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First the Greek-owned MV Nipayia, a 9,000-tonne tanker with a crew of 19, was seized on Wednesday. Then the 23,000 MV Bow-Asir, a Norwegian-owned chemicals and oil tanker with 23 people on board, was captured earlyon Thursday off the Somali port of Kismayo, infamous as a pirates' haven. More than 130 merchant ships were attacked in the area in 2008, according to the International Maritime Bureau, with most of them eventually being freed, along with their crew, after ransoms were paid. Attacks on shipping had decreased slightly since the beginning of the year, after the high-profile seizure of the Sirius Star, an enormous tanker more than 1,000 feet long and with a capacity of more than two million barrels of oil. The ship was released in January after a ransom was handed over, but the incident coincided with the deployment of an EU antipiracy naval mission, along with an increased presence in the area by the US Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahrain. Nonetheless the double seizure shows the difficulty of securing a vast area of open ocean, despite its being one of the world's most important trade routes. In the wake of the Sirius Star takeover, and with insurance premiums rising, a number of shipping companies said they were ordering their vessels to avoid the area, sailing all the way around Africa rather than passing through the Suez Canal on their way to and from Europe. The move inevitably put up the costs of transporting goods, which will ultimately be paid for by European consumers. \|\|\|\|\| March 26, 2009 Two more tanker hijackings NATO reported earlier today that there have been five piracy incidents over the last 24 hours, including two tanker hijackings. The most recent reported hijacking is that of the MT BOW ASIR taken at 0745 GMT in position 02 26' S - 048 11'E. According to the Equasis data base, BOW ASIR is a 1982-built, 14,627 gt Bahamas-flag chemical tanker owned by Star Tankers Ltd. of the Isle of Man and managed by Norway's Salhus Shipping AS The MT NIPAYIA was hijacked yesterday. There are 19 crew on board. According to the Equasis data base, the ship is a Panama flagged. 5,357 gt chemical/oil products tanker managed by Lotus Shipping of Athens. The ship is understood to have been captured 380 miles off Hobyo. In an earlier incident noted by NATO, Somali pirates hijacked a yacht with two people on board after it left the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelless state broadcaster reported Wednesday (25 March). A government employee familiar with the case told The Associated Press that the vessel Serenity, with two crew from the Seychelles on board, disappeared after it left the islands Feb. 28 en route to Madagascar. It is unclear when the ship was seized. There were also several unsuccessful attacks yesterday. Yesterday at 0907 GMT, the MV EXPLORER III and the MV OCEAN EXPLORER reported that they were both being chased by two small boats. The EXPLORER III and the OCEAN EXPLORER increased speed, putting distance between them and the two small boats. Yesterday at 2055 GMT, The MV FD GENNARO AURILIA reported a suspicious fishing boat approaching. The Master raised the alarm, increased speed and called for assistance from coalition warships. Fishing boat switched off its light and moved away.	Pirates in Somalia have seized two European tankers within twenty-four hours. In the same time frame three other vessels escaped and a yacht which disappeared after departing the Seychelles has been reported as hijacked. Yesterday MV ''Nipayia'', a 9,000-ton tanker owned by Athens, Greece-based Lotus Shipping and flagged in Panama, was seized. The vessel has eighteen crew members from the Philippines and a captain from Russia. She was hijacked 380 miles from Hobyo. Early today the MV ''Bow Asir'', a 23,000-ton oil and chemicals tanker, was also seized in the same area, a 750,000 square mile ocean expanse near the Gulf of Aden. The vessel is owned by the Isle of Man's Star Tankers and is managed by Norwegian firm Salhus Shipping. There are conflicting crew numbers of 23 or 27 crew on board, but it is known that five of these are Polish and the captain is Russian. Salhus was alerted at 0729GMT by the Bahamas-flagged ship that two small boats were chasing the vessel; at 0745GMT another message said they had boarded and three hours later an email confirmed the ship had been seized. There are sixteen to eighteen pirates on board, armed with machine guns. The Seychelles' state broadcaster reported yesterday that a small yacht from the islands is thought to have been seized. The ''Serenity'', with two people from the Seychelles on board, departed the nation on February 28 and headed into the Indian Ocean. The ship never arrived at her destination of Madagascar. Nothing has been heard from the ship since she left port. Three other ships were also targeted in two separate failed attacks yesterday. At 0907GMT MV ''Explorer III'' and MV ''Ocean Explorer'' stated that two small boats were chasing them. The ships were able to outrun the pirates. Later, at 2055GMT, the MV ''FD Gennaro Aurilia'' increased speed after a fishing boat began to approach. The master radioed nearby warships for help, after which the boat turned off its light and retreated.
Professor Steve Molyneux, 54, was reported for putting the details on the social networking site by a colleague in February this year. He told fellow Twitterers on one occasion how he sat "In the Gods passing sentence on the criminal fraternity". Another time he wrote "Just keeping up whilst I'm (sic) court deciding on sentence. Sad or what?". But the former Microsoft professor at Wolverhampton University was ordered before chairman of the bench Glyn Parry at a meeting on February 20 at Telford Magistrates Court. He agreed not to post on Twitter but when he returned from holiday a week later a letter was waiting at his home. The Shropshire Advisory Committee had written to him to tell him they wanted to meet with him over his behaviour. It proved to be the final straw for the magistrate, who then resigned, claiming he considered being reported by a colleague a breach of trust. He said all he had been trying to do was publicise what went on in the courts. He stressed he never posted online while a hearing was in session or in an actual courtroom, instead using the retiring room for Twitter. He said: "I haven't done anything wrong, I have served the community for 16 years for free and then this happens. "I don't understand why a fellow magistrate would do anything like this to me. "The powers that be have totally overreacted to this by about 300 per cent, they probably don't even understand the technology. "What happened was I do have a following on Twitter and I use the technology to communicate and on one occasion I was sitting in Ludlow Magistrates Court. "I did write the comment about sitting with the Gods, but I was referring to the height I was sitting at, not anything other than that. "Another time I did send out a tweet just saying I was dealing with a remand case involving those accused of a local robbery. "But all I ever did was mention what was said in open court and nothing that could prejudice a case or anything like that. "I actually only reported what was happening in a case once, with only about five court-related Tweets other than that." Social networking craze Twitter has exploded in popularity in recent months with over millions of users posting their every move online. It has proved popular with a slew of celebrity supporters, including US President Barack Obama, Jonathan Ross, Stephen Fry and Russell Brand. Prof Molyneux said he thought details of court cases should be posted online to give the public a better understanding of the law. He said: "I would love to see a system where the courts are published online. "The very fact that a colleague has done this to me makes me very sad indeed. "I'm devastated not to be able to be a magistrate anymore because it's something I felt proud of doing within the community. "All I thought was that by reporting certain things I would help get younger magistrates." \|\|\|\|\| A leading Telford magistrate and former Oakengates mayor has quit the bench after being reported for posting details of cases he dealt with on the Twitter social networking site. Professor Steve Molyneux, an expert in the uses of information technology and a magistrate for 16 years, told fellow Twitterers on one occasion how he sat “in the Gods passing sentence on the criminal fraternity”. Earlier the same day he wrote: “Just keeping up whilst I’m court deciding on sentence. Sad or what?” Some of Prof Molyneux’s comments Awaiting court listing. Looks like I am hearing remand cases today. Hopefully interesting cases. What a nightmare drive home last night. Five hours of torture. Sentencing in Ludlow all day today. A lot of motoring and shoplifting offences! Home at last. What a day! Ludlow courthouse is ancient. We sit in the Gods passing sentence on the criminal fraternity. Just keeping up whilst I’m court deciding on sentence. Sad or what. Finished hearing bail. Three refused for planning robbery of £480,000 from TSB in Dawley, Telford. First defendant. Conspiracy to rob TSB of £500,000. Good start - wrong previous convictions presented. Just about to hear application from three robbers from Manchester as to whether to remand or not. Called into court today to deal with those arrested last night and held in custody. I guess they will be mostly drunks but you never know. I have resigned after 16 years as a Magistrate due to my policy of wanting to report outcome of cases to the public on Twitter. All I mentioned what the same that was said in Open court. A fellow magistrate thought it was unethical and complained. The posting which landed him in hot water, however, and led to his resignation as a magistrate concerned a bail application he dealt with for three men accused of robbing Lloyds TSB in Dawley. Prof Molyneux, who lives in Oakengates and signs himself Profontheprowl on the Twitter site, wrote: “First defendant. Conspiracy to rob TSB of £500,000. Good start – wrong previous convictions presented.” He added later: “Finished hearing bail. Three refused for planning robbery of £480,000 from TSB in Dawley.” A fellow magistrate discovered the 54-year-old’s Twitterings and complained. The matter was passed to Glyn Parry, chairman of the Telford bench. Prof Molyneux then went on a lecture tour of the United States, but returned to find a letter informing him that the matter had been passed to the Shropshire Justices Advisory Committee. He handed in his resignation after learning how far things had gone. He said: “I did nothing wrong, I did nothing illegal. I didn’t mention any names or write about anything in the retiring room. All I wrote was in the public domain already.” Prof Molyneux said his mention of “the Gods” was a reference to the architecture of Ludlow court where the magistrates sit very high up, and stressed no “Tweeting” was done in court. In a message to Shropshire Star readers he said: “I believe that everyone overreacted – time for you to decide on what I did was wrong or not.” Neither Mr Parry nor anyone from the Shropshire Justices Advisory Committee was available to comment today. By Simon Hardy \|\|\|\|\| Mr Molyneux argues the judicial system needs to embrace new technology A magistrate has resigned from the bench following a complaint about his use of the Twitter network. IT consultant Steve Molyneux, from Telford, Shropshire, posted messages on the social networking site about cases at the town's magistrates' court. He said everything he reported on Twitter had already been said in open court and he had done nothing illegal. Mr Molyneux said he had been making use of the latest technology to bring "transparency" to the judicial system. The people who read the Twitter read the same thing in the newspaper that evening Steve Molyneux Former magistrate Mr Molyneux, a magistrate for 16 years, said he chose to resign after an individual within the court system lodged a complaint. "I think things have escalated out of control," he said. "I was using the technology after hearing a remand case just to inform local people and others that follow me in my role of magistrate and didn't think I'd done anything wrong. "I didn't prejudice a case, I didn't do anything like that." 'Seeing justice' He later told BBC Radio Five Live that he accepted he had to be "careful of the language" he used, but did not accept he should not use the technology. In fact, he argued, his feed was providing people with a service. "I use it to communicate with the public. The people who read the Twitter read the same thing in the newspaper that evening. "The fact [is] I used a piece of technology that allowed others [to know about the case outcome] that may not have read the local newspaper but were just as interested. I saw no harm in it." He said he believed the judicial system needed to embrace technology to ensure transparency so that the public could see "justice has been done". Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Stephen Molyneux Stephen Molyneux has resigned from his post of Justice of the Peace in Shropshire, England, after a fellow magistrate reported him for posting messages about a case on the social networking website Twitter. Professor Molyneux, an IT consultant and former mayor of Oakengates, tweeted information about bail applications on an armed robbery case. He wrote 'just about to hear application from 3 robbers from Manchster as to whether to remand or not', '1st defendant. Conspiricy sic to rob TSB of £500,000. Good start - wrong previous convictions presented' and 'finished hearing bail. 3 refused for planning robbery of £480,000 from Tsb sic in Dawley, Telford'. Molyneux claimed nothing that he said could have prejudiced a case and he only mentioned what had been discussed in open court. He also claimed he was trying to make the criminal justice system seem more transparent. He also stated he had never tweeted whilst in court, but only in the retiring room. He resigned after he received a letter from the Shropshire Advisory Committee, which requested a meeting.
Passengers whose flights are cancelled may get compensation New EU rules set compensation at between 250 euros (£173) and 600 euros, depending on the length of the flight. The new rules will apply to all scheduled and charter flights, including budget airlines. Airlines have attacked the legislation saying they could be forced to push prices higher to cover the extra cost. The European Commission is facing two legal challenges - one from the European Low-fare Airlines Association (ELFAA) and the other from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which has attacked the package as a "bad piece of legislation". Previously, passengers could claim 150-300 euros if they had been stopped from boarding. However, only scheduled flight operators were obliged to offer compensation in cases of overbooking and they did not have to offer compensation for flight cancellations. Deter overbooking The EU decided to increase passenger compensation in a bid to deter airlines from deliberately overbooking flights. Overbooking can often lead to "bumping" - when a passenger is moved to a later flight. When this happens against a passenger's will, airlines will now have to offer compensation. In addition, if a flight is cancelled or delayed for more than two hours through the fault of the airline, all passengers must be compensated. The boom in air travel needs to be accompanied by proper protection of passengers' right Jacques Barrot, vice president of the European Commission Q&A;: New passenger rights However, airlines do not have to offer compensation if flights are cancelled or delayed due to "extraordinary circumstances". Airlines fear that "extraordinary circumstances" may not include bad weather, security alerts or strikes - events which are outside of their control. All EU-based airlines and operators of flights which take off from the EU will have to adhere to the new compensation regime which came into force on Thursday. Low-cost airlines have criticised the new compensation levels, arguing that the pay-out could be worth more than the ticket. "It's a preposterous piece of legislation, we among all airlines are fighting this," Ryanair deputy chief executive Michael Cawley told Radio 4's Today programme. Grey area The European Regions Airline Association (ERAA) claims that neither airlines nor consumers were consulted over the changes. Andy Clarke, ERAA director of air transport, said that the European Commission advice misleads customers as it leads them to believe that airlines could be liable for payouts if flights are delayed because of bad weather. We reckon [the changes] are going to cost European air passengers... 1.5bn euros, that's over £1bn a year loaded onto European passengers Andy Clarke, ERAA Airlines' wings clipped European Commission spokeswoman Marja Quillinan-Meiland conceded there were "grey areas" but said "these are not as big as the airlines are making out". In cases of dispute, national enforcement bodies would decide whether the passenger had a case, she said. New technology means it is easier for airlines to take off and land in bad weather, she added. The ERAA's Mr Clarke also warned that while airlines would comply with the new rules, the extra costs would be passed onto passengers. "We reckon it's going to cost European air passengers - not the airlines, the airlines have no money, it has to be paid by passengers - 1.5bn euros, that's over £1bn a year loaded onto European passengers," Mr Clarke said. "That's basically a transfer of money from passengers whose journeys are not disrupted to passengers whose journeys are disrupted." On Wednesday, Jacques Barrot, vice president of the European Commission and also Commissioner for Transport, said that the changes were necessary. "The boom in air travel needs to be accompanied by proper protection of passengers' rights. "This is a concrete example of how the Union benefits people's daily lives." The Commission has launched an information campaign in airports and travel agencies to inform airline passengers of their new rights. Replies to readers' questions from the Air Transport Users' Council will be published as soon as possible. \|\|\|\|\| The rules, which came into force yesterday, apply to all scheduled and charter flights. They set compensation for overbooking at between €250 (£173) and €600 (£414), depending on the length of the flight. Companies will now also have to provide free meals, refreshments, free phone calls and hotel accommodation if the delay continues overnight. Airlines failing to comply will face fines of up to £5,000 a passenger, with the Civil Aviation Authority responsible for sorting out any complaints affecting UK carriers. Low-cost operators have agreed to abide by the regulations, but say they are being unfairly targeted. Europe's biggest budget airlines, easyJet and Ryanair, say they never overbook, and that the new rules could mean they are forced to pay up to six times the value of a discount airfare. EasyJet said compensation should be proportionate to the fare paid. Its chief executive, Ray Webster, said: "What started as a good piece of legislation to prevent traditional airlines bumping off passengers through overbooking has become a bad piece of legislation and will cause unnecessary confusion and conflict between airlines and their customers." Jan Skeels, the secretary-general of the European Low-Fares Airlines Association (ELAA), which is mounting a legal challenge to the regulations, said airlines would be forced into a fundamental rethink of their operations. "Passengers will realise after a while that a route they fly on quite often is no longer viable," he said. The ELAA and the International Air Transport Association have challenged the new regulations and expect a ruling from the European court of justice in September or October. British Airways has also questioned the need for the regulations. A spokeswoman said last night: "We already offer generous compensation and provide care and assistance for passengers so the level of compensation seems to have risen disproportionately." But she said that BA would not put up its prices and had no plans for legal action. James Fremantle, an adviser at the Air Transport Users Council, dismissed suggestions that the rules would lead airlines to raise their fares. "Airlines have said that this will push up prices but we don't believe this," he said. "There is too much competition out there. "We are not concerned that passengers will lose out. They will only benefit by getting compensation and benefits when they are inconvenienced."	Airlines have attacked new EU legislation which will force them to pay greater compensation to customers in the event of overbooking, cancellations and delays. Consumer groups have praised the new rules, which set the level of compensation between €250 and €600 depending on the circumstances and the length of the flight. "This is some comeback for passengers who have been inconvenienced," James Fremantle, industry affairs adviser for the Air Transport Users Council, told Reuters. Before this legislation came into effect, passengers "bumped" from a flight could claim between €150 and €300. The new rules apply to all scheduled and chartered flights. Previously only scheduled flight operators were obliged to offer compensation in cases of overbooking— they did not have to extend compensation to travellers affected by flight cancellations. Low cost airlines have criticised the new compensation levels arguing that the compensation paid will exceed the price of the ticket. The effort by the EU is to discourage airlines from deliberately overbooking flights, a practice which has become routine for most major airlines. Overbooking often leads to "bumping", where passengers who cannot be guaranteed a seat are moved to a later flight. In future when this happens airlines will have to offer compensation. Additionally, if flights are cancelled or delayed by more than two hours all passengers must be compensated. This will be the case except in "extraordinary circumstances", the definition of which may or may not include bad weather, security alerts or strikes. "It's a preposterous piece of legislation, we among all airlines are fighting this," Ryanair deputy chief executive, Michael Cawley told BBC radio 4's Today programme. It has also been claimed that the advice may mislead customers by having them believe that they may be entitled to compensation if flights are delayed due to bad weather. Marja Quillinan-Meiland, European Commission spokeswoman has said that there are "grey areas" but added "these are not as big as the airlines are making out." Disputed cases would be heard by national enforcement bodies which would decide if there is a case to answer. European Regions Airline Association (ERAA) director of air transport Andy Clarke said "we reckon it's going to cost European air passengers – not the airlines, the airlines have no money, it has to be paid by the passengers – 1.5bn euros, that's over £1bn a year loaded onto European passengers. That's basically a transfer of money from passengers whose journeys are not disrupted to passengers whose journeys are disrupted." These extra costs may also lead to carriers cancelling routes to areas that have been identified as problem destinations. The European Low-Fares Association (ELFA) is mounting a legal challenge to the laws. ELFA and International Air Transport Association expect a ruling from the European Court of Justice in fall of 2005, until then airlines have said they will comply with the regulations.
Two-hour gunfight leaves 16 cartel gunmen, 2 Mexican soldiers dead in bloody Acapulco hostage fight Vargas/Getty Mexican gang members are seen handcuffed in police custody early on June 7, 2009 in Acapulco, Mexico, after soldiers clashed with members of an organized crime syndicate on the night of June 6. Sixteen drug cartel hitmen and two Mexican soldiers were killed in a two-hour gun battle near the heart of Acapulco Saturday night as terrified travelers cowered in their rooms nearby. The Mexican Army encountered a barrage of bullets and grenades at a home in the tourist-heavy city after acting on a tip that there was trouble inside. At one point, more armed men with grenades arrived by car to reinforce the gunmen, but they were killed in the shootout before they could make it inside. Several other shooters tried to flee as soldiers moved in on the house, but they crashed into a military Hummer that was blocking the gate. After the fight, troops seized an alarming arsenal: 36 rifles, 13 shotguns, two hand grenades, 13 fragmentation hand grenades, 3,525 cartridges, 180 magazines and eight vehicles, the Army said. Three soldiers and three bystanders were hurt and many tourists were evacuated from small hotels in a faded neighborhood once frequented by Hollywood stars. The gun battle raged just blocks from a residence owned decades ago by the late "Tarzan" actor Johnny Weissmuller and about 100 yards from Hotel Los Flamingos, owned in the 1950s by John Wayne. The hotel is still popular with older American tourists. When the shooting subsided, several frightened people were evacuated by ambulance, including 15 Mexican tourists from a small hotel, a family of four from another hotel, a pregnant woman with her mother from their home, and an elderly man. Soldiers found four state police officers inside the garage of the house after the fighting stopped. It was unclear if they were hostages, as they claimed, or part of the drug gang. Mexican President Felipe Calderon has staked his presidency on crushing drug gangs whose turf wars have killed about 2,300 people so far this year. Some 45,000 troops and federal police have been deployed across the country to fight the drug war. Rival drug gangs fought over territory in Acapulco, on the Pacific Coast, several years ago but the resort town has been relatively free of drug violence in recent years. With News Wire Services \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Eighteen people, including two soldiers, were killed Saturday in a gunbattle between the Mexican army and organized-crime suspects in the Mexican resort town of Acapulco, the Mexican Ministry of Defense said Sunday. Mexican soldiers hold rifles Saturday during a clash with organized-crime suspects in Acapulco. The incident began about 7 p.m., when the soldiers went to a location called Avenida Rancho Grande in Acapulco "to exploit information obtained through an anonymous tip," the ministry said in a statement. The soldiers were met by gunfire, it said. Five people were arrested in connection with the shootout. Two soldiers and 16 gunmen were killed, and nine soldiers were wounded, the statement said. The gunmen were not identified, but the statement called them "members of organized crime." Authorities seized 36 large-caliber weapons, 13 small-caliber weapons, two grenade launchers, 13 fragmentation grenades, 3,525 rounds of various caliber ammunition, 180 charges and eight vehicles, the ministry said. CNN's Arthur Brice and CNN en Español's Luisa Calad contributed to this report. All About Acapulco • Mexico \|\|\|\|\| As if Mexican tourism needed more bad news, a weekend shootout left 18 gunmen and soldiers dead in Acapulco, the iconic if faded beach resort that has been working on a comeback in recent years. The hours-long gunfight Saturday night took place in a seaside neighborhood of homes and cut-rate hotels that is mainly frequented by Mexicans and sits several miles from the main strip of tourist complexes. Some guests were reportedly evacuated from nearby hotels, but no tourists were known to have been caught in the crossfire. But the specter of Mexico's drug war spilling into one of the country's best-known resort spots is a fresh blow to a tourism industry that has been hit hard by a swine-flu outbreak and previous worries about escalating drug-related violence. The area where Saturday's shootout took place is home to budget motels and establishments whose glory peaked decades ago. The zone offers scenic views and was once favored by Hollywood stars such as "Tarzan" actor Johnny Weissmuller, who co-owned Los Flamingos Hotel with John Wayne. Gunfire could be heard some distance away at the Hotel Paraiso. "Yes, there was fear on the part of some guests because even though the shooting was not close to our facilities, shots could be heard. And you could see a lot of movement of soldiers," hotel spokesman Ruben Morales said. "That frightened people who live here and tourists, of course." The gun battle began after army officials received an anonymous tip, according to a military statement. Troops came under fire when they arrived at a house in the western section of the resort city, the statement said. The army said 16 gunmen and two soldiers died during the gunfight. Some news media reports said the gunmen belonged to the Beltran Leyva drug-trafficking gang, based in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, but they could not be immediately confirmed. Soldiers later recovered 49 rifles and handguns, 13 grenades and two grenade launchers, the army said. The cache held more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Media accounts said an army colonel escorted reporters to the house after the shootout. Inside were four handcuffed officers from the Guerrero state police who said they had been kidnapped, the Associated Press reported. The colonel, who wore a mask and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the army had not confirmed their account. The Acapulco area has seen scattered drug-related violence, though it is not a key battleground in the Mexican government's war against drug cartels. But coastal Guerrero state is a well-used route for smuggling illegal drugs from South America toward their main market in the United States and has been the scene of regular clashes between rival drug traffickers. Tourism has taken a beating after the outbreak in late April of the H1N1 flu virus, which shut down much of the country for weeks and scared off many would-be visitors. Tourism Minister Rodolfo Elizondo said the downturn due to the flu could cost Mexico 100,000 jobs and $4 billion this year. The flu episode only aggravated damage caused by travelers' concerns over drug-related violence that has killed more than 10,000 people since December 2006, when President Felipe Calderon announced a crackdown on organized crime. Mexico's tourism promoters have sought to allay fears by contending that despite frequent killings in hot spots along the U.S. border, the county's main resorts are safe. They have also offered discounts on hotels to lure travelers back after the flu outbreak. ken.ellingwood@latimes.com Cecilia Sánchez of The Times' Mexico City Bureau contributed to this report.	AK-47 assault rifle similar to the ones use in the battle A two-hour gun battle which began at 7 p.m. local time between the Mexican Army and drug hitmen ended in 18 fatalities at the Mexican holiday resort of Acapulco on Saturday. Two soldiers and 16 gunmen were killed in the battle. The army was dispatched to follow up on an anonymous tip and were met by drug hitmen lobbing hand grenades and firing AK-47 type rifles. "There were grenade and rocket explosions, and weapons like AK-47s. The fight lasted almost two hours," said an observer. Reinforcements who attempted to join the gunmen in the house were killed by army personnel. Gunmen attempting to flee from the gun battle were prevented doing so by a military Hummer. Following the battle, the army seized a huge arsenal of 36 large caliber rifles, 13 small-caliber shotguns, two grenade launchers, 13 hand grenades, 3,525 rounds of ammunition, 180 magazine charges and eight vehicles. Five people were placed under arrest. Between three and nine soldiers were injured along with three bystanders. 22 people were evacuated from the area following the battle including tourists, a family, the elderly, and a pregnant woman. Four Guerrero state police were found in the garage of the property who claim they had been kidnapped and held hostage. A colonel reported anonymously that their account was not confirmed. Local media reported that the gunmen were a part of the Beltran Leyva drug-trafficking gang who belong to the Sinaloa Cartel. Drug related violence has damaged tourism to the beach front resort city as well as economic investment in the area. The recent H1N1 flu virus outbreak in Mexico which caused 89 deaths, the wearing of masks, school closures and an airport quarantine cost billions of dollars in lost tourism dollars at the end of April. Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico Tourism destinations are offering discounted hotel rates to entice visiting tourists. Hotel Los Flamingos once owned by John Wayne and Tarzan's (Johnny Weissmuller) former home were neighboring tourism sites in the neighborhood of Saturday's gun battle. Acapulco, population over 600,000 is a city of the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Guerrero provides a main route for drug smugglers between South America and the United States. Mexico's president, Felipe Calderon, along with American President, Barack Obama, have initiated a crack down on drug gangs. Rival drug gang violence in Mexico has resulted in 2,300 fatalities in the first five months of this year.
Israeli Air Strike Kills 3 Palestinians in Gaza Israel's military confirmed that it carried out the raid, but it gave no additional details An Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip has killed three Palestinian militants hours after Israel's prime minister vowed an immediate response to attacks from the territory. Palestinian medics say Sunday's air strike killed three members of the Islamic Jihad group in central Gaza. Israel's military confirmed that it carried out the raid, but it gave no additional details. Earlier, Palestinian militants in Gaza fired several mortars toward southern Israel. It is not clear if they landed in Israeli territory. Palestinian medics also say two Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire in a separate incident Sunday in Gaza. Israel's military denied involvement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet Sunday that Israel will respond strongly to rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza, which have increased in recent days. Mr. Netanyahu's office also issued a statement accusing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of refusing to renew peace talks, despite what the Israeli leader called significant steps by Israel to advance the process. The Israeli leader was responding to a warning by U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell that Washington can apply financial pressure on Israel to revive peace talks. In an interview Wednesday with U.S. television network PBS, Mitchell said the Obama administration can withhold support on loan guarantees to Israel under U.S. law. Mitchell also said he prefers persuasion rather than sanctions in trying to get Israel and the Palestinians to negotiate. Palestinian President Abbas has insisted that Israel stop all construction on land the Palestinians claim for a state in East Jerusalem and the West Bank before talks can begin. Israel has received U.S. guarantees on billions of dollars of loans over the years, enabling the Jewish state to borrow money more cheaply. The administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush reduced its loan guarantees to Israel during the 2000s, in response to Israel's construction of a security barrier on occupied West Bank land. Mitchell's warning to Israel drew objections from two U.S. senators who were visiting Jerusalem Sunday - John McCain, a Republican, and Joe Lieberman, an Independent. Lieberman said any attempt by the Obama administration to deny Israel support "will not pass" Congress. In another development, Israeli forces demolished 14 Palestinian homes and other structures in the West Bank Sunday, saying they were built illegally on a military firing range. Palestinians say the demolitions have left at least 50 people homeless. Some information for this report was provided by Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| Israel last week distributed leaflets warning Gazans not to get close to their own border [AFP] Israel last week distributed leaflets warning Gazans not to get close to their own border [AFP] Two Palestinians have been shot dead by Israeli soldiers close to the northern border of the besieged Gaza Strip. Palestinian witnesses said that the men were collecting scrap metal when they were killed late on Saturday, but Israeli officials said they were fighters trying to launch rockets into Israel. The deaths came just days after Israel distributed leaflets warning the 1.5 million Gazans not to come within 300 metres of an internationally condemned border wall. But Israel has said there has been an increase in rocket and mortar attacks in recent weeks. On Wednesday, at least three Palestinians were killed after Israeli forces launched a series of air raids which it said were a response to Palestinian attacks. Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, told his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday that 20 mortar bombs and rockets had been fired at Israel in the last week. "I view this very seriously," he said. "The government's policy is clear, any shooting at our territory will receive an immediate and powerful response." Rocket and mortar attacks were also cited as the reason for Israel's 22-day offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which began in late December 2008 and left more than 1,300 Palestinians dead. Thirteen Israelis were killed during the conflict. \|\|\|\|\| Posted Mon, 01 Jul 2019 17:13:00 GMT by Samantha WaitesWe present some business ideas for those of you who think that the future is greener than the present- we can think of some who don't ---. The advice is general and does not apply exclusively to any one nation. Posted Mon, 29 Apr 2019 14:30:00 GMT by Jane GoodallWe use the tiger (this is a prime Siberian example) to show up our failure to conserve wild species, but while we monopolise all the food that animals require, we could remember that it is not only their conservation we urgently need to cover. It is also our own indulgences. Posted Wed, 05 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT by JW. DoweyHow can you describe the threats existing to species, both large and small? Using the highly-threatened primates, we can perhaps see how they have contrived to exist until the current time. Then we can better understand just how we can prevent factors simply wiping them from the face of the earth, often through ignorance, lack of care, prejudice and of course the universal profit motive. Conservation begins in our minds, but demands much more than that. Posted Wed, 12 Sep 2018 13:31:00 GMT by JW, DoweyWhat does that blue butterfly do when you are not watching. We still have to discover exactly how the Eurasian large blue exploits Myrmica ants, but many of its relatives are either cuckoos (eg. (Phengaris alcon), or outright predators like the AustralasianLiphyra brassolis larvae ,eating the whole brood of the green ants they live with. How did such diverse habits evolve? Well, start reading here. Posted Wed, 20 Jun 2018 08:35:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongFor several years, excitement has been building over the Atlantic presence of Manta birostris and Manta cf birostris/ this is the classification system trying to tell us of a potential new species that is related to genus Manta. Little progress has been made on this W. Atlantic species of oceanic manta, but it cant be long before we can confirm new knowledge of parenting and juvenile growth in at least the main species, which seems to live alongside the potential new manta. Posted Fri, 01 Jun 2018 12:10:00 GMT by Stefan RanstrandOcean plastic pollution could triple in a decade without action by the ocean economy. TOMRA CEO Stefan Ranstrand responds to the UK Governments Foresight Future of the Sea report and explains how container deposit schemes and sensor-based recycling sorting could provide a solution. Posted Wed, 02 May 2018 07:50:00 GMT by JW. DoweyLook at those modified wings and the bee antennae. But this is no stinger or biter. Its a clearwing moth, and you can find similar species near your own location worldwide. Its all about the mimic, and its model- in this case a generalised stingless bee. Trouble is, you wont find this guy. Good luck, but he seems to be almost extinct. One of those many new species that will disappear rapidly, just like many others that have been seen just as we destroy their habitat. Posted Wed, 04 Apr 2018 08:39:22 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThere is a songster we have missed. He sings far beneath the ice in the dark of a polar winter, so maybe its about time we listened to the incredible songs that this whale concocts every winter, every month and possibly each day! Posted Tue, 19 Dec 2017 11:15:00 GMT by Bobbi PetersonYou can deny climate change as much as you like. The evidence contradicts you. Any logical study takes account of scientific data which can be reproduced. That is the difference between media reports and the global warming reality. Here we have an up-to-date report on the state of one nation, with many others also recognising and acting on how to combat climate change in a coordinated global response. Posted Fri, 08 Dec 2017 12:30:00 GMT by JW.DoweyIUCN must be listened to, unless you are one of those who disregards any science on the grounds that it could be fake. Acting is the opposite to disinterest, but what can we do to counter the actions of great industries or the governments of large populations of people? The answer seems bland, but it proves individuals are always important. Posted Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:10:01 GMT by JW. DoweyFrom Myanmar, through the Congo to the Atlantic forests of Brazil, we are neglecting our rainforests, but temperate forests are also suffering, often from pest influences as global warming really takes hold in certain regions. How to help prevent a treeless future - as always, take these pieces of well-informed, well-rounded and interesting advice. Posted Tue, 26 Sep 2017 09:34:49 GMT by Dave ArmstrongWhere will you wander? The world may be becoming smaller but there are many spots to choose from if you love to explore. A new book reveals many possibilities for those who hanker after a getaway. Whether you imagine shivering in the Antarctic or sweltering in a swamp, this is the ideas factory for you. Posted Wed, 06 Sep 2017 07:15:00 GMT by JW.DoweyDoes the dog in your living room have any similarity to those wild species that we are losing from our savanna and forests? This new discovery of signalling a hunt could lead us to more understanding of much more than our domestic animals. The beauty of the painted dog lies in intricate behaviour and care systems which maintain a society we should envy. Posted Mon, 04 Sep 2017 14:58:01 GMT by Dave ArmstrongZero waste organisations have been spreading to many nations over the last 10 years. Now weve been asking the UK population just how much they care about waste. Posted Wed, 30 Aug 2017 09:45:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongFor the first time, two otters have a comparative study on their ability to learn from others in their clan. This could lead to study of more animals in this area, providing valuable evidence of evolutionary trends in sociability. Posted Tue, 29 Aug 2017 09:25:00 GMT by JW.DoweyHow can we fight the build-up of plastic on landfill, shores and in the middle of the ocean, as well as inside the fish we eat! Fashion can provide a small part of the answer with this new crowd-funded company called Asanox. Plus, you can actually go and pick up the plastic contaminating our best shorelines, alongside sas.org. Posted Mon, 28 Aug 2017 08:59:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongOCEANA are fishing closer to home on this occasion, hoping to catch governments and those who wish to destroy our precious, and decreasing stocks of habitats , fish and even sea grass, mud and bivalves. Posted Wed, 23 Aug 2017 09:25:00 GMT by JW. DoweyPeople wonder why and how hunted animals became the quieter beasts of burden and table fodder of modern times. Here is an interesting moment in time, 14,500 years ago as Jordanians hunted sheep and goats with simple bone and stone weapons, prior to their domestication. Posted Wed, 16 Aug 2017 07:45:00 GMT by TalatGreen web hosting is a simple, inexpensive step businesses can take to reduce the environmental impact of their websites. This is how it works... Posted Mon, 31 Jul 2017 08:59:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongXmas comes very early for us this year, with a tremendous guide to all our ancestors and their evolution into modern forms. You will need a subscription to Nature to read the details but we have the lowdown on the nitty-gritty of fishies and birdies too! 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.	Palestinian medical officials have said that two Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip were killed by gunfire from Israel on Saturday, according to security sources and Palestinian officials. According to witness reports, the men were collecting scrap metal when they were killed near the border; Israeli officials, however, said that the men were trying to shoot rockets into Israel. An Israeli military spokeswoman said that the army had nothing to do with the shooting. The head of Gaza's emergency and ambulance services, Mo'aweya Hassanein, said to media that ambulances were dispatched to the area, but were still waiting for permission from Israeli authorities to reach the scene. On Sunday, the IDF said in a statement that an Israeli Air Force craft attacked a terror cell preparing to fire projectiles from the southern Gaza Strip into Israel on Sunday evening. Palestinian medics and the IDF say Sunday's air strike killed three members of the Islamic Jihad group in central Gaza.
Article Not Available The article that you are trying to view is no longer available through this Web site. The content is copyrighted by the Associated Press, which requires NBCSanDiego.com to delete its stories two weeks after they are originally posted. \|\|\|\|\| We are unable to locate the page you requested. The page may have moved or may no longer be available. You may also want to try our search to locate news and information on MercuryNews.com. \|\|\|\|\| The blast happened at a karaoke bar on Jolo, an island hit by attacks by Abu Sayyaf Islamic rebels. US troops are on Jolo for counter-terrorism exercises. US military officials said that no US servicemen were among those hurt, and said planned exercises would continue. A spokesman said Abu Sayyaf, which has kidnapped Americans in the past, did have the capability to attack the bar. The blast happened at a temporary karaoke bar erected close to the gates of Jolo's army base, Brigadier General Alexander Aleo told the Reuters news agency. About 250 US troops are due to join Filipino units for annual exercises beginning on Monday. "We don't know who was behind the attack. But there's only one group capable of doing this - it's the Abu Sayyaf." Jolo has seen regular attacks by Abu Sayyaf in recent years, despite US-backed counter-insurgency efforts by the Philippine army.	An explosion has been reported near the gate of the Philippine army's 104th Brigade headquarters, inside a karaoke bar on southern Jolo Island. At least 20 people are reported to have been injured. According to witnesses, most of the wounded were female entertainers, and men who were drinking at the bar. U.S troops are encamped on the grounds for joint military exercises. Security is a major concern for these exercises, mainly due to the presence of the Abu Sayyaf guerilla group, which is related to Al-Qaeda, and is stationed about 580 miles south of Manila. Lt. Col. Mark Zimmer, a military spokesman said that no American deaths have been reported.
Malawi’s Bingu wa Mutharika takes oath of office in Blantyre, 22 May 2009 Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika has been inaugurated for a second term following his landslide victory in the country's presidential poll. He also led his party to victory in the parliamentary election. Mr. wa Mutharika took the oath of office administered by Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo in the presence of several African leaders and former president Bakili Muluzi, his one-time political friend who became his foe. Mr. wa Mutharika was proclaimed the winner with 93 percent of the voting districts declared, and nearly two-thirds of the votes counted in the presidential poll. The announcement came from Electoral Commission chairwoman Anastacia Msosa. "Therefore, declare Bingu otherwise known as Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika president of Democratic Progressive Party DPP, winner of the 2009 presidential elections," she said. Mr. wa Mutharika also led his party to victory in the race for the parliament but the final allocation of seats will be announced when counting is fully complete. Mr. wa Mutharika promised to continue with his popular agricultural subsidy program saying his aim is to make Malawi a hunger-free nation. "In the next five years my administration will continue to prioritize agriculture and food security. We will remain committed in ensuring that our current food production levels increase further to sustain the country's food self-sufficiency," he said. The president also promised to continue his fight against corruption which he said robs the poor. "My stance remains unwavering. I shall continue to fight corruption because it is evil. Corruption in whatever form or shape is an enemy to growth and prosperity because it robs the poor, and denies their legitimate right to development," he promised. The outcome of the election gives Mr. wa Mutharika and his party a clear mandate to govern and will likely end the crippling inertia in parliament which resulted when he split from his former party, the United Democratic Front. Mr. Muluzi, the leader of that party, has now promised to work with the new government. Observer groups declared the result a true reflection of the will of Malawi's voters but have criticized campaign practices that tilted the playing field in the favor of the DPP. In particular observers have all cited the failure by the state media to provide equitable access to all candidates and parties. Losing presidential candidate John Tembo of the Malawi Congress Party rejected the outcome of the poll, declaring there was widespread fraud. He snubbed the inauguration and has said he intends to challenge the outcome in the courts. \|\|\|\|\| The president is being sworn in for a second five-year term Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika has been sworn in for a second five-year term. During an inauguration ceremony attended by several regional leaders, Mr Mutharika said fighting corruption would continue to be a top priority. Earlier Malawi's election commission said he had won more than 2.7m votes, with nearest rival John Tembo taking nearly 1.3m. The opposition, which contests the results, boycotted the inauguration. During the ceremony in the main stadium in Blantyre, Mr Mutharika said: "I shall continue to fight corruption because it is evil... it robs the poor and denies them their legitimate right to a decent living." Presidents attending the event included Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, Zambia's Rupiya Banda, and Mozambique's Armando Guebuza. These elections have been rigged John Tembo Malawi Congress Party leader Bingu wa Mutharika: Leading man Q&A: Elections in Malawi The BBC's Raphael Tenthani at the event says the 50,000-capacity arena was packed full, with the official blue party colour of Mr Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) everywhere. DPP supporters sang "Moses Wa Lero", describing Mr Mutharika as a "modern-day Moses". Mr Mutharika, a 75-year-old former World Bank official, saw his DPP take the lion's share of parliamentary votes. Foreign concern Mr Mutharika's running mate Joyce Banda, becomes the first female vice-president in Malawi's history. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. International poll monitors said they were "extremely concerned" by what they called a lack of balanced coverage from state media during the campaign. Mr Tembo rejected the official results, telling reporters that they had been "rigged". But his opposition coalition partner, former President Bakili Muluzi, who had backed Mr Tembo after being himself barred from seeking a third term, congratulated Mr Mutharika. The poll followed a five-year feud between Mr Muluzi and his successor. Mr Mutharika was elected in 2004 but then fell out with Mr Muluzi, accusing his one-time backer of trying to stonewall his anti-corruption drive. Poverty, agriculture and health care are the big issues for Malawi, where two-thirds of the 14 million population lives on less than $1 a day and Aids has orphaned an estimated one million children. Your comments: The general feeling here in Malawi is that of jubilation. Many of us knew that Bingu would win but certainly not with a landslide victory. This was a protest vote. Not many Malawians would have wanted to go back to UDF or MCP rule. On the face of it and to every Malawian, it's clear that the country is on course to make considerable strides in development. Chivwiko, Blantyre, Malawi It is inevitable that John Tembo will attempt to muddy the water by disputing the election results, but the BBC should be clear that this is a very different situation to the recent polls in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Mutharika has enormous popular support, and has had the most successful economic, social and governance record of any Malawian president. We hope that his is able to use the new DPP legislative majority for the benefit of the Malawian people. Nick, Lilongwe, Malawi Malawi has once again renewed her reputation of being the Warm Heart of Africa, a shining beacon of African Democracy. When the World was in anticipation to witness electoral upheavals, now so much akin to the continent, Malawians have instead demonstrated that peace and tranquility can lace up elections in Africa when they turned out in large numbers to vote into Government a man who by any measure deserves to lead them for another 5-year term. Paul, Lilongwe, Malawi The fact is that Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika is a genuine winner of the elections. For the first time in the history of elections in Malawi, people have not voted on regional, tribal and religious lines. This is what has deceived Tembo into thinking that Bingu has rigged the elections. African leaders should come to terms with the bitter fact that in every presidential election there can only be one winner. I can describe this year's elections as the most successful in the history of Malawi. The whole electoral process was very transparent. No single incident of violence was reported on the voting day. Malawi's democracy is fast maturing. Malani, Nkhotakota, Malawi Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Bingu wa Mutharika, the president of the African country of Malawi, was inaugurated on Friday after having been reelected to a second five-year term. Bingu wa Mutharika at the World Economic Forum on Africa in 2008. The Malawian election commission had earlier reported that wa Mutharika had won the election, having taken 2.7 million votes, more than twice than the 1.3 million votes received by the second place contestant, John Tembo. In a statement at his inauguration ceremony, Mutharika said one of his highest priorities would be to battle with corruption. "My stance remains unwavering," he said. "I shall continue to fight corruption because it is evil. Corruption in whatever form or shape is an enemy to growth and prosperity because it robs the poor, and denies their legitimate right to development." He also promised to focus on food security and agriculture. "In the next five years my administration will continue to prioritize agriculture and food security," the president said. "We will remain committed in ensuring that our current food production levels increase further to sustain the country's food self-sufficiency." The opposition has contested the election results and boycotted the president's inauguration. "These elections have been rigged," opposition leader John Tembo said. He has said he will challenge the election's outcome in court.
By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - A small private plane crashed in the remote mountains of northeast Nepal on Wednesday, killing at least 18 people, mostly foreigners, airline and airport officials said. Twelve Germans and two Australians were among the dead. The rest were Nepalis. "There were 19 people on board," said Vinay Shakya, an official of Yeti Airlines, a domestic airline. A crew member survived and was taken to hospital in the capital Kathmandu by helicopter. The aircraft, a Twin Otter carrying 16 passengers and three crew, crashed shortly before it was due to land at Lukla, known as the gateway to Mount Everest, about 125 km (80 miles) northeast of Kathmandu. "According to initial reports we have it crashed before it was to land and caught fire," said Yagya Prasad Gautam, chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). "The accident was probably caused by a last minute change in the weather." The remote airport at Lukla was built in the 1960s by mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary to facilitate expeditions to Mount Everest and bring development to the impoverished area where the Sherpa community, known for their climbing skills, live. Nepal named the airport this year after Hillary and his climbing mate, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, as a tribute to the pair who climbed Everest first in 1953. Media reports said rescue workers and locals fought for two hours to put out the fire. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Plane crash in Nepal kills 18, official says KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A small airplane crashed and caught fire Wednesday as it tried to land in foggy weather at a tiny mountain airport near Mount Everest, killing 18 people, including 16 tourists from Germany, Australia and Nepal, officials said. Only one person, the pilot, survived. The 19-seat Yeti Airlines DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, which had taken off from the capital, Katmandu, snagged its wheels on a security fence during its landing at Lukla airport, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) from Mount Everest, said Mohan Adhikari, general manager of the Katmandu airport. The plane caught fire and came to a stop within the airport grounds, Adhikari said. He said 19 people were on board, including 12 German, two Australian and two Nepalese tourists. There were also three Nepalese crew members, including a pilot, co-pilot and flight attendant. The pilot was flown to Katmandu and hospitalized in critical condition though Vijay Shreshta, executive director of Yeti Airlines, said his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. The visibility at the airport was about 1,310 feet (400 meters), just enough for the aircraft's landing, he said. The tiny Lukla airport, little more than a runway carved from the side of the Himalayas at an altitude of 2,800 meters (9,200 feet), is an important jumping-off point for trekkers beginning their hikes and mountaineers heading to Everest. The walk takes several days from there to Mount Everest Base Camp. The airport is famous among travelers for its dramatic scenery, its stomach-lurching landings — and its occasional crashes. The end of the runway has a steep drop of a few hundred meters (feet). In 2005, nine passengers and three crew members survived a crash in a small Gorkha Airlines plane with minor injuries. \|\|\|\|\| The Tenzing-Hillary airport is used by trekkers and mountaineersa as a gateway to Nepal's Everest region Everest plane crash kills 18 tourists in Nepal KATHMANDU (AFP) — A passenger plane crashed on landing at a remote airfield in Nepal's Everest region on Wednesday, killing 18 people most of whom were German tourists, Nepalese officials said. The Yeti Airlines aircraft, flying from the capital Kathmandu to Lukla in eastern Nepal, burst into flames after crash-landing near the sloping runway in heavy cloud, witnesses reported. Of the 19 people on board, 14 were foreigners and five were Nepalese, and only one -- the Nepalese pilot of the Twin Otter plane -- survived, airport official Mohan Adhikari said. "There were 12 Germans and two Australians on the flight," said Adhikari. Officials earlier said the passenger manifest listed two of the tourists as Swiss, but they were later confirmed as Australian. Security staff and volunteers took two hours to extinguish the fire in the wreckage of the plane. Hundreds of tourists and residents from Lukla, 140 kilometres (90 miles) northeast of Kathmandu, watched the recovery operation, many in tears. "I saw the plane start its descent, then cloud came in and we heard a loud noise and saw flames," said Bijaya Pratap Singha, a tour manager. "We ran down to the end of the runway and saw everything was scattered and the plane was on fire." Local officials told reporters the crash had been due to heavy cloud. When the weather is clear, dozens of flights land every day at Lukla's Tenzing-Hillary airport, a gateway to Nepal's Everest region used by trekkers and mountaineers. The airport was earlier this year renamed after Mount Everest's first conquerors, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Just 20 metres (66 feet) wide and 550 metres long, its runway perches on a hillside at an angle of around 11 degrees and was built using funds from Hillary's Himalayan Trust. Fast moving weather patterns at the tiny airport -- which is 2,757 metres above sea level -- mean bad weather frequently halts operations. "We are devastated to hear of this accident," Ang Tsering Sherpa, the president of the Union of Asian Alpine Associations, told AFP. "In the season there are up to 50 flights per day into Lukla so the pilots are very used to landing there." Flights from Kathmandu to Lukla take just over half an hour. The pilot who survived Wednesday's crash was flown to an intensive care unit in Kathmandu, where doctors said he was in a stable condition. Yeti is a privately owned domestic airline founded in 1998 and which prides itself on running a service to many far-flung destinations across Nepal. It has previously provided essential transport links to national and international relief teams working in Nepal as well as carrying many tourists. The tourism trade is a major foreign currency earner for impoverished Nepal and since the end of a civil war in 2006 between the country's Maoists and the government, numbers of visitors have increased. This year around 500,000 tourists are expected, the highest number since 1999, with many coming to trek in the stunning Himalayan mountains that form Nepal's northern border with Chinese-controlled Tibet. The Everest Base Camp trek -- where tourists fly into Lukla and walk for around two weeks -- is one of the most popular routes.	a DHC-6 Twin Otter, similar to the one that crashed. A passenger plane carrying tourists, has crash-landed at an airport near Mount Everest killing 18 of the 19 people on board. Of those killed were 12 German, two Australian and two Nepalese tourists. The remaining three were the plane's crew who were of Nepalese decent. The only survivor was the pilot-in-command. The twin engine DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter plane, operated by Yeti Airlines, was flying in Nepal from the nation's capital of Kathmandu to Lukla. It was landing at the Lukla Airport when its wheels got caught on a fence at the end of the runway, causing it to hit the runway and burst into flames. Firefighters fought for nearly two hours before bringing the fire under control. Officials blame the crash on heavy fog and bad weather. Reports state that visibility was only 1,310 feet (400 meters), which was considered to be just enough for the plane to land. "According to initial reports we have it crashed before it was to land and caught fire. The accident was probably caused by a last minute change in the weather," said Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal chief, Yagya Prasad Gautam. There was at least one accident at the airport in 2005 when nine people survived a crash, only suffering minor injures. That plane was operated by Gorkha Airlines.
404 We're sorry but the page you requested could not be found.Please try again from the home page or contact us \|\|\|\|\| Governor General Michaelle Jean lays a wreath during a ceremony marking the 90th Anniversary of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel at the national war monument in Ottawa Saturday, July 1, 2006 as Silver Cross Mother Alice Murphy (right) looks on. Governor General Michaelle Jean lays a wreath during a ceremony marking the 90th Anniversary of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel at the national war monument in Ottawa Saturday, July 1, 2006 as Silver Cross Mother Alice Murphy (right) looks on. Norma Greenaway, CanWest News Service Published: Saturday, July 01, 2006 OTTAWA – Stephen Harper celebrated his first Canada Day as prime minister by offering a special salute to Canadians working outside the country, especially the Canadian Forces serving in Afghanistan. At a sun-soaked party on Parliament Hill, Harper appeared thrilled to be marking Canada's 139th birthday, and made a point of citing by name and location some of the other events going on across the country, including a swearing in of new citizens in Markham, Ont. He reserved his most heartfelt remarks for Canada's soldiers, diplomats and international aid workers. He praised them for sharing the peace, prosperity and freedom Canadians enjoy with those torn by war, poverty, disease and disaster elsewhere in the world. "Our country, our way of life did not happen by accident," he said at one point, citing Canada's English and French roots and the waves of immigration as adding to its character. "Canada leads by example." The nation got a fresh reminder of the dangers of the Afghanistan mission on the eve of Canada Day with news a Canadian soldier was seriously injured in a rocket attack at the main coalition base in Kandahar. A second Canadian soldier also was injured when two Taliban rockets exploded in a tent complex. Harper was accompanied by his wife Laureen and son Ben and daughter Rachel, all of whom waved to the large crowd as they arrived on the hill. The Harpers were joined by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean and her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond, and daughter Marie-Eden. In her remarks, Jean also singled out the forces in Afghanistan for special thanks, telling the crowd they are battling "tyranny and oppression" that most affects the women and children of the country. Jean urged Canadians to "rejoice in our good fortune," while not forgetting those elsewhere who live with hunger, misery and violence. Earlier, there had been a 21-gun salute to Jean before she inspected the guard of honor, and a rousing rendition of O Canada before the famed Snow Birds staged a flypast over Parliament Hill. The speeches kicked off an afternoon and evening of festivities on Parliament Hill and around Ottawa, which featured a wide range of Canadian musicians performing on a flag-festooned stage. Thousands of cheering men, women and children, many armed with Canadian flags and dressed in red and white, began flooding to Parliament Hill early in the day. They had to navigate dozens of tractors and trucks parked in front of the hill as part of a peaceful protest by area farmers pressing the federal government to step up its planned national aid package of $775 million. The morning began, however, on a more sombre note at the National War Memorial where a ceremony was held to mark the 90th anniversary of one the bloodiest battles in which Canadians have ever fought. The First World War battle against the Germans in Beaumont-Hamel in northern France ended with more than 650 of the 800-man Royal Newfoundland Regiment dead or injured. The battle was the beginning of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916. It was the first time a ceremony to mark the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel had been held in Ottawa. The day has long been one of mourning in Newfoundland. The prime minister and governor general were both on hand for the tribute. A remembrance also was held at Beaumont-Hamel in France, within sight of the trenches where many of the Canadians perished. An emotional Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams, who travelled to France to mark the anniversary, declared the men who fought in that battle "the best of the best." © Ottawa Citizen 2006 \|\|\|\|\| People lined the streets in Ottawa as Canada Day celebrations kicked off. Prime Minister Stephen Harper addresses the crowds gathered for Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill. Michaelle Jean delivers Canada Day message from garden at Rideau Hall Canadians celebrating nation's 139th birthday CTV.ca News Staff Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised Canada as a leader on the world's stage as thousands of revellers gathered on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to mark the nation's birthday. "A country first inhabited by our indigenous peoples built through historic compromise between the English and French and populated by waves and waves of immigrants from around the world," Harper said in his message Saturday, speaking to a sea of red and white. "Today, Canada is a leader. Our businesses, our athletes, our artists, musicians and writers, all excel on the world stage and our country leads by example, standing up for the values that make Canada great -- helping to ensure the spread of freedom, democracy and the rule of law around the world." The prime minister called on Canadians to show their appreciation to "those who do it best for us in Afghanistan and around the world," listing the envoys, development workers and troops who are stationed abroad. Earlier, the 21-gun salute was fired by the 30th Field Regiment in Ottawa, said CTV's Roger Smith. Master Bombardier Bounyarat Tanaphon Makthepharak, the Canadian soldier who was critically wounded in a rocket attack on the coalition base in Afghanistan on Friday, belongs to the same regiment. As is tradition, one of the biggest Canada Day celebrations is on Parliament Hill, where a show of music and dance will culminate after sunset, with bursts of fireworks over the Peace Tower. Meanwhile, Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean urged Canadians not to take their gifts for granted on the day of their nation's birth. "Dear friends, let us rejoice in our good fortune, in a world where too many people are still struggling with thirst, hunger, misery and violence every day," she said. "Let us never taken our blessings for granted out of consideration for those who have been so cruelly deprived." The first order of the day for Harper and Jean was to attend a wreath-laying ceremony honouring First World War Veterans. The ceremony at the National War Memorial marked the 90th anniversary of the battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel. The First World War Battle of Beaumont-Hamel was at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, on July 1, 1916. About 780 men from the First Newfoundland Regiment were part of a British contingent that took part in the advance. Only about 110 Newfoundlanders survived unscathed. The street in front of the Hill was also joined by protesting farmers who are aiming to pressure the government to live up to its farming promises. The group Farmers Feed Cities is calling on the government to accelerate its planned $775-million aid package for farmers. Though the group's main objective is to air its concerns, they are also aiming to educate people on the importance of protecting the nation's food supply. The protesters were to give away 34,000 cups of ice cream and thousands of cheese curd samples. The Canada Day tradition marks the signing of the British North America act on July 1, 1867, when the first colonies were united to become the Dominion of Canada. The tradition of a single, huge national celebration in Ottawa was established in the late 1950s, with a routine involving a day of Parliament Hill ceremonies followed by a mass band concert and fireworks display. More than two decades later, the approach was changed to encourage local celebrations in communities countrywide. In 1982, July 1, which was known as "Dominion Day," became "Canada Day," marking another step away from the nation's colonial past.	Canada Day was celebrated at Parliament Hill. People came across Canada to Ottawa to celebrate Canada's 139th birthday. About 25,000 people including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his wife and their two children were there. The party got started at about 12:00, noon ET. The ceremony was in English and in French. Prime Minister Stephen Harper Google Canada Day logo at Google.ca. Military veterans, medal-winning Olympic athletes and some of Canada's biggest names in music were there. Canadian artists like Colin James and Annie Villeneuve performed in front of the Peace Tower. Other performers included Jesse Cook and the Samba Squad. Since Canada has two official languages (English and French) some artists were from Quebec and sung in French. Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged Canadians to pay tribute to the soldiers and aid workers in Afghanistan. "Let's show our appreciation, today and every day, to those who do it best for us in Afghanistan and around the world," Harper said. "Our diplomats, our development workers and brave men and women of the Canadian Forces." said the Prime Minister. Gov. General. Michaëlle Jean noted Canada's prosperity, including in her remarks a thank you to the people who toil to provide the country with a safe and plentiful food supply. "Ours is a country of great wealth from its plains, forests and mountains that nourish us to the crystal clear waters of our abundant lakes and rivers," she said. She was born in Port-au-Prince, Haïti and is the current Governor General of Canada. Harper and Jean took part in a wreath laying at the National War Memorial at an event marking the 90th anniversary of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel in France. Bill Graham released a statement describing Canada as being like no other country, "made up of individuals, representing all ethnicities and all religions, bound together by our shared values of family, community, tolerance and freedom." Musicians performed in front of the Peace Tower, and fireworks ended the show.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The FBI is investigating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers and AIG - and their executives - as part of a broad look into possible mortgage fraud, sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN Tuesday. Two officials with knowledge of the FBI investigation into the mortgage crisis said "the investigation is all very preliminary". They said there is a lot of anger and people want someone held accountable. Officials are looking into whether any criminal activity occurred, but the Bureau said the investigation will take some time. They said the investigation is in the preliminary stages, and so far it is a broad look at the companies involved. "From what I've seen so far, I really don't believe we're going to find widespread fraud," according to one of the officials. They said they have to go where evidence and facts lead. Just because an investigation has been opened doesn't mean there will be charges. At this point, the officials said they are not pursuing specific individuals at the four firms under investigation because these firms are facing serious financial problems and they need to find out if it's the result of criminal activity. Again, the officials stressed this is going to be a long road. "Don't expect indictments tomorrow or next week or next month," one of the officials told CNN. FBI spokesman Special Agent Richard Kolko had no comment on that information, but said 26 firms are currently under investigation as part of the bureau's mortgage fraud inquiry. Earlier this month, FBI Director Robert Mueller told Congress that 1,400 individual real estate lenders, brokers and appraisers are now under investigation in addition to two dozen corporations. "The FBI currently has 26 pending corporate fraud investigations involving subprime lenders," Kolko said. "As we have seen, this number can fluctuate over time; however we do not discuss which companies may or may not be the subject of an investigation." Previously, CNN has reported that lender Countrywide and Atlanta-based homebuilder Beazer (BZH) - which dropped out of the mortgage business early this year - are part of the investigation. The sources said the probes of Fannie (FNM, Fortune 500), Freddie (FRE, Fortune 500), Lehman (LEH, Fortune 500) and AIG (AIG, Fortune 500) are believed to be in the early stages. One source said the government would be "remiss" if it didn't look into what happened at these companies because of the financial problems they are involved in and the actions of individuals running them. Lehman Brothers and Freddie Mac declined comment on the matter. AIG spokesman Joseph Norton said, "We don't have details about the FBI investigation. Of course, we will cooperate with the FBI." The United States is in the midst of a spiraling economic crisis fueled largely by the housing market. Earlier this decade, mortgage lenders relaxed restrictions on obtaining mortgages as home prices soared about 85% from 1996 through 2006 in inflation-adjusted dollars, creating a bubble. Then the bubble popped, and lenders - as well as mortgages - took the hit. Last week, mortgage insurer AIG narrowly avoided bankruptcy when the federal government took 80% of its equity in exchange for an $85 billion loan from the Federal Reserve while Lehman filed the largest bankruptcy in American history. Earlier this month, the government took over mortgage giants Fannie and Freddie. Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500) bought Countrywide in July. Beazer dropped its mortgage arm early this year after an internal investigation - prompted by a Charlotte Observer investigation - found "evidence that employees violated [federal] regulations ... back to at least 2000." The company said it is cooperating with the federal investigation. Other bank failures and takeovers have led to the Bush administration's current proposal to spend $700 billion to shore up the financial markets. The proposal is under consideration by Congress, where lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have balked at the proposal's lack of oversight provisions, among other issues. As the mortgage industry began to unravel, the FBI, with assistance from the IRS, launched a broad investigation into mortgage fraud. In June, its Mortgage Fraud Task Force arrested more than 400 mortgage brokers, lenders, appraisers and other industry insiders who, it said, were responsible for more than $1 billion in losses. Last month, a Mortgage Asset Research Institute (MARI) study found that the number of fraudulent loans issued during the first three months of 2008 skyrocketed 42% compared with the same period in 2007. \|\|\|\|\| The FBI is investigating four Wall Street institutions at the heart of the financial crisis over their role in the sub-prime mortgage meltdown, it emerged today. Reports said preliminary investigations into potential corporate fraud at the US mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the insurer American International Group and the investment bank Lehman Brothers had been opened. They are among 26 companies being scrutinised by the FBI. Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and AIG were bailed out by the government in the last fortnight, while Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy. Senior executives at the companies are also believed to be in the FBI's sights, while the securities and exchange commission is also reportedly assessing possible civil fraud claims against the four firms. "The FBI continues to investigate a number of companies for sub-prime lending practices, but the department brings criminal prosecutions based solely on the facts and the law," Brian Roehrkasse, a Justice Department spokesman, said. "Where we find evidence of criminal wrongdoing, we will prosecute." Several California institutions, including IndyMac Bank of Pasadena, which collapsed in July at a cost of $8.9bn (£4.7bn), are reported to be under investigation. Countrywide, formerly the largest mortgage lender in the US and now owned by Bank of America, is also under scrutiny. The investigations come as Congress considers a $700bn bailout package for the financial industry. The Bush administration's plan would allow the Treasury to buy toxic bad debts from troubled financial institutions. Congressmen yesterday demanded safeguards, additional details and more time to scrutinise the way in which the Treasury intends to spend the money. In the past two weeks, the government has taken over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prevent their collapse. Last week, the Federal Reserve provided an emergency $85bn loan to AIG to save it from bankruptcy, but refused to bail out Lehman Brothers. Eight months ago, the FBI began an investigation into the sub-prime mortgage market, in which loans were given to people who were not in a position to repay them. This prompted the credit crunch as bad debts were bundled together with higher quality assets and sold on by banks. The FBI is known to have demanded information from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and - prior to its collapse - Bear Stearns. In June, two Bear Stearns executives were arrested over charges that they misled investors as the subprime market began to disintegrate. \|\|\|\|\| The US government has stepped in to rescue some struggling institutions The FBI has begun an investigation into four major US financial institutions caught up in the current financial crisis, US media say. Investigators are reportedly examining possible fraud by mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the failed bank Lehman Brothers and insurer AIG. Top managers at those firms are also being investigated, the reports say. In the last year, as the US housing market slumped, the FBI began a broad inquiry across the financial sector. It was prompted by concerns over the way high risk, "sub-prime" mortgages were being sold. The FBI has been looking at lenders who sold home loans to buyers on low or unpredictable incomes, and also the investment banks that packaged these loans and sold them on. Bankruptcy Investigations into the four companies were at an early stage, officials told the Associated Press news agency. ABC News, citing unidentified sources, said the probes were assessing whether company officials systematically misled investors about the financial strength of their institutions. The slump in the US housing market has resulted in billions of dollars of losses for these banks and turmoil in world credit markets. Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and AIG are all being bailed out by the US government following bankruptcy fears. Lehman Brothers, a top investment bank, has filed for bankruptcy protection. Last week FBI Director Robert Mueller said more than 20 large financial firms were already under investigation. \|\|\|\|\| FBI said to be probing AIG, Lehman, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac FBI spokesman John Miller declined to comment Tuesday. The law enforcement official with knowledge of the probes, who was not authorized to speak publicly about them and requested anonymity, cautioned that the investigations were highly preliminary. Two of the investigations were apparently launched this week. At a congressional oversight hearing last week, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III testified that the bureau had 24 firms under investigation. The Times has reported that the figure includes several California institutions, including IndyMac Bank of Pasadena, which failed in July at a cost of about $8.9 billion. The Securities and Exchange Commission also is believed to be assessing possible civil fraud claims against the four entities, the official said. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking at potential fraud at four failed financial institutions whose problems helped prompt Washington's controversial $700-billion (U.S.) mortgage-bailout plan: mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, insurer American International Group Inc. and investment bank Lehman Brothers. The FBI probe, still preliminary, targets the firms and their top executives, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The latest inquiries bring to more than two dozen the number of companies under investigation in the wake of the meltdown. Critics have complained that AIG and several other collapsed companies hid the extent of their deepening financial problems from regulators and investors by understating excessive debt and risky investments. The FBI is already investigating three failed California banks: Countrywide Financial Corp., IndyMac Bancorp Inc. and New Century Financial Corp. The investigation comes on the heels of U.S. Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson begging skeptical senators to give the Treasury sweeping powers and a $700-billion cheque to buy up bad mortgage debts. Mr. Paulson and Mr. Bernanke, warning that the United States is facing a total freeze-up of lending that would hurt all Americans, ratcheted up pressure on Congress to quickly give the Treasury broad authority to deal with the crisis. "If this is not done, it will be of significant adverse consequences for the average person in the United States," Mr. Bernanke told a packed Senate hearing yesterday. The tough talk comes as Mr. Bernanke, Mr. Paulson and Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Christopher Cox undergo a two-day barrage of questioning about the proposed bailout from key committees in both houses of Congress: the Senate yesterday, the House of Representatives today. In spite of the dire tone, key members of Congress apparently remain unmoved, including Barney Frank, chairman of the House financial services panel, and Senate banking committee chairman Christopher Dodd. Mr. Dodd called the plan "unacceptable" in its current form. They and others want the cash to be conditional on capping the salaries of bank executives, and want better controls on how the money is spent. Others want to cut the amount from $700-billion to an interim infusion of $50-billion. Congress is reflecting widespread public disgust that the bailout would reward the reckless bankers who helped drag the economy into crisis. "This massive bailout is not a solution," Republican Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky complained, echoing the frustration of many members of Congress. "It is financial socialism and it's un-American." The Bush administration has set a deadline of this weekend to get the legislation passed. But both sides acknowledged the timetable could slip a bit. Uncertainty over the fate of the bailout and questions about whether it would even work continue to weigh heavily on financial markets. U.S. and Canadian stocks fell sharply yesterday, and the Fed was forced to intervene again to inject billions of dollars of liquidity into short-term credit markets. Taking on critics who have complained the government is bailing out Wall Street, Mr. Bernanke said the plan is actually a lifeline for the entire economy. And distancing himself a bit from the Mr. Paulson, who is a former chief executive of investment bank Goldman Sachs, Mr. Bernanke pointed out that he is a college professor and has never worked on Wall Street. "I don't have those interests or those connections," Mr. Bernanke testified, Mr. Paulson at his side. "My interest is solely for the strength and the recovery of the U.S. economy." Mr. Paulson spent his entire career on Wall Street, including seven years as head of Goldman Sachs, one of the companies at the epicentre of the financial turmoil. He has also surrounded himself with top advisers from the financial services industry. Mr. Bernanke pointed out that if credit markets are not working, jobs will be lost, the economy will shrink and recovery will be long time coming. "This is a precondition for a good, healthy recovery by our economy," he explained. Mr. Paulson urged senators to defer their concerns about lax regulation of Wall Street, excessive salaries and rewarding bad corporate behaviour until market confidence is restored. He said Congress likely will be working on those issues long after he has left the administration of President George W. Bush, whose term ends in January. "I'm frustrated," Mr. Paulson told senators. "The taxpayer's already on the hook. The taxpayer already is going to suffer the consequences if things don't work the way they should work. And so the best protection for the taxpayer, and the first protection for the taxpayer, is to have this work." Mr. Paulson and Mr. Bernanke also took on critics who worry that the bailout would jeopardize the government's gold-plated triple-A credit rating, which allows it to finance its growing debt at relatively low interest rates. Mr. Bernanke, for example, said doing nothing could also affect the credit rating. Much of the uncertainty over the plan centres on concerns about how it would work. The two men offered some suggestions, including so-called reverse auctions in which banks would compete to offer their loans to the Treasury. \|\|\|\|\| Federal agents descended on the Minnetonka headquarters of Petters Group Worldwide on Wednesday morning and spent the entire day searching and removing material from the offices. They also searched the Wayzata home of company founder Tom Petters. Petters is the majority owner of Sun Country Airlines and has holdings in Polaroid and numerous other businesses. The 51-year-old chief executive was away during the searches, and he declined to comment about the matter. FBI spokesman Paul McCabe didn't specify the nature of the investigation, but indicated that the comprehensive search involved the FBI, U.S. attorney's office, IRS criminal investigative division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. By late afternoon, nearly 50 law enforcement vehicles choked the Petters headquarters parking lot. Agents began hauling boxes and other objects out the back entrance about 5 p.m., loading them into two sport-utility vehicles and the back of a pickup. Agents completed the search late Wednesday night and returned control of the building to Petters officials. The search warrant materials remain under seal in U.S. District Court. A company spokeswoman said the investigation does not involve Sun Country, Polaroid, uBid, Fingerhut or Great Waters Media, the magazine group Petters recently acquired. "The investigation pertains to one financial entity that Petters is involved with," Petters spokeswoman Andrea Miller said. Attorneys on the scene Prominent white-collar criminal defense attorneys Andy Luger of Greene Espel in Minneapolis and John Lundquist of Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis were seen at the Petters building during the morning raid. "No charges have been filed. No one has been arrested," said Lundquist, who is representing Petters Co. Inc. and related entities. "Petters Co. is cooperating." Lundquist confirmed that the focus of the investigation is Petters Co. Inc. He said the Petters Co. has "a number of operations," but he declined to describe them. \|\|\|\|\| Login Enter your details below to login Email address Password Keep me logged in information Keeps you logged in for a rolling 15 days or until you logout Forgot your password?	The FBI is investigating 26 firms and 1,400 individuals involved in the US financial crisis for fraud and "sub-prime lending practices". Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers, Fannie Mae and AIG are among the firms being scrutinized after recently receiving federal bailouts. Investigators, who are cooperating with the IRS, Postal Office, and other federal offices to complete their investigation, are concerned that major corporations may have also forced or bribed ratings agencies to favor them. The probe, which is in early stages, began eight months ago when the FBI began taking a close look at the mortgage industry and widespread irresponsible loaning practices. At least one corporation has been raided, but so far no evidence of fraud has been found. The FBI has questioned executives of each of the firms closely, and arrested two in June. An anonymous source told The Times that the firms had been ordered to "hold all papers and e-mails under lock and key" as the FBI scours the finances of each firm. Many of the companies and individuals being investigated are at the center of the nationwide financial crisis and controversial bailout plans, and have been widely blamed for the country's financial crisis. The investigation has come at a time when the eyes of many in the US and around the world are turned towards the financial markets, as Congress and politicians scramble to fix the crisis while the election date looms closer. Officials told CNN that it would be a long time before the investigations were finished, adding a warning: "Don't expect indictments tomorrow or next week or next month".
BOISE, Idaho, Sept. 1 — Concluding that his political career is over, Senator Larry E. Craig of Idaho announced his resignation here today. The announcement marked the end of a stunning week in which Mr. Craig fell from senior senator to Republican Party outcast over reports that he solicited sex in an airport bathroom. “What is best for Idaho has always been the focus of my efforts and it is no different today,” Mr. Craig said. “To Idahoans I represent, to my staff, my Senate colleagues but most importantly to my wife and my family, I apologize for what I have caused. I am deeply sorry. “I have little control over what people choose to believe but clearly my name is important to me. And my family is so very important also. Having said that, to pursue my legal options as I continue to serve Idaho would be an unwanted and unfair distraction of my job and for my Senate colleagues.” Citing the war in Iraq, he added: The people of Idaho deserve a senator who can devote a hundred percent of his time and effort to the critical issues of our state and our nation.” The senator faced overwhelming pressure from national Republican leaders determined to prevent the matter from becoming a burden in the autumn Congressional session and next year’s election. Mr. Craig, who served a decade in the House and 17 years in the Senate as a strong advocate for Republican positions on gun control, the use of Western lands as natural resources, abortion and gun control, said he would step aside Sept. 30, making way for a successor to be appointed by Gov. C. L. Otter, a Republican who stood behind Mr. Craig as he made the announcement today. Many prominent Republicans in Idaho said they were in disbelief at the turn of events over the past week. They expressed sympathy and gratitude for a powerful senator who had supported their campaigns and brought millions of dollars in federal money to Idaho. Still, for all the upheaval, the prospect of political change also brought focus to state Republicans. Before Monday, when news of his guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct in a men’s room at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport became public, Mr. Craig had been a senator on August recess. Now Governor Otter, known as Butch, will decide who to send to Washington to represent the state when Mr. Craig’s resignation becomes effective. The new senator will complete Mr. Craig’s current term, which ends in January 2009. Although Mr. Otter, a Republican with a tendency to defy expectations, refused to discuss who he might appoint, by early today he was widely believed to be leaning toward selecting the lieutenant governor, James E. Risch. Governor Otter said today: “I have made no decision on that. Any report to the contrary is dead wrong.” When asked about the time frame for a decision, he said, “at my pace.” Mr. Risch, a Republican first elected lieutenant governor in 2002, served as interim governor for seven months last year after President Bush named Gov. Dirk A. Kempthorne as Interior Secretary. Last year, rather than run for a full term, he deferred to Mr. Otter, a congressman who had announced his intentions to run for governor if Mr. Kempthorne stepped aside. Mr. Risch, who spent more than two decades in the State Senate, including six years as Senate president pro tem, had expressed interest in running for the seat in 2008 if Mr. Craig chose to retire. Even before the events of the past week, Senator Craig, 62 and serving his third term, had suggested he might not seek a fourth. Mr. Risch and Mr. Otter are not close, and some Republicans suggested that Mr. Otter would not be sad to see him move to Washington. Yet Republicans also said Mr. Risch was a safe choice who had earned good will in the state and would not have to work hard to win a full term in 2008. “Jim Risch is very electable, as he’s just proved,” said Norm Semanko, a Republican activist from Eagle, Idaho, referring to Mr. Risch’s wide margin of victory last fall for lieutenant governor. “He will be very warmly received.” A Democrat, Larry LaRocco, is also running for the seat in 2008, but political analysts say they expect a Republican, whether it is the one Mr. Otter appoints or someone else, to win a full term next fall in this conservative state. If he had run, Mr. Craig was widely expected to win another term, but that was before this week. \|\|\|\|\| By JOHN MILLER, Associated Press Writers Sat Sep 1, 6:09 PM ET Sen. Larry Craig ADVERTISEMENT BOISE, Idaho - In a subdued ending to a week of startling political theater,announced his resignation Saturday, bowing to pressure from fellow Republicans worried about damage from his arrest and guilty plea in a gay sex sting. "I apologize for what I have caused," Craig said, his wife Suzanne and two of their three children at his side with a historic Boise train station as backdrop. "I am deeply sorry." Craig, 62, said he would resign effective Sept. 30, ending a career in Congress spanning a quarter-century. Making no specific mention of the incident that triggered his disgrace in his remarks, he spoke for under six minutes and took no questions. Among those attending was Republican Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, who will appoint a successor for the remaining 15 months of Craig's term. It was a relatively quick end to a drama that began Monday with the stunning disclosure that Craig had pleaded guilty to a reduced charge following his arrest June 11 in a Minneapolis airport men's room. Craig at first tried to hold on to his position, contending in a public appearance on Tuesday that he had done nothing inappropriate and that his only mistake was pleading guilty Aug. 1 to the misdemeanor charge. But a growing chorus of leading GOP leaders called for him to step down to spare the party further embarrassment and possible harm in next year's elections. Otter said Saturday he has not chosen a replacement, although several Republicans familiar with internal deliberations said he favored Republican Lt. Gov. Jim Risch. Otter called speculation that he has made a choice "dead wrong" and declined to say when he would fill the seat. Craig said he would remain in the Senate until Sept. 30 in hopes of providing a smooth transition for his staff and whoever is chosen as his successor. President Bush called Craig from the White House after the senator's announcement and told him he knew it was a difficult decision to make, said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel. "Senator Craig made the right decision for himself, for his family, his constituents and the United States Senate," Stanzel said. Craig was arrested June 11 in a police undercover vice operation. The arresting officer, Sgt. Dave Karsnia, said in his report that the restroom where he encountered Craig is a known location for homosexual activity. Craig has faced rumors about his sexuality since the 1980s. He has called assertions that he has engaged in gay sex ridiculous. "I am not gay. I never have been gay," Craig said defiantly after a news conference Tuesday. He said he had kept the incident from aides, friends and family and pleaded guilty "in hopes of making it go away." Other lawmakers embroiled in sex scandals also have resigned from Congress, albeit usually at the end of scenarios that took longer to play out than the one that claimed Craig. Former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., quit last fall over sexually explicit Internet communications with male pages who had worked on Capitol Hill. Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore., resigned in 1995 amid allegations he had made unwanted sexual advances to 17 female employees and colleagues and altered his personal diaries to obstruct an ethics investigation. On Saturday, Craig said he would pursue legal options to clear his name. He has retained Billy Martin, a Washington lawyer who represented Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in his dogfighting case, to pursue his legal options. Washington lawyer Stan Brand will represent Craig before the Senate ethics committee, said spokesman Dan Whiting. "The people of Idaho deserve a senator who can devote 100 percent of his time and effort to the critical issues of our state and of our nation," Craig said. "I have little control over what people choose to believe. But clearly my name is important to me, and my family is so very important also." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Craig "made a difficult decision, but the right one." "It is my hope he will be remembered not for this, but for his three decades of dedicated public service," McConnell said. McConnell had been one of Craig's harshest critics, calling his actions "unforgivable." Some Idaho residents who attended Craig's public resignation said it felt like a "political funeral." Bayard Gregory, from Boise, said Craig should have been more forthright after his arrest. "It's a horribly embarrassing experience to go through," Gregory said. "But if it were me, and I had done nothing wrong, I wouldn't have pleaded guilty." Craig spokesman Sidney Smith said he did not know whether Craig would return to Washington on Tuesday, the start of the post-Labor Day congressional session. "We haven't decided that yet, whether he's going to return or not," Smith said. Craig represented Idaho in Congress for more than a quarter-century, including 17 years in the Senate. He was up for re-election next year. Republicans, worried about the scandal's effect on next year's election, suffered a further setback Friday when veteran Republican Sen. John Warner of Virginia announced he will retire rather than seek a sixth term. Democrats captured Virginia's other Senate seat from the GOP in the 2006 election. Craig opposes gay marriage and has a strong record against gay rights. He was a leading voice in the Senate on gun issues and Western lands. Craig chaired the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and was a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, where he was adept at securing federal money for Idaho projects. A fiscal and social conservative, Craig sometimes broke with his party, notably on immigration, where he pushed changes that many in his party said offered "amnesty" to illegal immigrants. Much of the impetus behind Craig's push to ease bureaucratic hurdles to immigrant farm workers stemmed from his background as a rancher and the state's large rural, farming community. ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Daly and Deb Riechmann in Washington, D.C., and Todd Dvorak in Boise contributed to this report.	United States Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) resigned Saturday, five days after Craig's arrest for lewd conduct in a public restroom was first reported. In a news conference in Boise, Idaho, Senator Craig apologized for his actions, but insisted that he had not engaged in gay sex, and that the June 11 incident at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport was a misunderstanding. "To Idahoans I represent, to my staff, my Senate colleagues but most importantly to my wife and my family, I apologize for what I have caused. I am deeply sorry," Craig said Saturday. "I have little control over what people choose to believe but clearly my name is important to me. And my family is so very important also. Having said that, to pursue my legal options as I continue to serve Idaho would be an unwanted and unfair distraction of my job and for my Senate colleagues." It was revealed on Monday that Craig pled guilty to disorderly conduct after allegedly soliciting sex in the men's room of a Minnesota airport. Craig, who voted against gay marriage and gay rights bills numerous times over the course of his 17-year career in the Senate, has denied rumors about his sexuality since the 1980s, when he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Craig's resignation is effective September 30. His replacement, who will serve until January 2009, will be named by Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter; it is believed that Idaho Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch will be named to the post.
Print Digg Facebook Stumble It! del.icio.us Fark NYPD Traffic Stop Nets Cartons Of Untaxed Smokes NEW YORK (AP) ― New York City Police have discovered a truckload of untaxed cigarettes after pulling over the driver for a traffic violation.The U-Haul truck had a covered license plate, and officers pulled over the driver around 12:30 a.m. Friday in Brooklyn.Police say the driver had a suspended license, and during inventory of the truck police found 58,000 packs of untaxed cigarettes.The driver was with his brother, and both men have been charged with possessing untaxed cigarettes. Police are investigating where they were coming from and where they were planning to go.The sale of untaxed cigarettes is a lucrative illegal business in New York City, where a pack costs upward of $10 due to a steep tax. (© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.) \|\|\|\|\| Roadside bust nets nearly 2 million illegal cigarettes More than 1.7 million contraband cigarettes have been seized from a rental truck near the Manitoba-Ontario border. Officials from RCMP traffic services and Manitoba Finance's special investigations unit found 150 cases of illegal, unmarked cigarettes in plastic bags, along with 25 cases of "discount" brand cigarettes, in the truck near the West Hawk Lake area. The bust took place May 13 on the Trans-Canada Highway during a traffic safety check associated with National Road Safety Week, an RCMP enforcement initiative designed to increase public compliance with safe driving measures. The driver, a 45-year-old man from St. Constant, Que., faces charges under the Excise Act (2001) and the Manitoba Tobacco Tax Act. People convicted under the Tobacco Tax Act can face fines up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to three months or both. In this matter, a tax penalty of $971,250 could also be assessed. The truck contained a total of 1,750,000 cigarettes, none of which had proper tax stamps for Manitoba or Canada, according to a Manitoba government news release. The street value of the cigarettes in Winnipeg was estimated at $395,000. Manitoba's taxes would have been $323,750. Officers from the Falcon Beach RCMP detachment also took part in the seizure, the government release stated. \|\|\|\|\| A simple traffic stop in Brooklyn led to a major recovery for police early Friday - 117 boxes of untaxed cigarettes. The haul - a total of 58,500 packs - is the latest case involving contraband cigarettes, authorities say, with more and more entrepreneurs transporting cigarettes to New York from states where they sell for far less money. "It's an ongoing problem as the price of cigarettes go up,'' Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said. "Obviously, it increases the motivation to go to other states to buy them and bring them back here. We enforce the law in that regard." Last month, 21 convenience store owners on Long Island were arrested and accused of buying and selling untaxed Marlboro and Marlboro Lights cigarettes, netting more than $2 million in illegal profits, authorities say. In Friday morning's case, the NYPD's auto larceny squad pulled over a U-Haul truck at 12:30 a.m. in East Flatbush because its license plate was covered by a bag, police say. The driver, Marvin Whatley, 30, was driving with a suspended license, so he was arrested, allowing police to search the truck, authorities say. Inside, were various cigarettes, all untaxed, police say. Whatley and his passenger, his brother Marlon, 32, were charged with possession of untaxed cigarettes. Police also found in the truck a set of burglar's tools, but they are still trying to determine whether the cigarettes were bought at an Indian reservation in New York or if the suspects got them out of state. They are also investigating if the siblings were working alone or if they are part of a larger ring, authorities say. Cigarettes go for about $10 a pack - and about $95 a carton - and police sources say more and more New Yorkers are looking for other ways to get their nicotine fix. Some get them from bootleggers referred to as the "$5 man," often someone selling by a subway entrance or out of the back of a car trunk. Others, sources say, stock up on cigarettes if they are traveling out of state. \|\|\|\|\| A routine traffic stop near the Manitoba-Ontario border yesterday led RCMP to discover 1.75 million contraband cigarettes worth $395,000. A 45-year-old Quebec man was arrested, and faces charges under the Manitoba Tobacco Tax Act. Related Items Articles RCMP seize pot at Manitoba-Ontario border The seizure was part of a traffic safety check on a westbound rental truck on the Trans Canada Highway during National Road Safety Week. RCMP found 150 cases of illegal, unmarked cigarettes in plastic bags and 25 cases of "discount" brand cigarettes when the rental truck was stopped in the West Hawk Lake area. None of the cigarettes had proper tax stamps. The man could face fines up to $5,000, up to three months in jail, or a tax penalty of more than $970,000. city.desk@freepress.mb.ca \|\|\|\|\| For the second time, Ontario Provincial Police have charged a Manitoba man with allegedly transporting thousands of contraband cigarettes. Officers seized 160,000 illegal smokes during the latest seizure, which occurred during a traffic stop on Highway 17, just east of Marathon, Ont., about 2 a.m. Monday. Carl Fontaine, 50, of Fort Alexander, Man., is charged with possession of unmarked tobacco and possession of unmarked tobacco with intent to sell, police said. An OPP spokesman said Fontaine has previously been charged with similar offences. Fontaine is scheduled to appear in court in Marathon on Aug. 11. He is at least the third Manitoban to be allegedly caught with contraband cigarettes in Ontario this year. Last month, OPP found 25 large unmarked boxes, containing 250,000 illegal cigarettes, when officers pulled over an erratic driver in Erin, Ont., near Toronto. OPP said Bernard Bourget, 79, and his 71-year-old wife, Emelia Wooley, of St. Claude, Man., are facing charges under Ontario's provincial Tobacco Tax Act. \|\|\|\|\| Wednesday, 13 May 2009 Customs officers have seized 90,000 contraband cigarettes from a number of passengers at Dublin Airport. The seizure was made as part of an intelligence-led operation against a Lithuanian-based gang. Thirteen people who had arrived on a flight from Lithuania were arrested, but were later released without charge pending instructions from the DPP. \|\|\|\|\| Authorities find contraband cigarettes hidden in concrete slabs SINGAPORE : Another creative attempt by cigarette smugglers to evade customs detection at the Woodlands Checkpoint was thwarted on Tuesday. This time, smugglers tried to hide their contraband in 200 pre-cast concrete road slabs. When one of the slabs was scanned using an X-ray machine, anomalies in its density were detected, prompting the authorities to hack the slabs open. Each slab was found to contain 15 cartons of illegal cigarettes. After more than eight hours of hacking, a total of 3,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were recovered, worth an estimated street value of S$288,000. Duty and GST payable evaded amounted to about S$230,310. Those found guilty of importing such contraband can be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty evaded and jailed up to three years. Subsequent offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded and jailed for up to six years. Offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded. - CNA /ls	On Friday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) seized 1.75 million contraband cigarettes near the Manitoba - Ontario border and in a separate case the New York City Police Department (NYPD) also had a major recovery of 1.17 million cigarettes. Cigarettes Canadian officers seized 150 cases of illegal, unmarked cigarettes, as well as 25 cases of "discount" brand cigarettes during a traffic safety check conducted during National Road Safety Week on the Trans Canada Highway. The NYPD pulled over a U-Haul truck for a traffic violation, a covered license plate and recovered 58,500 packs of untaxed contraband cigarettes. "It's an ongoing problem as the price of cigarettes go up. Obviously, it increases the motivation to go to other states to buy them and bring them back here. We enforce the law in that regard," said a NYPD Police Commissioner. "Discount brands of cigarettes ... come from countries such as, not only the United States, but India, Native American tribes, the Philippines, Colombia, Mexico and other countries around the globe," said a representative from the American State Auditor’s Office. Bootleggers, nicknamed the $5 man, are the new entrepreneurs when taxed cigarettes sell for over US$10 a pack and nearly $100 a carton in some places in the U.S. Customers satisfying a nicotine addiction provide a hefty income for illegal tobacco traders. The illicit smuggling of tobacco results in thousands of dollars in lost tax revenue to governments. In Manitoba's bust, it's estimated that nearly CA$325,000 (US$275,000)are lost in tax revenue from illegal cigarette sales. On Wednesday, 90,000 contraband cigarettes were seized from Lithuanian travellers at the Dublin Ireland airport. On Monday, in a separate case, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) seized unmarked cigarettes from a Manitoba man for the second time. This time police recovered 160,000 cigarettes. One week ago smugglers hid 3,000 cases of illegal cigarettes in concrete to try to get them through customs in Singapore. In April American officials shut down a warehouse containing about US20 million dollars in illegal cigarettes.
