracy. Suicide warning Pakistan has been engulfed in political upheaval in recent months, and the security forces have suffered a series of blows from pro-Taleban militants opposed to Gen Musharraf's support for the US-led "war on terror". In a lengthy televised speech late on Saturday, Mr Musharraf said the situation had forced him into making "some very painful decisions". "I suspect that Pakistan's sovereignty is in danger unless timely action is taken," he said. He insisted his decisions were made for the benefit of Pakistan. "Extremists are roaming around freely in the country, and they are not scared of law-enforcement agencies," the president said. As well as defending emergency rule to the Pakistani people, Gen Musharraf also appealed directly to his Western allies for patience. "Kindly understand the criticality of the situation in Pakistan and around Pakistan. Pakistan is on the verge of destabilisation," he said. "Inaction at this moment is suicide for Pakistan and I cannot allow this country to commit suicide." US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the declaration of emergency rule was "highly regrettable" and called upon Pakistan to have free and fair elections. UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband also expressed concern, saying it was vital Pakistan's government "abides by the commitment to hold free and fair elections on schedule". New chief justice Gen Musharraf's address echoed the text of the declaration of emergency rule, which opens with a reference to the "grave threat" posed by the "visible ascendancy in the activities of extremists and incidents of terrorist attacks". Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in response to the news The political and judicial core of Islamabad has been shut down, but the rest of the city is functioning normally, our correspondent says. She says it is clear from reading the emergency proclamation the main target is the judiciary which is accused of interfering in government policy and weakening the struggle against terrorism. Chief Justice Chaudhry and eight other judges refused to endorse the emergency order, declaring it unconstitutional, resulting in Mr Chaudhry's dismissal. A new chief justice has been appointed, officials say. He is Supreme Court judge Abdul Hameed Dogar, a supporter of Gen Musharraf who was a member of the special tribunal appointed to investigate allegations of wrongdoing by Mr Chaudhry. Ms Bhutto's return from self-imposed exile last month came about with the co-operation of Gen Musharraf. Our correspondent says that in the changed circumstances she will have to decide whether she is returning to lead the opposition against the president, or should wait on the sidelines in the hopes of securing an agreement with him. \|\|\|\|\| By Kamran Haider ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule in an attempt to reassert his flagging authority against challenges from Islamist militants, a hostile judiciary and political rivals. General Musharraf said he decided to act on Saturday in response to a rise in extremism and what he called the paralysis of government by judicial interference. "I fear that if timely action is not taken, then God forbid there is a threat to Pakistan's sovereignty," he said in a midnight televised address. "I cannot allow this country to commit suicide." The United States, a staunch ally of Musharraf, called his declaration of a state of emergency "very disappointing". Nuclear-armed Pakistan's internal security has deteriorated sharply in recent months with a wave of suicide attacks by al Qaeda-inspired militants, including one assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto that killed 139 people. Opposition leader Bhutto flew back to Pakistan on Saturday and accused Musharraf of imposing "mini-martial law". Another leading opposition figure, former cricket captain Imran Khan, was placed under house arrest. Television channels said that Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, whose earlier suspension in March marked the beginning of a slide in Musharraf's popularity, had been told that his services were "no longer required". Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Soldiers stand guard in front of the administrative center of the capital Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007. President Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday ahead of a crucial Supreme Court decision on whether to overturn his recent election win and amid rising Islamic militant violence. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) President Gen. Pervez Musharraf suspended Pakistan's constitution and deployed troops in the capital Saturday, declaring that rising Islamic extremism had forced him to take emergency measures. He also replaced the chief justice and blacked out the independent media that refused to support him. Authorities began rounding up opposition politicians, cut phone lines in Islamabad and took all but state television off air, defying calls from Washington and other Western allies not to take authoritarian measures. On Sunday, police arrested Javed Hashmi, the acting president of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party. Hashmi was arrested along with 10 aides when he stepped outside his house in the central city of Multan. Police also arrested six lawyers, including the secretary of the Multan High Court Bar Association. The U.S. said it was disappointed and called for Musharraf to restore democracy. However, the Pentagon said the emergency declaration does not affect U.S. military support for Pakistan and its efforts in the war on terrorism. Britain said it was deeply concerned. Musharraf's leadership is threatened by an increasingly defiant Supreme Court, the reemergence of political rival and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and an Islamic movement that has spread to the capital. The Supreme Court was expected to rule soon on the validity of Musharraf's contentious re-election last month. Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum denied claims in the media and from Bhutto, that Musharraf had imposed martial law direct rule by the army without announcing it. He said this was not the case as the prime minister and parliament were still in place. Analysts said the emergency measures may only postpone Musharraf's political demise. In a televised address late Saturday night, Musharraf looked somber and composed, wearing a black tunic rather than his usual military fatigues. He said Pakistan was at a "dangerous" juncture. "The extremism has even spread to Islamabad, and the extremists are taking the writ of the government in their own hands, and even worse they are imposing their obsolete ideas on moderates," he said. Musharraf's order allows courts to function but suspends some fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution, including freedom of speech. It also allows authorities to detain people without informing them of the charges. \|\|\|\|\| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a countrywide state of emergency Saturday, suspending the constitution and dismissing the Pakistan Supreme Court's chief justice for the second time. President Pervez Musharraf explains his actions in a televised address Saturday. The country is at a critical and dangerous juncture -- threatened by rising tensions and spreading terrorism, Musharraf said in a televised address to the nation after declaring martial law. He also warned Pakistan is going through "some very rapid changes." Despite immediate condemnation from within and outside his country, he insisted his actions were for the good of Pakistan and the move was to stabilize unrest. Watch Musharraf's speech » The Supreme Court declared the state of emergency illegal, claiming Musharraf -- who also is Pakistan's military chief -- had no power to suspend the constitution, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry said. Shortly afterward, government troops came to Chaudhry's office and told him the president had dismissed him from his job. Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar was quickly appointed to replace him, according to state television. It was the second time Chaudhry was removed from his post. His ousting by Musharraf in May prompted massive protests, and he was later reinstated. See a timeline of upheaval in Pakistan » Musharraf was re-elected president in October, but the election is not yet legally official, because the Supreme Court is hearing constitutional challenges to Musharraf's eligibility filed by the opposition. The next 5-year term is scheduled to begin November 15. Watch a former Pakistani P.M. call the developments in his country 'disturbing' » Meanwhile, popular opposition leader Imran Khan said early Sunday that police surrounded his house in Lahore, barged in and told him he was under house arrest. Musharraf also had Khan placed under house arrest during a government crackdown in March 2006. Asked about Musharraf's actions Saturday, Khan said, "We are going to oppose this in every way." "None of us accept ... this whole drama about emergency." Khan said he believed Musharraf declared a state of emergency because he feared Pakistan's Supreme Court would rule against the results of the October election. "Everyone knew that the general was in trouble with the Supreme Court," Khan said. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto -- who arrived in Karachi Saturday from Dubai, where she had gone to visit her family -- echoed that view. Watch crowds surround Bhutto upon her arrival » Speaking outside her home, Bhutto described a "wave of disappointment" at Musharraf's actions. "The country is going to dictatorship once again," she said. "It is an uncertain situation, and the Pakistani public and I are really very disappointed with this emergency announcement." Bhutto -- who returned to Pakistan last month after several years in exile -- wants to lift her Pakistan People's Party to victory in January's parliamentary election in the hope she can have a third term as prime minister. There was also swift international condemnation. The White House called Musharraf's action disappointing. "President Musharraf needs to stand by his pledges to have free and fair elections in January and step down as chief of army staff before retaking the presidential oath of office," said National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe. "All parties involved should move along the democratic path peacefully and quickly." U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice -- who is in Turkey for a conference with Iraq and neighboring nations -- said The United States doesn't support any extra-constitutional measures taken by Musharraf. In Britain, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in a statement, "We recognize the threat to peace and security faced by the country, but its future rests on harnessing the power of democracy and the rule of law to achieve the goals of stability, development and countering terrorism. I am gravely concerned by the measures adopted today, which will take Pakistan further from these goals." The nation's political atmosphere has been tense for months, with Pakistani leaders in August considering a state of emergency because of the growing security threats in the country's lawless tribal regions. But Musharraf, influenced in part by Rice, held off on the move. Watch a report on the volatile situation in Pakistan » Since that time, Musharraf has faced a flurry of criticism from the opposition, who demanded he abandon his military position before becoming eligible to seek a third presidential term. Musharraf, who led the 1999 coup as Pakistan's army chief, has seen his power erode since the failed effort to oust Chaudhry. His administration is also struggling to contain a surge in Islamic militancy. E-mail to a friend All About Pervez Musharraf • Pakistan	Pervez Musharraf has invoked emergency rule in Pakistan according to state television. Independent stations have gone off the air. Pervez Musharraf has ruled Pakistan since 1999 Reports say that police have surrounded the Supreme Court of Pakistan, while the judges are still inside. The court is deciding whether Musharraf was eligible to run in last month's election, which he won. The Supreme Court has stated that Musharraf does not have the authority to declare the state of emergency, which includes a suspension of the Constitution. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who recently returned home, is currently out of the country, visiting family in Dubai. ''Dawn News'', a private television station in Pakistan had stated that sources said that a declaration of emergency rule was imminent. ''Dawn News'' and other private news organizations then went off the air. Some reports are also saying that land and cell lines into the capital are not functioning, but it is not clear if this is deliberate or is due to high traffic or some other concern. Most other countries have responded negatively to this news. The United States said that it was "disappointed" by the move while the United Kingdom's foreign secretary said that it was vital that Pakistan "abides by the commitment to hold free and fair elections on schedule".
The maiden launch of Russia's new Angara carrier rocket could be postponed for at least one year due to shortage of funds from the Defense Ministry, the top Russian space official said Wednesday. The Angara rocket, currently under development by the Khrunichev center, is designed to put heavy payloads into orbit. The launch facilities were expected to be finished by 2010, and the first launch had been originally scheduled for 2011. "There is a serious delay in the construction of launch facilities [for Angara] due to the shortage of financing from the Defense Ministry. We are doing everything we can on our part," said Anatoly Perminov, the head of the Federal Space Agency Roscosmos. Perminov said that the ministry has not halted financing completely, but significantly reduced it, resulting in the delay to construction this year. The new line of Angara rockets will complement, and eventually replace, the existing line of Rockot and Proton launch vehicles. It will be available in a range of configurations capable of lifting between two and 24.5 metric tons into low-earth orbit, and its creators say it will have a low environment impact. The Angara is intended mainly for launch from the Plesetsk space center to reduce Moscow's dependence on Kazakhstan's Baikonur, the main launch facility for the current generation of Russian rockets. The rockets will be used for military and civilian purposes, specifically to put into orbit satellites as part of the Federal Space Program, as well as joint international space projects. The Khrunichev center recently asked the government to allocate additional 10 billion rubles (about $290 mln) over the next three years to finish the development of the Angara rocket. Perminov said on Wednesday that the development of the rocket itself was going according to schedule. MOSCOW, November 18 (RIA Novosti) \|\|\|\|\| Запуск "Ангары" отложили на год 20:52 / 18.11.2009 Создание наземной инфраструктуры для запусков новой российской экологически чистой ракеты-носителя "Ангара" откладывается как минимум на год. Об этом заявил в среду руководитель Роскосмоса Анатолий Перминов, пояснив, что причиной задержки стало недофинансирование со стороны Минобороны. "Есть очень серьезное отставание по срокам создания наземного комплекса из-за недофинансирования со стороны Минобороны РФ. Дело в том, что это не наши средства, мы, все что нужно, со своей стороны вкладываем и выполняем", - заявил глава Роскосмоса, отметив, что Минобороны не отказалось от финансирования, но осуществляет его не в полном объеме. Ракета-носитель "Ангара", разрабатываемая в Государственном космическом научно-производственном центре имени Хруничева, отличается от существующих аналогов тем, что работает на экологически чистых компонентах топлива - кислороде и керосине. При этом ее двигатель обладает самым высоким удельным импульсом тяги в мире. Ранее планировалось, что комплекс для запуска "Ангары" будет готов на космодроме Плесецк к 2010 году, а первый испытательный запуск произойдет в 2011 году. Говоря о перспективах "Ангары", Перминов пообещал, что этот вопрос в ближайшее время будет рассматриваться на самом высоком уровне. Что касается создания и испытаний самой ракеты-носителя, то по ней проблем нет. Создание экологически чистого ракетно-космического комплекса "Ангара" - задача государственной важности, отмечает РИА Новости. Заложенные в проекте технические характеристики носителей находятся на уровне, позволяющем ракетам семейства "Ангара" успешно конкурировать с лучшими мировыми образцами ракетно-космической техники.	Russian space officials have said that the launch of the new Angara carrier rocket might be delayed for about a year due to lack of funds. Anatoly Perminov, head of the Federal Space Agency Roscosmos, made the announcement today. "There is a serious delay in the construction of launch facilities for Angara due to the shortage of financing from the Defense Ministry. The problem is that this is not in our control, we are doing everything that we can on our part," Perminov said. He noted that the ministry didn't completely cut the budget, but lowered it substantially. Launch facilities for the rocket were initially to be made ready by 2010, with the launch scheduled for the year after that. Perminov commented that the rocket itself was being constructed on schedule. The Angara rocket, which is being constructed by the Khrunichev center, is intended to transport heavy loads of up to 24.5 metric tons into orbit, but with a low level of impact on the environment. They will be used for both military and civilian purposes, and are to be used in joint space station projects and for launching satellites into orbit.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the only woman on the Supreme Court, had surgery Thursday for early stage pancreatic cancer, the Supreme Court announced. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has undergone two bouts of cancer since she joined the court in 1993. Ginsburg, 75, is at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the court said in a news release. It said she will likely remain there for seven to 10 days, according to her attending surgeon, Dr. Murray Brennan. "Justice Ginsburg had no symptoms prior to the incidental discovery of the lesion during a routine annual checkup in late January at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland," the court said. A CAT scan "revealed a small tumor, approximately one centimeter across, in the center of the pancreas," the release added. Court sources said the surgery went well and that doctors and the family were cautiously optimistic. Ginsburg was still working in her chambers late last week. She had been diagnosed shortly after attending the presidential inauguration, the sources said. Watch friends talk about how 'tough' Ginsburg is » The court returns for public oral arguments February 23, after a month-long break, but justices are also scheduled for a closed-door conference February 20. There is no word whether Ginsburg will attend in person, or if she will eventually have to curtail her workload. Ginsburg previously underwent surgery for colorectal cancer in September 1999. Court sources said she continued to work on pending cases while in her hospital bed and during her subsequent recovery. Less than a month later she appeared in public to give a speech and said, "I am still mending but have progressed steadily." She never missed a day on the bench. Don't Miss Mayo Clinic: Pancreatic Cancer She received chemotherapy between October 1999 and June 2000. There was no word on her future course of treatment beyond Thursday's surgery. President Obama wished Ginsburg a speedy recovery, offering his thoughts and prayers, said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. She is the second oldest justice on the high court, after 88-year-old Justice John Paul Stevens. "Cancer is a dreadful disease," Ginsburg told a women's health research dinner in 2001. "The surgery, and what I call the post-operative insurance course (chemotherapy and radiation) are not easy to bear physically and can generate large anxiety." But, Ginsburg added, "there is nothing like a cancer bout to make one relish the joys of being alive. It is as though a special, zestful spice seasons my work and days. Each thing I do comes with a heightened appreciation that I am able to do it." Don't Miss Findlaw: Biography Ginsburg's mother died of cancer the day before the future justice graduated from high school. Her husband was diagnosed with cancer while she was in law school, but was successfully treated. Almost 35,000 Americans are estimated to have died from pancreatic cancer in 2008, making it the fourth leading cause of cancer death overall, according to the American Cancer Society. For all ages combined, the one-year survival rate is 24 percent; the five-year survival rate is 5 percent. However, it is not often discovered in the early stages, because symptoms usually do not appear until the condition is advanced. Ginsburg, considered one of the more liberal jurists on the bench, was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton. She is admired by her colleagues for her intellectual prowess, her understanding of court precedent and her quiet but firm manner. She loves opera and fine arts and is close friends with Justice Antonin Scalia, a fellow New Yorker but one of the most conservative members of the bench. They have vacationed and organized dinner parties together. Watch how Ginsburg's health could affect the Supreme Court » She is the only woman serving on the high court, and the second ever, following Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who served from 1981 to 2006. Ginsburg was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to the U.S. District Court of Appeals, where she served from 1981 until her nomination to the Supreme Court. CNN's Andrea Kane contributed to this story. All About U.S. Supreme Court • Ruth Bader Ginsburg • Pancreatic Cancer \|\|\|\|\| Ruth Bader Ginsburg was appointed by Bill Clinton in 1993 US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer, the court says. It says the 75-year-old justice had surgery in New York and is expected to remain in hospital for up to 10 days. The Supreme Court said her illness appeared to be in its early stages. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancers. Ms Ginsburg has been a justice since 1993 and is one of the more liberal of the nine judges on the Supreme Court. If she were to stand down, it would give President Barack Obama the chance to name his first Supreme Court justice. Ms Ginsburg has previously said she has no intention of leaving the court any time soon.	Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2006 United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 75, has undergone surgery for early pancreatic cancer today. The disease was spotted during a routine check-up. She is likely to be hospitalised for ten days. "Justice Ginsburg had no symptoms prior to the incidental discovery of the lesion during a routine annual checkup in late January at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland," the Supreme Court announced. Ginsburg underwent sugery and had chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in 1999; her mother and husband also suffered from cancer. She was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993, and is considered to be on the liberal wing of the nine-member court. A spokesman for President Barack Obama said that Obama's thoughts and prayers are with Ginsburg. According to the American Cancer Society, the one-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is 24%, and the five-year survival rate is 5%.
Josephine Calvi was the sixth person to die as a result of the crash. (File photo) (ABC) The Mildura community has farewelled the last of the victims of the road crash at Cardross in Victoria's north-west. About 3,000 people turned out for the funeral of 16-year-old Josephine Calvi, who died in Adelaide the day after five of her friends were killed when a car ran off the road near Cardross. Members of the Calvi family attended each of the funeral services of Josie's friends last week and today they farewelled their own daughter. Her Aunt Mary said Josie's large extended family had been devastated by the loss. "We know you did not go alone, besides Cassie, Stevie-Lee, Shane and Abby and Cory you take with you a part of our broken hearts, love does not end," she said. Josie was also a popular netballer, athlete and former state representative basketballer. \|\|\|\|\| By Jamie Berry, Mildura February 27, 2006 THE deaths of five people in a Tasmanian car crash on Saturday have resonated loudly with Mildura residents, who will today farewell the last of six teenagers killed in a hit-run tragedy a week before. This morning's funeral of 16-year-old Josephine Calvi will hopefully provide some sense of closure to a community in mourning. But Mildura Rural City Mayor Eddie Warhurst said yesterday that the Tasmanian tragedy, in which five women and girls died on the way to a basketball tournament, had "brought it all back, there's no doubt about that". "After what we have been through, we understand what that community is feeling," he said. "We sympathise and our feelings go out to them." Cr Warhurst said many people in the region were still wrestling with the incomprehensible. "The community is still very traumatised," he said. "It's been a trying time and the district has been very, very shocked. The whole thing, emotionally and physically, has been draining." Mark Bateman, a chaplain who has been based in Mildura in the past week, said there was every chance the Tasmanian crash would resurrect feelings of sadness and anger in the Sunraysia region. "It's quite similar to here a small community, a large number of fatalities," he said. "The last thing people need is to have people talking about another tragedy on top of their own. It's so fresh in their own minds the potential is there for it to retraumatise people." More than a week after the Mildura smash, people continued to pay their respects to victims at the crash site at Cardross yesterday. About 2500 people are expected to attend Josephine Calvi's funeral at St Joseph's College Stadium following the release of her body by the South Australian Coroner's Office. Last week, Coroner Mark Johns apologised to the Calvi family, upset after learning that tests to determine the cause of her death would take up to two weeks, delaying her planned funeral. Ms Calvi's family have requested that mourners donate money to a charity to be announced, instead of flowers. Meanwhile, two boys injured in the Mildura crash remain in hospital. Marco Medici, 15, is in a stable but critical condition at The Alfred hospital, while Nick Pezzaniti, 14, is in a stable condition at the Royal Children's Hospital. \|\|\|\|\| VICTORIA Mildura grieves: Accused driver hangs his head low THOMAS Graham Towle slumped forward in the dock of the Mildura Magistrates' Court, his face cast downwards, his tousled, brown-haired head buried deep in his hands. He didn't look up once during the seven-minute hearing yesterday morning. Occasionally he rubbed his eyes, as if in disbelief. Here he was, charged with six counts of culpable driving causing death, four charges of negligently causing serious injury, one charge of failing to stop and one charge of failing to render assistance after an accident. Culpable driving causing death is the most serious driving charge in Victoria. It carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' jail. Mr Towle wore a two-tone, light-blue and dark-blue top with a logo on the left sleeve, the same top he threw over his head to try to avoid being photographed as he was led out of the police lock-up just before 9.30am. The lock-up, with its iron-barred windows and razor-wired roof, is behind Mildura's police station on a laneway that runs behind the town hall. Mr Towle emerged from locked, wire-mesh gates to move quickly into the back of a police divisional van under close guard. The van drove down the laneway about 150m to a secure back entrance to the Mildura Courts Building. Security was the watchword yesterday morning in Mildura, a city both shocked and angry. At 9.45am everyone entering the modern court building on Deakin Ave was asked to empty their pockets, then searched thoroughly by police using metal scanners. Inside Court No. 1, a police sergeant recorded everybody's name and address in his official notebook and asked the reason for their attendance. Court No. 1 is stylishly modern. With a desert climate outside, it is decorated in cool, oasis colours of lime-green walls and olive-green carpet and furniture with light wood panelling. Senior uniformed police, including Acting Insp Mick Talbot, of the major collision investigation unit, were scattered throughout the small courtroom before magistrate John Dugdale, wearing a dark grey suit and a striped tie, took his seat on the bench at 10am. The magistrate began reading attentively from a computer screen on his desk. Mr Towle had already been led into the dock just before the magistrate arrived. He sat, slumped forward, almost as if he was trying to hide under the wooden front of the enclosure, as the hearing got under way. In front of him at the table for counsel were the duty solicitor Hugh Middleton in a dark suit and the police prosecutor Sgt Tim Edgeworth, a big man with a big moustache. Sgt Edgeworth explained to the magistrate that one of the original charges against Mr Towle had been withdrawn but another had been substituted. The magistrate took a note. Then he said: "Remanded to this court, 26th of June, in custody, there being no bail application." Mr Towle stood up and, still with head down, almost rushed from the courtroom out from the dock and behind a door, quickly locked behind him by his guards. Outside the court, there were noisy exchanges and scuffles with news cameramen as a group of Mr Towle's friends and relatives left the building. Mr Towle's mother, Jill Wilson, was among the crowd. She seemed in shock. "I'll say it over and over again -- if I could die and bring them back to life I would," she said. "I am so sorry. I am so sorry." In the shadow of the courthouse Acting Insp Talbot said: "This is the worst single incident involving fatalities since 1993, when 10 people were killed in a bus crash at Wangaratta. "Eight investigators have come from Melbourne to join us here. "There is a lot of work to be done, a lot of witnesses among the kids to be talked to. "Basically we start at the scene of the crash and then work backwards." He said counsellors were helping ambulance crews and police officers on duty on Saturday night: those who had to attend the horrific scene of carnage on that lonely stretch of road that runs between vineyards and olive trees near a hamlet called Cardross. \|\|\|\|\| THE driver accused of killing six teenagers in a horror hit-run smash appeared in court amid tight security as tensions ran high in Mildura yesterday. Accused hangs head One awful moment We'll miss you Marco symbol of hope Champ dreamed of AFL Gran tells of love Escape from death The victims \| Video People entering Mildura Magistrates' Court had their bags checked and were scanned for weapons as police and security guards flanked the building. The accused man, Thomas Graham Towle, was driven in the back of a police van about 50m from the cells to the court house to ensure his safety. Mr Towle, 34, wore a blue T-shirt and tracksuit pants as he sat with his head in his hands throughout the brief hearing. His lawyer, Hugh Middleton, said he would not be applying for bail. Mr Towle, who allegedly left two of his young children at the scene of the tragedy on Saturday night, was remanded to reappear before the court on June 26. The charges against Mr Towle were upgraded after the death of 16-year-old Red Cliffs schoolgirl Josephine Calvi in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on Sunday night. Mr Towle now faces six counts of culpable driving, four counts of negligently causing serious injury, one count of failing to stop at the scene of an accident and one count of failing to render assistance. Killed instantly were brother and sister Shane and Abby Hirst, 16 and 17, Stevie-Lee Weight, 15, Cassandra Manners, 16, and Cory Dowling, 16. Three teenagers remain in hospital. As Mr Towle's relatives left the court yesterday, one lashed out at television cameras. Mr Towle's mother, Jill Wilson, described the accident as a tragedy. "I'm sorry this terrible, unthinkable accident happened," she said. "I'm grieving for those families. They're so young and I feel for the grandmothers and the mothers and fathers and the friends." She said her family had received death threats. Mr Towle's brother Darren said the family was "in shock and scared" by the death threats. "We are very sorry it was just a freak accident," he said. Family friend Tamara Ritchie said Mr Towle's wife, Belinda, was trying to look after five traumatised children. "People have been saying, `We are going to get your kids. Don't think our kids are going without yours'," Ms Ritchie said. Police would investigate the threats if a complaint was laid, a spokesman said. Mildura mayor Eddie Warhurst and senior police called for calm. "I could probably understand the anger and the angst and the desire to blame someone or something, but common sense must reign. All we can do is have faith in our legal processes," he said. The police officer in charge of the investigation, Acting Insp Mick Talbot, also asked for the community to help. "Let us do our job. Talk to us," he said. "Stay calm and let us do what we have to do." Prime Minister John Howard said all Australians were mourning the six victims. "It's just such a tragic loss of young lives, it's heartbreaking," he said. "I, like all other Australians, am just so dreadfully sorry and I can't do more than express my profound sympathy and condolences to those who have lost their children and their friends, their brothers, their sisters. It's a terrible accident." Premier Steve Bracks also expressed his sorrow. "Mildura is a close-knit community and the loss of these six young people will be felt for a long time to come," he said. "As a parent myself of teenage children my thoughts and sympathy go out to all those involved." The State Government will provide $40,000 to fund counselling and support services. \|\|\|\|\| ABC Victoria \| Local News \| Story Driver's actions in deadly hit-and-run 'incomprehensible' Sunday, 19 February 2006. 14:53 (AEDT) Sunday, 19 February 2006. 13:53 (ACST) Sunday, 19 February 2006. 13:53 (AEST) Sunday, 19 February 2006. 14:53 (ACDT) Sunday, 19 February 2006. 11:53 (AWST) Police have condemned the actions of a man who fled the scene of an accident that killed five teenagers and left two more critically injured in Victoria's north-west last night. The accident happened at Cardross, a small settlement south-west of Mildura. A group of 13 teenagers had left a party and was standing off the side of the road waiting for a taxi when a car veered to the wrong side and ploughed into the group. Acting police Inspector Mick Talbot of the Major Collision Squad says the 34-year-old driver fled the scene. "He left two children in the car, which again is incomprehensible," he said. "Anybody who leaves the scene of a collision, who leaves people dead and dying really need to have a good look at themselves. "It's treated very seriously by us, it's treated very seriously by the community - to leave somebody there is just ridiculous." The man was arrested in a horticultural block near where the accident happened but neither he, nor the 10-year-old girl and four-year-old boy he left in the vehicle, were injured. Inspector Talbot says the scene was horrific and has commended the actions of the teenagers and families who tried to help the victims. "People do amazing things when they are under times of stress and in situations when they are confronted by something, they just react and react in a most admirable way," he said. Inspector Talbot says the small community has been devastated. "It will rock Red Cliffs to its foundation," he said. "All these kids are young - they're teenagers aged from 14 to 17, they live around the area, they know each other, they all go to school together, they have families and close ties - it will devastate the area." Counselling is available this afternoon for students affected by the tragedy at Mildura Senior College. Related Images \|\|\|\|\| Victorian police say a sister and brother are among five teenagers killed in a hit-and-run crash near Mildura, in the state's north-west overnight. The names of the three girls and two boys have been released by police. They are 16-year-old Shane Hirst and his 17-year-old sister Abbey; 15-year-old Stevie-Lee Weight; Cassandra Manners, 16 and Cory Dowling, also 16. Eight other teenagers were injured and two remain in a critical condition. Police are continuing to question a man his his 30s they say ran from the scene of the accident, leaving behind two children, aged 10 and four, in his car. Acting Inspector Mick Talbot, from the Major Collision Unit, says the community has been devastated by the tragedy. "Our investigation will centre on finding exactly what happened, exactly who's involved and exactly what everybody can tell us we need to paint a picture of exactly what's gone on from early that evening right up to the events immediately after the collision," he said.	Six teenagers were killed in a horrific road accident near Mildura in north-western Victoria, Australia late at night on February 18. Cassandra Manners, aged 16, Stevie-Lee Weight, 15, Cory Dowling, 16, Shane Hirst, 16, and his sister, Abby Hirst, 17, died at the scene. Josephine Calvi, 16, was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where she later died of head injuries. Seven other teenagers were injured, including 15-year-old Marco Medici who is now in a stable but critical condition in The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. The accident occurred after the teenagers left a 16th birthday party and walked along Myall Road, Cardross, south-east of Mildura. A car allegedly came speeding around a bend, hit the gravel on the side of the road, lost control and struck the group. The alleged driver, later identified as 34-year-old Thomas Graham Towle, fled the scene on foot, leaving his 10-year-old daughter and four-year-old son in the car. Towle was later arrested by police in Redcliffs. He was taken to Mildura police station for questioning. Towle has been charged with six charges of culpable driving causing death, four charges of negligently causing serious injury, one charge of failing to stop and one charge of failing to render assistance after an accident. Towle faced Mildura Magistrates' Court on February 20. Magistrate John Dugdale remanded him into custody to reappear before the court on June 26. Meanwhile, the town of Mildura and surrounding areas is in deep mourning. Premier Steve Bracks said the State Government will provide $AU40,000 for counselling and support services. Around 3,000 people attended the funeral for Josephine Calvi today. Funeral services for the other five teenagers were held last week.