Gamekeeper George Mutch jailed for killing rare bird Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Continue reading the main story Related Stories A gamekeeper found guilty of killing a rare bird and setting traps illegally to capture others has been jailed for four months. George Mutch, 48, of Kildrummy, denied recklessly killing or injuring a goshawk and illegally taking away another goshawk and a buzzard in 2012. Mutch was found guilty of four charges at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. Mutch is believed to be the first gamekeeper in Scotland to have been jailed for such an offence. George Mutch was convicted at Aberdeen Sheriff Court The case was also one of the first times in Scotland that hidden camera footage, obtained by the RSPB, had been used to prosecute wildlife crime. Sheriff Noel McPartlin said the persecution of wild birds was a "huge problem". He said: "Having regard to the gravity of the offence, I am of the view that there is no other method of dealing with you which is appropriate to this case other than the imposition of a custodial sentence." Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland, said: "This sentence is an historic, landmark result. "We would like to thank the Crown Office and Police Scotland for helping to bring this case to a successful conviction, as well as the exemplary work of the RSPB Scotland investigations team. "This penalty should be a turning point, sending a clear message to those determined to flout our laws that wildlife crime will not be tolerated but instead will be treated with the seriousness that it deserves. "Wildlife criminals must expect no sympathy from now on." 'Ultimate sanction' Sara Shaw, procurator fiscal for wildlife and environment, said: "Birds of prey are given strict protection by our law. "Goshawks in particular are rare birds: the court heard evidence in this case that there are only about 150 nesting pairs in Scotland. "It is highly important to preserve Scotland's natural heritage, including the wildlife that forms part of it. Our environmental laws exist to provide this protection. "This case involved serious contraventions of those laws. The conviction of Mr Mutch and the severity of the sentence given by the court highlights that message." A Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) spokesman said: "The SGA has taken the ultimate sanction available to it, as an organisation. Mr Mutch will no longer hold SGA membership. "The court has made its decision and Mr Mutch will now have to live with the consequences of his actions." A spokesman for Scottish Land and Estates, which represents landowners, said: "The illegal killing of any bird of prey is unacceptable and anyone who engages in such activity can, rightly, expect to feel the full weight of the law. "There are many people and groups working together to eradicate wildlife crime and significant progress has been made. However, it is important that this effort is sustained." \|\|\|\|\| About Cookies We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. \|\|\|\|\| Justification This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern. Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996) Trend justification This species has had stable population trends over the last 40 years in North America (data from Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven 2007). Further web sources of information Detailed species account from Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status (BirdLife International 2004) Text account compliers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Matt Harding (BirdLife International) IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International) Recommended citation BirdLife International (2011) Species factsheet: Accipiter gentilis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2011. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2011) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2011. This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List. To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums. Additional resources for this species 0	A Sheriff in Aberdeen yesterday jailed gamekeeper George Mutch for crimes against . It is believed to be the first time anybody has been imprisoned for persecution in Scotland. Mutch, 48, killed a protected , and used illegal traps to capture a and a second goshawk. He was convicted last month of four offences, which he committed in 2012 in . The (RSPB) used hidden cameras to record Mutch's crimes, one of the first times such footage has featured in a Scottish wildlife trial. The video shows Mutch remove a juvenile goshawk from one trap and beat it to death with a stick. He removes the other goshawk and the buzzard, putting them in sacks which he then walks away with. Their fate is unknown. Sheriff Noel McPartlin called Mutch's conduct "a determined course of action. Having regard to the gravity of the offence of killing the goshawk, I am of the view that there is no other method of dealing with you which is appropriate to this case other than the imposition of a custodial sentence." Sara Shaw, Scotland's procurator fiscal (prosecutor) for wildlife crime, explained "Goshawks in particular are rare birds: the court heard evidence in this case that there are only about 150 nesting pairs in Scotland." She said the law was there "to preserve Scotland's natural heritage, including the wildlife that forms part of it." A goshawk in Croatia in 2013, from file. David McKie, defending, detailed other sanctions his client had already suffered. His employers on the Kildrummy Estate have suspended him, and police have seized his guns; he may lose his gun licence because of his conviction. The separately announced Mutch's expulsion from the group's ranks. RSPB Scotland's Duncan Orr-Ewing called the sentence a "historic, landmark result" and "a turning point, sending a clear message to those determined to flout our laws". Landowners' body also had no sympathy: "The illegal killing of any bird of prey is unacceptable and anyone who engages in such activity can, rightly, expect to feel the full weight of the law." The RSPB said it may be the first such jailing anywhere in the UK. The group said other wildlife crimes, such as against , had previously attracted prison terms. "We would like to thank the Crown Office and Police Scotland for helping to bring this case to a successful conviction, as well as the exemplary work of the RSPB Scotland investigations team" said Orr-Ewing. He added "Wildlife criminals must expect no sympathy from now on." Scotland's goshawk is the northern goshawk, ''Accipiter gentilis''. Internationally, the species has a wide range and a large population through much of Europe, North America, Russia, and northern Asia. It is therefore ranked as least concern by the 's . However, the bird does face persecution and nest robbing by humans. Indirect human impacts include deforestation and, according to a 2012 study, developments. Scotland has invested heavily in wind power over the last decade. == Sources == * * * *
Det Con Corbett has been with the police force for 18 years Det Con Catherine Corbett, 39, of Solihull, suffered head injuries in the incident in Hayes, west London, and remains critical after surgery. Firearms officers arrested a 41-year-old man in Birmingham on suspicion of attempted murder of the West Midlands Police officer. A woman aged 32 has also been held in London in connection with the case. Police were expected to continue questioning the man and woman on Saturday. The man, who was picked up in Bordesley Green area of Birmingham, was initially held at a police station in the city and was taken to London overnight. Det Con Corbett was trying to arrest a man when he drove off and knocked her over at 0800 GMT. The police officer underwent surgery at Charing Cross Hospital on Friday afternoon and her family are at her bedside, West Midlands Police said. The hospital is a specialist neurosurgery centre. Car abandoned Police said the officer had been in London for the previous two days as part of a fraud investigation. She was with other officers at the Sheraton Hotel, near Heathrow Airport, when the suspect, who was accompanied by a female, drove up to the entrance. The officers parked in front of and behind his car but he drove off, carrying two officers along on the bonnet for a short distance. Det Con Corbett was knocked down as a suspect drove off As he reversed, the open passenger door hit Det Con Corbett, who was in plain clothes. He then crashed into a black Ford Focus, damaging its front bumper and bonnet, as he made his escape. Detectives said they had been hunting the man for about 12 months. A woman later presented herself to officers during the day and is being questioned. Two other officers suffered minor injuries and shock and are being treated at Hillingdon Hospital, west London. The suspect escaped in a blue Peugeot 207, which was later found abandoned in nearby Harlington Road. Ervis Topalli, who works at a nearby car-wash, said the car's wheels span as it sped away from the car park before it stopped and a tall, blonde woman got out and ran away. 'Very good officer' He said: "I didn't think anything of it at the time. I thought it was just a car wheel spinning. "But then I heard the noise of the brakes and the flap of the flat tyre and I wondered what was going on." He said: "When she saw me she looked away and started going faster. She went off in the direction of the Ibis Hotel. I didn't see the man but police told me that he was driving." Det Con Corbett, who has served with the West Midlands force for 18 years, is single, has no children and is a serving member of the economic crime team. She received a commendation for outstanding work in 1993. Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Cann said: "Cathy is an experienced police officer and a very good police officer. She is also a good person. "She is held in high regard and is well-respected by the rest of her team." \|\|\|\|\| Det Con Corbett was knocked down as a suspect drove off Det Con Catherine Corbett, 39, of Solihull, suffered head injuries in the incident in Hayes, west London. The officer, who has been in the West Midlands force for 18 years, was trying to arrest the man when he escaped by car and knocked her over at 0800 GMT. The Metropolitan Police is treating the incident as attempted murder. Det Con Corbett underwent surgery at Charing Cross Hospital on Friday afternoon and her family are with her at her bedside, West Midlands Police said. The hospital is a specialist for neurosurgery. Car abandoned The suspect is described as being a white man aged in his 20s. Meanwhile, police said a woman had presented herself to officers during the day and was being questioned about the incident. The suspect was being sought as part of a fraud investigation Det Con Corbett, who was in plain clothes, was attempting to arrest the man outside the Sheraton Hotel, near Heathrow Airport. The suspect crashed the car into a black Ford Focus, damaging its front bumper and bonnet, after the officer was struck. Ervis Topalli, who works at a nearby car-wash, said one of the car's tyres was punctured in the collision. He said: "I didn't think anything of it at the time. I thought it was just a car wheel spinning. "But then I heard the noise of the brakes and the flap of the flat tyre and I wondered what was going on." The suspect escaped in a blue Peugeot 207, which was later found abandoned in nearby Harlington Road. Det Con Corbett was with other officers, two of whom suffered minor injuries. A West Midlands police spokeswoman said: "[Det Con Corbett] was with a team from West Midlands Police in Hayes to effect an arrest in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation." Det Con Corbett is a serving member of the economic crime team of the force. \|\|\|\|\| A police officer is in a critical condition in hospital after being run over by a car driven by a suspect she was attempting to arrest. Police said they were treating the incident, which happened soon after 8am outside the Sheraton hotel in Hayes, west London, as attempted murder. Tonight, Scotland Yard said a 41-year-old man had been arrested in the West Midlands in connection with the hit and run. Detective Constable Catherine Corbett, a 39-year-old from the West Midlands police, had been in the capital in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation. "It is believed that the officer was attempting to arrest a man in connection with a West Midlands police investigation," a Metropolitan police statement said. "The suspect decamped from the scene in a car which was in collision with the officer, who was on foot. The suspect's vehicle then collided with another vehicle before driving off." The officer was taken to a north London hospital with serious head injuries. The suspect's car, a blue Peugeot 207, was later found abandoned. "We can confirm that a female officer has been seriously injured this morning in the Hayes area of London while attempting to arrest a man in connection with a West Midlands police investigation," a spokesman for the West Midlands force said. "The female officer was with a team from West Midlands police in Hayes to effect an arrest in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation." A number of the officer's West Midlands colleagues were with her at the time of the incident. Two, both male, suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.	DC Catherine Corbett was seriously injured in the incident. A 42-year-old man and a woman in her thirties have been arrested after a police officer was left critically injured after being hit by a car as she tried to make an arrest in west London this morning. Police are treating the incident as attempted murder. Detective Constable Catherine Corbett of West Midlands Police was trying to arrest a man at Sheraton Hotel, near Heathrow Airport when the suspect escaped by car and left the officer with head injuries. She was in London as part of a fraud investigation. The man was arrested by firearms officers in Birmingham and will be taken to London for questioning. The woman has been held after she contacted the police. Speaking about Corbett, Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Cann said, "Cathy is an experienced police officer and a very good police officer." Police have appealed for anyone with any information to contact the Metropolitan Police Incident Room on 020 8358 0400 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Italian Premier Berlusconi punched in the face ROME — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi was punched in the face at the end of a rally on Sunday by a man holding a small statue in his hand, leaving the 73-year-old media mogul with a bloodied mouth and looking stunned, police said. The 42-year-old man accused of attacking Berlusconi in Milan as he signed autographs was immediately taken into custody. TV showed the leader with blood under his nose, on his mouth and under one eye being lifted to his feet by aides after the attack. Berlusconi was hustled into the back of a car, but he immediately got out, apparently in an effort to show he was not badly injured. After looking out into the crowd, the premier, without saying a word, was pulled back into the vehicle. The attack occurred after Berlusconi had just finished delivering a long, vigorous speech at the rally to a crowd of applauding supporters from his Freedom People party at about 6:30 p.m. Officials at Milan's police headquarters, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said the premier was conscious and apparently not badly injured. They said the attacker was wielding a miniature statue of Milan's Duomo, the city's gargoyled cathedral and symbol, but couldn't say what the souvenir was made of. Berlusconi's spokesman, speaking by telephone from the emergency room from San Raffaele hospital where the premier was taken, told Sky TG24 TV that doctors had decided to keep the premier in the hospital overnight for observation. "We'll see what the doctors say tomorrow morning," spokesman Paolo Bonauiti told Sky. The exams of his jaw area included a CT scan, Bonaiuti said. Police identified the man they were questioning as Massimo Tartaglia, 42. They said Tartaglia didn't have any criminal record. The attack occurred at a difficult political time for Berlusconi, who has been plagued by scandals. On Dec. 5, tens of thousands of Italians fed up with the premier marched peacefully through Rome to demand his resignation. The demonstrators expressed dismay over what they see as the businessman's conflict of interests, citing repeated government-backed laws they contend were tailored to help shield Berlusconi from prosecution in cases involving his media, real estate and sports empire. Berlusconi claims the laws benefit all citizens. Other critics cite Berlusconi's sex scandals. Berlusconi's wife is divorcing him after complaining about his infatuation with young women. A southern Italian businessman has told investigators he procured some 30 attractive young women for parties and dinners at the premier's Rome residence and Sardinian villa. Among the guests was a high-end prostitute who claimed she slept with Berlusconi. The premier has denied ever paying for sex. Berlusconi has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing and blames his judicial woes on prosecutors he claims sympathize with the opposition left. Several of the cases either ended in acquittal or were dropped when limitation statutes expired. Others are pending. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| The Italian defence minister, Ignazio La Russa, who witnessed the attack, said: "The prime minister was punched in the face by a man who was holding something in his hand. I was about a metre away and I saw blood coming from the premier's nose and mouth. and he was then pushed into the car by his bodyguards and driven away. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy is recovering in hospital after an assault left his face covered in blood following a rally in Milan. He suffered two broken teeth, a minor nose fracture and cuts to his lip after being struck by a man wielding a souvenir model of the city's cathedral. Mr Berlusconi, 73, tried to assure supporters afterwards he was OK. The alleged attacker, who has a history of mental illness, has been charged with throwing the souvenir. Alleged attacker Massimo Tartaglia was detained at the scene Massimo Tartaglia, 42, had no previous criminal record, police were quoted as saying. After the attack on Sunday evening the prime minister, looking dazed, was helped to his feet by aides and put in a car. He got out and tried to climb on the car to show he was all right, before being driven away. It was a typical show of defiance by a political fighter, says the BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome. Mr Berlusconi insisted he was well at the hospital. 'Metal or plaster' ANALYSIS Duncan Kennedy, BBC News, Rome The attack will undoubtedly raise questions about security surrounding the prime minister. Like most heads of government, he travels with a large team of body guards and aides but Mr Berlusconi is a gregarious figure who likes to mingle with ordinary people. He is also a divisive individual in Italian politics, with opinion polls showing a broad split between voters. After months of personal scandal involving his private life, he has become an even more polarising leader, though the motivation for this physical attack is not yet clear. Mr Berlusconi had been greeting supporters in a square in Milan when the assault took place. There are said to have been scuffles between hecklers and security staff during the rally. At one point in his speech, Mr Berlusconi responded to his critics in Italy by declaring himself to be "good-looking" and "a decent chap". The Italian leader was apparently signing autographs when he was struck with the souvenir. Video of the assault shows Mr Berlusconi suddenly grimacing in pain. It is not clear from the footage what happened but the object appears to have been thrown at his face. Police charged Mr Tartaglia with aggravated assault for hurling the miniature replica at Mr Berlusconi. ASSAULTS ON PRIME MINISTERS Italy's Silvio Berlusconi physically attacked in street in December 2004 in Rome, and December 2009 in Milan Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan punched in the stomach by a man as he is about to deliver a speech Trabzon, August 2009 New Zealand's John Key shoved and grabbed by two protesters at Maori event, February 2009 In pictures: Attack on Berlusconi The replica of the cathedral, famous for its gothic spires, was initially said to be made of metal but later reports suggested it was plaster. Under pressure The Italian prime minister was previously assaulted in the street on New Year's Eve 2004, when a tourist visiting Rome struck him with a camera at a rally in the capital's Piazza Navona. His attacker, a bricklayer from northern Italy, reportedly told police he had attacked Mr Berlusconi because he hated him. The politician suffered a bruise. Mr Berlusconi has been under pressure in recent months. His private life has been in the spotlight, amid allegations that he slept with prostitutes, and after his wife filed for divorce. He has dismissed accusations of ties to the Mafia, and criminal cases against him have resumed after a law giving him immunity was overturned. A week ago tens of thousands of people attended an anti-Berlusconi rally in Rome. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	2008 File photo of Italian PM Berlusconi Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is in San Raffaele Hospital overnight in Milan following an assault during an autograph session at the end of a rally. The 73 year-old media mogul received a punch in the face from an assailant who police named as 42 year-old Massimo Tartaglia, a local man who has been undergoing mental health treatment for ten years. Tartaglia was holding a replica of Milan's famous Domo Cathedral as he struck the premier; the composition of the replica is unknown, but eyewitnesses suggest it may have been made from marble, iron or another heavy material. The assailant is currently in custody at a police station somewhere in Milan; police have confirmed he has no prior criminal record. The attack on Berlusconi left him requiring treatment for damage to his mouth, a broken nose, cuts to his face and, according to reports from BBC News, at least two broken teeth. He has undergone a precautionary CT Scan. This is not the only attack Berlusconi has received; several years ago a man hit him with a tripod, leaving him with a cut to his forehead.
Three crew members were killed and four were injured early Thursday morning when a Canadian Forces search-and-rescue helicopter crashed into the ocean during a routine training exercise off Canso, N.S. The CH-149 Cormorant helicopter crashed at about 12:30 a.m. AT during a hoist exercise with Canadian Coast Guard and local fishing vessels, military officials said during a news conference at 14 Wing Greenwood, where the helicopter was based. The downed helicopter was pulled from the water Thursday by a recovery vessel. (Courtesy John Green) "It was a very normal training evolution," said Lt.-Col. Tom Hughes, commander of 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron. "We do it frequently. It is one of our bread-and-butter missions to go and hoist people off of boats in darkness." Hughes, whose voice was tight with emotion as he spoke, said everyone on the base has pulled together to support the families of the victims and the injured. (CBC) "We are obviously deeply stricken with the emotion such an accident brings," said Hughes. Military officials have identified the dead as: Sgt. Duane Brazil, 39, a flight engineer from Gander, N.L., married with two daughters. Master Cpl. Kirk Noel, 33, a search-and-rescue technician from St. Anthony, N.L., not married. Cpl. Trevor McDavid, 31, a flight engineer from Sudbury, Ont., married with two daughters. Capt. Ron Bush, 40 and Sgt. Marty Maloney, 48, are in a Halifax hospital with injuries that were described as serious but not life-threatening. Sgt. Duane Brazil, 39, was a flight engineer from Gander, N.L. (Courtesy of 14 Wing Greenwood) The other two injured crewmembers, Capt. Gabriel Ringuette, 41, and Maj. Gordon Ireland, 42, are in hospital in Antigonish. The crew was conducting a hoisting exercise when the helicopter crashed, officials said. The exercise is a common training manoeuvre, in which a helicopter hovers above a ship or water as someone is lowered to complete a rescue. Screams in the water Master Cpl. Kirk Noel, 33, was a search-and-rescue technician from St. Anthony, N.L. (Courtesy of 14 Wing Greenwood) First word of the crash came from a local fishing boat taking part in the training exercise. The Four Sisters picked up the survivors, said Barry Lumsden, deputy mayor of Canso. "They're responsible for them being alive today." 'We're not heroes. We're just ordinary people who did the best in their situation.'-Fisherman Ken Snow, who helped rescue the chopper crew Two divers found the three dead crew members in the partially submerged aircraft, Lumsden said. Cpl. Trevor McDavid, 31, was a flight engineer from Sudbury, Ont. (Courtesy of 14 Wing Greenwood) Ken Snow, who was on the Four Sisters, said the helicopter made a couple of passes overhead. "The next thing I know, I heard a crash," he told CBC News. Motoring slowly through the dark and fog, Snow said they followed the screams and yells of the people in the water. The fishing boat found two people in the water and two more aboard the wreckage. Using fishing lines and a winch, they jury-rigged a sling and plucked the men out of the water. "They were obviously injured and we did the best we could," Snow said. He and another fisherman grabbed the sleeping bags on the boat and wrapped the crew members in them to keep them warm. "We're not heroes," Snow said. "We're just ordinary people who did the best in their situation." Other fishing boats heard the call for help and headed out to the area. They stayed until about 5 a.m., when the coast guard told them to stand down. History of problems The downed helicopter was brought to Mulgrave, N.S., by the coast guard ship Earl Grey. A flight safety team from Ottawa is on its way to the scene to investigate the incident. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said his thoughts and prayers are with the families of the dead crew members. "It is my hope that they find some solace in the knowledge that they do not grieve alone. Canada mourns the loss of these men," Harper said in a statement. In Halifax, the Nova Scotia government has lowered the flag outside Province House to half-mast. Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said he honoured the memory of the victims and is "humbled by their sacrifice." The Canadian Forces' fleet of Cormorants, which are no stranger to flight restrictions, have been suspended from all but emergency flights. Emergency operations The fleet was previously restricted to emergency operations in April 2004, after a British Royal Navy Merlin helicopter similar to the Cormorant crashed, injuring five people. Hairline cracks in the helicopter's tail rotor were blamed. The Cormorant and Merlin helicopters are both manufactured by AgustaWestland Industries and share similar components, said the military. Canada's Cormorants were also placed on restricted duty earlier in 2004 over concerns about potential fuel leaks. Canada began taking delivery of the Cormorants in 2000 to replace its aging fleet of Labrador helicopters. \|\|\|\|\| The Canadian Forces Cormorant helicopter sits on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans vessel following the crash off the coast of Nova Scotia. (CTV image) CTV map detailing the location of the crash off the coast of Nova Scotia. Lt.-Col. Tom Hughes, commander of the 413 Squadron, speaks during the press conference on Thursday. Lt.-Col. Steve Brabant, 14 Wing acting Wing Commander, speaks during a press conference at CFB Greenwood on Thursday. A CH-149 Cormorant helicopter is seen in this file photo. (Master Corporal Rebecca Bell / Canadian Forces Combat Camera) Military halts training flights after chopper crash CTV.ca News Staff The military has cancelled all training flights involving Cormorant helicopters after a fatal crash early Thursday that killed three crew-members. However, the fleet has not been grounded entirely, and the helicopters will still be used when necessary, said Lt.-Col. Tom Hughes, commander of 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron. The fatal crash occurred at about 12:30 a.m. off the coast of eastern Nova Scotia near Canso. The four surviving crew members were rescued and taken to hospital. Two were airlifted to hospital in Halifax with serious but non-life threatening injuries, while the other two were taken to Canso. A visibly upset Hughes spoke at a news conference at 14-Wing Greenwood Thursday morning. "The Cormorant fleet has not been grounded, but we are going to use them on a restrictive basis for essential (search and rescue) operations only," he said. "We are still operational and when a rescue is required we'll go out and save lives when it's needed. We don't say training flights are grounded we just say at the moment we're not going to undertake training flights." Lt.-Col. Steve Brabant, acting commander of 14-Wing Greenwood, described the move as an "operational pause," until the full investigation is complete. He said the military still has confidence in the CH-149 Cormorant aircraft, but will await the results of the investigation into the crash before full operations are resumed. While the Cormorant helicopters initially had some problems with their tail rotors, Brabant said there was no indication that that was the cause of the crash. "Of late they (the tail rotors) have been doing quite well. We had not seen any problems with them in quite some time," he told ATV News. The military has released the names of the crew members who were involved in the crash. The men who were killed were Sgt. Duane Brazil, 39, Master-Cpl. Kirk Bradley Noel, 33, and Cpl. Trevor Sterling McDavid, 31, said a spokesman from 14-Wing public affairs. Brazil was from Gander, N.L., and was married with two daughters, Noel was from St. Anthony, N.L. and was single, and McDavid, who was originally from Sudbury, Ont. was married with two daughters. The injured crew members are Capt. Gabriel Simon Ringuette, 41, Sgt. Martin Francis Moloney, 48, Capt. Ronald Earl Busch, 40, and Major Gordon Clements Ireland, 42. Ireland was born in Northern Ireland, while the other survivors are originally from Ontario. Hughes said few details are known at this point about the cause of the crash. He said the crew was performing a training operation where members are lowered from the helicopter to the deck of the Coast Guard vessel the Four Sisters, then hoisted back up. "We do it frequently. It's one of our bread and butter missions to go and hoist people off of boats in darkness, and so it's something we train for on a regular basis." The wreckage of the helicopter, as well as the bodies of three crew members who died when it went down, have been recovered. Eyewitness saw the helicopter go down An eyewitness who was aboard the Four Sisters told The Canadian Press the crash happened before anyone had time to react. "They veered to the right of the boat, the nose tipped a little bit and she crashed in the water,'' he told CP. "It was so fast that nobody would have had a chance to even remotely say anything.'' But the crew reacted quickly after the crash, bringing sleeping bags, blankets and jackets to keep the survivors warm. "Some of them were pretty cold and shaking and starting to go into shock,'' Bond said. "We did everything that we could do with the little bit of training that we did get, that we did know, that we could think of at the time.'' In his interview with ATV, Brabant offered "a very heartfelt thank you" to the civillians who assisted in the rescue. PM offers condolences Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement Thursday expressing his condolences. "It is with great sorrow that I learned of the tragic search and rescue training accident this morning that took the lives of three brave Canadian Forces members and injured four of their crew mates," Harper said in the statement. "My thoughts and prayers are with their family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. It is my hope that they find some solace in the knowledge that they do no grieve alone. Canada mourns the loss of these men." Military investigators will comb through the wreckage when it arrives in Canso, military spokesman Capt. John Pulchny told CTV Newsnet. On Thursday morning the weather in the area was windy and rainy, but Pulchny said it is not yet known if conditions played a factor in the crash. "At that time it apparently was not favourable conditions but still good enough to do a training mission," he said. Questions about the safety of Cormorant fleet The Italian-made Cormorant helicopters are a relatively new addition to Canada's search and rescue fleet. Fifteen of them were brought in to replace the 1960s-era Labrador helicopters in the late 1990s. They have had some problems since they were put into active duty. In October 2004 the choppers were grounded after cracks were discovered on a tail rotor. At the time, the military said that if the cracks spread they could cause the blade to come off. And in February of the same year two of the helicopters developed fuel leaks, and mechanical problems were reported in the hoist systems. The fleet of 15 choppers cost Canada $779 million. With files from The Canadian Press \|\|\|\|\| $2 Bn for British EH101 Merlin Multi-Role Upgrades Posted 16-Jan-2006 05:54 EH101 shows Blue Kestrel (click to view full) The Royal Navy's EH101 Merlin HM Mk1 helicopters will undergo GBP 1.15 billion ($2.04 billion at current conversion) in upgrades from original manufacturer AugustaWestland and Lockheed Martin UK. The Merlin Capability Sustainment Plus (MCSP) program will target 30 helicopters, with an option for a further 8. Originally built in the 1990s as an anti-submarine amd search-and-rescue aircraft, the Merlin has taken on an increasingly wide range of roles. This extensive upgrade program is designed to give the Royal Navy upgrades in current capabilities, far greater operational flexibility, and reduced lifetime maintenance costs. The Merlin HM Mk1s will be progressively upgraded and returned to service from 2010-2013 by adding a range of technological improvements to the helicopter's avionics, control systems, sensors, and radar. The Royal Navy received 44 EH101 Merlin HM1s between 1998-2002 for training, surface attack and anti-submarine warfare duties, and has since lost 2 in accidents. The remaining helicopters are now expected to remain in service until 2029. Another 22 EH101 Merlin HC3 medium support helicopters currently serve with the UK Royal Air Force. The contracts and details include... Team Lockheed's Role EH101 Cockpit (click to view full) Lockheed Martin UK is the lead integrator for MSCP, and it received a GBP 750 million contract to help implement an open systems electronics architecture in the helicopters, improve the mission systems processing capabilities, add large area flat panel displays, bring new capabilities to the Merlin's Blue Kestrel Radar and Sonar system, et. al. On a tactical level, these improvements will enable 40 times the number of targets to be tracked compared to the current capability, improve submarine detection in shallow water, and enhance night operations. These improvements will be accompanied by improved Human Machine Interfaces, which will allow pilots and mission specialists to take full advantage of the improved platform and capabilities. Lockheed's team includes AEI, BAE, CAE, Selex, Smiths, Thales, and QinetiQ, and the firm estimates that this order creates or secures around 1,400 jobs across the UK's defense industry. AugustaWestland: The HEAT Is On AugustaWestland EH101 (click to view full) An independent but closely related GBP 400 million contract was issued to AgustaWestland. That firm will be responsible for designing, procuring and integrating the new avionics suite, which will include new cockpit primary flight displays incorporating touch screen technology to deliver increased crew efficiency. AgustaWestland is also responsible for designing and integrating an updated communication and navigation system, and all aspects of air vehicle integration. The program will also connect with the move to incorporate more of an Open Systems Architecture (OSA) into the helicopter. OSA uses standard electronics components to make adaption to future requirements faster and easier, instead of requiring expensive and time-consuming efforts to design proprietary circuits, etc. The MCSP programme will also see AgustaWestland introduce its Helicopter Electro Actuation Technology (HEAT) onto the EH101 Merlin HM Mk1. HEAT introduces a state of the art, third generation fly by wire system that uses electrical actuators to provide the control inputs to the helicopter's rotor systems instead of hydraulic units. Unlike any other fly-by-wire system developed for helicopters, the AgustaWestland HEAT system uses electro-actuation for both the main and tail rotors. The brushless electric motor actuators incorporate quadruplex four-lane architecture with fail technology, allowing the system to function safely even after failure of two of the systems. The electrical actuators are maintenance-free and, unlike mechanical systems, do not require the same rigging checks to be made post maintenance. In naval operations, these systems will allow flights in poorer weather than was previously possible, while the improved handling gives the helicopter more agility and better handling in nap-of-the-earth flights. The HEAT system's components underwent extensive testing in 2005 that covered system performance, durability, vibration, environmental, high-intensity radiated fields and lightning strike protection. Results were positive. Testing of the system components and HEAT ground rig will continue in 2006, hopefully leading to a first flight clearance in late 2006. The UK MoD's Bottom Line Overall, this EH101 technology upgrade is expected to reduce pilot workload, cost of ownership, maintenance and weight while giving improved survivability, safety, aircraft handling and agility. The deals also reflects the objectives of the UK's recently published Defence Industrial Strategy white paper, which seeks to safeguard national capabilities across strategically important industry sectors including rotorcraft manufacturing and support. Alan Johnston, managing director of military programmes for AugustaWestland, noted that: "The EH101 is the first helicopter in the world to utilise this advanced technology which will bring significant operational and cost benefits to customers. We are pleased that, by adopting the partnering principles being developed between AgustaWestland and the UK MoD, we will be able to introduce this important technology into the EH101 Merlin HM Mk1 fleet" As Mr. Johnson alluded, The HEAT programme is being funded through an innovative contracting strategy which builds on the partnered principles outlined in the UK's recent Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) Draft. AgustaWestland will offset the HEAT system production costs against future cost of ownership savings that will be made through future Merlin support contracts. The UK MoD has noted, however, that it expects the upgrades to deliver cost reductions of around GBP 575 million through the removal of system obsolescence and reduction in support costs. The project will "enable the cost-effective management of obsolescence on an aircraft which has components and design features that are becoming difficult to support...." The announcements offered no indication of whether the planned modifications would address the structural issues that led to the loss of one Merlin recently and have grounded Canada's EH101 Cormorant search and rescue fleet for several months now. As DID's coverage of the USA's CSAR-X competition noted: "Canada has grounded its EH101/CH-149 Cormorant search-and-rescue fleet due to persistent cracks in the tail rotor hub (cracks believed to have caused the crash of a British EH101 Merlin as well), and reassigned smaller "twin Huey" Bell 412/ CH-146 Griffon helicopters to that role. The Canadians are also experiencing EH101 maintenance requirements and costs about 200% higher than originally forecast." The Merlin HM Mk.1 fleet will be progressively upgraded from 2010 and will see the updated and improved aircraft come into service from 2013. The work to upgrade the aircraft will take place at AgustaWestlandâ€™s Yeovil facility in the UK. Additional Readings & Sources Army Technology - EH101 Transport Helicopter, Italy/ United Kingdom. In the UK, this variant is the EH101 Merlin HC3. UK Ministry of Defense (Jan 12/06) - High-tech boost to keep Navy's Merlin fleet flying high	A Canadian Forces CH-149 of 413 Squadron based at CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia crashed while conducting a night training exercise. Killed in the incident were Sgt. Duane Brazil, 39; Master Cpl. Kirk Noel, 33; and Cpl. Trevor McDavid, 31. The aircraft was conducting a hoist operation at 12:30 AM local time near a Canadian Coast Guard Vessel. The helicopter ditched near the ship and suffered damage to the forward fuselage but remained floating. All seven crew were recovered from the wreckage. In addition to the three killed, four others were taken to hospital. One of the injured was transported by air ambulance to Halifax for further treatment. The CH-149 is a Canadian designation for the AgustaWestland EH101 built in Italy. Canada purchased 15 for Search and Rescue duties. This is the first fatal crash in Canadian service. The aircraft were previously grounded due to cracks in critical rotor components which were believed to be the cause of the crash of a British Merlin (EH101) in 2004. The aircraft involved was number 149914 indicating it was the 14th of the 15 aircraft delivered (serials 149901 to 149915).
Police have arrested a woman over the food poisoning scare at two Sizzler restaurants in Brisbane. The Sizzler chain has closed all of its self-serve salad bars in Australia after rat poison was found in food at two Brisbane restaurants. Police have now arrested a 57-year-old woman in Brisbane's inner-city. The man heading the investigation, Inspector Bob Hytch, says she will be charged later today. "That person is currently at city CIB and we expect that she will be charged later in the day in the city watchhouse," he said. "At this stage she is going to be charged under section 238 of the Criminal Code in relation to the contamination of goods. "We do expect other charges to be laid, but as I said this arrest has only just been made and we are in the early stages of our investigation." Employment concerns Meanwhile, the union representing hundreds of Sizzler staff says it has grave fears for employment at the restaurant. The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union's Ian Burgett says the union has not spoken to management yet, but it is concerned jobs could be lost. "It depends how long this goes on, until they get back to full operations," he said. "A large number of their work force is young and casual and it could impact on those people." \|\|\|\|\| Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson says "it's not good enough" that Sizzler took 37 days to report a possible case of food contamination in to Queensland Health. The company has closed all self-serve salad bars in Australia until further notice after rat pellets were found in salad bar dishes at two restaurants in Brisbane. Mr Robertson says he will consider making it compulsory for food outlets to report such incidents immediately. "Well, I'm informed that there is no mandatory reporting for such instance under the Food Act, so this was actually one of the instances that was thrashed out over the last number of years through the review of the Food Act," he said. "I think this is a case that - a real life case - that we should perhaps learn some lessons from and re-open that debate." A Queensland restaurant industry body has warned against an overreaction to the poisoning scare. Restaurant and Catering Queensland CEO James Visser says while the incidents are serious, food safety standards are generally are high. "I think we also need to put it in perspective in terms of the number of meals that are served in Queensland every single day that are perfectly safe," he said. "Queensland has an overall excellent reputation where it comes to food safety, these particular isolated incidents though we're taking exceptionally seriously." \|\|\|\|\| March 1, 2006 - 1:14PM A 57-year-old woman will face court on Thursday charged with contaminating food at two Brisbane Sizzler restaurants with rat poison. Queensland Police Inspector Bob Hytch said the woman was charged over the contamination of the salad bars at Sizzler's Toowong outlet on January 20, and at the Myer Centre in the city last Saturday. He said it was the same woman police had urged to come forward on Tuesday, and who had told Sizzler's staff at the Myer Centre she found green pellets in her vegetable soup. "I would like to stress that the police investigation is ongoing and this is the first step," Insp Hytch said. He said there have been "no threats or demands" in relation to the incident and there was no evidence so far that any other stores were affected. The woman, from Brisbane, was arrested in the CBD and charged with two counts of contamination of goods and four counts of an act intending to cause grievous bodily harm. She will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday. Sizzler Australasia managing director Bo Ryan said despite the arrest, he expected the self service salad bars at the company's 28 restaurants nationwide to be shut down for between seven and 10 days. "This issue has highlighted some shortfalls in our product security management and we have a couple of things that we need to complete at this stage before we will introduce procedures to every restaurant in the country," he said. Mr Ryan said the shutting down of the salad bars will cost the company millions of dollars. "We are talking about an awful lot of money, in the sales environment its hundreds of thousands of dollars each day," he said. Sizzler has been criticised over the time it took for the results of the first contamination to be made available. The company sent the sample to Brisbane laboratory Biotech on January 20 and they were then sent off to AgriQuality New Zealand for further analysis. The results returned last Monday and authorities were informed. Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the slowness of reporting the results showed the restaurant chain had not "come through this in a particular flash way". "I don't think Sizzler handled this particular case well at all," he said. "They sent it off to a private overseas laboratory instead of alerting Queensland Health and utilising our services which could have had the turnaround of a couple of days to determine what the foreign matter was." Mr Robertson said the recently passed Food Act 2006 would be toughened up with the inclusion of mandatory reporting of cases where the tampering of food is suspected. It will also include protocols to ensure whenever there is food tampering businesses will know the correct procedures and responsibilities. "We don't want to tie the industry up with red tape or unworkable requirements," he said. "What we want is something that is very practical, easily understood and easily implemented to give Queenslanders confidence the food they are eating is safe."	Queensland, Australia police have charged a 57-year-old woman with the alleged contamination of the salad bar at two Sizzler restaurants. Rat poison pellets were found in food at Sizzler restaurants at Toowong on January 20 and the Brisbane Myer Centre outlet last Sunday. Yesterday Sizzler closed salad bars nationwide, but they did not report the incidents to the Queensland Health Department until last Monday. Queensland’s Health Minister Stephen Robertson criticised the restaurant chain for delaying reporting a possible incident of food contamination for 37 days. "I think this is a case that - a real life case - that we should perhaps learn some lessons from,” he said. Queensland Police Inspector Bob Hytch said the woman is the same woman police asked to come forward after she told Sizzler staff she had found pellets in soup at the Myer Centre restaurant last Saturday. The woman is expected to face Brisbane Magistrates' Court tomorrow charged with two counts of contamination of goods and four counts of an act intending to cause grievous bodily harm.
Dell ditches Itanium By Tom Krazit, IDG News Service and Manek Dubash, Techworld Dell is pulling out of the Itanium business, closing the door on a product line that was only ever a marginal part of Dell's server product line. Intel's Erica Fields confirmed the hardware vendor's decision yesterday, saying: "We've got a host of [server vendors] that sell Itanium. Dell was one of them, but frankly, their impact on sales has been negligible". Dell did not return multiple calls seeking comment, although this morning, the Itanium-based PowerEdge 7250 remained on its website, presumably with the aim of emptying the stock room. However, only last February, Dell's Jeff Clarke, responsible for marketing Dell's enterprise products, said: "We do have an Itanium-based system because customers have asked for one." Dell's server business, unlike those of HP, IBM, and Sun, grew along with the introduction of Intel's Xeon processor in the mid-1990s. Xeon changed the server market, coming in as a much cheaper alternative to RISC processors that could run Windows and Linux. Dell's initial forays into the server market consisted of relatively inexpensive x86 servers, a type that today makes up about 90 per cent of all servers shipped worldwide. After AMD demonstrated that 64-bit extensions to the x86 instruction set offered a smoother transition to 64-bit computing, Intel released a version of Xeon with similar technology, and Dell now offers 64-bit Xeon processors across its product line. After Intel dropped its plans to make Itanium its primary server processor, it also stopped developing chipsets for the processor, leaving that to partners such as HP, Fujitsu and others, said Gordon Haff, principal analyst with Illuminata. Dell does not invest nearly as much money in research and development as do those companies, and it really wasn't in a position to develop a chipset for Montecito, the dual-core version of Itanium that is scheduled to launch this year, he said. "It's not like Dell had been making investments in Itanium and suddenly decided it wasn't going to do that and pull back its support. It had a relatively older product it wasn't promoting at all, and it really doesn't have a near-term path where it could move forward if it wanted to," Haff said. Whence came the Itanium? Itanium is a processor for high-end servers in data centres and high-performance computing shops. When the CPU was first mooted in the early 1990s, Intel had hoped to make Itanium the processor of choice for 64-bit computers. However, it uses a different instruction set than the 32-bit x86 Xeon processor, and software developers initially baulked at having to port all their applications to an unfamiliar instruction set. The chip maker has since backed right off its original statements about Itanium and is now promoting the chip as a high-performance replacement for RISC (reduced instruction set computing) processors in Unix servers from companies such as Sun and IBM. HP is a co-designer of the processor and has embraced Itanium as the processor of choice for its high-end servers, and companies such as Fujitsu and NEC also sell servers with the processor. << previous article \| next article >> \|\|\|\|\| Dell has become the latest OEM to abandon Itanium, Intel's ill-fated 64 bit chip. The processor's future has been looking downbeat since Intel decided to adopt AMD's 64 bit instruction set for its future servers, relegating IA-64 to high end niches. Dell's decision is hardly surprising given its poor sales figures. Dell lives or dies by high volumes, but last year shipped just 1,371 Itanium servers. That's up from just 12 the previous year, but it was enough to give Dell five per cent of the IA-64 market. HP, Intel's partner on the chip project, shipped 76 per cent of IA-64 systems. And it had all started out so promisingly. Work at Intel on a 64 bit VLIW processor began in late 1991, and in spring 1994 HP formally pooled its own parallel work on a next-generation architecture into a joint venture with Intel. Big iron vendors scrambled to incorporate IA-64 into their roadmaps, while analysts scrambled to align themselves with the Intel spin. In August 1997, Martin Reynolds, then VP of technology assessment at Dataquest, predicted that Itanium would replace 32-bit Intel processors by around 2002. And his was one of the more pessimistic predictions at the time. In 1999, razor-sharp analyst company IDC predicted that the Itanium market would be worth around $33bn by 2001. It later revised this down to $28bn by 2004. IDC's best brains missed their target by only $26.4bn. While the world waited for a competitive and affordable Itanic processor, rival RISC vendors scuppered their own programs. Motorola's 88000, PA-RISC, MIPS and DEC/Compaq's Alpha were all either abandoned or put into mothballs. If an Itanium starts up in a forest - can anyone hear it boot? But the technical challenges that the new architecture posed to compiler writers - who assumed the burden for parallelizing the code efficiently - were great. The heat and power requirements of the chip were higher than anyone expected. And meanwhile, both Intel's 32 bit server processors and big iron RISC, like IBM's POWER chip, didn't stand still. As a consequence, only the most specialized software was maintained for Itanium. For several years the flagship OEMs have made only token attempts to keep their IA-64 programs alive. IBM jumped ship earlier this year, and Hewlett Packard removed it from their workstation lines in 2003. But the band plays on. Hitachi is continuing to showcase IA-64 systems in its 'Harmonious Center of Competency'. ® \|\|\|\|\| It seems as though the road Intel is traveling down with the Itanium has been long and bumpy. The IA-64 architecture looks to be taking another hit, as Dell will be discontinuing sales of Itanium-based servers. It's part of Dell's decision to stay away from the "big iron" server market. Instead, the Texas-based computer maker will concentrate on promoting and selling x86 servers using both 32-bit and 64-bit Xeons. Itanium 2 PowerEdge 7250 servers are currently available from Dell (sorry, no coupon codes), but one can only find them by searchingItanium systems are no longer promoted on the company's website. When Intel first released the Itanium, Dell was a bit skeptical about its prospects. The company sold an Itanium workstation, but dropped it back in late 2001. However, Dell had a change of heart in November 2002 when it decided to sell Itanium 2 servers instead of AMD's Opteron. The Itanium 2 has not been the strong player in the 64-bit server market that Intel hoped it would be, and I'm beginning to wonder if it has much of a future in front of it. 2004 sales fell far below Intel's targets, and Dell isn't the only company to drop the Itanium this year. IBM phased it out in February in favor of severs running its own POWER CPUs. In hopes of reinvigorating the Itanium 2, a new Itanium Solutions Alliance was launched by Intel and HP (which has invested heavily in Itanium development since the mid 1990s) late last month. The dual-core Montecito is due early next year, along with a unified chipset for the 64-bit Xeon and Itanium 2 CPUs. Intel's problem is that the server market has changed markedly since the Itanium and its IA-64 ISA was originally envisioned as a replacement for x86. The last two years alone have seen the introduction of inexpensive 64-bit x86 CPUs in the form of the AMD Opteron, which proved popular enough to force Intel into the AMD-created budget x86 server market. In addition, Microsoft has been scaling back support for Itanium 2 in its OS releases. Windows Server 2003 R2 won't support it, and Longhorn Server will only have support for "higher-end jobs" on Itanium 2. That means no support for "fax server, Windows Media Services, Windows SharePoint Services, file and print servers, and others," according to Microsoft's bulletin. Taken together, Dell's decision to drop out of the Itanium server market makes sense. The future of 64-bit servers for Intel is beginning to look a lot more like x86-64 than IA-64, which may ultimately lead to the Itanium 2 suffering a slow death by a thousand paper cuts. [ Discuss ] \|\|\|\|\| Dell snaps at Sun's heels as quarterly sales hit $12.2bn Sales of servers grew by 5.6 per cent in the most recent quarter to $12.2bn, according to a new study from analyst firm IDC. This marked a ninth consecutive quarter of growth for the server market. Improvements centred around so-called volume servers, inexpensive industry standard models often powered by x86 processors made by Intel or AMD. Volume server sales increased by 11.1 per cent year-over-year, and midrange servers showed a 4.3 per cent sales increase. Sales of high end systems, however, which include mainframes, shrunk by three per cent. Server sales increased across all operating systems. Linux systems led the pack with 45.1 per cent revenue growth, although its 11.5 per cent share of the overall market remains small relative to Windows and Unix systems. Windows grew 14.3 per cent, claiming 33.5 per cent of all server sales. Unix remained king with 35.2 per cent share, despite a meagre sales increase of 2.5 per cent. IBM held on to the lead in the overall server market in terms of revenues, claiming a share of 31.9 per cent. HP followed with 28.5 per cent. Sun Microsystems and Dell recorded 11.3 and 10.5 per cent market share respectively, but Dell keeps closing on its rival. Rival analyst firm Gartner showed a similar picture earlier in the week, pegging overall server sales at $12.1bn, an increase of 4.7 per cent year-over-year. Although the two analyst firms often show different pictures in their figures, they do agree on general trends and shifts in market share.	An Intel spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Dell would no longer be offering servers with Intel Itanium CPUs. The spokesperson said "Losing Dell as an Itanium customer is unfortunate but frankly, we see their impact as negligible." Servers with Itanium CPUs are no longer promoted on Dell's website, though a few can be found by searching. Dell is the largest seller of computers with Intel processors. Dell currently sells 10.5 percent of all servers worldwide. The majority of Dell servers use an IA-32 (colloquially "x86") chip, but a growing number use the 64-bit Intel Xeon. Sales of Itanium servers have been very poor; last year Dell sold only 1,371 Itanium servers, up from 12 the previous year. In February, IBM also phased out Itanium-based servers, replacing them with IBM Power CPUs. Fujitsu, HP, Hitachi NEC, SGI and Unisys are the only major manufacturers to still offer Itanium-based servers. The Intel Itanium was designed in the early 1990s. It was intended to be the processor of choice for 64-bit computers, but the processor suffered from several major flaws preventing widespread adoption. Unlike competing AMD64 chips, the Intel Itanium uses a different instruction set from IA-32 chips. An emulation feature allows them to run IA-32 code, but only very slowly; users were forced to choose between accepting greatly-reduced performance and expending time and programmers' salaries porting their software. Even Intel has acquiesced to AMD's leadership in this field, designing chips with a compatible EM64T technology.
Simpson was convicted on 12 charges and faces at least six years in prison American football star and actor OJ Simpson could face life in a Nevada jail when he is sentenced in Las Vegas on Friday. The former Buffalo Bills running back was convicted in October on 12 charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to kidnap and assault with a deadly weapon. He was found guilty of robbing two dealers of sports memorabilia in 2007. The armed robbery charges carry a mandatory jail sentence, and kidnapping carries a possible life term. Simpson, 61, who denied the charges and is expected to appeal, was remanded in custody pending sentencing by Judge Jackie Glass. He was acquitted in 1995 of murdering his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. That verdict shocked many in the US and was dubbed "the trial of the century". Simpson was later found liable for the deaths in a civil case and ordered to pay $33.5m (£19m) to Mr Goldman's family. 'Six years' In the latest trial, Simpson was found guilty of kidnapping two sports memorabilia dealers and holding them at the Palace Station hotel in Las Vegas in September 2007. OJ SIMPSON CONVICTIONS Conspiracy to commit a crime Conspiracy to kidnap Two counts of first degree kidnapping Burglary in possession of a deadly weapon Two counts of armed robbery Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon Two counts of coercion with use of a deadly weapon Profile: OJ Simpson The former National Football League star had seized the pair in an attempt to reclaim items in their possession related to his sporting career, which Simpson claimed still belonged to him. A Las Vegas jury found both Simpson and his accomplice, Clarence Stewart, guilty on all charges. Neither man testified at the trial. It remains unclear whether Simpson will address the court during sentencing, but Stewart was expected to speak, his lawyer said. "Best-case scenario we're hoping for is six years," said the lawyer, Brent Bryson. "That's the bottom-end number before being eligible for parole." Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Posted Mon, 01 Jul 2019 17:13:00 GMT by Samantha WaitesWe present some business ideas for those of you who think that the future is greener than the present- we can think of some who don't ---. The advice is general and does not apply exclusively to any one nation. Posted Mon, 29 Apr 2019 14:30:00 GMT by Jane GoodallWe use the tiger (this is a prime Siberian example) to show up our failure to conserve wild species, but while we monopolise all the food that animals require, we could remember that it is not only their conservation we urgently need to cover. It is also our own indulgences. Posted Wed, 05 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT by JW. DoweyHow can you describe the threats existing to species, both large and small? Using the highly-threatened primates, we can perhaps see how they have contrived to exist until the current time. Then we can better understand just how we can prevent factors simply wiping them from the face of the earth, often through ignorance, lack of care, prejudice and of course the universal profit motive. Conservation begins in our minds, but demands much more than that. Posted Wed, 12 Sep 2018 13:31:00 GMT by JW, DoweyWhat does that blue butterfly do when you are not watching. We still have to discover exactly how the Eurasian large blue exploits Myrmica ants, but many of its relatives are either cuckoos (eg. (Phengaris alcon), or outright predators like the AustralasianLiphyra brassolis larvae ,eating the whole brood of the green ants they live with. How did such diverse habits evolve? Well, start reading here. Posted Wed, 20 Jun 2018 08:35:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongFor several years, excitement has been building over the Atlantic presence of Manta birostris and Manta cf birostris/ this is the classification system trying to tell us of a potential new species that is related to genus Manta. Little progress has been made on this W. Atlantic species of oceanic manta, but it cant be long before we can confirm new knowledge of parenting and juvenile growth in at least the main species, which seems to live alongside the potential new manta. Posted Fri, 01 Jun 2018 12:10:00 GMT by Stefan RanstrandOcean plastic pollution could triple in a decade without action by the ocean economy. TOMRA CEO Stefan Ranstrand responds to the UK Governments Foresight Future of the Sea report and explains how container deposit schemes and sensor-based recycling sorting could provide a solution. Posted Wed, 02 May 2018 07:50:00 GMT by JW. DoweyLook at those modified wings and the bee antennae. But this is no stinger or biter. Its a clearwing moth, and you can find similar species near your own location worldwide. Its all about the mimic, and its model- in this case a generalised stingless bee. Trouble is, you wont find this guy. Good luck, but he seems to be almost extinct. One of those many new species that will disappear rapidly, just like many others that have been seen just as we destroy their habitat. Posted Wed, 04 Apr 2018 08:39:22 GMT by Dave ArmstrongThere is a songster we have missed. He sings far beneath the ice in the dark of a polar winter, so maybe its about time we listened to the incredible songs that this whale concocts every winter, every month and possibly each day! Posted Tue, 19 Dec 2017 11:15:00 GMT by Bobbi PetersonYou can deny climate change as much as you like. The evidence contradicts you. Any logical study takes account of scientific data which can be reproduced. That is the difference between media reports and the global warming reality. Here we have an up-to-date report on the state of one nation, with many others also recognising and acting on how to combat climate change in a coordinated global response. Posted Fri, 08 Dec 2017 12:30:00 GMT by JW.DoweyIUCN must be listened to, unless you are one of those who disregards any science on the grounds that it could be fake. Acting is the opposite to disinterest, but what can we do to counter the actions of great industries or the governments of large populations of people? The answer seems bland, but it proves individuals are always important. Posted Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:10:01 GMT by JW. DoweyFrom Myanmar, through the Congo to the Atlantic forests of Brazil, we are neglecting our rainforests, but temperate forests are also suffering, often from pest influences as global warming really takes hold in certain regions. How to help prevent a treeless future - as always, take these pieces of well-informed, well-rounded and interesting advice. Posted Tue, 26 Sep 2017 09:34:49 GMT by Dave ArmstrongWhere will you wander? The world may be becoming smaller but there are many spots to choose from if you love to explore. A new book reveals many possibilities for those who hanker after a getaway. Whether you imagine shivering in the Antarctic or sweltering in a swamp, this is the ideas factory for you. Posted Wed, 06 Sep 2017 07:15:00 GMT by JW.DoweyDoes the dog in your living room have any similarity to those wild species that we are losing from our savanna and forests? This new discovery of signalling a hunt could lead us to more understanding of much more than our domestic animals. The beauty of the painted dog lies in intricate behaviour and care systems which maintain a society we should envy. Posted Mon, 04 Sep 2017 14:58:01 GMT by Dave ArmstrongZero waste organisations have been spreading to many nations over the last 10 years. Now weve been asking the UK population just how much they care about waste. Posted Wed, 30 Aug 2017 09:45:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongFor the first time, two otters have a comparative study on their ability to learn from others in their clan. This could lead to study of more animals in this area, providing valuable evidence of evolutionary trends in sociability. Posted Tue, 29 Aug 2017 09:25:00 GMT by JW.DoweyHow can we fight the build-up of plastic on landfill, shores and in the middle of the ocean, as well as inside the fish we eat! Fashion can provide a small part of the answer with this new crowd-funded company called Asanox. Plus, you can actually go and pick up the plastic contaminating our best shorelines, alongside sas.org. Posted Mon, 28 Aug 2017 08:59:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongOCEANA are fishing closer to home on this occasion, hoping to catch governments and those who wish to destroy our precious, and decreasing stocks of habitats , fish and even sea grass, mud and bivalves. Posted Wed, 23 Aug 2017 09:25:00 GMT by JW. DoweyPeople wonder why and how hunted animals became the quieter beasts of burden and table fodder of modern times. Here is an interesting moment in time, 14,500 years ago as Jordanians hunted sheep and goats with simple bone and stone weapons, prior to their domestication. Posted Wed, 16 Aug 2017 07:45:00 GMT by TalatGreen web hosting is a simple, inexpensive step businesses can take to reduce the environmental impact of their websites. This is how it works... Posted Mon, 31 Jul 2017 08:59:00 GMT by Dave ArmstrongXmas comes very early for us this year, with a tremendous guide to all our ancestors and their evolution into modern forms. You will need a subscription to Nature to read the details but we have the lowdown on the nitty-gritty of fishies and birdies too! 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. \|\|\|\|\| Cossack Explains OJ Simpson Sentencing LAS VEGAS -- A weary and beaten-looking O.J. Simpson was put away Friday for at least nine years -- and perhaps the rest of his life -- for an armed robbery in a hotel room, bringing a measure of satisfaction to those who believed the football star got away with murder more than a decade ago. The 61-year-old Hall of Famer listened stone-faced, his wrists in shackles, as Judge Jackie Glass pronounced the sentence -- a maximum 33 years behind bars with eligibility for parole after less than a third of that. Moments before the sentence, which could likely translate to a maximum of 19 years served in prison, Simpson made a rambling, five-minute plea for leniency, simultaneously apologizing for the holdup as a foolish mistake and trying to justify his actions. He choked back tears as he told Glass: "I didn't mean to steal anything from anybody ... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of it." A Cautionary Tale What did we learn from the sentence handed to O.J. Simpson on Friday? Maybe it's that we need to rethink the hero game, writes ESPN.com's Howard Bryant. Story The judge said several times that her sentence in the Las Vegas case had nothing to do with Simpson's 1995 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. "I'm not here to try and cause any retribution or any payback for anything else," Glass said. But Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, and sister, Kim, said they were delighted with the sentence. "We are thrilled, and it's a bittersweet moment," Fred Goldman said. "It was satisfying seeing him in shackles like he belongs." Simpson said he and five other men were simply trying to retrieve sports memorabilia and other mementos when he stormed a Las Vegas hotel room occupied by two dealers on Sept. 13, 2007. He insisted the items, which included his first wife's wedding ring, had been stolen from him. But the judge emphasized that it was a violent confrontation in which at least one gun was drawn, and she said someone could have been shot. She said the evidence was overwhelming, with the planning, the confrontation itself and the aftermath all recorded on audio or videotape. Glass, a no-nonsense judge known for tough sentences, imposed such a complex series of consecutive and concurrent sentences that even many lawyers watching the case were confused as to how much time Simpson got. Simpson could serve up to 33 years, according to Elana Roberto, the judge's clerk. In state prison, he will remain in his own cell protected from the general prison population because of his celebrity. Simpson's lawyer suggested again that his client was a victim of payback for his acquittal in Los Angeles. "It really made us all aware that despite our best efforts, it's very difficult to separate the California case from the Nevada case," attorney Yale Galanter said. Jackie Glass, a no-nonsense judge known for her tough sentences, imposed such a complex series of consecutive and concurrent sentences that even many attorneys watching the case were confused as to how much time Simpson got. Some people who followed the case said justice had finally caught up with Simpson. "You do things and you've got to expect karma to come around," said Greg Wheatley, 32, of Los Angeles. Simpson was led away to prison immediately after the judge refused to permit him to go free on bail while he appeals. Simpson's co-defendant and former golfing buddy, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, was sentenced to up to 27 years in prison but would be eligible for parole after 7½ years, court officials said. The judge could have sent both men to prison for the rest of their lives. The state parole agency recommended at least 18 years. The defense pushed for the minimum six years. District Attorney David Roger revealed that Simpson and Stewart had both been offered plea agreements during the trial that would have resulted in lesser sentences. He would not provide details. The prosecutor also said that because the crimes were considered violent felonies, Simpson and Stewart will not be eligible for good-behavior credits to lessen their sentences. He did not expect them to be immediately released when they do seek parole. The Goldmans took a share of the credit for Simpson's fate, saying their relentless pursuit of his assets to satisfy a $33.5 million wrongful-death judgment "pushed him over the edge" and led him to commit the robbery to recover some of his valuable sports memorabilia. Nicole Brown Simpson's sister, Denise Brown, released a statement from her family referring to the date her sister and Ron Goldman were killed. "Allowing wealth, power and control to consume himself, he made a horrific choice on June 12, 1994, which has spiraled into where he is today," the statement said. Simpson and Stewart were both brought to the courtroom in dark blue jail uniforms, their hands chained to their waists. Simpson, who had not been expected to speak, delivered his statement to the judge in a hoarse voice before a hushed courtroom. Both men were convicted Oct. 3 of 12 criminal charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery. Simpson's sentence included 15 years for two kidnapping counts with a maximum "enhancement" of six years because a gun was involved, plus a maximum of 12 more years on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. "We were preparing Mr. Simpson for the worst," Galanter said. "We felt we did really well. Obviously, he's upset about the possibility of doing nine years." Simpson would be eligible for parole after nine years, which include six years on the kidnapping charges and three on the counts for assault with a deadly weapon. Galanter planned to file a notice of appeal later Friday. He believed the Goldman family's presence in the courtroom was inappropriate. Most of the 63 seats in the courtroom were taken by media, lawyers and family members of the defendants. Fifteen members of the public were also allowed. After sentencing was over, the Goldmans left the courtroom and Kim threw her arms around her father and wept. Simpson's sisters, Shirley Baker and Carmelita Durio, were also in the courtroom and declined to comment, but Baker said on her way out: "It's not over." Jurors who heard 13 days of testimony said after the verdict that they were convinced of Simpson's guilt because of audio recordings that were secretly made of the robbery at the Palace Station casino hotel. The confrontation involved sports memorabilia brokers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong. It was recorded by collectibles dealer Thomas Riccio, who was acting as middleman. "Don't let nobody out of this room!" Simpson commands on the recordings, and he instructs other men to scoop up items. On Tuesday, the judge is scheduled to sentence four former co-defendants who took plea deals and testified against Simpson and Stewart. Michael McClinton, Charles Cashmore, Walter Alexander and Charles Ehrlich could receive probation or prison time. McClinton could get up to 11 years; the others face less. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.	Former United States football player O.J. Simpson was sentenced to prison for 15 years yesterday morning, on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at a hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Simpson's accomplice in the crime, one Clarence Stewart, was also given a thirty-three year sentence. Both will be eligible for parole in five years. O.J. Simpson in 1990 Simpson, aged 61, was arrested on twelve charges of kidnapping and armed robbery in which he and his accomplices used firearms to force two sports memorabilia dealers to give him several items that Simpson felt had been stolen from him. Simpson, seeming close to tears, told the court for the first time on Friday that he was very sorry, and that he was only attempting to recover family heirlooms. "I realize now that I was stupid, I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I'm sorry, I'm sorry for all of it," he said. Judge Jackie Glass, however, described Simpson as arrogant and ignorant. "Everything in this case was on tape and it was your own words that have brought you here because we heard it all and what came out on the tapes gave evidence in this case was overwhelming," she said. "That was a violent event, guns were brought, at least one gun was drawn, the potential for harm in that room was tremendous," she continued. "You knew what was going on there. I have to tell you now that it was much more than stupidity." Simpson will remain in solitary confinement for the entire period of the sentence due to his celebrity status. In total, Simpson will spend at least 9 years and as much as 33 years behind bars on a total of twelve charges.
Muhaydin Mire, 29, appears in court after being charged over incident in Leytonstone, east London, on Saturday A police officer stands guard outside Leytonstone station in north London on 6 December, 2015 (AFP) A man held over of a stabbing attack at an east London tube station has appeared in court charged with attempted murder of a 56-year-old man. Muhaydin Mire, 29, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Monday for a brief hearing over the attack at Leytonstone on Saturday. Prosecutors told the court that the attack was an act of terrorism and images and flags associated with Islamic State were allegedly found on his phone. Mire entered the courtroom handcuffed but had them removed in the dock. Mire, who wore a light grey t-shirt and tracksuit trousers, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address. He was charged on Monday over the incident, where one person was seriously injured, although it is not believed his injuries are life threatening. Mire is accused of punching his victim before and cutting a 12cm wound in his neck. The victim was in surgery for five hours after the attack. The accused also allegedly brandished a knife at other bystanders. Police fired three Tasers at the alleged attacker before he was arrested. Mire was remanded in custody until Friday, when he will appear at the Old Bailey. \|\|\|\|\| Image copyright AFP Image caption Police continued to maintain a presence at the station on Sunday A man has been charged with attempted murder after a knife attack at Leytonstone Tube station in London on Saturday, the Met Police has said. Muhaydin Mire, who is 29 and of Sansom Road, east London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later. A 56-year-old man was left with "serious" stab wounds and another person was injured during the attack at around 19:00 GMT. A man was arrested after being Tasered by police officers. On Sunday, the Met appealed to anyone with photos or video of the attack at the Central Line station to contact them. \|\|\|\|\| Published on Dec 7, 2015 David Cameron pays tribute to police officers and the person who shouted 'You ain't no Muslim bruv' following an attack at Leytonstone Tube Station in London. A man wielding a knife stabbed three people before reportedly saying "This is for Syria" during the attack at the east London station on Saturday night. \|\|\|\|\| 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 \|\|\|\|\| This weekend, as storm clouds loomed, schools shut, and the military poured into cities awash with water, the Conservative party held fast to a familiarly defensive position, summed up by Environment Minister Rory Stewart's assertion: “This is an extreme and very unprecedented event.” Such language paints the weekend's floods as an unfortunate one-off; an unpredictable but excusable whim of Mother Nature. In fact, experts say, such events are anything but. Rather they are man-made and set to become ever more frequent. After the flooding of 2013/14, an article in The Times drew on research by the University of Southampton to place the blame on urbanisation. This argued that while the number of annual flood events may have increased, so has our population – and with it the volume of paved-over floodplains, deforested uplands, intensive farming, and degraded soils. However, Dame Julia Slingo, chief scientist at the Met Office, has linked the record rainfall to an even more troubling (and expensive) trend: climate change. Although declining to comment on the specifics of Storm Desmond, her statement for the Met Office news blog made it clear that, "all the evidence from fundamental physics, and our understanding of our weather systems, suggests there may be a link between climate change and record breaking winter rainfall". This is something academics and environmental campaigners, such as Guy Shrubsole from Friends of the Earth, have been predicting for years: “As climate negotiators fiddle in Paris, Britain floods. Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme rainfall and floods in Britain and around the world,"Shrubsole said Shrubsole's concerns are backed up by science. After the storms of 2013/14, researchers studied winters with similar conditions and found evidence to suggest that extreme rain events are seven times more likely than on a planet which is not experiencing global warming. Another study concluded that, if emissions stay high, wet UK winters would be 25 per cent more likely. Yesterday, after being reminded of such findings, the government eventually conceded that Storm Desmond would have to be reviewed within the context of climate change and it's long term impact on Britain's weather. Liz Truss, the Environment Secretary, acknowledged that the extreme weather was "consistent with the trends we're seeing in terms of climate change" and that the department would review its models to ensure they were fit for future purpose. Such recognition could not have come a moment too soon. When the Energy Secretary Amber Rudd leads UK negotiations in Paris this week, she will come face-to-face with representatives from countries where increasingly extreme weather has caused incomparable suffering: 340,000 were left homeless after heavy floods in Jakarta last year; millions in East Africa are wracked by a drought exacerbated by climate change. Fully recognising the link between extreme weather and climate change will of course be costly – precipitating further spending at home and on aid abroad – but it is perhaps increasingly unavoidable. In the UK, the government is already being attacked for failing to adequately prepare the nation’s flood defences. Despite promises to protect an additional 300,000 homes by 2021, critics say the £2.3bn of allocated spending was too little, too late. According to Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, nearly 300 defence schemes have been shelved in recent years. Storm Desmond has forced the government to "look again" at its flood defence plans. Yet unless we face the reality of a climate-altered future with a wide range of solutions, Britain might not only be embarrassed in Paris but also washed up at home. \|\|\|\|\| 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	A UK court has remanded a man in custody after he appeared in court over a stabbing incident in the capital London. Muhaydin Mire, a 29-year-old from east London, was charged with attempted murder after reportedly at least two people were injured, one seriously, in on Saturday. The suspect, who spoke only to confirm personal details in yesterday's hearing at , is also set to appear at the on Friday. The motivation for the attack is not yet clear, although prosecutors told yesterday's hearing imagery associated with was thought to be on the suspect's phone. Witnesses reportedly heard the suspect shout the words "this is for Syria" when the attack occurred. The voted in favour of UK military action against Daesh in Syria three days earlier. The have said they are treating this attack as a terrorist incident. David Cameron yesterday condemned the attack as "hideous" and praised the public and police response. "It's obviously a hideous attack," he said, "and we've all seen pictures of it and read about it and first of all, full credit to the person and people who took on this attacker, and full credit to the very brave police officers who managed to subdue him ... I think this event simply showed again what brilliant and brave and dedicated people there are when it comes to our police officers." Earlier, leader said: "The stabbing in Leytonstone is absolutely shocking. My thoughts are with the victim and his family." The Prime Minister also endorsed the sentiment of the phrase 'You ain't no Muslim, bruv', which one man is heard to shout in video of the suspect's arrest, and which subsequently became a Twitter trend. "Some of us have dedicated speeches and media appearances and soundbites and everything to this subject," Cameron said, "but 'you ain't no Muslim, bruv' said it all much better than I ever could and thank you because that will be applauded around the country." Additionally, , Labour Party candidate for , used the hashtag in a tweet in which he added: "To defeat extremism we must directly challenge their poisonous ideology".
BREAKING NEWS Drum victims' names suppressed A MAN and a woman have been refused bail after being charged with the murders of two people whose bodies were found in smouldering drums on the NSW south coast. Stacey Lea-Caton, 27, appeared before Nowra Local Court this morning charged with two counts of murder. His co-accused, Kim Leanne Snibson, 36, is also charged with two counts of murder but she did not appear before the court. Magistrate Doug Dick today suppressed the names of the dead man and woman, whose bodies were found yesterday by firefighters called to extinguish a blaze in the Tomerong State Forest, about 15km south of Nowra. The deceased couple's burnt out utility truck was found shortly afterwards near the HMAS Albatross naval base, about 10km from where the bodies were found. In court today, Ms Snibson's legal representative applied for a suppression order on her identity because her children attended a local school. But Mr Dick denied the request, saying the court proceedings had to remain transparent. Neither applied for bail and it was formally refused. The matter was adjourned until April 10. \|\|\|\|\| Two charged over bodies in barrels By Samantha Broun for CNN YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Sydney (Australia) Crime Justice and Rights or or Create Your Own SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- A man and woman have been refused bail on murder charges, after two burning barrels containing human remains were found in bushland about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of Sydney on the Australian east coast. Volunteer firefighters made the gruesome discovery in a state forest near the town of Nowra on Sunday, following a telephone call to emergency services of a possible bushfire in the area. But instead of a bushfire, they found two smoldering 44-gallon (166-liter) drums containing two bodies. A missing couple's burned-out utility truck was found shortly afterwards parked near the Nowra naval base, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from where the bodies were found. The charged man, Stacey Lea Caton, 27, appeared before Nowra's local court Monday while the woman, Kim Leanne Snibson, 36, did not, Australian Associated Press reported. Snibson's legal representative sought a suppression order on her identity because Snibson's children attended a local school, according to AAP. The application was denied. Police said the victims were believed to be a man and woman from the local area and probably knew their killers. In court Monday, magistrate Doug Dick suppressed the names of the victims, AAP reported. The matter has been adjourned until April 10, according to AAP. Forensic tests are being done to establish the causes of death.	A man and a woman have been charged with the murders of two people whose bodies were found burning in oil drums in the Tomerong State Forest, about 210 kilometers south of Sydney on Sunday. The bodies were found by New South Wales Rural Fire Service officers who were called to extinguish a small bushfire. The firefighters notified the local Nowra police who established several crime scenes in the area. The crime scenes are believed to include an area surrounding a burnt out vehicle believed to belong to the victims, a house where the murders are thought to have occurred, and areas in the State Forest. 27-year-old Stacey Lea-Caton voluntarily attended Nowra Police Station and told officers he had witnessed a man and woman being tied up in a house in Nowra and he feared they were about to be murdered by another man and woman. Police then attended a property in Calymea Street, Nowra, where 36-year-old Kim Leanne Snibson agreed to accompany them to the station for questioning. Lea-Caton and Snibson have both been charged with two counts of murder and faced Nowra Local Court today. Magistrate Doug Dick issued a suppression order on the identities of the victims, but refused Snibson’s request for a suppression order on her identity to protect her children who attend a local school, saying the court processes must be transparent. Lea-Caton appeared briefly in the court dock but Snibson refused and remained in the cells. They did not apply for bail and both were remanded into custody to appear in court on April 10.
Related links Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo has been named both PFA Player and Young Player of the Year. The Portuguese winger was widely expected to take the main award and his remarkable season continued as he scooped both awards on Sunday evening at the Grosvenor House Hotel. Ronaldo becomes only the second player in history to achieve the remarkable feat, the other being Sky Sports' own Andy Gray - who won both awards some 30 years ago in 1977. Ronaldo held off competition from Chelsea's Didier Drogba in second and team-mate Paul Scholes - who came third - to take the main award. Steven Gerrard, Ryan Giggs, and Cesc Fabregas were also in the running. Ronaldo succeeds Gerrard and is the first United player to take the Player of the Year prize since Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2002. In contrast, it is the third year in succession that a United player has taken the Young Player of the Year award - with team-mate Wayne Rooney winning the honour in 2005 and 2006. Rooney was up for the award again, but he was beaten by Ronaldo as he also held off competition from Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), who came second, and Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur) in third. Micah Richards (Manchester City) and Kevin Doyle (Reading) were also up for the award. The 22-year-old was also named in the Premiership Team of the Year - one of eight United players. \|\|\|\|\| Not since Andy Gray scooped each of the coveted accolades 30 years ago has one player dominated the voting of his fellow professionals in such fashion. Ronaldo, 22, has been in awesome form for United, as the Red Devils remain on course for a Barclays Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League treble. CRISTIANO RONALDO: FACTFILE The achievement is all the more remarkable considering the somewhat harsh criticism the Portugal winger received following England’s demise at the World Cup. Ronaldo beat Chelsea striker Didier Drogba to the award, with United’s former England midfielder Paul Scholes third. Ryan Giggs and last year’s winner, Steven Gerrard, also made the shortlist, alongside 19-year-old Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Ronaldo said it was a "big honour" to be singled out by his peers. He said: "It is a special night. It is amazing and a big honour for me to win trophies like this in the English Premier League. I am very proud. "My colleagues have voted for me and that is fantastic because the players know the qualities of players. "I want to keep working hard and getting better because these trophies have now given me more motivation. "At this moment, I am consistent. I am more mature now and I am playing better. "This great team has helped me as well, because when the team win it is more easy for us all to play with more confidence. "Everything is right this season and I am really enjoying it. "I am still young and I am learning more every day. "I have much time to learn more and improve myself. "I try to improve all aspects of my football - not only in training but also in games." Fabregas finished runner-up in the young player category as well, with 20-year-old Tottenham Hotspur winger Aaron Lennon third. Ronaldo’s team-mate Wayne Rooney (21) was also shortlisted, as were Reading striker Kevin Doyle, 23, and 18-year-old defender Micah Richards of Manchester City. It was Manchester United who took centre stage at the Grosvenor House hotel - with eight of their players making it into the Premier League team of the year and manager Sir Alex Ferguson being honoured with the PFA Special Merit Award. Ronaldo said: "This shows what quality we have at Manchester United. "To have eight players in the team of the year is great." Ferguson paid tribute to his multi-talented young winger, who joined United from Sporting Lisbon in a £12.24million deal during August 2003. The United boss said: "When we saw him play in a pre-season friendly for Sporting against us, at half-time I knew we had to get him and I said to [then chief executive] Peter Kenyon 'we are not leaving the stadium until we get the boy'. "At this moment in time, I think he is the best player in the world and his season has been incredible." PFA Player and Young Player of the Year 2007: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) PFA Premier League Team of the Year 2007: Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra (all Manchester United); Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo (all Manchester United) and Steven Gerrard (Liverpool); Didier Drogba (Chelsea) and Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham Hotspur) Special Merit Award: Sir Alex Ferguson To have your say on how the final table will shape up with the Barclays Premiership Predictor, click here. For all the latest Barclays Premiership statistics on Ronaldo and United, click here. VOTE NOW FOR GOAL OF THE WEEK PLAY FANTASY PREMIER LEAGUE For exclusive and free Barclays Premiership video clips, click here. \|\|\|\|\| Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player in 30 years to win the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards after beating Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas to both accolades on Sunday night. The 22-year-old Portuguese winger has been in scintillating form this season, firing 21 goals and setting the Premiership alight with his skill and trickery. The last player to win both awards was Andy Gray in 1977, and Ronaldo is the first United player to win the senior award since Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2002. He takes the Young Player crown from Wayne Rooney, who has held the trophy for the past two years. Cristiano collected the award at a gala dinner in London and described it as a "special night". "It is amazing and a big honour for me to win trophies like this in the English Premier League. I am very proud," he said. "My colleagues have voted for me and that is fantastic because players know the qualities of players. "I want to keep working hard and getting better because these trophies have now given me more motivation. At this moment, I am consistent. I am more mature now and I am playing better. "This great team has helped me as well," he said, acknowledging the role of his team-mates, "because when the team win it is easier for us all to play with more confidence." The prestigious accolades, voted for by fellow professionals, mark a personally good end to a season which began with boos from opposition fans and criticism in some sections of the press for a perceived contribution to England's exit in the quarter finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He responded in the best possible way, producing some outstanding individual displays, which have made a sizeable contribution to United's current plight - three points clear at the top of the Premiership, in the FA Cup final and about to embark on a Champions League semi final with AC Milan.	The Barclays Premiership gala awards dinner took place Sunday, with Manchester United being the winningest of clubs in the awards. The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) presents awards to players every year who have been voted on by their peers as the best player of the season. The front runner for the senior PFA award has been United midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo, and players agreed as he was the top vote recipient. Didier Drogba finished second following his 31 goals for Chelsea. Third place fell to Ronaldo's fellow Red Devil Paul Scholes, who has helped lead United only one year after a serious eye injury which could have ended his career. Others in the running for the award were Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal, Ryan Giggs of Manchester United, and Steven Gerrard of Liverpool, who won the award last season. In the young player PFA award Ronaldo again prevailed, as the 22 year old became only the second player in history to earn both awards in one year, the first being Andy Gray in 1977. Cesc Fabregas came second, while Aaron Lennon of Tottenham finished in third. Wayne Rooney, who won the award the previous two years, was nominated as well along with Micah Richards of Manchester City and Kevin Doyle of Reading. The Premiership team of the year was also announced, with eight Manchester United players being named. Keeper Edwin Van Der Sar along with the entire back line all play for United. The back line is made up of Gary Neville at right back, Patrice Evra on the left, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic as central defenders. Ronaldo was also on the team at right wing, with fellow PFA candidate Ryan Giggs on the left. The central midfielders where named as Paul Scholes and Steven Gerrard. Didier Drogba was named in the team as striker, along with Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov, who has impressed greatly in his first year in the Premiership. The special merit award was also directed to Manchester United, as manager Sir Alex Ferguson picked up the award. Upon winning the double, Ronaldo exclaimed that "It is a special night. It is amazing and a big honour for me to win trophies like this in the English Premier League. I am very proud." And continued "My colleagues have voted for me and that is fantastic because the players know the qualities of players." Manager Sir Alex Ferguson also commented on Ronaldo, saying "At this moment in time, I think he is the best player in the world and his season has been incredible."
Related THE CANADIAN PRESSZURICH, Switzerland -- The Canadian Soccer Association suffered another setback Tuesday, losing out to Germany in the race to host the 2011 women's World Cup.Canada earned kudos from FIFA president Sepp Blatter but defending champion Germany ended up with the tournament.Canada had showed "what football can be in a country where so far football was not the sport No. 1," Blatter said after the Canadian presentation earlier in the day at FIFA headquarters. "We appreciate what you've done and we have good hopes for you and what you can do in the future."But we are in a competition and in competition there is always a winner and a loser."Also Tuesday, FIFA confirmed Brazil as host of the 2014 men's tournament. The South Americans were the only bidders.On the women's side, it came down to Germany and Canada after Australia, France and Peru withdrew their bids. Switzerland had also shown interest, according to FIFA."Everybody agreed at the FIFA level, everybody told us that our presentation was very, very good, and they said better than the German one," Dominic Maestracci, chairman of the board for the Canadian Soccer Association, told The Canadian Press. "We did our best."The Canadian presentation was based on improving the level of women's soccer, playing up what hosting the tournament would do for the sport. Germany already has a high-level domestic women's scene."I told them I know this is a very difficult choice you have to make but I will tell you what are the reasons why Canada must be chosen," Maestracci said. "But they didn't agree with me."While Maestracci said the Canadian bid was the equal of Germany's, he pointed to several reasons for the German win:1) France's withdrawal from the competition upped European support for German bid.2) The influence of German legend Franz Beckenbauer, a member of FIFA's executive committee.3) Germany arrived with a full delegation, including top politicians. Maestracci says the federal government sent a video rather than a cabinet minister.4) Negative fallout of the Chilean team scuffle with police at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Toronto.5) The U.S. hosted the event in 1999 and 2003, making another North American host less attractive.All that notwithstanding, Maestracci said that as Blatter was poised to open the envelope, "I was thinking that Canada will win."A bid for 2015 is likely, he said..The Canadian delegation featured Maestracci, Canadian team goalie Erin McLeod, Peter Monotopoli, who was event director of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and Walter Sieber, vice-president of the Canadian Olympic Committee and a longtime FIFA tournament official.Canadian coach Even Pellerud was not brought along because the Canadian delegation held open the fifth available spot for a politician, who was never forthcoming.It's been a rough year for the Canadian association, which is currently without a technical director and chief administrator.Former president Colin Linford quit in late August, decrying the organization's makeup. The association is also the subject of a wrongful dismissal suit from Fred Nykamp, over his aborted hiring as chief executive officer.The Canadian women, meanwhile, failed to advance past the first round at the World Cup in China.Back home, a group of dissident Canadian soccer fans lamented the missed 2011 chance."Canadian soccer, and Canada itself, has lost a tremendous opportunity here," Dino Rossi, co-founder of Canadian Soccer Supporters United, said in a statement. "One can only imagine what impact the women's World Cup would have had for Canadian soccer, especially to the women's program."The group alleged the Canadian bid was sunk by FIFA unrest at a domestic constitution that does not give each province equal voting rights.The Canadian constitution awards votes depending on a province's contribution via player enrolment levies with a voting cap at 25 per cent per province.Spokesman Richard Scott said in Ottawa that the Canadian Soccer Association went to FIFA a year ago to seek advice on its constitution. But revamping the voting procedure is not high on the association's to do list, he said.Buoyed by the success of the inaugural women's under-19 tournament, Canada had originally planned to bid for the 2007 Women's World Cup.But that changed after the 2003 edition was moved to the U.S. from China because of the SARS epidemic. FIFA promised the 2007 tournament to China, prompting the Canadian Soccer Association to turn its attention to the men's U-20 World Cup while focusing on the 2011 women's event.In its final presentation earlier Tuesday, Germany listed 11 reasons it should stage the event, but mainly sold itself as "the land of football."Germany produced FIFA's most financially successful World Cup in 2006, and the German women won this year's World Cup without conceding a goal."This is a great honour for us. We could not absolutely expect it," said Ursula von der Leyen, Germany's minister for women and youth. "We offer a stage for the world to be our guest."The Germans have 12 cities to stage games, with the opener in Berlin and the final in Frankfurt.Other cities are Augsburg, Bielefeld, Bochum, Dresden, Essen, Leverkusen, Magdeburg, Moenchengladbach, Sinsheim and Wolfsburg, if FIFA raises the number of finalists to 24. If the number remains at 16 countries, some of the cities are likely to be dropped.Tournament dates have not been set yet.Notes : Scott says the CSA is attempting to revisit the issue of hosting the CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying tournament. Scott said the association had received offers to host the event from both the Vancouver Whitecaps and Quebec Soccer Federation. CONCACAF says it is dealing with another country but has taken the Canadian question under advisement, according to Scott.With files from The Associated Press. \|\|\|\|\| FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has announced that Germany will stage the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup following a meeting of the Executive Committee on Tuesday 30 October 2007. It was a case of 'ladies first' as the FIFA President turned his attentions to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. After praising both Canada and Germany for their bid presentations, Blatter opened the envelope to reveal to the world that Germany would host the event in four years time. The 2011 Women's World showpiece marks a return to Europe for the tournament hosted by Sweden in 1995 and an opportunity to the Germans to defend their title on home soil. The news was met with warm applause and broad smiles from Theo Zwanziger (President of the German FA), Birgit Prinz, Fatmire Bajramak and Ursula von der Leyen, the German minister for women and families. In handing over the FIFA Women's World Cup trophy to the delegation, Blatter said: "With emotion and pleasure, I'm happy to give this trophy back to the DFB and the team that won the trophy this year and in 2003." Responding, Zwanziger said: "We will organise a World Cup built on Fair Play, respect and recognition. We're proud and grateful to host the FIFA Women's World Cup after the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Germany, the country, its people, government and FA are all looking forward to this event."	Germany beat out Canada to be selected as host the 2011 edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup. Germany's bid was based on 11 reasons why they should host the FIFA Women's World Cup along with a video Birgit Prinz and Fatmire Bajramaj. Canada's bid was based on its successful staging of the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Germany has won the last two FIFA Women's World Cup and never gave up a goal in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., acknowledges applause at a campaign rally, Saturday in Bangor, Maine Democratic Senator Barack Obama has swept rival Senator Hillary Clinton in three of their party's presidential nominating contests held Saturday. Obama won by margins of roughly two-to-one in the midwestern state of Nebraska, the southern state of Louisiana, and Washington state on the U.S. west coast). Obama and Clinton are in a very tight race for the Democratic Party nomination, with more contests today in Maine, and Tuesday in Virginia, Maryland and the U.S capital, Washington, D.C. In a speech late Saturday in Virginia's capital, Richmond, Obama said he has shown that he can win in various parts of the country. John McCain speaks at an airport rally in Wichita, Kansas, 8 Feb 2008 In Republican Party contests Saturday, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee won the midwestern state of Kansas with 60 percent of the vote, ahead of Arizona Senator John McCain, who had 24 percent. Nationwide, Huckabee is trailing far behind McCain, who has won more state races and has more of the delegates needed to secure the nomination. The Republican race in Washington state is too close to call, with McCain, Huckabee and Texas Representative Ron Paul very close in early results. Incomplete results in the Louisiana primary show Huckabee with a slight lead. Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Many voters in Saturday's Republican contests showed they're not yet ready to support Sen. John McCain as their party's nominee while Sen. Barack Obama cut into Sen. Hillary Clinton's lead in the race for Democratic delegates. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama swept the Democratic contests on Saturday, according to CNN projections. Obama claimed victory in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington on Saturday, as well as in the Virgin Islands. "The stakes are too high and the challenges are too great to play the same old Washington game with the same old Washington players and expect a different result," Obama told a hugely supportive crowd of Democrats at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Richmond, Virginia. "People want to turn the page. They want to write a new chapter in American history." Watch Obama rally in Virginia » Clinton has 1,100 delegates and Obama has 1,039, according to CNN calculations. Obama leads in pledged delegates -- 908 to 877 -- but Clinton's superdelegates -- 223 to 131 -- give her the overall lead. "If I'm your nominee, you will never have to worry that I will be knocked out of the ring, because I do have strength and experience to lead this country, and I am ready to go toe-to-toe with Sen. McCain whenever and wherever he desires," Clinton said Saturday. Watch Clinton address supporters » On the Republican side, Mike Huckabee upset front-runner McCain in Saturday's Republican contests. What do the results mean? » The former Arkansas governor beat McCain in Kansas nearly 3-1. Huckabee also took Louisiana, narrowly edging out McCain, according to CNN projections. With both Huckabee and McCain falling short of the 50 percent mark, the 20 delegates will be allocated at next Saturday's Louisiana state GOP convention. In Washington state, the state Republican Party declared McCain the winner. Huckabee's Saturday wins show that Republicans are not necessarily falling in line behind McCain, the Republicans' presumptive nominee. In Louisiana, exit polls showed that a majority of conservatives rejected the Arizona Republican. Only 34 percent of conservatives voted for McCain compared with 50 percent who voted for Huckabee, according to exit polls. "People across America are gravitating toward our campaign and realizing that there is still a choice. And that's what we've said all along, that this race is far from being over," Huckabee said after the first results came in. Watch what Huckabee says about the results » Obama and Huckabee have done well in caucus states like Iowa, where grass-roots efforts are more likely to have greater influence. Obama also picked up a boost in Washington with the endorsement of the state's governor, Christine Gregoire. Saturday's races marked the first contests without former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who suspended his campaign Thursday. But Huckabee faces a daunting challenge. McCain has a significant lead in the delegate count after Super Tuesday. Huckabee has 217 delegates to McCain's 714, according to CNN calculations. Even if Huckabee wins every remaining state with 50 percent of the vote to McCain's 40 percent, McCain would still be the nominee. "The other scenario... if he kept winning by large margins could he keep John McCain short of the line? That is a more probable scenario, but still an unlikely scenario," said CNN chief national correspondent John King. "I know the pundits, and I know what they say: The math doesn't work out," Huckabee said Saturday morning at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. "Well, I didn't major in math, I majored in miracles. And I still believe in those, too." A senior McCain adviser said the campaign was not surprised by the results in Kansas. "There are more caucus states we will probably lose, but our campaign is focusing on a transition from front-runner to nominee," he said. McCain spent part of Saturday making calls in a bid to shore up conservative support for his campaign, according to CNN's Dana Bash. Huckabee scored wins in the Southern states of Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and his native Arkansas on Super Tuesday, and social conservatives in Louisiana might mobilize behind him and send a message to McCain. Huckabee pulled off a win in the Iowa caucuses, the product of a grass-roots movement, and both Kansas and Washington are caucus states. Huckabee said Saturday that the $250,000 his campaign had raised online in 24 hours was a sign of the health of his presidential effort. Louisiana, still suffering from Hurricane Katrina, could be a key political state this year -- something not lost on both Democratic campaigns as they drum up last-minute votes. Watch the Democratic candidates campaign » On the Republican side, Huckabee was in Kansas on Friday. He attended rallies in Olathe, Wichita, Topeka and Garden City. McCain, meanwhile, held a national security roundtable in Norfolk, Virginia, and later traveled to Wichita, Kansas. Afterward, it was off to Seattle. E-mail to a friend CNN's Sean Callebs and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report. All About Democratic Party • Republican Party • U.S. Presidential Election \|\|\|\|\| Msnbc.com's political reporter Tom Curry answers questions about the road to the presidency Feb. 8: Keith Olbermann says he has the greatest respect for David Shuster's work, but agrees that his comment about Chelsea Clinton was inappropriate. “We are, literally, dreadfully sorry,” he says. See the candidates, voters and supporters as dozens of states voted in Republican and Democratic primaries. WASHINGTON - Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton competed for Democratic convention delegates across three states on Saturday, locked in a landmark struggle for the party's presidential nomination. A total of 158 delegates was at stake in the Louisiana primary and caucuses in Nebraska and Washington. Caucuses in the Virgin Islands offered three more. Clinton began the day with a slender delegate lead in The Associated Press count. She had 1,045 delegates to 960 for Obama. A total of 2,025 is required to win the nomination at the party convention in Denver. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Republican contests in Louisiana, Kansas and Guam provided John McCain a chance to advance closer to the 1,191 delegates he needs to make his nomination official. The Arizona senator began the day with 707 delegates. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, with 195, and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, with 14, were his only remaining rivals following Mitt Romney's withdrawal from the race. The day's contests opened a new phase in the Democratic race between Clinton, attempting to become the first woman in the White House, and Obama, hoping to become the first black. Super Tuesday's split The Feb. 5 Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses in 22 states, which once looked likely to effectively settle the race, instead produced a near-equal delegate split. That left Obama and Clinton facing the likelihood of a grind-it-out competition lasting into spring — if not to the convention itself. With the night's events, 29 of the 50 states have selected delegates. Two more — Michigan and Florida — held renegade primaries and the Democratic National Committee has vowed not to seat any delegates chosen at either of them. Maine, with 24 delegates, holds caucuses on Sunday. Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia and voting by Americans overseas are next, on Tuesday, with 175 combined. Then follows a brief intermission, followed by a string of election nights, some crowded, some not. The date of March 4 looms large, 370 delegates in primaries in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont. Mississippi is alone in holding a primary one week later, with a relatively small 33 delegates at stake. Puerto Rico anchors the Democratic calendar, with 55 delegates chosen in caucuses on June 7. Fundraising surge, TV ad wars If Super Tuesday failed to settle the campaign, it produced a remarkable surge in fundraising. Obama's aides announced he had raised more than $7 million on line in the two days that followed. Clinton disclosed she had loaned her campaign $5 million late last month in an attempt to counter her rival's Super Tuesday television advertising. She raised more than $6 million in the two days after the busiest night in primary history. The television ad wars continued unabated. Obama has been airing commercials for more than a week in television markets serving every state that has a contest though Feb 19. Clinton began airing ads midweek in Washington state, Maine and Nebraska, and added Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia on Friday. A look at the races: Washington caucuses The stakes: 78 Democratic delegates, 18 GOP delegates. The campaign: Obama rallied in Seattle while his wife, Michelle, campaigned across the Cascade Mountains in Spokane. Clinton held a boisterous rally on the Seattle waterfront and filled gyms in Tacoma and Spokane. McCain campaigned in Seattle and Huckabee's wife, Janet, was expected in the city's eastern suburbs. Lay of the land: Obama is thought to have an advantage in the caucuses, which are dominated by party activists. However, Washington has a strong history of electing women. Polls done shortly before John Edwards dropped out indicated a tight race between Clinton and Obama, with Edwards a strong third. Since then, some of Edwards' strongest supporters have endorsed Obama. Social conservatives have a history of packing the GOP caucuses, which could boost Huckabee. But with McCain now a shoo-in, some who would normally vote in the Republican race might be drawn to the higher-stakes Democratic contest. Washington voters don't register by party.	left Barack Obama, the junior senator from Illinois and 2008 US presidential candidate has swept all three of today's Democratic contests, two caucuses in Nebraska and Washington and the primary in Louisiana. Obama also won the tiny United States territory of the United States Virgin Islands. Obama won nearly 30% more over opponent Hillary Clinton in the Nebraska caucuses. Obama also had a major lead over Clinton in the Washington caucuses by a 2-1 margin. Commentators have noted that Obama seems to perform well in caucus states. Louisiana's Democratic primary was also won by Obama in a large margin, winning nearly 53% of the vote over Clinton's 39%. The state, which is still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina three years later could play a large role in the election this year. Despite these wins it is still a close and race between the two Democratic candidates, with Obama showing a lead in pledged delegates, and Hillary Clinton showing a narrow lead when super delegates are taken into account. Each candidate needs to win the support of 2,025 delegates to secure the nomination. After the voting and caucusing ended yesterday both candidates gave a speech at the Democratic Party's Jefferson and Jackson Dinner in Virginia- Clinton giving her standard stump speech and refusing to talk about what had happened during the day; Obama repeating many of the things he had said earlier in his "Yes We Can" speech, this time with detailed policy proposals as well as "hope-mongering". The two candidates were in Maine today doing last minute campaigning before tomorrow's Democratic caucuses there and are also preparing for the "Potomac primary" which will involve the nation's capital of Washington, D.C. and the bordering states of Maryland and Virginia to be held on February 12.
US warns Wikileaks' Assange on possible leak Wikileaks has previously released documents relating to Iraq and Afghanistan The US has written to the founder of whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, urging him not release a batch of diplomatic files. The release of classified state department documents is against US law and will put "countless" lives at risk, the letter warns. Wikileaks says it is set to unveil a new set of documents, bigger than past releases on Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr Assange has said the US authorities are afraid of being held to account. The latest leak is expected to include documents covering US dealings and diplomats' confidential views of countries including Australia, Britain, Canada, Israel, Russia and Turkey. "The material that we are about to release covers essentially every major issue in every country in the world," Mr Assange told reporters by video link. A journalist with Britain's Guardian newspaper, which has been working with Wikileaks on publishing the files, said they would include an unflattering US assessment of UK PM David Cameron. No-one has been charged with passing the diplomatic files to the website but suspicion has fallen on US Army private Bradley Manning, an intelligence analyst arrested in Iraq in June and charged over an earlier leak of classified US documents to Mr Assange's organisation. 'Seven times larger' The letter from the US state department's legal advisor Harold Koh was a response to correspondence from Mr Assange, who had written to the US ambassador to Britain, Louis Susman. Continue reading the main story Wikileaks Whistle-blowing website with a reputation for publishing sensitive material Run by Julian Assange, a secretive Australian with a background in computer network hacking Released 90,000 secret US records of US military incidents about the war in Afghanistan and 400,000 similar documents on Iraq Also posted video showing US helicopter killing 12 people - including two journalists - in Baghdad in 2007 Other controversial postings include screenshots of the e-mail inbox and address book of US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin Mr Assange had asked which individuals would be put at risk by the leak, the state department said. A senior American official told the BBC that Mr Assange was offering to negotiate over limited redactions. In response, Mr Koh demanded that Wikileaks return official documents to the US government. "We will not engage in a negotiation regarding the further release or dissemination of illegally obtained US government classified materials," Mr Koh stated in the letter. Mr Koh's letter adds that the publication of the documents would endanger the lives of "countless" individuals - from journalists to human rights activists and bloggers - and put US military operations at risk. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote There is going to be some embarrassment certainly for Gordon Brown but even more so for David Cameron” End Quote Simon Hoggart Guardian journalist Correspondents say the letter is a rare move for the US administration, and reflects the government's concern about the implications of the possible leak. Wikileaks earlier this week said that the next release would be nearly seven times larger than the nearly 400,000 Pentagon documents related to the Iraq war it published in October. It has not confirmed when the documents will be made public, but there is some speculation that the release will take place on Sunday. Guardian journalist Simon Hoggart said the paper would publish extensive details on Monday. He told the BBC: "There is going to be some embarrassment certainly for Gordon Brown but even more so for David Cameron who was not very highly regarded by the Obama administration or by the US ambassador here." The Sunday Times also quoted an official who warned that British citizens in Muslim countries could be targeted in a backlash against perceived "anti-Islamic" views. The UK Ministry of Defence has urged newspaper editors to "bear in mind" the national security implications of publishing any of the files. Wikileaks argues that the site's previous releases shed light on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They included allegations of torture by Iraqi forces and reports that suggested 15,000 additional civilian deaths in Iraq. \|\|\|\|\| Koh wrote that the department had spoken with representatives from The New York Times, The Guardian and Der Spiegel newspapers about 250,000 documents the whistleblower organization provided to them for publication. He described the distribution as the "illegal dissemination of classified documents" and said it would "place at risk the lives of countless individuals" -- criticisms that have been repeated by U.S. officials after past postings on the site. The information blitz from WikiLeaks is expected to offer a glimpse into the worldwide communications of the State Department and its 297 embassies, consulates and missions through what commonly are referred to as "cables." Koh wrote that releasing such documents could jeopardize relationships with allies, military actions and anti-terrorism operations. WikiLeaks indicated last week that it was preparing to release a new batch of previously classified U.S. military documents. "Next release is 7x the size of the Iraq War Logs," the group stated via Twitter Monday. "Intense pressure over it for months. Keep us strong." CNN has not had advanced access to the documents, unlike some media organizations, because the company declined to sign a confidentiality agreement with WikiLeaks. In October, WikiLeaks released nearly 400,000 U.S. military reports about operations in Iraq. In July, it released more than 70,000 reports from the war in Afghanistan.	In a letter to Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, the said that releasing the documents would risk "countless" lives. The has urged Wikileaks not to publish new files because they will risk "countless" lives. In a letter to Julian Assange, founder of the whistle-blowing website, the Obama administration said that releasing the documents, rumoured to be seven times the size of the , would be in breach of U.S. law, and would result in "grave consequences." Assange replied by stating that the U.S. did not want to be held to account. It is thought that the files will include correspondence between U.S. diplomats around the world. ''Wikinews'' reported on Saturday that officials in Washington were contacting embassies around the world to warn diplomats of the leak. The letter to Assange came after he questioned who would be at risk from the publication of the documents. In the letter, , the , ordered Wikileaks to return the documents. "We will not engage in a negotiation regarding the further release or dissemination of illegally obtained US government classified materials," Koh wrote, adding that the documents could jeopardize operations. Analysts have said that the letter reflects the U.S. administration's concern over possible publication of the files, which may contain opinions of other politicians, some of which may be candid and embarrassing. It is not known when the documents will be published, but Koh said in the letter that he had spoken to '''', '''', and '''' about the documents. Earlier this year, Wikileaks detailing military actions in Afghanistan.
Daughter in cellar for 24 years A woman has told police that she was held prisoner in a cellar for almost 24 years by her father, who repeatedly raped her and fathered her seven children. Lower Austria police said in a statement that the 42-year-old woman had been missing since August 29, 1984 and was found by police in the town of Amstetten following a tip-off. Franz Polzer, head of the Lower Austrian Bureau of Criminal Affairs, said the 73-year-old father had been taken into custody. In a chronology of events outlined in a statement, police said the woman had apparently sent a letter a month after her disappearance asking her parents not to search for her. During police questioning, she told police her father began sexually abusing her when she was 11 and locked her in a room in the cellar on August 28, 1984. During the 24 years that followed, she said she was continually abused by her father and gave birth to seven children, the statement said. In 1996, she gave birth to twins but one died several days later because it was not appropriately cared for. Her father had then apparently removed the corpse from the cellar and burned it, the statement said. Police said the woman appeared "greatly disturbed" psychologically during questioning. She agreed to talk only after authorities assured her that she would no longer have to have contact with her father and that her children would be taken care of. One of her children, a 19-year-old girl, is now in hospital in the Lower Austrian town of Amstetten in very serious condition. Police said the father has been arrested but had not confessed. Gerhard Sedlacek, spokesman for the public prosecutor's office in St Poelten, said the surviving children - three boys and three girls - are aged between five and 20. DNA tests are expected to determine paternity of the children. \|\|\|\|\| Austrian woman says father held her in cellar for 24 years VIENNA, Austria (AP) — An Austrian woman has told police that her father kept her captive in a cellar for almost 24 years. The woman told police that her father also repeatedly raped her and that she gave birth to seven children, one of whom later died. Franz Polzer, head of the Lower Austrian Bureau of Criminal Affairs, told reporters that the 73-year-old father had been taken into custody. Police said the 42-year-old woman had been missing since 1984 and was found by police in the town of Amstetten on Saturday evening following a tip. \|\|\|\|\| By Sylvia Westall VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian police have arrested a man they believe imprisoned his daughter in a windowless basement for 24 years, abused her and fathered seven children with her. Police said the woman, identified as 42-year-old Elisabeth F, told them her father Josef had lured her into the basement of the block where they lived in the town of Amstetten in 1984, and drugged and handcuffed her before imprisoning her. Three of her children were locked up since birth in the basement of the drab, grey building along with their mother and had never seen sunlight or received any education, police said. Authorities in Amstetten, 130 km (80 miles) west of Vienna, were still piecing together details of the case, reminiscent of that of Austrian Natascha Kampusch who spent eight years locked up in a windowless cell before escaping in August 2006. "We are faced with a crime that is incomprehensible," Interior Minister Guenther Platter said on Austrian television. "Everything that has happened here goes beyond one's imagination". Josef, a 73-year-old electrical engineering technician by training, told investigators how to enter the basement prison through a hidden door operated by secret code, police said. "There was a shelf with plenty of cans and containers, and behind the shelf was a door made of reinforced concrete, secured electronically and running on steel rails, and only the suspect knew the code," said local official Heinz Lenze. The hideout itself was a sophisticated network of chambers with facilities for sleeping, cooking and washing, Franz Polzer, head of the criminal investigations unit in the province of Lower Austria, told broadcaster ORF. Continued...	Police in the Lower Austrian town of Amstetten have arrested a 73 year old man who is alleged to have kept his daughter, now aged 42, locked in the cellar of his house in Amstetten since 29th August 1984. The man, identified by police as Josef Fritzl, is alleged to have started sexually abusing his daughter, named as Elisabeth Fritzl, when she was eleven years old, and to have subsequently fathered seven children by her. One of the children, one of a set of twins born in 1996, died of neglect shortly after birth and the body was burned by the father. The surviving six children, three boys and three girls, are currently aged between 5 and 20 years old. Three of the children were left on Josef F.'s doorstep and subsequently raised as the adoptive children of Josef F. and his wife, Rosemarie, while the other three children were left with their mother and never saw daylight until she was discovered. Rosemarie F. is said to have been unaware of her husbands' activities. Police became suspicious when a 19-year-old daughter, Kerstin, was taken to hospital with a mysterious life-threatening illness, and the family's medical records were checked. Police say that Elisabeth F. appeared to be "greatly disturbed" psychologically, and only agreed to talk after the authorities assured her that she would not have to have contact with her father, and that her children would be cared for. The news has shocked Austria, recalling the case of Natascha Kampusch who was kidnapped aged 10, and escaped after being held in a "dungeon" for eight years in 2006. DNA tests are to be undertaken to confirm the paternity of the children.