NEXT STEP: State presses judge to lift block on election certification. The Alaska Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled unanimously on all counts against Joe Miller's challenge of last month's U.S. Senate election, saying Miller's interpretation of the law would erode the integrity of Alaska's election system. Click to enlarge Joe Miller Click to enlarge Sen. Lisa Murkowski "There are no remaining issues raised by Miller that prevent this election from being certified," the Supreme Court justices declared in their 24-page ruling. The court ruled the state was right to count misspelled write-in ballots for Sen. Lisa Murkowki. The justices also found Miller hasn't proved his allegations of election fraud. Murkowski leads by more than 10,000 votes and Miller is fast running out of legal options. He still has a chance to quickly press his claim in federal court. U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Beistline is giving Miller until Monday morning to argue that the federal courts should take up any remaining constitutional issues. Beistline has blocked the state from certifying Murkowski as the winner of the Senate race while the court issues are being settled. The state is asking Beistline to lift his block and he's promised to decide "as soon as possible." Miller didn't agree to an interview after the Supreme Court ruling but e-mailed a statement saying he was weighing what his next move will be. "We disagree with the court's interpretation of the election code, but respect both the rule of law and the court's place in the judicial system," Miller said. "We are studying the opinion and carefully considering our options." Miller has been challenging the results of the Nov. 2 election with the help of money from South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint's political action committee, the Senate Conservatives Fund. Miller's campaign spokesman has said they might attempt to take the fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Murkowski campaign manager Kevin Sweeney said he was elated by the Supreme Court ruling and expects Beistline will let the election results be certified next week. "We also anticipate that Joe will continue to pursue his baseless claims in federal court until his money runs out," Sweeney said. 50 YEARS OF CASE LAW The Supreme Court ruled that state Superior Court Judge William Carey of Ketchikan was right to toss out Miller's lawsuit over the U.S. Senate race. "We affirm the decision of the superior court in all respects," the justices wrote in their ruling. Miller's central claim was that the Division of Elections shouldn't have counted write-in ballots for Murkowski if her name was misspelled. The incumbent Murkowski launched her write-in campaign after losing in the Aug. 24 Republican primary to Miller, who ran on a tea party platform with the backing of former Gov. Sarah Palin. The Supreme Court said it was relying on 50 years of rulings that emphasized the principle of following voter intent in deciding Alaska's elections. "Voter intent is paramount and any misspelling, abbreviation or other minor variation ...does not invalidate a ballot so long as the intention of the voter can be ascertained," the Supreme Court said in its ruling. The court said Alaskans who don't speak English as a first language or have learning disabilities still deserve to have their votes count. The court also said federal law explicitly allows misspellings for write-in ballots cast by overseas or military voters. "Miller's proposed construction of the statute would require us to impose a different, and more rigorous, voting standard on domestic Alaskans than those who are serving in the military or living abroad," the justices said. Miller argued that Alaska law doesn't allow the state elections director to decide what candidate a voter intended to support when a misspelling occurs. The Legislature awkwardly phrased the law in dispute. The law says "a vote for a write-in candidate ... shall be counted if the oval is filled in for that candidate and if the name, as it appears on the write-in declaration of candidacy, of the candidate or the last name of the candidate is written in the space provided." The state Supreme Court ruled that language needs to be taken in the context of broader Alaska election law, which the justices said is written to ensure that votes are counted and not excluded. The justices said Miller had wrongfully argued that only his interpretation of the law would preserve the integrity of the election. "It is Miller's interpretation of the statute that would erode the integrity of the election system, because it would result in disenfranchisement of some voters and ultimately rejection of election results that constitute the will of the people," the court ruled. "We have consistently construed election statutes in favor of voter enfranchisement." MILLER DOESN'T PROVE FRAUD Even if the Supreme Court had tossed out every ballot challenged by Miller's ballot observers, Murkowski still would win by more than 2,000 votes. And Miller's lawyers have acknowledged that some of those challenges were wrong. But Miller also claimed election irregularities that he hoped would take other votes from Murkowski. The Supreme Court shot him down on those claims as well. Miller wanted more time to prove his allegations. But the justices wrote that "pure speculation cannot support a fishing expedition for evidence to oppose summary judgment in an election contest." One of Miller's claims stated that some Murkowski write-in ballots appeared to have all been written in the same handwriting. The Supreme Court ruled that doesn't mean there was fraud. The justices noted Alaska law lets voters ask elections workers for assistance in voting, including writing the name of a write-in candidate. "No reasonable inference of misconduct can arise from the mere fact that the handwriting on multiple ballots appears to be from a small number of people," the court ruled. Miller also alleged that more than 5,000 votes were suspect because election workers didn't check a box specifying how they'd verified voter identification. But the court said there is no actual requirement that election workers fill in those boxes. Miller's latest claim was that an unknown number of felons voted who shouldn't have. The state said only felons who had their voting rights reinstated had voted. Miller made the claim after his lawsuit was already filed and the courts have declined to wade into the issue. The Supreme Court justices left it up to Superior Court Judge Carey to decide if he wanted to let Miller try to prove it. But they said the election results still could be certified if that issue is pending. PUSH FOR CERTIFICATION Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell said he wasn't too worried about this claim. "There is no evidence that there was any inappropriate activity there," Treadwell said Wednesday. Treadwell said he's hoping the election will be certified between Christmas and New Year's. He said the federal courts need to let the state certify the election before the new U.S. Senate is sworn in Jan. 5. Federal Judge Beistline has agreed that's important and said Miller could still pursue legal claims even after it is certified. Rick Hasen, an election law expert at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, looked over Wednesday's Alaska's Supreme Court ruling. "At this point, a rational politician hoping for a future in Alaska politics would throw in the towel rather than contesting these results in federal court, in state court after certification, or in the U.S. Senate," he concluded. Murkowski tried to make her lead even bigger by arguing that the state should have counted about 1,500 ballots where voters wrote in her name but didn't fill in the oval next to it. The Supreme Court considered that along with Miller's lawsuit and ruled the state was right not to count those additional ballots for Murkowski. Find Sean Cockerham online at adn.com/contact/scockerham or call him at 257-4344. \|\|\|\|\| Joe Miller, the Republican Senate candidate, lost another legal battle when the State Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that voters do not have to spell a write-in candidate’s name perfectly for their vote to be counted. Citing decades of legal precedent, the court ruled that votes should count as long as election officials can determine a voter’s intent. The court also ruled that there was no evidence of fraud or other irregularities in the election. Unofficial state election results show Mr. Miller losing by more than 10,000 votes to Senator Lisa Murkowski, whom he defeated in the Republican primary in August. Ms. Murkowski later returned to the race as a write-in candidate. She declared victory on Nov. 17, after a hand count of write-in votes showed her well ahead. Mr. Miller has not conceded, and he has prevented certification of the race through repeated legal challenges in state and federal court.	File photo of Joe Miller. Yesterday, the Alaska ruled against Republican Senate candidate over the counting of votes in the November elections. Miller was challenging the state election authorities over their decision to allow misspelled write-in ballots in support of his opponent, . Murkowski—the incumbent Republican senator for Alaska—lost a to Miller and thus had to stand as a . Miller was endorsed by many in the Tea Party movement along with former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. The court also did not find any evidence for the Miller campaign's accusation of election fraud. Miller has no more options at the state level, but has until Monday to file any further motions to the . If the federal court decide not to accept Miller's arguments, the election will be certified for Murkowski. In response to the state Supreme Court ruling, Miller stated: "We disagree with the court's interpretation of the election code, but respect both the rule of law and the court's place in the judicial system. We are studying the opinion and carefully considering our options." Kevin Sweeney, the campaign manager for Lisa Murkowski's campaign said Miller "will continue to pursue his baseless claims in federal court until his money runs out." Miller is financing the lawsuits with money from the Senate Conservatives Fund, a political action committee run by Senator . == Sources == * *
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. \|\|\|\|\| LONDON, England (CNN) -- Libya warned the United Kingdom that if the Lockerbie bomber died in prison in Scotland, it would have "catastrophic effects for the relationship between Libya and the U.K.," documents declassified Tuesday show. Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, second from left, arrives in Tripoli, Libya, on August 21. The statement was made by Abdulati Alobidi, the Libyan minister for Europe, to a British Foreign Office minister in February and was repeated to Scottish officials the following month, newly declassified Scottish government notes from the meetings say. Alobidi had earlier told Scottish officials it would be "a major problem should Mr. al Megrahi die in prison, and would be viewed as a form of death sentence." The Scottish and British governments released more than 100 pages of previously secret government letters Tuesday. Watch more about the documents » They are trying to squelch newspaper claims that the British government wanted al Megrahi to be eligible for release as a part of a deal allowing BP to drill for oil in Libya. But they seem unlikely to put an end to the controversy over the release of the man convicted of killing 270 people in the bombing nearly 21 years ago. Al Megrahi was released from prison last month because he has terminal cancer, and received a hero's welcome in Libya. U.S. President Barack Obama reacted strongly to al Megrahi's welcome, calling it "highly objectionable." U.S. officials, including FBI Director Robert Mueller, criticized the decision to release him. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Justice Minister Jack Straw have forcefully denied the claim that he was freed as part of a deal over oil. But Scotland's leaders had long feared that the warming of relations between Libya and Britain would force Scotland to hand over al Megrahi, the documents indicate. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond expressed his concerns repeatedly to the central government in London starting in June 2007. "No deal has been done to secure the transfer of Mr. al Megrahi to Libya," Straw's predecessor, Lord Charles Falconer, wrote back to him on June 22, 2007. "We have made clear (to Libya) on diplomatic channels that, for any reason, any Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Libya could not cover Mr. al Megrahi," Falconer said, adding that under the terms of relations between London and Edinburgh, any steps regarding al Megrahi's future "will ultimately be for Scottish ministers to take." Straw wrote to his Scottish counterpart in September 2007 to say London would seek to exclude al Megrahi from any deal for Libyans convicted in the United Kingdom to serve their sentences in Libya. "My officials will make clear to the Libyan authorities that without this addition it will not be possible to conclude a prisoner transfer agreement," he wrote to Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. Just under three months later, he told MacAskill he was reversing himself. "I have not been able to secure an explicit exclusion," he said in a letter of December 19, 2007. Libya approved a huge oil exploration contract with BP four days later. Straw had told MacAskill that he was backing down "in view of the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom." Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond then asked him what those "national interests" were, the letters indicate. "Having sponsored terrorist attacks in the past, it (Libya) is now an important partner in the fight against terrorism," Straw replied, also citing the fight against illegal immigration. When al Megrahi was ultimately released last month -- on MacAskill's orders -- it was because he had terminal cancer, not as part of a prisoner transfer agreement. He had been serving a life sentence for the December 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am 103. MacAskill had jurisdiction over al Megrahi because the bomber was serving his sentence in Scotland. The plane blew up over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. All 259 people on the plane died, as did 11 people on the ground below. All About Pan American Airways • Lockerbie • Libya \|\|\|\|\| Reporting from London - Amid continued allegations of political deal-making, Scottish officials said Monday that the early release of the only man convicted in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over Scotland was motivated solely by humanitarian and judicial concerns, not commercial ones.British interests in Libya's large oil and gas reserves were irrelevant to the decision to release Abdel Basset Ali Megrahi, a suspected Libyan spy found guilty in 2001, said Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's deputy first minister.Megrahi, 57, is in the advanced stages of terminal prostate cancer and was set free Aug. 20 from a Scottish prison on "compassionate grounds" to spend the remainder of his life with his family in his homeland."That was a decision taken entirely on justice grounds," Sturgeon told the BBC. "There were no influences relating to political or economic interests that played any part in that."Libyan officials also rejected suggestions that a contract won by British oil company BP in 2007 to explore for oil in their country influenced the decision to release Megrahi."Linking this [contract] with a deal over Megrahi makes me laugh," said Mohammed Siala, secretary for international cooperation at the Libyan Foreign Ministry, according to Reuters news service. "We have our laws and tender process, and BP is a very good actor in the oil field and we are satisfied with what they are doing."The release of someone convicted of mass slaughter, followed by footage of his being greeted by crowds of well-wishers upon returning to Libya, has whipped up a storm of protest in the U.S., home to the majority of the passengers on Pan Am Flight 103, and in Britain. The bombing, the deadliest terrorist attack on or over British soil, killed all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland.Libya turned Megrahi over to British authorities in 1999 in exchange for an easing of United Nations sanctions. He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment after a trial that critics say was based on tainted evidence.Megrahi has steadfastly maintained his innocence, and supporters, including some of the victims' families, believe he was wrongly convicted.The decision to release him was made by Scotland's devolved government, which has independence from London in judicial matters. But that has not insulated British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Cabinet from scrutiny.Over the weekend, a British newspaper reported that the central government had originally sought to exclude Megrahi from a prisoner-transfer agreement that was under discussion between London and Tripoli as part of their improving relations.In late 2007, London reversed course and dropped the exclusion "in the view of the overwhelming interests for the United Kingdom," said a letter written at the time by Justice Minister Jack Straw, according to the Sunday Times. Shortly after, BP sealed the $24-billion contract to conduct oil and gas exploration in Libya.Straw denied any quid pro quo."Was there a deal -- a covert, a secret deal -- ever struck with the Libyans to release Mr. Megrahi in return for oil? No, there was not," Straw told the BBC."We wanted a normalization of relations with Libya," he added. "That was in the United Kingdom's interests, and the reason for that is that we had uncovered a huge nuclear-weapons program of the Libyans, which they'd been conducting wholly in secret."In 2003, Libya agreed to allow in nuclear inspectors to dismantle its weapons program, an important milestone in Tripoli's coming in from the diplomatic cold.In any case, Straw noted, Megrahi was not released under the prisoner-transfer agreement but on compassionate grounds. \|\|\|\|\| The justice secretary, Jack Straw, told his Scottish counterpart two years ago that it was in the UK's "overwhelming interests" not to exclude Abdelbaset al-Megrahi from a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya, it emerged today. Leaked letters suggest that after failing initially to secure the exclusion of the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, he decided it was not prudent to do so. The letters were sent to the Scottish justice secretary, Kenny MacAskill, whose decision to release Megrahi on compassionate grounds sparked anger in the US and a political row in the UK. Although Megrahi was freed because he is suffering from terminal prostate cancer and not under the prisoner transfer agreement (PTA), the UK government has been accused of encouraging his release in order to facilitate trade with Libya. Ministers have denied the accusations but refused to say whether they agreed with Megrahi's release. In one of the letters, disclosed by the Sunday Times, Straw wrote: "I had previously accepted the importance of the al-Megrahi issue to Scotland and said I would try to get an exclusion for him on the face of the agreement. "I have not been able to secure an explicit exclusion. "The wider negotiations are reaching a critical stage and, in view of the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom, I have agreed that, in this instance, the [PTA] should be in the standard form and not mention any individual." Straw's apparent change of stance came at a crucial time in negotiations about an oil exploration contract for BP in Libya, the Sunday Times said. Less than six weeks later, the deal was ratified. Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister and Scottish National party leader, said it was a matter of record that his administration had opposed the prisoner transfer agreement. "We didn't think that the Lockerbie decision should be linked to trade or oil decisions by anyone who looked at the coincidence that the prisoner transfer agreement was being negotiated at the same time as commercial contracts," he told the BBC. The Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, Ed Davey, said the letters provided the strongest evidence yet that the government had discussed Megrahi with the Libyans with a view to safeguarding Britain's commercial interests. "Labour ministers will not now escape the suspicion of a terrorist for trade deal unless they agree to the transparency of a full inquiry," Davey said. Frank Duggan, the president of the Lockerbie families group Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, described today's disclosures as "shocking". "If there was a direct connection with trade, particularly oil, then the connection is with Britain, not with Scotland, and I think the Brits will have something to answer for," Duggan told BBC Radio Five Live. Today, the Observer revealed secret files which lend further weight to claims that commercial interests dictated Megrahi's release. The documents show ministers and senior civil servants met Shell to discuss the company's oil interests in Libya on at least 11 occasions, and perhaps as many as 26 times, in less than four years. In a statement today, Straw described the latest revelations as "academic" because the Scottish executive had refused Megrahi's PTA application. "The negotiations over a prisoner transfer agreement were part of a wider agreement for the normalisation of relations with Libya as part of bringing them into the international community," the justice secretary said. "It was always made clear to the Libyans that, as with all other such agreements, the sentencing jurisdiction – in this case, Scotland – had a right to veto any individual application, including that of any application from Mr Megrahi. "Notwithstanding ministers' right of veto, the Scottish executive wanted a specific carve out from the PTA treaty in respect of Mr Megrahi. "I gave instructions to British negotiators to try to secure this. "However, such an exclusion went beyond the standard form of PTA treaties, and in the event an agreement for a PTA in the standard form – including the rights of veto of any application – was agreed." The cabinet minister John Denham told Sky News it was "perfectly clear" there was no link between MacAskill's decision and trade. The Scottish government has revealed that Nelson Mandela had expressed his support for Megrahi's release. A letter from the Mandela Foundation said the former South African president "sincerely appreciates the decision". Mandela, who visited Megrahi at the Barlinnie prison in 2002, played a central role in brokering the agreement that led to him standing trial under Scottish law in the Netherlands. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has denied that the release of the Lockerbie bomber had any links to UK trade talks with the Libyan government. Letters leaked to a newspaper show UK ministers agreed to include him in a prisoner transfer deal in 2007 because of "overwhelming national interests". Mr Salmond said Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds with no London involvement. But the Tories and Lib Dems want an inquiry into UK dealings with Libya. Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill released Megrahi on 20 August, eight years into his 27-year sentence for murdering 270 people in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103. The British government has always maintained the decision to release Megrahi rested with Scotland, but revelations in the Sunday Times will fuel suspicions about the motivations behind his release, BBC correspondent Norman Smith says. 'Straight answers' Leaked ministerial letters reveal Mr Straw's change of stance over Megrahi's inclusion in the transfer agreement, which allegedly came at a crucial time in negotiations over an oil exploration contract for BP worth billions of pounds. Labour ministers will not now escape the suspicion of a terrorist-for-trade deal unless they agree to the transparency of a full inquiry Liberal Democrats According to the Sunday Times, Mr Straw wrote to his Scottish counterpart Kenny MacAskill on 19 December 2007 and said: "I had previously accepted the importance of the al-Megrahi issue to Scotland and said I would try to get an exclusion for him on the face of the agreement. I have not been able to secure an explicit exclusion. "The wider negotiations with the Libyans are reaching a critical stage and, in view of the overwhelming interests for the UK, I have agreed that in this instance the [PTA] should be in the standard form and not mention any individual." Mr Straw denies the prisoner accord was linked to an oil deal, saying the negotiations were aimed at normalising relations between the UK and Libya. Edward Davey, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said the prime minister could "no longer hide behind" the Scottish government's compassion for a "sick man". "Labour ministers will not now escape the suspicion of a terrorist-for-trade deal unless they agree to the transparency of a full inquiry," he said. David Lidington, the Conservatives' foreign affairs spokesman, said it was time "to get to the bottom of what actually went wrong in our name". "We certainly need straight answers and the publication of documents by the government now, but I think it's probably gone beyond the stage when people are going to trust the word of the current crew of ministers as to what actually happened." The BBC's political correspondent Norman Smith said the story would fuel the suspicions of those who felt the "bottom line" was oil. The letters, he added, also suggested the British government was a good deal more involved in the release, and they were prepared to see him released under the transfer accord. 'Commercial contracts' Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said it was a matter of record that his administration had opposed the prisoner transfer agreement between Westminster and Tripoli. "We didn't think that the Lockerbie decision should be linked to trade or oil decisions by anyone who looked at the coincidence that the prisoner transfer agreement was being negotiated at the same time as commercial contracts," he told the BBC. All this, however, is academic as Mr Megrahi was not released under the PTA treaty but quite separately by the Scottish Executive on compassionate grounds Jack Straw Despite opposition on both sides of the Atlantic, the SNP leader added there was "huge international support" for the Scottish government's decision. He said the most recent endorsement had come from former South African President Nelson Mandela, who he described as a "towering figure of humanitarian concern across the world in the last generation". Mr Straw has denied suggestions that the release was linked to Britain's commercial interests. "The negotiations over a prisoner transfer agreement were part of a wider agreement for the normalisation of relations with Libya as part of bringing them into the international community," he said. "It was always made clear to the Libyans that, as with all other such agreements, the sentencing jurisdiction - in this case Scotland - had a right to veto any individual application, including that of any application from Mr Megrahi. "Not withstanding ministers' right of veto, the Scottish Executive wanted a specific carve-out from the PTA treaty in respect of Mr Megrahi. I gave instructions to British negotiators to try to secure this. "However, such an exclusion went beyond the standard form of PTA treaties and in the event an agreement for a PTA in the standard form - including the rights of veto of any application - was agreed. "All this, however, is academic as Mr Megrahi was not released under the PTA treaty but quite separately by the Scottish Executive on compassionate grounds. "The Scottish Executive also refused his PTA application. This process was made clear at every stage to Libyan negotiators." Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Gordon Brown is under renewed pressure to release details about the UK's dealings with Libya after Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's son said there was an "obvious" link between trade talks and efforts to secure the release of the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing. Saif Gaddafi said it was "not a secret" that the Libyans were linking a lucrative oil and trade deal signed by Tony Blair in 2007 with their bid to get Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, jailed in 2001 for planting the bomb that killed 270 people, returned to Libya. But Gaddafi said the prisoner transfer agreement signed by Blair had ultimately had no bearing on the decision by Scottish ministers last week to free Megrahi, who is close to death with prostate cancer, on compassionate grounds. The prisoner transfer agreement "was one animal and the other was the compassionate release," he told the Herald newspaper. "They are two completely different animals. The Scottish authorities rejected the PTA. It did not work at all, therefore it was meaningless. He was released for completely different reasons." Gaddafi continued: "The fight to get the [prisoner transfer] agreement lasted a long time and was very political, but I want to make clear that we didn't mention Mr Megrahi. At all times we talked about the PTA. It was obvious we were talking about him. We all knew that was what we were talking about. "People should not get angry because we were talking about commerce or oil. We signed an oil deal at the same time. The commerce and politics and deals were all with the PTA." Gaddafi insisted there was "zero link" between Megrahi and his recent meeting with the UK business secretary, Lord Mandelson, in Corfu. But Megrahi's release now meant Libya and the UK "could put Lockerbie behind us and talk about the future. We want to talk about business and oil and health and more productive projects. This is history." His comments reignited demands from the Tory leader, David Cameron, for the UK government to reveal the full details of its trade talks and meetings with Libya. The Tories would table parliamentary questions pressing for answers when Westminster returned from the recess, Cameron said. It was not enough for Brown to say he was "angry" and "repulsed" by the celebrations when Megrahi landed at Tripoli, Cameron said. "The real questions remain unanswered. To begin with, what dealings has his government had with that of Libya on this issue? "And most importantly of all, what is Gordon Brown's opinion of the decision to return Mr al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds? I have made my view clear. I think it was wrong. I see no justice in affording mercy to someone who showed no mercy to his victims." The Scottish government has meanwhile tried to distance itself from the row by insisting that none of its ministers had had any discussions about Libyan trade deals with any Scottish businesses, Libyan officials and ministers in the run-up to Megrahi's release. A spokesman for the Scottish government said Alex Salmond, the first minister, whose Westminster and Holyrood constituencies are close to Aberdeen, the UK's oil industry capital, had never discussed oil or trade deals with either the Libyans or Scottish firms. Neither had John Swinney, the Scottish finance secretary, or his two junior energy and industry ministers, the spokesman said. Scottish government sources also insisted that Salmond was hostile to the prisoner transfer deal signed by Blair some months after the SNP won power in May 2007. Salmond was furious that the UK government had signed it without his agreement, knowing it had no power to influence Scottish ministers or judges. Scotland has always had a separate legal and judicial system, which has had its independence strengthened by devolution. Gaddafi tried to play down the controversy over last Thursday's celebrations at Tripoli airport, when Megrahi was greeted by him and a large crowd of saltire-waving Libyans. He insisted it was not an official celebration, but said it was a spontaneous display organised by Megrahi's large extended family and ordinary Libyans. The Libyan government had planned to keep it low key – honouring undertakings with the UK, Scottish and US governments – but Megrahi's heavily televised release from Greenock prison and transfer to Glasgow airport had publicised his return home. Libyan police were caught by surprise by the size of the crowds, he claimed, delaying Megrahi's disembarkation by two hours. "There was no official celebration, no guards of honour, no fireworks and no parade," he said. "We could have arranged a much better reception." He added that Megrahi would not be a guest of honour at the 40th celebrations of his father's seizing power next week; he would be in hospital. He said: "The decision by Scotland was not influenced by any of these things. I think the Scottish justice secretary is a great man. He made the right decision. So many of us think, including so many of the relatives of the victims, because Mr Megrahi is innocent. One day, history will prove this." \|\|\|\|\| Magrahi served eight years in Scottish prisons after being convicted in 2001 Only a third of Scots believe the Lockerbie bomber should have been freed from prison last week, a poll commissioned by BBC News has suggested. The ICM Research survey indicated almost three quarters thought Scotland's reputation was damaged by Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi's release. But only 36% thought Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill should quit. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said Mr MacAskill had shown "guts" in making a hard but correct decision. Mr MacAskill announced on 20 August that Megrahi, who is terminally-ill with prostate cancer, would be freed on compassionate grounds and allowed to return to Libya. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. He had served eight years of a life sentence for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie, in southern Scotland, in which 270 people died. A random sample of 1,005 adults from across Scotland were questioned by telephone on Wednesday and Thursday. The survey found 60% thought the Scottish Government was wrong to release Megrahi, against 32% of respondents who believed it was the right decision. Of those polled, 57% believed Megrahi should have remained in prison until he died, while 37% thought he should have been released at some point prior to his death. Brian Taylor BBC Scotland political editor It may not last. It may fade. But, right now, people in Scotland seem decidedly hostile to the decision to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. Opposition to the particular decision taken by Kenny MacAskill is nearly two to one. Even offered options, a majority say that the Libyan should never have been released from jail. Intriguingly, glancing at the figures in more detail, opinion against release appears particularly strong among younger people, with the elderly more inclined towards compassionate release. But, in all age groups, more oppose the decision than support it. Brian Taylor reflects on an 'unhappy' nation Despite Mr MacAskill's insistence to the contrary, more than two thirds of those questioned - 68% - thought the decision was influenced by factors other than Megrahi's health, while only 20% believed it was made purely on compassionate grounds. Mr MacAskill's controversial meeting with Megrahi in Greenock Prison on 4 August was also unpopular, according to the poll, with 52% believing the visit should not have taken place, and 36% saying it should. The justice secretary has claimed the visit was required under the terms of the Libyan government's prisoner transfer request, but this has been disputed by opposition politicians Almost three quarters of those polled (74%) said the affair had damaged the standing of the Scottish Government in the eyes of voters, with the same proportion believing the release of Megrahi had damaged Scotland's reputation. Only 11% said it had enhanced the reputation of the country, while 10% said it had made no difference one way or the other. MEGRAHI POLL Scottish survey on release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi [107 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also apparently been damaged by the controversy over the release of Megrahi, despite his insistence that it was purely a matter for the Scottish government. The poll suggested that 34% believed Mr Brown's reputation had been damaged "a lot", with a further 33% saying it had been damaged "a little". But only 29% of those surveyed said the prime minister had not been damaged. A minority of people - 39% - said they thought the UK government should have tried to influence the decision by the Scottish Government, while 52% said it was right not to get involved. Responding to the poll findings, First Minister Alex Salmond stood by his justice minister. He said: "I acknowledge that these were difficult, controversial decisions but somebody had to take a decision and it fell to the Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, to do so. "Sometimes in life and politics and in government, there's no easy option available. You have to take hard choices because you think and believe you're doing the right thing and you know it just takes guts to govern sometimes and Kenny MacAskill showed that." Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray called on Mr Salmond to explain how he would repair Scotland's damaged reputation. He added "I believe the whole process was mishandled from start to finish and a clear majority say it was wrong for Mr MacAskill to visit Megrahi in prison. Kenny MacAskill must return to the parliament to justify his mishandling of this affair." Annabel Goldie, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the findings showed the Scottish Government was wrong to release Megrahi - and she demanded to know what "murky deals have been going on behind the scenes". For the Liberal Democrats, MSP Mike Rumbles said the poll confirmed public anger at the SNP's handling of the affair and its failure to address other options for the "compassionate" treatment of Megrahi. Megrahi, who has always maintained his innocence, was the only person convicted over the Lockerbie bombing. He returned to a hero's welcome in Libya after being released from Greenock Prison. The release sparked widespread criticism in the UK, as well as from US politicians, law enforcement agencies and victims' relatives. An internet campaign was also launched calling on Americans to boycott Scottish and UK goods over the release. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| The pressure on Gordon Brown to disclose details of trade deals negotiated with Libya increased today when it emerged that three ministers visited the country in the 15 months leading up to the release of the Lockerbie bomber. Digby Jones, the then trade minister, travelled to Libya last May to speak to business representatives, the Cabinet Office confirmed. The former health minister Dawn Primarolo conducted talks with the Libyan prime minister last November, and Bill Rammell, the then Foreign Office minister, held discussions with his Libyan counterparts in February. Alan Johnson, the home secretary, also met Libyan health ministers at the World Health Assembly in Geneva last year during his time as health secretary. The Libyan contacts – detailed in a ministerial statement released on 16 July and relating to all ministers' overseas travel – will fuel the row over the freeing of the terminally-ill , Abdelbaset al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds. Earlier this week, opposition parties said ministers had "serious questions" to answer after Saif Gaddafi, the son of the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, claimed the decision to release Megrahi was tied to a trade deal. The business secretary, Lord Mandelson, dismissed the suggestion that Megrahi's case was on the table during talks as "offensive". Brown has come under fire for his silence on whether he agreed with the decision of the Scottish justice secretary, Kenny MacAskill, to release the man convicted of the 1988 bombing on compassionate grounds. The former deputy prime minister John Prescott yesterday became the first senior Labour figure to back MacAskill's decision. Asked in a Sky News interview whether he had any objection to the decision to release Megrahi, Prescott said: "No, I don't have any objection. "If the man is dying, if compassion is passed, as it is in the Scottish administration, and the medical authorities then gave proof to that effect as they did, then it's a decision for their legal authority. "You know Scotland has always had a great deal more independence in its legal authority, going back many years, so we have to respect that decision, and I do." His comments were seized on by the Scottish National party – which contrasted them with the stance of Labour in Scotland – and by the Tories, who said Brown should give his views on the release. The decision has led 70% majority of Scots to believe the country's reputation abroad has suffered as a result of the decision, according to a YouGov poll for the Mail. Almost one-third of Scots want MacAskill to resign over the matter. The poll also found support for Scottish independence had fallen in the wake of the furore over Megrahi's release. The survey of 1,078 Scottish adults found that only 28% backed independence, down eight points in a year. Commenting on the polling, Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: "The justice secretary had to make a decision about Mr al-Megrahi. "He had the courage to make the right decision for the right reasons, which attracts very substantial support in this poll. "It will gather further support on that basis, because people recognise that Mr MacAskill upheld the due process of Scots law in difficult circumstances." The justice secretary, Jack Straw, yesterday questioned whether MacAskill should have visited Megrahi in jail before coming to a decision. "That was his decision," Straw said. "If you are asking me if I have ever visited a prisoner in jail who has applied for compassionate release, the answer to that is no." \|\|\|\|\| When former Prime Minister Tony Blair persuaded Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi to give up his pursuit of nuclear weapons in late 2003, Britain received world-wide praise for a remarkable diplomatic coup. The plaudits heaped on the British government then stand in marked contrast to the international opprobrium its latest dealings with the Gadhafi clan are attracting. Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government says the shameful decision to return Abdel Basset Ali Megrahi—convicted of murdering 270 people in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988—to Libya was taken solely on compassionate grounds. His release from prison last week was not, the government says, part of some secret deal between London and Tripoli. Megrahi's doctors claim he's suffering from terminal prostate cancer and has only a few months to live. Scotland's Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill insists his decision to release Megrahi was based on the requirements of Scottish law, which allows for terminally ill prisoners to be released from custody regardless of the magnitude of their crimes. Although it is part of the United Kingdom, Scotland enjoys its own justice system. But even if the Scottish government acted solely in accordance with its legal obligations, strong rumors persist that Megrahi's return had more to do with the prospect of Britain enjoying lucrative trade deals with Libya than the state of the convicted murderer's health. Suspicions that there is more to this episode than the British government will admit center on the role Seif al-Islam Gadhafi has played in the affair. Gadhafi's second son, whose name translates as "sword of Islam," is widely regarded as the heir apparent. Educated at the London School of Economics, Mr. Gadhafi claims to entertain no political ambitions and says his only official role is that of running a Tripoli-based family charitable foundation. But in Libya he is increasingly seen as the power behind the throne. He is also well known to Britain's political and intelligence establishment for the key role he is credited with playing in persuading his father to end Libya's decades-long international isolation by giving up its weapons of mass destruction. For years, Gadhafi's regime was deemed by Washington to be one of the world's leading state sponsors of terrorism. It also had a nuclear weapons program, though it maintained the pretense to visiting inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency that its nuclear activities were purely peaceful—a fiction with which the agency concurred. Then came the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in the spring of 2003, which removed Saddam Hussein from power. This had a profound impact on Col. Gadhafii, who, at his second son's prompting, secretly passed a letter to Downing Street indicating he wanted to come in from the diplomatic cold and end Libya's status as a pariah nation. The British government reacted swiftly to the Gadhafi clan's overture. There followed a series of lengthy discussions between Seif al-Islam and Mark Allen, then head of counter-terrorism at Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), that were conducted within the elegant confines of London's Travellers Club. The result was Mr. Blair's triumphant announcement in late December 2003 that Col. Gadhafi had made a "historic" decision to scrap the nuclear-weapons program whose existence he'd always denied. Fast forward six years, and many of those who were central to the negotiations in 2003 continue to feature prominently in Anglo-Libyan affairs. Sir Mark Allen, to give him his present title, is now a senior executive with the British oil giant BP. BP is keen to develop its oil exploration business in Libya, which is said to be sitting on 44 billion barrels of untapped oil reserves. Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, meanwhile, owns a $16 million mansion in London's northern suburbs and maintains close links with Britain's leading business figures. Earlier this summer he was a guest at the villa owned by the Rothschild banking family on the Greek island of Corfu. Another guest was Lord Peter Mandelson, Britain's business secretary and a close ally of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Lord Mandelson has confirmed that, during their stay at the villa, Mr. Gadhafi raised the issue of Megrahi's release. He insists he personally had nothing to do with releasing Megrahi. Nevertheless, Seif al-Islam Ghadafi remarked on Libyan television (after Megrahi's release) that, "In all commercial contracts for oil and gas with Britain [Megrahi] was always on the negotiating table." Other evidence suggesting the British government, rather than its weaker Scottish partner, was the driving force behind Megrahi's release has emerged in the form of a letter Ivor Lewis, a junior minister at the British Foreign Office, wrote to Mr. MacAskill on Aug. 3. In that letter, parts of which have been leaked to the British press, Mr. Lewis tells Mr. MacAskill that there is no legal reason not to accede to Libya's request to transfer Megrahi into its custody under the terms of an agreement reached between Mr. Blair and Gadhafi senior in 2004 to strengthen U.K.-Libyan diplomatic ties. This agreement was negotiated in the wake of the historic nuclear deal. According to a Scottish government source quoted in the British press over the weekend (who says he's seen the entire letter), Mr. Lewis wrote, "I hope on this basis you will now feel able to consider the Libyan application [for Megrahi's release]." Certainly the involvement of both Lord Mandelson and Mr. Lewis in this sorry affair seems to undermine Mr. Brown's claim on Tuesday that he "had no role" in the decision to release Megrahi from prison. Mr. Brown's government still has many questions to answer about one of the least edifying episodes in his nation's hitherto impressive history of confronting international terrorism. Mr. Coughlin is the executive foreign editor of the Daily Telegraph in London and the author of "Khomeini's Ghost: The Iranian Revolution and the Rise of Militant Islam" (Ecco, 2009).	Since the August 20 release of , who was convicted of planting a bomb on , there has been growing controversy surrounding the events which led to his release. Pan Am Flight 103 exploded in-flight in 1988 as the aircraft flew over , Scotland, killing all 259 people on board and eleven more on the ground. Al Megrahi is the only person to have been convicted of the bombing. Kenny MacAskill In recent years, the British government has negotiated oil development deals with Libya. As part of the negotiations, at least three UK ministers traveled to Libya in the months leading up to Al Megrahi's release. Leaked letters from UK to his Scottish counterpart, , stated that it was in the "overwhelming national interests" of the UK to include Al Megrahi in prisoner transfer agreements which were part of the oil trade deals. These letters have lead to widespread speculation that the British government influenced the Scottish decision to release Al Megrahi. Al Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds as he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. However, this diagnosis was called into question as '''' revealed that the health director of the , Dr. Andrew Fraser, relied on the advice of a instead of an , when issuing his recommendation for release. When Al Megrahi returned to Libyan soil, Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi thanked Gordon Brown and for his release. , the son of Muammar al-Gaddafi, has stated that during the prisoner transfer agreement (PTA) phase the trade negotiations, the Al Megrahi case was not specifically named, yet it was implied. Jack Straw "The fight to get the prisoner transfer agreement lasted a long time and was very political, but I want to make clear that we didn't mention Mr Megrahi. At all times we talked about the PTA. It was obvious we were talking about him. We all knew that was what we were talking about," he said. In Scotland, the release of Al Megrahi has caused significant debate. A poll conducted for the BBC by found that 60% of Scots thought the was wrong to allow the release. 68% believe the decision was made fore reasons that did not pertain to Al Megrahi's health. Muammar al-Gaddafi "No one I think seriously believes we made any other decision except for the right reasons," Alex Salmond said on Wednesday. "I think it was the right decision. I also absolutely know it was for the right reasons." "We didn't think that the Lockerbie decision should be linked to trade or oil decisions by anyone who looked at the coincidence that the prisoner transfer agreement was being negotiated at the same time as commercial contracts," Salmon also stated. The stated Monday that, "There was no deal over the release of al-Megrahi nor could there ever be, since all decisions were for the Scottish, not U.K. government." "The central assertion in this story is completely untrue and deeply misleading," added. Correspondence released on Tuesday by the UK government shows that Abdulati Alobidi, the Libyan minister to Europe warned of "catastrophic effects for the relationship between Libya and the UK," if Al Megrahi were to die in prison in Scotland. When Salmond asked Straw what the national interests of the UK were, Jack Straw replied, "Having sponsored terrorist attacks in the past, it Libya is now an important partner in the fight against terrorism." Libya approved a large oil exploration contract to within days of the letter. Libyan officials have said that since al-Megrahi's return to Libya, his health has deteriorated. He was not part of the 40th anniversary celebrations for Gaddafi's coup d'état held on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak has been Africa's deadliest in 15 years The cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe appears to have passed its peak, says the World Health Organization (WHO). The number of new cases recorded in the week to mid-March nearly halved to 2,000, against 3,800 the preceding week and 8,000 cases a week in February. But the agency warned the weekly statistics were not always accurate. There have been more than 90,000 cholera cases in Zimbabwe since the start of the epidemic last August, about 4,000 of them fatal. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said official figures of the water-borne disease were probably a dramatic underestimate. BBC's Africa analyst Martin Plaut says the epidemic had been expected to show signs of ebbing towards the end of Zimbabwe's rainy season in March. "The situation with the current cholera outbreak is improving," the WHO said. "The overall trend over the last two months is of a decreasing number of cases and deaths," it added. But the agency said the number of reported cases was on the rise again in and around the capital, Harare, despite the decline recorded in nearly all provinces. "The risk of the outbreak restarting in those areas of the country is real," the WHO warned. The deadliest outbreak of cholera in Africa in 15 years has spread to neighbouring countries including South Africa. The epidemic has been fuelled by the collapse of Zimbabwe's water, sanitation and health systems. \|\|\|\|\| GENEVA, March 23 (Reuters) - The cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe seems to have passed its worst, with both the number of new infections and the rate of fatalities falling, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday. The number of new cases in the week ended March 14 was 2,076 -- still high, but down from 3,812 the week before and over 8,000 infections a week at the start of February, the WHO, a United Nations agency based in Geneva, said in a statement. The weekly fatality rate fell to 2.3 percent in the week ended March 14 from a peak near 6 percent in January, it said. "While data collection and verification remain a challenge throughout the country with the effect that weekly statistics are not always accurate or complete, the overall trend over the last 2 months is of a decreasing number of cases and deaths," the WHO said. As of March 17, a total of 91,164 cases with 4,037 deaths had been reported since the start of the current outbreak in August 2008, it said. Earlier this month new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said that official figures probably dramatically underestimated the real number of infections and deaths. Cholera is a water-borne diarrhoeal disease that spreads through contaminated food and water. It is easily preventable and treatable but can cause severe dehydration and death. Zimbabwe's health system has all but collapsed in the country's economic crisis, with hospitals battling shortages of drugs, high cases of HIV/AIDS and nurses and doctors frequently on strike for higher pay. The deadliest outbreak of cholera in Africa in 15 years has spread to neighbouring countries including South Africa. (For the WHO statement go to: here ) (For more information on humanitarian crises and issues visit www.alertnet.org ) (Reporting by Jonathan Lynn; Editing by Robert Evans)	The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that the cholera outbreak that has struck the African country of Zimbabwe seems to have passed its peak. The WHO said that "while data collection and verification remain a challenge throughout the country with the effect that weekly statistics are not always accurate or complete, the overall trend over the last 2 months is of a decreasing number of cases and deaths. "The situation with the current cholera outbreak is improving. The overall trend over the last two months is of a decreasing number of cases and deaths," the WHO said. The number of new cholera cases in the week ending March 14 was 2,076, almost half of the 3,812 infections reported the week before, and 8,000 per week in the beginning of February. The WHO stated that the fatality rate per week dropped from a peak of 6% in January to 2.3% this month. 91,164 total cases were reported as of March 17 since the epidemic started in August of last year, with a total of 4,307 deaths. The cholera epidemic is the deadliest in Africa for a decade and a half.
The blast at the Roman Catholic church was the first such attack in Nepal [EPA] Police said the bomb ripped through the Church of the Assumption in the town of Lalitpur, south of Kathmandu, the capital, on Saturday. A bomb explosion has killed two people and wounded at least 12 others at a church in Nepal, hours before the country's parliament was to elect a new prime minister. "The wounded people have been rushed to a local hospital and we are investigating," Kedarman Singh Bhandari, the superintendent of police, said. A witness who was attending the church service said a bag was left lying on the floor, the Associated Press reported. "Someone moved the bag to make some space and it just exploded with a loud noise," the witness said. Hindu group Navin Ghimire, the home ministry spokesman, said that a little-known Hindu extremist group, the National Defence Army, left a note found at the scene. The National Defence Army, which says it is fighting to restore the nation's Hindu monarchy abolished in 2008, has previously claimed responsibility for the killing of a missionary in eastern Nepal last July. "This is the saddest day in the history of Nepali Christians. Never before has there been such an attack on the church in Nepal" Tirtha Thapa, a Christian leader The group also said it bombed a mosque in the east of the country last year, killing two people.About 500 people were attending a service at the time of the blast. Ram Brish Chaudhary told the AFP news agency: "A 15-year old student, Celestina Joseph, and 30-year-old Pabitra Paitri died in the bomb blast. Five of the injured are in serious condition." "Security has been increased and an investigation is going on." It was the first such attack on a Christian church in Nepal, where most of the population is Hindu or Buddhist. "This is the saddest day in the history of Nepali Christians. Never before has there been such an attack on the church in Nepal," Tirtha Thapa, a Christian leader, said. "We deeply grieve with the families of the dead," he said. Churches in Nepal hold services on Saturdays because it is a public holiday when schools and offices are closed. \|\|\|\|\| KATHMANDU, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and around dozen others injured when a bomb went off at the Church of Assumption in Lalitpur, south of Nepali capital Kathmandu on Saturday morning, the police said. The bomb went off at the church located at Dhobighat in Lalitpur, a city in the Kathmandu Valley bordering Kathmandu city across the Bagmati River, at 9:15 a.m. local time (GMT 0330) on Saturday local time. The bomb went off when the church's weekly function was going on, leaving two dead. There were about 150 people in the church when the bomb went off. The dead have been identified as Alestina Joseph, 15-year-old student and an Indian national, and Pabitra Paitra, a 30-year-old housewife. Both died while being taken to Patan Hospital for treatment. According to the police, the injured have already been sent to local hospitals for treatment. Although there are no evidences it is believed that the suspects are among the attendants of the function. Since pamphlets of Nepal Defense Army (NDA) are found around the church premises, NDA's involvement is also suspected. The police are investigating into the other details. Also, the church staff said the so-called Nepal Defense Army, has left some pamphlets, taking responsibility for the blast. They said it is the same group that had in last year murdered a priest, John Prakash in Dharan, some 220 km east of Nepali capital Kathmandu. Nepal Defense Army, which claimed to have planted bombs in Kathmandu and other cities in the country, came to the public's notice since 2007. In September 2007, Nepali police arrested Ram Prasad Mainali of NDA, and once claimed that Mainali was the lone person in the NDA, so it would no more be in existence. While the police were investigation the blast scene, they got calls about another bomb blast at a nearby church. The police rushed to the spot, only to discover that it was a hoax. Father Bogati, chief of the Assumption Church condemned the incident. Damodar Gautam of World Hindu Federation also condemned the blast saying attacks on religious shrines were unfortunate, according to local reports.	Police reports state that a bomb blast in a church in Nepal on Saturday has killed two people and injured at least a dozen more. The attack comes just hours before the national parliament was due to elect a new prime minister. The bomb detonated in the Church of the Assumption in the town of Lalitpur, located south of Nepal's capital of Kathmandu. The explosion occurred during the church's weekly function. Around 150 people were in the church at the time of the explosion. "The wounded people have been rushed to a local hospital and we are investigating," police superintendent Kedarman Singh Bhandari said. "A 15-year old student, Celestina Joseph, and 30-year-old Pabitra Paitri died in the bomb blast. Five of the injured are in serious condition," Ram Brish Chaudhary said to the Agence France Presse news agency. "Security has been increased and an investigation is going on." According to the Nepalese home ministry spokesman, Navin Ghimire, the National Defence Army, an obscure Hindu extremist group, left a message at the scene of the disaster, assuming responsibility for the explosion. The group says it wants to return Nepal's Hindu monarchy back to power after it was abolished last year. It has taken responsibility for the killing of a missionary in July of last year. This is the first bomb attack on a Christian church in Nepal. The country's population is predominantly either Buddhist or Hindu.
F-15 crashes in Knox County With so many unknowns about just what happened the night Lauren Spierer disappeared, her parents filed a civil lawsuit against the three former Indiana University students who were last to see Lauren. The parents of missing Indiana University student Lauren Spierer are trying a new tactic to get answers in their daughter's disappearance. The Spierers are using the legal system to try to get Lauren's The team announced Larry Bird's return to the Pacers at a press conference Thursday and fans are excited to have him back. Larry Bird is back with the Pacers, continuing a chapter in his Hall of Fame career as president of the NBA team. The team announced Bird's return at a press conference Thursday and fans are excited to Police have released a sketch of a suspect wanted for the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl. Police have released a sketch of a suspect wanted for the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl. Police say the man forced his victim into a secluded area of an alley in the 3100 block of Dr. Andrew J. Approximately 200 Indiana National Guard soldiers returned to the Hoosier state Thursday amid cheers and tears of joy at Decatur Central High School. Approximately 200 Indiana National Guard soldiers with the 38th Infantry Division's sustainment brigade, headquartered in Kokomo, Ind., returned to the Hoosier state Thursday amid cheers and tears of joy IU's Victor Oladipo has been selected by the Orlando Magic with the second overall pick in the NBA Draft. IU's Victor Oladipo has been selected by the Orlando Magic with the second overall pick in the NBA Draft. "I'm going to come in and, you know, help impact the program in a positive way on both ends of Oladipo, Zeller taken in top four picks of NBA Draft Oladipo, Zeller taken in top four picks of NBA Draft The Indiana Pacers have selected Solomon Hill from the University of Arizona with the 23rd pick in the NBA Draft. The Indiana Pacers have selected Solomon Hill from the University of Arizona with the 23rd pick in the NBA Draft. Hill, a forward for the Wildcats, averaged 12.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last A Cloverdale woman was injured in an eight-vehicle crash that closed I-70 in Putnam County Thursday afternoon. A Cloverdale woman was injured in an eight-vehicle crash that closed I-70 in Putnam County Thursday afternoon. State police investigators say a semi-trailer driven by Daniel Jovanovich of Peoria, Arizona A semi trailer overturned on the ramp from I-70 EB to I-465 NB on the Indianapolis west side. A semi trailer overturned on the ramp from I-70 EB to I-465 NB on the Indianapolis west side. INDOT says it will take hours to get things moving again. Seek alternate routes. WTHR traffic info Thousands of drug stores are quietly implementing new policies for dispensing pain medication. The changes affect millions of customers, but pharmacies don't want to talk about it. Thousands of drug stores are quietly implementing new policies for dispensing pain medication. The changes affect millions of customers, but pharmacies don't want to talk about it. Some patients call Just in time for the 4th of July, there's a new fireworks law that gives people certain days and times they can celebrate. Just in time for the 4th of July, there's a new fireworks law that gives people certain days and times they can celebrate. Set off a Roman candle or firecrackers outside of the designated times in Fishers The pilot parachuted down and landed not far from the crash site. Knox County - The Federal Aviation Administration says an F-15 fighter jet crashed in southwestern Indiana Wednesday morning. It was a single passenger plane from the Missouri Air National Guard's 131st Fighter Wing. The state's fire marshal, Roger Johnson, says the pilot ejected safely. Capt. Jim Jensen with the Indiana Air National Guard in Terre Haute said the pilot apparently was able to walk to a police officer and was taken to Vincennes Hospital to be checked. "It sounds like he's fine," Jensen said. Residents called authorities after seeing the pilot parachuting. Capt. Jamie Melchert, a spokesman for the Missouri National Guard, said there were no reports of injuries on the ground. "We're thankful and fortunate for that," he said. Jail Officer Shawn Brown with the Knox County Sheriff's Department said he was not sure whether there were homes near the crash site. Members of the Indiana Guard's 181st Fighter Wing were heading to the site to secure it, the Indiana Guard said. A witness told an Evansville television station that he saw two jets dogfighting before the crash. "I saw one of them make a loop and start to lose altitude," he said. "Then all of a sudden I saw the pilot eject, the seat separated from him and I saw the parachute open. Then all of the sudden, the jet hit the ground. I saw a billow of black smoke and then a big old ball of fire." Views from Chopper 13 showed a fire still burning at the crash site at 12:30 pm and a large area of scorched earth. The plane appears to have crashed in a field. According to a military press release, the plane crashed in the Military Operating Area (MOA) Red Hills. The military says the aircraft was conducting standard training maneuvers as part of a four aircraft formation. It confirmed that the incident did not involve a second aircraft. The 131st Fighter Wing is headquartered at Lambert Field in St. Louis. The crash occurred close to the Illinois/Indiana border near the Wabash River. The crash location is about 25 miles south of where two F-16s collided mid-air three years ago in May 2004. One of the pilots was killed, and the second parachuted to safety. The accident is currently under investigation. The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable tactical fighter, according to an Air Force fact sheet. The crash is the third of a fighter jet in southern Indiana since 2001. In addition to the 2004 crash, in July 2001, an F-16 from the 181st Fighter Wing crashed just over the Indiana-Illinois state line near Parkersburg, Ill., about 70 miles southwest of Terre Haute. The pilot ejected safely. \|\|\|\|\| Related To Story Military: Pilot OK After Ejection, F-15 Crash Witness: Guardsman Said Plane Was Unresponsive POSTED: 11:21 am EDT May 30, 2007 An Air National Guard pilot with 15 years' experience escaped serious injury Wednesday when he ejected from his F-15, just moments before the fighter jet crashed into a southwestern Indiana farm field during a training exercise. The jet from the Missouri Air National Guard's 131st Fighter Wing went down at 10:49 a.m. EDT in a lightly populated rural area near the Indiana-Illinois state line, south of Vincennes, the Air Guard said. The jet from the Missouri Air National Guard's 131st Fighter Wing went down at 10:49 a.m. EDT in a lightly populated rural area near the Indiana-Illinois state line, south of Vincennes, the Air Guard said. Slideshow: Crash Site Fact Sheet: F-15 Eagle Missouri Air National Guard spokesman Col. Greg Champagne said the pilot, whom he declined to identify, parachuted to the ground and was in good condition. Guard officials declined to discuss his injuries, citing military privacy policies. Missouri Air National Guard spokesman Col. Greg Champagne said the pilot, whom he declined to identify, parachuted to the ground and was in good condition. Guard officials declined to discuss his injuries, citing military privacy policies. "He's an experienced pilot -- flying over 15 years," Champagne said during a news conference at Lambert Airport in St. Louis, where the 131st Fighter Wing is headquartered. "He's an experienced pilot -- flying over 15 years," Champagne said during a news conference at Lambert Airport in St. Louis, where the 131st Fighter Wing is headquartered. The crash occurred during practice maneuvers involving four F-15s from St. Louis and four F-16 jets from the Indiana Air National Guard's 181st Fighter Wing, based in Terre Haute, the Guard said. No other aircraft was damaged in the accident, and there were no reports of injuries on the ground, the Guard said. The crash occurred during practice maneuvers involving four F-15s from St. Louis and four F-16 jets from the Indiana Air National Guard's 181st Fighter Wing, based in Terre Haute, the Guard said. No other aircraft was damaged in the accident, and there were no reports of injuries on the ground, the Guard said. A witness, John Snider, told 6News that he talked to the pilot shortly after he parachuted to the ground. A witness, John Snider, told 6News that he talked to the pilot shortly after he parachuted to the ground. "I asked him what happened. He said the airplane was just unresponsive," Snider said. "I asked him what happened. He said the airplane was just unresponsive," Snider said. The plane was flying at about 20,000 feet prior to the crash, officials said. The plane was flying at about 20,000 feet prior to the crash, officials said. The Air Force will convene a safety investigation board, which will take at least 30 days to reach a conclusion about what caused the crash. The Air Force will convene a safety investigation board, which will take at least 30 days to reach a conclusion about what caused the crash. Smoke was still visible several hours after the jet crashed into a field between two farm houses and near large power lines. No live munitions were on the plane, but officials urged people to stay clear of the area out of concern that some of the burning material could be hazardous, said Col. Chris Colbert, vice commander of the 181st Fighter Wing, which was helping investigate. Smoke was still visible several hours after the jet crashed into a field between two farm houses and near large power lines. No live munitions were on the plane, but officials urged people to stay clear of the area out of concern that some of the burning material could be hazardous, said Col. Chris Colbert, vice commander of the 181st Fighter Wing, which was helping investigate. Investigators were unable to get close to the smoldering wreckage, which was mostly below ground, Colbert said. Investigators were unable to get close to the smoldering wreckage, which was mostly below ground, Colbert said. Witness Willie Mayberry told Evansville television station WFIE that he saw two jets dogfighting before the crash. Witness Willie Mayberry told Evansville television station WFIE that he saw two jets dogfighting before the crash. "I saw one of them make a loop and start to lose altitude," he said. "Then all of a sudden I saw the pilot eject, the seat separated from him and I saw the parachute open. Then all of the sudden, the jet hit the ground. I saw a billow of black smoke and then a big old ball of fire." "I saw one of them make a loop and start to lose altitude," he said. "Then all of a sudden I saw the pilot eject, the seat separated from him and I saw the parachute open. Then all of the sudden, the jet hit the ground. I saw a billow of black smoke and then a big old ball of fire." Farmer Alfrey Frey said jets often practice in the skies above the area, which Colbert confirmed. Farmer Alfrey Frey said jets often practice in the skies above the area, which Colbert confirmed. "They dogfight over us all the time," the 79-year-old Frey said. "They dogfight over us all the time," the 79-year-old Frey said. The jet that crashed was part of a training sortie in the Red Hill Military Operating Area, a military air space that stretches more than 150 miles from Illinois, near St. Louis, to Indiana. The jet that crashed was part of a training sortie in the Red Hill Military Operating Area, a military air space that stretches more than 150 miles from Illinois, near St. Louis, to Indiana. The plane that crashed was built in 1978, but its age was not suspected as a cause of the accident, Champagne said. A preliminary report was expected in about 30 days, he said. The plane that crashed was built in 1978, but its age was not suspected as a cause of the accident, Champagne said. A preliminary report was expected in about 30 days, he said. The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable tactical fighter, according to The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable tactical fighter, according to an Air Force fact sheet The crash was the third of a fighter jet in southern Indiana and Illinois since 2001. The crash was the third of a fighter jet in southern Indiana and Illinois since 2001. On May 17, 2004, two F-16 fighter jets from the 181st Fighter Wing collided during routine training near the Indiana-Illinois state line. One of the pilots was killed, and the second parachuted to safety. On May 17, 2004, two F-16 fighter jets from the 181st Fighter Wing collided during routine training near the Indiana-Illinois state line. One of the pilots was killed, and the second parachuted to safety. In July 2001, an F-16 from the 181st Fighter Wing crashed just over the Indiana-Illinois state line near Parkersburg, Ill., about 70 miles southwest of Terre Haute. The pilot ejected safely. Copyright 2007 by TheIndyChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. In July 2001, an F-16 from the 181st Fighter Wing crashed just over the Indiana-Illinois state line near Parkersburg, Ill., about 70 miles southwest of Terre Haute. The pilot ejected safely. Links We Like Why SUVs Roll Find out why SUVs may be prone to roll and keep yours safely on all four tires. More Interview Fashion Tips For Men Believe it or not, a man can lose out on a job opportunity because of his appearance, just as a woman can. Find out what not to wear. More Last-Minute Cleaning Tips Company coming? Find out how to clean up fast! More The Cheapest Way To Buy Booze Want to stock your liquor cabinet without overspending? Find out how to get the best deal on booze. More Links We Like includes a selection of information, tools and resources from our partners and sponsors. Like video? Click over and check out our new video page we call Now See This. Links We Like includes a selection of information, tools and resources from our partners and sponsors. Sponsored Links	United States Air Force F-15 Eagle. In the United States this morning, an F-15 Eagle fighter jet from the Missouri Air National Guard crashed near Vincennes, Indiana. Reports say that the pilot successfully ejected prior to the crash and walked to first responders under his own power. The crash occurred in a sparsely populated area and there are no reports of injuries on the ground. The pilot was taken to Vincennes Hospital to be checked for injuries. The fighter jet was performing maneuvers with three other aircraft, none of which were involved in the incident. All four aircraft are part of the 131st Fighter Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard, flying out of Lambert Field in St. Louis, Missouri. The training maneuvers were taking place at Military Operating Area Red Hills in southern Illinois and Indiana. Resources from the Indiana Air National Guard 181st Fighter Wing from Terre Haute, Indiana, are securing the area surrounding the crash site. They will be joined by UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter support from the 38th Aviation Brigade of the Indiana National Guard from Shelbyville, Indiana.
As conversações com o sequestrador não foram fáceis: o homem munido com uma pistola de 6,35 milímetros pouco falou com o negociador da PSP. Segundo o Intendente Magina da Silva, que perto das 5h30 da madrugada prestou declarações aos jornalistas, os «contactos foram esporádicos e muito curtos». Enquanto o sequestrador recusava os contactos com os agentes de segurança, os jornalistas tentavam observar o que se passava frente ao balcão do BES. Com a ajuda de alguns moradores, os operadores de câmara puderam filmar de perto o que acontecia naquela avenida pacata da cidade. Próximo da dependência, o PortugalDiário assistiu à entrada com arrombamento dos elementos das forças de segurança. Depois da entrada de cerca de uma dezena de agentes do Grupo de Operações Especiais (GOE), e de se ter ouvido dois estrondos, que não foram confirmados como sendo tiros, assomou à porta a primeira refém, uma funcionária do banco, que há dois meses substituía a colega grávida que, durante o assalto, se dizia estar feita refém neste balcão. Logo de seguida, saiu um homem de meia-idade, envergando fato e gravata, também funcionário do banco. Estes eram os dois únicos elementos que estavam devidamente identificados e até a polícia ter a certeza cabal sobre a identidade dos indivíduos as preocupações habituais levam os agentes a algemar mesmo os outros reféns: assim, seguiu-se um jovem, algemado, e outro mais velho com dificuldades de locomoção também agrilhoado. Logo dentro da carrinha da PJ, para onde seguiram depois para interrogatório, a estes dois clientes foram retiradas as algemas. Mas as normas obrigam que todos, reféns e sequestrados, sejam levados para as instalações da PJ a fim de concluir a intervenção policial. O último a sair foi o sequestrador, que deixou o balcão escoltado pelos polícias e de cabeça tapada. De seguida, foi possível ver os agentes do GOE abandonando o local, dando espaço à Brigada de Minas e Armadilhas. Os operacionais detonaram uma caixa, que o sequestrador tinha afirmado conter um engenho explosivo. Segundo Magina da Silva, Intendente da PSP, este foi apenas um procedimento de segurança, já que não se confirmou a presença de explosivos. Apesar de não se confirmar o pedido de resgate de 100 mil euros, a parca informação disponível e o reboliço que o sequestro causou na cidade de Setúbal, estimulou os boatos. Fora do cordão policial havia quem garantisse a pés juntos a nacionalidade do assaltante ou mesmo a sua identidade. A polícia apenas afirmou que o arguido, que manteve presas quatro pessoas desde as 14h30, é de nacionalidade portuguesa, mas não confirmou se sofria de perturbações mentais. Segundo o subintendente da PSP, Jerónimo Torrado, «não se registaram assim quaisquer ferimentos quer nos agentes policiais envolvidos, nos quatro elementos libertados, ou no arguido». O PDiário esteve junto dos familiares dos reféns. Saiba como reagiram ao desenrolar dos acontecimentos aqui. \|\|\|\|\| Queria assaltar o banco e acabou por fazer reféns quatro pessoas durante 13 longas horas. Um homem de 57 anos manteve sequestrados três homens e uma mulher na dependência bancária do BES na Avenida Rodrigues Manito, em Setúbal, depois de ter gorado as hipóteses de roubar o dinheiro da caixa. A rápida resposta do comando distrital de Setúbal da PSP surpreendeu o assaltante. O alerta foi dado por um homem que se apercebeu do assalto e a chegada da polícia levou o arguido a barricar-se no banco com dois funcionários e dois clientes. Encurralado, o homem optou por fazer reféns as pessoas que se encontravam dentro do banco e continuou fechado, não permitindo muitos contactos por parte dos negociadores da PSP nem elementos da PJ. O homem estava armado e dizia ter com ele um engenho explosivo. Desde as 15 horas, altura em que se iniciaram as negociações, a PSP montou um dispositivo de segurança em torno do local, obrigando moradores a permanecer em casa. Quem queria regressar ao lar só o fez com escolta policial. Na zona foi retirado o sinal de telecomunicações, só permitindo chamadas para o 112, e os moradores foram advertidos a manter as janelas fechadas. Ainda dentro do perímetro de segurança, mas já não frente à dependência bancária, os habitantes da Avenida Rodrigues Manito viveram a noite mais longa de que há memória em Setúbal: assomando à varanda munidos de câmaras fotografias ou apenas observando o que acontecia frente ao BES, os telefonemas para amigos e família sucediam-se. Quem tinha uma visão mais privilegiada do local acabou por espreitar pelas frinchas dos estores as manobras dos agentes de segurança. O PDiário assistiu ao arrombamento da porta do banco pelo GOE. Saiba como tudo aconteceu aqui. \|\|\|\|\| Segundo refere o comunicado divulgado pelo subintendente da PSP, Jerónimo Torrado, a operação policial foi decidida às 3h35 tendo em vista a libertação dos quatro reféns - dois clientes e dois funcionários do banco - e a neutralização do sequestrador. "Esta acção decorreu com êxito, tendo sido possível entrar no edifício, libertar os reféns e deter o sequestrador sem que este tivesse tido qualquer possibilidade de reacção", disse o subintendente Torrado, do comando Distrital da PSP de Setúbal. "Não se registaram assim quaisquer ferimentos quer nos agentes policiais envolvidos, nos quatro elementos libertados, ou no arguido", acrescentou. De acordo com o comunicado da PSP, o sequestrador estava armado com uma pistola 6,35 milímetros e dizia ter um engenho explosivo na sua posse, mas tal não se confirmou. Questionado pelos jornalistas, o Intendente Magina da Silva, revelou que o contacto com o sequestrador começou ao princípio da tarde de quarta-feira, após a chegada do primeiro negociador da PSP, mas que se resumiu a alguns "contactos esporádicos e muito curtos". "O sequestrador recusou sistematicamente os contactos com os negociadores", afirmou Magina da Silva, que se escusou a confirmar que tivesse sido efectuado um pedido de resgate de 100 mil euros. O responsável da PSP admitiu, no entanto, que o arguido teria apenas a intenção de assaltar o banco, tendo sido surpreendido pela resposta rápida da PSP de Setúbal, que entretanto havia sido alertada por cidadãos que se aperceberam do assalto à dependência do BES. De acordo com a PSP, o arguido foi entregue à Polícia Judiciária para procedimento criminal e os quatro reféns libertados seguiram para as instalações da PJ de Lisboa, onde deverão prestar declarações nas próximas horas. Na operação policial participaram elementos da PSP de Setúbal, do Corpo de Intervenção da PSP, do Grupo de Operações Especiais, dos engenhos Explosivos e da Polícia Judiciária. Com Lusa \|\|\|\|\| Actualidade 2006-10-05 - 08:27:00 Após 13 horas Terminou assalto a banco de Setúbal d.r. Após um impasse de mais de 13 horas, a Polícia conseguiu terminar durante a madrugada desta quinta-feira o assalto a uma dependência do Banco Espírito Santo em Setúbal, tendo detido o assaltante e libertado ilesas as quatro pessoas, dois clientes e dois funcionários, que mantinha sequestradas no interior do banco. De acordo com uma fonte da PSP, depois de fracassarem as tentativas de negociar com o assaltante, as autoridades decidiram realizar uma operação de assalto às instalações bancárias às 03h35, que decorreu sem incidentes. A PSP confirmou a detenção do assaltante, um homem de 57 anos, que estava armado com uma pistola de 6,35 milímetros e afirmava trazer consigo uma caixa com explosivos, o que acabou por não se confirmar. O assaltante, que entrou no banco por volta das 14h00, recusou sistematicamente os contactos com os negociadores, o que levou as autoridades a intervir e a tomar de assalto a agência bancária. » Artigos Relacionados 05-10-2006 - 00:00:00 Sequestrador exige resgate SUBSCREVER ALERTAS SMS CORREIO DA MANHÃ Os Títulos do Dia no seu telemóvel! Envie CMTD para o nº 4644 . As Notícias de Última Hora no seu telemóvel! Envie CMUH para o nº 4644 . Custo por mensagem: €0,30 \| Mais serviços em: www.correiodamanha.pt/alertas » Comentários Sexta-feira, 6 Outubro - JORGE SANTOS Para os chicos espertos,entao digam porque que aquela senhora funcionaria do banco nao saiu algemada?Porque o gerente do banco nao saiu algemado?Porque so o cliente e o 1 dos funcionarios do banco foram algemados?Porque?Ou voces nao viram na tv? Quinta-feira, 5 Outubro - Alguém Neste País é vergonhoso que se critique tudo e todos só pelo simples prazer de criticar. Como se costuma dizer «Somos presos por ter cão e por não ter» Parabéns à PSP e o Sr acho que anda a ver muito o «Inspector Max» aquilo é parte da realidade mas a brincar. A semelhança desta vez foi apenas o final feliz, doloroso, cansativo mas feliz. - Nortada Dá para pensar. Pq será que este homem sem cadastro com 65 anos é agora um criminoso? Eu digo-vos. O homem estava à espera de uma resposta a um empréstimo para um café que explorava, no tal balcão onde efectuou o sequestro. Desesperado e sem resposta, vingou-se. Os bancos prometem, aumentam taxas mas só dos débitos, pagam mt poucos impostos, têm todos os previlégios e regalias. Iludido deu nisto. - Derringer 4- Algemas para todos? Sim claro! Afinal depois de tantas horas em stress ser algemado é ser protegido de reagir intempestivamente. Relativamente ao comentador que se iria queixar disso, bem podia limpar o rabo a essa queixa. Afinal se é tão especialista em assuntos policiais porque não foi lá fazer o serviço? As pessoas têm de se habituar á justiça e justo é cada um fazer o seu trabalho. - Nuno Para quem não sabe mas teima em pronunciar-se daquilo q não percebe cá vai: os refens saem algemados por que em cenários iguais a este o sequestrador ameaça uma das vítimas para se passar por sequestrador, enquanto ele sai passando-se por sequestrado.Meus amigos são procedimentos mais que estudados para que no fim tudo corra bem.Parabéns P.S.P. - derringer 1- Independentemente das criticas, a policia esteve bem. Venceu o homem pelo cansaço, não foi disparada uma unica bala, ninguém ficou ferido. 2- Um homem sem cadastro tornasse bandido aos 65 anos? Vamos la ver as causas destas coisas e graças a Deus que os Juízes são muito mais justos que os comentadores. - Velvet Caro PSP, toda A GENTE sai algemada ponto e vírgula. A mim algemavam-me e a seguir participava deles com processo por atentado ao meu bom nome e imagem. Mas que é isso de algemar cidadãos? Pode ser o vosso regulamento, mas saia-vos caro! - JORGE SANTOS Também há uma coisa que não percebi, porque é que as duas vítimas do assalto saíram do banco algemadas? - JORGE SANTOS Tem um filho doente e então assalta um banco? Há tanta gente doente em Portugal, se todos fossem assaltar bancos então estavamos tramados. - Graça Afonso Muito bom trabalho por parte da policia! Parabéns! Mas parece-me que agora as vitimas devem precisar de apoio psicológico! - PSP O perímetro de segurança é obrigatório! Imaginem que de facto existe uma bomba!! Quem iria assumir responsabilidades? Nestas situações TODA A GENTE sai algemada até se confirmar a identidade de cada um! Quem garante que ali no meio não há cúmplices??! Uma 6.35 não é uma arma? APARATO? A quem pergunta isso, uma só questão: Já tiveram uma 6.35 encostada à cabeça? Não quero crer. - Observador Fui polícia operacional durante 25 anos e sei que estas situações são muito complicadas e difíceis. Mas não percebi o APARATO todo, o fecho de todo o perímetro da operação, 13 horas com um pseudo assaltante de idade já avançada e que a TV mostrava o mesmo constantemente e depois as vítimas saem ALGEMADAS? Deve haver uma grande explicação para o facto por parte da polícia! - amm A ser verdade que o homem sem antecedentes criminais aos 50 e tal anos, fez aquilo talvez por desespero, por causa da doença Grave do filho, deve ter atenuantes. É fácil as pessoas comentarem "de barriga cheia"! Ninguem está livre de uma fatalidade na vida! - AMERICANO AINDA IRAO DAR UMA MEDALHA AO SEQUESTRADOR... AI DAO MEDALHAS POR TUDO E POR NADA... OS MILITARES AINDA ACABAM POR IR PARA A JAULA POR ABUSO DE FORÇA... OS TRIBUNAIS ESTAO ENTUPIDOS. SO HA DINHEIRO PARA AS SERINGAS NAS PRISOES FOMENTANDO O CONTRABADO DE DROGA DENTRO DAS PRISOES. - LUIS ESTRELINHA VERGONHOSO! Enquanto duas vítimas saiem algemados e de rosto descoberto, o criminoso sai algemado, mas de rosto tapado! VERGONHA DE PAÍS! - Maria Setúbal Este homem tem um filho muito doente e sem dinheiro para o tratar. Foi um acto de desespero. - Ricardo Setúbal A polícia é um espectáculo! Repararam naquele que está atrás do carro com uma pistola em punho? Um heli a sobrevoar a zona, muitos GOIS, etc., etc.. A montanha pariu um rato. Todos sabiam que era apenas um homem já de idade. Mas mesmo assim o espectáculo concretizou-se. Polícia no melhor! - jr Não sei qual o motivo que levou um homem de 57 anos a provocar um acto reprovável como este, em que mobilizou um aparato policial desta envergadura. Mas pergunto: É mais perigoso este individuo ou os jovens de Matosinhos que andaram a fugir à polícia e provocaram os sarilhos conhecidos? Qual a pena para uns e para outros? - filipe Os policias mais uma vez estiveram muito bem, grande profissionalismo dos elementos do corpo de intervençao e GOE.Grande trapalhada e falta de conhecimento do que se estava a passar por parte dos jornalistas no local. Muito sensacionalismo e pouca verdade. - tony leitao Excelente trabalho da policia, parabens pela vossa coragem. Esperamos e desejamos que a policia nao tivesse magoado o energumeno, senao,vamos ter mais um inquerito as autoridades. mais comentários \|\|\|\|\| Reféns libertados: Terminou o sequestro em banco de Setúbal O impasse de mais de 13 horas no assalto a um banco em Setúbal terminou hoje de madrugada com uma intervenção da polícia, que prendeu o sequestrador e libertou ilesos os quatro reféns, anunciou fonte da PSP. A operação de assalto das forças policiais ocorreu às 03h38 e decorreu sem incidentes, tendo os reféns sido libertados ilesos. Na altura foram ouvidos alguns estrondos, desconhecendo-se se terão correspondido ao disparo de tiros. Um homem aparentando 60 anos tinha cerca das 14h00 de quarta- feira assaltado uma dependência bancária na Avenida Rodrigues Manito, em Setúbal, afirmando possuir uma caixa com explosivos. O autor do assalto manteve reféns quatro pessoas, dois clientes e dois funcionários bancários, ao longo das mais de 13 horas, durante as quais foram decorrendo negociações com especialistas da PSP e da PJ. A zona fora isolada pelas autoridades, que só ao fim da noite permitiram aos residentes nas vizinhanças que entrassem nas suas casas. A operação foi coordenada pelo Comando de Polícia de Setúbal, com o apoio do Grupo de Operações Especiais, do Corpo de Intervenção e da Polícia Judiciária. A Avenida Rodrigues Manito e várias transversais de acesso estiveram cortadas ao trânsito numa extensão de cerca de 250 metros. 05-10-2006 8:20:35	A 13-hour kidnapping of four people by a bank robber in Setúbal, Portugal, ended at dawn Thursday as members of the special operations group stormed the bank facilities. The kidnapping started yesterday at about 1400 local time (1300 UTC), when a 57 year old man attempted to rob a Banco Espírito Santo's bank at the Rodrigues Manito Avenue, in Setúbal. The alarm was given by a man outside of the bank who noticed the robbery. The rapid response by the Polícia de Segurança Pública's (PSP) district command of Setúbal forced the robber to barricade himself in the bank with two employees and two clients who were in the bank at the time of the robbery. Cornered, the man decided to take the four people hostage, not allowing many contacts on the part of the police negotiators. According to a PSP source, the kidnapper was armed with a 6.35m pistol and said to the negotiators that he had a explosive device with him. The police immediately sealed off the block and interrupted all telecommunications in the area, only allowing calls to the Portuguese emergency telephone number. At 0308 local time (0238 UTC) a dozen members of the Police Special Operations Group (GOE) stormed the bank. According to PSP's officer Manuel Augusto Silva, the kidnapper was armed but was surprised by the members of the GOE team and didn't react, being immediately arrested. Some minutes later, the two bank employees, a 20 year old women and a 30 year old man left the bank building. The two clients were then handcuffed and escorted from the building and were not identified. The last to leave the bank was the kidnapper, who left escorted by the police officers and with his head covered. As the victims, kidnapper and members of the special forces officers left the bank, a bomb disposal unit entered the bank to inspect the possible bomb of the kidnapper. A suspicious package was later detonated by the technicians following security procedures, but no explosives were found. Although both the Portuguese authorities and news agencies had said that two of the hostages were female, the hostages were in fact three men and a women. Also, the news of a €100,000 ransom requested by the kidnapper wasn't confirmed. "There wasn't any record of any kind of injuries on the police officers involved, on the four hostages, nor on the detainee" Jerónimo Torrado, officer of the PSP of Setúbal, said.
FDA Issues Alert on ‘Mama's Smoked Nova Salmon' in 8 Ounce Vacuum Packed Bags Category: Nutrition/Agriculture News Article Date: 10 Apr 2005 FDA is issuing a nationwide alert to consumers about Mama's Smoked Nova Salmon packaged in 8-oz vacuum-packed bags because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can be serious and sometimes cause fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such a high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women and can cause more serious or life-threatening conditions in other patients. The products are sold in individual 8-oz. packages marked: "SELL BY SEP 17 2005 27183", "SELL BY SEP 18 2005 27183". They may also be in shipping cartons labeled: "09/17/05 SELL BY 27183", "09/18/05 SELL BY 27183. The contamination was noted after routine testing by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Consumers who have purchased this product are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company's recall coordinator at (305) 621-7600 ext. 211. SeaSpecialties Press Release (March 21, 2005) FDA Press Release - View the latest Nutrition/Agriculture News. - View all the latest Medical News Headlines. - Get the latest medical news in your email every week with our newsletter. \|\|\|\|\| (04-08) 17:19 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration issued a nationwide consumer alert Friday that two Sea Specialties brand Mama's Smoked Nova Salmon products may be contaminated with listeria, a potentially fatal organism. Sea Specialties Inc. listed two products on its recall hot line, Mama's brand 4-ounce Sliced Smoked Nova Salmon and Mama's brand 8-ounce Smoked Salmon Nova Snacks. The sale-by date is 8/10/2005 with code number 31782, the company said. In its consumer-alert statement, the FDA identified the product as Mama's Smoked Nova Salmon packaged in 8-ounce, vacuum-packed bags marked SELL BY SEP 17 2005 27183 and SELL BY SEP 18 2005 27183. It may also be in shipping cartons labeled 09/17/05 SELL BY 27183 and 09/18/05 SELL BY 27183, the FDA said. The organism Listeria monocytogenes can cause fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. It also can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Healthy people may suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, the FDA said. Routine testing by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services turned up the contamination, the FDA said. It urged consumers to return products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions can contact the company's recall coordinator at 1-305-621-7600, extension 211. Inquiries to the FDA can be made by calling 1-888-INFO-FDA. ___ On the Web: FDA: Sea Specialties Inc.: www.seaspecialties.com/ www.fda.gov/	The FDA is recalling "Mama's Smoked Nova Salmon". A nationwide alert for consumers to avoid the 'Mama's Smoked Nova Salmon' product in 8-oz. bags was issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when the threat of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes was discovered. Listeria is a bacteria organism which can be serious and sometimes cause fatal infections, particularly in the young, frail or the elderly. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such a high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Symptoms vary with the ability of the patient's immune reaction, and could be life-threatening. Consumers are urged to return the product, individual 8-oz. packages marked: "SELL BY SEP 17 2005 27183", "SELL BY SEP 18 2005 27183". They may also be in shipping cartons labeled: "09/17/05 SELL BY 27183", "09/18/05 SELL BY 27183" to the place of purchase for a full refund. Questions may be directed to the company's recall coordinator at (305) 621-7600 ext 211.