Rokocoko had too much pace and power for Romania New Zealand (36) 85 Tries: Sivivatu 2, Masoe, Rokocoko 3, Evans, Mauger, Toeava 2, Hore, Smith, Howlett Cons: McAllister 4, Evans 6 Sivivatu 2, Masoe, Rokocoko 3, Evans, Mauger, Toeava 2, Hore, Smith, HowlettMcAllister 4, Evans 6 Romania (5) 8 Tries: Tincu Pens: Vlaicu Joe Rokocoko went over for a hat-trick of tries as New Zealand ran in 13 tries to beat Romania in their final Pool C clash in Toulouse. The All Blacks were in dominant form with two tries apiece for Sitiveni Sivivatu and Isaia Toeava. Chris Masoe, Aaron Mauger, Andrew Hore, Nick Evans, Conrad Smith and Doug Howlett also went over. Romania tried hard but their only try came after 31 mintues through hooker Marius Tincu. The All Blacks set out their intentions from the start with the first of Sivivatu's tries coming with less than a minute on the clock. 606: DEBATE From then on it was one-way traffic as the Romanians had no answer to New Zealand's fast attack and the All Blacks built up a 31-0 lead after 25 minutes. Romania showed some determination to take more from the contest early in the second half but the relentless All Blacks could not be contained. Rokocoko completed his hat-trick in the second half and his side finished with a flourish with replacement Doug Howlett stretching his all-time New Zealand try scoring record to 49. Sale-bound Luke McAllister kicked four goals with Evans notching six. With four wins out of four, the All Blacks will travel to Cardiff next weekend in confident mood to play France, Argentina or Ireland in the quarter-finals. "Romania played with a lot of passion and were very physical. They lived on the offside line but we scored some great tries. "Overall we're pretty pleased, and we had no injuries, which is a pretty big plus. "There is obviously still room for improvement." "We're happy, especially with the fact we scored a try. Everyone knows New Zealand are the best team in the world. "I think for a while we kept our heads together, but then we had five or six minutes out of the game and boom, we conceded five or six tries." New Zealand: Evans, Rokocoko, Toeava, Mauger, Sivivatu, McAlister, Ellis, Tialata, Mealamu, Somerville, Thorne, Robinson, Collins, Masoe, Lauaki. Replacements: Hore, Woodcock, Jack, McCaw, Leonard, Howlett, Smith. Romania: Dumitras, Ciuntu, Gal, Gontineac, Brezoianu, Dimofte, Sirbu, B. Balan, Tincu, Florea, Socol, Petre, Corodeanu, Manta, Tonita. Replacements: Mavrodin, Ion, Ursache, Ratiu, Calafeteanu, Vlaicu, Dascalu. Referee: Joel Jutge (France) \|\|\|\|\| By James Standley Canada defended bravely throughout the 80 minutes Australia (13) 37 Tries: Baxter, Frier, Smith, Mitchell 2, Latham Cons: Shepherd 2 Pens: Huxley Baxter, Frier, Smith, Mitchell 2, LathamShepherd 2Huxley Canada (0) 6 Pens: Pritchard 2 Pool B winners Australia made it four wins out of four as they laboured to a bonus-point victory over lowly Canada in the pouring rain in Bordeaux. Tries from Al Baxter and Adam Frier helped a second-string Wallaby side into a 13-0 half-time lead. Canada got on the board through two James Pritchard penalties either side of a George Smith try for Australia. Winger Drew Mitchell helped himself to two tries before Chris Latham cruised over for Australia's final score. Australia - the only nation to win the Web Ellis Trophy twice - had already sewn up the pool and took the chance to rest a host of big name players ahead of next Saturday's quarter-final against defending champions England. The Wallabies took the lead through an early Julian Huxley penalty but struggled to put their usual free-flowing, multi-phase style of play into practice in the wet conditions. Canada, who failed to win a match at the World Cup for the first time, were typically gutsy in defence and they lasted 23 minutes before Baxter powered over out wide. Hooker Frier then profited as the Australian pack took charge but with Huxley missing both conversions they only led 13-0 at the break. Pritchard's penalties gave Canada, ranked just 14th in the world, something to smile about but, despite being some way short of their best, Australia were always comfortably in control. Smith profited from a poor Canadian line-out throw to score their third try before Mitchell went over for his quickfire brace to become the leading scorer in France with seven. The Wallabies' final try came when Latham finished off a crisp move from first phase to claim his 11th World Cup try, joining former England winger Rory Underwood in third on the all-time list. Cameron Shepherd managed two conversions while the Wallabies suffered a blow when number eight David Lyons was taken away in a wheelchair with what was later revealed to be a broken leg. Australia coach John Connolly: "It wasn't the greatest game to watch but we were happy to win. "The conditions probably didn't help and it was one of those games we were always confident we would get away with so subsequently we were a bit loose." \|\|\|\|\| By Sean Davies Wales could not cope with Fiji's power and pace Wales (10) 34 Tries: Popham, S Williams, G Thomas, M Jones, M Williams Cons: Hook, S Jones (2) Pens: S Jones Popham, S Williams, G Thomas, M Jones, M WilliamsHook, S Jones (2)S Jones Fiji (25) 38 Tries: Qera, Delasau, Leawere, Dewes Cons: Little (3) Pens: Little (4) A late try from Graham Dewes saw Fiji dump Wales out of the World Cup and get a quarter-final against South Africa. Wales' open style played into Fiji's hands, big hits and strong running leading to tries from Akapusi Qera, Vilimoni Delasau and Kele Leawere. Alix Popham, Shane Williams, Gareth Thomas and Mark Jones brought Wales back, and Martyn Williams' 73rd-minute interception try looked the clincher. But the islanders rallied, Dewes bullying over from short range. SCRUM V DEBATE ON 606 Back to the drawing board again for Wales, something is seriously rotten in the Welsh camp eifionlewis It was Fiji's first win in nine games against Wales and sees them advance to their first quarter-final since 1987. With a record of six wins from 20 games in charge of Wales, coach Gareth Jenkins' position will now come under serious question. His side had aimed to banish their slow-starting blues at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, and in the first minute a superb Stephen Jones break deep in his own half should have led to a try. We tried our best but we'll probably get beaten down for this Wales captain Gareth Thomas More reaction Phil Bennett on Wales Jones found the supporting Tom Shanklin, but he delayed his pass to a free Mark Jones, allowing the defence to rally. Stephen Jones put Wales ahead with a penalty and Chris Horsman and Gethin Jenkins had Fiji under pressure at the scrum, but Jones missed with a straightforward kick and Wales continued to spurn overlaps. Seru Rabeni had already made his mark on Shanklin and Thomas with trademark hits, and another on James Hook in midfield forced a turnover. The islanders attacked quickly with a flowing move, the ball coming to Gloucester flanker Qera who stormed over from close range. With confidence flying, Nicky Little and Rabeni attacked from their own 22. PLAYER RATINGS What do you think of my player ratings? James Standley The ball fell to Delasau, who chipped over the top of the defence, a wicked bounce flying over Mark Jones' head and collected his own kick for the second try. Little added two penalties, before a dynamic Qera break from his own 22 ended with Kele Leawere barging over for the third try from close range. A panicked Wales spurned penalties in front of goal, and were finally rewarded in the 34th minute as a five-metre scrum was walked over for Popham's try. Fiji relished Wales' desperate, expansive style, but their discipline fractured with a late hit from Leawere on Popham. Qera was then yellow-carded for aiming a knee into Stephen Jones' chest on the stroke of half-time, but Hook missed the resultant penalty from in front of the posts. Wales pounced on 14-man Fiji after the break, and after a Martyn Williams turnover in his own 22 Shane Williams danced inside from the wing with a superbly balanced run, beating three defenders and crossing under the posts. A fine three-quarter move from an attacking scrum saw Hook free Mark Jones with an inside pass. The wing found Gareth Thomas, who celebrated becoming the first Welshman to 100 caps by taking his record try tally to 40. Williams thought he had sealed the win for Wales Dwayne Peel found acres of space from a line-out to spark the next try, accurate passing along the line sending Mark Jones in at the corner and regaining the lead for Wales, Stephen Jones' conversion making it 29-25. The outsiders found their second wind with some thrilling attacking rugby, two Little penalties putting them back in front going into the final quarter. Wales wheeled on the replacements, but needed a desperate, brave tackle from Thomas on his own line to deny Seremaia Bai a try. As Fiji went for the kill, Little floated out a needless pass - and Martyn Williams plucked the ball out of the air for a 65m run-in. But the islanders regrouped once more and, when Delasau was held out inches short, Dewes picked up to cross for a try awarded by the video referee, sealing the biggest upset of the 2007 World Cup. It was Wales' third south sea island embarrassment in World Cups following defeats to the Samoans in 1991 and 1999. Wales: G. Thomas, M. Jones, Shanklin, Hook, S. Williams, S. Jones, Peel, Jenkins, Rees, Horsman, A. Jones, Evans, Charvis, M. Williams, Popham. Replacements: Phillips for Peel (57), R. Thomas for Rees (47), D. Jones for Horsman (66), Gough for Evans (66), Owen for Popham (66). Not Used: Robinson, D. James. Fiji: Ratuvou, Delasau, Rabeni, Bai, Neivua, Little, Rauluni, Dewes, Koto, Railomo, Leawere, Rawaqa, Naevo, Qera, Koyamaibole. Replacements: Ligairi for Rabeni (67), Bobo for Neivua (52), Daunivucu for Little (80), Sauturaga for Koto (78), Qiodravu for Railomo (54), Ratuva for Qera (74). Not Used: Lewaravu. Sin Bin: Qera (40). Att: 34,000 Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) \|\|\|\|\| By Colin Moffat Paterson is yet to miss a kick in the tournament Scotland (12) 18 Pens: Paterson 6 Paterson 6 Italy (10) 16 Tries: Troncon Cons: Bortolussi Pens: Bortolussi 3 Scotland edged into the quarter-finals of the World Cup after a tense win over Italy in rain-lashed St Etienne. Once again Scotland had the unerring kicking of Chris Paterson to thank, with the winger knocking over six penalties from six attempts. Italy skipper Alessandro Troncon bundled over for a first half try and David Bortolussi kept Italy in touch. Neither side showed much in the way of attacking ambition but the Scots showed superior discipline to progress. In the last eight Scotland will play the winners of Pool D, who are likely to be either Argentina or France. Scotland made a bright start with Paterson confidently clipping over two penalties inside the first five minutes. And, when Mauro Bergamasco was sin-binned for a cynical challenge on Simon Taylor, Scotland looked ready to seize the initiative and build on their early lead. However, the Italians recovered from a jittery opening to come roaring back and a huge up-and-under from Ramiro Pez resulted in a bruising game's only try. Mirco Bergamasco flattened the referee as he followed up and appeared to take Rory Lamont out before the dropping ball had reached the Scot. From the resulting ruck, Troncon burst over from close range to put Italy into the lead. Bortolussi landed the conversion before stretching the advantage with a long range penalty. Mirco Bergamasco should have been the second Italian to have a yellow card but the officials somehow missed a blatant trip on Dan Parks. There was a further blow for Scotland when influential full-back Rory Lamont had to be replaced by Hugo Southwell, following a bone-shuddering collision with Andrea Masi. But the dependable Paterson slotted two more penalties to give Scotland a narrow lead at the interval. After the break Bortolussi was inches short with a long range penalty and Paterson tucked over a close range effort after a dangerous Scottish break. The Gloucester signing made it six from six as Italian indiscipline gifted the Scots another cheap three points. Nathan Hines was then sin-binned for a high tackle after a slick passing move from Italy, who were showing marginally more imagination with the ball in attack. Bortolussi kicked the penalty and the impressive fullback narrowed the gap to two points as Italy enjoyed their man advantage. Scotland had a rare glimpse of the try-line when a Pez clearance kick was charged down but the bouncing ball would not fall the way of Frank Hadden's side. Scottish nerves were frayed when Italy won a 75th minute penalty but Bortolussi was again just out of luck from a long way out. Scotland: R Lamont; S Lamont, Webster, Dewey, Paterson; Parks, Blair; Kerr, Ford, Murray, Hines, Hamilton, White (capt), Hogg, Taylor. Replacements: Lawson, Smith, MacLeod, Brown, Cusiter, Henderson, Southwell. Italy Bortolussi; Robertson, Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, Masi; Pez, Troncon (capt); Perugini, Festuccia, Castrogiovanni, Dellape, Del Fava, Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, Parisse. Replacements: Ongaro, Lo Cicero, Bernabo, Ghiraldini, Griffen, De Marigny, Galon. \|\|\|\|\| Six shooter: Scotland's Chris Paterson converts one of his six penalties against Italy on Saturday SAINT-ETIENNE, 29 September - Scotland clinched a quarter-final berth with an 18-16 victory against Italy in their final pool match at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Saturday. The Scots had Chris Paterson's unerring boot to thank for their hard-fought victory. The wing landed six penalties from six attempts to steer his side to a last-eight fixture against the winner of Pool D, with France, Argentina and Ireland all in the frame as potential opponents ahead of their final matches on Sunday. Paterson booted four first-half penalties to give his team a 12-10 lead at the break, grabbing back the advantage for Scotland after a spirited Italy had opened a 10-6 lead despite being a man down. Scotland started brightly, taking a 6-0 lead on five minutes after Paterson kicked a brace of penalties following Italy infringements in the ruck. The Italians suffered a further setback minutes later when flanker Mauro Bergamasco received a yellow card for a tackling offence. But the 14-man Azzurri hit back in style, snatching the lead from a converted Alessandro Troncon try after Scotland full back Rory Lamont spilled a big up-and-under close to his line. David Bortolussi made it two from two on 18 minutes when he kicked a penalty to extend the Italians' lead after Scotland were called for coming in at the side of a ruck. Paterson made it three from three on 32 minutes to narrow the margin to a solitary point after Italy conceded a penalty for a dangerous tackle, then added his fourth soon after. Paterson picked up where he left off after the break, slotting another penalty on 47 minutes when Italy were punished for not staying on their feet in the ruck, and his sixth on 53. As the rain came down, Italy pressed for a second try. Nathan Hines was sent to the sin bin on 55 minutes for a high tackle and Bortolussi landed the resulting penalty to reduce the margin to five points (18-13). Bortolussi cut the gap to just three points with another penalty when Scotland conceded for collapsing a maul. And the full back had the chance to put his side in sight of victory four minutes from time but he sliced his penalty attempt to the right of the upright. RNS mr	150px In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Fiji and Scotland secured qualification to the knockout stage of the tournament with victories over Wales and Italy respectively. Elsewhere New Zealand defeated Romania and Australia defeated Canada. Both New Zealand and Australia had already qualified for the following round. In Pool B, Fiji defeated Wales 38-34 in a dramatic encounter. Stephen Jones opened the scoring for Wales with a penalty, but Fiji raced to a 25-3 lead with tries from Akapusi Qera, Vilimoni Delasau and Kele Leawere and two penalties from Nicky Little. Wales fought back and took the lead after 51 minutes after Alix Popham ,Shane Williams, Gareth Thomas and Mark Jones each scored. Nicky Little regained the lead for Fiji with two penalties, but Wales appeared to be heading to victory when Martyn Williams scored with seven minutes remaining. However Graham Dewes scored late on to snatch an extraordinary victory for Fiji to finish second in Pool B. Wales are knocked out of the tournament, but qualify automatically for the 2011 World Cup by finishing third in Pool B. Australia, the winners of Pool B, beat Canada 37-6. An early penalty from Julian Huxley and tries from Al Baxter and Adam Freier gave Australia a 13-0 lead at half-time. James Pritchard scored two penalties for Canada, but George Smith, Drew Mitchell (2) Chris Latham all scored tries to complete Australia's victory. Fiji face South Africa in the quarter finals while Australia will play defending champions England in a repeat of the 2003 final. Scotland defeated Italy 18-16 to secure their place in the quarter finals. Chris Paterson scored all of Scotland's points by kicking six penalties. Italy were leading twenty minutes into the match after Alessandro Troncon scored a try and David Bortolussi added a penalty. Chris Paterson ensured Scotland's passage into the next round by kicking six penalties out of six. David Bortolussi closed the gap to two points with two penalties, but Scotland held on to finish second in Pool C. Italy finish third and qualify for the next World Cup despite being eliminated from the tournament. Pool C winners New Zealand scored thirteen tries as they comfortably defeated Romania 85-8. Marius Tincu scored Romania's only try of the match, while Florin Vlaicu added a penalty. Joe Rokocoko scored a hat-trick of tries for the All Blacks, and Sitiveni Sivivatu and Isaia Toeava scored two each.
Detailed Information: NOTE: Figures shown here for Metrorail ridership represent actual passenger entries and exits for the specific date. Metrobus ridership figures, on the other hand, are tabulated as averages for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays over a 30-day period. Bus figures shown here represent the averages for the previous 30 days. Unexpected Service Disruptions: 2:30 p.m. An inbound Green Line train at West Hyattsville was held to allow Metro personnel to search for a suspect. 3:46 p.m. Mount Vernon Square station was closed after an outbound Green Line train derailed as it was pulling into the station. Metro provided free shuttle bus service to nearby stations throughout the remainder of the day as emergency personnel responded to the scene and investigated the incident. Customers experienced major delays. 9:57 p.m. An outbound Blue Line train at Capitol Heights was taken out of service because of a door problem, and customers were required to exit the train. A following train was taken out of service and used to push the disabled train to the rail yard. Two trains shared one track around the area. An additional train was put in service. Customers experienced major delays. \|\|\|\|\| Story Highlights • Washington Metro train derailed Sunday, authorities said • There were no major injuries, fire official said • Mount Vernon Station shuts down • Metro officials guided passengers off the train Adjust font size: WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Metro subway train derailed Sunday afternoon in a tunnel near the Mount Vernon Square station in downtown Washington, shaking up passengers but causing no serious injuries, authorities said. "At some point after leaving the Gallery Place Metro station ... the train seemed to slow down," said Amadi Boone, a passenger in the last car of the train. "At some point, we started hearing some strange noises. The train felt very jerky. We started weaving back and forth, and then I felt a very violent impact." The derailment occurred about 3:45 p.m. Sunday, acting Fire Chief Brian Lee told CNN. Some passengers were taken to hospitals after the accident, but it was not believed there were any major injuries, he said. The cause of the crash was still under investigation, Lee said. Another passenger, Keith McCoy, said the train hit a side wall of the tunnel, smashing in the front end of the lead car and knocking at least one door off the train. Metro officials guided passengers off the train and out of the tunnel one by one, McCoy said. Some passengers remained aboard for up to 40 minutes, but there was no sense of panic among them, he said. \|\|\|\|\| A subway train derailed Sunday near downtown Washington, sending 16 people to hospital and prompting the rescue of 60 people from a tunnel, officials said. The accident happened at about 3:45 p.m. near the underground Mount Vernon Square station, Metro spokeswoman Cathy Asato said. There were about 150 people on the train. At least one person had a serious but not life-threatening injury, Asato said. The other injuries were mostly "bumps and bruises." It took about 45 minutes to get everyone off the six-car train, she said. There was no fire. Passengers in the first four cars were able to escape to the station the train had been pulling into, Asato said. Passengers in the fifth car, which had derailed, and the sixth were escorted by rescue personnel along a catwalk into a station. The cause of the derailment was being investigated. Witnesses said people started to panic when the six-car train began shaking, and some passengers began running to the back of the train. "I was in a cab that actually shattered — the front part of it — those windows in between the two cars," said rider Lauren Sprigg. Service on two lines was halted in both directions around the station, and Asato said a temporary shuttle bus would take passengers around the accident scene.	Washington Metro's Mount Vernon Square station Subway service in the United States capital city of Washington, D.C. was disrupted Sunday afternoon when a Washington Metro Green Line train derailed as it approached the Mount Vernon Square station. Sixteen passengers were reported hospitalised, but no critical injuries were reported. All passengers were evacuated from the trains less than an hour after the incident. The Mount Vernon Square station remained closed for the remainder of Sunday, with shuttle bus service bypassing the accident scene. Travel for Green and Yellow line passengers was delayed by 20 minutes during clean up and accident investigation. Normal service on Metrorail resumed on Monday.
Ten New Zealand students who had recently returned from a trip to Mexico have been confirmed as carrying Swine Flu, bringing the total number of countries with outbreaks to three (the other two being the United States and Mexico.) There have been reports of suspected cases across Europe, including France, Spain and Israel. In Spain, three people have been tested for Swine Flu and isolated until results are available. French health authorities have found two suspected cases of swine flu in travelers returning from Mexico and others are expected to follow, a top health official told local media Sunday. In Israel, one man recently returned from Mexico is believed to have the virus. Israeli authorities are taking no chances with the outbreak, and have issued a general warning to the entire country that asks Israelis keep as clean as possible, to avoid crowded areas, and to immediately seek medical advice should they have any flu-like symptoms. An earlier report of infected airline staff in the United Kingdom was cleared after tests for the virus came back negative. For all the latest, follow our Swine Flu coverage. If you’re concerned, also see: Swine Flu symptoms, and preparing for a Swine Flu Pandemic. \|\|\|\|\| As a news conference in Washington , Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano called the emergency declaration “standard operating procedure,” and said she would rather call it a “declaration of emergency preparedness.” “It’s like declaring one for a hurricane,” she said. “It means we can release funds and take other measures. The hurricane may not actually hit.” American investigators said they expected more cases here, but noted that virtually all so far had been mild and urged Americans not to panic. The speed and the scope of the world’s response showed the value of preparations made because of the avian flu and SARS scares, public health experts said. Photo The emergency declaration in the United States lets the government free more money for antiviral drugs and give some previously unapproved tests and drugs to children. One-quarter of the national stockpile of 50 million courses of antiflu drugs will be released. Border patrols and airport security officers are to begin asking travelers if they have had the flu or a fever ; those who appear ill will be stopped, taken aside and given masks while they arrange for medical care. “This is moving fast and we expect to see more cases,” Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , said at the news conference with Ms. Napolitano. “But we view this as a marathon.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story He advised Americans to wash their hands frequently, to cover coughs and sneezes and to stay home if they felt ill; but he stopped short of advice now given in Mexico to wear masks and not kiss or touch anyone. He praised decisions to close individual schools in New York and Texas but did not call for more widespread closings. Besides the eight New York cases, officials said they had confirmed seven in California , two in Kansas , two in Texas and one in Ohio . The virus looked identical to the one in Mexico believed to have killed 103 people — including 22 people whose deaths were confirmed to be from swine flu — and sickened about 1,600. As of Sunday night, there were no swine flu deaths in the United States, and one hospitalization. Other governments tried to contain the infection amid reports of potential new cases including in New Zealand and Spain . 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. Dr. Fukuda of the W.H.O. said his agency would decide Tuesday whether to raise the pandemic alert level to 4. Such a move would prompt more travel bans, and the agency has been reluctant historically to take actions that hurt member nations. Canada confirmed six cases, at opposite ends of the country: four in Nova Scotia and two in British Columbia . Canadian health officials said the victims had only mild symptoms and had either recently traveled to Mexico or been in contact with someone who had. Other governments issued advisories urging citizens not to visit Mexico. China , Japan , Hong Kong and others set up quarantines for anyone possibly infected. Russia and other countries banned pork imports from Mexico, though people cannot get the flu from eating pork. Photo In the United States, the C.D.C. confirmed that eight students at St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, Queens , had been infected with the new swine flu. At a news conference on Sunday, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said that all those cases had been mild and that city hospitals had not seen a surge in severe lung infections. On the streets of New York, people seemed relatively unconcerned, in sharp contrast to Mexico City , where soldiers handed out masks. Hong Kong, shaped by lasting scars as an epicenter of the SARS outbreak, announced very tough measures. Officials there urged travelers to avoid Mexico and ordered the immediate detention of anyone arriving with a fever higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit after traveling through any city with a confirmed case, which would include New York. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Everyone stopped will be sent to a hospital for a flu test and held until it is negative. Since Hong Kong has Asia ’s busiest airport hub, the policy could severely disrupt international travel. The central question is how many mild cases Mexico has had, Dr. Martin S. Cetron, director of global migration and quarantine for the Centers for Disease Control, said in an interview. “We may just be looking at the tip of the iceberg, which would give you a skewed initial estimate of the case fatality rate,” he said, meaning that there might have been tens of thousands of mild infections around the 1,300 cases of serious disease and 80 or more deaths. If that is true, as the flu spreads, it would not be surprising if most cases were mild. Even in 1918, according to the C.D.C., the virus infected at least 500 million of the world’s 1.5 billion people to kill 50 million. Many would have been saved if antiflu drugs, antibiotics and mechanical ventilators had existed. Another hypothesis, Dr. Cetron said, is that some other factor in Mexico increased lethality, like co-infection with another microbe or an unwittingly dangerous treatment. Flu experts would also like to know whether current flu shots give any protection because it will be months before a new vaccine can be made. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- The United States stepped up preparations for a possible swine flu epidemic, and Canada confirmed its first cases on Sunday as researchers worked to determine how contagious the virus could be. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano briefs reporters at the White House Sunday. more photos » Keiji Fukuda, the assistant director-general of the World Health Organization, called the outbreak "serious" on Sunday. Researchers are still trying to determine how easily the virus is transmitted person to person and it's too early to predict whether there will be a mild or serious pandemic, said Fukuda. Dr. Alejandro Macias, an epidemiologist and adviser to the federal Ministry of Health, told CNN en Español that the official death toll was at 86. Macias said five more deaths in Mexico City had been reported to federal authorities by local authorities in the city. Earlier, Mexican President Felipe Calderon said 81 deaths were suspected to be from the outbreak and 374 people remained hospitalized. Another 929 people have been examined and sent home, he said. "These people have shown up at some medical institution in the country with respiratory symptoms that required to be studied and diagnosed," he said. Mexico City closed all of its schools and universities until further notice because of the virus, and troops passed out filter masks outside the National Cathedral on Sunday morning. No masses were scheduled at the cathedral, but dozens of worshippers put on masks and went inside the church to pray on their own. Public Health Emergency According to the At a White House news conference Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the emergency declaration is standard procedure -- citing that one was declared for the inauguration and for recent flooding. According to the World Health Organization , a public health emergency is an occurence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.At a White House news conference Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the emergency declaration is standard procedure -- citing that one was declared for the inauguration and for recent flooding. Mexican Finance Minister Augustin Carstens said Sunday that the World Bank was lending Mexico $205 million to deal with the outbreak. "We are getting an immediate loan of $25 million for the requisition of medicines, medical equipment and epidemiological equipment and in addition, $180 million to build up strategic operational and institutional capacities to deal with this issue," he said. Russia announced it is banning meat imports from Mexico and the southern United States due to the outbreak of swine flu, the Interfax news agency reported. Passengers arriving in Russia from Mexico and the United States also will be screened for swine flu, the news agency reported, by having their temperatures taken upon arrival. Canada confirmed six cases of mild illnesses on Sunday, and the United States reported 20. Meanwhile, Spain, Israel and New Zealand were investigating possible but unconfirmed cases. In Washington, the head of the Centers for Disease Control said 20 cases had been confirmed in five U.S. states by noon Sunday. The largest number of cases was in New York, where the CDC confirmed cases in eight students at a preparatory school in that city, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Sunday. Another seven cases have been confirmed in California, two each in Kansas and Texas and one in Ohio, said Dr. Richard Besser, the CDC's acting director. Only one person has had to be hospitalized, but Besser said authorities are likely to see "a broader spectrum of disease" in the days ahead. "Given the reports out of Mexico, I would expect that over time we're going to see more severe disease in this country," he said. Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones said the symptoms seen there -- headaches, fevers, coughs and muscle aches -- were mild by the standards of serious flu cases. But he added, "It's still pretty miserable." The U.S. government declared a public health emergency -- a step Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said "sounds more severe than really it is." "This is standard operating procedure and allows us to free up federal state and local agencies and their resources for prevention and mitigation," she said. The outbreak "is of great concern to the White House," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, but, he added, "It's certainly not a time to panic." "If you're sick, stay home, get treatment, go see a doctor," Gibbs told reporters. "The government is taking all the steps it needs to and must do to take the precautions to deal with whatever size and scope we may be facing," he said. Watch how public health officials grade phases of pandemic alerts » Meanwhile, the U.S. military issued a worldwide caution, telling its medical personnel to be on the lookout for troops with signs of swine flu and reiterated the need for public health precautions. The WHO ordered countries worldwide to look out for "unusual" outbreaks of flu following an emergency meeting Saturday. WHO official Gregory Hartl said the strain of the virus seen in Mexico is worrisome because it has mutated from older strains. iReport.com: Do you think we should be worried about swine flu? "Any time that there is a virus which changes ... it means perhaps the immunities the human body has built up to dealing with influenza might not be adjusted well enough to dealing with this new virus," he said. A spokeswoman for the Air Transport Association, which represents the U.S. airline industry, said the group is taking the matter seriously. Airport employees and flight crews are on the lookout for any passengers who show signs of illness, and procedures are in place for determining whether ill passengers may fly, Andrus said. At Los Angeles International Airport, custodians have been instructed to pay additional attention to sanitizing door knobs, handrails and faucets in airport restrooms, according to a statement from Los Angeles World Airports. "In addition, public education signs with general tips on preventing the spread of illnesses -- that are posted throughout the airport during regular flu season -- are being re-posted," the statement said. The H1N1 strain of swine flu is usually associated with pigs. When the flu spreads person to person, instead of from animals to humans, it can continue to mutate, making it a tougher strain that is harder to treat or fight off. Symptoms of swine flu include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the CDC said. Learn more about swine flu and how to treat it » In New Zealand, officials said 22 students and three teachers, who returned from a three-week language trip to Mexico, may have been infected with the swine flu virus. The group remains quarantined at home, and Health Minister Tony Ryall said 10 students tested positive for influenza A -- the general category of strains that includes the H1N1 swine flu. In Spain, six people, all of whom had recently returned from Mexico, were being isolated in hospitals, the country's health ministry reported. And in Israel, doctors are running tests on a man who recently returned from Mexico with light flu symptoms. In London, a hospital spokesman said a British Airways crew member developed flu-like symptoms during a flight from Mexico City and was tested for swine flu, but the results came back negative. The flight attendant is back at work, British Airways told CNN. Watch CBC report on Canadian microbiologists' concerns » Concerns over the virus have prompted Canada to issue a travel health notice, saying the public health agency was "tracking clusters of severe respiratory illness with deaths in Mexico." But Mexico's Tourist Board said Saturday there are no restrictions on travel to the country. Watch efforts in Mexico to prevent spread of the virus » Neither Britain nor the United States have issued any travel warnings or quarantines. But South Korea said it will test airline passengers arriving from the United States, and Japan will convene a Cabinet meeting Monday to come up with measures to block the entry of the virus into the country. Katherine Andrus, an attorney for the U.S. Air Transport Association, told CNN that the airline trade association was in regular contact with the CDC. Andrus said airlines are following their own procedures to watch for ill passengers and crews have standard procedures for dealing with ill passengers. Any onboard communicable disease incidents must be reported to the CDC, she said. "This is a time for appropriate precautions but not panic," Andrus said. CNN's Saeed Ahmed, Raja Razek, Phillip Warrington, Jeanne Meserve, Paul Vercammen and Ted Rowlands contributed to this report. All About Mexico • Influenza • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention \|\|\|\|\| » World Governments Race To Stop Swine Flu White House Emphasizes There's No Need For Panic, Agencies Plan Wide-Ranging Response The world's governments raced to avoid both a pandemic and global hysteria Sunday as more possible swine flu cases surfaced from Canada to New Zealand and the United States declared a public health emergency. "It's not a time to panic," the White House said.The U.S. government has outlined a multiagency response, but seemed determined to project an air of calm, reports. They likened their efforts to planning for a hurricane that may never come."Really, that's what we're doing right now. We're preparing in an environment where we really don't know ultimately what the size or seriousness of this outbreak is going to be," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters.Mexico, the outbreak's epicenter with up to 103 suspected deaths, canceled some church services and closed markets and restaurants. Few people ventured onto the streets, and some wore face masks. Canada became the third country to confirm cases, in six people, including some students who - like some New York City spring-breakers - got mildly ill in Mexico. Countries across Asia promised to quarantine feverish travelers returning from flu-affected areas.The U.S. declared the health emergency so it could ship roughly 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications from a federal stockpile to states in case they eventually need them - although, with 20 confirmed cases of people recovering easily, they don't appear to for now.There is not a global pandemic - at least not yet. It's not clear how many people truly have this particular strain, or why all countries but Mexico are seeing only a mild form of the disease. Nor is it clear if the new virus spreads easily - one milestone that distinguishes a bad flu from a global crisis. But waiting to take protective steps until after a pandemic is declared would be too late."We do think this will continue to spread but we are taking aggressive actions to minimize the impact on people's health," said Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Earlier, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the outbreak was serious, but that the public should know "it's not a time to panic." He told NBC's "Meet the Press" that President Obama was getting updates "every few hours" on the situation.New York City was dealing with a growing public health threat Sunday after tests confirmed that eight students at a private Catholic high school had contracted the same strain of the swine flu that has affected Mexico. Some of the school's students had visited Cancun on a spring break trip two weeks ago.New York officials previously had characterized the cases as probable, but Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that it was swine flu, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.About 100 students at St. Francis Preparatory School complained of flu-like symptoms; further tests will determine how many of those cases are swine flu.Officials in New York City tried to dampen fears of an epidemic, reports. Bloomberg stressed that the New York cases were mild and many are recovering, but said that some family members of students also had flu symptoms, "suggesting it is spreading person to person."He said that the virus likely came from Mexico, although that has not officially been determined.In Mexico, soldiers handed out 6 million surgical-style masks to deal with a deadly flu strain that officials say may have sickened 1,400 people since April 13. Special laboratory tests to confirm how many died from it - 22 have been confirmed so far out of 103 suspected deaths - are taking time.The World Bank said it would send Mexico $25 million in loans for immediate aid and $180 million in long-term assistance to address the outbreak, along with advice on how other nations have dealt with similar crises.The World Health Organization and the U.S. were following a playbook of precautions developed over the past five years to prepare for the next super-flu. The WHO on Saturday asked all countries to step up detection of this strain of A/H1N1 swine flu and will reconsider on Tuesday whether to raise the pandemic threat level, in turn triggering additional actions.A potential pandemic virus is defined, among other things, as a novel strain that's not easily treated. This new strain can be treated with Tamiflu and Relenza, but not two older flu drugs. Also, the WHO wants to know if it's easily spread from one person to a second who then spreads it again - something U.S. officials suspect and are investigating."Right now we have cases occurring in a couple of different countries and in multiple locations, but we also know that in the modern world that cases can simply move around from single locations and not really become established," cautioned WHO flu chief Dr. Keiji Fukuda.There is no vaccine against swine flu, but the CDC has taken the initial step necessary for producing one - creating a seed stock of the virus - should authorities decide that's necessary. Last winter's flu shot offers no cross-protection to the new virus, although it's possible that older people exposed to various Type A flu strains in the past may have some immunity, CDC officials said Sunday.Worldwide, attention focused sharply on travelers."It was acquired in Mexico, brought home and spread," Nova Scotia's chief public health officer, Dr. Robert Strang, said of Canada's first four confirmed cases, in student travelers.New Zealand said 10 students who took a school trip to Mexico "likely" had swine flu. Spanish authorities had seven suspected cases under observation. A New York City school where eight cases are confirmed will be closed Monday and Tuesday.China, Russia and Taiwan began planning to quarantine travelers arriving from flu-affected areas if they have symptoms. Italy, Poland and Venezuela advised citizens to postpone travel to affected parts of Mexico and the U.S.The U.S. hasn't advised against travel to Mexico but does urge precautions such as frequent hand-washing while there, and began questioning arriving travelers about flu symptoms. \|\|\|\|\| (Repeats to add UPDATE 1 to headline.) (Updates with details of outbreak) WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - Twenty cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the United States as the White House stepped up efforts to monitor the outbreak, U.S. officials said on Sunday. Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a White House briefing that all of the U.S. cases have been mild. U.S. officials said President Barack Obama is being briefed regularly on the potential spread of the new strain of flu, which has taken as many as 81 lives in Mexico. "At this point, a top priority is to ensure that communication is robust and that medical surveillance efforts are fully activated," John Brennan, assistant to the president for Homeland Security, said at a White House news conference. He said beefed up monitoring would enable rapid identification and notification of any new cases that might occur in the United States and Mexico. Besser said the CDC has confirmed one case of swine flu in Ohio, two in Kansas and eight in New York. There were already seven confirmed cases in California and two in Texas. Officials emphasized that the U.S. cases are not as severe as the cases that have been identified in Mexico. Nevertheless, the officials recommended planning for potential U.S. school closures and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the United States would release some of its stockpiles of anti-flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza. She also said the United States would declare a public health emergency to start the flow of aid to states and communities that might be affected by the outbreak. (Writing by Donna Smith, editing by Patricia Zengerle)	3D Model of an influenza virus Officials in Mexico are asking citizens to take actions in order to minimize the spread of the swine flu outbreak. Citizens are urged to stay away from large crowds, avoid kissing people and stay at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) away from one another. Additionally, all schools and universities in Mexico City have been closed indefinitely. In addition, at least twenty people in the United States have been infected with the disease, causing the government to issue a "national public health emergency." On Monday, Mexican officials reported that at least 100 deaths in their country were "likely linked" to the swine flu. Dr. Jose A. Cordova Villalobos, the health secretary of Mexico, said that at least 20 of the deaths have been confirmed as swine flu related deaths while the World Health Organization (WHO) says that 71 people have died from complications caused by the disease. Meanwhile, over 1,300 people in Mexico have been hospitalized because of flu-like symptoms since April 13. In New Zealand, 26 students and teachers might have been infected by the flu during their trip to Mexico. Dr. Julia Peters, the clinical director of Auckland Regional Public Health Service, said that at least 22 have shown flu-like symptoms. All of the students and teachers are being quarantined pending test results. Similar health scares occurred in Israel. France, Spain and the United Kingdom, where people with flu-like symptoms have been tested for the swine flu. In the UK, test results came back negative for the deadly strain, while results from Israel, France and Spain are still pending. In the United States, there have been twenty confirmed cases of swine-flu in the states of Kansas, Texas and California. Today, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg reported that at least 8 students from a New York preparatory school have contracted the mutated flu strain. The White House also said today that there was at least one confirmed case of the disease in Ohio, prompting the federal government to declare a "public health emergency." Robert Gibbs, a White House spokesman, said that the swine flu outbreak "is of great concern to the White House," and that President Obama is now receiving briefings on the issue on a regular basis. Gibbs added, "I would tell people it's certainly not a time to panic ... The government is taking all the steps it needs to and must do to take the precautions to deal with whatever size and scope we may be facing." The WHO is taking the outbreak very seriously, calling it a "public health emergency of international concern" that has a "pandemic potential." The WHO's emergency council met on Saturday for the first time since its creation. If the committee decides that the swine flu outbreak is an international public health emergency, WHO could recommend travel warnings and restrictions and possible border closures. The Center for Disease Control says that swine flu symptoms include a fever above 100º Fahrenheit, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, coughing, sore throat, lack of appetite, runny nose, breathing problems and fatigue. However, not all symptoms are present in each case of swine flu.
Citizen reporters from around the world who contribute to a local online newspaper will hold a forum in Seoul starting today to discuss the future potential of online journalism and citizen participatory journalism. Organized by OhmyNews (www.ohmynews.com), the first International Citizen Reporters’ Forum will take place until Sunday at the Convention and Exhibition (COEX) Center in southern Seoul. More than 100 citizen reporters from 25 countries contributing articles in English to OhmyNews International and about 180 Korean citizen reporters as well as volunteer translators will participate in the event. Foreign citizen reporters are of various ages and races, including medical student Alex Krabbe from Germany; Omid Habibinia, an exiled Iranian journalist and media researcher living in Switzerland; Chia Hao Hsu, a former president of Student News at National Taiwan University; and Kim Hyang-chong, an overseas Korean in Japan who has passports for both South and North Korea. Representatives of foreign citizen reporters will present their experiences in the forum along with Korean citizen reporters. The Korean participants include Kang In-kyu, Goh Tae-jin, Kim Hye-won and Lee Bong-ryul. Key speakers include Ken Takeuchi, a president of JanJan, Japanese online participatory media; Shintaro Tabata, a head of news service at Japan’s major portal site Livedoor; Erik Möller, founder of Wikinews; and Clyde Bentley, associate professor of the Missouri School of Journalism who is currently experimenting with a participatory community media. An IT tour covering Korea's hottest technology spots including visits to the leading Korean IT firms such as Samsung, Naver and SK Communication will be provided to participants as well. OhmyNews, a pioneer of citizen participatory journalism in Korea now has more than 38,000 citizen reporters writing for the Korean and International editions including 600 international citizen reporters. ``It will be a chance to nurture participatory journalism in countries around the world and discuss matters of mutual concern to international Internet users,’’ said Oh Yeon-ho, CEO and Founder of OhmyNews, who will also give a lecture in the forum. \|\|\|\|\| The Next Wave of Journalism Starts Today Citizen reporters converge on Seoul for the 2005 OhmyNews International Forum Todd Kipp (toddkipp) Email Article Print Article It's 3:30 a.m. in Calgary, Canada and my flight to Los Angeles and then on to Seoul for the OhmyNews International Citizen Reporters' Forum is about three hours away. I'm anxious, not tired. Many citizen reporters coming to Seoul are also anxious, but perhaps for different reasons. Truth be told, this is not my first trip to Seoul, nor is it my second or third. Over the last nine years, this probably counts as the tenth trip and that's where my excitement arises. I know the city, the smells, the subway, the culture, the cuisine, the ever-looming conflict with North Korea and I'm energized to return. Although no longer novel, South Korea continues changing and evolving and it's these changes within society, coupled with the familiar, that make it an interesting scene. It's the same with journalism. Over the last 12 years, my own journalistic experience amounts to ascending the ranks. Starting at my university newspaper, I moved on to city entertainment weeklies, national newspapers and finally international publications. After putting my journalism on the shelf through the last 18 months, (in lieu of writing films), it took a little known, but growing citizen reported newspaper to inspire me once again. This week's forum sets the stage for discussion and debate concerning our changing industry. With the advent of Internet, fanzines turned into e-zines and blogs. Now we're entering the next wave of journalism with citizen reporting and various reporting experiments. Last week's now famous attempt and failure by the Los Angeles Times to run their "Wikitorial experiment" brought many questions as well as criticism and debate. Essentially the online content experiment allowed readers to add to, delete from and freely edit an editorial about the war in Iraq. Whether or not it started to meet its initial aim of culminating in a concise and superior end product from various sources is currently unknown. Within a couple of days readers began posting excessive pornography and profanity, as well as biased information serving their own agendas, to render the experiment completely useless and a sound failure. One blog asked: "the conceptual problem here is: What makes a newspaper-sponsored online discussion about Iraq different from, and more useful to the reader than, an online discussion about Iraq on the Usenet or any of the other zillion websites that host that kind of thing?" Indeed. Why is it more important because a known newspaper sponsors it? Obviously the free-flow of information on the Internet worries many, especially those currently responsible for the "credited news" we receive, hence the experiment. Many, many others will follow. Some critics assert that such mass reporting amounts to nothing more than unauthoritive, biased, amateur opinions. Rupesh Silval, an OhmyNews citizen reporter, on the other hand, commented that in Nepal "citizen reporting has a democratic ethic and proves that by its very participatory nature, 'credible reporting is honest and accurate.'" It's also interesting to note that Silval mentions that the "King seized total control of the nation and declared a state of emergency, saying restrictive measures were needed to quell the communist insurgency." While true in principal, one wonders if "Wikitorials", (or Wikireporting" for that matter), are an ideal that cannot be fully realized, like communism itself. Whether OhmyNews is interested in pursuing this style of collective citizen reporting and editing in its newspaper is yet to be seen. Many drawbacks exist, as witnessed in the recent Los Angeles Times Wikitorial experiment that failed almost immediately. OhmyNews, while encouraging citizen reporters from around the world to report the news as they witness and react to it, still edits the content for basic style and general accuracy. While not exactly censored, it still goes through these checks to ensure they're not publishing absolute anarchic crap. Well aware that our traditional news sources are at least somewhat corrupt, biased and often self-serving, change is long overdue. Citizen reporting is a step in the right direction. Wikitorials? We'll see. It'll also be interesting to observe what fresh perspectives arise during the OhmyNews International Citizen Reporter's Forum 2005, since the international citizen reporters literally are from around the world, not just a few select countries. It's baby steps, but we're walking together... Other articles by reporter Todd Kipp Add to : Del.icio.us \| Digg \| reddit \| Y! MyWeb \|\|\|\|\| The common wisdom among many Internet hands is that a glance at Korea will give one a good idea of what technology will look like in the United States in three to five years. I took more than a passing glance today. If what I saw is in store for use soon, prepare for technology that is both bigger and smaller, simpler and more complex, outlandishly wild and fiendishly simple Be prepared for the big U. Korea is the evangelist of the coming ubiquitous technology. The living room of the future has a large screen -- but the image on it can be transferred to other screens in the house The living room of the future has a large screen -- but the image on it can be transferred to other screens in the house Our hosts at the OhMyNews International Citizen Reporters Forum loaded us into big buses today for a tour of Koreas technology centers. It was a combination of fact-finding for the citizen reporters and national pride for the citizens of Korea. First stop was the official show for Koreas high tech showcase, the ominously named Hall of Ubiquitous Dreams. I was expecting some sort of eastern mystic tourist trap ala House of Flying Daggers. But while there were indeed enough special effects to impress even jaded movie goers, this was not fantasy fiction. Korea, as Minister of Information and Communication Chin Dae Je later explained to us, has adopted an aggressive technology policy based on the term ubiquitous or present everywhere. The goal is to so thoroughly integrate technology into everyday life that using it becomes like breathing or eating. It's a watch --- no it's a PC It's a watch --- no it's a PC The hall was spectacular. Room after room was littered with computeer screens but screens you would hardly recognize. That framed classic painting on the wall could be switched to a modern art masterpiece in seconds our could display the latest news or and incoming e-mail after hearing a brief voice command. The panel on the refrigerator kept track of grocery orders. Head too foggy from last nights party to think of technology? Lay a hand on that full length mirror in the bedroom and it gives you the weather report. Then grab a shirt from the closet and the mirror not only tells you if it appropriate for the weather, but what slacks and tie from your closet will match. It was GrrAnimals in Hyperspace. My favorite gizmo, though, was an ordinary-looking bulletin board in the kitchen. Because mail and other documents in Korea are increasingly laced with RF data chips, you could thumbtack a junk-mail letter to the board and it would read it and even offer a response without ever breaking the envelope seal. Much of the technology displayed was designed to bring people together verbally, visually and emotionally even though they were miles er, kilometers -- apart. Our cyber host (a physician) helped his daugter in the United States with her college anatomy homework, then interrupted a meeting to remotely help with an emergency heart surgery. In the ubiquitous world of this Korean dream, distance is meaningless., Between the exhibits at the hall and those at the stunning Samsung Electronics museum and demonstration center, I found my head spinning with technology that was either in early marketing stages or less than three years from the shelf: -- A Human Body Communication system allows two business folk carrying PDAs to exchange personal information with a simple handshake. Hold the PDA in your left hand, shake with the right and the information is transferred through your skin. This waiter wants no tip, just an occasional charge. This waiter wants no tip, just an occasional charge. -- Ann 80-inch flat screen television filled a whole wall with amazingly sharp, life-sized video. == The top accessory for a line of high-capacity computers about to come out is a wrist strap. They are only slightly larger than a Rolex but do a lot more than tick. -- New cell phones have high-quality cameras built in. We saw a 5 megapixel version, but a 7 megapixel camera phone has been announced. But forget the pixel count. One phone had a built in optical zoom lens of such high quality that you couldnt really tell it from a non-phone camera. And, of course, there was this cute little orange robot who waited tables at the corner café. I dont care if he spilled the drinks. I want that droid. None of this is new, of course. I read about ubiquitous technology decades ago in the novels of Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asminov and Robert Heinlein. But back then, I was accused of being a little geek who was wasting his time on science fiction. Turns out I was just studying in advance. Comments Only registered users can write comments. Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! \|\|\|\|\| Neil Thurman Director, Journalism, Media and Globalisation (Erasmus Mundus Masters) Department of Journalism Neil has published widely on online journalism. His work appears in: Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism; New Media & Society; Journalism Practice; Convergence; and Journalism Studies. He gave a keynote speech at the 1st International Reporters’ Forum in Seoul, South Korea as a guest of Ohmynews.com; and is a regular contributor to the International Symposium on Online Journalism in Austin, Texas, where he won ‘best paper’ in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Neil was appointed as City University’s first lecturer in Electronic Publishing in 1997 and directed their successful Master’s in Electronic Publishing until 2004. He continues to teach on that programme as well as leading the Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Journalism, Media and Globalisation. E-mail: n.j.thurman@city.ac.uk Telephone: +44 (0)20 7040 8222	OhmyNews founder Oh Yeon Ho welcomed citizen reporters on Thursday. More than 300 "citizen reporters" hailing from countries as far apart as Chile and Norway are coming together at the OhmyNews International Citizen Reporters' Forum from June 23 to June 26, 2005 in Seoul. is one of the most popular South Korean news websites, and it has played an important role in the election of reformist President Roh Moo-hyun. Unlike traditional news sources, OhmyNews allows any individual with an Internet connection to contribute stories. A professional staff of journalists vets incoming submissions and decides which stories are to be published. The project is sponsoring the forum in order to promote its English edition, officially launched in May 2004. Citizen reporters writing in English exchange ideas and stories, and try to understand the inner workings of the Korean edition. The conference is sponsored by Korean corporations such as Samsung, SK Corporation, LG, Yuhan-Kimberly, and Asiana Airlines. OhmyNews citizen reporters holding their national flags in a ceremony on Friday evening.
Published online: 28 February 2005; \| doi:10.1038/news050228-1 Engineers devise invisibility shield Philip Ball Electron effects could stop objects from scattering light. Spot the spaceship. © NASA The idea of a cloak of invisibility that hides objects from view has long been confined to the more improbable reaches of science fiction. But electronic engineers have now come up with a way to make one. Andrea Alù and Nader Engheta of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia say that a 'plasmonic cover' could render objects "nearly invisible to an observer". Their idea remains just a proposal at this stage, but it doesn't obviously violate any laws of physics. "The concept is an interesting one, with several important potential applications," says John Pendry, a physicist at Imperial College in London, UK. "It could find uses in stealth technology and camouflage." Cloak of many colours Types of invisibility shielding have been developed before, but these mostly use the chameleon principle: a screen is coloured to match its background, so that the screened object is camouflaged. The concept could find uses in stealth technology and camouflage. John Pendry Physicist, Imperial College, UK For example, inventor Ray Alden in North Carolina has proposed a system of light detectors and emitters that project a replica of the scene appearing behind an object from its front surface. Researchers at the University of Tokyo are working on a camouflage fabric that uses a similar principle, in which the background scene is projected on to light-reflecting beads in the material. 1 is more ambitious than this. It is a self-contained structure that would reduce visibility from all viewing angles. In that sense it would be more like the shielding used by the Romulans in the Star Trek episode "Balance of Terror" in 1966, which hid their spaceships at the push of a button. But the invisibility shield proposed by Alù and Engheta in a preprint on arXivis more ambitious than this. It is a self-contained structure that would reduce visibility from all viewing angles. In that sense it would be more like the shielding used by the Romulans in theepisode "Balance of Terror" in 1966, which hid their spaceships at the push of a button. Scatter-brained The key to the concept is to reduce light scattering. We see objects because light bounces off them; if this scattering of light could be prevented (and if the objects didn't absorb any light) they would become invisible. Alù and Engheta's plasmonic screen suppresses scattering by resonating in tune with the illuminating light. Plasmons are waves of electron density, caused when the electrons on the surface of a metallic material move in rhythm. The researchers say that a shell of plasmonic material will scatter light negligibly if the light's frequency is close to the resonant frequency of the plasmons. The scattering from the shell effectively cancels out the scattering from the object. For visible-light shielding, says Engheta, nature has already provided suitable plasmonic materials: silver and gold. To reduce the scattering of longer-wavelength radiation such as microwaves, one could make the shield from a 'metamaterial': a large-scale structure with unusual electromagnetic properties, typically constructed from arrays of wire loops and coils. Alù and Engheta's calculations show that spherical or cylindrical objects coated with such plasmonic shields do indeed produce very little light scattering. It is as though, when lit by light of the right wavelength, the objects become extremely small, so small that they cannot be seen. Size matters Pendry warns, however, that the concept as it stands is "no magic cloak", because it would have to be delicately tuned to suit each different object it hides. Perhaps even more of a drawback, he points out, is the fact that a particular shield only works for one specific wavelength of light. An object might be made invisible in red light, say, but not in multiwavelength daylight. And crucially, the effect only works when the wavelength of the light being scattered is roughly the same size as the object. So shielding from visible light would be possible only for microscopic objects; larger ones could be hidden only to long-wavelength radiation such as microwaves. This means that the technology could not be used to hide people or vehicles from human vision. But that need not undermine other potential uses, Engheta says. For example, the effect could be useful for making antiglare materials. Another possible use for plasmonic screening is microscopy, he adds. Light microscopes could surpass their usual resolution limits by using tiny probes to measure the light field very close to the object being imaged. Such probes could be made 'invisible' so that they don't disturb the imaging signal. And of course the shielding would work fine for concealing large objects such as spaceships from sensors or telescopes that used long-wavelength radiation instead of visible light. Top References Alù A. & Engheta N. Preprint, http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0502336 (2005). Top For full access to the site and the archive, subscribe here: To receive all the daily news in your inbox each week, sign up for our email alert here: To see the latest news visit our homepage Top \|\|\|\|\| Donate to arXiv Please join the Simons Foundation and our generous member organizations in supporting arXiv during our giving campaign September 23-27. 100% of your contribution will fund improvements and new initiatives to benefit arXiv's global scientific community.	Two engineers, Andrea Alù and Nader Engheta of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia have come up with a 'plasmonic cover' which they claim could render objects "nearly invisible to an observer". The idea is still in its infancy, but it is said not to violate any obvious laws of physics. John Pendry, a physicist at Imperial College in London, UK: "The concept is an interesting one, with several important potential applications. It could find uses in stealth technology and camouflage." Earlier attempts at constructing an invisibility screen resulted in the chameleon-principle: screens were coloured to match their background, rendering them hard, but not impossible to see, but usually from only a limited point of view. The principle on which the technology is founded can be explained as follows: an object can be seen because light scatters from its surface back to our eyes. If the scattering of light could be prevented, the object could not be seen. By making a screen resonate in tune with the light, scattering of light would be prevented. This can be achieved by using plasmons, waves of electronic density caused by electrons in a metalic surface moving in sync. If the frequency of the light is close to that of the shield, the light scattered by the object will be negligible compared to the light scattered by the shield. For visible light, silver and gold can be used as metals, for other frequencies, such as infrared and ultra-violet, other metals will have to be used.
LFP Noon Round UP Newsletter Sign up to receive a curated collection of links and highlights from our award-winning breaking news coverage, in-depth analysis and unmatched investigative features at lunchtime weekdays. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. \| 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 \| 416-383-2300 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 LFP Noon Round UP Newsletter will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again \|\|\|\|\| Liberal leadership contender Bob Rae. Bob Rae warns against reopening Constitution Canadian Press OTTAWA -- Leadership hopeful Bob Rae is warning Liberals that there is no appetite in the country for constitutional adventures or "abstract debates" over Quebec's identity. While he wouldn't go so far as to say the Constitution should never be reopened, Rae made it clear Friday that it wouldn't happen under his watch. "I've been through this. I've been through Meech. I've been through Charlottetown. I've been through it all," Rae said, recounting his experiences with past failed attempts to enshrine Quebec's distinctiveness in the Constitution. "There is no appetite in the country for this kind of an adventure. There simply is not that appetite there and the leadership of the country has to recognize that," he added. "You should not raise expectations that cannot be met and we should not be engaging in an abstract debate in this country at this point in time. We should be focusing our attention on issues that really matter to people." Rae issued the warning during the launch of his latest book, "Canada in the Balance," a slim paperback that outlines his blueprint for the country. His admonition came even as he and other leadership contestants continued to search for a compromise to defuse a potentially explosive resolution that could rupture the party during its leadership convention later this month. The resolution, put forward by the Quebec wing of the party and to be debated at the convention two days before the new leader is chosen, calls on Liberals to recognize Quebec as a nation within Canada. It also calls on the party to create an expert task force to advise the next leader on how best to "officialize" such recognition. Only front-runner Michael Ignatieff has wholeheartedly supported the resolution. The other seven leadership contenders have conveyed varying degrees of discomfort with it, including fears that the word "officialize" could be interpreted to mean entrenching Quebec's nationhood in the Constitution. Rae was an ardent supporter of the ill-fated Meech and Charlottetown accords, which would have enshrined recognition of Quebec as a distinct society. As recently as last August, he said he has always supported the idea that Quebec "is a nation, it is a distinct society which we need to recognize in our Constitution." Ignatieff's supporters have pointed to such musings to accuse Rae of flip-flopping on the issue. Rae acknowledged Friday that he's never ruled out re-opening the Constitution eventually. "Never is not a word I've used. I stand by what I've written, what I've said." Nevertheless, he said political leaders need to learn from past mistakes and respect the will of Canadians, who don't want another round of divisive constitutional wrangling. "I'm not somebody who is going to set this country on a constitutional adventure, whose consequences and whose outcome I'm not certain of," Rae said. He added that he believes the country makes the best progress and is most united "when we focus on practical measures" rather than esoteric constitutional nostrums. Rae won an endorsement Friday from one of his fiercest former foes. Richard Mahoney, who was president of the provincial Liberals in Ontario when Rae was the province's NDP premier, proved that at least some Ontario Grits are prepared to let bygones be bygones. Indeed, Mahoney said he thinks Rae is "the best person ... to help us win Ontario" in the next election, notwithstanding memories of his recession-ravaged term as premier, when deficits ballooned and taxes soared. Mahoney, a top adviser to former prime minister Paul Martin, noted that polls show Rae is the first choice of Ontarians and the only contender to poll better than NDP Leader Jack Layton in the province. Meanwhile, Quebec Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Benoit Pelletier said Canada should recognize in the Constitution that Quebec is a nation. "To those in the rest of Canada who fear that renewed constitutional debate would specifically deal with Quebec, I saw that it is inevitable," he said in the Quebec legislature. Regardless, Pelletier said conditions aren't present right now to ensure success in such talks.	Michael Ignatieff wants to reopen the Constitution to have a debate about Quebec as a nation within Canada. It is to be debated at the convention two days before the new leader is chosen. Bob Rae, current Liberal leadership candidate, warned about reopening the Constitution. According to Ignatieff's website it says that Rae "supported the notion that Quebec is a nation," and "we can be both a Quebecker and a Canadian." "I'm not somebody who is going to set this country on a constitutional adventure, whose consequences and whose outcome I'm not certain of," Rae said. "For me, what's important is to stay open to Quebec, but we will not reopen the Constitution," he said yesterday at an Ottawa book signing for his new book, ''Canada In The Balance''. The other seven leadership contenders have expressed their feelings on this issue saying that they have some discomfort with it. Former Liberal PM Jean Chrétien, repeatedly said in the past that Canada was working well and most people did not care about changing the Constitution. "They say that when you have a nation, there must be a corresponding state to this nation. That is the equation they make," said Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Benoît Pelletier. "They have the impression that each state must correspond to a single nation. That is false. States can be made up of a plurality of nations. The sovereigntists make the same mistake." "You should not raise expectations that cannot be met and we should not be engaging in an abstract debate in this country at this point in time. We should be focusing our attention on issues that really matter to people," says Rae. Ignatieff will outline his ideas for Quebec being a nation within Canada at the convention two days before the new leader will be picked in Montreal, December 3.
Archive Topics: Asset Management Bricks & Mortar Business Banking Community Consumer & Commercial Banking Corporate Transactions Economics & Industry Outlooks Executive Management Changes Financial & Corporation News Global Corporate & Investment Banking (GCIB) Online/Interactive/Technology Special Events & Promotions Other Bank of America Confirms Lost Data Tapes February 25, 2005 Reporters May Contact Alexandra Trower, Bank of America 212.933.3382 (o), 917.971.4168 (c) CHARLOTTE, NC -- Bank of America today confirmed that a small number of computer data tapes were lost during shipment to a backup data center. The missing tapes contained U.S. federal government charge card program customer and account information. Federal law enforcement officials were immediately engaged when the tapes were discovered missing, and subsequently conducted a thorough investigation into the matter, working closely with Bank of America. The investigation to date has found no evidence to suggest the tapes or their content have been accessed or misused, and the tapes are now presumed lost. Government cardholder accounts included on the data tapes have been and will continue to be monitored by Bank of America, and government cardholders will be contacted should any unusual activity be detected. No unusual activity has been observed to date. Per standard Bank of America policy, government cardholders will not be held liable for any unauthorized use of their cards. Law enforcement authorities have now given Bank of America permission to notify by letter any U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) SmartPay® charge cardholders whose information may have been on the tapes. U.S. GSA SmartPay® charge cardholders with questions or concerns may contact the following special toll-free number – 1.800.493.8444 – for further assistance. “We deeply regret this unfortunate incident,” said Barbara Desoer, Global Technology, Service & Fulfillment executive for Bank of America. “The privacy of customer information receives the highest priority at Bank of America, and we take our responsibilities for safeguarding it very seriously.” About Bank of America Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) is one of the world's leading financial services companies. The company's Global Corporate and Investment Banking group (GCIB) provides investment banking, equity and debt capital raising, research, trading, risk management, treasury management and financial advisory services. Through offices in 35 countries, GCIB serves domestic and international corporations, institutional investors, financial institutions and government entities. Many of the bank's services to corporate and institutional clients are provided through its U.S. and UK subsidiaries, Banc of America Securities LLC and Banc of America Securities Limited. For additional information, visit www.bankofamerica.com. Note: We maintain Bank of America news releases on this site for archival purposes. Our news releases are believed accurate as of the date they are issued; however, they may become outdated over time, and should not be relied on as correct after their issue date. \|\|\|\|\| Bank of America Corp. has lost tapes containing personal financial information for 1.2 million accounts of federal employees, including US senators and members of the Defense Department. ADVERTISEMENT The tapes contained personal information, including Social Security numbers, addresses, and account numbers for employees in several government agencies. The lost information, which the bank was transporting to a backup data center, could make those customers vulnerable to identity theft. Bank of America first discovered in December that the tapes had been lost and alerted the Secret Service, but it did not make the loss public until yesterday. A Bank of America spokeswoman, Alexandra Trower, said the bank waited to contact customers until federal law-enforcement authorities concluded their investigation and gave the bank permission. According to a spokesman for the Defense Department, 900,000 of the customers were defense employees. ''This was a large incident," Bryan Whitman told Reuters. Trower said the bank and law enforcement have concluded that the tapes were probably lost. The bank apologized in a public statement yesterday. ''This was an accident that happened in shipping," Trower said. ''There is absolutely no indication that any information has been accessed." The lost data tapes included the personal information of US Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, his spokeswoman said yesterday. ''There were some senators' Visa credit card accounts involved," the spokeswoman, Tracy Schmaler, said. ''We don't know how many, but he was one of them." The Bank of America disclosure came on the heels of a similar disclosure by ChoicePoint Inc., a data warehouser in Georgia, which said as many as 140,000 customers may have had their personal information compromised. Leahy has called for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing into whether to more heavily regulate companies that deal in personal financial data. He released a statement yesterday saying he hopes the Bank of America incident will persuade Congress to pay more attention to what he called the ''rapid erosion of privacy rights" as consumers' financial information is collected and sold. The lost data on the tapes were part of a program called SmartPay administered by Bank of America and other banks, which works similarly to corporate credit cards. Bank of America, which acquired FleetBoston Financial Corp. for $48 billion last year, said it is cooperating fully with federal law enforcement officials. In a statement, a top executive, Barbara Desoer, said the bank ''deeply regrets" the incident. ''The privacy of customer information receives the highest priority at Bank of America, and we take our responsibilities for safeguarding it very seriously," said Desoer, who is in charge of technology, service, and fulfillment at Bank of America. US Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said he was told by the Senate Rules Committee that the data backup tapes were probably stolen off a commercial plane by baggage handlers in December. But Trower, the Bank of America spokeswoman, said the bank and law-enforcement officials believe that the tapes were lost. Bank of America is monitoring the accounts to make sure the financial data are not abused, and it alerted affected account holders in a letter yesterday. She also said it is common industry practice for banks to ship backup tapes containing customers' information, but that Bank of America may reevaluate how it handles such shipments in the future. Consumers Union, one of the nation's leading consumer-activist groups, called on lawmakers yesterday to allow customers more access to their private financial information so that they can freeze their accounts. ''Once again, consumers have been put at risk of identity theft because sensitive customer information held by a financial institution has been compromised," Gail Hillebrand, senior attorney for Consumers Union, said in a statement. ''This is another reminder of how vulnerable consumers are to having their personal and financial information fall into the wrong hands." Sasha Talcott can be reached at stalcott@globe.com. Material from the Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report. \|\|\|\|\| Bank of America said there was no evidence of criminal activity Several members of the US Senate are among those affected, who could now be vulnerable to identity theft. Senate sources say the missing tapes may have been stolen from a plane by baggage handlers. The bank gave no details of how the records disappeared, but said they had probably not been misused. Customers' accounts were being monitoring and account holders would be notified if any "unusual activity" was detected, bank officials said. Investigation Bank of America said the tapes went missing in December while being shipped to a back-up data centre. "We, with federal law authorities, have done a very robust, thorough investigation on this and neither we nor they would make the statement lightly that we believe those tapes to be lost," Alexandra Tower, a spokeswoman for the North Carolina-based bank, told Time magazine. But although there was no evidence of criminal activity, the bank said, the Secret Service - a federal agency whose brief includes investigations of serious financial crime - is said to be looking into the loss. New York Senator Charles Schumer said he was told by the Senate Rules Committee that the tapes were probably stolen from a commercial plane. "Whether it is identity theft, terrorism, or other theft, in this new complicated world baggage handlers should have background checks and more care should be taken for who is hired for these increasingly sensitive positions," the Democratic senator said. Details of his Vermont colleague Pat Leahy's credit card account are among those missing, Senator Leahy's spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler said. About 900,000 military and civilian staff at the defence department are among the 1.2 million affected, according to a Pentagon spokesman.	One of the biggest domestic banks in the United States, Bank of America, has admitted to losing computer tapes containing 1.2 million federal employee accounts, including the accounts of several U.S. senators, in a statement by the bank. According to the Pentagon, most of the accounts belong to staff and civilians in the Department of Defense. The bank said the tapes were lost in December 2004 as they were being transported to a data back-up centre by a commercial plane. Currently, the U.S. Secret Service are looking in to the matter, a federal agency whose brief includes investigations of serious financial crime such as this. All parties concerned are worrying about possible identity theft as it contained valuable information such as bank account numbers, names and addresses.
The tanker was pulled upright and gas decanted into another vehicle Peter Williams, 25, from the Darlington area, died in hospital after being thrown from the vehicle's cab at Wolsingham on Wednesday morning. Residents of 23 homes which were evacuated have been allowed to return and an exclusion zone has been lifted. A specialist recovery firm helped move the tanker amid fears it might explode. The tanker made deliveries in rural areas to remote households and farms which use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as domestic fuel. Before decanting the gas we had to right the vehicle, something which had to be done under great control Chris Hockaday, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service The vehicle, a smaller version of a petrol tanker, was thought to have been carrying about 13,000 litres of LPG when it careered off the winding country road and crashed through a bridge. Mr Williams was airlifted to Newcastle General Hospital where he was due to undergo surgery. Following the evacuation of Wolsingham homes and a caravan park, the tanker was pulled upright and the gas decanted into another vehicle. Chris Hockaday, from the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The decanting finished at about 10pm and the tanker was then dragged along the track by a tractor, where it was lifted onto another vehicle by the specialist recovery company. The tanker smashed through a wall and plunged down an embankment "It was then moved to a secure site for examination. The authorities left the scene at about midnight. "Before decanting the gas we had to right the vehicle, something which had to be done under great control in an operation which took about two hours." The Environment Agency had been alerted in case any diesel from the tanker leaked into the nearby River Wear. The Weardale Railway, which runs steam trains on a five-mile stretch of restored track between Stanhope and Wolsingham Station, remains closed. Road closed Speaking on Thursday morning, Steve Raine, the railway's managing director said: "The tanker was moved late last night so we haven't yet been able to properly examine the track. "However, the damage appears to be quite light and we're hoping we can get that fixed today. "We'll work with the council to secure the collapsed wall and hopefully we'll be running trains tomorrow, but it's more likely to be Saturday." The town's main road - the A689 - is unaffected by the crash but The Causeway route is likely to be closed until Saturday. In May, a van containing gas cylinders exploded in Wolsingham's market place, killing the driver and causing widespread damage to homes and businesses. \|\|\|\|\| Analysis The mayor is dependent on the central government for most of their funds, so how much power do they really have?	The bridge where the accident happened. A gas tanker which crashed onto a preserved railway line in Wolsingham, County Durham in the north of England has been removed. Yesterday, the vehicle fell 70 feet from a road bridge onto the Weardale Railway below and left the driver with serious injuries from which he later died in hospital. The driver of the Calor Gas vehicle has been named as Peter Williams who was 25 and from the Darlington area. The tanker was said to be carrying 13,000 litres of liquefied petroleum gas at the time of the accident and nearby homes were evacuated due to fears the gas may leak from the vehicle. Chris Hockaday, from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, described the operation to empty the tanker of gas and remove it from the scene: "The decanting finished at about 10pm and the tanker was then dragged along the track by a tractor, where it was lifted onto another vehicle by the specialist recovery company. It was then moved to a secure site for examination. The authorities left the scene at about midnight. Before decanting the gas, we had to right the vehicle, something which had to be done under great control in an operation which took about two hours." The Weardale Railway, which operates over a five mile section of restored track between Stanhope and Wolsingham, remains closed, but the company were optimistic about resuming services on the line. Managing director of the Weardale Railway, Steve Raine, said "The tanker was moved late last night so we haven't yet been able to properly examine the track. However, the damage appears to be quite light, and we're hoping we can get that fixed today." He said that services were most likely to resume this Saturday.
Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick as Zinedine Zidane began his reign as Real Madrid boss with a comprehensive win over Deportivo La Coruna. Karim Benzema claimed his 100th league goal for the club with an early opener in the first game since the departure of previous manager Rafael Benitez. Bale headed the second and found the bottom corner after the break before sealing his treble with another header. Benzema hit a fifth to leave Real two points behind league leaders Barcelona. Barca's comfortable 4-0 victory over Granada put added pressure on Real at the outset, and they could have been behind before Benzema opened the scoring. Deportivo had lost just once in nine league games and started confidently, carving the Real defence wide open to create a chance for Lucas Perez, but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Keylor Navas. But from Toni Kroos' 15th-minute corner, Benzema flicked home a Sergio Ramos shot, despite Deportivo's justifiable claims that Bale was offside and interfering with play. Bale doubled the advantage in the 23rd minute, heading home an inviting Dani Carvajal cross. It was almost three before the interval as Ronaldo headed a Bale cross against a post at the culmination of another flowing team move. Ronaldo turned provider after the break to find Bale, who coolly picked his spot from the edge of the area. A richly deserved hat-trick arrived in the 64th minute thanks to another imperious leap to head home from close range. It was Bale's last significant contribution before he was substituted to a standing ovation from the 70,000 crowd in the Santiago Bernabeu, while Ronaldo twice went close to making it five late on. Benzema did just that in stoppage time, following up to find the net off the underside of the bar after Ronaldo had again been denied. Did Zidane change much? Not really. When you take over a side that had lost one of its previous nine games, scoring 36 goals in the process there isn't much need to. There was a low-key acknowledgement of the rapturous welcome received from supporters for the 43-year-old - a couple of modest waves hinted at the Frenchman's desire not to be the centre of attention. On this occasion his players certainly did all the talking. The inclusion of the attack-minded Dani Carvajal in defence as one of two changes hinted at the way Zidane wants his full-backs to get forward more. He was repaid when the right-back, in for Danilo, set up the first of Bale's goals. And it was the kind of line-up the fans wanted to see. What does he need to address? There remains defensive frailties which would have been fully exploited by a better side than Deportivo. The visitors should have taken the lead, and Zidane will have been alarmed at the ease his side allowed crosses into their area, especially in the first half. Plus a lack of communication between his centre-backs needs to be addressed. Of course any side possessing Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema will score goals but, despite the clean sheet, Real look vulnerable at the other end. Man of the match - Gareth Bale As sporting director of Los Blancos, Zidane was instrumental in the Welshman's record-breaking £85.3m move to the Bernabeu from Tottenham in 2013 and he will continue to be a centre-piece of the new manager's plans if he keeps producing displays like this. Bale didn't start off too well, and he should have been flagged offside as Benzema claimed Real's first goal. But from that point, the 26-year-old's contribution was wholly positive. He departed to a hero's send-off when substituted towards the end, and the look of envy on Ronaldo's face conveyed how fine a performance it had been. What Zidane said "Whenever you win a match, then the coach can only be happy, and I'm happy. What I liked most of all was the attitude of everyone, those who played and those who didn't. "Winning 5-0 isn't easy against a side like Deportivo and I'm happy with our first game and our first four days of training." What next? Real have more than a week to prepare for their next game, when they host struggling Sporting Gijon on 17 January. It's a quicker turnaround for Deportivo, who welcome second tier side Mirandes in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday, following a 1-1 draw in last week's first leg of the last 16 tie. Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6) Real Madrid 01 Navas 15 Carvajal 03 Pepe 04 Ramos (Varane - 45' ) (Varane - 45' ) 12 Marcelo 08 Kroos 19 Modric 11 Bale (Jesé - 74' ) (Jesé - 74' ) 22 Isco (Rodríguez - 66' ) (Rodríguez - 66' ) 07 Ronaldo 09 Benzema Substitutes 02 Varane 10 Rodríguez 13 Casilla 14 Casemiro 18 Vázquez 20 Jesé 23 Danilo Deportivo de La Coruña 01 Lux Booked 11 Juanfran 14 Arribas Booked 12 da Silva Junior 03 Navarro Corbacho (Correia Pinto - 66' ) (Correia Pinto - 66' ) 04 Bergantiños García 05 Mosquera Booked 17 Nicolás Cartabia (Gutiérrez - 45' ) (Gutiérrez - 45' ) 21 Luis Alberto 19 Fajr (Riera Magem - 66' ) (Riera Magem - 66' ) 07 Pérez Martínez Substitutes 09 Riera Magem 10 Domínguez Lamas 15 Sanabria Ruiz 16 Correia Pinto 23 Lopo 24 Gutiérrez 25 Fernández Muñiz Ref: Pedro Jesús Pérez Montero Att: 71,267 \|\|\|\|\| Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona secured a comfortable victory over Granada to return to the top of La Liga. The Argentine scored twice in the first 15 minutes and added another after the break to take his season's tally to 18, as Barca made it 20 games unbeaten. Messi put Barcelona in command with composed close-range finishes to Luis Suarez-inspired moves. He followed up to add a 58th-minute third, before Neymar lobbed the fourth. Victory increased Barcelona's advantage over Real Madrid to five points - the side from the Spanish capital host Deportivo La Coruna in Zinedine Zidane's first game in charge later on Saturday. Barca's hold on top spot could be short-lived as they will surrender their position if Atletico win at Celta Vigo on Sunday. Messi broke the deadlock in the eighth minute against a side who were beaten 6-0 at the Nou Camp last season. A clever dummy from Suarez allowed league debutant Arda Turan to thread a fine ball to the Argentine to slot home. The second came six minutes later, as Neymar eased through before passing to Suarez, who knocked the ball down for Messi to finish. Granada came into the contest more in the second half, with striker Isaac Success posing a threat, and David Lomban hooking a chance over the bar. Normal service was soon resumed however, as Messi claimed his third - and 11th goal in eight La Liga appearances against Granada - following up after a dummy by Turan let in Neymar to shoot against the frame of the goal. Neymar capped another impressive individual display by adding a fourth goal with seven minutes left thanks to a precise lob after good work by Messi and Suarez. Barcelona boss Luis Enrique: "I made some changes now when I can and I have the chance to share out the burden. "The key will be to get to the matches in a couple of months feeling fresh. "I'm very satisfied with how the team played. Everybody was focused from the beginning and the players knew how important it was to win these three points." Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5) Barcelona 13 Bravo 22 Vidal Parreu Booked (Dani Alves - 65' ) (Dani Alves - 65' ) 03 Piqué 23 Vermaelen 18 Alba 04 Rakitic 20 Sergi 07 Turan (Adriano - 72' ) (Adriano - 72' ) 10 Messi 09 Suárez 11 Neymar Substitutes 01 ter Stegen 05 Busquets 06 Dani Alves 08 Iniesta 19 Ramírez 21 Adriano 24 Mathieu Granada CF 13 Fernández 17 Méndez Ortega Booked 26 Henry Agbo 02 Rodríguez Lombán Booked 12 Doria Macedo Booked 03 Biraghi 21 Krhin (Mainz - 45' ) (Mainz - 45' ) 23 Rochina Naixes Booked (Márquez Moreno - 78' ) (Márquez Moreno - 78' ) 20 Pérez del Mármol 11 Success Ajayi 27 Peñaranda (Ibáñez Castro - 72' ) Substitutes 01 Kelava 04 Rico Castro 05 Mainz 07 Ibáñez Castro 08 Márquez Moreno 09 El-Arabi 25 Miguel Lopes Ref: Carlos Velasco Carballo Att: 70,720 \|\|\|\|\| Lionel Messi netted his first hat-trick in 10 months as Barcelona swept aside struggling Granada 4-0 to climb above Atlético Madrid to the top of La Liga. Arda Turan, making his league debut for the Spanish and European champions, set Messi up to score the opening goal from close range in the eighth minute at the Camp Nou. The Argentina forward, who missed two months at the end of last year with a knee injury, made it 2-0 six minutes later from a clever Luis Suárez assist and a dominant Barça wasted several chances before half-time. The visiting Granada side saw more of the ball at the start of the second half before Messi completed his treble in the 58th minute after Neymar’s shot came back off a post, ending his longest hat-trick drought in six years – his most recent had been in the 6-1 demolition of Rayo Vallecano in March 2015. Neymar added a fourth goal seven minutes from time when Messi, who was in an offside position, let the ball run through to the Brazilian and he lifted it over the Granada goalkeeper, Andrés Fernández, into the net. The win extends Barcelona’s unbeaten run to 20 games in all competitions, with the 2-1 loss to Sevilla at the start of October remaining the Catalan club’s most recent defeat. Barcelona, who have a game in hand over their main rivals, lead on 42 points, with Atlético a point behind in second ahead of their game at fifth‑placed Celta Vigo on Sunday.	Yesterday, FC Barcelona collected three points defeating -based football club 4–0 at in Barcelona in a La Liga match and became league leaders again. File photo of Lionel Messi, who scored the hat-trick Barcelona had greater ball possession. The match saw five . Four away players and Aleix Vidal of Barcelona were yellow carded. More than thirty fouls were committed in the match. Lionel Messi scored the first goal of the match in the 8th minute, assisted by debutant . Minutes later, Uruguayan Luis Suárez assisted Messi and he netted the second goal in the 14th minute. was the first player to be booked in the 29th minute. First half ended in 2–0 with one yellow card shown. In the second half and of Granada were booked in 56th and 57th minute. In the next minute, Sergi Roberto assisted Brazilian Neymar whose try to net a goal was saved, but the ball deflected and Messi scored the third goal of the match, completing his hat-trick. was yellow carded at the 60th minute. Three minuted later, Aleix Vidal was yellow carded for a bad foul. Neymar, in the 83rd minute, scored the fourth goal of the match assisted by Suárez. After the match, Barcelona manager Luis Enrique said "I'm very satisfied with how the team played. Everybody was focused from the beginning and the players knew how important it was to win these three points." Also yesterday Zinedine Zidane, recently appointed Real Madrid's new manager, secured a 5–0 win against with Welsh winger Gareth Bale scoring a hat-trick as well. ---- == Sources == * * * CAT:Football (soccer) CAT:Sports CAT:FC Barcelona CAT:Spain CAT:La Liga CAT:Football match reports CAT:Barcelona CAT:Lionel Messi CAT:Real Madrid
By AGENCIES BAGHDAD: Iraqis expressed joy at the news that US forces had completed their withdrawal on Sunday, but voiced doubts their politicians could come together to rebuild the violence-wracked country. As news of the pullout reached Baghdad, the streets of the Iraqi capital and other major cities were little changed, with heavy commuter traffic snaking through police and military checkpoints. "I am proud — all Iraqis should be proud, like all those whose country has been freed," 26-year-old baker Safa, who did not want to give his real name, said in Baghdad's Karrada commercial district. "The Americans toppled Saddam, but our lives since then have gone backward. "The situation will only improve if politicians work on fighting corruption and adopt reforms," he added. Sunday's completion of the withdrawal brings to a close nearly nine years of American military involvement in Iraq, beginning with a "shock and awe" campaign in 2003 to oust Saddam Hussein, which many in Washington believed would see US forces conclude their mission in Iraq within months. But key decisions taken at the time have since been widely criticized as fueling what became a bloody insurgency, eventually sparking devastating communal violence. "I don't think we can ever forgive the Americans for what they did to us, from killings to terrorism," said a 50-year-old mother-of-four who gave her name only as Umm Mohammed. "Those people (Americans) think only about themselves, and not about the consequences of their actions." More than 100,000 Iraqis have been reported killed in violence since the invasion, according to British NGO Iraq Body Count, and countless others have been wounded. In the mostly Sunni Arab north Baghdad neighborhood of Adhamiyah, where Saddam Hussein was last seen publicly before his capture, 60-year-old retiree Mohammed Abdelamir said he felt "freed from the occupation," referring to US troops as many Iraqis long have, as an occupying force. "We must all cooperate and work to improve the economy, the society, and begin rebuilding, and not fight because we are seeing that some politicians have already begun putting a stick in the wheel." Key political issues such as reform of the mostly state-run economy and a law to regulate and organize the lucrative energy sector also remain unresolved, to say nothing of an explosive territorial dispute between Arabs and Kurds centered around the northern oil hub of Kirkuk. "Today is a historic day, and our happiness is great," said Abdul Hussein Hosh, a 59-year-old government employee in the sprawling Baghdad Shiite district of Sadr City. The last US soldiers rolled out of Iraq across the border into neighboring Kuwait at daybreak Sunday, whooping, fist bumping and hugging each other in a burst of joy and relief. Their convoy's exit marked the end of a bitterly divisive war that raged for nearly nine years and left Iraq shattered, with troubling questions lingering over whether the Arab nation will remain a steadfast US ally. The mission cost nearly 4,500 American and over 100,000 Iraqi lives and $800 billion from the US Treasury. The question of whether it was worth it all is yet unanswered. After a ceremony Thursday in Baghdad formally marking the end of the war, the timing and all other details of the departure of the last convoy were kept under tight secrecy out of security concerns for about 500 troops and more than 110 vehicles that were part of it. The low-key end to the war was just another reminder of how dangerous Iraq remains, even though violence is lower now than at any other time since the 2003 invasion. The last convoy of MRAPs, heavily armored personnel carriers, made a largely uneventful journey out except for a few equipment malfunctions along the way. It was dark and little was visible through the MRAP windows as they cruised through the southern Iraqi desert. The 336-km trip from a base in southern Iraq took about five hours. \|\|\|\|\| Last US troops to leave Iraq cross Kuwait border The exit of US troops leaves behind a fragile democracy in Iraq The last convoy of US troops to leave Iraq has entered Kuwait, nearly nine years after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. The final column of about 100 armoured vehicles carrying 500 soldiers crossed the southern Iraqi desert overnight. At the peak of the operation there were 170,000 US troops and more than 500 bases in Iraq. Nearly 4,500 US soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis have died since the US-led campaign began in 2003. The operation has cost Washington nearly $1 trillion (£643bn). Continue reading the main story Analysis US troops have trained up Iraqi security forces which, if they stick together, can arguably contain the internal security situation, still stubbornly jammed at a level of violence which kills on average around 350 people every month. But security has to be rooted in political stability, and that's only one of many challenges immediately facing Iraq. Even as the final US troops were heading for the border, a political crisis was erupting in Baghdad, with deputies from Ayyad Allawi's Iraqiyya block pulling out of parliament. There is turmoil in two mainly Sunni provinces, which want to declare themselves autonomous regions like the Kurds in the north. There's also a widespread conviction that with the Americans gone, Iranian influence will spread. While most Iraqis believe it was high time for the Americans to go, many are deeply worried about the challenges that lie ahead. US forces ended combat missions in Iraq in 2010 and had already handed over much of their security role. "(It's) a good feeling... knowing this is going to be the last mission out of here," said Private First Class Martin Lamb, part of the final "tactical road march" out of Iraq. "Part of history, you know - we're the last ones out." As the last of the armoured vehicles crossed the border, a gate was closed behind them and US and Kuwaiti soldiers gathered there to shake hands and pose for pictures. The only US military presence left in Iraq now is 157 soldiers responsible for training at the US embassy, as well as a small contingent of marines protecting the diplomatic mission. The low-key US exit was in stark contact to the blaze of aerial bombardment Washington unleashed against Saddam Hussein in 2003. Tribute US President Barack Obama marked the end of the war earlier in the week, meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. He announced in October that all US troops would leave Iraq by the end of 2011, a date previously agreed by former President George W Bush in 2008. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. In a recent speech at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, President Obama paid tribute to the soldiers who had served in Iraq. He acknowledged that the war had been controversial, but told returning troops they were leaving behind "a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq". However, correspondents say there are concerns in Washington that Iraq lacks robust political structures or an ability to defend its borders. There are also fears that Iraq could be plunged back into sectarian bloodletting, or be unduly influenced by Iran. Washington had wanted to keep a small training and counter-terrorism presence in Iraq, but US officials were unable to strike a deal with Baghdad on legal issues including immunity for troops. \|\|\|\|\| Long delays for visas mean thousands of former interpreters for US remain in Iraq, afraid of assassination. Tens of thousands of Iraqis who helped US forces are worried about their departure [GALLO/GETTY] BAGHDAD – It was supposed to be a simple deal: Work with the American occupation here for one year, and earn a visa to resettle in the United States. John put in 27 months as a linguist and adviser, both with the military and with a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) attached to the US embassy in Baghdad. Last November, midway through his tenure with the Americans, he applied for a visa under a special State Department programme. Thirteen months later, he is still waiting for an answer, and worries that he might be killed before he gets one: The Iraqi government has been gathering details about people who worked with the US military, and John fears that information could be leaked to armed groups; and he has received several anonymous, harassing phone calls from people who know about his work history. “It’s a fact to these people, we betrayed our country, anyone who worked with the Americans,” he said in an interview. “They think we don’t even deserve to be Iraqi.” Huge backlogs As the last US troops depart Iraq this month, they leave behind thousands of former colleagues, like John, who thought they would have emigrated by now. (John is not his real name, of course; he asked to remain anonymous, both to protect his safety in Iraq and his visa application in the United States.) More than 140,000 Iraqis worked with the United States during the nearly nine-year war and occupation., and tens of thousands have since applied for immigration visas in the United States. The US issued only a handful in the early years of the war. A law passed in 2008 created the Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) programme, which was supposed to expedite the process: It allocated 25,000 visas over five years for Iraqis who worked with Americans and face an “ongoing threat” in their home country. But four years later, only about 7,000 of those visas have been issued, according to the State Department, with more than 30,000 applications pending a decision. The process has become especially slow this year, after the Obama administration started requiring more detailed background checks for visa applicants. Just nine people received visas under the SIV programme during the entire month of April. “We’re concerned about anybody who’s at risk in this country,” said James Jeffrey, the US ambassador here. “We have programmes that allow some of them to travel to the US, and huge backlogs in these programmes, that’s true… a lot of it is the processing back in Washington.” Iraqis who worked with the US say those risks are escalating now that the last American troops are preparing to leave. “All of the people around me know that I was working with the Americans,” said Mark, another former PRT adviser. “Anybody who was against the US troops, I feel that I am in danger from them.” The average wait for the SIV programme is now more than nine months, even for those Iraqis with clean records and good recommendations. John’s visa application paperwork, which was reviewed by Al Jazeera, includes a glowing letter from his supervisor, who described him as a “reliable professional with great integrity”. A separate “threat statement” outlined the dangers he faces if he remains in Iraq, noting that he has received several threats from members of Jaish al-Mahdi, a Shia militia. “These insurgent groups and some of the local Iraqi population consider [him] a traitor,” the statement said. 'This is crazy' And so they wait, thousands of them, often in hiding. The Iraqi newspaper Sabah al-Jadid reported last month that many former interpreters were throwing away any paperwork that identifies them as such. Of a half-dozen interpreters contacted for this story, only two were willing to discuss their situation. “For nine months I am jobless, waiting for that visa. I have nothing to do,” Mark said. Others have fled the country: More than 18,000 Iraqis who applied for the SIV programme are currently in neighbouring Syria and Jordan, according to the United Nations. Mark, who worked for more than two years with reconstruction teams in Baghdad and Anbar provinces, has been waiting nearly ten months for a visa; he was interviewed for the SIV programme in March, and has heard little from the embassy since. “They said we should wait at least six months, but this is crazy,” he said. “All the people around me know that I was working with the Americans. We feel that we are in danger from anyone who was against the US troops.” Neither the Iraqi nor American governments have kept detailed statistics, but more than 300 Iraqis who worked with the US have been killed since the war began. They are targeted by a variety of armed groups, both Sunni and Shia. John said he has received several calls this year from people with detailed information – not just that he worked for the Americans, but where he worked, and what he advised them on. “They’ll call and say, ‘hi, is this John from the PRT?’” but using his real name, John said. “And they’ll say, we need you to come up to Tarmiya,” a neighbourhood where his unit used to work. He suspects that someone sold the information to an armed group. Provincial reconstruction teams used to spend heavily – buying greenhouses for farmers, for example – but that money has dried up as the teams closed down. “So after we’re done… then okay, there’s not any more interest in the relationship, so they give it [the information] to whoever will pay,” he said. “I don’t feel safe… I’m afraid of these groups, and the Iraqi government, I don’t trust at all.” \|\|\|\|\| Last American forces cross border into Kuwait The last convoy of U.S. soldiers left Iraq and entered Kuwait Sunday. The last of the vehicles filled with several hundred troops crossed the border at 7:38 a.m. - 0438 UTC - leaving behind just a couple hundred soldiers at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. The withdrawal of U.S. forces ends nearly nine years of war, costing the lives of some 4,500 U.S. soldiers, tens of thousands of Iraqis, and hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars. The war in Iraq began in 2003 with a “shock and awe” campaign to oust dictator Saddam Hussein. At the height of the war, more than 170,000 U.S. troops were stationed in Iraq at more than 500 bases. By Saturday, fewer than 3,000 U.S. troops remained. Critics have chastised the U.S. for leaving behind a destroyed country with thousands of widows and orphans, a people deeply divided along sectarian lines, and without rebuilding much of the devastated infrastructure. Prime Minister Nouri a-Maliki’s Shi’ite-led government struggles with a power-sharing arrangement among Shi’ite, Sunni and Kurdish parties. U.S. President Barack Obama says the future of Iraq is “in the hands of its own people.” Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| BAGHDAD — The United States military officially declared an end to its mission in Iraq on Thursday even as violence continues to plague the country and the Muslim world remains distrustful of American power. In a fortified concrete courtyard at the airport in Baghdad, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta thanked the more than one million American service members who have served in Iraq for “the remarkable progress” made over the past nine years but acknowledged the severe challenges that face the struggling democracy. “Let me be clear: Iraq will be tested in the days ahead — by terrorism, and by those who would seek to divide, by economic and social issues, by the demands of democracy itself,” Mr. Panetta said. “Challenges remain, but the U.S. will be there to stand by the Iraqi people as they navigate those challenges to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.” The muted ceremony stood in contrast to the start of the war in 2003 when an America both frightened and emboldened by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, sent columns of tanks north from Kuwait to overthrow Saddam Hussein. As of last Friday, the war in Iraq had claimed 4,487 American lives, with another 32,226 Americans wounded in action, according to Pentagon statistics. The tenor of the 45-minute farewell ceremony, officially called "Casing the Colors,” was likely to sound an uncertain trumpet for a war that was started to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction it did not have. It now ends without the sizable, enduring American military presence for which many officers had hoped. Although Thursday's ceremony marked the end of the war, the military still has two bases in Iraq and roughly 4,000 troops, including several hundred who attended the ceremony. At the height of the war in 2007, there were 505 bases and more than 170,000 troops. According to military officials, the remaining troops are still being attacked on a daily basis, mainly by indirect fire attacks on the bases and road side bomb explosions against convoys heading south through Iraq to bases in Kuwait. Even after the last two bases are closed and the final American combat troops withdraw from Iraq by Dec. 31, under rules of an agreement with the government in Baghdad, a few hundred military personnel and Pentagon civilians will remain, working within the American Embassy as part of an Office of Security Cooperation to assist in arms sales and training. But negotiations could resume next year on whether additional American military personnel can return to further assist their Iraqi counterparts. Senior American military officers have made no secret that they see crucial gaps in Iraq's ability to defend its sovereign soil and even to secure its oil platforms offshore in the Persian Gulf. Air defenses are seen as a critical gap in Iraqi capabilities, but American military officers also see significant shortcomings in Iraq's ability to sustain a military, whether moving food and fuel or servicing the armored vehicles it is inheriting from Americans or the fighter jets it is buying, and has shortfalls in military engineers, artillery and intelligence, as well. The tenuous security atmosphere in Iraq was underscored by helicopters that hovered over the ceremony, scanning the ground for rocket attacks. Although there is far less violence across Iraq than at the height of the sectarian conflict in 2006 and 2007, there are bombings on a nearly daily basis and Americans remain a target of Shiite militants. Mr. Panetta acknowledged that “the cost was high — in blood and treasure of the United States, and also for the Iraqi people. But those lives have not been lost in vain — they gave birth to an independent, free and sovereign Iraq.” The war was started by the Bush administration in March 2003 on arguments that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and had ties to Al Qaeda that might grow to an alliance threatening the United States with a mass-casualty terrorist attack. As the absence of unconventional weapons proved a humiliation for the administration and the intelligence community, the war effort was reframed as being about bringing democracy to the Middle East. And, indeed, there was euphoria among many Iraqis at an American-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. But the support soon soured amid a growing sense of heavy-handed occupation fueled by the unleashing of bloody sectarian and religious rivalries. The American presence also proved a magnet for militant fighters and an Al Qaeda-affiliated group took root among the Sunni minority population in Iraq. While the terrorist group has been rendered ineffective by a punishing series of Special Operations raids that decapitated the organization, intelligence specialists fear that it is in resurgence. The American military presence in Iraq, viewed as an occupation across the Muslim world, also hampered Washington's ability to cast a narrative from the United States in support of the Arab Spring uprisings this year. Even handing bases over to the Iraqi government over recent months proved vexing for the military. In the spring, commanders halted large formal ceremonies with Iraqi officials for base closings because insurgents were using the events as opportunities to attack troops. “We were having ceremonies and announcing it publicly and having a little formal process but a couple of days before the base was to close we would start to receive significant indirect fire attacks on the location,” said Col. Barry Johnson, a spokesman for the military in Iraq. “We were suffering attacks so we stopped.” Across the country, the closing of bases has been marked by a quiet closed-door meeting where American and Iraqi military officials signed documents that legally gave the Iraqis control of the bases, exchanged handshakes and turned over keys. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey of the Army, has served two command tours in Iraq since the invasion in 2003, and he noted during the ceremony that the next time he comes to Iraq he will have to be invited. “I kind of like that, to tell you the truth,” General Dempsey said.	The last convoy of US soldiers crosses the border from Iraq into Kuwait, ending the eight-year long Iraq War. The last convoy of US soldiers crossed the border from Iraq into Kuwait on Sunday, effectively bringing the controversial eight-year long Iraq War to an end. The final convoy, containing around a hundred US military vehicles with five hundred troops, exited Iraq at 0738 (0438 ) Sunday. Private First Class Martin Lamb described the departure as "a good feeling ... knowing this is going to be the last mission out of here". The event was "part of history, you know — we're the last ones out," according to Lamb. The Iraq War, which commenced in 2003 on the pretext of Iraq possessing , which later turned out to be false, was responsible for toppling the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and introducing a democratic government within Iraq. In the aftermath of Hussein's downfall, a violent, religion-based conflict broke out between those of faith and communities, reaching its peak in 2006. The following year, a large number of US troops were sent into Iraq; the number of sectarian and insurgent attacks subsequently declined. The Iraq War involved a maximum of over 170,000 US troops, stationed in Iraq at more than 500 bases. Tens of thousands to over 100,000 Iraqi citizens and close to 4,500 US troops were killed as a result of the war. The financial cost of the Iraq War was almost 1 trillion (767 billion or 638 billion) to the . US presence in Iraq has been reduced to 157 soldiers in charge of military training at and a minor base of US marines. The US federal government reportedly intended to retain a minor counter-terrorism presence in Iraq, as well as the continuation of military training in the country. However, negotiations between US government representatives and Iraqi officials were unsuccessful, as they failed to reach an agreement on legal matters, such as troop immunity. In 2008, the had committed to withdrawing all US troops from Iraq by the end of 2011, a movement which was announced by his successor and current US president Barack Obama in October 2011. Obama signified the conclusion of the war with Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister of Iraq, earlier this month. In a speech in North Carolina at , Obama stated that the country US troops were leaving is now "sovereign, stable and self-reliant". US and Kuwaiti soldiers close the gate between Kuwait and Iraq, after the last military convoys passed through, signaling the end of the Iraq War. Reaction to the US government's decision has been mixed. According to '''' opinion polls in the United States indicate that a majority of Americans believe the war lasted longer than it should have done. Obama himself had opposed the war when he ran for president and vowed to end it. News agencies report Iraqis glad to see the US leave, but concerned for the future. '''' reports that Iraqis also have mixed feelings, such as Safa, a 26-year old baker using a pseudonym, who said "I am proud — all Iraqis should be proud, like all those whose country has been freed. The Americans toppled Saddam, but our lives since then have gone backward." He also said, "The situation will only improve if politicians work on fighting corruption and adopt reforms." A 50-year-old mother calling herself Umm Mohammed said, "I don't think we can ever forgive the Americans for what they did to us, from killings to terrorism. Those people Americans think only about themselves, and not about the consequences of their actions." Mohammed Abdelamir, 60, said "We must all cooperate and work to improve the economy, the society, and begin rebuilding, and not fight because we are seeing that some politicians have already begun putting a stick in the wheel." Other Iraqis who worked for Americans are fearful over their departure, fearing they may be killed. John, a pseudonym for one such Iraqi, said to ''Al-Jazeera'', "It’s a fact to these people, we betrayed our country, anyone who worked with the Americans. They think we don’t even deserve to be Iraqi." Mark, another such Iraqi, said "All the people around me know that I was working with the Americans. We feel that we are in danger from anyone who was against the US troops." John and Mark both worked for (PRT) in Iraq. Both men have applied for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) which the US government created in 2008 for Iraqis who have worked for US forces. However, there is an immense backlog for applicants, as over 30,000 await a decision. So far, only 7,000 SIV visas have been issued. John has been waiting for a visa for over a year, Mark has been waiting nine months since applying in March. Mark said, "They said we should wait at least six months, but this is crazy". And, "For nine months I am jobless, waiting for that visa. I have nothing to do."