Thousands of Serbs protested for a fourth consecutive night on Friday, rallying against President Aleksander Vucic and his government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Demonstrators - who were defying a ban on mass gatherings amid a spike in virus infections - tried to storm the Serbian parliament in central Belgrade, throwing bottles, rocks and flares at the police guarding the domed building and removing its metal fences. Police first used their shields to push back the protesters and prevent them from entering the building. But after repeated attacks, they fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, and then ended up in running battles with demonstrators. Several people were arrested, and many reporters were injured, mainly in attacks by the demonstrators. Demonstrators outside the parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, July 10, 2020 [Marko Djurica/Reuters] This week's demonstrations were at first driven by frustration over economically stifling measures to contain the pandemic, but soon evolved into anti-government rallies with participants demanding Vucic's resignation. Earlier on Friday, Vucic said he was not worried about losing political power amid the protests, considered the most intense since the overthrow of former Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. He instead expressed fear about the spread of the virus by the demonstrators. "It is so irresponsible to call upon people to gather and demonstrate when we are faced with the most horrific numbers of infections from the coronavirus," Vucic told reporters during a state visit to France. "I beg people, please, let's keep our health safe. Nobody is going to take power by force. Power is taken at the elections. You can protest as much as you want when the epidemic is over," he said. Prime Minister Ana Brnabic announced the highest daily number of deaths, 18, on Friday since the start of the pandemic in the Balkan country. She said 386 new confirmed were recorded cases in the past 24 hours. That brings the total to more than 17,300 confirmed cases and 352 deaths since March. She said "hospitals are packed with sick" and urged people "to respect the measures in place" to restrict the spread of the virus. Critics say the government's decisions to allow football matches, religious festivities, parties and private gatherings to resume in May and parliamentary elections to go ahead on June 21 are to blame for the new surge in infections. Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) largely won the vote. During his nearly three years in office, Vucic has consolidated a tremendous amount of power in the presidency, a role that previously was only ceremonial. Friday's unrest came after a peaceful protest on Thursday - though there was also violence earlier this week. The protests started on Tuesday when the president announced that Belgrade would be placed under a new three-day lockdown following a second wave of confirmed coronavirus infections. They have continued even though Vucic suspended his plans to enforce the lockdown. Instead, his government has banned gatherings of more than 10 people in the capital. Serbian officials denounced the protests as an attempt to overthrow the government and weaken Vucic's position in the European Union-mediated negotiations on Kosovo, a former province whose 2008 declaration of independence Belgrade does not recognise. \|\|\|\|\| Serbian police have detained 71 people after clashes during the fourth night of anti-government protests that were initially sparked by the announcement of a new coronavirus lockdown, a senior police official said on Saturday. 14 policemen were injured in the rioting when hundreds of right-wing demonstrators tried to storm the parliament building in downtown Belgrade on Friday evening, said police director Vladimir Rebic. Several reporters have also been hurt. Demonstrators defying an anti-virus ban on gatherings threw bottles, rocks, and flares at police who were guarding the parliament building, with police responding with tear gas to disperse them. Similar clashes erupted twice earlier this week. The protests first started when populist President Aleksandar Vučić announced a strict curfew for this weekend to curb a surge in new coronavirus cases. Vučić later scrapped the plan to impose a new curfew. Authorities instead banned gatherings of more than 10 people in Belgrade, the capital, and shortened the working hours of indoor businesses. Many in Serbia accuse the increasingly authoritarian Vučić and his government of letting the virus crisis spin out of control in order to hold a parliamentary election on June 21 that tightened the ruling party's grip on power. Vučić has denied this, although authorities had relaxed the rules prior to the vote, allowing massive crowds to attend soccer games, weddings and other events. On Friday, the Serbian prime minister, Ana Brnabić, announced the highest daily number of deaths, 18, since the start of the pandemic in the Balkan country. Authorities reported 12 new deaths on Saturday and 354 new infections. The country has over 18,000 confirmed infections and 382 deaths since March and health authorities have warned that Serbian hospitals are almost full due to the latest surge in cases. Vučić has claimed involvement of unspecified foreign security services in the unrest and pledged he won't be toppled in the streets. Some opposition leaders, meanwhile, are blaming the rioting on groups they say are controlled by the government and sent out to discredit peaceful protests. \|\|\|\|\| Hundreds of protesters in Serbia clashed with the police in front of the parliament building in Belgrade on Friday, as protests rocked the country for the fourth consecutive day. Serbia faces a new wave of coronavirus infections, which the protesters blame on the government's pandemic policy. Despite the ban on mass gatherings, thousands rallied in Belgrade and other major cities. Groups of protesters threw bottles, rocks and flares at the police guarding the parliament. The rioters also used the protective metal fence around the building as a weapon in the scuffles with the police. Read more: Serbian protesters lash out at Vucic's botched pandemic response The police fired tear gas at the protesters and prevented people from entering the building. Several people were arrested following the attack. Protesters gathered outside the parliament building in Belgrade The protests happened hours after President Aleksandar Vucic said that he was not worried about losing political power despite the unrest. Vucic also told RTV Pink, a pro-government news channel, that protesters attacking "brave" policemen would be arrested. Some opposition leaders in Serbia alleged that Friday's attack on the parliament was orchestrated by demonstrators controlled by the government. The most intense protests since 2000 Serbia is in the grip of the most intense protests since 2000, over the Vucic government's coronavirus measures. The government had imposed draconian lockdown measures in the earlier stages of the outbreak, but then lifted all coronavirus restrictions as the country was nearing a parliamentary election. In the days following the election, top medical officials and Vucic himself raised the alarm over the galloping infections and the increasing strain on the country's ineffective healthcare system. Read more: Serbia's Vucic backs down on coronavirus curfew after Belgrade protests On Tuesday, Vucic announced gatherings of over five people would be banned starting on Wednesday, and that a curfew would be reintroduced from Friday evening until Monday morning, but did not specify if the decision would apply to the whole country. He has since changed his mind, with the country's emergency coronavirus council declaring a ban on mass gatherings but stopping short of a curfew. Watch video 02:19 Share Violent protests in Belgrade Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3f4hI Serbia bans mass gatherings after violent protests Protests began on Tuesday against the government's measures, stretching into a fourth consecutive day on Friday. Protesters briefly managed to breach the parliament building during hourslong unrest on Wednesday. Vucic has described protesters against his government as "criminal hooligans." am/dj (AFP, AP)	Friday night was the fourth night in a row that Serbians protested; the protest started out against the government's anti-COVID-19 measures but has reportedly expanded into more general anti-government protests. Police director said at least 71 people were arrested Friday night. Anti-government protests have been taking place since Tuesday in the Serbian capital after the government announced new lockdown measures, which the government dropped after the protests began. According to reports, criticism within Serbia has said COVID-19 cases rose because President eased lockdown measures to win elections which were held on June 21. Public and private gatherings were allowed in May again before the election started, including sports events, religious events, and parties. The protesters clashed in front of parliament with the police and threw rocks, bottles and flares. As they tried to storm parliament, police in response fired tear gas at them. Director Rebic said the night's incidents injured fourteen police officers. A number of journalists were also injured after being attacked by protesters. Some members of opposition parties have claimed violent protesters were sent by the government. President Vučić said unspecified foreign security forces were involved in the protests.
Hyman will serve six months Bruce Hyman was jailed for 12 months at Bristol Crown Court, but will serve six before being released on parole. He was caught on CCTV sending a fake legal document to his opponents in a child custody case. The document was designed to show his client's opponent - the child's father - in a bad light. Hyman is a barrister, a radio and theatre producer, and script writer. \|\|\|\|\| A father who was framed by a leading barrister in a child custody case has spoken for the first time about the extraordinary chain of events that led to him uncovering the deception. Bruce Hyman, a leading barrister and radio and television producer, is facing jail after admitting to perverting the course of justice earlier this month. He was representing a divorced woman fighting for custody of her four-year-old daughter in September last year when he tried to falsely incriminate the girl's father. advertisement Hyman sent him an email, pretending to be from a charity campaigning for father's rights, that appeared to support the father's claim that he should be granted greater access to his daughter. When the father tried to present it to the judge at the Taunton family court, Hyman stood up and accused him of forgery. However, through his own detective work, the father was able to track down CCTV footage that showed Hyman sending the email himself. The barrister was later arrested by police. He admitted perverting the course of justice and will be sentenced next month. His career in tatters, he could be the first barrister in this country to go to jail for perverting the course of justice. Yesterday the father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told of how he almost "fell off his chair" when he learnt that Hyman himself had tried to frame him with the fictitious email. Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, he revealed how, after the "chastening" exchange in court, later that night he managed to track down the origin of Hyman's false email to an internet shop on Tottenham Court Road, central London. "I did some research on the net about tracking emails and tracked the ones I had been sent to an internet posting service in Manchester," he said. "They released the number of the internet shop on Tottenham Court Road. "I called the shop and within five or six hours they emailed me saying staff had recalled a gentleman coming into the store on the day the emails were sent. "He'd not bought anything but had asked to use their internet services. They then said they'd got him on CCTV and sent me some stills. I nearly fell off my chair." The father added: "Its extraordinary to me on a human level, its unprecedented on a legal level and it's astonishing on any respect. "The conduct of the case is often about smearing a client's opponent and the Hyman affair is the most grievous smearing imaginable." Mr Hyman, who is married with four children and lives in Hampstead, north London, has since been disqualified from the Bar. He is the chief executive of Above Title Productions, his own radio and television company, and has worked with leading producers such as Anthony Minghella, Michael Frayn and David Mamet. He also written scripts for comedians such as Angus Deayton and Johnny Vegas.	Bruce Hyman, the UK barrister who pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice in August was sentenced to one year in prison at Bristol Crown Court yesterday. He is reported to be the only barrister ever to have been sentenced for such an offence. After having pleaded in mitigation to be suffering from agitated depression and presenting a character reference from Sir Mark Potter, Head of the Family Division of the High Court, Hyman will now serve about six months with remission. Hyman's crime, as reported last month, was calculated to send an innocent father to prison by providing him with a faked Court of Appeal judgment.
A Chinese protester holds up a card which reads: "French foreigner, China is not easily bullied!" during a protest outside a Carrefour supermaket in Hefei, central China's Anhui province, Saturday, April 19, 2008. China denounced a decision by the Paris city council to bestow honorary citizenship on the Dalai Lama, saying Tuesday the move was "another insult" that would harm diplomatic relations. Anti-French sentiment has been growing in China since the Beijing Olympics torch relay was disrupted by protests during a chaotic leg in Paris on April 7. (AP Photo/EyePress) China calls for halt in 'radical' anti-France demonstrations BEIJING (AP) — With praise for the French president and appeals for calm, China's leadership signaled Tuesday that it is ready to put an end to anti-France sentiment that has swept the country since the chaotic Olympic torch relay in Paris. France and high-profile French retailer Carrefour have been singled out by Chinese nationalists who felt insulted by the raucous protests by pro-Tibetan groups and others during the torch run through the French capital. Anger over the disruption, coupled with comments by French President Nicolas Sarkozy that he might boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, swelled into demonstrations over the weekend at the French Embassy in Beijing and at Carrefour stores in nine Chinese cities. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Tuesday that the Carrefour demonstrations were "encouraging and touching," but she added that "we do not agree with some people's radical actions." "We also hope that the French side can respond positively to the aspirations of the Chinese people so that our bilateral relations can proceed smoothly and healthily," the spokeswoman said. The distinctly upbeat remarks marked a departure from the stern tone Jiang and other officials have adopted in recent weeks in responding to criticism of China's crackdown on Tibetans and its treatment of dissidents. Though protesters also disrupted torch relay runs in London and San Francisco, the Paris leg has been a lightning rod of criticism by Chinese. The indignation stems in large part from widely circulated pictures of a pro-Tibetan protester in Paris trying to wrestle the torch from the grasp of a disabled Chinese fencer. The woman, Jin Jing, has been hailed by Chinese as a national hero — the "smiling angel in a wheelchair." Seeking to calm Chinese anger, France's president sent an emotional letter to "Mademoiselle Jin Jing," praising her "remarkable courage" and extending an invitation to visit as his personal guest. "This friendly move by President Sarkozy is appreciated by the Chinese people," said Jiang, the ministry spokeswoman. Beijing's move to rein in the nationalist outburst follows a familiar pattern. Authorities used state media to order students back to class and put a quick end to previous protests, such as those that followed the 1999 NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, and the 2001 collision of a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet. The latest surge in nationalism has been accompanied by a backlash against Western media organizations, especially CNN, for what is perceived as biased reporting on the unrest in Tibet. Foreign journalists have received angry phone calls and e-mails, including some death threats. Even amid the changed tone Tuesday, China stood firm on its hard line against the Dalai Lama, whose supporters have been accused by Beijing of directing deadly rioting that swept over Tibet's capital, Lhasa, on March 14. Jiang blasted the Paris city council's action Monday to bestow the title of "honorary citizen" on the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader. However, in a step underlining Beijing's desire to rein in anger, she did so only in a statement posted on the ministry's Web site. "This action wantonly interferes in China's internal affairs, seriously harms the relations between China and France," particularly ties between Paris and Beijing, the statement said. The decision to honor the Dalai Lama will "only be considered as another insult against the 1.3 billion Chinese people, including Tibetans," Jiang said. Beijing has called the Lhasa riot and copycat protests in other Tibetan areas an attempt to split off China's far western region and sabotage the Beijing Games. As part of efforts to smooth relations, Sarkozy's letter to Jin was personally delivered by French Senate President Christian Poncelet, who was also scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and several other top leaders. Former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin was to meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao this week, while Jean-David Levitte, Sarzoky's top diplomatic envoy, was to hold consultations with senior foreign policy adviser Dai Bingguo. Associated Press writer Christopher Bodeen contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Tuesday called for joint efforts by China and France to push for the stable and healthy growth of bilateral relations. Spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a press conference that to cement and advance the Sino-French relations accords with the fundamental interests of the two nations and the two peoples, and the two sides should continue considering bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term point of view. The former Chinese ambassador to France Zhao Jinjun paid a visit to France as a special envoy of President Hu Jintao from April 18 to 22. This was an important diplomatic move taken by China in the recent situation, and indicated that China valued the traditional friendship with France, Jiang noted. During his stay in France, Zhao met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Senate President Christian Poncelet and former prime ministers Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Dominique Galouzeau de Villepin. Zhao conveyed President Hu Jintao's letter to Sarkozy, and discussed the China-France relations and other issues of common concern with the French side. Sarkozy reiterated that France attached great importance to relations with China, and firmly adhered to the one-China policy on the Taiwan and Tibet issues. The president also wished success to the Beijing Olympics. Visiting French Senate President Christian Poncelet on Monday made a special trip to meet with Chinese torch bearer Jin Jing, and conveyed President Sarkozy's sympathy note to the wheelchair-bound fencer who was attacked during the Olympics torch relay in Paris. "I would like to express to you my deep feeling towards the way you were shoved in Paris on April 7 when you were holding the Olympic flame. You showed an outstanding courage, which honors you, and (through you) all your country," Sarkozy said in the letter. Sarkozy also condemned the intolerable attack which Jin Jing suffered. Jiang Yu said the Chinese people appreciated President Sarkozy's friendly attitude, hoping that Sarkozy and his government would adhere to justice on such important issues as Tibet and the Olympic Games. China hoped that France would understand and support China's reasonable and necessary measures to safeguard social stability and to protect people's lives and property safety, Jiang said, urging that France should oppose politicizing the Olympic Games and support the Beijing Olympics. Poncelet's visit is from April 21 to 27 at the invitation of top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo. Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin will visit China from April 24 to 27. They were old friends of China, and China highly valued their visits, Jiang noted. According to Jiang, Chinese president Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and top political advisor Jia Qinglin will meet with Poncelet separately, and Premier Wen Jiabao will meet with Raffarin. Moreover, Jean-David Levitte, a diplomatic adviser of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, will pay a visit to China from April 26 to 27, and hold an unofficial consultation about the Sino-French strategic dialogue with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo. The two sides are to exchange views on bilateral relations and major international and regional affairs, Jiang said. \|\|\|\|\| BEIJING, China (CNN) -- After more than a week of protests against what some Chinese see as the demonization of their nation by the West, there are indications the Chinese government is making an effort to rein in the anger. Supporters wave Chinese flags during Indonesia's leg of the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch relay in Jakarta Tuesday. The protesters have mostly been angry young men, their fury directed against the French supermarket chain Carrefour and against CNN. Some protests, on mainland China and elsewhere, have drawn thousands. However, Beijing appears to be gently admonishing protesters that enough is enough. The state-run English-language newspaper China Daily for a fourth straight day on Tuesday called on protesters to tone it down. "A stubborn insistence that those who do not join the protests and boycott Carrefour are not patriotic is false patriotism," the newspaper said in an editorial. "Patriots are supposed to adopt a tolerant attitude toward others and be broad enough to see what is good and what is bad in them. "Over-the-top nationalism is not constructive, but can do harm to the country. If we want to improve things, we will have to encourage responsible patriotism." Watch how the government is trying to ease anger » Carrefour became a target for protesters after anti-Chinese protests disrupted the Olympic torch relay in Paris earlier this month. Jin Jing, a disabled athlete, used her body to protect the torch as a pro-Tibetan demonstrator tried to grab it during the incident. Blog and text messages called on the Chinese to boycott French goods and businesses, particularly Carrefour. The Chinese alleged on blogs and message boards that Carrefour had backed the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. Carrefour CEO Jose-Luis Duran, in an interview with the French weekly Journal de Dimanche, denied that, saying, "Carrefour has not given any direct or indirect support to any political or religious cause," according to a story on Forbes.com. Carrefour also put out a separate statement last week saying it has always supported the Beijing Olympics, according to the article. The Chinese were already angry at Western media, including CNN, for what the government claimed was biased reporting over the recent Tibetan riots. CNN gained renewed focus for protesters after commentator Jack Cafferty called the Chinese "goons and thugs" and said the nation manufactures "junk." Cafferty and CNN have clarified that his remarks were directed at the government, not the Chinese people. But the Chinese Foreign Ministry has said CNN did not go far enough and lodged a protest with the network's Beijing bureau. Meanwhile, protesters' anger has continued to simmer. One moderate Chinese blog urges readers to boycott Carrefour "until the French give up their stupid ideas, until they bow their head." An online petition started by the Legal Immigrant Association, a California-based nonprofit group dedicated to employment-based immigrant professionals, demands that CNN discipline Cafferty and apologize to the Chinese people. As of Tuesday, more than 101,000 people had signed it. On Saturday, about 1,500 pro-Chinese demonstrators gathered outside of CNN's Los Angeles bureau to protest Cafferty's remarks, while other protesters gathered at the Time Warner headquarters building in New York.. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Tuesday that while protesters' patriotism is "touching ... I believe they can be rational." China's government has dealt with violent protests in the past. Three years ago, a spat with Japan triggered anti-Japanese riots across the nation. After a few days, Beijing clamped down on the violence. The Beijing Olympic Games kick off in August, and they are of major importance to China. "For some Chinese, they will tell you it's the most important event since 1949 -- since the creation of the PRC (People's Republic of China)," said Jean-Pierre Cabestan of Hong Kong Baptist University. "I think they are investing a lot in it because it's one of the first occasions for China to be among the big nations." Asked whether the anti-Western online sentiment might affect attendance at the Games, Jiang said, "We will certainly adopt an open and warm posture to welcome people from all over the world for the Olympics. I think the Chinese people will show everyone a good spirit." One Chinese blogger has launched a forum asking readers not to boycott Carrefour, arguing the store sells Chinese goods and has nothing to do with Tibet. However, angry protesters seem to be slow to come around. According to a spot check, disagreements on the posting outnumber agreements more than six to one. E-mail to a friend CNN's Hugh Riminton and Wen-Chun Fan contributed to this report. All About China • Tibet \|\|\|\|\| French President Nicholas Sarkozy is sending envoys to repair relations with China after nation-wide anti-French protests. China has sought to cool nationalist tempers, but warned Paris is seriously harming relations. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing. Jin Jing, a Chinese Paralympic fencer, closely protects her extinguished Olympic torch, after the start of the Olympic torch relay in Paris, 7 Apr 2008 French Senate President Christian Poncelet delivered a private letter from the French President to Jin Jing condemning an aggressive move against her. The wheelchair-bound Chinese athlete became a symbol of Chinese outrage after a protester tried to grab the Olympic torch from her during the Paris leg of the relay. The demonstrations in Paris were some of the largest the torch relay has faced on its world tour. Protesters have sought to bring attention to China's heavy-handed rule of Tibet, human-rights violations and dealings with authoritarian governments. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the Chinese people welcomed the French president's letter. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu She says they also hope that President Sarkozy and the French government can uphold justice on Tibet and the Olympics, and understand and support the Chinese government's necessary and justified measures to safeguard social order and safety of both lives and property. China cut off Tibetan areas from foreign journalists and tourists in March after anti-government protests turned deadly. The move was condemned internationally, but led to a backlash from some Chinese. Beijing has blamed the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama for the violent clashes. The central government is widely supported by Chinese who say Tibet has always been a part of China. Chinese protesting against France march towards a Carrefour supermaket in Hefei, central China's Anhui province, 19 Apr 2008 Thousands of Chinese protested in major cities during the weekend, targeting stores of the French retailer Carrefour as well as the French Embassy and a French school in Beijing. Some called for a boycott of French goods. The Chinese government has urged protesters to channel their energy constructively. But Jiang warned France it seriously harmed relations after the Paris city council declared the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen. In a statement on the Foreign Ministry website, Jiang said the act would only encourage what she called the arrogance of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan independence supporters. She said the symbolic award would be considered a severe provocation by all Chinese people, including Tibetans. A former French prime minister and President Sarkozy's diplomatic advisor are also scheduled to visit China this week to repair the damaged relations.	A pro-Tibetan protester in Paris attempts to wrangle the Olympic torch from Chinese fencer Jin Jing, who has become a national hero to many because of the incident. After anti-France protests were held in major Chinese cities over the weekend, China and France are now attempting to smoothen relations. China has discouraged the actions of the "radical" protesters, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy sent a letter to a Chinese Olympic athlete who has gained national fame in China following a controversial incident in the Paris Olympic torch relay. At a press conference on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the demonstrations were "encouraging and touching," but added that "we do not agree with some people's radical actions." She added that China should continue to harbor friendly bilateral relations with France. A Carrefour retail store in China. Many Chinese protesters called for a boycott of Carrefour, who they accused of supporting the Dalai Lama. The Chinese state-run newspaper China Daily expressed the government's views on the protests in an editorial, warning against "false patriotism" and encouraging tolerance of differing opinions. "Over-the-top nationalism is not constructive, but can do harm to the country," the English-language newspaper said. "If we want to improve things, we will have to encourage responsible patriotism." Some Chinese protesters have called for a boycott of French goods, in particular the French retailer Carrefour, which Chinese bloggers accused of supporting the Dalai Lama. Carrefour denied this allegation, saying in an interview that "Carrefour has not given any direct or indirect support to any political or religious cause." The protests in China were a reaction to pro-Tibetan demonstrations held in Paris on April 7, when the Olympic torch was making its journey through the French capital. Pro-Tibet activists disrupted the torch relay by attempting to extinguish the flame or otherwise halt the proceedings. One of the more controversial incidents of the torch relay involved Chinese Olympic fencer Jin Jing, who was one of the athletes chosen to bear the torch. Protesters tried to wrestle the torch from wheelchair-bound Jin, who is now regarded by many Chinese as a national hero because of the incident. French President Nicolas Sarkozy sent a letter to Jin, condemning the attack she suffered and praising her courage. "I would like to express to you my deep feeling towards the way you were shoved in Paris on April 7 when you were holding the Olympic flame. You showed an outstanding courage, which honors you, and all your country," Sarkozy wrote in the letter. He also extended a personal invitation to her. "This friendly move by President Sarkozy is appreciated by the Chinese people," said ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu. The letter was personally delivered by French Senate President Christian Poncelet, who is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders this week. Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin is also scheduled to visit China.
Officials in Kenya say three foreign aid workers kidnapped by Somali gunmen in July in northern Kenya have been released. Authorities say the three were released Saturday and are expected to fly to Nairobi. After their abduction by gunmen in the Kenyan border town of Mandera, the three were taken into Somalia. It is not clear whether a ransom was paid for the release of the humanitarian aid workers. Their nationalities are not immediately known. Somalia is chaotic after 18 years of internal strife, and foreigners are frequent kidnap targets. Kidnap victims usually are released unharmed, but in many cases only after a ransom is paid. Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| Three foreign aid workers held in Somalia since July freed NAIROBI — Three foreign workers with the French aid group Action Against Hunger (ACF) were freed Saturday after being held in Somalia since July, humanitarian agency sources and Somali officials said. The three, an American, a Zimbabwean and a Pakistani, boarded a plane in the southern town of Luq, and were expected to head to Nairobi. The three were snatched in Mandera, northern Kenya, on the night of July 17 and taken across the nearby border into Somalia by gunmen. Sheikh Ali Hussein, an official of rebel Islamist movement Hezb al-Islam in Gedo province, told AFP, "A small plane flew the hostages out of the airport at Luq after they were freed by their kidnappers." He said Hezb al-Islam, which controls the region, had authorised their departure but had nothing to do with their kidnapping. Somalia's radical Shebab militia has also said it had nothing to do with the abduction of the three. Hussein said that he had reports that a ransom had been paid, while a local elder who declined to be identified put the sum at 2.5 million dollars. The kidnapping of foreigners is rampant in Somalia, a Horn of Africa country ravaged by cycles of devastating violence since the ouster of president Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Four workers for ACF -- two French women, a Belgian and a Bulgarian -- as well as two Kenyan pilots, were released in August after being held for nine months. A French intelligence agent kidnapped in July in Mogadishu is still held by Shebab and facing a trial under Sharia law. A colleague seized at the same time returned to France in August, saying he had escaped. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	Officials in Kenya say three foreign aid workers with the aid group Action Against Hunger, that were kidnapped by Somali gunmen in July in northern Kenya, have now been released. Authorities say that the three were released on Saturday and are expected to fly to Kenya's capital of Nairobi. After their abduction by gunmen in the Kenyan border town of Mandera on July 17 of this year, the three were taken into Somalia. It is not clear whether a ransom was paid for the release of the humanitarian aid workers. Their nationalities were: Pakistani, American, and Zimbabwean. "A small plane flew the hostages out of the airport at Luq after they were freed by their kidnappers," said an official for the rebel Islamist movement Hezb al-Islam to the Agence France-Presse news agency. Somalia has been devastated by internal violence for eighteen years since 1991, when the last stable government by Siad Barre collapsed. Foreigners are frequently kidnapped in the country. Kidnap victims usually are released unharmed, but in many cases only after a ransom is paid.
Non bio-degradable plastic is blamed for environmental problems A UN-backed study found that two million plastic bags were handed out each year in Nairobi alone - where only a quarter of daily waste is collected. Many bags are so thin they last only one shop, and have to be discarded. Backing action, Kenya's Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai said drains and sewers were being blocked - creating breeding areas for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Discarded bags also choke farm animals and marine wildlife and pollute the soil, the study into Kenya's solid waste management found. The bags can take between 20 and 1,000 years to decompose. The report comes as governors of the UN Environment Programme (Unep) hold their 23rd conference in Nairobi. Kenya's Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis and the National Environment Management Authority were also involved in the study. Tree-planting More than 48 million thin plastic bags are produced in Kenya each year, and production is increasing to meet consumer demand, the study found. "Flimsy plastic shopping bags should be banned and a hefty levy slapped on thicker ones to rid Kenya of an increasing environmental and health menace," Unep said. Earlier this week, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki reportedly told Unep officials that his government would tackle the problem. Professor Maathai sought support for her tree-planting campaign "If I had my way, we would have started that immediately," she said. Also at the conference, Ms Maathai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, called on developing nations to support the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Ms Maathai, who is credited with planting more than 30 million trees around Africa, has urged other nations to join her tree-planting campaign. "What we should do to ensure that the Kyoto Protocol is successful is to plant a lot of trees in order to create carbon sinks," she said. \|\|\|\|\| Log In To read the article you have selected, you will need to login or register if you have not done so previously. Registration will only take a moment and it is free. Registered users have access to general areas of content including the discussion forum. If you are already registered with us, please login User name/email : Password: Please tick this box to switch on automatic login. Click here if you have forgotten your password or username Not registered? Register here New Registration If this is your first visit, please click the button below to register. - - - - - - - - \|\|\|\|\| Shoppers will now have to pay for reusable, recyclable plastic bags South Africa is making the thin and flimsy plastic bag illegal. Known as the country's "national flower" because they litter streets - retailers handing out the bags now face a fine of 100,000 rand ($13,800) or a 10-year jail sentence. The legislation means shoppers will either have to take bags with them when they go shopping, or buy new, thick, stronger plastic bags that are easier and more profitable to recycle. According to the South African Government the country uses eight billion bags a year. "Each plastic bag has a life of its own but we do not want it to end up on the street. We want everyone, from the producer to the retailer to the consumer, to start recycling," said Phindile Makwakwa, spokeswoman for the environment ministry. You mustn't cut off the plastic. That means you are killing us. To buy food and buy plastic it's more expensive Johannesburg shopper "We want to get rid of plastic bag waste completely. We are hoping to walk around in our streets in a year's time and see far less waste." The move from bags with an average of 17 microns in thickness to the new minimum of 30 microns started about two years ago. The government wanted to ban all plastic bags thinner than 80 microns, but the proposal caused an outcry among trade unions and business. A micron, or micrometer, is one-thousandth of a millimetre (one 25th of a thousandth of an inch). A human hair measures about 50 microns across. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it would lead to the closure of factories and some 3,800 job losses, while plastics manufacturers said it was impossible to produce 80-micron bags with their existing equipment. Businesses 'ready' However, a compromise was reached: the new law would permit plastic bags with a minimum thickness of 30 microns, jobs in the plastic manufacturing and retail industries would be retained and new jobs would be created in the recycling industries. Despite the sectors signing an agreement in September last year, newspapers reported this week that manufacturers were working around the clock, but were unlikely to meet the Friday deadline and that many shops would continue using the thinner bags. PLASTIC FACTS SA uses 8bn bags annually Law aims to reduce bag use by 50% Bags now must be thick as a rubbish bag "We have really given them enough time. Unfortunately change for some people is never easy and they will keep on trying to get an extension," Ms Makwakwa told AFP news agency. "But we've had an assurance from business that they will be ready... The law is the law and we are optimistic that the people are ready." From Friday, the cost of the thick plastic bags will be carried by the customer. Up to now the shopping bags have been handed out free-of-charge to shoppers. Reservations Some South Africans oppose the new law. "You mustn't cut off the plastic. That means you are killing us. To buy food and buy plastic it's more expensive," one Johannesburg shopper told the BBC. Poor South Africans use the bags to make hats, handbags, purses and scrubbing brushes which they then sell. If they have to buy the bags - then the prices of their products will be forced upwards. "I am very upset I've got four children and they need food and clothes," said one South African woman who makes handbags from bags. But others feel the clamp down on plastic will benefit the environment. "I grew up in the war. There was no such thing as a plastic bag. We all carried bags. It's fine as far as I'm concerned," said one shopper. \|\|\|\|\| Through thick, not thin, say ragpickers Sandeep Unnithan / Indian Express 23nov98 Mumbai, November 22: Mumbai's army of ragpickers who trawl the streets looking for recyclable material have had enough of the thin plastic carry bag, better known as the jhabla. ``Halka maal hain, bilkul nahin chalta.'' 25-year-old Rana Haldar peeps out of a putrefying rubbish dump in the city's slum and scrap suburb Dharavi. Haldar ignores the thin plastic bag and rifles around the bin looking for tins and paper. Another ragpicker, Mohammed Yunus, has since graduated to scouring the streets for the more profitable sack cloth. ``A few years ago, I had to stumble around for a whole day before I could collect a kilo of thin plastic bags which fetched only Rs 1.50.'' He now earns Rs 150 a day collecting cloth. And then you realise why the thin plastic bags lie around waiting to get into sewer lines or dirty the roads. It's because no self-respecting ragpicker is willing to touch them. As any one of them will tell you, it takes a day of back-breaking effort to collect 1,000 bags to make awaist-high saleable kilo. ``It's just not worth the effort,'' says ragpicker Abdul Rahim, who's picking up the thicker plastic bags. Ragpickers have welcomed the government's proposal to ban thin carry bags and instead introduce the thicker bags of a minimum thickness of 80 gauge. ``It will make our job far easier,'' Rahim says. Squatting on his pavement shop at Dharavi, a wizened sixty-something scrap trader Abdul Haq has had enough of the thin plastic bag. ``Yeh jhabla nahin, jhamela hain,'' curses the grizzle bearded trader, separating the carry bags from a mound of plastic waste. The rest of the plastic is sold to bigger traders for Rs three a kg, but as the thin bags are a strict no-no, Haq has to separate them from his precious pile. The thick plastic bags are melted down into little pellets, the raw material for a thriving industry which makes buckets, pipes and footwear out of them. But the thin bags sit in a sack on his roof. ``Small shop owners like us don't buy these bags, nobody wantsthem,'' scrap dealer Abdul Hamid adds. ``The government must ban these bags. When factories stop producing thin bags, the public will automatically stop using them,'' Haq advises. He then goes on to extol the virtues of paper bags to curious bystanders. ``The paper at least dissolved in water, but not these plastic bags.'' On the Dadar beach, ragpicker Dattaram Kadam rummages through a rubbish tip with a stick. Thin plastic bags don't figure on his list, but the thicker milk pouches do. He washes the thick milk bags in the sea, dries them before selling them for as high as Rs 20 a kg. ``Thicker bags are of great use to us,'' he says.	They are cheap, useful, and very plentiful, and that is exactly the problem, according to researchers. A report issued on Feb. 23 by a cadre of environment and economics researchers suggested that Kenya should ban the common plastic bag that one gets at the checkout counter of grocery stores, and place a levy on other plastic bags, all to combat the country's environmental problems stemming from the bags' popularity.