January 16, 2008 - 9:15PM Towns and cities in north Queensland were mopping up after a drenching from a monsoon low as further communities downstream braced for flooding. The government estimated the damage bill as exceeding $12 million. Charters Towers, south-west of Townsville, was clearing up and counting the cost of damage to homes, roads and other infrastructure after 192mm was dumped in the region in just two hours in what some residents described as a "mini cyclone". About 50 homes and 18 businesses were inundated. At Giru, south of Townsville, residents said the Haughton River peaked only centimetres below the level of their mostly high-set homes but floodwaters were now falling. The weather bureau early this evening issued a warning for the Central Highlands and coalfields and the central west of the state, advising that thunderstorms and flash flooding were likely on Wednesday night. The town of Aramac has received 191mm of rainfall since 9am (AEST). Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) spokeswoman Gemma Marks said the focus of attention had now switched to the Longreach and Carnavon Gorge areas as floodwaters washed downstream through river systems. "Most rivers are receding throughout the state and the weather bureau is not expecting too many more rises," Ms Marks said. "But Carnavon and Longreach are the two areas we are keeping an eye on." EMQ has issued an advisory to residents of flood-affected areas and visitors to avoid driving or swimming in flood waters due to possible dangers from hidden debris and snakes or from contamination from dead livestock. \|\|\|\|\| January 17, 2008 - 11:17PM Residents of the southern Queensland town of Charleville are waiting nervously for the nearby Warrego River to peak, as the damage bill from the state's floods topped $25 million. Murweh Shire mayor Mark O'Brien said many of the town's residents feared a repeat of the 1990 and 1997 floods. "We are very watchful because if the rain falls as the bureau says it might, that will create a real problem for us," Mr O'Brien said. "I was here in 1990 and in 1997, when we had the two big floods of recent times, and we all get nervous." Overnight, a stream known as Bradleys Gully, which runs through the middle of the town, sent floodwaters through nearby homes and businesses. Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) spokesman Jon Hall said 15 homes were forcibly evacuated and more residents had voluntarily left their homes. They were now sheltering with friends and family in the town or at the Charleville Neighbourhood Centre and local showgrounds. But winds of up to 90km/h and heavy rain on Thursday night were making conditions difficult. Extra flood boats had been transported by road from Clifton and Goondiwindi and another four boats had been taken to Roma and could be brought to Charleville, if necessary, Mr Hall said. Queensland Health was making preparations to evacuate Charleville Hospital patients to Roma or Toowoomba hospitals by plane should the need arise. Further north at Longreach, the Thomson River was expected to peak on Friday afternoon below levels that would cause the town to be inundated. In the meantime, a helicopter had been called in to drop medical supplies to a flood-bound property near Aramac, north-west of Longreach, Mr Hall said. At Emerald, in central Queensland, many roads were cut and one home was flooded. A car was swept off a causeway on the Gregory Highway into Gordonstone Creek, but the driver managed to free himself from his vehicle and get out of the creek. All sections of the Carnarvon National Park in central Queensland have been closed by flood waters, with road and track damage likely to block access for some weeks or even months. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service District Manager James Newman said it could take staff some time after floodwaters subside to assess the damage. Acting Emergency Services Minister Andrew Fraser said half the state, or 40 shires, was now eligible for joint federal and state disaster relief assistance. "Early estimates of damage to public infrastructure in north and western Queensland as a result of the monsoonal low now exceed $25 million," Mr Fraser said. Assistance was available for sporting and not-for-profit community organisations to restore assets to a pre-disaster standard, with loans of $100,000 and grants of $5000. Personal hardship grants were $160 per person and up to $740 per family. Mr Hall later said the people evacuated from 15 Charleville homes had been allowed to return to their properties after the Bradleys Gully flood level stabilised. He said floodwaters had cut the main roads west from Charleville to Quilpie and Adavale, as well as the Mitchell Highway, that heads south of the town. Roads from Charleville to the east remained open, he said. \|\|\|\|\| THE central Queensland town of Emerald was officially declared a disaster zone yesterday as the Premier, Anna Bligh, met emergency officials to decide how to help flood-hit areas. The floods could cost the state's farmers $1 billion in crop and stock losses. Last night Emerald was bracing for intense flooding as the rain-swollen Nogoa River continued to rise, having reached 14.65 metres at 2pm. "All we can say is it will peak overnight tonight," said a Weather Bureau hydrologist, Jeff Perkins. The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, said the Federal Government was standing by to assist. "We are watching very carefully the future needs for further evacuations in Emerald itself," he said. Further south at Cunnamulla, where the Australian Defence Force has been deployed to help, the 10.3-metre levee banks were expected to keep floodwaters below the 1997 levels when the Warrego River peaks tomorrow. More than 100 central Queensland properties have been cut off by the floods and at least 300 people have been evacuated, with some in emergency accommodation at Emerald's agricultural college and town hall. The town's cotton gin was being equipped as an evacuation centre, with 1000 beds, toilets and cooking facilities being trucked to the town. Brett De Hayr, chief executive of the Queensland primary industries lobby group AgForce, said: "We are getting reports of up to $500,000 worth of cattle being lost on individual properties. "Some reports on irrigation properties are for $1.5 million to $2 million worth of infrastructure and crop losses." Mr De Hayr said the cumulative losses statewide could be much higher. "You would probably be looking at in excess of $1 billion in this sort of rainfall." Some of the state's sorghum crop, which had been expected to be the biggest for 20 years, had been due for harvest in the next few weeks. "But those same people now have guaranteed irrigation for the next couple of years," Mr De Hayr said. Fairbairn Dam, south-west of Emerald, has overflowed for the first time in 17 years and now holds at least two years' supply of irrigation water for farmers. Ms Bligh said although Emerald and Cunnamulla had been hard hit, the flooding was more widespread. "These are people who may well need restocking, medical supplies and they may well be isolated for some time. The extent of the effect of this is well beyond those two towns." Helicopters evacuated workers stranded at the Ensham thermal coalmine, east of Emerald, after it was cut in half by floodwaters. AAP \|\|\|\|\| Nervous wait in Qld flood zones Posted Updated Authorities at Emerald in Queensland's central highlands are keeping a close watch on the flooded Nogoa River which is expected to peak this afternoon. More than 2,000 residents have left their homes, with about 120 staying at the town's evacuation centres. Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts says the Nogoa River is being monitored on an hourly basis. "There's really nothing we can do to stem the water," he said. "All we can do is prepare the people for that and to take those necessary measures." Mr Roberts spent the night at Emerald's evacuation centre. It is the second time the minister has visited the region in as many days. Hundreds more people are expected to head to higher ground or the evacuation centre this afternoon. Local resident Teresa Fabrish says it has been a worrying time. "We've lost our house and have been relocated to another house, but then they had to relocate so we had to pack up all their stuff so we came here last night," she said. Acting Mayor Kerry Hayes says the town has been cut off by road and extra supplies will be brought in by rail. "The shopping centres are basically short of bottled water, bread and milk obviously and a lot of baby necessities, and they are going to be brought into the town," he said. Meanwhile, in Charleville the Warrego River is expected to rise another half a metre by midday, but authorities are confident that a temporary levee bank will hold back the water. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has also reaffirmed his support. "We will continue to maintain close contact with the Queensland Government as the flood situation unfolds and stand ready to act and assist the Queensland Government as appropriate," he said. Meanwhile, although two-thirds of Queensland is flooded, Premier Anna Bligh says it is too early to decide whether drought declarations will be revoked. "Those drought declarations will obviously have to be reviewed once the full extent of the rainfall and its effect has been understood not only in terms of the catchment areas and the dams but the effect on local properties," she said.	Monsoonal rains in Queensland, Australia have caused massive flooding over two thirds of the state, and led Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts to declare the town of Emerald a disaster zone. The floods, which first hit the north part of the state a week ago, have since spread as far south as Charleville, where they have been compared to the floods which struck the town in 1990 and 1997, and stand in stark comparison to the drought that has plagued the area since 2003. Authorities believe that temporary floodbanks, erected near the town, will hold back the waters. More than 2,000 people have evacuated from Emerald, and more than 200 homes are on standby to evacuate. According to Acting Mayor Kerry Hayes, "the shopping centres are basically short of bottled water, bread and milk obviously and a lot of baby necessities", which will be brought in by rail as the town is currently cut off by road. The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, who visited Charleville, has pledged federal support during the disaster. Damage from the floods is predicted to be as high as $A1 billion.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- A man who rammed his truck into a woman's vehicle on a highway early Friday told authorities he crashed into her while going more than 100 mph because God told him "she needed to be taken off the road." The truck rear-ended the car on U.S. Highway 281, both vehicles spun across a median then came to a stop along a barrier in the opposite lanes. Both drivers suffered only minor injuries. "He just said God said she wasn't driving right, and she needed to be taken off the road," Bexar County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kyle Coleman said in the online edition of the San Antonio Express-News. "God must have been with them, 'cause any other time, the severity of this crash, it would have been a fatal." The pickup driver did not tell police how the woman was driving. Police could not find alcohol or drugs in either driver. A psychiatric evaluation has been ordered for a man. \|\|\|\|\| Man says God ordered him to ram vehicle at 100 mph SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A man who rammed his truck into a woman's vehicle on a highway early Friday told authorities he crashed into her while going more than 100 mph because God told him "she needed to be taken off the road." The truck rear-ended the car on U.S. Highway 281, both vehicles spun across a median then came to a stop along a barrier in the opposite lanes. Both drivers suffered only minor injuries. "He just said God said she wasn't driving right, and she needed to be taken off the road," Bexar County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kyle Coleman said in the online edition of the San Antonio Express-News. "God must have been with them, 'cause any other time, the severity of this crash, it would have been a fatal." The pickup driver did not tell police how the woman was driving. Police could not find alcohol or drugs in either driver. A psychiatric evaluation has been ordered for a man. \|\|\|\|\| Texan Michael E. Schwab said that the woman driving the sedan on U.S Route 281 near San Antonio "was not driving like a Christian" and that "God said ... she needed to be taken off the road,” according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. So, Schwab, 52, of Blooming Grove, Texas, rear-ended the car with his pickup truck — at more than 100 mph, the San Antonio Express-News reports. Both both drivers suffered only minor injuries in the Friday morning accident. Though Schwab told deputies "God said she wasn't driving right" and "it was Jesus' will for him to punish the car,” he did not describe the other driver's alleged transgressions of the holy rules of the road. Deputies determined the unidentified 35-year-old woman “had done nothing wrong,” according to a news release. Schwab was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and his bond was set at $50,000. He also will undergo a psychiatric evaluation.	A man from San Antonio, Texas in the United States, is being charged with assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault after he ran a woman off the road. The driver who caused the accident told police that God told him to do it. Police say that Michael E. Schwab claimed that while he was driving on U.S. Highway 281 in Texas, God told him to run the unnamed woman off the road because she "wasn't driving right" and "needed to be taken off the road." He slammed into her car at over 100 miles per hour, spinning both vehicles into the median. "God must have been with them, 'cause any other time, the severity of this crash, it would have been a fatal," said Kyle Coleman, a spokesman for the Bexar County sheriff's department. Police say that Schwab was not drunk, and they found no illegal drugs inside his car. He is expected to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Neither of the individuals suffered serious injuries. God has faced scrutiny in the past, including a recent lawsuit that was thrown out of court. A judge in Nebraska, USA had dismissed a lawsuit in October that was filed against the higher power. In 2007, Nebraska state Senator Ernie Chambers, who represents legislative District 11 in North Omaha, filed the lawsuit alleging God was responsible for "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."
Craig Roy jailed for life for murder of schoolboy Jack Frew Craig Roy slit Jack Frew's throat and stabbed him 20 times in a ferocious attack Continue reading the main story Related Stories The teenager convicted of the murder of schoolboy Jack Frew has been given a life sentence with a minimum of 18 years in custody. Craig Roy admitted stabbing the 16-year-old 20 times and slitting his throat in woods in East Kilbride in May 2010. Sentencing him, a judge at the High Court in Edinburgh described the attack as "brutal, sustained and merciless". Roy, 19, claimed he had taken a knife to a meeting with Jack to "scare him". During the trial, the court was told that Roy and Jack were classmates at Duncanrig High School in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Ferocious attack The jury heard Roy had cheated on his long-term boyfriend, Christopher Hannah, with Jack and was plagued by guilt over his infidelity. He admitted stabbing the openly gay teenager but claimed to have no memory of it. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote Craig had blood all over him” End Quote Christopher Hannah Witness Roy took a knife to a meeting at a wooded area near Wellesley Crescent and Mossneuk Road and launched a ferocious attack on his classmate. Defensive wounds to his hand showed Jack had fought for his life. Minutes later, as Jack lay dying, instead of calling emergency services Roy called Christopher, who went to the scene. Giving evidence during the trial, Christopher said: "Craig had blood all over him. I was worried he was hurt. He wasn't saying anything. He wasn't making sense. He looked bewildered. There was a knife in his hand." When he went over to Jack he said: "His neck was cut. It was open. I knew he wasn't alive." Defence dismissed Roy had claimed that he was unable to deal with anger in public and chose instead to bottle it up and "explode" in private by self-harming. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote You carried out a brutal, sustained and merciless attack which left your victim dead and mutilated” End Quote Judge Lord Doherty Three psychiatrists who gave evidence said that while Roy had certain personality traits, he did not have a personality disorder and was not mentally impaired at the time of the killing. The jury rejected defence claims he suffered from a personality disorder and should be convicted of culpable homicide, and instead convicted him of murder. In a statement following the conviction at the High Court in Glasgow, Jack's family said his life was "snatched from him" and his good name "tarnished" by Roy. Sentencing Roy, Judge Lord Doherty said: "You armed yourself with a knife which you brought to the scene of the crime. Using it, you carried out a brutal, sustained and merciless attack which left your victim dead and mutilated. "In the whole circumstances, the punishment part which I fix is 18 years. "Whether you are released after serving that period or later will be a matter for the Parole Board in due course, but if you are released back into the community it will be under the conditions of a licence and for the remainder of your life you will be subject to recall to prison if you are in breach of any of those conditions." \|\|\|\|\| 299429 A teenager who murdered a "happy, loving and vibrant" school friend in a frenzied knife attack has been jailed for life. Craig Roy will spend at least 18 years in jail for the "brutal, sustained and merciless" attack on 16-year-old Jack Frew. The 19-year-old stabbed his victim 20 times with a kitchen knife in secluded woodland near his school in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, in May 2010. Roy was convicted of murdering the teenager at the High Court in Glasgow last month. He claimed the younger boy had pestered and tried to blackmail him for sex. Sentencing him to life in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, Lord Doherty said: "At the time of the offence you were aged 17 years 10 months. You had no previous convictions. "You armed yourself with a knife which you brought to the scene of the crime. Using it, you carried out a brutal, sustained and merciless attack, which left your victim dead and mutilated." The judge told Roy that if he was released back into the community, he would remain on licence for the rest of his life. During a 12-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow, the jury heard that Roy had cheated on his long-term boyfriend Christopher Hannah with Jack and was plagued by guilt over his infidelity. He admitted stabbing the openly gay teenager but claimed to have no memory of it. On the night of the murder, he said Jack sent a text message telling him to meet him in woods near their school. He claimed to have taken the knife to the meeting to "scare" the younger boy into leaving him alone. Jack's windpipe was cut open, his lungs punctured and there was knife damage to his ribs. Instead of calling an ambulance for the dying teenager, Roy phoned his boyfriend for help for himself. It took a jury less than two hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict. After the conviction Jack's parents Lorraine and Robert Frew said their son was "a happy, loving vibrant boy who loved life and brought fun and laughter to every situation". They added: "Jack loved people, had the world at his fingertips with a promising future ahead and he would have made the most of every minute."	Craig Roy, found guilty of the murder of Jack Frew, has been sentenced to by Judge Lord Doherty after a trial at the in Scotland lasting twelve days. In court, Doherty told Roy he "carried out a brutal, sustained and merciless attack". Roy confirmed that in May 2010 he stabbed Frew with a cooking knife twenty times in woodland close to in the town of , , where the two were classmates. Frew had previously contacted Roy by text, asking to meet him at this location, Roy explained. Roy spoke of his intention being to "scare" Frew when bringing the knife to their meeting and claimed he could not recall stabbing him despite admitting it. During the attack Roy, who was aged seventeen at the time, managed to slit Frew's throat, damage his ribs and puncture his lungs. According to Doherty, Frew was left "dead and mutilated". Wounds on Frew's hand indicated he had unsuccessfully attempted to defend himself. The jury at the High Court was told that Roy was feeling guilt because he was unfaithful to Christopher Hannah, his long time boyfriend, with Jack Frew, an openly homosexual 16-year-old. Roy told the court Frew attempted to blackmail Roy into having sex with him. In the minutes following the attack, Roy did not contact the emergency services. However, Roy contacted Hannah via telephone. Having travelled to the scene of the attack, Hannah told the court: "Craig had blood all over him. I was worried he was hurt. He wasn't saying anything. He wasn't making sense. He looked bewildered. There was a knife in his hand." He stated of Frew: "His neck was cut. It was open. I knew he wasn't alive." The defence had attempted to get the murder charge reduced to one of on the grounds of Roy having a personality disorder. Roy claimed he suffered from anger management difficulties, choosing to conceal his emotions publicly before going on to "explode" when not in a public place, . Three psychologists at the trial providing evidence to the jury stated that when Roy committed the murder he suffered from neither mental impairment nor personality disorder. The defence's claim was ultimately rejected by the jury. All members of the jury were agreed upon the guilty verdict after deliberating under two hours. After the trial, in a statement, Robert and Lorraine Frew described their son Jack as "a happy, loving vibrant boy who loved life and brought fun and laughter to every situation". Roy is to remain in prison for at least eighteen years before gaining the right to apply for parole. If granted parole, Roy must adhere to set licence conditions until his death.
Peru Peru Paraguay Paraguay 2 0 FT Game Details GameCast Lineups and Stats Peru secured their second-straight third-place finish at the Copa America with a 2-0 victory over 2011 runners-up Paraguay on Friday. The result marks Peru's best back-to-back tournament results since the 1979 and 1983 editions, and Ricardo Gareca's men will like to carry that momentum into the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The game started slow, and the first half went by without much incident, with both teams unwilling to push numbers forward in search of a goal. The game picked up after the break, however. Peru set up their World Cup qualifying run with a third-place finish at the Copa America. In the 48th minute, Andre Carrillo collected a loose ball from a corner and, while falling down, fired a right-footed shot into the lower right corner of Paraguay keeper Justo Villar's net. Paolo Guerrero, who is looking to become the first back-to-back Golden Boot winner at the Copa America since 1924, then capped the scoring in the 89th minute, punching in a sweeping Joel Sanchez cross between Villar's legs. The goal was of increased personal significance as well, as it gave the Flamengo man sole possession of second on Peru's all-time goals list, just one behind the legendary Teofilo Cubillas who netted 26 for his career. The former Bayern Munich forward finishes the tournament with four goals -- on par with Chile's Eduardo Vargas, who will take part in Saturday's final against Argentina. \|\|\|\|\| USA Albania - Kategoria Superiore 2015/2016 Algeria - Championnat Mobilis de Ligue 1 2015/2016 American Samoa - FFAS Senior League 2014 Andorra - Lliga Nacional 2014/2015 Angola - Girabola 2015 Anguilla - AFA Senior Male Football Tournament 2014/2015 Antigua and Barbuda - ABFA Premier League 2014/2015 Argentina - Primera A 2015 Armenia - STAR Premier League 2014/2015 Aruba - Subway Cup 2014/2015 Australia - Hyundai A-League 2015/2016 Austria - Tipico-Bundesliga 2015/2016 Azerbaijan - Topaz Premyer Liqasi 2014/2015 Bahamas - BFA Senior League 2014/2015 Bahrain - Bahrain League 2014/2015 Bangladesh - Bangladesh Premier League 2015 Barbados - Digicel Premiere League 2015 Belarus - Vysshaya Liga 2015 Belgium - Jupiler Pro League 2015/2016 Belize - Premier League of Belize 2015 Clos Benin - Division 1 2014/2015 Bermuda - Premier Division 2014/2015 Bhutan - Coca Cola National League 2013/2014 Bolivia - Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano 2015 Clau Bosnia and Herzegovina - Premijer liga 2014/2015 Botswana - BeMobile Premier League 2014/2015 Brazil - Série A 2015 British Virgin Islands - BVIFA National League 2013/2014 Brunei Darussalam - DST Super League 2015 Bulgaria - A PFG 2015/2016 Burkina Faso - Première Division 2014/2015 Burundi - Primus League 2014/2015 Cambodia - Metfone Cambodian League 2015 Cameroon - League 1 2015 Canada - Amway Canadian Championship 2015 Cape Verde Islands - Campeonato Nacional Grupo Tecnicil 2014/2015 Cayman Islands - CIFA Premier League 2014/2015 Chad - Championnat National 2013 Chile - Primera División 2015 Torn China PR - Chinese Super League 2015 Chinese Taipei - National Urban League 2014 Colombia - Liga Águila 2015 Liga Comoros - Championnat des Comores 2014 Congo - Championnat National MTN 2014 Congo DR - Division 1 2014/2015 Cook Islands - CIFA Premiership 2014 Costa Rica - Primera Division Verano 20 Côte d'Ivoire - Ligue 1 2014/2015 Croatia - MAXtv Prva Liga 2015/2016 Cuba - Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol 2015 Curacao - Liga MCB 2015 Curacao - Sekshon Pagá Cyprus - Glafkos Klerides Championship 2014/2015 Czech Republic - Synot liga 2015/2016 Denmark - ALKA Superliga 2015/2016 Djibouti - Championnat national de la 1ère division 2014/2015 Dominican Republic - Liga Dominicana de Fútbol 2015 Ecuador - Copa Pilsener Serie A 2015 Egypt - Egyptian League 2014/2015 El Salvador - Liga Pepsi 2015 Clau England - Barclays Premier League 2015/2016 Estonia - A. 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Copa Movistar 2015 Philippines - PFF SMART National Club Championship 2014/2015 Poland - T-Mobile Ekstraklasa 2015/2016 Portugal - LIGA NOS 2014/2015 Puerto Rico - Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Puerto Rico 2014 Qatar - Qatar Stars League 2014/2015 Republic of Ireland - SSE Airtricity League 2015 Romania - Liga I 2015/2016 Russia - SOGAZ Russian Football Championship 2015/2016 Rwanda - National League 2014/2015 Samoa - Upolu Premier League 2014/2015 San Marino - Campionato Sammarinese 2014/2015 Saudi Arabia - Abdul Latif Jameel League 2014/2015 Scotland - Ladbrokes Premiership 2015/2016 Senegal - Championnat National 2014/2015 Serbia - Jelen SuperLiga 2014/2015 Seychelles - Division One 2014 Sierra Leone - Sierra Leone Premier League 2014 Singapore - S-League 2015 Slovakia - Fortuna Liga 2014/2015 Slovenia - Prva liga Telekom Slovenije 2015/2016 Solomon Islands - Telekom S-League 2014/2015 Somalia - Nation Link Telecom Championship 2014/2015 South Africa - ABSA Premiership 2015/2016 Spain - Liga BBVA 2014/2015 Sri Lanka - Dialog Champions League 2014/2015 St. Kitts and Nevis - National Bank Premier League 2014/2015 Sudan - Sudani Premier League 2015 Suriname - Hoofdklasse SVB 2014/2015 Swaziland - MTN Premier League 2014/2015 Sweden - Allsvenskan 2015 Switzerland - Raiffeisen Super League 2014/2015 Syria - Syrian League 2014/2015 Tahiti - Division 1 2014/2015 Tajikistan - Tajik League 2015 Tanzania - Vodacom Premier League 2014/2015 Thailand - Toyota Thai Premier League 2015 Togo - Championnat National de Première Division 2014 Trinidad and Tobago - Digicel Pro League 2014/2015 Tunisia - Ligue 1 2014/2015 Turkey - Spor Toto Süper Lig 2014/2015 Turkmenistan - Ýokary Liga 2015 Turks and Caicos Islands - Digicel Play Provo Premier League 2014/2015 Uganda - FUFA Super League 2014/2015 Ukraine - Ukrainian Premier League 2015/2016 United Arab Emirates - Arabian Gulf League 2014/2015 Uruguay - Primera División Profesional 2014/2015 US Virgin Islands - Association´s Cup Tournament 2014/2015 USA - MLS 2015 Uzbekistan - Uzbekistan Professional Football League 2015 Vanuatu - National Super League 2014 Venezuela - Liga Movistar 2014/2015 Vietnam - Eximbank V.League 1 2015 Wales - Dafabet Welsh Premier League 2015/2016 Yemen - Yemen League 2013/2014 Zambia - MTN/FAZ Super Division 2015 Zimbabwe - Premier Soccer League 2015	Yesterday, Peru defeated Paraguay 2–0 in the of the , which was held in stadium in city of Chile, and won a bronze medal. Peru had 50.9% possession of the ball in front of Paraguay. Peru completed 408 passes whereas Paraguay completed 407. The passing accuracy of both teams were almost same with 78.9 to 79.6% accuracy. One Paraguayan player and two Peruvian players were in this match with 30 fouls committed. Nobody scored in the first half of the match. In the opening minutes of second half, Peru's gained a corner ball and converted it into the first goal of the match in the 48th minute. In the 89th minute of the match, scored a close range goal which sealed the third place for Los Incas. By this goal, Guerrero netted 4 goals for the tournament to equal with Chile's . This is back-to-back third place for Peru in the Copa tournament. ---- == Sources == * * * *
Seven teenagers shot at Detroit bus stop CHICAGO (AFP) — Seven teenagers were shot at a Detroit bus stop and police are searching for the two shooters, officials said. "Two unknown males exited a green minivan and approached a group of people at the bus stop and opened fire," Detroit police spokesman Dan Donakowski told AFP. Three of the teens, all of whom are between the ages of 14 and 17, are in critical condition, he said. The 2:30 pm (1830 GMT) shooting happened shortly after summer school let out for the day in an area known for its high level of gang activity. Police say they still do not have a motive for the crime. The Detroit News reported that one of the men said "You know who we're looking for," before shooting 15 rounds of ammunition at the teens. The school's principal Jonathan Matthews said there were no problems earlier in the day. "Today was a normal day at school. There was nothing that happened (out of the ordinary)," Matthews told the Detroit News. Bria Wilson, 15, heard some guys yell "There they go," right before the shots were fired and said everyone who was not hit ran away. She said her 16-year-old friend was shot four times. "I was standing at the bus stop next to him," she told the Detroit Free Press. "That bullet came too close. I?m not coming back to this school." Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved. More » \|\|\|\|\| Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day) Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622). The U.S. Marshals want your help finding their "15 Most Wanted" fugitives, a notorious list of suspects fleeing everything from murder and robbery to child sex charges. To date, about 200 of the fugitives profiled on the list have been found. Tips leading to an arrest are rewarded up to $25,000. Click here to see the fugitives. Gunmen in a green minivan opened fire on a group of teenagers waiting at a bus stop near a Detroit school on Tuesday, wounding seven including two who were in critical condition, authorities said. Five of the teens had just left Cody Ninth Grade Academy, where they were taking summer classes, when they were shot at the nearby bus stop. The gunmen exited a vehicle and "asked for a person by name" before they "opened fire at the crowd," said Detroit Public Schools Police Chief Roderick Grimes. Detroit Police were looking for two suspects in a green minivan, said spokesman Rod Liggons. Officers were interviewing some of the victims in the hospital Tuesday evening, he said. Four boys and three girls ranging in age from 14 to 17 years old were hospitalized, two of them — a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old female — in critical condition, said Deputy Chief James Tolbert. Gas station owner Steve Hakim said he saw two people with T-shirts covering their heads run across his lot toward the bus stop. Then he heard about 10 gunshots, saw a boy and a girl fall down and called 911. "It's pretty scary," Hakim said. "Somebody's got to do something." Police were reviewing video taken from the gas station's security cameras and took a disc containing the footage, Hakim said. Another summer school student, 15-year-old Bria Wilson, said she was standing at the bus stop when she heard the gunfire. She said she was facing away from the shooters and ran away after the shots were fired. But she saw a 16-year-old male friend lying on the ground, bleeding. "They were so close — it almost hit me," she said. Schools spokesman Steve Wasko said there was "nothing that we're aware of at this time" linking the shootings with any fight or dispute at the school. He said the shootings happened about 2:15 p.m., about 15 minutes after summer school students were dismissed for the day. Imam Abdullah El-Amin, who co-owns the Numan Funeral Home near the intersection where the shooting took place, said drug-dealing and prostitution are common in the area, he said. "It's terrible that these things are just laying there, festering, in society — time bombs waiting to happen," said El-Amin, a Muslim minister and candidate for Detroit City Council. More from msnbc.com Reservists come marching home from Iraq — to no job ‘Unrecovery’: Jobless consumers hold back economy Cosmic Log: New moon vistas revealed Slideshow: Statue of Liberty, then and now Obama health czar directed firms in trouble Facebook: 'Why not give your ex another shot?' © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| Police: 7 teens shot near high school, 2 critical DETROIT (AP) — Detroit police say at least seven teenagers have been shot near a high school and two are in critical condition. Detroit Police spokesman Rod Liggons tells WXYZ-TV the victims were shot Tuesday afternoon at a bus stop by gunmen who emerged from a green minivan. Detroit Public Schools Police Chief Roderick Grimes says at least five students attending classes at Cody High School were shot. He says two are in critical condition. Grimes says two or possibly three gunmen asked for a person by name before opening fire on the crowd. The shooting took place about a block away from the high school shortly after summer school classes had ended for the day. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. DETROIT (AP) — Detroit police say at least seven teenagers have been shot near a high school but their conditions aren't known. Detroit Police spokesman Rod Liggons tells WXYZ-TV the victims were shot Tuesday afternoon at a bus stop by gunmen who emerged from a green minivan. Liggons says he isn't aware of any fatalities. Detroit Public Schools spokesman Steve Wasko says the shooting took place about a block away from Cody High School shortly after summer school classes got out. He didn't know if any of the teens shot are students at the school. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	Gunmen shot seven teenagers at a bus stop in Detroit, Michigan, United States at about 2:15 PM EDT (1915 UTC) today. Three of the seven wounded are in critical condition. The victims were one block away from their school, Cody High School, at a bus stop in Detroit's west side. The gunmen left a green minivan, approached the teenagers and asked for a particular person before opening fire, according to Roderick Grimes, Chief of Detroit Public Schools Police. Five of the victims were students of Cody Ninth Grade Academy and were just leaving summer classes. Four of the victims were boys and three were girls, all aged between 14 and 17 years old. Steve Wasko, a spokesman for the school, claimed there was "nothing that we're aware of at this time" to suggest that the shooting was related to any in-school dispute. Gangs are active in the area in which the shooting happened.
Three Ontarians and one Quebecer will share the second-largest lottery jackpot in Canadian history as the lucky winners of Saturday's $43.2-million Lotto 6-49 draw. The ticket holders, who have not yet been identified, will each take home $10.8 million. Two of the tickets were purchased in the Greater Toronto Area, and one in southwestern Ontario, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation said. The largest lottery prize in Canadian history was $54 million, won in October 2005. That prize was claimed by 17 oil company workers from Camrose, Alta., who each pocketed $3 million in the 6-49 draw. The winning numbers in Saturday's draw were 3, 10, 21, 23, 33, and 44. The bonus number was 43. With files from the Canadian Press \|\|\|\|\| >DITES-LE À UN AMI >VERSION IMPRIMABLE >ABONNEZ-VOUS À SENTINELLE CNW Attention News Editors: Media Advisory - Ontario shares in big $43.2 million LOTTO 6/49 jackpot SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, Aug. 13 /CNW/ - Three of four tickets that will share equally in the second-largest lottery jackpot in Canadian history were sold in Ontario. Last night's big LOTTO 6/49 jackpot was $43,222,344. Each jackpot-winning share is worth $10,805,586. Two of Ontario's winning tickets were sold in the Greater Toronto area, and a third was sold in Southwestern Ontario. Ontario also has 7 of 13 second-prize winning tickets, with each worth $302,389. Canada's second-largest lottery jackpot had been growing since the jackpot was last won on July 22, 2006. The largest-ever Canadian lottery prize was a LOTTO 6/49 jackpot of $54.29 million from October 26, 2005. The six regular winning numbers for the Saturday, August 12, 2006 LOTTO 6/49 draw are: 3 - 10 - 21 - 23 - 33 - 44 (Bonus number 43). Ontario ticket sales for the draw totaled $28,336,502 million, contributing to total national ticket sales of $70,428,846 million. LOTTO 6/49 is a national lottery game operated and managed in the province by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games, commercial and charitable casinos, and the operation and management of slot machine facilities at horse racing tracks. It is a provincial offence, punishable by fines, to sell OLG lottery tickets to anyone under 18 years of age. << THE LOTTO SUPER 7 JACKPOT FOR AUGUST 18 IS $15 MILLION! Know your limit. Play within it! THE ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1-888-230-3505. Disponible en français www.OLG.ca >> For further information: OLG PUBLIC AFFAIRS, (416) 324-6541, (705) 946-6716 ONTARIO LOTTERY AND GAMING CORPORATION ONTARIO LOTTERY AND GAMING CORPORATION - Renseignements sur cet organisme Communiqués de presse (1015) Archives photo OLG OLG - Renseignements sur cet organisme Communiqués de presse (219) Archives photo >DITES-LE À UN AMI >VERSION IMPRIMABLE >ABONNEZ-VOUS À SENTINELLE CNW \|\|\|\|\| Take a look at how Toronto-area residents are spending the March Break, for those lucky enough to have the week off.	Three people in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and one person in Quebec won last week's Lotto 649. They will share the second-largest lottery jackpot in Canadian history as the lucky winners of Saturday's $43.2-million Lotto 649 draw. They will each take home $10.8 million. "Two of the tickets were purchased in the GTA, and one in southwestern Ontario, despite the free ticket giveaway by the British Columbia lottery corporation to promote the contest", the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation said. The six regular winning numbers for the Saturday, August 12, 2006 Lotto 649 draw were: 3 - 10 - 21 - 23 - 33 - 44 (Bonus number 43). Eight Dollarama employees in downtown Toronto also held one of the winning tickets, worth more than $10.8 million. They will take home about $1.35 million each. They range in ages from 22 to 53. The biggest Lotto win was $54 million in a Lotto 649 draw in October 2005. It was won by 17 oil company workers in Camrose, Alberta. Each took home a cheque for $3 million.
Row over Canada F-35 fighter jet order Along with Britain and Australia, Canada has been involved in the development of the F-35 for years Canada's purchase of 65 new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets for 9bn Canadian dollars ($8.5bn; £5.6bn) is proving controversial. The contract with US company Lockheed Martin was signed without a competitive bidding process, drawing fire from Canada's opposition party. Related stories Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said, if elected, his government would put a hold on the contract. The jets will replace Canada's ageing fleet of CF-18s. "At a time when the Conservatives are also signalling significant cuts to Veterans Affairs, a $16bn [Canadian dollars] sole-sourced contract, agreed to without transparency, can't be allowed to proceed," Mr Ignatieff said in a statement. But Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government defended the purchase at a press conference, where a prototype of the plane was unveiled. "We need to ensure our fighter aircraft fleet remains the best in the world to meet the threats of the 21st Century," defence minister Peter MacKay said. Maintenance of the planes for 20 years is also included in the contract, but that cost has not yet been disclosed. Media reports estimate that maintenance could bring the total cost to Canadian $16bn. The planes will be the fifth generation of Joint Strike Fighters. Canada has worked with the US on the development of these fighter planes for over a decade. \|\|\|\|\| Canada's Defence Minister Peter MacKay gestures while sitting in the cockpit of a F-35 Joint Strike Fighter during a news conference in Ottawa July 16, 2010. Photograph by: Chris Wattie, Reuters OTTAWA — Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced Friday a $9 billion plan to buy 65 advanced fighter aircraft, saying the military needs the F-35 joint strike fighter jets to "meet the threats of the 21st century." "We need an aircraft that can enable the men and women of the Canadian Forces to meet the increasingly complex demands of the missions that we ask of them," MacKay said at an Ottawa news conference flanked by Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose and Industry Minister Tony Clement. "This aircraft is the best aircraft that we can provide our men and women in uniform and this government is committed to giving them the very best," he said. The purchase of the fleet, to be built by American firm Lockheed Martin, is one of the largest in Canadian history. Ambrose said the government was pressed for time to acquire the single-engine jets, and long-term maintenance contracts would be negotiated at a later date. "Of course we have some estimates," she said, but would not go into details. "When the aircraft comes off the production line, we expect to negotiate the in-service support costs and, importantly, all of our aerospace companies will also have an opportunity to access and compete for those in-service support costs." The government's decision to buy the aircraft means Canada can compete for contracts worth billions of dollars for the "global supply chain" of some 3,000 F-35 Lightning II jets, said Ambrose. Ottawa has invested $168 million into the development of the Joint Strike Fighter Program, which has already produced a return of $350 million in contracts for 85 Canadian companies, research laboratories and universities, Clement said. Canada joins eight other countries under the U.S-led partnership in the fighter program. Opposition Liberals and the NDP have lashed out at the government for purchasing the aircraft through a process they consider to be non-competitive. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said a Liberal government would put the sole-sourced contract on hold and call on the House of Commons defence committee to review the government's "secret, unaccountable decision" to buy the fleet. NDP MP Malcolm Allen told a news conference Friday there should be a military analysis to determine whether new aircraft, and specifically the F-35, is even needed. He also said the government should inform the public about the total costs of the purchase, including maintenance. "If indeed they know what the cost of the estimate is, and they're withholding it from Canadians, then I can only surmise that the price tag would shock Canadians," he said. MacKay defended the process by which Lockheed was awarded the contract. He said it was a competitive, "rigorous process" that began under the Liberal government in the early 2000s. He called the party hypocritical for criticizing the purchase. Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh said the investment into the program under the Liberals was one of research and manufacturing. "There is absolutely no rush to move on this, as someone said, in the dead of summer, with absolutely zero accountability," said Dosanjh. The new fighter aircraft will replace the fleet of CF-18s, beginning in 2016. Those fighters, which will be about 40 years old by then, were recently upgraded at a reported cost of $2.6 billion. MacKay also addressed questions about the cost of the individual jets Canada will purchase, which works out to about $140 million per plane, higher than estimated costs in the U.S. He said the planes are outfitted with on board equipment, including sensors and weapons systems, which account for the cost. As well, some concerns have been raised in the U.S. about the single-engine aircraft, a worry that was brushed off by MacKay who assured the fighter jets "will match and outperform any dual engine aircraft." He pointed to Canada's involvement in Norad and NATO as justification of the aircraft, as well as recruiting measures for Canadian Forces. The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, the national trade association of Canada's aerospace manufacturing and service sector, praised the government's purchase. In a release, Claude Lajeunesse, president & CEO of AIAC, said the procurement program "will positively affect the Canadian aerospace industry for decades to come." The Bloc Quebecois released a statement prior to the announcement asking the Conservative government to ensure some of the contracts to maintain the fleet are tendered to companies based in Quebec. "Too often, Quebec companies miss out on billions of dollars even though over 55 per cent of jobs in the Canadian aerospace industry are located in Quebec," Bloc MP Claude Bachand said in a statement. The federal government also announced this week it has restarted the planning process to build two new navy ships, a $2.6-billion project that's also expected to take until at least 2017 to be completed. The new ships would replace Canada's 40-year-old supply vessels HMCS Protecteur, based at CFB Esquimalt, and HMCS Preserver, based at CFB Halifax. © Copyright (c) Postmedia News \|\|\|\|\| Canadian Minister of National Defence, Peter MacKay, announced this morning the plan to purchase 65 F35 Joint Strike Fighters. This purchase constitutes the largest military purchase in history. The new fighter aircraft would replace the current fleet of CF-18s starting in 2017. Those fighters were reportedly recently upgraded at a cost of $2.6-billion. Peter MacKay said that the cost of acquisiton woud be $9 Billion. Peter McKay said that the $9 Billion is the cost for 65 aircraft with all its on board equipment. The main stream media however, is publishing $16 Billion, which is what the Liberal Party suggests. Liberal critics have estimated the total cost at around $16 Billion with inclusion of the in service support costs. The government says that those costs will still have to be negotiated. This is when Canadian industry can compete. Marc Garneau suggests that the government risks wasting taxpayers money. Marc Garneau, spokesman for the Liberal Party’s industry and science issues, told reporters that Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government may be poised to announce the F-35 purchase without seeking bids from competing firms, citing media reports. He said the contract risks wasting billions of taxpayers’ dollars. Peter MacKay called the Liberals Hypocrites, since they started working toward that deal back in 2000 and had invested money to get the F35. Canadians should recall the helicopter deal reached by Brian Mulroney and then canceled by Jean Chretien just to see the acquisition double. Let's not make the same mistake again.	The F-35, Joint Strike Fighter. Canadian Defense Minister announced a 9 billion dollar plan to buy 65 on Friday morning. It would be the largest military purchase in the history of Canada. "I'm convinced the F-35 is good for Canada, good for Canadians, good for the Forces and good for Canadian industry," said MacKay during a press conference. F-35 aircraft would replace the current fleet of . The officially opposed the deal , saying that it required further review. The Party stated that they would place the deal on hold if elected. Canada is one of several nations that assisted in the development of the F-35 and has invested over 168 million into the program for over a decade. The new fighters would replace current aircraft from 2017 onward.
Death toll in Casablanca fire at 55 Last Updated: 26/04/2008 19:03 Fire broke out at a mattress factory in the Moroccan coastal city of Casablanca on Saturday killing 55 people, state news agency MAP reported. Twelve others including a police officer were seriously injured in the blaze which took hold on the ground floor of the factory and quickly engulfed the entire building, MAP said. Over 100 fire-fighters were deployed to bring the blaze under control at the Rosamor Ameublements factory in the Hay Hassani neighbourhood of Morocco's economic capital. Around 100 of the factory's 150 employees were on site when the fire broke out, MAP added, more than originally stated. "The fire, which broke out around 10 a.m. in the four-storey factory ... spread rapidly throughout the factory because of the nature of the chemical products stored there," MAP said, citing a statement from Casablanca town hall. An inquiry has been launched to determine the cause of the fire. © 2008 ireland.com \|\|\|\|\| Firefighters evacuate a victim of a fire that broke out in a mattress factory Saturday, April 26, 2008 in Casablanca, Morocco. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>> RABAT, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Death toll in a fire at a mattress factory in Morocco's biggest city Casablanca on Saturday morning now rose to 55, the official news agency MAP reported. A communique issued by local authorities confirmed the rising death toll from an original figure of 25, according to MAP. Earlier, MAP reported that some 25 people were killed and eight others seriously wounded, including a policeman, when a fire broke out Saturday in a mattress factory in Casablanca. Firefighters battle the flames of a fire that broke out in a mattress factory Saturday, April 26, 2008 in Casablanca, Morocco.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>> The blaze broke out in the morning at 10 a.m. (1000 GMT) in the first floor of the Rosamor Ameublements factory in the Hay Hassani neighborhood of the north African country' economic capital, it added. About 60 of the 150 workers, recruited in the factory, were on site when the fire erupted. Some 100 fire fighters were deployed to control the blaze, and an inquiry was launched to find out its causes, according to the report. \|\|\|\|\| A fire Saturday in a mattress factory in Casablanca, Morocco's economic hub, killed 55 people and injured a dozen others, the official news agency quoted local authorities as saying. A statement by the Wilaya of Greater Casablanca, the city government, said 55 people were killed in the morning fire and 12 injured. The MAP news agency had earlier reported 25 deaths. About 100 firefighters rushed to the scene in an industrial sector of Casablanca. The blaze began on the ground floor of the factory at about 10 a.m. (1000 GMT) and quickly spread through the five-story building, MAP reported. The official statement cited the presence of chemical products in the factory as responsible for the fire's rapid spread. However, the exact cause was not immediately known.	55 people were killed today after a mattress factory in Casablanca, Morocco was swept by fire. The fire initiated on the ground floor this morning and quickly engulfed the entire building. 12 others were injured - seriously, according to the ''Irish Times'' - including one police officer. 100 firefighters were dispatched to the five-storey factory after the blaze broke out at 10 am local time. Earlier reports had indicated 25 deaths and eight people injured. ''MAP'', the state news agency, is quoted by the ''Irish Times'' as saying the building was four storeys high, citing in turn city officials. The disaster occurred at the Rosamor Ameublements factory, which is located in the Hay Hassani area of the nation's economic centre. Of the 150 people the facility employed, around 60 were inside at the time. An official statement by city authorities shows that preliminary investigation indicates onsite chemicals were responsible for the fire's rapid spread, but no actual cause has yet been determined. A full inquiry has been launched to investigate the accident fully.
Svet Generalni štrajk u Grčkoj Atina -- Generalni štrajk zaposlenih u Grčkoj zaustavio je ili usporio svu državnu i poslovnu aktivnost, domaći i međunarodni prevoz. Izvor: Beta petak, 24.06.2005. \| 14:37 Tweet Podeli Sindikati u državnom (ADEDY) i privatnom sektoru (GSEE) protestuju zbog ograničavanja uobičajenih prava zaposlenih, pre svega socijalnog i zdravstvenog osiguranja. Osim sindikalne tvrdnje da u 24-časovnom štrajku učestvuje između 70 i 100 odsto zaposlenih, nema potpunije slike o protestu, jer su rad obustavili i novinari. Protestuje se i zbog masovnog otpuštanja i podele zaposlenih na "mlade" i "stare", one koji više ne mogu naći posao, i to zbog smanjivanja penzija na 40 odsto, zbog ukidanja obaveza poslodavaca iz kolektivnih ugovora i osmočasovnog radnog vremena. Desničarska Vlada nastoji da najpre uvede promene u bankarstvu, menjajući zakon o osiguranju, o čemu je rasprava počela u petak u Skupštini. Prema tumačenju sindikata, cilj Vlade je da ograničavanjem prava zaposlenih i otpuštanjem učini uslugu svojim bogatim sponzorima - privrednicima, da otvori tržište stranim firmama i da što lakše proda državna preduzeća i banke. Već ranije nagovešteno "vrelo leto" zbog politike desničarske vlade, započelo je štrajkom službenika banaka koji je ušao u treću nedelju i time postao najduži od 1980-ih godina. Oni se protive odluci vlade o ograničenju njihovih penzionih prava i udruživanju njihovih bogatih fondova osiguranja sa opštim, državnim i siromašnim. Štrajk službenika banaka izazvao je ozbiljne probleme zbog nestašice gotovine što je gotovo zaustavilo svu trgovinu i izazvalo poremećaje u plaćanju. Pošto je vlada odbacila pregovore o osiguranju, sindikat službenika banaka je produžio štrajk i na iduću nedelju i zapretio upravama banaka da će ih tužiti sudu zbog kršenja ugovora o radu. Prethodna desničarska vlada Grčke sa Konstandinosom Micotakisom na čelu, pala je 1993. godine u talasu sindikalnih protesta i demonstracija zbog njenog pokušaja da ograniči prava penzionera i proda velika državna preduzeća. Sadašnji protesti velikim delom su i posledica recesije u koju je Grčka ušla posle prošlogodišnjih Olimpijskih igara. Pre njih Grčka je sedam godina uzastopno imala porast bruto nacionalnog dohotka za po više od četiri odsto što je tada bio rekord u Evropskoj uniji. Ovogodišnji rast BNP u Grčkoj bi, prema zvaničnoj, optimističkoj proceni, trebalo da bude gotovo duplo manji, 2,9 odsto. Državni sektor u Grčkoj čini oko 40 odsto privrede i zapošljava dva miliona od oko ukupno četiri miliona zaposlenih u Grčkoj. Veliki sindikalni mitinzi u Atini i Solunu ometaju saobraćaj, tako da se do centra grada stiže samo pešice. \|\|\|\|\| After shutting down the center of Athens and parts of Greece yesterday during protests over structural reforms, unionists said they were determined to prevent the government from tampering with social security and pensions. «Stop playing around with social security funds. Do not burden IKA (the main state fund) with the debts of bankers and do not abolish the eight-hour working day,» said Christos Polyzogopoulos, the head of the country's largest umbrella union, GSEE, which had called a general strike yesterday in support of bank employees who oppose government plans to reform their pension schemes. In its bill, the government has proposed registering all new bank workers with IKA by 2008. The bank employees' union OTOE said yesterday that it would extend its strike, currently in its third week, until Thursday, when Parliament is expected to vote on the bill. \|\|\|\|\| One-fifth of the country's households are living in poverty, with financial blues expected to keep more than half of Greeks away from the country's beaches, according to a survey made public yesterday. The National Statistics Service (NSS) conducted its survey in 2003 on 14,960 household members above the age of 16. The poverty level is determined at an annual income of 4,741 euros per person a year or 9,956 euros for couples. The NSS said that one in two households, specifically 52 percent, do not have the means to go on holidays this summer for more than one week, while 21 percent live below the poverty line. Other worrying data showed that 19 percent of households cannot meet their heating expenses, while 37 percent stated that they struggle to meet their fixed expenses, such as telephone and electricity costs.	right Greek workers' unions claim that 70 to 100% of country's workforce has joined the general 24 hour long strike on Friday. The general strike was called by labor umbrella organizations as a show of support for striking bank employees, who are in their third week of strikes. Private and public sector workers alike are protesting mass lay-offs, alleged age discrimination against employees, the lowering of pensions to 40% of former salary, the repudiation of collective bargaining agreements, while voicing support for the retention of the eight-hour work day. Buses operated between 8am until 9pm, while the metro, railway, and trams did not operate at all. Administration and civil servants stopped working for three hours during the day. Banks are working with emergency personnel, causing a shortage of currency and slowing commercial and financial transactions. The president of the security guards' union, which includes employees responsible for filling automatic teller machines estimates that most machines will run out of money sometime tomorrow. Workers in other branches of the private sector, including shipping and tourism, also went on strike for a day. The private sector accounts for roughly half the Greek workforce, with the other half are employed in the public sector. Independent estimates or reports on impact of the general strike are hard to find, as media workers has joined in the walkout, and broadcast news outlets did not operate at all from 1pm to 5pm. The strikes were followed by protests in several Greek cities. The Greek economy continues to grow, but growth has slowed since the close of the 2004 Summer Olympics and analysts had expected economic and political turmoil this summer. Greece had a high GDP growth rate prior to 2004, when it reached 4.1%. However, it is expected that for 2005, it will be around 2.7%. Additionally, a recent survey by the National Statistics Service estimates the national poverty rate to be 20%, despite recent economic progress. A controversial proposal by New Democracy Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis would overhaul the country's Social Security system to include bank employees, who until now have had separate pension schemes and largely oppose the merger.
FAST FORWARD Dell Says He’d Sell Apple’s Mac OS For the first time, a PC player publicly welcomes the notion of selling machines loaded with Apple’s software. Michael Dell is interested in licensing Apple's Mac OS. I've mentioned several times in the past few months that executives from several PC companies have told me of their interest in Apple's Mac OS X operating system. Sadly my sources would not let me attribute these assertions; PC executives are pretty leery of offending Microsoft, which holds enormous power over their businesses. So, many readers have challenged me on this point. But Dell (the company) has for several years fearlesslyand lucrativelysold servers loaded with Linux, the operating system Microsoft reviles and dreads. And as the industry's top dog it wields more bargaining power with Microsoft than other PC-makers. So I emailed Michael Dell, now the company's chairman, and asked if he'd be interested in the Mac OS, assuming that Apple CEO Steve Jobs ever decides to license it to PC companies. (For now, Jobs says he won't.) "If Apple decides to open the Mac OS to others, we would be happy to offer it to our customers," Dell wrote in an email. It's the first time any PC industry executive has openly shown enthusiasm for selling machines with Apple's software. Though that's all Dell would say for the record, I suspect his interest is not unknown to Jobs. So, as I said in this column last week (and in an article in the new issue of FORTUNE), the ball is in Jobs' court. Dell's wasn't the only email I got last week. Scores of letters came in reacting to my article suggesting that Apple's move to Intel could usher in a new era of success. A number of readers said it made little sense for Apple to license its OS to the PC universe, because one of Apple's advantages is that it has complete control of the specs for both the hardware and software in Macintoshes. "Having to support legacy hardware…would be the worst thing for a company that is forward-looking and not backwards-thinking," wrote one reader. "When a Mac OS can cope with all the random junk [that gets plugged into a PC] then you can have an 'Apples to apples' comparison," wrote another. However, a reader who ID'd himself merely as "Mark" suggested a solutionApple should license the next version of its operating system, known as Leopard, but only to PC vendors who agree to put it on systems with certain specifications. He also speculates that Apple would, in such a scenario, insist on a minimum system price. PC vendors, he says, would be pleased to oblige, since making money in that business is so tough. Perhaps Michael Dell is thinking along similar lines. (He wouldn't say.) Many readers were surprised that Apple announced its partnership with Intel and not AMD, which despite being much smaller is ahead of Intel in x86 performance, energy efficiency, and other factors Jobs has said are important. So, I called up Henri Richard, AMD's chief sales and marketing officer. He said Apple hadn't talked to AMD, and that in some ways that made sense. It was probably, he speculated, all about money. Porting the Mac OS to Intel and bringing along all the applications will be "incredibly" expensive, he said, "and the amount [of money] Apple can get from Intel is vastly greater than what it could get from us." With a marketer's optimism, Richard continued: "Steve [Jobs] is a smart guy. He'll get as much money as he can from Intel, and then go to the best architecture." Richard also had a spin on the Dell angle of the Apple/Intel tie-up. (AMD has repeatedly failed to win Dell's business, so the company spends a lot of time thinking about the PC giant.) "Intel always wants to be the top dog," he said. "If there was any motivation in this deal from the Intel perspective it was just to keep Dell on its toes." He continued: "It's a cat and mouse game between these guys. This is a subtle way for Intel to remind Dell that there are alternatives that could be pushed." A few other reader observations on Apple's move: "Jobs' efforts in multimedia content…with distributors such as the telephone companies… will be strengthened with the move to Intel. It ties in well with the effort to make MPEG 4 HD the standard…" Robert B. "Is Apple ready to face software piracy? If it begins to compete with Windows [on Intel chips], it will surely arrive in developing countries where software piracy is high." Felix, writing from Indonesia. Apple already sells in many developing countries, but not generally in very large quantities. Another reader wrote: "[IBM's] PowerPC chips used to be the chip of choice for embedded applications, precisely due to power/performance/heat advantages that they have over Intel, which outweighed the popularity penalty for software. (In my business, the Bradley and Abrams military vehicles both use PowerPC boards for precisely that reason.) With new Intel chips that beat PowerPC in performance per watt, IBM is on the edge of losing not only Apple, but the embedded market, where the ability to cool the processor is one of the major design constraints for the system as a whole. My current program (which I will not name, but is in an industry similar to the…Army combat vehicles) is now using PowerPC, but I expect this to change, and the Apple rationale is probably the last nail in the PowerPC coffin on my program." Finally, perhaps the most telling letter was written by Bob I., who simply said, "With the switch to Intel, I will be buying a Mac for myself." Next: How Big Could Apple Get? Plus: Apple's Switch to Intel: The Ultimate Power Move? Questions? Comments? E-mail them to me at dkirkpatrick@fortunemail.com. \|\|\|\|\| Michael Dell would like to license Mac OS X and ship it with future PC products, the Dell founder and chairman has revealed. It's not likely to happen any time soon, of course - Apple CEO Steve Jobs has already said it's not something he wants to do for now - but according to name-dropping Fortune online columnist David Kirkpatrick, Dell would jump at the chance if offered. "If Apple decides to open the Mac OS to others, we would be happy to offer it to our customers," Dell apparently wrote in an email. He's not the only one, apparently. Plenty of industry figures dismiss the Mac as a niche platform in public, but behind closed doors they see the potential in Apple's Unix-based yet slick-looking OS. One Intel acquaintance of ours has often berated the "non-standard" platform, though we suspect he's a little more keen on it since Jobs' announcement he will use Intel processors in future. It does seem to be the case that Mac OS X is winning grudging respect from the PC world, primarily because of its relative freedom from malware. That's not going to change when it arrives running on x86 processors, any more than the operating system somehow becoming more compatible with Windows. But it's interesting the way that some observers see that as being the case. In reality, the situation isn't going to change. Using an x86-based Mac is going to leave your information no more, or less compatible with the rest of the computing world than using a PowerPC-based Mac is. Moving data from Windows to Mac, or vice versa, isn't going to be any easier, or any harder. The only 'benefit' will be that if you don't like Mac OS X, you'll be able to wipe it and install Windows on your Mac. Apple has said it won't stop users doing that, though it will prevent PC owners installing Mac OS X on their machines. For a minority, the ability to run Windows alongside Mac OS X will be advantageous, just as plenty of Linux users do the same, primarily to play the latest games. But should Apple offer Mac OS X to PC makers and even end-users? It's easy to see such a move as the logical step, but Apple needs to be certain that a sufficiently large number of customers will put down $100 or so for a copy and that sufficient numbers of the faithful will not stop buying Apple hardware and instead run Mac OS X on cheap PC kit. All these factors are there on the Apple strategic spreadsheet, and there may come a time when the crucial cell changes colour from red to black, but it will be some way off. Apple has to sell a lot more boxes yet, and while the Mac Mini has proved a sterling success, there's little evidence yet that either the price of the machine or the iPod halo effect is pulling over significant numbers of Windows users. There are some PC owners who'd run Macs if they could afford them, but most are clearly sufficiently happy with Windows that shifting to the Mac is not so much undesirable as unnecessary. For others - and here I could mention a number of non-technical PC owners of my acquaintance - the compatibility issues make moving to the Mac a non-starter, and as I say, that's not going to change when OS X goes x86. Right now, there is simply insufficient demand for Mac OS X on Intel. Michael Dell says he'd like to offer it to his customers, but there's no firm evidence they would take him up on it. Techies might have very firm views on which operating system they use - the first PC I ever bought was very quickly reconfigured as a BeOS machine - but no one else cares too much. If they did, they'd all be running Linux by now, or have migrated to the Mac. Alas it's just too easy to make the default selection, and as long as that's the case, Microsoft can relax while Apple works hard to persuade people to splash out on a new OS. ® Related stories REALbasic 2005 ships for Mac, WinXP, Linux Waiting for Intel, Apple faces massive Osborne chill The Osborne Effect spooks Apple Intel today, Microsoft tomorrow for Apple? Apple CEO promises two-year Intel conversion Apple pulls the ultimate switch with Intel embrace Apple shifts to Intel: what is all the fuss about?	PC manufacturer and Apple Computer competitor Dell, Inc. has stated that it is interested in shipping computers running Apple's Mac OS X. Michael Dell, founder and chairman of Dell Computers, made the comments while talking to David Kirkpatrick of Fortune magazine. "If Apple decides to open the Mac OS to others, we would be happy to offer it to our customers," Dell wrote in an email to Kirkpatrick. Apple recently announced that it would begin using Intel x86 microprocessors in its computers next year, but has continued to deny reports that they will allow their OS to be run on non-Apple hardware.
India recently signed an agreement to purchase 250,000 XO laptops from the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project. Given India’s lukewarm reception to the concept in the past, it’s surprising to see that they are starting to buy into the concept. Perhaps the success of the pilot program in 2007 has convinced them that this is a good idea. And while an Indian company has attempted to create a $10 alternative, their efforts have had little to no results. PC World interviewed the CEO of the OLPC India group, who stated that the laptops will go to about 1,500 schools. The bad news is that this isn’t going to help AMD, who had their CPU dropped in favor of the VIA C7-M chipset. The system memory has also been increased to 1 GB, and the internal storage has been bumped up to 4 GB. There are also rumors of a 2.0 model that should be revealed in 2010. [via Ars Technica] \|\|\|\|\| April 28, 2009 \| by Geoff Duncan Although India was working on its own $10 computer, two Indian government organizations have placed an order for a quarter million OLPC notebooks. Although for the last few years India hasn't exactly been warm to the idea of the One Laptop Per Child project, IDG News Service is reporting two Indian government organizations have placed an order for 250,000 OLPC notebook computers. Although the order still leaves the struggling OLPC organization far short of its goal to have shipped millions of OLPC notebooks by this point, if the order plays out it could be a significant shot in the arm to the organization. According to reports, distribution of the OLPC notebooks is set to begin in June, with as many as 1,500 schools in rural and suburban areas receiving the notebooks. Satish Jha, the often-criticized president and CEO of OLPC India, has repeatedly stated he'd like to deploy three million OLPC notebooks in India during 2009. The OLPC notebooks will presumably be the revved-up Gen 1.5 version of the XO-1, which features a Via C7-M processor rather than an AMD Geode and 1 GB of RAM rather than the initial 256 MB. OLPC's ambitious Gen 2.0 notebooks are expected to be ready sometime in 2010. \|\|\|\|\| The government of India has signed an agreement with the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project and will purchase 250,000 of the organization's XO laptops. The machines will be distributed to students throughout the country. India's decision to embrace OLPC is a bit unexpected in light of the country's past antagonism towards the project. OLPC is a nonprofit organization that builds low-cost education laptops to sell in bulk to governments of developing countries. The project, first unveiled in 2005, has faced many challenges and has been forced to significantly cut staff and reduce the scope of its vision. Despite these setbacks, the program is still marching on and continuing to sell units as it works on an updated model and an innovative next-generation version. OLPC launched a pilot program in India in 2007 with 20 XO laptops at a school in Khairat-Dhangarwada village in the state of Maharashtra. Although the pilot program was successful, the country's Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) was highly skeptical about OLPC, and expressed concerns about the health implications of prolonged laptop use among students. The MHRD later reversed its views about the health implications of youth computing and launched its own dubious program to build a competing $10 laptop. Unsurprisingly, the $10 laptop never materialized. When the country finally unveiled its highly ambiguous plans for its $10 "Sakshat" computing initiative earlier this year, it was revealed that the device would not be a laptop and would cost significantly more than $10 to produce. India has finally decided to adopt OLPC after all, despite the government's previous skepticism and plans for building its own technology. PC World, which spoke with OLPC India CEO Satish Jha, reports that the laptops will be sent to 1,500 schools. Jha hopes to ship 3 million laptops in India this year. PC World also says that a small roll-out will be taking place in Sierra Leone, where a human rights group is paying to deploy 5,000 XO units. OLPC recently announced a hardware bump and plans to drop AMD chips in favor of the VIA C7-M. The update will also boost system memory to 1GB and internal storage to 4GB. Prototype boards are expected to emerge in May. It's unclear if the order placed by India is for the current hardware or for the updated version. OLPC is also working on a more ambitious 2.0 model which is expected to land in 2010. In total sales and deployed units, OLPC still lags behind Intel's competing Classmate PC initiative. India's purchase of 250,000 XO units will help OLPC recover some lost credibility. It demonstrates that major buyers still believe that the program is viable and that the laptops deliver reasonable value.	An OLPC 100$ laptop. Two Indian government organizations have placed orders for 250,000 X0-1 laptop computers. The laptops, designed by the One Laptop Per Child Association, will be distributed to students in nearly 1,500 schools. The order stands in contrast to criticism the Indian government had previously voiced over the OLPC organization. The Indian government had even started its own $100 laptop program, although it was soon abandoned. OLPC India CEO Satish Jha has repeatedly stated he would like to sell three million OLPC laptops to India this year.
BREAKING NEWS: Channel 4's Rock School star Lil' Chris Hardman dies, aged 24 The 24-year-old actor, singer and TV personality reportedly died on Monday Suffolk police said that Hardman's death is not being treated as suspicious The young star had previously been vocal about suffering with depression McBusted and Caroline Flack among celebrities paying tribute to the star Lil' Chris of Channel 4 Rock School fame has died. The 24-year old actor, singer and TV personality, who real name is Chris Hardman, reportedly died on Monday, months before he was planning a pop comeback. Suffolk Police told the BBC that Hardman's death would not be treated as suspicious. Passed on: 'Lil Chris' Hardman of Channel 4 Rock School fame has died aged 24 A spokeswoman said officers arrived to an address in Lowestoft, at around 11:45am to reports that a man had died suddenly. A post-mortem examination is due to take place to determine the cause of death. Hardman's Loserville director, Elliot Davis, said he suffered from depression. 'He was a super talented guy, so naturally gifted,' Davis told WhatsOnStage. 'He just had something that the nation saw and it catapulted him to early fame, which perhaps caused problems.' The star has previously been vocal about suffering with depression, mentioning the illness in two separate tweets last year. He said: 'I hope to one day create a way out of depression that doesn't mean taking your own life. The Cure. Tragic: Police have said that the young singer's death is not being treated as suspicious 'Depression really sucks. Learning how to notice it can save lives and your own feelings at times. Take time to understand it, for everybody.' Hardman first found fame on the reality TV show Rock School, aged 15, where Gene Simmons prepares classically trained prep-school students to be rock stars. In 2006 he released his debut album after signing a deal with RCA, and went on to host his own talk show Everybody Loves Lil' Chris on Channel 4. In Loserville, which premiered at West Yorkshire Playhouse in summer 2012 before transferring to the West End's Garrick Theatre, he played Francis Weir. Hardman first found fame on the reality TV show Rock School, aged 15, where Gene Simmons prepared classically trained prep-school students to be rock stars According to the Daily Mirror, Chris's mother Karen Hardman posted a number of photos of her late son on Facebook to confirm the news. His close friend Lloyd Wilkinson paid his respects on Facebook: 'I can not believe I'm doing this and I'm completely devastated. Rest in peace brother bear. Love you mate. Chris Hardman Aka Lil' Chris.' After news of his death emerged, tributes flooded in for the young singer from fellow celebrities. Last selfie: Chris posted a picture to Twitter on March 11 asking fans whether he should cut his hair Shocked: Caroline Flack tweeted her condolences on Tuesday, calling him a 'polite lovely guy' Caroline Flack posted: 'Oh my god . Lil Chris . He was a regular guest on TMI. Always always such a polite lovely guy . That's so sad.' McBusted's Harry Judd tweeted: 'Shocked and saddened to hear the news about Lil' Chris. He supported us a while back and was a little star and an awesome guy. #RIPChris' Dynamo tweeted: 'RIP Chris Hardman aka lil Chris :( only 24 years old so sad!' Children's TV presenter Mark Rhodes wrote: 'Can't believe the sad news about lil Chris. We worked with him a few years ago and he was a lovely young lad..taken too soon. Mark #ripchris' Old friends: Presenter Mark Rhodes shared his sadness, calling him a 'lovely young lad' The X Factor's Luke Friend tweeted: 'Such sad news, my childhood wouldn't be the same without this great man @CJHardman thoughts go out to friends and family' While Tom from Stereo Kicks wrote: 'Only just heard the news. So saddened and shocked RIP @CJHardman proud to have known you. Class act. Hope you can find happiness - Tom xxx' The news of his death comes less than four months after he revealed he was planning a comeback to music, having not released an album since 2008's 'What's It All About'. In December he wrote on Twitter: 'I'm planning to come back again! Hopefully this time for a little longer! Keep sticking around for updates.' However, earlier this month, the troubled musician admitted he was considering giving up his career as a singer. He wrote: 'Thinking about quitting music forever...there has to come a time eventually when I have to face reality. I'm just not good enough.' \|\|\|\|\| Lil' Chris rose to fame in the Channel 4 television programme Rock School in 2006 Lil' Chris, who launched a singing career after he found fame on reality show Rock School, has died. The 24-year-old, whose real name was Chris Hardman, starred in the Channel 4 programme set at Kirkley High School in Lowestoft, Suffolk. He had his first hit single, Checkin' It Out, after he appeared on the show in 2006. Suffolk Police said it was not treating the death, reported on Monday, as suspicious. The force was called to an address in Union Road, Lowestoft, at around 11:45 GMT to reports a man had died suddenly, a spokeswoman said. A post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death is due to take place, and a file will be passed to the coroner, she added.	, an English singer and television personality, died on Monday, police reported that day. The 24-year-old Chris Hardman was found dead at an address in , . said they were not treating it as a suspicious death. Hardman came to fame as Lil' Chris after appearing on the Channel 4 reality television show ''''. Rock School in 2006 featured a student rock band that frontman created. Hardman was chosen to be the bands lead singer by Simmons. Speaking to '''', Simmons paid tribute to Hardman. He said "Lil Chris was a kind, little soul. I will greatly miss his smile and his spirit. I knew there was something special about him as soon as I met him". More tributes came from other celebrities. band member paid tribute to Hardman on ; he posted alongside a photograph of him, "So sad to hear about Lil Chris. He was such a genuinely sweet and funny guy, we had some awesome times. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends." Boxer praised him as a "super-talented kid"; Ogogo and Hardman both went to Kirkley High School. Hardman's most successful hit was '''', his debut single in 2006, which made it to number three on the . He released his last album in 2008 but had recently announced plans of a musical comeback on Twitter. Prior to his death Hardman had spoken about his battle with depression on Twitter. He once tweeted "Depression really sucks. Learning how to notice it can save lives and your own feelings at times. Take time to understand it, for everybody." Since his death has been announced the suicide helpline charity have released a statement. They said "If anyone has been affected by this news, or is struggling to cope, we would like to let people know that Samaritans is here for them if they need to talk." == Sources == * *
Tries from Christophe Dominici and debutant Benoit Baby helped France into an 18-9 lead at the interval with Ronan O'Gara slotting all the Irish points. Ireland battled bravely in the second half and Brian O'Driscoll's magnificent 72nd-minute touchdown gave the home side hope. But Dominici's second try late on made the game safe for the visitors. Despite opting to play against the wind, France made a bright start and O'Driscoll had to produce a try-saving interception in the second minute after a burst by full-back Julien Laharrague. However, the Irish regrouped and a ruck infringement allowed O'Gara to notch the opening score of the game in the seventh minute. But France levelled within three minutes with a superbly controlled rolling maul into the Irish 22 setting up Delaigue for a neat drop goal. We got in a position to do it but the margins are really tight at this level Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan More Ireland reaction O'Gara restored Ireland's lead in the 18th minute after O'Driscoll had been high-tackled by Delaigue. But once again France, who were dominating the forward exchanges, struck back almost immediately through a Dimitri Yachvili penalty after Simon Easterby had been caught offside. French indiscipline then offered O'Gara two opportunities in quick succession to put Ireland ahead again. After just missing with the difficult first effort, he was successful with the second chance to put Eddie O'Sullivan's side 9-6 up after 25 minutes. However, the French responded in brilliant fashion three minutes later by scoring a glorious try with Christophe Dominici producing the finish after a flowing move involving Baby, Layarrague and Cedric Heymans. The game itself was a good game. We knew how good a side they were before the game France coach Bernard Laporte More France reaction Yachvili missed the conversion but France soon added seven more points to put Ireland's Grand Slam ambitions in dire peril. The second French try came in the 32nd minute. Another dreadful Irish line-out resulted in quick ball for the visitors, allowing an unopposed Baby to cross for a try with the Irish defence at sixes and sevens. Yachvili added the conversion to extend France's lead to 18-9. The Irish gave themselves hope seven minutes after the break when they forced a penalty which O'Gara slotted. But despite the Irish pack gaining a measure of equality with their opponents, the next score was an excellent Yachvili penalty in the 61st minute which extended France's lead to nine points again. But seven minutes later, O'Driscoll broke through three French tackles to score under the posts and give the Irish hope. O'Gara's conversion left only two points between the team and set up a potentially dramatic finish. But Dominici's breakaway try two minutes from time made the game safe for France. Ireland: Murphy, Dempsey, O'Driscoll, Maggs, Hickie, O'Gara, Stringer, Corrigan, Byrne, Hayes, O'Kelly, O'Connell, S. Easterby, O'Connor, Foley. Replacements: Horan for Corrigan (71), Miller for Foley (71). Not Used: Sheahan, O'Callaghan, G. Easterby, Humphreys, Duffy. France: Laharrague, Heymans, Jauzion, Baby, Dominici, Delaigue, Yachvili, Marconnet, Bruno, Mas, Pelous, Thion, Betsen, Nyanga, Bonnaire. Replacements: Michalak for Delaigue (70), Szarzewski for Bruno (77), De Villiers for Mas (41), Pape for Pelous (72), Lamboley for Nyanga (55). Not Used: Mignoni, Marty. Referee: T Spreadbury (England) \|\|\|\|\| Ireland 19 - 26 France Grand Slam dream is dead for another year. It’s 57 years since Karl Mullen’s side beat everything in front of them but for Brian O’Driscoll’s generation, it’s going take another year at least to etch their names in history, if they’re to do it at all. Yesterday, Ireland were well beaten by a French side who came to town to play rugby, and not, as many had suggested, go through the motions. Right from the very first whistle they made their intentions clear. Jerome Thion, the second-row from Biarritz, clawed Ronan O’Gara’s kick-off from the skies and his pack rolled around him to set up the first maul of the afternoon, pushing Ireland’s pack 15 metres in the process. It was a clear statement of intent from the visitors. The big boys in blue weren’t in the mood for being pushed around. Ireland clearly struggled with the sheer physicality of the French pack but that wasn’t the only reason for yesterday’s defeat. Ireland made a string of simple errors, errors that they haven’t been making for a long, long time. The line-out, perhaps the most impressive part of this side’s armoury for the past two seasons, creaked throughout. In all they lost three balls on their own throws, all of them in the first half, but there didn’t seem to be that smoothness we’ve come to expect from the whole operation. France, on the other hand, notched a perfect scorecard out of touch. In other areas of the field, too, Ireland were out of sorts. Geordan Murphy had a nightmare of a game at full-back. Every time he got the ball in hand he appeared to choose the wrong option and for once, his handling let him down. He was far from an assured presence. That malaise appeared to spread across the rest of the backline at times, with Denis Hickie, and Kevin Maggs in particular, coughing up a few balls. Indeed, the absence of both Shane Horgan and Gordon D’Arcy was more keenly felt than most had predicted. Maggs, bar one barging run in the first half, was rarely a threat and on two separate occasions he was penalised for holding on to the ball on the ground. He may have 68 caps to his name but yesterday, he looked out of his depth. But despite all this, it was France’s two tries within the space of six first-half minutes which ultimately decided the game. Before that, three O’Gara penalties and a Yann Delaigue penalty and Dimitri Yachvilli drop-goal left Ireland three points to the good, but a neat backline move on 31 minutes threw the game wide open. Much had been made of Ireland’s outstanding drift defence in the defeat of England two weeks back but this time out, the system was caught cold. From a line-out on the left, Delaigue fed Yannick Jauzion who whipped a delicious pass to Julien Laharrague. With the Irish defence fanning-out wide, the French full-back fed the ball inside to Cedric Heymans and the winger released Christophe Dominici on his outside for a superb try. Looking back on it this morning, Hickie will realise that he should have done more to stop the French man crossing in the corner. The Lansdowne Road crowd had barely got over that shock before France repeated the trick. In a way, the second French try was much like the first. Yannick Nyanga, the outstanding flanker, nicked an Irish throw and when the ball was fed to Benoit Baby, the Toulouse youngster ran a great line towards the Irish 22. Again, the Irish defence decided to drift, allowing Baby to run between Girvan Dempsey and Maggs for an unhindered route to the line. Yachvilli nailed the conversion to give France a nine-point half-time lead. With the wind in their faces in the second half, Ireland’s task appeared difficult but they stuck to it well. The forwards got a little bit more of a grip on proceedings and the sheer need for points spurred Ireland’s performance. O’Gara and Yachvilli exchanged penalties on 49 and 63 minutes and then came the moment that looked to have swung the tide. Inevitably, it came from O’Driscoll and of course, it was laced with class. The No 13 took the ball at inside centre and set off towards Frederic Michalak. Barely on the field three minutes, the mercurial Toulousian defended like a man in a slumber, allowing O’Driscoll to slip past him. There was still a lot of work to be done from that point but the Irish captain made it look easy, changing direction beautifully to round Heymans and touch down under the posts. O’Gara added the conversion and with two points between the sides and nine minutes still on the clock, Lansdowne Road started to believe, waiting expectantly for a drop-goal, a penalty, anything to edge Ireland in front. All they got, though, was a French try, Serge Betsen wrestling the ball from Malcolm O’Kelly, with Dominici eventually going over untouched for his second try of the game. With that, Lansdowne Road didn’t believe any more.	France yesterday ended Ireland's dream of winning the Grand Slam - European Rugby's top title. The RBS Six Nations clash, which took place at Dublin's Lansdowne Road finished with the French team ahead on 26 points against Ireland's 19. After a French dominated first half, Ireland had a glimmer of hope as Brian O'Driscoll managed to get a try almost from nothing mid-way through the second half, sadly for the homeside, it wasn't enough as France responded with a second try to take them to 26 ponits.
Brasil Agora Parada Gay reúne mais de 2 milhões e pára a região central de São Paulo 07:18 Marli Moreira Repórter da Agência Brasil São Paulo- A Nona Parada do Orgulho Gay, realizada nesse domingo (29) em São Paulo, superou as expectativas dos organizadores, reunindo cerca de 2,5 milhões de pessoas, segundo a associação promotora do evento. A Polícia Militar estimou o público presente em 1,9 milhão. O ato consolidou-se, pelo segundo ano consecutivo, como o maior do gênero no mundo, ficando acima de duas outras grandes manifestações como a de São Francisco, nos Estados Unidos, e a de Toronto, no Canadá. A passeata teve a presença do ator Sérgio Mamberti, que representou o ministro da Cultura, Gilberto Gil, e do senador Eduardo Suplicy (PT-SP), entre outros. O encontro começou com uma concentração, às 11 horas, em frente ao prédio da TV Gazeta, na Avenida Paulista, e se estendeu até à noite. Enquanto os organizadores concediam entrevista coletiva no Hotel Crowne Plaza, o prefeito de São Paulo, José Serra, dava as boas-vindas aos manifestantes do palco instalado diante da TV Gazeta. Às 14h25, foi dado o grito de largada para a Parada, numa explosão de sons em toda a região da Paulista. O trânsito foi desviado, mas as opções foram insuficientes para o fluxo de ônibus e carros que se dirigiam ao centro da cidade, já que havia bloqueios na maioria das vias transversais. Nesses pontos, um grande número de camelôs aproveitou para vender bebidas, como refrigerantes, vinhos e cerveja, e lanches. O espaço foi disputado por carrinhos de pipoca, milho cozido e até por comerciantes de livros usados. Crianças, jovens e idosos, alguns moradores de regiões próximas, tomaram as calçadas ao longo dos cerca de 3,5 quilômetros desde a avenida Paulista até a Praça da República, onde o primeiro dos 23 trios elétricos só chegou por volta das 20h30. O colorido das fantasias, de balões e os sons em alto volume davam um clima de festa, embora a principal bandeira de luta envolvesse uma polêmica questão: a retomada do projeto de lei que prevê a legalização de uniões de homossexuais. Segundo o presidente da Associação da Parada do Orgulho de Gays, Lésbicas, Bissexuais e Transgêneros (GLBT), Reinaldo Damião, a primeira versão surgiu por iniciativa da ex-prefeita Marta Suplicy (PT-SP), na época em que atuou como deputada federal. Depois de receber alterações, o projeto ficou parado e atualmente está nas mãos do deputado Roberto Jefferson (PTB-RJ). Para que a matéria entre em votação, os homossexuais pretendem colher 1,2 milhão de assinaturas até novembro próximo em um abaixo- assinado a ser encaminhado ao Congresso Nacional. Para a travesti, Phedra de Córdoba, uma cubana de 66 anos que mora no Brasil, a grande manifestação pode ajudar no encaminhamento dessa questão. No mesmo trio elétrico que ocupava, o jornalista norte-americano Michael T. Luongo, residente em Nova Iorque, disse que nunca tinha visto um encontro com tanta gente. Além de apoiar a luta dos gays brasileiros e prestigiar a marcha, ele informou que busca dados, em sua visita ao Brasil, para compor um livro sobre o assunto. Para isso, programou viagens a quatro cidades: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasília e Salvador. Entre os milhares de anônimos que ocupavam as calçadas, já na Avenida Ipiranga, estava um jovem casal, com o filho de sete anos e o sobrinho de seis. Jerusa Cordeiro de Faria, de 24 anos, que mora em Diadema, disse, após um passeio pelo Parque Ibirapuera, que ela e o marido decidiram ir ao centro da cidade para assistir à manifestação por curiosidade. Luiz Fernando, de 25 anos, afirmou que é favorável ao pleito da união homossexual, mas argumentou que não são apenas os gays que sofrem discriminações. Lembrou a questão racial, mas disse ser contra o sistema de cotas para negros no ensino. Como havia muita gente, pequenas confusões foram registradas em vários pontos como, por exemplo, na rua Pamplona, onde um rapaz de identidade ignorada permaneceu muito tempo estendido no chão, aparentemente sob efeito de álcool. Os dados sobre as ocorrências oficiais só deverão ser divulgados nesta segunda-feira (30). 30/05/2005 ------ \|\|\|\|\| Organisers say the march is the world's biggest Gay Pride parade Crowds carrying rainbow flags danced through one of the main avenues, as floats blasted music from loudspeakers. Organisers said nearly two million people were at the march. If the figure is confirmed, that makes the parade the biggest of its kind in the world. The event's managers said the parade was not just a party, but also a demonstration for equal rights. One of the parade organisers, Antonio Carlos da Silva, told the BBC Brazil had a long way to go in overcoming homophobia. "This is a very macho country, especially some parts of the country," he said. "We also rank first in violence against gays so from gay bashing to murder we have a lot of problems in this country." Another organiser, Pedro Almeida, told AFP news agency: "A homosexual is murdered here every two days - just for being homosexual." Demanding equal rights Gay, lesbian and bisexual Brazilians were joined by about 400,000 visitors from around the world for the ninth annual parade along Avenida Paulista. The Roman Catholic Church opposes gay marriage in the country, which is the world's largest Catholic nation. "We have the same commitments, we want the same rights," a banner read. "It is not easy in our daily lives," a drag queen named Paola said. "We have to end the prejudices that society has against us." \|\|\|\|\| Gay pride in Brazil's biggest city Crowd estimated at 2 million Thousands join the Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade. YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Brazil Sao Paulo (Brazil) Justice and Rights Civil Rights or or Create your own Manage alerts \| What is this? SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Almost 2 million gay men, lesbians, transvestites and their supporters -- many in lavish Carnival costumes and waving rainbow-colored flags -- paraded in Brazil's biggest city on Sunday to celebrate gay pride and call for the legalization of civil unions between homosexuals. More than 20 sound trucks blasting music and carrying go-go boys and drag queens, rolled down the skyscraper-lined Avenida Paulista for the Ninth Annual Sao Paulo Gay Parade -- a parade that organizers said was one of the world's largest gay pride events ever. Police and organizers said almost 2 million people, including 700,000 tourists from other cities and countries, attended. Last year police said that about 1.5 million people participated. By comparison, San Francisco's gay pride parade typically attracts tens of thousands of people and last year's world gay pride day celebrations in Berlin attracted between 200,000 and 500,000 participants. "With these many people showing up, the parade is a major step to strike people's prejudice against gays everywhere," said Pedro Almeida, a spokesman with the Brazilian Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans-gender Pride Parade Association. "What a great way to increase visibility for gays across the country," said 22-year-old Joao Paulo da Silva, who was parading with a large feathered ornament around his neck. The parade's main theme was the legalization of civil unions in the South American country of 182 million. Civil unions between same-sex couples are permitted only in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul. Sao Paulo Mayor Jose Serra and former mayor Marta Suplicy -- an avid supporter of gay rights -- spoke to the crowd in between live concerts with some of Brazil's most popular singers. The parade was part of several other gay pride events that will take place throughout Brazil in June. Brazil is the largest Roman Catholic nation in the world, and the Catholic Church has steadfastly opposed allowing gays to marry.	2004 Gay Pride Parade in Brazil. The number of participants increases every year. Photo:Rose Brasil - ABr In what may possibly be the largest Gay Pride parade in the world, hundreds of thousands of people marched along the streets of São Paulo, Brazil today in the Parada do Orgulho GLBT de São Paulo. Many marchers were demanding the legalization of same-sex marriage. Brazil is the largest Roman Catholic country on Earth, and the Roman Catholic Church has consistently opposed the legalization of same-sex marriage in the country. The National Congress of Brazil has debated legalization for 10 years, and such civil marriages are currently only legal in Rio Grande do Sul. The original bill was drafted by former mayor of São Paulo, Marta Suplicy. The proposed legislation, after being amended, is now in the hands of Roberto Jefferson. Protesters hope to collect a petition of 1.2 million signatures to present to the National Congress in November. People carrying flags and banners, some dressed in lavish carnival costumes, walked and danced in the ninth annual Gay Pride parade, stretching for 3.5 kilometres along Avenida Paulista. Traffic was diverted throughout most of the city, and drinks and snacks vendors took advantage of the barriers across many streets. Prominent people joining the parade were the actor Sergio Mamberti, representing the Culture Minister Gilberto Gil, and senator Eduardo Suplicy. Comparative attendance figures Event Venue Attendance Gay Pride parade San Francisco in the 10,000s Christopher Street Day Berlin 200,000 – 500,000 Gay Pride Week parade Toronto 400,000 Organizers stated that 2.5 million people attended, and police stated that there were 1.9 million — figures which would make the event the largest of its kind in the world — including 700,000 visitors from other cities and countries. This was an increase from 2004, when police stated that 1.5 million people attended.
The wrestlers wear masks in keeping with their adopted characters A woman has been arrested in Mexico over the deaths of two midget wrestlers - twin brothers - discovered in a hotel room last month. Prosecutors allege she was one of two women who spiked the wrestlers' drinks with eye-drops as part of a robbery. The 65-year-old woman denies the charges. The police said they were searching for her alleged accomplice, known as "The Fat One". The wrestlers were part of the popular Lucha Mini wrestling circuit. The brothers, Alejandro and Alberto Perez Jimenez, 35, fought under the names El Espectrito II ("The Little Ghost") and La Parkita ("Little Death"). Many professional Mexican wrestlers wear masks as part of their adopted characters. 'Big dose' Prosecutors say the suspect met the two wrestlers in the centre of Mexico City and agreed to go back with them to their hotel room. There, it is alleged, she and her friend put eye-drops into the brothers' alcoholic drinks. Surveillance cameras showed the two women leaving the hotel. The suspect held by police was allegedly traced through calls made on one of the wrestlers' mobile phones. The prosecutors say female gangs have been drugging men to rob them. The suspect and her accomplice, they allege, failed to take into account the wrestlers' small stature, and gave them too big a dose. She admits meeting the wrestlers but denies drugging or killing them, telling prosecutors she stayed in their hotel room for just 20 minutes. \|\|\|\|\| A WOMAN has been arrested in connection with the deaths of two of Mexico's best-loved midget wrestling stars. Twin brothers Alejandro and Alberto Perez Jimenez, 35, were found dead in a hotel room last month. The pair part of the Lucha Mini wrestling circuit apparently died after overdosing on alcoholic drinks which had been spiked with eye-drops. Police have detained a 65-year-old after tracing her through calls made on one of the wrestlers' mobile phones. They are now said to be searching for her accomplice, known simply as 'The Fat One'. Prosecutors say the woman met the two wrestlers in the centre of Mexico City and agreed to go back with them to their hotel room. There, it is alleged, she and her accomplice put eye-drops into the brothers' alcoholic drinks. Authorities claim the woman and her friend failed to take into account the wrestlers' small stature and gave them too big a dose. It was reported the woman admitted meeting the wrestlers but denies drugging or killing them, telling prosecutors she stayed in their hotel room for just 20 minutes. \|\|\|\|\| Photo: Rosalio Huizar/El Universal via Getty Images The 65-year-old suspect is one of two women caught on surveillance video leaving the victims' room in Mexico City, prosecutors said in a statement. A post-mortem on the wrestlers, who were twin brothers, detected a substance found in eye drops that can damage the nervous system when mixed with alcohol. Alberto and Alejandro Jimenez were well-known in Mexico's wrestling world and fought under the names of La Parkita - or Little Death - and Espectrito Jr. Prosecutors have said gangs of female robbers are experienced at using drugs to knock men out and rob them. But the women may have used too strong a dose in this instance, they said. The men, both aged 35, may have died because of their small stature, although much larger men have also been killed by similar does. The brothers' bodies were found by cleaners at the hotel. Tests suggested they had not had sex with the women. Police located the suspect by tracing calls from a phone belonging to one of the brothers, the statement said. She was arrested on Tuesday. The victims were veteran stars of the Lucha Mini world of midget wrestling. The sport had a huge following in the 1950s and 60s, but its popularity has died out across much of the world - however, it still has a huge following in Mexico.	A 65-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the deaths of two Mexican midget wrestlers. Brothers Alejandro and Alberto Perez Jimenez were found dead in their hotel room in Mexico City, Mexico. The brothers' drinks had been spiked with a fatal dose of eye drops and the pair were robbed. The mini wrestlers entered their hotel room with two women. Later, surveillance cameras recorded the two women leaving the hotel alone. The police traced and arrested one of the female suspects by way of a stolen cell phone that belonged to the wrestlers. Police are still searching for the second woman. Alejandro and Alberto wrestled on the Lucha Mini Wrestling circuit. The pair fought under the names Espectrito Jr and La Parkita, known as "The Little Ghost" and "Little Death". The female suspect admits meeting the wrestlers but denies poisoning them. Prosecutors say that there are female gangs in Mexico City who drug and rob men.
Suspect blogged about cannibalism 'Dangerously weird' fantasies would get him locked up PURCELL, Oklahoma (AP) -- The man accused of killing a 10-year-old neighbor girl for an elaborate plan to eat human flesh joked about cannibalism on his online diary, discussed the effects of not taking his anti-depression medication and mentioned "dangerously weird" fantasies. All he wanted in life, Kevin Ray Underwood wrote in his blog, was "to be able to live like a normal person." People who knew Underwood described him Sunday as a quiet, "boring" and seemingly trustworthy young man. His mother, who lived across town, called him a "wonderful boy." (Watch a small town deal with tragedy -- 1:57) The 26-year-old grocery store stocker was arrested Friday. Investigators searched his apartment after he aroused their suspicions at a checkpoint, and found a large plastic tub in a bedroom closet. According to a police affidavit, he confessed that he killed Jamie Rose Bolin, telling FBI agents: "Go ahead and arrest me. She is in there. I chopped her up." Underwood is expected to make a first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. CDT Monday. Jamie's unclothed body was inside the tub, along with a towel used to soak up blood, officials said. Police said that, while there were deep saw marks on the girl's neck, she had not been dismembered. Mother: 'He was always a wonderful boy' "Regarding a potential motive," Purcell Police Chief David Tompkins said Saturday, "this appears to have been part of a plan to kidnap a person, rape them, torture them, kill them, cut off their head, drain the body of blood, rape the corpse, eat the corpse then dispose of the organs and bones." Investigators found meat tenderizer and barbecue skewers they think he planned to use on the body, McClain County District Attorney Tim Kuykendall said in this small community 40 miles south of Oklahoma City. Underwood, who is to be formally charged with first-degree murder Monday, lived alone in an apartment downstairs from the one where Jamie lived with her father. Authorities believe Underwood killed the girl Wednesday, when she disappeared after going to a library, by beating and smothering her. Underwood's family was shocked. "This is something that I don't know where it came from," Underwood's mother, Connie, said through tears in a brief telephone interview Sunday with The Associated Press. "He was always a wonderful boy. "I would like to be able to tell her family how sorry we are. I just feel so terrible." 'Kingdom of Loathing' On his blog, an online diary that he had kept since September 2002, Underwood described himself as "single, bored, and lonely, but other than that, pretty happy." He mentions cannibalism, asking "If you were a cannibal, what would you wear to dinner?" and responding: "The skin of last night's main course." In an entry dated February 4, 2006, Underwood wrote that he struggled with depression and social interaction. "Pretty much the only time I believe in God is when I blame him for something," he said. "Or, when I'm really depressed, to cry and beg him to make me better, to make whatever is wrong in my brain go away, so that I can live like a normal person. "That's all I want in life, is to be able to live like a normal person." He wrote that he rarely left his apartment for long stretches, except to go to work and to buy food. "I just sit here at the computer every minute of the day, when I'm not at work. A week or so ago, I spent my day off sitting here at the computer, barely moving from the chair, for 14 hours." He said one of his main interests was the online role-playing game "Kingdom of Loathing," in which stick figures battle one another. In September 2004, he wrote that his depression deepened after several months without taking the medication Lexapro, an antidepressant also used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. "For example, my fantasies are just getting weirder and weirder. Dangerously weird," he wrote. "If people knew the kinds of things I think about anymore, I'd probably be locked away. No probably about it, I know I would be." Boring man who rarely smiled Underwood worked for nearly seven years at a Carl's Jr. restaurant, where shift leader Bill Verdan described him as a quiet person who kept to himself. "He did a good job," Verdan said Sunday. However, he said Underwood, who quit about a year ago, was a "boring" man who rarely smiled. "Just his tone of voice, he just sounded dull," Verdan said. "Trying to get a smile out of him took an act of Congress." Verdan said he and his wife and young daughters never suspected anything unusual. "He gave my wife rides home from work numerous times," Verdan said. "We never felt uncomfortable. I talked to my girls after this happened, and they said they felt comfortable around him." His most recent job was as a stocker at a Griders Discount Foods grocery store in Oklahoma City, where he arrived early for his shift Friday, said a manager at the store, Jerry Castro. "He was the same as always," Castro said. "He was quiet and kept to himself. He didn't interact with people. It just didn't dawn on you that this was something he'd do." \|\|\|\|\| By SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press Writer Mon Apr 17, 12:56 AM ET PURCELL, Okla. - The man accused of killing a 10-year-old neighbor girl for an elaborate plan to eat human flesh joked about cannibalism on his online diary, discussed the effects of not taking his anti-depression medication and mentioned "dangerously weird" fantasies. All he wanted in life, Kevin Ray Underwood wrote in his blog, was "to be able to live like a normal person." People who knew Underwood described him Sunday as a quiet, "boring" and seemingly trustworthy young man. His mother who lived across town called him a "wonderful boy." "This is something that I don't know where it came from," Connie Underwood said of her son through tears in a brief telephone interview with The Associated Press. "I would like to be able to tell her family how sorry we are. I just feel so terrible." Kevin Underwood, a 26-year-old grocery store stocker in this small community 40 miles south of Oklahoma City, was arrested Friday. Investigators searched his apartment after he aroused their suspicions at a checkpoint, and found a large plastic tub in a bedroom closet. According to a police affidavit, he confessed that he killed Jamie Rose Bolin, telling FBI agents: "Go ahead and arrest me. She is in there. I chopped her up." Jamie's unclothed body was inside the tub, along with a towel used to soak up blood, officials said. Police said that, while there were deep saw marks on the girl's neck, she had not been dismembered. Kevin Underwood, who is to be formally charged with first-degree murder Monday, lived alone in an apartment downstairs from the one where Jamie lived with her father. Authorities believe Kevin Underwood killed the girl Wednesday, when she disappeared after going to a library, by beating and smothering her. Investigators found meat tenderizer and barbecue skewers that he planned to use on the body, McClain County District Attorney Tim Kuykendall said. On his blog, an online diary that he had kept since September 2002, Kevin Underwood described himself as "single, bored, and lonely, but other than that, pretty happy." He mentions cannibalism, asking "If you were a cannibal, what would you wear to dinner?" and responding: "The skin of last night's main course." In an entry dated Feb. 4, 2006, Kevin Underwood wrote that he struggled with depression and social interaction. "Pretty much the only time I believe in God is when I blame him for something," he said. "Or, when I'm really depressed, to cry and beg him to make me better, to make whatever is wrong in my brain go away, so that I can live like a normal person. "That's all I want in life, is to be able to live like a normal person." He wrote that he rarely left his apartment for long stretches, except to go to work and to buy food. "I just sit here at the computer every minute of the day, when I'm not at work. A week or so ago, I spent my day off sitting here at the computer, barely moving from the chair, for 14 hours." He said one of his main interests was the online role-playing game "Kingdom of Loathing," in which stick figures battle one another. In September 2004, he wrote that his depression deepened after several months without taking the medication Lexapro, an antidepressant also used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. "For example, my fantasies are just getting weirder and weirder. Dangerously weird," he wrote. "If people knew the kinds of things I think about anymore, I'd probably be locked away. No probably about it, I know I would be." Kevin Underwood worked for nearly seven years at a Carl's Jr. restaurant, where shift leader Bill Berdan described him as a quiet person who kept to himself. "He did a good job," Berdan said Sunday. However, he said Kevin Underwood, who quit about a year ago, was a "boring" man who rarely smiled. "Just his tone of voice, he just sounded dull," Berdan said. "Trying to get a smile out of him took an act of Congress." Berdan said he and his wife and young daughters never suspected anything unusual. "He gave my wife rides home from work numerous times," Berdan said. "We never felt uncomfortable. I talked to my girls after this happened, and they said they felt comfortable around him." His most recent job was as a stocker at a Griders Discount Foods grocery store in Oklahoma City, where he arrived early for his shift Friday, said a manager at the store, Jerry Castro. "He was the same as always," Castro said. "He was quiet and kept to himself. He didn't interact with people. It just didn't dawn on you that this was something he'd do."	Kevin Ray Underwood, the suspect in the murder of 10-year-old Jamie Rose Bolin of Purcell, Oklahoma, reportedly kept a weblog in which he joked about cannibalism, discussed the effects of not taking his prescribed medicine, and talked about "dangerously weird" fantasies. Underwood was arrested Friday after investigators searched his apartment and found Jamie's body in a plastic bin in his bedroom closet. Also reportedly found in his apartment were barbecue skewers and meat tenderizer, which law enforcement officials believe he intended to use to eat the girl's flesh. People who knew Underwood reported that he was a relatively unassuming man, seemingly trustworthy. His mother described him as "a wonderful boy" and said of Jamie, "I would like to be able to tell her family how sorry we are. I just feel so terrible." In the profile of his blog, entitled "Strange Things are Afoot at the Circle K" (), Underwood described himself as "Single, bored, and lonely, but other than that, pretty happy." Also on his profile page, he poses the question, "If you were a cannibal, what would you wear to dinner?" and answers, "The skin of last night's main course." In an entry dated September 8, 2005, Underwood reportedly described 1998 as "the year that a large part of me died" and "the longest year of my life." He reported losing contact with most of his friends, making an online acquaintance only to lose her again, and suffering panic attacks from being around people at college. Two of his friends also were involved in a car accident, one fatally injured. He reported in that entry that in the last year he found himself becoming more and more detached from the world, never leaving his apartment except to go to work or his parents' apartment. In an entry dated September 24, 2004, he reported that his fantasies were "just getting weirder and weirder. Dangerously weird. If people knew the kinds of things I think about anymore, I'd probably be locked away. No probably about it, I know I would be." In an entry dated February 4, 2006, he said that he had hardly left the apartment in almost two months, and that "a week or so ago, I spent my day off sitting here at the computer, barely moving from the chair, for 14 hours." His last blog entry was dated Thursday, April 13, 2006, one day after authorities believe Underwood killed Jamie Bolin.