OSLO, Norway - The first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, environmental activist Wangari Maathai, received her award Friday to the beat of drums and dancers that broke with the usual stodgy ceremony, and she urged her audience “to embrace the whole creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder.” advertisement “Today, we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system,” she told the crowd of dignitaries that included the Norwegian royal family as well as talk show host Oprah Winfrey and Kerry Kennedy, a daughter of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. “We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own indeed, to embrace the whole creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder,” Maathai said. “This will happen if we see the need to revive our sense of belonging to a larger family of life, with which we have shared our evolutionary process.” Before she took the stage, the traditionally rigid and formal ceremony lit up with color and sound as three African dancers and accompanying drummers pounded out a brief piece of music that echoed off the walls of the large auditorium that was decorated with flowers. “In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other,” she said. “That time is now.” As the 64-year-old Kenyan spoke in English, many in the crowded auditorium nodded in agreement. “You are an extraordinary example for women throughout Africa, throughout the world,” said Ole Danbolt Mjoes, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Raising eyebrows Maathai, who is the 12th woman to receive the prize since it was first awarded in 1901, said she’ll use it to encourage more environmental protection, adding that the relationship between a safe environment and peace was and remains forever linked. Maathai’s selection by the secretive five-member Nobel Committee for the Peace Prize for raised eyebrows because of her environmental ties and also because of controversy over statements she reportedly made asserting that AIDS was a laboratory-created ailment. But she told The Associated Press that her comments about AIDS being created to destroy Africans were misquoted and taken out of context. “I have not said what I’m quoted as saying,” she said of claims that AIDS was created by scientists and loosed upon Africa by the West. She reaffirmed her stand in a statement released by the Nobel Committee that said: “It is therefore critical for me to state that I neither say nor believe that the virus was developed by white people or white powers in order to destroy the African people. Such views are wicked and destructive.” Maathai, who is also the first Kenyan to win the award, was selected for her role in founding the Green Belt Movement, which has sought to empower women, improve the environment and fight corruption in Africa for nearly 30 years. A deputy environment minister in the Kenyan government, Maathai also won acclaim for her campaign to fight deforestation by planting 30 million trees in Africa. Her Nobel prize is the first to acknowledge environmentalism as a means of building peace. “The Norwegian Nobel Committee has challenged the world to broaden the understanding of peace: there can be no peace without equitable development; and there can be no development without sustainable management of the environment in a democratic and peaceful space. This shift is an idea whose time has come,” she said. Awards in Stockholm Eleven other Nobel laureates will receive their awards in another ceremony later Friday in Stockholm, Sweden. More than 1,300 guests, including Sweden’s royal family, were invited to a celebration dinner. Noticeably absent this year was the literature prize winner, Austrian Elfriede Jelinek, who says she has a social phobia. Although she sent a video to this week’s Nobel lectures, she did not send any prepared remarks for the banquet. Americans Richard Axel and Linda B. Buck won the medicine prize for their work on the sense of smell. Americans David J. Gross, H. David Politzer and Frank Wilczek won the physics prize for their explanation of the force that binds particles inside the atomic nucleus. The chemistry prize was awarded to Israelis Aaron Ciechanover and Avram Hershko and American Irwin Rose for their work in discovering a process that lets cells destroy unwanted proteins. Norwegian Finn E. Kydland and American Edward C. Prescott received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for shedding light on how government policies and actions affect economies worldwide. The economics prize was introduced in 1968 and is funded by Sweden’s central bank. The other awards are funded by the Nobel Foundation. The Nobel Prizes are always presented on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of their creator, Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel. © 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| Professor Maathai is also vocal on women's rights Professor Maathai, also Kenya's deputy environment minister, is the first African woman and environmentalist to win the prestigious award. The 64-year-old was honoured for her campaign to save Africa's trees and for promoting social, economic and cultural reforms that are ecologically viable. She was described as an example for all Africans seeking democracy and peace. Green belt "There can be no peace without equitable development and there can be no development without sustainable management of the environment in a democratic and peaceful space. "This shift is an idea whose time has come," said Prof Maathai in her acceptance speech. HAVE YOUR SAY It is another example which shows that women can create a positive impact beyond their communities Sasha Henriques, Jamaica Send a comment Introducing her at the prize-giving ceremony, Nobel committee chairman Ole Mjoes said that conflicts such as in the Middle East and Sudan's Darfur region had their roots in competition for natural resources. "Environmental protection has become yet another path to peace... There are connections between peace on the one hand and an environment on the other in which scarce resources such as oil, water, minerals and timber are quarrelled over," he said. Prof Maathai is the founder of the Green Belt Movement, which has planted 20-30 million trees in Africa to counter forest loss and slow the spread of the deserts. The movement went on to campaign on education, nutrition and other issues important to women. Trees can galvanise people, Maathai says Prof Maathai beat a record 194 nominations, including former chief United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix and the head of the UN energy watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, to win the prize. She picked up a cheque for 10 million Swedish Kronor ($1.4m), a gold medal and a diploma at the prize-giving ceremony in Oslo's city hall. The event is being held on the anniversary of the death of Swedish philanthropist Alfred Nobel, who launched the peace prize in 1901. \|\|\|\|\| Norwegian THE NORWEGIAN NOBEL COMMITTEE The Nobel Peace Prize 2004 The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2004 to Wangari Maathai for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. Peace on earth depends on our ability to secure our living environment. Maathai stands at the front of the fight to promote ecologically viable social, economic and cultural development in Kenya and in Africa. She has taken a holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces democracy, human rights and women's rights in particular. She thinks globally and acts locally. Maathai stood up courageously against the former oppressive regime in Kenya. Her unique forms of action have contributed to drawing attention to political oppression - nationally and internationally. She has served as inspiration for many in the fight for democratic rights and has especially encouraged women to better their situation. Maathai combines science, social commitment and active politics. More than simply protecting the existing environment, her strategy is to secure and strengthen the very basis for ecologically sustainable development. She founded the Green Belt Movement where, for nearly thirty years, she has mobilized poor women to plant 30 million trees. Her methods have been adopted by other countries as well. We are all witness to how deforestation and forest loss have led to desertification in Africa and threatened many other regions of the world - in Europe too. Protecting forests against desertification is a vital factor in the struggle to strengthen the living environment of our common Earth. Through education, family planning, nutrition and the fight against corruption, the Green Belt Movement has paved the way for development at grass-root level. We believe that Maathai is a strong voice speaking for the best forces in Africa to promote peace and good living conditions on that continent. Wangari Maathai will be the first woman from Africa to be honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize. She will also be the first African from the vast area between South Africa and Egypt to be awarded the prize. She represents an example and a source of inspiration for everyone in Africa fighting for sustainable development, democracy and peace. Oslo, 8 October 2004. \|\|\|\|\| Nobel of the Ball Kenyan eco-activist Wangari Maathai wins Nobel Peace Prize By Geoffrey Dabelko Wangari Maathai with good reason to smile. Photo: Goldman Environmental Prize. Amidst the daily drumbeat of war stories, the committee hatched a wonderful surprise in that small third-story room. Today, they announced that Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmental activist and biologist-turned-deputy environment minister, will receive the world's most prestigious award -- the first time the Peace Prize has been awarded to honor work in the environmental field. Maathai will now receive the wide recognition she deserves for fighting to protect Kenya's forests from corruption and degradation. In 1977, Maathai founded the A Green Belt Movement outpost. Photo: Geoffrey Dabelko. This grassroots movement had a broader impact than more traditional "environmental" movements. GBM focused on empowerment through the environment, which led Maathai to clash with Kenya's ruling elites. During Daniel arap Moi's decades-long rule, the fight for environmental protection and democracy was not always easy. Maathai's demonstrations to protect the forests often met violent resistance. Upon being jailed by a government intent on defending corruption and mismanagement, she proclaimed, "The government thinks that by threatening me and bashing me they can silence me. But I have an elephant's skin and somebody must raise their voice." Wangari raised her voice higher in 1997 by running for president on the Liberal Party of Kenya ticket. In 2002 -- after Moi's Kenya Africa National Union party lost the presidential race -- she was elected to Parliament, and the next year was appointed deputy minister of environment for the new government. Green Peace Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to an environmental activist may raise some eyebrows. But Maathai is on the front lines of the struggle over natural resources that fuels conflicts across the world. While there is no dramatic footage of tanks rumbling across borders or airplanes flying into buildings, the everyday fight for survival of those who depend directly on natural resources -- forests, water, minerals -- for their livelihoods is at the heart of the battle for peace and human security. Maathai told Norway's TV2, "When natural resources get scarce, wars are started. If we improve the management of our natural resources, we help promote peace." Maathai receiving the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1991. Photo: Goldman Environmental Prize. Those focusing on today's hard security agenda of war and terrorism praise the award, too. Former Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.), president of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and vice chair of the 9/11 Commission, said, "Today we face a range of difficult security challenges across the globe. The Nobel Committee has done a great service in highlighting the struggles for sustainable development, democracy, and peace that affect the safety and quality of life of literally billions of people every day." The committee chose well to add another picture to its hallowed walls, one of a woman from the Global South fighting for peace in the trenches, from the small villages of Kenya's heartland to the crowded streets of Nairobi. Much of the debate about the link between environment and security plays out in the rarified air of Northern universities and think tanks (including my own) -- even as they issue reams of paper about a South they only visit for conferences. Elevating such a strong Southern voice -- and one whose elephant's skin bears the scars of the fight for peace -- is a noble choice. It is a small room for such a momentous decision. And it's made even smaller by the impressive portraits of past winners lining the walls, listening in on the secret deliberations of the Nobel Peace Prize committee.Amidst the daily drumbeat of war stories, the committee hatched a wonderful surprise in that small third-story room. Today, they announced that Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmental activist and biologist-turned-deputy environment minister, will receive the world's most prestigious award -- the first time the Peace Prize has been awarded to honor work in the environmental field. Maathai will now receive the wide recognition she deserves for fighting to protect Kenya's forests from corruption and degradation.In 1977, Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement , which planted 30 million trees across the country, in the process employing thousands of women and offering them empowerment, education, and even family planning.GBM was grounded in the firm belief that environmental protection is inextricably linked to improving human living conditions. As Maathai told the UNESCO Courier in 1999, "If you want to save the environment, you should protect the people first, because human beings are part of biological diversity. And if we can't protect our own species, what's the point of protecting tree species?"This grassroots movement had a broader impact than more traditional "environmental" movements. GBM focused on empowerment through the environment, which led Maathai to clash with Kenya's ruling elites.During Daniel arap Moi's decades-long rule, the fight for environmental protection and democracy was not always easy. Maathai's demonstrations to protect the forests often met violent resistance. Upon being jailed by a government intent on defending corruption and mismanagement, she proclaimed, "The government thinks that by threatening me and bashing me they can silence me. But I have an elephant's skin and somebody must raise their voice."Wangari raised her voice higher in 1997 by running for president on the Liberal Party of Kenya ticket. In 2002 -- after Moi's Kenya Africa National Union party lost the presidential race -- she was elected to Parliament, and the next year was appointed deputy minister of environment for the new government.Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to an environmental activist may raise some eyebrows. But Maathai is on the front lines of the struggle over natural resources that fuels conflicts across the world. While there is no dramatic footage of tanks rumbling across borders or airplanes flying into buildings, the everyday fight for survival of those who depend directly on natural resources -- forests, water, minerals -- for their livelihoods is at the heart of the battle for peace and human security. Maathai told Norway's TV2, "When natural resources get scarce, wars are started. If we improve the management of our natural resources, we help promote peace.""Peace on earth depends on our ability to secure our living environment," said the Norwegian Nobel Committee. "Maathai stands at the front of the fight to promote ecologically viable social, economic, and cultural development in Kenya and in Africa." The committee chair said Maathai "represents an example and a source of inspiration for everyone in Africa fighting for sustainable development, democracy, and peace."Those focusing on today's hard security agenda of war and terrorism praise the award, too. Former Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.), president of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and vice chair of the 9/11 Commission, said, "Today we face a range of difficult security challenges across the globe. The Nobel Committee has done a great service in highlighting the struggles for sustainable development, democracy, and peace that affect the safety and quality of life of literally billions of people every day."The committee chose well to add another picture to its hallowed walls, one of a woman from the Global South fighting for peace in the trenches, from the small villages of Kenya's heartland to the crowded streets of Nairobi. Much of the debate about the link between environment and security plays out in the rarified air of Northern universities and think tanks (including my own) -- even as they issue reams of paper about a South they only visit for conferences. Elevating such a strong Southern voice -- and one whose elephant's skin bears the scars of the fight for peace -- is a noble choice. Geoffrey Dabelko is director of the Environmental Change and Security Project in Washington, D.C., a nonpartisan policy forum on environment, population, and security issues. Charlotte Youngblood and Meaghan Parker contributed to this article. - - - - - - - - - - Previous \| Next >	— The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded today to from Kenya. She is the first African woman to win the Peace prize, and the 12th woman to win the prize since its inception in 1901. The Nobel committee cited "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace" as the reasons for awarding the prize. It is the first Peace prize awarded to an environmentalist. Dr Maathai is a member of parliament in Kenya, the country's deputy environmental minister, and holds a in from the University of Nairobi. For seven years she was the director of the in Kenya, and is most known for founding the — a non-governmental organization dedicated to environmental conservation and protecting forests. Since its founding in 1997, the organization claims to have planted over 30 million trees, in the process employing thousands of women — offering them empowerment, education and even family planning. The GBM organises rural women in Kenya to participate in environmentally friendly activities such as reforestation; economically-conducive activities like eco-tourism and training in forestry and food processing; as well as community development. On her Green Belt Movement project, Dr Maathai told the Courier in 1999, "If you want to save the environment, you should protect the people first, because human beings are part of biological diversity. And if we can't protect our own species, what's the point of protecting tree species?" In accepting the prize, Dr Maathai said that she was humbled by the recognition and uplifted by the honor of receiving the award, and discussed social and environmental problems that still challenge Africa and the rest of the world. The award includes a cash component of 10 million Swedish Kronor (approximately US$1.4 million). Dr Maathai's project was opposed by the Kenyan government during 's rule, and Dr Maathai's demonstrations to protect the forests often met with violent resistance; eventually, she was jailed. "The government thinks that by threatening me and bashing me they can silence me," Dr Maathai said. "But I have an elephant's skin and somebody must raise their voice." In 1997 Dr Maathai ran for president on the Liberal Party of Kenya ticket. In 2002 — after Moi's party lost the presidential race — she was elected to Parliament, and was appointed deputy minister of environment for the new government the next year, a position she holds today.
The Serb turnout figures will be watched closely The people of Kosovo are voting in local elections - the first poll since the territory declared independence from Serbia last year. The Kosovan government says it is determined to organise a free and fair election in which both ethnic Albanians and the minority Serbs will vote. Security is tight, especially in Serb areas where some say they fear attacks by other Serbs if they vote. Thousands of Nato peacekeepers are still stationed in Kosovo. Polling stations opened at 0700 (0600GMT) and will close at 1900, with early results expected by the end of Sunday evening. Turnout fear The BBC's Mark Lowen says most of the 120,000-strong minority Serb population still opposes Kosovo's independence. A turnout of only about 40% is expected. And one Albanian opposition group is discouraging people from voting, because they say this election gives too much power to the municipalities, some of which might end up controlled by Serbs. Ten years on from Kosovo's brutal war, reconciliation between the two communities is slow. There may be a moderate Serb turnout in this election, but many here are likely to follow Belgrade's call for a boycott If this election is deemed free and fair, it may increase the chance of more states recognising an independent Kosovo. President Fatmir Sejdiu has called for people to come out and vote. "This Sunday should prove to the world that Kosovo is a stable country that produces peace and stability in the region," he said. \|\|\|\|\| AFP - Kosovo went to the polls Sunday for the first time since the ethnic Albanian majority declared independence from Serbia last year, amid a partial boycott by a divided Serbian community. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said the local election "is the most important since the proclamation of independence" as he voted in bright sunshine in Pristina, accompanied by his family. According to the electoral commission, by noon (1100 GMT) 15 percent of the 1.5 million eligible voters had already voted for mayors and local representatives in what Serbia sees as a renegade southern province. But most eyes were on Kosovo's 120,000 strong Serb community amid calls from Belgrade and the influential Serbian Orthodox Church for them to boycott the polls. However Serbs appeared to be participating in polling stations throughout central Kosovo, home to two-thirds of the Serb minority, local media reported. In the Serb stronghold Gracanica, eight kilometers (five miles) south of Pristina, there were even queues of people waiting outside some polling stations. According to local electoral officials in Gracanica, more then 10 percent out of 18,000 To take advantage of all the features on FRANCE24.COM, please click here to download the latest version of Flash Player. "People feel let down by the government's unkept promises." - France 24's Laurent Rouy in Kosovo inhabitants had voted by 2:00 pm.The polls in Gracanica were underway as church bells began to toll to announce the death of patriarch Pavle, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, who died in Belgrade earlier in the day."We live here and do not see any other solution," 47 year-old farmer Slobodan Joksimovic told AFP, explaining why he decided to turn his back to appeals from Belgrade to boycott the pools."The time has come for us to decide our own fate," 25-year-old technician Dragan Ivanovic said after casting the ballot in the nearby village of Gusterica.However, the one-third of Kosovo's Serbs, who live in the north near the Serbian border, were massively boycotting the vote. The electionl commission said turnout by noon in three northern municipalities with majority Serb population was from 0.20 to 2.42 percent.Nesrin Lushta of the central election commission told reporters the authorities in the north had even been prevented from opening most of the polling stations in public premises."We have foreseen such a situation," she said, adding that four mobile polling teams were sent from Pristina to the north "to provide conditions for voting."Kosovo seceded from Serbia in February 2008 despite strong opposition by Belgrade, having been run by a UN mission since the end of the 1998-99 war.The Serb community as a whole rejected the independence declaration and have kept strong links with authorities in Belgrade, receiving financial and political support from the Serbian government.More then 60 countries, including the United States and all but five European Union members have recognised Kosovo's independence.Urging for a massive turnout, President Fatmir Sejdiu called on particularly the Serb community "to participate massively because it is a huge chance for them to be an actor of our everyday and institutional life.""It is a special feeling to vote in your own country for the first time in your life," said 72-year-old pensioner Nexhi Arifi, an ethnic Albanian voting at a Pristina school.The main contenders are Sejdiu's Democratic League of Kosovo (DLK) and Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), trailed by the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) of former prime minister Ramush Haradinaj.Polling stations were due to close at 7:00 pm. The first unofficial results are expected by midnight. A runoff will be held on December 13 in municipalities where candidates fail to win more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round.The polls were being monitored by 3,000 local and international observers, including an EU mission and a European Parliament delegation.	Fatmir Sejdiu Voting polls opened in Kosovo at 7am (0600 UTC); the first time since declaring independence from Serbia last year. Both ethnic Albanians and the minority Serb population may vote for local mayors and councillors, a move seen as testing the government's capacity to organise its own democratic elections. The territory was run by the United Nations mission before its split from Serbia in February 2008. On Friday, President Fatmir Sejdiu stressed the importance of the elections. And, calling on the 1.5 million eligible voters to mobilise, said "this Sunday should prove to the world that Kosovo is a stable country that produces peace and stability in the region". The Kosovo police have tightened security, and the 13,000 Kosovo Force troops — a NATO-led peacekeeping force — are on standby, according to its commander, General Markus Bentler. Local and international observers will monitor polls. The main concern is the number of citizens who will vote, as only a 40% turnout level is expected. According to the BBC, most of the 120,000 Serbs oppose Kosovo's independence. The government in Belgrade and the Serbian Orthodox Church have called for a boycott. Polling stations are due to close at 7pm (1800 UTC); the first unofficial results are expected late Sunday evening.
ISTANBUL—President Nicolas Sarkozy of France said Friday that Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi should step down and that those responsible for the killings in Libya, as well as people who now continue to cooperate with the regime, should face investigation and prosecution at the International Criminal Court. "Our stance is clear, Mr. Gadhafi must go," Mr. Sarkozy said at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart, President Abdullah Gul, during a visit to Ankara. "We think this needs to be... \|\|\|\|\| Protesters demanding Moammar Gadhafi's ouster came under a hail of bullets Friday when pro-regime militiamen opened fire to stop the first significant anti-government marches in days in the Libyan capital. The Libyan leader, speaking from the ramparts of a historic Tripoli fort, told supporters to prepare to defend the nation. Witnesses reported multiple deaths from gunmen on rooftops and in the streets shooting at crowds with automatic weapons and even an anti-aircraft gun. "It was really like we are dogs," one man who was marching from Tripoli's eastern Tajoura district told The Associated Press. He added that many people were shot in the head, with seven people within 10 yards of him cut down in the first wave. Also Friday evening, troops loyal to Gadhafi attacked a major air base east of Tripoli that had fallen into rebel hands. A force of tanks attacked the Misrata Air Base, succeeding in retaking part of it in battles with residents and army units who had joined the anti-Gadhafi uprising, said a doctor and one resident wounded in the battle on the edge of opposition-held Misrata, Libya's third-largest city, about 120 miles from the capital. The opposition captured two fighters, including a senior officer, and still held part of the large base, they said. Shooting could still be heard from the area after midnight. The doctor said 22 people were killed in two days of fighting at the air base and an adjacent civilian airport. In Washington, President Barack Obama signed an executive order Friday freezing assets held by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and four of his children in the United States. The Treasury Department said the sanctions against Gadhafi, three of his sons and a daughter also apply to the Libyan government. Obama said the U.S. is imposing unilateral sanctions on Libya because continued violence there poses an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to America's national security and foreign policy. A White House spokesman said it is clear that Gadhafi's legitimacy has been "reduced to zero" — the Obama administration's sharpest words yet. The U.S. also temporarily abandoned its embassy in Tripoli as a final flight carrying American citizens departed from the capital. The U.N. Security Council met to consider possible sanctions against Gadhafi's regime, including trade sanctions and an arms embargo. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged it take "concrete action" to protect civilians in Libya, saying "the violence must stop" and those responsible for "so brutally shedding blood" must be punished. But Gadhafi vowed to fight on. In the evening, he appeared before a crowd of more than 1,000 supporters in Green Square and called on them to fight back and "defend the nation." "Retaliate against them, retaliate against them," Gadhafi said, speaking by microphone from the ramparts of the Red Castle, a Crusader fort overlooking the square. Wearing a fur cap, he shook his fist, telling the crowd: "Dance, sing and prepare. Prepare to defend Libya, to defend the oil, dignity and independence." He warned, "At the suitable time, we will open the arms depot so all Libyans and tribes become armed, so that Libya becomes red with fire." The crowd waved pictures of the leader and green flags as he said, "I am in the middle of the people in the Green Square. ... This is the people that loves Moammar Gadhafi. If the people of Libya and the Arabs and Africans don't love Moammar Gadhafi then Moammar Gadhafi does not deserve to live." Gadhafi's son, Seif al-Islam, told foreign journalists invited by the government to Tripoli that there were no casualties in Tripoli and that the capital was "calm ... Everything is peaceful. Peace is coming back to our country." He said the regime wants negotiations with the opposition and said there were "two minor problems" in Misrata and Zawiya, another city near the capital held by the opposition. There, he said, "we are dealing with terrorist people." But he said he hoped to reach a peaceful settlement with them "and I think by tomorrow we will solve it." Earlier Seif was asked in an interview with CNN-Turk about the options in the face of the unrest. "Plan A is to live and die in Libya, Plan B is to live and die in Libya, Plan C is to live and die in Libya," he replied. The marches in the capital were the first major attempt by protesters to break a clampdown that pro-Gadhafi militiamen have imposed on Tripoli since the beginning of the week, when dozens were killed by gunmen roaming the street, shooting people on sight. In the morning and night before, text messages were sent around urging protesters to stream out of mosques after noon prayers, saying, "Let us make this Friday the Friday of liberation," residents said. The residents and witnesses all spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. In response, militiamen set up heavy security around many mosques in the city, trying to prevent any opposition gatherings. Armed young men with green armbands to show their support for Gadhafi set up checkpoints on many streets, stopping cars and searching them. Tanks and checkpoints lined the road to Tripoli's airport, witnesses said. After prayers, protesters flowed out of mosques, converging into marches from several neighborhoods, heading toward Green Square. But they were hit almost immediately by militiamen, a mix of Libyans and foreign mercenaries. "We can't see where it is coming from," another protester from Tajoura district — several miles (kilometers) from Green Square — said of the gunfire. "They don't want to stop." He said a man next to him was shot in the neck. In the nearby Souq al-Jomaa district, witnesses reported four killed as gunmen fired from rooftops. "There are all kind of bullets," said one man in the crowd, screaming in a telephone call to the AP, with the rattle of gunfire audible in the background. Another protester was reported killed in the Fashloum district. The reports could not be independently confirmed. \|\|\|\|\| Libyan leader speaks to supporters in the capital's Green Square, saying he will arm people against protesters. Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, has appeared in Tripoli's Green Square, to address a crowd of his supporters in the capital. The speech, which also referred to Libya's war of independence with Italy, appeared to be aimed at rallying what remains of his support base, with specific reference to the country's youth. "We can defeat any aggression if necessary and arm the people," Gaddafi said, in footage that was aired on Libyan state television on Friday. "I am in the middle of the people.. we will fight … we will defeat them if they want … we will defeat any foreign aggression. "Dance … sing and get ready … this is the spirit … this is much better than the lies of the Arab propaganda," he said. His last speech, on Thursday evening had been made by phone, leading to speculation about his physical condition. LIVE BLOG The footage aired on Friday, however, showed Gaddafi standing above the square, waving his fist as he spoke. Tarik Yousef, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, told Al Jazeera that most of the individuals on Green Square are genuine Gaddafi supporters. "Most of these people have known nothing else but Gaddafi. They don’t know any other leader. And many of them stand to lose when Gaddafi falls," Yousef said. "I am not completely surprised that they still think that he is the right man for Libya. What is striking is that [Gaddafi] did not talk about all the liberated cities in his country. "This was a speech intended show his defiance and to rally against what he calls foreign interference. But even his children have admitted that the east of the country is no longer under the regime's control." Gaddafi's speech came on a day when tens of thousands of Libyans in Tripoli and elsewhere in the country took to the streets calling for an end to his rule. Heavy gunfire As demonstrations began in Tripoli following the midday prayer, security forces loyal to Gaddafi reportedly began firing on them. There was heavy gunfire in various Tripoli districts including Fashloum, Ashour, Jumhouria and Souq Al, sources told Al Jazeera. "The security forces fired indiscriminately on the demonstrators," said a resident of one of the capital's eastern suburbs. "There were deaths in the streets of Sug al-Jomaa," the resident said. The death toll since the violence began remains unclear, though on Thursday Francois Zimeray, France's top human rights official, said it could be as high as 2,000 people killed. Follow more of Al Jazeera's special coverage here But Saif al-Islam, Muammar Gaddafi's son, has called on the European Union to send a fact-finding team to Libya. "We are not afraid of the facts. We are worried about rumours and lies," he said. Violence flared up even before the Friday sermons were over, according to a source in Tripoli. "People are rushing out of mosques even before Friday prayers are finished because the state-written sermons were not acceptable, and made them even more angry," the source said. Libyan state television aired one such sermon on Friday, in an apparent warning to protesters. "As the prophet said, if you dislike your ruler or his behaviour, you should not raise your sword against him, but be patient, for those who disobey the rulers will die as infidels," the speaker told his congregation in Tripoli. During Friday prayers, a religious leader in the town of Mselata, 80km to the east of Tripoli, called for the people to fight back. Immediately after the prayers, more than 2,000 people, some of them armed with rifles taken from the security forces, headed towards Tripol to demand the fall of Gaddafi, Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri reported. The group made it as far as the city of Tajoura, where it was stopped by a group loyal to Gaddafi. They were checked by foreign, French-speaking mercenaries and gunfire was exchanged. There were an unknown number of casualties, Moshiri reported, based on information from witnesses who had reached on the Libyan-Tunisian border. Foreign mercenaries There have been frequent reports of foreign mercenaries working for Gaddafi against the protesters, but their nationality remains uncertain. The government of Chad has moved to counter allegations that Chadian mercenaries were being recruited to go to Libya. "International media inundates the public opinion with information alleging some Chadian would be mercenaries currently acting in Libya," Moussa Mahamat Dago, the Chad foreign ministry’s general secretary, said on Friday. "We want to formally and categorically deny all those allegations that are dangerous and could pose a material and physical danger to the many Chadians living in Libya for years and always in a peaceful way." People in eastern parts of the country, a region believed to be largely free from Gaddafi's control, held protests in support for the demonstrations in the capital. "Friday prayer in Benghazi have seen thousands and thousands on the streets. All the banners are for the benefit of the capital, [they are saying] 'We're with you, Tripoli'," Al Jazeera’s Laurence Lee reported. In the town of Derna, protesters held banners with the messages such as "We are one Tribe called Libya, our only capital is Tripoli, we want freedom of speech". Al Jazeera's correspondent in Libya reported on Friday that army commanders in the east who had renounced Gaddafi's leadership had told her that military commanders in the country's west were beginning to turn against him. They warned, however, that the Khamis Brigade, an army special forces brigade that is loyal to the Gaddafi family and is equipped with sophisticated weaponry, is currently still fighting anti-government forces. The correspondent, who cannot be named for security reasons, said that despite the gains, people are anxious about what Gaddafi might do next, and the fact that his loyalists were still at large. "People do say that they have broken the fear factor, that they have made huge territorial gains,” she said. "[Yet] there's no real celebration or euphoria that the job has been done." On Friday morning, our correspondents reported quoting witnesses that the town of Zuwarah had been abandoned by security forces and completely in the hands of anti-Gaddafi protesters. Checkpoints in the country's west on roads leading to the Tunisian border, however, were still being controlled by Gaddafi loyalists. In the east, similar checkpoints were manned by anti-Gaddafi forces, who had set up a "humanitarian aid corridor" as well as a communications corridor to the Egyptian border, our correspondent reported. Thousands massed in Az Zawiyah's Martyr's Square after the attack, calling on Gaddafi to leave office, and on Friday morning, explosions were heard in the city. Arms caches blown up Witnesses say pro-Gaddafi forces were blowing up arms caches, in order to prevent anti-government forces from acquiring those weapons. Clashes were also reported in the city of Misurata, located 200km east of Tripoli, where witnesses said a pro-Gaddafi army brigade attacked the city's airport with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. They told Al Jazeera that pro-democracy protesters had managed to fight off that attack. "Revolutionaries have driven out the security forces," they said, adding that "heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft guns" had been used against them. Mohamed Senussi, a resident of Misurata, said calm had returned to the city after the "fierce battle" near the airport. "The people's spirits here are high, they are celebrating and chanting 'God is Greatest'," he told the Reuters news agency by telephone. Another witness warned, however, that protesters in Misurata felt "isolated" as they were surrounded by nearby towns still in Gaddafi's control. Protesters and air force personnel who have renounced Gaddafi's leadership also overwhelmed a nearby military base where Gaddafi loyalists were taking refuge, according to a medical official at the base. They disabled air force fighter jets at the base so that they could not be used against protesters. Oil terminal Soldiers helped anti-Gaddafi protesters take the oil terminal in the town of Berga, according to Reuters. The oil refinery in Ras Lanuf has also halted its operations and most staff has left, according to a source in the company. Support for Gaddafi within the country's elite continues to decline. On Friday, Abdel Rahman Al Abar, Libya's Chief Prosecutor, became one of the latest top officials to resign in protest over the bloodshed. "What happened and is happening are massacres and bloodshed never witnessed by the Libyan people. The logic of power and violence is being imposed instead of seeking democratic, free, and mutual dialogue," he said. His comments came as UN's highest human-rights body held a special session on Friday to discuss what it's chief had earlier described as possible "crimes against humanity" by the Gaddafi government. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, urged world leaders to "step in vigorously" to end the violent crackdown. The United Nations Security Council was to hold a meeting on the situation in Libya later in the day, with sanctions the possible imposition of a no-fly zone over the country under Chapter VII of the UN charter on the table. \|\|\|\|\| Gaddafi: 'Follow Me Or I Will Burn Libya' Gary Mitchell, Sky News Online Embattled dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has threatened to "burn all of Libya" if his people continue to turn against him. To view this content you need Flash and Javascript enabled in your browser. Please download Flash from the Adobe download website. :: Follow all the latest developments on Sky News and online at www.skynews.com/liveplus Col Gaddafi warned in a surprise televised appearance that he was ready to unleash further bloodshed and urged his followers: "Prepare to defend Libya." "We will defeat any outside attempt to overturn our country," he told loyalists gathered in Tripoli's Green Square. In his fourth bizarre public tirade this week, Col Gaddafi told supporters to"keep dancing, keep chanting", adding: "Libyan people love me." Later, his son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi claimed security forces were holding back in battles with rebels - who referred to as "terrorists" - in western Libya and that he hoped there would be a ceasefire in place by Saturday. It follows days of anti-government protests which have left hundreds - possibly thousands - dead and comes amid a massive evacuation effort and continuing clashes across the oil-rich nation. The US has shut down its embassy in Tripoli and the White House said it would be introducing sanctions against Libya "in the near future". Sky's Alex Rossi, In Libya: People 'Frightened' By Speech The UN's secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has said it is time for the Security Council to take "concrete action" against Libya. He called on European states to keep borders open for refugees, and on all UN member states to consider sanctions against the country. A draft UN Security Council resolution warns that the violence in Libya "may amount to crimes against humanity". Earlier, security forces reportedly opened fire on protesters in Tripoli, killing at least five. The violence broke out in the Janzour district of the city as demonstrators increased the pressure in Col Gaddafi's stronghold. Middle East Unrest The latest wave of bloodshed comes amid battles in key cities, as militiamen working for the ruler attempted to regain control. Col Gaddafi, who on Thursday gave a rambling state TV address in which he blamed Osama bin Laden for Libya's troubles, is said to be still in control of the capital. But he appears to be increasingly isolated, with some areas of the city coming under the control of opponents. "Some areas are under opponents' control - other areas, mainly those around the Bab al-Azizia area (where Gaddafi lives), are under Gaddafi's supporters' and army's control," one resident said. One way or another, just like Mubarak, he's finished. He just hasn't gone yet. Sky News foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall on Gaddafi Protesters have reported further gains, having already taken over in Libya's second city Benghazi, and they are said to be in charge of key Libyan oil and product terminals east of the capital. Residents in Benghazi are reported to have formed a coalition which is building defences against security forces, reassuring foreign oil firms and providing food. They appeared to rule out splitting the country, saying they wanted a united Libya. Opponents have seized the eastern oil terminal town of Brega, where soldiers defected to help protesters. Three towns in the Western Mountains region south-west of Tripoli have also escaped central control, according to reports. View Libya in Crisis in a larger map Sky News correspondents in the east of the country have found evidence of weapons including rocket-propelled grenades and sniper rifles being used on protesters. Some of the worst bloodshed has been in Zawiya, 30 miles west of the capital, where troops opened fire with automatic weapons on a mosque where residents had been holding a sit-in. The mosque's minaret was blasted with an anti-aircraft gun. A doctor said he saw 10 dead bodies and around 150 wounded but another estimate put the death toll at 23. Zawiya, a key city close to an oil port and refineries, is the nearest population centre to Tripoli to fall into the hands of the anti-Gaddafi rebellion. Eyewitness Speaks From Benghazi Across the country, rebels have celebrated seizing power by showing off the tanks, armoured vehicles and weapons they had taken from security forces. In the eastern coastal city of Tobruk, tanks lay abandoned after soldiers defected. One told Sky News: "Gaddafi is finished." Sky News' foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall, reporting from the Libyan border, said it was only a matter of time before Col Gaddafi lost his grip on power. He said it was possible the 68-year-old's demise may split the country. Anti-Gaddafi protesters celebrating The World Food Programme has warned that the Libyan people are facing shortages of food as well as medical supplies. Facebook groups have continued to call for mass demonstrations in Tripoli, echoing how protests unfolded in Egypt, where President Hosni Mubarak was ousted earlier this month. Col Gaddafi's crackdown on his own people has been the harshest by far of any leader caught up in the "Arab spring" revolution, which has swept the Middle East in recent weeks. Human Rights Watch has put the death toll in Libya at nearly 300, but other estimates suggest thousands may have died. The very soldiers that gunned down their neighbours are being protected from being lynched. Read the blog by Sky's Nick Ludlam, in Libya Nato has said it will not intervene in the crisis for now, but that it is monitoring the situation closely. Meanwhile, Switzerland has frozen assets believed to belong to the Gaddafi family, although Libya's foreign ministry has denied it has any such funds. Unconfirmed reports suggest Britain could also seize around £18bn held in the UK. Libya's deputy UN ambassador, Ibrahim Dabbashi, who denounced the Libyan leader this week, has said the country would soon stop exporting oil for security reasons but the industry will not be harmed. Voxes from Libyan Embassy in London He warned that thousands would die in Tripoli. Campaigners outside the Libyan embassy in central London told Sky News that friends and relatives in the country had spoken of "blood on the streets", with many residents afraid to leave their homes. Col Gaddafi continues to lose people from his inner circle, with his ambassador to Lisbon the latest to defect, denouncing the "tyrannical" regime. During Col Gaddafi's speech, he vowed to triumph over his enemies and called on people to guard the country and its oil reserves. He appeared to promise to open weapons arsenals "when necessary" and arm supporters against "the enemy". The leader, who alternated between blowing kisses and fisting the air during the tirade, said: "Muammar Gaddafi is among you. I stand among the people and we will fight and we will kill them if they want." It is not clear if the address, aired on state TV, was live or pre-recorded. Read more on the Libyan crisis: :: US vows sanctions as world rounds on Libya :: UK Govt Denies 'Bribing' To Free Britons :: Find out what Saturday's national newspapers are saying \|\|\|\|\| UN human rights head Navi Pillay has said that reports from Libya indicate thousands may have been killed or injured as the government crackdown escalates “alarmingly”. Fighting continues to rage between anti-government forces and troops loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. Libya’s food supply chain is at risk of collapse, says the UN’s food agency. Nato ambassadors will hold emergency talks later today. Libyan state TV has said the government will give families money to cover increased food costs, while some public sector workers will receive a pay rise of 150%. Anti-government forces have seized much of the country, but Col Gaddafi is mounting a last stand in Tripoli with elite army units and foreign mercenaries. Protesters have claimed that the regime has attacked demonstrations with live ammunition, heavy weapons and war planes, causing massive casualties. The UK and France are now pushing for an arms embargo and a war crimes investigation, with the former planning to send a second ship to deploy to the sea near Libya. The BBC reported that a number of European nations have begun mobilising their armed forces to assist in evacuation efforts. An Irish team having earlier arrived in Malta aims to fly to Tripoli to help evacuate the 40 or so Irish citizens still in Libya. 26 Irish people are thought to be in the Libyan capital with 12 in the eastern city of Benghazi, RTÉ has said. \|\|\|\|\| Rebels Celebrate As Isolated Gaddafi Rages Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has taken to Libyan state TV to vent his defiance of protests that threaten to sweep him from power - but his violent response to them is leaving him increasingly isolated. To view this content you need Flash and Javascript enabled in your browser. Please download Flash from the Adobe download website. Gaddafi called in to a television studio and spoke over the phone to a presenter, using the appearance to blame the unrest on a "bunch of youths" fuelled by drugs in their coffee. Fighting between his forces and rebels raged as the broadcast was made in the town of Zawiya. Elsewhere across the country rebels celebrated seizing power by showing off the tanks, armoured vehicles and weapons they had taken from Gaddafi's security forces. Rebels to the east of Tripoli are now said to be in control of key Libyan oil and product terminals. Benghazi residents said the terminals at Ras Lanuf and Marsa El Brega were being protected. A further blow to Gaddafi came as his cousin and one of his closest aides, Ahmed Gadhaf al Dam, defected to Egypt in protest against the regime's bloody crackdown on protesters. They give them (the protesters) pills at night, they put hallucinatory pills in their drinks, their milk, their coffee, their Nescafe. Colonel Gaddafi, speaking on state television Internationally, bad news was also mounting for the dictator who has ruled Libya for 41 years. The UN Security Council is to meet to consider further options that could include sanctions because a press statement issued earlier this week is "clearly not being heeded". US President Barack Obama's spokesman has said he will talk to the leaders of Britain and France about the crisis, and that Washington is keeping all options open, including sanctions - and even military action. The US said it supported expelling Libya from the United Nations Human Rights Council, saying the government had violated the rights of its people in trying to crush the protests. And Switzerland announced it was freezing any assets belonging to the beleaguered leader within its borders. In his TV address, his third statement since the rebellion began, Gaddafi said the protesters were teenagers who were being given drugs in their coffee. He also blamed the uprising on al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. "(The protesters') ages are 17," he said. "They give them pills at night, they put hallucinatory pills in their drinks, their milk, their coffee, their Nescafe. "They are criminals... is it logical that you let this phenomenon continue in any city?" Gaddafi also offered his condolences to those who had died in the unrest, calling them "Libya's children". He added: "Whoever is pulling the strings has to be apprehended and detained. "People who have taken to the streets are just a bunch of youths that have been misled and lied to. Muammar Gaddafi's son, Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, has also spoken on Libyan TV "I call on the people of Libya to get our of their houses and confront and face this bunch of people. "If men are not brave enough to go out and face the enemy on the street, then maybe they should let their women and daughters go out instead." :: Click here to see an interactive map of how and why unrest is spreading in Libya and other Middle Eastern countries Several people have reportedly been killed by pro-Gaddafi forces near the town of Misratah. A witness, who only wanted to be identified as Mohamed, said a unit of paramilitary forces controlled by one of Gaddafi's sons, Khamis, attacked near Misratah airport. "Khamis's brigade launched a violent attack on protesters near the airport this morning at around 10:30 (0830 GMT). "The brigade has managed to control the site but we are still trying to push it back," he said. Gaddafi's son, Saif al Islam Gaddafi, has also spoken on Libyan television, and denied the government had launched airstrikes against Libyan cities. He also claimed the number of protesters killed had been exaggerated.	French president Nicolas Sarkozy French president Nicolas Sarkozy has stated during a news conference that Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi "must leave," calling the leader to step down. His comments were made during a press conference with the Turkish president Abdullah Gül in . Sarkozy also stated that military action to remove Gaddafi isn't ruled out. "Our stance is clear. Mr Gaddafi must go. The systematic violence against the Libyan people is unacceptable and will be the subject of investigations and sanctions. Regarding a military intervention ... France would consider any initiative of this type with extreme caution and reserve," said Sarkozy. The United Kingdom is also calling for an arms embargo along with an investigation into war crimes be conducted against Gaddafi. Sarkozy's call on Gaddafi to step down comes after violence on Friday alone has left at least five people dead in Tripoli, the capitol of Libya, when security personnel fired on demonstrators. At least 500 people are suspected to have been killed in Tripoli with over 2,000 injured. Gunshots were heard in several parts of the city on Friday. Navi Pillay, head of the human rights division of the United Nations says thousands in Libya could have been killed since the uprising began. Human Rights Watch puts the death toll at 300. "We think this needs to be brought to the International Criminal Court. We also think that people who still cooperate with Gadhafi should be punished," added Sarkozy. Reports say security forces loyal to Gaddafi have used rocket propelled grenades, snipers, anti aircraft guns and foreign mercenaries to repel protesters. Gaddafi blames Osama bin Laden and people on hallucinogenic drugs for the mass protests in the country. "(The protesters') ages are 17. They give them pills at night, they put hallucinatory pills in their drinks, their milk, their coffee, their Nescafe," he said on Thursday. In a speech that aired on Libyan State TV today, Gaddafi said to supporters in Green Square in Tripoli, "We can defeat any aggression if necessary and arm the people. Prepare to defend the nation and defend the oil. We can retaliate against them the opposition. You, the youth, be comfortable... dance, sing, stay up all night."
Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks during an interview in New York, March 26, 2012. MIAMI \| MIAMI (Reuters) - A federal judge in Miami has tossed out an executive order from Florida Governor Rick Scott requiring drug testing of state employees, saying it violated the constitutional prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures. The Republican governor last year ordered random drug tests for all state employees and new hires, regardless of whether they were suspected of drug use, arguing it was similar to the financial disclosures required for some workers. In a ruling on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro described Scott's reasoning as "hardly transparent and frankly obscure" and said it violated the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment's search and seizure protections. "He offers no plausible rationale explaining why the fact that a state employee's work product and financial status are publicly accessible leads to the conclusions that the employee's expectation of privacy in his or her bodily functions and fluids are then diminished," Ungaro wrote. Scott, a former healthcare executive, said he would challenge Ungaro's ruling. "As I have repeatedly explained, I believe that drug testing state employees is a common sense means of ensuring a safe, efficient and productive workforce," he said in a statement on Thursday. "That is why so many private employers drug-test, and why the public and Florida's taxpayers overwhelmingly support this policy. I respectfully disagree with the court's ruling and will pursue the case on appeal." Scott's March 2011 order had been challenged in court by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and by the American Civil Liberties Union. Scott had suspended the order in June, days after the lawsuit was filed on behalf of some 85,000 public sector workers. Scott has also suspended a state law he supported requiring drug tests for welfare recipients, after the ACLU filed a separate lawsuit. A federal judge has temporarily blocked that law. (Reporting By Tom Brown; Editing by Paul Simao) \|\|\|\|\| MIAMI — A Miami federal court on Thursday ruled that Gov. Rick Scott’s order to randomly drug test state employees is unconstitutional, saying there is not a compelling enough reason to do so. In her ruling, Federal District Judge Ursula Ungaro said the governor’s policy constituted an unreasonable search and seizure and must be stopped. Last March, Mr. Scott, a former health care executive, ordered random drug testing for about 80,000 state employees who work for the 15 agencies that report to him. He suspended the testing in June because of the lawsuit. Judge Ungaro said Mr. Scott had overreached in his executive order because there was no evidence of a large-scale problem and no reason to mandate drug tests. The governor’s drug testing requirement “does not identify a concrete danger that must be addressed by suspicionless drug-testing of state employees,” Judge Ungaro wrote. “And the governor shows no evidence of a drug-use problem at the covered agencies.” Mr. Scott objected to the ruling on Thursday. Drug testing workers, he said, is reasonable and practical. “As I have repeatedly explained, I believe that drug testing state employees is a common-sense means of ensuring a safe, efficient and productive work force,” he said in a statement. “That is why so many private employers drug test, and why the public and Florida’s taxpayers overwhelmingly support this policy. I respectfully disagree with the court’s ruling and will pursue the case on appeal.” Despite the legal challenge over the governor’s 2011 executive order, the Florida Legislature took up the same policy this year and passed a bill that allows all state workers to undergo random drug testing but does not make it a requirement. It was signed into law last month by Mr. Scott and takes effect in July. The ruling does not affect the new law, which is expected to draw a separate lawsuit. The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida joined a state employees’ union in a lawsuit last year challenging the governor’s executive order. The groups claimed that the order violated the law by requiring drug testing of state workers who do not hold public safety jobs or are not suspected of wrongdoing. “The governor can’t order the state to search people’s bodily fluids for no reason,” said Howard Simon, the executive director of the A.C.L.U. of Florida. The 2011 executive order also required that applicants for jobs at the 15 agencies undergo random drug testing. The ruling on Thursday did not extend to the job applicants. Mr. Simon said if the state moved forward with those drug tests, it would be inviting another lawsuit on the issue. Mr. Scott also faces a separate legal challenge over a 2011 law that requires Florida’s welfare recipients to undergo drug tests when they apply for benefits. The drug testing was temporarily halted last year by a judge while the case is being considered. Georgia passed a similar law this month. Mr. Simon said the ruling raises the possibility that requiring welfare applicants to take drug tests might also be ruled unconstitutional. A similar law was struck down in Michigan.	The US state of Florida has repealed an order by the state's governor to drug test all state employees and new hires to state agencies. The federal court has said that the order is unconstitutional, violating the . Last year, Governor ordered 80,000 drug tests on state employees. He is a former health care executive and objects to the ruling against drug testing. "As I have repeatedly explained, I believe that drug testing state employees is a common sense means of ensuring a safe, efficient and productive workforce," Scott said yesterday. Howard Simon, executive director of the A.C.L.U. of Florida, said, "The governor can't order the state to search people's bodily fluids for no reason." Governor Scott is also dealing with a drug testing-related lawsuit for recipients of welfare. == Sources == * *
Thousands Flee Ethnic Violence in Northern DRC The U.N. refugee agency reports more than 16,000 civilians have fled ethnic violence in the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The UNHCR says the refugees crossed the Oubangui River into neighboring Republic of Congo to find safety after their villages were burned. The U.N. refugee agency reports the mass exodus from the DRC's remote Equateur Province took place last week. It says ethnic clashes broke out between the Enyele and Munzaya tribes over farming and fishing rights in the village of Dongo. UNHCR spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, says 60 people were killed, and the deadly fighting spread to surrounding villages, several of which were burned. He says 40 other people were seriously injured and some are being treated in hospital. "The 16,000 DRC asylum seekers-who are mainly Munzayas-are staying in public buildings or with host communities across 11 villages alongside the Oubangui River," he said. "A UNHCR team is now visiting them and our initial assessment is that they need proper shelter, food and household items such as blankets, kitchen sets and jerry cans. Since a thorough assessment is made, we will work together with the government to help them. Some are also in need of medical care, but an over-stretched mobile clinic run by a UNHCR partner cannot cope with all their needs at the moment," he added. The first clashes between the Enyele and Munzaya occurred in March. More than 200 houses were burned in the village of Munzaya and more than 1,200 residents fled to safety in the Republic of Congo. Mahecic says the UNHCR is very concerned about the intensity of the violence and its spread to nearby villages. He says the villages have been virtually emptied of their inhabitants. He says this latest violence, which is taking place in the west of the DRC is unrelated to fighting going on in the east. That conflict, he says, has displaced 1.7 million people within the country. Before the current influx, the UNHCR spokesman says the Republic of Congo already was hosting some 9,000 refugees from the DRC who had previously fled there to escape civil war in their country. Mahecic says when the DRC's civil war formally ended in 2003, large numbers of refugees returned home. But, he says this last group of 9,000 refugees does not want to return to the homes they fled in the DRC. They say they wish to settle permanently in the Republic of Congo. E-mail Print Digg Yahoo Buzz Facebook del.icio.us StumbleUpon \|\|\|\|\| DRC: Deadly clashes in Equateur Province forces civilians into exile This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 6 November 2009, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. More than 16,000 civilians have fled ethnic violence in the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), crossing the Oubangui River into neighbouring Republic of Congo to find safety after their villages were burned last week. The violent dispute is between the Enyele and Munzaya tribes over farming and fishing rights in the village of Dongo, in DRC's Equateur province. In total 60 people hjave been killed, and the deadly clashes spread to surrounding villages, several of which were burned. Forty other people were seriously injured. Some of them are in hospital in Impfondo, northern ROC, and in the capital, Brazzaville. The 16,100 DRC asylum seekers -- who are mainly Munzayas -- are staying in public buildings or with host communities across 11 villages alongside the Oubangui River. A UNHCR team is now visiting them and our initial assement is that they need proper shelter, food and household items such as blankets, kitchen sets and jerry cans. Once a thorough assessment is made, we will work together with the government to help them. Some also need medical care, but an over-stretched mobile clinic run by a UNHCR partner cannot cope with all their needs. The first clashes between the Enyele and Munzaya happened in March 2009, when more than 200 houses were burned the village of Munzaya and more than 1,200 residents fled to safety in the Republic of Congo. UNHCR is seriously concerned about the intensity of the violence and its spread to nearby villages, which have been virtually emptied of people. This latest violence, taking place in the west of the DRC, the third-largest country in Africa, is unrelated to fighting going on east, which has also displaced 1.7 million people within the country. Before the current influx, there were already some 9,000 refugees from DRC in northern Republic of Congo who had sought safety from the civil war in their country, which formally ended in 2003. Although large numbers went home to the DRC with return of peace, these 9,000 wish to settle permanently in the Republic of Congo. UNHCR is working with the government to find ways to make this possible.	Democratic Republic of the CongoThe (UNHCR) reports more than 16,000 civilians have fled ethnic violence in the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The UNHCR says the refugees crossed the into neighboring Republic of Congo to find safety after their villages were burned. The UN refugee agency reported that the mass exodus from the DRC's remote Equateur Province took place last week. It says ethnic clashes broke out between the Enyele and Munzaya tribes over farming and fishing rights in the village of Dongo. UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said that 60 people were killed, and the deadly fighting spread to surrounding villages, several of which were burned. He says 40 other people were seriously injured and some are being treated in hospital. "The 16,000 DRC asylum seekers—who are mainly Munzayas—are staying in public buildings or with host communities across 11 villages alongside the Oubangui River," he said. "A UNHCR team is now visiting them and our initial assessment is that they need proper shelter, food and household items such as blankets, kitchen sets and jerry cans. Since a thorough assessment is made, we will work together with the government to help them. Some are also in need of medical care, but an over-stretched mobile clinic run by a UNHCR partner cannot cope with all their needs at the moment," he added. The first clashes between the Enyele and Munzaya occurred in March. More than 200 houses were burned in the village of Munzaya, and more than 1,200 residents fled to safety in the Republic of Congo. Mahecic reported that the UNHCR is very concerned about the intensity of the violence and its spread to nearby villages. He says the villages have been virtually emptied of their inhabitants. He says this latest violence, which is taking place in the west of the DRC is unrelated to fighting going on in the east, which has displaced 1.7 million people within the country. Before the current influx, the UNHCR spokesman said the Republic of Congo already was hosting some 9,000 refugees from the DRC who had previously fled there to escape civil war in their country. According to Mahecic, when the DRC's civil war formally ended in 2003, large numbers of refugees returned home. But, he says this last group of 9,000 refugees does not want to return to the homes they fled in the DRC. They say they wish to settle permanently in the Republic of Congo.
Chris Langham had pleaded not guilty to all the charges Langham, of Golford, Kent, said he was only studying the porn as research for a television drama - but he was convicted at Maidstone Crown Court. However, the 58-year-old actor has been acquitted of charges of indecently assaulting an underage girl and two counts of a serious sexual offence. Judge Philip Statman remanded the Bafta winning comedy performer in custody for sentencing on 14 September. The jury of seven men and four women deliberated for about two hours and 40 minutes before they returned their verdicts. 'No knowledge' Langham claimed in court that he had looked at the images while formulating a character for the BBC series Help. He said he pleaded not guilty because he did not want to be called a paedophile. I have been found guilty on charges I have made admission to from the moment of my first arrest Chris Langham Highs and lows for Langham During his time in the witness box, Langham said when he was eight he had been the victim of abuse while on holiday in Canada. He said he did not want to go into any detail, but he felt "deep, deep shame" about what had happened. Langham, who was convicted on 15 charges of downloading child porn, also told the jury victims of abuse were his "brothers and sisters" and he felt no shame in looking at child pornography. When asked by the prosecution why he had saved images on to his computer, he replied: "I thought if I could become angry enough I might be able to break this problem I have in accessing this stuff myself." The actor was acquitted of indecently assaulting an underage girl, who is now 25 and cannot be identified for legal reasons. She had claimed in court that he had taken her virginity at the age of 14 and they had also had sex at his home and in his dressing room. Langham denied all the charges. But he did say he had had one sexual encounter between them when she was 18. The jury were directed to clear the actor of four other indecent assault charges part way through the trial. 'Harrowing and disturbing' In a statement read out by his solicitor, Langham said: "I am absolutely delighted my name has been cleared of all the charges I have consistently denied. "I have been found guilty on charges I have made admission to from the moment of my first arrest. Viewing such images simply perpetuates child abuse Det Insp Derek Cuff Langham's public fall from grace "I am afraid I am unable to comment further until sentence on the 14 September." Det Insp Derek Cuff, of Kent Police, said: "Let us not forget that child abuse images circulating on the internet are real situations involving real children, who are sexually abused for other's gain and self-gratification. "Viewing such images simply perpetuates child abuse." Ken Goss of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The images found on his computer were not child pornography. They were horrific images, still and video clips, of children being sexually abused. Chris Langham actively searched for those images." \|\|\|\|\| coronavirus Patients whose vaccine appointment cards were lost in the post have been told they will have to wait another three weeks for the jab. Everyone over the age of 65 was due to receive a vaccine by early March but one GP practice in Fife disclosed that they had been “inundated” with calls from patients who had still not received their letter.Patients whose vaccine appointment cards were lost in the post have been told they will have to wait another three weeks for the jab. Everyone over the age of 65 was due to receive a vaccine by early March but one GP practice in Fife disclosed that they had been “inundated” with calls from patients who had still not received their letter.Patients whose vaccine appointment cards were lost in the post have been told they will have to wait another three weeks for... \|\|\|\|\| Home News Archive Chris Langham guilty of downloading child porn Chris Langham guilty of downloading child porn Chris Langham, star of the political sitcom The Thick of It, been found guilty of downloading child porn at his trial at Maidstone Crown Court today. The jury, which consisted of four women and seven men (one juror having been dismissed), took 2 hours and 40 minutes to find the actor guilty of 15 counts related to the downloading of images. However the actor has been acquitted of charges of indecently assaulting an underage girl and two counts of a serious sexual offence. He has also already been cleared of four charges of incidentally assaulting a 16-year-old girl between 1996-98. As the verdicts were returned the 58-year-old actor stood with his eyes closed, but did not react visibly. The result of this trial will likely rule out any chance of Langham resuming his role of MP Hugh Abbot in the BBC4 sitcom The Thick of It. Armando Iannucci had said previously he hoped to film a new six-part series of the political comedy at the end of the year with Langham, however that was under the assumption the star was cleared of all charges. No doubt any chances of a second series of Paul Whitehouse's sublime 2005 sitcom Help will also now have to be abandoned. Langham played a key role in the sitcom as the psychiatrist to Whitehouse's various characters. During the trial Langham claimed the reason he downloaded the images found on his computer was that he was formulating a character for the BBC comedy. However when Whitehouse took to the witness stand he told the court he had no knowledge of such a character. During his time in the witness box, Langham said he had been the victim of a abuse while on holiday in Canada as a child. He said he did not want to go into any detail, but he felt "deep, deep shame" about what had happened. Although Langham has been charged with downloading child pornography he has been cleared of all the charges related to indecently assaulting the underage girl who claimed the actor took her virginity at the age of 14 in a London hotel (More details on these charges from Chortle). In statement read out by his solicitor, Langham said: "I am absolutely delighted my name has been cleared of all the charges I have consistently denied. I have been found guilty on charges I have made admission to from the moment of my first arrest. I am grateful to the jury for their careful deliberation and I would also like to thank the press for their restraint in not making the lives of my wife, children and family difficult during this time and I implore them to continue to grant my family the privacy they need." Langham will now remain in custody until he is sentenced on September 14th. In the meantime a report will be compiled to gauge what threat he poses to society. The judge has also ordered Langham to sign the sex offenders register. The BBC have a good background piece on Langham's career Share this page \|\|\|\|\| Home News Archive Langham: Not guilty Langham: Not guilty In his ongoing trial, the comedy writer and actor Chris Langham (Help, The Muppet Show, Not The Nine O'Clock News, People Like Us, The Thick of It), has been cleared of four charges of indecently assaulting a girl under 16 years of age between 1996 and 1998. The jury at Maidstone Crown Court were informed by Judge Statman: "The Crown accepts that there is no evidence to support these particular counts on the indictment." The foreman of the jury was then formally asked to return not guilty verdicts on the four charges in question. Mr Langham, 58, denies a further six counts of indecent assault, two of serious sexual assault, and 15 counts of making an indecent image of a child in 2005. Appearing in the witness box for the first time this morning, Mr Langham said: "They had me on a plate because I said I did it, but they weren't happy. They wanted to convict me on the basis I had an abnormal interest in children, that I'm a paedophile, and I'm not. That part of the crime is a life sentence, and that is the part of the crime I did not do. I have to stand up and tell you the truth but I will not stand here and admit a crime I didn't commit. "I'd like to make it clear I am not taking the crime I committed lightly. I did it in an arrogant way, I know who I am. I know who I am. And I did a very arrogant thing to not think that the law applied to me." The case continues. Share this page	The British actor Chris Langham has been found guilty on 15 counts of downloading child pornography. A jury of four women and seven men took two hours and forty minutes to reach a verdict at Maidstone Crown Court. Judge Philip Statman said that Langham will remain in custody till his sentencing on September 14. Langham, 58, from Goldford, Kent claimed that he had been studying porn sites, researching for a character called, "Pedro," for the television series ''Help''. However, co-star Paul Whitehouse claimed he had no knowledge of this research. Langham refused to answer questions about certain images found on his computer. During his time in court, Langham claimed that he was abused at the age of eight during a holiday to Canada. He also said his brothers and sisters were abused, and that he felt no shame at looking at child pornography. Langham said he pleaded not guilty because he did not want to be labelled a, "Paedophile". Langham however was cleared of charges of indecently assaulting an underage girl. The girl claimed that Langham took her virginity at the age of 14, but Judge Statman said, "The Crown accepts that there is no evidence to support these particular counts on the indictment." Langham said, in a statement read out by his solicitor, "I am absolutely delighted my name has been cleared of all the charges I have consistently denied. I have been found guilty on charges I have made admission to from the moment of my first arrest. I am grateful to the jury for their careful deliberation and I would also like to thank the press for their restraint in not making the lives of my wife, children and family difficult during this time and I implore them to continue to grant my family the privacy they need. I am afraid I am unable to comment further until sentence on the 14 September." Derek Cuff, Deputy Inspector of Kent Police said, "Let us not forget that child abuse images circulating on the internet are real situations involving real children, who are sexually abused for other's gain and self-gratification. Viewing such images simply perpetuates child abuse. The jury had to view some images that had to be selected carefully - but what they saw and heard in evidence is harrowing and disturbing. I think this itself puts some measure of perspective on the level of child abuse we are dealing with." This will affect the filming of the next series of the satirical sitcom ''The Thick of It'', where Langham plays Hugh Abbot MP. The last two special episodes did not star Langham due to his arrest. Writer Armando Iannucci hoped that if Langham was found not guilty, he would be able to appear in his show again.
condolence messge on the passing away of Shri RV by R.S. Kuppusamy on 2009-01-28 06:03:46.882908+05:30 A great personality of Tamil Nadu passed away. I cannot forget my last talk with him in the year 2006 at Malai Mandir in New Delhi. Inspite of his ripe age, he was kind to stop by and spent a few minutes with me. It is a great loss to the nation. The Indian industry would always remember him. He was the architect of the industrial estate in Guindy, Chennai. May the departed soul rest in peace. Congress is intolerant by Dr.G.Srinivasan on 2009-01-28 04:56:28.787491+05:30 Congress party will definitely do what it did to PVNarasimha Rao. But the public feel they have lost a man worth mourning for .I join them 7 days non functional functions!! by SUGUNAKUMAR on 2009-01-28 00:52:03.029649+05:30 Truly a sad loss to the BJP condolance by VT Venkataram on 2009-01-27 21:45:14.973519+05:30 R.Venkataraman was a dignified politician ,and was responsble for establishing a number of industries in Tamilnadu. May his soul rest in peace. Diamond president by Rohin on 2009-01-27 20:33:46.372984+05:30 Today india has really lost a jewel(diamond), let his soul rest in peace condolance by r.natarajan on 2009-01-27 19:56:24.86061+05:30 heart felt condolonce to one of the clean politician and former president of india shri R.Venkatraman demise. may his soul rest in peace RV by Rishi Pande on 2009-01-27 19:25:22.33054+05:30 28TH JAN. SHOULD BE DECLARED A NATIONAL HOLIDAY TO MOURN THE LATE PRESIDENT'S DEATH. ALL SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES TO BE CLOSED AS A MARK OF RESPECT. condolence by Suresh Iyer on 2009-01-27 19:12:36.220516+05:30 With full respect to him as a high ranking leader I must add that he was a pseudo sikular congress stooge.Truth can be bitter.Fortunately he served during the formative years of the BJP. Respectful farewell to RV by Dr. Cajetan Coelho on 2009-01-27 18:47:12.7593+05:30 May the Giver of Life grant eternal rest to our late former President RV. Condolence by Vijayalakshmi Srinivasaraghava iyengar on 2009-01-27 18:33:16.539592+05:30 Our deepest condolence to His Family members.Our hon'ble former president was belongs to our village RAJAMADAM near Pattukkotai. My husband was one among the best friend to him here. Condolence by s vijayalakshmi srinivasaraghavaiyengar on 2009-01-27 18:25:47.706197+05:30 Our entire Family Was shocked to heared. Our hon'ble former president was belongs to our hamlet RAJAMADAM near Pattukkottai. My husband was his one among the best friend here.Our Deepest Condolence to his family members condolence by srujan on 2009-01-27 18:23:00.117807+05:30 he was a great man and a great leaderwill there be a government holiday?? raman passes away by shashank on 2009-01-27 18:08:45.54174+05:30 very sorry to hear the bad news of raman i pray god to give peace Sincere in job. by P.Kulandavelu on 2009-01-27 18:05:38.545785+05:30 Always he was thinking of the Nation's development only.During his tenure as President he did his job which was appreciated by all the itellectuals.After leaving the office, if his advice and suggessions were followed bythe rulers with out the ego many good things would have done to the Nation.His demise is a heavy loss for the Nation.TamilNadu people will never forget his role in development of industries in the state. Former President R Venkataraman passes away by Dr. Prasad Mothadaka on 2009-01-27 17:55:13.110161+05:30 The moment one thinks of President of India first thing that comes to the mind is a dignified person, sans any controversial statements/actions, holding the office in highest tradition of India’s first citizen. All the Presidents of India left a lasting impact in public. R. Venkataraman is no exception to these unwritten and unspoken rules. In most difficult and testing times of Indian democracy he held the office. It is high time Indian democracy tried some of the suggestions he made in the context of single party not winning parliamentary elections with majority. The same can save political instability, electoral expenses of millions of taxed rupees that are burden not only to the tax payers but also to all citizens of country. Former President R. Venkataraman is no more but, long live the President of India. condolence by subramani on 2009-01-27 17:49:42.003725+05:30 His soul may rest in the peaceMay his path teach some lessons to present leaders Condolences - RVV by Rajinder Singh Mann on 2009-01-27 17:41:08.778108+05:30 He was legendary Politician and true congressman. A gandhian chaper is closed. My deep condolences for this son of mother India. condolence and tribute to rv by thirumurugan on 2009-01-27 17:29:20.837097+05:30 a man with real decency and we can say he is a pioneer in coalition politics in india,and he is the one who used to raise the voice of common man,say he once told,if he is a dictator he would revamp the education system since he believed education is a good business today,let us pray his soul rest in peace Condolence by KS subramanian on 2009-01-27 17:26:34.010862+05:30 Losing a stateman like RV is a great loss to our mother country INDIA. He brought Tamil Nadu under the industry belt during his days as Industry Minister of Tamil Nadu. \|\|\|\|\| Mr Venkataraman was an "outstanding figure", the prime minister said Ramaswamy Venkataraman, who helped to draft India's constitution and served as president from 1987 to 1992, has died at the age of 98. Mr Venkataraman was admitted to the hospital on 12 January but his condition deteriorated, a government statement said. Announcing seven days of mourning, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India had lost an "outstanding figure". Mr Venkataraman was an MP in the first parliament and also a vice-president. Tough tenure Mr Singh said: "The former president will be long remembered for his service to the nation, the strength of character and his knowledge and wisdom." Current President Pratibha Patil said India had lost a true patriot. "He served with distinction in various capacities in public life and ultimately rose to occupy the highest office of the nation," she said. "In his passing away, the nation has lost a distinguished luminary." A Tamil Nadu native, Mr Venkataraman's tenure as president coincided with the Sri Lanka crisis, the Bofors Gun deal and the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Mr Venkataraman died on Tuesday with his wife and son-in-law in attendance at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in Delhi. The cabinet has said there will be a state funeral.	Ramaswamy Venkataraman The 8th President of India, Ramaswamy Venkataraman has died at the age of 98. Venkataraman served as President from 1987 to 1992, he was also the Vice President of India from 1984 to 1987. He was admitted to hospital on the 12th of January and stayed there until his death on the 27th. He was complaining of Urosepsis, a condition caused by the extravasation of urine. His condition turned critical on January 20. Born in Pattukkottia he graduated from Madras University studying Economics. In 1980 he succeeded Choudhary Charan Singh as the Union Finance Minister of India and then Vice President under President Zail Singh. He later became the 8th President of India. During his run as President he faced troubles such as the Sri Lanka crisis, the Bofors Gun deal and the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. He was succeced by Shankar Sharma. With the death of Venkataraman, Abdul Kalam becomes the only surviving former Indian President. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India had lost an outstanding figure. A state funeral will be held says the cabinet.