South Africa v India, 1st Test, Jo'burg, 4th day India secure historic win The Bulletin by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan India 249 (Ganguly 51*, Pollock 4-39) and 236 (Laxman 73) beat South Africa 84 (Sreesanth 5-40) and 278 (Prince 97) by 123 runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball details How they were out Anil Kumble picked up three wickets to propel India to their first win in South Africa © AFP India stormed to one of their most memorable wins of all time amid historic scenes at the Wanderers, wrapping up a comprehensive 123-run victory on the fourth day of the first Test. Anil Kumble led an efficient mop-up operation, just as he'd done six months ago in another momentous game at Kingston, and put to rest a 14-year bogey of never winning a Test in South Africa. Ashwell Prince resisted with a battling 97, and briefly threatened to pull off a miracle with the energetic Shaun Pollock, but eventually South Africa saving this game, let alone winning it, was a bridge too far. Pollock tried to hoick across the line once too often to the unrelenting Kumble - just like Dwayne Bravo had on the tense final day at Kingston, heralding the end - and saw any remaining hope dashed, with the ball dislodging the off bail. A couple of zipping deliveries from Kumble accounted for two more wickets - Andre Nel was late on a fizzing flipper while Prince had no answer to a yorker-length ball that rattled the base of leg stump. Zaheer returned, along with the new ball, to finish it off with Makhaya Ntini ballooning a simple catch to Virender Sehwag running from point to cover. It was a moment that signaled the breaking of a barrier and for the second time in as many Tests India's cricketers had etched their names in the history books. Ashwell Prince cobbled together 97 but it was an effort in vain © AFP With only half their side remaining, South Africa began the day needing a minor miracle. Zaheer's dismissal of Boucher, in the third over of the morning with one that carried on with the angle after pitching on leg stump, weakened them further. Pollock telegraphed his intentions the moment he entered, clipping a four off his pads and targeting Zaheer for special treatment. He hit him for 23 runs in the 12 balls he faced, a cameo that included a hooked six over fine leg and a crisp cover-drive three deliveries later. With Prince staying put at the other end, and with the target whittled down to below 200, India endured some nervy moments. Pollock, when on 30, scampered a dangerous single only for Rahul Dravid to fumble at mid-on ; Prince swished at a few outside off but India's bowlers, as hard as they tried, couldn't summon the breakthrough. VRV Singh struggled with his length - he later couldn't get over a no-ball affliction - and minor niggles to Sreesanth and Zaheer, both of whom left the field, caused a few flutters. But for the umpteenth time in his career Kumble proved to be the go-to man and ended South Africa's last line of resistance. Prince decided to go for broke, making room for himself and clattering a couple of fours to the off side, but he fell three short of a well-deserved hundred when he failed to read Kumble. Prince showed virtues that few other batsmen in his side displayed - gutsing it out amid the tumbling wickets and putting a price on his wicket - but his innings was submerged in India's wave of elation. © Cricinfo Watch the Commonwealth Bank series in action Cricinfo 3D Play the world's greatest card game live and interactive! Cricinfo Top Trumps Get alerts on the latest news and scores with Cricinfo Desktop Alerts Free Download \|\|\|\|\| Cricket lovers celebrate first cricket Test win in South Africa India won the opening match of the series in Johannesburg by 123 runs shortly before lunch on the fourth day. Rajeev Shukla, Vice- President of Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) congratulated the team on its performance. "This is the match we have won in South Africa and that too by a huge margin. I believe the whole team deserves congratulations and on behalf of the president of the BCCI and on behalf of the BCCI, I congratulate the team. I feel this is a very happy day for the people of the country," Shukla, said. Former Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev also wished to the team well, and said it was a time to celebrate. "For the last two-three years, I have not seen such cricket. I think it is a very big day for Indian cricket team. We should all celebrate," said Dev. Celebrations were also in full swing at the residence of the fast-bowler S. Sreesanth, who was declared the 'Man of the Match' for claiming eight wickets. Sreesanth's proud parents thanked God and the Indian team for their son's excellent performance. "I am very proud of my son, glad to hear that he became the 'Man of the Match', after so long. This performance is out of God's grace," said Santha Kumar, his father. Savitri Devi, his mother, said that no individual was responsible for the victory, adding it was a result created by team effort. "I am sure it is a team effort. Full team support he got, not only one person, coach, especially captain, team members, everyone helped," said Savitri Devi. The result marked a dramatic departure from the pattern established in the one-day series between the teams, which South Africa won 4-0. South Africa, who needed 402 to win, was dismissed for 278 in their second innings. Leg-spinner Kumble took three for 54 and left-arm fast bowler Khan claimed three for 79. The win came for India in its 10th Test match in South Africa since their inaugural series in the country in 1992-93. The second Test in the three-match series starts in Durban on the Boxing Day-- December 26. (ANI) New Delhi / Mumbai, Dec. 19 (ANI): Cricket fans celebrated India's historic first cricket Test win against South Africa on Monday with full enthusiasm.India won the opening match of the series in Johannesburg by 123 runs shortly before lunch on the fourth day.Rajeev Shukla, Vice- President of Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) congratulated the team on its performance."This is the match we have won in South Africa and that too by a huge margin. I believe the whole team deserves congratulations and on behalf of the president of the BCCI and on behalf of the BCCI, I congratulate the team. I feel this is a very happy day for the people of the country," Shukla, said.Former Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev also wished to the team well, and said it was a time to celebrate."For the last two-three years, I have not seen such cricket. I think it is a very big day for Indian cricket team. We should all celebrate," said Dev.Celebrations were also in full swing at the residence of the fast-bowler S. Sreesanth, who was declared the 'Man of the Match' for claiming eight wickets.Sreesanth's proud parents thanked God and the Indian team for their son's excellent performance."I am very proud of my son, glad to hear that he became the 'Man of the Match', after so long. This performance is out of God's grace," said Santha Kumar, his father.Savitri Devi, his mother, said that no individual was responsible for the victory, adding it was a result created by team effort."I am sure it is a team effort. Full team support he got, not only one person, coach, especially captain, team members, everyone helped," said Savitri Devi.The result marked a dramatic departure from the pattern established in the one-day series between the teams, which South Africa won 4-0.South Africa, who needed 402 to win, was dismissed for 278 in their second innings.Leg-spinner Kumble took three for 54 and left-arm fast bowler Khan claimed three for 79.The win came for India in its 10th Test match in South Africa since their inaugural series in the country in 1992-93.The second Test in the three-match series starts in Durban on the Boxing Day-- December 26. (ANI)	The Indian cricket team has finally won a match in South Africa for the first time ever. Having set the homeside 402 to win, South Africa was all out for 278, India winning by 123 runs and going one-nil up in the three match series. Paceman was one of the heroes for India taking 3/59 after his 5/40 in the first innings. picked up 3/79 while leg spinner finished with 3/54. made a valiant 97 before being second last man out, bowled by Kumble. It is a great result for captain and coach . The former Australian captain has been criticised in the past week by former Indian greats and . The Second Test starts on in .
Andrew Fazekas for National Geographic News Published June 4, 2010 Hot on the heels of last year's asteroid impact on Jupiter, the gas giant planet has been smacked once again. In 2009 backyard astronomers saw a dark blemish on Jupiter that marked the spot where a space rock had slammed into the Jovian atmosphere. This time, Anthony Wesley in Australia and Christopher Go in the Philippines both saw the actual moment of impact. Photos and video show the bright flash as an Earth-size fireball rises above Jupiter's atmosphere on June 3 at 4:31 p.m. ET. "The data—independently confirmed by two well-respected amateurs—seem robust, and the flare certainly bears all the characteristics of a Jovian 'bolide,' or impact," said Heidi Hammel of the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado. Race to See Jupiter's New Impact Scar The recent impact happened the same day Hammel and her team released new photos and analysis of the 2009 Jupiter collision. According to the study, the previous impact was caused by a 1,640-foot-wide (500-meter-wide) asteroid. Scientists are now racing to get professional and amateur astronomers to train their telescopes on the gas giant to see what kind of scar will be left behind by this latest impact and hopefully what kind of object hit the giant planet. Experts believe the collision should produce a dark debris field in Jupiter's clouds—similar to the previous impact site—which may become visible over the next few days. (Related: "Jupiter Loses Big Belt; Great Spot Left Hanging.") "We don't know if there is a dark site yet, since this appears be a small impact," Hammel said. "We are working on getting telescopes around the world in gear for followup work, including the world's largest telescopes and [the] Hubble" Space Telescope. Second Jupiter Impact "Unbelievable" Meanwhile, the odd coincidence of two Jovian smashes so close together has astronomers scratching their heads, since impacts on Jupiter have long been thought to be relatively rare. Until the 2009 collision, the last known impact event on Jupiter was the famous "death" of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 in 1994. "'Unbelievable' has been the word in many of the first emails about this one just seen," Hammel said. "It's back to the drawing board on our understanding of the statistics of impacting bodies." \|\|\|\|\| The spot was first seen by an amateur Australian astronomer Anthony Wesley The spot was first seen by an amateur Australian astronomer Anthony Wesley An object that hit Jupiter last year with a force equivalent to a few thousand nuclear bombs, which left it with a scar the size of Pacific Ocean was probably an asteroid, say astronomers. Images of the "bruise" captured by the Hubble telescope show the aftermath of an asteroid striking a planet. It could provide clues about what might happen if a similar object hit Earth. The spot was first seen in 2009 by an Australian amateur astronomer. The astronomer in question, Anthony Wesley, has recently taken another striking image of an bright fireball hitting the gas giant. Scientists believe it to be a meteoroid - a small particle of space debris. A team of scientists described in the Astrophysical Journal Letters how they compared the 2009 Hubble images with those of scars left on Jupiter by a comet in 1994. Jupiter impacts were thought to be quite rare. After the latest collision with a comet called P/Shoemaker-Levy 9, or SL9, astronomers didn't expect any other strikes for at least several hundred years. 'A surprise' That is why some 500m-wide space rock plunging into the gas giant's atmosphere was rather unexpected, said astronomer Heidi Hammel of the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado, who led the study. "This solitary event caught us by surprise," she said. "We can only see the aftermath of the impact, but fortunately we do have the 1994 Hubble observations that captured the full range of impact phenomena, including the nature of the objects from pre-impact observations." Dr Hammel's team used the Hubble telescope's Wide Field Camera 3 to zoom in on the blemish near the Jupiter's southern pole and captured several sharp ultraviolet images. Astronomers spotted a flash on Jupiter - possibly a meteoroid striking the planet Astronomers spotted a flash on Jupiter - possibly a meteoroid striking the planet The scientists compared the pictures with those of the scars left by SL9 15 years earlier and saw important differences between the two impacts. Most importantly, they found no "halo" around the latest collision site. A comet would have generated a halo of fine dust as it impacted the surface. The clues helped them to conclude that the mystery object was probably not a dusty comet but a solid space rock that perhaps came from a nearby asteroid belt. Agustin Sanchez-Lavega of the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao, Spain called Jupiter a "natural laboratory" to see what might happen to our planet in the event of a similar collision. "It would be a catastrophe," he said. "The Jupiter impact produced a pattern of debris some 5,000km long and 2,800 km wide - half the size of the Earth. And even if the response of the Earth atmosphere is different from that of Jupiter, entire continents could be destroyed." Amateur astronomers The scientist also commented on the latest flash spotted on Jupiter by Anthony Wesley and another amateur, Christopher Go from the Philippines. It is believed to be the very first image of a meteoroid hitting a planet. This also shows that amateur astronomers now have the necessary high quality technology to capture such events that only last a few seconds. "We cannot devote the Hubble space telescope or other telescopes to observe Jupiter regularly, it is impossible," he said. "And the amateurs make a very good survey of what is happening there, contributing to our database." \|\|\|\|\| Anthony Wesley / AP (June 4) -- Two amateur astronomers spotted an enormous fireball on the planet Jupiter -- and they even caught it on camera.Stargazer Anthony Wesley was watching the sky in Australia on Thursday night when he spotted a huge collision and fireball on the surface of the giant planet, SpaceWeather reported. The collision produced a bright flash of light in Jupiter's atmosphere.Wesley posted the information to an online space forum. Christopher Go, in the Philippines, confirmed Wesley's findings with a video he had shot of the planet."It's rare enough to see a spectacular fireball here on Earth, but no other human being in history has seen one happen right before their eyes on another planet," blogger Bob King, better known as AstroBob, wrote.This is not the first time that Wesley has been ahead of the game in Jupiter watching. Last year, he noticed a huge black spot on the planet's surface, MSNBC reported.Astronomers spent months analyzing the spot before concluding that an asteroid from the Hilda group of space bodies near Jupiter may have struck the planet while it was turned away from Earth.Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, more than 1,000 times bigger than Earth. The planet is a giant ball of gas and liquid, with little or no solid surface.Last month, Wesley produced pictures showing that a stripe of dark red clouds in the planet's southern atmosphere had vanished.It is not yet known what caused this recent impact on Jupiter, but amateur and professional astronomers alike will be watching the planet for marks left on the planet's top clouds."Astronomers around the world, both professional and amateur, are scrambling now to get views of the impact site," Emily Lackdawalla of the Planetary Society told AOL News. "Wesley's work shows that you don't need a big telescope to see pretty cool stuff."	A similar impact occurred last July after a large asteroid collided into the planet. A large object, possibly an or a , hit the planet Jupiter Thursday, resulting in a large fireball. The fireball was seen on June 3 at 2031 by two independent amateur astronomers, Christopher Go in the Philippines and Anthony Wesley in Australia. Wesley, who posted the news onto an , is known for having also spotted last July's . Go caught Thursday's impact on video, which showed a fireball the size of Earth after the object hit. It could be the first time someone has recorded a meteor crashing into a planet. This latest strike came only hours after a team from the , led by astronomer , announced that last year's event was the result of an asteroid 1,640 feet (500 metres) wide. That asteroid caused a scar the size of the when it hit Jupiter with the force of several thousand nuclear bombs on July 19, 2009. The planet last experienced a major impact in July 1994, when it was hit by (SL9), resulting in large scars as well. Scientists originally thought that there would not be any more Jupiter strikes for several centuries following SL9, but have now been proved wrong twice in as many years. Now, astronomers around the world are trying to figure out what kind of mark Thursday's collision left on the planet, as well as determine exactly what hit it. Although the impact is believed to be relatively small, a dark debris field may soon appear in the clouds around Jupiter, which is what occurred in 2009.
With a huge spike of 35,871 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the highest daily rise since early December, India continues to see a surge in Covid caseload. The government yesterday said a total of 70 districts in 16 states have seen an increase of more than 150 per cent in active cases between March 1 and 15. Amid a worrying rise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a meeting with chief ministers. Decisive steps like management of micro-containment zones and strict enforcement of restrictions were necessary to stop what he called the "emerging second peak" of Covid. More than 1.14 crore cases have been recorded by India so far; 1.59 lakh people have died. \|\|\|\|\| Sorry for inconvenience! You have been redirected to this page due to the following reasons:-- Your session has expired. You have closed the browser, without logging out. If the problem persists, kindly remove all the temporary files and cookies from your browser. For IE - 1. Click on tools from the task bar of browser. 2. Click on Internet Options. 3. Click on "Delete temporary files." For Mozilla Firefox - 1. Click on tools from the task bar of browser. 2. Click on "Clear recent history." \|\|\|\|\| BHUBANESWAR: At least 10 security personnel were on Sunday killed and three injured when Maoist guerrillas blew up a police bus in Orissa's Koraput district, an official said. The rebels detonated a landmine about 14 km from Baipariguda town when a large number of the state's Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel were going in three vehicles, Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeeb Panda said. "One of the buses was blasted by the Maoists. The vehicle was completely damaged. At least 10 security personnel are confirmed dead. The number of deaths may go up," Panda said. At least three people were injured in the ghastly attack. Maoists are active in more than half of the state's 30 districts. Koraput district, about 500 km from here, is considered their stronghold.	Maoist guerrillas detonated a land mine in Orissa, India today, blowing up a bus ferrying Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel of the state. At least ten were confirmed to be dead in the incident while several others were injured. State police said the attack occurred in the Koraput district of Orissa, on the east coast of India. The land mine explosion blew up one of the three vehicles in which the security men were traveling. The jawans were from the SOG's road clearing department, and were on an operation to clear a blocked road in the state. Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeeb Panda stated that, "One of the buses was blasted by the Maoists. The vehicle was completely damaged. At least 10 security personnel are confirmed dead." According to him, the death toll is expected to rise. A short shooting battle between the Maoists and the jawans also took place according to sources. However, no further details were available. Three security personnel were injured in the attack, and were admitted to local hospitals. A medical team accompanied by ambulances has been sent to the scene of the attack. Additional personnel have also been sent to assist the surviving jawans in the operation.
Israeli Town Suing Google Over Origin JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli town is suing Internet giant Google for slander over a posting by a user of its worldwide mapping service that claims the town was built on the ruins of an Arab village, an official said Monday. The dispute brings together two controversies, one old and one new. Officials from Kiryat Yam deny Arabs were displaced when the town was formed during the war that followed Israel's creation in 1948. And Google is defending the practice of allowing its users to post information in Google Earth, its satellite imagery-based mapping software. Hundreds of thousands of Arabs fled or were expelled during the 1948-49 war that began with Israel's declaration of independence. Pushing back invading Arab armies, the forces from the new Jewish state also overran Arab villages. Google Earth user Thameen Darby inserted a note on the map saying Kiryat Yam, a town of 40,000 on the Mediterranean coast just north of Haifa, was built on the location of the Arab village Ghawarina. Darby has inserted at least 10 such notes over Google's map of Israel. "This obviously cannot be true, because Kiryat Yam was founded in 1945" before the war, said town official Naty Keyzilberman, who filed a slander complaint against Google with Israel's police. A Google spokesman who declined to give his name in keeping with company policy, said Google Earth depends on user-generated content that reflects what people contribute, not what Google believes is accurate. He insisted the altered map is not illegal and said Google's policy is not to remove such postings. Darby, 30, a Palestinian doctor raised in the northern West Bank town of Jenin, said his contributions to Google Earth are part of the "Nakhba — Palestinian Catastrophe" information hub, which is aimed at helping displaced Palestinians understand their heritage or find the villages of their parents or grandparents. He said his mother was a refugee from the village of Balad al-Sheikh near Kiryat Yam. "As far as I can know, the Arab Ghawarina locality was in the place depicted," Darby told The Associated Press. Darby said he may not have marked the exact location and if proven wrong "by reliable sources, I will be quick to reallocate it." Above Kiryat Yam, Darby wrote, "this is one of the Palestinian localities evacuated and destroyed after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war." But Professor Yossi Ben-Artzi of Haifa University told the Israeli daily newspaper Yediot Ahronot, that Darby's claim is untrue. "Kiryat Yam was built on sand dunes, and there wasn't any Palestinian village in the area," he said. "The lands were bought in 1939 by the Gav Yam construction company." \|\|\|\|\| By Aaron Klein © 2008 WorldNetDaily TEL AVIV – An Israeli town is suing Internet giant Google after surprised municipal officials discovered Google Earth, the popular, user-driven satellite map, labels their city as stolen Palestinian land. "[The label] is simply complete nonsense," Yossi Ben-Artzi, a history professor at Israel's Haifa University told Yediot Ahronot, Israel's leading daily. "Kiryat Yam was built on sand dunes, and there wasn't any Palestinian village in the area. The lands were bought in 1939 by the Gav Yam construction company." The professor was responding to a criminal complaint filed by the northern Israeli coastal town of Kiryat Yam, which a Google Earth user mapped as stolen by Jews when Israel was founded in 1948. About 600,000 Arabs fled Israel after surrounding Arab countries warned they would destroy the Jewish state in 1948. Some Arabs also were driven out by Jewish forces while they were trying to push back invading Arab armies. At the same time, over 800,000 Jews were expelled or left Arab countries under threat after Israel was founded. The Google Earth user, identified as Palestinian physician Thameen Darby, inserted a note on the map saying Kiryat Yam was built in 1948 at the location of a former Arab town called Ghawarina. (Story continues below) Ghawarina, though, is widely thought to be about 10 miles south of Kiryat Yat, in an Arab village currently named Jisr el-Zarka. "This is one of the Palestinian localities evacuated and destroyed after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war," Darby posted above Kiryat Yam. Darby's claim is strange since Kiryat Yam was founded in the 1930s and not in 1948, when he claims Jews expelled Arabs from the site. An official Google response e-mailed to WND explained Google Earth is user driven: "Content reflects what people contribute, not what Google believes to be true. ... While we recognize that some may find the user-generated content objectionable, we are careful to balance the integrity of an open forum with the legal requirements of local governments. If an overlay does not breach our Terms and Conditions and is not in any way illegal, it is our policy not to remove it." A Google spokesman told the Associated Press Darby's posting on the map doesn't violate Google policy and that the Palestinian label would not be removed. Google marks Temple Mount Palestinian This is not the first time Google Earth drew controversy alleging pro-Palestinian bias. WND reported last year while Jerusalem serves as Israel's capital, and the Temple Mount is located within Israeli sovereignty, Google Earth divides the city and places the Mount – Judaism's holiest site – within Palestinian territory. Interactive Google Earth maps still mark eastern sections of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount as "occupied territory," set to become part of a future Palestinian state. The United Nations considers eastern sections of Jerusalem, recaptured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, to be "disputed" and not "occupied." The Israeli Knesset officially annexed the entire city of Jerusalem as its capital in 1980. "Google Earth is reinforcing lies," Rabbi Chaim Richman, director of the international department at Israel's Temple Institute, told WND. "The Muslims have engaged in a systemic campaign to re-write history and erase any traces of Judaism from the Temple Mount in total disregard to all actual archeological and historic evidence," he continued. "Now Google Earth has given in to this campaign." Jerusalem first was divided into eastern and western sections when Jordan invaded and occupied the city and the Temple Mount area in 1947, expelling all Jewish inhabitants. Israel originally built its capital in the western part of the city, while the eastern quarters remained under Jordanian control until Israel regained them in 1967. 'Racist Israel stealing Palestinian water' Google Earth does not limit its input in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Jerusalem and Kiryat Yam. The Gaza Strip is labeled by Google Earth as "Israeli occupied," even though the Jewish state withdrew from Gaza in August 2005. TotallyJewish.com, a UK-based Jewish website, pointed out an interactive Google Earth map of an Israeli community in the northern West Bank features integrated user comments implying Jews are stealing water from neighboring Palestinians. A posting on a Google map next to the town of Kiryat Arba, near the ancient city of Hebron, states: "Note the well-tended lawns in a region deprived of water." Clicking on a Web link in the posting brings the user to a site stating, "The principal reason for the water shortage is an unfair distribution of water resources shared by Israel and the Palestinians." The posting decries Israel's purported water-confiscation practices as "illegal" and "racist," even though dozens of major Israeli aquifers, many run by the Jewish National Fund, purify water running through Palestinian cities and return the cleaned water to the Palestinian towns. Comments on other Google Earth images claim Israel plans to divide parts of Bethlehem, even though no such plan exists and the city is already under Palestinian control. Google Earth is also accused of showing falsified images. Visitors to Google Earth who click on an area just outside Jerusalem can view a computer-generated image claiming to depict an Israeli missile factory. Israeli defense officials told WND the "missile factory" is a fabrication. Terror leader: 'Congratulations to Google Earth' Mort Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, accused Google Earth of encouraging terrorism when it allowed Jerusalem and the Temple Mount to be labeled Palestinian. "When the Arab terrorists see Google Earth's falsification of geographic realities, they will be appeased and encouraged, because these kinds of lying maps send the message that their disinformation campaigns and their terrorism work," Klein told WND. Indeed, Abu Nasser, second-in-command of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror group, said he was "thrilled" by Google Earth's depictions. "Congratulations to Google Earth," Abu Nasser told WND. "We congratulate Google and the American people in making this very important change in the Middle East. The Al Aqsa Mosque (located on the Temple Mount) is part of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem is part of Palestine. If such a big institution like Google corrected these historical mistakes on maps, maybe we can bring about a change in the depictions of Palestine by the American media, which is controlled by the Zionists." According to Abu Nasser, whose terror group says it is trying to liberate the Al Aqsa Mosque, the Jewish Temple "never existed." "At least not on the area Jews now call the Temple Mount," he said. "Maybe a Temple existed somewhere but not in Jerusalem. The Temple Mount exists only in the imaginations of the Jews and Americans." Abu Nasser's Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades is the declared "military wing" of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party. The Brigades, together with the Islamic Jihad terror group, has taken responsibility for every suicide bombing in Israel the past two years, including an attack in Tel Aviv that killed American teenager Daniel Wultz and nine Israelis. To interview Aaron Klein, contact M. Sliwa Public Relations by e-mail, or call 973-272-2861. Special offers: Google exposed in "Stop the Presses!" autographed and inscribed to your specifications only at WND's online store. "Schmoozing with Terrorists: From Hollywood to the Holy Land Jihadists Reveal their Global Plans – to a Jew!" Definitive work on Mideast – available only here! "Everlasting Hatred: The Roots of Jihad" "Israel in Crisis" "Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict" Perfect gift! Compass that points to Jerusalem Previous stories: About face! Google finally honors Veterans Day Google celebrates communist Sputnik Google snubs Memorial Day, again More evidence of Google's 'evil'? Is Google's agenda becoming less 'evil'? Melting iceberg marks Earth Day Farah's Google indictment big news in Tibet Google censors China information in U.S. Google's 'evil' agenda exposed in new book Google again snubs George Washington Google spells its name wrong on Valentine's Day? Google: Veterans Day 'too solemn' for logo Google no-show for Veterans Day YouTube blocked video mocking Clinton administration Google hosts 'boy love' site Bush labeled 'a–hole' in new Google bomb Google map says Taiwan part of China Google goes ballistic after getting Googled Christian Exodus banned from Google ads Google blocks ad for anti-Clinton book Google still runs anti-DeLay ads Google money engine for Democrats only Google censoring conservative ads? Google: Big Media has higher quality Google censoring search results in China Google bars 'hate' sites' ads, but runs porn ads Google bans Christian ad Google 'miserable failure': It's Bush	The ruins of a Palestinian village. The city of Kiryat Yam in Israel is suing Internet corporation Google over an alleged inaccuracy in its Google Earth software, which claims the city was built over the ruins of an Arab village. A note added by Google Earth user Thameen Darby says Kiryat Yam was built on the site of the Palestinian village Ghawarina. However, town's spokesman Naty Key Zilberman says this "obviously cannot be true, because Kiryat Yam was founded in 1945". The Palestinian exodus, in which hundreds of thousands of Arabs abandoned their villages due to the Arab-Israeli War, occurred in 1948, three years after Key zilberman says the city was founded. The city filed a slander complaint with Israel police, he says. The city's claim is supported by Yossi Ben-Artzi, a history professor at the University of Haifa, who said, "Kiryat Yam was built on sand dunes, and there wasn't any Palestinian village in the area. The lands were bought in 1939 by the Gav Yam construction company." Darby, the Palestinian doctor who added the information, says his contributions are part of the "Nakhba — Palestinian Catastrophe" hub, which intends to help Palestinian refugees find the villages of their ancestors. "As far as I can know, the Arab Ghawarina locality was in the place depicted," Darby said, though he also says he will "be quick to reallocate it" if proven wrong by reliable sources. An unnamed Google spokesman said in an email: "Content reflects what people contribute, not what Google believes to be true. ... While we recognize that some may find the user-generated content objectionable, we are careful to balance the integrity of an open forum with the legal requirements of local governments. If an overlay does not breach our Terms and Conditions and is not in any way illegal, it is our policy not to remove it."
The comics pages go "green" for Earth Day on Tuesday as 46 cartoon strips, from Blondie and Family Circus to Mutts and Zippy the Pinhead try to save the planet, one panel at a time. "Killer is out hugging trees," Zero reports in Beetle Bailey. "We'd like to talk to you about your carbon footprint," the Hagar gang tells a giant. Blondie urges the family to conserve energy. "Absolutely," says Dagwood, who jumps on the couch for a nap. The Earth Day effort is being coordinated by the King Features syndicate, which runs comics and features in almost 5,000 newspapers around the world. "The number of cartoonists who responded to this call is thrilling," says Brendan Burford, the syndicate's comics editor. "We have a few cartoonists who are green all the time." One is Alex Hallatt, whose Arctic Circle strip chronicles the endangered lives of penguins and polar bears at the North Pole. "I try to see the funny side of being green," says Hallatt, who concedes she has trouble living totally green. "I still have a car. It's difficult, isn't it?" she says. "But whenever there's that conflict between modern life and going green, there's a great potential for humor." Themed comics pages have become more frequent in recent years as cartoonists have remembered 9/11 or honored the late Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts. "Cartooning is such an isolated world," says Patrick McDonnell, whose Mutts strip will offer earth-friendly quotations this week. "So when we all band together like this, it's really kind of magical." \|\|\|\|\| It was one of the original green movements in Canada, created by environmental activists who had spent their lives protesting big companies that harmed the planet. Today, Earth Day Canada is a registered charity that relies mostly on money from large corporations. Founded in 1990, the charity encouraged ordinary Canadians to clear garbage from their communities as a means of understanding the earth's fragility. Today, environmental awareness has blossomed. Children speak of atmospheric carbon dioxide while lecturing their parents on the evils of the family SUV. Millions of Canadians turned off their lights during Earth Hour. And, corporations send out daily press releases advertising their commitment to green-ness. Today, as Earth Day Canada marks its official date for the environmental inspiration of Canadians, a certain question begs for an answer: Is it still relevant? Glen MacIntosh says no. MacIntosh, spokesperson for the Toronto Climate Campaign, organized a downtown Toronto protest on Sunday, naming it "Reclaim Earth Day." The coalition of unions and social justice organizations take particular offence to Earth Day's sponsorship by corporations. The Earth Day website says Sunoco and the Suncor Energy Foundation sponsored the tree-planting events that unfolded over the weekend. "The original Earth Day didn't have that. It was mobilized by activists with a point to make change," MacIntosh said. "People are being deceived. They attend the Earth Day events thinking they are doing a good thing, but really they are being entertained, sold to." "That is their take," responded Jed Goldberg, president of Earth Day Canada. "None of our donors has any input whatsoever into our programming, communications, marketing. Nothing. These are our programs. They choose to support them because they feel we are effective, but they have no impact at all in the way we conduct ourselves." Rules surrounding registered charities like Earth Day, explains Goldberg, preclude the organization from lobbying politicians. "There is obviously an important place for activism in any kind of social justice movement," Goldberg said. "As far as I am concerned, it is quite healthy for them to have their type of event." Earth Day Canada, said Goldberg, has evolved from its early days creating community awareness. Today, 80 per cent of its work goes into education, primarily a website that gives tips on reducing energy use, with an online calculator to add up those savings. There is a finite number of energy-saving tips – using cold water for laundry, buying locally grown food and using transit. Earth Day's current raison d'être shares the same tips found on every other energy-saving website. Goldberg, however, calls the program's calculator, which measures the dollars saved for each step taken in the "Eco-Action plan," innovative. The organization has spent $400,000 developing the program. It is found on the Earth Day website, but is also promoted on three municipal websites –Waterloo; Moncton N.B.; and Grand Prairie, Alta., with plans to expand. "We've tried to evolve our programming. It is no longer just a celebratory day. It's not "Rah, rah, let's go plant some trees.' ... We have a program where we engage individuals and lead them through the process of minimizing the impact of how they live in their home." Maury Mason was one of the founders of Canada's Earth Day, spending the first part of his career with Greenpeace Canada as an activist pushing governments and corporation for environmental change. "There is a value in getting people excited about something. It is a pathway to action," said Mason, who hired Goldberg as his replacement in 1993. "An inspired, educated and committed person cannot help but act. If the main purpose (of Earth Day) is to create the first step of inspiration ... great. People will move it further," he said. "Industry and business have to respond to that, otherwise they will be left behind." City councillor Adam Vaughan threw his support behind the Toronto Climate Campaign, and its desire to push hard for the Kyoto agreement. Still, Vaughan says Earth Day creates no harm. "The way you grow a movement is, you accommodate the clash of ideas. And hopefully, the movement gets bigger and bigger and you succeed on many more fronts. It is not either-or. I think it is both." At the University of Toronto, Ingrid Leman Stefanovic has watched the green movement evolve for the past 20 years. Director of the Centre for Environmental Studies, she likens Earth Day to a birthday, a marker to "a time to stop and collectively recognize a testimonial to an idea." Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... "There are gigantic problems that we have to address. At the same time, it is important that we focus on successes ... There is an urgency, but rather than making people feel negative, we can instill some hope. "Whether it is Earth Day, or turning off your lights for an hour, no one action is going to be earth-shattering. These kinds of moments simply remind people that you have to be a little more careful, and caring, of the planet." \|\|\|\|\| The comics pages go "green" for Earth Day on Tuesday as 46 cartoon strips, from Blondie and Family Circus to Mutts and Zippy the Pinhead try to save the planet, one panel at a time. "Killer is out hugging trees," Zero reports in Beetle Bailey. "We'd like to talk to you about your carbon footprint," the Hagar gang tells a giant. Blondie urges the family to conserve energy. "Absolutely," says Dagwood, who jumps on the couch for a nap. The Earth Day effort is being coordinated by the King Features syndicate, which runs comics and features in almost 5,000 newspapers around the world. "The number of cartoonists who responded to this call is thrilling," says Brendan Burford, the syndicate's comics editor. "We have a few cartoonists who are green all the time." One is Alex Hallatt, whose Arctic Circle strip chronicles the endangered lives of penguins and polar bears at the North Pole. "I try to see the funny side of being green," says Hallatt, who concedes she has trouble living totally green. "I still have a car. It's difficult, isn't it?" she says. "But whenever there's that conflict between modern life and going green, there's a great potential for humor." Themed comics pages have become more frequent in recent years as cartoonists have remembered 9/11 or honored the late Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts. "Cartooning is such an isolated world," says Patrick McDonnell, whose Mutts strip will offer earth-friendly quotations this week. "So when we all band together like this, it's really kind of magical." \|\|\|\|\| Green Apple Festival New York For the third consecutive year, Central Park will host New York’s Green Apple Festival to celebrate Earth Day 2008. Environmental leaders, community activists, A-list talent and top speakers will all CALL FOR CLIMATE, a demand for immediate, effective and equitable action against global warming that will culminate on Earth Day, April 22nd, when we hope to generate ONE MILLION CALLS TO CONGRESS. Stay tuned! More information to come soon. 2008 Earth Day Network/Green Apple Festival Free Line-up NEW YORK Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder Big Head Todd and the Monsters Vusi Mahlasela Vienna Teng \|\|\|\|\| Earth Fair in Barcelona To celebrate Earth Day 2008 After the success of past editions, the Catalunya Earth Fair will take place in Barcelona. Location: Parc de la Ciutadella. Theme: The theme for this year's edition is the Fight Against Genetically Modified Organism which Poison the Planet Date: April 19th-20th \|\|\|\|\| Green Apple Festival San Francisco The Golden Gate Park hosts the second Green Apple Festival in San Francisco, an event for the whole family to celebrate Earth Day 2008! Environmental leaders, community activists, A-list talent and top speakers will all CALL FOR CLIMATE, a demand for immediate, effective and equitable action against global warming that will culminate on Earth Day, April 22nd, when we hope to generate ONE MILLION CALLS TO CONGRESS. Stay tuned! More information to come soon. 2008 Earth Day Network/Green Apple Festival Free Line-up SAN FRANCISCO Mickey Hart’s Mass Drums Yonder Mountain String Band Brett Dennen Bill McKibben Original Google Chef, Charlie Ayers \|\|\|\|\| Earth Day in CARACAS EARTH DAY WEEK IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA ORGANIZERS: UNIMET- VITALIS is organizing several events around Caracas. Contact: Diego Diaz Martin Location: Botanic Garden Auditorium of Caracas Theme: Announcing the program for Earth Day Week in Caracas Movie-Discussion “Al Día con la Tierra” (at Time with the Earth) Date: April 21, 2008 ----------- Location: UNIMET Auditorium Theme: Youth groups from Universities will make a vow as Citizens of the World and will introduce Beja Contest 2008. Youth groups from 10 different universities of Venezuela, publics and privates, will be committed as Citizens of the World, program that has been coordinated by VITALIS since 2002 and now it counts with 400 members committed with the conservation and defense of our planet, with the support of multiples organizations, publics and privates. In this meeting the students will formulate their recommendations to conserve the planet, in particular to save energy, to reduce the production of waste, to save water, to conserve the biodiversity and to reduce the contamination, among others. Date: April 22, 2008 ----------- Location: UNIMET Auditorium Theme: Movie - Discussion An Inconvenient Truth – Al Gore Biodiversity Threatened – BBC World Series Date: April 23, 2008 ----------- Location: Botanic Garden of Caracas Theme: Committing children and teenagers as Citizens of the World. VITALIS, with the support of Mercantil Bank Foundation and the Foundation of the Botanic Institute of Venezuela, will do the IV Commitment of about 200 children and teenagers from different schools (publics and private), as Citizens of the World. This program has been coordinated by VITALIS since 2002, and until now it has committed more than 400 Venezuelan people with the defense and conservation of our planet. In this meeting the students will formulate their recommendations to conserve the planet, in particular to save energy, to reduce the production of waste, to save water, to conserve the biodiversity and to reduce the contamination, among others. Date: April 25, 2008 \|\|\|\|\| Green Apple Festival Chicago The Lincoln Park Zoo hosts the second Green Apple Festival in Chicago, an event for the whole family to celebrate Earth Day 2008! Environmental leaders, community activists, A-list talent and top speakers will all CALL FOR CLIMATE, a demand for immediate, effective and equitable action against global warming that will culminate on Earth Day, April 22nd, when we hope to generate ONE MILLION CALLS TO CONGRESS. Stay tuned! More information to come soon. \|\|\|\|\| Earth Day in Tokyo Location: Booth and Event Area within Yoyogi Park Organizers: Earthday Tokyo is a Social Movement promoting green Economy Contact : Earth Day Tokyo Theme: “Shift Green” Focus topics : Earthday Energy Action : the two day event will be managed 100% by green energy , solar, bio-diesel and hydrogen. Also offset CO2. (2007 CO2 emission 1.2ton offset) Earthday Food Action: Organic, locally produced, non-GMO food will be available from over 40 different restaurants, cafes on site. Plate and cutlery lending and re-use station is available on site to reduce trash Earthday Agri Action : Organic Farmers Market Booth and Event Area within Yoyogi Park Earthday Kitchen: over 40 restaurants and cafes offering organic, non-GMO food Earthday Market: farmers market Earthday Garden: eco-friendly products and handmade crafts for sale. NGO Village: exhibition of NGOs activities Green Talk Stage: talks, speeches from green activists, cultural creative Outdoor village: outdoor gear, apparel companies exhibiting their environmental activities Kids Green Village: Toys and play space available for kids. Baby Earthday : Nursery room and workshop for young moms . Fair trade market And more! And more! Music Lives Ameblo Nagisa Music Festival Music Day Japan Ameblo Drumcow Bargains, workshops and other Special service at Earthday Sponsor’s shops Patagonia Lush.Co etc Dates: April 19,20th. 2008. 10am-5pm Expected attendance: 120,000 \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON D.C. Earth Day 2008: A Call for Climate Earth Day 2008 is expected to be the biggest yet! From Tokyo to Togo, to our flagship event on the National Mall in Washington, DC and 7 other U.S. cities, we will be galvanizing millions of people around the world behind a Call for Climate, our global warming action theme. Hundreds of events are popping up all over the globe and April 22 should be a most memorable Earth Day. We will be asking people to call their government and urge significant and equitable action on climate change. Our U.S. events, produced by Green Apple Festival , will include A-list musicians and actors, environmental and community leaders, and dozens of exhibits. These special events are the place to be on April 20, right before Earth Day. In Washington, DC we will be rocking out with the Roots, Toots and the Maytals, and Warren Haynes. In Denver, the lineup includes The Neville Brothers, Benevento Russo, Saul Williams, Rose Hill Drive, and Jackie Greene. Our Call for Climate will go out to the U.S. Congress on Earth Day, April 22 and we hope to generate 1-million phone calls to lawmakers! Mark your calendar and check this space for frequent updates! Don't be a slouch! - Listen to Chevy Chase's Call for Climate How many degrees separate us from the tragedy of global warming? Listen to Kevin Bacon’s Call for Climate Listen to Questlove's (The Roots) Call for Climate Listen to Zack Braff's (Scrubs) Call for Climate For Exhibitor Inquiries Contact: Lisa Kulujian SAIC \| 828 966-9044 \| kulujianl -at- saic.com	An event to mark the day April 22 was Earth Day. It is a tradition started by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson with the first Earth Day in April 1970. Earth Day Canada was started in 1990. In Central Park, New York, the "Green Apple festival" marked the event. In Buenos Aires an "an entertainment event with an awareness component." An earth fair was also held in Catalunya, Spain. The earth day website says that "the theme for this year's edition is the Fight Against Genetically Modified Organism which Poison the Planet." Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, also held an event to mark the day. This event is similar to an event last year that marked last year's earth day. Another image of the events There were also events to mark the day in Caracas, Venezuela. The Earth Day website said "youth groups from Universities will make a vow as Citizens of the World and will launch Beja Contest 2008," in its description of these events. There were also events in Chicago. According to the Earth Day website, Lincoln Park Zoo hosted some of these events. Events in Tokyo, Japan also marked the day. The Earth Day website says that the "booth and Event Area within Yoyogi Park" hosted the event. Other places across the world also marked the day. The Earth day website says that "Earth Day 2008 is expected to be the biggest yet, From Tokyo to Togo, to our flagship event on the National Mall in Washington, DC and 7 other U.S. cities, we will be galvanizing millions of people around the world behind a Call for Climate, our global warming action theme. " Jim Connaughton, the chairman of Council on Environmental Quality for the US government, described Earth Day and explained how it was founded. Below is his description: Connaughton also described what George W. Bush is doing to mark the event:
A bill introduced in Congress Thursday aims to overturn a controversial royalty fee increase that Internet radio advocates say threatens to cripple their services. The "Internet Radio Equality Act," introduced by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Don Manzullo (R-Ill.), would invalidate a March 2 decision by the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board that calls for raising royalty rates paid by Net radio operators. "You can't put an economic chokehold on this emerging force of democracy," Inslee said in a statement e-mailed by a spokeswoman. "There has to be a business model that allows creative Webcasters to thrive and the existing rule removes all the oxygen from this space." The bill's introduction comes less than two weeks after the CRB declined to reconsider most of its decision. Small Webcasters, National Public Radio, Clear Channel Communications and others had filed petitions for a rehearing. Some have indicated they are considering filing an appeal of the rules in court. If it were to stand, the CRB's existing ruling (PDF) would result in fee increases on Internet radio operators ranging from 300 to 1,200 percent between 2006 and 2012, according to a group called SaveNetRadio, which has been lobbying Congress for relief. Specifically, the rules call for rate increases of .08 cents per song per listener retroactive to 2006. They would also climb to .19 cents per song by 2010, which amounts to a 30 percent increase per year. Each station would also have to hand over a minimum $500 royalty payment under the ruling. The congressmen said they had already received more than 1,000 e-mails and letters opposing the decision. In addition to repealing that regime, the new House bill offers a compromise: It would set the rate at 7.5 percent of the Webcaster's revenue "directly related to" its transmission of sound recordings, or 33 cents per hour of sound recordings transmitted to a single listener. It would be up to the Webcaster to decide which model to use. That rate would also apply to satellite and cable radio operators, Inslee's office said in a statement. The proposal drew applause from SaveNetRadio, whose members include Internet radio listeners, Webcasters and artists. "This bill is a critical step to preserve this vibrant and growing medium, and to develop a truly level playing field where Webcasters can compete with satellite radio," said organization spokesman Jake Ward. The bill also calls for public radio broadcasters to submit a report to Congress on how to determine rates for their class of services. Andi Sporkin, NPR's vice president of communications, called that idea a fair solution that is consistent with more than 30 years of copyright law, which "has recognized that public radio has a very different mission from commercial media and cannot pay commercial-level royalty rates." Representatives for SoundExchange, the nonprofit entity that collects the fees and lobbied for the royalty rate changes, said they were still reviewing the bill and had no comment on Thursday. The organization in the past has defended the CRB's decision as an appropriate way of ensuring artists are adequately compensated when their work is broadcast over the Internet. \|\|\|\|\| New law could save internet radio A law has been proposed in the US Congress that would overturn a recent ruling on internet radio royalty payments. The bill could save internet radio, according to activists. Earlier this month the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), which reports to the Library of Congress, increased the charges which internet radio stations will have to pay in order to broadcast music. Stations claim that the charges in many cases represent more than their total revenues, and that they make it impossible to build a business out of online radio. The CRB is answerable to Congress, and two members of the House of Representatives have proposed a law which would withdraw the CRB's recent ruling and propose a compromise system of payments. Internet radio activists say that the system is unfair because it penalises online radio stations unduly. Broadcast radio pays no royalty fees, they say, while satellite radio pays far less than internet radio's new charges. The new law will charge the same fee to radio stations whether they are provided via satellite, cable or the internet. It will offer stations the chance to choose to pay 7.5% of their revenues or 33 cents per hour per listener. The bill was introduced by Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Don Manzullo. "Since the CRB's decision to dramatically and unfairly increase webcaster royalty rates, millions of internet radio listeners, webcasters and artists have called on Congress to take action," said Jake Ward of lobby group SaveNetRadio. "Today Congress took notice, and we thank Mr. Inslee for leading the charge to save music diversity on the Internet." Speaking this month to OUT-LAW Radio Joe Kennedy, chief executive of Pandora, one of the internet's largest radio-style services, said that the threat to online radio was severe. "The judges adopted the proposal to triple the rates for large webcasters, and for small webcasters it's actually closer to a 12 times increase in the rates that they pay," said Kennedy. "It's an extraordinary increase in the rates that will effectively kill internet radio as we know it today." "Over 90% of internet radio will simply be gone. The net result will be a huge loss of diversity, a huge loss for music artists and a loss of virtually all of the internet radio that exists," said Kennedy. "You can't put an economic chokehold on this emerging force of democracy," Inslee said, according to CNet News. "There has to be a business model that allows creative webcasters to thrive and the existing rule removes all the oxygen from this space." \|\|\|\|\| NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Internet radio broadcasts, jeopardized by a royalty payment ruling earlier this year, would get a reprieve under bipartisan legislation introduced in Congress. The Internet Radio Equality Act would roll back dramatic rate increases handed down earlier this year by the Copyright Royalty Board and instead charge royalty payments for Web-based radio broadcasting, or streaming, in line with those paid by satellite radio. Video More video You'll soon be able to copy music legally from iPods to any digital music device. CNN's Richard Lui explains. (April 27) Play video Under the rules issued by the CRB, an agency charged by Congress with overseeing royalty disputes, streamers would be charged .08 cents a song retroactively to 2006 - a rate that would increase to 0.19 cents a song in 2010. For public broadcasters, the CRB set fees at a flat $500 a month but only for a set level of listening hours per month, one that many station owners said they would easily exceed and thus have to pay much higher fees. Internet streamers said the increases amounted to 30 to 300 percent increases over what they are paying now. The new legislation, proposed by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Don Manzullo (R-Ill.), would instead charge streamers a flat fee of 7.5 percent of their revenue through 2010. A companion piece is expected to be introduced in the Senate this week. Advocates championed the bill as more in line with reality and a proper response to the public outcry from critics who said the ruling could kill Internet radio streaming. Inslee spokeswoman Christine Hanson said the congressman's office alone received about 1,000 complaints about the CRB fees, and members of Congress had received more than 400,000 e-mails demanding the fees be changed, so the sponsors are hoping quick action can be taken on the legislation "You can't put an economic chokehold on this emerging form of democracy," Inslee said in a statement. "There has to be a business model that allows creative Webcasters to thrive, and the existing rule removes all the oxygen from this space." Radio stations large and small as well as Internet-only broadcasters who have gotten into the streaming business were united in their opposition to the new royalty fees and had been preparing a court challenge. A National Public Radio official praised the Internet Radio Equality Act. Congress "has recognized that public radio has a very different mission from commercial media and cannot pay commercial-level royalty rates," said NPR spokeswoman Andi Sporkin. "This bill will provide a long-term resolution that is fair for all sides." The CRB rejected an appeal brought by broadcasters as well as NPR and others that sought to delay the May 15 deadline for the introduction of the new fees. Tim Westergren, president and CEO of popular Internet radio station Pandora, attended a briefing Monday in Washington, D.C., on the legislation and said there was only a glimmer of hope that the new fees would be stayed pending the outcome of the legislation. A court order would be needed to stay the increases. "Nobody has any idea, but the presumption is it will go into effect on or before the 15th," Westergren said. "On that day, on paper just about every Webcaster becomes officially bankrupt because they'll owe way more money than they have because the fees are retroactive." Savings would vary among stations because of differing royalty structures. Stations now pay .07 cents a performance for AM or FM signals that simultaneously air online and 0.14 cents a performance for Internet-only broadcasts. Pandora, for instance, would pay less under the structure set up under the legislation than it does now, Westergren said. SoundExchange, a performance rights organization that collects royalty payments for entertainers, supports the rate structure proposed by the royalty board. In a statement on its Web site, the company said the proposed legislation would result in a windfall of $50 million to large Webcasters like Clear Channel (Charts, Fortune 500), Microsoft (Charts, Fortune 500), AOL and Yahoo! (Charts, Fortune 500) while depriving artists of payments to which they are entitled.	Internet radio broadcasters may find a savior in a recent proposition in the US Congress. The recently proposed Internet Radio Equality Act, introduced by representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL), would strive to revert the drastic changes applied to Internet radio royalties by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) that will go into effect on May 15, 2007, and retroactive since January 1, 2006. The proposition aligns Internet broadcasting fees to be more inline with those of satellite radio, for a flat fee of 7.5% of the broadcaster's revenue, rather than the CRB rules of .08 (2006) to .19 (2010) cents per song for private broadcasters, or $500 per month for public broadcasters if below a specific number of listening hours. According to Inslee, the fees that would go into effect on May 15 would be a chokehold on democracy, and claimed in a statement that webmasters need a functioning business model. A common fear among Internet broadcasters is that they will have to file for bankruptcy once the fees of the CRB will go into effect. ''"Over 90% of internet radio will simply be gone. The net result will be a huge loss of diversity, a huge loss for music artists and a loss of virtually all of the internet radio that exists,"'' claimed Joe Kennedy, CEO of Pandora. SoundExchange, supportive of the CRB rules and a major collector of artist royalties from radio stations, has claimed the new fees are necessary to pay the artists that deserve it.
MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- A bomb wounded a local politician's bodyguard in the northern city of Bilbao on Tuesday, in an attack a senior Interior Ministry official blamed on the Basque separatist group ETA. Basque policeman at the scene of Tuesday's car bomb in the northern Spanish Basque city of Bilbao. The bomb exploded as the off-duty bodyguard was alone in his car and was just starting to move it, said the official, Antonio Camacho, the secretary of state for security. Police, he added, suspect the explosive may have been a limpet bomb, attached beneath the car toward the rear. "It seems clear ETA wanted to kill someone. We can't yet say if the target was the bodyguard or the politician he protects," Camacho said at a nationally televised news conference. The guard, Gabriel Gines, 36, was taken to hospital with burns to his face, right hand and shoulder, Camacho said. Witnesses said he managed to get out of the car after the blast. Television footage showed him walking out of a nearby cafeteria, where he had taken refuge, and stepping into an ambulance, flanked by emergency workers. His right hand was bandaged and his left hand held a cell phone. There was no warning call -- as sometimes occurs -- before the explosion near downtown Bilbao, the largest Basque city, an Interior Ministry spokesman told CNN. No one has claimed responsibility for the incident, which left the bodyguard's car and several others charred from fire. Several thousand town councilors and other officials in the Basque region have bodyguards due to threats from ETA, which is blamed for more than 800 deaths in its long fight for Basque independence. Many of the bodyguards are police officers; others, such as the guard injured on Tuesday, are on contract from private security firms. The politician he protects, a Basque local councilman from the prime minister's ruling Socialist Party, was out of town at the time of the attack. The blast came shortly after Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba announced at a news conference in Madrid that police were stepping up security this week because of fears of more ETA attacks. Friday is a Spanish holiday. Last week, police arrested 23 leaders of an outlawed Basque pro-independence party, Batasuna, on suspicion of aiding ETA. On Sunday, a judge remanded 17 of them to jail, released four on bail and dropped charges against the other two. Watch how arrests make ETA defensive » Batasuna is widely considered to be ETA's political wing, which it denies. The arrests were seen as part of broad crackdown on ETA and its supporters after ETA formally called off its cease-fire last June. ETA is listed as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union. The most recent fatalities were last December, when a massive ETA car bomb killed two men at Madrid's airport, destroying a parking garage and causing heavy damage to the airport's newest glass-covered passenger terminal. That blast, preceded by a warning call, came during the unilateral cease-fire, which ETA announced in 2006. ETA had promised the cease-fire would be "permanent," raising hopes for a lasting peace. The Socialist government considered ETA's cease-fire over after the airport bombing and halted all peace contacts. Since ETA officially ended the cease-fire last June, it has managed only one major bombing before Tuesday, while several other intended attacks were thwarted by police. Police in Spain and France have arrested dozens of suspected ETA members, including senior operatives since June. E-mail to a friend All About ETA Separatist Group \|\|\|\|\| Officials said the man's life was not believed to be in danger It went off under the vehicle in the city's La Pena area near the historic centre at about 1325 (1135 GMT). There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. It comes days after suspected leaders of the banned separatist party Batasuna were arrested - an action the party described as a "declaration of war" Spanish media say the injured man is a bodyguard for a town councillor from Spain's ruling Socialist Party, who is believed to be unhurt. The bodyguard received burn injuries but his life is not thought to be in danger, Basque Country regional government spokeswoman Miren Azkarate said. "He would have burns on his scalp, on his hands and some superficial wounds on his back," she added. The politician he had been assigned to protect, Jose Carlos Domingo, told Spanish radio that he and his family had been "really shaken up" by the attack. Crackdown While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, Basque regional government sources said the attack bore the hallmarks of an attack by the armed separatist group Eta. Eta, whose decades-long campaign has led to more than 800 deaths, called off a 15-month ceasefire in June. The most senior Batasuna official still at liberty, Pernando Barrena, warned of a "new cycle of violence" in Spain following the arrests last week. Police had detained 22 people in the town of Segura, on the orders of top anti-terrorism judge Baltasar Garzon. It is believed that Batasuna leaders were meeting there to transfer control to new party leaders. Mr Garzon led moves to outlaw Batasuna five years ago, accusing it of being an Eta front. Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Send us your comments using the form below. 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.	A bomb wounded a local politician's bodyguard in the northern city of Bilbao on Tuesday, in an attack a senior Spanish Interior Ministry official blamed on the Basque separatist group ETA. Spanish media say the injured man is a bodyguard for a town councillor from Spain's ruling Socialist Party, who was taken to hospital with burns to his face, right hand, and shoulder. While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, Basque regional government sources said the attack bore the hallmarks of an attack by the armed separatist group ETA. It comes days after suspected leaders of the separatist party Batasuna were arrested, an action the party described as a "declaration of war".
Between this and Jeff Greenfield's funny-ha-ha-attack, maybe Obama has a case for character defamation or some such thing? My wife just caught this and paused it on the TiVo. Un-friggin-believable, if you ask me. It's sad, but there really used to be a time when I'd have chalked that up to simple human error. But the fact of the matter is, Obama scares the hell out of the machine, simply because of the passion which people feel for him. UPDATE: Situation Room contact page UPDATE 2: For those wondering over the context in which this appeared, it was the teaser lead-in to a piece on whether, now that Saddam's been beheaded hanged on camera and buried, the US can get back to looking for Osama bin Laden. Transcript is here. And, whether or not this was intentional is only half the point. The matter should be addressed, on air, a retraction and apology issued. ANOTHER UPDATE: As inclusiveheart explains below, the protocol to get graphics on the air sort of precludes the possibility that this was just one tired/hungover/incompetent typist. FINAL UPDATE: Word has it that Blitzer apologized on air this morning and said something to the effect of "I'll be calling Sen. Obama personally to apologize." Good work y'all. Did anyone happen to grab that apology? Posing it via YouTube would make a great bookend to this diary. FINAL, FINAL UPDATE: Raw Story has a piece up on the "error" and the text of Blitzer's on-air apology this morning. Thanks Mike. \|\|\|\|\| CNN apologises for 'Obama' typo 03/01/2007 11:30 - (SA) New York - CNN apologised on Tuesday for mistakenly promoting a story on the search for Osama bin Laden with the headline "Where's Obama?" A spokesman for Illinois Senator Barack Obama, a potential Democratic presidential candidate, said the apology was accepted. The blunder came on Monday evening on Wolf Blitzer's news show The Situation Room. Both Soledad O'Brien and Blitzer offered separate apologies during CNN's morning show on Tuesday. CNN called it a "bad typographical error" by its graphics department. "We want to apologise for that bad typo," Blitzer said. "We also want to apologise personally to Senator Barack Obama. I'm going to be making a call to him later this morning to offer my personal apology." Tommy Vietor, Obama's press secretary, said he appreciated the bloggers and activists who brought the error to light so quickly and helped make sure it was corrected. "Though I'd note that the 's' and 'b' keys aren't all that close to each other, I assume it was just an unfortunate mistake, and don't think there was any truly malicious intent," Vietor said. Obama says he is still considering whether to join a field of Democrats contending for the party's 2008 presidential nomination. If he does enter the race, his middle name might also prove troublesome. Republican operatives are already referring to him by his full name: Barack Hussein Obama. News24 is now available on your cellphone. Sign up and win a Samsung phone! \|\|\|\|\| NEW YORK (AP) - CNN apologized Tuesday for mistakenly promoting a story on the search for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden with the headline "Where's Obama?" A spokesman for Illinois Senator Barack Obama said the apology was accepted. The blunder came Monday evening on Wolf Blitzer's news show "The Situation Room." Both Soledad O'Brien and Blitzer offered separate apologies during CNN's morning show Tuesday. CNN called it a "bad typographical error" by its graphics department. "We want to apologize for that bad typo," Blitzer said. "We also want to apologize personally to Senator Barack Obama. I'm going to be making a call to him later this morning to offer my personal apology." Tommy Vietor, Obama's press secretary, said he appreciated the bloggers and activists who brought the error to light so quickly and helped make sure it was corrected. "Though I'd note that the 's' and 'b' keys aren't all that close to each other, I assume it was just an unfortunate mistake, and don't think there was any truly malicious intent," Vietor said.	Instead of the "s" in Osama, CNN put a "b" making it Obama. Illinois Senator Barack Obama U.S. Senator Barack Obama's family name may sound similar to that of the given name of Osama bin Laden. According to prominent American left-wing online blog Daily Kos, which was the first to report it, CNN mixed the two up on Monday, leading into a segment on bin Laden with the title, "Where's Obama?" on ''The Situation Room'', a show hosted by pundit Wolf Blitzer. The blog posted a photo of the mistake. The author of the blog called it "character defamation." CNN has called the mistake "a bad typographical error". Soledad O'Brien and Blitzer apologised separately during CNN's ''American Morning'' on Tuesday. "We want to apologize for that bad typo," Mr Blitzer said. "We also want to apologize personally to Senator Barack Obama. I'm going to be making a call to him later this morning to offer my personal apology." Mr Obama's press secretary said the apology was accepted. He also added that he appreciated the online blogs who brought the error to light. "Though I'd note that the 's' and 'b' keys aren't all that close to each other, I assume it was just an unfortunate mistake, and don't think there was any truly malicious intent," said Tommy Vietor, Obama's press secretary.
Andrew Chan will learn if he will receive the death penalty sentence later today. (Reuters) Four more members of the Bali nine drug smuggling syndicate will hear their fate today. Yesterday, drug couriers Renae Lawrence and Scott Rush were jailed for life. Today, two fellow drug mules also face life sentences while the group's ringleaders could be handed the death penalty. Andrew Chan, 22, and Myuran Sukumaran, 24, could become the first people to receive the death sentence from the Denpasar District Court for drug trafficking. The pair have been accused of heading up the operation to smuggle heroin out of Bali to Australia last April. Sukumaran has remained silent while Chan has pleaded his innocence. Their lawyer, Mohammad Rifan, is confident. "To be sure we will get the justice in our country," he said. Martin Stephens and Michael Czugaj will also receive their verdicts today. The prosecution is seeking life in prison for both drug mules. The remaining three members of the Bali nine will have their verdicts handed down on Wednesday. Sydneysiders Matthew Norman and Si Yi Chen and Tan Van Nguyen from Brisbane are all under the age of 24 and face the prospect of spending the rest of their lives in an Indonesian prison. Diplomatic row looms Donald Rothwell, a Professor of International Law at Sydney University, says the Australian Government will have a major diplomatic issue to address if death sentences are handed down. "The Indonesian judicial system is one in which death sentences are often carried out very quickly," he said. "So unlike the situation of Van Nguyen in Singapore, where an appeal process and a clemency process played out over quite some time, this may not be the situation in Bali." He says the Australians can lodge appeals. "Any of these decisions handed down by the Denpasar court are subject to appeal to the Bali Supreme Court and it eventually could go on to the Indonesian Court," he said. "So there are a number of appeal processes any of the Australians can pursue." Sentence 'too harsh' Meanwhile, the lawyer for convicted drug smuggler, Renae Lawrence, says her client's life sentence is too harsh, given the assistance she gave authorities during the investigation. Lawrence's sentence was a surprise as the prosecutors had asked for a 20-year sentence. Lawrence's lawyer Anggia Browne says her client has been cooperative and was only a courier. "My client was very cooperative and also I believe she was only a courier," she said. "So this is our argument from the beginning but in the court during the trial the judge not see that." The president of the Law Council of Australia, John North, has again attacked the way the Australian Federal Police (AFP) handled the case. "Our Government does not assist other countries in cases where Australians face the prospect of death here," he said. "The AFP, using their own guidelines, gave a great deal of assistance to the Balinese authorities in the Bali nine case." \|\|\|\|\| The court today erupted with shouts from the public gallery as its three-judge panel announced its verdict of "hukuman mati" or death penalty against Chan - a scene repeated just as dramatically when Sukumaran's fate was announced later in a separate hearing. Both men appeared to take the news calmly. Sukumaran, 24 of Sydney, was ordered to stand and blinked as his verdict was read out. Chan shook hands with his lawyers briefly before being led out by police from the packed courtroom and through a scrum of reporters and cameramen. Chan and Sukumaran are the first drug offenders to be condemned to die by courts in Bali, an island seemingly determined to stamp out its reputation as an Asian drug transit centre. The trial's Chief Judge Arief Supartman read a handwritten judgment from the bench, saying Chan had been proven guilty of "exporting heroin in an organised ring and possessing a prohibited class one narcotic". He said Chan had "damaged Bali's international reputation" and he castigated the 22-year-old Sydney man for not cooperating with Indonesian authorities and refusing to answer questions during his trial. "The defendant did not show any remorse during his trial and was evasive," the judge said. "There are no grounds for leniency." Immediately after the verdict was pronounced, uproar erupted with a group of anti-drugs campaigners cheering in the courtroom. "Well done chief judge," said some, while others shouted out "Death!" Chan was later locked in a holding cell at the rear of the court where he smoked a cigarette as he talked through the bars with his brother Michael. A smiling Chan also used the moments to tell Sukumaran in the cell that he had just been put on death row. The two then shared a drink before Sukumaran was led away to hear his fate. Judge I Gusti Lanang Dauh said Sukumaran had been "obstructive" through the trial process and at no time had expressed any sense of guilt. Chan's and Sukumaran's lawyer Rifan Mohamad said he was bitter and surprised by the verdicts. He said he would advise both his clients to appeal. "Of course we are very disappointed." Rifan said the judges had ignored crucial evidence and hinted he believed the trial had been unfair. An Australian Embassy spokeswoman said Australia would make representations for clemency for any of the nine handed the death penalty. Prime Minister John Howard reacted to today's death sentences by begging young Australians to stay away from drugs in Asia, saying he had no power to change tough anti-narcotic laws in other countries. ``Can I just say to every young Australian, please take notice of this, I even beg them not to take the terrible risks that these young people have done, their lives destroyed in the case of two people,'' he told reporters. The PM also defended the role the Australian Federal Police played in the capture of the Bali Nine by tipping off Indonesian authorities. Appeals must be filed with the Bali High Court within a week. Further appeals could be made later to the Supreme Court and ultimately Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono - himself an anti-drugs campaigner - could commute the death sentences. An expert in international law said if the appeal process got bogged down in technicalities, Chan and Sukumaran could stay on Indonesia's death row for years. Alternatively, things might move ominously fast. ``We could be looking at as little as two to three months. There is a record of executions in Indonesia being carried out expeditiously,'' said University of Sydney Professor Donald Rothwell. Life sentences for Czugai and Stephens Before Chan was sentenced, another of the nine, 20-year-old Michael Czugaj of Brisbane, received a life sentence, the same punishment as handed down to fellow drug mules Renae Lawrence and Scott Rush yesterday. Czugaj was arrested with heroin strapped to his body at Bali airport. Martin Stephens, 29, of Wollongong man was also sentenced to life in jail for trying to smuggle 2.9kg of heroin. Today's verdict hearings got underway after chaotic scenes. Sukumaran looked extremely agitated as he was jostled in the melee. At one point he threw a water bottle at one news crew as he moved through the throng. In a holding cell he punched a camera that hit the face of its cameraman through the bars of a holding cell at the rear of the court. A media frenzy erupted when Chan and Czugaj were escorted by police from a holding cell to two courtrooms. At one stage, Chan was jostled and fell, almost toppling into a drainage ditch at the side of the building. His guards held him up and pushed him through a pack of reporters and cameramen and then through a side door. Nearby a group of Indonesian anti-drugs activists chanted: ``Death! Death!''. AAP \|\|\|\|\| Page Not Found We could not find the page you requested. This is either because: There's an error in the address or link you have entered in your browser; There's a technical issue and the page has not been properly published; It is an older article that has been removed from the site. If you believe that this is a technical error, please contact us and tell us the location of this page. Sitemap \|\|\|\|\| A mastermind of the Bali nine heroin smuggling operation, Andrew Chan, has been found guilty and sentenced to death by an Indonesian court. Chan, 22, from Sydney, was accused along with 24-year-old Myuran Sukumaran of having provided the money, the airline tickets and the hotels to the drug mules. Judge Arief Supratman, reading out the verdict, said Chan was "guilty of illegally exporting first-class narcotics in an organised way". It is the first time the Denpasar District Court has handed down the death sentence for drug trafficking. The sentence was in line with prosecutors' recommendations. The defendant, he added, was also "the person who made the travel arrangements for several people from and to Australia". "According to the teachings of various religions, the death penalty can be justified," Mr Supratman said. Activists from an Indonesian anti-narcotics group inside the courtroom shouted "Hooray! Long live the judges!" when the verdict was read. 'No mitigating factors' Dressed in a white shirt and dark pants, Chan accepted the sentence quietly and shared a brief exchange with his lawyer before being led away. The head judge said Chan's refusal to cooperate throughout the investigation was taken into account. "There are no mitigating factors. His statements throughout the trial were convoluted and he did not own up to his actions," Mr Supratman told the court. His lawyer, Mohammad Rifan, said he was shocked at the decision and is yet to discuss the option of an appeal with Chan. Mule gets life In a separate judgement, Michael Czugaj, from Brisbane, has been found guilty of attempting to smuggle heroin from Bali to Australia and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Bali court. Judge Putu Wignya told the court Czugaj was guilty of exporting first class narcotics. The sentence was recommended by the prosecutors. He is the third Bali nine courier to receive a life sentence. Indonesian prosecutors are also seeking the death penalty for Sukumaran, who is also accused of masterminding an attempt to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin from Bali to Australia. It is judgement day too for Martin Stephens another of the alleged drug couriers. Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence in his case. Death penalty opposition Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer has told Parliament he has written to the Indonesian Government asking that the death sentence not be imposed on the Bali nine. Mr Downer says Australia has a long-standing policy of opposing the death penalty. "On the 18th of December last year, I wrote to the Indonesian Attorney-General reminding him that the Australian Government was opposed to the death sentence and we didn't want to see, in the context of the Bali nine, any of the Australians sentenced to death," he said. Appeals planned Lawyers for two other Australians given life imprisonment sentences yesterday for heroin trafficking have indicated they will appeal. Renae Lawrence's sentence was a surprise move, as the prosecutors had asked for leniency and 20 years in jail for the 28-year-old woman from Newcastle. Scott Rush, from Brisbane, received the life sentence prosecutors had asked for. In both cases, the judge in Denpasar District Court said there was no evidence that 20-year-old Rush and Lawrence were forced to carry the drugs because of threats made to their families' lives. The remaining three members of the Bali nine will have their verdicts handed down on Wednesday. Sydneysiders Matthew Norman and Si Yi Chen and Tan Van Nguyen from Brisbane are all under the age of 24 and face the prospect of spending the rest of their lives in an Indonesian prison. -ABC/AFP/Reuters	Denpasar airport, where the nine were arrested The ringleaders of the so-called Bali Nine were today sentenced to death by a Denpasar court. Andrew Chan received the news via translators at about 3:45 p.m. AEDT, and Myuran Sukumaran was sentenced at about 4:50 p.m. AEDT. The two were charged with attempting to smuggle 8.3 kg of heroin from Bali to Australia. The Australian Federal Police have been criticised for allowing the Bali Nine to travel to Indonesia, where it was known they could face the death penalty. Yesterday two other drug mules, Renae Lawrence and Scott Rush, were sentenced to life imprisonment. Prosecutors asked for the death penalty for both men. Chan was alleged to be the mastermind of the operation, and Myuran was alleged to be an enforcer. Chan, who claimed to have rediscovered his Christian faith, prayed for divine intervention prior to the sentence being handed down. Outside the court Indonesian protesters shouted "Death! Death!". Chan fell over after jostling with a media scrum, and Sukumaran threw a bottle of water at the media. Donald Rothwell, a Professor of International Law at the University of Sydney, has said that, unlike countries such as Singapore, it may not be long before the two are executed. "The Indonesian judicial system is one in which death sentences are often carried out very quickly," he said. "So unlike the situation of Van Nguyen in Singapore, where an appeal process and a clemency process played out over quite some time, this may not be the situation in Bali." Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer told parliament today that he had made a direct request to the Indonesian government that the death penalty not be imposed. "On the 18th of December last year, I wrote to the Indonesian Attorney-General reminding him that the Australian Government was opposed to the death sentence and we didn't want to see, in the context of the Bali nine, any of the Australians sentenced to death," he said. In Bali the death sentence is carried out by firing squad.
HMS Superb was launched by the Royal Navy in 1976 A British nuclear-powered submarine has been damaged after it hit rocks in the Red Sea, defence officials say. HMS Superb hit an underwater rock on 26 May and damage to its sonar equipment forced it to surface. No crew members were hurt and the submarine remains watertight, according to a Ministry of Defence spokesman. He said the submarine's nuclear reactor was "completely unaffected", but a full investigation was under way to determine the cause of the collision. The 272ft attack vessel had passed through the Suez Canal and was in the northern Red Sea, 80 miles south of Suez itself, when she hit an underwater rock pinnacle. 'No casualties' There were 112 crew on board, but no other vessel was involved. The MoD said: "There were no casualties and the submarine remains watertight, is safe on the surface and able to operate under her own power." There was also "no environmental impact" from the collision, he added. The Navy is now trying to work out how to return the vessel to port. It is currently in international waters, but is unable to dive because of the damage to its sonar equipment. HMS Superb was first launched in 1976. \|\|\|\|\| The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Royal Navy submarine HMS Superb struck an underwater pinnacle whilst on dived passage through the northern Red Sea yesterday, Monday 26 May 2008. There were no casualties and the submarine remains watertight, is safe on the surface and able to operate under its own power. The submarine's nuclear reactor is completely unaffected, and there is no environmental impact. Notwithstanding this, from the initial assessment onboard the submarine, it is clear that there is some damage to her main sonar which prevents her conducting submerged operations. Consequently her programme is being re-considered. No other vessel, military or civil, was involved in the incident. An investigation into how the grounding occurred is underway and a full Board of Inquiry will be conducted in due course. The families of the crew are in the process of being informed. HMS Superb is a Swiftsure-class attack submarine displacing 5,200 tonnes submerged. She is 272ft long and has a complement of 112. Her armament includes spearfish torpedoes. She was built by Vickers Shipbuilding at Barrow and commissioned in 1976.	The incident occurred at the Red seaHMS ''Superb'', a navy submarine from the United Kingdom, crashed into rocks in the northern half of the Red Sea on May 26. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) released a statement saying, "there were no casualties and the submarine remains watertight, is safe on the surface and able to operate under its own power." The MoD also said that "the submarine's nuclear reactor is completely unaffected, and there is no environmental impact." BBC News has reported that an investigation will be launched to discover the cause of the incident. According to the MoD, "no other vessel, military or civil, was involved in the incident." The MoD has stated that the process of informing the relatives of the crew is underway.
ARLINGTON -- A male fan fell from the second-deck club level and into the lower bowl at the Ballpark in Arlington in the fifth inning of the Rangers' 12-1 win over the Indians on Tuesday. The incident delayed the game 16 minutes as ballpark personnel tended to him and four other injured fans. The fan flipped over the railing before landing on his back in section 35, which is roughly a 30-foot drop. He was conscious and able to move all of his extremities. After being stabilized, he was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. "He's over at the emergency room having tests done," Rangers president Nolan Ryan said. "The preliminary indications are that it could have been a lot worse. We really don't know at this point in time. I think that obviously he'll remain in the hospital for observation. We're hopeful that what injuries he has are minimal." The man was sitting in the front row of Section 235 and was reaching for a foul ball that had sailed over his head and caromed back toward the field. According to a witness, the man turned his back to the field, reached over his head for the foul ball and lost his balance. Four other fans were treated for minor injuries related to the fall, but none was taken to the hospital. "The people that were below him, one little boy had a contusion to his face," Ryan said. "A couple that he landed on, I saw them, they were fine. I think we were very fortunate that it wasn't worse than it is." After the foul ball, which came off the bat of Nelson Cruz, a hush fell over the ballpark as Indians players took knees and Rangers players sat silent from the dugout. That's when umpire crew chief Tim Tschida halted the game. "The discussion was we were going to wait as long as we possibly needed to have him taken care of and get him on the way to the emergency room," Ryan said of his conversation with Tschida. "And then take care of any other injuries we had. Once that was taken care of, we were going to resume the game." Indians manager Manny Acta said that play would only be halted should players be too distraught to play. "I think what Tim said was if anybody was so affected emotionally by seeing it [that was a possibility]," Acta said. "But I don't think that was going to be the case, unless something worse happened. I was just glad the guy is fine." Home-plate umpire Chris Guccione was so distraught that he placed his hands over his head and walked in the opposite direction, toward the Indians' dugout on the third-base side. Most Rangers players didn't see the fall due to being in the dugout in front of where the fall took place. "I didn't see it. Thank God I didn't," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I just hope everything is well." Indians players, who were facing the incident, were visibly shaken by the fall. "Crazy. I looked up and saw him start to come down," left fielder Trevor Crowe said. "He hit the luxury box, and then came down. It was the one of the scariest things I've ever seen. All I could think there was to start praying. It looked like he had nothing to brace his fall." Added shortstop Jason Donald: "I heard the crowd react, and then I was just praying the whole time. ... It was just really scary and puts things in perspective." Despite not seeing it, Donald says it shook him enough that he couldn't immediately refocus on the game. "It took me a good inning or two to get back to just playing baseball again," Donald said. "Something like that is everybody's worst fear ... Thank God I didn't see it. I don't ever want to see it." Ryan noted that the fan's fall was a freak accident and in no way was a result of faulty railing. "Rails meet specifications that are required. We have warning signs on each aisle," Ryan said. "This was just one unfortunate thing that happened. You can do everything you can to try and keep this thing from happening, but sometimes they just do." Chris Cox is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. \|\|\|\|\| Fan hurt after fall from second deck Email By Richard Durrett ESPNDallas.com Archive ARLINGTON, Texas -- A male fan fell off the club level in section 235 and onto the lower deck during Tuesday's Texas Rangers game against the Cleveland Indians. He was stabilized, responsive and moving his extremities as he was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, according to team spokesman John Blake. The man, identified by the Rangers on Wednesday as Tyler Morris, fell from the club level at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, hit the railing on the suite level and then landed in the lower deck down the first-base line. The drop is about 30 feet. Four other fans were injured and treated by paramedics at the stadium. Rangers president Nolan Ryan visited with some of the injured fans and said he saw the fall out of his peripheral vision. He said the fan fell on a group of people, including a young boy who had a contusion on his face. "You are concerned for the individual that it happened to and the people that may have been hurt by the fall," Ryan said. "I was very proud of the job our emergency people did. They got right on it and stabilized him. The people that he fell on, I went up and saw them and they were fine. I think we're very fortunate that it wasn't worse than it is." The fan fell after Nelson Cruz hit a foul ball down the right-field line in the bottom of the fifth with the score 3-1 in favor of Texas. The man attempted to catch the ball and tumbled over the railing. The event left the ballpark silent, and play was suspended for 16 minutes as the field was cleared. Several players, including Indians shortstop Jason Donald and left fielder Trevor Crowe, were bowing their heads and appeared to be praying while others watched intently as paramedics were attending to the fan. He was taken off by a stretcher. "I didn't see it, but I heard it," Donald said. "I heard the body hit and I heard the crowd reaction. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened. I was praying that he wouldn't die." Ryan said he talked to the umpires about making sure the game was stopped as long as necessary to get the fan taken care of and on the way to the emergency room. Ryan said the television near his seats in the owner's box on the front row was out, so he didn't see any replays of the fall. Michael Young, who was not starting for the first time all season, followed the foul ball as it headed toward the club level. "It was a pretty disturbing visual," Young said. "I saw the whole thing. When he was about halfway down, I turned my head. I couldn't watch anymore. I'm glad to hear he's all right. I think guys on both sides were pretty shaken up." Young said the players heard about an inning after the fall that the fan was stable and headed to the hospital. "Sometimes these ballparks, it's an accident waiting to happen," Young said. "There are a lot of things in ballparks that have to be fixed and you'd like to see people be a little more proactive. We need higher rails so that doesn't happen. I've always said they should bring the nets behind home plate to the other side of the dugouts. Balls zip in there all the time and there are little kids that have seats right behind our dugout." This is the second time a fan has fallen from an upper deck at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, but the first time during a game. On April 11, 1994, the day of the first home game of the park, Hollye Minter, a 28-year-old from Plano, Texas, was posing for a photograph after the home opener and fell from the railing in the right field "Home Run Porch." She landed on empty seats in the lower level and, according to reports, broke her right arm, two ribs and several bones in her neck. Rangers officials said they raised the railings in the Home Run Porch after that game from 30½ inches to 46 inches in that area of the ballpark. They are lower in other areas. Ryan said they are up to code. "The rails meet the specifications that are required," Ryan said. "We have warning signs at each aisle. It's one of those unfortunate things that happened. You can do everything you can to keep those things from happening, but sometimes they just do." Signs around the ballpark warn spectators not to lean or sit on the railing. The railing within the stair aisles is also slightly higher all around the ballpark. Richard Durrett covers the Rangers for ESPNDallas.com. You can follow him on Twitter or leave a question for his weekly mailbag. \|\|\|\|\| ARLINGTON - The Rangers won a game on Tuesday night in which C.J. Wilson allowed three hits, Andres Blanco got three hits and Joaquin Arias drove home four runs. And, really, none of that mattered. During the fifth inning, a fan fell some 30 feet from the club concourse into the lower seating bowl while trying to catch a foul pop. It drew screams from the crowd of 20,428 fans and gasps from players who saw it. In the end, though, the fan may have escaped critical injury. The fan fell while apparently trying to catch Nelson Cruz's foul pop. It's not clear if he was leaning over the low railing around the club seats or if he backed into it. But when we he fell, he hit several people below. That may have helped save him. "The preliminary indications are that it could have been a lot worse," Rangers president Nolan Ryan said after the game. "You are concerned for the fan and for the other people who were hurt during the fall. Our emergency personnel got their very quickly and got him stabilized. I'm very proud of that." The fan who fell - his name has not yet been released - was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. According to Rangers spokesman John Blake he was able to move all his extremities and was responsive to emergency personnel. He was expected to be kept at least overnight. The four fans who were injured by his fall were all treated at Rangers Ballpark and did not require hospitalization. One small child received a contusion on his face, Ryan said. He visited with the fans at the treatment area. The incident happened at about 8:30 p.m. with the Rangers leading 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth. As personnel attended to the fan, umpires stopped play and waved players off the field. The umpires met with Ryan and later with the managers. The game was resumed after a 16-minute delay. Ryan said the discussion was not about suspending or canceling the game. "We were just going to do everything to make sure that everybody had been attended to," Ryan said. "We were going to wait as long as we needed to take care of it and any other injuries and then we were going to resume the game." When it did resume, the Rangers set to beating up the Indians. Texas scored five runs in the sixth inning and also scored in both the seventh and eighth. The Rangers scored in four of their final five at-bats. Blanco, who became the only Ranger other than Michael Young to start at third base this season, had a two-run double in the fourth to give the Rangers their first lead of the night. He had a single in the five-run sixth that helped the rally blossom and he also singled in the three-run sixth. Arias doubled his RBI total for the year with a bases-loaded double in the sixth and a run-scoring single in the seventh. And the Rangers also did a little old-fashioned home run-hitting. Josh Hamilton hit his 21st homer of the season to extend his home hitting streak to 26 games. Vladimir Guerrero hit his 21st with two outs in the sixth. Nelson Cruz and David Murphy (a late-game replacement for Hamilton) each hit solo homers in the Rangers' final two at-bats.	A fan fell 30 from the club-concourse level into the lower-level seating area at the in Texas during the ' home game against the Tuesday night. Exterior of the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The incident occurred in the bottom of the 5th inning with at bat for the Rangers. Cruz hit a foul ball into the crowd. The fan leaned over the railing to grab the ball and fell over the railing and into the crowd 30 feet below. Play was immediately stopped and suspended for 16 minutes. The man, whose identity has not been released, was conscious and could move all extremities. He was stabilized and taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. In a press conference following the game, team president told reporters that "He's over at the emergency room having tests done. The preliminary indications are that it could have been a lot worse. We really don't know at this point in time. I think that obviously he'll remain in the hospital for observation. We're hopeful that what injuries he has are minimal." Four other spectators, including a young boy, were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
The entry, descent, and landing (EDL) begins when the spacecraft reaches the Martian atmosphere, about 80 miles (about 128 kilometers) above the surface, and ends with the lander safe and sound on the surface of Mars six minutes later. For InSight, this phase includes a combination of technologies inherited from past NASA Mars missions such as NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander. This landing system weighs less than the airbags used for the twin rovers or the skycrane used by the Mars Science Laboratory. The lean landing hardware helps InSight place a higher ratio of science instruments to total launch mass on the surface of Mars. Compared with Phoenix, though, InSight's landing presents four added challenges: InSight enters the atmosphere at a lower velocity -- 12,300 miles per hour (5.5 kilometers per second) vs. 12,500 miles per hour (5.6 kilometers per second). InSight has more mass entering the atmosphere -- about 1,340 pounds (608 kilograms) vs. 1,263 pounds (573 kilograms). InSight lands at an elevation of about 4,900 feet (1.5 kilometers) higher than Phoenix did, so it has less atmosphere to use for deceleration. InSight lands during northern hemisphere autumn on Mars, when dust storms are known to have grown to global proportions in some prior years. Some of the changes in InSight's entry, descent and landing system, compared to the one used by Phoenix, are: InSight uses a thicker heat shield, partly to handle the possibility of being sandblasted by a dust storm. InSight’s parachute suspension lines use stronger material. The entry, descent and landing sequence breaks down into three parts: \|\|\|\|\| The Instrument Deployment Camera (IDC), located on the robotic arm of NASA's InSight lander, took this picture of the Martian surface on Nov. 26, 2018, the same day the spacecraft touched down on the Red Planet. The camera's transparent dust cover is still on in this image, to prevent particulates kicked up during landing from settling on the camera's lens. This image was relayed from InSight to Earth via NASA's Odyssey spacecraft, currently orbiting Mars. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech. Raw Image and Caption NASA's InSight has sent signals to Earth indicating that its solar panels are open and collecting sunlight on the Martian surface. NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter relayed the signals, which were received on Earth at about 5:30 p.m. PST (8:30 p.m. EST). Solar array deployment ensures the spacecraft can recharge its batteries each day. Odyssey also relayed a pair of images showing InSight's landing site. "The InSight team can rest a little easier tonight now that we know the spacecraft solar arrays are deployed and recharging the batteries," said Tom Hoffman, InSight's project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, which leads the mission. "It's been a long day for the team. But tomorrow begins an exciting new chapter for InSight: surface operations and the beginning of the instrument deployment phase." InSight's twin solar arrays are each 7 feet (2.2 meters) wide; when they're open, the entire lander is about the size of a big 1960s convertible. Mars has weaker sunlight than Earth because it's much farther away from the Sun. But the lander doesn't need much to operate: The panels provide 600 to 700 watts on a clear day, enough to power a household blender and plenty to keep its instruments conducting science on the Red Planet. Even when dust covers the panels — what is likely to be a common occurrence on Mars — they should be able to provide at least 200 to 300 watts. The panels are modeled on those used with NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, though InSight’s are slightly larger in order to provide more power output and to increase their structural strength. These changes were necessary to support operations for one full Mars year (two Earth years). In the coming days, the mission team will unstow InSight's robotic arm and use the attached camera to snap photos of the ground so that engineers can decide where to place the spacecraft's scientific instruments. It will take two to three months before those instruments are fully deployed and sending back data. In the meantime, InSight will use its weather sensors and magnetometer to take readings from its landing site at Elysium Planitia — its new home on Mars. About InSight JPL manages InSight for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. InSight is part of NASA's Discovery Program, managed by the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built the InSight spacecraft, including its cruise stage and lander, and supports spacecraft operations for the mission. A number of European partners, including France's Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES), the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), are supporting the InSight mission. CNES and IPGP provided the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) instrument, with significant contributions from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Germany, the Swiss Institute of Technology (ETH) in Switzerland, Imperial College and Oxford University in the United Kingdom, and JPL. DLR provided the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) instrument, with significant contributions from the Space Research Center (CBK) of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Astronika in Poland. Spain’s Centro de Astrobiología (CAB) supplied the wind sensors. For more information about InSight, visit: https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/ News Media Contact Andrew Good Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-393-2433 andrew.c.good@jpl.nasa.gov \|\|\|\|\| Newfound meteorite could help unlock secrets of the solar system Newfound meteorite could help unlock secrets of the solar system \|\|\|\|\| Humanity may be years away from setting foot on Mars, but the Red Planet is turning into something of a monument park for our species all the same. Rovers and landers—some still operating, some having completed their functional life—dot the surface, and orbiters cross the skies overhead. On November 26 at 2:47 PM EST, one more machine joined the growing fleet, and it will be less concerned with what happens on or above Mars and more with what goes on within it. Launched last May on a 270-million mile arcing trajectory to Mars, the new addition to the Martian family is known as the Mars InSight lander. The name is another in a series of decidedly labored but nonetheless illuminating acronyms for NASA spacecraft—in this case standing for “Interior exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport.” (The selective capitalizations are, in fairness, a step up from 2004’s Mercury MESSENGER mission, which stood for MErcury Surface Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging mission. Really.) Still, the clumsy name belies a nimble ship. InSight weighs just 1,530 lbs., including fuel and the protective aeroshell designed to help it survive the plunge through Mars’s tenuous atmosphere. It measures just 33 to 43 inches tall, depending on how far its three spindly legs compress after landing. The main body of the spacecraft is just 5 ft. wide, without its solar panels deployed. But NASA engineers have packed a lot of science into that comparatively small package. The spacecraft is equipped with a seismometer that relies on half a dozen different sensors to measure planetary perturbations in a range of frequencies; a movement and wobble sensor that detects anomalies in Mars’s rotation; and, most significantly, a deep thermal probe, which a robotic arm will hammer up to 16 ft. into the surface of the planet, far deeper than any spacecraft has dug before. What’s more, InSight isn’t traveling alone. Trailing behind on its eight-month journey to Mars have been two briefcase-sized CubeSats, deployed by the same rocket that launched InSight itself. Mostly proof-of-concept technology, they are intended to test the practicality of such mini-ships on deep space missions. While they are not essential to the overall mission, if they function as they should, they will help radio back data from InSight as it descends and lands before they sail past Mars and off into space. As with all Mars missions, the landing was the most harrowing part, with the spacecraft relying on aerobraking, a parachute system and rocket engines to touch down softly on the surface. The landing site itself, at least, will present few challenges. The most interesting parts of Mars, geologically speaking, are its most hazardous ones—areas with craters or mountains or canyons, and other landers have gone there. But InSight’s instruments can gather solid data no matter where they are on the surface, so the spacecraft aimed for Elysium Planitia, a wide plain just north of the equator that NASA has dubbed “the biggest parking lot on Mars.” It is to NASA’s credit that its map of the landing site includes the location of Martian landers that have come before—Viking 1, Viking 2, Pathfinder, Spirit, Opportunity, Phoenix, Curiosity. At present, Curiosity is still at work; Opportunity may be, though NASA has had no contact with the old rover since last June. InSight is expected to work for at least two years, after which it too will go silent. Its time on Mars will be comparatively fleeting, but the knowledge it sends home about Earth’s closest planetary kin will endure. Write to Jeffrey Kluger at jeffrey_kluger@timemagazine.com. \|\|\|\|\| You don't need wheels to explore Mars. After touching down in November, NASA's InSight spacecraft will spread its solar panels, unfold a robotic arm … and stay put. Unlike the space agency's rovers, InSight is a lander designed to study an entire planet from just one spot. This sedentary science allows InSight to detect geophysical signals deep below the Martian surface, including marsquakes and heat. Scientists will also be able to track radio signals from the stationary spacecraft, which vary based on the wobble in Mars' rotation. Understanding this wobble could help solve the mystery of whether the planet's core is solid. Here are five things to know about how InSight conducts its science. 1. InSight Can Measure Quakes Anywhere on the Planet Quakes on Earth are usually detected using networks of seismometers. InSight has only one – called SEIS (Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure) – so its science team will use some creative measurements to analyze seismic waves as they occur anywhere on the planet. SEIS will measure seismic waves from marsquakes and meteorite strikes as they move through Mars. The speed of those waves changes depending on the material they're traveling through, helping scientists deduce what the planet's interior is made of. Seismic waves come in a surprising number of flavors. Some vibrate across a planet's surface, while others ricochet off its center. They also move at different speeds. Seismologists can use each type as a tool to triangulate where and when a seismic event has happened. This means InSight could have landed anywhere on Mars and, without moving, gathered the same kind of science. 2. InSight's Seismometer Needs Peace and Quiet Seismometers are touchy by nature. They need to be isolated from "noise" in order to measure seismic waves accurately. SEIS is sensitive enough to detect vibrations smaller than the width of a hydrogen atom. It will be the first seismometer ever set on the Martian surface, where it will be thousands of times more accurate than seismometers that sat atop the Viking landers. To take advantage of this exquisite sensitivity, engineers have given SEIS a shell: a wind-and-thermal shield that InSight's arm will place over the seismometer. This protective dome presses down when wind blows over it; a Mylar-and-chainmail skirt keeps wind from blowing in. It also gives SEIS a cozy place to hide away from Mars' intense temperature swings, which can create minute changes in the instrument's springs and electronics. 3. InSight Has a Self-Hammering Nail Have you ever tried to hammer a nail? Then you know holding it steady is key. InSight carries a nail that also needs to be held steady. This unique instrument, called HP3 (Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package), holds a spike attached to a long tether. A mechanism inside the spike will hammer it up to 16 feet (5 meters) underground, dragging out the tether, which is embedded with heat sensors. At that depth, it can detect heat trapped inside Mars since the planet first formed. That heat shaped the surface with volcanoes, mountain ranges and valleys. It may even have determined where rivers ran early in Mars' history. 4. InSight Can Land in a Safe Spot Because InSight needs stillness – and because it can collect seismic and heat data from anywhere on the planet – the spacecraft is free to land in the safest location possible. InSight's team selected a location on Mars' equator called Elysium Planitia – as flat and boring a spot as any on Mars. That makes landing just a bit easier, as there's less to crash into, fewer rocks to land on and lots of sunlight to power the spacecraft. The fact that InSight doesn't use much power and should have plenty of sunlight at Mars' equator means it can provide lots of data for scientists to study. 5. InSight Can Measure Mars' Wobble InSight has two X-band antennas on its deck that make up a third instrument, called RISE (Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment). Radio signals from RISE will be measured over months, maybe even years, to study the tiny "wobble" in the rotation of the planet. That wobble is a sign of whether Mars' core is liquid or solid – a trait that could also shed light on the planet's thin magnetic field. Collecting detailed data on this wobble hasn't happened since Mars Pathfinder's three-month mission in 1997 (although the Opportunity rover made a few measurements in 2011 while it remained still, waiting out the winter). Every time a stationary spacecraft sends radio signals from Mars, it can help scientists improve their measurements. About InSight JPL manages InSight for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. InSight is part of NASA's Discovery Program, managed by the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built the InSight spacecraft, including its cruise stage and lander, and supports spacecraft operations for the mission. A number of European partners, including France's Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), support the InSight mission. CNES provided the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) instrument, with significant contributions from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Germany, the Swiss Institute of Technology (ETH) in Switzerland, Imperial College and Oxford University in the United Kingdom, and JPL. DLR provided the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) instrument. For more information about InSight, visit: https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/ News Media Contact Andrew Good Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-393-2433 andrew.c.good@jpl.nasa.gov	On Monday shortly before noon US west coast time (2000 ), NASA's successfully touched down on on Mars. It sent a signal beep and image of the surface of Mars to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in . Artist's rendition of the InSight Lander showing the solar panels in their open position after landing, heat flow instrument in the deployed position, and seismometer. The lander used with a heat shield, then a parachute and finally rockets to achieve a soft landing on the surface. It used similar entry, descent, and landing sequence to the . Insight project manager Tom Hoffman said, "We hit the Martian atmosphere at 12,300 miles per hour; 19,800 , and the whole sequence to touching down on the surface took only six and a half minutes ... During that short span of time, InSight had to autonomously perform dozens of operations and do them flawlessly — and by all indications, that is exactly what our spacecraft did." ''InSight'' stands for ''Interior exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport''. The lander's two-year mission is to assess what Mars is like underground, determining the planet's heat flow and listening to the reverberations of groundquakes and meteorite impacts. Acting director of NASA's Planetary Science Division Lori Glaze said, "We've studied Mars from orbit and from the surface since 1965, learning about its weather, atmosphere, geology and surface chemistry ... Now we finally will explore inside Mars and deepen our understanding of our terrestrial neighbor as NASA prepares to send human explorers deeper into the solar system." InSight is expected to begin its mission in a few months, once it has placed the equipment on the surface of Mars. Its solar panels are now open, catching sunlight and powering the spacecraft. It is equipped to drive a device up to 16 (5 ) down into Mars's surface, a record for Mars probes. This is to help characterize heat flow from the planet. Insight also has ultra sensitive seismometers which it is to use to detect Mars earthquakes for the first time. By recording the seismic waves from these quakes, InSight would help scientists infer things about the interior of Mars, such as how seismically active it is. InSight has as single , with which NASA plans to assess signals from different types of vibrational wave, triangulate their sources, and so derive information about the planetary interior. InSight was launched May 5 of this year and traveled reportedly 301,223,981 miles (somewhat over 484,773,000 kilometres) between planets followed by two suitcase-sized cube satellites called , individually MarCO-A and MarCO-B, which relayed information to Earth during the landing process. Previous successful landers on Mars include '''', '''', '''', '''', '''', ''Phoenix'', and . Of these, only ''Curiosity'' is still in communication with Earth, after NASA lost communication with ''Opportunity'' in June. InSight's landing spot in the Elysium Planitia is about 600 km from ''Curiosity'''s landing site in .
Osama Bin Laden's Son Killed In U.S. Counterterrorism Operation, Trump Says Enlarge this image toggle caption CIA via AP CIA via AP President Trump says that Hamza bin Laden, the son of Osama bin Laden, has been killed in a U.S. counterterrorism operation in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region. In a statement released by the White House on Saturday, Trump said bin Laden's son was responsible for "planning and dealing with various terrorist groups." His death, he said, "not only deprives al-Qa'ida of important leadership skills and the symbolic connection to his father, but undermines important operational activities of the group." The statement did not say when bin Laden died, but it came more than six weeks after several media outlets, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported he had been killed. There has been no confirmation from al-Qaida about his death, even though the terror group traditionally does so when its leaders are killed. Unlike his father — who was killed in a Navy Seal raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011 — relatively little was known about the younger bin Laden, not even his age. But he was a "favorite son" to his father, according to Ali Soufan, a former FBI special agent and terrorism expert, who spoke with NPR following initial reports about his death in July. "He was featured early on when he was about 8, 9 years old in Qaida propaganda videos, reciting fiery poems," said Soufan. Hamza served as a transitional leader, according to Soufan, bridging the old guard and younger generations of al-Qaida. His influence in the organization led the State Department in March to offer a $1 million reward for information leading to his capture. He had posted videos online calling for attacks on the U.S. and its allies, and was particularly interested in exacting "revenge" against the U.S. for the killing of his father, the State Department said. "Osama wanted to start grooming him for a more senior position in al-Qaida, and basically, Hamza survived just for being late joining his dad in a few days when his dad was killed by the Navy SEALs," said Soufan. In the years since that raid, al-Qaida has often been overshadowed by ISIS, but according to Soufan, the group is "more dangerous today" than it was in the years leading up to 9/11. "You see al-Qaida's operation in Syria or in Afghanistan, Pakistan alongside the Taliban, that continued from before 9/11. You see al-Qaida's operations in Sudan through their franchise, al-Shabab movement. You see al-Qaida in Yemen. Since the Arab coalition war in Yemen, for example, they went from about 700 fighters to more than 8,000 fighters," Soufan said. "So al-Qaida's, you know, playing the long strategy here, and I think they have been able to generate significant support from local populations." \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) President Donald Trump in a statement on Saturday said late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's son Hamza bin Laden had been "killed in a United States counterterrorism operation in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region." He did not give a time period for the operation or the death. "The loss of Hamza bin Ladin not only deprives al-Qa'ida of important leadership skills and the symbolic connection to his father, but undermines important operational activities of the group," the President said in the statement. Trump also said "Hamza bin Ladin was responsible for planning and dealing with various terrorist groups." CNN previously reported on July 31 that the US believed Hamza bin Laden was dead, citing a US official. The official told CNN at the time that the US had a role in this death but did not provide details. Read More \|\|\|\|\| Hamza bin Ladin, the high-ranking al-Qa’ida member and son of Usama bin Ladin, was killed in a United States counterterrorism operation in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region. The loss of Hamza bin Ladin not only deprives al-Qa’ida of important leadership skills and the symbolic connection to his father, but undermines important operational activities of the group. Hamza bin Ladin was responsible for planning and dealing with various terrorist groups. \|\|\|\|\| U.S. has intel that Osama bin Laden's son and heir Hamza is dead, say officials The officials would not provide details of how Hamza bin Laden died, or if the U.S. played a role. It is unclear if the U.S. has confirmed his death.	Donald Trump at the on September 11, 2019 On Saturday, in a brief but official statement, US President Donald Trump said , son of the late Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, has been killed in a US operation. The statement specified no date or exact location. The alleged death of Hamza was previously in the news at the end of July based on unconfirmed reports. Trump's statement read: "Hamza bin Ladin, the high-ranking al-Qa’ida member and son of Usama bin Ladin, was killed in a United States counterterrorism operation in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region. The loss of Hamza bin Ladin not only deprives al-Qa’ida of important leadership skills and the symbolic connection to his father, but undermines important operational activities of the group. Hamza bin Ladin was responsible for planning and dealing with various terrorist groups." On July 31, multiple news outlets reported Hamza bin Laden to be dead citing sources within the . Per reports, the sources said he died within two years before, perhaps within a few months, but the US had only recently come to believe he was dead. The press asked Trump about it that same day, but he declined to comment. Retired FBI agent and terrorism specialist Ali Soufan told NPR Hamza bin Laden had appeared in Al-Qaeda videos since he was a young boy and his father saw a leadership role for him. Hamza bridged a generational gap between newer Al-Qaeda members and veteran members, according to Soufan. The described Hamza bin Laden in March of this year as an "emerging" figure in the Al-Qaeda organization when they offered a one million US dollar reward for information leading to his capture. Osama bin Laden founded Al-Qaeda and orchestrated the 9/11 attacks on the US of 2001. Osama was killed by US special forces in Pakistan in 2011.
Lewis Hamilton began the day with a 12-point lead - and ended it with a trip into the gravel, a premature exit and only four points in hand over Fernando Alonso and seven over Kimi Raikkonen. The Chinese Grand Prix was an unmitigated disaster for the Englishman - and, perhaps, for his championship hopes. The only thing that could have been worse for Hamilton was if McLaren team mate Alonso had won. He didnt. That honour went to Raikkonen after a superb drive for Ferrari in changing conditions. Alonso was a strong second, and Ferraris Felipe Massa a charging third, which sets up a three-way fight for the title in Brazil in a fortnight. Hamilton has 107 points, but Alonso is now up to 103 and Raikkonen 100. Not since 1986, when outsider Alain Prost beat favourites Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet, have three drivers fought it out to the last round. The race began well for Hamilton. Rain before the start obliged everyone to opt for Bridgestones standard wet-weather tyres, and with aplomb the polesitter opened up a 10-second lead by the time he made his first scheduled pit stop on lap 15. That handed Raikkonen the lead, which he maintained until his own stop on lap 19. Hamilton, however, was pushing hard and retook the lead as the Finn rejoined. Further back, Massa and Alonso were locked in battle, but not in a position to challenge. At this stage, all four front runners kept their original tyres through their stops. The expected rain held off, but eventually some fell around the 26-lap mark, and suddenly Raikkonen was taking chunks out of Hamiltons 4.6s lead. Through lap 28 they were side-by-side more often than not, and when the McLaren finally slid wide in one corner the Ferrari driver pounced and immediately opened up a big lead. Hamilton had spoken the previous day of the Ferraris characteristic of being kinder to its tyres, and that proved crucial. He struggled on, fighting for grip everywhere, hanging on for his scheduled second stop on lap 31. When it came, it was the prelude to disaster. As he came into the pits, Hamilton slid wide on the entry left-hander and, agonisingly slowly, went into the gravel bed. There was no escape. His race was over, and suddenly Raikkonen and Alonso were thrown their crucial lifeline. Now it was a fight between Alonso and the two Ferraris, but it was a stalemate situation that saw the Raikkonen-Alonso-Massa order maintained to the end. Fourth place fell to Sebastian Vettel, who made up for his Fuji gaffe. He got a little bit lucky as his single-stop strategy worked well as far as the timing of the change in weather conditions was concerned, but this was a fine performance nonetheless. Thus Toro Rosso got their first official points of the season, and a strong drive from Vettels team mate Tonio Liuzzi, who early on ran fourth on merit, saw the two-stopping Italian finish sixth. Unfortunately for him, his strategy didnt work so well when the conditions changed, and he struggled with tyre graining all through the race. Between them, Jenson Button had his best race of the season with a strong run for Honda that at one stage saw him setting fastest laps after switching to the softer-compound-dry weather tyres at the crucial stage. Behind Liuzzi, Nick Heidfeld took seventh place after losing out when conditions changed, and he was less than a second behind the Toro Rosso. Team mate Robert Kubica was actually leading the race, and a contender for victory after Raikkonen and Alonso made their final stops, when his BMW Sauber rolled to a halt with its fourth hydraulic failure of the weekend. Thus the final point fell to Red Bulls David Coulthard, who fended off Heikki Kovalainens Renault all the way to the flag. Behind them, Mark Webber did likewise with Renaults Giancarlo Fisichella in the second Red Bull. Alexander Wurz was 12th for Williams, a lap down, in a race that saw him see-saw up and down the order as the first man to switch to soft dries. At one stage he set fastest lap. He headed home Toyotas Jarno Trulli, Super Aguris Takuma Sato, and Hondas Rubens Barrichello, all a lap down, then Nico Rosberg two laps down in the Williams and Spykers Sakon Yamamoto three laps in arrears. Besides Kubica and Hamilton, the retirements included Toyotas Ralf Schumacher, who clashed with Liuzzi after two separate spins, Adrian Sutil who crashed his Spyker in the final corner, and Anthony Davidson who a suffered mechanical problem on his Super Aguri. If this was a Hollywood script, there could be no better scenario for the world championship finale, as Hamilton, Alonso and Raikkonen have it all to play for in Interlagos in two weeks time. \|\|\|\|\| By Andrew Benson Hamilton counts the cost of his error in the pit lane The Englishman slid off the track on his way into the pit lane to change his tyres in a tricky wet-dry race. He had already ceded the lead to Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari and was being pressured by team-mate Fernando Alonso. Raikkonen won from the Spaniard - and they will stage a title showdown with Hamilton at the final race in Brazil. Hamilton leads with 107 points, ahead of Alonso on 103 and Raikkonen on 100. The 22-year-old had a lead of more than eight seconds when he made his first pit stop on lap 15 of the 56-lap race. That was cut to four by Raikkonen by the time the Finn had made his stop four laps later, but Hamilton still appeared to have the race under control. The Briton's hopes started to unravel as the track began to dry a few laps later. Hamilton drove beautifully in the early laps of the race Raikkonen quickly closed in on Hamilton, who held his title rival off for two laps before falling foul of his lack of grip. The McLaren ran wide going into turn eight on lap 29, allowing Raikkonen to sneak past on the inside at the next corner. And then it all went wrong for Hamilton. His right rear was completely worn out - a white line appearing around its circumference - as he battled to stay in front of Alonso on lap 30. And coming into the pits, the rear of the car twitched away from the Briton as he tried to turn into the left-hand corner at the start of the pit lane. Hamilton corrected it, but the car slid straight on into the gravel trap, where it was beached. Hamilton tried to get the car out, but the rear wheels spun helplessly and, after imploring the marshals to help him, he finally admitted defeat and climbed out of the car. Back on the track, the action was just as dramatic. After Alonso came in for dry tyres on lap 32, he returned right in front of Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who had been running on his dry tyres for some laps and had more grip. Raikkonen's win puts him right back in the title hunt However, once he had cemented his position, Alonso began to carve into Raikkonen's lead, cutting it from more than 15 seconds to eight within eight laps before the Ferrari driver responded to stabilise the gap. Raikkonen controlled the race for the remaining laps to take his fifth win of the season - one more than either Hamilton or Alonso, a fact that could be crucial at the final race. Drivers tied on points at the end of the season are separated by a win countback. Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel finished fourth ahead of Honda's Jenson Button after both drove superbly in the difficult conditions to take their best results of the season. Vettel's result came after the novice was reprimanded for causing an accident behind the safety car in Japan. Final positions after Chinese Grand Prix: 1 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari one hour 37 minutes 58.395 seconds 2 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes at 9.8 seconds 3 Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari at 12.8 seconds 4 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari at 53.5 seconds 5 Jenson Button (GB) Honda at 1:08.6secs 6 Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso-Ferrari at 1:13.6 7 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber at 1:14.2 8 David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault at 1:20.7 9 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault at 1:21.1 10 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault at 1:24.6 11 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault at 1:26.6 12 Alexander Wurz (Aut) Williams-Toyota one lap behind 13 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota one lap 14 Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda one lap 15 Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda one lap 16 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota two laps 17 Sakon Yamamoto (Jpn) Spyker three laps R 18 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 33 laps completed 19 Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 30 laps 20 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 25 laps 21 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Spyker-Ferrari 24 laps 22 Anthony Davidson (GB) Super Aguri 11 laps Key: R = retired \|\|\|\|\| Fernando Alonso and Raikkonen are breathing down Hamilton's neck The Spaniard finished second to Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in Shanghai to move to within four points of his McLaren team-mate with one race to go. "It will still be very difficult because it will not be easy to take four points from Lewis," said Alonso. "I need something dramatic to win. With a normal race it will be impossible." Raikkonen also boosted his title chances - his win leaves him seven points behind Hamilton going into the Brazilian Grand Prix on 22 October. On form, the Finn will be favourite to win at Interlagos, but realistically he can only hope some form of problem befalls both his rivals. It is not nice when you hear your boss say he feels like a father to the other driver, and with me that I am not talking with him Fernando Alonso "We are back in the championship and it will be interesting in the final race," said Raikkonen. "Hopefully the car is good and it will be a battle all weekend. It is not just up to us, though. We saw today that anything can happen." Hamilton attempted to look on the positive side after sliding into a gravel trap on his way into the pits to change his worn tyres. The Englishman, 22, had already lost the lead to Raikkonen and was being pressured by Alonso when he made his error. "I'm sorry for the team, but I can still do it, don't worry," said Hamilton. "You cannot go through life without making mistakes. But I am over it and we look forward to Brazil. You cannot go through life without making mistakes - but I am over it and we still have points in the bag Lewis Hamilton "The team will be working hard to make sure the car is quick enough there, and we still have points in the bag." Alonso said that his difficult relationship with McLaren following a series of rows this season would make it harder for him to win the title than Hamilton. "For sure it is not easy with the relationship the team has with me," the double world champion said. "It is not nice when you hear your boss say he feels like a father to the other driver, and he has a really good relationship, and with me [that] I am not talking with him. "I was surprised about all these things. But the cars will be the same so it is up to me to do a better job." It will be the first time since 1986 that three drivers have gone into the final race of the season still in contention for the title. On that occasion, the man who went into the final race leading - Nigel Mansell - lost the championship. The Englishman's tyre exploded on the main straight at Adelaide while he was in a position to win the title. Frenchman Alain Prost went on to win the race and claim the second of his four drivers' crowns.	Shanghai International Circuit: An image of the main straight and pitlane area Shanghai International Circuit File photo of Kimi Räikkönen (2008) Spa, 2007, his previous win Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen won the FIA Formula-1 2007 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix on the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China. This became the 200th GP win for Scuderia Ferrari and 600th podium for this Formula One team. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton gained pole in the qualification and was in the steady lead, but the tyre strategy gamble caused by a faulty rain predictions caused Lewis to lose control of his car on a pit lane entry carrying it to a gravel trap. This mistake became an unexpected opportunity for his rivals Kimi Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso in the Drivers' Championship. Alonso is four points behind and Räikkönen is seven points behind Hamilton. While Alonso and Ferrari driver Felipe Massa were battling side by side right after the start of the race, Hamilton chased by the Finn managed to make a comfort gap to them. After Alonso finally passed Massa and strengthen his position he get into pursuit for Räikkönen's red car. Alonso was about ten seconds behind Räikkönen up on the finish line. Sebastian Vettel rehabilitated himself for his previous fault and finished 4th. His teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi was 6th, splitted by Jenson Button's Honda from his younger companion. Nick Heidfeld's BMW Sauber was 7th, while his teammate Robert Kubica was out while leading the race on the 33rd lap. David Coulthard's Red Bull-Renault closed the top eight, three other Renault-engined cars right after him.
PA Boris Johnson has pledged to end 'disgraceful cronyism' His triumph capped an outstanding set of local election results for the Tories, and suggests David Cameron is well on course to become Prime Minister in two years’ time. The final declaration was delayed as record turn-out led tellers to continue counting ballots well into the evening. Mr Johnson’s victory was in part secured as a result of the increased numbers who took to the polls, as his team’s successful “doughnut strategy” of wooing natural Tories in the outer boroughs who in the past failed to vote in London elections proved devastating for Labour. The toppled mayor, Ken Livingstone, proved equally successful in getting the vote out in his inner London heartland, but was outnumbered by the more numerous suburban residents. Such was the strength of the campaign run by the Australian Lynton Crosby, that at one stage it even looked as if Mr Johnson would be declared the winner on first preference votes. In the end, it took the second preferences of the defeated Liberal Democrats and the minor parties to secure Mr Johnson victory by a margin greater than even he had hoped to dare for. The result means that Londoners have swapped one of the most colourful politicians in the country for an even more flamboyant character. Although Mr Johnson’s team successfully curbed their candidate’s more indiscrete tendencies, many onlookers are hoping that he will now shed his new-found seriousness and bring some levity to City Hall. The mayor-to-be spent the day at his home in North London, leaving only to go for a jog accompanied by a number of camera crews. Have your say: What kind of mayor will Mr Johnson be? \|\|\|\|\| Opposition lawmaker ousts London mayor LONDON (AP) — Election officials say Conservative lawmaker Boris Johnson has been elected mayor of London, ousting Ken Livingstone of the governing Labour party. Johnson's victory followed the loss of over 300 local council seats by Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party in local elections held Thursday in England and Wales. Brown, whose standing has been hurt by accusations of indecision and economic blunders since he became leader last June, must call a national election by mid-2010. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. LONDON (AP) — An eccentric Conservative lawmaker appeared likely to become London's next mayor after an election that brought only gloom Friday for Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Labour Party. Brown's first test at the polls Thursday brought Labour its worst local election results in four decades; his credibility has been dented by accusations of dithering and economic blunders since he became leader last June. The party lost more than 300 municipal council seats and the Conservatives made strong gains in its longtime weak spot in northern England. In London, bookmakers and legislators alike predicted former magazine editor Boris Johnson would win for the Conservatives, defeating Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone, who became the city's first elected mayor in 2000. The mayor of London is one of the nation's most high-profile posts — controlling a budget of billions and charged with planning for the 2012 Olympics. "It looks like Boris Johnson is ahead," Olympics minister Tessa Jowell told the British Broadcasting Corp. "The people of London are telling us something — telling us their lives are very hard. They want us to take quick and clear notice of that." Brown's poor showing seem certain to embolden critics within his Labour Party who fear the famously sullen ex-Treasury chief has little prospect of beating the Conservatives' charismatic leader, David Cameron, in a national election. Cameron's Conservatives had champagne on ice, preparing to toast Johnson's predicted capture of London's City Hall. Johnson, 43, a former magazine editor, is known for his wit and frequent television appearances. He also has offended minority communities with unguarded comments. However, his clownish charm means most forgive his indiscretions and appears to have been the key to wresting control of City Hall from Livingstone. "The ship of state is heading towards the rocks," crowed Tory lawmaker Eric Pickles, predicting Brown would now put off a national election until the latest possible date in mid-2010. In last year's local elections, Labour lost control of Scotland's regional government. "I think these results are not just a vote against Gordon Brown and his government," Cameron said. "I think they are a vote of positive confidence in the Conservative Party." There was little Brown could do to put a positive spin on the losses. "It's clear to me that this has been a disappointing night, indeed a bad night for Labour," he told reporters. Brown's electoral thrashing came as Tony Blair — his predecessor and longtime rival — reminded Britons of his polished statesmanlike credentials, leading talks on Palestinian aid and hosting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at his London home. One Labour peer, Lord Desai, recently quipped that Brown's true role was to show his party how much they missed Blair. Partial results from 157 local councils showed the Conservatives gaining 259 seats with Labour losing 306. The Liberal Democrats gained 31 seats. Results of the London mayor's race were expected late Friday. The BBC projected the Conservatives would take 44 percent of the vote in England and Wales, putting it 20 points ahead of Labour. Brown's party was a point behind the Liberal Democrats, usually the country's third-largest party, according to the BBC. Brown was credited with overseeing Britain's longest stretch of postwar prosperity and enjoyed a strong start as prime minister. He claimed to represent substance after the slick Blair years, and won praise for his deft handling of botched terror attacks in London and Glasgow. But Brown's brief honeymoon ended abruptly when he anguished over, and then ruled out, an early national election in October. Since then, economic woes and Brown's strategic blunders have conspired to send poll ratings for Labour to a 20-year low. Voters grumble over rising food and fuel prices, falling house values, tax changes that have hit blue-collar workers, and the costly nationalization of mortgage lender Northern Rock. Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University said Thursday's voting suggested the Conservatives had finally recovered from the 1992 currency crisis that drove Britain out of the European exchange rate mechanism and wrecked their reputation for economic competence. However, Brown's Labour Party followed disastrous municipal results in 2004 with a strong national election victory a year later. Associated Press writers Paisley Dodds and Raphael Satter contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Boris Johnson has won the race to become the next mayor of London - ending Ken Livingstone's eight-year reign at City Hall. The Conservative candidate won with 1,168,738 first and second preference votes, compared with Mr Livingstone's 1,028,966 on a record turnout of 45%. He paid tribute to Mr Livingstone and appeared to offer him a possible role in his new administration. Lib Dem Brian Paddick came third and the Greens' Sian Berry came fourth. Mr Johnson is expected to stand down as MP for Henley, triggering a by-election. 'Exuberant nerve' After signing his official declaration of office at City Hall, he urged people to help build upon the "very considerable achievements of the last mayor of London". In his victory speech, he described Mr Livingstone as "a very considerable public servant". FIRST AND SECOND PREFERENCE VOTES Boris Johnson: 1,168,738 Ken Livingstone: 1,028,966 Analysis: Boris's big win The Boris Johnson Story He added: "You shaped the office of mayor. You gave it national prominence and when London was attacked on 7 July 2005 you spoke for London." Mr Johnson also paid tribute to his "courage and the sheer exuberant nerve with which you stuck it to your enemies, especially in New Labour". Mr Johnson told Mr Livingstone he hoped to "discover a way in which the mayoralty can continue to benefit from your transparent love of London". Mayoral voting by constituency He said he would work to earn the trust of those that had opposed him, or who had hesitated before voting for him. "I will work flat out to repay and to justify your confidence. We have a new team ready to go into City Hall. "Where there have been mistakes we will rectify them, where there are achievements we will build on them, where there are neglected opportunities we will seize on them." Livingstone 'sorry' He promised to focus on crime by promoting 24-hour policing, transport, including promoting cycling, green spaces, affordable homes and getting value for money for taxpayers. Mr Johnson's victory crowns the Conservative Party's May Day local election wins in England and Wales. FIRST PREFERENCE VOTES Boris Johnson (Tory): 1,043,761 Ken Livingstone (Lab): 893,877 Brian Paddick (Lib Dem): 236,685 Sian Berry (Green): 77,374 Richard Barnbrook (BNP): 69,710 Alan Craig (Christian Choice): 39,249 Gerard Batten (UKIP): 22,422 Lindsey German (Left List): 16,796 Matt O'Connor (Eng Democrats): 10,695 Winston McKenzie (Ind): 5,389 Livingstone's highs and lows He said he hoped it showed the party had changed "into a party that can be trusted after 30 years with the greatest, most cosmopolitan, multi-racial generous hearted city on earth". Mr Livingstone's defeat ended what Gordon Brown called a "bad" day for Labour, in which it suffered its worst council results for 40 years. Asked by the BBC what his views were on the poor Labour showing, Mr Johnson said: "The smart thing for Labour to do would be to quietly to remove Gordon Brown and install [Foreign Secretary David] Miliband, is my view, but I don't think they'll do it." In his speech after the result was declared at City Hall, Mr Livingstone thanked the Labour Party for all its help with his campaign. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "There is absolutely nothing that I could have asked from the Labour Party that it didn't throw into this election, from Gordon Brown right the way down to the newest recruit, handing out leaflets on very wet, cold days. "I'm sorry I couldn't get an extra few points that would take us to victory and the fault for that is solely my own. You can't be mayor for eight years and then if you don't at third term say it was somebody else's fault. I accept that responsibility and I regret that I couldn't take you to victory." However, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said Labour as a whole should shoulder the blame for Mr Livingstone's loss. He told BBC News: "I disagree with Ken in one particular only, that we all share the responsibility for the defeat that he suffered yesterday." Mr Straw admitted that the row over the 10p tax rate had left some voters "understandably very upset". The government would get behind Londoners' decision at the polls, he added. Conservative Party leader David Cameron praised Mr Johnson for a "serious and energetic campaign" and said his party was "winning the battle of ideas". Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick paid tribute to Ken Livingstone as "an amazing mayor" and indicated that he would not be interested in working with Mr Johnson. He said he would be talking to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg about his future and what he could do for the party. Back to story E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| Explore the BBC This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.	Boris Johnson Ken Livingstone Sian Berry Winston McKenzie Matt O'Connor Brian Paddick Please click on the images to see the authors Boris Johnson has been declared the winner of London's mayoral election. ''The Daily Telegraph'' called the victory overwhelming, given how close recent opinion polls had been. Results were delayed by record turnout. Johnson thanked his family and party activists for helping him win what he termed a "marathon election." The mayor-elect also paid tribute to Livingstone by saying the incumbent had the "thanks and admiration of millions of Londoners" for his years of service as mayor. The people of the United Kingdom's capital city of London voted yesterday in mayoral elections. In the London elections voters chose both their first and second preference for Mayor of London. The incumbent mayor is Ken Livingstone. Many polls were carried out before the election. One of the earliest, carried out by YouGov and the London Policy Institute showed a clear lead for Livingstone. A poll carried out near the end of 2007, however, showed that Livingstone was only one percentage point clear of Boris Johnson. More recent polls, including one carried out by YouGov for ''Evening Standard'' showed a narrow lead for Johnson. Other polls, however, like the one taken for UNISON continued to show a clear lead for Livingstone. Below are the latest results: London Mayoral Election 2008 - Results Name Party 1st preference Second preference Richard Barnbrook British National Party 69,710 Gerard Batten United Kingdom Independence Party 22,422 Siân Berry Green Party of England and Wales 77,374 Alan Craig Christian Peoples Alliance 39,249 Lindsey German Left List 16,796 Boris Johnson Conservative Party 1,043,761 124,977 Ken Livingstone Labour Party 893,877 135,089 Winston McKenzie Independent 5,389 Matt O'Connor English Democrats Party 10,695 Brian Paddick Liberal Democrats 236,685
Gunmen Take Hostages in Attack on Pakistani Army Headquarters Pakistan troops take positions close to its army's headquarters after attack by gunmen at army's headquarters in Rawalpindi, 10 Oct 2009 Pakistani military officials say gunmen attacked the army's headquarters in Rawalpindi Saturday near the capital, killing six troops. Security forces have killed four of the attackers. Four others have taken up to 15 people hostage. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. The Pakistani military initially said it had the situation under control about an hour after gunmen, disguised in military uniforms, attacked a checkpoint at midday outside the heavily guarded headquarters. But then military officials said some of the attackers had escaped into a security office building and were holding troops hostage. Pakistani army spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas, said security forces are working to free the hostages. "The building is surrounded by the security forces and whatever happens and whatever the details of the operation (are), (they) will only be shared after the operation is conducted," he said. Authorities have continued to block roads in the area. Earlier in the day, at least three helicopters circled overhead as ambulances rushed to the scene. Occasional gunfire rang out in the area. On Monday, a suicide bomber disguised in a paramilitary uniform attacked a U.N. office in nearby Islamabad, and on Friday, a suspected suicide car-bomber killed some 50 people in Peshawar. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the U.N. bombing and threatened to target other international organizations and Pakistani government and military locations. In response to the attacks, Pakistani leaders have vowed to start a new offensive against militants in the country's tribal regions along the Afghan border. Pakistani military officials say gunmen attacked the army's headquarters in Rawalpindi Saturday near the capital, killing six troops. Security forces have killed four of the attackers. Four others have taken up to 15 people hostage. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.The Pakistani military initially said it had the situation under control about an hour after gunmen, disguised in military uniforms, attacked a checkpoint at midday outside the heavily guarded headquarters.But then military officials said some of the attackers had escaped into a security office building and were holding troops hostage.Pakistani army spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas, said security forces are working to free the hostages. "The building is surrounded by the security forces and whatever happens and whatever the details of the operation (are), (they) will only be shared after the operation is conducted," he said.Authorities have continued to block roads in the area.Earlier in the day, at least three helicopters circled overhead as ambulances rushed to the scene. Occasional gunfire rang out in the area.On Monday, a suicide bomber disguised in a paramilitary uniform attacked a U.N. office in nearby Islamabad, and on Friday, a suspected suicide car-bomber killed some 50 people in Peshawar.The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the U.N. bombing and threatened to target other international organizations and Pakistani government and military locations.In response to the attacks, Pakistani leaders have vowed to start a new offensive against militants in the country's tribal regions along the Afghan border. E-mail Print Digg Yahoo Buzz Facebook del.icio.us StumbleUpon \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Insurgents who attacked Pakistan's military HQ near Islamabad have taken 10 to 15 security personnel hostage, the army says. Military officials say the attackers are surrounded inside the compound in Rawalpindi, and efforts are being made to recover the hostages safely. Sporadic gunfire has been heard from the compound, reports from the scene say. Six soldiers and four militants were killed in the initial assault. The military at first said the situation was under control, but later added that up to five militants were holding the hostages inside a building within the compound. ANALYSIS Aleem Maqbool BBC News, Islamabad The army's main headquarters lies within one of the most heavily secured areas in the country. To attack it in the middle of the day, and then take hostages, shows a new level of audacity on the part of the militants. Just a few weeks ago, the government here said it was winning its fight against the militants, and that the Taliban was in disarray. The events of this week will have many questioning those claims. Speculation that the army will soon launch a ground offensive against the Taliban in the tribal areas of South Waziristan has only left many Pakistanis bracing themselves for more violence in the cities. Reports say senior officers were among the hostages and among those who died. The attack comes as the Pakistani army prepares for a major operation against the Taliban. "Eight to 10 terrorists were involved in this attack. Four of them have been killed while six of our security personnel were martyred," military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the private Geo TV station. He said the building had been surrounded and officials were assessing the timing of a rescue operation. "We are trying to move with the minimum loss of life," said Gen Abbas. Another Pakistani official was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying: "It's a hostage situation. They're demanding the release of some of their fellows." Area sealed off Officials said the gunmen drove up to the army compound in a white van just before midday local time (0600 GMT) on Saturday. They took up positions, fired on the compound and threw hand grenades, security officials said. Roads to the area were sealed off and helicopters hovered over the compound. RECENT MILITANT ATTACKS 24 Sept - Seven pro-government tribal elders killed by militants in town of Janikhel, north-western Pakistan 26 Sept - At least 16 people killed in two suicide car bombs, in Peshawar and Bannu 5 Oct - Suicide bomber attacks UN offices in Islamabad killing five 9 Oct - At least 50 killed in suspected suicide bombing in Peshawar In pictures: Pakistan shoot-out Eyewitness Khan Bahadur, a van driver, said there had been "fierce fighting" followed by a blast. "Soldiers were running here and there," he said. "There was smoke everywhere. Then there was a break, and then firing again." The military reported that the attack had been repelled after a gun battle lasting around 45 minutes. However, military officials later said that more militants were still at large and were now holding several hostages in the "security office building" inside the complex. Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said officials wanted to catch the gunmen alive so they could "give us more information". "The Taliban are hired assassins. They are the enemies of Islam and Pakistan. All their actions are against the sovereignty of Pakistan," he told CNN. The attack follows a series of bombings in north-western Pakistan. On Friday at least 50 people died in a blast in Peshawar. The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in Islamabad, says the latest attack, on one of the most secure areas of the country in the middle of the day, shows a new level of audacity from the militants. Islamist militants have carried out a number of attacks against high-profile, high-security targets in recent years. In March this year gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. Six policemen and a driver were killed, and several of the team were injured. In the same month, dozens of people were killed when a police training centre on the outskirts of the city was occupied by gunmen. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| The Pakistani army was preparing for a major anti-Taliban operation Pakistani security forces have freed about 40 hostages who were being held by militants at an army base in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad. Military officials said three hostages and two soldiers died in the operation along with at least four militants, one of whom was wearing an explosives belt. One insurgent was wounded but arrested alive. Military officials say the operation is now over. The insurgents had attacked Pakistan's military HQ on Saturday. Six soldiers and four militants were killed in the initial assault. "The operation is over. It was highly successful," military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told Pakistani television. "The situation is now totally under control. The entire area has been cleared. There are no terrorists inside," he said. But the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says it is a huge embarrassment for the military that one of the country's most sensitive areas has been attacked. Interior Minister Rehman Malik said an operation against militants in South Waziristan was now inevitable. "Now the government has no other option but to launch an offensive," he said. "What happened in Peshawar, Islamabad and today, all roads lead to South Waziristan." 'Very skilled' The sound of blasts and gunfire rang out as Pakistani special forces entered the compound for the pre-dawn raid. Gen Abbas said the forces had met resistance in what he described as a "very skilled" operation. ANALYSIS Aleem Maqbool, BBC News, Islamabad This has been an audacious attack by militants with a level of coordination and sophistication. While Pakistan is claiming the rescue operation was a success, it's a huge embarrassment that one of the most secure areas in Pakistan - where top military officials are based - has been attacked. Many people here are nervous that the body supposed to protect them has been attacked at its very heart. They found the hostages being held in a room "with a terrorist who was wearing a suicide jacket", he said. Gen Abbas said the commandos had "acted promptly" and shot the suspected hostage taker "before he could pull the trigger". "Three of the hostages were killed due to militant firing," Reuters quoted him as saying. Senior military officials and civilian personnel were reported to be among the hostages. The attack came as the army was preparing for a major operation against the Taliban, and officials said the militant group had claimed responsibility. The Taliban had been threatening to carry out attacks unless operations against it were stopped. High profile Witnesses said that the gunmen had driven up to the army compound in a white van just before midday local time (0600 GMT) on Saturday. RECENT MILITANT ATTACKS 24 Sept - Seven pro-government tribal elders killed by militants in town of Janikhel, north-western Pakistan 26 Sept - At least 16 people killed in two suicide car bombs, in Peshawar and Bannu 5 Oct - Suicide bomber attacks UN offices in Islamabad killing five 9 Oct - At least 50 killed in suspected suicide bombing in Peshawar In pictures: Pakistan shoot-out They took up positions, fired on the compound and threw hand grenades, security officials said. The military reported that the attack had been repelled after a gun battle lasting around 45 minutes but later admitted hostages had been taken. The attack followed a series of bombings in north-western Pakistan. On Friday at least 50 died in a blast in Peshawar. In recent days Taliban positions in the tribal areas have been bombed by the air force, amid speculation that the army's offensive there is soon to be intensified, says our correspondent. There was a period of relative quiet in August after Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud was killed, but the rate of militant attacks has increased since then, he adds. Islamist militants have carried out a number of attacks against high-profile, high-security targets in recent years. In March this year gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team in the city of Lahore. Six policemen and a driver were killed and several of the team were injured. In the same month, dozens of people were killed when a police training centre on the outskirts of the city was occupied by gunmen. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	22 hostages were freed after military commandos raided a Pakistan army headquarters in Rawalpindi on Sunday that had been taken by militants, reports said. Four militants and three hostages had been killed in the resulting clashes including two senior officers. The incident began midday on Saturday when several gunmen, disguised in military uniforms, attacked a checkpoint outside the heavily guarded headquarters. The initially said it had the situation under control about an hour after the attack, however, it had been discovered later that some of the militants had escaped into a security office building and were holding hostages. "Eight to 10 terrorists were involved in this attack," Pakistani army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said. He was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying that "three of the hostages were killed due to militant firing." No group has yet claimed responsibility for this attack. On Monday, a suicide bomber disguised in a paramilitary uniform attacked a UN office in nearby Islamabad, and on Friday, a suspected suicide car-bomber killed some 50 people in Peshawar. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the UN bombing and threatened to target other international organizations and Pakistani government and military locations. In response to the attacks, Pakistani leaders have vowed to start a new offensive against militants in the country's tribal regions along the Afghan border.
Dec. 6, 2009: Gordon Campbell reflects on his year with the Times Colonist at the Premier's office. Photograph by: Adrian Lam, Times Colonist In the face of sustained public anger over the harmonized sales tax, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell resigned Wednesday, saying he was getting in the way of his own government. Campbell told surprised reporters at a hastily arranged news conference in Vancouver that any progress made by his government was being overshadowed by questions about his leadership. "When public debate becomes focused on one person, as opposed to what's in the best interests of the province of British Columbia, we've lost sight of what is important," Campbell said. "When that happens, it's time for a change." The extraordinary announcement capped the political career of B.C.'s 34th premier — one of only four men in the province's history to win three consecutive majority governments. Campbell promised a "smooth and orderly transition." He took no questions from reporters, but party officials said he'll remain in office until a replacement is selected within the next several months. Campbell said he's asked the B.C. Liberal party to hold a leadership convention "as quickly as possible." "It's time for a new person to lead the province," he said. The timing of Campbell's resignation, a week after a cabinet shuffle and province-wide television address, caught many by surprise. But the premier was facing what some had deemed an emergency caucus meeting by Liberal MLAs Thursday. The results of a secret vote on his leadership were set to be revealed at the party's annual convention in two weeks. His personal popularity had dipped below 10 per cent and a cabinet minister took the rare step of publicly criticizing him after the most recent cabinet shuffle. Many of his MLAs are facing recall campaigns over the HST in coming months. Campbell had spent the weekend with his family in California, including his grandchildren. He spoke of "considerable soul searching and discussion with my family" in making his decision. He said his recent income tax cut and education announcements, made during a television speech, had been overshadowed by questions about his leadership. But it has been the unpopular HST that has dramatically eroded his government's popularity since it was introduced shortly after the Liberals won re-election in 2009. A referendum on the tax is set for September 2011, after more than 557,000 B.C. voters signed a petition to repeal the tax earlier this year. "I am hopeful my announcement today will allow British Columbians to move forward and fully consider the HST and its alternative as they move toward September of 2011," said Campbell. Shortly after his statement, Campbell held a conference call with a select group of Liberals, during which he talked about his becoming an impediment for the Liberals and expressed concern about party unity. Opposition NDP leader Carole James said Campbell "did the right thing" by announcing his intention to resign. "None of this though takes away from the B.C. Liberal record, none of this takes away from what we've seen the province become under the B.C. Liberals, which is a more divided British Columbia," said James. James expressed concern about the uncertainty created by Campbell's departure. "So I certainly hope they get on with putting someone in place, because there are a lot of big issues that need to be addressed in this province." She thanked Campbell for his service to the province. Campbell thanked his family for supporting him during 26 years of municipal and provincial politics. "Politics can be a very nasty business and at times that nastiness spilled over into their own personal lives," he said. "For that I am sorry. I want to say thanks to them for their love and support." Political observers said Campbell had little choice but to step aside after negative reaction to his most recent attempts to refocus his government's agenda. "Clearly he was hoping to get a fresh start last week with the cabinet shuffle and televised address but ... as polls showed that didn't happen and things had deteriorated too far," said Norman Ruff, University of Victoria political science professor emeritus. By choosing to leave, Campbell saved himself a worse fate, said Allan Tupper, head of the political science department at the University of British Columbia. "He controls his own exit," said Tupper. "Had things gone farther perhaps he may been deposed or faced caucus revolt or party revolt that was no longer subtle but overt — at which point it's very difficult to stay." Campbell said that during nine years as premier, he'd never approached the job by trying to do what was popular, a phrase he has often repeated in defence of the HST the past year. "It's not always popular to do what you think in your heart is right," he said. But he added the job "was always worth the effort." rfshaw@timescolonist.com lkines@timescolonst.com With files from Les Leyne © Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist \|\|\|\|\| B.C. Premier Campbell stepping down B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell is stepping down and has asked his party to hold a leadership convention. Campbell made the announcement during a surprise news conference Wednesday morning in Vancouver, accompanied by his wife and children. Campbell's leadership of the provincial Liberal Party had been under attack since his introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax and there were rumours that several Liberal MLAs were planning on calling for Campbell to step down at an upcoming caucus meeting. Campbell's popularity had plunged to as low as nine per cent in some recent polls, and despite attempts to reverse his political fortunes with a cabinet shuffle and a 15 per cent provincial income tax cut last week, he was unable to fend off repeated calls for his resignation. "After considerable soul-searching and discussion with my family, I have decided to ask the B.C. Liberal Party executive to hold a leadership convention at the earliest possible date to select a new leader for our party," Campbell said in his short speech. "Over the last few weeks, our government has continued to move forward with initiatives that will create jobs, build a stronger economy and support families across British Columbia," he said. "Yet it is clear to me that those initiative are being overshadowed. When public debate becomes focused on one person, instead of what is in the best interest of British Columbians, we have lost sight about what is important. When that happens, it's time for change." Cabinet members said they expect Campbell will stay on as premier until he is replaced by the party at a convention. East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett was the first to openly criticize Campbell's leadership, but after the announcement Bennett had nothing but good things to say about the premier. "He obviously wasn't doing so well in the polls, so he concluded the best thing he could do for the province and party was step aside and it's an honourable act," he said. Bennett said Campbell came to the conclusion he needed to step down on his own and was not pushed by a disgruntled caucus. Gordon Wilson, the last B.C. Liberal Party leader before Campbell, said the premier's aggressive economic agenda may have cost him the job. "He succeeded in turning the economy of the province into something that generally managed us well for the first part of this decade," said Wilson. "I think where he went wrong — where he went seriously wrong — I think was when he started to dispose of public assets. And I think that's when people initially started to get concerned about the sale of BC Rail, dismantling of Hydro and those sorts of things," said Wilson. 'His time had come': NDP NDP Leader Carole James issued a statement thanking the premier for his service to the province, but said even with Campbell gone, the HST remains. “On behalf of B.C.’s Official Opposition, I want to thank Premier Gordon Campbell for his many years of public service and for the contribution he has made to British Columbia. And I want to offer special recognition to his family who have also made the sacrifices associated with public life," said James. “Premier Campbell made the right decision today. It’s become increasingly clear the B.C. Liberals have broken trust with the people they were elected to serve. No issue shows that more clearly than the HST. “But we must also remember that all B.C. Liberals played a part in the HST deception. All B.C. Liberals played a part in the slashing of public services, in the growth of social inequality we’ve seen in B.C. over the past decade," she said. NDP MLA Norm Macdonald said it was a bit of a surprise, but also obvious the premier had to quit. "Like most British Columbians, I think his time had come and his leaving is a good thing," said MacDonald. "This past year the government has not operated effectively. They have stumbled from mistake to mistake and there is a cost to that for all British Columbians, so I think he needed to go," he said. But Macdonald added that Campbell gave most of his life to public service and he should be thanked by British Columbians for that. Leadership hopefuls yet to step forward After the announcement, Campbell's cabinet ministers said they only learned of the premier's plans half an hour before the public announcement. When asked who potential successors might be, cabinet members presented a united front saying it was a day for praising Campbell's 26 years in public office and three terms as premier of B.C., and not speculating about who might replace him. Finance Minister Colin Hansen did say he had no plans to seek the leadership of the party. \|\|\|\|\| BC Rail trial cost more than $18M RCMP costs not calculated in total, says B.C. attorney general Bob Virk, left, and Dave Basi outside B.C. Supreme Court during their trial in Vancouver, which was revealed on Friday to have cost at least $18 million. (CBC) Bob Virk, left, and Dave Basi outside B.C. Supreme Court during their trial in Vancouver, which was revealed on Friday to have cost at least $18 million. (CBC) B.C. Attorney General Mike de Jong says the cost of the BC Rail corruption case is $18 million. The amount includes the $6 million paid to former government aides Dave Basi and Bobby Virk, who both pleaded guilty to corruption charges, De Jong said Friday. He said the $18 million does not include RCMP investigation costs, which have not been made public. The $18 million covers the costs of Crown counsel, defence, the court and document handling. Basi and Virk, former Liberal operatives, pleaded guilty this week to charges of breach of trust and accepting a benefit in connection with the 2003 deal to privatize the former Crown-owned BC Rail. The two men were sentenced to two years less a day of house arrest, while Basi was also fined $75,000.	File photo of Campbell, Premier of British Columbia. British Columbia's Premier Gordon Campbell unexpectedly announced his resignation today, calling for a party leadership convention as soon as possible. He will remain until the caucus members select a new leader. The Liberal Party premier gave his resignation during an unscheduled, hastily arranged press conference in Vancouver just one day ahead of a caucus meeting characterised as an emergency meeting at the city's airport. A full party convention, planned for later this month, is to be held in Penticton. The Liberal government has been under increasing pressure since its . A particularly contentious point is the introduction of a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) only weeks after their election victory with a campaign commitment never to implement HST. Other scandals have dogged the party over the past year; allegations of corruption in the sale of BC Rail – itself another broken campaign promise. This was further aggravated by recent guilty pleas and convictions of David Basi and Robert Virk, and the announcement the government would pay the six million (3.7 million , 4.2 million ) defense bills of the disgraced government aides as part of their plea-agreement to lesser charges. It was admitted post-trial the total bill for the case was CA$ 18 million (£11 million, €12.7 million), excluding the undisclosed Canadian police investigation costs. As yet, no other Liberal party members have announced plans to stand for the Premiership.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Eurostar has begun moving 500 of its "most vulnerable" passengers from London to France after its trains were suspended in wintry weather. Stranded passengers were put on Javelin trains to Dover to catch ferries and then coaches on to Paris and Brussels. The emergency plan was introduced after thousands were trapped in the Channel Tunnel on six trains on Friday and Saturday night, when electrics failed. Eurostar has said it will not sell any tickets until after 26 December. The company ran test trains without passengers on Sunday after five trains broke down in the tunnel on Friday when condensation affected electrical systems. Another train, which had been laid on to try to clear the backlog, suffered the same fate on Saturday night. Flights grounded Those stranded complained of a lack of food and drink, power supplies and information and there were further problems when some rescue trains themselves broke down. A Eurostar spokeswoman said: "We have managed to get 500 passengers on to a Javelin high-speed train to Dover Priory and from there we bussed then on to a ferry to take them on to Paris and Brussels. "They were the most vulnerable people, who needed to get back home to France and Belgium." Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. No arrangements were in place for Britons stuck in France, she added. Meanwhile, severe weather warnings remain in place in northern parts of the UK and freezing conditions have continued to disrupt travel. Snow has fallen and is expected to continue to fall in Northern Ireland, western Scotland and north-western parts of England, and temperatures will remain below freezing. Ambulance services have urged people to take extra care walking and driving and to wrap up warm. At Bristol International Airport hundreds of people were stranded when Easyjet scrapped five flights. Flights were grounded for 90 minutes at Manchester Airport on Sunday morning as staff moved snow and de-iced a runway. There have been delays at Belfast International Airport after it closed but later reopened, and Inverness Airport has also been disrupted. EUROSTAR ADVICE If your journey is not essential, do not travel A full refund will be offered to those whose journeys have been affected Passengers whose journeys were severely disrupted on Friday or Saturday will also be given £150 compensation and a free return ticket Hotels will be offered for those who had wanted to travel on Sunday All updates will be posted on the Eurostar website and given out to news outlets Are you a Eurostar passenger? Eurostar passenger Claire McKinney Williams, who is 35 weeks pregnant and unable to fly, was stranded at a hotel in Brussels. She told the BBC: "It's been very disruptive. We haven't had any help, we've been over to Eurostar in the station, and they've not been very helpful, they haven't given us any help on alternative ways home or anything." Eurostar has not said when services will be back up and running, with a message on its website simply saying: "We are committed to restoring our services as soon as possible but our key priority is the safety and comfort of our customers." Eurostar chief executive Richard Brown asked people not to travel unless it was essential. He said: "When we resume service it's going to be very busy, we're not going to be able to carry everyone who's booked yesterday, today and during this week." 'Out of touch' Passengers who have suffered delays will be offered a full refund, £150 compensation and a free return ticket. The compensation would be offered until the backlog of passengers was cleared and the service was back to normal - which Mr Brown did not expect to happen before Christmas. I'm not saying it went well, I'm saying it went rather better than actually a lot of people say Richard Brown Eurostar chief executive Nirj Deva, Conservative MEP for the South East of England, said he wanted the Eurostar chief executive to step down. The company had not been adequately prepared for the situation, and Mr Brown should therefore "do the decent thing" and resign, he said. Mr Brown told BBC Breakfast he was "very, very sorry" for the inconvenience and described events as "unprecedented". He admitted it had taken a "very long time" to evacuate people from the trains. "Clearly, if you're on a train stranded in a tunnel, it is a distressing experience," he said. He conceded it took too long to get trains out to people and said while trains had spare water, it ran out. Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said the disruption was a "catastrophe" for people trapped trying to get home for Christmas. She said: "After a reprieve from BA strikes, it is a huge concern to see travellers hit so hard by this crisis." On Sunday, all ferry services from Dover to Dunkirk, Boulogne and Calais were running, and traffic queues had eased. The Port of Dover said traffic was running freely on the A2 and A20 into Dover, and freight traffic stuck on the M20 was being called forward in batches to be shipped across the Channel. FORECAST FROM BBC WEATHER The enhanced content on this page requires Javascript and Flash Player 9 Map Key Land Land Cloud Cloud Lakes, Rivers & Sea Fog Light Heavy Frost Light Heavy Pressure Fronts Cold Cold Warm Warm Occluded Occluded Rain Light Heavy Extreme Snow Light Heavy Temperature tab only Temperature (°C) More details from BBC Weather More details from BBC Weather Have you been affected by the Eurostar problems in the Channel Tunnel? Tell us your experiences and send us your comments. You can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. 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 \|\|\|\|\| PA Eurostar trains are cancelled today while the rail company tries to get to the bottom of problems which left thousands of passengers trapped in the Channel Tunnel for hours. Wintry weather is thought to be to blame and today there were calls for the firm's chief executive Richard Brown to resign and admit Eurostar was "not adequately prepared". The closure of the tunnel left thousands more people stranded in Kent and France as they waited to board trains, while the closure of Calais port added to the chaos. Roads leading to Dover and Folkestone became blocked with traffic and there were reports that some families with young children had been trapped in their cars for more than 15 hours. A Eurostar spokesman said test trains will run today before any passengers are allowed to board as the company tries to prevent a repeat of yesterday's chaotic scenes. London St Pancras was packed as exhausted passengers arrived hours later than expected and hundreds more waited anxiously for news. Nirj Deva, Conservative MEP for the South East of England, called on Mr Brown to resign as a result of "Eurostar's astonishing incompetence". All affected passengers will be offered a full refund, £150 compensation and a free return ticket but Mr Deva described the offer as "paltry" and said it showed "how out of touch the management of this company really is". "I therefore call on Richard Brown to admit that his company was not adequately prepared to deal with the situation today, and to do the decent thing and resign," he added. Some scheduled passengers stranded at St Pancras planned to stay the night in the hope of some good news this morning while others said they would try again tomorrow. Angelique Stastny, 21, said: "I would fly but I have too much luggage so I will get a train to Paris eventually." A series of special trains had been planned last night to transport some of those delayed by the chaos but only one - destined for Paris - left. A Eurostar spokeswoman later said the other services were cancelled because of adverse weather conditions. "We have tried to run services but it's not possible," she said. Another special service from Paris to London broke down after it came out of the Channel Tunnel, although passengers were eventually taken to London after long delays. Mr Brown visited St Pancras yesterday as people arrived who had been trapped on four trains which broke down in the tunnel on Friday night. He said he was "very, very sorry" about the inconvenience. Many passengers said they were left without food, drink or power while in the tunnel. Alison Sturgeon, from Ascot, left Disneyland Paris shortly after 7.30pm on Friday and arrived in London at 11am yesterday. She said train staff had done a "dreadful job". "They were useless at giving us information. There was no communication at all," she said. There was also criticism of Kent Police after families were stuck on a gridlocked M20. Roy Konarski said his Czech sister-in-law Rony Kovora was stuck near junction 12 for more than 16 hours yesterday with her daughters Amelie, four, and Phoebe, three. "It makes you embarrassed to be English," he said. "I think it's disgusting that nothing's been done. "I phoned Kent Police and they said they were doing everything they can." A spokesman for Kent Police said officers were doing their best to help those caught up in the disruption. Freight traffic is being turned around in an effort to allow the backlog of tourist traffic to pass through the county, he added. Chief Superintendent Matthew Nix said the welfare of motorists was his "primary concern". Snow and ice also caused continued disruption to flights yesterday and wintry weather is expected to cause more delays and cancellations today. Michael Dukes, forecast manager for MeteoGroup UK, the weather arm of the Press Association, said overnight temperatures between -2C (28F) and -7C (19F) were expected to cause widespread problems with ice and snow. He said northern England and Wales are expected to be worst hit, but snowfalls could also reach 10cms in East Anglia. Kent Police said queues on the M20 had eased by 4am today after freight traffic on the A20 at Dover was turned around as part of Operation Stack, allowing tourist traffic to pass to the ports. As a result the backlog was cleared back to the Aycliffe roundabout, a spokeswoman said. Eurotunnel and Port of Dover are operating normally now, she said, but tourists are being prioritised above freight. The French authorities have indicated that freight will not be allowed to enter the country until late today, she added. Kent Police Assistant Chief Constable Andy Adams said: "There is now some snow on the M20 and we are working with Highways to grit the road so that we can continue with the progress already made to clear the backlog of vehicles. "We expect further delays to motorists this morning using the M20 and would therefore reiterate the need to travel only if necessary and, if so, to drive prepared with warm clothing and food. "Due to further snow moving across the county, several roads are being closed at this time until they are gritted and safe to pass." The A229 and A249 are closed in both directions. Police said the M2 is "passable with care" in lane one but lanes two and three are closed. The A21 is said to be "passable with care" at Sevenoaks. Police said there is a lorry stuck on Quarry Hill in Tonbridge. Kent Police said lorry drivers not yet in the county were advised to park outside the border and listen to news bulletins for information. A spokesman said all major routes in the county were passable by 6am except sections of the M20 and the A20. Superintendent Andy Rabey from Kent Police said: "Overnight we've been working very hard with our partners to clear the queues and help people get away for Christmas. "Clearly there are still delays and we thank those waiting for their patience. "If you have a crossing booked and haven't set out yet check with your operator before leaving home." Overnight more than 3,500 cars crossed the Channel on ferries, a Kent Police spokesman said. He added that the A20 remained very busy from junction 8 of the M20 (Leeds Castle) down as far as Dover. Mr Brown responded to the call for his resignation by saying the most important thing was to learn lessons from the current problems. "What's important at the moment is to get the service back and to really understand what happened and learn the lessons. That's what I will be doing and focusing on in the next few days," he told BBC News. He said he was not "pretending" things had gone well but said things had not gone as badly as some people had claimed. Mr Brown said refunds would be offered to ticket holders who did not want to take the risk of travelling on Eurostar this week. He admitted he could not guarantee the service would be working but said: "We will not start services again until we're sure that we can get them through safely." Eurostar is asking people not to travel unless they have to when services resume as it will be very busy. Mr Brown said: "We are not going to be able to carry everybody who has booked yesterday and today." He said the offer of a refund will stand until the backlog has been cleared, which he said would not happen before Christmas. Kent Police later clarified the position relating to services running through the Channel Tunnel today. Chief Superintendent Matthew Nix said: "Eurostar is not operating its passenger services at the moment, however Eurotunnel is operating its shuttle service. "Eurotunnel has advised us that waiting times are up to two hours at the terminal. There is no space available for customers without reservations."	St Pancras Station Eurostar trains have been suspended today due to cold weather, and further snowfall is predicted in the United Kingdom, while the rail company attempts to work out what caused a series of electrical flaws on Friday. On Friday night, more than 2,000 people were trapped in the Channel Tunnel for sixteen hours after the cold weather and condensation caused a number of electrical faults. Calais port, in the French city where the Channel Tunnel terminates, was also closed yesterday, causing traffic problems on the roads around the English cities of Dover and Folkestone, near the tunnel's British entrance. The Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the south-east of England, Nirj Deva, has called for Eurostar chief executive Richard Brown to resign, saying that it would be the "decent thing" to do in the light of "astonishing incompetence". Brown has apologised for the incident, and said it was "absolutely unprecedented", and conceded that "it took too long to get the trains out". Kent Police say that there is now very little traffic waiting for a place on the Channel Tunnel, with more than 3,500 vehicles having crossed the English Channel on ferries. Supt. Andy Rabey made a statement on the suspension: "Overnight we've been working very hard with our partners to clear the queues and help people get away for Christmas. If you have a crossing booked and haven't set out yet, check with your operator before leaving home." A Eurostar spokeswoman issued an apology, in which she said that "it's not possible" to run services.
Somali Pirates Attack US-Flagged Ship Once Again A U.S.-flagged container ship which was hijacked by Somali pirates seven months ago has been attacked again off the coast of Somalia. Pirates were unsuccessful in their second attempt to hijack the Maersk Alabama. US-flagged Maersk Alabama arrives at Port of Mombasa, Kenya (File) U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain, says four pirates riding in a fast skiff came within 270 meters of the American-flagged container ship early Wednesday morning. Maersk Alabama was about 965 kilometers off the northeast coast of Somalia and was steaming toward the Kenyan port city of Mombasa when it came under attack. The U.S. Navy says the crew of Maersk Alabama undertook evasive maneuvers and deployed long-range acoustical devices, which make noise painful to the human ear. The crew also responded with small-arms fire after pirates fired automatic weapons at the ship. The pirates abandoned the attack without causing injuries or damage to the vessel. U.S. Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, issued a statement, praising Maersk Alabama's owner and crew for following maritime industry's best practices, including having a security team on board to help prevent a hijacking. In April, the 155-meter vessel made international headlines when it was seized by pirates who held captain Richard Phillips hostage at gunpoint for five days in a lifeboat. He was freed by U.S. commandos who killed three of the pirates. A spokesman for the European Naval Force described the second attempted hijacking of the Maersk Alabama as "pure chance." Wednesday's attack came on the heels of a U.N. report, which said the presence of international warships off the coast of Somalia, as well as improved efforts by ships to protect themselves, have considerably reduced the number of successful hijackings in the region this year, especially in the Gulf of Aden. But the report, submitted by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, noted that intensified anti-piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden is also forcing pirates to hunt for targets in the Indian Ocean, closer to the island nation of the Seychelles. Since the beginning of October, seven of the eight vessels seized by pirates have been in the vicinity of the Seychelles. Recently, the government began allowing the U.S. Navy to use the airport in the capital Mahe to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles to combat piracy. The Seychelles also signed an agreement last week to allow European warships and military personnel to pursue pirates from the high seas into Seychellian waters and to use necessary force. A regional analyst for Jane's Defense Weekly, Lauren Gelfand, says pirates are showing greater sophistication and adaptability every year, challenging international efforts to find effective counter measures. "The deterrence efforts are working in the Gulf of Aden," said Gelfand. "But they are also limited in their effectiveness because it is such a vast area they are trying to patrol with limited assets. And the fact that there are not enough air assets, whether it is maritime patrol aircraft or UAVs, shows that they are only going to be limited in their success in deterring further pirate attacks as pirates become more and more innovative." Somalia-based pirates are currently holding 13 vessels and crew hostage for ransom. They are also holding a retired British couple, kidnapped from their sail boat off the Seychelles last month. U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain, says four pirates riding in a fast skiff came within 270 meters of the American-flagged container ship early Wednesday morning.was about 965 kilometers off the northeast coast of Somalia and was steaming toward the Kenyan port city of Mombasa when it came under attack.The U.S. Navy says the crew ofundertook evasive maneuvers and deployed long-range acoustical devices, which make noise painful to the human ear. The crew also responded with small-arms fire after pirates fired automatic weapons at the ship. The pirates abandoned the attack without causing injuries or damage to the vessel.U.S. Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, issued a statement, praising's owner and crew for following maritime industry's best practices, including having a security team on board to help prevent a hijacking.In April, the 155-meter vessel made international headlines when it was seized by pirates who held captain Richard Phillips hostage at gunpoint for five days in a lifeboat. He was freed by U.S. commandos who killed three of the pirates.A spokesman for the European Naval Force described the second attempted hijacking of theas "pure chance."Wednesday's attack came on the heels of a U.N. report, which said the presence of international warships off the coast of Somalia, as well as improved efforts by ships to protect themselves, have considerably reduced the number of successful hijackings in the region this year, especially in the Gulf of Aden.But the report, submitted by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, noted that intensified anti-piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden is also forcing pirates to hunt for targets in the Indian Ocean, closer to the island nation of the Seychelles.Since the beginning of October, seven of the eight vessels seized by pirates have been in the vicinity of the Seychelles. Recently, the government began allowing the U.S. Navy to use the airport in the capital Mahe to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles to combat piracy. The Seychelles also signed an agreement last week to allow European warships and military personnel to pursue pirates from the high seas into Seychellian waters and to use necessary force.A regional analyst for, Lauren Gelfand, says pirates are showing greater sophistication and adaptability every year, challenging international efforts to find effective counter measures."The deterrence efforts are working in the Gulf of Aden," said Gelfand. "But they are also limited in their effectiveness because it is such a vast area they are trying to patrol with limited assets. And the fact that there are not enough air assets, whether it is maritime patrol aircraft or UAVs, shows that they are only going to be limited in their success in deterring further pirate attacks as pirates become more and more innovative."Somalia-based pirates are currently holding 13 vessels and crew hostage for ransom. They are also holding a retired British couple, kidnapped from their sail boat off the Seychelles last month. E-mail Print Digg Yahoo Buzz Facebook del.icio.us StumbleUpon \|\|\|\|\| Associated Press The U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama had been captured in April. NAIROBI, Kenya -- The Maersk Alabama, the American-flagged ship captured briefly by pirates in April before a dramatic rescue of its captain, came under fire early Wednesday morning off the Somalia coast, but evaded the attackers. Four men in a skiff sped within 300 yards of the container ship, firing automatic weapons in an attempt to board it, according to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. A security team aboard the Alabama fired back and managed to fend off the attack, the Navy said. The onboard security detail was a private contractor, not a military detachment, according to a Fifth Fleet spokesman. A U.S. P-3 surveillance aircraft established radio communication with the ship's captain Wednesday, and the ship reported that all aboard were safe and that the ship was proceeding to its next port of call. In the attack, the Alabama's crew took evasive maneuvers and used a new technique to repel pirates, deploying a long-range acoustic device that emits high-pitched sounds painful to the human ear. A Somali claiming to represent the pirates, speaking by phone from Xaradheere, a pirate stronghold in Somalia, said the U.S.-flagged vessel narrowly escaped capture. His account matched details provided by U.S. and European military officials, lending credence to his claims of speaking for the pirates. "It narrowly escaped and opened fire on us," said the man, who identified himself as Abdullahi Nor, a pirate spokesman. "One of our colleagues was injured in the attack." Mr. Nor said he had spoken to the would-be hijackers by satellite phone. A vessel from the European Union Naval Force Somalia, a mission set up to fight piracy, was dispatched in an attempt to track down the skiff. The U.S. Navy said that the Maersk Alabama is en route to Mombasa, Kenya, its original destination. It is expected to arrive early Sunday morning. Amid a sudden jump in pirate attacks off the east coast of Africa, the shipping industry has adopted a raft of new "best practices" -- policies and guidelines used by shipping crews and owners to help defend against piracy. They include using water hoses to knock pirates from their ladders, lacing a ship's railings with barbed wire, and making evasive maneuvers when under attack. The shipping industry has stayed clear of endorsing the use of armed security. But amid the recent surge in attacks, a few ship owners and operators have chosen to do so. Most shipping companies fear that armed personnel could increase liability and the possibility of violence. The use of private security firms is still rare, piracy analysts said. Kevin Speers, a spokesman for Maersk Line Ltd., said the company revised its security plan for the Maersk Alabama to include armed security after the ship was boarded by pirates in April. The crew managed to retake control of the ship, but the pirates took the ship's captain, Richard Phillips, of Vermont, hostage. He was held aboard the Alabama's lifeboat for days before he was rescued by U.S. naval forces, who killed three of his captors and arrested the fourth. "Armed security is not the preferred route," Mr. Speers said, but he said the company decided to hire the private guards because the Alabama regularly sails in the high-risk waters to deliver food aid. He said that the move was approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard requires all U.S.-flagged ships in high-risk areas to have security, but it is up to the carriers to decide whether they should be armed, said Lt. Cmdr. Chris O'Neil, a Coast Guard spokesman. The Coast Guard must approve all security plans, he said. Piracy has been on the rise off the Somali coast since mid-2008. Pirates also have improved their ability to operate farther from the Somali coast, relying on large "mother ships" that can launch small skiffs, operating more than 1,000 miles offshore, away from the warships that now patrol the Gulf of Aden's high-traffic shipping route. On Tuesday, pirates released 36 crew members from a Spanish tuna trawler after holding them hostage for more than six weeks. A man who told the Associated Press he was a pirate said the captors had been paid a $3.3 million ransom. A day earlier, pirates hijacked a North Korean vessel and took its crew hostage. —Abdinasir Mohamed in Mogadishu contributed to this article. Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A12 \|\|\|\|\| Register for NYTimes.com. Breaking news and award winning multimedia New York Times newspaper articles Arts & Dining reviews Online Classifieds It's free and it only takes a minute! Member ID or E-Mail Address: Password: Forgot Your Password? Remember me on this computer.	The ''Maersk Alabama'', a US-flagged container ship that was hijacked by Somali pirates seven months ago, was attacked off the coast of Somalia. The pirates, however, could not capture the vessel. The ''Maersk Alabama'' The US Navy's 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain, reported that four pirates riding in a fast skiff came within 270 meters of the container ship. The ''Maersk Alabama'' was about 965 kilometers off the northeast coast of Somalia and was steaming toward the Kenyan port city of Mombasa when it came under attack. The Navy said the crew of Maersk Alabama undertook evasive maneuvers and deployed long-range acoustical devices, which make noise painful to the human ear. The crew also responded with small-arms fire after pirates fired automatic weapons at the ship. The pirates abandoned the attack without causing injuries or damage to the vessel. Abdullahi Nor, who said he was a spokesman for the pirates, commented on the incident. "We have attacked a ship with an American flag — we tried to throw our ladders for climbing but it sped and has gone away. It narrowly escaped and opened fire on us. One of our colleagues was injured in the attack." Nor claimed to have communicated with the ship's attackers via satellite telephone. US Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, from the Naval Forces Central Command, issued a statement in which he praised ''Maersk Alabama'''s owner and crew for following maritime industry's best practices, including having a security team on board to help prevent a hijacking. "Due to ''Maersk Alabama'' following maritime industry’s best practices, such as embarking security teams, the ship was able to prevent being successfully attacked by pirates. This is a great example of how merchant mariners can take pro-active action to prevent being attacked," he remarked. In April, the 155-meter vessel made international headlines when it was seized by pirates who held captain Richard Phillips hostage at gunpoint for five days in a lifeboat. He was freed by US commandos who killed three of the pirates. A spokesman for the European Naval Force described the second attempted hijacking of the Maersk Alabama as "pure chance." Wednesday's attack came soon after a report released by the United Nations, which said the presence of international warships off the coast of Somalia, as well as improved efforts by ships to protect themselves, have considerably reduced the number of successful hijackings in the region this year, especially in the Gulf of Aden. But the report, submitted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, noted that intensified anti-piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden is also forcing pirates to hunt for targets in the Indian Ocean, closer to the island nation of the Seychelles. Since the beginning of October, seven of the eight vessels seized by pirates have been in the vicinity of the Seychelles. Recently, the government began allowing the US Navy to use the airport in the capital Mahe to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles to combat piracy. The Seychelles also signed an agreement last week to allow European warships and military personnel to pursue pirates from the high seas into Seychellian waters and to use necessary force.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Friday he would sign a $152 billion economic stimulus package into law next week. The Senate and House of Representatives on Thursday approved the measure, a series of tax rebates and business incentives aimed at staving off an election-year recession in the struggling U.S. economy. “We are in a period of economic uncertainty and we’ve acted again,” Bush told a conservative conference in Washington. “I want to thank the members (of Congress) for passing a good piece of legislation, which I will sign into law next week.” “This bill reflects our principles. It is robust, it is pro-growth, it stimulates business investment and it puts money into the hands of American consumers,” he added. The legislation will provide one-time rebates of up to $600 for individuals or $1,200 for couples, plus $300 for each child. Low-income people, including retirees on Social Security and disabled veterans who pay no income taxes, would receive checks of $300. Slideshow ( 5 images ) The final bill was broader than the original package backed by Bush. The Senate added the benefits for elderly and disabled veterans, who had been left out of the House bill. To win more Republican support in the closely divided Senate, Democrats had to drop proposed benefits for long-term unemployed workers and other provisions that would have helped low-income people pay heating bills and home builders write off current year losses against previous tax years. The Senate also added language to ensure illegal immigrants did not receive rebate checks. With the latest economic date suggesting the U.S. economy is stalling, the bill will inject nearly $152 billion into the economy this year and more than $16 billion next year. Some economists have said, however, that while the measures will buy time, they may not be enough to avert recession. \|\|\|\|\| The U.S. Senate Thursday passed a package of tax rebates for millions of Americans and business tax cuts aimed at reviving the sluggish economy. The measure was quickly approved later by the House of Representatives by a vote of 380 to 34. President Bush is expected to sign the bill shortly. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill. The 81 to 16 vote came after Senate Democrats and Republicans reached a deal to include rebate checks to disabled veterans and retired Americans who receive social security - two groups who were left out of an economic stimulus package approved by the House last week. The measure, which would give checks of up to $600 to American taxpayers, is aimed at heading off a recession this election year. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, along with other Senate Democrats, 07 Feb 2008 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is Nevada Democrat: "The best way to stimulate the economy is to get money into the hands of those who will spend it immediately," said Harry Reid. Democrats dropped their demands to include home heating assistance and expanded unemployment benefits after Republicans blocked the proposal Wednesday. After days of partisan wrangling on the package, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky praised the compromise. "We were able to put aside our differences, not only here in the Senate, but with our colleagues in the House as well and the administration, to make an important statement that we are concerned about the slowing of our economy, and that we want to do something significant about it very quickly," said Mitch McConnell. The legislation also makes clear that no rebates are to be provided to illegal immigrants.	The United States Capitol The United States House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan 152 billion economic stimulus package that gives one-time rebates to United States citizens, US$600 for individuals or US$1,200 for couples plus US$300 for each child. US$300 checks would be sent to people on low-income including retirees on which was not included in the original bill backed by President George W. Bush. The plan would begin to decrease rebates for citizens with taxable incomes of US$75,000 for individuals and US$150,000 for couples. The checks would go out to more than a 130 million Americans according to Treasury secretary . The House overwhelmingly approved the more broad Senate amended bill which included the low-income portion mentioned above along with provisions that would keep from receiving a rebate check. Despite some opposition from some Congressmen, such as of , the plan passed overwhelmingly 380–34. Campbell called the plan "wealth redistribution" and noted it did not have safeguards to prevent illegals from receiving these rebates and also claimed that stimulus plan would increase the deficit more and noted the cause of the looming recession was because of "credit problems." The United States Senate voted hours earlier on the bill which passed in the Senate, 81–16. after having to shed some incentives included by Senate which caused the bill to fail. Some of the incentives that were left out of the plan in a compromise to gain support were demands for benefits for long-term unemployed workers and stipulation that would allow low-income citizens to pay off heating bills and let home builders pay off losses off the current year against previous tax years. President Bush approved of the package, noting in a statement, "This plan is robust, broad-based, timely, and it will be effective, this bill will help to stimulate consumer spending and accelerate needed business investment."
Hannah was found strangled two days after she went missing 'I didn't even kiss her goodbye' A man has been jailed for life for the "appalling" murder, rape and kidnap of 17-year-old Hannah Foster. Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, 41, who denied all the charges, was convicted more than five years after Hannah was found strangled. She had been walking a short distance home after a night out in Southampton when she went missing on 14 March 2003. Her body was found two days later. Her father, Trevor Foster, called Kohli a "cold, calculating and ruthless man". "Today we are feeling an overwhelming sense of relief at the verdict in this trial," he added. "We have long realised that Kohli is a cold, calculating and totally ruthless man and has destroyed so many people's life without a second thought." On the run Kohli snatched the teenager from a street yards from her home in Southampton after she had spent an evening with friends. The A-level student called 999 in the hope an operator would hear what was happening, but the call was terminated when she did not speak. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Kohli dumped her body next to a road in Allington Lane, West End, and went back home to his wife and two sons. Four days later, he fled to India, where he led a life on the run for 16 months before being arrested. While in custody in India he gave a televised confession which he later retracted. After more than four years of campaigning by Hannah's parents Hilary and Trevor Foster, Kohli was finally extradited back to Britain last year to stand trial. In a victim impact statement read to the court by Hannah's aunt Jill Lewis, Hannah's mother Hilary said she would feel guilt for the rest of her life that she was not there to protect her daughter when she was murdered. "Kohli ripped out my heart and stamped on it," she said. It doesn't go away, the grief and the pain, they're going to be there until the day we die Trevor Foster How net closed in on Kohli Men who captured Hannah's killer "When Trevor and I saw Hannah in the mortuary, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, there must be some mistake. "The cold, battered and bruised body certainly looked like her, but where was the sparkle in her eyes?" Speaking earlier to the BBC, Mr Foster said: "I remember talking to her and saying, 'We'll find who did this to you'. And that's what we've been focused on doing since." Mr and Mrs Foster said it was only now after Kohli was convicted that they could properly start to grieve for their daughter. "The focus has been on her killer, not on Hannah," Mrs Foster said. Her husband added: "I don't think there is such a thing as closure. "It doesn't go away, the grief and the pain, they're going to be there until the day we die." 'Wanton disposal' Sentencing Kohli to serve a minimum of 24 years at Winchester Crown Court, judge Mr Justice Keith said his crime was aggravated by "Hannah's vulnerability as a young slip of a girl, the terrible and appalling ordeal which Hannah must have gone through before you killed her. "The wanton way you disposed of her body and the unimaginable grief to which you have subjected her family." The verdicts came at the end of a long campaign by Hannah's parents, who had travelled to India four times to keep up the pressure on Indian authorities and get Kohli back to face justice. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Their first trip in July 2004 managed to locate Kohli after a national appeal for help across India, but the sandwich delivery driver fought his extradition for a further three years. Kohli spent 16 months on the run, even marrying another woman before he was arrested. Det Supt Alan Betts said: "Kohli did everything he could to avoid justice, and it was only through the determination of Hannah's parents, Hampshire Police, and colleagues in India that he was located and arrested. "Our thoughts today are with Hannah's family. They, and we, may get some satisfaction that Kohli has been convicted, but it will not bring Hannah back." Alastair Nesbitt, chief crown prosecutor for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said: "It was important to bring Hannah's killer to justice. "We did consider whether we would deploy an alleged confession but came to the conclusion we could not overcome the hurdles to make it admissible to a court in England." Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| They put their lives on hold – leaving Hannah's bedroom untouched – as they single-mindedly sought out her killer. When he ran away to India, they followed. When he battled extradition, they returned to Delhi again and again. When Maninder Pal Singh Kohli finally appeared in the dock at Winchester Crown Court, they were seated above him in the public gallery. Now, finally, half a decade spent pursuing the truth has come to an end. Neither has worked in that time and they – along with their other daughter Sarah, now 19 – will have to pick up the pieces of their lives. On March 14, 2003, Mrs Foster was cooking dinner at home in Portswood, Southampton. Her husband Trevor, who worked for gas exploration company BG Group, was playing badminton. The cardiac nurse laughed as Hannah played the fool, dancing to music before going out to meet a friend. But when Mrs Foster got up at 5am the next day to go to work, she noticed her daughter's bed lay untouched and she had received no word from Hannah. "That wasn't Hannah, you could trust her 100 per cent," the 52-year-old said. "Call it a mum thing but I feared the worst." These fears were realised two days later, when Hannah's body was found dumped in brambles in West End, Southampton, a few miles from home. As the horror of what had happened sank in, the family was inundated with messages of support. Mrs Foster said: "I never realised how many lives she touched in just 17 years. An old man stopped me in the street and told me how she always used to stop and pet his dog. He was in tears about her. "Every parent thinks their child is special but Hannah was special." Within two weeks, Hampshire Police had identified their main suspect, Indian-born Kohli, who had fled the country. The Fosters instantly made public appeals, asking for information that could lead to his whereabouts. Six months after her daughter's death, Mrs Foster was hit with the news that she had breast cancer. She said simply: "I think of what Hannah had to endure. It doesn't come close." A year on from the killing, Kohli seemed to have disappeared without trace. Hannah's parents decided to go to India themselves, to make people realise how important it was to find their daughter's killer. Armed with posters of Hannah – written in English and Punjabi - and a five million rupee (£60,000) reward, the teenager's picture soon adorned newspapers nationwide. Within four days, Kohli had been arrested. On hearing the news, Mrs Foster said: "Trevor and I were in floods of tears. We were just in each other's arms hugging each other shouting 'we've got him, we've got him'. "A man is in custody and I feel that Hannah would be very proud of her mum and dad for what they have done to get justice for her. "Whenever my courage starts to fail me I feel her there saying 'don't give up, go girl go'." Mr Foster, now 58, added: "Our visit exceeded even our wildest dreams." But joy soon turned to dismay, because although Kohli made a public confession and pledged to admit his crime, he changed his mind and fought extradition. The Fosters returned to India in February 2006 to try and speed up proceedings, but Kohli used the trip to delay proceedings further, claiming the couple was interfering with judicial process. But Mrs Foster said they had to go back: "Our lives are on hold there's nothing to look forward to. "I have nightmares both day and night in which I replay over and over again what I imagine Hannah going through. In the dreams, I am watching it happen but can't do anything to stop it." By 2007, the Fosters were increasingly worried that their daughter's killer would never return to the UK. Mrs Foster said: "When we saw Hannah's body in the morgue we made a promise to her that we would get justice. As her parents, this is the last thing we can do for her. "I want lovely memories of my daughter to be there but all we will talk about until justice is done is the night she died. Our lives are frozen in time." Mr Foster, who ended up taking early retirement, went on: "We cannot move on because our every focus is getting justice. "In the four years since Hannah died other people have new priorities. But for us nothing has changed. We haven't given up, but it is so hard for us." They did not have long to wait. In July last year, extradition was approved and Kohli was back in Britain within days. Mrs Foster said: "We have been so focused on getting this to happen. At times we thought it would never happen." The family were regularly in court – only leaving to avoid the most harrowing evidence – and were there to see their final battle brought to a close. \|\|\|\|\| Hannah Foster murder trial begins, Kohli denies charges It is a sordid drama spanning five years and two countries, but the law has finally caught up with Indian Maninder Pal Singh Kohli who is being tried In Britain for raping and murdering 17-year-old Hannah Foster in 2003. Kohli, 40, who had escaped to India immediately after the murder, was extradited to Britain last year. He went on trial at the Winchester Crown Court Tuesday but denies all charges. On March 14, 2003 Hannah, a high school A-level student, was walking to her Southampton home after a night-out with her friends when she was bundled into a van. Her body was found in the city's outskirts three days later. Her handbag was recovered from a recycling plant in Portsmouth. The handbag contained Hannah's mobile phone, which gave the police clinching evidence of her fate. While in the van with the kidnapper, Hannah had dialled the emergency services number 999, hoping someone would hear their conversation and rescue her, reports The Guardian. Unfortunately for her, a system to prevent accidentally dialled emergency phone lines discarded the call. However, as all calls are recorded, there existed a recording of her call. Police heard bits of conversation between Hannah and the kidnapper who spoke "with a deep accent". Her parents identified her voice. In the early morning of March 15, Hannah's mother was worried not finding her daughter home. She called Hannah's mobile, but there was no response. The same morning Kohli had returned to work in a sandwich factory as usual. He, however, asked a friend for money to go to India to see his ill mother. On March 18, a day after Hannah's handbag was recovered, Kohli flew to India, leaving his wife and two children behind. The police remained clueless about Kohli's whereabouts, although they had recovered his van. On March 26, 2003 a Crimewatch appeal issued in the media caught the attention of Kohli's employer who, having noticed his behaviour and sudden departure around the same time as the crime, called the police. DNA samples of Kohli taken from his wife and children matched with the DNA marks on Hannah's body and his van. An arrest warrant was issued on April 3, 2003, and more than a year later, on July 15 2004, Kohli was captured by Indian police and was finally extradited from India to Britain on July 28, 2007.	Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, a 41-year-old sandwich delivery driver, was convicted today at Winchester Crown Court in Hampshire, United Kingdom for the murder and rape of teenager Hannah Foster. The 17-year-old girl was walking home from a night out in Southampton on March 14, 2003, but never returned home. Her body was found two days later, on Allington Lane in West End, a village just outside the city. Map showing location of Hampshire According to court records, Hannah had spent the evening with friends just a short distance from the family home in Portswood and was snatched by Kohli just yards away from her house. She was able to call 999, the emergency services line, hoping that the operator would hear what was happening. However, with nobody actually on the line an automatic system led the call to be terminated. After dumping her body, Kohli went home to his wife and children, before fleeing to India four days later. Kohli spent sixteen months running from authorities, during which he remarried. Eventually he was arrested in a joint operation between Hampshire Constabulary and Indian police. Shortly thereafter, he gave, then retracted, a televised confession of the murder. Kohli remained in custody in India while Hilary and Trevor Foster, the victim's parents, campaigned for his extradition to the UK to face trial. The campaign was eventually successful and Kohli arrived in Britain in 2007. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum of 24 years. "Today we are feeling an overwhelming sense of relief at the verdict in this trial," said Trevor Foster in a statement to the press. "We have long realised that Kohli is a cold, calculating and totally ruthless man."
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Published: Sunday, July 25, 2010, 1:00 PM Updated: Sunday, July 25, 2010, 9:58 PM Share this story 0 Share Gov. Chris Christie made his first foray into national Sunday morning political programming today, sitting for a 10-minute interview with ABC’s Jake Tapper on “This Week.” Christie's November win in a blue state and combative tone with public workers unions has earned him national media attention and plaudits from conservative pundits, leading Tapper to call him a "rising Republican star" in the leadup to the interview. Christie said Republicans can help their chances in other traditionally Democratic areas by focusing on lowering taxes, spending and business regulations. “I think if my win tells anything, it’s that if we get back to basics as Republicans, then it speaks to some of the concerns people have in New Jersey and across the country,” he said. Christie attempted to fend off charges that he cut an $11 billion structural deficit in part by not paying $3 billion in pension obligations, saying he “wasn’t going to put $3 billion into a failing system” and that he would tackle pension and health plan changes for current public employees. Christie would not give any clue as to whether he would join 21 other states that have signed on to a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the health care reform law, most of which have Republican governors or attorneys general, saying he wants to know what its chances are of succeeding and the bill’s impact on New Jersey. “I don’t have an impulse. I’m waiting to get briefed on it,” he said. Christie was much more direct when Tapper, holding up a New York Times profile of Nicole Polizzi – a.k.a. Snooki — asked if MTV’s “Jersey Shore” was positive or negative for New Jersey. “Negative for New Jersey,” Christie said. “What it does is takes a bunch of New Yorkers… drops them at the Jersey Shore and tries to make America feel like this is New Jersey. I can tell people: they want to know what New Jersey really is? I welcome them to come to New Jersey any time.” \|\|\|\|\| Gov Christie -- not a fan of the MTV reality show "The Jersey Shore." "Jersey Shore" may have many fans, but New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is not among them. During an appearance Sunday on ABC's "This Week" show, host Jake Tapper asked Christie if he thought the MTV program which focuses on the escapades of a group of hard-partying 20-something Italian-Americans at a shore house was positive or negative for the Garden State. "Negative for New Jersey... It takes a bunch of New Yorkers, drops them on the Jersey Shore and makes them look like they came from (here)," Christie said. Many Italian-American groups have also panned the show, deeming it offensive and reliant on crude stereotypes. The governor says anyone who wants to learn about the real New Jersey should visit the state and see what it has to offer. "I can tell people, they want to know what New Jersey really is? I welcome them to come to New Jersey anytime," Christie said. "The Jersey Shore is a beautiful place. And [it's] some place that everybody should come on vacation this summer. We’ve got another 6 weeks or so of summer left. Come to New Jersey!" he said. Follow us on Twitter @NBCNewYork,and on Facebook/NBCNewYork, and sign up for breaking news SMS alerts on your phone by texting “NYBREAKING” to 639710. Copyright Associated Press / NBC New York	File photo of Governor . File photo of Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi at James Madison University. , governor of the US state of New Jersey, complained on 's Sunday morning talk show '''' that TV series '''' promotes a negative image of the state. Prompted by a feature in ''The New York Times'' on , one of the stars of the MTV show, interviewer Jake Tapper asked the governor whether he thought the series was positive or negative for the state. Christie unequivocally answered that the show was "negative for New Jersey... It takes a bunch of New Yorkers, drops them on the Jersey Shore, and tries to make America feel like this is New Jersey". He concluded, "I can tell people: they want to know what New Jersey really is? I welcome them to come to New Jersey any time." In a wide-ranging interview the governor also faced questions about local and national politics, including New Jersey's 11 billion budget deficit. Specifically, he was challenged over his plans to not pay $3 billion into public pension funds, payments described by the interviewer as a "legal obligation". He said that he "wasn't going to put $3 billion into a failing pension system" and that there would be further reforms of pensions and health benefits. Christie was further questioned over his ongoing conflicts with teachers unions. He responded that "we can't have one sector of our society sheltered from the ravages of the recession, at the cost to people who have been hurt by the recession the most", citing the example of construction unions in New Jersey currently suffering unemployment between 35 and 50%.
Investigators and police gather near the wreckage in Richmond on Friday. Photograph by: Andy Clark, Reuters METRO VANCOUVER -- Richmond-based Canadian Air Charters is voluntarily suspending flight operations until Monday following the fatal crash of its twin-engine Piper PA-31-350 aircraft that killed two pilots while on landing approach to Vancouver International Airport. Rod Nelson, regional director of communications for Transport Canada, said Friday the company's decision to temporarily ground its remaining fleet of six aircraft has nothing to do with a "special purpose inspection" of the airline scheduled to begin next week. The federal inspection is a routine procedure after a serious accident. Nelson said Canadian Air Charters has had a valid air operator's certificate since September 2003. Transport Canada conducted an inspection of the Piper involved in the crash in July 2008, an airline maintenance inspection in August 2008, and an airline operations inspection in April 2009. These inspections "did not indicate any safety concerns" and Transport Canada is not aware of any previous accidents involving the airline, Nelson said in an interview. Two pilots died when the Piper aircraft on charter for Canadian Blood Services and flying between Victoria and Vancouver crashed Thursday shortly after 10 p.m. into the parking lot of a Richmond transmission shop. Meanwhile, Canadian Blood Services said Friday that the loss of 143 units of blood in a tragic air crash will not have a significant impact on surgeries or other medical procedures in British Columbia. Canadian Blood Services had chartered the plane from Richmond-based Canadian Air Charters for the flight from Victoria. The plane crashed in the parking lot of a Richmond transmission shop Thursday night, killing the two men aboard. Angie Gaddy, a spokesperson for Canadian Blood Services, said the blood from the flight that would have made it to Vancouver for processing will simply be obtained from elsewhere in Canada. Canadian Blood Services has a number of clinics located around Vancouver Island, with routine flights scheduled into Vancouver several times a week. She said that while the blood lost in the crash was a significant amount, representing the donations of 143 people, it wouldn't mean that anyone would go without care. "We are a national system, so we can rely on other provinces to ship products back and forth," Gaddy said. She said Canadian Blood Services had been in a contract with the charter company for three years, adding some of their staff worked regularly with the pilots. "They are shocked that people they knew on a first name basis have passed away. Their hearts go out to the families," she said. According to Canadian Blood Services employee Pennie Arnason, the two pilots were in good spirits before leaving Cassidy Airport in Nanaimo. "They were very nice gentlemen, good to get along with, and very easy going. They were both in good spirits, joking and laughing with me." She said she had a good working relationship with the pilot having delivered blood to him frequently for the past year. She had only just met the co-pilot. "It's going to be kind of weird not seeing him. It's just a horrific thing," Arnason said "I am very shocked. It hits closer to home because of what we do." The pilots left Nanaimo at 8:20 p.m. and flew to Victoria to pick up more blood. They were chartering an eight-seat Navajo Piper aircraft. Witnesses to the crash have told police the plane was on fire before it hit the ground. RCMP spokesman Peter Thiessen said Friday that two males aboard the plane that was carrying a cargo of blood were killed and the remains have yet to be removed from the site. Thiessen spoke to reporters in front of Premier Transmission on Vickers Way. "We received a call at 10:15 p.m. in regards to a plane crash behind here," Thiessen said Friday morning. "Unfortunately two occupants in the plane were deceased. The plane was en route to a landing at Vancouver airport. "Witnesses proved us with information that there was some kind of difficulty with the aircraft - some level of fire prior to impact. After impact, there was a significant fire - very intense. In fact, behind us here there's not much left that would resemble an aircraft." “I saw the whole thing,” Darren Van Leeuwen told The Sun Thursday night. “The plane engine sounded real low,” said Leeuwen, a truck driver for Coca-Cola. “It came almost straight down, straight into the ground. The flames shot up 100 feet or more.” Leeuwen said he was in shock as he grabbed his phone and called 911. “You could hear explosions from barrels nearby. … It's just burning wreckage. It just disintegrated. There was definitely no one alive and moving. Every single piece was on fire.” “You know like in the movies? It just sounded like that, like he was trying to pull up or something.” The aircraft was on approach to the Vancouver airport from Victoria when it crashed near the IKEA in north Richmond at 10:30 p.m. According to the B.C. corporate registry, Canadian Air Charters was incorporated on Nov, 28, 2003. INVESTIGATORS REVIEWING RADAR INFORMATION Bill Yearwood, regional manager of the federal transportation safety board, said today that investigators have radar information on the aircraft to 700 feet (210 metres) that should help provide some information into events prior to the crash. The twine-engine Piper Navajo PA-31 is part of the fleet of Canadian Air Charters of Richmond. Mark Wilcox, operations manager for Canadian Air Charters, said he is awaiting the results of the federal investigation and "did not see any benefit" in discussing the crash at this time. At the time of the crash dozens of police blocked Bridgeport Road at Sweden Way as spectators gathered in the McDonald's across from Ikea. The plane hit power lines that continued to spark two hours after, said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Peter German. It's lucky more people weren't hurt in the crash near homes and businesses, he added. “We are very lucky, very fortunate in that regard,” he said. The building in the 12000-block of Vickers Way was on fire, and emergency crews blocked off the streets. Fiona Sims was driving over the Knight Street Bridge when she saw the plane crash. “I heard a big bang and I saw the light and then the smoke,” Sims said. She was frantic as the small plane looked like it crashed near her Richmond house. She called 911 and told police the plane had gone down near Ikea. “I wanted to call my mom and dad but knew I had to call police first.” “I was freaking out,” Sims said. She has since confirmed her family is okay. But she is still shocked that a plane could crash so near her home. Taylor Fisher and his buddy rode their bikes to the scene after seeing the smoke. They found themselves on the wrong side of the yellow tape, right at the crash scene. “It was crazy. You couldn't even tell what it was from looking at it,” he said. “It was all melted plastic. … The telephone poles were on fire.” The smell of burning plastic filled the air two blocks from the crash scene. © Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun \|\|\|\|\| A small aircraft carrying a load of donated blood was in the wake of an Air Canada Airbus jet when it plunged to the ground and exploded near Vancouver International Airport this week, leading investigators to the theory that the crash was caused by the phenomenon of wake turbulence. An official with the Transportation Safety Board said Friday that the agency will follow all possible scenarios to find a cause for the Thursday night crash that killed two pilots, but that turbulence from the larger jet is one notable option at this early stage in the investigation. “The aircraft was in trail of a heavier aircraft and all aircraft generate vortices known as wake turbulence and the process of our investigation will look into that and see if it's a plausible scenario, and a cause of this accident,” Bill Yearwood, a regional aviation manager with the board, told a news conference. Blocks away, pieces of the twin-engine Piper Navajo were being collected from a car-transmission parking lot up the street from an IKEA store. RCMP said it was too early to identify the pilots, staff from Richmond-based Canadian Air Charters, who were killed in the crash. There were no injuries on the ground at the time of the crash, about five kilometres from Vancouver airport, located in the city of Richmond. The board spokesman said they did not have any information about the experience of the two male pilots nor any reports that the pilots mentioned any other problems as they arrived in the Lower Mainland around 10 p.m. to deliver donated blood on behalf of Canadian Blood Services clinics held in Nanaimo and the Victoria-area community of Sooke. “The weather conditions, we know, were somewhat ideal except that it was dark,” said Mr. Yearwood. There is no black box recorder to assist with a probe expected to take months, but there is good witness information, said Mr. Yearwood, who noted that radar data has been gathered to plot the aircraft to an altitude of 213 metres. He said the smaller plane turned into a path about three kilometres behind the Air Canada Airbus 321 jet. “That, in itself, is a situation that warrants the question so we will look at that very closely,” he said of the wake-turbulence scenario. There are standards for separation between aircraft to deal with wake turbulence, said Mr. Yearwood, and he said the investigation will consider whether these standards were followed. Wake turbulence forms behind an aircraft as it flies, and takes various forms depending on where the aircraft is in its flight. It has been linked to several crashes over the years, including the November, 2001, crash of an American Airlines jet that plunged into a Queens, New York neighbourhood after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport when it crossed the wake of a Japan Airlines Boeing 747. In January, 2008, wake turbulence was linked to an incident in which an Air Canada Airbus A319, en route from Victoria to Toronto, became caught in the wake of a 747 over northern Washington state. The Air Canada jet plunged thousands of metres, rolling from side to side. Ten passengers aboard the jet were injured. Boeing 747s have been known for their powerful wake. Fully loaded, the large jets can weigh about six times as much as the Airbus involved in the 2008 incident. Mr. Yearwood compared wake-turbulence to “little tornadoes” that come off the wings of an aircraft “much like the wake of a boat in the water.” “Pilots try to avoid, at all costs, flying into wake turbulence of other aircraft. If they encounter it, it's uncomfortable for the passengers, etc. It creates a rough ride,” he said. Mr. Yearwood said there was no information to confirm media reports that the plane was on fire before impact. The two pilots of the plane were remembered as “great pilots and solid individuals” by Mark Wilcox, operations manager for Canadian Air Charters. “They were friends of mine,” said Mr. Wilcox, who declined to identify the men or the age of their aircraft. “We're co-operating with the Transportation Safety Board to get to the bottom of [the accident].” Canadian Air Charters is described as having a combined 40 years of aviation experience. Angie Gaddy, spokesperson for the B.C. and Yukon regional operations of the Canadian Blood Services, said her organization has used Canadian Air Charters for three years as part of a distribution system that moves blood products in the region. She said the aircraft was being used to deliver blood collected on Vancouver Island, part of a routine that involves two to three flights per week. There were a total 143 units, each equalling 455 millilitres of whole blood donations on the aircraft. The donations were collected at clinics in Nanaimo and the Victoria-area community of Sooke. Ms. Gaddy said the tragedy will not affect the supply of blood products as her organization can draw blood from other national sources as required. This is the second fatal air crash in Richmond in the last two years. In October, 2007, a small plane rammed into the ninth floor of a Richmond apartment building, killing the pilot and injuring two people in the apartment building. \|\|\|\|\| Passerbys watching the fire from the plane crash from a small parking lot across IKEA. Photograph by: Gary Lee, Special to the Sun RICHMOND — Witnesses to the crash of a cargo plane in the parking lot of a Richmond transmission shop Thursday night have told police the plane was on fire before it hit the ground. RCMP spokesman Peter Thiessen said Friday that two males aboard the plane that was carrying a cargo of blood were killed and the remains have yet to be removed from the site. Thiessen spoke to reporters in front of Premier Transmission on Vickers Way. "We received a call at 10:15 p.m. in regards to a plane crash behind here," Thiessen said Friday morning. "Unfortunately two occupants in the plane were deceased. The plane was en route to a landing at Vancouver airport. "Witnesses proved us with information that there was some kind of difficulty with the aircraft - some level of fire prior to impact. After impact, there was a significant fire - very intense. In fact, behind us here there's not much left that would resemble an aircraft." “I saw the whole thing,” Darren Van Leeuwen told The Sun Thursday night. “The plane engine sounded real low,” said Leeuwen, a truck driver for Coca-Cola. “It came almost straight down, straight into the ground. The flames shot up 100 feet or more.” Leeuwen said he was in shock as he grabbed his phone and dialled 911. “You could hear explosions from barrels nearby. … It's just burning wreckage. It just disintegrated. There was definitely no one alive and moving. Every single piece was on fire.” “You know like in the movies? It just sounded like that, like he was trying to pull up or something.” The aircraft was on approach to the Vancouver airport from Victoria when it crashed near the Ikea in north Richmond at 10:30 p.m., according to YVR spokeswoman Alana Lawrence. According to Canadian Blood Services employee Pennie Arnason the two pilots were in good spirits before leaving Cassidy Airport in Nanaimo. "They were very nice gentlemen, good to get along with, and very easy going. They were both in good spirits, joking and laughing with me." She said she had a good working relationship with the pilot having delivered blood to him frequently for the past year. She had only just met the co-pilot. "It's going to be kind of wierd not seeing him. It's just a horrific thing," Arnason said "I am very shocked. It hits closer to home because of what we do." Arnason said 145 units of blood were being transported to Vancouver from Nanaimo and Victoria. The pilots left Nanaimo at 8:20 p.m. and flew to Victoria to pick up more blood. They were chartering an eight-seat Navajo Piper aircraft. Canadian Blood Services had chartered the plane from Richmond-based Canadian Air Charters for the flight from Victoria. Angie Gaddy, a spokesperson for Canadian Blood Services, said the charter flight was not out of the ordinary. "All blood goes to Vancouver for processing and testing after it has been collected," Gaddy said. Canadian Blood Services has a number of clinics located around Vancouver Island, with routine flights scheduled into Vancouver. "Our thoughts go out to the families of the pilots and the staff of the charter company," Gaddy said. She said Canadian Blood Services is still gathering information about the incident. Bill Yearwood, regional manager of the federal transportation safety board, said today that investigators have radar information on the aircraft to 700 feet (210 metres) that should help provide some information into events prior to the crash. The twine-engine Piper Navajo PA-31 is part of the fleet of Canadian Air Charters of Richmond. Mark Wilcox, operations manager for Canadian Air Charters, said he is awaiting the results of the federal investigation and "did not see any benefit" in discussing the crash at this time. At the time of the crash dozens of police blocked Bridgeport Road at Sweden Way as spectators gathered in the McDonald's across from Ikea. The plane hit power lines that continued to spark two hours after, said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Peter German. It's lucky more people weren't hurt in the crash near homes and businesses, he added. “We are very lucky, very fortunate in that regard,” he said. The building in the 12000-block of Vickers Way was on fire, and emergency crews blocked off the streets. Fiona Sims was driving over the Knight Street Bridge when she saw the plane crash. “I heard a big bang and I saw the light and then the smoke,” Sims said. She was frantic as the small plane looked like it crashed near her Richmond house. She called 911 and told police the plane had gone down near Ikea. “I wanted to call my mom and dad but knew I had to call police first.” “I was freaking out,” Sims said. She has since confirmed her family is okay. But she is still shocked that a plane could crash so near her home. Taylor Fisher and his buddy rode their bikes to the scene after seeing the smoke. They found themselves on the wrong side of the yellow tape, right at the crash scene. “It was crazy. You couldn't even tell what it was from looking at it,” he said. “It was all melted plastic. … The telephone poles were on fire.” The smell of burning plastic filled the air two blocks from the crash scene. © Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun	A plane, carrying blood donations, crashed in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada on Thursday night. The plane, a twin engine PA-31 Piper Navajo departed from Victoria, when it nosedived into a parking lot during its final approach to Vancouver International Airport shortly after 10:00 p.m. PDT (UTC-7). Witnesses report the plane flying unusually low prior to it crashing and bursting into flames by Bridgeport Road, behind a large Ikea store. "The plane engine sounded real low, it came almost straight down," according to ''The Vancouver Sun'' who asked witness Darren Van Leeuwen. "The flames shot up 100 feet or more." Both of the pilots on-board were killed, it not yet known if there were any other passengers. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner Peter German stated that it was very lucky that nobody on the ground was killed. The cause of the crash is under federal investigation.