American diplomats put heavy pressure on Spanish authorities to drop three investigations targetting the US and its soldiers, El Pais reported Tuesday citing documents released by WikiLeaks. The first investigation concerned the death of Spanish cameraman Jose Couso, who was killed by American shells in Baghdad in 2003, the Spanish daily reported quoting the whistleblowing website. Spanish judicial authorities have recently released arrest warrants for three American soldiers. The second investigation concerned a complaint of torture by a Guantanamo Bay inmate of Spanish nationality. The third was an investigation into the use of Spanish bases for military flights to Guantanamo. In May this year, the Spanish prosecutor called for the detention of 13 CIA officers. El Pais reported that former US ambassador Eduardo Aguirre, who held the post during the George W Bush adminstration, "personally exerted multiple pressure on the Spanish government and judicial authorities" to close these investigations. \|\|\|\|\| Madrid - The United States engaged in tough negotiations and promised money in a bid to persuade other countries to receive inmates from its Guantanamo Bay prison camp, according to WikiLeaks documents. The excerpts from secret US diplomatic documents leaked by the self-proclaimed whistleblower website at the weekend were published by the daily El Pais on Tuesday. The Kuwaiti interior minister told US officials that the country could not receive its nationals who had been imprisoned at the facility in Cuba, because they were 'rotten,' the documents revealed. Sheikh Jaber al-Jalid al-Sabah advised Washington to 'get rid of' the Kuwaiti prisoners by abandoning them in an Afghan war zone. Yemen, meanwhile, said it would receive its citizens if the United States and Saudi Arabia gave it 11 million dollars to create a rehabilitation centre for Muslim extremists. Washington also found it difficult to persuade its European allies to take Guantanamo prisoners. It promised countries like Spain and Belgium more influence within the European Union, if they cooperated, according to El Pais. The United States also offered money to several countries. The Pacific archipelago of Kiribati was offered investments worth millions of dollars, if it agreed to take in Chinese Muslim prisoners. Spain was offered 85,000 dollars for each prisoner it would receive, according to the documents. El Pais was one of five newspapers to gain access to more than 250,000 secret US documents leaked by WikiLeaks. \|\|\|\|\| The release of more than 250,000 US embassy cables reveals previously secret information on American intelligence gathering, and political and military strategy. Photograph: Rex Features The United States was catapulted into a worldwide diplomatic crisis today, with the leaking to the Guardian and other international media of more than 250,000 classified cables from its embassies, many sent as recently as February this year. At the start of a series of daily extracts from the US embassy cables - many of which are designated "secret" – the Guardian can disclose that Arab leaders are privately urging an air strike on Iran and that US officials have been instructed to spy on the UN's leadership. These two revelations alone would be likely to reverberate around the world. But the secret dispatches which were obtained by WikiLeaks, the whistlebowers' website, also reveal Washington's evaluation of many other highly sensitive international issues. These include a major shift in relations between China and North Korea, Pakistan's growing instability and details of clandestine US efforts to combat al-Qaida in Yemen. Among scores of other disclosures that are likely to cause uproar, the cables detail: • Grave fears in Washington and London over the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme • Alleged links between the Russian government and organised crime. • Devastating criticism of the UK's military operations in Afghanistan. • Claims of inappropriate behaviour by a member of the British royal family. The US has particularly intimate dealings with Britain, and some of the dispatches from the London embassy in Grosvenor Square will make uncomfortable reading in Whitehall and Westminster. They range from serious political criticisms of David Cameron to requests for specific intelligence about individual MPs. The cache of cables contains specific allegations of corruption and against foreign leaders, as well as harsh criticism by US embassy staff of their host governments, from tiny islands in the Caribbean to China and Russia. The material includes a reference to Vladimir Putin as an "alpha-dog", Hamid Karzai as being "driven by paranoia" and Angela Merkel allegedly "avoids risk and is rarely creative". There is also a comparison between Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Adolf Hitler. The cables name countries involved in financing terror groups, and describe a near "environmental disaster" last year over a rogue shipment of enriched uranium. They disclose technical details of secret US-Russian nuclear missile negotiations in Geneva, and include a profile of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who they say is accompanied everywhere by a "voluptuous blonde" Ukrainian nurse. The cables cover secretary of state Hillary Clinton's activities under the Obama administration, as well as thousands of files from the George Bush presidency. Clinton personally led frantic damage limitation this weekend as Washington prepared foreign governments for the revelations. She contacted leaders in Germany, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, France and Afghanistan. US ambassadors in other capitals were instructed to brief their hosts in advance of the release of unflattering pen-portraits or nakedly frank accounts of transactions with the US which they had thought would be kept quiet. Washington now faces a difficult task in convincing contacts around the world that any future conversations will remain confidential. "We are all bracing for what may be coming and condemn WikiLeaks for the release of classified material," state department spokesman PJ Crowley said. "It will place lives and interests at risk. It is irresponsible." The state department's legal adviser has written to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and his London lawyer, warning that the cables were obtained illegally and that publication would place at risk "the lives of countless innocent individuals … ongoing military operations … and cooperation between countries". The electronic archive of embassy dispatches from around the world was allegedly downloaded by a US soldier earlier this year and passed to WikiLeaks. Assange made them available to the Guardian and four other newspapers: the New York Times, Der Spiegel in Germany, Le Monde in France and El País in Spain. All five plan to publish extracts from the most significant cables, but have decided neither to "dump" the entire dataset into the public domain, nor to publish names that would endanger innocent individuals. WikiLeaks says that, contrary to the state department's fears, it also initially intends to post only limited cable extracts, and to redact identities. The cables published today reveal how the US uses its embassies as part of a global espionage network, with diplomats tasked to obtain not just information from the people they meet, but personal details, such as frequent flyer numbers, credit card details and even DNA material. Classified "human intelligence directives" issued in the name of Hillary Clinton or her predecessor, Condoleeza Rice, instruct officials to gather information on military installations, weapons markings, vehicle details of political leaders as well as iris scans, fingerprints and DNA. The most controversial target was the leadership of the United Nations. That directive requested the specification of telecoms and IT systems used by top UN officials and their staff and details of "private VIP networks used for official communication, to include upgrades, security measures, passwords, personal encryption keys". When the Guardian put this allegation to Crowley, the state department spokesman said: "Let me assure you: our diplomats are just that, diplomats. They do not engage in intelligence activities. They represent our country around the world, maintain open and transparent contact with other governments as well as public and private figures, and report home. That's what diplomats have done for hundreds of years." The dispatches also shed light on older diplomatic issues. One cable, for example, reveals, that Nelson Mandela was "furious" when a top adviser stopped him meeting Margaret Thatcher shortly after his release from prison to explain why the ANC objected to her policy of "constructive engagement" with the apartheid regime. "We understand Mandela was keen for a Thatcher meeting but that [appointments secretary Zwelakhe] Sisulu argued successfully against it," according to the cable. It continues: "Mandela has on several occasions expressed his eagerness for an early meeting with Thatcher to express the ANC's objections to her policy. We were consequently surprised when the meeting didn't materialise on his mid-April visit to London and suspected that ANC hardliners had nixed Mandela's plans." The US embassy cables are marked "Sipdis" – secret internet protocol distribution. They were compiled as part of a programme under which selected dispatches, considered moderately secret but suitable for sharing with other agencies, would be automatically loaded on to secure embassy websites, and linked with the military's Siprnet internet system. They are classified at various levels up to "SECRET NOFORN" [no foreigners]. More than 11,000 are marked secret, while around 9,000 of the cables are marked noforn. The embassies which sent most cables were Ankara, Baghdad, Amman, Kuwait and Tokyo. More than 3 million US government personnel and soldiers, many extremely junior, are cleared to have potential access to this material, even though the cables contain the identities of foreign informants, often sensitive contacts in dictatorial regimes. Some are marked "protect" or "strictly protect". Last spring, 22-year-old intelligence analyst Bradley Manning was charged with leaking many of these cables, along with a gun-camera video of an Apache helicopter crew mistakenly killing two Reuters news agency employees in Baghdad in 2007, which was subsequently posted by WikiLeaks. Manning is facing a court martial. In July and October WikiLeaks also published thousands of leaked military reports from Afghanistan and Iraq. These were made available for analysis beforehand to the Guardian, along with Der Spiegel and the New York Times. A former hacker, Adrian Lamo, who reported Manning to the US authorities, said the soldier had told him in chat messages that the cables revealed "how the first world exploits the third, in detail". He also said, according to Lamo, that Clinton "and several thousand diplomats around the world are going to have a heart attack when they wake up one morning and find an entire repository of classified foreign policy is available in searchable format to the public … everywhere there's a US post … there's a diplomatic scandal that will be revealed". Asked why such sensitive material was posted on a network accessible to thousands of government employees, the state department spokesman told the Guardian: "The 9/11 attacks and their aftermath revealed gaps in intra-governmental information sharing. Since the attacks of 9/11, the US government has taken significant steps to facilitate information sharing. These efforts were focused on giving diplomatic, military, law enforcement and intelligence specialists quicker and easier access to more data to more effectively do their jobs." He added: "We have been taking aggressive action in recent weeks and months to enhance the security of our systems and to prevent the leak of information." \|\|\|\|\| Baltasar Garzon has denied that he broke the law Spain's most high-profile judge, Baltasar Garzon, faces trial on charges of overreaching his powers by launching an inquiry into the Franco regime. In 2008 Mr Garzon opened the probe - later shelved - into atrocities committed during the four-decade rule of General Francisco Franco. A magistrate ruled on Wednesday that he had acted without jurisdiction. Mr Garzon is famous for targeting international figures including Augusto Pinochet and Osama Bin Laden. The case against Mr Garzon followed complaints by several Spanish right-wing groups. FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. More from BBC World Service They claimed he had knowingly exceeded his official remit in launching an investigation into tens of thousands of disappearances during Spain's 1936-1939 Civil War and under the Franco regime that followed. Mr Garzon had ordered the immediate exhumation of civil war-era mass graves. 'Artificial arguments' In February, Supreme Court investigating magistrate Luciano Varela ruled that Mr Garzon had ignored a 1977 amnesty that covers crimes committed during the civil war. GARZON'S FAMOUS CASES Campaigned for extradition of former Chilean military ruler Gen Augusto Pinochet from UK to Spain over human rights abuses in 1998. Request turned down on health grounds Charged Osama Bin Laden over 9/11 attacks in 2003 Tried unsuccessfully to prosecute Italian politician Silvio Berlusconi on charges of tax fraud and breaching anti-trust laws in Spain through stake in Spanish TV company Telecinco Profile: Judge Baltasar Garzon The amnesty law pardoned politically motivated crimes committed by both sides. By guaranteeing that the past would not be raked over, it underpinned Spain's delicate transition from dictatorship to democracy, correspondents say. Mr Garzon appealed against the ruling. But on Wednesday, Mr Varela asserted that Mr Garzon had been aware of his lack of jurisdiction due to the amnesty law. "Conscious of his lack of jurisdiction... he constructed artificial arguments to justify his control of the penal proceedings," he said in a written ruling. Gonzalo Martinez-Fresneda, a lawyer for Mr Garzon, said the judge would probably be suspended from his post at the national court in the next few days and that a trial could start as early as June. Mr Garzon, who is highly popular among the Spanish political left and international human rights campaigners, has strongly denied that he broke the law. He has been supported by the International Commission of Jurists. "If this trial goes ahead, it will be the first time that we know of where a judge, who is trying to reach truth, justice and reparation for over 100,000 people who disappeared, is tried," said Esteban Beltran, director of the Spanish branch of Amnesty International. But some on the right accuse Mr Garzon of launching cases that are politcally motivated. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	__NOEDITSECTION__ The logo of whistleblowing website, ''Wikileaks'' Yesterday's release of more US diplomatic cables by ''Wikileaks'' covered pressure on governments, Spain's judiciary, and buying foreign assistance with detentions at Guantanamo Bay. '''', one of five mainstream papers partnering with Wikileaks' release of documents, examined key output from Madrid's US embassy. The latest cables focus on US–Spain relations, particularly during the George W. Bush presidency, with serving as ambassador in Madrid. He is cited as having "personally exerted" pressure on Spain's government and judiciary; this leading to at least three investigations being dropped. Of concern to the press is the death of in 2003. The Spanish cameraman was killed during the battle for Baghdad; the Spanish judiciary intended to prosecute three US servicemen over the fatality. File photo of Eduardo Aguirre Jr, United States ambassador to Spain. American use of Spanish air bases for '' was a second concern the US embassy in Madrid pressured the government on. Spanish prosecutors had been keen to pursue 13 CIA officers over the illegal flights. Repeatedly, concern over Spain's independent judiciary invoking 'universal jurisdiction' appears in leaked cables. Reports at the time showed magistrates considered actions at Guantanamo Bay torture, and seemed keen to pursue ex-US government officials on grounds of "criminal responsibility". Cable 06MADRID1914 highlights the cases of Hamed Abderrahaman Ahmed and Moroccan Lahcen Ikassrien; respectively transferred from Guantanamo Bay, to Spanish custody, in February 2004 and July 2005. Describing conditions at the Cuban detention centre as "impossible to explain, much less justify", Hamed — better known as the "Spanish Taliban" — saw a July 2006 ruling by the country's Supreme Court annul his six-year prison sentence, granting him an immediate release. The ruling cast doubt on the reliability of evidence against Lahcen, who was released on bail. Hamed and his family, at the time, announced their intent to sue the US government over his suffering in Guantanamo Bay. File photo of Baltazar Garzón, former Spanish High Court judge. Later cables illustrate how concerned the Bush administration were over possible prosecution by . Citing an op-ed he penned for a Spanish paper in March 2007, and this subsequently being picked up by Socialist Party secretary . Pronouncements by the two, and others, on "criminal responsibility" were met with a diplomatically stern response; cable 07MADRID546 states that the government of Spain was "cautioned that continued statements on this issue by senior Spanish figures would be viewed negatively." Garzón, best-known for indicting former dictator Augusto Pinochet, seemed to still trouble US diplomats when planning high-level defence talks in March 2007. Mention is made to a possible investigation, and indictment of, Donald Rumsfeld. Spain had informed the US embassy in Madrid the judge in the case was working to dismiss it. As recently as March last year, Garzón sought to prosecute officials from the Bush administration. Named as potential defendants in a ''Reuters'' report, , , , , and, aide to Vice-President Dick Cheney, were all being investigated by Garzón. Come April this year, Garzón himself faced prosecution. A probe into Franco-era war crimes saw him suspended, possibly to be tried for acting contrary to an amnesty extended to Franco supporters. It is alleged he "acted without jurisdiction". At present, the former Spanish Supreme Court judge is working at the . Reports based on ''El Pais''' investigation around the leaked cables suggest the country's judiciary has been politicised to suit American interests. With a price of 85,000 cited for each former Guantanamo Bay detainee that Spain was to take, recent reports assert other countries have been offered financial incentives to help empty the camp. Belgium, alongside Spain, was supposedly offered more influence within the European Union in exchange for cooperating with US plans. Kuwait's interior minister is said to have refused to take any of their citizens from the camp. Describing inmates as "rotten", ''DPA'' alleges he told the US to "get rid of" detainees in an Afghan war zone. Yemen, in exchange for agreeing to take Guantanamo detainees, is said to have asked for US$11 million for the construction of a centre to rehabilitate Muslim extremists. So far, only a tiny fraction of the documents in Wikileaks possession have been made public.
One of the leaders of the Islamist Hamas movement on Friday said President Bush's visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories would only end up hurting Palestinians. VOA's Jim Teeple reports Palestinians who support the peace process say the time has come for hard negotiating with Israel. George Bush and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, 10 Jan 2008 Hamas militants and their supporters in the Gaza Strip staged noisy demonstrations over the past few days as President Bush held talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials, trying to "nudge" them forward towards a peace deal by the end of his presidency. Hamas rejects any such peace deal and refuses to recognize Israel. The group is considered a terrorist organization by the international community. Speaking after Friday prayers in Gaza City, Hamas leader Ismail said President Bush's visit was meant to reinforce Palestinian divisions. Ismail Haniyeh (file photo) Haniyeh says Mr. Bush's visit is sowing the seeds for an internal Palestinian war, and he called U.S. policy in the region a failure. Hamas seized power in Gaza in a violent takeover last June, ousting Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Since then the Palestinian territories have been divided, with Hamas in control of Gaza and Fatah in control in the West Bank. President Abbas has appointed a caretaker government in the West Bank that has received widespread recognition, and he resumed peace negotiations with Israel. One of Mr. Abbas' senior negotiators in talks with the Israelis is Saeb Erekat. He says on balance Palestinians who support the peace process welcomed Mr. Bush's visit, but now it is up to Israelis and Palestinians to advance the process. "There are things he said we agree with, there are things he said we disagree with. Now, as far as decisions required, for the issues of Jerusalem, borders, settlements, refugees, water, security and prisoners, these decisions must be done and made by Palestinians and Israelis, nobody else," said Erekat. During his visit to the area, President Bush called on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian lands but he also said one of the biggest obstacles to peace is in Gaza, and that Palestinians must be able to show Israel they can control security in their areas. \|\|\|\|\| Talking Heads Unacceptable. Haniyeh Photo: AP Hamas chief: Bush promises unacceptable for Palestinians Ismail Haniyeh slams US president as bias toward Israel, says visit can't reduce Palestinians' historic rights on land. "Bush gave Israel all required pledges to solidify its occupation," he says Associated Press Published: 01.11.08, 18:55 / Israel News Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Hamas government in Gaza said Friday that US President George W. Bush's visit to the region proved his bias toward Israel and hurt Palestinian aspirations for a state of their own. Haniyeh spoke to reporters after Friday prayers as Bush wrapped up a three-day visit to Israel and the West Bank, seat of the Ramallah-based government of moderate Haniyeh spoke to reporters after Friday prayers as Bush wrapped up a three-day visit to Israel and the West Bank, seat of the Ramallah-based government of moderate President Mahmoud Abbas , Haniyeh's rival. Presidential Visit Palestinians indifferent to Bush visit / Ali Waked Ramallah residents unmoved by important guest visiting their city. Sharing complaints about traffic and insult to Arafat's memory, most say they believe visit will do no good. 'My grandmother, who can't read or write, can also talk about the need for a vision and state of our own,' Palestinian waiter tells Ynet Full story in June - as a problem that could not easily be solved in the 12 months remaining in his presidency. violently seized in June - as a problem that could not easily be solved in the 12 months remaining in his presidency. The international community is boycotting Hamas because of its refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist and renounce violence. The international community is boycotting Hamas because of its refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist and renounce violence. Haniyeh said Bush's explanation of his bottom lines for a peace deal were based on promises to Israel, and don't serve Palestinian interests. Haniyeh said Bush's explanation of his bottom lines for a peace deal were based on promises to Israel, and don't serve Palestinian interests. "Bush gave Israel all the required pledges to solidify its occupation and to wipe out basic Palestinian rights and sacred issues, while he gave the Palestinians more illusions and slogans, and loose words that only express the deception which has characterized this visit," Haniyeh said. "Bush gave Israel all the required pledges to solidify its occupation and to wipe out basic Palestinian rights and sacred issues, while he gave the Palestinians more illusions and slogans, and loose words that only express the deception which has characterized this visit," Haniyeh said. During his visit, Bush urged Israel to end its 40-year occupation of the West Bank and said a Palestinian state should be contiguous, a nod to Palestinian opposition to a state broken into pieces by Israeli settlements and military installations. During his visit, Bush urged Israel to end its 40-year occupation of the West Bank and said a Palestinian state should be contiguous, a nod to Palestinian opposition to a state broken into pieces by Israeli settlements and military installations. At the same time, Bush came out on Israel's side on two important issues, implying that major Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank should remain in Israeli hands in a At the same time, Bush came out on Israel's side on two important issues, implying that major Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank should remain in Israeli hands in a final peace deal and that Palestinian refugees should not be resettled inside of Israel. 'US bias toward Israel' Haniyeh said Bush's suggestion that Palestinian refugees receive compensation is unacceptable, and that the millions of refugees and their descendants from the 1948 war that accompanied Israel's creation must return to their original homes inside Israel. "These concepts are totally unacceptable to us, and can in no way commit our people and the next generations," he said. "The problem of Palestine will remain alive. A short visit of a few hours can't reduce this historic right and shrink the future of Palestinian generations on the land of Palestine." "These concepts are totally unacceptable to us, and can in no way commit our people and the next generations," he said. "The problem of Palestine will remain alive. A short visit of a few hours can't reduce this historic right and shrink the future of Palestinian generations on the land of Palestine." Haniyeh criticized Bush's characterization of Hamas as an obstacle to peace. "This is sowing the seeds of sedition and is an attempt to create the atmosphere for internal Palestinian wars," he said. Haniyeh appealed to Abbas not to "slide" behind the US Administration, saying he would be endangering his leadership. talkback Print Send to friend Bookmark to del.icio.us See More UN nuclear watchdog chief urges Iran to 'accelerate' cooperation Bush pledges to return to Israel in May 20 Talkbacks for this article See all talkbacks Please wait for the talkbacks to load	One of the leaders of the Islamist Hamas movement on Friday said President Bush's visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories would only end up hurting Palestinians. Hamas militants and their supporters in the Gaza Strip staged noisy demonstrations over the past few days as President Bush held talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials, trying to "nudge" them forward towards a peace deal by the end of his presidency. Hamas rejects any such peace deal and refuses to recognize Israel. The group is considered a terrorist organization by the international community. Speaking after Friday prayers in Gaza City, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said President Bush's visit was meant to reinforce Palestinian divisions. George Bush in the Middle East today. It was made clear that Haniyeh did not support Bush's visit he said "Bush gave Israel all the required pledges to solidify its occupation and to wipe out basic Palestinian rights and sacred issues, while he gave the Palestinians more illusions and slogans, and loose words that only express the deception which has characterized this visit." Haniyeh says Mr. Bush's visit is sowing the seeds for an internal Palestinian war, and he called U.S. policy in the region a failure. Hamas seized power in Gaza in a violent takeover last June, ousting Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Since then the Palestinian territories have been divided, with Hamas in control of Gaza and Fatah in control in the West Bank. President Abbas has appointed a caretaker government in the West Bank that has received widespread recognition, and he resumed peace negotiations with Israel. One of Mr. Abbas' senior negotiators in talks with the Israelis is Saeb Erekat. He says on balance Palestinians who support the peace process welcomed Mr. Bush's visit, but now it is up to Israelis and Palestinians to advance the process. "There are things he said we agree with, there are things he said we disagree with. Now, as far as decisions required, for the issues of Jerusalem, borders, settlements, refugees, water, security and prisoners, these decisions must be done and made by Palestinians and Israelis, nobody else," said Erekat. During his visit to the area, President Bush called on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian lands but he also said one of the biggest obstacles to peace is in Gaza, and that Palestinians must be able to show Israel they can control security in their areas.
Stornoway’s Wee W faces closure 17/6/13 WeeW, which occupies one of the largest retail spaces in the heart of Stornoway town centre, is likely to close within weeks. The store will cease trading unless a last minute buyer for the business comes forward. The building on Cromwell Street is owned by Western Isles Council and leased to WeeW. The closure plans follows the tragic death of one of the main entrepreneurs behind the store. Ann MacCallum, an investor in the business, was found dead on a shingle beach at Swordale Bay, Point, Lewis, last month. The 51- year- old of Upper Bayble kept a horse on a croft nearby. He body was discovered by a dog walker who alerted police. A Wee W spokesman said: “It is with the utmost regret that we announce that the Wee W store in Stornoway town centre will be closing down in the next few weeks unless a buyer is found to take it forward. “Wee W was Ann McCallum’s vision - she birthed the store and she built it up during one of the worst trading periods in our history. “Ann was a constant inspiration with new ideas and displays, she was always exploring ways of bringing new products to Stornoway and was recently successful with the Wee Fudge Shop. “Ann’s tragic and untimely death has left an unfillable void for Wee W and as a result the family and existing shareholders do not have the heart or desire to try and fill Ann’s shoes. “We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported Wee W and who will be impacted by this announcement.” Ann McCallum was a former manageress of Woolworth’s very successful store in Cromwell Street, Stornoway. She was a shareholder in WeeW which opened in 2009 and took on a raft of former workers made redundant by the collapse of Woolworths the previous year. In 2010, Mrs McCallum became the first woman in the history of Harris Tweed to become manager of a industry textile mill. The talented fabric designer also made a white Harris Tweed dress and coat which she designed for Gaelic singer Alyth McCormack's wedding in 2009. Originally from near Biggar in the Scottish Borders, she also worked for Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Asda, C&A and Marks & Spencer. \|\|\|\|\| Stornoway shop WeeW facing closure Continue reading the main story Related Stories A store called the WeeW which opened as a replacement for a Woolworths on Lewis is facing closure after encountering financial difficulties. Ex-workers of the town's "Woolies" - one of 815 that closed after the chain went into administration in 2009 - were among its first staff and investors. The Stornoway store's name is a play on the title of Woolworths' major outlets - Big W. The WeeW will shut within weeks unless a buyer is found for the business. One of the leading figures behind the launch of the shop was Ann MacCallum, the former manager of the Stornoway Woolworths, who died last month. Police confirmed on 15 May that a body found fives days earlier on a beach near Swordale on Lewis was Ms MacCallum's.	The Wee W store, located in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, yesterday announced its intention to cease operating "in the next few weeks", subject to any potential acquisition of the company. The store, which is one of the largest retail buildings in , is located in a central part of the town. In a statement, the company cited the death of store co-founder Ann MacCallum as primary reason for the decision. Ann MacCallum was found dead at age 51 on a in May. A statement from Wee W described MacCallum as "a constant inspiration with new ideas and displays, ... always ...exploring ways of bringing new products to Stornoway". Shortly prior to her death, MacCallum had established a 'Wee Fudge Shop' inside Wee W, which the company deemed successful. The statement explained how her death had "left an unfillable void" in the company, saying that "the family and existing shareholders do not have the heart or desire to try and fill Ann’s shoes." Wee W, whose building is currently leased from , was opened on Cromwell Street in Stornoway during 2009. The store reportedly acted as a replacement for the building which closed there when the group entered administration in 2009. Numerous former employees of the store were employed by Wee W, whose title is a play on words of the large-size 'Big W' stores Woolworths Group had. Ann MacCallum was herself once manager of the former Woolworths building in Stornoway. The statement did not comment on the fate of its employees or give details of how many redundancies the closure of the store would leave, although the group did say, "We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported Wee W and who will be impacted by this announcement." == Sources == * * * *
PENANG: Malaysia’s Health Ministry has not decided on what to do next with the body of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un who was murdered at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Feb 13. The body was handed over to the Health Ministry on Friday (Mar 10), after police said they have completed their probe into his death. Deputy Health Minister Hilmi Yahaya told reporters on Saturday that there is no regulation limiting the time that a body can be kept in hospital. "There is no time limit to claim the body, and as this is a high-profile case, we should not rush to make any decision. The ministry will decide on the next course of action," he said. On whether the body should be handed over to Kim Jong Nam’s next-of-kin, Dr Hilmi said that it should be, according to Malaysian law. However, if the body is not claimed by his family, then Kim could be buried in Malaysia. Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar had on Friday confirmed that the murdered North Korean man is Kim Jong Nam, nearly a month after the assassination. He did not elaborate on how authorities came to the conclusion, or whether DNA samples were still needed to identify the body. According to a New Straits Times report on Saturday, Kim was identified by a scatter of 21 moles on his face. Among the more prominent ones include three moles lined near one of his eyes and one to the right of his lips, said the report which cited a source with knowledge of the identification process. However, the identification by moles was refuted by the police chief who said: "No, not true. That is not enough for us." \|\|\|\|\| Malaysian police say they have formally identified Kim Jong Nam as the victim of a fatal nerve agent attack at Kuala Lumpur's airport. Kim is the estranged half brother of North Korea's ruler. Friday's announcement was a formality. Soon after the Feb. 13 attack, Malaysian Cabinet officials confirmed the victim was Kim. The identification process touches on one of the flashpoints in a case that has broken once-warm ties between Malaysia and North Korea. North Korea does not acknowledge the victim is Kim Jong Nam and has demanded custody of the body, but Malaysia has not handed it over. National police chief Khalid Abu Bakar refused to say how police identified Kim. He said the "safety and security of witnesses" are at stake. \|\|\|\|\| Story highlights Police don't elaborate on how they confirmed the identification of the body No family stepped forward so body will be handed over to Malaysian Health Ministry Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (CNN) Malaysian police have confirmed that a man killed last month at Kuala Lumpur's airport was Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the country's top police official told reporters Friday. "We have fulfilled the requirement of the laws on his identification," said Khalid Abu Bakar, inspector general of the Royal Malaysia Police. He declined to elaborate on how police confirmed the man's identity, citing the security and safety of witnesses. It marks the first time police have officially confirmed the victim is indeed Kim Jong Nam. Asked if Kim's relatives had been notified about the positive identification, the police chief replied: "Yes, we have already informed the relatives, so it seems no one is taking (the body)." He said police will hand Kim's body over to the Malaysian Health Ministry since no one has claimed it. Read More \|\|\|\|\| Eileen Ng, The Associated Press KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Two Malaysian employees of the UN's World Food Program who were stranded in North Korea because of a travel ban have left the country, the UN said Thursday. Nine other Malaysians are believed to still be stuck there after the two countries' diplomatic relations broke down over the killing of the estranged sibling of North Korea's leader. The UN employees were among hundreds of ordinary citizens caught up in the escalating diplomatic battle. The two arrived in Beijing on Thursday, said Jane Howard, the WFP coordinator for global issues. "The staff members are international civil servants and not representatives of their national government," she said. When North Korea issued its travel ban earlier this week, Malaysia responded in kind, barring North Koreans from leaving its soil. The nine Malaysians still believed to be there are three embassy workers and their family members. About 1,000 North Koreans are believed to be in Malaysia, until recently one of the few countries where North Koreans could travel without a visa. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the government was "in the process of establishing the reasons and motives" behind North Korea's drastic measure. He reiterated that diplomatic relations will not be severed to keep the communication line open for negotiations. Najib said he spoke on the phone to Mohamad Nur Azrin, the counselor at the Malaysian Embassy in North Korea, who told him that all Malaysians there are safe. "I have given him my assurance that the government will do everything we can to ensure that they return home safely soon. The whole of Malaysia is praying for them," Najib said in a statement on Facebook. "The government will continue to work on reaching the best solution on this issue." Malaysia has never directly blamed North Korea for the killing of Kim Jong Nam at the Kuala Lumpur airport Feb. 13. In an attack caught on security camera footage, two women approached Kim as he waited for a flight and wiped something on his face. Malaysian authorities say the substance was VX nerve agent and the two attackers were recruited by a team of North Koreans. North Korea has denied any responsibility and accused Malaysia of being swayed by the North's enemies. The women, a Vietnamese and an Indonesian, have been arrested and charged with murder. They say they were duped into thinking they were taking part in a harmless prank. On Thursday, dozens of Indonesian workers and activists protested the murder charge against the Indonesian suspect, Siti Aisyah, outside the Malaysian embassy in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta. Men and women from a trade union and several Islamic groups called on the Indonesian government and the international community to investigate the killing of Kim Jong Nam and work to free Aisyah. One of the speakers at the protest told the crowd it was impossible that a naive migrant worker such as Aisyah could be knowingly involved in the murder. Protesters waved green flags and held up banners such that read "Save Siti Aisyah" and "Siti Aisyah is only a victim of political conspiracy interests." ----- AP writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| A North Korean official suggested Thursday that Kim Jong Nam was not murdered by assassins using poison on the orders of his half-brother's secretive regime, but instead died of a natural heart attack. Kim — who was the estranged sibling of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un — died shortly after collapsing at the airport in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 13. Malaysian officials have charged two women with Kim Jong Nam's murder, accusing them of smearing him with the highly toxic nerve agent VX. Play Facebook Twitter Google Plus Embed North Korea Says Kim Jong Nam Died of Heart Attack 0:59 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog Despite North Korea requesting that no autopsy occur, Malaysian officials conducted an post-mortem that they said found the chemical on Kim's eyes and face. The incident has triggered a diplomatic battle between the two countries amid speculation that the alleged assassins were acting on orders of the North Korean government. However, all of this was disputed by Ri Tong Il, a spokesman for the North Korean delegation that arrived in Malaysia this week. "He has a record of ... heart disease," Ri told reporters outside the North Korean Embassy. "Therefore this is a strong indication that the cause of the death is a heart attack." He added that Kim Jong Nam was on medication for heart disease and diabetes. Kim Jong Nam in 2010. AFP / AFP/Getty Images North Korea has refused to acknowledge Kim Jong Nam's identity, instead calling him "Kim Chol," the fake name on his passport. The government spokesman also asked why, if the two suspects murdered Kim with VX, did they not get ill? "They are the ones who directly contained the liquid on their palms of the hands to apply to the face," Ri said. Malaysian police have previously said that both women washed their hands immediately after the alleged incident and that one of then vomited. Ri, the North Korean spokesman, said that if VX was indeed used it should be sent to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. "They should come to identify who is the one who made it, who is the one who brought it into Malaysia, who is the one who passed on this material to the two ladies," he said. Experts say that because VX is very hard to synthesize, other than in a government-level laboratory, it points to the North Korean regime being behind the attack. \|\|\|\|\| KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Two women accused of smearing VX nerve agent on Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half brother of North Korea's leader, were charged with murder Wednesday after arriving in court under heavy protection. Vietnamese suspect Doan Thi Huong, second from right, in the ongoing assassination investigation, is escorted by police officers out from Sepang court in Sepang, Malaysia on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. Daniel Chan / AP Kim Jong Nam was attacked at a busy Kuala Lumpur airport terminal on Feb. 13 and died shortly after two women went up behind him and wiped something onto his face. Both women have reportedly said they thought they were part of a prank TV show playing harmless tricks on unsuspecting passengers. One of the suspects, an Indonesian woman, told authorities that she was paid the equivalent of $90. Play Facebook Twitter Google Plus Embed 'Moment Kim Jong Nam Attacked' Caught on Camera 0:57 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog The two women arrived in court Wednesday under the protection of special forces carrying machine guns. Kim's death is at the center of a heated diplomatic battle between North Korea and Malaysia. Speculation is rampant that North Korea was behind the killing, particularly after Malaysia said Friday that VX had killed Kim. Experts say the oily poison was almost certainly produced in a sophisticated state weapons laboratory. On Tuesday, a high-level North Korean delegation arrived in Kuala Lumpur seeking custody of his body. An immigration officer escorts Kim Jong Nam, son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, getting off a bus to board an ANA905 (All Nippon Airways) airplane at Narita airport near Tokyo on May 4, 2001 . Toshifumi Kitamura / AFP - Getty Images, file North Korea opposed Malaysian officials even conducting an autopsy, while Malaysia has resisted giving up the body without getting DNA samples and confirmation from next of kin. The delegation includes Ri Tong Il, a former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Nations, who told reporters Tuesday outside the North Korean Embassy that the diplomats were in Malaysia to retrieve the body and seek the release of a North Korean arrested in the case. He said the delegation also wants "development of the friendly relationship" between North Korea and Malaysia. Malaysian officials have confirmed that the victim of the attack was Kim Jong Nam. North Korea, however, has identified him only as a North Korean national with a diplomatic passport bearing the name Kim Chol.	On Friday, Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police spoke to reporters and confirmed the man murdered in Kuala Lumpur International Airport was indeed Kim Jong Nam, half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "We have fulfilled the requirement of the laws on his identification," he said. Malaysian authorities had been very cautious about calling the murdered man Kim Jong Nam in public, referring to him instead as "Kim Chol," the name on one of his passports. Although he did not say whether Malaysian authorities' request for a Kim family DNA sample had been granted or whether any such sample had been used in the identification, Khalid dismissed a report in the ''New Straits Times'' on Saturday claiming Kim had been identified by the pattern of moles on his face, saying "No. Not True. That is not enough for us." Two women, Indonesian and Vietnamese , were charged with Kim's murder. Both women protest their innocence, claiming they thought they had been hired to spray passengers with harmless baby oil, but Malaysian police say Kim died of , which the United Nations classifies as a weapon of mass destruction. North Korean authorities claim Kim died of a heart attack. Aisyah has been the subject of protests outside the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta. Members of workers' and religious groups waved banners saying "Siti Aisyah is only a victim of political conspiracy interests" and "Save Siti Aisyah." The murder and its investigation have driven up tensions between North Korea and Malaysia. Both countries temporarily barred each other's citizens from leaving, though North Korea recently allowed two Malaysian employees of the United Nations to leave North Korea. Nine Malaysians were believed to still be on North Korean soil, embassy workers and their families.
Sarkozy: "A decisive moment for the future of a civilised internet" Those illegally sharing files will face the loss of their net access thanks to a newly-created anti-piracy body granted the wide-ranging powers. The anti-piracy body comes out of a deal agreed by France's music and movie makers and its net firms. The group who brokered the deal said the measures were intended to curb casual piracy rather than tackle large scale pirate groups. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the deal was a "decisive moment for the future of a civilised internet". Net firms will monitor what their customers are doing and pass on information about persistent pirates to the new independent body. Those identified will get a warning and then be threatened with either being cut off or suspended if they do not stop illegal file-sharing. The agreement between net firms, record companies, film-makers and government was drawn up by a special committee created to look at the problem of the net and cultural protection. Denis Olivennes, head of the French chain store FNAC, who chaired the committee said current penalties for piracy - large fines and years in jail - were "totally disproportionate" for those young people who do file-share illegally. In return for agreeing to monitor net use, film-makers agreed to speed up the transfer of movies to DVD and music firms pledged to support DRM-free tracks on music stores. The deal was hailed by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents the global interests of the music business. "This is the single most important initiative to help win the war on online piracy that we have seen so far," it said in a statement. French consumer group UFC Que Choisir was more cautious. It said the agreement was "very tough, potentially destructive of freedom, anti-economic and against digital history". \|\|\|\|\| The French government revealed a newly-created anti-piracy body Friday that would have wide-ranging powers, including the ability to cut internet access to people caught illegally downloading movies or music. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the move — aimed at casual piracy and not large-scale piracy — was a "decisive moment for the future of a civilized internet." Sarkozy said he feared the internet was becoming a "lawless zone where outlaws can pillage works with abandon or, worse, trade in them in total impunity. And on whose backs? On artists' backs." Internet providers will monitor what their customers are doing and pass on information to the new body about web surfers who are consistently pirating material. Those identified will get a warning threatening to cut off or suspend internet access if they do not stop illegal file-sharing. The independent authority, to be supervised by a judge, was set up after a federal committee brokered a deal between internet firms, record companies, filmmakers and government. As part of the deal, film producers agreed to speed up the transfer of movies to DVD and music companies said they would make tracks available online as soon as possible. The anti-piracy effort was lauded by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents the global interests of the music business, as "the single most important initiative to help win the war on online piracy that we have seen so far." But the announcement got a tepid response from French consumer group UFC Que Choisir, which said the new move is "potentially destructive of freedom, anti-economic and against digital history."	After brokering a deal between record companies, film corporations, internet firms and itself, the French government has unveiled a new anti-piracy body formed to counter what President Nicolas Sarkozy has described as the growing use of the internet as a "lawless zone where outlaws can pillage works with abandon or, worse, trade in them in total impunity". Internet service providers will be forced to monitor the activities of their clients, and will restrict access for users known to be partaking in file sharing of selected media. In some cases, ISPs will be instructed to either cut off internet access entirely or threaten to do so. The French consumer group UFC Que Choisir criticised the deal as being "very tough, potentially destructive of freedom, anti-economic and against digital history". Film companies have agreed to hasten the cinema-to-DVD process as part of their obligations under the deal, and record companies have indicated future support for the sale of Digital Rights Management-free media in their stores. The body will be supervised by a judge.
Former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker made the announcement in a commentary in Thursday's Wall Street Journal. BEIJING, Feb. 4 -- The chief investigator of the scandal-plagued UN oil-for-food program for Iraq has said that the program's procurement process was "tainted" and its former director Benon Sevan violated rules in selecting purchasers of Iraqi oil. Former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker is due to release the first interim report on the probe into alleged fraud and corruption in the 67 billion-dollar oil-for-food program later in the day. Volcker said his investigative team had found that the procurement process was tainted, "failing to follow the established rules of the organization designed to assure fairness and accountability." He added that the process was also affected by "political considerations" in a manner that was "neither transparent nor accountable". Volcker also criticized the program's audit process, saying it lacked "the independence, the clear reporting lines and the management responsiveness critical to achieving a fully effective auditing process." But Volcker did not mention whether Sevan or any other UN officials had accepted bribes. The oil-for-food program, which started in December 1996, allowed Iraq to export oil worth some 67 billion US dollars. The United Nations oversaw Iraq's oil sales and its purchase of humanitarian supplies. The program was shut down in November 2003. (Source:CRIENGLISH.com) \|\|\|\|\| ABC News Annan Disciplines Iraq Oil-For-Food Chief Kofi Annan Orders Disciplinary Action Against Head of U.N. Oil-For-Food Program in Iraq CAPTION By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press Writer The Associated Press UNITED NATIONS Feb 3, 2005 Secretary-General Kofi Annan ordered disciplinary action against the head of the U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq on Thursday, after a report sharply criticized Benon Sevan for "undermining the integrity" of the United Nations through a "grave conflict of interest." The investigation report said Sevan solicited oil allocations from Saddam Hussein's regime on behalf of a trading company between 1998 and 2001, and it raised concerns he may have received kickbacks for the help. Based on the report, Annan has decided to discipline Sevan and another U.N. official, Joseph Stephanides, who was chief of the U.N. Sanctions Branch, said Mark Malloch Brown, Annan's new chief of staff. Brown said the type of disciplinary action would be announced early next week but gave no details. In its report released Thursday, the investigation led by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker accused Stephanides of "tainting" bidding for a contract. Stephanides now heads the Security Council Affairs Division in the U.N. Department of Political Affairs. Allegations of corruption in the $60 billion oil-for-food program which allowed sanctions-bound Iraq to sell oil to buy humanitarian supplies have raised steady criticism from members of Congress. "I am reluctant to conclude that the U.N. is damaged beyond repair, but these revelations certainly point in this direction," said Illinois Republican Henry Hyde after Thursday's report. The House International Relations Committee Chairman, which Hyde heads, is one of several congressional committees investigating the program. Despite Sevan's claims that he never recommended any oil companies, Volcker's Independent Inquiry Committee said it had evidence that Sevan asked Iraq to give a small Swiss-based oil company, African Middle East Petroleum Co. Ltd. Inc., known as AMEP, the opportunity to buy oil. The company received the allocations and earned $1.5 million from them. Volcker's panel said it is still investigating "the scope and extent of benefits" that Sevan received for his requests.	February 3, 2005 United Nations building in New York City Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker delivered a preliminary report of the investigation into the United Nation's Oil-for-Food program with Iraq under Saddam Hussein, which is sharply critical of the procurement process used and former program director Benon Sevan. Volker heads the Independent Inquiry Committee, an investigation requested by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in June, 2004. Annan has already responded to the report, ordering disciplinary action for Sevan and other UN officials of the former program. Volker expects the report will go some ways to responding to critics of the UN program. "I think it's important to find out the extent those attacks are justified," he is quoted as saying. "There are obviously problems in the institution and we have identified some of them. But the end of this should be a reformed and stronger U.N., because I believe - and I know the other committee members believe - that the U.N. has an important role to play but it cannot be effective if it is under suspicion all of the time." Charges that UN officials misused 1.4 billion USD of administrative funds are unfair, Volker said. "We do not find evidence that this was a big slush fund," he said. "The money was carefully budgeted. They didn't spend all of the money they had budgeted. They gave some of it back to Iraq." The Independent Investigation Committee report faulted the contract procurement process which selected Banque Nationale de Paris, Saybolt Eastern Hemisphere BV, and Lloyd's Register Inspection Limite, saying it did not conform to financial and competitive bidding standards. The choices were "clearly affected by political considerations" according to Volker. Sevan is particularly faulted for personal financial transactions, including $160,000 over 1999-2003 which his lawyer has stated came from an aunt who has since died.