A protest by the traders last week turned violent Shopkeepers say the moves will affect the livelihoods of 500,000 people. Security is tight on the streets of Delhi, and police contingents were seen outside some of the city's major markets early in the morning. The Supreme Court has ordered the authorities to seek help from the police to carry out the drive. Major city markets are expected to remain closed on Tuesday. Several private and public schools have also decided to remain closed fearing violence on the streets. Some protestors were reported to have attacked passenger buses in the north of the capital. Angry traders held a three-day strike last week, closing most of the city's shops. In September four people died as protests turned violent. A total of 44,000 illegal businesses have been targeted during the controversial ongoing drive. 'Dagger' On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions filed by the federal government and Delhi's local government. The petitions had said that the closures could threaten law and order in Delhi. "No one can be permitted to place a dagger at the government's neck and seek relief. No one can be permitted to hold the city and its law-abiding citizens to ransom," the Supreme Court order said. "It is the obligation of governments to ensure compliance of the orders of this court." The drive against illegal businesses in residential areas began last year after the Supreme Court said a ban on such shops had to be enforced. Protests across Delhi have since become widespread. Traders say municipal authorities often take money from the poor and the middle-class in return for turning a blind eye to illegal constructions or encroachments on public land. \|\|\|\|\| CNN name, logo and all associated elements ® and © 2020 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. CNN and the CNN logo are registered marks of Cable News Network, LP LLLP, displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of NEWS18.com does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them. © Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2020. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| An IPL XI to outplay Mars Over the Wicket \| Amit Varma The DLF IPL was the biggest event that cricket fans would remember about 2008. Of mice and men Revati Laul Are we now going to suffer from amnesia of everything horrendous that we are responsible for? more.. \|\|\|\|\| Sealing protest: Delhi traders on 24-hour bandh November 07, 2006 12:00 IST Faced with the imminent resumption of sealing of unauthorised commercial establishments in Delhi, traders went on a 24-hour bandh on Tuesday downing shutters and holding demonstrations to protest the Municipal Corporation of Delhi action. All markets in Delhi, retail and wholesale, were closed to protest the sealing, said Praveen Khandelwal, general secretary of Confederation of All India Traders. Demonstrations were being held in various parts of the capital to register protest against the sealing drive and while there were no reports of any violence so far, traders from south Delhi gheraoed the MCD office in Green Park. The CAIT had on Monday given the bandh call after the Supreme Court refused to grant the traders any relief from the sealing drive and the Centre subsequently said it had no option but to abide by the court orders. The bandh has received support from both ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in the capital. "All markets in Delhi are closed today. But we have excluded essential services from the bandh," Khandelwal said. He said private medical practitioners and chemists were supporting the bandh by sporting black bands on their arms, but added that the health services would remain unaffected. He also said autorickshaw associations had extended support to the strike and autos would remain off the roads. All schools in Delhi remained closed in view of possibility of violence during the bandh.	Angry traders continued to protest against the Supreme Court's order in favour of resuming the sealing drive in New Delhi. They damaged public property and blocked traffic during the protest. Police halted over 1,500 traders from various part of the city who were vandalising public transport by blocking and pelting stones on the roads after the SC's order to resume the drive. According to CNN-IBN, the drive will affect about 5,40,000 shops and 27,00,000 traders across the city. Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), said that the resumption of the drive is a complete breakdown of the government and administration. So, they had to take extreme steps to oppose the drive. The traders protested from all over the city including Kamla Nagar in North Delhi, Mayur Vihar, Vikas Marg, Seelampur in East Delhi, Green Park, South Extension, Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi, Rajouri Garden, Rohini in West Delhi and Karol Bagh in Central Delhi. Most of the schools in New Delhi remained closed today, and the sealing drive was halted. The Group of Ministers, headed by Shivraj Patil are planning to meet with SC's monitoring committee to work out the sealing schedule in the capital.
15m French smokers banned from lighting up in public places 01/02/2007 - 09:27:24 A ban on smoking in French public spaces came into effect today, a change that may alter the image of a country socially defined in part by its smoky cafes. France’s 15 million smokers will be banned from lighting up in workplaces, schools, airports, hospitals and other “closed and covered” public places. More than 175,000 agents are to enforce the ban, handing out fines of €67 for smokers and €133 for employers who look the other way. A ban on smoking in French public spaces came into effect today, a change that may alter the image of a country socially defined in part by its smoky cafes.France’s 15 million smokers will be banned from lighting up in workplaces, schools, airports, hospitals and other “closed and covered” public places.More than 175,000 agents are to enforce the ban, handing out fines of €67 for smokers and €133 for employers who look the other way. In a year, the ban will extend to cafes and restaurants – sure to be the moment of truth for a certain image of France, where writers such as Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre are remembered with cigarettes dangling from their mouths. “A world is collapsing,” writer Philippe Delerm wrote in a front-page ode to the cigarette in Le Monde newspaper, referring to the alluring image of the chain-smoking intellectual. “Those were good times. But nobody thought about the collateral damage.” Statistics – such as 66,000 smoker deaths per year in France – and changing norms are snuffing out the romance along with the cigarette. News Home \| Print Version \| Email to friend \| Previous Page © BreakingNews.ie \| Thomas Crosbie Media 2007. In a year, the ban will extend to cafes and restaurants – sure to be the moment of truth for a certain image of France, where writers such as Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre are remembered with cigarettes dangling from their mouths.“A world is collapsing,” writer Philippe Delerm wrote in a front-page ode to the cigarette in Le Monde newspaper, referring to the alluring image of the chain-smoking intellectual. “Those were good times. But nobody thought about the collateral damage.”Statistics – such as 66,000 smoker deaths per year in France – and changing norms are snuffing out the romance along with the cigarette. \|\|\|\|\| Employees smoke outside the entrance of an office building in the complex of La Defense, a congregation of office towers where many of France's major corporations are based in the west of Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007. France's health minister expressed optimism that the public will respect a new ban on smoking in offices and other public areas set to begin Thursday, but acknowledged there could be violators. Pro-smoking groups complain that the ban tramples on individual freedoms, and say enforcement will be tricky. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon) By ELAINE GANLEY PARIS Feb 1, 2007 (AP) A ban on smoking in public spaces came into effect Thursday, a change that may alter the image of a country defined in part by its smoky cafes and cigarette-puffing intellectuals. France's 15 million smokers will be banned from lighting up in workplaces, schools, airports, hospitals and other "closed and covered" public places. More than 175,000 agents are to enforce the ban, handing out fines of $88 for smokers and $174 for employers who look the other way. In a year, the ban will extend to cafes and restaurants sure to be the moment of truth for a certain image of France, where writers like Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre are remembered with cigarettes dangling from their mouths. "A world is collapsing," writer Philippe Delerm wrote in a front-page ode to the cigarette in Le Monde newspaper, referring to the alluring image of the chain-smoking intellectual. "Those were good times. But nobody thought about the collateral damage." Statistics like 66,000 smoker deaths per year in France and changing norms are snuffing out the romance along with the cigarette. Italy, Spain, Belgium, Britain and Ireland are all ahead of France in enacting broad smoking bans. Despite staggered anti-smoking initiatives over more than a decade, French smokers have, so far, held sway as officials turned a blind eye to rule-bending. Nearly a quarter of French people are smokers. Yet a day before the "no smoking" signs go up, there was no sign of panic in the streets. A scattered check of pharmacies suggested that, so far, smokers are calm, with no pre-ban rush for smokers' aids like nicotine patches. However, two companies that make ventilated smoking rooms for offices say they are gearing up for a rush in orders. Manuel Bussac, 25, who works in real estate and smokes 15 cigarettes a day, is angry because the ban leaves him with no choice. "It's the obligation that bothers me," he said, sitting at a sidewalk cafe with a pack of Marlboros planted squarely on the table. \|\|\|\|\| 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.	140px The French government has banned the smoking of cigarettes in all public places. The ban includes no smoking in hospitals, airports, schools, places of employment and any public area that is "closed or covered." Eleven months from now, the ban will include restaurants and cafes. Some members of France's Parliament are surprised to see how quick the ban was enacted. "Nobody, not even I, thought a year-and-a-half ago that France would abandon tobacco so fast," said member of Parliament (MP) and an advocate of the prohibiting of smoking, Yves Bur. Police and other law enforcement agents are required to fine anyone who violates the ban. Fines for smoking in banned areas could be as much as $88.00 USD. Employers who do not enforce the smoking ban could be fined at least $174.00 USD. At least 15 million people who live in France smoke cigarettes, but a poll conducted by the French government had shown that 76% of the country's population was in favor of the ban. 74% of the population also backs the restaurant and cafe ban to take place in one year.
TWENTY Indians living in Bahrain have filed a case in India against a spiritual guru for allegedly duping them out of almost BD80,000, it emerged yesterday. Santosh Madhavan allegedly pocketed the money after he convinced Bahrain residents to invest in a tourist resort and a charity. The 35-year-old, who is also known as Swami Amritachaitanya, is now facing a string of charges in Kerala including rape, drug possession and fraud. The GDN confirmed in earlier reports that almost BD60,000 has been collected by the Mr Madhavan since he came here first in 2005. However, one of the Bahrain victims Jaya Kumar said yesterday that at least BD80,000 was collected from 33 people by Mr Madhavan, who visited Bahrain three times since 2005. The visit visas were arranged by his followers here, said the 48-year-old purchasing officer at a Bahrain company. "Twenty of us have e-mailed a complaint to the Inspector General and Commissioner of Ernakulam police as well as Kerala Home Minister," he told the GDN. "The remaining victims are either on vacation or have left Bahrain for good. "The amount of money people have given him ranged from Rs50,000 (BD500) to Rs13,00,000 (BD13,000). "He was very convincing about his charity activities as well as the resort." Mr Madhavan is now in police custody in Kerala following a raid at his 16-suite ashram (divine centre) in Kochi last month after several police complaints against him were lodged. He has conducted talks and seminars at various venues in Bahrain and been honoured by Indian associations and leading community members. Another victim, Dr M R Valsalan, an emergency physician at the Salmaniya Medical Complex for nearly 34 years, said that he first met Mr Madhavan at an apartment in Exhibition Road in 2005. "Mr Madhavan said he ran a couple of homes for handicapped children in Ernakulam, Kerala, and had plans to expand the project," said Dr Valsalan. "He showed us CDs of the homes and some of my friends were convinced after visiting the place. "The membership fee to help raise children ranged between Rs50,000 and Rs1,00,000 (BD1,000). "He collected the money from Bahrain but returned around eight months later with new plans of a charitable trust to be launched in Kerala. "The plan was to buy some land at Munnar, a hill station in Kerala, and begin a charitable trust there called Santhitheeram (Shore of peace). "He claimed that he will construct a home and shift the children to this place. "A resort was also supposed to be built next to it to fund the home from its income. "The trust's membership fee was Rs5,00,000 (BD5,000), but there was no financial gain. We were offered instead free astrological service and 10 days of free stay once a year at the resort. "The amount would be refunded after five years without any interest," he said. Seven people, including Dr Valsalan and Mr Kumar, paid an extra Rs 30,000 (BD300) to purchase a mini-bus to transport the children from the home to the school. However, a few months after sending the demand draft to Mr Madhavan's bank account in Kerala, Dr Valsalan began hearing rumours about the guru that raised doubts about his intentions. Dr Valsalan had paid a total of around BD6,300, out of which he managed to get back nearly BD2,000 and Mr Kumar has paid around BD5,800. begena@gdn.com.bh \|\|\|\|\| Thiruvananthapuram, May 26 (IANS) A Kerala woman settled in Dubai, who had filed charges of cheating against controversial godman Santosh Madhavan that led to his arrest earlier this month, arrived here Monday. Serafin Edwin and her son landed here Monday morning and were greeted by a posse of policemen at the international airport. Both were taken in a convoy of police vehicles to their home in the city. In a brief stop, Serafin told the media that she hoped the police would investigate her case of cheating against Madhavan. “I will file a fresh case and hope to get justice,” she said. The Kerala police earlier this month registered a case against Madhavan, also known as Swami Amritachaitanya, of cheating Serafin of Rs.4 million in 2002. Serafin had sent her complaint through e-mail. Srafin’s complaint said she had met the godman in Dubai and joined him to start a business. She also gave him the money. But after that Madhavan disappeared into thin air and Serafin registered a case against him in Dubai with the Interpol. This report appeared in a vernacular magazine last month and the police launched investigations against him. The police also received a complaint from a teenaged girl alleging that Madhavan had raped her. This finally resulted in his arrest. Since then, several shocking stories have surfaced about Madhavan - of large-scale cheating, possession of porn films made by him, and real estate dealings involving him. Serafin, who is over 60 years old, will be given police protection because of the high profile connections of the godman. \|\|\|\|\| For the latest India news on mobile sms NAT to 54567 Self styled godman remanded to custody KOCHI: Self-styled Godman, Amrita Chaitanya, against whom cases of rape of minor girls and cheating an NRI woman have been registered, has been remanded to judicial custody till June 6. Chaitanya alias Santosh Madhavan was produced before the Judicial First Class magistrate II K S Saratchandran on Friday morning after his police remand came to an end. Police had sought his remand earlier after three more minor girls complained that they had been raped allegedly by the 'swami'. \|\|\|\|\| 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... \|\|\|\|\| Health Too shy to buy condoms One out of 10 men said in a recent survey they have had unprotected sex because they were too embarrassed to buy condoms More » \|\|\|\|\| Gulf Daily News Vol XXXI NO. 57 Friday 16th May 2008 RSS Feeds --- other links --- What's On Comments Cartoons Horoscope Archives Advertise Subscribe Contact Us \|\|\|\|\| Psychic never saw arrest coming Greg Aris and Praveen Menon Last Updated: May 14. 2008 11:47PM UAE / May 14. 2008 7:47PM GMT Seraphine Edwin at her office in Deira. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National DUBAI // An Indian businesswoman conned out of hundreds of thousands of dirhams by the controversial astrologer and guru Santosh Madhavan said yesterday she was relieved he had finally been arrested. Seraphine Edwin, who has lived in Dubai for more than 10 years, was once a friend of Mr Madhavan, who is also known as Swami Amritachaitanya. The self-styled Godman or saint, who claimed to have supernatural powers and to see the future, befriended Mrs Edwin before cheating her through a bogus hotel venture. I am happy that the police finally caught up with him and he is in prison. He is a big fraud and everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie, Mrs Edwin, 60, said. Indian police arrested Mr Madhavan at his luxury ashram in Kerala, India, on Tuesday. Mrs Edwin, director of a Dubai plumbing and fittings company and a mother of three, said she met Mr Madhavan in 2002 through a friend and was told he had supernatural abilities. After becoming friends and gaining her confidence in his so-called powers, Mr Madhavan said he wanted to build a hotel in Dubai and name it after her. He asked for Dh400,000 (US$109,000) to get the venture off the ground. I believed him and gave him Dh400,000 to start the hotel project, Mrs Edwin said. However, as soon as she handed over the money, Mr Madhavan fled the city, leaving her close to financial ruin. She was unable to trace him until he resurfaced years later as a revered Godman known as Swami Amritachaitanya. I have waited six years for justice and I feel to a certain extent that finally I got it. Now, I hope I get my money back. I suffered a lot of financial problems because of this man, Mrs Edwin said. It is understood that Mr Madhavan was arrested in Kerala, Indias southernmost state, on an Interpol red alert notice issued on the advice of Dubai police in 2004. Major Gen Khamis Mattar al Mazeina, the deputy commandant general of Dubai Police, said they were still waiting for official confirmation from Interpol that Madhavan had been arrested. We will not be extraditing him, as he is an Indian national, but we will be seeking compensation and damages for the time and money we have put into capturing this man, as well as compensation for the victim, Major Gen Mazeina said. The net began to close in on Mr Madhavan after a magazine article revealed he was wanted by Dubai police on fraud charges. Indian detectives raided his 16-suite ashram in Kochi on Sunday after several other police complaints against him were lodged. They found pornographic DVDs, drugs and the pelt of an endangered tiger. Mr Madhavan was arrested on Tuesday. Yesterday, his application for bail was rejected by the Kerala high court and he was remanded in custody for five days. According to police reports from Kerala, Mr Madhavan is facing a range of charges, including the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl at a care home he funded, possession of three fake passports and the illegal tiger skin, as well as the fraud in Dubai. Questions have been raised as to how Mr Madhavan managed to build a property empire and socialise with Keralas political elite and top policemen while a long-standing Interpol warrant was out for his arrest. The Kerala government has suspended the assistant commissioner of police Sam Christy Daniel for his alleged links with Mr Madhavan. Born into a poor family in Kattapana, Kerala, in March 1973, Mr Madhavan started out as a temple priest. After moving to Dubai in the late 1990s, his carefully cultivated image as a mystical astrologer and holy man won him many admirers in the city, who were willing to pay him for his abilities and to predict their futures. After allegedly conning Mrs Edwin and fleeing Dubai, he returned to his native Kerala, building the palatial ashram in Kochi and founding a trust called Shanthitheeram. The ashram was used as a guesthouse to accommodate his astrology clients, whom he claims included politicians, film stars, high-profile policemen and businessmen. Additional reporting by Salam Hafez garis@thenational.ae pmenon@thenational.ae \|\|\|\|\| Woman elated after conman traced By Riyasbabu and T.K. Devasia 12 May 2008 DUBAI & TRIVANDRUM — A Dubai-based Indian woman yesterday said she was elated as the police in Kerala traced a man who had cheated her of Dh400,000 by offering to buy her a hotel in Dubai. Cerafin Edwin, a long-time Dubai resident, was swindled by Santosh Madhavan, who posed as a ‘swami’ and offered to help her buy a hotel in Deira in 2002. “It’s good news for me. I am in touch with the police in Kerala and if required, I will fly down soon,” she said. “A friend of mine had introduced Santosh Madhavan to me saying that he was an astrologer and had supernatural powers. When I visited him he gave me a ring studded with stones. He convinced me later that he will help me buy a hotel in Deira,” she said. “In 2002 December I paid Dh400,000 to him but he fled UAE with the money. A complaint was filed with the Dubai Police which later alerted the Interpol.” Cerafin alleged that she received threatening calls from Kerala to withdraw the complaint. However, a confusion created by a Malayalam magazine about the identity of a gunrunner, whose name figures in the Interpol’s list of wanted criminals, resulted in the revival of my six-year-old financial fraud case, she said. The magazine’s cover story last week stated that Santhosh Madhavan, who was wanted by the police in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts, was living in a new avatar as a ‘swami’ in the state’s commercial capital of Cochin. Police enquiry revealed that Santhosh Madhavan who had turned Swami Amritachaitanya was not the gunrunner, but a fraudster wanted by the Dubai Police for cheating Cerafin Edwin of Dh400,000 in 2002. The police could not arrest him as there was neither any specific directive from the Interpol nor any complaint from the victim, said Inspector-General of Police Vinson Paul. He said that he would forward the details of their investigation to the Interpol for further action. Meanwhile, the family members of the victim in Kerala said that Cerafin would herself lodge a complaint with the Kerala police. They said the complaint would be moved through her advocate within a couple of days. The family members said Cerafin had not followed this course earlier as she had feared physical harm from the ‘swami’ and his henchmen. Madhavan had collected the amount for buying a hotel in her name. However, he vanished two days after receiving the money. On his return to Kerala, he founded a trust called Shanthitheeram in his own name and built a palatial ashram in Cochin. The ashram is now used as a guest house to accommodate his clients, who include politicians, film stars, top officials and businessmen. Born in a poor family in Idukki district, Santhosh Madhavan started as a temple priest and soon switched over to astrology and real estate business. Police who raided the guest house on Wednesday found documents regarding several land deals, some of them suspected to be benami. The police also suspect that he is involved in hawala deals. Investigation into these aspects is on. The police are also looking into the involvement of one Saifudeen Alikanu (47), who had served as the driver of Santosh in Dubai, in the fraud.	A spiritual guru known as "Swami Amritachaitanya" is being held in Kerala, India on charges of fraud, rape and possession of narcotic drugs. Swami Amritachaitanya, whose real name is Santosh Madhavan, was arrested by Interpol in March on criminal charges in a police raid at his 16-suite ashram in Kochi, India following multiple police complaints against him. Indians living in Bahrain have recently come forward and filed a case against Madhavan in India on allegations of fraudulent practices related to his supposed charity activities. Kochi, India Twenty Indians living in Bahrain filed a case against 35-year old Madhavan on Tuesday. They claim they were victims of a scam after Madhavan convinced them to invest in a charitable organization and tourist resort, but allegedly kept the money for himself. Madhavan arrived in Bahrain in 2005. "Twenty of us have e-mailed a complaint to the Inspector General and Commissioner of Ernakulam police as well as Kerala Home Minister," said complainant Jaya Kumar in a statement to the ''Gulf Daily News''. Ernakulam is a district in the state of Kerala in India. "He was very convincing about his charity activities as well as the resort," said Kumar, a purchasing officer at a company in Bahrain. Police began an investigation into Madhavan in April after a woman filed a complaint alleging he had promised to start a business with her after a meeting in Dubai, but she said he disappeared after she gave him the money. Serafin Edwin traveled to the capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, last week from her residence in Dubai, in order to give testimony against Madhavan. She was greeted at the international airport by police, and is under police protection due to concerns for her safety. Her family members told ''Khaleej Times'' that she feared physical harm from Madhavan or his henchmen. Interpol has been investigating Madhavan in allegations related to his business dealings with Serafin Edwin since 2004. "I am happy that the police finally caught up with him and he is in prison. He is a big fraud and everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie," said Serafin Edwin in a statement to the United Arab Emirates paper ''The National''. Madhavan was arrested by Interpol police after multiple underage girls went to law enforcement with allegations of rape and sexual abuse. According to Press Trust of India, police in India received complaints from three underage girls alleging he had raped them. ''The Times'' reported that Madhavan is accused of making pornographic movies with underage girls, sexual assault, rape, fraud and possession of narcotics. A police raid of Madhavan's four-story mansion in India uncovered drugs, a police uniform, a pelt from an endangered tiger and pornographic DVDs. ''Gulf Daily News'' reported that Madhavan was arrested in Kerala in conjunction with an Interpol "red alert", which was issued after consultation with Dubai police in 2004. Self styled "godmen" and "gurus" are under increased observation by police in India following the arrest of Madhavan, and police are specifically investigating their sources of wealth and possible fraud. "We are not against genuine spiritual leaders. But we won’t allow illegal activities under the guise of spirituality," said Kerala home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in a statement to Howrah News Service. G. Sudhakaran, Kerala's minister for temples, presented a different viewpoint in a statement to ''The Times''. "They’re conducting all kinds of criminal and material activities behind their spiritual exteriors. Ninety per cent of them are fake and criminals. There are so many swamis who have enlightened the hearts and minds of people, but these people are fakes with no idea about spirituality. They are only interested in women and money and muscle power," said Sudhakaran. Many Hindus were upset by Sudhakaran's words, as some devout Hindus consider swamis to be above the law and should not be criticized.
By Ellie Tzortzi BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serb protesters ransacked and set fire to the U.S. embassy in Belgrade on Thursday, venting anger at U.S. support for Kosovo's declaration of independence. A charred body was later found inside, but all American personnel had been accounted for and nothing suggested it was an embassy employee, U.S. officials said. Riot police -- nowhere to be seen when the attack began -- eventually moved in to disperse the rampaging protesters but Washington was furious. At U.S. request, the U.N. Security Council condemned "mob attacks" on the embassy in Belgrade. U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns called Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic to protest at the lack of security. "The message was very clear, that the situation was intolerable, that they needed to act immediately to provide adequate security," a State Department spokesman said. Kostunica, who had earlier addressed a state-backed rally by some 200,000 Serbs against Kosovo's secession, had promised it would not happen again. There were lesser attacks on other diplomatic missions, but none was entered. Germany said its embassy was attacked, Croatia protested over damage and local agencies said missions of Britain, Turkey and Bosnia were also hit. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Police were not guarding the embassy at the time Protesters broke into the US compound in Belgrade and briefly set part of the embassy alight. Firemen later found an unidentified charred body inside. Other embassies, including the UK's, were also targeted. The UN Security Council condemned the attacks. The violence followed a peaceful rally by at least 150,000 people in the city. Most Serbs regard Kosovo as their religious and cultural heartland. Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica delivered an impassioned speech condemning the territory's secession. [Violence] only keeps Kosovo distant from Serbia, President Boris Tadic In pictures: Belgrade rally "As long as we live, Kosovo is Serbia. Kosovo belongs to the Serbian people," he told the flag-waving crowd. Later about 1,000 protesters smashed their way into the US embassy, throwing flares through the window while others scaled walls to rip down the US flag. At the time there appeared to be no police protecting the embassy, but riot police later intervened, firing tear gas. 'Mob attacks' The fires raged for half an hour, and when firemen finally managed to get inside the building they found a charred body. The main rally outside parliament was peaceful White House spokesman Dana Perino said the embassy had been "attacked by thugs" and that Serbian police had not done enough to stop them. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the US had warned Mr Kostunica and his foreign minister that it would hold them personally responsible for further damage. Mr McCormack added that the protesters had entered the chancellery but had not breached the embassy's secure area. Smaller groups later targeted the Croatian, Turkish and British embassies but were beaten back. In New York, the UN Security Council condemned what it called "mob attacks" on US and other embassies in Belgrade. In a unanimous statement, the council recalled the inviolability of diplomatic missions under international law, but welcomed steps by Serbian authorities to restore order. Kosovo 'stolen' Serbian President Boris Tadic appealed for calm. Serbia, supported by Russia and China, says Kosovo's Sunday declaration violates international law. During Thursday's rally, ultra-nationalist leader Tomislav Nikolic accused the US and EU of trying to steal Kosovo. "Hitler could not take it away from us, and neither will today's [Western powers]." After the speeches, the crowd marched to the city's biggest church, the Temple of Saint Sava. Thick, black smoke had also earlier billowed from the crossing point at Merdare, 50km (30 miles) north-east of Kosovo's capital Pristina, as Serb army reservists tried to enter Kosovo. KOSOVO PROFILE Population about two million Majority ethnic Albanian; 10% Serb Under UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 1999 2,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independence Recognised by US, UK, Germany, Italy and France Not recognised by Russia, Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus Nato to stay to provide security Country profile: Kosovo Tense confusion on border "We are here in support of the Serbs who still live in Kosovo," Dejan Milosevic, one of the organisers, told the Associated Press news agency. The Kosovo police, backed by Czech troops from the Nato-led peacekeeping force, put a steel barrier across the road and were able to hold their line. Protest rallies were also held in the Bosnian Serb republic (Republika Srpska). There were unconfirmed reports of injuries as several hundred protesters clashed with police outside the US consulate in Banja Luka. In the coming weeks, an almost 2,000-strong EU mission will be deployed to help Kosovo develop its police force and judiciary. \|\|\|\|\| B92 News Politics Politics One victim in U.S. embassy fire in Belgrade 21 February 2008 \| 18:59 -> 23:22 \| Source: B92, Beta BELGRADE -- B92 has received confirmation that a burned body was recovered from the U.S. embassy in Belgrade. The U.S. embassy tonight (Beta) The victim's identity is at this point unknown, and MUP is investigating. The embassy has confirmed the news, and says all its staff is accounted for. Its spokeswoman also said they were "sure the death did not take place in the victims' direct contact with the embassy's security staff." Earlier, strong MUP forces, including Gendarmes backed with Hummer vehicles, intervened in Kneza Miloša St., after rioting and fire was reported at the premises. The street houses the U.S. and Croatian embassies, which were ransacked tonight. Canadian, Bosnian, Turkish and German embassies were also stoned. Firefighters put out the flames at the U.S. embassy, which previously engulfed two stories of the building, reports say. Gendarmes and riot police pushed rioters back with armored vehicles, at the same time throwing tear gas at them. The protesters then moved toward the city center. A McDonald's restaurant has been attacked again. Police were also guarding the B92 building in New Belgrade as groups of protestors tried to reach it. B92 CEO Veran Matić told reporters that the situation was "dramatic" at one point, but thanked the police who are securing the premises in numbers. 96 people, 32 of them policemen, have so far been reported injured, none of them seriously. One Dutch journalist is also said to have broken three ribs during the riots. Police reports say that the situation in the city is now under control. MUP Gendarmerie Hummers deployed tonight (Beta) Earlier in the evening, demonstrators first burned the flag displayed at the U.S. embassy in Belgrade. The incident coincided with the end of a mass rally in front of the Parliament Hall, and is apparently unrelated to that protest. Several hundred rioters broke into the embassy, Beta news agency said, later setting it on fire. Before they reached the building, demonstrators threw stones at a police cordon in front of it, after which the officers withdrew to a nearby street. Several stores in downtown reported looting and several city transportation company, GSP, buses were also vandalized in other incidents today. President Boris Tadić appealed from Romania this evening for an end to riots. Politics - Most relevant news Thursday, 21 February 2008 Massive Kosovo rally held in Belgrade 10:30 -> 18:43 \| Source:B92, Beta Tadić: Serbia will not isolate itself 12:06 -> 15:27 \| Source:B92, Beta Ex-servicemen cross into Kosovo 16:39 \| Source:Beta Estonia, Italy recognize Kosovo 12:06 -> 14:32 \| Source:B92, Beta Vatican treads carefully over Kosovo 14:44 \| Source:Beta, ANSA Poland hesitant about recognition 12:13 \| Source:Beta LDP: Ministers supporting violence 13:01 \| Source:B92, Tanjug All news for 21. February 2008	In Serbia's capital Belgrade protesters have broken into the United States embassy, and have set fire to an office, which is now extinguished. The break-in followed massive protests against Kosovo's independence that was declared last Sunday. A couple of hundreds of thousands protested in front of the parliament building in Belgrade when masked attackers broke into the building and tried to throw office-furniture out the windows. Estimations of a number of protesters vary between 150.000 and 2 millions. Around 18:00, after the relay, a couple hundred rioters went to Kneza Milosa Street where the US embassy is located. At 18:15 they demolished a part of the embassy and burned it. They also attacked the Croatian embassy, which is around 100 meters from the US embassy on the same street. Around 19:00 police came and clashed with the rioters using tear gas. Riots were all over downtown Belgrade. As of 22:00 the situation was under control but there are still some riots in other streets. The tear gas polluted a couple blocks, about 350 meters up to Vračar hill. The nearby Croatian embassy was also attacked. Rocks were thrown at the Canadian embassy building. This could be due to the fact that Canada has not said yet if it recognises Kosovo. Embassies of Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, United Kingdom and Germany were also attacked. One person was found dead at the ground floor of US embassy, around 150 people were injured, including 35 policemen. Around 100 rioters were arrested. Dirk-Jan Visser, a photo-reporter for the Dutch newspaper ''NRC Handelsblad'' was attacked by rioters. People helped him escape, and he has been taken into hospital with broken bones. He is expected to be kept in hospital until the next day. Ambulances and medical cars were called to the scene to help injured people and protesters, some cars were attacked. Andrey Fyodorov and Andrey Pavlov, journalists of ''Russia Today'', were also heavily attacked during the riots. Two McDonald's restaurants on squares Terazije and Slavija were attacked. The restaurant on Slavija has been heavily damaged. Kiosks, stores and banks were robbed all over the centre of Belgrade. The protesters tried to attack radio/television station ''B92'' but police had the scene under control. "As long as we live, Kosovo is Serbia," Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica told the crowd from a stage in front of the old Yugoslav parliament building in Belgrade, "We're not alone in our fight. President Putin is with us". A huge banner reading "Kosovo is Serbia" draped the front of the building. In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack called out to the Serbian government to protect the U.S. Embassy. He said the U.S. ambassador was at his home and was in contact with U.S. officials. The United States was one of the first countries, with the United Kingdom, France and Germany to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Serbia however regards Kosovo as a province and is backed up in this by Russia, China and numerous other countries, including some European Union member states. Kosovo is 90% ethnic Albanian, with in the north a minority of ethnic Serbians. Belgrade has, however, not been in control over the Kosovo area since 1999, when United Nations took control. High representative of the Serbian Radical Party, Aleksandar Vucic, said that "those who provoked Serbian people are equally responsible for destruction as rioters are." President of Serbia Boris Tadic and President of the National Assembly Oliver Dulic and other ministers called on peace.
WEB EXCLUSIVE By Steve Friess Special to Newsweek June 23, 2006 - The world may seize upon the June 30 opening of the Cirque du Soleil-Beatles collaboration “Love” in Las Vegas as a chance to re-examine the Beatles legacy in all its glory and gossip, but for George Harrison’s widow, it will be a much more personal event. The $150 million surrealist spectacle, scored with an extensive remix of newly digitized Fab Four recordings, was Harrison’s last great idea, so seeing it through has been a bittersweet mission for Olivia since his death in 2001. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Harrison is due to attend the gala opening at the Mirage Hotel-Casino along with the two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as John Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, in a rare reassemblage of the extended, and sometimes dissonant, Beatles family. Harrison, 58, spoke to Steve Friess this week via phone from London about the show and her husband’s legacy. Excerpts: NEWSWEEK: “Love” came about because your husband befriended Cirque founder Guy Laliberte. How did it all come to pass? Olivia Harrison: George and Guy met in the 1990s on the Formula One circuit. Guy hosts a party after the Montreal Grand Prix, so George went. George came home and said, “You know, there was a man and a woman sitting in a lake. She had a tuxedo on and he had a ball gown on and they sat at a table all night long having a candlelit dinner with water up to their waist. There were people in feather costumes swinging in the trees like birds.” This really was right up George’s alley. Guy was the visionary and so was George. They had a lot of excited conversations. George instigated a meeting with Paul, George, Yoko, Ringo and Guy. Everyone wanted to have fun, be creative and have someone else be the vehicle for that. Have you seen the show yet? I saw one of the first run-throughs and I’m really excited about the whole thing. It’s a big sensory overload. I think it’s a lot to take in. I’d like to see it several more times. Well, I’m sure there’s always a seat for you. [Laughs.] Well, it’s funny, because I haven’t even been able to sit with the music yet. I want to listen to the music over and over again quietly, and I haven’t had a chance to do that. They were very careful not letting the music out of Abbey Road [Studios], so we haven’t even had our own copies to listen to. AP Olivia and George on vacation in Italy in an undated photo What parts of the show moved you? I’m not sure I can be that specific. I tried not to be so personal about it. All of us are so emotionally involved. I tend to look at George’s music, see what they’re doing with that; somebody else might look at some of their songs. I wanted to just see how I felt about the whole thing and I came away feeling that it feels good. You can dissect any show and there will be parts of it you may have had a different vision. That’s the case with this. I might have had a different vision of certain characters that you have in your mind. Everyone has a different concept of what they think something is. That’s how it is with music. [But] I always love to see [George’s] face. I thought it was beautiful. Was it hard to watch? Well, yes. I often think, “Would he like it? Is it what he thought it was going to be?” I don’t know. The music is great, and for me, the minute I hear those harmonies at the beginning, it’s so pure right there. It has fantastic moments, it has moments that will probably be improved. Overall, it’s meant to uplift. It’s meant to make people happy, and it does that. Along with Yoko, Paul and Ringo, you had to approve what producers George and Giles Martin were doing with the music. [Sir George Martin produced most of the Beatles' albums; Giles, his son, is also a noted producer.] The other three were veteran musicians. What guided you? I have ultimate respect for Ringo and Paul, and I would obviously trust their judgment. I just felt what was up to me was making sure [George] was well represented. From the very first sampling that they did, the one that we all heard in the studio, we loved it. I found it amazing that each one of those elements of the music—the harmony, the guitar part, the drum part—you can pull them apart and put it on something else and each part carried as much character as the whole song. Since your husband’s death, you’ve become tasked with handling an important legacy. Is it awkward to find yourself his proxy to the world now? Yes and no. "The Concert for Bangladesh" [album rerelease in 2005], the Cirque thing, some of George’s albums that we’re remastering now for rerelease, are all things he started. So I don’t feel like I’ve yet created anything that doesn’t have his approval. I just feel very privileged. It would be hard for me to see anyone else doing it. Rate this story Low High • \|\|\|\|\| IndyStar.com Indiana Living Travel We're sorry The article link is not valid or the article has expired from the system. We're sorry The article link is not valid or the article has expired from the system. Tom Wood Lexus Lexus Certified Pre-Owned includes 3 Year or 100,000 Total Vehicle Mileage Warranty. Click Here! Lexus Certified Pre-Owned includes 3 Year or 100,000 Total Vehicle Mileage Warranty. Click Here! Tom Wood Ford Stop in Today at Tom Wood Ford, and check out the all new Ford Edge, Ford Focus and much more! Stop in Today at Tom Wood Ford, and check out the all new Ford Edge, Ford Focus and much more! Tom Wood Pontiac Mazda GMC Come in and Test Drive the all new 2007 Mazda CX7 for only $249/mo. Click Here! Come in and Test Drive the all new 2007 Mazda CX7 for only $249/mo. Click Here! View all Top Car Deals We're sorry The article link is not valid or the article has expired from the system. We're sorry The article link is not valid or the article has expired from the system. We're sorry The article link is not valid or the article has expired from the system. We're sorry The article link is not valid or the article has expired from the system. We're sorry The article link is not valid or the article has expired from the system. We're sorry The article link is not valid or the article has expired from the system.	Sir George Martin and his son Giles are reported to be working on a new Beatles album, which is scheduled to be released by The Beatles' company Apple Corps through EMI Music later this year. The album will be based on the new show by Cirque du Soleil, entitled ''LOVE'', which will feature remixed versions of The Beatles' songs. Some observers have stated that the album, which is being put together from the original master recordings, may well be the closest thing to an original Beatles album since the legendary band's break up. The album will be released in November.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Bangkok and about a third of the rest of Thailand have spent a first night under curfew after street protest leaders surrendered. At least 27 buildings were set ablaze after the red-shirt leaders' surrender and pockets of resistance remained despite pleas from leaders to go home. Some 40 people have died since troops ringed the protesters last week, with at least six more deaths on Wednesday. Fires were reported at the stock exchange, banks and a shopping mall. AT THE SCENE Continue reading the main story The main area at the heart of the commercial district is completely deserted. This morning there were women dancing and people on stage giving speeches. All those hundreds of people who were in this main part of the protest site have gone. People have set fire to buildings. There's a lot of smoke over the city, burning piles of debris. Someone just told us there were very emotional scenes when the leaders came and said, "it's all over", and told people to go home. But some hardline red-shirt protesters were holed up in an over-head railway station and they were clashing with the military. A huge blaze engulfed Central World, one of South-East Asia's biggest shopping centres. Appearing on TV, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was "confident and determined to end the problems and return the country to peace and order once again". Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister living in self-imposed exile whom many red-shirts support, said the crackdown could spawn mass discontent and lead to guerrilla warfare. "There is a theory saying a military crackdown can spread resentment and these resentful people will become guerrillas," he told Reuters news agency by telephone. The curfew, the first imposed in the city in 15 years, ran from 2000 to 0600 (1300 to 2300 GMT), and the government ordered television channels to broadcast only officially sanctioned programmes. The protest may be over but the bloodshed will not be forgotten and the bitterness and anger linger on, reports the BBC's Rachel Harvey from Bangkok. Thailand's deep divisions have been brutally exposed, our correspondent adds. There are reports of tension in the north and one group operating in the capital has declared itself independent of the main protest movement and says it will continue fighting. 'Grenade attack' In the north-east of the country, a town hall in Udon Thani was set on fire and another, at Khon Kaen, was wrecked. Violence was also reported in the northern city of Chiang Mai. In Bangkok, the main rally stage area was empty after the protest leaders' surrender. One protest leader, Nattawut Saikua, appealed to his supporters to "please return home". The leaders, labelled terrorists by the army, earlier urged supporters not to give up the fight for political change. Minutes after they surrendered, Reuters reported that three grenades had exploded outside the main protest site, badly wounding two soldiers and a foreign journalist. Defiant protesters attacked shops and property and masked men could be seen apparently looting. With the extent of the continuing resistance unclear, Kavee Chukitsakem, head of research at Kasikorn Securities, told Reuters: "After the red-shirt leaders surrendered, things were out of control. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "It's like insects flying around from one place to another, causing irritation." The US state department said it deplored the violence and urged restraint on both sides. Spokesman Gordon Duguid said the US was encouraged that protest leaders had surrendered and called for their supporters to return home. EU parliamentary president Jerzy Buzek said national reconciliation was now "not simply an option, it is absolutely mandatory". "Too much blood has been spilled on the streets of Bangkok," he added. Camp stormed Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told the BBC the government wanted to reach a peaceful resolution with the protesters but pockets of resistance remained and had to be dealt with. An Italian photojournalist was killed, while three other reporters, a Dutch person, an American and a Canadian, were among scores of people injured. According to eyewitnesses, the bodies of six people killed in the violence are lying in a Buddhist temple, AP reported. If confirmed, this would bring the overall death toll to 12. Warnings delivered through loudspeakers heralded Wednesday morning's military assault, which saw soldiers in armoured vehicles smashing through the bamboo-and-tyre barricades. Troops armed with M16 rifles stormed the Lumpini Park area, where demonstrators fled, leaving scattered shoes, overturned chairs and hanging laundry. The red-shirts had been protesting in Bangkok since 14 March, occupying the shopping district, forcing hotels and shops to close. But events took a deadly turn last week when the government moved to seal off the area and a renegade general who backed the protests was shot dead. The red-shirts are a loose coalition of left-wing activists, democracy campaigners and mainly rural supporters of Mr Thaksin. They are demanding fresh polls because they say the government - which came to power through a parliamentary deal rather than an election - is illegitimate. Are you in Thailand? What is your reaction to what is happening in the capital right now? What is the best way out of the conflict? Send us your views using the form below. \|\|\|\|\| Tony Birtley reports from Bangkok on the military crackdown that scattered protesters Curfew has been imposed in Bangkok and several provinces of Thailand in response to widespread violence and vandalism triggered by a military operation to retake the capital's commercial district from opposition red-shirt protesters. Six important red-shirt leaders surrendered to the police after soldiers breached barricades surrounding the protest zone in the upscale Rachaprasong shopping district early on Wednesday. Several prominent buildings across the city were subsequently set ablaze by their followers in spite of appeals for restraint. At least six people are known to have died in Wednesday's unrest. The government has imposed a curfew from 8pm (1300GMT) to 6am (2300GMT) in Bangkok and extended it to 24 other provinces. It said military operations would continue overnight and security forces had been authorised to shoot looters and arsonists. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the prime minister, said in a televised address late on Wednesday that he believed his government could soon "end the problems and return the country to peace and order once again." Red shirts' fury The red shirts set several buildings on fire, notably the Bangkok stock exchange, as they retreated from their protest camp. Central World, the second largest department store in Southeast Asia, was destroyed in a blaze. The red shirts also attacked the offices of state-run Channel 3, setting it on fire, forcing the evacuation of its executives by helicopter. Police rescued the rest of the staff. The English-language Nation and Bangkok Post newspapers evacuated their staff after threats from the red shirts. in depth Videos: On the ground amid Thai offensive Thaksin lawyer on protests Rivals explain positions Red shirts vow to fight on Businesses see red Timeline Battle in Bangkok Programmes: Inside Story: Thai battle Thailand: Warring colours 101 East: The red shirts Thailand's TV wars Profiles: Thaksin and the red shirts Gallery: Crackdown in Thailand A large office building down the street from the Bangkok Post office was set alight. Unrest also spread to Thailand's rural north and northeast, the protesters' heartland. Local media reported protesters set fire to government offices in Udon Thani and vandalised a city hall in Khon Kaen. Udon Thani's governor asked the military to intervene. TV images showed troops retreating after being attacked by mobs in Ubon Ratchathani. Tony Birtley, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Bangkok, said violence had spread to some extent. "There have been outbursts of violence in several places in the north and northeast," he said. "A contact of mine phoned me from Chiang Mai [in the north] saying that fire engines were set alight, property was destroyed and barricades were set up there, so the violence is spreading." Against this backdrop, Thaksin Shinawatra, the country's ousted prime minister whom many of the red shirts support, said he feared a military crackdown could lead to guerrilla warfare across the country. "There is a theory saying a military crackdown can spread resentment and these resentful people will become guerrillas," he told the Reuters news agency by telephone. Thaksin, who is accused by the government of bankrolling the protests and inciting unrest, denied he had undermined peace talks, saying he was not the "mastermind of the terrorists". But Tim Forsyth, a South Asia expert based in the UK, cast doubt on Thaksin's claims of innocence. "Unlike previous demonstrations involving the red shirts, this time they have had a small proportion of highly armed specialised paramilitary people amongst them," he told Al Jazeera. "They have also had a very clear intention of trying to embarrass and bring down the current government. "This suggests that Thaksin may well be behind all this because after all he wants his money unfrozen and he wants to influence Thai politics again." Military assault Wednesday's crackdown began with about 100 soldiers armed with automatic rifles and shotguns, along with several machinegun-mounted armoured personnel carriers, breaching the red shirts' barricade at the southern end of their protest site in Bangkok's Rachaprasong neighbourhood. The armoured vehicles repeatedly rammed the barricade, made up largely of tyres, sharpened bamboo poles and razor wire, before breaking through the flattened structure. Red shirts lit fuel-soaked tyre barricades in an attempt to defend their protest camp [AFP] Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay, reporting from the protest zone, said troops moved quickly through the first kilometre of the site, towards the main stage where the leaders of the red shirts were believed to be. At least two bodies - suspected to be of slain red-shirt guards - were seen being removed from the area, he said, and the Thai Red Cross appealed for blood donations. Jongjet Aoajenpong, the head of a local hospital, was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying that an Italian journalist was shot in the stomach and "died before arriving". Al Jazeera's Birtley said the raid on the protest camp was a relative success for the military. "This was one of those feared operations that people believed that if the military came in heavy handed, hundreds of people could be killed and injured," he said. "That hasn't happened. However, there are many problems and grievances that exist for these people and that will have to be addressed by any Thai government in the future."	thumb Authorities in Thailand have put around a third of the country, including the capital of Bangkok, under a curfew after leaders of the street protesters known as Red Shirts surrendered. The curfew is the first in Bangkok in fifteen years, and is to run from 20.00 to 06.00 local time (13.00 to 23.00 ). As part of the curfew, only government-sanctioned media is to be allowed on television stations. The crackdown by the Thai government comes after army troops entered an area held by protesters and arrested six prominent rebel leaders. At least six people are confirmed dead after Wednesday's violence, and military operations are expected to continue for at least another night. The government has also authorized security forces to shoot protesters. Around 40 people in total have been killed since the beginning of military operations against protesters last week. A refuse vehicle lies burned out in the road after being set alight during the protests Protesters have set fire to numerous buildings in Bangkok, and the violence has spread to other areas of the country. The second largest shopping center in Southeast Asia was destroyed by fire; Bangkok's stock exchange has been set ablaze. Several other buildings have been evacuated, including those of a state-run television company, , which was later set on fire and destroyed, and two other English media companies. Thailand's Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, said in an appearance on television that he was "confident and determined to end the problems and return the country to peace and order once again." Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who most protesters support, warned that the military crackdown could lead to open warfare in Thailand, saying that "there is a theory saying a military crackdown can spread resentment and these resentful people will become guerrillas."
Microsoft say support for IE6 will continue for the next four years Google has begun to phase out support for Internet Explorer 6, the browser identified as the weak link in a "sophisticated and targeted" cyber attack on the search engine. The firm said from 1 March some of its services, such as Google Docs, would not work "properly" with the browser. It recommended individuals and firms upgrade "as soon as possible". Google threatened to withdraw from the Chinese market following the attacks, which it said originated in China. Hackers used a flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser to target the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. 'Key functionality' Following Google's revelations, the French and German governments advised their citizens to switch to a different browser until the hole had been closed. Microsoft reacted by quickly updating the browser, nearly three weeks ahead of its regular security update. However, Google has now said it is going to phase out support for the browser "starting with Google Docs and Google Sites". It said that as a result, some "key functionality" of the applications would not work when used with IE6. Google Docs is the firm's answer to products such as Microsoft Office, whilst Google Sites allows people to create web pages. "The web has evolved in the last ten years, from simple text pages to rich, interactive applications including video and voice," wrote Google's Rajen Sheth in a blog post. "Unfortunately, very old browsers cannot run many of these new features effectively." Threat downplayed Around 20% of web users still use the nine-year old browser, including many UK government departments. But many developers want to see the browser phased out as soon as possible. The online campaign ie6nomore, supported by more than 70 web firms, says that because the browser does not support modern web standards it restricts what developers can do and is "holding the web back". Microsoft has said that it will support the browser until 2014. Microsoft has released a fix for Internet Explorer and recommended that customers install the update as soon as possible or update to the latest version of the web browser for "improved security". Microsoft normally issues patches monthly but the high-profile nature of the attacks led it to act more quickly. Market share The UK government downplayed the threat and said there was "no evidence that moving from the latest fully patched versions of Internet Explorer to other browsers will make users more secure". However, Microsoft took the unusual step of patching the hole nearly three weeks ahead of its regular security update. The new patch is available via the Microsoft Update site and will also be fed out to those who have their machines set to update automatically. All versions of Internet Explorer will receive the update. Microsoft has admitted that it has known about the vulnerability "since early September" 2009 and had planned to patch it in February. The bad publicity has allowed rivals such as Firefox to gain market share. According to web analytics company StatCounter, Firefox is now a close second to Internet Explorer (IE) in Europe, with 40% of the market compared to Microsoft's 45% share. In some markets, including Germany and Austria, Firefox has overtaken IE, the firm said. Mozilla, the foundation behind Firefox, has just released the latest version (3.6) of the open-source browser. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| This has not been the greatest start to the year for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. Days after news of the latest security flaw in Internet Explorer, Google is adding fuel to the fire by phasing out support for IE6 for two of its Google Apps products, Docs and Sites (which recently got an aesthetic upgrade). For both the consumer and enterprise versions of Google Docs and Sites, the only browsers that will be fully compatible are Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0+, Mozilla Firefox 3.0+, Google Chrome 4.0+ and Safari 3.0+. The phase out will take place beginning March 1. While you’ll still be able to access Docs and Sites from IE6, you will have restricted functionality and many features won’t work, making the applications for the most part useless. We hear that Google will be phasing out IE6 support for the remainder of Google’s major products, including Gmail and Calendar, over the coming year. This isn’t Google’s first move to phases out IE6 functionality for its products. Last July, the search giant began phasing out YouTube support for the Microsoft browser. For users of IE6, the online video site began pointing to ‘modern’ browsers like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox 3.5 as alternatives. A similar prompt will now take place on Docs and Sites for users who are browsing from IE6. For the most part, the tech community, including web developers and designers, tend to have a profound dislike of Internet Explorer 6. Obviously, the browse has many issues, including low performance and major security flaws. Even Microsoft itself, is recommending that all its customers upgrade to Internet Explorer 8, the latest version of the browser which has better security in place. The main reason why IE6 is still being used at all is because of corporate IT departments across the globe needing to make upgrade decisions. Unfortunately, a number of these companies still have to use the browser because they have systems in place built specifically to run with it. To add insult to injury, IE6 continues to lose market share in the browser world. And Google isn’t the only technology company that is looking to close off support for IE6. Digg has hinted at wanting to cut support for the browser too. I have a feeling that as Google joins the web in gathering pitchforks around IE6, more companies will flock to join the movement.	Google has started phasing out support for Microsoft's Internet Explorer 6 (IE6), following a hacking attempt that exploited an IE6 vulnerability, despite the flaw being fixed promptly. From March 1 on, some services, such as Google Docs, will not work "properly" when accessed from the browser. Google recommends that both firms and end-users upgrade "as soon as possible". Google now only officially supports Internet Explorer 7+, Firefox 3+, Chrome 4+ and Safari 3+. Hackers exploited a weak spot in Internet Explorer to find the contents of Gmail accounts of human rights activists in China. Following this, both the French and German governments advised that users should switch to a different browser until the flaw had been plugged. Microsoft issued a patch quickly after the revelations, pushing out a scheduled update just under three weeks earlier than they had scheduled. The software giant normally issues updates once a month, but the high press coverage led it to run an unscheduled update. However, Microsoft admitted that they knew about the problem "since early September", and were planning to patch it in February, leaving the hole open for five months. Rajen Sheth, the Senior Product Manager for Google Apps, said in a blog post that the web had "evolved in the last ten years, from simple text pages to rich, interactive applications including video and voice", and that "very old browsers cannot run many ... new features". 20% of users still use the browser, released in August 2001 in order to complement the then-new Windows XP operating system, including many governments. Microsoft will support the browser until 2014, although the browser has attracted strong criticism among people in the web industry. The bad publicity garnered from the attacks has allowed rivals, such as Mozilla Firefox and Google's own browser, Chrome, to gain market share, allowing the open-source Firefox, of which a new version (3.6) has just been released, to claw a 40% share, close to overtaking Microsoft's 45%. Last July, Google also dropped IE6 support from the popular video sharing site, YouTube. Popular sites, such as Facebook and Digg, have also dropped support. IE6 does not support several key technologies, making compatible web-design hard to do. For example, it does not render partial transparency in png images, and many site designers must work around the fact that Internet Explorer 6 does not support many important parts of the cascading style sheets (CSS) family of standards, which is how the majority of websites are designed.
Samuels Jewelers in Search of New Opportunities Mon, 11 December 2006 Samuels Jewelers, Inc., representing one of the major specialty fine jewelry retailers, currently carries negotiations with an India-based Diamond Trading Co. sightholder. The main point of the discussion is purchasing a majority ownership of the retailer by the sightholder. A sightholder refers to a company that enters the DTC as an authorized bulk purchaser of rough diamonds. Until present moment Samuels Jewelers' majority shareholder has been DDJ Capital Management, LLC. Meanwhile, the shareholder keeps secret further details about the future transaction. It is worth mentioning that DDJ Capital Management, LLC functions as a boutique investment manager. Its specialization lies in debt financings, private equity, high yield and special situations investments. The Samuels Jewelers' step towards the continuous partnership with a DTC sightholder has been dictated by the opportunities implied by the transaction for both sides. As for Samuels Jewelers, it is expected to come to the rapid growth due to ploughing back its balance sheet, as well as improving its inventory selection. In its turn, the sightholder sees its own advantages in the future acquisition - Samuels will allow the sightholder gain new grounds in diamonds and jewelry products manufacture process. The partners intend to develop a new beneficial fully integrated business pattern - one group will manage the diamonds from rough diamonds to jewelry pieces offered to the consumer. This is a good way for Samuels Jewelers to offer additional value to the retail consumer. At present time being the tenth largest specialty retailer of fine jewelry in America, Samuels Jewelers Inc. holds a chain of specialty retail jewelry stores in America, altogether comprising 97 retail jewelry stores opened in 18 states. The stores are involved in selling fine jewelry pieces available in a great variety of styles and offered at a wide price range. The most successful and developed are Samuels Jewelers' diamond and gemstone jewelry lines. \|\|\|\|\| Samuels Jewelers has entered into discussions with a Diamond Trading Co. sightholder based in India for the sightholder to purchase a majority ownership of the retailer. "Samuels is very excited about this opportunity to develop a long-standing relationship with a DTC sightholder as both a shareholder and vendor partner," Samuels President and Chief Executive Officer Randy McCullough said in a statement. "This transaction will enable Samuels to recapitalize its balance sheet, improve its inventory selection and have a firmer foundation for future growth." DDJ Capital Management, current majority shareholder of Samuels Jewelers, did not publicly disclose terms of the proposed transaction or provide any further details about the sightholder. "We believe Samuels is an ideal candidate to complement a sightholder's strengths in manufacturing of diamonds and jewelry products," Samuels Chairman David Barr said in a statement. Samuels operates 97 retail jewelry stores in 18 states under the names Samuels, Schubach and Samuels Diamonds. The retailer had an estimated $100,000,000 in U.S. retail jewelry and watch sales in 2005. Source: Nationaljeweler.com www.nationaljeweler.com	A major purchase transaction is being prepared in the diamonds' industry: '''''Samuels Jewelers''''' started a discussion with a sightholder from Diamond Trading Company (DTC). The latter is to acquire the majority part of retailer's shares. There is still not much information about this particular sightholder, except for the fact that it is based in India. The present majority shareholder of Samuels Jewelers is '''''DDJ Capital Management'''''. The representatives of the company do not give any information concerning the potential buyer. Randy McCullough, the President and CEO of Samuels Jewelers, stated that it would be a great opportunity for the retailer to start a partnership with a DTC sightholder, thus Samuels would be able to re-capitalize its balance sheet, to acquire newer inventory and guarantee itself stable growth in the future. As for Samuels Jewelers, which is officially called ''"Samuels, Schubach and Samuels Diamonds"'', possesses a network of 97 jewelry stores in 18 US states since October 1 this year. The incomes of the retailer at the end of the previous year are estimated to be around $100,000,000. The current shareholder of Samuels Jewelers, DDJ Capital Management, is a company, which specializes itself in private equity and debt financings. This managing firm began its activity in 1996 and since then has grown to operate capitals of 79 institutional clients (estimated in approximately 3 billion dollars).
A four-hour standoff in a northeast Longview neighborhood ended Thursday evening in a hail of gunfire as officers shot and killed a registered nurse as she emerged with a weapon from a tear gas-filled house. Longview police later identified the woman as Candace Jackson, 38. She was shot as she began to exit the house where she’d been holed up and fired several rounds at officers, police said. Hours earlier, officers had sealed off the neighborhood after arriving about 1:20 p.m. in response to a call to check the welfare of a person in the 2000 block of Eden Drive. Another call about 20 minutes later reported gunfire in the neighborhood. Soon after arriving, police said they came under fire from someone in the house. At one point early in the standoff, one officer could be heard via police radio telling another, “Get down! You’re in the line of fire!” Radio traffic indicated officers initially thought the gunfire was coming from the garage. Within minutes, police swarmed the area and began blocking traffic from Eastman, Alpine and Page roads and Layfayette Street. Longview police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said more than 20 officers, including SWAT and Crisis Intervention officers, were dispatched to the scene. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers also were on the scene. Nearby schools were alerted and Longview ISD school buses were not allowed to deliver students to homes in the area. Buses were rerouted to J.L. Everhart Elementary, where students were kept inside. A command post was set up in the parking lot of Cumberland Church on Eden Drive as the standoff, punctuated by sounds of gunshots and flash bangs on Eden, played out. Brian said officers on the scene advised residents to stay inside as police tactical units surrounded the house near the intersection of Lafayette Street and Eden Drive. For hours, negotiators attempted to interact with Jackson through a loudspeaker, and SWAT team officers used an armored vehicle as a shield to evacuate nearby houses. Some neighbors were evacuated using the vehicle, known as a Bearcat. As it rolled from one house to the next, a marksman atop the vehicle kept a rifle trained on the house where Jackson was holed up. Erika Rogers, who lives two streets over from the scene, said she heard the initial gunfire when police arrived. “Early, when we didn’t know what was going on, we did hear four or five shots. We heard a couple, then a few minutes later a couple more,” she said. Ron Wade, who lives on Lafayette Drive three blocks south of Eden Drive, said he remained inside after receiving an automated call from Longview police. Police said Jackson fired on officers early in the standoff and again moments before she emerged from the gas-filled house. “After the subject fired several more rounds from a weapon, police deployed several canisters of CS gas inside the home,” Brian said in a statement released by the department Thursday night. “At that point the subject began to exit the home with a weapon and fired several more rounds in the direction of police. At that time police officers on scene utilized deadly force.” Jackson was pronounced dead a short time later at Good Shepherd Medical Center. An autopsy was ordered, Brian said. The Texas Board of Nursing lists Jackson as a Longview resident with a current nursing license. Gregg County Appraisal District records indicate Jackson was the owner of a home at 2007 Eden Drive. The shooting and standoff is being investigated by Texas Rangers. — News-Journal reporters Sarah Thomas and Richard Yeakley and photographers Les Hassell and Kevin Green contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| UPDATE: Longview Police tell KETK, the suspect who was taken from the house today, following a lengthy standoff with police is 38-year-old Candace Jackson of Longview. UPDATE: Police tell KETK, one person is dead after the Longview standoff. UPDATE: Longview Police tell KETK the standoff is over. One person was taken to the hospital after being shot. UPDATE: Longview Police have deployed tear gas into the house, and the person inside was shot. They have been taken away in an ambulance. UPDATE: KETK newspaper partners, The Longview News-Journal are reporting that there has been some activity at the scene. They say that there may have been tear gas or gunfire taking place. The paper also reports that one person has been taken from the scene in an ambulance. KETK will continue to update. UPDATE: KETK reporter Texas Reardon says that some residents who cannot get to their homes are waiting at near by convenience store. Police have evacuated people in the surrounding neighborhood of the standoff. There are dozens of Police officers and SWAT on scene. UPDATE: In addition to some Longview ISD buses, some Hallsville ISD buses may be affected. Those HISD buses traveling to the area of the standoff will delay drop off of those students until their safety can be assured. If the standoff lasts for an extended period of time, the students will be returned to the schools for parent pick-up. ONLY the parents of those LISD students who live in the area of the standoff need to pick up their students from JL Everhart and Forest Park Middle Schools. All other students from those schools will be taken home by bus. UPDATE: KETK reporter Texas Reardon is on the scene of the standoff, and spoke to neighbors in the area. One man tells us, his wife heard gunshots earlier this afternoon. Since the standoff began, she has been hiding in a closet with her young child. We will continue to update as more information comes in from the scene. UPDATE: Longview ISD officials tell KETK that some bus routes are going to be affected by the standoff situation. Those who will be impacted are the students coming from JL Everhart Elementary and Forest Park Middle School who live in the area of the standoff. The buse that are already running will return to campus. Parents are being notified by the school district's mass contact call system, and they will be able to pick up their children at the schools. Specific bus numbers were not immediately available. UPDATE: The house where the standoff is taking place is on the 2000 block of Eden. The incident started out as a welfare check that was being handled by a Longview Police Sargeant. The call came in at 1:18 pm on Thursday. Police do not believe that there are any hostages inside the house. However, there are an unknown amount of weapons inside. No schools are on lockdown at this time, but Police tell KETK that some Longview ISD bus routes will be affected. Residents living on Paverstone are being allowed into their houses, but the other roads in the area are blocked off to the Loop. KETK reporters are at the scene of a SWAT standoff at Alpine Road and Loop 281 in Longview. According to officials, a lady is in her house with multiple weapons and there has been a reported shooting. Alpine Road is closed from Eden Sreet to the Loop as Longview police respond. Lafayette and Page roads also are blocked. According to our newspaper partners, The Longview News-Journal, a person inside has fired a gun at officers. KETK will update information as it becomes available.	Police authorities in , Texas were embroiled in a standoff with an armed suspect for several hours yesterday. Late in the day, police —according to police reports— fired on and killed Candace Jackson, 38, as she exited the house and fired upon officers nearby. The incident happened in a residential area near the 2000 block of Eden Drive. Early in the standoff, a police spokesperson told reporters the individual had possession of several weapons. Eye witnesses report the suspect being taken away from the scene via ambulance. officers were dispatched to the scene, and many neighborhood residents were evacuated with the help of an armored police vehicle, manned by a sniper. Some residents who lived nearby gathered at a local convenience store until authorities would allow them to return. News video from the scene showed numerous police vehicles including the armored vehicle. Some school buses carrying children who live in the area of the standoff were rerouted back to school, and parents were notified to pick up their children at the campuses. One man told reporters that his wife and child hid in a closet when they heard gunshots in the vicinity of their home. == Sources == * * *
Last updated: 29th March 2009 At least 19 supporters are believed to have been killed in a stadium crush during Ivory Coast's World Cup qualifier with Malawi in Abidjan on Sunday. The tragedy occurred when a wall collapsed at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan. Hundreds of supporters were also thought to be injured as the stadium was overrun with people who pushed against each other, setting off the panic that led to the stampede. Some 50,000 fans were packed in the stadium in Ivory Coast's biggest city to watch the game. The incident occurred as Ivory Coast beat Malawi 5-0 in a World Cup qualifying match. \|\|\|\|\| Ivory Coast's minister of the interior has announced on state TV that at least 22 people died and 132 were wounded in a stampede before a World Cup qualifying match in the capital's main stadium. Desire Tagro said the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan was overrun with people who pushed against each other, setting off the panic that led to the stampede ahead of the Ivory Coast v Malawi World Cup qualifier today. The incident is reported to have taken place before kick-off, although the game went ahead, with the Ivorians winning 5-0. The stadium, which is named after Ivory Coast's first president and has a capacity of around 50,000, was sold out in advance of the game after cut-price tickets were put on sale. Dagobert Banzio, Ivory Coast's sports minister, had appealed for strong public support for Vahid Halilhodzic's team ahead of the match. \|\|\|\|\| By Mohamed Fofana ABIDJAN (Reuters) - At least 19 people were killed on Sunday in a stampede at an overcrowded stadium during an international soccer match in Ivory Coast, officials said. "We have 19 dead and many seriously injured," a military source at the stadium said. The crush occurred after part of a wall collapsed when ticketless fans stormed one of the entrances to the 45,000-capacity Houphouet-Boigny arena in the West African country's main city, Abidjan. "Spectators who did not buy tickets were jostling before the match," Sports Minister Dagobert Banzio said on state television. "They smashed one of the main gates of the stadium. They were trampled." He put the number of injured at 132. "There were lots of supporters outside who wanted to get in," Interior Minister Desire Tagro said. "There was a crush." Ivory Coast defeated Malawi 5-0 in the World Cup qualifier. Riots and crushes are common at African soccer stadiums, which are frequently overcrowded. Last September, 11 people were killed in a stadium riot in Democratic Republic of Congo and in June eight people died in a crush in Liberia. South Africa is spending several billion rand on building new venues and infrastructure for the soccer World Cup which it is due to host in 2010. (Additional reporting by Ange Aboa and Loucoumane Coulibaly; Writing by Daniel Magnowski; Editing by Andrew Dobbie) \|\|\|\|\| 22 killed at stampede at match in Ivory Coast ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — A stampede at a World Cup qualifying soccer match in the Ivory Coast killed at least 22 people and wounded 132 Sunday, the Minister of the Interior announced on state TV. Desire Tagro said fans pushed against each other, setting off a panic that led to the stampede at the game between the Ivory Coast and Malawi. "Lots of fans showed up," Tagro said. "They started pushing to get in because the match was about to start and each and every one of them wanted to get in." An Associated Press photographer said people began shoving and pushing 40 minutes before the beginning of the game at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny arena. Police fired tear gas into one section of the crowd. Ollo Kambire, a reporter for "Super Sport," a daily newspaper focusing on sports, said that a wall collapsed under the weight of the fans as they pushed toward the field. "We saw people falling. ... Then there was panic and a stampede," he said. Ivory Coast won the match 5-0. There have been a number of stampedes at Africa's crowded stadiums. Badly equipped security forces are far outnumbered and are often unable to control the voluminous crowds. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	the disaster occurred at Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. A stadium disaster has claimed well over a dozen lives in the Ivory Coast. A crush, which may have occurred after a wall collapse, took place today at the in and according to interior minister killed 22 people and wounded 132 others. Different sources put the dead at 19. "We have 19 dead and many seriously injured," a member of the military told ''''. The Sports Minister gave this version of events: "Spectators who did not buy tickets were jostling before the match. They smashed one of the main gates of the stadium. They were trampled." Tagro also said that fans trying to get in were crushed. According to '''', a wall collapse caused the fatalities while the injured were hurt when pushing spectators caused a panic which became a stampede. 50,000 people had turned up to watch a qualifying match for the football between and . The ''Associated Press'' also said that police used tear gas in an effort to control the crowd. The match was sold out due to low-price tickets. The game went ahead despite the pre-match incident and the Ivory Coast side won 5-0.
£226k football bet win A woman won £226,000 after betting on the outcome of eight Champions League games - but knows nothing about football. Kathrin Rotmann, 32, bet £1,000 and whooped with delight watching the results come in on TV. German-born Kathrin said: "I was watching the matches on multiscreen. "I'm not an expert - I just support teams that are strong and winning. My husband loves football." Advertisement The business consultant said: "I like to bet £300 to £500. I look at the players, the training and the team. I try to get a feel for it." The mum of one, from London, predicted wins for Arsenal, Man United, Rangers, Slavia Prague, Barcelona, Roma, Fenerbahce and PSV at 226-1. William Hill said: "It's one of our biggest payouts to a female client." \|\|\|\|\| £226k football bet win A woman won £226,000 after betting on the outcome of eight Champions League games - but knows nothing about football. Kathrin Rotmann, 32, bet £1,000 and whooped with delight watching the results come in on TV. German-born Kathrin said: "I was watching the matches on multiscreen. "I'm not an expert - I just support teams that are strong and winning. My husband loves football." Advertisement The business consultant said: "I like to bet £300 to £500. I look at the players, the training and the team. I try to get a feel for it." The mum of one, from London, predicted wins for Arsenal, Man United, Rangers, Slavia Prague, Barcelona, Roma, Fenerbahce and PSV at 226-1. William Hill said: "It's one of our biggest payouts to a female client."	A woman found herself £226,000 richer, one the biggest ever payouts to a female client, after placing a series of bets on last weeks Champions League games, despite knowing nothing about football. Kathrin Rotmann, 33, placed a £1,000 bet based on her tactics of supporting "teams that are strong and winning". "I am delighted. I only ever bet on football — last year I won £35,000 with one bet. I just keep a track of those teams which are playing well and bet on them. It was very exciting when the results went my way." She was delighted when she saw her bet multiply in front of her eyes, when her 226-1 odds of wins for Arsenal, Man United, Rangers, Slavia Prague, Barcelona, Roma, Fenerbahce and PSV come in on television. The exact amount won was £226,834.36.
See photos of quirky landmarks that you sent in! Click "launch." View and discuss the pictures and issues that caught our eyes What keeps you up at night? Gut Check America is your chance to tell us what really matters in our country and to help determine what topics MSNBC.com covers. Click here to learn more and get involved. NEOSHO, Mo. - Prosecutors filed three murder charges Monday against a Micronesian man accused of opening fire in a church, killing three people and wounding five others during a service for a mostly Micronesian congregation. Prosecutors also charged the man, Eiken Elam Saimon, 52, with assault, felonious restraint for holding the congregation hostage, and armed criminal action. Another assault charge was pending, Newton County Prosecutor Scott Watson said. At a news conference, police and prosecutors declined to discuss the motive. But Watson told The Associated Press earlier Monday that the alleged gunman had targeted congregation leaders. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement “I think that you’ll find that the victims were what some would term elders or leaders (of the Micronesian congregation),” Watson told The Associated Press earlier in the day. “As information continues to come forward, it appears that the shots that were fired were not random.” The victims were not friends or relatives of the gunman, Watson said. Saimon also is a suspect in the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl on Saturday, Watson said. That girl is a relative of Saimon’s, although authorities did not specify how the two were related. Suspect silent during hearing A not guilty plea was entered for Saimon during a brief arraignment Monday afternoon in Newton County Circuit Court. The judge set Saimon’s bail at $1 million, reduced from the original $5 million, and set a preliminary hearing for Sept. 18. Saimon said nothing during the hearing, sitting for most of the time with his head bowed. Janice Arnold, 43, of Detroit, who was inside the First Congregational Church during the shooting, said the gunman came in and ordered children and some members of his own family to leave. “Then he started shooting,” Arnold said. Watson said the investigation so far does not back early reports that the shooting was triggered by an altercation Saturday night between the suspect and a family that belonged to the congregation. Saimon was not an active member of the church, police said. The Micronesian congregation rents the church and the service is held in their language. The gunman had two small-caliber handguns and one 9 mm semiautomatic machine pistol with a large magazine, said Dave McCracken, Neosho police chief. The shooting came during the 1 p.m. service, which was attended by about 50 people, ranging in age from children to the elderly. “This was a tragedy as far as those killed and injured but it could have been a lot worse,” McCracken said. The gunman surrendered after about 10 minutes of negotiation. He had held 25 to 50 people hostage. Good prognosis for wounded The victims included Kernal Rehobson, 44, of Goodman, who was the pastor of the congregation. The others were Intenson Rehobson, 44, and Kuhpes Jesse Ikosia, 53, who were “what we would call deacons” of the church, McCracken said. Police were trying to determine if the Rehobsons were related. He said police were told five wounded people, all adults, would recover. During the 1990s, thousands of Micronesians emigrated from their Pacific island nations to southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas, drawn by plentiful jobs in the poultry and manufacturing industries. Micronesians can live and work in the United States without getting visas because of their home countries’ unique relationship with the United States. Island nations throughout the Pacific fell under U.S. control after the area was wrested from Japanese control after World War II. The nations were run as colonial outposts called trust territories. When countries like The Federated States of Micronesia gained independence in the 1980s, they entered pacts with the United States that gave Micronesians the right to live and work in the United States. Micronesians were drawn to small towns like Neosho and Springdale, Ark., because of the low cost of living and the ever-growing presence of other Micronesians. The immigrants formed tightly knit communities with their own churches, general stores and community events. About 200 Micronesians live in the Neosho area. Rehobson led the group of Micronesians for about 15 years and ran a Micronesian store out of his house in Goodman, said Larry Zuniga, 42, who worked with Rehobson at Wal-Mart. © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| NEOSHO, Mo. A gunman opened fire in the sanctuary of a southwest Missouri church Sunday, killing a pastor and two worshippers and wounding several others, authorities said. One of the victims was the Rev. Kernal Rehobson, 44, who led the local congregation of predominantly Micronesian worshippers holding the service at the First Congregational Church, police said. The other two victims were male members of the congregation, who were "what we would call deacons," said Dave McCracken, Neosho police chief. Their names were not released because relatives were still being notified. The gunman ordered all the children out of the church before he started shooting and briefly held between 25 to 50 people hostage before surrendering, McCracken said. At least five people were wounded, McCracken said. But he said others who were injured may have fled before police secured the church. Police have been told that the five who were injured will recover, he said. (Story continues below) Advertise Here Advertisements Advertisements Rehobson was shot multiple times and was dead at the scene, Newton County Coroner Mark Bridges said. Rehobson had led the group of Micronesians for about 15 years and ran a Micronesian store out of his house in Goodman, Larry Zuniga, who worked with Rehobson at Wal-Mart, told the Neosho Daily News. The congregation used to meet at Rehobson's house and was using the First Congregational Church for worship while it searched for a permanent home, Zuniga told the paper. Officials removed two covered bodies from the brick-and-white trim church into a waiting funeral parlor van Sunday evening. "This is a terrible tragedy which was made worse by the fact that it happened in a peaceful place of faith and worship," Gov. Matt Blunt said in a statement. The suspect, a man in his 40s who was from the Pacific islands, was being held at the Newton County Jail, but McCracken would not release any more information about him. No charges had been filed Sunday, McCracken said. McCracken said the gunman had two small-caliber handguns and one 9 mm semiautomatic machine pistol with a large magazine. The shooting followed the 1 p.m. service, which was attended by about 50 people, ranging in age from children to the elderly. The church opened its doors to the group of worshippers from the Pacific islands, said Patty Mendoza, 35, whose friend attends the service. "There are a lot of islanders that come here," Mendoza said. "It's terrible. I can't imagine what it was about." The gunman surrendered to authorities after about 10 minutes of negotiation. "At the time that the rescue attempt was successful we had approximately 20 people in the sanctuary still," McCracken said. "We had some people who escaped the crime scene prior to the police arrival that were wounded, and we had some people escape during the process and at the time of the rescue." He said no one was injured during the arrest. McCracken said he could not confirm whether the gunman was a member of the church. But he said an incident involving the suspect and a family that attended the First Congregational Church on Saturday night fueled the shooting Sunday. "At this point though, we don't have any information more than that," McCracken said. Calls to the church went unanswered. \|\|\|\|\| A gunman opened fire in the sanctuary of a southwest Missouri church Sunday, killing three people and wounding several others, authorities said. Dozens of people were briefly held hostage at the First Congregational Church in Neosho, near the Oklahoma border, before the gunman surrendered, city spokeswoman Desiree Bridges said. The coroner identified one of the dead as the Rev. Kemal Rehobson, 44, who was shot multiple times. At least four people were wounded, but several others who were injured fled the scene, according to police Chief Dave McCracken. The gunman carried two small-calibre handguns and one 9-mm semi-automatic machine pistol with a large magazine, McCracken said. The shooting followed the 1 p.m. CT church service held¬†in Spanish. About 50 people, ranging in age from children to the elderly, were in the building at the time. "At the time that the rescue attempt was successful, we had approximately 20 people in the sanctuary still," McCracken said. "We had some people who escaped the crime scene prior to the police arrival that were wounded, and we had some people escape during the process and at the time of the rescue." The shooter, who¬†surrendered after about 10 minutes of negotiations, is being held at the Newton County jail. McCracken said he could not confirm whether the gunman was a member of the church, but said an incident involving him and a family that attended the church on Saturday night fuelled Sunday's shooting rampage. "At this point, though, we don't have any information more than that," he said. With files from Associated Press	A gunman in Neosho, Missouri, killed three and wounded at least ten in a church. The incident took place after the 1 p.m. service. The disgruntled worshiper held a number of hostages but later surrendered. The suspect had at least three weapons, the media reported, and was linked to someone in the church.
ABUJA (Reuters) - A Nigerian tribunal on Tuesday rejected opposition demands for a re-run of last year’s presidential election, averting a political crisis in Africa’s most populous nation. Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua addresses a rally in Abuja, March 29, 2007. A Nigerian tribunal will uphold or annul the 2007 election of Yar'Adua on Tuesday in a ruling that could either legitimise a deeply flawed poll or push Africa's most populous nation into political limbo. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde Umaru Yar’Adua won a landslide victory, but local and international observers said vote-rigging was so rampant that the results were “not credible”. A special five-judge tribunal rejected legal challenges filed by the two main opposition candidates, former army ruler Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. “Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan remain the president and vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” said Judge John Fabiyi at the conclusion of a ruling that took more than three hours to deliver. Major oil exporter Nigeria, a chaotic country of 140 million people, emerged just nine years ago from decades of coups and army rule. Many politicians had feared that instability would return if Yar’Adua’s election was annulled. The two challengers immediately said they would appeal to the Supreme Court. This could take several more months. “For us, we have come to the semi-final,” Buhari told reporters immediately after the ruling. The odds for the Supreme Court decision appear heavily stacked in favour of Yar’Adua after the tribunal rejected every single one of the challengers’ points. It said Buhari had failed to prove that violations of the electoral law were substantial enough to invalidate Yar’Adua’s victory. It ruled that Abubakar had not been excluded from the poll, as he had alleged, but rather had participated actively. A woman flips through a newspaper at a vendor stand in the commercial capital of Lagos February 25, 2008. REUTERS/Akiuntunde Akinleye DISAPPOINTING “It is a very disappointing judgment,” said Innocent Chukwuma, head of the home-grown Transition Monitoring Group. “We had expected the tribunal to go beyond mere technicalities and address the yearnings of Nigerians for fair and credible elections,” he said. But economists said the ruling had strengthened Nigeria’s political stability and this would reassure investors. “We expect the decision to be positive for the performance of Nigerian markets,” said Razia Khan, regional head of research for Africa at Standard Chartered Bank in London. Former Nigerian army ruler and opposition politician Muhammadu Buhari (C) enters the court of Appeals in Abuja, February 26, 2008. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde Uncertainty over whether Yar’Adua would finish his four-year term had slowed policy-making and investment decisions, and economists expressed hope the pace of reform would now pick up. “The key is whether the greater political certainty translates into more effective government. There is not a lot the government can point to after nine months in power,” said Graham Stock, Africa strategist at JP Morgan in London. In a statement after the ruling, Yar’Adua pledged to run “a purposeful and result-oriented administration that will yield tangible and visible benefits for all Nigerians”. He also promised electoral reform to ensure that similar disputes do not arise in future. Tribunals at state level have cancelled the elections of seven out of 36 state governors who were also elected last April, as well as the elections of the Senate president and dozens of legislators. The rulings cited voting irregularities. \|\|\|\|\| Mr Yar'Adua leads Africa's largest oil producer and most populous nation The panel of five judges unanimously rejected them, saying they did not contain enough evidence. Lawyers for both losing presidential candidates, Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, say they will take their cases to the Supreme Court. International observers said the April polls fell short of expected standards. The 2007 election saw the first transfer of power from one elected leader to another in Africa's biggest oil producer and most populous country. From a political stability perspective, this is likely to be positive African economist Razia Khan Send us your comments What now for Yar'Adua? Correspondents say a Nigerian president has never lost an election challenge but the decision was not a foregone conclusion. The country's courts have been exerting their independence recently - overturning other controversial results from the disputed elections. The BBC's Andrew Walker in court says the ruling is a considerable blow to the opposition but it will also let the president get on with his job of running the country. He says the ruling will fly in the face of what many Nigerians experienced during the election but most have already accepted Mr Yar'Adua's election. Security had been tight in the capital, Abuja, in the run-up to the ruling and no big crowds were allowed to gather outside the courtroom. "The broader issue of how you get legitimacy as a president in Nigeria rests much more with what you do in government," African analyst Anthony Goldman told the BBC. Rigging claims The verdict was read out point by point for over three hours by judges in powdered wigs and black gowns. "Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan remain validly elected as president and vice-president of Nigeria," the ruling said, AFP news agency reports. Judge Abdulkadir Abubakar Jega said both sides had failed to prove that violations of the electoral law were substantial enough to invalidate the election result. The official results show that Mr Yar'Adua gained more than 70% of the vote, compared to 18% for Mr Buhari and 7% for Mr Abubakar. "From a political stability perspective, this is likely to be positive," African economist Razia Khan told Reuters news agency. Neither opposition candidates claim they actually won the election - they had called for a re-run. Mr Yar'Adua has admitted there were flaws in the vote and has promised to reform the electoral system before the next elections. Mr Buhari, who also contested the previous election in 2003 and is a former military ruler of Nigeria, maintains the vote did not take place in 29 of the 36 states. His lawyers had unearthed records from Nigeria's election regulator that appeared to show the results had been artificially inflated between the tallying station and being announced. Long battle Mr Abubakar had said the vote should be nullified because the ballot papers were delivered on the day of the election and were missing serial numbers. Both Mr Buhari (l) and Mr Abubakar (r) want a Supreme Court ruling The former vice-president fought a long legal battle before the election to be included on the ballot after he fell out with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo in the latter stages of his final term. The result was the ballot papers had to be re-printed at short notice in South Africa, the court has heard. They did not reach polling stations in many parts of the country until after the election. The lack of serial numbers also rendered any result inadmissible, Mr Abubakar's lawyers claimed. Before the ruling, his spokesman Garba Shehu said politicians could not be "trusted to correct themselves" and the courts had to do it. The election was widely condemned in the press, but presidential spokesman Mobolanji Adebiyi said the judges would rule on what was in front of them, not on the media reports. Seven state governors have had their elections overturned by tribunals. On Saturday a court also annulled the election of Senate President David Mark. If the presidential election is annulled, he would have taken over during the 90-day period before fresh elections are required to be held. \|\|\|\|\| Mr Yar'Adua leads Africa's largest oil producer and most populous nation The panel of five judges unanimously rejected them, saying they did not contain enough evidence. Lawyers for both losing presidential candidates, Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, say they will take their cases to the Supreme Court. International observers said the April polls fell short of expected standards. The 2007 election saw the first transfer of power from one elected leader to another in Africa's biggest oil producer and most populous country. From a political stability perspective, this is likely to be positive African economist Razia Khan Send us your comments What now for Yar'Adua? Correspondents say a Nigerian president has never lost an election challenge but the decision was not a foregone conclusion. The country's courts have been exerting their independence recently - overturning other controversial results from the disputed elections. The BBC's Andrew Walker in court says the ruling is a considerable blow to the opposition but it will also let the president get on with his job of running the country. He says the ruling will fly in the face of what many Nigerians experienced during the election but most have already accepted Mr Yar'Adua's election. Security had been tight in the capital, Abuja, in the run-up to the ruling and no big crowds were allowed to gather outside the courtroom. "The broader issue of how you get legitimacy as a president in Nigeria rests much more with what you do in government," African analyst Anthony Goldman told the BBC. Rigging claims The verdict was read out point by point for over three hours by judges in powdered wigs and black gowns. "Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan remain validly elected as president and vice-president of Nigeria," the ruling said, AFP news agency reports. Judge Abdulkadir Abubakar Jega said both sides had failed to prove that violations of the electoral law were substantial enough to invalidate the election result. The official results show that Mr Yar'Adua gained more than 70% of the vote, compared to 18% for Mr Buhari and 7% for Mr Abubakar. "From a political stability perspective, this is likely to be positive," African economist Razia Khan told Reuters news agency. Neither opposition candidates claim they actually won the election - they had called for a re-run. Mr Yar'Adua has admitted there were flaws in the vote and has promised to reform the electoral system before the next elections. Mr Buhari, who also contested the previous election in 2003 and is a former military ruler of Nigeria, maintains the vote did not take place in 29 of the 36 states. His lawyers had unearthed records from Nigeria's election regulator that appeared to show the results had been artificially inflated between the tallying station and being announced. Long battle Mr Abubakar had said the vote should be nullified because the ballot papers were delivered on the day of the election and were missing serial numbers. Both Mr Buhari (l) and Mr Abubakar (r) want a Supreme Court ruling The former vice-president fought a long legal battle before the election to be included on the ballot after he fell out with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo in the latter stages of his final term. The result was the ballot papers had to be re-printed at short notice in South Africa, the court has heard. They did not reach polling stations in many parts of the country until after the election. The lack of serial numbers also rendered any result inadmissible, Mr Abubakar's lawyers claimed. Before the ruling, his spokesman Garba Shehu said politicians could not be "trusted to correct themselves" and the courts had to do it. The election was widely condemned in the press, but presidential spokesman Mobolanji Adebiyi said the judges would rule on what was in front of them, not on the media reports. Seven state governors have had their elections overturned by tribunals. On Saturday a court also annulled the election of Senate President David Mark. If the presidential election is annulled, he would have taken over during the 90-day period before fresh elections are required to be held.	Umaru Yar'Adua A judge has ruled today that Nigeria's 2007 election results, which saw Umaru Yar'Adua's become president, will not be annulled. Opposition parties claimed that the People's Democratic Party (PDP), of which the President is leader, fixed the results of the 2007 election in his favour and called for a re-run. The tribunal ruled unanimously against the claims, with Judge Abdulkadir Abubakar Jega stating that there was no evidence that Mr. Yar'Adua had rigged the polls. Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, leaders of the two opposition parties who launched the case, have both said they will take their complaints to the Supreme Court. International suspicions were also raised at the time of the election, with some voicing concern over the politcal process. The ruling could have negative impacts - it could be seen as an admittance of a 'false democracy' occurring in the last election and therefore undermining the political process in Nigeria. This could cause instability between political rivals and may spark protests. Yar'Adua assumed office on 29th May 2007 after the election in April, where he won 70% of the vote. Since then, he has became the first Nigerian leader to declare his personal assets, as well as overturning hikes in petroleum and tax made by the previous government. Despite these positive steps, he has also been surrounded by controversy, with several governors who served him before 2007 being charged by the EFCC, the anti-corruption commission. Election annulments have been passed for seven of thirty-six state governors and even the senate president, David Mark.
Disneyland was closed to the general public on the 4th in order to allow the company's public relations (PR) machine unfettered access to the park. Thanks to David who won tickets from KTLA's Morning News Show (we need to tip our golden ears to him here), I was able to be a part of the small audience for a live broadcast yesterday from the hub. This allowed for a 6:30 AM entry to Disneyland, the chance to watch the KTLA folks at work, and then afterwards we got to spend some very relaxed time in the park. (Basically it was just Annual Passholders who won tickets, and pleasantly surprised Disney Hotel guests who found an invite and ducats slipped under their doors that morning.) It was a chance to see the PR and media machine at work, and it gave Disney enough visitors to serve as a backdrop for the parade and many of the other staged events and video shoots happening throughout the park. In this very clever way they avoided putting off any paying customers so they could close down areas as needed to get things done, and visitors in return got a very un-crowded park to enjoy. It was a "Win-Win" situation for everyone involved. In today's special update I'll give you a photo quick peek into my day along with my brief impressions, and in a follow-up (hopefully tomorrow if she can get it done) fellow MiceAge columnist Sue Kruse will continue with part two of the story, this time told from the side of the invited press. Sue has been attending the many media events so she will fill you in on the announcements made, as well as giving you a peek into the many presentations that were closed to the public. Got your cheese Danish in hand? Have that espresso made for you just right? Let's get started then! Launching the 50th It's 6 AM in Anaheim and on any other day I would still be fast asleep. But duty calls on this overcast morning and I find myself on a cold and sparsely occupied tram on the way to Disneyland's esplanade. The first things I noticed on the way to check myself in were the new bag search tents (inset below). There were also changes made to the ticket booths. (They had begun working on them late Monday night.) Besides adding the 50th icons, the ride closure boards have been replaced with lightboxes pushing the parkhopper tickets, and the hoppers have also been emphasized on the price boards over the ticket windows. After checking in (and being given a nice KTLA tote with a bottle of water and an autographed photo) we were led into the park and down Main Street. Everywhere there were cars parked and media crews working away, over at the Opera House they were rehearsing the presentation they would do later on that day. As we approached the hub we could see several shoots all going on at once, each positioned so they had a clear view of a park icon. The lead parade float was even out to be used as a video backdrop. THERE ARE FOUR PAGES TODAY - CLICK HERE FOR PAGE TWO \|\|\|\|\| At Thursday's early morning ceremony to kick off the 18 month celebration of Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, the inimitable Julie Andrews said of Walt Disney, "He's blessed so many people in the world by giving us the great gift of Disneyland. No matter how old you are, no matter what language you speak, Disneyland is and always will be the place where imagination comes alive; the impossible seems real, and the feelings, indescribable." Julie Andrews being interviewed May 5th. Indescribable. Yes, that says it perfectly. You walk through the berm and you just get this wonderful feeling, but how do you describe what that feeling is? Well, until a few days ago, I would have been hard-pressed to put it all into words. But having been lucky enough to have been a part of the media event launching the celebration, I think I can now define the indescribable. Talking to so many people during the course of the event, I learned a thing or two and the common thread that ran through every conversation again and again, was that we are all connected. From those of us who are famous, like Richard Sherman, the darling man who brought us those fabulous songs from Mary Poppins (among so many others) to the not so famous, Rose Keller, the sweet Annual Passholder (below) who rearranged her flight to see her own granddaughter graduate because, "There was no way I was going to miss this," we are all connected through a commonality, through a love for Disneyland. Rose Keller Disneyland is family. Family. My copy of Webster's New International Dictionary defines the word family as; A group of kindred or closely related individuals or groups of individuals; as a family of Disney fans. Well, okay, it doesn't actually say Disney fans (it would if I had anything to do with it), it says; as a family of languages. But I think you'll allow me to make that one small change, won't you dear readers? Now I'm sure you've all heard the slogans and seen the commercials for the 50th Anniversary Celebration. The characters come from the four corners of the earth to get to Disneyland. Dumbo flies over Manhattan. Stitch rides in on a motorcycle. Cinderella rushes past the Eiffel Tower. The Genie hops on a camel. Mickey and the gang catch a ride with Herbie the Love Bug. The word family is used liberally and we're all invited to "come home." The commercial is cute but until now, I pretty much dismissed it as media rhetoric. Yeah, yeah, we're all part of the Disney family and we're going to go home to Disneyland. But you know what? It's not rhetoric. It's real and I'm going to take you on a journey through the various events of the past few days and when we arrive at the end, you will know what it means to be part of the Disneyland Family too. The kickoff of the media event started with a presentation in the DCA's Hyperion Theater. Media from all over the world positioned themselves, anxious to hear Jay Rasulo, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, speak about the major events taking place during the 18 month celebration (above). An army of cameras focused on the stage and we were all ears. "Half a century ago the opening of Disneyland marked the birth of a national treasure and it launched a whole new genre of family entertainment," Rasulo went on telling us the celebration is called "The Happiest Homecoming On Earth" and filled us in on original opening day participants that would also be present for the 50th, Art Linkletter and original sponsors Eastman Kodak and Coca Cola (look for the special commemorative bottles). He added that, "This is a commemoration of the past, but it is also a celebration of the future." We saw a few clips of the other Disney parks celebrations, some pictures of Hong Kong Disneyland (the first Disney theme park to be modeled closely on Disneyland), and then actor Kelsey Grammar took the stage. "It's not every day I'm asked to help celebrate the anniversary of a national treasure and it's really a delight to be here." Kelsey went on to express the thought that it's impossible to imagine a time when there was no Disneyland. That's probably a thought that occurs to a lot of folks, I know it does to me having literally grown up with the park. Like all of us Kelsey has memories of his early trips to Disneyland, but as he started to share these with us, he took a nasty fall from the stage (photos above & below). I believe at first a lot of us thought it was part of the show and in a minute or two, Mr. Grammar would pop back up again. But when he let out a couple of curse words (and I can tell you I would have let fly way worse words than he did), quickly we all realized that this was not the case. Consummate actor that he is, Kelsey pulled himself back upon the stage and carried on with his presentation staying far away from the edge of the stage and putting us all at ease by cracking a few self-deprecating jokes about the mishap. "I first visited the ride, It's A Small World at the world's fair in New York in 1964 when I was just a boy. And there are so many wonderful memories that I have of it. I even sang that song, It's A Small World, for the cub scout performance we gave that year. Over the next two days, we're gonna make some new memories, one with me falling off the stage...." Enough of that, Kelsey went on a bit longer but the Green Army Men interrupted and gave us our marching orders to the back lot area where a party had been prepared for us. THERE ARE FOUR PAGES TODAY, CLICK HERE FOR PAGE TWO \|\|\|\|\| After our walk down the golden carpet we were treated to a fabulous party in New Orleans Square that, like the previous night, included yummy treats (a martini bar where the drinks were poured through blocks of ice carved in the shape of a giant 50) and great entertainment (The Goo Goo Dolls) and a night time showing of the Parade of Dreams (so pretty at night, this is when you should plan to watch it). Setting up the gold carpet earlier in the day. Even Goofy's patchwork is celebrating. Elizabeth and Richard Sherman arrive at the party. But the best part of the evening was the new fireworks show, Remember... Dreams Come True. I'm going to throw out a few adjectives here and you'll have to trust me when I say I am not exaggerating. Remember... is astounding, amazing, and downright fantastically fabulous. It's an E-ticket in the sky. The show is so good that after it was over, I found myself feeling sorry for every other Disney park around the world because they don't have this show. I felt exactly the way I did the first time I saw Fantasmic. Grinning from ear to ear, I couldn't imagine how they did that, I was amazed and delighted, and I wanted to see it again, right now. I wanted more and lots of it. A few spoilers are going to follow here so be advised... The official press release describes the show as consisting of "five spectacular acts," Magic Starts With a Wish, Our Disney Storybook Friends, Tinker Bell Unlocks the Magic, Walt's Dream "E-Tickets in the Sky", and Wishes Everlasting. The opening narration, voiced by Julie Andrews, is followed by the wishes of some of your favorite Disney characters and then Tinker Bell makes her entrance. You've all watched The Wonderful World of Disney, right? Don't you love it when Tinker Bell flits in and flies around the castle sprinkling her pixie dust all around at the start of the show? Imagine that scenario around Sleeping Beauty Castle and you get the picture of the flight path Tink takes nightly during the fireworks. She glides down from the Matterhorn and all of the sudden; she's dipping and gliding all around the castle, just like the TV show. It's pretty darned amazing. And when you consider that she starts off 13 stories above the ground and at times reaches speeds up to 20 mph, it's pretty darned astounding too. You know, that and a few well placed pyrotechnics would probably be enough to please anyone, but the show doesn't stop there. Oh no, there's more. Walt's voice reaches out to you, "To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past. And here, youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to the entire world." And then... its starts. The best part of the show. You hear the toot-toot of the Disneyland train and the words, "Your attention please..." and from then on it's one wild ride after another as the show makes its way through every beloved attraction in the park. I will spare you the description of how this is done because you have no need of hearing this until you actually see it. But trust me, it's so fantastic. Even if you have no personal history with the park, you've still heard of the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Tours, etc. I guarantee you will still be tickled pink when you watch. I do have one caveat about the show. It needs to be watched from the hub area. Whether it's directly in front of the castle or near Coke Corner, you must watch it somewhere in that area. You must be able to see both the Matterhorn and Sleeping Beauty Castle from where you stand. Keep this in mind when positioning yourself for the show because you can bank on it that at times it will be a trial to achieve this. Persevere. Take a deep breath, remain calm, and try to put up with the thousands of people who want to stand in the very same spot you do (and be kind to the guest control cast members too). It's worth whatever trouble you have to go to to see this show. And if you live far away and weren't planning to get around to coming to Disneyland, change your plans. Save every penny you can, you've got 18 months to get here, but get here you must. You have to come see Remember... Dreams Come True, it's that good. Oh, and when you come see the show, you may want to drop by City Hall and leave a note of thanks for Steve Davison, the creative genius behind the show, he certainly deserves it. Thank you Steve! I have one more story to tell you about the evening and then we're going to get on with the Castle unveiling on the morning of the 5th. My final story is about Disneyland President Matt Ouimet and I do hope he will forgive me for telling it. Lately, as Disneyland has been looking "spit-spot," I've been thinking "what a guy." Under the past management, Walt's park was starting to look pretty shabby. Attractions broke down or disappeared altogether and the pixie dust just seemed to dry up. But all of the sudden, everything's neat and tidy and looking good again. As someone said to me, "It's a good time to be here." It all seems exciting again and that feeling of excitement has been gone for a long time. I keep hearing stories of what a terrific boss cast member Matt is, how he brings his personal guests in through the main gate, signing them in the same way all cast members are required to do, instead of coming in through TDA as he surely could. He talks to people and walks around the park, just like Walt used to do. "He's a regular guy," I was told. In this picture taken at the next day's final ceremony Matt Ouimet is in the front row with a dark suit. Back row: Donald Duck, Art Linkletter, Michael Eisner, Bob Iger and LeAnn Rimes. Front row: Christina Aguilera, Julie Andrews, Jay Rasulo, Ouimet, Mickey Mouse. When the evening was almost over and we were mingling in Town Square enjoying the sumptuous desserts, there was Matt just hanging out with everyone. At one point, Tina remarked to him how much she enjoyed the fireworks and he quickly replied, "They're damn good, aren't they?" Yep, a regular guy. And isn't that nice for a change? THERE ARE THREE PAGES TODAY - CLICK HERE FOR PAGE TWO \|\|\|\|\| Leave it to Disney to pick 05/05/05 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Backward, that's 50/50/50, said George Reiger, who calls himself Disney's No. 1 fan. Reiger has 1,724 tattoos on his body representing everything Mickey. Visitors and dignitaries filled the Magic Kingdom on Thursday to get in on what Disney is calling ``The Happiest Celebration on Earth.'' Under cloudy skies, they gathered at Cinderella's Castle to watch Disney Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner and Bob Iger, president and CEO- elect of the Walt Disney Co., launch a celebration at Disneyland that will feature new attractions, rides, parades, firework displays and shows at each of the 10 theme parks. The cameras then zeroed in on Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, Disneyland Tokyo and Disneyland Hong Kong, which will open Sept. 12. Eisner spoke of Walt Disney, who started it all, and how he knew that magic and dreams were ``timeless treasures that would strike a chord around the world.'' Art Linkletter, who accompanied Walt Disney on the day Disneyland opened, made a repeat performance Thursday, saying, ``Thank you, Walt, wherever you are.'' The day saw the debut of Cinderellabration, a musical from Tokyo Disneyland. Rain stopped the show, but it went on after skies cleared. Chris and Jamie Newcomb, of Daytona Beach, watching with their three children, wanted to thank Walt Disney. The couple honeymooned at Walt Disney World, and Chris Newcomb did his doctoral dissertation on Disney World. ``This is the place we find our center, the place we find our home in this crazy world,'' said Newcomb, who teaches at Bethune-Cookman College.	Sleeping Beauty Castle decorated for the celebration The American theme park Disneyland celebrated its golden anniversary on Thursday, in Anaheim, California. The theme park, created and opened by Walt Disney in 1955, hosted a special gala opening at 1pm in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, the world-famous icon of Disneyland. CEO of the Walt Disney Company Michael Eisner, COO Bob Iger, honorary Disneyland Ambassador Julie Andrews and a host of stars opened the celebration, which is scheduled to run for eighteen months. Singers Christina Aguilera and LeAnn Rimes sang Disney classics, while actors Tim Allen and Steve Martin opened new attractions. Martin had worked at Disneyland as a teenager, and Aguilera was part of the Mickey Mouse Club in the 1980s. Within California, Disney is calling it the ''Happiest Homecoming on Earth'', and worldwide it is known as the ''Happiest Celebration on Earth''. Several attractions have been swapped between parks, and the four main Disney theme parks (the Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland) gave a salute to Disneyland via live satellite feed. The ceremony was hit with deep purple stormclouds but no rain. The park celebrates its actual birthday on July 17, 2005. There are no clear details on how Disney will mark the occasion.