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia pledged on Thursday to reduce forest fires by up to half this year, as Southeast Asian environment ministers met on Sumatra island to discuss ways to stop smoke billowing across their region. The "haze" from fires on Sumatra and Borneo islands spread across large areas of Southeast Asia for months last year, polluting skies and frustrating Indonesia's neighbors. "Our target is to reduce them by 40-50 percent. We may never be able to eradicate forest fires completely," Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar told Reuters by telephone after meeting counterparts from Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Thailand in Sumatra's Jambi province. "Forest fires also happen in Hollywood, Malibu in the United States and in Sydney, it's a natural phenomenon. We have to be realistic. What we can do is prevent the repeat of last year's scale," Witoelar said. Most of the fires are deliberately lit by farmers or by timber and plantation companies, many of which are owned by Malaysian and Singapore firms. Indonesia's weather agency has predicted that the dry season on parts of Sumatra and the Indonesian portion of Borneo will start in June. Witoelar said that at the meeting the ministers agreed on an action plan which included teaching farmers to avoid slash-and-burn practices and provide them with farming equipment. Indonesia has earmarked 700 billion rupiah ($78 million) for this year's efforts, he said. Singapore had submitted to Indonesia a masterplan that covered fire prevention and suppression, legislation and enforcement as well as regional and international cooperation to fight haze, he added. Indonesia and Malaysia were also cooperating in training personnel, fire prevention, peatland management and public education as part of efforts to tackle the fires. A statement issued at the end of the meeting said Indonesia's efforts since the start of their year had reduced the number of hotspots indicating potential forest fires by 58 percent from the previous year. The ministers "recognize the urgency and importance of regional preparedness to tackle land and forest fires and transboundary haze pollution in the coming dry season," the statement said. Southeast countries have in previous years held a series of meetings to try to tackle haze, although they have appeared powerless when the fires flare up. According to Greenpeace, Indonesia had the fastest pace of deforestation in the world between 2000-2005, with an area of forest equivalent to 300 soccer pitches destroyed every hour. Indonesia has lost 72 percent of its intact ancient forests and half of what remains is threatened by logging, forest fires and clearances for palm oil plantations, Greenpeace said. A report sponsored by the World Bank and Britain's development arm released in June said Indonesia was among the world's top three greenhouse gas emitters because of deforestation, peatland degradation and forest fires. ($1=8920 Rupiah) \|\|\|\|\| Indonesia aims to halve haze-causing fires Related News Haze in two weeks' time? Singapore submits haze masterplan to Indonesia Haze helps prevents extreme heat in S'pore, says academic Singapore not spared from Thailand's worst haze in 14 years JAKARTA - Indonesia aims to halve the number of forest fires this year in an effort to tackle the choking haze which affects the region annually, a minister said Wednesday after Southeast Asian talks on the issue. Environment ministers from Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore and deputy ministers from Malaysia and Thailand held talks in Jambi on Sumatra island to track progress on mapping out plans to reduce the haze, which triggers health alerts and damages tourism. "We are targeting a drop of about 50 percent in forest fires but we are entering the dry season between July and August so we have to increase our alertness," deputy environment minister Masnellyarti Hilman told AFP. "We explained the efforts that we've taken to prevent a repeat of the choking haze ... and they praised our efforts," Hilman said. A statement released after the meeting said that so far this year, the number of so-called hotspots had dropped by 58 percent compared to last year. But the dry season, when plantation companies and farmers typically do their burning to clear land, has yet to begin. Meteorologists are also predicting a wetter than usual monsoon this year, which should help control the fires. "There will be an increase in rainfall of 10 to 20 percent (above average) this year," meteorologist Suardi, from the meteorology and geophysics agency, told AFP. He forecast that August and September would be the driest months this year. Neighbouring nations affected by the haze have agreed to "adopt a fire-prone district" from the archipelago in a bid to cut the pollution, Hilman said. "Malaysia agreed to assist Rokan Hilir in Riau and Singapore will assist Jambi," Hilman said. "They have presented an action plan -- the review process should be finished by the end of this month." Indonesia also presented to the meeting a plan to include a "zero-burning" criteria in certification processes of forest products within Association of Southeast Asian Nations members and a standardised communication procedure during crisis periods, Hilman said. Forestry minister Malam Sambat Kaban said earlier this month that Indonesia was prepared to battle the fires. "Haze patrols are ready in every potentially hit province. Helicopters will operate two hours every day for the early detection of suspected areas and put out fires when they find them," he said. Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand agreed to create a committee to oversee the implementation of concrete actions to address the forest fires and the resulting haze during a meeting in November. The haze hit its worst level in 1997-1998 and cost the Southeast Asian region an estimated nine billion dollars by disrupting air travel and other business activities. - AFP/ir	Downtown Singapore blanketed by smoke from Indonesian forest fires in September 2006. Seeking to stave off the forest fires that have blanketed five Southeast Asian countries with choking haze for the past two years, Indonesian environmental and forestry officials said yesterday they would be able to reduce the number of hot spots this year by more than half. Meeting in Jambi, Sumatra, cabinet ministers from Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand heard what Indonesia plans to do this year to combat the illegal forest fires, which start each year during the August-November dry season. "We are targeting a drop of about 50 percent in forest fires but we are entering the dry season between July and August so we have to increase our alertness," Indonesian deputy environment minister Masnellyarti Hilman was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse. "We explained the efforts that we've taken to prevent a repeat of the choking haze...and they praised our efforts," he said. A statement issued by the ministers after the meeting said Indonesia's efforts would reduce the number of hot spots by 58 percent from the previous year. Caused by slash-and-burn cultivation on palm oil and timber plantations on Borneo and Sumatra, the haze has covered parts of the affected countries for the past two years. It was first problematic in 1997, due to the El Niño weather pattern.
Unmanned sub touches deepest part of world's ocean Explores Mariana Trench, more than 10 kilometres below surface of Pacific Ocean Nereus was tested in the waters off the dock of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts in April before being sent to the spot known as Challenger Deep in the Pacific's Mariana Trench. At 11,000 metres below sea level, more than 1,600 metres deeper than Mount Everest is high, Challenger Deep is arguably one of the most remote locations on Earth. (Tom Kleindinst/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) Nereus was tested in the waters off the dock of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts in April before being sent to the spot known as Challenger Deep in the Pacific's Mariana Trench. At 11,000 metres below sea level, more than 1,600 metres deeper than Mount Everest is high, Challenger Deep is arguably one of the most remote locations on Earth. (Tom Kleindinst/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) An unmanned robotic vehicle has successfully touched the deepest known part of the ocean floor, U.S. researchers revealed on Wednesday. On May 31, the Nereus was launched off the research vessel Kilo Moana in the western Pacific Ocean, between Papua New Guinea and Japan. The unmanned aquatic vessel descended 10,902 metres into a part of the Mariana Trench known as Challenger Deep. It is the first vessel to explore the remote area in more than a decade. "It's the deepest known part of the ocean," said Andy Bowen, project manager of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, which led the dive. "The trench is virtually unexplored, and I am absolutely certain Nereus will enable new discoveries." With a budget of $8 million US, the Nereus dive was the first voyage into the trench since a Japanese-built robot named Kaiko attempted a voyage in 1998. That robot disappeared when the cable connecting it snapped on a dive during a typhoon in 2003. Measuring a little more than four metres in length, Nereus was able to take pictures and video of the ocean floor and bring back samples of sea life, including shrimp and a sea cucumber. "The samples collected by the vehicle include sediment from the subducting and overriding tectonic plates that meet at the trench," said Patty Fryer, a geologist with the University of Hawaii. Water pressure in the trench is more than 1,000 times what it is on land at sea level. The nearly 11,000 metres that Nereus was able to dive is approximately the same as the cruising altitude of a commercial airliner and roughly two kilometres more than the summit of the tallest point on earth, Mount Everest. Researchers are excited about the potential to investigate such extreme conditions. "The ocean's deepest regions [were] previously inaccessible" said Julie Morris, the ocean sciences division director of the U.S. National Science Foundation. "We're very pleased with the success of these sea trials." Connecting tether was the width of a human hair Nereus was able to succeed where other devices had failed because of a unique new design, researchers say. The unmanned vehicle is remotely operated by pilots aboard a surface ship via a lightweight, micro-thin, fibre optic tether. But Nereus can also be turned into a free-swimming, autonomous vehicle even at great depths. Conventional diving systems use steel-reinforced cables to maintain control of the probe, but such systems would snap under their own weight in the pressure conditions of the Mariana Trench. The tether the Nereus used during its 10-hour stint on the ocean floor used a combination of fibre optic cables and plastic sheath and was roughly the same diameter as a human hair. Testing will continue over the next few days, and the team will return to port on June 5. \|\|\|\|\| Nereus can switch between free-swimming and tethered configurations A robotic sub called Nereus has reached the deepest-known part of the ocean. The dive to 10,902m (6.8 miles) took place on 31 May, at the Challenger Deep in the Marianas Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean. This makes Nereus the deepest-diving vehicle currently in service and the first vehicle to explore the Marianas Trench since 1998. The unmanned vehicle is remotely operated by pilots aboard a surface ship via a lightweight tether. Its thin, fibre-optic tether to the research vessel Kilo Moana allows the submersible to make deep dives and be highly manoeuvrable. Nereus can also be switched into a free-swimming, autonomous vehicle. "With a robot like Nereus, we can now explore virtually anywhere in the ocean," said Andy Bowen, project manager and principal developer of the sub at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). "The trenches are virtually unexplored, and I am absolutely certain Nereus will enable new discoveries. I believe it marks the start of a new era in ocean exploration." The Challenger Deep is the deepest-known part of the ocean, and part of the Marianas Trench near the island of Guam in the west Pacific. It is the deepest abyss on Earth at 11,000m-deep, more than 2km (1.2 miles) deeper than Mount Everest is high. At that depth, pressures reach 1,100 times those at the surface. THE NEREUS SUBMERSIBLE Weight on land: 2,800kg Payload capacity: 25kg Maximum speed: 3 knots Batteries: rechargeable lithium ion As a result, only two vehicles have ever made the trip to its crushing depths. In January 1960, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh made the first and only manned voyage in a Swiss-built bathyscaphe known as the Trieste. The vessel consisted of a 2m-diameter (6ft) steel sphere containing the crew suspended below a huge 15m-long (50ft) tank of petrol, designed to provide buoyancy. During the nine-hour mission, the two men spent just 20 minutes on the ocean floor; enough time to measure the depth as 10,916m (35,813 ft). No manned submersible has ever repeated the dive. However, 35 years later, a Japanese remote-controlled vehicle called Kaiko returned, setting a depth record for unmanned exploration. During its dive, the vehicle recorded a depth of 10,911m (35,797ft). It was also able to recover a sediment core and record pictures of life, including a sea cucumber, a worm and a shrimp. Unlike Nereus, Kaiko had to rely on a cable connected to a ship at the surface for power and control. The Japanese craft was lost in 2003 on an unrelated dive when a cable connecting it to its control ship snapped. Currently, the deepest-rated vehicles are able to descend to 6,500m, allowing scientists access to 95% of the seafloor. Nereus aims to change this to 100%, whilst also allowing scientists to survey a much larger area than vehicles like Kaiko. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| The Abyss: Deepest Part of the Oceans No Longer Hidden Jun 03, Space & Earth/Earth Sciences Full size image The hybrid remotely operated vehicle Nereus may be tethered or untethered to a mother ship. Credit: WHOI (PhysOrg.com) -- The Abyss is a dark, deep place, but it's no longer hidden. At least when Nereus is on the scene. Nereus is a new type of deep-sea robotic vehicle, called a hybrid remotely operated vehicle (HROV). Nereus dove to 10,902 meters (6.8 miles) on May 31, 2009, in the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean, reports a team of engineers and scientists aboard the research vessel Kilo Moana. The dive makes Nereus the world's deepest-diving vehicle, and the first vehicle to explore the Mariana Trench since 1998. "Much of the ocean's depths remain unexplored," said Julie Morris, director of the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Division of Ocean Sciences, which funded the project. "Ocean scientists now have a unique tool to gather images, data and samples from everywhere in the oceans, rather than those parts shallower than 6,500 meters (4 miles). With its innovative technology, Nereus allows us to study and understand previously inaccessible ocean regions." Nereus's unique hybrid-vehicle design makes it ideally suited to explore the ocean's last frontiers, marine scientists say. The unmanned vehicle is remotely operated by pilots aboard a surface ship via a lightweight, micro-thin, fiber-optic tether that allows Nereus to dive deep and be highly maneuverable. Nereus, however, can also be switched into a free-swimming, autonomous vehicle mode. "Reaching such extreme depths is the pinnacle of technical challenges," said Andy Bowen, project manager and principal developer of Nereus at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). "The team is pleased that Nereus has been successful in reaching the very bottom of the ocean to return imagery and samples from such a hostile world. With a robot like Nereus we can now explore anywhere in the ocean. The trenches are virtually unexplored, and Nereus will enable new discoveries there. Nereus marks the start of a new era in ocean exploration." Nereus (rhymes with "serious") is a mythical Greek god with a fish-tail and a man's torso. The vehicle was named in a nationwide contest open to high school and college students. The Mariana Trench forms the boundary between two tectonic plates, where the Pacific Plate is subducted beneath the small Mariana Plate. It is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a 40,000-kilometer (25,000-mile) area where most of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. At 11,000 meters, its depth is about the height a commercial airliner flies. The Mariana Trench is the boundary between two tectonic plates: the Pacific and the Mariana. Credit: NOAA [Home] [Full version] [RSS feed] [Forum]	A Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) remotely operated vehicle touched down 10,902 meters (35,767 feet) in the Mariana Trench near the island of Guam. Mariana Trench On Sunday, May 31, Nereus dove into the Pacific Ocean and began its descent into Challenger Deep the deepest area of the Mariana Trench. "It's the deepest known part of the ocean. The trench is virtually unexplored, and I am absolutely certain Nereus will enable new discoveries," said Andy Bowen, project manager of WHOI, "Reaching such extreme depths is the pinnacle of technical challenges. The team is pleased that Nereus has been successful in reaching the very bottom of the ocean to return imagery and samples from such a hostile world. With a robot like Nereus we can now explore anywhere in the ocean. The trenches are virtually unexplored, and Nereus will enable new discoveries there. Nereus marks the start of a new era in ocean exploration." However, this is not the first time that a mission was sent into the trench. In 1998, the Japanese robot Kaiko was launched. In 1960 a two man bathyscaphe vehicle, the Trieste descended 10,916 meters (35,813 feet) to the ocean floor. Nereus can be operated remotely or it can run as an autonomous underwater vehicle AUV. It is currently attached to the mother ship via an optic tether the diameter of a human hair. "Much of the ocean's depths remain unexplored. Ocean scientists now have a unique tool to gather images, data and samples from everywhere in the oceans, rather than those parts shallower than 6,500 meters (4 miles). With its innovative technology, Nereus allows us to study and understand previously inaccessible ocean regions," said Julie Morris, director of the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Division of Ocean Sciences. NSF assisted with the US$8 million project funding. Nereus will send videos and collect samples on the ocean floor at the trench's subduction zone and area during its mission. "The samples collected by the vehicle include sediment from the tectonic plates that meet at the trench and, for the first time, rocks from deep exposures of the Earth's crust close to mantle depths south of the Challenger Deep. We will know the full story once shore-based analyses are completed back in the laboratory this summer. We can integrate them with the new mapping data to tell a story of plate collision in greater detail than ever before accomplished in the world's oceans," said geologist Patty Fryer of the University of Hawaii.
On Friday, posters of of Singapore's most wanted man started appearing in many public places, such as MRT stations, shopping centres and mosques. -- ST PHOTO: EDWIN KOO View more photos INTERPOL on Friday issued an urgent worldwide alert for terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari, who is still on the run after escaping from a detention centre on Wednesday afternoon. The global police body said it issued an Orange Notice alert following a request by Singapore on Thursday afternoon, after the leader of the Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militant network escaped from Internal Security Department (ISD) custody at the Whitley Road Detention Centre at 4.05 pm on Wednesday. Singapore Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng told Parliament on Thursday that a 'security lapse' led to the escape of Mas Selamat, who was linked to the plot to attack Changi Airport and other American establishments in Singapore. The escape led to an apology from Mr Wong, who is the Deputy Prime Minister and an island-wide manhunt involving thousands of police, military and special operations forces. Orange Notices can be issued by Interpol's general secretariat in Lyon, France, for any event posing a risk to the safety and security of citizens worldwide. 'Singapore is clearly doing all that it can on a national level to locate this fugitive and through issuing an Orange Notice, Interpol and all of its member countries can support these efforts on an international scale,' said Jean-Michel Louboutin, executive director of police services. Kastari's photograph and fingerprints will be sent to Interpol's 186 member countries, the agency said. An alert went out to the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities on Thursday. Singapore authorities have tightened border security with the two neighbouring countries and are continuing the search for the fugitive militant, who walks with a limp and is said to be unarmed. The extensive manhunt continues on Day Three on Friday. About 40 Gurkha guards searched the thickly-wooden Bukit Brown Chinese emetery off Sime Road on Friday afternoon. The cemetery is not far from the detention centre where Mas Selamat fled. The huge police and security forces in Goldhill estate, Malcolm Park and Dunearn Road areas were withdrawn on Thursday night and life for residents and students in the area has returned to normal. On Friday, posters of Singapore's most wanted man started appearing in many public places, such as MRT stations, shopping centres and mosques. The posters were in all four languages. Teams of policemen have also fanned out to various housing estates distributing leaflets to homes and pushing these into letter boxes asking the public to help look out for the fugitive. Mas Selamat, a Singaporean citizen, was arrested on the Indonesian island of Bintan near Singapore in 2003 and sentenced by a court there to 18 months in jail. He was later released but arrested again by Indonesian authorities in January 2006 before being handed over to Singapore, which has held him under the Internal Security Act that allows for detention without trial. Terrorism experts and analysts said he would try to flee to Indonesia. \|\|\|\|\| Security forces comb forests and seas for Singapore's escaped terror suspect SINGAPORE: Security forces in Singapore and Indonesia combed the undergrowth and traveled on jet skis to outlying islands in a hunt for a top Islamic terror suspect who staged a stunning escape from a high-security jail. The search for Mas Selamat Kastari stepped into high gear as Interpol, the international police organization, said authorities have lost his trail since he slipped out of a Singapore jail on Wednesday. Singapore "is a small country, so it's easy to cross and leave," Interpol's chief police services, Jean-Michel Louboutin, told The Associated Press. He said authorities have "no trail for the moment." On Friday, Interpol issued a high alert to its 186 member states for Mas Selamat, a suspected commander of the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah's Singapore arm. Mas Selamat, who is known to walk with a limp, is accused of plotting to hijack a plane and crash it into Singapore's international airport. He was being held under the Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention without trial. Mas Selamat is "someone who presents a potential physical danger to others, but also a potential danger by organizing future bombings," said Louboutin. On Saturday, special operations officers, elite Gurkha guards and soldiers trudged into central Singapore's forested areas enclosed by a police blockade, while security was tightened at land, air and sea checkpoints. Dozens of community leaders, including members of Parliament, distributed posters of the fugitive. Wanted notices were displayed at public bus interchanges, train stations and shopping malls. Security breaches are virtually unheard of in tightly policed Singapore, an island nation of 4 million people that is a 45-minute boat ride from Indonesia where Mas Selamat is alleged to have links with militant groups. Some 500 policemen were deployed at entry points to Batam, the closest Indonesian island to Singapore, while wanted notices were displayed at seaports, the airport, and on every immigration officer's desk, Batam police chief Col. Slamet Riyanto told the AP. Security personnel were deployed on jet skis with information on Mas Selamat for residents of the small islands surrounding Batam, said Riau islands police chief Brig. Gen. Sutarman, adding that the suspect knows the islands well and can speak the dialect. The Singapore government said Mas Selamat escaped because of a "security lapse" at the high security detention center. He had been taken from his cell to a room where he was waiting for his family to make a scheduled visit. He escaped after being granted permission to visit the washroom, authorities said. ___ Associated Press writers Zakki Hakim in Jakarta, Indonesia, and John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Mas Selamat Kastari AFP/Getty Images 'ORANGE NOTICE' 'ORANGE NOTICE' INTERPOL's urgent worldwide security alert warns police, public institutions and other international organizations about potential threats posed by disguised weapons, parcel bombs and other dangerous objects or materials. The alert also contains information and images of objects, materials or other threats that would be of concern to security officials at global institutions and organizations. Orange Notices, the first new INTERPOL notice to be created since 1946, is issued from the General Secretariat in Lyon, France, via the organization's National Central Bureaus in its 181 member countries. INTERPOL already issues a series of colour-coded notices, including the famous Red Notice for wanted international fugitives. Source: INTERPOL SINGAPORE (AP) Interpol said Friday it has issued a worldwide security alert following the escape of an alleged Islamic terror leader from a jail in Singapore. The international police organization said it put out an "Orange Notice" for Mas Selamat Kastari, a suspected commander of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah's Singapore arm. Mas Selamat, 47, who is accused of once plotting to hijack a plane and crash it into Singapore's international airport, escaped from a detention center Wednesday. The Interpol notice, which includes Mas Selamat's photograph and fingerprints, was issued to the group's 186 national member bureaus following a request by Singapore, the agency said in a statement on its website. "When it comes to escapes, the first hours are crucial," Interpol's executive director of police services, Jean-Michel Louboutin, told the Associated Press. "The state of Singapore has put into operation everything that's needed to be done. It's a small country, so it's easy to cross and leave." Louboutin said authorities have "no trail for the moment." Mas Selamat is "someone who presents a potential physical danger to others, but also a potential danger by organizing future bombings," he said. The government has said Mas Selamat escaped due to a "security lapse" at the detention center. He had been taken from his cell to a room where he was waiting for his family to make a scheduled visit. He escaped after being granted permission to visit the washroom, authorities said. Singaporean authorities have launched a nationwide manhunt for the man they say walks with a limp and is not known to be armed. Police and military personnel set up a blockade around the detention center, while security was tightened at the city-state's land, air and sea entry ports. It takes less than an hour to drive from one end of Singapore to the other. The affluent, highly modernized Southeast Asian country is only a short boat ride from Indonesia and Malaysia. Indonesian immigration authorities put border areas on "high alert" in case Mas Selamat attempted to enter the country, Indonesia's presidential spokesman, Dino Pati Djalalan, said Thursday. "Until now there has been no report that Kastari has entered Indonesia," he said. Security breaches are virtually unheard of in Singapore, a small and densely populated island whose sophisticated intelligence system has been liberally used to ensure order and safety. Among its biggest successes were pre-empting alleged plots to bomb the U.S. Embassy, the American Club and government buildings in 2001 — schemes in which Mas Selamat allegedly had a hand. Mas Selamat, said to be a father of five, fled Singapore in December 2001 following the arrests of 13 other suspected Jemaah Islamiyah members. Indonesian authorities detained and deported him to Singapore in February 2006, and he had since been held in the city-state under the Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial. Singapore, a close ally of the United States, was named an al-Qaeda target in a transcript from alleged al-Qaeda operative Khalid Sheikh Mohamed's Combatant Status Review Tribunal, held last year at the U.S. military detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Enlarge By Wong Maye-E, AP Singapore policemen patrol the vicinity of a detention center, where a suspected terror leader escaped Wednesday, watch a couple walk across an overhead bridge. 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. \|\|\|\|\| INTERPOL issues global alert for suspected terror leader following escape from Singapore jail 28 February 2008 Orange notice for Mas Selamat bin Kastari Mas Selamat bin Kastari escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on Wednesday 27 February where he was being held following his deportation from Indonesia to Singapore in February 2006. Following a request from Singapore, INTERPOL issued the Orange Notice - which includes Kastari’s photograph and fingerprints, essential elements to help law enforcement officers in their search and eventual verification of his identity when located and arrested – to each of its 186 National Central Bureaus (NCBs). “Singapore is clearly doing all that it can on a national level to locate this fugitive and through issuing an Orange Notice, INTERPOL and all of its member countries can support these efforts on an international scale,” said Executive Director of Police Services Jean-Michel Louboutin. The Orange Notice was originally created to warn police, public entities and other international organizations of potential threats related to disguised weapons, explosives and other dangerous materials; however it can also be issued by INTERPOL’s General Secretariat in Lyon, France for any act or event which poses a risk to the safety and security of citizens around the world.	Interpol has issued an "Orange Notice" for the leader of southeast Asian Jemaah Islamiyah, Mas Selamat bin Kastari, who escaped from a detention center Wednesday. Singapore Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng told his Parliament that a "security lapse" is what led to Mas Selamat's escape. While waiting to visit his family, Mas Selamat escaped from the Internal Security Department's Whitley Road detention facility shortly after 4 PM local time after being granted permission to use the washroom. The escape led to Mr. Wong apologizing for the incident and the beginning of an island-wide manhunt for Selamat. "When it comes to escapes, the first hours are crucial," said Jean-Michel Louboutin, Interpol's executive director of police services. "The state of Singapore has put into operation everything that's needed to be done. It's a small country, so it's easy to cross and leave." Selamat, a 47-year-old former bus mechanic and a father of 5, was once accused of plotting to hijack a plane and crash it into Singapore's international airport. He is "someone who presents a potential physical danger to others, but also a potential danger by organizing future bombings," Louboutin said. Mas Selamat bin Kastari, a Singaporean national of Indonesian birth and extraction, stands 158 cm (about 5 feet 2 1/4 inches) tall and walks with a limp in his left leg. After the "Orange Notice" was released, Mas Selamat's picture and fingerprints were released to Interpol's 186 member countries. He remains at large.
Leap of faith for live Honda advert Channel 4 has staged a live television advert involving an ambitious sky diving jump. The commercial was screened during the channel's dinner party series Come Dine With Me. The sky divers were given only three minutes and 20 seconds to spell out a message to viewers in a series of challenging formations over Madrid. The advert, inspired by Honda's strapline "If it's difficult it's worth doing" was a precursor to the car manufacturer's new advertising campaign, beginning on June 1. The idea was developed by Channel 4's strategic sales team, led by Mike Parker, and 4creative for Honda. Mr Parker said: "Honda is walking the talk with this ad launch; it is bold, daring and very difficult." The team of expert sky divers included European champion Phil Curtis, four world champions and nine national sky diving champions. Andy Barnes, sales director, Channel 4, said: "This concept breaks the boundaries of the 'perceived' confines of TV advertising, which is something Channel 4 is striving to do." "Live" commercials have been particularly associated with the 1950s era. More recently, in 2006, what was billed as the first live theatrical advert was announced in a Visit London initiative starring Father Ted actress Pauline McLynn. \|\|\|\|\| The programmes that surround them might habitually rely on cliffhangers to maintain attention, but advert breaks are not normally known for their sense of jeopardy. That could all change tonight when Channel 4 and Honda stage the first ever live advert on British television, featuring a team of skydivers leaping out of a plane over Madrid. During the first ad break of the reality show Come Dine With Me at 8.10pm, the 19 skydivers will have three minutes and 20 seconds to spell out the word Honda, inspired by the car manufacturer's new advertising strapline: "Difficult is worth doing". Organisers were yesterday hoping the weather in Spain would hold as the team practised. "There will be no time delay and no CGI [computer-generated imagery]. If it works, people will know who it's for. If it doesn't, they won't," said Ian Armstrong, Honda's manager of customer communications. The stunt is a means of gaining publicity for Honda's new multi-million pound ad campaign, which features 45 skydivers promoting the Honda Accord by creating a series of shapes over the Mojave desert to reflect new features on the car. But it is also part of a wider drive by broadcasters to maintain the relevance of TV advertising in the era of fast-forward. Advertising agencies have been forced to raise their game in recent years, to get viewers' attention. Increased choice and viewer fragmentation, driven by the explosion in digital channels, have made advertising breaks easier than ever to avoid. "Time shifted" viewing via personal video recorders like Freeview Plus and Sky Plus has also made advertisers and their agencies work ever harder to prevent viewers skipping their commercials. "More people are watching television than ever before. But things are becoming more complicated. People have to want to watch something, you can't force them. People will navigate towards the good stuff and ignore the bad stuff," said Armstrong. The results can be seen in the spate of award winning "event" campaigns of recent years, including Sony Bravia's "balls" and "paint" adverts, Cadbury's Dairy Milk gorilla and Honda's "cog" campaign, which featured an intricate study in perpetual motion. "We always want to find clever ways of engaging with people and reaching people," said Honda's marketing and communications manager, Harry Cooklin, explaining how Channel 4's idea won out over 19 others. Channel 4's sales director, Andy Barnes, who like other broadcast executives is battling a looming advertising downturn, said the advert, which required special dispensation from the advertising watchdog, broke "the boundaries of the perceived confines of TV advertising". "We wanted to create something unmissable and what better way to produce something 'must see' than to stage the first live ad event on TV," he added. "It's about creating talkability on a big scale, managing the risk and being seen as pioneers for it." Channel 4's internal department dedicated to developing innovative ways of using the medium for advertisers has already been responsible for initiatives such as a "themed break" during Grand Designs Live for products known for their design, a "retro break" featuring new and old adverts during the channel's 25th birthday programming last year, and green themed breaks around the environmental season Dumped. Others claimed to have produced live ads, but Channel 4 said that all previous examples were broadcast "as live" rather than going out as they happened. In 2006, the online dating site Match.com booked a series of ad breaks during ITV's Celebrity Love Island. Members who won a competition to appear were filmed in ITV studios in front of a live audience making a plea for love to the watching millions. But the inserts went out on air 15 minutes later. Earlier that year, Ford ran a campaign featuring a "live" competition. Viewers were asked a question about the commercial and invited to enter a competition via the internet, telephone or text. Later in the evening, the advert ran again with a graphic announcing the winner. Television historians, of course, might argue that the first live adverts were on US television in the 1950s. All TV was live, and the camera would pan from game show contestants to the host, who would endorse a brand of soap powder or coffee that had helped fund the programme. Ad firsts First British TV ad Gibbs SR toothpaste (above) won a lottery to be the first advert at ITV's launch on September 22 1955. It was little more than a jerkily moving newspaper advert, spoken in received pronouciation. Bernard Levin wrote in the Manchester Guardian next day: "I feel neither depraved nor uplifted ... I have already forgotten the name of the toothpaste." First sponsorship Advertisers quickly latched on. The station clock became prime real estate, one cigarette manufacturer using it to proclaim: "Time to light a Red and White". This was banned in 1960. First ad-funded editorial content "Advertising magazines", banned in 1963, were designed to spin a loose narrative linking several products. The most famous was Jim's Inn. First colour commercial Aired in 1969, the first colour commercial was for Birds Eye frozen peas. First interactive ads Mazda launched the first "interactive" ads, which viewers recorded to find a competition answer. In 2000, the first "red button" ad allowed Sky viewers to order a voucher for a free jar of Chicken Tonight cooking sauce. Source: National Media Museum	The letter 'o' being formed in the advert The first ever live advert to be shown on British television was Broadcast today on Channel 4 at 19:10 UTC. The advert, created by car manufacturer Honda, showed people jumping from the sky and forming the individual letters of the word ''HONDA'' as a group while falling. The image on the left shows the letter 'O' being formed in this way. The sales director at Channel Four commented on the advert: "This concept breaks the boundaries of the 'perceived' confines of TV advertising, which is something Channel 4 is striving to do." Before being shown, the advert was promoted on Channel 4. Directly before it, an announcer explained the event, saying why Channel 4 believed it to be a groundbreaking innovation. Honda aimed to link the new advert with its new slogan, "If it's difficult it's worth doing." The advert was broadcast from Spain, where it was 21:10 at the time of filming.
Peter Porter's career was studded with accolades Peter Porter, a winner of both the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry and the Forward Prize, has died at the age of 81 after being treated for cancer. The Australian-born poet, who moved to England in 1951, worked as a bookseller while he developed his literary career. His first collection, Once Bitten, Twice Bitten, was published in 1961. He won the Forward Prize, the UK's biggest annual award, for Max Is Missing in 2002, the same year he was honoured with the Queen's Medal. In 1968, he became a full-time poet, journalist, reviewer and broadcaster. His 1978 anthology The Cost of Seriousness, written after the death of his first wife in 1974, was regarded by critics as his best. His 2004 collection Afterburner was shortlisted for the TS Eliot prize, while last year's Better Than God was shortlisted for the 2009 Forward Prize. Following his Forward Prize win, judge and National Poetry Day founder William Sieghart described Porter as "one of the most distinguished poets at work in Britain today". Mr Sieghart described Max Is Missing as "contemporary, witty, urbane and vibrant". \|\|\|\|\| The poet Peter Porter has died this afternoon, aged 81, after struggling over the past year with liver cancer. Hailed by his friend and colleague Anthony Thwaite as "one of the finest poets of our time", Porter was a prolific writer, who combined erudition, sophistication and a human touch to produce a series of marvellous collections stretching over five decades. Born in Brisbane, Australia in 1929, he came to London in 1951, working as a bookseller and in advertising before writing on poetry for the Observer. According to Thwaite, Porter "never quite knew where he belonged". "In Australia he was considered English, and in England he was considered Australian," Thwaite explained. "He sort of floated." Porter published his first collection of poems, Once Bitten, Twice Bitten, in 1961, already demonstrating the ingenuity and charm which came to typify his work. He found critical acclaim in 1978 with The Cost of Seriousness, a collection written after the suicide of his wife in 1974. In it, he examines whether art can wield any power over death and despair, suggesting that "it can only make gestures" in the face of "real pain". A string of prizes followed, including the Duff Cooper prize, the Whitbread poetry award, the Queen's Gold Medal for poetry, and the Forward prize in 2001, for Max is Missing. The editor of Poetry Review, Fiona Sampson, paid tribute to his "marvellously furnished mind" and called him "a tremendously generous presence in British poetry, not only because of his integrity, but also because of the range of his own work". He was "an enormous role model", she continued, who demonstrated how a "love of music and visual art and poetry could be brought to bear to produce magnificent poems". His most recent collection, 2009's Better Than God, was hailed in the Guardian as "a densely fleshed book by a poet at the height of his powers". A selection of his poetry is due to be published by Picador next month.	, an Australian-born British poet, has died at the age of 81 after suffering from for a year. The poet was born in Brisbane, Australia in 1929 and moved to London, England in 1951. His first collection of works, entitled "Once Bitten, Twice Bitten", was first published in 1961. He went on to become a broadcaster, reviewer, journalist and a full-time poet in the year 1968. Porter created "The Cost of Seriousness" in 1978, after his first wife committed suicide in 1974. Some of the prizes he won for his creations included the Duff Cooper prize, the Forward prize — for "Max is Missing" — the Whitbread poetry award and the Queen's Gold Medal for poetry. "Afterburner", created by Peter in 2004, was also shortlisted for a . One of his latest collections, "Better than God", was on the shortlist for the Forward Prize in 2009. , another English poet, a friend and a colleauge to Peter Porter, stated that he "never quite knew where he belonged". He stated: "In Australia he was considered English, and in England he was considered Australian. He sort of floated." Thwaite would describe Porter as "one of the finest poets of our time".

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