Viacom From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Viacom is an international media conglomerate. The companies owned by Viacom touch virtually every major segment of the media industry. Their company portfolio currently includes: Viacom began life as the television syndication division of CBS, CBS Films. In 1971, the division was renamed Viacom International, and in 1973 it was spun off, amid new FCC rules forbidding television networks from owning syndication companies. Viacom made large amounts of money during the 1970s and 1980s distributing old CBS classics to syndication, including such landmark shows as I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show and All in the Family. They also syndicated shows for others, the biggest examples being The Cosby Show and Roseanne. In 1985, Viacom bought Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, which owned MTV and Nickelodeon, renaming the company MTV Networks. In 1986, Viacom was bought by movie theater owner National Amusements, which brought Sumner Redstone to the company. Redstone made a string of large acquisitions in the early 1990s, announcing plans to buy Paramount Pictures in 1993, and buying the Blockbuster chain in 1994. The Blockbuster acquisition gave Viacom access to large television holdings controlled by Aaron Spelling's company, Spelling Entertainment; along with his own productions (such as The Love Boat and Beverly Hills 90210), Spelling controlled the pre-1973 ABC and NBC back catalogs by way of Worldvision Enterprises and Republic Pictures. After these acquisitions, Viacom owned many movie and television production and syndication units, which were slowly integrated into Paramount; many TV shows previously distributed by Viacom, Republic or Worldvision have since gained Paramount closing logos. In 1999, Viacom made what has been its biggest acquisition so far, by announcing plans to buy its former parent CBS. The merger was approved in 2000, bringing cable channels TNN (now Spike TV) and CMT under Viacom's wing, as well as CBS's production units and TV syndicators Eyemark (formerly Group W) and King World. As of this writing, CBS's production unit and King World (which has since absorbed Eyemark) are operating under their own names, as parts of CBS, and no attempt has been made thus far to move them around in Viacom's corporate structure; however, TNN and CMT were merged into MTV Networks almost immediately. In 2001, Viacom completed its purchase of Black Entertainment Television. As with TNN and CMT, it was immediately integrated into MTV Networks, causing some outcry among BET workers in the Washington, DC area (where BET was based before the merger). BET was not integrated into MTV Networks. Although a majority economic interest in Viacom is held by independent shareholders, the Redstone family maintains voting control of the company through National Amusements' holdings of Viacom's class A stock. Infinity Broadcasting (owns and operates over 180 stations) Viacom Consumer Products Infinity Outdoor (Billboards) Famous Music 16 CBS-affiliated stations 19 UPN-affiliated stations Sumner Redstone is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and Mel Karmazin is the president and Chief Operating Officer. \|\|\|\|\| From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This page is about the original Viacom (founded 1971) and its successor form (founded 1986) which is now known as CBS Corporation. For information on the new post-2005 Viacom, see Viacom. Viacom began life as CBS Films, the television syndication division of CBS. In 1971, the division was renamed VIACOM (Video & Audio Communications), and in 1973 it was spun off, amid new FCC rules forbidding television networks from owning syndication companies (the rules were later repealed). Viacom made large amounts of money during the 1970s and 1980s distributing old CBS classics to syndication, including such landmark shows as I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show and All in the Family (which was later owned by Embassy/Columbia Pictures Television, now called Sony Pictures Television). They also syndicated shows for others, the biggest examples being The Cosby Show and Roseanne (which were produced by Carsey-Werner Productions; Carsey-Werner eventually got big enough to distribute their own shows, mainly because of the success of these two). Viacom also syndicated the Nickelodeon game shows Double Dare and Finders Keepers; both shows were co-syndicated by Fox Television Stations. String of acquisitions Viacom's first non-programming acquisition came in 1978 when the company purchased the Sonderling Broadcasting chain, giving them radio stations in New York City, Washington, DC, Houston, San Francisco and a TV station (CBS affiliate WAST, now NBC affiliate WNYT) in Albany, New York. Later that year, Viacom added NBC affiliate WNHB in New Britain, Connecticut (Hartford market) changing its calls to WVIT. The early 1980s saw Viacom sorting through the Sonderling stations with several being donated, swapped, or being the nucleus for new corporations (WOL in Washington, DC launched the Radio One group, today a large African-American-owned and targed corproation). In 1983, Viacom purchased CBS affiliates KSLA in Shreveport, Louisiana and WHEC in Rochester, New York, followed three years later with (ironically) CBS-owned KMOX-TV in St. Louis, Missouri in 1986, with that sale that station's calls became KMOV. In 1985, Viacom bought Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, which owned MTV and Nickelodeon, renaming the company MTV Networks. Viacom also received Warner-Amex's share of Viacom/WASEC joint venture Showtime Networks, Inc. (which included Showtime and The Movie Channel), which has retained its original name, Showtime Networks, Inc. In 1986, Viacom was bought by movie theater owner National Amusements, which brought Sumner Redstone to the company. Redstone made a string of large acquisitions in the early 1990s, announcing plans to buy Paramount Communications, parent of Paramount Pictures, in 1993, and buying the Blockbuster Video chain in 1994. Viacom's corporate "V" logo, which was used from 1976 to 1990 . This version began use in 1986 The Blockbuster acquisition gave Viacom access to large television holdings controlled by Aaron Spelling's company, Spelling Entertainment; along with his own productions (such as The Love Boat and Beverly Hills 90210), Spelling controlled the pre-1973 ABC and NBC back catalogs by way of Worldvision Enterprises and Republic Pictures. After these acquisitions, Viacom owned many movie and television production and syndication units, which were slowly integrated into Paramount; many TV shows previously distributed by Viacom, Republic or Worldvision have since gained Paramount closing logos. In 1999, Viacom made its biggest acquisition to date by announcing plans to buy its former parent CBS Corporation. The merger was approved in 2000, bringing cable channels TNN (now Spike TV) and Country Music Television (CMT) under Viacom's wing, as well as CBS's production units and TV syndicators Eyemark (formerly Group W) and King World. CBS's production unit and King World (which has since absorbed Eyemark) operated under their own names; however, TNN and CMT were merged into MTV Networks almost immediately. In 2001, Viacom completed its purchase of Black Entertainment Television (BET). As with TNN and CMT, it was immediately integrated into MTV Networks, causing some outcry among BET workers in the Washington, DC area (where BET was based before the merger). As a result, BET was de-integrated from MTV Networks. Although a majority economic interest in Viacom was held by independent shareholders, the Redstone family maintained 71% voting control of the company through National Amusements' holdings of Viacom's stock. In 2002, Viacom bought independently-run music channel TMF, which at the time was broadcasting in Belgium and the Netherlands. In June 2004, Viacom bought VIVA Media AG, the German equivalent to MTV. The same month, plans were announced to dispose of Viacom's interest in Blockbuster later that year by means of an exchange offer. In June of 2003 Sega announced that they would sell all Sonic The Hedgehog trademarks to Viacom. Viacom - CBS split In March 2005, Viacom announced plans of looking into splitting the company into two publicly traded companies. The company was not only dealing with a stagnating stock price, but also the rivalry between Les Moonves and Tom Freston, longtime heads of CBS and MTV Networks respectively. After the departure of Mel Karmazin in 2004, Redstone, who served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, decided to split the offices of President and Chief Operating Officer between Moonves and Freston. Redstone was set to retire in the near future, and a split would be a creative solution to the matter of replacing him. The split was approved by Viacom's board June 14, 2005, took effect December 31, 2005, and effectively undid the Viacom/CBS merger of 1999. The existing Viacom was renamed CBS Corporation and was headed by Moonves. It now includes Viacom's "slow growth businesses", namely CBS, UPN, CBS Radio, Simon & Schuster, Paramount Parks, Viacom Outdoor, Showtime, and most television production assets. These, according to some analysts, were suffocating the growth of the MTV Networks cable businesses. Additionally, a new spin-off company was created called Viacom, and is headed by Freston. It comprises MTV Networks, BET Networks, Paramount's movie studio, and Paramount Pictures' home entertainment operations. These businesses are categorized as the high-growth businesses (MTV Networks and BET Networks in particular), and if they were split into a separate company, it could infuse new funds/capital to allow for future acquisitions and expansion. Sumner Redstone still controls 71 percent of the voting stock of both companies and is the chairman of both companies. Footnote ↑ Viacom was initially founded in 1971, but was reincorporated in 1985. Effective December 31, 2005, this corporate entity changed its name to CBS Corporation. The present firm known as Viacom beginning December 31, 2005 is a new spin-off company created during the CBS-Viacom split. See also \|\|\|\|\| 01.03.2006 CBS CORPORATION BEGINS TRADING AS STAND ALONE PUBLIC COMPANY The CBS Corporation began formal trading on the New York Stock Exchange today under the NYSE ticker symbol CBS and CBS.A. The company, one of the most diversified corporations in media today, with interests in broadcast and cable television, radio, publishing, digital media, outdoor advertising and theme parks, became a publicly traded company this morning after Viacom Inc. separated its businesses into two companies, one of which is the CBS Corporation. Leslie Moonves, President and CEO of the new company, marked the occasion by ringing the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange floor this morning."We're pleased to once again offer shareholders an opportunity to own a piece of the CBS Corporation," said Moonves. "We are very excited about the possibilities that lie ahead as we launch our new company, with content and distribution that rival any in media today. The CBS name has always stood for quality, integrity and innovation, and it?s those principles that will continue to guide us. I'm very confident that our unparalleled collection of businesses will continue to grow in their present form, as well as the many new platforms that are making a splash on the new media landscape."Detailed information on the CBS Corporation, its businesses, executives and financial information can be accessed on the company's new corporate site, www.cbscorporation.com.CBS began trading on the NYSE in 1937. It ended trading as a public company on May 4, 2000, when its merger with Viacom was completed and it began trading under the Viacom ticker.CBS Corporation is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and UPN), cable television (Showtime), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (Paramount Television and King World), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), theme parks (Paramount Parks), digital media (CBS Digital Media Group and CSTV Networks, transaction pending) and consumer products (CBS Consumer Products). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.	The CBS "eye" Logo of the new Viacom. The new CBS Corporation began trading on the New York Stock Exchange once again on January 3 after officially finishing its split with Viacom two days earlier. The split had been in the works since around March 2005 when Viacom announced it was breaking into two publicly traded companies due to stock price stagnation. In June 2005, Viacom's board approved the split and saying the CBS Corporation name would be revived for one of those companies. One of these units would receive most of Viacom's broadcasting and mass-media portion of subsidiaries (CBS, UPN, Infinity Broadcasting, now CBS Radio) along with Viacom Outdoor (now CBS Outdoor), Showtime Networks, and Paramount's television studio and a few other operations and announced long-time excutive Leslie Moonves would head that new company. The split is filled with twists and turns. Viacom was founded in 1971 as CBS' television syndication division and was spun off in 1973. Westinghouse Electric Corporation bought CBS and changed its name to CBS Corporation. In a ironic twist, Viacom accquired their parent company in 1999 and CBS' stock symbol was de-listed as it became a division of Viacom. Ironically, the new CBS Corporation is actually the original Viacom. A new Viacom was founded and spun off containing MTV Networks (which contains CMT and Spike TV, two cable networks originally owned by CBS) along with BET, Paramount's film studio and home entertainment divisions, online virtual pet game Neopets, and a music publisher. It also partially owns Sega of America along with the Sonic the Hedgehog trademarks and is currently in the process of acquiring DreamWorks. CBS unveiled its logo, the iconic CBS eye, and launched the corporation's official wesbite, cbscorporation.com
Most of 1,400 on Egypt ferry feared lost (AP/Reuters) Updated: 2006-02-04 08:26 An aging ferry sank in the choppy waters of the Red Sea on Friday with more than 1,400 people on board, mainly Egyptian workers returning from Saudi Arabia. Most were feared lost but officials said at least 314 made it to safety. A spokesman for President Hosni Mubarak said the ferry did not have enough lifeboats, and questions were raised about the safety of the 35-year-old, refitted ship that was weighed down with 220 cars as well as the passengers. "It's a roll-on, roll-off ferry, and there is big question mark over the stability of this kind of ship," said David Osler of the London shipping paper Lloyds List. "It would only take a bit of water to get on board this ship and it would be all over. ... The percentage of this type of ferry involved in this type of disaster is huge." Weather may also have been a factor. There were high winds and a sandstorm overnight on Saudi Arabia's west coast. Officials said more than 185 bodies were recovered while hundreds remained missing in the dark, chilly sea nearly 24 hours after the ship went down. One lifeboat was spotted from a helicopter during the day bobbing in the waves with what appeared to be about a dozen or more passengers. This is an aerial image from TV which shows people in a dinghy in the Red Sea, Friday, Feb. 3, 2006.[AP] Hundreds of angry relatives of the passengers crowded for hours outside Egypt's port of Safaga, where the ferry had been heading. They shouted at police barring the iron gates and complained they had no information on their loved ones. "This is a dirty government, may God burn their hearts as they burned mine," one woman wailed, slapping her face in grief. "I want my brother. I have no one else in this life." A Transport Ministry spokesman said 314 people, including a 3-year-old child, were rescued. Some of the survivors were taken from the ferry's lifeboats, others from inflatable rescue craft dropped into the sea by helicopters, and others were pulled from the water wearing life jackets, the governor of Red Sea province, Bakr al-Rashidi, told The Associated Press. A police official at the operations control room in Safaga said 185 bodies were pulled from the sea. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. Well after nightfall, there were contradictory reports whether any survivors had been brought to shore. A security official said 20 had been sent to a Safaga hospital, but police at the port's entrance told families none was back. Police ringed the hospital. Rescue efforts also appeared confused. Egyptian officials initially turned down a British offer to divert a warship to the scene and a U.S. offer to send a P3-Orion maritime naval patrol aircraft to the area. The British craft, HMS Bulwark, headed from the southern Red Sea where it was operating, then turned around when the offer was rejected. But then Egypt reversed itself and asked for both the Orion and the Bulwark to be sent ¡ª then finally decided to call off the Bulwark, deciding it was too far away to help, said Lt. Cdr. Charlie Brown of the U.S. 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain. In the end, the Orion ¡ª which has the capability to search underwater from the air ¡ª was sent, but the Bulwark was not, he said. Page: 1 2 3 \|\|\|\|\| 1,000 ferry passengers missing in Red Sea Ship went down amid high seas, bad weather Rescue boats search the Red Sea on Friday for survivors of a ferry sinking. RELATED YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Saudi Arabia Egypt or or Create Your Own SAFAGA, Egypt (CNN) -- Distraught relatives kept vigil near the port of Safaga Saturday, waiting to find out whether their loved ones were among more than 340 people who survived after an Egyptian ferry sank in the Red Sea with about 1,400 people on board. One day after the vessel sank, rescue boats were searching the chilly sea through the night for hundreds of people feared dead. The Al Salam Boccaccio 98 was loaded to near capacity with about 1,400 people -- about 1,300 passengers and 100 crew members -- and dozens of vehicles when it sank at midnight (5 p.m. Thursday ET), Egyptian officials said. Egypt's state-run Nile TV reported that at least 100 people had died, though Egyptian officials said earlier that far fewer deaths had been confirmed. About 1,000 family members and friends, many of them sobbing, were gathered at the port before Transport Minister Mohammed Lufty Mansour announced the latest survivor tally of 343. Riot police were on hand to quell any violence. At nightfall, about 1,000 people were still unaccounted for. "There is definitely a big concern and fear as to the numbers of the people, the deaths in this very, very tragic event," Mansour said. Nile TV said the passengers included at least 115 foreigners, 99 of them Saudis. Most of the others were Egyptians who work in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. State Department said no Americans were among the listed passengers. The cause of the sinking was unclear. Seas were high at the time and the weather was bad, according to Mansour. Rear Adm. Mahfouz Marzouk, head of the Suez Port Authority, said a collision along the congested waterway could not have been to blame. "It is not possible, because we covered all these areas with radar," he said. "If it were something like that, of course, we would have another ship or a distress signal or something like that." However, some of the survivors who were taken to Hurghada, off Egypt's north-central Red Sea coast, reported to CNN that there was a fire on board before the ship sank with its cargo of passengers and freight. They didn't elaborate. Hurghada is below the Sinai Peninsula. The Egyptian government announced the formation of a committee to investigate the disaster. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak planned to visit the port Saturday. Egyptian officials haven't ruled out terrorism, but were playing down the possibility. "These sorts of ships are famous for having stability problems," said David Osler of Lloyd's Maritime Magazine, in London. "We can't rule out anything at this stage." The United States, Britain, and Israel offered help, but there was no word of Egypt accepting assistance. Britain said Egypt turned down its offer to send an amphibious assault ship, a type of vessel often called a helicopter carrier. Saudi Arabia sent a couple of vessels to assist, Mansour said. Four frigates and a navy destroyer converged on the site, about 57 miles from Hurghada, and joined a search-and-rescue effort, said Adel Shoukri, a spokesman for El Salam Maritime Transport Co., the Cairo-based company that owns the ferry. Hurghada is off Egypt's north-central Red Sea coast, south of the Sinai Peninsula. The ferry had departed Dubah, in western Saudi Arabia, en route to Egypt's southern port of Safaga when radar contact was lost, Shoukri said. The route is about 120 miles. The ferry, which was also carrying five trucks and 22 cars, was to have arrived at its destination at 2:30 a.m. (7:30 p.m. Thursday ET), the governor of Egypt's Red Sea district told Nile TV. Another company spokesman said the ship was certified to carry passengers until 2010 and was fully compliant with maintenance regulations. The ship, which was built in 1970 and flew a Panamanian flag, was involved in a collision in 1999, he said. Home Page Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more. Home Page Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more. ALL AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY \|\|\|\|\| The al-Salam Boccaccio '98 has a capacity of more than 1,400. Photo: Yvan Perchoc/www.faktaomfartyg.com Fourteen bodies and about 100 survivors have so far been pulled from the water, Egyptian officials said. The al-Salam Boccaccio '98 went down about 80km (50 miles) off the Egyptian coast during an overnight journey from Duba in Saudi Arabia to Safaga. Rescue boats and helicopters are searching the area, but are being hampered by poor weather. The cause of the sinking is not known, but there were high winds when it left Duba. Most of the passengers were Egyptians working in Saudi Arabia, but some were said to be pilgrims returning from Mecca. There were about 100 people from other countries, including Saudis and Sudanese, Capt Maher said. "We don't know how many casualties there are or how the ship sank," he said. The head of administration at el-Salam Maritime Transport, Adel Shukri, said he was not aware of any SOS from the crew. The 35-year-old ship had been due to arrive at Safaga at about 0300 local time (0100 GMT). Why? Four Egyptian frigates were looking for survivors, said Egyptian Transport Minister Mohammed Lutfy Mansour. SHIPPING DISASTERS 2002: Joola, Senegal, more than 1,800 1996: Bukoba, Tanzania, more than 500 1994: Estonia, Estonia, 852 1991: Salem Express, Egypt, 464 1987: Dona Paz, Philippines, 4,375 1954: Toya Maru, Japan, 1,172 1948: Kiangya, China, 3,920 1912: Titanic, UK, 1,503 killed Britain has sent the warship HMS Bulwark to help and it will arrive in a day-and-a-half, the Royal Navy said. A spokesman for the Egyptian embassy in London, Ayman al-Kaffas, said there was "a vast area of water" for the rescue operation to cover. Asked about the delay in the disappearance being reported, he said the rescue operation had started just after midnight, within an hour or an hour-and-a-half of the ship going missing. AL-SALAM 98 Capacity: 1,487 Built: Italy 1970 Length: 118m (388ft) Gross tonnage: 11,779t Owner: El-Salam Maritime The general manager of the Saudi branch of maritime insurance company Lloyds said the ship had met all safety requirements. "The vessel was well equipped with all lifeboats and all her certificates were valid, " Nizam Siddiqui said. He ruled out the possibility of a collision with another ship, saying the other vessel would have reported the incident. Shipping expert Paul Beaver told the BBC that overloading should not have been a problem. There was a possibility one or more of the vehicles the ship was transporting could have moved, particularly in bad weather, he said. A sister ship of the al-Salam '98 sank in the Red Sea in October after a collision. Two people were killed and 40 injured. If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC, send us your comments using the form below: Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments	Location map of the accident An investigation has been commenced by Egypt into the Friday sinking of one of El Salam's passenger ferries in the Red Sea. M/V al-Salam Boccaccio 98 was carrying 1408, including many Egyptians returning from work in Saudi Arabia. The ship left from the port of Dubah in Saudi Arabia enroute to the port of Safaga in Egypt. On the west coast of Saudi Arabia during the night a sandstorm occurred due to high winds. David Osler of Lloyd's List has said of the ship that "It's a roll-on, roll-off ferry, and there is big question mark over the stability of this kind of ship," he continued and said that "It would only take a bit of water to get on board this ship and it would be all over. ... The percentage of this type of ferry involved in this type of disaster is huge." Mamdouh Ismail, head of Al-Salaam Maritime Transport Company, stated that another one of El Salam's ferries, Saint Catherine received a distress call from one of the lifeboats of the Boccaccio when it arrived in Dubah from Safaga. The Saint Catherine notified its company headquarters, and El Salam reported it to Egyptian authorities. According to a statement given to the ''Associated Press'' by Ismail, the ferry was carrying 96 crew members, 1,200 Egyptians, and 112 other passengers. A Transport Ministry spokesman has stated that 314 people have been rescued. More than 185 bodies have been recovered from the sea according to an Egyptian police official who has requested anonymity. Four rescue ships from Egypt arrived Friday afternoon, approximately ten hours after the sinking of the 35-year-old ferry in the night near the Egyptian port of Hurghada. Aid from Britain and the United States was initially refused. Later, both the British HMS Bulwark and the US P3-Orion maritime naval patrol aircraft were recalled, but due to its distance at the later time, the request for the return of the Bulwark was called off by Egypt.
Chávez rompe relaciones con Colombia Foto: AP El presidente venezolano, Hugo Chávez, rompió sus relaciones diplomáticas temporalmente con su vecina Colombia. "Me veo obligado a romper relaciones con el gobierno de Colombia por dignidad. Es lo menos que nosotros podemos hacer y estaremos alerta porque (el presidente Álvaro) Uribe es un enfermo, está lleno de odio", dijo Chávez durante un acto en el palacio presidencial acompañado por el director técnico de la selección argentina, Diego Armando Maradona, quien se encuentra de visita en Venezuela. El gobierno de Venezuela dio 72 horas a los diplomáticos colombianos para que abandonen el país. “Hemos enviado una nota diplomática al encargado de negocios de la República de Colombia en Caracas para que en 72 horas cierren su embajada y se retiren del país”, informó el ministro venezolano de Relaciones Exteriores, Nicolás Maduro. En una sesión extraordinaria del Consejo Permanente de la OEA que se desarrolla en Washington, el embajador colombiano ante la OEA, Luis Alfonso Hoyos, aseguró que el gobierno de Chávez “oculta a guerrillas de las FARC” en territorio venezolano y pidió la creación de una comisión internacional que verifique en los próximos 30 días la presencia de campamentos de las FARC en Venezuela. El representante venezolano ante la OEA, Roy Chaderton, dijo que no hay que prestar atención a los "montajes" de Colombia y aseguró que en su país viven miles de colombianos a quienes se les trata con respeto e igualdad. Chaderton explicó en una entrevista con Caracol Radio que la frontera de Venezuela ha sido violada en varias ocasiones por grupos iregulares colombianos, y ellos los han combatido. "Nosotros hemos entregado guerrilleros de las FARC y del ELN al actual gobierno de Colombia a lo largo de estos años y a los gobiernos anteriores también, han habido combates, pero eso no se registra ni lo recuerda nadie", dijo. Chávez, por su parte, alertó a la comunidad internacional de que no aceptarán ninguna agresión a su soberanía por pate de Colombia. "A una guerra con Colombia habría que ir, llorando pero habría que ir", manifestó. Cancilleres se reunirán en Quito El Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Ecuador confirmó que el Consejo de Cancilleres de la Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (Unasur) se reunirá en Quito para tratar la ruptura de relaciones diplomáticas entre Colombia y Venezuela. A través de un comunicado, la cancillería ecuatoriana anuncio la realización de la reunión a pedido de Venezuela, el próximo jueves 29 de julio. El encuentro de los Ministros de Relaciones Exteriores de las Naciones Sudamericanas tendrá como objetivo "fortalecer el diálogo y la paz en la región". El presidente pro-témpore de la Unasur, el presidente ecuatoriano Rafael Correa, pidió a su canciller, Ricardo Patiño, que efectivizara la convocatoria, indica el comunicado. Estados Unidos reacciona El portavoz del Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos, Phillip Crowley, dijo que las acusaciones de Colombia deben tomarse con seriedad. "Venezuela tiene una obligación con Colombia y con la comunidad internacional de investigar la información y prevenir que grupos terroristas utilizen territorio soberano", dijo Crowley. Al mismo tiempo, Crowley dijo que Colombia presentó fotografías, mapas y videos que prueban la presencia de las FARC en territorio venezolano. Crowley reconoció la responsabilidad de combatir a grupos terroristas en la región y expresó preocupación por los posibles vínculos de Venezuela con grupos guerilleros. Ante la posición de Venezuela de no abrir la frontera para ser investigada, Crowley dijo que es "desafortunado" y que espera más cooperación de Chávez. Por su parte, el secretario general de la OEA, José Miguel Insulza, también pidió “calmar el espíritu” a ambos gobiernos. “Fuimos capaces de superar hace algunos años crisis graves. Espero que ahora también, pero los pasos los tienen que dar Venezuela y Colombia”, dijo Insulza. Ecuador culpa a Insulza El presidente de Ecuador, Rafael Correa señaló que la responsabilidad por la ruptura de relaciones diplomáticas entre Venezuela y Colombia, es del secretario general de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), José Miguel Insulza. "Insulza presiona para que se realice (el debate) sin consulta previa como dice el reglamento y… ahí ustedes ven las consecuencias. Por supuesto que aquí tiene una gran responsabilidad José Miguel Insulza", sostuvo el jefe de Estado. Correa coincidió con su canciller, Ricardo Patiño, en culpar a Insulza de la ruptura y recordó que una petición de Quito para posponer la sesión mientras se realizaban consultas con el Consejo Permanente del organismo, no fue atendida. Por su parte, el canciller ecuatoriano, Ricardo Patiño, dijo "se lo advertimos al señor Insulza, por lo menos tres o cuatro veces entre lunes y martes. Hablé telefónicamente con él para decirle que se actúe con responsabilidad, pero no entendió". Incluso Patiño expresó "muchas dudas" de que Insulza "pudiera retomar" la cuestión colombo-venezolana "con un mínimo de capacidad" porque "no le dio la talla". "No tenemos confianza en que el señor Insulza pudiera reconducir esto", agregó, para concluir señalando que "es un día aciago para las relaciones de América Latina". Habla el vicepresidente de Santos El presidente electo de Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, prefirió no hacer comentarios sobre la crisis diplomática entre Colombia y Venezuela. "Sobre la relación con Venezuela hemos decidido que nuestra mejor contribución es no pronunciarnos, porque el presidente Álvaro Uribe es todavía presidente en funciones hasta el 7 de agosto", dijo Santos desde la residencia oficial mexicana de Los Pinos, donde, acompañado de quien será su canciller María Angela Holguín, se reunió con el presidente mexicano Rafael Calderón. Santos, inició en México una gira por siete países, que incluye además a Panamá, Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, Perú, República Dominicana y Haití, que fue agregada a última hora. En México, Santos se reunió con el escritor colombiano y premio Nóbel de la Paz, Gabriel García Márquez, "era una visita personal a un amigo de vieja data", dijo Santos al referirse al encuentro con el escritor. También se reunió con el presidente del Banco Mundial, Robert Zoellick, que se encuentra en México. Sin embargo el vicepresidente electo junto a Santos, Angelino Garzón, en declaraciones realizadas en Quito, Ecuador, donde se encuentra de visita, abogó por invertir en la diplomacia. “Haremos todo lo posible y utilizaremos a todos los amigos que tenemos en diferentes países y buscaremos todos los mecanismos diplomáticos para mejorar y fortalecer las relaciones con todos los países de la región, incluyendo a Venezuela”. Oposición venezolana opuesta a ruptura En Venezuela, la Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD), que agrupa a la mayoría de los partidos de oposición, reclamó al gobierno del presidente Hugo Chávez, dar una respuesta apropiada en vez de “evasivas y argumentos inconsistentes" a las denuncias de Colombia ante la OEA. En un comunicado, la oposición venezolana sostiene que el gobierno de Chávez debe dar una respuesta clara sobre la presencia o no de jefes guerrilleros colombianos en el país, a la vez que calificó de "irresponsable" la decisión de romper relaciones con Colombia. Según la MUD, "la conducción errática, inconsulta e irresponsable de la política exterior del Gobierno" de Chávez ha colocado "a Venezuela en un nuevo conflicto". México y España llaman a resolver diferencias El gobierno de México por su parte, hizo "un amistoso llamado" a Caracas y Bogotá para que "sus diferencias sean resueltas a través del diálogo respetuoso, ya sea a nivel bilateral, o con el apoyo de mecanismos regionales que las partes consideren adecuados", indicó la presidencia mexicana en un comunicado. Por su parte, el gobierno español mostró preocupación por el conflicto a través de un comunicado de su cancillería. "El gobierno español desea que los problemas entre ambas naciones vecinas y hermanas puedan encauzarse por la vía del diálogo y la negociación", dijo. España expresó su deseo de que los dos países resuelvan sus problemas por la vía de la negociación, e incluso se ofreció a mediar en el conflicto. "El gobierno está dispuesto a unir sus esfuerzos a los de otros países iberoamericanos y organismos regionales para lograr este propósito", aseguró. Comentarios (5) Definitivamente al presidente Hugo Chávez hay que repetirle lo que le dijo Álvaro Uribe "Sea Varón" y reconozca abiertamente que protege a la cúpula de las FARC. Venezolanos ustedes tienen que apoyar la verdad, apoyar a Colombia y quitarse el yugo chavista-cubano que luego será chavista-cubano-farcquiano-Iraní. Durante años Colombia le pidío a Chavez que conciderara a las guerrillas como terroristas pero Chavez les dío caracter de embajadores, minutos de silencio a Raul Reyes y a Tirofijo; Abrazos y besos en Miraflores con los terroristas. Cada vez que se le pidío el SIMIO contestó con grocería, hasta que la copa rebosó. Si la OEA, sirve debe exiguir el pedido de Colombia, o clausurar el chuzo. No me explico como es posible que el mismo pueblo venezolano soporte las actitudes, mentiras y locuras de este "megalómano" que no acepta lo que claramente se ha estado viendo y que ha llevado a su RICO país a estar en inferioridad casi en toda América Latina...increíble. creo que dos gobernantes de ideas politicas diferentes, tienen que tener rensillas, siempre, dos paises hermanos, pero es prudente decir que busquen una salida con el dialogo y una coexistencia, es de valientes reconocer herrores y avances en este planeta lleno de cambios que no ofrece seguridad a nadie. es justicia y democracia. Yo sé que no se va a lograr ningún dialogo efectivo entre los dos paises porque chavez prefieren quedarse con la farc y el eln que con las relaciones comerciales con Colombia. No le IMPORTA el perjuicio del pueblo venezolano Publique sus comentarios * Necesario \|\|\|\|\| Hugo Chavez says Venezuela to sever ties with Colombia Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said his country will sever diplomatic ties with Colombia over claims he harbours militants. "We have no other choice but to totally break our relations with our brother nation of Colombia," he said on TV. Bogota says it has evidence Venezuela provides a haven for guerrillas - a charge Caracas denies. Mr Chavez said the US was using Colombia to undermine his country's regional integration efforts. In an early response from Washington, an official was quoted by AFP news gency as saying Venezuela's breaking of ties with Colombia was not a "proper way" to raise concerns. Colombia earlier recalled its ambassador and formally complained to the Organisation of American States (OAS). Related stories It submitted photos and maps which, it said, were proof that some 1,500 Colombian rebels were sheltering at numerous camps inside Venezuela. The issue over whether Venezuela has rebels on its territory has dogged ties between the two South American nations for the past eight years. The latest exchange plunges bilateral relations to a new low and leaves Juan Manuel Santos who takes over as Colombia's president from Alvaro Uribe in two weeks with a very difficult situation to handle, says the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Bogota. 'Maximum alert' The Venezuelan president made his announcement while standing next to the Argentina football coach, Diego Maradona, who was visiting Caracas. Mr Chavez said that he was acting "out of dignity". "I have ordered maximum alert on our border, maximum vigilance on our border which we do take care of," he was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying. Earlier on Thursday, in a lengthy and impassioned speech in Washington, the Colombian ambassador to the OAS, Luis Alfonso Hoyos, showed maps, photos and videos which he said proved that Marxist rebels had 39 camps in Venezuela and that top guerrilla commanders were resident there. "Facts over recent weeks show that real risks are materialising due to the consolidated, active and growing presence of these terrorist groups in Venezuela," he said. Colombia demanded that Venezuela fulfil its international obligations to fight terrorism and that it allow an international commission to visit suspect sites. The Venezuelan ambassador to the OAS, Roy Chaderton, ridiculed the Colombian evidence, saying that the photos and videos could have been taken anywhere and that if visits were to be organised, why not allow an international commission to see the US military bases on Colombian soil. Mr Chaderton said the Colombian accusations were a lie.	President Hugo Chávez has temporarily suspended relations with the neighboring country of Colombia. "I feel obliged for dignity's sake to suspend relations with the government of Colombia. It is the least we can do, and we will remain alert, as President Álvaro is a sick man, filled with hate," said Chávez during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace with the coach of the Argentinian national football team, , whom he was meeting during Maradona's visit to Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has given Colombian diplomats 72 hours to leave the country. "We have sent a message to the Colombian trade delegation in Caracas telling them to close their embassy and vacate the country," Venezuela's Foreign Minister, , informed the media. In an extraordinary session at the headquarters of the (OAS) in Washington, DC, the Colombian ambassador, Luis Alfonso Hoyos, declared that Chávez's government was "harbouring guerrillas" on Venezuelan territory and requested the formation of an international committee of inquiry to verify FARC's presence in Venezuela within 30 days. Venezuela's representative to the OAS, Roy Chaderton, advised the assembly to pay no attention to the Colombian "forgeries" and declared that there were thousands of Colombians living in Venezuela and that they were being treated with respect and equality. "I warn the international community. We will brook no aggression, nor any violations of our national sovereignty," said Chávez, and added that any war with Colombia would "have to be fought with tears, but it would have to be fought." For its part, the United States criticised Venezuela's decision to cut diplomatic ties. "I don't believe that cutting relations is the right way to go to resolve this problem," said Philip Crowley, spokesperson for the . The Secretary General of the OAS, , also asked both sides to "calm their passions." "We have been able to resolve serious conflicts for many years. I hope that we will be able to do so again now, but both Venezuela and Colombia will have to concede ground," said Insulza.
Updated at 12:33 a.m. ET on July 8 Two gunmen shot eleven police officers in Dallas, Texas, during a protest on Thursday night, killing at least four of them. The death toll makes this one of the deadliest days for police in the history of American law enforcement. At a Thursday night press conference, Dallas Police Department Chief David Brown said the suspects threatened to place a bomb in the downtown area and that his department was coordinating with federal agencies. One suspect is in custody after a shootout with SWAT officers, the Dallas Police Department said in a statement. Brown earlier said a suspect had been “cornered,” but did not offer further details. It’s unclear whether there are still suspects at large. “Tonight it appears that two snipers shot ten police officers from elevated positions during the protest/rally,” Brown said in an initial statement. “Three officers are deceased, two are in surgery, and three are in critical condition. An intensive search for suspect is currently underway.” The police department later said an eleventh officer had also been injured and a fourth officer had been killed. \|\|\|\|\| The suspect in an attack that left five officers dead was killed by police with a robot bomb. Police have identified Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, as the suspect who was killed by police after he was involved in the fatal shooting of five officers during a protest against police brutality in Texas. Johnson, a former soldier in the US army from the nearby city of Mesquite, served a tour in Afghanistan, the army said on Friday. They said Johnson had no criminal record and no ties to "terror" groups. Police have also said he was "not affiliated" with any groups and claimed to be acting on his own accord. The incident took place on Thursday night during a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest against police killings of black Americans across the country. The officers were shot by snipers from elevated positions, the Dallas Police Department said. Another seven officers and two civilians were wounded, according to the Dallas Morning News. Dallas, the third largest city in the US state of Texas, is home to an estimated 1.3 million people. "The suspect said he was upset about Black Lives Matter," Brown told reporters. "He said he was upset about the recent police shootings; the suspect said he was upset at white people. "The suspect said he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers," he continued. "The suspect stated that we will eventually find the IEDs. The suspect stated he was not affiliated with any groups and he stated that he did this alone." The suspect exchanged fire with police officers and was then killed by police when they detonated an IED carried by a robot in the parking garage of the El Centro College in downtown Dallas. Brown said negotiations broke down and police "saw no other option but to use our bomb robot". He added that three other suspects are presently in police custody. Dallas Mayor Michael Rawlings urged people to join a prayer vigil for the officers who were killed at noon local time. Heidi Zhou-Castro said it was "the worst attack on law enforcement officers in the United States" since the September 11 attacks in 2001. "It is a different Dallas altogether this morning as people awoke to this tragic news," she told Al Jazeera from Dallas. Country-wide protests The primary Twitter account associated with the Black Lives Matter said the movement "advocates dignity, justice and freedom. Not murder". #BlackLivesMatter advocates dignity, justice and freedom. Not murder. — Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) July 8, 2016 Speaking to Al Jazeera from Washington DC, Debbie Hines, a lawyer and former Baltimore city prosecutor said the "vigilantism is not going to solve any of the problems we have in the US". "The divisiveness is caused by institutionalised racism in this country, and that's not an easy fix. But I think that on a simplistic level the police have to be retrained," she said. "One thing we need to do is to get a hold of how pervasive the problem is and that would mean a national database of collections of how many officer-involved shootings and police brutality, as well as officer-involved deaths, that we presently don't have." The protest in downtown Dallas was called after police killed two black men within 48 hours earlier this week - Alton Sterling in Louisiana on Tuesday and Philando Castile in Minnesota on Wednesday. Both the mayor and the police chief said the protest was peaceful. Several protests that took place across the country passed without incident. Castile was shot dead by a police officer while he was in a car with his partner Diamond Reynolds and her daughter in a St Paul suburb. READ MORE: Does Black Lives Matter really matter? Reynolds live streamed the aftermath of the shooting in a widely shared Facebook video. A day earlier, Sterling was shot in Louisiana after being pinned to the pavement by two white officers. That, too, was captured on a mobile phone video. Of the 566 people killed by US police so far this year, The Guardian's database on police killings says at least 24 percent were Black. African Americans comprise 13.3 percent of the country's population of 321million, according to the US Census Bureau. 'Vicious, calculated and despicable' US President Barack Obama, addressing the media in Warsaw where he is attending a NATO summit, called the Dallas incident a "vicious, calculated and despicable attack" for which there was "no possible justification". "We need to be supportive of those officers who do their job every single day. Today is a wrenching reminder of the sacrifices they make for us. When people are armed with powerful weapons, it makes attacks like these more deadly and more tragic." OPINION: Ferguson onward - two anniversaries A day earlier, responding to the recent killings of black men by police, he said that all Americans should be concerned about racial disparities in the criminal justice system. "I also said yesterday our police have an extremely difficult job and that the vast majority are doing their job in outstanding fashion," Obama said. 'Everyone started running' Describing the reaction to the Dallas shootings, Devante Odom, 21, told The Dallas Morning News; "Everyone just started running, We lost touch with two of our friends just trying to get out of there." Carlos Harris, who lives downtown, told the newspaper that the gunmen "were strategic. It was tap tap pause. Tap tap pause." Video footage from the scene showed protesters marching along a street in the city centre, about half a mile from City Hall, when the shots erupted and the crowd scattered, seeking cover. Texas Governor Greg Abbott called for unity. READ MORE: Muhammad Ali and Black Lives Matter "In times like this we must remember - and emphasise - the importance of uniting as Americans," he said, in a statement. The search stretched throughout downtown Dallas, an area of hotels, restaurants, businesses and some residential apartments. The scene was chaotic, with helicopters hovering overhead and officers with automatic rifles on street corners. In midtown Manhattan, protesters first gathered in Union Square Park where they chanted, "The people united, never be divided!" and "What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!" In Minnesota, where Castile was shot, hundreds of protesters marched in the rain from a vigil to the governor's official residence. Protesters also marched in Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia. Source: Al Jazeera and agencies \|\|\|\|\| Image copyright Facebook Image caption Facebook images show Micah Johnson giving a black power salute and dressed in military uniform Bomb-making material, rifles, ammunition and combat journal have been found at the home of the main suspect in the Dallas shooting. Police said the material was found when they searched the home of Micah Johnson in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite. Five police officers were killed and seven wounded in a hail of gunfire during a protest against the shooting of black men by police. Johnson died following a long stand-off with police in central Dallas. Police confirmed media reports that the 25-year-old army veteran was the person killed when they remotely detonated explosives they sent into the car park where he was holed up. They said he had no criminal history. The protest in Dallas took place after this week's deaths of Philando Castile in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana. Police Chief David Brown said the suspect had told a negotiator that he had wanted to kill white people, especially white police officers, because he was angry about the recent shootings of black men by police. Mr Brown added that the man had said he was not affiliated with any groups and he had acted alone. Media caption Sidney Johnson captured the chaos in the aftermath of the shootings US Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson appeared to confirm this in a statement later on Friday. "At this time there appears to have been one gunman with no known links to or inspiration from any international terrorist organisation," he told a news conference in New York. Police arrested three people and initially said they believed at least two snipers had caught police in crossfire, shooting some officers in the back. \|\|\|\|\| The US Army revealed that Johnson served in the army from March 2009 to April 2015 as an army reserve. He carried out one tour of duty in Afghanistan where he was deployed in November 2013 and returned in July 2014. He was a private first class and from Mesquite, Texas. His military occupational specialty was carpentry and masonry. Neighbours in Johnson's middle class Dallas suburb told reporters he owned several guns and lived with his mother. "He was military, I'm not sure if he was still in, so he owned a lot of guns," the female neighbour told The Telegraph. "But he seemed a calm, normal guy. There was never any problem. "He was protective. He'd ask me if I was OK when I was on my own. When we were out we'd watch each other's houses. He always said Hi. "I never saw outside with a gun. He did a lot of walking, exercise, around the neighbourhood." Johnson lived with his mother in a two storey detached brick home with a small front garden in a quiet middle class suburb of Dallas. The neighbour said he had lived there since he was a child. A white neighbour said the area used to be predominantly white but black and Mexican families had moved in. But he said: "It's always been peaceful here." Authorities carried several bags of unknown materials from Johnson's home in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite on Friday. What happened? Five police officers were killed and another seven injured when snipers opened fire on them from rooftops in Dallas at a protest on Thursday evening. Police initially thought multiple shooters had levelled fire on them, but by Friday morning were less clear whether there was more than one attacker. One sniper, thought to be Micah Johnson, has been killed while exchanging gunfire with authorities at a parking garage in Dallas, while two other suspects are in custody. Police officers surrounded a car park near El Centro College where an armed man was firing off rounds with a rifle.	On Thursday, five police officers were killed and seven were injured after a sniper attacked a public protest march in downtown Dallas, Texas. Sources indicate at least three other people were taken into custody for questioning relating to the attack. The march was held to protest the shooting deaths of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota during engagements with police officers. Police identified 25-year-old Micah Johnson as the suspect. Johnson had previously served in the US army, and police reported he said he wanted to exact revenge upon police officers after news of Sterling and Castile's deaths. Ammunition and weapons were found inside Johnson's home. Dallas Police reported the policemen were shot at from a height. Officials said two civilians were also injured in the attack. File photo of police car lights. Micah Johnson served for the from 2009 until early 2015, including a tour of Afghanistan. Johnson had no criminal record. His attack was reported to be a lone mission. After the attack earlier on Thursday, police killed Micah Johnson in 's parking lot by a bomb explosion. Hillary Clinton, 2016 United States presidential election candidate and favorite for the Democratic nomination this July, said, "There is too much violence, too much hate, too much senseless killing, too many people dead who shouldn't be. No-one has all the answers. We have to find them together." After Johnson was killed, , Dallas' mayor, said "We believe now the city is safe".
Bundestrainer Joachim Löw hat sich entschieden und den endgültigen EM-Kader fürs Turnier in Frankreich vom 10. Juni bis 10. Juli bekanntgegeben. Aus dem Kreis der 27 Nationalspieler, die sich derzeit in Ascona auf die EURO vorbereiten, hat der 56-Jährige heute Karim Bellarabi, Julian Brandt (beide Bayer Leverkusen), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) und Sebastian Rudy (1899 Hoffenheim) gestrichen. Die vier Akteure verlassen noch vor der Einheit am Nachmittag das Trainingslager in der Schweiz. Bei der Pressekonferenz in Ascona begründete Löw seine Personalentscheidungen: "Wir haben ganz bewusst in dieses Trainingslager mehr Spieler mitgenommen, weil wir die Situation hatten, dass der eine oder andere Spieler angeschlagen war. In der ersten Woche wollte ich auf dem Trainingsplatz einen gewissen Konkurrenzkampf auf manchen Positionen haben. Wir haben unsere Entscheidungen gestern und vorgestern sehr ausführlich diskutiert in unserem Trainerstab. Wichtig war auch, dass wir noch einmal mit den Medizinern gesprochen haben. Menschlich gesehen tun mir die Entscheidungen auch weh. Ich weiß, dass es eine große Enttäuschung für die Spieler ist. Auf der anderen Seite müssen sie es auch als eine Chance verstehen und als eine Motivation für die kommenden Jahre." Löw: "Reus hat massive gesundheitliche Probleme" Der Bundestrainer weiter: "Bei Marco Reus war es so, dass die Mediziner keine klare Prognose abgegeben konnten. Marco hat massive gesundheitliche Probleme, im Moment kann er nur geradeaus laufen. Die Mediziner sind skeptisch, dass er in den nächsten Wochen bei diesen zehrenden Spielen und diesem zehrenden Turnier voll belastbar ist. Von daher ist es für uns und für ihn eine bittere Entscheidung gewesen und eine Enttäuschung für uns alle. Marco Reus in einer guten Form und gesund und fit - das wäre für unsere Mannschaft eine enorme Bereicherung gewesen." Grundsätzlich äußerte Löw: "Ich danke den vier Spielern, sie haben sich im Training sehr gut präsentiert, sie haben alles gegeben. Und ich hoffe, dass sie diese Enttäuschung gut wegstecken. Es ist keine Entscheidung gegen vier Spieler, sondern eine Entscheidung für 23 Spieler." Diese bereiten sich auf die EM-Generalprobe am Samstag (ab 18 Uhr, live im ZDF) in Gelsenkirchen vor, das Familienländerspiel gegen Ungarn. Nach zwei Tagen Heimatkurzurlaub reist das DFB-Team dann am Dienstag ins EM-Quartier nach Evian. Die EURO in Frankreich beginnt für den Weltmeister am 12. Juni (ab 21 Uhr, live in der ARD) in Lille mit dem Gruppenspiel gegen die Ukraine. \|\|\|\|\| Germany manager Joachim Löw has named his final squad for the European Championship in France from 10th June to 10th July. The 56-year-old has dropped Karim Bellarabi, Julian Brandt (both Bayer Leverkusen), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) and Sebastian Rudy (TSG Hoffenheim) from his 27-man provisional squad. Löw explained the reasons behind his decision at the press conference in Ascona. “We purposely took more players to this training camp because we had a few here with knocks. During the first week, I wanted there to be a battle for certain positions on the training pitch. My coaching team and I discussed the decision yesterday and the day before in detail. It was also important to have another talk with the medical staff. It’s a very painful decision to make from a personal point of view. I know that the players are deeply disappointed. But on the other hand, they have to use this as a motivating factor for the coming years.” Löw: "Reus has serious fitness problems" “In Marco Reus’ case, the medical staff couldn’t give us a clear prognosis,” continued Löw. “Marco has serious fitness problems; he can only run in a straight line at the moment. The doctors are sceptical that he would be able to give his all in these demanding games at this demanding tournament in the coming weeks. It was a painful decision for both us and him and a real disappointment for everyone. A fit Marco Reus in good form would have been a huge asset for our team.” Löw thanked all four of the players who have now left the squad. “They performed well in training and gave everything they could. I hope that they can move past the disappointment. It’s not a decision against those four players, but rather one in favour of the other 23.” Those remaining players will now continue preparations for the EURO 2016 dress rehearsal against Hungary on Saturday in Gelsenkirchen (18:00 CEST). After a short two-day trip back home, Die Mannschaft will then travel to their base cap for the tournament in Evian. The EUROs in France begin on 12th June for the World Champions, with the opening group game against Ukraine in Lille (21:00 CEST). \|\|\|\|\| Germany squad for UEFA EURO 2016 Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern München), Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona), Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen). Defenders: Jérôme Boateng (Bayern München), Jonas Hector (Köln), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Höwedes (Schalke), Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia), Emre Can (Liverpool), Antonio Rüdiger (Roma). Midfielders: Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Özil (Arsenal), Julian Draxler (Wolfsburg), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern München), Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund), Leroy Sané (Schalke). Forwards: Lukas Podolski (Galatasaray), Thomas Müller (Bayern München), Mario Gomez (Beşiktaş), Mario Götze (Bayern München), André Schürrle (Wolfsburg).Marco Reus is one of four midfielders to have missed the cut as Germany's provisional squad was trimmed to 23 for UEFA EURO 2016. The Borussia Dortmund playmaker, who also sat out the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, received the bad news on his 27th birthday. Joachim Löw said the player was struggling to shake off a groin injury. "On a personal level, these decisions hurt," the coach explained. "Our medical department couldn't give us a clear indication on Marco. "Our medical department doubts that he could stand up to a demanding tournament like this. It is a disappointment for him and for all of us. If fit, he would have been a major plus for our team." Karim Bellarabi, Sebastian Rudy and Julian Brandt were also sent home, with Löw adding: "All of the players have performed really well in training. It is not a decision which is against these four players, but rather one that is for the 23 others." Germany's Group C fixtures 12/06: Germany v Ukraine (Lille Métropole) 16/06: Germany v Poland (Saint-Denis) 21/06: Northern Ireland v Germany (Paris) \|\|\|\|\| Marco Reus has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury in Germany's 6-1 friendly win over Armenia. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder, 25, sustained a partial tear of an ankle ligament and is expected to be out for six or seven weeks. "For him and for us this is extremely regrettable," said Germany coach Joachim Low. Sampdoria's former Everton defender Shkodran Mustafi has replaced Reus. Germany's Group G games 16 June: Portugal in Salvador 21 June: Ghana in Fortaleza 26 June: USA in Recife Reus's withdrawal is a major blow to Germany's World Cup preparations, with Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender already ruled out with a thigh injury. But despite losing another midfielder, Low has decided to call up defender Mustafi, who was at Goodison between 2009 and 2011 but made only one substitute appearance before moving to Italy. "It is not about us replacing Marco Reus one on one," said Low. "Our quality in the position behind the strikers is very high. We have Lukas Podolski, Andre Schurrle, Mario Gotze, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, Julian Draxler and Toni Kroos to give us plenty of alternatives. "That's why we decided for another option for the defensive area. Shkodran impressed us in training camp, he's fit, we have confidence in him." Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover) Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria). Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich). Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal).	Today, Joachim Löw, manager of the German national football , dropped Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus from the UEFA Euro 2016 squad. Marco Reus, who turned 27 years old today, is suffering from a injury. He also missed the 2014 with an ankle injury. File photo of Marco Reus. Löw said their medical staff wasn't sure Reus could meet the demands of the forthcoming games. He added, Löw also did not include other Bundesliga players , , and from the provisional squad in the final selection. Thanking the four German internationals for their performance in training, he said, Germany are due to play their final friendly match before the start of Euro 2016 on June 4 against Hungary. On June 12, Germany will open their account in Euro 2016 when they face Ukraine in , France.
Nick Clegg with wife Miriam after the announcement The announcement The 40-year-old beat Chris Huhne to become the party's third leader in two years - in a contest which turned out to be even closer than expected. Mr Clegg, an ex-journalist and former Euro MP, won 20,988 votes to the 20,477 votes cast for Mr Huhne by members. In his acceptance speech Mr Clegg said he wanted his leadership to be about "ambition and change", saying "we want to change politics and change Britain". The Sheffield Hallam MP said he wanted to mark the "beginning of Britain's liberal future". Mr Clegg, speaking after the announcement at a central London hotel, acknowledged it had been a "close fought contest" and praised his rival, who he said he was looking forward to working with. He said he wanted to attract those voters who shared liberal values, but did not currently vote for the party. I want the Liberal Democrats to be the future of politics Nick Clegg Profile: Nick Clegg Clegg speech in full He thanked Vincent Cable for a "spellbinding" performance as acting leader - and praised his predecessor Sir Menzies Campbell, whose resignation in October sparked the leadership race. Mr Clegg, who has two children with wife Miriam, a Spanish lawyer, said that without Sir Menzies, the party would not have the "bright future" it now faced. He said Labour and the Conservatives were "mutating" into each other, and urged disaffected voters to join the Lib Dems, saying he wanted to "provide a liberal alternative to the discredited politics of big government". Public meetings He pledged to spend at least a day a week campaigning outside Westminster, and to hold regular public town hall meetings to give people who were not Lib Dem members, but supported the party, a chance to have their say. He accused the Conservatives of having "no answers to the big issues" and said Labour was "increasingly exhausted and discredited" - saying it left an opportunity for the Lib Dems. You win some you lose some, it was a close-run thing Chris Huhne Huhne hails Clegg "I want the Liberal Democrats to be the future of politics, because Liberal Democrats have the courage to imagine a better society to break the stifling grip of the two party system for good. "To bring in a new politics, of politicians who listen to people, not themselves. No more business as usual. No more government knows best. "I want today to mark the beginning of a real change in Britain. The beginning of Britain's Liberal future." Third leader Mr Huhne thanked everyone involved in his campaign and said he looked forward to working with Mr Clegg - whom he praised for his warmth, intelligence and energy. Clegg, together with Huhne and Cable, could make an effective team BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full He said there was inevitably an "in-built abrasiveness" to leadership contests, but said the contest had got the party's message across and he was sure he and Mr Clegg would go on working well together. Mr Clegg is the party's third leader in two years - Charles Kennedy quit in January 2006, forced out by a frontbench rebellion after admitting a drink problem. Sir Menzies resigned in October, blaming an age-obsessed media. HAVE YOUR SAY I voted for Nick but, to be honest, I found it hard to see the difference between him and Chris T, UK Send us your comments Sir Menzies said Mr Clegg had shown in his speech he had the drive and ability to take the party forward, adding: "It's a day for looking forward, not for looking back." \|\|\|\|\| Nick Clegg Is New Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg has won the leadership of the Liberal Democrats by 511 votes. 41,465 votes were cast and, after a recount, Mr Clegg received 20,988 and his rival Chris Huhne won 20,477. Mr Clegg is the third Lib Dem leader in two years. "Today is about two things," he said. "Ambition and change... "It is about renewed ambition for Britain. We want to change politics, and change Britain." Mr Huhne said the new leader would be a great one. Advertisement "We have ahead of us great success and I look forward to participating as part of his team in making sure the party goes from strength to strength." Nick Clegg was the early favourite in the race, having received the backing of the majority of Lib Dem MPs. But Chris Huhne has won praise for an energetic and high-profile campaign, and is likely to have picked up a substantial share of activists' votes. Mr Clegg faces a formidable task, but has the advantage of knowing that things are almost sure to improve given that the party found itself in the doldrums under Menzies Campbell. The poll ratings are almost certain to swing back upwards, but what is harder to predict is how that may affect the overall balance of power at Westminster. According to Ben Page, from the polling group Ipsos MORI: "It's not that either [other] party is going to be quaking at a Lib Dem revival... "It's rather that it will unwind tactically and differently in different places, and that's the key issue - what happens in those marginal constituencies where votes that go to the Lib Dems mean all the difference between winning and losing for a Labour candidate or perhaps a Conservative." \|\|\|\|\| Nick Clegg was today named as the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, beating rival Chris Huhne by just 511 votes. The contest was so close party officials are understood to have held a recount. The final result was 20,988 to 20,477. In a speech following the declaration, Clegg said: "My election as leader today marks a new beginning. Today is about two things: ambition and change. "Renewed ambition for the Lib Dems, renewed ambition to reach out to the millions of people who I know share our instincts and values but do not yet vote for us. "It is about renewed ambition for Britain." Declaring the winner, Vincent Cable, the party's acting leader said that the two candidates had both proved they would continue in the tradition set by previous leaders to "challenge established wisdom and consensus". Speaking in the presence of four former party leaders, Cable said: "It's clear that each of the candidates would have been admirably suited to taking the party to success." Conceding defeat, Huhne congratulated Clegg and said: "I look forward to participating as part of Nick's team to make sure the party goes from strength to strength." Clegg, the party's home affairs spokesman, led the field from the outset as Lib Dem activists rated him as the candidate with the communication skills and telegenic public appeal to restore the party's fortunes. At 40, Clegg's youthful image signals a departure from his older and more statesmanlike predecessor, Sir Menzies Campbell. Ed Davey, the party's chair of campaigns and communications and the leader's chief of staff, said the new leadership was an opportunity for new ideas to engage the wider electorate. He said: "We want to reach out to people who have not considered voting for us before and I think Nick has those ideas and the ability to communicate them effectively." Campbell resigned two months ago, after just 19 months in the post, amid concern over slumping poll ratings. The 66-year-old had complained of constant jibes about his age. Campbell had beaten Huhne to the top job in January last year when Charles Kennedy was ousted after admitting a drink problem. His deputy, 64-year-old Cable, ruled himself out of the running from the start of this contest because of what he called "irrational prejudice" against age. The votes were counted after a postal ballot of the party's 65,000 members closed on Saturday. A total of 41,465 votes were cast. This followed a series of head-to-head hustings across the country, with Clegg winning the declared backing of 38 of his 62 Commons colleagues and enjoying a healthy 12-point lead in one recent opinion poll. But his older rival, who highlighted his experience outside politics - as a journalist and economist - had hoped to secure the support of thousands of members who waited until the last minute to vote. Cable, whose performance as acting leader has fuelled a surge of popularity for his own leadership credentials, had believed the race too close to call. Clegg's win comes days after senior party figures laughed off an offer by the Tory leader, David Cameron, to forge a "progressive alliance" with the new Lib Dem leader against Gordon Brown. Cable, who has appeared to suggest he believes he will retain his role as deputy leader and Treasury spokesman, said that Cameron was living in "cloud cuckoo land". But the members will now hope Clegg can turn around the party's fortunes, which slumped to a critical low of 11% in October as Brown's "bounce" gave way to Cameron's surge in the polls and both parties took votes from the third party. Cable has managed to reverse the trend to some degree, with one survey last weekend putting the party up one point on 14%. By voting for Clegg, the Lib Dems have continued their embrace of a more free-market approach to policy, as characterised by the seminal Orange Book, published three years ago and worked on by both Clegg and Huhne. But the vote for Clegg may be seen as representing party confidence in his image rather than his policies, which differed little from those of Huhne, the party's environment spokesman. Throughout 60 media events and hustings, both proclaimed similar goals with slightly different ideas for achieving them. Huhne's "liberal revolution" aimed to revive the "anti-establishment edge" of the party and create a fairer society. Clegg wanted to reach "beyond party politics" to connect with the millions of liberal voters who support other parties. Both wanted to focus on improving the educational prospects of the most disadvantaged children, Clegg by using his idea of a "premium" for the worst-off, Huhne through increased state-pupil spending and intensive tuition for children struggling to read. Both wanted to localise healthcare decisions and, as both are former MEPs, they backed embracing the European Union but seeking to reform and decentralise it. On climate change, Clegg wants to draw up a "covenant" between government, business and citizens to tackle global warming. He will oppose the government's ID cards scheme, and as home affairs spokesman has also spoken out on immigration, saying there should be a more managed process with clearer rights of appeal. Huhne, desperate to distinguish himself throughout his leadership campaign, sought to highlight clearer policy differences between himself and Clegg. In the most notable episode of the contest, one of his aides termed his opponent "Calamity Clegg" in a briefing document, accusing him of flip-flopping on policies. Huhne apologised for the document, and said he had no knowledge of it, but he went on to berate Clegg on BBC1's Politics Show. He said that Clegg had not established clear policies on nuclear weapons, schools and the health service. But Clegg told Huhne he was trying to create "synthetic differences" which "our opponents will use against us". He said: "I have said to you until I'm blue in the face that my position is very clear on all the issues ... where what you are seeking to do is believe the worst that is said about me."	Nick Clegg has came out first in the race to become the new leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, the third largest party in the United Kingdom. Clegg congratulated Vincent Cable on his performance as acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, which he took after the resignation of Menzies Camp He beat Chris Huhne in the party's election, although the number of votes was very close - Nick Clegg had just 511 more votes than Huhne. During his acceptance speech he said "I want the Liberal Democrats to be the future of politics," and that he hoped his leadership of the Liberal Democrats would be about ambition and change. He also acknowledged that it was a close contest. His acceptance speech took place in a central London hotel. In his speech he also criticized the Labour and Conservative parties by saying they were mutating in to one party and encouraged unsatisfied voters to vote for the Liberal Democrats.
Tom Fox of Clear Brook, Virginia, is seen in this image aired by Al Jazeera TV on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006 U.S. and Iraqi officials say a body found in Iraq has been identified as missing American hostage Tom Fox. A U.S. State Department spokesman announced the death of the Christian peace activist late Friday. Iraqi officials say Fox was found with his hands tied and with gunshot wounds. They say there were signs he was beaten before his death. Fox was one of four Western aid workers from the North American-based group Christian Peacemaker Teams abducted in Iraq last November. Two Canadians and a Briton are still being held. In another development, the U.S. military in Iraq says coalition forces detained eight suspected insurgents, Saturday. A statement says four men were captured at a Sunni mosque in the violence-plagued Khadhra neighborhood of Baghdad that had been identified as a possible al-Qaida in Iraq safe haven. The other four were detained from other sites raided during the operation. On the political front, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has summoned the country's new parliament to meet on March 19, saying the impasse in forming a new government could lead to an increase in sectarian violence. The first meeting of the newly-elected parliament has been delayed because the three main political parties, deeply divided along sectarian and ethnic lines, have failed to agree on a power-sharing formula. In Washington, President Bush expressed concern Friday about the sectarian violence following the February 22 bombing of a Shi'ite shrine in Samarra. He said, however, the Iraqi people have taken a "step back" from the unrest. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| 404 We're sorry but the page you requested could not be found.Please try again from the home page or contact us \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON - An American aid worker taken hostage with three other peace activists was apparently tortured before he was shot in the head and chest and his body dumped near a railroad line in Baghdad, Iraqi police said Saturday. Tom Fox, a 54-year-old member of Christian Peacemaker Teams from Clear Brook, Va., was the fifth American hostage killed in Iraq. There was no immediate word on his fellow captives, a Briton and two Canadians. The U.S. command in Baghdad confirmed that Fox’s body was picked up by American forces on Thursday evening, although it provided no information on the condition. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Interior Ministry Lt. Col. Falah al-Mohammedawi said Fox was found with his hands tied and gunshot wounds to his head and chest. There were cuts on his body and bruises on his head, indicating torture, he said. The corpse was dressed in Iraqi-made clothing. Fox’s body was found near a railway line in Dawoudi, a mixed Sunni-Shiite area that has been largely shielded from violence. Shocked local residents on Saturday condemned Fox’s abduction and killing. “These acts are terrorist ones and will hinder the political process and distort the reputation of Iraq,” said Dhamir al-Samaraie, who had come to see where Fox was found. The previously unknown Swords of Righteousness Brigades claimed responsibility for kidnapping the four Christian Peacemaker Teams members, who disappeared Nov. 26. Three of them — Canadians James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32; and Briton Norman Kember, 74 — were seen in a video dated Feb. 28 that was broadcast Tuesday on Al-Jazeera television. Fox did not appear in the brief, silent videotape. Grief in the West Bank In the West Bank, many Palestinians expressed sorrow over the killing of Fox, who had traveled there to protest for their cause before he was taken hostage in Iraq. “I’m calling for the kidnappers to release the other hostages,” said Hisham Sharabati, a human rights activist who met Fox. “This killing harmed the Palestinian and Iraqi causes because the hostages were working for peace.” At least 250 foreigners have been kidnapped in the nearly three years since U.S.-led forces invaded Iraq, and at least 40 have been killed. “We mourn the loss of Tom Fox, who combined a lightness of spirit, a firm opposition to all oppression, and the recognition of God in everyone,” Doug Pritchard and Carol Rose, co-directors of Chicago-based Christian Peacemaker Teams, said in a statement. Americans killed were Ronald Schulz, 40, an industrial electrician from Anchorage, Alaska; Jack Hensley, 48, a civil engineer from Marietta, Ga.; Eugene “Jack” Armstrong, 52, formerly of Hillsdale, Mich.; and Nicholas Berg, 26, a businessman from West Chester, Pa. Female activist still missing Still missing is Jill Carroll, a freelance writer for The Christian Science Monitor who was kidnapped Jan. 7 in Baghdad. She has appeared in three videotapes delivered by her kidnappers to Arab satellite television stations. Carroll’s kidnappers initially threatened to kill her unless all female detainees in Iraq are released. They later amended their demands, which have not been made public. The Monitor launched a campaign on Iraqi television stations Wednesday asking Iraqis to “please help with the release of journalist Jill Carroll.” An Iraqi journalist, meanwhile, was gunned down on his way to work Saturday, becoming at least the fifth media figure killed since an outbreak of sectarian violence after the bombing late last month of a Shiite shrine north of Baghdad. Amjad Hameed, a journalist for Iraqiya television, was attacked by gunmen who shot him in the head and chest while he was being driven to his job. His driver, Anwar Turki, died later in the hospital. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said Hameed, who was married and the father of three, was the 11th Iraqiya journalist killed since the channel opened shortly after Saddam Hussein was ousted in the U.S.-led invasion nearly three years ago. Iraqiya is run by Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government and seen by minority Sunni Muslims as biased against them. Other civilain casualties Two days ago, Munsuf Abdallah al-Khaldi, 35, an anchorman for the Sunni-affiliated Baghdad TV, was shot dead while driving from Baghdad to Mosul, in the north, to interview poets. Baghdad TV is owned by the Iraqi Islamic Party, the biggest Sunni political group. On Feb. 22, the day bombers destroyed the golden dome atop the Askariya Shiite shrine in Samarra, north of Baghdad, Al-Arabiya journalist Atwar Bahjat, a Sunni, and two colleagues from a local media company went missing. Their bullet-riddled bodies were found a day later near Samarra. In addition to Hameed and his driver, at least four other people were killed in drive-by shootings in Baghdad and north of the capital on Saturday, police said. They included a human rights activist and his bodyguard, a lieutenant colonel in the Interior Ministry commando force, and a retired government employee gunned down near a Sunni mosque in south Baghdad. © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Rate this story Low High advertisement	Tom Fox, an American who was among four Christian activists kidnapped in Iraq in November last year, has been found dead, according to the U.S. State Department. FBI spokesman Noel Clay reports that a body found Friday morning was Fox, 54, of Clear Brook, Virginia. According to Iraqi officials, Fox's body had been found with gunshot wounds and his hands tied. Officials also say that he was beaten before his death. According to Clay, further tests will be done in the United States; the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is still investigating. Clay also said that "the State Department continues to call for the unconditional release of all other hostages". Al-Jazeera aired video footage on Tuesday of the other three hostages, Canadians James Loney, 41, Harmeet Sooden, 32, and Norman Kember, 74, from Great Britain. The three had not been heard from since last year. The recent video release of them was filmed on February 28.
By DANIEL COONEY, Associated Press Writer Thu Aug 4,11:26 AM ET KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghans held in U.S. military custody at Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere will be sent back toto be detained here, Afghan and U.S. officials said Thursday. Hundreds of Afghans are being held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and at other American detention facilities. Afghanistan's U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai has long urged Washington to send them home. "Afghanistan and the United States reached an understanding that will allow for the gradual transfer of Afghan detainees to the exclusive custody and control of the Afghan government," a joint statement by the U.S. Embassy and the Afghan government said. "The government of Afghanistan will accept responsibility for the returning Afghan citizens and will work to ensure that they do not pose a continuing threat," it added. Karzai's spokesman, Karim Rahimi, said the agreement meant that all Afghans held at Guantanamo and elsewhere would be handed over to the government. "This includes all detainees that are with the U.S. forces," he told The Associated Press. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Thursday that the U.S. military is holding roughly 110 Afghans at Guantanamo Bay and 350 more at a detention center in Bagram, who could be transferred to the control of the Afghan government. The statement gave no timeframe for the repatriation. U.S. Embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said it would start as soon as the Afghan government has the capacity to detain them. "The United States intends to assist the government of Afghanistan in building its capacity to detain these individuals," he said. "This process is part of our ongoing efforts to transfer detainees to their home countries as appropriate and when we receive assurances that the country can and will take appropriate steps to ensure that these individuals do not pose a continuing threat." He said the decision was taken after U.S. ambassador-at-large for war crimes, Pierre-Richard Prosper, and Matthew Waxman, the Pentagon's deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee affairs, met Karzai on Thursday. American and allied Afghan forces captured thousands of suspected Taliban and al-Qaida members in Afghanistan after a U.S.-led invasion toppled the repressive Taliban government in late 2001. Hundreds of detainees were classified as "enemy combatants" and transferred to Guantanamo. Many have since been returned home and U.S. officials say about 520 detainees, from Afghanistan and elsewhere, are still there. \|\|\|\|\| Russia sends an aid convoy to Ukraine, despite Western warnings against using help as a pretext for an invasion. Worries about the impact of sanctions are also weighing on the euro zone, especially in Germany - Russia's largest trading partner in the EU. Ivor Bennett reports	Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Afghan citizens currently held captive in US prisons at Guantanamo Bay and Bagram will be transferred to the custody of Afghan authorities following an agreement reached Thursday between United States diplomats and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The agreement did not immediately establish a timetable for the repatriation. None of the detainees have been charged with any crimes. Karim Rahimi, the Afghani presidential spokesman said today, "Afghanistan and the United States reached an understanding that will allow for the gradual transfer of Afghan detainees to the exclusive custody and control of the Afghan government." The U.S. government spokesman Lou Fintor said, "The United States intends to assist the government of Afghanistan in building its capacity to detain these individuals, this process is part of our ongoing efforts to transfer detainees to their home countries as appropriate and when we receive assurances that the country can and will take appropriate steps to ensure that these individuals do not pose a continuing threat." Fintor said the decision was reached after, Pierre-Richard Prosper, U.S. ambassador-at-large for war crimes, and Matthew Waxman, the Pentagon's deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee affairs, met with President Karzai on Thursday. There are still 520 detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison facility.
Photo: PA The two jockeys died as the fire spread through the flats in Buckrose Court in Norton, near Malton, in the early hours of Saturday. Neighbours said they believed Miss Wilson was the girlfriend of another jockey, Ian Brennan, who jumped out of a window at the three-storey block to escape. Police have arrested a local man on suspicion of arson. Alan Foster, a businessman in his 30s who owns the building, said he let the flat to Mr Kyne and Mr Brennan, who had recently moved to Malton from Dublin. Mr Foster said he thought the fire had started in a hallway. Mr Kyne, from Ireland, was a promising apprentice jockey who had ridden 29 winners this season. Currently third in the apprentice jockey championship, he rode for the Irish trainer John Quinn, who runs a racing yard in Malton. Miss Wilson, from Forfar, Scotland, was riding in her first season of professional racing for the trainer David Barron and had been due to ride her mother’s horse, Imperial Sword, at Thirsk on Saturday. Mr Barron, who is based in Thirsk, North Yorks, paid tribute to Miss Wilson as a “tremendous” jockey. “She was just at the start of her career and was only in her first year of riding as an apprentice,” he said. “She joined me at the end of last year and had ridden three winners for me out of only a handful of rides. She was very good, very capable and had tremendous potential. Everyone in the yard is just devastated.” Her parents, Margaret and Drew Wilson, were too upset to speak as they travelled from Forfar to North Yorkshire. Mr Kyne was also due to have ridden on Saturday at Haydock, where jockeys wore black armbands and a 20-second silence was observed before the first race. Thirsk and Kempton racecourses also staged moments of silence, and flags at York racecourse flew at half mast, while jockeys at Stratford donned black armbands. Tim Fitzgerald, a trainer from Malton, said: “[Mr Kyne] was a really nice lad and was doing well for himself. He was talented and it looked like he was going to go a long way in his career. “He moved here last year and was doing well and slowly making a name for himself. Tragically, we will never know how far he could have gone.” Superintendent Steve Tarn, of North Yorkshire Police, said that a local man was arrested shortly after the fire was reported at 2.15am on Saturday. He said: “A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent. We are going to interview him to establish his involvement or not.” He said that two men had been taken to York District Hospital suffering from minor burns and the effects of smoke inhalation. One of the men, thought to be Mr Brennan, was discharged yesterday afternoon. Supt Tarn said that there was substantial structural damage to the block of flats and that fire crews had to make the property safe before they could recover the bodies. A spokesman for North Yorkshire fire service said that the fire was in the stairwell and top floor of the block, known as The Tannery. Firemen used ladders to get in through windows and found two bodies in a top-floor flat. Around 20 other residents were evacuated from the block. Martin Brown, 45, who lives in the block, said he was woken by the sound of the fire alarm. “I looked out of the window and there were people screaming and shouting,” he said. “As I ran out, somebody kicked the front door open and flames came out. People were jumping out of windows. A man jumped out of a window on the top floor and he landed at my feet.” \|\|\|\|\| The fire happened during a party in the building One of the two apprentice jockeys who died after an arson attack at a block of flats has been named by his family as 18-year-old Jamie Kyne. A man has been arrested over the fire which occurred during a party at Buckrose Court in Norton, near Malton in North Yorkshire. Mr Kyne's aunt said: "The family are devastated and Jamie was a star." The mother of jockey Jan Wilson, 19, said she was waiting for confirmation her daughter was the other victim. North Yorkshire police said they were not in a position to confirm the identities of the victims. Jumped to safety However, friends of Jan Wilson posted tributes on her Bebo webpage. One wrote: "I am so proud of you for following your dream, you did it, you did become a jockey. I will never forget you, rest in peace." Miss Wilson of Forfar, enjoyed the third adult victory of her career at Ayr races just four weeks ago. Following the fire, two other men were taken to hospital. One of them, apprentice jockey Ian Brennan, 20, had jumped to safety from the third floor of the building. He was very good - one of the best young riders about Adrian McGuinness, racehorse trainer He has since been released from York District Hospital. The injuries of the other man are not thought to be life-threatening, police said. Mr Kyne's aunt said of his parents: "They are so proud of him. At the moment they are just devastated and shocked." Mr Kyne had been due to ride at Haydock on Saturday. He was lying third in the apprentice jockeys' championship, having had 29 winners this year. The Kyne family run Kiltrogue stud farm in Claregalway, County Galway. Blue flame Horse trainer Adrian McGuinness, from Lusk, County Dublin, said: "He was very good, one of the best young riders about and probably one of the top apprentices in England at the moment." On Saturday Thirsk and Kempton racecourses observed a period of silence as a mark of respect to the victims. The flats, known as The Tannery, are used by apprentice jockeys Jockeys at Stratford wore black armbands and York racecourse was flying its flags at half-mast. The bodies of the victims remained in the building as emergency services worked to make it safe to enter. Eyewitness Will Spowart described watching the flames grow in intensity until the windows blew out and a large blue gas flame shot out of the upper storey. "It was awful. The place was just in flames", he said. The landlord of a nearby pub, Steve Kinsella, said: "I just heard someone shouting. So I looking through the window and saw a girl just running in the street. "All she had on was a T-shirt. She was shouting 'Fire, fire', screaming at the top of her voice." Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Robert Winston one, of the country's top jockeys, spoke here today of the shock in the weighing room at the news that the apprentice jockeys Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson had died in a fire in the early hours. "There's plenty of talk about it in there, and it's very sad," Winston said. "It's sad for racing and especially sad for the families of Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson and my condolences go to them. "I got the news at about 10 o'clock and it just sent shivers through my body. I'd only seen Jamie two days ago at Ripon and he was all smiles as usual and now it turns out it was the last time I'm going to see him. I've known Jamie since the first day he started riding at Declan Carroll's yard, and I won't forget him in my memories for as long as I live. It puts everything in perspective that there's more to life than racing." The fire broke out at around 2am, in a three-storey block in Norton, near the racing centre of Malton in North Yorkshire. Two more victims were taken to hospital in York to be treated for burns and smoke inhalation. A man was arrested near the scene of the fire. Kyne had been booked to ride at Haydock during the afternoon, while Wilson had been due at Thirsk to ride a horse trained by her mother. These tracks, as well as Kempton Park, held a minute's silence before racing. Jockeys at Haydock and Stratford also wore black armbands. Tim Easterby, one of Malton's leading trainers, said that the events had been "an absolute tragedy". He added: "My dad has just rung to tell me that someone has been arrested and I can't believe it." Darryll Holland, who was riding at Thirsk, said: "We are all a bit numb. On behalf of all the jockeys, I'd like to pass on condolences from everyone to the families of the deceased."	Two jockeys have been killed in a fire in a block of flats on Saturday. A map of England, with North Yorkshire in red. At 0200 BST on Saturday a fire broke out in a three-storey block of apartments in Buckrose Court near Malton, North Yorkshire, England. The two jockeys have been identified as Jamie Kyne, who was only 18, and Jan Wilson, who was just 19. Both were described as promising young jockeys. Two other men had also been taken to a hospital in York due to the effects of minor burns and smoke inhalation. One of the men has now been released from the hospital and the other man's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. A police investigation is currently taking place in the area and a man in his 30s living in the area has since been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent. North Yorkshire Police are going to interview the man and try and establish whether he was involved or not. Kyne was due to ride at Haydock on Saturday afternoon, while Wilson was due to ride at Thirsk on the same day, while riding her mother's horse, ''Imperial Sword'' — and so both were staying in the apartment as a means of accommodation, as Jamie came from Ireland and Jan was from Forfar, Scotland. "The family are devastated and Jamie was a star," Kyne's aunt said. "They his parents are so proud of him. At the moment they are just devastated and shocked." David Barron, Wilson's trainer, paid tribute to her as "a tremendous jockey". He said: “She was just at the start of her career and was only in her first year of riding as an apprentice. She joined me at the end of last year and had ridden three winners for me out of only a handful of rides. She was very good, very capable and had tremendous potential. Everyone in the yard is just devastated.”
The BA 747 hit several runway lights after landing No-one on board the Boeing 747-400 plane was injured after the incident. BA said the pilot could not see the lights leading to the taxiway - causing him to hit more lights - and the plane had to be realigned. Mr Blair was on his way to stay with Bee Gees star Robin Gibb at his house in Miami Beach. The prime minister was seated in first class on flight 209 from London, which landed at 1815 local time (2315 GMT) on Tuesday, the US Secret Service said. "The captain believed the lighting on the taxiway was not sufficient to guide him and an airport vehicle was requested to realign the plane," a BA spokeswoman said. 'Landed safely' The plane, which was not damaged, then taxied to the terminal under its own power and passengers disembarked normally, she added The prime minister and his family are staying with Robin Gibb, the former Bee Gees star, who has a $10m [£5.1m] house here in Miami Beach Evan Benn, Miami Herald According to Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown the plane stopped just past the end of the runway. "It landed safely on the runway. It slowed down. It was going at taxiway speed and they just missed a turn," she said. Airport spokesman Marc Henderson said the jet had hit several airfield lights after landing but had not left the concrete surface. Evan Benn, a reporter for the Miami Herald newspaper, told BBC News Mr Blair was holidaying in Florida. "The prime minister and his family are staying with Robin Gibb, the former Bee Gees star, who has a $10m [£5.1m] house here in Miami Beach," he said. Downing Street confirmed Mr Blair was on his winter holidays but said it never commented on specific arrangements. \|\|\|\|\| Unlikely allies Russia and U.S. push Afghan enemies to accept interim government Russia hosts a summit on Thursday to revive the Afghan peace process, the first in a series of meetings that make unlikely allies of Washington and Moscow as they try to pave the way for an interim government in Kabul and end the bloodshed. \|\|\|\|\| 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.	A British airways flight from London, England to Miami, Florida containing British prime minister Tony Blair has missed a taxiway at Miami airport. The Boeing 747-400 plane hit lights as it was turning off the runway onto a taxiway taxiing at 1815 local time on Tuesday evening (2315 GMT). The pilot couldn't see the correct taxiway due to poor lighting, said British Airways spokesman John Lampl. Prime minister Tony Blair, with his family, was on his way to stay with Bee Gees star Robin Gibb at his house in Miami Beach when the incident occurred. The plane and all 343 passengers onboard were not damaged or hurt. A U.S. safety board has said that it's now investigating the incident.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 — The Federal Emergency Management Agency staged a fake news conference this week, with agency staff officials, pretending to be reporters, peppering one of their own bosses with decidedly friendly questions about the response to the California fires, the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged Friday. The action, first reported on Friday in The Washington Post, drew a rebuke from the White House and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, and an apology from the agency official who was at the lectern, Harvey E. Johnson, the deputy director. “We have made it clear that such a stunt will never be tolerated or repeated,” a spokeswoman for the department, Laura C. Keehner, said on behalf of Mr. Chertoff. Advertisement Continue reading the main story The questions from the staff were posed after FEMA gave reporters only 15 minutes notice for a news conference on Tuesday, meaning that other than television camera crews, no reporters showed up before questioning began. A toll-free telephone line was provided so reporters could listen in, but it was not set up to allow questions. \|\|\|\|\| FEMA Workers Play Role of Reporters WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House scolded the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday for staging a phony news conference about assistance to victims of wildfires in southern California. The agency — much maligned for its sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina over two years ago — arranged to have FEMA employees play the part of independent reporters Tuesday and ask questions of Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson, the agency's deputy director. The questions were predictably soft and gratuitous. "I'm very happy with FEMA's response," Johnson said in reply to one query from an agency employee. White House press secretary Dana Perino said it was not appropriate that the questions were posed by agency staffers instead of reporters. FEMA was responsible for the "error in judgment," she said, adding that the White House did not know about it beforehand and did not condone it. "FEMA has issued an apology, saying that they had an error in judgment when they were attempting to get out a lot of information to reporters, who were asking for answers to a variety of questions in regard to the wildfires in California," Perino said. "It's not something I would have condoned. And they — I'm sure — will not do it again." She said the agency was just trying to provide information to the public, through the press, because there were so many questions. "I don't think that there was any mal-intent," Perino said "It was just a bad way to handle it, and they know that." FEMA gave real reporters only 15 minutes notice about Tuesday's news conference . But because there was so little advance notice, the agency made available an 800 number so reporters could call in. And many did, although it was a listen-only arrangement. On Tuesday, FEMA employees had played the part of reporters. Johnson issued a statement Friday, saying that FEMA's goal was "to get information out as soon as possible, and in trying to do so we made an error in judgment." "Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have received," he said. "We can and must do better." Officials at the Homeland Security Department, which includes FEMA, expressed their concern. "This is simply inexcusable and offensive to the secretary that such a mistake could be made," Homeland Security spokeswoman Laura Keehner said Friday, referring to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Stunts such as this will not be tolerated or repeated." Keehner said senior leadership is considering whether a punishment is necessary. (This version CORRECTS to Tuesday in paragraph 10.) \|\|\|\|\| By Randall MikkelsenWASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. government's main disaster-response agency apologized on Friday for having its employees pose as reporters in a hastily called news conference on California's wildfires that no news organizations attended.The Federal Emergency Management Agency, still struggling to restore its image after the bungled handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, issued the apology after The Washington Post published details of the Tuesday briefing."We can and must do better, and apologize for this error in judgment," FEMA deputy administrator Harvey Johnson, who conducted the briefing, said in a statement. "Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have received."No actual reporter attended the news conference in person, agency spokesman Aaron Walker said.A spokeswoman for Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who has authority over FEMA, called the incident "inexcusable and offensive to the secretary.""We have made it clear that stunts such as this will not be tolerated or repeated," spokeswoman Laura Keehner said. She said the department was looking at the possibility of reprimanding those responsible.The agency had called the briefing with about 15 minutes notice as federal officials headed for southern California to oversee and assist in firefighting and rescue efforts. Reporters were also given a telephone number to listen in on but could not ask questions.But with no reporters on hand and an agency video camera providing a feed carried live by some television networks, FEMA press employees posed the questions for Johnson that included: "Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?"According to Friday's Post account, which Walker confirmed, Johnson replied that he was "very happy with FEMA's response so far."He also said the agency had the benefit of "good leadership" and other factors, "none of which were present at Katrina." Chertoff was head of the Homeland Security Department during Katrina.FEMA's administrator during Katrina, Michael Brown, resigned amid widespread criticism over his handling of the disaster, despite U.S. President George W. Bush's initial declaration that he was doing a "heck of a job."E-mails between Brown and his colleagues over the course of the storm revealed a preoccupation with his media image, including his declaration, "I am a fashion god."FEMA is reviewing its press procedures and will make changes to ensure they are "straightforward and transparent," Johnson said on Friday. \|\|\|\|\| FEMA has truly learned the lessons of Katrina. Even its handling of the media has improved dramatically. For example, as the California wildfires raged Tuesday, Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson, the deputy administrator, had a 1 p.m. news briefing. Reporters were given only 15 minutes' notice of the briefing, making it unlikely many could show up at FEMA's Southwest D.C. offices. They were given an 800 number to call in, though it was a "listen only" line, the notice said -- no questions. Parts of the briefing were carried live on Fox News (see the Fox News video of the news conference carried on the Think Progress Web site), MSNBC and other outlets. Johnson stood behind a lectern and began with an overview before saying he would take a few questions. The first questions were about the "commodities" being shipped to Southern California and how officials are dealing with people who refuse to evacuate. He responded eloquently. He was apparently quite familiar with the reporters -- in one case, he appears to say "Mike" and points to a reporter -- and was asked an oddly in-house question about "what it means to have an emergency declaration as opposed to a major disaster declaration" signed by the president. He once again explained smoothly. FEMA press secretary Aaron Walker interrupted at one point to caution he'd allow just "two more questions." Later, he called for a "last question." "Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?" a reporter asked. Another asked about "lessons learned from Katrina." "I'm very happy with FEMA's response so far," Johnson said, hailing "a very smoothly, very efficiently performing team." "And so I think what you're really seeing here is the benefit of experience, the benefit of good leadership and the benefit of good partnership," Johnson said, "none of which were present in Katrina." (Wasn't Michael Chertoff DHS chief then?) Very smooth, very professional. But something didn't seem right. The reporters were lobbing too many softballs. No one asked about trailers with formaldehyde for those made homeless by the fires. And the media seemed to be giving Johnson all day to wax on and on about FEMA's greatness. Of course, that could be because the questions were asked by FEMA staffers playing reporters. We're told the questions were asked by Cindy Taylor, FEMA's deputy director of external affairs, and by "Mike" Widomski, the deputy director of public affairs. Director of External Affairs John "Pat" Philbin asked a question, and another came, we understand, from someone who sounds like press aide Ali Kirin. Asked about this, Widomski said: "We had been getting mobbed with phone calls from reporters, and this was thrown together at the last minute." But the staff did not make up the questions, he said, and Johnson did not know what was going to be asked. "We pulled questions from those we had been getting from reporters earlier in the day." Despite the very short notice, "we were expecting the press to come," he said, but they didn't. So the staff played reporters for what on TV looked just like the real thing. \|\|\|\|\| FEMA’s fake 'news conference' Posted: Friday, October 26, 2007 2:12 PM by Domenico Montanaro Categories: , From NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell On Tuesday, FEMA held what was called a "news briefing" on the California fires, but the questions asked did not come from reporters. They were asked instead by FEMA staffers. “It is not a practice that we would employ here at the White House or that we -- we certainly don't condone it,” Press Secretary Dana Perino said. “We didn't know about it beforehand. FEMA has issued an apology, saying that they had an error judgment when they were attempting to get out a lot of information to reporters, who were asking for answers to a variety of questions in regard to the wildfires in California. It's not something I would have condoned. And they, I'm sure, will not do it again.” One reporter asked Perino who is responsible? “Well, FEMA is responsible,” she said. “And they have accepted that responsibility, and they issued an apology today. They have admitted that they had an error in judgment. I would agree with that. They've issued an apology. And, you know, you'll have to ask them about why they decided to do that." Why fake it? Apparently, the FEMA briefing was called with little lead-time and reporters didn't get there fast enough. Instead of acknowledging that reporters were not there they apparently pretended and even used the typical practice of calling a "last question." The briefer, FEMA's Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson, did not indicate that the questions were coming from staff who were in essence playing reporters. Six questions were asked and the phrasing and subject matter were not typical for a news briefing give and take. Senior administration officials are looking into the matter and suggest the "intentions were good," but acknowledge that was not an appropriate "tactic." The suggestion is that so many media questions had been coming in to FEMA and the briefing was a way to get information out. But instead of transparency, a senior FEMA official appears to have faked it. Below are the actual questions and excerpted responses from Johnson: QUESTION 1: What type of commodities are you pledging to California? "So I think we're well ahead of the requirement and we'll be able to make sure that all the shelters that are stood up are, in fact, all sustained and have sufficient materials and quantities of commodities to make sure they meet the demand of the people who might seek shelter." QUESTION 2: Sir, there are a number of reports that people weren't heeding evacuation orders and that was hindering emergency responders. Can you speak a little to that, please? "So I think you're seeing more compliance and more conformance with expected norms of travel." QUESTION 3: Can you address a little bit what it means to have the president issue an emergency declaration, as opposed to a major disaster declaration? What does that mean for FEMA? "As an emergency declaration, it allows us to provide -- to open up the Stafford Act and to provide the full range of protective measures and all the things that they need now in order to address the fire, If the governor had asked for a major declaration, that would have talked about individual assistance and public assistance at greater levels. And at this point, the governor has not asked for that." QUESTION 4: Sir, we understand the secretary and the administrator of FEMA are on their way out there. What is their objective? And is there anyone else traveling with them? "..all the key leaders who are directing this effort and demonstrating a partnership through their effort will be out there at San Diego this afternoon. So I think it's a good demonstration of support, recognizing that our role is not to usurp the state but to support the state. And they'll demonstrate that by their presence." [Off-camera voice asks for another question) QUESTION 5: Are you happy with FEMA's response, so far? "I'm very happy with FEMA's response so far. This is a FEMA and a federal government that's leaning forward, not waiting to react. And you have to be pretty pleased to see that." [Staff voice off camera: Last question.] QUESTION: What lessons learned from Katrina have been applied? "I think what you're really seeing here is the benefit of experience, the benefit of good leadership and the benefit of good partnership; none of which were present in Katrina. “So, I think, as a nation, people should sit up and take notice that you have the worst wildfire season in history in California and look at how well the state and local governments are performing, look at how well we're working together between state and federal partners." Here's FEMA's statement from Vice Admiral Harvey Johnson: STATEMENT October 26, 2007 STATEMENT IN REGARDS TO FEMA'S TUESDAY PRESS BRIEFING FEMA's goal is to get information out as soon as possible, and in trying to do so we made an error in judgment. Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have received. We are reviewing our press procedures and will make the changes necessary to ensure that all of our communications are straight forward and transparent. At FEMA, our focus is disaster operations and, in this case, it means working closely with the State of California to support their response to the devastating fires. We're committed to being there for the State and being good partners. In working to do so we did not put enough focus on how we communicate to the public. The real story -- how well the response and recovery elements are working in this disaster -- should not be lost because of how we tried to meet the needs of the media in distributing facts. We can and must do better, and apologize for this error in judgment. ### END OF STATEMENT # # # FEMA had given reporters about 15 minutes notice ahead of the conference.	FEMA Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson speaking about the California wildfires at the news briefing on Tuesday. The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is under fire after the agency held a fake press conference with fake news reporters in regards to individuals affected by the California wildfires and the assistance they could receive. The agency called a press conference on Tuesday, giving the press only 15 minutes to show up. When many did not, FEMA brought in agency officials to pose as fake reporters and ask questions. The option for reporters to call into the conference was also available, but the ones who did call in only got to listen to the press conference, and could not ask questions. No reporters were actually present during the conference, parts of which were carried live on ''Fox News'' and ''MSNBC''. During the briefing, FEMA employees asked Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson a series of what ''The New York Times'' called "decidedly friendly questions" such as "What type of commodities are you pledging to California?", "What lessons learned from Katrina have been applied?" and "Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?". The briefing followed the format of a press conference, with FEMA's press secretary at one point cautioning that he would allow just "two more questions", then calling later for a "last question". Officials who posed as fake reporters included the deputy director of public affairs Cindy Taylor and Director of External Affairs John "Pat" Philbin. White House officials said that they do not condone FEMA's actions and also state that they had no idea that the conference was taking place. "FEMA has issued an apology, saying that they had an error in judgment when they were attempting to get out a lot of information to reporters, who were asking for answers to a variety of questions in regard to the wildfires in California. It's not something I would have condoned. And they — I'm sure — will not do it again," said Dana Perino, the White House's press secretary in a statement. FEMA apologizes for the mishap and says that their intentions were only to get the information to the citizens of California. "The purpose was to get information out as soon as possible, and in trying to do so we made an error in judgment. Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have received. We can and must do better," said Harvey E. Johnson, the agency's vice administrator. "The real story -- how well the response and recovery elements are working in this disaster -- should not be lost because of how we tried to meet the needs of the media in distributing facts," a FEMA statement said. FEMA is currently deciding whether or not any officials should face punishment for the incident. One of the officials responsible, Pat Philbin, is going on to be the new head of public relations for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. This is not the first time that the Bush administration has come under fire for planting reporters at press conferences. In February of 2005, White House reporter Jeff Gannon was accused of being planted to ask softball questions to President Bush. FEMA itself had earlier undergone criticism during Hurricane Katrina for using disaster workers for public relations in 2005.

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